Author: Kajoyan Gevork

STATEMENT BY THE HEADS OF DELEGATION OF THE OSCE MG CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Dec 6 2012

Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Secretary
of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Minister
Delegate for European Affairs of France Bernard Cazeneuve issued the
following statement today:

“On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Dublin,
we, the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries,
call upon the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to demonstrate
the political will needed to reach a peaceful settlement.

As our Presidents stated at Los Cabos on June 18, 2012, the parties
should be guided by the Helsinki principles, particularly those
relating to the non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial
integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and
the elements outlined in our countries’ statements at L’Aquila in
2009 and Muskoka in 2010. Recalling the statement of our Presidents
at Deauville in 2011, we again urge the parties to take decisive
steps to reach a peaceful settlement.

“We regret that the expectations of more rapid progress in the peace
process, which were raised by the Joint Statement of the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the President of the Russian Federation
at Sochi on January 23, 2012, were not met. Instead, the parties have
too often sought one-sided advantage in the negotiation process, rather
than seeking to find agreement, based upon mutual understanding. While
recognizing the decrease in serious incidents along the Line of
Contact and the border in recent months, we remind the parties of
the need to continue to respect the ceasefire of 1994, and that the
use of military force will not resolve the conflict. We urge the
parties to refrain from actions and statements that foster feelings
of enmity among their populations and have raised tensions in recent
months. The leaders of the sides must prepare their populations for
the day when they will live again as neighbors, not enemies, with
full respect for each other’s culture, history, and traditions.

“We call upon the parties to demonstrate a greater sense of urgency
in the peace process and to work with the Co-Chairs to give full
and careful consideration to ideas presented by the Co-Chairs during
their trip to the region in November. We welcome the readiness of the
Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet jointly with the
Co-Chairs early in 2013 to continue these discussions. Our countries
continue to stand ready to do whatever we can to assist the parties,
but the responsibility for putting an end to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict remains with them.”

DUBLIN MEETING ENDS 1:0 TO ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN LOSES

December 7, 2012 – 22:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The 19th meeting of OSCE ministerial council ended in
Dubin, with both Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers delivering
speeches. Naturally, Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement was in the
focus of both speeches.

Besides “ruling out any alternative to peaceful resolution of
the conflict and offering to intensify OSCE Minsk Group efforts in
development of a comprehensive peace agreement” Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov came up with unfounded accusations against
Armenia, such as, “Armenia reinforces status-quo by violating the
OSCE regulation and uses force to maintain control over the occupied
(in fact liberated) territories of Azerbaijan.”

It’s not a secret that Armenia is the guarantor of Artsakh people’s
security. It’s not a secret, either that realization of Azerbaijan’s
disembodied dream, i.e. transfer of Nagorno Karabakh under Baku’s
control may cause nothing but a genocide, considering the killings
of Armenians in Sumgait and Baku, or the axe-murder of the Armenian
soldier in sleep.

Mammadyarov’s speech further went on, accusing Armenia of “hampering
the intra-community dialogue, economic development of the region and
attempts to erase all traces of Azerbaijani culture.”

“No intact monuments of Azerbaijani culture remained in the territories
occupied (in fact liberated) by Armenia,” Mammadyarov said.

Intra-community dialogue? In contrast to Baku, Yerevan never hampered
any reasonable dialogue, with visits of Azerbaijani intellectuals
cited as an example.

It’s Azerbaijan and Turkey that continue illegal blockade of Armenia,
blocking its participation in regional economic programs.

Azerbaijani cultural monuments? Not long ago, Azerbaijan itself
unleashed a war in Artsakh, with shelling considered common during
war. What about destruction of ancient Armenian cemetery in Julfa by
brave Azerbaijani vandals?

Mammadyarov also mentioned Stepanakert airport in his speech, saying
“it would further escalate tensions in the region.” This is not even
worth a comment.

Meanwhile, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s speech
objectively pointed to Azerbaijani attempts to foil Karabakh conflict
settlement.

“It has become habitual for Azerbaijan to backtrack even on agreements
to which it had previously consented to. Despite the agreement on
the creation of a mechanism to investigate the ceasefire violations,
as you know, Azerbaijan did everything to prevent its creation,
even threatening to veto the entire OSCE budget.

This was the case again after the Sochi Summit of January of this
year. Despite the reached agreement to accelerate accord on the Basic
Principles for a Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, confirmed
by Los Cabos Statement, Azerbaijan by its maximalist approaches is
seeking one sided advantage in the negotiating process and is doing
everything possible to neglect, even to reject this agreement.

Azerbaijan is not only ignoring the expectations of the international
community, but is constantly taking new steps against the values
of civilized world. The latest such case is the Azeri government’s
release and glorification of the murderer Safarov, who had slaughtered
with an axe Armenian officer in his sleep, during a NATO program in
Budapest simply because he was Armenian. The Azerbaijani leadership
made him a symbol of national pride and an example to follow by youth.

The world’s reaction was unanimous in condemning what was done by
Baku, which has seriously undermined the Nagorno Karabakh negotiation
process and endangered the fragile regional stability,” Minister
Nalbandian said.

It’s noteworthy that following all the speeches at Dublin-hosted
meeting, Azerbaijan exercised the right to issue a response to Minister
Nalbandian’s speech, “Unfortunately, OSCE repeatedly witnessed Armenian
accusations addressed to Baku. However, Mr.

Nalbandian’s speech didn’t much dwell on the steps Armenia takes
to settle the conflict and overcome the current difficult situation
as a result of occupation of Azerbaijani lands.” This really sounds
ridiculous.

In response to this, Armenian representative dubbed Baku’s additional
speech a mere repetition of earlier allegations against Armenia.

Thus, the Dublin battle ended 1:0 to Armenia.

Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News

HUNGARIAN DEPUTY PM SUSPECTED OF PLAGIARIZING THESIS

December 7, 2012 – 20:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen
plagiarized much of his sociology thesis, a university said on Friday,
Dec 7, according to Reuters.

It is the second plagiarism scandal involving Hungarian politicians
this year. In April President Pal Schmitt resigned after a university
stripped him of his sports doctorate for copying chunks of his thesis
without proper acknowledgement.

Budapest’s Eotvos Lorand University, which examined Semjen’s thesis
after a local media report, said the deputy premier committed a severe
ethical offence. But it ruled out any sanctions against him and he
will keep his qualification.

Semjen is the head of the Christian Democratic Peoples’ Party, which
is in an alliance with Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz.

The inquiry was launched after business website HVG.hu — which
uncovered a similar controversy earlier this year that brought down
Hungary’s president — raised doubts last month about Semjen’s 1992
thesis on a religious subject.

On Friday the prime minister’s office said Semjen acknowledged
that the university would not initiate a procedure against him and
“considered the matter closed”.

But in the statement, the government – which had previously called
the HVG.hu report a “political provocation” – did not question the
university’s findings.

Katalin Tausz, dean of the Social Sciences Faculty at the university,
told a news conference that scholars examined Semjen’s thesis showed
to see if there were any similarities with writings by his supervisor,
Attila Karoly Molnar.

“The conclusion is that (Semjen’s thesis) contains, to a significant
degree, verbatim texts without quotation from writings by Attila Karoly
Molnar,” the dean said, according to a video of the news conference
posted by news website index.hu.

UK ENVOY EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES OVER ARMENIAN AMB. DEATH

December 7, 2012 – 16:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – British ambassador to Armenia, Katy Leach sent
a message of condolence to the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward
Nalbandian over the death of RA envoy to the UK Karine Kazinian.

“It is with enormous sadness that I heard the news today about my
dear colleague and friend, ambassador to the UK Karine Kazinian.

Karine was of course a very talented diplomat, who had made a vital
contribution, in her former position as Deputy Foreign Minister, to
the step-change in Armenia’s relations with the EU. But she was also
a warm and genuine person, someone with whom it was a pleasure to work.

Her energy, charm and clear sense of purpose had already made a great
impact during her first year as Ambassador in London. I know that
following the great success of the events she organized in London in
November, to celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations between Armenia
and the UK, she was full of ideas for how to take things forward and
work together. Jonathan and I were looking forward to it tremendously.

Please accept my personal and heartfelt condolences, and those of
all my colleagues here in Yerevan and in London who knew and admired
Karine, for a tragic, untimely loss. Our thoughts are with her family
and friends at this very difficult time,” amb. Leach said.

OPPOSITION MP CALLS FOR ALLIED VOTING IN ARMENIA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

TERT.AM
07.12.12

Aram Manukyan, an MP of the Armenian National Congress (ANC),
parliamentary group, believes allied voting in the forthcoming
presidential election is the only way to the Armenian people’s
salvation.

“If not, emigration rates will go up,” he said.

If the ANC fails to draw up an agenda now, a joint candidate is out
of the question.

“If we are able to resolve our common problems, and we are succeeding
now, dealing with the second will be much easier. Believe, it is a
political stance. If you raise the issue of candidates before the
first stage, the problem will not be resolved,” the MP said.

Referring to the years of confrontation between the Armenian National
Movement (ANM) and Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun
(ARF-D), Mr Manukyan said that it was not easy for them to sit round
one table, but they overcame the barrier for the state’s sake.

“We feel the seriousness of the problem. The ARF-D feels it as well,”
he said.

Mr Manukyan is sure that if the “program of getting rid of Serzh
Sargsyan” is approved, it will be the basis for thinking of the person
capable of resolving the current problems.

As regards Armen Rustamyan, Head of the ARF-D parliamentary group,
who does not see any problem of “getting rid of Serzh Sargsyan,”
Mr Manukyan said that the authorities have never responded to the
ARF-D’s proposal.

“I regard as logical both the ARF-D’s proposal and the authorities’
not responding to it. At the same time, I think the result is obvious,”
Mr Manukyan said.

WHO WILL GET ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN’S SUPPORT?

NEWS.AM
December 07, 2012 | 17:49

YEREVAN.- ARF Dashnaktsutyun does not have to hurry to nominate
presidential candidate this time, head of ARFD parliamentary group
Armen Rustamyan told reporters, asked to compare current situation
with the 2007 elections.

“The situation in 2007 is very difficult to compare with. Nowadays,
unprecedented mistrust prevails. And it makes no sense to run ahead
when there are many unresolved issues,” Rustamyan said.

Rustamyan did not exclude that Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik
Tsarukyan can be a single candidate from the opposition. He also
noted that the ARF is ready to support the incumbent president,
if he accepts their 7-point offer.

ARMENIA~RS FM ACCUSES AZERBAIJAN OF UNDERMINING NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATION PROCESS

tert.am
07.12.12

Addressing the 19th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council Edward
Nalbandian accused Azerbaijan of undermining Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process.

“Strengthening Efforts to Combat Racism and Xenophobia remains high on
the agenda of OSCE. Many international organizations on human rights
alerted about flagrant cases of racism, intolerance and violations of
human rights in Azerbaijan, on the policy of hatred against Armenians.

Azerbaijan is not only ignoring the expectations of the international
community, but is constantly making new steps going against the values
of civilized world. The latest such case is the Azeri government’s
release and glorification of the murderer Safarov, who had slaughtered
with an axe Armenian officer in his sleep, during a NATO program in
Budapest simply because he was Armenian. The Azerbaijani leadership
made him a symbol of national pride and an example to follow by youth.

The world reaction was unanimous in condemning what was done by Baku,
which has seriously undermined the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation
process and endangered the fragile regional stability,” Nalbandian
said in his speech.

Armenia’s FM stressed that the Azerbaijani authorities are notorious
for violations of fundamental freedoms in their own country, and are
now trying to spread this behavior onto others.

“Armenia highly appreciates the efforts of the heads of the OSCE Minsk
group Co-Chair states, aimed at the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Latest statement adopted in Los Cabos in June of this year
by Presidents Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama and Francois Hollande,
is the fourth one made by the heads of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
Countries on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. It is clear to whom they
address the main messages,” the Armenian minister stressed, adding
that Armenia is unanimous with the Co-Chair countries in achieving
exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict.

“As the United States, Russia and France, we also regret that in
spite of the call in the joint statement of Deauville of May 2011
breakthrough was not achieved at the Kazan Summit in June 2011, and
it was because of the non-constructive position of Azerbaijan. Despite
the intensive efforts of the three Co-Chair countries during the last
4 years: 15 summits, several dozens of meetings on ministerial level,
several dozens of visits of the three Co-Chairs to the region, it has
been impossible to reach a breakthrough in the conflict resolution,
because the Azerbaijani side rejected one after another all proposals
presented by the mediators,” Minister Nalbandian said.

ONLY THE GOVERNMENT CAN HALT DEFILEMENT OF GANDZASAR MONASTERY WALLS
Sona Avagyan

13:17, December 7, 2012

To halt the ongoing fiasco regarding the face tiling of the historic
wall surrounding the Gandzasar Monasetry in Artsakh, Manoushak
Titanyan, Secretary of the Association of Architects and Restorers of
Historical Monuments and a member of the RA Association of Architects,
says it’s up to the government and no one else.

The retiling of the walls of the 13th century monastery in the village
of Vank started up again in earnest two weeks ago. The work is being
financed by Russian-Armenian businessman Levon Hayrapetyan.

The work on the walls began back in the summer of 2011 and was widely
covered in the Armenian press and social internet sites. Most opposed
what Hayrapetyan was doing to the historic landmark.

After the uproar, the Artsakh Department of Tourism and the RA Ministry
of Culture put a stop to the work.

Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan personally visited the monastery on
July 7, 2011, accompanied by Artsakh Primate Barkev Martirosyan.

A few days later, Samvel Karapetyan, who heads the Research on Armenian
Architecture NGO, stated that “~SIgnorant patriotism” is what leads
people to harm historic monuments.”

On July 15, 2011, Chairman of the Association of Architects and
Restorers of Historical Monuments Gagik Soghomonyan declared that
the tiles would be removed.

Evidently, Levon Hayrapetyan never heard the news.

Manoushak Titanyan believes it’s pointless to take Hayrapetyan to
court because no one in government, whether Armenia or Artsakh,
dare oppose him.

ETHICS COMMITTEE DISCUSSES ARF APPLICATION

Fri, 12/07/2012 – 13:19

The NA Ethics Ad Hoc Committee will discuss the question over the
examination of the applications of the ARF fraction leader Armen
Rustamyan and the citizen M. Patvakanyan in a closed session that
launched a while ago.

As a result of the examination the Committee must make a decision
whether or not to take the application under investigation. The
information regarding the Committee decision will be presented by
the end of the session.

As ‘Pastinfo.am’ informed earlier the NA ARF fraction referred to the
ad hoc Ethics Committee on November 28 with the request to discuss and
make a relevant decision regarding the violations of the ethics rules
provided by Article 6.1 Section 2, Clauses a) b) c) and demonstrated
by the non-registered MPs at the extraordinary session of the NA on
November 21. The list of the MPs was attached to the application.

It was noted in the application referred to the Ethics Ad Hoc Committee
that the violation of the ethics rules was the absence from the
indicated extraordinary session. According to the applicant, each of
those MPs hindered the realization of the NA functions prescribed by
the Constitution and in fact contributed to the failure of the calling
and holding the NA extraordinary session prescribed by Article 70 of
the Constitution.

Let us recall that at the NA extraordinary session on November 21 by
the initiative of 48 NA MPs it was expected to discuss the package
of the law projects about making changes and additions to the law on
the population state register of the RA Electoral and Criminal Codes,
the authors of which were the members of the ANC fraction. However
the session did not take place, since the quorum prescribed by the
NA regulatory-law was not ensured: only 46 MPs registered instead of
the 66 required.

Õ~@Õ¥Õ²Õ”Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯: Factinfo

STATEMENT ON KARABAKH CONFLICT ADOPTED IN DUBLIN

December 6, 2012 – 19:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei
Lavrov, Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton,
and Minister Delegate for European Affairs of France Bernard Cazeneuve
issued a statement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

“On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Dublin,
we, the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries,
call upon the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to demonstrate
the political will needed to reach a peaceful settlement.

As our Presidents stated at Los Cabos on June 18, 2012, the parties
should be guided by the Helsinki principles, particularly those
relating to the non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial
integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and
the elements outlined in our countries’ statements at L’Aquila in
2009 and Muskoka in 2010. Recalling the statement of our Presidents
at Deauville in 2011, we again urge the parties to take decisive
steps to reach a peaceful settlement.

“We regret that the expectations of more rapid progress in the peace
process, which were raised by the Joint Statement of the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the President of the Russian Federation
at Sochi on January 23, 2012, were not met. Instead, the parties have
too often sought one-sided advantage in the negotiation process, rather
than seeking to find agreement, based upon mutual understanding. While
recognizing the decrease in serious incidents along the Line of
Contact and the border in recent months, we remind the parties of
the need to continue to respect the ceasefire of 1994, and that the
use of military force will not resolve the conflict. We urge the
parties to refrain from actions and statements that foster feelings
of enmity among their populations and have raised tensions in recent
months. The leaders of the sides must prepare their populations for
the day when they will live again as neighbors, not enemies, with
full respect for each others’ culture, history, and traditions.

“We call upon the parties to demonstrate a greater sense of urgency
in the peace process and to work with the Co-Chairs to give full
and careful consideration to ideas presented by the Co-Chairs during
their trip to the region in November. We welcome the readiness of the
Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet jointly with the
Co-Chairs early in 2013 to continue these discussions. Our countries
continue to stand ready to do whatever we can to assist the parties,
but the responsibility for putting an end to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict remains with them,” the statement said.