Author: Chmshkian Vicken

S.F. GATHERING CELEBRATES SAROYAN’S CENTENNIAL
Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer

San Francisco Chronicle
Sept 4 2008
CA

(09-03) 18:16 PDT — The admirers of William Saroyan, a writer who
was bigger than life, are throwing a birthday party in San Francisco
tonight to celebrate the centennial of his birth.

Saroyan was born and died in Fresno, the place closest to his heart. He
also lived in Paris, New York and Malibu, but did some of his best
work in San Francisco.

He wrote short stories and plays, dashing them off effortlessly as
if he were blowing bubbles. Saroyan also learned to draw and to paint.

His paintings were a lesser known part of his creative drive. Tonight’s
sold-out party will showcase 125 Saroyan paintings and drawings never
seen in public before.

Though his roots were in Fresno, his talents boiled up like a cauldron
in San Francisco, especially in the grim years of the Depression.

Saroyan’s first published success, a short story called "The Daring
Young Man on the Flying Trapeze," was written in a flat at 348 Carl
St. overlooking Golden Gate Park, where he lived with his mother,
brother and sister.

His masterpiece, "The Time of Your Life," is a play set in a San
Francisco waterfront saloon.

Saroyan rode the N-Judah streetcar downtown to the public library
to read books he couldn’t afford to buy. He was a starving author;
the family was barely able to pay the gas bill or the rent. He got
a 15-cent haircut at the barber college next to the old Skid Road
at Third and Howard streets, and he wrote about it; he thought about
life in the San Joaquin Valley, and he wrote about it while shivering
in the Sunset District fog.

Later, when he was starting to make good money, he bought his family
a house on 15th Avenue with a view of the ocean.

"The Daring Young Man" got him noticed by the New York literary
critics, particularly Bennett Cerf, and after he sold his first story
– for $15 – his career took off like a rocket; he was like a meteor
flashing across the literary sky.

His first big story was published in 1934, and only five years later,
three of his plays were on Broadway at the same time.

"The Time of Your Life" won the Pulitzer Prize, but he turned it down,
he said, on the grounds that commerce has nothing to do with art. He
won an Academy Award in 1943 for the original story of "The Human
Comedy." When his career and his luck turned downward, Saroyan sold
the Oscar, and it ended up in the window of a Mission Street pawn shop.

When the going was good, he had the time of his life in San Francisco,
roaring around the best bars and restaurants, prowling the Tenderloin
trying to pick up dialogue.

He was a friend of Herb Caen, the columnist, and Barnaby Conrad, the
bullfighter. He was "a charmingly noisy part" of the San Francisco
of the time, Caen wrote, "laughing at the human comedy he created."

"He was very much a San Franciscan," said Haig Mardikian, executive
director of the William Saroyan Foundation. "I am of Frisco," Saroyan
said once, "… the foghorns, the ocean, the hills, the sand dunes,
the melancholy of the place. I love this city and its ugliness is
lovely to me."

Another time he said: "San Francisco itself is an art, above all
literary art. Every block is a short story, every hill a novel."

Caen thought that view of San Francisco was part of a kind of puppy
love for the city; San Francisco changed, and so did Saroyan. Always
brash and loud, Saroyan had family troubles, drinking problems and
a disastrous penchant for gambling.

"He gambled away a fortune," said Robert Setrakian, director emeritus
of the William Saroyan Foundation. "He must have lost a million
dollars on the horses and other gambling. And then, $1 million is
like $20 million today."

Saroyan knew he would lose, but that, Setrakian thinks, was part of
his plan. "He wanted to be hungry," he said. "He couldn’t stand being
rich and famous. He thought an artist had to have hunger."

Another side to Saroyan was his painting. "The guy was just amazing,"
Setrakian said. Saroyan actually began doing abstract art before he
began to write. "I made drawings before I learned how to write," he
said. "The impulse to do so seems basic – it is both the invention
and the use of language."

Setrakian says Saroyan’s painting was eclipsed by his writing. He says
Saroyan had a creative outburst of art in his San Francisco days in
the ’30s, and then again later in life, when his written works went
out of fashion.

Major exhibitions of Saroyan paintings and drawings have been mounted
at the Fresno Art Museum, and more than 30 other museums have displayed
Saroyan’s works. Saroyan painted as much as he wrote – he produced
60 books, and left behind 7,000 paintings and drawings when he died
in 1981.

By then, he was out of style. On his deathbed, he called the Associated
Press in Fresno, to make sure they would give him a proper obituary. "I
know everyone has got to die," he told the reporter, "but I thought
an exception would be made in my case."

He was born Aug. 31, 1908, 100 years ago Sunday. But the celebration
has been going on all year, especially in Fresno, where there have
been concerts and conferences, readings of Saroyan’s work. The Fresno
Bee ran the complete text of a Saroyan novella. There was even a bike
tour of the great man’s old Fresno haunts. Saroyan loved bicycles.

Stanford University will present the William Saroyan International
Prize for Writing, one in fiction, one in nonfiction, on Friday. Each
comes with a check for $12,500, not bad for writing in these times.

There will be an international conference in October in Yerevan,
the capital of Armenia. In all of his long life, Saroyan never forgot
his family roots in Armenia.

"In my own personal feeling," said John Kallenberg, a retired librarian
who is president of the William Saroyan Society, "Saroyan has a voice
for all time."

The times of his life William Saroyan was a Pulitzer Prize-winning
author who took the literary world by storm in the 1930s. He wrote
60 books and created thousands of paintings and drawings. His first
published work, in 1934, was a short story, "The Daring Young Man on
the Flying Trapeze." His masterpiece is the play "Time of Your Life,"
and he also is well known for the novel "The Human Comedy."

He was born and died in Fresno, but he lived and worked in San
Francisco and loved the city. He drank and gambled away a fortune. When
he died in 1981, his work was out of fashion, but in recent years
there has been a revival of interest.

ARMENIA CONSISTENT IN IPAP IMPLEMENTATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.09.2008 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will be consistent in implementation of the
Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), President Serzh Sargsyan
said. "I can firmly say that the well-trained Armenian peacekeeping
contingent meets international standards," he emphasized.

President Sarsgyan also noted the importance of UN mission. "We
welcome the initiative to carry out reforms in the UN, since this
international organization should be capable to resist challenges,"
he said, the RA leader’s press office reported.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WELCOMES TURKISH PLAN FOR CAUCASUS FORUM

Hurriyet
Sept 3 2008
Turkey

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Wednesday welcomed a Turkish
proposal for a new forum in the volatile Caucasus region, AFP reported.

Sargsyan was speaking after a meeting with a senior Turkish envoy on
the eve of an expected visit to Armenia by Turkish President Abdullah
Gul that would mark a major breakthrough in ties.

"Armenia has always welcomed and welcomes all efforts directed at the
strengthening of confidence, stability and security, and at deepening
cooperation in the region," Sarkisian said in a statement after meeting
with Gul’s special envoy Unal Cevikoz in the Armenian capital Yerevan.

He added Cevikoz’s visit "raises the possibility of talks to settle
mutual relations" between the two countries, which have no diplomatic
ties.

Sargsyan invited Gul to Armenia to watch together the 2010 World Cup
qualifying round game between the two countries national teams on
Sept. 6 to mark "a new symbolic start in the countries’ relations".

Gul’s close circles and recent reports claim the Turkish president
would accept the invitation and travel to Yerevan to watch the
game. But Turkish officials have refrained from revealing the final
decision until the last moment.

Gul could become the first Turkish leader to visit neighboring Armenia
on Saturday.

NATO member Turkey has called for the establishment of a forum to
boost cooperation in the Caucasus, involving regional countries
and Moscow, after tensions between Georgia and Russia erupted in a
military conflict last month.

Turkey is among the first countries that recognized Armenia when it
declared its independency. However there is no diplomatic relations
between the two countries, as Armenia presses the international
community to admit the so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting
Turkey’s call to investigate the allegations, and its invasion of
20 percent of Azerbaijani territory despite U.N. Security Council
resolutions on the issue.

A warming period had started between two neighboring countries when
the two presidents exchanged letters after Sargsyan’s election victory.

BAHCELI: VISIT TO ARMENIA WILL BE A HISTORIC MISTAKE

NTV
Sept 2 2008
Turkey

Ankara: In a written statement, MHP [Nationalist Action Party] leader
Devlet Bahceli has said: It has been understood that the preparations
that are being made for President [Abdullah] Gul’s visit to Yereven
to watch a football match are now at an advanced stage. Stressing
that the statements Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made to
the press on behalf of President Gul confirmed that, Bahceli noted,
"Armenia’s policy, which is based on animosity against Turkey, is
the most important obstacle against the normalization of relations
between the two countries."

Bahceli said that Armenia had not changed. He noted that it was
keeping up a shameless campaign through unfounded claims about an
act of genocide against the Armenians to tarnish Turkey’s history
and the Turkish nation in the world. He asserted that Armenia wanted
to accuse Turkey of committing a very serious crime against humanity
and said that it had intensified its policy. Stressing that Armenia
did not recognize Turkey’s territorial integrity and borders, and it
continued to demand a part of Turkey’s territory in accordance with
its Constitution and Declaration of Independence, Bahceli asserted,
"Armenia’s links with the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] and its
support for terrorism are common knowledge. We may recall that even
the newspapers published the reports that placed Armenia at the top of
the list of the countries that are prepared to give political asylum
to the so-called leading members of the terrorist organization in
northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, Armenia maintains its military occupation of one-quarter of
Azerbaijan’s territory. Considering all that, no political, ethical,
legitimate or logical reason can be given to explain why Turkey is
running after Armenia to ask for normalization of relations between
the two countries. A humiliating situation exists. Bowing to foreign
pressure and impositions, and complying with Yerevan’s lobbies in the
country to implement the visit will be a historic mistake. Armenia
appears to agree verbally to the establishment of a "Committee on
Common History". Using that as an ostentatious political excuse for
President Gul’s visit or seeking a bargain or reason for it will not
add to Turkey’s esteem. The esteemed president represents the Republic
of Turkey. He swore upon his honour before the Turkish nation and
history to safeguard the republic’s glory and dignity. Under the
existing conditions, his visit to Yerevan will conflict with the
requirements of his high office and national responsibilities. At
this stage, we wish to continue to hope that the president will not
decide to act in a way which will harm Turkey’s honour and dignity."

BELARUS RESPONDS CAUTIOUSLY TO GEORGIAN CRISIS
By David Marples

Eurasia Daily Monitor
Sept 2 2008
DC

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka One of the interesting
features of the Russia-Georgia conflict has been the sluggish support
Russia has received from its allies. Perhaps most notable has been
the reaction in Minsk, where the government of President Alyaksandr
Lukashenka has acted ambivalently and still appears to be vacillating
over the wisest course of action.

Belarusian Television, as well as the official media, greeted the news
that war had broken out in Tskhinvali with silence. For several days
most residents of Belarus received news feeds about events only from
the Russian television channels. Even investigative programs such as
Panarama failed to mention the war.

On August 12, four days after the conflict began, Aleksandr Surikov,
Russia’s ambassador to Belarus, commented angrily on what he called
the "incomprehensible silence" of official Minsk with regard to the
Russian-Georgian war. Despite the fact that Russia had always backed
Belarus, particularly during its international isolation based on its
treatment of opposition leaders, Belarus had not supported Russia’s
position in the war, nor had it offered aid or sanctuary to troops and
civilians from South Ossetia who were injured or homeless (Reuters,
August 12).

The Russian on-line newspaper Vzglyad likewise described Belarus’s
reaction as a "betrayal" of its close ally and seemed particularly
incensed over a Belarusian media spokesperson’s call for an
end to the conflict and the laying down of arms by both sides
( ). Surikov noted that only
a minor official from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry had provided
a statement concerning Belarus’s response. In the main organ of the
presidential administration, the newspaper Sovetskaya Belorussiya,
a balanced article by Ihar Kalchenka called for an end to the armed
conflict and a peaceful solution (SB Belarus’ Segodnya, August 9).

At a previously scheduled meeting with Russian president Dmitry
Medvedev at Sochi on August 19, however, Lukashenka decided to offer
support to Russia. He thanked the Russians for "establishing peace in
the Caucasus" and declared that Russia’s thrust into Georgia did not
constitute an act of war. Rather it was a calm response that led to
peace in the region. Everything was done, he commented, "excellently,
very calmly, wisely, and beautifully" (krasivo). The two countries then
announced that they would sign an agreement on a unified air defense
system later in the fall (Belorusy i Rynok, August 25-September 1).

After Medvedev ratified the Russian Duma’s decision to recognize
the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Lukashenka sent
a message to Moscow, stating that with the situation getting ever
more complex, the only moral choice for Russia was to support South
Ossetia and Abkhazia. He did not, however, offer recognition from
Minsk and went on to say that it would be expedient to examine the
issue of the two regions’ independence at the forthcoming meeting of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Moscow on September 5
(Belapan, August 28), along with the other members of the organization:
Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Russian news agencies then reported that although to date no countries
had followed Medvedev’s appeal to recognize the independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Belarusian authorities intended to do so
"in the next day or two." Almost immediately, a government source in
Minsk issued a statement that no further comment would be forthcoming
from Belarus (RIA-Novosti, August 28; Reuters, August 28). In other
words, Belarus has stopped short thus far of recognizing the breakaway
regions.

On August 16, just over a week after the conflict began, Lukashenka
issued a pardon for the last remaining designated political prisoner,
Alyaksandr Kazulin, who was detained at a penal colony in Vitsebsk
region, having served just over two years of a five-and-a-half
year sentence. Kazulin immediately appealed to the United States
and the European Union not to commence a new dialogue with Belarus
based on his release, noting the difficulties to which he and his
family had been subjected. Though awarded a pardon by the president
personally, he had signed no document nor had he been aware of the
nature of his release. Furthermore, his conviction was not revoked
(, August 16; , August 20).

The release of Kazulin and the nebulous Belarusian position on the
Russia-Georgia conflict suggest that the government of Lukashenka
is hoping for a relaxation of U.S. sanctions on its oil processing
company Belnaftakhim, as well as closer cooperation with the EU
through its Eastern Neighborhood program. Such concessions would
not be forthcoming if Belarus were to take an unequivocal position
alongside Russia with regard to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Adding to Belarus’s dilemma is the planned construction of a
U.S. anti-missile base in Poland, which Lukashenka has strongly
opposed, and at the same time the need to reach a modified agreement
with Russia on a new $2 billion loan as well as on gas prices,
which some sources fear could rise sharply. Russia has also demanded
frequently that the two countries switch to the use of a single
currency, that is, the Russian ruble (Kommersant, August 20). Thus,
the authorities are conducting a balancing act, not wanting to offend
either Russia or the West.

Lukashenka has assured Medvedev that Belarus remains a close friend and
supporter of Russia (BelTA, August 28). However, in reality Belarus’
position is that of a reluctant partner of Russian adventurism. As
one writer noted, the republic would likely be the first casualty of
a new Cold War and would be incorporated into a new imperial Russia
(Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta, August 26).

NKR PRESIDENT, RA DEFENSE MINISTER MEET IN STEPANAKERT

armradio.am
02.09.2008 17:27

On 2 September President Bako Sahakyan met the Defense Minister of
the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan who arrived in Artsakh to
partake in celebrations of the 17th anniversary of proclamation of
NKR’s proclamation, Central Information Department of the Office of
the NKR President informed.

Issues related to army building and bilateral ties were discussed
at the meeting. NKR Defense Minister Movses Hakobyan was present at
the meeting.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE AMBASSADOR OF CYPRUS VISITS HIS HOLINESS

His Holiness Aram I and the Ambassador of Cyprus to Lebanon, Dr. Kiriakos
Kouros, held a meeting in the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s summer
establishment in Bikfayya on September 1.

The Ambassador briefed the Pontiff on the positive outlook within official
Cypriot circles with respect to his recent visit to Cyprus. During last
month’s official visit His Holiness met with the President, Parliament
Speaker and the Archbishop of Cyprus.

The two also discussed His Holiness’ visit to Turkish occupied Cyprus to
examine in person the situation of Armenian properties and the historic
Monastery of Magar in the region.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos305.htm#2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
September 2, 2008
Contact: Zoe Kevork
[email protected]
(818) 415-9848

ADAA RED CARPET GALA WOWS GLENDALE — SAROYAN PRIZE ANNOUNCED

Saturday night, August 23, the Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA) held
its third annual Celebrity Gala at Stars Palace in Glendale. It was a night
of glamorous performances, awards, music and festivity.

The classic restored theater welcomed 200 people from the Armenian and
American theater and film communities. The Master of Ceremonies for the
evening was Richard Horvitz, actor and voice-over artist. Presenters
included correspondents Jill Simonian (ReelzChannel) and Anita Vogel (FOX
News Channel) and president of the William Saroyan Foundation, Haig
Mardikian. The evening also featured a performance by comedian Sam Tripoli
and a special video tribute to William Saroyan. The audience was also
treated to anecdotes about Saroyan by his nephew Hank Saroyan, an
Emmy-winning director, who told of the humor that permeated his uncle’s life
and work.

Folk/rock singer-songwriters John Hodian and Bet Williams performed for a
mesmerized audience. There was also a special surprise performance by Arto
Tuncboyajian, founder of the Armenian Navy Band, who surprised the audience
and treated them to several musical selections including his signature
piece, The Bottle Song.

At the Gala, the inaugural $10,000 William Saroyan Prize for Playwriting was
awarded to Lilly Thomassian for her play, Nadia. The other finalists were
Kristen Lazarian’s Flesh and Tenderness and Matthew Yaldezian’s The
Living and the Dead. The honorary jury, which evaluated the finalists,
included Obie Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Mac Wellman, acclaimed
playwright Leslie Ayvazian and founder of Playwrights Project Deborah
Salzer. ADAA Officer and playwright Lisa Kirazian and William Saroyan
Foundation President Haig Mardikian presented the prize to Thomassian. The
award was established in January 2007 by the William Saroyan Foundation, and
is granted biennially to the best play based on an Armenian theme. Next
year, ADAA will host the Paul Award for Screenwriting on Armenian themes.

The audience was treated to excerpts from all three finalist plays, with the
winner being announced at the conclusion of the evening. The playwrights
were thrilled to have their words performed by some of the brightest talents
of the Armenian community including: Katie Boland (Adoration), Ken
Davitian (Borat), Magda Harout (Raising the Bar, My Life), Karen
Kondazian (Master Class), Ludwig Manukian (The Shield), Anoush Nevart (
General Hospital, Must Love Dogs), Anahid Shahrik (producer of the ADAA
Reading Series), and Marty Papazian (Jarhead).

Also awarded during the evening was the ADAA Armenian Star Award to
Michael Peretzian, Hollywood literary agent and director of Red Dog Howls.
The play had its international debut in Los Angeles to wide acclaim by both
the entertainment/theatre and Armenian communities. Mr. Peretzian was deeply
touched by the honor and fervent in his acceptance of the award. He spoke of
the shame many Armenians feel about our history. He encouraged the Hollywood
community in attendance "to be proud of our heritage and our stories =85 to
tell [those stories], so that our future generations don’t feel that same
shame." California State Assemblyman Paul Krekorian surprised Mr. Peretzian
with the presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation for directing Red
Dog Howls and telling the story of the Armenian Genocide so passionately.

Assemblyman Krekorian presented a second Certificate of Recognition to the
Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance and its president, Bianca Bagatourian. It
read: "Your work in preserving and supporting Armenian drama and art is
unparalleled and greatly appreciated. Congratulations on your wonderful
2008 Annual Celebrity Banquet."

Prominent members of the Armenian community were also in attendance included
Vartkes Yeghiayan, attorney; Ara Najarian, Glendale Councilman; producer Bob
Papazian; Harut Sassounian, editor-and-chief of the California Courier;
Karen Kondazian, Ovation award-winning actor; Simon Levy, playwright and
Fountain Theatre Artistic Director; directors Michael Arabian and Martin
Bedoian (Syzygy Theatre Artistic Director).

The ADAA Celebrity Gala Event Committee was Bianca Bagatourian (ADAA
President), Zoe Kevork (Chair), Lisa Kirazian and Anahid Shahrik. The
evening was sponsored by Francis Ford Coppola Wines and Final Draft. Food
was donated by Phoenicia Restaurant and Carousel Restaurant and dessert by
Sweet Lady Jane. Red carpet interviews were conducted by Horizon TV and
photographs taken by Karine Armen.

The ADAA "has surpassed all expectations with this evening’s event," said
Anita Vogel, apparently echoing the sentiments of many. Funds from the gala
will support ADAA’s productions and programs intended to project the
Armenian voice on stage and screen around the world. For more information
on ADAA, visit

PRESS PHOTOS CAPTIONS

1. Saroyan Playwriting Contest Finalists: Kristen Lazarian, Matthew
Yaldezian and Winner, Lilly Thomassian

2. Bianca Bagatourian, President of ADAA Receiving Certificate of
Recognition from Assembleyman, Paul Krekorian

3. ADAA Gala Performers Magda Harut and Ken Davitian

4. ADAA Gala Guests – Valerie McCaffrey, Board Member Janet Janjikian, Gary
Simonian, Irene Sasounian, Harout Sasounian, Board Member Karen Kondazian
and Simon Levy, Artistic Director of the Fountain Theatre

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION SAID TO TAKE ADEQUATE STEPS AGAINST "REGIME"

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Aug 26 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 26 August: Active participation of people in the national
rally on 5 September will become a deserved rebuff to the authorities’
provocation, Levon Zurabyan, the representative of the Armenian
National Congress central office, told a news conference at the
Hayatsk press club today.

He said that the authorities, having seen that the movement led by the
first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, is gaining momentum have decided
to stage provocation against the protest demonstration on North Avenue.

"The regime is doing what it can to involve police in the political
struggle as it can do nothing else. We are analyzing the new situation
and will work out new adequate steps," Zurabyan said.

Asked why the Armenian police have changed the tactics of the past
two months and began acting actively again, Zurabyan said that the
authorities’ hopes that the popular movement would eventually fade
did not come true, and the "regime became nervous".

RECOGNIZING ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
By A. Manvelian

AZG Armenian Daily
27/08/2008

Global, Regional

The resolution of the Russian President Dmitry Medvedyev to recognize
those self-declared states, which split from Georgia, starts a wave
of changes both in CIS and in world politics. Obviously, neither
the EU nor the United States shall follow Russia’s example, although
Medvedyev advised them to.

It is also obvious that irrespective of the West’s position, a new
process is starting in the practice of international relations,
which can be called a period of semi-recognized states.

Again, irrespective how Europe and America do feel about the process,
it is them who started it. It is them who, breaking the international
procedure of recognizing new sovereign states, recognized the
independence of Kosovo.

And now Russia, previously warning the West against such actions,
follows the very example of the west and recognizes Abkhazia and
South Ossetia. This means that there is no way back for Kosovo and
Russia shall never recognize it. It also becomes obvious that Serbia
finally lost Kosovo and Georgia lost Abkhazia with South Ossetia.

Still there is something positive about this matter for Armenia,
as henceforth Armenia’s recognition of the independence of
Nagorno-Karabakh will not be considered as weird as it used to. And
Karabakh’s independence is vital in sense of its security and the
further development of Armenia.

It is also obvious that Turkey’s plans of establishing a
new organization in South Caucasus are becoming less and less
realistic. This does not mean that Erdogan’s initiative will not
be considered on different, even the highest, levels. Anyways for a
very long time yet it will be impossible to push Georgia and Russia
to constructive talks.

However in such circumstances the role of Armenia in the region is
growing. Armenia will become more important not only because of being
the only stable state with steady development rates in South Caucasus,
but also because of becoming an alternative way for the West to reach
the energy sources of the Caspian.

This is why the questioning the border with Armenia is becoming more
and more important for Turkey, as the Georgian communications will
not be reliable any more.

To be reminded, two days ago George Bush made a statement urging Russia
to not to recognize Abkhazia and Ossetia. The debatable resolution
of Dmitry Medvedyev showed the world that the statements from the
White House are not as influential as they were before.