Author: Chmshkian Vicken

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: THE RECENT NOISE ABOUT NAGORNO KARABAKH GROUNDLESS

AZG DAILY
21-07-2009

"The recent noise around the Karabakh issue is groundless. On one hand
it can be explained by naivety, on the other hand it’s an attempt to
fish in troubled waters," Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
said at a press conference with his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt.

The EU Troika Delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of the
Kingdom of Sweden, Carl Bildt, is in Armenia within the framework of
a regional visit.

Minister Nalbandian said that during the meeting with Carl Bildt he
had informed his Swedish counterpart about the process of settlement of
the Karabakh issue, the results of the talks between the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow. "We confirmed our common approach
that the issue should be solved exceptionally in a peaceful way,"
Edward Nalbandian said.

The Armenian Foreign Minister reminded that Armenian had not given
its consent to the Madrid Principles. "The principles provide a basis
for negotiations," he said.

As for the statement that the parries discussed the time frame for
the return of territories during the Moscow talks, the Minister said
the issue had not been touched upon in Moscow.

Turning to Armenia-EU relations, the Foreign Minister of Sweden said:
"We are ready to help and support Armenia on the way of implementation
of reforms. We will continue what we have started," Carel Bildt stated.

"We are ready to provide assistance to Armenia on issues of regional
security and support the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. As for
the Armenian-Turkish relation, we consider that the opening of the
border will benefit Armenia," The Swedish Foreign Minister stated.

During the meeting the Foreign Ministers of the two countries dwelt
upon Aremnian-Swedish relations, discussed the cooperation in the
economic sphere. "All of us face economic difficulties. Therefore,
we should encourage free trade. We have to consider different ways
of simplifying the visa regime," Carl Bildt said.

Armenian-Azeri high-level negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh peaceful
settlement held on July 17

MOSCOW, JULY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian-Azeri high-level negotiations
over Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement were held on July 17 at the
President hotel, Moscow.

The meeting of RA President Serzh Sargsyan and Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev started with the participation of the two countries’ Foreign
Ministers Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadiarov, OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairs Yuri Merzliakov, Bernard Fassier, Matthew Bryza, and Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. Then
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan continued the negotiations in
the tete-a-tete format, after which the Co-chairs and Foreign Ministers
again joined the negotiations.

The sides showed a constructive disposition to continue the
negotiations over conflict’s peaceful settlement.

According to the report of the RA President’s Press Office, S. Sargsyan
and I. Aliyev charged the Foreign Ministers together with OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs to do preparatory work in the direction of organization
of Presidents’ possible meeting that may take place in autumn.

Topeka Capital Journal
July 18 2009

Gen. Bunting to travel to Armenia

Delegation to consult with Armenians
By The Capital-Journal
July 18, 2009 – 9:55am

Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the Adjutant General of Kansas, will travel in
the Republic of Armenia the week of July 20 as part of the Kansas
National Guard’s partnership with the country.

Bunting will meet with American embassy staff and Armenian government
officials to discuss how the Kansas National Guard can continue to
build on its six-year partnership. "Kansas has some of the nation’s
best medical, agricultural, bio-security and educational
professionals," said Bunting. "We stand ready to support the embassy
and explore additional opportunities to assist Armenia."

Bunting’s visit will focus on fostering growth in biosecurity,
agriculture development, education and law enforcement.

Accompanying Bunting are:

¢Dr. Martha Vanier, associate director of the National Agriculture
Biosecurity Center, and retired Lt. Col. Craig Beardsley, who will
work with Armenian agencies to discuss a Biosecurity Threat Reduction
Plan.

¢Dr. Fred Cholick, dean of the College of Agriculture and director
of the Kansas State University Research and Extension, who has
identified key opportunities for Kansas State-Armenia engagements
focusing on agricultural development.

¢Dr. Blake Flanders, director of workforce training and education
services of the Kansas Board of Regents, who will advise Armenian
officials on education strategies.

¢Maj. James Brown, operations officer for the Kansas City, Kan.,
Police Department, who will discuss strategies on issues of
international narcotics and law enforcement affairs with Armenian
police officials.

In 2003, Kansas and the Republic of Armenia were linked under the
National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. The Kansas National
Guard works closely with the Armenian Ministry of Defense, Ministry of
Health, Rescue Service and other governmental offices and agencies.

Armenia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is an independent nation
bordering Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, with a land mass slightly
smaller than Maryland.

Interfax, Russia
July 17 2009

Aliyev travels to Moscow for next round of Karabakh talks with Sargsyan

BAKU July 17

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev left for Moscow on Friday to join his
Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan for the next round of negotiations
on ways to resolve the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

On Saturday, the Azeri leader is expected to take part in a trilateral
meeting, which will also involve Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

It will be the sixth round of direct talks between Aliyev and
Sargsyan, and the third round attended by the Russian president.

The three presidents’ first such meeting in Russia’s Barvikha on
November 2, 2008 produced a joint document known as the Moscow
Declaration. The three leaders then met on the sidelines of the St.

Petersburg Economic Forum on June 4, 2009.

THE UIGHURS, TURKEY AND CHINA: THROWING STONES FROM GLASS HOUSES

Examiner.com
1-LA-Foreign-Policy-Examiner~y2009m7d17-The-Uighur s-Turkey-and-China-throwing-stones-from-glass-hous es
July 17 2009

On Tuesday, Moises Naim at Foreign Policy posed a simple but powerful
question about the recent violence in China involving the Uighurs and
decades of repression against the muslim-minority group: why doesn’t
the Islamic world speak up about the Uighurs?

Of course, countries with ethnic and religious ties tend to side
with their ethnic and religious kin in other areas. Ethnic/religious
countries generally sided with similar ethnic groups in the breakup of
Yugoslavia and the civil war in Lebanon, Russia supports for Russian
minorities in former Soviet Republics, Iran finances Hezbollah and
of course, many Muslim countries support the Palestinian movement.

But the Uighurs have been the exception–they never had the same amount
of international support, even though they have legitimate grievances
against the Han Chinese majority, who have banned their language,
moved into their territory en masse and generally discriminate against
them in education, housing and employment.

Naim points out that much of the "Islamic World" is very silent on
this issue–governments, the Arab League and imams have said little,
if anything.

Iran, for example, has said very little, probably because China is
its leading trading partner. Money talks, or has the ability to
shut up governments. The Iranian government itself is struggling
through unrest.

Turkey has been something close to the exception, however, because
Turks have close ethnic, linguistic and cultural tires to Uighurs. Its
President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Turkey "cannot remain
silent in the face of what is happening." On Tuesday, Erdogan said,
"The incidents in China are simply put, a genocide. There’s no point
in interpreting this otherwise."

Before we think of this move as bold, it really smacks of throwing
stones from glass houses. Objectively, its difficult to call the
Han Chinese discrimination of the Uighurs genocide, even though the
recent riots killed at least 184 people. But Turkey has, of course,
put people in prison for calling the Armenian Genocide–which was
actually genocide before the term even came into use–a genocide. The
Turkish government recalled its ambassador to Istanbul after the US
House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring it genocide
and threatened to disallow American planes to fly over its airspace
en route to Iraq.

But even if he didn’t call it genocide, many governments are
reluctant to criticize China because China does not criticize other
governments for human rights violations and expects other governments
to reciprocate–to put it in UN-speak, the PRC respects the national
sovereignty of other nations and regards the events/unrest/violence
in your country as an internal matter. That’s really why these other
governments are so silent. So the Chinese government sees it as odd
when Turkey–with its own human rights problems with its Kurdish
minority that it frequently calls an internal matter–criticizes China.

China has a stock response for this kind of thing, which is to
personalize the dispute in English. Blogger Joel Martinsen created
a map of countries that have "hurt the feelings of the Chinese
people." The map includes many countries, with the worst offender
being Japan (not surprising) with 47 offenses against the Chinese
people. (The U.S. is in second place with 23).

Predictably, a writer at the state-run English language newspaper of
China, the Global Times, wrote an editorial called, "Turkey, another
axis of evil?" Like all English-language state-run press in China,
it is pretty poorly written propaganda (I corrected a few spelling
errors). But the quote is worth reprinting here:

Five years ago, when terrorist bombings hit Turkey in November
2003, China took its firm stand on the side of Turkish people
and condemned the violent act. However, when the riots happened,
inflicting causalities and property damage in Urumqi on July 5,
Turkey stands by the side of the thugs, revealing its shame to the
whole world and repaying China with evilness.

Then Turkey is not on the side of the Chinese people! (But National
Review contributor Andy McCarthy clearly is, writing a blog post that
could be confused for being from the Chinese government).

Ultimately, I doubt significant outside criticism could compel China
to change its policy against the Uighurs as it hasn’t worked for
Tibet–it’s too popular among the 90% or so Han Chinese who make up
the country. But it is revealing what leaders say and don’t say.

ARMENIA DECLARES JULY 16 DAY OF MOURNING FOR AIR CRASH VICTIMS

Interfax
July 15 2009
Russia

July 16 has been declared a day of mourning in Armenia by a decree
of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in relation to the crash of
the Tupolev Tu-154 airliner on a flight from Tehran to Yerevan,
the Armenian presidential press service told Interfax.

It was earlier reported that 168 people aboard, 15 of them crewmembers,
died in the crash in Iran. According to deputy head of the Armenian
Civil Aviation Department Arsen Pogosian, there were 35 Armenians
among the passengers, four of them citizens of Armenia. There were
also two Armenian crewmembers.

$8M buys unfinished Hovnanian retirement hub in Vail for Pulte

Arizona Daily Star
News Elsewhere
07.15.2009

By Josh Brodesky

TUCSON, ARIZONA — For all of $8 million, Pulte Homes has purchased an
unfinished retirement community in Vail, picking up hundreds of home
lots as well as a 14,000 square-foot lodge, two swimming pools, 12
model homes and tennis courts, among other amenities.

Some economists and housing experts have said such fire-sale deals are
a key part of the housing recovery, hinting at a bottom as builders
and investors move back into the market.

Pulte closed on the deal Tuesday with K. Hovnanian Homes, the original
developer of Four Seasons at Rancho del Lago, an active community for
residents age 55 and up.

Hovnanian launched the community in February 2008 ‘ despite the
housing downturn ‘ planning to build about 500 homes with prices
starting in the upper $180,000s. But it only built about 35 homes and
finished about 280 lots. Hovnanian’s stock has been trading around
$2..20 a share.

With the change in ownership, Pulte has renamed the community Del Webb
at Rancho del Lago, although the builder will continue to offer
Hovnanian’s floor plans. Over time, Pulte said it may bring on its own
floor plans.

Although new-home construction is at a veritable standstill, Pulte is
banking on a growing demand for active retirement housing as more and
more baby boomers retire. The recession may slow down that process by
years, but the price of the deal, which was paid in cash, gives Pulte
plenty of time.

"It was a great deal," said Shawn Chlarson, Pulte’s Tucson division
president. "As a location, the Vail submarket is physically
beautiful. There is a lack of active adult competition down the I-10
corridor."

Pulte management could not be specific about pricing other than saying
homes will start in the "mid-100s."

For some time, Pulte had been looking to return to the active
community market in Tucson, relying heavily on its well known Del Webb
brand.

"I think it’s as ideal a vehicle as we could pos d our lifestyle,"
Chlarson said.

Amy McReynolds, vice president of operations for Pulte’s Tucson
division, said Pulte will go about marketing the amenities Hovnanian
had already put in ‘ pools, a massive lodge with a gourmet kitchen ‘
as well as its prime location next to the public Del Lago Golf Club.

"Del Webb builds lifestyle communities," she said. "In Tucson we were
missing the active adult community, and it’s a pretty big profile to
not have in Tucson."

Andy Pedersen, regional director of marketing for K. Hovnanian Homes
of Arizona, said the nation’s sixth-largest builder will "continue to
grow throughout Arizona and carry on the tradition of quality,
leadership and value."

"Though K. Hovnanian does not have any active communities in the
Tucson market, given the acquisition of Four Seasons at Rancho del
Lago, we are committed to providing excellent, hands-on customer
service to our Tucson homeowners."

To Tim Oakes, designated broker for Del Lago Realty, the biggest
selling point for the community is its facilities and amenities, which
he described as "absolutely incredible."

Building has stopped in the area, and prices have dropped to the
$140,000s, he said. But because of those facilities and eventual
growth, "I think it’s still a gold mine," Oakes said. "The facilities
are great."

More and more, developers and investors are purchasing unfinished
developments, which some experts say is a sign the housing market is
hitting a bottom.

"I think a lot of (builders) believe there is going to be potential in
a couple of years," said Jay Q. Butler, real estate studies director
at Arizona State University.

"Pulte, of course, is going to play on the Del Webb name, and, of
course, with the aging baby boomers, they feel this is going to be a
big growth market in the coming years," Butler said.

University of Arizona economist Marshall Vest said deals like Pulte’s
or the recent purchase of the unfinished River Walk townhomes
development in the Foothills are a key step in forming a bottom for
the housing ma ite for risk is returning," he said. "And it’s good
news because private capital is coming in now and buying up these
assets that are really very cheap."

Contact reporter Josh Brodesky at 573-4178 or [email protected].

/sn/business/300964.php

SARGSYAN-ALIYEV-MEDVEDEV MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JULY 18

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 19:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The presidents of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan
will discuss NKR peace process in Moscow on Saturday, a Russian
presidential aide said on Wednesday.

"The meeting is due to take place on July 18 in the Kremlin," Sergei
Prikhodko said.

He added however that there were "no plans to sign any documents"
at this stage.

"The most important thing is to bring the sides’ positions closer,"
RIA Novosti cited him as saying.

AZERI PRESIDENT RULES OUT GARABAGH INDEPENDENCE

AzerNews Weekly
July 14 2009

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in Britain on Monday there
was no prospect of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azerbaijani region
occupied by Armenian armed forces, being granted independence.

"Upper Garabagh will never be recognized as an independent country,"
Aliyev told foreign policy experts at Chatham House in London.

He said Baku was ready to grant the highest possible level of autonomy
for the residents of Upper Garabagh within a sovereign Azerbaijani
state, and the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the region
may co-exist in the future. "This is the only possible option, and,
if the Armenian side displays political will, the conflict can be
settled," Aliyev said.

Further, the president said Armenia’s concerns on creating an overland
link with Garabagh and security issues were comprehensible, emphasizing
that Baku was ready resolve these matters constructively. "But it is
absolutely ridiculous to expect that Upper Garabagh will become an
independent state. A territory within Azerbaijan populated by 60,000
people cannot be independent."

Though the separatist regime in Upper Garabagh declared so-called
independence in 1991, at the time of the Soviet collapse, this
"independence", which blatantly tramples on international law, has
not been recognized by the world community to date.

Aliyev said peace talks were "more promising" but the positive dynamics
was not enough to reach the ultimate goal of reaching peace. "We have
been living in the conditions of neither war nor peace in the past
15 years."

The Azerbaijani leader said Baku is committed to a peaceful settlement
and has proven this clear-cut stance in the past years by holding
negotiations.

"But I can’t fully exclude a military option because Azerbaijan
has a right, under international law, to restore its territorial
integrity. No country can be denied this right."

He noted that Azerbaijan possesses a powerful military capable
of restoring the country’s integrity. At the same time, the
commander-in-chief assured international experts that Baku will
continue making an effort to resolve the Garabagh conflict in peace.

Aliyev, on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with Prime
Minister Gordon Brown on Monday.

Brown said his country’s cooperation with Azerbaijan was progressing
in a variety of fields, including the energy sector. "We are keen on
expanding our relations with Azerbaijan in the political, economic
and other areas."

Further, Brown welcomed Azerbaijan’s expanding relationship with the
European Union. He said Britain would continue providing Azerbaijan
with multilateral assistance on the world stage.

Aliyev, for his part, pointed out the countries’ increasing energy
cooperation. "The energy sector is one of the very important directions
in our bilateral relations. Cooperation between Azerbaijan and BP has
been rapidly developing for many years. There are good prospects for
the development of relations in other fields, as well."

ICG: YEREVAN, BAKU APPROACHING BASIC AGREEMENT ON KARABAKH

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 14:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Sabine Freizer, director of the Europe program
at the International Crisis Group, is hopeful that the President of
Armenia and Azerbaijan will sign a document on the Basic Principles
of resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict during their meeting
in Moscow on July 17.

"It’s important that the meeting will take place in Moscow. It’s also
important that the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are cooperating
to secure signature of an agreement on the Basic Principles," she said,
1news.az reported.