Author: Badalian Vardan

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER: "OSCE MINSK GROUP FAILS TO ACHIEVE IMPROVEMENT IN THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

APA
May 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Damascus – APA. "OSCE Minsk Group fails to achieve improvement in the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu said, APA reports. Ahmet Davutoglu, who is in Damascus
to attend the 36th meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers Council, said
after the meeting he would leave for Baku together with Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

"We will leave for Baku together with Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov. Azerbaijan
is our brotherly country, with which we always have close relations
and share the same fate. It was so in the past and will be so in
future. Let no one doubt it. After the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus I will pay my first official foreign visit to Azerbaijan,"
he said.

Ahmet Davutoglu said he would meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev in Baku: "I will meet with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku. We will discuss all issues,
including Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Activeness is felt in Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, which remains frozen for 17 years. Armenia’s keeping
Azerbaijan’s territories under occupation is not the situation meeting
the interests of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents will have meetings soon in various formats. We hope that
this activeness will result with a solution satisfying all parties of
the frozen conflict". Ahmed Davudoglu said he shared the views told
by Azerbaijani officials about the OSCE Minsk Group: "The history
also proves the justness of these views, because no progress has been
achieved in solution of the conflict during the past period. It’s
time to take out this issue from the status of the frozen conflict.

Turkey will continue its endeavors in this direction".

Instead of border opening, Armenia must require security blanket from
Turkey

It would be naive and dangerous to consider that on the other side of
Ararat there live people, who are looking forward to peace and
friendly relations with us.
21.05.2009 GMT+04:00

Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, that has been much spoken
about lately, simply does not exist. There are only various meetings
organized between diplomats, representatives of community and
others. Presidents of the two countries may once more meet within the
framework of the football match between the Turkish and Armenian teams
in Kayseri. And the entire normalization process will be concluded at
this. The whole intrigue is reduced to the plot of what to do: not to
pay attention to the powers that have made up their minds to reconcile
every state in the region in order to then launch a war for a new
repartition of influence spheres or to agree on the conditions
proposed.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Meanwhile, it is important to bear in mind that evil
peace is better than a good war. But there is also another danger for
Turkey and Armenia: the desire of Kurds to at any cost join hands with
Armenians, which would be a painless job with the boundary
open. According to Ankara’s version, once the Armenian-Turkish, or –
to be more exact – the Armenian-Kurdish boundary is open, there will
begin the commerce of weapons, exchange of militants, and as a result
Armenia will share the fare of Northern Iraq. Turkey has thoroughly
counted this version, but it’s difficult to say how official Yerevan
pictures this, since cases of information leak are more frequent in
Turkey than in Armenia. Under the conditions of total secrecy of
Armenian-Turkish negotiations and occasionally appearing `analytical’
surveys, it becomes difficult to judge how deeply Yerevan realizes the
`advantages’ and the `charms’ of the open border.
If we take as basis the pessimistic version, we can forecast that no
one in the world will stir a finger to help Armenia, like in 1915,
when, however, we drew no lesson. It would be naive and dangerous to
consider that on the other side of Ararat there live people, who are
looking forward to peace and friendly relations with us. Armenia may
simply drive herself into just another trap, similar to the one into
which the Dashnaks drove themselves in 1908, by supporting the Young
Turks who had actually given carte blanche for extermination of our
nation.
There is also a less pessimistic view: Armenia slowly dissolves in
Turkey or Kurdistan, undertaking nothing, but wants to survive. This
way leads if not to an instantaneous destruction, at least to a
complete assimilation in a maximum of a couple of generations. There
are still some Armenians living in the desolate villages of Western
Armenia. They remember their origins, but know no single word in
Armenian, and naturally, practice Islam. Alas, no optimistic view can
be expected in the current situation: we are few in number, we are
deserted, we have not finally formulated our national idea, and
lastly, we do not have a statesman, similar to Ataturk. It sounds
unpleasant, sad, but it is so.
Of no less importance is the economic factor. In all probability,
Armenia will gain outlet to the Black sea ports, such as to
Trabzon. But to what extent will the safety of loads and the security
of their attendants be guaranteed against the background of the splash
of nationalism and the caught-in-war regions of the Turkish and
Kurdish militants? It is difficult to picture a more incorrect and a
more inconvenient way, saturated with high prices for the transit. The
tariffs will definitely be established Turkey, and how she is able to
dictate her will can be easily seen by the example of Nabucco. It is
not even excluded that transportation through Georgia, under the
entire unpredictability of Georgian authorities and Russian pressure,
will cost considerably less than under the `open’ Armenian-Turkish
boundary.
As a matter of principle, instead of normalization of diplomatic
relations and border opening, which, by the way, is of no value in
itself, Armenia must require security blanket from Turkey. And because
it is impractical to require safety from Ankara, Armenia has no choice
but to rely only on herself.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT CAUCASUS TO PREPARE ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN SUMMIT

Interfax
May 21 2009
Russia

The co-chairmen of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe’s Minsk Group, brokering the Karabakh conflict, will visit the
region before the end of May, French Co-Chairman Bernard Facier told
Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandian in Brussels.

Facier said the goal of the visit is to prepare talks between the
Armenian and Azeri presidents, the Armenian Foreign Ministry informed
Interfax on Thursday.

Facier briefed Nalbandian on the outcome of the meeting in Baku.

The parties also discussed the negotiating process.

Nalbandian was in Brussels on a working visit and attended a meeting
of the North Atlantic Council’s 28+1 meeting.

SESSION OF CIS PRIME MINISTERS KICKS OFF IN ASTANA

ARMENPRESS
May 22, 2009

ASTANA, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS: Session of CIS Prime Ministers kicked
off today in the "Chamber of Independence" of Astana, capital of
Kazakhstan in which the Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
also takes part. In the session only Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are
presented on vice Prime Minister’s level.

Within the frameworks of the one-day session the Prime Ministers have
launched discussions on 18 draft documents. The meeting with restricted
staff was followed with the extended session at the beginning of which
the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov greeted the guests.

The most important issue discussed during the extended session referred
to the CIS socio-economic development strategy by 2020, in which the
objectives and issues of CIS states over the economic integration are
indicated and main cooperation directions in the economic sphere are
pointed out.

The document key objectives are to give a new impetus to the
development of CIS economies, to ensure a sustainable and balanced
economic growth, economic security as well as to increase the
livelihood level of the population.

CIS Prime Ministers will also review the plan of actions of the first
2009-2011 round of this strategy. The document also intends to expand
the cooperation in the production sphere, to promote the inter-state
projects particularly in energy, transport and agro re-procession
sphere.

In parallel to this a great attention is paid to the production of
compatible products and development of information technologies. In
the document refer is also made to the social sphere particularly to
ensuring the employment of population through establishment of new
job places, labor migration.

Special chapters of the draft refer to enhancement of cooperation
in the sphere of trade, stock market, financial sector, environment
protection and other issues.

One of the most important aspects of cooperation of CIS states is
the humanitarian sphere. During the session discussions have also
been held round the program of events of 2009-2010 cooperation of
the CIS states in the humanitarian sphere.

The CIS states also pay a special attention to fighting against crime.

During the session the CIS Prime Ministers will make decision on
making a jubilee joint medal on the 65th anniversary of victory in
the World War II. The social issues of veterans of war and people
equal to them have also been paid attention to.

During press conference Karim Masimov assessed the cooperation of
CIS states as satisfactory noting that the cooperation between the
states does not carry a fictive character.

It has been noted that on all the 18 discussed documents corresponding
decisions have been made. The next session was decided to be held in
November this year in the town of Yalta, Ukraine.

MTS CLOSED DOWN 7 REGIONAL BRANCHES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.05.2009 13:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Mobile TeleSystems" OJSC has closed 7 regional
branches in St. Petersburg, Maritime and Krasnodar Territories,
as well as Nizhny Novgorod and Samara.

The company operates a regional-market management structure, and
branches close down in all towns where macro-regional headquarters
are based.

MTS is Russia’s largest mobile operator (as of April, 2009, it had
over 97.4 million subsidiaries in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Armenia and Belarus).

He company’s biggest shareholder is AFK system, which possesses 52.8%
of shares, with 46.7% being in free circulation. As of April 2008,
the company’s pure income comprised USD 1.93 billion (US GAAP),
with proceeds making up 10,245 billion.

WEST SHARES RESPONSIBILITY WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT FOR EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY, REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS [ANC] THINKS

ArmInfo
2009-05-21 13:13:00

ArmInfo. The West shares responsibility with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan for everything happening in our country, representative of
Armenian National Congress [ANC] David Shakhnazaryan said at today’s
press-conference.

He also added there are many cases of violence against journalists,
pressure upon witnesses on the political law suits is taking place
under the support of the president and Europe is aware of it. At
the same time Shakhnazaryan said they will do everything possible
the mass violation of human rights in our country to be given the
relevant assessment in Europe.

Commenting on the speaker of the parliament Hovik Abrahamyan’s
statement about discharging of plotical prisoners, Shaknazaryan
said that such statements are just an attempt "to show off" Europe,
as the authorities have been speaking about it over a year.

PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA CONDOLES WITH DEATH OF FAMOUS JOURNALIST AYDIN MORIKYAN

ArmInfo
2009-05-20 11:57:00

ArmInfo. Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan condoled with
death of famous journalist Aydin Morikyan.

Governmental press-service reported the telegram of condolence in
particular says that the premier sends his deep condolences to the
family and friends of the famous journalist. ‘His name was closely
connected with Artsakh Movement, restoration and development of the
Armenian independent statehood.

He was among those intellectuals who were with the people and exerted
genuine efforts to make their expectancies true. Aydin Morikyan
created and headed the editorial of the Hayastani Harapetutyun
daily. He worked at other mass media making great contribution to
establishment of free press in our country’, the telegram says.

NORWEGIAN FAIRYTALE VS. JAN-JAN: DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF JAZZMAN ARMEN TUTUNJYAN AND COMPOSER ARAM SATYAN

ArmInfo
2009-05-19 15:53:00

ArmInfo. Sincerity gained victory at Eurovision, Armen "Chico"
Tutunjyan, famous Armenian jazz drummer, said at a press conference
at Mirror Club, Tuesday.

Demonstrating journalists the SMS he sent in favor of the Norwegian
singer Alexander Rybak, the jazzman said: ‘It was an easy and
beautiful song and very sincere. Although Eurovision is called a
political contest, this time politics yielded to sincerity’, he said.

Nevertheless, Armen Tutunjyan was surprised at the fact that
participation in Eurovision has become an issue of almost state
importance for Armenia.

‘It would be better investing funds in our young talents’, he said.

He called Jan-Jan a ‘well performed, but bad song’ and called on
Armenia for refusing from participation in Eurovision pure of heart.

‘After the 4th, 10th and two 8th places, we can easily go on such
step’, he said. For his part, the well-known composer Aram Satyan
insisted that Armenia chose a wrong song but not wrong singers. ‘Our
mistake was our desire to prove that Armenia is more eastern state
than its neighbors. By the way, this tendency has been observed over
the last years.

At the same time we have not noticed that the East has become
boring and Europe wants something new’, he said. In this context,
he positively assessed the performance by Azerbaijani singers. ‘It
is a general truth that an easy song easily gets stuck in memory. Let
it be just five notes, but easy to take up’, A. Satyan said. Despite
this opinion, he blames the passivity of the Union of Composers for
low results of Armenia.

To recall, Armenia finished the 10th at Eurovision Final 2009.

ARMENIAN SPEAKER HINTS AT OPPOSITION COLLEAGUES’ RELEASE

n-speaker-hints-at-opposition-colleagues%e2%80%99- release/
May 18th, 2009

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-Parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamian strongly hinted
on Monday that three of his opposition colleagues arrested following
last year’s post-election clashes in Yerevan may be released from
prison soon.

Abrahamian gave such an indication as he explained the parliament
leadership’s failure to schedule a debate on the fate of the jailed
members of the National Assembly this spring. Such a debate was
demanded by the opposition Heritage party.

The assembly had voted in March 2008 to lift Sasun Mikaelian’s,
Hakob Hakobian’s and Miasnik Malkhasian’s immunity from prosecution
after they were charged with plotting to overthrow the government
and organizing "mass riots" for that purpose. The charges stemmed
from the March 1 clashes in Yerevan between opposition protesters
and security forces.

The three lawmakers and four other opposition figures went on a
collective trial in December that was halted in March after state
prosecutors dropped the controversial coup charges brought against
them. They have since been standing separate trials for allegedly
provoking the post-election violence.

"I believe that processes are going in a positive way and that we
will have a positive result," said Abrahamian. "I am also concerned
with the fate of our three colleagues and a positive solution to
those processes."

Abrahamian declined to clarify whether that means the opposition
lawmakers’ release from jail is imminent. "Believe and trust in my
words," he told RFE/RL without elaborating.

Armen Martirosian, the Heritage Party’s parliamentary leader,
found Abrahamian’s remarks encouraging. Still, he cautioned that
representatives of the ruling coalition have made such assurances
before and that those have failed to materialize.

Meanwhile, three more witnesses in the ongoing trials of the jailed
parliamentarians retracted their pre-trial testimonies on Monday,
saying that they were forced to incriminate the defendants. One of
those witnesses, Gevorg Muradian, had testified that Hakobian had paid
him and other men to build barricades and attack security forces on
March 1, 2008.

"They beat me for three days. What else can I say?" Muradian said
on Monday, explaining his decision to renounce his signed pre-trial
claims.

Two other witnesses, Gurgen Hayrapetian and his brother Arayik,
had given incriminating testimony against Malkhasian. They claimed
on Monday that it was false and that they signed it because they did
not want to be imprisoned.

Arab Times, Kuwait
May 16 2009

Integration and identity

By Rev Andy Thompson
St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ahmadi

Two enduring images stick in my mind from last week. One was from an
event organized by the British Council celebrating its 75th
anniversary. In this event Dominic Miller, a renowned guitarist from
the West was improvising music opposite the talented Kuwaiti Oud
player, Fawzi Al Lingawi. Against a progressive sequence of 6th
chords inspired by Chopin played on a classical guitar, the Oud weaved
a haunting and magical melody. The unlikely juxtaposition of Western
music with Arab music led to a completely unexpected result. It
sounded fabulous. Guitar and Oud merged together in an emotional and
intense celebration of their different timbres and scales. It worked
so well that it bought tears to the eyes of the audience.

Despite the different musical traditions and experiences of the
performers, they were able to integrate their styles together while at
the same time maintaining their distinctive identities. The second
event was a colourful and riotous celebration by Armenian students.
Hosted by the Armenian Archbishop, Dr Gorian Babian, the evening
unveiled an exuberant program of cultural dancing and music. Over
forty students performed dances not only from their own rich and
ancient culture but also from the other traditions embracing jazz,
rock n roll and ball room dancing. Songs were sung in English, Greek,
French, and Armenian. Celebration speeches were in Arabic, English and
Armenian. In short, the Armenian community impressively demonstrated
their ability to integrate into other cultures while at the same time
remaining rooted in their own distinctive culture and faith.

Integration and identity are core skills required for our world
today. The failure to integrate results in marginalisation and
suspicion . The failure to be rooted in a distinctive identity leads
to fear and insecurity. The Armenian community knows this and they
have invested deliberately in institutions which maintain and
reinforce their identity. Yet at the same time they have integrated
into their host country so effectively that at times they seem
invisible – so good are they at learning the languages and functioning
in a culture not their own. They are confident, secure and successful
and everyone benefits. It is troubling therefore to read of election
candidates who are threatened by other cultures and faiths and would
seek to suppress them. As Kuwait heads into the elections, I pray
that God will raise leaders who will continue the rich and long
tradition of a country where diverse cultures and faiths not only meet
and co-exist but are also celebrated.