Author: Badalian Vardan

Mexico presidential administration representative about why
Azerbaijani propaganda shouldn’t be supported for sake of caviar

13:24 07/03/2015 >> ANALYSIS

Mexican local authorities and Azerbaijani government signed an
agreement in June 2011 about constructing a Mexico-Azerbaijan
Friendship Park where a monument to Heydar Aliyev and events in
Khojalu was supposed to be erected, and the government of Azerbaijan
was to fund those works of ‘city beautification.’

In October and December 2011 Mexican Parliament called on the
government to urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to put an end to their
dispute over Nagorno Karabakh and punish those guilty for the events
in Khojalu, Office of President of Mexico Representative Francisco
Soní Solchaga writes in his article published on the website of the
journal Foreign Affairs Latinoamerica. In this way Mexico was pulled
into that conflict, and what is worse, supported Azerbaijan without
the Mexicans even being aware of where that republic, Khojalu or
Nagorno Karabakh are situated, the author writes.

In the historical background of the region, Solchaga notes that at the
beginning of the 20th century the Armenians lived in that region on
the territories of both the Russian and Ottoman empires. In Ottoman
Empire they suffered Genocide in 1915-1920. Consequently, the
Armenians are mainly concentrated on the territory of the Republic of
Armenia today, though they also maintain an influential Diaspora in
the US, France and Russia. The author also highlights that Turkey
denies responsibility for the Armenian Genocide which resulted in
diplomatic tension between the two countries, as well as between
Turkey and European states.

The author writes that the current conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan comes as a continuation of their confrontation over
Nakhijevan and Nagorno Karabakh since 1918-1920. After the region was
annexed by the USSR, the conflict temporarily calmed down; however the
circumstances that had provoked it remained. The Soviet authorities
recognized Nakhijevan and Nagorno Karabakh as Azerbaijani territories.
Decades later predominantly Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh
started to demand more autonomy, yet Azerbaijan did not accept that.

During 1987 various cases of ethnic violence took place, and when in
February 1988 the Parliament of Nagorno Karabakh voted for joining to
the Armenian SSR, a forced expulsion of the Armenian population from
Azerbaijan began. In March the Supreme Council sent the troops of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs to the region, yet the violence did not
stop, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union Nagorno Karabakh
declared its independence. The conflict outgrew into an open war
between the unrecognized republic of Nagorno Karabakh (with the
unofficial support of Armenia) and Azerbaijan.

In order to promote the negotiation process over the settlement of the
conflict OSCE Minsk Group was formed under co-presidency of the US,
France and Russia. In May 1994 Bishkek Protocol was signed putting an
end to the war. De facto, it passes the control over the main part of
Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding areas to NKR, the author writes
drawing parallels with the situation in Kosovo.

The author also notes that the war had serious humanitarian
consequences. Among the atrocities committed against the Armenians,
the massacres in Sumgait and Baku, as well the Operation Ring – with
the help of which the Azerbaijani forces besieged Nagorno Karabakh in
1991 – stand out with their particular cruelty.

“The tragedy in Khojalu is important because Azerbaijan accuses the
Armenians of committing genocide. According to Helsinki Watch (present
Human Rights Watch: editor’s note), the Azerbaijanis maintained
artillery and rocket launchers in Khojalu using them to bomb
Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh. Khojalu, like
Stepanakert, was a civilian area; however, the Azerbaijanis themselves
turned it into a military object making it their firing point.
According to the position of Nagorno Karabakh Republic, they had
warned the population in Azerbaijan about the operation being prepared
in advance and had asked the civilians to leave their homes, though,
according to the testimonies gathered by Helsinki Watch, the
Azerbaijani population did not think that the Armenians would take a
civilian area and remained in their homes. Nonetheless, in the dawn of
26 February, 1992, the Armenians almost completely surrounded Khojalu
leaving a free corridor in the direction of a mountain pass, so that
the population was able to leave. After that the attack began. The
population leaving the village came under fire beyond its boundaries.
The lists of the casualties differ from source to source: from 160
people (several human rights NGOs estimates) to more than 600 (the
number suggested by the Azerbaijani government),” the author notes.

The Armenian side also cites then President of Azerbaijan Ayaz
Mutalibov’s statement who claims that those events could be provoked
by the militarized forces of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan (Heydar
Aliyev’s political party), who prevented the civilians from leaving
Khojalu pursuing the aim to provoke a massacre and bring about
Mutalibov’s overthrow, which happened in the following days.

Azerbaijan considers the incident as ‘genocide.’ However, Helsinki
Watch established that there were armed uniformed soldiers among the
Azerbaijanis leaving Khojalu. “Put in other words, the Azerbaijanis
could have been at least co-participants of the tragedy, using the
civilians as shield,” Solchaga writes pointing out also to the opinion
of Thomas de Waal, an expert on Caucasus, who thinks that the incident
was a result of the disorder that emerged during the withdrawal of the
troops, rather than a plan to eliminate the population (genocide).
Besides, according to the testimony of the Czech journalist Dana
Mazalova, they might have manipulated with the incident to make it
seem graver.

Citing the example of the situation in the Balkans, the author says
that the UN International Court established that the incidents between
the Serbs and the Croatians did not constitute genocide as long as
their aim was not their elimination, but expulsion. Despite that, the
foreign policy of Azerbaijan is pursuing the aim to achieve the
recognition of the events in Khojalu during the war in Karabakh as
‘genocide’, forgetting that they have also committed atrocities
against the Armenians.

For that reason, the government of Mexico, unlike the Parliament, is
maintaining a neutral position regarding the conflict in Karabakh and
supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. It is noted that
supporting the Azerbaijani position, Mexico also spoiled relations
with Armenia, which became clear when the Foreign Minister of Armenia
Edward Nalbandian during his 2012 visit declared that the actions of
the Mexican parliament and the City Hall of Mexico were not in accord
with the position of the international community, expressed by the
Minsk Group, and have negative impact on the relations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Mexico spoiled relations with
Azerbaijan when under justified protests was forced to remove the
monument to Heydar Aliyev from the Friendship Park and the word
‘genocide’ from the monument to the victims of Khojalu. Though the
threats of Azerbaijan to break up the relations did not become
reality, the conflict with that state may have certain consequences.

The author accuses the Parliament and City Hall of Mexico of political
short-sightedness as before making that kind of decisions it was
necessary to consult the Foreign Ministry of the country and not spoil
the image of the state.

“They let themselves to be deceived, and were ready to risk the
international prestige of Mexico for trips to Baku, some caviar and 7
million dollars for the beautification of the city without realizing
the consequences,” the author concludes.

See also: Azerbaijan putting on hold investment projects in Mexico
because of demolition of Heydar Aliyev’s monument

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY IS ‘MORE POLITICAL’ NOW – KAREN KOCHARYAN

12:24 * 06.03.15

As a party, the present-day Prosperous Armenia party is “more
political” than the one led by Gagik Tsarukyan though is it common
knowledge it is going to be much weaker, political engineer Karen
Kocharyan told reporters on Friday.

“There are no political actors in Armenia,” he said. Populism is
dominating Armenia’s politics.

“Politics is not a charity, and it is not the Prosperous Armenia
party alone that is in question. Politics is turning into business,”
Mr Kocharyan said.

| A successful businessman was involved in politics and was suffering.

“I think he is happy now because he can do what he loves. Politics
has its rules of the game. He was so much told that he could that he
himself believed.”

ARMENIAN TOURISM STUDENTS QUALIFIES FOR THE FINALE OF MARIANNE MULLER CONTEST

YEREVAN, March 6. /ARKA/. Student of the Armenian Institute of Tourism
Tatev Saroyan has qualified for the finale of prestigious Marianne
Muller Award held by EURHODIP.

The Armenian Institute of Tourism is a full member of EURHODIP.

Representatives from nine countries will compete in the finale to be
held in May 2015 as part of the 22th EURHODIP conference in Tel Aviv,
and five-year student Tatev Saroyan is one of them, the press office
of the Institute told ARKA.

Students of the Armenian Institute of Tourism participated in Marianne
Muller also in 2013 and 2014. Marietta Vanoyan was the winner in the
2013 contest in Slovenia and Toma Martirosyan received the second-place
award in Marianne Muller contest in 2014 in Vilnius.

EURHODIP is an international association supporting hospitality and
tourism education and training, founded in 1989.

The Armenian Institute of Tourism is a branch of one of the biggest
Russian higher schools, the Russian International Academy for Tourism,
founded in 2001.

The Armenian Institute of Tourism is the only higher school in Armenia
and the region offering higher education in tourism management. -0–

LYUDMILA SARGSYAN: HAK READY TO COOPERATE WITH BHK

14:39 | March 6,2015 | Politics

Lawmaker of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) Lyudmila Sargsyan
says after the recent development the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK)
had no other option but declare itself as opposition.

“Naira Zohrabyan was the best candidate to succeed Gagik Tsarukyan
as BHK leader in this embattled situation and her statement was
predictable,” says Lyudmila Sargsyan.

She is hopeful that the BHK will be able to re-establish itself in
a short period of time. “The authorities put temporary obstacles
blocking the opposition’s way. Although our faction has not yet held
discussions, I think that the HAK is always ready to cooperate with
the BHK.”

Lyudmila Sargsyan says the opposition forces should cooperate to save
the country from this grave situation. Commenting on [first president]
Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s speech at the March 1 rally, the HAK lawmaker
said, “Levon Ter-Petrosyan has the right to respond to the forces
that are continually dishonoring and criticizing him. I would advise
everyone before saying anything in Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s address to
weigh their words and understand whether they are honest and sincere
in their actions.”

GERMANY MAY NOT SEND A DELEGATION TO YEREVAN ON APRIL 24

March 6, 2015 14:53

Photo:

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Germany may not send a delegation to Yerevan on
the Armenian Genocide Centennial on April 24.

German Deutsche Welle reports this referring to its sources. The
German Foreign Ministry reported that they didn’t yet clarify who
would represent Berlin in the events due in Yerevan.

“It is possible that only the German ambassador will attend the
service, whereas France will be represented by the president himself,
Francois Hollande. Historian Jurgen Gottschlich has called this
“scandalous””, Deutsche Welle reports.

Deutsche Welle has also noted that the German parliament plans to
remember the victims of the Armenian genocide with a debate.

The publication quotes German historians as saying that German
authorities had clear information on extermination and eviction of
Armenians over 1915-1916.

In particular, historian Christin Pschichholz from the University
of Potsam who had studied the German Foreign Ministry’s archives
concluded that “the German diplomats painstakingly took note of
everything happening around them at that time”.

Specifically, a dispatch sent on July 7, 1915 by the German Ambassador
in Constantinople to the Imperial Chancellor reads “it is the declared
intention of the government [meaning the Turkish government] to
destroy the Armenian race in the Turkish Empire.”

ZHAMANAK: SAMVEL BABAYAN TO BACK OPPOSITION PARTY IN KARABAKH ELECTIONS

12:17 06/03/2015 >> DAILY PRESS

Nagorno-Karabakh’s former Defense Minister Samvel Babayan, who resided
in Moscow over several past years, is planning to back the National
Revival opposition party in Artsakh’s parliamentary elections due in
May, Zhamanak reports.

According to the newspaper, Tigran Grigoryan, a member of the party’s
political team, said this to Radio Azatutyun.

“It is not clear yet, however, what kind of support this is going to
be,” the newspaper adds.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIA FACES NO RISK FROM RUSSIA-TURKEY OR TURKEY-IRAN APPROXIMATION

15:23 * 06.03.15

The rapprochement between Russian and Turkey on the one hand and
Turkey and Iran on the other pose absolutely no risks to Armenia,
according to Sergey Shakaryants, a political analyst.

At a news conference on Friday, the expert said he thinks that both
cooperation formats may increase country’s advantages instead. He said
he expects a positive impact also from Turkish-Iranian railway project
(on which the two countries periodically hold dialogues).

“And the Abkhazian railway maybe re-launched in case of the development
of the Russian-Persian relations. It may open great perspectives to
Armenia,” he added.

Commenting on the Russia-Turkey relations, Shakaryants said he doesn’t
expect them to offer any privileges to Armenia in terms of the return
of the appropriated lands. “It is naivety to think that our lands
should be returned with the Russian’s arm. Whatever the Russian does
it motivated by their own [national] interests. So we do not expect
Russia to exercise any pressure upon Turkey. And there is one major
reason for that: Turkey is a member of NATO. So if Russia puts forward
any territorial claim to Turkey, the latter may declare that Russia
is a threat which must be eliminated. As we know, a threat by any
NATO member become a threat for all,” he noted.

ZHOGHOVURD: ANC GIVES EUROPE ASYLUM DOCUMENTS

11:47 06/03/2015 >> DAILY PRESS

Representatives of opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) give
people documents for getting asylum in European countries, Gevorg
Manukyan, a convict in the March 1 case, told Zhoghovurd.

“In particular, proxy documents are given. So, people who had nothing
to do with ANC during the elections can get a proxy document, apply to
migration services of European countries and be granted a political
asylum. Gevorg Manukyan told about one such case. He did not rule
out the possibility that the document was sold, not given for free,”
the newspaper says.

Source: Panorama.am

HRAIR HAWK’S NEW BOOK DOCUMENTS RICH ARMENIAN HERITAGE IN TURKEY AND WORLDWIDE

12:08 06/03/2015 >> SOCIETY

Panorama.am presents an interview with renowned Canadian-Armenian
photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian on his recently published 516-page
photography book 100: 1915-2015 dedicated to the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide. The book presents the riches of the Armenian
cultural and historical heritage through photographs taken in more
than 40 countries within 17 years. It also demonstrates the ongoing
destruction of Armenian churches in Western Armenia (presently occupied
by Turkey).

Nvard Chalikyan: Your photography book titled 100: 1915-2015 presents
extensive documented evidence of the Armenian presence and rich
cultural heritage all over the world, including Western Armenia. What
is the main message that your book delivers to Armenian as well as
non-Armenian readers?

Hrair Hawk: For almost four thousand years Armenians have lived in
and around present day Republic of Armenia, surviving invasions by
armies travelling Eastbound or Westbound, and my message is simple,
that of a nation who has and still is living against all odds.

N.C.: You note that your book begins by victorious pages and shows
the wealth of Armenia instead of focusing on tragedy. Can you say
more about this?

H.H.: My book starts with majestic biblical Mount Ararat where the
arch of Noah rested; on the foothills of the mountain Armenians built
the church of Sourp Hagop, which was destroyed in an earthquake – only
the khatchkars have survived till today. This is followed by the coins
of past Armenian kings starting by Tigranes II (95-55 BC) and by the
Armenian, Greek and Persian gods of Mount Nemrut. It then portrays
Armenians as the first nation who adopted Christianity in the year
301 and built thousands of churches in every corner of ancient Armenia.

The book also includes photographs of magnificent manuscripts, costumes
and artefacts following the creation of the Armenian Alphabet in the
5th century.

N.C.: How many photographs of Western Armenian sites are included in
your book? What century does the photograph of the oldest Armenian
coins and churches in your book date back to?

H.H.: The book includes well over 1000 photographs. The coins date
back 2000 years and the churches to the 4th and 5th century in the
region of Van.

N.C.: While working on this book you visited Western Armenia 30 times
throughout 17 years! What can you say about the changes, particularly
about level of destruction and plunder of the Armenian monuments that
you have observed throughout these years?

H.H.: During the first trips we were always followed by secret police
and rocks were hurled at our vehicles… all this has changed and
nowadays we are met with friendlier people, however the destruction has
been ongoing. Especially in the seventies major Armenian pilgrimage
sites were destroyed like Sourp Garabed and Sourp Arakelots of Moosh
and Khdzgonk, also the monastery of Nareg near Van is completely
destroyed. Gold diggers still dig inside and around the churches
looking for gold, thus weakening the structure, and nature finishes
off what humans have started. Thousands of holy sites were desecrated
and houses were demolished, entire villages were wiped out.

For example at Kharpert (Harput) an old photograph shows packed
Armenian houses and in the same location today we notice no dwellings
but trees instead. On the other hand in the recent years many Armenian
churches were renovated by the Turkish government under pressure from
the European Union and the United States.

N.C.: What is their current state? Are many of them being destroyed
at this moment in present-day Turkey?

H.H.: Many Armenian graveyards are destroyed, not only Christian but
also Seljuk ones – gold diggers believe they are wealth to be unearthed
and no sacred site is spared. At present time the destruction goes
on but has slowed down.

N.C.: Did you witness such destruction of Armenian heritage in other
countries you have visited?

H.H.: In Syria I have photographed the Armenian churches and due
to the civil war which is raging till now many of the photographs I
have taken have historical value, as ISIS has demolished many of them;
same atrocities are happening in Iraq and Egypt. In Iran some Armenian
churches have been damaged by time as the Armenian population relocates
in other countries. In Georgia the locals are defacing the Armenian
churches and replacing them with Georgian inscriptions. In the USA
many small communities unable to support the church are forced to
sell them. In Armenia many historical monasteries are abandoned and
require immediate attention and care.

N.C.: What steps, if any, do you think can be taken to prevent further
destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Western Armenia?

H.H.: Some Armenian churches are used as storage by the locals
in Turkey and in a way this prevents the building from collapsing
altogether; restoration is not always the solution if the church will
not be used. The Armenian Diaspora is building new churches wherever
the community is thriving… In rare occasions like Sourp Giragos of
Diyarbekir the Diaspora participated in the cost of rebuilding and it
is taken care of by local Armenians. Time and nature are destroying
the abandoned churches.

N.C.: How do you think your book can contribute to the actual campaign
of Armenian Genocide reparations?

H.H.: While working on my book I travelled to Venice, Italy and Vienna
to the Mekhitarist brotherhood and photographed Armenian manuscripts
and artefacts as well as costumes kept in their museums that had
been rescued from the Genocide. I have photographed manuscripts
at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Lebanon, the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, at
Matenadaran in Armenia, at the history museum of Armenia, as well as
at the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) in Boston – all
these are solid proof of the richness of the Armenian nation and thanks
to these rescued relics we have proof about the existence of Armenians
throughout history and throughout what is today Turkish territory.

Each photographed manuscript, each photographed artefact has the town
and dates marked, thus the proof of Armenian existence in Turkey then,
from 2000 years ago up till today.

N.C.: What response has your book received so far?

H.H.: This book is enlightening to everyone, and the positive energy
can be seen in every page.

N.C.: Two of other photographic books you have published document the
Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh (Artsakh: A photographic journey
(1997), Karabagh: 100 Photos (2002)). Did you cover the territory
of the whole NKR, including the liberated territories? What can you
single out in terms of the Armenian historical presence there?

H.H.: Yes I have travelled inside Artsakh and the liberated territories
and photographed churches and khatchkars. Three monasteries there
stand out as jewels of Armenian architecture – Gandzasar, Dadivank
and Dzidzernavank – all are exquisite, few monasteries and churches
have survived invasions, same for khatchkars.

N.C.: Where can those who want to purchase your book “100” obtain it?

H.H.: In about two months my books will be ready for shipping and
they can contact me in person by email [email protected].

Hrair Hawk Khatcherian was born in Lebanon; his grandfather was a
Genocide survivor born in Zeytoun. Hrair came to Armenia first time
in 1992 during the Artsakh (Karabakh) war and inspired by the courage
of his fellow Armenians fighting for independence, he shortly took
to photographing the rich Armenian heritage in Karabagh, in Republic
of Armenia as well as in Western Armenia and later in different parts
of the world. Hrair continues this mission till today and has perhaps
taken more photos of Armenian churches than any other photographer.

Hrair Hawk has published 12 photography books, among them Artsakh:
A Photographic Journey (1997), 40 Nudes (2001), Karabagh: 100 Photos
for the Independence (2002), Yergir (2005), Armenian Ornamental Art
with Armen Kyurkchyan (2010), Armenian Ornamental Script (2012) and
One Church, One Nation (2013). For almost three decades now Hawk has
been presenting exhibitions, conferences, photographic lectures all
around the globe. His photographs have appeared in numerous magazines,
newspapers, books and publications.

By Nvard Chalikyan

TURKEY WILL EMERGE AS MAJOR REGIONAL POWER, STRATFOR SAYS

March 6, 2015 10:37

Turkish tanks near the Syrian border

Photo: REUTERS

Yerevan /Mediamax/. By 2025, Turkey will emerge as the major regional
power, and Turkish-Iranian competition will increase as a result.

It is stated in the Decade Forecast published by Stratfor U.S.

analytics center on developments in the world within 2015-2025.

“We have entered a period in which the decline of the nation-states
created by Europe in North Africa and the Middle East is accelerating.

Power is no longer held by the state in many countries, having devolved
to armed factions that can neither defeat others nor be defeated. This
has initiated a period of intense internal fighting.

The United States is prepared to mitigate the situation with air
power and limited forces on the ground but will not be able or
willing to impose a settlement. Turkey, whose southern border is made
vulnerable by this fighting, will be slowly drawn into the fighting”,
the document reads.

“As the reality sinks in, it will emerge that, because of its location,
only one country has an overriding interest in stabilizing Syria
and Iraq, is able to act broadly — again because of its location —
and has the means to at least achieve limited success in the region.

That country is Turkey. At this point, Turkey is surrounded by
conflicts in the Arab world, in the Caucasus and in the Black Sea
Basin. Turkey will not be ready for a completely independent policy in
the Middle East and will pay the price for a U.S. relationship. That
price will open the path to extending the containment line to Georgia
and Azerbaijan”, noted the U.S. analysts.

“Whatever its reluctance, Turkey cannot withstand years of chaos
across its border, and there will be no other country to carry the
burden. Iran is not in a position geographically or militarily to
perform this function, nor is Saudi Arabia. Turkey is likely to try
to build shifting coalitions ultimately reaching into North Africa
to stabilize the situation. Turkish-Iranian competition will grow
with time, but Turkey will keep its options open to work with both
Iran and Saudi Arabia as needed. Whatever the dynamic, Turkey will
be at the center of it.

This will not be the only region drawing Turkey’s attention. As Russia
weakens, European influence will begin inching eastward into areas
where Turkey has historical interests, such as the northern shore of
the Black Sea. We can foresee Turkey projecting its power northward
certainly commercially and politically but also potentially in some
measured military way. Moreover, as the European Union fragments and
individual economies weaken or some nations become oriented toward
the East, Turkey will increase its presence in the Balkans as the
only remaining power able to do so.

Before this can happen, Turkey must find a domestic political balance.

It is both a secular and Muslim country. The current government has
attempted to bridge the gap, but in many ways it has tilted away
from the secularists, of whom there are many. A new government will
certainly emerge over the coming years. This is a permanent fault line
in contemporary Turkey. Like many countries, its power will expand in
the midst of political uncertainty. Alongside this internal political
conflict, the military, intelligence and diplomatic service will need
to evolve in size and function during the coming decade. That said,
we expect to see an acceleration of Turkey’s emergence as a major
regional power in the next 10 years”, Stratfor concludes.