Author: Andres-Papazian

PROCEEDS FROM SARF HYEAID3 RAISES TOTAL TO $900,000

By Contributor on June 3, 2014

GLENDALE, Calif.–The most recent Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF)
HyeAID3 concert, held on April 29 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale,
raised an additional $100,000 for Syrian Armenians in need. Within
days of the attack on Kessab on March 21, the SARF sent $100,000 in
aid to Armenians displaced from their ancestral homes.

The concert began with a medley of Aram Khachatourian’s music,
featuring Armen Aharonian on the piano, accompanied by his orchestra.

Artist-broadcast journalist Nune Avetisyan opened the concert
by reciting the poem “Gantsreve Dghas” (“It’s raining, my son,”
in reference to crying) by Vahan Tekeyan. Avetisyan delivered the
opening remarks, thanking the audience and volunteer artists for
supporting SARF, and quoted poet Barouyr Sevag–“We exist, we shall
prevail and multiply”–to show the determination of the Armenian
people throughout history.

SARF Executive Committee chairperson Zaven Khanjian then addressed
the audience with an inspiring message that reaffirmed the enduring
quality of the Armenian people despite the genocide and the recent
crisis in Syria. Khanjian noted, “What’s happening in Syria is the
latest chapter of the annihilation of our race that started with the
heinous crime of the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire a century ago.

… I have often found myself weak and desperate, which has led
me to search the word of God for hope and consolation. Jesus said,
‘If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ There is no
doubt that we should be vigilant in the pursuit of justice.”

Khanjian concluded, “At this gathering of solidarity with our
brethren in the Armenian Diasporan community of Syria, let us use our
knowledge of the truth in our struggle to bring peace and harmony to
ourselves, and to the troubled region and life and resurrection to
its unjustifiably crucified communities.”

The program continued with alternating performances of songs,
instrumental music, and dance, with a dash of poetry. Aline
Aroustamian, Gagik Badalyan, Ani Christy, Harut Hagopian, Harout
Jeghelian, Arthur Madoyan, Salpy Mailyan, Heibert Sarian, and Samuel
Sahakyan sang; Harout Pamboukjian played the guitar and sang; Ruben
Harutunian accompanied the Karavan Studio dancers on the duduk;
the Dynamic Duo performed; and the Hamazkayin Ani Dance Company
and Hamazkayin Barouyr Sevag “Nairi” Dance Group performed several
elaborate dance numbers.

Poet Gailag’s (Panosian) lyrics dedicated to Kessab, titled “Geh
Lsvin Voghper,” were read by Nune Avetisyan. In honor of renowned
composer Konstantine Orbelyan (1928-2014) who recently passed away,
Armen Aharonian played one of his compositions on the piano.

As Kessab is one of the last remnants of the Armenian Kingdom of
Cilicia, the closing song was aptly “Giligia.” Arthur Hagopian began
with an English version, and the rest of the singers joined him with
the original Armenian version by Nahabed Rousinian.

Closing remarks were made by Ara Aroyan, vice-chairperson of the
SARF Executive Committee, who applauded Louise Mardirossian Gill’s
“vision, persistence, and persuasion” as co-chairperson of the HyeAID3
organizing committee. The participating artists were handed special
Congressional certificates of appreciation from Rep. Adam Schiff
(28th District) and certificates of recognition from California
Assembly member Mike Gatto (43rd District).

The program was accomplished with a large crew of volunteers. The
program execution relied on the technical skills of the production
crew, which included Edgar Nikolian, Neptune Productions, and Val
Hovanissian.

The varied styles and subjects of the lyrics and dances from “Adana”
to “Yeraz Im Yergir” allowed the audience to feel a range of feelings,
from sorrow to joy. One audience member who lost a family member to
the fighting in Kessab said, “They sang, we cried.”

Those who have family members caught in the middle of the conflict in
Syria are sacrificing whatever they can to financially support them;
it is up to the rest of the diaspora to do its part and let those
effected by the calamity in Syria know that “We are still here,”
as Khanjian said.

Among the audience were representatives of the SARF organizations,
including Archbishops Hovnan Derderian and Mousheg Mardirossian, Very
Rev. Fr. Andon Atamian, and Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian. In addition to
other local clergy, Very Rev. Fr. Tatoul Anoushian of the Armenian
Patriarchate attended from Istanbul, Turkey.

The following churches, charities, and organizations came together to
form the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund in August 2012: Armenian Catholic
Eparchy in North America; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America;
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU);
Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian Relief Society
(ARS) of Western USA; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADLP);
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western USA; and Social
Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) Western USA.

Ani Keshishian (ARS CEB), Lena Bozoyan (ARS Western USA), Avedik
Izmirlian (ARF CC), Krekor Karaguezian (AGBU), Gabriel Moloyan
(SDHP), Hagop Nazarian (ADLP), and Esther Tognozzi (Kessab Educational
Association of LA) also attended the event. The concert was sponsored
by many generous donors, including the general sponsor, Onnik Mehrabian
of Glendale and his family.

To learn more, visit

From: A. Papazian

ADL’S DUBIOUS SURVEY

Keghart.com
Editorial, June 1, 2014

Since its release earlier in May, the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL)
preposterously named “The Global 100: An Index of Anti-Semitism”
has drawn ridicule from a variety of sources for being unscientific
and thus invalid.

The jazzy-sounding “Global 100”, which claimed that more than a quarter
of the world’s population is anti-Semitic, has been found wanting in
proper methodology and on political grounds. Among the critics are
author Norman Finkelstein (a child of Holocaust survivors) and Amira
Haas, a leading columnist of the Israeli “Haaretz” newspaper. It has
been also criticized as skewed to portray and to enforce Zionist
ideology and agenda. Least of the survey’s problem is that by
interviewing just over 50,000 adults (102 countries in 96 languages),
it claims there are more than one billion anti-Semites among us.

The survey says 0.2% (!) of Laotians are anti-Semitic while that
country’s next-door neighbor (Vietnam) is 6% anti-Semitic. In the
land of “Liberte, Fraternite, Egalite” some 37% of Frenchmen are
anti-Semitic compared to a mere 21% in Portugal, a country with
a long history of anti-Semitism. Haiti and the Dominican Republic
share the tiny island of Hispaniola. While 26% of Haiti’s population
is anti-Semitic, that number amazingly balloons to 41% in next-door
Dominican Republic, says the survey. For some mysterious reason,
fully 33% of the citizens of Botswana, in the middle of nowhere, are
anti-Semitic. Malaysia’s percentage is 61%, compared to its neighbor
Singapore’s 16%. Greece is far more (69%) anti-Semitic than Israel’s
sworn enemy Iran (56%).

In the Caucasus, Armenia gets the gold medal in the anti-Semitism
(58%) competition, according to the inane survey. Azerbaijan’s and
Georgia’s numbers are 37% and 32%. Thus Armenia is almost twice as
anti-Semitic as Georgia, says Genocide-denying Abe Foxman’s ADL.

Extrapolated into population figures, there are 1,300,000 (count them)
anti-Semites in Armenia. Who knew?

In an scathing attack on the ADL, Finkelstein wrote: “Most every
sane person has come to take anything the Anti-Defamation League
utters with a dozen boulders of salt” adding that the organization
is trying to cash in on the “ever-burgeoning anti-Semitism industry
and still hopes to immunize Israel by labeling legitimate criticism
of its policies as motivated by an irrational animus towards Jews.”

Peter Lyukimson’s below article, which appeared in “Vestnik Kavkaza”
(May 27), attacks the Armenian Cultural Society of Israel for accusing
the Israeli government of inability to fight anti-Armenian sentiment
in the country. Mr. Lyukinson also takes the ADL survey at face value.

Despite residing in Israel, he doesn’t seem to know that all Christian
minorities of the Holy Land–including Armenians–have a very difficult
time under Israeli Occupation.

In YNETnews.com (May 30), Palestinian Farid Jubran addressed the
difficulties Christians in Israel face. “A minority of a minority ,
[it is] exposed to waves of hatred,” he said and cited an Israeli
member of the Knesset who tore the New Testament in the Knesset while
uttering words of incitement. The firing of gunshots inside churches,
the setting of fire in monasteries, the spray-painting of malicious
graffiti on monastery walls, the slashing of Christians’ car tires
were other examples of anti-Christian acts in Israel, said Mr. Jubran.

He also mentioned religious Jews spitting on monks, Jews shattering
Christian gravestones, and death threats to bishops and to Christian
community leaders. “The government stands by idly and utters a few
words of condemnation…restricts the Churches’ activities immensely
by imposing a strict and discriminating regime of visas for Christian
clerics. A priest who wishes to stay in Israel in order to serve in one
of the Christians communities will be forced to undergo a humiliating
via dolorosa on the part of the authorities until he receives the stay
permit, if at all,” wrote Mr. Jubran and pointed out that the nature,
identity and autonomy of Christian schools are constantly undermined
by the Israeli authorities.

To neutralize the criticism of the Armenian Cultural Society’s
accusations against the Israeli authorities, Mr. Lyukimson luxuriates
in spreading the anti-Armenian misinformation of the ADL survey. While
it’s irrational to claim that there’s no anti-Semitism in Armenia,
what little that exists is surely a result of Israel’s execrable
policies towards the Armenian people, rather than a racial or religious
hostility.

For years Israel has been selling sophisticated weapons and electronic
gadgetry to Azerbaijan. The latter not only threatens Armenia on a
regular basis but it frequently sends soldiers across the border to
kill Armenians. Israeli soldiers also train the Azeri military.

Israel refuses to recognize the Genocide of Armenians, although it
should have been the first state to have recognized the vast tragedy
which preceded the Holocaust by 25 year. Israel, through its lobby in
the US, regularly throttles the passing of resolutions recognizing
the Genocide. Putting politics ahead of morality, a state which was
born out of the ashes of the Holocaust, does Turkey’s dirty work in
Washington with offensive eagerness and alacrity.

Despite ADL’s assertion that 37% of Azerbaijan is anti-Semitic, a few
days ago Arye Gut, board member of the Azerbaijan-Israel International
Association, said to the “Baku Post”: “Azerbaijan is the most tolerant
country in the world and a true model of intercivilizational and
interreligious dialogue.” And back in November, Gut said: “There has
never been anti-Semitism in Azerbaijan.” Whew.

ADL mouthpiece Mr. Lyukimson should read about Russian Jews who,
for decades, sought sanctuary from Soviet anti-Semitism in tolerant
Armenia. He should also read about the frequent intermarriage between
Soviet Armenians and Soviet Jews. The two nations found each other
sympathetic. Meanwhile a discredited lobbying organization, with
the misnomer that it fights defamation, is trying to sow hostility
between the two nations.

The ADL and Mr. Lyukimson are barking at the wrong tree.

From: A. Papazian

KREMLIN HAS EXCHANGED ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP WITH BAKU

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – Tuesday, 03 June 2014, 17:00

The Russian minister of economic development Alexey Ulyukayev has
announced in Baku that Russia invites Azerbaijan to integrate with
the Eurasian Economic Union on negotiable conditions. Ulyukayev has
announced that the issue is under consideration.

In fact, Russia is inviting Azerbaijan to join the Eurasian project.

It happens after the summit in Astana where Aliyev’s border stipulation
to Armenian membership was presented and actually accepted by Putin,
Nazarbayev and Lukashenko.

This is the price Russia paid to discuss integration with Azerbaijan.

Hence, it is more important to discuss the extent or format of
integration with Baku than to involve Armenia in the Eurasian Union.

Moscow has agreed to suspend the issue of Armenia’s membership, perhaps
in return for Baku’s authorization or approval on making a statement on
integration. The point is that a few days ago the Azerbaijani officials
announced that membership to the Customs Union is not on Baku’s agenda.

In fact, there might be no issue of membership. The process of
discussing the issue with Baku is what matters to Moscow. Azerbaijan
is not Armenia for Moscow, levers of pressure on Aliyev are not the
same as those on Sargsyan. Baku may afford to put forth claims to
Russia, especially that it is a big buyer of Russian arms. Moscow
will be cautious not to lose this customer.

Discussions on integration projects are a good platform for Baku in
terms of the issue of Artsakh and geopolitical positions. Azerbaijan
has understood that its value has increased steeply in the result of
full vassalization of Armenia. Baku will try to raise its value to
the West through launching a new game with Russia.

Time will show whether Aliyev will fail or not. Now his positions
are quite firm despite the diplomatic shooting with the United States.

Moreover, the tough pronouncements by the United States are evidence
to Baku’s growing role.

This is the consequence of the policy of Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan has
handed over the sovereignty of Armenia to a union where the Armenian
interests are totally ignored, and where all the members together
have no single emotion on the Armenian interests. Serzh Sargsyan’s
decision did not encounter political resistance in Armenia. Moreover,
it has been directly or indirectly justified.

After Astana the question discussed in Armenia is limited to the logic
“is Artsakh coming with us or not?” while the issue should have been
altogether out of discussion, and it should have been clear after
Astana that there are no such issues as “with or without Artsakh”
or “to join or not to join the Eurasian Union” but after Astana this
issue should have been crossed out of the agenda.

However, there are agendas in political systems whereas Armenia
does not have such a system. Armenia has a competitive system of
commercial groups fighting for power whose subjects either produce or
lease political shop windows for themselves. Therefore, the issue is
“with or without Artsakh”. In other words, the domestic issue is an
inquiry on the price.

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

>From left: Edvin Minassian, Garo Ghazarian, and Armen Hovannisian

NEW YORK–With the installation this week of a veteran and dynamic
leadership team, the Armenian Bar Association continues into its 25th
year of service to the Armenian Diaspora and to the Homeland. So, too,
has the Association — for as long a time and with your continued
support and participation — built an unparalleled professional
organization.

The Armenian Bar Association’s Executive Committee is headed by Armen
K. Hovannisian as the Chairman of the Board of Governors.

Joining Hovannisian at the helm is the Association’s Chairman
Ex-Officio, Garo B. Ghazarian of Los Angeles.

The Vice-Chairmen are Harry Dikranian of Montreal, Edvin Minassian
of Los Angeles, and Gary Moomjian of New York.

The Treasurer is Saro Kerkonian of Los Angeles.

The Secretary is Katherine Ossian of Detroit.

The spirit of our late Chairman Emeritus, Vicken I. Simonian, will
continue to serve and inspire.

The Board welcomes to its general ranks Christine Engustian of
Providence and Vanna Kitsinian of Los Angeles, and thanks Laura
Karabulut of Toronto and Ara Babaian of Los Angeles for their years
of service on the governing body. The great breadth and diversity of
the Board of Governors are represented by incumbent members Raymond
Aghaian of Los Angeles, Michael Amerian of Los Angeles, Sara Bedirian
of Los Angeles, Judge Amy Hoogasian of San Francisco, Gerard Kassabian
of Los Angeles, Nigol Manoukian of Los Angeles, Hovanes Margarian of
Los Angeles, and Sonya Nersessian of Boston.

Together and individually, the officers of the 2014-2015 Executive
Committee and their fellow Board members embody, and in many ways
are responsible for, the Association’s proven track record of success.

That record includes:

* strengthening and extending our collective voice on impact issues
such as our protections of Genocide truths and our challenges to
Genocide falsifications; * laying the groundwork for the stages
of justice beyond Genocide recognition; * lending our expertise to
some of the many necessary legal reforms in the Republic of Armenia;
* standing up and speaking out for the human and civil rights of
Armenians around the world; * planning cutting-edge legal education
programs, performing pro bono legal services, and hosting highly-amped
social receptions and professional exchanges; and * establishing and
broadening the common ground for our members who share, importantly,
the same profession and, more importantly, the same Armenian heritage.

Outgoing Armenian Bar Association Chairman Garo Ghazarian offered a
message as he left the chairmanship. Below are his remarks.

“For the 98th and 99th years of the post-Armenian Genocide era of our
people, the members of the Armenian Bar Association charged me with
the awesome responsibility of chairing our one-of-a kind organization.

“We are not an ordinary Bar Association like many others. We are the
children and grandchildren of Genocide Survivors. We are April 24,
1915. Though a genocidal policy wiped out many of our intellectuals who
were rounded up on that traitorous day never to be heard from again,
today we are those people. That is why in 1989 Raffi K.

Hovannisian founded the Armenian Bar – to be the voice of our people,
to advocate justice and to speak for those too weak or meek to fend
for themselves. We have done that. We have carried the mantle for
25 years with great vigor and inclusiveness, partnering with many
organizations and taking on a multitude of challenges, big and small.

“Too many are our accomplishments of the last several years. I will
not list any of them. Our work speaks for itself. We are eternally
grateful to our Chairman Emeritus, Vicken I. Simonian for a lifetime
of service. He and two other unsung heroes, who have and continue to
be the axis of the Armenian Bar, are due our heartfelt thanks.

“Vicken Simonian: I salute you. You are the Armenian Bar Association.

You are Our Chairman Forever!

“Armen Hovannisian and Edvin Minassian: all credit is due to you both,
for the accomplishments prior to, and during my two terms as chairman.

You traveled with me daily on my journey, often carried me on your
backs, never saying “No” to my requests for help or guidance, and
all the while answering the calls for action.

“Gratitude is due to all whose resolve of the past two years fueled
our battle against the injustices suffered by the Armenian Nation.

While I conclude my service as chairman, I bid you farewell and look
forward to joining the great and diverse ranks of the Armenian Bar,
vowing to continue working with all Armenian organizations taking
on the challenges ahead to bring resolution to the Armenian Cause,
by pledging to — Always Reach Farther.”

From: A. Papazian

OPPOSITION FORCES GIVE GOVERNMENT UNTIL AUTUMN TO COMPLY WITH SET OF DEMANDS

POLITICS | 03.06.14 | 10:38

The four political parties representing the parliament minority have
adopted a 12-point statement that they are going to present to
Armenia’s government, it emerged after the Monday meeting of the
informal opposition coalition.

The parties, including Prosperous Armenia, the Armenian National
Congress, Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage, held a four-hour-long meeting
after which Heritage’s parliamentary leader Ruben Hakobyan made
statements for the media.

“We can announce now that a political document approved by all four
has been adopted,” he said, adding that the contents of the document
will soon be made public.

Hakobyan said that the four forces expect the government to comply
with the demands by fall when the opposition plans to hold a rally
and “present a general evaluation of the government’s response to
the demands”.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS ARMENIA’S TOP DIPLOMATS

18:09 02.06.2014

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with the leadership
of the central apparatus of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the heads of Armenian diplomatic representations abroad. The
President spoke about the most urgent issues on Armenia’s domestic
and foreign policy agenda.

Serzh Sargsyan presented the current level of Armenia’s relations
with partner countries and spoke about the perspectives. He referred
to the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue in the format of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship and the situation 20 years after
the establishment of ceasefire. The President emphasized the role of
diplomacy in the process and attached importance to the everyday work
of every diplomat present at the meeting.

President Sargsyan spoke about the need to unite the efforts of all
Armenians to organize the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide on a proper level.

The President touched upon regional issues, Armenia-Turkey relations,
the process of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and the
economic relations in this context.

President Sargsyan attached importance to the support to Syrian
Armenians and hailed the activity of the Armenian Embassy and the
Consulate General in Syria.

Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of Armenia’s cooperation with
the European Union and the continuous development and reinforcement
of bilateral relations with EU member states.

From: A. Papazian

ENVOY TO BAKU WARNS OF US, ISRAELI “PLOTS” TO “SABOTAGE” IRAN-AZERI TIES

E’temad (in Persian), Iran
May 20 2014

Text of interview with Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Paka’in

When you are passing through sections of the mountain road connecting
the [Caspian] port of Astara to Ardabil, it would be only enough for
you to look at your right to see the buildings and possibly the people
of another country from behind the fences and the not so thick or
tall metal barriers. This is a region that has always been societally
engaged with us in various areas, particularly in the areas of culture
and commerce. These relations also continued after the Republic of
Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991 and took a more formal
and lucid form. In the early years [of its independence], when [the
Republic of] Azerbaijan was looking for political and commercial
partners, Iran recognized that country and initiated multifaceted
relations with that country. The Republic of Azerbaijan’s relative
short political history is not without differences with the political
histories of Eastern European countries and other newly independent
states that gained independence following the collapse of the former
Soviet Union.

Internal wars such as the conflict over [Nagorno-] Karabakh, border
clashes with Armenia, the administrative corruption due to the
high revenues generated by the selling of oil and [natural] gas,
the government’s swinging actions back and forth between Russia and
the United States, commercial relations with Israel, and ultimately
the global concerns over the concentration of political and financial
power in the hands of the Aliyev family and people close to them as
well as the situation concerning the freedom of the press and freedom
of activities by political and civic activists are among the most
noteworthy issues concerning the Republic of Azerbaijan. Nevertheless,
the Republic of Azerbaijan is an important country for Iran for
a variety of reasons including Azerbaijan’s geopolitical role,
its long and important borders, its inclusion in the legal regime
of the Caspian Sea, and also because of Iran’s security interests
and commercial markets in the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is this
importance that has caused the relations between the two countries
to remain stable over time. However, a review of these relations and
a look at the past with the aid of reports and statistics reveals
a kind of coldness in the relations between the two countries which
have remained somewhat dormant under the 9th and 10th governments and
especially during the last three years. On occasion, we even saw some
contentions in the relations as well. But with the coming to power
of the 11th government and the expressed desire by the new team in
the foreign ministry to establish relations with the neighbours, the
Azerbaijani officials quickly extended a hand in friendship towards
Iran and this served as a beginning for renewed relations between the
two countries. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Iran
in the month of Farvardin [month starting 21 March] marked a new high
in this new chapter in the relations. We used these developments as
a pretext to organize an interview with Mohsen Paka’in who has been
active as Iran’s Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan since two
years ago and asked for his analysis of the past and future relations
between the two countries and his plans and proposals for the future.

[Caption] One of the important dimensions of the relations between
Iran and [the Republic of] Azerbaijan is the cultural dimension. The
two countries share a common history, culture, faith, religion,
manners and customs and the Azeri language also constitutes another
commonality between the Azeri speakers in the two countries. All these
factors combined provide Iran with rich resources for the pursuit of
cultural diplomacy.

[The text of the interview with Iran’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen
Paka’in is as follows:]

[Nowruzpur] Let us start with this [question] and ask you, essentially,
what is your assessment and analysis of the relations between Iran
and the Republic of Azerbaijan during the eight years of the previous
administration?

[Paka’in] We know that ever since its independence, the Republic of
Azerbaijan has continuously played an important and central role in the
Caucasus. Iran and Azerbaijan also have commonalities and historical,
cultural and religious ties and a lot of efforts have been made in
the past to expand the relations between these two countries.

Iran is one of the first countries that officially recognized
Azerbaijan’s independence and rushed to the aid of the people of
Azerbaijan during hard times especially when they were suffering
as a result of the war in [Nagorno-] Karabakh. One cannot deny
the importance that Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have for
each other. The two countries share a land border that is about
618 kilometres long and have mutual and common values. After Iran,
Azerbaijan holds the second highest percentage of Shia population in
the world. The two countries membership in the regional organizations
such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is another important factor
that brings these two countries together and makes them dependent on
each other. The Republic of Azerbaijan is the gate for Iran’s entry
into the Caucuses; therefore, we always have had good relations with
this country. But under the previous government, to state it briefly,
interferences by some foreign and domestic elements had caused some
coldness in the relations between the two countries. But the ups and
downs of this relationship and its distance from the desired level
have always been one of the concerns of those who are interested in
establishing [good] relations between the two countries.

[Nowruzpur] Which factors had contributed to the coldness in the
relations between the two countries?

[Paka’in] Certain historical misunderstandings, efforts by third
parties such as the pro-ethnic groups in the Republic of Azerbaijan,
and also the propaganda by the Western and Zionist media which have
always wanted to deepen the split between these two countries. At
certain junctures, this propaganda even had fund its way into the
domestic media which repeated those assertions. [Furthermore,] some
disagreements over the borders, the type of contradictory relations
that the two countries have had with the United States and the West and
on occasions some extremist and immoderate views among the officials
on both sides have also been factors that had prevented the expansion
of relations between the two countries in the recent years.

[Nowruzpur] would you comment more openly about, for instance, which
obstacles [have been erected] and acts of sabotage have taken place
[to undermine the relations]?

[Paka’in] Usually the reports that identify the territory of Azerbaijan
as the launching pad for the Zionist regime’s threats against Iran
either come from the Israeli media or sources close to the Zionist
lobbies. For instance, the issue concerning Israeli spy drones was
first raised [text: published] by these sources and although the Azeri
officials strongly denied those allegations, the issue resonated with
some in the domestic media and led broad reactions. The Republic of
Azerbaijan, according to its constitution, cannot permit foreigners
to establish military bases on its territory.

For this reason, a few months ago the Gabala base [i.e. Gabala radar
station] which was established by the Russians also was closed. But
the Zionist sources constantly broadcast reports that say that Israel
and America have military bases in Azerbaijan; then, some people take
those reports and run with them!

[Nowruzpur] As it happens, many Iranians also question how can
Azerbaijan define its relations with Iran within the framework of its
foreign policy given its close ties to Israel – especially considering
this country’s geopolitical role?

[Paka’in] The government [of Azerbaijan] and the Azeri officials
believe that their relationship with Israel does not have a negative
effect on their relations with the Islamic countries including Iran.

No strong evidence has been obtained so far that would contradict
this view either.

[Nowruzpur] What place does the Republic of Azerbaijan occupy in the
plans of Iran’s new foreign policy team and what needs and factors
do Iranian decision makers consider as they develop their plans?

[Paka’in] Without a doubt after the election of Mr Dr Hasan Rouhani as
the president and the positive response by the states in the region
to the new government of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s proclaimed
desire to elevate the level of its relations with the neighbouring
countries, Iran’s regional policies have entered into a new stage. The
diplomatic relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the
Republic of Azerbaijan have also been influenced by this policy and
have undergone some positive developments in the recent months. Today,
the public opinion in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the media in
that country are welcoming this change in Iran’s perspective and
foreign policy position. Likewise, Iran’s increased engagements in the
international arena have also led to the expansion of relations with
the neighbouring countries including the Republic of Azerbaijan. It
was without a doubt for this reason that Ilham Aliyev, the president
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was among the first heads of countries
that congratulated Mr Rouhani following his election as the President
of Iran and paid a visit to our country As well.

[Nowruzpur] I want you to answer this question [text: I want to
ask you this question] as a political expert and not as a diplomat:
considering the scattered domestic problems and protests facing Aliyev,
would there be any changes in the Tehran-Baku relations should a
different government come to power [in Azerbaijan] at any time?

[Paka’in] I don’t think that it is very likely that the Republic of
Azerbaijan would undergo any special changes in the coming years and
it appears that Mr Aliyev will be able to overcome the problems.

Meanwhile, there are no signs or indications for [the possibility of]
a sudden or unusual change either. But the Islamic Republic of Iran
would customarily continue to work with any president who comes to
power with people’s vote through an election in any country in the
world [text: in the countries of the world].

[Nowruzpur] What place does Azerbaijan occupy in Iran’s cultural
diplomacy, especially in the region?

[Paka’in] Considering the [historical] ties between the two countries
and the fact that they are neighbours, the Islamic Republic of Iran
and the Republic of Azerbaijan have had broad and multidimensional
relations from the beginning of Azerbaijan’s independence following
the collapse of [the former] Soviet Union and the cultural dimension
constituted one of the most important dimensions of these relations.

The two countries share a common history, culture, faith, religion,
manners and customs and the Azeri language also constitutes another
commonality between the Azeri speakers in the two countries. All these
factors combined provide Iran with rich resources for the pursuit
of cultural diplomacy. The two countries have effective cultural
capacities including great luminaries such as Nezami Ganjavi. In the
domain of religion, many of the two countries’ religious scholars,
individuals such as Lankaranis, Badcube’is, Ganje’is, and Jalijabadis
have for years propagated Shiism alongside [other] religious scholars
at Qom and Najaf and have exchanged views with them. Should these
cultural capacities and scientific and educational potentials be
put to good use, the ties and interactions between [the two] nations
would also be strengthened.

[Nowruzpur] Taking into account the existing capabilities, the figures
show that the economic relations between Iran and Azerbaijan are not
at a desirable level. What plans do you have to change this situation?

[Paka’in] The Islamic Republic of Iran has active economic relations
with the Republic of Azerbaijan in the three areas of commerce,
transit, and energy. We also have seen a ?? [punctuation as received]
percentage increase in the commerce [between the two countries]
within the last several months compared to the same period in the
previous year. Keeping in mind that we do not sell oil to the Republic
of Azerbaijan, the value of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s non-oil
exports to this country is near 600 million dollars which as far as
non-oil exports are concerned is a considerable figure. Of course this
figure does not include the amounts that we receive from the Republic
of Azerbaijan for oil swap or investment in the Shah Deniz gas field
or transit costs. Certain customs problems that existed between the
two countries at the borders and in part created difficulties for
the nationals of both countries were solved following meetings and
exchanges between different delegations in the recent months. [Now,]
the strengthening of the relations between different provinces in
our country and the Republic of Azerbaijan has also been added to
the agenda for the purpose of greater realization of the capacities
for mutual cooperation.

[Nowruzpur] Until the middle of 1391 [second half of 2012] the Iranian
citizens did not require a visa in order to visit the Republic of
Azerbaijan; but in that year this county’s parliament refused to
extend that agreement. Has there been any efforts to [reverse that
decision and] return to the previous situation?

[Paka’in] Yes, you are right. We are currently talking with the
Azerbaijani officials. They are currently in the process of changing
their consular structures and computerizing their system. Once that
these changes take place [text: In this way] this problem will probably
be solved in the future as well.

[Nowruzpur] One of the ongoing challenges in the relations between
Iran and Azerbaijan has been the border and territorial problems
between the two countries. What effect has the recent visit to Iran
by Azerbaijan’s defence minister has had on reducing these problems?

[Paka’in] As I pointed our earlier, due to having more than 600
kilometres of borderline between the two countries, at some junctures
there have been some clashes at the border. But following the increased
contact between the border guards in the recent years, the problems
at the borders between the two countries have been almost entirely
eliminated. There have been some meetings between the commanders of
the two countries’ border guards in 1392 [1992: 21 March 2013 to 21
March 2014]. Especially the visit to Baku by the Islamic Republic’s
border guard commander Brigadier General Hoseyn Zolfaghari led to
some talks and agreements that brought calm to the borders between
the two countries.

[Nowruzpur] As the Iranian ambassador to Baku, which factors do you
think have contributed to Azerbaijan’s interest in strengthening its
relations with Iran?

[Paka’in] In my opinion, it was after the constructive meeting
between the two presidents on the sidelines of the Davos [Economic]
Forum in Switzerland that a strong will appeared for the expansion
of relations. The two sides concluded that the expansion of mutual
relations not only can secure the national interests of both countries
but would also elevate the regional security. There is this belief
that the two countries have positive capacities that if properly
used can turn them into strategic partners. Baku, being ware of
Tehran’s role and position in the region, has welcomed Iran’s active
participation in finding a solution to the conflict over [Nagorno-]
Karabakh and considers it beneficial to the establishment of peace and
security in the region and safeguarding its territorial integrity. The
Islamic Republic of Iran also sees the Republic of Azerbaijan as an
important country in the region and a window towards Caucasus. Also,
considering the fact that the two countries share common land and sea
borders, Iran is interested in consolidating its relations with Baku
in the areas of commerce, transit and energy. The visit to Iran by Mr
Kamaladdin Heydarov, the Azerbaijani minister for Emergency Situations
and the key member of the Azerbaijani cabinet, the visit to Baku by
Mr [Ebrahim] Rahimpour, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
[for Asia-Pacific Affairs] and Iran’s representative for Caspian [Sea]
issues which took place in last Esfand [], and finally the Azerbaijani
President Mr Ilham Aliyev’s very successful visit to Iran and very
warm meetings that ensued and following that the Azerbaijani defence
minister’s visit to Iran are all indicative of a bright future for
the Iranian-Azerbaijani relations. We can be hopeful that due to
the [existence of a] serious will and the friendship between the
two presidents and considering the unique historical, cultural and
religious commonalities, the relations between the two countries
and the two nations following a period of coolness and depression
can develop into a model relationship for the other countries in
our neighbourhood.

[Nowruzpur] What are the main obstacles and challenges in the relations
between Iran and Azerbaijan in different dimensions?

[Paka’in] Without a doubt, the United States, Israel, and the
Zionist media along with the extremist and pro-ethnic groups are
not happy about the expansion of ties between Tehran and Baku and
will plan actions to sabotage the relations and [negatively] affect
the positive trend in the relations. Although the roots of mutual
relations have become stronger due to the recent developments, we
must remain vigilant against foreign plots and adopt the necessary
measures to neutralize those plots in both countries so that the
current positive developments would not be derailed.

[Nowruzpur] What is Azerbaijan’s position regarding the recent
developments in the nuclear issue and the talks between Iran and
the P5+1?

[Paka’in] The Republic of Azerbaijan has always supported peaceful
nuclear programmes and that country’s officials have also found Iran’s
new diplomatic approach to their liking and have supported it. Without
a doubt, the solving of the nuclear issue and the strengthening of
Iran’s international relations and engagements will create a new
atmosphere of cooperation in the region as well; and the indications
of this new atmosphere of cooperation have of course become evident
since some time ago. In this environment, the Republic of Azerbaijan
will similarly create greater opportunities for new movements and
developments in the relations which is what we desire as well.

Therefore, Azerbaijan’s position [regarding recent developments]
can be overall described as positive and supportive.

[Nowruzpur] And the last question: Will there be any specific changes
to Iran’s policy concerning the [Nagorno-] Karabakh issue in the
coming years?

[Paka’in] From the early days of the crisis and following the
declaration of a ceasefire in the region under territorial dispute
in the May of 1994, Tehran has tried to play its role in solving the
crisis and remained very active in this area until the year 1997. But
after the two sides in the conflict accepted the mediation by the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), or the
Minsk Group, the dimensions of Tehran’s activities in this area
diminished. [Now,] considering the Minsk Group’s inability for the
last 20 years to solve this conflict, we think that Iran’s political
weight in the region and a capacity such as the Presidency of the
Non-Aligned Movement in this term can be effective in establishing
peace in the region and preventing the start of [another] war over the
disputed territory of [Nagorno-] Karabakh. I am of the opinion that
it is possible to help solve the dispute, improve the conditions,
and invent a win-win game by means of a general plan and a roadmap
that takes into account the conditions of the dispute and the basic
differences between the parties in this conflict and with the aid
of some flexibility, patience and bargaining marked by inventiveness
and creative mediation.

[Translated from Persian]

From: A. Papazian

Los Angeles Times
June 1 2014

Racy USArmenia reality-TV show faces criticism, boycott

Brittany Levine

ritics of an upcoming reality-TV show following a group of Armenian
Americans who live in Glendale have created an online petition and
fast-growing Facebook page in an attempt to pressure a television
station to cut the program before it airs next month.

Opponents have called “Glendale Life” on USArmenia TV “degrading for
Armenians,” “an embarrassment,” and “tasteless” on the Facebook page.
It features socialites clubbing in Hollywood, drinking, crashing cars,
getting plastic surgery and lounging by a pool in its online trailer,
according to Times Community News.

The page, called “Stop ‘Glendale Life’ Show,” has garnered nearly
6,000 likes in about two weeks, while the online petition on
change.org has more than 1,600 signatures.

But Bagrat Sargsyan, chairman of USArmenia TV, said the show is not
unlike any other reality television program, which are engineered to
be “provocative and interesting.”

“Everyone has a right to express their opinion, especially the media’s
freedom which can’t be threatened,” Sargsyan told Times Community
News. “Hopefully, this is just an emotional thing and people in time
will understand the boundaries of freedom.”

The reality show takes place in Glendale because it has one of the
largest Armenian populations outside of Armenia.

This is not the first time a reality-TV show featuring a minority cast
has faced backlash from others within its own community. Bravo’s
“Shahs of Sunset,” which is about a group of Iranian American
socialites in Los Angeles, sparked several petitions within the
Persian community calling for a halt to the program when it premiered
in 2012.

“Shahs of Sunset” persevered and is now in its third season.

Those who criticize “Glendale Life” say it will shine a bad light on
the Armenian American community and will dishonor their ancestors who
died at the hands of the Ottoman Turks during the Armenian Genocide
from 1915 to 1918.

“This show will do nothing but slander and deprecate the memory of
each and every one of the 1.5-million men, women and children who died
for our heritage,” the petition states. “We are more than this. We
will not be made a mockery of for their monetary gain.”

But Sargsyan said he found that statement extreme.

“The two things are not related to each other,” he said, adding that
USArmenia TV is planning on airing a television series near the 100th
anniversary of the genocide next April.

From: A. Papazian

Worcester Telegram, MA
June 1 2014

Oxford’s first female selectman lost family in Armenian genocide

By Ellie Oleson CORRESPONDENT

James and Alice Walker of Oxford. Mrs. Walker’s parents escaped from
Armenia, but other family members were killed by the Turks.

OXFORD — Two of the 1.5 million Armenian Christians slaughtered by
Turkish Muslims between 1915 and 1922 were grandparents of local
resident Alice Kulungian Walker, 85, the town’s first female member of
the Board of Selectmen. Others lost were uncles, aunts and cousins.

“I’m first-generation American. My parents escaped from Armenia. Their
families didn’t survive,” Mrs. Walker said.

When she was honored with flowers at this year’s annual town meeting
for her years of service to this community, the town was recognizing
the value of each individual, which was not recognized in Armenia a
century ago, she said.

Mrs. Walker and her husband of 63 years, James H. Walker, 93, live at
568 Main St., where they raised their four sons and multiple foster
children and supplied the community with flowers and plants grown on
their home farm, which came to be known as Walkers’ Greenery.

Mrs. Walker also worked for a time at State Mutual Insurance Co. in
Worcester. Mr. Walker worked many years for Sheppard Envelope in the
city.

Mrs. Walker’s grandparents were in Armenia when the Muslim Turkish
army began the slaughter of Christian men, women and children in 1915.

“My mother lost her parents and siblings. My father’s uncle escaped to
America. My father’s mother was afraid to cross the ocean on a ship.
Instead, she was forced to walk across the desert with the Turks and
died there,” Mrs. Walker said.

“My grandfather was a respected leader in his community. The Turks
told him that if he would give up Jesus, they would let him live. He
wouldn’t, so they shot him. He could have survived if he’d renounced
his Christian religion.”

Her parents, David and Zevart Kulungian, were teenagers at the time.
They were not slain, but were forced to work as slaves for the Turkish
army. When Mr. Kulungian asked young Zevart to escape with him, she
said it would be wrong to run away with a boy.

One rainy night, Mr. Kulungian found some nearby encamped English and
French soldiers.

“My father went to the soldiers and asked them to free the slaves.
They did. My mother was put in a Red Cross orphanage in the mountains
of Lebanon. There, the older children taught the younger children
crafts and how to speak English,” Mrs. Walker said.

Mrs. Kulungian already spoke her native Armenian and the Kurdish she’d
learned while working as a slave, and eventually became fluent in five
languages.

Young Zevart went to Marseilles, France with one of the older girls.
There, she learned French from her foster family. Mr. Kulungian came
to the United States.

Zevart remained in France until her future husband sent her money to
join him in America.

“To save money, she traveled in third class steerage and contracted an
eye disease. When she got to Ellis Island, they wouldn’t let her in
and sent her back to France,” Mrs. Walker said.

The same thing happened during her next attempt to immigrate, but on
her third try, Mr. Kulungian finally convinced his fiancée to travel
first class, and she was welcomed at Ellis Island. The couple joined a
thriving Armenian community in Indian Orchard, near Springfield, where
the couple finally married and had two sons and two daughters.

“Massachusetts was a manufacturing center, especially Worcester,” Mrs.
Walker said.

The family moved to Worcester, where the marriage foundered.

“My father never had a childhood and didn’t know how to treat
children. He was very strong and didn’t realize his own strength. It
was hard for my older brother,” Mrs. Walker said.

Her parents separated. Her father moved to Buffalo, New York and her
mother remained in Worcester.

There, she continued a family tradition of reading fortunes in Turkish
coffee grounds for friends. One English friend, Mary Alice Richardson
of Oxford, was shocked when the coffee grounds predicted she would
raise Mrs. Kulungian’s children.

When Mrs. Kulungian became ill with tuberculosis and depression,
12-year-old Alice went to visit her in Worcester State Hospital.

“My mother told me not to come back. She didn’t want us there with all
the illness. I think she lived there a couple more years. I never saw
her again. Zevart means ‘happy’ in Armenian. She was anything but,”
Mrs. Walker said.

Their father paid the children’s room and board so they would not be
wards of the state. Mrs. Richardson, whose own children were raised
and gone, took in the four Kulungian children, as their mother had
foretold, and raised them for 10 years.

“She was an angel. I’m fond of her granddaughters, who came to visit
and became our friends,” Mrs. Walker said.

She attended Oxford’s public schools, where a junior high school
civics class changed her life.

“I wanted to be involved, to return the favor to this wonderful
country, which is still saving people around the world,” Mrs. Walker
said.

When she graduated from Oxford High School in 1946, her father said he
would not help fund a college education, since “girls are meant to
marry.”

Then Oxford High Principal Frank Sannalla, a coach at WPI, suggested
she get a job at State Mutual.

“He said in five years I could be where a college graduate would be,
but State Mutual did not hire Armenian girls who had not been to a
finishing school like Salter’s. I called and called, and the third
time I applied they hired me. I was persistent,” Mrs. Walker said.

She met Mr. Walker at Sunday school at the First Congregational
Church, where he was the program head and she was a teacher.

“We had four boys, animals, fowl and ducks,” Mrs. Walker said. The
couple also took in 14 foster children, from infants to teens, “who
were the hardest.”

“It was painful economically. We only were given $1 per day per child.
I understood, from eighth grade civics, that I had a right to speak
up, and I did.”

Her strongly worded letter was read on the floor of the Statehouse and
funding for the foster care system was restructured.

In 1968, the family was struck by tragedy, when the couple’s
16-year-old son, James H. Walker Jr., died in an industrial accident
in an elevator.

The Walkers’ other three boys survived and thrived, giving the couple
four grandchildren.

Mrs. Walker and friend Grace Rutter later fought for better public
transportation in town, where riders faced inconsistent schedules and
missing buses.

She served on the Economic Development and Industrial Commission, and
often stayed at Town Hall for selectmen’s meetings, where she took
notes and shared information with the Telegram & Gazette reporter,
sometimes being mistaken for a newspaper stenographer.

She attended training sessions for the commission, which taught her
“courage and made sense.”

This led to a run for a selectman’s seat.

“I ran three times before I won. They didn’t want a woman selectman,” she said.

She served as the town’s first selectwoman from 1983 to 1998. She also
served as the town’s representative and sole woman on the Central
Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and was an election worker,
library trustee, and member of various other committees and boards.
She also became a 4-H Club leader and local activist.

She and her husband sold flowers and plants for many years, and also
donated flowers to others. Many were planted around the Clara Barton
School by a family friend and former custodian there, Stephen C.
Anderson.

“He’s a good boy,” Mrs. Walker said.

When Mr. Anderson ran for and won a seat on the School Committee three
years ago, it was decided that was a conflict of interest, since he
was a school employee. He resigned, and Mrs. Walker volunteered to run
for election to serve out his remaining two-year term.

Brenda A. Ennis, chairman of the School Committee, said, “Alice is an
amazing woman. She stepped up when no one else would. She showed up at
all school events. Whenever she gave advice, we listened. We knew we
were hearing knowledge and wisdom.”

When Mrs. Walker chose not to run for re-election this year, she was
honored at town meeting by the committee with flowers and a pottery
vase created by OHS art teacher Jamie Taborda.

Mrs. Walker said she was happy to have served her community, and hopes
people will remember the value of each and every individual.

“When Hitler began the Jewish holocaust, he said, ‘Who remembers the
Armenians?’ when cautions were raised. If the slaughter of Armenians
had been recognized, the Jewish holocaust wouldn’t have happened. It
should be remembered, so it never happens again.”

From: A. Papazian

The Diplomatic Insight
May 31, 2014 Saturday

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Human Rights Perspective

by Muhammad Asif Noor
Vol. 7 No. 5

Bitterly we paid for this maturity, bitter was the price for crushing
our great trust, a crushing which reminds us of 9 January 1905. We,
first the people of Karabakh, then the people of Armenia, marched to
the winter palace, to the Lenin square in Stepanakert, and to the
theater square in Yerevan, convinced that the central power would
understand us. We marched with words of trust in the land of
socialism, in the Russian people, in Perestroika, with portraits of
the secretary general of the party, M.S. Gorbachev. But against us
fire was opened.

The fire was the unjust solutions of the Politburo and the Supreme
Soviet, lies created with the help of mass information, a blackening
propaganda which witnessed of badly concealed benevolence to the
Azerbaijani side.

The fire was Sumgait.’ Silva Kaputikian, 1988. he Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in the Caucasian region is simmering for decades now with
worst human rights atrocities by Armenian occupied forces since the
time of inception of this conflict. Various reports of international
nature have pointed out the war crimes of Armenia in the region
including grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions which means holding
hostage; and killings of war prisoners. The resulting displacement of
the people, who have fled to save their lives became refugees in the
region, they are also posing as a threat to the political and
strategic environment.

They are facing worst kinds of human rights sufferings that one can
imagine. According to one census report, around 250,000 Azeri refugees
took solace in Azerbaijan due to fear of ethnic cleansing and killings
at the time of ceasefire in 1994. In the context of the contemporary
regional and international political environment where human security
is the first priority of many nation states, such kind of inhumane
treatment and conditions are not acceptable to any international law
providing security to humans who are suffering and facing the brunt of
conflicts and violence.

Policy of genocide used by Armenian forces during the period of 1988
till 1989 has killed thousands of innocent people, they were either
deported from their places of permanent resident or being subjected to
worst kind of human rights violations. The conflict needs a just and
righteous solution and people who are suffering looking towards the
party of the conflict and also towards international community for
support.

The history of the conflict dates back to the times of Russian Empire
stretching its boarders around the region, for its ever increasing
access of Russian access to the shores of Persian Gulf. Russian began
exploiting the Armenian factor as early as eighteenth century. It is
also believed that the conflict is rooted in expansionism and a policy
of aggression aimed at expanding the territory of Armenia by force at
the expense of the territory of another sovereign state.

The policy of aggression continued to build up resulting in the
violations of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan region. The
hostilities of Armenia began to mount till the end of 1991 and in
early 1992, the massacre of Khojaly, by Armenian forces in February
1992, caused the conflict to flare up into a war. More than 800
peaceful residents, including women and children, were slaughtered,
raising voices and concern in the international community. Human
Rights Watch called this as ” the largest massacre of the conflict”.

Only crime of the residents of this beautiful town was that they were
Azerbaijanis and nothing else. Thousands of people of Khojaly have
been mercilessly killed or taken into hostage The Armenian aggression
spread far beyond the administrative boundaries of the region to the
rest of Azerbaijan.

Between May 1992 and May 1994, six districts of Azerbaijan were
occupied. This makes 20 per cent of the territory of Azerbaijan which
has been annexed while, according to a report, almost 700 populated
centers were destroyed. Number of refugees and displaced population is
over 1 million. The conflict further escalated after the independence
of Azerbaijan and Armenia. By the end of 1993, the conflict has caused
thousands of casualties and refugees. Finally a ceasefire was reached
in May 1994 through Russian negotiations.

After the cease fire in May 1994 till this day, Azerbaijan has taken a
just stand for the resolution of peaceful dispute of the conflict
while keeping in focus the plight of the suffering humanity. One of
the major factor in the resolution of the conflict is to have a safe
return of the refugees by creating ” buffer zones’ once the occupied
territory would be returned. According to reports, houses, fields of
Azeris, who have fled their land and took refuge, have been burnt or
mined by the Armenians.

In this circumstance return of the refugees would have a potential to
lead a desire for revenge among civilians. If there would be a
backlash on these people then that would create further more problem.
So before returning, there is a need for creation of safe zones. Now
here one scholar suggest that question of giving guarantees will be a
crucial one given the distrust that both the ethnic identities have on
each other.

In the words of Baibourtian, ‘Armenia has been given guarantees before
[referring to the time of the First World War primarily]; any nation
which has suffered a Genocide needs to be careful’.

There were various initiatives put forward by the international and
regional powers for a peaceful and just solution of Nagorno-Karabakh.
One is creating of Minsk group which was initiated Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to encourage a peaceful,
negotiated resolution to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia
over Nagorno-Karabakh established in 1992.

The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as follows: Providing an
appropriate framework for conflict resolution in the way of assuring
the negotiation process supported by the Minsk Group; Obtaining
conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation of the
armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk
Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE
multinational peacekeeping forces. The Minsk Group is headed by a
co-chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the United States.

Furthermore, the Minsk Group also includes the following participating
states: Belarus, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden,
Finland, Turkey as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has
distrust on the Minsk group, co-chaired by Russia, France and US.

Reason being is that there is large number of Armenian community
living in these state and has put considerable pressure for derailing
of the peace process. If that was not enough, another reason put
forward by the Azerbaijani side is that the group does not put enough
pressure on Armenia to return Nagorno-Karabakh territory to
Azerbaijan, and of prolonging the negotiations indefinitely.

The peace process initiated by the Minsk group has an unfortunate
status as it has given a very little progress, till yet, moved few
steps in the direction of peace. Armenians are not willing to withdraw
troops from Azeri territories until Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as
independent; Azerbaijan insists on its complete territorial integrity
and demands the withdrawal of Armenian troops before it will discuss
any other matters, including the eventual status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The locking of positions of both states has made a stalemate and lead
of continue suffering of humanity of the region. President of
Azerbaijan while once talking to media commented on the status of this
dispute said “The most important problem of the Azerbaijani people and
the state remains the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, which
marked the beginning of the Karabakh conflict.

This conflict is still unresolved. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
the greatest threat to peace and stability in the region” He further
added that the OSCE, Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the
OIC and other international organizations have adopted documents,
which expressed support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
But Armenia ignores the opinions of these organizations.

For many years engaged in the settlement of the conflict the OSCE
Minsk Group. With the mediation role of the countries like U.S.,
Russia and France where the group has organized various meeting of the
presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the solution is not in sight. It
is also very important to note here that because of the destructive
position of Armenia, the conflict remains unresolved.

Most foreign actors have also positioned themselves between these
extreme viewpoints, like for example, role of Russia, United States,
France, Turkey and Iran has resulted into furthering complexity of the
problem. The solution of this problem is based on the fact
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved by peaceful means, based on
international law and within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian