Author: Hambardsumian Paul

FORMATION OF CULTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES WILL STILL REQUIRE MUCH TIME, PETER SEMNEBY CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Nov 19, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. It was found out as a result of
joint discussions of EU and Armenian leadership that the Armenian
side wonders how decisions are made in EU. Peter Semneby, EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus, said in his interview to
Radio Liberty commenting upon EU’s initiative to send advisers to
Armenia. "This group of parliamentarians will be a resouce for those
making a decision. They will be standing near the leaders to provide
information and to tell them how this or that decision would be made
in EU member-countries," P. Semneby said.

P. Semneby commented upon the statements of some Armenian, Azeri, and
Georgian experts that EU prefers stability in the three South Caucasian
countries to democracy and closes its eyes to elections held with
violations and riggings. "The opposite of stability is instability,
which no one wishes. We consider and are convinced that to achieve
stability in the respect of long-term prospect democratic institutions,
human rights, supremacy of law, and democratic culture should be
developed," P. Semneby said. And according to the EU representative,
it will take much time to achieve that. He reminded that the South
Caucasian independent countries have "a history of only 17 years."

Touching upon the investigation of the March 1 events, P. Semneby
said that the creation of a fact-finding group of experts is "evidence
of progress."

He welcomed opposition’s decision to take part in fact-finding
group’s work.

KARABAKH SOLUTION SHOULD BE BASED ON INTERNATIONAL LAW – ROMANIAN FM

Armenian Public TV
Nov 15 2008

[Presenter] At today’s news conference of the Armenian and Romanian
foreign ministers, the ministers Edvard Nalbandyan [of Armenia]
and Lazar Comanescu [of Romania] said that negotiations [between
Armenia and Romania] are constructive and promising. All prospects for
cooperation between the two countries – from political dialogue to a
wider range of agricultural cooperation – have been discussed. Lazar
Comanescu welcomed the latest development in the Karabakh settlement
process. The ministers expressed their position regarding the
principles of the [Karabakh] settlement.

[Comanescu speaking at the news conference with Armenian voiceover]
In cases like this, the best way to solve problems is political
dialogue between the sides in the conflict. On such a serious issue
as the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, respect for
international law should dominate. The principle of territorial
integrity is extremely important. However, the Helsinki Final Act
and the UN Charter have other important principles, which should be
correlated with one another.

[Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan] All principles are very
important. Of course, we cannot say that one principle is more
important than others. Otherwise we would liken it to a well-known
story by George Orwell, that everyone is equal, but one is more equal
than others. That is, conflicts should be solved on the basis of the
principles of international law.

TURKEY WILLING TO HOST NEXT ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN TALKS, PM REITERATES

Anatolia News Agency
Nov 14 2008
Turkey

["TURKEY CALLS ON ARMENIA TO OPEN ARCHIVES ON 1915 INCIDENTS" –
AA headline]

NEW YORK (A.A) -Turkey’s prime minister once again called on the
Armenian government to open their archives for studies on the incidents
of 1915.

In 2005, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter
to then Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and proposed to establish
a joint committee of historians to study the incidents of 1915.

"Our offer is still on the table. Let’s leave it to historians,"
Erdogan told a conference in New York’s Columbia University. "We have
opened our archives and Armenians should open their archives too. We
have studied over 1 million documents so far."

Erdogan said Turkey and Armenia should abide by the final decision
of historians following these studies.

Asked about Turkish government’s reaction regarding US president-elect
Barack Obama and his team’s close stance on the Armenian allegations,
Erdogan said the campaign carried out by the Armenian diaspora in
the United States was not fair.

"I hope the new US administration would take into account Turkey’s
efforts. It is not fair to make a judgment upon such cheap political
lobbying," he said.

Asked whether Turkey, as the new member of the UN Security Council,
would pursue its own national policy or UN policies if a problem
about the Caucasus and the Upper Karabakh was brought to the Council,
Erdogan said Turkey would contribute to speed up efforts for settlement
of the problem.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsian met in Moscow early November and agreed to continue to work
on a political resolution of the Upper Karabakh dispute.

Erdogan said the two leaders made a significant step and expressed
Turkey’s willingness to host the second meeting of Aliyev and Sargsian.

He said solution of the problem could lead to a new step and start
of a new process regarding relations between Turkey and Armenia.

OSCE MG VISITS TO KARABAKH PROVE STEPANAKERT’S ENGAGEMENT IN TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2008 14:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Moscow declaration on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict resolution is not an agreement but is nevertheless important,
since it includes all principles that should underlie the ongoing
talks, Eduard Sharmazanov, a spokesman for the Republican Party of
Armenia, told a news conference today.

"I should also note that I agree with French Co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Bernard Fassier, who said that the mediators’ regular
visit to Karabakh prove that Stepanakert is engaged in talks," he
said, adding that it would be advisable for Armenia if Stepanakert’s
representatives affixed signature to the Moscow declaration.

"It’s premature to speak of final resolution of the Karabakh
conflict. Meanwhile, some political forces began gambling on the Madrid
principles, details of which are known to the Presidents and Foreign
Ministers only. The details of the process are promulgated. Otherwise,
the talks would not make sense," Sharmazanov said.

KARABAKH PRESIDENT MEETS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

armradio.am
17.11.2008 10:22

NKR President Bako Sahakyan met co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
Matthew Bryza (USA), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier
(France), Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR
President reported.

A wide range of issues related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement was discussed at the meeting. Special attention was paid
to the Moscow declaration signed by Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian
presidents.

Bako Sahakyan underlined that Artsakh values any document that
can contribute to the establishment of a civilized dialogue in the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement process. In the meantime,
the Head of the State noted that the settlement process will be
impossible to make comprehensive without full-fledged participation
of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic, especially taking into consideration
that Artsakh has its view on the settlement of the conflict.

The co-chairs in their turn reaffirmed that without consent and
participation of Nagorno Karabakh and its people it will be impossible
to settle the conflict.

NKR foreign minister Georgy Petrosyan and Personal Representative of
the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk partook at the talks.

SEYRAN OHANYAN RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL COUNSELOR GROUP

; p=0&id=667&y=2008&m=11&d=17
13.11. 08

On November 13, 2008 the Minister of Defense of the republic of
Armenia, Mr. Seyran Ohanyan received the international counselor
group supporting the strategic examining of defense.

At the beginning of the meeting Minister greeted the guests noting
that today cooperation is going on in such an important field as the
strategic examination of defense is.

During the meeting Seyran Ohanyan stressed the importance of the
counselor group’s work as such a measure is being organized in Armenia
for the first time. Then he noted that by the decree of RA President
Serzh Sargsyan interdepartmental council was established.

At the end of the meeting Minister Ohanyan expressed a hope that
intergovernmental council will manage to have a document at the end
of the works, which will be a base for planning long-lasting defense
projects.

RE-ELECTION IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES

A1+
[06:07 pm] 17 November, 2008

Revoting took place in Armenian marzes of Aragatsotn, Shirak and
Gegharkunik on November 16.

Non-party candidates Ruben Sahakyan and Robert Sirakanyan stood for
the community head of Vardadzor, Gegharkunik marz. After the reelection
Robert Sirakanyan took up the post.

Republican Rita Hovhannisyan lost to Yurik Avalyan in Chambarak,
Gegharkunik marz.

Nonpartisan Grigor Sargsyan was elected head of Mantash community
in Shirak marz. He won over his Republican contender with nine
additional votes.

Republican Gevorg Sargsyan, non-party candidates Samvel Baghdasaryan
and Anatoli Grigoryan ran in Aragatsotni marz. Remind that during
an October 26 vote Gevorg Sargsyan beat Samvel Baghdasaryan with an
additional vote. In the result of revoting Samvel Baghdasaryan was
elected head of the commune.

MEETING IN FOREIGN MINISTRY

Panorama.am
17:13 13/11/2008

Today the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan met the
Chairman of Parliament of Cyprus Republic Marios Garoyan. Greeting
the guest, Minister Nalbandyan said that Armenia is satisfied with
developing relationship between Armenia and Cyprus. The Foreign
Minister has signified the role of Armenian community in Cyprus.

Marios Garoyan has also highly evaluated bilateral relationship
mentioning that there is a need to strengthen them and to use
the potential more actively. The officials discussed cooperation
perspectives of the Parliaments, reported the public relations
department of the Foreign Ministry.

ARMENIAN PREMIER CHARGES YEREVAN MAYOR TO PREPARE REPORT ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION IN CAPITAL

ARKA
Nov 13, 2008

YEREVAN, November 13. /ARKA/. The RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
charged Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan to prepare a report on illegal
construction in the capital.

"The National Assembly deputies made an inquiry about the situation of
illegal construction in Yerevan and we have to give them an exhaustive
answer," he said at parliamentarian sitting.

Premier Sargsyan stressed the Mayor’s report must include information
on the situation of illegal construction in Yerevan as well as on
activities the Government must undertake to prevent the process.

"The issue worries all residents of Yerevan. We have discussed it in
the Government, but there are some discrepancies in the responses of
the City Planning Minister and Yerevan Mayor," said the Premier.

Yervand Zakharyan stated there is a necessity for studying this issue
in principle and in-depth as the problem of illegal construction is
very serious both for Yerevan and other regions of the republic.

"I offer to discuss the problem at the sitting of the Committee
of Ministers on November 20, and then submit to the Government for
examination," he said.

RECALLING THE CATASTROPHE OF EUROPEAN JEWS THE WORLD CAN’T FORGET ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2008 GMT+04:00

No president or prime-minister of Turkey will ever lay a wreath on
the Memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, even if it
costs them a membership in the EU.

Last week Germany and Israel marked 70 years since "Kristallnacht"
(Crystal Night), Jewish pogroms in Nazi Germany, which served as
a prelude to the Catastrophe of European Jews (the Holocaust). On
the night of 9-10 November 1938 Jewish property was destroyed,
and thousands of synagogues were demolished and set on fire by the
Nazis. About a hundred Jews were murdered and thousands were arrested
or deported to concentration camps. The bloody pogroms received the
name "Crystal Night" or "The Night of Broken Glass" for the countless
broken windows of Jewish shops and houses covering the streets of
German cities.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem,
Sunday, November 9 concerts, prayers and ceremonies were vowed
to mark the 70th anniversary of the tragic Nazi-incited riots in
Germany. German chancellor Angela Merkel, who was present at a
ceremony in Germany’s newly renovated largest synagogue, declared:
"We must not be silent to any manifestation of extremism. The lessons
of the nation’s past were crucial in confronting a current increase
in xenophobia and racism. Anti-Semitism and racism are a threat to
our basic values – those of democracy and respect for diversity and
human rights."

The words of Angela Merkel, as well as those of Konrad Adenauer
and other German chancellors prove that a truly civilized nation
will always be potent enough to recognize its bloody past and try
to repair its relations with other nations. In 1969 then Chancellor
Willy Brandt knelt in front of the Warsaw Ghetto memorial and asked
forgiveness for the crimes committed by his people in Poland.

Hence how does it happen that the Holocaust, which is of utmost
interest to Armenians since it occurred "thanks to" concealment of
the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, now draws more attention
in the world than the first Genocide of the 20th century? One of the
reasons, if not the key one, is the "silent" position of Official
Ankara. For 93 years Turkey has not found itself strong enough
to recognize this fact and put a full stop to vain disputes of
politicians. Armenians might have their share of fault in all this,
since unlike the Jews they tried to survive by escaping to sheltering
countries. Be that as it may, today recalling the Catastrophe of
European Jews, the world simply can’t forget about the 1.5 million
of Armenians slaughtered in the years of the World War I.

Historical facts, which Turkish politicians love to appeal to when it
comes to the Armenian Genocide, state that Germany had its share in
the process of extermination of the Armenian nation by simply offering
the Young Turks a carte blanche for slaughter. Historian Toros Saryan
adduces strong proof on a secret agreement between Germans and Turks,
according to which Turkey was to take Germany’s side against Russia. In
exchange for it German diplomats were to shut their eyes to deportation
of Armenians from Western Armenia. Moreover, according to another
agreement of 2 August 1914 the Ottoman Empire expressed its consent
to German General Liman von Sanders to be in command of the Turkish
Army. Nevertheless, even with the German general the Turkish troops
were unable to defend themselves against the Entente, and Russia
in particular. And then they found a scapegoat in the person of the
Armenian population.

However, we are more interested in the position of victim
parties. Thanks to their solidarity the Jews were able to make Germans
pay for the Holocaust, otherwise the latter would go down in history
with the stamp of "murderers and tyrants". Germany did it and it is
still paying off great compensation to the prisoners of concentration
camps. And what are Armenians doing? Till 1991 it was only the Armenian
Diaspora that struggled for recognition of the Genocide, but, of
course, it could not do what a government can. Nevertheless, if we take
into account the time limits and the greater resistance of Official
Ankara as compared to Germany, it should be admitted that Armenia
has achieved some progress, though no president or prime-minister of
Turkey will ever lay a wreath on the Memorial to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide, even if it costs them a membership in the EU.