Author: Andres-Papazian

AZERBAIJAN SHOULD RELY ON ‘SOUND PRAGMATISM’ IN TIES WITH TURKEY
Akper Hasanov News.Az

news.az
Sept 14 2010
Azerbaijan

Araz Alizade News.Az interviews the chairman of the Social Democratic
Party of Azerbaijan, Araz Alizade.

How would you comment on the results of the referendum on amendments
to the constitution in Turkey?

The developments were expected. The referendum on amendments to the
Turkish constitution is a small step towards democracy as it limits
the army’s potential to interfere in the political life of the state.

But at the same time the ruling party of Turkey may be strengthened
by the result of the referendum and rule the country for a long time.

Despite the declarations of the Turkish leadership, the country will
move not towards Europe with its values, but towards the Islamic world.

Then why did the European Union welcome the results of the referendum
in Turkey?

It is not that simple. Most of the 26 amendments, whether supported
or not by the citizens of Turkey, have been approved by the EU which
Turkey would like to join. The EU has got what it wanted. I am sure
that they will make new demands on Turkey but will never admit Turkey
to the EU. On the contrary, the EU is actually well aware that after
the referendum Turkey will move toward the Islamic world. And this
is what the organization will cite as the reason for its further
unwillingness to admit Turkey. The EU will benefit completely:
Turkey has accepted the recommended amendments to the constitution,
and at the same time has chosen a way of further development which
will give the EU grounds to reject its membership.

Is Turkey likely to recognize the Armenian claims of genocide in the
Ottoman Empire?

Certainly not. Armenians worldwide demand not only that Turkey
recognize the mythical “Armenian Genocide” in the Ottoman Empire but
also pay compensation of several hundreds of billions of dollars. In
addition, they will also use all means to make claims on Turkish land,
for example, on six provinces in the country.

How may the referendum affect Turkish-Azerbaijani relations?

Azerbaijan needs to separate emotions from pragmatism and to conduct
an equal, mutually profitable policy towards Turkey, as it does with
any other state. We have already seen the readiness of the current
leadership of Turkey to ignore the interests of Azerbaijan when
the Turkish-Armenian dialogue started. The parties even signed the
Turkish-Armenian protocols in Zurich. If the Azerbaijani leadership,
in the person of our president Ilham Aliyev, had not taken a firm,
tough position on this issue, it is not clear where relations between
Turkey and Armenia would be now, even though Armenia is disregarding
the norms of international law and occupying one-fifth of our land.

The Turkish leadership acted pragmatically, realizing the losses the
state would incur as a result of ignoring Azerbaijan’s interests and
allowing other motives to dominate. Therefore, we must rely on sound
pragmatism in relations with Turkey.

From: A. Papazian

THOMAS DE WAAL: AZERBAIJAN WILL LEAD THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN TO AN UNAVOIDABLE DEATH, SHOULD IT RESUME THE WAR

Panorama
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

The clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border will continue, and the
most worrying thing is the fact that in some places the outposts of
the parties are only 40 meters far from each other, Senior Analyst
at the Carnegie Endowment and journalist Thomas de Waal said in an
interview with the Voice of America.

According to him, there is a big difference between the statements
periodically made by the Azerbaijani president and defense minister.

“If the president makes threats, then the defense minister is
continuously jacking about the possibility of the war,” said he,
adding that this is accounted for by the fact that they have different
audience, and President Ilham Aliyev’s war rhetoric aims only to gain
political dividends.

Thomas de Waal further said that Azerbaijan should realize that it
cannot win the war through military actions, as some studies have
revealed. In his words, the reason is Karabakh’s geographic position
and by the power of the Armenian army.

“Besides having newest weapons, it is also necessary to be able to
rely on the troops to celebrate a victory, which Azerbaijan cannot do
at the moment,” said he, adding that Azerbaijan “will lead thousands
of young men to an unavoidable death, should it resume the war.”

From: A. Papazian

THOMAS DE WAAL: AZERBAIJAN CANNOT WIN WAR

Aysor
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

Clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border will continue, according
to Senior Associate for the Caucasus at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace in Washington, Thomas de Waal.

Thomas de Waal said in his interview to the Voice of America that
there is much difference between the statements of Azerbaijani
Defense Minister and President. “The President makes threats, while
the Defense Minister jokes about the possibility of war resumption.”

According to the expert, it is explained by their different audiences,
besides, thus Ilham Aliyev tries to gain political dividends.

Tom de Waal stressed that Azerbaijan should understand that it cannot
win the war. Waal explains it by Nagorno Karabakh’s geographic position
and Armenian army’s strength.

“Besides modern arms, Azerbaijan needs a strong army,” expert said.

“While, Azerbaijan does not have a strong army. In case of war the
Azerbaijani party will lead thousands of young people to inevitable
death.”

From: A. Papazian

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO BE REMOVED DUE TO ARMENIAN ISSUE?

News.am
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

The relations between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki have become severely strained due to the
“spontaneous actions” of the president.

Recently, Ahmadinejad and people close to him have been pursuing
an independent foreign policy, MIGnews reports referring to the
Iranian mass media. The recent evidence thereof is the appointment
of 4 personal envoys of the president, without official notification
to Mottaki.

According to the source, the Iranian FM threatened with resignation,
considering president’s actions as a personal affront. The MPs warned
Ahmadinejad that the minister’s resignation will not be unpunished
as they must follow the provisions of the Islamic constitution and
instructions of the Iranian spiritual leader.

The intense conflict between the president and foreign minister broke
out after one of the Vice Presidents recalled the Armenian Genocide,
committed in “friendly Turkey”, in his speech at the international
conference. The remark cut Ankara rough, whereas Mottaki strongly
criticized diplomatic policies that circumvented the foreign ministry.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA DENIES AGENT ARRESTED IN AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Sept 14 2010
Azerbaijan

Armenian Defence Ministry The Armenian Defence Ministry has denied
that Azerbaijani forces detained a reconnaissance agent at the front
line on 11 September.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry told News.Az that an Armenian
reconnaissance group had crossed the northern section of the contact
line separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces on 11 September and one
member of the group had been taken prisoner by the Azerbaijani side.

This information is not true, Public Radio of Armenia reported the
Armenian Defence Ministry as saying today.

This is recurrent misinformation by the Azerbaijani side, the Armenian
Defence Ministry said.

“This misinformation proves once again that, true to their working
style, the Azerbaijani authorities are continuing to destabilize the
situation in the region by disseminating false information, creating
a false opinion among the international community and ignoring
the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to settle the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict,” the Armenian ministry said in a statement.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has named the detained reconnaissance
agent as Manvel Mamikonovich Saribekyan.

Saribekyan said during his first interrogation that the group had been
trained and sent to the Azerbaijani side by the Armenian intelligence
services.

From: A. Papazian

RPA NOT TO ATTEND SURB KHACH MASS

Aysor
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

“Turkey is not going to fix a cross on the dome of the Surb Khach
Church, thus the Mass organized by Turkey is a show, imitation,”
member of the Republican Party of Armenia and RPA parliamentary
faction Hovhannes Sahakyan told a news conference today.

According to Sahakyan, the Armenian side does not respond to Turkey’s
initiative for Turkey not to be able to achieve its aims.

“By organizing the Mass Turkey tries to demonstrate resolution
of religious problems, meanwhile expects a political response,”
parliamentarian noted.

The speaker said RPA is not going to attend the Mass and urged other
political forces to follow their example.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS RECOGNITION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

news.am
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

September 14, National Assembly of Armenia will debate a bill “On
recognition of Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh”, initiated by “Heritage”
parliamentary faction, Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
stated at the extraordinary session.

Abrahamyan stressed the bill was rejected by RA NA Standing Committee
on Foreign Relations.

Over 34 issues are on the agenda of the extraordinary session.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY MOVES AWAY FROM EUROPEAN NATIONS, SAYS SAHAKIAN

Aysor
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

“Whatever Turkey does to show that it moves towards the European
family, it shows the very opposite results. And the incident with
Armenian journalists in Turkey makes this clear. Actions of the
Turkish authorities go wrong with policy of the country which on the
very same day voted for constitutional reforms and which seeks to
move towards democracy,” told media a Republican, Hovhannes Sahakian.

Hovhannes Sahakian, in particular, referred to the incident at the
airport of Istanbul where three Armenian journalists from Panarama.am
agency, Aravot paper and the Yerevan Press Club, appeared to have
become hostages. The Turkish officers detained them and objected
to rummage with an aim, as they described, to determine whether the
Armenian journalists have enough money for living and accommodation.

Only after representatives of the Hrant Dink Foundation and chairman
of the Press Club demanded for explanations, journalists were freed.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN-TURKISH NORMALIZATION ACCORDING TO H. SAHAKYAN

Aysor
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

If Turkey makes a good use of the constitutional amendment, it can
secure the idea “no problems with neighbors” and open the border
with Armenia, member of the Republican Party of Armenia and RPA
parliamentary faction Hovhannes Sahakyan told reporters.

According to the parliamentarian, Turkey should be strong enough to
establish relations with Armenia without preconditions. Meanwhile he
expressed the hope that it will take place some day.

Speaking about the Nagorno Karabakh settlement Sahakyan stressed that
the talks should proceed within the Minsk Group format only.

Azerbaijan withdrew the anti-Armenian resolution from the UN agenda
to retain tension over the issue, according to Sahakyan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN AND TURKISH CO-PUBLISHERS TO PRODUCE BOOK ON HOLY CROSS OF AKHTAMAR

Panorama
Sept 14 2010
Armenia

London based institute of Komitas and Istanbul based “Birzamanlar”
publication published a book in English and Turkish on Holy Cross
Church of Akhtamar Island, Van, “GazetePort” reported.

“Akhtamar: Treasure of medieval Armenian architecture” cover
professional research results of 1980th by Stepan Mnatsakanyan.

“168-paged book by Ara Sarafyan and Osman Qyoqer will be an aid
to the Turkish reader to find information about medieval Armenian
architecture,” GazetePort reported.

From: A. Papazian