Author: Babajanian Karo

RUSSIA ‘CANNOT FULLY RELY’ ON AZERBAIJAN’S SUPPORT IN UN

news.az
Oct 27 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Dr Yevgeny Volk, deputy director of the Yeltsin
Foundation (Moscow).

How can you comment on Azerbaijan’s election as a non-permanent member
of the UN Security Council?

This decision reflects Azerbaijan’s recognition as a leading regional
power since the list of the non-permanent members of the UN Security
Council is expanded by rotation based on the representations of
separate regions. The fact that Azerbaijan gained the opportunity
reflects the growing role of Baku in international relations, the
important role of Azerbaijan in the settlement not only of regional
problems but also of global problems dealt with by the UN.

>From the very beginning Russia declared support for Azerbaijan’s
candidacy. What caused this support?

Russia is not interested in worsening ties with Baku during the current
tough fight for energy sources and influence in the South Caucasus
and in the former USSR space. Russia is seeking to consolidate its
position, including in Azerbaijan, and does not want to worsen its
ties with Baku.

Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly rejected Azerbaijan’s initiatives in
the UN on Karabakh. Some believe that this time Russia wants to put
forward some of its own initiatives via Azerbaijan in the UN Security
Council. What do you think about that?

I don’t think that Russia can fully rely on Azerbaijan’s support,
since Baku is not so politically close to Moscow, especially because
Moscow allies with Armenia in this region, since the latter is part
of the relevant structures of the CIS and is closer to Moscow in this
respect. All the same, certainly, Moscow hopes that its position will
be close to Baku’s on a number of issues that attract Baku’s attention,
especially on the situation in the Middle East.

Can the institution of non-permanent membership of the UN Security
Council be an effective mechanism for the implementation of the four
resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh?

I would not establish such a direct connection between non-permanent
membership of the Security Council and the implementation of the UN
resolutions. Though the status of a non-permanent member gives some
advantages, it is not the key to solutions to issues that have been
on the agenda for a long time, have not been resolved earlier and
even have no prospects for settlement in the foreseeable future.

Azerbaijan, Russia and most other countries support reform of the
UN to improve the effectiveness of the resolutions taken by this
organization. Can this work be consolidated through Azerbaijan’s
new status?

I think that the issue of reform of the UN is an eternal one. Much has
been spoken about reform for decades, since the very beginning of its
existence. But nonetheless, this issue is so complex and contradictory,
it is bound to the interests of so many influential political powers
and separate countries, that I would not be too optimistic about the
possibly of rapid reform of the UN, especially the use of current
leverage such as non-permanent membership of the Security Council to
achieve this.

All countries have their views on this organization. Russia has
a special outlook and so does the US leadership. And it is very
difficult to bring these two points closer.

U.S. CONGRESSMEN COMMITTED TO REACH RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Panorama
Oct 27 2011
Armenia

U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs hosted an event dedicated to
the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence. The event was attended
by 2 dozens of congressmen, heads of American-Armenian organizations,
representatives of dioceses and Armenian community.

MFA press service says the congressmen have congratulated Armenia and
underlined the achieved goals Armenia has materialized while creating
its statehood. The U.S. congressmen have confirmed their commitment
to reach the recognition of Armenian Genocide and to expand the aid
volume for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

WASHINGTON HOSTS ATTEMPT OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN

Panorama
Oct 27 2011
Armenia

Recently, a forum, organized in Washington, has hosted members of
government and civil society from Armenia and Azerbaijan, said expert
Richard Giragosian Thursday in a meeting with the journalists. The
expert noted that the forum was the first serious step in terms of
launching negotiations among Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

In the first two days the discussions were on academic lever, then
open and closed talks followed.

Giragosian said the meeting was efficient, and explained that the
forum wasn’t a campaign and didn’t aim at resolution of NK conflict;
it was a means to create a dialogue.

The expert said some arrangements have been made to make the forum
more comprehensive and to engage representatives from NK side. “We
agreed upon not agreeing over some issues, to not impede the dialogue.

It’s aimed at making the dialogue more comprehensive and at reducing
the war risks coming from Azerbaijan,” explained the expert adding
that the official Baku agreed on not linking the NK issue with the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Giragosian has said he’s leaving for Turkey tomorrow to discuss the
issue with that party. He said that Armenia had done everything the
country could afford itself and yet quite more; now the international
community anticipates certain steps from Turkey.

COMMENTARY: ARMENIA’S ARMED FORCES UNDER SCRUTINY
By Edmond Y. Azadian

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Editor

During the Karabagh war, the ragtag Armenian armed forces scored a
historic victory against overwhelming Azeri forces and liberated a
piece of Armenian territory long languishing under Azeri misrule.

That victory was achieved because morale was high and the Armenian
soldiers were inspired. After a tenuous ceasefire, Armenia and Karabagh
were engaged in state building, which included a swift organization
of their armed forces, because a no-war, no-peace period had ensued,
following that cease-fire, which kept everyone on their toes.

Today we are being reassured that the Armenian armed forces possess
the necessary military technology and the man power to defend Armenia
against possible Azeri aggression, despite Baku’s military build
up through its Petrodollars. We are being further reassured that
Azerbaijan would have already attacked Armenia – making good on its
threats – had it not been deterred by the might and combat-readiness
of the Armenian armed forces.

Despite all these assurances, there are some disquieting incidents
in the armed forces, which undermine the morale of the servicemen;
these are the alarming number of peacetime deaths in the army. Although
the figures vary, nonetheless they are troubling.

It is said that the army reflects the image of the civil society. If
that is true, in Armenia’s case there is some healing to be done
within the army.

The corruption in the army was well known and bearable until
unexplained deaths began to increase. The recruiting officers have
always had lucrative positions to give dispensation to any recruit
for a price. Additionally, normal furloughs and discharges were
allowed through bribes, which certainly found their way into the
higher echelons of the army. There is no way to uproot this kind of
corruption, because that corruption is committed by the same officers
tasked with guaranteeing discipline in the army and keeping the hands
of leadership clean. It was a way of life society tolerated, though
with a degree of resentment. Now, however, the increasing number of
the deaths has alarmed the families and society as a whole. The army
brass is under pressure by human rights groups to do some explaining.

Only on October 9, three new draftees died: Vladimir Assatryan, 19,
Yourik Nercissian, 19, and Aram Melkonian, 21. All three deaths have
been ruled to be suicides.

Valerik Mouradian died in March 2010. According to his mother, he
had seen his superior officer stealing gas from the army, and he had
reported the incident to his mother over the phone. A few days later,
the mother received the tortured body of her son. “What has my son
done to be torn apart like that? I wanted to be the last mother whose
son is killed in peacetime. I wished he was killed by a Turk to make
me proud that my son died defending the borders of our homeland.”

According to unofficial reports, 30 soldiers have been killed this
year, and only nine by enemy fire. The public relations person at
the Ministry of Defense, Gegham Harutunian, has stated that last
year 54 soldiers died and the official figures for the current year
will be released at yearend. He assured the public that the number
of such incidents is decreasing. But that is no consolation to the
mothers who have lost their sons. Those mothers, dressed in black,
have demonstrated in front of the presidential palace demanding
explanations for those killings.

Some of the new recruits have been sent to psychiatric wards after
the brutal treatment they have received from their superiors.

Every time a soldier is killed, news comes out that it is a case of
suicide, even before an investigation has begun. Even if the findings
are true, the mothers would like to see the responsible parties who
have driven their sons to commit suicide to be identified and punished.

In reference to the controversial cases of death in the armed forces
of Armenia and civil society’s response, Deputy Minister of Defense
Vladimir Gasparyan said during a recent interview on H1 Public TV that
some human rights organizations are trying to politicize the issue
and have made a habit of criticizing the army. “I suggest to them to
refrain from those personal attacks, because they are affecting the
army’s combat capacity.” He further accused those critics of being
foreign agents.

However, human rights activist Arthur Sakunts, head of the Helsinki
Citizen’s Assembly of Vanadzor, has discounted those threats as
“means by officials to divert public attention.” The issue has been
politicized especially in the hands of the opposition, which never
misses the opportunity to criticize the government. This year when
Armenia could not make in the first 10 of Eurovision song contest,
some opposition papers explained that Armenia lost because it does
not have a legitimate government. But the issue has become a political
hot potato and it has to be resolved somehow before the public loses
complete confidence in its armed forces.

Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanian is a most erudite and articulate
government official. He is also a war hero who has lost a leg in the
Karabagh conflict. An Azeri newspaper wished that the bullet which
hit Ohanian’s leg instead had been aimed at his heart!

Unfortunately some people have publicly called for his resignation,
because he has not been able to resolve the issue of peacetime
killings. He is the most astute military leader who has put fear in
the Azeri hearts and he should be able to bring this painful phenomenon
to a close.

Two years ago, the Writers Union of Armenia surprised me in Dzaghgadzor
by celebrating my 50 years of literary activity. Ohanian dropped in
to award me the Marshal Baghramian Armed Forces Medal. I thought it
would be politically incorrect to ask an embarrassing question in that
setting. But these killings were so much on my mind that I asked him
anyway, “Mr. Minister, why should a young man serve in the armed forces
and defend the homeland, when that homeland in return has incidents of
hazing, beatings, shipping to psychiatric wards and death sentences?”

He was surprised by the question and he answered: “No commander would
like to intimidate and hurt his soldiers. We have taken the issue
seriously and we will control the situation.”

Two years later the beatings and killings are shamefully continuing.

Therefore, the question is still valid: why would a young man serve
in the army to defend Armenia?

ARMENIA U-16 TO FACE OFF VS. AZERBAIJAN IN CHESS OLYMPIAD 6TH ROUND

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 27, 2011 – 18:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia is facing Azerbaijan in the 6th round of
the World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad 2011 going on in Izmit, Turkey.

Karen Grigoryan is playing against Nijat Abasov, Hovhannes Gabuzyan is
rivaling Ulvi Bajarani while Tigran Harutyunyan and Arman Mikaelyan
(who replaced Zohrak Apresyan) are facing Kanan Izzat and Misratdin
Iskandarov respectively.

Armenian team is leading the tournament with 16 points, while
Azerbaijan is 4th with 13 points.

CENTER OF TRANSPORT SERVICES BY THE PRINCIPLE OF “ONE WINDOW” OPENED IN SCR

/ARKA/
OCTOBER 27, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/.Center of Transport Services (CTS) opened
on Thursday in South-Caucasian Railway cjsc which will render complete
transport services to the clients by the principle of “one window”.

The main goals of the Center which will operate within the structure
of road center of SCR transport service are, in particular, to bring
the conditions of transport market in line with the client’s demand,
as well as increase of accessibility of railway services.

“We have established a united sale center which works with the
clients. I would like that opening of the center would focus on
improving the quality of transportation services and our customers
would be satisfied with our services”, said SCR General Director
Shevket Shaydulin during the opening ceremony.

Due to the new structure, the same high quality of working with all the
clients, as well as the clients of small and medium-sized businesses
will be provided.

“It is every important for me that it is a crown of all the work
which we have performed, and first of all introduction of information
technologies”, he said.

Convenience of the Center is that any client wanting to use its
services, will work directly with the manager organizing and
controlling cargo transportation, thus reducing the terms of order.

Armenian Transport and Communications Minister Manuk Vardanyan
noted that this Center is a part of new culture in the provision of
transportation services.

“These are new game rules in the market, and we are confident that
such an initiative of railway workers will demonstrate its efficiency”,
he said.

In applying to CTS, the client will have full logistic scheme of cargo
transportation taking into account the distance, volume and terms of
the delivered cargo, as well as the work with the terminals.

Head of Armenian Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs Arsen Ghazaryan said
that this intention of SCR on the provision of new quality services
is encouraging, noting that the concept of “one window” operates also
in managerial structure.

Such a principle will allow transportation companies and the clients
to quickly submit the orders, get approvals and see the tariffs.

“It also increases the quality of rendered services”, said Ghazaryan.

Besides the main types of cargo transportation services, the Center
will offer new products, particularly factoring and cargo insurance.

CJSC “South-Caucasus Railway” is a 100% subsidiary of OJSC “Russian
Railways” implementing concession management of CJSC “Armenian
Railways” according to the Concession Agreement signed on February 13,
2008. Term of the concession is 30 years with the right of extension
for another 10 years.

RUSSIAN SABOTAGE IN ARMENIA?

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:37:27 – 27/10/2011

Criminal proceedings have been launched against the Electric Networks
of Armenia, Daughter Company of Russian Inter RAO EES based on a
request by the State Revenue Committee accusing the Networks of
tax evasion of 5 million dollars. Investigation does not comment
on the situation, while the ETA issued a statement dwelling on the
possible failures of energy supply, due to the fact that documents
were confiscated during the search, the lack of which can influence
on the management quality. Besides, the company thinks the claims on
5 million tax evasion are ungrounded. This information is published
on Deutsche Welle website.

Deutsche Welle writes that the Armenian press reported one of the
proprietors of the Electric Networks of Armenia wanted to sell their
share to a French company. According to this information, the sale
had to take place on the first days of Sarkozy’s visit to Armenia,
but the Russian Inter RAO EES changed its mind at the last moment
noting the “ears” of some oligarchs behind the deal. Deutsche Welle
collocutor from the Electric Networks of Armenia, who didn’t want to
reveal his name, said that the reason for the refusal maybe the fact
that search was launched in the company. Deutsche Welle does not rule
out the interests of certain influential Armenian people are behind
the search by the State Revenue Committee. Deutsche Welle runs that
there is danger that energy supply failures are possible to increase
in winter.

This publication by the German portal is really interesting. The
point is that the claim to the Electric Networks of Armenia is
really unprecedented. It is difficult to imagine that a large
company belonging to Russia can be searched and presented such a
claim in Armenia.

Apparently, this surprised Russians too. And it is not ruled out that
the German portal tries to hint a possible Russian sabotage in Armenia
which can happen in the form of energy supply failure. Armenia should
pay serious attention to this hint or warning and take up steps not
to be tempted by this sabotage.

PAUL GUIRAGOSSIAN’S PAINTING SOLD FOR $242,500 AT DUBAI’S CHRISTIE’S

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 27, 2011 – 16:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The first part of modern and contemporary Arab,
Iranian, and Turkish art auction, which took place at Dubai’s
Christie’s, received a total sales figure of $5.1 m.

39 out of 46 lots were sold: the most prestigious pieces with the
higher estimations.

The second part of the auction was said to present more attractive
prices, as the objective to attract a new panel of traders was
announced by Christie’s. Within this sale, the British auction house
intends to reinforce its auctions in the Middle-East.

The star lots of the first session were: the painting Untitled from the
series “Three-Trunks” by Iranian artist, Sohrab Sepheri (1928-1980),
which was sold for $662,500, double its estimation amount; Egyptian
artist, Mahmoud Saïd’s (1897-1964) work, La Petite fille d’Assiout,
estimated at $300,000 was bought for $650,000; and Armenian painter
Paul Guiragossian (1926-1993) raised traders’ enthusiasm with his work
La Famille, which reached $242,500 (estimated $120,000 -180,000). Also
Iranian artist, Parviz Tanavoli’s bronze sculpture, Lovers, was sold
for $182,500, Art Media Agency reported.

GERALD TREMBLAY: RELIGIOUS TOURISM MUST BE DEVELOPED IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 27, 2011
YEREVAN

Like during my last year’s visit, this time as well together with
Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan we discussed issue on development of
tourism, Mayor of Montreal Gerald Tremblay told at a news conference
today. “In Armenia we want to develop religious tourism, as it stands
in the springs of Christianity, it is the first country to adopt it.

It is a sphere that must be developed,” the Montreal mayor said.

A TRIBUTE TO MAYOR ZARIAN
Catherine Yesayan

asbarez
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

A week after the passing away of Larry Zarian, from an aggressive
blood cancer, I am still in shock. I cannot imagine Glendale without
him. He had so much energy and a bright attitude towards life, one
would’ve thought that he would live forever. I would joke and say,
“Larry, I’m not sure that I’ll be around, but you’re going to celebrate
your 100th birthday.” He was a staunch Republican and I am a Democrat,
and we joked about that too.

Larry Zarian was a pivotal figure in my life. I can’t remember exactly
when I first learned about Zarian, but I do remember the first time
I met him in the early 1980s. I was at a grocery store buying fruit
and he was doing the same. I approached him, introduced myself and we
started talking. I told him how proud I was that we had an Armenian
in our city’s politics. He appreciated my cajoling and told me that we
Armenians should work together and be involved in our community. From
that moment on, he kindled the fire inside me to become an active
member in our community.

In 2001, I ran for the School Board, he offered great support and
assistance to my campaign. I learned a lot about politics through him.

He was an admirable member of Glendale’s Armenian-American community.

In his 16 years on Glendale’s city council, he advocated his time for
many causes and served on many boards within our city and throughout
the state. I always wondered how he could make time to be on the board
of so many organizations. According to City of Glendale, his public
service was recognized by presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, and
governors: George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Years ago at a time when there were no cellphones and no computers,
when our only mode of communication was the telephone landline, he
would answer his messages timely and not leave any message unanswered.

He was known for that. He seemed to have such great skills for time
management. I always looked up to him and and wanted to be like him.

We remained in touch throughout the years; he was a good listener,
always encouraging, and exuded a lot of energy. I admired him for these
wonderful qualities and the many others that shaped his character. In
recent years I didn’t see him as much, but it happened that I saw
him in July of this year and I had the opportunity to catch up with
him. We met at the 12th Annual Awards Luncheon for Women in Business
at the Castaway Banquet Hall in Burbank.

The personable person he was, he mentioned that he hadn’t seen any
letters written by me in the opinion page of the Glendale News Press
lately. I thought to myself how rewarding it was to know that he
had actually taken the time to read my past submissions and even he
recalled them.

He also mentioned that lately he had noticed in the Glendale News
Press an Armenian woman writing a column about Armenians. He was
not happy about the fact that she was pointing out to the negative
elements of Armenian life in Glendale and in the homeland. Now that
I’m thinking back I am so much more impressed that he took the time
and effort while he was sick to read the newspaper.

>From my first conversation I had with him at the grocery store in
the early 80s to the last one when I spoke with him at the Castaway’s
luncheon a few months ago, he had this incredible zest for life. His
death has definitely created a void in our city especially in the
Armenian community, but his legacy will live on forever. His tireless
efforts set an exemplary precedent for our new Armenian-American
generation to become active in the city’s politics. His love for
Glendale and the Armenian causes was evident in the actions he took.

He was nicknamed “The People’s Mayor,” and indeed he was.

Catherine Yesayan is a contributor to Asbarez. You may reach her at
[email protected] or read her stories on her blog.