Author: Navasardian Karapet

The ONLY FUNDAMENTAL DOCUMENT SIGNED BY KARABAKH

A1+
[08:48 pm] 12 May, 2008

"The cease-fire treaty achieved between the conflicting sides,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, de facto certifies to Armenia’s military
victory," former Foreign Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian quoted from
British journalist Tom de Vaal’s book "Kharabakh: Black Garden."

Vagharshak Harutiunian participated in the elaboration of the document
in 1994 and in the talks over the Karabakh conflict.

"Fourteen years have passed since then. This is really a serious
document which allows honouring the cease-fire regime and finding a
political solution to the matter. This is the only document signed
by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic although the Azeri side was against
Karabakh’s involvement in the talks," he says.

He notes that the cease-fire regime is observed without a direct
participation of peacekeeping forces.

In this view, the Karabakh conflict is unique in South Caucasus. The
guarantee for the observation of cease-fire regime is the equilibrium
of military forces.

According to the former FM, all attempts of signing an agreement in
1992-1994 were doomed to failure.

Armenia’s military achievements of 1994 contributed to the treaty
conclusion.

Lieutenant-General Vagharshak Harutiunian says the idea of a cease-fire
agreement was proposed by RF Defense Minister Pavel Grachov.

Vagharshak Harutiunian revealed an interesting detail: "three days
after the treaty conclusion Azerbaijan tried to deny its signature."

Upon the request of Azeri FM Mamedraf Mamedov a sitting was convened
with the participation of the Armenian and Azeri FMs and NKR
representative Bako Sahakian.

During the sitting the Azeri side noticed that no reference was made
to the surrender of the liberated territories and said they couldn’t
conclude the treaty. Vagharshak Harutiunian said in reply that all
issues connected with territories and status were to be discussed
through negotiations of a different format.

But for the RF Defense Minister’s interference the Azeri side wouldn’t
sign the treaty. The Russian DM refused intervention in case the
sides didn’t sign the treaty.

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENTAL ELECTIONS IN SYUNIK

ARMENPRESS
May 12, 2008

KAPAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Elections of the head of Khndzoresk village
of the Armenian province of Syunik were held on May 11.

An official from the electoral constituency N37 comprising Goris
and Sisian, told Armenpress that the only nominated candidate – the
acting head of the village, member of the Republican party Seryozha
Hayrapetian, has been re-elected. Around 1,036 voters participated
in the elections 1,016 of which voted for the candidate.

On the same day elections of the Board of Elders were held in Kuris
village. All the four nominated non-party candidates have been elected.

The secretary of the N38 electoral constituency (involving Kapan and
Megri regions) Ramela Hakobian said that on May 25 urgent elections
of the head of the community will be held in Artsvanik village of
Kapan region. She said one candidate has been nominated – non-party
Anushavan Harutyunian.

On June 1 in the same electoral constituency – in the village of
Vardavank – elections of the head of the village will be held. The
acting head of the village, non-party Garegin Kostandian is the only
nominated candidate.

oikotimes.com, Greece
May 11 2008

Sirusho’s performance in Athens; the report

Athens was Sirusho’s last stop in her tour around Europe. The Armenian
representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 visited over eight
countries in the last ten days and it was Greece’s turn to welcome
her. After appearing on several TV shows, last night she had the
chance to perform live in front of the Armenian community in Athens,
in an event organised by the cultural society HAMAZKAIN. OIKOTIMES.com
team were there to bring you the exclusive report.

SIRUSHO SPEAKS TO OIKOTIMES.com

Despite her 21 years, Sirusho is quite an experienced performer. She
has been performing on stage since she was eight years old and she has
been singing ever since she was a baby. She says that it came
naturally to her, nothing surprising considering the fact that her
mother is the well-respected Armenian singer Susan
Margaryan. Sirusho’s musical career, which besides singing includes
also song writing, didn’t however prevent her from studying in the
University of Yerevan, where she is a student of Diplomacy. She states
that she may have a tight schedule but nothing is impossible, and
education is very important to her. As far as an English album is
concerned, considering that in her previous album songs in English
were included, she’s positive. Although she has declined similar
offers in the past, because of her not wanting to leave her country,
she doesn’t rule out the possibility of a career abroad in the
future. Last, she declared herself optimistic about her entry Qele
Qele, since she has received such a positive feedback in all the
places she has visited.

SIRUSHO ON STAGE

The atmosphere in the Armenian community was warm and hospitable. The
evening started with young boys and girls performing traditional
dances and later on Sirusho’s mother and acclaimed Armenian singer,
Susan Margaryan, appeared before an enthusiastic audience to perform a
couple of songs. After a while everyone was anticipating impatiently
for the young singer to appear. When it was Sirusho’s turn to take on
the microphone the audience applauded wholeheartedly, and at the sound
of Qele Qele everyone was taken away.

After Athens Sirusho is heading straight towards Belgrade, where she
begins her rehearsals on Monday 12th May. She will be taking part in
the first qualifying round on Tuesday 20th May.

rticles&id=3322

Real victories and faltering diplomacy

09-05-2008 11:32:57 – KarabakhOpen

`The leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sargsyan is
dissatisfied with the statements of the foreign ministry of Armenia on
holding a plebiscite on the status of Karabakh. He thinks by similar
statements Armenia questions the legitimacy of all the acts since 1988
which enabled the foundation of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, just
like the fact of legitimacy of the state.’ The citation is from
information about the briefing of Armen Sargsyan.

This citation clearly reveals the main political controversy without
overcoming which the settlement of the Karabakh issue is impossible.
More exactly, it is possible but not in favor of the Armenian side. To
put it more clearly, the controversy is the lack of harmony in the
political steps of the Armenian side and the existing reality.

This disharmony of political ambitions and the reality is observed in
many countries. However, as a rule, this inconsistency is biased for
ambitions ` the societies which have no potential and force attack on
the diplomatic front at random, hoping for good luck. And they are
often lucky. Our case is the opposite ` on the diplomatic front we
question our real victories.

We have declared and built a state but another country negotiates
instead of us. We elect our government but they do not even try to take
a seat at the table of talks. We gained advantage in the unequal war
and now we are negotiating for disadvantage. What is more, we are
negotiating with the foe which does not stop threatening us. We even
agree to discuss with it the issue of declaring independence once
again, if they allow us, of course. In addition, not within the present
borders but the borders of the non-existent autonomous republic of the
non-existent country.

What does this stem from? Lack of self-confidence, complex of
geopolitical inferiority, or failure to understand of the rules of this
world which turns out to be based on the right of power rather than the
power of right. In any way, such attitude to our own strength and
interests gives birth to disrespect rather than respect.

The recurrent celebration of the day of liberation of Shushi led to
such judgments. The great victory which brought real security to
thousands of people is still being questioned. During the first meeting
with his Armenian counterpart the minister of foreign affairs of
Azerbaijan again says it is necessary to `withdraw the Armenian force,
return the refugees and create conditions for coexistence of Armenians
and Azerbaijanis in the framework of territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan.’ And we continue to negotiate. We continue to pull down
buildings in Shushi and do not build new ones. We continue¦

Abilene Reporter-News, TX
May 7 2008

Student draws on his Armenian roots for inspiration

By Rebel Taylor
Special to the Reporter-News
Tuesday, May 6, 2008

>From the sound of his soft West Texas drawl, one would never guess
Michael Karabegov, 18, is a native of Armenia.

Michael, a senior at Abilene High School, and his professor parents,
Dr. Alexander Karabegov and Dr. Anna Saghatelyan, moved to Abilene in
2002. Michael was 12, and the move was one of several major
transitions he had made during his young life. It proved to be a
difficult one.

"I have had a hard time adapting to the cultural changes. The people
here are very nice, but I just didn’t feel like I fit in at first," he
said.

Michael has started expressing himself — and his Armenian roots —
through art. His charcoal drawing, "Portrait of an Armenian," recently
won best in show, and a $2,000 scholarship, at the Young Masters
Juried Art Exhibition in Abilene.

The teen said his art is deeply influenced by the Armenian genocide of
1915 and the plight of his people for "recognition and restoration."

Michael’s mother said his talent may be something he inherited from
his grandmother, Elizabeth Grigoryan.

"His grandmother is a very talented artist, and she tried to teach him
art when he was young," she said. "I believe she most definitely
passed the artistic ability on to him."

Saghatelyan said Grigoryan is an artist and professor at an Armenian
arts academy, where she teaches graphic design.

Michael said it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that he shared his
grandmother’s passion for art.

"When I was very young, she would teach me the basics, but I didn’t
really care then," he said. "But she came to visit two years ago and
taught me many things that I now understand and have an interest in."

The family’s first move was to Russia after the breakdown of the
Soviet Union in 1993, when Michael was 3 and his brother Vladimir was
8. The fall of the Soviet Union created political changes effecting
job opportunities for Michael’s father that led him to accept a
research position in Russia.

While in Russia, the family encountered a group of Texans who had
planted a Church of Christ fellowship.

They started attending the church and were part of the church
fellowship over the next few years until they returned to Armenia in
1999.

After two years back in Armenia, Alexander Karabegov was invited for a
one-year visiting professor position at Penn State University, where
he would teach math. They arrived Sept. 9, 2001, just two days before
terrorists would strike at the heart of the nation.

She said that in addition to the stress of the terrorist attacks, the
change was difficult on the family.

Michael said the language barrier was easier to overcome than the
emotional issues he grappled with in adjusting to a new
country. Language is still no problem for Michael, who is fluent in
Armenian, Russian and English. He is now learning Spanish.

Saghatelyan said the family’s encounter with God in Russia would
eventually lead them to Abilene in 2002.

"We most definitely believe God brought us to Abilene," she said.

She teaches biology at McMurry University. Her husband teaches math at
Abilene Christian University.

Michael plans to attend ACU in the fall and major in art and computer
science.

Photo: Courtesy photo Michael Karabegov’s "Portrait of an Armenian,"
an 18-by-24 inch charcoal on paper drawing, won best in show recently
at the Young Masters Juried Art Exhibition.

Photo: Reporter-News Photo by Ronald W. Erdrich Michael Karabegov’s
"Portrait of an Armenian," an 18-by-24 inch charcoal on paper drawing,
won best in show recently at the Young Masters Juried Art
Exhibition. Karabegov is a senior at Abilene High School.

y/06/student-draws-on-his-armenian-roots-for/

PanARMENIAN.Net

OSCE MG proposals promise progress in Karabakh process, RA Foreign
Minister says
07.05.2008 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met in
Strasbourg Tuesday with CoE Secretary General Terry Davis and PACE
President Lluis Maria de Puig to discuss the Armenia-CoE cooperation
as well as strengthening of democracy and rule of law in the republic,
the RA MFA press office reported.

`The PACE resolution is in focus of the Armenian authorities,’
Minister Nalbandian said. `By the President’s edict, a working group
was formed to coordinate fulfillment of PACE recommendations.’

The Minister briefed on the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement process and noted that the OSCE MG proposals allow
to fix progress in talks.

During a meeting with AGO Group, Mr Nalbandian expressed satisfaction
with bilateral cooperation and confirmed Armenia’s readiness to meet
all commitments to the Council of Europe.

Panorama.am

20:07 07/05/2008

ARMAN PASHIKYAN CHAMPION

Today the chess international championship taking
place in Gyumri finished. Armenian GM Arman Pashikyan
became a champion. Pashikyan gained 9 scores during
the championship and became the only champion of the
competition.

Georgian GM Georgi Bagaturov occupied the second
horizontal. He has 7 scores on his account. Another
Georgian Tamag Gelashvili occupied the third
horizontal.

Russian chess player Yevgeni Vorobiov has 3.5 scores,
he occupied the fourth horizontal, and Ukrainian
Alexander Zubariov occupied the fifth horizontal. Note
that 12 chess players from four countries took part in
the competition: Armenia, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.
The competition started on 25 April.

Source: Panorama.am

Russian uranium will be directly supplied to the United States

17:51 | 07/ 05/ 2008

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Tatyana Sinitsina) – The
last day of Vladimir Putin’s presidency, May 6, was crowned with an
impressive achievement – Russia and the United States signed an
agreement on civilian uses of nuclear energy.

This is an extraordinary event – the two sides waited for it for over
18 years. Experts consider this document very important and believe
that it can take bilateral energy relations from the political to the
economic sphere.

The agreement was signed by the head of Rosatom (Russian Federal Atomic
Energy Agency), Sergei Kiriyenko, on the Russian side, and by the U.S.
Ambassador to Russia, William Joseph Burns, on the American side. This
is a framework agreement, which creates a legal foundation for
normalizing bilateral cooperation in civilian uses of nuclear energy.
The Russian company Tekhsnabexport will be able to directly supply U.S.
nuclear power plants with uranium produced from plutonium.

Few people know that almost half of American nuclear power plants run
on Russian fuel, and have already become addicted to it because of its
high quality and cheap price. This practice started in Soviet times,
during perestroika. Russians were not charging exorbitant prices, which
was attractive to American nuclear business, but serious trouble
started in 1991. It was provoked by Russia itself, which supplied a lot
of uranium to the world market, thereby sharply reducing prices. This
resulted in an anti-dumping campaign against Russia, which led to trade
restrictions and a prohibitive 112% tax by the U.S. Department of
Commerce.

As a result, Russian uranium is currently being supplied to the United
States only through the USEC Corporation, an American intermediary.
Supplies were delivered under the Russian-U.S. HEU agreement, which is
valid until 2013 (the agreement on the conversion and sale of uranium
extracted from nuclear weapons). This situation was not good for either
side – both Americans and Russians understood that it was better to
deal with each other without intermediary agents.

Two years ago, Kiriyenko started talks with the Americans in order to
get direct access to Tekhsnabexport’s American partners. At the same
time, the matter was brought to court, which was a success – uranium
conversion was recognized as a service rather than product, and could
not be subject to an anti-dumping investigation. The court ruled that
the 112% tax would become invalid in 2011. Obeying the verdict, USEC
cancelled the anti-dumping investigation against Russian uranium
supplies, which had lasted for 18 years.

Credit for this goes to the two presidents – Vladimir Putin and George
W. Bush. Acting in the interests of their countries, they instructed
their governments after the St. Petersburg summit in 2006 to find a way
out of this predicament. Yet, the Americans did not hurry too much. The
way out was found only two years later, on the last day of Putin’s
presidency.

Vladimir Zhidkikh, a member of the sub commission on nuclear energy of
the Federation Council Committee on Natural Monopolies, said, "In the
past, the development of mutually advantageous partnership between the
United States and Russia in civilian uses of nuclear energy was
inhibited by political restrictions, but now fears of the Iron Curtain
no longer restrict their cooperation."

The world community welcomes any agreement on cooperation between the
two great powers (which are seen as rivals anyway) because this is a
gesture in favor of peace. Apart from the pragmatic bilateral
component, the new agreement has a global achievement – it reduces the
risk of the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s and do not
necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

Daily News Tribune, MA
MetroWest Daily News, MA
Milford Daily News, USA
May 6 2008

Marotta: To newlyweds and dead young men

By Terry Marotta/Gatehouse News Service
GateHouse News Service
Posted May 06, 2008 @ 12:15 AM

I had business in my hometown of Lowell, and so invited my 87-year-old
Uncle Ed along on the drive.

"Will you show me that big church where you were married?" he asked,
and I guess that’s all I needed to hear, because once we got there, I
couldn’t stop pointing things out to him.

"Here’s where I waited for the school bus," I said, and later, "Here
is my junior high," and, "These are the woods behind the park we hung
around at," I said, but did not add that I had kissed a boy there once
just to see what it felt like to break another boy’s heart.

Then, "There, Ed! There’s the church where David and I were
married. Remember it?"

"Cheese and crackers, I do!" he exclaimed, because he had been present
on that long-ago morning when my hair was black and tumbled in waves
past my shoulders. I remember I spilled a Sloe Gin Fizz on my gown two
seconds after we got to the reception; I didn’t even know what a Sloe
Gin Fizz WAS until somebody handed me one, yet there is its faint
stain like raspberry sherbet in all the photos.

"Toby gave the toast in Latin," I added, Toby being big brother to my
young groom. " ‘Ad Nuptos!’ he said, raising his glass."

"To the newlyweds!" Uncle Ed smiled, remembering.

Uncle Ed is the Marotta brothers’ uncle, really, so he and I were
almost strangers to each other then.

We are not strangers now. Every couple of days, I go get him and take
him places. We’re planning a train trip to New Haven and back for no
reason except to see Yale by cab and to ride the rails. He hasn’t been
on a passenger train since 1930 when he was sent to a “charity
camp.” His Armenian parents had come here in 1915. His dad’s dad was
a Congregational minister in the old country, and his dad a graduate
of the University of Tarsus, yet the best job he could get here was in
a factory.

Anyway, I love our trips because when we make them, the past seems to
arise before us, whole again and living.

"Here’s the mighty Merrimack where it meets the Concord River," I said
as we crossed a bridge over a torrent of waters.

"A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers" Uncle Ed said of
Thoreau’s book about his camping trip with brother John, shortly
before John’s sudden death.

"I don’t think he ever got over that loss!" I said emotionally, just
as if I’d sat in the same little schoolhouse with old Henry David in
the 1820s. Then, regaining my composure a little, I added, "It’s a
vale of tears sometimes though, isn’t it?”

"Indeed it is," Ed agreed.

"Oh! And here’s where they held my high school prom! The boy who took
me died in a plane crash just three years later."

We rode silently awhile – until, turning onto the highway that would
lead us homeward, I sighed and said, “To the newlyweds and the dead
young men!”

"May they rest in peace," answered Uncle Ed, only he answered in
Latin.

"Forever and ever," I said back, only I said that in Latin, too.
Generally "Forever and ever" comes with an "Amen" to signify an
ending, but I couldn’t say the amen this time. I don’t think either
one of us is ready for the end yet.

2091065/Marotta-To-newlyweds-and-dead-young-men

PETER SEMNEBY PLANS TO VISIT OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN ALONG WITH NIZAMI BAHMANOV

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 30 2008

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. Special representative of the European
Union for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby plans to visit Nagorno
Karabakh along with the head of Nagorno Karabakh’s Azerbaijani
community Nizami Bahmanov.

Diplomatic sources told APA that preparations were being made for
the visit.

The visit aims at establishing confidence between the Azerbaijani and
Armenian communities of Nagorno Karabakh. Peter Semneby put forward
the initiative last summer and wanted to realize it in September,
but the visit was delayed.