Author: Kajoyan Gevork

‘ISRAEL ABLE TO HELP AZERBAIJAN TO BECOME STRONGEST REGIONAL POWER’
Avigdor Eskin

News.Az
Thu 03 May 2012

News.Az interviews Avigdor Eskin, Israeli political scientist.

Israeli FM A.Lieberman told reporters during his visit to Baku that
Azerbaijan could mediate between Israel and Arab world. Does it mean
that after worsening of ties with Turkey, Israel started to view
Azerbaijan as a perspective bridge for a dialogue with the Arab world?

Azerbaijan today has different potential than it had ten years ago.

Its potential to become the strongest regional power seems quite real
today. Heydar Aliyev once chose Israel as a main military and strategic
alliance. As one of the wisest politicians of the twentieth century,
he had the good understanding that Azerbaijan needs a strong strategic
partner, but it has to preserve maximal independence. Thus, full
obedience to US interests cost very much to Georgia. Full obedience
to Russia can hardly be even better. Meanwhile, Israel is able to
help Azerbaijan become the strongest regional power without attempts
to influence the special nature of this unique country.

One of the scripts of developments in your region is the Iranian
split. Ahmadinejad’s power is on the verge of collapse. It is just
about internal processes in Iran rather than its external conflicts.

Strengthening Azerbaijani factor inside Iran is the main component
of any future tendencies there. If Tehran does not provide the rights
for their schools, their language and their culture to Azerbaijanis,
they will obtain a very strong opposition in their face. It all is
discussed in the days when the power of Ayatollahs resembles the last
years of power of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

In this situation, Azerbaijan is gradually becoming a big actor on the
world arena. It is quite natural that he may become a very interesting
and creative mediator between Arabs and Israel.

Did Lieberman manage to disperse the rumors about Israel’s intention
to use Azerbaijani airdromes to attack Iran?

Such a plan exists on the pages of some western newspapers and that’s
all. Israel does not need such services by Azerbaijan. After Israeli
operation against Iranian nuclear facilities is conducted, you will
see that my words were based on the knowledge and understanding of
the real situation, rather than speculations like the majority of
the journalists do.

Do you think that the absence of the anti-Iranian rhetoric of
the Israeli FM will influence the Iranian annoyance with the
Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation and the very fact of Lieberman’s
visit to Baku?

Iran is envious about Azerbaijan today. While Tehran’s policy has led
to a disaster in the country today, Azerbaijani achievements are stable
and undoubted. I think that the Azerbaijani leaders can easily show
up to the high-handed neighbor. The peaceful and creative essence of
Baku’s policy is undoubted. This country has a special path. No one
must interfere with the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.

Foreign Minister Lieberman has demonstrated respect related to the
country and its leaders and avoided the statements that could embarrass
his partners.

During the Azerbaijani-Israeli talks in Baku, the sides discussed
interaction within the UN Security Council. In what issues can the
parties cooperate within this structure?

Israel is keen on strengthening the world status of Azerbaijani
diplomacy. Jerusalem is able to help Azerbaijan to turn into a big
world actor from a country of which we heard only in the context of
the conflict with Armenia earlier. By promoting Baku’s involvement in
world diplomacy, Israel is doing a great favor to the entire Muslim
world. Azerbaijani model is worthy of studying and following.

Its introduction can reduce tensions between Muslims and Europe. This
is a model of coexistence and constructive cooperation.

Azerbaijan has supported the initiative of Palestine in UN for
the international recognition of the Palestinian state. Can this
circumstance hinder the interaction of Azerbaijan and Israel in the
same organization?

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry did the right thing in the context
of short-term interests. But if we speak about the long-term
strategy, the recognition of the right of Arabs residing here for an
independent state of Palestine is a blow to the strategic interests
of Azerbaijan. You have been fighting terrorism and extremism for
all those years. In terms of a simple logic and the very ideology
of the conflict, recognition of Palestine inevitably promotes the
recognition of Karabakh as an Armenian sovereign territory.

However, disagreement on separate issues will not hinder the strategic
cooperation between our countries. They proceed so successfully and
naturally that there are no reasons for doubts and concerns.

NICOLAS SARKOZY PLANS TO CIRCULATE NEW BILL PENALIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

news.am
May 03, 2012 | 13:38

Both French presidential candidates Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois
Hollande reaffirmed their commitment to introduce a new bill on
criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial.

In their separate letters to chairman of the national council of
Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF)
Alexis Govciyan and CCAF co-chairman Ara Toranian, the candidates
promised to present a new bill in June, Nouvelles d`Arménie reports.

~SBe sure that on behalf of France I will continue the struggle to
recognize the truth and restore justice on the Armenian issue,~T
Sarkozy said in his letter.

Earlier Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande confirmed their readiness
to adopt the law criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial despite
recent decision of the Constitutional Council.

ARF-D: “SYSTEM AUTHORITY CHANGE MEANS IT IS NOT ONLY NECESSARY TO GET RID OF THE FAULT, BUT ALSO OF ITS REASONS”

22:00 . 02/05

ARF-D’s closing pre-election rally took place at Azatutyun Square
today in the capital. Vahan Hovhannisyan, Armen Rustamyan and Artsvik
Minasyan delivered speeches. They touched upon the campaign process,
during which proud and fearless citizens woke up in people and the
trust towards ARF-D was strengthened.

Visited the regions during the campaign ARF-D campaign groups at the
beginning met fearful and cautious citizens. But, according to ARF-D
Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisyan with each meeting fearless citizens
woke up in them, who are ready to defend their votes.

At Azatutyun Square in Yerevan the ARF-D Bureau member stated they
have noted in people great trust towards ARF-D.

“We know there are village heads, governors, mayors who can exercise
pressure, but don’t give way to despair, be strong…,” he urged.

Vahan Hovhannisyan thinks the fact that the villages are gradually
becoming empty is alarming: “Why do people leave the villages and
come to Yerevan? Because there is no way to live there.”

Stating that the authority members have already started to frighten
people, he brought facts how in Masis some coworkers of “Paros”
social assistance programme enter houses and threaten to deprive
them of benefits. Unfortunately, this is not the only injustice:
“People are obliged to vote openly…”

MP Artsvik Minasyan, in turn, stated that ARF-D’s pre-election
programme didn’t have a serious rival. Then the MP presented what
the state and the people will gain, if they come to power.

“Reforms will take place in all spheres if ARF-D wins, we’ll triple
the budget and will create 200 000 jobs,” Minasyan said.

He noted their programme was developed based on realistic calculations,
which specialists confirm, too.

ARF-D Armenia Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamyan, in turn,
stated that ARF-D speaks about things which only it is able to realize.

“All speak about changes, as all understand that changes are
necessary,” Armen Rustamyan noted.

According to him, ARF-D is fighting for complete authority change:
“ARF-D says in order to change this situation, the president and the
post must be changed…”

According to ARF-D member, a system authority change will mean not
only getting rid of the fault but also of its reasons.

A concert was given at the end of ARF-D’s last rally. Before that,
the representatives of ARF-D’s proportional list came out to the
stage promising to bring sharp changes in each family in case they win.

ADIBEKYAN: GAGIK TSARUKYAN’S TEAM CAPABLE TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
03/05/2012

“Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan are holding the most successful
campaign. Republican Party of Armenia managed to maintain its
electorate, while Prosperous Armenia doubled it,” sociologist Aharon
Adibekyan introduced the final dressing of election campaign.

According to survey results, “Heritage” Party ranks 3rd regarding
successful campaign and the ARF ranks 4th.

“Dashnaktsutyun waited until everybody unveiled their plans,” said
the sociologist.

The sociologist described Gagik Tsarukyan’s team as a powerful
phenomenon capable to strengthen democracy in Armenia.

“Generally second power forms the field and in this respect Prosperous
Armenia deserves to be praised,” said A Adibekyan.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA REJECTED PREMISES IN SISIAN TOWN, PAPER SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2012 – 11:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Zhoghovurd daily, head of Prosperous
Armenia party’s territorial election office in Armenian town of Sisian
filed a complaint to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). He said
the local educational institutions refused to provide room to the
party in their facilities.

CEC unanimously rejected to further proceed with the application
saying the complaint referred not to providing a hall area but to
meeting the staff of these institutions.

Meanwhile, this issue is not regulated by the legislation, paper says.

RUSSIA’S AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ARMENIAN COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER

news.am
May 03, 2012 | 11:34

YEREVAN.- Leader of Armenia’s Communist Party Ruben Tovmasyan met
with Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko on Thursday.

They discussed the election campaign, situation in the country, wide
range of geo-political issues. They stated that Communist Party is a
supporter of further strengthening of military and strategic alliance
between Armenia and Russia as well as development of economic and
cultural ties.

REPORT: ISRAEL WIRETAPS CONVERSATIONS DURING TURKISH MILITARY TRAINING FLIGHTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2012 – 12:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Israel has wiretapped conversations between Turkish
pilots on military training flights, a Turkish news report said on
Wednesday, May 2, prompting Turkish authorities to initiate a program
to encrypt conversations during these flights.

Israel wiretapped the conversations among pilots of Turkish fighter
jets during their training flights at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base
Command, apparently in a spying mission aimed at finding out details
about the Turkish Air Forces’ (THK) training programs and flight
strategies, the report published in the Haberturk daily said.

Acting on this piece of intelligence, the THK has initiated a project
to encrypt the communication between the fighter jets. Turkish
engineers are currently working to develop a software system for
encoding.

In Konya, the young aviators are undergoing initial training before
passing on to comprehensive combat readiness training, which is a final
training phase to become an F-16 fighter pilot, Today’s Zaman reports.

Relations between Israel and Turkey, once close regional allies,
worsened after Israel’s deadly raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara.

Until 2010, there were 16 agreements in effect between Turkey and
Israel regarding military issues, including cooperation and the mutual
training of troops.

POLITICAL CRIME REHAB
Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:09:08 – 03/05/2012

All kinds of politicians in Armenia are skillfully using Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and his group for different games and consider him as
a marionette for fighting opponents.

In the past few years the president of Armenia transformed from a
reanimated populist to a toy politician, an acting politician in the
political game which is getting tougher. Despite my absolutely negative
attitude to this symbol of ideology of the Armenian total capitulation,
I feel pity because he had any role except for an individual role in
the political process.

His main opponent achieved the main thing – divided it into several
groups and reduced it to a marginal, tertiary group which has no hope
for political success. Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his groups were sold to
“interested observers” in the West as a sign of democracy and tolerance
of the election campaign. (A young friend of mine noticed that Levon
Ter-Petrosyan reminds me of the main hero of Boleslaw Prus’s “The
Doll”. In fact, this character is highly important for understanding
of what is happening in our country now.)

In the lasting stage of the election campaign Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
group together with the Prosperous Armenia Party carries out the
role of a porter in a beautiful uniform. It should be noted that it
was a great achievement for several people who actively joined this
party’s team.

It is possible that Robert Kocharyan would like to underline that
his policy during his presidency, that is 1998, was not erroneous
when he did not undertake anything to discuss political and criminal
crimes of the previous regime, including the wealth stolen by the
regime, and thus confirmed the legitimacy and immunity of Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s regime.

It looks like a conscious or subconscious repetition of the past
events. However, everyone would practically wish to push Levon
Ter-Petrosyan into a post-election fight as a sacrificial lamb on
the altar of the cynical game.

In addition, everyone understands that Levon Ter-Petrosyan does not
care about the “destiny” of his supporters and aides whom he threw
into the furnace of the fratricide war of March 2008. Hence, everything
fits in its place in accordance with the relationships among a popular
opposition party and a waning company of obsolete politicians.

At the same time, the miserable remnants of the ARF-D were cast for
this scenario who can hardly assemble a rally with their relatives
and neighbors. In fact, Robert Kocharyan and his fellows reduced
Dashnaktsutyun and Levon Ter-Petrosyan to one team for a paradoxical
deal.

But this is a trifle. The reanimation of the All-Armenian Movement
and Levon Ter-Petrosyan is a dangerous deal for everyone, even the
most influential political force. Having forgotten about themselves
and the past, amid a political scramble, the politicians cannot
understand that they are facilitating the rehabilitation of the ugliest
ruling regime of Armenia which established the ideology of national
capitulation, false political perceptions and values, tradition of
clans in administration and business, ugly rules of elections.

During the regime of the All-Armenian Movement the post-Communist
establishment combined with the conformist Yerevanite “intelligentsia”
and city riffraff created not a middle class but a typical average
statistical criminal core. Now they want to rehabilitate this in
their petty plans.

At last the government t regained its senses and stopped
demonstratively pushing Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s group to parliament, it
is simply meaningless because it turned out that the Western sponsors
are not interested in Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s success in the election.

The West would like to use this group now and then rid of it as soon
as it gets annoyed with their pretensions. The election of the group
of Levon Ter-Petrosyan to parliament will be an important signal of
readiness of our society to surrender itself and part of the homeland
to the enemy, which is only one of the ugly signals.

Now behind the curtain of the election campaign when it is clear that
the activity of voters is low, even very low, it is time to realize
that the political parties and groups appeared face to face with each
other, not with people. This is a dangerous situation because they
will have to fight for every single vote. Now the main problem is not
democratic elections. The main thing will be prevention of repetition
of March 2008. This aim is pursued by the consciously losing forces,
and it will be the indicator of the country’s political maturity
which will have to enter a new stage as a partner to global strategies.

LA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY PASSES GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

asbarez
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Southern California Armenian Democrats

LOS ANGELES-The Los Angeles County Democratic Party voted and
passed a resolution on the Armenian Genocide authored by the Southern
California Armenian Democrats – an LACDP Chartered club. The resolution
received widespread support from various organizations and clubs
on its way to final consideration by the LA County Democratic Party
executive committee and a copy of it will be sent to the White House,
Representatives Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Howard Barman, Henry Waxman,
and the California Democratic Party.

The vote came on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide – the World War 1 massacre and deportation of over 1.5
million Armenians from their ancestral homelands in present day
Eastern Turkey. Despite numerous official reports, eye witness
testimony and scholarly research, the Turkish government renounces
culpability regarding the genocide and engages in an active worldwide
campaign of denial.

The Resolution passed by the LACDP primarily calls for members of
the Democratic Party State Central Committee to be educated and made
aware of the Armenian Genocide and its subsequent denial by Turkish
authorities. The resolution was authored by the Southern California
Armenian Democrats – the first ever LA County chartered Armenian
Democratic organization. Earlier in the year, members of SCAD had
traveled to San Diego to participate in and attend the California
State Democratic Party’s annual convention. At the convention, they
organized and carried out a peaceful protest at an event organized by
the California Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus who had invited
commentator and host of the Young Turks program, Cenk Uygur. Mr. Uygur
is founder and host of the ill-named program and has made denialist
statements about the Genocide on his program website.

Many democrats in attendance were not aware of Mr. Uygur’s comments.

The Chair of the Caucus reaffirmed the Caucus’s support of the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide but allowed Mr. Uygur to take
the stage despite protests.

“We have to educate members of the Democratic Party about the Armenian
Genocide and not assume that everyone knows about this issue as well
as we do,” said SCAD Chair Armond Aghakhanian. “We will work on this
issue and see it through. We owe it to all Armenians regardless
of party affiliation. It’s an issue of basic human rights and the
Democratic Party will reaffirm its moral stance.”

The Resolution will next be considered at the Party’s quarterly
Executive Board meeting in July.

Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) is the largest
regional Armenian-American Democratic Club in Southern California,
working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and
supporters throughout California. For more information please visit
or on face book or call 866-609-4999.

Below is the text of resolution passed by LACDP

AWARENESS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE Whereas, between 1915 and 1923, the
government of Turkey and the Young Turk Party launched a premeditated
campaign of extermination against the indigenous Armenian population
of Asia Minor by massacres, death marches, rapes, and looting, causing
the death of one and a half million persons and scattering survivors
around the world in a global Diaspora; and

Whereas, the California Democratic Party is on record joining
Armenian-Americans, the international community and all people who
care about justice, in their remembrance of the Armenian Genocide
and their desire to ensure that the crime of genocide must never be
legitimized or forgotten, wherever and whenever it occurs; and

Whereas, the California Democratic Party has called upon the United
States Congress and the President of the United States to recognize
that the horrific crimes against humanity committed by the Ottoman
government from 1915 to 1923 must accurately and unequivocally be
characterized as genocide.

Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Democratic Party,
on this ninety-seventh anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, commend
the Armenian community for bringing awareness to the genocide and
crimes against humanity and to ask the California Democratic Party to
publicly endorse efforts to educate DSCC members about the Armenian
Genocide and reject efforts to deny this crime; and,

Be It Further Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Democratic
Party send a copy of this resolution to President Barack Obama,
to Congressmembers Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Howard Barman, Henry
Waxman, and the California Democratic Party.

LA TURQUIE CONDAMNE FERMEMENT LES ACTIVITES DE COLONISATION ISRAELIENNES
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 3 mai 2012

La Turquie a fermement condamne mercredi les activites d’Israël en
matière de construction de nouvelles colonies en Cisjordanie, disant
que toutes ses colonies juives dans les territoires occupes violent
le droit international.

La Turquie a condamne la decision d’Israël de lancer la construction
des colonies a Jerusalem-est et de legaliser trois colonies de
peuplement dans la Cisjordanie occupee, selon le communique publie
par le ministère turc des Affaires etrangères.

L’Israël a annonce mardi qu’il avait accorde le statut juridique a
trois colonies de peuplement dans la Cisjordanie occupee, une decision
qui pourrait consolider la coalition au pouvoir, mais a attire de
vives critiques des Etats-Unis, de l’ Europe et des Palestiniens.

Le communique indique que l’ensemble des activites de colonisation
israeliennes dans les territoires palestiniens sont une violation du
droit international, ajoutant que l’insistance israelienne poursuit
les activites de colonisation avec indifference a la reaction
internationale empeche la reprise du processus de paix au Moyen-Orient
et met serieusement en danger la solution a deux-etats au conflit
israelo-palestinien.

La Turquie a egalement exhorte la communaute internationale a continuer
a condamner les colonies israeliennes et a appele l’ Israël a honorer
ses obligations par le respect du droit international et a mettre
une fin immediate a toutes ses activites qui endommagent le processus
de paix.