Author: Tvankchian Parkev

POLISH DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT ARMENIA

Aysor
Nov 25 2009
Armenia

Minister of National Defense of Poland, Bogdan Klich, will pay visits
to Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan to hold meeting on items of safety.

Minister said he will meet with "Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister as well
as with Defense Minister of Georgia which is more west-oriented, and
with Defense Minister of Armenia, which is focused more on cooperation
with Russia."

"My first visit will have objectives of safety as the South Caucasus
is a key region not only for Eastern Europe, but for Central Europe
as well. The South Caucasus may bring conflicts and may be a region
of stability," he told journalists.

ARMENIA HAS LONG AGREED TO RELEASE SEVEN OCCUPIED DISTRICTS OF AZERBAIJAN: POLITICAL ANALYST

Today
7748.html
Nov 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Azerbaijani political analyst Rasim Agayev.

– How do you assess the statements OSCE Minsk Group on the basis of
the Munich meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan?

– Such statements must be treated with an extra dose of skepticism,
because the main part of the talks between Presidents is strictly a
one-on-one type talk, and co-chairs of the Minsk Group are satisfied
with only that information which they passed on the results of this
meeting. Fassier and other co-chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group, have been
doing this kind of optimistic statements before.

The fact that the presidents have been negotiating for four hours,
says that the heads of state were able to share enough information
and had raised a lot of questions. At the same time, we can assume
that the subject of the conversation were the 7 occupied regions
around the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh.

But the fact that the matter was referred to the foreign ministers
of Azerbaijan and Armenia, suggests that the degree of preparedness
on this issue is not high. Both ministers will have a lot of work,
so the presidents can have some new "food" for negotiations. Thus,
I think that Azerbaijan and Armenia are in the beginning, perhaps of
the final stage of negotiations.

– How do you comment on the panic publications of the Armenian press,
where they claim that the return of the 7 occupied areas is the
subject of negotiations?

– This question is quite real and decisive. On the table are 4
UN Security Council resolutions, in which you want to liberate the
occupied districts of Azerbaijan. In addition, all world powers support
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which primarily involves the
liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia. In
addition, there is international practice, which dictates the Armenian
withdrawal from occupied territories. If Armenia is to delay this
step, it will face with indignation of the world community and even
the part that is sympathetic. This will cost a lot for Armenia.

Armenia has long agreed to release seven occupied districts of
Azerbaijan. Another thing is that it wants to present it not as an
obligatory step, but as a compromise in exchange for recognition
of the independence of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh, to which
Azerbaijan will never agree.

– Do you think that Azerbaijan should become the initiator of the
reform of OSCE Minsk Group?

– It had to be done 3-5 years ago. Now, the situation is completely
different, and I think that changes in the composition of the OSCE
Minsk are not in the interests of Azerbaijan.

At this point in the region, new trends, which reject territorial
seizures. On the other hand, the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement will
inevitably affect relations between South Caucasian states. Also –
Armenian-Azerbaijani talks on the Karabakh issue are going in the
right direction for Baku. All this makes a change in the composition
of the OSCE Minsk at this time inappropriate.

– What, in your opinion, will be whether Armenia ratify the
Armenian-Turkish minutes before Turkey?

– I consider this kind of thing happening is quite possible.

KARABAKH PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS AZERI THREATS

Asbarez
Nov 25th, 2009

The National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

STEPANAKERT (Parliament Press Service)-After its Wednesday legislative
session, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Assembly issued
an announcement condemning Azerbaijan’s recent military threats,
warning that Azeri efforts are aimed at derailing the conflict
resolution process.

"Recent developments in the Karabakh conflict resolution process
demonstrate Azerbaijan’s blatant non-constructive approach. By
using various media, the Azeri leadership is creating the illusion of
dissatisfaction with the internationally mediated process. In reality,
however, the policies of that country aim to shift the military and
political balance in the region in its favor by unveiled threats
of future war against Artsakh," read the parliament statement,"
the announcement said.

"Under these circumstance the Artsakh parliament, characterizes recent
public statements by high-ranking officials as an uncompromising
posturing for a party to the negotiations. This is rife with
possibilities for the Karabakh side to lose confidence in the peaceful
resolution of the conflict," continued the statement.

"The authorities of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on numerous
occasions, have warned international organizations and stakeholders
in the conflict resolution process of Azerbaijan’s military-leaning
foreign policy, which completely contradicts the responsibilities, to
which that country has agreed while becoming a members of international
organizations," added the statement.

"All of this points to official Baku’s intentions to derail the
negotiations and undermine the stability of the region, through
continued propaganda about alleged tensions in the Karabakh-Azerbaijan
borders," explained the announcement.

Through the announcement, the Karabakh National Assembly aimed to alert
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen, the legislatures of the mediating
countries, as well as EU and CIS structures of the dangers inherent
in the aforementioned Azeri approach.

"The bold steps by Azerbaijan call into question the success of efforts
by the international community to establish peace and stability in
South Caucasus," warned the announcement.

Citing the will of the people of Artsakh, the National Assembly pledged
that it would take it upon itself to initiate efforts in light of
these developments and called on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign
Ministry to inform the OSCE Ministerial Council of this announcement
when it convenes in Athens next week.

ICRC EMPLOYEES VISIT ARMENIAN SOLDIERS IN AZERI CAPTIVITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.11.2009 15:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
employees visited Monday 6 Armenian soldiers held in Azeri captivity,
ICRC communication coordinator in Armenia, Ashot Astabatyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Yet, according to the Committee regulations, he did not divulge
information on the state of the captives.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter was told in the RA Defense Ministry’s
press office, currently 6 Armenian soldiers are held in Azeri
captivity. "Azeri media publications saying that Armenian soldiers
were taken prisoners when escaping the military unit are figments of
Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda," spokesman for the RA Defense
Minister, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan said.

US Ambassador to Armenia participates in `Run for Your Life’
Thanksgiving fun run 2009
21.11.2009 15:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 21, Vahakni residential community hosted
Thanksgiving fun run 2009 – Run for Your Life organized by US Embassy
in Armenia. US Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch participated
in the event.

`This is the first time I participate in such an event. Healthy life
style is a must for everyone. I don’t believe I’ll win today, but
participation is what matters,’ the Ambassador noted, expressing a
hope that in future the event will attract more participants.

About 100 children and adults, representing foreign embassies in
Armenia, Millennium Challenge Corporation and other international
organizations, participated in run competition. The competition was
organized in Thanksgiving day celebration and aimed at healthy
lifestyle propaganda. Competition winners were awarded with cash
bonuses.

Press TV, Iran
Nov 21 2009

Azerbaijan threatens Armenia with ‘military force’
Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:36:48 GMT

Azerbaijan says it has "the full right" to resort to military action
in order to liberate the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which it lost to
Armenia in the 1990s.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Friday that if an upcoming
meeting with his Armenian counterpart ends short of a deal on the
matter "then our hopes in negotiations will be exhausted and then we
are left with no other option" than to reclaim the territory by force,
the Reuters news agency reported.

"We are doing that because we never excluded and we do not exclude
that option. We have the full right to liberate our land by military
means," he added.

Azerbaijan lost control over the region in a rebellion by local
Armenians, who were supported by Yerevan’s military. The conflict
killed tens of thousands of people rendering more than a million
others homeless.

"That meeting must play a decisive role in the process of
negotiations," the Azerbaijani president noted as he was preparing to
attend talks with Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan in Munich on Sunday.

The international community has refused to recognize the de facto rule
of the ensuing Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

HN/SC/MMN

.aspx?id=111843&sectionid=351020406

BAKU DEMANDS SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM NATO

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
12:42 / 11/20/2009

Baku offers NATO to sign bilateral agreements with partner countries
on provision on security guarantees beyond the responsibilities and
commitments of the parties, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov stated on November 19, 2009.

According to Azimov, security in Euro-Atlantic area depends on joint
activities of members and partners of the organization. Otherwise,
it will be fraught with negative consequences for NATO structure
in future.

Countries willing to join NATO face certain threats, Azimov outlined.

He brought the example of August 2008 events in Georgia, noting that
partner countries in general and Azerbaijan in particular are crucial
for NATO.

Meanwhile according to him, there is an anxiety, that security of
countries like Azerbaijan is disputable. "It concerns not only
conflicts, but overall strategic plan as well," he said adding
"partnership with NATO is a guarantee of our security as the efficiency
of decision making process in NATO based on consensus "is outdated
and can lead the rupture in the alliance."

ILHAM ALIYEV OPTIMISTIC

The Messenger
Nov 20 2009
Georgia

On November 17 at a meeting with Karabakh IDPs President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev stated that there are two ways out of the current
situation, either peace or war. Since 1992 negotiations have been
taking place and although they are moving very slowly there is a
certain progress. Currently they are discussing Armenia withdrawing
its troops from all the Azeri regions it has occupied and allowing
Azeri refugees to return to Karabakh.

Ilham Aliyev also stated that the Armenian side has decided to while
away time and use this time to settle Armenian people in Karabakh. He
said that at some point Armenian forces will become unable to control
the established border with Azerbaijan, as Azerbaijan is gaining
strength and improving its demographic situation. The population
is increasing as a faster rate than Armenia’s and today the Azeri
economy is 7 times bigger than Armenia’s while in a couple of years
it will be 13-15 times bigger.

The Azeri President stated that Armenia is isolated from international
projects, all its borders except one are practically sealed and under
these conditions the continued existence of the country is under
question. He expressed his confidence that no country can survive on
foreign financial support alone, in particular a country which has
problems with its neighbour. The gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan
is increasing, but despite this Azerbaijan still prefers the way
of negotiation.

FORMER IAGS PRESIDENTS CONSIDER HISTORICAL COMMISSION AN ATTEMPT TO DENY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

/former-iags-presidents-consider-historical-commis sion-an-attempt-to-deny-armenian-genocide/
By Weekly Staff
November 3, 2009

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan TC Basbakanlik Bakanlikir Ankara,
Turkey

FAX: 90 312 417 0476 Dear Prime Minister Erdogan:

The recent signing of protocols by the governments of Armenia and
Turkey that was brokered by leading states of the international
community marks the beginning of a process that would lead to
establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Constituencies in both countries find some or all of the protocols
problematic. We the former presidents of the International Association
of Genocide Scholars write to you to express our concern about one
of them: the establishment of a historical commission to study the
fate of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

We are sending you this amended version of the Open Letter we wrote
you in June 2005 to reiterate our objection to your insistence that
there be a historical commission, in which Turkey would be involved.

Because Turkey has denied the Armenian Genocide for the past nine
decades, and currently under Article 301 of the Turkish penal code,
public affirmation of the Genocide is a crime, it would seem impossible
for Turkey to be part of a process that would assess whether or not
Turkey committed genocide against the Armenians in 1915.

Outside of your government, there is no doubt about the facts of the
Armenian Genocide, therefore our concern is that your demand for a
historical commission is political sleight of hand designed to deny
those facts. Turkey has, in fact, shown no willingness to accept
impartial judgments made by outside commissions. Five years ago,
the Turkish members of the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission
pulled out of the commission after the arbitrator, the International
Center for Transitional Justice, rendered an assessment that the
events of 1915 were genocide.

And, Prime Minister Erdogan, you have repeatedly stated that even
if a historical commission found that the Armenian case is genocide,
Turkey would ignore the finding.

As William Schabas, the current president of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars, said in his letter to you and
President Sarkisian, "acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide must
be the starting point of any ‘impartial historical commission,’
not one of its possible conclusions."

Our previous letter, which was unanimously approved by the members
of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, lays out
the consensus among historians as to the historical reality of the
Armenian Genocide. We believe the integrity of scholarship and the
ethics of historical memory are at stake.

HELEN FEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF GENOCIDE,
John Jay College, New York City, [email protected];

ROGER W. SMITH, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF GOVERNMENT, COLLEGE OF WILLIAM
AND MARY IN VIRGINIA; [email protected];

FRANK CHALK, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, MONTREAL,
AND CO-DIRECTOR OF THE MONTREAL INSTITUTE FOR GENOCIDE STUDIES,
[email protected];

JOYCE APSEL, PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL STUDIES, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY,
[email protected];

ROBERT MELSON, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, PURDUE
UNIVERSITY, AND PROFESSOR OF HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES, CLARK
UNIVERSITY, [email protected];

ISRAEL W. CHARNY, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF PSYCHOLOGY, HEBREW UNIVERSITY,
JERUSALEM, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE ON THE HOLOCAUST AND
GENOCIDE, [email protected];

GREGORY STANTON, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS, MARY
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, VIRGINIA, and PRESIDENT, GENOCIDE WATCH,
[email protected]

ARMENIAN STUDENTS WIN 2 GOLD MEDALS IN CHINA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.11.2009 19:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 8-16, China hosted the 14th International
Astronomy Olympiad . Two of 3 students representing Armenia at the
tournament: Hayk Tepanyan and Hayk Hakobyan won gold medals, Ayb
Educational Foundation reported.