Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT NOT TO SIGN ANY CRITICAL “ROAD MAP”, ARAM KARAPETYAN SAYS

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

World community intends first to resolve the Karabakh conflict and
then open the Armenian-Turkish border, Aram Karapetyan, the leader
of New Times Party, told the journalists today.

At the moment world community sees the following compromise
“territories – interim status”, he noted, adding that as soon as
peace process is unacceptable to international community everything
finishes like it was in Dayton (city in U.S. where general framework
agreement for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina was signed).

Speaking of possible signing of a “road map” on Karabakh, Karapetyan
stressed it would be imposed to the parties during the Astana summit.

“The sides will possibly sign a document showing they have political
will. However, Serzh Sargsyan will not sign any critical document,”
he stressed.

From: A. Papazian

RPA PUT END TO CRISIS IN ARMENIA?

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

The chapters of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) are always ready
for elections, as the party has a sufficient number of daily working
offices, Chairman of the RPA parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan told
journalists Nov. 2.

He found it difficult to forecast the percentage of votes the RPA
may receive at the elections. “There is not the political spirit
required for saying this now. The other election teams, especially the
Opposition, should have launched their activities much earlier. They
have not done too much for this period,” Sahakyan said. He pointed
out that the RPA’s task is to fulfill all its promises before the
elections.

As regards the promises the party has fulfilled over the period,
Sahakyan said. “We have gone through a force majeur. No one could
think there would be a crisis. However, under those circumstances,
we were able to resolve quite a number of problems. Without reducing
the social budget, we implemented large-scale programs. We are the
only state that has never reduced the social budget. The people may
be dissatisfied with what has been done, but we curbed the crisis
and made progress,” Sahakyan said.

From: A. Papazian

NO PREREQUISITES FOR A “ROAD MAP” ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH,” RPA MEMBER SAYS

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

At the moment, the recognition of Karabakh by Armenia is not
expedient. Generally speaking it will produce no result, MP from
Republican parliamentary group (RPA) Artak Zakaryan told the reporters
on Tuesday.

“Our fellows from “Heritage” parliamentary faction consider the bill
should be kept on the political agenda,” he said.

As for the possible signing of a “road map” on Nagorno-Karabakh at
OSCE summit in Astana, the MP said: “Certainly, there are some factors
affecting the peace process, but this does not mean they will directly
influence Astana Summit. The mediators’ efforts are aimed at converging
the conflicting parties, not applying force on them. At the moment,
there are no prerequisites for road maps.

Asked whether Republican Party of Armenia is aware of the negotiation
process and activities of its leaders, Zakaryan evaded a direct
answer, saying: “The peace process is confidential. No prerequisites
are available whether a road map, document or another project will
be drafted.”

From: A. Papazian

ERGENEKON SENT AGENT TO ARMENIA AND KARABAKH

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

In the course of a scandalous trial on Ergenekon case testimony
previously given by Erhan Keskin, who attempted to kill former General
Levent Ersoz, was confirmed. He stated that had visited Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh to collect information.

Erhan Keskin confessed he had arrived at the Istanbul hospital to
kill Levent Ersoz. He also confessed that had done it on Ergenekon’s
order to make the General silent.

Keskin also stressed that instructed by a soldier of the Turkish armed
forces (also involved in Ergenekon case) he had studied Armenian in
Diyarbakir. Then he headed to Yerevan, Baku and Karabakh to collect
information.

As NEWS.am reported earlier, Erhan Keskin, arrested on charges of
assassination attempt on Ergenekon suspect Levent Ersoz, told the
policemen he did not know who he had to kill in the hospital. He said
he was waiting for a man who had to tell him the name of a victim. The
man was late and Keskin started firing in the air and was arrested
by security guards.

From: A. Papazian

NO “ROAD MAP” TO BE SIGNED AT ASTANA SUMMIT WITHOUT KARABAKH’S STATUS, RPA MP SAYS

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

We will stand our grounds and no road map on Nagorno-Karabakh will be
signed without Karabakh’s status determination, Secretary of Republican
parliamentary group (RPA) Galust Sahakyan told NEWS.am, commenting on
possible signing of “road map” on Karabakh at OSCE Summit in Astana,
on December 1-2.

“A road map is a soft word. First of all, Karabakh’s status is of
great importance for us,” Galstyan said.

As NEWS.am reported previously, RF President Dmitry Medvedev spoke of
possible signing of a “road map” on Nagorno-Karabakh at the meeting
with Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Astrakhan, on October 27.

As to the ban on YouTube in Armenian National Assembly, Galstyan
said: “I do not think there are real guarantees to block YouTube. We
should be able to differentiate between reality and slander. These
propaganda machines aim at weakening Armenia,” he stressed. The
parliamentarian said he is unaware why You-Tube is unavailable in
the Armenian Parliament.

From: A. Papazian

RECOGNIZING KARABAKH WE BLACKMAIL WORLD COMMUNITY, NEW TIMES PARTY LEADER SAYS

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

Recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh should have started long ago, presently
it will not produce any qualitative changes, Aram Karapetyan, the
leader of New Times Party, told the journalists today.

“If not a single country recognizes Karabakh after Armenia, it may
lead to destabilization in the region. I welcome Heritage Party’s
proposal, but, following national interests, I consider that the best
decision is not to put the bill to the vote,” he noted.

According to him, the ruling party is unlikely to vote against. “First
they said they would vote against but some clever people advised
them not to vote at all. In case, not a single state, except for
Armenia, recognizes Karabakh after Astana summit, it will appear
we are blackmailing world community that would hardly have a good
outcome,” he stated.

From: A. Papazian

UKRAINE’S SUPPORT TO AZERBAIJAN IN KARABAKH ISSUE TO REMAIN CHANGELESS

news.az
Nov 2 2010
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Natalia Shpak, head of Foreign languages department,
Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, MFA of Ukraine.

How do you assess Azerbaijan’s role in the South Caucasus?

I believe Azerbaijan is becoming a leader and the future of the entire
region will depend on this country and not only the South Caucasus
but also the countries bordering on this region. I think Azerbaijan’s
role will grow in a wider region, including Iran and Turkey.

As for energy, I am confident that Azerbaijan will be playing a great
role in Europe. This is a very promising country.

With Yanukovich at power, most started to speak of the weakening
of Ukraine’s course for integration with the West and in this
connection-weakening of cooperation with Azerbaijan in this direction.

What can you say about it?

Azerbaijan and Ukraine are really bound with friendship and they are
even older than if we take the past 20 years after the USSR collapse.

Our countries have traditionally been friends. Though economic
cooperation between our countries is not so active, like it was
previously and today Ukraine is not the first priority of Azerbaijan
in economic cooperation, our humanitarian and cultural ties, merely
friendship between our peoples are very strong.

Will interaction of Baku and Kiev by the line of European integration
be changed?

As for changes in the government and possible changes in the course,
I think there will be no principal changes in the relations with
Azerbaijan. In this sense, the visit of the Azerbaijani president to
Ukraine can be considered demonstrative. Ukraine has really removed
the issue of its membership from the agenda, but European integration
remains on the agenda. We hope for associated membership and in this
sense our interests with Azerbaijan and strivings fully coincide.

Can Azerbaijan further hope for Kiev’s support within the framework
of discussions of the issue of “frozen” conflicts in GUAM space,
about Nagorno Karabakh conflict, in particular in UN?

I cannot assess prospects of the conflict settlement, since the issue
is really very difficult. But the only thing I can say is that our
support remains changeless. Ukraine will always support Azerbaijan
in this issue.

From: A. Papazian

AUTONOMY WITHIN AZERBAIJAN ‘ONLY SOLUTION’ FOR KARABAKH
Lala B. News.Az

news.az
Nov 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Hans Koechler News.Az interviews Dr Hans Koechler, chair of political
philosophy at the University of Innsbruck. The contradiction between
the principle of territorial integrity and the rights of nations to
self-determination is a problem for the resolution of territorial
conflicts. As an expert on international law, what do you think is
the way out of the situation?

I am convinced that the rights of nations to self-determination can
be exercised by the population within the territorial integrity and
national sovereignty of the state.

And specifically about the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenians
say has the right to break away from Azerbaijan?

In this very specific case, the right to self-determination must be
exercised in a form of autonomy within Azerbaijan since the creation
of a new independent state, a sovereign territorial formation, is an
act which must be executed on the basis of the principle of national
sovereignty. In other words, this can be done with the consent of
Azerbaijan.

At the same time, the superpowers sometimes support separatist
intentions in conflict regions.

The biggest problem is that some countries apply double standards to
self-determination and the right to create a sovereign state.

May Kosovo serve as a precedent for the resolution of other conflicts,
such as Karabakh?

In the case of Kosovo, the declaration of independence of this
region did not meet international law. In this sense, no one can draw
parallels here. Kosovo should get the status of broad autonomy within
Serbia. I think this is the way the right to self-determination should
be executed by the population of Kosovo.

The situation in Azerbaijan is the same. The population of
Nagorno-Karabakh can execute its right to self-determination by means
of the status of autonomy. This means self-government within the state
of which they are a part, that is within Azerbaijan. This is the only
way to solve the problem, unless of course the parties to the conflict,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, agree on some other way to settle it.

From: A. Papazian

ANKARA TO USE HEAVY WEAPONS ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

Turkey establishes new department to protect state border. The draft
law on border protection has been submitted to the Turkish General
Staff of the Armed Forces.

The law proposes abolishing of coastguard and establishment of a
new department on border protection at Internal Ministry. If the
document is approved, it will enable Turkish border service to use
heavy weapons to supervise operations within the borders and tap the
lines without a court decision.

Under the law, gendarmerie will pass border protection to General
department. Department will deal with protection of border with Greece
and Bulgaria from 2015, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan from 2017,
with Syria – from 2018.

From: A. Papazian

AZG: SARKOZY TO DISCUSS KARABAKH ISSUE IN BAKU

news.am
Nov 2 2010
Armenia

The newspaper writes that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will visit
Azerbaijan. It will be his first visit to the country, Azerbaijani
press reported.

Certainly, a visit is of major significance at least because France
is one of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing states and mediator in
the Karabakh peace process.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbekov informed of
President’s visit. According to him, preparation works are still
being carried out. He also noted that during bilateral talks the
sides intend to discuss France’s role in the Karabakh peace process,
as well as activities of French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier. Rumors say
he will resign in the near future to be replaced by former French
Ambassador to Armenia Serge Smessow.

From: A. Papazian