Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN ANALYST ON NATO AND IRAN
Messenger Staff

The Messenger
June 1 2010
Georgia

Armenian Iranist Goar Iskanderian suggests that NATO is interested
in having a presence in the South Caucasus in order to resolve
the Karabakh conflict but Armenia is a member of the CIS and its
Collective Security Treaty, therefore NATO can only get involved in
Karabakh problem regulation if Russia accepts this. Moreover, Iran
is totally against extra players entering the region, as it says
regional problems should be solved by regional states.

The analyst thinks that if any peacekeeping forces are deployed in
the conflict zone Iran will be against these being either NATO or
Collective Security Treaty forces, preferring UN peacekeepers. This
would be acceptable to all UN member countries.

In a response to a statement by the NATO Secretary General that the
alliance is not being included in conflict resolution issues Armenia’s
President Serzh Sarkisian did not exclude NATO participation in the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Such inclusion is possible if
a military confrontation occurs, he said. He added that the Karabakh
problem is discussed by the OSCE Minsk Group, which is involved not
only in the resolution of the problem itself but normalising bilateral
relations between the conflicting countries.

Sarkisian said that NATO is responsible for the security of Europe
as a whole as Europe has no collective armed forces apart from NATO.

However he made it clear that his words should not be construed as
an invitation to NATO to enter the region.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN EMIGRANTS IN RUSSIA
Messenger Staff

The Messenger
June 1 2010
Georgia

More than 50% of Armenia’s labour emigrants go to Russia, Karine
Giunjian from Armenia’s statistics office said on May 19. According
to statistical data, in the first quarter of 2010 the number of
people leaving Armenia exceeded the number arriving. Specifically,
1,915 registered Armenian residents returned to the country and 2,813
left it.

Giunjian said that the figures do not tell the whole story as many
people do not register their arrival and departure, so the real
difference in the figures may be greater.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH-ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY FAILURE BENEFICIAL FOR NABUCCO
By Messenger Staff

The Messenger
June 1 2010
Georgia

Peter Rutland, Professor at Wesleyan University, has stated that the
failure of attempts by Armenian and Turkish diplomacy to reestablish
relations between the two countries and open their borders will help
the NABUCCO gas pipeline project. There are still many obstacles to
overcome, including the continuing financial crisis in Greece and
other issues, but the lack of agreement between Turkey and Armenia
makes establishing this pipeline easier.

EU Energy Commissioner Rottinger said on March 25 this year that
NABUCCO would begin functioning in 2018, not 2014 as previously
projected.

From: A. Papazian

RESTRICTED LIBERTIES ON LIBERTY SQUARE FOR ARMENIAN OPPOSITION
Giorgi Lomsadze

EurasiaNet.org
June 1 2010
NY

Yerevan police apparently consider that city squares are for rest,
not for rallies. To make their point, police officers on May 31 dragged
opposition activists and journalists away from the Armenian capital’s
Liberty Square, a longtime venue for venting political dissent.

For several days now, Armenian National Congress (ANC) activists have
been vainly trying to access the newly renovated central square to
call for the release of alleged political prisoners and return of
opposition-minded A1+ television channel to the air. But the city
authorities say they did not refurbish Liberty Square to let it turn
into a theater for political activism again. Riot police rounded up
15 ANC activists and several reporters and herded them into police
vans on May 31. Most have since been released, reportedly.

In March 2008, Liberty Square became the scene of deadly clashes
between police and supporters of ANC leader, ex-President Levon Ter
Petrosian, who disputed his defeat by President Serzh Sargsyan in
that year’s presidential elections.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION TO PICKET ISRAELI EMBASSY

APA
June 1 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. Karabakh Liberation Organization will
hold a protest action outside the Israeli embassy in Baku on June 2,
press service of the organization told APA.

They will protest Israeli attack on Turkish ship and representatives
of the civil society and will demand to punish the guilty and to
impose international sanctions against Israel.

From: A. Papazian

LEVON ZURABYAN SUGGESTED TO RENAME THE HRD “DDR”

Aysor
June 1 2010
Armenia

Today on the press conference the coordinator of the Armenian National
Congress Levon Zurabyan touched upon the statement of the Human Rights
defender concerning the incident taken place at Saryan statue on May
31 around 18 o’clock.

According to L. Zurabyan yesterday the police arrested 16 people in
the Freedom square among whom were journalists and ANC activists:
They are set free but three people are still arrested, namely Ani
Gevorgyan who is a journalist of “Haykakan Zhamanak” (“Armenian Times”)
newspaper, her brother Sargis Gevorgyan and Davit Kiramijyan who is
and ANC activist.

The oppositional politician is concerned with the appeal of the RA
HRD Armen Harutyunyan “keeping back from the activities that lead
to breaking the civic order, preserving and respecting the rights of
the others, their freedom and dignity.”

In that concern L. Zurabyan said: “HRD, factually blessed all these
violations by his statement. I would suggest to rename HRD into DRD,
Defender of Dictatorship rights.”

From: A. Papazian

GUY MANOUNKIAN RELEASES CD INSPIRED BY ORCHID RESORT

Daily Star

June 1 2010
Lebanon

Guy Manoukian, the Lebanese-Armenian pianist, composer and musician,
released his latest work “Orchid” inspired by the atmosphere and
energy of the resort Orchid amongst many fans and friends of Manoukian.

Manoukian decided to celebrate the resort and privilege it with a CD
that evokes Orchid’s mood and feel. Under the starlit sky, visitors
explored the newly renovated resort and marveled at its unique design
and exceptional architecture. The release party included the Lebanese
renowned DJette that pumped up the party.

From: A. Papazian

TATA TEA SHRINKS IN CITY, EXITS HERITAGE HQ
SAMBIT SAHA

Calcutta Telegraph

June 1 2010
India

Tata Tea is ready to bid bye to 1 Bishop Lefroy Road, the registered
office of the group’s beverage business for over three decades —
and neighbour to Satyajit Ray.

After slashing headcount in Calcutta, the company plans to leave the
landmark address — a heritage building constructed by the Armenian
businessman JC Galstaun — for a smaller office this year, within 24
months of the Nano leaving Bengal for Gujarat.

“We don’t need such a large space anymore as most of the employees
have been relocated to Bangalore and other places,” said a Tata Tea
official, on the condition of anonymity.

A new office address is yet to be identified, but Tata Centre on
Chowringhee is not an option.

“There is just no place there,” clarified the official.

The company shifted to Bishop Lefroy Road from Dalhousie Square in
1977, a year after Tata Finlay, as it was called then, took over the
tea production and marketing operations of James Finlay of the UK.

Tata Tea Limited was born in 1983 when Tata bought out Finlay from
the venture.

The company re-organised operations last year sending the senior
management, including managing director Percy Siganporia, to London.

Later, the marketing team was shifted out to Bangalore, leaving only
the blending and buying team here.

“TTL has been in the process of integrating and consolidating its
operations at its regional centre in Bangalore since last year.

Henceforth, the entire marketing and commercial teams will be based
out of this regional centre. However, (the) TTL buying and blending
facility will continue to be headquartered in Calcutta along with
a registered HQ. The move is in keeping with the larger integration
exercise aimed at bringing efficiencies in the business,” read the
official statement from Tata Tea when asked about the office shift.

The G+2 structure on Bishop Lefroy Road is spread over 39,000sq ft.

The building is owned by Property Co Ltd. Raiomond Irani, the
director of the company, said Tata Tea had not officially announced
its departure yet.

“It is occupying the building for over three decades. The company
has taken great care of the property,” Irani said.

The building entered the heritage list in 2009 for its architectural
features.

Irani said the property was built by JC Galstaun (see box) in 1923-24.

Galstaun, an Armenian who came to Calcutta in the second part of 19th
century, was a leading builder and the arch rival of Arathoon Stephen
(of Stephen Court fame).

The initial occupiers of 1 Bishop Lefroy Road were the McDonnel
sisters who used the building as a boarding house for English
officers. After Independence, they left the property. In 1956, the
address was occupied by the USSR (former Soviet Union) Trade Office
before Tata Finlay entered in 1977.

Irani said it was one of the “better maintained” old buildings in
Calcutta. “There are three heritage buildings on Bishop Lefroy Road.

But sadly, the pavements are encroached, spoiling the beauty of the
magnificent properties here,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

ERDOGAN SAYS TURKEY’S HONOR WEIGHED IN FOR CANCELLING ARGENTINA TRIP

Today’s Zaman
June 1 2010
Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who cancelled a trip to Argentina
on Sunday after Buenos Aires authorities halted the display of a
bust of Turkey’s founder, a move Turkey blamed on Armenian lobbyists,
has said that he did “what suited Turkey’s honor.”

“We had to do what suited Turkey’s honor and we believe we did it,”
he said on Monday.

Addressing the businessmen who joined his tour of South America,
Erdogan also said: “The visit to Argentina was planned earlier. The
relevant ministries of the two countries agreed to erect a bust
of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey,
in Buenos Aires. There have been serious efforts by the Armenian
lobby in Buenos Aires in the past two to three days. Buenos Aires
has approximately 200,000 citizens of Armenian descent. The Armenians
used intense pressure. There is an autonomous administration there.

The decision did not depend on the central administration.”

He added that the president of Argentina called him and said they could
not change the situation there, after which the Turkish delegation
assessed the situation and removed Argentina from its schedule.

Erdogan was to pay a two-day visit to Argentina on May 30 and 31. The
bust of Ataturk was to be inaugurated at Jorge Newbury Park during
Erdogan’s visit.

Moving ahead on his South America trip to Chile, Erdogan said Turkish
businessmen could take significant steps in Chile.

“The land area of Chile is similar to Turkey, but the national income
is much more than Turkey because the population is lower than Turkey.

Chile does not require visas for Turkey. Turkish businessmen could
do very well in this country,” he said, addressing the businessmen
accompanying him.

Erdogan also said that US exports to Chile amount to $30 million,
but Chile’s imports from the United States amount to $200 million.

“There is a serious imbalance. I believe there are many items
which Turkey can send to this country [instead of the US]. We [the
government] will do what is necessary to open the way and you will
walk along this path,” Erdogan said.

From: A. Papazian

SADIKHOV: AZERBAIJAN DOESN’T WANT TO HURT TIES WITH ISRAEL
Armen Hareyan

HULIQ.com
June 1 2010
SC

Commenting on Israeli raid on Gaza Flotilla one prominent political
scientist from Azerbaijan says it’s between Turkey and Israel and
Azerbaijan should not interfere and should not want to worsen its
relations with Israel.

While Turkey would not be pleased to for getting this type of
“support” from its ally there is point in what one of Azerbaijan’s
prominent political scientists Fikret Sadikhov writes in today’s News
Az. Sadikhov thinks that since Azerbaijan is not directly involved in
the Middle East and its peace process it is not a “direct of indirect
participant of all events that are ongoing” in the Middle East. Thus,
he cautious Azerbaijan to to take a more reserved stance in regard
to the Israeli raid of Gaza Flotilla.

“The fact that Turkey is against Israel’s actions may worsen our ties
with Israel since Turkey is our ally and our positions coincide in
most issues. However, we understand that we have quite close partner
relations with Israel which we would not like to worsen. We have
normal multilateral agreements in different spheres. This incident is
favorable for those radical powers that very interested in worsening
situation within the region, between Israel and Palestinians
and between Turkey and Israel. Certainly, we should demonstrated
cautiousness in order not to interfere with these relations while
voicing our firm stance on the incident,” Fikret Sadikhov wrote today
commenting on the Israeli raid of Gaza Flotilla.

While Sadikhov is right on calling for Azerbaijan to “voicing our
firm stance” on the Israeli raid of Gaza Flotilla, staying out of
it will help to prevent the escalation of the problem. A very big
storm is troubling the Middle East and particularly the relations
between Israel and Turkey, but what is needed not is to prevent the
escalation of the conflict while the investigation can conclude on
facts as soon as possible. The president Obama, the European Union
and the United Nations have all called on Israel to provide facts as
soon as possible about the incident.

The coolness of Azerbaijan is helpful for the region. Azerbaijan is
one of Israel’s strongest friends in the entire region, now a better
friend than Turkey.

However, it would have been equally good if Azerbaijan does not
expect Turkey to consider Azeri interests when trying to normalize
relations with Armenia. It would have also been equally helpful and
constructive for the region if similar cool heads prevailed in Turkey
and as Sadikhov puts it did not “interfere” in Azerbaijan’s relations
with Armenia.

Turkey recently did not want to upset Azerbaijan and did not ratify
the protocols signed in Zurich to normalize relations with Armenia.

Turkey conditioned it with progress to be made in relations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan taking a position and siding with Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian