Author: Kafian Jirair

THE KARABAKH ISSUE SHOULD BE SOLVED ON THE BASIS OF NORMS AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

armradio.am
15.11.2008 14:55

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Romania Edward Nlabdnian and
Lazar Comanescu held constructive and promising negotiations. Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told a press conference today that
they discussed bilateral relations, the opportunities of intensifying
the bilateral cooperation in different spheres and the political
dialogue.

Reference was made to regional issues, particularly the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

According to Lazar Comanescu, constructive talks were held on issues
of bilateral interest. "The bilateral cooperation between the two
countries should be developed in different spheres. As a member of
the European Union and NATO, Romania can develop its relations with
Armenia within the framework of those structures, as well as within
regional organizations.

There are serious perspectives for economic cooperation," the Foreign
Minister of Romania stated. According to him, opportunities should be
found for cooperation within the framework of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization, which is currently chaired by Armenia. The
Minister noted that Romania is ready to share its experience with
Armenia in the context of multifaceted developments, particularly
economic reforms. Having met with business circles of Armenia,
Mr. Comanescu came to the conclusion that the =0 AArmenian-Romanian
potential is greater, and it’s necessary to find ways of developing
and utilizing it.

The two Ministers discussed issues connected with the settlement of
frozen conflicts. "I congratulate and welcome the positive developments
targeted at the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, i.e. the
Moscow Declaration. The agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan
can lead to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of
international law and norms," Comanescu said.

Which principle of international law should be primary in the
Karabakh solution? The Minister said the best and most promising
way is the political dialogue between the parties involved in the
process. According to him, complex issues like the Karabakh conflict
should be solved on the basis of full respect for norms and principles
of international law. Territorial integrity is one of those principles,
but if we look at the Charter of the United Nations and the Helsinki
Final Act, there are other principles, which should be looked at
together."

Edward Nalbandian agreed with his Romanian counterpart and noted that
all the principles are very important for resolution of the issue.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY: "ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES WILL BASE ON THE INTERESTS OF ARMENIANS IN THE ISSUE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Today.Az
politics/48918.html
Nov 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenian authorities will never make unilateral concessions in the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict, said member of the parliamentary
faction of the ruling Republican party of Armenia Edward Sharmazanov.

"The powers will seek the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
resulting from the interests of the Armenians", said Sharmazanov in
the country parliament.

The deputy reminded that the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have
recently signed a declaration on Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He noted
that this document has become a victory of the initiative external
policy of Armenia.

Sharmazanov added that under the first paragraph of the declaration,
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict must be attained only
peacefully.

The declaration by results of a trilateral meeting held near Moscow,
was undersigned by the presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan
on November 2 of 2008. The three presidents agreed to join efforts
to improve situation in the Caucasus and also instructed the Foreign
Ministers to continue work on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"This proves the principles, supported by the Republican Party
of Armenia and President Serzh Sargsyan. We are for the political
resolution of the conflict".

According to Sharmazanov, this position differs from the "bellicose"
statements of Azerbaijan.

The deputy of the ruling party noted that after the football match
between the Armenian and Turkish teams on September 6 and the visit
of President of Turkey Abdullah Gul to Yerevan, most tried to "smear"
the external policy of Armenia, accusing the powers of the intention
to make the Turkish side a mediator in the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict settlement.

The parliamentarian noted that the conflict settlement must be held
in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, of which Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan told during his recent visits to Paris and Brussels.

MHP LEADER BAHCELI SLAMS PRAISE OF US PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA

Today’s Zaman
Nov 12 2008
Turkey

MHP leader expresses support for State Minister Nimet Cubukcu’s
attitude as a stance by a statesman.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli has strongly
rebuked those who assert that the US has resolved its racism problem
by electing Barack Obama as president and that Turkey should take
this as a model.

Speaking at his party’s weekly group meeting, Bahceli started
his address by mentioning Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of
the republic, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of his
death. Referring to Obama’s election as president of the US,
Bahceli acknowledged it was a significant event, adding, however,
that it was extremely exaggerated. Bahceli further noted that the
presence of circles paying greater emphasis and attention to this
election than their own citizens is a typical example of an ongoing
intellectual crisis.

Recalling that Obama and the US are being praised with particular
reference to the argument that the US has overcome its issue of racism
and that Turkey is next in addressing this problem, Bahceli stresses
that the most frequent remark on Obama’s election implies that the
recent change in the US should be taken as a model for Turkey. "I
suggest that those with this mindset take a look at their own past and
the sons of foreigners who rose to the ranks of viziers and sultans in
our thousands-of-years-long administrative history instead of the US."

Arguing that Turks had achieved and maintained their current high moral
standards and values centuries ago, Bahceli further said: "I would
like to remind those who praise the rise of the grandson of a Kenyan
farmer to the rank of US president that the children of the republic
who have come from all over Anatolia — from every social background
and group without facing any disadvantages or discrimination — have
become presidents, prime ministers, deputies and generals during the
republican regime."

A cautionary optimism

Bahceli also says he is partly optimistic and mostly cautious about
Obama’s policies concerning Turkey, stressing that he is hopeful
bilateral relations between Turkey and the US will be consolidated
because of this optimism. Bahceli further noted that Iraqi Kurdish
leader Massoud Barzani supports the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
and is jeopardizing regional stability and security. Recalling Obama’s
remarks made shortly before the American presidential election in
which Obama reiterated his support for the alleged Armenian genocide,
Bahceli also underlined that the new US administration’s policies
vis-a-vis the Cyprus problem are particularly important. The MHP
leader added that they expect a realistic approach toward Turkey,
one which will emphasize the significance of bilateral relations with
President-elect Obama.

Noting that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government
failed to pursue a sound policy on bilateral relations so far and that
it should use this opportunity to embrace a dramatically different
mindset to promote a national interest-oriented policy approach,
Bahceli said: "It is proper to take a look at the presidential
election in the US from this perspective. It will be necessary to
seek new ways in the new era to make sure that Turkey gets off the
wrong path it has taken with minimum damage. To this end, I think
it will be better to stay away from binding engagements with the new
American administration without actually seeing its new approach in
fields that closely concern Turkey."

Asserting that recent developments with respect to the Cyprus issue
over the past five years as well as the AK Party government’s failed
and submissive policies had taken the resolution of this vital
issue for Turkey to a precarious level, Bahceli further argued that
the ground for a resolution to the issue had slipped away. Noting
that a new resolution should be sought to ensure the creation of a
structure with two regions, two nations and two states, Bahceli says:
"Policies the new US administration will pursue as regards the Cyprus
issue will be of particular importance."

Recalling that close ties with Armenia and campaigns sponsored
by Armenian lobbies in the US have had negative repercussions for
US-Turkish bilateral relations, Bahceli said: "The new US president’s
views and approach supporting Armenian arguments during his election
campaign are worrying. The new administration should adopt a realistic
political approach that will emphasize the significance of bilateral
relations to both sides."

Bahceli also expressed support to State Minister Nimet Cubukcu, who has
criticized Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson for secretly recording inside
institutions for developmentally disabled children run by the Social
Services and Child Protection Agency. Describing Cubukcu’s attitude
as a stance by a statesman, Bahceli also endorsed her approach to the
Huseyin Uzmez child abuse case. Bahceli said Cubukcu’s objection to
a forensic report in the case was appropriate, adding that his party
is ready to extend any help and support needed in the matter.

ARMENIAN POW RENOUNCING HIS CITIZENSHIP

AzerNews Weekly
Nov 12 2008
Azerbaijan

An Armenian soldier who voluntarily crossed over to Azerbaijan has
said he was renouncing his Armenian citizenship.

Paruyr Stepanian, 19-years-old, who was born in Yerevan, said he had
fled to Azerbaijan due to the arbitrariness in the Armenian army.

Further, Stepanian told the Baku-based ANS TV channel, he would not
have joined the Armenian military if given a choice.

"There is extreme discrimination in this military, which lacks
discipline. Officers insult private soldiers every step of the way,
mock and beat them to death. They were beating us so hard that, at
times, I couldn`t hold myself back. There were situations in which
I could have grabbed my sub-machine gun and shot them dead."

Stepanian admitted that once, after sustaining a beating, he had
taken the risk and crossed over to the Azerbaijani side. "One day
I was beaten nearly to death, and I decided to go there. The place
I was serving in was very close to the Azerbaijani border. Risking
my life, I went ahead and crossed it and turned myself in to the
Azerbaijani authorities."

As for other reasons for turning for help to a country with which
his nation is in a state of war, the serviceman cited violations of
human rights and the rule of an undemocratic regime in Armenia.

"I don`t want to live in a country which does not grant its citizens
the right of choice. When I was undergoing military service, I had
no choice either. While I was on duty, a vote was cast using my name
in favor of Serzh Sarkisian [Armenian president]. Dictatorship rules
there. That`s why I have appealed to the Azerbaijani government,
saying I don`t want to be an Armenian citizen."

Stepanian further requested that the government of Azerbaijan grant
him refugee status in the country or arrange this with a third party,
such as a European Union state, with the exception of Russia, since
"Russia maintains relations with Armenia, so I don`t want to go there."

Stepanian said social conditions in Armenia are harsh and most families
in the country are currently able to support themselves only due to
the money they receive from their family members abroad.

Further, Stepanian said he had studied the history of the
Armenian-occupied Upper Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, which had
sparked a war between the two South Caucasus republics, as well as
other relevant international conventions.

"I have also studied why the war had erupted and found the right answer
for myself. I am aware that there are Codes indicating that the borders
of countries must stay the way they are. This is proven by the 1976
Helsinki document and the monument dedicated to the 150th anniversary
of Armenians` presence in Garabagh. If they had lived there prior to
Azerbaijanis, why did they erect such a monument? There is only one
logical answer to this question: Garabagh is Azerbaijan`s territory."

In Armenia, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said Yerevan was doing
everything in its power to achieve Stepanian`s release from Azerbaijani
captivity.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the
signing of a ceasefire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy
Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of
international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have not yet achieved
meaningful results.

ARMENIAN POLITICIAN: "THE ONLY QUICK SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH ISSUE IS A VARIANT OF ITS CEDING"

Today.Az
litics/48881.html
Nov 11 2008
Azerbaijan

"Such worsened conflicts can be settled in a few days but the only
way is ceding everything.

Only in this case it will be possible to speak of the soonest
resolution of the conflict.

In the remaining cases this is a mixed knot, which is impossible to
be settled in several months.

The only way for the soonest resolution of the Karabakh problem is
ceding Karabakh", said Paruyr Ayrikyan, chairman of the Association
for national self-determination, at a press conference yesterday.

Commenting on the statement of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan
about possible soonest resolution of the Karabakh conflict, Ayrikyan
recommended all to forget Ter-Petrosyan, featuring him as an ordinary
irresponsible person.

Speaking of the ways of resolution of the Karabakh problem, he noted
that the first president of Armenia should not have spoken of the
idea of self-determination of Karabakh and appointed the elected
president of Karabakh Robert Kocharyan the Prime Minister of Armenia.

"This is a step aside from the idea of unification,
self-determination. Levon Ter-Petrosyan did not resign. He ceded his
powers to the Prime Minister, he appointed, that is the powers were
ceded to another member of the same group", noted he.

Among mistakes, Ayrikyan listed holding talks in Karabakh’s
place: "We must purposely speak of the issue of the Karabakh
self-determination. Armenia must state that it does not go into the
issue, but is a guarantor of Karabakh. The Karabakh residents must
settle their problem".

"The self-determination principle is not the main principle, it is
the crucial one", noted Paruyr Ayrikyan.

PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF CYPRUS TO VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
10.11.2008 17:17

November 12 the President of the House of Representatives of the
Republic of Cyprus Marios Garoyan will arrive in Armenia for an
official visit.

Marios Garoyan is expected to make a speech at the National Assembly,
after which he will have a meeting with the Speaker of the Armenian
Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan. Members of the Cypriot delegation ill
meet with members of the Armenian side of the Interparliamentary
Cooperation Commission between the National Assembly of Armenia and
the House of Representatives of Cyprus.

The same day Mr. Garoyan is scheduled to meet with RA Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan.

At Tsitsernakaberd Memorial the Speaker of the House of Representatives
of Cyprus will lay flowers at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide
victims.

On November 13 Marios Garoyan will be received by the President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The visit of the Parliament Speaker of Cyprus will be summed up with
a joint press conference with RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

AZERI LEADER CONGRATULATES OBAMA ON ELECTION VICTORY

AzTV Baku
Nov 5 2008
Azerbaijan

[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of
congratulation to US President-elect Barack Obama.

The letter states: Dear Mr Barack Obama, I cordially congratulate
you on your election to the post of US president. Your victory in the
election is clear proof of the friendly American people’s confidence in
you and your political course personally. We attach great importance
to relations between the USA and Azerbaijan. Our relations have gone
through an evolutionary process and have reached their current level
of strategic partnership.

At present, our countries’ close involvement in many spheres,
particularly in issues of energy security, and the United States’
comprehensive support for transnational projects are the key factors
of our success. We welcome the efforts of the USA as a co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group to mediate a fair solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem and pin great hopes that the conflict will soon be resolved
on the basis of international legal norms and principles and that an
end will be put to Armenian occupation and the occupied lands will
be liberated. I am confident that the friendly relations between our
countries will further develop successfully.

Once again I want to congratulate you and wish you strong health,
happiness and success for the good of the American people.

[Signed] With best regards,

Ilham Aliyev, the president of the Azerbaijani Republic

TURKEY CANNOT MEDIATE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT – SERZH SARGSYAN

Interfax
Nov 7 2008
Russia

Turkey’s membership in the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group does not provide for Turkey to be a
mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan said.

"Turkey cannot mediate in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Although
Turkey is an OSCE Minsk Group member, it is not its co-chairman,"
Sargsyan told a press conference held jointly with European Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Sargsyan recalled that he signed with the Russian and Azeri presidents
a joint declaration on the conflict settlement in Moscow on November 2.

"One of the provisions of this declaration said that the Nagorno-
Karabakh solution was expected in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group
co- chairmen," he said.

On Friday, a Turkish newspaper, Today’s Zaman, reported referring
to diplomatic sources that Turkish President Adbullah Gul intended
to organize a tripartite summit including the heads of Armenia and
Azerbaijan which would discuss Nagorno-Karabakh settlement and Turkish-
Armenian relations.

Gul informed Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on his initiative and Aliyev
reacted positively, the paper said. Given Armenian consent the date
and the place of the summit will be decided, it said.

Since 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group has been a major forum seeking a
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Minsk Group includes twelve nations [Russia, the U.S., France,
Belarus, Germany, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Turkey and three OSCE
countries, currently Spain, Finland and Greece].

The negotiating process is conducted under the aegis of the co-
chairmen of the Minsk Group holding agreed positions. From 1992,
the U.S. and France have become co-chairmen jointly with Russia.

BARROSO: ARMENIA-TURKEY PROBLEMS SOLVABLE WITH POLITICAL COURAGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.11.2008 15:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of the European Commission said Thursday
he hopes Turkish President’s recent visit to Armenia gave a start of
real dialogue.

Speaking to reporters after the talks with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan in Brussels, Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso described Abdullah
Gul’s visit to Armenia as a remarkable event.

"I understand that problems between Turkey and Armenia are complicated,
dramatic and quite sensitive but they can be overcome, with political
courage," Barroso said, adding that establishing dialogue and reaching
a consensus in the region is vital for the stability and prosperity
of Europe, as both Turkey and Armenia are parts of the continent.

"Exchange of views between Turkish and Armenian officials will
facilitate security of the Caucasus," he said.

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul was in Yerevan on Sept. 6 to watch
a World Cup qualifier between the Armenian and Turkish national
teams. Before the match, the heads of state discussed possibilities
to normalize bilateral relations and said that the meeting will be
an impetus for further dialogue between the two states.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 6, 2008

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": CIVIL SERVICE AND YEREVAN STATUS

MEO DECISION ON "ARAVOT" ARTICLE THAT BECAME A COURT TRIAL SUBJECT

COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION RULING ON THE DISPUTE OF "GALA" TV COMPANY
FOUNDER VERSUS GYUMRI MUNICIPALITY ABOLISHED

"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": CIVIL SERVICE AND YEREVAN STATUS

On November 5 another show of "Press Club" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the
Open Society Institute Human Rights and Governance Grants Program. The
guests of the "Press Club" host, the YPC President Boris Navasardian, were
Chairman of the RA Civil Service Council Manvel Badalian, Chief Editor of
"Aravot" daily Aram Abrahamian and Co-Chair of the International Association
of Social Scientists "Yerevan Academy" Vardan Gevorgian. Subjects of
discussion were the principles and practice of civil service.

The next program of "Press Club" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Wednesday, November 12, at 23.00.

On November 1 another show of "Press Club+" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media". It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the Embassy of
Great Britain in Armenia. Program host, the YPC President Boris Navasardian
and "Press Club+" participants, Political Council member of "Republic" party
Suren Sureniants and the President of Communal Financiers Association Vahan
Movsisian discussed the issue of the status of Yerevan in the context of
draft law "On Local Self-Administration and Territorial Government in
Yerevan", approved by the RA National Assembly in the first reading in
December 2007. The audience composed of representatives of Yerevan NGOs and
students of Department of Journalism of Yerevan State University also
participated in the talk-show.

The next program of "Press Club+" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Saturday, November 8, at 17.40.

MEO DECISION ON "ARAVOT" ARTICLE THAT BECAME A COURT TRIAL SUBJECT

On October 31 Media Ethics Observatory rendered an expert judgment on the
article "If Your Neighbor is a Policeman", published in "Aravot" daily on
June 25, 2008. As it has been reported, the article became a subject of a
court trial between "Aravot" and Arthur Ghevondian, RA police officer, who
demanded to induce publishing a refutation of the information which, in his
opinion, discredits his honor and reputation. During the hearings starting
on October 21 in the Civil Court of Yerevan the defendant motioned that the
plaintiff point out specific words or expressions in the piece considered as
discrediting his honor and reputation (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, October
17-23, 2008). On October 22 Arthur Ghevondian provided the necessary
clarifications. On October 24 the author of the piece, "Aravot"
Correspondent Ruzan Minasian, in her turn, applied to MEO to receive an
expert judgment on the article.

Analyzing the piece "If Your Neighbor is a Policeman", MEO concluded that
"there are no obvious violations of Code of Conduct and of international
standards". At the same time, MEO judgment stressed, one phrase arose some
doubt: "(…) Ghevondian, making use of his police connections (…)",
which, according to the author of the article, is based on witness evidence,
but as it was not followed by an appropriate reference, it was perceived as
the author’s words. Besides, the expressions disputed by the plaintiff as
"data discrediting his honour and reputation" and "factual inaccuracies", in
the opinion of MEO, "are not facts but conclusions or evaluating opinions,
based on the facts containing in the article". The judgment stresses that
neither the truth of this conclusions nor their agreement to reality can be
proved, and brings one of the clauses of the decision of European Court on
Human Rights on the case of "Lingens vs. Austria" as an example.

The MEO judgment also states that, "Some acute expressions are also used in
the article, which reflect the stereotypes rooted in the society, but they
either cannot be viewed as an insult from the point of view of professional
journalist ethics."

Media Ethics Observatory was formed on March 10, 2007 by the heads of
Armenian media who supported the YPC self-regulation initiative (see YPC
Weekly Newsletter, March 9-15, 2007). Its mission consists in considering
the complaints-appeals regarding the violation of the Code of Conduct of
Media Representatives and giving its opinion on them. Currently the Code of
Conduct and its addendum, the Declaration on Election and Referendum
Coverage Principles, are signed by heads of 31 media. The initiative is also
supported by 8 journalistic associations.

COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION RULING ON THE DISPUTE OF "GALA" TV COMPANY
FOUNDER VERSUS GYUMRI MUNICIPALITY ABOLISHED

On October 31 RA Court of Cassation abolished the ruling of court of general
jurisdiction of Shirak region on dispute between Gyumri municipality and
founder of "Gala" TV company of Gyumri, "CHAP" LLC. As it has been reported,
on February 29 the court of general jurisdiction of Shirak region obliged
"CHAP" LLC to stop the use of the city TV tower and dissemble the equipment
installed. The founder of "GALA" challenged this ruling in RA Civil Court of
Appeals, which on April 14, 2008 left it in force (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, February 29 – March 6, 2008, and April 11-17, 2008).

At the same time "CHAP" challenged to the Court of Cassation one more
decision, announced by RA Administrative Court on March 19, 2008, on the
dispute with Gyumri Tax Inspection. According to this ruling, founder of
"Gala" was obliged to pay into the state budget tax debts and fines,
exceeding the amount of 25 million drams (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March
14-20, 2008). The debt was discharged, while "CHAP" applied to the Court of
Cassation. Nevertheless, the complaint was dismissed.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: