Author: Badalian Vardan

VADIM MUKHANOV: POSSIBLE UNILATERAL PRESSURE ON THE ARMENIAN PARTY TO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS FOR THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION BORDERS ON FANTASY
by David Stepanyan

arminfo
Friday, November 25, 10:48

Interview of Vadim Mukhanov, Senior Fellow at the Center for Caucasian
Studies and Regional Security, MGIMO Russia, with ArmInfo News Agency

Possible changes in Moscow’s stance on the Karabakh peace process
following the Medvedev-Putin rotation is much spoken of today. Would
you share your thoughts on this?

I do not expect any special breakthroughs in the Karabakh conflict’s
resolution especially on the threshold of the upcoming elections in
Armenia, Azerbaijan and in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair-states. I am
more than sure that Russia’s policy towards the South Caucasus will
not change traditionally and no fundamental changes should be expected
in this context following the rotation of the top leadership in Russia.

Do you think this policy is clearly observed?

There is no strict Russian policy towards the South Caucasus,
since there are certain moments that make the country think over
their settlement. Unlike the USA and France, that face the Caucasus’
problems not so often, Russia faces the problems of both the North
Caucasus that are dominating for the Russians and the South Caucasus.

There is nothing extraordinary in all that, since Russia is a priory
connected to the region more than the West.

Is the forecasted lack of breakthroughs in the Karabakh conflict for
the near future positive or negative for both parties?

The lack of breakthroughs in the Karabakh conflict forecasted for the
near future is positive for both parties, as always when there is no
war. Maintenance of no-war situation in Karabakh is a great positive
factor, especially amid the growing trigger-happy policy despite
the frequent meetings of the presidents. This is in discord with the
continuing suggestions in favor of the conflict’s resolution, indeed,
with the meetings in Yerevan and Baku leading to rather sad thoughts.

In this light, even lack of breakthroughs is evidently positive. The
credit of the status-quo maintenance in the Karabakh conflict zone
goes also to Russia, the USA and France. Nicolas Sarkozy’s visits to
the conflicting parties are the best evidence of my words.

What major threats to the regional security of the South Caucasus do
you observe today?

First of all, it is the threat of resumption of the frozen conflicts.

Some top officials in the region regularly voice that threat, which
cannot but arouse concern of the OSCE MG co-chair-states. Energy
security resulting from the Karabakh conflict is also a relevant
issue, especially for the EU and the USA. These countries are very
interested in provision of energy security. There is also the problem
of international terrorism, which is acute in the North Caucasus, and
the North Caucasus and South Caucasus are two communicating vessels.

In that case, the problems of Russia in the North Caucasus may extend
over the South Caucasus and grow into rather a serious problem.

You have not mentioned the Iranian nuclear problem in the light of
the latest IAEA report…

Iran’s problem is a serious threat to the regional security of
the South Caucasus especially considering that it is the neighbor
of Armenia and Azerbaijan. No one of the experts can rule out the
possibility that a war against Iran may provoke resumption of the
Karabakh conflict. But such probability is not 100%.

Are any breakthroughs possible in the Armenian-Turkish process with
the change of the geopolitical situation in the region?

I would not say that the Armenian-Turkish relations are boarded-up
like a forsaken house. There is probability of certain breakthroughs
in the process but not within the coming months, I think. Sooner or
later, this issue will be put on agenda again after expected changes
in the region. Any problem in the region, and the Iranian one first
of all, will inevitably lead to activation of Turkey’s policy in the
South Caucasus.

They in Baku constantly hope for more external pressure on Armenia
and the NKR to get back “the occupied territories”. Have the OSCE MG
co-chairs such opportunity and desire to do that?

The OSCE Minsk Group is willing to resolve the Karabakh conflict,
of course, but Russia, France and the USA will hardly resort to
pressure on the Armenian party to achieve resolution. It seems to me
that such scheme would have been fulfilled long ago if it had chances
for realization. In the current conditions, that scheme is bordering
on fantasy and is subject to serious risks.

All the plans to resolve the conflict, in particular, the Madrid
Principles, provide for yield of several regions of the security
zone of the NKR to Azerbaijan by Armenia. If this happens, won’t it
increase the risk of resumption of the conflict given the vulnerability
of the Karabakh people after the “gift” presented to Azerbaijan?

The issue of the territories is extremely complicated, especially
given the discrepancies in the Armenian establishment regarding
resolution of the conflict via transfer of some territories. Many
in Armenia are categorically against transferring any territory
to Azerbaijan. Transfer of any territory will tangibly affect the
security of the Karabakh people. In addition, in conditions when
the conflicting parties lack mutual confidence, the guaranteed
stage-by-stage settlement of the conflict is not real either. This
makes the work of the Minsk Group even harder. At the same time, one
should not expect assistance in resolution of the conflict from other
actors in the region, including Turkey. The centuries-old experience
of relations of Turkey and the conflicting parties, first of all
Armenia, is not the best reason to involve Ankara into the Karabakh
peace process. The role of a moderator in this conflict simply does
not suit Turkey.

‘CASE IS SOLVED, COMPLETED’: MAR. 1 VICTIM ARMEN FARMANYAN WOULD’VE BEEN 37 TODAY

epress.am
11.25.2011

Armen Farmanyan, who died on Mar. 1, 2008, would’ve been 37 years
old today.

Though over 3.5 years have passed since his death, we see no progress
in his case, said Armen’s father, Vachagan Farmanyan, in conversation
with Epress.am.

According to him, they have meetings with representatives of
international agencies, they hand them letters, but nothing changes.

“They want to forget March 1, but we won’t let them. We hope there
will be progress during this administration’s term. Actually, this
case is actually solved, finished; there is the shooter, there is the
person who gave the order; they just don’t want to consider it solved.

It’s their handiwork, by their men. The Cheryomukha is a prohibited
weapon, why did they use it? And the snipers shot… It’s clearly
solved,” he said.

Armen’s father said apart from the opposition bloc the Armenian
National Congress, they don’t pin hopes on any other political force
or the National Assembly.

“Our hopes are tied only with the [Armenian National] Congress. [The]
Heritage [Party] is also opposition, and supposedly Dashnaktsutyun
[the Armenian Revolutionary Federation] is also opposition, but none
of them are doing anything,” he said.

Recall that mass protests against alleged electoral fraud, organized by
supporters of unsuccessful presidential candidate, first president of
the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian, followed the presidential
election of Feb. 19, 2008, in Armenia. On Mar. 1, 2008, national police
and military forces, called in to disperse the crowds, used “excessive
force and violence” which left 10 people dead and many more wounded.

AZERBAIJAN’S RELIGIOUS LEADER UNDECIDED ON YEREVAN TRIP

news.az
Nov 23 2011
Azerbaijan

The chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Department has reviewed the
agenda for a CIS Inter-Religious Council meeting in Yerevan.

Sheikh ul-Islam Allashukur Pashazade had the chance to study the
agenda for the meeting during a visit to Moscow, the Caucasus Muslims
Department told APA.

The Presidium of the CIS Inter-Religious Council, of which the sheikh
is a co-chairman, will meet in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, on 29
and 30 November.

The sheikh would also like to review draft documents to be signed at
the meeting by himself, Patriarch Kirill of Russia, Patriarch Ilia
II of Georgia and Catholicos Garegin II of Armenia.

Once he has seen the documents, Pashazade will decide on whether or
not to go to Yerevan.

The Caucasus Muslims Department is to receive copies of the drafts
in the next few days.

Azerbaijan and Armenia officially remain at war over the Azerbaijani
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The two countries signed a cease-fire
accord in 1994, but a peace deal has yet to be reached.

GOLDEN APRICOT ON WHEELS FILM FESTIVAL IN KARABAKH

news.am
Nov 23 2011
Armenia

STEPANAKERT. – Golden Apricot on the Wheels film festival visited
for the fifth time Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] on November 19-21. It
showed movies in Stepanakert and Shushi cities.

The best movies and winners of the 8th Golden Apricot film festival
were included. A total of 9 documentaries, featured and short movies
were shown. The opening of the festival took place simultaneously in
the Palace of Culture and Youth in Stepanakert and in Narekatsi art
centre in Shushi.

The festival was carried out by the support of Karabakh Ministry of
Culture and Youth Issues, Pyunik human resource development centre,
and Artsakh Brandy Company.

MONDAY IS NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY

WIS TV

Nov 21 2011
Columbia, SC

(CNN) – Calling all man-shaped cookie cutters and edible houses:
Monday is National Gingerbread Day.

On Nov. 21, you can get a jump on one of our favorite ways to herald
the holiday season – and make your house smell oh-so-incredibly good
in the process.

Gingerbread was first made by an Armenian monk, Gregory of Nicopolis.

When he moved from Greece to France in 992, Gregory brought his tasty
creation with him and taught French priests the art of baking it.

Gingerbread grew in popularity and spread throughout Europe.

Monasteries and town square markets jumped on the idea and began
selling it in the 1500’s. Market Drayton in Shropshire became famous
for its product.

The confusing thing about gingerbread is that it can mean all kinds
of things. Some folks like to bake up a sweetly-spiced, moist loaf
of actual bread, while others dig out their cookie cutters and
start punching out crispy cookies. But the best part is they’re
all scrumptious

Have we got you salivating yet?

If you want just a taste of gingerbread so you can say you had some
this holiday season, you can always bake a batch of gingerbread
cookies.

HALF A MILLION THE LOSS FROM JESC 2011

oikotimes.com

Nov 22 2011
Greece

Posted by SUBMITTED on Nov 22, 2011 in ARMENIA, JESC

The Public Television of Armenia established the “Junior Eurovision
2011 Yerevan” Fund, which will organize the Junior Eurovision Song
Contest 2011 to be held in the capital Yerevan, on December 2 and 3.

The Contest’s revenue and spending estimations are already posted on
the Government’s official website.

In line with this assessment, the revenues are expected to be around
US$ 1.4 million, whereas the expenditures, $1.85 million. That is,
Junior Eurovision 2011’s budget deficit is approximately $450
thousand, and this deficit will be covered by Armenia’s State Budget.

Incidentally, ticket prices for the December 2 concert range between
3-15 thousand drams ($8-$39), whereas the December 3 concert tickets
are sold for 5-100 thousand drams ($13-$259). To note, the 3 or 5
thousand dram tickets were sold out long ago. The aforesaid Fund’s
largest amount (around $720 thousand) will be spent for the event’s
technical part and HDR recording.

ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS WILL NOT BE RATIFIED – TURKISH MP

news.am
Nov 21 2011
Armenia

BAKU. – The protocols, which Turkey and Armenia signed, in Zurich,
toward normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, will not be
ratified, Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman
Volkan Bozkir stated, during a press conference in Baku, Azerbaijan,
on Monday, Trend News Agency of Azerbaijan reported.

“I am one of those responsible for the ratification of those documents,
and I can say they will not be ratified,” Bozkir noted.

PAPERBACK, ARMENIAN VERSION OF ‘FAMILY OF SHADOWS’ TO BE RELEASED

asbarez
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

The Armenian version of Family of Shadows

NEW YORK-The publishing house HarperCollins has announced the
paperback release of Garin K. Hovannisian’s Family of Shadows:
A Century of Murder, Memory, and the Armenian American Dream, the
dramatic history of the Hovannisian family: Kaspar-the survivor of
genocide and soldier of General Antranig; Richard-the historian and
pioneer of Armenian Studies; and Raffi-the repatriate citizen and
first foreign minister of independent Armenia.

The new edition is available on Amazon and at bookstores nationwide.

The book, which has accompanied its author on a year-long tour across
the United States and Canada, has received strong critical praise.

“Hovannisian brings a historian’s rigor, a poet’s lyricism, and a
native son’s passion to this remarkable book,” wrote Samuel G.

Freedman, columnist for the New York Times. David Ignatius of the
Washington Post called it “one of modern history’s great unexamined
stories.” For more information, visit

Family of Shadows has also been translated into the Armenian language
by Samvel Lazarian-the editor and translator most recently of James
Joyce’s Ulysses. The translation, titled Gerdastan Stverats, was
unveiled on September 6, 2011, at the Yeghishe Charents House Museum
in Yerevan. “It draws you from page to page with a magnetic force,”
remarked Levon Ananyan, president of the Writers’ Union of Armenia,
on the occasion of the release.

Three generations of Hovannisians: Garin, Raffi and Richard (photo
by Ara Oshagan)

The Armenian edition is now available at major bookstores in Yerevan
and at Abril, Berj, and Sardarabad bookstores based in Los Angeles.

All proceeds will be donated to Orran, a non-profit benevolent
organization founded by Raffi and Armine Hovannisian, which supports
needy children and elderly in Armenia.

TURKISH MP PUTS THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS ON THE ALTAR OF THE AZERBAIJANI DREAM

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 22, 2011
BAKU

Head of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee
Volkan Bozkir stated during his recent visit to Azerbaijan that the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols will not be brought to the agenda of the
Turkish Parliament.

Armenpress reports, citing the Azerbaijani mass media, that after
the meeting with Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov
the Turkish MP told journalists, “I am responsible for bringing those
protocols to the agenda of the parliament, and I have decided not to
bring them to the agenda.

Referring to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Volkan Bozkir noted that
Azerbaijan and Turkey have the same position in the issue, and added
that Turkey will not open the Armenian-Turkish border until NK conflict
is settled.

TURKEY MUST ACCEPT ITS MISTAKES: EDITOR OF CNN TURK CALLS ON AUTHORITIES

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 22, 2011
ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL, NOBEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS: Turkish journalist, political
commentator and writer Mehmed Ali Birand, who is the editor of CNN
Turk, stated that Turkey must face its history and accept its mistakes.

Armenpress reports that in the article published in Hurriyet Daily
News, Birand mentions that all the countries face the black pages of
their history sooner or later. “We have not spoken of our past openly
up today. It also concerns the Armenian Cause. Rejecting everything,
we only deceive ourselves,” he stressed and called on the authorities
not to play any more.

The Turkish commentator thinks that Turkey will not save itself,
insisting that “it was committed by the Ottoman Empire”. “The 100th
year of the Armenian events is approaching. If we do not take any
steps, we will not be understood and all the crimes will be put on us.

During his visit to Algeria several years ago Turkish former Prime
Minister Turgut Ozal apologized for the thing that during the French
colonialism period Turkey did not stand up for the liberation fighting
of Algeria. We did not lose because of it, but won. Let’s leave aside
the issues of home politics and look at those events from a wider
side of an angle. Let’s look at the face of the past,” the Turkish
commentator called on the authorities.