Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

U.S. TELLS AZERBAIJAN: NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT – ANCA

February 27, 2013 – 13:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Obama Administration told pro-Aliyev groups
which had initiated and promoted two highly inflammatory, anti-Armenian
petitions on the White House ‘We the People’ site, that “there cannot
be a military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.” The White
House declined to issue a proclamation solicited by pro-Azerbaijan
groups.

“Thank you for sharing your views with the White House. While we will
not be issuing a Presidential Proclamation, the United States deeply
regrets the tragic losses of life in the war between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. It reminds us that there cannot be a military solution to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and that only a lasting and peaceful
settlement can bring stability, prosperity, and reconciliation to the
region. As a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, the United States remains
firmly committed to working with all sides to achieve peace.”

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian had cautioned the Obama
Administration against offering any response until the full extent
of the foreign manipulation of the “We the People” platform could
be determined.

“While a U.S. message of peace is particularly timely in light of the
Azerbaijani sniper attack which claimed the life of 21-year-old Gor
Kazaryan just last week, and the escalating war-rhetoric emanating
from the Aliyev Administration — it should not be coming in response
to an obviously manipulative bid by a dictator to game the American
democratic system,” Hamparian stated.

From: Baghdasarian

“I CONSIDER THE ELECTION ILLEGAL AND SERZH SARGSYAN ILEGITIMATE,” ARAM HARUTYUNYAN SAYS

February 26 2013

“It is obvious that we consider this election illegal, including
the decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC). Whoever won
according to the official results, we would consider it illegal
anyway. I was basically right when I said that we should leave Serzh
Sargsyan alone, and he would lose, because the people voted against
him,” Aram Harutyunyan, the leader of the National Accord Party and a
candidate for president who had withdrawn his candidacy, said during a
conversation with , talking about the final results made
public by the CEC. Harutyunyan said as a political assessment that the
official results of the election didn’t reflect what there really was.

“It is a different matter that candidates, Raffi Hovhannisyan, for
example, didn’t have resources to prove what there really was. I
consider the election illegal and Serzh Sargsyan illegitimate. And
that forging of the CEC had been done before the CEC made it public,”
he stated. Eva HAKOBYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: Baghdasarian

NKR MFA CALLS FOR CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SUMGAIT MASSACRES

12:10 27.02.2013

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic issued
a statement on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Sumgait pogroms.

“Mass murders and pogroms of Armenians took place from 27 to 29
February, 1988 in Sumgait, a city located less than 30 kilometers away
from the Azeri capital Baku. For three days, upon the silent agreement
of the authorities and complete inaction of the law enforcement
agencies people were being murdered, raped and maimed for the mere
reason of being Armenian. Dozens of killed, hundreds of maimed and
thousands of Armenians expelled from Sumgait became the first victims
of Azerbaijan’s policy of terror aimed at the Armenians of Karabakh
who in the preceding week had officially declared their intention to
exercise their right to self-determination. In spite of the peaceful
and legitimate nature of those manifestations in Nagorno Karabakh,
Azerbaijan from the very beginning rejected dialogue, resorted to the
language of threats and intimidation and pursued policy of violent
oppression of the free will of the people of Artsakh.

Unfortunately, the Sumgait massacre has not received an adequate
political and legal assessment of the international community yet.

Moreover, silencing the truth about the Sumgait tragedy, concealing
its true causes, and the impunity granted to its masterminds paved
the way for ethnic cleansing carried out throughout Azerbaijan. It
reached its climax during the bloody massacres and mass deportations
of Armenians of Baku in January 1990, which later led to a full-scale
military aggression against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The tragic events in Sumgait laid the fertile ground and contributed
to the further development of the zealous hatred towards Armenians
and anything Armenian continuously and successively implanted in
Azerbaijan and its society.

In today’s Azerbaijan, despite the international community’s calls
to prepare its population for peace instead of war, xenophobia,
intolerance and belligerence are being spread. Anyone in Azerbaijan,
who stands for building any bridges to Armenians is severely
intimidated and ostracized by the Government. At the same time,
the Azeri officer, who was convicted in Hungary to a life sentence
for the brutal Sumgait-type murder of the fellow Armenian classmate,
is being glorified as a national hero and role model for youth.

25 years later we pay tribute to the innocent victims of the Sumgait
tragedy, and call on the international community to express its firm
and unambiguous position in relation to that crime against humanity. A
clear and unequivocal assessment of those mass murders and pogroms
and condemnation of the forces behind them will both prevent the
recurrence of such crimes and contribute to the moral improvement of
the Azeri society.”

From: Baghdasarian

SERJ TANKIAN TO SERJ SARKISYAN: DON’T USE SECURITY TO DISTRACT US FROM DOMESTIC INJUSTICES

12:25, February 27, 2013

A day after President Sarkisyan responded to his letter, artist
and human rights activist Serj Tankian has, in turn, responded to
Sarkisyan, urging him to not use notions of security to distract
people from injustices taking place inside Armenia. Below is Tankian’s
second letter.

***

Dear Mr. President,

I am honored that you have responded to my letter.

I actually wasn’t expecting a response, given the harsh criticism
I conveyed.

The fact that you have done so is encouraging.

But with respect, you have not answered any of my questions nor
addressed any of the issues I brought up in my letter directly.

I think you have done a great job at securing Armenia’s borders and
dealing with the extremely sensitive and difficult situation presented
by the realities after the Karabakh war.

If you remember, I told you that in person and commended your efforts
in that regard.

That said, security cannot be the scapegoat to diffuse attention from
the inequities and injustices in our homeland.

Republicans in the U.S. have done that for too many elections and no
one seems to buy it anymore.

I, too, feel responsible to future generations for what we leave
behind.

That is the reason for my speaking out, getting involved with mining
and environmental abuse in Armenia (Teghut) and encouraging further
farm subsidies to render our nation more self sufficient.

Citizens across Armenia are protesting the outcome of the elections
and the injustice inherent in the political establishment. Please
listen to their complaints.

Listen to the striking students and don’t let the schools or police
shut out their voices from our democracy. They are the future of
Armenia after all.

Corruption, injustice, emigration, lawlessness and falsified
elections. These ills have emptied our country of its citizens more
than mines and bombs.

What are you going to do about them?

Are you going to reform the system?

Dear Mr. President, please institute the rule of law once and for all
so that people feel respected in the eyes of the law and the courts.

The constitution and the laws of Armenia are fine. It is their
execution that is lacking. We are all tired of hearing about investors
turned away, robbed of their investments in Armenia, political pressure
used for personal gain, media manipulation and consolidation for
political means, injustice in the courts, and on and on.

Most people feel that it will take a generational change to alter the
political culture in Armenia, to rid ourselves of the overt corruption
and abuse.

You can make that happen now!

In your letter you have recognized the need for that change and
seem to suggest that you are willing to take substantive steps in
that regard so that we don’t have to wait another 20 years for us to
arrive to true freedom.

For that, your people will be eternally grateful Serzh.

An equitable nation is a strong nation, where people are not only
proud of their history, but also proud of their present.

I agree that we should all work together toward a better future
for Armenia.

I appreciate the warm wishes to my father. I too, send my regards
and love to your family and hope to meet your grandson Serj sometime.

Peace, Serj Tankian

From: Baghdasarian

2013 “ARTAVAZD” THEATRICAL COMPETITION DEDICATED TO VAHRAM PAPAZYAN

10:50, 27 February, 2013

YEREVAN , FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS: Current year “Artavazd” theatrical
competition is due in the international day of Theatre on February
27. The ceremony will be hosted in Hakob Paronyan musical comedy state
theatre. The Armenian Actors Union press secretary Vlad Muradyan told
Armenpress, the applications submission deadline expires on March
1. “This year competition will be dedicated to famous actor Vahram
Papazyan 125 anniversary” press secretary stated.

“Artavazd” annual prizes are being awarded to the actors most prominent
in the course of the year. The categories are as follows: honorable
services rendered to the theatrical art, best woman and man actors,
second plan best woman and man actor, best directing, best play, best
young actor-actress, best young director, best youth performance and
best performance.

The competition is organized with the efforts of The Armenian Actors
Union.”Artavazd” theatrical competition was established in 1996.

Initially the competition possessed one category “honorable services
rendered to the theatrical art”.The number of categories increases
year by year started 1999. The competition was then being held in the
frame of narrow theatrical actors and started from the previous year
has been celebrating gorgeously.

From: Baghdasarian

SERJ TANKIAN CONSTESTE LA VICTOIRE DE SERGE SARKISSIAN

Serj Tankian, le celèbre musicien americain d’origine armenienne, a
conteste la legitimite de la victoire de Serge Sarkissian a l’election
presidentielle et a accuse le president de l’Armenie de corruption.

” Quel que soit le rapport de l’OSCE, il semble que cela soit
impossible, meme pour vous, Monsieur le President, de savoir si
vous avez reellement remporte la majorite des voix “, a affirme
Serj Tankian dans une lettre ouverte a M. Sarkissian diffusee
mardi 26 fevrier 2013. ” C’est assez drôle n’est-ce pas ? Vous, le
President de l’Armenie, vous ne savez pas, au fond, si vous etes le
veritable chef de file choisi par votre peuple. Cela ne me derange pas
personnellement. Si je voulais diriger mon peuple, je voudrais qu’il
prenne sa decision lui-meme, parce que je respecte mon peuple. […]
Peut-etre que votre parti est hors de contrôle et que les oligarques
sont a court de caviar et qu’ils veulent s’assurer que les beaux
jours continuent. Comme la plupart des Armeniens de la diaspora, j’ai
toujours ete reticent a critiquer votre gouvernement directement et
publiquement “, a poursuivi le chanteur du groupe System of a down
base en Californie. ” Mais beaucoup de personnes souffrent sous votre
gouvernement en raison de la corruption et de l’injustice. ”

Serj Tankian a egalement exhorte Sarkissian a initier des changements
radicaux dans le pays. ” Vous devriez egalement envisager de dissoudre
le Parlement et d’etre le premier president reformiste pour faire en
sorte que les prochaines elections soient justes et representatives
“, a-t-il dit.

Sarkissian a très vite repondu a cette lettre reprise par les medias
armeniens et commentee sur les reseaux sociaux. Dans sa reponse ecrite
rendue publique mardi, il a insiste sur le fait qu’il est le vainqueur
legitime des elections.” Les irregularites signalees ne pouvaient pas
avoir d’impact significatif sur les resultats du vote “, a-t-il dit.

Le president a egalement declare que toute tentative de remise en
cause des resultats du vote officiels pourrait finalement ” nous
conduire a une inevitable autodestruction “.

Tankian a deja appele l’Etat a lutter contre la corruption en Armenie
lors de sa dernière visite en août 2011. S’exprimant a l’issue d’un
concert solo a Erevan, il a egalement critique un projet minier
controverse fortement conteste par les groupes locaux de protection
de l’environnement.

Serj Tankian avait rencontre Serge Sarkissian avant le concert en
plein air en presence de quelque 10.000 fans. Le chanteur avait
egalement recu une medaille d’honneur de la part du Premier ministre
Tigran Sarkissian.

mercredi 27 fevrier 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

LA TURQUIE OFFRE UN DEAL A L’ARMENIE SI…

La Turquie offre a l’Armenie de participer a son Projet de Transport
Regional reliant l’Europe a l’Asie, si des progrès concrets sont
faits pour resoudre l’epineuse question du Haut-Karabagh avec Bakou

par Serkan Demirtasserkan – Hurriyet Daily News

La Turquie a propose a l’Armenie de prendre part a son projet etendu de
transport regional reliant l’Europe a l’Asie, si des developpements
concrets sont realises pour resoudre le conflit du Haut-Karabagh
avec l’Azerbaïdjan, demontrant une volonte politique d’instaurer
une situation gagnant-gagnant pour tous les pays du sud-Caucase,
dans une ère post-conflictuelle.

” Nous nous efforcons de stimuler le Groupe de Minsk de l’OSCE pour la
solution du conflit du Haut-Karabagh. Nous avons presente le Integrated
Transportation Corridors Project [Projet d’Axes de Transport Integres]
au Groupe de Minsk en Novembre 2012. Ce projet doit etre developpe en
temps de paix et en particulier après que l’Armenie fasse un geste
dans ce sens relativement a l’occupation de sept regions entourant
le Haut-Karabagh “, ont declare des sources diplomatiques au Hurriyet
Daily News recemment. ” Nous proposons une normalisation complète des
liens entre la Turquie et l’Armenie et l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan “.

L’occupation par l’Armenie du Haut-Karabagh de l’Azerbaïdjan et de
sept regions frontalières du territoire depuis le debut des annees
1990 se dresse comme le principal obstacle devant la stabilite et
la prosperite regionales. La Turquie soutient l’Azerbaïdjan et a
ferme ses frontières avec l’Armenie dans une decision qui a ravive
les relations deja tendues du fait de la campagne de cette dernière
pour faire reconnaître comme un genocide les massacres d’Armeniens
de 1915 des mains de l’Empire ottoman par la communaute internationale.

L’Armenie peut faire partie du reseau international de voies ferrees
Bakou-Tbilissi-Kars si la Turquie ouvre la route existant entre Kars
et la ville armenienne de Gumri.

Le geste recent de la Turquie de reconciliation avec l’Armenie
a ete annihile du fait de la forte reaction azerie en 2010, qui
a cause la suspension de la ratification de deux protocoles clef
pour l’etablissement de relations diplomatiques et l’ouverture de
la frontière fermee. La Turquie s’est depuis lors concentree sur
des efforts pour stimuler le presqu’improductif groupe de Minsk de
l’Organisation pour la Securite et la Cooperation en Europe (OSCE),
pour pousser l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Armenie a se mettre d’accord sur un
plan de paix.

Dans ce cadre, la Turquie a presente son Projet d’Axes de Transport
Integres au cours d’une reunion le 8 novembre 2012 a Vienne a laquelle
assistaient les trois pays co-presidents France, Russie et Etats-Unis.

” Il a ete recu positivement par tous les pays du Groupe de Minsk
“, ont rapporte certaines sources au Daily News. ” Nous leur avons
clairement montre que ce projet tend a creer un contexte de paix pour
le benefice de tous les parties concernees “.

Voies Ferrees, routes, cites

Le projet de transport comporte deux phases. D’un côte, il est concu
pour relier la Turquie, l’Armenie, l’Azerbaïdjan et la Federation
de Russie en remettant en etat des voies non utilisees et en
en construisant des nouvelles. En plus du projet de voie ferree
Kars-Tbilissi-Bakou qu’il est prevu de terminer vers a fin de cette
annee., la voie ferree Turquie-Armenie pourrait etre re-ouverte après
une rehabilitation mineure. En parallèle avec les voies ferrees,
une nouvelle autoroute moderne est etudiee pour accroître les flux
commerciaux et de personnes entre les deux pays.

” Evidemment, nous prevoyons de construire de nouveaux centres
logistiques et des zones residentielles, parallèlement a des projets
de construction de masse le long de ces routes pour creer un nouveau
pôle regional ” ont declare certaines sources. ” Le seul objectif
de ce projet est de susciter un demarrage economique de la region,
dans l’interet de tous les pays et pour la prosperite de leur peuple “.

Considerant les perspectives economiques et l’importance strategique
offertes par le Sud Caucase, le projet de la Turquie aborde en meme
temps la necessite de relier l’Europe a l’Asie. Un axe de transport
entre Londres et Beijing sera bientôt possible avec l’achèvement du
projet Marmara et la voie ferree Bakou-Tbilissi-Kars , tandis que la
normalisation de la situation politique dans la region permettrait a
l’Armenie de rejoindre ce reseau strategique, soutiennent des sources
proches du projet.

L’Azerbaïdjan est informe du projet

Connu pour sa suspicion envers une reconciliation potentielle entre
la Turquie et l’Armenie, l’Azerbaïdjan a ete tenu informe du contenu
du projet par la Turquie. ” Ils savent ce que nous voulons. Nous leur
avons repete qu’il s’agit d’un projet qui ne sera demarre qu’après
que l’Armenie fasse un pas vers la paix “, ont soutenu certaines
sources azerbaïdjanaises.

L’Armenie, jusqu’a present, est restee relativement tiède sur ce projet
de la Turquie, et n’a passe aucun message de reaction a travers le
Groupe de Minsk.

Après la victoire du president Serzh Sargsyan aux elections de la
semaine passee, la Turquie n’espère aucun changement dans l’immediat
dans la politique de l’Armenie envers le Haut-Karabagh. ” Nous
n’attendons aucun changement appreciable dans leur politique avant 2015
“, nous ont declare des sources turques.

L’Armenie et les communautes organisees de sa diaspora mènent une
campagne active de reconnaissance universelle des massacres de 1915
comme genocide pour le centenaire de ces evenements.

mercredi 27 fevrier 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

LEVON TER-PETROSSIAN SOUTIENDRA-T-IL RAFFI HOVHANNISSIAN ?

Prenant la parole lors du congrès du parti Mouvement national armenien
(MNA), le 23 fevrier, qu’il a preside autrefois et qui constitue
actuellement l’axe de l’alliance Congrès national armenien, Levon
Ter-Petrossian a reconnu que Raffi Hovhannissian avait remporte
l’election presidentielle. ” Il est evident pour moi que Raffi
Hovhannissian a remporte l’election face a Serge Sarkissian “,
a-t-il dit. Il s’est dit preoccupe par les manifestations, mais
a tenu a souligner que M. Hovhannissian semblait ne pas avoir de
plan. ” J’entends des mots, j’entends des discours, mais il n’y a
pas d’actes, pas de plan d’action “, a-t-il dit, declarant qu’il
se rallierait a Raffi Hovhannissian, naguère son Ministre des AE,
si celui-ci presentait un projet. En ce qui concerne le parti MNA,
celui-ci s’est transforme, en revendiquant pour lui seul le nom de
Congrès national armenien. Dans ces conditions, les commentateurs
s’interrogent sur l’avenir du Congrès national armenien, rassemblement
d’une dizaine de partis, qui, de toute evidence, ne devrait pas tarder
a se scinder definitivement.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 25 fevrier 2013

mercredi 27 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.co

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN PRESENTS NOTE TO RUSSIA

APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 26 2013

Baku – APA. On 26 February Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud
Mammad-Guliyev received Vladimir Dorokhin, Ambassador of the Russian
Federation to Azerbaijan.

The Foreign Ministry’s press service told APA that at the meeting
Deputy Minister Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev expressed concerns and protest
of Azerbaijani side over the publication of an online article entitled
“Nagorno Karabakh is used to being unrecognized for 25 years” on the
official website of Ria Novosti, Russian State News Agency on the
eve of the anniversary of Khojaly Genocide.

Deputy Minister brought to Ambassador’s attention the fact that
recently there has been an increase in the number of articles in the
Russian media which are directed against Azerbaijan. He underlined
that the publication of the article on the website of the Russian State
News Agency is particularly regretful and overshadows the activity of
the Russian Federation towards the resolution of the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, as Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Deputy Minister also noted that the article does not reflect the
reality, includes calls for encouraging separatism and extremism
and disrespects the principle of territorial integrity, fundamental
principle of international law.

Referring to the bilateral agreement on “Friendship, cooperation
and mutual security” signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and
the Russian Federation on 3 July 1997, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister reminded that Article 5 of the said agreement says that both
states condemn all forms of separatism and take the obligation not
to support separatist movements directed against the sovereignty,
independence and territorial integrity of the two states and to ban
and prevent the establishment and activities of such organisations,
groups and individuals in their territories. It was underlined that the
provocative article published online does not fit with the spirit of
friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia and damages
the long-established good neighborly relations in contradiction of
the essence and articles of the aforesaid bilateral agreement.

Presenting a note of protest to the Russian Ambassador, Deputy
Minister Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev expressed hope that the issue will
be closely examined and appropriate measures will be taken by the
Russian Federation.

From: Baghdasarian

PARLIAMENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ADOPTED RESOLUTION “ON THE RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC”

APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 26 2013

Baku-APA. The House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia
and Herzegovina (the upper house of parliament) adopted resolution on
Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and Khojaly Genocide – “On the
recognition and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of the Azerbaijan Republic” at the historic meeting held on February
26, 2013 – the day of the 21st anniversary of Khojaly genocide,
APA reports quoting Azerbaijani Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The information of the diplomatic representation of Azerbaijan in
Bosnia and Herzegovina noted that this resolution is the first document
of its kind ever taken by the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From: Baghdasarian