Author: Badalian Vardan

BAKU WANTS PEACE FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
March 16 2015

16 March 2015, 16:07 (GMT+04:00)
By Mushvig Mehdiyev

Azerbaijan has once again voiced its willingness to be actively
involved in negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace project, in
an effort to succeed in brokering a breakthrough agreement towards
the resolution of the conflict.

Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan is ready to start
working on a peace agreement in view of solving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict based on a specific timetable, at a meeting with Rapporteur
of the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe, Robert Walter on March 13.

Mammadyarov noted that as a first step towards the conflict resolution,
Armenian armed forces must withdraw from the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan in keeping with international law and UNSC resolutions.

“Armenia continues to demonstrate a non-constructive position, to
carry out an aggressive policy and to protract the settlement of the
conflict,” he noted.

Focusing on the negotiation process attempting to settle the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict via the mediation of
the co-chairs of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Minsk Group, the diplomats exchanged their respective views.

The Minsk Group of the OSCE stands for a mediation role to achieve
an end to the festering Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between the two
neighboring South Caucasus nations. Peaceful settlement of the
conflict is a top priority for the group and an armed attempt to
solve the issue is unequivocally inadmissible in the group’s agenda.

Nonetheless, the Minsk Group has not yet achieved peace, despite over
two decades of acting as a conciliator.

Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Baku reiterated the White House’s
support to the efforts exerted by the OSCE Minsk Group toward the
settlement of the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Robert Cekuta emphasized the OSCE Minsk
Group is an important format and that the settlement of the conflict
lies on both actors’ shoulders.

“The parties should have a political will in light of ensuring a
progress in the conflict’s settlement,” said Cekuta.

He added that the U.S., in turn, will keep on supporting all
negotiation endeavors conducted by the OSCE Minsk Group.

The U.S has recently shown more eagerness towards resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in view of violent flare-ups. The White
House made clear it did not view the arrest and subsequent sentencing
of two Azerbaijani nationals by Armenia as a healthy development.

Through both the Minsk Group and its officials, the U.S. called
on Yerevan to surrender both prisoners back to Baku, and end its
aggressive stance towards Azerbaijan. Washington made clear that the
handover of the prisoners is the only acceptable way forward.

Armenia and Azerbaijan remain locked in a bitter territorial dispute
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Armenia-backed separatists
seized from Azerbaijan in a bloody war in the early 1990s.

Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized Nagorno-Karabakh territory
was turned into a battlefield and zone of aggravated tensions after
Armenia sent its troops to occupy Azerbaijan’s lands. As a result,
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory stands
under military occupation. For the past two decades, and despite calls
from the international community, Armenia has refused to withdraw
its troops and retreat within its national borders.

The two countries 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’S PRESIDENT APPROVES TRANSITION TO PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT SYSTEM

ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 15, 2015 Sunday 12:03 AM GMT+4

YEREVAN March 15.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian approved on Saturday a concept of
the constitutional reform that envisages transition to a parliamentary
government system

Sargsian instructed the special commission of lawyers, which he
established on September 4 and which presented the document to him, to
hold discussions on the concept with the country’s political parties.

Armenia’s president told the lawyers he “has the same substantiated
opinion that constitutional reforms are crucial for the country as
they can be carried out only under the condition of broad political
consolidation.”

“This concept is a programme document which implementation will
actually provide new opportunities for Armenia’s growth,” Sargsian
said.

“The legal commission’s reasons and grounds are substantial taking into
regard the transition to the parliamentary government system,” he said
adding that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe “agrees that
the parliamentary government system may entrench democracy in Armenia.”

“The consultations with political parties showed that straightforward
and coinciding approaches cannot be applied to the issue,” he said
expressing his concern over “the lawyers’ approaches to amending the
current system of presidential government.”

Sargsian said that “he has no clear comprehension yet how the offered
parliamentary government system will unequivocally guarantee two
constituents – the country’s foreign and domestic security and
stability of the system of the state governance which the current
government system ensures.”

Besides, Armenia’s president said that “it is not by chance that
the lawyers expressed their doubt in stability of the parliamentary
government system and proposed preliminary options for transition to
it.” -0-mil/

REPORT: ARMENIA’S ARMS IMPORTS EQUAL TO ONLY 4 PERCENT OF AZERBAIJAN’S

APA, Azerbaijan
March 16 2015

[ 16 March 2015 13:20 ]

Azerbaijan ranks second for arms imports among European countries

Baku. Agha Jafarli – APA. Arms imports have increased by 16 percent
from 2010 to 2014 compared to 2005-2009, according to the report of the
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), APA reports.

According to the report, the United States, Russia, China, Germany
and France are the top arms exporters worldwide – 74 percent of the
world’s weapons sales.

The US and Russia make 58 percent of weapons imports worldwide.

The United States sells arms to 94 countries.

Azerbaijan is mentioned in the “arms imports” section of the report.

Azerbaijan is a country in conflict with Armenia, and the tension
between the two countries escalated in 2014. Compared to 2005-2009,
Azerbaijan increased weapons imports by 249 percent in 2010-2014. The
UK was the largest weapons importer in Europe (receiving 14 percent of
deliveries), followed by Azerbaijan (13 percent). Azerbaijan imports
85 percent of the arms from Russia. Armenia’s arms imports makes 4
percent of Azerbaijan’s.

The report says that it remains unclear when and from where de facto
armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh have acquired their weapons. It is
likely that Armenia has supplied some of the weapons.

ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR IN AZERBAIJAN REASON FOR AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION’S ABSENCE – MP

12:56 * 16.03.15

Tevan Poghosyan, an MP of the Heritage party, who took part in the
Euronest Inter-Parliamentary Assembly’s fourth session in Yerevan,
commented on Azerbaijani delegates’ absence and drew the participants’
attention to the absence of other EU member-states’ representatives.

The reason for Azerbaijan delegates’ nonparticipation is no secret.

Any Azerbaijani NGO that has in recent years participated in events
with Armenians’ participation has to flee Azerbaijan later or had
its members jailed.

“The reason for their not coming to Yerevan is an atmosphere fear.

They preferred nonparticipation to finding themselves persecuted on
returning from Yerevan. I regret that after any program an organization
that had had a meeting with its Armenian partners was charged with
high treason. This atmosphere of fear is difficult to cope with,
and people prefer not coming,” Mr Poghosyan said.

An Armenian delegation participated in a Euronest meeting in Baku,
which implies mutual participation, but the agreement was not honored.

As regards the nonparticipation of delegations from France, Spain
and Portugal, Mr Poghosyan said:

“Eastern Partnership is not only six states after all. it is also EU
member-states,” he said.

According to him, active involvement of all the 28 EU member-states
would bring real success to Eastern Partnership.

LE COMITE TALAT PACHA SUR LA TOMBE DE SON HEROS

TURQUIE

Les sympathisants de Dogu Perincek ont commemore hier le 94e
anniversaire de la mort du principal artisan du genocide Armenien
Talat Pacha dans le quartier de Sisli a Istanbul.

Le lieutenant general Ismail Hakki Pekin president du Comite Talat
Pacha a pleure la perte d’un “grand revolutionnaire heros de la
liberte”.

“Un fedayin paie toujours le coût. Il a paye le prix pour la lutte
de sa vie,” a-t-il dit.

Cuneyt Akalin membre du Talat Pacha a egalement declare qu’ils
continueraient la lutte de Talat Pacha.

lundi 16 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

JAVAKHK ‘DESERTERS’ CALL ON THE YOUTH TO RETURN AND ENRICH THE REGION

Kristine Aghalaryan

09:01, March 16, 2015

Students enrolled in Armenian private schools in Los Angeles have
been dropping 20cents every day into little collection boxes.

The coins, collected on a weekly basis, are then sent to a Javakhk
assistance committee launched by the Armenian Relief Society. The
student donations are finally forwarded to Javakhk.

Ashot Melkonyan, Director of the Institute of History of the Armenian
Academy of Sciences, recently visited Los Angeles and spoke to students
and faculty at twelve Los Angeles Armenian schools. He saw what was
taking place regarding Javakhk.

Melkonyan was overjoyed to hear that 6th-12th grade students were
learning about Javakhk and especially about those villages that,
over the ages, have produced prominent Armenian thinkers and activists.

Melkonyan brought news of this development back to the youth committee
initiated by the Javakhk Assistance Foundation (JAF), encouraging
them to get involved in the work being done in Javakhk.

“I regard myself as a deserter since I do not live in Javakhk. I
was born there but live a good life in Yerevan. All of us should be
in Javakhk. We must understand that being patriotic is a practical
matter and starts with living on the land and working there. Those
of you who go to the villages of Javakhk with a diploma in your hand
are the real patriots. The patriot isn’t the one who can only make
speeches from this podium,” Melkonyan told the Javakhk youth committee.

Ashot MelkonyanKarineh KhodikyanGagik Ginosyan

Melkonyan added that while the JAF doesn’t operate in opposition
to the Georgian government, many officials, especially in Javakhk,
view its activities with suspicion.

The dramatist Karineh Khodikyan, another founder of the JAF, called on
the youth to remain steadfast and courageous alongside the experience
and wisdom of their elders. “Any activity has real prospects when the
youth take their rightful place alongside their elders,” Khodikyan
said.

Gagik Ginosyan, founder of the Garin Folk Dance Ensemble, called
on the youth not to lose the traditional Javakhk stubbornness and
determination. “We will return and the prerequisite for this is in
the hands of the Javakhk youth,” he said.

Young Javakhk residents spoke about the various sector challenges
facing the region.

Javakhk native Karen Hakobyan, a maxillofacial surgeon who heads
the staff at the Yerevan State Medical University, believes that in
order to solve the health problems in Javakhk one must start with
the professionals. Hakobyan suggests that a plan be drafted whereby
medical students get tuition reimbursement in exchange for working
in Javakhk for a stated period after graduating.

Dentist Artur Manukyan states that Javakhk hospitals lack up to date
equipment and that there are no dental clinics in the region. He
describes the ones that exist as quite primitive in terms of
technology. Manukyan proposes training sessions and conferences
in Javakhk so that health professionals are brought up to current
standards.

Attorney Davit Mkoyan said that Javakhk residents faced legal problems
when it comes to protecting their property and singled out the right
of private property. Mkoyan points to the lack of information by
Javakhk residents, the speed of legal changes and, of course, the
political context as reasons for this problem. He suggests that
legal awareness seminars be conducted in Javakhk and, if needed,
legislative initiatives be made at the Georgian parliament.

Karen HakobyanDavit MkoyanMavr Lazarian

“Many of my peers in the current situation live as romantic pioneers.

The remaining minority lives according to the dictates of the day,”
says singer Mavr Lazarian, adding that there is no cultural life in
Javakhk. The reason, he says, is because there are no cultural centers
in the region. He adds that there aren’t any renovated concert halls
in Javakhk.

“In December 2012 we gave concerts in Akhalkalak, Ninotzminda and
Soukhlis. You can’t imagine the conditions. A thousand people showed
up in halls accommodating 600. There was no room left to stand. We
were seated near the electric heaters and drinking cognac just to
warm our hands. It makes no sense to hold any type of cultural event
in Javakhk from November to April.”

The singer would like to see cultural centers built in the rural
areas; one for several villages. He says that cultural life, to the
extent that it exists, is centered in the towns. He also wants to
see professionals receive training in Yerevan

His greatest wish is to organize a cultural festival in Javakhk that
will assemble local talent and create conditions to provide the best
with an education.

JAF Council President Sos Sahakyan said that this year has been
declared the year of Javakhk cultural centers and that renovations
will begin at such sites.

The first center scheduled for renovation is the center in the village
of Tamala in Akhaltskha.

To spur the development of sports in Javakhk, Street Workout and
Street Lifting NGO President Artur Harutyunyan and his partners have
proposed to create mini playgrounds in backyards as was the case in
the Soviet period.

DEMONSTRATION IN BAKU AGAINST MANAT DEVALUATION; PROTESTERS DEMANDED AUTHORITIES TO COMPENSATE FOR FINANCIAL LOSSES

13:17 16/03/2015 >> SOCIETY

An Azerbaijani opposition rally was held at the city stadium of the
sport club Mehsul in Baku under police surveillance. The participants
demanded to compensate the population for their losses which had been
caused by manat devaluation. The main slogan of the demonstration
agreed upon with Baku City Hall was “No to looting and deceptions!”

The demonstrators interrupted the speakers, chanting “Freedom!” and
“Resign!” Caucasian Knot reports.

According to the article, Ali Karimli, the chairman of the Azerbaijani
Popular Front Party (APFP), during his speech called on the government
of the country to compensate the population for their losses which
had been caused by manat devaluation. Deputy chairman of APFP Fuad
Gahramanli spoke up for the immediate release of the Azerbaijani
political prisoners. In his turn, the head of the National Council
of Democratic Forces Jamil Hasanli criticized allocating funds for
hosting the European Games in Baku.

“The Heydar Aliyev Foundation covers the expenses of building parks
and establishing monuments in foreign countries, while seriously ill
children’s parents turn to the people in the social networks asking
for help to pay for their babies’ treatment,” Hasanli protested.

The BBC Russian Service also turned to the topic highlighting
that thousands of people took part in the demonstration organized
by the Azerbaijani opposition in Baku, and that it is one of the
largest demonstrations of the Azerbaijani opposition for the recent
years. The next one is appointed on 5 April. In its turn, the magazine
Korrespondent.net adds that “oil-and-gas rich Azerbaijan” faces
dramatic financial problems because of the decline of the oil prices.

The website of RFE/RL reminds that during the demonstration Jamil
Hasanli declared that his Facebook account had been hacked ahead
of the protest in an apparent attempt by authorities to prevent
him from calling on people to join the rally. RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani
Service highlights that the day before the rally the Press Council
of Azerbaijan informed the site Qafqazinfo that a monitoring of the
journalists carrying out their duties was to be held during the rally.

However, Ogtay Gulaliyev, the National Council representative, said
he was not aware of that.

Azerbaijani information agency Turan reports that 4-5 thousand people
took part in the rally in Baku. In its turn, the Main Police Department
in Baku stated that there were around 600 demonstrators in the rally.

According to the agency, Gezal Bayramli, the deputy chairman of
APFP and member of National Council, noted in her speech that the
current situation in Azerbaijan comes as a logical result of the
“inconsiderate, robbing policy” carried out by the authorities of the
country. The head of the National Council Jamil Hasanli condemned the
lack of economical strategy of the authorities noting that the policy
of the authorities in Azerbaijan has a “spontaneous and inconsiderate
character.” He said that one of the forms of corruption in Azerbaijan
is the tax authorities’ tactics of extortion, as they – apart from
the official taxes – take cash of 10-15 thousands from the businessmen
explaining that by the lack of money for the European Games.

Turan also writes that Rovshan Ahmedov, Karabakh war veteran and a
member of the National Council, spoke up at the meeting stressing
that despite the fact that the war refugees and veterans cannot get
compensation in Azerbaijan for already 20 years, the authorities of the
country are ready to invite and pay the expenses of the representatives
of Armenia in the European Games.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONDOLES WITH PUTIN OVER DEADLY KAZAN FIRE

NEWS | 16.03.15 | 10:08

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan extended his condolences to his
Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in connection with the recent fire
at a shopping center in Kazan, Tatarstan, that claimed human lives.

According to the presidential press service, on Saturday, President
Sargsyan conveyed condolences to the families and friends of the
victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident.

The death toll in the Kazan blaze reached 16. The search operation
continued as of the weekend.

Earlier, on March 12, President Sargsyan, according to his press
service, had a telephone conversation with Putin that focused on
bilateral relations between the two countries as well as integration
as part of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.

The Kremlin press service also reported about this conversation
that made international news due to the circumstance that Putin
had apparently not been seen in public since March 5. Earlier, the
Russian leader also postponed his trip to Astana where he was due to
meet with the presidents of Kazakhstan and Belarus.

This circumstance had caused various rumors on the Internet, including
those about the state of health of the 62-year-old Russian leader. But
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told media that the Russian president
was in good health and was regularly holding meetings and working
with documents. The Kremlin also announced that Putin will have a
meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart on Monday.

ARMENIA HAILS COOPERATION WITH EU – FM NALBANDIAN

16:23 * 16.03.15

Armenia’s foreign minister on Monday highly praised the country’s
comprehensive and multi-sectoral cooperation with EU, reiterating
plans for furthering the partnership in future.

In his speech at the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly’s fourth plenary
session in Yerevan, Edward Nalbandian said that Armenia highly
values the joint efforts especially in the spheres of democracy,
human rights, rule of law, protection of fundamental freedoms and
effective governance.

“As stated in the Armenia-EU joint statement, adopted on the
sidelines of the Vilnius Summit, the sides agreed on the importance
of establishing new grounds to regulate the relations,” Armenpress
quotes him as telling the meeting’s participants.

Nalbandian reaffirmed Armenia’s intention to develop mutual cooperation
with the EU to promote human rights and develop democracy while
simultaneously continuing the judicial reforms, fight against
corruption, and the civil society strengthening. The minister also
highlighted the importance of expanding the enhancing trade and
investment and expanding mobility.

“We are now in the final round of negotiations with the EU partners
to decide the frameworks of cooperation based on the progress observed.

Armenia is ready to continue the comprehensive cooperation with the
EU in all formats and all possible sectors, having in mind also our
obligations in other integration processes,” he added.

UNOPPOSED: RULING PARTY MEMBERS MEET LITTLE CHALLENGE IN SUNDAY’S LOCAL POLLS

POLITICS | 16.03.15 | 12:19

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Members and supporters of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
again prevailed in most of the 33 communities of the country where
local government elections were held on Sunday. Just like in most
other recent elections, very few opposition candidates participated
in the elections.

Once again current heads of communities were the main candidates
seeking reelection, with most of them representing the RPA. Only in
two communities – the village of Sarakap in the province of Shirak
and Ohanavan in the province of Aragatsotn, RPA candidates faced
competition from Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) members.

In Ohanavan self-nominated PAP member, current head of the village
preserved his position, receiving 704 votes, and the RPA candidate,
nonpartisan Edgar Hayrapetyan got 615 votes, and the other candidate,
again self-nominated nonpartisan Khachatur Sisakyan received 288 votes.

In the community of Vardashen of the Ararat province self-nominated
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) candidate, current head of
the village was reelected, receiving 209 votes.

It is noteworthy that in the village of Daranak of the Gegharkunik
province the current village mayor celebrated his victory with a
difference of just three votes. The RPA member head of the village
received 53 votes, and his opponent, self-nominated Vahan Margaryan
– 50.

The city of Armavir in the Armavir province also held election on
Sunday, where they were voting for a mayor. In the beginning four RPA
members and two nonpartisan candidates were nominated for this post,
which promised a heated competition, however later three RPA members
and two nonpartisan candidates withdrew their participation, leaving
current mayor Ruben Khlghatyan alone in the fight. According to the
Central Election Commission (CEC), he received 8,169 votes and will
continue as mayor.

Recently the opposition sees it pointless and a waste of resources to
participating in local government elections, while the ruling party
usually accuses the opposition in not participating in the elections.

Still in January 2013 President Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service said that presidential elections start with
local government elections where the respective party is represented
in the local government as a leader or a head of council, then –
in parliamentary elections, and finally – in presidential elections.