ARMENIA: 10 MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF THE YEAR
news.am
Dec 29 2010
Armenia
1. ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS: THE TALKS CAME TO A DEAD END.
On April 22, President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree suspending the
ratification process of the Armenian-Turkish protocols.
The Armenian leader explained his move: Turkey was not ready and
not willing to normalize relations with its neighbors. “Turkey
has taken a step back, retreated from its commitments and not only
has not ratified the protocols, but returned to its old arguments:
preconditions, warnings and even threats” stated Serzh Sargsyan.
October 10, 2009, in Zurich, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
and Turkey signed the “Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations” and “Protocol for the development of bilateral relations”,
which needed to be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries.
However, this did not happen.
The signing ceremony was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and France Bernard
Kouchner, as well as Secretary General of the Council of the European
Union Javier Solana. The signing ceremony was at the center of the
world’s attention, broadcast on 70 TV channels.
However, on December 7, 2009, Turkey linked the Armenian-Turkish
process to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During a meeting with U.S.
President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
that Ankara would not ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols without
resolution of the Karabakh conflict. On April 22, 2010, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree suspending the ratification
process.
2. RUSSIAN BASE IN ARMENIA WILL STAY FOR SEVERAL MORE DECADES
August19-22, during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to
Yerevan, a Protocol was signed amending the agreement between Russia
and Armenia regarding the Russian military base in Armenia.
In accordance with the amendments, the term of the Russian military
bases on Armenian territory will be extended from 25 to 49 years. In
addition, according to the document, the Russian military base,
apart from protecting the interests of the Russian Federation, in
conjunction with the Armed Forces of Armenia provides security to
the Republic of Armenia.
3. AZERBAIJANI DIVERSION
On June 18 at 23:30 local time, an Azerbaijani armed diversion group
infiltrated the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, near the
village of Chailu. As a result of the retaliatory battle, the enemy
pulled back. Four soldiers from the Karabakh side were killed, four
more were wounded. The Azeri side left one dead on the battlefield –
Mubariz Ibragimov. Subsequently, Ibragimov was declared a hero in
Azerbaijan.
4. KARABAKH PROSESS: CHRONOLOGY OF MEETINGS
June 17, St. Petersburg
On June 17, St. Petersburg hosted a trilateral meeting between the
presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan with the participation
of foreign ministers of those countries. Parties were offered the
latest version of the Madrid principles.
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said that
the Armenian side accepted the proposals in November 2007, and all
proposals made afterwards had a working nature. Elmar Mamedyarov said
that “the Armenian side, on the one hand, says that they concede to
the Madrid Principles and on the other – says it could not agree with
some points.”
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan also held meetings with the
OSCE Minsk Group, after which Ilham Aliyev suddenly left St.
Petersburg and returned to Baku.
On the night of June 19, an Azerbaijani diversion group penetrated
the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
June 26, Canadian Muskoka
Principles, published in L’Aquila on July 10, 2009, were announced
June 26, 2010 in the Canadian city of Muskoka in a joint statement by
President Dmitry Medvedev, President Barack Obama and French President
Nicolas Sarkozy:
“We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries,
France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America,
reaffirm our commitment to support the leaders of Armenia and
Azerbaijan as they finalize the Basic Principles for the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
We welcome as a significant step the recognition by both sides that
a lasting settlement must be based upon the Helsinki Principles and
the elements that we proposed in connection with our statement at the
L’Aquila Summit of the Eight on July 10, 2009, relating to: the return
of the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, interim
status for Nagorno-Karabakh guaranteeing security and self-governance,
a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh; final status of
Nagorno-Karabakh to be determined in the future by a legally-binding
expression of will, the right of all internally-displaced persons and
refugees to return, and international security guarantees, including
a peacekeeping operation.
Now the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan need to take the next
step and complete the work on the Basic Principles to enable the
drafting of a peace agreement to begin. We instruct our Ministers and
Co-Chairs to work intensively to assist the two sides to overcome
their differences in preparation for a joint meeting in Almaty on
the margins of OSCE Informal Ministerial.”
“On October 27, 2010 the Presidents of the Republic of Armenia, the
Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation met in Astrakhan
at the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation and
discussed thoroughly the process and the prospects of the resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The talks were held on the return of POWs in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
There a total of eight POWs, six military and two civilians’ bodies.
On the Armenian side – Manvel Saribekyan; and from Azerbaijan –
Mubariz Ibragimov and Farid Akhmedov.
Manvel Saribekyan
Saribekyan was arrested on September 11 on the frontline of the Armed
Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Azerbaijani side called him an
Armenian saboteur. Shortly after his detention, Azerbaijan’s ANS TV
broadcast a report in which Manvel Saribekyan was identified “for his
training in subversive activities in Azerbaijan.” The corresponding
video appeared on YouTube.
Subsequently, information was received from Baku that “Saribekyan had
committed suicide.” According to a report Manvel Saribekyan was found
with a strangulated scar on the neck characteristic to a person who
has been hanged and forensic experts did not find traces of violence
on his body.
According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, Saribekyan was a lost
shepherd who was looking for his missing cattle and crossed the
Armenia-Azerbaijani border; Azerbaijan persistently said Saribekyan
was a member of an Armenian diversion group. Following this, the
Azerbaijani propaganda machine spread an “interview” with Mr.
Saribekyan through YouTube, in which he stated that he had been
trained for terrorist acts on Azerbaijan’s territory. However, expert
assessment of the video concluded that the video was filmed under
physical and psychological pressure.
On October 26, Azerbaijani authorities handed over the death
certificate of the deceased to the International Committee of the
Red Cross.
The Order of the Prosecutor General of Armenia initiated criminal
proceedings under Part 2 of Article 104 of RA Criminal Code
(premeditated murder with extreme cruelty).
After the examination held in Armenia, doctors concluded that
Saribekyan’s death occurred as a result of violence.
December 1-2, Astana
December 1-2 in Astana, after 11 years, a long-awaited summit of the
OSCE was held. However, the expectations were, apparently, useless.
Analysts described the summit as a failure. The final summit
declaration was made after half and hour of negotiations, yet it
was adopted.
A statement on Karabakh was made a day earlier.
In a statement, the heads of delegations of the OSCE Minsk Group –
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and President Ilham Aliyev, “agreed that
the time has come for more decisive steps in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”
In this regard, they discussed the joint statement of the Presidents
of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, which were adopted on November 2,
2008 in Moscow and on October 27 2010 in Astrakhan. They also agreed
that a peaceful and negotiated solution will bring stability and
security, and this is the only path that will lead to reconciliation
between the peoples of the region.
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their commitment to
achieving a final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, based
on the principles and norms of international law, the UN Charter,
the Helsinki Final Act and the joint statement of Presidents of the
USA, Russia and France which were made on July 10, 2009 in L’Aquila
and June 26, 2010 in Muskoka.
“The three countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group, have expressed
their support to the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in making
their decisions required to reach a peaceful settlement. They
called upon the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, with renewed
energy to focus on those issues that still remain unmatched in the
Basic Principles and instructed the co-chairs of the Minsk Group in
their countries to continue working with the parties to the conflict,
contributing to their efforts in this direction. In order to create a
better atmosphere for negotiations, they called on to take additional
measures to strengthen the ceasefire and confidence-building measures
in all spheres”, the statement said.
5. FAREWELL “CONCERT” YEREVAN MAYOR
On December 8, Gagik Beglaryan resigned. It all happened after Placido
Domingo’s concert in Yerevan …
On December 3, world-famous Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo
gave a concert in Yerevan, which was attended by senior officials
of Armenia headed by Serzh Sargsyan. Minister of Culture Hasmik
Poghosyan issued the invitations and guest accommodation for this
important event. Among the invited guests was the mayor of Yerevan
Gagik Beglaryan, however, although he was not present at the concert
his wife with her girlfriend attended. These “elite ladies” sat in the
seats right next to the seat reserved for Serzh Sargsyan. According
to the official protocol, the seat next to the president is reserved
for His Holiness the Catholicos of all Armenians, the prime minister
or the speaker of parliament. In order to keep this protocol, Aram
Kandayan, an employee of the president’s protocol office, approached
Beglaryan’s wife, asking her to change her seat to the next chair.
Mrs. Beglaryan was offended because, by invitation, this place was
meant for Yerevan’s Mayor and his wife. Mrs. Beglaryan expressed her
resentment to her husband. Gagik Beglaryan, being “a real Armenian
man,” decided to punish “the insulter of his wife.” He arranged a
meeting with Aram Kandayan.
Kandayan met Beglaryan and was hit in the face while still in the car,
a punch which was accompanied by the words “who are you to tell my
wife where she to sit.”
After the scandal became public, Beglaryan was forced to resign.
On December 17 the Council of Elders elected a new mayor – the head
of the company ArmRosgazprom Karen Karapetyan. This position did not
come as a surprise, given that the Council of Elders Republican Party
has an absolute majority – 35 seats.
6. ARMENIA: GOVERMENT RESHUFFLE
The mayor’s scandalous departure was followed by other high-profile
removals.
On December 9, the Minister of Justice of Armenia Gevorg Danielyan was
relieved from his post. Hrayr Tovmasyan was appointed to replace him.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that Danielyan was dismissed for
failure to properly conduct his responsibilities. The Premier said
that the Minister of Justice has not adhered to ethical standards.
On December 17, Nerses Yeritsyan was dismissed as Minister of Economics
and was appointed deputy head of the Central Bank of Armenia for a
period of six years. Tigran Davtyan, Minister of Finance took the
vacant seat of the Economy Minister. Vache Gabrielyan, deputy head
of the Central Bank, was appointed for the post of Finance Minister.
On December 27, the Minister of Agriculture Gerasimos Alaverdyan was
withdrawn from his position by the “Rule of Law” party. This decision
was made after a consultation with the President of Armenia, and the
name of the new head office will be known early in the New Year.
7. U.S. CHOICE: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION THROWN OVERBOARD
In the course of this year’s last session of the House of
Representatives, Resolution No. 252, condemning the Armenian Genocide,
despite the expectations of the Armenian lobby, was not included in
the agenda.
However, a small victory was gained: on March 4 this year, the U.S.
Committee on Foreign Relations voted to adopt Resolution No. 252,
condemning the Armenian Genocide by 23 votes in favor and 22 votes
against.
The U.S. State Department categorically opposed the resolution of the
House of Representatives on the Armenian Genocide. Washington does
not want to lose its relationship with one of its main allies – Turkey.
Ankara has actively tried to avert the discussion. Hillary Clinton
held talks with the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister of Turkey.
They asked Clinton to do everything to stop the resolution from not
being adopted.
The head of the office of Hay Dat and Political Affairs ARF Kiro
Manoyan, after the failure of the resolution, told NEWS.am, Resolution
No. 252, condemning the Armenian Genocide, was not included in the
agenda of the U.S. House of Representatives because of the behavior of
Speaker Nancy Pelosi. According to him, Pelosi has behaved improperly
and did not keep her promise made to the Armenian-American community
to bring the resolution up for the consideration.
He recalled that the issue has been adjourned 10 times within the last
four years. “The decision not put the resolution on the agenda was
ill-intentioned. The majority of congressmen stood for the resolution
and were positive about it,” he stressed, recalling Pelosi’s statement
that Resolution No. 252will be put to a vote if there are enough votes.
On December 22, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to put the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, Resolution No. 252, on the congressional agenda
killing the prospects for the passage of this legislation during this
session of Congress.
The Turkish lobby and the administration of President Barack Obama
launched a campaign against the resolution. A number of Armenian
leaders, including the world-famous rock musician Serj Tankian
and model Kim Kardashian, appealed to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Nancy Pelosi calling for her to include the resolution
on the agenda. But their efforts were not successful in 2010 …
8. DRAFT BILL ON FOREIGN-LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
On December 22, Armenian Parliament adopted a bill on amendments to
the Laws “On language” and “On education” with 69 votes for and 1
against. The bill provides for the opening of a limited number of
foreign language schools in the country.
Independent MP Victor Dallakyan voted against the bill, whereas ARFD
and Heritage parliamentary groups refrained voting.
In the early 1990s the authorities banned education in Russian language
for the Armenian citizens. In fact almost all Russian schools were
closed.
The bill provides for the opening of two private foreign-language
schools and nine schools created on the basis of inter-state agreements
(not only Russian schools but also English and French).
Several protest actions were held amid the debates over bills.
9. INCIDENTS IN THE ARMENIAN ARMY
Tragic incidents in the Armenian army were, for the first time
meticulously discussed in Armenian society. The authorities claim they
do not intend to shut their eyes to their shortcomings and clear the
army of those who discredit the army’s honor.
On July 27, Lieutenant Artak Nazaryan was killed, while another 5
soldiers and an officer died the next day in an incident that occurred
due to violation of army rules.
On August 17, Junior Sergeant Harutyun Vardanyan fired twice at
contract soldier Arsen Chobanyan who died at the scene. Under the
decree of Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, eight officers were
dismissed, some were deprived of their titles and had to pay fines.
In September a video showing a drunk Major Sasun Galstyan humiliating
and beating soldiers – Sergeant Garik Harutunyan and Private Bakur
Yeghikyan – was posted on YouTube. The Defense Ministry issued a
statement saying that criminal proceedings had been initiated. Sasun
Galstyan was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. He was found
guilty under Article 375, Part 1of the Armenian Criminal Code (abuse
of power).
Another incident occurred on November 19 on the line of contact
between the Azerbaijani and Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces.
Four soldiers of the NKR Defense Army were killed: Levon S. Yesayan
(born in 1991), Nerses V. Galoyan (born in 1990), Narek V. Sahakyan
(born in 1990) and Never M. Sargsyan (born in 1991). Four soldiers
were wounded: Sargis A. Melkumyan (born in 1991), Khachik S. Alexanyan
(born in 1992), Masis M. Grigoryan (born in 1991) and Manvel A.
Hazroyan (born in 1991). The suspect, Manvel Hazroyan, was
hospitalized.
10. TV COMPANIES DENIED BROADCASTING
At its December 16 meeting, the RA Television and Radio Commission
announced the results of contests for broadcasting licenses. The A1+
TV Company was denied a license once again.
In the 11th contest, a package submitted by the A1+ TV Company
received only two points, while the one submitted by the ArmNews TV
Company got 44 points. Interestingly, seven of the eight Commission
members did not give any points to A1+. Ara Tadevosyan, Director of
the Mediamax agency, was the only Commission member that gave A1+
and ArmNews two points each.
NEWS.am staff wishes you happiness and prosperity.
From: A. Papazian