Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA BECOME WEAKER, WHILE AZERBAIJAN GROWN STRONGER: TER-PETROSSIAN TO MATTHEW BRYZA

epress.am
09.06.2011 10:57

In a Aug. 8, 2009 meeting with US Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS)
Matthew Bryza, former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP)
said that when it comes to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, “ten years
had been wasted, during which Armenia has become relatively weaker”
while Azerbaijan has grown relatively stronger. According to an Aug.

17, 2009 confidential cable written by former US Ambassador to Armenia
Marie L. Yovanovitch recently released by WikiLeaks, Ter-Petrossian
believed Azerbaijan would get more now from a negotiated settlement
than it could have five years ago.

“As for his Armenian National Congress (ANC), LTP said they would
not create obstacles to a settlement. If there were no solution now
according to the Basic Princples, the next solution on offer would be
still worse, or there would be war. However, he said that if Sargsyan
turns out to have negotiated a bad solution, ANC would do all in its
power to prevent it. Moreover, if the authorities did not release the
remaining 23 of ‘our friends still in jail,’ the ANC would have to
fight against Sargsyan using every legal means and on all topics. LTP
said it was a ‘huge mistake’ that the President didn’t release all
political prisoners through the amnesty. Sargsyan still had legal
means to extend the amnesty to those remaining in prison, he said, and
urged Bryza to act as an intermediary in securing their release. ‘If
the political prisoners issue is not solved, we will have to mobilize

against the government,’ he said, and quickly added ‘by constitutional
means only’,” reads the cable.

On the matter of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement being
considered by the Minsk Group, Bryza said it would become known to
Ter-Petrossian, “once details became known.” Yovanovitch notes that
“In fact, the step-by-step approach LTP had championed as president
was the foundation of the current proposed settlement.”

In terms of possible impediments to settlement, Bryza named a “lack
of courage or strength, particularly on the part of Sargsyan.” When
Ter-Petrossian asked whether Russia would be an impediment, Bryza
noted that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has been “helpful,” while
Russian PM Vladimir Putin’s comments the day before, that Russia was
playing a major role on NKR settlement, “suggested that he wants to
be seen as leading, and is thus invested.”

“LTP said that if Russia did not want it, it would not happen. Bryza
said that now it seems that Russia wants a solution, perhaps because
it wants to improve its reputation following what was, for them,
the shocking fallout from the Georgia war. Perhaps more importantly,
Russia may be trying to improve its position in the Caucasus. Since
it views its position in Armenia as unassailable, it can only improve
its strategic position in the region by improving relations with
Azerbaijan. Russia

believes helping with a settlement could help pull Azerbaijan toward
it. The USG [United States Government] is more than happy to let Russia
move the process forward as far as possible. LTP worried that Russia
does not actually want a solution, but rather a lingering problem
that leaves both Armenia and Azerbaijan dependent on Russia,” reads
the cable.

The parties also discussed the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s
(MCC) extension of the operational hold on funding for road
construction. Ter-Petrossian said “he wanted to see pressure on the
authorities, especially related to democratic backsliding, but not
in a way that made regular people suffer,” adding, however, that the
MCC suspension was a minor issue and not a huge loss since Armenia
had received “huge new loans” and the MCC loss was “one drop.”

From: A. Papazian

AFTER ONE YEAR, IRANIAN AUTHORITIES RELEASE CHRISTIAN IMPRISONED FOR PREACHING
By JohnThomas Didymus

GodDiscussion.com

Sept 6 2011

A Dutch-Iranian Christian of Armenian descent who was detained by
Iranian authorities on accusation of preaching Christianity among
Farsi-speaking Iranians has finally been released after spending 359
days in detention arrest.

According to Iranian.com, Vahik Abrahamian, 45, and his wife were
arrested on September 4, 2010, in Hamadan, west of Teheran, along
with another Iranian Christian couple, Arash Kermanjani and Arezou
Teimouri. The Iranian authorities released Sonia, Abrahamian’s wife on
April 30, along with Kermanjani and Teimouri, but Abrahamian remained
in detention at the Hamadan general prison ward.

Farsi Christian News Network described the conditions in the prison as
“deplorable” and “taxing on Abrahamian’s health.”

The Iranian authorities had previously arrested Abrahamian and his
wife Sonia. The Christian couple had been held in Tehran’s notorious
Evin Prison in February, 2010. At Evin, they were held in solitary
confinement for 53 days on same charges of preaching Christianity
among Muslims, but they were finally released on bail.

According to report by Mohabat News, Abrahamian and his wife worked
with drug addicts and other marginalized Iranians. Abrahamain himself
had suffered drug addiction in the past but became free of his
addiction while visiting the Netherlands. He returned to Iran in 2006
to help Muslim drug addicts in Iran. According to an Iranian pastor,
the authorities are hostile to Abrahamian because of his connections
with foreign Christians groups:

The reason he was in prison for so long wasn~Rt about his [faith and
activities], but because he was connected with foreign Christians~EThe
government in Iran has two challenges~EOn the one hand they don~Rt
like Christianity growing in Iran, but on the other hand because
of international pressure they don~Rt want to make a big story out
of them~EThis is nothing new we~Rve been dealing with this for 20
years. We have persecution, and they will arrest even more people,
but this is not new.

Islamic leaders have recently been raising alarm on the spread of
Christianity, especially among urban youth in Iran. The Iranian
cleric Ayatollah Hadi Jahangosha last month complained about what he
termed “distorted Christianity” spreading in Iran. In his statement,
Ayatollah Jahangosha said,

Iran~Rs capital is more exposed to damage in this issue, and some
people here are attracted to Christianity due to financial reasons,
and some other people due to being neglected by the society.

Iran’s population of 75 million people has an estimated 450,000
Christians. Muslims who convert to Christianity are considered
“apostates” with no legal protection. What this means, in principle,
is that any Muslim who kills such “apostate” may consider that he is
doing a service to Allah.

From: A. Papazian

AT THE SITTING OF THE NA STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

National Assembly

Sept 6 2011
Armenia

On September 6 at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on
Economic Affairs presided over by Vardan Ayvazyan the package of
the bills “On Amending the RA Law on Defense of the Inner Market,
“On Making Amendment and Addendum to the RA Law on Licensing and
“On Making Addendum to the RA Law on State Duty” was debated, which
presented Tigran Davtyan, the RA Minister of Economy.

The Committee also debated the bill “On Amending the RA Law on Fixed
Payments for Tobacco Production.”

RA Deputy Minister Economy Karine Minasyan presented the bill “On
Making Amendments and Addenda in the Customs Code of the Republic
of Armenia.”

Vardan Ayvazya, the co-author, the Chairman of the NA Standing
Committee on Economic Affairs, presented the bill “On Amending the
Land Code of the Republic of Armenia.”

All debated bills were endorsed to be included in the agenda of the
first four-day sittings of the tenth session of the fourth convocation.

The Committee debated and also endorsed the bills “On Making Addenda to
the RA Law on Food Security,” “On Amending to the RA Law on Conscript
Preparation and Conscription,” “On Making Addendum to the RA Law on
Food Security” and proposing amendments and addenda in a number of
laws presented in the second reading.

By the authors’ proposal the Committee postponed the debate of
26 bills.

From: A. Papazian

IN TERMS OF MARKETING, ARMENIA’S MARKET IS VIRGIN TERRITORY – MANAGER OF KOTLER IMPACT

news.am
Sept 6 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – We can say there is no marketing in Armenia; sales are
developed here, but marketing is not developed, and there is lot work
to do in Armenia in that sense, Kotler Impact company’s director Fahim
Kibria said to news reporters during a discussion held today entitled
“Key Modern-Day Issues of Armenian Marketing.”

“There are sales in Armenia, but there is no market research;
we can say this market is virgin territory and many things can be
done. But the Caucasus market, and specifically Armenia’s market,
is interesting for [Kotler Impact’s founder] Philip Kotler, and
he plans on seriously engaging in Armenia’s market. He wishes
to frequently visit here, at least once a year, and to allow the
marketing specialists of neighboring countries the opportunity to
train here, too,” Kibria stated, adding that, at the invitation of
Armenian Marketing Association, Philip Kotler will visit Armenia in
November to hold several seminars for state officials, businessmen,
marketing specialists, and students.

Kibria also informed that, until 2012, Kotler and his team will work
solely with Armenia, they will study the domestic market and publish
textbooks, which will include successful Armenian companies.

Marketing legend Philip Kotler will pay a 4-day visit to Armenia during
which he will also conduct the official opening of the Excellence
Center for marketing development, which he aims to turn into a leading
regional education complex.

From: A. Papazian

AKHTAMAR CHURCH PREPARES FOR SECOND MASS

Turkish Radio and Television Corporation

Sept 5 2011

A second mass will be held on 11 September at the historical Armenian
Church bearing the same name as Akdamar Island, in Gevas district of
Van province.

The first mass at the Akdamar Church was held last year on 19
September.

Preparations are underway in Gevas district for the mass which is
expected to attract more people than last year. Teams are currently
constructing the Akdamar Dock, where the boats carrying the passengers
approach and the Akdamar overpass.

Gevas District Governor Yusuf Guni inspected works on site, and said
they are ready for 11 September and will host their guests in the
best way possible.

From: A. Papazian

FM: AZERBAIJAN HIGHLY APPRECIATES NAM POSITION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH

Trend
Sept 6 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan highly appreciates the principled stand of many NAM
Member States in supporting Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a
ministerial of the Non-Aligned Movement on the 50th anniversary of
the organization.

He expressed hope for continued solidarity of the NAM member countries’
just position and efforts aimed at putting an end to the occupation
of the Azerbaijani territories.

Mammadyarov stressed that it is regrettable that Azerbaijan is
still suffering from the aggression of the neighboring Armenia,
with almost 20 percent of our land still under the occupation and
around one million refugees and IDP’s are ethnically cleansed from
those territories.

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 seven 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 peace negotiations.

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

Mammadyarov said having recently joined the Non-Aligned Movement as a
full-fledged Member, Azerbaijan declared its adherence to and respect
for the principles and purposes of the Movement.

The Republic of Azerbaijan reaffirms its adherence to the NAM position
concerning Palestine and reiterates its long-standing solidarity with
the people and leadership of Palestine, Mammadyarov underlined.

“We believe that time has come to reach a breakthrough on this old
and notorious issue,” he said.

Mammadyraov also said Azerbaijan is determined to contribute to the
realization of the development goals and objectives agreed within
the United Nations’ system.

Desirous of contributing further to the maintenance of international
peace, security, stability and prosperity, Azerbaijan has put forward
its candidature for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security
Council, for the term 2012-2013.

Mammadyarov said the Non-Aligned Movement will benefit from its
strengthened presence in the Security Council provided by Azerbaijan’s
membership in this authoritative UN body.

Azerbaijan joined the Non-Aligned Movement in May.

Earlier the country has observer status in this organization.

The NAM is the international organization uniting 118 world countries
on the principles of non-participation in military blocs. First of
all, NATO and the Warsaw Pact were implied at the time of establishing
the organization.

The NAM was officially established by 25 countries at the Belgrade
conference in September 1961.

From: A. Papazian

SLOVAKIA SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY IN KARABAKH CONFLICT

news.az
Sept 6 2011
Azerbaijan

Embassy of Slovakia to Russia denied information of Russian,
Azerbaijani and Armenian mass media.

Embassy denied information of Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian
mass media on congratulation sent by Frantishek Mikloshko and Jan
Carnogursky on the 20th anniversary of so called ‘Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’ on September 1, 2011.

Embassy said the congratulation is own initiative of these persons
and doesn’t reflect official position of Slovakia, Slovakian Embassy
in Moscow reported.

According to Embassy information on their positions of ‘Prime minister’
and ‘parliament speaker’ is not reality.

They are only former members of parliament and politicians and don’t
take part actively in political life and have not any position at
Slovakian government. Embassy also stated that official position
of Slovakia on Nagorno Karabakh conflict invariable and supports
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan according international law and
appropriate UN resolutions.

From: A. Papazian

SARGSYAN DISPLAYED DESTRUCTIVE STANCE ONCE AGAIN – FOREIGN MINISTRY

news.az
Sept 6 2011
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has displayed an destructive stance
once again.

The statement came from spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry Elman Abdullayev while commenting on remarks Armenian leader
made at a Dushanbe summit of the CIS heads of state.

Serzh Sargsyan said at a summit that Nagorno-Karabakh declared its
independence 20 years ago.

He noted that Nagorno-Karabakh people rightfully used its right to
determine its destiny and has gained a right to live independent at
cost of its blood. He also compared Nagorno-Karabakh with South Sudan
adding that this region may achieve the similar result.

‘Azerbaijan’s position coincides with that of international community
in Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The current status quo is unacceptable
for Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is ready to work on a peace accord. But
Armenia tries to cancel all agreements from the Prague process to
the Madrid principles,’ Abdullayev added.

From: A. Papazian

WILL ISRAEL USE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AGAINST TURKEY?

Times.am
Sept 6 2011
Armenia

Turkish “Milliyet” is troubled with Israeli-Turkish relations and
with its possible consequences. According to the newspaper Israel may
include the draft of Armenian Genocide in Knesset agenda after the
UN has published a report on “Mavi Marmara” and Israel saw Turkish
reaction.

The source also informs that the representative of Israeli National
Union Party, member of Knesset Arye Eldad announced that Turkey would
answer for deporting Israeli Ambassador.

“A draft on Armenian Genocide will be presented as soon as the
Parliamentarian works are restarted” Israeli official announced
commenting on the possibility of Armenian Genocide recognition
by Israel.

Turkish source notes that Israeli and Armenian lobbies in America
started cooperating after the last developments.

From: A. Papazian

Office of the President

Sept 5 2011
Armenia

Statement of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the Council
meeting of the CIS Heads of state, 3 Septembre 2011

Distinguished Colleagues,

First, I would like to thank Emomali Rahmon for the work conducted
in the CIS structures during Tajikistan~Rs presidency and express
gratitude for the warm and generous reception extended to us in
hospitable Dushanbe.

As a result of the consistent work conducted by the Executive Committee
of the CIS, councils, which coordinate activities of its branches,
and bodies engaged in functional cooperation, the CIS succeeded as
an international organization which promotes sustainable development
and mutually beneficial cooperation of our countries.

The Declaration dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the CIS
particularizes the problems and tasks before our organization and
outlines the dynamics of development ~V from the inception of the CIS
to the new levels of the integration processes, which are reflected
in the concept of further development and its strategy. All this is
stated in detail in the analytical paper, which sheds light on the
achievements and failings; it also defines new challenges that our
organization faces. The report is of practical importance; it~Rs yet
to be analyzed in the executive structure and to be translated into
concrete proposals on cooperation in the most promising areas. With
this regard, I would propose to discuss also the document presented
by the Executive Committee which recaps the process of implementation
of the basic steps contained in the concept for future development
of the CIS.

Dear Colleagues,

The Republic of Armenia stands ready to continue to bring its direct
participation to the CIS joint undertakings which are aimed at the
modernization of the economy through innovative means, efficient use
of transport and energy infrastructure, utilization of the potential
of the interregional cooperation.

Naturally, we will continue to keep in the focus of our attention
issues related to the expansion and strengthening of cooperation in
the humanitarian area which is stipulated by the traditionally close
ties, mutual spiritual enrichment, and desire of the CIS peoples to
conduct educational, cultural, scientific and information exchange.

Special attention will be paid to the joint youth policy in the
framework of the 2010-2020 strategy on the international cooperation
of the CIS youth which was adopted last year.

In this context, I would like to highlight the importance of the
agreement on the ~SImmortalization of the Heroism and Valor of the CIS
nations in the Great Patriotic War~T. Preservation of the memories
regarding the Great Patriotic War is a sacred duty not only to the
generation of our fathers and grandfathers but also to our children
and grandchildren. It is particularly critical in the face of the
recurring attempts to revise the history of the World War II.

Speaking about humanitarian cooperation, I would like to announce good
news. By the decision of UNESCO, Yerevan has been declared the World
Book Capital for 2012. Yerevan applied for the nomination considering
the fact that in 2012 Armenia will be celebrating the 500th anniversary
of the Armenian book printing. We are planning to conduct multiple
events, including participation at the international book fairs,
organization in Armenia of regional and international seminars and
round tables. According to the established tradition, in the framework
of the CIS Interstate Fund on Humanitarian Cooperation we will conduct
a conference of the publishers and translators of the CIS and Baltic
states. It is my distinct pleasure to invite you all to visit Armenia
on that festive days.

Distinguished Colleagues,

I would like to mention a symbolic fact: twenty years ago on this day,
the people of Nagorno Karabakh declared their independence. Several
days before it, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted a declaration
on the restoration of Azerbaijan~Rs state independence. It is
noteworthy that Azerbaijan re-established it statehood in the borders
of 1918-1920, i.e. without Nagorno Karabakh. Hence, both nations
utilized their sovereign right for self-determination and statehood
establishment in full accordance with the laws and Constitution of
the USSR.

In retrospect, the events which took place 20 years ago appear in a
broader light. Many would pose a question: was it possible to avoid
a bloodshed? I believe, the political, social and economic crisis,
which eventually caused the collapse of the USSR, left almost no
chance for a peaceful resolution of the ethnic conflicts. We witnessed
the unthinkable: on the territory of the former Union, where we had
progressed, built, worked and created together, bloody and brutal
conflicts erupted. In just a couple of days, the people of Karabakh
were drawn into war, with almost no hope to stay alive. Nursultan
Nazarbaev, who is present here, remembers those days very well:
twenty years ago, together with the President of Russia Boris Eltsin
he conducted a mediation mission to Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert.

The people of Nagorno Karabakh withstood in a horrendous fight and
won the right to exist with their own blood. In this twenty years, a
generation grew up in Karabakh, which was born and has been living in
the independent state. They don~Rt understand what these protracted and
painful negotiations are about because for them there is no ambiguity
regarding the status of Nagorno Karabakh. They want to live and develop
as any other nation ~V in peace and accord with their neighbors.

We highly praise the efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
and are grateful to the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry
Medvedev for his consistent steps aimed at the expeditious resolution
of the NK conflict in the framework of the principles and norms of
international law. I am confident that these efforts will be crowned
with success and in the nearest future the people of Nagorno Karabakh,
as it is envisaged by the draft Basic Principles, will decide on
their future in a free and internationally recognized popular vote.

History does not care for ~Sif~T. Today, we have to look into future
and do everything to ensure security and sustainable development of our
countries for the prosperity and well-being of our peoples. Resolution
of the conflicts on the territory of the CIS should be conducted in
the agreed framework of negotiations and exclusively through peaceful
means. Future generation will not forgive us for the repetition of
past mistakes.

Allow me to once again express thanks to the leadership of Tajikistan
for its successful chairmanship in the statutory bodies of the CIS
and express hope that efforts aimed at the further improvement and
strengthening of the multifaceted cooperation in the CIS will be
continued.

Thank you.

From: A. Papazian