Author: Kanayan Tamar

AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE TO AZERBAIJAN: “FRANCE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE SELF-DECLARED GOVERNMENTAL BODIES IN NAGORNO KARABAKH”

APA
July 12 2012
Azerbaijan

Pascal Meunier: “The peace can not be brought from outside, because the
peace is a fruit of compromise of both parties that are in a conflict”

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. The interview of French ambassador to
Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier to APA on occasion of the National Holiday
of France – Bastille Day

– How do you estimate the perspectives of development of bilateral
relations between Azerbaijan and France?

– After restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, the relations
between our countries had a privileged character: “These relations
that were established due to friendship and mutual respect
uniting Jacques Chirac and Heydar Aliyev were continued by the
impulse given by President Ilham Aliyev. Recall that Ilham Aliyev
chose France for his first visit. The visits that have occurred at
inter-parliamentary, ministerial and presidential levels over the last
20 years both propelled forward these relations and gave a significant
diversification to them. The concrete realization of these relations
is the establishment of French Lyceum in Baku. This idea was suggested
during Paris meeting of President Nicolas Sarkozy and President Ilham
Aliyev in December, 2009 and a corresponding agreement was signed
between the countries during President Sarkozy’s visit to Baku on
October 7, 2011.

The bilateral relations in economic sphere developed largely. Thus,
according to the figures of Azerbaijan’s foreign trade statistics,
the trade turnover was USD 4, 645 bln in 2011. It turned France
into Azerbaijan’s 2nd degree partner. France turned into the second
purchaser of oil products after Italy. Of course, our sales are well
below and at the level of USD 608 mln. This sphere is also developing
with 6.2% growth dynamics. Our companies hold good positions in
high technology sphere and support Azerbaijan in the development of
economy. Azerbaijan’s AZAL Company refills its park with “Airbus”
planes and ATRs considered for short- distance flights. “Eurocopter”
furnishes “Silkway”. The radars of “Thales” company contribute to
the country’s civil security. “Arienespace” will place into orbit
Azerbaijan’s first “Azsat” satellite from Guinea-based Kuru space
port early 2013. Besides, France is satisfied to bring the goods of
beautiful life and delicate taste to Azerbaijan.

Our companies are not satisfied with providing goods and services, they
also contribute to the modernization of infrastructure in Azerbaijan.

French companies in oil sphere “Air Liquide” and “Tecechnip”,
members of group of companies on oil and oil products express desire
to participate in great industrial projects like SOCAR’s “Star”
(in Turkey) and “Ogpc” (in Azerbaijan).

Cultural exchange has never been so intensive as today. “Plaisirs de
France” (“Pearls of France”) exhibition attracted more than 40,000
visitors in the Art Museum, this is a record! Many directors of French
institutes arrived in Baku for the opening ceremonies, met with their
counterparts and planned new projects. The progress is observed on
some of them (for example, between the Carpet Museum and Pompidou
Center). “Fly Bakou” exhibition that was organized in Paris with the
assistance of Heydar Aliyev Foundation had a sensational success.

The construction of French Lyceum will give new dynamics for presence
of French language in Baku and give an opportunity for Azerbaijani
children to study in French language that is impossible today.

– What will be your main priorities as an Ambassador of France to
Azerbaijan? What spheres do you plan to develop more?

I would prefer three spheres: At first, to strengthen the political
dialogue. As you may know, a new government is formed in France. It
is important for those passing political decisions in both countries
to meet. It is necessary for giving an impetus to our cooperation
and exchanging view on big international problems. France, as a
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, intends to play its role in full
within the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In this context,
I am glad that the foreign ministers of both countries can meet in
the near future.

As regards the issues on respect of individual freedoms and
human rights, as you may know, France is closely related to these
fundamental values, which deeply strengthened in the genes of our
compatriots and established our republican society. France wishes to
accompany the Azerbaijani government and people in way of political
reforms and democracy modestly, but with empathy and attentively. We
welcomed the latest positive orders by the Azerbaijani leadership
(release of 9 participants of 2 April rally in 2011; establishment
of dialogue forum with civil society and opposition; “Crossing Views”
(Carpaz BaxıÅ~_ TV program project that holds debates with the civil
societ nd opposition) and we, like our European partners, will pay
attention to the respect of public freedoms in Azerbaijan.

Secondly, developing our economical exchanges and cooperation. Big
companies of France have already operated in the hydrocarbon, cosmos
and ecology spheres in Azerbaijan. With my counterparts in Paris we
considered to strengthen cooperation in the other spheres including
agriculture, urban development and national security spheres. I
intend to establish French-Azerbaijan chamber of trade, as recently
established in Paris, in Baku as soon as possible for strengthening
the relations between small and middle enterprises of Azerbaijan
and France.

Thirdly, we must develop our relations. The first superiority is the
construction of lyceum. The leaderships of two countries attach great
importance to this issue. I also intend to research and learn the
strengthening methods of teaching French language with the universities
and schools of Azerbaijan.

– In May the delegation of French senators visited the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan- Nagorno Karabakh. In this regard the
Ministry of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan sent a letter to MF of
France and put the names of the senators to “black list”. How would
you comment that?

-The senators and deputies are elected representatives of people,
as noted in the French Constitution, division of powers exists
in France and they are free in their acts, positions and visits
within the authority. In no case, they have no authority to express
the official position of France, because this authority belongs
only to the French government. France, like the other countries,
recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and it means that
France doesn’t recognize self-declared governmental bodies in Nagorno
Karabakh. This position of France has never changed from the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict up to know.

– The meeting of the ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held
on the 18th of June in Paris. What steps can France, as OSCE Minsk
Group co-chair country, take to resolve the conflict?

-France, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, has been actively
implementing the mediating role between Azerbaijan and Armenia since
ceasefire. France attempts to improve the communication between
the countries at ministerial and presidential level, at the same
time by the means of civil society. It is a long-term and difficult
work, but France continues to propel this work forward decidedly
and continuously and the meeting of the foreign minister in Paris
on June 18 has shown it again. This meeting, which was held with
the participation of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers at
the first time after several months pause, gave an opportunity to
hold negotiations in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
considering the Sochi Declaration which was signed by the Azerbaijani,
Armenian and Russian presidents on January 23, 2012. We also spoke
in Paris about the development of humanitarian aids, prevention
mechanism of ceasefire violation and protection of historical and
cultural areas. The co-chairs also expressed their deep concern about
the latest incidents occurred on the frontline and underlined the
importance of observation of agreement on ceasefire signed in 1994.

On the other hand, France, Russia and the US conduct work for full
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Incidentally, it played a
significant role in drawing of Madrid principles, which are adopted by
the both conflict parties as a basic document for negotiations. But
despite the above-said, as the history has repeatedly showed us,
irrespective of the countries, the peace can not be brought from
outside, because the peace is a fruit of compromise of both parties
that are in a conflict. Termination of sufferings of thousands of men,
women and children can be a decision only of both sides.

– The Armenian lobby is very active in France. Does not this fact
affect on preconception of France as the country’s co-chair in conflict
resolution process?

– Yes, there is a minority of Armenian origin in France, and this
minority, like the people of Africa, the Mediterranean Sea or
Eastern Europe, left their countries, which were destroyed most of
all by wars and crisis. These minorities play an active role in the
economic, political and public life of our country. This fact is a
result of republic integration and desire of people who struggled for
peace, freedom, equality and brotherhood principles and the fact of
dissolution of privileges 300 years ago.

On the other hand, we can’t deny the efforts made by Azerbaijan in
order to be known and heard in France. Our countries and societies
cooperate in political and economical spheres, as well as they create
balanced and rising relations on the firm base in the cultural sphere.

It means that Azerbaijan is more and better known in France.

THE ARMENIAN LITTLE SINGERS ARE MAKING IT BIG
By ERIKO ARITA

The Japan Times

July 12 2012
Japan

The Armenian Little Singers choir – whose repertoire includes classical
songs, modern music, jazz and bossa nova – are performing in Japan
for the first time.

The singers – 40 girls aged 11 to 18 – are all students of music
schools in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, the mountainous landlocked
nation that sits along the old Great Silk Road and between the Black
Sea and Caspian Sea.

The group was originally established by Tigran Hekekyan, Professor of
Choral Conducting at Komitas State Conservatory in Armenia, in 1992,
and it has since won many awards at international chorus competitions,
says Min-On Concert Association, the choir’s Japan tour organizer. It
also tours Europe and the United States every year.

For this extended tour in Japan – which includes 16 venues, some
of which have already sold out – the girls will sing several hymns
such as “Ave Verum Corpus,” as well as a George Gershwin medley,
“The Girl from Ipanema,” “In the Mood” and other popular songs.

Tickets are available for Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama on July 13;
Sano Culture Center in Tochigi, July 15; Soleil Hall in Kita Kyushu,
July 18; Marugame Civic Hall in Kagawa, July 19; Nitori Bunka Hall
in Sapporo, July 23; Iida Cultural Hall in Nagano, July 26; Acros
Fukuoka, July 30; Mizayaki Municipal Culture Hall in Miyazaki, Aug. 1;
Nagasaki Brick Hall in Nagasaki, Aug. 2; Watanabeo Kinen Kaikan in
Ube in Yamaguchi, Aug. 4; and Ishikawa Ongakudo in Kanazawa, Aug. 8.

Ticket prices vary from ¥3,800 to ¥4,800. Visit
for reservations or call Min-On
on 03-5362-3400

AL-ASAD THE SLAUGHTERER MUST GO, SAYS FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER

French Foreign Ministry website
July 12 2012
France

“Interview with Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius” by Le Nouvel
Observateur”

[Translated from French]

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Did the Paris conference of the Friends of
the Syrian people achieve the objectives that you set yourself?

[Fabius] Overall, yes. When more than 100 states – half the countries
of the world – gather in Paris to condemn the Syrian regime, to define
the path to a political transition, and to bring specific aid to the
opposition, and when at the same time a general closely associated
with Bashar al-Asad [Syrian president] defects, that is a good day for
freedom in Syria. By means of this conference we also lent greater
weight to the process defined in Geneva a week earlier – a halt to
the violence, a transitional government, a Constitution, and free
elections. The Syrian opposition is not yet totally united, but this
is improving. We were able to bring some 100 of its representatives to
the conference in Paris. The internal resistance was able to speak
there. Overall, several concrete decisions were made to support
the extension of sanctions against the Syrian regime and to bring
additional humanitarian support to the population. All this moves
in the right direction, but is unfortunately not sufficient. What is
needed is to implement these good decisions.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Why did the meeting of the five major
countries in Geneva 30 June accept a compromise that did not explicitly
demand Bashir al-Asad’s departure?

[Fabius] The compromise that we reached in Geneva does indeed imply
his departure. That meeting of the “Action Group,” convened at UN
and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan’s request, convened the five
permanent members of the Security Council plus a few other states, and
for the first time we signed a joint document, whereas the situation
had previously been blocked as a result of the Russian and Chinese
vetoes. Of course, different interpretations were given after the
event. But the documents have a meaning: they state that executive
power in Syria must be held by a transitional government and that
it will be formed by common consent. So that excludes Al-Asad! Now
Kofi Annan has the task of securing the different parties’ support
for this agreement. It’s difficult. If he succeeds, well done! In
the event of failure, the document would have to return to the UN
Security Council, under Chapter VII. If that happens, we shall see
what attitude is adopted by all those who signed the Geneva document.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Is there a political alternative to Bashir
al-Asad? Do you have the names of acceptable successors?

[Fabius] That’s a legitimate question, and indeed one raised by the
Russians. This is why we welcome the fact that the opposition is
organizing. It’s not easy under such circumstances to produce another
Abraham Lincoln right away! In order to build the transitional
government we need to find recognized figures both within the
resistance and probably also from among the less compromised members
of the regime.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Should the European sanctions be extended
to those helping the Syrian regime, and particularly Russia, which
still supplies it with weapons?

[Fabius] Above all we must ensure on the one hand that the sanctions
already adopted are implemented by all, starting with the countries of
the region, and on the other hand strengthen the sanctions. Here are
two examples: Greece must stop importing Syrian phosphates; similarly,
the Syrian telecommunications company, in which a Swedish firm has
interests, must cease its activities. As for Russia, we oppose the
supply of weapons, because it helps to militarize the conflict. We
are engaged in dialogue with the Russians and we tell them that
to support Al-Asad is to invest in the losing side and that this
loss could hamper their influence in the region. The Russians and
Chinese argue that there position stems from their rejection of any
interference in third countries’ internal affairs; but because of its
very gravity, the Syrian crisis in fact now threatens regional peace,
with possible repercussions for Lebanon, Turkey, Israel, and Jordan.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Has the time not come to tell the Russians
that we will wait a while before supplying them with force projection
ships?

[Fabius] As you know, France is a country that exports arms, but
always subject to conditions – no weapons that can be reexported or
used against civilian populations. You know Jaures’ watchword, which
applies perfectly to a foreign minister: “To seek the ideal and to
understand the real.” So there must be a dialogue. But Al-Asad the
slaughterer must go.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] A Turkish aircraft has been brought down
above international waters. In the event of further Syrian attacks
on Turkey, should NATO intervene to help its ally?

[Fabius] This question was recently re-examined by the NATO Council.

We stayed within the framework of Article 4 of the Charter, which
envisages, in the event of an attack, consultation among the parties –
and not Article 5, which concerns an intervention. What I note above
all is that the military were able to bring down a targeted Turkish
aircraft. That means that they shot at a target. This must provide
food for thought for everyone, and particularly for those tempted to
formulate strategy in abstract terms.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Francois Hollande [French president] said
that he would not rule out a military intervention if the Security
Council were to authorize it.

[Fabius] The president has examined all hypotheses, as he must,
but we have not reached that point.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Would it be possible to envisage a military
intervention outside the UN framework? As in Kosovo?

[Fabius] We set our action within the framework of United Nations’
decisions. If, as they did by signing the Geneva agreement, the
Russians and the Chinese support the Annan plan and the need for a
political transition – that is, in fact, Bashar al-Asad’s departure –
it will not be necessary to resort to military forces to topple him.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Meanwhile you have pledged to supply
transmission resources to the Syrian rebels.

[Fabius] This is not weaponry but communications equipment to enable
the resistance to communicate without being heard by the Syrian regime.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] We know that weapons are being supplied to
them by Qatar, Saudi Arabia…

[Fabius] The alternative is frightening. If we deny all supplies,
there is a danger, in view of the difference of forces, of depriving
the resistance of means of defence and therefore granting the regime a
decisive advantage. If we supply weapons, we risk feeding the conflict
and violence. For our part, we do not supply weapons.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] How will it be possible to honour Francois
Hollande’s commitment to penalize [denial of] the Armenian genocide
without damaging relations with Turkey at this critical time?

[Fabius] The president is resolved to honour his commitment and has
reaffirmed it. We are currently examining ways of doing this.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] You recently announced in Japan 60 million
euros aid per year that France will pay to Afghanistan after NATO’s
departure in 2014. What will that money be used for? How long do you
give Hamid Karzai before he is overthrown by the Taleban?

[Fabius] During the presidential campaign Francois Hollande pledged to
withdraw our combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012. This
commitment will be met, in coordination with the Afghans, the
coalition, and the quest for the maximum security. Afghan troops have
now taken over in Kapisa. But our military withdrawal does not at all
signify a civilian disengagement – on the contrary. I announced in
Japan – with which, let me say in passing, we will be establishing
an exceptional partnership – that we will increase our civilian
support to Afghanistan, along the lines set by the Franco-Afghan
treaty of January 2012, which will be submitted for Parliament’s
approval this summer. This mainly involves aid in the form of medical
supplies, education, agriculture, archaeology, cultural exchanges,
infrastructure, and security training. Our cooperation will be
focused in the Kabul area and will be subject to several conditions,
verified each year – progress with governance, democratic elections,
an effective struggle against corruption, observance of women’s rights,
and so forth. We hope that all this will help to bring peace to the
country, but I’m the first to acknowledge the great difficulty of the
task. The solutions require first and foremost reconciliation among
the Afghans. Second, they are not all dependent on Afghanistan. Other
countries will also be of crucial importance – Pakistan, Iran, India,
China, and so forth.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] The negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme
have clearly come to a halt. At what point will you conclude that
they have failed? And if so, what is the next step?

[Fabius] Iran is a great country, a great civilization, which is
entitled to civilian nuclear energy, but Iran must not have access to
nuclear weapons, because the spread thus caused would pose a serious
danger in itself and to the entire region. Negotiations are taking
place, but unfortunately they’re making hardly any progress. In order
to try to persuade the Iranian regime to budge, we have adopted a
twofold approach – to implement sanctions and to engage in dialogue.

When I say “we,” I mean the six countries talking with Iran – that
is, Germany and the five permanent members of the Security Council,
including the Russians and the Chinese. If the present deadlock
continues, we will further step up the sanctions, which, according
to our information, are already beginning to have an effect.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Do you intend to adopt a strong initiative
to try to restart the peace negotiations between the Israelis and
the Palestinians?

[Fabius] We speak the same language with everyone: things must budge.

Why? First, because the Palestinians’ right is still not being
observed: this is a major injustice, totally contrary to international
law. Furthermore the failure to resolve this conflict is causing
tensions in the sub-region and beyond. I tell my Israeli interlocutors
to be very careful. Hitherto there has been a disconnection between the
“Arab springs” and Israel. If there were to be a political stiffening
or a deterioration of the situation in the “Arab spring” countries,
we could fear that the Israeli question could be raised by the
revolutionary movements themselves, which would be problematical.

Mahmud al-Abbas [Palestinian [National] Authority president], a man
committed to conciliation, is willing to talk, I’m convinced. He’s not
calling for all or nothing. Prime Minister Netanyahu is in a strong
political position. Now is the time to move forward and to negotiate.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] The Socialist Party was in favour of
unilateral recognition of the state of Palestine, as was Hollande
during his campaign. What has changed your minds?

[Fabius] We haven’t changed. The Palestinians are entitled to a
viable state. Israel is entitled to security. So it’s not a matter of
deciding on a gesture that could jeopardize the objective pursued. We
have discussed this with Mr Al-Abbas. Between now and the UN General
Assembly in September we hope that the Israelis will demonstrate
their concrete will engage in dialogue, and the Palestinians, too. The
priority is for this dialogue to resume and to produce real progress.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] In Mali the jihadis an occupying the North
of the country. What should be done? A military intervention?

[Fabius] The challenge in Mali is to prevent the establishment of a
kind of “Sahelistan,” which would pose a major threat to the Africans
and us. Terrorists, some of them from Libya, have taken possession
of the North of the country. They are extremists ready to die, who
want to implement the sharia, who do not hesitate to commit rape
and murder, and who identify France as their main enemy. They have
weapons and money from drug dealing and kidnapping. On the other side,
the legitimate governments enjoy inadequate financial, military,
or human resources. So this is a serious threat both to Mali itself,
which is currently cut in two, and to the entire region. These very
mobile groups have many connections. They are outright “incubators”
of terrorism. What have we done about this hitherto? At our
African friends’ request, we have played a facilitating role. To
this end I recently appointed a special representative, Ambassador
Jean Felix-Paganon, and, together with the president, we have met
several leaders of the region. I will also be going there soon. We
have supported the Africans at the UN Security Council and drawn the
permanent members’ attention to this, which permitted the approval
last week of a resolution under Chapter VII. This lays the foundations
for restoring constitutional legality, restoring Mali’s integrity,
and a struggle against AQIM [Al-Qa’idah in the Lands of the Islamic
Maghreb]. The EU is also providing help in training security forces,
action against famine, and development.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Is it feasible that we could intervene at
some point?

[Fabius] An intervention is a matter for the states of the region. We
could provide support, if necessary.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] But the countries of the region, within
ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], clearly lack the
means to act.

[Fabius] Some of these countries do have significant forces. Sometimes
they lack equipment.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] What about neighbouring Algeria?

[Fabius] In a few days’ time I will be will meeting with its leaders
in Algiers to conduct a general review. We will probably broach
this subject, too. To its misfortune, and to its cost, Algeria has
experienced the ravages of terrorism in the past. It is a great
country that does not want to interfere in others’ affairs but that
understands that the long-term establishment of a hotbed of terrorism
in the heart of Africa would pose a threat to all.

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] Ali Bongo was recently received at the Elysee
[French presidency]. You went to see him during the campaign.

What is the raison for this visit, which raises fears of a return to
the incestuous ties between France and its African private domain?

[Fabius] I went to Gabon, as I did to other countries, to deliver a
speech for the HEC [School of Advanced Commercial Studies]; out of
courtesy, I visited the president: that’s all there is to it. On the
other hand Ali Bongo, like several other African heads of state, has
recently visited the French president. I attended those meetings and I
can confirm to you that French Africa [Francafrique] is finished! We
will have strong relations, based on equality and transparency,
with the whole of Africa. It is a continent of the future. Eventually
700 million Africans will speak French. They are our neighbours, our
friends, and our partners. These are all reasons for cultivating close
relations with this wonderful continent. We are a long, a very long,
way away from Mr Sarkozy’s [former president] arrogant, offensive,
and ultimately saddening speech in Dakar.

Would you say that Mr Bongo was elected democratically?

[Fabius] If your question is whether we will pay attention to human
rights and observance of democracy, the answer is clearly “yes.”

[ Le Nouvel Observateur ] How can a break with French Africa be
demonstrated?

[Fabius] All previous governments, including Socialist governments,
have announced its death, but the old habits have returned. By driving
out these old habits once and for all. You will note that there is no
longer a cooperation minister, no longer any specialized governmental
or quasi-governmental agency. Relations with the African countries
are dealt with in the normal way. I will maintain close relations with
the governments, but also with civil societies and opposition groups.

Pascal Canfin, minister-delegate for development, will help me in
dealing with these matters, in Africa as on other continents.

French Foreign Ministry website

STRONG ARMY AND ECONOMY OF AZERBAIJAN MAKE FAIR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH PROBLEM INEVITABLE – ALIYEV

Interfax
July 11 2012
Russia

he certain stagnation at the talks on Karabakh and the general status
quo in the conflict must be removed and to this end Armenian troops
must be withdrawn from the territory of Azerbaijan, Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev said on Wednesday.

“A change in the status quo implies the withdrawal of Armenian
occupation troops from captured lands. Naturally as occupation troops
are withdrawn from these lands positive tendencies will also further
strengthen the negotiating process and the issue will be settled in a
short time,” Aliyev said at an expanded Cabinet session reviewing the
country’s social and economic development in the first quarter of 2012.

Azerbaijan also continues to pay much attention to its military
development. “Along with all political and diplomatic efforts we are
building up our military might, of course, and have formed a strong
army,” Aliyev said.

“A strong army also considerably strengthens our negotiating position,”
the president said. He said that this factor and also the growing
economic and political capabilities of Azerbaijan make the fair
settlement of the Karabakh problem inevitable.

ARMENIA’S FM AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE’S DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL DISCUSS ARMENIA’S CHAIRMANSHIP IN THE BODY

Vestnik Kavkaza
July 12 2012
Russia

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Thursday received the
Council of Europe’s newly-elect Deputy Secretary General and Director
General for Projects, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, News.am reports.

Nalbandian congratulated Battaini-Dragoni for being elected Deputy
Secretary General and expressed a hope that Battaini-Dragoni will
contribute to raising the effectiveness of the Council’s Secretariat,
the ministry’s press service told News.am.

The parties exchanged views on Armenia’s ongoing democratic reforms.

In this connection, the Council of Europe’s Deputy Secretary General
stressed that a considerable progress is registered in Armenia in
the recent years and the Council of Europe will continue to assist
in this process.

IMPRISONED FORMER ARMENIAN POLICE OFFICIAL TO BE GRANTED PARDON? – NEWSPAPER

news.am
July 12, 2012 | 08:06

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s former Police Criminal Investigation Department
Chief, Police Major General Hovhannes Tamamyan, who was sentenced to
four years in prison on charges of misusing official power, could be
released soon, Haykakan Zhamanak daily writes.

“It is assumed that he will be released by way of being granted pardon
by [President] Serzh Sargsyan.

To our correspondent’s query regarding this prospect, Tamamyan’s
attorney Vaghinak Gevorgyan responded that he is not authorized to
answer questions referring to the petition for a pardon.

[Yet] According to our information, Tamamyan’s petition for a pardon
is at the Presidential Palace for already more than a week and Serzh
Sargsyan is expected to sign the respective decree soon, and he
[Tamamyan] will be released.

But the public will not be informed of this, since the decrees on
[granting] pardon are not publicized,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

SERGEY MINASYAN SEES INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS
Lena Badeyan

“Radiolur”
12.07.2012 14:40

Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Sergey
Minasyan sees interesting developments in the Karabakh issue.

According to him, the developments are in Armenia’s favor at this
point.

The process of settlement of the Karabakh issue proceeds on the basis
of the agreements reached after the Kazan meeting, not the Madrid
Principles, Minasyan told reporters today.

“However, Azerbaijan does not rush to implement the agreements reached,
and this first of all refers to the withdrawal of snipers.

Despite the calls of international organizations, Azerbaijan continues
its non-constructive policy, using provocations as the last lever,”
the political scientist said.

Sergey Minasyan believes, however, that Azerbaijan has erred in its
calculations. “Today Azerbaijan helps the international organizations
to pressure itself to implement the agreements reached,” he said.

According to the political scientist, the interesting trend is that
the Kazan agreements are being called into life.

Minasyan says the recent statements of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
and the visits of high-ranking diplomats and representatives of
international organizations are also evidences of interesting
developments in the process of conflict resolution.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS CHAIRPERSON OF THE FEDERATION COUNCIL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

armradio.am
12.07.2012 10:58

President Serzh Sargsyan received the delegation headed by the
Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation
Valentina Matviyenko.

At the meeting discussed was a broad range of issues pertinent to
the Armenian-Russian relations and cooperation in different areas.

President Serzh Sargsyan underscored that it is an all-encompassing
agenda which allows to push forward existing high-level relations
and the political dialogue existing between the two states.

According to the President of Armenia, the strategic partnership based
on the centuries-long friendship of the Armenian and Russian peoples
presents a solid base for the two countries for moving forward and
deepening the mutually beneficial cooperation at all directions.

President Serzh Sargsyan and the Chairperson of the Federation Council
of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko stressed the importance
of cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries and
highly valued past activities of the inter-parliamentary commission.

Valentina Matviyenko expressed confidence that inter-parliamentary
relations can and should have considerable input in the development
of the interstate relations.

The parties spoke with satisfaction about the cooperation in the
economic and humanitarian areas which constitute an important part
of the bilateral relations, where, according to the interlocutors,
a significant role is also played by the successfully developing
cooperation between the administrative regions of the two countries.

In addition to bilateral relations, Serzh Sargsyan and Valentina
Matviyenko hailed also multilateral cooperation between Armenia and
Russia conducted in the framework of the CIS and CSTO. The President of
Armenia and the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian
Federation stressed the importance of the active cooperation of MPs
of the two countries in the framework of international organizations.

BANKS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DEPRIVE CITIZEN OF SHELTER – ARMENIAN OFFICIAL

news.am
July 12, 2012 | 01:02

YEREVAN. – A bill obliging creditors to take away the last penny
from citizens is being reviewed in Armenia currently, the head of the
Service for Compulsory Enforcement of Judicial Acts Mihran Poghosyan
told Armenian News-News.am adding that such bills have already been
adopted in several countries.

In particular the bill states that if a bank gives credit to a citizen
it should not have the right to deprive the citizen of his shelter.

“Today banks do their business and secure themselves by 100 percent
but citizens stay without shelter in case of not paying the credit.

The citizen should not be deprived of the last shelter,”Poghosyan said.

WHY DO THEY HATE THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE?

Hurriyet
July 11 2012
Turkey

The other night, I hosted Emre Oktem, an associate professor of
international law, on my weekly TV program called “Political Reason.”

Our main focus was the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its still-closed
Halki Seminary, which has once again become a matter of public debate
after a visit to the patriarchate by Turkey’s top Islamic authority.

Dr. Oktem, an expert on non-Muslim minorities in Turkey, not only
explained how the Ecumenical Patriarchate suffered official oppression
in modern-day Turkey, but he also argued how things should change. We
both agreed that the Halki Seminary, which has been closed since 1971,
should be reopened, and that no Turkish authority should ever make
an issue out of the name of the patriarchate. (The word “Ecumenical”
has been rejected vehemently by Turkish officials.)

We also agreed that this is simply a matter of religious freedom,
a principle which should be advanced on both side of the Aegean.

(Greece, for example, should change its shameful policy of not allowing
even a single mosque in Athens and insisting that its Turkish citizens
are not really Turks.)

It all sounded very logical, and I actually wondered why anyone would
disagree with all this. Very soon, though, I found out. On the way
back home from the studio, I turned on the radio and came across
another political discussion show focusing on the same issue.

One of the participants was an academic from Marmara University:
NurÅ~_en Mazıcı, a female professor of history and a committed
Kemalist.

Dr. Mazıcı had all the looks that a Western observer could take
as evidence of “liberalism.” (When they come to this part of this
world, some Westerners readily assume that a woman who wears a modern
outfit with chic makeup rather than a headscarf is, by definition, a
“liberal.”) But she was in fact defending the most illiberal stance
on the patriarchate: Yes, Greeks in Turkey should have the “right to
worship,” she said, but the Halki Seminary should be kept closed and
the word “Ecumenical” should never be allowed.

But why? According to Ms. Mazıcı, all answers were rooted in history.

She argued that, during the fall of the Ottoman Empire, some of
the Armenian or Greek institutions were used as secret weapons and
ammunition caches that were later used against Turkish forces. This,
she, said, was enough of a reason for modern-day Turks to look at
these Christian institutions “with suspicion.”

At that moment, I desperately wanted to be in the same studio to ask
her: “So, do you really think that if the Halki Seminary was reopened,
bombs and rifles would soon be stockpiled there to be used by the
3,000 Greeks that have remained in Istanbul against 70 million Turks?”

A minute later, Dr. Mazıcı insisted that the patriarchate should
never be allowed to use the word “Ecumenical.” Her reasoning was
mind-boggling: The world, particularly the United States, was
pressuring Turkey to set the patriarchate fully free, and heeding
that advice would be “subservience to America.”

With the same line of reasoning, one could have argued that Turkey had
to torture its citizens systematically as it did until a decade ago,
because otherwise it would be “subservient” to the European Union,
which has pressured Ankara to respect human rights.

This is the intellectual level and the moral quality of the enemies
of religious freedom in Turkey. It is a sad fact that they cannot be
convinced for the better. But it is a refreshing fact that they are
more marginal than they used to be.