Author: Emil Lazarian

Stubbornness Leads To Strife
Chatham Daily News (Ontario)
July 21, 2006 Friday
Editor’s Note: This letter is addressed to Osprey Writer’s Group
member Scott Taylor, responding to his July 17 column in The Chatham
Daily News, “Focus on present issues.”
SIR: This is to provide you with additional information concerning
the Nagorno-Karapagh conflict that might have prevented you from
comparing the injustice towards the Azerbaijanis with the Armenian
Genocide in your article on July 17.
After the Armenians were removed from their homeland by the Ottoman
Empire (Eastern Turkey, which was the Armenians’ homeland for over
2,000 years is now empty of Armenians), the Armenians managed to form
a republic in the Russian portion of historical Armenia (Armenia
was divided between the Persian, Ottoman, and Russian Empires). It
is noteworthy that the greatest gift that Armenia has given to the
world is itself, as it has sacrificed itself so many times over its
long history, continually being subjected to attacks and occupations
from different empires.
The newly formed republic was forced to join the U.S.S.R. to protect
itself from attacks from the Turks, which was now run by Mustapha
Kemal Ataturk (known in the west as a modernizer). Under Stalin,
two areas – Nakhichevan and Nagorno-Karapagh – were removed from the
Armenian S.S.R. and transferred to the Azerbaijani S.S.R. Nakhichevan
was removed of its Armenian population, whereas Nagorno- Karapagh
continued to have an Armenian majority (both regions had had a long
Armenian presence).
Before the U.S.S.R. collapsed, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karapagh
Autonomous Region requested a unification with the Armenian
S.S.R., but that was rejected. However, when the U.S.S.R. collapsed,
Nagorno-Karapagh declared independence after a referendum (it was legal
for an autonomous region in the U.S.S.R. to declare independence).
The Azerbaijani government reacted to this by attacking the unprotected
people of the newly formed Nagorno-Karapagh Republic. Seeing that the
people of Nagorno-Karapagh needed assistance, the Republic of Armenia
(and Armenians from elsewhere, fearing a repetition of the 1915 events)
sent its forces to protect the neighbouring country’s land, and it did,
as you mentioned, also occupy land outside the NKR as a buffer zone.
Please note that even with its legitimacy, the NKR has not been
recognized by any country, including Armenia, so as not to cause
problems in the on-going conflict/negotiation process.
The United Nations did adopt resolutions regarding the conflict, and it
is of course regrettable whenever force must be used. However, just as
in the Second World War, sometimes evil is necessary for the protection
of the right of self-determination and to ensure future peace.
The best solution is that the NKR be recognized, all of the Azeri
refugees be returned to their homes, and all of the appropriate
conditions be provided for continual peace in the region. The NKR
has proven that it can govern itself, being more democratic than both
the Armenian and Azerbaijani republics.
It is of course clear to you now that the problem started and continues
to exist because of the stubbornness of the Azerbaijani government in
not wanting to recognize the NKR. The Armenian republic is prepared
to withdraw forces from Azerbaijan only when the latter recognizes
the NKR. Otherwise it is pointless, because the occupation was meant
to protect the weaker NKR, and it is still necessary as evidence by
Azerbaijan’s attacks after the ceasefire.
There is no doubt that there is injustice here, but its source and
solution depend on the Azerbaijani side committing to peace and
accepting that the NKR has a right to exist, so that the refugees
can at last return to their lands.
I am a descendent of victims of the Armenian genocide studying at
the University of Toronto. I appreciate your patience in reading my
opinion about the situation, and thank you for your interest in the
situation in Nagorno-Karapagh.
Zafin Menkechian Toronto
This letter also appears in
Sarnia Observer (Ontario) July 21, 2006 Friday Answer lies in
recognizing disputed region
Timmins Daily Press (Ontario) July 21, 2006 Friday Best solution is
for NKR to be recognized

Caucasus Reporting Service
Nagorny Karabakh Woos Tourists
The Karabakh Armenians aim to overcome security fears by trumpeting the
region’s ancient monasteries and beautiful scenery.
By Ashot Beglarian in Stepanakert (CRS No. 349, 20-July-06)
Twelve years after war ended in Nagorny Karabakh, the unrecognised
republic is seeking to attract greater numbers of tourists to enjoy
its unspoilt scenery and medieval churches.
Large sums have been invested in the tourism sector, especially by
businessmen from the Armenian diaspora. The Swiss firm Sirkap Armenia
has built several hotels at a cost of more than 1.5 million US dollars.
There’s been a big increase in the number of hotels, as memories of
war recede. There are now more than 20 in Nagorny Karabakh, half of
them in the capital Stepanakert. Two new ones, with about 100 rooms
between them, are being built in the town’s central square.
The old capital of Shushi (known by the Azerbaijanis as Shusha), which
was heavily destroyed in the war in 1992, is also being re-developed. A
Soviet-era 11-storey hotel is being rebuilt and is expected to open
its doors again within the next two years. In addition, there are
plans to reopen the sanatoria that attracted thousands of summer
visitors in former times.
Karabakh’s foreign ministry says that the number of tourists is
increasing by 30-40 per cent every year and that last year there were
5,000 from more than 60 countries. The majority – around 70 per cent –
were ethnic Armenians from around the world.
For many people, Karabakh is still a war-zone and most western
governments advise their citizens against travelling there on grounds
of safety. It is still part of the internationally recognised territory
of Azerbaijan.
This is enough to deter curious visitors. Nic Keulemans, a tourist
from Belgium, said he was overwhelmed by the scenery in Karabakh,
although he was still a little worried about the problem of mines.
“The monasteries are also interesting,” he said. “I visited Gandzasar
and the church in Shushi. On the whole my impressions were good. I
didn’t like the fact that because of the war there was limited access
to certain territories. I think mines and unexploded ordnance still
present a certain danger. They can be on fields, hills and remote
mountain paths. And that gets in the way of organising a real holiday.”
Sergei Shakhverdian, head of both the Aspar tourist firm and the
recently created Agency for Tourism Development, sees one of his
roles as reassuring foreign visitors.
“The main thing is to convince people that it is safe in Karabakh
and that is what we are consistently doing,” he said.
Karabakhis point out that their home region is packed with attractions
that are all the more attractive for being virtually unknown to the
outside world. They include 1,700 architectural monuments, including
600 monasteries and 500 churches, ruined palaces, castles and forts.
Shakhverdian said that the mass of medieval religious sites also made
Karabakh a very special place for Christian pilgrims. He pointed out
that the region contains the grave of the early Christian saint Elisei;
that the 13th century Gandzasar monastery claims to have the head of
John the Baptist; and the ancient Amaras monastery has the mausoleum
of St Grigoris.
The tourism industry is still very much in its infancy in Karabakh. The
government budget allocated for the sector for this year is just
4,000 dollars.
Although the scenery is a major attraction, visitors say that there
is very little infrastructure for staying outside the main two towns,
as there are no campsites and no car rental available. The tourist
agents say they dream of developing Karabakh as a ski resort, but
that would need huge amounts of investment.
The ministry of territorial management has begun a partnership with
the tourist development agency of Armenia, which provides the only
route into Karabakh for visitors – a road from Yerevan to Stepanakert,
which is 360 kilometres long.
The minister, Armo Tsaturian said, “The development of tourism in
Nagorny Karabakh would receive a significant boost if there was
an air-link.”
In order to attract new visitors, the Karabakh government is publishing
a new guidebook. It is also promoting Karabakh at tourist exhibitions.
In May, the government here rented a pavilion at the big tourist
exhibition in Moscow, where they handed out promotional material and
offered visitors Karabakh wine to taste.
The opening of the display turned into an angry confrontation,
when a group of Azerbaijani students sitting in the hall protested
loudly. But Shakhverdian denied reports that the pavilion had closed
after the protests.
“Information that the Nagorny Karabakh display in Moscow had
been shut down came from the Azerbaijani embassy in Russia,” said
Shakhverdian. “Right from the start of the exhibition, the embassy of
Azerbaijan reacted very strongly to our presence and tried to persuade
the organisers to close the display, but when they understood that it
wouldn’t work they demanded that at the very least the name of our
display was changed from the Nagorny Karabakh Republic to Nagorny
Karabakh.
“However, to its credit, the Moscow government did not give in
to blackmail and the exhibition passed off normally, according to
our plans.”
Shakhverdian said that the furore surrounding the event had actually
attracted more visitors to the Nagorny Karabakh pavilion, curious to
know what had caused all the fuss. He hoped some of those visitors
would make their way to Karabakh itself.
IWPR’s Baku office contacted Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokesman,
Tahir Tagizade, for an official reaction to the campaign to attract
tourists to Karabakh.
Tagizade said that Azerbaijan was “not in principle against advertising
the tourist attractions of Nagorny Karabakh because Nagorny Karabakh is
part of Azerbaijan and soon after the restoration of the jurisdiction
of Azerbaijan this advertising will be beneficial to the region”.
However, Tagizade warned foreigners visiting Nagorny Karabakh without
official permission from Baku that they risked being barred from
Azerbaijan.
Ashot Beglarian is a freelance journalist based in
Stepanakert. Azerbaijan editor Shahin Rzayev in Baku contributed to
this report.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Matthew Bryza to visit Stepanakert
ArmRadio.am
22.07.2006 12:43
In the framework of the regional visit, US Co-Chair of teh OSCE Misnk
Group Matthew Bryza will visit also Stepanakert. Mr. Bryza will arrive
in Stepanakert on July 29 on a two-day working visit, Press Service
of NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs referring to the Office
of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. The
American mediator will be received by NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSYAN AGREES THERE ARE OPPORTUNISTS IN THE REPUBLICAN
Lragir.am
21 July 06
Hasmik Navasardyan, the wife of the leader of the Republican Party
Ashot Navasardyan told Radio Liberty that the Republican Party has
a Nzhdehian ideology but not all the Republicans bear the party’s
ideology. In answer the deputy leader of the Republican Party says,
“It is strange if in a country the leader or one of the leaders of
a political party announces that all the representatives of their
political party are the bearers and avant-guarde of that ideology.”
According to Tigran Torosyan, the Republican Party is an ordinary
party. There are devotees of the ideology, there are people who are
close to the idea, “there are people who are opportunists, they come
and go.” Life showed that this happens to both the Republican and
“the political party with the least influence”. He also thinks that
the political party will overcome the challenges of the sudden growth
of the number of members of the Republican Party.
Hasmik Navasardyan also reminded the words of Ashot Navasardyan.
People becoming Republicans must be ready for a self-sacrifice, they
must give more than take. In answer to the question of the Lragir
if there are more people who are ready for a self-sacrifice than
opportunists in the Republican Party, Tigran Torosyan said, “It is
a good wish but there are different kinds of people in real life.
I think it would not be realistic to stipulate that all the newcomers
be ready to give more than take.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA President’s visit to Moscow cancelled
ArmRadio.am
21.07.2006 14:13
RA President Robert Kocharyan’s visit to Moscow to participate in the
non-official summit of CIS leaders has been cancelled because of the
President’s health condition.
According to the diagnosis of the doctors, virus infection of
respiratory tracts has been revealed with the President.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSIAN NOT GOING TO WAIVE DEFENCE MINISTER’S POST
YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Serge Sargsian who has lately joined
the Republican Party of Armenia and, to all probability, will be
elected on a leading post at the party’s forthcoming congress, is
not going to waive the post of the Defence Minister.
Answering the question in his interview to radio Liberty, whether he
will waive the post of the Defence Minister in the circumstance of
being engaged in active politics, though the Constitution does not
oblige to do this, Serge Sargsian declared: “Not at all. As this
is senseless. Why shall I waive the Defence Minister’s post? Have
I worked badly?… The country’s President will determine if I have
worked badly.”
Serge Sargsian excluded that President Kocharian can dismiss him
because of joining a party. “The President has completely approved my
intention. I think when there is an occasion he or his spokesperson
will say this… What is the sense of acting contrary to the opinion
of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief?,” he mentioned.
In response to the question, whether the Defence Minister’s post
increases his rating during the elections or on the contrary, Sargsian
said: “Let the others be glad if the things are the contrary. Why
did they fall into panic and speak about the resignation and other
things? Besides, you know very well what authority the army has in
our society. According to the surveys of the very Institute of Gelap,
the confidence of our people in the army is more than 80%.”
“Do you want to be a President?,” Serge Sargsian answered this direct
question: “It is difficult to say. As maybe I have not seriously
thought about it.
I say sincerely, you may believe this or not. I will indeed make my
decision after the parliamentary elections.”
He added that he has never striven for any post.
In response to the question, how many seats RPA is to have at the
future parliament for him to orient himself in the issue of candidate
to the post of the President, the Minister said: I have decided
for myself that if RPA gains up to 21-22% at the elections, I will
consider this satisfactory, up to 25% good and if more excellent.”
The Minister is for the principles of Nagorno Karabakh peaceful
settlement unveiled last month: “I am for the proposed principles. I
have repeatedly said this, I have expressed my opinion in the written
form. Of course, I am for,” he declared.
Asked, whether he has an apprehension that if the public is of another
opinion in this issue, this will have an impact on his political
career, Serge Sargsian said: “No. If the public has another opinion,
another political force will have a majority, its policy will pass,
and it will be very good… How can I be against our people’s will?”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN NOT LEAVING FOR MOSCOW DUE TO HEALTH CONDITION
YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA President Robert
Kocharian’s July 21 visit to Moscow for the purpose of taking part
in CIS countries’ leaders’ unofficial summit will not take place due
to the President’s health condition.
As NT was informed from President’s Press Office, as the doctor
diagnosed, Robert Kocharian has an acute viral disease of respiratory
tract.

SERGE SARGSIAN DOES NOT AGREE THAT FIRST FORCE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT
KOCHARIAN IS BARGAVACH HAYASTAN PARTY
YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian does
not share the opinion, according to which the first force supporting
President Kocharian is the Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
party.
“Firstly, the Bargavach Hayastan is not a party yet, as far as I
know, it has not held a congress yet. And secondly, where do you
see manifestation of its political support of the President?,” Serge
Sargsian said in his interview to radio Liberty.
As the Minister affirmed, “only a force having formed as a political
force and having influence in the political sphere, represented in
the Armenian governmental bodies, at the National Assembly can speak
about a political support, unless it corresponds to these criteria,
what support can be spoken about?”
“As for the issue, whether the Republican Party of Armenia will take
part in the elections together with the Bargavach Hayastan or not,
no issue of the kind has been discussed yet, we will discuss it when
it is necessary,” Serge Sargsian concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘CASCADE BANK’ OFFERS SERVICES TO ARMENIANS MOVING FROM LEBANON
TO ARMENIA
Yerevan, July 21. ArmInfo. ‘Cascade Bank’ expresses readioness to
render assistance to Armenians moving from Lebanon to Armenia in
connection with the escalation of the military conflict.
The Bank reports that internet transactions are available for those
of wish to transfer their money to Armenia. The immigrants are able
to transfer the money to their relatives’ accounts or to create an
account of their own and, arriving in Armenia, receive the money. The
bank is also ready to grant credits to the repatriates from Lebanon
in case they are able to insure them.
“Cascade Bank”, included in the structure of ‘Cascade Capital’,
was created in result of purchase of the ‘Emporica Bank’ in 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE MUSEUM MUST BE CENTER OF RESEARCH
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
21 July 2006
The Shushi Museum of History and Local Lore was opened on May 28,
1992. The first director, Vehanush Danielian, found a huge stone
mortar when she was digging the soil in her vegetable garden near the
museum. The stone mortar dated 1866 was supposed to be in the yard of
Ghazanchetsots Church, and it was a surprise to find it there. Another
surprise is how women managed to carry the mortar to the yard of the
museum, for it was war, and all the men were fighting. “Well, how
could we win without such women?” asks the present director of the
museum Ashot Harutiunian. “The museum must be a center of research to
preach the history and culture of the nation. With the little funds we
have we do this job. Tourists visiting the museum often change their
perceptions on learning about the history of Artsakh,” says Ashot
Harutiunian. Ashot Harutiunian says with the assistance of Tufenkian
Foundations they are partly repairing the building. The director
personally found the place of medieval khachkars and cemeteries,
which are now being studied by the Institute of Archaeology and
Ethnography of the Armenian Academy of Sciences. Shushi Foundation
funds this work. “The government’s powerful assistance is necessary
for the museum to fulfill its duties,” says Ashot Harutiunian.
AA.
21-07-2006
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress