Author: Babajanian Karo

Internal Tacit Struggle in RPA

HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:40:38 – 08/07/2011

Galust Sahakyan hinted a few days ago, and yesterday Hovik Abrahamyan
announced in Gyumri that Serzh Sargsyan will top the Republican
ticket.

It is interesting whether there is such a decision. Has Serzh Sargsyan
made this decision and informed his fellow party members about his
decision if they are so confident? Or have they decided that the
Republican ticket must be topped by Serzh Sargsyan, otherwise they
will set out in such a race that Serzh Sargsyan will regret not having
topped the ticket and prevented the scramble.

Obviously, Serzh Sargsyan is unable to settle the Hovik
Abrahamyan-Tigran Sargsyan dilemma, therefore he has to top the ticket
to prevent fights. No doubt, this will not solve the problem. The
Republican ticket itself is nothing, and Hovik Abrahamyan rightly says
the sum will not change if the items replace each other.

The order of the republican ticket must be just an expression of the
government’s intentions, marking the direction of developments, what
will be stressed by the government in the nearest future and the
order, moods, distribution and correlation inside the government. It
will make the order of the list of Republicans interesting.

If Serzh Sargsyan is going to top the list, apparently, the situation
inside the government is unstable and unclear, otherwise Serzh
Sargsyan wouldn’t top the list personally. For him, it would be better
to stay a step higher and watch the parliamentary elections from
above.

The question is that Serzh Sargsyan may stand higher with his
statements and speeches, however, when practical politics is
concerned, he must personally work hard and equally with others
because perhaps he doesn’t control the system fully.

At any rate, when Serzh Sargsyan tops the Republican ticket, it
indicates the victory of Hovik Abrahamyan. He will not top the list
and he succeeded in preventing Tigran Sargsyan from the top of the
list. This is a small victory for Hovik Abrahamyan, and perhaps a
small failure for Tigran Sargsyan and Serzh Sargsyan if he is unable
to solve the problem of the first line of the list and has to occupy
this line to prevent riots on board.

For Tigran Sargsyan, topping the Republican ticket would be his first
major success in the government. It seems that his prime ministerial
longevity is already success. In reality, his longevity was considered
as success so far but if Tigran Sargsyan doesn’t top the list,
longevity will stop being success and will be increasingly perceived
as a service to the `traditional class’ of the Republican Party.
Therefore, Tigran Sargsyan needs to lead the Republican ticket.

Apparently, he failed. Meanwhile, the parliamentary election was an
excellent opportunity. But in fact Serzh Sargsyan’s decision should
not be considered as final. Hovik Abrahamyan said, Galust Sahakyan
also said, other Republicans may say so, but we saw during the
internal political dialogue that they say one thing and Sargsyan says
something slightly different. So, it is difficult to say what may
happen by the time of drafting the list that may force or help Serzh
Sargsyan change his decision or reject this intention.

Besides, the problem thereby is not eliminated, it may be just
relieved a little. The problem of the second line on the list will
come forth. Who will be after Serzh Sargsyan on the Republican ticket?

Fortune Oil Oils Its Wheels

ANAHIT MNATSAKANYAN, Hrazdan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:21:11 – 06/07/2011

The initiative group which was created after the protest on March 31
against the exploitation of the iron mine in Hrazdan town committed
itself to struggle against this program which will inflict severe
environmental pollution.

The mine is located hardly 650 m from residential areas, near water
sources, pumping stations, Sevan-Hrazdan channel, as well as
Atarbekyan water power plant which will be affected once the mine is
exploited.

The initiative group has made an inquiry with the International Energy
Corporation which manages the plant, bringing up the issue of
explosions necessitated by the exploitation of the mine which would
impact the water power plant. The IEC responded to the inquiry, noting
that they are also concerned. For their part, the Corporation made an
inquiry with Fortune Oil, the China-based company, which denied any
negative impact on the plant.

Strangely, two months ago the representatives of Fortune Oil visiting
Hrazdan said they were going to carry out a study by the end of the
year and present the conclusion. The mining company replied without
evaluating the impact on the environment. It is interesting whether
they will give us unpleasant surprises to which the initiative group
will react by all means. And not only.

Maria Armoudian publishes on media’s role in the fate of the world

Published: Friday July 01, 2011

Maria Armoudian.

Los Angeles – Political scientist, noted radio host, and journalist,
Maria Armoudian will be releasing her first book Kill the Messenger:
The Media’s Role in the Fate of the World on July 22.

Published by provocative, progressive and independent publisher,
Prometheus Books, Kill the Messenger’s forward was written by author
and political leader, Senator Tom Hayden.

The book emerged from Armoudian’s studies into the causes of genocide,
war, peacemaking, democratization, and the protection of human rights
and the environment, while she was working on her Ph.D. at the
University of Southern California, as well as during her work as a
broadcast journalist and public official. Looking across conflicts and
policy successes and failures, she found that media (and media
professionals) were among key factors in determining political
outcomes, including matters of life and death.

Written in five parts, Kill the Messenger shows how media fomented
rage and genocide in Rwanda, the Holocaust and the Bosnian war; how
they helped bring peace in the Northern Ireland Conflict and the war
in Burundi; how media contributed to democratization and the
protection of human rights in South Africa, Taiwan, Mexico, and
Senegal, and how they aided both the destruction and rebuilding of
democracy in Chile. In its final case study, Kill the Messenger
explores the media’s role in the fate of the world, as journalists
disentangle the issue of climate change for the public.

Early reviews of the book have been stellar including:

“Maria Armoudian has written a gripping book that richly and
passionately demonstrates the power and importance of media to the
human condition. Rich in contemporary world history, Kill the
Messenger is exactly the book the world needs to read in our perilous
times.” – Robert W. McChesney, coauthor of The Life and Death of
American Journalism.

“Kill the Messenger clearly demonstrates how media help to shape
beliefs, societies, and policies that impact the fate of the world.
It’s a must read for everyone who cares about the welfare of humanity
and the planet itself.” – Ed Begley Jr., actor and environmental
steward.

“There’s plenty of bad news about how the media have fostered hate,
from Nazi Germany to the genocide in Rwanda. But in this illuminating
book, there is also lots of good news, cases where the media have
advanced the cause of peace and promoted human rights and democracy.
Maria Armoudian has written a crucial work for understanding the
profound role played by the media in our world today.” – Jon Wiener,
contributing editor of The Nation.

“Maria Armoudian wisely and insightfully inspires us to look at the
character of the messenger who delivers today’s news. This book should
be read by anyone concerned with the fate of the world, which should
be everyone.” – Thomas M. Kostigen, Dow Jones MarketWatch Ethics
Monitor columnist and New York Times bestselling author.

For more information please see

Assyrian International News Agency
AINA Press Releas
July 10 2011

Assyrian Genocide Scholar Discusses the Turkish Genocide

Posted GMT 7-10-2011 17:40:45

AINA) — Dr. Anahit Khosroeva is a Senior Researcher at the Institute
of History, National Academy of Sciences in Armenia, and has been a
scholar in residence at North Park University in Chicago, USA, where
she taught a course on 20th century genocides. She is a member of the
International Association of Genocide Scholars. Her Ph.D. dissertation
is titled The Assyrian Massacres in the Ottoman Turkey and the
Adjacent Turkish territories (End of the 19th to the First Quarter of
the 20th Century). She is the author of the several books and numerous
articles on the history of the Assyrian people, written in Armenian,
Russian and English. Her recent publications are The Assyrian Genocide
in the Ottoman Empire and Adjacent Territories (The Armenian Genocide:
Cultural and Ethical Legacies, Edited by Richard Hovannisian, New
Brunswick, New Jersey, Transaction Publishers) and The Armenian and
Assyrian Massacres in the Ottoman Turkey as the First Example of the
Genocide (Research on Armenian Genocide, Budapest).

Dr. Khosroeva will present a paper, titled The Assyrian Genocide in
the Ottoman Turkey (late 19th early 20th century), in Buenos Aires at
the 9th Biennial Conference of the International Association of
Genocide Scholars (July 19-22).

AINA conducted the following interview with Dr. Khosroeva.

What made you interested in the study of the Assyrian genocide?

I was a Ph.D candidate at the Institute of History at Armenian
National Academy of Sciences and was working on my dissertation about
Ethno-demography in Trabizond (one of the six regions of Western
Armenia) before World War I. After two years of research my advisor
asked me to prepare a small presentation about the Assyrian Genocide,
because a delegation of Assyrians from the U.S. was coming to visit
Armenia for the April 24th Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and
participate in the annual conference about Genocide.

My mother is Armenian and my father is Assyrian. I knew, therefore,
that both nations were subjected to Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. I had
difficulty finding material for the presentation on the Assyrian
Genocide. Somehow I made it and I remember it was very successful, but
I decided I was not going to stop and I changed my dissertation
subject and started to work on this issue, because it is not only a
very important subject for me and Assyrians, but it is a subject which
needs scholarly work. The Assyrian Genocide question needs
international recognition.

Immediately after I finished my Ph.D, the Primer Minister of Armenia,
Mr. Andranik Margaryan, who was the chairman of the Board of the 90th
Anniversary of Armenian Genocide Commemoration, saw the importance of
bringing awareness to the Assyrian Genocide and sponsored the
publication of my first book in Armenian, titled The Assyrian Genocide
in the Ottoman Turkey. The book was translated to Russian one year
later and was published by the support of of my two Assyrian friends,
Walter Veniaminov and Ruben Aleksanov. In 2007 Dr. Normal Solhkhah of
Chicago sponsored the publication of A Brief History of the Assyrian
Genocide in Words, Pictures & Monuments, in English.

When did the WW1 genocide start?

On August 1, 1914 World War I broke out. Already by September 1914,
more than 30 Armenian and Assyrian villages in the region surrounding
Urmia, Iran were burned and destroyed. Thousands of people were
killed. The Russian vice consul, Vedenski, visited these places and
said in his report “the results of jihad are everywhere.”

Rev. Joseph Naayem, the Chaldean Assyrian priest in Diyarbekir,
Turkey, reported that massacres started on April 8, 1915.

Was the WW1 genocide part of a larger pattern?

Yes, Turks wanted a religiously homogenous empire, incorporating all
the neighboring territories populated with Muslims. This was their
goal and they did everything to reach it. The Young Turks’ party
program stated “…sooner or later all the nations under Turkish control
will be turned into Turks. It is clear that they will not convert
voluntarily and we will have to use force.” During one of their secret
meetings Dr. Nazeem, a Young Turkish ideologist, said “The massacre is
necessary. All the non-Turkish elements, whatever nation they belong
to, should be exterminated.”

The Young Turks’ decision to enter WWI hinged on their belief that
“participation in the war will considerably raise Turkey’s authority,
satisfy their vanity and dignity.” During a talk with Dr. Mordtmann,
an employee of the German Embassy, Turkish Minister of Interior Talaat
Pasha said exploiting the opportunity of martial law, the Turkish
government would eventually get rid of its internal enemies — the
Christians — without fear of foreign diplomatic intervention. The
ensuing events would bear out this sentiment, as millions of
Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks fell victim to the Turkish genocide
while the world’s great powers remained silent.

Did the Ottomans differentiate between Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians
in carrying out the Genocide?

No, they were all seen as Christians.

Was the Genocide anti-Christian? Were there non-religious motives for
the Genocide?

Yes, it was anti-Christian. The goal was to have a homogeneous Turkish
country, and the Christians were in the way and had to be eliminated.
A secondary motive was the plundering of Christian wealth, because
they were professionals and businessmen.

Was Islam a fundamental driving force of the Genocide?

Yes, it was. Sultan Abdul Hamid II rose to the Ottoman throne in 1876,
and he governed with an iron hand for 33 years. He introduced
individual and mass murders into the Ottoman political culture as a
method to settle the problems of the Empire. A pivotal theme of
sultan’s external and internal policies was Pan-Islam, which sought a
religiously homogenous empire joining with Turkey all the neighboring
territories populated with Muslims. To this end, the nationalist
aspirations of non-Muslim elements in these regions were suppressed.

During World War I the manner in which the massacres were organized
and implemented serves as irrefutable evidence of the Turkish
government’s decision to eliminate a people whose nationalism and
Christian identity ran contrary to the Young Turks’ own ethnic and
religious chauvinism.

What role did the Kurds play in the Genocide?

Established by and named after Sultan Abdul Hamid II in 1890, Hamidiye
Kurdish Cavalry were intended to be modeled after the Russian Cossacks
and were supposedly tasked to patrol the Russo-Ottoman frontier. The
Hamidiye corps was well-armed, irregular Kurdish cavalry formations
that operated in the eastern regions of the Ottoman Empire. However,
the Hamidiye were more often used by the Ottoman authorities to harass
and assault Assyrians and Armenians living in Western Armenia.
Multiple sources say a large number of Assyrians and Armenians were
killed by this Kurdish cavalry, and women and girls were taken to
their harems during 1895-1896 massacres and World War I.

How many Assyrians were killed in the Genocide?

This is hard to answer. After World War I, in November 1919, the
periodical French Asia wrote “The Assyrian massacres resembled the
Armenian slaughters. And as about this nation, which had 250,000
victims, has been spoken much less, it is necessary to inform the
world about it.” Another source, the Assyrian National Council
Secretary, C. Korek d’ Kerporani, determined in 1922 that the losses
of his people were more than 270,000. Investigations into the
massacres in later years pushed the figure still higher, as some
scholars have placed the number of victims at 500,000. Assyrians
themselves have estimated that they lost 3/4 of their people during
this period, which puts the figure at 750,000.1

——————————————————————————–
1 Editor’s note: The Russian geographer Lilian visited the Assyrian
homelands before WW1 and estimated the total Assyrian population at 1
million (see here). Demographic studies of the Middle East show the
population has increased approximately tenfold since WW1. Assuming the
Assyrian population has also increased tenfold, and it is about 3.5
million now, the population must have been about 350,000 then — if
there were no genocide. If we accept Lilian’s population estimate,
that the Assyrian population was 1 million just before WW1, then about
3/4th of Assyrians must have been killed, else they would number 10
million now.

Fanny Ardant: Armenian roots are family matters, not journalists business

July 10, 2011 – 15:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – `My Armenian roots are family matters, and not
journalists’ business,’ said world known French actress Fanny Ardant
when commenting on her Armenian origin during the meeting with
journalists in Yerevan.

Ardant is currently in Armenia for participation in the Golden Apricot
eighth international film festival. Her films Ashes and Blood (2009)
and Departed Dreams (2010) are to be shown soon.

The actress said that she began directing films when wrote scenarios.

`When I wrote scenarios I had all material in my imagination.
Direction was continuation of my scenarist work,’ Ardant said.

Fanny Ardant was born on March 22, 1949 in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire,
France. The daughter of a cavalry officer in the French army, Fanny
later moved to Monaco with her family where she grew up. Her father
was a friend of the Royal household who was also a governor at the
palace. She often visited the palace and made acquaintance with
Princess Grace

At the age of 17, Fanny moved to Aix-en-Provence where she attended
university majoring in political science. She later studied drama and
made her stage début in Corneille’s Polyeucte in 1974. Her first big
break came in 1979 when she landed a role on the TV drama Les Dames de
la côte (The Ladies of the Coast). Her appearance on the series caught
the attention of the celebrated director François Truffaut, who
offered her a role in his next film La Femme d’à côté (The Woman Next
Door) in 1981, starring opposite Gérard Depardieu.

It was a role that changed her life both professionally and
personally. Her performance in the film brought her international
recognition and her first César nomination for best actress in 1982.
On the personal front, she became Truffaut’s companion and remained
with him until his death in 1984. They had a daughter, Joséphine, who
was born the previous year. Fanny starred in Truffaut’s last film
Vivement dimanche! (Confidentially Yours), and received her second
César nomination for best actress.

Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Fanny continued to give strong
performances, cementing her reputation with serious and dramatic
roles. In 1994, she teamed up once again with Gérard Depardieu in Le
Colonel Chabert, playing the role of a complex widow.

In 2004, Fanny appeared alongside Gérard Depardieu in the stage
adaptation of Henry James’ novel The Beast In The Jungle (La Bête Dans
La Jungle), which had been adapted into French by Marguerite Duras.
The play attracted an international audience to the Thétre de la
Madeleine in Paris.

Fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish, Fanny occasionally
ventured outside of French cinema and worked in such productions as La
Famiglia (The Family) and Le Cena for Italian director Ettore Scola,
the Italian version of Chekov’s Three Sisters (Paura e amore), and the
provocative film version of L’odore del sangue. She was also seen in a
small supporting role in the 1995 Sydney Pollack’s film Sabrina. And
in 1998, she appeared in the Oscar-nominated drama Elizabeth, in which
her presence highlighted the small but important role of the ruthless
and deliciously flirtatious Mary of Guise.

Fanny Ardant resides in Paris, France. She has three daughters, Lumir,
Joséphine and Baladine.

Armenia recognizes the Republic of South Sudan

10:35 – 10.07.11

Armenia recognizes the newly-emerged state of Republic of South Sudan,
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan has said.

`The declaration of independent statehood in South Sudan is an
exercise of legal equality of nations and an inalienable right to
self-determination and another example of civilized settlement of
conflicts,’ said Nalbandyan.

The Republic of Sudan (North) officially recognized the new state on Saturday.

The Republic of South Sudan declared independence earlier in the week
following decades-long civil war with North Sudan.

Tert.am

CINÉMA : une génération arménienne à l’assault
Daniel Messier Nouvel Héros ?

Nous le savons depuis toujours, les arméniens ont la fibre artistique.
Ils la manifeste dans divers domaines, tels la danse, l’écriture, la
musique, les arts graphiques, les beaux arts, la comédie, la mise en
scène et tous les métiers rattachés au cinéma.

Outre Simon Abakarian, dont la renommée croît au fil des années, point
à l’horizon une nouvelle génération de réalisateurs et d’acteurs
d’origine arménienne comme jamais on en a vu auparavant. Cette
quatrième génération est riche d’inspiration, d’inventivité et
d’ambition.

C’est ainsi qu’un comédien, genevois d’origine, de père américain et
de mère arménienne, s’est expatrié en 2006 pour aller toucher au plus
près le rêve américain à Hollywood. Son nom, Daniel Messier.

Il est clair que pour un européen n’ayant pas encore fait ses preuves,
se frotter au monde impitoyable de la toute puissante machine à rêve
du monde, peuplée de `requins`, il fallait une bonne dose
d’inconscience et de courage pour essayer de s’immerger et se forger
un nouveau destin outre-Atlantique.

C’est ce parcours semé d’embûches qu’à choisi d’emprunter Varoujan
Daniel Messier-Hinaekian, probablement le seul Suisse d’Hollywood.

Comme il le dit lui-même « Quand on est gamin, on rêve tous d’être un
Stallone, Van Damme, De Niro, Johnny Depp, etc….mais combien de
jeunes Suisses ont actuellement tout balancé pour aller s’établir à
Los Angeles et poursuivre ce rêve ? C’est un choix, et dans ce choix,
je l’admets, il y a une part de folie. » Ainsi, Daniel, au volant
de sa Honda, en cette année 2006, va emprunter la longue route qui
mène de Miami à Los Angeles. 4500 kms en solo sur des routes désertes
avec pour seuls compagnons de nuit « des voix qui vous murmurent aux
oreilles ».

Le genevois est parfaitement bilingue et bénéficie de la double
nationalité Américano-Suisse. Il jouit d’un physique qu’il qualifie
lui-même de « bonne gueule ». Alors, avec son « charme », il allait «
tout faire péter », dit-il, un sourire aux lèvres, en voyant
l’emblématique panneau « HOLLYWOOD » se profiler sous le feu
ocre-orangé d’un soleil naissant, étoile majeur parmi les stars.

Du rêve…

« Apres tout, si Vincent Cassel, Olivier Martinez, et Gilles Marini
(Sex and the city) avaient percé, pourquoi pas moi ? Ici, je suis en
compétition avec ces acteurs là, et Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Tyler
Kitsch, Joe Mangianello, etc…. il y a beaucoup de très bon acteurs
dont on entend rarement parler. Le talent, oui, il en faut, mais c’est
loin d’être suffisant. », précise Daniel.

« À Hollywood. c’est une question de timing. Une question de network
[réseau] et de connection. Et surtout, de persévérance et de courage.

Chaque jour il faut se battre, faire son marketing, trouver les
auditions, connaitre les règles pour les contourner, les briser et se
faire sa place. »

… à la réalité…

« Hollywood, c’est comme MATRIX. Il y a une part de réalité, une part
de mythe, et une part de réalité que tu te crées toi-même. », dit-il.

« Chaque audition à laquelle je participe est une occasion de
décrocher un rôle qui changera ma carrière. Souvent, il ne faut pas
grand chose. ». Dans les 12 derniers mois Daniel Messier a participé à
la distribution de Grey’s Anatomy, 24, Desperate Housewives, True
Blood, Hawaii Police d’Etat, Les Experts-Miami, pour ne citer que ces
productions.

… à la pugnacité…

« Je refuse d’attendre que le téléphone sonne, d’attendre que mon
manager ou mon agent m’appelle pour me proposer une audition. Il faut
trouver et créer son propre travail, ses propres projets. Je savais
que pour briser les règles d’Hollywood, il fallait que je développe
mes propres scénarios en m’écrivant le rôle principal. »

C’est exactement ce que Sylvester Stallone avait fait avec ROCKY. Un
modèle qui va l’amener, en 2009, à s’associer à une compagnie de
production indépendante, Atorrante Films, dirigée par le réalisateur
Martin Yernazian qu’il rencontre sur le tournage de la super
production de Roger Kupélian « East of Byzantium ».

… et au résultat

Depuis ses quatre années passées à Los Angeles, l’acteur à eu la
chance et l’opportunité de travailler avec de nombreux réalisateurs et
producteurs. Mais son véritable rêve est maintenant de produire et
jouer dans des films intelligents et mémorables. Ce moment est
finalement arrivé puisque Daniel Messier et son associé Martin
Yernazian développent actuellement deux importants projets :

LES MAGNIFIQUES (ne pas confondre avec le spectacle de Michel
Boujenah), un film bilingue francais / anglais dans le genre de
“OCEAN’S 11”, et “LOCKS, STOCKS, and 2 SMOKING BARRELS”, à propos de 3
amis d’enfance français vivant a Los Angeles qui décident d’effectuer
un casse pour résoudre leurs soucis financiers. N’étant que des
amateurs, ils devront user de leur charme pour arriver à leur fins.

cliquer sur l’image pour agrandir

et

ROGUES (voir ici) , un film d’action dans le genre de “BOURNE
IDENTITY”. Un script explosif basé sur des faits réels. L’histoire de
Gabriel Vega, un ancien soldat paramilitaire Colombien qui détient un
secret capable de faire basculer le Gouvernement Américain.

Un début de carrière menée tambour battant à la force du poignet pour
un acteur doté d’un physique exceptionnel qui pourrait très bientôt
faire parler de lui en France.

Jean Eckian

Atorrante Films Demo Reel from Martín Yernazian

dimanche 10 juillet 2011,
Jean [email protected]

D´autres informations disponibles : sur le site Daniel Messier

WHETHER OR NOT PROBLEM OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH HAS SOLUTION
Yuri Snegirev

WPS Agency
July 5, 2011 Tuesday
Russia

Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue)

AN EXPERT: NO TALKS WILL EVER SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH;
Experts say that the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be solved by
negotiations. Fortunately, they also say that there will be no war.

The situation along the contact line where the Azerbaijani and
Nagorno-Karabakh forces face each other is fairly tranquil at this
point. Politicians in Nagorno-Karabakh try to understand why the peace
talks in Kazan, Russia, on June 24 failed. The meeting between the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan arranged by their Russian
counterpart ended with nothing to show for it. Armenia kept demanding
sovereignty for Karabakh. Azerbaijani insisted on restoration of
territorial integrity and promised Karabakh broad powers of an
autonomy.

“Ilham Aliyev will never sign a document that recognizes
Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Bagram Atanesjan of the parliament of the
non-recognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. “Besides, a military
parade took place in Baku on June 26, one to honor the Independence
Day. How could anyone expect Azerbaijani leaders to sign such a
document on the eve of the parade? Some source from the Russian
Foreign Ministry had leaked several hours before the talks that there
was no way for them to be successful.”

Said Atanesjan, “As for Karabakh, it will never sign a document that
will make it part of Azerbaijan again… regardless of what Moscow
expects. The Azerbaijanis openly say that there are 25,000
“undesirable” persons living in Nagorno-Karabakh. They mean the people
who fought for independence of Karabakh. Any compromise will mean
their deportation… If it is a war, if Azerbaijan sees no other
solution, then we are ready for them. Let them come. Either they reach
Yerevan or we reach Baku. I’d even say that this second outcome is
more likely.”

Said political scientist and Institute of the Caucasus Director
Alexander Iskanarjan, “No talks will ever solve the problem of
Nagorno-Karabakh. And yet, talks are an important instrument. Even the
Azerbaijani claims that they just might send the army to reconquer
Karabakh are an instrument. Skirmishes, too… All of that are
instruments… Karabakh does not want a war. It has no reasons to wish
it. Azerbaijan has the wish but lacks the capacity. I’m not even
talking military might. A war will void oil contracts, inflation will
soar, there will be refugees all over again, investors will walk away.

No economy will negotiate this storm.”

Question: But what about the war in August 2008? Mikhail Saakashvili
lost the war but boosted his rating in Georgia.

Alexander Iskanarjan: Saakashvili had a chance, minor but a chance, to
win a war rapidly. A blitzkrieg. He might have pulled it off. This
option does not exist in Nagorno-Karabakh. No blitzkrieg is possible
here and Baku must know it. I’m telling you therefore that there will
be no war. There will be talks again and again, fruitless. But even
fruitless talks are better than a bloodshed.

WPS’2011

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD BUT I AM NOT SATAN – GRAND MASTER OF FRENCH MASONIC LODGE

news.am
July 6, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Franco-Masonic lodge in literal translation means lodge of
freemasons and has nothing to do with the mystical perceptions about
the organization, which are prevalent in the public, said the grand
master of French Masonic Lodge Guy Arsize at a press conference in
Armenia on Wednesday.

He stressed that the French Masonic Lodge, in particular the Grand
Orient De France, acts entirely public. It deals with social issues,
human rights, focuses on women’s rights and is not engaged in
political issues.

According to him sex, race and age of the person does not matter for
affiliation to the lodge.

“For instance, I do not believe in God, but I am not Satan,” said
Arsize, adding that it is Anglo-Saxon Masonic lodge that has kept
the mystical direction and secrecy.

KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS CONTINUING – US ENVOY

Gun.Az
1news.az
July 6, 2011
Azerbaijan

Wed 06 July 2011 05:11 GMT | 1:11 Local Time

The Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process is continuing, even though
agreement was not reached at the latest summit, the US envoy in Baku
has said.

“I have contacted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Azerbaijani
officials during the past few days, discussing what will follow the
meeting in Kazan. The process is continuing,” Matthew Bryza said at
a ceremony on Tuesday to mark US Independence Day.

He said he would not call the Kazan meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents fruitless, because there had been some steps
forward, as noted by the parties to the conflict and the international
mediators, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, with the mediation of
Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev, discussed the Basic Principles
for a Karabakh settlement in Kazan on 24 June.

The meeting, the ninth in the last three years, ended without agreement
on the Basic Principles, but the sides did note “progress” towards
this goal in a joint statement.

On 5 July, the OSCE mediators called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to
accept the Basic Principles, despite their remaining differences,
and move on to negotiating a peace treaty.

The mediators have been working on the principles for several years.

They include the return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh
to Azerbaijani control and an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh
with guarantees of security and self-governance.

US Ambassador Matthew Bryza said on Tuesday that people in America
were not well-informed about the economic and political reforms in
Azerbaijan. However, “from this standpoint, Azerbaijan inspires those
who know it”.

The ambassador said that he and his wife Zeyno Baran and daughter
Maya were extremely happy to celebrate the 235th anniversary of US
independence in Azerbaijan.