Author: Kanayan Tamar

” NOUS RESTONS PLUS QUE JAMAIS FORTEMENT ENGAGES A LA RECONSTITUTION DES DROITS LEGITIMES DU PEUPLE ARMENIEN ” A DECLARE SA SAINTETE ARAM 1ER
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 16 mai 2012

En visite a Teheran Sa Saintete Aram 1er a aussi rencontre les
membres du Comite de la Cause armenienne. La reunion a ete suivie
par le Primat et des membres du clerge accompagnant Sa Saintete,
de representants du diocèse et d’autres organisations de la communaute.

Sa Saintete Aram 1er a loue le travail realise par le Comite de
la Cause Armenienne pour la reconnaissance du Genocide armenien en
particulier dans le monde Musulman. Il a dit que ” le genocide armenien
est un fait de l’histoire. C’est notre obligation de rappeler au monde
qu’un millions et demi d’armeniens ont ete les victimes d’un genocide
qui a ete projete et execute par le gouvernement turc en 1915. La
Turquie se presente comme une suite de la Turquie Ottomane et doit
avoir le courage pour se reconcilier avec son passe en acceptant le
genocide armenien. C’est la revendication legitime du peuple armenien
“.

La Catholicos Aram 1er a partage avec le comite quelques informations
sur la conference ” le Genocide armenien : de la reconnaissance a
la reparation ” qui s’est tenu a Antelias il y a quelques mois. Il
a dit que ” le centre de cette conference etait la reparation. Nous
avons invite 30 experts des lois internationales et des genocides du
monde pour obtenir leurs avis sur comment nous pouvons nous deplacer
de la reconnaissance a la reparation sur la base des dispositions de
la loi internationale “.

Selon Sa Saintete ” ce n’est pas un processus facile, mais nous
devons avancer ayant le retour des proprietes des eglises comme
notre objectif primaire “. À la fin de sa conversation, Sa Saintete a
souligne l’importance d’amorcer des processus de conscience publique
dans le monde Musulman, qui n’est pas entièrement informe du genocide
armenien. Le president du Comite de la Cause Armenienne a fait un bref
raapel de leurs activites. Alors Sa Saintete a repondu aux questions
liees en particulier a la question des reparations.

RED CRESCENT CHAIRMAN VISITS ARMENIAN SCHOOL

Hurriyet Daily News
May 15 2012
Turkey

Red Crescent chairman Akar (R) visited meets students at Levon
Vartuhyan. AA photo The Turkish Red Crescent extended food assistance
to an Armenian nursery and primary school in Istanbul yesterday.

Turkish Red Crescent chairman Ahmet Lutfi Akar visited private Levon
Vartuhyan Armenian Nursery and Primary School in Istanbul’s Topkapı
neighborhood and extended assistance consisting of 100 consignments
of food.

“The Turkish Red Crescent is an organization that extends help without
making religious, linguistic or racial discrimination. We will continue
to meet needs of Levon Vartuhyan Armenian Nursery and Primary School
periodically from now on,” Akar said.

Monik Ergan, the chairman of the Surp Nigogayos Armenian Church
Foundation to which the nursery and primary school are connected,
said they did not want to close the school and they were making
efforts to keep it open. Ergan also said almost 100 students were
being educated at the school.

ARMENIA TO BE FINED FOR QUITTING EUROVISION

Vestnik Kavkaza
May 15 2012
Russia

Armenia will pay a fine for quitting the Eurovision Song Contest,
News Armenia cites the delegation head of Eurovision Goar Gasparyan.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) fined Armenia in early May.

Director of the EBU department for media Annica Niberg-Frankenhauser
said that Armenia will pay 50% of the contribution to the contest as
a fine.

The Public TV Company of Armenia announced quitting the song contest
on March 7 for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev~Rs statement calling
Armenians an enemy.

Armenian singer Narek Kazazyan took the third position at the Classic
Eurovision 2012 in Vienne.

Baku will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 on May 22-26. 42
states will take part. The final will be held on May 26.

NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT LINES UP WITH BAKU
Elmira Tariverdiyeva

Vestnik Kavkaza
May 15 2012
Russia

The complete document adopted at the session of foreign ministries
of the member-states of the Non-Aligned Movement was considered by
Baku as a great achievement. Last May, Azerbaijan became a member
of the movement. The document supports a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with respect of internationally recognized
borders. The 382 points of the document – a result of the meeting
of ministries of the Coordinating Bureau of the movement – are very
important for Baku. The fact that a second international organization
after the UN has recognized the occupation of Azerbaijani territory
by Armenia is the result of Azerbaijani diplomats’ efforts.

Moreover, for the first time 120 countries directly stated that the
conflict exists between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but not inside of
Azerbaijan, as many representatives of the Armenian side want to
present it. It is not the first document that judges Azerbaijani
territory to be occupied. The UN Charter, the OSCE Final Act adopted
in Helsinki and the document adopted at the Bandung Conference reflect
the basic principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and speak of the
inadmissibility of aggression against the territorial integrity,
sovereignty, and political independence of countries. Azerbaijani
diplomats are trying to include the principle into the documents of
international organizations.

The foreign minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mamedyarov, stated that
support of the Non-Aligned Movement “proves that the international
community won’t accept Armenia’s aggression against the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.” Commenting on Mamedyarov’s
statement, the foreign minister of Armenia, Edvard Nalbandyan,
said that it was propaganda. Armenia, which has observer status in
the NAM, tried to prevent adoption of the document. According to
the official representative of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan,
Elman Abdullayev, “Armenia tried to replace the phrase “the conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan” by “the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict”
and tried to eliminate the principles of respect for the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of countries and the inviolability of the
borders recognized by the international community.” However, the item
initiated by Azerbaijan was adopted without any changes.

When Azerbaijan stated its decision to join the NAM a year ago,
many observers were surprised, but it appears to be a smart step by
the Baku authorities. Participation in the movement played its role
in the election of Azerbaijan as a non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council.

Azerbaijan’s participation in the NAM shows the world that the
country’s position is friendly neutrality and unwillingness to join
any blocs. Baku doesn’t intend to “make friends against anybody.”

Azerbaijan exists at a crossroads of geopolitical interests of world
and regional powers and builds a multi-vector policy and balance in
foreign policy. At the same time, membership in the movement doesn’t
prevent integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, which
is still Baku’s target. However, at the moment Azerbaijan is not
aiming to join NATO or any other military bloc, because integration
doesn’t mean membership.

ALEKSANDER RAHR: “RUSSIA IS ALWAYS READY TO RESOLVE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT, IF IT MEETS ITS GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS”
Orkhan Sattarov

Vestnik Kavkaza
May 15 2012
Russia

The German political analyst, expert of the German Council on Foreign
Policy, Alexander Rahr, told VK about prospects of the Russian policy
in the Caucasus.

– Alexander Glebovich, could you comment on the inauguration of
Vladimir Putin? First of all, on its influence on the Caucasus policy.

Will Russia play more active role in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under Putin?

– It is difficult to say. I think, Russia is always ready, if it
meets its geopolitical interests, to begin more intensive settlement.

Everybody asks me, but there is no answer to the question. How
to settle the conflict? It is very difficult. Let’s speak a simple
language. It taking away from Armenia the territory they had occupied
and make them withdraw their troops. Who and how will deal with this?

If it should happen, the decision should be made by America and
almost all members of the EU. Only in this case will pressure on
Armenia be effective.

– Is it realistic?

– I think it is absolutely unrealistic. First of all, the Europeans
have forgotten the conflict. It happened 25 years ago.

Secondly, it is difficult to imagine that the Armenian Diaspora won’t
resist it. On the other hand, it is impossible to persuade Azerbaijan
to recognize the independence of Nagorny Karabakh. Who will pressure
Azerbaijan? Therefore, the discussions are not effective for 25 years.

Everybody says the conflict should be settled peacefully. But I don’t
know what Russia could do in this situation. I think it is beneficial
for Russia to play a certain role in the conflict, as it takes its
own place in the region, as well as the Minsk Group.

– So nobody among geopolitical forces is interested in the conflict’s
outcome?

– These are big geopolitical games. In fact, I have already stated
it that the only country that wants to change the status quo and
unfreeze the conflict is Azerbaijan. No one else wants it. In other
case it will lead to new clashes, and conflicts, and shifts which are
difficult to predict. This is the situation. I think Russia plays
for both teams. It supports Armenia, as Armenia is its long-term
historical ally. Without Russia there would be no Armenian statehood
more than 100 years ago. I think Armenians remember it, and Russia
understands it is the most reliable ally. At the same time, Russia
cannot break relations with Azerbaijan because of Nagorny Karabakh.

Azerbaijan became a new energy titan in the Caspian region, which
tries to construct alternative gas and oil routes by-passing Russia.

It deals with the Western countries directly on its energy policy; it
has brilliant relations with Turkey. Together with Turkey Azerbaijan
becomes even more powerful in the transport corridor of energy
resources. Russia wouldn’t worsen relations with such a country.

Nothing can be made toward Azerbaijan and Armenia through force. That
is why Putin will continue the policy. On the other hand, what new did
Medvedev do while being President? I don’t remember anything. Probably
the tone has changed, but the strategy was aimed at preservation and
security of national interests of Russia. It will continue.

– Do you think there are no plans on settlement of the conflict within
the strategy?

– I can say only in what direction. Suggest me direction of the
conflict settlement.

– Common peaceful living of Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of
Nagorny Karabakh under principles of territorial integrity and peoples’
right for self-identification.

– Either Armenia or Azerbaijan wants to own one territory. How
can the conflict be settled? You can take only one side without a
compromise. The only compromise which had been discussed for the
1990s is an exchange with territories. Armenia gives a part of its
territories to Azerbaijan and takes Nagorny Karabakh. The so-called
plan by Paul Gobble. But I think all sides have rejected the approach.

There is no other variant, however. We can discuss return of refugees
to Nagorny Karabakh, but Armenians are not interested in return of
Nagorny Karabakh Armenians to Armenia after 25 years. Everything can
be discussed theoretically, but the conflict needs real decisions. It
has to be solved! Just like the conflict in Cyprus has to be solved,
it lasts threefold longer than the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. But some
conflicts cannot be solved, cannot be unfrozen and settled peacefully.

Because the history of the conflict is difficult. I don’t know
examples when after many years a conflict was unfrozen and settled
peacefully. I don’t know… Maybe exchange by territories, recognition
of a confederation between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorny Karabakh.

These ideas were born in the 1990s, but nobody has turned to them,
they are not interesting for anyone. I think the conflict will be
settled by some other methods in 6 years under Russia’s initiative.

– Another question is about the internal policy of Russia. Could the
current protest movement in Russia become a serious force influencing
political decisions making? What are prospects of them?

– I think Putin and the authorities must not tighten screws.

Putin is not Stalin or Brezhnev. Unlike the Western point of view,
I think that the countries of the post-Soviet area, except for
few Central Asian states, are in search for European lifestyle,
the European democracy model. In Russia and Ukraine the notion of
“sovereign democracy” appeared. It is democracy that is built from
above. However, the process is approaching liberalization, rather than
totalitarianism. If screws are tightened, they will be loosened later.

The power vertical built by Putin in 2003-2004 is being liberalized
at the moment. It is understandable that for some part of Russian
population needs more political freedoms. It concerns the new middle
class, young people who were raised after dissolution of the Soviet
Union. They don’t want to be managed through Soviet methods. Thus,
protests will continue if these people do not feel that social
lifts are working, an alternative party exists, and the government
can be criticized. I believe Putin has to agree for a dialogue. The
parliamentary and presidential elections passed, and the next will
be in 4 and 6 years only. At the moment he has the majority in the
parliament. There is a whale of time to return to real democracy. At
the moment nobody urges to overthrow Putin, there is no alternative.

But dissatisfaction is growing.

NEW CARS TO THE RESCUE SERVICE

Karabakh-open.info
Monday, 14 May 2012 15:10

The NKR Rescue Service has received some presents from the RA Ministry
of Emergency Situations lately; the material and technical resources of
the Rescue Service and the Technical Security Centre were replenished
with new cars equipped with modern devices.

As the Information and Public Relations Department of the NKR Rescue
Service informs, the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations presented an
all-terrain Ural car equipped with all the necessary rescue devices
to the Rescue Service while the Technical Security Centre received
a mobile laboratory designed for technical examinations and other
observations.

OPPOSITION MEMBER BRIEFS OSCE/OIDHR OBSERVATION MISSION ON ELECTION VIOLATIONS

news.am
May 15, 2012 | 19:10

YEREVAN. – Coordinator of the central office of opposition Armenian
National Congress (ANC) bloc Levon Zurabyan met with the head of
OSCE/OIDHR observation mission Radmila ekerinska.

They discussed preparation for the final OSCE/OIDHR final report.

Levon Zurabyan briefed the OSCE official on election violations
registered by ANC bloc during the May 6 parliamentary elections. He
spoke about inaccuracy of the voter lists, reports on voter turnout
and bribery cases adding that the elections were fully rigged.

ANC coordinator and Radmila ekerinska touched upon the work of joint
headquarters set to monitor the elections, as well as issues related to
lawsuit to the Constitutional Court to recognize the elections invalid.

VARTAN OSKANIAN’S THIRD ATTEMPT
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:37:49 – 15/05/2012

By its effort to bring the PAP to coalition, the Republican Party is
addressing not only internal governmental and home political strategic
issues but also harms Vartan Oskanian, the former foreign minister,
PAP member, second on the party list.

After joining PAP, Vartan Oskanian started criticizing Serzh Sargsyan
and the home and foreign policies of the Republican Party to which
the RPA members even responded with personal offenses.

Now the political situation is as follows: by “bending” the PAP,
the Republicans not only address political issues but also put Vartan
Oskanian in an uncomfortable situation. Although this is just a minor
issue which the RPA is solving by just seizing the convenient occasion.

Actually, Vartan Oskanian’s second attempt for domestic political
progress fails, bringing about a mere situational solution.

Vartan Oskanian’s first attempt was before the parliamentary
elections 2007. Then foreign minister, he made several substantiated
assessments of and speeches on the domestic affairs. But they ended
as spontaneously as they had started, and Vartan Oskanian remained
within the foreign policy. Several years later, on 3 May 2012, Robert
Kocharyan was to state that Oskanian wanted to become a PAP member
later in 2007 but he urged him not to do so.

The reason is known only to Kocharyan and Oskanian, and perhaps also
to Serzh Sargsyan who ensured absolute victory for the RPA on 12 May
2007 while the Prosperous Armenia which had declared 400,000 members
received only 200 thousand votes.

The first attempt for the PAP project failed. Vartan Oskanian benefited
though, who saved his political resource which would be exhausted
immediately after the first loss of the PA.

It is difficult to tell whether Robert Kocharyan did not believe
the PA success so he decided to save Oskanian or Serzh Sargsyan saw
a competitor in Vartan Oskanian for the 2008 presidential elections
so he resisted his decision to join the PA and destroyed PA in the
presidential elections.

The second try was in 2012, and it may be prevented this time too in
case the PA forms a coalition with the RPA.

Will Vartan Oskanian make the third attempt?

The situation is a matter of honor for the former foreign minister.

After the election of 2012, Vartan Oskanian set for himself such a
bar that leaving politics would not be natural and logical.

For his third attempt, Vartan Oskanian will either need to take the
wheel of the party to transform it to a completely different party
or simply leave the PA.

Once Prosperous Armenia forms a coalition, the party will become one
of the task forces of the RPA. In this case, it is a question whether
it makes any sense to fight for a task force which will be managed
by the RPA.

In this case, it would be more useful for Vartan Oskanian to
think about leaving PA since no matter how hard he tries to avoid
responsibility for the sunken ship, he will not be able to avoid the
aftermath of the shipwreck.

” UNE IMPORTANCE SPECIALE DOIT ETRE DONNEE A L’EDUCATION CHRETIENNE ” AFFIRME SA SAINTETE ARAM 1ER
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 15 mai 2012

Present lors de l’Assemblee Generale du diocèse de Teheran, Sa Saintete
Aram 1er a souligne l’importance particulière de l’education chretienne
comme dimension essentielle de la mission Chretienne. Il a dit :
” L’education chretienne est un secteur important de l’engagement
des missionnaires de l’eglise. L’education des chretiens a toujours
ete une priorite superieure de l’Eglise Armenienne. Je me felicite
des activites grandissantes du diocèse dans la sphère de l’education
chretienne. L’etude de la Bible,les ecoles du dimanche, les cours
populaires sont des manifestations en effet concrètes de l’eglise
pour l’education chretienne “.

Dans son message a l’Assemblee Generale Aram 1er a rappele que ”
l’Eglise armenienne est une eglise populaire. Donc, la participation
active de notre peuple, des hommes et des femmes, des jeunes et des
personnes âgees est essentielle. La discrimination ne doit avoir
aucune place dans la vie de l’eglise. Tous les membres de l’eglise
sont egaux. Ce sens d’appartenance l’un a l’autre dans le Christ doit
supporter la vie et le temoignage de l’eglise “.

Sa Saintete a aussi mentionne la participation de l’Eglise armenienne
dans les activites se rapportant aux droits de l’homme et au genocide.

” Les Droits de l’homme ne sont pas synthetiques, ils sont les cadeaux
de Dieu. Donc, la violation des droits de l’homme est un peche contre
Dieu “. Selon Sa Saintete, l’eglise doit devenir l’avocat des droits
de l’homme comme partie integrante de sa vocation chretienne.

KARABAKH DEFENSE ARMY’S POSITIONS GIVE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE OVER ADVERSARY – EXPERT

news.am
May 16, 2012 | 14:00

YEREVAN.- The Karabakh Defense Army is occupying positions which give a
strategic advantage over the adversary, said Armenian military expert
David Jamalyan.

Speaking during the Wednesday press conferenc, he said the line of
contact between Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces is close to the
strategic targets of the adversary, causing fears of the Azerbaijani
side and restraining from aggression.

“The scenario of counterattack and transferring military operations
to the opponent’s territory is considered during exercise of the
Karabakh Defense Army.

In the north and south of Karabakh, Azerbaijanis will have to overcome
mountains on one side, and Araks River on the other, this complicates
the use of the advantage in numbers. As for the eastern plains of
the contact line, during the period of ceasefire, defensive line was
built enabling to resist opponent’s attack and go into the offensive
by Kura River splitting Azerbaijan into two parts,” he said.

Summing up 18 years since the ceasefire agreement was signed, the
expert noted that the Defense Army of Karabakh during this time
achieved considerable success.