Author: Virabian Jhanna

ARMENIA JAILS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS, DENIES RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM VIOLATION

Catholic Culture
Dec 12 2008

The government of Armenia denies that it is violating religious
freedom by jailing conscientious objectors, although all 80 men
current imprisoned under the policy are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Armenia
is ignoring a ruling by the human-rights commissioner for the
Council of Europe, who said that the country "does not provide for
a genuine civilian service" for those who object to military service
on religious grounds.

OSCE MINISTERS URGE PARTIES TO INTENSIFY GARABAGH TALKS

AzerNews Weekly
Dec 11 2008
Azerbaijan

The OSCE foreign ministers encouraged Azerbaijan and Armenia to
intensify talks on settling the conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
following two-day of talks concluding in Helsinki on Friday.

Among the resolutions approved at the OSCE Foreign Ministers Council
included a ministerial statement regarding the Garabagh conflict. In
their statement, ministers welcomed the "constructive and positive
momentum in the peace process" for the political settlement of the
long-standing dispute.

Further, the ministers praised the talks held between the two
countries` presidents in St. Petersburg, Russia in June and in Moscow
early in November, including a declaration signed in the Russian
capital based upon the initiative of President Dmitry Medvedev. That
declaration further urged continuing the OSCE-mediated dialog between
the parties as well as joint efforts in bolstering stability in the
South Caucasus through a political settlement of the conflict. The
OSCE believes this will serve as a tool in reaching a negotiated
solution to the Garabagh problem and opens up broad opportunities to
accomplish the goal.

"We insistently call on the conflicting sides to continue talks within
the frame work of the [mediating] OSCE Minsk Group and to abide by
the Moscow declaration. We believe that the parties should speed
up the drafting of a basic agreement on the basis of the principles
outlined in Madrid on November 29, 2007."

The statement also noted that increasing mutual confidence between
the conflicting sides was one of the key conditions for finding a
solution to the Garabagh conflict.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing
of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh
and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international
law. Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the conflict.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said while addressing
the OSCE ministerial on Thursday that international law stipulates
that Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity must be the basis for a
settlement in the Garabagh region. He also praised the declaration
signed at the end of Moscow-brokered trilateral talks on November 2.

Mammadyarov went on to brand the Garabagh problem as a major source
of instability.

Further, the minister noted that the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents have pledged to seek a political settlement to the conflict.

"What`s important is to ensure a normal life for both Azerbaijanis
and Armenians in Garabagh, and to forge cooperation and ties. I
believe that Armenians also comprehend and support our position,"
Mammadyarov said.

He emphasized that the OSCE plays a special role in the conflict
resolution, but expressed concern over the group`s focusing exclusively
on human rights.

"We have to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of the Helsinki
Final Act and recognize the principle of the territorial integrity and
sovereignty of states in the backdrop of the latest developments. We
have to use the organization`s experience and recommendations in
settling the conflict. But the OSCE`s placing an emphasis on human
rights alone perturbs us. We support a more just and balanced stance,"
Mammadyarov said.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Alexander Stubb, in his remarks, pointed
out the importance of the European security body`s further efforts
in settling "frozen" conflicts. Stubb added that the Minsk Group`s
activity "inspires his optimism."

Further, William Burns, US Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs, called for a more vigorous effort to resolve lingering
disputes.

"We have to redouble our efforts for the solution of frozen
conflicts. More specifically, we welcome the latest steps on Upper
Garabagh taken by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sarkisian,"
Burns told the Council meeting.

He stressed that the conflict settlement process should be continued
within the Minsk Group and urged both Baku and Yerevan to keep on
negotiating both in the bilateral format and with the OSCE mediators.

Goran Lennmarker, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) rapporteur
on the Garabagh conflict, said in Helsinki that a document on the
principles of conflict settlement could be signed before the spring
of 2009.

He noted that the parties were very close to a settlement. "If there
is political will, a settlement is possible. I do understand that
this will be a very difficult decision for the presidents of both
countries, but it is evident that now is the right time to do that."

In its appeal to the Helsinki ministerial, Armenia urged OSCE countries
to prevent Azerbaijan`s ongoing build-up of armaments. Armenian Foreign
Minister Eduard Nalbandian expressed his disappointment with the tacit
support of most member states for what he described as Azerbaijan`s
intense military build-up.

Nalbandian warned the group that the weaponry Azerbaijan was purchasing
would be used in battle one day.

The minister also accused Azerbaijan of allegedly breaching the Moscow
declaration. "Azerbaijan constantly issues belligerent statements
which run counter to the declaration," he said and called on the OSCE
chairman to monitor Azerbaijani statements.

On the whole, however, the Armenian diplomat pointed to some progress
in negotiations with Azerbaijan following the signing of this document.

Baku reaffirms stance

The Azerbaijani delegation also distributed a document at the
OSCE ministers` meeting reaffirming Baku`s stance on the Garabagh
conflict. The paper, in English, entitled "The principles on a peaceful
settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict," says Azerbaijan backs a
negotiated resolution of the conflict, but its territorial integrity
cannot be compromised under any circumstances and the country`s
borders are both non-negotiable and inviolable.

The document notes that the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities
of Upper Garabagh can co-exist peacefully. However, it calls for
the region`s integrity being restored strictly within Azerbaijan`s
borders. Further, it calls for displaced Azeris to be returned,
the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from occupied Azerbaijani
territories and suitable conditions provided for cooperation.

IN ARMENIA, IT IS STATE THAT VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS, LARISA ALAVERDIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 12, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "In Armenia, human rights violations
have a mass and regular character," the former ombudsperson of
Armenia, member of the National Assembly "Heritage" action Larisa
Alaverdian stated at the December 10 press conference. In her words,
in a normal country, the state protects the rights of its citizens,
whereas in Armenia, it is the state that violates the fundamental
human rights – partly through its connivance, partly by unnlawful
actions. L. Aleverdian noted that the unalwful actions of the state
reached their culmination during the March 1 events.

Besides, according to her, the authorities are trying to hinder
the work of the Ombudsman, thus opposing the protection of human
rights. As regards the statement of the former Armenian president
Robert Kocharian to the effect that the RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunian
is the most unsuccessful employee appointed by him, L. Alaverdian
said that such a statement about an ombudsman has been unprecedented
in international practice. "There is no country where the authorities
reproach the ombudsman in such an unfounded way," she underlined.

Speaking about women’s rights, she said that the field of opportunities
for men and women is not equal in Armenia today. She condemned the
fact that jobs are not given intentionally even to women with higher
education. "On the one hand the Armenian society gives geniuses,
on the other hand it has some manifestations of backwardness," she
said. In her opinion, to prevent a woman from making herself a career
is a treacherous phenomenon.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES 2009 SME STATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan

Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. At the December 11 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the 2009 Program of State Assistance to
the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (SME). The decision was made
in accordance with the requirements of Article 4 of the RA Law on
State Assistance to Small and Medium Entrepreneurship.

It was mentioned at the sitting that SME state assistance programs
are based on the fundamental principles of the economic policy
adopted by the Republic of Armenia and help develop the economy
of the country, especially its remote and border settlements, and
overcome the disproportions, which are the strategic and priority
directions of the RA government’s economic policy. The main goal of
the program is to contribute, through continuous assistance, to the
gradual increase of the role of SME. Among the program’s goals are
also the creation and strengthening of infrastructures for assistance
to SME; the expansion of financial and investment opportunities of
SME, while giving preference to SME entities operating in remote and
border settlements; the expansion of opportunities to use instructive,
information and advisory services, as well as to engage in business
for start-up businessmen, noncompetitive groups in the labor market
(especially for persons with limited capacities); and reduction of
the unemployment in Armenia through job creation and retention of
existing jobs.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the
prime minister Tigran Sargsyan said the indicated program will be
one of Armenia’s priorities in 2009, while the promotion of small
and medium business is one of the most important anticrisis elements.

TURKISH-ARMENIAN RECONCILIATION TO DO NO GOOD, BAKU SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 16:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish-Armenian reconciliation will do no good,
according to the leader of National Independence Party of Azerbaijan.

"The recent hostilities in Georgia led to Armenia’s isolation. In my
opinion, it is inexpedient to develop any relations with this country,"
Etibar Mammadov said.

"Besides, I do not think that establishment of relations between
Turkey and Armenia will help resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Under the circumstances, the Azerbaijani leadership should
take action to influence the situation," he said, Day.az reports.

AMERICAN SENATOR SAXBY CHAMBLISS: "THE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WILL HARM U.S. INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND CENTRAL ASIA"

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Washington – APA. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia said the passage
of the resolution on the so-called Armenian genocide in the US Senate
would damage the country’s foreign policy.

APA reports that answering the letter sent through US Azeris Network,
the senator noted that the passage of S.RES.106 would damage United
States-Turkish relations and possibly harm U.S. interests in the
Middle East and Central Asia.

"Such a resolution will not advance the Turkish-Armenian dialogue
and it will not improve the process of Turkey’s examination of its
own past. The United States-Turkish relationship is both deep and
broad. Turkey is a strategic partner with the United States in a number
of significant areas, including the War on Terror and the United States
‘ involvement in Iraq. Our friendship with Turkey goes back a very
long way and we must continue to work together on issues of importance.

In response to the appeals of the US Armenian community for recognition
of the so-called Armenian genocide to the White House, Azerbaijani
and Turkish communities of the US have also begun counterpropaganda
among the White House officials, Congressmen and public. Letters about
the real essence of the 1915 happenings are sent to the US officials
through US Azeris Network.

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND US AMBASSADORS HENRY MORGENTHAU AND JOHN EVANS

ireport
058
Dec 5 2008

I would like to call attention to the documentary "Scream Bloody
Murder," by CNN reporter Christiane Amanpour. I am a human rights
activist and would like to thank CNN for taking such an extensive
role in uncovering stories of genocide that took place in Cambodia,
Rwanda and other sites where this mass atrocity has taken place. As
Armenians are victims and survivors of genocide, I as an Armenian
American work tirelessly to ensure that these stories are not only
told – but learned as historical lessons to end the cycle of genocide
we see continuing today in Darfur.

Regrettably, I am disappointed in the lack of attention this work
affords to the Armenian Genocide. This documentary presented a unique
and supremely fitting opportunity to discuss what all genocide scholars
call the Forgotten Genocide – to educate the lay public on the first
genocide of the 20th Century. It is ironic that the word "genocide"
was coined in large part because of the Armenian case and yet the
Amanpour feature barely touches upon the Armenian Genocide.

I recently read an interview in the press with Amanpour, where
she freely uses the word of genocide to refer to the Armenian
case. However, mention of the Armenians in the documentary is only
45 seconds long with a strong inference that the narrative states
or perhaps was edited to particularly avoid using the word genocide
while going on to discuss Raphael Lemkin’s pivotal role in creating an
international law on genocide. Furthermore, as the main focus of the
documentary is on those that spoke out against what was happening
during the time genocide was being committed, the Armenian case
presents a perfect example in two ways.

In 1915, no one heard the pleas of U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman
Empire, Henry Morganthau, whose story of witnessing the campaign of
race extermination implemented by the Ottoman government is noted in
Samantha Power’s book "A Problem from Hell: American and the Age of
Genocide". Secondly, John Evans, the recent United States Ambassador
to Armenia, was dismissed from his post in 2006 because he stated that
the Armenian Genocide was a historical fact. Evans even was slated to
receive an award for constructive dissent from the State Department
which was quickly rescinded because of the pressure applied by the
Turkish government to continue denying the Armenian Genocide.

On the website promoting "Scream Bloody Murder", I noticed that
educational pieces are provided for several genocides listed
throughout the page. Quite sadly, the Armenian Genocide is not
covered. As genocide scholars point out, denial is the final stage of
genocide, and seeing denial take place regarding a genocide that took
place 93 years ago or even genocide taking place today in Darfur is
unacceptable. The unfortunate consequence of genocide is the denial
instituted by the perpetrators and the ongoing denial of the Armenian
genocide has taken shape in many forms.

I understand that in a documentary like this it is difficult to discuss
all genocides – small or large which have taken place throughout the
world – however, given the context of this documentary, the Armenian
Genocide represented a very appropriate and highly relevant component
that strongly merits inclusion as it was the first major case of the
20th century which was seminal to the current definition and creation
of the word "genocide" itself.

Tehran Times, Iran
Dec 3 2008

Iran-Armenia gas pipeline inaugurated

Armenia officially completed on Monday the construction of a natural
gas pipeline from neighboring Iran which could reduce its heavy
dependence on Russian energy resources and significantly boost its
electricity exports.

It remained unclear, however, when Iranian gas could start flowing
into the country.

The pipeline’s second and final Armenian section was inaugurated in
the presence of President Serzh Sarkisian and Alexei Miller, chairman
of Russia’s Gazprom giant. The two men, joined by other Armenian,
Russian and Iranian officials, watched as workers welded together its
last pipes.

Miller’s presence at the high-profile ceremony underscored the fact
that the pipeline will be controlled by the ArmRosGazprom (ARG)
national gas distribution company in which Gazprom holds a controlling
stake. ARG has financed and carried out work on the 197-kilometer
stretch running through the country’s mountainous Syunik region.

In a speech during the ceremony, Miller welcomed the completion of the
`very important project.’ He said its implementation testifies to a
`high level of political cooperation between Russia and Armenia.’

Former President Robert Kocharian was also in attendance. Kocharian
had inaugurated the pipeline’s first, 41-kilometer section together
with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in March 2007.

Speaking to the journalists, Energy Minister Armen Movsisian said the
pipeline will undergo technical testing and be ready to pump Iranian
gas within weeks. But he again avoided setting any dates for the start
of Iranian gas supplies.

The new pipeline’s operational capacity of approximately 2.3 billion
cubic meters of gas per annum essentially matches the annual volume of
Armenian gas imports from Russia that are carried out via
Georgia. With Russian supplies meeting Armenia’s needs, the bulk of
Iranian gas is expected to be converted into electricity that will
then be exported to the Islamic Republic.

As Movsisian pointed out, the pipeline would be vital for Armenia’s
energy security in case of `force majeure situations.’ The minister
clearly referred to a possible disruption or termination of Russian
gas deliveries to Georgia that would almost certainly affect Armenia
as well.

The prospect of a cut-off in Russian supplies has become even more
real since the August war between Georgia and Russia. A senior
Georgian official predicted last month that the Russians will at least
cut back on those supplies this winter.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Patrick Devedjian appointed French Minister for Implementation of
Recovery Plan 06.12.2008 14:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Patrick Devedjian, the head of the Union for a
Popular Movement (UMP) party has been appointed as Minister in charge
of the Implementation of the Recovery Plan, a special ministerial post
created for two years after the global financial crisis of 2008,
independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

President Nicolas Sarkozy charged Devedjian, his close adviser, with
implementing the 26-billion-euro (33-billion-dollar) plan to help
France fight the global slowdown.

`This is a sensible plan. I will be enthusiastic and cautious at the
same time,’ Mr. Devedjian said.

KARABAKH TALKS HELD IN HELSINKI

De Facto
Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, 04.12.08. DE FACTO. A meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani
FMs Edvard Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov with the OSCE Minsk
group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France)
and Matthew Bryza (the U. S.), as well as Personal Representative
of OSCE Chairman in Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk was held in
Helsinki on December 3.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA MFA Press
Office, in the course of the talks the parties discussed the issues
referring to Karabakh conflict settlement. Importance of maintaining
positive atmosphere created during the Presidential meetings held in
St.-Petersburg on June 6 and in Moscow on November 2, the necessity
to continue negotiations under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk group
Co-Chairs and on the basis of Madrid principles was highlighted during
the meeting.