Author: Babajanian Karo

NA SPEAKER RECEIVES THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE “ARI TUN” PROGRAM

National Assembly
Sept 1 2011
Armenia

On September 1 the RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan met with the youth,
who visited Armenia from different countries within the framework
of “Ari Tun” (Come Home) program. Welcoming the participants of the
program in the RA National Assembly Mr. Abrahamyan highlighted “Ari
Tun” program, which gives opportunity to the young people living in the
Diaspora to better know the Motherland. “The Republic of Armenia is the
Motherland of all Armenians,” the NA Speaker underlined. He considered
symbolic the young people’s visit to Armenia, as in September they
were going to celebrate the 20th anniversaries of independence of the
Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Emphasizing
such meetings Mr. Abrahamyan noted that recently he had a meeting
with a group of young people, who arrived from Diaspora, who were in
Armenia within the framework of the Armenian General Benevolent Union,
which has an interesting name: “Armenia: Country of Life.”

The NA Speaker highlighted the participation of the youth in the
ongoing political-economic processes in our country, noting that
everything was done in order the youth would be involved in those
processes. In this context the Head of the Parliament said that the
National Assembly was implementing a number of programs, including
“Open Doors”, “Open Lesson” programs, hosting the schoolchildren
and the students and was trying to strengthen youth-parliament
relationship. It was noted that the Youth Parliament had been shaped
and the first sitting had been convened, and they could use its
tribune for submitting their proposals. An opportunity has been
created for the members of the Youth Parliament also to take part
in the sittings of the NA Standing committees and four-day sittings,
having an immediate participation in the legislative work.

Hovik Abrahamyanalso presented his position on the settlement of the
NK conflict and the Armenian-Turkish relations.

During the warm and intimate talk the young people submitted to the
NA Speaker their proposals. The Head of the Parliament willingly
answered to all the questions concerning them, which referred to
the creation of the bi-cameral parliament and the adoption of the
draft law “On Repatriation.” It was proposed to give opportunity to
the Diaspora youth to take part in the Republican Recitation Youth
Competition-Festival being held under NA Speaker’s auspice and the
works of the Youth Parliament.

Taking the advantage, the NA Speaker congratulated everybody on the
occasion of the Knowledge Day, urging them to effectively use the
educational years, get knowledge and be useful to the Motherland.

In the end of the meeting the NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan had been
photographed with the participants of the “Ari Tun” program.

ARTSAKH IS 20 YEARS OLD: FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS KICK OFF IN NKR

Panorama
Sept 2 2011
Armenia

Nagorno-Karabakh is in feast today; Free Artsakh celebrates the 20th
jubilee of its independence. On September 2, 1991 a declaration was
adopted on NKR.

Traditionally the capital city of second Armenian Republic feasts
the day. Festive celebrations have kicked off yesterday.

On the occasion of the 20th jubilee of declaration of NKR activists of
Artsakh war, servicemen, famous social-political figures, benefactors,
representatives of culture, education and sport fields, journalists
from Artsakh, Armenia, Diaspora and foreign countries have been
granted state awards.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has also attended the award giving
ceremony and delivered a congratulatory address on the occasion of
declaration of Artsakh Independence.

It’s said that on the occasion of the 20th jubilee of the Independence
of Artsakh amnesty is supposed to be declared.

ARMENIAN SINGER’S DEATH COMMEMORATED

AZG DAILY
03-09-2011

The second anniversary of Armenian singer Aram Tigran’s death on
Aug. 8 was commemorated with two events in the capital Ankara and
the southeastern province of Diyarbakır after several days. Tigran,
who was best known for his songs in Kurdish, had requested in his will
that his body be buried in Diyarbakır but was denied permission on
the grounds that he was not a Turkish citizen, Hurriyet Daily News
reported on August 7.

The first event was staged at the Ankara Yapı Art Center on
MithatpaÅ~_a Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, while the second event
will be held in Diyarbakır on Oct. 15.

“Aram is the voice of the freedom of peoples. With his voice and
his instrument, he is the breath of the oppressed and bitter peoples
of the Middle East,” Sait Cetinoglu, one of the events’ organizers,
told the Hurriyet Daily News.

“Many people who are not Turkish citizens can be buried on this land
through a Cabinet decision. [Tigran’s] will should have been respected
and followed through, but his burial on this land was prevented because
of Aram’s Armenian identity,” Cetinoglu said. “We intend to bring
Aram’s will back into the public agenda through these commemoration
ceremonies,” Cetinoglu said, adding that they were expecting support.

“Even if we cannot yet bring his body [back] to this land, we are
bringing his voice and breath [here.] We expect [to see] everyone who
believes in the brotherhood of peoples at this event, regardless of
whatever their religion, language or race might be,” he added.

Tigran’s family appealed to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, as well as
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to fulfill his will. Failing to
obtain the necessary permit, however, Tigran’s body was then burried
in Brussels.

Tigran passed away on Aug. 8, 2009 following a brain hemorrhage he
suffered in Greece.

Back in those years when no one sang in Kurdish

“He had given voice to the freedom of peoples in all languages spoken
in the Middle East and conveyed their emotions,” Cetinoglu said,
adding that Tigran’s music was extremely diverse, as he had composed
and sung songs in nearly every language.

Tigran’s committment to Kurdish music despite his Armenian roots was
not surprising at all, according to Cetinoglu.

“Gomidas, the milestone of Armenian music, had also issued his
doctorate thesis on Kurdish music,” he said.

According to the news agency, Gomidas Vartabed (Priest) was sent into
exile along with some 230 Armenian intellectuals on the night of April
24, 1915, after which time he lost his mental balance. Gomidas Vartabed
is known for his in-depth research over and compilation of Turkish,
Kurdish, Azeri and Iranian music, just as much as he is known for
his work on Armenian music.

“Aram was born in the city of KamıÅ~_lı in Syria. [KamıÅ~_lı] is
a city densely populated by Kurds. As such nothing could have been
more natural [for him] than to lend a voice to the emotions of the
people he lived amongst in their own tongue,” Cetinoglu said. “Back
in those years, people singing in Kurdish were almost non-existent. It
is for this reason that the Kurds cannot forget Aram who lent a voice
to their emotions,” he added.

“BARCAMP ARTSAKH 2011” LAUNCHES

ARMENPRESS
16:09, 2 September, 2011

Participants from Armenia are arriving in Stepanakert to partake
in the “Barcamp Artsakh 2011”. Member of “Barcamp” organizational
committee Vladimir Grigoryan told Armenpress that the participants of
the program will be placed in the hotels of Shushi and Stepanakert,
afterwards they will participate in festive events dedicated to the
20th anniversary of the independence of Artsakh Republic.

Speaking about the list of participants of “Barcamp Artsakh”, Grigoryan
pointed out that there are 150 participants – 100 from Armenia and
50 from Artsakh. Applications for participation have been received
from France, Israel, Canada, Switzerland.

“Barcamp” is an IT and ITT forum and is being conducted in Artsakh
for the second time. The main discussions will launch from September 3.

KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE WILL BE RECOGNIZED, SAYS KOCHARYAN

Tert.am
21:29 02.09.11

Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence will eventually be recognized by the
international community, according to former Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan has said, according to the RFE/RL.

In an interview with the Karabakh state television Kocharyan said that
time favors the Armenians in the unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan.

“One thing is clear. In modern history, these kinds of problems have
been solved in favor of self-determined peoples. All of them,” said he.

Kocharyan gave the examples of newly independent states like East
Timor, Kosovo and South Sudan that won international recognition as
a result of secessionist conflicts.

He also pointed to Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s Russian-backed
secession from Georgia and said the Palestinian push for international
recognition will also end in success soon.

“In that sense, time is definitely working in our favor,” said the
man who led Karabakh during the 1992-1994 war with Azerbaijan and
served as Armenia’s president from 1998-2008.

“But one must not think that after the recognition of Karabakh’s
independence life will change drastically,” continued Kocharyan. “One
should live as if that happened long ago.

“We don’t need anybody’s seal of approval for the recognition of our
independence. It’s an accomplished fact. We should live and work in
full confidence and reinforce the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The rest
will come in due course,” added Kocharyan.

Kocharian spoke to the Stepanakert-broadcaster ahead of the 20th
anniversary of Karabakh’s declaration of independence from Azerbaijan
that wasofficially marked on Friday. He spent much of the interview
discussing the events of the early 1990s and his personal role in
the Karabakh war.

Kocharian, who turned 57 on Wednesday, spoke of “serious progress”
in Karabakh but warned the unrecognized republic’s current leaders
against complacency.

“I have no doubts that everything will end up very well, but we have
no right to be satisfied with the existing situation,” he said.

PRO-GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPERS IN ARMENIA CRITICAL OF US HAD SARGSYAN’S SUPPORT: WIKILEAKS

epress.am
09.02.2011

Two days before the May 12, 2007 parliamentary election in Armenia,
US Charge d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey sent a confidential cable to the
US State Department where he notes the rise of criticism of the US by
two pro-government newspapers, Hayots Ashkar and Golos Armenii. The
cable was released by Wikileaks on Aug. 30, 2011.

“In the weeks leading up to the May 12 parliamentary election, two
pro-government newspapers regularly published articles highly critical
of the United States and other Western missions and NGOs. Hayots
Ashkhar and Golos Armenii newspapers have denounced the United
States for interfering in Armenia’s internal affairs, claimed that
international organizations such as the National Democratic Institute
(NDI) are promoting a ‘color revolution,’ and criticized a British
official for his comments during a private meeting with an opposition
leader. The newspapers, both rumored to receive funding from the head
of the governing Republican Party, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan,
had been less critical of the United States in recent years, but
appear to have returned to their previous stances. This may well
reflect the ruling elite’s discomfort with the success of election
support programs,” reads the summary of the cable.

Godfrey notes that both publications were at one time considered to
be anti-US, but had “gradually moderated such criticism”; however, it
seems that in recent months, both newspapers seem to have resumed “the
role of ‘attack dogs,’ presumably on behalf of the ruling party elite.”

Godfrey notes that the criticism has focused largely on work by
Western missions and international agencies in connection with the
upcoming elections.

“This shift began in January, 2007, when both papers published
remarkably similar articles that characterized the US government’s
well-publicized Democracy Support Program, to assist Armenia to hold
free and fair elections, as interference in Armenia’s internal affairs.

[…]

“The newspapers’ change in attitude towards the United States appears
to be linked largely to the upcoming parliamentary elections and
concern that foreign election support might hurt the chances of
the governing parties. The rumored link between the newspapers and
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan is noteworthy, especially as Sargsyan
has recently been making public statements on not only the need for
free and fair elections, but also asserting, ‘I don’t remember a
case of political pressure from the United States.’ It is judged by
most observers that neither of these newspapers could have published
these strong criticisms without at least the tacit concurrence, if
not the explicit direction, of Armenia’s ruling elite. Consequently,
we cannot but believe that these anti-US screeds demonstrate that key
Armenian leaders are discomforted by the success of our democratization
programs,” writes Godfrey.

TER-PETROSSIAN’S ‘FIERY ENTRANCE’ SHOOK UP ‘SEEMINGLY APATHETIC ARMENIAN BODY POLITIC’: WIKILEAKS

epress.am
09.02.2011

Former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP) announced his
candidacy for president at an Oct. 26 outdoor rally of some 20,000
supporters who gathered despite light rain in Yerevan’s Freedom
[Liberty] Square, writes then US Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) to
Armenia Joseph Pennington in an unclassified US cable sent on Oct. 31,
2007, and released by WikiLeaks on Aug. 30, 2011.

“Blasting the authorities for over 90 minutes, LTP called the ruling
regime a kleptocracy, and suggested that President Kocharian was
involved in the 1999 assassination of Armenian leaders. LTP also
contended that the ruling regime now accepted the kind of phased
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh [conflict] that LTP had advocated
in 1997-98, and which Kocharian had branded as defeatist at that time.

LTP has won the mantle of preeminent opposition candidate. He now
faces a steep uphill battle to convince voters and overcome political
obstacles,” reads the summary.

Pennington notes that embassy officials at the rally informally queried
citizens to gauge their reaction to Ter-Petrossian’s announcement.

“Some citizens didn’t know there had been a rally, or thought LTP had
already announced during the summer. Most agreed with LTP’s assessment
that corruption has spun out of control, and that the ruling regime has
become too authoritative for their tastes. Yet while most acknowledged
LTP was no saint either, they said that at least LTP – unlike Kocharian
or Prime Minister Sargsyan – had had to cope with factors out of his
control, like the pains of early independence and the Soviet collapse,
wars in Nagorno Karabakh and neighboring Georgia, and closed borders
with Turkey and Azerbaijan. We detected sympathy in these statements,
even a bit of nostalgia. Others we spoke with said they were so irate
over recent price hikes in foodstuffs that they would not vote for
Sargsyan. Many we queried said they were still undecided who to vote
for, or wouldn’t vote at all. Almost all noted, however, that LTP has
‘a chance’ to become president again.”

The cable also mentions an “impromptu meeting” two days prior to
the rally at which senior Ter-Petrossian advisers told US embassy
officials “that the Oct. 23-24 detention of LTP supporters had
revealed the real extent of concern the ruling regime has over LTP’s
presidential bid. They also said the rally would be the first concrete
opportunity to gauge public opinion on LTP’s political re-emergence
after being forced out of office a decade ago. Criticizing the
authorities’ abuse of power, they added that LTP would have to take
his campaign to the streets to overcome the media blackout imposed
by the authorities. They complained that not one of the country’s 17
TV media outlets would publicize the rally, despite offers to all to
pay for the advertising. They said LTP’s visits to all of Armenia’s
administrative regions in the last several months were conducted to
reconnect with his traditional centers of support. They acknowledged
that LTP still does not have the opposition camp fully behind him,
but generally viewed his campaign as gathering momentum.

“They urged the United States government to pay great attention to
the 2008 presidential election, as they contended it did in Ukraine
and Georgia, and hold the authorities accountable for a free and
fair vote. They said LTP supporters would not accept the results of
a tainted vote, and that they would ‘sit in the streets’ until a free
election is held.”

Pennington ends the cable by stating that the large attendance at the
rally proves that Ter-Petrossian remains a “vaunted political figure
in Armenia.”

“His fierce public criticism of the authorities – the second time in
two months – illustrates the seriousness with which he is approaching
the campaign. Although some of the issues he raised clearly resonate
with the person on the street, whether it be corruption or being left
out of Armenia’s impressive economic growth, it is still too early to
gauge Armenians’ receptivity to a second LTP era. Given the obstacles
the authorities are already placing in LTP’s path, his campaign remains
very much of an uphill climb. LTP’s fiery entrance into the race,
however, appears to have shaken up the seemingly apathetic Armenian
body politic.”

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: NAGORNO KARABAKH CANNOT HAVE A LESSER STATUS IN THE FUTURE THAN IT HAS TODAY

/ARKA/
September 2, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
speaking Thursday in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, at the
official award ceremony held at the NKR Presidential Palace, said
that Nagorno Karabakh cannot have a lesser status in the future than
it has today.

“The process of a peaceful resolution of the NK problem goes on.

Unlike the others, we do not conceal the truth from our people and
do not engage in wishful thinking,” he said.

In his speech, the head of state said that “life and freedom of
the people of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh – ARKA) cannot be handed to
anyone’s whim or command”.

“Whatever was possible in 1923, is not possible in the 21st century,
because over and above we have paid dearly for it,” he said. “Once
Artsakh was Armenian pain, today it is Armenian pride.”

Sargsyan said that the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is an established
state with all essential structures. “Even under a constant military
threat, it is by far much more democratic than those who speak about
democracy and national tolerance only when free of squealing threats
of a new war against Armenians,” he said.

The Armenian president also stressed that Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh
and Armenian communities worldwide constitute one indivisible entity.

“We will do everything not only for fortifying Artsakh’s peace and
security but also for its social, economic and cultural development,”
he said. “There are programs which are being implemented today and
there are numerous new programs which are still under development.

Step by step, we are moving toward the realization of our goals.”

Sargsyan congratulated everybody on the 20th anniversary of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s independence.

“Today, the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh turns twenty. It means that
borders of Artsakh will be defended by our sons who were born as
an independent generation,” he said. “Their childhood was darkened
by horrendous scenes and sounds, they were deprived of a carefree
childhood. Instead, they witnessed the heroism of their fathers and
brothers, their mothers and sisters, their grandmas and grandpas,
in a word – by the heroism of the entire nation.”

The president said defensive warfare of Artsakh “as a documentary
has already been put in the textbooks, but first of all it is in our
hearts – with all of its drama and valor”.

Sargsyan said that the Independence Day is not only Nagorno Karabakh’s
holiday – it is also holiday for all the Armenians worldwide. He
said that Armenians remain steadfast in their determination to
defend their rights. Decades suffering and trials could not shake
this determination.

In his words, the brutal war imposed on Nagorno Karabakh “could drive
to despair anybody but Artsakhi people”.

“Self-defense units of Artsakh put to flight those who transformed
our beauty and rich spot into hell,” he said adding that Azerbaijani
army along with mercenaries committed atrocity and wrecked havoc here
before the eyes of the entire world.

“This invasion of brigands and mercenaries left us with no option but
to go out of these trials stronger and battle-hardened,” Sargsyan
said. “Otherwise, we would stop existing. We chose life, and today
we celebrate the victory of life over death.”

The president called Nagorno Karabakh as one of the best places in
the world.

“Artsakh is one of the most beautiful places in the world, if not
the most beautiful one. To be a child of this land is a good fortune,
while to live here, and live freely, is double so. I am confident that
in the foreseeable future many big and small problems will be solved,
and Artsakh will celebrate greater jubilees with a grater grandeur.”

Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the recipients of high state awards,
wished them and all those present good health, success and peace on
our borders and in the Armenian families. After the official award
ceremony the Armenian president attended festivities.

A NUMBER OF LEGAL BASES EXIST FOR THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
Lena Badeyan

“Radiolur”
02.09.2011 14:56

“Artsakh made a correct use of the events and developments of 1990s,
especially the famous decision of the USSR states to secede from
the Soviet Union,” Dean of the History Faculty of the Yerevan State
University Edik Minasyan told a press conference today.

“With that decision Azerbaijan actually declared its independence
within the borders of the Musavat Azerbaijan of 1918-1920, when
Artsakh was not under Azerbaijani jurisdiction. It had never been
part of Azerbaijan before 1921,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the political package formed in the negotiation process
contradicts all legal bases,” said MP Larisa Alaverdyan, chief expert
of RA Supreme Council on Artsakh Issue.

She has applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs twice to find out
whether there exists a comprehensive doctrine on the Karabakh issue.

“They said it is being worked out. Thus, people have managed to come
out winner from a hopeless situation over the past 20 years, but the
state and political bodies have not yet worked out the doctrine on
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.”

“There are a number of legal grounds Armenia could use in the
negotiation process,” the MP added.

To lead the settlement process in the right direction Edik Minasyan
advises to be the first to attack. “We should have the issue of
Armenian territories occupied by Azerbaijan discussed during the
talks. We are used to defending ourselves, but we forget to attack.

Shahumayan region was annexed to Azerbaijan, but we forget to speak
about this at the negotiations. Very often we forget that Artsakh’s
participation in the talks is also an important issue and a necessity,”
he said.

Larisa Alaverrdyan says she is dissatisfied with the activity of the
legislative body, as well. First of all her discontent is connected
with the fact that the National Assembly has long been refusing to
put two initiatives on the agenda. One of them suggests recognizing
the independence of Artsakh, the second one urges to qualify the
actions of Azerbaijan between 1988 and 1994 as genocide.

The leadership of the National Assembly refuses to put the issues on
the agenda, saying that it is untimely at this point.

ARMENIAN FM DELIVERED TRADITIONAL FIRST LECTURE TO STUDENTS OF YSU INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FACULTY

news.am
Sept 1 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – According to the tradition of recent years, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian visited Yerevan State University
on September 1, where he delivered a lecture to the students and
staff of the faculty.

The FM congratulated the freshmen and wished them good luck in
their studies. He presented to the students the basic directions and
priorities of Armenia~Rs foreign policy, elaborated on the current
stage of Karabakh settlement, MFA press service informs Armenian
News-NEWS.am.