Author: Kalashian Nyrie

OUR RESPONSE TO AZERBAIJAN

"HAYOTS ASHKHARH"
March 18, 2008

Armenia should submit a new Resolution

The Resolution on the "Situation in the Occupied Territories of
Azerbaijan" put to vote in the General Assembly of the United Nations
on March 14 and adopted by a vote of 39 in favor, 7 against and 100
abstention, is currently estimated by both neighboring countries as
the defeat of the opposite side.

Azerbaijan is leans on the fact that the General Assembly has adopted
a Resolution which expresses Baku’s stance but has no legal force.

However, the Azerbaijani side believes that it may become a "serious
warning" to Armenia as well as to the countries which are the Co-Chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, i.e. the United States, Russia and France.

Armenia pays attention to the fact that the resolution received
support just by some of the Islamic countries, the GUAM member states
and Serbia, i.e. the Azerbaijani lobby and the countries "sharing
the same fate with Azerbaijan", so to say. Furthermore, the three
pivotal states representing the interested international community
within the frameworks of the Minsk Group (the USA, the European Union
and Russia), voted against the Resolution.

Such attitude by the international community was not absolutely
something new for Azerbaijan.

But despite that the country did its best for holding the successive
"moral victory" and is now trying to materialize it. Baku has gone
so far in terms of its cynicism that in response to the attitude
adopted by the Minsk Group countries on March 14, Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov threatened that "Azerbaijan will review and make
changes in its relations with the countries which are Co-Chairs in
the frameworks of the Minsk Group."

That’s to say, either support Azerbaijan’s viewpoints or Azerbaijan
itself will refuse the mediation of the Minsk Group.

These threats too, remain strangely unanswered for the time being,
although it’s obvious that such primitive attempts of making pressure
upon the Co-Chairs will produce no result. But the problem here does
not consist in the Azerbaijan’s lack of constraint. The problem is
that such lack of constraint was not prevented from the very start,
i.e. during the discussion held in the UN General Assembly. The thing
is that the so-called Western Block of the OSCE Minsk Group countries
could have easily torpedoed the resolution since the majority of the
100 countries which abstained from voting or refused to vote were
either EU member states or countries directly complying with the US
policy of coercion.

Therefore, on April 14 the Western community adopted a strictly
ambiguous decision, i.e. the mediators oppose the resolution in
order to proceed with the talks based on the fundamental principles
introduced in Madrid but at the same time, they push Azerbaijan to
attack Armenia, so as it can hold a "moral victory" with the help of
some Islamic countries.

This is, of course, a form of disguised pressure with the help of which
the Western community is trying to check the responsive reaction of
the Armenian side. The reason is obvious: the time-limits of voting
for the resolution coincided with the culminating point of the Western
community’s counteraction with regard to the recent internal political
developments of Armenia. In such conditions it’s clear why the European
countries, which do not absolutely have a pro-Azerbaijani attitude
towards the Karabakh issue, adopted strictly passive attitudes.

Is it possible during the coming months to drive the Azerbaijani
diplomacy into a corner with the help of responsive actions,
thus preventing the further political speculations of the March 14
Resolution in the General Assembly? We believe it is necessary to wait
till the coming autumn as Azerbaijan is to hold presidential elections
then; thereafter, the international community will undoubtedly start
the process of driving Baku into a corner, preparing a Resolution
on the "Absence of an Alternative to the Peaceful Settlement of the
Karabakh Conflict" and including it in the agenda of the UN General
Assembly. The Resolution shall include:

a) the key points of the balanced proposals introduced in Madrid by
the OSCE Co-Chairs November 29, 2007. These proposals are based on
the equality of the principles of the states’ territorial integrity
and the nations’ rights to self-determination.

b) the political assessment of the fact of Azerbaijan’s committing
genocidal acts in response to the steps undertaken by the NKAR people
based upon the USSR laws and the idea of the impermissibility of new
ethnic cleansings and the military solution of the conflict after
establishing the ceasefire regime.

c) Applying an international sanction against any party to the conflict
and resorting to military solutions in case the given party refuses
the mediation of the Minks Group. This may also include submitting
the issue to the discussion of the Security Council.

After the adoption of such Resolution Armenia may announce that in
case Azerbaijan refuses the peaceful settlement and resorts to new
ethnic cleansings, it will unanimously recognize the NKR independence,
together with its allies.

KAZAKH ENVOY SAYS UN RESOLUTION ON KARABAKH SHOULD NOT DETERMINE AZERI TIES

Kazakhstan Today news agency
March 18 2008

Baku, 18 March: Kazakhstan considers cooperation with Azerbaijan in
the oil, energy and transport spheres as a priority, the [new] Kazakh
ambassador to Azerbaijan, Serik Primbetov, said at a press briefing
held in Baku today, a [Kazakhstan Today news] agency correspondent
has reported.

"I think cooperation with Azerbaijan in the oil, transport and energy
spheres is a priority. Moreover, it is necessary to try to increase
trade which is about 350m dollars. And imports of Kazakh products
into Azerbaijan makes the most part of the trade – about 200-222m
dollars, and exports of Azeri products into Kazakhstan makes about
128m dollars," Primbetov said.

[Passage omitted: the envoy mulls plans to launch flights between
Baku and Astana]

The ambassador also said that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev
would visit Azerbaijan this year to participate in the summit of
Turkic nations.

Commenting on Kazakhstan’s neutral position during a recent poll at
the UN General Assembly on a resolution on Nagornyy Karabakh submitted
by Azerbaijan, the diplomat noted that this should not harm relations
with Azerbaijan.

"I do not think that this resolution should determine relations
between our countries. We had and have friendly relations, and they
are above any resolutions. Kazakhstan has always definitely supported
Azerbaijan’s integrity, and a peaceful resolution of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict – this is our position. At the same time, we are
for [keeping] friendly relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia,"
Primbetov said.

THE UN RESOLUTION IN AZERBAIJAN

Anorak.co.uk (satire)
0.html
March 17 2008
UK

THE Croydonian notes:Azerbaijan has persuaded the UN to pass a
resolution "reaffirm[ing] Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
expressing support for that country’s internationally recognized
borders and demanding the immediate withdrawal of all Armenian forces
from all occupied territories there".

Given recent events in Serbia / Kosovo, it is intriguing to note
that some countries are quite happy to dismember Serbia in pursuit
of self-determination for Albanians but will not extend the same
principle to the Armenians of Artsakh. So, here are the states which
have recognised Kosova but have also signed the Azeri motion:

Afghanistan Bangladesh Kuwait Malaysia Morocco Pakistan Saudi Arabia
Senegal Serbia Turkey

Meanwhile, all credit to the unlikely list of refuseniks: Angola,
Armenia, France, India, Russian Federation, United States, Vanuatu.

Our man in NY abstained.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Kosovo model universal and applicable for all conflicts including
Karabakh
14.03.2008 16:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Speaking not as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair but
simply as a citizen of Russia, then our position on Kosovo is well
known. It is universal and can be applied to all conflicts, including
the Nagorno Karabakh one, OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair,
Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov said.

`Our principle is that all sides involved in the conflict must reach
an agreement and take a mutually acceptable decision,’ he said.

`As to the idea that Kosovo scenario was directed to another course,
we are not guilty of that. We would like to return the Kosovo process
to legal platform. We do not view the Kosovo model as a resolution to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. For the time being, the sides, thanks
God, only negotiate and meet. At least, this process is ongoing within
the legal course. Unfortunately, over the past period we are not
observing this in Kosovo, after its unilateral declaration of
independence, and especially after following the statements against
this independence by some members of the international community,’
Amb. Merzlyakov said, Trend Azeri news agency reports.

CONGRTULATION MESSAGES KEEP COMING

Panorama.am
18:19 13/03/2008

The Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received a congratulation
message from Tarry Devis, the chief secretary of the Council of Europe
for being elected as the president of the country.

According to the press and public relations department of
the government, it is particularly mentioned in the message:
"Dear president-elect Serzh Sargsyan, in the result of the last
parliamentary and presidential elections Armenian nation proved that
it has also selected its leaders, who are responsible for the future
amendments. The Council of Europe will continue to support Armenia to
stand all the challenges which is connected with membership of our
organization, I wish You success carrying out Your new duties and I
hope that We’ll meet again."

Serzh Sargsyan received a congratulation message from the president
of the United States of Mexico Kalderon Inochossan. It is mentioned
in his congratulation message: "Wishing You great success in Your
position, I am sure that the labor activities between our governments
will contribute to the strengthening of Armenian and Mexican warm
relations."

The Prime Minister of Thailand Kingdom Samak Sundaravechi sent his
congratulation message and particularly mentioned: "I would like to
congratulate You for Your victory in the presidential elections. I
am sure that under Your skillful leadership Armenian and Thailand
relations will be strengthened and more improved."

RA MP SASOUN MIKAELYAN DETAINED

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2008 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian parliament member Sasoun Mikaelyan,
was detained on March 12, RA prosecutor general’s spokesperson Sona
Truzyan said.

Mikaelyan is charged of organization of disorders and forcible
upheaval.

The interrogation of Mikaelyan will be conducted in presence of
his lawyer.

ARMENIA: OFFICIALS, OPPOSITION TAKE TENTATIVE STEPS TOWARD CONCILIATION

EurasiaNet
March 13 2008
NY

Under intense outside pressure to enter into a political dialogue,
government officials and their opponents in Armenia have started
making cautious moves to repair the damage done by the March 1 violence
in Yerevan.

The most significant gesture made by the government was President
Robert Kocharian’s announcement that mass media restrictions, imposed
under a state of emergency, would be lifted no later than March 14.

In effect, the emergency regulations enabled the government to control
the dissemination of information. "Now, under the state of emergency,
we are telling you what you can do regarding the internal political
situation. After signing the decree we will tell you what you can
not do," Kocharian stated in comments broadcast on state television.

Earlier, president-elect Serzh Sarkisian indicated that the government
intended to soften its hardline treatment of opposition leaders. In
the days following the March 1 clashes, in which at least eight
people died, officials insisted that the opposition bore sole
responsibility for violence. They specifically accused opposition
leaders — who organized a permanent protest in Yerevan to denounce
fraud in the in February 19 presidential election — of attempting a
coup d’etat. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. More
than 80 opposition activists have been detained since March 1 and face
conspiracy charges. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Sarkisian, during a March 12 public appearance, seemed to present
a face-saving formula that would serve as a starting point for
conciliation efforts. He said the alleged plotters would still be
prosecuted, but, apparently assuming guilty verdicts to be a foregone
conclusion, he emphasized that the accused could expect leniency.

"The court verdict might be mild, and a president can always grant a
pardon, but people should know who plotted and perpetrated the crimes,"
Sarkisian said.

During a March 13 meeting with Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of
Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Kocharian insisted that the
mood in Yerevan was returning to normal. "Unfortunately we failed
to avoid an undesirable course of events and authorities had to take
action," the PanArmenian news website quoted Kocharian as saying.

"However, the situation is stabilizing."

Opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, speaking to journalists
on March 11, appeared to grudgingly accept the fact that Sarkisian
would end up as Armenia’s president, and that he had no choice but to
enter into a political dialogue with him as such. At the same time,
Ter-Petrosian insisted that he would not recognize the official
results of the presidential election. Ter-Petrosian has claimed he
actually won a plurality of votes, yet the official tally shows him
to have finished a distant second to Sarkisian. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive].

"The world did not recognize Yasir Arafat’s legitimacy for a long time,
but it negotiated with him," Ter-Petrosian said. "I do not recognize
the legitimacy of Serzh Sarkisian, but I cannot ignore him and he
cannot ignore me."

Fearing that prolonged political rancor in Yerevan could have severe
consequences not only for Armenia, but also for regional stability, the
United States, European Union and Russia, in a rare act of geopolitical
unity, have pressed for the opening of political dialogue aimed
at restoring a semblance of normalcy in the Armenian capital. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Although the way for such
discussions between the Kocharian/Sarkisian team and the Ter-Petrosian
camp now seems to be open, it remains uncertain whether talks can be
productive, or whether they might simply fuel mutual animosity.

A key to whether a dialogue can yield potential results may well
be connected to the question of culpability for the bloodshed. The
government remains adamant that it is not responsible for the loss of
life, even though eyewitnesses say security forces used lethal force on
demonstrators with little or no advance warning. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive]. Armenia’s ombudsman, Armen Harutiunian,
likewise, has asserted that the use of deadly force was initiated by
the government side. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Kocharian administration officials continue to denounce in shrill
terms all those who publicly criticize the government’s handling
of the election-related protests. For example, the Armenian Foreign
Ministry expressed outrage over a statement made by US Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, who characterized the actions of
Armenian security forces on March 1 as "harsh and brutal."

The Foreign Ministry on March 12 termed Bryza’s comments "groundless,"
"useless" and "arbitrary."

The president has also heaped scorn on Harutiunian, inferring that
the ombudsman’s public criticism of security forces was unpatriotic.

Harutiunian, speaking at a March 12 news conference, shrugged off
Kocharian’s attempt at character assassination, saying the president’s
opinion did not matter to him. "I believe that in my work I am guided
by the constitution and the country’s legislation, as well as by the
European Convention for Human Rights, and it is the people [not the
president] who should assess my work," Harutiunian said.

During his March 11 news conference, Ter-Petrosian alleged that
government agents provoked the unrest. "Not even one car had been
scratched [during protests and marches] prior to March 1. So what
happened?" Ter-Petrosian said, according to a report distributed by
the Regnum news agency. "Provocateurs went after the protesters with
clubs. … That was the reason the situation spiraled out of control,
although it was brilliantly managed by authorities."

Officials have not backed away from portraying events purely as an
attempted coup. On March 12, one Armenian prosecutor was quoted by
the RIA-Novosti news agency as alleging that protesters used various
means, including "psychotropic substances," to induce aggressive
behavior toward security forces.

Rather than confront issues related to the security forces’ actions,
the government is trying to focus popular attention of the economy.

In recent days, the Kocharian/Sarkisian team has sketched ambitious
plans to raise living standards. For example, the government has
expressed a desire to eliminate the need for Armenia to import grain
by 2010. To do so, the country would have to more than double current
output within just a few years — a task that many experts believe
the country would be hard pressed to accomplish.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION PARTICIPATED IN THE PFP/SC SITTING

armradio.am
12.03.2008 12:16

The Armenian delegation participated in the sitting of tNATO’s
Political-Military Steering Committee on Partnership for Peace
(PfP/SC) at NATO headquarters. Armenia’s purposes of partnership for
2008 worked out in the framework of the Planning and Review Process
were discussed, Press and Information Department of RA Ministry of
Foreign Affairs reported.

The Armenian delegation comprised RA Deputy Defense Minister Ara
Nazaryan, Head of the Department on International Military Cooperation
and Defense Programs, Colonel David Tonoyan, acting Head of the
Division on Cooperation with NATO Ara Mesropyan, Press Secretary of
the Ministry of Defense and others.

The sitting was chaired by Director of NATO Defense Policy and
Planning Department Frank Boland. Preceding the sitting members of
the Armenian delegation met with the Special Representative of the
NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus Robert Simmons. During
the meeting reference was made to the domestic political developments
in Armenia over the past days, the reforms underway in the defense
field. Robert Simmons was presented the legal and other bases of the
steps the authorities undertook.

The Armenian side assured that the defense reforms will
continue. Mr. Simmons expressed hope that the situation will normalize
soon and expressed his willingness to promote the development and
expansion of relations between the Alliance and Armenia.

KHAZAR IBRAGIM: "ARMENIA’S PROVOCATIONS MAY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS"

Today
tics/43646.html
March 11 2008
Azerbaijan

The events in Armenia may affect the negotiation process.

The due announcement was made by spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Ministry Khazar Ibragim at a press conference today.

"Azerbaijan does not want changes in the negotiation process and
warn the Armenian side against provocations, which may have negative
influence. It may occur if the Armenian side continues provocations",
Kh.Ibragim said.

He noted that Armenia should realize it.

According to Kh.Ibragim, the international community, in particular,
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen should take this into account and
notify Armenia.

NO SOLUTION SEEN FOR STANDOFF IN ARMENIA
By John MacLeod

The Monitor
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune News Service
March 10, 2008 Monday
McAllen, Texas

YEREVAN, Armenia _ International mediators are attempting to mend
the damage caused by political violence on March 1, but neither the
Armenian government nor the opposition is in any mood to talk, and
the situation remains tense.

The capital has been under a state of emergency, accompanied by severe
restrictions on media reporting, since security forces clashed with
opposition protesters demanding a rerun of the Feb. 19 presidential
election that saw Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian defeat opposition
candidate and former president Levon Ter-Petrosian.

The authorities have denied reports that large numbers of protesters
were killed on March 1. But the prosecutor general, Aghvan Hovsepian,
did confirm that eight people were killed in the clashes, including
a police officer. An additional 176 members of the security forces
and 41 civilians were injured, according to officials.

Finnish diplomat Heikki Talvitie arrived in Yerevan last week at the
behest of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to
attempt to mediate the dispute.

Talvitie has urged the government to lift the state of emergency and
engage in dialogue with members of the opposition.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s special envoy to the South Caucasus,
Peter Semneby, has met with President Robert Kocharian, Sarkisian
and Ter-Petrosian in an attempt to defuse the crisis.

But Kocharian’s press spokesman Viktor Soghomonian has insisted there
would be no dialogue with Ter-Petrosian.

"How can we have dialogue with those who are directly responsible
for these events?" he asked.

At a news conference Wednesday, Kocharian made clear he holds
opposition leaders exclusively responsible for the current unrest
and vowed to see them punished.

"Everyone must get the punishment they’ve earned for their activities,
their just desserts. Above all, there must be punishment for the
organizers whose activities led to a situation where the rally went
out of control and (the crowd) became a mob," he said.

"Throughout history, no one has succeeded in controlling a crowd.

When you assemble people, you have to assume responsibility for them
_ and for the consequences." So far, the government has arrested 27
people on charges of mass riot, using violence against representatives
of the authorities, and attempting to usurp the power of the state. The
government has refused to release the names of those arrested.

Meanwhile, the Armenian parliament voted to strip four of its members
of their immunity so that they can also be arrested and charged.

All four are members of the opposition group Heritage, which said
the move was a form of political retaliation.

Observers say it’s difficult to see an area of common ground that
would allow the government and opposition leaders to abandon their
entrenched positions.

Alexander Iskandarian, the director of the Caucasus Media Institute,
said it’s not clear what role international mediators can play in a
dispute where both side insist they have nothing to say to the other.

"There are certainly lots of questions about who’s to blame for what
has happened. But the main question is whether Levon Ter-Petrosian
continues his political struggle or not," Iskandarian said.

"Apparently [the international mediators are] seeking some options
for reaching an agreement. They’re right _ one should always try to
do that. But I’m very pessimistic." For the moment, the opposition
leader is busy pressing his case that the presidential election
should be annulled on the grounds that the vote was subject to serious
procedural violations.

The Constitutional Court began hearings earlier this week on appeals
brought by Ter-Petrosian and another candidate, Tigran Karapetian.

Appearing before the court, Ter-Petrosian argued Sarkisian should
never have been allowed to run for president because he failed to
step down from the post of prime minister during the election campaign.

The court must issue its ruling on the case by Saturday.

Meanwhile, domestic reporting on the crisis has been largely curtailed
due to the imposition of the state of emergency.

The emergency legislation requires media outlets to cite only
official sources on domestic political matters. Seven leading
newspapers refused to operate under such conditions and suspended
publication. Local re-broadcasting of the Armenian-language service
of external broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and its web
site has been blocked.

Radio and televisions that support the government’s position have
remained on the air.

"We’re alarmed by this blatant attempt to censor news of the disputed
election," Joel Simon, executive director of the United States-based
watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement. "We
call on Armenian authorities to withdraw the ban on independent
newsgathering and dissemination, and restore access to independent
and opposition media."

___

ABOUT THE WRITER

John MacLeod is a senior editor for The Institute for War & Peace
Reporting, a nonprofit organization that trains journalists in areas of
conflict. Readers may write to the author at the Institute for War &
Peace Reporting, 48 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8LT, U.K.; Web site:
For information about IWPR’s funding, please go to
l.

This essay is available to McClatchy-Tribune News Service
subscribers. McClatchy-Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this
column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily
represent the views of McClatchy-Tribune or its editors.