Author: Kamalian Hagop

AZERBAIJAN DISCOVERS NEW "BASIC PRINCIPLES"
Vardan Grigoryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 16, 2008
Armenia

As we know the meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents
is previewed in the scope of the non-formal Summit and International
Energy Forum, to take place in St. Petersburg on July 6-8.

On the eve of the resumption of the high level negotiations between
the two Presidents OSCE Minsk Group co-Chairs state that during the
coming months the two sides will have another chance to come to an
agreement on the main principles of the settlement of the Conflict,
proposed in Madrid on November 29, 2007.

Armenian party though, is very alert towards similar positive
statements, taking into account the fact that, before the upcoming
presidential elections in Azerbaijan on October 15, 2008, the ruling
President has adopted a very harsh policy. Azerbaijan, in its turn,
on the one hand agrees to the resumption of the negotiations, but on
the other hand intends to dictate new conditions to OSCE Minsk Group
co-Chairs and Armenian party.

Official Baku is going to use both the upcoming meeting between the two
Presidents to take pace in St. Petersburg and the previewed meeting
between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, as a chance to
revise, rather than discuss the principles.

The evidence of the before mentioned are the brand new and unilateral
principles advanced by Azerbaijani deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov,
based on which Baku is trying to reach the settlement of the conflict.

>From the beginning it’s worth mentioning that the principles of 8
points published by A. Azimov on May 14 have nothing to do with the
main principles on the settlement of the Conflict submitted by the
Foreign Ministers of the two countries in Madrid.

Thus, the evidently invented "basic principles" runs as follows.

According to the first point: "The conflict must be settled in the
framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and there is no
alternative for this approach." Whereas it is well-known that the
"Madrid principles" of 2007, that is to say the main principles of
the settlement of the Conflict authored by the co-Chairs, are based
on, Azerbaijan’s recognition of the sovereignty of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh in case of the return of some part of the liberated
territories.

So, if from today, Baku refuses to fulfill its share of the
responsibilities proposed by the mediators, it is quite natural that
there can be no conversation about ceding any liberated land.

According to the second point: not only is the ceding of the "7
occupied regions" but also Nagorno Karabakh is the principle goal of
the settlement of Karabakh Conflict, which will ensure corresponding
status for Nagorno Karabakh. Whereas Araz Azimov observes the issue
of ceding Nagorno Karabakh, as the main principle of the settlement of
the Conflict, the fulfillment of which is more important than the issue
of the 7 regions. The third point observes the right to sovereignty of
the people of Nagorno Karabakh as an issue of "internal sovereignty",
saying that in such cases they need the agreement of the certain state,
to get their sovereignty. Which means, because Azerbaijan will never
give its agreement on Nagorno Karabakh’s sovereignty, the latter can
get autonomy only in the framework of its territorial integrity.

But it turned out that Nagorno Karabakh ‘s getting sovereignty is
questioned, even in case of being autonomous in the territory of
Azerbaijan, because according to the forth principle published by Araz
Azimov, the issue of the status can be solved only in case Azerbaijani
refugees return to Nagorno Karabakh and their security is provided.

Point five proposes to use Lachin road jointly, according to point
six they give a vague promise to respect the rights of the two
communities in Nagorno Karabakh, in case Armenia stops the "occupation"
of Azerbaijani territories.

And, what is most important, by point seven Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister dictates conditions even to the international community:
"The principles of the return of Azerbaijani refugees to Nagorno
Karabakh, the joint use of Lachin road by the two sides, and the
settlement of the conflict in the scope of the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan must be included in the draft of the main principles
of the settlement of the Conflict. Only in that case can we expect
productive discussions."

Thus Azerbaijan officially introduces an ultimatum, and not to Armenia
but to OSCE co-Chairs, because they have proposed the main principles
of the settlement of the Conflict in Madrid on November 29, 2007.

This means, by giving their agreement to the meeting between
S.Sargsyan and I.Aliev in the framework of the non-formal CIS Summit
in St. Petersburg, Azerbaijan observes this meeting as a process of
the revision of the main principles of the settlement of the Conflict.

Consequently it is evident that Armenian party can’t agree to this
formality. So, should the authors of the main principles of the
settlement of the Conflict, OSCE co-Chairs, not introduce their clear
stance, regarding the before mentioned, it will be quite clear what
the two Presidents are going to discuss in St Petersburg.

Before the high level meeting previewed in St Petersburg the mediator
countries must make these principles known to Azerbaijan and the
whole world.

Otherwise, Armenia will have to either publish the proposals made by
the co-Chairs in Madrid or refuse the negotiations, proposed by OSCE
Minsk Group co-Chairs based on the "latest discovery" of Azerbaijan.

If Armenia and OSCE Minsk Group co-Chairs overlook, the open step made
by official Baku on May14, Azerbaijan can observe it as a diplomatic
card-blanche to realize their open desire to revise the main principles
of the settlement of the Conflict."

AN INDEX OF CONSUMER PRICES IN JANUARY-APRIL, 2008

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on May 13, 2008
NKR Republic

In April,2008 an index of consumer prices in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,
in comparison with December,2007, has compiled 103.6 per cent, among
them food goods(including alcoholic drinks and tobacco) – 105.2
per cent, non food goods – 102.0 per cent, tariffs of services –
101.4 per cent. In above-mentioned period an increase of food goods
has been fixed in the following goods groups: bread products – 111.1
per cent, meat products – 108.1 per cent, fruits – 105.6 per cent,
non alcoholic dtinks – 105.3 per cent, vegetable and potato – 104.7
per cent, vegetable and organic oil – 103.8 per cent. According to
observing cities, an index of consumer prices in April,2008, in
comparison with December,2007, has compiled in Stepanakert – 102.6
per cent, in Askeran – 103.6 per cent, in Hadrut – 103.6 per cent, in
Martakert – 104.5 per cent, in Martuni – 105.8 per cent, in Shushi –
107.0 per cent and in Berdzor – 104.3 per cent. In January-April,2008,
in comparison with January-April,2007, an index of consumer prices has
compiled 109.7 per cent, among them food goods(including alcoholic
drinks and tobacco) – 115.7 per cent, non food goods – 101.6 per
cent, tariffs of services – 103.0 per cent. In April,2008 an index
of consumer prices, in comparison with April,2007, has compiled 111.2
per cent, in comparison with 2006 – 114.4 per cent.

SETTLEMENT EXCHANGE EATE OF ARMENIAN DRAM AGAINST DOLLAR GROWS BY 1.7% IN APRIL 2008 AS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 2007

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. There was 1.1% and 0.2% growth in
consumer prices and the settlment exchange rate of the Armenian dram
against the U.S. dollar in Armenia in April on March 2008.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the growth of
consumer prices and the exchange rate made 6% and 1.7% respectively in
April 2008 on December 2007. In the same period of last year, a 0.4%
fall in the settlement exchange rate was registered in parallel with
a 2.1% growth of consumer prices in Armenia.

The average settlement exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the
dollar made 309.14 drams in April 2008, which is by 14.9% lower than
the index of April 2007 (363.33 drams).

FOR THE FIRST TIME MINISTER OF UK GOVERNMENT HAS USED TERM ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

LONDON, MAY 14, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The UK government has
at last issued a strongly-worded condemnation of the desecration of
the Armenian Genocide Monument in Cardiff, which occurred on Holocaust
Memorial Day. In a reply to Mr David Burrowes MP, Minister Paul Murphy,
replying for the UK government specifically refered to "the desecration
of The Armenian Genocide Memorial in Cardiff in January" He continued:
"I wholeheartedly condemn this violent act of desecration. This attack,
like many similar crimes, is often unprovoked and undertaken under
the cover of darkness. I hope that when the person(s) are caught and
prosecuted for this crime, this will go some way to easing the pain
and distress that has been caused by this terrible act".

"This is a most significant development," said a spokesman for Armenia
Solidarity. "In the past government ministers have made strenuous
efforts to avoid using the phrase the Armenian Genocide. Considering
the recognition given to the Genocide by the majority of Welsh Members
of the UK parliament as well as the majority of the National Assembly
Members, the minister must have found it impossible to persist in this
avoidance. The truth of the Genocide has been set in stone in Wales,
and such violent acts of desecration by extremists can only embolden
other politicians in the UK to stand up for this truth."

ARMENIAN CULTURE AND BRANDY DAY IN MOSCOW

Panorama.am
16:30 13/05/2008

On 17 May "Treasures of Ararat Country" Armenian culture and brandy
day will be organized in Moscow.

According to the Armenians Union of Russia official web site, just
in front of Armenia boutique mystical Ani City will be presented. In
the frames of the festival Armenian traditional dishes and Armenian
legendary "Ararat" brandy will be presented. Fashion show and concert
will take place.

ARONYAN SHARES THE 4TH AND 5TH POSITIONS IN THE M-TEL MASTERS

armradio.am
12.05.2008 12:52

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan played a draw with Teymur Rajabov
of Azerbaijan in the third round of the M-Tel Masters under way
in Sofia.

Currently Aronyan and Rajabov share the 4th and 5th places with
one point.

In the other games of the round Ukrainian Vasily Ivanchuk defeated
Bu Syan Czin, Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria lost to his compatriot
Veselin Topalov.

After three rounds Vasili Ivanchuk is in the lead with 3
points. Veselin Topalov is the second with 2 points. Cheporinov comes
third with 1.5 points.

Interfax News Agency, Russia
May 7 2008

AZERBAIJAN WANTS PEACE TALKS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO CONTINUE

Azerbaijan believes peace negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement should continue, Azeri presidential chief of staff Ramiz
Mehtiyev said.

"We believe these negotiations should be continued," Mehtiyev told
journalists on Wednesday.

"We should try to resolve this problem in a peaceful way and ensure
the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity," he said.

A meeting between the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers, Elmar
Mammadyarov and Edvard Nalbandian, respectively, took place in
Strasbourg yesterday.

The meeting was attended by OSCE (Organization for Cooperation and
Security in Europe) Minsk Group Bernard Fasier (France), Matthew Bryza
(U.S.) and Yury Merzlyakov (Russia), as well as OSCE Chairman-in-
office’s personal representative Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Azeri foreign
minister’s spokesperson told Interfax-Azerbaijan.

Because the newly appointed Armenian foreign minister attended for the
first time, it was an introductory meeting, the Foreign Ministry said.

Mammadyarov said the parties had a constructive meeting during which
they held consultations concerning the arrangements for the next
meeting between the Azeri and Armenian presidents. There are several
possible ways of organizing such a meeting, the Azeri minister said.

"The meeting [between the presidents on the sidelines of the Economic
Forum in St. Petersburg] could be held in June this year. We will let
our presidents know the results of our meeting, and they will make the
decision about the meeting at their level," Mammadyarov said.

Based on the presidents’ decision the ministers can meet once again,
he said. "There is an opportunity and a desire to resolve the issue
and to find ways to deal with the problem," Mammadyarov said.

"There is a desire and opportunities to continue talks. We are
neighbors, we cannot just run off in different directions. We need to
find a solution and to resolve the situation," he said.

Satellite Installation Costs Cut by Third in Armenia

YEREVAN, May 5. /ARKA/. The RA Public Services Regulatory Commission
amended the procedure of issuing permits for the use of radio
frequencies to reduce payments for permits and use of radio frequencies.

Chief of the commission’s Telecommunication Department Gevorg Gevorgian
reported that satellite communication can be used as an alternative to
ground-based wire communication systems for providing access to
wideband Internet, especially in the country’s remotest regions.

According to the amended procedure, 1mln drams and 400,000 drams are to
be paid for a permit to use a radio frequency and for 12-month
operation of a satellite station respectively. Depending on the number
of stations, the payment amount is reduced as follows: 2-10 stations `
500,000 drams for each, 11-20 stations ` 300,000 drams for each, 21-50
stations ` 200,000 drams for each.

The potential of modern Internet technologies can be fully realized
after the monopoly on outgoing data traffic is abolished in Armenia,
Gevorgian said.

Wide-scale use of satellite communication and expansion of
satellite-based services will promote economic competition, development
of the telecommunication market and, consequently, reduction in service
costs and better accessibility of the services.

Member of the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission Samvel Arabajian
pointed out two ways to provide outgoing data traffic for Internet
access and IP telephony, namely, fiber optic communication via Georgia
and direct satellite communication.

Georgia encounters regular problems with communication and repair time,
which actually deprives Armenia of Internet communication for certain
periods, Arabajian said. He also pointed out restrictions to outgoing
data transmission and quite high prices.

Fiber optic communication is quite acceptable only for some companies.
However, network delays are inadmissible for most users, Arabajian
said. Satellite stations will help create an alternative to fiber optic
communication, step up market competition and reduce prices, he added.

Arabajian said that the Commission’s decision cuts the costs of
satellite station installation by a third down to 1.8mln drams.

Commission chairman Robert Nazarian ordered monitoring of the new
prices. The monitoring results are to be summed up within six months.
The Commission’s telecommunication department will analyze the
efficiency of the decision. `0–

PRESS RELEASE

For further information, please contact:
Gloria Caudill, Administrator
Armenian Studies Program
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
[email protected]
(734) 763-0622

DR. LAYCOCK DISCUSSES CONTRADICTIONS IN BRITISH POLICY TOWARD ARMENIA
AND ARMENIANS

Dr. Joanne Laycock, historian who has studied British responses to
Armenian issues during the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
presented two public lectures in early April to present her findings.

Dr. Laycock is Manoogian Simone Foundation Post-doctoral Fellow at the
Armenian Studies Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

On April 3, Dr. Laycock discussed British responses to the Armenian
Refugee Crisis, 1918-1925 at the International Institute of the
University of Michigan. Her second lecture, "British Encounters with
Armenia in the 19th Century," co-sponsored by the Armenian Research
Center, University of Michigan-Dearborn, was presented on April 7 in
Southfield, Michigan, in the lecture hall of St. John Armenian Church.

In both lectures Dr. Laycock unraveled the contradictory nature of
British attitudes toward Armenia and Armenia during times when the
British Empire was a dominating world power and when critical events
were happening in Armenian history.

Discussing the early period of contact with Armenians, the British on
the one hand recognized Armenians as a fellow Christian people, "last
bastions of the Christian faith" in the region, and appreciated the
ruins of Ani and other architectural sites; and, on the other hand,
they characterized Armenians in the provinces as "primitive," and the
Armenian Church as "superstitious and backward." For the British,
Armenia may be timeless but "civilization had moved West," and there
had been no progress or change in the land. "Eastern invasions had
subdued the Armenians and turned them into a slavish people."
Nonetheless, argued Dr. Laycock, a strong pro-Armenian movement
developed, a movement that tried to reconcile these contradictory
perceptions into a policy that might help Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire.

The theme of contradictory attitudes was also the subject of
Dr. Laycock’s lecture on the refugee crisis. During the First World
War, she argued, the slaughter of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire was
a major topic for the government and people of the British Empire,
especially considering the reservoir of sympathy from earlier
periods. But these tragic events were also used by the British
Government as a propaganda tool against the German-Austrian-Ottoman
alliance. When the war ended the British, controlling Iraq,
established orphanages. Dr. Laycock displayed wrenching photos of
Armenian refugee camps in Basra, Baquba and Mosul not seen publicly
before (courtesy of the Nubarian Library in Paris).

Yet, argued the lecturer, earlier characterizations of Armenians
returned when the caretakers of the orphanages looked upon the orphans
as a problem, "half-civilized" and when "Armenians" became "a problem
of their own," "oriental," "Eastern."

Both lectures were followed by a lively period of comments and of
questions and answers. In response to a critic in the audience who
considered British policies duplicitous,  Dr. Laycock answered, "I
cannot begin to apologize for these policies," although she clearly
was not responsible for them personally.

In addition to covering the British Armenophile movement and response
to the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian refugee relief post WWI, and
British travel writing on Armenia, Dr. Laycock is currently working on
Soviet Armenian history, especially with regards to the repatriation
to Armenia and homeland-Diaspora relations.

Dr. Joanne Laycock received her doctorate in history from Manchester
University in 2005 and has, since then, published a number of
important studies in collected essays. As a Post-doctoral Fellow at
the Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan,
Dr. Laycock is working on new studies in her area of specialization.

Her book on Britain and Armenia Imagining Armenia: Orientalism,
Ambiguity and Intervention, will be published by MUP this autumn.

First Boston Armenian Film Festival to be held at Museum of Fine Arts
(MFA)

5/3/08

PRESS RELEASE
Boston Armenian Film Festival
Contact: Jane Minasian:
Tel: 781 643 6164
Email: [email protected]
Web:

BOSTON, MA: The First Boston Armenian Film Festival will be held at

the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on the weekend of May 30 – June 1,
2008. The Boston Armenian Film Festival celebrates Armenian culture
and its filmmakers with documentaries, drama and film shorts.

This series is organized and co-presented by the Armenian Dramatic
Arts Alliance (ADAA), , whose mission is to
present the Armenian voice on a world stage through the arts of
theater and film. The series is also co-presented by The Armenia
Fund, USA, Inc. Founded in 1992, Armenia Fund
USA was one of the first of The Armenia Fund’s 19 international
affiliates and serves Armenians in the Eastern US. The Fund
represents all Armenians and has adopted a policy to go `Beyond

Bricks and Mortar’ to provide sustainability for its projects.

More information about the festival and the films can be found on both
the MFA () and ADAA ( ) websites.

The MFA hopes to make this an annual event, said ADAA President Bianca
Bagatourian, who curated the film selection. Paul Boghosian, ADAA
board member and president of HarborSide Film, who facilitated the
partnership between the MFA and ADAA, said: `My feature film had its
premiere at the MFA, and I witnessed first-hand the prestigious,
high-exposure showcase that the MFA offers filmmakers.’

The Museum of Fine Arts’ Film Program features contemporary
international cinema, restored classics, American independent films
(including films by local artists), films showing for the first time
in Boston, and retrospectives by international film artists. The MFA

Film Program is co-sponsored by Goulston & Storrs. The Media sponsor
is The Boston Phoenix.

The Boston Armenian Film Festival schedule is as follows:

May 30 – Friday
7:45pm Opening Night: The Lark Farm by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
(2007, 122 min.).
All opening night attendees are invited to a complimentary reception
in the MFA lobby. This reception is sponsored by The Armenia Fund,
Inc. ().

May 31 – Saturday
7:45pm: Big Story in a Small City by Gor Kirakosian (2007, 90 min.).
9:30pm: Boston Armenian Film Festival Panel discussion on issues
facing Armenian filmmakers today. The featured panelists are Carla
Garapedian, Michael Goorjian, Gor Kirakossian and Hrag Yedalian. The
panel will be moderated by Bianca Bagatourian.

June 1 – Sunday
6:30pm: The People’s Advocate: The Life and Times of Charles R.
Garry by Hrag Yedalian (2007, 59 min.), preceded by The War Prayer by
Michael Goorjian (2007, 14 min.).
8:00: Calendar (1993, 74 min.), preceded by A Portrait of Arshile
(1995, 4 min.), both by Atom Egoyan.