Author: Andres-Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN SAYS “BELIEVE IN US”, BUT DOESN’T SAY WHY
Armen Arakelyan

hetq
00:05, March 14, 2012

At the 13th Republican Party Congress, President Serzh Sargsyan sounded
more like a party leader preparing for the upcoming elections than
a head of state.

The main thrust of his lengthy address was to convince society
to place their trust in the Republic Party. This appeal was so
bold-faced that what went unanswered was the reason why citizens of
Armenia should continue to vote for a party that’s been in power for
the past 13 years.

President Sargsyan failed to note the qualities, important achievements
and the party’s vision for the future. So why should voters believe
his exhortations to re-elect him and the party he heads.

President Sargsyan merely kept hammering home the same line – Trust
and believe in us for we are the party in power.

“I do not wish to belittle or underestimate the sincere and national
work carried out by any political movement or party. Moreover, I am
proud that our political life is so diverse. However, it is our party,
with its resources and potential, that can continue to lead us to new
economic policies and relations, towards change and modernization,”
noted President Sargsyan.

This declaration is not merely a philosophy of reproducing the regime,
but a manifestation of a mentality that sees being the ruling regime
as a value in and of itself; one that denies dissidence. This is such a
model of authority, where mistakes, no matter how crucial or decisive,
are viewed as virtues.

“We can correct the mistake made by those doing things. Such a
mistake, in fact, has a greater value than those empty and barren
manifestations, seemingly correct, made by those who do nothing,”
said Serzh Sargsyan.

In essence, the president is proposing that we accept a mistake as a
virtue, rather than the lessons to be learnt from it. And this is a
special address to the entire administrative apparatus, to the public
at large – that the government sees nothing as a mistake.

Consequently, there can be no talk of accountability for any mistakes
made. Furthermore, this means that any critique is to be regarded as
“empty and barren manifestations, seemingly correct, made by those
who do nothing.”

Besides all this, what was more important is the picture the president
sketched of his new Armenia.

Truth be told, we got no inkling of this picture other than a reference
to change and a desire for change.

But change to what end and for whom – the country, nation, or societal
development?

Naturally, the president has an answer to this – there is no faith
in the future or the road leading to it.

This is the reason the president placed great stress on the restoration
of faith.

From: A. Papazian

REP. COSTA JOINS COLLEAGUES IN COMMEMORATING SUMGAIT MASSACRES

armradio.am
14.03.2012 11:12

Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) of Fresno issued a strong statement
commemorating the recent anniversary of Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing
of its Armenian community in Sumgait in February 1988. He joins with
a bipartisan group of other Members of Congress in commemorating the
massacres, including colleagues from the California Congressional
delegation such as Reps. Anna Eshoo (D), Howard Berman (D), Brad
Sherman (D), Judy Chu (D), and Adam Schiff (D).

“With Congressman Costa joining his colleagues in commemorating the
Sumgait massacres, he adds yet another principled voice to the chorus
of legislators who have publicly expressed support for human rights,
democracy, and the peaceful resolution of regional disputes,” said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Along with friends of Armenia
from across California’s Central Valley, we voice our gratitude to
Congressman Costa for challenging Azerbaijan’s past aggression and
standing up to its leaders’ present-day threats to restart their war
against Armenia and Artsakh.”

In his statement, Rep. Costa discussed the pogroms in the broader
context of often violent Azerbaijani oppression against its Armenian
population, especially in the Nagorno Karabakh region where the
community had been peacefully petitioning for democratic freedom and
an end to state-supported discrimination.

From: A. Papazian

‘Accumulation of arms in Karabakh zone won’t settle current problems’

Mon 12 March 2012 11:25 GMT | 11:25 Local Time

Nikolay Bordyuzha
Intensive accumulation of arms in the zone of NK conflict won’t settle
current problems, CSTO Secretary General states.
Secretary General of Collective Security Treaty Organization Nikolay
Bordyuzha stated that “intensive accumulation of arms in the zone of
Karabakh conflict won’t settle the current problems’.

Nikolay Bordyuzha stated this in Yerevan answering the question on the
CSTO stance to the issue of Azerbaijan’s recent purchases of arms from
Israel, Mediamax reports.

According to Nikolay Bordyuzha, purchasing any equipment or providing
the national defense structures with arms is the sovereign right of
any state including Azerbaijan.

`Intensive accumulation of arms in the conflict zone is not beneficial
– it’s a different case. Anyways, I think it won’t settle the current
problems’, noted the CSTO Secretary General.

Mediamax

From: A. Papazian

MilAz.info, Azerbaijan
March 12 2012

Pakistani Ambassador: If Azerbaijan decides to liberate its occupied
territories through military way, Pakistan will fully support
Azerbaijan

13:46 12-03-2012
APA’s interview with Ambassador of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Inayat Ullah Kakar

– How do you evaluate the results of the work done since the
establishment of the diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and
Pakistan?

– Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan
after independence. Immediately after establishment of diplomatic
relations, highest level exchanged took place from both sides.
Pakistan’s former Presidents Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Laghari and
Pervez Musharraf visited Azerbaijan in 1995 and 2004 respectively,
which were returned by the then Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev in
1996 and President Ilham Aliyev in 2005. Apart from these visits, many
high level bilateral visits have taken place between the two
countries. Our governments cooperate with each other at international
forums on issues of mutual interest and concern. As a result, both our
countries were elected as non-permanent members of the UNSC last year.
Our political understanding at highest levels is excellent. We lend
support to each other on the issues of Nagorno Karabakh and Kashmir.
Recently, foreign relations committee of Pakistani Senate has passed a
resolution on Khojaly massacre committed by Armenian forces in 1992.
So overall, both our countries have developed excellent relations in
past two decades.

– How do you evaluate the defence cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan?

– Pakistan and Azerbaijan have friendly relations in defence
cooperation. Regular exchange of delegations takes place between our
two countries. Pakistan offers gratis training courses to Azeri
defence personnel in its premium institutions. Pakistan has been
producing light arms and ammunition and other defence equipment, which
we have offered to Azerbaijan. Recently, CSCSC General Khalid Shameem
Wynne visited Azerbaijan and discussed prospects of defence
cooperation.

-Can Pakistan help Azerbaijan in case of military operations with Armenia?

-If Azerbaijan decides to liberate its occupied territories through
military way, Pakistan will act as Azerbaijan wants. In case of war
with Armenia, Pakistan will always defend Azerbaijan. As you know,
Pakistan does not recognize Armenia’s independence. Azerbaijan
supports Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir. But Azerbaijan and Pakistan
act basing on the international principles. The UN Security Council
passed resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh and Kashmir conflicts. Thus,
Azerbaijan and Pakistan support each other basing on the international
principles.

– What projects is the embassy of Pakistan working on to enhance the
cooperation?

– We are focusing on enhancing economic cooperation between the two
countries. Through more frequent exchange of business delegations,
both from government and private sectors, we hope to raise level of
economic and commercial ties at par with our political relations. The
5th meeting of Azerbaijan-Pakistan intergovernmental commission was
held last year, the next meeting will be held in Pakistan. This
commission is a format, within which Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations,
including cooperation in defence, science, culture, economy,
communication, internet technologies, are discussed on the
administrative level. I would like to note that Pakistan grants
scholarships to Azerbaijani students. It is planned to send to
Pakistan a group of students studying Urdu at Baku State University.

– How popular is Azerbaijan among the Pakistani investors?

– Azerbaijan has achieved a lot in two decades. The progress made in
different fields, especially economic, is phenomenal. President Ilham
Aliyev is taking forward the vision of late President Heydar Aliyev.
The people of Azerbaijan are very friendly and cherish special regard
for Pakistan. It has been impressive economic growth in recent years,
which is visible all round. Unfortunately, level of awareness among
Pakistani investors of Azeri business environment is very low. Through
frequent exchanges at all levels, we are striving to bring the peoples
closer.
Pakistan has a business friendly environment, and welcomes foreign
investments from brotherly countries like Azerbaijan. In recent visit
by Pakistani Senate’s delegation to Azerbaijan, we have offered Azeri
businessmen and the government to invest in Pakistan especially in
power sector, to which Azeri government has shown interest also.

– How do you see the future of the energy cooperation between our countries?

– Pakistan is an energy-deficient country. Azerbaijan can help
Pakistan overcome energy deficiency by investing in power projects.
Our discussions on these lines are already underway.

– What is the trade turnover between the two countries?

– Total trade turnover between Pakistan and Azerbaijan in 2011 stood
at around US $ 3 million which is not commensurate with our bilateral
political relations. We are especially focusing economic and defence
cooperation in our discussions now. Pakistan and Azerbaijan have
developed expertise in different economic sectors. Pakistan has
offered cooperation in agriculture, telecommunication and IT,
construction and defence sectors. We can initiate joint ventures in
these fields.

From: A. Papazian

Christian Science Monitor
March 8 2012

Why Sarkozy’s hard words about immigration may resonate in France

The bedrock concept of Frenchness is that any French citizen can climb
the ladder, if they speak French. But what about immigrants — 11
percent of population — who don’t integrate?

By Scott Baldauf, Staff Writer / March 7, 2012

When French President Nicolas Sarkozy said there were `too many
foreigners’ in France, he touched not only on the powerful issue of
immigration – always a crowd-pleaser in an economic slowdown – but
also on the more fundamental question of what it means to be French.

After all, Mr. Sarkozy himself is the son of a Hungarian immigrant. He
is also a conservative Rudy Giuliani-style career politician who sees
his job as defending French civilization from `les étrangers.’

And as Sarkozy faces challenges both from the far-right National Party
candidate Marie Le Pen and from Socialist Party candidate François
Hollande, Monsieur Le President has returned to the hard talk on
immigration that made him famous as a candidate years ago.

“Our system of integration is working worse and worse, because we have
too many foreigners on our territory and we can no longer manage to
find them accommodation, a job, a school,” he said on France 2
television.

This statement, spoken on French national television, sounds perhaps
harder than it really is. While Sarkozy is clearly to the right of the
socialist position on immigration, he is far more moderate than the
far right, which advocates the withdrawal of state medical aid to
foreign-born immigrants.

These are lean times in France, far removed from the robust years of
French colonial expansion 200 years ago, when French warships sailed
the oceans, gathering up colonies like so many bon-bons. Even after
World War II, as France moved toward granting political independence
toward those colonies, France’s leadership never questioned the notion
that all of the French-speaking world – including African and Middle
Eastern immigrants – were at some fundamental level actually French.

`The French really see their identity as a civilization, and they want
people to be part of that civilization,’ Jean-Benoit Nadeau, the
Montreal-based sociologist and co-author of the book `Sixty Million
Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong.’

RELATED: Think you know Europe? Take our geography quiz.

French people like to think of their civilization as having deep and
ancient roots, Mr. Nadeau says, but in reality, the French
civilization they are preserving is relatively young. `Two centuries
ago, France was predominantly non-French speaking,’ says Nadeau.
`French was spoken in Paris and the surrounding areas, but most of the
rest of the country spoke other languages, such as Occitane, Bretagne,
Alsacien.’

It took a French revolution, and ultimately a centralized French
government to impose a unified French language and a defined concept
of Frenchness on society, and it was this same definition of French
civilization that French colonizers took with them to Africa, the
Middle East, and beyond. It is a cultural framework that lives on in
France and other French-speaking nations, and few French people want
to see that cultural unity disintegrate.

That is what makes France’s current immigration debate so emotional,
Nadeau says. `What do you do with 10 to 15 million citizens who don’t
speak French?’

According to Eurostat, the statistics arm of the European Commission,
7.1 million people, or 11 percent of France’s population were foreign
born as of 2009.

What would happen to France, if Sarkozy began to dismantle the present
setup for French immigration? Ivan Rioufol, a blogger for the
conservative Paris daily newspaper Le Figaro, says that even
discussing immigration is akin to `blasphemy.’ But, he adds, it’s time
to start risking the conversation, he adds.

`It would be absurd to maintain a zero immigration [rate] in an open
democracy. But a nation is neither a hotel nor a Spanish inn. It is
silly to claim that mass immigration will pay our pensions and insure
our demographics, not understanding that such contributions also bring
another civilization. Would it be asking too much of politicians and
media to give up their reflexive positions and think?’

For the record, Sarkozy’s statements about “too many foreigners” are
not an indication that he is about to close the doors. At least not
yet. In the France 2 television interview, Sarkozy said, “I want
France to remain an open country, because that is the tradition of
France. But I do not want an immigration that is based solely on the
appetite for income-tested benefits,” he added because in France
“there is a welfare system better than our neighbors.”

Nadeau says that the problem is this: For French politicians to talk
about integration of immigrants, they have to admit that there is a
problem with integration, and therefore, perhaps it is a problem that
even something as robust as French civilization cannot resolve
naturally.

`Sarkozy is playing a dangerous game by bringing up immigration, but
he’s got his back against the wall,” says Nadeau. “It is legitimate
for Sarkozy to speak of integration, and I don’t think that it is
necessarily extreme right for him to do so, but in the French
political culture, it is often interpreted as such.’

He laughs. `But the problem is, it is extremely difficult to know what
he means.’

From: A. Papazian

Ruling RPA to change board and elect chairman

news.am
March 09, 2012 | 21:02

YEREVAN. – Ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) will elect a
chairman and make changes in the executive body at the 13th congress
on Saturday, RPA member Hovhannes Sahakyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The RPA intends to change the board, in particular, to introduce
Yerevan City Mayor Taron Margaryan, Parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan,
Deputy Speaker Edward Sharmazanov, Education and Science Minister
Armen Ashotyan and MP Hermine Naghdalyan.

In addition, current executive body features the incumbent President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, as well as Razmik Zohrabyan and Galust
Sahakyan.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian environmentalists to start open-end sit-in unless –

19:56 – 09.03.12

The environmentalists plan to start an open-end sit-in unless the
Yerevan authorities order the removal of boutiques in the Mashtots
park.

Talking to Tert.am, Gor Hakobyan, an active member of the `We are the
city’s masters’ group, said that they will officially announce their
plans on March 13.

`We are going to institute an independent and just civil court to
discuss problems related public interest. The first open court is
scheduled for March 13 to discuss the Mashtots park problem,’ he said.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Baki Xabar, Azerbaijan
March 8 2012

Iran gives Armenia nuclear technology, arms

Iran and Armenia have had military cooperation for years and Yerevan
might have transferred to Iran nuclear technology, the privately-owned
Azerbaijani newspaper Baki Xabar reported on 7 March.

Despite its attempts the USA is unable to monitor the Iran-Armenia
border and considering the bilateral military cooperation between the
two countries there might have been a transfer of nuclear technologies
to Tehran, the newspaper said.

“Apart from Israel and Iran, Armenia is the only country from the
Caucasus to South Africa to possess nuclear technology. It has had
nuclear technology and a nuclear power station for longer than Iran.
It is interesting that while US officials say in their speeches that
nuclear technology was smuggled to Iran from North Korea and Pakistan,
there is no word about Armenia. Everyone knows that for the past 20
years various goods, including unknown products, were smuggled to and
from on the Iran-Armenia border. Given these illegal trade links,
there is no guarantee that there has not been a transfer of military
nuclear equipment from Yerevan to Tehran,” the report said.

On the bilateral military cooperation, Baki Xabar said that the USA
has been unsuccessfully trying to monitor the situation on the border.
“The deepening of Iran-Armenia cooperation is not in the interests of
the West, and in secret letters to the Armenian authorities the USA
has repeatedly voiced its concern over this. WikiLeaks has also
published information in this regard. Americans wanted to be able to
monitor the Iran-Armenia border, but Yerevan did not permit this.”

According to the newspaper, in preparation for a possible war, Iran is
looking for strategic allies, and of its neighbouring countries only
Armenia fits the bill. “It is known that faced with serious economic
sanctions Iran imports banned goods from the Megri corridor [on
Iran-Armenia border] and from the occupied Azerbaijani territories…
There are serious reports saying that recently the bilateral military
cooperation deepened,” Baki Xabar reported.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Dunya news agency website, dia.az, carried
three reports on 6 March concerning Iran’s policy vis-a-vis
Azerbaijan.

According to the website, in response to an Azerbaijan-Israeli arms
deal worth 1.6bn dollars, Iran is preparing to give Armenia weapons
and munitions worth 300m dollars. “Negotiations to this end are
already under way between Yerevan and the Persian-mullah regime of
Iran,” the report said, quoting anonymous sources.

The website also said that many members of Iran’s diplomatic missions
in Azerbaijan may be spies. There are 97 people in Iran’s diplomatic
mission in Baku. Add to this the staff of the consulate in Naxcivan
and this figure reaches 110. But only 22 of them have diplomatic
status, it said.

Dia.az also quoted the Iranian website arannews.ir as linking the
recent arrests of Muslim believers in Azerbaijan and unrest in
Azerbaijan’s Quba District. “Following the Islamophobia policies of
the Baku government in the past two years we have witnessed the
formation of the Islamic movement in the Azerbaijani Republic. Despite
the arrests of many believers, the Islamic movement has entered into a
new stage. For example, we saw unprecedented protests against the
state apparatus in Quba, the town where the currently imprisoned
chairman of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan was born,” dia.az quoted
arannews.ir as reporting.

[translated from Azeri]

From: A. Papazian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 9 2012

Investigation launched into racist books in Ä°stanbul schools

9 March 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL

The Turkish Education Ministry has said it started investigating why a
book it says includes `hatred and animosity’ was distributed in
Ä°stanbul’s Kartal district and has canceled the unsanctioned
distribution of the book.
A statement released by the Education Ministry on Thursday said the
376-page-long book `I Am Closing This File,’ written by Yunus Zeyrek,
includes debates in the media after the killing of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, who was also the editor-in-chief of
Armenian weekly Agos. The book accuses certain officials and
intellectuals of being `pro-Armenian.’

The book was first published in 1981 and 1984 by the Culture Ministry
and again in 2001 by the Education Ministry. Later editions of the
book were published in 2007 and 2011 by the Payda Publishing House and
distributed to high school students by the Kartal district Governor’s
Office in the same school district. The Education Ministry said it had
not approved the distribution of the book.

The statement added that the book includes material that fosters
`hatred and animosity,’ which it said could negatively affect the
minds of children. `For this reason, the Education Ministry has
decided to stop the unsanctioned distribution of the book and to
launch an investigation to find who is responsible,’ the statement
stressed.

From: A. Papazian

HULIQ.com
March 9 2012

Azerbaijan reverses position against Armenia 9 days after “enemy” statement

Just nine days after making hostile remarks against Armenia, neighbor
Azerbaijan releases a statement, which could be seen as a reversal and
hope that Armenia may revise its decision on Eurovision 2012
participation in Baku.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are tense over the right of
self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh, a de facto Republic with
Armenian majority that wants to live independent of Azerbaijan. The
case is similar to Kosovo and Southern Sudan, which recently gained
their independence with international backing.

Last year Azeri representatives won the Eurovision song contest and
according to the rules this year the Eurovision 2012 will be held in
Baku. Despite tense relations the Armenian side made an official
application in line with its policy of supporting people contacts and
public diplomacy. The presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia
released a joint statement at their latest meeting in Sochi aimed to
achive just that: confidence consolidation between the two nations.

Yet, according to media sources, such as BBC and Radio Liberty the
Armenian side boycotted its participation in Eurovision because of
Azerbaijan’s president’s anti Armenian remark on March 1 that “the
Armenians of the world” are his nation’s main enemy. After this remark
Armenian withdrew its application and the world media noticed it.

Today, there seems to be a reversal on the Azeri side. Elman
Abdullayev, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan,
released a statement to News.Az stating “we treat the Armenians
normally enough and don’t have towards them … hostile attitude.”
News.az continues that “according to the spokesman, Armenians living
in Azerbaijan are provided with all conditions and even the Armenian
church located in the centre of Baku was restored recently.”

Armenian media has picked up the statement has called it a
contradiction by Azeri MFA to its president’s remark. “Azerbaijan’s
MFA Contradicts Ilham Aliyev,” writes one of the leading onlines
newspapers in Armenia 1in.am.

Overall Armenia has a point. You can’t participate and sing in a
country where the president, according to media reports, calls the
entire nation Azerbaijan’s “main enemy.” Before that statement the
Armenians had submitted an application to participate in Baku and it
has been widely supported in the country.

Can’t stay enemies forever

At this point perhaps it would help the case if Azerbaijan sent extra
reassurances that despite disagreement over Karabakh the two nations
are not enemies. Azerbaijan is the host country, it can do this and
would be a great way to demonstrate a warm Caucasian hospitality. The
more Armenian and Azeri artists travel to each other’s country the
better for building trust and restoring confidence. The public
diplomacy will build that base, that support upon which the three
sides can strike a deal and reach an agreement on Karabakh. This view
was also stated and supported by EU foreign ministers on their
Conclusions on South Caucasus. Promoting trade relations, facilitating
travel and starting of transformative and approximation work is key to
the conflict’s final resolution.

Few weeks ago there was a meeting held in Moscow between Armenian,
Azeri and Russian intelligentsia representatives. The Editor of one of
Armenia’s leading newspapers Aravot, Aram Abrahamyan, who participated
in that meeting wrote a great editorial titled “Let’s Not Leave It to
the Next Generation.”

Abrahamyan writes that at the meeting the representatives of the three
nations were listening to a poem sited by a leading Russian poet. ” I
thought that it was interesting, pleasant for Armenians and
Azerbaijanis of my generation (certainly, some layer), because we read
the Youth magazine in our childhood, the editor of which was Dementyev
for many years, because we were citizens of a big country and at the
end of the day we speak the language, in which the poet writes. And
our children who have grown up in two independent countries obviously
meet none of those conditions. Some things unite Azerbaijani
intellectual and me and we can talk on the cultural foundation that
was laid in our school and college days. If the alienation and enmity
between our peoples are retained, I cannot imagine how, on what
foundation our children will communicate. That is why I think that it
is not right to hand our conflict over to the next generation –
everything will be much harder for them.”

At the end of the day, how nice would it be if the President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev called the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
and said something like – despite everything we would be glad and
would love to see the Armenian representative singing in Baku. Now
that could be a start of a new chapter between the two nations.

From: A. Papazian