Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 10 2011

After key Kazan talks, fate of Karabakh now more dim than ever

10 July 2011, Sunday / MAHIR ZEYNALOV , Ä°STANBUL

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (C), Armenian President Serzh
Sarksyan (L) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev walk as they meet
in Kazan on June 24 to find a permanent solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev once said, in an attempt to
stress the possibility of reconciliation with Armenia, even nations
that had fought with each other for centuries now live peacefully side
by side.

It has increasingly become clear that Aliyev’s dream still remains
distant today as Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to blame each other
for failing to reduce the pain of the Karabakh impasse after key talks
in Kazan.

The international community had pinned much hope on the latest peace
talks to find a lasting settlement for Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed
territory between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Observers, however, were not
surprised as leaders failed to embrace this historic chance to make
peace.

The Kazan peace talks, held on June 24, were what Ambassador Robert
Bradtke, the US diplomat involved in international efforts to find a
peaceful solution to the conflict, termed as `probably the most
important point in the process since 2001, when there were efforts
made to get a peace agreement at Key West.’

In a rare move, US President Barack Obama called both leaders a day
before the talks to encourage them to endorse the Basic Principles and
take a `decisive step toward a peaceful settlement.’

The Basic Principles, a document that both leaders were encouraged and
expected to agree upon in Kazan to set the stage for talks on
resolving the conflict, include the returning of occupied territories
adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, the right of refugees from
both sides to return, an interim status providing security and
self-governance for Nagorno-Karabakh and an international security
guarantee to keep and maintain the peace deal. Vugar Gojayev, an
independent political analyst based in Baku, said even such high-level
diplomatic pressure was not enough to achieve a breakthrough. `The
international community understands that there is a concrete and
long-discussed framework deal on the table, so it is time to make the
conflicting sides narrow their differences with the Document on Basic
Principles, which could push to pen a complete peace treaty in years
to come,’ he added.

Azerbaijan and Armenia were quick to blame each other for the failure
in peace talks.

`The Kazan summit did not achieve a breakthrough because Azerbaijan
was not ready to accept the last version of the Basic Principles,’
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in a statement after
the talks. In response to Nalbandian’s statement, Novruz Mamedov, head
of the presidential administration’s foreign relations department,
told reporters that the Armenian statement showed once again that the
Armenian leadership had no intention of abandoning methods of dirty
propaganda.

`The unconstructive position of the Armenian side is to be blamed for
the absence of serious progress,’ he said. `What went wrong in
cautiously optimistic talks is not public,’ Gojayev said, adding, `It
is obvious that Armenia demands more unacceptable concessions from
Azerbaijan.’ He said that while the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh
remains the bone of contention in the talks, Armenia urges the
mediators to set a concrete date for the referendum, but the
Azerbaijani side is against any concrete dates and modalities of such
a vote. According to Gojayev, the Kazan talks were not the final
chance, but they could have been a turning point in the stalled peace
process.

Reuters reported on June 26, Azerbaijan’s armed forces day, that two
days after the talks troops marched across Azadlıq Square in central
Baku, along with convoys of infantry combat vehicles and Russian-made
S-300 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile launchers. Warplanes,
helicopters and drones cruised over the city, as TV stations aired
footage of battleships on duty off the Azerbaijani Caspian coast.

`I am completely sure that our territorial integrity will be resumed
in any possible way,’ Aliyev said at the parade. `Therefore, we should
be even stronger,’ he underlined. Jale Sultanli, the managing editor
of the Caucasus Edition: Journal of Conflict Transformation, said the
results of the Kazan meeting were not completely surprising, claiming
that the environment in both Azerbaijan and Armenia was not ripe for
the leaders to make any steps forward.

Sultanli added that the Kazan meeting showed that while the
international community can play an important role in the peace
process, its encouragement and pressure is not enough to produce
results.

Turkish-Armenian ties to be in sync with Nagorno-Karabakh process

In a failed attempt to bury a century of hostilities with Armenia,
Turkey launched a reconciliation process with Armenia two years ago.
Despite Turkey’s unconvincing diplomatic overtures to urge Azerbaijan
that reconciliation would help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Azerbaijan’s adamant opposition coupling with growing pressure from
the Armenian diaspora stalled the process.

Sultanli argues that the improvement of both processes needs to be
synchronized for reconciliation to have a positive impact on
Nagorno-Karabakh. `If Azerbaijan feels threatened, it will try to
jeopardize the process, again leading to more setbacks that will have
a negative impact on all sides involved,’ Sultanli noted.

Drawing on similar lines, Gojayev also asserted that Turkey should
normalize its ties and reopen its border with Armenia only if progress
accepted by Baku is made with a Karabakh peace pact. `My fear is that
Azerbaijan would lose a crucial leverage in influencing the talks on
the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, if Turkey and Armenia’s
rapprochement brings the opening of borders and results in the end of
Armenia’s isolation. Turkey’s refusal to normalize its relations with
Armenia should continue until Armenia withdraws its troops from the
occupied territories and the IDPs [internally displaced persons]
return to their native lands. With the border open with Turkey,
Armenia could toughen its stance at the Karabakh talks,’ Gojayev said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia
July 8 2011

Transcript of Press Statement by Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign
Minister, after Talks with President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan, Yerevan, July 8, 2011

1054-08-07-2011

Foreign Minister Lavrov: I have just concluded a meeting with
President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, to whom on behalf
of the Russian President I handed the proposals formulated by Dmitry
Medvedev following discussions at the Kazan summit on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. These proposals are accompanied
by a personal message from the Russian President to the President of
the Republic of Armenia.

I am also heading to Baku today, where I will hand a similar message
from Dmitry Medvedev to the leadership of Azerbaijan.

The head of Armenia has confirmed his high appreciation of the actions
of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the personal efforts of the President
of Russia, and his keenness on achieving real progress towards a
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as expeditiously as
possible. President Sargsyan said that he would study President
Medvedev’s message and proposals most carefully and prepare an answer
in the near future.

!OpenDocument

German reporter’s work hindered by Nakhichevan authorities

July 9, 2011 – 18:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung German daily’s
political observer Michael Ludwig was forced to discontinue a working
trip to Nakhichevan, because of local authorities’ hindering his work.

As the reporter stated in a conversation with Turan news agency, he
meant to prepare a material about Nakhichevan’s life in blockade on
the sidelines of the project covering post-Soviet space regions.

Having secured an accreditation at Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the
reporter headed for Nakhichevan on a familiarization tour. To make a
trip to Batabat, he addressed to the executive authorities of Shakhbuz
region from where he was directed to Nakhichevan Mejlis to receive
permission.

At the main department on Nakhichevan affairs at Foreign Ministry, the
reporter was questioned as to the purpose of his trip. On the
following day, the journalist submitted a program of his visits, which
was approved on condition that he would be accompanied by the
representative of Foreign Ministry’s regional department.

The reporter resolved to discontinue his trip and return to Baku. `I’m
sorry my activities were restricted. Those who interfered with my work
have never heard of a free media,’ the German reporter told Turan.

Commenting on the restriction of the reporter’s activities, a
representative of Azeri Foreign Ministry cited the journalist’s
failure to provide the purpose of his visit to Nakhichevan. However,
Ludwig refuted the accusations, noting that he detailed the purpose of
his visit to Nakhichevan while requesting an accreditation.

Baku to respond on Russia’s proposals on Karabakh settlement

BAKU, July 9 (RIA Novosti)

Azerbaijan will respond on Russia’s proposals on Nagorny Karabakh
settlement after it studies it, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister lmar
Mammadyarov said.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, hand over Russia’s
proposals on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement to both the Azerbaijani
and the Armenian sides.

“We are carefully studying the proposal made by [Russian] President
[Dmitry] Medvedev, and after a thorough insight we will give our
response,” Mammadyarov said.

Mammadyarov will pay an official visit to Russia on July 17-18 by the
Lavrov’s invitation where the sides will continue the talks on the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

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.

Under the updated in Madrid principles of the settlement Azerbaijan
insist Armenia should withdraw in the near future its troops from the
territories of Azerbaijan.

An agreement on Nagorny Karabakh will be only possible if Azerbaijan
gives up a number of amendments suggested during a meeting in Kazan,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan were unable to come to an agreement on the path
to peace in Nagorny Karabakh after a meeting in Russia’s Kazan in
June, but said some progress had been made.

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

Israel, Turkey to hold another round of talks to mend ties

July 9, 2011 – 12:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Having failed to resolve their differences during
three-day talks this week, Turkey and Israel will hold another round
of negotiations later this month in New York, Hürriyet Daily News
reported.

`The talks are expected to be concluded in late July,’ said Ã-zdem
Sanberk, the Turkish member of the UN panel investigating the Israeli
raid on the aid ship Mavi Marmara.

The schedule of the next round of negotiations is not set yet but the
talks will take place in New York, said Sanberk. `There has been no
change in the negotiating team.’ Turkey was represented in this week’s
talks by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun SinirlioÄ?lu,
Ambassador Mithat Rende and Sanberk.

The UN panel, which includes two international experts as well as
Turkish and Israeli representatives, is expected to submit its report
to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon before July 27. The two countries’
officials are supposed to resolve the deadlock by that time.

Both Turkey and Israel see a window of opportunity to mend fences amid
the regional unrest.

Observers say a compromise will benefit both sides, increasing
Ankara’s leverage as a UN vote on Palestinian statehood looms in
September and expanding its room to maneuver in regional peace
mediation efforts.

First conference of young military officers held in Yerevan

13:20 – 09.07.11

Alexander Spendiaryan Opera House hosted Saturday the first
pan-military conference of young military officers of Armenia’s Armed
Forces.

The conference was attended by the president, defense minister,
minister of education and science and other high-ranking officials.

Addressing the public, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said that the
officers of Armenia’s Army are under immense responsibility.

`You are responsible for the security of a whole nation and a state
achieved at the expense of blood,’ said he.

Ohanyan mentioned that the day is a remarkable one as during 20 years
of history in Armenia’s Armed Forces this is the first time such a
comprehensive conference has been organized with the participation
young military officers.

Ohanyan went on to say that the goal of the conference is to stress
the role of the Armenian military officer in the army.

`The first characteristic feature typical of a good military officer
is the realization of his role inside the state and the Armed Forces,’
explained Ohanyan.

He also highlighted the importance of relations between officers and soldiers.

`It is the soldiers that are the greatest value in the army,’ said he,
calling on officers not to turn soldiers into what he called `blind
subsidiaries,’ but rather take care of them and make them
imitative-taking and courageous fighters.

Ohanyan further said that the conference was successfully organized,
adding that such meetings will as of now be frequently held.
The conference was followed by a concert.

Tert.am

Car imports unchanged despite higher petroleum prices

09:54 – 09.07.11

Increased petroleum prices in 2011 did not prevent Armenian residents
from importing cars, according to Armenia’s National Statistical
Service.

Car imports remained unchanged compared to last, equaling to a total
$154.8 million.

In the meantime, Armenia imported oil products worth a total of $304.1
million, as well as $320 million in natural gas imports.

Imports of crops wheat and sugar totaled to $87.9 million and $30.8
million respectively and medications imported made $79.8 million.

Wheat imports decreased by 8 per cent in 2010 because of Russia’s
embargo in 2010 which led Armenian importers to seek alternative
sources of wheat, such as Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Tert.am

PM Tigran Sargsyan visits the Armenian village of Chaltr

armradio.am
09.07.2011 13:35

Within the framework of the working visit to Rostov-on-Don Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited the Armenian village of Chaltr
in Myasnikyan region. The Prime Minister familiarized with the
activity, the everyday life and the history of the local Armenian
community.

Tigran Sargsyan visited the St. Hambartsum Armenian Church and laid
flowers at the khachkar erected in memory of the numerous losses
Armenia has incurred throughout history and the memorial to the
victims of the Great Patriotic War. The Prime Minister later visited
the historic museum of Chaltr.

There are eight Armenian villages in Myasnikyan region with a
population of 30 thousand, only 15 thousand of which reside in Chaltr.
Nor Nakhijevan Armenian city is also located in Myasnikyan region.

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 8 2011

Azerbaijani FM: Armenian Deputy FM’s statements reveal his spiritual
and intellectual poverty and shabbiness

[08.07.2011 18:25]
Azerbaijan, Baku, July 8 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /

Shavarsh Kocharyan’s absurd statements do not correspond to the logic
of a normal human being. But they fully reveal the spiritual and
intellectual poverty and shabbiness of the subject, entitled to be
called homo sapience. These statements make not just shrug, but
sympathize with the leaders, who, apparently, are unable to prevent
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister’s illiteracy, the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry official representative Elkhan Polukhov told Trend.

“One should only regret that there are people like Kocharyan in the
Armenian leadership, whose statements are not subject to the comments
because of the lack of elementary logic,” Polukhov said, commenting on
the Armenian official.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan commented on
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement made at the Congress of
Azerbaijanis. The statement said that the Armenians came to
Nagorno-Karabakh as guests and the Armenian state was established on
the historical Azerbaijani territories.

The Messenger, Georgia
July 9 2011

Discord between ruling administration and Georgian church

By Messenger Staff Friday, July 8

At the last session before its holiday, the Georgian parliament
granted legal status of public law to all religious faiths which were
acknowledged by the Council of Europe. Up to 70 representatives of the
ruling party in the parliament voted unanimously for this decision
despite protests from the opposition as well as Georgian Patriarchate.
The latter was against such a hasty adoption of the law and demanded
public discussion and analysis of the conditions before adopting the
amendment in the civil code.

The events in the parliament developed at Guinness record speed. The
decision took place in Tbilisi when neither President Saakashvili nor
chair of the parliament Bakradze were in the capital. On July 1
parliament adopted the draft law at the first hearing. On July 4 the
Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II spread a statement where he
was expressing his surprise for the decision of the parliament to
accept such a serious document in a speedy way without solid public
discussion.

The Patriarchate asked for public discussion involving the whole
nation. The ruling team ignored this request and on the very next day
on July 5 held the second and third hearings and adopted the code. The
major question which now arises for Georgian society is why was the
position of the Patriarchate not considered by the ruling forces? And
why was it approved in such an unusually accelerated manner? On a
superficial level certain highlights are outlined.

Some days ago Georgia was visited by Armenian Catholicos Garegin II
and during this meeting with the Georgian Patriarch he asked Ilia II
to provide his followers the same judicial status of a legal entity of
Public law. Ilia II responded that Georgia would like to receive the
same status in Armenia in return. So the deal was not concluded. Just
a few days later the Armenian foreign minister came to Tbilisi and, as
it turned out, during his meeting with his Georgian counterpart the
Armenian FM addressed the same issue.Is it just a coincidence that
this visit was followed by this hasty adoption of a new law and the
subsequent granting of extra status to foreign churches? It also
became known through some unconfirmed sources that president
Saakashvili promised Garegin II to make the abovementioned decision.
The Georgian media is now openly speculating about the “cold war”
between the rose administration and the Georgian Orthodox Church.

The adoption of this law without carrying out public debates and
therefore ignoring the position of Patriarchate gave ground to the
media and analysts to announce an `attack’ on the authority of the
Georgian church. On the same day, July 5, the Patriarchate released
the statement that the adopted amendments contradict the Georgian
church and the country’s interests as well and that this law will
yield negative results very quickly.

Nobody should doubt that Georgia should comply to Western standards
but it should be done in a democratic way.

Some opposition parties asked President Saakashvili to veto its
decision however the document has already been signed by the
President. As some analysts have said, this step was taken by
Saakashvili and his team to confirm to the westerners their commitment
and loyalty to its western liberal-democratic image in order to
receive support for the forthcoming elections in the hope that the
west will turn a blind eye to any manipulations from the ruling power
during these elections