Author: Chatinian Lara

Today, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2010

Azerbaijani political expert: Former Armenian president tried to do
so, but he was overthrown

05 January 2010 [16:48] – Today.Az

Day.Az interview with political expert Zardusht Alizade.

Negotiations on peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
has been going on for 16 years. What changes did positions of the
parties undergo at beginning and at the present stage of the
Azerbaijani-Armenian dialogue?

Since the early days of the negotiations, Armenia wanted independence
for Karabakh (plus Lachin and Goranboy regions), in exchange for
liberation of several regions around the former Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Region. Azerbaijan’s position was liberation of all
territories occupied by Armenia with the subsequent provision of high
autonomy to Karabakh within country’s own territory.

In my opinion, novelty in resolving the Karabakh conflict is due to
intensification of the negotiations as well as Azerbaijan’s consent to
Armenia’s liberation of the five regions around the borders of the
former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region with subsequent return of
Lachin and Kalbajar regions and a referendum on the status of
Karabakh.

Armenia constantly toughens its claims. The evidence is the Armenian
Constitution which shows seven occupied regions of Azerbaijan
bordering with the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region as
"liberated lands of historical Armenia.’

Do you believe some loyalty by the OSCE Minsk Group influence
tightening of Armenia’s position?

On one hand, the OSCE Minsk managed to submit all imaginable and
unimaginable solutions to the Karabakh issue during the negotiation
process. In this regard, it appeared as a fairly efficient mechanism.
On the other hand, the countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group are
playing a double policy. They are constantly calling Azerbaijan,
victim of aggression, for a peaceful solution to the protracted issue
while they encourage Armenia, the aggressor country, by various kinds
of assistance.

Russia provided military assistance worth $1.5 billion to Yerevan and
also sells it energy at bargain prices. The U.S. provided assistance
worth $1.750 billion and the EU more than 0.5 billion euros for
Yerevan. These countries, aiding the aggressor country, are also
mediators in settling the Karabakh conflict. Of course, the position
of these states is far from moral.

In your view, may the recently intensified meetings on resolving the
Karabakh conflict lead to signing of any agreement in 2010?

Everything will depend on whether Serzh Sargsyan will be able tell his
people truth, but not myth. Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan had once
tried to do this, but he was overthrown. Will Serzh Sargsyan be able
to save Armenian people of nightmare of mythological consciousness? I
do not know answer to this question, but Azerbaijan will not renounce
its territories as it has repeatedly announced. It will also depend
whether the mediators will stop supporting the sick mythological
consciousness of the aggressor country.

Armenians traditionally mark anniversary of the so-called "Armenian
genocide" that allegedly took place in the Ottoman Empire on April 24.
In this context, what steps do you expect from Yerevan and the
Armenian Diaspora?

Of course, recognition of the "Armenian genocide" will be raised in
many countries as usual, including the United States. It is even
possible that Washington will formally adopt the Armenian
interpretation of events in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. However, I do
not think that this could in any way harm Ankara or bring political
dividends to Yerevan. Armenia is more interested in normalizing
relations with Turkey than Turkey with Armenia.

With regard to recognition of "Armenian genocide", this is "feeding"
of the Armenian diaspora, some principle of identity. In this regard,
there is some divergence of opinion between Yerevan and the Armenian
diaspora. Armenia needs Turkey, and therefore Yerevan has to make a
choice between plans to re-establish a "Greater Armenia", or
conversion to a state where there is a national equality.

Z. Ahmadov

URL:

Military attaches accredited to Armenia visit Kharberd orphanage

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. A group of military attaches
accredited to Armenia visited the special orphanage in Kharberd on
December 29. During the visit they familiarized themselves with the
history of the orphanage, the living conditions of the children, and
their major problems.

According to the Information and PR Department of the RA Ministry of
Defense, the childen had a surprise for the guests: at the conclusion
of the visit they gave a concert composed of dances and songs. The
military attaches handed New Year presents to the children of the
orphanage.

ANC ACCUSES RPA MEMBER OF ASSAULTING NIKOL PASHINYAN’S STAFF ACTIVISTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.12.2009 16:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ December 27 assault on Nikol Pashinyan’s staff
activists was an attempt to hamper the parliamentary candidate’s
electoral campaign, Armenian National Congress (ANC) coordinator
Levon Zurabyan said.

As he told the joint news conference with ANC central office
representative Vladimir Karapetyan and Nikol Pashinyan’s electoral
staff head David Matevosyan, Armenian authorities support National
Unity party’s parliamentary candidate Ara Simonyan, running from the
same constituency as Pashinyan.

"According to verified information we have, the attack was organized
by the order of Republican Party member Ruben Sadoyan," Zurabyan
stressed, adding that 6 activists were injured, with ANC Central
Office representative Vladimir Karapetyan among them.

news.am, Armenia
Dec 26 2009

Turkey plays geopolitical game with EU: Expert

14:37 / 12/26/2009Reconciliation with Armenia is a part of
geopolitical game that Turkey plays with West on the whole and EU in
particular, Azerbaijani political expert Arif Yunus told 1news.az.

According to him, the Armenia-Turkey relations’ normalization has not
failed yet `but each side wants to make the most of the process.’
`This is a real geopolitical game. We should not think that Turkey is
utterly concerned over Karabakh conflict settlement or protection of
Azerbaijani interests,’ Yunus said.

The expert considers that the protests of Azerbaijan and local
opposition are advantageous to Turkey, as it enables Ankara to state
about significance of Protocols’ ratification and protract the
process, `Turkey will protract the ratification till it tears the guts
out of the process. It is Ankara’s tactics.’

Yunus ruled out the possibility of U.S. pressure on Turkey in the
ratification process. `One should not expect early breakthrough in
Armenia-Turkey relations till Ankara makes profit of this process,’
the expert concluded.

A.G.

50-70,000 ARMENIANS MIGRATED TO TURKEY, SAY TURKISH OFFICIALS: YEGANYAN DOESN’T AGREE

Agos Weekly
Dec 18 2009
Istanbul

>>From 2000-2009, around 294,000 Armenian citizens went to Turkey, with
288,000 returning to their home country. This news was shared by head
of the RA Migration Agency Gagik Yeganyan at a press conference today.

Compared to year 2000, the amount of Republic of Armenia citizens
travelling to and from Turkey has quadrupled in 2008.

Yeganyan added that the negative balance of Armenia-Turkey migration
movements (that is, those individuals who leave the country and don’t
return) comprised more than 5,000 people: "During 8 years, a dynamic,
sharp, steady growth has been recorded between the two countries."

For comparison purposes, Yeganyan explained that in 2000, Armenian
citizens leaving to Turkey and subsequently returning to Armenia
numbered in the 30-31,000, while in 2008, that number has grown to
130,000. The head of the migration agency also informed the press that
the number of Armenian citizens going to and from other countries
dropped in 2008, except for those travelling to Turkey, where the
status quo was maintained.

Yeganyan also mentioned some facts presented by Turkish officials,
including those which state that the number of RA citizens, who
have left for Turkey with the aim of securing employment, comprises
around 50-70,000 individuals. The head of the state migration agency,
however, disputed those figures, saying the facts presented by Turkish
officials do not correspond to reality.

MINISTER OF CULTURE HASMIK POGHOSYAN DISSATISFIED WITH THEATRICAL AND TYPOGRAPHY SPHERES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.12.2009 18:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Ministry of Culture is dissatisfied with
activities in theatrical and typography spheres, Minister of Culture
Hasmik Poghosyan says. "Certain global issues remained unresolved in
the former sphere while the latter seemed to have forgotten about
content quality and publication," she told Friday a resulting news
conference.

"Contemporary Armenian writers’ works are published without being
properly selected, and the typography quality is rather poor. In
2010, the Ministry of Culture will take measures towards improving
the situation in the sphere," Minister said.

With regard to situation in theatres, she particularly noted, "I think
Yerevan State Youth Experimental Theater no longer serves its mission
while Goy theatre laboratory has become an accomplished institution.

So I think merging both theatres is the right thing to do."

Ne Mutlu Türk’üm Diyene!
BARTHOLOMEW WON THE PUBLIC

Hurriyet
Dec 23 2009
Turkey

We are arguing about Patriarch Bartholomew’s latest statement. To
tell the truth, it couldn’t have been more effective or outstanding.

The patriarch put his mark on a gorgeous PR success story. Talking
to the prime minister several times or obtaining promises from the
minister of education would not have been this effective.

I read all the papers since the statement was made. I watched TV
programs and the news and examined the statements. The result is
very clear:

– The patriarch knew how to draw the public’s attention. He put the
reopening of the Halki Seminary on top of the agenda.

– The patriarch has received support from the public that was
not anticipated to such an extent. Even those judges who view the
Patriarchate as the devil’s empire in a traditional sense have shown
sympathy and accepted that the state has exhibited a wrong attitude
in the Halki Seminary issue.

– Politicians who oppose the patriarch were forced to keep their voices
down. Besides, none were convincing. Foreign Minister Davutoglu,
with his first reaction statement, has not been accepted either. So
much so that even the prime minister was quite easygoing.

He did not exaggerate the incident and remained behind Davutoglu.

Now it is the Ministry of Education and Cubukcu’s turn

So what will happen next?

Will the same old story remain?

Will there be any steps taken toward the reopening of the Halki
Seminary?

Now it is Cubukcu’s turn. Let’s see if she will step in immediately.

By the way, one more note…

I can’t help but be happy about ongoing arguments. The best one
was the statement made by Mihail Vasiliadis, the editor in chief
of Apogevmatini, a daily primarily targeting the Greek community in
Turkey, on CNNTurk’s program “Tarafsız Bölge,” hosted by Ahmet Hakan.

I’m not sure a Greek citizen of Turkish origin would have been able to
protect his rights on any of the Greek TV channels. My congratulations
to Vasiliadis. He proved to be a genuine Turkish citizen.

Isn’t there any presentable man left in this nation?

I can’t believe what I’ve been reading and hearing.

I get the creeps whenever I take a look at what we’ve been experiencing
for the past few years. It seems we’ve been living in an empire of
fear and have not taken notice of it.

The present scenery we are facing is scary.

It seems we’ve been living in an underworld full of people preparing
coups and conspiracies, a world of political mobs and vulgar gangs.

Some may be true and some may be exaggerated accusations, but
investigations and operations done in succession reveal a completely
different Turkey and the presence of hundreds of hidden cells and
thousands of armed people running around.

Please take a look at the latest situation:

– Even if we set aside published allegations within the frame of
the Ergenekon case due to lack of evidence, those based on concrete
evidence suffice. To tell the truth, people have organized themselves
for a coup.

– Armed organizations have established associations that are
anti-Armenian, anti-Christian and anti-Greek. That’s how Hrant Dink
was murdered. Priest Santoro and others were slain because they did
missionary work. And all this happened in front of the eyes of the
gendarmerie or police, who just watched.

– Gangs have formed with the slogan “Our country is indivisible”
and are going on manhunts in order to shoot Kurds.

– Then there are also security forces that have participated in similar
events or illegal deeds. Almost every day we encounter operations or
gangs in which chiefs of security forces are involved, such as the
scandal over the skin of the slaughtered animals after the Feast of
the Sacrifice.

– And let’s not forget to add to all that the PKK with its
sub-organizations, those taking up weapons in the name of Shariah,
the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

What is this, how will we fix it?

Sometimes when we read the paper or watch news on TV, we perceive
Turkey as a country in which armed people run around killing each
other or try to rob places.

Maybe we encounter similar events in other countries. But they have
not escalated this much.

Will we be able to fix it?

Looking back at the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, I tell myself, “This will
also pass.” But still I feel very uncomfortable.

AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL EXPERT: HATRED TOWARDS TURKEY IS ARMENIANS’ PRINCIPLE OF IDENTITY
Z. Ahmadov

Today
8413.html
Dec 22 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Azerbaijan’s renowned political expert Zardusht
Alizade.

Day.Az: An act which that will enable Armenia to recall signatures
from international treaties was submitted to Armenia’s Constitutional
Court recently. Shortly before Armenia announced that in case Turkey
delays ratification of the Zurich protocols, Armenia may withdraw
from them. In your opinion, what is the reason for this statement?

Zardusht Alizade: This move is nothing more than trade. Armenia
does not want to link opening borders with Turkey with resolving the
Karabakh problem. Perhaps U.S. and Europe do not want this either.

As to Armenia’s possible withdrawal from Zurich protocols, I think that
this step will not change anything, because it is legally useless. I
think those who believe that normalization of relations with Yerevan
will facilitate Turkey’s EU admission are very wrong.

Normalization of relations with Armenia is just a few grams of
hundred-ton weight of Turkey’s EU accession. So, today Turkey is much
more important for Armenia than Armenia for Turkey.

Who will lose most of all from Armenia’s possible withdrawal from
the Zurich protocols?

Well, I think, Turkey will not lose that much while for Armenia it
will be another lost opportunity to live in peace and harmony with its
neighbors. Yerevan has already missed a lot lately. Armenia lost its
chance to participate in international projects, to be independent
from Russia and a chance of a speedy integration into Europe. In
case of withdrawal of signatures, Yerevan will just lose another
opportunity – to live in peace with its neighbors.

May attitude of world powers to Armenia-Turkey rapproachement change
following Armenia’s withdrawal from the protocols?

I think no international sanctions will be imposed on Turkey and
Armenia. During and before the signing of the Zurich protocols, Armenia
appeared in the world’s headlines. Let’s suppose that after withdrawal
from the protocols, Armenia will be in headlines for another couple
of days. That’s all. Then they will quickly forget about Armenia and
will remember Turkey always.

Do you think the Armenian Diaspora puts pressure on the Armenian
leadership to withdraw from the protocols?

Many believe that the hatred towards Turkey and Turks is principle of
identity of Armenians. The more you hate Turks – the "best Armenian
you are." Therefore, the diaspora have enough fear in Turkey-Armenia
rapprochement.

As for my opinion, I think that Armenia needs Turkey, and Yerevan
good relations with Ankara are needed even more than with Moscow.

"CHILDREN OF ARMENIA" ON AMERICAN TV

AZG DAILY
22-12-2009

Armenian Genocide

According to the Armenian-American Action Committee (ARAMAC) of the
Armenian Assembly of America, the C-SPAN-2 BookTV Show broadcast
a program dedicated to Michael Bobelian’s "Children of Armenia"
on December 19 and 20.

Michael Bobelian, journalist and grandson of an Armenian Genocide
survivor, in his book recalls the displacement of 2 million Armenians,
many of which were killed by the Ottoman government from 1915 to 1923.

The author questions why this historical period has been ignored. He
cites over 100 articles in the New York Times in 1915 recounting the
events as they unfolded, President Woodrow Wilson’s calls for aid,
and the current work of Armenian descendants to have the genocide
publicly acknowledged.

"Children of Armenia" was broadcast on C-SPAN-2 BookTV Show three
times: Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and evening.

This event was hosted by Chaucer’s Bookstore in Santa Barbara,
California.

OVER 15 THOUSAND ARMENIAN CITIZENS ADDRESSED COMPLAINTS TO RA PRESIDENT IN 2009

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.12.2009 13:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Over 15 thousand Armenian citizens addressed
complaints to the President in 2009, head of RA control service said.

"5300 complaints were received from Yerevan, 4700 and 1006 complaints
came from Shirak and Lori regions respectively. Some 200 complaints
were issued from abroad," Hovhannes Hovsepyan told a news conference
on Monday. "4270 or 30% of complaints were resolved."