Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIA HAS NOT RECOGNIZED NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 14 2014

14 November 2014 – 1:27pm

The Armenian parliament has received a bill on the concepts of military
and political bases of security enforcement in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic and the Republic of Armenia this week, presented by the
Heritage Party (opposition). The document stipulates official
recognition of the occupation regime of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Zaruhi Postanjyan, a member of the Heritage Party, said that it
was high time to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. “If
Yerevan sets the goal of international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Armenia, as a subject of international law, should be the first one
to do that,” said Postanjyan, adding that foreign diplomats inspired
the idea.

The parliament disapproved of the initiative and refused to vote
for it. Levon Zurabyan, the head of the parliamentary faction the
Armenian National Congress, noted that such a political step would
have been hasty. “It means unilateral withdrawal from peace treaties
on a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and threatening to
ruin them, resulting in the isolation of Armenia and growing risks
of combat resuming,” explained Zurabyan.

Vice Speaker of Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov expressed confidence that
unilateral recognition of the separatist regime would have become an
obstacle to the peace process. In his words, Armenia is working and
should continue to work on convincing the world of the inevitability
of international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Alexander Iskandaryan, the director of the Institute for the Caucasus,
told Vestnik Kavkaza that the bill had initially been destined to
fail in the parliament because its purpose was simply to draw public
attention to the Heritage Party. “It is not the first time a bill
has been introduced for consideration at the National Assembly in one
form or another. Usually, it is composed and proposed by opposition
parties. This time, it was introduced by MPs of the Heritage Party
that has several seats in the parliament. It is done in the form of,
let’s say, an internal political discourse,” he noted.

“There are no prospects of passing the bill, but such documents usually
draw attention of mass media and the population. I clarify that there
is nothing even about the struggle for power, because there will be
no elections in the near future,” concluded Alexander Iskandaryan.

Sergey Markov, the head of the Russian Public Chamber commission for
international cooperation and public diplomacy, the director of the
Institute for Political Research, associated the bill with activation
of Armenian policy. “Several factors come into force here. First
of all, there being a choice – to go for a semi-colonial system of
association with the European Union or to join the Eurasian Economic
Union – the Armenian policy needs to maneuver now, because it fears
Russia and the U.S. The policy of complementarianism chosen by Armenian
authorities is very stressing per se. Besides, Russian-Azerbaijani
relations are quickly improving, it cannot be left without concerns
in Yerevan. Such emotional searches for any possible models appear
in such stress,” opined the expert.

Markov emphasized that true recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic would have complicated the conflict. “First of all, it
became clear from the very beginning that Armenia is trying to go in
a contrary direction, instead of compromise with Azerbaijan. Besides
that, serious problems occurred for Armenia in joining the Eurasian
Economic Union, because member-states of the EaEU – Russia, Kazakhstan,
Belarus – are opposed to escalation of tensions in the region, they
also value relations with Azerbaijan,” he clarified.

LES ARMEES ARMENIENNES ET DU KARABAGH CONTINUENT LEURS MANOEUVRES CONJOINTES

ARMENIE

Les forces armees de l’Armenie et du Haut-Karabagh ont organise
des operations militaires conjointes lors d’une cinquième journee
consecutive avec des exercices qui ont engage des dizaines de milliers
de soldats et des centaines de chars.

Les exercices sont apparemment en cours a proximite de la “ligne de
contact” entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan a l’est du Karabagh. Le
ministère de la Defense a Erevan a dit que les manoeuvres sont diriges
par Bako Sahakian, le president du Haut-Karabagh, et >
par le chef d’etat-major general de l’armee armenienne, le general
Yuri Khachaturov.

Un communique du ministère a declare que les “exercices operationnels
tactiques a grande echelle” impliquent 17 000 soldats armeniens,
250 chars et vehicules blindes et 550 pièces d’artillerie.

Dans un communique separe, l’armee de defense du Karabagh a affirme
que 30000 de ses soldats et reservistes participent aux exercices,
soutenu par quelque 600 chars et vehicules blindes et plus de 1800
systèmes d’artillerie et anti-aeriens. Les chiffres rapportes montrent
la puissance militaire des Armeniens du Karabagh.

“Les exercices militaires se deroulent conformement au plan”, a
declare le ministère armenien de la Defense. “Les unites de l’armee
participantes accomplissent correctement leurs tâches de combat.”

Le ministère de la Defense de l’Azerbaïdjan a proteste contre les
manoeuvres dans “les territoires occupes de l’Azerbaïdjan >>. Le
ministère les a denonces comme une nouvelle manifestation de la
“politique d’occupation” armenienne.

L’armee azerbaïdjanaise aurait tenu des exercices similaires près de
la > du Karabagh plus tôt cette annee.

vendredi 14 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

AZERBAIJAN COMMITTED ACT OF TERRORISM – MP

13:21 * 14.11.14

Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group member
Artak Davtyan believes that Azerbaijan’s attack on the unarmed
Nagorno-Karabakh helicopter was an unprecedented perfidious act.

“What happened two days ago was a terrorist act. Regardless of
anything, we know our enemy well and we should take into account it
will continue acting in its style,” the MP said.

Azerbaijan normally commits such acts prior to or following
presidential meetings. Azerbaijan had not had such an opportunity
during the period before November 12.

“We should take at least two factors into account. First, we must be
on the alert. Second, we must retaliate adequately without delay,”
Mr Davtyan said.

Ex-member of Armenia’s Supreme Council Azat Arshakyan believes the
Armenian side must be on the alert and never hope for Azerbaijan’s
“humanism or compassion.” According to him, different comments on
the incident are an attempt to draw Russia into a new war or cause
a rise in the oil price as, should a war break out, our actions will
be aimed at Azerbaijan’s oil pipelines.

“I think the Minsk Group is a pro-Armenian structure. They make
strong-worded and condemnatory statements,” Mr Arshakyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

JOURNALISTS ADDRESS QUESTIONS ON DOWNED HELICOPTER AT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

10:34, 14 November, 2014

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The United States will continue to
work through its contacts on the ground to see if the sides can move
closer to a resolution. As reports “Armenpress”, the State Department
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki stated this.

Among other things, Psaki noted: “We are aware of the report and we
regret the loss of life as a result of yesterday’s, I should say,
downing of a helicopter along the line of contact. We extend our
condolences to the families of those killed or injured. These events –
this event is yet another reminder of the need to redouble efforts
on peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including
reducing tension and respecting the ceasefire.”

“As a co-chair of the Minsk Group, we certainly remain committed
to helping both sides. Obviously, we are engaged through diplomatic
channels with both sides about our belief that they need to redouble
efforts to get back to a peaceful negotiation. And naturally,
retaliation, further violence, escalating tensions certainly does not
help that effort, but we will continue to work through our contacts
on the ground to see if we can move closer to a resolution,” the
State Department Spokeswoman noted.

Then, a journalist stated: “Do you acknowledge that it was Azerbaijan
which violated the ceasefire yesterday, and also violated one of the
main principles of peaceful settlement of the conflict, which is no use
of force? Do you acknowledge this part?” In this regard Psaki noted:
“I don’t have any analysis of the exact events on the ground.

We’ve seen the same reports. There are obviously comments and claims
from both sides, but I don’t have any analysis beyond that.” Also,
the journalist voiced another question and said: “Azerbaijan shooting
an Armenian vessel, then it’s pretty clear which party is violating
the ceasefire.”

Ms. Psaki tried to justify herself and stated: “We understand there
are views by both sides, but I don’t have any comment from the U.S.

Government on it.”

WHAT DO NATO AND CSTO OFFER ARMENIA?

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 14 November 2014, 10:53

Being a CSTO member, Armenia cooperates with NATO. However, cooperation
with these blocs varies essentially. With NATO it is partnership,
with CSTO it is permanent attempts of absorption.

Firstly, unlike CSTO where cooperation is limited to demonstrative
events, within NATO the Armenian military participate in real
peacekeeping missions and get real assistance.

Secondly, NATO and CSTO members offer Armenia fundamentally different
levels of cooperation. NATO is speaking about partnership, CSTO is
speaking about bloc integration.

Thirdly, in the case of NATO Armenia is dealing with a unified bloc,
whereas in the case of CSTO relations are aimed at cooperation with
Russia and yet another form of dependence.

On November 10 and 11 the minister of defense of Armenia Seiran Ohanyan
met with NATO command and the Russian minister of defense. One can
already conclude from the press releases how different the levels,
motivation and basis of relations of these two security centers with
Armenia are.

General Philip Breedlove, Commander, U.S. European Command, stated
that discussions with Minister Ohanyan focused on the importance
of lasting peace and current state of security in the region. NATO
committees to assistance in continuing defense reforms in Armenia,
including over cooperation and interoperability of its armed forces
with NATO Member States, Philip Breedlove said.

For his part, for the NATO week in Armenia the U.S. Ambassador John
Heffern stated on his blog that cooperation with NATO means security
and defense reforms and practical steps. He also noted that Armenia
has thus become a participant of creation of international security.

In Moscow Minister Ohanyan met with his Russian counterpart Sergey
Shoygu. Agreement was reached on participation of the 102nd Russian
base in the parade in Yerevan dedicated to the 70th anniversary of
victory in the Great Patriotic War. Prospects for further development
of integration processes between the armed forces of Armenia and
Russia were discussed.

One can draw conclusions from these two messages on the purposes
and goals of Armenia’s relations with NATO and Russia. In the first
case it is security and defense reforms, in the second case it is
participation in a parade and integration.

In more simple terms, cooperation with NATO is about army building
and development, and cooperation with CSTO is about elimination of
the Armenian army.

The CSTO-Armenia relations were best reflected in the attempt to build
a CSTO academy in Armenia. The building provided for the academy on
the condition that its facade would be preserved has collapsed.

However, the large banner covering the ruins still states: “Let’s
build the new preserving the old.”

ANCC SAYS BAKU’S PROVOCATIONS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT ZONE WILL CONTINUE UNLESS WORLD COMMUNITY RESPONDS MORE FORCEFULLY TO ALIYEV REGIME

by Tatevik Shahunyan

ARMINFO
Friday, November 14, 11:34

The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), the largest and
the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots human rights
organization, has dissemianated a statement wherein it calls on the
world community to take a firm stance against the Aliyev regime’s.

Below is the full text of the statement: “On Wednesday, November 12,
2014, at approximately 1:45 pm (Yerevan time), the Azerbaijani military
shot down an unarmed helicopter on a military training exercise over
Nagorno Karabakh, killing all three people on board.

Azerbaijani leaders, instead of calling for calm or regretting the
loss of life, reportedly immediately awarded a military medal to
the unit commander who shot down this unarmed aircraft. This attack,
unprecedented since the 1994 cease-fire, is the latest in Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev’s reckless escalation of incitement and
aggression, a pattern of violence that has taken far too many lives, on
both sides, and that threatens to drive this region into renewed war.

The Canadian government has yet to issue a statement on Azerbaijan’s
continuously provocative actions and Canadian lawmakers have not
yet joined their colleagues in the United States and Europe in
condemning Azerbaijan’s latest act of aggression against the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian National Committee of Canada President Dr. Girair Basmajian
stated “Azerbaijan’s attack on an unarmed helicopter and subsequent
conduct is a direct threat to the peace process. The Republic of
Nagorno- Karabakh and Armenia have sought to resolve this dispute
peacefully for the last twenty years, but the Aliyev regime has
only answered with more violence. The failure of Canada and the
world community to respond more forcefully to the Aliyev regime’s
rewarding of Ramil Safarov’s murder of an unarmed Armenian soldier
during a NATO training course and to the daily ceasefire violations
by the Azerbaijani military has contributed to this situation. Unless
Canada and our allies take a firm stance against the Aliyev regime’s
attacks and demonization of Armenians, there is no chance of a peaceful
solution to this conflict. The Canadian government’s silence only
encourages Azerbaijan to engage in even greater violence.”

We ask that all people of good conscience call on their representatives
to publicly condemn this despicable attack and make it clear that
Azerbaijan’s unprovoked aggression will not be ignored.”

PROTEST OUTSIDE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AS HEARING OVER EEU TREATY CONTINUES

11:52 * 14.11.14

While Constitutional Court is conducting thehearing over Armenia’s
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) Accession Treaty, a crowd of people
has gathered outside for a protest action disputing the lawfulness
of the deal.

Our correspondent reports from the scene that policemen have asked
the protesters to move to the opposite sidewalk on the grounds that
they hinder the free movement of others.

Different public and political figures, including leader of the
National Self-Determination Union (party) Paruyr Hayrikayn, Political
Secretary of the Heritage Party Styopa Safaryan, former presidential
candidate Andrias Ghukasyan have joined the gathering.

The mothers of servicemen, who died in the military in peace time,
are also on the scene.

ZHOGHOVURD: ARMAVIA DECLARED BANKRUPT

10:02 * 14.11.14

The paper says it has learned from sources that a Yerevan district
court on Thursday declared the former national airline, Armavia,
bankrupt.

The first meeting of debtors is reportedly due on December 16.

The paper notes that the proceeding was filed by Mika Limited, a
company owned by Armavia’s founding president and owner, Mikhail
Baghdasarov. Under the court’s ruling, the airline’s debt to the
company amounts to $38,378,000, says the paper.

Armenian News – Tert.am

GOVERNOR BROWN APPOINTS TWO TO ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

States News Service
November 12, 2014 Wednesday

SACRAMENTO, CA

The following information was released by the office of the Governor
of California:

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of
Gassia Apkarian and Craig E. Arthur to judgeships in the Orange County
Superior Court.

Apkarian, 47, of Mission Viejo, has been senior attorney and president
at Apkarian Defense APC since 2007. She served as a deputy public
defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2000 to
2007, public relations advisor to President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
from 1998 to 1999 and was executive director of Democrats 2000 from
1997 to 1998. Apkarian served as special assistant to the ambassador
at the Embassy of Armenia in Washington, D.C. from 1996 to 1997 and
was western regional director of the Armenian Assembly of America
in 1995, where she was deputy executive director from 1994 to 1995
and country executive director from 1992 to 1994. She earned a Juris
Doctor degree from the University of La Verne College of Law and a
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine.

Apkarian fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Francisco
F. Firmat. Apkarian is a Democrat.

Arthur, 53, of Tustin, has served as a commissioner at the Orange
County Superior Court since 2005. He was an attorney in private
practice from 1999 to 2005 and an attorney at the Law Office of Harold
LaFlamme from 1990 to 2002. Arthur served as an attorney at the Orange
County Public Defender’s Office from 1989 to 1990. He earned a Juris
Doctor degree from the Western State University College of Law, a
Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach
and an Associate of Arts degree from Orange Coast College. He fills
the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Craig E. Robison.

Arthur is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $184, 610.

ISRAEL’S AMBASSADOR ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES, SELLING ARMS TO AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

09:52, 13 November, 2014

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Ambassador of Israel to the
Republic of Armenia Shmuel Meirom assures that no kinds of arms would
be sold to Azerbaijan, which would destabilize the region.

At the same time, the Ambassador underscored that today no country
has a problem to obtain arms on the global market. In an interview
to “Armenpress”, the Ambassador reflected on the Armenian-Israeli
relations and why Israel qualifies the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide as a “political issue”.

– Mr. Ambassador, first of all I would like to thank You for not
refusing to give us an interview. In the beginning of the interview,
let’s speak about the Armenian-Israeli relations. How do You assess
them?

– As every time I am asked this question, I can say now again that
the relations between Israel and Armenia are good, even though their
full potential has not yet been realized. In other words, there are
projects and many areas of cooperation on the agenda, such as the
signing of a number of agreements, mutual high-level visits, and more.

– One can frequently hear Israeli statesmen calling the Armenian
Genocide a “political issue”. Don’t You think that the international
community and particularly Israel must the view the question mostly
from the moral, humane, and not the political standpoint?

– The subject of recognizing the Armenian Genocide has consistently
been raised in Israel every year. It is not a secret that we face two
matters: On the one hand, Israelis and Jews in general have a special
sensitivity to the tragedy that struck the Armenian People; on the
other hand the entire issue has regrettably political connotations
that touch upon the relations of both our countries with Turkey. We
have not forgotten the moral aspects.

– The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan officially
invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the
commemoration ceremony dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015. How would You assess this step?

4. I believe that the step taken by Armenia’s President was a
courageous and wise one. Relations between Armenia and Turkey are of
much importance to both countries and the thawing of ties would be
a welcome development for them both. I look forward to the day that
Turkey’s border with Armenia will be open and that there will be a free
flow of people and goods between both countries. This would also enable
a discussion of more sensitive issues such as the Armenian Genocide.

– Is it possible that Israeli delegation will also participate in the
commemoration events of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?

– I believe that there will be an Israeli delegation to the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Memorial, although I cannot
at this time say who will head it.

– And the final question. Mr. Ambassador, Israel is among those
countries, which sell a vast amount of arms to Azerbaijan. Is there an
apprehension in Israel that those arms will be used against Armenia
and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and destabilize the situation in
the region?

In Israel there is a committee that strictly examines arms sales
to any country in the world, including Azerbaijan. The committee
strictlyensures that no kinds of arms would be sold that would
destabilize the region. We are aware of the great sensitivity that
exists in Armenia to the issue, and as a country which itself has a
conflict with some of its neighbors, Israel understands this. However,
we need to be clear: today no country has a problem to obtain arms on
the global market. If Israel were to totally refrain, another country
would sell arms anyway.

Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan