According To Former Prime Minister, Economic Crisis In Armenia Is Of

ACCORDING TO FORMER PRIME MINISTER, ECONOMIC CRISIS IN ARMENIA IS OF STRUCTURAL NATURE

Noyan Tapan

Jan 14, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The second stage of the economic
crisis to start in Armenia in March-April will result in a sharp
growth of the unemployment, the former prime minister of Armenia,
chairman of "Freedom" party Hrant Bagratian said at the January 14
press conference. He also forecast a rise in the exchange rate of
the dollar, as well as problems in commercial banks.

In his opinion, the Armenian crisis has no relation to the world crisis
and is a result of the disproportion in the economy’s structure. In
Armenia, the crisis will be deeper and last longer. He informed
those present that according to international experts, the dram’s
appreciation is the number one problem in Armenia. H. Bagratian
reminded that the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has to control
inflation. In order to rule out a fall in the exchange rate of the
Armenian dram, the CBA is now using the government’s reserve fund
which is running short. The economist considered as dangerous the
fact that 40% of GDP growth is ensured in the construction sector
whose rates have sharply declined.

In the words of H. Bagratian, the global crisis was caused by a
bubbling in the financial market rather than by mortgage crediting. The
U.S. economy actually amounts to 15 trillion dollars, whereas the
financial market – to 500 trillion dollars. This situation formed as a
result of recrediting, which is also done in Armenia. He expressed an
opinion that the endless recrediting by Armenian banks may "blow up" at
first commercial banks, then other banks. The economist also forecast
a third stage of the crisis that will start in Armenia in the summer.

http://www.nt.am?shownews=1011283

BAKU: Azadlyg Bloc: "It Is Not The First Time That Russia Delivers M

AZADLYG BLOC: "IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT RUSSIA DELIVERS MILITARY HARDWARE TO ARMENIA IN THE HISTORY OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Today.Az
politics/50079.html
Jan 13 2009
Azerbaijan

The Azadlyg political bloc has made a statement, condemning the free
delivery of military hardware of a total of $800 mln to Armenia
by Russia, reports Day.Az with reference to the Liberal Party of
Azerbaijan, represented in the bloc.

The statement notes that this is not the first case in the history
of the Karabakh conflict, though Russia is co-chairing the OSCE
Minsk Group.

Azadlyg bloc demands from the government of the country to take steps
to protect national security and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
including to use all opportunities for the delivered hardware to be
returned back to Russia.

It should be reminded that the Azadlyg bloc includes the Liberal
Party of Azerbaijan, Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and Civil
Development Party.

http://www.today.az/news/

Georgia halts Russian gas to Armenia after pipeline damage

Agence France Presse, France
Jan 9 2009

Georgia halts Russian gas to Armenia after pipeline damage

TBILISI, Jan 9 2009

Georgia on Friday suspended Russian gas supplies to Armenia for five
days as a result of damage to a key pipeline, the energy ministry said
in a statement.

"Transit of natural gas to Armenia has been suspended for five days"
after damage to the pipeline in eastern Georgia, the ministry said.

Russian state energy giant Gazprom said it had offered assistance to
Georgia to repair the damage and "resume gas supplies to Armenia as
soon as possible."

Armenia depends entirely on Russian gas supplies of around two billion
cubic metres a year pumped through Georgia.

Armenia To USA, Coach Lives Diving

ARMENIA TO USA, COACH LIVES DIVING
Rodger Sherman

Daily Northwestern
Jan 9 2009
IL

Not much is clear about what head diving coach Alik Sarkisian is
saying. He’s standing poolside, eyes widened, arms excitedly gesturing
at various pieces of gymnastics equipment, trying to find the English
to describe how he wants Northwestern to have the best dry-land diving
facilities in the country.

What comes through, past the Armenian accent and sentences sprinkled
with diving jargon, is Sarkisian’s passion for improving NU’s already
strong diving program.

Sarkisian’s diving journey has taken him over 6,000 miles from his
birthplace in Armenia. He’s lived diving nearly 40 years, since he
first entered into the Soviet Union’s Olympic training program. He’s
been a coach for 27 of those years. And after 13 Armenian diving
championships and stints as the head coach of both the American
and Armenian diving teams, he’s in his third year at the head of
NU’s program.

"He has that really impressive resume," said Kalister Harmon, a junior
diver who still has three years of eligibility left after transferring
from LSU. "But what’s really important is that he knows his stuff."

Diving at NU technically isn’t its own sport – the two men’s divers
and three women’s divers are part of their respective swim teams,
and compete during a break from the swimming portions of the team’s
meets – the divers on both squads fall under Sarkisian’s jurisdiction.

Both teams compete Saturday: the men at Carthage College, the women
hosting Notre Dame and Toledo.

As Sarkisian spoke, occasionally interrupting himself to advise his
divers, he seemed to be thinking faster than he could speak. He’s
full of talking points: A plan to have NU use the diving facilities
from the Chicago 2016 Olympics, should the city get the bid; a plan
to build a new 10-meter diving platform; his reasoning for all the
gym equipment at diving practice.

"If you do not practice first on the land," Sarkisian philosophized,
"you will go into the water with a smack."

Harmon said Sarkisian is a great coach outside of the pool, calling
him a "diving psychologist."

"A lot of times you spend too much time thinking about how the
competition is going to do better than you, and then they will,"
Harmon said. "So he tells us that if we have fun, we’ll succeed."

The most interesting workout Sarkisian puts the team through is a
fast-paced morning soccer game held on the SPAC racquetball courts
to kick off the day. The stated purpose is to improve the team’s
foot-eye coordination, but it could just as easily be to take the
monotony out of days of drilling, weight-lifting and trampolines.

All this despite Sarkisian’s occasional issues with the language
barrier.

"He uses a lot of hand gestures," Harmon said.

US And Israeli Flags Burned On Ashura Day In Nardaran Settlement Of

US AND ISRAELI FLAGS BURNED ON ASHURA DAY IN NARDARAN SETTLEMENT OF BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

Today.Az
07 January 2009 [13:40]

The Day of Ashura is held in Nardaran Village of Baku on Tuesday,
on the 10th day of Muharram.

13:30

The Day of Ashura is held in Nardaran Village of Baku on Tuesday,
on the 10th day of Muharram.

APA correspondent reports from Nardaran that Akhund of Nardaran Village
Haji Mukhtar Rza addressed the people gathered in the mosque. He spoke
about Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and thousands of our
citizens, who became martyrs as a result of this aggression and said
that liberation of Karabakh and Iravan would pass through Quds. "The
time will come when millions of Muslim people will go against the
tyrants and will establish that system, which Quran states and will
liberate all Muslim lands from the occupation of tyrants".

Other people addressing the ceremony called on the world Muslims
to unite.

At 12.00, on the peak of Ashura, the people began to beat themselves
with chain. Then they burned US and Israeli flags and the process
was accompanied by the exclamation of "Allahu Akbar". Israeli flag
was trampled in the mosque’s yard. It was stated in Ashura meeting
that on the meeting for support of Palestinians will take place in
Imam Hussein Square in Nardaran on January 9.

The Ashura Day ceremonies continue.

12:49

APA correspondent reports from Nardaran that police posts were set at
the entrance of the village and near the Rahima Khanum Mosque where
the Ashura rite is held. A group of young people beat themselves
with chain. Mullah of Nardaran Village Haji Adil addressed the people
gathered in the mosque. He condemned Israel’s military operations in
Gaza Strip and said the United States and other countries supported
Israel.

Haji Adil called on the world Muslims to support Muslims in Gaza Strip
suffered from the Israel’s attack. "Today Karbala is Iraq, Afghanistan,
Palestine. The United States is devil. George Bush repeats Yezid’s
actions. Azerbaijan’s government should react to what happens".

The people gathered for a rite chanted "Death to America".

The elder villager Haji Ali Huseynov said Palestinian children
became martyrs as a result of military operations by Israel: "Allah
damn Israel".

Haji Ali demanded to release the people, including Nardaran villagers
arrested during the protest action before the Israel’s embassy in Baku
on January 2. He criticized the Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims
Office Sheik-al-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh saying that the
Sheikh doesn’t fulfill his obligations.

BAKU: Azeri, Armenian leaders may meet in late January

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
Jan 7 2009

Azeri, Armenian leaders may meet in late January

07-01-2009 04:37:31

The next meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents may take
place in late January, Matthew Bryza, US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group (MG) brokering a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict, has said.
Bryza told a Baku-based TV channel that the MG mediators would visit
the region within the next two weeks to set the date of the
meeting. The basic principles adopted during peace talks will be
discussed during the visit as well.
Bryza did not rule out a meeting of the two countries` foreign
ministers in February. He said meetings between the two presidents
would move forward the talks on finding a solution to the
long-standing dispute.

Kurmandji Leader Apologizes to Aramaeans, Armenians

American Chronicle, CA
Jan 6 2009

Kurmandji Leader Apologizes to Aramaeans, Armenians ` Colonial England
and France Should Follow

Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis

crimes and the massacres committed against the Aramaeans (Syriacs or
Suryanis) and the Armenians in the north-eastern Ottoman territories
during WW I were almost entirely perpetrated by the indigenous
Kurmandji and Zaza populations who are different from the Turks and
from one another, and cannot be categorized as fake "Kurds".

The events were mostly due to forced displacement of mainly the
Armenian populations who had been incited by the colonial powers of
England, France and Russia to pursue a disastrous attitude, to betray
their own country, and to turn against their own homeland, the Ottoman
Empire. For this reason, in legal defense of its own territory, the
Ottoman administration rightfully decided to transfer the Armenians to
other regions where they would not be able to disturb the heroic
Ottoman army which was simultaneously fighting against the Russians,
the English and the French.

While crossing areas inhabited by Zazas and Kurmandjis, the Armenians
have been decimated, but there was no Ottoman plan for this ` which
would have automatically implied the existence of a genocide.

The events triggered greater friction between Muslim and Christian
populations, and the tragic events affected greatly the Aramaeans as
well. Because of the insecurity, sort of protection was sought after
by some Aramaeans (mainly the Nestorians) from the Russians ` which
worsened the situation and ended with the destruction of the Julamerg
(today Hakkari) Patriarchate at Kutchanus (1916).

Instead of asking Turkey (an inexistent state at those days) to
apologize for an inexistent plan of another state that does not exist
anymore (the Ottoman Empire), the Armenians, collectively as nation,
should apologize to the Turks for the Armenian high treason against
the Ottoman Empire.

A great example has been recently given by an enlightened and brave
Kurmandji political leader, Ahmet Turk, who originates from Mardin, an
area populated by Aramaeans densely before WW I and scarcely
thereafter.

With his great paradigm, Ahmet Turk introduces an element of ethics
and moral responsibility into the politics of Turkey and the wider
Middle East ` in striking contrast with the gangsters Talabani and
Barzani who idiotically believe the lies and the false promises of the
criminal colonial English and French diplomats and statesmen, and the
´guarantees´ of the evil pro-English part of the US
establishment.

In fact, the only to present their excuses and the only to pay for
their criminal deeds in the said area are the Freemasonic colonial
elites of England and France.

A union of Christians and Muslims in the wider area of the Middle East
should be formed to help all the gravely affected indigenous nations
and peoples, and to eliminate every colonial infiltration and presence
in the area ` target of the evil Freemasonic elites of the West.

I republish here an enlightening feature from the Aram Nahrin portal
which sheds more light on the recent developments.

An Important Kurdish Leader in Turkey Apologizes for the Contribution
of the Kurds to the Aramean Genocide of 1915 – Appeal to Ahmet Turk

_Aramean_Genocide_3_1_2009.htm

Ahmet Turk is the Leader of the Kurdish Party For Democratic Society
(Demokratik Toplum Partisi= DTP) in Turkey. During his trip on
30-12-2008 in South-Eastern of Turkey through the province of Mardin,
Mr. Turk visited along with other party leaders various historical and
tourist places. Amongst others, he visited the Aramean Cultural
Association in Midyat and the Aramean monastery St. Gabriel. During
his conversation with the Arameans of Tur Abdin Ahmet Turk apologized
for the contribution of the Kurds to the Aramean genocide of 1915, as
has been published on the Turkish Websites of
, , see below.

Although Ahmet Turk did not mention the word ‘Genocide’, yet his
statement is a important step in the right direction in a country
where such statements are taboo.

Mr. Turk said, "Because of the sorrow of the heartrending events, we
feel necessary to apologize".

Please find below the articles published on the website of
and , with the right
column the original Turkish text and left column the English
translation.

In Turkey there are around 20.000 Arameans of which major part is
living in Istanbul. In Tur Abdin there are but around 2.000
Arameans. In the Turkey the Arameans are known as "Suryani". The
English translation sounds like "Syrian", which is a synonymy for
Aramean.

During the genocide of 1915 beside Armenians, around 600.000 Arameans
were killed ( More about this horrible genocide:
nPhysicalGenocide.htm)

The recognition of the Aramean physical genocide by a prominent
Kurdish leader is a step in the right direction. Hopefully more Kurds
will follow his example and finally also the Turks will do
this. However, with that there is no end to the matter.

Contrary to the Armenians and Greeks, the Arameans also have suffered
the horrible spiritual genocide. This spiritual genocide is the
extermination of the Aramean cultural heritage by the Western
missionaries and diplomats in the 16th and 19th century whereby the
Arameans were exposed to fanaticism, nationalism and fake
identities. In the 16th century the Catholics along with France
brainwashed by means of blackmail and bribery a part of the East-
Aramean Nestorians to call themselves "Chaldeans" and as a result of
that in 1553 the "Chaldean Church of Babylon" was established. As a
counter-maneuver, the same game was repeated in the 19th century, this
time by the Anglican mission along with the British diplomats and
brainwashed the remaining part of the East- Aramean Nestorians to call
themselves henceforth "Assyrians".

In this way through the zealous efforts of the Roman Catholic Church
and Anglican Mission, in the name of ‘Jesus’; an unprecedented
nationalism mixed with religion was implemented with terrible
consequences for the part of our nation. A cultural genocide was
carried out against our nation. And this genocide is today shameless
and criminally is being continued (More about this:
iritual_Genocide.htm )

The hypocrisy and viciousness with many Western "genocide experts" is
that they refuse to point at delicate matters where the West is
concerned, namely the fact that the spiritual genocide has reinforced
the physical genocide. The reason for this refusal and hesitation to
acknowledge their deliberate machinations could be a significant
indication that there is more going on than de killings of Arameans by
the Turks and Kurds. Most probably the Western powers have, through
the mediation of their proxies and diverse secret society and
implacable international networks, participated in this abominable
genocide, not to say orchestrated.

How do they act regarding these heinous machinations? To present
themselves as "the good ones", "the civilized ones" and to put their
"goodness and morality" in the spotlight, they ran the Turks into the
ground and portray them as the most evil and barbaric nation. We
believe that this is rather a shame-cover for their own crimes than
bringing the unimaginable sorrow which the Aramean and other
Christians have suffered under the Ottoman Empire under the attention
of the world .

As though this is not immoral and objectionable enough, these racist
and horrible bandits continue with all happiness to designate our
nation as "Assyrians", as if their forefathers have done a good and a
holy job with the spiritual cultural extermination of our nation.

As Arameans we have a long path to go. With the recognition of the
Aramean Physical genocide, the matter is certainly not finished. On
the contrary, the recognition of Aramean spiritual genocide is even
more important, because the diffused Western hatred and division,
which is still being continued, finally will result in the complete
extermination of the Aramean nation. Today, we see this very clearly
in Iraq. And the traitors among us, seem along with some of their
western spiritual creators and criminals, to achieve this very soon.

Spiritual cultural genocide committed by the PKK – Appeal to Ahmet
Turk and other Kurdish leaders for condemnation

The Aramean physical genocide was indeed committed by the Turks and
Kurds. Most probably, this genocide was orchestrated by the satanic
and the criminal Jesus of the West through their proxies and secret
societies. We would not be amazed that many high level Turkish as well
as Kurdish leader responsible for this horrible crimes against
humanity were controlled by the abominable proxies of the Jesus of the
West, who definitely should not be confused with the Jesus Christ of
the Bible.

If today some independent conscientious Turkish scholars along with
Kurdish scholars would dig in the history of this terrible genocide,
they most probably would be utterly shocked to discover that those who
orchestrated at the high level this genocide are not of Turkish origin
at all, but are the children of Jesus of the West with completely
different nationality than they ever would imagine. Probably some of
them know, but do not dare to call a spade a spade.

The tactic of the criminal Jesus of the West is always to exterminate
by their proxies so that nobody would ever discover the real
perpetrators.

Similar crimes have been orchestrated by the Satanic Jesus of the West
in 1993 when a covenant was coined between the PKK and the apostate
Arameans who call themselves "Assyrians". Please find here more on
this crimes against the Aramean nation:
s_Alliance_PKK_ADO_24_4_1993.htm. Below
we summarize this criminal monstrous covenant to exterminate the
Aramean culrural heritage.

This covenant between the PKK and the apostate Arameans who call
themselves "Assyrians" was coined as follows:

Establishment of a sister-organization of PKK and recruitment of youth
in the West.

Falsification of Aramean identity, Mr. Ocalan himself says "We will
change history".

If the PKK would prevail, the "Assyrians" would share in this victory.

After this covenant was made, a horrible spiritual genocide initiated
against the Aramean nation in many Kurdish media by the
PKK. Everywhere the Arameans were called "Assyrians", thus a horrible
"Assyrianization" campaign was started. A cultural extermination of
the satanic Jesus of the West was now conducted by the PKK and wicked
spiritual colonial children of the Jesus of the West, the
"Assyrians". And this spiritual cultural genocide of PKK against the
Aramean nation continues until these days. In many Kurdish and Turkish
newspapers they designate our people in English as "Assyrians", which
is a fake and a crime of the first order.

The Turkish word "Suryaniler" means Syrians in English. And the word
Syrian is a Synonymy for Arameans and certainly not for
"Assyrians". In Turkish is this: Suryaniler= Aramiler, English:
Syrians= Arameans. Please find here the famous scholars of the Syrian
Orthodox Church of Antioch who all testify on the Synonymy
Aramean/Syrian. orians.htm

What the apostate Arameans who call themselves "Assyrians" are doing
is that they follow the criminal western invention of the lost- A
trick which states that "Syria" is a shortened form of "Assyria". See
more on this matter:

mitive_dangerous_ADO_ideology_16_9_2008.htm

http: // seph_5_7_2008.htm

For this reason we appeal to Ahmet Turk and other conscientious
Kurdish leaders and say:

1. Condemn the spiritual cultural extermination campaign of PKK to
designate the Aramean / Suryani people in the Kurdish media as
"Assyrians".

2. Condemn the spiritual genocide committed by the satanic Jesus of
the West.

3. Mobilize other conscientious Kurds and make them aware of the
horrendous covenant between PKK and the satanic Western spiritual
colonization and slavery product "Assyrians".

4. Warn all the Kurdish English language media under your sphere of
influence to respect the Suryani/ Aramiler people and never call
them by the wicked, colonial Western designation "Assyrians".

5. Ahmet Turk says "When I encounter today a Armenian and Syrian
brothers and look at them, we feel ashamed". The PKK should be even
more ashamed than that, because they carried out a evil plan
against the Aramean nation to "Assyrianize" them; a plan which was
initiated by the immoral and apostate western
Christianity. Therefore PKK should apologize for this crime and
stop with glorifying it. It is a worst form of genocide!

Annex 1

-turk-suryanilerden-ozur-diledi.html

The Kurds apologize for the first time

30 December 2008/21:50

During his visit to the Syrian Cultural Association in Midyat in the
province of Mardin, the Chairman of DTP, Ahmet Turk, made an apologize
to the Syrians for the events which took place in the year 1915.

Perhaps, we the Kurds had also played a role in the killings of these
(cutural) heritages.

When I encounter today a Armenian and Syrian brothers and look at
them, we feel ashamed", he said.

We Apologize

The leader of DTP who came to Midyat in the district Mardin along with
the general secretary and Mardin parliamentarian Emine Ayna,
Diyarbekir parliamentarian Aysel Tugluk and Sanliurfa parliamentarian
Ibrahim Binici, visited together tourist and historical places in the
province.

After that, they visited under leadership of chairman Turk of DTP, de
Syrian Cultural Association in Midyat and spoke with the Chairman
Yuhanna Aktas and the members of the association.

On the reality of the events of 1915, the DTP leader Ahmet Turk said
this:

Because of the sorrow of the heartrending events, we feel necessary to
apologize".

When we see Armenians and Syrians, we feel ashamed.

Qualifying the geography of Mesopotamia and the place of
civilizations, Turk went on in this way:

The Kurds, Armenians, and Yezidis live as distinct ethnics, with their
faith, without discrimination very well with each other.

With the protection of preventing discrimination, we will become god
people.

Of course our brothers Armenians, our brothers Syrians have lived
under the process of continued sorrow.

Our Kurdish brothers suffer today the same sorrow.

We should not forget that in the past the Kurds have been used against
other brothers, a factual happening to search the history very well
for it and it is important to learn lessons from that history.

Perhaps, we the Kurds had also played a role in the killings of these
(cultural) heritages.

When I encounter today a Armenian and Syrian brothers and look at
them, we feel ashamed.

This also I wanted to state clearly".

Ahmet Turk and the DTP board visited after that the Deyrulummer
monstery situated in the Midyat district and spoke with bishop Samuel
Aktas of Tur Abdin.

Annex 2

di-haberi/

Makes An Apology to the Syrians

31.12.2008 01:35

During his visit to the Syrian Cultural Association in Midyat in the
province of Mardin, the Chairman of DTP, Ahmet Turk, made an apologize
to the Syrians for the events which took place in the year 1915.

During his visit to the Syrian Cultural Association in Midyat in the
province of Mardin, the Chairman of DTP, Ahmet Turk, made an apologize
to the Syrians for the events which took place in the year 1915.

Qualifying the geography of Mesopotamia and the place of
civilizations, Turk went on in this way: "The Kurds, Armenians, and
Yezidis live as distinct ethnics, with their faith, without
discrimination very well with each other.

Our Kurdish brothers suffer today the same sorrow.

We should not forget that in the past the Kurds have been used against
other brothers, a factual happening to search the history very well
for it and it is important to learn lessons from that history.

When I encounter today a Armenian and Syrian brothers and look at
them, we feel ashamed.

Because of the sorrow of the heartrending events, we feel necessary to
apologize.

This also I wanted to state clearly".

Note

Picture: Kurdish chieftain Soto among Aramaean doctors to whose advise
he sought when ill; later he engaged his forces against them, and died
in fight at the times of WW I ().
http://ww w.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/86957

http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/Ahmet_Turk
http://www.ensonhaber.com
http://www.haberler.com/
http://www.ensonhaber.com
http://www.haberler.com/
http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/Aramea
http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/Aramean_Sp
http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/Monstrou
http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/Testimonies_Hist
http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/The_Pri
http://www.ensonhaber.com/Ic-Haber/175446/ahmet
http://www.haberler.com/suryanilerden-ozur-dile
http://www.aina.org/books/fla/fla.htm
www.aramnahrin.org/English/Assyria_Syria_John_Jo

La polemique armenienne; Turquie

Le Point
1 janvier 2009

La polémique arménienne; Turquie

Guillaume Perrier

« Ma conscience ne peut accepter que l’on reste indifférent à la
Grande Catastrophe que les Arméniens ottomans ont subie en 1915, et
qu’on la nie. » Cette campagne lancée par quatre intellectuels turcs
qui demandent « pardon » à leurs « frères et soeurs arméniens » a déjà
recueilli 25 000 signatures sur Internet et provoque un profond débat
dans le pays. L’armée, les diplomates, l’opposition « laïque » et le
Premier ministre, Erdogan, se sont tous violemment insurgés contre
cette initiative, considérée au mieux comme un coup de pub du « lobby
pro-arménien », au pire comme une trahison nationale et une dangereuse
atteinte aux intérêts de l’Etat. Le président Gül, lui, y a plutôt vu
un signe de bonne santé démocratique, favorisée par son voyage en
Arménie, en septembre. Ces excuses publiques ébranlent un peu plus le
tabou historique qui règne en Turquie sur le massacre de plus de 1
million d’Arméniens d’Anatolie en 1915.

BAKU: Azerbaijan wins the day in info war with Armenian diaspora

From: "Katia M. Peltekian" <[email protected]>
Subject: BAKU: Azerbaijan wins the day in info war with Armenian diaspora

Azerbaijan Business Center, Azerbaijan
Dec 31 2008

Azerbaijan wins the day in information war with Armenian diaspora

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijan scores a victory in information war
with Armenian diaspora.

Nazim Ibrahimov, the head of the State Committee for Work with
Diaspora, says that `now we not simply give a rebuff to Armenians in
their deceitful information propaganda, but also do our best to make
the world aware of truth and realities of Azerbaijan and make voice of
Azerbaijan to be heard’.

In Ibrahimov’s opinion, the current work already has its results.

`In many international organizations Armenia was recognized an
aggressor country and Garabagh was recognized as integral part of
Azerbaijan. Now the entire world is aware of truth about Khojali
events and terrible massacre there. All this is proof of our victory
in information war,’ Ibrahimov said.

TBILISI: Stability platform rumours rise again

The Messenger , Georgia
Dec 30 2008

Stability platform rumours rise again

By Messenger Staff
Tuesday, December 30

In the summer when the Russian invasion was at its peak it was
announced that the Turkish leadership had suggested a new political
formula ` a platform in the Caucasus guaranteeing peace, stability and
security in the region. Now it is again reported that the document is
being discussed and getting ready to be signed. However Georgian
political analysts and journalists are emphasizing that they don’t
know the detailed text of this platform and therefore cannot comment
on the pros and cons of it.

Any kind of agreement which guarantees peace and stability in the
region is welcome, but it is regretted that the Georgian Foreign
Ministry did not provide a timely Georgian translation of the document
and moreover, did not provide more details of it. What we do know
however is that the Turkish initiative envisages the document being
signed by Turkey, Russia and the three South Caucasus States. Even
this creates an awkward situation. Several entities who claim to have
a legitimate interest in this region, such as Iran, the EU and the
USA, appear to be excluded from the agreement and this may impact on
their attitude towards the countries that sign it and the assistance
they might be willing to give to states which thereby do not take
their interests into account.

In 1922 an agreement was signed in Kars which was controversial and
did not leave any of the South Caucasus states very happy. Today the
situation is even more complicated. Russia has introduced two puppet
states into the region by snatching Georgian territories ` the
so-called Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Of course Moscow will try to
legalize these fictions by fixing their puppet leaders’ signatures on
the document. This will not be accepted by Georgia, and we can say
this with 100 % confidence. Hopefully none of the parties to the
platform would support Moscow if it tried to take this initiative,
assuming there was only one version of the document, and everyone knew
who had signed it, which is something no one can now be sure of after
what happened with the Sarkozy-brokered ceasefire document in August.

Turkey is most likely interested in promoting its economic interests
above all by guaranteeing an uninterrupted flow of Caspian Basin
energy to the West via Turkey. It also wants to claim leadership in
the region and possibly untie the Karabakh knot and reconcile
Azerbaijan and Armenia. However Turkey understands that it cannot do
all this alone, without Russia, which is openly stating its dubious
militarily claims in the Caucasus which do not square with being part
of an agreement signed by Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia. The Kremlin has also tried to resolve Karabakh problem
itself, without Turkey. President Medvedev organized a meeting between
the Azeri and Armenian Presidents in Moscow, though this has had no
visible results, which might demonstrate that the meeting was just an
attempt to pretend Russia is a peacemaker, as some said at the time.

Georgian journalists and political analysts hope that before any
document is signed its terms will be made public and become a matter
of expert discussion. This is too important an issue to be entrusted
to politicians alone, whose judgment on a range of issues has already
proven fallible. Nor should signing up to a platform end at the
signing ceremony. The stability of the entire region, our country and
the welfare of many nations is at stake, and bits of paper achieve
nothing unless you make them do so.