Author: Badalian Vardan

AZERBAIJANI FM: “ARMENIAN TROOPS MUST BE WITHDRAWN FROM ALL OCCUPIED TERRITORIES”

APA
June 28 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Dunal Gurbanov – APA. “Azerbaijan has signed the Helsinki Final
Act and we are guided by the principles of non-use of forces,
territorial integrity and self-determination.

This document also underlines that the problem must be solved only
within the territorial integrity”, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov said commenting on Armenian president
Serzh Sargsyan’s statement about importance of the solution of Nagorno
Karabakh problem on the basis of Helsinki Final Act.

The minister said Azerbaijan could only give a status of high autonomy
to Nagorno Karabakh. “Armenians expelled our people from their
homeland. The international community also recognizes that the
internally displaced persons should return to their homelands and then
express opinion on autonomy. Armenians must leave the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijanis must return home”.

Answering the question about the US proposal on new approaches during
Paris meeting on June 18, Mammadyarov said a final statement was
issued in that meeting. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will visit the
region in July. “The process will continue. We would like to announce
that the agreement was reached and Armenians left the occupied
territories and displaced persons could return home, but it is not so.

We think that this is not a frozen conflict and we will find its
solution. Armenian troops must be withdrawn from all occupied
territories.”

AZERBAIJANI FM: ARMENIA SPECULATES SELF-DETERMINATION PRINCIPLE OF PEOPLES

Trend
June 28 2012
Azerbaijan

Armenia speculates the self-determination principle of the peoples,
ignoring the rights of the Azerbaijanis of Nagorno-Karabakh, who
of course want to live in a part of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said during a press conference with his
Portuguese counterpart in Baku on Thursday.

“The self-determination principle does not mean seizing the territory
of another country and in particular, Azerbaijan,” Mammadyarov said.

“Azerbaijan signed the Helsinki Final Act on Security and Cooperation
in Europe,” the minister said. “It adheres to the three basic
principles in this document in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: non-use
of force, preserving territorial integrity and the self-determination
principle.

“But the self-determination principle does not mean the occupation
of Azerbaijani lands,” the minister added.

No new proposals have been presented to the parties during the Paris
meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, he said.

“We will continue the negotiation process, but would like to start
working on the final variant of the big peace agreement,” Mammadyarov
said.

Mammadyarov added that OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen will arrive in
the region in mid-July to continue negotiations with the parties to
the conflict.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas said that the principle of
territorial integrity must be the main one while solving the conflict.

“I believe in a diplomatic way of resolving the conflict,” he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

FORMER CHIEF ADVISER: ARMENIA TO REMAIN WEAKEST COUNTRY IN REGION UNTIL NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS RESOLVED

Trend
June 28 2012
Azerbaijan

Armenia will continue to be the weakest country in the region,
but Azerbaijan and Georgia will develop, until the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is resolved, former chief adviser to ex-Armenian President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan Zhirayr Libaridyan told media today.

“We are in conflict with the two neighboring countries – Turkey and
Azerbaijan,” Libaridyan said. “Armenia will not develop until these
conflicts are resolved.”.

He said that the parties must abandon maximalist demands to resolve
the conflict.

“I do not trust the mediators from the OSCE Minsk Group,” he said.

“The negotiations must be conducted directly.”

Libaridyan, as well as president of the Georgian Foundation for
Strategic and International Studies Alexander Rondeli and Azerbaijani
MP, political analyst Rasim Musabayov attended the international
conference “Joint efforts for the future of the Caucasus: lessons
of the past 20 years” in Baku today. It was organized jointly by
the Centre for Strategic Studies under the Azerbaijani President,
Caucasus International and Turkish Policy Quarterly magazines.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

MUSIC PUTS IRAN AND AZERBAIJAN AT LOGGERHEADS

PRAVDA
June 28 2012
Russia

Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, revoked home in connection with a
scandal, is returning to the country. The reason the two countries
have recently been at odds is pretty surprising – the “Eurovision”
musical contest held in Baku. In any case, Muhammadbaghir Bahrami
will continue his work as the Islamic Republic needs to become more
active in the Caucasus.

How it all began? Last year, the Azerbaijani won “Eurovision” in
Germany, and under the rules of the competition, Azerbaijan became
the next host. But Islamic fundamentalists did not like the fact that
song and dance competition will take place in an Islamic country,
even if it presents itself as a secular state, and went as far as to
compare it with gay parades. The Azeris responded by a picket outside
the Iranian diplomatic mission. The humiliated Tehran then immediately
recalled its ambassador home, allegedly for “further consultations”.

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According to the CIA, 16 percent of the total population of
Azerbaijanis who consider themselves a single nation with the Turks
resides in Iran, and live mainly in the north-west of the state.

Turkey is actively pulling Azerbaijan into NATO and is preparing to
host U.S. missile defense elements. This does not please Russia, whose
“southern underbelly” has such a problem as the Caucasus. If Baku
falters, deceived by sweet speeches of Ankara, the situation will
deteriorate. Russia will be surrounded by enemy radars, supposedly
aimed at Teheran, but in fact, directly threatening Moscow.

After all, the borders in the Caucasus, despite being traced by
regional states, do not actually exist. The situation resembles
a third-rate TV-series: Azerbaijan is friendly with Turkey, while
Turkey, desperately trying to become a leader in the region, is
trying to be friends with everyone, except Armenia. Poor Yerevan,
locked between the two countries and Georgia, is hoping for the help
of Moscow that sees Armenia as a full member of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization and its only outpost in the Caucasus.

And where, one wonders, is the place of Iran, criticized by the
international community over its nuclear program? Of course, near
Moscow. The Iranian ambassador Muhammadbaghir Bahrami had to return
to Baku. Aggravation of diplomatic relations in a complex region is
fraught not only with musical scandals. Everyone remembers August
of 2008, when Georgia attacked South Ossetia, provoking a serious
conflict. Does Iran, in addition to the threats of war with the United
States, need small “affairs” with the neighbors? Moreover, Armenia,
seeing the flame, immediately offered to cancel the visa regime with
Iran. This is a serious slap in the face of Azerbaijan.

But Russia that has long been mediating between Baku and Yerevan,
restraining the passions, is not the only one who can reconcile Iran
and Azerbaijan. Tehran has one trump card that allows it to keep the
wrath of the Azerbaijani and Turkish politicians – the economy.

Regardless of Ankara’s behavior on the geopolitical stage, the economic
component is very important to it. Turkey’s trade with Georgia amounts
to only $500 million dollars, and with Azerbaijan – $3.5 billion.

Turkey is ready to invest in banking, energy and other sectors of
the economy. Now Ankara has about $2 billion dollars of “free money”
that is just waiting to be invested. If Tbilisi does not want to
be on the margins of the region, it is necessary for it not only to
maintain trade relations with Turkey, but also to develop them with
Iran, whose exports to the country amount to only 1 percent.

For example, trade with Yerevan in the Islamic Republic reaches one
billion dollars. On August 22, the ceremony of laying of the foundation
of HPP “Meghri” will take place in the southern city of Armenia, and
Tehran will become the importer for 15 years after the launch of the
station, which will more than pay for its current investment in the
“occupied” Armenia.

Of course, Mikhail Saakashvili has repeatedly called on Tehran to
abolish the visa regime, and in 2010 an agreement was finally signed,
but it did not increase the flow of Iranian tourists in Sakartvelo. He
even advised to invest in the energy sector of Georgia, but to no
avail. Iran is cautious towards such a partner as Tbilisi. In addition,
Georgia is not a Caspian state, and hence, it does not have a serious
unified interest with Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Thus, Iran, rejecting the momentary emotion, will substantially
strengthen its position in the region. Moreover, it is in the most
winning situation because it made friends with Russia that still
holds has the entire Caucasus in check.

Daria Deryabina

Pravda.Ru

Q&A WITH SINGER, SONGWRITER TAMAR KAPRIELIAN
by Lori Cinar

June 27, 2012

NEW YORK (A.W.)-Weekly contributor Lori Cinar recently had the chance
to interview Tamar Kaprelian, a budding singer-songwriter originally
from Arizona whose new album, “California,” was released on June 19.

Read on to find out about her life, influences, and plans for the
future.

Kaprielian’s album “California” was released on June 19.

Lori Cinar: Where are you originally from? Where do you live now?

Tamar Kaprelian: I was born in Scottsdale, Az., but I moved around
quite a bit as a kid. I lived in Atlanta, Ga. for 6 years and in Los
Angeles, Calif. for 10. Currently, I am living in New York City.

LC: How did you get started musically? Did you always like to sing
or was it something that developed over time?

TK: According to my parents, I was singing before I was talking, so
music was something that always came naturally to me-it has always
been something that I love. I started writing songs when I was 15
and started developing my craft as a songwriter from that point on.

LC: Your name really got out there during the OneRepublic cover
contest with your rendition of the song “Apologize.” Can you tell us
more about that experience?

TK: My producer Xandy Barry told me about the contest and suggested
that I enter it. I taught myself the song on the piano that same
day, recorded the cover in one-take, and submitted it-not having
any expectations from it. Two weeks later, I got an e-mail from
Interscope Records saying that I had won the contest and that they
wanted to set up a meeting. That meeting led to a record deal, which
led to me recording my first album, “Sinner or a Saint.”

LC: Some of your music has been featured on shows like MTV’S “The
Hills.” How does that make you feel as a new artist?

TK: When you work in an industry that is constantly changing,
new methods of getting your music out there for people to discover
you becomes a crucial part of the process. My songs are upbeat and
positive and I hope to find many more opportunities similar to “The
Hills” sync as a way of exposing my music to new audiences.

LC: Do you write your own songs or music? What is your inspiration?

TK: I do write my own material and I find that process to be very
therapeutic. I find inspiration from everything around me, from great
music (such as Billy Joel and Paul McCartney), from great books,
from inspiring films.

LC: How have you been involved in the Armenian community throughout
your life?

TK: My Armenian culture has always been something that has been
incredibly important to me. I speak the language and I am constantly
looking for opportunities to better connect with the Armenian
community. I hope to make a trip to Yerevan next summer.

LC: You’re a student at Columbia University. How has it been to
balance school and your musical career?

TK: I deferred school for six years (I got accepted to UC Berkeley
right out of high school) and decided last year that starting that
chapter of my life was important. I started studying at Columbia last
spring and feel honored to be a part of their incredible student body.

I am studying creative writing because I want to constantly better
my songwriting and my ability to write lyrics and poetry.

LC: You also have a blog (tamarkaprelian.tumblr.com) that deals with
fashion, food, etc. What was your reason for starting a blog?

TK: I wanted for my fans and for people, in general, to get to know
me on a different level outside of the music that I write and record.

Starting my Tumblr blog was another way for me to remain creative and
to share/blend three of my life’s passions: food, fashion, and music.

LC: Your new album is being released this week. (Congrats!) What was
the experience of working on the album like?

TK: The amazing Xandy Barry, who produced my album “Sinner or a Saint,”
produced this set of material. This EP is an honest, organic, and
upbeat group of songs that hopefully takes listeners on a fun and
visual journey.

LC: Lastly, what are your goals for the future, both musically and
in general?

TK: To continue to do what I love for a living-writing, recording,
and releasing new music.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONTINUES HEARINGS ON ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MP’S CLAIM

news.am
June 28, 2012 | 17:50

YEREVAN.- Armenia’s Constitutional Court will continue hearings on
a claim filed by MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress
bloc Nikol Pashinyan starting from June 15.

On June 15 the Court suspended the hearings reasoning its decision
by a necessity to get additional materials from the state agencies.

Nikol Pashinyan has appealed to the Constitutional Court with the
demand that the May 6 parliamentary elections in #7 precinct should
be recognized invalid.

EZETOP PHONE RECHARGE SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR ARMENIANS WORLDWIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 28, 2012 – 16:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Orange Armenia has started a partnership with ezetop
– one of world leaders for mobile service payments. From now on,
Armenians living abroad will be able to send a mobile credit back
home from over 400,000 retail stores in 20 countries worldwide as
well as

Also with ezetop service, Orange subscribers traveling abroad will
now be able to top their mobile phones while they are in international
roaming, with Visa, Master card or a PayPal account.

Ezetop is an international network enabling people living or working
abroad to instantly top up mobile phones of friends and family
worldwide.

ARMENIA TO FORMALLY ASSUME BOLOGNA PROCESS SECRETARIAT

news.am
June 27, 2012 | 14:55

YEREVAN. – The ceremony for Armenia’s official taking on of the Bologna
Process Follow-up Group Secretariat will be held in the capital city
Yerevan on Thursday.

During the event, welcoming remarks will be delivered by Karine
Harutyunyan, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Education and Science;
Traian Hristea, the EU Mission Chief to Armenia; and Silvia-Maria Zehe,
Head of Council of Europe Armenia Office.

The event will bring together the Group’s co-chairs: representatives
from Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania, which will transfer
the Secretariat to Armenia.

NRNADZOR ROAD IS BEING REPAIRED BY STATE BUDGET

ARMENPRESS
27 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS: The road connecting Meghry’s Nrnadzor
village to the outside world is being rehabilitated by state budget.

The works are being carried out by “Meghry Road Construction
Enterprise” LTD. The company has undertaken to conduct the scheduled
works by 160 million AMD instead of stipulated 180 million AMD.

About 80 % of the work is already completed; ground works are about to
reach the end, reportedly sheltering works will follow it then. The
company director Azat Gasparyan informed Armenpress that instead
of the old village roads the habitants will have renovated two-way
traffic road, besides the road slopes will get relatively mild.

The works started at the beginning of April are set to end in August.

During summer time the company is engaged inYerevan-Meghry interstate
highway works as well.

ISTANBUL : RESTAURER LES BATIMENTS ARENIENS

Publié le : 27-06-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – ” Le bâtiment qui doit
être transformé en hôtel date du début des années 1900, a dit
Sanli, ajoutant que c’était une école jusqu’en 1983, mais qu’elle
avait dÔ fermer, car qu’il n’y avait plus d’étudiants. Ce bâtiment,
situé sur la péninsule historique d’Istanbul, a ensuite été une
usine de chaussures pendant des années. Les revenus générés par
l’hôtel seront transférés aux établissements arméniens d’Istanbul
et seront utilisés pour aider les gens dans le besoin. ” Le Collectif
VAN vous livre la traduction d’un article en anglais paru sur le site
turc Hurriyet Daily News le 25 juin 2012.

Légende photo : le bâtiment historique qui doit devenir un hôtel
date des années 1900. Il est situé dans le quartier GedikpaÅ~_a
Fatih a Istanbul. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GUREL

Une école arménienne va être transformée en hôtel

ISTANBUL – Hurriyet Daily News

Vercihan Ziflioglu [email protected]

Une école arménienne historique, l’école Mesrobian située dans
le quartier Gedikpasa d’Istanbul, va être transformée en hôtel.

La Fondation Surp Hovhannes GedikpaÅ~_a de l’Ã~Iglise arménienne,
est dirigée par Harutyun Å~^anlı, qui est également le
secrétaire général de la Plateforme de solidarité des fondations
arméniennes. Il a parlé au journal Hurriyet Daily News et déclaré
que la raison principale derrière cette décision prise avec
courage, est la politique modérée que le gouvernement a adoptée
ces dernières années.

” Avant 2008, nous ne pouvions pas même planter un clou dans
les propriétés que nous possédions, mais depuis 2008, tout a
changé. Avec la nouvelle Loi sur les Fondations, adoptée l’année
dernière, nous pouvons réclamer nos propriétés et nous les faire
restituer ”, a-t-il dit.

Un bâtiment historique

Le bâtiment qui doit être transformé en hôtel date du début
des années 1900, a dit Sanli, ajoutant que c’était une école
jusqu’en 1983, mais qu’elle avait dÔ fermer, car qu’il n’y avait
plus d’étudiants.

Ce bâtiment, situé sur la péninsule historique d’Istanbul, a
ensuite été une usine de chaussures pendant des années.

Les revenus générés par l’hôtel seront transférés aux
établissements arméniens d’Istanbul et seront utilisés pour aider
les gens dans le besoin.

Å~^anlı a dit qu’il pensait que l’hôtel serait très demandé
puisqu’il est proche de la péninsule historique.

” J’espère que l’administration prendra rapidement une décision
pour l’hôtel Tokatlian a Beyoglu, afin que cet hôtel redevienne le
célèbre l’hôtel qu’il était, car il est actuellement en ruine. ”

Si le Tokatlian est rénové comme celui de Gedikpasa, la communauté
arménienne n’aura plus de problèmes financiers, a déclaré Sanli.

” Nous avons des difficultés pour lever des fonds pour nos églises,
nos écoles et les familles dans le besoin. Nous essayons de joindre
les deux bouts avec des donations et des fonds collectés lors de
certains événements ”, a-t-il dit.

L’hôtel Tokatlian

L’hôtel Tokatlian, situé dans la rue Ä°stiklal a Beyoglu, a accueilli
plusieurs dirigeants a l’époque et en particulier Ataturk, ainsi
que les élites mondiales.

L’administration de la Fondation Tokatlian, qui est la fondation la
plus riche de la communauté arménienne, n’a pas changé depuis
30 ans et a rejeté tous les projets soumis. Par conséquent, la
communauté a poursuivi en justice l’administration de la fondation.

Considéré par les historiens comme une réalisation architecturale
importante, le Tokatlian-Péra est l’un des meilleurs exemples de
l’architecture fin de siècle en Turquie.

L’hôtel appartient a la Fondation Uc Horan de l’Ã~Iglise arménienne,
l’une des plus riches fondations de la communauté arménienne
en Turquie.

L’administration de la fondation, qui n’a pas changé depuis 30 ans,
a choisi de ne pas adopter une seule des nombreuses propositions de
rénovation qui lui ont été soumises au fil des années.

25 juin 2012

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 27 juin
2012 – 07 :00 –

Lire aussi :

Istanbul : l’hôtel Tokatlian en ruine

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Hurriyet Daily News