NAGORNO-KARABAKH AIR FORCES SHOOT DOWN AZERI DRONE
Tert.am
14:09 14.09.11
The Air Forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army have shot down
an Azerbaijani drone.
Talking to Tert.am, Head of the Propaganda and Information Department,
NKR Defense Army, Lieutenant-Colonel Senor Hasratyan confirmed the
information.
The details are being verified.
From: Baghdasarian
TRANSCAUCASIAN STATES PRIORITIZE SARKOZY’S VISIT – NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
Tert.am
14:08 14.09.11
Ahead of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to the South
Caucasus region, the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta has
published an article commenting upon the Transcauasian countries’
attitudes and expectations.
“The exact date has not yet been declared, but judging by the comments
from the three countries’ [Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia] capital
cities, the Transcaucasus can be said to be prioritizing Sarkozy’s
visit,” the paper says.
Speaking of Georgia and Azerbaijan, the author of the article says
the authorities in both countries will have something to complain
about to the French leader.
“Georgia will complain about Russia which violates the Medvedev-Sarkozy
agreement calling for the withdrawal of its military units [from the
country]. And certainly, it will remind the guest of its promises to
promote Georgia’s integration to the European structures.
As for Azerbaijan, it will also complain about Russia which it thinks
is unable to force Armenia into making concessions while acting a
peacemaker [in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process],” the paper
says, adding that Azerbaijan would not probably be against the French
mediation in the Karabakh peace deal.
“Paris is not the brotherly Ankara, but that will make the situation no
worse. Besides, [Azerbaijan] could promise something from the Caspian
[oil] reserves, given that earlier promises to Moscow in return for
the re-establishment of its territorial integrity did not work,”
the paper comments.
As Yerevan’s response to the French leader’s visit, the author is
dim about possible developments.
“France is Armenia’s close partner on the international arena. But
their relationship experienced a serious test recently; despite the
agreement with the Armenian community in France, Sarkozy spared no
effort he prevent the adoption of the bill penalizing the Armenian
Genocide. The blow came after Russia had committed itself to the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. And that could have been a signal
to Yerevan on the undesirability of such scenario,” he says.
Analyzing the partnership between Armenia and France in the light
of the Armenian-Russian relations, the paper says Sarkozy’s visit
might cause Yerevan to remember about its complementary policies with
the country.
From: Baghdasarian
POLITICAL RIVALRY SHOULD GO HAND IN HAND WITH COLLABORATION – PRESIDENT
Tert.am
10:13 14.09.11
Political rivalry should go hand in hand with political collaboration,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has said.
The president made the statement at the National Gallery of Armenia on
Tuesday, while congratulating representatives of political parties and
non-governmental organizations on the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence.
“The joint path of [political] rivalry and collaboration is narrow
and vulnerable, while the edges of an anti-nation-building abyss
are very wide and slippery. It is passable only to those who gained
wisdom in the unyielding struggle and were able to take a pause and
lend a helping hand to the rival whose fighting spirit did not turn
into hatred and curse,” the president said.
From: Baghdasarian
MARCH 1 NEVER TO RECUR, ARMENIAN POLITICIAN SAYS
Tert.am
10:13 14.09.11
While hosted by the Urvagits (Outline) TV program, Chairman of the
Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) Khosrov Harutyunyan, speaking of the
domestic political situation, noted that the right policy will cause
the Armenian Parliament to consider social problems, and people will
not have to take to the streets any more.
Elections require huge funds, Harutyunyan said. If the opposition
fails to find them inside Armenia, it will seek them abroad, which
may have bad consequences for Armenia, he added.
“It is clear for everyone that coups and revolutions are incapable of
stabilizing social life,” Harutyunyan said. March 1 will not recur
because Armenia’s society has no sufficient potential. “A second
attempt will prove disastrous for the political force making it. It
will prove a political death for this force,” he said.
From: Baghdasarian
ARMENIAN, AZERI MIGHT BECOME STATE LANGUAGES IN GEORGIA
epress.am
09.14.2011 12:26
In some parts of Georgia, Armenian, Azeri and other languages might
be decreed as state languages, said Georgian Labour Party secretary
Giorgi Gugava at a briefing on Tuesday, reports Georgia Online.
“To divide our country even more, in compliance with an order by
the Armenian-American lobby and with the hand of [Georgian President
Mikheil] Saakashvili’s treacherous gang, yet another anti-national
decision is being prepared for adoption. All those MPs who vote
for this law will go down in Georgia’s history as traitors to the
homeland,” said Gugava.
In his opinion, if this plan goes through, education, court hearings,
administrative and civil relations in these regions will no longer
be conducted in the Georgian language.
From: Baghdasarian
LES ETATS-UNIS APPELLENT TURCS ET ISRAELIENS A EVITER LES PROVOCATIONS
[email protected]
armenews.com
mercredi 14 septembre 2011
INTERNATIONAL
L’administration americaine, “inquiète”, a appele vendredi ses allies
turcs et israeliens a eviter les “provocations” dans la grave crise
diplomatique qui les oppose.
“Nous demandons instamment aux deux parties d’eviter des actes
de provocation (et) de maintenir un ton constructif et productif
dans leurs discours et leurs actes”, a declare Victoria Nuland,
la porte-parole du departement d’Etat.
Un haut responsable israelien parlant a l’AFP sous couvert de
l’anonymat a affirme que la menace du Premier ministre turc Recep
Tayyip Erdogan de faire accompagner par la marine de guerre turque
d’eventuels bateaux d’aide a Gaza, si elle se realisait, serait une
“provocation très grave”.
L’Etat juif garde pour l’heure profil bas, doutant de la mise en
oeuvre de cette mesure.
Un raid israelien sur un navire turc en route vers Gaza, qui a coûte
la vie a neuf Turcs le 31 mais 2010, est a l’origine de la crise
entre les deux pays. Après des mois de tensions croissantes, Ankara
a laisse eclater sa colère face au refus israelien de presenter des
excuses pour cette operation.
Cette brouille complique les relations entre les Etats-Unis et la
Turquie, allies au sein de l’Otan.
From: Baghdasarian
BIG NAME PHOTOGRAPHER COMES TO SMALL TOWN MUSEUM
By John P. Aloian, Crimson Staff Writer
Harvard Crimson
Sept 13 2011
MA
As a major American city and historic center of American politics,
history, and art, Boston has always counted important world figures
among its visitors. This fall, however, 25 of the 20th century’s most
influential figures plan to make an appearance just beyond the city
limits for the grand reopening of a small Watertown museum.
Perhaps one of Watertown’s best-kept secrets, the Armenian Library
and Museum of America (ALMA) is celebrating the unveiling of a
permanent collection of 25 original signed portraits by renowned
Canadian-Armenian photographer Yousuf Karsh. Although Karsh’s
photographs spanned a range of genres, it was his portrait photographs
that brought him international fame and recognition. Following the
publication of his now iconic portrait of Winston Churchill, British
prime minister during World War II in LIFE Magazine, Karsh went on
to shoot portraits of the some of the most well known figures of the
20th century, including Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, and Ernest
Hemmingway.
The upcoming ALMA exhibition “Karsh: Celebrating Humanity” will open
on September 17. All of the featured portraits were donated to ALMA
by Karsh’s widow, Estrellita Karsh. The unveiling of this exhibition
coincides with the completion of ALMA’s two and a half month-long
renovation, which was an effort to improve the quality of the
facilities in light of such an important acquisition. Though Karsh’s
photographs will now play a prominent role in the museum, regular
visitors will still be able to find the Armenian artifacts that they
are used to seeing. “The hope is that by re-facing [the museum] we’ll
have people coming in to see the Karsh photographs who will [then]
be able to see a sampling of the Armenian artifacts,” says Daniel K.
Dorian, a member of the Board of Trustees. “We’re hoping to increase
the foot traffic so that people get an opportunity to see some of
these things.”
ALMA’s artifacts include a vast collection of Armenian coins, carpets,
ceramics, laces, manuscripts, and religious objects, as well as an
extensive library of titles pertaining to Armenian culture. Since
ALMA’s founding in 1971, when it first displayed its artifacts in the
basement of a Belmont church, the collection has grown in both quantity
and quality. Despite its move to a larger space in the early 90s,
ALMA can still only display 3% of the its collection at any given time.
This substantial growth stems partially from private donations
made by survivors of the Armenian Genocide. However, the museum’s
collection spans a much greater portion of Armenian history, which
has witnessed repeated episodes of conflict and warfare. “Armenian
history is replete [with] Armenia being the battleground between
eastern and western empires … and somehow, [the Armenian people]
came up with a multifarious culture that staggers the imagination,”
says Haig Der Manuelian, chairman of ALMA’s board of trustees.
Despite the rich history behind its artifacts, ALMA still remains
relatively unknown to the residents in the greater Boston area. “A lot
of people don’t know about it,” says board member Robert Megerdichian.
“What [ALMA] need[s] is people to get the word out and the hope is
that this exhibit will do that.”
From: Baghdasarian
‘ZERO-PROBLEMS POLICY’ NEEDS FINE-TUNING
By Yavuz Baydar
Today’s Zaman
Sept 13 2011
Turkey
“[The Turkish-Israeli crisis] signifies the coming of age of Turkey
as a strategic power connecting the Middle East with Europe; it is
Ankara’s declaration of independence in terms of its foreign policy.
The Middle East will never be the same again,” commented the Guardian’s
Muhammed Ayoob, a distinguished professor of international relations
at Michigan State University. In conclusion, he called on the US to
conduct a “major revamp” of its foreign policy.
Turkey is increasingly at the center of the global debate over the
Palestinian bid for recognition as an independent state, which is soon
to be discussed and voted on at the UN. Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Cairo put him under the spotlight because
it represented a powerful actor pushing for hegemony in a turbulent,
rapidly changing region, in open support of freedom and democracy.
However, the debate rages on in all the directions, depending on
perspective and perception. While analysts like Ayoob see a future
in optimism, others smell trouble and threat.
“Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to have abandoned the policy of smooth
relations with all of Turkey’s neighbors. … After becoming an
all-powerful figure in Turkey, he now feels that he can behave like the
local sovereign of the eastern Mediterranean, as well as a leader for
Muslim countries which have recently seen civil uprisings as a part of
the Arab Spring,” wrote Alexis Papachelas, the editor of the respected
Greek daily Kathimerini. My colleague called for caution against a
tighter Israeli-Greek “alliance” in the eastern Mediterranean, pointing
out that Athens must not be lured into adventures in hot waters.
So it goes. Once the dynamics of history turn the page, it becomes
even more difficult to predict the outcome of any major move, let
alone have any kind of control over the process. In this sense, it is
natural that those who bring change draw some applause and admiration,
while suspicion of intent and endgame plans rise to new levels.
Erdogan may have embarked on an exciting journey in foreign policy,
with aspirations to be the leader and interlocutor of regional
transformation, but a lot of critical questions are equally legitimate
and timely. Some of the eyebrow raising is based on his seemingly
out-of-control, bold language; he has proven to be not keen on
mincing words but in possession of a code of honor, which makes him
take too many moves and statements personally. However, he is often
misunderstood or abused by those who look at him with antipathy. As
he plunges into issues head on, Turkish foreign policy takes a less
prominent path.
Nevertheless, almost all questions in Turkish politics these days
stem from his “zero problems with neighbors” policy line. Has it
failed? Is it over? If it is not, how is it possible to declare a
“soft and benevolent power” approach as a new guide, while the rhetoric
signals a flexing of muscles?
Skeptics of the policy see increasing problems in Ankara’s pursuit of
this policy these days, particularly with regards to the crisis with
Israel. Some, declaring an early collapse of that ideal, suggest a
total policy revision is necessary.
The main points of those critics include the following: Although
Ankara has maintained positive relations with Bulgaria and Georgia,
all attempts to open an embassy in Yerevan and the land border with
Armenia have failed. Ties with Iran continue to be fragile because
of Tehran’s fear of the “Turkish model” of leadership in the Middle
East and the NATO shield problem, in which Turkey’s decision to host
a US-sponsored missile shield radar has been welcomed by Western
countries but not Iran. Attempts to nudge Syria into pluralism are
stuck. Cyprus has become an issue of severe frustration — even
involving Greece, however vulnerable it is economically. Even Iraq
has become anxious due to Turkish operations in its Kurdish north.
Critics slam Erdogan and his foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, for
what they call “one-track minded” policy-making. This notion is based
on the assumption that the unexpected is simply disregarded by the
administration. With the administration’s lack of a plan B or plan
C, all good intentions may instead lead to harsh confrontations and
deep disputes.
At the moment, no other country is juggling so many balls at the
same time. But the “zero-problems” policy is — despite premature
judgments that it has finished — sustainable and, in the long run,
may be successful.
However, the conditions of success are also clear: A lot of energy must
be poured into vigorous conflict resolution with the elected Kurdish
deputies of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and into negotiations
with Abdullah Ocalan, jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK). This must be the highest priority, since the Kurdish issue is
linked to Turkey’s international aspirations. Second, while pursuing
“zero problems” with its neighbors, Ankara must act strictly on its
principles and not fall into the traps of simple tactical victories
or evasions. It must not distinguish its neighbors on religious or
ethnic divides and must react with determination to every breach of
human rights, making clear, for example, that Syria is no different
than Israel in terms of its violations. Yes, a revision is necessary,
the policy should not be dumped. Only readjustments must be done. As
the policy of threats belonged to “Old Turkey”, a softer approach is
now called for.
From: Baghdasarian
ARMENIAN OPPOSITION ACTIVIST CALLS FOR “VELVET” REVOLUTION
Interfax
Sept 12 2011
Russia
Armenia vitally needs a revolution, Nikol Pashinian, an activist of
the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the editor-in-chief
of the newspaper Aikakan Zhamanak, said at a protest rally on Freedom
Square in the center of Yerevan on Friday.
“A revolutionary situation has taken shape in Armenia, because there
are a lot of problems, while the junta that has seized power is
incapable of resolving them and is problem number one for the people
itself, which has to be resolved,” Pashinian said.
The government is incapable of ensuring Armenia’s development and
progress and is “an obstacle,” he said.
“The people should resolve this problem themselves. The people
should gather on the square and personally establish the law and
constitutional order. A revolution in Armenia is a vital necessity. I
am calling on everyone to prepare for a constitutional revolution,”
Pashinian said.
To carry out a “velvet” revolution in Armenia, 500,000 people should
gather on Freedom Square in Yerevan, Pashinian said. “Only 500,000
people and 24 hours are needed for these authorities to get out. We
will leave today, but we will come for the next rally to start a
velvet revolution,” he said.
From: Baghdasarian
NO, YOUR CABLE DIDN’T GO OUT: THEORIES ABOUT THE ENTOURAGE FINALE
By Juli Weiner
Vanity Fair
Sept 12 2011
Ahhh did you watch the series finale of HBO’s Entourage last night? I
thought my cable went out, too! Jinx! I had about 90 people over to my
apartment and all of a sudden the screen goes dark-in medias res-as
Vince and Eric take off on separate private planes. Like, what? I’m
exhausted because I’ve been up all night arguing with my friends about
what it means. I’ve watched it like 70 times, but let’s watch it again.
I literally have the chills. And no, the YouTube video isn’t broken-it
just stops like that.
But, O.K., so do you think E and Sloan took their private jet to
Paris for Vince’s wedding? Or do you think they took their private
plane somewhere else?
The evidence for taking their private jet to Paris for Vince’s wedding:
Both their planes are heading in the same direction; my friend’s
friend who accidentally bought an astronomy textbook confirmed via
e-mail that the angle of the setting sun suggests that direction is
Paris. As in Paris, France. As in Vince’s wedding to …
ahh, I keep wanting to say her name is like Derby (?) but that can’t
be right, ha ha … the lady. Plus, the whole series is like about
friendship, and if Eric doesn’t go to Paris, that’s not friendship.
That’s the overriding theme to everything: friendship. It just makes
sense that Eric would be a friend in the last scene. Think about it.
The evidence that E and Sloan took their private jet somewhere else:
Sloan’s dress is orange. Orange is one of three colors in the Armenian
flag. One of the other colors? Blue. The color of E’s shirt. And the
third color? Red-the exact red of the California sunset. Armenia just
makes sense. The whole series is about the quest for self-reliance and
the journey-plane journey?-out from under Vince’s shadow. E and Sloan
have to go to Armenia because Vince doesn’t know about Armenia. And
what would you say if I told you Armenia doesn’t have an extradition
treaty with the U.S.? You’d say, “Symbolism.”
I’m never going to be able to listen to “Going to California” the
same way again.
From: Baghdasarian