Author: Andres-Papazian

PAP News Wire, Poland
July 28, 2011 Thursday

Komorowski, Sargsyan discuss Nagorno Karabakh, Eastern Partnership

Warsaw, July 28

Polish and Armenian Presidents, Bronislaw Komorowski and Serzh
Sargsyan, met in Yerevan on Wednesday to discuss the problem of
Nagorno Karabakh and the Eastern Partnership programme.

President Sargsyan is of the opinion that the Nagorno Karabakh should
be given security guarantees. According to President Komorowski,
Western involvement in solving the problem of the disputed areas
should be linked with the extinguishing of the conflict.

“Poland is in favour of resolving ethnic and border issues with the
observation of two principles: the principle of territorial integrity,
inviolability of borders and the principle of self-determination of
nations,” Komorowski stressed at a joint press conference with
Sargsyan when asked about EU support for reforms in the
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Komorowski also said that Poland “wishes the best for Armenia on her
road to European integration.” “This is the most important match that
Armenia can play,” he stressed.

The Polish president added that he counts on Armenia’s active
participation in the Eastern Partnership Summit in late September in
Warsaw. “Eastern Partnership offers many opportunities of which I
would like to emphasize one: the possibility of education and training
of clerical staff,” said Komorowski.

He pointed out that under the Eastern Partnership, an individual
country may propose specific projects. “The Partnership has funds for
the implementation of programs and projects that cover aid in carrying
out appropriate reforms in countries participating in this program,”
said Komorowski.

“The (Warsaw) Eastern Partnership summit will be a good time to
evaluate the project’s achievements and to assess the scope of used up
possibilities and progress of individual countries,” said Komorowski.
He added that it will also be an opportunity to underline the Polish
position that “accepting new challenges, the EU should remember old
commitments and strategic objectives, which include the neighbourhood
in the east,” said the president.

From: A. Papazian

SERZH SARGSYAN HAS TO BE CONVINCING
HAKOB BADALYAN

Lragir.am

29/07/2011

During the joint press conference with the President of Poland
Bronislaw Komorowski, Serzh Sargsyan, at the request of the Pole
reporters, dwelt on his expectations from the EU Eastern Partnership
Summit to be held in Warsaw, and noted that he expects a differentiated
approach.

Armenia should consistently promote this approach in its relations
with the European Union. The European policy can be effective in the
South Caucasus only if it is differentiated. There is an opinion that
the European Union considers the Caucasus a single area and views
its relations with the Caucasian countries on this platform.

But this prism is evident to be inefficient which is proven by the
slowness of the European policy and its ineffective course in the
South Caucasus. If Europe viewed the countries of the South Caucasus
separately and adopted a separate tactical and strategic approach,
it would ensure progress of the general European policy and its
effectiveness in the South Caucasus more than viewing the region as
a single area and determining the development of one country by the
development of the other one.

There is a long range of issues in the Caucasus, and if viewed as a
single area, obstacles and barriers will multiply. In case of separate
work with each country, the problems of relationships with one another
are eliminated, making the work of the European policy becomes easier.

But the Armenian authorities should not only demand, appeal or urge
such an approach from the European Union. They should show with the
help of their activities that this approach is justified and will be
effective. In other words, Armenia should accelerate or set to the
genuine course toward the European system of values. Europe should see
that a differentiated approach is really justified, and the countries,
Armenia in this case, are sincere in their aspirations and expectations
from differentiated work.

Armenia has not expressed enough sincerity yet, and in Armenia,
European values are mostly declarative and they are not the genuine
axis or generator of politics.

From: A. Papazian

HOSTILITY TO BE FORGOTTEN
Taguhi Hakobyan

Lragir.am

29/07/2011

>>From July 25 to August 4, Ali Akay, Art Coordinator, sociologist at
Istanbul Mimar Sinan University, will be visiting Armenia within the
frameworks of institutional and ideological action of transnational
art event organized by the National Association of Art Critics. Below
is an interview with Ali Akay.

Armenia and Turkey have been recently trying to overcome the obstacles
of the past and normalize their relations. What trends do you notice
in this process? Are both countries ready for further cooperation?

Trends of improvement of relations have been visible since 2000.

Turkish artists participated in the Biennale of Gyumri. Since 2000,
the Istanbul-based Agos newspaper has been publishing articles for
both the Armenian and Turkish audience. Journalists have done a great
deal of work to unite intellectuals, representatives of different
nationalities – Armenians, Turks and Kurds. When Hrant Dink was
killed, two million Turks took to the streets and chanted “We all
are Armenians”. The atmosphere is surely changeable. Sometimes,
our relations get complicated, sometimes right the opposite. Changes
are noticeable in Yerevan too. A generation of youths grew up who has
forgotten the hostility. If political figures should reach agreement,
the problems between two countries will be solved.

Do you think Hrant Dink’s murder was crucial for crushing stereotypes
in the Turkish thinking? Is there some progress in terms of freedom
of speech and media?

Since 2000, discussions of Armenian issues have been underway in
Turkey, and many intellectuals freely express their positions. There
are, of course, circles with radical moods that resist to the
normalization of relations. The more youths forget hostility, the
more progress there will be. There are people in Turkey who provoke
hostility for their interests and they only complicate the situation.

Those are secret services pursuing unlawful activities.

What is the role of modern art in Turkey and does it influence the
mentality of the society?

There was an artist in Turkey, who, after returning from the
Venice Biennale, started dwelling on issues of sexual and national
minorities. In these terms, modern art is trying to play a role.

Can the existing scientific and cultural ties between Armenia and
Turkey have a role and influence on the political processes?

I think university students should seek broadening their ties in the
fields of art and history and natural sciences.

Are there state programs in Turkey which sponsor studies of Turkish
youths abroad?

Of course, there are. There are exchange programs with European
universities. Besides, universities sign agreements with other
universities. This issue is solved in Turkey because universities
use their opportunities.

From: A. Papazian

WHAT IS THE TASK CONFRONTING SERZH SARGSYAN?

Heritage Party MP Larisa Alaverdyan welcomes the decision of Serzh
Sargsyan to reject Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s proposal
on Karabakh.

Though the proposal might contain positive points, Mrs. Alaverdyan
warns, “Any document contains a provision which lays the basis for
others.”

“As an OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country, Russia cannot ignore the
Minsk Group’s proposals – deployment of peacekeeping forces, the width
of Lachin corridor, the referendum in Artsakh, etc,” said Alaverdyan.

“Regardless of the current stage of talks, Armenian leadership today
has one major task – to alter the course of the conflict settlement.

This should be done not by nice words and curtsies, but through real
politics. The solution imposed from the outside will lead us and the
entire region to a dead end,” she stressed.

“The Armenian side today stands a wonderful opportunity to show the
world that all attempts – political, economic, and environmental –
to settle the Karabakh conflict were fruitless. Only legal way is
acceptable in the regulation of the conflict. To this end, Armenia
should take the initiative,” she said.

“What is the reason for the conflict? On the one side, it is the
national liberation movement led by Armenia and Azerbaijan’s struggle
for territorial integrity on the other side. We say let us see what
the notion “territorial integrity” means in light of legal documents
which were adopted before the Soviet rule and in the past 20 years.

Armenia has a perfect trump card today,” she continued.

The existing documents and Azerbaijan’s historiographic materials
testify that NKR gained independence before Azerbaijan appeared on
the map.

From: A. Papazian

NAGORNO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS ENTERS RATHER DIFFICULT STAGE – THOMAS DE WAAL

Tert.am
29.07.11

The Nagorno Karabakh peace process has entered a rather difficult
stage, Thomas de Waal, expert at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace, said, the Armenian service of Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported.

At the recent meeting in Kazan, official Baku offered about ten
amendments to the Kremlin-prepared document thereby thwarting the
meeting, whereas both the Russian leader and the leaders of the mediao
states had high expectations of it.

The expert points out three groups of Azerbaijan’s motives for acting
against the mediators’ will and failing to reach an agreement: First,
official Baku has objections to Lachin as a corridor.

Azerbaijani diplomatic sources informed the expert that Kremlin-drafted
final version of the Basic Principles did not specify Lachin’s status.

According to the document, Lachin may, for a while, have unspecified
status, which would take into account both the Armenian side’s concerns
over security and Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Official Baku objects, however: the borders of the Lachin corridor
are not specified nor does the document specify the status of the
39 villages forming part of the Lachin region without, however,
serving as part of the corridor. Moreover, the question is whether
the forcibly displaced Azerbaijanis will be granted the right to
return to the region.

Official Baku also objects to the idea according to which getting
interim status will afford Nagorno-Karabakh an opportunity to join
international organizations, the expert writes. However, Azerbaijan’s
reasons for raising the issues at the Kazan meeting remain unclear.

The West expected serious progress at the meeting, the expert stressed.

Among the reasons may be Azerbaijan’s second concern.

Baku considers Russia to be pro-Armenian. Moreover, it mistrusts
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose roots are of Armenian
descent.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan is not yet sure of who or which political
force will come to power in Russia after the 2012 presidential
election. So Azerbaijan’s concern is that the agreements reached now
may be broken in case Vladimir Putin is nominated.

The third reason that, according to the expert, makes Azerbaijan
keep from reaching an agreement as soon as possible is that time is
in Azerbaijan’s favor now.

Official Baku is sure that the regional arms race will eventually
make Armenia go bankrupt, and, just in a few years, the Armenian side
will be much weaker and forced into concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh’s
status.

However, this belief is beyond all reason for any expert keeping
track of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Thomas de Waal writes.

Specifically, Armenians respond that Armenia is much stronger now
than it was 20 years ago. It can always expect serious support from
the Armenian Diaspora. Moreover, as years pass, Nagorno-Karabakh’s
unrecognized statehood is being consolidated, and most of the young
people under 30 have never seen Azerbaijanis, the expert writes.

From: A. Papazian

POLITICIAN SAYS AUTHORITIES MIGHT FIND SNAP ELECTIONS ADVANTEGOUS

Tert.am
29.07.11

A former foreign minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Arman
Melikyan, does not rule out the possibility that the authorities in
Armenia may agree to snap elections.

At a news conference on Friday, Melikyan said that some time in the
future the ruling regime may even find early elections advantageous.

“New tendencies are being observed on the political arena, and I
think the forces which now form part of the ruling coalition may
cease to be coalition partners in future. That being the case, the
authorities may find early elections advantageous,” he said, adding
that the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) may replace one
of coalition partners in such situation.

Asked which force may quit coalition, he pointed out to Prosperous
Armenian.

“That’s what the current developments show,” Melikyan added.

The politician predicted only a 20% likelihood of reaching an agreement
over snap elections as a result of the ANC-authorities dialogue.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH COURT COMMENCES TRIAL OVER ARMENIAN SERVICEMEN’S MURDER

Tert.am
29.07.11

A Turkish court will start today the trial over the murder of Sevak
Shahin Balikci an ethnic Armenian servicemen who was killed earlier
this year in a military unit of the Turkish gendermerie, ETHA news
agency reported.

The Military Prosecutor’s Office in the Turkish town of Diyarberkir
calls for sentencing the culprit – Kivanc Agaoglu – to nine years in
prison on charges of negligent murder. The lawyer of Balikci’s famiy,
however, is going to demand that the perpetrator convicted on charges
of premeditated murder.

Balikci was shot dead on April 24. Official data suggest that
a bullet released accidentally from a fellow serviceman’s gun had
caused his death.

The media reported later Balikci had been periodically beaten by his
commander while in service. Some people in the military unit had even
threatened to burn him.

A subsequent probe revealed that Agaoglu was infatuated with
nationalist ideas, his Facebook posts being the most fair example
of that.

It’s noteworthy that the anti-racism commission of Turkey’s Human
Rights Union has filed a lawsuit against the General Headquarters of
the Turkish Armed Forces.

From: A. Papazian

SARKIS HATSPANIAN S’EST VU REFUSER LE STATUT DE RESIDENT TEMPORAIRE EN ARMENIE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 29 juillet 2011
ARMENIE

Hayots Achkhar, Jamanak, Aravot et Haykakan Jamanak relèvent que
le ressortissant francais d’origine armenienne, Sarkis Hatspanian,
s’est vu refuser le statut de resident temporaire en Armenie.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIAN EXPERT ACCUSED RUSSIA OF DESTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS KARABAKH

news.am
July 28, 2011
Armenia

TBILISI. – Renewal of hostilities on Nagorno-Karabakh threatens both
national interests of Georgia and stability of South Caucasus, said
the head of European Integration Research Center Vasil Chkoidze in
an interview to Pirveli agency.

According to him, if the sides do not find a certain minimal
compromise, there will be a serious threat of new war. Russia will
try to make advantage of the situation and will try to use Georgian
territory for transit of Armenian forces and supplies to its ally,
Armenia.

“This means that Georgia is automatically involved in the conflict, but
Russia could as well go beyond the declared objectives and disseminate
instability or an armed conflict in Georgia,” said Chkoidze.

He mentioned that the resumption of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh does
not correspond to the interests of any country but the destructive
role of Russia in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is aimed
at preserving the status quo, which increases the chances the renewal
of hostilities.

From: A. Papazian

ERDOGAN AND ALIYEV TO DISCUSS REGIONAL ISSUES

Noyan Tapan

25.07.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 25.07.2011) According to Azerbaijan media, Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will leave for Azerbaijan. Within
the frames of the visit, which will take place on July 27, Erdogan
will meet Azerbaijani President Ihlam Aliyev and the sides will
discuss regional and international development issues and the
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations.

From: A. Papazian