Author: Kanayan Tamar

FIVE AZERI SOLDIERS KILLED IN BORDER CLASHES WITH ARMENIA

Press TV

June 5 2012
Iran

Tensions rise in the Caucasus region after five Azerbaijani soldiers
were killed and several more wounded in border clashes with Armenian
forces.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry blamed the Tuesday fighting on “a
group of Armenian saboteurs” who attempted to penetrate the Azeri
military positions in the northwestern town of Gazakh, AFP reported.

The Armenian side, however, accused Azerbaijan of causing the violence,
saying that “a subversive group of 15 to 20 people attempted to
infiltrate Armenian territory”.

On Monday, Yerevan claimed Azeri forces had killed three of its
soldiers and wounded six more after an attempted incursion ended in
a gun battle on the border.

Baku, however, denied the allegation.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have long been at loggerheads over control of
Nagorno- Karabakh.

Some 30,000 people lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of people
were displaced in both countries in a war between the neighbors in
the 1990s, which saw Armenia-backed separatists take the mountainous
territory.

Years of negotiations since the 1994 ceasefire has failed yield a
final peace deal, with frequent exchanges of gunfire reported along
the front line.

Azerbaijan has threatened to use force to take back Karabakh if peace
talks fail to yield satisfactory results, but Armenia has warned of
large-scale retaliation against any military action.

The Tuesday violence erupted as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
is visiting the volatile Caucasus region. Clinton expressed concern
over the rising tensions and warned the use of force will not resolve
the long-running territorial conflict between the two neighbors.

INTERNATIONAL SONG CONTEST SHINES LIGHT ON CHANGING NATION
By Guy Taylor

The Washington Times
June 4, 2012 Monday

Ambassador touts post-Soviet strides

Azerbaijan’s hosting of the Eurovision Song contest last month
exemplified just how far the predominantly Muslim former Soviet
republic has come since the days of communism, the Azerbaijani
ambassador to Washington says.

But the arrival of singers from more than 40 European nations and
Israel for the most-watched nonsporting television event in the
world also served as a microcosm of the challenges facing his nation,
Elin Suleymanov says.

In an interview with editors and reporters at The Washington Times,
Mr. Suleymanov noted how Azerbaijan sits at the crossroads of Europe,
Asia and the Middle East, and is the only nation to border “both
Russia and Iran.”

Eurovision incited hysteria among the region’s Islamists – 40 terror
suspects were arrested for allegedly plotting an attack on the event.

It also triggered negative Western European media attention.

“Amazingly, [it] became the one time when Islamophobes and anti-Semites
got together and kind of agreed on something – on bashing Azerbaijan,”
Mr. Suleymanov said. “Some in Europe criticized Azerbaijan for not
being gay-friendly enough … [and] Iranian clerics kept accusing us
of being a paradise for homosexuals because we organized Eurovision.”

That the tiny nation on the shores of the oil-rich Caspian Sea pulled
the whole thing off is something Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton likely will praise when she visits Azerbaijan during her tour
of the region Wednesday.

Mrs. Clinton will push other issues as well, such as direct talks
between the presidents of Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia on the
long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area.

The region, which burst into conflict during the 1991 fall of the
Soviet Union, also has fueled tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran
in recent years.

Iran has long supported the Armenian side, despite its being
predominantly Christian, and Azerbaijan’s alliance with Israel adds
to the friction.

While Azerbaijan provides nearly 40 percent of Israel’s oil, the
relationship has prompted some Iranians to accuse it of “being the
Trojan horse for Israel,” Mr. Suleymanov said.

U.S.-Azerbaijani relations, however, reach beyond such issues.

“Americans want to see a region that is free of terrorism and
radicalism, they want to see nations which are able to cooperate in
terms of religion and cultures, and that’s what we want as well,” Mr.

Suleymanov said.

Azerbaijan’s “objective,” he added, is to “build an independent
nation, which is committed to certain values, and stands as an example
where East and West, Muslim civilization and other civilization,
come together and work together and become an example of tolerance.”

It also is committed to advancing U.S. energy interests. Mr.

Suleymanov cited the 2005 completion of the Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline linking the Caspian and Mediterranean seas as “the biggest
tangible success” of U.S. policy in the region since the Soviet
Union’s fall.

While Mrs. Clinton can be expected to praise the energy cooperation
this week, she also may urge Azerbaijan to accelerate certain aspects
of its democratic transition – namely, media freedoms. Cases of
journalists claiming to have been beaten, arrested or smeared by the
government have plagued Azerbaijan during the past year.

Mr. Suleymanov emphatically denied that the government targets
journalists and asserted that the issue is often “blown out of
proportion.”

“You’ve got to look at the context, the majority of the Azerbaijani
population lives better today than they lived yesterday,” he said. “We
have come from a society which, in the Soviet Union, was authoritarian,
totalitarian and had no democratic traditions.”

He did, however, acknowledge a government probe into one of the more
salacious cases, involving Khadija Ismailova, a Radio Free Europe
journalist who has reported on financial dealings of the Azerbaijani
president.

A video of Ms. Ismailova engaging in sexual acts with an unidentified
man appeared in March on a website purporting to be of the main
Azerbaijani opposition party. The video was shot by a secret camera
planted in Ms. Ismailova’s apartment.

“What happened to Ms. Ismailova is disgusting, and it should never
have happened,” Mr. Suleymanov said. “We strongly condemn it.”

U.S. PROPOSAL ON KARABAKH ISSUE
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:25:19 – 06/06/2012

Today, U.S. Secretary will arrive in Baku, where she is going to call
on the Azerbaijani leadership to refrain from use of force to settle
the Karabakh issue. She told about her intention in Yerevan stating
that the use of force is not a solution. But Clinton made another
interesting statement. She informed that Washington will make new
proposals and “the citizens of both countries should contribute”.

Clinton expressed concern that the skirmishes may escalate to a
confrontation which will have tragic consequences for everyone.

Apparently, the U.S. and Europe are trying to keep the negotiations
frozen and open the borders without a final solution. This option is
not new. This is something like an “intermediate status” for Karabakh,
lifting the blockade of Armenia by Turkey, ensuring transparency
of borders, regional projects and perhaps also an agreement on
non-resumption of hostilities in exchange for some concessions
by Armenia.

Azerbaijan understands that at a certain a moment it will be forced
to accept this option and so it is trying to get as many concessions
as possible. Official Yerevan has mentioned that Baku demonstrates
readiness to use force despite Clinton’s authority.

However, Baku also understands that the alternative to this option
might be not only the large-scale war in which the West will support
Azerbaijan. This war may lead to a new phase of closed borders in the
region, not in favor of Azerbaijan. And Baku will have to accept the
“intermediate” option. Surely, unless it succeeds in getting Russia’s
support and the Western initiative fails.

Is such a scenario beneficial for Armenia? The status quo, though
temporary it may seem, is the best option for Armenia. The opening
of the border may also have a positive result, except the option of
return of territories, i.e. kilometers of security.

Apparently, the U.S. and the European Union will adopt resolutions
condemning the actions of Azerbaijan. OSCE is still silent but it is
apparently preparing a special document which will enlarge its mandate.

Prime Minister Sargsyan has already called on the European Union
to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan. American congressmen called to
suspend the deal on sale of police surveillance military hardware for
helicopters to Azerbaijan. No official condemnation has been issued
so far but it seems everyone is waiting for what Aliyev will tell Mrs.
Clinton.

But the proposal has already been made public. The foreign ministers
will meet in ten days in Paris. Will they discuss the “intermediate”
option or will Azerbaijan choose the use of force and the worst way for
itself? It will depend on whether Clinton will call Aliyev a “brilliant
leader” like she called Serzh Sargsyan. Aliyev and Sargsyan need such
guarantees not to become victims of their own nation in case of an
“intermediate option”.

“THE U.S. IS CONFIDENT THAT THE KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE RESOLVED BASED ON THE MADRID PRINCIPLES,” U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON

APA
June 5 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku-APA. ” The U.S. calls on the parties to refrain from using of
force, because this conflict has no military solution. This problem
can be solved by military means, it can only be resolved at the
negotiating table, “said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at
the press conerence with Armenian Foreign minister Edward Nalbandian.

“The U.S. is confident that the Karabakh conflict must be resolved
based on the Madrid principles, in particular, the right of peoples
to self-determination and territorial integrity, excluding the use
of force ” – U.S. Secretary of State said.

The secretary also met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. At
the meeting it was noted that the U.S. will assist Armenia in its
regional problems.

“I know, with what diligence you are looking for the solution of
regional problems related to Armenia. I hope fore continuing the
dialogue. U.S. is ready to assist and help you” – the press service
of the President of Armenia quoted Mrs.Clinton.

The Head of the Department of State also urged Turkey to normalize
relations with Armenia, saying that “the ball is in Turkey, ” APA
reports quoting voanews.com

“Obviously, this is one of the biggest problems, the United States
would like to contribute to solve it,” she said. According to her, the
development of Armenia is limited by the fact that it has no economic
relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Clinton said that there is hope
for progress in resolving the contraditions between Turkey and Armenia.

ARMENIA’S PROVOCATION AT FRONT LINE CONNECTED WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE’S VISIT TO REGION

Trend
June 5 2012
Azerbaijan

The attempts of the Armenian armed forces to complicate the situation
at the front line are connected with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton’s visit to the region, Azerbaijani MP Bahtiyar Sadigov told
Trend today.

He said that the tension created by Armenia at the front line, is
not accidental. It is part of its insidious policy.

“These actions are not random,” he said. “If we consider the period
of the ceasefire regime for the last five years, one can see that the
serious talks on Nagorno-Karabakh, the talks with the presidents are
being held every time. The Armenian side violates the ceasefire regime.

They are trying for the situation at the front line to be discussed
in the negotiation process. I think that the latter activation is not
accidental either. It is connected with Clinton’s visit to the region.”

If the Armenian side strains the situation, they will try to present
this to Clinton as pressure from the Azerbaijani side and Azerbaijan’s
blackmail toward Armenia, he said.

“Knowing that Armenia’s economic, political and military levels
are much lower than that of Azerbaijan, Yerevan will seek for the
military variant of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be
always rejected in the negotiation process and for Armenia to be able
to maintain the status quo,” he said.

He said that exacerbating the situation at the front line, Armenia
is playing with fire.

“Let the Armenians remember this,” he said. “The fact that the
Azerbaijani lands are under long occupation strains the nerves taking
into account that Azerbaijan is a strong country, but a weak country
holds its lands under occupation and tries to strike blows. This is
a very dangerous game.”

It should be recalled that at 06:30 on June 5 Armenian sabotage
group’s efforts to enter Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ positions in
Ashagi Eskipara village in the Gazakh region failed and it retreated
by suffering losses.

As a result of the fight, 4 soldiers of Azerbaijani Armed Forces
were killed.

Another Azerbaijani soldier was killed as a result of fire opened
from nameless heights in Gazakh region.

Earlier, military sources told Trend that the Armenian armed forces
attempted to attack the Azerbaijani positions in the Gazakh region.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

AZERBAIJAN TROOPS KILLED IN ARMENIA BORDER CLASH
By Aida Sultanova

Boston Globe

June 5 2012
MA

BAKU, Azerbaijan-Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said Tuesday that five
of its soldiers were killed in clashes with Armenian troops alongside
the border separating the two countries, deepening tensions between
the two former Soviet nations.

The ministry said in a statement that exchanges of gunfire have been
reported over the last two days at numerous points along Azerbaijan’s
western border. Armenia had said earlier that three of its soldiers
died in the clashes.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have for two decades been at odds over the
disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory, which lies within Azerbaijan,
but was taken over by Armenia during a six-year war that killed about
30,000 people and displaced 1 million.

The incidents come just as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton has embarked on a tour of the South Caucasus in the hope of
mediating progress in territorial disputes in the region.

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said one clash took place near the
village of Ashagy Askipara early Tuesday morning, after their soldiers
were attacked by Armenian commandos. Four Azeri troops were killed
in the fighting, officials said. Another soldier died in a separate
incident, the ministry said.

Armenia on Monday said three of its soldiers were killed and another
six were wounded in villages nearby.

Clinton decried the “senseless deaths of young soldiers and innocent
civilians” as part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict — just hours
after Monday’s border clash.

“I am very concerned about the danger of escalation of tensions and the
senseless deaths of young soldiers and innocent civilians,” Clinton
told reporters after a dinner with Armenia’s president and foreign
minister. “The use of force will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,” she said, urging the sides to refrain from violence.

Warning that Azeri-Armenian tensions could escalate into a broader
conflict with terrible consequences, Clinton said the U.S. would
continue to press with France, Russia and others on mediation efforts.

Violations of the cease-fire have been frequent, and diplomatic
efforts to solve the conflict have failed. The U.S. hopes that at the
least Armenia and Azerbaijan can agree to a set of basic principles
that might lead to peace. These include the return of territories
and uprooted people to their homes, and an eventual vote on the
area’s future.

ARMENIA TO BE REPRESENTED AT ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL WITH ITS OWN PAVILION

ARMENPRESS
5 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenia will be represented at Annecy
International Animation Film Festival within a non-competitive “Travel”
program. The festival will be held June 4 in French Annecy city

Member of the Armenian delegation Gohar Gasparyan told Armenpress
from Annecy that 120.000 tickets have been sold till June 5, and
there are still queues near booking offices.

“Robert Sahakyants Production” animation studio, which represents
Armenia at the world film market, will come forth with retrospective
showing of the works of Armenian famous animator Robert Sahakyants.

According to Mr. Gasparyan, the 2nd Armenian program is called “20
years of independent Animation in Armenia”. 15 cartoons of Armenian
multipliers are presented here.

Within the festival the Armenian delegation will come forth with
“Robert Sahakyants” pavilion.

This year the festival will have 7000 participants from 80 countries.

THE IRONY OF FATE OR THE REVERSE EFFECT OF THE SONG CONTEST

Monday, 04 June 2012 05:11

Judging by the latest publications in the world press, in which the
criticism of the situation on human rights and freedom of speech in
Azerbaijan is sounded more frequently and sharper, heavy times for this
country are coming. I must say that, in fact, the problem of democratic
freedoms was always available in Azerbaijan, but due to some reasons,
which will be noted below, the corresponding international structures
preferred to turn a blind eye to them.

We can say that the ice was broken when two young Azeri bloggers,
who placed a satirical video at the Internet, in which they ridiculed
the corruption in the government structures, were imprisoned for
one and a half years. Such a harsh reaction of official Baku caused
a flurry of angry criticism by many human rights organizations,
in particular, the well-known Amnesty International. Since then, the
“record” of Azerbaijan on the gross violation of fundamental rights and
freedoms has been steadily expanded, increasing the critical mass. The
apotheosis was in the period of organizing and conducting Eurovision
– 2012 international song contest in Azerbaijan.At first glance, it
may seem strange that just on these days, strictly, on May 24, the
European Parliament’s resolution on Azerbaijan – “On the Violation
of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law” – was born. But,
I think this is certain regularity. The fact is that the Azerbaijani
authorities, which have a very solid experience in splurging, intended,
via the Eurovision – 2012, to demonstrate their “Europeanism” to the
world, allowing many journalists to visit Azerbaijan on the eve of the
competition. Alas, they miscalculated, as the opposition also hurried
to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Eurovision,
attracting the attention to the real situation in Azerbaijan by their
protest actions. The effect, for which the Azerbaijani authorities
expected, was quite the opposite – their imaginary openness turned
against them, because foreign visitors and journalists made out
the real situation on human rights behind the veneer of the Song
Contest in Baku. In other words, they saw not a European country,
but a “Potemkin (read – Aliev’s) village” with European tinsel.

Ironically again on May 24, the report of European Initiative for
Stability organization was made â~@~Kâ~@~Kpublic, which, basing
on the facts, showed how official Baku sought positive ratings on
“the level of the democratic processes” in Azerbaijan by bribing
European officials.

Given this type of diplomacy, cynically called ”caviar” by the
Baku authorities, one could hardly expect for the objectivity and
impartiality of the European institutions. That is why the emergence
of the European Parliament resolution seemed a little strange.

But, let’s recall the resolution itself. It criticizes the authorities’
policy, aimed at suppressing the citizens’ rights and freedoms,
and calls upon the EU member-states to use targeted sanctions
against those responsible for the violation of human rights in
Azerbaijan. Baku’s reaction was quite predictable. On May 29, the
Azerbaijani Milly Mejlis issued a statement addressed to the European
Parliament, condemning its resolution and calling it “unjust and
directed against Azerbaijan”. The statement reads, in particular,
that “the success of Azerbaijan causes the concern of certain forces,
which try to strike a blow to the democratic image of the country”
(!!!).It would be strange if official Baku did not see the Armenian
trace in the European Parliament’s actions, and therefore the statement
also said that the pro-Armenian forces, opposing the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, tried to blacken Azerbaijan and called
upon the European Parliament not to be led by Armenia. To be frank,
it is a quite clumsy attempt to move the arrow on Armenia. Although,
for the totalitarian regime of Aliev this is, surely, easier to do
than, in response to objective criticism, to fulfill the commitments
of Azerbaijan assumed when joining the Council of Europe and to take
measures for the real democratization of the country.

It has become customary that for all its troubles Azerbaijan blames
only Armenians and pro-Armenian forces, which is confirmed also by the
reaction of Baku on the resolution of the European Parliament. But,
let’s present a very remarkable quotation: “As a result of the
total corruption and regular violation of the rights of its citizens,
Azerbaijan is always included in the list of the non-free countries of
the world”. This is an excerpt from an article in the newspaper Mirror
by famous Azerbaijani writer and screenwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov who
cannot belong to pro-Armenian forces, which “try to strike a blow
to the democratic image of the country”. It is the country, which,
by the definition of Ibragimbekov himself, has no analogues in the
world on the violation of human rights.

We believe that the current authorities of Azerbaijan have to
understand that the image of the country is stricken, first of all, by
themselves through their anti-democratic actions on both the domestic
and foreign policy arenas, and therefore they should not search for
those guilty on the side. It is obvious that only under the real
democratization of Azerbaijan international structures will be able
to put an end to their fair criticism. Also, it will be possible to
achieve the final settlement of the Karabakh conflict, with which
official Baku is trying to cover up its totalitarian nature.

Leonid MARTIROSSIAN Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper

“THE DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IN RUSSIA IS HIGH RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME”
Ruzan ISHKHANIAN

Tuesday, 05 June 2012 11:22

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Armenia to the Russian Federation Oleg YESAYAN was also invited to the
May military parade in Artsakh. Following is an exclusive interview
with him:

– Mr. Ambassador, today you are in your homeland sharing the joy of
the May victories with us. What feelings are overwhelming you and
what are your impressions on the military parade?

– The military parade was organized perfectly, in accordance with all
the modern standards. The real scope of the spirit of the Artsakh
people was presented here. I was thinking what other element could
be introduced in the parade to make it more complete, but I failed to
find it. Next to me were guests from Moscow and other countries, and
their impression was exactly the same. I would conditionally divide
all the participants of the parade into three groups: the first were
those whose activities were reflected by this military parade, that is,
those who were mostly on the stands; the second group comprised the
children of our independence. No matter how we are connected with
this Movement, even representing, perhaps, its authors, however,
we are not its children. They are the 18-20-year-old young men who
were proudly marching across the Renaissance Square. The third group
comprised the Great Patriotic War veterans.

The military parade was dedicated also to the 67th anniversary of the
Victory at the Great Patriotic War. I should note that for me and for
anyone of my age it was a holy war. My parents took part in this war,
and I was born just after the war, that is, I am the first post-war
“issue” (1946), so I treat this victory with full holiness.

Again, recalling the young participants of the military parade,
I must say that these are the children of the Artsakh War. The
youth, which currently serves in the Army, defends the generation
that welcomed those marching with the state flags of Karabakh. For
me, the military parade is not just the movement of the military
equipment across the square. I saw three generations, standing next
to each other – one as continuation of another. Military parades
will take place in the future as well, and they will be organized
in accordance with the latest technology, but this parade will be
remembered by the fact that all those who led the struggle of our
people over the past 20 years were standing on the tribune. This
is more than symbolic. In the future we will have new leaders, but
they will be related to May 9, 1992, so as I am to May 9, 1945. The
concert was also quite impressive. I’d like to point out two facts:
earlier, our songs were rather a cry about the past than a hope
for the future. At the Stepanakert stadium, I heard songs and saw
dances that inspired to the achievement of our goal. In this case,
the art of performance was not so significant. People were dancing
enthusiastically. During the concert, next to me was the primate of
our diocese in Russia, father Ezras. He said, “Mr. Ambassador when
else could so many Armenians rejoice together?”

– I take your words as philosophical generalization of our people’s
way passed. What would you say about the triple holiday itself?

– On my way here I kept thinking that with the passage of years the
liberation of Shushi as a holiday becomes more impressive and has more
powerful impact. They say that the large is seen from a distance. This
truth is fair for the historical, military and political realities.

But, I’d like to substantiate the greatness of Shushi liberation
as a phenomenon in my own way. Surely, we are talking about three
separate holidays, but in our case May 9 coincided with the Day of
Victory at the Great Patriotic War. I think that the three independent
holidays still have an internal logical connection: who else if not
the descendants of the winners of the Great Patriotic War had to
liberate Shushi? It is not accidental that at the beginning of the
parade portraits of famous Armenian military leaders, in particular, of
Karabakh origin, were carried across the square. It is not accidental
that the Day of our Army was supposed to be the day when the Army
liberated the ancient Armenian town of Shushi. Being in a logical
successive link, these three holidays make a whole. That is why this
holiday is celebrated by the Armenians all over the world: some focus
on the liberation of Shushi, some – on the Day of the Army, and some
– on the Victory at the World War II, depending on what prevails in
terms of their own perceptions.

In any case, I’d like to mark out the liberation of Shushi. Why? From
the standpoint of a purely military and political terminology, the
liberation of a town would mean liberation from those who previously
lived in this town, or elimination of a regime that ruled there. In
our case, perhaps both facts took place, but, nevertheless, if this
event had been limited just with this, it would have not been so
significant. The brilliantly conducted military operation, as a
result of which the town built by Armenians again became Armenian,
had a deeper meaning. Was it possible to liberate other Armenian
settlements without liberating Shushi? Surely, not. Thanks to the
victory in Shushi, we, first of all, have got rid of the psychological
complex coming from centuries. Almost every geopolitical phenomenon
related to the Armenian people certainly led to the death of its
part and to the loss of the homeland. The nation seemed to come
to terms with its fatal destiny, having lost Western Armenia,
Nakhichevan and Karabakh… And the years of 1915 was the apogee of
our people’s tragedy. With the liberation of Shushi, we got rid of
the psychological complex of humility with our grief. I have always
regarded this phenomenon in this way, but I say this for the first
time. There is another fact, which I must note. A significant result
of the national-liberation struggle was the release of Tigranakert
from the bosoms of the earth. We returned our history in the literal
and figurative sense. If we had not liberated Shushi, Tigranakert
would have remained in the bosoms of our history. I pronounce the
word “bosom” and remember the words of Hovhannes Shiraz: “The Lake of
Van should be searched at the gleam of the Lake of Sevan”. Following
the same logic, we can say that we found Tigranakert at the gleams
of Shushi. Finally, Shushi was one of the factors consolidating
the nation.

– Mr. Ambassador, I want to continue with your last thought and to note
that the liberation of the ancient Armenian fortress-town poses new
challenges before Armenians. After the military parade, I spoke with
many of our compatriots from different communities of the Diaspora,
and they all agreed that it would be nice if young Armenians living
abroad, of course, if they wish, would be allowed to serve at the
Armenian Army. They say there are many young people wishing this.

Are there such moods in Russia?

– I am very pleased that such moods are prevalent among the Armenians
who live far away from the Motherland. Hundreds of our compatriots
living in the Russian Federation and representing citizens of Russia
apply to our diplomatic missions (we are represented not only in
Moscow) for getting the RA citizenship, which is permitted by the RA
legislation. To remind, the RA legislation allows dual citizenship.

Those wishing can apply to our diplomatic missions, prepare the
corresponding documents, and apply to the President of the Republic
of Armenia for giving the citizenship. Becoming citizens of Armenia on
a simplified procedure, our compatriots can serve at the Armenian Army.

There are many similar examples. I take this opportunity to reiterate
that service in the army is the sacred duty of every young man,
regardless of the place of residence. It is an indisputable truth
and an indispensable condition for the existence of our army, and,
consequently, of our independence.

– Being at the origins of the Artsakh state building, you basically
dealt with the domestic issues of the country. Now you are assigned
to the diplomatic mission: you are the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the RA to such a superpower as the Russian
Federation, but on the other hand, you are a native of Karabakh,
which imposes additional responsibility on you…

– June 1 marks the six years of my diplomatic career: the first four
years I was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
RA to Belarus and the RA Permanent Representative to the statutory and
other bodies of the CIS, as the CIS headquarter is situated in Minsk.

And I have been Armenia’s Ambassador to the RF for already two years.

One of the features of the diplomatic activity is that not everything
takes place openly. Everything related to the Karabakh conflict
settlement and the ensuing issues require collaboration of the RA
Embassy and NKR Mission to Moscow, which is done in an atmosphere
of mutual understanding and high sense of responsibility. President
Sargsian qualified the diplomatic activity of the RA abroad related to
the resolution of the Karabakh issue as the responsible and immediate
task of every Ambassador. So, for every Ambassador, and especially
for me, it is a paramount task and I take it with an extremely high
sense of responsibility.

CDS OF FILMS SHOT WITH IAN GILLAN TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN ARMENIAN MUSICAL SCHOOLS

news.am
June 05, 2012 | 17:23

YEREVAN. – Two films were shot with the participation of Deep Purple
vocalist Ian Gillan.

Videos made during the visit of rock-singers [Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
and Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell)] to Armenia and Gillan’s
interview within ‘Armenia is Grateful to Rock’ project in October,
2009, served as basis for ‘Pictures of Home’ documentary.

ArmRusGasprom is a sponsor of ‘Pictures of Home’ film. One copy of
a CD will be distributed to Armenian musical schools.

Gillan speaks about religion, God, culture and presents himself as
a human being with deep and psychological views.

The other film ‘Chopin’s Story by Ian Gillan from Deep Purple,’
which was shot last year, won four international awards, including
a Brazilian film festival in Florianopolis, where it won in the best
documentary film category.

The rock stars promised to help rebuilding the Gyumri No. 6 musical
school during their 2009 visit to Armenia.