Author: Tambiyan Samvel

ARMENIAN FESTIVAL: NOT YOUR TYPICAL AFFAIR
By Liana Aghajanian

ianyan magazine

May 6 2010

For the past nine years, Glendale, Calif. has been home to an Armenian
Festival organized by the Armenian Relief Society’s (ARS) Western
chapter. While it has normally been your standard Armenian affair,
full of food, dance and live music – the ingredients necessary for
an successful Armenian event, it looks like it has been involved
to become something much more than an excuse for Armenians to get
together and party.

You might be surprised to find, that the ambitious women of ARS
are doing what they can to make this a festival for more than just
Armenians – and by the looks of how things went last weekend, they
succeeded.

Yes, it wasn’t just Armenian faces in the crowd who got to visit a
string cheese demonstration, few artifacts from Kharpert and even
watch a skilled rug maker, make, well, a rug. In came Los Angeles
residents from as far as Newport and Signal Hill to discover what this
"Armenian-ness" was all about.

In addition to the usual flare, there were also a lot of eccentricities
to appreciate. Take for example, Mania Badmagrian’s amazing Brazilian
embroidery and needlework. You see that embroidered chair? She made
them herself. It took her 10 years. She said that she uses this
handcraft as her therapy, to escape from the stress of every day life.

You can read more about the event (written by yours truly) in
the Glendale News-Press here. It contains a few great quotes from
non-Armenians who are fascinated with the culture. What are Armenian
festivals (if any) like where you live?

RA COURT OF CASSATION REJECTS CLAIM OF NICOL PASHINYAN’S ATTORNEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 5, 2010 – 20:32 AMT 15:32 GMT

Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan said that
the Armenian Court of Cassation rejected the claim submitted by the
attorney of Nikol Pashinyan, the editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak
newspaper, against the verdict of the Armenian Court of Appeal.

According to Zurabyan, the verdicts of the Armenian judicial instances
have nothing to do with Pashinyan’s case. "We had not been expecting
another decision. Thus, we have passed through all judicial instances
of Armenia and we are going to apply to the European Court of Human
Rights," Levon Zurabyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

On January 19, 2010, the court of the first instance sentenced Nikol
Pashinyan to seven years of imprisonment in the case of the March 1,
2008, tragic events. The Armenian Court of Appeal upheld the verdict,
but decided to apply amnesty towards Nikol Pashinyan and halve the
term of imprisonment.

TURKEY’S AND RUSSIA’S ROLE IN RESOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Today
67318.html
May 5 2010
Azerbaijan

"Russia seeks to be the main sponsor and guarantor of resolution of
the Karabakh conflict," Azerbaijani political analyst Zardusht Alizade
said commenting on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s upcoming visit
to Turkey.

The analyst believes Russia pushes policies to have an exceptional
ability to influence the conflicting parties that have always been
a pretext for intervention in the ongoing processes in the region.

"Russia and other countries are unlikely able to influence Azerbaijan
because the country is financially independent unlike Armenia, whose
economy is entirely dependent on Russia and financial assistance from
the West," the analyst explained.

"It’s hard to say if Turkey will assist with this policy of Russia if
Moscow offers Ankara to calm down Yerevan’s policy seeking recognition
of "genocide". Though Turkey is a fraternal country for Azerbaijan,
the country has its own national interests. In 1920s, Turkey assisted
Russia to strengthen its foothold in the South Caucasus. Now, the
interests of Ankara and Moscow come together on the Karabakh conflict."

"Being an ally of Russia, Turkey can get a project "South Stream",
defuse a fictional "Armenian genocide", restore relations with Armenia
and become one of the guarantors of the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement," the analyst underscored.

According to the analyst, while parties directly involved in the
conflict fail to reach an agreement, any country may well feather
its nest on this matter.

Alizade says the most real option is that Armenian withdraws from five
occupied regions followed by an international peacekeeping operation
for the return of Azerbaijani refugees and reconstruction of damaged
infrastructure in these areas.

Armenia will delay withdrawal from two more Azerbaijani regions. In
exchange for this, Azerbaijan will be offered to undertake a commitment
not to use force, to negotiate with Karabakh Armenians and deploy
peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. Naturally, Russia will try to
deploy its troops there as in case of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
says the analyst.

"Government led by Serzh Sargsyan, which holds power only at
the expense of "the Karabakh card", can accept peace only if the
framework agreement notes that Nagorno Karabakh will not be a part of
Azerbaijan. Otherwise, he may be asked why he overthrew Ter-Petrosyan,
who did not insist on independence of Karabakh from Azerbaijan,"
he said.

Alizade said, that the transitional status is intended to provide
security in the self-determination process of Nagorno Karabakh. But
Armenians seek to transform a transitional status to the form of
Karabakh’s preparation for independence and subsequent "miatsum"
while Azerbaijan says, that the transitional status is a transition
to a high degree of autonomy within Azerbaijan.

Interestingly, the preamble of the Madrid principles enumerates
conditions: the territorial integrity and right to self and
renunciation of the right use of force, says the analyst.

If positions of conflicting parties see no significant changes,
the negotiations may take even more years, Alizade noted.

FROM ARARAT TO ZION TO BE SCREENED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 5, 2010 – 15:51 AMT 10:51 GMT

>From Ararat to Zion documentary telling about the Armenian pilgrims
and clergymen in Jerusalem will be screened in Yerevan on May 5.

"The work on the film caused a cultural shock," film director Edgar
Baghdasaryan said.

"The uniqueness of the film is that the story is told not by Armenians
but Europeans – Germans, Italians and French," said Father Mesrop
Aramian, the scriptwriter and producer. "We have filmed almost all
Armenian inscriptions in Egypt and Palestine. The film was made up of
materials provided Assyrian, Greek, Egyptian and other sources. It’s
a discovery from the beginning to end."

"This documentary is a message for our young generation," said Ralph
Yirikian, Vivacell-MTS General Manager.

The world premiere will take place on May 12 in the UK.

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT IN KARABAKH WITHOUT NAKHIJEVAN

ArmInfo
2010-05-05 11:19:00

ArmInfo. It is impossible to understand the conflict in Karabakh
without Nakhijevan, says Vladimir Kazimirov, the ex-co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Karabakh conflict, in
an interview with Azerbaijani 3View News and Analytical Agency in
response to allegations by Araz Alizade, Chairman of the Social
Democratic Party of Azerbaijan.

"A series of conflicts between Armenians and Azerbaijanis resulted in
delimitation, by force and through "soft" pressing. It is not easy to
overcome this. It requires time and cautiousness. Mass outcomes are
very rarely voluntary. One can hardy remember now how many Armenian
lived in Nakhijevan. Let’s imagine that they want to return there
within shortest period of time. What will Baku say? It can say
demagogically "Welcome", but what it will actually mean?" Kazimirov
says. Casting doubt on Alizade’s figures related "the refugees from
Karabakh," Kazimirov says that "it is one thing if the residents
of the entire Karabakh, and not only of the Nagorny Karabakh, are
in question, but it is quite another thing if it is the number of
refugees from Nagorny Karabakh. That is really out of sight!" The
former mediator recalled that the census of 1989 in Nagorny Karabakh
registered a little more than 40,000 Azerbaijanis

"If several thousands of them had already left Nagorny Karabakh then,
the number of Azerbaijanis could be hardly 45,000 in Nagorny Karabakh.

This figure could not grow to 227,000 over 10 years and reach 250,000
by present. Demography cannot develop so sharply," Kazimirov says.

"What’s the good of recalling who and where lived centuries ago? No
one will return the US territory to Red Indians. No one will offer
Seljuks to return deep into Asia etc. "What has happened cannot be
undone even if the balance is negative, for instance, in the case of
the Crimea. One must reason from the given situation and not from
the past. It is better leaving wars in past centuries. I trust in
human intellect and ability to find a good way from any deadlock,"
Kazimirov says.

As regards propaganda, Kazmirov says "propaganda feeds peoples with
impurity and miasmas." "They in Azerbaijan often complain that the
world community does not display understanding and solidarity with the
victim of aggression, does not exert pressure on aggressor and does
not properly demand it to return the territories. But, many countries
and international organizations understand this complicate conflict
differently than you propagate. Not everything is so easy. The
conflict has prehistory. It was the other party that resorted to
force settlement and military actions. It was not an armed attack by
Armenians, it was a complex and multidimensional escalation of mutual
enmity. The right to self-defense is stipulated by the UN Statute
as a response by a country to an armed attack and not as replay
of war in 16 years," Kazimirov says. He recalls that the general
demand then was to cease the fire. "Who opposed that demand with
hope to defeat the rival? Who had been rejecting the 4 resolutions
of the UN Security Council for a year? Who had led everything to the
situation when it stopped accepting the resolutions on Karabakh? It
is only the UN Security Council that is empowered to define the act
of aggression like the threat to peace. Is there any UN Security
Council resolution that defines an aggression by Armenia? Occupation
that was the result of continuing military actions was registered but
classified as occupation by "local Armenian forces". Russia more than
any other country has directly told Yerevan that Armenia is also a
party to the conflict and not only Nagorny Karabakh. But Yerevan had
not been ready to perceive that for a long time," Kazimirov says. He
highlights that propaganda restraint is one of the key requirements
to the parties to the conflict in the way towards peace in the region.

THE ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENTS OF CIS COUNTRIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1941-1945

ARMENPRESS
MAY 5, 2010
YEREVAN

The Presidents of CIS countries adopted an appeal to the peoples of the
Commonwealth countries and the world community in connection with the
65th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The
message runs as follows:

"Peoples of the Commonwealth of Independent States May 9, 2010
celebrate the 65-th anniversary of the Soviet people’s victory in the
Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Multinational people of the Soviet
Union and Armed Forces defended freedom and independence of their
Motherland, saved many world countries from fascist enslavement in
an unprecedented intensive and brutal war," the statement says.

"At the front and rear our people have shown their dedication and
heroism, patriotism and internationalism, unprecedented stability,
without which victory would have been impossible. There was no similar
resistance in the history. There was no similar will to victory.

Over the years, the greatness of deeds committed by our people has
not disappeared. The more time separates us from that event, the
more clearly is value of the historical mission of soldiers who had
defended the right for future.

Therefore, appealing to peoples of the Commonwealth member-countries
and the world community, today we thank veterans still alive in our
countries. We urge to pay homage to heroes-winners, demonstrate daily
care of war veterans, pay attention to them and create good living
conditions not only by words, but actions.

May 9 – Victory Day remains the day of justice, pride, and nationwide
mourning for the millions who died in this immensely cruel and terrible
battle. We piously revere memory of those who died during the Great
Patriotic War. We have a debt of gratitude to those who have given
their lives defending the Fatherland, so – our freedom We will not
forget the heroism of soldiers and those in the rear, who saved the
world from fascism the message said.

We do not share the victory on our own and foreign. We always pay
tribute to the courage of those who resisted Nazism. We remember
the contributions of our allies on the anti-Hitler coalition in the
victory, their help. However, the most ambitious and, ultimately, major
events took place on Soviet-German front. Our countries lost tens of
millions of citizens during the war. People of all nationalities were
among the dead on the battlefield," the message says.

The Presidents of Commonwealth countries urge to educate the younger
generation a sense of pride for the common heroic history and a great
feat in the fight against fascism.

"Confirming the adherence to universal principles and norms of the
international law, the provisions of the UN Charter and the Helsinki
Final Act, we call for active cooperation in strengthening security and
stability in the world, acceleration of efforts to combat international
terrorism and extremism, a peaceful political settlement of existing
and potential conflicts," the message concluded.

HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO VISIT NKR

news.am
May 4 2010
Armenia

The Board of Trustees of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund is to hold a
sitting on May 14. The Board members, representatives of the Fund’s
local agencies and donators have arrived in Yerevan.

The Fund informed NEWS.am that before the sitting the Board members
are to pay a 5-day visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

Specifically, the Board members will also examine the implementation
of the following projects:

The Goris heart clinic (sponsored by the Fund’s office in France
and Lebanon); Gishi village school (sponsored by the Telethon 2008,
Vardanyan family fund and NKR Government); Chartar village school
(sponsored by the Fund’s office in France and NKR Government);
Stepanakert School #11 (sponsored by the Fund’s office on the U.S.
western coast).

Shushi School after Khachatur Abovyan and School after Muratsan, three
street renovation projects and renovation of an internal water-supply
network, Shushi library and palace of culture.

During their visit to Nagorno-Karabakh the Board members the opening
ceremonies of the Spitakashen village school (sponsored by the Fund’s
office in Toronto, Canada) and the water-supply line in the village
of Sos (sponsored by the office in France).

The Board members will visit the Ghazanchetsots church in Shushi and
participate in celebrations of the city’s liberation.

Armenia should become co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group

By Times.am
30 April, 2010, 12:18 am

By Hrant Meliq- Shahnazaryan

Azerbaijan’s ruling party these days took the initiative to include
Turkey among the countries co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group. The leaders
of the party think that it is time for changes in the institute
co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group. Before the statement of the ruling Yeni
Azerbaijan party the head of the political department of the
presidential administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov said that his
Government was dissatisfied with the policy of the United States as
co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group. `The United States often take a
unilateral position in favor of Armenia’, – mentioned Hasanov.

However, it seems that official Baku is not complaining so much about
the position of the United States, but alternating each other good
luck foreign policy. Last exclusively diplomatic ways, drove into a
dead end not only Azerbaijan, but also Turkey, which claimed a
dominant role in the political life of the South Caucasus. And now, to
restore the «balance of power» in regional politics, Aeries have to
destroy the institutions of political dialog between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, as well as other powers, which have political and economic
interests in our region.

It is an obvious fact that the OSCE has never been an effective tool
for solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is clear that the main
task of the OSCE Minsk Group has been and remains obstructing the
resumption of armed conflict between Azerbaijan and the Republic of
Artsakh. In fact, this institution has always been an instrument of a
kind of pressure on the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan in order
to achieve certain political and economic benefits. In addition, the
OSCE Minsk Group is also the site where the world’s major powers to
discuss the important problem not only the South Caucasus, but also
the whole of the Caspian-Black Sea region. Therefore, Ankara seeks to
«get involved» in the Institute co-chairs, knowing full well that only
in this case it would be able to get a more important role in
political developments in the region.

Immediately after the 2008 war, 20 August, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan claimed about the initiative of creating a `Caucasus Stability
and Cooperation Platform.’ Erdogan said at the time that the first and
foremost platform must have a geographical basis … `which has an aim
to establish peace and security in the region, economic cooperation
and energy security. This platform must be based on the principles of
the OSCE’.

Note that in 2008 the Prime Minister of Turkey had a very vague idea
of the political presence of various countries in the region. Thus, in
the `Platform of Cooperation’ was not forthcoming participation not
only of the United States, but Iran, which is also an active player in
the politics of the entire South Caucasus. However, it is clear that
introducing a new regional project, Turkey has pursued a very
different purpose. Russia’s military victory over Georgia forced the
Turks to believe that from a regional security system will be
subordinated to political interests of Russia. Ankara decided not to
miss `an opportunity’ and to offer Russia its `services’ to ensure
peace and stability in the Caucasus. However, as further demonstrated
during the Russian side was able to provide a military success. From a
political point of view of the security system of the South Caucasus
has not undergone any significant changes, and the only hope for
Turkey to act in the region as an independent power center was empty.

Today, the Turkish-Azeri diplomacy is in search of new ways to
strengthen Turkey’s role in regional politics. As the most efficient
structure, capable of their `shoulders’ to bring Turkey into the South
Caucasus has been elected OSCE Minsk Group. To achieve its objectives
– `the introduction of’ Turkey in the number of co-chairs – Baku and
Ankara are using all possible methods for them: from the political
agreements to blackmail. Calculation of the Turkic republics is quite
simple. For a long time, the power of Azerbaijan is constantly
threatened by the resumption of hostilities against the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. At the same time claimed that official Baku
is not satisfied with the actions of the OSCE Minsk Group, and noted
`the failure’ of the format of negotiations. In Azerbaijan, hopes
escalate the situation to the extent that international mediators not
agree to the terms of Baku, and do not include Turkey in the number of
OSCE Minsk Group.

However, in Baku and Ankara is also well aware that in the case of
Turkey in the Minsk Group, the Armenian side will require that there
be included is another – more loyal to the Armenian nation. That can
be for example, Iran. That’s why Azeris have decided to play a
proactive and self-start discussion prospects of involving Iran in
negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan has invited the Iranians to mediate in the conflict at the
end of last year. This initiative was voiced by Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, during his visit to Tehran. Then Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said his country is ready to assume the
mission of a mediator for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
However, in those days, the initiative did not have any sequels. This
question has been raised again (already initiated by the Iranian side)
in late January in Yerevan during his visit Manouchehr Mottaki in
Yerevan, without any consequences. On 19th April 2010, Iranian Foreign
Minister said that the Baku gave a positive response to Iran’s offer
of mediation in the Karabakh settlement.

Therefore the Azerbaijani leadership blackmailed Washington on the eve
of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire and
traditional treatment of the U.S. President to the Armenian people.
However, it is clear that Azerbaijan did not mind really help change
the composition of the OSCE Minsk Group. Judging by the publications
of the press, official Baku has already raised this issue before the
current co-chairs of the Minsk Group. According to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Russian diplomats are exploring this initiative.

It should be nmentioned that Azerbaijan’s initiative to integrate
Turkey in the OSCE Minsk Group in Yerevan met with little interest.
Politicians and experts from Armenia, only stated that it was
impossible, considering the subject thus closed. In the meantime, the
question of the current format of the OSCE Minsk Group is on the
agenda of regional policy for quite a long time. Of course, all are
perfectly aware, that this institution is only a deterrent to the
resumption of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. Effective mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of the
conflict MG simply can not offer. Thus, not because the co-chairs do
not have enough political will, but such a mechanism does not exist.
At present, the conflicting parties and international mediators have
only a choice between maintaining the status quo and complete defeat
of one of the warring parties in the new Azeri-Armenian war. If a
choice of pasta for the first option, the current OSCE Minsk Group
format best suits the situation. If the actors of regional politicians
decide to move it from place, the ombudsman should indeed be subjected
to certain changes.

However, this will need to put the record straight on «i», and finally
decide who is a party to the conflict, who is an ally of the
conflicting parties and who is the facilitator. The fact is that since
the late nineties of the last century in the negotiation process on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not brought to the most important aspect
of the conflict – the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Instead, the official
Stepanakert talks with the Azerbaijani side is Armenia, which only
helped fellow in Artsakh resist military aggression by Azerbaijan.
Similarly, in negotiations with the Armenian side for Azerbaijan could
serve Turkey, which is given to Azerbaijan by military, technical and
human assistance in the aggression against Armenians. Thus, for the
greater efficiency of the negotiation process should be included in
Stepanakert, the negotiation process and, simultaneously, to recognize
Armenia and Turkey by the sides to armed conflict.

But the problem is that Ankara is clearly unwilling to recognize their
participation in military aggression against the peaceful population
of the NKR, and strives to become a mediator in the settlement of the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh war. The only choice is Armenia. Yerevan, of
course, may indicate Ankara in its place in this conflict, or may
agree to mediation of Turkey. In this case, however, be correct and
logical to Armenia also became one of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group
of OSCE. In fact: the parties, as stipulated in all UN Security
Council resolutions, are the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan.
And only systematically conducted Baku artificial extrusion of Nagorno
Karabakh from Armenia to the negotiating process put forward in the
main negotiator with Azerbaijan. It is high time to Stepanakert won at
the negotiating table rightful place.

The proposed solution to the situation will lead to the negotiations
on settlement of the conflict will be exactly between the parties to
the conflict, which will maintain their natural allies and the
international community.

/Times.am/

SOME AZERBAIJANIS FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

news.am
April 30 2010
Armenia

According to poll results, 0.8% of respondents in Azerbaijan are
for Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence. "Let them live as they like,"
they said. 1news.az reported that the poll was conducted by the
PULS organization under a project implemented with the sponsorship
of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, FES)
and involved 1,000 Azerbaijani citizens.

70.4% of the respondents are against any compromise over
Nagorno-Karabakh’s final status as a result of peaceful settlement
of the conflict (59.4% in Jan 2007), 8.9% of the respondents are for
granting Nagorno-Karabakh a cultural autonomy and local government,
and 5.7% for an autonomy similar to that of Nakhichevan. Only 9.5%
of the respondents are for a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh provided
Azerbaijani refugees return to Nagorno-Karabakh.

As regards the immediate prospects for the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,
42.5% of the respondents said the "neither war nor peace" situation
will continue; 40.7% believe in progress in the peace process; 15.7%
think hostilities will be resumed.

On the threshold of parliamentary elections in Nagorno-Karabakh, the
Sociometer center held a poll, which showed that 84.4% were against
any compromise over Nagorno-Karabakh, and 93% of the respondents were
against the return of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES FRENCH DELEGATION

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 30, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: On April 29, Armenian Deputy Prime
Minister, Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan
received the delegation of the participants of the classes of the
French National Institute for High Studies on Security and of the
French National Association of Auditors, who are in Armenia on a
familiarizing visit.