Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Hurriyet Daily News, turkey
Jan 17 2010

Ayalon’s reaction to Turkish TV series was wrong, say experts

Sunday, January 17, 2010
BARÃ?IN YÄ°NANÃ?
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

There is a consensus of disapproval in Israel regarding Danny Ayalon’s
recent behavior toward Turkey, according to Israeli experts in
Turkish-Israeli relations.

After officially apologizing for his treatment of Turkish Ambassador
OÄ?uz Ã?elikkol at a meeting, Israeli deputy foreign minister has
threatened expulsion of the ambassador if `attacks continue against
Israel,’ according to new local reports.

`No one in Israel takes him seriously,’ Ofra Bengio, who is the author
of a book on Turkish-Israeli relations, told the Hürriyet Daily News &
Economic Review.

`He was pressured on TV and as a general statement he said any country
that will continue to attack Israel will get an answer and if there is
a need we will expel the ambassador. It was not directly related to
Turkey. That does not make it a clever statement. It is foolish in
this atmosphere,’ Alon Liel a former director general of the Israeli
foreign ministry told the Daily News in a telephone interview. `He is
making one mistake after another.’

Ayalon is under pressure from Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman,
according to Liel. Recalling that Lieberman announced two weeks ago a
`national pride’ policy based on counterattacking every attack, Liel
said Ayalon was under instructions from the minister to answer Turkey.
`The meeting with the Turkish ambassador was the first case study of
that policy. But you cannot run diplomacy in such a way. They are
unable to admit that the policy is a joke, and so they continue,’ he
said, noting that Lieberman is Ayalon’s boss twice over: as foreign
minister and as chairman of their political party.

Asked how a career diplomat like Ayalon acted in a way unseen in
diplomatic procedures, Liel said Ayalon became a politician nine years
ago. `He was sent as ambassador to Washington as a political appointee
and thus started his political career nine years ago. And on his
return he entered politics,’ he said. `He should have known better.
But sometimes politicians do not act like statesmen. Ayalon and
Lieberman have a constituency. They wanted to show their constituency
that they are angry at Turkey. But this is only damaging Israel.’

`I have never seen such a consensus over one issue. You cannot find
one person that does not criticize Ayalon’s behavior,’ Bengio said.
`We have a saying that if one silly person drops a stone in the water,
then even 100 wise men cannot take it out. This is how he is seen in
Israel.’

`He and the foreign minister are harming Israel,’ she said. `They
should leave office. But it is a coalition.’

While Bengio said it was natural for Israel to react to anti-Israeli
series broadcasted on Turkish television, she added that there are
other ways to show a reaction. `Ayalon’s way is not right. If you want
to react, you could ask the Turks how would they feel if there was a
pro-Kurdish or a pro-Armenian TV series shown in Israel,’ she said.

The Hrant Dink Society
c/o The Temple of Peace, Cardiff, Wales
[email protected]
Tel: 07718982732
invites you on
Hrant Dink Day, 19th January 2010, in the UK Parliament

to a Silent Vigil outside the Turkish Embassy,Belgrave Square (nr.
Hyde Park Corner tube station) at 1 p.m.
with banners :

"Turkey Face Your Past, Respect Your Minorities"

and also to these meetings:

"What is really going on in Turkey?"

Speakers include Ragip Zarakolu, one of the founders of the Turkish
Human Rights Association and publisher, prosecuted 40 times, most
recently for publishing a novel (see "My dreams are on trial" below).

1 "Problems of the ‘Other’ and of ‘Minorities’ in Turkey" (Ragip
Zarakolu, Desmond Fernandes and Arzu Pesman – Kurdish
Federation-FEDBIR), "Hrant Dink’s Vision" (Ragip Zarakolu) and
"Rediscovering Turkish Armenia" (Vardan Tadevossian), Ruth Barnett on
"The shared Jewish and Armenian experience" – in Committee Room 16 at
5 p.m.

Sponsor : Nia Griffith MP

———————————————- —————-

2 The lessons of Holocaust, Genocide and current problems of
Ethnic Cleansing -Discussion in Committee Room 16 at 6 p.m. Eilian
Williams

"Consequences of the Genocide for Assyrians in Turkey and Iraq" Saad
Tokatly : The current problems of Assyrians and other Middle East
Christians"

The meeting will also be used to Promote EDM 287 by Dr Bob Spink on
the Holocaust and Andrew Dismore’s Presentation Bill to introduce a
national day to learn about and remember the Armenian genocide, to be
read a Second time on Friday 30 April 2010 (Bill 42).

Sponsor: Dr Bob Spink MP

———————————————- —————-

3 Meeting in the House of Lords (Committee Room 3A at 7 p.m. ) –
Launch of ‘Friends of Belge Press’ and ‘The Current Human Rights
Situation in Turkey’
Sponsor: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
Speakers: Ragip Zarakolu, Desmond Fernandes and Haci Ozdemir
(International Committee Against Disappearances – British Section).
Khatchatur I. Pilikian on "Holocaust and Genocide

REGISTER’S ALL-ARMENIAN PROGRAM IN ARTSAKH

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
January 15, 2010

On initiative of the Armenian register of Marrow’s donors charitable
fund, NKR Ministries of Health Service, Culture and Youth Affairs, and
by participation of RA and NKR singers, creative groups on January 8th
at garrison’s Officer’s House of Stepanakert "Save our life" a gala
concert-action was organized. As we have informed, on January 8th,
2000 the Armenian register of Marrow’s donors was founded officially
in Armenia and Bella Kocharyan was elected as the honorary chair of
it. And by special decision of RA government this day was declared as
Donors’ day. And it was decided to organize the tenth anniversary of
the Armenian register in Artsakh. In connection with the anniversary
the founder and chairman of the Armenian register of Marrow’s donors,
american-armenian doctor Freeda Jordon, executive director Sevak
Avagyan, deputy director Mihran Nazaretyan, the regulator of the
arrangement’s process and leader of the whole producer works Marietta
Keshishyan visited the NKR. According to S.

Avagyan, the program is handed on a "special plate": it’s a cultural
joint program, and it’s not casual, that the preference of carrying
out the anniversary has been given the NKR. The Armenians of all
over the world in any way help each other, especially the Armenians
of Artsakh, and the latter today stretches its hand in answer by the
conviction that by its blood it will save the life of at least a man.

On January 8th, during the action more than 200 persons were
donated. The day the Speaker of NKR National Assembly A. Ghoulyan,
the primate of Artsakh’s Diocese Pargev archbishop Martirosyan,
representatives of mass-media, departments were also donated to the
Armenian register. According to Pargev Martirosyan, each Armenian
should be its nation’s donor in all senses. To give blood, means to
give a life. During Artsakh war armenian azatamartiks donated their
all blood and life to the country – for freedom and bright future. The
action which is called to save life of many Armenians, is a great and
chaste work. It’s a holiday of rescue and unanimity. The Speaker of
NKR NA A. Ghoulyan, touching importance to the program, has noted,
that if it is spoken about the rescue of a man’s life, so it means,
that we also show duty of honour to Christian worldwide values, which
tell us always to help relatives, a needy man. Ministers of NKR Health
Service and Culture and Youth Affairs, as well as all participants
expressed their appreciation to the action’s all organizers and
supporters. The minister of NKR Health Service A.

Khachatryan handed over a special diploma signed by the Premier Ara
Harutyunyan to the Armenian register of Marrow’s donors charitable
fund in connection with the program being realized in NKR and the
anniversary of the organization. It was given to the founder and
chairman of the register Freeda Jordon and executive director Sevak
Avagyan.

Zarine Mayilyan

LAVROV’S VISIT TO ARMENIA NOT LINKED TO ERDOGAN’S TRIP TO RUSSIA

Aysor
Jan 14 2010
Armenia

There is not any link between visits of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
to Moscow, and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to Yerevan, said Lavrov
and his Armenian counterpart Nalbandian at today’s press conference.

"My visit to Armenia was in scheduled list, and we reached an agreement
on this visit a month and a half ago, while Turkey’s Prime Minister
said wants to visit Moscow some days before," said Lavrov.

Armenian Foreign Minister Nalbandian, in his turn, confirmed the
agreement on Lavrov’s visit to Armenia was reached during the OCSE
Ministerial session in Athens.

Both officials stressed the importance of Lavrov’s visit to Armenia,
as it marks the first relations between the counties in 2010. "This
is a symbolic visit, as Armenia is Russia’s strategic partner and an
ally," Lavrov said.

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN: ARTSAKH ISSUE CANNOT BE DISCUSSED WITHIN EURONEST FORMAT

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.01.2010 19:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The working group on forming Euronest parliamentary
assembly launched Thursday its session in Brussels. Discussion began
at 5:00 p.m. Yerevan time, MP from Prosperous Armenia parliamentary
group Naira Zohrabyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

During the meeting Armenian representative will reiterate the country’s
positive stance on creating such parliamentary format within Eastern
Partnership project.

According to Armenian MP, Euronet may create a platform for discussing
Nagorno Karabakh problem, which is in the interests of Azerbaijan.

"Should happen, all activities will be doomed to failure," she said.

As noted by Naira Zohrabyan, discussions within Euronest format may
also cover issues concerning Eastern Partnership member states’
cooperation in democracy, environmental and economic integration
spheres.

TODAY’S ZAMAN: ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI LEADERS TO MEET IN MOSCOW LATE JANUARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.01.2010 13:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ankara hopes that recent diplomatic mobility in the
South Caucasus will eventually lead to progress in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process and "will enable Turkey to pass a so-called
threshold to move ahead in ongoing efforts for the normalization of
ties with estranged neighbor Armenia," Today’s Zaman reported.

Moscow yesterday hosted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
who urged President Dmitry Medvedev and his counterpart, Vladimir
Putin, on maintenance of the "gained impetus" in efforts of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to resolve
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"During a visit to Ankara late last month, Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov voiced his country’s approval of an updated
version of the Madrid document on the resolution of the conflict,"
said a senior Turkish diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Earlier this week, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs presented the
updated document to Armenian officials in Yerevan. However, the
Armenian side hasn’t yet made any statement concerning their views on
the document. In late January Medvedev is expected to host Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at a
trilateral summit in Russia."

"Any joint declaration, either verbally or in written form, to be
released after the meeting in Russia and which clearly shows that
the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides have full consent over the updated
version of the Madrid Principles will mark a milestone. It will give
a freer hand to Turkey for maintaining faster progress through ongoing
efforts for normalization in the South Caucasus," the diplomat said.

The Madrid document contains the proposals put forward by the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs on the basic principles of a settlement. The
document was presented to the Armenian and Azerbaijani representatives
at the OSCE summit in the Spanish capital in November 2007.

The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security
and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, now Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)) to encourage a peaceful, negotiated
resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The Helsinki Additional Meeting of the CSCE Council on 24 March 1992,
requested the Chairman-in-Office to convene as soon as possible
a conference on Nagorno Karabakh under the auspices of the CSCE
to provide an ongoing forum for negotiations towards a peaceful
settlement of the crisis on the basis of the principles, commitments
and provisions of the CSCE. The Conference is to take place in Minsk.

Although it has not to this date been possible to hold the conference,
the so-called Minsk Group spearheads the OSCE effort to find a
political solution to this conflict.

On 6 December 1994, the Budapest Summit decided to establish a
co-chairmanship for the process.

Implementing the Budapest decision, the Chairman-in-Office issued on
23 March 1995, the mandate for the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Process.

The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as follows: Providing
an appropriate framework for conflict resolution in the way of
assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk Group;
Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation
of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk
Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational
peacekeeping forces.

The Minsk Process can be considered to be successfully concluded if
the objectives referred to above are fully met.

The Minsk Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France,
Russia and the United States. Furthermore, the Minsk Group also
includes the following participating States: Belarus, Germany, Italy,
Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Turkey as well as Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Current Co-chairmen of the Minsk Group are: Ambassador
Bernard Fassier of France, Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov of the Russian
Federation and Ambassador Robert Bradtke of the United States.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) is a de facto independent republic
located in the South Caucasus, bordering by Azerbaijan to the north
and east, Iran to the south, and Armenia to the west.

After the Soviet Union established control over the area, in 1923
it formed the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the
Azerbaijan SSR. In the final years of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan
launched an ethnic cleansing which resulted in the Karabakh War that
was fought from 1991 to 1994.

Since the ceasefire in 1994, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several
regions of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the
control of Nagorno Karabakh defense army.

YERKIR UNION
EUrope
Mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARMENIA
Contact: Robert Tatoyan
Mobile: +374 94 36 17 93
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Constituent Declaration of the Coordinating Council
for the Protection of the Rights of the Javakheti Armenians

Akhalkalaki-Yerevan
December 22-23, 2009

Every day the Javakheti Armenians are suffering from political,
linguistic, cultural, educational, religious and socio-economic
discrimination.

In particular:

– The local self-government bodies of Armenian-populated
Samtskhe-Javakheti region and Tsalka district of Kvemo-Kartli region are
denied the right to exercise the powers provided for by law;

– The internal socio-political and administrative life of the Armenians,
compactly inhabiting the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and Tsalka district
of Kvemo-Kartli region, is supervised and directed by the Georgian
police and security services (`KGB’);

– The law requires mandatory use of the Georgian language in all spheres
of public life (local governments, record keeping, administration,
education, etc.) in Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti region and
Tsalka district of Kvemo-Kartli region;

– The appointment to positions in the administrative, educational and
other public entities in the Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti
region and Tsalka district of Kvemo-Kartli region is linked to the
knowledge of the Georgian language, which the vast majority of the
Javakheti Armenians do not speak for objective reasons;

– The Armenian Apostolic Church still does not have a legal status in
Georgia. The Armenian religious buildings, confiscated during the Soviet
era, have not been returned to their legitimate owner up till now. As a
result of the consistent policy, run by the Georgian authorities and
aimed at delaying continuously the solution of this issue, the Armenian
cultural-historical heritage in Georgia is gradually being destroyed;

– The Georgian authorities are consistently implementing the policy of
renaming the Armenian settlements in the Georgian manner;

– The Georgian border guards create artificial obstacles to the
transportation of the Armenian literature and periodicals at the
crossing points of the Armenian-Georgian border;

– In 2007-09 several Javakheti-Armenian political activists have left
their homeland as a result of direct and indirect pressure from the
Georgian police and security structures. The trumped-up criminal cases
were brought against many of Javakheti Armenian activists defending the
rights of the Armenian population. The Javakheti political activist
Vahagn Chakhalyan was arrested on July 21, 2008; on April 7, 2009 he was
sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment based on trumped-up charges
and as a result of the court proceedings accompanied by flagrant
violations.

– Some politicians and public figures form Armenia, concerned with
defending the rights of the Javakheti Armenians, have been banned entry
to Georgia.

Most of the problems facing the Javakheti Armenians result from the
discriminatory policy of the Georgian authorities against the Armenian
minority of the country.

The requirement to address the problems of Javakheti Armenians comes
directly from the international commitments undertaken by Georgia in the
field of protection of human rights as well as the rights of ethnic
minorities; on this basis, the various authoritative international and
European structures, in their documents and recommendations urge the
Georgian authorities take steps in this direction.

Consequently, it is necessary to undertake sustained and systematic
efforts aimed at solution of the problems facing the Javakheti
Armenians.

Based on the abovementioned, we- the Compatriotic-charitable
non-governmental organization "Javakhk", Analytical Center
`Mitq’, the political party "Virk", the public movement
"Javakhk’ and the "Yerkir’ Union of NGOs for
Repatriation and Settlement, declare the establishment of the
Coordinating Council for the Protection of the rights of the Javakheti
Armenians.

The main objectives of the Coordinating Council are:

– To pursue successively the solution of the political, linguistic,
religious, educational, cultural and socio-economic problems facing the
Javakheti Armenians;

– To draw the attention of the international community to the issue of
protection of the rights of the Javakheti Armenians in Georgia,

– To intensify the involvement of all Armenians in the efforts to
protect the rights of the Armenian population in Javakheti.

The Coordinating Council for the Protection of the rights of the
Javakheti Armenians encourages the Georgian authorities to find a
solution in the atmosphere of dialogue and understanding to the problems
of concern of the Javakheti Armenians, and in particular to:

– Cease the illegal practice of interfering with the policy of local
self-government bodies in the regions densely populated by the
Armenians; to provide the Javakheti Armenians a higher degree of
self-government.

– Stop the police repression and political persecutions against the
Javakheti Armenian activists.

– Close all illegal proceedings led against the Javakheti Armenian
political activists.

– Abolish the ban on the use of the Armenian language in public life in
the regions compactly populated by the Armenians. To grant the Armenian
language a status of regional language.

– Allow and not prevent the establishment of the Armenian-Georgian
University in Javakheti.

– Give the appropriate legal status to the Armenian Apostolic Church in
Georgia and to return to it all the Armenian temples, confiscated during
the Soviet era.

Stop all the actions aimed at changing artificially the demographic
composition in the regions compactly populated by Armenians.

The Coordinating Council for the Protection of the rights of the
Javakheti Armenians encourages the Armenian authorities to strengthen
their policy of protection of the rights of the Javakheti Armenians.

The Coordinating Council for the Protection of the rights of the
Javakheti Armenians will consistently struggle for the implementation of
fair and legitimate rights of the Javakheti Armenians.

The Coordinating Council for the Protection of the rights of the
Javakheti Armenians is open to all social, political organizations and
individuals who are willing to participate in solving the
above-mentioned problems.

The Coordinating Council for the Protection of the rights of the
Javakheti Armenians

The Compatriotic-charitable non-governmental organization "Javakhk"

Analytical Center `Mitq’
The political party "Virk"
The public movement "Javakhk’
"Yerkir’ Union of NGOs for Repatriation and Settlement

FINCA INTERNATIONAL AND DEUTSCHE BANK ANNOUNCE FIRST-EVER SINGLE MICROFINANCE NETWORK SUB-DEBT DEAL

ArmInfo
12.01.2010

ArmInfo. FINCA International, along with Deutsche Bank, today
announced that they have secured total capital commitments of $21.2
million for the FINCA Microfinance Fund B.V., the first-ever single
microfinance network sub-debt deal. The fund, which has only private
sector investors was about 100 percent oversubscribed and brings a
new pool of investors to the microfinance industry.

The FINCA Microfinance Fund is the first microfinance subordinated
debt deal to be completed since 2007 and was structured, placed and
managed by Deutsche Bank. The offering will provide FINCA affiliates
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Tajikistan the financial flexibility to
on-lend an estimated $100 million in additional loan capital, as well
as make the investments in staff, branches and other infrastructure
to support its expanding microfinance lending and deposit-taking
programs. Through the facility, and based on its average network-wide
loan size of $503, the seven FINCA affiliates will be positioned to
provide an estimated 150,000 additional microloans each year to some
of the world’s lowest-income entrepreneurs.

"This new financial facility represents an important breakthrough
for both FINCA and the microfinance industry," said Rupert Scofield,
President & CEO of FINCA International. "As we approach the year of our
25th anniversary, it opens an exciting new chapter for FINCA, allowing
us to further expand our outreach to lower-income entrepreneurs,
while at the same time broadening the universe of investors for the
microfinance community as a whole. As a double bottom line event,
it’s definitely a win-win situation all round."

"FINCA International’s long term performance and commitment to a
sustainable and socially-responsible microfinance sector aligns closely
with Deutsche Bank’s own strategy and commitment to the sector,"
said Gary Hattem, Managing Director of Deutsche Bank’s Community
Development Finance Group. "This fund demonstrates the attractiveness
of that model to investors who have confidence in providing capital
to the poor for self employment where strong management models have
delivered continuing social impact and sound financial performance."

"We honored to get secured capital commitment from Deutsche Bank,"
said Yervand Barseghyan, General Director of FINCA UCO CJSC. "This
deal is not only a money investment, but also is a great opportunity
for long term co-operation with leading global investment bank in
terms of developing microfinance industry in Armenia".

Investors in the fund include mainstream pension funds and
socially-responsible private investors. "MetLife has a long history of
investing in local communities, and we are excited by the potential to
reach the very poorest through our investment in FINCA. By investing
in microfinance, we are supporting a sector that we believe has
both commercial sustainability as well as the potential to make a
significant social impact," said Dennis White, Vice President of
MetLife’s Social Investment Program.

"I view FINCA and Deutsche Bank as two of the strongest and most
socially committed actors in the microfinance sector. The FINCA
Fund puts our foundation’s capital to work in a highly leveraged
manner that will truly benefit the poor with new opportunities for
economic empowerment," said Matt McConnell, President of the Left
Hand Foundation.

PURCHASED BJNI BUT DIDN’T PAY FOR IT?

A1Plus.am
12/01/10

"The Sukiasyans didn’t sell "Bjni" mineral water factory to anybody,"
announced "Sil Concern" today.

Let us remind that the items belonging to "Bjni" mineral water factory"
CJSC were alienated to the organization belonging to Ruben Hayrapetyan
during the liquidation of the company late last year.

According to the statement by "Sil Concern", "the factory was stolen
from the Sukiasyans due to their political views."

"Sil Concern" and the Sukiasyans are not familiar with the reports
of the evaluation of the factory’s items and were not informed about
the petition for an auction when they had the right to propose their
own prices in that stage.

After being informed about the decision of the bankruptcy manager from
mass media outlets, "Sil Concern" announces that the interruption of
the auction and alienation at a price lower than the price presented
at the auction are not justified in any way. The manager’s argument
according to which the starting price at the second auction was more
than what the buyer offered is not only groundless, but illogical
because the price being presented at the auction is a starting price
and participants must compete against each other to raise the price.

According to our sources, the items of "Bjni" factory were sold for
nearly 4.3 billion drams, but the entire money has not been paid yet.

If it turns out that the company’s items were sold under the condition
of leasing, that illegal transaction will directly confirm the fact
that the authorities want to get revenge over the Sukiasyans because
the law on "Bankruptcy" doesn’t permit the sale of items under the
condition of leasing.

"Sil Concern" announces that the culprits will be brought to justice
for the illegal process. "Sil Concern" will follow-up to make sure that
the damages are compensated. The company’s advocates have demanded
the materials from the court and will protest the transaction in
court. The materials of this case will also be sent to the European
Court of Human Rights in order to be attached to the main case.

TURKEY WANTS TO ACHIEVE SOME PROGRESS IN KARABAKH ISSUE

news.az
Jan 11 2010
Azerbaijan

Rasim Musabeyov "Azerbaijan must be grateful to Turkey that it raises
the Karabakh problem in different countries.

It is important for the Karabakh problem to never come off from the
agenda of international politics, and Ankara will obviously continue to
strengthen its diplomacy in this direction, said political scientist
Rasim Musabeyov, commenting on the raising Karabakh issue in Germany
and other European countries.

"Turkey is an influential country and its persistence in advancing
the issue of Karabakh in the international arena proves that Ankara
is eager to end this problem. It is a matter of its practical politics.

Everyone remembers the damage to security in the region caused by
the events of August 2008, and, of course, if there is no progress
in the Karabakh issue, instability will again hit the region which
is absolutely unnecessary for Turkey. Therefore, it is raising the
Karabakh issue in the world centers to achieve at least some progress
in this respect. Armenia is a dependent country and it plays a role
of a petitioner, so Europe, US and Russia have levers of influence
on that country, and Ankara is trying to make use of this, especially
because Armenia’s absurd claims against Azerbaijan have no legal basis
", said R. Musabeyov.

Referring to the forthcoming visit of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
to Yerevan, the political scientist said that "Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan will soon visit Moscow and Yerevan is very concerned
about this visit. Apparently, the purpose of Lavrov’s visit to Yerevan
is to reassure Armenians and explain them what to do and which progress
in the Karabakh issue is attained. Of course, Lavrov will try to
explain them that Russia’s rapprochement with Turkey and Azerbaijan
does not mean that Armenia will be left to the mercy of fate".