Author: Vasilian Manouk

International Herald Tribune, France
Dec 6 2007

Unrecognized States
By Mark Almond
Published: December 6, 2007

LONDON:

The recent gathering at Annapolis of most sides in the world’s most
intractable political dispute has focused attention on the Middle
East, but another set of bitter geopolitical problems is rapidly
elbowing its way into the international limelight – unrecognized
states in the Balkans and the Caucasus.

The failure of the American-EU-Russian troika to resolve Kosovo’s
status by consensus sets in motion a declaration of independence from
Serbia by its Albanian majority within weeks. That could re-ignite
conflicts across the former Yugoslavia and in the disputed
territories scattered around Russia’s rim in the old Soviet Union.
With Washington and Moscow at loggerheads as the U.S. takes sides
with the Albanians and Russia with the Serbs, it is time to look
beyond the local Balkan issue. As one negotiator in the troika
ruefully admitted, if 120 days of negotiation couldn’t reconcile the
bickering parties, 1,020 would do no better. More than Kosovo is at
stake.

With U.S. and Russian rhetoric recalling the Cold War, its essential
for the UN Security Council’s five permanent members to talk through
the big questions about separatism, otherwise their regional clients
could escalate their quarrels.

Both sides seem tempted to play zero-sum politics with the similar
issues in the Caucasus surrounding Georgia’s breakaway regions,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia or Azerbaijan’s Armenian-controlled
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Moldova and its separatist region, Transnistria, have already been
there. This no-man’s land between NATO and Russia houses a classic
contest for influence. When the Kremlin thought it had stolen a march
by mediating a deal between Moldova and its rebels, the State
Department flexed its muscles to undermine it. Smart work then, but
payback over Kosovo is coming now.

Western leaders respond to Russia’s lack of cooperation in resolving
the Kosovo issue by not engaging with her friendly "separatists."

The Kremlin is guilty of hypocrisy too. It backs secessionists riling
pro-NATO Georgia, but crushes others in Chechnya and opposes
pro-American Kosovars. This should not blinds us to the reality that
hypocrisy underpins all realpolitik – even our own.

The belief that the Kosovo issue can be resolved in isolation
ominously echoes the West’s misreading of the break-up of Yugoslavia
in the early 1990s, when the West responded to each step on the path
of disintegration by concentrating on the crisis that blew up
yesterday at the expense of the bigger explosion to come tomorrow.

First, EU mediators told Bosnia to wait in line while they calmed
down the situation in Croatia. At Dayton in 1995, Bill Clinton was so
anxious to get Slobodan Milosevic on board to settle the Bosnian war
that he put Kosovo on the back-burner – until 1999. Now the West
wants to resolve the Kosovo question while leaving all other
separatist conflicts in the freezer. Britain’s foreign secretary,
David Miliband insists that Kosovo’s case is unique, but that won’t
stop others taking recognition of Kosovo’s independence as a
precedent that could ignite piecemeal recognition of other
secessionist states. Bosnian Serbs might ask why Albanians can break
out of "democratic" Serbia but they cannot leave Bosnia, and so on.

Festering in both the Caucasus and Balkans are issues that haunt
Middle East peacemakers. Huge numbers of people displaced by war in
the 1990s now live in squalid conditions close to their old homes.
Nobody at Annapolis would need reminding that it took a generation to
grow up in the Palestinian refugee camps before international
terrorism was spawned.

Serbs from Kosovo fester with animosity about Western hypocrisy at
their "reverse ethnic cleansing." Most refugees have returned to
Bosnia but not to their former homes – now occupied by someone else.
The same recipe for future war and terrorism exists in the Caucasus,
where ethnic cleansers and the cleansed live in fear of one another.

Azerbaijan spends its oil revenue on weapons to fight to recover
Karabakh – and hundreds of thousands of refugees live in squalor in
sight of the oil derricks waiting for their chance to march home.
Georgia is spending money it cannot afford to prepare for a showdown
with Abkhazia. Facing severe local economic difficulties,
nationalists in both regions are rallying support by waving the flag.

It was not foolish to let the separatist sleeping dogs lie for a
decade because these issues – like bed sores – only get worse if you
scratch them. But by accepting that 1.6 million Kosovar Albanians
should have independence, the West has set everybody else itching
like mad.

Just as the West should admit that recognizing Kosovo won’t settle
the issue of the Albanians straddling its borders into neighboring
Macedonia, so Russia needs to realize that blocking Kosovo’s
accession to the United Nations without proposing a broader agenda to
resolve these kind of conflicts will not necessarily leave her
satellite "secessionists" untouched.

To avoid a cascade of mutually destabilizing unilateral recognitions
and the ensuing poisoning of East-West relations, Washington and
Moscow need to recognize each other’s interests, and then thrash out
a deal on how to deal with separatist states that have taken on a
life of their own since 1991. Can either really afford to let old
conflicts boil over again?

An Annapolis-style conference could develop criteria for managing the
issue of unrecognized states, including possible measures to
discourage them from independence. Without it, the problem could
explode with terrible consequences for the great powers on the
sidelines as well as their clients in the fray.

Mark Almond is lecturer in History at Oriel College, Oxford, and a
frequent visitor to the Balkans and the Caucasus.

opinion/edalmond.php

Armenian National Committee of America
Western Region
104 N. Belmont, Suite 208, Glendale, CA 91206 * Tel. (818) 500-1918
Fax. (818) 246-7353 * [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE ~ 2007-12-04
Contact: Haig Hovsepian ~ Tel: (818) 500-1918

GCC Student Helps FED Improve International Trade Between
Armenia and California

Los Angeles, CA – Karo Aydindzhyan is taking his interest in economics
and translating it into helping bridge the markets of California and
Armenia. As part of the 2007 Autumn Session of the Armenian National
Committee-Western Region Internship-Externship Program, Aydindzhyan
worked as an extern with the Foundation for Economic Development
(FED). In this capacity he helped FED Executive Director, Johnny
Nalbandian help promote the FED’s work.

"After traveling to Armenia in 2005 and seeing the economic situation
there I wanted to help improve the living standards and quality of
life," said Aydindzhyan. "Working with the ANC and the FED gave me the
chance to help contribute to the economic growth and stability of
Armenia," he added.

A student at Glendale Community College, Aydindzhyan is double
majoring in international business and accounting. His work with the
FED has earned him the praise of Nalbandian.

"I was thrilled to be working with a young and devoted gentlemen like
Karo," said Nalbandian. "He was a great asset helping ensure that the
community was aware of the work the FED was doing and supporting our
efforts to make a positive difference in the economies of California
and Armenia."

Established in June 2006, the ANC-WR IEP is a selective and intensive
program that provides student leaders and activists with an
opportunity to participate in an intensive internship designed to
provide an in-depth introduction to Armenian American issues as well
as advocacy efforts on the federal, state and local level. The program
hosts spring, summer and autumn sessions. You can find more
information about the IEP by visiting
iew.php.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH VISITS CHICAGO FAITHFUL
By Margaret Ramirez And Karoun Demirjian

Mcclatchy-Tribune
Pueblo Chieftain, CO
Nov 27 2007

CHICAGO – Robed in gold and black vestments with a jeweled cross on
his forehead, His Holiness Karekin II, patriarch of the worldwide
Armenian Apostolic Church, anointed the entrance of a modest, brick
church in Chicago on Wednesday and urged his people to remain on the
path toward faith.

Outside St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, old and new generations
of Armenians sang hymns of their native country nation as Karekin
climbed onto a step ladder and blessed the new, bronze doors. As the
crowd watched, he dipped his thumb in holy oil and traced a cross
above the entry. Inside the building, Karekin told more than 200
worshipers that the anointing of the doors was a symbolic gesture to
remind Armenians to continue living their Christian faith.

"My exhortation to you all . . . is to walk always in the ways that
are leading you to the church," Karekin said. "With God, we have
stayed together . . . Faith in God has helped us survive."

As Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin is the spiritual leader of the
world’s 7 million Armenian Orthodox Christians, including 1 million
in the United States and about 10,000 in the Chicago area.

This pontifical trip is Karekin’s second visit to the U.S. and his
first to Chicago.

"I’m overwhelmed by this visit by His Holiness," said Raelene
Ohanesian, 33, who wept after the patriarch blessed her. "He represents
our heritage, our conversion to Christianity. We have such a long
history of struggle and it’s our faith that has gotten us through."

Before the blessing at St. Gregory, Karekin met with Chicago’s Roman
Catholic archbishop, Cardinal Francis George. On Wednesday night,
the Armenian patriarch also attended a public prayer service with
ecumenical leaders at a Greek Orthodox Church.

Karekin’s trip has taken him to New York, Boston, and Washington,
D.C. to spread a message of "Bringing Faith Home." He has stressed
efforts to remember faith and culture, which are tightly intertwined
in the Armenian community, and bring back Armenians who have left
the church.

Karekin’s visit comes on the heels of an explosive debate in Washington
regarding a painful piece of Armenian history. Earlier this month, a
congressional committee approved a nonbinding resolution that condemns
as genocide the killing of 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey nearly
a century ago as genocide. The resolution, though largely symbolic,
unleashed an international furor that offended the Turkish government,
a key supporter of the American presence in Iraq. President George
W. Bush opposed the resolution, saying it could damage efforts to
end the war in Iraq.

At an interview in his hotel suite at the Four Seasons, Karekin said
the recognition of the killings as genocide is necessary to prevent
further atrocities. He expressed disappointment that the resolution
had faced opposition in Congress due to Turkey’s logistical importance
in the war.

"The best way to prevent similar kinds of atrocities is through
recognition and condemnation," Karekin said. "Values such as these
should never be sacrificed for political interests."

"Our people are a Christian people. . . . In spite of all the crimes
committed against Armenia, our people have never been filled with
hate toward the Turkish people."

Though Karekin did not speak of the genocide resolution at
St. Gregory’s Church, it was on the minds of many. Karekin offered
a special blessing to 100-year-old Helen Polaian, a survivor of
the genocide.

"It happened," said Diane Abezetian, "regardless of the resolution
or what anyone says. We know it happened."

Although the community is united politically, the religious identity
is strained by division within the Armenian church. The church became
divided administratively about 50 years ago as the former Soviet
Union curbed religious freedom. Some Armenian churches broke off
and switched allegiance to the Lebanon-based See of Cilicia. Others
remained loyal to the Armenia-based church.

Today, Armenia is an independent republic, but the split in the church
remains. One branch is headed by Karekin and based in the Armenian
city of Etchmiadzin. The other is led by His Holiness Aram I and
based in Lebanon. As supreme patriarch, Karekin is pre-eminent.

The division means that there are two Armenian archbishops in the
United States. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, who reports to Aram,
and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, who is under Karekin.

When asked if there was any hope for reconciliation, Karekin said
church leaders have formed committees to discuss healing the rift.

"You cannot have two bishops. I am hopeful we will one day have a
solution," he said.

FRENCH P.M. FILLON STRESSED THAT HISTORIANS MUST DECIDE ON INCIDENTS OF 1915, GUL

Turkish Press
Nov 27 2007

PARIS – Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Tuesday that, according
to French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, it is historians, not
politicians who must decide on the Armenian allegations regarding
the incidents of 1915.

Gul talked to press members at Turkish Embassy in Paris where he
travelled to promote Aegean province of Izmir’s bid to host EXPO 2015.

"EXPO organizations attract millions of tourists and great
investments," Gul noted.

"If Izmir hosts the EXPO 2015, this would contribute to the promotion
of Izmir, the Aegean region and whole of Turkey," Gul told.

"The theme of Izmir’s EXPO is health. Health is a matter of interest
to both rich and poor nations," Gul stressed.

"The government, opposition and non-governmental organizations in
Turkey give full support to Izmir to host the EXPO 2015. I hope that
Izmir will be granted the right to host EXPO 2015 in March 2008,"
Gul underlined.

Gul said that the French Prime Minister Fillon discussed many issues
including bilateral relations, Turkey’s EU process, Armenian problem
and terror.

In reference to his upcoming visit to Pakistan, Gul indicated that
"Pakistan is a very friendly and brotherly country for Turkey. We
will visit Pakistan to provide support to them."

Asked if the topic of Mediterranean Union project of French President
Nicolas Sarkozy came up during his meeting with Fillon, Gul responded
that the project was not very much discussed.

Gul underscored that France defines PKK as a terrorist organization.

"PM Fillon assured us that France will do everything possible to help
Turkey in its fight against terrorism," Gul added.

200 CHILDREN RETURN FROM ORPHANAGES TO THEIR FAMILIES EVERY YEAR THANKS TO ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE FAMILIES

Noyan Tapan
Nov 28 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. There are now 8 state orphanages in
Armenia, with nearly 900 children living there. 5 charitable orphanages
operate in the country. During the November 28 press conference, Lala
Ghazarian, the head of the department on problems of families, women
and children of the RA ministry of labor and social issues, said that
these orphanages take bnot only children left without parental care
but also those from vulnerable families. According to her, every year
200 children return to their parents thanks to the policy adopted by
the government – the assistance provided to such families.

L. Ghazarian said that the order of admission to orphanages has been
made stricter as there are currently 7 boarding institutions for
children from vulnerable families. She expressed an opinion that the
number of orphanages should be reduced because children should live and
receive upbringing in their families. With this aim the government is
implementing a number of programs, aimed, in particular, at creating
the institution of guardian family in Armenia. She said that such pilot
programs have already been implemented in Lori and Gegharkunik marzes,
as a result of which 25 children were placed in gurdian families.

The department head attached importance to programs on state assistance
to orphanage leavers. Under these programs, orphanage leavers receive
the necessary work, education and medical aid. Over the past two years,
120 leavers of orphanages got apartments thanks to state assistance.

FESTIVAL OF EUROPEAN FILMS IN YEREVAN, GYUMRI AND KAPAN
By R. Pogosian

AZG Armenian Daily
29/11/2007

The European Commission delegation to Armenia, as well as the embassies
of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Romania and the
Netherlands, the British Council and the OSCE office are organizing
a festival of European films in Armenia, which is to be held November
21-30 in Yerevan, Gyumri and Kapan.

Before the main program of festival a number of short-meter films,
represented on "Golden Apricot – 2007" are demonstrated.

November 21-27 the films are demonstrated at "Nairi" cinema, Yerevan,
November 22-25 at "October" cinema, Gyumri and November 23-30 at
"Artsvatoun" cinema, Kapan. Entrance fee at "Nairi" cinema is 500
AMD. The collected money is to be assigned to benevolence. In other
towns the entrance is free.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT THE REGION IN JANUARY

armradio.am
29.11.2007 17:17

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit the region in late January,
2008 to learn the reaction of the parties, French Co-Chair Bernard
Fassier said in France, APA reports.

According to Mr. Fassier, the main purpose of the visit is to complete
the negotiations phase of the talks on the issues the parties try to
agree as soon as possible.

"We recommend the parties to complete formation of main framework
and pass to the details of the settlement. We have already come a
long way successfully," he said.

He also underlined the necessity of settling the conflict soon.

"Let’s not wait for another 50 years," he said.

US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza said that Azerbaijani
and Armenian Presidents will possibly agree on basic principles
till forthcoming elections. The American Co-chair also said that
meeting between Foreign Ministers and Presidents depends on sides,
the Co-Chairs wait for their reaction.

Mr. Bryza also commented on Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev’s
statement on war probability with Armenia. "This process continues
over 10 years and we all perceive that it can be solved peacefully,"
he said.

ANOTHER 5 CITIZENS APPLY FOR CERTIFICATES ON PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN ARMENIA OVER PAST 10 YEAR AND CITIZENSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Nov 29, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Another 5 citizens: Vahan
Hovhannisian, Vazgen Manukian, Hrachia Sargsian, Myasnik Khachatrian
and Mher Mkrtumian applied to the RA Police Passport and Visa
Department for certificates on their permanent residence in the
Republic of Armenia over the past 10 years and citizenship, NT
correspondent was informed on November 29 from the RA Police PR and
Information Department. No information about partisanship of the
applicants was provided.

To recap, so far 15 citizens applied to the police department with the
request to receive such certificates, and the request of one of them –
the chairman of the "New Times" party Aram Karapetian was not granted.

"EREBUNY HAS TURNED INTO A CRIMINAL COMMUNE"

A1+
[01:35 pm] 30 November, 2007

While crossing the streets of Erebuny community you feel as if you are
in a frontier village. The constructions of the neighboring communes
arouse envy among the commune inhabitants.

"Once the flats of Erebuny were of great demand. Today things have
changed, and nobody seems to be interested in the commune because of
its dirty streets and shabby houses," an elderly pensioner told A1+.

"Aresh has turned into a criminal district. People speak of the
district head with great caution. During the elections the acting
district head Mher Sedrakian was the only candidate as he had
threatened all his contenders," he adds.

Erebuny is the only commune without a church.

"Though a church is being built in the commune I have an impression
that it will never be finished. The construction has been underway
for 2 years," an elderly woman told us.

Most of Levon Ter-Petrossian’s relatives live in
Erebuny. Ter-Petrossian’s nephew Tigran Ter-Petrossian was elected
to the Alderman during the elections of self-government bodies.

Inhabitants think that the upcoming elections will be rather tense in
the commune as Ter-Petrossian’s proponents are comparatively larger and
Republican Mher Sedrakian will take every measure to rig the election.

I hardly remember an election conducted without faking. During the 2007
parliamentary elections there were scuffles almost every day. Unless
they reach an agreement, the atmosphere will not quieten.

RENOVATED ELECTORAL CODE OF ARMENIA IS CAPABLE OF SECURING PROCESS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, RPA REPRESENTATIVE BELIEVES

Mediamax
November 30, 2007

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The renovated Electoral Code is capable of
securing the process of upcoming presidential elections of February
19 in Armenia at the highest level.

Mediamax reports that the Secretary of the parliamentary faction of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Samvel Nikoyan, who is the
co-author of the changes and amendments into the Electoral Code,
which were approved by the parliament and which came into force the
other day, said this in Yerevan today.

Speaking in the National Press Club, he noted that the reformed
law gives solution to the technical problems, noticed during the
parliamentary elections of May 12 of 2007, as well as takes into
account the proposals of international observers and the local public
organizations.

Noting the important role of political parties in the electoral
processes, Samvel Nikoyan welcomes the amalgamation of "Dashnak" and
Ramkavar Azatakan parties. He expressed hope that the ideological
unification of the Armenian political forces will have continuous
nature and will have positive influence on the situation in the
country.

The MP from oppositional "Heritage" faction Larisa Alaverdian,
in her turn, noted that the electoral legislation, which is changed
every year, in reality regresses, and one is unable to talk about the
positive side of the recent reforms. According to her, the limitation
of the suffrage of Armenian citizens, who are outside the borders
of Armenia, implemented before the parliamentary election of May 12,
is anti-democratic, and the given gap should be eliminated.

Larisa Alaverdian spoke for the reestablishment of "Against all"
column in the ballots and the possibility of nominating candidates
for the position of the President on civil initiative. According
to the MP, otherwise, "we will continue coming across violation of
political rights of Armenian citizens in future as well".