Author: Andres-Papazian

“A SELECT OF IRAN-ARMENIA CULTURAL COMMONALITIES & INTERACTIONS SO FAR”

Iran Book News Agency

July 20 2010

The unveiling ceremony of “A select of Iran-Armenia cultural
commonalities & interactions” a book by Lina Malekmian was held in
Armenia’s Authors’ center.

IBNA: According to the public relations department of the Islamic
Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) the unveiling ceremony
was held with the attendance of head of Yerevan state university’s
Iranology section, Professor Asatoorian, Iran’s ambassador, Seyyed
Ali Sagaeean, head of the orientlogy department, Dr. Malekian, Iran’s
cultural attaché, Mohammad reza Shakiba and a group of interested
individuals.

Talking about Iran-Armenia’s ties according to the book’s text,
Professor Asatoorian said: “The ties of Iran-Armenia, which dates back
to several years ago, hasn’t been studied concretely in its cultural
aspect. The presented book will be among everlasting works.”

He added that the author has bravely researched the complicated and
distinguished matters during an expanded period of time which was
successful in presenting a precious and academic work.”

“A select of Iran-Armenia cultural commonalities & interactions so
far” is a 7-volume selection research work compiled in English and
Persian. The work is an abstract of the researcher’s works.

On the ceremony’s sidelines a fair was held accommodating the author’s
research, educational and scientific works which were presented as
theses, speeches, articles, plans, text books, reports and etc.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA ‘MAY AGREE TO SOME KIND OF PEACE’ IN 2011
Leyla Tagiyeva News.Az

news.az
July 20 2010
Azerbaijan

Sinan Ogan News.Az interviews Sinan Ogan, president of the Turkish
Centre for International Relations and Strategic Analysis.

Turkey’s peacekeeping efforts on the Middle East and South Caucasus
have not yet been effective. Do you think that these Turkish diplomatic
efforts will be fruitful?

I would like to think so, but it is not too easy. Israel in the Middle
East and Armenia in the South Caucasus are far from peace. Both regions
have serious problems in this respect. The settlement of these problems
anytime soon is considered impossible. However, it is easier to settle
problems in the Caucasus than in the Middle East. Peace in the Caucasus
can be achieved if both parties want it. Turkey’s unilateral efforts
are insufficient. It requires Israel in the Middle East and Armenia
in the Caucasus to take steps to achieve peace.

The US leadership says that Turkey as a strategic partner of the
United States could become a leader of the Islamic world and at the
same time puts pressure on Ankara over Armenia and Israel. What can
you say about it?

This is an example of the policy of double standards of the US and
West overall. Turkey has to pay for what is demanded by the United
States. However, despite four resolutions of the UN Security Council,
which clearly specify that Armenia is an occupying country, no-one
headed by Obama says: “Armenia, you are an occupier, get out of the
occupied lands.” Everyone asks Turkey: “Why don’t you open borders
with Armenia?” Now the United States does not see the land occupied
by Armenia, they do not see the murder of nine Turks aboard a Turkish
ship in international waters. At a time when the United States is an
occupier in Iraq, they do not notice the terrorist PKK which commits
terror acts against Turkey from Iraq. The United States is concerned
only that Turkey meets all their demands.

Do you think there will be progress soon on a Karabakh conflict
settlement?

If Armenia is empowered to settle this issue, it is obvious that
the Karabakh conflict will not be settled by 2015. Turkey will be
waiting until 2015 when Armenia marks the 100th anniversary of the
events of 1915, when the Armenian population residing in areas of
hostilities was settled in safe areas. Armenia views these events as
genocide, and is trying to gain compensation from Turkey by 2015. If
the Karabakh conflict is settled, the Turkish-Armenian border will
open and relations with Armenia will normalize. In this situation it
will not be too easy to attain the resolutions of western parliaments
against Turkey. Therefore, Armenia will try to prevent and protract the
solution to the Karabakh conflict. But Armenia itself has a serious
problem. Time is working for Azerbaijan and against Armenia since
Azerbaijan is growing stronger while Armenia is growing weaker. On
the other hand, Azerbaijan may start war. For this reason, Armenia
may agree to some kind of peace in 2011.

Turkey has been playing quite an active role in the South Caucasus
in the past two years. May this activeness prompt concern among the
other major players in the region – Russia and the United States?

I do not agree that Turkey has been holding an active policy in the
South Caucasus over these two years. I would like it to have done so.

Turkey was neutral on the Georgian war, preserving good relations
with both the United States and Russia. Turkey has not yet made an
initiative on Karabakh. Relations with Armenia have reached deadlock.

Relations with Azerbaijan were also on the verge of collapse but have
recently started to pick up. A country with an active foreign policy
should not have all the problems I mentioned. Turkey, which is not
active, does not pose a threat to either Russia or the United States.

May the intensification of Russian-Turkish cooperation, especially
in the economic sphere, help to strengthen stability in our region?

It is possible to say that relations between Turkey and Russia are
expanding which will, certainly, have a positive impact on the region.

This will also have a positive impact on the settlement of problems
over Nagorno-Karabakh. During Bush’s presidency, the United States was
jealous about Turkey’s rapprochement with Russia. However, nothing of
the kind can be seen during the Obama period. US-Russian relations are
also expanding. Medvedev’s and Putin’s policies in this regard differ

Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan were a little overshadowed by
the signing of the protocols on Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. Is it
possible to say that today all these differences between our countries
have been left behind?

Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are unlike relations between
other countries. Our relations are developing according to the
principle “One nation – two states”. We may have problems but they
will never cause major differences. Currently, improvements can be
seen in relations between Ankara and Baku, but we cannot say that
all the problems are behind us. While the Karabakh conflict remains
unresolved, the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia remains
possible. The borders may open for several days for people to come
from Armenia to attend a ceremony in the Armenian church in Van in
Turkey on 19 September.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT DEPUTY SPEAKER: ARMENIA ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATES UNCONSTRUCTIVE POSITION

Journal of Turkish Weekly
July 20 2010

The Armenian side has once again demonstrated the unconstructive
position. It sufficiently diminished the significance of the meeting,
Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, the head of the
Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE Bahar Muradova told the website
of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

“The issue is on the agenda within the meeting and the statement of
Foreign Ministers of co-chairing countries concerning this issue are
the positive effects,” Muradova said.

A meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers Elmar
Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian was held as part of the informal
summit of the OSCE member-states in Almaty July 17.

Muradova said that there were great expectations from the meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministries in Almaty.

“A long way was passed in connection with the peaceful settlement of
the conflict up to now. This meeting was also held within the meeting
of Foreign Ministers of OSCE member-states. All these factors increased
the importance of this meeting”, she said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.

From: A. Papazian

IS THERE A NEED FOR INDEPENDENT AZERBAIJAN SINCE THERE IS TURKEY?

Aysor
July 20 2010
Armenia

“Armenia has no territory to return to Azerbaijan,” RPA Faction
member Gagik Melikyan told a press conference today, commenting upon
Azerbaijani leadership’s bellicose statements and stance on Nagorno
Karabakh settlement negotiations.

According to the speaker, the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers in Almaty and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing
countries’ statement following the meeting is another evidence that
Baku keeps to carry out unconstructive policy in the negotiations.

“Azerbaijan determines new legal norms trying to force them on the
Armenian side – Nagorno Karabakh Armenians. It is unacceptable for
the international community, these decisions can have no influence
on anyone,” the member of parliament said.

Touching upon statements constantly voiced by Azerbaijan, according to
which, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be resolved “if Azerbaijan’s
territories are liberated” Mr. Melikyan stressed that Armenia has
never occupied any territory to return it now.

“These territories were liberated by Nagorno Karabakh people in the
war forced upon them and are an integral part of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic according to its Constitution, and this issue can be only
discussed with the Nagorno Karabakh authorities,” he stressed.

The parliamentarian also spoke about Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov’s statement – “is there a need for independent Artsakh,
since there is independent Armenia?” declaring: “And why should
the world need independent Azerbaijan, since there is independent
Turkey? What is Azerbaijan to reserve the right to dictate something?”

From: A. Papazian

INFORMAL MEETING OF HEADS OF CSTO MEMBER STATES DUE IN YEREVAN IN AUGUST

Panorama
July 20 2010
Armenia

Informal meeting of the heads of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) member states will be held in Yerevan after
August 20, the CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Borduzha told reporters
in Yerevan.

According to him, there is a corresponding agreement among the
Presidents already.

Borduzha said, the agenda of the meeting is being discussed now
and will shortly be submitted with the Armenian President and the
Presidents of the CSTO member states. If approved, it will be presented
to the participants at the August meeting.

According to Borduzha, Kyrgyzstan will be discussed at the meeting,
taking into consideration the current tension.

CSTO includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

From: A. Papazian

NALBANDYAN HAD TELCONVERSATION WITH EU COMMISSIONER

Panorama
July 20 2010
Armenia

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan had a telephone
conversation with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, MFA PR
department reported. According to the source, the EU Commissioner
congratulated Minister Nalbandyan with the start of negotiations over
the EU Association agreement, underscoring that cooperation between
Armenia and EU in different fields has significantly advanced.

Edward Nalbandyan stated Armenia signifies founding of new level of
treaty status with EU.

From: A. Papazian

“TURKEY ENDANGERS AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”

Aysor
July 20 2010
Armenia

It is Turkey that endangers Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity by
trying to increase its presence. NA RPA Faction member Gagik Melikyan
told a press conference.

“Nakhichevan is almost empty at present, Turkey tries to take advantage
of it by ensuring its economic and military presence,” he noted.

According to the speaker, Azerbaijan’s leadership can prevent the
danger of Nakhichevan’s possible annexation by Turkey if it settles
in Nakhichevan the refugees Azerbaijan is constantly speaking about.

Mr. Melikyan also said that there are over 500 thousand Armenian
refugees at present, and this issue should be raised at the
negotiations and international instances.

From: A. Papazian

E. NALBANDYAN HAS A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER

Aysor
July 20 2010
Armenia

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan had a phone conversation with
European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Å tefan
Fule. The Commissioner congratulated Minister Nalbandyan on the
launch of Armenia-EU Association Agreement negotiations mentioning
that cooperation between Armenia and European Union made progress,
what creates good preconditions for further expansion of relations.

Mr. Nalbandyan mentioned that Armenia attaches importance to
establishment of new quality agreement relations with the European
Union and will pursue implementation of practical steps in the sphere.

The Foreign Minister and European Commissioner discussed issues
related to negotiations on Association Agreement and facilitation of
visa regime.

The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts over negotiation preparation
over creation of free trade zone.

From: A. Papazian

A CAUCASUS MENAGE A TROIS
by Giorgi Lomsadze

EurasiaNet

July 20 2010
NY

Could the South Caucasus come full circle from pre-Soviet federation
to post-Soviet confederation?

Georgia this weekend suggested building near-confederative relations
with neighboring Azerbaijan to create a one-stop layover point for
Asia-Europe energy and cargo transits. Earlier on, Tbilisi made a
similar proposal to Armenia. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
believes that the future of the South Caucasus lies in the creation of
a single space to cope together with economic and political challenges.

The ongoing push for integration is reminiscent of the late 1910s
when the South Caucasus, an area better known for its penchant for
separatism than for integration, had its first fleeting exercise
in federalism.

With a capital in Tiflis (today’s Tbilisi), the Trans-Caucasian
Democratic Federative Republic proclaimed its independence from Russia
in 1918, giving its members a brief chance to tackle together the
triple whammy of Ottomans, Bolsheviks and Tsarists.

The union soon collapsed and saw its members roll on the ground,
fighting, until the Bolsheviks scooped them up, one by one. The
break-up created “rivalries over territory and identity that would
return to haunt the new, post-Soviet countries some seventy years
later,” wrote American historian Charles King in his book “The Ghost
of Freedom, a History of the Caucasus.”

Now, a few wars and fits of ultra-nationalism later, Georgia has
rediscovered the merits of integration, but more than a few ongoing
differences stand in the way of the hoped-for post-Soviet reunion.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have their 22-year Karabakh complaint, while
Armenia and Georgia — the one looking toward Moscow, the other toward
Washington — are kept at odds over an eons-old rivalry for regional
cultural superiority.

For now, the chances look slim that cosmopolitan market logic can
prevail over these headwinds. But new friendships, like new fights,
have always been just a step away in the Caucasus.

From: A. Papazian

VARDAN BOSTANJYAN: IF AZERBAIJAN UNLEASHES WAR, ARMENIAN TROOPS WILL REACH CASPIAN SEA

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 20, 2010 – 13:51 AMT 08:51 GMT

Member of Prosperous Armenia parliamentary group Vardan Bostanjyan
said that in reality Azerbaijan is a project, and not a state created
in 1918.

Azerbaijan resembles a stupid child, who continuously wants something
from Armenia, Bostanjyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

~SHowever, we will not give anything to Azerbaijan,~T said Bostanjyan.

Answering a question on possibility of hostilities resumption by
Azerbaijan, he said that Azerbaijan will not unleash a war against
NKR. ~SHowever, if it happens, the Armenian troops will reach the
Caspian Sea, what we wanted to do in the mean time, but were not
allowed,~T said Bostanjyan.

From: A. Papazian