Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

OVER 250 WORKS OF 143 REPORTERS PARTICIPATE IN 2013 NA/NE MEDIA COMPETITION

NEWS.AM
February 12, 2013 | 17:04

YEREVAN.- The British Council, British Embassy Yerevan, the OSCE Office
in Yerevan, United Nations Population Fund and World Vision Armenia
are holding the 5th Anniversary Edition of the Na/Ne media competition.

Over 250 works of 143 journalists participated in this year’s contest
in seven categories: TV programme, radio programme, printed article,
online article, citizen report/blog article, photo report and
commercial advertisement.

The best 21 works were chose in seven categories, organizers said
during the Tuesday press conference in Yerevan.

Materials had to be published or broadcast within the period from
January to December 2012 and covered the activities and achievements,
problems and challenges of women in political, economic and social
spheres.

From: Baghdasarian

CONTRADICTIONS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT

Sunday, 10 February 2013 11:42

NKR NA Standing Committee Chairman is sharing his opinion on the
existing situation in Azerbaijan The unstable domestic political
situation in Azerbaijan, which intensified after the New Year holidays,
drew the attention of the international community, giving rise to
various analyses and assumptions.

Opinions are different, but they are all focused on the fact that the
despotic regime in Azerbaijan has exhausted itself and its further
existence threatens the region.

Assessing the situation in Azerbaijan, Chairman of the NKR NA Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations Vahram Atanesian is highlighting
two circumstances. First, on January 24, when the known events took
place in the regional center of Ismailli, US former Ambassador in
Baku Richard Kozlarich (he worked as Ambassador till 1997 and now
occupies a key position at the Pentagon) made an unexpected comment and
compared the situation to the 1989 events in Beijing. On January 30,
Turan News Agency issued an official statement by the U.S. Embassy in
Baku, which comprised characteristic assessments to the situation. It
was emphasized to be the public-expected reaction, which used the
diplomatic language to call on the Azerbaijani authorities to provide
a dialogue with their citizens for ensuring their right to meetings
and freedom of speech.

The committee chairman explained the necessity of this foreword by
the fact that the U.S. Embassy in any country didn’t always give so
quick and characteristic assessment to a phenomenon. According to him,
if the phenomenon’s comprehension range is increasing on the level
of the former and current U.S. Ambassador, so it should be kept in
mind that the White House is more aware than we are, and it is more
observant towards phenomena. And the other circumstance: on January 26,
when it was not yet clear how the events will develop in Ismayilli,
the Embassies of the United States and Great Britain in Baku issued
almost simultaneous statements and called on their citizens in that
country to refrain from tours within Azerbaijan, because, according to
them, instability was expected there. This all cannot be considered
accidental. According to the committee chairman, the situation in
Azerbaijan seems to be going out of regularities, or, more precisely,
have already gone out of them. In a country, where the executive power
seems to control everything, up to the last screw, certain events
take place that do not fit into the imaginations about that country.

“I do not think that a popular riot has arisen in Azerbaijan or there
is a national manifestation of discontent”, said the chairman of the
parliamentary committee. According to the information of different
Azerbaijani media, I can assume that this is rather a manifestation
of contradictions within the government than a protest by the
common people.” In Baku, the power is already weak and imperfect,
and everything is not decided by the leader.

We should not forget that in early 2011, a number of Azerbaijani mass
media reported that the constituent meeting of the so-called Forum
of Intellectuals took place in the country house (near the city) of
famous screenwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov, at which the undesirability
of Aliyev’s presidency for the third term was discussed. An option was
offered that Ilham Aliyev should hand over the power to Mrs. Aliyeva,
and the parliament should pass a law and create an institute of
national leader (this option works in Iran). Ilham Aliyev will
not nominate his candidacy, and an institute of national leader
will be created for him. He will have an impact on the adoption of
important resolutions regarding foreign relations, etc. However, the
proposal was rejected by head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz
Mehdiyev. Under Heydar Aliyev, he was the Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan on ideology, and for
20 years, he has been the head of the presidential administration,
or, he is the head of the real power. There are two explanations for
what is happening today in Baku: either Mehdiyev is trying to provoke
instability to emphasize his indispensability or Pashayevs’ clan –
relatives of the first lady, Mrs. Aliyeva, has started an offensive,
inciting the national movement for needed reforms. We can say that
today we are witnessing another round of palace coups.

What can be said about the interest of external forces? In response
to the question, Vahram Atanesian noted that all the forces were
interested in the political stability in Azerbaijan. But, there is
a line that one cannot cross: when stability is not provided by the
legislation of the country, the above mentioned statements of the
Ambassadors are used, which is a signal to Ilham Aliyev that the
United States will not support his further actions.

V. Atanesian does not exclude another important fact: today, respected
Azerbaijani analysts hint that France’s relations with Azerbaijan are
mainly regulated at the level of the first lady of Azerbaijan. In
other words, if Aliyev is not a persona non grata for the Elysee
Palace, however, he is not so welcomed, so the regulation of these
relations lies with his wife. There are rumors that compromising
videos with Mehdiyev are placed at the Internet in Strasbourg, which
is sponsored by the French secret services. Presumably, Azerbaijani
authorities’ attempt to neutralize in Strasbourg Elshad Abdullayev
(former rector of the Azerbaijan International University, from whom
MP G. Akhmedova took a bribe to ensure his victory at the elections
to the Milli Majlis) faced an obstacle, again by the French secret
services. Apparently, the Elysee Palace is also working to transform
the totalitarian regime in Azerbaijan.

According to Vahram Atanesian, Azerbaijan took a very imprudent step in
its foreign policy and is now paying its shot. This country continues
to conduct a traditional policy in the region, which is fraught with
war with Iran and even with Georgia. The new government of Georgia
has shown to some extent a pragmatic approach, making it clear that
two states in the South Caucasus cannot build their prosperity on
the troubles of the third state. Currently, the relations of the two
countries are rather strained. This all means that we are dealing with
a non-serious partner. And in this situation, a consensus cannot be
reached in the region; neither can be reached the level of civilized
relations, when anybody’s concern becomes universal.

How likely is the resumption of war in the South Caucasus? According to
Vahram Atanesian, war is the worst scenario for the major geopolitical
players. There is just a very subtle verge: to prevent a war or not to
support the war at a certain stage. There is also a principal position,
which is not, unfortunately, reflected in harsh resolutions. At
least on the level that the co-chair states of the OSCE Minsk Group
do not provide weapons and ammunition to the conflicting parties,
if they don’t want to increase the military escalation. According
to V. Atanesian, currently Israeli military bases are created in
Azerbaijan – in the guise of a huge military and economic deal between
the two countries: as if Azerbaijan is buying Israeli weapons and
ammunition at $ 1.6 billion. In other words, Azerbaijan has become
an Israeli military base against Iran. Of course, the great powers
could hold them back, but there is one problem: if Azerbaijan starts
its aggression against the NKR, it will not give the United States
anything, because it will be a local war.

But, if a third party intervenes, the matter will be quite different.

All these realities testify that Azerbaijan has become the most
destructive force in the region.

Ruzan ISHKHANIAN

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN ATHLETES TO PARTICIPATE IN WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 12, 2013 – 13:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – In a few days Italy will host the launch of World
Ski Championships 2013, with 8 athletes to represent Armenia.

As RA Ski Federation Secretary General Gagik Sargsyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Armenia’s line-up will consist of athletes,
having proved successful in the country’s 2013 championship.

The squad consists of Sergey Mikayelyan, Tadevos Poghosyan, Artur
Poghosyan, Artur Yeghoyan, Myasnik Gharibyan, Syuzanna Varosyan,
Valya Varosyan, Katya Galstyan and Anna Mkhitaryan, with coaches
Slavik Sargsyan and Artur Mikayelyan to join the athletes on the tour.

The first part of the delegation will depart for Italy on Feb 15,
with the second – on Feb 18. The championship will run through Feb 24.

From: Baghdasarian

URGENT APPEAL TO RIGHTEOUS DEFENSE OF AZERBAIJANIS (+ VIDEO 11:30)

Conscience is the moral quality that characterizes the human species.

The conscientious, honest and just call it what you like, is the
true pride and honor of the country, but criminals wielding an ax may
never be! An author in Azerbaijan should be proud of his country is
now in danger of death, and the threat emanates from the country’s
president, a post-Soviet autocrat. The title of “People’s writer”
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the reward state associated with
it have been withdrawn, and his wife and son were dismissed.

This writer is Ekrem Eylisli, author, screenwriter and playwright,
adept of the philosophy of brotherhood between the peoples of the great
Soviet writer Maxim Gorky, Maxim Gorky at the Institute of Literature
in Moscow named after the great man. He is 75 years old and this
prolific writer has published in numerous magazines and newspapers. He
was elected to Parliament in 2005. His literary life began in 1959
with poetry, and was followed by novels, plays, screenplays and short
stories. He also translated many works of humanist writers like Gabriel
G. Marquez, Turgenev and Chingiz Aitmatov in the Azeri language. His
works have been performed in many countries of the former Soviet Union,
including Yerevan.

The books of the writer are burned in a public place

Are now the lynch mob gathered in front of his house, as we have
already seen in Sivas and Marash. Revealing their slogan is “bring your
ax”, he addresses to the officer Ramil Safarov Sahiboglu who beheaded
with an ax called an Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian in his sleep
in 2004, twenty days before the date of their return home [i].

They were trained in the program “Partnership for Peace” organized
by NATO in Budapest.

Melahet Ibrahimkizi – a parliamentary Azeri who was part of the
delegation sent to Ankara to meet with Turkish Parliament Speaker
Koksal Toptan [ii], the CHP leader Deniz Baykal, the leader of the
MHP Devlet Bahleci and various officials of the AKP to obtain at any
price, locking protocol to normalize relations and open the border,
signed in 2009 between Armenia and Turkey – is now trying to extend
the lynching campaign to Turkey, saying in a speech at the Azerbaijani
Parliament aggressive qu’Eylisli not insult not only Azerbaijani, but
the Turkish nation as a whole. During the same session of Parliament,
requests were even made to submit the author genetic testing and
deprive him of his citizenship. The reason for this is publication of
Stone Dreams [Dreams Stones], the last news of Eylisli in the Russian
literary magazine Druzhba Narodov (Brotherhood among Peoples). The
news was not even published in Azeri currently. An enraged mob has
formed in front of the house Eylisli in the capital Baku, shouting
“Shame on you, traitor! “And setting fire to his books and his
portraits with a cross on the forehead.

The new is the story of two Azeris who attempted to escape their
Armenian neighbors to racist violence. It also refers to awaken
consciences, pogroms against Armenians in Sumgait and Baku. The news
that was completed in 2007, could not be published until five years
later in Russia.

It is interesting to note that Armenian author had also discussed the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, to awaken consciences – roughly the
same time – and received an award in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The
Writers’ Union of which he was a member reacted to his acceptance
of the award Azerbaijani (but not the story itself), the author had
resigned from the Union in protest. He never, however, been the
target of a hate campaign like the one currently taking place in
Baku. The researcher said Sarkis Hatspanyan writer Levon Cavakhyan
wrote the novel “Kirve” (God the Father) in 2008 called “Azeris are
not my enemies” [iii]. The Azeri writer Ekrem Eylisli – who said
“Armenians are not my enemies” about the same time – is currently
facing a lynching campaign for daring to say the same thing. Although
invited by Western countries and Russia, Ekrem Eylisli proudly takes
position, saying “this is my home and I will not leave.” I appeal to
international opinion and also the Democrats, Turkey and Azerbaijan,
to prevent a murder like that Hrant Dink was committed again.

Ragip Zarakolu [iv]

[I] Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary, but the
Azerbaijani President Aliyev was immediately released it to benefit
from the presidential pardon on 31 August 2012, after his extradition
to Azerbaijan.

[Ii] Koksal Toptan had used his powers as President of the Assembly
of Turkey in 2009 by confiscating and returning – on the order of
CHP deputy Sukru Elekdag – books sent to Members of Parliament
by the Institute Gomidas in violation of the freedom to provide
parliamentarians.

[Iii] facebook.com/notes/sarkis-hatspanian/kirve/489684637733351

Tuesday, February 12, 2013, Jean Eckian © armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA REPORTS GROWTH OF TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES

February 12, 2013 – 14:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The number of crimes in Armenia decreased by 4%
in 2012, Deputy Prosecutor General Mnatsakan Sargsyan said.

As it was noted during Feb 12 meeting of board of the Prosecutor
General’s Office, Armenia reported 7.7% growth of offences against
the person, with 19 cases of trafficking and rape recorded in 2012.

Military Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan and Prosecutor General of Nagorno
Karabakh Republic attended the meeting, chaired by Armenian Prosecutor
General Aghvan Hovsepyan.

From: Baghdasarian

CCAF MAY JOIN WORK ON FRANCE’S NEW GENOCIDE BILL

February 12, 2013 – 13:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Leaders of the Coordination Council of Armenian
organizations of France (CCAF) Mourad Papazian and Ara Toranian will
possibly get involved in the work on the new bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial, submitted to the French parliament on Feb 11.

According to independent journalist Jean Eckian, the format of
involvement of CCAF representatives has not been specified yet.

The draft law, based on the article criminalizing denial of genocides
and war crimes adopted by the European Parliament, was again initiated
by French MP Valerie Boyer, Nouvelles d`Armenie reported. The bill
envisages a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for denial of
genocide.

From: Baghdasarian

CARREFOUR NE SERA-T-IL PAS OUVERT A EREVAN ?

Jamanak ecrit que selon des sources proches du gouvernement, le
proprietaire de l’hypermarche Dalma Garden Mall [où devait emmenager
Carrefour], l’homme d’affaires russe d’origine armenienne, Samvel
Karapetian, aurait finalement suspendu le contrat avec Carrefour.

D’après les memes sources, il aurait agi sous la pression de l’un des
plus gros importateurs d’Armenie, Samvel Alexanian, depute du parti
Republicain. Le quotidien rappelle que Carrefour possède de plus de 15
000 centres commerciaux dans plusieurs pays et importe generalement
lui-meme les produits qu’il vend, contribuant a en faire baisser le
prix.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 5 fevrier 2013

mardi 12 fevrier 2013,
Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Saakashvili ready for dialogue with Georgia’s PM

TERT.AM
15:53 – 10.02.13

Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili is ready for dialogue with the
Georgian PM Bidzina Ivanishvili and his team over `constitutional
reforms and country’s development,’ Saakashvili wrote on his Facebook
page.

`To give an end to monologues and statements voiced by TV and to start
discussions over concrete issues I invite the PM and his team to have
dialogue with me and my administration,’ he wrote.

He said the discussion of certain legislative issues that demand
mutual consent for the peaceful operation of different institutions
may be launched on Monday.

The country’s president said that the `negotiations will launch
immediately after the PM accepts his proposal.’

Yesterday in the evening the government’s press service issued
Ivanishvili’s statement in which he expressed readiness to establish
constructive cooperation with the president and his political team in
accordance with the Constitution and principles of the rule of law.

Earlier the Bureau of Georgia’s parliament made a decision to postpone
the annual speech of the president in the parliament, with Bidzina
Ivanishvili stating that he was not going to listen to Saakashvili’s
`stupidities’.

Nevertheless, the president’s speech was broadcast from the
presidential residence in Havlabar.

From: Baghdasarian

RadioFórmula, Mexico
29 Enero 2013

Pide Azerbaiyán espacio cerrado para monumento de Aliyev.

Con Ciro Gómez Leyva

Afirma el secretario de Gobierno de la Ciudad de México, Héctor
Serrano, que, en caso de no encontrar un espacio adecuado, analizaría
la inversión hecha por la Embajada de Azerbaiyán para la elaboración
de la obra, para liquidarla.

La Embajada de Azerbaiyán en México pidió “un espacio cerrado” para
colocar la estatua del exdictador Heydar Aliyev, luego de que esta
fuera instalada y retirada de una plaza abierta.

El secretario de gobierno capitalino, Héctor Serrano, señaló que se
analizan diversos puntos que van desde una casa de cultura, se informó
en el noticiero “Fórmula de la tarde”.

Entre las colonias donde podría ser ubicado el monumento que generó
diferencias entre la administración capitalina y el país europeo, se
encuentran Polanco, Del Valle, La Condesa o la Roma.

En caso de no encontrar coincidencias o lugares disponibles, Héctor
Serrano consideró la posibilidad de analizar la inversión hecha por el
gobierno de Azerbaiyán, la cual “estaríamos en posibilidad de
cubrirla”, indicó el funcionario.

hbc

From: Baghdasarian

Expectations of the new Armenian Patriarch in Jerusalem

In the second of two broadcasts, international lawyer and ecumenical
consultant Dr Harry Hagopian, who is also an Ekklesia associate, talks
about the newly elected Archbishop Nurhan Manoogian, 97th Armenian
Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Dr Hagopian proposes the necessity of a vision to combine the
challenges of both geography and demography in order to maintain the
development of the Armenian Church in the Holy Land, and he reflects
on its status, codified in a centuries old Status Quo agreement.

The first broadcast, on 29 January 2013, was linked on Ekklesia – ‘How
the new Jerusalem Patriarch was elected’
(). It looked at the context of
relations between the three entities (Jordan, Palestine and Israel and
the Armenian Church), and the challenges and responsibilities the new
patriarch will face surrounded by differing competing religious
traditions and denominations in the Holy Land.

CivilNet TV, produced by the Civilitas Foundation
() can be found on Twitter at
@CivilNetTV.

Harry Hagopian is also an EU political consultant, a Middle East and
inter-faith advisor to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England &
Wales and as Middle East consultant to ACEP (Christians in Politics)
in Paris. His writings on Ekklesia are available at

Formerly an Executive Secretary of the Jerusalem Inter-Church
Committee and Executive Director of the Middle East Council of
Churches, Dr Hagopian is now an international fellow, Sorbonne III
University, Paris, consultant to the Campaign for Recognition of the
Armenian Genocide (UK), Ecumenical consultant to the Primate of
Armenian Church in UK & Ireland, and author of The Armenian Church in
the Holy Land. His own website is and you can follow
him on Twitter here @harryhagopian

From: Baghdasarian