Author: Kanayan Tamar

AZERBAIJAN UNLIKELY TO WIN WAR, SAYS ARMENIA HERO

tert.am
06.06.12

Azerbaijan does not have enough potential to win a possible war
against Armenia, says a legendary hero of the Nagorno-Karabakh
(Artsakh) liberation war.

Commenting on the recent clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,
an ex-deputy minister of defense, Major General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan
(aka Komandos) told Tert.am that Azerbaian’s propaganda aims to
convince its society that the country is capable of occupying Karanakh.

According to him, the Azerbaijani authorities have partially succeeded
in their efforts to drive Armenia to anxiety.

“They seek to cause such anxiety, disseminating reports that they
will attack,” he said, adding that the acts of provocation aim to
achieve such effect.

Ter-Tadevosyan said that the Azerbaijani armed forces are not powerful
enough to resume the war over Karabakh.

“That is the first thing to say, and after all, it is necessary to
remember that Azerbaijan has numerous ethnic groups on its territory,
who do not want to fight for the country. They have their own
problems,” he added.

As for the cross-border tensions, the major-general said they are
likely to continue in future unless the Armenia resorts to retaliation.

He then called upon the society to assist in such efforts by proposing
steps to the Defense Ministry.

“SMALL” WORLD WAR
Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:04:09 – 07/06/2012

The developments in Syria and negotiations between Iran and the Western
community indicated gradual alignment of forces in the regions of the
Near East, South and Central Asia and formation of regional “poles”.

Iran and Turkey definitely have ambitions and they have really become
these “poles”, still there cannot be more illusions on relatively
narrow and long-term cooperation between these two states. A mutual
and principled challenge has been made, which will have far-reaching
consequences not only for these regions. Saudi Arabia, despite
extensive defense preparations, is not a military power but an arms’
warehouse which the Saudi people are unable to understand.

Iran is seriously preparing for a big regional war and the Iranian
politicians have no doubts about the likelihood of a large-scale
regional confrontation. Talks on “limited schemes” of war remained
good expectations and they understood in Tehran what is expected for
the Iranians. In this relation, Iran actually spells out its vision
of a possible war.

Certainly, neither the Iranian people, nor the Iranian society wants a
war, and they try to avoid it but the Iranian elite understands that
in this situation the war is not the worst thing and they will have
to fight for otherwise a national and state catastrophe is possible.

On what is the Iranian strategy based? Iran has worked out several
military actions first of all in the South and North-West directions,
it has acquired so much armament that would be enough for two
regional wars.

There is another circumstance which has to taken into account by
many regional countries. Iran is interested and will try to become
involved in military actions as many countries as possible. This is
clear to the main regional rivals, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Currently, no one doubts that the position of Iran on the Near East
is stronger than Turkey’s. Taking into account the fact that the
key sub-region of the Near East is the countries of the “Fertile
Crescent”, and not the Arabia sub-region of Maghreb, the Iranian
influence is absolutely more preferable. In a certain sense, Iran’s
influence in this key sub-region of the Near East is more important
than the influence of Saudi Arabia.

In case hostilities start, the parties to which are already defined,
the Eastern Mediterranean, the Tigris and Euphrates basin and the
Persian Gulf will become arena for historical confrontation.

Will the South Caucasus be involved in this war? Generally, the
region is considered as a subordinate in the scenarios of war in
the Middle East. But will this be a mistake and could the South
Caucasus detonate a regional war in the Middle East? The Black Sea –
the Caucasus – the Caspian Sea have become the region where you can
read the encoded script of the Middle East war. This will not only
provide increased military presence of the U.S. and NATO in Eurasia
but will also create a barrier between Russia and the Middle East
and possibly also between China and the Middle East.

Most probably, the U.S. military circles understand that it would
be preferable to limit the area of the military actions within the
Persian Gulf zone and some geopolitical points. But, it cannot be
ruled out that the U.S. has some influential groups that would like
to take this situation and enlarge the geography of the military
actions to other regions and sub-regions.

Besides, Iran itself will be interested in the enlargement of the
geography of the military actions which would be an important if not
the crucial resource for Iran’s strategy. Politicians in Tehran would
never launch military actions without political aims. First of all, the
point is the change of borders and configuration of state boundaries.

20-30 countries might get involved in a big regional war which we
will have to call a “small world war”.

THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN GREECE AT THIS STAGE

04.06.2012

Vahram Hovyan
Expert at the Center for the Armenian Studies, “Noravank” Foundation

Number and Places of Residence
The number of the members of the Armenian community in Greece in the
20th century fluctuated. In 1923 it reached its peak (120 thousand
people), which was conditioned by the mass migration of the Armenians
to that country caused by the Armenian pogroms in 1890s, the Armenian
Genocide in 1915 and Greek-Turkish war (1919-1922).

Later on, however, migration of the Armenian population from Greece to
the Soviet Armenia, European countries and United States was observed.

Migration to the Soviet Armenia was conditioned by the policy
of repatriation to which the Armenian community in Greece made a
contribution. In 1924-1927, 1932-1933 and 1946-1947 about 60 thousand
Armenians from Greece repatriated to the Soviet Armenia1.

Migration to more developed European countries and United States was
and is conditioned by social and economic factors. Though today Greece
is a member of the European Union its economy is not the best one in
Europe. The economic crisis which has flamed up in Greece recently
and caused governmental crisis is a sharp evidence of this. Due to
this reason a tendency of leaving for more trouble-free and wealthy
European countries and United States can be observed in the Armenian
community in Greece.

At the same time, after the independence of Armenia a big number
of migrants from Armenia, induced by war, earthquake, blockade and
other difficulties, alongside with other countries immigrate to Greece
either. The number of the Armenians who have migrated to Greece over
the recent two decades is about 30-40 thousand2. And according to
some other sources the number of the Armenian community in Greece has
grown 7 times, thus increasing from 12-13 thousand to 70-80 thousand3.

The Armenian community in Greece is spread all over the Greece.

Nevertheless, the biggest number of the Armenians lives in Athens
and Salonika where their number reaches correspondingly 10 and 11.5
thousand people.

Current description of the community Being one of the traditional
communities of the Armenian Diaspora, the Armenian community in Greece
includes almost entire reach palette and variety of the Armenian
spiritual and cultural, social and political life. The current variety
of the Armenian community in Greece is manifested mainly in three
aspects – social, political and spiritual.

Division of the Armenian community in Greece on traditional and modern
communities is the factor that proves inner diversity of the community
in the social aspect. Traditional Diaspora includes Armenians who
immigrated to Greece in a result or before the Armenian Genocide;
meanwhile modern Diaspora includes Armenians who emigrated in 1990s
from the Republic of Armenia. It is remarkable that the specific weight
of the modern community is bigger than the one of the traditional
community which according to current data constitutes 13-15 thousand
people. The rest of the community is the representatives of the
“modern” Diaspora. And if the number of the traditional community
tends to decrease, in the modern community tendency of growth is
observed as the migration from Armenia to Greece continues, though
not at the same pace.

In political aspect two of three traditional Armenian political
parties are spreading their activity in Greece – ARFD (Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun) and Armenian Democratic
Liberal Party (Ramkavar). The activity of these two traditional
parties provides variety of the ideological and political field
(national socialist – ARFD and liberal – Ramkavar) in the Armenian
community in Greece. ARFD’s “Hay Dat” commission takes special place
as a political body of the community.

In the spiritual aspect though the overwhelming majority of the
Armenian community in Greece is the adherents of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, but side by side with them there are Catholic and
Evangelical Armenians either. The Catholics and Evangelicals number
several hundreds each.

Today there are 10 Armenian Apostolic, 2 Armenian Catholic and 2
Evangelical churches in the Armenian community. If the Apostolic
Armenians besides Athens are scattered over other cities and population
centers in Greece, Catholic and Evangelical Armenians are living
mainly in Athens.

The relations between Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical churches
are based on tolerance and collaboration grounds. No encounters on
confessional grounds are known.

Community organizations The vital activity of the Armenian community
in Greece is also conditioned by its organization which is provided by
the activity of community organizations. Besides traditional parties
and three Armenian churches (Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical),
there are also other numerous and various organizations.

The leading organizations of the community are National center and
National administration.

Other organizations of the Armenians community in Greece can be
divided into two groups:

â~@¢Branches of the all-Armenian organizations in Greece. Such
all-Armenian organizations as AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union),
Homenetmen (Armenian General Union of Body Culture), Hamazkayn Armenian
Cultural and Educational Association, “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund,
etc. have their branches in Greece.

â~@¢Community organizations. There are various community organizations
working side by side with the local branches of all-Armenian
organizations and among those local organization the following groups
can be singled out: 1. Media. There are printed and electronic Armenian
media in Greece.

The printed media are “Azat or”, “Nor Ashkharh”, “Hayastan” and
other periodicals.

As we have already mentioned besides printed periodicals there are
also web-sites playing an important role in information dissemination.

Besides the web-site of the Greek Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic
Church (), today there are also community web-sites
(, ).

Printed and electronic media cover life of the Armenian community in
Greece, in Armenia, other communities of Diaspora as well as turns
to the nationwide events.

2. Educational organizations. In the Armenian community in Greece the
Armenian educational institutions, among which particularly Sophie
and Levon Hakobian, Zavarian, Gulpakian schools can be distinguished,
were and are still working.

3. Cultural organizations. As cultural organizations “Hayastan” center,
“Araks” cultural association, etc. are remarkable.

4. Social organizations. Among such organizations activity of “Yerevan”
association is remarkable. It deals with the issues of the Armenian
students studying at the military institutions in Greece.

Besides cultural activity “Hayastan” center spreads eager public
activity either.

Challenges and capabilities The Armenian community in Greece, just
like other communities of Diaspora, is influenced by positive and
negative effects. The positive effects are favouring strengthening
of the community and promote its vital activity. Negative factors
are affecting the community.

Among the negative factors or challenges affecting the Armenian
community in Greece the followings can be distinguished:

1. Economic crisis, which boosts migration of the Armenians from
Greece.

2. Dioceses issue, i.e. whether the Greece Dioceses of the Armenian
Apostolic Church belongs to the Mother See of Holy Edchmiadzin or
to the Armenian Catholicosate of Great House of Cilicia. The Greek
Dioceses established in 1920s first was under the jurisdiction
of Mother See of Holy Echmidzin. But in 1958 it came under the
jurisdiction of Cilicia Catholicosate. Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin
did not put up with it and established Dioceses structure which
reported to it. Today both of these organizations exist and put in
claims for leadership. Though this causes unhealthy competition,
till now, it has not brought to the splitting of the community.

3. Language issue. Though a number of the Armenian education
institutions are working in Greece, nevertheless, judging by
the fact that the Armenian web-sites in Greece are in Greek
(, ), it can be assumed that
the Armenian community, just like other Armenian communities, face
the issues of preservation of the Armenian language. Rather big
stratum of the Armenians does not speak Armenian. In the Armenian
community in Greece the process of loss of the national attributes,
including language is at fast pace.

The Republic of Armenia is the factor which has positive effect on the
community life. Independence of Armenia (in 1991), establishment of
the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Greece (in 1992), opening
of the Armenian embassy in Greece added new spark to the life and
activity of the community. The community felt more tangible presence
of motherland and state. After the establishment of the Ministry of
Diaspora (in 2008) the influence of this factor has even grown.

The influence of the factor of the Republic of Armenia in the Armenian
community in Greece is connected with the activity of the Armenian
Embassy, Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia, visits of the presidents
of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh to Greece, etc. The aforementioned
factors have the following positive aftermaths.

Stirring up of the community life. The Embassy of Armenia stirs up
community life by means of organizing and holding different events.

E.g. an event devoted to the 20th anniversary of the Armenian army
held on January 26, 2012 is remarkable.

Consolidation of ties with motherland. After the independence of
Armenia and establishment of the diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Greece, ties between Armenian community in Greece and motherland
became stronger. E.g. the Armenian community in Greece is also included
and actively participates in “Come home” programme initiated by the
Ministry of Diaspora.

Coordinated and target assistance from Armenia. The Republic of
Armenia, mainly through the Ministry of Diaspora, promotes solution
of different problems of the Armenian community in Greece. In this
aspect provision and publishing of text-books for schools, professional
training of teachers, etc. is important.

Armenian community as a factor Being one of the oldest and most
organized communities in the Diaspora, the Armenian community in
Greece, despite all the difficulties, plays an important role for
the Armeniancy and Armenia.

The community, being an integral part of the Armeniancy, promotes the
solution of the all-national issues contributing to the obtaining
of nationwide goals. Preserving and development of this factor are
crucial for the potential of Armeniancy.

As a factor the Armenian community in Greece is considered in the
life of the Armeniancy in the following aspects:

1. Political – The political significance of the Armenian community
in Greece is conditioned by its devotion to the all-national issues
(international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh
issue) and struggle for their resolution. The main way of promoting
resolution of those issues for the Armenian community in Greece is
lobbying activity. The main lobbyist organization of the community
is the ARFD “Hay Dat” commission. Back in 1996 due to the efforts of
“Hay Dat” the Greek parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide. But
the struggle of the community is not over yet, as the main goal –
recognition of the Genocide by Turkey and retaliation – is not
complete. In particular, the community does its best to voice the
issue of the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide
when it comes to discussion of Turkey’s joining European Union. As
Greece is an EU member its stance is vital for Turkey. The Armenian
community works eagerly in this direction with the Greek authorities.

The Armenian community is weighty factor during the elections and
the political powers in Greece cannot but reckon with its stance on
different issues, including foreign policy4.

Another important all-national issue which is promoted by the Armenian
community in Greece is the Artsakh conflict settlement. The Armenian
community in Greece tries within its capabilities to contribute to the
peaceful and pro-Armenian resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In this aspect the protest action against militant behavior and claims
of Azerbaijani side, organized by the community during the visit of the
president of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev to Greece in 2009, is remarkable5.

2. Economic – The community, despite economic crisis, eagerly
participates in the relief programmes directed to Armenia, mainly
through the activity of the local branch of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian
fund. During the telethon in 2011 the members of community donated
about 35 thousand Euros6.

3. Civilizational – The Armenian community in Greece provides the
Armenian civilizational presence in Europe and particularly in
Greece through organization of various cultural events. In this
aspect an exhibition of ancient books and frescos devoted to the
500th anniversary of the book printing in Armenia which was opened
on December 28, 2011 in the Embassy of Armenia is remarkable7.

1Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ”Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003Õ©., Õ§Õ” 370O~I

2Arevik Badalyan, Greek Armenian Community: the struggle continues

3Õ~@Õ¸O~BÕ¶Õ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ” Õ°Õ¡Õµ Õ°Õ¡Õ´Õ¡ÕµÕ¶O~DÕ¨
ÕºÕ¡Õ¿O~@Õ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¾Õ¸O~BÕ´ Õ§ Õ~@Õ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ”
Õ¶Õ¡Õ­Õ¡Õ£Õ¡Õ°Õ” Õ°Õ¥Õ¿ Õ°Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤Õ”ÕºÕ´Õ¡Õ¶Õ¨

4Arevik Badalyan, Ibid

5See Azeri President met with angry Armenian protesters in Greece

6Ð~_анÑ~JевÑ~@опейÑ~Aкий Ñ~BеДеÑ~DоннÑ~Kй
маÑ~@аÑ~Dон Ð’Ñ~AеаÑ~@мÑ~OнÑ~Aкого Ñ~Dонда
”Ð~PйаÑ~AÑ~Bан”, заÑ~@егиÑ~AÑ~BÑ~@иÑ~@оваД
Ñ~AогДаÑ~Aие абоненÑ~Bов
пожеÑ~@Ñ~BвоваÑ~BÑ~L 1 миДДион 350 000 евÑ~@о

7See Õ~@Õ¸O~BÕ¶Õ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸O~BÕ´ Õ~@Õ~@
Õ¤Õ¥Õ½ÕºÕ¡Õ¶Õ¸O~BÕ©ÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¶Õ¸O~BÕ´ Õ¢Õ¡O~AÕ¾Õ¥Õ¬ Õ§
Õ°Õ¡Õµ Õ£O~@Õ¡Õ¿ÕºÕ¸O~BÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ 500-Õ¡Õ´ÕµÕ¡Õ¯Õ”Õ¶
Õ¶Õ¾Õ”O~@Õ¾Õ¡Õ® O~AÕ¸O~BO~AÕ¡Õ°Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤Õ¥Õ½

“Globus” analytical journal, # 5, 2012

——————————————————————————–
Another materials of author

â~@¢ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY IN URUGUAY [06.02.2012] â~@¢CURRENT
CONDITION OF THE ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY IN RUSSIA[09.01.2012]
â~@¢ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN BULGARIA[07.11.2011] â~@¢ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL
COMMUNITY IN EGYPT[20.01.2011] â~@¢ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COMMUNITY
IN IRAN[22.10.2010]

HEADS OF VAYOTZ DZOR AND GEGHARKUNIK REGIONS WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR POSTS

ARMENPRESS
7 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Government removed from the
positions of Vayotz Dzor and Gegharkunik regions’ heads Sergey
Bagratyan and Nver Poghosyan according to their applications.

Armenpress reports that during the session of Armenian Government
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan mentioned: “We must thank the heads
of regions for their work done during these years”.

Sergey Bagratyan and Nver Poghosyan are members of “Prosperous Armenia”
party. At the parliamentary elections in Armenia which took place
on May 6, “Prosperous Armenia” party got 30.20 percent of votes,
gaining the second place after Republican Party of Armenia which
gained 44.05 percent of votes.

Earlier on May 24 Prosperous Armenia Party chairman Gagik Tsarukyan
issued a statement on the political decision of the party that PAP
will not to come forth in the coalition Government.

LAWYERS 7TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CIS MEMBER STATES STARTED IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
7 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS: 7th international conference of CIS
member states’ lawyers started in Yerevan. Armenpress reports that
Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan during the conference
assured that it would have positive influence in the development of
legal thought taking into consideration the exceptional experience
in CIS member states. “Post Soviet countries try today to pass into
the stage of difficult changes, which totally and qualitatively
changes the society. From that point of view we all face a number of
specific difficulties and try to find our own solutions which will
give opportunity to pass into new system from the old one organizing
that transition effectively” said Tigran Sargsyan.

Prime Minister stressed the importance of the issues which are
considered urgent by the participants of the conference and assured
that conference would give opportunity to introduce Armenian experience
in that field and implement effective exchange of opinions.

Co-Chair of the conference Dmitry Afanasev said that the aim of
the conference was to organize meeting of representatives of CIS
and international legal sphere in order to make basis for long-term
cooperation.

“Taking into consideration that CIS member states’ local companies
access international markets very rapidly international legal companies
can find new business possibilities cooperating with local legal
companies of CIS member states. It is normal that international legal
companies with to establish stable and reliable business relations
with local consultants in CIS states” said Co-Chair stressing the
importance the establishment of relations between representatives of
this sphere from Post Soviet region.

135 representatives of several authoritative legal companies take part
in the conference. The co-organizer and host side of the conference
is CJSC “America”.

FRANCE : “PAS DE SOLUTION MILITAIRE AU CONFLIT DU HAUT-KARABAGH”

Publie le : 06-06-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
presente cette information, exprimant la preoccupation de la France
a la suite des incidents violents survenus a la frontière entre
l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan, publiee sur le site du Ministère des
affaires etrangères et europeennes le 6 juin 2012.

Ministère des affaires etrangères et europeennes

Violents incidents entre Armenie et Azerbaïdjan (6 juin 2012)

La France, qui co-preside le groupe de Minsk, exprime sa vive
preoccupation a la suite des incidents violents survenus a la frontière
entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan qui ont fait huit morts ces derniers
jours. Elle demande aux deux pays de ne pas recourir a l’usage de la
force et de respecter strictement le regime du cessez-le-feu de 1994.

Il n’y a pas de solution militaire au conflit du Haut-Karabagh.

Les parties doivent s’engager pleinement a mettre en ~uvre un
règlement pacifique fonde sur le respect des principes de la
Charte des Nations Unies et de l’Acte final d’Helsinki, notamment
le non-recours a la force, l’integrite territoriale et le droit des
peuples a l’autodetermination.

Une nouvelle rencontre des Ministres des Affaires etrangères d’Armenie
et d’Azerbaïdjan avec les co-presidents du groupe de Minsk est prevue
courant juin a Paris pour continuer les negociations. Nous travaillons
a la preparation de cette rencontre.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Ministère des affaires etrangères et europeennes

LES PREMIERS MEMBRES DU GOUVERNEMENT NOMMES
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 7 juin 2012

Le Premier ministre Tigran Sarkisian et trois ministres clefs ont ete
renommes au sein du nouveau gouvernement d’Armenie forme a la suite
des elections parlementaires.

Le president Serge Sarkissian a reinstalle le Premier ministre a son
poste après une reunion avec les membres du parti Republicain d’Armenie
(HHK).

En parlant aux journalistes après cette reunion, Tigran Sarkisian a
reconnu qu’il avait anticipe sa nomination. Il a dit que le nouveau
cabinet sera entièrement forme vers le 15 juin.

Les trois premiers membres du cabinet ont ete nommes avec des decrets
presidentiels. Comme attendu, le Ministre de la Defense Nationale
Seyran Ohanian, le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères Edouard Nalbandian
et le Ministre de Situations d’Urgence Armen Yeritsian ont conserve
leurs postes.

Armen Yeritsian represente le parti Orinats Yerkir l’associe du HHK
dans la nouvelle coalition au pouvoir. Orinats Yerkir s’attend a aussi
recevoir deux autres postes ministeriels. Les autres portefeuilles
resteront au HHK.

Le porte-parole en chef du parti au pouvoir Eduard Sharmazanov a
reitere que le gouvernement ne subira pas de changements de personnel
significatifs. ” Nous croyons que le gouvernement de Tigran Sarkissian
a reussi a realiser ses tâches et pris le bon chemin en ce temps de
crise et reduit au minimum les consequences negatives de la crise
[economique de 2009] ” a-t-il dit au service armenien de RFE/RL
(Azatutyun.am).

Eduard Sharmazanov a blâme des facteurs externes au sujet de la
recession de 2009 et sa consequence sur la pauvrete en Armenie.

D’une manière previsible, l’opposition a fortement critique le
bilan socio-economique de Tigran Sarkissian. ” Aucune promesse n’a
ete accomplie, rien n’a ete fait ” a dit Hrant Bagratian, un ancien
Premier ministre proche du Congrès National Armenien (HAK).

” Il avait promis d’ameliorer la situation – d’augmenter le budget dr
l’Etat, de lèver les salaires, fr reduire la pauvrete – mais c’est
juste l’oppose qui est arrive ” a-t-il dit au service armenien de
RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am).

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”.