Author: Andres-Papazian

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER DELIVERED A SPEECH AT THE CONFERENCE IN THE LITHUANIAN PARLIAMENT

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

2013-02-27 15:08

On February 26 a conference titled “Lithuania and Armenia: a look to
the recent past” dedicated to the 25 anniversary of the democratic
movements in Armenia and Lithuania and the National liberation
struggle of the Armenians of Artsakh took place in Seimas, Parliament
of Lithuania.

The participants also honored the memory of the victims of the
Sumgait massacre.

Members of the Lithuanian legislative body, representatives of
political, social and academic circles, including the founding members
of the Lithuanian movement of “Sajudis” as well as members of the
Armenian community of Lithuania participated at the conference.

Minister of Foreign affairs Karen Mirzoyan was invited as a special
guest of the conference and delivered a speech where he noted that
the movements of the national revival that united the Armenian and
Lithuanian peoples around common ideals and principles of freedom
and democracy have resulted in independence. “In Lithuanian case the
independence gave its people possibility to restore its statehood and
fully integrate into the international community, European Union” ,
– stated Karen Mirzoyan, stressing that the people of Artsakh not
only had to assert its right to freedom and independence but also
to struggle for its survival and right to live on the land of its
ancestors.

The minister reminded that Azerbaijan from the very beginning
rejected dialogue and search for political settlement of the issue,
resorting to the threats and terror, in response to the peaceful and
lawful demands of the people of the Nagorno Karabakh. “But our people
withstood and passed the test of the imposed war. In May 1994 the
ceasefire agreement was signed which gave us opportunity of peaceful
life and building of an independent statehood”, – said Karen Mirzoyan.

He stressed that NKR is committed to the democratic way of the
state building, which guarantees all the fundamental human rights
and freedoms. Even though Nagorno Karabakh is an unrecognized state
and may not undertake commitments to observe the universal democratic
standards before international organizations, but it is steadfast in
following them. “Moreover the human rights record in our republic
is significantly higher than in many recognized states, which was
reflected in the last Freedom House report”, – the minister noted. He
expressed regret that the unrecognized status of the NKR is a barrier
for its full involvement in the international developments that in turn
limits the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens.

Dwelling upon the issue of Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement,
the minister reiterated the the NKR’s commitment to the peaceful
settlement of all disputable issues with Azerbaijan. At the same
time he noted with regret that the official Baku does not only reject
all the proposals of the mediators but also suppresses any even weak
initiatives towards reconciliation, as well as implants cult of hatred
towards Armenians and anything Armenian and propagates xenophobia,
intolerance and militaristic moods.

Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Vahan
Hovhannesyan and Armenian Ambassador to Lithuania Ara Ayvazyan
addressed the conference and noted the irreversibility of the
democratic processes started 25 years ago, emphasizing the importance
of the ideas and the spirit in the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

Members of Seimas DangutÄ- MikutienÄ-, Algis KaÅ¡Ä-ta, Vilija
AleknaitÄ–AbramikienÄ- also delivered speeches and mentioned the
importance of the imperative of staying committed to the ideas of the
democratic movements. Lithuanian MP Dalia Kuodyte read a declaration
on to establishing in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Friendship Group with the Republic of Artsakh (the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic).The original of the signed document was officially handed
in to NKR Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan. 9 members of different
fractions of the Lithuanian Seimas joined the initiative.

From: A. Papazian

FM: HOPE AUSTRIA WILL RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

February 27, 2013 – 19:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia is committed to disallowing for reoccurrence
of new genocides and new crimes against humanity, Foreign Minister
said.

“Genocides must be recognized and condemned. Denial of genocides should
not be tolerated. That is a global problem,” Edward Nalbandiansaid
in interview with Austrian Press Agency.

Asked if Armenia is disappointed in Austria’s refusal to term Armenian
massacres committed by Turkey as Genocide, Minister Nalbandian said,
“We hope Austria, too, will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN FM: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, BAKU AT CROSS PURPOSES

February 27, 2013 – 20:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijan rejects OSCE Minsk Group proposals,
with a mandate for peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
Armenian Foreign Minister said.

As Edward Nalbandian noted in interview with Austrian media agency,
Baku rejects the efforts aimed at building confidence between the
conflicting parties.

“High-ranking officials of Azerbaijan advocate intolerance and war,
give hero welcomes to murderers and threaten to cut off ears of
advocates of peace and dialogue,” Armenian Minister said, adding
that the misunderstanding between Baku and international community
keeps growing, with United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
forum ongoing in Vienna.

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

REGIONAL PROJECTS AGAINST ARMENIA CAN’T YIELD PROGRESS – FM

February 27, 2013 – 19:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – In interview with Austrian Press Agency, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian dwelt on regional energy projects.

“Regional projects may yield progress only if based on the principle
of inclusion, and not exclusion. They can’t be success if they are
aimed against other counties and create new dividing lines,” Minister
Nalbandian said.

Asked if Nabucco may deteriorate relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, he said, “I said what I said.”

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

The ‘too hard’ box

Foreign Policy
Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Posted By Stephen M. Walt, A Realist in an Ideological Age

You know the old joke about administrators who have three boxes on
their desks: one says “In,” another says “Out,” and the third says
“Too Hard.” There are a lot of problems out there in the world that
seem to fit that latter box, vexing challenges that seem to have been
around forever. Ambitious policymakers and idealistic academics often
think up clever ways to address them, but most of the time these
schemes go nowhere.

What are my Top Ten Intractable Problems? They will undoubtedly be
solved someday, but nobody knows when. Pay attention: There will be a
quiz at the end.

#1. Cyprus: The Greek/Turkish division over Cyprus is a legacy of the
break-up of the Ottoman Empire, as Cyprus was the main place where the
Greek and Turkish populations weren’t forcibly separated after the war
between Greece and Turkey that lasted from 1919 until 1921. The
conflict has been with us in various forms ever since, and despite
some near misses, it is still unresolved today. Any guesses on when it
will get settled? I have no idea.

#2. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: This one’s been around since 1947, or
1936, or 1919 or even the 1890s … pick whatever date you want. Who’s
willing to bet it will get settled soon? Warning: Nobody’s lost money
being pessimistic in the past.

#3. The Korean Peninsula: There is no peace treaty ending the Korean
War, and the Korean people are still divided between two
countries. Germany was divided for a long time too, and one suspects
that Korean reunification will happen some day. But when?

#4. Kashmir: High on anyone’s list of dangerous and intractable
conflicts is the long-running dispute over Kashmir, which has helped
keep India and Pakistan at odds with each other for sixty-five years
by now. Is a solution in sight? Not that I can see.

#5. UN Security Council Reform: Everybody knows that the current
structure of the UNSC makes little sense, and the current membership
of the P-5 is especially anachronistic. But past efforts to devise a
better structure have been stymied by rival ambitions. We all agree it
ought to be changed, but nobody can agree on who the new members
should be. Result: even more gridlock than in the US Congress.

#6. The Democratic Republic of the Congo: The DRC was badly governed
back when it was called Zaire, and then it suffered through more than
fifteen years of incessant internal warfare and repeated foreign
interventions. There have been a few efforts to rebuild a more
effective central state, but the country remains a desperately weak
black hole in the center of Africa. How long will this continue? No
one knows.

#7. The Cuba Embargo: The U.S. has had an embargo on Cuba since 1961
intended to bring down the Castro regime. This monument to domestic
lobbying and diplomatic rigidity has been a complete failure, yet may
continue as long as anyone named Castro is in power and maybe beyond
that.

#8. The European Union: Until relatively recently, the EU was a great
success story, but now it looks like one of those soap operas where
the players lurch from crisis to crisis without either divorcing or
reconciling. Will the Euro survive? Will the UK leave? Will right-wing
fascism return? Will Berlusconi apologize to Merkel? Will Turkey ever
become a member? Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “As the
Continent Turns…”

#9. Climate Change: Except for a few flat-earthers like Senator Jim
Inhofe, we know now that human activity is altering the earth’s
climate … and not in a good way. But there are major conflicts of
interest between the key players, as well as huge intergenerational
equity problems. And how do you convince politicians to impose big
sacrifices on their constituents today, in order to benefit people who
aren’t even alive? Will a solution be reached? Probably, but I
wouldn’t hold my breath. And that’s just one of the big environmental
issues that mankind is facing.

#10. The Former Soviet Fragments: Lastly, what about all the remnants
of the former Soviet empire? Some of these fragments have become
effective states, but there are still a lot of unresolved conflicts
lying around. Think of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over Nadgorno-Karabakh, the potential for further unrest in Chechnya,
or the breakaway provinces of S. Osetia and Abkhazia, who are
recognized by Russia, each other, and hardly anyone else. It hardly
seems likely that these entities could be around for very long, but
stranger things have happened in the past.

And now for your quiz.

First, which of these conflicts will be the first to be resolved? (My
bet is #7, because neither Fidel nor Raul are going to live
forever. But they can always designate a successor to try to keep the
regime going.)

Second, what are the most important unresolved disputes that I’ve
missed?

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MPS CALL FOR SNAP ELETCTION, SWITCHOVER TO PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

11:16 ~U 28.02.13

Senior parliamentarians from the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) and the Heritage party have submitted
a draft decision for a snap parliamentary election and the adoption
of the parliamentary system.

The bill, tabled by Ruben Hakobyan and Armen Roustamyan, the leaders
of both parliamentary factions, is to be included into a special
session agenda as a basis for debating the post-electoral processes.

The proposal is pending approval by lawmakers of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia.

Speaking to Tert.am, Hakobyan said that the document specifies
three basic demands: drastic reforms in the Electoral Code and snap
parliamentary polls within a year, a constitutional referendum for
switchover to the parliamentary system (within two years), and control
leverages for the opposition.

“The drastic reforms in the Electoral Code, particularly the adoption
of the 100 percent proportional representation system, is the key
question at issue,” Hakobyan said, referring to ARF-D’s 11-clause
package sent to the Venice Commission last year.

Members of both parliamentary factions worked jointly on the document
in the past two days in response to an earlier proposal by NA President
Hovik Abrahamyan for considering the post-electoral developments with
united efforts.

“The constitutional referendum will address the transition to the
parliamentary form of government, which stems from the keynote
proposals of both parties,” Hakobyan explained.

As for the leverages for the opposition, Hakobyan said they are
expected cover all the sectors exercising control functions and
maintaining contact with the National Assembly.

“This practice is by the way applied in many democratic countries
across the globe,” Hakobyan added.

Asked whether the Heritage party’s leader, Raffi Hovhannisyan, will
accept the election outcome and stop holding protest rallies in case
the parliamentary majority approves all the proposals, Hakobyan said
the two questions have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

“The political campaign is absolutely unrelated to that. That’s just a
debate inside the parliament about the kinds of things the legislative
can do within its competences,” Hakobyan noted.

From: A. Papazian

INCIDENTS A L’ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE : LA DEPUTEE UMP VALERIE BOYER REAGIT

Publie le : 27-02-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Suite a l’incident qui
s’est produit hier a l’Assemblee nationale lors de la commemoration
des pogroms anti-Armeniens qui se sont deroules en 1988 a Soumgaït
[Azerbaïdjan], la deputee Valerie Boyer appelle Francois Hollande a
se souvenir que la France est le pays des Droits de l’Homme. Dans
son communique de presse, l’elue UMP indique :”En entretenant la
propagande negationniste et en multipliant les actes de provocation
anti-armeniens, avec notamment la promotion des criminels qui se
sont rendus coupables d’actes de barbarie anti-armenienne (affaire
Safarov), le regime d’Aliev encourage le type d’incident qui s’est
produit hier dans l’enceinte meme de l’Assemblee nationale où s’est
deroulee la commemoration du 25ème anniversaire des pogroms armeniens
de Soumgaït, les 28-29 fevrier 1988. Ce moment de recueillement et
d’emotion a ete le theâtre d’une nouvelle provocation azerie prouvant
une nouvelle fois que les intentions de l’Azerbaïdjan ne sont ni a
l’apaisement ni a la resolution du conflit du Haut-Karabagh.” Notons
que l’une des perturbatrices de cette ceremonie est Mirvari Fataliyeva,
Presidente de la Maison de l’Azerbaïdjan a Paris, dont le Collectif
VAN avait retranscrit il y a peu l’interview qu’elle a donnee sur la
radio negationniste Radio MIT. Des propos qui demontrent la politique
agressive de l’Azerbaïdjan y compris en France, sous couvert d’actions
culturelles et citoyennes. Melle Fataliyeva n’avait-elle pas declare en
janvier dernier : “nous soutenons vivement toute action qui ambitionne
le dialogue, la connaissance mutuelle, et la paix ” ? Elle a fait
hier, au sein du Parlement francais, une demonstration accablante de
sa conception particulière de ces trois notions.

Legende photo : Valerie Boyer et Mirvari Fataliyeva

Suite a l’incident qui s’est produit hier a l’Assemblee nationale
lors de la commemoration des pogroms de Soumgaït, la deputee Valerie
Boyer appelle Francois Hollande a se souvenir que la France est le
pays des Droits de l’Homme. Ci-dessous son communique de presse :

En entretenant la propagande negationniste et en multipliant les
actes de provocation anti-armeniens, avec notamment la promotion
des criminels qui se sont rendus coupables d’actes de barbarie
anti-armenienne (affaire Safarov), le regime d’Aliev encourage
le type d’incident qui s’est produit hier dans l’enceinte meme de
l’Assemblee nationale où s’est deroulee la commemoration du 25ème
anniversaire des pogroms armeniens de Soumgaït, les 28-29 fevrier
1988. Ce moment de recueillement et d’emotion a ete le theâtre
d’une nouvelle provocation azerie prouvant une nouvelle fois que
les intentions de l’Azerbaïdjan ne sont ni a l’apaisement ni a la
resolution du conflit du Haut-Karabagh.

Il y a un an, je me suis rendue au Haut-Karabagh pour connaître cette
terre ancestrale armenienne où se joue depuis des annees un conflit
ethnique oublie, auquel le gouvernement socialiste est totalement
indifferent. Pire, le President Hollande tout sourire recevait Aliev
en septembre 2012.

La voix de notre pays doit s’elever pour defendre les valeurs de
la Convention de sauvegarde des droits de l’homme et des libertes
fondamentales. A l’approche du centenaire du genocide armenien,
il ne faudrait pas que les Armeniens du Haut-Karabagh soient encore
l’objet de persecutions du fait de leur origine.

Je demande a Francois Hollande de prendre les mesures diplomatiques
qui s’imposent afin que sur le sol national francais toute propagande
negationniste cesse. Je demande a Claude Bartolone d’inscrire a l’ordre
du jour de l’Assemblee nationale ma proposition de Loi tendant a la
transposition en droit interne de la Decision-cadre 2008/913/JAI du 28
novembre 2008 sur la lutte contre certaines formes et manifestations
de racisme et de xenophobie au moyen du droit penal, qui entend
precisement creer une sanction penale a l’encontre des personnes se
rendant coupables de contestations du Genocide armenien.

Le petrole n’achète ni la memoire, ni les Droits de l’Homme.

VALERIE BOYER

Lire aussi :

Il y a 25 ans, les pogroms anti-armeniens de Sumgaït [Azerbaïdjan]

” Le peuple francais doit decouvrir le vrai visage de la diaspora
armenienne ”

Une provocation qui en dit long

Turquie : ” Les braises de 1915 brûlent toujours ”

Les evenements de Khojaly : Communique de presse du Collectif VAN

Khojaly : les terribles mensonges azeris

Le Parlement tchèque decide de reecrire l’Histoire

Khojaly : une exposition au musee de la Diaspora de Tel Aviv

Appel urgent pour defendre les Justes azeris

Azerbaïdjan : haro sur le heros

Azerbaïdjan : un ecrivain accuse de ” sympathie pour les Armeniens ”

L’assassin qui valait 3 milliards d’euros

Breivik demande a etre extrade en Azerbaïdjan

ASALA : le faux grossier diffuse par l’Azerbaïdjan

Aliyev devrait etre accueilli a Paris comme ‘l’homme a la hache
en chef’

Amnesty : le gouvernement d’Azerbaïdjan attise les violences ethniques

Affaire Safarov: confession d’un meurtrier raciste

Indignation face a la remise en liberte du meurtrier azeri

Azerbaïdjan : le tueur a la hache

Affaire Safarov : le President de l’APCE exprime son inquietude

L’Azerbaïdjan menace la paix regionale en glorifiant un crime raciste

Azerbaidjan : grâce octroyee a M. Safarov

Grâce de l’assassin Ramil Safarov : Obama preoccupe

Azerbaïdjan : le pogrom de Soumgaït

Le procès des crimes de Soumgaït (Fevrier 1988)

Les 20 ans du pogrom anti-armenien de Soumgaït

Maragha : Avril, le mois des genocides…

Maragha : Caroline Cox parle du Golgotha contemporain

Des pirates informatiques qui ont des assassins pour heros

Xocali.net : le site qui denonce la contrefacon azerie

Azerbaïdjan : appel au piratage informatique

Janvier 1990, les pogroms anti-Armeniens de Bakou

Retour a la rubrique

From: A. Papazian

BLEAK & BRIGHT

Posted by Garen Yegparian on February 27, 2013 in Garen Yegparian

In Yerevan, we have the bleakness of a stolen election, politely and
preemptively, of course, but stolen nevertheless.

In Glendale, we have the bleakness of some Armenians running as
spoilers, and some political factions working to keep Armenians down.

In Burbank, we have the bleakness of overt hate fueled by ignorance;
see the accompanying transcript of a telephone message received by
Armond Aghakhanian’s campaign for school board.

In the diaspora, we have the bleakness of a severe disconnectedness
with the civic/electoral/political reality of the Republic of Armenia.

I am just as guilty as anyone, in this respect. Can you think
of anything significant I’ve written over the course of the last
half-a-year during which the presidential campaign played out there?

All the vile people who are responsible for these sad states of
affairs should beware. Their time is short. Why?

In Yerevan, there are bright spots. People voted in very significant
numbers (if not a stolen majority) for Raffi Hovannisian to become
president. And, they’re now making an issue of the rigged election
results by standing up, firmly, for their rights as citizens.

In Glendale, there are bright spots. Decent, thinking people,
Armenian or not, are coming together to work for the election of the
best candidates, regardless of the desires of some machinators with
outsized egos and a desire to control political life in the city.

In Burbank, there are bright spots. Armenian residents are voting
at above average rates in very difficult, competitive races for city
council, school board, and city clerk. To the best of my knowledge,
the candidates, whether supported by the Burbank ANCA or not, do
not harbor anti-Armenian sentiments. Those who have learned about
the message received by Armond’s campaign were quite shocked. And,
there is progress in the Burbank police department where anti-Armenian
attitudes are being slowly eliminated.

In the diaspora, there are bright spots. People are speaking up about
the unacceptable electoral behavior of the power elites. There was
even a demonstration yesterday, in Glendale, in front of the Consulate
General of the Republic of Armenia. Ever so slowly, people are getting
over their fear of “airing our dirty laundry in public,” and seeing
the value and effectiveness of letting the sun shine in on the dark
activities of those corrupting our fledgling republic.

Keep fighting the bleakness with the brightness of engagement and
action.

Text of telephone message

Yes, good day to you. I was trying to reach Lori Adams. Since she
sent me a letter in the mail endorsing (cough) Armond, Armond for
Burbank teachers (uhh) school board.

And (umm) I just wanted to say (umm) please don’t forward me anymore
mail regarding such a candidate. Especially (umm) for someone here
in Burbank. And I, and I will tell you for the reason why.

Umm I don’t understand why Armenians think they have the right to
run for government government positions.

They’re not, they’re not, indigenous and native to this country. And
also they’re the freaking of America.

I mean they have refugee status. They get section 8 housing to pay for
their rent. They get small business loans to pay for their businesses.

They get grants to go to school so they can become dentists and
pharmacists. Then they get food stamps, they load them up with (umm)
300, 400 dollars of groceries. And then they schlepp themselves into
$80,000 Mercedes they didn’t earn.

Are you kidding me?!

Are you kidding me?!

So please, please, a vote for you!?

Are you kidding me?!

You’re not a part of America, you’re not a part of the United States.

And if you don’t know your history you should know it.

You were ousted out of Russia, the Armenians were, you went to
Turkey, the Turks almost eradicated you, then you went to the Middle
East…your…nobody likes you!

And so what makes you think that you even have the audacity to to
even be in the United States of America and have a vote?

When you’re the freaking of America.

I am just so insulted!

I am so insulted by this letter!

From: A. Papazian

OLYMPIC CHAMPION ARMEN NAZARYAN TO GO ON HUNGER STRIKE IN CASE OF WRESTLING REMOVAL FROM OLYMPICS PROGRAM

19:59, 26 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS: Champion of Olympic Games Armen
Nazaryan says he will go on hunger strike in case wrestling is removed
from Olympics program.

As Levon Julfalakyan, coach of national wrestling team of Armenia,
noted in the interview with Armenpress, Nazaryan told he would go on
hunger strike in case of the wrestling removal from the program.

“Nazaryan said he would go on hunger strike, though I am sure wrestling
will not be removed from the Olympics program. In case it really
is, all possible measures will be taken in order to restore it,”
Julfalakyan said.

According to ESPN.com, the International Olympic Committee voted to
remove freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling from the Summer Games
beginning in 2020. With golf and rugby being added to the program
for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the IOC needed to make room. In
doing so, it has ousted one of the oldest sports known to man.

From: A. Papazian

HIGH RANKING AZERBAIJANI OFFICIALS PROMOTING INTOLERANCE – ARMENIAN FM

February 27, 2013 | 18:16

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said Azerbaijan is
rejecting all proposals put forward by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
to settle the Karabakh conflict.

In an interview with Austria Press Agnecy, the Minister said Azerbaijan
rejects even the initiatives to build confidence, including measures
on maintaining ceasefire regime, removal of snipers and investigation
into the incidentÑ~A along the line of contact.

“Azerbaijanis have illusions they can buy friends in the international
arena and beneficial decisions with the help of oil and gas revenues,”
Nalbandian said.

He stressed that solution to the conflict has not been found so far,
since Azerbaijan and international community are “speaking different
language”.

While Vienna is hosting the meeting aimed at promoting dialogue of
civilizations, the gap between Azerbaijan and international community
is growing.

“High ranking Azerbaijani officials are promoting intolerance, hatred
and war. They are glorifying racist killers and threaten to cut ear
of those supporting peace and tolerance as it happened with writer
Akram Aylisli,” he emphasized.

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian