Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Expert: `Azerbaijan is an artificial state with many inner and outer problems’

Military expert Artsrun Hovhannisyan met journalists today and spoke
about Azerbaijan and it relations with the neighbors. As the expert
noted Azerbaijan is a not stable, artificial state which has many
inner and outer problems.

The speaker noted that Azerbaijan has conflicts with its all
neighbors. `These conflicts do not get hotter and are kept frozen due
to the grant countries’.
A. Hovhannisyan noted Turkmenistan as an example. Azerbaijan has
serious problems with this state. According to the expert Azerbaijani
side has dispute over the oil mines with this country. `In case of any
dispute with Turkmenistan Azerbaijan may lose the profits of the oil
and gas which fills the budget of this state,’ the speaker underlined.

Speaking about the Azerbaijani problems and Armenian interest in it A.
Hovhannisyan underlined the importance to inform the international
society and inner audiance about the situation in Azerbaijan.

26.05.12, 15:11

Global Insight
May 25, 2012

Azerbaijan’s Defence Spending Continues to Expand

by Lilit Gevorgyan

According to the state-controlled Azerbaijani APA news agency,
Azerbaijan’s defence spending during the first quarter this year
amounted to 152.2 million Azerbaijani new manat (USD193.7 million), an
increase of 37.3% year-on-year (y/y). After expenditure on industry,
construction and economic activities, the defence spend was the third
largest slice of government spending, on a par with social security
expenditures. The Azerbaijani government has slated USD4.397 billion
for this year’s defence spend, a significant increase compared with
USD3.1 billion in 2011. The government hopes that the massive increase
will help to revamp the army’s capabilities, boost the military
complex–which produces 600 different products–and also help in the
protracted process of army modernisation reforms. The latest figures
confirm that the Azeri government remains on track in terms of
allocation of funds.

Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, and his administration have made
no secret of the fact that the aim of the current rearmament is to
bring a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which has
been frozen since 1994 when the Armenian-populated region–with the
help of Armenia–managed to reverse an Azeri army advance. With
international mediation, the parties to the conflict signed an
armistice, but no final agreement has been achieved over the final
status of the self-declared republic. Earlier this year, Bloomberg
quoted Aliyev as saying that his country’s defence budget is larger
than the entire Armenian state budget, adding that “It’s not a frozen
conflict, and it’s not going to be one”. However, international
mediators as well as Azerbaijan’s staunchest ally and ethnic kin,
Turkey, have to date been clear in their opposition to any military
solution to the conflict.

Significance:In 2003, Azerbaijan’s military budget was only USD175
million, with plans to spend USD4.3 billion on defence spending in
2012 representing a marked increase. Part of the spending is indeed
required to replace badly outdated Soviet-era equipment and build new
capabilities. The Azeri military have been working closely with
external specialists to carry out army reforms, which are badly needed
in order to break from Soviet-style military institutions. Spending
has been channeled towards strengthening domestic production
capabilities, which means that the international community will have
less leverage over Azerbaijan in case of a military conflict with
Armenia. A recently unveiled USD1.6-billion arms deal with Israel is
another sign of serious effort on the part of Azerbaijan to boost its
air defence and hardware capabilities. While the short-term risk of
war is low, the military buildup coupled with hostile rhetoric by the
Azeri leadership and active stoking of nationalistic sentiment
domestically, are strong signals that the possibility of war cannot be
ruled out in the long term.

Paper: Gagik Tsarukyan, Robert Kocharian’s visit to Moscow pursued common goal

May 26, 2012 – 13:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Hraparak daily, Prosperous Armenia
party leader Gagik Tsarukyan will return to Armenia on May 28.

`By a lucky coincidence, ex-president Robert Kocharian will leave the
Russian capital for Armenia on the same day,’ the daily said.

`Experts don’t rule out that the politicians met in Belarus through
mediation of the country leader Alexander Lukashenko. Tsarukyan and
Kocharian’s visit to Russia is a symbolic `token’ to make the official
Moscow realize who their real allies in Armenia are, as well as, show
readiness to join the Eurasian Union with Lukashenko. Moscow must have
appreciated the effort, having allowed the party to leave coalition,’
the paper said.

Why Is Mrs Clinton Coming?

Haik Aramyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:54:02 – 26/05/2012

It has been announced that the U.S. Secretary Clinton will visit
Armenia on June 4. This is her second visit to Armenia as secretary.
First she came to Armenia on 4 July 2010.

Mrs. Clinton’s visit was preceded by the U.S. State Department’s
country report on Armenia on the state of human rights in Armenia. It
states that ethnic Armenian separatists assisted by Armenia continue
to control Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent 7
Azerbaijani territories.

Earlier, Clinton had expressed a tough position on the recognition of
the Armenian genocide though in 2008, when she was running in the
presidential election, she vowed to recognize the Genocide. Clinton
was active in these years. During her office the Armenian-Turkish
protocols were pre-signed in Zurich. Clinton has spoken about domestic
affairs in Armenia. For instance, on the eve of the mayoral election
she sent a letter to Serzh Sargsyan noting that holding free and fair
elections is a possibility to display commitment to democratic
principles.

Clinton’s visit in 2010 was interesting in the context of our foreign
affairs. It was the period when Russia was trying to resolve the
Karabakh issue while Armenia froze the protocols. Clinton visiting
Yerevan welcomed the step of the Armenian government which was
explained by the preconditions set forth by Turkey, namely relating to
the Karabakh issue. Clinton announced that it was not ready to sign
the protocols thus shifting responsibility from official Yerevan and
conveying to Turkey that the United States does not support efforts to
link the Armenian-Turkish issue with Karabakh.

As to Karabakh, Clinton thus conveyed to the Armenian government that
the Russian plan will be useless. After Clinton’s statements the
Turkish and Azerbaijani media reported that no hope is left for the
settlement of the Karabakh issue.

At that time, Hillary Clinton left for Baku and made an interesting
statement. Meaning Iran, she said there are some hostile states which
do not respect Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and independence. In
fact, she implied that Azerbaijan had better think about the
independence of the rest of its territory.

What is the purpose of Clinton’s second visit? The Armenian and
Turkish protocols and the Karabakh issue have been frozen for a
lasting period and there are no international premises for their
activation. The great powers are focused on global issues and their
efforts are aimed at their solution and they have no time and resource
for other issues.

Apparently, during Clinton’s visit the so-called internal issues of
Armenia will be discussed. After the May 6 elections a situation has
occurred in Armenia which largely enables its foreign partners to
maneuver, particularly in terms of the new role and new goals of
Armenia, as well as the fundamental changes in the region which are
related to the nearest future. Apparently, Mrs. Clinton wants to check
personally whether the so-called political class of Armenia is ready
for the new reality and who will be an adequate partner.

The Economist: More care should be taken over where to hold
international pageants – Azerbaijan and Eurovision

13:39, 26 May, 2012

YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS: The Economist has posted an article on
“Eurovision 2012” international song contest due in Baku. As
Armenpress reports, the article specifically reads:

“ON THE face of it, Ilham Aliev, the president of Azerbaijan, and the
Eurovision Song Contest, held in his country this week, are a good
fit. Eurovision, in which viewers across Europe (broadly defined)
select a winning song from competing national entries, is an annual
festival of kitsch. Mr Aliev’s fondness for opulence, his strongman
moustache, and the cult of personality he has built around his father,
Heidar, from whom he inherited his post in 2003, are all suitably
retro. Alas, his regime also has some less amusing traits, which
suggest that the organisers of shindigs like Eurovision should be more
careful about where they are staged.

The story behind the songs is a sad one. Protests against Mr Aliev’s
rule, especially after the rigged elections that keep him in power,
are routinely crushed. His critics have been beaten and imprisoned.
Not only do Azerbaijan’s human-rights abuses make a grim backdrop to
the clowning of Eurovision: some have been perpetrated on its account.
According to human-rights groups, scores of families have been
forcibly evicted from their homes to make way for a new concert hall.
Absurdly but terrifyingly, in previous Eurovisions Azerbaijanis were
interrogated for voting for Armenia – the Caucasian neighbour with which
Azerbaijan fought a war in the 1990s and may yet fight another. The
lavish cost of the preparations is itself obscene in a place where
many lack basic amenities, despite the gridlock of imported cars in
central Baku, the capital. But then, Azerbaijan scores the full 12
points for corruption.

The wealth of a favoured few in Azerbaijan derives from oil and gas,
pumped out of the Caspian and through a pipeline to Turkey. Along with
the country’s sensitive location – between Russia and Iran – the oil helps
explain the West’s often indulgent attitude to Mr Aliev. Yet the
indulgence must have a limit. Eurovision should have been beyond it.”

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

HIS HOLINESS ENGAGES IN DIALOGUE WITH UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS

On Tuesday evening, 22 May, a meeting was organized for His Holiness Aram I
with the Armenian professors teaching at universities of Iran.

More than one hundred professors, specialized in economics, psychology,
ecology, medicine, mathematics, education, history and science attended this
gathering which was described by His Holiness as “unique and unprecedented”
in community life.

The primate of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh opened the meeting welcoming Aram I
and explaining the circumstances that led a few years ago to bring together
the university professors of Armenian origin. The primate’s introductory
word followed by the greeting of the president of the association.

His Holiness at the very outset of his talk said that he wanted to attend
this gathering “not to talk but to engage in a frank dialogue” because he
“believes in dialogue, not in monologue”.

Catholicos Aram I stressed the vital importance of learning: “teaching
implies constant learning particularly in a world which is in continuous and
radical change”. He said that “learning and teaching must be translated into
participation. Human resources are crucial for the future of a society. More
than ever the Armenian people are in dire need of human resources”,
concluded His Holiness in his few remarks.

The university professors raised a number of questions, issues and concerns
related to globalization, Armenian genocide, internal situation in Armenia,
upheavals in the Middle East, interfaith dialogue, etc. His Holiness shared
with them his views and experiences underscoring the pivotal importance of
such dialogue in our church and community life.
##

THERE IS A NEED IN IT SPECIALISTS BUT “MICROSOFT” IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE GIVEN BY UNIVERSITIES

ARMENPRESS
25 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS: Company “Microsoft” wants to deepen
the cooperation with Armenian educational institutions. International
educational conference was held in the innovation center of “Microsoft”
on May 25 in which took part rectors of universities from Armenia,
Russia, Georgia and Belarus.

Head of Armenian representation of “Microsoft” Grigor Barseghyan told
Armenpress that today each person has to acquire computer knowledge
as Information technologies have entered into the life of each person.

“IT changes the life, life-style, working type, rises the efficiency,
creates new possibilities and educational institutions can not
avoid all that” said Grigor Barseghyan. In his words the aim of
the conference is to present what services “Microsoft” has for
universities. “And the list of those services is large and people
must be informed” he said adding that such conferences would create
cooperation between universities, partners and “Microsoft”. Grigor
Barseghyan assured that IT sector is developing in Armenia. 7000 IT
specialists already work in the sector. “But this rate is not enough.

Every year around 2000 work places are created in this sector but
unfortunately the educational system is not able to provide both
quantitative and qualitative level. We try to support in order the
situation is improved” he said.

The guests also shared with their experience and discussion was held.

AZERBAIDJAN : UN MOT POUR LA LIBERTE DE LA PRESSE ?

Publie le : 25-05-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information publiee sur le site des Reporters
Sans Frontières le 24 mai 2012.

Reporters Sans Frontières

Azerbaïdjan

Publie le jeudi 24 mai 2012.

” Le 26 mai 2012, les regards de plus de 100 millions de
telespectateurs convergeront sur Bakou, la capitale de l’Azerbaïdjan,
où se tiendra la finale du concours Eurovision de la chanson. A cette
occasion, le public europeen decouvrira largement ce beau pays et
l’hospitalite de ses habitants. Mais il est une autre realite que les
autorites auront tout fait pour masquer : celle d’un regime repressif
et brutal, qui ne recule devant rien pour faire taire les quelques
journalistes menant des investigations sensibles ou critiques “,
a declare Reporters sans frontières.

” Il ne s’agit pas de gâcher la fete. Encore moins d’obeir a
un quelconque agenda diplomatique ‘hostile’, comme Bakou tente
de le faire croire. Mais comment la chanson pourrait-elle etre
totalement dissociee de la liberte d’expression ? Tandis que des
chanteurs venus d’une quarantaine de pays feront entendre leur voix,
d’autres resteront inaudibles : les cinq journalistes et le blogueur
actuellement emprisonnes pour avoir fait leur travail ; les deux
journalistes assassines et les dizaines de professionnels attaques,
dont les agresseurs restent impunis ; les medias independants,
largement elimines. La societe civile, elle, luttera pour qu’on
l’entende. A chacun de contribuer, a sa manière, a ce que cette petite
musique ne soit pas absente du concert. ”

Les autorites azerbaïdjanaises ont depense des centaines de millions
de petrodollars et largement modifie le visage de la capitale pour
cet evenement, qui consacre leur offensive de charme sur la scène
internationale. Aucun effort n’aura ete epargne pour offrir au monde
l’image d’un pays moderne, dynamique et ouvert. Un nouveau Dubaï
aux rythmes de croissance effrenes, aux discothèques tendance, aux
plages accueillantes. Un paradis pour les investissements, si l’on
fait abstraction de la corruption.

Mais un paradis, l’Azerbaïdjan ne l’est certainement pas pour les
journalistes. Ni pour les droits de l’homme en general. A la 162e
place sur 179 dans le dernier classement mondial de la liberte de
la presse, le pays compte a lui seul deux des 41 ” predateurs de
la liberte d’informer ” designes par Reporters sans frontières a
travers le monde : le president Ilham Aliev et son fidèle associe,
Vasif Talibov, qui experimente dans la region isolee du Nakhitchevan
les methodes repressives les plus poussees. Dans un rapport publie le
26 mars, le Groupe international de partenariat sur l’Azerbaïdjan,
dont fait partie Reporters sans frontières, a documente le triste
etat de la liberte de l’information.

L’ensemble des medias audiovisuels est acquis aux autorites,
verrouille par une instance de regulation directement contrôlee par le
President. Les rares titres de presse independante ne circulent guère
hors de la capitale. La situation des medias s’est encore deterioree
avec la violente repression des manifestations pro-democratiques qui
ont secoue le pays au printemps 2011, dans le sillage des revoltes
arabes. Arrestation de blogueurs, passages a tabac, enlèvement de
journalistes d’opposition, expulsion de medias etrangers… La poignee
de journalistes independants restants est regulièrement la cible de
menaces et de campagnes de calomnie. Les assassinats des journalistes
critiques, Elmar Huseynov en 2005 et Rafik Tagi en 2011, demeurent
a ce jour impunis, tout comme les agressions dont sont regulièrement
victimes les professionnels des medias.

” Nous appelons les artistes presents a se manifester pour soutenir
la presse et la societe civile azerbaïdjanaise. La representante de
la France, Anggun, reputee sensible a la problematique des droits de
l’homme, soulignera-t-elle la proximite entre l’ambiance carcerale de
son clip et le quotidien des journalistes azerbaïdjanais ? L’Union
europeenne de radio-television (UER), qui supervise l’evenement,
doit elle aussi rompre le silence sur la grave situation des medias
en Azerbaïdjan, en accord avec les principes et les valeurs qu’elle
s’est engagee a promouvoir. Enfin, nous encourageons chacun des
1600 journalistes attendus pour l’occasion, a faire leur possible
pour consacrer ne serait-ce que quelques heures de leur sejour a des
rencontres ou recherches sur ce sujet “, a conclu l’organisation.

En braquant les projecteurs sur le pays, les autorites ont egalement
donne a la societe civile une occasion inesperee de faire entendre sa
voix. Le soutien de la communaute internationale lui est necessaire
aujourd’hui. Mais il sera aussi crucial face aux represailles qui
risquent de s’abattre sur elle, une fois les cameras parties.

Informez-vous, rejoignez la campagne :

Le site du Groupe international de partenariat pour l’Azerbaïdjan

Le site de la campagne Sing for Democracy

Telechargez le rapport “La peur au ventre. La loi du silence en
Azerbaïdjan” ci-dessous :

Retour a la rubrique

TELECHARGER : “La peur au ventre. La loi du silence en Azerbaïdjan”
– Rapport GIPA 2012

Source/Lien : Reporters Sans Frontières

EUROVISION : UNE VAGUE DE VIOLATIONS DES DROITS HUMAINS EN AZERBAIDJAN

Publie le : 25-05-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire ce Communique de presse de Amnesty International publie
sur son site le 22 mai 2012.

Copyright photo : ©IRFS

Communiques de presse de Amnesty International

[22/05/2012]

Azerbaïdjan. L’Eurovision reste sans reaction face aux violations
des droits humains

Le refus de l’organisation aux commandes de l’Eurovision de condamner
les atteintes aux droits humains perpetrees en Azerbaïdjan donne
carte blanche au gouvernement pour poursuivre la repression, a declare
Amnesty International après la dispersion violente de deux nouvelles
manifestations pacifiques.

L’Azerbaïdjan accueille le concours Eurovision de la chanson –
evenement phare pour l’Union europeenne de radio-television – du 22
au 26 mai.

” Bien qu’elle se soit publiquement engagee a soutenir la liberte
d’expression en Azerbaïdjan, l’Union europeenne de radio-television n’a
pas dit un seul mot sur les recentes violations repetees de ce droit
“, a deplore Max Tucker, charge d’action sur l’Azerbaïdjan a Amnesty
International, qui se trouve actuellement a Bakou, la capitale du pays.

” L’absence de reaction de l’Union europeenne de radio-television et
de la communaute internationale donne aux autorites toute latitude pour
continuer a etouffer violemment la contestation en toute impunite. ”

Lundi 21 mai, plus de 200 manifestants rassembles dans deux zones du
centre de Bakou ont reclame le respect des droits humains et la fin
de la corruption.

Selon les organisateurs de ces actions de protestation, les policiers
ont force les participants a monter a bord de plusieurs bus et les ont
conduits hors de la ville, en frappant plusieurs et en incarcerant 38.

Abulfaz Gurbanly, l’un des organisateurs, a dit a Amnesty International
avoir recu des coups de poing, de pied et de matraque alors qu’il
se trouvait en detention dans un poste de police. Il a declare que
plusieurs autres manifestants avaient egalement ete frappes en garde
a vue.

Ces manifestations pacifiques ont ete dispersees devant plusieurs
journalistes internationaux, ce qui fait douter de la credibilite de
l’Union europeenne de radio-television lorsqu’elle declare que braquer
les projecteurs des medias internationaux sur Bakou ameliorera la
situation des droits humains.

” Cette couverture mediatique accrue sera inutile si elle ne convainc
pas les partenaires diplomatiques et commerciaux de l’Azerbaïdjan de
defendre la liberte d’expression “, a poursuivi Max Tucker.

” Les autorites azerbaïdjanaises semblent penser qu’elles peuvent
sortir indemnes d’une eventuelle couverture negative, ce qui explique
le regain de violence contre les contestataires. ”

Amnesty International a recense une nouvelle vague de violations des
droits humains en Azerbaïdjan. Une synthèse recente a fait etat de
nombreux cas d’agression, de chantage et d’emprisonnement contre des
journalistes et des defenseurs des droits humains. L’Union europeenne
de radio-television ne s’est exprimee publiquement sur aucun de
ces cas.

Amnesty International craint par ailleurs que des militants locaux
ayant essaye de tirer parti de l’Eurovision pour denoncer certaines
violations des droits humains ne soient pris pour cible après cet
evenement.

Des journaux d’Etat ont deja lance une campagne de diffamation contre
les personnes a l’origine de l’initiative Chanter pour la democratie,
les accusant d’agir pour le compte de l’Armenie voisine, avec laquelle
l’Azerbaïdjan est en conflit depuis 20 ans au sujet du statut d’un
territoire.

” Nous esperons que les journalistes internationaux a qui nous avons
parle ces dernières semaines ne nous oublieront pas après l’Eurovision
“, a souligne Rasul Jafarov, l’un des organisateurs de la campagne
Chanter pour la democratie. ” Ca pourrait etre très dangereux pour
nous. ”

PRE01/260/2012 22 mai 2012

Amnesty International

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Amnesty International

L’ARMENIE EN COLORE CONTRE L’UNESCO AU SUJET DE L’HARISSA
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 25 mai 2012

Une recente decision de l’UNESCO d’ajouter le keshkek, traditionnel
ragoût anatolien a sa liste sur ” l’Heritage Intangible ” de la part
de la Turquie, a provoque l’emoi en Armenie, qui revendique le plat –
connu la-bas sous le nom d’harissa – comme le sien.

Un groupe de jeunes ethnographes armeniens reunit toute l’information
sur le Harissa afin de faire appel de cette decision.

Un autre groupe d’armeniens prend maintenant des mesures pour
sauvegarder les dolmas.

Une ONG ” la Conservation et le Developpement des Traditions Culinaires
Armeniennes ” recommandent vivement au gouvernement armenien prendre
les mesures necessaire afin de faire reconnaître le dolma par l’UNESCO
comme ” Heritage Intangible ” de la part de l’Armenie et contrer
ainsi les efforts des Azeris de mettre la main sur le plat.