Author: Badalian Vardan

SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT DEPENDS ON GOODWILL OF CONFLICTING PARTIES – MEDIATOR

NEWS.AM
March 20, 2012 | 14:42

MOSCOW. – Negotiation process, which is the basis of Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process, runs very intensively. The basic principles on Karabakh
are being discussed, which should serve for basis for further
elaboration of peace agreement, OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair
Igor Popov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

He stated that three meetings were held last year during which the
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents could fix positions on the issues
causing disagreements. They are not much, as compared to the number
of previously arranged issues, but they are too complicated.

“Besides, Sargsyan and Aliyev stated their intentions in Sochi this
January to accelerate achievement of an agreement on Basic Principles,
taking into account what has been recorded so far.

The position testifies to the fact that the sides are ready to continue
the peace process and take efforts to register success. The only way
to reach agreement depends on goodwill of the conflicting sides,”
Russian Co-Chair said.

SUREN MOVSISYAN: “I BELIEVE, LEICESTER UNIVERSITY IS HEREBY ENGAGED IN POLITICALLY SENSITIVE RESEARCH PROJECT”.

Daily press
20/03/2012

Early February Leicester University Law School of United Kingdom
announced “Khojaly” research project to invite two research fellows
from Armenia and Russia to undertake investigation over the events
of February 1992.

Azg Daily newspaper has conducted an interview with political scientist
Suren Movsisyan, who says he applied for the research project, but
was refused.

Mr. Movsisyan, first of all thanks for reaching out. My first question
– how did you learn about the Khojaly Project at Leicester Law School?

As an Alumnus of the University of Leicester, I usually look through
the University web page to find out recent job opportunities at
this highly regarded institution. I was really surprised while came
across the announcement on Khojaly research project, and was very much
interested in getting involved into the Project based on my previous
research and working experience. And, assembling all the documents,
I applied for it before the deadline.

That’s what I would ask you now. Did you apply? And do you know if
any Armenian scholar applied as well. Is anyone chosen and involved
in the project at the end?

Yes, I did apply, but, unfortunately, have no idea if anyone else
did. However, I would wish anyone else best luck in his or her
endeavor, because I myself received a refusal letter as of March 9.

You know, even without any interview, which is really weird, because I
have an extensive research background and, as I said, I am a Leicester
Alumnus. With this said, I believe, Leicester University is hereby
engaged in politically sensitive research project.

What’s the description of the project? How can you assess the
scientific value?

As I said I read the project announcement at Leicester webpage, and
later on found the project description and the call for applications
at jobs.ac.uk. While reading the announcement for the position
of Research Assistant within Khojaly project, I noticed numerous
gaps that, to my mind, contradict the very nature and the spirit of
academic research. But even considering this, I applied for it with
the aim of providing my humble contribution and added value to the
research project with my knowledge and experience.

Let me stop for a moment on the gaps. First of all, the “purpose”
of the project was missing. I can’t imagine any research without
its purpose outlined. It seems to me that the focus of the research,
which was slightly provided, aimed at distracting the attention of
the reader and the applicant from missed purpose of the project.

Moreover, the research announcement, by the way, also lacked a
call for a researcher in Azerbaijan, which is crucial in terms of
researching on the allegations that Azeri top level leaders had
their part of what happened in February 1992. To support this, by
the way again, lets not forget what happened a week later in Baku,
I mean the power change in presidential palace early March 1992. I do
not want to go deeply into history that preceded and followed those
uncertain events in Khojaly at this point, but I am sure, biased,
imperfect and highly politicized research findings are unacceptable
for any respected academic institution.

It’s certain that any type of research should be objective and
academically viable so that findings are without bias and served to
the objective reasons. Objectivity is when research is neutral, when
personal bias has been removed, meaning two independent researchers
should be able to conduct the same research and get the same outcome.

Here I am very much doubtful about the outcome of this specific
project, while the international community needs to know what really
happened in Khojaly and why.

So it seems to be a rather politically sensitive, doesn’t it? If so,
isn’t it biased for Leicester University Law School to undertake this
kind of research?

Sure, it is politically sensitive issue because it covers politically
difficult period in Azerbaijan, which I briefly mentioned above; it
touches upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict itself which is still ongoing
and regional security issues in the Caucasus. I suspect, that this
project is initiated specifically in Law School to use the results
as an additional tool for information propaganda, anti-Armenian hate
speech and war rhetoric build-up. Unfortunately, the University of
Leicester, being a pure academic institution with its well known
research centers, is going to be a platform for falsification which
will negatively affect the University prestige as one of the top
universities in the Great Britain. Indeed I regret that the University
of Leicester which I consider to be my Alma Mater, and now proudly
pointing myself to be a Leicester graduate, is involved in suspicious
research with obvious and purely non-academic objectives.

Anything more you want to add?

I wish any Armenian researcher were involved into this project to make
it less biased and vulnerable in methodology, approach, analysis and
data gathering. Regretfully, my application was refused so that I have
no choice than to wait till the results of this false and non-academic
research will be published. Moreover, I am going to talk about this
biased research at all possible levels using all relevant chances. In
follow-up email communication I told Dr. Paul Behrens – the project
leader, as announced on Law School webpage, about my intention of
heavily criticizing this biased approach, and I do hope it will get
relevant response from international academic community as well.

NEW PRESIDENT OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY DIVING RIGHT IN, ALL EARS
By Pamela McLoughlin

New Haven Register

March 18 2012

The new Southern Connecticut State University President Mary Papazian
is greeted and welcomed by student Judith Jarrett-Smith of New Haven
as Papazian walks across campus to an appointment. Photo by Mara
Lavitt/New Haven Register

NEW HAVEN – Southern Connecticut State University’s new president,
Mary A. Papazian, is a scholar for sure, but she also has a gift for
warmly connecting with students and listening to what’s on their minds.

Just a few weeks into her new and busy role, Papazian took the time
to meet with students casually over pizza in the student center at
peak lunchtime.

“Help yourself to pizza. It’s food and it’s free – I know that’s a
big thing with students,” she told a student after gabbing about his
course selections.

Students of many ages chatted with her about tuition costs,
the direction of Southern, campus building renovations, parking,
sororities and even blue laws.

On subjects she didn’t know anything about, such as a popular war game
using miniature figures, Papazian was able to keep the conversation
going easily, which wasn’t lost on the 20something set.

“I have to admit, I’m impressed,” said senior Sebastian McDaniel
of Trumbull. “She was interested and actually able to keep up with
the topics.”

Student government member Leslie Betters, chairwoman of the student
advocacy committee, said of Papazian: “She’s very down to earth,
and we like that.”

Papazian, a mother of two girls, Ani, 18, and Marie, 13, is married to
Dennis R. Papazian, a longtime professor of history with a specialty
in Russian history, and founding director of the Armenian Research
Center at the University of Michigan, Dearborn.

The two, steeped in Armenian traditions, and she, also active in that
broader community, have kept that sense of history alive with their
kids. The Armenian American media covered her appointment as SCSU
president with a sense of pride.

As a teenager in Los Angeles, Mary Papazian attended Ferrahian
High School, the first Armenian American High School in the
nation. She said it was a “wonderful small” school with a college
preparatory environment – not that Papazian was ever short on academic
self-motivation. She and her three brothers, who all earned advanced
degrees, grew up in a family committed to education. Continued…

Her mother was a teacher, with English literature her area of
expertise, and her father was self-employed. Both were avid readers.

Her parents met on the UCLA campus.

There were always books around, and Papazian remembers frequent trips
to the library. The family traveled throughout the country every summer
by hopping into the station wagon, so Papazian has been to 47 states.

“My favorite place in this country is Yosemite. … I love natural
beauty,” she said.

Papazian, who knew from age 5 that she wanted to go to the University
of California, Los Angeles, to study English, did just that. She
earned three degrees, including a doctorate in English literature,
graduating Summa Cum Laude and elected to Phi Beta Kappa, 1981.

Her scholarship focuses on the 17th century English poet and clergyman
John Donne, and she has written numerous articles and edited two books
on the topic. A familiar line from his work and one of her favorites
is, “Never send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.”

Papazian likes that it talks about how we are all connected through
humanity.

She has published a number of books, her most recent being, “Sacred
and Profane in English Renaissance Literature.”

Before coming to Southern, she was provost and senior vice president
for academic affairs and professor of English at Lehman College of
the City University of New York.

Board of Regents Chairman Lewis Robinson said, “Southern Connecticut
State University students, faculty and staff will get to know Dr.

Papazian as a hardworking, strong and visionary president – just the
type of person we want to see as the leader of one of our campuses.”

Board of Regents President Robert Kennedy said Papazian is a
“fantastic choice.”

“Her strong academic and administrative experience, and importantly,
her work strengthening and supporting research and development
at Lehman College will be of great benefit to Southern’s campus,”
Kennedy said. Continued…

1234See Full Story Papazian has great visions for SCSU, including
fostering its intellectual community, strengthening academics,
bringing cutting-edge environment to the campus, strong research,
commitment to social justice and growing in areas that are in demand
in the career arena.

“We’re looking to really educate leaders of the next generation,”
she said.” At the end of the day, we want them to graduate with a
degree that has meaning. We’re in a 21st century global economy.”

After a whirlwind start a few weeks ago, Papazian is still sizing
the place up for strengths and areas that need work.

“I’ve been trying to meet with as many members of the community as I
can,” including students, faculty and community leaders, Papazian said.

“It’s a wonderful community; it’s extraordinarily warm. I’m impressed
by how everyone wants to see the community prosper.

“One of my long-term goals is to ensure that Southern continues to
be a very significant player in the higher education landscape in
the state of Connecticut and the region.”

As much as she loves the leadership role, Papazian also still finds
the classroom “energizing,” so students shouldn’t be surprised if
she’s teaching a class here some day.

“I may jump in,” she said.

Papazian, who is still commuting from New Jersey, where her daughter
is finishing the school year, appears to be the ultimate multitasker
and thinker.

She can coach her daughter’s basketball team and at the same time
think about issues affecting higher education without missing a step
in either area. Continued…

1234See Full Story When they move to the area, Papazian, a basketball
fan, said she’ll be going to lots of sporting events and lectures
on campus.

“My work, I don’t see it as work,” she said. “It’s something I enjoy
so much.”

Students Kara Hallisey and Grace D’Amico came by the cafeteria to
invite Papazian to their upcoming Relay for Life fundraiser. She told
them to shoot her an email when the event gets closer.

“She was very personable,” Hallisey said. D’Amico added happily,
“She’s accessible!”

TRADITIONAL QUESTION – WHEN WILL ARMENIA WITHDRAW SIGNATURE FROM ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS?

Panorama.am
19/03/2012

Today Heritage Party MPs have again urged the Parliament to withdraw
signature of the state from Armenian-Turkish protocols.

“Recently, during a visit to Brussels President Serzh Sargsyan
declared political forces don’t believe in those protocols,” MP Armen
Martirosyan said addressing to Parliament Speaker isn’t it high time
to withdraw signature from that document.

“It’s almost a traditional question having one answer: it’s the
president’s constitutional right which he has exercised. If the
protocols are on NA agenda, it doesn’t necessarily mean we believe in
them. It’s a kind of commitment towards international community and
we think it right to leave them in the agenda,” Parliament Speaker
Samvel Nikoyan said.

PROF. ERVIN STAUB TO SPEAK AT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION EVENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 20, 2012 – 18:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Tufts University, the Darakjian-Jafarian chair
in Armenian History, the Department of History and the National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research (supported by the
Ethel Jafarian Duffet Fund) will sponsor the annual Commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide in Goddard Chapel on April 11, featuring
a lecture by Professor Ervin Staub, entitled “Overcoming Evil:
Preventing Genocide and Creating Peaceful Societies.”

According to wickedlocal.com, Staub will be introduced by Ina
Baghdiantz McCabe, professor of history and Darakjian Jafarian,
chair of Armenian History at Tufts University.

A reception and book signing will follow in the Coolidge Room in
nearby Ballou Hall. Staub is professor emeritus and founding director
of the doctoral program in the psychology of peace and violence at
the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

He received his Ph.D. from Stanford, and has taught at Harvard. He
has studied the roots of altruism, the origins of genocide, violent
conflict, terrorism and their prevention, psychological recovery
and reconciliation.

His books include the two-volume “Positive Social Behavior and
Morality;” “The Roots of Evil: the Origins of Genocide and Other
Group Violence;” “The Psychology of Good and Evil: Why Children,
Adults and Groups Help and Harm Others;” and “Overcoming Evil:
Genocide, Violent Conflict and Terrorism (2011).”

A forthcoming book is “The Roots of Goodness: The Development of
Inclusive Caring, Moral Courage, Altruism Born of Suffering and
Active Bystandership.”

Staub is past president of the International Society for Political
Psychology and of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict
and Violence. He has conducted many projects in field settings,
from promoting altruism in children to seminars/trainings and
educational radio projects in Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo to
promote psychological recovery and reconciliation, to training active
bystanders in schools to prevent harmful behavior by students.

He received awards for life-long contributions to peace psychology, for
distinguished contributions to political psychology, for distinguished
scholarly and practical contributions to social justice and for work
on international and intercultural relations.

“Overcoming Evil” describes the origins or influences leading to
genocide, violent conflict and terrorism. It identifies principles
and practices of prevention, and of reconciliation between groups
after violence, or before violence thereby to prevent violence.

BUS HEADING FROM IRAN TO ARMENIA CRASHES, CASUALTIES REPORTED

NEWS.AM
March 20, 2012 | 13:21

TEHRAN. – The bus heading from Iran to Armenia crashed in northern
Iran, there are casualties, Iranian Hayeli.net website reports.

According to preliminary information, over 3-4 people are dead,
while 10 are injured. Majority of the passengers were Iranians and
ten Armenians.

Identity of the dead people is still unknown. The accident was caused
by the wheel blast, rumors claim.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS ARE ON THE AGENDA OF NA BECAUSE OF RESPECT TOWARD INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 19, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian-Turkish protocols are being
kept on the agenda of the National Assembly of Armenia not because
Armenia fully believes Turkey but because it respects its international
partners, chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Samvel Nikoyan
said in response to the question of the MP from the Heritage party.

“I have to repeat the answer to this question. It is the right of the
leader of the country,” Nikoyan said, adding that it would have been
wrong to withdraw the protocols from the agenda, as far as they are
in the agenda of the Turkish parliament. According to him, in respect
of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations the positions of the
international community and Armenia coincide.

“The respect toward international partners supposes that
Armenian-Turkish protocols must remain on the agenda,” the NA
chairman said.

ARMENIAN WOMAN KILLED IN ALEPPO BLAST

armradio.am
19.03.2012 10:46

A car explosion rocked a Christian neighborhood in Aleppo today,
causing three deaths and thirty injured. There is an Armenian woman
among the victims, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia Tigran Balayan said. According to him, the Armenian Consulate
General in Aleppo has confirmed the information.

The 200 kilograms of explosives were placed in a car behind the post
office building, between two residential buildings in the Sulaymaniyeh
neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria~Rs second largest city. The explosion
was near a Latin church and two primary schools, in an area heavily
populated by Christians, including many Armenians.

The explosion happened when security forces were trying to evacuate
the residents from the area after being tipped off about the bomb.

According to the Syria~Rs state news agency SANA, the explosion also
caused major material damages in the neighborhood.

SANA quoted a Syrian-Armenian living in the neighborhood as saying
that the explosion was an attempt to disrupt the social fabric of
the country.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The state agency
accused terrorists for being behind the act. In turn, opposition
activists accused the government of staging the explosion to back
up its official line that foreign-backed extremists are behind the
uprising, reported Reuters.

Mashtots Park Protestors to Boycott Police Roundtable

hetq
13:11, March 17, 2012

A number of civic organizations have issued a statement saying they
will not attend a roundtable discussion today organized by the RA
Police regarding their actions at Mashtots Park.

Activists say the actions of the cops on March 15, designed to
break-up their sit-in vigil at the park, were anti-constitutional and
unlawful.

The activists say they’d participate in a free and open discussion of
the matter to which the press would also have access.

The organizations say they have not authorized anyone to attend
today’s discussion and speak on their behalf.

Those signing the statement are: `We are this city’s masters’, `Our
city’, In defense of Teghout’, `Trchkan Civic Initiative’ and those
who have participated at the Mashtots Park protests.

Yerevan’s Mayor Must Make a Decision That “Goes Against the
Grain”…At Least Once
Edik Baghdasaryan

hetq
13:43, March 5, 2012

During an interview with Azatutyun Radio, Yerevan Mayor Taron
Margaryan said that his office didn’t even bother to discuss the topic
of compensation for business owners who had their stores on Abovyan
Street dismantled. The price was too prohibitive, he noted.

As yet, we have been unable to obtain any documents dating from former
Yerevan mayors regarding permission to build these stores on Abovyan
Street in the first place. Who in the Yerevan Municipality granted
permission for their construction up and down the sidewalks on this
prime piece of Yerevan real estate remains a mystery.

Can any of these storeowners provide any contractual documentation?

Even if such paperwork can be dug up from somewhere, we all know that
such permits were `bought’ at a price. Thus, it’s absurd to even be
speaking about compensation.

Let those municipal officials `on the take’ pay for such compensation
out of their pockets. And high on the list should be Narek Sargsyan,
the current Chief Architect of Yerevan and the man in charge when
those unsightly stores were constructed back in the day.

The money these officials pocketed during their years of tenure is
more than enough to compensate all shop owners in Yerevan.

Mayor Taron Margaryan enjoys a high-level of authority, amassed during
his years of tenure as the Avan District Leader. Now, he faces a
pivotal issue in his budding career.

The question remains as to whether he is capable of making a decision
that goes against the grain and depart from `business as usual’.

If the mayor can do this, he will recruit a mass army of supporters,
including the activist youth. It would be a feather in his cap, so to
say. But first, he must show the will to make such a tough decision
that will irritate only two oligarchs.

Both of these oligarchs enjoy no support or sympathy with the public.
They won’t even be able to muster two citizens to defend them if
Margaryan makes the tough but correct decision.

These oligarchs don’t even have the guts to say – `These stores belong
to us.’ Hopefully, they have enough sense to ask themselves whether it
makes sense to do battle with broad segments of Yerevan residents and
active young people all in the name of a few stores.

Let’s put aside the Mashtots Park issue for the moment.

Does Yerevan need a chief architect who constantly deceives the people
of this city? Hasn’t the time finally come to send him packing?

I am convinced that Narek Sargsyan has been able to deceive the mayor
with equal ease.

Those shops on Abovyan Street were installed with the permission of
Narek Sargsyan and they were illegal.

Why hasn’t the Yerevan Municipality continuously failed to punish
those who approved such illegal decisions from day one?

We all remember how Narek Sargsyan gave his official `blessing’ to
turning the green space around Yerevan’s Opera House into one giant
cafe. And now he has the nerve to speak about restoring Yerevan to its
historic glory?

Sargsyan had no trouble pulling the wool over the eyes of the Public
Council during their recent meeting. Council members had become so
enamoured with Sargsyan and so used to his lies, that all they could
do is hang their heads and believe him.

At the meeting, Sargsyan stated that he didn’t even know who the
owners of these stores are. So, in whose name is all this construction
being pushed through for?

Does anyone in Yerevan take Sargsyan at his word when he feigns such
ignorance? Of course not. The chief architect knows everything. The
blueprints for these stores were handled by him. He was the one who
signed off on the project now underway to construct a commercial
center in the vicinity of Hrazdan Stadium.

It remains for Mayor Margaryan to void his 7373-A Decision of December
30, 2011 entitled – `The dismantling of structures on leased property
at 21/3 Abovyan Street and granting of building rights on 247 square
meters of land to Arevelyan Oasis Ltd.’.

Arevelyan Oasis is a company owned by Yuri Beglaryan, brother of
former Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan.

So far, we’ve only been able to ascertain the name of Arevelyan Oasis.
There’s another company that also has been granted land in Mashtots
Park as compensation for being removed from Abovyan Street.

By nullifying this decision, Mayor Margaryan will declare that he has
heeded the voice of the people in the decision-making process.

He will usher in a new tradition of municipal business according to
which the people needs and concerns must be taken into account before
any construction or major changes are made to Yerevan parks and public
spaces.

After all, a city is made up of residents and not just two oligarchs.