Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

THIRD PRO-OPPOSITION POLE – IN THE PROCESS OF FORMATION
NAYIRA KHACHATRYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 05, 2008
Armenia

HAYK BABOUKHANYAN, Head of the Constitutional Right Union, was the
guest-speaker of `Hayatsk’ (view) club yesterday. As mentioned by the
speaker, the process of the post-electoral developments has
necessitated the formation of a third force or a third pole. A `real’
pole composed of `national’ pro-opposition forces should be engaged in
the solution of the `urgent national’ problems, uniting the parties
which have never cooperated either with the former or the present-day
authorities.

The speaker believes that the primary issue among them is the necessity
of establishing internal stability. `The internal instability and the
undermining of the state are not advantageous to the ordinary citizens
of Armenia as such developments may be followed by aggression, making
their sons participants of military operations. It is advantageous only
to some adventurous forces which, in my conviction, are accomplishing
the tasks of some foreign forces.’

In the estimation of Hayk Baboukhanyan, any manifestation of
instability creates additional obstacles towards the settlement of the
Artsakh issue, by posing new dangers to the state. The internal
political struggle relaxes the vigilance towards the external danger.
`Forgetting, for some reason, that we have the problem of Artsakh, our
people all the time discuss the issue whether Levon managed to have
some word included in the PACE Resolution or passed another sanction
against Armenia. This is absurd. We want others to apply sanctions
against our state. This is unconceivable and inexplicable.

Besides, Armenia is going to find itself in the role of a `bad student’
who is unable to pass the exam and is given additional time to prepare.
`This is a blow to our national dignity; this is humiliation. I don’t
think we deserve the role of a `bad student’.’

The third `national’ pro-opposition force should also focus on
democracy issues. `We are really facing problem in the sphere of
democracy, the protection of human rights, freedom of speech and press,
as well as the freedom of the activity of the political parties. This
is the third group of issues to be tackled by the national opposition.’

The social issues were not overlooked either. In this respect, the
speaker attached importance to the fight against corruption. `Isn’t it
a manifestation of corruption when a green territory is occupied or
when shops are built on the roadsides, and a house is built along the
adjacent wall of a school building? Just go to the street and see how
many manifestations of corruption there are.’

The internal political struggle has also led to the loss of the system
of values. `In such hysteria, the nation loses the system of its
values, and we make a transition to the `system of curses’. The
anti-national elements enter into our ideology, and we cease thinking
as citizens of Armenia.’ The speaker considers L. Ter-Petrosyan and the
forces supporting him as anti-national elements. `It is necessary to
eliminate that anti-national wave’. By the way, back in 1998, the
Constitutional Right Union demanded that L. Ter-Petrosyan be held
accountable.

Touching upon the issue of forming the third pole, H. Baboukhanyan
mentioned that such necessity might become perceivable after studying
the results of the recent elections. `Around 20 percent of the
electorate cast their vote in favor of the opposition, and around 50
percent voted in favor of the authorities. The remaining 30 percent
includes the people who do not want to be the supporters of the
anti-national opposition. Neither do they want to support the
authorities. What they want is to have a national and, to some extent,
nationalistic leadership which they can follow.’

It also turned out that there are a number of parties that are already
in the process of negotiations. `Very soon, there will be more concrete
statements in that connection. For the time being, I can’t say which
parties they are. But there is a certain process under way.’

As regards the internal disputes inside the parties, they simply don’t
exist. In particular, the speaker made the following statement with
regard to Hrant Khachatryan, `While nominating his candidacy, he was
registered as an unemployed citizen and a non-partisan. There’s no
longer any problem, since he introduced himself as a non-partisan in
the documents.’
From: Baghdasarian

Today.Az, Azerbaijan

Javanshir Quliyev: "Azerbaijan does not have so many people of Rustam
Ibrahimbekov’s level for their statements to become a subject of
unjust criticism"

04 July 2008 [11:01] – Today.Az

Day.Az interview with famous composer Javanshir Quliyev.

– How would you comment on the fact that a number of local mass medias
criticized the chairman of the Azerbaijan Cinematographers Union
Rustam Ibrahimbekov who stated that not Armenian people but their
leadership, army and policy are our enemies?

– First of all, there are not so many people of Rustam Ibrahimbekov’s
level in Azerbaijan for their statements to become a subject of unjust
criticism.

As for your question, I agree with Rustam Ibrahimbekov that the whole
people can not be the enemy of another people. In this case, it is
possible to say that indeed not the Armenian people by their
leadership, which conducts the occupation policy towards our country,
is our enemy.

We should not forget that many Armenians openly criticize the actions
of the working leadership of Armenia, calling to review relations with
Turkey and Azerbaijan. Moreover, there are great many of Armenians,
living outside Armenia, who have never demonstrated their hatred
towards Azerbaijan and its people and perceived the conflict between
our countries as their personal tragedy. In other words, each case is
individual and it is incorrect to regard all representatives of the
nation as our enemies.

– How do assess the fact that Ukrainian film director of Armenian
ethnicity Roman Balayan shot a film "Birds of Heaven", based on Rustam
Ibrahimbekov’s script?

– I take it normally. This is an ordinary cooperation of two art
figures. According to opponents of such kinds of contacts, Azerbaijani
physical scientist will have to reject participation in the project of
his Armenian colleague. I think to support such ideas means to return
to Middle Ages.

But if there are such views in Azerbaijan of the 21st century, it is
not excluded that I will also be criticized, as I have cooperated with
great film director Sergey Parajanov.

Those, who have turned into jigno and controller of contacts between
Azerbaijanis and Armenians, should ponder over the consequences, their
statements may have for Azerbaijan in the eyes of the world society. I
think their statement will bring nothing positive to Azerbaijan, as we
will return Nagorno Karabakh sooner or later but we will not be able
to escape the co-existence with Armenians in one and the same
region. It means we should not only benefit from the really fascist
statements of the Armenian leadership about the genetic
incompatibility of Armenians and Azerbaijan but also to avert such
statements, as they affect Azerbaijan’s positions in the issue of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

– You have mentioned your cooperation with Soviet film director of the
Armenian ethnicity Sergey Parajanov, who arrived in Azerbaijan at the
height of Nagorno Karabakh conflict to shoot the film Ashig
Kerib". How did the Armenian society of that time react to Sergey
Parajanov’s choice?

– Similarly as on the statements of Rustam Ibrahimbekov, though
Armenians went further in demonstrating their hatred towards Sergey
Parajanov. Particularly, as he said to me, they burnt his scarecrow at
one of the meeting for shooting "a Muslim film".

– What do you remember of the cooperation with this film director and
what was his attitude to Azerbaijan?

– I have the most kind remembrances of cooperation with Sergey
Parajanov. He was the real professional of his art and a nice
person. s for his attitude towards Azerbaijan, it did not differ from
his attitude towards other countries of the former USSR, which he
visited. He also had friends in our capital.

Moreover, he always had a tape of Alim Qasimov’s songs on him, which
he listened with tears in his eyes. But the most surprising is that he
lived and worked in Baku for a month three months after the Sumgayit
events of 1988. He stayed in the Azerbaijan hotel, current Hyatt
Regency.

Though surprising, Azerbaijan’s attitude towards Parajanov in 1988,
when Nagorno Karabakh conflict was starting, was better than to Rustam
Ibrahimbekov, who "dared" to remain honest and have his own point of
view, in the present-day Azerbaijan. At least, one can come to such a
conclusion while analyzing the reaction of a number of mass media to
correct and brave announcement of this person.

– What is behind these unwise statements of some of our public
representatives, stating impossibility of contacts between
Azerbaijanis and Armenians?

– I think it lies in political short-sightedness and their being
unaware of the processes, currently ongoing in the world. I would
recommend them to go abroad to expand their outlook.

Moreover, such criticism is used by people, experiencing banal envy to
the courage of expressing one’s thoughts, to the status and talent of
the objects of their criticism. It is not for me to judge whether it
is true or not, but envy can also be the cause of it.

/Day.Az/
From: Baghdasarian

SPEAKER PELOSI NAMES ARMENIAN CAUCUS MEMBER CONGRESSMAN MCGOVERN CO-CHAIR OF CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS

armradio.am
03.07.2008 10:52

The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomes Speaker Nancy
Pelosi’s (D-CA) recent selection of Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)
to replace the late Congressman Tom Lantos, the Co-Founder of the
Congressional Human Rights Caucus, as the new Co-Chair.

Chairman Lantos was an ardent defender of human rights throughout
his distinguished career in Congress. During the 110th Congress,
Lantos strongly supported efforts to end the genocide in Darfur,
as well as voted for House Resolution 106, which combats ongoing
attempts to deny the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide.

In fact, last October, Lantos, in his role as Chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee voted in support of this critical human
rights bill and stated, "This is one of those events which has to be
settled once and for all: 1.5 million utterly innocent Armenian men,
women and children were slaughtered. And the Turkish government, until
now, has intimidated the Congress of the United States from taking
this measure. I think it’s important, at a time when genocides are
going on in Darfur and elsewhere, not to be an accomplice in sweeping
an important genocide under the rug."

"I am honored by Speaker Pelosi’s decision and look forward to working
with my colleagues to address critical issues facing us today," said
Congressman McGovern. "From ending the current genocidal campaign in
Darfur and preventing future genocides by reaffirming the historical
truth of the Armenian Genocide, I want to ensure that this important
body carries forward the legacy of the great Tom Lantos," McGovern
continued.

McGovern, like Lantos, strongly supports a wide range of human rights
legislation, including H.Res.106. In addition, he is an active member
of the Armenian Caucus, serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules
Committee and is a member of the House Budget Committee.

"Congressman McGovern understands the important role Congress can
play in not only bringing attention to human rights abuses, but
also in shaping solutions to address them. The Armenian Assembly is
committed to working with the Caucus on issues of mutual concern,"
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
From: Baghdasarian

POLAD BULBULOGHLU: "RUSSIA PLAYS A VERY SERIOUS ROLE IN THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Azeri Press Agency
02 Jul 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. "There is partnership dialogue on the
level of governments and presidents between Azerbaijan and Russia. It
is always possible to solve the problems arising in the process of
dialogue", Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu said
in his interview to RIA Novosti agency, APA reports. The Ambassador
approved Russian president’s taking CIS as the main priority of
his activity.

"If there are such organizations as GUAM, Collective Security Treaty
Organization, Eurasia Economic Union in the region shows that CIS is
an organization in the format of negotiations", he said.

Polad Bulbuloghlu said Russia played a serious role in the settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"Russia plays a serious role in the settlement of Karabakh conflict. I
am from Shusha, that’s why I understand the details of the conflict
better. This is a very important point", he said.
From: Baghdasarian

SLEIMAN MUST PLAY THE GAME

NowLebanon.com
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Lebanon

The time has come for Michel Sleiman to play Christian politics or
else run the risk of becoming a bit player in what is becoming a very
nasty bit of power play. While the new president might be applauded for
his cautious approach to the recent cabinet crisis, the time has come
for him to step up to the plate and fulfill the role expected of him,
that of a mediator, a head of state and a Christian figurehead. At
the moment, his three portfolios are not going to give him much clout
in the cabinet, if and when it is formed, and so his goal, assuming
he wishes to have a stake in how the country is ‘run’, should be to
develop – as he has said he wants to do – his own parliamentary bloc,
allowing him influence in the various parliamentary committees and
by extension have a say in government.

To achieve this, he must appeal to the street, enlist the support
of the Patriarch – as well as rekindle the traditional presidential
alliance with the Armenian community – to avert a catastrophe for
which the Christians of Lebanon will no doubt pay the price. Indeed,
on Wednesday, Sleiman must have heard Lebanon’s Maronite bishops’
statement from Bkirki after their monthly meeting in which they
bemoaned yet another political crisis and declared that the interests
of any political bloc must never be placed above that of the country.

Tell that to Sleiman’s current nemesis, Michel Aoun, a man who appears
to be hell bent on putting himself before his country and who is
in direct confrontation with the new president. Aoun’s fear is that
Sleiman will ascend to the position of Christian zaim he so covets and,
through the cabinet negotiations, Aoun is doing all he can to undermine
the new president’s credibility and at the same time ensure he gets the
service portfolios necessary to wage a successful election campaign
in 2009. It is a cheap maneuver and one that ultimately plays into
the hands of an opposition that is skillfully allowing Aoun to do
its dirty work (Hezbollah and Amal are secure that they can deliver
the crucial services necessary for garnering election votes without
the service portfolios and have deferred the cabinet horse-trading
bargaining to their Christian ally).

The deadline for Sleiman’s by-now infamous 48-hour ultimatum to form a
government came and went without an inch of progress being made, and
now, to avoid looking like a man who is firing blanks, the president
must move to a Plan B and gather around him all those who genuinely
wish to see a government formed without delay and redouble his efforts
to break the deadlock.
From: Baghdasarian

TSS CLOSER LOOK-FELIX STURM

The Sweet Science
Wednesday Jul 2, 2008

Here’s Sturm landing on Pittman. Figh fans thought we had something
when we saw Felix impress against Oscar. He hasn’t capitalized on
that showing, but there is still time to make noise.

By Ronan Keenan

"The belt looks a little loose," shouted the photographer at the busy
boxing gym.

World titlists are no strangers to photo shoots, but it wasn’t Felix
Sturm’s WBA middleweight strap that needed adjustment, instead a
designer belt supporting his sharp pair of slacks and dress shirt
required tightening.

The man formerly known as Adnan Catic has a reputation for handling
himself with class inside and out of the ring. Whether modelling
business attire or out-boxing opponents, the German-based Bosnian
maintains a calm demeanour which has helped his image morph away from
that of the average prizefighter.

But in the last year, Sturm’s fighting style has taken a grittier edge,
with composure being substituted with traces of aggression.

The former economics student became a hit with the boxing media
after accepting a debatable 2004 points loss to Oscar De La Hoya with
admirable grace, but he has since lost much of his lustre as a steady
diet of soft opposition seemingly dulled his reflexes, leading to a
surprising stoppage defeat against a 38-year-old Javier Castillejo.

In a possible sign of desperation and a response to the chorus of boos
that highlighted his safety-first points victory over the unthreatening
Noe Gonzalez Alcoba last June, Sturm displayed uncharacteristic
recklessness in last October’s clash with Randy Griffin.

The nimble footwork and busy jab that earned Sturm the devalued WBA
title in a 2007 rematch with Castillejo [politics saw then-champion
Jermain Taylor stripped of the belt] was generally absent as Felix
sought to produce a crowd-pleasing performance in Halle, Germany.

Sturm’s lack of natural punching power and Griffin’s resiliency
resulted in a back-and-forth scrap that was appropriately declared
a draw. Sturm tagged the American with sharp uppercuts early in the
contest, but Griffin hardly took a backward step and gained control
as the fight wore on.

Sturm was unable to match Griffin for strength, but in the final two
rounds he dug deep to out-land the challenger and salvage a draw.

"Randy deserves (a return] and I need a rematch to prove something
to myself," admitted Sturm immediately after the result.

The rematch is scheduled to take place on Saturday in the original
venue and has been preceded by a compelling performance from Sturm.

Last April he bludgeoned the unbeaten but obscure Jamie Pittman
in seven rounds, blending swift movement with accurate two-fisted
assaults. Sturm, 29-2-1 (13), utilized a full range of punches to
dismantle the Australian. A straight right rocked Pittman in the
second; a body shot floored him in the fifth; a left hand-right
uppercut salvo sent him to the canvas in the sixth, and a full-scale
barrage saw the referee stop the contest in the seventh.

It was undoubtedly Sturm’s most impressive display as he finally
managed to combine his tight, practical boxing skills with hurtful
power-shots. But dazzling against the likes of Pittman figures to be
a different proposition to tangling with Grffin again.

"I feel I won the fight (last October]. It was close but I deserved
the decision," claims Griffin. "Every time he touched me the crowd
went crazy. But I’ve no problem going back (to Germany). I felt at
home there."

The Philadelphia native has built up a 24-1-3 (12) record to little
fanfare stateside, so it is unsurprising that he would welcome a return
with Sturm in front of a 12,000 crowd at the Gerry Weber Stadion.

Underscored by a points win over former titlist Maselino Masoe and
draws with Yusaf Mack and James Obede Toney, Griffin’s résumé
suggests he belongs well below elite class, so why could Sturm only
manage a draw with the American?

Wrote Graham Houston following the fight: "I wonder if [Sturm] has
peaked at the age of 29. He was hard-pressed to earn a draw with
Griffin, a good but unremarkable challenger."

Sturm’s ambition in boxing is unclear. He has shown no interest in
fighting outside Germany and the proposed mega European showdown
with Arthur Abraham is unlikely to transpire since the Armenian seems
intent on fighting in the U.S.

Moreover, Sturm has plenty of interests away from the ring to keep
him busy, whether it’s upscale photo shoots or hitting the books.

"I do many things," he reveals. "I like basketball very much. I like
water polo, what a hard sport it is; often underestimated from the
outside. I drive go-karts, I play table tennis and I play a lot of
chess. Besides, I still have my studies."

Maybe the well-rounded showing against Pittman was a sign that Sturm
is willing to add to his repertoire, or just an illusion involving a
quality fighter beating up an overmatched novice. Regardless, Sturm
will need a stirring performance against Griffin to assuage those
who doubt his desire.

"My motivation couldn’t be greater," he says. "I’m fighting for my
team and my large family. Becoming a world champion is easier than
always having to defend it against hungry challengers.

"I learn from my mistakes."

–Boundary_(ID_qp8KEacj4px6WafTTY qzbw)–
From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH PRESIDENT ISN’T EMPOWERED TO DECIDE HIMSELF WHETHER TO VISIT ARMENIA OR NOT

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.07.2008 18:12 GMT+04:00

Armenia’s President made a brave step by inviting Turkish President
Gul to Yerevan, Khosrov Harutyunyan, head of Christian Democratic
Union of Armenia, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"Contacts, specifically at the level of heads of state, are essential
for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations," he said.

"As to President Sargsyan’s statement on possibility of formation of an
Armenian-Turkish commission, I wonder why no one quotes the statement
up to the end. The President said ‘formation of a commission after
opening of the border’. We all know that the fact of the Armenian
Genocide will not vanish with formation of new commissions. Moreover,
new details may be revealed," Harutyunyan said.

"President of Turkey depends on his party and allies in NATO and
the U.S. He can’t take decisions independently," said the head of
Christian Democratic Union of Armenia," he added.

During a recent meeting with representatives of the Armenian community
of Moscow, President Sargsyan said he will take steps for normalizing
relations with Turkey. "I will probably invite Turkish President to
Yerevan to attend the match between our soccer teams," he said.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION DENIED PERMISSION TO RALLY IN CENTRAL YEREVAN

Interfax News Agency
June 27 2008
Russia

The Yerevan city authorities have denied permission to the opposition
to stage a rally on Freedom Square or outside the Matenadaran museum
of old scripts on July 4 but have suggested the Razdan or Dynamo
stadiums, instead.

"The mayor’s office said that the decision was made after police
expressed worries about planned riots. We strongly disagreed with
their argument," Levon Zurabian of the Pan-Armenian National Movement
led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosian told Interfax.

The text of the decision banning the opposition rally in central
Yerevan was posted on the city mayor’s official web site.

However, because the 72 hours since the application was submitted to
the authorities expired at 09:25 a.m. on June 26, now, according to
the law on mass events, the opposition is entitled to stage a rally
as planned, Zurabian said.
From: Baghdasarian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH DESERVES TO BE INDEPENDENT – ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Interfax News Agency
June 24 2008
Russia

The self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh should retain its
status as an independent enclave, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
said.

"The people of Nagorno-Karabakh deserved the right to statehood first
legally and then because of the war imposed on them, and the issue
cannot have a solution that somehow infringes upon this status,"
Sargsyan said at a meeting with members of the Armenian diaspora in
Russia in Moscow on Tuesday.

"Nagorno-Karabakh has never been part of Azerbaijan, because it was
included in Soviet Azerbaijan through an illegal decision by a Party
body," Sargsyan said. "The motive for this decision was that it was
supposed to help spread the [1917] October revolution idea throughout
the Muslim East," he said.

Yerevan and Baku have agreed to continue negotiations on a settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Sargsyan said. "I met recently with
the president of Azerbaijan, and we agreed to continue the negotiating
process within the framework of a draft document on basic principles,"
he said.
From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN ENDANGERS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

anARMENIAN.Net

23.06.2008

Attacks against the civilian population, killings of innocent people
and the recent steps of Azerbaijani side, in general, are directed
towards the deterioration of the situation, Armenia’s Foreign
Minister said.

"I believe that all these attempts, which include the incident in
the Martakert region of Nagorno Karabakh in the first days of March;
persistent refusal, since April, to return four Armenian citizens;
killing of an Armenian serviceman in Tavush region and now the
killing of two civilian residents of Chinari village, must be strongly
condemned," Edward Nalbandian said.

"Such steps endanger the peace process. One wonders whether the real
goal of the Azerbaijani side is to create additional obstacles to the
continuation of the peace talks. The demands of a number of Azerbaijani
NGOs to stop the negotiations can only be seen as an evidence of
this. It is obvious from where those NGOs are directed. These steps
raise serious concern and have to be denounced," he said, the RA MFA
press office reported.

Two residents of Chinari village – Levon Petrosyan and Rafik Soghoyan –
were killed by the Azeri side on June 18.
From: Baghdasarian