Author: Kanayan Tamar

A PROPOSAL TO THE PRESIDENT: ASK ILHAM [RAMIL] ALIYEV A QUESTION

Mediamax
Sept 11 2012
Armenia

Ara Tadevosyan
Director of Mediamax

A week ago, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev granted pardon
to murderer Ramil Safarov. The discussions about how it will affect
the NK negotiation process and what changes official Yerevan should
make in its position have not stopped since then.

For example, former FM Vardan Oskanyan thinks that it is a
convenient time to change the accents and focus attention on fixing
the de-facto realization of Nagorno Karabakhi people’s right for
self-determination. Mr. Oskanyan did not explain whether it should
be done through the recognition of NKR by Armenia or in any other way.

For his part, Foreign Minister Nalbandyan said this week that Armenia
is not going to withdraw from the talks and it’s is Azerbaijan that
rejects all the proposals of the Co-Chair states.

In reality, the negotiation process has been actually frozen for
almost over a year. After the Azerbaijani leader had denied the
previously reached agreements in Kazan last summer, the Co-chairs do
not mediate actively, focusing on efforts to maintain the process in
a more or less “vivid” state. There were no big hopes for progress
even before Safarov’s release and today only the hopeless optimists
can speak about such hopes.

Yesterday, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan reproached the
international community, saying that one of the reasons for Safarov’s
release was the fact that the world has been demonstrating “political
correctness” towards Azerbaijan for many years and always puts an
equality sign between the sides.

Since the hopes that the international players will ever give up that
“political correctness” are not big, I would like to propose to the
Armenian President to do it himself. How?

Armenia should initiate a Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting through the Co-Chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group. The first 1-2 minutes of such meetings are
open for the reporters for protocol shooting. Usually, during this
time the Presidents and the mediators exchange polite smiles and say
nothing but: “how are you?”, “it’s a nice weather today” etc.

I propose to the President of Armenia to break this tradition and
ask a question to Ilham Aliyev just during the protocol shooting:

– Mr. President, how do you sleep after granting pardon to a murderer
who had axed a sleeping man 16 times?

And let Mr. Ilham [Ramil] Aliyev answer this question before the
cameras.

U.S. PROMISES TO BE CONSISTENT IN GETTING CLARIFICATIONS FROM BAKU AND BUDAPEST

Mediamax
Sept 10 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said
today that the United States are waiting for clarifications from
Baku and Budapest on the Safarov case and they will be consistent in
getting them.

He said that he doesn’t have anything to say at the moment as “the
dialogue on the issue is underway”, Mediamax reports

The Ambassador stressed that the as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair,
the U.S. is against any manifestation jeopardizing the fragile
negotiation process.

Mediamax recalls that on September 1, the U.S. National Security
Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor made a statement reading that “the U.S.

President Obama is deeply concerned by today’s announcement that
the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Ramil Safarov following his
return from Hungary” and the U.S. is also requesting an explanation
from Hungary regarding the case.

KAN. GUARD HOSTING ARMENIAN STUDY TOUR

Sacramento Bee

Sept 10 2012
CA

TOPEKA, Kan. — A delegation of Armenian officials is touring Kansas
this week to study systems for responding to emergencies and natural
disasters.

Kansas and Armenia have had a civilian and military partnership
agreement since 2003. This week’s visit is being hosted by the Kansas
National Guard.

On Wednesday, the Armenians will tour the Shawnee County Emergency
Communications Center in Topeka and the police 911 call center in
Kansas City, Kan.

During their visit, the Armenians will also meet with staff of the
Kansas Joint Forces Headquarters to learn more about the National
Guard’s role in responding to emergencies.

NATO’S PARTNERS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

NATO HQ
Sept 10 2012

Last week, NATO’s Secretary General visited the South Caucasus –
a region that is strategically important to the Alliance. NATO has
been progressively deepening dialogue and cooperation with Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia since the early 1990s. All three partners
provide valuable support to NATO-led operations, while benefiting
from NATO support for security and defence-related capacity building
and reform.

The South Caucasus is a crossroads of civilizations, situated between
the Black Sea to the west, the Caspian Sea to the east and bordering
Turkey, Russia and Iran. The region has been of considerable
geostrategic importance through the ages – and continues to be
so today.

The region borders the territory of a NATO member state and includes
Georgia, a country aspiring to join the Alliance. It also offers
useful alternative transit options for the transport of supplies to
and from the NATO-led force in Afghanistan.

Shared security concerns

The Allies and their partners in the South Caucasus face the same
security challenges, such as terrorism and the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction. Such threats defy borders and can only
be addressed effectively through international cooperation.

Energy security is an important security issue of shared concern. The
South Caucasus sits on key oil and gas transit routes, and has
significant oil and gas reserves. Energy-importing countries are
looking to diversify their energy sources and supply routes, while
energy-exporting and transit countries need to ensure the security
of their industry and pipeline infrastructure.

One serious concern are the protracted conflicts in the region.

Following a conflict between ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijanis from
1988 to 1994, the sides agreed a cease fire in May 1994. However,
a political settlement still needs to be found. The Abkhazia and
South Ossetia regions of Georgia continue to be sources of tension,
in particular following the conflict with Russia in August 2008.

NATO does not seek a direct role in the resolution of these conflicts,
but supports the efforts of other international organizations,
which have specific mandates for their mediation roles.The peaceful
resolution of conflict is a core value of NATO and is at the heart of
the commitments that NATO’s partners in the South Caucasus undertook
when they joined the Partnership for Peace.

Valued support for operations

All three Caucasus partners have provided valuable support for NATO-led
operations. Armenia has been contributing troops to the Kosovo Force
(KFOR) since 2004. It first deployed personnel in support of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in 2010
and increased its deployment from 40 to 126 in 2011.

Having actively supported KFOR in the past, Azerbaijan currently has
94 personnel deployed in support of ISAF. The country also supports
ISAF’s mission with over-flight rights and has contributed to the
development of Afghan national security forces through financial
support and training in de-mining.

Today, with around 800 military personnel deployed in Afghanistan,
Georgia is the second largest non-NATO ISAF troop contributing
nation and planned deployments this autumn will make it the
largest. The country also supports Operation Active Endeavour,
NATO’s counter-terrorist maritime surveillance operation in the
Mediterranean. Georgia also contributed to KFOR in the past.

All three countries are actively working towards the development of
units that meet NATO standards and that can in future participate in
international peacekeeping operations.

Deepening partnership

Bilateral partnership programmes with NATO allow each of the Caucasus
partners to draw on Allied expertise in adapting their defence
institutions and capabilities to deal with security challenges. In
the past decade, all three countries have chosen to deepen the level
of cooperation and tighten the focus on their respective reform
priorities.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have both developed Individual Partnership
Action Plans with NATO. In the case of Georgia – following a dialogue
with the Alliance about its membership aspirations and the declaration
by Allies at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that the country will become a
member – intensified cooperation is now being taken forward through the
unique framework of the NATO-Georgia Commission that was established
in September 2008.

Beyond cooperating on security and defence-related capacity building
and reform, NATO and its partners in the South Caucasus work together
in other areas such as border security, cyber security, and disaster
preparedness and response.

Partnership has also brought some tangible benefits for citizens in
the Caucasus countries. For example, in Armenia – a country prone to
earthquakes – NATO provides training to improve the search-and-rescue
capabilities. In Azerbaijan and Georgia, NATO has supported projects
to clear and safely dispose of large numbers of dangerous, unexploded
and obsolete landmines and munitions.

SAFAROV’S RELEASE IS A DANGEROUS SIGNAL TO THE WHOLE WORLD. THE NEW YORK TIMES

ARMENPRESS
10 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: The latest incidents have increased
the tension in Caucasian region. Armenpress reports citing the
New York Times, noting that the first thing was the extradition of
Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan by Hungarian authorities. The Hungarian
government transferred the prisoner to Azerbaijan on the understanding
that he would serve out the rest of his life sentence in his home
country. But immediately upon his arrival in Baku, Lieutenant Safarov
was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev, restored to military duties,
promoted to major, given an apartment and awarded back pay for his time
in prison. These actions drew universal condemnation from Washington,
Moscow and European governments. Apart from the fact that such a
step is an affront to basic notions of justice and the rule of law,
even more troubling is the message that it sends to the rest of the
world: that the Azerbaijani government thinks it is acceptable to kill
Armenians. Apparently, the grievances they suffered in their defeat
by Armenian forces in 1992-94 are so profound that even murder is
excusable. It is hard, then, to ask the Armenians living in Karabakh to
quietly accept the idea that the solution to their disputed territory
is for them to return to living under Azerbaijani rule.

In the conclusion of authoritative American newspaper compounding the
problem was a less significant but still noteworthy gesture. On Sept.

3, Richard Morningstar, the new U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan,
paid his respects to Heidar Aliyev, the deceased former president
(and father of the incumbent), by laying a wreath at his statue in
central Baku. Apparently it is standard protocol for U.S. ambassadors
to include this stop in their round of duties when arriving in Baku.

Photographs also clearly showed the ambassador bowing his head before
the monument, though a State Department spokesman later denied this.

Mr. Morningstar’s far from empty gesture sent two wrong signals.

First, it is disheartening to democratic activists to see the United
States so cravenly supporting dictatorship as a suitable form of
rule, a pattern all too familiar from U.S. policy toward the entire
Middle East.

Second, it signals to Armenia – and its principal ally, Russia –
that the United States is an unqualified backer of the Azerbaijani
government, warts and all. Strategic interests – Caspian oil, access
to Central Asia, containment of Iran – count for more than the niceties
of human rights and democratic procedure.

SAFAROV’S CASE MAY CONDUCE NEW CRIMES. LITHUANIAN DEPUTIES

ARMENPRESS
10 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: A group of deputies of Lithuanian
National Assembly expressed their concern about the extradition of
Ramil Safarov and his pardoning by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and spread their declaration.

As Armenpress was informed from Tigran Balayan, the press secretary of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the granting of pardon to Safarov
who hacked Armenian serviceman to death may be provocative for
other crimes. The decision of Hungarian and Azerbaijani governments
contradicts the international law norms and may become a barrier for
the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Lithuanian deputies Algis
Kasheta, Dalia Kuodite, Ketutis Masiulis and Piatra Luomanas have
signed under the declaration.

Azeri perpetrator Ramil Safarov hacked Armenian serviceman Gurgen
Margaryan with an axe during English training courses in frameworks
of NATO in Budapest on 19 February, 2004. On August 31, 2012 on the
decision of Hungarian authorities Safarov was extradited to Baku,
Azerbaijan where he was pardoned by the President Ilham Aliyev.

Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungaria.

US TO CONSISTENTLY SEEK EXPLANATIONS FROM AZERBAIJAN, HUNGARY – JOHN HEFFERN

tert.am
10.09.12

As OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, the United States is against any
steps that may affect the unstable peace process, US Ambassador to
Armenia John Heffern stated at a briefing held jointly with Armenia’s
Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan.

The US made a statement on the extradition of Ramil Safarov to
Azerbaijan and pardon granted to him by President Ilham Aliyev.

Ambassador John Heffern recalled that the statement conveyed the US
administration’s extreme concern over the fact.

The US will consistently seek explanations from Azerbaijan and Hungary,
the US ambassador said. A relevant dialogue is in progress, he added.

In his turn, Armenia’s prosecutor general noted that Ramil Safarov
was actually acquitted rather than granted a pardon as it is only in
the former case that a person receives compensation for a prison term.

“I feel sorry that there is a nation heroizing a person that killed
a sleeping man with an ax,” Hovsepyan said. President Ilham Aliyev
violated Azerbaijan’s laws by granting a pardon to Ramil Safarov,
as no president can acquit a person convicted in a foreign country.

Azerbaijan deliberately dishonored the verdict returned by the
Hungarian court. That is, Azerbaijan committed a crime.

Aghvan Hovsepyan reminded Ambassador John Heffern of Azerbaijan’s
efforts to get the murderer acquitted by means of false forensic
psychiatry reports.

Aghvan Hovsepyan stressed that Azerbaijan’s step acquitting a person
that committed a heinous crime on ethnic grounds is not aimed at the
Armenian people alone. It was a violation of international justice.

REPUBLICAN PARTY DEPUTY HEAD REFUSES TO COMMENT ON RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN’S INTERVIEW UNTIL TALKING TO HIM

tert.am
10.09.12

Head of Republican party’s parliamentary faction Galust Sahakyan said
he is not sure that Republican party’s Political Board member Ruben
Hayrapetyan has given the interview to French-Armenian Nouvelles
D’Armenie magazine.

Speaking to Tert.am, he said he has not read the interview. “Something
must be wrong. Everything takes to sensations. I cannot say anything
until I meet with Ruben Hayrapetyan,” he said.

One of the main parts of the sensational interview of the chairman of
the Armenian Football Federation referred to Robert Kocharyan-Serzh
Sargsyan-Prosperous Armenia party relations.

Asked whether he doubts the whole interview or certain parts of it,
Sahakyan said he does not think the relations between them were so
bad that he could have said such things about Tsarukyan and Kocharyan.

Galust Sahakyan said interviews are always being exaggerated.

WORLD KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED IN 1915, ACTRESS ARSINE KHANJYAN TELLS TURKISH RADIKAL

tert.am
10.09.12

Turkish Radikal has interviewed Canadian Armenian actress Arsine
Khanjyan, who is well known for wider circles of society from Ararat
movie directed by her husband Atom Egoyan and dedicated to the 1915
Armenian Genocide.

In an interview entitled The World Knows what Happened in 1915 Arsine
says it is her first trip to Turkey and clarifies that she arrived
as an Armenian who has arrived to his/her ancient homeland.

The actress claims that for already 100 years the 80-million Turkish
population knows its own history wrong, and it is a disaster.

Speaking about personal disaster, Khanjyan says from the early age she
“tolerated loss”. She said her mother was from Erzurum, father from
Diyarbakir. Her grandma escaped from Turks after losing all her family.

The actress also speaks about Lebanese Armenian community. Arsine
was born in Beirut and moved to Canada during civil war in Lebanon.

Arsine also tells in details about the Armenian roots of her husband,
film director Atom Egoyan. She also speaks about their joint work
Ararat.

In the interview the actress claimed that Turkey’s policy of denial
does not change anything as everyone knows what has happened. “Even
Turks and you,” she said addressing the reporter taking the interview.

Arsine also said she can’t imagine how a state can reject its own
history and live without past as it is impossible to build future
without it or based on false history.

LA SELECCION FEMENINA DE RUSIA VENCE EN LA OLIMPIADA DE AJEDREZ DE TURQUIA
Alexandr Vilf

RIA Novosti
10/09/2012

La seleccion femenina de Rusia renovo el título de campeona de la
Olimpiada Mundial de Ajedrez que concluyo el pasado domingo en la
ciudad turca de Estambul.

En la 11ª ronda del torneo, Tatiana y Nadezhda Kosintsevi, Valentina
Gunina y Alexandra Kosteniuk derrotaron por 4 a 0 a la seleccion
de Kazajstan.

En el otro partido de la misma ronda, Ucrania se impuso ante China,
un resultado que dio ventaja a las rusas ante sus rivales chinas. Como
consecuencia, el conjunto chino termino en el segundo puesto, seguido
de las ajedrecistas ucranianas.

De esta forma, el equipo femenino ruso repitio el triunfo logrado
en la anterior Olimpiada celebrada en 2010 en la ciudad siberiana
de Janti-Mansiysk.

A su vez, los hombres rusos se llevaron la plata, al quedar por detras
de la seleccion de Armenia, mientras que el bronce fue para Ucrania,
al igual que en el torneo femenino.