Author: Kajoyan Gevork

FM: NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS ARMENIA’S TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AGAINST AZERBAIJAN

Trend
Nov 29 2011
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry regarded Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan’s recent statements about character of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict as ‘gratifying and at the same time strange’.

“It is gratifying and at the same time strange to hear such statements
by a person, who has attempted to convince all that “there is no
Christian to the east of us [Armenians]” and that “the Armenians are
allegedly ancient Christian nation in the world”, Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry’s spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend on Tuesday.

He was commenting on the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement
that “the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not religious in nature”.

According to the Armenian media reports, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan said on Monday at the CIS Inter-religious Council Presidium
meeting that the Karabakh conflict is not religious in nature and
one cannot allow religious of the two countries – Christianity and
Islam opposed each other.

“One can feel evolution of Mr. Sargsyan’s thinking. However, even
without his statements, it is obvious that the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is not religious in nature, and it is clear that this
conflict is based on Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan,”
Abdullayev said.

“It is interesting that Sargsyan attempts to look constructive and
tolerant, despite the fact that over these years Armenia has destroyed
Muslim religious and cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani
territories and current Armenia’s territories which belonged to the
Azerbaijanis,” Abdullayev said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

CIS RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC PROBLEMS TO BE COMBATED WITH MORAL REVIVAL

Interfax
Nov 28 2011
Russia

Yerevan, November 28, Interfax – Participants in the CIS Interreligious
Council meeting held in Yerevan believe that immorality is the main
challenge of our time.

“The world is now in a difficult situation. Ecological problems,
man-made disasters, and the global economic crisis are making millions
of people desperate and dismayed. All measures that scientific and
economic problems can offer in response are either not good enough
or have side effects,” the Council said in a communique.

However, the authors of the document believe favorable conditions to
ensure peace and prosperity in the world can be effectively achieved
by moral revival.

“We are hoping that the 21st century will become an age of morality
in the same way as the 20th century was the age of technological
revolution. In order for that to happen, the people of the world should
use the unique experience of the spiritual traditions of nations,”
the religious leaders said.

The authors of the document believe that only time-tested moral
rules can become the foundation of “proper political, economic,
and all other systems of national and international life.”

The meeting participants also spoke about the events taking place
in the Middle East and Northern Africa, saying that “the natural
gravitation of people to freedom will not succeed if it leads to chaos,
encroachments on the religious freedoms of historic minorities and
human rights in general, the replacement of the real will of nations
with external ideological, political, and economic influences.”

WELCOMING STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN AT THE SESSION OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CIS INTERFAITH COUNCIL

Office of the President of the Republic of Armenia

Nov 28 2011

Your Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Your Holiness,
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Honorable Sheikh-Ul-Islam,
Head of Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus Allashukyur
Pashazade,

Distinguished leaders of religious denominations,

Dear Guests,

I am deeply honored to greet and welcome distinguished participants
of the Summit of the CIS Interfaith Council, His Holiness and all
guests of our country. It is emblematic that this meeting is taking
place on the flanks of the Biblical Mountain Masis which symbolizes
our country and our people. Noah landed here, emerged from his ark
and restarted the history of the humankind.

We are proud that our country, which has millennia-long history,
is one of the world~Rs most ancient centers of dissemination of
Christianity. More than seventeen hundred years ago, the Armenian
people had decided to make the commands of the Holy Scripture the
anchor of their own system of values.

The Saint Armenian Apostolic Church has been the standard bearer and
protector of our people throughout these times. On different stages
of our history, the Church had been compelled to assume the role of
state structures. In times, when the Armenian nation was deprived of
its statehood, our Church became the most crucial organizer of the
Armenian culture and education, holding high the noble idea of being
sovereign and of reestablishing our own free state.

The Armenian Church has also been the one who has been handing over
from generation to generation our faith and universal values as
well as the unbending proponent for the preservation of the Armenian
identity. I am confident, that the same is true for every religious
community represented here. Spiritual rise should become a reality
in each of our countries.

Distinguished Participants,

Spiritual lessons of your generation have a special mission. You made
your decision to assume religious duties in the situation when the
state policies were not conducive for such a decision. However, you
had followed the call of your hearts and conquered that unwarranted
pressure.

Times have changed, and now every individual is free to profess his or
her religion. Present here today are the leaders of Christian, Muslim,
Judaist and Buddhist traditional religions. This is a collective
power of its own kind, which symbolizes the supremacy of a peaceful
coexistence of different religions and mutual respect.

In modern world, these concepts are being discussed very often.

However, during these discussions it is also sometimes forgotten
that ~Stolerate~T means to come to terms with something which may
be not very pleasing, while it can be only the minimum of what
we all want. We should first of all attach importance to mutual
contacts rather than isolation. We should attach importance to mutual
understanding and not to suspicion toward the so called ~Saliens~T. We
have to transcend tolerance and move to a higher stage which represents
deep mutual respect.

This conference is called to prove that the only right way to solve
problems of the contemporary world is to unite our forces in the face
of common challenges, greater solidarity of the people regardless of
their nationality and religious beliefs. Today, world needs peace and
not dividedness. Down this road we should not disregard or subordinate
but to encourage and strengthen spiritual roots of the people. The
roots that give sprouts of love, kindness, respect and connivance,
which promote accord and establishment of peace.

Dear Friends,

The Armenian nation has made its historic and irreversible decision
to develop through the utmost cooperation with its neighbors, friends
and the entire world. We believe that disagreements and problems
should be solved through contacts, negotiations and cooperation and
not through threats or increased tension. We have been ready to offer
hand of friendship even in the times when we were not sure that the
response would be equipollent. Disappointment felt after making such
difficult decisions is, of course, can be very discouraging.

You are aware that the Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a
great pain for us. And things I have said, first of all pertain
to that problem. The process of peaceful negotiations conducted in
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group is the only practical way to
solve it. Armenia will move steadfastly in that direction since any
alternative will bring no benefit to us or to the neighboring nation.

Negotiations over such a tangled and compound problem require patience
and adherence to principles. Among our principled approaches I would
like to underscore that this conflict is not of religious nature and
any attempt to provide it with a religious lining is nonconstructive.

It shouldn~Rt be allowed that our two great religions ~V Christianity
and Islam, which are professed by our nations are set off against
each other. Even more inadmissible are the actions perpetrated under
the cover of the conflict which are aimed at the destruction of the
monuments of historical, cultural and spiritual heritage.

Before this august audience on behalf of the Republic of Armenia,
I reiterate our commitment to protect all such monuments and restore
them if needed. The best proof of our policy is the Blue Mosque ~V
a monument of the XVIII century situated in the heart of Armenia~Rs
capital Yerevan.

Concluding this part of my remarks, I welcome the dialogue between
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and Sheikh-Ul-Islam Allashukyur
Pashazade which is conducted with the mediation of Patriarch Kirill
of Moscow and All Russia. I thank you for your efforts which promote
a peaceful settlement of the Artsakh conflict.

Taking this opportunity, I congratulate His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
on his 65th birth anniversary which he celebrated quite recently. Your
Holiness, I wish you all the best, strength and vigor for the sake
of spiritual rise of our brothers and sisters in faith.

Dear Guests,

I believe that morality and faith are interrelated. I think that
without faith, without spiritual vision a person is not able to open
all of his potential, to move forward unimpeded, develop and improve.

In the modern complex and boisterous world you are beacons for the
thousands of believers who need your wisdom and your sublimity. Your
cooperation and unity have critical importance for your followers. I
am confident that these issues too will be discussed during this
conference.

I wish all the participants of this event productive work and material
results in disclosing and finding ways for the resolution of the
issues which are of vital importance for the CIS and the world.

God bless you all.

Thank you.

PREVENTIVE APOLOGIES?: ERDOGAN ADMISSION OF KURDISH MASSACRES VIEWED IN YEREVAN AS COURTING EU MEMBERSHIP
By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow

28.11.11 | 14:49

Photo:

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

After the surprise announcement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, who apologized for the massacre of Kurds in Dersim in 1937-39,
when, according to official figures, 13,000 were killed, a question
arose about the next step. First of all, whether this will be limited
to an apology, or there will be some reimbursement to the Kurds
for their material losses, and secondly, whether the Turkish prime
minister will also apologize to the Armenians for the 1915 Genocide.

Enlarge Photo Giro Manoyan Apparently, Turkey feels very uncomfortable
because of international pressure and, by taking ‘preventive’ steps,
is trying to shift the matter from the material-territorial plane
into the moral dimension.

Any hope of an apology to Armenia, has always been shaded by whether
Genocide survivors would demand a return of their land.

Armenia has repeatedly stated that it has no territorial claims
against Turkey. At the same time, the government of Armenia does
not recognize the current borders of Turkey. And, for decades, the
Armenian Diaspora has pushed for international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and the fact that the Turkish Republic was built
through the extermination of the indigenous population. And this could
call into question the legal basis of Turkey’s territorial integrity.

Presumably, the Turkish government is preparing some kind of gesture
timed to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915,
although it is hard to predict anything now. This opinion was expressed
by Turkish historian, professor of the Clark University in the United
States, prominent scholar Taner Akcam. “I do not know what it might
be, but will not be surprised if something happens,’ said Akcam.

Armenian experts generally comment on this statement in light
of Turkey’s intentions to join the European Union. Giro Manoyan,
Director of the International Secretariat of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) Bureau in Yerevan, said Erdogan’s apology
wasn’t really an apology and that such steps towards Armenians were
unlikely.

Earlier, Turkish President Abdullah Gul, visiting from London,
stated that problems that exist in the relations between Armenia
and Turkey will not be solved by a single step. According to him,
the normalization process is so frozen that whole raft of initiatives
is needed for a thaw.

In its turn, Turkey’s influential Today’s Zaman newspaper raises
deep psychological issues, trying to figure out why Ankara does
not recognize the tragedies of the early 20th century. The reason,
according to the newspaper, lies in the foundations of the modern
Turkish identity.

“There are even more painful factors, some of which have been pointed
out by Taner Akcam and other writers. Some of those who played active
roles in the massacres of the Armenians were also part of the founding
cadres of the Turkish Republic. Thus, facing up to the past also
means that we may lose our founding ‘heroes’ and have them turned
into a series of ‘murderers’ to be embarrassed about instead. It is
now clear that we in Turkey have constructed an identity on top of
this whole denial mechanism,” writes the Turkish publication.

SPIRITUAL LEADERS URGE REMOVAL OF NAGORNY KARABAKH SNIPERS
Ilya Pitalev

RIA Novosti
8/11/2011
YEREVAN

Three spiritual leaders on Monday signed a declaration on the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict and asked the parties
to the conflict – Armenia and Azerbaijan – to remove snipers from
the front.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Catholicos of all Armenians
Karekin II and Caucasus Muslim leader Allahshukur Pashazade expressed
“adherence to the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh problem” and
“support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group.”

Nagorny Karabakh, a breakaway region on Azerbaijani territory with a
predominantly ethnic Armenian population, has been at the center of
a bitter conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Nagorny Karabakh has remained under Armenian control since the late
1980s, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan. The
conflict is estimated to have left more than 30,000 people dead on
both sides between 1988 and 1994.

Last week, two Nagorny Karabakh soldiers were killed by Azerbaijani
snipers. Over the next few days, Karabakh servicemen killed about
seven Azerbaijani soldiers.

The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising Russia, France and the United States,
has mediated the conflict for many years without much progress.

Patriarch Kirill, Karekin II and Pashazade are attending a meeting
of the CIS Interfaith Council in Yerevan on November 28-29.

“ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF GEORGIA” HOPES RA PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO GEORGIA TO ENHANCE ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 28, 2011
YEREVAN

During the November 29-30 official visit of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan the Armenian-Georgian centuries-long relations will
be enhanced.

Press service of “Armenian Community of Georgia” told Armenpress that
within the framework of the visit, they propose to discuss the issue
of availability of the education in Georgia in the mother language.

There is no pedagogical university in the country, where it would be
possible to prepare cadres for working in the Armenian departments
of Georgia’s schools, which would increase the education level at
Armenian schools and departments, as well as would enable to discuss
the issue of returning the cultural heritage to their legal owners
and of recovering it.

Georgia has not yet recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide
committed in 1915-1923 in the Ottoman Empire. Every year “Armenian
Community of Georgia” applies to corresponding structures and
departments calling to recognize the Armenian Genocide, which has
already been recognized by leading states of the world.

“Armenian Community of Georgia” is a non-governmental organization in
Georgia, which unites Georgian citizens of Armenian descent. By the
latest official information, more than 240.000 citizens of Armenian
origin live in Georgia.

SERZH SARGSYAN HOSTS SHEIKH-UL-ISLAM ALLAHSHUKUR PASHAZADEH AND KAREKIN II

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 28, 2011
YEREVAN

President Serzh Sargsyan hosted today Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims
Office Sheikh-ul-islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh and Catholicos of
All-Armenians Karekin II.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that the head of the
republic highly assessed the role of the inter-religious agreement
in the whole world, attached importance to formation of tolerance
atmosphere in the region and expressed confidence that the religious
leaders can have a huge role in that issue. Serzh Sargsyan welcomed
the efforts of the Catholicos of All-Armenians and Chairman of the
Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh
directed toward supporting the solution of the conflict through
a dialogue.

Sheikh-ul-islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh noted that any step toward peace
makes them, the religious figures, happy. He expressed confidence that
it will be possible to reach peaceful settlement of the issue thanks to
the efforts of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. Sheikh-ul-islam
Allahshukur Pashazadeh stressed that he has repeatedly mentioned in
conversations with the Azerbaijani President that war cannot be a
solution to the issue.

ACTIVISTS DEMAND THE RELEASE OF VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN

Tert.am
28.11.11

A group of Armenian activists held a march on Monday to the Georgian
embassy in Yerevan and handed a letter addressed to Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili.

In the letter the activists demanded the Georgian president to release
Vahagn Chakhalyan – a Samtskhe-Javakheti Armenian activist who has
been jailed for three years now.

The march that started from the statue of Alexander Tamanyan in central
Yerevan was also of symbolic significance as it was organized on the
birthday of Vahagn Chakhalyan.

“We demand the Georgian president to release our compatriot,” said
one of the activists who preferred to remain anonymous.

“And the march is important in the sense that mainly youth are
taking part in it which shows that they are not indifferent to their
compatriots,” the respondent added.

The group of activists, approximately 50 people, arrived at the
embassy and demanded that one of the embassy personnel come out and
respond to their questions.

None of them did, however, show up, and the marchers could only hand
the letter addressed to Mikheil Saakashvili, calling on him to ensure
fair trial for Vahagn Chakhalyan and set him free.

Vahagn Chakhalyan has been vocal in his criticism of Georgian
authorities over the problems of the predominantly ethnic
Armenian-populated Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti.

“In the letter, we also mentioned all those violations of law that
our compatriot was subjected to,” said the activist.

“Particularly, he was regularly beaten up, deprived of minimum
sanitation rights; was banned from seeing his relatives. We are
going to send a letter also to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,”
the activist added.

“DON’T KEEP SILENCE” ACTION NOVEMBER 29

ARMENPRESS
November 28, 2011
YEREVAN

Within the framework of “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence”
the Women Rights Center is organizing November 29 “Don’t Keep Silence”
action the goal of which is to once again remind the public about
gender violence and necessity to fight against it.

“On that day masked people in white clothes with letters on them
will walk in streets. They will mainly walk in Northern Avenue,”
public relations responsible of the center Diana Sargsyan said.

According to her, the action will last for an hour during which the
participants will hand booklets and leaflets to passers-by.

THE ARMENIAN LAW “ABOUT TRADE UNIONS” IS INCOMPLETE

ARMENPRESS
November 28, 2011
YEREVAN

The Armenian law “About Trade Unions” is incomplete. Speaking to
Armenpress chairman of the Armenian confederation of Trade Unions
Eduard Tumasyan said there are unnecessary repetitions in the law.

“The law says that even if three people are registered they may create
a trade union and put it into operation. This point is incomplete as
the three-member trade union has the same rights as the 3000-member
union, it means that the voice of all is equal,” Tumasyan said.

He noted that there are no restrictions in the law, except the
circumstance that servicemen, judges cannot become members of trade
unions. He said the bill on making amendments in the law is being
discussed.

Unlike the law in European countries, the head of the confederation
noted one privilege. “Our trade unions are united in one structure –
confederation, in other countries it is not so: they have more than
one head structures, for instance Moldova. Being in one structure
gives an opportunity to operate united,” Tumasyan said.

The law “About Trade Unions” was adopted in 2000 and entered into
force from January 2001.