Author: Kanayan Tamar

Armenian FM says Safarov Affair damaging to peace efforts for Karabakh

Karabakh | 19.09.12 | 10:38

Official Yerevan sees `big damage’ to international efforts to broker
a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict caused by the pardon in
Azerbaijan of an army officer who had axe-murdered an Armenian in
Hungary and was serving a life sentence in that country before being
handed over to Baku authorities last month.

Speaking at a joint press conference with David Lidington, the British
Foreign Office minister for Europe, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan referred to the case of Ramil Safarov as another example of
why Azerbaijan can’t be trusted by the international community.

`Azerbaijan has frequently shown that it not only doesn’t respect the
reached agreements but even ignores them, also during the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks,’ the Armenian minister said.

The British government official said that the United Kingdom agrees
with international criticism of the Azerbaijani government’s decision
to pardon and promote Safarov. `We have welcomed and support the
statements that have been issued by the Minsk Group co-chairs, the
European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE on this case,’ he
said.

At the same time, he expressed hope that Armenian-Azerbaijani peace
talks will resume soon despite the scandal. `I think the fact that
there are, yes, significant British commercial interests, through BP
and other companies, in Azerbaijan means that the region is less
distant from us than might otherwise be the case,’ he said, as quoted
by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. `It means the United Kingdom has a clear
interest in trying to promote peaceful reconciliation and stability in
the South Caucasus.’

10 TURKISH SOLDIERS KILLED, 70 INJURED IN PKK ATTACK

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 18, 2012 – 21:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Ten soldiers were killed and 70 were injured Tuesday,
Sept 18, after a Turkish military convoy transporting unarmed soldiers
returning from leave was hit by a rocket before coming under fire in
an ambush conducted by suspected militants from the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) in eastern Turkey, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz said 56 of the injured were
taken to hospitals in Bingöl, while 8 were hospitalized in MuÅ~_,
four in Elazıg and two in Erzurum.

Some 200 soldiers who had returned from sick or home leave were
being transported to their respective military units with a convoy
of 5 buses, with 10 armored vehicles escorting the transports. The
traveling soldiers were unarmed and in civilian clothing, Bingöl Gov.
Mustafa Hakan Guvencer said.

The convoy was traveling on the road between Bingöl and MuÅ~_ when
a bus in the convoy was hit by a rocket at around 12:45 pm. Militants
hiding on the side of the road opened fire on the vehicles with assault
rifles, prompting a firefight with soldiers guarding the convoy.

The bus which was hit by the rocket caught on fire; soldiers trapped
inside the vehicle escaped through the smashed windows as clashes
erupted.

EXPERT: FUTURE OF NAGORNYY KARABAKH IS WITHIN ARMENIA

arminfo
Tuesday, September 18, 19:25

The resolution of European Parliament on Safarov’s case is not
satisfactory, political expert, Richard Giragossian, said at today’s
press-conference.

“I did not like the reaction of the European Parliament. It had to
occupy harsher stance, in particular, to impose a military embargo
on Azerbaijan and apply sanctions on it”, – he said.

He also added that such reaction of the European Parliament was not
a surprise for him, as this structure always escapes making sharp
solutions. Nevertheless, the resolution also has a positive side,
as Azerbaijan was condemned in it, he said and added that this was
an achievement not only of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry but of the
Armenian Diaspora too.

Touching on Karabakh conflict settlement, the expert said that Armenia
should threaten Azerbaijan to leave the negotiating process. As
for the NKR independence and Armenia’s position in this matter,
Giragossian said that Armenia will be wrong if it first recognizes
independence of the NKR. “If Armenia first recognizes independence
of the NKR, it will find itself in the same situation like Turkey,
that recognized independence of Northern Cyprus. One thing is clear
in such a situation, that Karabakh will never be within Azerbaijan”,
– the expert said and added that nevertheless, the NKR is not yet
ready to independence because of economic problems.

“The future of Karabakh is within Armenia”, – Giragossian concluded.

ASTRONAUTS CONVERGE ON KARABAKH FOR SPACE CONFERENCE

A schene from the astronauts’ meeting with President Bako Sahakian

Artsakh plays host to first international conference dedicated to
the late Neil Armstrong.

STEPANAKERT-Renowned astronauts from the US and Europe were among
participants of an international conference, which kicked off Sunday
in the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and is dedicated to
the late astronaut Neil Armstrong who died last month and was the
first person to walk on the moon.

Participants of the conference, called “Man and the Space,” among
them professor of the Institute of Astrophysics of Canary Islands
and European Northern Observatory Gagik Israelyan, noted astronauts
Charles Duke of the US and Claude Nicollier of Switzerland, on Sunday
met with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian, reported
the presidential press service.

Sahakian expressed his gratitude to the renowned scientists and
astronauts for coming to Artsakh and participating in such an important
event, which will contribute greatly to the development of science
in the Republic.

The guests expressed their contentment with the fact that the first
conference held in memory of the world-famous astronaut Neil Armstrong
was being held in Artsakh.

Issues related to the development of sciences and organizing different
international scientific events in Artsakh were also discussed.

Karabakh Acting Education and Science Minister Vladik Khachatryan
was among officials who attended the meeting.

“The fact that the Armenian Highland is one of the oldest places
on earth, studying the universe is clearly indicated by the
ancient observatories that exist here. Space exploration developed
significantly during the 20th century, and can be qualified as the
golden era of astronomy in Armenia. We are also very proud of the
fact that Artsakh-born scientists have had significant contribution
in exploring space,” said Sahakian in a message addressed to the
conference.

“Our country attaches a great importance to scientific events dedicated
to space exploration, especially with the participation of well-known
professionals. I am confident that the scientific conference “Man and
Space” will succeed in realizing the set issues and will boost interest
in exploring the universe in our republic,” added Sahakian.As lunar
module pilot for Apollo 16 in 1972 Charles Duke became the tenth and
youngest of the 12 people who have walked on the Moon. A resident
of New Braunfels, Texas, he is currently chairman of the board of
directors of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Claude Nicollier has flown on four Space Shuttle missions. His first
spaceflight (STS-46) was in 1992, and his final spaceflight (STS-103)
was in 1999. He took part in two servicing missions to the Hubble Space
Telescope (called STS-61 and STS-103). During his final spaceflight
he participated in a spacewalk, becoming the first European Space
Agency astronaut to do so during a Space Shuttle mission.

FRANCE LEADS DIFFERENT POLICY WITH TURKEY: VALERI BUAYE

2012-09-18 17:30:46

France Parliament member, “Union of Democratic Movement” party member
Valeri Buaye, which authored the bill on criminalizing the fact of
denial of Armenian Genocide, currently is getting ready to introduce
a likewise initiative to French Government agenda.

After this legislative bill was adopted by the French Senate, attacks
began by Turks, that to provide security of the MP and his family
there was need to apply to law enforcement agencies.

The MP noted, that former France President Nikolas Sarkozy created
an appropriate atmosphere to adopt the law, but before the document
was signed, he’d to wait until it is confirmed by the Constitutional
Council. “Sarkozi was a brave man, despite country’s Government and
some countries were against that bill, he created all the conditions to
adopt the bill. The decision referred only to France and its citizens,
we didn’t want to Hurt Turkey by this, despite we were noticing its
aggressive policy of Genocide denial,” Buaye said.

Buaye also noted: “Current President of France Francois Oland at his
campaign promised to adopt a bill of criminalizing Genocide denial,
but now we notice that it’s leading another policy towards Turkey.

With its aggressive denial policy Turkey lead to the fact, that
issues referring Armenians were introduced into European agenda. They
understood in Turkey that there are people in France, which are not
afraid of them,” The MP assured also the fact, that in case of adoption
of Genocide denial criminalization bill Turkey wouldn’t lead such an
aggressive denial policy, and Hungary wouldn’t accept the decision
of extradition of Azeri Ramil Safarov.

HUNGARY’S ARMENIANS TO SUE GOVT. OVER SAFAROV EXTRADITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 18, 2012 – 17:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The national council of ethnic Armenians in Hungary
plans to file a legal claim against the Hungarian government’s
controversial decision to transfer convicted Azeri murderer Ramil
Safarov to Azerbaijan, Blikk reported. The tabloid quoted council
head Szevan Sarkisian as saying the charges include abuse of power
and bribery.

There are an estimated 3,500 to 30,000 ethnic Armenians living
in Hungary, half of whom speak Armenian as their native language,
and there are currently 31 Armenian “self-governments” operating in
the country.

Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life
sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev.

Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary.

Hungary, however, states that it had sent Safarov back to Azerbaijan
after receiving assurances from the Azerbaijani Justice Ministry that
Safarov’s sentence, which included the possibility of parole after
25 years, would be enforced.

According to some reports, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan in
exchange for Azeri purchase of Hungarian securities worth Euro 2-3
billion, an information official Budapest denies.

“Hungarian prime minister is “morally bankrupt” and should resign
after admitting that he personally approved the transfer of the Azeri
axe murderer while knowing the likely consequences,” the leader of
the opposition Socialists said earlier.

Attila Mesterhazy said it was clear from Orban’s comments at a
news conference on Tuesday September 11 that he had been aware that
Azerbaijan would release the life-sentenced Ramil Safarov after his
repatriation.

ARTSAKH HOSTS CONFERENCE ON ‘SHOUSHI – HEARTH OF ARMENIAN CULTURE’

Panorama.am
18/09/2012

On September 18, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received a
group of participants of an international conference titled ‘Shoushi
– hearth of Armenian culture’ dedicated to the 500th anniversary of
Armenian printing.

At the beginning of the meeting, Bako Sahakyan awarded Gratitude
Medal to Hayk Kotanjyan, head of the Strategic Research Institute of
the RA Ministry of Defense after Dr. Kanayan, for his services to NKR.

President Sahakyan expressed satisfaction over the holding of such
international conference in Artsakh, in particular, the fact that it
is taking place in the town of Shoushi.

The President noted that issues discussed at the conference are
important for studying the role of Artsakh and Shoushi in the regional
history, which in its turn affords much more opportunities for
understanding the current situation, possible trends and developments.

TREES CUT ILLEGALLY IN ARMENIA’S DILIJAN NATIONAL PARK – PHOTOS

September 17, 2012 | 20:11

DILIJAN. – Sanitary and ecological norms are violated in the national
park of Dilijan, in Armenia’s Tavush Region, a reader informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The main city dump is currently on the hill, from where all the rubbish
rolls down directly to the River Aghstev, which flows through Dilijan
and Ijevan cities. In addition, the dump is in 2 to 3 km-distance
from the Dilijan-Vanadzor highway.

“At the same time, illegal tree cutting continues in the national
park of Dilijan,” the reader named Arthur alarms, who is on vacation
in the city adding that judging from the pieces of the woods, the
cut trees are to be used in industrial production.

IF ASSAD REGIME COLLAPSES ISRAEL TO BE UNDER ATTACK – EXPERT

news.am
September 18, 2012 | 00:23

MOSCOW. – Situation in Syria is still complicated but tactical
advantage of the opposition is decreasing. The situation gets even more
tense due to the sanctions by western states, Russian expert Leonid
Savin told Armenian News-NEWS.am. He commented on the situation in
Syria and the factor of Syrian influence on the whole region.

“The situation in Syria is still complicated, at the same time
opposition’s advantage is decreasing. Anyway, Israel should be alert
because if the Assad regime collapses, Israel will face military
threat in the Golan Heights,” the expert said.

In response to the question whether the West will postpone military
actions in Syria due to powerful anti-American protests in Muslim
states, the expert said that there was not even a hint about direct
interventions, anyway those protests are beneficial for Syria.

MINISTER OF STATE FOR EUROPE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFAROV RELEASE

ARMENPRESS
18 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: The international society possesses
all the facts to mistrust Azerbaijan. Armenian Foreign Affair Minister
Edward Nalbandyan came forth with a statement in the course of the
briefing with the journalists on September 18.

Azerbaijan does not merely deny its promises but ignores them,
including the pledges at Presidential level.Dwelling on Azerbaijani
Ramil Safarov extradition and subsequent pardon in the Homeland the
Minister of State for Europe of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland, David Lidington stated it was indeed alarming.

” We have welcomed the statements by EU, OSCE and Council of Europe ,
Minsk group Co- Chairs issued in this regard ” Lidington stated.

In the words of the top diplomat it is in line with British interests
and they wish to see Minsk Group Co-Chairs to resume their peace
process. It meets European security interest, “United Kingdom seeks
to promote peaceful reconciliation and stability in the Caucasus”
the interlocutor underscored they have their certain interests in the
region and reportedly the reconciliation process will contribute to
their interests.