Author: Kanayan Tamar

LE PRESIDENT SARKISSIAN A ADRESSE A L’AN UNE PROPOSITION DE PRONONCER UNE AMNISTIE GENERALE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 25 mai 2011

L’ensemble de la presse annonce qu’a l’occasion du 20ème anniversaire
de l’independance de l’Armenie, le President Sarkissian a adresse a
l’AN une proposition de prononcer une amnistie generale. La presse
rappelle qu’il s’agit de la deuxième initiative d’amnistie du chef
de l’Etat depuis sa prise de fonctions, la première remontant
en juin 2009. Quelque 300 prisonniers dont une cinquantaine de
” prisonniers politiques ” avaient alors beneficie de l’amnistie
et retrouve la liberte. Les quotidiens relèvent egalement que la
Commission parlementaire des lois a discute a huis clos la proposition
du chef de l’Etat qu’il a approuvee, celle-ci ayant ete inscrite a
l’ordre du jour de la session de l’AN du 23 mai. En cas d’adoption,
la proposition presidentielle entrera en vigueur dans les 24 heures.

Ignorant encore les details du texte de la proposition, les quotidiens
relèvent que l’amnistie devrait concerner environ 2000 prisonniers,
dont 450 devraient retrouver la liberte, tandis que les autres
devraient voir leurs peines diminuees. D’après 168 Jam et Haykakan
Jamanak, bien que les autorites ne l’avouent pas, l’amnistie sera
declaree au premier chef dans le but de remettre en liberte les ”
prisonniers politiques “. Le President de l’AN n’a pas exclu que les
quelques ” prisonniers politiques “, et notamment Sassoun Mikayelian
et Nikol Pachinian, allaient beneficier de l’amnistie. Alors que
le Congrès National Armenien garde encore le silence concernant
l’initiative du chef de l’Etat, promettant de se prononcer une fois
ladite proposition adoptee, les autres forces politiques l’ont saluee.

Hayots Achkhar cite le representant du parti Dachnak, Artsvik
Minassian, qui estime que l’amnistie, bien que tardive, etait
indispensable en raison de l’attente de la societe. Le parti
d’opposition ” Heritage ” a egalement salue l’initiative du President,
esperant que non seulement les ” prisonniers politiques ” allaient
retrouver la liberte, mais que les coupables des evenements du 1er
mars 2008 allaient bientôt etre punis. D’après ce parti, l’amnistie
se repercuterait, sans aucun doute, de manière positive, sur la
vie politique armenienne. Sans surprise, le porte-parole du parti
Republicain, Edouard Charmazanov, a estime que le President Sarkissian
a une fois de plus prouve qu’il etait un homme d’Etat et un homme
politique pragmatique.

Hayots Achkhar espère que, suite a l’amnistie, l’opposition renoncera
enfin a sa demande recurrente d’organiser des elections anticipees.

Selon 168 Jam, la question principale qui se pose actuellement est de
savoir si les ” prisonniers politiques ” seront liberes avant le 31
mai, jour du rassemblement du Congrès National Armenien, ou après. Une
chose est certaine, selon 168 Jam, la decision politique est prise
et l’Armenie n’aura plus de ” prisonniers politiques “, ce que nombre
d’organisations internationales lui reprochent depuis trois ans.

Haykakan Jamanak et Jamanak relèvent que Sargis Hatspanian,
ressortissant francais, a emis le souci que, suite a l’amnistie,
les autorites armeniennes ne l’expulsent du pays.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

PAUL GREENBERG: THE SCAPEGOAT SYNDROME

NYDaily
05-24-2011

The separate but equal annual rituals are well established in the
Middle East by now:

First the Israelis observe a day of mourning for those who have fallen
in their country’s defense. For a little country, Israel has had a lot
of wars, which means it has the mourners to match. Then a siren sounds,
the solemn commemorations are done, and the country’s Independence
Day festivities begin. This was Israel’s 63rd such celebration; the
first was punctuated by air raid sirens even as its declaration of
independence was being proclaimed — against the advice of all the
old Middle East hands in the U.S. State Department.

The foreign-policy establishment of 1948, backed by dignitaries like
James V. Forrestal, George C. Marshall and all the expertise the oil
lobby could muster, would have been surprised if this newborn state had
lasted 63 days, let alone 63 years. Seven Arab armies were converging
on its fragile borders to join the motley groups of irregulars already
in the field. The history of this Jewish state was going to be over
before it had a chance to begin. Things turned out differently.

But there is a counter-narrative of those events, a whole counter-myth
with a counter-language of its own. What the Israelis celebrate as
independence, Arabs mourn as the Nakba, the Catastrophe.

Americans should know all about counter-narratives and counter-myths.

Our own Civil War, aka The Rock From Which We Were Hewn, was called The
War of the Rebellion in the Union’s official records, while in Southern
latitudes it might be referred to as The War of Northern Aggression.

To this day there are some still refighting The War. Passions fade
only slowly over the years, over the centuries. Few things are more
persistent than legends of the Lost Cause.

It’s taken a century and more for us Americans — well, most of
us Americans — to be reconciled. Whatever our ethnic, religious
or cultural differences, we live under one government, without a
geographic line separating us. In the Middle East the lines are
fortified. Every year there are speeches and demonstrations, maybe
even the occasional riot, in observance of the Catastrophe. Then the
day is past, all rites on both sides having been observed in full.

And an uneasy peace is resumed.

This year was different. This year the Syrian troops that usually
guard the frontier opened the gates and let busloads of protesters
cross the border into Israel, not just shouting slogans but throwing
rocks and bottles at the surprised Israeli troops.

The soldiers held their fire — at first. But then the rioters began
tearing down the border fence on their way to the nearest Israeli
village. It was like an amateurish historical re-enactment. But all
too real. In the volley that followed, many of the demonstrators
would be wounded and 15 would die. Hundreds of infiltrators would be
rounded up and sent back to Syria before the day was concluded. The
annual demonstration had turned into a bloodbath.

What a waste of young lives. And for what? A headline in the morning
papers, a gesture that is already forgotten, more martyrs for the
Lost Cause? The incident was one more indictment of the “leadership”
the Arabs of Palestine have chosen over the years — from the Grand
Mufti to Yasser Arafat to whoever is not in charge of their affairs
today. Is it Fatah? Hamas? The Arab states? Who knows? Just whom are
the Israelis supposed to negotiate with, and about what besides their
very existence?

And why was the demonstration this year on Israel’s northern border
different from all other years? Not because anything had changed in
Israel’s negotiating position but because everything was changing in
Syria. The whirlwind sweeping through the Arab world, aka the Arab
Spring, had finally reached even that police state, perhaps the most
repressive in the whole region. (I say perhaps because there are so
many nominees for that dishonor.)

Syria’s ruling dynasty, the Assad family, is feeling the pressure.

Every day seems to bring another report of demonstrators being mowed
down. What better way to deflect the popular uprising against Assad &
Son, the iron-fisted firm that has run Syria for 40 years, than by
busing protesters to the border and turning them loose on the Arab
world’s — indeed, the world’s — traditional scapegoats?

It’s a familiar historical pattern, whether the dynasty under
pressure is Czarist Russia or a defeated Germany emerging from
the First World War and looking for some conspicuous minority to
blame for its defeat. Think of the Armenian massacres in Turkey
as the sultan’s empire tottered. Like defeat in war, the threat of
revolution at home is rich soil for conspiracy theories. Which soon
enough produce pogroms. Or, as in the Germany of 1933-45, some things
even worse. Far worse.

The revolutionary outbursts known as the Arab Spring came as a shock.

Revolutions are impossible, Leon Trotsky once said, until they become
inevitable. What’s easily predictable is that those struggling to
hold onto their power should try to blame the revolution on some
sinister conspiracy.

Call it the Scapegoat Syndrome. It emerges with some regularity
wherever dictatorships are challenged — or after the dictator has
fled and power is up for grabs.

Those seeking to retain power in Egypt could scarcely blame the popular
unrest there on the Jews, the Egyptians having expelled their ancient
Jewish community half a century ago. Now that country’s Christians
may serve much the same purpose, which explains the church burnings,
threats, riots and killings now being visited on Egypt’s Copts.

A sad-eyed Egyptian gentleman, who was made a refugee long ago,
once explained me how these things work. He summed up the order of
victimhood in Egypt in a pithy phrase that has stuck with me: First
the Saturday people, then the Sunday people.

Nor are Muslim minorities exempt from persecution as one wave of
revolution succeeds another. Egypt’s Sufis and Shi’a are coming under
attack, [email protected]

2011 The Associated Press.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT NEGLECTS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS – MP

news.am
May 24, 2011 | 22:41

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijani non-moral policy is unacceptable for everybody,
stated ruling MP, PA member Vahe Enfiajyan.

“International mediators have told to draw back the snipers from
borders, however Azerbaijani policy did not change,” noted the MP.

Azerbaijani foreign policy doctrine ‘no collaboration while unregulated
problem’ is beyond any logic. Strong army is the only guarantee to
face enemy’s threats and keep the state secure, stable and powerful.

AZERI EXPERT: SAAKASHVILI MAY SHARE DESTINY OF BEN ALI OR HOSNI MUBARAK

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 25, 2011 – 12:11 AMT

Azerbaijani political analyst Tofik Abbasov said that over the past
years Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili started tightening the
screws on democracy to strengthen his power.

According to Abbasov, Saakashvili has deviated from the obligations
shouldered by him earlier, as well as policy for freedom and democracy
in the country. “Indignation with Saakashvili’s policy is mounting not
only among political organizations. The social situation is worsening
in the country, what is used by the authorities’ opponents. If
the Georgian opposition forces manage to unite their efforts, the
authorities will have problems,” said Abbasov.

The Azerbaijani expert also believes that Saakashvili may share the
same destiny as Ben Ali or Hosni Mubarak. Georgia already has the
experience of holding mass processions, rallies and pickets. And if
Saakashvili relies only on his administration, police and special
task forces, the situation may grow out of control, what will lead
to unpredictable consequences.

“And if majority supports the opposition, Georgia may face the sad
experience of Tunisia and Egypt,” Novosti-Azerbaijan quoted Tofik
Abbasov as saying.

PRES. SARKISIAN SHIES AWAY FROM DEMANDING COMPREHENSIVE JUSTICE FOR TURKISH-PERPETRATED GENOCIDE
By Appo Jabarian

USA Armenian Life Magazine

May 20, 2011

A few days ago, President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian stated that
Armenia and Turkey will reconcile only when Ankara recognizes the
Armenian Genocide. But he stopped short of amplifying the fact that
today’s Armenia, as the legal successor of the 1918 Democratic Republic
of Armenia, has valid Eastern Armenian as well as Western Armenian
territorial claims against Turkey.

The 1918 Armenian republic was founded on territories of Eastern
Armenia, comprising of a land mass totaling around 60,000 sq. km. As a
result of a Communist takeover in 1920, the newly Sovietized Armenia
was further dismembered by Communist leaders in Moscow in favor of
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia; and was reduced to a tiny 29,000 sq.
km.

As for Western Armenia, the 1920 Wilsonian Arbitral award by U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson granted Armenia the legal document to
recover the Turkish-occupied lands of Western Armenia. The Wilsonian
Arbitration is a binding international decision to which two sovereign
states – Turkey and Armenia submitted.

Instead of demanding the enforcement of the Wilsonian Arbitration,
President Sarkisian, not only steered away from land claims,
triggering a strong chain of discontent among the Armenians, he
carefully separated “demands” for Genocide recognition from the
“need” to establish relations with Turkey, claiming that “those who
are trying to present attempts to establish relations with Turkey as
reconciliation are wrong. Real reconciliation comes after recognition.”

While it is understandable that Armenia and Turkey need to establish
relations, it is categorically unacceptable to see Yerevan harboring
willingness to give in to covert pressures forcing Armenia to
capitulate by relinquishing land claims against Turkey.

During President Robert Kocharyan’s administration, Armenia actively
pursued a policy of “unconditional relations” with Turkey meaning
that Ankara may establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan without
imposing unfair conditions such as recognition of today’s border with
Turkey; or return of liberated territories in the Republic of Artsakh
(Nagorno Karabagh).

Pres. Sarkisian’s popularity dipped substantially in Armenia and its
Diaspora when Yerevan signed the Turkish-imposed infamous Protocols in
Zurich a couple of years ago under the watchful eyes of U.S. Secretary
of State “Oil Lady” Hilary Clinton and the wry smiles of Turkey’s
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of failed Turkish
policy of “Zero problems with neighbors.”

Risking new waves of deep disappointment and possible protests both in
Armenia and Diaspora, Sarkisian said that when efforts to normalize
relations with Turkey were launched, many opponents said that the
process would impede efforts for international recognition of the
Genocide, qualifying that conjecture “was wrong.”

However, it was heartening to learn that President Sarkisian is
not intent on pursuing “relations with neighbors,” such as Turkey,
“at all costs.”

“The fact of Armenian Genocide is indisputable and we must spare
no effort for Turkey to recognize the Genocide finally. It is a
struggle for justice and for security. It is, at the end of the day,
a struggle for inadmissibility of such crimes not only in our region,
but throughout the world,” he emphasized.

The issue of Armenian Genocide reparations is directly related to
the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 committed by Kemalist Turkey
(1922-present) and two preceding Turkish regimes – Ottoman Turkey
(1453-1908) and Young Turks (1908-1922). And as such, financial,
estate and territorial reparations should be made to Armenians both
on individual and collective basis. President Sarkisian should boldly
remind and urge the Republic of Turkey, the newest Turkish successor
state deliver to the Armenian people no less than comprehensive justice
for the losses inflicted by genocide and the resulting massive illegal
confiscation of the entire territories in Eastern and Western Armenia.

Former Secretary of the UN Human Rights Committee, Professor Alfred de
Zayas, Geneva School of Diplomacy accurately defines the parameters of
justice determinedly sought by the victims of the Armenian Genocide
and their heirs: “Because of the continuing character of the crime
of genocide in factual and legal terms, the remedy of restitution has
not been foreclosed by the passage of time. Thus the survivors of the
genocide against the Armenians, both individually and collectively,
have standing to advance a claim for restitution. This has been
also the case with the Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, who have
successfully claimed restitution against many States where there
property had been confiscated. Whenever possible restitutio in integrum
(complete restitution, restoration to the previous condition) should be
granted, so as to re-establish the situation that existed before the
violation occurred. But where restitutio in integrum is not possible,
compensation may be substituted as a remedy.”

Armed with justice and legitimate claims for reparations and
restitutions, Armenians and their leaders can ill-afford to pursue
a defeatist policy that can bring about one capitulation after another.

Turkey remains unrepentant and continues to bully its neighbors and
the minorities in what is now called Turkey. It must be reminded by the
international community that bullying does not work and does not pay.

BAKO SAHAKYAN: AZERBAIJAN PRESENTS ITSELF IN FRONT OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS UNCONSTRUCTIVE EXTREMIST UNIT

ARMENPRESS
MAY 23, 2011
YEREVAN

Azerbaijan presents itself in front of international community as
unconstructive, extremist unit, Bako Sahakyan said in an interview to
“Echo Moskvi” radio station, adding that such approach is unacceptable
for the Armenian party. He said the Karabakhi side has always
pointed out that the conflict must be settled on the basis of mutual
concessions but Azerbaijan understands it in different way. Sahakyan
pointed out that it does not correspond to the spirit of either the
process of negotiations or the peaceful settlement process.

In response to the question about military actions he noted that if
the international community continues non-working way such escalation
of tension is possible.

“International community does not undertake corresponding steps toward
loosening the tension in the region. Though the OSCE Minsk Group
periodically urges the international community to be correct and stop
the hooligan activities and change its policy”, the NKR president said.

Speaking about bringing NK over the table of negotiations, Bako
Sahakyan expressed conviction that nothing will be decided with the
awareness of the NK.

Bako Sahakyan considered Armenia and Artsakh a common homeland.

According to him, Armenia is the state which is the most interested
in the recognition of the independence of Karabakh. The leadership
of Armenia has many times noted that the only reason why it has not
recognized the independence of Karabakh is the process of negotiations
within the framework of the OSCE Minsk group. The NKR president said
Armenia is undertaking great efforts for the international recognition
of the Nagorno Karabakh.

HERITAGE SAYS PARLIAMENT DOESN’T OBSERVE REGULATIONS

Tert.am
23.05.11

Armenia’s parliament did not observe parliamentary regulations by
delaying the discussion of a draft law on open-air trade proposed by
the opposition party Heritage, the party has said.

In a statement issued on Monday, Heritage said by not including the
document in the agenda the National Assembly breached Armenia’s law on
“NA Regulations”.

Another draft law on the same issue, submitted by independent MP
Victor Dallakyan, was also delayed.

“The NA chairmanship has blatantly violated ‘NA Regulations’ law of the
Republic of Armenia, as prior to the session at 11 am, the Standing
Committee on Economic Issues of the National Assembly had reached a
positive conclusion to already the joint legislative initiative by
Heritage MPs and Viktor Dallakyan,” read the statement.

Further, is said that if a draft law is given a positive conclusion,
the parliament must include it in the agenda.

In the statement the Heritage party described it as “an obvious
unlawfulness” and demanded the parliamentary leadership and coalition
MPs to comply with parliamentary regulations.

USA IS READY TO MAKE A PRESENT OF NAGORNYY KARABAKH TO AZERBAIJAN FOR ITS ‘INVOLVEMENT’ IN MILITARY AND POLITICAL CORRIDOR FROM THE BLACK TO CASPIAN SEA

arminfo
Monday, May 23, 18:36

The USA is ready to make a present of Nagornyy Karabakh to Azerbaijan
for its “involvement” in the military and political corridor from the
Black to Caspian sea, the head of the Caucasus Department of the CIS
Countries Institute, Mikhail Aleksandrov, told journalists today.

“Having separated Georgia from Russia by the war dated 08.08.08, which
resulted in the South Ossetian conflict, Washington is now trying to
make an arrangement with Azerbaijan to take part in its attempt to
create the military and political corridor from the Black Sea up to
the Caspian. But Baku is not striving to take part in such a project.

For this reason, Azerbaijan was offered to fulfill its cherished
dream to enslave Nagornyy Karabakh. I think Baku will not refuse such
an offer, as they understand very well that in case of preserving
the present balance of forces in the region as well as outside it,
settlement of the conflict is impossible. For this reason, the USA
is a vocal supporter of the quick settlement of the Karabakh conflict
on the conditions of Azerbaijan”, – he said.

He also added that appointment of the former American co-chair of the
OSCE MG Matthew Bryza – an American ambassador to Azerbaijan proves
his version. At the same time, as the expert said, Marie Yovanovitch,
a rather odious person known to everybody like a specialist on color
revolutions, still remains an american ambassador to Armenia.

“The replacement of Yovanovitch does not at all mean changing of the
policy of Washington and is dictated only by aspiration to replace
the ambassador with a person which causes less anger. The American
policy in the Caucasus remains the same. In general, statements by
both ambassadors are clearly demonstrating the policy of Washington
in the region”, – he said.

“Despite the fact that the bellicose statements have been coming only
from Azerbaijan, the OSCE, European Commissioners, Minsk Group say
that both parties to the conflict should calm down and reduce the
rhetoric. They do not separate Azerbaijan like the only initiator
of tension. Thus, these statements make the parties to the conflict
equally responsible for aggravation of tension. This means that they
are preparing the ground for making both parties responsible for
resumption of the battle actions”, – Aleksandrov concluded.

PARLIAMENT ADOPTS THE PACKAGE OF AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTORAL CODE
Lena Badeyan

“Radiolur”
24.05.2011 15:21

The National Assembly today completed the discussions on the package
of amendments to the Electoral Code. According to the Chairman of
the Standing Committee on State-Legal Issue David Harityunyan, some
of the proposals of the opposition ARF Dashnatsutyun faction were
taken into consideration.

The coalition has accepted one of the four proposals of the opposition,
said Vahan Hovhannisyan, head of the ARF faction. However, according
to him, it’s also progress and success.

Nevertheless, Dashnaktsutyun voted against the package of amendments
to the Electoral Code. It was adopted at third reading with a vote
of 76 to 12 and no abstentions.

L’INTERVIEW DU PRESIDENT SARKISSIAN AU QUOTIDIEN RUSSE MOSKOVSKIE NOVOSTI
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 24 mai 2011

L’interview du President Sarkissian au quotidien russe Moskovskie
Novosti a l’occasion du 20e anniversaire de la fin de l’URSS, fait la
une de l’actualite. Faisant le bilan des 20 annees postsovietiques,
le President Sarkissian a expose toutes les difficultes par lesquelles
le peuple armenien etait passe, estimant que la plus grande conquete,
au bout de ces 20 ans, est l’acquisition de la stabilite. S’agissant
du travail de ses predecesseurs, le President s’est abstenu de
critiques et les a, au contraire, remercies, ainsi que tous ceux
qui ont travaille en faveur de l’Armenie. S’agissant du règlement du
conflit du HK, le President n’a pas exclu la reprise d’hostilites,
declarant que cette question peut etre resolue uniquement sur la
base de concessions mutuelles et soulignant que le peuple du HK
doit pouvoir disposer de son destin lui-meme. ” Le Haut Karabakh a
acquis son independance au prix d’une guerre dure et sanglante, et il
serait naïf de croire qu’il y pourrait renoncer “. Selon le President
Sarkissian, le document de Madrid propose par les copresidents du GDM,
donne la possibilite de proceder a l’elaboration d’un grand accord
pacifique sur les trois principes exposes dans ce document, dont le
droit des peuples a disposer d’eux-memes, le principe de l’integrite
territoriale et le principe du non recours a la force. Cependant
ces principes ne sont pas concus de la meme manière par l’Armenie et
l’Azerbaïdjan. ” Le principe de l’integrite territoriale ne signifie
pas l’inalterabilite de frontières ” a-t-il declare en evoquant
l’apparition de dizaines de nouveaux pays sur la carte du monde au
cours des dernières 20-30 annees. A la question de savoir pourquoi
l’Armenie ne reconnait pas l’independance du HK, le President a
repondu que cela ferait echouer le processus de negociations.

S’agissant de la normalisation des relations avec la Turquie, le
President Sarkissian a declare que la reconciliation entre l’Armenie
et la Turquie ne peut etre entamee qu’après la reconnaissance par
la Turquie du genocide armenien. Evoquant les propos de Napoleon :
” la geographie est le destin “, le President a souligne l’importance
d’etablir des relations avec les voisins, ” mais pas a n’importe quel
prix “, a-t-il ajoute.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse