Author: Kanayan Tamar

KAZAN MEETING SHOWS POLITICAL METHODS FOR SOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT DO NOT WORK

Trend
July 7 2011
Azerbaijan

The Kazan meeting has once again demonstrated that the political
methods of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict do not work,
Center for Political Innovation and Technologies Director Mubariz
Ahmadoglu said at a press conference.

He added that the political resources of the conflict settlement have
been already exhausted. One can hope only for military resources.

Azerbaijan has every opportunities to solve problems by military means.

“The military parade, held on June 26, once again proved it,” he added.

He said that it was planned to sign an updated document, called the
basic principles on the basis of Madrid Principles in Kazan.

“But it did not happen because of Armenia. It was clear that the Kazan
meeting was doomed to failure by Armenia. Even if Armenia signs the
document on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, then it can
refuse from its signature. We have already seen this while signing
the protocols on the normalization of relations between Turkey and
Armenia. After the documents were signed, Armenia handed over the
documents to the Constitutional Court for consideration. The court
decided to nullify all the issues available in the protocol that were
in favor of Turkey.

So, if Armenia even signs a document on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, it can then submit it to the Constitutional Court, which
will consider it illegal. Thus, Armenia will delay the time, he said.

He stressed that the Kazan meeting was one of the most important.

Until now, no meeting was provided with such information and political
support.

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, and
Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia discussed in Kazan the basic principles of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The meeting, which was the
ninth in the last three years, ended without reaching an agreement
on the basic principles of settlement. The sides mentioned their
progress in a joint statement.

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 seven 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 Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.

RUSSIA COMMITTED TO DEAUVILLE STATEMENT ON KARABAKH – FM

news.am
July 7 2011
Armenia

The recently approved documents not only confirm commitment to
a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but also
include agreement on measures to reduce tension, build confidence and
prevent incidents along the contact line between the armed forces of
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

Russia adheres to position outlined in the Deauville statement issued
by Russian, U.S. and French leaders, said Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov at a press conference summarizing his meeting with
Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian.

He recalled that several days ago the OSCE held a regular monitoring
on the line of contact. The report presented by monitoring mission
in Vienna indicates the number of incidents is decreasing.

“It is a positive tendency. We will do everything to make it stronger,
as I mentioned agreements will be respected,” Lavrov added.

Presidents of Russia, France and Armenia issued a joint statement
on Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of G8 Summit. They urged
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to demonstrate their political
will by finalizing the Basic Principles during their upcoming summit
in June.

The meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani held on the initiative of Russian
leader Dmitry Medvedev took place in Kazan on June 24. The sides
failed to agree on Basic principles of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement despite the calls of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states
Russia, U.S. and France.

THE MODERN ISSUES OF THE CIRCASSIANS IN TURKEY
Ruben Melkonyan

07.07.2011

The Ottoman Empire was multi-national and multi-ethnic state where,
however, non-Turk nations were obliged to renounce their identity and
to Turkishize. And the policy of Turkishizing regarded not only to
Christians; various methods were applied in respect of Muslim ethnic
groups and nations. The Turkish Republic not only inherited but also
attached new scope to this policy which in the 20th century has also
acquired new judicial formulations. Thus, in 1923, in accordance
with the Lausanne Treaty the Turkish Republic recognized only three
communities – Armenian, Greek and Jewish, meanwhile other ethnic
and ethno-religious groups such as Assyrians, Laz people, Kurds,
Circassians and others, which number was somewhere about 40, did not
acquire any rights.

Turkish policy of Turkishizing was implemented in regard to all the
Muslim peoples living on its territory, though in case with Kurds it
faced counteraction, which from time to time had been turning into
armed conflicts, like the Kurdish rebellions and disturbances in
the first half of the 20th century. It is known that official Turkey
at first did not recognize the existence of separate Kurdish ethnos
and identified them as “mountainous Turks”. Today the Kurdish issue
has reached the level when Turkish state not only recognizes the
existence of the Kurd people but also grants them different rights
and some Kurdish regions more openly speak about autonomy.

After Turks, the biggest Muslim ethnic group in Turkey is the
Circassians. It is known that in the middle of the 19th century
peoples from the North Caucasus moved to the Ottoman Empire from
Russia, and they are called in Turkey Circassians. Accepting
Muslim Circassians the Ottoman authorities at once used them as a
means in their demographic policy and in repressions against the
Christian population. The Circassians were allocated territories
mainly populated by the Christians in order to change the demographic
picture in favour of the Muslim population. The Circassians played
important role in the military system of Turkey and one should not
also forget that the Circassians took active part in the perpetration
of the Armenian Genocide.

Today, according to different sources, the number of the Circassians
in Turkey varies from 3 to 5 million but according to the specialists
the most realistic number is 3 million. In the Republican Turkey the
Circassians are also involved in military and political spheres. There
are high-ranking militaries and state officials among them.

The issue of the identity, which is on the agenda in Turkey today, has
also touched the Circassians and there are some developments in this
direction. Thus, recently “The Circassian Initiative for Democracy”
NGO arranged a protest action in Ankara to voice the various problems
bothering the Circassians, among which the issue of preservation of
the Circassian identity was the topical. As an essential condition
for the preservation of their identity the Circassians mention the
issue of their mother tongue – the Circassian language, and there are
definite proposals made on it. Today only 10% of the Circassians,
mostly the older generation, speak Circassian. The slogans at the
protest action were: “We demand education in Circassian language”,
“The one who loses his language will lose everything”, and the
main slogan of the protest action was “Hail to our struggle to stay
Circassians”. Among the demands of the Circassians the issue of the TV
channel and radio in Circassian, which in their opinion will promote
the preservation of their language, is also distinguished.

The member of the administrative board of “The Circassian Initiative
for Democracy” Kenan Kaplan stated: “We have been long waiting for the
days when in Turkey our history, culture, language will find place in
books, we will read books in our mother tongue”. It is remarkable that
the Circassians, voicing their problems, clearly hint to the attention
of the Turkish government to the Kurdish issue, thus mentioning:
“In this country not only the rights of those who make much noise
but also the rights of other peoples must be taken into consideration”.

As it was expected, in Turkey opposition was formed in regard to this
new issue put forward now by the Muslim national minority and a number
of figures deprecated “The Circassian Initiative for Democracy”. In
particular, rather harsh statements were made by a well-known Turkish
publicist and researcher Murad Bardakci, who, by the way, is also
of Circassian decent: “Now the Circussian initiative is the least we
needed”. While speaking about the migration of the Circassians from
Russia he mentioned that it happened in order “to escape Russian sword”
and unlike the Russians, Turks received them with open arms.

While enumerating the Circassians who took high-ranking posts in
different times, Bardakci called the attempts of the Circassians
directed to the preservation of their mother tongue “ingratitude
towards Turkey”. According to Bardakci, the Circassians are to blame
themselves for the loss of the Circassian language, as they have
not managed to pass the language from generation to generation. It
is remarkable that Bardakci called discontented Circassians to claim
their rights from Russia. “The elder generation has a lot of memories
about “bloody tsar”, “betrayer Moscow” and “wild Siberia”. So if you
have guts go and claim your rights from Russia”.

It is remarkable that this issue has already caused contradictions and
discussion among the Circassians and during this discussion rather
interesting facts are revealed. Particularly, Circassian publicists
Yasar Goven and Fuat Ugur replied to Bardakci’s statements. Speaking
about the Circassians who occupied high-ranking positions in the
Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey they said that those people
took the positions not as the Circassians but as Turks, i.e. the
Circassian identity was not taken into consideration at all, and the
Circassians had no rights with their real identity. “When we struggled
for the creation of this country, when we gave our blood and lives
we did not even spoke Turkish and now we forgot out mother tongue”,
– said Fuat Ugur.

The president of “The Federation of the Caucasian Unions” Cihan
Candemir interfered in the mutual recriminations of the Circassians,
accepting that the migration of the Circassians to the Ottoman
Empire also was conditioned by anti-Christian demographic reasons. He
said that in Turkish reality a policy of Turkishizing, which had an
impact on Muslim national minorities either, has been implemented. In
particular, in consequence of this impact many Circassians have been
hiding their identity, stopped using Circassian names and speaking
Circassian language.

It is interesting that while discussing the Circassian issue direct
reference was made to the Armenian issues too; particularly to the
role of the Circassians in the Armenian Genocide. The aforementioned
Circussian intellectuals Fuat Ugur and Yasar Goven have joined “We
apologize to the Armenians” initiative. Accepting the participation
of the Circassians in the Armenian Genocide, they, at the same time,
make general statements and try to find “softening” circumstances
in the deeds of their forefathers: “Among the Circassians there are
also those who saved the Armenians from the massacres. In Cesaria and
surrounding villages Armenians who survived the Genocide in 1915,
found shelter and continued to live in the Circassian villages and
adopted Circassian identity”. Of course this assertion is very weak
as here we speak mainly about those Armenian women who were captured
and forcedly Islamized by the Circassians and after that they were
obliged to live as Circassians, i.e. “the Armenians who adopted
Circassian identity” in reality were those Armenian women captured
by the Circassians during the Genocide.

Summarizing, we have to mention that process which has been initiated
among the Circassians and which still continues is remarkable in the
context of the development of the issue of the identity in Turkey
and it comes to prove that the idea of “homogeneous” Turkey created
by force, in its essence, has not fully succeeded. At the same time,
it can be supposed that the Turkish authorities have a concern that
in case of fulfilling the demands of the Circassians similar claims
may be put forward by the Laz people, Islamized Georgians (Gurji)
and other minorities.

——————————————————————————–
Another materials of author

~UON THE MODERN TENDENCIES IN THE “ARMENIAN POLICY” OF TURKEY
[20.06.2011] ~UON TURKISH POLICY OF NEO-OTTOMANISM AND DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE ARAB WORLD[18.04.2011] ~UARMENIAN VARTO CLAN IN EUROPE [28.02.2011]
~UTURKEY: ROUND THE ISSUE OF ETHNIC IDENTITY[31.01.2011] ~U”THE NUMBER
OF THE RECLAIMED ARMENIANS GROWS” [27.12.2010]

‘THERE ARE NO MEN IN ARMENIA, THEY’RE ALL WOMEN’: YEREVAN STREET VENDORS PROTEST

epress.am
07.07.2011

Yerevan street traders were once again protesting outside the Armenian
government building today. Street vendors, who say they have no other
means of earning a living, have been protesting the city’s ban on
street trade for over 6 months.

Speaking to Epress.am, Yerevan street trader and economics graduate
Lyova Ulikhanyan, 75, scoffed that since he is prohibited from earning
his daily bread, he is earning a living from trash cans.

“The president, a thief; the prime minister, a thief; and us, poor
and wretched, have fallen in the hands of thieves. I have worked
everywhere; one time I worked on the street – they prohibited that
too. Now those garbage bins that people have divided among themselves
– I’ve taken one too. I go, whatever they throw out, I get out from
there. I consider the solution to this issue to be closed because the
thieves don’t allow it. I’ll live as long as my breath goes out. They
need money; it’s a small country; it’s mafia country,” he said.

Ulikhanyan was complaining not only of the current authorities, but
also of [former president] Robert Kocharian’s presidency. “Kocharian
with his slippers came from Karabakh – he acquired 6 billion
in capital in 10 years. Well now go and say, where did you get
all this money? He and his son, shaking the people, go hunting in
Africa. Where did you get all this money – is it your father’s goods,
or your grandfather’s? We don’t even know what his ethnicity is. Can
you do anything against a gang of thieves? You can’t. When he said
there are no men in Armenia, let him stand before me; he was right,
there are no men in Armenia, they’re all women. Too bad, I wish I
was 40 years old and not 75.”

The street traders were also complaining of Yerevan deputy mayor Kamo
Areyan, who they say said that they can trade only over his dead body.

“Are these the words of an official? How can I struggle before them,
it’s all theirs, what are these poor people to do, they’ve put us in
a jar and closed the lid. The president too has shut his eyes; he
doesn’t see anything. Why, doesn’t he see? Of course he does. They
want those who protest to leave, so that there isn’t a revolution
suddenly,” they said.

CONTRABAND ‘ARMENIAN’ MONKEYS, PARROTS TO LIVE IN ST. PETERSBURG ZOO

epress.am
07.07.2011

A group of exotic animals and birds smuggled to Russia from Armenia
will take up permanent residence at the Leningrad Zoo.

According to the customs press office, 4 Schmidt’s red-tailed monkeys
(not pictured) and 10 Jaco parrots were seized at the airport from
an Armenian national in April 2009. The Armenian citizen was flying
Yerevan to St. Petersburg on a return ticket and had told customs
officials he had no goods to declare.

Later, it became known that he was carrying several animals, who
were found drugged in a two-story metal cage that was wrapped in a
polyethylene bag.

The man did not have on his person any documents permitting the import
of animals and birds into Russia.

The animals will be officially handed over to the zoo on Jul. 8.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND U.S. STATE SECRETARY DISCUSSED KARABAKH CONFLICT OVER THE PHONE

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2011 – 20:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan today had
a telephone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton , at the initiative of the American side, according to the
Presidential press service.

The parties discussed issues related to the current stage of
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Besides,
the parties touched upon issues of Armenia-U.S. relationship and
opportunities for further development.

On June 23, U.S. President Barack Obama made a phone call to Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan. During the conversation President Obama
underlined importance of the meeting between Presidents of Armenia,
Russia and Azerbaijan in Kazan. He also thanked Sargsyan for succession
in the issue of Karabakh settlement and emphasized progress to be
reached in Kazan within the context of Deauville statement.

The summit between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Kazan on June
24 completed without an agreement on basic principles of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement. “The countries’ leaders registered mutual
understanding on a range of problems, the resolution of which boosts
creation of conditions for approving main principles. The meeting
participants considered the course of works carried out with the aim
of coordination of the project with basic principles,” according to
the statement. The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan expressed
gratitude to the Russian, French and U.S. leaders, the OSCE Minsk
group co-chairs, for ‘their constant attention to Nagorno-Karabakh
problem’ and highly praised personal efforts of the Russian President
in support of agreements.

INAUGURAL FUNDRAISER FOR SOAR HELD IN CHICAGO

Published: Thursday July 07, 2011

Guests at SOAR’s Chicago fundraiser.

Chicago – A beautiful rooftop residence on Lakeshore Drive, overlooking
Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, and the Chicago skyline, was the spectacular
venue for the first annual charity fundraiser of the Chicago Chapter
of SOAR, the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief.

The event was held on Saturday evening June 4, 2011, at the exclusive
residence donated for the event by Dr. Kevin and Deana Bargamian.

Nearly one hundred guests were welcomed to the rooftop event by Anne
Galovich, Chicago SOAR chapter president. Guest speaker was Dr. Levon
Saryan from Greenfield, Wisconsin, who spoke about the existing
conditions of orphanages in Armenia and the importance of providing
aid and support for the most disadvantaged children in the country.

Two guest artists showcasing examples of their work were in
attendance: Boris Khechoyan, a master woodcarver from St. Louis,
Missouri, and Dr. Chuck “Garbo” Hajinian, a Monet-style Armenian
impressionist painter/artist from Delafield, Wisconsin. Both artists
offered several pieces from their work for the silent auction, as did
renowned artist and designer Michael Aram who provided signed pieces
from his collection. Proceeds from the silent auction will be used
to support sixteen orphanages in Armenia as well as two orphanages
in Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh) that are part of the SOAR network.

The theme of the evening was “Our Armenia, Our Children”. Upon
arrival, guests were escorted to the rooftop by two young ladies
dressed in traditional Armenian costume, Melissa Mardoian and Nora
Dulkadir. Armenian appetizers generously provided by several volunteers
(Betty Arakelian, Aline Nigohosian, Pearl Gopoian, Violet Bargamian,
and Bonnie Baboorian) as well as wine and soft drinks were served. A
four-piece band of Chicago-area musicians composed of Jimmy Hardy,
John Paklaian, Shahan Alexanian and Mark Gavoor provided musical
accompaniment for the event. Chicago magician “Mr. Ash” Ashod
Baboorian entertained guests with demonstrations of magic and assorted
card tricks . Flower arrangements for the evening were graciously
donated by Sylvia and Hratch Yacoubian of Magic Flowers in Harwood
Heights. Graphics were provided by Michelle Goodman, and printing
was by Erin Grogan of United Graphics and Mailing Group. The evening
ended with a display of fireworks at Navy Pier which guests enjoyed
from the rooftop balcony.

Free-will contributions and proceeds from the silent auction netted
over $5,000 which will be used to aid needy orphanages in Armenia.

SOAR, Inc., founded in 2006 and headquartered in Philadelphia, is a
501-c3 non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to providing
support for orphanages in Armenia and Karabagh. Working with a
loyal donor base and a trusted network of partners in Armenia, SOAR
distributes much needed food, clothing, medicine, educational supplies,
and other essential resources to orphanages in Armenia. SOAR has
chapters in New England, NewYork/New Jersey, Delaware, Washington,
Chicago, Northern California, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Idaho, and
an office in Yerevan.

The Chicago Chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian relief was
founded in March of 2010. Officers are Anne Galovich (President),
Deanna Bargamian (Vice President), David Baboorian (Treasurer),
Eric Diekhans (Secretary), Lucie Ishkhanian and Ardem Hardy. Visit
or contact us at [email protected] on how to
get involved.

THE WASHINGTON POST: KARABAKH WOULD APPRECIATE RECOGNITION YET WON’T BEG FOR IT

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2011 – 17:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Nagorno Karabakh today is immensely proud of its
victory over Azerbaijan and confident in the face of continuing
Azerbaijani threats of renewed war, says an article titled “In
Karabakh, the First Post-Soviet War” published by The Washington Post.

“In 1988, Karabakh’s leaders said they wanted to be joined to
Armenia proper, just to the west. Moscow never really answered, but in
Azerbaijan, pogroms were launched against ethnic Armenians in response,
with dozens killed,” the article says.

According to The Washington Post, “Karabakhis would appreciate
international recognition, but they’re not about to beg for it.”

“Karabakhis aren’t inclined to make concessions for peace, or territory
or anything else,” the article says.

ARTSAKH PRESIDENT RECEIVES “TNJRE” FESTIVAL STAFF

Aysor.am
Thursday,July 07

President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received a group of
participants and organizers of the “Tnjre” Second International Music
Festival of Young Performers on July 7.

Bako Sahakyan stressed that the festival has already gained great
respect in Artsakh and abroad.

President Sahakyan noted that organizing such international events on
high level contributes to raising the rating of Artsakh as a country
of culture and developing this field in Artsakh.

Artsakh Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Narine Aghabalyan
and other officials attended the meeting, Artsakh President’s press
office reported.

ON THE BEHALF OF FAEE ASHOT GRIGORYAN CONGRATULATED THE CELLIST NAREK HAKHNAZARYAN ON WINNING THE FIRST PLACE IN CHAYKOVSKI CONTEST

Noyan Tapan

07.07.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 07.07.2011) The President of the Forum of Armenian
Associations of Europe Ashot Grigoryan congratulated the Armenian
cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan on winning the first place in Tchaikovsky
contest.

“Narek Hakhnazaryan, the famous cellist and Sergey Khachatryan, the
winner of ” Queen Elisabeth 2″ contest are the Armenian musicians
with who all Armenians in the world can be proud of. FAEE offers all
Armenian organization in the world to unite their efforts in order
to propagate our famous musicians.