Author: Kanayan Tamar

LE CONSEIL REGIONAL D’ILE-DE-FRANCE CELEBRE LES 20 ANS DE L’ARMENIE
[email protected]

armenews.com
mercredi 28 septembre 2011

INDEPENDANCE

Le Conseil régional d’Ile-de-France a organisé le 26 septembre
dans ses locaux une réception en l’honneur du 20e anniversaire
de l’indépendance de l’Arménie. Alexis Govciyan fondateur et
président du groupe d’amitié avec l’Arménie de la Région, Viguen
Tchitetchian, ambassadeur d’Arménie en France et Philippe Kaltenbach,
vice-président en charge des affaires régionale, ont successivement
pris la parole.

Ils ont célébré cet événement, rappelé les principaux épisodes
de la coopération de la région avec le pays, en rappelant notamment
la nouvelle étape qui a été franchie le 26 avril dernier avec la
signature entre Jean-Paul Huchon et le maire d’Erevan d’un accord
de coopération portant aussi bien sur un appui institutionnel, sur
le développement économique que sur l’Education ou la mobilité
des Jeunes.

Plus d’une centaine de personnes ont assisté a cette réunion.

Ci joint le discours d’Alexis Govciyan

Discours d’Alexis Govciyan, Conseiller Régional, Président du
groupe d’amitié Ile de France-Arménie au Conseil Régional d’Ile de
France Excellence Monsieur l’Ambassadeur de la République d’Arménie
en France, Monsieur le Vice-Président de l’Assemblée Nationale,
cher Jean-Christophe Lagarde, Monsieur le Vice-Président du Conseil
Régional, chargé des actions internationales et européennes, cher
Philippe Kaltenbach, Mesdames, Messieurs les Elus, Chers Collègues,
Monsieur le Conseiller Economique, Social et environnemental,
cher Alain Terzian, Eminence, Archevêque Norvan Zakarian, Primat
du Diocèse Arménien de France Excellence, Monsiegneur Ghabroyan,
Evêque des Arméniens catholiques de France, Pasteur JoÔl MikaÔlian,
Président de l’Eglise évangélique arménienne de France Monsieur
le président du CCAF, cher Ara Toranian Monsieur le Président du
Conseil Diocésain de l’Eglise Arménienne de France, cher Patrice
Djololian, Mesdames Messieurs les responsables d’organisations
Mesdames, Messieurs, chers Amis,

Je souhaite tout d’abord vous présenter les excuses de M. Jean-Paul
Huchon, président du Conseil Régional d’Ile de France, qui n’a
pas pu être présent a cette cérémonie, par un empêchement de
dernière minute.

Je souhaite également saluer la présence de mes collègues
Conseillers Régionaux et remercier les services qui nous ont
assisté pour l’organisation de cette cérémonie, et en particulier
Pierre Malvaud, chef du protocole, Leila Badis, collaboratrice du
Vice-Président Kaltenbach et Blandine Gouel, collaboratrice du groupe
Nouveau Centre.

Chers tous, au nom de tous mes collègues, membres du groupe d’amitié
Ile-de-France-Arménie au sein de notre Assemblée régionale et en
mon nom personnel, e suis heureux et honoré de vous accueillir,
pour célébrer le 20ième anniversaire de l’indépendance de la
République d’Arménie.

Quelques mots de rappels sur le groupe d’amitié : lors d’une
première réunion avec mes collègues Bruno Beschizza, Christophe
Girard, Philippe Guglielmi, Pierre Kanuty, Patrick Karam, Frédéric
Lefebvre, Roselyne Sarkissian, Martine Valleton, et Philippe
Kaltenbach, vice-président chargé de l’action internationale, ce
groupe d’amitié a été créé dès juin 2010, et mes collègues
m’ont confié la mission de le présider.

Je profite de cette opportunité pour féliciter également Philippe
Kaltenbach pour son élection au Sénat et pour souhaiter qu’il puisse
apporter toute sa contribution, dans le cadre de la Haute Assemblée,
a l’Arménie, a la loi contre le négationnisme pour qu’elle soit
enfin votée et pourquoi pas, qu’il puisse présider le groupe
d’amitié France-Arménie.

Pour ce qui concerne notre groupe d’amitié, plus de 50 conseillères
et conseillers régionaux, dont les membres de l’exécutif en sont
aujourd’hui membres et d’autres adhésions me parviennent de manière
très régulière.

Ouvert a tous les élus, quelles que soient leurs sensibilités,
ce groupe d’amitié dépasse les clivages politiques habituels et a
pour objectif de mobiliser toutes les bonnes volontés attachées a
cette amitié ancienne et partagée avec l’Arménie et son peuple.

La mise en place et le suivi d’une politique de coopération
décentralisée avec l’Arménie, dans les domaines de la formation,
du développement économique, mais aussi des échanges culturels et
universitaires constituent les premières pistes de travail, sans
oublier, bien entendu, les relations particulières et fortes avec
les franciliens d’origine arménienne, tous attachés aux valeurs et
principes républicains, et attentifs a leurs territoires.

Il faut donc se féliciter du programme-cadre de coopération avec
Yerevan, voté a l’unanimité par notre assemblée régionale, sur
présentation de Philippe Kaltenbach qui est aujourd’hui en vigueur.

Une prochaine mission en Arménie, a Yerevan, du Conseil Régional,
du 12 au 16 octobre, en concrétisera les aspects a la fois techniques
et organisationnels.

Excellence, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, le 20ième anniversaire de
l’indépendance de l’Arménie, c’était effectivement le 21 septembre,
il y a quelques jours. Il s’agissait d’intenses moments d’émotion,
de premiers bilans sur le chemin parcouru et sur tout ce qui restait
a faire.

20 ans après une longue parenthèse soviétique, précédée
du génocide qui a décimé le peuple arménien et sa première
république de 1918-1920.

Nous sommes dans un monde nouveau, en pleine évolution, avec de
nouvelles perspectives qu’il faut fixer a la population et a la
jeunesse notamment.

Les présidents successifs depuis 1991, MM. Levon Ter Petrosyan,
Robert Kotcharian et actuellement M.Serge Sargsyan ont fait et font
tout leur possible, avec leurs gouvernements, leur parlement, les
différentes institutions pour essayer de maintenir les fondamentaux
du pays, assurer son existence, sa sécurité, son développement,
malgré de nombreux obstacles.

Rappelez-vous chers amis ! Le tremblement de terre de 1988 et ses
terribles conséquences, la lutte pour l’indépendance, la guerre
imposée par l’Azerbaïdjan, le blocus turco-azéri depuis 1993
jusqu’a aujourd’hui, sont parmi les graves difficultés auxquelles
l’Arménie a dÔ faire face. Il y en a bien sÔr d’autres.

Malgré tout cela, la vie continue, l’Arménie est debout, sa jeunesse
est pleine d’intelligence et de potentiel, et il faut tout faire,
chacun a sa place et selon ses moyens, pour que la population puisse
rester dans son pays et que l’émigration vers d’autres destinées,
telle que pratiquée, hélas, soit le plus possible stoppée.

Chacun a sa place et selon ses moyens doit donc se mobiliser aux
côtés de l’Arménie qui doit faire face a des enjeux majeurs. Ces
enjeux sont notamment :

La sécurité de l’Arménie, la levée du blocus turco-azéri, et
que le peuple arménien puisse vivre sur ses terres ;

Le développement économique, social, culturel et institutionnel,
dont un volet non négligeable pourra être préparé dans le cadre
de la coopération ;

La garantie d’indépendance de la RHK qui peut seule, permettre la
sécurité et l’harmonie dans la région ;

Enfin, la reconnaissance par la Turquie du génocide des Arméniens de
1915, la lutte contre le négationnisme, et la préparation du 100ème
anniversaire du génocide avec ce que cela comprend en termes de
réparations.â~@¨â~@¨Ce sont les enjeux de la République d’Arménie,
de sa Diaspora, partout dans le monde, mais aussi de tous ses très
nombreux Amis où qu’ils soient et pour ce qui nous concerne, bien
sÔr en France et plus particulièrement en Ile de France.

Les élus de la République, les groupes d’amitié a l’Assemblée
Nationale, au Sénat, et depuis l’année dernière au Conseil Régional
d’Ile de France portent une attention toute particulière, un regard
constructif et très amical, très attentif a tout ce qui concerne
l’Arménie, ses projets, ses programmes, en un mot ses enjeux.

Joyeux anniversaire a l’Arménie et que nous soyons de plus en plus
nombreux pour célébrer cette belle amitié franco-arménienne plus
que millénaire.

Alexis GOVCIYAN Conseiller Régional Ile de France

TRILOK GURTU AND TIGRAN HAMASYAN TEAM UP FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL SHOW

Jazzwise magazine
Sept 27 2011

At a concert that marked 20 years of Armenian independence pianist
Tigran Hamasyan, already a rising solo star on the international jazz
circuit, performed on Saturday night with Indian master percussionist
Trilok Gurtu at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

The concert opened with another musician, another Tigran, playing
solo doudouk (“Armenian oboe” woodwind) in traditional dress, in
the classical style with wondrous reverb that transported you the
2,000 miles to a country that has often been a tragic hostage to its
geography and history. As the Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan wrote,
the Armenian grief, representing an eternal search, “looks for the
shore blue and serene, where sometimes, it wearily dives deeply/
Looking for fathomless rest.”

Gurtu was on next after this serious and beautifully delivered
opening. Absent from the London concert hall stage for a few years
he was surrounded by a large well-lit array of percussion featuring
his trademark tablas, goblet drum, cymbals, small percussion, and
signature bucket of water. The last time Jazzwise reviewed the great
Mumbai master, an important and stimulating figure on the international
jazz scene since his early days in the 1970s with the late Charlie
Mariano, was at the Jazz Cafe in Camden two years ago (bit.ly/oYiEux).

Turning 60 on the penultimate day of October this QEH concert was a
great chance to catch Gurtu before the celebrations begin in earnest
in the company of a new musical star in the making. Gurtu’s solo set
was a typically robust affair characterised by a strict attention to
detail from the tips of his fingers to the toes of his feet and the
five elements he wished to represent were portrayed, that as ever with
Gurtu told a story in music rather than as only a drum or percussion
solo (“I’m the fire,” he anticipated with a smile in case anyone in
the audience wondered).

Tigran Hamasyan, born in 1987 in the Armenian city of Gyumri, won the
prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition in the US five years
ago and has just released his fourth album as a leader, the fine
solo effort A Fable. Tigran played on his own and then Gurtu came
back and the pair traded both vocal and percussive improvisations
while Tigran shone on ‘What The Waves Brought’ particularly and the
mystical Armenian folk melodies that he ably melds with jazz lines.

You can’t help but think of a period in Keith Jarrett’s development
when Jarrett was influenced by the Armenian mystic Gurdjieff and
released Sacred Hymns. But Tigran, who moved to the States with his
family as a young man, was inspired in contrast to Jarrett by the
poet Tumanyan referred to earlier and has a great emerging talent
already capable of approaching what Jarrett began to achieve in the
1970s. The concert however was let down by a good deal of showboating
and while Tigran may not want to be a rock star he has the technique,
ideas – and a good look helps – to play anything he wants to, and so
the direction of his music will be both fascinating to follow but also
difficult to predict. If he comes back to the UK any time soon snap
up a ticket, you won’t regret the melancholic but wondrous sounds of
Tigran, and his intuitive jazz improvising. – Stephen Graham

TURKEY’S PM ADDRESSED 66TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Official Turkish Radio and Television Corporation

Sept 26 2011
Turkey

Addressing the 66th General Assembly at the United Nations, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered clear messages to the
world leaders regarding the recognition of Palestine as a state,
Turkey-Israel relations, drilling crisis in the Mediterranean and
the humanitarian tragedy in Somalia.

Erdogan underlined that Palestine should be granted full UN membership
at the General Assembly.

Turkey’s Premier said “Turkey extends full support to Palestine in its
bid to be recognized as a state.” Erdogan harshly criticized Israel’s
policy towards Palestine and reacted against the indifference shown
by the United Nations.

“Israel is the one using unproportionate force, but it faces no
sanctions,” said Erdogan, adding that “There is no substitute for
peace.”

“Our demands from Israel are clear: an apology for the killing of
nine Turks, compensation to families of those killed and an end to
the blockade imposed on Gaza. Our attitude vis-a-vis Israel will
not change unless Israel took these steps”, Erdogan said, pointing
out that the problem stems from the violent policies of the Israeli
government, and Turkey has no problems with the people of Israel.

Turkish Prime Minister also touched upon the drilling crisis. Saying
that they expect all sides involved to make efforts to end Greek
Cypriot sector’s initiatives that cause tension in the region,
Erdogan said and noted “Otherwise, we will do what needs to be done.”

Prime Minister Erdogan also criticized the attitude of the United
Nations, which he said has failed in to show the leadership necessary
to win over fear threatening humanity and their hopes. “The United
Nations needs to go through a restructuring process and renew its
vision so that it protects the laws of humanity and does not serve
the interest of a certain number of countries,” he said.

Regarding Somalia, Prime Minister Erdogan said the situation in
Somalia is the failure of the international community.

He also touched upon the dispute in the Upper Karabakh region and said
“It is unacceptable to see a problem as Upper Karabakh to remain
unsolved. It is our political and ethical responsibility to find
solutions to international problems before they become gangrenous.”

TURKEY TO DEFEND ITS SEA INTERESTS, SAYS PM
Ä°Pek Yezdani

Hurriyet
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan (L), President Gul (R) and Chief of
General Staff Ozel (back R) inspect a new Turkish warship.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would take all
necessary measures to defend its rights over natural resources in the
sea during a ceremony to launch Turkey’s first domestic warship. The
Turkish research ship Piri Reis meanwhile entered block 13 off Cyprus
where Greek Cypriots are continuing natural gas exploration with
U.S. company Noble, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources confirmed.

Amid rising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s first
domestically made warship was formally delivered to the Turkish Navy.

“Turkey’s interests in the seas reach from surrounding waters out to
Suez Canal and Indian Ocean,” Erdogan said adding that Turkey would
take all the necessary measures to defend its commercial interests and
its rights over the natural resources in the sea. “We have sent the
Piri Reis [a Turkish exploration vessel] to the eastern Mediterranean
for research activities. We will continue to bring into action
anything that our national interests requires without any hesitation,”
Erdogan said, during the ceremony on Tuesday as the TCG Heybeliada,
was launched in Istanbul’s Pendik Navy Yard. As Erdogan continued
his harsh rhetoric over the gas drilling operation of Greek Cyprus,
the Turkish research ship Piri Reis entered block 13 off Cyprus where
Greek Cypriots are continuing natural gas exploration with U.S.

company Noble, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources confirmed. Sources
added that the Piri Reis was only 60 kilometers away from the Greek
Cypriot drilling platform. Erdogan has already said the Turkish ship
will be escorted by the Turkish Navy; the Turkish frigate Yavuz set
sail from its Turkish Mediterannean base two days ago to escort and
conduct patrolling duties.

Despite Erdogan’s words, Defense Minister Ä°smet Yılmaz said tensions
were decreasing in the eastern Mediterranean. “After Greek Prime
Minister George Papandreou called Prime Minister Erdogan [Monday]
and they talked on the phone for one hour, the tension decreased
and things began returning to normal in the eastern Mediterranean,”
Yılmaz told the Hurriyet Daily News. President Abullah Gul said
Turkey was now building its own warships with its own engineers,
workers and technicians, which in the past it had to buy from other
countries and proud of this fact. “Even the countries whose national
income is way behind ours have decided to make nuclear weapons because
their rivals have done so,” Gul said. Gul also said “Nobody wants war,
war is the worst case scenario, but if you want to maintain peace
and stability you also have to be ready for war.”

SENATOR SIMITIAN TO SPEAK ON NAGORNO KARABAKH IN U.S.

AzerNews
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan

The US senator heading a delegation of California Senate lawmakers on
their visit to Baku has said he would provide information about the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh in the United States.

Speaking to reporters, Senator Joe Simitian also expressed hope that
the long-standing dispute would soon be resolved.

“We are a legislative body within the US political system and do not
form foreign policy,” he said. “But we will deliver information and
different points of view regarding the conflict in the U.S. We hope
that the conflict will find its solution in line with the frames of
international law and as soon as possible.”

Azerbaijan and Armenia waged a war in the early 1990s. Armenian troops
have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory since then. A
ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but OSCE-brokered peace talks
have been largely fruitless so far.

The U.S. co-chairs the OSCE Minsk Group brokering peace talks, along
with France and Russia.

ARMENIA ‘SHOULD SEEK PEACE WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS’

news.az
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Professor Yusuf Ziya Irbec, a deputy of the Turkish
parliament from the opposition MHP (Nationalist Movement Party).

In his recent address to the UN General Assembly, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan accused Turkey of frustrating the Turkish-Armenian
protocols. Is he right?

Problems appeared in the process of tackling issues arising from the
Turkish-Armenian protocols. For example, one problem is the issue of
mass murders, that is “genocide”. To clarify whether the events of
a hundred years ago were the result of war or mass murder, the sides
have to open the archives. In addition, it is essential that a group
of researchers investigate the mass murders in Khojaly. In reality,
we can see that Armenia is protracting the scientific study of these
facts. We insist on the archives being opened to an international
commission to study all the facts. In short, if one international
commission studies the issue of mass murders, so much insisted on by
the Armenian side, another international commission has to investigate
the mass murders in Khojaly. Armenia, which has a hand in the mass
murders in Khojaly, refuses to form an international commission to
study the events of 1915. In fear that the historical truth about
the events of 1915 and mass murders in Khojaly could be exposed,
Armenia rejected the steps envisaged by the protocols. Moreover,
Armenia failed to fulfill the provisions of the protocols on a Karabakh
settlement. In other words, Armenia disavowed its promises when it
came to executing the commitments set out in the protocol.

What is the future of the Turkish-Armenian protocols?

The future of these protocols is no longer connected with Turkey.

Turkey has done everything possible to achieve normal relations with
Armenia. For this reason, the future of these protocols is fully
dependent on Armenia. Armenia cannot accuse Turkey of unwillingness
to settle existing interstate problems.

What should Azerbaijan and Turkey do to avoid any suspicion in the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations?

Unfortunately, some foreign media have started to publish provocative
reports about alleged differences between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Both
Turkey and Azerbaijan have not yielded to these provocations.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu are sensitive and spare no effort to inform the Azerbaijani
leadership if issues discussed or raised relate to Azerbaijan. Before
signing the Turkish-Armenian protocols, the Turkish foreign minister
met his Azerbaijani counterpart. Moreover, to avoid manipulation,
a group of Turkish parliamentarians visited Baku and discussed this
issue with the Azerbaijani parliament. In other words, both sides
are doing everything possible to avoid misunderstanding.

No one in Turkey will ever support an issue that may cause concern in
Azerbaijan. An issue that causes the slightest concern in Azerbaijan
will find no support either in the government or among the opposition
and the people.

How can Armenia benefit from execution of the provisions of the
Turkish-Armenian protocols, particularly if it withdraws from the
occupied lands of Azerbaijan and disavows its unfounded claims against
the Turkish side?

All good intentions continue and bad intentions find no support. A
developing state which has good intentions must have good relations
with its neighbours. For example, Azerbaijan is the most stable
and developing country of the region, which is why Armenia and
other countries should make use of it. As a stable and developing
country, Azerbaijan is interested in a similar situation in Armenia,
since Azerbaijan, like all developing states, is interested in the
development of its neighbours too. In capturing part of Azerbaijan,
Armenia follows the principle “it may not be much, but it’s mine”.

However, Armenia won’t last long with such logic and will be obliged
to return the occupied lands to Azerbaijan. Also, Armenia will have
to settle issues arising from the Turkish-Armenian protocols. In this
very fair settlement of the problems, Armenia will find peace and
pave the way to development. If it normalizes ties with Azerbaijan
and Turkey, its relations with Russia will rise to a higher level.

Overall, all the countries of the region will benefit from such a
level of relations, including Iran.

In other words, Armenia, instead of demanding the protection of the
Christian world from Muslim Azerbaijan, should seek peace with its
neighbours. Armenia has no sea outlet, while all energy corridors
pass via Azerbaijan and Turkey. For this reason, Armenia is unable
to enjoy the advantages appreciated by other countries of the region,
including Georgia.

EU SHOULD ‘USES ITS MECHANISMS’ TO RESOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT

news.az
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews political scientist Hakkı Keskin, a Left Party
member of the German parliament from 2005 to 2009.

Do the European countries put enough effort into solving conflicts
in the post-Soviet area, including Karabakh?

Unfortunately, on the Karabakh conflict, the Council of Europe does not
demonstrate the kind of clear position it had in the Georgian-Russian
war. This is wrong. For example, during the Georgian-Russian war in
2008, the German parliament agreed on the need for the government
of Germany to involve the EU in the negotiating process to solve the
problem. The EU should do the same on Karabakh.

No European country can accept the injustice facing Azerbaijan,
the fact of the occupation of 20% of its land and the existence of
over a million refugees and internally displaced persons. Therefore,
the EU should use its mechanisms to solve this problem.

How is it possible to involve European countries in the Karabakh
conflict settlement?

In order to involve the EU in the solution of the Karabakh conflict it
is necessary to attract a number of politicians to this process. For
example, this may include politicians who enjoy a good reputation
in the EU. With regard to Germany, Angela Merkel, who is sensitive
to conflicts, could be such a politician, especially since relations
between Azerbaijan and Germany have a long history, so Germany could
contribute to the process of conflict resolution.

Unfortunately, since Armenia is a Christian country, the EU does
not demonstrate a firm stance against that country. The EU shows a
different standard when approaching the same problems. For example,
if it was Azerbaijan that occupied Armenian land, the EU would
act decisively, would be active. But anyway, it is necessary to
involve the EU in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Armenia
must withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan
without any prerequisites.

Should Azerbaijan use the Nabucco and Trans-Caspian gas pipeline
projects to attract EU attention to the Karabakh conflict settlement?

Absolutely. The EU is heavily dependent on Russia for energy. For
example, Germany and the Nordic countries of Europe meet most of their
needs for oil and gas from Russia. These countries are, therefore, very
concerned about their dependence on Russian energy sources, and intend
to change this situation. Therefore, these countries attach great
importance to the Nabucco and Trans-Caspian gas pipeline projects.

In other words, the Nabucco project and the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline
are likely to attract EU attention to the Karabakh settlement. It is
necessary to bring to the attention of the EU the fact that Azerbaijan
is an important country in ensuring Europe’s energy security but is
facing the problem of land occupation.

However, it is necessary to ensure that the EU mobilizes its potential
to influence Russia on the settlement of the Karabakh problem. It is
necessary to ensure that Russia stops providing support to Armenia and
explains to Armenia the need to liberate the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. EU countries can influence Russia in this matter because
Russia has a need for closer relations with the EU.

To what extent are the Turkish-Armenian protocols linked to the
Karabakh conflict settlement?

The current government of Turkey, namely the ruling Justice
and Development Party, conducted a mistaken policy because the
protocols did not fix the points concerning the liberation of the
Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The US insisted on
the opening the Turkish-Armenian border. This was prevented by
Turkish public opinion – 98% spoke against the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border before the liberation of the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan. After that, the party was forced to
abandon its policy, and the Turkish-Armenian protocols were thrown
into the dustbin. But my fear has to do with the policies of Turkey,
which is largely tied to the wishes of the United States. But I hope
that the Turkish government has learned a lesson from this mistake,
and is vigilant to prevent a similar mistake happening again.

ARMENIA UNWILLING TO REACH AGREEMENT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH – AZERI PRESIDENT

Interfax
Sept 26 2011
Russia

The last meetings dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have
shown Armenia’s unwillingness to solve the problem, Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev said.

“Azerbaijan demonstrates as much constructiveness as possible at
these meetings, but we are confronted with Armenia’s destructive
position in response. We have come to the opinion that Armenia wants
to drag these negotiations out as much as possible,” Aliyev said at a
conference marking the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s independence
in Baku on Friday.

“Our last meetings have shown that the only issue on their [Armenia’s]
agenda is not to achieve peace and drag out the status quo,” he said.

However, not only Azerbaijan but also the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
believe that the preservation of the status quo is unacceptable,
which is “a clear message to the Armenian leadership,” he said.

The Azeri leader has called on the international community to step
up the efforts toward settling the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

“DASHNAKTSUTYUN” DOESN’T EXPECT SERIOUS PROGRESS IN KARABAKH AND ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESSES

Mediamax
Sept 27 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Representative of “Dashnaktsutyun” party Kiro
Manoyan stated today that there will be no serious progress in the
processes of settling Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish
relations in the nearest future.

He said that bringing the Armenian-Turkish Protocols back to the
parliament’s agenda, the Turkish side wants to show that the process
between Yerevan and Ankara is allegedly going on but still no steps
will be taken toward ratification, Mediamax reports.

“The Protocols, signed but not ratified, create a situation most
beneficial for Turkey”, stated Kiro Manoyan, adding that bringing
back the Protocols to the agenda of the parliament, Turkey wants to
exert an international pressure on Armenia so as the latter wouldn’t
withdraw its signature from these documents.

TURKISH PRECONDITIONS IMPLEMENTED WHILE ARMENIA GETS NOTHING INSTEAD – ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN

news.am
Sept 27 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Preconditions by Turkey are being implemented, while Armenia
gets nothing as a result, ARF Dashnaktsutyun member, responsible for
Hay Dat Kiro Manoyan told the journalists on Tuesday.

According to him, by prolonging the ratification of the protocols,
Turkey called some Western states to its side on such important issues
as the genocide issue and its study by the historians.

“At least some western states share Turkey’s viewpoint, whereas
Armenia failed to strengthen its position in return,” Manoyan believes.

Uncertainty for Protocols is useful for the West as well. Besides,
the situation will stay as long as current authorities are more
attractive for West.

“It is effective for Turkey too to keep the Protocols unsigned as long
as possible. Turkey without the necessity to give has always tried to
receive something, including the Karabakh conflict, politician stated.

Armenian-Turkish protocols have been called back by Turkish parliament
recently.