Author: Babajanian Karo

COUPE DU MONDE 2014
L’Arménie en compagnie de l’Italie, du Danemark, de la République tchèque

Le tirage au sort des groupes de qualification de la Coupe du monde
2014 s’est déroulé hier à Rio de Janeiro (Brésil). Des 53 pays
européens, 13 obtiendront la qualification. Les 9 premiers arrivant en
tête des 9 groupes seront qualifiés. Tandis que les 8 meilleures
équipes arrivant en 2e place du classement des groupes disputeront des
« play-off » entre elles, et 4 seront qualifiées. L’Arménie se trouve
dans le groupe B, jugé relativement difficile, en compagnie de
l’Italie, le Danemark, de la République Tchèque, de la Bulgarie et de
Malte. Les rencontres entre l’Arménie et l’Italie ainsi que la
Bulgarie seront une première pour la sélection arménienne.

Les groupes de qualification de la zone Europe sont :

Groupe A : Croatie, Serbie, Belgique, Ecosse, Macédoine, Pays de Galles

Groupe B : Italie, Danemark, R. tchèque, Bulgarie, Arménie, Malte

Groupe C : Allemagne, Suède, Rép. d’Irlande, Autriche, Féroé, Kazakhstan

Groupe D : Pays-Bas, Turquie, Hongrie, Roumanie, Estonie, Andorre

Groupe E : Norvège, Slovénie, Suisse, Albanie, Chypre, Islande

Groupe F : Portugal, Russie, Israël, Irlande du Nord, Luxembourg, Azerbaïdjan

Groupe G : Grèce, Slovaquie, Bosnie-Herzégovine, Lituanie,
Liechstenstein, Lettonie

Groupe H : Angleterre, Monténégro, Ukraine, Pologne, Moldavie, St-Marin

Groupe I : Espagne, France, Biélorussie, Géorgie, Finlande

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 31 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

TURKEY’S GOVERNMENT GETS UNREASONABLE AND HYPOCRITICAL: IT WANTS AN APOLOGY FROM ARMENIA!

iNEWP

July 29, 2011

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shifted his attention from
demanding an apology from Israel for the Gaza Flotilla incident back in
2010 to demanding an unreasonable apology for the Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian’s Q&A with Armenian students in which the president
was accused of “inciting hate” in the next generation against Turkey
and subtly “claiming” Turkey’s lands that were previously Armenia’s
in the past.

Prime Minister Erdogan specifically cited President Sarkisian’s answer
to an Armenian student’s question which asked if Armenia would ever
get its ancestral lands, called “Western Armenia” nowadays by the
Armenians and “Eastern Turkey” by the Turks, back.

President Sarkisian answered,

“It depends on you and your generation…I believe that my generation
has fulfilled its task: when it was necessary in the beginning of
the 1990â~@²s to defend a part of our fatherland – Karabakh – from
the enemy, we did it. Now, if you boys and girls of your generation
spare no effort, if those older and younger than you act the same way,
we will have one of the best countries in the world.”

Note that there is no tone of hatred against the Turks nor any “claims”
on present Turkish lands won by the Ottoman Empire long ago.

Sarkisian continued,

“A country’s standing is not determined by its territory, small or
large, a country should be modern, it should be secure and prosperous,
and these are conditions which will allow any nation to sit next to
the respectable, powerful and reputed nations of the world.”

In short President Sarkisian is saying: it doesn’t matter how big or
small a country is as long as the country’s people is safe, happy and
well-mannered which should allow prosperity to occur in both wealth
and culture.

However . . . Prime Minister Erdogan interpreted Sarkisian’s answer as
“a provocation, a blunder..an attempt to instill spite and hatred in
his country’s youth”.

What?!

Before Armenia even considers apologizing for anything at all, the
Turkish government should finally give the long-awaited apology for
the Armenian Genocide which systematically killed more than 1 million
Armenians shortly after World War I started and even prompted the
creation of the word ‘genocide’.

The Armenians and their government who should, as humans generally
would, demand for vengeance and compensation in fact try to push aside
differences and sometimes even the Armenian Genocide for friendship
and diplomacy with Turkey.

Indeed, the Armenian government has been the more willing side in talks
between Turkey and Armenia urged by the United States government and
the EU.

Armenia is a true neighbor that the Turkish government does not
deserve at this point.

As justice, Turkey’s adamant refusal to recognize that the Armenian
Genocide ever occurred has been one of the reasons why the European
Union membership has been elusive for the NATO member country.

Turkish citizens, mostly intellectuals, writers, artists, journalists
and others, however have already apologized for the Armenian Genocide
in the place of their government most prominently in 2008 when tens
of thousands of Turks gathered online.

ARMENIA, TURKEY AND THE MOUNTAIN OF DISCORD
Giorgi Lomsadze

EurasiaNet.org
July 29, 2011
NY

A pile of rocks is once again straining the already rocky relations
between Armenia and Turkey.

The pile in question, Turkey’s Mt. Ararat, is a stumbling block hard
to miss, no matter which side of the border you are on. Height:
up to 5,137 meters tall; massif: some 40 kilometers in diameter;
symbolic value: immeasurable.

For Armenians, Ararat is what Mount Olympus is for the Greeks and
more. Here, per legend, Noah anchored his cruising zoo after the
biblical deluge. Armenians claim they adopted Christianity in the
mountain’s foothills, and Ararat holds pride of place in Armenia’s
coat of arms.

With that glorious history in mind, an Armenian youngster the other
day asked Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan about the chances that
Armenia one day would get the mountain back. Armenia lost control
over Mt. Ararat under the 1922 Treaty of Kars with Turkey.

Sargsyan said he’d leave that question for a future generation of
Armenians to handle.

Before long, Turkey was foaming with anger. For Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s take on the matter, check out The Turko-file.

Erdogan and his ministers were quick to demand an apology from
Sargsyan, but odds are they will never get it.

Irredentist claims — even to a mountain — can go a long way in the
Caucasus. The danger , though, lies in always interpreting literally
the national symbolism with which politicians throughout the region
love to lace their remarks.

Particularly in the run-up to an election. Armenia’s ruling Republican
Party, headed by Sargsyan, faces a parliamentary vote early next year
for which maneuvering has already begun.

In an implied reference to his own past as the head of breakaway
Nagorno Karabakh’s military forces, Sargsyan reminded the assembled
that his generation did its share of restoring Armenia’s former glory
by driving the Azerbaijanis out of Karabakh.

“If you and your peers spare no efforts and energy… we will have one
of the best countries of the world,” Sargsyan told the aforementioned
boy. He might as well have kissed a baby.

Sargsyan’s press office maintains, though, that the president added
something else that critics in Turkey should have noticed as well: “In
many ways, the weight of a country is not measured by its size. It must
be modern, safe and prosperous . . . .which will allow any nation to
sit next to the famous, strong and established countries of the world.”

But amidst the mood of the moment, don’t expect Ankara to notice.

ANIMALS IN YEREVAN ZOO CAN BE WATCHED LIVE ONLINE

news.am
July 29, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Animals in the Yerevan Zoo are available to watch online.

In addition to that, WiFi free connection was installed in the Zoo
on Friday.

“Internet will give new opportunities to develop the Zoo and create
proper conditions for animals,” president of the Zoological park
Ruben Khachatryan told and added that custodians will also have an
opportunity to follow their animals through internet.

All those who desire to follow the animals can do it through
website. Public WiFi has a speed of 10Mbit/sec and
is supported by ViveCell-MTS

HARSH WORDS AND KEEPING ENMITIES ALIVE
by BERÄ°L DEDEGLU

Today’s Zaman
July 29, 2011
Turkey

“We have defended Karabakh from the enemies, what to do with Mount
Agrı [or Ararat] depends on your generation.” These are the words
of Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan. He uttered these words when
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Azerbaijan, his
second official visit abroad as head of the new government. It’s
obvious that Sarksyan deliberately targeted both Azerbaijan and Turkey.

President Sarksyan was not talking about defending people, but only
about defending territories. As Mount Agrı is Turkish territory and
Nagorno-Karabakh is within Azerbaijan’s borders, he gives the image of
a Cold War era politician who has territorial claims on territories
in bordering countries and who praises violence. Armenia’s current
problems will not be resolved with the expansion of its territory,
but with providing better living conditions for its population.

When making the remarks, Sarksyan was probably aware that Turkey
and Azerbaijan would reply angrily. There are many topics of debate
between Turkey and Armenia which doesn’t allow for Turkey’s response
to be justified in the eyes of the world, but in this particular
matter Sarksyan’s attitude does justify Turkey’s harsh response.

Moreover, a declaration which can be interpreted as a call for young
Armenians to wage war does not bode well for Armenia’s democratic
future. He’s almost saying “once we have dealt with the Azeris,
we’ll deal with the Turks.”

This statement does not reflect the truth about the real situation.

First, Nagorno-Karabakh is not a liberated territory; the issue
is not yet settled and the outcome will not be decided by Armenia
and Azerbaijan alone. Pretending that the current situation will
remain as it is, is unrealistic because the negotiations to find
a peace agreement continue. Talking of Agrı when the future of
Nagorno-Karabakh is not yet settled is incongruous.

What is more interesting is to figure out why this antagonistic and
obsolete nationalistic language is now being used. It is no secret
that there are several disagreements between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Some believe that if these two countries settle their problems,
this will harm the normalization between Armenia and Turkey. There
are also bigger bargains at stake, such as the debate about whether
or not the Kosovo model is applicable to Palestine, to Karabakh or
to Northern Cyprus. If it is, then one must find a way to ensure
the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC),
but not of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Turkey insinuates that
it supports Palestine’s statehood in the hope that it will serve as
another precedent for recognition of the KKTC. Armenia would like to
see Nagorno-Karabakh recognized, but it never takes a step in helping
Turkish diplomacy on other issues.

Under these circumstances, a statement which makes the normalization
of the Turkish-Armenian relations almost impossible intends to keep
the status quo: no normalization, no recognition and no progress in
resolving any of the remaining problems. Nevertheless, the lasting
settlement of the problems between these three countries will connect
them better to global dynamics, reinforce their domestic democratic
transparency and put the “people” at the center of all political
efforts. Harsh statements bring harsh replies, serving only the
interests of those who benefit from this conflict.

Turkey has shaped its Armenia policy in relation with Ankara’s
expectations from Azerbaijan, even though Turkey is generally
disappointed. However, we all know that there are other factors and
countries one must take into account; Russia and its relations with
other countries for example. Armenia and Azerbaijan have to make their
decisions by looking at Russia’s policy choices. Only after that can
Turkey possibly adopt a clearer position.

AZERBAIJANI MP: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IS TERRORIST
T.Hajiyev

Trend
July 29, 2011
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement, who said “We won the
Nagorno-Karabakh, let the new generation to even win Agri-Dagh”, should
be a wake-up call for Turkey and Azerbaijan, MP Sabir Rustamkhanli
told Trend on Friday.

Sargsyan and his associates are proud of the occupation of Karabakh,
Rustamkhanli said.

Therefore, it is naive to expect Sargsyan to sign a constructive
document on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Sargsyan is a terrorist and his hands stained with blood of
Azerbaijanis, Rustamkhanli said adding that this fact should be
brought to the world.

Some in Turkey demonstrate loyalty to Armenia, he said.

“Some in Turkey act as if nothing had happened. They are indifferent
to their history. Armenian president’s statement is a slap for those,
who stated that the Turkey-Armenia borders would be opened if there was
not the Karabakh problem, and who were willing to sign an agreement
with Armenia that refuted to recognize the Kars Treaty and Turkey’s
territorial integrity and that claims about “genocide”,” he said.

Sargsyan voices territorial claims against Turkey, because the
world community turned a blind eye to the Armenian aggression,
Rustamkhanli said.

“We need to inform the world about how Iravan Province was created
upon the order of King Nicholas, how Armenians have been resettled
there and how Iravan, whose name later was changed to Yerevan, had
been given to Armenia, how they increased the area of 10,000 square
kilometers to 28,000 square kilometers,” he said.

TURKISH PM SEEKS APOLOGY FROM ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
AK Group

Hudson New York

July 29, 2011

Recent remarks by the Armenian leader about “Western Armenia,” an
area now in Turkey, were not suitable for a statesman and president,
the Turkish prime minister said Wednesday, demanding an apology.

“The statements of the Armenian president are not an expression or
an approach that suits a president. Equipping the next generations
with hatred and enmity does not suit statesmanship,” Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said while visiting Azerbaijan.

Over the weekend, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian called on Armenian
youth to enable the return of “historic territories in Western Armenia”
that are currently found in eastern Turkey, as his generation had done
with the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, sparking outrage
from the Turkish side.

“How will the future of Armenian youth be? Possibly dark in this
course. They will look at the incidents with these dark glasses,”
Erdogan said. “They should definitely know that there is an occupation
in [Nagorno-Karabakh] and the occupiers are evident. Not only we say
this, the United Nations also says this. This needs to be resolved.”

Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan took place upon an invitation from
President Ilham Aliyev. During his trip to Baku, the Turkish prime
minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Energy
and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız and Economy Minister
Zafer Caglayan.

A flashpoint of the Caucasus, the region known as Nagorno-Karabakh is
a constituent part of Azerbaijan, occupied by Armenia since the end
of 1994. While internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory,
the enclave has declared itself an independent republic, but is
administered as a de facto part of Armenia.

“It is the Armenian side whose approach has been unfavorable up until
this moment. Azerbaijan has consistently put forth a constructive
approach. [Saying] ‘Now that you have taken over Karabakh from us,
you will handle [Western Armenia] yourselves when we die.’ What kind
of reasoning is this?” Erdogan said. “How could one transmit such a
mentality, such a direction, such horizons to the youth? What does
this mean? ‘Behold, our youngsters! From now on, Armenia can enter
war with Turkey as it sees fit.’ We reject all this. There is no such
statesmanship, no such diplomacy.”

“Sarkisian has committed a very serious mistake here. He has
highlighted and affirmed a historic mistake. He must apologize and
backtrack from his mistake,” Erdogan added.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday also condemned Sarkisian’s
remarks, which the Armenian president made during a contest on
Armenian literature and language. Erdogan held a two-hour one-on-one
meeting with Aliyev in Zagulba Palace to dicuss bilateral relations,
particularly military, commercial, economic, social and cultural
issues, as well as regional problems.

“We had the opportunity to discuss what kind of steps we can take
in the future,” Erdogan said after the meetings, underlining the
importance of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Council,
which he said would hold its first meeting in Turkey. Referring to
an agreement related to the shipping of natural gas between the two
countries, Erdogan said relevant officials would convene Thursday
and work on some articles.

TURKISH VICE PRIME ACCUSES SARGSYAN OF INSTIGATION

news.az
July 29, 2011
Azerbaijan

Serzh Sargsyan’s statements are an instigation and Armenia will not
achieve anything.

According to Turkish mass media, the statement came from vice premier
of the Turkish government Bulent Arinc, commenting on the speech
of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan before participants of the
fifth Olympic Games in Armenian, literature and Armenian studies
in Isakhkadzor.

“All know where Agridag is and who it belongs to. Turkish is quite
a big and strong state. No one has a right to play games with us and
claim on our territories”, he said.

The vice premier also advised Serzh Sargsyan to deal with problems
of our country rather than instigation.

“Armenia is facing hard economic problems. There was a time when it
was starving and we were sending grain there. Armenia should make up
its mind and stop saying bullshit about Agridag”, Arinc said.

MIGOM NOT TO WORK IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

news.az
July 29, 2011
Azerbaijan

The int’l system of money transfers and payments Migom is not going to
hold money transfers to occupied Nagorno Karabakh, despite Armenia’s
requests.

“Armenian side has repeatedly asked us to conduct transfers (to Nagorno
Karabakh), but it goes contrary to the interests of Azerbaijan and
the system overall”, the sources in the organization said.

“It is not a commercial but a political problem and we are people of
business”, he said.

The Migom monetary transfers system is created in the European trust
bank in 2002. The system helps conduct money transfers of individuals
without opening an account. The overall number of service points
exceeds 15,000.

Interfax-Azerbaija

AZERBAIJANI MP SLAMS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S ARARAT REMARKS

news.az
News.Az
July 29, 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani MP and historian Musa Gasimli has criticized Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan for urging young people to take land from
Turkey.

He said that Sargsyan’s remarks to young people last Saturday
constituted a call for fresh invasions and showed that hatred, and
enmity, as well as territorial claims on its neighbours, were state
policy in Armenia, 1news.az reported.

“Sargsyan’s statement that ‘our generation liberated Karabakh and
you will have to liberate Ararat’ shows that Armenia does not even
hide the fact that it has occupied Azerbaijani land, something that
has been recognized by the UN and other international organizations.

Moreover, Sargsyan’s latest statements are counter to comments he made
in his speech to the OSCE. Then he said that Armenia had no claims on
its neighbours, but now he doesn’t just recognize the occupation of
Azerbaijani land, he is also making territorial claims on neighbour
Turkey,” Prof. Gasimli said.

“International organizations need to understand that Armenia is the
main hindrance to the democratic development of the region and its
European integration.”

As for Armenia’s territorial claims on Turkey, the deputy said that
only sombody who was insane could make such statements about its
neighbour: ‘Now it has become clear to the world who is really to
blame for the worsening of Armenian-Turkish ties.”

Asked by students on 23 July whether Armenia would be able to “regain”
Mt Ararat and surrounding territory, Serzh Sargsyan said: “This is
the mission of your generation. For example, my generation skillfully
accomplished its mission. We liberated Artsakh [the Armenian name for
Karabakh], part of our land, from the enemy in the early 1990s. Each
generation has its own mission.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a statement condemning the
remarks, while Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the
comments show that the Armenian president has no desire for peace.