Author: Babajanian Karo

TALK WITH AMBASSADOR: ARMEN KHACHATRYAN

15:24, 07.03.2015

Armenian News-NEWS.am agency together with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia continues a series of interviews titled “Talk with
Ambassador”. This week our guest is Armenia’s Ambassador to Belarus
Armen Khachatryan.

How can you describe relations between Armenia and Belarus? Is
history remembered?

The Armenian and Belarus nations lived next to each other for
centuries. We were parts of one country — the Soviet Union – for
several decades, and this, of course, left a positive influence
on Armenia-Belarus relations. During the Great Patriotic War,
many Armenians shed blood for liberation of Belarus. There were many
Armenians among the defenders of the Brest fortress. Marshal Baghramyan
made a considerable contribution to liberation of the Belarus land.

As to modern history, the diplomatic relations between Armenia and
Belarus were established in 1993 when an Armenian embassy opened in
Minsk, and in 2001 the diplomatic representation opened in Yerevan.

Armenia and Belarus are CIS members. Moreover, they are members of a
common military and political bloc – CSTO, a common economic alliance
– Eurasian Economic Union. This has a strong impact on bilateral
relations. The positions of our countries coincide on almost all
international issues, and there are no problems between the states.

Frequent mutual visits prove we have friendly relations. As to
economic ties, we expect serious progress with the accession to
Eurasian Economic Union.

How many Armenians live in Belarus, and how strong is the connection
betweenembassy and the community?

According to official data, around 10,000 Armenians live in Belarus,
but informal data suggesst there are 30-35 thousand Armenians. The
Armenians are engaged in social, economic and cultural life of the
country.

The embassy has always supported organizations of the community. With
the help of the embassy, the Armenian community participates in the
cooperation programs of Armenia and Diaspora. The embassy regularly
organizes and support events with the participation of community
structures.

“Hayastan” educational and cultural center that was founded in Minsk
in 1989 is the largest Armenian organization in Belarus. There are
other four organizations in Belarus regions.

There is a Sunday school in Minsk, ensemble of Armenian songs and
dances. As to print media, Miasis newspaper and Aniv magazine are
published. There are also websites: и

What are the trade prospects between the states given Armenia’s
joining the Eurasian Union?

The accession of Armenia to the Eurasian Economic Union for our
country opened up opportunities for the development of economic
relations with its member states, including Belarus. Obstacles to
the further development of a effective relationship no longer exists.

Armenia opened a large market, which has a free movement of people,
capital, goods and services. We hope that the turnover of Armenia and
Belarus will intensify and will reach a new, higher level. Belarus
is the third among CIS states on trade turnover with Armenia.We have
a wide range of products that Belarus needs, and vice versa.

You are also Armenia’s permanent representative at CIS. How do you
assess Armenia’s participation in this structure?

Armenia is represented and is actively working in all CIS structures.

Armenia signed 101 of 112 documents adopted in CIS structures last
year, as compared to 99 signed by Russia and 34 by Azerbaijan.

Over recent years, among the issues most actively discussed within the
framework of the CIS are consolidation of efforts for the development
of humanitarian cooperation in combating international terrorism,
organized crime, illegal migration.

How is the embassy preparing for the Armenian Genocide Centennial?

As the embassies in other states, we attach special attention to the
process of international recognition and condemnation if the Armenian
Genocide. Several days ago the Embassy in Minsk and Golden Apricot
international film festival organized screening of films dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Among them were Mama,
Ararat, Grandma’s Tattoos and others.

The embassy and community will hold other events to commemorate
victims of the Armenian Genocide.

You previously held the post of parliament’s speaker. Where do you
better realize you potential as the head of the legislature or the
diplomatic service?

Regardless of the office, I was always inclined to public thinking
and always worked as fruitful as possible. It is hardly appropriate
to give assessment to my work.

On March 2 Armenia marked Diplomat’s Day. What difficulties are you
and your colleagues faced with?

I want to once again congratulate our diplomats and wish them success
in the difficult, responsible and very important work. There are many
challenges, but every diplomat should, first of all, understand that
it he is a person representing Armenia abroad. As a small country,
we need to spare more efforts to be more active than others.

EXPERT: CARREFOUR HYPERMARKET’S CONTRIBUTION TO ARMENIA’S EXPORT TO NARROW ADVERSE BALANCE IN COUNTRY’S FOREIGN TRADE

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Carrefour hypermarket’s contribution
to the export of Armenian goods will narrow adverse balance in
Armenia’s foreign trade turnover, Vazgen Safaryan, chairman of the
Union of Domestic Commodity Producers of Armenia, said Monday at a
news conference.

The official opening of Carrefour took place in Yerevan on March 11.

The opening ceremony was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Christian de Nale, head of Carrefour Armenia, speaking at the opening
said the Carrefour store in Yerevan is cooperating with Armenian
ministry of agriculture in order to sell Armenian goods through
Carrefour stores around the world.

Safaryan said in this connection that export of domestic products,
particularly dry fruits as well as fresh and canned fruits and
vegetables, will give an impetus to development of the country’s
industry.

In his words, Carrefour has assumed commitment to sell first of all
Armenian products at low prices, taking into account the degree of
consumers’ solvency, and only 5% of foreign products.

The expert also said that Carrefour will do certain work for expanding
apricot gardens and shielding them from frost and hail by using
Dutch technologies.

He thinks that the presence of the French hypermarket in Armenia may
drive prices for some French products down here, since some products
are sold here at far higher prices than in France.

Safaryan, welcoming Carrefour’s arrival to Armenia, said that it
is necessary to give the hypermarket an opportunity of development
to have free competition in the country’s market. Armen Poghosyan,
head of the Consumer Association of Armenia, on his side, stressed
the importance of Carrefour’s appearance in Armenia saying that it
will create favorable environment for development of domestic trade
and industry.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the country’s
trade grew 1% over 2014 to $5 920.9 million. Exports totaled $1
519.3 million in 2014 (2.7% growth) and imports $4 401.6 million
(0.4% growth). As a result, negative balance amounted to $ 2 882.3
million. —0—–

TRAIAN HRISTEA PRESENTS 4 KEY POINTS ESSENTIAL FOR EU-ARMENIA TIES

Foreign Policy | March 16, 2015 11:46
exclusive

Traian Hristea

Photo: PAN Photo

Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea wrote an
op-ed on European Union’s review of its European Neighbourhood Policy
which Mediamax publishes on exclusive basis.

The European Union believes its partnership with Armenia is extremely
important, and we are keen to continue deepening relations. Over the
past ten years, our partnership with Armenia has been conducted in
the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which has been
the basis for our cooperation with countries around the European
Union borders.

But the European Neighbourhood Policy has not always been able to
offer adequate responses to the changing aspirations of our partners.

And therefore, the European Union’s own interests have not been fully
served either.

That is why the European Union has launched a far-reaching review of
this policy. During the informal Gymnich meeting of Foreign Ministers
in Riga on 6th – 7th March the High Representative Federica Mogherini
and Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn launched a
four month consultation with all our partners on the way forward.

In the review I believe we need to look at four key points:

First: what can we do increase the scope for differentiation in
the way we work with our partners? Some partners in the east are
embarking on association and deep trade agreements – and while the
scope of these has not been exhausted, they aspire to more. We have
partners in the south who are equally willing to work in the framework
of very demanding agreements with us. And we have a range of partners
in both the east and the south, who have varying wishes to interact
with us. On top of all this, we need to work out how to work with
the neighbours of our neighbours.

All this calls for some new ways of working. We need to do more to
recognise that our partners are very diverse. Not just different east
and south, but within the east and within the south.

2) This brings me to ownership. We will never get the best from this
policy unless it is a partnership actively chosen by both sides –
a partnership of equals. The new European Neighbourhood Policy
must reflect the views and experience of our partners. And we need
to ensure that we are concentrating on areas where both sides have
shared interests to pursue.

I believe that to achieve greater ownership among our partners we will
need to bring more visible results with tangible benefits for their
populations. People want to see results within a shorter timeframe,
in order to understand if a policy has paid off.

3) My third point is therefore focus: I want to get away from the
current model where we try to cover a very wide range of sectors
with every partner. For those that want, and who are able, we should
continue to pursue wide-ranging cooperation, helping the country
align with the European Union standards. But, for those who can’t,
or do not want to engage with us so deeply, let’s explore other
formats of cooperation.

Trade and mobility have been the traditional focus points: I want us
to consider some that have been neglected in some ways up to now –
for example energy – both our energy security and that of our partners;
and threats to security from organised crime to the frozen conflicts.

4) Lastly, we need to be more flexible: this means being able to
react to changing circumstances, and crises when they arise.

These are just some of the ideas that you will find in the consultation
paper that is now on the Delegation’s website. We are determined to
consult as widely as possible, to design a policy that is really fit
for purpose.

Some people ask whether all this talk of pursuing interests means that
we are giving up on our values. The answer is very clearly no. The
promotion of democracy, human rights and rule of law is a defining
characteristic of the European Union.

It is my view that the values that are at the core of the European
Union are also in the own interests of Armenia. I will give you an
example: rule of law is key to attracting outside investment. An
independent judiciary and a system where justice is free from
corruption is not only a value in itself, but it is also a key factor
in the economic development of a country, indispensable to creating
an environment for growth.

Let’s make no mistake: our current and future well-being is deeply
interconnected with conditions in the wider region. Reaching the full
potential of the relations with Armenia, building more robust relations
with them, will make all our countries safer, better places to live.

Traian Hristea

Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia

Useful links

* Press release “Towards a new European Neighbourhood
Policy: the EU launches a consultation on the
future of its relations with neighbouring countries”

* Joint consultation paper “Towards
a new European Neighbourhood Policy:

* Consultation webpage:

* European Commission website on Neighbourhood and Enlargement
Negotiations:

AN EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OPENS IN RIGA

14.03.2015

On March 13 in the National Library of Latvia an exhibition dedicated
to the Armenian Genocide Centennial, the exhibits of which were
provided by the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, opened.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker, the Head of Armenia-Latvia, Lithuania,
Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group Eduard Sharmazanov, the RA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Baltic countries
Ara Ayvazyan, the spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church
in the Baltic States, Father Khosrov Stepanyan, the Saeima Secretary
Andrejs Klementjevs, the member of Latvia-Armenia Friendship Group
Ivans Klementjevs, the Head of Latvia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship
Group Sergejs Potapkins, the representatives of the Armenian, Jewish,
Russian and Belarusian communities attended the exhibition. The
spiritual leader of the Baltic States, Nor Nakhijevan and Russia
Diocese Father Khosrov Stepanyan supported the opening of the
exhibition.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, the RA Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Baltic countries Ara Ayvazyan,
the spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Baltic
States, Father Khosrov Stepanyan and the Head of Latvia-Armenia
Parliamentary Friendship Group Sergejs Potapkins delivered speeches at
the opening of the exhibition. The speakers have noted in particular
that the opening of the exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide
in Riga is an important step in the protection of human rights. They
have underlined that the Armenian Genocide is one of the greatest
genocides of the 20th century.

The Head of Latvia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Sergejs
Potapkins has noted that as the Armenian Genocide has not been
condemned the repetition of such crimes cannot be ruled out in future.

REVUE DE PRESSE N°1 – 16/03/15 – COLLECTIF VAN

Publié le : 16-03-2015

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Arménienne contre le Négationnisme] vous propose une revue de
presse des informations parues dans la presse francophone sur les
thèmes concernant le négationnisme, le racisme, l’antisémitisme,
le génocide arménien, la Shoah, le génocide des Tutsi, les
crimes perpétrés au Darfour, la Turquie, l’Union européenne,
l’occupation de Chypre, etc… Nous vous suggérons également de
prendre le temps de lire ou relire les articles mis en ligne dans la
rubrique Info Collectif VAN et les traductions regroupées dans notre
rubrique Actions VAN. Par ailleurs, certains articles en anglais,
allemand, turc, etc, ne sont disponibles que dans la newsletter Word
que nous générons chaque jour. Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la
Veille-Média : c’est gratuit ! Vous recevrez le document du lundi
au vendredi dans votre boîte email. Bonne lecture.

Génocide arménien : George Clooney a Erevan l’année prochaine
Info Collectif VAN – – ” Des dirigeants de la
diaspora arménienne [fondateurs de l’initiative ” 100 Lives ”],
qui se préparent a commémorer le 100e anniversaire du génocide
arménien, ont collaboré avec des célébrités hollywoodiennes
et des avocats des droits de l’Homme pour créer un prix qui sera
décerné annuellement a ceux qui mettent leur vie en danger pour
aider les autres a survivre.

Un prix de 1 million de dollars, appelé le Prix Aurora pour le
Réveil de l’Humanité [Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity] sera
décerné a partir de l’année prochaine. George Clooney remettra
le prix inaugural lors d’une cérémonie qui se tiendra a Erevan,
capitale de l’Arménie, le 24 avril 2016 ”. Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire la traduction d’un article en anglais publié sur le
site The New York Times le 10 mars 2015.

Parlement européen : Pour la reconnaissance du génocide arménien
par les Ã~Itats de l’UE Info Collectif VAN – – Le
Parlement européen dans son rapport annuel sur les droits de l’homme
et la démocratie dans le monde en 2013, adopté le jeudi 12 mars
2015, a exhorté tous les pays européens a reconnaître le génocide
arménien. Le paragraphe 77 du rapport indique : ” a l’approche du
100e anniversaire du génocide arménien, [le Parlement européen]
invite tous les Ã~Itats membres de l’Union a le reconnaître et les
encourage, ainsi que les institutions européennes, a continuer a
promouvoir sa reconnaissance ”. Dans l’article 129 du même rapport,
le PE invite ” l’Union et ses Ã~Itats membres a faire en sorte que
les minorités religieuses soient respectées dans le monde entier et
en particulier au Moyen-Orient, où des chrétiens, par exemple les
catholiques, les Arméniens apostoliques, les coptes et les yézidis,
ainsi que les minorités musulmanes, sont persécutés par l’EIIL et
par d’autres groupes terroristes. ” Le Collectif VAN vous invite a
lire la résolution du Parlement européen du 12 mars 2015 concernant
le rapport annuel 2013 sur les droits de l’homme et la démocratie
dans le monde et la politique de l’Union européenne en la matière.

Daech : Résolution du Parlement européen en faveur des Assyriens
Info Collectif VAN – – “Le Parlement européen a
adopté le 12 mars 2015 une résolution sur les récents attentats et
enlèvements, notamment d’Assyriens, commis par Daech au Proche-Orient.

Il a demandé aux Ã~Itats membres de l’UE de prendre des mesures
proactives pour lutter contre l’expansion de Daech au-dela de la
Syrie et de l’Irak. Les députés font part de leur consternation et
condamnent fermement les exactions de Daech (EIIL) contre les Assyriens
de Syrie et les Coptes de Libye. Ils soulignent que les “violations
caractérisées des droits de l’homme” commises par Daech équivalent a
des crimes contre l’humanité et des crimes de guerre, et qu’il serait
possible de les “qualifier de génocide”. Ils invitent instamment les
Ã~Itats membres de l’UE a adopter une approche anticipative visant a
prévenir la menace que constitue l’expansion de Daech dans d’autres
pays et régions que l’Irak et la Syrie.” Le Collectif VAN vous
propose de lire la résolution du Parlement européen du 12 mars 2015.

Dépêche de l’AA [ 16 mars 2015 – 15:27 ] – Anadolu Agency Le
Collectif VAN vous propose un article de l’AA (Anadolu Agency) daté
du 04 mars 2015. Les articles de ce site ne sont pas commentés de
notre part. Ils peuvent contenir des propos négationnistes envers
le génocide arménien ou d’autres informations a prendre sous
toute réserve. “Le rapport sur les droits de l’Homme approuvé par
le Parlement européen manque de réalité historique et de base
juridique, a déclaré, samedi, le ministère turc des Affaires
étrangères.”

Un rassemblement a Istanbul pour célébrer l’anniversaire de
la mort d’un adolescent turc Une manifestation a dégénéré en
affrontements avec la police a Istanbul ce mercredi. Le rassemblement
était organisé pour se souvenir de la mort il y a un an, après
plusieurs mois, d’Elvan, adolescent de quinze ans frappé a la tête
lors des grandes manifestations anti-gouvernementales de 2012.

Inde. Prières pour une religieuse septuagénaire violée L’agression
d’une religieuse, âgée de 71 ans, est la dernière en date d’une
série de viols qui ont fait les gros titres de la presse et survient
après plusieurs attaques perpétrées contre des églises.

L’agression s’est produite vendredi soir dans près de la ville de
Ranaghat, lors d’un cambriolage.

Le 15 mars 1921 Soghomon Tehlirian abattait Talaat Pacha Il y a 93
ans, a Berlin, le mardi 15 mars 1921, sept mois après la signature
du Traité de Sèvres, tandis qu’Avignon accueillait la visite du
Président Millerand au Palais des papes, Soghomon Tehlirian, 23 ans,
l’un des survivants du génocide des Arméniens, exécutait d’une balle
de revolver le ministre de l’Intérieur du gouvernement Jeunes Turcs,
Talaat Pacha, l’un des principaux responsables de l’extermination
programmée du peuple arménien.

Erdogan ne cesse d’être “insulté” La police turque a arrêté
vendredi a leur domicile trois personnes accusées d’avoir insulté le
président islamo-conservateur Recep Tayyip Erdogan sur Twitter. Elles
seront déférées devant un tribunal dans les prochains jours,
a indiqué l’agence officielle Anatolie.

Quand les imams francais se forment en Turquie Alors que le débat
sur la formation des imams se poursuit dans l’Hexagone, des étudiants
francais font le choix de suivre des études de théologie en Turquie,
une démarche encouragée par Ankara, qui espère contrer les courants
extrémistes.

Erdogan affirme que 50 pays devraient participer aux événements de
Gallipoli le 24 avril Des représentants d’environ 50 pays , y compris
des chefs d’Ã~Itat et des Premiers ministres devraient assister en
Turquie a la commémoration le 24 avril du 100e anniversaire de la
bataille de Gallipoli lors de la Première Guerre mondiale a déclaré
le président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Trois candidats britanniques au djihad arrêtés en Turquie Trois
adolescents britanniques soupconnés de vouloir rejoindre les rangs
de l’Etat islamique en Syrie ont été expulsés dimanche de Turquie
et arrêtés par la police a leur arrivée a Londres, rapportent les
autorités turques et Scotland Yard.

Chrétiens d’Orient : le génocide oublié Professeur honoraire de
l’Université catholique de Lyon, Joseph Yacoub a publié Qui s’en
souviendra ? 1915 : le génocide assyro-chaldéo-syriaque (éd. du
Cerf, 301 p.). Cent ans après la réplique assyrienne du génocide
arménien, l’auteur note d’inquiétantes ressemblances avec les
développements actuels en Syrie et en Irak.

EURONEST PA OPENS SESSION IN YEREVAN; NO AZERBAIJANI DELEGATES PRESENT

12:06 * 16.03.15

Euronest has opened its Inter-Parliamentary Assembly’s fourth plenary
session in Yerevan, bringing together representatives from Eastern
Partnership (EaP) Civil Society Platforms. and NGOs.

No Azerbaijani representatives are present at the meeting.

An opening remark was delivered by Euronest Vice President Hiedi
Hautala, who greeted and thanked the participants for organizing the
event. The session is conducted Richard Giragosyan, the director of
the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center.

In his speech, Krzysztof Bobinski, a co-chair of the EaP Civil Society
Forum, particularly appreciated the civil society building efforts
in different countries. He regretted to note that no Azerbaijani
members of the Assembly were in attendance but expressed hopes that
the time will come when that country will no longer hesitate to send
delegates to Armenia and will become developed enough not to have
political prisoners in its penitentiary institutions. He also said
he expects the authorities in Armenia to reach the necessary level
of understanding to never turn a blind eye to civic activists.

He also spoke of Armenia’s elections, noting that election rigging
causes damage to the European Union, European structures and dignity.

Georgia’s representative, member of the Open Society Foundations Vano
Chkhikvadze spoke of his country’s strong and weak points. Georgia had
adopted a bill prohibiting any discrimination in visa facilitation,
which is an important step toward further democratization.

Mr Chkhikvadze said that Georgia has made progress in freedom of
speech. On the other hand, the country still has to make progress
in the appointment of judges. The country lacks mechanisms of
investigating abuse by law-enforcement agencies.

Mr Chkhikvadze welcomes progress in Georgian-Russia relations.

“Relations with Russia seem to be in the process of re-establishment.

But I do not see Georgia is sacrificing anything to re-establish
relations with Russia,” he said.

Georgia’s ruling coalition voices opinions that Georgia’s full
integration into NATO and the EU is impossible.

Journal Pioneer, PEI, Canada
March 15 2015

Will Armenia and Azerbaijan go to war over Nagorno-Karabakh?

Henry Srebrnik

A low-intensity conflict in the southern Caucasus, involving the now
independent nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, has been escalating of
late. It concerns the de facto Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh that
emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

While Armenia and Azerbaijan were both full-fledged union republics in
the former USSR, Nagorno-Karabakh was an Armenian-majority enclave
within Azerbaijan, with the status of an autonomous oblast, or region.

According to the British academic Robert Service, in 1921 Joseph
Stalin included the area under Azerbaijani control to try and coax
Turkey into joining the Soviet Union. Had Turkey not been an issue,
Stalin would probably have left it under Armenian control.

With the Soviet Union firmly in control of the entire Caucasus by the
1920s, the conflict over the region died down for decades. But with
the beginning of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s
and early 1990s, the question of Nagorno-Karabakh re-emerged.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, only the union republics gained
international recognition as independent states. So Nagorno-Karabakh,
along with other Soviet entities such as Chechnya, Moldova, South
Ossetia, and Transnistria, was out of luck.

On Nov. 26, 1991, the parliament of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist
Republic abolished the autonomous status of Nagorno-Karabakh, and its
territory was split up and redistributed amongst the neighboring
administrative districts in Azerbaijan.

In turn, the region’s Armenians, who comprised three-quarters of its
population, declared their independence in 1991 and then, with the
help of Armenia, defeated Azerbaijan in a war that lasted until 1994.

The new entity gained additional territory during the fighting,
ignoring UN Security Council resolutions on the inviolability of
international borders and the inadmissibility of the use of force for
the acquisition of territory.

Armenia now effectively controls the narrow strips of land to the west
and south of Nagorno-Karabakh, giving the unrecognized state direct
borders with its patron Armenia, as well as with Iran.

An estimated 15,000-20,000 people, including civilians, were killed
during the fighting and hundreds of thousands displaced. Today,
Nagorno-Karabakh is almost entirely Armenian.

Even apart from this, Christian Armenians and Muslim Azerbaijanis have
had a tense relationship, including bloody massacres, that predates
Soviet times. The two countries have now both built up arsenals of
ever more powerful weapons, and January saw an upsurge of fighting
between them, with repeated gun battles and volleys of artillery and
rocket fire. Azerbaijan also shot down a drone not far from Agdam, a
formerly Azerbaijani city now occupied by Armenian forces.

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, which has an economy seven times
larger than Armenia’s, has announced that he plans this year to spend
more than double Armenia’s entire annual budget of $2.7 billion on
strengthening his military. His Armenian counterpart, President Serzh
Sargsyan (who is originally from Nagorno-Karabakh) countered with his
own threats.

Aliyev also made reference to the influential Armenian diaspora,
formed largely after the Armenian genocide of 1915, when hundreds of
thousands of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire were slaughtered
by the Turks, while others fled.

Today there are major Armenian communities throughout the world,
including in Australia, Canada, France, Lebanon, Russia and the United
States.

“The truth is that the continued occupation of our lands is not just
the work of Armenia,” he remarked. “Armenia is a powerless and poor
country. It is in a helpless state. Of course, if it didn’t have major
patrons in various capitals, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would have
been resolved fairly long ago.”

Neither side seems prepared to step down. As Abdulla Qurbani, a senior
official in the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry told a New York Times
reporter, “When water mixes with earth, this is mud. When blood mixes
with earth, this is motherland.”

Nagorno-Karabakh’s unresolved status remains one of the most
potentially explosive issues in the volatile southern Caucasus region.

Henry Srebrnik is a professor of political science at the University
of Prince Edward Island.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 15 2015

ErdoÄ?an says 50 countries expected to attend Apr. 24 Gallipoli events

Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an addresses a meeting in
Çanakkale on Saturday. (Photo: DHA)

March 14, 2015, Saturday/ 16:39:35/ TODAYSZAMAN.COM / ISTANBUL

Representatives from about 50 countries, including heads of states and
prime ministers, are expected to attend events Turkey will host on
April 24 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli
Campaign of the First World War, Turkish President Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an said on Saturday.

Addressing a meeting in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, the
venue of the planned events, ErdoÄ?an said the participants will
include the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand, whose ANZAC
forces fought against the Ottoman army during the 1915-16 campaign, as
well as presidents from other countries.

`Confirmations [from countries invited] so far show that perhaps up to
50 nations will be represented, including [those countries which will
send] ministers,’ ErdoÄ?an said.

ErdoÄ?an also said he himself will be attending the ceremonies on April 24.

Turkey announced it will host international events to commemorate the
centennial of the Gallipoli Campaign on April 24, a date that
coincides with annual commemoration of what Armenians claim was a
genocide of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during the First World
War years.

More than 100 countries, including Armenia, were invited to the events
in Çanakkale but Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan swiftly dismissed
the invitation, saying in an open letter addressing ErdoÄ?an that it is
an attempt to distract the world’s attention from the 100th
anniversary of the alleged genocide.

Russian officials announced last week that Russian President Vladimir
Putin will attend the `genocide’ commemoration in the Armenian capital
of Yerevan on Apr. 24.

Armenians say 1.5 million people were killed during the First World
War years in eastern Anatolia as part of a systematic genocide
campaign against the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey
categorically rejects that claim, saying both that the death toll is
inflated and that the Armenians were killed while the Ottoman Empire
was trying to quell unrest caused by Armenian attacks on Turkish
population in an effort to establish an Armenian state in eastern
Anatolia.

Interfax, Russia
March 14 2015

President backs Armenia’s switch to parliamentary form of government

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Saturday supported a strategy of
constitutional reforms which aims to accomplish a switch to the
parliamentary form of government, the presidential press service told
Interfax.

The strategy was proposed by a special commission for constitutional
reform, the press service said.

The president instructed the commission to start discussions with
political parties and to provide a report on the proposals and
recommendations to be made.

The constitutional reform is to be implemented via a referendum. No
information was provided on the date of the referendum.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 15 2015

Why did Armenia give up on the protocols?

The move by Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan to withdraw protocols
signed by Turkey and Armenia in 2009 from parliament’s agenda is an
indication of his desire to win over the Armenian diaspora.(Photo:
Reuters)

March 14, 2015, Saturday/ 17:00:00/ ALIN OZINIAN

On Feb. 16 Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan unexpectedly decided to
withdraw protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia in 2009 from
parliament’s agenda. These protocols were intended to normalize
bilateral relations between the two countries. To say the West wanted
the protocols to be signed, and that the US masterminded the process
leading up to it, dubbed “football diplomacy,’ would not amount to
disclosing highly confidential information.

Although the protocols had been marketed as not containing any
prerequisite, Turkey couldn’t resist mentioning the disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh and sending Armenia the message that, at a minimum,
they should withdraw troops from the district of Agdam. Would Turkey
have opened its border crossings to Armenia if any progress had been
made regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue? The answer to this question
would most probably have been negative.

As long as it continued to see Armenia’s incentive to normalize
relations and establish diplomatic ties with its neighbor, Turkey
would try to take more than its share and attempt to bait Armenia with
the potential of open borders. Turkey would bring up the issue of open
border crossings only if it perceived Armenia to be perpetually in
need and tied to Turkey’s apron strings.

It would be naive to question the sincerity of a government which
launched a counteroffensive with the message “If you have your 1915,
we have our Battle of Gallipoli” ahead of the 100th anniversary of the
genocide, after issuing a so-called letter of apology in 2014. The
ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) idea of sharing common
sorrow with Armenia collapsed completely in 2015.

Actually, the protocols, which can be considered stillborn, were never
able to be put into practice, but were instead used to buy time and
send a message to the West that Turkey and Armenia were working on a
dialogue. At the same time, the leaders of both countries occasionally
made “harsh statements” geared specifically for domestic consumption.
Then-Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu said, “The territorial integrity
of Karabakh is as precious as our own land,” and Murat Mercan, the
head of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, remarked, “We
will continue to act in compliance with our responsibilities to our
country and to the Azerbaijani people and with the prestige of
Turkey.”

Apparently, before the protocols were undersigned, intermediaries had
convinced Turkey that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue would be “solved” as
well. They were unable to add the settlement of the issue to the text
of the protocols as Armenia would not accept it. This “solution”
certainly meant different scenarios for Armenia and Turkey, and what
these intermediaries understood by it still remains a mystery.

As Turkey made up its mind to cite a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue as a prerequisite to signing the protocols, Armenia tried to
warn the other side by attempting to attract the West’s attention. The
first move came from Sarksyan after the protocols were sent to the
Armenian parliament for ratification in 2009, when he said that
Armenia was ready to normalize ties with Turkey but was unable to see
the required political will on the Turkish side. In April 2010 he
said: “Turkey is not ready to make progress without prerequisites. We
will consider making progress if favorable conditions and a leadership
ready for normalization are created in Ankara,” making clear that
Yerevan did not abandon the process but only suspended it. As he
addressed the United Nations General Assembly in September 2014,
Sarksyan gave the clearest sign of a procedural deadlock by
essentially saying, “To hell with those protocols.’

The “football diplomacy” long in abeyance started to resemble a kids’
brawl as Sarksyan invited Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an to the opening of the
genocide memorial on April 24 and, in response, ErdoÄ?an invited him to
attend the commemoration ceremonies for the Battle of Gallipoli on the
same day. However, Sarksyan then made the unexpected move to withdraw
the protocols from the parliamentary agenda.

Why 2015?

Preceding events have spelled trouble, but fail to answer the question
“Why did Armenia make this decision now?” That Sarksyan made this move
a few days before he declared war on Gagik Tsarukyan, the founder and
leader of main opposition party “Prosperous Armenia,’ brushing him
completely off the political arena, still arouses curiosity.

When he undersigned the protocols in 2009, Sarksyan had just come out
of the elections of March 1, 2008, and was in need of international
support. Many people had taken to the streets, claiming that the
elections were rigged, and several people had died or were wounded in
resulting skirmishes. The suppression of these protests, known as
“Bloody March 1,” came to be perceived as Sarksyan’s victory. At such
a critical moment it was wise to play the nice boy with the West and
secure the support of Western countries. However, apparently he no
longer feels the need to secure this support for his presidency.

With this move, Sarksyan will certainly win the backing of
Dashnaktsutyun (ARF), a party which had left the coalition in the wake
of the signature of the protocols. As Dashnaktsutyun has good
relations with the Armenian diaspora, Sarksyan will clearly secure the
support of certain Armenians abroad. It is important to obtain the
support of the diaspora and be smooth-tongued with them as the
anniversary of the genocide approaches. Before he signed the
protocols, Sarksyan visited Moscow, the center of the Armenian
diaspora, which provides the most financial and political support to
Armenia, to hint that Armenia was preparing to engage in new ties with
Turkey. After signing the protocols, he paid quick visits to various
diaspora centers in order to convince the diaspora that it was a
correct and beneficial move.

Another strong possibility is that he may be trying to score a goal in
the context of the “football diplomacy” that has lost its hold. Seeing
that Turkey’s “pro-dialogue” policy hadn’t translated into
constructive moves, and feeling deceived, Armenia might have wanted to
flex its muscles in the international arena, sending a message that
said, “This is the first move and if no progress is made, we will
withdraw the signatures as well.’

The officials of Dashnaktsutyun, which is rumored to be joining the
coalition in the coming days, noted that while the president’s move to
withdraw the protocols from the parliamentary agenda made them glad,
this represents only half of the process and they want the president
to withdraw the signatures from the protocols by April 24.

It is very likely that Armenia will completely withdraw its signatures
by this date. Yet, for the international community, the recent move
will signify that Armenia does not support the dialogue process. In
short, Armenia will be criticized for the reasons it withdrew the
protocols, though it is simply attempting to send a message to the
international community. While all parties that seek a normalization
of bilateral ties are aware that Turkey still sticks to its policy of
denial, with the added emphasis of the approaching anniversary, they
still won’t accept Armenia’s claim that it did its best and that
Turkey missed its chance. These parties will attempt to create a
process for “sustaining” the ties, even if most of it will be centered
on the no-solution-is-a-solution principle.

Alin Ozinian is a political analyst.