Author: Kalantarian Kevo

New York Times
June 3 2012

Calming the Roiling Caucasus

By DENIS CORBOY, WILLIAM COURTNEY and KENNETH YALOWITZ
Published: June 3, 2012

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia this week is timely. The Caucasus holds risks of confrontation
that could affect American and European interests, and it requires
regular and high-level attention.

Terrorism and insurgency are spreading in Russia’s North Caucasus
region. Russian military occupation of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and
adjacent areas in Georgia heightens strains. Renewed hostilities are
increasingly possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

Vladimir Putin’s return to Russia’s presidency adds complexity. He
seeks to increase Russia’s influence over former Soviet neighbors,
counterbalancing the appeal of the NATO and the European Union. Last
month, Putin skipped a G-8 summit but convened leaders from the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, whose other members are
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Russia is pushing for a widened Eurasian customs union, which Ukraine
is resisting.

The Kremlin is skeptical about democratic openings on its borders,
such as the 2003 Rose revolution in Georgia and the one a year later
in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 violated established
precedent in seeking to change by force borders of the former Soviet
states. Moscow engineered proclamations of independence by Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, but they are effectively being integrated into
Russia.

Although last year Georgia agreed to allow Russia to join the World
Trade Organization, relationships remain tenuous. The Kremlin refuses
to deal with President Mikheil Saakashvili, and most economic ties are
suspended. Last month in Chicago, despite Moscow’s opposition, NATO
reaffirmed that Georgia will become a member and noted its
`substantial contribution’ – including in Afghanistan – to
Euro-Atlantic security. Georgia’s holding of free and fair
parliamentary elections this year and presidential elections in 2013
will influence NATO attitudes about membership.

War over Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s displaced about a million
people and gave Armenia control of the enclave and another 9 percent
of Azerbaijan’s territory. The Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe seeks a mediated solution, but negotiations are
long stalled. A fragile cease-fire is frequently violated. Russia arms
Armenia and maintains a military base there. Azerbaijan uses its oil
wealth for an arms buildup, and its ally Turkey has closed the border
with Armenia for more than a decade. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
could suddenly become unfrozen.

In the North Caucasus, popular alienation and militant violence are
increasing. Two dozen Russian soldiers died in an attack three days
before Putin’s inauguration last month. Russia relies mostly on force
and economic subsidies to quell resistance, but the strategy has not
worked. Terrorism could be a real threat to the 2014 Winter Olympic
games in Sochi. Moscow might again blame Azerbaijan and Georgia for
aiding terrorists, as it did falsely in 1999 regarding Chechnya.

How can the America and Europe lessen risks in the Caucasus?

They should continue to stand firm for the independence of Georgia and
against the illegal occupation of one-fifth of its territory. Moscow
ought not to be allowed to assert control over the export of Caspian
energy through Georgia. Europe and America should importune Georgia
not to stir anti-Russian animosities in the North Caucasus. They ought
to cooperate with Russia to prevent terrorist acts around the
Olympics.

America and Europe can no longer keep the Nagorno-Karabakh talks on
the back burner. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev faces domestic
pressures to act, but Europe and America should caution him about the
adverse consequences, notably a broader regional war. Energy
investment in Azerbaijan and a major new gas pipeline to Europe,
Nabucco, could become casualties.

O.S.C.E. members have largely stopped engaging Russia about tensions
in the North Caucasus, but risks grow and could spill over into
Azerbaijan and Georgia. Members should use the permanent council in
Vienna to raise concerns and begin a dialogue.

In her visit, Secretary Clinton should spotlight these tensions and
offer reassurance that the West will work actively to prevent
confrontation and conflict.

Denis Corboy, a visiting senior research fellow at Kings College,
London, served as European Commission ambassador to Armenia and
Georgia. William Courtney served as U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan and
Georgia and special assistant to the president for Russia, Ukraine and
Eurasia. Kenneth Yalowitz served as U.S. ambassador to Belarus and
Georgia.

A version of this op-ed appeared in print on June 4, 2012, in The
International Herald Tribune.

Fars News Agency, Iran
June 3 2012

Iranian Minister, Armenian President Confer on Mutual Cooperation

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Minister of Energy Majid Namjou and Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsian explored avenues for the further bolstering
of the two countries’ mutual cooperation, specially in the energy
sector.

During the meeting on Saturday, the two sides stressed the importance
of maintaining their bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field
of energy.

The Iranian minister also submitted the invitation letter from Iran’s
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the Armenian president to participate
in the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran.

The 16th NAM summit will be held on August 26-31 in the Iranian
capital city of Tehran.

Iran will assume the rotating presidency of the movement for three
years during the Tehran summit.

Namjou also held separate meeting with Armenia’s Energy Minister Armen
Movsisian, and voiced Tehran’s preparedness to remove the obstacles in
the way of the implementation of joint water and electricity projects.

In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have signed
agreements on energy cooperation and agreed to cooperate in technology
and research and to enhance ties in commerce and economy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sargsian pledged in December 2011 to further expand “high-level
relations” between their nations and, in particular, give new impetus
to the implementation of joint energy projects that have fallen behind
schedule.

22 children of Armenia’s Zatik orphanage might end up on streets

NEWS.AM
June 03, 2012 | 10:29

YEREVAN. – The housing issue of 22 children from Armenia’s Zatik
orphanage must be solved until 2013 or else they will end up on
streets, the director of Zatik orphanage Ashot Mnatsakanyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am adding that at the beginning of the year Zatik
orphanage transformed into a children’s Support and Protection Center
and is operating under new rules.

According to the director, currently the center is functioning in
three directions: orphanage, day care center and center of temporary
care. Currently there are 90 children registered at the center, 22 of
which are in the orphanage. However, from 2014 the center will
function only as a Support center for children.

The director excluded the option that any of the children will be left
on the streets. Everything must be done in order to provide housing
for the children.

4 girls will be taken under the care of the church, some children will
be adopted by families and the others will turn 18 by that time and
leave the orphanage.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, Zatik Orphanage is to be
turned into a Children’s Protection Center. The reason for such a
change is the lack of children.

Christian Communities a Homogenization Process

Ottoman Destruction of Three Christian Communities a Homogenization Process
GMT 6-3-2012 2:28:55

Assyrian International News Agency
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(AINA) — AINA interviews Ara Sarafian, the founder of the Gomidas
Institute (London), an organization promoting and disseminating research
and scholarship on modern Armenian studies. In 2000 Sarafian edited and
published The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire,
1915-1916(known as the Blue Book), an extensive collection of
primary-source
documents concerning the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocide, compiled
originally by James Bryce and Arnold Toynbee and presented to Viscount Grey
of Fallodon in 1916.

Please tell us about your personal and academic background.
All of my grandparents came from different parts of what is now modern
Turkey. So I have a personal involvement in the Turkish-Armenian issue. I
am also an archival historian specializing in late Ottoman and modern
Armenian history. I often go to Turkey to work in archives and visit
various places of interest. Only recently I went to Ayash, outside Ankara,
which was one of the locations where Armenian intellectuals from the
capital were held prior to their execution. Finally, I am the director of
the Gomidas Institute (London), an independent academic organization
dedicated to modern Armenian Studies ().

Do you consider the 1915 genocide of the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks
to be one genocide?
Yes I do, in the sense that the Armenian Genocide was part of a process of
“homogenizing” a modern Turkish state. In the case of Armenians, Assyrians
and Greeks, this was largely achieved through mass murder, but also forced
assimilation of the remnants. The destruction of these three Christian
communities was one aspect of the “homogenizing” process, which also
included the murder and assimilation of Muslim groups as well–such as
Kurds, Arabs, Circassians and Pomaks. However, in the case of Muslim
groups, there were less murders and more forced assimilation, as the
history of the Turkish Republic shows.

As you are aware, scholars focusing on the Assyrian Genocide are a few.
Why do Genocide scholars broadly speak so little about the fate of
co-victims of the Ottoman Empire genocide, as opposed to that of the
Armenians? How can low-levels of interest in the Assyrian genocide amongst
scholars be explained?
There are many reasons. 1. The destruction of Assyrians took place in more
isolated parts of the Ottoman Empire, most notably in Hakkirari-Diyarbekir;
2. Elsewhere, Assyrians were often an invisible Christian minority and seen
as “Armenians” by outsiders–such as in the Harput region. They were
counted as Armenian victims; 3. Many Armenian historians have not bothered
to find out more about Assyrians, or they have not wanted to dilute their
“Armenian narrative” by dwelling on the murder of Assyrians as a separate
category; 4. Assyrians and their sympathisers have not been able to
represent the Assyrian experience better. This need not be the case today,
and it is not. There are more publications on Assyrians and a better
understanding of their fate as a distinct ethnicity.

Does the Blue Book compiled by Viscount Bryce and Arnold Toynbee remain
the most authoritative reference for primary-source documentation of the
genocide, or is new research revealing hitherto unknown information and
perspectives?
The Blue Book was a catalyst in informing the world about the Armenian
Genocide. I believe that Bryce and Toynbee considered calling it “The
Treatment of Armenians and Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-16.” I
believe they did not do so because information about Assyrians was
weaker–they simply did not have the authoritative information they needed
at hand. One can see this in the Toynbee Papers at the UK National
Archives. For example, the Americans in Diyarbekir were expelled before the
killings began, so that a crucial part of the potential evidence was
missing. That was not the case for Trebizond, Harput, Aleppo, or Damascus
where there were US Consuls, missionaries and others. However, Assyrians
were mentioned in the book, but not in the title of the book.
While the Blue Book was compiled under difficult circumstances and made its
essential point, we now have a great deal of information, primary sources,
that were not available to the authors of the Blue Book. The history of the
Assyrian Genocide should be based on this broader range of records, not
only such sources as those in German and Austrian archives, but also the
testimonies of Assyrians themselves. There is a lot of potential to make
progress, if there is the right organization to promote it.

Asked in 2005 whether Armenia should become the first state to acknowledge
the Assyrian genocide, respected scholar Professor Vakhan Dadrian
commented, ‘=85 I can’t give you an answer, because we do not know much about
your experience.’ Referring to the latter comment, Professor Hannibal
Travis has suggested that ‘there is a movement within genocide studies to
construct an Armenian Genocide that affected Armenians only’ and that this
genocide is ‘discontinuous from the experiences of victims of
anti-Christian massacres in historic Assyrian [sic], Pontic Greece, and
Thrace.’ Would you agree with Professor Dadrian’s suggestion that little is
known about the Assyrian genocide? How would you, in turn, respond to
Professor Travis’ analysis?

Professor Travis does have a valid point, and we know a great deal more
about the Assyrian experience today. I suggest that we focus on making the
Assyrian issue better understood today. Professor David Gaunt has a very
good book on the Assyrian experience, and I hope more scholars will follow
it up. I am always happy to work with Assyrian scholars, and indeed, I do
so. But Assyrians should create the means to bring such work to
fruition–that means funding for excellent research, publications,
dissemination of information, and not least, the creation of a new
generation of academics who can continue with such work.

In March 2012, the Armenian Parliament rejected a proposal to consider a
bill recognizing the Assyrian and Greek genocides. Assyrians worldwide have
asked; ‘if Armenia cannot understand the need for recognition, then who
can?’ Should Armenia have recognized the Assyrian genocide and would you
urge the Republic to reassess is previous decision?
Armenia should be the first country to express solidarity with Assyrians
and recognize the Assyrian Genocide–both at the state and non-governmental
level. I am sure, with a little work, it would be possible to win over
people in Armenia to take a stand on the Assyrian issue.

How best can the three main victim groups cooperate for a united approach
towards genocide recognition and justice? How necessary is a united
approach?
Adopting common projects (i.e. supporting common research and
publications), maintaining academic standards, making such knowledge
available at a popular level. I should also add that many Turks, Kurds and
other Muslims recognize the genocides that were committed in the Ottoman
Empire and modern Turkey, and they identify with the victims of these
genocides. Of course, this is a welcome development because it holds the
prospect of a real resolution based on principles of shared human and
ethical values. Recently at the two main commemorations of the “Armenian
Genocide” in Istanbul, Turkish sympathizers did not leave out Assyrians as
one of the main groups who were destroyed in 1915. So, once more, there is
a foundation to work on–but Assyrians need to work together and project
their case in a sensible manner. Having said all this, I have to say that
there is progress, and I appreciate the work your Seyfo
Center[Assyrian Genocide Research Center]
has done over the years. I hope you are
getting the support you need to carry on and expand your work.

What is the extent of your work with Assyrians and Assyrian genocide
scholars and activists?
I have good relations with Assyrian scholars, and this summer we have two
advanced scholars working on Assyrian issues at the Gomidas Institute in
London.
By Joseph Haweil

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Interfax, Russia
June 1 2012

Armenian farmer injured in Azeri shooting – police

YEREVAN. June 1

A man from the village of Nerkin Karmirakhbyur in the Tavush region in
northeast Armenia has been wounded after shots were fired from the
Azeri side.

The incident occurred on Friday morning, the Armenia police told Interfax.

The 52-year old man, whose last name is Melkumian, was working at a
vineyard. Forensic tests are due to be carried out.

Iran accuses Turkey of serving Israeli, U.S. interests in Syria

June 2, 2012 – 20:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A top military aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei on Saturday, June 2 accused Ankara, Riyadh and Doha of
serving U.S. and Israeli interests in Syria, in a veiled warning to
Turkey of worsening ties, AFP reports.

“The Americans, Israelis, and some European and Persian Gulf nations,
in particular Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have delegated to Turkey the
task of achieving their goal to weaken or topple Bashar al-Assad’s
government or make it surrender,” Fars news agency quoted General
Yahya Rahim Safavi as saying.

“Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are acting in the interests of the
U.S. and the Zionists to weaken the resistance axis comprising Iran,
Syria and Hezbollah,” said the former Revolutionary Guards commander.

He was referring to the Shiite armed militia in Syria’s neighbor
Lebanon, dubbed by Tehran’s nemesis Washington as a terrorist
organization.

Syria, whose government is Tehran’s key Middle East ally, has been
engulfed in a 15-month crisis in which the United Nations says more
than 10,000 people have been killed. Syrian activists put the death
toll at more than 13,000.

Calling Turkey “a strategic competitor of Iran,” Rahim Safavi said
that Iran-Turkey relations are still “good.”

But in a veiled warning, he added: “We hope that America and the
Zionists will not be able to disrupt relations” between Tehran and
Ankara.

For the past two years, Turkey has acted as an intermediary between
Iran and world powers on the Islamic republic’s controversial nuclear
program of uranium enrichment.

Tehran denies Western allegations that its atomic ambitions include a
covert weapons project.

But Turkey’s position on Syria, with Ankara calling on Assad to step
down to end the bloody strife there, has soured bilateral relations
for several months.

Syria’s opposition has accused Iran of supplying weapons and military
aid to Damascus, while Tehran makes the same allegations against the
West and the Gulf monarchies, accusing them of arming the rebels with
Ankara’s help.

Tehran has repeatedly voiced its backing for international envoy Kofi
Annan’s six-point peace plan for Syria, calling it the only way to end
the crisis, while Gulf nations have condemned Damascus’s deadly
crackdown.

Armenian residents can get visa for Spain via Lithuanian Embassy in Yerevan

news.am
June 02, 2012 | 21:10

YEREVAN. – The bilateral agreement between Lithuania and Spain
regarding representation in issuance of Schengen visas enters into
force on June 1, The Baltic Course quoted the Lithuanian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.

In compliance with the agreement, Lithuania will represent Spain in
issuing Schengen visas in Armenia, and Spain will represent Lithuania
in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kenya, Colombia,
Bolivia, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

After the agreement enters into force, residents of Armenia wishing to
come to Spain will be able to apply and receive a Schengen visa at the
Lithuanian Embassy in Yerevan.

Drugs found in Armenia’s Ararat Region

news.am
June 02, 2012 | 18:56

ARARAT. – Police detained on Friday three residents of Mrgavan village
in Armenia’s Ararat Region suspected in keeping drugs illegally.

Medical products containing drugs, syringes and a gas stove were found
in a car, while the detained confessed that they have produced drugs,
police informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. Drugs are sent for the
examination and an investigation is underway.

Theater producer in Armenia refuse to comment on driving car with MOD plate

news.am
June 02, 2012 | 14:43

YEREVAN. – Head of the State Song Theater Arthur Grigoryan has no
desire to comment on the rumors circulated by media outlets that he
drives a car with plate numbers of the Armenian Ministry of Defense,
Grigoryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am adding he does not like when
journalists interfere in his personal life and he has no intentions to
dwell on the subject.

Earlier media claimed that Grigoryan drives Nissan Quest with MOD
plate numbers, while the Ministry does not comment on it as well.

To note, MOD provides vehicles and plate numbers only to its
employees. Hence, it is not clear how can State Song Theatre head
drive a vehicle with MOD plate number without breaking the law.

Javakhk Armenians Appeal to Clinton to Raise Chakhalyan’s Release
Issue During Georgia Visit

hetq
18:55, June 2, 2012

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting Georgia on June 5
as part of her regional trip to South Caucasus countries. In relation
to that a petition addressed to the U.S. Secretary of State was
transferred to the “Yerkir” Union of NGOs with a request to be
delivered to the addressee and be published.

More than 1650 residents of the Armenian populated Javakhk region of
Georgia signed under the appeal, where they call H. Clinton to raise
the Armenian political figure and political prisoner Vahagn
Chakhalyan’s acquittal and release issue during her visit to Georgia
and her meetings with the Georgian authorities.

The petition with the attached signatures and the accompanying letter
was submitted to the U.S. Embassy on June 2, 2012.

Below is the full English translation of the petition.

Petition in support of the Javakheti Armenian political-social and
national figure, political prisoner Vahagn Chakhalyan

to be presented to the U.S. Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton

on behalf of the Javakheti people

APPEAL

During his activities, the Javakheti Armenian social, political and
national figure Vahagn Chakhalyan is fighting not only for the
improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the Javakheti
population and for the preservation of the ethnic, cultural,
linguistic, religious and educational values of the Armenian
population living in Georgia but also tries to stop the process that
forces Armenians to leave the region.

Because of the above mentioned activities and for having taken over
31% of the votes from the ruling party, when being presented in the
composition of the opposition party in during the local self
government elections in Akhalkalaki region of October 2006 with the
organization “United Javakhk” headed by him, Vahagn Chakhalyan became
subject to political persecutions. The “Javakhk-Info” agency, the
“Youth” radio, the sport-cultural and educational sections were closed
by the Georgian authorities and the edition of “Kajatun” newspaper was
banned.

Vahagn Chakhalyan was arrested illegally and sentenced to 10 years of
imprisonment with false accusations. The same fate was reserved for
his relatives and for many party members.

Therefore, we urge You to raise the theme of Vahagn Chakhalyan’s
acquittal and release during your visit to Georgia and the meetings
with President Saakashvili.