Author: Andres-Papazian

“AMERICA POSSESSES LEVERS OF INFLUENCE”

03:26 pm | Today | Politics

“Azerbaijan attempts to bind a new format to the Armenian side with
the opening of a central headquarters of the Azerbaijani community of
Nagorno-Karabakh region in Baku,” political scientist Sergey Minasyan
said on July 7.

“Azerbaijani authorities understand that time is working against them.

The opening of the headquarters followed the statement of the Minsk
group Co-Chairs. Yet, it does not mean that tomorrow Karabakh might
become a full participant of the talks though I expect certain
changes,” he added.

Sergey Minasyan thinks the opening of the headquarters is formal and
is meant for Azerbaijani public, rather than for the international
community.

The political scientist hailed the regional visit of U.S. Secretary
of State Hilary Clinton.

“It is the first time a U.S. official visited the Armenian Genocide
Memorial complex.”

Regarding Turkey’s annoyance over Clinton’s visit, Mr. Minasyan said,
“The U.S. Secretary of State could not have paid a spontaneous visit
to Tsitsernakaberd without a preliminary agreement. America simply
tries to show Turkey that it possesses some levers of influence and
the Genocide issue is one of them.”

From: A. Papazian

“NO ONE NEEDS SULTAN’S TALES”

02:46 pm | Today | Politics

“It becomes clear from the boring report of the Azerbaijani Sultan that
he will soon introduce a new nomination of folk-tales for juggling
facts and presenting a lie as the truth. Simply, the tales of Sultan
Aliyev are no longer in demand: as usual they are ignominious,”
Spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia Edward Sharmazanov said
on July 7.

“Aliyev does not want to understand that the people of Nagorno Karabakh
should decide their fate themselves as is stated in the principles
proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

His falsehood over the Karabakh issue becomes evident when he says
that Armenians came to Artsakh in the 19th century. I would not like
to cite any historian. I would simply advise the illiterate diplomat
to have a look at the map of the ancient world during his visit to
Rome where historical Artsakh is presented in the territory of the
country “Armenia.”

I would like to remind narrator Aliyev that his motherland Azerbaijan
emerged as a country only two millennia later. I think after all I
said there is no need to take Aliyev’s words for granted or refute
his statements,” the Republican MP said.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI ARMS ENGINEER CREATES NEW INVENTION

news.az
June 30 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani weapon engineer Telman Mehdiyev made two discoveries on
preparation of shooting of artillery weapons Mehdiyev said.

One of them is Computer-based Analytic Counting Formula System.

And the second is Digital Shooting Grid.

‘This shooting grid increases battle preparation of mortars used in
the Azerbaijani Army several times. Moreover, information gathered in
the Digital Shooting Grid makes opportunity to be always in high-level
military preparation’, he said.

Note that, Mehdiyev worked at Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry during
1991-1994 and participated in Karabakh battles.

From: A. Papazian

PRINCIPLES OF RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT REMAIN UNCHANGED – PETER SEMNEBY

news.az
June 30 2010
Azerbaijan

Peter Semneby EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter
Semneby arrives in Baku.

“The principles of the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
remain unchanged. These principles create serious base for the
serious process.

It is also very important for the public of the two countries to
know the content of the process of negotiations. The co-chairing
countries should stuck to these principles,” Special representative
of the European Union for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby said while
taking a stance on the statement issued by the presidents of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairing countries. Diplomat said the recent statement
of the presidents of the co-chairing countries was the reiteration
of what was said a year ago.

Asked about the plan two years ago to visit the occupied territories
together with the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh,
Peter Semneby said: “This plan was not realized. But I hope I will
go there. I do not say who will accompany me. The main thing is to
establish contact with the people living in Nagorno Karabakh. Karabakh
should not remain as a white spot on the map of Europe and the
region. Contact should be established with all the related parties. The
conflict will not be solved without contact,” he said.

Peter Semneby also answered the question about the abolition of
his post.

“Discussions are being held how to organize the new European
diplomacy. As an element of this discussion, there are views about a
special institution of representation. The discussions are not over
yet,” he said.

“Signing an agreement with Turkey makes good opportunity for
involvement of European companies in energy sector of Azerbaijan”

“Agreement on gas deal between Azerbaijan and Turkey is a very
significant step”, said EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus.

The diplomat noted that this document made good opportunity for
involvement of European companies in energy sector of Azerbaijan.

Semneby said that he would also discuss energy issues during the
meetings in Azerbaijan.

“EU is concerned about the last incident happened on the contact line”

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby took
a stance on last incident happened on the contact line of Azerbaijani
and Armenian troops.

The diplomat expressed his anxiety on this incident: “We observe
that recently, incidents happen more often and more seriously. It
must not be so. Appropriate measures must be taken for prevention of
such incidents”.

Semneby said that during meetings he would discuss EU’s role in the
solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

From: A. Papazian

STATEMENT OF PRESIDENTS ON KARABAKH ‘PROMISING’

news.az
June 30 2010
Azerbaijan

Bayram Safarov The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh views
statement on Karabakh with a great hope.

Statement on Karabakh conflict adopted by the presidents of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states-Dmitriy Medvedev, Barack Obama
and Nicholas Sarkozy-within the framework of the G8 summit in Canada
meets the interests of Azerbaijanis, said chairman of the Azerbaijani
community of Nagorno Karabakh Bayram Safarov.

He said the Azerbaijani community views this statement with a great
hope.

‘The statement of the presidents gives hope. The document says in open
that the problem must be settled peacefully, the OSCE Minsk Group
must gather in Almaty. The foreign ministers are urged to take more
steps to settle the conflict.

In addition, there is a need to liberate the occupied Azerbaijani
lands, while Azerbaijan’s position is assessed positively. Certainly,
there is an achievement, though insignificant’, Safarov said.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI MINISTER APPRECIATES RECENT STATEMENT ON KARABAKH

news.az
June 30 2010
Azerbaijan

Elmar Mammadyarov Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov highly appreciated
the recent statement of presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
in Toronto.

‘The occupation is occupation and everyone recognizes it. My optimism
about the resolution of the Karabakh conflict settlement will grow
if we know what Armenians want. If they want annexation of Karabakh,
this is ruled out. If they continue insisting on the independence
of this region, it does not also seem possible to me’, Mammadyarov
told a meeting with Bundestag deputies during the working visit to
Germany on June 29, reports Trend.

According to Mammadyarov, he is convinced that Russian President
Dmitriy Medvedev seeks to settle the conflict.

‘Medvedev understands that the fact of occupation is obvious and the
Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from the occupied lands’,
said the minister.

Mutual trust between the three co-chairing countries of the OSCE
Minsk Group is very important in the resolution of the conflict,
Mammadyarov said.

‘If we want to attain peace in the region, this peace must be based
on international law’, said the Foreign Minister.

Speaking about the process of the Karabakh conflict settlement,
Mammadyarov stated Azerbaijan accepts the updated version of Madrid
principles.

‘In fact, we have agreed with them’, said the minister.

Their main regulations are: liberation of five out of seven occupied
regions surrounding Nagorno Karabakh on the first stage provided
that the rest 2 regions are liberated in five years; deblocking of
communications in the region (the opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border will also be on the agenda here); conduction of reconstruction
works; return of refugees to their homes, placement of peacekeeping
troops to ensure security of the population; interim status for Nagorno
Karabakh with wide self-government and only in the end, after restoring
the trust between the parties, it will be possible to discuss the
final status of Karabakh in a calm atmosphere, said the minister,.

The possible meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia
within the ministerial meeting of OSCE in Astana on July 16-17 will
be discussed during the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to
the region, said Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov.

He said the possibility of the meeting of the foreign ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia in Astana depends on the schedules of the
ministers, Mammadyarov told an event within the framework of the
visit to Berlin, answering the question from Trend correspondent.

Azerbaijan’s FM Elmar Mammadyarov also highly appreciated the
Turkish-Brazilian initiative which was not executed due to the
sanctions on Iran.

‘It is necessary to find elements of trust between Iran and the world
community’, Mammadyarov told a meeting with Bundestag deputies during
his working visit to Germany on June 29.

The world community should think over how to develop the mechanism
of nonuse of nuclear arms since many countries already have it,
Mammadyarov said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN TO BENEFIT FROM MOVING FORWARD IN MINSK GROUP PROCESS, PHILIP GORDON SAYS

news.am
June 30 2010
Armenia

“Armenia and Azerbaijan would both benefit from moving forward in the
Minsk Group process,” Philip H. Gordon, U.S. Assistant Secretary,
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs stated at a briefing, U.S.
State Department reports.

“I think we’ve seen in some of the violence that has appeared in
the region lately that we can’t take stability for granted. And the
Secretary will have a chance in both countries to underscore what
the presidents said in Toronto the other day,” he said.

On June 26, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, U.S. President Barack
Obama, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy issued a statement on
Nagorno-Karabakh. “We 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,” the
statement reads.

On June 18, an Azeri reconnaissance detachment intruded into
Nagorno-Karabakh, killing 4 Armenian soldiers and wounding 4 others.

As a result of an encounter, the Azeris retreated, leaving one
soldier killed.

From: A. Papazian

RESPONSE FROM HAGUE CAME

30/06/10

The Office of the Prosecutor of The International Criminal Court in
Hague has received the ‘Armenian Citizens vs. Robert Kocharyan’
document. ‘This communication has been duly entered in the
Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to
this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions
of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court’,- is
particularly mentioned in the letter from the Office of the Prosecutor.

From: A. Papazian

‘NOBODY ELSE WOULD DO IT FOR YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE VICTIM’

news.az
June 30 2010
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews David Dean Judson, editor-in-chief of Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review.

Let me ask you a question as you are an expert in information warfare
issues. There is an infowar policy between Armenia from one side and
Azerbaijan and Turkey from another side. Which side has succeeded
more in this war and has more advantages?

I think a good place to start any analysis of war and information
warfare is not were we typically start. And we typically start by
looking at the stories that journalists are working on. The Armenians
are working on this, writing that, Azerbaijanis are writing this,
the British are writing that. I think the more important way to
consider the way the global media works is think about the stories
the journalist are working from. We all work from a collection of
cultural histories, prejudices, stereotypes.

Just a few days ago one of the research fellows from the Centre
of strategic studies under the President of Republic of Azerbaijan
showed me an essay that’s coming up a few days in the publication
from Chatham house, the second or third most sophisticated, most
respected foreign policy journals in the world. The essay is on
Caspian politics. The journalist that wrote that story in first or
second paragraph describes Azerbaijan. And the first sentences are:
“Azerbaijan is an overwhelmingly Muslim country”… “Overwhelming” is
a negative term. You would never describe America as “overwhelmingly
Christian country”. “Overwhelming” is a term of violence in fact.

I don’t think that the journalist was probably trying to be prejudice
towards Azerbaijan. But this is the story is working from. The next
paragraph was “Armenia is a blockaded nation, that was in the third
century the first nation to accept Christianity”. So before we’ve
got to the fourth paragraph of that story we basically have in our
mythology the Muslim army fighting against beleaguered Christians. It
is story out the Bible almost, it is a parable.

So I think that where the media work, where obviously the Armenians
have the advantage it’s still for against you. Because they have the
supporting their effort to tell their story is symbolic baggage of
Western civilization and culture prejudices and Orientalism. The real
battle in many ways is a battle of symbols in Orientalism. Because
that’s the way journalists do their job. And getting journalists to
take responsibility for what they do, Western journalist, Eastern
journalist, Northern journalist, Southern journalist. And analyze
their own prejudices are before they begin a task because I think
often such a problems are unintentional, they are culturally based.

This is something we can solve, this is something we can challenge,
but it is not something we can ignore.

Armenians are trying to represent themselves as victims of Turks and
Azerbaijanis. And what should Azerbaijan do in this information war?

Should we follow the Armenian example or speak a lot about our
achievements?

There are two answers to that question. Of course the tragedy, the
drama, the victimhood of the 1 million people who lost their homes,
family members, treasure and others are not something that could be
forgotten and ignored, this is a real victimhood. But in terms of
trying to communicate, I mean the world is weary.

We met with refugees in Baku. I was given a photographic book about
the victims of Karabakh. It reminded me the book I have in my house
that was given me by my farther. It was printed in 1953 called “We
are humans too” about the refugees of Gaza. The dramatic photographs
of the victims… So the situation has got worse since 1953 for the
victims of Gaza, not better. On the one hand, we have to remember
and not forget and to heal the wounds of those who have suffered,
but at the same time we have to find ways not be victims, to get
beyond the drama and as you said, to focus on building our lives,
building your country, building your economy. Because nobody else
would do it for you just because you are a victim.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN, PART II: EXPLOITING AKHTAMAR CHURCH
Harut Sassounian

30/06/10

Readers may recall that the Turkish government embarked on a worldwide
publicity stunt in 2007 when it renovated and reopened as a museum
the Armenian Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van.

At the time, Turkey had gone to great lengths to lure to the opening
ceremonies Armenians from around the world. Turkish officials did
not conceal that their real purpose was to exploit this event
for propaganda purposes. Even before the ‘Holy Cross Museum’
was inaugurated, a Turkish Parliamentary delegation had arrived in
Washington with a bulky photo album. Mehmet Dulger, then Chairman of
the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission, relayed the following
message to Members of the U.S. Congress: ‘See, the Turks, whom you
accuse of genocide, have renovated an Armenian Church with taxes
collected from Turks. And those photos are the evidence.’ The photo
album was distributed worldwide to all organizations advocating
‘Armenian genocide claims,’ according to the Turkish newspaper Zaman.

Furthermore, Turkey invited to the opening of the ‘Holy Cross Museum’
the culture ministers of all countries that had adopted or were
considering to adopt resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

In my column of March 22, 2007, I had asked that the Turkish government
designate Holy Cross, not as a museum, but a Church with a cross
on its dome, and place it under the jurisdiction of the Armenian
Patriarchate in Turkey. If not, I had urged Armenians to boycott the
opening ceremonies, in order to avoid being used as tools for Turkey’s
campaign of genocide denial. In the end, the Turkish propaganda effort
failed, as only a handful of Armenians from overseas traveled to Lake
Van to attend the event.

Now that Turkish officials have grudgingly allowed church services to
be performed for one day only — on Sept. 19, 2010 — and a cross to
be placed on the dome of this 10th Century Church, they have embarked
on Part II of their publicity campaign. All Turkish Embassies and
Consulates worldwide have been instructed to invite large numbers
of Armenians to this one-time church service in order to accomplish
three objectives: 1) Earn millions of dollars in revenue from 5,000
tourists expected on Sept. 19 and another million visitors during the
next year; 2) secure concessions from Armenians in return for Ankara’s
‘magnanimous gesture’; and 3) score propaganda points with Europeans
and Americans by presenting the image of a tolerant Turkish society.

Hakan Tekin, Turkey’s energetic Consul General in Los Angeles, told
‘Today’s Zaman’ that California’s ‘one million Armenians’ are looking
forward to take part in the upcoming religious worship. To impress
his bosses in Ankara, Tekin proudly announced that the ‘one-day
church service’ has caused ‘a stir’ among the Armenian community in
Los Angeles — no doubt the result of his hard work! He expressed the
wish that Armenia would take ‘reciprocal steps’ in return for Turkey’s
‘constructive policy.’ Tekin also hoped that such a ‘normalization
process’ would have a significant impact on Turkey’s relations with
the Armenian Diaspora, ‘especially with Armenians living in California
who are hard-liners.’

In sparing no efforts to publicize the planned ‘one-day worship,’
the Turkish government has undertaken the following preparations: —
Special solar panels are being installed on Akhtamar Island, so that
tourists can visit the Holy Cross Church by day and night.

— Since hotels are supposedly fully booked, plans are being made to
house tourists in school dormitories and private homes in Van.

— Large video screens are to be placed outside the Church so the
thousands of expected visitors can follow the services, as the building
can only accommodate 50 worshipers.

— A 90-page guidebook will be published in the Armenian language.

— A 10-day Turkish-Armenian Cultural Festival is planned in Van.

— The border may be opened for a few days, so that tourists can
directly travel from Armenia to Van, rather than spending a dozen
hours to get there via Georgia, according to the President of Van
Chamber of Commerce.

I urge all Armenians to boycott this new propaganda ploy, unless
Turkish officials take the following steps:

Officially designate Holy Cross as a Church, not a museum, opening
it for year-round worship services, rather than for one day only.

Place the Church under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate
of Turkey, not the Ministry of Tourism.

Allow Divine Liturgy to be celebrated regularly, after Holy Cross
Church is properly consecrated in accordance with Armenian religious
rites.

Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate
in Istanbul, is the appropriate religious official to present these
demands to the Turkish authorities, without whose participation they
would be unable to carry out the September 19 church services and
propaganda campaign. It is doubtful, however, that such demands would
be met by the Turkish government, given its traditional policy of
callous disregard for the rights of the Armenian community in Turkey.

From: A. Papazian