Author: Chakrian Hovsep

AZERBAIJAN IS ON A TRACK REACH AGREEMENT ON LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: POLITICAL EXPERT
N. Abdullayeva

Today
cs/57885.html
Dec 2 2009
Azerbaijan

"I would not like to be too optimistic about outcome of the Athens
meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers and accept
it as realistic," Azerbaijani political expert Fikrat Sadigov said.

"Unfortunately, encouraging statements by the OSCE Minsk co-chairs
have become a regular and identical phrases that are made from meeting
to meeting. They did not differ this time, too. These statements are
just rephrased each time while the outcome is not more concrete and
tangible," the expert said.

"I think co-chairs again try to balance both sides – the country part
of which is occupied and the country which is an aggressor."

"It is clear that powerful forces, global players back Armenia. But
Azerbaijan’s significance as a leading state in the region, as a
country rich in hydrocarbon resources and as a country with important
strategic location in the region has increased significantly in recent
years. Therefore, these forces understand that they need to develop
at least partnership ties with Azerbaijan. Also, it is clear that
Azerbaijan will consistently press for liberation of its occupied
territories," Sadigov added.

"Therefore, Azerbaijan has prioritized active diplomatic activity
and dynamic striving to realize its national interests. How will this
be done – either by signing the basic principles or any contract are
technical issues," he noted.

"The negotiation seem to be revived due to which Azerbaijan is on a
track to reach tangible agreement and achieve liberation of occupied
lands," he said.

NEW BOOK: DANISH WITNESS TO THE GENOCIDE

/new-book-danish-witness-to-the-genocide/
ISBN 978-87-7695-140-5

‘Danish Witnesses to the Armenian Genocide 1915’

The book 1915: Danske vidner til det armenske folkemord (1915:
Danish Witnesses to the Armenian Genocide) by author and journalist
Helle Schøler Kjær was released in November 2009 by publishing house
Vandkunsten.

Danish Witnesses, a creditable and easily readable book aimed at
educating the Danish public and government about the Armenian Genocide,
tells about the testimonies of three Danish witnesses to the massacres.

The book includes the accounts and diaries of the Danish missionary
Maria Jacobsen, who was stationed at Harpoot/Mezreh from 1907-19.

Jacobsen watched the persecution of Armenians and provided clandestine
relief up to 5,000 widows and orphans. The second Danish witness is
Karen Jeppe, who was stationed at Ourfa and later in Aleppo by the
German Orient mission. An entire chapter is devoted to her rescue and
resistance efforts. Another chapter is dedicated to the writings of
Danish envoy Carl Ellis Wandell, who wrote that the sole intention
of the deportations was to wipe out the Armenian nation from their
historic homeland.

There are a range of passages from Jacobsen´s diaries and Wandel´s
reports that describe the mass executions during the deportations-all
well organized and part of official state-sanctioned policy.

The majority of the source material for the book -valuable eye-witness
accounts and first-hand information-came from the Danish State
Archives, dutifully researched by the historian Matthias Bjørnlund.

U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s reports to the American government
are included, and correspond to the accounts of the three Danish
witnesses. Pages are displayed with photo materials and about the
background of World War I, the history of Armenia, and the trials and
few punishment of the perpetrators of this crime against humanity. The
main sources are Vahakn N. Dadrian, Taner Akcam, and Eric Zurcher,
as well as "The Turkish Military Tribunal’s Prosecution of the Authors
of the Armenian Genocide: Four Major Court-Martial Series." The last
chapter is about the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, and his acknowledgment about the crimes of the Young Turk
Party, the Committee of Union and Progress.

For more information on Danish Witnesses and
Vandkunsten, email [email protected] or visit

RUSSIAN ANALYST CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ON KARABAKH

news.az
Dec 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Alexey Vlasov News.Az interviews Alexey Vlasov, director of Moscow
State University’s analytical centre on post-Soviet states.

During his visit to Washington next week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan is expected to discuss US-Turkish and Armenian-Turkish
relations and, as a result, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Do
you expect a breakthrough on any of these issues?

According to leaks in the Turkish media, Erdogan’s visit might be
productive for Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

Let’s wait for the meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia
and Azerbaijan. If any specific agreements are reached, Erdogan has a
good chance of going down in history as "a successful negotiator". I
am cautiously optimistic both about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement and the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

Do you think Turkey is not entirely independent on the issue of
opening the border with Armenia and is being pushed by the United
States and EU?

This is partially true. The pressure from the United States is
very serious, but as I have already said in a previous interview,
the Americans are too direct. Without other arbiters and mediators
they will find it difficult to bring together the interests of all
regional players. They will have to negotiate in an expanded format. So
Washington’s pressure is also limited. Moreover, Ankara’s interests
do not fully coincide with those of the West.

Will the Armenian-Turkish protocols be ratified?

There are two possibilities. The first one is that the process of
ratification of the protocols will proceed in line with progress on
Nagorno-Karabakh. In this case, ratification will be considered one of
the first achievements in negotiations between Baku and Yerevan. The
second possibility is that the topics will be scheduled. The likeliest
date in this case is spring 2010. But I would like to note that more
accelerated scenarios are possible.

How would you assess Turkey’s diplomacy in the South Caucasus in the
past year?

A great game is under way and Turkey is successfully overcoming
possible risks. If everything goes well, Turkey’s diplomacy will work
in the region’s favour. But it should be taken into account that any
accident may hamper the peacekeeping efforts. Therefore, I think it
is too early to draw conclusions. Let’s wait until January 2010.

CEC BROKE THE LAW

Lragir.am
01/12/09

The candidate at constituency NO. 10 Hmayak Hovhanisyan running
for NA election stated on December 1 that the Central Electoral
Commission committed an illegality deciding the date of the election
on January 10.

Hmayak Hovhannisyan says in accordance with the RA electoral code,
elections for a vacant NA post have to be held within 80 days after its
becoming vacant. This day, according to Hovhanisyan, marks on December
19 because Khachatur Sukiasyan’s mandate was freed on October 1.

He wonders about the reason why CEC decided to set the election on
a day when the society is in New Year’s moods when no newspaper is
published. Hmayak Hovhannisyan thinks this is an obstacle for normal
process of the electoral campaign for which the electoral code provides
for responsibility.

Hovhannisyan pointed out another illegality. Again, in accordance
with the electoral code the electoral campaign is to start on the
next day of the end of the registration of candidates that is on
December 7 and to end one day before the election. But one of the
candidates Vova Kostanyan started his campaign on November 20 in
Charles Aznavour square.

In answer to reporters’ remark that Vova Kostanyan who said to have
revealed Hmayak Hovhanisyan has already withdrawn his candidacy,
Hovhannisyan said instead there are CEC and the Yerevan City Hall
who illegally authorized Kostanyan’s rally allowing him to insult
Hmayak Hovhannisyan.

TOPICAL: AKSAM CORRESPONDENT FINDS HERSELF IN A TICKLISH SITUATION

Yeni Musavat
18 Nov 2009
Azerbaijan

Nagehan Alci: `Hundreds of e-mails full of hatred began to flow into
my mail box from Azerbaijanis’

A scandal, caused by correspondent Nagehan Alci of Turkey’s Aksam
newspaper following her visit to [Azerbaijani breakaway] Nagornyy
Karabakh via Armenia, is being solved now. Armenian media outlets
reported that in an interview with Armenian TV correspondents, she
said: "We made a mistake in Turkey. Karabakh is 100 per cent Armenian
land and we realized you are fully determined against compromises on
this land."

In his turn, the editor-in-chief of Aksam newspaper, Ismayil Kucukkaya,
expressed his confidence that Armenian media outlets distorted Alci’s
words: "Indeed, if she said so, then she took a very wrong step."

In yesterday issue of the newspaper, N. Alci published an article to
shed light on the issue in question. The article, also republished
by vesti.az website, said: "Actually, my article should have started
with the following sentence: "For four days here, I am in a place
where cellular telephones do not work, a daily access to the internet
is only for 30 minutes. Isolated from the rest of the world, I am
listening to intriguing stories. I shall soon share my impressions
with you. But…I’d better begin from scratch. Last Friday I was in
Stepanakert. This is the capital of Nagornyy Karabakh occupied by
Armenians. The Azerbaijanis call it Xankandi. The city is not that
big. Here we are staying in one of the two hotels. On the second day
of our stay here we were called by a representative of the local TV
channel: "We are greeting you from Artsakh TV. You are welcome to
our city. We’d like to interview you."

I agreed to this proposal after pondering that refusal from the
interview would be misinterpreted in this small and sensitive
province. They asked what I was thinking about their region. I replied
this way: "I see only Armenians live here and it is governed by them."

I did not say anything else and did not make any comments on belonging
of Karabakh and its history. And why should I? I was there only to
see everything with my own eyes. The clip where I was featured was
shown on the [local] TV channel. It turned out that everyone watches
a single TV channel here and I was very popular in the city. I was
recognized on the street. Even in mountainous villages wherever we
went, people immediately began to speak amongst themselves. I only
understood a word of `television’".

Up to this moment, everything was normal, this even entertained me
to a certain extent. Nevertheless, on the second day, things took a
turn for the worse. In the twinkling of an eye, hundreds of e-mails
full of hatred began to flow into my mail box from Azerbaijan. All
of them were from my Azerbaijani friends. At the outset, I did not
understand what was going on. It turned out that Armenian websites
carried materials on the report where my words were distorted,
alleging that I said Karabakh was 100 per cent Armenian land. Of
course, my words were sold like hot cakes by Russian and Azerbaijani
news portals. As a result, as an ordinary journalist, I became guilty
for an international crisis. What can I say, dear readers. Those who
are familiar with my pen know well that my aim was only to write what
I saw there. I was not about to come up with any explanations and
have not done so. I hope soon I shall as an author of interesting
reports but not as a "hero of an international crisis".

WAR TO DEVALUATE OSCE

news.am
Nov 30 2009
Armenia

Former OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Vladimir Kazimirov said that Armenia
and Azerbaijan are still far from Karabakh conflict settlement in his
interview with Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily. According to him,
there is only diplomatic solution to the conflict and coercive methods
are ruled out.

"It will be a moral fall for OSCE holding the talks since 1992. The
potential of OSCE Minsk Group is questioned as it is and inability
to accomplish peaceful mission and prevent the war will devaluate
OSCE, casting shadow on mediation of U.S., Russia and France,"
said Kazimirov.

news.am, Armenia
Nov 28 2009

Bogdan Klich: Armenia-NATO dialogue to benefit from Armenia-Turkey
normalization

18:11 / 11/28/2009Poland is closing following the Armenian-Turkish
dialogue and believes that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations will only contribute to the settlement of conflicts in the
South Caucasus, Bogdan Klich, Polish Minister of Defense, told
reporters.

According to him, it will certainly play a positive role in the
Armenia-NATO dialogue. He stressed that NATO is not an aggressive
alliance.

It is a defense pact, which is assuming more `out of pact’
commitments, Klich said. He also stated that the Armenia-NATO
consultations meet both sides’ interests.

Art | 28.11.2009
Armenia claims a place in the world of contemporary art

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Those who make it to
the top of the Cascade have a lot to see

The former Soviet republic usually makes headlines in connection to
its ongoing feuds with neighboring countries. But now it is also
attracting attention as the home of a world-famous art exhibition.

Businessman Gerard Cafesjian, a US-citizen with Armenian roots, chose
Armenia’s capital Yerevan over New York and Paris when he was looking
for a permanent exhibition space for his prominent art collection. For
rather culturally isolated Armenia, this project is an important
development and could, in the long run, attract tourists from all over
the world.

Cafesjian’s art collection is wide-ranging. It includes glassware,
photography, some Chagall paintings, as well as contemporary art from
Diaspora painters, which have never been on display in Armenia before.

"The first impression is great," said Abisak Zadian, an engineer from
Yerevan who felt compelled to visit the museum. "I am shocked by what
kind of art one can make from glass – shocked in a good way, I
mean. If there were ten people like Cafesjian, who would promote our
country like he does, Armenia would be full of miracles."

Soviet monument becomes art museum

Cities like Paris or New York had also courted Cafesjian and his
exhibition. But he had set his sights on Yerevan and, in particular,
the Cascade: a huge white stairwell surrounded by a complex of rooms,
courtyards and gardens, built into a slope rising some hundred meters
over Yerevan.

The Cascade was originally built as a Soviet monument, but decayed
after the fall of the USSR. The word is that Cafesjian invested some
30 million euros ($45 million) in renovating the Cascade both inside
and outside.

"In the whole of the Caucasus region there is no art and cultural
center like this one," said Ashot Gazazyan, a journalist and art
expert from Yerevan. "And we will be very happy to welcome tourists
here from all over the world, who will then remember Armenia in a good
way."

After eight years of reconstruction, the Art Center in the Cascade was
opened with a blaze of publicity just a couple of weeks ago.

However, an additional museum at the top of the hill is still under
construction, set to house items like Chagall paintings and Picasso
sculptures. The building process has almost come to a standstill, with
financial problems rumored to be the cause. Some fear the city will be
left with a decaying hulk one day, especially since the Cafesjian Art
Center has no professional board or endowment.

Minor difficulties don’t deter

"Even if Gerard Cafesjian has problems with local residents or with
certain laws, the officials will stand by his side," said Gazazyan. "I
am sure they will do everything to fulfill his demands and wishes. It
is his collection and he should be able to see it just the way he
wants to."

Like the politicians in Yerevan, the museum’s visitors are also
willing to compromise. They ignore the very noisy escalators and the
fact that finding their way into the galleries, which are tucked away
inside the Cascade, can be quite challenging as there are very few
signs.

For the people of Yerevan these are only minor faults. They are
delighted to finally have the chance to become part of the
international world of contemporary art.

Author: Mareike Aden (ew)
Editor: Kate Bowen

,,4931030,00.h tml

U.S. EMBASSY ASSISTS RA POLICE COMBAT ILLEGAL MIGRATION

armradio.am
27.11.2009 16:39

On November 27, 2009, the U.S. government boosted the efforts of the
Armenian police to combat illegal migration through the donation of
computer equipment and two vehicles, worth a total of about $70,000.

The donation ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief of Mission Joseph
Pennington on behalf of the U.S. Embassy and, on behalf of the
Government of Armenia by Deputy Chief of Police Hovhannes Hunanyan.

The new equipment and vehicles will assist the Division on
International Cooperation and Combat against Illegal Migration to
effectively and speedily implement operations and searches in the
field; analyze, compile, process, and preserve sensitive information
and databases on the cases and offenders; as well as prevent people
from engaging in document fraud and illegal crossing of borders.

It will also contribute to effective cooperation between the National
Police and other interested parties, including foreign diplomatic
representations in Armenia, in joint efforts against illegal migration
and related crimes, such as illegal stay in other countries, illegal
labor migration, etc.

A SUITCASE WITHOUT A HANDLE: IS IT EASIER FOR ARMENIA TO LOSE A WAR THAN TO SIGN A PEACE TREATY?
ml

Today
Nov 27 2009
Azerbaijan

The details of the talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents in Munich are withheld for obvious reasons. Official
sources, including the OSCE Minsk Group and Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Ministry, cautiously confirm that the sides have achieved progress.

But neither the mediators nor the parties are going to disclose
details and the essence of the progress.

It is no secret that Armenia was expected to make a breakthrough in
this matter such as liberating the occupied Azerbaijani regions. The
talks focused precisely on this issue. Before leaving the post of the
OSCE Minsk Group U.S co-chair, Matthew Bryza stated outright that
Armenia will have to leave these regions. The U.S co-chair has now
been replaced, but as a rule positions in such negotiations do not
change with the swapping of chairs.

One knows progress in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
impossible without liberating the occupied regions. Unfortunately,
for more than a dozen years, this fact did not prevent mediators,
specifically the Minsk Group, from switching to a more active mediation
model. Real results and real progress in this dialogue should start
first and foremost with returning the IDPs to the region.

Another bit of progress occurred when mediators began cautiously
talking about "progress" and "shifts" in the negotiations. The world,
especially Europe and the U.S., already have a different vision of
security in the South Caucasus. However, in the early stages when
the Minsk Group was just expanding its activities only Azerbaijan
was concerned about repatriating IDPs.

Meanwhile, the "shift" was caused by transit countries experiencing
regular gas supply problems and the August events in Georgia. Suddenly
it became clear that frozen conflicts could easily be defrosted,
and source-countries of oil and gas reserves should be diversified
so as not to wind up without heating in the dead of winter.

Although little has changed on the frontline in Nagorno-Karabakh,
major and revolutionary changes have taken place elsewhere. Addressing
security issues in the South Caucasus suddenly became much more
important for Europe than ever because "alternative transport
communications," and above all else, oil and gas pipelines, pass
through the region.

Azerbaijan remains the principle, and, in fact, only uncontrolled
gateway from Europe to Central Asia. Nabucco, TRACECA and many other
projects that the EU values cannot be implemented in the long-term
without solving security issues. Most importantly, Europe will not
get the same alternative energy, of which it enjoys an increased
demand after earlier gas supply problems.

To put it simply, the negotiations saw a kind of "wind shear." Armenia
has been called to withdraw its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani
territories since long ago. The relevant U.N. Security Council
resolution was adopted in 1993-1994. Now, many indirect signs
indicate that diplomatic pressure on Armenia has increased many
fold in recent months. Armenia’s opposition and pro-government media
already say Armenia is "under pressure" today as never before. The
media mercilessly criticizes the foreign minister as a result, which
allegedly does not provide effective resistance.

But how can the Foreign Ministry of a poor and hungry country, which
has also captured foreign lands, tackle this kind of situation? This
is the question Armenia continues to sidestep. It is rather difficult
to withstand increased diplomatic pressure.

The Armenian government likely understands that the economy crushes
stronger than any type of pressure. They boast a simple and prosaic
economy, and Armenia has broken all records in terms of declines. One
of the local pro-government newspapers described the economy as
having hit "rock bottom." It is impossible to revive the economy
without resolving Nagorno-Karabakh.

Even the old "last valve" no longer works. According to Armenian
economists, remittances from family members working abroad have
declined 50-60 percent in recent months, leaving two-thirds of
the families dependent on these funds without their primary source
of income.

Although more recently Armenia pinned great hopes on opening the
border with Turkey, Ankara has bluntly confirmed at all levels that
there will be no progress without resolving Nagorno-Karabakh.

It becomes clear that the regions, the occupation of which Yerevan
regarded as a major military success until recently, today have turned
into the classic "suitcase without a handle," which you are too sorry
to throw away, but no longer have the strength to carry. More likely,
Armenia will fail to change the balance of power in the talks to
its favor.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s supporters could promise to
"make Azerbaijan more tractable, to continue the offensive until
Yevlax and Mingachevir" during the election campaign, but Armenia is
now unlikely to be mistaken.

Such statements could go without reactions during the campaign. But
if one tries to apply them in practice, it is unclear what will happen.

Azerbaijan’s military budget has surpassed the entire state budget
of Armenia in recent years. Claims that "Armenia has an army, while
Azerbaijan has armed groups" cannot be admitted either.

The Munich meeting was accompanied by a storm of bustle in the
Armenian political and quasi-political circles under the slogan of
"We Will Not Surrender" the liberated, that is, occupied, territories,
to Azerbaijan, specifically those surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

Politicians who dared to remind the Armenian audience that no matter
what temporary status Karabakh will have in the end, Horadiz and
Agdam will remain within Azerbaijan encounter obstacles and are
accused of treason.

Armenian opposition parties maintaining close ties with the diaspora
already seek to push through parliament a law or a statement depriving
the authorities even of a theoretical way to retreat both in a literal
and figurative sense.

Moreover, almost the entire Armenian political elite are people who
have amassed political capital on the so-called "Karabakh Movement,"
namely, territorial claims against Azerbaijan. This is equally
true of both the ruling team and the opposition. The situation in
this respect becomes clear since the opposition, which is by and
large not responsible for the situation in the country, especially
economy and diplomacy, has far more opportunities to score points on
pseudo-patriotic rhetoric.

This arises another question – even if the negotiation process marks
the necessary progress and the sides reach mutually acceptable
agreements, will the current Armenian leaders have the political
credibility to "impose" the necessary concessions on their own country?

Apparently, Azerbaijan is right not to exclude other ways to restore
its territorial integrity outside peace talks. In the end, it would
be easier for the Armenian authorities to lose a war than to sign a
peace treaty in the current situation.