Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Trend, Azerbaijan
Oct 1 2011

Iran to start water transfer plan from Araz to Orumiyeh Lake

1 October 2011, 14:50 (GMT+05:00) Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 1/Trend A.
Qurbanova, D.Khatinoglu/

Iran signed the agreement with northern neighbors to transfer water
from its sector of the Araz River to Orumiyeh Lake, IRNA quoted Iran’s
Energy Minister Majid Namjou as saying.

“The Araz River is located in the border,” he said. According to the
agreement with neighbors, about 50 percent of the river belongs to
Iran and the rest to its neighbors.”

He said that water transferred from the Araz River to the west of
Azerbaijan in the long term period will solve the drought problem in
Orumiyeh lake.

Iran will use water from the Araz River and the country will not seek
for using sectors of other neighbors.

The Iranian government approved assigning $900 million to protect
Orumiyeh Lake from drying up. This amount has been granted to transfer
water from rivers in the Kurdistan province to Orumiyeh Lake .

Earlier, the Ecology and Natural Resources Minister of Azerbaijan
Huseyngulu Bagirov said that Iran has not officially appealed to
Azerbaijan regarding the use of Araz River waters to prevent Lake
Urmia(Orumiyeh).

He said that the Azerbaijani side was informed of the use of Araz
River waters to prevent the swallowing of Lake Urmia only through
media reports.

“If in fact there is such an intention, Iran must coordinate this
issue with Azerbaijan,” Bagirov said, stressing that Iran and
Azerbaijan have made an agreement on the use of waters of the Araz
River.

“The agreement reflects many issues. It was agreed that each party may
use water from the river for agriculture and other needs,” Bagirov
said.

He said that a certain water level should be maintained in the river
to preserve the ecological balance.

As an example, Bagirov stressed that the Armenians have altered the
riverbed of the Tovuz River for their own purposes. Naturally, they
will feel the ecological consequences.

“The lake’s disappearance would leave behind it a residue of 10
billion tons of salt, which threatens the lives of 14 million citizens
around the lake,” Orumiyeh lawmaker Javad Jahangirzadeh said earlier.

Iran ‘s largest lake, Orumiyeh, dried up by almost one-third, the
Director of the Iranian State Department for Lake Protection Ali
Nazardust said earlier. Dams, rainfall shortages, and other negative
factors have caused Orumiyeh Lake to dry up.

At present the lake’s salinity level is at 330 percent, Nazardust
said. Earlier the figure was 160-170 percent and the reservoir covered
5,000 square meters.

RusData Dialine – Russian Press Digest
September 30, 2011 Friday

Russia invites West to join it in safeguarding peace in South Caucasus

by Anna Khlyudova
Nezavisimaya Gazeta

Speaking at the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia was ready to act as a
guarantor of peace in South Caucasus. He went on to invite the U.S.
and EU to join Russia in this effort. Georgia appeared sarcastic about
the prospect, Azerbaijan understanding and Armenia moderately
optimistic.

“Russia is determined to do everything possible to avert the use of
force and escalation of violence in Caucasus,” Lavrov said.

The diverse reactions from countries across the region are indicative
of Russia’s current position in South Caucasus. This is the first time
that Russia has asked the West for help. In the past, Russian leaders
referred to the region as Russia’s zone of responsibility.

To some extent, Lavrov’s statement sounded like a warning about a
possible rerun of the August 2008 hostilities. Alexei Malashenko from
Carnegie Moscow Center said Lavrov’s statement means Russia has
accepted the current realities and does not want to display any hint
of imperial ambition ahead of Vladimir Putin’s possible reelection as
president. “If the West fails to stabilize the Georgia-Abkhazia-South
Ossetia triangle, Russia will face less criticism,” he said.

Georgia responded by reminding Lavrov of the casualties it suffered at
Russia’s hands. Georgia said it was not going to sign any agreements
with “its autonomous regions” but would agree to sign a non-use of
force agreement with Russia if “the international community” – the
West – is involved.

EU spokesperson Maya Kocijancic sounded interested in Lavrov’s
proposal but added they still had to study the context of the Georgia
conflict. Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Lavrov
proposed continued negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk
Group, with light pressure put alternately on the conflicting parties.
Armenia could buy this, but not Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, who also addressed the
UN General Assembly in New York, reiterated the old conflict
resolution requirements, including the pullout of Armenian forces and
preservation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. His deputy, Khalaf
Khalafov, was far blunter several days ago when he mentioned Armenia’s
” unwillingness to withdraw from the occupied territories.”

Armenia responded that a compromise involves concessions on both sides
while Azerbaijan only makes demands and “ephemeral promises,” which
sound ridiculous from a country often criticized by PACE for
backtracking on democracy by, for example, sanctioning “presidency for
life”, said Naira Zograbyan, head of the Armenian parliament’s
standing commission for European integration.

“A joint approach to the Karabakh problem is possible if Russia,
America and Europe develop a package agreement which complies with
current realities, and Turkey demonstrates its non-resistance,” said
Konstantin Zatulin, head of the CIS Institute. “However, I do not
believe Russia will be able to reach agreement with the West on all
the South Caucasus issues, because we have very different views on the
developments in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” he added.

Tigran: A Fable – review(Emarcy)

John Fordham
guardian.co.uk,
Thursday 8 September 2011 21.32 BST

Buy the CDTigran HamasyanA FableEmarcy
Tell us what you think: Rate and review this albumTigran Hamasyan is a
25-year-old Armenian-born pianist brought up in LA. He has already won
some big jazz-piano prizes, and the fact he looks like a young Bob
Dylan probably won’t do his prospects any harm, either. Listening to
his account of Someday My Prince Will Come on this mostly solo set – a
mix of Chick Corea’s gliding touch and his own darker melodic
atmosphere – it isn’t hard to tell why Hamasyan floored the judges.
That’s the only jazz standard on this set, however, the rest being
folk originals or pieces influenced by his Armenian childhood. Fans of
Avishai Cohen will warm to this newcomer’s song-rooted melodic sense:
he likes embroidering gentle folk melodies with dazzling instrumental
variations and lilting singing. The songs unfold over rolling ostinato
patterns or climax in chord clamours, and some are wistful and
mystical. A few are ecstatic dances, such as the galloping Carnaval,
and the vivacious Kakavik (The Little Partridge) with its tireless
left-hand propulsion. Hamasyan can be jazzier and more improv-oriented
than on this autobiographical journey, and A Fable may veer toward the
fey for some. But stories from this year’s Montreux festival of his
performance augur very well for his future.

HAK encourages activists, calls to avoid contact with police

17:56 – 01.10.11

Coordinator of opposition alliance Armenian National Congress (HAK)
called on HAK supporters on Liberty Square in central Yerevan to
ignore calls by the police that their rally is not sanctioned.

Levon Zurabyan told the activists not to pay attention to police
saying that those attending the rally will be held responsible.

It comes after the HAK started a week of round-the-clock rallies on
Liberty Square in an attempt to make the authorities meet their
demands the first of which is holding snap presidential and
parliamentary elections.

Levon Zurabyan also called on HAK supporters to avoid any contact with
police officers, reminding that those in charge of communication with
the police are he, as well as HAK activists Davit Shahnazaryan, Davit
Matevosyan and Avetis Avagyan.

Opposition activists have already spent a night in tents set up
outside the Opera House. The oppositionists are being challenged by
unfavorable weather conditions especially during the night.

Tert.am

Armenian authorities will not be able to carry out reforms as long as
they are guarantors of criminal-oligarchic system

arminfo
Friday, September 30, 21:03

The Armenian authorities will not be able to carry out reforms as long
as they are guarantors of criminal-oligarchic system, the leader of
the People’s Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan said during an
opposition rally on Friday.

“On the Independence Day President Sargsyan said that in 20 years we
will live in a democratic and prosperous country. This is exactly what
we have been fighting for many years already. Our goal is to destroy
the current criminal-oligarchic system, to reform the economic policy
and to change people’s attitude towards the processes developing in
their country,” Demirchyan said.

He urged poeple to form a new government by means of free and
democratic elections. “Otherwise in 20 years we will have just a
destroyed country and an impoverished people ruled by a dozen of rich
men,” Demirchyan said.

Italian Cerchiara di Calabria recognizes Armenian Genocide

Aysor.am
Saturday,October 01

Italian Cerchiara di Calabria Town Council recognized the Armenian
Genocide on September 24, the 6th town in Italy to recognize the fact
of Armenian Genocide this year.

In 2011 April, the Armenian Genocide was recognized by the following
town councils of Italy: San Giorgio, Padova Province, Bolano, La
Spezia Province, Sermide, Province Mantova, Dorgali, the Province of
Nuoro, Isola del Liri, Frosinone Province.

A total of 4 provinces and 59 towns of Italy have recognized the
Armenian Genocide, the MFA press office said.

SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF LEBANON NABIH BERRI IS TO ARRIVE
IN ARMENIA ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT

AZG DAILY #174, 01-10-2011

On October 3 the delegation led by Nabih Berri, Speaker of theNational
Assembly of Lebanon will arrive in Armenia on an official visit at the
invitation of the RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Lebanon will have meetings
with the RA President Serzh Sargsyan, the RA NA President Hovik
Abrahamyan, the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II,
the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and the Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian.

On October 4 the speech of the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament is
envisaged in the NA sitting.

The delegation headed by Nabih Berri, Speaker of the National Assembly
of Lebanon, will visit Tsitsernakaberd, the Memorial Complex of the
Armenian Genocide, and will lay a wreath at the monument of the
Genocide victims, RA NA press service reports.

ANC spokesman: no agreement on opposition-coalition dialogue yet

October 1, 2011 – 16:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – There is no agreement on continuation of the
dialogue between the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the ruling
coalition, an ANC spokesman said.

`The Congress could not contact David Harutyunyan, the head of the
coalition’s delegation. However, a member of the Republican Party of
Armenia, Gagik Minasyan, promised assistance to settle the matter,’
Arman Musinyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

During the September 30 rally, Levon Ter-Petrossian announced
7-day-long round-the-clock protest actions. He said the
opposition-coalition dialogue will be resumed stating October 1, with
Manushak Petrosyan in charge with contacting presidential
administration.

Representatives of the ruling coalition have held meetings since July
18, the two main issues on the agenda being conduction of
extraordinary election (on ANC demand) and development of canons of
political competition (as suggested by the authorities).

Problems emerged when police detained 7 young ANC activists. According
to the ANC, on August 9 police officers used violence against ANC
activists Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the
site, activists Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan,
Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimajyan tried to settle the dispute but
were beaten as well, the ANC said. All above-mentioned were taken to a
police station.

Currently, Tigran Arakelyan is kept in custody. The others were released.

On August 26, the Congress announced that it suspends the dialogue and
believes Arakelyan to be a political prisoner.

U.S. Ambassador Evans: Diaspora Lobbying and the `G’ Word

Hrant Gadarigian

hetq
15:34, September 30, 2011

Now in Armenia after a five year absence, former U.S. Ambassador John
Evans participated in two public discussions here in Yerevan.

What I want to pick up on is something he said during the `100
Questions’ forum on September 29 at the Golden Tulip Hotel. It dealt
with Armenian lobbying efforts to get President Obama to publicly
describe the events of 1915 as genocide.

It was probably the most revealing point he made.

In essence, Evans stated that in the long run whether or not this U.S.
president or any future president utters the `G’ word would have
little practical consequence for Armenians; especially in terms of
reparations.

He was answering a question by an audience member seeking the
diplomat’s evaluation of Armenian lobbying efforts in the United
States.

And he gave what can best be described as a diplomatic answer. Sure,
he said, American-Armenians could pursue such lobbying in Washington
but what is of prime importance is for Ankara to officially recognize
the Genocide.

He didn’t elaborate as to whether recognition by Washington would
serve to pressure or prod Ankara to do the same. Elsewhere in his
remarks, however, the former ambassador noted that he didn’t believe
that Washington could dictate policy to Ankara despite the 50 year
military and strategic alliance between the two.

Many in the audience were grilling Evans with questions the former
diplomat would hardly touch with a ten foot pole.

`On a level of one to ten, how corrupt is Armenia?’

`Which elections in Armenia since independence were the most fraudulent?’

`Which Armenian president was the best, the worst?’

It’s as if those asking the questions wanted Evans to reaffirm or
disprove convictions they already held.

Credit where credit is due. The former ambassador deftly navigated
these loaded questions by pointing to the halt in Millennium Challenge
Grant monies to Armenia as proof that Armenia is backsliding in terms
of `ruling justly’ and that democracy is `a work in progress.’

The whole approach by Armenians sadly parallels efforts in the
diaspora, particularly the States, to get successive U.S.
administrations to publicly acknowledge the historical fact of the
1915 Genocide.

It’s as if we need the acknowledgment of others in positions of
authority, perceived or otherwise, to verify what we and the world
already know.

We know corruption is rampant in Armenia, that successive governments
rule by dictate with little if any democratic participation by the
people, that an elite economic oligarchy has a stranglehold on true
free market enterprise, etc, etc.

So why the strange need to hear it from a former ambassador?

And if Armenians have such a psychological need to hear such facts
confirmed from an outsider, in this case Mr. Evans, will they heed his
advice about lobbying for Genocide recognition from Washington?

I fear not.

At the time, numerous world leaders, including American officials and
presidents, acknowledged the genocide, eviction and exile of Armenians
in 1915.

Many promised to come to the aid of the Armenian people and right the
wrong that befell them at the hand of the Ottoman Turks.

We all know what followed. Some call it betrayal, others real politik.

Out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and atop the ruins of western
Armenia, there arose the Republic of Turkey – a nation which the
perceived friends `of our little Armenia ally’ soon made peace with in
return for lucrative economic and military deals

Decades later, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of 1915, we find
ourselves back lobbying those same world powers who decided to place
morality on the back-burner.

Am I the only one who views this approach as dysfunctional and dishonourable?

FERNANDEZ-GALIANO: ARMENIA’S EXPERIENCE IN SPHERE OF HAZARDS MANAGEMENT IS USEFUL

ARMENPRESS
20:03, 30 September, 2011

Armenia’s huge experience in the sphere of management of hazards can
be useful for other countries, Executive Secretary of the European
and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement Eladio Fernandez-Galiano
told a news conference.

According to him, Armenia is situated in a region, where almost all
kinds of disaster happen. That is why the country has gained great
experience in risk assessment and fighting natural disasters. He
welcomed Armenia’s progress in risk reduction, especially the
establishment of the national platform foundation.

Created in 1987, the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards
Agreement (EUR-OPA) is a platform for co-operation between European
and Southern Mediterranean countries in the field of major natural
and technological disasters. Its field of action covers the knowledge
of hazards, risk prevention, risk management, post-crisis analysis
and rehabilitation. he main objectives of the EUR-OPA Major Hazards
Agreement are to reinforce and to promote co-operation between Member
States in a multi-disciplinary context to ensure better prevention,
protection against risks and better preparation in the event of major
natural or technological disasters.

Set up by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 1987,
the Agreement is “open” because any non-member State of the Council of
Europe may apply to become a member. It has to date 26 Member States.