Author: Kamalian Hagop

CARDINAL ISSUES ARE SOLVED ON DEFINITE POLITICAL AND LEGAL ACTIONS RATHER THAN RESOLUTIONS

KarabakhOpen
17-03-2008 16:24:40

The UN General Assembly has approved the resolution proposed by
Azerbaijan, which involves actions which do not correspond to
the reality. What consequences will it have for Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic? The chair of the NKR National Assembly Committee of Foreign
Affairs Vahram Atanesyan answered the question of Karabakh-Open.com.

"This resolution is not legally binding. It is a fact that the
world powers, the mediators of the talks on Karabakh voted against
the resolution.

Tendencies in world politics show that cardinal issues are
solved on definite political and legal actions rather than
resolutions. Apparently the UN resolution will become an object of
political demagogy on behalf of Azerbaijan but I think nothing will
change in the methodology of the settlement of the conflict," said
Vahram Atanesyan.

Kurdish Aspect, CO
March 14 2008

Kemal Attaturk

Kurdishaspect.com – By Peter Stitt

Once more brother Takman, I disagree with you. I do so as a man
bought up as a Catholic who feels as "at home" in a mosque or
synagogue as I ever did in a Christian church so religion is not an
issue here.

I am also actually a great admirer of Kemal Attaturk for several
reasons but I cannot blindly say that everything he did was right
because there are some glaringly obvious mistakes that he made. Our
own Winston Churchill, for whom I have great admiration, made huge
mistakes before World War Two and then after World War Two.

On the positive side with Kemal Attaturk it must be said that he took
a nation that had lost in WW2 and turned it into one of the "winners"
by securing what is now known internationally as "Turkish territory".
Yes it takes a political genius to achieve that but there are still
disputed areas and I frankly see Northern Kurdistan rather than
South-Eastern Turkey. I am Scottish and I dispute Turkey’s right to
"own" Amed, Van, Mardin etc.

The one area where I completely agree with Kemal Attaturk is the way
in which he turned Turkey into a secular state. That move should be
applauded by any true democrats be they Kurdish, Turkish or Kurdish.
I hate political and state religious control of any area of life
despite being a committed believer in the God of the Muslim, Jew and
Christian.

The problem with the "secularisation" of Attaturk is not what he did,
it is what those who claim to be Kemalist have since done with it. I
specifically criticise the Turkish military who (on its own website)
threatened a coup should Gul be voted into office. The elections
were held and the AK Party won hugely which shut the army up. The
Turkish people (and huge amounts of Kurdish people) voted for the
AKP.

So what could the Turkish military do to make itself look relevant
and necessary? It had just lost in the election and the Turkish
military was desperate to prove to the Turkish people that it was
needed.

Who came to their rescue? PKK, by murdering 14 Turkish soldiers.
The Turkish people cried out for revenge and it gave the Turkish
military a reason to exist and the excuse to embark upon the
ridiculous exercise of bombarding the Quandil mountains. PKK and the
Turkish military give us numbers of those killed and they are all
questionable.

Attaturk, a very clever man, made one fundamental mistake when he
declared that all people within the post-1923 borders of Turkey were
"Turkish". In doing so, and refusing to acknowledge the ethnic and
cultural distinctiveness of Kurds and Armenians, Kemal Attaturk
condemned Turkey to a century of conflict and ultimately to the
disintegration and destruction of the Turkish state. You can thank
Kemal Attaturk for the creation of PKK.

Of Attaturk’s noble wish to secularise the state of Turkey I find it
quite interesting that the Turkish people voted so solidly for the AK
Party given its Islamic basis. The people who claim to be "Kemalist"
(the Turkish military high-command) have actually become more feared
by the Turkish people than an allegedly Islamic-based party. They
have proved themselves to be less democratic than a party that bases
itself on Islam.

The Turkish military creates a problem and the PKK creates a problem,
they do not want peace.

Mr Takman, I have great regard for Kemal Attaturk as a statesman but
he is no Nelson Mandela. For all the good he did for Turkish people,
he guaranteed a million years of war by declaring Kurdish ethnic and
cultural differences as the rantings of "Mountain Turks".

I am from Scotland and I can see huge difference between Kurds and
Turks. You want to make a friend? Respect their ethnicity and their
cultural difference. You do not criminalise their language and tell
them they are now Turkish.

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U.S. CONGRESSMEN CALL FOR PARITY IN MILITARY AID TO ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.03.2008 16:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a hearing before the State, Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee in the House of Representatives,
lawmakers raised a series of concerns regarding the Administration’s
FY 2009 budget proposal for Armenia. Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA)
and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) raised pointed questions regarding the
Administration’s proposal to provide Azerbaijan with increased military
funding over Armenia, reported the Armenian Assembly of America.

Schiff asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice how the U.S. can
justify providing Azerbaijan $900,000 versus only $300,000 for Armenia
in Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance. He specifically
cited Azerbaijan’s ongoing war rhetoric and large increases in military
spending as reason against favoring Baku over Yerevan with additional
security funding.

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev recently proclaimed that "Armenia did
not win the war. The war is not over.

Only the first stage of the war has been completed."

He added that Nagorno Karabakh will never be independent.

Knollenberg said it is "not just the rhetoric [from Azerbaijan]
but the threat of war," that is most troubling. He said Azerbaijan’s
recent cease fire violations were the worst in 10 years, adding that
the U.S. should consider discontinuing military funding to Azerbaijan
altogether.

"We should either take away military funding to Azerbaijan or threaten
to stop it as long as they are threatening Armenia," Knollenberg said,
explaining that it is now time to take drastic steps.

Knollenberg, along with Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ), also issued a strong statement regarding Azerbaijan’s
ceasefire violations.

In separate responses to the lawmakers, Secretary Rice said the
Administration believes that the request levels for Armenia and
Azerbaijan are appropriate.

Noting concerns with the recent state of emergency in Armenia, Rice
also made reference to the suspension of some U.S. assistance programs
to Armenia, and indicated that the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
funding could be put at jeopardy.

"During this critical time, the U.S. should do more to help Armenia’s
democratic institutions," said Knollenberg, Co-Chair of the Armenian
Caucus.

Congressman Schiff added, "The Administration’s justification for
reduced aid to Armenia is not a solution."

The Administration’s budget slashed funding to Armenia by nearly
60 percent from $58.5 million in FY 2008 to a proposed level of $24
million in FY 2009. The budget request also called for more military
funding for Azerbaijan; a clear breach of the agreement reached with
Congress in 2001 regarding military parity for both countries.

Executive Director Bryan Ardouny thanked Congressmen Schiff and
Knollenberg for raising strong concerns with the Administration’s
spending plan with Secretary Rice

"We thank both lawmakers for their leadership on this important
issue. Providing asymmetrical military assistance to Azerbaijan
violates the will of Congress, subverts the short- and long-term U.S.

policy goals for the South Caucasus region, and will only serve
to legitimize Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockades against Armenia and
Karabakh," Ardouny added.

CROSSED THE BORDER

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
March 13, 2008

On March 9, around 19:00 p.m., Azeri serviceman and soldier Yahub
Alaverdi oghli Moukhtarov, a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
deliberately crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, on the borderline
nearby the village of Kolagir, Tavush marz.

According to Y. Moukhtarov’s testimony, he turned to his platoon
commander on March 9, with a request to move him to the medical
station on grounds of being unhealthy. Rejected, he turned to the
brigade commander; however, the soldier was severely beaten. Leaving
his weapon in the military base, Y. Moukhtarov took flight and crossed
the Armenia-Azerbaijani border.

"INTERPRETATION OF PROPHECY OF DANIEL" COLLECTION PUBLISHED

Noyan Tapan
March 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 12, NOYAN TAPAN. By the blessing of Patriarch Karekin
II and the Catholicos of All Armenians the Publishing Department of
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin published the regular book of the
"Interpretations of the books of the Old Testimony" series of books:
the interpretations of the prophecy of Daniel by Vardan Areveltsi,
Hovhannes Tsortsoretsi (Yerznkatsi) and Tovma Metsopetsi, who are
famous fathers of the Armenian Church.

The book was published due to the diligence of Marta Arabian, Gayane
Nersisian and Hakob Kyoseyan. The editor-in-chief of the series of
books is Archbishop T. Yeznik Petrosian, the Head of the Publishing
Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The edition of the
book was implemented by the patronage of arts of the "Deacon Levon
and Araksi Zenian" fund.

In the message provided to Noyan Tapan by the Information Services
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin it is mentioned that these
works of monumental significance are of exceptional value in the
Armenian interpretation literature from the point of view of bringning
satisfaction to the spiritual demands of believers.

63 MLN AMD FINES IMPOSED ON ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC ENTITIES FOR VIOLATING FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS IN 2007

ARKA
March 12, 2008

YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. In 2007, 63mln AMD fines were imposed on
Armenia’s economic entities for violating food safety standards.

Head of the RA Veterinary and Food Safety Inspectorate, RA Ministry of
Agriculture, Grisha Batyan reported that the inspections involved 1,300
economic entities, and only 16 of them did not commit any violations.

"Our task is not fining, but getting all food products safe,"
Batyan said.

He pointed out that 140 to 150 inspections were conducted throughout
the country once every ten days, with 50% of them in Yerevan.

The RA Veterinary and Food Safety Inspectorate has been conducting
inspections since last year.

CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF JERUSALEM APPEAL FOR PEACE

Zenit News Agency
March 11 2008
Italy

Ask for End to "Infernal Cycle" of Violence

JERUSALEM, MARCH 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The patriarchs and heads of
Churches in Jerusalem appealed for an end to the "infernal cycle"
of violence between Israel and the Palestinians that continues to
affect the Middle East.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch
Torkom Manooghian, the Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop
Michel Sabbah, and Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos
of the Holy Land, sent letters of condolence Friday to the Palestinian
and Israeli leaders after an escalation in violence killed more than
130 Palestinians and 5 Israelis.

Since late February, Israel has been launching an offensive to stop
the Islamist group Hamas from firing rockets into Israel. Israeli
officials have halted military operations since Wednesday after rocket
and mortar attacks launched from Gaza sharply dropped.

In the note to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas,
the religious leaders stated their hope to see "the unity of the
Palestinian people" restored.

The representatives of the Christian Churches offered their condolences
"for all the victims who have fallen and are still falling in this
wave of violence in Gaza."

The note said, "We know that you do not spare any effort in your
attempts to reach a comprehensive and just peace.

"Nevertheless, we urge you to do whatever possible to find rapid and
opportune ways to bring back the unity of the Palestinian people:
Heal all the wounds, in order that the tragedy of which all of us
are victims, today more than ever, will come to an end."

The leaders urged Abbas to work "in efficient ways to reach agreement
with the concerned Israeli authorities to stop all violence, so as
to work for the achievement of peace."

Aware of the "grave difficulties" of the current situation, they
expressed their hope that all involved will "work for the achievement
of peace."

Victims

In the note sent to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and to the
Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the patriarchs and heads of the Churches
in Jerusalem asked for "ways to put an end to all violence so as to
free all of us from the infernal cycle of violence of which we are
all victims."

After expressing their deep sorrow for the death of eight theology
students from the "Merkaz Harav Yeshiva" rabbinical school in Jerusalem
last Thursday, the leaders of the Christian Churches reiterated their
"determination to work for peace and for an end to all violence."

They wrote: "Only peace is needed and new ways must be found for the
land called to be holy by the Almighty for the Jewish people and for
the Palestinians.

"We pray that God will inspire all of us to submit to his ways in
order to reach a comprehensive and just peace with total security
for you and for all."

CE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 11, 2008

YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA – Novosti-Armenia/. CE Commissioner for
Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg is to arrive in Armenia this week
on a three-day visit to discuss the complicated internal political
situation in the country, CE information office told "Novosti-Armenia".

The rallies of opposition protesting against the outcome of the
presidential vote in Armenia, developed into disturbances and clashes
between demonstrators and the Police. On March 1 Armenia’s President
imposed a state of emergency on Yerevan, effective for 20 days,
under item 6 paragraph 14 of Article 55, Armenia’s Constitution
(threat to the country’s security and population).

According to the report, Hammarberg is to meet with high
ranking Armenian officials to support effective human rights
protection. Particularly, the Commissioner is to meet with Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, the Prime-Minister and President-elect
Serge Sargsian, ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian, Speaker of the
Parliament Tigran Torosian, Chairman of the Constitutional Court
Gagik Harutiunian, Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian, diplomats,
representatives of international organizations and civil society.

Hammarberg will also visit the custodies, police stations and
hospitals to meet with participants of events, the information office
reported. According to the report, he expressed concern about the
human rights situation in Armenia and the consequences of the state
of emergency in the country.

The Commissioner stressed the urgency of lifting restrictions on mass
media and activities of political parties and NGOs.

On March 10 Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian signed a decree
on lifting certain provisions of the state of emergency in Yerevan,
i.e. the provisions on "temporary interruption of activities of parties
and other public organizations, which hinder the elimination of the
conditions, which became a reason for imposing the state of emergency"
and "sending out the people, who violated legal order of the state
of emergency and who do not reside in the zone of its effect". -0–

EXACT INFORMATION AS AN IMPORTANT PLEDGE OF INVESTMENTS
Norayr Hovsepian

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on March 11, 2008
NKR Republic

On March 8th, the NKR President Bako Sahakian accepted a group
of russian-armenian businessmen arrived in Artsakh by the head of
Ruben Vardanian and Levon Hayrapetian. The NKR Prime Minister and
members of the government also participated in the meeting. The
guests got acquainted with various spheres of the country’s life,
economic general indexes and main directions of state policy in that
sphere. After the meeting with the NKR management, Ruben Vardanian
answered the journalists’ questions. The well-known businessman
wasn’t first time in Karabakh. Though this time his visit took a
business character."There aren’t concrete investment programs",-
informed Mr Vardanian, touching importance first of all to thorough
study of Karabakh’s economical potential." Problems are many, and such
study will let orientate more exactly in today’s primary tasks. And
these perspectives of development exist really in Karabakh",- Ruben
Vardanian is sure. "First I was very glad, that there was rather much
information there, and second, the general situation was much better,
than I’d expected". "I’m inspired: I feel there is a great will in
people. I want to change. Armenian businessmen beyond the border
can have a considerable role in that work,- he founded,- the best
precondition of it should be satisfaction of information about either
NKR economical, or tax, or legal field". Levon Hayrapetian attouches
importance to the necessity of such meetings, finding out, that the
experiment of such well-known businessmen can greatly contribute to
today’s developments of economical life of Artsakh. As a rare chance
for getting acquainted with international experiment, the NKR Prime
Minister also attouched importance to that meeting, expressing his
gratitude to the organizer of the visit L.Hayrapetian. "Questions about
concrete investment programs were not discussed during the meeting",-
the head of the government informed the journalists.

JOHN PRESCOTT CALLS ON PARTIES IN ARMENIA TO SHOW FOLLOWING TALKS

arminfo
2008-03-11 11:21:00

ArmInfo. John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC), rapporteur for the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the Armenian
elections, has called upon all sides to show restraint, respect and
avoid any precipitate action that could make matters worse, following
two days of meetings with all relevant parties in Yerevan. As the
Council of Europe told ArmInfo, John Prescott said: "This is essential
if we are to move to a genuine and open dialogue". "I am convinced that
a solution can be found to the present difficulties. This requires the
recognition by all of the authority of the Constitutional Court and its
ruling on the outcome of the Presidential election. It also requires
the removal of the state of emergency and the restoration of individual
human rights and freedoms, including political rights, as well as the
establishment of an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the
events of 1 March that tragically led to the death of 8 individuals
and left many injured. In addition it will also be necessary to make
changes to Armenia’s election code in order to restore trust in the
electoral system. Next week I intend to communicate to the President
of the Parliamentary Assembly in greater detail how the Assembly could
play an effective role in securing the resolution of this conflict,"
Mr Prescott added. He pledged that the Assembly will do all it can
to help resolve the ongoing dispute following the recent Presidential
election in Armenia.