Author: Badalian Vardan

SARGSYAN: CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT GIVES HOPE FOR ITS DECISION WITHIN FAIR DATES

ARKA
Nov 30, 2009

YEREVAN, November 30. / ARKA /. The current phase of the Karabakh
settlement offers hope to reach its decision within a reasonable time,
President of Armenia, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan said on Saturday.

"It is clear to any sensible person that a conflict resolution is an
extremely complex process, and the decision could take years. However,
the current stage of the hope promises that within a reasonable time
this may be taken to its logical end," Serzh Sargsyan said at the
congress of the RPA.

As the president believes, unequivocally, that conflicts are long-term
and stable solution only if based on fair and reasonable concessions.

"Gone are the days of colonization of the peoples living on their own
land. We have publicly stated that the Karabakh settlement should
be based on the decision and the will of the people of Karabakh,
as a society, reflecting the common will. Only in this case, the
solution can be productive, long-term, achievable, and peaceful,
" Sargsyan said.

According to the head of state, in this case all parties of the
Karabakh conflict an agreement should be reached around a single
package that will contain all matters and all internationally enshrined
mechanisms that provide a solution to this conflict.

The beginning of the Karabakh conflict was settled in 1988, following
a statement to withdraw from Azerbaijan by the predominantly
Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh. On December 10, 1991 there was
held a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh, in which 99.89% voted for full
independence from Azerbaijan.

Following that Azerbaijan initiated large-scale war fares that led
to a loss of control not only over Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven
adjacent districts.

>From 12th of May of 1994, after the entry of the tripartite agreement
on truce in the conflict zone hostilities, in which around 25-30
thousand people were killed from both sides and nearly 1 million were
forced to flee their homes, were ceased.

The agreement on the establishment of the ceasefire has been followed
until now. From 1992 to date, negotiations are being held for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.

Turks’ eastern turn

Financial Times, UK
Nov 25 2009

There will be plenty to discuss at Thursday’s meeting in Istanbul of
European Union foreign ministers with their Turkish counterpart: not
just Turkey’s stalled accession talks but the ostensible turn
eastwards of Ankara’s foreign policy.

There are those who perceive a contradiction in EU candidate and Nato
member Turkey’s facing east and west at the same time. The
neo-Islamist government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not among them –
and it may have a point.

To begin with, Turkey has a clear interest in fostering stability in
its near east and south-east. So, for that matter, does the EU.

To be clear, the expansion of Turkish influence, including with Syria
and Iran, is not just about stability. Turkey is reasserting itself as
a regional power, and trying to demonstrate it has alternatives to the
EU, where France, Germany and Austria seem intent on slamming the door
in its face.

If this demonstration highlights the strategic value of having Turkey
inside the union, the contrasting feebleness of the EU’s efforts in
the region – Europe’s turbulent backyard – and the creative use of
`soft power’ in action, then it could be salutary and worthwhile.

Turkey has not just mended fences with Syria, it has flattened them:
abolishing visa restrictions. In 1996 Ankara was suspected of planting
bombs in Damascus, for harbouring Kurdish separatists. It has also
embraced post-war Iraq, which it had threatened to invade, also over
the perceived threat from the Kurds. It has started to address the
rift with Armenia, over the mass-murders of Armenians in the dying
years of the Ottoman empire, and started devising the first real
policy of reconciliation with its own Kurdish minority.

It has also fallen out with Israel over Gaza, and cosied up to Iran,
where Mr Erdogan said the west is treating the Islamic Republic’s
nuclear programme `unfairly’.

Yet, the turn east – seen by some as neo-Ottoman – is driven by
interests more than ideology. Trade with the Middle East is fast
expanding to take up the slack of the EU downturn, while Turkey wants
to become a hub for energy from the Caspian and Egypt.

Overall, the EU should be positive about this. Turkey is the most
successful country in the region, with a big foot in Europe. The
ability of its secular republic to accommodate (so far) a governing
party with Islamist roots, and simultaneously carry out a
constitutional revolution, mesmerises the most dynamic sectors of Arab
society. That is surely an asset for Europe, and for the broader
Middle East.

KHATCHADOUR TANKIAN TO RELEASE HIS FIRST ALBUM AT THE AGE OF 72
Ruzan Khachatryan

"Radiolur"
27.11.2009 16:10

Before yesterday’s Telethon of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund few
people in Armenia knew that Serj Tankian’s father, Khatchadour Tankian
was going to release an album. During the Telethon the father and son
performed Alexey Hekimyan’s song "Bari Aragil" in a new arrangement.

It is a song they would sing together when Serj was a kid and in a
way, the recording of this song and the work put into producing the
album overall is Serj paying ode to his inspiration, his father.

It’s a rare thing for a man aged 72 to release his first album.

"Inchbes Moranank," the debut album of songs sang by Khatchadour
Tankian, features new recordings of traditional Armenian folk songs
that Khatchadour has sang for the majority of his life, along with 2
brand new songs in "Hrant Dink" as well as the title track "Inchbes
Moranank."

Produced by his son Serj with new arrangements from famous Armenian
composer Andranik Mouradian, the album is a collection of 11 songs
that brought the father and son team back to yesteryear, when the
love of singing was passed on from father to son.

Born on October 10, 1937 in Aleppo, Syria, Khatchadour was asked to
sing at the Armenian school he attended at age 6 when a guest from
Armenia came to visit the classroom. His natural gift became apparent
to the visitor from Khatchadour’s ancestral homeland, as the man
embraced the young Armenian boy in Syria upon the child finishing
the last note of the traditional folk song "Cilicia." On that day,
a singer was born, and Khatchadour has had the spirit of music in him
since. Appropriately, the song "Cilicia" was recorded for this debut
album and Khatchadour’s love of the song still exists 65 years later.

This affinity for singing was strengthened in Khatchadour throughout
his youth and after moving to Beirut, Lebanon at age 16, he decided to
form a band with some of his friends. Being that the recorded music
industry was still very much in its own infancy and not readily
available to a teenager living in Lebanon, Khatchadour’s singing
talents were relegated to the weddings and christenings of the various
Armenian families living in the Diaspora region or Beirut. His talents
got him invited to sing in Lyon, France in the year 1959, where he
sang at a celebration event to honor the anniversary of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun.

Members of the Systems Of A Down have never concealed that they raise
their voice for universal values, for the recognition and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide. Serj Tankian has been repeatedly stating
this in his interviews.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS; Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan received today newly appointed Indian ambassador to
Armenia Achal Kumar Malhotra.

National Assembly press service told Armenpress that congratulating
the ambassador on assuming the office, the NA speaker expressed
assurance that during his tenure the friendly relations between the
two countries will develop and consolidate more which stems from the
interests of the two peoples and states. He expressed readiness to
support in boosting cooperation.

Hovik Abrahamyan pointed out the necessity of activating the
inter-parliamentary ties between the two countries and partnership
of the friendship groups, exchange of experience in the legislative
field, cooperation in international organizations.

The ambassador noted that he will exert his efforts toward the
development of Armenian-Indian warm relations. He said that it is
expected to open in Armenia IT Training Center.

At the end of the meeting Hovik Abrahamyan asked to convey the chairman
of the Indian parliament invitation to visit Armenia.

TURKEY CONDUCTS "NEO-OSMANISM" POLICY

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.11.2009 19:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Speaking at the session of ruling Justice
and Development Party, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
acknowledged that the country conducts "neo-osmanism" policy.

"There is heritage left by Ottoman Empire. We are called ‘neo-osmans’.

And we really are. We are forced to deal with neighboring countries’
problems," Takvim Turkish periodical quotes FM Davutoglu as saying.

THEY DON’T WANT THE BORDER TO BE REOPENED

/23/border
23/11/09

Azerbaijanis and Turks living overseas are against the reopening of
the Armenian-Turkish border. They have released a joint statement
warning the presidents and governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey
against the border reopening.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols will affect the friendly relations
of Turkey and Azerbaijan and strengthen Armenia’s "non-constructive"
position in the process of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

"Moreover, the normalization of relations will be advantageous to
Armenia from the political and economic view of point and will
reinforce Yerevan’s position in the region. We are hopeful that
Turkey’s leadership will remain faithful to the pledges given to
Azerbaijan and will not ratify the protocols unless the Karabakh
conflict is resolved," reads the statement.

The authors of the statement think that the reopening of the border
endangers the interests of Turks throughout the world.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS APPRECIATED THE TALKS

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have positively appreciated
the 6th round of the negotiation regulation of the Karabakh conflict
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents Serzh Sargsyan and
Ilham Aliev.

"The talks which lasted for almost 4 hours were constructive. At the
same time, some issues still remain open.", – reads the statement of
the co-chairs in the OSCE site.

In the statement also is mentioned that the two presidents, S.

Sargsyan and I. Aliev, engaged in a detailed and in-depth discussion
of the most important unresolved points in the Co-Chairs’ proposals.

The Presidents instructed their foreign ministers to continue working
with the Co-Chairs on these matters. As a next step, the Co-Chairs
are organizing a working session with the two ministers in advance
of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place on December
1-2 in Athens.

EU CAN INSIST ON A WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN FORCES FROM AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Borut Grgic News.Az interviews Borut Grgic, founder and director
of the Institute for Strategic Studies in Brussels and non-resident
senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Don’t you think that EU could and must be more active in resolution
of the Karabagh conflict?

The EU should start by having a common set of principles that outline
its position on the frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus – respect
for territorial integrity and sovereignty are two fundamentals. The
EU could use the Eastern Partnership track and its dialogue framework
with Armenia to insist on a withdrawal of forces from Azerbaijan.

Finally, Europe could help with institution building and peacekeeping
in NK after a peace deal is reached.

France as it seems is not quite active as a co-chair of the Minsk
group. May be it would be more useful to change representative of EU
in Minsk group?

Replacing the French co-chair with an EU co-chair is not really
an option. However, the EU can and probably should insist on more
coordination between the French co-chair and the EU ministers on
fine-tuning a common EU position, and use the French co-chair to
exert greater influence on the Minsk Group process.

What kind of influence had war in Georgia on settlement of Karabakh
conflict?

If anything, the war in Georgia raised the profile of the frozen
conflicts, and the urgency to find a solution for NK.

Do you think real new war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in near
future?

I don’t think a war between the two countries is likely, as there is
too much at stake and once a war is launched, the ability to control
the outcome decreases exponentially. However, I do think that the
status quo is equally as damaging, and it is a real set back to
regional development and integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures.

There is no common view in EU at Karabakh conflict. Is it common
problem of EU’s foreign policy or something else?

I think Europe has a common position on NK, but perhaps the vagueness
of this common position is a reflection of divisions within the EU on
Europe’s relations with Russia, and through that, the region. Some
states are overly sensitive to Russia’s bickering and unwilling to
engage in the Caucasus-Caspian region for fear of undermining their
economic relations with Russia. It is possible to say that EU’s common
foreign and security policy is more often than not the expression of
a compromise between 27 opinions. Thus, it is not realistic to expect
the same clarity and focus on difficult issues from Europe as you’d
get from a state.

Interfax, Russia
Nov 21 2009

Russian, UK diplomats discuss relations with Ukraine, Moldova, Caucasus states

MOSCOW Nov 20

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and the UK Foreign
Office’s Political Director General Geoffrey Adams have met in London
to discuss their countries’ relations with Ukraine, Moldova and a
number of nations in South Caucasus.

"The two countries’ relations with Ukraine, Moldova and South Caucasus
states were addressed. The parties also exchanged their views on the
prospects for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniestrian
conflicts, as well as the progress of the Geneva-based discussions on
security and stability in Transcaucasia," the Russian Foreign Ministry
said on its website.

Karasin and Adams also discussed the progress of bilateral political
dialogue, including in light of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s
recent visit to Moscow, the ministry said.

SAMVEL SHABOYAN ASSASSINATION DISCLOSED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 13:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The assassination of Khosrov Reserve Director Samvel
Shaboyan is disclosed. Those guilty are arrested, RA Police criminal
office chief, colonel Hovhannes Tamamyan said.

The crime was committed by Vedi town resident Karen Petrosyan and
driver Vahram Khachatryan, living in Yerevan.

"The weapon was confiscated. Investigation is underway," colonel
Tamamyan said.

Khosrov Reserve Director Samvel Shaboyan was killed on November 18
night. His Toyota Prado (007LL71) was shelled by unknown in Myasnikyan
Avenue, Yerevan. Law enforcers counted 30 bullet holes in the car.

Shaboyan, who was sitting on the backseat, died from numerous bullet
wounds.