Author: Badalian Vardan

THE WAR OF POST-MODERN PERIOD

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 20:57:12 – 08/06/2011

We asked Igor Muradyan, political scientist, to comment on possible
developments regarding the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Mr. Muradyan, recently the resumption of military actions between
Armenia and Azerbaijan has been suggested as possible. Experts tend
to think that the war is possible. In your opinion, what causes such
opinions, and what is expected in the conflict area in Karabakh?

I have already stated that most experts from the western societies
increasingly claim that the risk of random resumption of war is
possible. In the past few months I conducted a monitoring of opinions
and evaluations, asking questions to several dozens of experts of
Europe and the United States who are to some extent aware of the
situation and the problems in the South Caucasus in general. This
made me convinced that the vast majority of experts lack individual
opinions and evaluations of the possibility of resumption of war. The
impression is that these evaluations merely repeat the opinions of
two or three think tanks in Washington and London which imposed their
opinions on the Western expert society. As to the Russian experts,
there is a dull repetition of the opinions of the West except for
two experts who have their personal opinion on this.

I wonder what these opinions suggesting the possibility of resumption
of war are based on. I think the answer to this question is simple,
and the motives are quite clear. The great powers understand that
there is no political settlement to the Karabakh issue, and expecting a
settlement based on the so-called principles of Madrid is simply funny.

Nevertheless, some top managers of global politics want to demonstrate
or illustrate certain circumstances and realities connected with the
Karabakh problem. It may be reached through military actions, or more
exactly, a “small, controllable war” which would not affect energy
infrastructures and oil and gas mines in which 50 billion dollars
has been invested. At the same time, one is reluctant to admit to
one’s inability and it would be good to disclaim responsibility for
the resumption of war referring to the factor of contingency.

In addition, there is hope that the problem will be solved in
the result of an “unsuccessful” war on the condition of barring a
deciding and determining role of Russia in the settlement. It should
be noted that the world has already walked into the historical stage
of post-modernism, and this period requires new forms of wars which are
considered as “games”, as means of solving problems agreed beforehand.

There is a purpose to transform the Karabakh conflict and the format
of the war of the epoch of post-modernism. Being more attentive to
the events of the past two centuries, it is possible to clarify many
other examples of the wars of the post-modern epoch.

In this case, the issues of weakening the role of Turkey and
Russia in the region which together demonstrate, without active
participation of other actors, their intention to solve the given
problem and to solve the problems of the Black Sea and Caucasian
region in general. Like earlier, one can be sure that the second
war in Karabakh is impossible without the corresponding decision of
Ankara and signals to Baku. It may happen if Turkey appears in a more
imposing geopolitical blockade and isolation where global politics is
headed. But now no such decisions are expected from Turkey, despite
the radical stance of its leaders. Therefore, the interested groups
would like to eliminate the systemic factors of resumption of war in
Karabakh, which are at the same time restraining factors.

Hence, there is apparently a scenario of “random” resumption of war,
and Armenia had better accept this scenario than the plan of slow
extinction resulting from attempts of imposing capitulation on it. In
the given case, the war is not the worst thing and it is possible that
one of the top managers is right, and this is a solution of a problem,
and not only one problem. It is possible to offer those interested
in the models of post-modern wars to find literature on this issue,
if there is such.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIA POLICE TO JOIN EFFORTS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 8, 2011 – 12:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – During Astrakhan-hosted meeting, Russian and Armenian
police officers will focus on efficient efforts to search for criminals
and improve information exchange.

The Russian delegation is be led by Interior Minister Rashid
Nurgaliyev; Armenian delegation is headed by Police Chief Alik
Sargsyan.

“Russia and Armenia have been fruitfully cooperating in this area
for a long time. The two countries’ law enforcers annually detain
hundreds of criminals under requests for mutual assistance,” the
press service of the Russian Interior Ministry told Itar-Tass.

“They had also established exchange of intelligence information;
to systemize the information exchange different databanks are being
created. The CIS Interstate Data Bank acquires special importance
and Interpol channels are engaged as well,” the source said.

Moreover, the meeting will also discuss joint counteraction to
drug trafficking, transborder crimes and stronger cooperation among
investigative committees.

The two countries’ police departments also closely cooperate in
personnel training and retraining. At present, 13 Armenian policemen
are undergoing training at Russia’s Interior Ministry, Itar-Tass
reported.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES ARA SHIRAZ ON 70TH BIRTHDAY

armradio.am
08.06.2011 18:34

President Serzh Sargsyan had a phone conversation with sculptor,
People’s Artist of Armenia Ara Shiraz, President’s Press Office
reported.

The President congratulated Shiraz on the occasion of his 70tha
birthday and wished him health and new creative achievements.

L’ASSOCIATION POUR LES DROITS DE L’HOMME (IHD) VA POURSUIVRE EN JUSTICE L’ETAT MAJOR POUR L’ASSASSINAT D’UN SOLDAT ARMENIEN
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 9 juin 2011

L’association pour les Droits de l’homme de Turquie (IHD) va poursuivre
en justice l’Etat Major des forces armees turques et les commandants
de Sevag Sahin Balikci qui a ete tue le 24 avril.

Une delegation de l’IHD composee d’Ayse Gunaysu, Eren Keskin, Ragip
Zarakolu et Meral Cildir ont exige que soit retrouve les personnes
responsables dont la negligence a permis la mort des militaires
armeniens a annonce le quotidien Milliyet.

Sevag Sahin Balikci, 25 ans, d’origine armenienne, a ete tue dans
une unite militaire turque le 24 avril 2011. Selon les rapports des
medias turcs, l’armenien a ete tue après un coup de feu mortel recu
a l’occasion d’un jeu avec un autre conscrit.

Recemment, de nouveaux details sur cette mort ont ete reveles. Le jour
où Balilci est mort on a donne l’ordre de clôturer l’unite militaire
dans laquelle il servait avec du fil de fer barbele.

D’habitude, la mise en place de la clôture est precedee par la
restitution par les soldats de leurs armes sous la surveillance du
commandant. Cependant, le 24 avril, aucun des commandants ne s’est
assure que les armes ont ete rendues. Kivanc Agaoglu pretend par
megarde avoir appuye sur la detente et avoir tue Sevag. Agaoglu a
ete arrete.

DAVIT BABAYAN: AZERBAIJAN PERIODICALLY SHARPENS THE SITUATION IN THE LINE OF CONTACT

ARMENPRESS
June 8, 2011
YEREVAN

Azerbaijan periodically sharpens the situation in the line of contact,
head of the staff of the NKR President Davit Babayan said, pointing
out that it has already become a working style for Azerbaijan.

He also considered it possible that Azerbaijan adopts such working
style before each meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We should have expected that before the meeting in Kazan the
situation should have sharpened but such situation is possible to
expect immediately after the meeting”, Babayan said.

Such like statements were also presented by the press services of the
RA Defense Ministry and NK Defense Army. “The NKR Defense Army has
already rejected the information about the murder of an Azeri civil
person by the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh. If the Azerbaijani
side has proofs it may present them to a corresponding international
establishment for conducting investigation”, spokesman for the
Armenian DM Davit Karapetyan said commenting on the information of the
Azerbaijani mass media that June 3 the Armenian Armed Forces killed
an Azerbaijani civil person. “I think the dissemination of such news
is a regular provocation before the meetings of presidents in Kazan
with which the Azerbaijani side is trying to gain political points”,
Karapetyan said.

THE ‘ARDZIV’ HAS LANDED: CYNTHIA ERICKSON ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
By: Betty Apigian-Kessel

Wed, Jun 8 2011

I hope you remember my column last fall about the amazing woman from
St. Paul, Minn., Cynthia Reimers Erickson, who is a team leader
building homes in the villages of Armenia with the Fuller Center
for Housing whose loans are interest-free, enabling her to serve the
working poor to build decent homes.

Cynthia Reimers Erickson I choose to compare Cynthia to an eagle for
its nobility, freedom, and transcendence. High soaring eagles are said
to touch the face of God, and Cynthia’s work in Armenia is sure to
please God. The coat of arms of Armenia has a gold eagle and lion,
and the one for the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh bears an eagle,
as does those of many countries.

Labeling her an ardziv (eagle, in Armenian) is a compliment.

“I finally found my mission in life. I loved it. I love the people of
Armenia, loved the work, and my teammates, but not the hot Armenian
summers!” she says.

It would have been unfortunate had I not met her at the 2010
Vasbouragan Convention in Detroit and thereafter at my insistence
revealed her to the public. She is a quiet, modest heroine who seeks
no publicity or fame, a rarity in these times of self-promoters.

Cynthia, now of St. Paul, Minn., grew up on a farm in Wimbledon, N.D.

Her Armenian blood lines go back to Palu and Van, the birthplace of
her Armenian Genocide survivor grandparents. She describes herself
as “unique,” as well she should. What motivates this woman from the
American plains to have such a close love for the homeland?

She had a close and loving relationship with her grandmother
Khashkhatoun Bargamian Abrahamian, who told her about her life in
Armenia. She taught Cynthia to crochet and knit, and the Armenian
alphabet. Being Armenian was a common thread in their lives. She
belonged to the Armenian Cultural Organization of Minnesota and the
Armenian Dance Ensemble.

Cynthia has made many trips to Armenia, building houses for Habitat
for Humanity before joining the Fuller Center for Housing. Family
members have frequently accompanied her, including her first-generation
Armerican-born mother Viola (Abrahamian) Reimers, father Laurence,
and Aunt Cathy Igielski. This time her son Mitchell was with the group.

Cynthia and her team of nine arrived in Armenia on May 16. It included
eight from Minnesota and one from New York, and ranged in age from
19-72. She invited me to come along this year, but someone has to
stay home and write about the good deeds of others.

Cynthia writes that they are working in the Vanadzor area in the
northern part of the country. She says, “Everyone is a good worker.

Three volunteers are half-Armenian, two are one-fourth Armenian,
and all the rest have no Armenian heritage, so we have some very
educational discussions about Armenian history, the genocide, Armenian
food, and games.”

Cynthia says her group will be working in a village 40 miles from
Vanadzor with the same family for the duration of their stay. It is a
young family with boys, one aged 10 and twins who are 8. One of the
twins is handicapped, and warmed up quickly to her son Mitchell and
another volunteer, Ross. Mitchell got the youngster playing futbol,
already buying them a new soccer ball. That’s called building bridges
of friendship.

Doesn’t it do your heart so much good to hear about these kinds
of people?

Cynthia continues: “We are moving dirt and rocks to provide fill under
the flooring which we may start pouring soon. It’s heavy work. My
back acted up the second day I think because I was incorrectly tossing
buckets of dirt and rocks. The second day we worked it rained all day.

The construction engineer greeted me first thing in the morning with
the comment, ‘Why are we even going to try to work?’ But the team was
not to be held back. They were ready. After all, it’s just water.” Do
you see the spirit of this group? Simply astounding.

“He bought a tarp and the men suspended it over the bucket line, and
we worked just fine. It was muddy, but so what, I think we gained
even more admiration from the family that day. Either that or they
think we’re crazy Americans!”

The area this group is working in is being built in order to move
families out of homes made of metal shipping containers, called domiks
in Armenia. These domiks are cold in winter, hot in summer, and full of
mold and disease-causing pathogens. Some people from the building teams
have not been able to breathe when in these domiks. By the way, in
her college days Cynthia completed a course as a medical technologist.

When time allows, Cynthia will forward updates of her team’s progress.

What do you think the lady from the plains wrote to me a week before
her departure to Armenia?

“I’m in the mad minutes of it. One week before we leave for Armenia. I
am in pretty good shape now. I plan to use some of Naregatsi’s prayers
as our devotions. Planning for that always stresses me out because
I like to have something meaningful. This will make it meaningful.”

Spoken like a true Vanetsi! Yes, Cynthia Erickson, per your request our
prayers are with you and your group. Please know you have established
within us a deep sense of pride and admiration for your dedication
and the compassion you have demonstrated by volunteering with the
Fuller Center for Housing. You are as noble as the ardzivs who soar
higher than all of us, touching the face of God.

Note: Naregatsi was born in 950 in Vasbouragan and became a teacher at
the Monastery of Nareg, leading a life of prayer and meditation. He
is well known for his writings, including his “Book of Prayers” or
“Lamentations.” His writings have been translated into many languages,
although he knew only Armenian. It is said he belonged to the whole
world.

ARAVOT: CHILLING RETURN OF ‘TOKHMAKH MHER’ TO POLITICS

Tert.am
08.06.11

Mr. Sedrakyan’s return to politics makes me feel seriously concerned,
the paper’s editor writes, referring to reports that Mher “Tokhmakh
Mher” Sedrakyan, a former head of Yerevan’s Erebuni district, wants
to run for parliament.

“Given the aptitudes of this individual and his close circle, one
can unequivocally predict the outcome of elections – presidential
or parliamentary, regular or snap – in Erebuni district, and what a
“crushing” victory -literally- the regime’s candidate, party and
“Thokhmakh Mher” are going to have,” the editor goes on.

It would be a blatant breach of law to ban those people from running
in elections, but what should have been done was to punish people like
“Tokhmakh Mher” for the election fraud they have committed in the past
so they would forget about elections, National Assembly and politics
once and for all, the editor concludes.

DIPLOMATIC SOURCE: DEPLOYMENT OF PEACEMAKERS IN KARABAKH ISN’T DISCUSSED

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 7, 2011 – 20:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The statement by Azeri Foreign Minister, suggesting
an agreement was reached on deployment of peacemaking forces in
Karabakh is untrue, diplomatic sources told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“The issue wasn’t discussed; the negotiations focused on Karabakh
status. Neither composition or number of peacemaking forces were
coordinated between the parties,” the source said.

According to Azeri media reports, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov suggested an agreement was reached on forming peacemaking
forces outside of OSCE MG co-chairing countries. “The issue is yet
to be discussed,” the FM added.

ARMENIAN ARMY READY TO RESPOND TO AZERBAIJANI MILITARY – DEFENSE MINISTRY

Interfax
June 6 2011
Russia

Armenian army ready to respond to Azerbaijani military – Defense
Ministry The Armenian armed forces are strictly observing the ceasefire
regime established with Azerbaijan, Armenian Defense Ministry press
officer David Karapetyan told Interfax on Saturday.

“Azerbaijan is really increasingly violates the reconciliation
regime every day and tries to accuse Armenia of doing so. However,
the republic’s armed forces are able to give an appropriate response
to Azerbaijan’s provocations,” Karapetyan said.

Karapetyan said Azerbaijan’s policies are destined to fail “because
it is difficult to explain to the international community why Armenia
is interested in constantly fuelling tensions and violating the peace
regime,” he said.

“I think that by disseminating misinformation Azerbaijan is preparing
ground for new provocations,” he said.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry press officer earlier accused the Armenian
administration of constantly disrupting the peace negotiations on
the settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, which makes a war
inevitable.

“Eventually, Azerbaijani soldiers will meet the expectations of the
people, the government, and the supreme commander-in-chief and will
liberate the occupied land from the enemy,” Sabiroglu told a press
conference organized in an Azerbaijan military units stationed near
the frontline.

Azerbaijan is preparing for this, Sabiroglu said. “The enemy should
know that,” he said.

Sabiroglu said the Azerbaijani army’s combat preparedness is now much
better than the Armenian army’s.

Sabiroglu accused Armenia of dragging out a peaceful solution to the
conflict and fuelling tensions on the line of contact of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani troops, including by provocations such as the recent
killing of a 9-year old Azerbaijani boy, who was killed in the yard
of his home in the are located close to the frontline.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry official’s press conference was
organized after a visit by a group of Azerbaijani parliamentarians,
members of the public, and journalists to the frontline area to become
familiar with the situation there and the level of combat preparedness
of the Azerbaijani armed forces.

ARMENIAN FESTIVAL COMING TO WATERVLIET
Submitted by Nick Antz

Watervliet /Green Island

June 7 2011
NY

The Armenian Festival is coming to the St. Peter Armenian Church in
Watervliet on Saturday, June 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 12
from noon to 4 p.m.

The event will feature a wide range of activities. There will be
Armenian and Middle-Eastern music, rides for the kids, a cash raffle,
and more. Attendees will also get the chance to taste Armenian food
like losh kebab, pilaf lahmejune, pastries and more.

On Saturday night there will be a tavloo (backgammon) tournament at
4:30 p.m. The entry fee is $15.

There will also be dance instruction on Sunday afternoon.

Parking and admission are free. There will be indoor and outdoor
seating and tent coverage.

St. Peter Armenian Church is located at 100 Troy Schenectady Road.