Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

AZERBAIJANI NOT AFRAID OF ARMENIA’S WITHDRAWAL FROM KARABAKH TALKS

Interfax News Agency
March 19 2008
Russia

Armenia’s threat to withdraw from the Karabakh negotiations does not
concern Azerbaijan if the resolution recognizing Nagorno Karabakh as
part of Azerbaijan is adopted as the foundation of the negotiations,
an Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman told a briefing on Wednesday.

"No one is keeping Armenia in the negotiation process. We are not
forcing them to sit down at the negotiation table. It is Azerbaijan
that is agreeing on a compromise by taking part in the talks with
them," said the spokesman.

"There is no need to threaten us with withdrawal from the
negotiations. Azerbaijan is now not in a position to be threatened,
and the political tensions in Armenia do not allow it to make such
conditions," the official said.

Commenting on Armenia’s statement about a possible meeting between
the presidents of Armenian and Azerbaijan at the upcoming NATO summit,
the Foreign Ministry spokesman said that in order to organize such a
meeting "the Armenians need to demonstrate a constructive attitude to
negotiations, but we are now only seeing sabotage and a destructive
approach from them."

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A rmenian Church to Resume Services in Chernivtsi

19.03.2008, [19:00] // Church-state relations //

Chernivtsi-The Chernivtsi Regional Council
authorized services of the Ukrainian Eparchy of
the Armenian Apostolic Church to resume at the
Church of St. Peter and Paul on Virmenska Street,
according to a story posted by RISU’s
Ukrainian-language website on 19 March 2008. The
building was created by Czech architect Yozef
Glavka in the 19th c. and after its restoration
in 1992 became the regional philharmonic
society’s organ hall. The schedule of services is
to be specified and agreed upon by the Armenian
community and the philharmonic society.

ARMENIAN AND TURKISH MUSICIANS TO TRAVEL TOGETHER FOR PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING PEACE BETWEEN TWO STATES

Noyan Tapan
March 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Acclaimed Armenian
"duduk" (a woodwind instrument) player Jivan Gasparyan and Turkish
folk singer Yavuz Bingol are set to take on a tour in April to promote
peace and friendship between Turkey and Armenia. The two musicians will
travel the United States of America, France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Switzerland and Italy. "We have a thousand-year-old common history
between us. We are taking on the road to tell this friendship in our
songs," Bingol said.

RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD NOT RUSH TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO’S INDEPENDENCE

armradio.am
17.03.2008 17:45

"The Turkish diplomacy did not conceal its joy and satisfaction
on the occasion of proclamation of Kosovo’s independence. Why did
it have to conceal? In fact, a Muslim country is being formed in
the Balkans, which falls in the framework of common interests of
Turkey," Turkologist, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute
Ruben Safrastyan told a press conference today.

The Turkologist considers Kosovo a precedent from the point of
view of both international law and interpretation of international
law. Nevertheless, he notes that Kosovo greatly differs from Nagorno
Karabakh. Therefore, Armenia should lead a very cautious policy and
not rush to recognize the independence of Kosovo. Besides, it is
necessary to take into consideration Russia’s factor. Regarding this,
Ruben Safrastyan considers that official Yerevan’s position not to
recognize Kosovo in the near future is correct.

It’s worth mentioning that Kosovo’s independence was not recognized by
those countries which have the problem of defending their territorial
integrity. Contrary to that, the interested countries, including
Turkey, hurried to recognize its independence. Turkey recognized
Kosovo’s independence, hoping to reinforce the bases of recognition
of the Northern Cyprus, which became the reason of break of relations
between two friendly states.

Nevertheless, Safrastyan considers that expecting aggravation of
relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey because of recognition
of Kosovo’s independence is incorrect. When assessing the
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, the Turkologist underlined that it is
necessary to take into consideration that Turkey never subjects its
interests to the interests of others.

"Turkey is a full-fledged, powerful country and it will never subject
its interests to the interests of Azerbaijan. And Azerbaijan has to
reckon with it.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

His Holiness Aram I receives the President of the University
of Louvain Professor Bernard Coulie

Catholicos Aram I received on March 14 Professor Dr. Bernard Coulie, the
president of the University of Louvain at Louvain-la-Neuve. Dr. Coulie, an
Orientalist and an Armenologist, was also accompanied by the directors of
the Oriental and atomic institutes. The University of Louvain is one of the
most important universities of Europe with about 25,000 students.

The Pontiff and his guests discussed academic issues as well as topics
related to Armenological and Oriental studies. The Catholicos also talked
about possibilities for future cooperation with between the Catholicosate of
Cilicia and the University of Louvain. The University’s President and his
delegation then visited the "Cilicia" Museum.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos212.htm#3
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

FOREIGN MINISTRIES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND SPAIN DO NOT BELIEVE THEIR SCIENTISTS CARRY OUT RESEARCH IN AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED AZYKH CAVE

Azeri Press Agency
March 13 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova, Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. Department of Foreign
Affairs of Great Britain considers that the reports that British
scientists signed a long-term contract with the separatist regime
to carry out research in Azykh Cave located in the Armenian-occupied
Azerbaijani territory Nagorno Karabakh, are groundless, Press Service
of the Department of Foreign Affairs told APA.

But the department also said they would follow the issue.

Press Service of Spanish Foreign Ministry told APA that they were
unaware of such a contract. The Press Service said there were over
1000 research organizations in the country.

"But if there is such a contract, we can assure you that the
organization that signed it is not a government body," the service
said.

Azerbaijan’s embassies in Spain and Great Britain have already started
to investigate this report. Spokesman for Foreign Ministry Khazar
Ibrahim told APA that if the information was confirmed, Azerbaijan
would express its position and achieve to stop such illegal activities.

A Russian cyclist, who visited Armenia and then Nagorno Karabakh a
year ago, took footage in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

According to the footage, British and Spanish scientists signed
25-year contract to carry out research in Azykh Cave.

VARDAN OSKANIAN ESTIMATES SITUATION IN ARMENIA AS ALARMING

Noyan Tapan
March 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
will meet with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on March 14 in Vienna,
during which the issue on resumption of the negotiations on the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement will be discussed. Vardan Oskanian reported this
at the March 13 press conference.

The same day Oskanian will leave for Brussels to take part in the
annual forum organized by the Marshall Fund. The Minister said that
within the framework of that event he is to meet with all leaders of
the European Union. It is supposed to discuss issues connected with
the domestic situation in Armenia, including the issue of repeal of
the state of emergency introduced on March 1. As the Minister classed
it, state of emergency no doubt indicates that the situation is not
normal. At the same time, in his words, it was a compulsory measure for
establishing stability in the country and normalizing the situation.

Estimating the domestic situation in Armenia as alarming, Vardan
Oskanian pointed out to the necessity to conduct a dialogue between
the authorities and the opposition. In his opinion, the possibility
of such a dialogue has been lost once, when Prime Minister Sargsian
called the sides for a dialogue and himself expressed readiness to
conduct negotiations with the opposition.

The Minister called the sides for taking steps in the direction of a
dialogue and emphasized that today much depends on Levon Ter-Petrosian.

As regards the statement of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
about the possibility of suspending assistance programs to Armenia,
including the Millennium Challenge program, Vardan Oskanian stated
that he does not exclude such a possibility. In his opinion, he sees a
real danger that the U.S. can freeze the Millennium Challenge program,
and the solution of that issue will completely depend on the fact
to what extent Armenia will be able to solve the dilemma faced by
it. V. Oskanian emphasized that the whole Armenian society will appear
in a grave condition in case of suspension of the assistance programs.

Oskanian did not exclude the possibility that a meeting between newly
elected Armenian President Serge Sargsian with Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev can be held within the framework of the forthcoming NATO summit
to be held on April 3-4 in Bucharest.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER INSISTS MARCH 19 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS ILLEGITIMATE

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 11, 2008
Russia

Former Armenian presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian insists
that the presidential election of March 19 was illegitimate and is
determined to force the authorities to allow a protest rally.

Ter-Petrosian said he was not going to initiate unsanctioned rallies.

"I respect the law, and we have not taken any action during the state
of emergency," he said.

At the same time, Ter-Petrosian said he was left perplexed by the
Constitutional Court’s ruling of March 8, which upheld the Central
Elections Commission’s decision to declare Serzh Sargsyan the new
Armenian president. Ter-Petrosian suggested that the Constitutional
Court’s ruling "has put a mine under Serzh Sargsyan’s legitimacy."

Ter-Petrosian insisted that, according to Armenian law, a prime
minister can be registered as a presidential candidate only if he is
performing the duties of acting-president. Since Sargsyan had no such
status, his registration as a presidential candidate by the Central
Elections Commission was unlawful, he said.

The Armenian constitution stipulates that no elections can be held in
the country during martial law or a state of emergency. "Therefore,
the presidential election that was held mean that the entire election
process, from the nomination [of candidates] to the end of the appeal
process, which is the moment when the court handed down its ruling,
is also illegitimate," he said.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling cannot be appealed.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

March 13, 2008

ACNIS Examines Artsakh and the Kosovo Model

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today convened a foreign policy discussion to explore the
recent precedent of international recognition of Kosovo’s independence
and whether this precedent can be applied in the case of Artsakh
(Mountainous Karabagh). The meeting brought together leading analysts,
policy specialists, public and political figures, and media
representatives.

Welcoming the audience with opening remarks, ACNIS research
coordinator Syuzanna Barseghian expressed the hope that this topic of
broad public interest would be further developed with new and critical
assessments. "Despite the often repeated statements that the case of
Kosovo is exclusive, its independence could change many things in the
methodology used toward other conflicts in the post-Soviet space,
including Artsakh’s juridical accomplishment of liberty and
sovereignty," Barseghian said. "What does the aforesaid model promise
for Armenia and the wider region? What stance should Armenia take? The
mission of today’s roundtable is to find comprehensive answers to
these and many similar questions."

The day’s first speaker was member of parliament Stepan Safarian, who
gave clarifications on whether the Kosovo example really is a
precedent or just another case of the "selective rule of law." In his
view, the real precedent for a legal, constitutional declaration of
decolonization and statehood is Artsakh itself, and all types of
speculations that are made at various levels with respect to Kosovo
are yet another indication of the application of geopolitics-driven
double standards. "Sadly, Armenia not only is missing the Kosovo
‘train,’ but some of its officials are making fairly worrisome, if not
dubious statements that Kosovo carries no precedential effect for
Artsakh," Safarian noted. According to him, Armenia needs to take the
initiative in developing a frame of mind and policy that because of a
number of objective and subjective factors it is no longer possible
for certain national entities–and Mountainous Karabagh in the first
place–to return to their former status. "Tomorrow, March 14, the
Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the Armenian National
Assembly will finally consider the draft legislation formally to
recognize the Republic of Mountainous Karabagh," Safarian concluded.

In his intervention, Arman Melikian, Mountainous Karabagh Republic’s
former minister of foreign affairs, analyzed the Armenian position
concerning whether or not to formally recognize Kosovo. In his view,
first and foremost Armenia itself should recognize the independence of
MKR. "Kosovo’s example provides the perfect opportunity to adopt laws
which also include the granting of Karabagh citizenship to hundreds of
thousands of our compatriots who were expelled or otherwise emigrated
>From Azerbaijan," Melikian stated, emphasizing that it is
impermissible to barter around the liberated territories. He also
indicated that under the present conditions it is crucial to prove,
with hard legal evidence, to the international community that Artsakh,
with its national boundaries, democratic institutions, and all other
internationally recognized standards, is truly an established
sovereign state.

In his comparative review, chairman Shavarsh Kocharian of the National
Democratic Party drew relevant parallels between Artsakh and Kosovo in
terms of their actual readiness for independence. He underscored that
the legal and historical bases for the declaration of Karabagh’s
independence are flawless. "Firstly, in contrast with Kosovo, whose
borders are being guarded by international peacekeeping forces,
Mountainous Karabagh is capable of defending its independence against
any external aggression. Secondly, the system of national governance
operates efficiently in Artsakh and its armed forces are under the
command of its civilian authorities. And, thirdly, the matter of
Karabagh’s financial security has been resolved successfully,"
Kocharian maintained, adding that the situation is quite the opposite
with respect to Kosovo as foreign donors have provided it three
billion euros in aid. Still, the Armenian side, in Kocharian’s view,
was unable to make proper use of its advantages by unwittingly
allowing a shift in the issue’s vector toward a mere territorial
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The policy roundtable concluded with an exchange of opinions and
policy recommendations among Armenia’s first Ombudswoman and Heritage
MP Larisa Alaverdian; director Alexander Iskandarian of the Caucasus
Media Institute; Yerevan State University lecturers Aram Harutiunian
and Alexander Manasian; social psychologist Manoog Kaprielian;
chairman Boris Navasardian of the Yerevan Press Club; ACNIS senior
analyst Tatul Hakobian; political scientist Edward Antinian; analyst
Sergey Shakariants; Ashot Khurshudian from the International Center
for Human Development; Serbia’s honorary consul and specialist of
Serbian affairs Babken Simonian; and several others.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi
K. Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors,
ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public
policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative,
strategic thinking and a wider understanding of the new global
environment. In 2008, the Center focuses primarily on civic education,
democratic development, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the
nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit

MINORITY COMMUNITY LEADERS EXPRESS DESPAIR, ANGER AS RACIST MURDERS RISE

Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union
March 12 2008
DC

A meeting in Moscow at the end of last month between local police
officials and minority community leaders broke down in acrimony,
with several community leaders criticizing government policies
towards extremist groups, according to a March 3, 2008 article in the
independent national daily "Novaya Gazeta." There have already been
27 murders motivated by ethnic hatred in Russia since the beginning of
the year, a pace that, if maintained, would result in a doubling of the
2007 numbers. As Moscow’s police chief, who recently stated that there
are no organized neo-Nazi groups in his city, gave what the newspaper
described as a standard speech promising action, he was interrupted
by an Azeri diaspora leader who shouted, "Last year we sent 50 coffins
back to the our motherland! How many more can we expect this year?!"

Evgeny Kryshtalev, a member of the Union of All-Russia Azerbaijani
Congress, was quoted in the article saying that: "Ever day in Moscow
there is another attack. Every month, more and more deaths… We
cannot remain silent about this any more." He complained that Moscow
police were refusing to investigate an attack that neo-Nazis from
the Moscow region committed within city limits, claiming that it
is up to the Moscow region’s police to do that. "What, do they live
in another country?!" he asked. He added that Moscow’s police chief
stated that every year migrants commit 14,000 crimes in Moscow, but
what the officer didn’t say is that the vast majority of these crimes
are non-violent immigration offenses, hardly comparable to the wave
of violent crimes that migrants face.

Gegam Khalatyan, an Armenian diaspora leader, added that the number
of attacks on Armenians, whose homeland is a reliable ally of Russia,
could drive Armenia into the arms of NATO. "A day doesn’t go by in
Moscow without an attack on an Armenian," he said. "Armenians and
Russians have always been friends, but nowadays it is a kind of
one-sided friendship. Why do we need to put up with this, how much
longer can we tolerate the inaction of the authorities?… Russia
does not value its friends."

Abdulla Dovlatov, head of the Tajik diaspora, told a story that
had nothing to do with neo-Nazis in order to demonstrate the extent
to which xenophobia has penetrated Russian society. A week before,
police in Tver allegedly beat up two Tajik construction workers. They
stabbed them and then threw them out into the snow. The men hid in the
forest and somehow found their way to Moscow, where a doctor allegedly
refused medical treatment, saying: "We are sick of you and you dare
to want a medical report in order to bring charges against our people?"

"The police refuse to record hate crimes against foreigners… So
officially, nobody is being harmed and there is no xenophobia in
Russia," he added.

Alidzhan Khaydarov, president of Uzbek diaspora in St. Petersburg,
offered a dissenting view, claiming that nobody from his community
complains of racist attacks, despite reports of anti-Uzbek violence
to the contrary.