Author: nina hovnanian

‘AZERBAIJAN TO NEVER GIVE ITS OCCUPIED LANDS AWAY’

news.az, Azerbaijan
Oct 14 2011

The book ‘Conceptual basis of restoration of post-conflict areas of
Azerbaijan’ is a proof for the world community that Azerbaijan wants
peace. The statement came from head of the Azerbaijani community of
Karabakh Bayram Safarov.

He said that it proves that Azerbaijan will never give away its
occupied lands.

Political scientist Rasim Musabayov spoke at the event saying the
book contains political messages.

‘Azerbaijan is often blamed for not being ready to peace but this book
proves that Azerbaijan is not only ready to peace but also works in
this direction.

In 20 years of independence of Armenia, the country has been invested
some $20bn, while Azerbaijan is ready to allocate $28bn for recovery
of the occupied areas.

We are building houses for refugees in the frontline areas, in Fizuli
and Aghdam regions, which proves our adherence to peace rather than
war’, Musabayov said.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH MAY MEET

Trend, Azerbaijan
Oct 14 2011

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is considering the opportunity of
holding a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian communities to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, head of the Azerbaijani delegation to
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Deputy Speaker Bahar Muradova said
at a press conference in the Azerbaijani Parliament on Friday.

She said that she addressed the OSCE PA and discussed the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and proposed to organize a meeting between
the communities. Muradova stressed, however, that the OSCE PA must not
only discuss. It is necessary to hold a meeting between Armenian and
Azerbaijani communities as an important step in conflict settlement
and confidence between the parties.

The meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities must be
held in Baku, as both sides are Azerbaijani citizens, Muradova said.

“If we fail to agree on a meeting in Baku, it can take place on
neutral territory, for example, in Vienna,” she said. “The issues of
trust between the communities, their living together and issues of
security may be discussed at such a meeting.”

Muradova stressed that her speech in the OSCE PA was appreciated.

OSCE Special Representative for the South Caucasus Joao Soares will
visit the region in November or in January, Muradova said. The talks
about holding a meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian communities
will be held during the visit of the special envoy.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh was discussed
at the Saturday session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the
Croatian city of Dubrovnik.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet
implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four resolutions on the
liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

ARMENIAN ARMY ‘PENITENTIARY INSTITUTION’ FOR PEOPLE – WOMAN POLITICIAN

Tert.am
15:17 ~U 14.10.11

Armenia is on the brink of war, but the people view the Armenian army
as a penitentiary institution, Lyudmila Sargsyan, Chairwoman of the
Social-Democratic Hnchakian Party, told journalists in Oct. 14.

“Instead of gaining military knowledge we have to deal with murders
and suicides. And Minister Seyran Ohanyan claims he is reforming the
army,” she added.

“Armenia’s incumbent authorities allow different diplomatic missions
to behave in such a way that you get the impression that we are not an
independent state. For example, the Russian diplomat’s behavior in the
presence of [Secretary of Armenia’s National Security Council] Artur
Baghdasaryan. Who is he to force us to open Russian-language schools?

And we are ready to do their will! The people feel humiliated and
think of whether they need such independence at all,” L. Sargsyan said.

AZERBAIJANI PEOPLE HAVE THEIR STRATEGIC MISSION – ASIM MOLLAZADE

news.az, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2011

News.Az interviews Asim Mollazade, chairman of the Party of Democratic
Reforms, Milli Majlis deputy.

How do you assess results of the Baku International Humanitarian forum?

The Baku International Humanitarian Forum is an important event for
Azerbaijan in terms of familiarizing the world with the culture of
our country, its multicultural traditions. Famous English writer
Kipling once said: “East is East, and West is West, and never the
twain shall meet”.

Yet Azerbaijan with its old culture of dialogue between the East and
West is a refusal of this saying and such influential international
forums as the Baku International Humanitarian Forum give the
opportunity to us to communicate on the topics of strategic importance
for Azerbaijan, laying the basis of our culture. This forum also gave
an opportunity for mutual enrichment of world and Azerbaijani cultures.

Is there a hope that the simple residents of the countries of Europe
and the world, beside participants of different conference and forums
who visit our country, will also learn more about the multicultural
traditions of Azerbaijan?

Not only the participants of various conferences and forums held in
Azerbaijan, but also hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting our
country every year can actually see ythat different cultures from
all religions and nationalities live peacefully, in an atmosphere of
mutual respect and dialogue. Baku accounts for the Jewish synagogue and
Muslim mosques, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church,
whose history dates back to the early centuries of Christianity, at
the time of the apostles’ preaching in the ancient land of Caucasian
Albania, and is associated with the name of St.

Bartholomew-one of the 12 immediate disciples of Jesus Christ.

According to the history of the Church, Apostle Bartholomew arrived in
Caucasian Albania, where he converted many pagans to Christianity. All
these facts testify to the tradition of multiculturalism in Azerbaijan.

The very unique image of Baku, which intertwined traditions of
Eastern and Western architecture, embodies the synthesis of different
cultures. We are proud that the first opera of East belonged to
ourstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Similarly, we
are proud that jazz-mugam, which is a synthesis of our national and
western music, was born in Azerbaijan. We have something to show
the world and, there are things for the world to see and admire in
Azerbaijan. Consequently, there is every reason to believe that more
people will learn about the greatness of the Azerbaijani culture.

And the prestigious song contest Eurovision, to be held in Baku in
May of the next year, will also promote this, won’t it?

Without a doubt! The prestigious Eurovision song contest will
attract to our country a considerable number of tourists, it will be
highlighted by journalists from around the world, and they will be
able to witness the versatility of the Azerbaijani culture, in its
centuries-old traditions that have survived to this day. But at the
same time, the work to acquaint the world with the Azerbaijani culture
should not be limited to a contest or a forum, however prestigious
they are. This is a huge work, which is sure to bear fruit.

Will it all change the world opinion about the reasons and consequences
of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over Nagorno Karabakh?

Azerbaijani people have a strategic mission: being a part of world
civilization, to promote a dialogue between different cultures, to be
a bridge between East and West. And this mission will be fulfilled,
leading so that the world learns about the greatness and traditions
of Azeri culture that will affect the attitude towards Azerbaijan. In
addition, the world’s centers of power, given the strategic mission
of Azerbaijan, will protect the interests of our country, just as
they now protect the current regional energy projects.

Akper Hasanov News.Az

ARMENIAN GREGORIAN CHURCH DISCUSSES AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY’S PROPOSALS TO HOLD MEETING OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

APA, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2011

Baku. Habil Suleymanzadeh – APA. Armenian Gregorian church discussed
the proposal of Austrian foreign ministry to hold a meeting of the
religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, APA reports
with reference to the Armenian news agencies.

Press service of Echmiadzin didn’t give details about the result of
the discussions. The religious figures of the three countries attended
the international conference in Vienna, Austria last month.

DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARMENIA AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION COULD CONTINUE – RULING PARTY’S MP

news.am, Armenia
Oct 13 2011

YEREVAN.- Armenian authorities have fulfilled their commitments,
while the opposition, for some reasons, is doing the opposite, MP from
ruling Republican Party Hamlet Harutunyan told journalists on Thursday.

The MP drew parallels between the Armenian opposition and Turkey,
saying “Turkey is doing the same: seeks reasons to ruin normalization
process with Armenia.”

According to Harutunyan, the dialogue can be held simultaneously with
the demands on release of opposition activist Tigran Arakelyan.

“There is an impression that the Armenian National Congress is
simply mocking. One day they want to hold dialogue, then refuse,”
he emphasized.

Dialogue between the authorities and the opposition was suspended
after Tigran Arakelyan was detained. The authorities refused to
release Arakelyan who is accused of using violence against policeman.

ARMENIAN YOUTH PROTEST AGAINST NON-COMBAT KILLINGS IN ARMY

Tert.am
19:23 ~U 13.10.11

A group of young Armenians gathered outside the government building in
Yerevan on Thursday, protesting against non-combat deaths in the army.

Some of the protestors were parents, students and some future
conscripts. Others were owners of stalls that are pending
dismantlement.

The protest was organized on the social networking website Facebook.

The protesters said that as of now they will gather outside the
government building every Thursday until non-combat killings in the
army stop and those guilty are punished.

It comes after a conscript committed suicide at an army unit in
Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday. Another conscript had committed suicide
last week.

SCANDALOUS AMBASSADOR SACKED

Lragir.am News

11:52:02 – 13/10/2011

The press service of the president reports Serzh Sargsyan signed
decrees on dismissing Ashot Hovakimyan from the office of the Armenian
ambassador to Austria, Hungary and Slovakia and on dismissing him
from the position of the Chairman of the Armenian mission to the OSCE.

Note earlier Ashot Hovakimyan used to be Armenia~Rs ambassador to
Poland and regularly appeared in scandals.

EDUARDO GONZALES MADE A SHAMEFUL MISTAKE – YURA MOVSISYAN

Tert.am
23:14 ~U 12.10.11

Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez, the judge of the Ireland-Armenia football
match, was one of reasons Armenian’s lost to Ireland at 1:2, striker
of Armenia’s national football team Yura Movsisyan has said.

In an interview with the Armenian sports news website Armsport.am,
Movsisyan said: “The judge made a shameful mistake. First, he did not
fix the Irish footballer playing with hands; then he made a mistake
to remove [Roman] Berezovsky.”

“It is clearly seen in the repetition of that scene that the ball
hits Berezovsky’s chest,” said Movsisyan, adding that it might be
related to the incident that happened last year when the judge did
not notice Anri playing with his hand.

“May be, in this match the judge attempted to insure himself from
repeating the same mistake,” said Movsisyan.

Asked about the psychological condition of the Armenian team after
the defeat, Movsisyan said the players will need some time to be able
to look at what happened with a fresh mind.

QOLEYNI : “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS A “DAMOCLES SWORD” FOR TURKEY”

AZG DAILY
13-10-2011

Iranian former Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Farhad Qoleyni spoke
about French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Armenia and about
his announcements on Armenian Genocide during his interview with
Indiplomacy.ir news agency.

“Turkey is troubled. If it recognizes Armenian Genocide, new demanding
processes will be launched. Armenian Genocide is the “Damocles sword”
which is hanging over Turkey”, he said.

Iranian official considers that Turkey is afraid Armenians will demand
territories from Turkey in case if Turkey recognizes Armenian Genocide
officially. This will transfer the process of the Armenian Genocide
to the new round, times.am reports.

According to the former Ambassador European countries, especially
France, keeps Armenian Genocide as a measure to make pressure on
Turkey.