Author: Kanayan Tamar

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT DISCUSSED AT NETHERLANDS DEFENSE ACADEMY

Trend
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani ambassador to the Netherlands Fuad Iskenderov met
with teachers and students of the Academy of National Defense, the
Azerbaijani embassy in the Netherlands told Trend.

In his remarks Iskenderov spoke about the prospects for cooperation
in security at the international and regional levels, and informed
about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, emphasizing
the destructive position of Armenia in the conflict resolution process.

The economic development of Azerbaijan, its role in regional and
international projects was also discussed.

After the meeting, the representative of the Defense Academy,
Lieutenant-Colonel Marcel de Haas expressed his appreciation to the
Azerbaijani diplomat for the meeting and the detailed information.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

EU DISCUSSES NEW IDEAS ON GARABAGH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

SIA INFORMATION AGENCY
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

European Union’s Special Representative for South Caucasus Philippe
Lefort has concluded his visit to Azerbaijan.

EU representative in Azerbaijan Roland Kobia informs that yesterday
Lefort held in Baku talks with the President, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and the Justice Minister and also had a separate block of
consultations on the issue of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno Garabagh conflict.

“Negotiations on the conflict settlement are linked with the initiative
of European Commissioner Catherine Ashton on strengthening of the EU’s
involvement in the settlement process. Lefort exchanged views with
the leadership of new ideas to strengthen the EU’s role in conflict
resolution. Our ideas are being discussed with the governments of
Azerbaijan and Armenia and are signed in a general way in strengthening
the contacts between citizens of both countries.

Currently we are not ready to disclose fully all the proposed package
of initiatives,” Kobia said.

Today, the EU is represented in the Minsk Group on conflict settlement
by France.

Aynur Mehtiyeva

PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT TALKS OF GERMANY’S ‘DIFFICULT’ HISTORY
By Martin Banks

The Parliament

Feb 8 2012
Belgium

Parliament’s president Martin Schulz has spoken of the “demons” of
Germany’ past during a press conference discussion on the ‘Armenian
genocide’ of 1915-16.

The German deputy made an impassioned reference to his country’s
“difficult” past after a meeting with Egemen Bagis, the Turkish
minister for EU affairs and chief negotiator in its accession
negotiations.

In a briefing with journalists after their meeting, Bagis and Schulz
commented on the ‘Armenian genocide’ and a new bill recently adopted
by the French senate.

The bill will make it illegal to deny that the mass killing of
Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman empire was genocide. The bill has
infuriated the Turkish establishment, which has threatened France
with permanent sanctions.

There is general agreement that hundreds of thousands of Armenians
died when the Ottoman Turks deported them en masse from eastern
Anatolia to the Syrian desert and elsewhere in 1915-16.

The deported Armenians were either killed or died from starvation
or disease.

The total number of Armenian dead is disputed. Armenians say 1.5
million died. The Republic of Turkey estimates the total to be 300,000.

According to the international association of genocide scholars
(IAGS), the death toll was “more than a million”.

Bagis refused to be drawn on an investigation launched by Switzerland
for remarks in which he allegedly denied the ‘genocide’ took place.

He said: “Switzerland is not member of the EU and I will not spend
one second to talk about non EU issue”.

Speaking alongside Bagis on Tuesday, Schulz underlined the “clear
position” of parliament, which in a resolution in 2005 called on
“Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide and considers this
recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the EU”.

Schulz, in his first month as president of parliament, went on,
“As a German I know also the history of my own country and the role
the imperial army of Germany played in previous times.

“Nevertheless, my recommendation to the Turkish authorities is the
same as it was in previous times. You should face your own history
and you should allow independent inquiries about your history.

“If the independent inquiries come to the conclusion that it was
genocide, you should recognise it, but I think it’s first up to Turkey
to solve the problem. I respect the parliamentarian autonomy and the
independence of the French parliament and respect the law adopted
in France.

“‘I know that there are a lot of people in the EU sharing the views
of the French MPs,” Schulz added.

The Socialist member went on, “As a German and especially as German
president of multinational parliament, I have to live every day with
our past, which is not an easy past.

“It is a very difficult one. Demons of the past are lasting until
today, every day I am confronted with the past of my country.

“But my country, and I am proud of this, during the last six decades
is facing its own history; is recognising not to be guilty – because
our generation is not guilty for the crimes committed in the past.

“But we are responsible for avoiding that it could happen once more.

To be as open as possible to the past is the best way to the future,”
Schulz said.

SARKOZY NEEDS SUPPORT OF SMALL GROUPS IN ORDER NOT TO LOSE ELECTION

Trend
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan

Despite the fact that a law criminalizing denial of so-called “Armenian
genocide” was passed by the Senate of France, it does not mean the
full completion of the adoption of this law, the head of the Center
of Political Innovations and Technologies, a political scientist
Mubariz Ahmedoglu said at a briefing held in the conference hall of
Trend on Tuesday.

Ahmedoglu said, a group of French senators, who opposes the law
appealed to the Constitutional Council, using the possibilities
offered by the French law.

“Thus, the question of the “Armenian genocide” has again become
a subject of political games. Armenian anti-Turkish position has
repeatedly transformed them and their feelings, which they consider
sacred, to instrument in the hands of other countries. Now, if this
law is adopted, the repetition of similar initiatives will be unlikely
in the near future, as the parliamentary and presidential elections
will soon begin,” Ahmedoglu said.

“Sarkozy is a weak leader, and he needs such a small groups in order
not to lose the election,” Ahmedoglu said.

Previously on January 23, after an eight-hour debate, the French
senate adopted the bill. Some 127 senators voted in favour, while 86
voted against.

The bill demands a years imprisonment and a fine of ~@45,000 for
denying the so-called “genocide.”

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the
Turkey – Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against the
Armenians living in Anadolu and have achieved recognition of the
“Armenian Genocide” by the parliaments of several countries.

1109 PERSONS SETTLED IN OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES WITHIN ARTIFICIAL SETTLEMENT POLICY CONDUCTED BY ARMENIA

APA
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. 1109 persons were settled to Nagorno
Karabakh within the artificial settlement policy conducted by Armenia
in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

APA reports quoting “Regnum” agency that the number of Armenians
settled in Nagorno Karabakh in comparison with 2010 was more than
373 people.

55.7% of people, which were brought to Karabakh, settled in Lachin,
10% in Khankendi, 8.8% in Agdere-Kalbajar. 91.9% of Armenians brought
to Karabakh said that they would like to live there permanently.

94% of settlers are from Armenia, 4.2 from Russia. Besides, 663
persons left Nagorno Karabakh last year.

TURQUIE : LE MINISTRE DES AFFAIRES EUROPEENNES NIE DE NOUVEAU LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 8 fevrier 2012

Le ministre turc des Affaires europeennes, vise par une enquete en
Suisse pour avoir nie le genocide armenien, a une nouvelle fois affirme
ce mardi que le massacre de 1915 commis par les forces ottomanes ne
relevait pas du genocide.

” J’ai dit ce jour-la que ce qu’il s’est passe en 1915 n’etait pas un
genocide et je le repète aujourd’hui. Personne ne devrait douter du
fait que je donnerai cette reponse chaque fois qu’on me le demandera
“, a declare Egemen Bagis lors d’une conference de presse.

” S’il le faut, j’irai devant Davos et je dirai la meme chose ”

La justice suisse a ouvert lundi une enquete preliminaire afin de
determiner si le ministre turc, en visite en Suisse, avait viole la
loi par des propos sur le genocide armenien. Selon differents medias,
Egemen Bagis s’en est pris a Davos puis a Zurich au projet de loi
qui prevoit de criminaliser en France la negation du genocide. Il a
affirme qu’il n’existait pas de genocide armenien.

” Je ne reconnais pas un pouvoir qui est en mesure d’arreter un
ministre de la Republique turque. Je suis très a l’aise sur ce sujet.

S’il le faut, j’irai devant Davos et je dirai la meme chose “,
a assure ce mardi Bagis. La Suisse possède dans son code penal un
article qui reprime les actes de racisme, y compris la negation
publique des genocides.

ARMENIAN JOURNALIST PLACES NO HOPES ON LOCAL COURTS

news.am
February 07, 2012 | 13:08

YEREVAN. – Haykakan Zhamanak daily’s journalist Hayk Gevorgyan is
currently waiting for his questioning, but under the verified status,
Gevorgyan himself stated during a press conference on Tuesday.

He will see to it that the case-with respect to his hitting a citizen
with his car and leaving him helpless-be fully exposed. “I should
leave a man helpless and go? Such thing is theoretically impossible.

The case will be exposed, so that no stain is left on my reputation,”
Gevorgyan said.

The journalist also informed that he does not place much hope on
Armenia’s courts, and that he is prepared to file a petition even
with the European Court.

Hayk Gevorgyan also spoke about several violations against him,
and stressed that what transpired with him was conditioned on his
journalistic activities.

To note, Gevorgyan was taken into custody on February 3 and
transferred to prison. He is accused of hitting a citizen with his
car. But Haykakan Zhamanak’s editorial staff stated that this was
untrue. Gevorgyan was released from prison, on Monday, on signature
bond.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN – LE GOUVERNEMENT TURC IMPOSE SES PREMIERES SANCTIONS A LA FRANCE
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 7 fevrier 2012

La presse turque a pointe que ses sanctions ont ete decides
avant que les parlementaires francais aient fait appel au Conseil
Constitutionnel. Le gouvernement a gele l’achat de 130 Renault dans
le cadre de l’achat de voitures officielles pour l’Etat turc en
protestation contre le vote d’iune loi penalisant la negation du
genocide armenien.

Selon Haberturk, la Societe Akmercan, qui pourvoit des voitures
officielles aux hauts fonctionnaires de la presidence, avait decide
d’acheter 130 Renault de modèle Latitude, mais la presidence a rejete
cette decision.

La Societe Akmercan a decide de commander des Ford Mondeo. La societe
a deja achete 20 Ford Mondeo.

En outre, la voiture electrique de Renault, Fluence Z.E., projete
pour etre donne au Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attend
l’approbation de la presidence avant qu’elle ne soit livre.

De plus, le Ministère de l’Industrie, de la Science et de la
Technologie a gele l’ordre de 10 voitures electriques en raison de
la loi.

LES SIGNAUX D’OSKANIAN D’UN RETOUR EN POLITIQUE
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 7 fevrier 2012

Vartan Oskanian, l’ancien ministre des Affaires Etrangères d’Armenie,
a fait allusion a la possibilite de poser sa candidature au Parlement
sur la liste du parti Armenie Prospère et a lance un appel universel
pour ” un mouvement civique ” pour la liberte et la justice lors des
prochaines elections en mai.

” Mon engagement avec le parti Armenie Prospère (BHK) n’est pas sans
base ” a dit Vartan Oskanian dans une declaration ecrite diffuse
par son groupe de reflexion la Fondation Civilitas. ” J’ai eu des
discussions avec le parti Armenie Prospère aussi bien qu’avec d’autres
forces politiques “.

” À ce moment precis, je n’ai toujours pas pris de decision et je
crois que je dispose toujours de temps. Des processus politiques,
cependant, peuvent accelerer ma decision ” a-t-il ajoute.

Le BHK est le second parti de la coalition au pouvoir en Armenie. Il
est mene par Gagik Tsarukian, un homme d’affaires millionnaire proche
de l’ancien president Robert Kocharian.

Les relations entre le BHK et le President Serge Sarkissian se sont
deteriorees depuis que Robert Kocharian a donne en septembre dernier
un signal fort qu’il voudrait retourner a la vie politique active. Les
politologues ont specule que Kocharian pouvaient compter non seulement
sur le BHK, mais aussi d’anciennes figures du gouvernement comme
Oskanian, qui a servi comme ministre des Affaires Etrangères entre
1998 et 2008 au cours de sa presidence.

À la difference de Tsarukian, Oskanian n’a fait aucune declaration
publique quant a un soutien au retour de Robert Kocharian. Il s’est
aussi distancie de certains episodes controverses de la longue decennie
de l’ex-president. ” Comme ministre des Affaires Etrangères, je n’etais
pas souvent d’accord avec beaucoup d’evenements politiques internes
” a dit M.Oskanian dans une interview en 2009.

L’ancien ministre a toutefois ete plus critique envers l’administration
Sarkissian.

Particulièrement il a fortement desapprouve la politique de
rapprochement avec la Turquie.

Vartan Oskanian a parle ” de pressions politiquement motivees ”
manifestes sur le parti de Tsarukian et, en reference claire au parti
Republicain d’Armenie de Serge Sarkissian (HHK), ” de l’utilisation de
ressources administratives en periode pre electorale “. Il a aussi dit
que la tenue d’un vote non contestable aura une ” importance extreme
” pour l’Armenie.

” Les reformes et le changement peuvent seulement arriver quand il y
a une nouvelle configuration politique dans l’Assemblee Nationale. Et
un equilibre si politique peut seulement etre assure par des elections
libres et justes ” a dit Vartan Oskanian.

L’ancien ministre a soutenu l’appel de l’opposition a des elections
qui se tiendraient seulement sur la base de listes de partis.

Vartan Oskanian a dit que les trois forces de l’opposition d’Armenie
aussi bien que le BHK doivent intensifier leur pression sur les
autorites en lancant ” un mouvement civique “” qui s’efforcerait
d’empecher la fraude electorale. Ils doivent aussi ” penser a la
possibilite d’une cooperation plus profonde après les elections
parlementaires de mai ” a-t-il dit.

ENQUETE A ZURICH SUR LA NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN PAR UN MINISTRE TURC
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 7 fevrier 2012

Le Ministère public du canton de Zurich a lance une enquete sur des
propos niant le genocide armenien qu’aurait tenus le ministre turc
pour l’Union Europeenne Egemen Bagis la semaine dernière a Zurich,
a indique lundi l’agence de presse suisse ATS.

La loi penale penale antiraciste suisse reprime la negation du genocide
armenien de 1915, que la Turquie ne reconnaît pas.

“Nous avons ordonne une enquete de police”, a indique lundi a l’ATS
Andrej Gnehm, du Ministère public zurichois, confirmant une information
de la “NZZ am Sonntag”.

Le ministre turc s’etait arrete a Zurich après s’etre rendu au Forum
economique mondial de Davos, et avait assiste le 28 janvier a un
concert de la chanteuse turque Sezen Aksu.

Selon un journal turc de langue anglaise, le “Today’s Zaman”, le
ministre aurait declare en marge du concert : “Nous sommes en Suisse
et je vous dis que les evenements de 1915 n’etaient pas un genocide.

Qu’ils viennent m’arreter !”.

Pour l’instant, les elements a disposition sont “vagues”, a indique a
l’ATS Christine Braunschweig, la magistrate en charge du dossier. “On
ne sait pour l’heure pas concrètement ce qui a ete dit”, a-t-elle
ajoute.

La Turquie a reagi en convoquant l’ambassadeur de Suisse a Ankara,
Raimund Kunz, au ministère des Affaires etrangères pour lui demander
des explications, a rapporte l’agence de presse turque Anatolie.

Au cours de l’entretien, le secretaire d’Etat turc Feridun Sinirlioglu
a signifie a l’ambassadeur qu’un tel incident etait “inacceptable”,
a indique Anatolie, citant des sources diplomatiques parlant sous le
couvert de l’anonymat.

En Suisse, plusieurs personnes ont deja ete condamnees pour avoir nie
le genocide armenien. L’une d’entre elles, le nationaliste turc Dogu
Perincek, avait mene l’affaire jusqu’au Tribunal federal qui l’avait
deboute de son recours en 2007.

Ce nouveau rebondissement intervient alors que le senat francais
a vote le 23 janvier une proposition de loi reprimant la negation
des genocides reconnus par la France, dont le genocide des Armeniens
en 1915-17 dans l’empire ottoman, provoquant la colère d’Ankara. Le
texte doit etre examine prochainement par le Conseil constitutionnel.

La Turquie, heritière de l’empire ottoman, ne reconnaît pas le
caractère genocidaire des massacres d’Armeniens survenus en Anatolie.

Les Armeniens parlent de 1,5 million de morts, Ankara de 500.000
personnes tuees.