Author: Antonian Lara

/PanARMENIAN.Net/

Currently Armenia has no domestic resources for coup d’état
Home policy review for January 25-31, 2010
30.01.2010 GMT+04:00

The internal political life of Armenia acquired its former course, and
the past week was marked by the visits of a number of distinguished
guests from neighbouring countries. Yerevan hosted Iranian Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Prime Minister of Georgia Nikoloz Gilauri
and Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov. The week was also devoted to various
estimates by political forces and experts concerning the trilateral
meeting between the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in
Sochi.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The week began with a meeting of Armenian Defense
Minister Seyran Ohanyan with students and instructors of Yerevan State
University. `I am always guided by the principle: `If you want peace,
prepare for war’. We never exclude the possibility of a military
solution to the Karabakh conflict on the part of Azerbaijan, but the
Armenian army is always ready to defend their homeland,’ declared the
Minister of Defense. According to him, NKR cannot be part of
Azerbaijan. `In this regard, we raise three problems: the right of NKR
people to self-determination should be respected, Nagorno-Karabakh
should have a land connection with Armenia and its security must be
ensured by international guarantees,’ the Defense Minister stressed.

The same day Razmik Zohrabyan, Deputy Chairman of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia, was the first to assess the tripartite
meeting between the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in
Sochi. Touching upon the surrender of territories, the Republican
Party representative said `It is out of the question’ until the scopes
of compromise are clarified. `Transitional status is not yet defined,
and it is still unknown how the people of Karabakh can express their
will. I think the parties have no idea how this can occur,’ the MP
said. He predicted that after the meeting in Sochi it would become
clear whether or not a framework agreement would be signed on
Karabakh. `However, no framework agreement will be signed till the
yearend, I suppose,’ Zohrabyan stressed.

At a joint press conference a similar assessment was given to the
Sochi meeting by Social Democrat Hunchakian Party board member Vardan
Khachatryan and Member of the Republican Party of Armenia Karen
Avagyan. `It would be unrealistic to believe that all issues related
to Karabakh conflict settlement could be given final resolution during
the trilateral presidential meeting in Sochi,’ declared Avagyan.
According to him, every presidential meeting is a step forward to
conflict resolution. He noted that the only fact that the
Nagorno-Karabakh status was discussed at the latest meeting could be
regarded as progress.

Vardan Khachatryan, for his part, noted that despite the recent
progress, Baku keeps demanding the impossible to gain maximum benefit,
with President Aliyev repeatedly bringing up the issue of military
settlement of Karabakh conflict.

`Negotiations will not definitely accelerate the conflict settlement
process, but the outcome of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani
Presidents’ meeting in Sochi will enable Turkey to speed up the
ratification of Armenian-Turkish Protocols,’ declared Deputy Director
of the Caucasus Institute Sergey Minasyan in an interview to
PanARMENIAN.Net.

Tuesday, January 26, President Serzh Sargsyan received Prime Minister
of Georgia Nikoloz Gilauri, who paid a working visit to Yerevan to
attend the 8th session of the intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation between Armenia and Georgia. At the meeting President
Sargsyan noted that Yerevan is ready to further extend cooperation
with Tbilisi. In his turn, Gilauri conveyed to the Armenian President
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s invitation to visit Georgia.

On the same day Yerevan hosted a pre-planning conference on Combined
Endeavor 2010 exercise. The event organized by the U.S. European
Command brought together 300 communication specialists from 34
countries, including NATO members and partner states.

On January 26 Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki paid a
working visit to Yerevan to attend the 9th session of the
Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission. During the visit
Iranian Foreign Minister met with president of Armenia, RA prime
minister, speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, secretary of the
RA National Security Council and Armenian foreign minister. At the
meeting with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, the counterparts
discussed bilateral, regional and international issues. The foreign
ministers also touched upon the Karabakh conflict settlement and
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. Manouchehr Mottaki
presented to Edward Nalbandyan the processes related to the nuclear
program of Iran.

Another positive evaluation of the tripartite presidential meeting in
Sochi was voiced Tuesday by Director of Analytical Research Center
Ruben Hakobyan. `The Sargsyan-Aliyev-Medvedev meeting in Sochi met our
expectations,’ Hakobyan said at a press conference in Yerevan. As to
the preamble of revised Madrid principles, Hakobyan said: `I’m not
aware of the contents of the preamble, but Karabakh conflict is
expected to be settled in compliance with 2 international norms –
territorial integrity and the right of nations to self-determination.’

Ruben Hakobyan also highlighted that during the past two decades, the
inner and outer life of Armenia has been conditioned by the Karabakh
conflict. Hakobyan did not share the view of some experts, who claim
that any progress in the Karabakh conflict may raise the issue of coup
d’état. `Armenia does not have the corresponding resources. The
`immune system’ of the country is too weak,’ said Hakobyan.

The recent presidential meeting in Sochi repeated the scenario of
previous meetings, according to ARFD parliamentary group member Hrayr
Karapetyan. Karapetyan believes there was much fuss both now and prior
to the Meindorf meeting, but expectations were not met in either case.
According to the MP, Azerbaijan should realize that Karabakh will
never be part of it and it should be involved in talks as an
independent party.

Next day, January 27, the Sochi meeting was once again criticized,
this time by the Heritage party. `I consider that the trilateral
meeting between the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in
Sochi was another defective meeting,’ declared Heritage party
secretary, MP Larisa Alaverdyan. According to her, presidential
meetings without Artsakh leader’s participation can’t be considered
talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. `Presidential
meetings have only one positive side: while they continue, there is
hope that there will be no war,’ Alaverdyan noticed.

On January 27, President Serzh Sargsyan received Iranian Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. The President noted the importance of the
Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission. `You know how much we
value the relations with Iran and we consider you a reliable partner
and a country of key importance in the region,’ Sargsyan said,
addressing to the Iranian FM.

Wednesday was also marked by another event: the Republican Party of
Armenia, `Prosperous Armenia’ and `Orinats Yerkir’ issued a statement
regarding the interview of PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu to Azeri
news agency APA. `Some of PACE President’s comments call into question
his impartiality in the perception of Nagorno-Karabakh. PACE President
has a wrong perception of the nature and details of the issue, as well
as of negotiation progress concerning the problem in question,’ the
joint statement said. Armenian coalition parties urged RA NA speaker
to clarify with PACE President the reliability of the interview in
question and demand explanations, also asking Cavusoglu to specify
whether his words should be regarded as the official position of PACE.
If necessary, the RA NA Speaker was also to discuss the issue of
suspension of the Armenian delegation’s activities in PACE during
Mevlut Cavusoglu’s presidency.

Next day, January 28, Armenian NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan had a
telephone conversation with newly-elected PACE President Mevlut
Cavusoglu. During the conversation Cavusoglu informed the NA Speaker
that on January 26 the Azerbaijani news agency APA had misinterpreted
his remarks, ascribing him statements he had not uttered. The PACE
President assured that these statements were the result of a wrong
interpretation and mistreatment of the Azerbaijani media
representatives.

On January 28 Armenia celebrated the 18th anniversary of formation of
the Armenian National Army. Traditionally on this day the country’s
top leaders visit the Memorial of Military Volunteers Yerablur to
commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the
motherland.

The day was crowned with a solemn concert devoted to 18th anniversary
of the Armenian Army. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Ex-President
Robert Kocharyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan,
and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan were present at the concert.

At the end of the week Leader of Constitutional Right Union party Hayk
Babukhanyan made a series of dramatic statements at a press
conference. According to him, Armenia should think of developing
nuclear weapon as a deterrent to Turkey’s genocidal policy.

Another scandalous statement issued by Babukhanyan concerned the
Heritage Party. Babukhanyan believes that Armenian authorities should
suspend the Party’s activities, because of its destructive position in
the PACE and assistance to Turkish-Azerbaijani policy. Soon Leader of
Heritage faction Stepan Safaryan disapproved Hayk Babukhanyan’s
statement on the party’s anti-governmental policy. According to
Safaryan, `There is reliable information that leader of Constitutional
Right Union receives funding from an oligarch representing one of the
three coalition parties.’

On January 29 Armenian Parliament held a working meeting, which
discussed the draft agenda of the RA NA spring session. The agenda
includes 78 issues and 14 international treaties.

Mikhail Balayan

GEORGE GHAZARYAN: WE ARE PLANNING TO CREATE FILM SERIES ABOUT KARABAKH WAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2010 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "War is not Traceless", the second film about
Karabakh war, will be prepared in 2010, says film director George
Ghazaryan.

As he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the motion picture will form
part of the film series featuring the true history of Artsakh war.

"The idea of creating a film series was born long ago. The first film-
"The Shooting House" – was produced in 2009. Telling about civilians,
we aim to present the real picture of war," Ghazaryan said.

The second film – "War is not Traceless" – is based on the stories
of Gurgen Melikyan, Dean at Yerevan State University’s Oriental
Languages Department.

"The film plot is based on real stories told by Gurgen Melikyan,
who saw an Armenian serviceman helping a pregnant woman reach an
Armenian settlement, ridding her of Azeri soldiers’ barabarism,"
the director said.

Unlike the first film which lasts 20 minutes, the second film has 40
minutes’ running time, said the scenario writer and director.

George Ghazaryan was for many years a photo reporter and TV journalist,
director and documentary film maker, founder of the "League of NKR
Journalists".

Gurgen Melikyan, Oriental studies specialists, Professor at Yerevan
State University (YSU), Dean of Oriental Studies Department. Chairman
of Gurgen Melikyan fund for over 10 years.

Since the times of Karabakh war, Gurgen Melikyan rendered humanitarian
assistance to Artsakh, maintaining permanent contacts with reputable
guests regularly visiting the area. Over the recent years, his
fund has carried out various activities. One of key components of
the organization’s program is the assistance to large families of
Kashatgh region.

Shooting House is the first feature film in the history of Artsakh
(NKR). It’s a 20-minute film based on the history of writer, journalist
and participant of Karabakh war Ashot Beglaryan. The film was shot
under the support of NKR Defense Ministry and Public Television of
Artsakh (financial sponsor: businessman Karen Baghdasarov). Starring
in the film is participant of Karabakh war Martin Aloyan, actor of
the Drama Theatre after Vahram Papazyan.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions
of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control
of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks
mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

BOYAJIAN: COUNTDOWN TO THE NEXT WAR OVER ARTSAKH
By David Boyajian

Armenian Weekly
January 28, 2010

Meeting at the White House with a group of Armenian Americans, the
chief U.S. negotiator for the OSCE peace talks on Artsakh (Karabagh)
announced that the United States would be satisfied if a peace
agreement were to last for only 10 years.

The official was Joseph A. Presel. It was 1996, and Bill Clinton was
president. I happened to be at that meeting.

With Presel were Richard Morningstar, U.S. special envoy to the newly
independent states of the Caucasus, Caspian, and Central Asia, Nancy
Soderberg of the National Security Council, and others. A key U.S.

objective, Soderberg declared, was to pump the region’s oil and gas
resources west through U.S. sponsored pipelines.

While commenting on the OSCE negotiations, Presel made an astonishing
remark, which I paraphrase: ‘Even if a peace agreement between
Armenians and Azerbaijan over Karabagh were to last just 10 years,
that would be sufficient.’

Did Presel mean that Washington would risk a quick fix for Artsakh
even if it were likely to result in a medium-term renewal of violence?

I believe so, and the reasons are clear.

The Armenian corridor

Like Georgia, Armenia sits in a strategic position between energy-rich
Azerbaijan (and the Caspian Sea) and NATO member Turkey.

An Artsakh peace accord would lead Azerbaijan, and probably Turkey,
to reopen their borders with Armenia. That, the U.S. State Department
hopes, would eventually result in Armenia’s serving American interests
as a land, air, and gas and oil pipeline corridor between Azerbaijan
and Turkey.

None of that will happen without an Artsakh peace accord. But it need
last just long enough for the U.S. to gain an economic and political
foothold in Armenia. Such a foothold would take several years, which
explains Presel’s 10-year timeframe.

Why did Presel, an experienced diplomat who had served in Turkey and
Russia and was soon to be the ambassador to Uzbekistan, make such a
damning disclosure about State Department strategy?

I don’t know. It was early in the morning, and Presel looked very
tired. Perhaps fatigue caused him to let his guard down.

With Presel’s 10-year timeframe in mind, consider the OSCE peace plan
for Artsakh that Washington, Paris, and Moscow have proposed.

Recipe for disaster

The plan would, for instance, allow thousands of Azeris to
resettle in Artsakh. Even Armenia has apparently fallen for this
pseudo-humanitarian proposal.

Azerbaijan will ensure that the resettlers include plenty of spies,
saboteurs, and provocateurs. Their job? To sow discord over property
rights, school curricula, military service, alleged discrimination,
and any other pretext they can dream up. The resulting disorder or
civil war would give the OSCE and Azerbaijan an excuse to cancel the
referendum that would supposedly decide Artsakh’s final legal status.

Claiming that Armenians were brutalizing its kin, Azerbaijan – armed
with advanced weapons bought with billions in oil and gas revenue –
could well launch a massive assault. Azerbaijan has always preferred
reconquest over peace.

Even if the resettled Azeris lived peacefully, their higher birth
rate would ensure their eventually outnumbering Armenians.

Under either scenario, Armenians could lose Artsakh permanently.

Major power plays

Would the United States (and Europe) really be unconcerned if an
Artsakh peace fell apart after 10 years or so? It depends.

If western-bound pipelines passed through Armenia, or if a new war
jeopardized the existing Azeri pipelines that lie just north of
Artsakh, Washington and Europe would oppose a new war by Azerbaijan.

It’s unclear, however, that they would have sufficient leverage over
Baku to enforce their will.

Conversely, if their interests were not threatened, the U.S. and
Europe might not particularly care if Azerbaijan reconquered Artsakh.

Russia might actually welcome a new war by Azerbaijan if it concluded
that an Armenian counterattack would damage western-bound pipelines.

The major powers could prove to be greater enemies of Artsakh than
is Azerbaijan.

Treachery and betrayal

Would Armenia ever agree to a deeply flawed peace plan for Artsakh
designed by the U.S., France, Europe, and Russia, all of whom have
historically lied to and betrayed Armenians? Probably.

Inexplicably, Armenian governments have rarely, if ever, publicly
reminded these countries of their treachery. Brought up in the
denationalized Soviet educational system, Armenian leaders may be
largely unaware of the details of that treachery.

Moreover, Armenia’s recent accord with Turkey – the so-called
"protocols" which tend to cast aside Armenian historical rights and
may make the factuality of the genocide debatable – demonstrates that
its leaders are poor negotiators and more concerned with lining their
pockets than heeding the views of their people.

State Department doubletalk

Despite Presel’s eye-opening revelation, unintentional or otherwise,
about a short-term fix for Artsakh, Armenians should know that he also
reflects the State Department’s doubletalk about the Armenian genocide.

At the White House, Presel referred directly to the Armenian genocide,
saying, ‘I don’t know why Turkey doesn’t just acknowledge it.’
The statement was strangely disingenuous. Presel had, after all,
served in Turkey and certainly knew of Ankara’s fear that a genocide
acknowledgment could advance long-standing Armenian claims to territory
and reparations.

Fast forward to several years ago. Presel was on a panel that discussed
Armenian – Turkish relations. He reportedly endorsed Turkey’s denialist
stance that the 1915 killings were not genocide but rather were caused
by Armenian rebellions.

Regardless, Armenians must take Presel’s "10-year" warning
seriously. There is no reason to believe that the State Department’s
policy is any different now than when he said it.

When a "peace" agreement on Artsakh is signed, start counting.

David Boyajian is a freelance writer. Many of his articles and
interviews are archived on Armeniapedia.org.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN WILL OFFER A FREE PERFORMANCE OF THE PLAY "SOJOURN AT ARARAT" ON THURSDAY

THEATER PREVIEW

The University of Michigan Armenian Studies Program (ASP) and the
Center for World Performance Studies (CWPS) will present the play
"Sojourn at Ararat" at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Biomedical Research
Building’s D. Dan and Betty Kahn Auditorium, at 109 Zena Pitcher.

Admission is free.

"Ararat," created and performed by Nora Armani and Gerald Papasian,
combines humorous and dramatic portrayals of the Armenian people and
homeland through the use of narrative text, poetry, songs and music
of several renowned Armenian artists. The piece has been performed
internationally and has received eight Drama Logue Critics’ Awards,
as well as multiple awards in Armenia.

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND TO COMMEMORATE 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE
By Naomi Kuromiya

Armenian Weekly
January 25, 2010

PROVIDENCE, R.I.-Over one and one half million Armenians perished in
the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century.

Committed by the political party of the Ottoman Empire commonly known
as the Young Turks, the killings and abuse occurred during World War
I from 1915-18 before being renewed once again from 1920-23.

The Turkish government had grown increasingly suspicious of the
minority Armenian population, and they therefore planned a deportation
and extermination program disguised as a resettlement plan. The
deported Armenians suffered massacres, starvation, disease, torture,
and the confiscation of all their possessions. The few that survived
became refugees in neighboring countries.

Today, the horrors of the genocide are commemorated annually on April
24, the date in 1915 when the terrible intentions of the Turkish
government for the Armenians first came to light. This year, to mark
the 95th anniversary of the atrocities, Gallery Z director Berge
Ara Zobian, an Armenian of Providence, will curate a historically
and artistically important show titled "The Armenian Genocide: 95
Years Later, In Remembrance." Carol Scavotto and the extensive staff
of Gallery Z will assist Zobian in coordinating this informative
academic exhibition.

Zobian was invited to produce the show in collaboration with the Urban
Arts and Culture Program of the University of Rhode Island. The show
will be displayed in Campus Gallery at the URI Feinstein Campus, a
prominent location that guarantees a large viewing audience. In the
month that it is displayed, from April 1 through April 30, the show
is expected to have over 30,000 visitors, including many who don’t
typically frequent galleries and museums.

Both Zobian and the URI coordinators have wanted time to celebrate
Providence’s Armenian Community for some by sharing various aspects
of Armenian culture and history: They are interested in acquiring
artwork, artifacts, posters, objects, and photographs that illustrate
home life, community life, and religious and political life in order
to provide a comprehensive representation of the Armenian Genocide.

Submissions to this show are open to any and all artists, from the
U.S. or abroad, and all mediums-including paintings, sculptures,
drawings, photos, and videos-will be accepted.

To receive submissions forms, artists should email Scavotto at
[email protected]. Pieces that reflect the artist’s impressions and
understanding of the genocide are important, but the show aims equally
to showcase the survival, achievements, and contributions of the
Armenian culture. The exhibition will commemorate deaths but also
celebrate life.

Unfortunately, a show of this great a scale is expected to be a costly
venture. Due to the enormous production and operation costs, any and
all financial donation and support would be greatly appreciated.

Donations can be sent to Zobian at 17 Amherst St., Providence, RI,
02909 (Memo: Genocide Exhibition).

Following the numerous other genocides of the 20th century,
acknowledging and examining past episodes of violence becomes all the
more crucial. As the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian
Genocide is a critical event to affirm, and the surviving culture
is essential to celebrate and spread with as large an audience as
possible. This show promises to accomplish both of these tasks with
your submissions and support.

PERSPECTIVE OF MODERN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
January 22, 2010

Today, the enlarged session of Artsakh State University Council
conducted by the Council Head, Prime-Minister Ara Haroutyunyan,
took place.

During the session changes were made in the staff of the University
Council, the change proposed to be introduced in the regulations
of the University according to which the sums extracted from the
leasable areas of this educational institution will be allotted
to the fulfillment of the requirements laid down by the University
regulations, was approved.

At the council session Artsakh State University Rector S.Dadayan
presented an account of the 2008-2009 academic year activity of the
University. He pointed out the main achievements on part of scientific
and methodical, technical and economic, social and foreign relations
spheres. According to the Rector’s presentation last year more than
1000 graduates got Artsakh State University diplomas in 27 professions,
because of low grades 160 students were expelled from the University.

Taking into consideration the account of the University Head the
council affirmed the University’s expenditure estimate of 2010,
it will surpass the limit AMD 1 mlrd.

A number of participants held speeches concerning different inner
problems of the University, which were clarified by the NKR Minister
of Education and Science V.Khachatryan.

The Council session was concluded by Prime Minister A.Haroutyunyan. He
particularly emphasized the order of eliminating defective phenomena
in this educational system and the consistency of the Government
in this. Improvements should be continued and the European model of
education should be established in the University,- Prime Minister
stated. According to him nearly all the spheres of our Republic are
short of competent specialists and Artsakh State University has an
important mission in eliminating this shortage. The Prime Minister
underlined that according to the NKR President’s pre-election programme
the educational conception and the existing teaching policy should
be radically changed and the higher education should be conformed to
the needs of our Republic and the present-day demands of time.

MEDAL OF THE PREMIER TO BENEFACTOR

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
January 23, 2010

On January 22, NKR prime minster Ara Haroutyounyan received the
executive director of "Hayastan" all-Armenian fund Ara Vardanyan
and entourage.

They discussed the process of programs implemented by the fund in
the NKR and envisaged new undertakings.

Ara Haroutyounyan awarded a medal to Sargis Qotanjyan for rendering
benefactor services to the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

S.Qotanjyan is the executive of the USA West branch of "Hayastan" fund.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: PREAMBLE TO MADRID PRINCIPLES COORDINATED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.01.2010 18:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed the preamble
to an agreement on Karabakh and are preparing new proposals, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

"There is a general understanding on the preamble of the document,"
Lavrov said after tripartite negotiations in Russia’s Black Sea resort
city of Sochi. He added that the preamble revised and updated the
OSCE Madrid principles.

The Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, Dmitry Medvedev,
Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev, met in Sochi earlier on Monday.

Lavrov said that although some parts of the document had yet to
be synchronized, "the sides will prepare their concrete proposals,
their concrete wording, which will be worked into the text."

"We are sure that this will help the co-chairs in their future work.

The presidents have agreed to continue it [the work]," RIA Novosti
quoted him as saying.

The Madrid principles contain the proposals put forward by the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs on the basic principles of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement. The document was submitted to the Armenian and
Azerbaijani representatives at the OSCE summit in the Spanish capital
in November 2007.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions
of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control
of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks
mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

Hurriyet Daily News , Turkey
Jan 22 2010

Turkey to convey legal assessment to pressure Armenia

Friday, January 22, 2010
ANKARA-Hürriyet Daily News

Ankara is working on a legal assessment to be sent to Yerevan and
third parties to emphasize that Armenia’s Constitutional Court
violated international law by conditionally affirming the two
countries’ protocols.

Foreign ministers Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu and Edward Nalbandian signed
historic protocols in October to establish diplomatic relations and
open land borders between the two countries.

Armenia’s court published a ruling affirming the constitutionality of
the protocol Monday. The text, however, angered Ankara because it
stipulated that the agreements must not violate a part of the Armenian
Declaration of Independence that calls for the recognition of the 1915
deaths of Armenians as `genocide.’

According to the protocol, the sides will form committees to solve
bilateral disputes. Turkey has said a joint committee of historians
should investigate the 1915 killings thoroughly rather than
politically terming the events a `genocide.’

`The wording and spirit of the protocols should be protected. Any
limitation or efforts at partially approving [the document] is against
the essence of the protocols,’ said DavutoÄ?lu on Friday during a joint
conference with his Jordanian counterpart, Nasser Judeh.

DavutoÄ?lu phoned Nalbandian to express his worries and urge him to
display a stronger political will. The minister had earlier discussed
the verdict at a meeting with President Abdullah Gül and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an.

`We began with a vision of normalizing relations with neighboring
Armenia and worded the protocols in this manner,’ said DavutoÄ?lu. `We
continue to be loyal to the wording and spirit of the protocols and
back it with a strong political will.’

In their telephone conversation, Nalbandian argued the court ruling
had no affect on the protocol’s conditions, according to DavutoÄ?lu,
who said, `We need to hear clearer and stronger remarks.’

The minister said he would make calls Friday to his U.S. and Swiss
counterparts, urging them to pressure Armenia to uphold the basics of
the normalization protocols. `We will convey our legal assessments and
our worries to the related sides.’

He outlined the importance of continuing the process without any legal
failures so as to reach a comprehensive normalization. `But the
existing picture shouldn’t be changed. All aims including the planned
commissions should be approved in total.’

Diplomatic sources said Turkey would soon convey its legal assessments
and suggestions by calling on Armenia not to renege on the agreement
or add stipulations to the protocols.

`You cannot pick and choose. Then what we’ve agreed will be different
then what you’ve approved,’ one anonymous diplomat said.

Turkey’s forthcoming text will cite the protocols, saying they are
binding in their entirety according to international law.

Nalbandian, meanwhile, accused Turkey of giving him ultimatums,
saying: `If Turkey is not ready to ratify the protocols, continues
speaking in ultimatums, setting preconditions and obstructing the
process, then I do not deny that negotiations will break down."

Co-Chairs present an updated version of the Madrid Document to
Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan

armradio.am
22.01.2010 14:14

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued the following statement today:

"On January 20, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri
Merzlyakov, the Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier,
France; Ambassador Robert Bradtke, United States) met with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsian in Yerevan, Armenia. As instructed by their
presidents in L’Aquila in July 2009, the Co-Chairs delivered to
President Sargsian, just as they had to President Ilham Aliyev during
their visit to Baku in December 2009, an updated version of the Madrid
Document of November 2007, containing the Co-Chairs’ latest
articulation of the Basic Principles.

On January 21, the Co-Chairs met President Aliyev in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In their discussions with the Co-Chairs, each president expressed
their commitment to continue to pursue a peaceful settlement to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reaffirmed the seriousness of their side
in the negotiations.

The Co-Chairs traveled to Astana, Kazakhstan for consultations with
the Government of Kazakhstan, upon its ascension to the Chairmanship
of the OSCE. Following their consultations in Astana, they will
continue on to Sochi, Russia, where Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
will host the next meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia."