Author: Andres-Papazian

UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PAYS TRIBUTE TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: Foreign Minister of Ukraine
Konstantin Grishchenko, who is on an official visit to Armenia,
visited today the Tsitsernakaberd (Swallow’s Fortress) memorial
and put a wreath on the monument for the memory of the victims of
the Armenian Genocide. At the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute,
Konstantin Grishchenko got acquainted with the museum’s exhibits and
photos on the Genocide, committed 1915 by Ottoman Turkey.

‘The visit to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial made an unforgettable
impression on me. The pain, the Armenian nation experienced 1915, is
understandable and not alien for the Ukrainian people, who experienced
the most tragic page of their history in 1932-1933. I wish to the
friendly nation of Armenia economic stability and prosperity,’
according to Grishchenko’s note in the commemoration book of the
museum. Konstantin Grishchenko planted a fir tree in the Memory Park
of the Tsitsernakaberd memorial.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA`S TWO RULING PARTIES SWAGE ECONOMIC STRUGGLE, POLITICIAN SAYS

news.am
Feb 11 2011
Armenia

The confrontation between the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the
Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) is of economic nature, Aram Karaetyan,
Chairman of the New Times Party, told journalists February 11.

“The two forces have no ideological or political disagreements. Their
struggle is for more seats in Parliament and economic rights,” he said.

As to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Karapetyan said that
hostilities are more likely to resume as long as the problems remains
unsettled. “The problem needs resolving. We must do our best to avert
large-scale war. It will prove a real disaster for Armenians. However,
we must realize that, as long as we are regressing, the international
community may think it should bring Armenia to its knees to resolve
the problem,” te politician said.

From: A. Papazian

OSCE CANNOT HELP SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT – MP

news.az
Feb 11 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Fazil Mustafa, MP, member of the Azerbaijani
delegation in OSCE PA.

What does the Azerbaijani side expect from the new rapporteur of the
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Karabakh conflict, whose personality
will be identified during the upcoming 24-25 February winter session
of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly?

This is possible only in case of objective approach to the problem.

The matter is that the OSCE does not provide any assistance in the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Therefore, people, appointed
for the post of the OSCE PA rapporteur on the Karabakh conflict, do
not even move to assist the resolution of the problem. The approach
of the OSCE assembly rapporteurs to the resolution of the problem is
only restricted with the provision of the Armenian interests. In this
respect, it has no sense for the Azerbaijani side to hope that the new
OSCE PA rapporteur on Karabakh conflict can attain any breakthrough
in the resolution of this problem. In this respect I can say that
the resolutions on Karabakh, passed in the OSCE PA, will also not
promote Azerbaijan’s interests.

Could the previous rapporteur of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on
Karabakh conflict Goran Lennmarket contribute to peaceful resolution
of the problem?

This rapporteur prepared a report, however, he could not submit it for
discussion. He did not dare to do it, since then he would be obliged
to admit that Azerbaijani lands are occupied. For this purpose and in
order not to say a word about occupation of Azerbaijani lands, Goran
Lennmarker did not submit the report for discussion. In this view,
his work should be considered not only unsatisfactory but also far
from being objective and even pro-Armenian.

Are the OSCE PA rapporteurs independent in preparing their reports
on Karabakh?

Nothing depends on rapporteurs. In other words, they just fix in
their reports the position of the superpowers, on which the Karabakh
conflict settlement depends.

The mandate for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict has been
presented to the OSCE. Is this organization able to settle this
conflict independently?

OSCE has no militarized structures and they act at the instruction
of the United States and other big European states. In other words,
OSCE is not able to adopt independent decisions without looking back
to the position of superpowers.

Then is the UN able to settle the Karabakh conflict?

UN is the organization on the level of which it is possible to find
a solution to the problem. However, as is known the four resolutions
of UN, adopted on Karabakh, are not fulfilled. Meanwhile, if the UN
solutions are not fulfilled, this means the influence of the position
on the problem of a big country, represented in the UN Security
Council. All the same, I want to say that in this issue, the United
States and Russia voice the same position and provide assistance to
Armenia, in particular, in the failure to return Azerbaijani lands
to it. Thus, this situation means for Azerbaijan that it should not
hope for UN.

On the whole, is there a way out of the situation established in
the negotiation process and the overall peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict in the nearest future?

I have no such hope. Azerbaijan just has to strengthen its military
force and thus force aggressor to peace. In this case, it is not
necessary to apply military force. Azerbaijan just needs to have a
real power and opportunities to demonstrate it. I would like to note
that positive achievements in Karabakh solution can be attained only
in case Azerbaijan has a real military force.

Which changes in our region can influence the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict?

Naturally, every case in the region can influence the changes in
the situation. But changes in our region are an exception. This
is connected with the fact that changes in the situation in the
region are mostly connected with changes in Russia. Therefore, I am
confident that the situation in the Caucasus region can change in
case of profound and sharp changes inside Russia.

From: A. Papazian

RA FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER: AZERBAIJAN INTERESTED IN MOVING THE DISCUSSION OF KARABAKH ISSUE FROM THE FORMAT OF MINSK GROUP

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: PACE’s Nagorno Karabakh Subcommittee
did not display productivity during its previous activity in regard
to registering progress in the negotiation process of the NK issue
regulation, Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandyan said
today at a meeting with journalists.

Referring to the question why Azerbaijan was actively interested in
resuming of the works of that subcommittee, Mr. Nalbandyan stressed
that it proves once more that Azerbaijan is more interested in moving
the discussion of the Karabakh issue to other formats and not to go
on with the negotiations in the same format, which has been existing
for many years, which is the co-presidency of the OSCE Minsk group.

“Azerbaijan does not wish to settle the conflict by means of the
co-chairs, and tries to take the inner propaganda to the international
level, to raise noise over the conflict, and not to be engaged in
the concrete solution of the issue,” the Minister pointed out. “In
this regard our position was the same that was expressed by our
parliamentarians at the PACE and by the Armenian Foreign Affairs
Minister,” Mr. Nalbandyan stressed.

From: A. Papazian

COMMISSION TO ORGANIZE INDEPENDENCE DAY SET UP IN KARABAKH

news.am
Feb 11 2011
Armenia

President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Sahakyan signed a decree
on Friday on celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the
NKR declaration.

Under the decree a state commission on organizing and systemizing
the celebrations is set up. The commission is to discuss and adopt
a program of festive arrangements within a month.

The ministries of education and science, culture and youth affairs,
“The Artsakh Republic Public TV and Radio”, the editorial staff of
the “Azat Artsakh” republican newspaper were assigned to elaborate
projects dedicated to the historical significance of the republic’s
independence.

From: A. Papazian

ARMAN MELIKYAN: ‘INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP JUST TENDS TO THREATEN WITH DANGER OF WAR’

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: The International Crisis Group’s
‘Armenia and Azerbaijan: Preventing War’ report was an attempt to
threaten Armenia with the danger of war, according to Arman Melikyan,
former foreign minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. He said
today at a meeting with journalists that the authors of the report
are people, who always use falsification, disregard the issue of
Armenian refugees and show biased attitude when preparing reports.

The International Crisis Group has published recently a report, titled
‘Armenia and Azerbaijan: Preventing War’. The report mentions that
‘2010 saw little progress in the Minsk Group-mediated talks’ and that
front-line clashes were escalated. The report says most Armenians
feel the risks of changing the status quo outweigh the benefits.

‘They say they would have to withdraw without a real guarantee
of security, in return for a vaguely-defined “interim status” for
Nagorno-Karabakh that would include a promise of a vote on final
status but no indication of when it would occur and whether it could
lead to independence,’ the report mentions. ‘According to the report
this will bring to a war. However with this report they just tend to
threaten us with the danger of war,’ the speaker said.

From: A. Papazian

ALEXANDER MARGAROV SAYS REGIONAL VISIT OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS POSITIVE

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

The regional visit of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs is positive,
as it proved once again that the talks will go on with that formats,
according to Alexander Margarov, political scientist, head of the
Institute of CIS States Armenian branch. He said today at a meeting
with journalists that the fact the parties tend to keep the negotiation
format and partake in the process of talks is positive as well and
it will bring to some positive results.

‘Actually, the negative side is that we do not have a document,
drafted by mutual consent of the parties,’ the speaker said. He noted
that it is necessary to draft a basic document, in which the points
and principles, about which the parties have reached an agreement,
will be involved. The OSCE Minsk group co-chairs met February 9 with
the RA president, RA foreign minister and RA defense minister in
Yerevan. Because of bad weather, the co-chairs did not visit Artsakh.

Now the mediators are in Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

BELMONT’S BOYNERIAN TO SPEAK AT MEN’S RETREAT

Belmont Citizen-Herald

Feb 11 2011
MA

Belmont, Mass. – The Rev. Avedis Boynerian, the senior pastor of the
Armenian Memorial Church of Watertown, will address the Men’s Retreat
of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church of Fresno.

The retreat will take place Feb. 25 to Feb. 27 at the 320-acre
Hartland Christian Camp in the Sequoia National Forest. The theme of
the weekend conference is Men of Integrity.

A native of Lebanon, Boynerian played soccer with Homenetmen, a first
division Armenian football team in Beirut (1977-1981). He received his
undergraduate education at Haigazian University (1983) and graduate
theological education at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut
(earning Masters degrees in 1986 and 2001) and Princeton Theological
Seminary in New Jersey (earning a Masters in Practical Theology
in 1987).

>From 1987 to 2003, Reverend Boynerian served as Minister to the
Armenian Evangelical Martyrs Church of Aleppo, Syria. For a number
of years he also served as Youth Worker of the Christian Endeavor
Society of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in Syria. The Union of
the Armenian Evangelical Churches of the Near East ordained him a
Minister of the Word and Sacraments in 1990.

In October 2003, Boynerian was called to the pulpit of the Armenian
Memorial Church, a venerable member congregation of the United
Church of Christ located at 32 Bigelow Ave. in Watertown. Since his
arrival in the Bay State, Reverend Boynerian has served as Moderator
of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America and President
of the Watertown Ministerial Association. He co-authored the book,
“Receive One Another Hospitality in Ecumenical Perspective,” (2005)
and broadcasts Armenian language sermons on Armenian Independent
Radio in Boston.

Boynerian and his wife, Dr. Arpi Pamboukian, an ophthalmologist,
met in her hometown of Homs, Syria and were married in September 1988.

They have two sons, Antranig and Arek, and the family resides in
Belmont, Massachusetts.

Forty immigrants from Marsovan chartered the Fresno congregation in
a rented hall on July 25, 1897. The congregation formally joined the
family of Presbyterian Churches in October of that same year. The
boyhood church of authors William Saroyan and A.I. Bezzerides and
filmmaker J. Michael Hagopian, FAPC today is a multigenerational
evangelical congregation drawn from the Old and New Worlds.

Retreat reservations can be made by e-mailing [email protected] or calling
559-237-6638.

From: A. Papazian

E. NALBANDYAN: BEFORE MAKING EXPERT ASSESSMENTS LISTEN TO OSCE MINSK GROUP OPINION

Panorama
Feb 11 2011
Armenia

“I am familiar with the International Crisis Group report. The
authors present it as an expert opinion, but the experts can have
different opinions and their opinions do not necessarily always meet
the reality,” Armenian FM Edward Nalbandyan declared in a joint news
conference with Ukrainian FM making his remarks on Crisis Group report
about NK conflict.

Armenian FM said before releasing any expert opinion, before making
assessments, it should be carefully studied if they don’t worsen
the situation.

“OSCE Minsk Group deal with the NK conflict resolution, they
are familiar with the conflict history and the situation in the
negotiations. Hence, before making expert assessments, they should
have first listened to OSCE Minsk Group opinion,” Armenian FM said.

From: A. Papazian

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: VISIT OF UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO GIVE A NEW IMPETUS TO EXPANSION OF BILATERAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 11, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan received today Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostantyn
Hryshchenko. Governmental press service told Armenpress that welcoming
the guest, the Prime Minister attached importance to the role of
mutual visits in strengthening of the relations of the two countries,
pointing out that the visit of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister will
give a new impetus to expansion of the bilateral political dialogue,
deepening of commercial-economic and humanitarian ties.

“All the efforts should be exerted to strengthen and develop the
friendly and brotherly ties traditionally developed between our
peoples. We consider it a primary direction of the foreign policy of
Armenia. Making use of the occasion of the visit, we want to gain
concrete agreements in regard to the directions of the cooperation
in order we become sure that there is a program of concrete events,
which we can collaboratively implement,” the Prime Minister said.

During the meeting the interlocutors spoke with gratification about the
efficient cooperation extended between the two countries. Pointing out
the necessity of realization of the whole potential in the direction
of deepening of the commercial and economic cooperation, bilateral
importance was attached to the activity of the Armenian-Ukrainian
Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation. The parties
discussed the prospects on deepening of the cooperation in a number
of spheres.

In particular, issues concerning development of relations in the
spheres of transport, trade, food industry and metallurgy were touched
upon. The opportunities of expansion of the scientific-technical
cooperation between Armenia and Ukraine were referred as well. In
the context of expansion of the humanitarian and cultural ties,
the conduction of cultural days was highlighted. And in regard to
strengthening of the relations of the two countries importance was
attached to Armenian President’s visit to Ukraine in 2011.

From: A. Papazian