Author: Andres-Papazian

KUWAIT TO OPEN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA
By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

gulfnews.com
Sept 20 2011
UAE

Kuwait will open an embassy in Armenia in October, the Armenian
ambassador in Kuwait City has said

Manama: Kuwait will open an embassy in Armenia in October, the Armenian
ambassador in Kuwait City has said.

Fadey Charchoghlian said that the Kuwaiti-Armenian Joint Economic
Committee would hold its first meeting on October 4-6 in Yerevan,
the Armenian capital. It will be co-chaired by the Kuwaiti Minister
of Finance and the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia.

In a press conference on the 20th anniversary of his country’s
independence, Charchoghlian said that Armenia was looking forward
to the visit of Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad during which the Islamic
Sciences College in Brifan University would be opened.

Serious about developing relations

The diplomat said that the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Kuwait Fund for Economic Development and Kuwait Investment Authority
were working on strengthening bonds between the two countries. Armenia
is serious about developing the relations with Kuwait, he said,
Kuwaiti daily Al Watan reported on Tuesday

Charchoghlian said that there was an educational agreement signed
between the two countries to exchange students, in addition to an
aviation accord to initiate direct flight in the near future.

The Armenian cultural week held in Kuwait in March strengthened
cultural relations between the two countries, he said. A Kuwaiti
cultural week will be held in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: OUR GOAL IS TO LIVE WITHOUT COERCION
by Emil Sanamyan

Tuesday September 20, 2011

Ghulian addresses the congressional event, as Pallone looks on. NKR
Office

Washington – Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian addressed a congressional
celebration marking the 20th anniversary of Artsakh’s independence,
noting the unrecognized republic’s accomplishments and challenges.

“Since the beginning of the Karabakh Freedom Movement in 1988, on
the day when we declared our independence on September 2, 1991 and
today our main goal remains unchanged: to live without coercion; not
to oppress, and not to be oppressed,” Ghulian stressed in his remarks.

While expressing Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s aspiration for a peaceful
settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan, Ghulian noted the hardened
attitudes in that country fueled by oil and gas revenues and argued
that in absence of alternatives, the current cease-fire provided a
basic foundation for future peace.

Karabakh Speaker also argued that “just like “blood diamonds” sometimes
encourage warfare, the inflow of cash – including American cash –
into Azerbaijan is what has made its leadership so intransigent
and revanchist.

“By contrast, every dollar invested or donated to Artsakh strengthens
today’s tenuous peace and helps all parties retain a reasonable
prospect for resolution that renewed warfare would postpone
indefinitely,” Ghulian added.

The event was organized by co-chairs of the Armenian Congressional
Caucus Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and
attended by Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.),
Robert Dold (R-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.)
and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). Congressional speakers noted their
continued support for NKR, its recognition and U.S. aid.

According to media reports, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry downplayed
the importance of the event whereas and Azerbaijan’s Embassy in U.S.

attempted to thwart the event sending a five-page letter to all
members of Congress calling on them not to attend it. A Baku news
agency claimed that Washington area Azerbaijani students staged a
protest outside the event venue, but no such protest could be observed
throughout the two and a half session.

Accompanied on his Washington visit by fellow member of NKR’s National
Assembly Zoya Lazarian, Ghoulian also met with Rep. Howard Berman
(D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, other
members of Congress, Washington-based experts and Armenian American
groups.

English translation of Ghulian’s remarks as delivered at the Capitol
Hill event on September 13 and provided by NKR Office in Washington:

Srbazan Hayr,

Honorable Members of Congress,

Ambassador Markaryan,

Dear compatriots, ladies and gentlemen:

It is an honor to celebrate my people’s main holiday – our Independence
Day, the 20th anniversary of Nagorno Karabakh Republic – here, in
the US Congress, with such a distinguished audience.

I want to express gratitude to the organizers of this event –
members of the Armenian Caucus, especially the Caucus Co-Chairs –
Representatives Frank Pallone and Ed Royce, as well as the Armenian
Embassy, personally Ambassador Margaryan, Office of Artsakh in the
USA and all the Armenian-American organizations who facilitated
this reception.

When Americans declared independence in 1776, my country was not
yet free. But this was a dream Armenians shared already at the time,
as in 1773 the first Armenian constitutional project was published
by Hakob Shanamirian in Madras, India.

We continued to cherish those ideas when the Soviet Union declared
the policy of reform and the perestroyka, which were welcomed by the
United States Government and the whole American people.

Since the beginning of the Karabakh Freedom Movement in 1988, on
the day when we declared our independence on September 2, 1991 and
today our main goal remains unchanged: to live without coercion;
not to oppress, and not to be oppressed. We find any expression of
violence abhorrent.

All of us remember the tragedy, which happened to the American nation
ten years ago. On behalf of the Artsakh people, I want to express our
condolences and support to the United States in its struggle against
the global terrorism.

In the dark days of war in Karabakh, we also had to resist aggressors
who espoused similar radical and terrorist ideology.

Today, the United States is making tireless efforts to find a positive
and peaceful negotiated solution to the Nagorno Karabakh problem,
which will be fair and acceptable for the conflicting sides. We
appreciate the mediating efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, and give a
special significance to the personal involvement of Presidents Obama,
Sarkozy and Medvedev.

In modern world, problems can only be solved through patient
negotiations. Only through this path, issues previously considered
unsolvable can and have been resolved.

But first bloodshed must stop and new bloodletting prevented. In this
regard, it is crucial to continue maintaining the May 1994 ceasefire
agreement, despite Azerbaijan’s continuing military provocations.

Dear Friends,

We are sincere in our aspiration for peace and cooperation. We have
repeatedly expressed our readiness to meet Azerbaijan half way.

Unfortunately, we have not seen similar readiness by Azerbaijan,
and we do not see it today.

We realize that the status quo is not what we had hoped for when we
embarked on our struggle. Yet, particularly considering Azerbaijan’s
openly and repeatedly stated threat of military action, the current
situation with all its components represents the system of our
security. Any changes to this arrangement without real guarantees and
real definition of what peace and our sovereignty will look like are
unacceptable for us.

Our country and our society are open to the world. We have offered
cooperation to various international structures. And we hope and expect
that, from now on, any report on Karabakh will based on reality,
and not on conclusions by “experts” without first-hand knowledge of
our country. I am not trying to idealize, we are not perfect, but for
the past twenty years, our republic has made significant progress in
all directions of development.

Today, Artsakh is an independent, sovereign, democratic and social
country. Our state governance system is fully functioning, and
operates within a constitutional framework. Three political parties are
represented in parliament of the fifth convocation, and they compete
with one another. In addition, there are out of parliament political
groups. A number of laws, including the law on political parties,
freedom of conscience and religion, law on mass media, freedom of
information and many others were adopted to protect human rights. The
institute of the ombudsman has been established. The death penalty was
abolished. Nagorno Karabakh’s Army is under strict civilian control.

Our legislation completely corresponds to modern standards. We
regularly hold presidential, parliamentary and local administration
elections. We value those democratic norms because they comply with
our vision, and the traditions of our people.

These successes also help in keeping the balance of forces in the
Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict zone; to maintain peace in the whole
region. I know that peace and stability in the Southern Caucasus
region is in the interests of the United Sates. In this regard,
we are your committed and proven partner.

We understand the international interest towards a country with
energy reserves. But this not a one way street, and as much as energy
importers are interested in abundant and reasonably priced supplies,
the producers are interested in markets where they can sell to.

There is another ethical aspect, just like “blood diamonds” sometimes
encourage warfare, the inflow of cash – including American cash –
into Azerbaijan is what has made its leadership so intransigent
and revanchist. By contrast, every dollar invested or donated to
Artsakh strengthens today’s tenuous peace and helps all parties
retain a reasonable prospect for resolution that renewed warfare
would postpone indefinitely.

Dear Friends,

Twenty years is enough time to ascertain the righteousness of our
path. Twenty years is the age of a new generation, which was born and
grew up in the independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic, and appreciates
the value of freedom not merely as an abstract term but as something
they experience and live. Twenty years is also a period when the
devotion and friendship towards Artsakh have been tested.

If a concept for problem’s settlement is based on the idea that
“the general freedom is the freedom of each and every person”, and
“a person’s wellbeing is everyone’s wellbeing”, then, be assured,
my country deserves respect and universal recognition. This is
the important message that I am delegated to deliver on behalf of
my people.

I am honored to speak once again on the Capitol Hill and share my
country’s holiday with you. This holiday is yours as well; this
holiday belongs to all who remain committed to freedom and other
universal values. Our people feel and appreciate your support, and
we will be glad to welcome all of you in Artsakh one day.

In a few days we mark another jubilee – the 20th anniversary of the
Republic of Armenia, the main guarantor of Artsakh’s freedom and
security and the homeland of all Armenians.

Finally, my best wishes to the United States, as it continues in its
mission for the sake of the international peace, freedom and wellbeing.

From: A. Papazian

DAVIT JAMALYAN: PROVISION OF OUR PEOPLE’S PEACE IS THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMENIAN ARMY

ARMENPRESS
21:11, 20 September, 2011

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Provision of peace for our people is
the biggest achievement of the Armenian army during the 20 independent
years of Armenia, military expert Davit Jamalyan told Armenpress,
referring to recent 20 years’ achievements of the RA Armed Forces.

Among the achievements of the RA Armed Forces Davit Jamalyan singled
out the introduction of the contractual military service institute.

“In case of full consolidation of that system we will not have
problems in international relations. That system is in consolidation
phase today, and we should take measures in future to promote its
consolidation,” the military expert said.

According to him, today we have an army which is in reforms and in
which attempts are made to introduce elements of western model, an
institute of civil servants, which promotes productivity increase of
the management.

From: A. Papazian

‘NEWLY INDEPENDENT ARMENIA STILL SUFFERS’: HERITAGE PARTY ON EVE OF ARMENIA’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

epress.am
09.20.2011 16:09

The path to independence was hard and the price paid, extremely
high: thousands of Armenian heroes fell for the liberation of
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia’s sovereignty. So reads a congratulatory
message by the opposition Heritage Party on the occasion of the
Republic of Armenia’s 20th anniversary.

“The Third Republic that fought its independence on the eve of the
21st century received a rich economic, scientific, educational and
cultural heritage from the First and Second republics. During the
past 20 years [it] was expected to become the symbol and the crown
of the Armenian statehoods [that] ever existed during centuries. But
unfortunately that was not the case: the newly independent Armenia
still suffers from injustice, illegalities and lack of freedom.

“Now we hope that after the irrational, sometimes even narrow-minded
policies adopted by all the previous governments, we would finally have
policies that are based on national interests, effective governance
and right strategies that would bring a secure and prosperous future
to all social groups, all citizens who founded the Republic, and that
no Armenian would ever again feel as if he was an alien in his own
homeland and leave it for good.

“We will get to this goal by uniting our capacities, by suggesting a
new political alternative and with the commitment to create a state
that has been the dream of the Armenians who founded the Republic,”
reads the message, in part.

From: A. Papazian

PARUYR HAYRIKYAN: TOMORROW WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST SELF-DETERMINATION
Nvard Davtyan

Radiolur
20.09.2011 16:10

“Tomorrow we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of first
self-determination of the Armenian people,” leader of the National
Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan told a press conference
today.

“Calling September 21 Independence Day would mean we had never had
independence, Hayk and Bel, Artashessian Dynasty or Arsacids,” he said.

Speaking about the years of struggle for independence, Hayrikyan
said neither 20 years ago, nor before that people were ready for
independence. According to him, the authoritarian regime was doing
its best to prevent people from thinking about national rights.

“Intellectuals aspiring for independence were called extremists,” he
reminded. The “Ankakhutyun” (Independence) weekly played an important
role in the Armenian political life, preparing the public for the idea
of independence, leader of the National Self-Determination Union said.

Paruyr Hayrikyan says his expectations connected with independent
Armenia have come true to a certain extent: there is a multi-party
system in the country, Armenia is an internationally recognized state,
and a member of a number of international structures. However, he
has certain reservations as regards the establishment of democracy.

From: A. Papazian

IRAN’S BETTER FRIEND: ARMENIA VS AZERBAIJAN

Tert.am
12:53 20.09.11

Friendship with Armenia is much more valuable for Iran than friendship
with Azerbaijan, writes the Baku-based Zerkalo newspaper.

With respect to Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian’s recent meeting
with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the newspaper writes:
“Congratulating Minister Edward Nalbandian on the 20th anniversary
of Armenia’s independence, Iranian FM Ali Akbar Salehi pointed out
that Armenian-Iranian good neighborly relations are getting stronger
day by day.

“In his turn, the Armenian FM stated that Armenia and Iran have no
problems. Even if they do, the problems are of technical nature and
are dealt with jointly.”

At his Iranian counterpart’s request, Minister Nalbandian informed him
of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. He pointed out the importance
of Iran’s balanced position. The newspaper goes on: “It is to be
noted that official Tehran’s hypocrisy goes beyond all borders. Just
a few days ago, the same Ahmadinejad spoke of indestructible
Azerbaijani-Iranian friendship. He even recognized Armenia as an
aggressor and demanded that it leave Azerbaijan’s territories.”

The newspaper admits serious problems between Azerbaijan and Iran.

“Official Teheran is unwilling to reach an agreement on demarcation
of the Caspian Sea. Moreover, Iran is laying claims to the area that
has never belonged to it.

“In alliance with Russia, Iran objects to the construction of a
Transcaspian bottom gas pipe. Iran’s goals are unclear. Is it playing
into Russia’s hand or trying to retain its position of a country
for energy resource transit from Central Asia to Europe, which, in
turn, will enable it to exert serious influence on certain political
positions in Muslim states? Most probably, both. That is, Iran is
playing into Russia’s hands, aiming for long-term targets. Azerbaijan
is increasing its pressure. Moreover, despite a number of serious
concessions made by Azerbaijan, it remains completely neutral about
international sanctions against Iran. It, to an extent, even supported
its southern neighbor by stating at the top level that Tehran had
the right to peaceful nuclear research.

“Further, Azerbaijan publicly pledged that its territory would never
be used for attacking Iran, despite the fact that Azerbaijan will
hardly ‘feel cosy’ if Iran has nuclear weapons. On the contrary,
Iran will pose immediate threat to Azerbaijan,” writes the newspaper.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA IS A LAND OF MUSIC – GERGIEV

Tert.am
12:33 20.09.11

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, St
Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre yesterday gave a concert in Yerevan’s
Opera and Ballet Theatre under conductor Valery Gergiev.

Speaking at a news conference before the concert, the renowned
Russian musician said it was a big honor to him to conduct the concert
in Armenia.

“I am very happy we are in Armenia and twice as happy [our presence]
coincides with such festivity. I am hopeful that the 20th, but also the
30th, 40th and 50th anniversaries of independence will be celebrated
with such big musical events,” he said. “Armenia is a land of music
and it is pleasant for my orchestra of St Petersburg to attend such
important jubilee. My biography is closely associated with Armenia,
and it seems as though I had returned to my homeland”

Gergiev recalled his hard time in Armenia when he had to leave for
Leningrad (the former name of St Petersburg) and travel back to
Armenia twice a week.

“I do want to believe that my friends will be among the spectators,
as they were two years ago. I have many friends here, and have managed
to see only some of them, but have talked to the others,” he said.

Speaking of Armenia composers’ art, Gergiev added: “Contemporary
Armenian composers’ music can and must be performed in Moscow and St
Petersburg. I will contribute to that.”

He further referred to future plans on contemporary music.

“We have huge theaters; Spartak was staged [in St Petersburg] in my
absence. With its big and spectacular scenery, it is the precious
piece of our repertoire,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

TURQUIE : 18 ANS APRES LE MASSACRE DES ALEVIS A SIVAS

Collectif VAN

20-09-2011

Le 2 juillet 1993, 37 personnes, dont 33 intellectuels alevis,
perissaient dans l’incendie criminel de l’hôtel Madimak a Sivas qui
accueillait un festival culturel alevi. Rappelons que Sivas est un
fief nationaliste ; des agitateurs avaient remonte les habitants
contre les Alevis et une foule enragee avait encercle l’hôtel avant
d’y mettre le feu. La police n’etait pas intervenue. La foule avait
empeche l’intervention des pompiers et de l’armee. Le massacre de
Sivas est le plus grave crime a motivation religieuse commis en
Turquie dans l’epoque recente.

En juin 2011, lors de la campagne electorale en Turquie, les discours
de haine a l’egard des Alevis ont ete de nouveau applaudis. Une reelle
et sincère expansion de la democratie est evidemment impossible en
Turquie si l’on y poursuit cette politique d’agitation populaire et
d’hostilite. Le Collectif VAN vous livre la traduction du communique
d’Ali Ertem de l’Association allemande contre les Genocides, basee
a Francfort, en date du 1er juillet 2011.

Association contre les genocides Francfort-sur-le-Main Soykirim
Karsitlari Dernegi (SKD); Kontakt: Ali Ertem Tel.: 0049/69/5970813
E-Mail: [email protected]

Où en sommes-nous en ce 18e anniversaire du massacre de Sivas ?

Où trouverons-nous le droit et la justice qui nous font defaut,
dans une societe qui n’a pas le courage et la capacite de condamner
ses propres realites historiques et de politiques ? Au lieu de
faire un examen de conscience lorsque sont perpetres des crime
contre l’humanite, des massacres de masse et des genocides, il
est ec~urant d’observer qu’a chaque fois des theories du complot
ont ete developpees et de nouvelles cibles ont ete inventees, pour
“justifier” les responsables et essayer de les decharger ou de les
excuser, et ainsi les proteger s’ils effectuent d’autres crimes
semblables. [Nota CVAN : rappelons que les militaires grades a la
retraite participaient aux manifestations contre H. Dink et qu’ils
ont joue des rôles importants dans les actions d’Ergenekon].

La majorite dominante des medias en Turquie encherit presque de
nouvelles versions officielles du massacre de Sivas survenu en 1993,
et trouve chaque annee un nouveau “responsable”. La desinformation
politique attribue sans aucune honte la responsabilite aux victimes
du massacre, comme le font les propagandistes neonazis pour les
victimes juives du genocide, et les Alevis sont presentes comme
les responsables et les organisateurs du massacre. Ainsi, les medias
servent uniquement a effacer les vrais responsables dans les souvenirs
et avec ce processus honteux a masquer le debat social.

Grâce aux experiences et aux man~uvres de l’Etat vieux de centaines
d’annees, les pretendus “enquetes” et “procès” sont devenus des
efforts absurdes et vains et n’ont servi qu’a camoufler un par un
les crimes contre l’humanite commis dans ce pays. De plus, certains
meurtriers bien connus de l’opinion publique sont plus tard devenus
de hauts fonctionnaires ou des “representants du peuple”.

L’Etat turc dominant essaie de fermer les dossiers de genocide de son
histoire sans en payer le prix. Tous les calculs strategiques et les
investissements tournes vers l’avenir sont faits sur la base de la
negation de ce fait historique. Au cas où ces calculs se revèleraient
corrects, l’humanite vivant dans l’agonie sera complètement detruite
dans ce pays. Ainsi l’espoir d’une vie future commune de l’humanite
dans ce pays ne fleurira pas, mais sera porte dans sa tombe, comme
la dernière etape de la mort.

Le respect et la responsabilite a l’egard de nos peuples font qu’il
est necessaire de comprendre correctement les faits, aussi douloureux
soient-ils.

La souverainete de la Republique Turque a ete fondee sur les cadavres
des peuples anciens non-turcs d’Anatolie. La Republique Turque a
indexe sa legitimite sur la disparition des foyers armeniens, grecs
et assyriens, sur le pillage de leurs biens, sur l’honneur bafoue et
la captivite des peuples non-turcs. La societe est plongee, depuis 100
ans, dans l’obscurite provoquee par les deportations et les genocides.

Le système a besoin de nouveaux actes d’horreur et de crimes contre
l’humanite pour resister. Le massacre de Sivas est un exemple montrant
a quel point la tradition de brûler un par un les “autres” peuples,
leur foi, leurs pensees, est toujours d’actualite dans cette societe.

Les vrais responsables du massacre commis dans l’hôtel Madimak a
Sivas sont les mecanismes du pouvoir qui mobilisent tous les moyens
possibles pour que perdure la tradition de la souverainete du genocide,
la bureaucratie civile militaire, la police et les services secrets,
les partis servant le système comme les engrainages d’un mecanisme,
qui est l’Etat turc lui meme.

La quete de justice est le devoir de notre humanite. Ce crime contre
la communaute alevie cible toute l’humanite qui defend la paix et la
democratie. Ainsi, transformer l’hôtel Madimak en un monument de la
honte est une revendication justifiee. Si cette revendication s’etend
aussi aux deportations et au genocide de ces peuples eteints, comme
les Armeniens, les Assyro-Arameens et les Grecs, elle sera encore plus
significative. Lorsque les peuples se soutiendront les uns les autres,
et quand ils pourront se mobiliser pour l’amitie et la solidarite
et manifester dans les rues, l’hôtel Madimak deviendra vraiment un
musee de la honte.

Le mois dernier justement [Nota CVAN : en juin 2011], lors de la
campagne electorale, nous avons observe avec horreur, les discours de
haine choquant a l’egard des Alevis, discours applaudis par la masse.

Une reelle et sincère expansion de la democratie est evidemment
impossible si l’on poursuit cette politique d’agitation populaire
et d’hostilite.

Desireux et determines a vivre dans un monde sans genocide, sans
deportation, sans destruction, nous nous inclinons avec respect,
en souvenir des 33 intellectuels morts dans les flammes il y a 18 ans.

Ali Ertem Francfort, 1er juillet 2011

©Traduction de l’allemand C.Gardon & S.C. pour le Collectif VAN –
19 septembre 2011 – 07:10 –

Retour a la rubrique

From: A. Papazian

LE VICE-PRESIDENT DU PARLEMENT ARMENIEN CROIT EN LA REPRISE DU DIALOGUE AVEC L’OPPOSITION
[email protected]

armenews.com
mardi 20 septembre 2011

ARMENIE

Alors que les Europeens semblent vouloir tourner la page des
troubles politiques qui avaient agite l’Armenie au lendemain de
l’election presidentielle controversee de fevrier 2008, et estiment
que la liberation des detenus politiques a la faveur de l’amnistie
prononcee quelques mois plus tôt par le president Sarkissian clôturait
ce chapitre douloureux, le vice-president du Parlement armenien,
Samvel Balasanian, a exprime l’espoir vendredi 16 septembre que
les negociations actuellement dans l’impasse entre le gouvernement
de coalition et le bloc de partis d’opposition non parlementaires,
le Congrès national armenien (HAK), reprendront prochainement. Le
HAK, dirige par Levon Ter Petrossian, ne partage en effet pas
l’avis des Europeens et ne se satisfait pas de la liberation de ses
partisans ; il exige la tenue d’elections anticipees et a menace
de relancer une vaste campagne de manifestations si le pouvoir
persistait a les refuser. Pour M. Balasanian pourtant, ” il y
aura une analyse conjoncturelle [de la situation] en fonction de
laquelle les parties seront en mesure de poursuivre le dialogue”,
a-t-il confie aux journalistes. Le HAK avait suspendu ce dialogue
le mois dernier, en signe de protestation contre l’arrestation de
l’un de ses militants accuse d’actes de violences et outrages sur
des agents de la force publique. Levon Ter Petrossian avait declare
le 9 septembre que le HAK reprendrait le dialogue si le militant,
Tigrane Arakelian, actuellement toujours en detention preventive,
etait libere “dans les jours a venir”. Mais les representants de
la coalition gouvernementale avaient rejete cette exigence. Davit
Harutiunian, chef de la delegation representant la coalition dans
les negociations avec l’opposition, a indique lundi 19 septembre aux
journalistes du service armenien de RFE/RL qu’il n’etait pas question
qu’il entre dans des tractations avec les instances concernees pour
obtenir la liberation d’Arakelian, qui est du ressort de la justice,
a-t-il souligne, alors que l’opposition semble decidee a en faire un
nouveau prisonnier politique. Galoust Sahakian, le chef du groupe
parlementaire du Parti republicain d’Armenie (HHK) du president
Serge Sarkissian, avait maintenu cette position le 16 septembre,
en expliquant qu’il ne ” peut y avoir de solution politique a cette
affaire “, lors d’une conference de presse. Le HAK avait menace de
relancer dans la rue a Erevan l’epreuve de force avec le pouvoir si
celui-ci ne cedait pas sur la question des elections anticipees. IL
a donne rendez-vous a ses partisans pour un prochain rassemblement
sur la place de la Liberte de la capitale, le 23 septembre, a moins
que d’ici la, le pouvoir et L.

Ter Petrossian, qui a ete invite par le president Sarkissian a assister
aux ceremonies du 20e anniversaire de l’independance, sur la place
de la Republique, ne trouvent un accord.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI FM: ARMENIA FRIVOLOUSLY APPROACHES NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Trend
Sept 19 2011
Azerbaijan

In his statements, the Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian
not only demonstrates the frivolity of the Armenian side’s approach
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but also deceives his own fellow
citizens and society and the international community in order to
disguise the failure of the Armenian diplomacy, Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend.

“Nalbandian’s statements do not reflect an elementary respect for
the principles and norms of the international law, the United Nations
and OSCE resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” said Abdullayev.

Abdullayev said these principles have been reflected in the Maindorf
Declaration, signed by the president of the country, which Nalbandian
represents. Maindorf Declaration says that “the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict should be resolved based on the principles and norms of
the international law and the decisions and documents adopted in
this framework”, i.e. UN and OSCE resolutions and the statements of
many international organizations that recognize the occupation of
Azerbaijani territories and demand the withdrawal of Armenian forces
from occupied Azerbaijani lands.

“It also needs to present to Nalbandian’s attention that in their
statements, the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairman
countries have repeatedly stated that the current status quo is
unacceptable,” said Abdullayev.

Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian said that despite the
destructive position of Azerbaijan, Armenia will continue its efforts
for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, based on the
principles of international law and UN Charter, Mediamax reported.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: A. Papazian