Author: Madatian Greg

Soprano was a first-rate substitute in opening-night ‘Aïda’
By David Patrick Stearns

Posted on Tue, Feb. 15, 2005

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Inquirer Music Critic

Oh, the drama!

Opera Company of Philadelphia’s hottest production of the year,
a heavily sold Aïda starring the soprano Angela Brown, arrived at
its Friday opening with Brown and the leading tenor, Renzo Zulian,
too sick to sing. The fourth wall separating performers and audience
shatters when the opera’s mechanism is as much a source of suspense
as the opera itself. You get two dramas for the price of one.

Both Brown and Zulian are expected to sing tomorrow, when they’ll be
reviewed for Friday’s Inquirer – but that doesn’t mean audiences from
here on are necessarily getting a better show. Brown’s replacement
last Friday (she returned for Sunday’s performance) was Lisa Daltirus,
who lives in the Yardley area, has had some important successes with
Opera Delaware and was, for me, a more complete Aïda than Brown
delivered last year at the Metropolitan Opera. Those who live for the
beauty of the human voice will prefer Brown. But for those who value
opera as drama and have gone too long without caring about Aïda,
Daltirus was all but miraculous. Only some vocal tiredness manifested
in a few threadbare notes kept Daltirus from a full-tilt triumph.

The classic love-versus-duty opera plot – with the love triangle
between the captured Ethiopian Äida, the Egyptian general Radames
and princess Amneris – momentarily seemed as vital as headlines from
Iraq, thanks to the handsome production borrowed from the Montreal
Opera and Daltirus’ burgeoning stage savvy.

Though her dusky Leontyne Price-timbre voice was the same she displayed
in her 2002 Tosca in Wilmington, Daltirus has grown beyond recognition
in other respects. Voice, physical gesture and dramatic meaning are
now all of a piece. This is quite rare.

Besides making emotional connections on a phrase-by-phrase basis,
Daltirus projected “back story”: Her body language told you that though
Aïda is a princess, she’s also from an aggressive, primitive culture
and a perpetual outsider in the stratified formality of Egypt. In
her Act I “Ritorna Vincitor!,” sung against a plain black backdrop,
Daltirus was like a mere speck in a world that towers over her. The
image projected profound fragility.

Tenor Dongwon Shin from Korea, known to Academy of Vocal Arts
audiences, made his professional debut (and also sang Sunday) with
minimum rehearsal. His fatigue was more audible than Daltirus’, but
his high notes are distinctive: His voice doesn’t thin out at the
top, but gains coloristic substance. Beyond that, his Radames can’t
be fairly judged on this performance, though given his short stature,
his biggest challenge in the future will be creating the illusion of
heroism. On Friday, with mezzo-soprano Barbara Dever towering over him,
he looked like Amneris’ breakfast.

Baritone Gregg Baker sings new roles here so often, one forgets
how good he can be when in more familiar territory such as Amonasro
(Aïda’s father). The voice is as imposing as ever, and he created
jaw-dropping electricity with Daltirus. Tigran Martirossian, a
seasoned Boris Godunov from the Bolshoi Opera, was luxurious casting as
Ramfis. Dever lacked the cutting power necessary for her character’s
bitchier moments and seems to have enemies in the costume department
in light of her unflattering Egypt-cum-Las Vegas gowns.

Chorus and orchestra were in fine shape, music director Corrado
Rovaris having the smarts and the nerve to start big choral scenes
in relative quiet, giving them somewhere to build. Robert Driver’s
stage direction was perfectly sensible. The triumphal processional –
with the Egyptian army looking like a case of too many cheesesteaks –
was a bit silly, but isn’t it always?

–Boundary_(ID_U31Xt92VzXJ+XLRmJNGYeA)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
02/16/2005
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1) Haigneré Says Turkey Should Not Take Referendum Personally
2) Violence Mars Turkish Kurd Rally on Sixth Anniversary of Ocalan Capture
3) Putin, Aliyev Satisfied with Cooperation, Increased Trade
4) Turkish Entry to EU Could Produce ‘Truly European Neighbor’

1) Haigneré Says Turkey Should Not Take Referendum Personally

(Combined Sources)–The French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Claudie
Haigneré, expressed support for a French parliamentary decision that will
require a referendum prior to the entry of any new members into the European
Union (EU).
Though the law would impact Turkey and its hopes to join the EU, Haigneré
dismissed claims that the move was a “discriminatory” measure aimed at Turkey.
Speaking at a joint press conference late on Monday following her meeting
with
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Haigneré emphasized that the French
Parliament’s
decision, which is likely to be finalized by the French Senate, was not a
“double standard” directed solely towards the Turkish people.
“It’s not possible to discriminate against any potential EU partner,”
Haigneré
was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. She added that a referendum
would be held prior to Croatia’s admittance and that Britain’s EU membership
had also been voted on in a referendum in the past.
A member of the Turkish Parliamentary Adjustment Commission Onur Oymen said,
“a referendum is something against Turkey. We understand France’s internal
policy requirements, but Turkey does not want to pay the cost. The referendum
will affect negatively Turkey’s membership [to the EU], as well as
Turkish-French friendship.”
Oymen also revealed that while in France earlier this week, he was told by
many that, “if Turkey does not recognize the Armenian genocide, it will not
join the EU. This may affect Turkey-France relations negatively,” he said.
Haigneré stressed that the idea of holding a referendum was initially
suggested by French President Jacques Chirac, as it paved the way for him
to be
able to support the Dec. 17 EU decision to open entry talks with Turkey on
Oct.
3 in the face of opposition to the idea in France.
Chirac, who is known to favor Turkey’s EU entry, has been facing political
isolation in his own country as he has been confronted with strong opposition
from both the public and his own center-right Union for People’s Movement
(UMP)
party for his support of Turkey’s EU membership hopes.

2) Violence Mars Turkish Kurd Rally on Sixth Anniversary of Ocalan Capture

Turkish rights group seeks protest violence probe

At least 15 people injured and 20 others detained in Diyarbakir in
southeastern
Turkey after police clash with protesters on the anniversary of a Kurdish
rebel
leader’s arrest.

ISTANBUL (AFP/Reuters)–A Turkish rights group, on Wednesday, called for a
probe into what it called excessive use of force by police in breaking up
protests marking the sixth anniversary of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah
Ocalan’s capture.
Riot police sprayed tear gas and wielded batons on Tuesday to disperse
hundreds of pro-Ocalan protesters in Istanbul and Diyarbakir, the main city in
the largely Kurdish southeast.
Local police said they were investigating the death from apparent gunshot
wounds of a 19-year-old man in the southern port city of Mersin, where
protesters threw rocks at police. There were also smaller clashes between
police and demonstrators in the Aegean city of Izmir and the eastern town of
Van.
Ocalan, serving a life sentence in a Turkish prison after special forces
captured him in Kenya in 1999, still commands support among sections of the
Kurdish population.
The Human Rights Association (IHD), a leading Turkish rights group, called on
the Interior Ministry and prosecutors to launch administrative and judicial
investigations into those responsible for Tuesday’s violence.
“We in the Human Rights Association condemn this mode of operation which is
based on violence, pressure and obstructing the exercise of rights,” IHD
Chairman Yusuf Alatas said in a statement.
A police spokesman said police had not yet issued a statement on the
allegations of excessive force.
Turkish special forces brought Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Ocalan
back to Turkey from Kenya in 1999 after a three-month chase around Europe and
Africa.
Before his capture, Ocalan had been searching for a safe haven. Syria threw
him out of Damascus under Turkish military pressure in November 1998. He
failed
to find long-term refuge in Italy, Russia, the Netherlands and other European
countries.
He was sentenced to death for high treason on June 29, 1999, but the verdict
was later commuted to life imprisonment once Turkey abolished the death
penalty
as part of a European Union-inspired rights reform drive.
The PKK launched a fight for an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey in 1984.
More than 30,000 have died in two decades of conflict. Violence dwindled after
his capture but revived after the group called off a unilateral ceasefire last
June.

3) Putin, Aliyev Satisfied with Cooperation, Increased Trade

MOSCOW (Itar-Tass)– After talks in the Kremlin on Wednesday, Russian
President
Vladimir Putin and Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev said they were satisfied
with
the developing cooperation between their two countries, as well as the trade
growth rate.
“Trade turnover reached a record high last year, increasing 50 percent, to
about 800 million US dollars. Our trade will soon reach one billion U.S.
dollars,” Putin said. “I’m convinced that we’ll reach it shortly.”
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan could not have imagined that the rate of trade
would expand so rapidly. “The goal is to double trade in the future and today
this appears to be realistic,” he noted.
Pointing to the speed with which projects were implemented during the past
year, Aliyev said that the two countries clearly hold mutual interests for
mutual benefits.
“It would be impossible to reach such figures without effective political
contacts,” Aliyev said.
Putin revealed that Russian companies are ready to invest in Azerbaijan,
noting that there exist “concrete projects.”
According to Azerbaijan, 10.9 percent of its 2004 overall import-export was
with Russia–second only after Italy.

4) Turkish Entry to EU Could Produce ‘Truly European Neighbor’

YEREVAN (RFE-RL)–Defense Minister Serge Sargsian looks forward to the
start of
membership talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU), saying that
Armenian could–for the first time, have a “truly European neighbor” as a
result.
In an online news conference earlier this week with readers of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) “Yerkir” weekly, Sargsian argued that the
prospect of EU membership could lead Turkey to reopen its border and establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia.
“It is my conviction that the start of membership talks between Turkey and
the
EU has a purely practical significance for us and will further contribute to
the resolution of issues mentioned by you,” he said in response to a question
about Ankara’s continuing refusal to normalize ties with Yerevan without
preconditions.
Sargsian added that Armenia wants Turkey to “develop progressively… in
accordance with European values and standards.” Armenians should therefore be
encouraged by the “possibility of having a truly European neighbor in 15-20
years’ time,” he said.
The remarks represent the most positive assessment yet by a senior Armenian
official of the EU’s decision late last year to open accession talks with
Ankara by the end of 2005.
Official Yerevan’s initial reaction to the move was far more negative, with
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian accusing the EU of turning a blind eye to the
Turkish blockade. “We believe that Turkey did not deserve to get the right to
begin accession talks with the European Union at this point,” he said in
October.
However, Oskanian struck a more positive tone in December after receiving
assurances from European leaders that they will raise Armenian grievances with
the Turks during the accession process.
Sargsian’s comments contrast even more sharply with the position of the ARF,
as well as a number of Diasporan organizations in western Europe and France.
They have for months campaigned against admitting Turkey into the EU, saying
that Ankara must first stop denying the genocide of 1915, which claimed the
lives of 1.5 million Ottoman-Armenians.
But Sargsian stressed that Armenia and Armenians worldwide can continue to
work for genocide recognition, even while Turkey knocks on the EU’s door.
“As a
statesman, I very much hope that the recognition of the Armenian genocide by
Turkey will greatly contribute to the security of our state,” he said.
During the online conference, Sargsian did not shy away from questions
dealing
with his relationship to the ARF, which he stated deserved its “due respect.”
“I don’t think that anybody has reason to consider me an ardent supporter of
Dashnaktsutyun [ARF],” he told one of Yerkir’s readers.

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–Boundary_(ID_PMbapeZsOBuYztZF2JZG/g)–

Armenian opposition party says authorities’ Karabakh policy “failure”

Arminfo
8 Feb 05

Yerevan, 8 February: The president and three coalition parties, who
have seized power in the country, are responsible for the unfavourable
for the Armenian side turn in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, the Democratic Armenia Party said in a statement today.

The PACE [Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]
resolution on Nagornyy Karabakh, the statement made by its author
David Atkinson which denied the right of the Nagornyy Karabakh people
to self-determination, the formation and visit of an OSCE mission
to the “occupied territories” point to the failure of the Armenian
authorities’ foreign policy, the statement said.

“The Armenian people have to make a choice – either democracy in the
name of Karabakh and regional security or dictatorship masked by the
Karabakh idea which may result precisely in the loss of Karabakh,”
the statement said. The authors of the statement believe that the only
way out of the current crisis is to change the quality and content
of social life.

OSCE Commissioner launches inter-ethnic initiatives in Georgia

The Messenger, Georgia
Feb 16 2005

An OSCE project to strengthen inter-ethnic relations in Georgia
is being launched by State Minister for Civic Integration Zinaida
Bestaeva, the OSCE announced on Tuesday.

The new initiative ‘Management of Inter-ethnic Relations’ was
developed by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM)
and aims at deepening inter-ethnic relations throughout the country
and particularly in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, home to a large
ethnic Armenian community.

According to the OSCE at a series of seminars and workshops, regional
and national civil servants, community leaders and NGO representatives
will address the complex topic of minority integration, will gain
greater awareness of inter-ethnic issues and will develop positive
practical strategies.

A four-day seminar opening on February 14 marked the start of the
two-year project. Two experts from Kyrgyzstan are participating in
the seminar, which is implemented by the Tbilisi-based Foundation
for the Development of Human Resources.

Pan Armenian Network

RAO UES OF RUSSIA’S SUBSIDIARY PURCHASED ARMENIAN DISTRIBUTION GRID FOR $80
MILLION

14.02.2005 17:22

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Inter RAO UES Company, the subsidiary of the RAO UES
of Russia has purchased the distribution grid of Armenia from Midland
Resources Holding LTD for $80 million, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports
noting that the official information on the bargain will be spread
in April 2005. According to the daily the World Bank is categorically
against the idea of passing the Armenian grid to the Russian party. The
daily also affirms that “after the sale Russia’s control will be
sole”. Evidently this bargain testifies of the RAO UES of Russia’s
wish to synchronize the work of the power grids throughout the whole
region. With the exploitation of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and
taking into account the item of the general agreement on the export
of the Armenian energy to Iran, the issue of the synchronization of
the energy systems of Armenia and Iran will be raised. Taking into
consideration the fact that the RAO UES of Russia controls almost
the whole Georgian power system the company is to all appearances
striving to synchronize the power systems, including the Armenian
and Georgian ones, and may be Turkish as well.

TURKISH PRESS DISPUTES WHO WILL BETTER PROTECT TURKEY FROM
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CLAIMS – POLITICIANS OR HISTORIANS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9. ARMINFO. It’s time that we accept the fact that
Armenian claims alleging that they suffered a genocide have begun to
gain acceptance, especially in the Western world, says Turkish Daily
News.

The Armenians have been diligent with respect to their goal for the
last 75 years. They have published thousands of books and articles.
They set up departments at universities and convinced the
international front. Yet, in the long run, they won international
recognition in spite of the fact that their data were insufficient
and did not reflect the truth.

We, meanwhile, just stood watching from the sidelines. We were
pacified by mere propaganda. We felt we could elude such finger
pointing by pretending that the accusations did not exist. We
believed that the international front would sooner or later recognize
the truth. But we were mistaken. The exact opposite of what we
expected has come to pass. Yet there is now no reason to cry over
spilled milk.

And thus we are opening a new chapter. We must act in accordance with
the situation encountered and reduce our losses to a minimum at this
juncture.

`STUNNING’ STEP AGAINST DEMANDS OF RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Azg/arm
4 Feb 05

Professor Yusuf Halajoglu, head of the Turkish Historical Union,
suggested to make a `fatal’ step against the demands to recognize the
Armenian genocide in the February 3 issue of Turkish Huryet. He also
suggested to apply to the UN concerning the demands of the Republic of
Armenia.

Reminding of the genocide’s recognition in many countries led by
France, Halajoglu said: ‘Turkey should take a stunning step in the
created situation. We made a suggestion to the foreign ministry. We
should invite to the table of negotiations the state that touches upon
the genocide and tell them: “prove and we will recognize that”. In
case of such a `fatal’ step, Turkey is sure to repulse the `unfair’
attack and not a single state will agree to unfold negotiations with
it. Moreover, this step will make a serious impression ofthe
international community.

By Hakob Chakrian

ARKA News Agency
Feb 1 2005

The leaders of the press-rating of ARKA for 2004 are Armeconombank,
Conversebank, Armsavingsbank, Ardshininvestbank, Anelik Bank

15TH conference of regional group of Basel committee on banking
monitoring to take place on Feb 2-4

1164 traffic accidents registered in Armenia in 2004

*********************************************************************

THE LEADERS OF THE PRESS-RATING OF ARKA FOR 2004 ARE ARMECONOMBANK,
CONVERSEBANK, ARMSAVINGSBANK, ARDSHININVESTBANK, ANELIK BANK

YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. ARKA published the press-rating of the
banks of Armenia for 2004. The leaders of the press-rating are 1.
Armeconombank, 2. Conversebank 3. Armsavingsbank 4. Ardshininvestbank
5. Anelik Bank. According to the analysis of the press signals,
during the reporting year less bank information was received, as a
result of which the quantity of press signals reduced by 32,9%
compared to 2003. At that, the share of negative press signals
accounted for 2,1% versus 6,3% in 2003.
In 2004, the share of information for `Banking Activities in Figures’
increased by 1,8 % up to 36,4%. By the volume of information entries
this section is followed by `General on Banks’, the information
weight share of which reduced by 1% to 31,3 %. Notwithstanding the
decrease of the information entries in the section `Bank Development
Policy’, it accounts for 23,1% in the structure of total information,
which is by only 0,2% less than in 2003. With regard to the rest of
the sections, the share of the section `Bank’s Economic Forecasts and
Opinions’ increased by 1,2% making 6%, and the information weight
share of the section `Clients and Service’ reduced by 2% to 3,2%.
During the reporting period, Armeconombank was the leader for 4 out
of 5 sections: `General on Banks’, `Bank Development Policy’,
`Clients and Service’ and `Banking Activities in Figures’. Anelik
Bank was active for the section `Bank’s Economic Forecasts and
Opinions’.
To note, the leaders of the press-rating for 2003 were: 1.
Conversebank 2. Armeconombank 3. Armsavingsbank 4. ACBA 5. Anelik
Bank and 6. HSBC Bank Armenia.
ARKA’s press- rating is based not on financial-economic indicators
but on facts on banking activity, information about which is received
through mass media. As a result, the higher is the level of the
awareness of a bank’s activity, the more effective is its
communications policy. When making up the press -rating, no
information for advertisement purposes was considered or analyzed.
For more detailed information see Banking Information Bulletin #01
(24) for 2004. A.H. -0–

*********************************************************************

15TH CONFERENCE OF REGIONAL GROUP OF BASEL COMMITTEE ON BANKING
MONITORING TO TAKE PLACE ON FEB 2-4

YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. 15th conference of regional group of
Basel committee on banking monitoring of South Caucasus, Central Asia
and Russian Federation will take place on Feb 2-4, CBA press service
told ARKA. The parties will discuss issues of prevention of money
laundry by banking system, peculiarities of monitoring over
non-banking financial institutions and the issue of use of basic
principles of Basel committee on effective banking monitoring. L.D.
-0 –

*********************************************************************

1164 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN 2004

YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. 1164 traffic accidents were registered
in Armenia in 2004(66 – in December), which by 13,6% exceeds the
indicator of the previous year. According to the RA National
Statistics Service, 259 people were killed (27 – in December), which
is by 2,8% more than in 2003, 1492 were injured (60 -in December),
which is by 15,3% more than in January-December of 2003. As a result
of 135 undiscovered traffic accidents, 32 people were killed and 110
were injured as of January 1, 2005. As a result of 74 accidents,
which took place because of the drunk drivers, 28 people were killed
and 114 were injured.
According to statistical data, 56,7% of the overall quantity of
traffic accidents in 2004 fell to urban and rural areas entailing 93
killed and 751 injured, 42,1% accidents took place outside of rural
and urban settlements entailing death of 162 and 726 were injured.
L.V.–0–
******

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 3 2005

Deputy FM says settlement of Armenians in Garabagh confirmed

Baku, February 2, AssA-Irada
The Azerbaijani side has no official information on the activity of
the OSCE fact-finding mission in Upper Garabagh. However, some
sources indicate that the evidence forwarded to the mission by
Azerbaijan is being confirmed, the Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov told journalists on Wednesday.
Azimov underlined that settlement of Armenians in the occupied lands
of Azerbaijan is part of Armenia’s state policy and the Armenian
press give a broad coverage to this issue.
`Armenians settled in the occupied lands are encouraged with certain
privileges, as they are granted land plots free of charge, freed from
tax payments and even their children are granted rights to reject
military service,’ the Deputy Foreign Minister said.
Azimov added that `it is impossible not to see the facts’, adding
that the OSCE mission will prepare a report based on these facts.*

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 3 2005

PACE resolution sparks differing reactions

The approval of Atkinson’s report on Upper Garabagh by the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has drawn
differing opinions from the parties interested in settling the
conflict. President

Ilham Aliyev gave a positive assessment of the PACE resolution on
Upper Garabagh, regarding it as a victory of Azerbaijan’s diplomacy.
The opposition also welcomed the document in general.
Yuri Merzlyakov, Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), told
Radio Liberty that he disagrees with a provision of the resolution
criticizing the lack of activity on the part of the MG.
“They call on us to step up activity, although we are often more
active than the parties to the conflict. However, we are not
responsible for resolving the problem instead of the conflicting
sides”.

The PACE resolution also says that if the OSCE MG-mediated talks are
unsuccessful, Azerbaijan and Armenia may take the matter to the
International Court of Justice. Merzlyakov pointed out that this
action would probably be avoided as both countries are aware that the
issue may be interpreted differently by the court. “Therefore, the
conflict should be resolved not through legal but political means,”
he said.
The Russian co-chair continued that the problem will not be resolved
this year and only a certain amount of progress is likely to be
achieved.
“The parties are interested in resolving the problem, but no
agreements have been reached thus far.”
Merzlyakov also expressed some unpalatable views for Azerbaijan. “I
believe that Upper Garabagh is a party to the conflict, as the
ceasefire, concluded by Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1994, along with
the two countries, was signed by the ‘defense minister’ of Upper
Garabagh.”
The United States has also criticized the reproach voiced against the
OSCE MG co-chairs.
The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish said that the OSCE MG
has carried out extensive work this year.
“Several meetings were held between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents, as well as the two countries’ foreign ministers,
illustrating the efficiency of the OSCE MG activity”, he said.
Touching upon the passed PACE resolution on Garabagh, the ambassador
commented that in his opinion it is of a “declarative” nature.
In reply to a question as to whether the US will continue to provide
aid to Armenia, which was recognized as the aggressor by PACE,
Harnish said that Washington has always pursued a consistent policy.
“From this standpoint, the aid being provided is aimed at achieving
peace in the region.”
“We have not and will not recognize the self-proclaimed Upper
Garabagh republic. The US recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. We welcome the attempts by the parties to settle the
conflict in peace and are witnessing progress in this area.”
The ambassador stated that Russia is playing both a negative and a
positive role with regards to the resolution of the Upper Garabagh
conflict, along with many other conflicts in the former Soviet Union.
Russia’s role in the Garabagh conflict is undeniable, he said.
Harnish added that the conflict settlement is not dependent only on
the US and Russia.
“The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents need to step up efforts in
this area”, he said.
The French co-chair of the OSCE MG, Bernard Fassier, said that the
PACE resolution on Garabagh states the stance of this organization,
which is one of the beacons of democracy in Europe. Fassier said that
other international organizations should state their position on the
Garabagh conflict as well.
The co-chair added that statements implying that the OSCE Minsk Group
is not engaged in any serious work are erroneous.

Conflicting views
Political forces in Armenia have issued conflicting opinions on the
issue.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry, via its spokesman, Hamlet Kasparian,
said that the PACE rapporteur David Atkinson’s report on the Garabagh
conflict, although it included some positive parts, was generally
incomplete.
Kasparian said the PACE resolution covers the results of the conflict
but not the reasons behind it.
“Yerevan believes that changes were made to the resolution in a
biased manner. On the initiative of the Turkish representative at the
PACE Political Committee, one of Armenia’s proposals, which was
earlier agreed upon with Atkinson, was not approved. The resolution
is not mandatory but advisory and declarative,” Kasparian said. He
said that peace talks will continue within the OSCE Minsk Group and
the positive and negative provisions of the resolution are unlikely
to affect the negotiating process.
Chairman of the Armenian parliament commission on foreign relations,
Armen Rustamian said the PACE resolution includes all the ‘dangerous’
provisions that Azerbaijan can take advantage of in the future.
“The resolution contains such terms as ‘occupied territories’ and
‘separatists’, and Azerbaijan will certainly take the opportunity of
using them against Armenia.”
Rustamian expressed confidence that Azerbaijan will start imposing an
ultimatum not only on Armenia, but also on the international
community soon, as adopting the mentioned resolution gives Azerbaijan
a legal right to retrieve its territories.
Head of the Armenian delegation at PACE, Tigran Tarasian, stated that
Armenia is satisfied with the PACE resolution. He viewed favourably
the fact that certain parliamentary members brought up the issue of
self-determination of Upper Garabagh.
Nonetheless, Armenian opposition termed the document as an absolute
diplomatic defeat of Yerevan, and essentially as an ultimatum put
forth to Armenia by the international community.