Author: Babajanian Karo

POLITICAL TECHNOLOGIES EXPERT: IT IS NECESSARY TO AVOID WAR BUT NEVER BE AFRAID OF IT

arminfo
Thursday, June 7, 18:56

Constant subversive actions by Azerbaijan are not uncommon especially
in summers. However, at the given tense moment I do not rule out
a new Armenian-Azerbaijani war. It is necessary to avoid war, but
never be afraid of it, says Karen Kocharyan, an expert in political
technologies. He told media Thursday that third countries are involved
in the aggravation of tension on the border. In particular, Turkey
is directly involved in Azerbaijan’s subversive actions against
Armenia. As regards CSTO’s interference in case if the conflict grows
hot, it is not ruled out either, he said.

“I think that the Armenian Army is ready for war given that the Armed
Forces of Armenia are combat efficient and CSTO is always with the
country,” Kocharyan said.

As regards regional problems, the expert said that everything inside
the country directly depends on external regional factors. Not only the
possible war in Iran but also general destabilization in the region,
in particular, in Syria, will affect Armenia.

“If we come out against Iran in case of war, we will find ourselves
in a very bad situation. If we support Iran and war begins, we will
find ourselves in a bad situation,” Kocharyan said.

BOOK REVIEW: BOHJALIAN’S EPIC NOVEL ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Posted by Wendy Plotkin

June 7, 2012

The Sandcastle Girls
By Chris Bohjalian
New York: Doubleday (July 17, 2012)
299 pages, $25.95

Chris Bohjalian’s 14th novel, The Sandcastle Girls, is a moving
depiction of the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide told through
the experiences of a group of very different individuals who find
themselves in Ottoman Aleppo in 1915. At the heart of the novel is a
love story between Armen Petrosian, a survivor of Turkish brutality,
and Elizabeth Endicott, a Boston Brahmin who has traveled to Aleppo
to perform relief work with her father. While the love story propels
the novel forward, it is Bohjalian’s unflinching description of what
happened to the Armenians during the genocide that makes this book
so affecting.

Chris Bohjalian’s novel of the Armenian Genocide, The Sandcastle Girls,
arrives on July 17.

The novel moves between the present day-through the musings of a
novelist, Laura Petrosian, who is in the process of exploring her
family’s history-and 1915, telling the story of Laura’s grandparents.

Bohjalian starts with Laura’s memories of spending time in her
grandparents’ suburban New York home, which her mother affectionately
referred to as the “Ottoman Annex.” Throughout the book, the portions
of the novel that are set in the present day are a vehicle for Laura’s
internal thoughts and feelings about her Armenian identity, and how
that identity is connected to the genocide.

When a friend of Laura’s tells her she saw a picture of her grandmother
at an exhibit of photographs from the genocide, Laura sets out on
a search to discover her family’s link to the genocide. This search
will eventually lead to the revelation of a sad family secret, and
it is Laura’s effort to unearth this secret that drives her to delve
deeper into the story of how her grandparents met and fell in love.

Laura was disconnected from her Armenian heritage, but as she
discovers her family’s history, she becomes emotionally involved in
discovering how the genocide touched her family. It is likely that
Laura is Bohjalian’s alter ego since Mr. Bohjalian and his heroine
share a similar background, and he performed extensive research into
the genocide as part of this project. Bohjalian is well known for
being particularly adept at writing female narrators, and he once
again succeeds here in creating a book that is most successful when
told from the female perspective.

The novel quickly moves from Laura’s memories of her grandparents
to the story of how they met in 1915. Elizabeth Endicott, a wealthy
Bostonian, travels to Syria with her father, a banker, on behalf of
“The Friends of Armenia,” a charitable organization in the Boston
area. When we first meet Elizabeth she nearly faints under the Middle
Eastern sun as she and her father tour the main square of Aleppo with
an American diplomat, Ryan Martin. But it is not just the sun that
causes Elizabeth to become faint; she is confronted with hundreds of
Armenian refugees-women and children, who have been marched across the
desert by the Turkish army and into the square. They have been treated
brutally along the way; they are naked and most are barely alive.

Elizabeth is shocked, saddened, and feels helpless as to what she
could possibly do to help these women. Through Elizabeth’s interactions
with these refugees Bohjalian brings out the personal stories of the
genocide-the starvation, the beatings, the rapes, and the murdered
husbands, brothers, and sons.

Shortly after her arrival in Aleppo, Elizabeth meets Armen Petrosian,
an Armenian engineer who is working with two sympathetic German
army engineers. The Germans have been photographing the Armenian
refugees in an effort to document the situation. Although it sounds
(and to some extent reads) cliche, there is an instant connection
between Elizabeth and Armen, and amidst the horrors of the war and
the genocide, Bohjalian creates a classic romantic love story. Armen
and Elizabeth are drawn to each other’s “differentness”-Elizabeth is
taken with Armen’s dark eyes and long eyelashes, and Armen is taken
with Elizabeth’s hair. They form a quick bond and when Armen leaves to
join the British Army in the Dardanelles, they write letters to each
other regularly. It is in his letters that Armen is able to share
with Elizabeth his genocide story, how his wife and daughter were
likely killed during a forced march from Eastern Turkey to Syria (it
was his search for his family that had brought him to Aleppo). It is
only through his letters than Armen can open up to Elizabeth and share
this tragedy and the violent actions he was driven to take in response.

The portion of the novel set in 1915 is told from many
perspectives-Elizabeth, Armen, the German engineers, a Turkish
soldier. In addition the story is told through the eyes of two Armenian
females Elizabeth meets and befriends in the Aleppo square, a widow,
Nevart in his early thirties, and an orphan girl, Hatoon.

Nevart and Hatoon become surrogate family to each other, and
Elizabeth becomes so close with them that she insists they live with
her at the American Embassy despite the protestations of her father
and other missionaries. What Bohjalian achieves by presenting the
story through these multiple voices is a complete portrait of the
genocide that is rich in personal detail. The most meaningful and
devastating portions of the story are those that are told from the
perspective of the young orphan girl Hatoon, who witnessed her whole
family brutalized and murdered by Turkish soldiers. Hatoon is deeply
damaged by her experiences and her tale is heartbreaking, but her
survival and ability to form connections with other survivors and
non-Armenians injects some hope into the story.

This book is about many things-a love story, a war, a woman’s
independence and coming of age. But more than anything this novel is
about the genocide.

Bohjalian’s fans will find this book different from many of the
books in his catalog, which focus on a hot progressive issue of
the day such as midwifery, holistic medicine, transgender identity,
and homelessness. The scope of The Sandcastle Girls is almost epic
in comparison. While there are the rich personal stories that his
readers connect to, what he has achieved is much larger. Bohjalian has
written a compelling and powerful novel that will bring the history
of the genocide to a wide audience.

The Sandcastle Girls will remain ingrained in your consciousness.

Pre-order The Sandcastle Girls on Amazon.com by clicking here.

CLINTON’S PRESENCE CANNOT RESTRAIN AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT

news.am
June 07, 2012 | 13:42

YEREVAN. – Either the US is unable to have an influence on the parties
and we have an unmanageable neighbor (Azerbaijan), or it is not too
significant for the US as to what happens, even if this were to become
a local confrontation, Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party member and
former MP Stepan Safaryan said, during a press conference on Thursday,
commenting on the current tense situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani
border in parallel with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s visit
to the region.

In his view, it is apparent that Clinton’s presence cannot restrain
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

“Azerbaijan is trying to prove to its society that they are capable
of returning [Nagorno-]Karabakh. But, at the same time, all this is
a sounding out as to clarify the international community’s reaction
to all this,” noted Safaryan.

He expressed a view that the US must have solid bases for visiting
Armenia, because US secretaries of state have not come to the country
often. Safaryan maintained that such visits commenced after signing
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, and this shows that opening of
the border is very important for the US.

Stepan Safaryan also noted that the geographical scope of Clinton’s
visit likewise says something.

“When the world is concerned about Iran’s nuclear program, when Germany
gives aircraft carriers to Israel, [and] when there is chaos in Syria,
the United States cannot disregard even Armenia,” stated Safaryan.

HOLY SEE DISCUSSES PR IN CYBERSPACE

news.am
June 06, 2012 | 16:56

ETCHMIADZIN. – Holy See of Etchmiadzin launched on Wednesday the
fifth congress, with the participation of representatives of the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and the Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople.

The three-day congress will discuss Internet application in spiritual
advocacy mission. That includes the wider application of the Internet
while contacting with believers, providing spiritual-advocacy
literature, as well as reducing Internet dangers.

HILLARY CLINTON CONDEMNS LATEST INCIDENTS IN CONTACT LINE OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN TROOPS

APA
June 6 2012
Azerbaijan

“In my meeting with the Azerbaijani President I said that the US was
ready to do best for assisting with the conflict’s settlement”

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. The US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton condemned the latest incidents occurred in the contact line
of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops. APA reports that the Secretary of
State announced her position at the joint briefing with Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Elmar Mammadyarov noted that the US and Azerbaijan could create
close relations in various spheres during these years. He noted
the effectiveness of the Secretary Clinton’s visit and underlined
that Nagorno Karabakh conflict was one of the main topics of the
discussions: “Several ideas were voiced to achieve progress towards
the conflict’s settlement. The next round of the negotiations on
the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be held in Paris on
June 18. Afghanistan and regional issues were also discussed at the
meeting. Azerbaijan feels the US support.”

In her speech, Secretary Clinton expressed satisfaction with her visit
to Azerbaijan. She said that she discussed the issues of security,
energy and democratic reforms at her meeting with the Azerbaijani
President. She highly assessed Azerbaijan’s contributions to the
peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and added that the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict was also discussed at the meetings.

Clinton condemned the latest incidents occurred in the contact line
of the troops: “This violence must be stopped. In my meeting with
the Azerbaijani President I said that the US was ready to do best
for assisting with the conflict’s settlement”.

Commenting the cooperation in energy sphere, Clinton noted that the
US supports Azerbaijan in ensuring of energy security. She noted that
at the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan today, it is highly
appreciated Azerbaijan’s role in the diversification of oil and gas:
U.S. support the Azerbaijan’s role in the Southern Corridor project,
which will supply energy resources of Azerbaijan to the European
market.

About the human rights, Clinton said that US remained committed
to the need for the development of civil society and fundamental
human rights. She called the government of Azerbaijan to respect the
development of freedom of expression and fundamental human rights in
the country, at the same to continue works to strengthen the Azerbaijan
civil community.

The US Secretary of State said that she had opportunity to discuss
the progress in this field with the representative of the Azerbaijan
civil community during the visit.

AZERBAIJANIS KILL ARMENIAN SOLDIER IN KARABAKH: REPORTS

Hurriyet Daily News
June 6 2012
Turkey

Armenian soldiers vote at a polling station in Yerevan on May 6,
2012. AFP photo Azerbaijani forces killed an Armenian soldier
in clashes in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region today amid an
upsurge of violence between the ex-Soviet enemies, Nagorno-Karabakh
officials said.

“An Azerbaijani reconnaissance-sabotage group attempted to penetrate
the combat positions of the Nagorno-Karabakh defense army,” an official
said in a statement.

“Karabakh’s vanguard units noticed the enemy’s offensive actions
in time and took military action, throwing the enemy back,” the
statement said.

Junior Sergeant Vardan Ohanian was killed and two more Armenian
soldiers were wounded during the firefight, it said.

Eight soldiers had already been killed this week in armed clashes
on the ex-Soviet states’ mutual border — five Azerbaijanis and
three Armenians.

The worst violence for months erupted in the week that U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton visited both countries and called on them
to refrain from using force.

VIOLENCE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

France Diplomatie

June 6 2012
France

France, which co-chairs the Minsk Group, expresses its deep concern
following the violent incidents on the border between Armenia and
Azerbaijan which have resulted in 8 deaths over the past few days.

There can be no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The parties must be fully committed to implementing a peaceful
settlement based on the respect of the principles of the UN Charter
and the Helsinki Final Act, notably the non-use of force, territorial
integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination.

Another meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
and the Minsk Group’s co-chairs is scheduled to take place in June
in Paris in order to continue the negotiations. We are preparing for
this meeting.

CLINTON VISITS AZERBAIJAN AMID BORDER CLASHES

Yahoo News

June 6 2012

BAKU (AFP) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Azerbaijan
on Wednesday for talks aimed at strengthening relations with the
oil-rich state, amid a flare-up of violence on its border with Armenia.

Clinton arrived after gunbattles on the ex-Soviet states’ mutual
border this week killed eight soldiers — five Azerbaijanis and three
Armenians — in one of the deadliest outbursts of violence in months.

The neighbours are locked in a bitter unresolved conflict over Nagorny
Karabakh, an Armenian-controlled enclave inside Azerbaijan that was
the focus of a bloody war in the 1990s.

Although this week’s clashes erupted well to the north of the disputed
region, Clinton was expected to reiterate a call for both sides to
end the violence.

“The use of force will not resolve the Nagorny Karabakh conflict and
therefore force must not be used,” she said during a visit to Yerevan
on Monday, pledging to deliver the same message to Azerbaijani leaders
in Baku.

Local media in both Azerbaijan and Armenia however said there had been
further exchanges of fire on Tuesday night, although no casualties
were reported.

After arriving in Baku, Clinton immediately went into talks with
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at his palatial residence
overlooking the Caspian Sea.

The United States is a co-chair with Russia and France of the OSCE
Minsk Group, which was set up after the 1994 Karabakh ceasefire to
help bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

But the conflict has remained unresolved for nearly two decades,
leaving Armenia suffering economically due to closed borders with
Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey, while Baku has grown richer on its
Caspian Sea oil deposits.

The United States has sought to balance its relationship with both
countries, pressed on one side by the large American Armenian community
and Washington’s strategic interests in the Caspian basin on the other.

Clinton planned to visit an oil and gas trade exposition being held
in Baku, highlighting the $8 billion that US energy companies have
invested in Azerbaijan since independence following the break-up of
the Soviet Union.

Also expected to come up in her talks is Iran, which shares a border
with Azerbaijan.

Although both countries are predominantly Shiite Muslim, there are
political tensions between Azerbaijan’s secular leadership and Iran’s
Islamic regime.

DOES ARMENIA BENEFIT WHEN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE GOES DOWN?

news.am
June 06, 2012 | 03:42

YEREVAN. – No one will get surprised by the exchange rate fluctuations
in the Armenian financial market. But the tendencies of the last month
exceed any expectations. After May 6 US dollar went up by AMD 20 or
5.1 percent which is unusual even for Armenia. During one month the
US dollar rate grew from AMD 390 to AMD 411 in Armenia.

The reasons of such growths are not known yet. During the beginning of
the year no one doubted that the dollar would cross the AMD 400 line.

However, it was expected that the Central Bank would be able to
control the situation.

Recently the idea that Armenia benefits from the US dollar growth
has become rather popular. It is considered that the process will
contribute to the growth of export and competitiveness of national
goods in the domestic market as well. Theoretically the idea is true,
however, it should not be overestimated. Armenian’s main trade partners
are the EU and Russia but the Euro and Russian ruble are also in a
depreciation phase.

POLITICAL EXPERT: MAJOR REASON OF AZERBAIJAN’S SUBVERSIVE ACTIONS IS UNRELIABLE ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI BORDER

arminfo
Wednesday, June 6, 17:53

Armenian frontier line with Azerbaijan is not reliable and it is the
key reason of Azerbaijan’s subversive actions, says Director of the
Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan.

He is sure that there is no real threat to territorial integrity of
Armenia, but it will be impossible to avoid new human losses unless
Armenia strengthens its borderline with Azerbaijan. Aggressive actions
and fires by the Azerbaijani party will be continued, he says, as
they are part of intelligence.

“Azerbaijan is well aware that the Azerbaijani-Karabakh border is
strong and does not even think of any large-scale actions in the given
dimension. That country has decided to test the border with Armenia.

Those fires are part of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy,” he says.

The political expert says that cross fires on the boundary is the
only opportunity of Azerbaijan to blackmail Armenia and to present
Armenia guilty in the eyes of the world community.

Subdivisions of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan made another attempt
of sabotage attack on the state border of Armenia on June 4 early
in the morning as continuation of the previous day’s sabotage. Due
to the security awareness of the Armenian servicemen, the group of
subversives was detained and neutralized. By preliminary data, five
deaths and many wounded are reported on the Azerbaijani party.

To recall, an Azeri subversive group attacked the Armenian positions
near the village of Chinari, Tavush region, Armenia, on June 3-4
night. The enemy was rebuffed and forced to retreat. Three Armenian
soldiers were killed as a result: Hrach Sargsyan, Zohrab Balabekyan
and Karen Davtyan. Another 5 were wounded.