Author: Kanayan Tamar

“MADRID PRINCIPLES MUST BE REJECTED”

June 28, 2011

Everyone has expectations before the presidents’ meeting and then
it turns out that the expectations were unsubstantiated. We didn’t
have any expectations from the meeting in Kazan,” politologist,
press speaker for “Heritage” Party Hovsep Khurshudyan told “A1+” today.

If there was confidence that no document would be signed, why did
Zaruhi Postanjyan make a call in Strasbourg? In response, Hovsep
Khurshudyan said:

“There is always fear because we know the Armenian authorities’
working style. They sign documents overnight and then present them to
the society without any broad public discourse. We still have doubts
that the Madrid Principles that envisage the dislocation of Armenian
forces from the liberated territories, which may provoke a war, is
a phenomenon that causes a threat to Armenia’s and Artsakh’s security.”

What should Armenia’s concession be?

“We must see what Azerbaijan is ready to concede, but Azerbaijan is
simply not ready for concessions. It says Armenia must be subject
to capitulation, liberate the territories and that there is no
way for Artsakh to be independent. This nonsensical approach in
the negotiations goes to show that Azerbaijan is not ready for a
resolution. If it isn’t ready, let’s consider the issue solved,” says
Hovsep Khurshudyan, adding that the Republic of Artsakh is independent
regardless of international recognition and that any nation has the
right to become self-determined in line with the Helsinki principles
and in accordance with international norms.”

According to Khurshudyan, the societies of neither Armenia nor
Azerbaijan are ready for concessions that are recorded in the Madrid
Principles, and this means that both sides should reject those
principles and start from a new point. The Republic of Artsakh should
be recognized and it should be recognized by Armenia so that the
mediators realize that there can be no other way.

Touching upon Serzh Sargsyan’s statement in the PACE that Armenia
hasn’t recognized the NKR’s independence because it recognizes
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Hovsep Khurshudyan noted:

“It is painful and it is the continuation of the policy that all three
Armenian presidents have adopted, but we condemn that policy. Armenia
truly made a huge mistake by recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity within the framework of the OSCE and the moment it signed
the CIS agreement. International law doesn’t require recognition
of territorial integrity with the current borders. Armenia could
recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity without Artsakh and
Artsakh’s territorial integrity with today’s borders”.

ARMENIA IS SOURCE COUNTRY OF TRAFFICKING

Lragir.am

28/06/2011

The U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons 2011 report ranks
Armenia among Tier 2 countries which is a source country for women and
girls subjected to sex trafficking, as well as a source and destination
country for women subjected to forced labor, and a source country
for men subjected to forced labor. Women and girls from Armenia are
subjected to sex trafficking in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and
Turkey. Armenian men and women are subjected to forced labor in Russia,
while Armenian women are subjected to forced labor in Turkey. Armenian
boys are subjected to forced labor and Armenian women and girls are
found in sex trafficking within the country. Women from Russia are
subjected to forced labor in Armenia, the report informs.

Although in March 2011, the government enacted amendments to the
Criminal Code that further strengthened its anti-trafficking statutes
but Armenia does not fully comply with the international standards. Of
particular concern was a precipitous drop in the number of victims
identified during the year, as well as the absence of investigations
of forced labor offenses.

The government investigated 15 sex trafficking and no labor trafficking
cases in 2010, compared with nine sex trafficking and six labor
trafficking cases in 2009. During 2010, Armenian courts prosecuted four
new cases against six individuals for sex trafficking offenses and none
for labor trafficking offenses. Armenian courts continued to prosecute
an additional nine defendants whose cases had begun in previous years.

Five trafficking offenders were convicted in 2010, which is down
from 11 convictions in 2009. All five convicted offenders in 2010
were given sentences ranging from three to nine years’ imprisonment;
no traffickers received suspended sentences, and no traffickers were
granted early release from prison in 2010. An Armenian court convicted
and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment a former deputy principal
of a state-run special needs school who, in 2008, forced two students
to beg.

The report holds that there were no new reports of government
officials’ complicity in trafficking during 2010.

RUSSIAN EXPERTS MUST BE SENT OFF
JAMES HAKOBYAN

Lragir.am

28/06/2011

During the Yerevan-Moscow television discussion on the results of the
three-party meeting for the Karabakh issue, held at the press hall
of Novosti Agency, the Russian political scientist Vladimir Zakharov
said the United States needs Nagorno-Karabakh to use its territory
for flying planes and bombing Iran. Vladimir Zakharov who says this
is the director of the institute of political and social studies for
the Black Sea- Caspian region.

His statement is almost similar to a recent pronouncement by an
Armenian political scientist on the Public Channel who said that only
Azerbaijan’s government needs the status quo.

Although one could argue which statement is more illogical!

Such statements on the Public Channel are news, whereas the hypothesis
of the Russian political scientist Vladimir Zakharov is not news. The
Russians have been trying to convince the society in Armenia that
Russia is not forcing Armenia to return territories to Azerbaijan to
settle the issue. The United States is interested in it, while they
want to maintain the status quo. Several months ago, another Russian,
Maxim Shevchenko, neither a political scientist, nor a TV host, visited
Yerevan and tried to persuade the Armenians that the west is interested
in changing the status quo because there is a problem with Iran.

In reality, this is a primitive trick which the Russians are playing
with the Armenians to convince them that the United States demands
our territories, while the Russians keep them. The point is that the
thesis of using the territory of Karabakh against Iran is invented.

First of all, if land use is meant, there are several problems with
it. Most importantly, the U.S. military and political leadership
is not so stupid to launch a land-based action against Iran,
especially compared to Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran is neither Iraq nor
Afghanistan. This war will mark the start of the global chaos in the
region, which is not in the interests of the United States because
a chain reaction may jeopardize the achievements which are reported
in the Arab states in the form of reforms.

At best the United States may use missiles or air force against Iran
not earlier than 2013 because the U.S. presidential election is in
November 2012. A pre-election war would hardly be helpful to the U.S.

President Barack Obama’s campaign, given the social and economic
problems and the immense military expenditure in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Certainly, the U.S. economy may stand this but the American voters
will hardly stand another costly war.

In this case, if the United States decides to hit Iran with missiles,
which would be done but in a large-scale international coalition, it
will hardly need the territory of Karabakh, perhaps a single aircraft
carrier would be enough to hit Iran.

The problem is that the Russian propaganda in Armenia gets enough
public resonance and even sufficiently intellectual layers of the
Armenian society are convinced that the United States needs Karabakh
for an offensive on Iran.

The problem is that the Americans do not have a distinct vision of
developments regarding Iran. In this context, they also lack a clear
vision of how they could use Karabakh against Iran. Maybe it needs
Karabakh together with the Armenians, and the Armenian force. In
other words, they may find that an effective solution of the Iranian
issue requires the current military and political balance in the
South Caucasus.

The issue is not that of Karabakh but that of the South Caucasus. And
the issue of the South Caucasus is complicated when the regional status
quo is changed in favor of Azerbaijan because the Caucasian region
with its ethnic and political peculiarities demands considerable
balance. The change of status quo means change of the balance. And
as long as the regional race continues, the change of this balance
is not in anyone’s strategic interests. At best, they may fight for
the right to change it but in this case both the United States and
Russia may be equally interested, and they may be equally interested
in keeping the status quo.

Apparently, Russia has also realized this, therefore it has been trying
to influence the Karabakh issue through the Armenian-Turkish process
and thereby gaining the right to change the status quo together with
all the emanating results. However, Medvedev realized in three years
that it was a great risk for Russia, and even if the United States
with its significant economic and political potential is not trying
to change the status quo, Russia must be limited to the effort of
maintaining the current situation.

Armenia is required to feel the importance of its mission rather
than feel unnecessary. After all, important military victories in
important regions make think about one’s mission but in Armenia most
people are obsessed with thoughts about being unnecessary.

VAHRAM ATANESYAN SAYS NO ANY DOCUMENT CAN BE ENACTED WITHOUT NKR’S PARTICIPATION IN THE TALKS

ARMENPRESS
28 June, 2011
YEREVAN

No any document can be applicable without the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’s participation in all the stages of the talks, according
to Vahram Atanesyan, chairman of the NKR National Assembly Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations.

“The fact that the mediators understand it is time to actualize the
NKR’s participation can be assessed as positive,” Vahram Atanesyan
told Armenpress. The mediators are to explain the approaches to the
Azerbaijani party. “Azerbaijan is to accept the mediators’ approaches,”
he said.

He says the NK has passed a route of 20 years. “There can be no
settlement, in which the party, which is directly connected with the
settlement, does not partake,” Vahram Atanesyan said.

EXPERT: ALL AZERBAIJAN CAN COUNT FOR IS DIRECT TALKS WITH KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 28, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – Political analyst Karen Bekaryan commented on recent
Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan presidential meeting on Karabakh during a
Yerevan-Moscow TV spacebridge.”Signing a document in Kazan would be a
mere imitation of a breakthrough, rather than an actual breakthrough
in Karabakh conflict settlement,” the expert said.

“A breakthrough is impossible with Azeri leader making one statement
inside his country and a different one outside it. No breakthrough
is possible with unnatural logic of the ongoing negotiation process,”
Bekaryan remarked, adding that all Azerbaijan can count for is direct
talks with Karabakh. “Only then a breakthrough would be possible,”
the expert said.

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.

U.S. STATE DEPT: ARMENIA DOESN’T FULLY MEET TRAFFICKING ELIMINATION STANDARDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 28, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – On June 27, the U.S. State Department issued 2011
Trafficking in Persons Report to assess efforts by 184 governments
worldwide to fight sexual exploitation, forced labor and modern-day
slavery.

The department’s report characterized Armenia as a source country for
women and girls subjected to sex trafficking, as well as a source
and destination country for women subjected to forced labor, and a
source country for men subjected to forced labor.

“Women and girls from Armenia are subjected to sex trafficking in
Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. Armenian men and women
are subjected to forced labor in Russia, while Armenian women are
subjected to forced labor in Turkey. Armenian boys are subjected to
forced labor and Armenian women and girls are found in sex trafficking
within the country. Women from Russia are subjected to forced labor
in Armenia,” the report said.

As the department noted, the Government of Armenia does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;
however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In 2010,
the government provided partial funding for an NGO-run shelter for
victims of trafficking and pursued partnerships with NGOs to provide
training to hundreds of officials. The government continued to ensure
that all convicted traffickers were appropriately sentenced and
that those sentences were enforced. In March 2011, the government
enacted amendments to the Criminal Code that further strengthened
its anti-trafficking statutes. However, of particular concern was a
precipitous drop in the number of victims identified during the year,
as well as the absence of investigations of forced labor offenses.

BLOOMBERG PHOTOJOURNALIST DEPORTED FROM BAKU BECAUSE OF HER ARMENIAN ORIGIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 28, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – In the evening of June 28, Bloomberg news agency
photojournalist Diana Markosyan was deported to Istanbul from Baku,
contact.az reported, citing Turan.

“I’m very surprised over the incident. For 3 weeks, we’ve been
negotiating with Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry requesting to allow me
entrance to Baku. A person in charge asked for 10 days to settle the
formalities. He further requested a number of documents including an
official letter from Bloomberg, which was provided. Upon receiving a
verbal confirmation allowing my arrival, I traveled to Baku airport,
where I was refused entrance because of my Armenian origin, although
I’ve never been to Armenia. The Foreign Ministry representative
said he’s unable to help me. I would understand it, but why promise
something you can’t deliver?” the photojournalist said in a phone
conversation with Turan.

According to RFE/RL Azeri service, on June 28, Diana Markosyan was
detained at Baku airport.

Emin Huseynov, director of Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety,
who’s been in contact with Markosyan, stated that Markosyan came to
Baku in the early hours of 28 June, but was not permitted to go out
of the airport. “Markosyan is dual citizen of U.S. and Russia.

She came to Baku with her Russian passport. Her documents are all
in order.”

Elkhan Polukhov, head of the press office for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, stated that Markosyan did not have accreditation. “She sent
her documents, presented herself. Bloomberg directors as well as
Diana herself were told that her visit here would not be possible,
the accreditation cannot go through – because problems may arise in
providing her safety here. It was suggested that she be replaced by
another journalist.”

Photos taken by Markosyan have been published in newspapers such
as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal and The
Washington Post.

On 18 April 2011 Swedish journalists Charlie Laprevote, My Rohwedder
Street and Charlotta Wijkstrom were detained and deported from Baku,
having come there to film a documentary about freedom of expression
in Azerbaijan.

THOSE GUILTY OF EMERGENCY DOCTOR’S DEATH WILL GET DUE PUNISHMENT

Tert.am
28.06.11

Armenia’s Minister of Health Care, Harutyun Kushkyan has said he
will be consistent in having those guilty of the recent death of an
emergency doctor in Gyumri held accountable.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Kushkyan said that Ashot Grigoryan
remained committed to his oath of a doctor and provided the patient
with first aid even after being physically and verbally assaulted by
the son of the same patient.

“As a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, as a physician and minister
of health care I express my deepest sorrow and my sever frustration
at the incident,” Kushkyan said in the statement.

“I assure that I will be consistent so that those guilty will
be punished properly in accordance with the law of the Republic
of Armenia,” Kushkyan said in the statement, calling on all
law-enforcement bodies to design a joint system to protect health
care personnel in the country.

Ashot Grigoryan was physically and verbally assaulted by Artak
Karapetyan, the son of a patient and died before the police arrived
at the seen of the incident on Sunday.

“On my and medical society’s behalf I express my deepest condolences
to the family of Ashot Grigoryan over his tragic death,” read the
statement.

APRICOT HARVEST DAMAGED IN ARMENIA

news.am
June 28 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia will have only one third of average apricot harvest
of 20-25 thousand tones in 2011, chairman of Agrarian Union Hrach
Berberyan told the journalists.

According to Berberyan, despite poor harvest, apricot is still exported
from Armenia. At the same time, only extra harvest may be exported,
while apricot has no extra harvest this year.

Apricot price went up as a result of export. The price was ~@1 for 1
kg. Berberyan believes that harvest would have be more if the state
supplies were directed efficiently and properly to the preservation of
plants. Besides, Armenian Ministry of Agriculture broke its promise on
supplying cheap fertilizers. However, Armenia will have good harvest
of peach this year, he added.

KAZAN : POINT DE VUE DE SABINE FREIZER

Source/Lien : Panarmenian.net
29-06-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – Les resultats de la
rencontre des dirigeants de l’Armenie, la Russie et Azerbaïdjan sont
decevants, mais nous esperons toujours parvenir a un accord final sur
les principes de base du règlement du conflit du Nagorno Karabakh,
selon la directrice du International Crisis Group, Sabine Freizer. Le
Collectif VAN vous livre la traduction d’un article en anglais paru
sur le site Panarmenian.net le 25 juin 2011.

Sabine Freizer decue des resultats de la reunion a Kazan

PanARMENIAN.Net – Les resultats de la rencontre des dirigeants de
l’Armenie, la Russie et Azerbaïdjan sont decevants, mais nous esperons
toujours parvenir a un accord final sur les principes de base du
règlement du conflit du Nagorno Karabakh, selon la directrice du
International Crisis Group, Sabine Freizer.

“Cela aurait ete bien mieux s’il y avait eu un accord mutuel sur les
principes de base, alors que la declaration indique que les dirigeants
se sont mis d’accord uniquement sur certains points. Cela signifie
qu’un accord n’a pas ete trouve sur certaines questions contenues
dans les principes de base”, dit l’analyste.

En outre, Freizer a indique qu’elle croyait toujours a la possibilite
de parvenir a un accord sur les principes de base, puisque les parties
n’ont pas fait de meilleure proposition jusqu’a ce jour.

“Afin que les principes de base puissant etre signes, Serzh Sargsyan
et Ilham Aliyev, ainsi que les populations de l’Armenie et de
l’Azerbaïdjan, doivent etre convaincus que ceci est la meilleure
proposition pour l’instant”, selon l’analyste.

Freizer a exprime l’espoir que les presidents, a leur retour,
commenceront tous les deux a travailler avec leur population. Elle
a indique que si les pourparlers sur les principes de base echouent,
le risque existe d’une nouvelle vague d’agressions armees entre les
deux parties.

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 29 juin
2011 –

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