THE FORMULA OF SUCCESS
Editorial
Yerkir.am
June 09, 2006
It has always been said that we unlike our neighbors are not rich in
resources, neither do we have an access to the sea, and therefore, when
building a development strategy, we should focus on our intellectual
potential.
The latest events come to prove this. The success of our chess team
has components other than just sports. For a long time, the idea
that we are a nation of individual contesters and could not succeed
in collective competitions had been dominating in our society. But
the opposite was proven: we are able to succeed collectively in
a sport that requires individual rivalry – chess. It would not be
an exaggeration to say that this success came because of the team
feeling, the feeling that the victory could come when acting together
and collectively. Why can’t we act in a the same way of a united team
in other issues to see victories? Sure, we can.

AN UPSIDE DOWN PROPAGANDA
Yerkir.am
June 09, 2006
Stereotypes are awful and mean. Monten has said that an idea is hard
to get into a fool’s head, but once there, it is even harder to get
it out.
Stereotypes formed under habits and traditions are even more awful
than ideas.
It has become a tradition for TV channels to screen movies like
“Nahapet,” ” Missing,” and “Miro of Gorge” on each April 24. In more
recent years, films like Henry Verno’s “Mairig,” Egoyan’s “Ararat”
as well as other films, including “Aram” became additions to this
list. While it makes sense to show those films on the Genocide
Commemoration Day, it makes no sense at all for big and small TV
channels to screen films like “Zangezour,” “Sevan Fishermen,” “Boys
of Band,” and “Mexican Diplomats,” on May 28. All these films mock
the idea of independence that we celebrate on May 28.
“Zangezur,” for example, mocks severely the national hero, Nzhdeh. How
long should we tolerate this film shot under the personal order of
Stalin and falsifying our past? I am not advocating destroying these
films – after all, they represent the history of our film industry
and thus our history. History about how history was falsified. But
why should we show them on the day when we are celebrating our
independence?
How do I have to explain my children why the Armenian general was so
coward, low and funny?
The best way to screen these films would be with a preceding
explanation by a historian and an art critic. But even then, they
are not fit to be shown on May 28. All these films depict how the
‘heroes,’ who mainly are foreigners – Russians, or sometimes even
Turks – destroy our independence. Why, then, are we surprised that
this nation doesn’t really care for its independence?

“THIRD FRONT” FOR ARMENIANS?
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
12 June 06
It was not calm on the Russian-Armenian “front” on the weekend. For the
time being this word can be taken in inverted commas, but murder of
another couple of Armenians, and we can surely state that the third
front is open. Moreover, independent from us and in an unexpected
direction for us. Another Armenian was killed in Moscow, only several
hours after another Armenian was trying to assure the public in Armenia
that the Russian government is not to blame, and there is no need to
become hostile with Russia.
Several hours later the Police found the killer, thus showing that
maybe the government is not related to these murders, if the government
can be not related to serial killings of people belonging to another
nationality in a country at all. However, since there is no evidence
to this relation, we cannot insist that what happened was organized by
the government. However, the government should prevent crime along
with punishing the guilty to prove that they are not related to
the anti-Armenian surge, that they neither organize nor connive in
murders. It does not seem to happen, and there are no signs that it
will do. Moreover, there is no confidence that the real murderer was
found, considering the dependence of the judiciary on the executive
in most post-Soviet countries, particularly in Russia.
He may be a scapegoat, who will be tried in public, whereas nobody
can be sure that the convict will not be released on the next day or
the convict will not become a hero in jail for destroying the foes
of Russia.
In the meantime, there are reasons to doubt the consistency of the
Russian government, and these reasons are widely known. The verdict
of the court leaving the killers indicted for the horrible murder of
the nine-year-old Tajik girl almost unpunished makes it pointless to
recall other examples. And it is surprising why this would not arouse
concern in Armenia, both among the society and the government.
Whereas the problem is much serious than it might seem at first
sight. The silence following every murder directly strikes the Armenian
state. Hence, the authority of the state is diminishing among its
own citizens, who can see that they are not protected abroad, that
their own government is avoiding practical steps in this direction.
The foreign minister of Armenia says Russian-Armenian relations are
administered directly, not through letters. It may be better and
also more effective. It is certain, however, that besides personal
contact it is necessary to make a statement, at least once. In order
for the citizens of Armenia and the Armenians living abroad, namely in
Russia and other post-Soviet countries, to see, to hear and to feel
that there is an Armenian state, which thinks about its compatriots
and does not keep silent about repeating murders. If there is anxiety
that the Russian-Armenian relations will become tense, we can easily
bid farewell to these relations, if the dignity of Armenia and the
Armenians is the price for sustaining them.

SWITZERLAND WANTS STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS
Lragir.am
12 June 06
Swiss Foreign Minister, Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey is
visiting Yerevan. After her meeting with the foreign minister of
Armenia Vardan Oskanyan June 12 Ms. Calmy-Rey had a half-an-hour
meeting with news reporters.
And Vardan Oskanyan and Micheline Calmy-Rey announced that the state
and level of Swiss-Armenian relations, including in the framework
of international organizations is satisfactory, but there is space
to develop. For instance, it is necessary to decide the question of
visas to officials. There is cooperation in the sphere of natural
disasters, displaced persons and sustainable development of rural
areas. The Armenian Diaspora also helps sustain good relations.
Though the legal sphere is satisfactory, economic cooperation is
weak. Switzerland is hopeful that the relations, which began with
the humanitarian aid in 1988, will develop in other directions as well.
So far Switzerland has supplied humanitarian and technical aid
totaling 28 million franks to Armenia. A 4 million frank aid is
foreseen for 2006. On these days a business forum is underway in
Zurich, the Armenian delegation headed by Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan takes part in it. Armenia and
Switzerland are hopeful that the forum will foster economic relations
between them.

SWITZERLAND TO CONTRIBUTE TO TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
Lragir.am
12 June 06
Switzerland has recognized the Armenian genocide, adopted a law
prohibiting the denial of the genocide, and condemned the massacres
of Armenian khachkars in Old Djolfa. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline
Calmy-Rey stated June 12 that their relations with Turkey did not
become tense in the aftermath though there were some trials.
Switzerland is simply interested and willing to contribute to the
improvement of Turkish-Armenian and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
and foster the use of diplomatic methods to settle the conflict and
sustain democracy in the South Caucasus. The resolution of the Karabakh
conflict will both regulate the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and
indirectly foster Turkish-Armenian relations.
Switzerland has always made efforts to foster dialogue between
Armenia and Turkey but has failed so far, said the deputy chair of
the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation, Foreign Minister
Micheline Calmy-Rey.

OSKANYAN TO MEET MAMMEDYAROV
Lragir.am
12 June 06
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will leave for Paris on
June 13 to meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammedyarov.
According to Vardan Oskanyan, the Kocharyan-Aliyev meeting in
Bucharest produced no results, however the presidents “agreed that
if the co-chairs find it convenient to organize a minister-level
meeting, they will be welcome.” “I think that we will be trying to
discuss the same issue and try to reach common approaches,” informed
Vardan Oskanyan.
Vardan Oskanyan does not know the agenda and the format of the meeting
in Paris, but Armenia has announced for a number of times that “there
are quite positive elements, unresolved issues and issues which used
to be complicated and defied any agreement for years on but there is
agreement on them today” on the table.
“The positive element is in the process, and we should do everything
to use this positive moment and try to bring the stances on the
unsettled issues closer and establish a possibility for the next
meeting of the presidents,” said Vardan Oskanyan. But he found it
difficult to say whether it will be a success or not.

SYNOPSIS ARMENIA INVESTED 600 MILLION IN ARMENIA
Lragir.am
12 June 06
In the framework of cooperation between the Armenian State Engineering
University and Synopsis Armenia 54 alumni of the University,
36 bachelors and 18 masters received certificates of education of
Synopsis Armenia on June 12.
Richard Goldman, Executive Director of Synopsis Armenia, said this is
the second group of masters, and the fourth group of bachelors of the
Armenian State Engineering University to take a special educational
course with active involvement of the company. Since 2005 Synopsis
Armenia has invested 600 million dollars in Armenia, and in the
upcoming years the amount of investments will reach 2 billion dollars.

SWISS FM: ARMENIAN CEMETERY DEMOLITION IN NACHICHEVAN SHOULD BE CONDEMNED
Yerkir
12.06.2006 14:57
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “During my latest visit to Azerbaijan I stressed
the importance of maintenance of cultural heritage. We condemn the
demolition of the Armenian cemetery in Old Djulfa in Nakhichevan by
an order of the Azeri authorities,” Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline
Calmy-Rey stated at a news conference in Yerevan.
In her words, Switzerland has appealed to UNESCO on the issue and the
PACE Committee on Protection of Cultural Heritage will pay a visit
to the site in September.
“Armenia and Switzerland have a different history but our cultures
have much in common. The Armenian community of Switzerland carries
out a great deal of work to familiarize the Swiss with the Armenian
culture and traditions,” underscored Ms. Calmy-Rey.

A DEMOGRAPHIC TRAP
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
12 June 2006
It has become clear recently that the mediators in the settlement
of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict tend to set out the Armenian
sides for the following model of resolution: first, the Armenian
party immediately concedes five of the regions of the former Soviet
Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan it controls, which were outside
the borders of the former Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh,
the Azerbaijani refugees return there, second, peacemaking forces
are stationed in the conflict area, third, the Azerbaijani refugees
return to the NKR territory, controlled by the NKR government (in
fact, the territory of the former ARNK because Shahumian and Getashen
occupied by Azerbaijanis are not mentioned anywhere). A referendum
must be held to decide and set down the future status of NKR. The
outcome of the referendum is suggested to be definitive. It should
be noted that accepting the proposal on holding a referendum means
rejecting that the outcome of the referendum held on December 10,
1991 was legal. Practically, neither the European organizations nor
Baku hides this circumstance. Certain European organizations pursue
their interests in the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh, which
in fact coincide with those of Azerbaijan for a number of reasons,
using such levers to influence the international public opinion as
“NGOs”, which are formally independent but are, in fact, controlled
by these organizations. One of these NGOs is the International Crisis
Group. In the September 14, 2005 report of the ICG entitled “Nagorno
Karabakh. Viewing the Conflict on the Ground” is an attempt to deny
not only the lawfulness but also the legal force of the December 10,
1991 referendum. The ICG reporters stressed the following argument
borrowed from the Azerbaijani propaganda: since the Azerbaijanis did
not vote to the December 10, 1991 referendum, it is illegal. Moreover,
they openly distorted facts to assure the international community that
their conclusions on the December 10, 1991 referendum are real. For
instance, in the draft of the report the demographic profile of the
Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh is not precise: by the USSR
census 1989 the number of Azerbaijanis in ARNK was 21.5 percent,
the report gives 25.3 percent. The report also gave facts about the
December 10, 1991 referendum: approximately 108 615 people voted
for the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. Very few of the 47 400
Azerbaijanis turned up. Hence, first another exaggerated number
of Azerbaijanis was set forward, second, the number of the Armenian
voters was compared with the number of the Azerbaijanis living in NKR,
including children (which is, by the way, exaggerated too), not the
number of Azerbaijani voters. In fact, according to the facts of the
NKR Central Election Committee, the number of the Azerbaijani voters
totaled 26.4 thousand, which is 20 percent of all voters. Whereas,
according to the false facts of the ICG, the Azerbaijani voters
totaled 30.4 percent. In the final draft of the September 14 report
of the ICG the most striking distortions were deleted. The tendency
remained, however. Let us suppose, for instance, that the referendum
is, nevertheless, held. What will be the conditions? What changes will
take place in NKR within the 10-15 years that must precede the new
referendum according to the plan of the mediators? The ICG carelessly
provides some details about the proposed referendum. Hence, the ICG
representatives particularly stated that the question of one community
or another outnumbering the others in Nagorno Karabakh will not be
posed categorically after the resolution, that only the inhabitants
of Karabakh who lived here before the conflict should participate in
the referendum. According to the ICG, they count about half of the
146 thousand Armenians living in NKR (by preliminary data of the
census taken in autumn 2005, about 137.7 thousand). Hence, it is
neglected that by the official data of the census in the USSR 165
thousand Armenians lived in NKR in 1991 (including Shahumian and
Getashen). That by official data, over 60 thousand were displaced
by the war, but after the war many returned home. People who have
recently moved from Armenia and Turkmenistan were born in Nagorno
Karabakh, or their children now have the right to return home,
independent from whether they were in Karabakh in 1988 or not. The ICG
report does not contain any mentioning of the return of Armenians of
Shahumian or Getashen, whereas the authors of the report use the term
“vast return” for the Azerbaijani refugees. It is certain that if
necessary conditions are created (international peacemakers, pullout,
and diminishing the role of the NK Defence Army to that of a national
guard) neither 40.5 thousand (by 1989) nor 47.5 thousand Azerbaijanis
(by the draft report) will “wish” to return to Karabakh. In case of a
“vast return” protected by international troops, groups of Azerbaijani
“refugees” with a total number of 70-80 thousand will head for NKR.
And every “native Karabakhi” family will have a “legal” passport with a
notice that they were born in Karabakh or the notice of the government
that these people are refugees from ARNK, whereas the real refugees
will most probably be living in Russia or Turkey. And every family
couple of “refugees from ARNK,” who had allegedly left the region at
a young, maybe teen age, will have 5-8 big and small children. Baku
does not even hide this. By recent information, the number of refugees
from ARNK has doubled, reaching 84 thousand. With such a demographic
pattern, in 10-15 years, till the next referendum, the number of
Armenians and Azerbaijanis will have become equal. Considering that the
mediators suggest that only the Karabakhis, who lived in the region in
1988, and their children born there must participate in the referendum,
and the same ICG decided that the Armenians count 70 thousand, it
is not difficult to predict the outcome of the referendum. Certain
international organizations are experienced in fooling their peoples
and the international community, and they can explain very logically
how and why it happened. The following conclusions can be drawn. The
will of the NKR people was clearly expressed in the December 10, 1991
referendum, which was held in compliance with the international law
and the USSR legislation in force then. The Azerbaijani minority of
NKR was given every possibility to express their will freely, however
under the pressure of official Baku the Azerbaijanis rejected their
right and neglected the referendum, displaying indifference towards
the future of the region.
Accepting a new, delayed referendum would mean for the Armenian
side denying the legality of the referendum in 1991 and its
outcome. Theoretically, the situation can change over the 10-15 years
preceding a new referendum to a degree that holding it may become
impossible for different reasons. Such as, for instance, the refusal of
Azerbaijan. The motivations may vary, including coercion on behalf of
Baku. Even if the referendum is held, the demographic picture in NKR
will change in favour of Azerbaijanis over the preceding period, and
the outcome will be for its “territorial integrity.” If the Armenian
side accepts the idea of a delayed referendum, after signing an
agreement neither Armenia, not NKR will be able to prevent Azerbaijan
from changing the demographic pattern, provoking ethnic skirmishes
to cause tensions and coercing the Armenian population of NKR under
the cover of “peacemakers” and after the return of refugees.

MICHELINE CALMY-REY: SWITZERLAND INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING LASTING AND STABLE BALANCE IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 15:04
Switzerland is interested in establishing lasting and stable balance
in the South Caucasus. Deputy Chairman of the Federal Council of the
Confederation of Switzerland, Foreign Minister Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey
mentioned in her joint interview with RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan that this is associated with migration and security concerns.
She welcomed the efforts of Armenian authorities in the direction of
accomplishment of the readmission agreement.
The Swiss Foreign Minister noted Switzerland is ready to soften the
procedure of providing visas, especially for diplomatic visits.
“Armenia holds an important position in the region, and Switzerland is
ready to help and encourage it continue the reforms,” Calmy-Rey said.
In her words, her country supports he resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a diplomatic way: not only the relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan will normalize, it will also indirectly
promote the establishment of relations with Turkey.