Author: nina hovnanian

BERNARD FASSIER SAYS BLAMING OSCE MG FOR INACTIVITY IS WRONG

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 9 2011
Russia

The French Senate held a round-table conference of Armenia and
Azerbaijan on their conflict, initiated by the Azerbaijani embassy,
APA reports.

The sides discussed activities of the OSCE Minsk Group and the role
of French co-chair Bernard Fassier. Senator of Orn, Natalie Gule,
Azerbaijani Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to France
Elchin Amirbekov, representative of the Azerbaijani community in
Nagorno-Karabakh MP Rovshan Rzayev, chairman of the French-Azerbaijani
friendship group in the National Assembly of France Jean Louis Dumon
and French co-chair Bernard Fassier made speeches.

Natalie Gule said that the conflict is not clear enough for Europe.

She underlined the need to study the conflict more in more details.

Rovshan Rzayev said that the Azerbaijani community in Nagorno-Karabakh
is ready to renew dialogue with the Armenian community for peace. But
the Armenian community showed no interest in dialogue with its refusal
to arrive for the meeting in Berlin.

Bernard Fassier spoke about initiatives proposed in the last years. He
noted that the OSCE Minsk Group started work in May 1994 and started
realizing its decisions after 1997. Every version of the document
developed since 2005 is under consideration. Fassier expressed
understanding of the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, but
added that blaming the Minsk Group for inactivity is wrong. None of
the sides could be forced to make a decision, they need to come to a
consensus. The war may restart at any moment. The sides are negotiating
the problem. Russia should not be left with resolving the conflict
in the South Caucasus alone. France and the US are supporting it.

Concerning the Madrid principles of 2007, Fassier noted that the Kazan
talks came to a stalemate. Negotiations may be renewed after a joint
declaration in Vilnius in January. Fassier also reminded that Jacques
Faure will replace him as the new co-chair of France. Faure was working
with the Warsaw Pact Organization in Soviet times.Farhad Badalbeyli,
a member of the Azerbaijani community in the Nagorno-Karabakh, head
of the Azerbaijani Music Academy, Pierre Cones, an analyst from the
Institute of International and Strategic Studies in Paris, Antoine
Constan, a French historian, and Anar Usubov, a member of the Center
for Efficient Initiatives, made speeches at the round-table conference
entitled “the Forgotten Conflict”.

YEREVAN DECRIES AZERI PUSH FOR MUSLIM SUPPORT ON KARABAKH
Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenialiberty.org

Dec 9 2011

President Serzh Sarkisian strongly criticized Azerbaijan on Friday
for mobilizing Muslim countries to support its position on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“I pointed out that Azerbaijan is stubbornly trying to present the
conflict in the light of religious disagreements within the framework
of Islamic countries,” he said after talks with Lebanon’s visiting
President Michel Suleiman. “I think that in case of more or less
knowing the history of the Armenian people and the cause of the
[Karabakh] conflict it’s impossible to trust in such an approach.”

“Nevertheless, we find that approach extremely dangerous because there
are also circles unfamiliar with those details and such anti-Armenian
propaganda may not end up without consequences,” Sarkisian told a
joint news conference.

Sarkisian appeared to refer to pro-Azerbaijani statements repeatedly
issued by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that unites 57
countries with predominantly Muslim populations, including Lebanon.

Many of them also voted in 2008 for a UN General Assembly resolution
that demanded the “immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal
of Armenian forces” from occupied Azerbaijani lands.

The Karabakh dispute is also the reason why at least two of those
countries, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, refuse to even recognize Armenia
as an independent state.

Earlier this year, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again commended
Islamic states for lending unconditional support to Baku. He also
called for greater “Islamic solidarity” and a “higher level of mutual
support” in the international arena.

Sarkisian condemned this stance as “nonsense.” “On this issue the
impartial and unbiased stance of friendly states is also important
because any reckless step helps to undermine the shaky regional
stability,” he said in clear reference to Lebanon, an Arab country
with a sizable and influential Armenian community.

Suleiman, who is a Maronite Christian, stressed that Lebanon has
never supported OIC statements on Karabakh. Moreover, he said the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict should be resolved on the basis of the
principle of people’s self-determination.

Suleiman further thanked Yerevan for supporting his country in the
conflict with Israel.

FLAGGING RESULTS IN ARMENIA’S COMMUNITIES: MAP OF THE WORLD BANK COUNTRY PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS

ENP Newswire
December 8, 2011 Thursday

Release date- 07122011 – If you want to look into what the World
Bank does in the regions and communities of Armenia look no further,
visit the World Bank Armenia website and click on the MAP of Armenia
Portfolio of Projects featured on the Home page.

Prepared under the South Caucasus Results Grant Fund, the online map
displays the achievements of the projects supported by the Bank and
their geographic locations across Armenia.

The projects are grouped under four sectors-Infrastructure/Sustainable
Development, Private Sector, Public Sector/Governance, and Social/Human
Development. Clicking on a sector name opens the list of projects
implemented under that sector. Additionally, each project name on
the list is an active link connected to the project file on the World
Bank Armenia website.

‘E-mapping Armenia’s portfolio will help users better locate and
visualize the Bank in action on the ground,’ said Jean-Michel Happi,
World Bank Armenia Country Manager. ‘The open access to data on
results will be an added measure in improving the effectiveness of
our projects and enhancing the coordination of international aid
programs at both national and local levels.’

The online map of Armenia projects features eleven
administrative-territorial units, comprising ten marzes (regions)
and the capital city Yerevan. The map visitor can double-click on a
region from the general map, or choose the name of the region from the
left navigator. Further, under each sector, one can check the ongoing
or completed boxes, or both. These two subcategories indicate whether
a particular project activity has been completed or is still ongoing.

To illustrate, click on Tavush region. For a broad exhibit of results,
check all the boxes for completed and ongoing subcategories. Go down to
Berd community and point the cursor on the pink flag displayed on it
(each sector has its designated color), and you will see the names of
the projects implemented in Berd town under that sector, as follows:
‘BERD, Urban Heating Project (UHP), Lifeline Roads Improvement Project
(LRIP), Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (AFSME).’

What is most important in terms of illustrating results on the ground
is that each community flagged on the map and each activity in a
flagged community has its own project activity profile. Double-click
on any of the flags placed on a community of your choice to learn
details about the project in the chosen town or village-such as the
project name, type of activity, amount spent for that activity, project
approval and closing dates, implementing partner and the project’s
development objective. One will also see a link to the project page
on the World Bank Armenia website and the project one-pager attached.

The online map of projects is targeted to diverse audiences – the staff
of the government ministries and agencies, Project Implementation Units
(PIUs), regional and local governments, NGOs/CSOs, media, students,
researchers, and public at large.

‘The Armenia Social Investment Fund Project, widely known as ASIF,
has been implemented for the last 15 years. We have completed about 800
micro-projects in 83 urban and 330 rural communities covering all the
regions of Armenia, with a total of 2.9 million beneficiaries1,’ said
Ashot Kirakosyan, Director of the Armenia Social Investment Fund PIU.

‘Quite often our constituencies want to know what exactly we have been
doing in the country and where. This map now serves as an excellent
visual and factual tool for us in demonstrating the Fund’s specific
activities in Armenia’s villages and towns.’

Of the current fourteen active projects supported by the Bank, nine
are implemented mostly in the regions of Armenia, outside of Yerevan,
the rest have nation-wide impact (these too are featured on the online
map). Thus, the geographic reach of the projects supported by the Bank,
displayed through the map, is impressive-it shows that the World Bank
is very much present in all regions of Armenia-with tangible results.

VANADZOR CITY’S THERMAL POWER PLANT TO BE OPERATED WITH COAL FROM KARABAKH – LORI REGIONAL GOVERNOR

news.am
Dec 9 2011
Armenia

The thermal power plant (TPP), which is located in the area of the
chemical plant of Armenia’s Vanadzor city, will be operated in a
foreseeable future, and this will create new jobs, Lori Regional
Governor Artur Nalbandyan stated during a briefing with news reporters.

In his words, they are attempting to seriously focus on industry. “In
recent years, Vanadzor had serious problems with chemical production,
and this industry is lags behind to this day,” Nalbandyan said.

Lori’s regional governor also informed that a coal mine is discovered
in Karabakh, and this mine will soon be operated. “Vanadzor places
large hopes on this coal mine; it will help operate the TPP,” Artur
Nalbandyan noted, adding that TPP will operate in Summer 2012.

AZERBAIJAN’S ANTI-ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA MAY LEAD TO CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES – PRESIDENT

news.am
Dec 9 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Azerbaijan is constantly trying to present the Karabakh
conflict to the Islamic world in the light of religious antagonism in,
said Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

“I suppose people more or less aware of Armenia’s history and causes
of the conflict cannot believe in absurd. Nevertheless, we consider
such approach is dangerous as there are some circles not familiar
with the details and anti-Armenian propaganda may result in certain
consequences,” President said during a joint press conference with
his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman.

According to him, in the context position of friendly states, their
unbiased attitude is of major importance. Any unbalanced step furthers
violation of fragile balance in the region.

WOMEN’S WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP TO KICK OFF IN TURKEY

Panorama
Dec 7 2011
Armenia

Turkish city of Mardin hosts from 17 to 28 December Women’s World Team
Championship. Information about the participants of the championship
is unveiled.

Armenian chess federation informs that the opponents of Armenian
National Team are the chess players of Russia, China, Ukraine, Georgia,
India, Vietnam, Greece, South Africa and Turkey.

ARMENIAN SOCIETY PRESIDENT NALBANDIAN REFLECTS ON HIS HERITAGE
By Jeff DiLeo

PC The Cowl

Dec 8 2011

Ari Nalbandian ’12, a member of the Pre-Med Honors Society is a local
from Cranston, R.I., but took a different path than most getting to
Providence College. Nalbandian, a member of the school’s rugby team,
just helped found the Armenian Society on campus. He says that,
between the Armenian Society and rugby, his senior year has been
really busy. He also recently finished sending applications to medical
schools along the East Coast.

Nalbandian’s background is different than most, though, because his
parents are originally from Armenia, though he was born in the United
States. Armenian is actually Nalbandian’s first language, and English
is his second. At home, he and his family only speak Armenian.

Nalbandian said, “There’s a big Armenian community in Lebanon and
Syria. After the Armenian genocide, the survivors fled south to the
Middle East. That’s where my parents ended up. They came here for
college when they were around my age.”

He further explained, “[The genocide] was the generation before them,
because it happened in 1915, so my grandparents’ generation went
directly through it. My mom had always held on to my grandfather’s
memoirs, because he was orphaned during that time and he wrote down
everything.”

He continued, “It took her two years to read through it. After two
years, she typed out everything he handwrote and then, we had it
published. It’s called The Caravan of Hope. Hearing a personal story
[makes me realize] that it directly affected me and why I’m here,
and what my family had to go through. It is a meaningful event.”

Nalbandian is proud of the strong Armenian presence in downtown
Providence. He attends services at one of the two churches in the
area, one of which is a block off of Federal Hill. There are Armenian
schools there and church services every Sunday. Nalbandian says this
community has definitely helped him.

Nalbandian is excited about the amount of Armenians on campus and
is eager to have them join his club. Ari said, “There’s a pretty big
outlet for Armenian culture. URI and Brown both have Armenian clubs,
so I figured, ‘Why not PC?'”

Nalbandian is an aspiring general practitioner whose goal is to get to
know each of his patients and give each of them with the best service
and care he can provide. He is also interested in sports medicine
and has applied to schools in New England, New York, Philadelphia,
and Washington, D.C. He received help from the Department of Biology
in preparing for interviews and considering schools, and says he
doesn’t know what he’d do without Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P.

Nalbandian commented, “I did have a theology minor, but I’m not going
to be able to do their major seminar…I took extra theology classes,
[but] just the stuff I was interested in. It’s always been one of my
interests, but I’ve never been able to make an official minor here.”

He added, “As long as I enjoy what I end up doing and am able to show
that to other people, regardless of whether or not I make a lot of
money doing that; [I’ll be happy].”

Second semester of last year consisted of all the preliminary stages
of establishing the Armenian Society on campus. Nalbandian estimated
this period will continue for the rest of this year, so the complete
process will take approximately 18 months. The early part of this time
was spent drafting a constitution and figuring out what members could
theoretically plan for events and who their executive members would be.

Ari mentioned, “If I didn’t have the guidance of the people on BMSA
who are familiar with the administration and how to deal with red tape,
I would have felt really lost. They helped me out a lot.”

Right now, the Armenian Society is a “proposed” club as far as Student
Congress is concerned. Previously, the Armenian Society was part of
the ISO (International Student Organization). Now, however, it is
officially a separate organization from the ISO.

Nalbandian said, “We’re a proposed club now, and if it has been shown
over the next semester or year that our events are successful and we
have members at the events, then we’ll become an official club.”

The club’s first event took place in McPhail’s on November 16. It was
Armenian name-writing night, and Armenian food was provided. Students
were invited to have their name written in Armenian and learn the
letters and how the alphabet works.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL PUNISHMENT BILL ADOPTED BASED ON ARMENIAN-FRENCH RELATIONS – EXPERT

news.am
Dec 8 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Adoption by the Commission on constitutional law,
legislation and the overall management of the French National Assembly
regarding the bill on Genocide denial punishment recognized by law,
can be viewed from a symbolic point of view to a certain extent, head
of the Armenian branch of the Institute of CIS countries Aleksander
Markarov told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“We may state again on symbolism of politics. As the bill at the
French Parliament was adopted just the time when Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan was in Marseille,” the political scientist said adding
that the bill was expected to be adopted.

According to the expert, there is no need to search for another
sub-context on the mutual relations between the two states. The
adoption of the bill proves the unity character of the relations.

Markarov believes that the bill will receive necessary support in
the Senate to be in power and later signed by the President.

Armenian News-NEWS.am earlier reported that French National Assembly
adopted the bill by Valerie Boyer on transposition of community right
to combat against racism and to challenge the punishment arguing the
Armenian Genocide.

The bill, elaborated by the Commission, intends punishment for arguing
the Genocide adopted by the law.

PRESIDENT INVITES DIASPORA ARMENIANS TO SHARE HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY

Panorama
Dec 8 2011
Armenia

During the meeting with representatives of the Armenian community
at Marseille Mayor’s Office, President Serzh Sargsyan called on the
Diaspora to take part in revelation and overcoming of problems and
shortcomings existing in Armenia.

The President noted that introduction of dual citizenship institute
has removed the psychological barrier, and currently many Diaspora
Armenians take an active part in Armenia’s life.

The President said to Diaspora Armenians: “We invite all of you to
take part in the honest task of settling the problems of Armenia. We
refer to our Diaspora compatriots as our dear people and it is
by this right that we need to discuss the existing shortcomings
together. We need to discuss our problems without avoiding the share
of our responsibility. And certainly first of all I am responsible
for these shortcomings. However, I want all of you to take part and
share the responsibility and, as I said before, the honor of success.”

SARKISIAN URGES TURKEY TO ‘REPENT’

Armenialiberty.org

Dec 8 2011

President Serzh Sarkisian has urged Turkey to “repent” for the World
War One-era massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and expressed
confidence that Ankara will eventually recognize them as genocide.

“We believe that Turkey must repent,” he said during a visit to
France’s second largest city of Marseille late on Wednesday. “That
is neither a precondition nor a desire to exact revenge. Turkey must
come face to face with its history.”

“One day Turkey’s leadership will find the strength to reassess its
approaches to the Armenian Genocide,” Sarkisian said, speaking at
an official reception organized in his honor by Marseille’s Mayor
Jean-Claude Gaudin and attended by prominent members of the local
Armenian community.

“Sooner or later Turkey, which considers itself a European country,
will have a truly European leadership that will bow its head at the
Tsitsernakabert [genocide memorial in Yerevan,]” claimed the Armenian
leader. “The sooner the better, but that is up to the Turkish people.”

There was no immediate reaction to the remarks from Ankara which
vehemently denies that some 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by
the Ottoman Turks in 1915-1918.

France – President Serzh Sarkisian speaks at an official reception
in Marseille, 7Dec2011.xFrance – President Serzh Sarkisian speaks at
an official reception in Marseille, 7Dec2011.

Successive Turkish governments have said that Armenians died in
much smaller numbers and as a result of civil strife, rather than a
premeditated government effort to exterminate a key Christian minority
in the crumbling Ottoman Empire.

Turkish leaders reacted angrily after French President Nicolas Sarkozy
urged them to stop denying the genocide during an October visit to
Armenia. “Collective denial is even worse than individual denial,”
Sarkozy said after laying flowers at the Tsitsernakabert memorial. He
also implicitly threatened to enact a law that would make Armenian
genocide denial a crime in France.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip accused Sarkozy of playing the
anti-Turkish card to secure reelection next year and warned of serious
damage to relations between France and Turkey.

By contrast, Sarkisian was full of praise for the French leader. “We
must simply be grateful to the wise president of this beautiful
country,” he told the mostly French-Armenian audience.

In his speech, Sarkisian did not mention the future of the
Turkish-Armenian normalization agreements signed two years ago.

Earlier this year, he threatened to withdraw Yerevan’s signature
from the agreements if Ankara continues to make their parliamentary
ratification contingent on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.