Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIANS OF AMERICA TO PUT KHACHKAR AT GRAVE OF CIVIL WAR ARMENIAN SOLIDER

news.am
Sept 27 2011
Armenia

This week, members throughout the Philadelphia area Armenian-American
community will gather at the grave of Khachadour Paul Garabedian, the
U.S. Civil War’s only Armenian combat soldier, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly).

The Philadelphia Armenian-American Veterans’ Association will host
a special dedication ceremony Saturday afternoon at the Armenian
khachkar properly marking Garabedian’s grave site.

“Garabedian met his adopted country’s challenges and received its
blessings, and in return he was moved to answer its call and serve
the Union in the Civil War.

He is a reminder of what an important role Armenian-Americans have
played in our nation’s history, and as a veteran he is particularly
deserving of our respect. I am glad that he could finally be properly
honored with this memorial and that his story will continue to inspire
all Americans in the future,” said Paul Sookiasian, the Assembly’s
Armenian-American Action Committee (ARAMAC) Philadelphia Chair.

SYDNEY SEMINARY STUDENTS VISITED ARMENIA AND MET ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS

news.am
Sept 27 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian Catholicos Karekin II on Tuesday met students of
Hamazkaine Arshak and Sophie Galstaun School from Sydney, Australia,
and blessed them, Holy Sea press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“I believe that the visit will stay long in your memories being proud
of your identity. You will return even more encouraged to continue
your studies, become valuable people and participate in the progress
of Armenian life,” the Catholicos stated and asked to keep the love
for the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian identity.

The Catholicos responded to the students’ questions regarding current
life of the Armenian Church and its mission assumed for the Armenian
nation.

Total of 35 students of the Hamazgaine visited Armenia on the occasion
of the 25th anniversary of the seminary.

IS TURKEY’S FOREIGN POLICY BECOMING HAWKISH?

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government introduced
a foreign policy of “zero problems with neighbors.”

This policy has been pursued in Turkey’s relations with Syria, Greece
and even with Armenia. Except in the case of Armenia, Turkey has
achieved great progress in its relations with other countries. The
“zero problem” policy is one that increases security and welfare
using peaceful and constructive language; however, Turkey’s attitude
toward Israel, Greek Cyprus and Syria has recently begun to create
the impression that the country is adopting a hawkish stance in its
foreign policy. Is this really the case? I had the chance to discuss
this issue with the figures who set the language of Turkey’s foreign
policy. They said their goal is not to adopt a hawkish style but
acknowledged that some developments have led to such a perception.

LIEBERMAN HITS BACK AT ERDOGAN, SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS TERROR

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

In strong remarks against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
recent criticism of Israel during an interview with CNN International,
Israeli Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman accused Erdogan’s government
of “supporting and nurturing terror.”

“Anyone who saw CNN yesterday saw Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan once
again verbally attack the state of Israel,” said Lieberman. “We have
no problems with Turkey who, for years was a friendly country, we were
partners and cooperated in a number of fields including defense and
economy,” he was quoted as saying by Israel’s Ynet website on Tuesday.

“We certainly respect the Turkish nation and Turkey as a state, our
problem is first and foremost with the current Turkish leadership
— the radical and extremist Islamist leadership that supports and
nurtures terror,” he added.

Lieberman also argued that Erdogan’s appearance on CNN Sunday was
“excellent” for Israel. “If you ask what we can do PR wise, I’d buy
each and every media outlet and let Erdogan speak all day and all
night. Every time he speaks on TV he brings more support for the
state of Israel,” he said.

During the CNN interview, Erdogan said Turkey’s relations with Israel
will not normalize unless the current atmosphere changes considerably.

“Turkish-Israeli relations are broken due to tension Israel itself
escalated, which began with the Israeli raid on a flotilla carrying
humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish prime minister, known to be highly critical of Israel’s
policies regarding Palestine, said Israel has killed hundreds and
thousands of Palestinians, while Palestinian rockets and bombs have
killed only a few Israelis. He also accused Israel of using the
Holocaust to perpetuate the idea that “they are the victims all
the time.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was highly critical of
Erdogan’s CNN remarks, saying his claims are “outrageous and false.”

“These are outrageous charges against Israel that have nothing to do
with the facts,” Netanyahu told the Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu argued that “Israel has lost thousands of its citizens
to Palestinian terrorism, and certainly has not taken the lives of
hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.” “I regret that we hear these
statements from the leader of Turkey,” he added.

Regarding Erdogan’s comments about the Holocaust, Netanyahu said,
“We don’t use the Holocaust; the Holocaust was the worst crime in
history perpetuated against our people.” “To hear this allegation
at the beginning of the 21st century, just 60 years after Holocaust,
is outrageous,” he added.

Relations between Turkey and Israel, two close US allies in the region,
have soured since Israeli forces boarded the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara
aid ship in May 2010. Ankara downgraded ties and vowed to boost naval
patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean in the escalating row. Turkey
has demanded compensation and an apology from Israel regarding the
deadly flotilla attack, but Israel refuses to do so.

TURKEY INTRODUCES FIRST SELF-PRODUCED WARSHIP AMIDST EAST MED TENSION

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

Turkey on Tuesday announced that its first domestically produced
warship, the Heybeliada, is operational in a ceremony held at the
Ä°stanbul Naval Shipyard Command amidst ongoing tension over a Greek
Cypriot drive to explore gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking during the ceremony, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
proudly said Turkey has taken its place among 10 countries that can
design and construct warships, as he introduced the warship. Recalling
that the Heybeliada, a patrol and anti-submarine warship produced by
the Ä°stanbul Naval Shipyard Command, was constructed in three years
as part of the National Ship (MÄ°LGEM) project, Erdogan said he is
pleased to see that the government did indeed take a correct step
with the MÄ°LGEM project.

The delivery of the Heybeliada to the Turkish navy comes amidst
the country’s efforts to protect its own interests in the Eastern
Mediterranean in the face of a gas row with the Greek Cypriot
government. Turkey has decided to begin its own gas exploration project
in the Eastern Mediterranean and to boost its military presence in the
region after the Greek Cypriot government vowed to go ahead with its
plans to drill for gas south of Cyprus. Last week, Turkey marked its
marine borders with Turkish Cyprus for offshore oil and gas drilling
and a Turkish seismic research ship began exploring for gas on Tuesday
near Cyprus.

Turkey said Turkish naval ships could escort Turkish energy exploration
ships in the Mediterranean, raising the possibility of a naval
confrontation. “We will try all channels of peace but we will also
protect our country’s interests until the end,” Erdogan said during
the ceremony commenting on the gas row.

Turkey also earlier vowed to take measures to ensure freedom of
navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean in the face of Israel’s
refusal to apologize to Turkey over a deadly raid in 2010 on an aid
ship trying to break the blockade of Gaza, which resulted in the
deaths of eight Turks and a Turkish-American. Erdogan said earlier
that Turkish frigates and assault boats might be sent to the Eastern
Mediterranean at any time to ensure freedom of navigation, raising
the possibility of a naval confrontation with Israel.

Tuesday’s ceremony also marked the sending of the MÄ°LGEM project’s
second ship, Buyukada, to sea for trial. The MÄ°LGEM project stands
as a turning point for Turkey, as it marks the first corvette-class
warship designed by Turkish naval engineers.

Both the software and hardware of the corvette’s war management systems
were also developed domestically and much of the equipment was designed
by domestic companies. Around 38 Turkish private sector companies
were involved in the production of the Heybeliada’s sub-systems. The
prototype cost close to $260 million to build.

The construction of the Heybeliada began on Jan. 22, 2007 and it has
undergone comprehensive sea trials since 2008. Harpoon missiles as
well as RAM PDMS air-guided missile defense systems are among the
warship’s features. The systems and sub-systems developed for the
ship include 3-D detection and tracking radars, degaussing systems,
fire-control radars, hull-mounted sonar, naval guns, navigation radars
and torpedo countermeasure systems.

UN’S BAN SAYS NATURAL RESOURCES OF CYPRUS BELONG TO BOTH COMMUNITIES

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
had talks in New York on Tuesday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has confirmed during a meeting with
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that natural resources of
Cyprus island belong to both Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities,
a view Turkey voiced in the past few months as a response to unilateral
offshore drilling by Greek Cypriots in eastern Mediterranean.

Ban and Davutoglu had talks in New York on Tuesday where two leaders
discussed a variety of developments in the region, including recent
developments in eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey is using its navy and air force to escort a ship conducting
oil and gas exploration off Cyprus in the latest development in
a disagreement over the ownership of the disputed island nation’s
natural resources.

Cyprus is divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot
north. The southern administration began exploratory drilling for
oil and gas last week, prompting strong protests from Turkey, which
doesn’t recognize the Greek Cypriot administration.

In response, Turkey signed an oil and gas exploration deal with the
Turkish Cypriots and sent a Turkish research ship to the Mediterranean
to start exploration. Turkish Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey.

“We will try all channels of peace, but we will also protect our
country’s interests until the end,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan of Turkey said on Tuesday at an unrelated ceremony to mark
the delivery of the first Turkish-made corvette warship to the navy.

The Turkish research ship, Koca Piri Reis, began its exploration on
Monday, but Turkish and Turkish Cypriots officials refused to reveal
the ship’s exact location then.

Greek Cyprus licensed US-based Noble Energy Inc. to search for
oil and gas near recently discovered Israeli offshore fields that
contain more than 450 billion cubic meters (15.9 trillion cubic feet)
of natural gas. Greek Cyprus is exploring areas, around 115 miles
(185 kilometers) off Cyprus, near where Israel discovered gas.

Turkey says any natural resources found offshore should belong to
both communities.

State-run Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday that diplomatic
sources said Davutoglu briefed Ban on progress on peace talks
between Cypriots to reunify the long divided island and developments
surrounding the eastern Mediterranean. Ban also told Davutoglu that
he will convene both Cypriot leaders in October in New York.

Ban and Davutoglu also exchanged views on Somalia, Libya, Syria,
recent developments over Cyprus and UN’s flotilla report.

Diplomatic sources said UN Secretary General thanked Davutoglu for
Turkey’s contribution to aid campaign to Somalia, while Turkish foreign
minister briefed Ban on Turkey’s effort to eradicate poverty in the
Horn of Africa.

Ban also stressed during the meeting that Turkey is a leading country
in Libya and both officials exchanged views on the latest developments
in Syria and Libya.

Officials also discussed UN’s flotilla report and Davutoglu reportedly
reiterated Turkey’s position on the report.

FM: NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION MUST START WITH WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Trend
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is confident that the conflict resolution must start with
the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories
of Nagorno Karabakh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Elmar Mamedyarov said in his speech during the UN General Assembly
on Tuesday.

“Azerbaijan is confident that the conflict resolution must start
with the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied
territories within the fixed time-table and follow by the restoration
of communications, return of refugees and internally displaced persons
and creation of conditions for peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis
and Armenians in the Nagorno Karabakh region within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan,” Mamedyarov said.

According to Mamedyarov, this step-by-step approach, which has been
proposed by the mediators and supported by the international community,
except, unfortunately, the leadership of Armenia, can bring durable
peace, stability and predictability to the region.

Mamedyarov welcomed the adoption at the sixty-fifth session of the
General Assembly a resolution on s trengthening the role of mediation
in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and
resolution. “In this document, the General Assembly r eiterated that
all Member States should strictly adhere to their obligations as laid
down in the UN Charter and r eaffirmed, inter alia, the commitment
to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political
independence of all States.

Azerbaijan looks forward to the relevant guidance for more effective
mediation, as it was indicated in the resolution, and we are ready
to actively contribute to its elaboration,” said Mamedyarov .

“Unfortunately, we have to admit that not all States approach
responsibly to their international obligations and comply with
the generally accepted norms and principles of international law,”
minister added.

“For almost two decades we have been facing the flagrant violation of
the UN Charter and other documents of international law by the Republic
of Armenia, which perpetrated aggression against the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” the minister
underscored. “As a result of this aggression, almost 20 percent of
the territory of Azerbaijan continues to remain under occupation and
about 1 million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons
are unable to return to their homes.”

Mamedyarov noted that in 1993, the United Nations Security Council
adopted four resolutions, which demanded the immediate, complete and
unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from all the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders
of Azerbaijan. The same appeals were made also by other international
organizations. “Unfortunately, Armenia continues to ignore the calls
of the international community.”

According to Mamedyarov, what is even more worrisome is that, instead
of preparing its people for peace, prosperous and stable future in
friendship and cooperation with neighboring countries, the leadership
of Armenia continues to publicly incite the future generations to
new wars, violence and aggression and propagate by all means the
dangerous ideas of animosity and hatred towards not only Azerbaijan,
but also other peoples of the region.

Mamedyarov said illegal activities in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan , including i mplantation of ethnic Armenian settlers
as well as destruction and appropriation of historical and cultural
heritage, represent another source of serious concern. “Such activities
serve to further consolidation of the current status quo of the
occupation, securing the results of ethnic cleansing and colonization
of the seized lands, as well as seriously hamper the perspectives of
the conflict resolution,” Mamedyarov said. “Earlier in this hall we
have witnessed a very aggressive and unconstructive statement of the
President of Armenia. He openly confirmed this destructive policy
of Armenia.”

The Field Assessment Mission (FAM), conducted by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs last October to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,
stated, inter alia, that the status quo of the occupation is
unacceptable and urged Armenia to put an end to its illegal practices
in these territories, he said.

“As a country suffering from the occupation of its territories
and the forcible displacement of hundreds of thousands of its
citizens, Azerbaijan is the most interested party in the earliest
negotiated settlement of the conflict. Our position is well known
to the international community and is based on strict adherence to
the norms and principles of international law, according to which
the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible and must be
rejected resolutely and unconditionally”-said Mamedyarov in his speech.

According to Mamedyarov, it is absolutely illogical when the leadership
of Armenia, who has implemented the total ethnic cleansing of not only
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, but also its own territory
from their Azerbaijani population, is trying to apply the principle
of self-determination. It is obvious that one cannot expel peoples
from their homes on ethnic ground and, at the same time, speak about
self-determination on the same ground for those remained.

“Azerbaijan recognizes that the right of peoples to self-determination
can be implemented only and only at all times in conformity with
the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and with the relevant
norms of international law, including those relating to territorial
integrity of States, as it is enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act,”
Mamedyarov added.

Azerbaijan still maintains its interest, motivation and patience in
this very hard and sensitive process of negotiations, he said. “We
believe that the international community will convince the Armenian
side to respect the generally accepted norms and principles of
international law and cease abusing the right of Azerbaijanis to live
within their own territory, including the Nagorno Karabakh region. In
return, we are ready to guarantee the highest level of self-rule for
this region within the Republic of Azerbaijan,” he added.

AZERBAIJANI FM: ARMENIA’S POSITION DOOMS TALKS TO FAILURE

Trend
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan

Armenia’s political leadership’s unreadiness to liberate Azerbaijan’s
occupied territories peacefully and inability to demonstrate the
will doomed the talks to failure, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf
Khalafov said during the reception of the delegation headed by the
California Senate Environmental Quality Committee chairman, Senator
Joseph Simitian in Baku.

Deputy Minister considered the continuation of Armenia’s aggressive
policy as a major obstacle to restoring peace and stability in the
region He said that the results of aggression are not accepted by
the world community, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

By providing the comprehensive information about the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Khalafov said that Armenia usually voices the territorial
claims to neighboring countries. Armenia’s aggressive policy
contributes to its isolation from the regional projects.

Azerbaijan and the U.S. have the strategic partnership, he said.

Khalafov said that the efforts are made to intensify cooperation with
the State of California in all areas. The important projects are
implemented in the South Caucasus and the Caspian Sea basin within
the initiative and direct participation of Azerbaijan, Khalafov said.

He stressed that Azerbaijan and the U.S. continue cooperating on
global and regional issues.

They successfully cooperate in the fight against international
terrorism.

WE HOPE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL BE SETTLED ON THE BASIS OF NORMS AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Today
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan

We hope that the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict will
be settled peacefully and on the basis of the norms and principles
of international law, the visiting California`s State Senator Joe
Simitian stated.

The Senator stressed importance of the Californian legislators`
visit to Azerbaijan. He said during the visit they had held several
fruitful meetings. “We intend to get to know your country better,”
Simitian added.

“INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT” BOOK PRESENTED IN BUDAPEST

Today
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan

Presentation of the book “International law and the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict” by ambassador of Azerbaijan to Moldova Namig Aliyev was
held at the embassy of Azerbaijan to Hungary.

The book has been published in Tbilisi in the Russian and English
languages.

The author gives comprehensive scientific materials on a number
of legal problems of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, proving groundlessness of the Armenian territorial claims
to Azerbaijan.

At the presentation also was speaking ambassador of Azerbaijan to
Hungary Vilayet Guliyev, deputy head of the Committee on International
Relations of the Parliament of Hungary Marton Dendesi, the Hungarian
diplomat Endre Erdos, Moldova`s ambassador to Hungary Alexander
Codreanu and others.