Author: Badalian Vardan

Georgi Kolarov: The second Nagorno-Karabakh war is inevitable

ArmInfo’s Interview with Bulgarian political scientist, Professor of
Moscow State University and Varna University of Economics Georgi
Kolarov

by Marianna Lazarian
Thursday, July 31, 22:53

Mr. Kolarov, do you think it is possible to draw a parallel between
the past Bulgaria-Macedonia relations and the current Armenia-Artsakh
ones?

On 2 August 1903, in the territory of present-day Macedonia and
Northwestern Greece the Bulgarians’ biggest anti-Ottoman rebellion
broke out. It lasted for 3 months and ended up in failure due to the
prevalence of the Turkish army. Part of Bulgaria, which was already
free at that time, was unable to help the rebels. This factor, as well
as the following Balkan wars, WW I and WW II resulted in separation of
these territories from Bulgaria. Later, for a number of reasons the
local elite in Macedonia started developing national consciousness on
anti-Bulgarian basis with the support of Royal Yugoslavia and Greece.

It came to the point that the local Communist regime started imposing
anti-Bulgarian consciousness on the local Bulgarians. Moreover,
Macedonia claimed that the rebellion against the Ottoman Empire was
committed by Macedonians and that Bulgarians had nothing to do with
that. I think if Armenia’s leadership regularly neglects the interests
of Karabakh people, one day people in Stepanakert may say, “We are not
Armenians and we have nothing in common with Armenians and we won the
Karabakh war, not Armenians. This is what is being observed in
Macedonia now. On the threshold of 2 August 2014, Greek Prime Minister
Antonis Samaras declared that the Macedonian language is a dialect of
the Bulgarian language and that the nation of the Macedonians and
their language were invented by the Communists in the 1930s.

Let’s talk about the parallels.

If the Karabakh Armenians have not yet separated from the rest of
Armenians, a big role here belongs to the presidents Robert Kocharyan
and Serzh Sargsyan, who came to power as victors of the Karabakh war.
But I can assure you that if Levon Ter-Petrosyan had remained at
power, the process of separation would have started long ago. I have
been to Karabakh twice. I paid my second visit there as an observer at
the presidential election in late July 2012. I can say that unlike the
Armenians of Yerevan, the Armenians of Karabakh have no strong
pro-Western sentiments. As soon as Armenia takes the course for the
West, separatist sentiments will arise in Karabakh. The residents of
Artsakh will cease taking into account the interests of Armenians
worldwide and will be geared to Russia.

In other words, do you observe pro-Russian sentiments in Karabakh?

Yes, I do. They even speak Russian better than the residents of
Yerevan. I have recently attended a CSTO event and I was very much
surprised at the fact that the Defense Ministry representatives spoke
Russian worse than English. It was obvious that they attended training
courses in the United States or in Great Britain or in any other
English-speaking country. This already demonstrates the replacement of
the value system. I think this fact cannot help causing certain
concerns for the future of Armenia, because I consider Armenia’s
eventual commitment to the West and the breach of relations with
Russia to be disastrous. Armenia may experience the same developments
as in Ukraine, because most of the Armenian people will put up with
the breach of relations with Russia under no circumstances.

Can one expect resumption of military actions in the Karabakh conflict
zone in the near future given the frequent ceasefire violations?

I think the second Nagorno-Karabakh war is inevitable. Armenia should
get ready for the second war at least in order to avoid the third one.
Azerbaijan is actively arming itself. If there is a gun hanging on the
wall, it must fire one day. If Azerbaijan is actively buying arms, it
will use them sooner or later. Rich as it is, Azerbaijan is full of
social-economic and religious contradictions. The conflict between
Islamist and pro-Western moods may result in political unrest and
collapse. So, the best way for the Azeri authorities to avoid this is
to provoke a new war in Nagorno-Karabakh. On the other hand,
Azerbaijan will not be able to win this war. But under current
circumstances, even a small victory and a compromise-based peace will
be enough for the Azeri authorities as they will convince their people
that it was a big win. So, the Armenian army must be ready for
military provocations and must do its best to win the new war so as
avoid any concessions during subsequent peace talks.

How would you explain the escalating tension on the Armenian-Azeri border?

The key reason why more incidents are being recorded on the contact
line is growing tension inside Azerbaijan. The same is going on in
Ukraine, where local authorities are availing themselves of ongoing
war to rob their people.

How would you assess the fact that Azerbaijan initiates the
provocations but the OSCE Minsk Group’s statements are addressed to
both parties?

The representatives of all the three co-chair countries of the OSCE
Minsk Group speak and behave like professional diplomats. I suppose it
is no secret that the public opinion of these three superpowers is in
Armenians’ favor. These are the countries where Armenians found refuge
after the genocide. One can also understand Baku’s regular protests
against the OSCE Minsk Group’s decision and the Co-Chairs’ behavior.
Baku has clever people who realize that these three mediators
represent the countries whose major part of the society feels sympathy
for the Armenians. I think Armenia has no reasons to worry about the
OSCE Minsk Group’s steps.

What can you say about the Armenian-Turkish relations?

I think that Ankara is concerned about opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border not less than Yerevan, as it will become a push for development
of the eastern regions of this country. This will become a push for
development of the eastern regions of Turkey where Kurds have been
chiefly living in poverty. As a result of complex social conditions in
these regions of Turkey, emigration is growing and these territories
clear. As Turks scare the Armenian revenge and devastation of the
territories at the border to Armenia is not beneficial to them, and
social and economic development of these regions plays into Ankara’s
hands. Taking all this into consideration, Turkey will soon open the
border to Armenia. At the same time, one should take into account the
growing disagreement between the prime minister and the future
president of Turkey Recep Erdogan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev, as the latter still has been vibrating between Erdogan and the
Suni priest Fethullah Gulen, which has been ruling the Turkish foreign
policy much. In such a situation, I think that especially on the
threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, opening
of the border will promote mellowing of the situation and raising of
Turkey’s rating in the eyes of the world community.

Does it mean that you do not rule out opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border till 24 April 2015?

Yes, it does. I think that the border will be opened even earlier..

What is the reason of Erdogan’s statement made on 23 April 2014 in
which he expressed condolences to successors of the victims of the
tragedy at the beginning of the 20th century?

There is such a tendency in Erdogan’s policy. This is a mellow
approach in order not to disturb Turkish nationalists, on the one
hand, and on the other hand, to start a fluent approach to the
dialogue with Armenians and the world community. Erdogan is not fool
and understands that if he goes on worsening of relations with Armenia
in general, and with the Armenian Diaspora in particular, in that
case, he will not be able to lot upon effective relations either with
Russia or France and the USA or other superpowers, where the
influential Armenian Diaspora lives. Even during the Karabakh war,
Russia and the USA were supporting Armenia. Yes, Russia may arm
Azerbaijan, but if Aliyev has got so much money, he will find the way
to purchase weapon, if not from Russia, but from Ukraine, Belarus and
other CIS countries.

Is recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey possible in the near future?

No, it is not. Turkey will not recognize the Armenian genocide on the
threshold of its 100th anniversary, but certain revision of the
Turkish position regarding the events at the beginning of the 20th
century will take place by the 24th April. Ankara will not be as
radical as today. I think that the future president of Turkey Erdogan
will not accept Armenian president’s invitation to visit Yerevan on 24
April 2015. If he makes such a step, he will come across big problems
in his country from the side of Islamists and nationalists. I think
that it is still early to make such a step. Erdogan cannot let himself
make such a step because of the local reasons.

ö217C70-18E3-11E4-A2D60EB7C0D21663

PRESS RELEASE
July 31, 2014

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web:

SENATE PANEL APPROVES JOHN BASS AS NEXT U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

Nomination Awaits Confirmation by the Full Senate

WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
approved the nomination of John R. Bass to serve as the next U.S.
Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly). Under the Chairmanship of Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ), Bass’ nomination was approved by voice vote.

Although questions regarding the Turkish government’s 99-year campaign
of genocide denial were not raised during his confirmation hearing,
some media outlets mistakenly reported that Bass denied the Armenian
Genocide at that hearing. While recognizing that several Turkish
journalists and public organizations have taken steps to counter the
Turkish government’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, `more can be
done, and we encourage both sides to pursue a full, frank, and just
acknowledgement of the facts surrounding the tragic events on 1915,’
Bass said in his opening remarks.

Following his July 15th confirmation hearing, questions on various Armenian
American issues were submitted for the record to the nominee by Chairman
Menendez, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).

Chairman Menendez began his questioning on the Armenian Genocide and the
recent commemorations held on April 24 in Istanbul. `Will you make
participating in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the genocide
a priority for you and your staff? How do you personally characterize the
events that took place between 1915-23 that resulted in the deportation of
nearly 2,000,000 Armenians and the killing of as many as 1,500,000 men,
women, and children?’ Menendez asked.

`The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
days of the Ottoman Empire,’ Bass replied. `If confirmed, I will continue
to make attendance at such commemoration events a priority, particularly in
light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of one of the worst atrocities of
the 20th century,’ Bass said.

Chairman Menendez also drew the nominee’s attention to the Turkish
government’s discriminatory policies regarding religious minorities. `Less
than one hundred years ago, there was a vibrant and large Christian
population in Turkey. Because of genocide and persecution, the population
has been decimated and accounts for less than point 2 percent of the
population today,’ Menendez said. `How will you address issues of religious
persecution against Christians and other religious minorities with Turkish
authorities?’ Menendez inquired.

`Religious minority groups face continuing challenges in Turkey,’ Bass
said. `If confirmed, I will encourage the Turkish government to follow
through on the return of religious minority properties and to take
additional steps to promote religious freedom, such as allowing more
religious communities to own property, register their places of worship,
and train clergy,’ Bass replied.

Last month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed H.R. 4347, the
Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act. Although a similar measure
has not yet been introduced in the Senate, the continued destruction of
historic Christian sites of Anatolia has not gone unnoticed in Washington.

Senator Boxer also questioned nominee Bass on the Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation efforts. `How does the failure of the Turkish government to
openly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide impede efforts to normalize
relations between Turkey and Armenia?’ Boxer asked.

`To achieve full reconciliation, Turkey must come to terms with its past,’
Bass said bluntly. `The Administration will continue to encourage a full,
frank and just acknowledgement of the facts,’ Bass said, in an effort to
support the normalization of relations that will result in the opening of
the border.

Senator Boxer also raised the issue of Turkey’s 20-year land blockade on
Armenia directly. `How will you work to end this illegal blockade?’ she
asked. `Facilitating Armenia’s regional integration by opening its border
with Turkey is a priority for the United States,’ Bass said. =80=9CIf confirmed,
this would be one of my key goals as Ambassador.’

In his line of questioning, Senator Markey recalled the service of former
U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, in whose footsteps
Bass would serve. `Do you agree with the accounts of U.S. diplomats,
including Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, who served as U.S. ambassador to the
Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, regarding the attempted annihilation of
the Armenian people?’ Markey asked.

`I am aware of the history of the tragic massacres and forced exile that
occurred at the end of the Ottoman Empire, and with U.S. policy during that
period. Ambassador Morgenthau’s accounts, and the reporting of other U.S.
diplomats, serve as important historical records of these tragic events
from various perspectives. The individual stories of the tragedy are
horrifying.’

`The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
days of the Ottoman Empire. If confirmed as Ambassador, my role would be to
represent faithfully the President’s policies, as it has been in all of my
previous assignments,’ Bass said.

`We commend Chairman Menendez and Senators Boxer and Markey for their
poignant and sharp questioning of nominee Bass on critical issues of
concern to Armenian Americans,’ stated Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. `The Assembly looks forward to the opportunity to
discuss shared concerns directly with the next U.S. ambassador to
Turkey,’ Ardouny added.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

NR: # 2014-041

Available online:

Yerevan-Sevan-Ijevan-Azeri border highway to be open in late August

by Arthur Yernjakyan

ARMINFO
Thursday, July 31, 18:23

The Yerevan-Sevan-Ijevan-Azeri border highway, which was closed on
July 16, will be opened in late August in case of favorable weather
conditions, the Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communication
reports.

The source says that the highway is 7480 meters long and advanced
technologies are applied in the rehabilitation. Nearly 500 m is coated
with asphalt daily. The total cost of rehabilitation is 1.1 bln AMD.
The funds are allocated from the state budget.

Ani, abandoned city of 1000 churches: News.com.au

July 31, 2014 – 12:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Founded more than 1600 years ago, the ancient city
of Ani was once one of the world’s greatest metropolises. Today it
sits in crumbling ruins, its former glory a distant memory, says an
article published in News.com.au World Travel section.

Sitting deep in eastern Turkey, thousands of kilometers from bustling
Istanbul, Ani lay on several trade routes and grew to become a walled
city of more than 100,000 residents by the 11th century, the article
says.

At its peak, Ani was a city of opulence, magnificence and
architectural wonder. It was the citadel, former capital and heart of
the great Armenian empire.

Known as the city of 1000 churches, its religious buildings, palaces
and fortifications were among the most technically and artistically
advanced structures in the world, the article says.

All of its buildings were constructed using local volcanic basalt that
was easily carved and came in a variety of vibrant colors from creamy
yellow, to rose-red to jet black.

In the centuries that followed its peak, Ani and its surrounding
region were conquered hundreds of times by Byzantine emperors, Ottoman
Turks, Armenians, nomadic Kurds, Georgians, and Russians.

By the 1300s the city was in steep decline and completely abandoned by
the 1700s.

Largely forgotten for over 700 years, its crumbling ruins were the
victim of looters and vandals, Turks who tried to eliminate Armenian
history from the area and poorly managed archaeological digs, the
article says.

Hommage
Il y a 100 ans Jean Jaurès était assassiné

Il y a 100 ans était assassiné le grand humaniste Jean Jaurès. Le 3
décembre 1896, il fut le seul à élever la voix à la Chambre des
députés pour dénoncer le massacre des Arméniens.

” On massacre des arméniens dans l’Est anatolien. Certains voudraient
passer sous silences ces massacres.”

A la tribune, Jean Jaurès dénonce la lcheté intéressée de la
politique du ministre des Affaires étrangères depuis plus de deux ans
à l’égard du ” sultan rouge “. Si la France restait sans voix,
paralysée pour des raisons économiques, elle encouragerait l’Empire
ottoman à maltraiter ses minorités. Au nom de la paix, de la justice
et du droit, il rappelle que la morale démocratique impose le combat
de la tyrannie où qu’elle soit.

Jaurès avait bien vu que des processus d’extermination se dessinaient
déjà, à la fin du XIXe siècle, et que les puissances et les opinions
publiques devaient exercer toute leur influence pour les enrayer.

Il dira :

“L’humanité ne peut plus vivre avec, dans sa cave, le cadavre d’un
peuple assassiné.” — C’est malheureusement toujours d’actualité.

Son discours restera l’un des plus marquants de la troisième république.

Jean Jaurès est tué par deux coups de feu tirés par Raoul Villain, un
Rémois de 29 ans, étudiant en archéologie à l’École du Louvre, et
surtout adhérent de la Ligue des jeunes amis de l’Alsace-Lorraine,
groupement d’étudiants nationalistes, partisans de la guerre et proche
de l’Action française.

jeudi 31 juillet 2014,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

Haykakan Zhamanak: US Embassy warns against cooperation with Russian companies

10:54 * 31.07.14

The US Embassy to Armenia has issued a call to the Armenian Government
and private companies, warning them of the risks stemming from
cooperation with Russian companies.

According to the paper, it has called all countries and residents to
take into consideration all the risks linked to the partnership with
Russian ventures and physical entities and suspend all kinds of
transactions that run counter to the recently-imposed sanctions
against the country.

The paper notes that two of the above companies – Gazprom Bank and
VTB-Armenia – carry out active business-related activities in the
country. It says further that Rosneft, another company facing western
sanctions, is planning to make large-scale investments in the rubber
plant Nairit.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Womad festival, review: Musical magic lingered long with the weather

New names Maz O Connor and Samantha Crain stood out at this year

TIM CUMMING
Monday 28 July 2014

Q was talking to one of the festival’s bleary-eyed security guards –
six hours sleep in three days – and asked how it was, marshalling the
notoriously violent Womad crowd. He laughed. Out of all the year’s
festivals, he said, it was the one he looked forward to most. Womad
is, of course, one of the most peaceful of all gatherings, but when
even the back line crew has a great time, that tells you a little
about its magic a good year.

While this year wasn’t the most ambitious musically, and had a big
soul-shaped hole where Bobby Womack should have been, that magic
lingered long with the weather – God bless the Azores, purveyors of
warm fronts since time immemorial – for Charlton Park basked in a
festival-long heatwave – Saturday’s temperatures were probably
illegal.

After a powerful Thursday night set from Bessekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba
– his wife, the singer Amy Secko is one of the most in-demand wedding
singers in Mali, with few to match her voice for power – Friday night
promised acoustic delights from Richard Thompson, touring his album of
classic songs in acoustic mode, and he delivered as assuredly as
Martin Simpson did the following afternoon on the Radio Three Stage
with Dom Flemons of Carolina Chocolate Drops, the two combining Old
Timey Americana with old-time English folk song.

Following Thompson after midnight was the mellifluous award-winning
sound of the kora and harp of Seckou Keita and Catrin Finch, as
gorgeous as it is on record, but suffering from a metallic high end in
the PA – which also affected a stunning Sunday afternoon set from The
Gloaming, the Irish-US supergroup with the great fiddle player Martin
Hayes leading us into the musical stratosphere.

On the new, small Ecotricity stage in the wooded Arboretum – the best
place to sink yourself in the blazing afternoon heat – Andrew Cronshaw
and Sans, combining British, Sami and Armenian sounds – was a
beautiful start to Saturday afternoon, followed by The Good Ones from
Rwanda, music so unadorned you’d think any beginner could handle it.
Bass, guitar, shakes, voices – simple elements making sense of lives
that survived unimaginable but thoroughly documented genocide. How can
songs be so uplifting and so mournful at once?

While big-name sets from Youssou N’Dour on Saturday night, and the
reformed Les Ambassadeurs on Sunday, had much to love in them, their
sheer dexterity and panache thrilled but there was nothing radically
new or revelatory on show. What did stand out were new names to Womad
– including a superb Maz O Connor, playing strong traditional British
and self-penned songs and Samantha Crain from Oklahoma, with a supple
guitar technique and a wonderful, dark, smoky voice and lyrical depth.
Both young singers drew big and enthusiastic audiences.

Sinead O’Connor was a wildcard for the closing main-stage set, and
chose to perform mainly new songs from an album no one’s heard – it’s
not out for another two weeks. Brilliant. She dedicated the set, and a
beautiful acapella gospel, to Bobby Womack, drew tears from the
audience with Nothing Compare to U, occasionally swore like a trooper,
and sang like a demon with the voice of a Pre-Raphaelite in psychic
turmoil. It really wasn’t a festival closing set – too dark and
intense for that – but it was ragingly impressive, nevertheless.

Armenia’s Sona Rubenyan wins Audience Award at New Wave contest

July 28, 2014 – 15:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian singer Sona Rubenyan won the 6th place with
220 points as well as the Audience Award at the 13th New Wave
international contest in Jurmala, Latvia.

“Thank you for supporting me every minute and gifting me this
victory,” she said in a Facebook post, addressing her fans. “I am sure
I was the only participants with such a huge army of supporters.”

Rubenyan was born in Yerevan in 1993. She graduated from Yerevan
Komitas State Conservatory and participated in a number of Armenian TV
projects.

Georgia’s Nutsa Buzaladze won the contest, followed by Ukraine’s
representatives Victoria Petrik and Vyacheslav Rybikov, who finished
2nd and 3rd respectively.

First publication of “Encyclopedia of Armenian Music” is being prepared

16:11, 28 July, 2014

YEREVAN, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic
of Armenia has undertaken creation and publication of “Encyclopedia of
Armenian Music”. As “Armenpress” was informed from the Department of
Public Relations of the Ministry of Culture, the publication of the
encyclopedia is exclusive, as, so far, there has been no such
comprehensive edition in our country.

For this purpose, by Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan’s order, a
committee was created, comprised of distinguished musicologists,
representatives of the Armenian Encyclopedia publishing house, the
Institute of Arts of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia,
Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, Union of Composers and
Musicologists of Armenia, Armenian Choral Society.

On July 26, the Ministry of Culture organized the first sitting of the
committee, during which the project of the Armenian Encyclopedia
publishing house was introduced, as well as exchange of ideas and
discussion on the suggestions and current organizational issues was
held.

Residents of Nurnus village cannot afford to buy fuel (video)

16:45 | July 28,2014 | Regions

Nurnus, a village in Armenia’s Kotayk region which is known for
abundant harvest, cannot boast with its plentiful harvest this year.
Severe colds and frosts of April destroyed the entire crop in the
village.

The Babayan family, whose income mainly comes from apricot sale, are
faced with numerous problems. They cannot even afford to buy fuel for
the winter months.