Author: Babajanian Karo

Karabakh police investigate assassination attempt on general Vitaly Balasanyan

December 30, 2013 | 16:42

YEREVAN. – The Nagorno-Karabakh police are investigation an
assassination attempt on former presidential candidate, hero of
Artsakh, general Vitaly Balasanyan.

On Sunday the police received Balasanyan’s call saying an object
resembling an explosive device fell from his car.

The task force discovered that an assassination attempt was made. The
criminal placed a homemade bomb filled with explosive equivalent to
600 grams of TNT on Balasanyan’s car. An investigation is underway.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 30 2013

2013: the top five stories in the Caucasus

by ZAUR SHIRIYEV

2013: the top five stories in the Caucasus

As 2013 draws to a close, it seems a good time to reflect on the top
stories of the year from the Caucasus. Compared to previous years, the
region has featured frequently in world news.

Notably, in the Boston Marathon bombings in the US, the terrorists had
links to Chechnya in the North Caucasus. The region also featured in
world news in connection with Hassan Rohani’s election as president in
neighboring Iran, and the subsequent temporary nuclear deal between
Tehran and six world powers.

Regrettably, some of the positive developments the region is awaiting
failed to materialize in 2013, such as the peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia conflicts; and regional
improvement on international human rights rankings published by
Freedom House and Transparency International, for instance.

However, here are the region’s top five stories from 2013, positive or not:

1.Presidential elections — This year saw the reelection of both the
Azerbaijani and Armenian incumbents, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan,
respectively. In Georgia, the situation was more complex.
Constitutional amendments passed in 2010 and 2013 reduced the
president’s power, but the Georgian election still had significant
impact. The ruling Georgian Dream party saw the election of its
candidate, the relatively unknown Giorgi Margvelashvili — reflecting
public support for the party since its surprise win in the 2012
parliamentary election. The real significance here was that Georgia
elected a new president through a free and democratic process. The
2004 Georgian presidential election after the Rose Revolution was also
deemed democratic, but no transfer of power from one president to
another actually took place.

2.Southern Gas Corridor redefines the Caspian and European `energy
map’ — After the long debate on the Nabucco project, the selection of
the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in June as the main delivery route
for Caspian gas to Europe came as a surprise to many. TAP will
transport gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz II to the European market
through Greece, Albania and under the Adriatic Sea to Italy. Dec. 17
marked the signing ceremony for the final investment decision (FID) on
the development of the second stage of the Shah Deniz gas field,
bringing closer the realization of the expansion of the South Caucasus
Pipeline (SCP) and the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline
(TANAP) and the TAP. This is good news for European energy security,
both in terms of meeting demand for gas and connecting with the
existing gas supply infrastructure in Southern Europe. In the long
term, Azerbaijani gas could meet 20 percent of EU demand.

3.Armenia’s political U-turn — Armenia was expected to sign an
association agreement as well as a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Vilnius
Summit in November. But just two months before the summit, following a
meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian President
Sargsyan declared Yerevan’s intention to join the Russian-led Customs
Union (CU). This was a blow to the EU and a major disappointment for
other former Soviet states. Armenia’s dilemma — having to choose
between the EU and the Russian-sponsored CU and Eurasian Union — was
over. Widespread support in the Armenian government for EU integration
reversed overnight, with officials suddenly endorsing the CU. Another
disappointment came after Putin’s official visit to Armenia from Dec.
2-3, when the Russian energy giant Gazprom announced it would take
full ownership of its subsidiary ArmRosGazprom, the local distributor
in Armenia. This means that Yerevan has lost its remaining 20-percent
stake in the company — and thus the last vestige of its energy
independence.

4.The Vilnius Summit — At the most hotly anticipated summit of the
EU’s Eastern Partnership (EaP), held in Vilnius on Nov. 28 and 29,
Georgia initialed an association agreement and a DCFTA with the EU.
The country expects to sign both agreements in August or September
2014. Azerbaijan, as expected, inked a visa facilitation agreement
with the EU. This was a small but important step for both Baku and the
EU, as it signaled that the country is still oriented toward European
integration. However, to finalize the visa facilitation agreement,
which will make it cheaper and faster for Azerbaijani citizens to
obtain short-stay visas for the Schengen zone, Azerbaijan also needs a
readmission agreement.

5.Meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents — Between
the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents’ meeting on Jan. 23, 2012 in
Sochi and their next meeting in Vienna on Nov. 19, 2013, 666 days
passed — an inauspicious number for the conflict-resolution process.
The lack of presidential communication deepened mistrust at the
intergovernmental level between the two sides and dampened hope for
the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The November
meeting, unfortunately, did not result in any significant changes to
the resolution process. In both countries’ governmental circles,
however, the meeting was seen as a move back to square one, perhaps
with a clean slate, in advance of the 20th anniversary of the
cease-fire agreement next year. New progress is sorely needed,
especially after the appointment of the new US co-chair to the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk
Group in August. This group is the mediation body for the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; since Ambassador James Warlick’s
appointment there has been a heightened sense of urgency for
presidential engagement. The Nov. 19 meeting was evidence of this
added momentum, and another meeting is expected in the coming months.
The renewed US involvement, along with Switzerland’s chairmanship of
the OSCE in 2014, could help Azerbaijan and Armenia take important
steps toward resolving the conflict.

Any of these five stories could be a launchpad for further global
attention, especially during the Sochi Winter Olympics in February
2014, which will bring hordes of international journalists to the
area.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Today’s
Zaman readership a very happy New Year.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 30 2013

One pomegranate, twelve grapes, a thousand lentils

AYLÄ°N Ã-NEY TAN – [email protected]

What a year it has been! Turkey has been going through turmoil and our
table was much flavored with peppery tear gas this year. Only a day
left to step into 2014, we need an urgent fix of fate. Our change of
chance for the better might well come from what we eat on New Year’s
Eve.

Superstitions they are, people all over the world cannot help nibbling
fortune-bringing food, even if they are complete non-believers.
Certain foods are believed to bring good luck, prosperity, wealth,
good health, and it is almost obligatory to have these on the table,
to ensure a prosperous year. Here are my favorites, I personally will
try to have them all, as I hope 2014 will be the year to move forward
and to start anew.

Pomegranate must be the single food that all will agree on in this
part of the world. An ancient symbol of fertility and plenty, it is
customary to smash a pomegranate on the door step just as the New Year
turns, a ritual observed especially by the Greek and Armenians. `One
in the market, a thousand at home’ is the Turkish expression that
signifies the trust in pomegranates, a prosperity symbol for ages in
Turkey, now also very popular worldwide; the attractive fruit has
become very hip and trendy in the recent years. No festive food
photography seems to exist without a few glossy pomegranate seeds
adorning the food, regardless whether it’s relevant to the taste or
not. A food writer friend from the Netherlands was recently
complaining on Facebook that she could not stand any longer this
pomegranate craze, and to my surprise she surrendered within a week or
so, starting to post delightful pictures of desserts sprinkled with
jewel-like ruby-colored seeds.

Fruits really cheer up a table and another one not to forget is the
twelve grapes. This habit is definitely Spanish, observed also in
Portugal and many Latin countries, a tradition originated in the
wine-making region of Alicante almost a century ago, one has to gobble
down twelve grapes when the countdown for the New Year starts. Known
as `Las doce uvas de la suerte’ (The twelve grapes of luck), this last
minute rescue attempt is supposed to bring good luck, but if done too
hastily, one can choke and need a true rescue operation. My plan is
also to take twelve simultaneous sips from my champagne hoping that my
spirits will be lifted by zillions of bubbles that rise to the
surface, and the malign influence in my life disappears forever just
like the fading fizz. After all champagne is also from grapes, so why
not double-secure luck for the New Year! Though more for the Chinese
New Year, one can easily nibble a tangerine or another bright
orange-colored fruit, to make 2014 shine like gold.

If a single pomegranate or a dozen grapes seem too weak of an attempt
to secure a year of plenty, then one has to go for numbers, and try to
eat thousands of lentils, beans or wheat berries. Eating lentils is
the ultimate superstition in Italy, no table can be without.
Double-secured by the lucky pig, (to be precise pig trotter sausage
`cotechino’), eating as many lentils as possible will bring as many
coins.

In the years of the inflated Italian Lire, this seemed to be an almost
useless desperate attempt to build a fortune, but now with the Euro,
one can easily hope to fill a chest, or settle for a full belly at
least.

Many countries use beans instead; the bean-eating Latin countries seem
to have duplicated the lentil tradition of Italy. Another mythical
miracle fortune food is the mighty wheat berry, so powerful in its
symbolism. Bowls of sweetened boiled wheat berries will adorn many
tables in Ukraine, a tradition also observed in Belarus, Lithuania,
and in some parts of Poland. This classic Christmas sweet is also
relevant for the New Year, with countless poppy seeds, another
good-old symbol of abundance. In Russia very similar sochivo, but
without the poppies, is a must to hope for a full pocket. One really
believes that works, at least some of the Russians oligarchs must have
observed this. The ultimate New Year wheat berry sweet in Turkey is
the Armenian anush abur, very similar to ashure which is made for
welcoming the first month of the Islamic New Year. The intention is
similar, to start anew with good fortune, no coincidence that they’re
both graced with pomegranate seeds.

To extend the table for more security one can continue in the first
breakfast of the year and have ring shaped rolls, poppy bagels, donuts
or better still a Turkish simit with lots of sesame seeds, (yes
another symbol of plenty) to represent the wholeness and unbroken full
circle of the year coming.

Now you all know what’s going to be on my New Year Eve’s table! My
wishes are no secrets but as it is considered unlucky to reveal the
New Year wishes, better to keep silent and hope silence will
eventually pay off. So cheers for a GOOD year, CLEAN from misfortunes
of the last one, FAIR for all!

December/30/2013

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 30 2013

Indonesia rules out opening diplomatic mission in Yerevan

By Sara Rajabova

The Indonesian House of Representatives will not allow opening a
diplomatic representation of the country in Armenia until the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled.

Speaker of Indonesian House of Representatives, Marzuki Alie made
remarks during the meeting with Azerbaijani Ambassador to Indonesia
Tamerlan Garayev, the Embassy said.

Alie said the Indonesian Parliament recommended the government to
postpone the opening of the diplomatic mission in Armenia.

For his part, Garayev thanked Alie personally and on behalf of the
Azerbaijani government for expressing Indonesia’s official position on
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Khojaly genocide in his closing
speech to the House of Representatives.

He said Indonesia’s principled position regarding the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be an example for
other Muslim countries.

Garayev also expressed a hope that Indonesia will play an important
role in the international arena in the issue of peaceful liberation of
the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

In turn, Alie said Indonesia will always support the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and the peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of four UN resolutions.

Alie said Indonesia has unfailing and unequivocal position against the
country, which occupied part of the territory of another state.

He also noted that Indonesia condemns the Khojaly genocide, committed
by Armenian armed forces in early 1990s.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus
neighbor. The occupation caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.

The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia’s
withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been
enforced to this day.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE
Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by
the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The
negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

Jordan Times, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
December 29, 2013 Sunday

Kaspersky classifies Jordan as high risk country for malware infection

by Mohammad Ghazal, Jordan Times, Amman

Dec. 29–AMMAN — Jordan is among the countries where computers are at
a moderate risk to become infected with malware via the Internet,
according to a report by a Russian cyber security company.

The Kaspersky Security Bulletin 2013, issued recently by Russian
Kaspersky Lab, showed that Jordan was classified as a high risk
country in terms of local malware infections.

The study, e-mailed to The Jordan Times, measures the rate of computer
infections based on scans of computers, USB flash drives, camera and
phone memory cards, and external hard drives.

In terms of local malware infection, Jordan fared better than Iraq and
Algeria, which were classified as maximum risk countries.

Malware is a type of software that is intended to damage or disable
computers and computer systems.

In terms of the possibility of computers becoming infected through the
Internet, Jordan was classified better than Libya, Sudan, Algeria and
Iraq, which were classified as high risk countries, according to the
report.

Internet penetration in Jordan reached 72 per cent by the end of
September 2013, with about 4.8 million users, according to figures
released by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

According to the report, Kazakhstan topped the list of countries with
the highest risk of computer infection via the Internet and was
followed by Armenia, Russia, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Moldova, Belarus and
Ukraine.

The top five countries where users face the highest risk of local
infection are Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and India.

The report said the number of computer users prone to be victims of
malware is on the rise globally, as 315,000 new malicious files are
detected every day.

The overall global Internet threat level grew by 6.9 percentage points
in 2013, with 41.6 per cent of computers around the world attacked,
the report said.

The US and Russia are the leading hosts of malicious web sources,
according to the study, which said that this year also saw a further
increase in security issues on mobile phones, with threats rising in
number and sophistication.

Most malicious mobile apps principally aimed to steal money and
subsequently personal data, according to the bulletin.

Android is still the main target, attracting 98.05 per cent of known malware.

Kaspersky Lab detected 104,427 new modifications of malicious
programmes for mobile devices, which is 125 per cent more than in 2012

In terms of top malicious programmes involved in web attacks on users’
computers, Malicious URL topped the list and was followed by
Trojan.Script.Generic, AdWare.Win32.MegaSearch.am,
Trojan.Script.Iframer and Exploit.Script.Blocker.

Not So Fast… Armenia’s own Parliament Subverts the Democratic Process

By MassisPost
Updated: December 29, 2013

By Richard Giragosian

Armenia has never been known for either upholding the democratic
standards or conducting truly uncontested free and fair elections, but
even on Armenian standards, a controversial vote in the Armenian
parliament has seriously undermined, and embarrassed, the country’s
already feeble democratic process.

More specifically, as hundreds of demonstrators protested outside of
the parliament, the ruling Republican Party demonstrated that to vote
in the Armenian parliament, only a majority, and not the rules or
procedures count.

After the parliamentary leadership called for an open vote with a show
of hands, some 77 deputies from the ruling Republican Party `voted’ to
approve a highly controversial gas agreement with Russia, which
critics consider a serious blow to Armenia’s sovereignty.

While the deal itself was already dubious, it is the manner in which
the pro-government bloc forced the result, in violation of the
democratic process, which raises even more serious concerns. Moreover,
as the parliamentary opposition has pointed out, the conduct of the
vote itself was in violation of the rules, and declared that the vote
was therefore `null and void.’ In a joint statement, they cited the
National Assembly’s statutes stipulating that if the electronic system
is not used, votes should be counted by a special parliamentary
commission, comprised of representatives from all parties in the
parliament. Instead, the vote count was done by parliament speaker
Hovik Abrahamian and his two deputies, with no participation of any
opposition or independent deputies.

Thus, the real meaning of today’s incident is the message is sends to
those aspiring to a more democratic Armenia: `not so fast.’ But for
those idealists who have not yet given up the fight for democracy, and
for those opposition deputies fighting to defend the democratic
process, the message is even louder: `NOT SO FAST.’

The issue was the ratification of a deal that was signed during
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Armenia, and that
formalized the sale of the Armenian government’s 20 percent share in
the domestic gas distribution network to Russia’s Gazprom monopoly. In
return, Gazprom promised to write off a $300 million which the
government has incurred as a result of secretly subsidizing the price
of Russian natural gas supplied to Armenia since 2011.

More importantly, the deal stipulates that the current and future
Armenian governments cannot raise taxes or make any other changes in
the regulatory environment for the Gazprom-owned network until January
2044. The Armenian side is also obliged to ensure that domestic gas
tariffs in the country are high enough for Gazprom to recoup 9 percent
of its capital investments in the network annually, which the media
lambasted as undeserved and `unprecedented privileges’ for Russia.

Clearly, a difficult year is ahead for Armenia.

Richard Giragosian is the Director of Regional Studies Center

Armenian Army is our fortress – Defense Minister

December 29, 2013 | 16:35

YEREVAN. – Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan congratulated
nation with the upcoming New Year and Christmas, Armenian News-NEWS.am
informs.

According to the minister, the 2013 was another year of peace, during
with the Armenian Army with the constant support of Armenian Nation,
powerfully protected Armenia’s and Artsakh’s (Nagorno Karabakh’s)
state borders.

`After the hard lessons of 2012, the adversary was prudent enough and
did not repeat the attempts of perfidious violations of Armenian
border,’ stressed Minister Ohanyan in his congratulatory message.

According to the minister, Armenian soldier is not only the protector
of Armenian national borders but also the guardian of stability in the
South Caucasus region.

`The Armenian Army is our home and our fortress, where the same rules
apply to everyone,’ added Seyran Ohanyan. `The 2014 will be ours as
well.’

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Explosion and fire in Armenian village garage

December 30, 2013 | 11:41

YEREVAN. – A vehicle was destroyed by fire on Sunday in Nor Kyank
village ofArmenia’s Ararat Region.

A fire and rescue squad was dispatched to the scene, the Rescue Service informs.

It was found out that the pipe of the gas cylinder of the car had
exploded and an ensuing fire had started in the garage next to a
village home.

As a result, G.H., 33, suffered burns and was transferred to
VediCityMedicalCenter. He received corresponding medical assistance
and was subsequently discharged.

The fire was extinguished at 6:03pm, but a Mercedes-Benz E 124 was
burnt completely.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

PRESS RELEASE
THE PAROS FOUNDATION
918 Parker Street, Suite A14
Berkeley, CA 94710
Contact: Peter Abajian
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Tel: US 310-400-9061
Armenia: (093) 99-80-99 From US dial 011-374-93-99-80-99

Please join us in celebrating our 2013 successes. Thousands of
people’s lives were touched this year thanks to the generous donations
and commitment of so many. On behalf of our staff, volunteers and
organizations we support, please accept our best wishes for a happy,
healthy and prosperous
2014. With your continued support, we are making a difference in
Armenia
and Artsakh one project at a time.

To get involved and help make a difference, please donate now!

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A very special thank you to our family of supporters who contributed
so generously to our efforts in 2013. Purchase a Home Project II
(Completed)
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Nejde & Lilit (CA-USA)

Get to Work!(In Progress)
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Armenian International Women’s Association, San Francisco Affiliate,
2013 (CA-USA)

A Sustainable Future for Orphanage Girls (In Progress)
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Edward & Eleonore Aslanian (CA-USA)

Medical Center in Kurtan (In Progress)
[]

Joyce Abdulian

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David & Christine Balabanian

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Susanna Cogswell

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Z. Khachatryan Art School Kiln (Completed)
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“In honor of John & Christina Poochigian”

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Purchase a Home Project I (In Progress)
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Kanakeravan Art School, Piano (Completed)
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Zephyr Real Estate (CA-USA)

Adopt A Classroom – Hatsik village 4 (Completed)
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In Memory of Marc Tognozzi
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Medical Center in Agarak (Completed)
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Anonymous (CA-USA)

50,000 Feet in Need of Shoes
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TOMS Shoes

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SERVICE-Armenia 2013 Participants (CA-USA)

Kristen Abajian

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Shant Kalaydjian

Gabriella Lion

Koko Manouelian

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Liana Rakijian

Alexan Strauch

Adopt A Classroom – Hatsik village 2 (Completed)
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St. James Armenian Church School (CA-USA)

Healthy Teeth (In Progress)
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Fuel Through Firewood: Gyumri Winter Project
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Adopt A School Restroom – in Hatsik village (Completed)
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Medical Center in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur (Completed)
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Gift of Music
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In Memory of Maritza Kiramijian

Adopt A Classroom – Hatsik village 5 (Completed)
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Saints Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church,

Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, Pastor (RI-USA)

Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory Website
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Adopt A Classroom – Hatsik village 1 (Completed)
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Share-a-Pair Operation Winter Boots (In Progress)
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The Nork Orphanage Play Area-Ari’s Playground
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Alec Yerganian (CA-USA)

Lina Zheleznyak (CA-USA) Marc Tognozzi Memorial Fund
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Mr. & Mrs. Abraham Aghoian CA

American Passport & Visa Services CA

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Mr. & Mrs. David Anderson IL

Mr. Vahe Apelian OH

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Elena & Shirley Elena’s Skin Care CA

Mr. & Mrs. Artur Enasian CA

Ms. Karen Fabe CA

Ms. Maureen Fitzgerald CA

Mrs. Esther Garboushian CA

Ms. Elizabeth Garboushian CA

Mrs. Sheila Goldfinger CA

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Kessab Educational Association of Los Angeles CA

Mrs. Rose Ketchoyan CA

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Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Kutumian CA

Mr. Jason Levi CA

Mr. & Mrs. George Mahshigian CA

Mrs. Hilda Manjikian CA

Dr. & Mrs. Jack Megerdichian CA

Mr. & Mrs. David Mgrublian CA

Mr. Adam Michaelson CA

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Mr. Michael Windermon CA

Mrs. Anna Woodward CA

Mr. & Mrs. David Wurtzel CA

Mrs. Nora Yenikomshian CA

Mrs. Mary Zoryan CA The Paros Foundation
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Ruth Alahydoian

Toros Alcan

Anonymous

Minas Aslan

Yasar Aslan

Mrs. Eleonore Aslanian

Murat Bakirci

Taner Batmanozer

Murat Berber

Suren Bingaz

Nisan Boyaci

Varujan Bulgan

Annes Ciroglu

Cemil Degirmenci

Tekin Demirci

Garbis Duraslan

Kirkor Elmayan

Kevork Erkan

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Misak Hergel

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Mosse Family Foundation

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Isa Paylan

Armen Sedrakian

Bedros Sogut

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Adrienne Tashjian

Bedros Usenmez

Hovsep Vayvalak

Artin Yasulkal

Masis Yontan The Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity develops
and administers projects throughout Armenia and Artsakh in four
program categories: Development, Education, Humanitarian and Cultural.
Please consider becoming a family sponsor of a project in memory of
the Armenian Genocide by participating in the Paros Foundation’s 100
for 100 Projects for Prosperity. Visit
[]. The Paros Foundation underwrites
all administrative expenses allowing all sponsor contributions to be
allocated 100% to the project. Donations to The Paros Foundation, a
501(c) 3 private foundation, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent
allowed by law. Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation
supports six exemplary local NGOs in Armenia with
contributions of quality rent-free program space, operating funds and
human resource support. To honor the upcoming centennial of the
Armenian Genocide, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100
Projects for
Prosperity in October of 2011. With an aggressive goal of
identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100
special projects, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and
the United States are
quickly earning a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee
small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia. For more
information and to get involved visit
[] or call (310) 400-9061.

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Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 28 2013

Switzerland as OSCE chair to promote dialogue between parties of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.27
By Sabina Ahmadova – Trend:

Switzerland, as a chairman of OSCE will look into possibilities to promote
dialogue and confidence building measures between the parties of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by actively supporting and strengthening existing
mediation schemes such as the OSCE Minsk process, Federal Councillor Didier
Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of
Switzerland and Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE for 2014 told Trend.

“Furthermore, Switzerland will try to facilitate people to people contacts
and support civil society projects in the region,” Burkhalter said.

Upon Switzerland’s assumption of the OSCE chairmanship on January 1, 2014,
Ambassador Angelo Gnadinger will take up the post of Special Representative
for the South Caucasus, the councillor said.

Among other responsibilities, he will act as the OSCE co-chair of the
Geneva Discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus,
Burkhalter said.

“Like previous Special Representatives for the South Caucasus, he will
support the OSCE’s mediation efforts and will accompany the activities of
the OSCE representations in the region,” the councillor said.

“Switzerland, during its chairmanship, wants to contribute to three main
objectives: we want to foster security and stability, to improve people’s
lives and we want to strengthen the OSCEs capacity to act,” Burkhalter said.

“Creating a Security Community for the Benefit of Everyone”- this is the
leitmotif of Switzerland’s chairmanship,” the councillor said.

To concretely implement these goals, Switzerland has defined several
priority activities such as combating transnational threats, enhancing the
capacity in the OSCE area for the management of natural disasters, but also
strengthening security sector governance, the implementation of the
commitments in the Human Dimension, according to the councillor.

Switzerland will also pay special attention to the inclusion of civil
society into the OSCE and wants to give young people a voice by organising
an OSCE-Model series of events, according to Burkhalter.

“During our chairmanship, we want to place the implementation of existing
commitments relating to the human dimension at the centre of our efforts.
By promoting exchange of good practices, Switzerland wants to urge the
participating States to fully implement and respect the commitments that
they have undertaken over the past 40 years in such fields as combating
torture, ensuring respect of the rights of persons belonging to national
minorities or promoting democratic elections,” Burkhalter said.

In the context of our Chairmanship, we will also organize a human rights
conference in Switzerland in mid-June 2014, according to Burkhalter.

“Furthermore, we will support the OSCE institutions and field operations in
the work they do under their mandates in human rights-related fields,” the
councillor said.

With regard to the increasing role of Azerbaijan in the sphere of energy
security in the region, Burkhalter recalled that only a few weeks ago, the
Ministerial Council of the OSCE adopted two decisions in relation to
energy, one on improving the environmental footprint of energy-related
activities, the other on the protection of critical energy networks from
natural and man-made disasters.

“This shows that energy security becomes more and more a dynamic topic
among the OSCE participating States and countries like Azerbaijan play, of
course, a crucial role in this OSCE-wide dialogue. It is imperative to
think of ways to promote affordable and diversified energy supply further.
We also need to keep in mind that energy resources can contribute
substantially to economic growth if managed responsibly and transparently,”
Burkhalter said.