Author: Babajanian Karo

EurasiaNet.org, NY
June 14 2012

Azerbaijan to Armenia: Give Our Land Back and Nobody Gets Hurt

June 14, 2012 – 12:18pm, by Giorgi Lomsadze

`If Armenia wants its soldiers to stop dying, it should withdraw from
Azerbaijani territories,’ Amidst a recent, deadly pickup in ceasefire
violations, ending the two countries’ 24-year conflict over the
breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh territory is as simple as that for
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

The bloodshed, coinciding with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton’s June 4-6 visit to the South Caucasus, has set off a fresh
flurry of expressions of concern from world leaders.

`The cycle of violence must stop,’ said Ireland’s Foreign Minister
Eamon Gilmore at a joint news conference in Baku with his Azerbaijani
counterpart. Gilmore, chairperson-in-office of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, which oversees negotiations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, called on both sides to remove snipers
from the line of contact and set up a mechanism for investigating the
conflict zone incidents.

Mammadyarov said that frontline snipers will have no targets if
Yerevan pulls back its forces. He also expressed Baku’s conditional
support for incident-investigation mechanism. `But this will work
only if Armenian forces withdraw from the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan,’ he said. `If the mechanism is put to work now, it would
mean consolidating the status quo, which is unacceptable.’

Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian supported the
incident-investigation mechanism, but Yerevan is likely to resist
Azerbaijani attempts to tie the mechanism to any pullout of forces.

Nalbandian and Mammadyarov will meet in Paris on June 18 for an
OSCE-organized round of talks. US State Secretary Hillary Rodham
Clinton said during her recent Caucasus tour that a new proposal for
resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will be tabled in Paris,
but, after years of such promises, her words were met with robust
skepticism in both Yerevan and Baku.

Technorati
June 14 2012

A Conversation With Skye Stevens

Author: James Wood

Set to become the first-ever Armenian pop star, 18-year-old Skye
Stevens has dominated the internet with his first-ever music video
`Takes All Night’. The catchy `boy meets girl’ dance video has become
a YouTube hit and so far has raked in over 1 million views.

With his boyish good looks, fresh sound and alluring persona, the
singer, dancer and songwriter is gaining attention from pop music
lovers everywhere.

I had the chance to speak with Skye as he begins preparations for a
club tour that will take him nationwide to cities all across the US.

In this interview Skye discusses his musical journey, what his vision
was for the `Takes All Night’ video, his plans for touring, pre-show
ritual and who he’d like to collaborate with in the future.

goJimmygo: How are you Skye?

Skye Stevens (SS): I’m doing great! It’s good to talk to you!

gJg: Did you ever expect to get this kind of reaction from your very
first single?

SS: In my head I’ve always believed every day that good things were
going to happen. Then it becomes real. It’s a lot to take in but I’m
so appreciative of the fans, the DJs and the radio stations that have
all embraced the song. It’s amazing!

gJg: Was music something you’ve been into all of your life?

SS: I started at a very young age. When I was five my Mom enrolled me
in all kinds of activities: sports, dancing classes, singing classes.
All of the activities parents put their kids into to see what kind of
things they tap into.

For me, as soon as I had my first dance class at five it just became a
part of me. From that it escalated into singing and then theatrical
shows. I really got fascinated with music and recording.

gJg: Who are some of your musical influences?

SS: Growing up, I was a huge Michael Jackson fan. His music was my
very first record. I would listen to his music and in my head wonder
what it `looked’ like. I remember just being obsessed with videos
like `Smooth Criminal’. That really propelled me because I said: `I
want to do that!’

Today, artists like Usher and Ne-Yo both influence me. They inspire
me. I really respect them.

gJg: `Takes All Night’ is your first single. Are there plans for an album?

SS: Definitely! We have more songs but right now we’re focusing on
this single. `Takes All Night’ is my introduction to the music scene.
We started in the clubs and on dance radio. From there, we landed in
the Top 20 of the Billboard Dance Chart which is extraordinary!

gJg: Amazing when you consider it’s your debut single!

SS: It really is! We also landed in the Top 5 of several dance radio
stations across the country which is big especially when you consider
how hard it is for a male to break into the dance market. It’s
primarily a female dominated market so as a new act succeeding in a
market you’re working against means a lot!

But so many people believed in this record, including one really
famous DJ and Remixer I admire a lot: Dave Aude. He’s had over 100
Billboard Dance Chart hits and made my single his `Record of The
Week’. For someone of his caliber to do that was very flattering.

gJg: What’s the inspiration for the `Takes All Night’ video?

SS: The record is based on a club/electric/dance type setting. For
most people you’d imagine the video might be in the club. For me
though, I really wanted to take a risk and create something completely
different. I wanted to make a short film, a movie almost. A love
story. That’s where the heart of the song is when you really listen.

The video is a love story and I wanted to show that side of me as
well. As I mentioned before I’m also very inspired by Michael Jackson
and wanted to pay tribute to him in the video.

So when I dance you see the lights following my feet. That’s my take
on the Billie Jean music video. It’s my spin on it and tribute to him.

gJg: Do you have plans to tour?

SS: Absolutely. I’m actually trying to get myself together today. I
had a late rehearsal last night and we have another one today. We’re
working on the show performance, then it’s off for a session with the
dancers, then wardrobe. Every hour of the day is 100 mph. I love it!

gJg: Do you have any pre-show rituals you do prior to a performance?

SS: Yes! Even before a rehearsal. I usually get to the stage about 30
minutes beforehand. What I do is change into my stage clothes and then
spend about twenty minutes or so listening to a variety of hip hop
records. Just to feel the urban sound that’s the undertone for my own
music.

I’ll listen to everything from Diddy to Timberland to Lil’ Wayne and
Drake and just absorb it all. That and I also have a sugar-free Red
Bull to wake up!

RTE.ie, Ireland
June 14 2012

Tánaiste in final leg of OCSE mission

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has
expressed concern about the escalation of the violent dispute between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Mr Gilmore is visiting the region as chair of the organisation for
security and cooperation in Europe.

He warned that the conflict over the disputed territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh risked a wider war in the South Caucasus.
It is his last leg of his 4-day tour.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as being part of
Azerbaijan, however the ethnic Armenian population has had effective
independence since the 1990s.

Earlier this month there were fatal clashes between Azeri and Armenian
forces over Nagorno-Karabakh which raised fears that the conflict
could re-erupt and spread across the wider region.

On Monday, Mr Gilmore was in Armenia to talk with officials about how
the situation could be calmed. Today he is in Azerbaijan to take
soundings from the government in Baku.

This long-running conflict is being watched closely by the
international community and will remain a priority for Mr Gilmore for
the duration of his chairmanship of the OSCE for 2012.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 14 2012

Strange meeting of Israeli parliament

On Tuesday the Israeli parliament debated whether to recognize the
alleged Armenian genocide of 1915. After the meeting, the leader of
the ruling coalition, Zeev Elkin, announced that the lawmakers came
close to recognition. It’s quite clear, however, that this was the
strangest meeting in the history of the Israeli parliament.

The bill was proposed by Zahava Galon, the chair of the dovish Meretz
party, and Arye Eldad of the Ihud Leumi party.

Before the meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Bebjamin Netanyahu asked
the parliamentary speaker, Reuven Rivlin, not to include the issue on
the agenda, but the speaker ignored Netanyahu’s request. The speaker’s
decision seemed very extraordinary.

Before the meeting, representatives of the Armenian disapora in Israel
and former members of parliament who supported the initiative stormed
the house of parliament.

The meeting was opened by the speaker, who said that it was his own
duty as a lawmaker, as a Jew and as a human being to secure the
adoption of the bill.

Reuven Rivlin denied the debate was related to the deteriorating ties
with Turkey. `The Turks will definitely be angry, but there is no
intention to provoke, only to remember,’ he said. `The free world must
remember, to learn the lessons so it won’t happen again.’

“How can we demand the recognition of our tragedy,” the speaker asked,
referring to the Holocaust, “If we do not recognize the tragedies of
other people?”

Zahava Galon, Dova Khanina, Nisim Zeev and Nino Abesadze, who
addressed the assembly next, underlined that the bill was not
politically motivated, but sought truth and justice. “Of course, one
cannot compare the Armenian genocide of 1915 with the Holocaust, but
it still should be recognized,” one of them said.

Some members even said that Ottoman Turks killed 90 per cent of the
Armenian people, but when MP Robert Tivlyayev tried to explain that
this was simply not true, he was interrupted harshly by the speaker.

MP Nisim Zeev acknowledged that mass killing of the Armenian
population took place after Armenians started pro-Russian riots. Even
though Zeev also called for recognition of the genocide.

It seems that Israeli lawmakers simply don’t understand that the
intiative will spoil already unstable Turkish-Israeli relations and
damage Israel’s national interests.

Robert Tivyayev of the Kadima party was the only one to openly oppose
the bill. “The issue is very complicated. I believe first of all it
should be examined by Turkish and Armenian historians. Israel should
not interfere right now. It will only spoil our relations with
Turkey,” he said.

Tivlyayev’s speech was interrupted by the speaker, who said “Thank
you, Mister Tivyayev. Your position is quite clear. You oppose
recognition of the Armenian tragedy as such.”

Ending the meeting, the speaker said that the issue will also be
discussed by the parliamentary commission for education.

Commenting on the issue, former head of the commission Alex Miller
underlined that the speaker’s position is not crucial. The speaker has
the power to put this or that problem on the agenda, but he has no
power to secure particular results of voting. Miller’s own position is
that the Armnenian genocide should be discussed by academicians and
not by lawmakers.

Pyotr Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to VK

Chicago Tribune, IL
June 14 2012

OSCE slams recent violence between Azerbaijan, Armenia

BAKU (Reuters) – Azerbaijan and Armenia should pull back snipers from
their border areas and agree on a mechanism for investigating
incidents, the OSCE said on Thursday, in the wake of skirmishes
between the arch rivals that have killed nine people.

The two countries have accused each other of triggering the recent
cross-border clashes which have prompted worries of a resumption of
fighting in a region criss-crossed by energy pipelines to Europe.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) urged
both sides to show restraint and end the violence.

“The cycle of violence must stop – this conflict will not be resolved
by the use of force,” said the OSCE chairperson-in-office, Irish
Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore, at a news conference in the Azeri
capital Baku.

Clashes took place on both sides of the shared border between the two
countries as well as around breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh, which split
off from Muslim Azerbaijan with the help of Christian Armenia when the
Soviet Union collapsed.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visited the region last
week, voiced concern the violence could lead to a “much broader
conflict”. ID:nL5E8H4CSZ]

RHETORIC

War between ethnic Azeris and Armenians erupted in 1991 over the
mainly Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh region. A ceasefire was signed in
1994, but sporadic violence still flares along Azerbaijan’s border
with Armenia and a frontline with Nagorno-Karabakh.

Nagorno-Karabakh has run its own affairs with the heavy military and
financial backing of Armenia since the war, when Armenian-backed
forces seized control of the enclave and seven surrounding Azeri
districts forming a land corridor with Armenia.

Russia, France and the United States have led years of mediation
efforts under the auspices of the OSCE.

Baku and Yerevan failed to agree at talks in June last year and the
angry rhetoric between them has worsened since then. Foreign ministers
of the two countries plan to meet again on June 18 in Paris.

Oil-producing Azerbaijan, host to oil majors including BP, Chevron and
ExxonMobil, frequently threatens to take the mountain enclave back by
force, and is spending heavily on its armed forces.

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said on Thursday Azerbaijan
was ready to remove snipers from the conflict zone if Armenia would
start withdrawing its forces from the Azeri territories.

“If Armenia does not want its soldiers to die, it should withdraw its
forces from Azeri territories,” Mamedyarov told a news conference. “If
it happens, there will be no need for snipers.”

(Reporting by Lada Evgrashina; additional reporting and writing by
Margarita Antidze in Tbilisi; Editing by Sophie Hares)

,0,2854735.story

Interfax, Russia
June 13 2012

Russian troops increase flight intensity in sky over Armenia

MOSCOW. June 13

Aviation servicemen from the 102nd Russian military base stationed in
Armenia have conducted about 300 training combat sorties since the
beginning of 2012, the Southern Military District (SMD) spokesman Col.
Igor Gorbul told Interfax-AVN on Friday.

“During this period, the [Mikoyan] MiG-29 fighter pilots performed
over 200 maneuvered training air battles as part of a single-pilot and
group crew training within a range of altitudes between 500 and 8,000
meters and at the speeds of 300 to 800 kilometers per hour. About half
of them [were performed] in limited visibility and nighttime
conditions,” Gorbul said.

The average flying hours of each pilot from the 102nd military base
has increased by more than 20% on 2011 since the beginning of 2012, he
said. “The pilots have already performed about 300 training sorties,”
the officer said.

During combat training sessions pilots “are honing their skills in
complex and top-class aerobatics by performing a horizontal line and a
tuck-under-break, rotation, the Nesterov loop and other elements,” the
spokesman said.

“The main emphasis in performing aerobatic elements is made on the
ability to apply them in real-life air combat conditions. Thanks to
the sophistical crew radio control from the ground during mountain
flights the crews develop decision-making skills,” Gorbul said.

Aviation servicemen from the 102nd military base are part of the CIS
joint air defense system, the defense official said.

Congressional Documents and Publications, USA
June 13, 2012

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing

Nominations of Richard Morningstar to be ambassador to the Republic of
Azerbaijan

Timothy Broas to be ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and
Jay Nicholas Anania to be ambassador to the Republic of Suriname.;
Testimony by Richard Morningstar, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Azerbaijan

Thank you, Madam Chairman, and distinguished Members of the Committee,
for the privilege of appearing before you today as President Obama’s
nominee to be the next United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan. I am
grateful for the opportunity to testify this afternoon, and I am
humbled by the confidence that President Obama and Secretary Clinton
have placed in me. If confirmed, I look forward to working with this
Committee, other Members of Congress, and your staffs to advance the
interests of the United States in Azerbaijan.

I would like to introduce my wife, Faith, who has joined me here
today, along with my daughter Jill Morningstar and son-in-law Al
Fitzpayne.

Long before my current position as the Secretary’s Special Envoy for
Eurasian Energy, and before my appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the
European Union, I served as Special Advisor to the President and
Secretary of State on Assistance for the Newly Independent States of
the Former Soviet Union. One of the primary goals during that time was
the goal that we continue to pursue today. I have vivid memories
during the 1990s of working through my office to supply fuel oil and
wheat to Georgia and Armenia to help them get through some difficult
winters. Over the years, I made several trips to all three Caucasus
countries.

The United States stands only to gain — and to reap benefits well
into the future — from an Azerbaijan that is peaceful, democratic,
prosperous, and strategically linked to the United States and our
European allies. Azerbaijan has enormous potential.

This year, the United States and Azerbaijan celebrated the twentieth
anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relationship. This
milestone is an opportunity not only to appreciate the depth of our
cooperation, but also to take stock of how far we’ve come in the three
core areas of importance to the relationship: security, energy, and
democratic and economic reform. The Administration believes we must
intensify our cooperation in these areas and work together to resolve
the ongoing challenges that the region continues to face.
international security. We remember that following the attacks of
September 11, 2001, then-Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev was among
the first to extend a hand of support in our time of need and to offer
his country’s close cooperation in our efforts to combat terrorism.
That cooperation continues to this day. American and Azerbaijani
soldiers have served together in Kosovo and Iraq, and they now serve
together in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan has shown a sustained commitment
to the allied effort in Afghanistan, including its vital role as a
transportation route in the Northern Distribution Network for
supporting NATO’s operations in Afghanistan. Thousands of flights have
crossed Azerbaijan’s airspace en route to Afghanistan, and thousands
of containers have departed Baku in support of the International
Security Assistance Force. The U.S. works closely and productively
with Azerbaijan on the UN Security Council, where this year Azerbaijan
began its first-ever term as a non-permanent member.

The U.S. and Azerbaijan have also enjoyed twenty years of cooperation
on energy security. In my current position as Special Envoy for
Eurasian Energy, I work closely with Azerbaijan. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which I worked on in the past, and the
development today of the Southern closer Euro-Atlantic integration and
global commitment to energy security – a key part of our strategy to
diversify energy routes and sources for European markets. If
confirmed, I will continue to work with Azerbaijan to diversify its
energy routes and bolster its critical energy infrastructure
protection. But Azerbaijan’s integration with the West can and must
span well beyond pipelines.

The United States must also continue work with Azerbaijan on advancing
democratic and economic reforms, including promoting respect for the
rule of law, transparency, and fundamental freedoms. There is no
question that Azerbaijan is located in a tough neighborhood, facing
real pressures. However, democratic reforms are essential to
Azerbaijan’s long-term security and prosperity. It is in Azerbaijan’s
own interest to undertake these reforms, both to ensure long-term
stability and to unleash the full potential of its people. And as
Azerbaijan advances along this path, our bilateral relationship will
become even stronger. An independent judiciary, a free media, a
vibrant civil society, political pluralism, competition through free
and fair elections, and respect for fundamental freedoms are essential
components of any democracy, and we need to work together to increase
the week, while in Baku, made a strong statement on these issues. If
confirmed, I will do everything in my power to help Azerbaijan succeed
in developing as a strong, independent, and modern democracy.

To achieve a more secure and prosperous future for the region, there
is no higher immediate priority for the United States than the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As a Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States continues to assist the sides
to achieve a peaceful, lasting negotiated settlement of the conflict
based on the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including the
Non-Use of Force or Threat of Force, Territorial Integrity, and the
Equal Rights and Self-Determination of Peoples. If confirmed, I will
support the Administration’s commitment, at the highest levels, to
achieving this goal. I will also support the efforts of the U.S.
Co-Chair, Ambassador Robert Bradtke, as we work closely with the sides
to reach a settlement. The President, Secretary of State, and
Ambassador Bradtke have made major efforts to facilitate a settlement.
We must continue these efforts. Only a negotiated settlement can lead
to long-term peace and stability in the region.

Madam Chairman, if I am confirmed, I will have the great honor of
advancing a relationship that has progressed, steadily and
uninterrupted, for the twenty years since Azerbaijan declared its
independence. Our wide range of shared interests intersects with many
of the United States’ highest foreign policy priorities. But there is
still much we can do to bring our governments, our societies, and our
people even closer together.

Madam Chairman, thank you very much for considering my nomination. I
look forward to your questions.

Read this original document at:

AZERBAIJANIS TRY TO OVERCOME THE LOSS IN BORDER IN VIRTUAL DOMAIN: SAMVEL MARTIROSYAN

ARMENPRESS
14 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: There is no activation in Azerbaijani
hackers’ activities: They were more active in January-February.

Armenpress was informed about this by the specialist in Information
Technologies and information security Samvel Martirosyan. “Azerbaijani
hackers’ activity has decreased at present. Because of the fact
that they had serious losses in contact line they now try to
have physiological impact on us by breaking websites” mentioned
Martirosyan. In his words Azerbaijanis want to give response to
Armenian side somehow. The logic of hackers is the following: they
break a very good website which is very difficult or choose sites
with vulnerability gather them and break all together in order to be
more impressive. The last target of the hackers – website of Yerevan
Pedagogic University after Khachatur Abovyan is not broken for
the first time. In Martirosyan’s words this time a team of hackers
consisting from more then two members has worked as it is not work
of one person: they want to advertise themselves. Armenian side will
not give any response to above-mentioned attacks. The IT specialist
mentioned that we do not have to get rid of complexes; therefore any
response will not be given.

CITIZEN OF ARMENIA HANGED HIMSELF IN PUNISHMENT CELL IN RUSSIA

news.am
June 14, 2012 | 16:27

MOSCOW. – A citizen of Armenia hanged himself in a punishment cell
in Stavropol Region, Russia.

The 36-year-old man underwent the punishment for violating traffic
rules resulting in a death of a person and was sentenced to 1.5 years
of imprisonment, Rosbalt quotes regional penitentiary source.

Forensic-medical examination claims that he hanged himself using pants.

THE SCHOOL AFTER PEYO YAVOROV IN YEREVAN TO HAVE BULGARIAN COSTUMES

ARMENPRESS
14 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: Song and dance groups of Yerevan 131
school after Peyo Yavorov will have Bulgarian costumes.

Vezhdi Rashidov, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria had
a briefing with the journalists on June 14, Armenpress reports. In
the words of the interlocutor the spread of Bulgarian culture is in
the highest level in the school’ simply the school lacks appropriate
costumes.

“For that reason I promise to solve the issue “the high ranking
official stated. The Bulgarian Minister of Culture is scheduled to
visit the school named after Bulgarian Symbolist poet on June 15.

Vezhdi Rashidov also promised to send relevant Bulgarian literature
on culture and traditions in order the interested people could get
answers to their questions.

As earlier Armenpress has informed, Vezhdi Rashidov, Minister of
Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria was on an official visit to
Yerevan. The Bulgarian official along with Armenian Deputy Minister
of Culture Artur Poghosyan and Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Bulgaria Arsen Shoyan visited Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on June 14. At the course of the meeting in Etchmiadzin
Bulgarian Minister of Culture highlighted the strengthening of
relations between the nations in the context of culture, who lived
for centuries side by side, shared their happiness and difficulties
together.