Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ALIYEV PREFERS PEACEFUL MEANS, BUT ALSO PREPARED TO USE MILITARY FORCE

Tert
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

We wish to settle the Karabakh conflict by peaceful means, since
we don’t want war, but perhaps doing that by peaceful means is not
fruitful, said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev yesterday, reports
Azerbaijani news agency ANS Press.

"During the year, negotiations have taken place 7-8 times. There’s
certain progress. But we are unable to reach the fundamental resolution
of the issue," said Aliyev.

According to Aliyev, international agencies have approved necessary
decisions and resolutions, but those are not being implemented:
in this case, the meaning of those resolutions is lost.

Aliyev once again referred to the amounts secured for the army:
"Large sums have been invested in building up the army. Our army is
becoming stronger. We are carrying out negotiations, but, along with
that, we must also be prepared to free our lands by military force
if necessary."

ARMENIA’S MINISTER OF LABOR RESIGNS

Aysor
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affair, Gevorg Petrosyan, has
resigned, told Aysor’s correspondent spokesman of Prosperous Armenia
Party, Baghdasar Mgeryan. The resignation is caused by poor health
and lack of experience, said spokesman.

It was also announced that chairman of Standing Parliamentary
Commission for Human Rights, a party’s member Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan
will be nominated on the post.

NEXT MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS TO BE HELD IN MUNICH AT THE END OF THE WEEK

APA
nov 18 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Viktoria Dementieva – APA. The next meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents will be held in Munich at the end of the week,
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in the parliament, APA reports
quoting Panorama.am website.

Nalbandian said France, the co-chairing country of OSCE Minsk Group,
had stated on behalf of the co-chairing countries that the next
meeting of the presidents would be held in Munich.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV: PROGRESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS EXAMPLE OF RUSSIA-EU COOPERATION

news.am
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

Russia and the European Union (EU) have to look for ways of stabilizing
the most complicated situation in the South Caucasus, RF President
Dmitry Medvedev stated at a news conference on the results of the
Russia-EU Summit in Stockholm today.

"Frankly speaking, we hold different positions on this issue,
which must be admitted. Differences remain, but it is not a basis
for dramatizing the situation. On the contrary, we should make our
points of view draw nearer," the Russian leader said. He pointed
out positive examples of Russia’s cooperation with EU in settling
regional conflicts.

"We particularly discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process taking
place between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Positive changes have been
registered. It is an example of how we can or could have cooperated
but for the well-known aggression last year," Medvedev said.

As regards Russia’s relations with the Transcaucasian states, President
Medvedev stated that everything happened so "we are too sensitive to
various words or hints at what is going on in our countries."

"I think that the wisdom of state policy is not in pinning labels.

Rather, it is coming off winners from difficult situations. But the
winners are those determined to develop relations despite problems. I
think we have succeeded," Medvedev said.

Le Monde, France
15 novembre 2009 dimanche

Le génocide arménien sur la scène turque

par Guillaume Perrier (Diyarbakir, Turquie, envoyé spécial)

Ce n’est qu’une pièce de théâtre. Une sorte de fable poétique
explorant les tourments de l’identité arménienne. Sauf que, grâce Ã
elle, pour la première fois, jeudi 12 novembre, dans la ville kurde de
Diyarbakir, au sud-est de la Turquie, le génocide de 1915 a trouvé sa
place sur une scène du pays. Le Proverbe turc et le Concert arménien,
écrit et interprété par Gérard Torikian et mis en scène par Serge
Avédikian, deux artistes français d’origine arménienne, prend pour
toile de fond le massacre des Arméniens et leurs relations avec les
Turcs. Torikian jongle avec les personnages et les allégories, passe
d’un pianiste arménien qui joue la Marche turque à un pacha ottoman
qui fait marcher les Arméniens vers la mort.

Il égratigne avec humour, mais sans ménagement, le déni du génocide. "
Il faut agir résolument. Il faut éliminer les éléments non turcs de la
population (…), déclare froidement l’officier ottoman. Plus tard,
nous dirons que rien ne s’est passé. Et celui qui dira le contraire,
on le fera taire. "

" Prendre la place de l’autre "

Les détails les plus crus apparaissent à travers l’histoire d’un
berger turc qui nie farouchement les sévices infligés à un agneau
arménien. Mais, à la fin, deux marionnettes antagonistes ouvrent le
dialogue. " J’ai toujours pensé que le seul moyen de sortir de cette
pathologie qui frappe les Arméniens et les Turcs était de prendre la
place de l’autre. C’est un désir de dialogue, mais surtout, pour moi,
il n’y a pas d’autre moyen d’avancer ", explique Torikian. Le public
de Diyarbakir, où vivait, avant le génocide, une forte communauté
arménienne, a été particulièrement réceptif à la démarche : les Kurdes
ont, eux aussi, été les victimes du déni de l’Etat turc. Trois autres
représentations seront proposées à Istanbul, lundi 16 et mardi 17.

La pièce a pu être jouée en Turquie grâce à l’engagement d’Osman
Kavala – mécène atypique d’Istanbul et fondateur de l’ONG Anadolu
Kültür -, qui a ouvert un centre d’art à Diyarbakir et développe des
projets culturels en Anatolie. C’est aussi le signe du changement qui
secoue la société turque, faisant tomber les tabous historiques. Les
deux pays ont signé en octobre des accords diplomatiques prévoyant la
réouverture de la frontière commune, fermée depuis 1994. Une brèche
est déjà ouverte.

UN PERMANENT COORDINATOR IN ARMENIA KONSUELO VIDAL AWARDED RA FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian received UN Permanent Coordinator in Armenia, UNDP Permanent
Representative Konsuelo Vidal on November 13, on the occasion of
completion of her mission in Armenia. E. Nalbandian highly evaluated
the work K. Vidal did in the four years of her tenure and thanked
her for supporting Armenia’s development programs. The RA Foreign
Minister attached importance to programs implemented by various UN
agencies in Armenia.

K. Vidal, in her turn, expressed gratitude for UNDP-Armenia excellent
partnership stressing that she leaves Armenia with warm memories.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
E. Nalbandian awarded K. Vidal Foreign Ministry commemorative medal on
the occasion of the completion of UN Permanent Coordinator’s mission
in Armenia.

AMBASSADOR OF BULGARIA TO RA CONVEYS TO RA NA SPEAKER INVITATION TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOFIA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 12, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to RA Todor Staykov
conveyed to RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian the letter of President
of Bulgarian National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva, in which the latter
invites her Armenian counterpart to pay an official visit to Sofia.

According to the RA NA Public Relations Department, H. Abrahamian
accepted the invitation. Visit’s time will be clarified through
diplomatic channels.

Then H. Abrahamian and T. Staykov discussed a wide range of issues
related to development of bilateral relations. They, in particular,
attached importance to the work of the Intergovernmental Commission,
as well as paid special attention to expansion of trade and economic
contacts. In that context the sides agreed on the necessity of
organizing an Armenian-Bulgarian business forum in the near future.

During the meeting the interlocutors also touched upon the impact
of the global financial-economic crisis on Armenia’s and Bulgaria’s
economies and normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations without
preconditions.

PEACE TALKS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT INTENSIFY, AZERBAIJANI FM

Today
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan

The negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have intensified
again, said Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on Nov.
11.

The Minister noted Azerbaijani side’s major demand during discussions
is the soonest withdrawal of Armenia’s troops from the occupied
territories.

Mammadyarov said during the latest visit to the region, OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs were told again about Azerbaijan`s stance.

"Armenia wants the status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be defined before
the troops are pulled out."

"This non-constructive position bring already agreed matters back to
the negotiating table," he said.

"First and foremost, the status may be defined only after Armenia
leaves occupied Azerbaijani lands, IDPs return to their homes with
peace and stability restored."

According to him, Azerbaijan is ready to grant the high status to
Nagorno-Karabakh.

"However, the status will be determined within the framework of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity," the minister added.

The Minister noted that the sides are expected to meet during the
upcoming meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Athens.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES CONCEPT FOR SHIFTING TO DIGITAL TELEVISION

ARKA
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, November 12, /ARKA/. The Armenian government has approved
today the national concept for shifting to digital television,
which is supposed to be completed in 2015. Economy Minister Nerses
Yeritsian said the analogue broadcasting puts a brake on further
development of the sector, while transition to digital television
opens new development prospects.

The minister said as a result of transition to digital television
radio frequencies will be vacated which can be used later for further
advancement of information technologies.

Transition to digital television will ensure high quality broadcasting
and protect it against interferences. Nerses Yeritsian said the experts
did not calculate the cost of transition yet, but according to some
preliminary estimates it may cost from $20 million to $200 million.

He added that the government will have to secure funding for transition
which may be implemented in cooperation with private sector. He
said introduction of digital television will not affect vulnerable
segments of the population for whom a special social package will be
developed. In his words, transition to digital television will not
cause problems because 99 percent of TV sets bought in the last 5-6
years are able to receive digital signals

The minister said transition will be implemented in several stages,
to be preceded by public debates and o be followed by amending the
relating legislation. The technical stage is supposed to be completed
in 2013.

LEVON TER-PETROSSYAN: THE POLITICAL FORCES THAT BACKED UP KOCHARYAN DURING HIS RULE ARE NOW TRYING TO ACT AS OPPOSITION AND THEREBY TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 19:01:00

ArmInfo. Unlike the Armenian National Congress (ANC), which
has presented political arguments against the signing of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols, the other objecting parties (ARFD,
Ramkavar-Azatakan, Heritage) have given this problem an ideological
(Hay Dat) implication, which has nothing to do with real politics
and Armenia’s interests, the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrossyan said at ANC meeting today.

The ANC objects to the terms enabling Turkey to set up a committee
of historians and to link its rapprochement with Armenia with the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. The other parties have more objections:
particularly, they mention the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by Turkey, the historical rights of the Armenian people, the material
compensation claims of western Armenians. They accuse the ANC of
passivity and lack of principles but in fact they have ignored the
key threat of the protocols: the committee of historians. By their
irrational claims they have unwillingly helped Presient Serzh Sargsyan
to raise his international image.

Even though Sargsyan faced personal humiliation during his Pan-Armenian
tour, the nationalist hysteria helped him to improve his positions on
the international arena and to appear as a pragmatic and decisive
politician, who can take courageous steps for the sake of his
principles. No coincidence that after the signing of the protocols
he was proclaimed as "European of the Week." Now he is just one step
away from the Nobel Prize and everybody knows what this step implies.

As regards ARFD’s protest against the recognition of the border,
Ter-Petrossyan stressed that this party has no right to raise
such a question as in its time ARFD itself concluded the Treaty of
Alexandropol stipulating the current state of the border. "It is unfair
to blame Serzh Sargsyan for the sins he did not commit. It was not
Sargsyan but ARFD and Bolsheviks that recognized the Armenian-Turkish
border, it was not Sargsyan but Robert Kocharyan that renounced the
territorial claims. It was not Sargsyan but Robert Kocharyan and Vartan
Oskanian that demanded recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey
and instead received a proposal to set up a commission of historians,
it was not Sargsyan but Kocharyan, Oskanian and Arkady Ghukasyan
that ousted Nagorno-Karabakh from the peace process. Sargsyan also
"inherited" the Madrid Principles from Kocharyan",- Ter-Petrossyan
said. According to him, in these issues Sargsyan is as guilty as the
rest of the forces that backed up Kocharyan during his rule and are
now trying to act as opposition thereby avoiding responsibility.