Author: Badalian Vardan

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.

ARMENIA PREPARING TO MARK 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

Panorama
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

Armenia is going to hold a series of festive events to mark the 20th
anniversary of independence. Event coordinator, deputy head of the
Armenian presidential administration, Vigen Sargsyan presented the
details and accents of the prepared events at a meeting with reporters.

“The festivities accentuate the idea that Armenia’s present and future
depends on each of us,” Sargsyan said.

The events will be held under the motto “Armenia is Yourself,” the
logo is “2011” where figure “11” is symbolic and bears resemblance
to Armenian letters “Õ~@Õ~@” (RA).

The festivities will start in September 21 morning with a military
parade in Yerevan’s Republic Square. Solemn service will be offered
at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church and “unprecedented sound and
light show and fireworks” are scheduled to be held in Republic Square
in the evening.

The “exclusively beautiful” concert will host the State Philharmonic
Orchestra of Armenia, the State Academic Choir of Armenia, Armenian
President’s Guard of Honor Orchestra, “Little Singers of Armenia”
choir. 1.5 hour concert will feature works by Armenian composers,
to the accompaniment of pictures created with lighting effects on
the main buildings in Republic Square.

Armenian regions will also host festive events on this day.

The festivities will last through autumn. After September 21,
events will be organized by state structures, various organizations,
diplomatic missions of Armenia abroad and Armenian communities in
different countries around the world.

A series of events – exhibitions, concerts and forums – are scheduled
ahead of September 21. Three songs have been written on the occasion of
the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence – “Armenia is Yourself,”
“My Name is Armenia,” and “Armenia” with three music videos, nine
reels, and placards.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT ATTENDS CLOSING CEREMONY OF “BAZE” YOUTH CAMP

news.am
Aug 25, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan attended the closing
ceremony of “Baze-2011” youth camp in Yerevan’s Liberty Square
on Wednesday, the presidential press service informed Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

“Baze” youth camp launched in Byurakan in Armenia. In its frameworks
more than 700 Armenians at the age of 18-30 from Yerevan, Armenian
regions and Diaspora lived in camps and participated in sport and
cultural events.

RUSSIA’S STANCE AGAINST SELLING IRAN S-300 DEFENSE SYSTEMS

AZG
26-08-2011

Iran announced Aug. 24 that it has filed a suit in the International
Court of Justice to force Russia to sell it the S-300 strategic
air defense system, per a 2007 contract between the two. Moscow has
refused to sell Iran the system, citing U.N. sanctions against Tehran,
though it has other political reasons for withholding sale of the
system. Russia could change its mind about the sale, depending on
negotiations with the West, and Iran’s ability to acquire the S-300s
from Russia cannot be ruled out, Stratfor Global Intelligence reported.

Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Mahmoud Sajadi, told Russian news agencies
that Iran does not believe the air defense systems fall under the
U.N. sanctions and expects the court to authorize the delivery of
the S-300s.

Russia has withheld delivery of the S-300 to Iran for political
reasons. In addition to the U.N. sanctions, Moscow’s potential sale
of the license to manufacture the systems to China gives it even
more reason not to sell to Tehran. However, depending on changes in
the political climate, Russia could decide to sell surplus S-300s to
Iran through a third-party country.

The S-300 is considered one of the world’s premier air defense systems
(ranking close to the U.S. Patriot missile system). Russia has sold
S-300s to most of the former Soviet states and to other countries
including China and North Korea. Some states that are unfriendly to
the West – Iran, Venezuela and others – have long wanted to acquire
the missile system. However, Russia has never completed delivery of
the S-300 to Iran, despite the agreement between the countries.

The promise of the sale of the S-300 system to Iran has served as
leverage for Moscow in its negotiations with the United States, and
Moscow does not want to lose that leverage. Furthermore, actually
delivering the missile systems to Iran would cause a major break in
relations between Russia and the West at a time when Russia is looking
to the West for assistance in modernizing several of its strategic
economic sectors, increasing cooperation with the United States and
strengthening its relationships with Western European powers.

Moscow now has another reason not to send Iran S-300s: Russia will
stop producing the system this year, according to STRATFOR sources.

Russia has been replacing its S-300s with the next-generation S-400s
for the past few years. Russia reportedly is ahead of schedule on
completing the S-500 missile system, which will be ready for serial
production by the end of 2012. There is simply no need for Russia
to continue producing the S-300. Also, STRATFOR sources have said,
Russia has been negotiating with China for several weeks to sell the
license for producing S-300s exclusively to the Chinese.

Russia will still have some S-300s to sell – those already produced
and those that Moscow is replacing with S-400s. This means that if
Russia should change its mind about selling the systems to Iran – and
it could shift its stance as needed, based on how negotiations with
the West progress – it will have a supply to draw from. If Moscow does
make such a shift, it could sell the S-300s to Iran via a third party.

Russia is planning to replace S-300s with S-400s in its allied
neighboring countries, like Belarus, Armenia and Kazakhstan – countries
Russia has commonly used as a cover to sell politically sensitive
military supplies. Any Iranian officials’ visits to such countries
could indicate whet her Russia is in fact delivering the S-300s to
Iran, as Tehran’s ability to acquire the system cannot be ruled out.

CONDUCTOR INSULTING NAREK HAKHNAZARYAN DEMANDED TO RESIGN (VIDEO)

Tert.am
25.08.11

The head of the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Mark Gorenstein,
who had offended Armenian musician Narek Hakhnazaryan, is demanded
to leave his position.

According to reports, a group of musicians sent a letter to Russia’s
Ministry of Culture, demanding his resignation.

Gorenstein said in an interview with the Russian Echo Moskvy that
the letter to the ministry is a provocation.

“This step is in the interest of someone at the ministry,” said he.

“And the musicians are a tool to achieve that goal.”

Gorenstein did not give the names of those musicians who allegedly
sent a letter to the ministry.

Gorenstein had during a rehearsal insulted Narek Hakhnazaryan, but
apologized afterwards.

MARTEN YORGANTZ: EVERYBODY IN THE STREET CALLS ME “CHKUYTIK”

ARMENPRESS
August 25, 2011
YEREVAN

French-Armenian popular singer Marten Yorgantz is in Armenia with
a concert program. This year he has decided to give concerts for
province people. “The people and children outside Yerevan are deprived
of concerts: that is why I decided to hold concerts in provinces,”
the singer said at the meeting with journalists, adding that the
program will involve new songs.

Yorgantz noted that he is very happy for singing for children. “I do
not sing for children in foreign countries very much, but here they
give me the love of singing for them. Everybody calls me “chkuytik”
in the street,” the singer said, adding with delight that children’s
family members attend his concerts, too.

Martin Yorgantz noted that his songs are very simple, that is for
children. The song list surely changes with time, but the most favorite
songs remain the oldest ones. There is nothing planned,” he said.

The songs involved in the concert are Armenian. The singer noted
that when he comes Armenia, it is better to sing in Armenian. Two
musicians accompany Marten Yorgantz.

He briefly presented his life to the young people who participated
in his concerts in time. “My biography is a bit mixed. I was born
in Constantinople, attended Mkhitaryan Seminary,” the singer noted,
saying that he loved music when he was still a schoolchild.

He recorded 24 albums in different languages, mostly in Armenian,
Italian and French. Among his well-known hits are “Chkuytik”,
“Hayi Achker”, “Hayeren Ergenk”, “Ayp, Pen, Kim”, “Ay Maral Maral”,
“Partir pour ne plus revenir” and others.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS LAW SCHOOL PUBLISHES A NEW STUDY BY DADRIAN

August 24th, 2011

Minneapolis-The latest issue of the Journal of Law and Public Policy
(vol.5, no.1) contains a new study, in which Prof. Vahakn Dadrian,
the Zoryan Institute’s Director of Genocide Research, analyzes the
Armenian Genocide in a new context. Titled, “The Armenian Genocide:
A Review of its Historical, Political, and Legal Aspects,” the
article deals with the historical and political underpinnings of the
criminality of the Armenian Genocide.

This extensive article, some 60-pages long, including 118 footnotes,
is based on official Ottoman-Turkish sources, including several
issues of Takvim-i Vekâyi, the legal organ of the Ottoman Parliament,
which documented the post-World War I Military Tribunals prosecuting
the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide. Thus, Dadrian anchors
his documentary analysis on prima facie evidentiary material. That
material is reinforced by a wealth of corroborative material from the
official archives of Imperial Germany and Imperial Austria-Hungary,
Turkey’s political and military wartime allies. Dadrian also draws
on the work of several contemporary Turkish authors.

“Dadrian’s extraordinary command of the languages and the sources
make him unsurpassed in his ability to reconstruct and analyze the
fundamental historical, political and legal issues related to the
study of the Armenian Genocide,” remarked K.M. Greg Sarkissian,
President of the Zoryan Institute.

A brief review of the pre-genocidal era explores the historical pattern
of impunity with which the whole gamut of decision-makers, organizers,
and actual perpetrators of the series of massacres were rewarded. These
were inflicted upon the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire in
the periods of 1894-96, 1903-1904, and in 1909 in Adana. The paramount
fact of impunity served to underscore the role of the factor of victim
vulnerability as a major determinant in genocidal decision making. In
fact, as Dadrian points out, it served to embolden the decision makers
and implementers of the ensuing World War I genocide.

Another crucial factor in the unfolding of the wartime scheme of
genocide was the devastating set of circumstances attending the
crushing military defeats the Ottomans suffered in the 1912 First
Balkan War. The anguish, misery, and most particularly the brutality
of the victorious Christian armies of the Balkan peninsula inflicted
upon the destitute Muslim masses trying to escape proved to be a major
detriment in targeting later the vulnerable Armenian population of
the Ottoman Empire through spasms of delayed revenge. Indeed, a large
part of the perpetrator groups involved in the World War I Armenian
cataclysm were dispossesed, bitter, and hateful Muslim refugees of
the previous Balkan war.

The Armenian Genocide is depicted in this study as a direct consequence
of the adoption of a radical ideology, the main architects and
implementers of which were the leadership cadres of these massive
clusters of Balkan refugees.

Among the range of factors facilitating the actual enactment of the
Genocide is the factor of opportunity. Given the complex nature of
the crime of genocide, the author maintains that optimal success
in the organization of the crime requires optimal opportunism. Not
only the leeways and resources of the perpetrator are to be the least
restrained, but, equally important, the vulnerability of the targeted
victim is to be at a fairly high level. Wars, especially global wars,
tend in this respect to afford almost maximal opportunities. Wartime
exigencies tend, as a rule, to not only maximize the vulnerability
of the victim group that is constrained through its minority status,
but at the same time complicate and often constrain the problem of
outside intervention in favour of the targeted victim.

Wars are especially suitable avenues of opportunism on account of the
rise to instrumental prominence of the military cadres of a potential
perpetrator camp. Through them, violence is not only concentrated among
experts, but even more important, such violence has per tradition,
the sanction of quasi-legitimacy, if not full legitimacy, in the
application of lethal violence against targets defined by legitimate
authority as “internal foes.” It is a notable fact that the two
major genocides of the last century, the Armenian and the Jewish,
were consummated during two global wars.

One of the most outstanding features of the Armenian Genocide involves
its economic dimensions, through which a massive transfer of wealth,
from the victim to the perpetrator, took place. In this sense, the
genocide emerges here doubly functional. The physical elimination
of the victim population ends up yielding the emergence of a new
source of wealth, and with it new cadres of wealthy classes in the
perpetrator camp. In the section on Expropriation & Confiscation
of Goods and Assets, the author documents and analyzes with ample
source-material the specifics of this lethal operation of transfer
of wealth from the victim to the perpetrator.

The entire essay instructively ends with an evocation of the
paramountcy of law as a regulator of human conduct, and as such as a
humanizing ingredient of civil life. It invokes Aristotle’s dictum
that: “When separated from law and justice, man is the worst of
all animals.”