Author: Badalian Vardan

mediamax, Armenia
Aug 26 2011

Georgian Ambassador: `It’s not serious to think that Yerevan may ever
recognize the independence of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia’

Thursday 25 August 2011 23:26

Exclusive interview of Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia Tengiz
Sharmanashvili to Mediamax

– Early presidential elections are held in Abkhazia today. What is the
official Tbilisi’s stance in this respect?

– These are illegitimate elections. They are illegitimate in several
aspects. First of all, Abkhazia is not a subject of international law
to conduct elections as in a sovereign state. Secondly, there were
ethnic cleansings there and over 250 000 Georgians as well as
Armenians, Estonians and many Abkhazians themselves had to leave
Abkhazia. Besides, this illegitimate action takes place on the
territories which have been illegally occupied by foreign armed forces
– namely by Russia. We can’t consider elections what is currently
going on in Abkhazia. It is not elections, it is a farce.

– The Abkhazian Foreign Ministry blamed Georgia for `sabotaging’ the
presidential elections stating that `Georgia’s endeavors to hinder the
arrival of European observers in the country is motivated by its
apprehensions that foreign observers will be able to give an
independent assessment to the elections and thus confirm legitimacy
and democracy of the presidential elections in Abkhazia’. What do you
think about it?

– Abkhazia is currently ruled by an absolutely illegitimate power
which is subordinate to the occupation authorities. And the urge of
the international community to adhere to the norms of international
law cannot be considered as sabotage. We have the right to protect our
sovereignty.

-Is it important to Tbilisi which of the three main candidates will be
selected as a President?

– Of course, no. We don’t harbor illusions and we realize very well
that all the three candidates are controlled by Russian special
services. So, it’s of no importance to us who will be elected or
appointed there. We will regard the so-called Abkhazian President as a
representative of illegitimate power reporting to the occupation
forces.

– However, the electoral programs of all the three Abkhazian
presidential candidates contain a point on the need for
re-establishing contacts with Georgia. How would you comment this?

– I don’t know how they envisage it. The whole international community
including Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity of Georgia.
There are 2-3 odious leaders in the world who have recognized
Abkhazia’s independence. They didn’t manage to achieve more than that.
It will never happen if they mean interstate relations when speaking
of re-establishing the relations. If they mean the start of
negotiations between the parties to settle the conflict in accord with
the norms of international law, we have always been ready for it.

– The experts figured out another tendency: unlike 2008 elections when
all the candidates used `Together with Russia’ slogan none of the
current potential candidates has such a slogan. What may it indicate
in your opinion?

– I think feeding people with slogans can’t last for a long time.
Their leaders reiterated that they have achieved real independence and
now they are going to build up their sovereign state which will be a
subject of international law and so on and so forth. What situation
did they find themselves in? Today Abkhazia is Russia’s major military
base. Naturally, tourism can’t develop in such a situation, no
investments are made there. They didn’t achieve any independence: the
criminal situation there is awful, the corruption reached
unprecedented levels and the unemployment rate is very high. And these
authorities cannot do anything for their people as they are completely
dependant on the occupation powers.

– You outlined the situation in Abkhazia. Do you think the situation
in Southern Ossetia is similar to the Abkhazian situation or does
Georgia distinguish between these 2 territorial formations?

– Indeed, there are differences but on the whole everything is the
same. The situation in Southern Ossetia is worse than in Abkhazia.
Very few people have stayed there: everybody strives to leave the
Tskhinvali region: the economy is undermined, the criminal is worse
than in Abkhazia and military bases are being built as well. There are
and will be no prospects for development there. I may sound
tendentious regarding these issues, but even in case a superficial
expert analysis is conducted and the economic development, the
achievements in combating corruption and attracting investments on
these territories and on the rest of Georgia’s territory are compared,
the result will be obvious. Russia is not going to make investments
into the development of these regions. The only sphere where Moscow
will invest funds is the military infrastructure. And many people
begin to figure it out.

– There are opinions in media that the votes of the 50 000-member
Armenian community as the votes of Abkhazians will probably be
distributed among the three candidates in equal proportion and the
other communities are not so big and their votes won’t be crucial. In
this regard, I want to ask the following: does official Tbilisi have a
definite stance towards the Armenian population in Abkhazia?

– We won’t divide our citizens and we regard these people as our
citizens by ethnicity. Approximately the same number of Georgian
population inhabits in Gali district. These people found themselves in
such conditions that they have no opportunities to pariticipate in the
processess going on there. Unfortunately, Georgia can’t influence the
processes unfolding in these regions. Our citizens of Armenian descent
have to vote at these elections, otherwise, they may undergo ethnic
cleansing.

– I would like to know how Tbilisi envisages the future of
Georgian-Russian relations in the current phase? Russian President
Dmitri Medvedev stated in his recent interview that only new the
Georgian Pressident will have an opportunity to establish normal
productive relations with Russia and the current leader Mikhail
Saakashvlini is a person with whom he can’t shake hands. What does
Tbilisi think on this matter?

– We are a sovereign country. If another country’s leader puts forward
conditions stating he will have contacts with you only after you
country accepts the power beneficial for him, you’d better not contact
with them at all. Our President Mikhail Saakashvili said that though
Abzkhazia and Southern Ossetia are occupied Georgia will never try to
deoccupy them by force though it has all the rights to do it in accord
with international legal norms. Moreover, Georgia is ready to sit at
negotiation tabel with the Russian side without any preconditions. We
don’t say: ”First of all, take the troops out of the occupied
territories and then we will come and start a dialogue with you”. So,
it is obvious that our side adheres to all the international
”proprieties”. As for what Russia says and puts forward some
conditions – it is a common talk of an occupier and we are not
surprised by it.

– How actual is the range of Abkhazian and Southern Ossetian problems
in the light of Armenian-Georgian relations? Do you concede a
theoretical possibility that under certain circumstances Armenia may
recognize the independence of Armenia and Southern Ossetia?

– No, we don’t concede it. It’s impossible as throughout many years,
in the hardest moments for us, Armenia never undertook any actions
against Georgia which could have a negative impact on us. Armenia is
ruled by serious pragmatic and farsighted politicians who think about
not only the present moment but the country’s future. In my opinion,
that’s why it is not serious to believe that official Yerevan may ever
recognize the independence of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia.

– Most people think that despite the statements on significant
strengthening of the bilateral relations made by Yerevan and Tbilisi,
Georgia still treats Armenia with distrust due to its close military
and political relations with Russia which is accused of occupying its
territories by Georgia. Moreover, the two neighboring countries
envision and build their security system in their own way: Armenia
associates it more with CSTO whereas Georgia – with European-Atlantic
structures. Do you think there is a ground for these assumptions?

– I think we should get used to it. We remained in the Soviet Union in
our minds and we think that if we are in different military blocs we
can’t befriend each other. Of course, we can. One country simply chose
one direction for its security development and the other – a different
one. This doesn’t mean that we must be enemies. It may be a problem to
those countries and politicians who have preserved the imperial
mindset.

I want to state that today Armenia and Georgia have established
excellent political and economic relations they have never had. We are
ready to move ahead, keep the dynamics in deepening and developing
these relations. As for the security coordinates, Armenia has a
sovereign right to choose its path and we have the right to choose
ours and it will never hinder our relations.

Mediamax’s Aram Araratyan talked to Tengiz Sharmanashvili.

TURKEY’S INCREASINGLY GETTING ISOLATED

Lragir.am

24/08/2011

Is the situation in Syria coming to the head and how could it
influence the Near East and our region? We asked Igor Muradyan,
political scientist, for comment.

All through the protests in Syria the United States and France have
never signaled their wish to topple the Alavi clan. On the contrary,
Bashar al-Assad and his entourage were enabled to strengthen their
position. By almost inaction, the United States tailored the situation
in the Near East to its liking. The United States approved coordination
of actions of Turkey and Saudi which did not spare effort to topple
the Alavi clan but for the single purpose of pressure on Syria.

In fact, there happened what earlier Saudi, along with other states,
including Egypt and the United States, intended to do, namely building
a wall against Turkey’s expansion toward the Near East, which was
Syria. In the past 7-8 years, Turkish and Syrian relations developed
successfully, which worried the United States and the Arab states. Now
they have broken up, and apparently it will last long. The Syrian
elite has experienced Turkish mercy and intentions. As long as Turkey
hasn’t walked on the Shia area, it will not have an opportunity to
boost its influence in the region. At the same time, confidence gap
and hostility have occurred between Iran and Turkey.

Now it’s hard to assess the consequence of Arab revolutions for
Turkey’s prospects but what happened in Egypt and Syria will lead to
Turkey’s isolation in the region. Certainly, the United States and
Turkey bet on the Near East but the Black Sea-Caucasus direction is
important too. Turkey felt in the past few months that without the
U.S. support and participation it cannot fulfill its geopolitical plans
and decided to agree its position with the United States. No doubt,
Turkey will not reject its regional expansion but will try to juxtapose
its interests with the U.S. interests. Turkey gritted its teeth to
accept the U.S. proposal on increasing its presence in the Black Sea
but understood that its restraint led to nothing. The United States
again showed likelihood to implement its goals regarding the Black
Sea with other partners but without Turkey’s immediate participation.

Leaving Turkey out of the Black Sea basin projects was the meaning
of the U.S. policy and the police of establishment of the Third Force.

The U.S. intentions and actions led to partnership between Russia
and Turkey because Ankara felt that it is better to agree than to
disagree with the U.S. policy. All the nations and governments which
still ignore the geopolitical reality and political analysis as such
should understand this.Using the opportunity, I would like to say
the following. Being in a complicated geopolitical situation, Armenia
must focus more on Know How and support small groups engaged in modern
studies. In Armenia, a group of enthusiasts, biologists and physicists,
have created a substance which immediately acts on the content of
oil pipelines. In addition, independent from dynamics, oil in pipes
rapidly turns into a solid substance. It just takes piercing a small
hole in the pipe. Armenia does not possess sufficient armed forces to
destroy oil terminals and pumps. It requires linear destruction of
energy communications which would be impossible to reconstruct. The
Armenian government’s kindness which relies on conventional methods
is criminal, Igor Muadyan said.

MODERN CHECKPOINTS TO BE BUILT AT ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 25, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian government decided on August 25 to
announce a tender for construction works at Bagratashen, Gogavan and
Bavra checkpoints at the border with Georgia.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan informed that the projects have been
already developed with the EU assistance. “The checkpoints will operate
by ‘one-window’ principle and will meet international standards,”
he said.

The PM also noted that similar checkpoints should be at the border
with Iran as well.

RELIGIOUS-MOTIVATED CRIMES INVESTIGATED WITHOUT RELIGIOUS EXPERTS, SAYS OFFICIAL

Tert.am
25.08.11

Vardan Ascatryan, the Head of the Government’s Ethnic Minorities and
Religious Affairs Department, is concerned that religious-motivated
crimes in Armenia are investigated without the involvement of relgous
experts.

Speaking to Tert.am, Ascatryan said that neither the National Security
Service nor the Defense Ministry employ such specialists.

“No such positions exist; neither are there any plans to create them.

But it is a must for both the judiciary and the law enforcement
bodies,” he said, stressing the importance of employing psychologists,
experts and religious specialists in the above agencies.

He noted further that their Department is the only government agency
that exercises the functions of an expert body, without however,
being involved the processes.

“I would explain that by the absence of precedents. The law enforcement
system does not yet admit the role of religious expertise,” he added.

AMBASSADOR: FRENCH MPS’ VISIT TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONTRADICT INTERNATIONAL NORMS
S. Agayeva

Trend
Aug 24, 2011
Azerbaijan

French MPs’ visit to Nagorno Karabakh contradicts international norms,
the Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbeyov said.

“The fact that MPs of several countries, in particular the French MPs,
illegally visit Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenia, is a
legal violation. Azerbaijan will not tolerate such actions. Second,
these actions are contrary to the norms and principles of international
law. Nagorno Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and recognized
by the international community, including France”, Amirbeyov told
Trend.

Earlier, several media outlets reported that French MPs Guy Teissier,
Jacques Remile, Georges Colombier, and Valerie Boyer, have visited
the Azerbaijani territories, occupied by Armenia, and have met with
the leadership of the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Paris presented a note protesting the French
Foreign Ministry in connection with the French MPs’ illegal visit to
the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, First Secretary of
the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elman Abdullayev earlier told Trend.

Amirbeyov believes that the second point of importance is the
irresponsible behavior of some French parliamentarians, who hurt the
two countries’ relationships. “These actions again emphasize these
politicians’ dependence on the electorate. In this case, from Armenian
voters compactly living in their constituencies”, Amirbeyov emphasized.

“Finally, all these steps will not be left without traces for these
people, because in accordance with Azerbaijani legislation, these
people outlaw themselves accordingly, and are automatically included
in the list of persona non grata in Azerbaijan”, Amirbeyov said.

It is unlikely that such actions can contribute to the improvement of
bilateral relations, even at the parliamentary level, given the fact
that bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and France have remained
positive in recent years. Future relations will continue to develop
in the near future, he added.

He said Paris’s position is very important for Azerbaijan, which
again was immediately voiced both by Foreign Ministry officials and
the Foreign Ministry spokesman, who reconfirmed France’s unchanged
position.

The French side has officially confirmed its stance, stating that this
visit is not carried out per request of the French National Assembly,
but on personal initiative of the Chairman of the French Assembly’s
defense and armed forces committee Guy Tessier. Tessier, who led
the delegation, is the mayor of the ninth and tenth arrondissement
of Marseille, which is densely populated by Armenians. The French
MPs’ illegal visit to the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories,
does not commit Paris to anything and does not change its position,
French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bernard Valero stated.

“It is regrettable that people who do not know anything about
the region or the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
yielding to provocations of certain circles, including their voters,
take these sorts of steps. We regret over it and it will not be left
without consequences”, Amirbeyov said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

ICRC DOES NOT RECEIVE ANY APPEAL ON RETURN OF INDIVIDUALS IN CAPTIVITY IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
K.Zarbaliyeva

Trend
Aug 24, 2011
Azerbaijan

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has not received
appeal from sides regarding return of POWs and civilians in captivity
in Armenia and Azerbaijan, ICRC Defense Program Coordinator in
Azerbaijan Sylvie Grenisher said in an interview with media outlets.

He said the ICRC does not interfere in talks on return of captives
and helps in this process only if there is the conflict sides’
consent and appeals.

“If the conflict sides appeal to us in connection with return of POWs
and civilians in captivity, we help them to realize this process.

Repatriation of captivated individuals is carried out only in case
when they agree to return to their country. At present, the ICRC has
not received appeals from the conflict sides regarding return of POWs
and civilians in captivity,” Grenisher said.

Armenian armed forces captured Azerbaijani Army Sergeant Roman Huseinov
on Aug. 27, 2010.

Previously, there are three Armenian POWs and members of the Armenian
family in captivity in Azerbaijan.

Previously, Azerbaijan transferred three Armenian soldiers to the
third party at their behest.

Working under the Geneva Convention, the ICRC has been operating in
the region since 1992 in connection with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

ARMENIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL HOPES CRIMINAL GANG OPERATING IN YEREVAN WILL SOON BE NEUTRALIZED

news.am
Aug 24, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Attorney General of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan hopes that
the organized armed gang acting in Yerevan will soon be exposed and
eliminated, he said at a press conference on Wednesday.

According to Hovsepyan, Prosecutor’s office held joint meeting with
the police on the subject, where they combined several cases with
similar handwriting.

“Given that all these crimes are committed by an organized armed group,
I ordered to re-qualify them from robbery to banditry,” said Hovsepyan.

As previously reported, five criminal cases on attacks in various
districts of the capital are combined into one process. The attacks
were registered early in the mornings, around 04:30-06:00. About 5
armed criminals, all dressed in black, wearing black masks and gloves,
stole large scales of money from well-known people.

SEFILIAN SAYS HAK ACTIVISTS REJECTED HIS PROPOSAL OVER PUBLIC DEBATE

Tert.am
24.08.11

Zhirayr Sefilian, the coordinator of the Sardarapat movement, has said
that his proposal to hold public discussion with young activists of
the opposition Armenian National Congress, or HAK, has been rejected.

In a status on his Facebook account posted on Wednesday, Sefilian
said that: “I would like to mention the following related to the
statement by Vahagn Gevorgyan made on August 23 this year: the debate
that started in public should have ended in public too, even if it
would by some circles be deemed a show.”

“In fact, my proposal for public debate was rejected,” Sefilian added.

It comes after Sefilian invited young activists of the HAK to a public
discussion either in Friday Club or on Liberty Square in Yerevan at
1pm on August 25. He had said that the HAK activists were free to
choose another venue.

Vahagn Gevorgyan had earlier told Tert.am that the format proposed
by Sefilian resembles a show, adding that for the same reason they
insist on holding the debate in HAK’s headquarters.

“And if Sefilian has some complexes with the office of the Congress
[HAK], then we can meet him anywhere, without preserving the elements,
the public background of this show,” Gevorgyan had said.

NEITHER ARMENIA NOR AZERBAIJAN INTERESTED IN MADRID PRINCIPLES – EXPERT

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – We have a situation, when Madrid principles are no longer
of any interest for either of conflicting parties. Contrary to the
Armenian side which does not put this fact boldly, Azerbaijan does
not hide it, political scientist Suren Zolyan told a press conference
on Thursday.

“Given the militaristic statements of Azerbaijan’s president, one
can assert if the negotiations have not reached a deadlock, it would
certainly take long to figure out what exactly will be the core issue
of further negotiations,” said the expert.

According to him, status quo is advantageous to Armenia, as well as
the international community.

“No doubt, status quo is advantageous tArmenia, while international
community wants to ensure stability in the South Caucasus,” said
Zolyan, adding that compromises are not acceptable to Azerbaijan in
this conflict and that country wants everything at once.

ARMENIAN FM ON LAST MINUTE GLITCH CAUSED BY TURKISH SIDE

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

WikiLeaks published a letter sent by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton immediately
after signing of Armenian-Turkish protocols.

In his letter Nalbandian reiterated Armenia’s readiness to respect
its obligations deriving from the Protocols.

“A last minute glitch caused by the Turkish side in Zurich clearly
demonstrated that we now need to focus on the subsequent phases of
normalization of relations in order to keep the positive momentum
and prevent developments that can potentially derail the process,”
the letter says.

Armenian FM believes that once ratified and properly implemented
the documents will provide foundation for the relationship between
Armenia and Turkey and could be beneficial for the entire region of
South Caucasus.

“After more than a year of hard work the sides reached very important
but at the same time still very fragile stage of the normalization
process and your support is very important not to lose the historic
chance for reconciliation between the two peoples,” he added.