Author: Chilingarian Babken

TRIPLE HOLIDAY CELEBRATED IN NKR

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2009-05-11 15:31
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

On May 9, festive events took place in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
on the occasion of the Day of Victory at the Great Patriotic War,
Creation of the NKR Defense Army, and Liberation of Shushi.

An official delegation from the Republic of Armenia, with President
Serge Sargsian at the head, participated in the celebrations.

A ceremony of putting wreaths and flowers on the deceased soldiers’
monument at the Stepanakert Memorial Complex, on the tank-monument at
the approaches to the town of Shushi, and on the monument to prominent
statesman and military leader Vazgen Sargisian took place. A ceremony
of handing new flats’ keys to 16 servicemen of the NKR Defense Army
took place in Shushi.

On the occasion of the holiday, a grand meeting took place at the
Stepanakert Officer’s Palace, with the participation of the NKR and
RA Presidents, official and public representatives and guests. NKR
President Bako Sahakian gave a ceremonial reception.

Concerts, sport events, and other outdoor festivities took place all
over the Republic.

The festivities were completed with fireworks in the Central Revival
Square of Stepanakert.

On the occasion of the holiday, the NKR President signed corresponding
rewarding decrees. The NKR highest title of Hero of Artsakh was
conferred on Arkady Ter-Tadevosian and=2 0a Golden Eagle decoration
was presented to him for his outstanding services in the organization
of the Republic’s defense and for his personal courage and bravery.

In his interview to journalists, Bako Sahakian noted that the
negotiation process on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement was
hampered by the fact that Nagorno Karabakh didn’t participate in it
equally with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"Armenia’s President uses all his efforts to restore the provisions
of the Budapest Summit, according to which Nagorno Karabakh is an
equal party to the negotiations", the NKR President stated.

The head of state emphasized that the issue was discussed with the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen who, according to him, also consider
that Nagorno Karabakh should participate in the negotiation process.

"Everybody realizes that no final solution is possible without Nagorno
Karabakh’s participation", emphasized Bako Sahakian.

ARMENIA FM TO ATTEND THE SESSION OF COE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

armradio.am
11.05.2009 10:56

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Edward
Nalbandian, will visit Madrid from 12 to 13 May to participate in
the 119th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe, Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs reported.

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OR THE DEMISE OF A CAUSE?
By Christian Garbis

understanding-or-the-demise-of-a-cause/
May 7, 2009

There has been much discussion and disappoint at President Barack
Obama’s failure to use the word "genocide" in his first annual April
24 statement to the Armenian American community. Although the term
"Medz Yeghern" was used in its place-an Armenian term used only
in the context of the Armenian Genocide-and has never before been
written or spoken by a U.S. president, many were outraged, and
rightfully so. Nevertheless, that Obama did not use the "G-word"
should have been expected as only a few weeks ago he was visiting
Turkey to reinforce ties between the U.S. and its crucial ally in
the Middle East, during a time when the U.S. wages its desperate
"war on terrorism" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A far more serious issue must be concentrated on by the entire
Armenian nation at this juncture, namely the agreement of "mutual
understanding" between Armenia and Turkey that was signed on April
22. The agreement was backed by the U.S., and Obama specifically
referred to the recent diplomatic talks being held between the two
countries as the main reason for abstaining from properly acknowledging
the Armenian Genocide in a press conference held in Turkey. Obama
did not want to disrupt the discussions by antagonizing Turkey. Yet,
had the president properly recognized the genocide he would in reality
have done Armenia a favor had the talks broken down.

Here’s why: Although the Armenian government still refuses to reveal
what exactly was stipulated in the "road map" and what the two nations
believed to be mutually acceptable in continuing to improve relations,
the points of the agreement were leaked to the press, which published
the information online. Subsequently the information was printed in
Armenian oppositional newspapers, but the points contained in the
agreement have yet to be discussed on news programs of television
stations that are virtually all government controlled. The five
points of the "road map" as published by Trend News on April 24 are
as follows:

1. Armenia should accept the Kars agreement signed between Turkey
and the former USSR in 1921;

2. A joint commission of historians is to be formed to investigate
genocide claims, with the participation of a third country, if
necessary;

3. The border between Armenia and Turkey will open and relevant
documents will be signed to begin trade relations;

4. Diplomatic relations will be established when the ambassadors
of Armenia and Turkey present their credentials to each other’s
governments;

5. The parliament [assumingly of each country] will discuss and
approve the stipulations contained in the "road map."

Naturally, the first two points are the most disturbing. The acceptance
of the current Armenian-Turkish border as defined in the Treaty of
Kars would be absurd. Without dedicated, secure access to the Black
Sea, Armenia would forever be dependent on its neighbors for ensuring
that foreign trade continues unabated. Armenia’s economy is already
highly dependent on Turkey’s willingness to do business despite a
closed border. As is obvious to Armenian consumers, most clothing,
construction materials, and domestic products are imported from Turkey
with all products being trucked into Armenia through Georgia. They
are purchased in huge quantities because the prices of these products
are very cheap, although their quality is usually mediocre or poor.

Armenia would need to have the boundary redrawn so that its interests
are served in a final agreement.

The formation of a joint Armenian-Turkish panel to research whether
the Armenian Genocide indeed occurred would be a mockery to the 1.5
million victims who fell beneath the Turkish sword. Indeed, it is
no longer in the hands of historians to decide whether genocide was
committed. Non-denialist historians who have researched the matter
have already unanimously determined that genocide did occur. Twenty-one
nations around the world have acknowledged the genocide. Therefore the
creation of such a body defies logic and wholly undermines worldwide
efforts by Armenian activists to have the genocide understood and
acknowledged.

These two points are detrimental, or rather are lethal, to the
Armenian cause. If diplomatic relations between these two countries
are established with these conditions in place, then all that the
thousands of Armenian freedom fighters and political activists have
fought and died for will have been in vein. Justice will not have
been served to the remaining genocide survivors and to the offspring
of those deceased. The Armenian cause will no longer be relevant,
as there would be no need whatsoever for the Turkish government to
finally address the genocide issue with the Armenian government washing
its hands of the matter. All hopes of land reparations and a redrawn
border similar to if not exactly defined by the Treaty of Sèvres will
evaporate instantly. The Armenian cause will become pointless and moot.

Furthermore, although not stipulated as a point, Turkey will have
influence in the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over Nagorno-Karabagh-influence that Armenia has always categorically
rejected.

This worst-case scenario can naturally be avoided should Armenia keep
the diplomatic "road map" in check, or rather redefine it. If Armenia
tosses it into the wastebasket it will lose nothing, for the Armenian
economy indeed boomed in the last five years with a closed border. But
if the charted map becomes a reality, Armenia can only lose. The
Armenian cause will become irrelevant and the nation’s subsequent
cemented borders will be geo-strategically weak. Armenia will also
lose control of its own economy, which it has regenerated from ashes.

Armenian political activists worldwide must refocus their agendas
to address these points of the agreement and categorically condemn
them. The Armenian government must never be allowed to downplay or
renounce the Armenian cause. Further discussions between Armenia and
Turkey based on these points of "understanding" will weaken the case
for continued genocide recognition by world nations, especially by
Turkey. The shared border that exists today, which serves more as
a cultural border than an economic one, is not a boundary that will
serve the long-term interests of the Armenian republic and therefore
should not be accepted unequivocally.

Armenia’s leadership must not be allowed to give in to Turkey’s
preconditions for the sake of establishing diplomatic relations.

RA CEC DOES NOT MIND MAYOR’S VISITS TO ZOO

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 20:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At today’s meeting RA CEC discussed Yerevan Mayor
Gagik Beglaryan’s visit to Zoo and election eve activities upon
request of ANC representatives Ruben Torosyan and Patvakan Hovakimyan.

Ruben Torosyan submitted a complaint over Yerevan Mayor Gagik
Torosyan’s violation of electoral campaign rules. On May 1 Republican
Party’s candidate for Yerevan Council of Elders, Gagik Torosyan
delivered a statement in Yerevan Zoo, promising to provide better
accommodations for animals. The statement was broadcast over Public
TV Channel.

CEC representative Eduard Sedrakyan stated that current Yerevan Mayor,
similarly to other parties’ candidates has a right to participate in
such events. Moreover, RA Election Codex does not forbid it.

However, CEC representative Zoya Tadevosyan disagreed with Committee’s
decision and emphasized that RA Election Codex allows coverage of
Mayor’s activities only within the framework of official visits,
but not working ones. Moreover, any candidate, including Yerevan
Mayor has no right to campaign and give electoral promises before
the actual start of election campaign.

CEC Chairman Garegin Azaryan noted that no juridical act can forbid
Mayor from fulfilling his obligations. Vote was cast, resulting in
7 votes for and 1 vote against the decision on legality of Gagik
Beglaryan’s actions.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER HOPES THAT UN SECURITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER ARMENIA OCCUPANT COUNTRY

Noyan Tapan
May 7, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. "It is very difficult to overcome
the problems in Turkey’s and Armenia’s relations without solving
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s problems." Declaring this, Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan expressed the hope that the UN Security Council,
the temporary member of which Turkey is at present, will consider
Armenia an occupant country.

According to Panarmenian.net, the Turkish Prime Minister considers that
the UN should make such a decision and call Armenia for withdrawing
its troops from Nagorno Karabakh.

"Turkey has already undertaken steps and proposed forming a Caucasian
Stability Platform with the participation of Russia, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, and Georgia. The argument between Armenia and Azerbaijan
should be given an immediate solution, after which the Armenian-Turkish
relations will be also normalized," Erdogan said.

RECENTLY REUNITED FATHER AND DAUGHTER AMONG THOSE KIDNAPPED BY PIRATES

Fox News
,2933,519359,00 .html
May 7 2009

BUCHAREST, Romania — Hartin Sarchizian and his only child Ruxandra
had not seen each other in two years — but their joy at being reunited
on a ship where they both were working was short-lived.

Just one month after their reunion, Sarchizian and his 31-year-old
daughter were among those taken hostage Tuesday by Somali pirates.

The U.S. Navy says the MV Victoria, a German cargo ship with 11
Romanian crew, was captured in the Gulf of Aden. The Kru Martime
recruiting company has identified the 11 sailors. Eight are from the
Black Sea port of Constanta, including the Sarchizians.

At home in Constanta, Elena Sarchizian is anguished by the plight of
her husband and daughter, thousands of miles from home.

"They called me from the shipping company … and told me to sit
down. I knew it was bad news," the 56-year-old told the Associated
Press on Thursday.

"I have high blood pressure and have been on tablets ever since,"
she added. "All I want is some news. This stress is eating me up. It’s
very black."

In his 30 years at sea, the worst ordeal her husband, the ship’s
chief mechanic, had faced previously was a bad storm. The couple’s
only child followed in her father’s footsteps, graduating from the
Maritime University in Constanta six years ago.

Due to different sea voyages, the father and daughter, now a naval
officer, had not seen each other for two years.

The last time Sarchizian spoke to her 63-year-old husband and her
daughter was on April 30 when they were sailing from India. They
were supposed to speak again when the ship docked in Saudi Arabia,
but they never made it there.

Armenian priest Sorin Mandalian, who also spoke to Ruxandra on April
30, called her a "bright and energetic girl." The Armenian community,
to which the Sarchizians belong, is praying for their safe return.

Sarchizian appealed to the pirates.

"Please don’t harm them. They didn’t go to sea just to have something
to do," she said. "They went to make a living, to earn money. I just
want them home."

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

May 7, 2009
Contact: Andrew Kzirian

Armenian American Delegates Make their Mark on California Democratic
Party Convention

Sacramento, CA – Armenian Americans from across California joined
Democratic Party delegates for the 2009 California Democratic Party
(CDP) convention hosted in Sacramento. The event drew public
officials and party leaders from across the state to elect CDP leaders
and discuss policy issues and challenges facing the Golden State.
Among the many delegates were over a dozen Armenian Americans,
including several ANC activists. The weekend-long convention began on
April 24th coinciding with the annual commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide.

`I was proud to see so many Armenian Americans from across California
participate in this year’s convention,’ said Aida Dimejian, a
convention delegate from Pasadena. `There were young and old Armenian
American delegates attending their first convention joined by seasoned
party faithful with several years of convention experience, yet we
were all here to make sure our community’s voice was heard as we cast
our votes in determining the course of action and future leadership of
the party,’ she added.

Retired California Senator Art Torres, the outgoing chairman of the
CDP opened the convention on Friday evening and during the welcome
reception read a letter from the Armenian National Committee – Western
Region (ANC-WR) explaining the significance of April 24th and
remembering the Armenian Genocide in California.

"The California Legislature has passed several resolutions over the
years reaffirming and remembering the Armenian Genocide, but Chairman
Torres’ reading of the ANC letter and asking for a moment of silence
in front of hundreds of convention participants was the most heartfelt
acknowledgment I have seen in the past 17 years that I have been a
delegate to the CDP convention," said Richelle Noroyan, a delegate
from Santa Cruz.

Armenian American delegates also actively participated in many of the
convention events including several of the ethnic caucuses and
committee meetings. Aram Kaloustian, a delegate from Los Angeles,
attended the California Young Democrats (CYD) caucus with fellow
first-time convention delegate Gagik Mkhitaryan. Mkhitaryan, a
resident of Glendale and a student at Woodbury University in Burbank,
took the opportunity to educate caucus members about the Armenian
Genocide while Kaloustian discussed the importance of engaging more
Armenian American youth with CYD leaders.

`At the [California] Young Democrats’ caucus I was reminded of the
many strong and vibrant leaders of our Armenian American youth
organizations,’ said Kaloustian. `In the coming years I know we will
be seeing even more young Armenian Americans participating in local
Democratic party clubs and joining us as delegates at the annual state
convention,’ he added.

Throughout the weekend, Armenian American delegates and convention
attendees met with numerous party leaders including Los Angeles County
Democratic Party Chair Eric Bauman and African American Caucus Chair
Dean Parker in addition to local public officials including Lieutenant
Governor John Garamendi, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, California
Senator Gloria Romero, California Senator Alex Padilla, California
Assembly Members Paul Krekorian, Anthony Portantino, Mike Feuer and
Bob Blumenfield, as well as Pasadena City Council Member and former
Mayor Chris Holden.

`President Obama’s statement on the Armenian Genocide was released on
the opening day of the convention and unfortunately it fell far short
of what we as Armenian American Democrats expected,’ noted Nishan
Bostanian, a convention delegate from Los Angeles. `However, Armenian
Americans were not the only ones disappointed in his failure to
unequivocally reaffirm this crime against humanity. Many delegates
and party leaders made their concerns known to us in our discussions
with them,’ he added.

Bostanian noted that Chairman Torres’ address to the convention floor
on April 24th was more in-line with the Democratic Party’s principles
than President Obama’s statement. He was hopeful that President Obama
and his advisors took note of the forthright way in which the largest
state in the country addressed the issue.

For Nayiri Keosseian, a recent graduate of the University of Southern
California and a delegate from Glendale, the convention was a great
learning experience that exemplified the grassroots nature of
community empowerment.

`Having studied political science at USC it was a great opportunity to
see the political process in action,’ remarked Keosseian. `This was
an eye opening and educational weekend and I hope to see more Armenian
Americans as convention delegates and participants next year,’ she
added.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest
Armenian American grassroots community 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 works to
promote understanding regarding issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.

SWITZERLAND WON’T PARTICIPATE IN NATO EXERCISE IN GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.05.2009 13:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Switzerland won’t participate in NATO exercise
starting in Georgia on May 6. Details are not announced.

After the Russian leadership slammed the maneuvers, Switzerland is
the 7th country to have refused participation in the exercise.

Earlier, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Serbia, Kazakhstan and Armenia
rejected Georgia’s invitation.

GEORGIA ACCUSES RUSSIA OVER FOILED REBELLION

Globe and Mail
May 5 2009
Canada

MUKHROVANI — Georgia said it put down a mutiny at a military base
on Tuesday and accused Moscow of trying to foment a wider rebellion
on the eve of NATO war games in the former Soviet republic.

Russia, which fought a war with neighbouring Georgia last year, denied
involvement and said President Mikheil Saakashvili was trying to
shift the blame for weeks of opposition protests demanding he resign.

Around 30 tanks and armoured personnel carriers entered the Mukhrovani
tank base 19 kilometres from Tbilisi about three hours after news
broke of a military uprising. Mr. Saakashvili later followed them,
and authorities said the rebellion was over.

It was not clear how many of the 500 soldiers at the base were
involved, but their commander was arrested along with seven other
military police officers. Three others were on the run, said police,
who also detained 13 civilians.

Georgian Defence Minister David Sikharulidze said the rebellion was
aimed at disrupting month-long NATO exercises beginning on Wednesday
at a former Russian air force base several kilometres from Mukhrovani.

Russia has condemned the planned exercises as an attempt at
"muscle-flexing".

"What happened today is the end of that dark era when certain forces
try to undermine Georgian statehood," Mr. Sikharulidze said.

Earlier, Russia’s Interfax news agency said Mukhrovani base commander
Mamuka Gorgishvili had made a statement criticizing the government
but pledging not to use force in the stand-off on the streets between
opposition supporters and the authorities.

"One cannot look calmly at the process of the country falling apart,
at the ongoing confrontation. But our tank unit will not resort to
any aggressive actions," the agency quoted Mr. Gorgishvili as saying.

After his arrest, police released a video of Mr. Gorgishvili telling
police another officer had offered him money to send tanks to Tbilisi,
saying "the opposition is waiting."

A spokesman for the U.S. Pentagon said the mutiny appeared to be
"a fairly isolated incident at this point."

Mr. Saakashvili accused the plotters of links to Moscow and demanded
Russia "refrain from provocations".

Georgia’s opposition accused the government of staging "a show" to
deflect attention from their protests over his record on democracy
and last year’s war.

Russia said Mr. Saakashvili’s accusations were insane.

"Today what is happening is what we have always feared – the Georgian
leadership are trying to shift their domestic problems on to Russia,"
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told reporters.

"Instead of dialogue inside the country, the Georgian leadership is
trying to accuse Russia of totally insane things."

Military experts in Tbilisi suggested the rebellion could be linked
with plans to use troops to end opposition road blocks paralyzing
Tbilisi, with some officers refusing to participate.

"This chimes with what we are hearing from military sources," a senior
Western diplomat said.

Georgia lost a brief war against neighbouring Russia last August when
Russia crushed in days a Georgian assault on the rebel pro-Moscow
region of South Ossetia. Conflict over South Ossetia and another
breakaway region, Abkhazia, destabilized Georgia in the early 1990s.

The August war slammed the brakes on Georgia’s bid for membership of
NATO, which the Kremlin fiercely opposes as an encroachment on its
traditional sphere of influence. It has also increased pressure on
Mr. Saakashvili.

Ties between Russia and NATO have come under new strain over the
exercises and the expulsion last week of two Russian diplomats
accredited at Moscow’s mission to NATO in Belgium.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dropped plans to attend a
meeting of the NATO-Russia Council this month in protest at the
expulsion. NATO said it regretted Moscow’s decision and hoped a new
date would be agreed for the talks.

Fitch ratings agency said it would likely cut Georgia’s B+ debt rating
if political instability continued.

Russia’s NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin said NATO would be better off
holding its exercises in a "madhouse", since "Georgia’s military
cannot properly receive their colleagues because they are rioting
against their own president".

The NATO exercises involving some 1,000 soldiers from member states and
partner nations are intended as a gesture of solidarity for Georgia,
which sits at the heart of a region crucial for energy transit from
the Caspian Sea to Europe.

They are due to take place around 70 km from the nearest Russian
troop positions in breakaway South Ossetia.

Russian ally Armenia said on Tuesday it had decided against
participating, citing "the current situation." Kazakhstan and Serbia
have also pulled out.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH ROAD MAP AGREEMENT IS THE DOWNFALL OF ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.05.2009 18:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Volunteers Union National Political
Organization favors positions of RA MFA and NKR Social Organizations
for Armenian-Turkish relations, Armenian Volunteers Union reported to
PanARMENIAN.Net. "Union representatives agree that Armenian-Turkish
road map agreement is the downfall of Armenian diplomacy and a rude
political mistake of RA authorities, boding danger for Armenian
people," the statement says.

The political process launched by some NKR NA MPs against antinational
process aims to support Armenian people, like it happened in 1988,
the statement concluded.