Author: Babajanian Karo

August 23, 2013
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY
AT HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH

– 40TH DAY REQUEIM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP ARDAVAZT TERTERIAN

On Sunday, August 25, 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy
Martyrs Church in Encino.
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the Prelate will preside over
the requiem service, during which prayers will be offered on the 40th day of
the passing of senior Brotherhood member Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian, who
entered eternal rest on July 18. Members of the Kessab Educational
Association will be in attendance.
By the ordinance of the Prelate, Very Rev. Fr. Garbis Ashekian, a
new member of the Catholicosate Brotherhood, who is visiting Los Angeles,
will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Garabed Church
in Hollywood.

PRELATE OF AZERBAIJAN VERY REV. FR. KRIKOR CHIFTJIAN
VISITS THE PRELACY

On Friday, August 23, 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, welcomed Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Prelate of Azerbaijan, who
is currently in Los Angeles on a brief visit.
The visit offered an opportunity to discuss current issues. By the
ordinance of H.H. Catholicos Aram I, Fr. Krikor previously served for three
years within the Western Prelacy.

PRELATE BLESSES YOUNG STUDENTS OF TAVLIAN PRE-SCHOOL AT THE START OF THE NEW
ACADEMIC YEAR

At the start of the 2013-2014 academic year of Prelacy Schools, H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, has been visiting schools to
convey his blessings and well wishes to the administration, students, and
parents for a successful year.
On Friday, August 23rd, 2013, the Prelate visited the young students
of Levon and Hasmig Tavlian Pre-School in Pasadena, where he conducted a
prayer service and the blessing of salt and water to begin the new school
year. He was accompanied by Parish Pastor of St. Sarkis Church Rev. Fr.
Boghos Baltayan, and former Parish Pastor Rev. Fr. Khoren Babochian. St.
Sarkis Church Board of Trustees members were also in attendance.
After the prayer service in the courtyard, the Prelate and Pastors
visited classrooms where they were greeted enthusiastically by the students.
The Prelate and Pastors had a warm and pleasant interaction with the
students, who sang songs and presented them with drawings. The Prelate
blessed the students and presented them with copies of the Lord’s Prayer.

PRELATE BEGINS SCHOOL VISITS AT THE START OF
THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

On Monday, August 19, 2013, Prelacy Schools opened their doors to
commence the 2013-2014 academic year. Each year H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, visits Prelacy Schools to convey his blessings and
well wishes to the administration, teachers, students, and parents for a
successful year.
On Monday, August 19, the Prelate visited Holy Martyrs Ferrahian
High School in Encino and Marie Cabayan Elementary School in North Hills,
where he presided over the opening ceremonies.
The day began at “Avedissian” Hall of the Encino campus.
Participating in the ceremony were Holy Martyrs Church Pastor Rev. Fr.
Razmig Khatchadourian, Principal Mr. John Kossakian, teachers, members of
the Board of Regents, Parish Board of Trustees, sister organizations, and
parents.
In his address, the Prelate stressed that the Armenian School is,
above all, an institution which cultivates our Christian and cultural
heritage in our students. Instructing our students on the principles of our
faith, on our history and cultural values, and enriching their hearts and
souls with our heritage, is just as important as technologically modern
teaching methods, stated His Eminence. Referencing the “Year of the
Armenian Mother” proclamation of His Holiness, the Prelate stated that
Armenian mothers are the pillars of Armenian families and the first teachers
of their children. Armenian teachers, stated His Eminence, have similar
qualities to mothers, with whom they work in partnership for the development
and instruction of our youth.
The Prelate and delegation then headed to the North Hills campus for
the opening ceremony of Holy Martyrs Marie Cabayan Elementary School. In
his message the Prelate emphasized the unique and crucial role of the
Armenian School and Armenian educators in the spiritual and intellectual
development of our youth. Note that ARS Ashkhen Pilavajian Pre-School
commenced the new school year on Tuesday, August 20.
Monday, August 19 was the first day of school for most Prelacy
Schools. Local parish pastors presided over the opening ceremonies and read
the Prelate’s message on this occasion. Later in the day the Prelate was in
telephone communication with Principals to wish them a productive school
year. Armenian Mesrobian School in Montebello and Ari Guiragos Minassian
School in Orange County will begin the new school year on Monday, August 26.

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION CELEBRATED WITH EPISCOPAL DIVINE LITURGY AND
BLESSING OF GRAPES AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH

On Sunday, August 18, 2013, the Armenian Church celebrated one of
its most beloved feasts, the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God into
heaven.
The Feast of the Assumption was celebrated within Prelacy Churches
with great ceremony. Divine Liturgy was celebrated with special hymns
dedicated to the Holy Mother of God, followed by the blessing of grapes, a
popular and beloved tradition associated with this feast.
The Feast of the Assumption is also the name day of St. Mary’s
Church in Glendale. Thus, on this special occasion, H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian celebrated Divine Liturgy, delivered the sermon, and
conducted the blessing of grapes at St. Mary’s, where thousands of faithful
were gathered to partake in the celebration.
In his sermon, the Prelate spoke of the Holy Mother of God as the
mother of humanity, an eternal intercessor for Christians who is praised and
magnified by mankind as the “mother of light” and “treasure of life”, in
the words of the hymn dedicated to this feast. The Prelate stressed that
the Holy Mother of God has special meaning for the Armenian people.
Armenian mothers should and do try to emulate the virtues of the Virgin
Mary; thus, this feast is also a celebration of Armenian mothers. Noting
the proclamation of the “Year of the Armenian Mother” by His Holiness, on
this occasion the Prelate called on Armenian mothers to focus not just on
the physical development of their children or their success in school, but
also on their spiritual development, by instilling in them our religious and
national principles.
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy the Prelacy conducted the
blessing of grapes. His Eminence explained the symbolism and tradition
behind this popular ceremony. He noted that it is an ancient custom held
since the Old Testament times to render to God and the first fruits of the
harvest as sacrificial thanksgiving. With the birth of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the ceremony took on new meaning. Today, we bless and offer the
queen of the fruits, the grapes from which the sacramental wine is made, in
thanksgiving and gratitude for His abundant gifts, especially the gift of
eternal life.

NKR President visits Shushi Carpet Museum, agricultural market

August 24, 2013 – 18:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Nagrono Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic President
Bako Sahakyan visited the Shushi market of agricultural products.

The President stressed the socioeconomic importance of such fairs in
the development of agriculture and supplying local products of high
quality at acceptable prices.

On the same day, the President also paid a visit to the Shushi Carpet
Museum, which, according to Sahakyan, substantially contributes to
maintenance of national traditions and boosting tourism in Artsakh.

During his visit, the President was accompanied by NKR deputy prime
minister Arthur Aghabekyan and other officials, the Central
Information Department at Artsakh President’s Office reported.

Karabakh war veterans vow to struggle until victory

14:31 24/08/2013 » SOCIETY

More than 20 years have passed since the Karabakh war, but the
Armenian government still fails to allocate financial resources to war
veterans, Hovik Bardumyan, a Karabakh war veteran, told a news
conference in Yerevan.

`The veterans were forced to organize protests,’ he said, adding that
they are holding sit-ins not only in Yerevan but also in Armenian
provinces, demanding to improve their financial situation.

Sit-ins are being held in Vanadzor, Bardumyan said, adding that Lori
governor, Vanadzor mayor and police chief visited the protesting
veterans and conveyed their support to them.

`We will continue to struggle in every possible way until we achieve
victory,’ the war veteran concluded.

ARIEL COHEN: RUSSIA’S LOWERING ITS PROFILE AS GO-BETWEEN IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT GIVES U.S. OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE ITS POSITION IN REGION

Trend, Azerbaijan
Aug 21 2013

Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 21 /A.Badalova, V.Zhavoronkova/

Russia’s lowering its profile as a go-between in the settlement of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict gives the U.S. an opportunity to restore its
position in the region, the leading expert of the Heritage Foundation
for Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Policy,
Ariel Cohen believes.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains
the main sticking point between the two nations, but Putin’s visit
likely made no a significant difference on this issue, Cohen wrote
in an article in The National Interest.

“Putin reiterated that the dispute needs to be resolved
‘politically’-not through a war. This is a signal to Azerbaijan, whose
military budget alone is greater than Armenia’s state budget. Due
to hydrocarbon revenues, Azeri military capabilities are growing,
including weapons purchased from Russia,” the expert wrote.

According to Cohen, the Kremlin is not ready or willing to discuss any
new initiatives and proposals that could potentially lead to solving
the protracted conflict. This is largely due to the simple fact that
Nagorno-Karabakh is an important guarantee of Russia’s political and
military presence in the South Caucasus.

“Following four years of high-level mediation led by the then
president Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin has lowered its profile as a
go-between. This gives Washington an opportunity to strengthen its
relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia and restore its position in
the region,” Cohen wrote.

The United States could have taken advantage of this situation by
proposing to work together with Russia on finding a solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, the expert’s article said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

The former Soviet republic is an emerging leader in the South Caucasus
region, and Putin’s high-profile visit was another way to demonstrate
to Washington that Russia’s zone of “privileged interests” today
covers almost all post-Soviet republics with the exception of Baltics,
Cohen wrote.

The expert notes that, Putin arrived in Baku together with two Russian
warships and a large delegation of ministers and business leaders.

Among the latter were Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister
Sergey Shoygu, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Emergency Situations
Minister Vladimir Puchkov, Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov, Minister
of the Economy Alexei Ulyukayev, and Igor Bratchikov, head of the
Russian delegation to the multilateral talks on the Caspian Sea.

Cohen wrote that, since 2008, the United States has diminished its
involvement in the post-Soviet space. It has deferred to Russia in
all areas except the transit network to Afghanistan-gone after 2014.

In the meantime, Moscow has happily filled the vacuum created by
Washington.

“Putin’s visit came just two month before Azerbaijan’s presidential
elections. For an act of public support for the incumbent president
Ilham Aliyev and as an effort to strengthen the ties between the
two countries, Putin’s timing could not have been better,” the
article said.

Cohen also notes that, the problem is, the Obama White House and
State Department are losing interest in the post-Soviet space, and
their interest may decline even further following the departure of
NATO forces from Afghanistan.

At the same time, Baku and Moscow are working closely within the
framework of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC), the expert wrote.

According to the expert, Azerbaijan is Russia’s largest trading
partner in the South Caucasus, having supplied Gazprom 1.5 billion
cubic meters of gas in 2012.

“Clearly, the two leaders had a lot to talk about, especially since
Putin was accompanied by the oil magnates Sechin and Alekperov,”
Cohen wrote.

The growing role of Azerbaijan as an independent energy exporter and
transit country for Central Asian resources to Europe worries Russia,
he noted.

Rosneft, the Russian state-controlled oil behemoth, is interested in
joining the Absheron gas project, the expert’s article said.

“This would bring Rosneft to the lucrative European gas market,

ARMENIA: NEW REPORT PAINTS BLEAK PICTURE FOR COUNTRY’S INDEPENDENT MEDIA, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND LGBTI COMMUNITY

Amnesty International UK
Aug 21 2013

Posted: 22 August 2013

A shocking new report from Amnesty International published today
reveals an alarming culture of persecution in Armenia against both
critics of the ruling regime and the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender or intersex (LGBTI) community.

The 20-page report, Armenia: No space for difference, exposes the
harassment and intimidation suffered by civil society activists and
journalists who question the mainstream view of the country’s conflict
with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The report also reveals discrimination and attacks on LGBTI activists
and people, and the unwillingness of the authorities to protect them.

In 2011, a survey by the Armenian human rights group, Public
Information and Need for Knowledge, found 71.5% believed the state
should take measures to fight against homosexuals. Since then posters
have appeared across the city of Yerevan calling for citizens to
“fight against homosexuality” and claiming “homosexuals are leading our
country to destruction”. The views have been echoed by Armenia’s ruling
Republican Party and Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov.

Through national and international obligations the Armenian authorities
have committed to ensure that activists can carry out their work
without interference, obstacles, discrimination or fear of retaliation.

Amnesty International’s researcher on Armenia, Natalia Nozadze, said:

“This contrasts starkly with the reality in Armenia – public officials
condone violence against those with dissenting opinions. The targets
of such attacks are often left without adequate protection and offences
against them go unpunished, which has a chilling effect on others.

“Frequently the result is that journalists and human rights defenders
self-censor on contentious issues, which further contributes to the
shrinking space for difference of opinion within Armenian society.

“The ability to exercise the right to freedom of expression, even when
the views expressed may be deemed controversial, and the ability to
gather and demonstrate peacefully are essential for the defence of
human rights and for a functioning civil society.”

‘ATTACKS ON INDEPENDENCE OF LAWYERS’ MUST END IN TURKEY: INTERNATIONAL BODY

20:29 21.08.13

International Association of Lawyers head calls on Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan urgently to stop ‘the oppression on Turkish Bars
and lawyers,’ The Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Voicing concerns over increasing attacks against lawyers’ independence
in Turkey, the president of the International Association of Lawyers
(UIA) has sent a letter to the country’s prime minister, urging Turkish
officials to immediately end any action curtailing the independence
of the country’s bars.

The letter penned by UIA President Jean-Marie Burguburu was sent to
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on Aug. 5, the Union of Turkey’s Bar
Associations (TBB) announced Aug. 21.

In his letter, Burguburu said the UIA has been “regularly alerted over
the past months about the increase in attacks against the independence
of the legal profession in Turkey,” as he particularly focused on
pressures exerted on lawyers of protesters during and after the Gezi
Park unrest.

Burguburu reminds ECHR obligations

“We urge the authorities to stop immediately any actions aimed
at curtailing the independence of the bars, including unwarranted
prosecution, and threats of judicial or administrative reprisals and
to respect their obligations under the European Convention on Human
Rights to prosecute those responsible for the serious violations of
human rights which occurred during the protests,” Burguburu said.

“We would be deeply shocked if the allegations with regards to the
position of the authorities sanctioning lawyers for legally exercising
their mandate as legal representative of victims are verified. The
UIA cannot accept such an attack on the very heart of the profession.

Besides, instead of stigmatizing the bars and association of lawyers,
the authorities should investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of
the misconduct,” he said.

Noting that they “condemned these attacks,” the UIA president said,
“Today our concern goes to the situation of the Ankara Bar Association,
which is accused of illegally promoting individuals’ accusations
against the police,” in an apparent reference to the Gezi protesters.

Burguburu’s letter was also sent to President Abdullah Gul; Justice
Minister Sadullah Ergin; Turkey’s permanent representative to the UN
in Geneva, Ambassador Oguz Demiralp; as well as Turkey’s permanent
representative to the European Union, Ambassador Selim Yenel.

Armenian News – Tert.am

SOAR LAUNCHES CHAPTER IN ORANGE COUNTY!

SOCIETY FOR ORPHANED ARMENIAN RELIEF (SOAR)

1060 First Avenue, Suite 400, King of Prussia, PA 19406

Office: 610.213.3452 Fax: 610.229.5168

Email: [email protected] Web:

SOAR is pleased to announce the creation of our 40th Chapter.

SOAR-Orange County continues our expansion in the West, joining already
established Chapters in Alaska, Colorado, Fresno, Idaho, Las Vegas,
Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland, and Seattle.

About 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Orange County (OC)
is a rapidly growing metropolis. Given its fairly close proximity
to Glendale and strong job market, many Armenians have moved to OC
over the last decade. Compared to other neighborhoods in California,
OC is fairly nascent in terms of its Armenian population. The earliest
record of a count of the local Armenian is from the Board of Trustees
of the OC Armenians in 1973. The group identified 150 local residents
as Armenian and soon set out to build the community’s first Armenian
Church. Today, the largest population of Armenians can be found
in northern and central OC, specifically in Anaheim, Costa Mesa,
and Irvine.

Welcome SOAR-Orange County!

IGOR MURADYAN: IN FUTURE ARMENIA WILL JOIN BOTH THE EU AND NATO

ArmInfo’s interview with one of the leaders of the Karabakh Movement
in 1988, well-known analyst Igor Muradyan

by David Stepanyan

Wednesday, August 21, 15:25

What is the real content and background of talks on European and
Eurasian integration of Armenia? What do Euro-Atlatic community and
Russia expect from us?

The Euro-Atlantic community is in deep defense and is steadily
building a security belt around itself. This policy implies active
integration. This integration is based on security rather than economy
or communications. The United States are keen to see Europe secure
and is unanimous with it on most of regional issues – be it Turkey
or the conflict in the Middle East.

EU’s Association with the Eastern Partnership member- states is a
political concept designed to bring the countries into the orbit of
the western policy.

But this is just an instrument, so, any further discussions on it are
just messing with people’s heads. We should stop thinking about the
content. What we need to do is to try to become the EU’s partner rather
than raw material appendage. There are three levels of co-existence in
the world: leaders, partners and sources of raw materials, and even
small countries can be partners. So, Armenia should start moving in
this direction, especially now that the western policy on the South
Caucasus is changing, and the Euro-Atlantic community is beginning to
regard the region as not just a service and transit area for operations
in Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan but a partner against new threats
like Turkey. Yet 10 years ago I wrote in an item that unlike Armenia
and Georgia, Azerbaijan will never join the EU and NATO. It will exist
the way it used to exist till today, until there is oil and gas in
its subsurface… They asked me why, but I did not know the answer.

It seems you know the answer now…

There are several reasons of that. Azerbaijan scares any integration
very much, as in that case the ruling regime will disappear as it will
lose power…Aliyev is very much afraid of the geo-political mismatch.

Baku was given no specific promises, what will happen in case of the
military conflict.

Neither did Russia…

Russia, and, to be more precise, Turkey, that signed an illegitimate
treaty with Baku. And NATO closes eyes on that treaty. Turkey’s
membership of NATO will be endangered if it defends Azerbaijan. So,
today we should consider principles rather than instruments of
integration. Europe is building a security system based on NATO,
and its partners that are not NATO members for the moment can become
ones in due time. Our problem is not that we lack logic or information
but that our society is unable to overcome certain phobias. We have
acquired really huge experience in the last 25 years but have learned
almost nothing from it.

You don’t think that Russia is able to guarantee Armenia’s security
at the given stage, do you? You think that NATO can do that.

No, I just think that Russia is no longer able to guarantee Armenia’s
and Nagorno-Karabakh’s security all alone. Following the interests
of its rulers, it is beginning to reckon with Turkey and Azerbaijan,
and this is very dangerous for Armenia.

To put it crudely, they may be bribed?

The Azeris have bought the Russians outright, and everybody will know
this soon. In addition to the $3bln’s worth of arms already sold to
the Azeris, they in the Kremlin are planning to sell them weapons for
an amount of $4bln. Who will they use this weaponry against? NATO,
Iran? It will take the Iranians just a week to wipe the Azeris off
the map.

It is not in favor of Russia to see us in danger. What about the
notorious balance?

Sure. the Russians would not like to see us in danger. They are
doing this to keep us tied to them, to earn money and to improve
their relations with the Turks and the Azeris. Russia’s trade with
Turkey amounts to $100bln. This is why it is ignoring our interests
and this is what may prove most dangerous for us.

Do you assume that one beautiful day Moscow may give Karabakh to
Azerbaijan and betray Armenia?

I am convinced that sooner or later the Russians may give Nagorno-
Karabakh to Azerbaijan so as to turn that country into their ally
and to prolong their influence in the region. They have always
regarded Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence as something done against
their will and therefore temporary. The Karabakh Movement was one of
the key factors that ruined the USSR. They in the Kremlin have not
forgotten this.

Yes, but Azerbaijan is also under pressure of Russia and the West…

Well, there you are. If it were pro-Russian, there would be no such
question. Therefore, there are attempts to absorb it at any cost,
even at the cost of Karabakh. I have been explaining that for 30
years and will not give up.

Do you think that the Association Agreement with the EU will be
initialed in November?

Sure.

Is there any serious pressure of Russia upon Yerevan with a purpose
of preventing such a scenario?

There is pressure, but Moscow does not know what levers to use for
that. They still count on creation of an atmosphere of mental affection
and fluctuation in Armenia. Just for this reason, discussion of this
topic stopped in Armenia, but they still go on discussing that.

Evidently, Association of Armenia with the EU hinders Moscow. Why?

The Association of Armenia with the EU hinders Moscow very much,
as Yerevan will start playing foreign games and become a member of
a foreign programme. Armenia is a CSTO member, at the same time,
it has practically a NATO base at its territory.

Do you mean the Armenian peace-making brigade under NATO?

Sure. The Russians are afraid not of what Armenia will start doing,
but of what they (NATO) will start doing with Armenia. So, to become
a partner, Armenia has to take part in different strategies. Armenia
still has two functions: to balance forces in the Caucasus, breaking
of which the Western community will not allow, and participation in
suppressing of Turkey. The second function is hard and dangerous,
but there is no other way out.

Several years ago I said about the beginning of the West’s policy on
blockading and isolation of Turkey. Armenia is among the participants
in this blockade. By the way, Syria is also among them, and it has not
been ruined just for this reason. What will happen to Syria? It will
find itself under Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which is not beneficial to
the West, as after that Syria will blaze a trail for Turkey towards
the Middle East, which the Turks will never leave. At present, they
seem to understand that and are trying to correct the situation.

Let’s talk about the balance of forces in the South Caucasus, which
the West so much cares for…

The balance of forces in the South Caucasus the way the Russians
see it is that Armenia has as much weaponry as Azerbaijan does, but
Armenia wants something more and is wondering where it can get that
something. The West will give us exactly as much as Russia will keep
from us. So, the balance will not change. But if we go deeper into
the West’s strategies, we may get more, and the balance will turn to
our advantage. The Russians are afraid of any alternatives to them
in the Caucasus. They are well aware that they are no longer able
to guarantee the region’s security alone. And as always they are
faced with the need to concede something to Turkey. And as always,
they will do it at Armenia’s expense.

The Turks and the Russians had real talks on Nagorno-Karbakh, with the
former offering to stop the Baku-Akhalkalaki- Kars railway project if
the latter guaranteed the return of at least three districts around
Nagorno-Karabakh. “They also suggested that they might call back some
of their agents in the North Caucasus if the Armenian troops withdrew
from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Why did the talks fail?

The talks failed simply because the Russians were unable to do it.

That’s exactly why in 2008, following the Moscow meeting of presidents
Medvedev, Aliyev and Sargsyan, the Armenian authorities intensified
their integration talks with NATO.

Could you bring at least one agreement between Ankara and Moscow in
prejudice of Armenia after 1991?

Russia and Turkey have an agreement to block Armenia’s integration
into NATO. The Turks keep complaining to NATO that the Armenians have
occupied Azerbaijan’s territories and each time NATO replies that
it is not a arena for such discussions. France and Greece stood up
for Armenia for several times. But it was the United States who set
Turkey down by asking it if it wanted to see Russia weak.

Will Armenia become EU’s partner or will remain its raw material
appendage?

Even if we want, it will be very hard for Armenia to become a raw
material, It depends not so much on economy than on the fact if
Armenia is an educated and cultural state. Will the republic have
battle-worthy armed forces? The definition of the country between the
raw material and the partner is made just in this context. There is
no doubt that Armenia will join the EU as well as NATO. So, we have
to conduct our future policy just stemming from such a prospect.

Armenia seems not to be invited there so much…

Today Armenia seems not to be invited there so much. But tomorrow
they will invite Armenia and the latter will undoubtedly join these
organizations and at the same time will remain Russia’s partner. NATO
and EU need partners. Today the alliance refuses to receive new
members, but it has been drawing out new formats of relations with new
partners. IPAP will soon become an instrument of the true cooperation.

Sweden is not NATO member either, but it takes part in NATO operations
more than Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia
taken together. Practically, Sweden is an unofficial member of NATO.

And Armenia will take part in IPAP by all its forces, and when we
have shortage of forces, they will give them to us. This is the logic.

Unlike Armenia and Georgia, Azerbaijan will never join the EU and
NATO. It will exist the way it used to exist till today, until there
is oil and gas in its subsurface…

LES ACCUSATIONS D’ERDOGAN SONT ” ABSURDES ”

TURQUIE-ISRAEL

JERUSALEM, 20 août 2013 (AFP) – Le bureau du Premier ministre israelien
Benjamin Netanyahu a qualifie mardi soir d'”absurde” les propos du
Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pour qui Israël a orchestre
la destitution du president egyptien Mohamed Morsi debut juillet. “Ces
declarations du Premier ministre turc sont absurdes”, a dit a l’AFP
un responsable de ce bureau, refusant de faire d’autres commentaires.

Les “propos du dirigeant turc ne meritent pas de reactions”, avait
auparavant declare a l’AFP un autre responsable israelien, qui a
requis l’anonymat. Les Etats-Unis ont estime que les declarations du
M. Erdogan etaient très “agressifs, sans fondement et faux”.

M. Erdogan a accuse Israël d’etre derrière la destitution de Mohamed
Morsi le 3 juillet dernier : “Vous savez ce qu’on dit en Egypte, que
la democratie ne se fonde pas sur les urnes. Qui se trouve derrière
cela : Israël”, a-t-il dit a Ankara pendant une reunion de son parti,
issu de la mouvance islamiste, de la justice et du developpement (AKP).

M. Erdogan a etaye sa thèse en affirmant que, dans un forum en
France avant les elections de 2012 qui ont amene au pouvoir les
Frères musulmans de M. Morsi, “le ministre (israelien) de la Justice
et un intellectuel juif ont utilise ces termes : +Meme si les Frères
musulmans remportent les elections, ils n’en sortiront pas vainqueurs,
car la democratie ne repose pas sur les urnes+”.

Ces accusations ont cependant ete fermement rejetees par l’Egypte,
qui a souligne que ces affirmations n’avaient “pas de base factuelle”.

Les declarations de M. Erdogan surviennent alors que depuis des mois la
Turquie et Israël tentent a la demande des Etats-Unis de normaliser
leurs relations qui se sont brutalement degradees a la suite de
l’assaut israelien le 31 mai 2010 contre un ferry turc qui essayait de
forcer le blocus autour de la bande de Gaza. Les negociations achoppent
sur l’indemnisation des familles des neufs Turcs tues pendant ce raid.

mercredi 21 août 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

ALIEV CONDMANE LES DECLARATIONS DE SERGE SARKISSIAN

Haut-Karabagh

L’Azerbaïdjan a condamne le president Serge Sarkissian mardi pour
avoir declare que la victoire de son homologue azerbaïdjanais Ilham
Aliyev lors de la prochaine election presidentielle serait une bonne
chose pour l’Armenie.

Novruz Mammadov, le chef assistant d’Aliyev pour la politique
etrangère, a declare : ” Tout d’abord, Sarkissian veut dire au monde
que l’Armenie est un Etat democratique et qu’ il est un president
democratiquement elu, meme si tout le monde sait comment le president
armenien actuel a ete elu. Deuxièmement, Sarkissian tente de montrer
publiquement qu’il fait des efforts pour resoudre le conflit du
Haut-Karabagh. Mais c’est aussi un mensonge. Ces declarations absurdes
par le chef d’un Etat qui occupe 20% du territoire de l’Azerbaïdjan
depuis plus de 20 ans peut sembler interessant seulement a ceux qui
font preuve d’une position partiale sur ces processus “.

Mammadov a continue a accuser l’opposition azerbaïdjanaise d’utiliser
les declarations de Sarkissian pour faire une ” campagne sale ”
contre les autorites de Bakou. ” Ne savent-ils pas que Sarkissian
ne parle pas sincèrement de l’Azerbaïdjan et de son president ? “,
a-t-il demande, de facon rhetorique. Sarkissian a suggere samedi que
la reelection de Aliyev serait le developpement le plus acceptable
et preferable pour l’Armenie. Il a dit que le leader azerbaïdjanais
pourrait surmonter sa ” fanatique armenophobie ” et qu’il pourrait
ouvrir ainsi la voie a une resolution du conflit du Haut-Karabagh au
cours de son troisième mandat.

mercredi 21 août 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com