Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

CUSTOMS UNION AN IMPORTANT MARKET FOR FINISHED GOODS – EXPERT

December 20, 2013 | 17:41

YEREVAN. – Customs Union is an important market for finished goods,
said head of the Union of Domestic Goods Producers Vazgen Safaryan.

This makes the Customs Union an alternative to local producers,
he believes.

“On the other hand, we have exported finished goods amounting to $290
million to Customs Union member states last year. Good conditions
for the Armenian light industry, machinery and other industries can
be created in the common market. The exports to Europe is estimated
at hundreds of millions, but it is about raw materials, especially
metal concentrates,” he said.

In the terms of economic benefits, Customs Union is preferable
to Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND 10TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY GALA

Guestofaguest.com
Dec 20 2013

By Kelly Keegan
Dec 20, 2013 12:25 PM

The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), a non-profit organization
working to improve the living conditions for village children in
Armenia, hosted its Tenth Annual Holiday Gala on Friday, December 13,
2013 at Cipriani 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York. The event was a
resounding success as more than 400 longtime friends and supporters
gathered together for an unforgettable evening, and raised nearly
$3 million to support COAF’s community-led programs. Special guests
in attendance included Michael Aram, Patricia Field, Kerry Butler,
and Benjamin McKenzie.

Award-winning film and television actor Victor Garber served as
the Honorary Chair for the evening. Mr. Garber’s introduction
to COAF was at the 2011 Gala, where he was awarded with the COAF
Humanitarian Award. Since then he has shown steadfast commitment
to the organization. He is best known for his role in major motion
pictures such as Titanic, Milk, and Argo.

In addition to the performances by the talented children, Kerry Butler
serenaded the crowd with a rendition of “It’s a Small World/God Bless
the Outcasts”. So You Think You Can Dance finalist Paul Karmiriyan
electrified the dance floor with his dance partner and closed out the
formal dinner, and sparked the after-party which lasted past midnight.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S GREENS TAKE ON HYDRO SCHEMES

Environment News Sector
dec 20 2013

By Gayane Lazarian

YEREVAN, Armenia, December 19, 2013 (ENS) – Environmentalists in
Armenia say a strategy of building multiple hydroelectric stations
to harness the country’s rivers is storing up problems for the future.

Armenia lacks oil and gas reserves and is trying to develop
hydroelectric power as a way of reducing its reliance on fuel imports.

Ecologists, however, say that damming up rivers destroys waterways
and the unique ecosystems they support.

In one recent case of direct action, environmental activists joined
residents of the village of Marts in the northern Lori region on
November 17 to protest against plans to build a third power station
on a river there. They blocked a major highway, causing traffic chaos,
but left before police could arrive to disperse them.

Near Marts village, Lori region, Armenia (Photo by Artyom Hovsepyan)

“Rivers are being turned into pipelines,” said Levon Galstyan of the
All-Armenian Ecological Front. “No public consultations were organised
in the village [Marts], and people’s interests have been ignored.”

Liparit Simonyan, director of Martz Energy, the company in charge of
the dam project, said its activities were entirely within the law.

“There’s a sense that it isn’t the locals protesting, but a group
of activists representing some outside forces. They are spreading
false information and setting people against one another other,”
Simonyan told reporters.

“We are spending money; we are creating jobs,” he added.

Robert Galstyan, the village head in Marts, confirmed that the company
was going to employ seven locals and had promised to provide the
village with street lighting and a mains gas supply.

Karen Harutiunyan, an activist from the environmentalist group 100
Point, said claims of public consultation were untrue since the
majority of local residents were clearly against the scheme.

In a separate development, villagers in the western Aragatsotn region
turned out to protest against work on a fourth power station on the
river Amberd.

Local resident Sasun Hayrapetyan said that villagers in the area
would lose their water supplies.

“This hydropower station is being built next to us without any
consultation,” she said.

Armenia has gone from having just 11 small hydroelectric power
plants in 1997 to 137 small hydro power plants today, with another
77 being built. It also has bigger plants arranged in series of two,
or “cascades,” Sevan-Hrazdan and Vorotan.

The construction drive is underpinned by a 2004 law which assumes
that dams on mountain rivers could meet around 30 percent of Armenia’s
electricity needs.

Some existing dams are not in service like this Communist Era dam
and power station (Photo by Michael Sakr)

That is still some distance away. As Aram Gabrielyan, head of
electricity supplies at the energy ministry, points out, nuclear power
provided 28 percent of the country’s power last year, 42 percent was
generated by gas-fired stations, and most of the rest by hydroelectric
plants.

Galstyan said the government’s strategy is all wrong.

“Construction of hydroelectric power stations has reached such a level
that in 20 or 30 years’ time, this state will be facing a social and
ecological catastrophe,” he said. “There will be power stations on
90 percent of rivers, and in the dry season they will all dry up.”

Inga Zarafyan of Ecolur agrees that the threat was real, warning that
“the number of sick rivers is constantly rising.”

“Twelve power stations have been built on the river Yeghegis, another
nine are to be built on the Meghri river, and six more on the Getik
and Marts, and also on rivers that feed Lake Sevan,” she said.

“The biggest is being built on the Argichi, with nine kilometres of
pipes and four ten-megawatt turbines,” said Zarafyan. “We are scared
to imagine what will be left of that river.”

Inessa Gabayan, national coordinator of an Armenian-Norwegian project
to develop small hydroelectric power plants, urged local residents
to contribute constructively rather than just objecting to them.

“The aim of our project is to identify problems and secure stable
development in this sector,” she explained. “I believe new technologies
can resolve the problems.”

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIA MAY BE USING GEORGIA’S AIRSPACE TO DELIVER ARMS TO ARMENIA

Rezonansi (in Georgian), Tbilisi, Georgia
Dec 12 2013

“Experts Say Armenia’s Enhanced Armaments Pose Threat to Georgia.

‘Georgian Representative Should Be Stationed in Yerevan Airport and
Examine Types of Armaments Coming From Russia'”

by Eka Otarashvili

Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia, the
reinforcement of the Russian military base in Gyumri with modernized
combat hardware has intensively begun. According to military experts,
Russia is using Georgian airspace illegally to deliver armaments to
Armenia and the Georgian Foreign Ministry has not reacted to this
for some reason.

According to military expert Vakhtang Maisaia, following Armenia’s
final decision to turn down accession to the EU, the Kremlin offered
it to establish joint air defence systems together with Kazakhstan,
and the intensified deliveries of armaments that have taken place in
the last few days are the result of this.

[Russian troops stationed] in Armenia have now received new military
hardware: Mostly armoured vehicles, air defence systems, and MiG-29
fighters. Russia and Kazakhstan are creating a joint air defence system
and Belarus is joining them too. Putin also offered Armenia to become
part of this joint air defence system during his visit to Gyumri.

“A four-step air defence and missile defence system is being created.

These armaments also reflect a complex approach. Moreover, they are
modernizing the strategic armaments in the North Caucasus. Russia is
apparently building up its military forces and they will get around
to delivering the same kinds of supplies to the 4th and the 7th bases
stationed on Georgian territory in South Ossetia and Abkhazia soon.

Russia has two options for transporting these armaments: First,
via Georgian airspace and second, by land through Iran. However,
there is strong likelihood that the armaments are delivered through
the illegal use of our airspace,” Maisaia said.

Maisaia noted that, according to reports in the Internet, 18
helicopters, armoured vehicles, weapons for armoured vehicles,
including BMP-3 and BTR-80, as well as modernized T-72 tanks and a
few T-90 tanks have now been delivered to Gyumri. Buk-2 operational
and tactical air defence systems have also been delivered.

It is worth noting that Yerevan has the S-300 systems capable of
shooting down any aircraft, as well as T-90 battle tanks and hundreds
of other types of armoured vehicles and heavy artillery systems. They
also have radio electronic systems capable of monitoring Georgian
territory.

Former Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze says that Russia is
continuing its military “tourism” in the South Caucasus. This time,
a few thousand extra military “tourists” will be deployed to the
Gyumri military base in Armenia, along with helicopters and other
types of military hardware. Meanwhile, Georgia’s diplomatic efforts
have been extremely weak.

“The government has been silent and has not said anything about the
quantity of the armaments that Russia has delivered to the Gyumri
military base. You can go to the Internet and read about the quantities
of armaments delivered to Armenia before Putin’s visit and the increase
in Russia’s military potential. The Georgian government does not need
to make a statement about this but the Georgian government must speak
about this in international organizations without fail.

“The current government is not talking about this. I can tell
you this for certain. As has been the case with other matters,
Georgia’s diplomatic efforts have been extremely weak. On the one
hand, they have intensified in a number of directions but it was
not difficult to intensify them there. European integration is
one example. However, they have been weak as far as international
organizations are concerned. The primary reason for this is the fact
that they treated the cadres that they had there very imprudently,”
the former foreign minister noted.

It is worth noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin went on
an official visit to Armenia 2 December and it was not Yerevan that
he travelled to first but the Russian military base in Gyumri, 120
kilometres away from Yerevan. He said at a press conference there
that Russia has never intended to withdraw from the South Caucasus
and that, on the contrary, “Russia is planning to further reinforce
its positions in the South Caucasus.”

The main personnel of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri is made
up of 7,000 servicemen and reinforcing this base was the main subject
of the talks between the two presidents. They decided at the meeting
that, in exchange for Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, Yerevan
can buy Russian armaments at Russian domestic prices and natural gas
at a 35-per cent discount (for $189 per 1,000 cubic meters).

Irakli Aladashvili, editor-in-chief of the Arsenali military analytical
magazine, says that, during the visit, President Putin was also shown
the new Russian armaments deployed to Armenia that can pose a threat
to Georgia from the south.

“Before Putin’s visit, the Armenian parliament approved a Defence
Ministry decree according to which Armenia will provide Russia with
additional territory for the stationing of a helicopter squadron.

Moreover, they deployed 18 MiG-29 fighters to the Erebuni air force
unit near Yerevan.

“The footage of the Gyumri base taken during Putin’s visit showed two
new types of armaments – the Smerch multiple launch rocket systems
and the Buk-M1-2 missile systems – that had not previously been
deployed at the base. This hardware was apparently recently delivered
secretly to Armenia by military transport planes that flew through
Georgian airspace,” Aladashvili said. He noted that the “proximity
of the Gyumri base to Georgia means that the Russian Smerch systems’
300-mm rockets that weigh 800 kg can easily reach Tbilisi from the
Armenian-Georgian border.

“As for the modernized Buk systems delivered to Gyumri, they can
detect aircraft flying at a relatively low altitude within a 40-km
range and can fire antiaircraft missiles at it in 15 seconds. This
means that Russian Buk systems stationed at the border will be capable
of detecting and targeting Georgian combat planes that take off from
the Marneuli airfield which is the main air base of the Georgian
Armed Forces.”

Aladashvili said that the Georgian government has not authorized Russia
to transport combat hardware via Georgian airspace since the August
[2008 Georgian-Russian] war and that it would be interesting to know
whether the Russian side has informed the new Georgian Government
about the delivery of the Smerch systems to Armenia through Georgian
airspace.

“There has been talk that this hardware has been transported by
Armenian military transport planes, not Russian ones. For this reason,
a Georgian representative should be stationed at Yerevan airport
and should examine the types of armaments delivered from Russia,”
Aladashvili said.

[Translated from Georgian]

From: Baghdasarian

THE PRINCE OF WALES: SAY A PRAYER FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

We will all be poorer if a tradition dating back 2,000 years is
allowed to disappear

An Iraqi Kildani Christian attends a Mass in Baghdad, Iraq – today,
the Middle East and North Africa have the lowest concentration of
Christians in the world Photo: EPA

By HRH The Prince of Wales

8:19PM GMT 18 Dec 2013

I have for some time now been deeply troubled by the growing
difficulties faced by Christian communities in various parts of the
Middle East. It seems to me that we cannot ignore the fact that they
are, increasingly, being deliberately targeted by fundamentalist
Islamist militants. Christianity was, literally, born in that part
of the world and we must not forget our Middle Eastern brothers and
sisters in Christ. Their church communities link us straight back to
the early Church, as I was reminded by hearing Aramaic, Our Lord’s
own language, spoken and sung in visits to churches earlier this week.

Yet, today, the Middle East and North Africa has the lowest
concentration of Christians in the world – just 4 per cent of the
population. It is clear that the number has dropped dramatically over
the last century, and is falling still further.

This has an effect on all of us, although, of course, primarily on
those Christians who can no longer continue to live in the Middle East:
we all lose something immensely and irreplaceably precious when such
a rich tradition – dating back 2,000 years – begins to disappear.

It comprises a rich panoply of church life, including the Antiochian,
Greek, Coptic, Syrian and Armenian Orthodox Churches, the Melkite,
Maronite, Syrian Catholic, Chaldean and Roman Catholic Churches,
as well as the Church of the East, and Churches established, dare I
say it, somewhat more recently, including the Anglican Church.

In saying all this about the difficulties facing these Christian
churches I am, of course, conscious that they are not the only faith
community in this region suffering at the moment. Nor is the Middle
East the only part of the world in which Christians are suffering.

But, given the particularly acute circumstances they face, I feel it
worthwhile to draw attention to their current plight. It is important
to note, above all, that the decline of Christians in the region
represents a major blow to peace, as they are part of the fabric of
society, often acting as bridge-builders between other communities.

This crucial role throughout Middle Eastern society is one recognised
by many Muslims (who are not extremists) both Shia or Sunni, who
attest to the fact that Christians are their friends and that their
communities are needed.

Jordan has set a wonderful example in this regard and, as my wife and I
saw for ourselves during our visit earlier this year, has again taken
in a huge number of refugees, this time from Syria during the present
troubles. Moreover, under His Majesty King Abdullah II’s leadership,
Jordan is a most heartening and courageous witness to the fruitful
tolerance and respect between faith communities.

For 20 years, I have tried to build bridges between Islam and
Christianity and to dispel ignorance and misunderstanding. The point
though, surely, is that we have now reached a crisis where the bridges
are rapidly being deliberately destroyed by those with a vested
interest in doing so – and this is achieved through intimidation,
false accusation and organised persecution – including of Christian
communities.

Let us remember we are talking about Arab Christians – Syrian, Iraqi,
Palestinian, Egyptian and Saudi Christians, as well as those from
other Arab countries and from Iran – not Western Christians living
in the Middle East.

Now is the time to redouble our combined efforts to stress what binds
the three Abrahamic faiths together and, as Christians, Jews and
Muslims, to express outrage at what tears us asunder. Surely there is
no better time to do so than at Christmas – to remind all of us that
an emphasis on love of our neighbours and doing to others as we would
have them do to us are the ultimate foundations of truth, justice,
compassion and human rights. Such profound wisdom is at the very heart
of all three religions, however obscured the message may have become.

My prayer at this time is for all beleaguered communities and I believe
that Western Christians ought to pray earnestly for fellow-believers in
the Middle East. I am reminded that Tuesday in the Eastern Christian
calendar was the festival of Daniel and the three boys in the fiery
furnace, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They symbolise all those
who are persecuted for their faith. But the important point is:
they survived.

This is an edited version of an address given to religious leaders
at Clarence House. Earlier this week the Prince of Wales and Prince
Ghazi of Jordan visited the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage
and the Syrian Orthodox Church in London. Prince Ghazi of Jordan is
chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs to the King of Jordan

From: Baghdasarian

DOES CSTO TEND TO BECOME A SERIOUS STRUCTURE?

December 19 2013

“I think that the fact that the Russian side accepted our proposal
was very important, symbolic and also very telling, and that the two
heads of state during the visit to Gyumri jointly visited the 102nd
military base deployed in Gyumri. Of course, you know that pursuant
to the protocol, with which the deployment of the base in Armenia was
extended, removed the restriction that was mentioned in the previous
agreement, which provided that the base can be used for available
dangers only along the former outer borders of the Soviet Union. In
other word, the mandate of the military base was expanded, and I think
that in this context it is very important for us that the base be very
topical and capable, and that the military servants there have high
combat readiness,” said Vigen Sargsyan, RA President’s Chief of Staff,
summing up Russian President’s visit, a day after the visit. Though,
since the existence of the agreement on deployment of Russia’s military
bases in Armenia, the issue was explained and covered in detail,
however, Aravot.am tried once again to clarify whether there are
loopholes in the new phase of the Armenian-Russian military-technical
cooperation, with which Russian troops obtain the opportunity to
intervene in the internal affairs of Armenia. Tevan Poghosyan,
a member of RA NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, with regard to this issue, in response to our
question, said, “The matter is that if earlier the military base was
used for the former Soviet Union, in other word, the Armenian-Turkish
border, and also, to some extent, for Armenia -Iran border, now this
notion is removed. This does not mean that the military base will be
employed, if the risks exist, the military base would make its actions
accordingly.” Our interlocutor draws attention to the fact that both
Russia and Armenia are CSTO member states, and there is the notion of
“CSTO states borders”. “For example, the Armenia-Azerbaijan border
in Tavush marz: it is a CSTO border.

Armenia-Nakhichevan border is also a CSTO border, and if there will be
dangers there, not only Russian military base would be employed, but it
is necessary to respond to these issues with CSTO joint efforts. It is
clear that today we are probably talking about a little hypothetical
scenario, but if CSTO intends to become a serious, it must develop
its capacity, and approach the issues with conscience of the concept
of the problem.” Our interlocutor considers the development of CSTO
a daily issue for this very institution, and, in this context, he
thinks that that these forces may protect not only the boundaries of
the former Soviet Union, but, for example, other borders of Armenia,
also within the frames of CSTO boundaries. The above formulations,
as convinced by our interlocutor, are not associated with internal
issues of Armenia. “The matter is about Armenia defense functions.” As
for interfering in the internal issues of Armenia, Tevan Poghosyan
thinks that it depends on us, and has nothing to do with the existence
of any military base in our outer borders. RA NA Vice-speaker Edward
Sharmazanov does not also see such concerns. He considers all such
opinions imaginary.

Nelly Grigoryan

Read more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ECHR’S VERDICT GIVES GREEN LIGHT FOR RACIAL INTOLERANCE: TURKOLOGIST

10:24, 19 December, 2013

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Notwithstanding the verdict of the
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made on December 17, according to
which the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Workers’ Party (Ä°P)
Chairman Dogu Perincek is not a crime, will have a negative impact, it
should not disappoint the Armenian side and lobbying organizations to
continue the activity aimed not merely at the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, but the ratification of laws criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide, as well. In a conversation
with “Armenpress” the Director of Institute of Oriental Sciences of
the National Academy of the Republic of Armenia, turkologist Ruben
Safrastyan stated this.

Previously it was reported that the Armenian Cause French Office and
the Armenian National Committee of Europe issued a statement, which
in particular runs as follows: “The court’s verdict is extremely
dangerous and provides direct support to the stream of denialism in
Europe orchestrated by Ankara and Baku and paves an additional way
for them. This infamous decision of the European Court transgresses
the right to dignity of the Armenian Genocide victims and their
descendants.”

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REPARATIONS DISCUSSED AT THE WORLD FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013

Director of CNA Buenos Aires, Carolina Karagueuzian, speaks at the
World Forum on Human Rights in Brasilia, Brazil

BRASILIA–The Armenian National Committee of South America (CNA)
participated in the World Forum on Human Rights (FMDH) from 10 to 13
December in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.

Carolina Karagueuzian, director of CNA Buenos Aires and Attorney
Guillermo Ferraioli Karamanian made a presentation entitled “Armenian
Genocide: a comparative study of genocidal processes of the twentieth
century” where they discussed the Armenian Genocide from a social
and historical perspective. The issue of reparations was one of the
central themes of the dissertation.

“Turkey must return territories to Armenia, according to the terms
issued by the President of the United States Woodrow Wilson on November
22, 1920â~@³ said Ferraioli Karamanian, referring to the Treaty of
Sèvres and the Wilsonian Armenia.

“The one and a half million victims of genocide were a permanent
material damage against the Armenian people. This damage has not yet
been offset by fair reparation. Such repair must address both the
lives lost and the appropriation of property by the State and the
members of the Turkish elite”, said Karagueuzian.

In the closing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Human Rights of Brazil
Patricia Barcelos announced that Argentina will host the FMDH in 2015.

The FMDH aims to promote an environment for public debate about
human rights, focusing on the respect to differences, on social
participation, on inequalities reduction and on the confrontation
of all human rights’ violations. According to a press release from
the FMDH, “more than 500 activities were held in the Forum, with
the participation of the President of the Republic, Dilma Rousseff,
former president Lula, the vice president of Colombia, the Executive
Secretary, Patricia Barcelos, and National Secretaries of SDH/PR,
among other authorities. Over 9 thousand participants showed up”.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM OF AMERICA ENTERS ‘MAJOR LEAGUE’ WITH NEW NAME

GateHouse Media New England
Posted Dec 18, 2013 @ 03:51 PM

WATERTOWN –

As of Christmas Eve, Santa Claus bestowed upon the Armenian Library
and Museum of America its new name, “Armenian Museum of America Inc.,”
in recognition of its rise as a major museum.

The words, “Armenian” and “America,” remain in the title because the
museum is for all and belongs to all. By this change, this institution
will be known for its role as the largest Armenian museum outside
of Armenia.

In 1996, Dr James Russell, the Mashdots professor of Armenian studies
at Harvard University, wrote, in part, describing ALMA’s collections,
“Over all, it is perhaps the most important Armenian museum collection
after the Armenian State Historical Museum in Yerevan and the
collections of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Israel.”

By then, the museum was a shining beacon and its holdings had
multiplied, including major collections from the Bedoukian families,
numerous inscribed Armenian rugs from the late Arthur T. Gregorian,
Kutahya tiles from the Karabians, among many other gifts donated to
build the collections.

Since 1996, its holdings have multiplied. In the past four years, it
has acquired the Yousuf Karsh collection of photographic portraiture,
post-Soviet Armenian paintings from the Norton Dodge collection,
the Berj Garabedian Metal Arts collection, the Almasian Family Map
collection, and numerous other accessions. Its holdings exceed 20,000
objects and is buttressed and enhanced by its ever-growing Mesrop
Boyajian Research Library, now with more than 27,000 titles.

In addition, the museum has created travel exhibits for display
anywhere from coast to coast. Its three major travel exhibits are,
respectively, “Who Are the Armenians,” the “Gamavor Exhibit” and the
“The Ongoing Armenian Genocide: Death, Denial and Desecration.” The
Gamavor Exhibit is being translated so as to be able to be shown in
France. The travel Genocide Exhibit was shown primarily in various
non-Armenian sites including an eight-month showing at the Virginia
Holocaust Museum, the third largest such museum in the United States.

That Holocaust Museum was impressed sufficiently as to seek to develop
its own permanent Armenian Genocide Exhibit.

Read more: Armenian Library and Museum of America enters
‘major league’ with new name – Watertown, MA – Watertown TAB

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA OR AZERBAIJAN?

Star (in Turkish), Turkey
Dec 15 2013

Commentary by Sedat Laciner

In the last 10 years, Turkey destroyed many taboos. It sought more
democratic and normal relations in all fields. One of these fields is
the Armenian problem. Even though the new Turkey covered significant
distance in its efforts to destroy the Armenian taboo, this progress
could not be crowned with the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations.

Extraordinary efforts were made to normalize the relations between
the two countries. These efforts resulted in the signing of a joint
protocol in 2009. Had the protocol signed by Armenian Foreign Minister
Edvard Nalbandyan and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in
Zurich been approved, the Turkish-Armenian border which has been
closed for years would have been opened and relations would have
been normalized. Armenia, however, did not approve the agreement and,
in Turkey, the protocol failed to even make it to the Assembly agenda.

When Foreign Minister Davutoglu went to Armenia last week for the
Yerevan summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization,
there was a new flicker of hope about the relations, and certain
commentators found the visit encouraging. However, the meeting between
the two ministers was cold and short.

At this point, it is possible to talk about two factors that prevent
the normalization of the bilateral relations: One is Azerbaijan,
and the other is Russia. Unless it overcomes these two obstacles,
Turkey will not be able to improve its ties with Armenia

Azerbaijan

Currently, one fifth of Azerbaijan’s territory is under Armenian
occupation. Not only Nagorno-Karabakh but cities between
Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian border are under occupation,
and Armenia views leaving these lands as equivalent to death. If
Turkey fails to see this situation, if it abandons Baku and improves
its ties with Armenia, if, for example, it reopens its borders with
Armenia which it had closed in support for Azerbaijan, then it will
lose Azerbaijan. Compared to Armenia, Azerbaijan is a very important
country that Turkey cannot afford to lose.

In addition to undeniable blood ties, Azerbaijan is Turkey’s strategic
energy partner with its oil and gas resources. While Armenia has almost
no economic value as a market or producer, with its investments in
recent years, the Azerbaijani economy has become one of the important
partners of the Turkish economy. One must add to all this the strategic
partnership in the Caucasus against Iran and Russia.

Actually, the 2009 protocols carried a very heavy price tag for
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. The problems in those ties were
alleviated only when the negotiation process with Armenia began to
collapse. In short, Turkey does not have the possibility to improve
its ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan at the same time.

Russia

The second significant obstacle is Russia. Armenia is like Russia’s
outpost in the Caucasus. Due to the Armenian problem, Russia is able to
have military bases in that country. In fact, Armenia’s borders with
Turkey and Iran are protected by Russian troops. Solving the problems
among Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia means the collapse of Russia’s
south Caucasus policies. Therefore, no matter how peaceful a language
it uses, Russia is an actor that does not see its interests in peace.

Naturally, Armenia is also an important obstacle before the improvement
of its ties with Turkey. Armenia defends Azerbaijan’s occupation till
the end. In fact, Armenian politicians go even further and demand land
from Turkey. Even if Armenia’s irredentist dreams are not realistic,
they cause anxiety among the Turks.

In summary, there is nothing new in the Armenian front. On the other
hand, Turkish-Azerbaijani relations are continuing to develop fast.

[Translated from Turkish]

From: Baghdasarian