Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Our Frenemy

Editorial, 31 October 2014

In the 400-year-history of Armenian/Russian relations, the two nations
have frequently helped each other and in countless ways. Butunlike
Russia, Armenia has not betrayed its friend. Moscow betrayed the
Armenians as soon as the Tsarist armies marched into Armenia, in the
1820s, and drove out the Persians. The Russian “liberators” then
proceeded to oppress Armenians and attempted to assimilate them. In
the 1890s Russia’s foreign minister said his country preferred an
Armenia without Armenians. Three decades later the Soviets gave Kars
and Ardahan to Turkey, and Nakhichevan/Karapagh to Azerbaijan. Despite
the huge sacrifices Armenians made during WWII, soon after the war
Stalin had designs to take away Armenia’s status as a republic. During
the Azeri pogroms Moscow didn’t lift a finger to assist the Armenians.
Instead, its soldiers rescued the Azeri armed forces thus guaranteeing
that Getashen, Shahumyan and portions of Mardagerd would become part
of Azerbaijan.

Despite Russia’s long “rap sheet”, Armenia hugged the bear and put
aside the memories of the bad Soviet periods when the USSR collapsed.
Since then Armenia has signed various military, political, economic,
and cultural agreements with Russia.

Yet every other week Russia seems to announce further weapons sales to
Azerbaijan. And although Azerbaijan is armed to the teeth (Baku has a
$4 billion defense budget per annum or equal to the total budget of
Armenia), Russia keeps selling more sophisticated arms to Baby Aliev’s
fiefdom. The latter already buys weapons from 18 countries, especially
high-tech equipment from Israel. In early September it was announced
that Russia will probably deliver more than 100 T-90S tanks to
Azerbaijan, although Moscow just completed the delivery of 100 T-90S
tanks in April. One wonders what else Russia is selling in secret to
the Baku petroclan.

The Kremlin policy of arming his ally’s enemy is stunning and
unprecedented in the annals of history. It’s breathtaking in its
treachery. To arm your ally’s aggressive enemy is a new one in
diplomatic and military history. Even cynical Nicolo Machiavelli would
have blanched at Moscow’s blithe perfidy.

Does President Vladimir Putin reside in parallel worlds where he can
be a friend of Armenia in one and foe in the other?

What’s Moscow’s explanation for its egregious sale of arms to Baku?
The two-timing is “just business,” the Kremlin says. Even Mafia hoods,
who say “it’s just business” when they kill, don’t slay their
partners.

Moscow claims it needs the money. Yes, it needs the few billion Azeri
petrodollars when it forgave Cuba’s $32 billion debt a few months ago.
Yes, it needs the money when it spent close to $60 billion on the
Sochi Olympics extravaganza.

Moscow says it sells weapons to Armenia at low prices, although it
knows full well that even at those so-called low prices impoverished
Armenia has a hard time coming up with the cash.

Perhaps taking advantage of the distance from Moscow, a few months ago
President Serge Sarkissian finally blurted to “La Nacion” newspaper in
far away Argentina: “It is a very painful subject and our people are
worried that our strategic ally sells weapons to Azerbaijan.”

Rather than stop the arms exports to Azerbaijan, Russia is now selling
strategic and offensive rockets the equivalent of which Armenia
doesn’t have. Some 80% of the Azeri arsenal comes from Russia.

Why the blatant Russian treachery?

Russia wants to keep Armenia in a state of arrested development, and
dependent on Moscow.

Although Azerbaijan is not a member of Russia’s Collective Security
Treaty Organization (Armenia is), Russia considers Azerbaijan a
potential strategic ally.

Russia believes that as far as Armenia is concerned, Moscow is the
only game in town.

Russia believes the million-plus Armenians living in Russia (some send
remittances to Armenia) are handy hostages if Armenia doesn’t behave.

Russia takes Armenia for granted as it woos unreliable but petrorich Azerbaijan.

Stepan Seferian, who leads a newly established think-tank in Armenia,
said of Russia’s arming of Azerbaijan: “This is inadmissible. Armenia
must hold Russia-Armenia consultations and demand explanation because
in essence Russia is acting against the strategic partnership [with
Armenia] and the principles of conflict mediation.”

But there isn’t much to talk about. The Kremlin doesn’t hide its
treachery. Its two-timing is brazen and above board.

But there’s the Israeli September Surprise which should make Kremlin
think twice about continuing to arm Azerbaijan. In mid-September
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon met Aliyev at the Baku ADEX
defense industry exhibition and demonstrated how the Iron Dome air
defense system operates. The electronic system can intercept and
destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from a distance
of 4 kilometer to 70 kilometer. It’s possible that Baku would buy the
Iron Dome. The Israeli system has twice shown its effectiveness
against rockets (some of them Grad) launched from Gaza. It’s possible
that Baku would buy the Iron Dome. How long after that before Baku
says “No, thank you” to Moscow? Israel, backed by the US, would meet
Baku’s voracious appetite for armaments and without strings. Baku
would then do the Kiev-Tbilisi Trot and gaze west.

Finally, Moscow must consider the crazed ambitions of the Aliyevians.
Frequently in the past year Baku mediacrats, bureaucrooks and assorted
hired buffoons have declared that Armenia is part of historic
Azerbaijan. If Azerbaijan beats Armenia Baku would establish a land
bridge to Turkey, join NATO, and tighten even harder the choke-hold on
Russia’s southern “area of influence”.

ARMENIE-ZOO
Les citoyens arméniens protestent contre les rugissements des lions du
député Mhér Sétrakian

Selon Eurasia.net, les voisins du député arménien Mhér Sétrakian se
plaignent des rugissements des lions de ce dernier. Un groupe de
citoyens a adressé à la rédaction du site Eurasia.net une pétition
reprochant aux oligarques d’Arménie de disposer en plein Erévan de
leur propre zoo, mettant à mal le voisinage par les cris ou
rugissements des lions, tigres ou ours. Entre 2008 et 2013 l’Arménie a
importé 6 tigres et nombre d’animaux protégés. La rédaction du site
précise que Gaguik Dzaroukian le leader du parti > (Arménie Prospère) l’un des hommes les plus influents d’Arménie
dispose dans son luxueux domaine de 12 lions et tigres blancs. L’ex
vice-ministre, le général Manvel Krikorian et le gouverneur de la
région de Tavouche, Hovig Abovian disposent également de leur propre
zoo.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 1er novembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

On this day Armenian troops triumphantly entered Zangelan

12:26 | November 1,2014 | Politics

21 years ago on this day Armenian troops triumphantly entered Zangelan
freeing the last spot between Syunik and Artsakh from Azerbaijanis-
Kovsakan province in Syunik.

There is a legend that after the escape of Azerbaijani troops and
people, only a child of the enemy was left in the city (those, who
don’t agree with the expression “a child of the enemy” can stop
reading).

Armenian forces headed by Arthur Aghabekyan made a bargain with
Azerbaijanis, who had already passed Araks river, that they would
return the child, only when more than one hundred Azerbaijanis danced
Kochari with the accompaniment of Armenians.

According to the legend, on November 1, 1993, on the other side of
Araks, Turks danced under Armenian music in order to return the lost
child and to say goodbye to the lands, where they will never return
again.

Azerbaijan fired over 2500 shots in the direction of Armenian positions

20:26, 01 Nov 2014

According to the data of the NKR Defense Army, the adversary violated
the ceasefire, on the Contact Line between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani
opposing forces around 400 times, from October 26 to November 01,
during which the rival fired more than 2500 shots from weapons of
different caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The Defense Army vanguard units mainly adhered to the ceasefire and
confidently carried out their military duty and made counteractions in
necessary cases only, the NKR MOD press service informed.

RELIGION
Monseigneur Vahan Hovhanessian élu primat du diocèse de France de
l’Eglise arménienne.

Paris 1er Novembre 2014. Réunis sous la présidence de l’archimandrite
Mesrob Barsamyan, locum tenens, à l’archevêché du diocèse de France de
l’Eglise arménienne, les délégués religieux et laïcs qui composent
l’assemblée des délégués du diocèse ont élu pour succéder à
l’archevêque Norvan Zakarian, Mgr. Vahan Hovhannessian, actuellement
primat du diocèse de Grande-Bretagne et d’Irlande. La nouvelle de
l’élection a été immédiatement transmise à sa Sainteté Karékine II,
Patriarche suprême et Catholicos de tous les Arméniens, afin de
solliciter la confirmation du nouveau primat ainsi que sa bénédiction.

Les instances diocésaines annonceront dans les jours qui viennent la
date de l’intronisation du nouveau primat.

Biographie de Mgr Vahan HOVHANNISSIAN

1963 : Naissance à Bagdag, en Irak.
1985 : diplômé de la Faculté d’Electrotechnique de l’Université de Bagdad.
1985 : débute ses études de théologie au Séminaire Saint Nercès de
New-York et à l’Institut orthodoxe russe saint Vladimir de la même
ville.
1987 : Ordination diaconale.
1989 : Soutenance de son mémoire de maîtrise consacré au >.
1990 : Ordonné hiéromoine, il est nommé recteur de la paroisse de
Bagdad, puis de Mossoul.
1991-1992 : Auxiliaire du recteur de la paroisse de la sainte Croix
de New-York.
1993-1999 : Sacristain de la cathédrale St. Vartan de New-York.
1994 : Soutenance de sa thèse de doctorat (Eglise arménienne) : > sur >.
Depuis 2008 : Membre de la commission des thèses de l’Académie de
théologie de saint Etchmiadzine.
Président de la commission

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS COEST DELEGATION

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Oct 31 2014

31 October 2014 – 10:59am

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Karen Nazaryan had a meeting with
a delegation of the Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia
(COEST) in Yerevan yesterday. The delegation includes representatives
from the secretariat, the European External Action Service, the
European Commission and over 20 EU member-states, NEWS.am reports.

Nazaryan discussed Armenian-EU cooperation, relations of Armenia with
neighbouring states, regional processes, the participation of Armenia
in integration processes and problems of the Eastern Partnership set
for Prague in 2015.

Petteri Vuorimaki, the chair of the EU’s Working Party on Eastern
Europe and Central Asia (COEST), the head of the delegation, emphasized
that the EU was ready to develop relations with Armenia. He noted that
the impressive number of delegates was the best proof of interest of
the EU in Armenia.

DEUX AZERBAIDJANAIS JUGES POUR ESPIONNAGE ET MEURTRE AU NAGORNY-KARABAKH

Agence France Presse
27 octobre 2014 lundi 10:28 AM GMT

Tbilissi 27 oct 2014

Le procès de deux citoyens azerbaïdjanais accuses de meurtre et
d’espionnage au profit de Bakou s’est ouvert lundi dans la region
disputee du Nagorny-Karabakh, province d’Azerbaïdjan a majorite
armenienne, ont indique les autorites separatistes locales.

Les deux hommes sont accuses d’avoir infiltre la region fin juin et
d’avoir tue un civil de 17 ans et un soldat, ont indique les autorites
judiciaires du Nagorny-Karabakh dans un communique.

Un troisième membre de ce groupe d’infiltration a ete tue lors d’une
fusillade avec les combattants separatistes.

Bakou a pour sa part dementi que les trois hommes soient des membres
de son armee.

Ce procès s’ouvre alors que le president francais Francois Hollande
organise lundi un sommet reunissant les presidents d’Azerbaïdjan et
d’Armenie pour tenter de regler pacifiquement le conflit larve entre
les deux pays autour du Nagorny-Karabakh.

Les affrontements se sont multiplies depuis le debut de l’annee
près de la frontière et dans la region disputee, les deux camps
s’accusant mutuellement de lancer des attaques ponctuelles sur les
positions adverses.

Rattache a l’Azerbaïdjan a l’epoque sovietique, le Nagorny-Karabakh
–une region separatiste en majorite armenienne– a ete l’enjeu d’une
guerre qui a fait 30.000 morts et des centaines de milliers de refugies
entre 1988 et 1994.

Un cessez-le-feu a ete signe en 1994, mais Bakou et Erevan n’arrivent
pas a se mettre d’accord sur le statut de la region, qui reste une
source de tension dans le Caucase du Sud, une zone strategique situee
entre l’Iran, la Russie et la Turquie.

L’Azerbaïdjan a menace de reprendre la region par la force si les
negociations n’aboutissaient pas a des resultats concrets, tandis
que l’Armenie a prevenu qu’elle repliquerait a toute action militaire.

mkh-eg-im/pop/kat/fw

THE IMPERATIVE IS THE NKR PARTICIPATION IN THE NEGOTIATIONS

Wednesday, 29 October 2014 15:21

So, the October 27 meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
in Paris, which attracted the attention of public and expert circles,
has become part of history. For the last three months, it was the third
meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev, which confirms the
current activity of international mediators involved in the settlement
of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

Some competition seems to have started between the co-chair states
ofthe OSCE Minsk Group for the diplomatic initiative in the settlement
process. In August, the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, under
the mediation of the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, met in Sochi,
and in September, under the mediation of the U.S.

Secretary of State, John Kerry, – in Wales. And now, after the Paris
dialogue proposed by the President of France, the “full set” of
meetings organized by the co-chair states of the OSCE Minsk Group has
taken place. We can say that both the West and Russia have started
taking certain steps for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. We would like to believe that they do this not for
their geopolitical interests, but just for the final settlement
of thelong-standing problem, basing on the norms and principles of
international law and in accordance with the modern trends in the
development of the world order.

The Paris meeting, as expected, was not a breakthrough. In fact, it
could not become as such, due to the diametrically opposed positions
of the parties. However, judging by the comments by the officials of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the OSCE mediators, the meeting
was successful. In particular, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian called it constructive, useful, and sincere. In turn,
the U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick assessed the
meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan as a positive
step. And we cannot but agree with this, as a dialogue at the highest
level, especially under the auspices of the mediator-states that play
a key role in the modern world, contributes to the reduce of tension
and stabilization of the situation in the conflict zone, which can be
only welcomed. Moreover, all the three mentioned meetings took place
against the background of sharp deterioration of the situation on the
contact-line caused by the armed incidents taken place in this summer,
the responsibility for which lies entirely on Azerbaijan.

>From this perspective, it is noteworthy that the parties emphasized
in Paris the importance of continuing the dialogue and the efforts on
confidence building for achieving progress in the peace negotiations.

According to Edward Nalbandian, the meeting participants discussed
numerous issues related to the Karabakh conflict settlement, as well
as confidence-building measures, which Francois Hollande suggested
back in May during his regional visit and which were approved also
by the co-chairs. It was emphasized that there is no alternative
to the peaceful settlement. In addition, an agreement was achieved
between the parties to continue the summits, as well as to exchange
information on thepersons gone missing in the conflict under the
auspices of the International Committee for the Red Cross. And yet,
we have to take the positive, fixed at the meeting, with cautious
optimism, as the President of Azerbaijan has repeatedly refused of
the agreements achieved and continued his policy of aggressivehatred
towards Armenians.

However, the progress achieved at the Paris summit, again, can only be
welcomed, but with one proviso – all this relates to the humanitarian
issues, without relating to the process of comprehensive settlement
of the conflict itself.Surely, the resolution of the noted issues
creates prerequisites and a favorablebackground for the negotiations,
but, nevertheless, the summits cannot replace pure negotiations. From
this perspective, attention is drawn to the proposal of the French
President made at the trilateral meeting in Paris. Stressing the
unacceptability of the status quo, Francois Hollande called upon
the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to start the elaboration of a
comprehensive peace agreement and to prepare their populations for
peace for achieving any progress.

As for the status quo, it should be noted that views on the necessity
of changing it sounded at different levels before the President of
France. It is clear that if the settlement process is underway, then
the status quo should be changed as a result of the negotiations. The
matter is what is offered in return for this? You know the conflicting
parties completely differ in their vision of the settlement prospects.

If changing the status quo supposes international legal recognition
of the de facto independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, so
both Armenian parties to the conflict can only welcome it. But, as
you know, Azerbaijan interprets the change in the status quo purely
as application of its jurisdiction to Nagorno Karabakh and unilateral
return of Azerbaijani refugees.

Obviously, the settlement of the conflict on the conditions of
official Baku is completely unacceptable, because it is fraught with
a new war, which, as we’d like to believe, is realized also by the
mediators. Similarly, they realize the imperative of indispensable
participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations as the main and
the most suffered party to the conflict, which has beenrepeatedly
stated by official Stepanakert. This topical issue remains on the
political agenda of the NKR authorities. Hopefully, with the start
of real negotiations the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will finally
implement in practice their repeated statements that the Karabakh
party is sure to be involved in themat a certain stage. Otherwise, the
so-called comprehensive peace agreement, thenecessity of elaboration
of which was noted by the President of France at the Paris meeting,
is likely to remain on the paper.

Leonid Martirossian

Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper

VISIT OF THE NKR FOREIGN MINISTER TO CANADA UNDERWAY

2014-10-31 12:30

On October 28, in the framework of his visit to Canada, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan
delivered a lecture entitled “Regional Security of the South Caucasus
and Protection of Basic Human Rights” at the Carleton University
in Ottawa. During the lecture he presented the current stage of the
peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh, as well as touched upon the achievements of the NKR since
its independence and the present-day challenges.

Students from the Carleton and Ottawa Universities, as well as
representatives of the Armenian community of Ottawa were present at
the lecture.

On October 29, Karen Mirzoyan had a meeting with members of the
Canada-Armenia parliamentary friendship group at the Parliament of
Canada. During the meeting, the NKR Foreign Minister presented the
processes of state building in the NKR and international recognition
of Artsakh, as well as the current stage of the peaceful settlement
of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.

On the same day, Karen Mirzoyan met with leaders of the Armenian
community of Ottawa and members of the Diaspora organizations at the
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to Canada. During the meeting,
Minister Mirzoyan presented the NKR foreign policy priorities and
answered the questions of participants.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nagorno-Karabakh Republic NKR, Stepanakert,
Azatamartikneri 28 Tel: (+374 47) 9 44087, Fax: (+374 47) 9 71551
Web:

CE QUE JE CROIS

Serkan Engin

CE QUE JE CROIS –

Je crois qu’ensemble les jeunesses armenienne et turque peuvent
mettre fin a la haine en y travaillant ensemble. J’essaie de creer
et de developper une conscience au sein de la jeunesse turque,
en particulier par mes articles sur le Genocide armenien et aussi
sur d’autres genocides commis par nos ancetres Turcs, comme les
genocides sur les Assyriens, les Nestoriens, les Chaldeens et les
Grecs pontiques, afin que de tels crimes ne soient plus jamais commis.

J’essaie de changer en Turquie la fausse perception sur les Armeniens
et les Grecs que l’ideologie officielle a installee. J’essaie de
decrire a la jeunesse turque les atroces verites de notre histoire,
en sorte que nous puissions effacer les defauts d’une education
raciste en Turquie, comme lorsqu’il est dit que ” Un Turc equivaut au
monde entier ” comme l’a enseigne pendant plus de 90 ans l’ideologie
fasciste-kemaliste qui a nie la presence de toute identite ethnique en
Anatolie en dehors des Turcs. Savez-vous ce qu’a dit Adolf Hitler ? ”
Le premier disciple de Kemal a ete Mussolini, et le second c’est moi
” ; et aussi ” Ce qu’a fait Ataturk il y a dix ans, nous pouvons le
faire maintenant “.

Je crois que ce qui sauvera le monde, c’est plus de conscience ; plus
d’argent, plus d’armes ou plus de technologie ne servira a rien, pas
plus que les grandes ideologies ou les grands dirigeants, parce que la
loi la plus rigoureuse n’a pas autant de force que la conscience. La
conscience peut s’etablir par l’empathie, et l’empathie commence
avec la reconnaissance des souffrances des autres. Il nous revient
de developper de l’empathie avec tous les autres peuples du Monde
qui sont dans la souffrance et de nous tenir aux côtes des opprimes,
ignores, meprises exploites et maltraites.

Il nous revient de parvenir a ressentir la souffrance des tous les
etres humains a travers le monde quelle que soit leur origine, langue,
croyance, ideologie, sexe ou preference sexuelle en refusant toute
sorte de discrimination.

Non je ne demande pas seulement pardon pour les genocides des
Armeniens, des Assyriens, des Nestoriens, des Chaldeens et des Grecs
pontiques, mais aussi pour le Rwanda, la Bosnie, le Cambodge, le
Darfour, l’Holocauste et pour tous les autres genocides commis par
des etres humains insensibles de notre Monde, au nom de l’humanite,
comme un etre humain respectable dote de conscience.

Je pense que ” Nous vaincrons, un jour “.

Serkan Engin

Ecrivain et poète Laze turc

Traduction Gilbert Beguian pour Armenews

vendredi 31 octobre 2014, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com