Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

AZERBAIJAN UPBEAT ON WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN TROOPS

news.az
Sept 1 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan will achieve the withdrawal of Armenian troops from its
occupied lands “sooner or later”, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
has said.

“We have good relations with all our neighbours except Armenia. But I
am sure that sooner or later we will achieve the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from the occupied Azerbaijani lands. The sooner it happens,
the better for all,” Mammadyarov said at a joint press conference
with his Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremic.

“It would promote the overall development of the region and the
establishment of peace and stability and also create opportunities
for joint projects between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” he continued.

Mammadyarov talked positively about the meetings of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents, mediated by the Russian president, the last
one of which was held in Kazan on 25 June.

“Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev attempted to make progress through
organizing trilateral meetings of the heads of state but no result
has been achieved. Nonetheless, a huge amount of work has been done
and definite agreements have been achieved.”

He denied, however, that another meeting was already agreed.

“The presidents of the two countries have met 10 times … I have no
information about an initiative of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to
organize a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents on 13
September,” Mammadyarov said, referring to reports in the Armenian
media that the presidents would meet on the sidelines of the UN
General Assembly.

According to the Armenian media, diplomatic circles see a 13 September
meeting as the last chance to settle the conflict, as domestic politics
in Armenia are expected to become more turbulent in the autumn and
elections are due in the three Minsk Group co-chairing countries –
the USA, Russia and France.

Mammadyarov said that Baku supported the continuation of the
negotiating process on a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

“I do not want anyone to spread propaganda that Azerbaijan is rejecting
the talks process. The conflict should be settled stage-by-stage,
on the basis of the Madrid principles,” he told the press conference.

The Azerbaijani minister went on to sum up the Madrid principles
for the basis of talks on a settlement: “At the first stage, it is
necessary to withdraw Armenian troops from the occupied lands. This
will create the conditions for the implementation of joint projects
between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as regional projects. It will
create the conditions for the restoration of peace and stability in
the region and an end to militaristic statements.”

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when Armenia made
claims on the Azerbaijani territory. Later, in a bitter war Armenian
armed forces later occupied a swathe of Azerbaijani territory,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Despite a ceasefire in 1994, no long-term peace agreement has been
reached.

The nub of the conflict remains unresolved – the competing claims of
territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan insists takes precedence in
the case of Karabakh, and self-determination, which Armenia wants to
see for the Armenians of Karabakh.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA ANGRY WITH PENTAGON`S MILITARY AID FOR AZERBAIJAN

Today
Sept 1 2011
Azerbaijan

“A $10 million Pentagon military aid package for Azerbaijan comes as
a political and military blow to Armenia”, Armenian experts warn.

According to them, this move of the United States proves the fact that
Azerbaijan is considered the major country in the region. The funding
is said to be a part of a $44 million Pentagon aid package. The aid
aimed at improving the counter-terrorism capabilities of the naval
special forces includes small boats, engines, diving gear and training.

The Pentagon is also sending more than $25 million in military
equipment, small boats and other support to Tunisia and Malta.

Lithuania and Hungary were also included in the funding plan. The
funding was recently approved by Pentagon officials and sent to
Capitol Hill as part of a notification process before the equipment
can be delivered.

Up to $350 million in military aid can be distributed this year to
support counter-terror operations in other countries. The Pentagon
routinely releases the military aid in three or four installments
each year.

The first package approved earlier this year was for about $43 million
and was directed at NATO and other allies in the Afghanistan war. A
second package for $145.4 million was directed largely at North
African nations struggling to battle al-Qaida-linked terrorists.

Initially, military leaders have planned to spend at least $150 million
of the fund on aid to Yemen. So far, none of the assistance has gone
there, as the embattled government struggles with internal uprisings
and an increasingly threatening al-Qaida affiliate.

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH TRUCE ‘MAY COLLAPSE’

news.az
Sept 1 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews F. Stephen Larrabee, distinguished chair in European
security at the RAND Corporation’s Washington Office.

Do you think that the “Georgian problem” is again damaging relations
between the West and Russia as it did after the August war in 2008?

Georgia is not as big an issue as it was at the time of the August
2008 war because the status quo is hard to change. South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, which are legally part of Georgia, have become de facto
satellites of Russia. This situation cannot be changed except by
military means. But no one is prepared to use force to change the
new status quo so there is stalemate. But Georgia and the West do
recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as separate countries.

How did the August war change the US role in the South Caucasus? There
is a view that since the war America has become less active here.

The Bush administration pursued an active policy towards the western
periphery of the post-Soviet space. Georgia was seen as poster
child for the administration’s democracy promotion program. The
Obama administration, by contrast has been much more cautious and
circumspect in its approach to the expansion of Western interests
into the western periphery of the post-Soviet space. While the door
to Georgian and Ukrainian membership in NATO has been kept open
rhetorically, in practice membership for both countries has been put
on hold and subordinated to the administration¹s effort to “reset”
relations with Moscow.

How would you estimate the current situation in the South Caucasus?

How realistic is the threat of a new war here?

The main threat is that the uneasy truce between Azerbaijan and
Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh may collapse and lead to a new outbreak
of violence.

I think the situation is very dangerous. The negotiations over
Nagorno-Karabakh are stalled. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan continues to
build up its military. There is a danger that if the negotiations
don’t begin to make some serious progress, Azerbaijan may decide to
use force to retake the areas of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia.

Do you expect a “Georgian scenario” in the case of Karabakh?

If you mean that Russia provokes a war in order to occupy
Nagorno-Karabakh, I don’t think that is likely. If you mean that the
relationship between Azerbaijan and Armenia deteriorates and at some
point leads to an outbreak of war, that is much more likely.

From: Baghdasarian

‘OBESE AND SHAPELESS’ ARMENIAN POLICEMEN TO HIDE IN OFFICES – POLICE CHIEF

news.am
Sept 1 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – About 50 Armenian policemen will serve in new positions,
said state Police Service Chief Alik Sargsyan to a press conference
on Thursday.

Sargsyan said that the age of certain policemen is close to retirement
and “the rest suffer from alimentary obesity, their appearance does
not correspond to the image of Armenian police.”

“If they put on weight and grow shapeless, they’d rather stay in the
offices than put up for a show,” stressed Sargsyan.

He added that he respects the long-term work of his employees that
is why he does not dismiss them.

From: Baghdasarian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE MIRACLE – POLITICAL SCIENTISTS

news.am
Sept 1 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Independence of Nagorbo-Karabakh is a real miracle. Despite
the economic situation, freedom of speech is run by people of Karabakh,
head of the Caucasus Media Institute Aleksander Iskandaryan told at
a press conference on Thursday.

“No matter what kind of problems Karabakh currently faces, it is
an established subject for 20 years. Politically Karabakh is an
independent state, while it is inseparable part of Armenia in the rest
of the cases,” Iskandaryan stated and added that the independence of
Karabakh was achieved in rather difficult conditions.

Regarding the perspectives of the Karabakh conflict resolution, the
expert believes that the process will not have any essential progress
in the upcoming years.

Karabakh gained its independence on September 2, 1991.

From: Baghdasarian

ALIK SARGSYAN: PEOPLE GET POLICE THEY DESERVE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 1, 2011 – 14:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – RA Police chief, lieutenant general Alik Sargsyan,
calls not to meddle police with political matters.

Commenting on the incident with ANC activists during a press conference
in Yerevan, he said: “I think Tigran Arakelyan’s case is purely jural
and has nothing to do with politics.”

“Police will not be scared and will not avoid dealing with people
like Arakelyan. I will not let it happen,” Sargsyan noted.

According to him, the public attempts to attribute European model to
the Armenian police, but “they should first shape themselves to fit
this model.” “People get police they deserve, as police can never be
isolated from society,” he stated.

As to videos regarding the activists’ arrest on August 9, Sargsyan
said all the video materials concerning the incident are available
to public.

According to the Armenian National Congress (ANC), on August 9 police
officers used violence against ANC activists Tigran Arakelyan and
Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the site, activists Areg Gevorgyan,
Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimajyan
tried to settle the dispute but were beaten as well, the ANC said. All
above-mentioned were taken to a police station.

Currently, Tigran Arakelyan is kept in custody. The others were
released.

On August 26, the Congress announced that it suspends the dialogue
and believes Arakelyan to be a political prisoner.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN ARCHITECTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS DEMAND PUBLIC HEARINGS ON CONSTRUCTION OF HOTEL IN YEREVAN

ARKA
Sep 1, 2011

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. Armenian architects and environmentalists
are going to demand that the government organize public hearings
on construction of a hotel in the central part of Yerevan, Karine
Danielyan, chair of the Sustainable Human Development Association,
said Wednesday at a news conference.

On August 18, Armenian government gave its permission to the city
mayor for construction of this hotel.

The proposal to build this hotel came from architect Narek Sargsyan
in 2010.

Danielyan said it was necessary to get public approval before making
this decision.

“We have successful experience of cooperation with the government,”
she said. “I think the government has been deluded and misinformed.”

She is convinced that this construction will affect either environment
or architecture of the central part of Armenia’s capital, which has
no space for new buildings.

Danielyan said that she has composed the list of the hotels located
in the centre of the capital and gave it to Karen Karapetyan, the
city mayor.

There are 17 hotels in this area and other tree hotels are in the
process of designing now.

“However, our request to the municipality has produced no results,”
Danielyan said.

Architect Gagik Sukhudyan, on his side, voiced concern over heavy
traffic and said a new hotel would aggravate the situation. Besides,
he views this project as an urban planning mistake.

It was decided to provide 5,853 square meters near the Republic Square
subway station to the mayor without tender.

The project of the eight-floor hotel was discussed on July 22 at the
session of the Yerevan urban planning council.

From: Baghdasarian

GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA’S STATEMENT CAUSES STIR IN TBILISI

epress.am
09.01.2011 14:25

Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia Tengiz Sharmanashvili’s statement
that agriculture in Armenia is more developed than in Georgia might
cause a stir among ruling circles, believes leader of the political
movement “Industry will Save Georgia” Zurab Tkemaladze.

According to him, if agriculture is in a better state in Armenia than
in Georgia, then Georgia’s agriculture minister and other government
representatives have to “shoot themselves.”

“I don’t know what grounds Sharmanashvili had to make such statements,
but what’s important is that he expressed his opinion and of course
a great stir will follow. It’s possible that the ambassador will have
to answer for his words,” said Tkemaladze, reports Georgia Online.

From: Baghdasarian

WIKILEAKS: U.S DIPLOMAT PRESUMED ARMENIANS GROW INDIFFERENT ON GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 1, 2011 – 09:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A cable sent by U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Armenia
Rudolf Perina was among the classified diplomatic documents released
recently by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

The American diplomat touched on reaction of the Armenian public to
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Anti-Defamation League
(ADL).

Perina said that “Armenian media outlets have not played up” the
decision by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. “Virtually all television stations reported the news in a
brief, straightforward manner. The newspapers carried the news in short
articles on the front page. None carried any commentary,” he said.

The diplomat presumed that the reaction to the ADL decision reflects
the fact that Genocide affirmation is hardly newsworthy. “The facts
are self-evident to most Armenians, and they tend to be much less
emotionally invested,” Perina reported. “As Armenia has only a
tiny Jewish population and practically no history of anti-Semitism,
this low-key reaction in the Armenian press and public may also be
attributed, in part, to an overall unfamiliarity with the ADL, and
why its opinion on the issue should be of interest.”

August 21, 2007, Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today issued the following statement:
“ADL has decided to revisit the tragedy that befell the Armenians. We
have never negated but have always described the painful events of
1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians as
massacres and atrocities. On reflection, we have come to share the
view of Henry Morgenthau, Sr. that the consequences of those actions
were indeed tantamount to genocide.”

From: Baghdasarian

TURQUIE: DECRET SUR LA RESTITUTION DES BIENS CONFISQUES

Collectif VAN

01-09-2011

Le gouvernement turc a adopté un décret pour restituer toutes les
propriétés immobilières confisquées, appartenant aux fondations
des minorités en Turquie, mesure qui aurait dÔ être prise depuis
longtemps en vue d’accroître les droits des minorités dans le
pays. Selon ce décret, qui a été publié dans le journal officiel
turc samedi, les fondations des minorités pourront réclamer les
biens immobiliers qu’elles avaient déclarés en 1936. Tous les biens
immobiliers, les cimetières et les fontaines seront restitués a leurs
propriétaires légitimes. Des dédommagements pour les biens immeubles
appartenant actuellement a des tiers seront versés. Si ce décret est
un premier pas vers une restauration des droits bafoués des minorités
en Turquie, d’aucuns se demandent s’il sera aboutira réellement a
la restitution des biens spoliés et si ce n’est pas encore une fois,
comme pour les protocoles, un simple effet d’annonce de la Turquie. Le
Collectif VAN vous livre la traduction de cet article en anglais paru
sur le site du quotidien turc Today’s Zaman le 28 aoÔt 2011.

Le gouvernement donne son accord pour la restitution des biens
confisqués aux Fondations des non-musulmans

Today’s Zaman

28 aout 2011 – FATMA DIÅ~^LI ZIBAK, Ä°STANBUL

Le gouvernement turc a adopté un décret visant a restituer toutes les
propriétés immobilières confisquées, appartenant aux Fondations
des minorités en Turquie, mesure qui aurait dÔ être prise depuis
longtemps, en vue d’accroître les droits des minorités dans le pays.

Selon ce décret, qui a été publié dans le journal officiel turc
samedi, les fondations des minorités pourront réclamer les biens
immobiliers qu’elles avaient déclarés en 1936. Tous les biens
immobiliers, les cimetières et les fontaines seront restitués a
leurs propriétaires légitimes. Des dédommagements pour les biens
immeubles* appartenant actuellement a des tiers seront versés.

Cette décision du gouvernement de restituer les propriétés saisies
des fondations non-musulmanes est survenue juste avant le dîner
de rupture du jeÔne (iftar) auquel assistait le Premier ministre
Recep Tayyip Erdogan ainsi que les représentants des communautés
non-musulmanes de Turquie, au Musée d’Archéologie d’Istanbul,
dimanche soir.

” C’est une première dans l’histoire de la République turque et
un geste très significatif ” a déclaré Kezban Hatemi, une avocate
spécialisée dans les droits des minorités.

” C’est la restauration d’un droit. Ceci est un geste qui est
une exigence du Traité de Lausanne et qui fait que nos citoyens
non-musulmans se sentent des citoyens égaux en Turquie ”, a déclaré
Hatemi au Today Zaman.

Elle a également déclaré que la restitution des propriétés
confisquées aux fondations non-musulmanes est la deuxième chose la
plus importante après la fin de la tutelle militaire en Turquie.

Les Fondations des minorités devront soumettre aux autorités turques
dans les 12 prochains mois leur dossier de réclamation des biens.

La confiscation des propriétés des Fondations des minorités
remonte aux premiers jours de la République turque. La loi de 1936
sur les Fondations, connue sous le nom de la Déclaration de 1936,
ordonnait a toutes les fondations de soumettre au registre foncier
une déclaration de propriété listant les biens immobiliers et toute
autre propriété que chaque fondation possédait. Après la mort du
fondateur de la nation, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, ces déclarations de
propriété sont tombées dans l’oubli.

Lorsque le problème de Chypre s’est intensifié dans les années
1970, la Direction générale des Fondations a demandé aux fondations
non-musulmanes de resoumettre leurs titres. Or, ces fondations n’en
avaient pas en raison d’une pratique qui avait cours dans l’Empire
ottoman, selon laquelle ces fondations ne pouvaient être créées
que par un décret individuel du sultan régnant. Ayant recu des
réponses négatives de ces fondations, la Direction générale des
Fondations décréta que l’on considérerait les titres de 1936 comme
tenant lieu de règlementation.

Lorsque ces titres ne comportaient pas de clause explicite autorisant
la fondation a acquérir un bien immobilier, la Direction générale
a exproprié les fondations de toutes les propriétés acquises
après 1936.

Ces actes d’expropriation étaient en violation tant de l’accord de
Lausanne que des droits de propriétés.

La décision du gouvernement a été accueillie avec joie par les
communautés non-musulmanes. Markar Esayan, un journaliste d’origine
arménienne, a dit que cette décision revêtait une importance
particulière, car elle montre que la mentalité de l’Ã~Itat se
transforme, outre le fait que cela compense les pratiques injustes
imposées par l’Ã~Itat aux non-musulmans pendant si longtemps.

” La décision signifie davantage que l’élimination d’un traitement
injuste a l’encontre des groupes minoritaires. La mentalité de
l’Ã~Itat change. L’Ã~Itat ne voit plus ses citoyens grecs, arméniens
et juifs comme ‘l’autre’ ou comme une menace ”, a dit Esayan.

La population de la Turquie qui est de pratiquement 70 millions
d’habitants, en majorité des musulmans, comprend presque 65 000
Arméniens chrétiens orthodoxes, 23 000 juifs et moins de 2 500
Grecs chrétiens orthodoxes.

Bien qu’Orhan Kemal Cengiz, avocat et collaborateur au quotidien Today
Zaman, ait estimé que la décision gouvernementale de restituer les
propriétés confisquées aux fondations non-musulmanes venait bien
tardivement, il a indiqué que c’était d’une importance cruciale
pour mettre fin aux politiques injustes, et de longue date, liées
aux questions des minorités.

” La nouvelle loi a été mise en place après plusieurs procès
devant la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme, qui avait
précédemment statué que la Turquie devait payer des dédommagements
aux victimes. Puis la cour a ensuite décidé que la situation ne
pouvait plus être réglée par des dédommagements financiers. Cette
loi est un signe du changement de la mentalité de l’Ã~Itat. Les
propriétés des communautés minoritaires seront restituées en raison
d’une nouvelle codification de la loi sur la propriété immobilière
”, a-t-il dit.

Plus récemment, la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme (CEDH)
a ordonné au gouvernement turc de réenregistrer un orphelinat
orthodoxe historique au nom du Patriarcat grec orthodoxe Fener,
a Istanbul et a également demandé a Ankara de verser une somme
globale de 26 000 euros au patriarcat, tant pour les dommages et
coÔts non-pécuniaires que pour les frais engagés. La Turquie a
restitué l’orphelinat au Patriarcat grec orthodoxe en novembre 2010.

Ã~@ ce jour, on a ordonné a la Turquie de payer des centaines de
milliers d’euros aux fondations des minorités conformément aux
décisions de justice européennes. Avec cette dernière action du
gouvernement, la Turquie aura restitué les biens des fondations des
minorités avant même que certains procès en cours a la CEDH ne
soient terminés.

Le professeur Ayhan Aktar, auteur de divers livres sur les
minorités, a dit que la décision sur les biens des minorités est
révolutionnaire et elle mérite d’être applaudie, ajoutant que
cette étape peut encourager le gouvernement a prendre de nouvelles
mesures pour augmenter les droits des minorités en Turquie, qui ont
longtemps été privées de leurs droits.

” La chose la plus importante, c’est que la Turquie a agi de
son propre chef avant de subir des pressions étrangères. Si le
gouvernement n’avait pas pris cette initiative, la Turquie aurait
été confrontée a de sévères sanctions de la CEDH en ce qui
concerne les procès en cours, ” a déclaré Aktar au Today Zaman.

Quelques propriétés qui seront restituées aux Fondations des
minorités

Gulbenkyan Selamet Public House, l’école protestante arménienne
GedikpaÅ~_a, une maison, une salle de dîner et une aire de jeu
appartenant a l’école protestante arménienne GedikpaÅ~_a, six
maisons, un magasin et divers bâtiments appartenant a l’hôpital
arménien Yedikule Surp Pırgic, l’église Yeniköy Panaia, deux
maisons et un terrain dans Sarıyer, un cimetière, des propriétés
appartenant a la Fondation Surp Harutyun, des propriétés appartenant
a l’hôpital grec Balıklı – y compris 157 maisons, 21 complexes
d’appartements, une usine, trois cimetières et trois discothèques
– et des biens appartenant a la Fondation de l’église Yeniköy
Aya Nicola.

Abdullah Ayasun a contribué a la rédaction de cet article.

*NDT : Un bien immobilier est un bien qui ne peut pas être
déplacé, la racine latine de immobilier signifiant : ”qui ne bouge
pas”. Cela peut concerner un terrain nu (c’est-a-dire sans la moindre
construction), un bâtiment ou une partie d’un bâtiment qu’il soit
a usage d’habitation, de bureaux, de stockage, industriel ou encore
a usage mixte.

En droit francais, les biens immeubles sont définis aux articles
517 a 526 du Code civil.

Sont immeubles par nature les biens qui ne peuvent pas être déplacés
et ne sont pas destinés a l’être. Ainsi, au sens de l’article 518
du Code civil francais, ” Les fonds de terre et les bâtiments sont
immeubles par leur nature ”. (source Wikipédia)

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN 1er septembre
– 07:20 –

Lire aussi :

Turquie : restitution des biens confisqués, une ruse turque ?

Turquie : aide financière pour les journaux des minorités

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Today’s Zaman

From: Baghdasarian