Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA’S ARTSAKH RECOGNITION WON’T TRIGGER NEW WAR – NKR EX-FM

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 12, 2012 – 15:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Former Foreign Minister of Artsakh commented on
Heritage opposition party’s proposition for Armenia to recognize the
independence of Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Arman Melikyan expressed his unequivocal support for Artsakh
recognition, which, as he noted, should go parallel to peace
negotiations.

Also, according to the ex-FM, Armenia’s recognition of Artsakh won’t
trigger a new war, as many fear.

“Armenia’s political forces must realize that introducing the issue
on parliament agenda in full knowledge that the suggestion won’t be
accepted, makes the problem seem less serious than it actually is.

Armenian authorities’ position on NKR recognition is explained by
the formers’ unwillingness to assume a single-handed responsibility
for the step,” the former official concluded.

ANCA CALLS ON HUNGARY TO ISSUE OPEN APOLOGY FOR MURDERER EXTRADITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 12, 2012 – 09:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – During a meeting at the Hungarian Embassy with
Ambassador Gyorgy Szapary, an Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) delegation shared the Armenian American community’s outrage
over the Hungarian government’s decision to transfer to Baku convicted
Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, despite the clear indications
that he would, upon his arrival, be pardoned for his crime and praised
as a national hero.

The ANCA delegation criticized the weak response from Budapest
regarding Azerbaijan’s pardon and promotion of a proud and unrepentant
Safarov, who was, until his extradition, serving a life sentence
in Hungary for the 2004 brutal axe-murder of Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
in his sleep, during a NATO English language training program.

In calling upon the Hungarian government for an open apology and a
meaningful condemnation of Baku’s shameful actions, the ANCA expressed,
during the course of an hour-long meeting, the full range of the
community’s concerns, including the following three points:

1) It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it
was unaware of the obvious “pardon” loophole in its extradition treaty.

2) It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was
unaware of the Azerbaijani government’s public praise of Ramil Safarov
as a national hero, or the very high likelihood that this killer
would be released by Ilham Aliyev if he were transferred to Baku.

3) It is not credible for the Hungarian government to argue that it was
unaware that its actions would contribute to emboldening Azerbaijan to
escalate its threats and acts of violence, de-stabilizing the region,
and setting back the cause of peace.

“SERIES OF BYZANTINA” DEVOTED A WHOLE SERIES TO ARMENIAN CULTURE

The department of the Byzantine culture of the Warsaw University has
published the 9th series of the Series Byzantina scientific magazine.

This time the whole magazine is devoted to the Armenian culture.

“Yerkramas” newspaper informs about this referring to the Kiev
Armenian Community.

The materials of the international conference “The art of the Armenian
Diaspora” are included in the magazine. 29 works of the experts on
Armenia from various countries are published. The materials are
about the Armenian architecture in Ukraine, information on Lvov,
Kiev museums and so on.

NKR PRESIDENT: “AZERBAIJANI OFFICER’S CRIME IS A SERIOUS BLOW UPON MEDIATION EFFORTS OF THE OSCE MG CO- CHAIR-STATES”

arminfo
Wednesday, September 12, 11:31

On 11 September Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan met personal
representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk, NKR President’s press-service reports.

Issues related to the current stage of negotiations for resolution
of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict and situation along the contact
line of the NKR and Azerbaijan armed forces were discussed during
the meeting.

President Sahakyan specifically touched upon the recent transfer of the
criminal, who perfidiously decapitated the sleeping Armenian officer,
to Azerbaijan and his immediate release by that state.

According to the President, such heinous crime is a serious blow upon
the negotiation process and the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chair countries.

MEMBERS OF U.S. CONGRESS CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUTRAGE OVER SAFAROV RELEASE

armradio.am
12.09.2012 11:10

The Azerbaijani pardon, promotion and compensation of convicted
Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, and its harmful effects
on the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, continue to be a source of
considerable concern for members of the U.S. Congress, with new
statements condemning the actions being released on nearly a daily
basis, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Congressional Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsor Robert Dold
(R-IL) today called the Hungarian government’s extradition and
President Aliyev’s glorification of Safarov “deeply disturbing,”
noting that “rather than work to reduce tensions, this act shows a
blatant disregard for the reconciliation and peace process.”

Those remarks come on the heels of a weekend statement by Maryland
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) who called Aliyev’s actions “without
justification” and argued that, “Azerbaijan has acted to undermine
justice and further strain its relationship with Armenia to the
detriment of all, and to the benefit of no one but a self confessed
murderer.”

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who has been an outspoken critic of
Azerbaijan’s threats of war and attacks against neighboring Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh, said he was “aghast” at the extradition and pardon
of Safarov and “outraged and disgusted by the reception that Safarov
was given upon returning to Azerbaijan.” Senator Menendez called on
the Hungarian government to “demand Safarov’s return to Hungary to
complete the remainder of his life sentence. It is clear that the
Azeri government cannot be counted on to adhere to its international
or bilateral obligations with respect to this matter.”

All three U.S. Congressmen from California’s Central Valley –
Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA), Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Devin Nunes
(R-CA) – have also condemned Azerbaijan’s actions.

In statement sent to local constituents, with portions quoted in
The Fresno Bee, Rep. Costa was explicit in his denunciation of the
Azerbaijani government action. “This injustice of international law
committed by the government of Azerbaijan is an outrage, plain and
simple. This illegal pardon glorifies a heinous crime committed against
an innocent Armenian soldier and does a severe disservice to the peace
process in the region. I believe Hungary was complicit in this action.”

In a joint statement issued by Representatives Denham and Nunes,
the Congressmen noted that “Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s
decision to pardon Ramil Safarov, who was convicted of killing
Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in 2004, undermines respect for
the rule of law, and sets back efforts for a fair and lasting peace
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The action is highly disappointing
and will undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh issue.”

Members of Congress who have condemned Azerbaijan’s release of Safarov
to date include, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry
(D-MA), Sen. Menendez, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank
Pallone (D-NJ), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat Howard
Berman (D-CA), House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Democrat
Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Representatives Jim Costa, Jeff Denham,
Robert Dold, Anna Eshoo (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Devin Nunes
(R-CA), John Sarbanes, Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA).

THE MEETING BETWEEN THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND LUXEMBOURG

11.09.2012

Today a meeting took place between the Armenian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Edward Nalbandian and Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister who arrived in Yerevan on an
official visit took.

Welcoming the guest, Edward Nalbandian said that Armenia attaches great
importance to the development of comprehensive interaction with the
EU founding member-state – Luxembourg. Minister Nalbandian added that
Jean Asselborn’s visit is a good opportunity to discuss the steps to
be undertaken towards that direction, and to agree upon them.

Jean Asselborn expressed gratitude for the invitation to visit
Yerevan and underlined that he came to Armenia with clear message
to deepen relations and he was pleased to note that Armenia has the
same approach.

The interlocutors had a thorough talk on the intensification of
political dialogue, expansion of legal framework, rapprochement of
cooperation in the international organizations and development of
interaction in trade and economy, cultural, scientific and educational
spheres.

The agenda of the talks included issues related to the cooperation
between Armenia and the EU. The Ministers stressed the progress
registered by Armenia in the frames of the Eastern Partnership.

Ministers Nalbandian and Asselborn discussed in detail a number of
regional and global issues.

Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister presented in detail the steps undertaken
towards the overcoming of financial crisis in Europe.

During the meeting the sides exchanged views on the developments in
the Middle East.

Edward Nalbandian presented the recent developments in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, as well as the situation created as
a result of the release of the Azeri murderer Ramil Safarov.

The meeting of the Ministers was followed by a joint press conference.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN’S STATEMENT AND ANSWERS AT THE JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH JEAN ASSELBORN, THE LUXEMBOURG DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER

11.09.2012

Good afternoon,

I am pleased to welcome my counterpart, Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

It’s a very important visit as there was no visit of Luxembourg’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs in the recent ten years. We are happy to
welcome the Foreign Minister and his delegation.

Today we had an opportunity to talk about our passed way, as for
twenty years we have had diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Luxembourg. We talked about the expansion of legal framework,
development of trade and economic relations and the cooperation in
cultural, educational and scientific spheres.

We also touched upon the cooperation in the international organizations
and holding of consultations between the MFAs of the two countries,
including a number of regional and global issues.

Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs presented the developments
in the frames of the European Union and European countries.

We talked about the relations between Armenia and the EU. I presented
the main priorities of our foreign policy.

I am very pleased to welcome Mr. Asselborn. We would have an
opportunity to continue to exchange views today, in the evening.

I would like to pass the floor to Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign
Affairs.

Question, Mediamax New Agency: I would like to address my first
question to Mister Nalbandian. Minister Nalbandian, an information
spread in media according to which the Hungarian Minister of Foreign
Affairs sent a letter to you where he expressed his willingness to
normalize the relations with Armenia, but at the same time he threats
that the suspension of the relations could have a negative impact
on Armenia. How would you comment it? Did you receive any letter and
what is your response to such a letter?

Edward Nalbandian: The matter was not whether or not there was such a
letter. The Hungarian side has published the letter of the Hungarian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Janos Martonyi.

You know that the Azeri-Hungarian deal shocked the international
community and the international community gave its unanimous
assessment.

What is Azerbaijan saying today? What we are hearing today from
Azerbaijan is no less shocking.

I have to say with regret, that what we are hearing from Hungary is
no less shocking. And what is Hungary saying? The representatives
of the Hungarian Government and other officials are saying that the
deal was transparent, while the Azeri officials at the highest level
are claiming that secret negotiations were held.

The Hungarian side is saying that they were not aware that the
Azeri side would release Safarov upon his arrival in Baku, but the
Azeri high-ranking officials are arguing that the Hungarian side was
well-aware about it.

The Hungarian side sent notes and letters to the embassies accredited
in Budapest expressing its indignation over Azerbaijan’s decision to
release Safarov. But the same letter is concluded with the Hungarian
side’s commitment to continue the development of strategic relations
with Azerbaijan based on mutual trust. Probably that is the style of
the Hungarian side to express its indignation.

The Hungarian side is saying that the decision to extradite Safarov to
Azerbaijan is in line with the Strasbourg Convention, the Convention of
the Council of Europe. You know that the President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that the deal abuses that
convention.

This is the reality. The reactions voiced from the Hungarian side
are attempts to justify what happened. They are claiming that the
Hungarian side takes no responsibility for that deal. The reason why
Armenia made a decision to suspend the relations with Hungary is due
to Hungary’s responsibility for that deal.

Question, Radio Liberty: My question is for Mr. Nalbandian. Mr.

Nalbandian, Armenia suspended the relations with Hungary and
particularly, among the high level representatives of European
institutions, Fule, Ashton have stated these days that the extradition
had taken place within the frameworks of international organizations.

How does Armenia asses this approach of the European institutions. And
again, in these conditions I should turn back to the Eastern
Partnership: How do you imagine the further development of Eastern
Partnership program?

Edward Nalbandian: The approach of the international community was
a unanimous approach and a united reaction.

There is no international institution that did not express its negative
approach towards this process.

>>From the European Union not only the statement you refer to was
made, but also other statements were made including the statements
by the EU member states.

During these last days I received dozens of telephone calls from
the Foreign Ministers of different states, including the EU member
states, who have expressed their unequivocal approach towards this
Azerbaijani-Hungarian deal. There is no country that can express its
support to what has happened, no state that would support Azerbaijan.

Who can express its support towards Azerbaijan in these conditions?

Perhaps the staff of the Psychiatric Hospital No. 1, that had sent
a letter to the President of Azerbaijan and was on the presidential
website of Azerbaijan for a couple of days.

CONCERT HELD IN DIYARBAKIR’S ARMENIAN CHURCH, 97 YEARS AFTER GENOCIDE

news.am
September 11, 2012 | 15:27

DIYARBAKIR. – Ninety-seven years after the Armenian Genocide, a concert
was again held at Saint Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir, Turkey,
which is the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East.

Renowned Istanbul-Armenian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan-who now lives
in Canada-performed at the Church, Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter
informs from Diyarbakir.

The event brought together close to eighty American-Armenians-led by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)-, Istanbul Armenians-headed by Archbishop Aram
Ateshyan, the Armenian Deputy Patriarch of Constantinople-, a small
group of Armenians from Armenia, Mayor Osman Baydemir of Diyarbakir,
Turkish MP Altan Tan, and other officials.

In his welcoming remarks, Baydemir addressed the Armenians who had
arrived in Diyarbakir and noted that this city belongs to the Muslims
and the Armenians alike. He once again called upon the heirs of those
Armenians who had left Diyarbakir to return to their lands.

In his remarks, Raffi Bedrosyan recalled that monthly concerts were
held at Saint Giragos until 1915, and on that year Diyarbakir’s
then-provincial governor had also stolen the church’s piano and taken
it to his home.

To note, the renovations at Diyarbakir’s Saint Giragos Armenian Church
had finished last year, but the complete renovations of the church
complex will come to an end this year, and the Holy Mass, which will
be celebrated on November 4, will be held in the completely renovated
church complex.

EDWARD SHARMAZANOV: HUNGARY TRIES TO MISLEAD EVERYONE

Panorama.am
11/09/2012

Hungarian authorities commit one mistake after another. Instead of
admitting their guilt, apologizing and taking the relevant steps,
they persist in stating that they act in line with the norms of
international law, Deputy Speaker of Armenian National Assembly,
Edward Sharmazanov, told Panorama.am, when asked to comment on the
Hungarian Foreign Minister’s statement calling for resumption of
diplomatic relations with Hungary.

“Our two peoples are certainly united by centuries-old friendly ties,
we see no problem with the Hungarian people, but we must differentiate
Hungarian people from Hungarian authorities. Hungarian authorities
treated us in an unfriendly way. Moreover, their steps go contrary to
universal values. The Hungarian Foreign Minister had better find the
strength to tell the truth and not make another attempt to mislead
everyone. With their unconscious steps Hungarian authorities put big
obstacles to the relationship between the two countries,” announced
Sharmazanov.

ERDOGAN IN AZERBAIJAN TO GIVE FRESH BOOST TO TIES

Today’s Zaman
Sept 11 2012
Turkey

11 September 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, ÝSTANBUL

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan met with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday for talks to further bolster bilateral
relations, predominantly in economic ties and the natural gas trade,
with Azerbaijan.

Speaking to reporters before his departure to Azerbaijan, Erdoðan said
cooperation on energy was the most strategic dimension of the relations
between Turkey and Azerbaijan, which he said were characterized by
a shared culture, language and history.

“Turkey and Azerbaijan are two ethnic kin nations, two friendly
countries. Our cooperation based on joint cultural, linguistic and
historical relations will continue to strengthen due to cooperation
through [bilateral and multilateral] energy projects,” Erdoðan said
at the Ankara Esenboða Airport.

Erdoðan is on a two-day visit to Azerbaijan upon the invitation of
Azerbaijan’s president to participate in the second meeting of the
Turkey-Azerbaijan High Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Talks will
focus on energy ties, particularly on the planned Trans-Anatolian gas
pipeline. The two countries agreed in June to build the pipeline,
transporting Azerbaijani gas through Turkey to Europe. The
Trans-Anatolian pipeline, planned to have an initial capacity of
16 billion cubic meters a year, is expected to cost $7 billion. The
construction is set to start in 2014, and is estimated to be completed
by 2018.

The first meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council
between Turkey and Azerbaijan was held in Ýzmir on Oct. 25, 2011,
a material and momentous move towards a Turkey-Azerbaijan strategic
partnership and mutual assistance.

President Aliyev and his spouse, Mehriban Aliyeva, personally welcomed
Erdoðan and his wife, Emine, and the accompanying delegation at the
Gabala Airport in Azerbaijan.

Before the launch of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council,
Turkish and Azerbaijani leaders came together in the city of Gabala to
discuss bilateral relations at different levels. After the meeting,
delegations from the two countries held a joint cabinet meeting to
discuss ways to improve bilateral cooperation on political, military
and defense areas.

Following the meetings of the delegations, cooperation agreements
were signed in the energy, transportation, trade and media sectors
between the two countries.

Erdoðan is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoðlu, Economy
Minister Zafer Caðlayan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner
Yýldýz, Defense Minister Ýsmet Yýlmaz, Transportation, Maritime Affairs
and Communication Minister Binali Yýldýrým, as well as Justice and
Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary group deputy chairman
Mustafa Elitaþ and AK Party Deputy Chairman Omer Celik on his visit
to Azerbaijan.

Karabakh conflict

Erdoðan’s visit comes amid heightened tensions between Azerbaijan
and Armenia after Azerbaijan gave a hero’s welcome last month to a
soldier, Ramil Safarov, convicted of killing an Armenian during a
NATO course in 2004.

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia are already high over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Sporadic firefights have intensified
along the frontline around the region, a mountainous enclave within
Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus controlled by ethnic Armenians since
a war in the early 1990s that killed about 30,000 people.

Azerbaijan has recently stepped up threats to take the region back
and Armenia says it would not stand aside if the enclave it helped
establish was attacked. Analysts warn a war could draw in Turkey and
Russia as well. Armenia has a collective security agreement with its
regional ally Russia, while Azerbaijan has one with Turkey, itself a
member of NATO for which an attack on one member state is an attack
on all 28.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned of a “much broader
conflict” when she visited Armenia in June and NATO Secretary-General
Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Friday he was “deeply concerned” by
the Azerbaijani soldier’s pardon last month.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have more powerful weapons than two
decades ago and if pipelines taking Azerbaijani oil and gas to Europe
via Turkey or Armenia’s nuclear power station are threatened, war
could spread.

Relations between Turkey and Armenia were strained after Turkey closed
its border with Armenia in a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan during
the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Turkey also rejects Armenia’s insistence
that Ankara should recognize the killing of Armenians in Ottoman
Turkey during World War I as genocide.

PM Erdoðan due to visit Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Following his visit to Azerbaijan, Erdoðan is also scheduled to
visit Ukraine as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Speaking in Ankara,
Erdoðan said the people he is going to meet in Ukraine would focus on
devising ways to boost relations further, adding that he would meet
with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during a session of the
Turkey-Ukraine High Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Thursday.

The Turkish prime minister said he would also address the ninth
edition of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) — an international
network that promotes Ukraine’s European integration — as the event’s
guest of honor.

Erdoðan will proceed to Bosnia and Herzegovina to receive an award
granted in the name of Ottoman statesman Isa-Beg Ishakovic, and he
will also meet with Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosniak member of the
Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.