Author: Markos Nalchajian

FIDE GRAND PRIX: THREE LEADING PLAYERS REMAIN IN THE SAME POSITIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.08.2009 10:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the 10 round of 5th FIDE Grand Prix series
tournament, all matches proved effective, except those played by
tournament leaders Peter Leko, Vasily Ivanchuk and Rustam Kasimdzhanov.

Despite drawn matches and victory over Dmitry Yakovenko, Levon
Aronyan who has earned 6 points shares the 4th-5th positions with
Evgeny Alekseev (Russia). Armenian grand master falls behind Leko,
Ivanchuk and Kasimdzhanov by 0.5 points.

Another drawn game was that between Leko and Armenian grand master
Vladimir Hakobyan, such result being the eighth for the latter.

Levon Aronyan will compete against Vladimir Hakobyan in the 11th round
due on August 21. In the last two rounds, Aronyan will meet with the
undefeated Hungarian player and Ernesto Inarkiev representing Russia.

Results for 10th round:

Leko Peter – Akopian Vladimir 1/2
Aronian Levon – Jakovenko Dmitry 1-0
Inarkiev Ernesto – Bacrot Etienne 1-0
Ivanchuk Vassily – Karjakin Sergey 1/2
Alekseev Evgeny – Eljanov Pavel 1-0
Cheparinov Ivan – Gelfand Boris 0-1
Kamsky Gata – Kasimdzhanov Rustam 1/2.

Standing:

1. Ivanchuk, Vassily 6
2. Kasimdzhanov, Rustam 6
3. Leko, Peter 6
4. Aronian, Levon 6
5. Alekseev, Evgeny 6
6. Karjakin, Sergey 5
7. Gelfand, Boris 5
8. Eljanov, Pavel 5
9. Bacrot, Etienne 5
10. Jakovenko, Dmitry 4
11. Akopian, Vladimir 4
12. Kamsky, Gata 4
13. Cheparinov, Ivan 3
14. Inarkiev, Ernesto 2.

SYRIA’S AMBITIOUS ECONOMIC PEACE

The National
July 05. 2009 9:44PM UAE / July 5. 2009 5:44PM GMT

In an opinion article for the Qatari daily Al Watan, Bassam al Dhaw
praised the Syrian president Bashar al Assad for his proposal to link
the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Caspian Sea through
a series of trade routes and conclude new trade agreements between
the countries that border these bodies of water.

"The Syrian president’s vision encompasses more than politics. He is
seeking to broaden his country’s relations by boosting economic ties
and trade relations with neighbouring states, namely Iraq, Turkey,
Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan."

His vision cannot be implemented overnight. "But if his proposal
is realised, then the Eastern Mediterranean would be connected
with Central Asia. Trade routes will flourish, bringing about an
unprecedented political and cultural interaction among the region’s
population. This will promote economic development, which will lead
to a sustainable peace based on mutual interests."

The writer predicted that, in the future, the ideas put forth by Mr
Assad would become a necessity for all Arab countries and not only
for Syria. "Arabs lack the vision needed to defend their interests
and benefit from their strategic location, hence this proposal should
be worth consideration."

Arabs should seize this opportunity for peace Salah al Qalab outlined
the general aspects of the new US peace plan in a comment piece for
the Kuwaiti daily Al Jarida.

The scheme, explained the writer, would feature four main points:
establishing a Palestinian state, full Israeli withdrawal from all
Palestinian Territories occupied in the 1967 war, including East
Jerusalem, holding talks regarding the future of the remaining six
per cent of land surrounding the Old City as well as the rights of
return of refugees born before the establishment of Israel in 1948.

According to the writer, these are the only possible outcomes of the
peace plan as the Americans have continuously spoken on these issues.

"Arabs needs to be realistic and only expect what is on offer right
now from Americans. They should likewise forget the dream that US will
liberate Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea."

It is high time for Palestinians to overcome their differences and
positively engage in the peace process; otherwise, the Palestinian
cause would enter into a "black phase". The writer also called on
Arabs to join with the Americans to achieve peace.

Saddam Hussein was a "paper tiger" Reading into the statements of
former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein before the FBI, Tariq Alhomayed,
the editor-in-chief of the London-based daily Al Sharq al Awsat,
described him as a "paper tiger" who had done harm to himself, his
countrymen and to the whole region.

Saddam was a paper tiger because he overestimated the military
capacity of Iraq as a way to deter his then-enemy Iran. "In response,
the Iranians engaged in a mad arms race and they devoted all their
efforts to toppling the Iraqi regime. The Iranians had gone so far
as to co-operate with the Americans to depose Saddam. The latter
succeeded in identifying the enemy, but failed to recognise the friend.

"Today’s Iraq is about to commit the same mistake, but in a different
way. It throws itself into the arms of Iranians as if it were keeping
the friend close and the enemy closer."

Unfortunately, Iraqi officials decision to befriend the Iranians
only gives them opportunities for more involvement in Iraq’s internal
affair.

So in order to protect Iraq from foreign threats, different political
actors need to unify their position so that the country can reintegrate
itself into the Arab world and regain its position as an active and
independent international player.

Clerics should not rule on swine flu travel Commenting on mounting
fear regarding the Haj season and the spread of swine flu, Dr Shamlan
Youssef al Issa wrote in the UAE newspaper Al Ittihad that many fatwas
have emerged, banning travel to infected countries.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation has only advised that elderly,
pregnant, sick people and children postpone Haj and Umra by a year to
avoid contracting the disease. Amid this fear coupled with a delay
in enacting a unified strategy to counter swine flu in the GCC,
the number of Umra pilgrims has dropped significantly.

"What is most important for us, whether in the GCC countries or in
other Arab and Islamic countries, is to leave the decision on how
to combat the disease and counter its spread to medical experts
in the ministries of health and in other international health
organisations. As for banning travel, this should be decided by
doctors, not by clerics. This matter requires an informed opinion,
not the muddled issuance of contradicting fatwas in Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia.

"We hope that GCC ministers will make a sound decision during their
next meeting in Riyadh to address the pandemic."

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN HAVING PEACEFUL, STABLE AND PROSPEROUS NEIGHBOR, GEORGIA

Noyan Tapan
June 29, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan at a joint
press conference with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili made a
statement, which, in particular, read:

"Few peoples in the world can be proud of the fact of having such
long-lasting friendly relations like relations between the Armenian
and Georgian peoples. It is needless to say what significance our
peoples have for each other in political, economic, cultural, and
many other respects.

And I am sure that one of the primary concerns of the two country
heads should be to raise the interstate relations to the level of our
peoples’ centuries-old relations. I must say that during my contacts
with President Saakashvili I formed an impression, more exactly, I am
convinced that he also shares these approaches, and I am glad for it.

We have discussed the whole complex of bilateral relations and regional
problems. Problems of regional security were paid a special attention
in this respect. The Armenian side has repeatedly stressed in the
past and at present holds the opinion that solution of all conflicts
can be achieved only through a dialogue, strengthening of confidence
in the region, mutual respect and cooperation. We welcome any step
aimed at creating a favorable atmosphere in the region.

In the context of development of bilateral relations we paid a special
attention to issues of deepening economic cooperation and fulfillment
of joint initiatives. We hope it will contribute to decrease of the
consequences of world economic crisis influence on Armenia’s and
Georgia’s economies.

Armenia attaches much importance to communications laying through
the territory of Georgia that have an essential importance for our
economy. In this respect we have expressed an interest in quick
relaunching of the land car check-point between Georgia and the
Russian Federation.

The Armenian community of Georgia has always been the firmest bridge
connecting us. The two governments’ interest in strengthening of
Georgian Armenian community is understandable in this respect. We, in
particular, welcome the steps undertaken by the Georgian government
to mitigate the socio-economic situation in Javakhk, to improve the
infrastructures, and to create new jobs. We are ready to support this
process on our part.

I have informed Mr President about the developments in the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement. I have also informed him about the normalization
prospects of Armenian-Turkish relations and our approaches over
them. Our approach is clear: the relations should be normalized without
preconditions. The regional countries should find cooperation verges
in spite of the disagreements.

Armenia is interested in having a peaceful, stable and prosperous
neighbor, Georgia, with which we have not only common past, but
also common future. In this respect we arranged to make active
contacts between our citizens, make active student exchanges,
cultural contacts mentioning Days of Georgian Culture held this
year in Armenia and Armenian Cultural Program planned next year in
Georgia as its successful example. We also arranged to hold annual
Armenian-Georgian sports games, as well as at Mr President’s suggestion
we will hold olympiads for pupils every year. In all probability,
the first olympiad will take place this autumn.

ERGENEKON TRIAL TO GET MORE SPACE

Hurriyet
June 18 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL -The location where hearings are being held in the
Ergenekon case will be changed in order to accomodate more people
during sessions. The decision was taken by the Justice Ministry to
relocate the trial room within the Silivri prison complex due to
massive interest in the case.

The Justice Ministry has announced that the ongoing Ergenekon trial
will be relocated in order to accommodate more people. The hearings
in the controversial Ergenekon case, currently being held at the
Silivri prison complex, will be moved to a new location within the
same complex.

Ergenekon is an alleged gang that is accused of seeking to topple the
government by creating unrest in the country. The case began with the
discovery of 27 hand grenades in a shanty house in an Istanbul suburb
in 2007. Other events such as the bombing of secular-leaning daily
Cumhuriyet and the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink have been associated with Ergenekon. At the moment, hearings
have been suspended until Aug. 3. Parallel hearings with regard to
suspected retired generals will be held July 20.

Nizamettin Kalaman, the general director of prisons at the Justice
Ministry, said Silivri Prison was suffering from overcrowding, just
like all other prisons. "We cannot find room for suspects and convicts
in Istanbul," he said. "A 20,000-capacity prison is not enough for a
population of 14 million." Kalaman said the construction of two more
buildings at Silivri was still incomplete because of a problem caused
by the contractors.

753-person capacity

According to Kalaman, the sports hall in the Silivri prison complex
is being prepared for use as the new location for the hearings in the
Ergenekon case. The new courtroom can hold 753 people, including the
suspects, lawyers, the audience and members of the press. There is
a section with a 180-person capacity in the middle of the courtroom
for the suspects. For the press, a special section was arranged,
including a cafeteria and a restaurant. Members of the press will be
able to enter the courtroom directly after passing through a single
checkpoint, and there will be parking spaces for vehicles of the press
inside the prison. The former courtroom, with an original capacity
to accommodate 203 people, was enlarged to hold 405 people. Kalaman
said after the end of the Ergenekon trial, the courtroom would be
used as a sports hall again.

OPENING OF THE STEPANAKERT AIRPORT IN 2010

armradio.am
25.05.2009 17:29

The preparatory works of reconstruction of the Stepanakert airport are
finished. Head of the "Horizon-95" construction organization, which
is the contractor for construction of the airport and the passenger
complex Gagik Galstian, told Armenpress that after a long pause the
first plane can land in Artsakh already in October 2010. Parallel
to this the "Horizon-95" concurrently starts the construction of
the Stepanakert laboratory of agricultural food and the building of
Nagorno Karabakh Chief Court in Shushi.

ATOM EGOYAN: ‘INTERESTED IN HOW FAR YOU CAN GO’
Mara Math

The San Francisco Examiner
tom-Egoyan-Interested-in-how-far-you-can-go-450504 32.html
May 15 2009

When 15-year-old Simon’s class is assigned to write a story based on
a real event — a Palestinian planting a bomb in his pregnant Irish
girlfriend’s airline luggage — the orphaned Simon casts himself as
the child born of that pregnancy, sparking intense controversy via
the Internet. The Examiner spoke with Canadian-Armenian director
Atom Egoyan:

A friend of a friend said that "Adoration" was a "very Armenian way
of telling a story." What do you think she meant?

It either means that it’s very embroidered or that there’s a tremendous
amount of obfuscation [laughs], maybe both at the same time. We are,
after all, a culture that weaves rugs, so it’s part of our fabric
to play with our materials. In Armenian literature and art there’s
often something that’s kind of withheld, something mysterious.

The first appearance of the mysterious woman in a chador rings false,
and it’s only later that we see it was meant to. Do you have any fear
of losing your audience when playing false notes on purpose?

Oh, completely. It’s a fear and it’s the biggest risk. There’s a way
in which the awkwardness could be interpreted as [bad presentation
by the director], but it’s a deliberate awkwardness.

Has Simon subliminally stumbled on a psychological truth: that in
a much lesser way, even though Simon didn’t know about it, his late
father did metaphorically blow something up, an earlier part of the
father’s life?

That is a fascinating interpretation which I hadn’t really thought
of exactly, but I do think traumas are transmitted somehow.

The fury that [someone in that earlier life] must have felt, how much
is that is transferred on to Simon?

I’m always interested in how far you can go. If people honestly think
the film was trying to make a statement about tolerance, that’s a
bad presentation.

Would you say that as a director, you are drawn to tragedy and loss?

One of the conditions of being Armenian is that you can’t help but
be drawn to that, because it’s so unresolved [the 1915-17 genocide
of Armenians, denied by the Turkish government].

New technology, such as videoconferencing, is prominent in
"Adoration." Does technology isolate us as much as it connects us?

No, it connects us. It connects us to a degree that we can’t absorb,
we’re actually saturated with intimacy that we’re not really designed
to accept.

ARMENIAN MINISTER OF EDUCATION COMMENTS ON CORRUPTION AT HIGHER SCHOOLS

ARKA
March 16, 2009

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. The evidence of corruption at Armenian
higher schools must be presented to the RA Ministry of Education,
RA Minister of Education Spartak Seyranyan told reporters.

"We have always said that negative phenomena do exist in the field of
education, just as in any other sphere of social life, and pointed
out that we will struggle against them. But, of course, the right
ways of struggling must be used, because a mechanism may be chosen
that will distort the very idea of battling corruption," he said.

On March 11 morning, posters with pictures of over ten lecturers of
Yerevan higher schools were put up on the walls at some of the higher
schools, as well as at bus stops and other public places. The Miasin
movement charges the lecturers with bribery.

"I am sorry, but our laws do not clearly mete out punishment for libel
in this and other similar cases. I think that the events over the last
few days show a dangerous trend – struggle against vicious phenomena
must not come to discrediting innocent people," Seyranyan said.

He stressed that any proofs of the charges must be presented to
the administration of higher schools, as well as to the Minister of
Education personally.

Minister Seyranyan stressed that, if the facts are proved, the
Ministry of Education and Science will be the first to "carry the
matter through". Otherwise, the ones responsible for libel will be
called to account.

"Struggle against any negative phenomena must be based on principles.

When I am told that students are afraid of talking about negative
things, I do not understand because there are no grounds for
fears. During my meetings with students, they are not afraid of
speaking their problems," the Minister said.

Seyranyan said that clear facts must be available for the truth to
be established.

"The Ministry of Education is not an investigatory body. We need
facts, and if they are available, I will be the first to demand a
thorough investigation and punishment of those guilty. Otherwise,
I will be the first to demand the ones discrediting innocent people
and the organizers of the action," the Minister said.

CITIZENS BORN UNDER 1962 WILL RECEIVE INDEMNITY FOR DEPOSITS

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
February 18, 2009

To execute the NKR President’s decree "On Initial Compensation for
the NKR Citizens’ Deposits Depreciated since 1993 in "Artsakhbank"
CJSO", dated January 23, 2009, the NKR Government had introduced a
change in its decree "On Order of Initial Compensation for the NKR
Citizens’ Deposits Depreciated since 1993 in "Artsakhbank" CJSO",
dated March 30, 2004.

In compliance with this, citizens born under 1962 can receive indemnity
for deposits. Before this change indemnity was paid to depositors
born under 1958.

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

========================================== ======
Monday 9 February 2009
ARMENIA: TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR ORGANISING SHARING OF FAITH?

If two draft Laws which began passage through Armenia’s Parliament on 5
February are adopted, spreading one’s faith would be banned, Forum 18 News
Service has learnt. Those who organise campaigns to spread their faith
would face up to two years’ imprisonment, while those who engage in
spreading their faith would face up to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of
more than eight years’ minimum wages. Gaining legal status would require
1,000 adult members, while Christian communities which do not accept the
doctrine of the Trinity would be barred from registering. "These proposed
Laws contain violations of all human rights." Russian Orthodox priest Fr
David Abrahamyan told Forum 18. Religious affairs official Vardan
Astsatryan told Forum 18 the government backs the draft Laws "in general".
He declined to explain why the government has not involved the OSCE in
preparation of the draft Laws.

ARMENIA: TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR ORGANISING SHARING OF FAITH?

By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service <;

Religious minorities have expressed alarm to Forum 18 News Service at
proposed amendments to Armenia’s Religion Law and Criminal Code which
suddenly began passage through the country’s parliament on 5 February. In
particular, they are worried about proposed punishments of up to two years’
imprisonment for those outside the dominant Armenian Apostolic Church who
organise campaigns to spread their faith in public and a proposed five-fold
increase in the number of members required to register a religious
organisation. "If we don’t react this Law will be adopted," Rene Leonian,
head of the Evangelical Church of Armenia, told Forum 18 from the capital
Yerevan on 9 February. "If it is adopted, it would create an intolerant
atmosphere in the religious field."

Members of several religious communities told Forum 18 they had had no
warning of the beginning of the parliamentary process. "The first we knew
was when we heard this on television last week," Lyova Markaryan of the
Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18 on 9 February in comments echoed by
others. "It’s strange that no-one’s informed us about this," Fr David
Abrahamyan, a Russian Orthodox priest at the Mother of God Church in
Yerevan’s Kanaker District, told Forum 18 the same day. "These proposed
Laws contain violations of all human rights."

Heavy new penalties would be imposed for spreading one’s faith under a new
Article 162 of the Criminal Code. Those who organise or lead religious
communities that conduct such activity would face prison sentences of up to
two years, while those who participate in such activity could be sentenced
to up to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of 500 times the minimum monthly
wage.

The proposed changes to the Religion Law would see spreading one’s faith
("proselytism") more tightly defined in a revised Article 8. This bans
sharing of faith using financial inducements; "physical, moral or
psychological pressure"; inciting "doubt or hatred" towards other
religions, their doctrines or activity; insulting other people or
religions; and "pursuing people" at their home, place of work or
relaxation, or by telephone. Article 15 bans religions that "control" the
thoughts or personal life of their members.

Gaining legal status would become far more difficult, requiring 1,000
adult members, rather than 200 as at present. In addition, Christian
denominations could only apply for legal status if they believe in "Jesus
Christ as God and Saviour and accept the Holy Trinity". (Under the current
Law, only religious communities – except those from recognised ethnic
minorities – which have "historically-recognised Holy Scriptures" can apply
for legal status, a requirement which would continue.)

Although the proposed changes to the Religion Law do not specify
re-registration for existing communities with legal status, they would
require such communities to come into compliance with the new Law or cease
their activity.

Parliament’s website has posted the text of the two draft Laws, indicating
that they were both approved for consideration on 2 February and that they
will have two readings. Parliament’s Protocol Department told Forum 18 on 9
February that the draft Laws’ first reading began on 5 February, though no
vote was taken that day. It said discussion will resume at the next session
in two weeks’ time.

The draft Laws were prepared by Parliamentary deputy Armen Ashotyan of the
Republican Party, which is the largest parliamentary bloc with nearly half
the deputies. Forum 18 was unable to reach Ashotyan on 9 February, as staff
at his office in Parliament would not put Forum 18 through to him.

The draft Laws have the backing "in general" of the government, though not
its full support, Vardan Astsatryan, head of its Department on National
Minority and Religious Issues, told Forum 18 from Yerevan on 9 January. He
admitted though that as the Republican Party is the dominant party "they
may well pass". He said the government had sent its written view of the
draft Laws to Parliament in late 2008, but refused to supply Forum 18 with
a copy of its views until he had sought permission from superiors.

Asked where the government disagreed with the drafts, Astsatryan said that
the proposed raising of the minimum number of members to apply for state
registration from 200 to 1000 should be withdrawn. "We believe this should
remain at 200." He added that the term "proselytism" should be removed and
should not be used in such a Law. "If any religious organisation is in a
situation where the rights of others are violated, this should be
restricted only then, and with strict limitations," he told Forum 18.

Astsatryan told Forum 18 that the government initiated a meeting with
members of selected religious communities in Parliament on 12 February to
discuss the draft Laws. Asked who had decided which communities to invite,
he said the decision had been handed over to Ashotyan, the initiator of the
draft Law. Asked whether the Yerevan Office of the Organisation for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been involved and would take
part in the meeting, he responded: "We have not been in contact with the
OSCE." He declined to explain why not.

Protestant leaders told Forum 18 that they held a meeting today (9
February) to discuss their response to the draft Laws.

Leonian of the Evangelical Church in Armenia, which has 40 congregations
across the country, said it is wrong to punish people for sharing their
faith. "The approach to proselytism in these draft Laws is not the best
way," he told Forum 18. He added that he hopes the minimum number of
adherents needed to gain legal status will not be increased. "If the new
Law is adopted, communities will have to meet the new requirements and many
of them would not be able to do so."

Many religious minorities have told Forum 18 that the existing threshold
of 200 adult citizen members to register a religious community is already
too high. Fr Abrahamyan of the Russian Orthodox Church told Forum 18 that
two of the six Orthodox parishes cannot gain registration under the
existing Law because of the high threshold. "It is already difficult trying
to reach two hundred," he told Forum 18 from Yerevan on 9 February.

Fr Abrahamyan also objected to the existing restrictions for non-Armenian
Apostolic communities on sharing faith. "We don’t have the right to preach
outside our church building," he complained to Forum 18. "We can’t go into
hospitals, prisons or army barracks. We’ve also no right to build new
churches." He added that under the current Religion Law, they also cannot
receive funding from their leadership – in this case the Yekaterinodar and
Kuban Diocese based in Krasnodar in southern Russia – as it is located
outside the country.

Fr Abrahamyan said the Russian Orthodox are not opposed to the Armenian
Apostolic Church having a place of primacy. "But all religious communities
should have equal rights."

Armenia’s Constitution grants the Armenian Apostolic Church an "exclusive
mission" in the country’s life, while the April 2007 Law on Relations of
the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Church gave it extensive
privileges over other faiths.

Markaryan of the Jehovah’s Witnesses – who himself was eventually cleared
in 2001 of enticing young people into religious activity despite strenuous
efforts by prosecutors and the National Security Ministry to convict him –
says he is surprised that Parliament could now be considering such
amendments to the Religion Law and Criminal Code. "Maybe they won’t be
adopted, but we are concerned," he told Forum 18.

Artur Simonyan, chief pastor of the Pentecostal Word of Life Church,
describes the proposed Laws as "very bad for religious freedom in Armenia".
"The State Church wants to take control over every religious activity in
the country," he told Forum 18. "And therefore all the Churches in Armenia
came together to fight against this."

Astsatryan of the government’s Department on National Minority and
Religious Issues insists a new Religion Law is necessary. However, he
struggled to explain to Forum 18 why he believes this is so. "The current
Law dates back to 1991, with amendments in 1997 and 2001," he told Forum
18. "But the 2001 amendments were only very minor. Life has changed." He
insisted that religious organisations need to be "better regulated in their
juridical aspects".

Armenia’s male Jehovah’s Witnesses also face problems as no genuinely
civilian alternative to military service exists. They told Forum 18 that as
of 1 January, a total of 81 young men had been sentenced and were serving
prison terms for refusing military service, while a further Jehovah’s
Witness is serving a suspended sentence on the same charges. Officials have
repeatedly – but wrongly – denied to Forum 18 that they have violated their
commitment to the Council of Europe to have introduced a genuinely civilian
alternative to military service by January 2004 (see F18News 11 December
2008 < 1228>). (END)

Further coverage of Armenian-related religious freedom issues is at
< mp;religion=all&country=21&results=50>

A printer-friendly map of Armenia is available at
< s/atlas/index.html?Parent=asia&Rootmap=armeni& gt;
(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855
You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

SINCERELY YOURS, MATTHEW BRYZA
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
08:22:16 – 20/01/2009

Perhaps this visit is the last visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
Matthew Bryza to the region together with the Minsk Group. Although it
should not be ruled out that Barack Obama will not separate Bryza from
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and even if he is dismissed
from the post of the deputy assistant secretary, he will remain
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. However, his stay is as probable as
his departure, therefore perhaps this is really Bryza’s last visit to
the region in the capacity of the co-chair. At least his statements in
Baku are evidence that he has this feeling and in the end he wanted to
say something from the bottom of his heart to the societies of the two
countries. Bryza said that the publics must trust their presidents and
believe that they negotiate proceeding from their national interests.

One does not know whether Bryza is trying to catch the publics of
the presidents in a trap before his departure. And obviously it is
a trap. The point is that Bryza had stated several months before
when Aliyev and Sargsyan had just met for the first time that their
approach towards the basic issues are more harmonious than in the
time of Kocharyan and Aliyev.

Then there were mostly optimistic statements about agreement on the
basic issues. Now Bryza says that each of them negotiat es proceeding
from their national interests. This is the trap, it is only uncertain
whether it is for the presidents or the publics.

The point is that the national interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan
regarding the settlement of the Karabakh conflict contradict to one
another. They contradict at least with regard to the proposals on
the table of the talks and are called the proposal or principles of
Madrid. Although it has not been released officially, it is clear
from different statements by the co-chairs and conflict sides what
the proposal or principles of Madrid are.

It involves pullout of the Armenian force from the territories which
we refer to as liberated and Azerbaijan refers to as occupied, and
Azerbaijan must agree to hold a referendum on the status of Karabakh
at some time, the details of which are uncertain for the time being.

This option itself contradicts to the national interests of Armenia,
although there is no doubt that to Serge Sargsyan’s thought there
is no controversy, and the territories could be exchanged with
status. However, even if the Armenian side gets a status for Karabakh
rather than agreement to a referendum on the status, in addition,
if this status is independence, the return of the territories already
contradicts to the national interests of Armenia and Karabakh because
it greatly weakens the Armenian factor in the region.

Consequently, the question occurs that if Aliyev and Serge Sargsyan
negotiate proceeding from the national interests, and Matthew Bryza
assures their publics that they really do and they should be trusted,
how can the co-chairs be optimistic regarding the principles? Hence,
either Bryza does not have a clear idea of the situation and the
nuances of the Karabakh issue for both Armenia and Azerbaijan or he
is consciously trying to trap either the presidents or the publics.

Of course, it is difficult to imagine that a serious country such
as the United States would have an official who would not imagine
the situation with all the nuances. Meanwhile, obviously at least in
the past few years the government trusted Bryza not only with regard
to the Karabakh issue but also other regional political and economic
issues. Consequently, it is more probable that Bryza is merely weaving
a web. One only needs to see who will get caught in it, the presidents
or the societies. Or maybe one of the presidents or societies.