Author: Kanayan Tamar

RUSSIA NEEDS TO MAINTAIN STATUS QUO IN KARABAKH CONFLICT AT THIS STAGE

news.az
Sept 8 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Yevgeni Negrov, Russian political expert.

Election campaign due to the upcoming 4 December 2011 elections to
the State Duma of Russia is going to start in Russia soon. This will
be followed by presidential elections in 2012. May Russia change or
correct its foreign policy towards its nearest neighbors, particularly,
South Caucasus countries?

I believe that there is weak a correlation between electoral processes
in Russia. It only technically reinforces existing consensus of elites
and real politics. This mainly concerns international politics and
everything related to it. So, I believe neither December 2011 nor
March 2012 will influence South Caucasus policies of Russia.

Nevertheless, there are factors able to change or correct this policy.

The most important among themis a domestic situation in South Caucasus
states, condition of world economy (financial crisis, energy prices,
diversification of their supplies, political stability in the Middle
East, etc.), a need to intensify efforts (economic ones, first
and foremost) in some direction and tasks of the Russian domestic
propaganda (again, with no direct links with elections).

So, the change is possible (there is already more moderate (less
pro-Armenian) intentions in relation to the Karabakh problem), but
this will not be linked with election campaigns.

According to estimations, more than three million Azerbaijanis live
in Russia. What opportunities they can use to influence formation of
Russia’s policies?

As strange as it may sound, the capabilities of various pressure groups
in Russia are very significant. Feeling lack of real legitimacy,
the political elite has to respond to various signals from outside
to create the illusion of public consensus and well-being.

Another thing is that these efforts are aim ed primarily at creating
visibility of reaching an agreement (the case with Khimki forest,
army reform or education reform) than to satisfy them as meeting
aspirations of one interest group almost always leads to denial of
objectives of another group.

Given various diasporas (including Armenian and Azerbaijani)
in Russia, the ability to influence (both public – information
campaigns, public statements of leaders and non-public (lobbying
through representatives in the government)) will be implemented only
under the described scenario.

Are South Caucasus countries, in particular, Azerbaija able to draw
Russia’s attention to solution of its strategic problems including
territorial dispute?

No doubt, if any country in the region intensifies efforts to solve
its problems, this will draw a reaction from Russia. Russia will in
this case try to preserve the status quo acting as mediator in the
process. In his recent interview with Ekho Moscow radio station and
First Caucasus Channel, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev unambiguously
said that scenario of the Russian-Georgian conflict of the summer of
2008 is impossible to happen once again and even uttered the surnames
of presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in this regard.

Are conflicts in Caucasus just ethnic problems or conflict between
elites of these states?

It is obvious that a wide range of factors influence problems in the
Caucasus, in particular, land disputes in the South Caucasus. There are
problems caused by national contradiction, those with centuries-long
history and those which started with the collapse of the Soviet Union
and problems of consolidation of national elites that are largely
built on ideology of conflict with neighbors.

In this regard, it is appropriate to say not conflict between, in fact,
elites, but their internal problems which need presence of external
even conflicting factors.

Do the policies pursued by he Kremlin towards the South Caucasus
today effective enough for Russia to provide its security?

All arguments available to this effect are to some extent speculations
as there are no immediate security threats. At this stage, maintaining
the conflict in a frozen state is the most important for Russia,
since it plays an important role in terms of image and economy,
and Russian diplomacy somehow copes with this problem.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE DISCUSSED AT OSCE PA WINTER SESSION

Trend
Sept 8 2011
Azerbaijan

Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be presented to
discussions at the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly,
if any serious conditions do not prevent it, Vice Speaker of the
Azerbaijani Parliament Bahar Muradova said in an interview to the
official website of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

She said last year this issue was raised on the eve of the summer
session of the organization.

“During OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou’s visit to Azerbaijan,
this issue was raised before him in a more concrete form. Then, Petros
Efthymiou said that the discussion of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
should be organized at one of the sessions of the OSCE PA with the
participation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and the report
of co-chairmen regarding the situation should be heard. Efthymiou
appealed to the co-chairmen with this initiative, but it failed to hold
such a discussion during the summer session. At a meeting with the
parliamentary delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Efthymiou told
us that he continues to work on this issue and such a hearing could
be held at the autumn session of the organization,” said Muradova.

She expressed hope that the head of the organization will contribute
to holding such discussions and fair solution of the conflict.

“It is not only in our interests as a side suffering from the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE is also trying to expand its
participation in the process of solving the conflict. Naturally
conducting such discussions will increase the influence of this
organization,” said Muradova.

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 the 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.

RUSSIAN ARMY TO START RECEIVING NEW-GENERATION TANKS IN 2014

Tert.am
14:13 ~U 10.09.11

The Russian military is planning to carry out a large-scale rearmament
of its armored units with new-generation main battle tanks (MBT)
in 2014-2020, the Defense Ministry said o Saturday.

“At present, the Russian scientists are developing a new-generation
tank, and in 2014-2020 we are planning to replace the current fleet
with new tanks on a large scale, so that the new models will constitute
70% of the total,” Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col.

Sergei Vlasov was quoted by the RIA Novosti as saying.

According to leading Russian military experts, two models, tentatively
dubbed the T-95 and the T-99, are being developed. Both projects
are highly classified, and it is still unknown which model will be
selected for mass production.

The new tank will feature better firepower, maneuverability,
electronics and armor protection than the T-90 MBT.

The Russian Ground Forces are equipped with T-72, T-80 and T-90
MBTs and their variants. The existing state arms procurement program
envisions a thorough overhaul of T-72 tanks until 2014.

The T-72 is one of the most widely produced post-World War II tanks,
second only to the T-54/55 family, and its basic design has been
further developed as the T-90.

“A fully modernized T-72 can easily compete with the most advanced
MBTs of our time,” Vlasov said.

ISRAELI DIPLOMATS FLEE CAIRO AFTER ATTACK ON EMBASSY

Tert.am
10:23 ~U 10.09.11

Israeli ambassador to Egypt and embassy staff arrived in the Cairo
international airport, waiting for an Israeli military plane to
whisk them away to Tel Aviv after an attack on the embassy building,
Al Jazeera reported.

A group of protesters breached early on Saturday multiple floors of
a high-rise building housing the Israeli embassy.

Al-Jazeera aired a video footage showing hundreds Israeli mission
documents being thrown out of the windows as the demonstrators
reportedly broke into the embassy’s archives.

Several hundred protesters remain outside the building in a standoff
with police reinforcements which have arrived in the area supported
by at least 20 armored vehicles.

Police have fired warning shots with rubber bullets and used tear gas
to disperse the crowds. Local media reported at least 450 protesters
injured in clashes with authorities.

Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf summoned on Saturday his Cabinet
crisis team and the Interior Ministry put police on high alert.

Israel has created a crisis center under Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman, which is monitoring the situation in the Egyptian capital
following the riots.

On Friday evening demonstrators partially destroyed a wall built
outside the Israeli embassy to protect the building, ripped down the
Israeli flag and set several police cars on fire.

Egyptians have been staging mass protests outside the embassy and
calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador for almost a month
following the border deaths of five Egyptian policemen accidentally
killed on August 18 as an Israeli helicopter hunted a group of
militants near the Egyptian border.

Egypt has asked Israel for an official apology and demanded a probe
into the deaths of the policemen.

HRAPARAK: ARAM ASATRYAN’S SON IS DISCREDITING ARMENIA

Tert.am
10:16 ~U 10.09.11

The paper claims that Tigran Asatryan, who is the son of the late
Armenian pop-singer Aram Asatryan and left for the US several years
ago, is trying now to get US citizenship and is doing it at the
expense of discrediting Armenia by presenting himself as a politically
persecuted person.

Further, the paper says that it recently received Tigran Asatryan’s
letter-article which he asked to publish and was even ready to pay
for the publication.

In the article Tigran Asatryan describes such an Armenia where living
is simply impossible and any reader would be touched and would offer
him political asylum.

The paper adds that Tigran Asatryan is also against President Serzh
Sargsyan’s visit to the US and has joined a signature-collecting
campaign which calls to block Sargsyan’s entry to the US where he is
expected to attend celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary of
Armenia’s independence.

LE NOMBRE D’INCENDIES EN AUGMENTATION
[email protected]

armenews.com
samedi 10 septembre 2011
ARMENIE

Le nombre d’incendies de foret est en augmentation dans notre pays
annee après annee. Cette annee ne fut pas une exception. 509 cas ont
deja ete enregistres au premier semestre de cette annee, par rapport
aux 348 cas a la meme periode de 2010. Les specialistes disent que
l’augmentation du nombre de feux est relie avec le rechauffement
climatique. Toutefois, le facteur humain joue egalement un grand rôle.

Les dommages causes par les incendies au cours des six premiers mois
de 2011 ont coûte presque 100 millions de drams par rapport aux 85
millions de l’annee dernière. La plupart des incendies ont eclate a
cause de l’imprudence humaine ce qui est un point de preoccupation
pour les pompiers.

CENTENNIAL ART EXHIBIT AND LECTURE TO TAKE COMMUNITY ‘BEYOND GENOCIDE’

Targeted News Service
September 7, 2011 Wednesday 6:53 AM EST

Wilfrid Laurier University issued the following news release:

Human rights will be in the spotlight from Sept. 19 to 23 when
Wilfrid Laurier University and the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary host
an exhibit, lecture and workshops by U.S.-based artist Amy Fagin
featuring the impact of genocide and mass human rights violations on
various cultures.

The exclusive exhibit is part of Laurier’s centennial celebrations, and
will feature 13 of Fagin’s illuminated manuscripts from her emerging
“Beyond Genocide” series. Illuminated manuscripts are manuscripts
that have been supplemented with additional artwork such as colourful
imagery and symbols. The artist will also lead the lecture “Beyond
Genocide: Illuminating Mass Atrocity” Sept. 21 in the seminary’s
Keffer Chapel.

“I think it’s important to have a visual and literary representation
of genocide and massive human rights violations,” said Rhoda
Howard-Hassmann, the Canada Research Chair in International Human
Rights and a professor in Laurier’s Department of Global Studies and
the Balsillie School of International Affairs. “It shows respect for
the culture of the people who have suffered, and for all the cultural
losses to the world.”

Howard-Hassmann is co-sponsoring this event with the Office of Research
Services and the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

“Churches have learned from over 60 years of documenting and defending
human rights that it takes politicians, activists, academics, and
business leaders but equally musicians, poets, and artists to maintain
our collective vigilance,” said David Pfrimmer, principal dean of
the seminary. “We are fortunate to have Amy’s work here as a painful
visual reminder that such vigilance is demanded now more than ever.”

Rather than illustrating the acts of violence, each piece in the
series is crafted as a visual narrative “illuminating” the impact of
genocide and mass annihilation on a specific culture or country.

Countries featured in the exhibit include Afghanistan, Armenia,
Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, the DR Congo, Ethiopia, Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, Indonesia, Iraq and Namibia. The Holocaust as well as the
Crusades and Inquisition are also featured in the illuminations.

Fagin’s artwork will be on display in the seminary from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. from Sept. 19 to 23. Her lecture takes place on Sept. 21 from
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Keffer Chapel. In addition, the global
song Inshallah choir will be rehearsing songs from the countries
represented in Fagin’s work Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. in the chapel. All
events are free and open to the public.

Fagin is also willing to conduct free tours of her exhibit or
present her work to groups or classes. Please contact Wendy Webb at
[email protected] for more details.

For more information about the artist, please visit

Contact: Kevin Crowley, Director, Communications & Public Affairs,
519/884-0710 ext. 3070, [email protected]

UNION OF BANKS OF ARMENIA TO BACK THE ECONOMIC UNIVERSITY IN PREPARING HIGHLY SKILLED SPECIALISTS

mediamax, Armenia
Sept 9 2011

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The Armenian State University of Economics (ASUE)
and the Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) signed a cooperation agreement
today according to which the UBA will support the University in
preparing MA students of the financial-banking sphere.

Mediamax reports that ASUE Rector Koryun Atoyan and UBA Chairman Ashot
Osipyan said in Yerevan today that the Union will participate in the
process of elaboration of educational program in the financial-banking
sphere as well as cooperate with the University aiming to hold
conferences, elaborate joint specialized publications, provide
students’ training in the banks.

According to Ashot Osipyan, the cooperation will be continuous and
will allow making the process of attraction of human resources more
targeted.

WARNING: THEY ARE ARME-D
By David Field

The Sun (England)
September 8, 2011 Thursday

ARMENIA are gunning for second place in Group B after hammering
Slovakia 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Ireland fans saluted them at the time for their fantastic result,
which threw the group wide open.

But the sides could go to war for a play-off position at the Aviva
Stadium on October 11.

And Armenia midfielder Levon Hayrapetyan says they have ‘a real chance’
of taking runner-up spot.

He said: “We believed from the first minute that we could win the
match.

“We never thought before the game that we’d win 4-0 but we always
believed we could win, and after the third goal it became clear
we would.

“There is a real chance now and we have to be focused for our next
game. The main reason for this victory was our great team spirit.”

Armenia visit Macedonia on October 7 before heading to Dublin for
the final qualifier four days later.

Blow A goal from sub Keith Fahey one year ago saw Ireland win the
reverse fixture 1-0 in Yerevan. But on Tuesday night Vardan Minasyan’s
men racked up four unanswered goals in the second half to shock
Slovakia in Zilina.

Yura Movsisyan hit Armenia’s opening goal on 57 minutes before Henrik
Mkhitaryan, Gevorg Ghazaryan and Artur Sarkisov made the game safe.

The hosts’ dejected coach Vladimir Weiss said: “This is a big blow
for us and we didn’t expect a result like it.

“I feel fully responsible for this defeat. The first half was good
from us, but the second half went totally wrong and Armenia punished
us. Congratulations to them.”

Weiss’ men take on group leaders Russia on October 7, the same day
Ireland visit Andorra.

THANKS ARMENIA; GROUP B ROUND-UP

The Mirror, UK
September 7, 2011 Wednesday

Slovakia 0 Armenia 4 ThE Republic of Ireland will be guaranteed
a play-off to earn a place at Euro 2012 if they win next month’s
qualifiers against Andorra and Armenia.

Armenia’s shock 4-0 win over Slovakia on Tuesday was a further boost
for the Republic after Giovanni Trapattoni’s side had earned a 0-0
draw in Moscow.

The Republic face minnows Andorra away on October 7 before facing
Armenia in Dublin four days later.

however, Armenia have now also moved into the frame for qualification.

Russia lead the Group on 17 points – two ahead of the Republic with
Armenia and Slovakia a further point off the pace.

The next round of games on October 7 sees Armenia hosting Macedonia,
Slovakia at home to Russia with the Republic playing in Andorra.

Four days later, the group concludes with the Republic’s home game
against Armenia, Russia hosting Andorra and Slovakia travelling
to Macedonia.

Two remaining Republic wins would be enough to win the group if Russia
lose in Slovakia.

Armenia scored all their goals in the second-half in Tuesday’s win
in Zilina.

Yura Movsisyan put Armenia ahead in the 57th minute with henrik
Mkhitaryan (70), Gevorg Ghazaryan (80) and Artur Sarkisov (90) adding
the further goals.

Meanwhile, Mirko Ivanovski’s goal gave Macedonia a 1-0 win over
Andorra in their Euro 2012 Group B qualifier on Tuesday, securing a
first victory for new coach John Toshack, above.

Ivanovski struck just before the hour after the hosts had wasted a
succession of chances.

Former Wales and Real Madrid manager Toshack was named coach last
month, taking over from Mirsad Jonuz who was sacked.