Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIA TAKE CARE OF SLOVAKIA AS IRELAND GET LUCK OF THE DRAW

Irish Times

Sept 6 2011

SOMETIMES THE statistics in football can be as damning as the results,
but for Giovanni Trapattoni and his players last night in Moscow they
didn’t even start to tell the story of a remarkable night in Ireland’s
campaign to qualify for next summer’s European Championship finals.

Having made the journey to the Russian capital still trying to
put a brave face on the events of last Friday night and claiming,
somewhat optimistically, to be targeting a win, the Italian looked
on from the sidelines at the Luzhniki stadium as his side, outplayed
from the first minute to the last by a side that managed 18 clear-cut
chances to Ireland’s rather tame two and enjoyed a near monopoly of
the possession, secured the most unlikely of draws.

Richard Dunne turned in what will go down as one of the performances
of his international career and Shay Given shook off the back trouble
that had made him a doubt for the game 48 hours earlier to produce a
string of crucial saves. The manager hailed the pair as “fantastic”
afterwards, but praised just about everyone else too.

The Irish, both on the pitch and in the stands, celebrated the final
whistle as though it marked the end of a famous victory, but as
they filed out of the stadium and into the chilly Moscow night it
was clear that Trapattoni and his men appreciated that many things
still had to go their way if they were to qualify.

What a ride it must have been then when word began to filter through
that Armenia had put another piece of the jigsaw in place. Their four
second-half goals delivered a shock win in Zilina over a Slovakia
side that Ireland failed to beat in two attempts.

Suddenly, Ireland’s qualification is a four-way tussle for top spot
and a play-off place that Ireland might yet win outright if they can
win their two games next month.

From: Baghdasarian

ANOTHER TWIST: ARMENIA HAMMER SLOVAKIA ON CRAZY NIGHT FOR IRISH FOOTBALL

thejournal.ie

Sept 6 2011
Ireland

WHAT A DIFFERENCE a day makes.

First Ireland escape from Moscow with the unlikeliest of points,
and hours later, Armenia hammer Slovakia 4-0 away from home.

All four goals came in an incredible second-half in Zilina.

Check out the match stats here, if you don’t believe me.

The standings in Group B now make intriguing reading:

Ireland have Andorra next up and then those Armenians in the final
game at the Aviva Stadium. Armenia have Macedonia as well as the
trip to Dublin while Slovakia and Russian face off in what is now
even more intriguing.

There’s many, many permutations but if Trap’s men manage to win their
next two ties, they will guarantee at least a play-off place.

Trap, for his part, was quick to admit t oreporters that his team
had ridden its luck tonight.

He said: “It is impossible not to recognise that we have been lucky in
this 90 minutes. The determination and the application on the pitch
of the team, particularly of the senior players like Richard Dunne,
Shay Given, Keith Andrews, Aiden McGeady was the pull for the younger
players who gained confidence from them.

“I told the players St Patrick was looking down on us tonight.”

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland’s outside chances of qualification end
with a 4-1 defeat in Estonia.

From: Baghdasarian

Turkey and Israel: Out of the frying pan into the fire
by Amanda Paul

Today’s Zaman
Sept 6 2011
Turkey

Once upon a time Turkey and Israel enjoyed warm and friendly
relations. As one Turkish diplomat told me, “Relations were almost
sacred.” While Turkey has always asked Israel to be more respectful
of the rights of the Palestinian people, the countries have enjoyed
cooperation on numerous issues, representing something of a “tandem”
of allies for the US in the Middle East.

Unfortunately, those days are now gone. Relations have hit rock bottom
with the decision by Turkey to downgrade diplomatic ties following
the leaking of the UN’s Palmer Report.

The relationship has been deteriorating since 2005 when Israel
increased its operations against Gaza. Things soured further in 2009
when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli President
Shimon Perez had the “one minute” row over Israeli operations causing
deaths of civilians in Gaza. Relations continued to spiral downwards
hitting an all time low in the aftermath of the 2010 Mavi Mamara
flotilla incident when nine Turks were killed by Israeli commandos.

While the report suggests that Israel should express regret for the
killing of the nine Turks on board and pay compensation it also says
that while Israel’s commandos used excessive force, their actions were
nevertheless an act of self-defense because they “faced significant
resistance” from a group of passengers on board. It also declares
that the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza is legal, something which has
infuriated Turkey, which continues to claim the blockade contradicts
international law. While Israel states it regrets the current state
of relations and the deaths, and has said it is ready to comply with
the report’s recommendations, its leadership has repeatedly stated
it has nothing to apologize for and has no intention of lifting the
blockade on Gaza. As one Israeli diplomat explained: “We are not going
to lift the blockade simply because Turkey tells us to. We will do
it when weapons smuggling comes to an end and the lives of Israeli
citizens are no longer at risk.”

The downgrading of diplomatic ties now makes it more difficult to
peruse channels for rapprochement. For now, both sides are digging
their heals in further. It would seem that Israel is making a strategic
choice that risks not only the severing of relations but possibly much
worse by failing to grasp the regional implications of this standoff,
which are clearly far broader than its relations with Turkey. For
example, Israel will lose the opportunity to cooperate with Turkey
on mending fences with a new regime in Syria, which sooner or later
will replace the al-Assad regime, while also risking greater tensions
with Iran. Therefore, not surprising, there are also many voices in
Israel saying the government should stop burying its head in the sand
and apologize. Moreover, the comments of former US Defense Secretary
Robert Gates, that Israel was an ungrateful ally and unable to cope
with its growing isolation, clearly shows the US is beginning to lose
patience. Meanwhile Israel seems to be focused on building up stronger
bilateral ties with countries labeled as Turkey’s enemies — Greece,
Greek Cypriots and Armenia.

Turkey, which has described the report as null and void, has now not
only downgraded diplomatic relations, frozen military agreements and
plans to challenge Israel and the legitimacy of the Gaza blockade in
international courts, Ankara is also threatening to take on Israel,
if necessary, in the international waters of the Mediterranean, where
Turkey’s navy is likely to shortly be sent to visibly patrol. Clashes
between the two cannot be ruled out. However, if Turkey were to go down
this road it would represent a U-turn from the soft power approach it
has followed over the last few years. Turkey seems to be working on a
policy of pushing Israel deeper and deeper into isolation in the hope
that Israel will “crack,” in a region where Turkey’s influence has
skyrocketed in the last few days and where Ankara has huge ambitions
for itself. However, with many analysts stating that Turkey seems to
be more interested in using Israel as a scapegoat to further raise
its popularity in the Arab world rather than working to rebuild ties,
Turkey also needs to reflect on its strategy and credibility —
particularly in light of a forthcoming request by Palestine for the
recognition of their state and full UN membership, which Turkey will
be planning to push extremely hard for.

For now it seems that both countries are waiting for each other
to change their diplomacy. Turkey also cut diplomatic ties in 1980
following Israel’s annexing of East Jerusalem, then transferring its
capital to the ancient town. It took 12 years for the two countries
to get relations back on track. However, this time, it seems there
is much more at stake. With the ongoing tensions in Syria and a
Greek Cypriot-Israeli-American gas drilling project about to kick
off on Oct. 1, a significant increase in tensions in the eastern
Mediterranean cannot be ruled out over the next few weeks…

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN CORRESPONDENT ATTENDS FESTIVITIES IN SEPARATIST KARABAKH

news.az
Sept 6 2011
Azerbaijan

Correspondent of Russia’s well-known Lenta.ru news website Ilia Azar
has visited Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia.

This is said in journalist’s article titled “Unrecognized concert.”

As it can be seen from the article, the author has participated
in celebrations held by Nagorno-Karabakh separatists and visited
Khankandi, Shuhsa and Agdam.

Azar has described the sites he visited in detail noting that Russian
MP Konstantin Zatulin also participated in the event. The Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry has said it will study the matter after it gets
familiar with the article.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIANS MISLEAD GERMAN PUBLIC

news.az
Sept 6 2011
Azerbaijan

Armenians continue their provocative actions as part of the days of
Armenian culture Stuttgart 2011 in Germany.

The event is organized by the Armenian community of Baden-Wurttemberg
and the cultural circle of Armenians of Stuttgart. On their web
pages, they mentioned the Ministry of Science, Research and Art of
the province, as well as the cultural center of Stuttgart as the
sponsors of the event, dedicated to the so-called ’20th anniversary
of independence’ of the puppet regime in Nagorno Karabakh.

Thus, the event organizers tried to demonstrate that the official
state structures of Germany allegedly recognize Nagorno Karabakh as
an independent state.

Over this information, the Azerbaijani embassy to Germany, as well
as the honorary consulate in Stuttgart have appealed to the indicated
state structures for explanations.

The response letter received from the Ministry of Science, Research
and Art of the Baden-Wurttemberg province made it clear that the
ministry has nothing to do with the event on the separatist regime
in Nagorno Karabakh which Armenians plan to hold on 19 September.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS DEBATE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH AT CIS SUMMIT

Interfax
Sept 5 2011
Russia

The heads of the Armenian and Azeri delegations at a CIS summit in
Dushanbe debated on Nagorno-Karabakh’s status.

“I would not like to spoil the jubilee meeting [2011 marks the 20th
anniversary of the CIS foundation], but the Armenian president’s
speech concerning the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh forces me to do
so,” Azeri Prime Minister Artur Rasizade said at the CIS summit in
Dushanbe on Saturday.

The Azeri prime minister spoke twice, because his first speech was
followed by a statement by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who
pointed out that Nagorno-Karabakh had proclaimed its independence 20
years ago.

The people of Nagorno-Karabakh “absolutely legitimately used their
right to self-determination” and “won their right to independent
existence at the cost of their blood,” Sargsyan said.

Azeri Prime Minister Rasizade thanked the OSCE Minsk Group and Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev for the efforts they are taking to settle
the conflict. He said also he hoped that “these activities will be
crowned with success.”

In commenting on Sargsyan’s remark, Rasizade said, “I believe many of
those present here are familiar with the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh
to this or that extent, and I hope that this remark concerned those
who are not in the know of the problem, or it will remain chiefly
for limited use.”

“Listening to this statement with attention, one might think that the
participants in this jubilee meeting could vote for Nagorno-Karabakh’s
independence right here. Then what’s the point in the Minsk Group
and other initiatives?” he said.

As a matter of fact, “one party, a CIS member, committed aggression
against another and occupied 20% of its territory, which produced
one million refugees and displaced persons,” he said.

“I believe Armenia has once again demonstrated its unconstructive
position in settling this difficult and protracted conflict,” Rasizade
said, adding that Azerbaijan will continue to actively participate in
the work of the Minsk Group and support other initiatives in the hope
of “a peaceful and fair resolution of this issue within the framework
of the international law.”

From: Baghdasarian

GOVERNMENTS DO NOT TELL PEOPLE ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS OF KARABAKH ISSUE – OSCE SPECIAL ENVOY

news.am
Sept 6 2011
Armenia

Karabakh conflict sides should take measures to lessen the intensity,
representative of OSCE chairperson-in-office, special envoy for
protracted conflicts Giedrius Chekuolis told Radio Liberty.

According to him, the issue of trust is not as urgent in relations
between OSCE and the sides, as in relations between Armenians and
Azerbaijanis.

“Based on our visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan we had an impression
that the two societies share an obvious disagreement. The two
governments do not tell people about possibilities of peace, which
can be reached through negotiations,” he said and expressed hope that
the sides should take measures to lessen the intensity.

The diplomat also added that international mediators visited the region
and stated that political possibilities of resolving the issue should
be brought forward. The situation of violating the ceasefire regime
should be studied.

The special envoy said that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
could move soldiers, take measures for the snipers to be away
temporarily from the contact line.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT BIDS FAREWELL TO THE VATICAN’S REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS

news.am
Sept 6 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had a farewell meeting
today with the Vatican’s envoy to the South Caucasus, Monsignor
Claudio Gugerotti.

During the meeting, the President thanked the Vatican’s envoy
for the close and productive cooperation for more than 8 years,
and highly assessed Monsignor Gugerotti’s personal contribution
to the strengthening of relations between Armenia and the Vatican,
the presidential press office informed Armenian news – NEWS.am.

Serzh Sargsyan also thanked the diplomat for his activities in Armenian
Studies and his genuine efforts toward presenting Armenian history and
culture to the world, and wished him success in his future vocation.

From: Baghdasarian

NEWLY-APPOINTED EU OFFICIAL TO BRING ACTIVENESS TO KARABAKH TALKS – POLISH AMBASSADOR

news.am
Sept 6 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – As a result of the appointment of European Union’s (EU)
new special representative (Phillip Lefort) for South Caucasus, we can
expect the NK peace talks to become active, stated Polish Ambassador
to Armenia Zdzislaw Raczynsky during a press conference held today.

“France cannot represent EU’s position in the OSCE Minsk Group, yet it
is clear that by representing its own position, France also represents
EU’s viewpoint to some extent. As you know, resolution of conflicts is
also included in the mandate of EU’s special representative for South
Caucasus. I do not wish to call the conflict frozen when people are
dying there. I do not see that the format of the talks will change
in a foreseeable future, but I am confident that they will become
active,” the Ambassador noted.

In his words, one of the more important conditions for a successful
implementation of EU’s regional projects is effective cooperation with
all South Caucasus countries. “And how can we talk about cooperation
when you cannot visit Baku and your colleagues, Yerevan? That is
savagery in the 21st Century. It seems to me that, concomitant to
enlargement of EU’s diplomatic activeness, activeness in the talks will
also increase, although today it is difficult to say how successful
that would be,” Raczynsky concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

Panorama
Sept 6 2011
Armenia

Ruben Melkonyan: Israel will intensify steps towards recognition of
Armenian Genocide

Israel will intensify its steps towards the recognition of Armenian
Genocide, said expert Ruben Melkonyan today.

“Today Turkish mass media is washed by publications claiming Israeli
Knesset will submit a draft of law on recognizing Armenian Genocide,”
expert said.

Ruben Melkonyan says if Israel is really intended to act like that,
it will mean that some countries just use the issue of Armenian
Genocide in favor to their political moods.

From: Baghdasarian