Author: nina hovnanian

TOP OFFICIAL CALLS ON U.S. TO `BE MORE ACTIVE` ON KARABAKH

Azer News Weekly
October 24, 2012 Wednesday
Azerbaijan

by : Nigar Orujova

An international conference on the role of U.S.-Azerbaijan cooperation
in ensuring peace and security in the region was held in Baku last
Friday, with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict high on the agenda of
discussions.

Azerbaijani and US officials shared their views on ways of settling
Azerbaijan`s long-standing conflict with Armenia and obstacles that
stand in the way of its resolution. The Karabakh conflict emerged in
1988 when Armenia leveled territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
a brutal war in the early 1990s that left around 30,000 people dead
and ousted up to one million Azerbaijanis from their homes, Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of the neighboring country`s
territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.

A fragile cease-fire was signed in 1994. Russia, France and the U.S.,
which co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, are brokering peace talks. The
negotiations have been largely fruitless so far. Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration department head Elnur Aslanov told
journalists that Azerbaijan expects the United States to be more
active in the peace process.

“Lately inactivity has been observed in the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Aslanov said. “The U.S. is a co-chair of
the Minsk Group and it should play a more active role in the conflict
resolution along with other leading states.”

Aslanov told the conference that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
during her recent visit to Baku said that the bonds between the United
States and Azerbaijan are deep, important and durable. “The U.S.

officials, who visited our country in past years, often say that the
United States has three main interests in Azerbaijan: cooperation on
energy projects, security issues and political and economic reforms,”
Aslanov said. “Indeed, these are important issues and our countries
have achieved a lot in these areas.

Without firm support from our American friends, regional energy
projects would not have been possible. Without Azerbaijan`s support,
the U.S.-led fight against global terrorism and radicalism would not
be the same. However, we need to see a more active role of the United
States in the resolution of the long-standing conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.”

Aslanov said Azerbaijan wants to see the U.S. pursue its interests
in the region without “being hostage to ethnic politics”. “We insist
that the United States call things by its own name, when it comes
to aggression and occupation. Only commitment to its true values and
principles, based on which the United States was founded, will bring
the U.S. a durable, firm and successful foothold in the Caucasus,”
he added.

According to Aslanov, the U.S. has strong economic and strategic
interests in Azerbaijan because of its energy resources and geographic
location. A potential American partnership with Azerbaijan meets
Washington`s strategic needs to consolidate its presence in the
Caucasus and Caspian Sea region, he said.

“While unique location makes Azerbaijan a center of geopolitical,
geo-strategic and geo-economic importance, one of the largest
embassies U.S. has today, after its embassy in Baghdad, is located
in Yerevan. While U.S. Azeris Network (USAN) is the first and only
grassroots advocacy and political education project uniting all
Azerbaijani-American voters, Section 907 to the Freedom Support Act
does not reflect the current stage of the relationship and causes
obstacles to a broader strategic relationship,” Aslanov said.

Section 907 bans any kind of direct US aid to the Azerbaijani
government. Aslanov said unresolved conflicts represent a long-term
challenge to the efforts to promote security and stability in the
whole Euro-Atlantic area.

“Despite ongoing political efforts towards the earliest resolution of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, activities in the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan are in gross violation of international law and serve to
further strengthen the status-quo of occupation, secure the results of
ethnic cleansing and artificially change demographics in the invaded
territories, as well as to seriously obstruct a peaceful resolution
of the conflict,” Aslanov said.

US deputy ambassador Adam Sterling said that the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict remains the biggest obstacle to the development and long-term
stability of the region. “There are no easy answers to the issue,
it is a complicated problem,” Sterling told the Baku conference.

Sterling said that as a Minsk Group co-chair, the U.S. continues
working to establish the conditions and confidence necessary for
Azerbaijan and Armenia to make tangible progress in achieving a just
and peaceful solution of the conflict.

“The US position on the conflict remains unchanged,” Sterling added.

“The U.S. is committed to a negotiated settlement of the conflict as
the only viable solution for the region`s well-being.”

Sterling also spoke about security dialogue between Azerbaijan and
the U.S. “We have regular engagements of the militaries, we are
strengthening the ability of our armed forces to train and work
together in multilateral settings, most notably in NATO`s ISAF
[International Security Assistance Force] in Afghanistan,” Sterling
said.

He said these activities have strengthened the U.S.-Azerbaijan
partnership. “As I said, one of the main challenges that we have
worked on together over the past decade is Afghanistan. Of course,
our forces serve together in Afghanistan. But beyond the service
of our troops together, Azerbaijan is also providing a key transit
corridor for NATO for [cargo] transit to Afghanistan,” Sterling said.

Azerbaijan has sent peacekeepers for ISAF in Afghanistan. In the past,
the country also strongly supported the operations in Kosovo. Farhad
Mammadov, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the
Azerbaijani President, believes the U.S. cannot be closely involved
in a fair resolution of the long-running Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
due to the influence of the Armenian lobby.

“Over 20 years, the US policy in the region has been instrumental
in strengthening the independence of Azerbaijan and Georgia and in
the regional security process. However, due to the influence of the
Armenian lobby, the U.S. cannot take an active part in an objective
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict —
the biggest threat to security in the South Caucasus,” Mammadov noted.

Addressing the conference, Mammadov said the situation in the region
is volatile and it is impossible to create favorable conditions for
a secure future without influence and even pressure from the outside.

“In our view, the U.S. is not active in this area. Statements that
the resolution of the conflict depends on the free will of the parties
are irresponsible to say the least. What will can we talk about when
the aggressor state, Armenia, is putting forward unreasonable demands
and trying to maintain the status quo by all means?” Mammadov queried.

The U.S., as the most powerful country in the world, can and should
play a responsible role in the Karabakh settlement process, he says.

Mammadov said “the beginning of a peace process advocated by
Azerbaijan” will draw a new picture in the region.

“After the liberation of the occupied territories, the
Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Turkish borders will be opened,
and Armenia will be able to enjoy open borders, which promises a
short-term 20% economic growth spurt,” he said.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Eric Rubin said during his visit to Armenia last week that
the U.S. supports all the efforts of the Minsk Group co-chairs and
wants the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to
resume its natural course.

“Today, for both sides it is important more than ever to continue
diplomatic talks, to be ready to proceed with the negotiation process
on the conflict settlement,” Rubin said.

ARMENIA TO BOOST TRADE, ENERGY TIES WITH IRAN

Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 25 2012
Turkey

Armenia and Iran today vowed to boost economic cooperation, increase
bilateral trade and speed up joint energy projects including a
hydro-electric power plant on their shared border.

“The high level of political relations between the countries requires
corresponding activity in the economic sphere too,” Armenian Energy
Minister Armen Movsisian said at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart
Majid Namjoo.

Movsisian said that construction of the hydro-electric power plant
on the Arax river would begin in November.

Namjoo called for the removal of “obstacles” which have slowed the
progress of implementing other joint projects like a third power
transmission line between the neighbour states and a railway link.

“It’s necessary to take every step to overcome these obstacles and
move forward,” he said.

Christian Armenia has been seeking to increase links with Muslim Iran
because it is suffering from long-term political disputes with two
of its other neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan, which have led to an
economic blockade and closed borders.

Iran, which is laboring under increasingly tight sanctions imposed by
Western nations over its nuclear programme, has also been interested
in developing trade ties with Armenia.

However Armenia’s central bank in August rejected allegations that Iran
has been using Armenian financial institutions to dodge international
sanctions.

HYE KEYS PERFORM ARMENIAN MUSIC AT CONGREGATION OR AMI
By: Korey Hughes

Midlothian Exchange
Oct 25 2012
VA

Traditional Armenian music might be unfamiliar to most American
audiences, but local listeners will get the opportunity to hear it
live during the Hye Keys’ performance at 8p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27,
at Congregation Or Ami at 9400 W. Huguenot Road in North Chesterfield.

Doors open at 7:15 p.m.

The concert will be presented by the Richmond Folk Music Society. The
organization hosts traditional folk music concerts monthly at that
venue from September through May.

Mary Smith is the director of the Richmond Folk Music Society. She
has been a member of the group since it was formed in 2005, and she
said that all of the members share a love of traditional folk music
from various cultures.

“We’re just a group of people that love folk music and love to put on
concerts,” Smith said. “We wanted to create a venue where the public
could enjoy performances of traditional folk music.”

“We stress traditional because there aren’t a lot of venues where you
can hear it, and by traditional, I mean music that has been handed down
and reflects a culture, like the Armenian music that we’ll be doing
this time. So, we aim to present folk music in a really nice setting.”

The Richmond Folk Music Society has been exclusively hosting its
concerts at Congregation Or Ami, and Smith said it is a great location
for musical events.

“Well, for one thing, it’s wonderful acoustically,” Smith said. “It’s
a nice space, it’s handicapped accessible, and it provides a warm and
inviting environment for listening to music because this is strictly
for listening and to really appreciate the music.”

Smith said she sought out the Hye Keys for the October performance
after she saw the band play. Each of the performers lives in the
Central Virginia region, and they have appeared locally at other
venues, such as the annual Armenian Food Festival.

“I saw them at a performance during a charity event, and I thought
they would be a good fit for Richmond Folk Music,” Smith said.

“They’re members of the Richmond community, and they’re rooted in
their traditions, and that’s the kind of thing that we want.”

Perouz Manoujian is the bandleader and a vocalist and instrumentalist
for the Hye Keys. She said the band’s adherence to Armenian customs
make its goals similar to the Richmond Folk Music Society’s aims of
preserving traditional music.

“We have several different types of music in our culture,” Manoujian
said. “Depending on the generation and when they came out of genocide,
(Armenians) brought their customs and music, and the ones that came
to America kept the music strong when they left Turkey.”

So, how does the Armenian musical tradition shine through in the
Hye Keys’ tunes? Manoujian said that the tempos are unique to the
regions where the music originated and that she will talk about those
geographical areas during the concert.

“Well, it’s probably rhythms that are different,” Manoujian said. “We
use 10-8, 9-8 and 7-9, and these songs come from the Armenian regions
of Turkey and the western sections of Armenia.”

“At the show, I will explain that each song has a dance as well. Some
songs are for folk dancing, and some are used for party dancing,
but it’s up to the band to play them so that they are danceable.”

Manoujian said that the local Armenian population currently makes
up most of the Hye Keys’ fan base, but she is looking forward to the
chance to share the band’s songs with new listeners on Saturday.

And, Smith said she hopes that the event will help folk music fans
to broaden their horizons as well.

“Well, our music is very peppy, and we just have a good group of
musicians,” Manoujian said. “So, we just keep increasing our repertoire
year after year, and I keep looking for new material for us to play.”

“These songs and tunes have been handed down from generation to
generation, and they speak to people,” Smith added. “An old song
takes you back, and it’s been performed by generations before you,
so it comes from a well-spring of the past.”

For more information, or to purchase or reserve tickets, call
804-647-7856 or visit

HOUSE COLLAPSES IN YEREVAN

Vestnik Kavkaza
Oct 25 2012
Russia

An unfinished 3-storey building on the Street of Khanjan, 20, collapsed
at 1.30 pm, News Armenia reports.

Rescuers of the Center for Crisis Control of the Ministry for
Emergencies and six groups of soldiers arrived to the place. 11 people
were injured, 8 were hospitalized to the Grigor Lusafovich medical
center. Four are in grave condition.

Armenian Minister for Emergencies Armen Yeritsyan visited the place.

ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSE UNIT OPENS IN ARMENIA’S SOUTH

Mediamax
Oct 25 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. This morning, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
attended the opening ceremony of an anti-aircraft defense unit in
Armenia’s south armed with ultra-modern weapons.

In his speech, the President said that those who participated in
military actions during the Artsakh war remember that as a result
of brilliant operations of Armenian anti-aircraft defense units the
Armenian side suffered no significant losses, and our anti-aircraft
forces managed to inflict significant damage to the enemy.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, the opening of a unit equipped with
ultra-modern weapons symbolizes the future of all our military units.

SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUNDS OF ARMENIA, MOLDOVA DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 24, 2012 – 17:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On October 24-25, Yerevan hosted a two-day workshop
titled “Evolution Perspectives of the Social Investment Funds of
Armenia and Moldova”, at the initiative of the World Bank (WB)
and RA government

The event brought together government officials from Armenia and
Moldova, experts from Georgia, Ukraine, Russia and other donors.

“The Fund’s further activates should include new sectors based on
the long-term experience, tested mechanisms of project implementation
and image of a trusted social partner. This will help the communities
to establish participatory mechanisms for solving the existing social
problems, as well as implement development programs focused on creating
employment opportunities, boosting businesses, organizing community
life and improving standards of living,” Deputy Prime Minister Armen
Gevorgyan said.

World Bank Country Manager for Armenia Jean-Michel Happi, in turn,
noted that USD 83 mln was allocated for the implementation of three
programs over the past 17 years.

The third phase of the program is currently in progress in Armenia.

He said that the fund’s programs aim to reduce poverty in Armenian
communities due to job creation, with 850 RA communities having become
micro-program beneficiaries.

Heads of Social Investment Funds of Armenia and Moldova Ashot
Kirakosyan and Boris Popadiuc further called attention to the funds’
programs in other countries for implementation of new projects.

THE SITUATION IN THE ARMENIAN REGIONS OF LEBANON IS CALM: SHAHAN GANTAHARIAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The situation in Lebanon is more
peaceful and the country has become more secure. In a conversation
with “Armenpress” chief editor of “Azdak” Daily of Beirut Shahan
Gantaharian said this and added that in the regions where a lot of
Armenians live the life goes on and no accidents have been noticed.

Gantaharian also said that the governmental building of Lebanon is
under strict surveillance; notwithstanding from time to time one can
hear exclamations calling on the government to repose.

Arabian mass media inform that current situation in the city of Tripoli
in the North of Lebanon is calm. Lebanese army guards Bat at Tabanna
and Jabal Mahsen districts, where have been clashes. Clashes lasting
few days caused the death of 11 men and 39 men had been injured.

Western regions of the Lebanese capital have already returned to
the natural course of life. The soldiers are keeping under special
surveillance Kaskan and Shatlia districts, where the majority of the
residents are Sunni Muslims.

The explosion in the Christian Ashrafie district caused a rather
tense situation in Lebanon. After the funerals of the Director of
the Department of Information of the Inner Security Powers Wisam
Hassan a group of citizens went in the direction of the building of
the Government and demanded the repose of the prime Minister.

WHY DOES ARMENIA LACK THE CULTURE OF DEBATE?

11:38 am | Today | Politics

TV debates in the immediate pre-election period often play a
decisive role in American elections. It is difficult to say whether
TV debates influence on the preferences of Armenian voters since the
last successful debate between presidential candidates dates back
to 2003 when the then President Robert Kocharyan and the opposition
candidate Stepan Demirtchyan participate in a live debate.

President of the Public Council of Armenia, Vazgen Manukyan, says he
did not have an opportunity to debate with his challengers during
the two campaigns he was involved in. “We still lack the culture,”
he told A1+.

While Mr Manukyan highlights pre-election debates, he does not
absolutize it as a ‘gifted candidate may lack rhetorical skills or vice
versa, gain popularity thanks to his brilliant skills of a showman.’

Vazgen Manukyan says the culture of debates requires that the
opposition and the government of the country periodically replace
each other – something we have not witnessed in Armenia to this date.

“If one is always in the opposition and the other in power, the debate
will not do any good as the opposition candidate can make statements
without bearing responsibility for his words and the professionalism
of the pro-government candidate will always be at a higher level,”
he said.

Mathematician Aram Harutyunayn is also experienced in presidential
elections; he participated in the previous two elections. In 2008 he
was invited to a debate by the representatives of his rivals.

“If I am not mistaken Galust Sahakyan was sent to the debate to
represent Serzh Sargsyan,” he said.

Regarding the culture of debates, the mathematician said, “The
opposition has made its trump card to swear at the authorities. In
their turn, the authorities threaten the opposition to tweak their
ears,” said Mr Harutyunyan.

POLITICS ISN’T PROSTITUTION
Siranuysh Papyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:59:44 – 25/10/2012

Interview with ethnographer Aghasi Tadevosyan

Aghasi, do you agree that the Armenian society is unable to define
the problems it is facing, that is why we can’t overcome the crisis?

I agree that problems need to be defined but I disagree that our
society is a big “we”. I think it is important to have differentiated
groups in the society which should define “small” tasks on a daily
basis. These interests may cause serious clashes which will either lead
our society to a catastrophe or new resources to overcome internal
cultural conflicts will appear. The time when the problems were
to be defined by the “fathers of the nation” has passed. Although
the “fathers” appeared only when the society found the potential to
transform. Only through clashes is it possible to define the reason why
we need to have a state. I mean the transformation from the Armenian
mythical and historical model to real everyday life.

At present, Armenia, everyday Armenia, is a society striving for
uniformity, which detracts focus from common daily issues, from civil
society to the state. Our society is afraid of differentiation. Our
society lives in mechanical groups based on relationship or territory.

I disagree that someone clever should define the nation’s mission,
hold rallies and direct masses to change power. This leads to some
sacral “ritual” of definition of problems, which should be done on
a daily basis.

The society likes to be spectators when the others decide.

The effortlessness at the personal level is determined by the
traditions of organization of the life, which are referred to as
“national”. This tradition, which defines uniformity as a national
identity, and the aspiration to change – evil, is the obstacle to the
development. The majority of people are closed in their shells, and
though they are filled with stench, they feel comfortable and secure.

While, the world is dynamically developing out of their shells.

Nations, which manage to form effective state on account of the
differentiation, are at the forefront of world processes. This,
in turn, makes nations seek new resources.

If people don’t want to be distinctive and they also disrespect the
originality of the others, then they are unable to understand the
role of the state. They expect money from the state, but the world
has never seen such a thing.

Do you see wish to change in our society and elite?

The world is developing around us and it is necessary to react to the
changes. Say, we can see activeness in ecological issues in Armenia.

The power and different public sectors have to modernize, though
the Russia elite it causes Eurasian nostalgic notes and Komsomolsk
passions. In Armenia, there quite few people who strive to change their
life. Young people are strolling in the streets who don’t dream, don’t
try to achieve something in their life, to create or even to work.

Why do all civil movements fade away very soon? Our society does not
have resources to form the state and the democratic system, which is
the most effective mechanism today. 50, even 1000 people can’t force 3
million people to move because they feel good not dreaming, but only
watching soap operas and doing nothing. I disagree with the ones who
blame the power for everything. If people wanted to work, they would
fight for their right. We have no social movements, and those who hold
rallies, promise safe life in the sofa to people. It happened in 2008.

Levon Zurabyan said the Armenian National Congress will solve the issue
on Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation in cooperation with the Prosperous
Armenia Party.

Congress actually prefers Gagik Tsarukyan to Serzh Sargsyan, though
Tsarukyan is inferior to Sargsyan in all aspects. Let alone the fact
that Tsarukyan supports the Eurasian idea proposing a new colonization
of Armenia. Though I’m sure that he understands all this. I don’t
even want to call him a political figure. He is a usual rich man
who, as it is used to say, avoids taxes. What is Zurabyan talking
about? He just tries to give state significance to little issues,
i.e. he is engaged in political manipulations.

The political figure should not be cynical, but this is the main
characteristic of today’s politicians. Politics is not prostitution,
but a sphere of activities which should be based on clear moral
values. The political figure should serve people, take care about the
others and have the will to develop and improve themselves every day.

No such a generation has been formed in Armenia yet.

ARMENIA EXPECTS SUPPORT FROM ITALY IN RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE AND NK RIGHT TO SELF- DETERMINATION: SERZH SARGSYAN

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 25, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Several Italian newspapers have
published interview with Serzh Sargsyan ,President of the Republic
of Armenia. The interview was conducted by Italian Parliament member
Giancarlo Mazzuca. As Armenpress reports, citing panorama.am, Italian
journalist has published the interview in Quotidiano Nazionale.

-Mr. President, what does Nobel Peace Prize handed to Europe mean
for Armenia?

-It is a great acknowledgment for all of us, because we consider
ourselves a part of Europe. We have a common history and we have been
not bordering but at least neighbor countries. It will be enough to
look up in Rome Kolizei world maps. We share the same Christian values
and along the years we managed to catch up with democracy, tolerance
and ideals of freedom of expression, that have been darkled during
the centuries. We feel we are Europeans and we want to be citizens of
Europe: Europe based on the idea of the family, rule of law stipulated
by the Constitution.

-What does Armenia expect from Italy?

-Our common history facilities the dialogue. It is not by an chance
there are vibrant Armenian communities acting in Italy till no,
extending from Milan to Ravenna, still not dwelling on the most
vital Armenian communities ever namely Venice Armenian Congregation
and Napolii St. Grigor Illuminator Church. What regards to the
current stage of “closier ties ” between the two countries, it can
be manifested in two ways. In one hand we need your moral support
refer to the most important challenges as to Genocide international
recognition perpetrated in Ottoman Empire and recognition of NK right
to self-determination. In the other hand we expect Italian capital
investments in our country.

-What prospects do Italian companies can enjoy in Armenia and what
kind of businesses Armenia will be interested in more?

-We are interested to work with those companies which are engaged in
the innovative production. Armenia provides special tax benefits to
all foreign companies that are carrying out their activities in the
country’s two free economic zones, surely not excluding penetration
in other zones.

You should trust Armenia, to those companies that are already
operating in Armenia. For instance Pesaro RENCO company engaged in
the construction of the hotels had considerable benefits.