Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

FRENCH CO-CHAIRMAN POST OF MINSK GROUP IS QUERIED AT OSCE PA

Trend
Feb 27 2012
Azerbaijan

The question of keeping the French co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group
has been raised by the Azerbaijani delegation at the 11th session of
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani
Parliament Bahar Muradova told Trend on Monday.

She said the Azerbaijani delegation raised a number of important
questions at the first plenary session of the OSCE in Vienna.

“In particular the question of what extent it is possible to believe
the impartiality of France as a co-chair of the Minsk Group on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, taking into account that it adopted a law
criminalising the denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide”.

“How does the OSCE assess this law against the terms of freedom
of speech and opinion? Also, what is the attitude of the OSCE and
its Parliamentary Assembly to France’s step,” Ms Muradova said. She
noted not an abstract rather than concrete answer was given to these
questions.

“In particular, it was said that it’s necessary to take advantage
of the existing format of the OSCE Minsk Group, to look only to the
future and identify suitable targets for the solution of the problem,”
Ms Muradova said.

She said during a debate a member of the French delegation said that
the aforementioned law is directed not only against Turkey and not only
the “Armenian genocide”, but all mass murders committed and bloodshed.

“The French representative found it necessary to remind us that this
law is being considered by the Constitutional Council and has not
yet come into force,” she said.

No one in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly except for the Azerbaijani
delegation expressed regret in relation to the law being adopted in
France, Ms Muradova noted.

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.

From: Baghdasarian

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP URGES INT’L COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE EFFORTS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend
Feb 27 2012
Azerbaijan

The International Crisis Group calls upon the international
community, in particular the co-chairs of the Minsk Group (France,
Russia, U.S.) to facilitate efforts to reach a comprehensive peace
on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In its report, the International Crisis Group urges to facilitate
the creation of an incident investigation mechanism, including the
operation of a hotline between the sides to discuss ceasefire breaches,
and otherwise protect the civilian population living near the LoC.

The International Crisis Group also calls on to develop more
on-the-ground CBMs to create an atmosphere of trust, including
promoting civil society meetings between the ethnic Armenian population
of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azeri population expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh
and the occupied territories.

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.

From: Baghdasarian

MATTHEW BRYZA MOVES TO TURKEY

APA
Feb 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza and his
family, wife Zeyno Baran and little daughter, moved to Turkey.

Asked by Turkey’s Hurriyyet newspaper that could he say that his
post of US ambassador to Azerbaijan fell victim to his private life,
the diplomat said: “Yes, we could say so. After Obama’s refusal to
recognize the events of 1915 as genocide I turned into the target.

Armenians made my candidacy for the post of ambassador to Azerbaijan a
new topic. This organization (Armenian National Committee of America)
has done its best for showing me one-sided. Now probably they will use
my moving to Turkey. I love Turkey. Can’t I love Armenia and Azerbaijan
at the same time? While working a diplomat, I worked together with
Armenia for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh problem and in that
period Armenian leadership didn’t criticize me.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA-BASED HERITAGE PARTY LEADER MEETS WITH STUDENTS

Tert.am
27.02.12

The Heritage parliamentary group hosted on Monday a group of students
of Armenia’s higher schools.

Raffi Hovannisian, Chairman of the Heritage party, informed the
students of the parliamentary opposition’s important role. The sides
discussed the 20-year-long period of Armenia’s independence, political
and civil challenges and ways of responding to them. Mr Hovannisian
answered the students’ questions concerning international recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Genocide and Armenian-Turkish relations,
as well as on the Heritage party’s membership in the European People’s
Party (EPP).

The sides also discussed the election processes and corrupt practices
in Armenia’s election system and the necessity for political and public
supervision. The participants in the discussion expressed hope that
such meetings will be traditional, which will afford young people
ampler opportunities to be involved in political processes.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN PLACES EMPHASIS SOLELY ON RETURN OF TERRITORIES – ARMENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER

news.am
February 28, 2012 | 15:57

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stated that all principles and
elements of the proposals introduced on the Nagorno Karabakh issue
are designed as a whole, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian stated in an
interview with Der Standard daily of Austria.

“In response to the Azerbaijani aggression, Karabakh’s self-defense
forces were forced to form a buffer zone around Karabakh. The return of
territories is an element of the general negotiating package which the
[OSCE] Minsk Group Co-Chairs have introduced. But if Azerbaijan places
emphasis solely on the return of territories and circumvents all other
aspects of the proposals, in response [to this] the US Secretary of
State Hilary Clinton stated, in 2010 in Astana-and on behalf of the
three Co-Chairs-that all principles and elements of the proposals
introduced on the Nagorno Karabakh issue are designed as a whole,
and separating them-or giving preeminence to one over the other-is
unacceptable,” Nalbandian noted.

Armenia’s FM also reflected on the Armenian-Turkish relations and said:
“The Armenian-Turkish relations were in an impasse prior to Armenian
President’s initiative. We attempted to take them out of that impasse,
but the Turkish side is doing everything to bring them back into the
impasse. And with respect to the historians’ commission, the latter
will not examine whether or not the Armenian Genocide occurred, as
the Turkish side portrays. Its sole objective is to restore trust
between the two peoples by way of dialogue. The historicity of the
Genocide, which is recognized by numerous countries and international
organizations, is not subject to discussion.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN-NORWEGIAN CONSULTATIONS IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
28.02.2012 16:58

Political consultations between the Armenian and Norwegian Ministries
of Foreign Affairs were held in Yerevan today.

Emphasizing the stable dynamics of the political dialogue, the
parties discussed a wide range of issues related to Armenian-Norwegian
relations.

The parties considered the perspectives of promotion of economic
cooperation between the two countries, intensification of educational
and cultural exchange. Reference was made to the programs implemented
in Armenia with the support of Norway.

The Armenian side briefed the guests on Armenia-EU relations and the
positive developments registered in that regard. The possibilities
of cooperation within international organizations were discussed.

The parties exchanged views on the process of settlement of the
Karabakh issue, Armenia’s relations with neighboring countries and
the urgent issues on international agenda.

From: Baghdasarian

SUMGAIT MASSACRE COMMEMORATED IN ARTSAKH

Panorama.am
28/02/2012

On February 28 in connection with the 24th anniversary of the Sumgait
massacre President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan accompanied
by top officials of the republic visited Stepanakert memorial complex
and laid flowers to the monument of innocent victims of these events,
central information department of NKR President reported.

Thereafter the President got acquainted with the process of the
memorial complex reconstruction. The Head of the State noted the
importance of carrying out the construction activities in time and
with high quality and gave concrete instructions to heads of the
appropriate structures.

From: Baghdasarian

TAKSIM NEFRET SOYLEMINE DAR GELDI

27/02/2012 2:00

Hocalý katliamýný protesto, Ermenilere nefret gosterisine dondu.

Taksim “Bozkurtlar burada Hrantlar nerede?” sloganýyla inledi.

Gunlerdir billboard’larda, metro istasyonlarýnda ‘Ermeni Yalaný’
baþlýðýyla duyurulan, Hocalý katliamýnýn 20. yýlýný anmak icin
duzenlenen eylem dun Taksim’de gercekleþti. Mitingde “Ermenistan yok
olsun”, “Diþe diþ, kana kan, intikam intikam”, “Bozkurtlar burada,
Hrantlar nerede?’, “Hepiniz Ermenisiniz, hepiniz picsiniz” sloganlarý
atýldý.

Mitinge Ýciþleri Bakaný Ýdris Naim Þahin ve Ýstanbul Valisi
Huseyin Avni Mutlu da katýldý. Cevik kuvvet Yunanistan ile Fransa
konsolosluklarý onunde ve Agos gazetesine giden yollarda yoðun onlem
aldý. Binlerce kiþinin katýldýðý eylemde “Kuzey guney bir olsun,
Ermenistan yok olsun”, “Karabað’ýn gonullu askerleriyiz”, “Diþe
diþ, kana kan, intikam intikam’, Þehitler olmez vatan bolunmez”,
“Bozkurtlar burada, Hrantlar nerede?” gibi nefret iceren sloganlar
atýlýrken bazý gostericiler tekbir getirdi.

Milliyetci Turkiye Partisi, mehter takýmýyla, ‘Ýþgalcisiniz,
katilsiniz, hepiniz Ermenisiniz’ ve ‘Bugun Taksim, yarýn Erivan, bir
gece ansýzýn gelebiliriz’ yazýlý afiþlerle yurudu. Eylemde ‘Azerbaycan
Diyalog ve Kardeþlik Derneði’ pankartlarý taþýndý. Diðer gruplar
arasýnda Turk Sanayici ve Ýþadamlarý Birliði, Ýstanbul Universitesi
Asenalarý, Turkiye KAMU-SEN, Gokkurtlar ve HAK-ÝÞ vardý.

Þahin: Hesabý sorulacak Ýciþleri Bakaný Þahin mitingde yaptýðý
konuþmada Turk milletinin yeryuzunde barýþýn, sevginin ve insani
deðerlerin sadece sigortasý olduðunu soyledi. Þahin “Turk milleti
olarak dunyanýn hicbir yerinde insanlýk adýna utanýlacak bir tarihimiz,
bir gecmiþimiz yoktur” dedi.

Þahin Hocalý icinse þu sozleri sarf etti: “20 yýl once bugun kan
iciciler, katiller, acýmasýzlar ve merhametsizler, yureksizler,
korkaklar Hocalý’da 613 insanýn kanýný icti. Bu kan o gunden bu yana
yerde kalmadý ve yerde kalmayacak. O kan o gun akmýþtýr, ama hesabý
bitmemiþtir. Turk milleti yaþadýkca, o kanýn hesabý yapýlacaktýr ve
sorulacaktýr adaletle, hukukla bu kanýn mucadelesini yeryuzunde hak
ve adalet davasýna kim inanýyorsa hep birlikte takip edeceðiz. Bu
yuzyýl adaletin, insani deðerlerin ve hukukun ustunluðunun yuzyýlý
olacak. Bu deðerlerin de takipcisi topyekûn Turk milleti olacak.”

‘Derin devlet organizasyonu gibi’ HAS Parti Genel Baþkan
Yardýmcýsý Mehmet Bekaroðlu: “Sýkýntýlý bir miting… Kim yaptý
bilinmiyor. Birtakým gruplar onlerde sert sloganlar atýyor. Katliam
unutulmasýn diye gittik. Yapanlarý elbette kýnýyoruz.

Fakat duþmanlýðý geniþleterek yapýlmaz. Bu tur tavýrlar katliamý
protesto esprisini bozuyor. Burada 2015’te Ermenilerin soykýrým
atýlýmýna cevap tarzýnda, bindirilmiþ devlet veya derin organizasyon
tarzýnda miting havasý gordum. “Ulkuculer burada hainler nerede?”

sloganý beni rahatsýz etti. Bu yuzden ayrýldým.”

‘Milliyetcilik ve ýrkcýlýkla yuzleþme’ Orhan Kemal Cengiz: “Faþist
reaksiyonlarla acýyý rehin aldýlar.

Dunyanýn her yerindeki milliyetciler icin bu boyledir. Katliamlarý
kullanýþ bicimi budur. Bu tur gosterilerde maðdurlar icin acý
duymaktan daha cok diðer halklara duyduklarý nefreti kusarlar. Ermeni,
Yunan milliyetcileri de ayný þeyi yaparlar. Belki de bizim tekrar
milliyetcilik ve ýrkcýlýkla yuzleþmemiz ve hesaplaþmamýz icin vesile
olmalý Hocalý katliamýný kýnayanlarýn bu goruntusu. Hicbir þekilde
katliamlarýn, acýlarýn yarýþtýrýlmasý soz konusu olmamalý. Biz 1915’te
oldurulen Ermeni kardeþlerimiz icin de, 1992’de oldurulen Azeri
kardeþlerimiz icin de ayný acýyý duyuyoruz. Bunlarýn katillerini de
ayný þekilde kýnýyoruz. Bu ancak boyle olursa deðerli bir þey. Aksi
takdirde sadece yeni nefret ve yeni katliamlarýn ekilmesinden baþka
bir þeye yaramýyor bu gosteriler.”

From: Baghdasarian

OVER 2000 FOREIGNERS KEPT IN TURKISH PRISONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 28, 2012 – 12:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Some 2,310 foreign nationals are currently serving
time behind bars in Turkey either as convicts or arrestees, according
to information obtained from the Justice Ministry.

Among all foreign nationals imprisoned in Turkey, Iranians top the
list with 477 convicts and arrestees, while Turkmenistan was second
with 265 prisoners. Georgia was third with 165, Syria was fourth with
122, while Nigeria was fifth with 111, according to reports.

Bulgaria, Romania, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, South Africa and Iraq
followed the top five, with each country having more than 40 nationals
in prison in Turkey.

Some 71 stateless individuals with no bonds of citizenship to any
country are also serving time in Turkish jails, Hurriyet Daily News
reported.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S IT PROJECTS MAY BE REALIZED IN KAZAKHSTAN-AMBASSADOR

news.am
February 28, 2012 | 12:42

YEREVAN. – Armenia and Kazakhstan intend to deepen cooperation, Kazak
Ambassador Aiymdos Bozzhigitov said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The Ambassador said that he had recently met with the Armenian
PM Tigran Sargsyan and discussed issues of economic cooperation,
including holding session of intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation. They also touched upon issues of realizing Armenian IT
projects in Kazakhstan.

“We have achieved agreement to create register of new projects which
will be considered by the Kazakh side,” the Ambassador said.

From: Baghdasarian