Author: Dabaghian Diana

"ARMENIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE IN TURKEY" CONFERENCE AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
By Hakob Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
04/11/2008

Culture

"Azg" daily has already informed that on the occasion of the 70th
anniversary of the Dersim Genocide the European Parliament is
organizing "Dersim 38 conference" November 13, according to Turkish
newspapers "Zaman" and "Vatan". Turkish version of "Euro news" also
touched upon the conference on abhaber.com website.

We cleared up that the European Parliament is going to hold another
conference on November 13 under heading "Armenian cultural heritage
in Turkey". The information has been avoided by the Turkish press.

According to abhaber.com, EC member Michael Lei, well-known
Turkish lawyer, author of the book "My grandmother" Fethien Cetin,
historian, publicist Osman Keocker, French-Armenian Prof. Patrick
Tonapetian, Director of London "Komitas" Institute Ara Sarafian,
also German-Armenian historian Vahe Taschian will participate in the
conference. It’s surprising that no Armenian specialist in cultural
heritage is invited to the conference.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

3 November 2008

ARRIVAL OF NEW PRIEST FOR THE PARISH OF MELBOURNE

Yesterday saw the arrival in Sydney of Very Reverend Father Giragos Davtyan
of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin for a four day visit before heading
to the parish of Melbourne where he will serve the Armenian community for
the time being for two years. His service in Australia begins by the
Pontifical directive of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians following the request of the Diocesan Council
for a new priest for the Melbourne parish.

Father Giragos comes from Batumi, Georgia where he served at St Saviour
Armenian Church for more than two years having graduated from the Gevorkian
Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin in 2005 and ordained a celibate
priest in 2006.

With much anticipation the Church Council of St Mary’s Armenian Church in
Melbourne awaits the arrival of Father Giragos who will be priest in
residence with long-serving parish priest Reverend Father Hagop Cherkezian.
Father Hagop has been tending the needs of the Melbourne community for the
past 21 years.

At Sydney’s International Airport yesterday, the young priest was greeted by
Diocesan and Sydney Church Councillors. His first point of call was to the
Church of Holy Resurrection where he was welcomed by the church family and
met with Primate of the Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian
following Badarak. After a casual lunch with the Primate and Church
Councillors and an afternoon of rest, in the evening Father Giragos met with
members of the Bible Study Youth Group.

Father Giragos will spend the next few days in Sydney to get accustomed to
local church practices and functions of the Diocese. He will have meetings
with both Diocesan and Church Councils to become personally acquainted with
the church bodies as well as attend Bible study and prayer groups to meet
the church community.

After receiving the blessing of the Primate, Father Giragos is expected to
arrive in Melbourne on Thursday.

PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND RUSSIA SIGN DECLARATION ON NAGORNY KARABAKH

Arminfo
2008-11-03 12:50:00

ArmInfo. Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed a
Declaration on Nagorny Karabakh conflict settlement.

As reports the Declaration says: ‘Presidents of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and the Russian
Federation met in Moscow on 2 November 2008 by the invitation of
Russian President and discussed in details and in constructive
atmosphere the state and the prospects of Nagorny Karabakh conflict
settlement by political means and through further direct dialogue of
Azerbaijan and Armenia in mediation of Russia, USA and France as OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chair-states.

The presidents:

1. Declare that they will contribute to rehabilitating the situation
in the South Caucasus and ensuring establishment of stability and
security in the region through political settlement of Nagorny Karabakh
conflict on the basis of the principles and norms of the International
Law and the decisions and documents adopted within their framework,
which will create favorable conditions for economic development and
versatile cooperation in the region.

2. Confirm the great importance of further mediation of OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs taking into account their meeting with the parties
to the conflict in Madrid on 29 November 2007 and further discussions
for elaboration of the basic principles of political settlement.

3. Agree that achievement of peaceful settlement must be followed by
legally binding international guarantees of all the aspects and stages.

4. Mention that presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed to
continue the work, including during future contacts at the top level,
on the coordination of the political settlement of Nagorny Karabakh
conflict and instructed their foreign ministries to activate future
steps in the negotiation process in cooperation with OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs.

5. Believe it important promoting the establishment of conditions
for implementation of confidence- building measures in the context
of efforts on the conflict settlement.

ACCORDING TO AGHVAN HOVSEPIAN, FACT-FINDING GROUP’S ACTIVITY IS FIRST OF ALL BENEFICIAL FOR PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

Noyan Tapan
Oct 31, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues regarding court and
legal reforms, process of fulfillment of Resolutions N 1609 and
1620 of PACE Monitoring Commission, Prosecutor’s Office-NA Ad-hoc
Committee-fact-finding group cooperation were discussed at the
October 30 meeting of RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian with
newly appointed Special Representative of Council of Europe Secretary
General to Armenia Silvia Zehe.

According to the Press Service of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office,
A. Hovsepian in general outline presented the results of preliminary
investigation of the criminal case filed in connection with the mass
disorders occurred on March 1-2 in Yerevan. He said that 89 criminal
cases on 104 persons have been sent to the court during the 6 months
of preliminary investigation, and nearly 10 out of them are at the
stage of hearing at present: judicial acts have been already made on
the other criminal cases. Seven people are under preliminary arrest
at present, the preliminary investigation on their part finished on
September 5, and from September 10 they and their lawyers were given
a possibility to get acquainted with the materials of the criminal
case. Only one defendant finished getting acquainted with the materials
of the criminal case within the past 50 days.

Highly estimating the formation of the fact-finding group, A. Hovsepian
said that group’s activity is first of all beneficial for the
Prosecutor’s Office, and the latter will be only thankful if the
fact-finding group manages to get new facts, which will contribute
to clarification of the circumstances of registered 10 cases of
death and 250 people’s receiving bodily injuries and disclosure of
those guilty, giving an estimation to legality and proportionality of
policemen’s actions, revelation of all participants of the disorders,
their executors, inciters, assistants, and organizers.

RASIM MUSABEYOV: "MOSCOW’S PERSECUTION OF ITS OWN INTERESTS, RATHER THAN ARMENIANS’ EXCESS EXPECTATIONS IN THE ISSUE OF THE CAUCASUS POLICY, HAS BECOME AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE FOR ARMENIANS"

Today.Az
27 October 2008 [13:14]

Day.Az interview with famous Azerbaijani political scientist Rasim
Musabeyov.

– Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin announced that "the
package of the Karabakh solution, envisioning recognition of "Nagorno
Karabakh Republic" and return of the seven regions has been developed
long before".

Why was it made public only now? Is this statement true?

– I would recommend you not to pay too much attention to Zatulin’s
words. He is speaking on the problems of conflicts and the situation
in the post-Soviet area too much, but he bears little connection to the
adoption of important foreign political decisions of Russia. Moreover,
Zatulin is not an objective person. He is merely pro-Armenian and
does not conceal it.

I would like to remind that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
said in open after the August events in Georgia and recognition of
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia that Russia
does not intend to make similar steps towards Nagorno Karabakh. It
is obvious that currently Moscow is persuading Armenians for the
goodwill withdrawal of their troops from the occupied lands of
Azerbaijan. Russia seems to be more concerned over meeting its own
economic and strategic interests than recognition of independence of
Nagorno Karabakh.

As for why Zatulin is saying so, if he made this statement by his
own initiative, it means he is trying to develop his friendship with
Yerevan and Karabakh separatists to provoke a negative reaction in
Azerbaijan. But I do not rule out that a necessary background is
created by such statements for those agreements, to which the parties
will come at the upcoming meeting in Moscow under Medvedev’s mediation,
to seem more appropriate for our public.

– Armenia considers that Russia make cautious statements on Nagorno
Karabakh conflict being unwilling to spoil relations with Azerbaijan
due to oil and gas transportation. Do you agree with it?

– They are right, but Russia’s interest in Azerbaijan is not limited
with the oil and gas issues and the issues of their transportation
to the world markets. Azerbaijan is an attractive growing
market. Moreover, it is profitable, as compared to Armenia. The
Russian defense industry complex would have been glad to sell arms
to us, but we do not trust to Moscow due to the Karabakh conflict and
Moscow does not supply advanced ammunitions to us, as it may be used
against its outpost – Armenia.

Moreover, in order to preserve any military balance, Moscow will
have to increase financial aid to Armenia, transfer arms to it free
of change, which implies direct losses. Azerbaijan is an important
partner in the North-South transport corridor, unlike Yerevan, which
is unable to help Moscow to preserve stability in the North Caucasus
and neutralize Islamist terror and radical groupings.

Therefore, the constructive interaction with Baku is
important. Azerbaijan’s position is important for Moscow also due to
the strained situation in Iran and Georgia.

In other words, the volume and importance of political and economic
relations between Russia and Azerbaijan do not fall under comparison
with Armenia. Moscow is with Armenia at heart, but its real interests
are targeting Azerbaijan. Therefore, Armenians are anxious that
they can become a token coin in the large political poker, laid in
the region.

– How do you assess the recent visit of Dmitri Medvedev to Yerevan
and his statements, made in Armenia?

– The visit was an ordinary one. The Armenian-Russian agenda was so
poor that it is difficult to present any significant results of this
visit to the world and their own publics. They opened a Russian square
in Yerevan, spoke of the Karabakh conflict and privileged gas prices,
situation with Georgia.

Fantastic projects of construction of an oil refinery in Megri are
not from the sphere of real policy, especially in conditions of the
approaching global financial crisis. That’s it. Medvedev has not
made any significant statements during his visit to Armenia. He did
not visit the Russian military base and did not rejoice Armenians as
regards the Karabakh conflict.

– Don’t you think that the format of the OSCE Minsk Group about the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict is threatened due to the global
processes, related to Russia and the United States? Is the OSCE Minsk
Group effective today?

– It is obvious that differences between the co-chairs are observed
following Russia’s August actions. Even representatives of France
Bernard Fassier and the United States Matthew Bryza paid their recent
visits to the region in separate. In such conditions it is difficult
to say that the Minsk group is effective. But it is also early to
put this format to the archive.

Though the whole period of its work the Minsk Group has managed to
make the positions of the conflict parties closer. I am sure that
any agreements will anyway base on the initiatives of the Minsk
Group. Moreover, I do not exclude that if the sides do not come to a
mutually profitable compromise, a Minsk conference will be convened
for definition of the status of Nagorno Karabakh, as it has been
envisioned by the initial mandate of the OSCE on the said issue.

Moscow’s persecution of its own interests, rather than Armenians’
excess expectations, in the issue of the Caucasus policy, have
become an unpleasant surprise for Armenians, though most far-seeing
politicians warned them of the inevitability of such a turn. History
repeats, as it occurred in the early last century, when Armenian
claims fell victims of the relations with Baku and Ankara. But
despite the total dependence on Moscow, Armenians will protract
the conflict. Notably, in the threshold of the decisive talks
in Moscow the Armenian opposition started to support Sargsyan to
demonstrate stubbornness, demonstrative trainings were held urgently
in Nagorno Karabakh and bellicose statements are voiced. But it will
hardly work. In the conditions of the financial crisis, Armenia,
fully dependent on external monetary flows, is not able to resist
external pressure. Today Yerevan is envious about Georgia, which got
a promise of $5bln from the United States in a response to Russian
intervention. I think that Armenians’ last hope is for Obama’s victory
in the US presidential elections and his fulfilling his promise
regarding recognition of "genocide" and provision of support of the
variant of the Karabakh resolution profitable for Armenia and allocate
financial aid to Armenia in exchange for Armenians support to him.

– Don’t the recent events and Medvedev’s visit to Yerevan prove that
Russia decided to strengthen its influence on Armenia and Azerbaijan
by mediating the Karabakh issue?

– I expected Medvedev to put forward an initiative on overcoming the
deadlock in the Karabakh issue and I have repeatedly stated that in
my interviews and comments, including for Day.Az. The Georgian events
of August showed that it is impossible to preserve the current state
of "neither peace nor war". Conflicts "defreeze". Moscow probes to
consolidate its weakened influence in the region through promotion
of the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict for the parties
to be grateful to it and to preserve its influence as a super-arbiter
in the issue of the status and security.

Moreover, this is the only way by means of which Russia may open
communications for military cargoes to its outpost Armenia, cut after
the war between Russia and Georgia.

Well, stubbornness is a feature of the Armenian natural character. This
made them successful in handicrafts, science, trade and sports. But
as for geopolitics, such feature often leads to reassessment of
one’s potential and they missed the real achievements while pursuing
greater goals. Armenia is blocked between Turkey, which is ten times
as stronger as it is and Armenia, which is outstripping Armenians for
population and economic might by three or four times. The correlation
is changing not in Armenia’s favor and no efforts of the diaspora
and external supporters would be able to change this balance.

I can not claim that it is now time for the reasonable assessment
of the situation and the Russian mediation of the Karabakh conflict
will be productive. We have previously witnessed that under such a
mediation, for example of French president Jacquie Chiraque at the
meeting of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Paris or under
mediation of US Secretary of State Collin Powell in Ki-West the states
came closer to attaining an agreement.

Yet, they finally made a step behind. But there are still chances for
the progress in the conflict resolution and it would be good if they
come true.

AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
October 22, 2008 Wednesday

SWISS COURT FINES TURKS DENYING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

A Swiss court has fined three Turkish citizens $3,900 each for denying
the so-called Armenian genocide. The court passed the decision on the
grounds that the denial of any genocide on the territory of
Switzerland represents a breach of law. The Turks had chanted
anti-genocide slogans in a series of rallies last year, describing the
idea as forgery of history. They also joined protests suggesting that
the idea of Armenian genocide is supported by countries hostile to
Turks. For their action, the three soon became subject to surveillance
on the part of the Swiss law-enforcement bodies. Despite the fine, the
Turkish citizens said they would act the same way if such an
opportunity presented itself again. The Armenians claim that the
Ottoman Empire committed a genocide against them in 1915-1917.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: MASS WEDDING HOPES TO SPARK BABY BOOM IN SEPARATIST TERRITORY

EurasiaNet
Saturday, October 25, 2008
NY

A EurasiaNet Photo Essay by Anahit Hayrapetyan

The Moonies have done it; the United Arab Emirates have done it. And,
now, in a bid to boost its population, so has the separatist territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh, with the wedding of 700 couples on October 16.

Russian-Armenian businessman Levon Hairapetian, a native of the
Karabakh village of Vank, financed the ceremonies. Each couple received
a payment of $2,000; newlyweds living in villages received a cow. That
financial support will continue with each child born: couples will
receive $2,000 for their first child, $3,000 for a second child,
and increasing sums up to $100,000 for a seventh child.

The ultimate aim of the event was to stimulate a baby boom in the
territory. A 2005 census put Karabakh’s predominantly ethnic Armenian
population at just over 145,000.

In this remote, mountainous territory where jobs run scarce, the
marriage offer struck many as too good to pass up. Virtually all
of the Karabakh residents interviewed had a relative, neighbor or
friend who was part of the mass wedding ceremony. On October 15,
the day before the event, beauty salons in the capital, Stepanakert,
were packed. "We had so many clients that we were working the whole
night," said one salon owner.

Starting in the early morning, buses transported couples from all
over Karabakh to Vank village and to Shushi, or Shusha as it is still
called in Azerbaijan, a semi-ruined city not far from Stepanakert
that saw some of the fiercest fighting in the 1988-1994 war between
Azerbaijan and Armenia over the territory.

Five hundred and sixty couples ended up being married either at
St. Ghazanchetsots church or the 13th century Gandzasar monastery,
not far from Vank.

Then it was off to Stepanakert’s Republic Stadium for toasts, wedding
certificates and visits by pop stars from Yerevan, and a greeting
from de facto Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan. With the stadium full
of brides in white, the celebration continued late into the night,
topped off by a fireworks display.

Among the event participants was Eric Dravyan, a 25-year-old man from
Stepanakert who married Karine Hayrapetyan, 20. The couple said that
they were happy to be part of the ceremonies, but added that they
intend to hold another ceremony at a later date, to which only family
and close friends will be invited.

Another participant, Vladimir Hakobjanyan, a 24-year-old from
Askeran, said he was happy to finally get married. "Three month ago,
I [kidnapped] my wife [Noyem Hakobjanyan, 19] as her parents would
not give their consent. … We did not have a wedding at that time;
today is our wedding and we are very delighted and thankful."

Editor’s Note: Anahit Hayrapetyan is a freelance photographer based
in Yerevan.

KRIKORIAN TALKS FARMING
By Brett Roller

Georgetown News Democrat
October 24, 2008
OH

Rural Life Conference meets with Congressional candidate

ARNHEIM – Independent Candidate for Congress David Krikorian met
with members of the Rural Life Conference of the St. Martin Deanery
at St. Mary’s Church in Arnheim Monday, Oct. 16 to discuss issues
facing the farmers of Brown County and what Krikorian could do to
help those farmers if elected.

Krikorian is the owner of Parody Productions, in Columbia Township
(Cincinnati), which makes cards and puzzles and other novelty items. He
has great interest in the economy with a bachelor’s degree in economics
and finance and a master’s in business administration. He said he
has chosen to run for Congress because of his fears about the current
economic situation and his frustration with partisan politics.

"I want to see solutions for some of the problems we’re seeing,"
Krikorian said. "Our country should be led by people instead of
political parties. If I am elected it would send a loud and clear
signal to both sides of the aisle that America has had enough."

Pat Hornschemeier, conference chair, asked Krikorian what his stance
on farm bill commodity payments were.

Krikorian said he was not an expert on farming issues and would not
try to make up answers, but he would try to use his experience as
a small business owner to relate to the farmers gathered. He said
the current commodity system was an example of corporate fascism
because it is run in such a way that it only benefits a few people,
specifically larger and corporate farms.

"I’m not suggesting that corporations are evil," Krikorian said. "I
think we should tilt the playing field back towards small and medium
sized farms. I would like to see us return to a balance."

Krikorian said the biggest issue facing small farms is the value
of the dollar. He said that because commodities are priced in
U.S. dollars a decline in the value of the dollar will drive up the
price of commodities. Krikorian pointed to the "trillions of dollars"
of debt the government is incurring as a major cause of inflation.

"That is the single biggest reason oil prices are going up," Krikorian
said. "We can drill all we want and it is not going to effect the
price of oil or gas."

Krikorian said the rise in oil prices was having a huge impact on
farmers who are seeing their fuel, fertilizer, and other petroleum
input costs out-pacing their earnings from crops. He also spoke out
against ethanol subsidies by saying they create an unfair market that
artificially inflates the price of corn and deprives people of food.

"There’s got to be something that’s better (for ethanol production)
than corn and can be grown in the second district," Krikorian said.

Krikorian also addressed the issue of the lack of jobs in the area
and criticized what Congress is now calling the Rescue Package.

"The bailout bill won’t stop the slide in home prices," Krikorian
said. "The number one issue is jobs. How does the bailout bill
create jobs?"

Krikorian proposed that a way to prevent foreclosures and the
subsequent devaluation of homes is to create jobs so that Americans
have the money to pay their mortgage. Krikorian said an investment in
local transportation and energy infrastructure will create those jobs.

"What Congress is not telling you is that this bailout bill is
not just helping American banks," Krikorian said. "We’re taking on
all this debt to bailout overseas banks yet we can’t find money for
infrastructure. If we focus on energy infrastructure we do some very
powerful things. We create jobs, we reduce the need to import energy
from overseas."

One local resident said his son wants to start his own family farm but
cannot get a large enough loan to start the operation. The man said his
son could only get a loan to cover the purchase of a 98 acre farm. He
could not get money to then purchase the cows and feed for the farm.

"Price ceilings and price floors don’t make sense in an open market,"
Krikorian said. "What you’re telling me is you just want a level
playing field. I would like to see more free market with less
government intervention."

Krikorian said in his opening address that he believes the economy
is going to get worse before it gets better.

"We are seeing the start of a lower standard of living," Krikorian
said.

Krikorian said that he could see urban areas struggling with an
economic decline more than farmers because they have the land to put
out large gardens to provide food for their families.

"I see a very real possibility of a disruption of the food supply,"
Krikorian said. "(Local food markets) are absolutely near and dear
to my heart. We have to do things to support their growth."

Krikorian said Congress needs to make it easier for farmers to achieve
organic certification and to sell non-pasteurized milk. He said he
has talked to several people who complained that they practically
have to buy a share of the cow in order to get non-pasteurized milk.

"The government is really over-regulating that industry right now,"
Krikorian said.

Krikorian also addressed several social issues presented by Tony
Stieritz, of the Archdiocese Catholic Social Action Office. Stieritz,
who first met Krikorian while serving the Greater Cincinnati Advocates
for Darfur coalition with him, explained that as Catholics the Rural
Life Conference was very concerned about Krikorian’s views on issues
such as abortion and same sex marriage. Krikorian also explained some
of his personal religious background to the audience.

Krikorian said his wife is an Irish Catholic and all of his children
have been baptized Catholic and are currently enrolled in private
school. He explained that he is of Armenian descent and that Armenia
was the first nation in the world to name Christianity as their
national religion in A.D. 301. He said because of Armenia’s proximity
to several Muslim nations it has been under intense attack over the
years, most recently in the genocide brought on by the Ottoman Empire
during and immediately following World War I.

"I am the grandson of genocide survivors," Krikorian said. "My
grandparents were just the latest victims in many persecutions."

"I am against the practice of abortion," Krikorian said in answer
to Stieritz. "I think it’s the mark of a society that’s in decay. I
am against embryonic stem cell research. I do think there are things
that can be learned from it."

"I believe marriage is a sacrament, a covenant," Krikorian said. "I
don’t see how two homosexuals or lesbians can get married. Marriage
is about children. However, I am not against equal rights. I am glad
I wasn’t born that way."

Krikorian said he was a strict constitutionalist and that he felt Roe
v. Wade was unconstitutional. He said he is in favor of individual
states making their own decisions on these issues.

If elected Krikorian would be the only Independent in the House of
Representatives and several local residents were concerned that he
could have trouble making a difference as just one man.

"I can’t change our country as one person," Krikorian said, "but I
submit to you that we have to start somewhere."

Krikorian said that if he is elected it would send a message across the
country that Americans are disenfranchised with the current government
and he predicted a significant increase in the number of Independents
running in 2010 if that message gets across.

"I do believe both parties will come to me and say ‘caucus with us.’ I
will get competing offers," Krikorian said.

Krikorian said the offers would include committee assignments that he
could use to the advantage of the second district. He said that while
he is currently focused on getting elected and cannot worry about
what he will do once he gets into office, he is in support of several
bills. Two bills in particular would force members of Congress to
write the bills they introduce instead of allowing special interest
groups and others to write them and force them to read every bill
before voting on it.

Krikorian said that the worsening economic situation will bring about
change in Washington.

"I’ll quote Ronald Regan by saying the seven or eight worst words
you can hear are I’m with the government and I’m here to help,"
Krikorian said.

VTB ARMENIA SAYS HRANT BAGRATYAN’S PUBLICATIONS BLACKMAIL BANK

ARKA
Oct 23, 2008

YEREVAN, October 23. /ARKA/. The VTB (Armenia) Bank says Armenian
ex-premier Hrant Bagratyan has blackmailed the bank in his latest
publications and cast a shade on its leadership.

VTB Armenia says it will take necessary measures to protect its rights
and interests by calling Bagratyan to account.

ON THE VERGE OF CONFRONTATION INSIDE THE GOVERNMENT
Haik Aramyan

Lragir.am
13:57:26 – 21/10/2008

In the rally of October 17 Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated that the
opposition temporarily stops public struggle, explaining that by
geopolitical factors, and particularly the danger posed to Karabakh. By
this step of the first president the internal "status quo" of the
recent months in Armenia changes, and may lead to serious change and
redistribution. The problem has two aspects, internal and external. On
the internal arena, over the six months of his office Serge Sargsyan
was unable to settle the post-election situation and establish
his pyramid of government. On the external arena, the situation
becomes unfavorable for Serge Sargsyan. He was actually "let down"
in the developments regarding the Armenian and Turkish relations, the
sweeping start of which promised serious political capital to Serge
Sargsyan. It turned out that the recurrent Russian-Turkish alliance
involved return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan and deployment of Russian
troops there. Meanwhile, the readiness to return the territories had
already been announced on behalf of Serge Sargsyan. In fact, Serge
Sargsyan’s government was not adequate to the political developments,
and got entangled in their "initiatives", from which there is only
one way out – to agree to meet every external pressure and demand.

For their part, the recent reports in the press that Robert Kocharyan
is going to return to politics in November become interesting.

Ter-Petrosyan’s departure from the arena and the current situation of
the government on the one hand, and the recent developments regarding
the Karabakh issue on the other hand, enable Kocharyan to create a
basis for his return. The point is that in public consciousness the
approaches of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Serge Sargsyan towards the issue
of NKR and the regional problems do not differ much, while Kocharyan’s
point of view is different. In one of his recent interviews Kocharyan
underlined that difference, stating that he would not have invited Gul
to Armenia. And if at that time the statement was described as a major
political mistake, in the current complicated situation it may become
a trump card. For their part, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun and the Bargavach
Hayastan Party, as well as the "political" wing of the Republicans
may join Kocharyan, thereby dissolving the political coalition.

In addition, the issue of the March 1 tragedy again became a
burning topic in the sense that for the first time the international
organizations demanded to hold the government accountable although
the government tries to blame the opposition for the tragedy of March
1. In addition, the international organizations present this problem
together with other problems, which does not allow the government to
maneuver. Hence, the tragedy should be blamed on someone, which is
another reason for a serious confrontation inside the government.

It is difficult to tell whether this situation has dictated the current
tactics of the opposition, about which Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated,
noting however that he is not going to reveal the details. On the other
hand, it is strange that the West and the United States in particular
endorse Serge Sargsyan’s "bold steps" every now and then. Obviously,
Serge Sargsyan is pushed to take steps both inside the country and
in foreign policies. What steps are they and do they refer to the
Turkish-Armenian relations? Perhaps not only and no all that. Most
probably, the problem is to bring about a new situation in Armenia,
after which all the other problems will be "solved". And there are
all the preconditions for that. Here it is worthwhile to remember
the discourse on the "second generation reforms" in Armenia before
the presidential election 2007, which ended in the night of May 12
and the morning of May 13, 2007.