SECTION OF AMASIA-GYUMRI ROAD COLLAPSED
Arminfo
2010-03-25 13:37:00
ArmInfo. A section of Amasia-Gyumri road has collapsed.
The press service of the Emergency Ministry of Armenia reports that
the collapsed area (2nd kilometer) is 20 m long, 3 m wide and 30 m
deep. Only one vehicle can pass this section now. The intact part
is all cracked, so, experts say that it may break down as well. The
administration of Shirak region has been informed about the incident.
AFGHANISTAN 20 YEARS AFTER THE SOVIET WITHDRAWAL
By Benon Sevan
SundayMail CY
Sunday, February 15, 2009
SUNDAY February 15 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the
withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. On that day, the
last Soviet soldier, Lieut. Gen. Boris V. Gromov, the commander of the
Soviet forces in Afghanistan, walked across the "Friendship Bridge"
linking the Afghan border town of Hayratan with Termez, in the Soviet
Union, bringing to an end the costly and disastrous nine-year Soviet
military involvement in Afghanistan, which began in December 1979.
The withdrawal of the 100,000 Soviet troops from Afghanistan was
completed on February 15, 1989, pursuant to the Geneva Accords,
signed on April 14, 1988 between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the
United States and the Soviet Union serving as guarantors.
I was present in Kabul during the military parade on May 15, 1988 to
mark the beginning of the withdrawal of Soviet troops. The Soviet Union
did not consider the troop withdrawal as a military defeat but rather,
as General Gromov put it, as "the completion of an international
mission and the fulfilment of the Geneva Accords; none of our units,
even the smallest one, have retreated. That is why there is no talk
of a military defeat."
During a meeting held at the fortified Soviet embassy in Kabul,
a week before the final withdrawal of the Soviet troops, my friend
Ambassador Yuliy Vorontsov, with his usual sense of humour drew my
attention to the numerous media representatives gathered outside the
Soviet compound.
"I am sorry they would all be disappointed," he said. "They are all
waiting for me to run away from Kabul. We will not abandon Afghanistan
like the Americans who rushed to the helicopters on the rooftop of
their embassy as Saigon fell around them," he added.
The Soviet Union failed in Afghanistan not only because of the
perseverance of the Mujahedeen fighters supported by the United
States and others through Pakistan but because, above all, they
failed to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. Instead,
they concentrated their efforts on a military solution.
The Soviet military intervention was not only costly to the Soviet
Union but, above all, to the Afghan people: over 1.5 million Afghans
killed; over three million refugees in Pakistan and two million
refugees in Iran; over a million internally displaced; thousands upon
thousands maimed, orphaned and widowed, with the country devastated
and covered by land and butterfly mines.
Once the Soviets left Afghanistan, however, the Afghan people were
forgotten and the attention of the world moved elsewhere. It is most
unfortunate that no one seems to have learned lessons from the Soviet
failure in Afghanistan; to this date a heavy price is being paid for
that failure.
In the mean time, the Taliban have spread all over Afghanistan and
have also been creating havoc in Pakistan. The weak government of
President Hamid Karzai has not helped the situation either. It looks
like President Karzai has been losing speedily his favoured position
enjoyed during the Bush administration and may be dropped like a
squeezed lemon.
Pakistan has been paying the cost for its heavy involvement in
Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation, when it served as the
front line state in the Cold War. Pakistan provided sanctuaries to
the Afghan mujahedeen. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI),
which literally directed the war in Afghanistan, was involved in the
recruitment and military training of the mujahedeen.
It also served as the main broker in providing the funds and the
military supplies to the mujahedeen – provided mostly by the CIA
and Saudi Arabia – favouring the most extremist mujahedeen leaders,
including Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Ustad Abdul Rabi Rasul Sayyaf – who
is said to have been the one who first invited Osama bin Laden to
Afghanistan – and Mawlawi Mohammad Yunus Khalis.
I regularly warned the representatives of the United States,
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as others involved in favouring
the extremists groups in Afghanistan that they should instead support
the moderate mujahedeen leaders. I warned them that the Frankensteins
they were creating would one day come back to hound them in their
own countries.
During a meeting with the then Pakistan President Ghulam Ishaq Khan,
I was told that all Pakistan was interested in was to have "a friendly
Islamic republic in Afghanistan." I responded that the policy being
followed would instead "turn Afghanistan into an Islamic cemetery,
and cemeteries do not recognise borders. The cemetery would extend
to Pakistan."
I had similar conversations, among others, with the late Benazir
Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Ministers. Afghanistan became –
and continues to be – the breeding and training ground for extremists
coming from all over the world, from Algeria to the Philippines.
There can be no military solution in Afghanistan. It is most
unfortunate that during the past years the United States and its
allies have relied on the same failed Soviet strategy in Afghanistan,
emphasising the military option. During the recent discussions held
in Munich, unfortunately the emphasis was more on a military solution,
with a request to NATO partners to increase their troop contributions
as well as their active combat engagement in Afghanistan.
While Afghanistan indeed poses "the greatest military challenge" to the
United States, as recently stated by US Secretary Defence Secretary
Robert Gates, one should not underestimate the challenge posed by
the increasingly dangerous developments in Pakistan where in certain
circles, particularly within the military, there is resistance to the
increased criticism and growing pressure being placed by the United
States on the Government of Pakistan to improve its counterterrorism
performance. According to reports, there is also a growing suspicion
within Pakistan regarding American intentions, particularly after
the strategic relationship established between the US and India.
With the departure of the Bush administration obsessed with its
anti-terrorism fight without any distinction between Islamist
extremists and Islam, there is now hope that under new US
Administration there would be a major policy review with regard to
Afghanistan, avoiding the mistakes committed not only in Iraq but also
in Afghanistan which had been placed on the back burner for so long.
The appointment of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as President Obama’s
Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, is a welcome
appointment. He has the experience as well as the courage to say it as
is, if need be banging heads. The Afghans respect strong personalities,
which Holbrooke is.
Duplicating the policy and strategy used in Iraq would not necessarily
bring about the same results in Afghanistan. It may be recalled
that after large sums of money were provided to the Afghan tribal
leaders and warlords to prevent the escape of the wanted Taliban and
al Qaeda members into Pakistan, the same tribal leaders and warlords
readily accepted offers of more money from other sources and then not
only allowed but also assisted in the escape of the wanted Taliban
and al Qaeda leaders into Pakistan. That reminds me of the saying:
"You can rent an Afghan but not buy them."
While security in Afghanistan is imperative – thus the imperative
to have the necessary armed forces for the time being – the military
should be used in support of the diplomatic and development process.
If the current policy of a military option is reinforced, Afghanistan
would become the Iraq of the new Administration.
It is therefore essential to establish a well co-ordinated emergency
humanitarian assistance programme, providing sufficient and guaranteed
funding for economic and social, including educational, projects, as
well as for the essential reforms of governmental institutions. There
is need for major reconstruction and infra-structure programmes. It
is essential to understand and respect Afghan traditions, including
tribal structures.
Afghans should fully participate in the implementation of the
programmes concerned and take full ownership of the process.
Simultaneously with that effort, immediate steps must be taken to
start negotiations with the Taliban forces that are not part of al
Qaeda, who are prepared for reconciliation. This is something which
is fully supported by President Karzai.
In one of my early cables from Kabul to the UN Headquarters in New
York, I had written: "I see the light but not the tunnel. I am afraid
we must dig the tunnel ourselves."
Well, Ambassador Holbrooke that is exactly what is needed to be
done now without any delay. I wish you good luck. It is imperative,
however, to involve all the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan,
including Iran, in digging that tunnel.
Benon Sevan, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, served as
the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan
and Pakistan (1989-1992).
KOCHARIAN CRITICISM ‘ACCEPTABLE’ TO RULING PARTY
Ruzanna Stepanian
/1992749.html
24.03.2010
The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) reacted on Wednesday
cautiously to former President Robert Kocharian’s thinly veiled
criticism of the Armenian government’s response to the global economic
crisis.
Eduard Sharmazanov, the chief HHK spokesman, told RFE/RL that any
politically correct criticism is "acceptable" to the party headed by
President Serzh Sarkisian. "And Kocharian’s criticism was within the
bounds of correctness," he said.
In an interview with the Mediamax news agency released on Tuesday,
Kocharian rejected a widespread view, shared by pro-government
politicians, that the Armenian economy contracted sharply last year
because it had grown too dependent on the once booming construction
sector. He insisted that the construction boom, which came to an end
in late 2008, was driven by objective factors.
Kocharian claimed that the government could have averted the 2009
slump in construction had it quickly moved to sustain "huge" demand
in new housing and office space. He also said Armenia had boasted
much better macroeconomic indicators during his 1998-2008 presidency.
Sharmazanov said the HHK also deserves credit for that, arguing that
its former leader, the late Andranik Markarian, was prime minister
during much of the Kocharian presidency. "The Republican Party and
Robert Kocharian were allies for ten years and took many positive
steps for the country," he said.
Kocharian’s remarks were endorsed by a senior member of the Prosperous
Armenia Party (BHK), the HHK’s main junior partner in the governing
coalition. "Regardless of the purpose and target of the issues raised
in the interview, I can say I felt good when reading this interview
because we have similar approaches," Vartan Bostanjian told RFE/RL.
The BHK’s top leader, Gagik Tsarukian, is thought to be close to
Kocharian. Tsarukian has recently slammed a government minister
affiliated with the HHK for claiming that Armenia has already emerged
from the recession.
2 RARE PHOTOS
17277.html
15:04:25 – 24/03/2010
Two rare original photos have been discovered by the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute. The unpublished photos show the panoramic view of
Shushi – Armenian cultural center of Karabakh, after the 1920 massacre
and destruction. The photos were taken from different points; in
one of them the church of St. Amenaphrkich Ghazanchetsots surrounded
by ruined houses and buildings with unique Armenian architecture is
depicted and the second photo illustrates burned and ruined Armenian
quarter of the city with Kanach Zham Church. These photos are unique
documentation of the Armenian pogroms and horrific brutalities in
Shushi took place in March of 1920.
At the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century Shushi
was one of the important cities of the South Caucasus and had important
role in the Artsakh Armenians political and cultural life.
On March 23, 1920 ruling Musavat party of Azerbaijan organized
pogroms in Shushi and surrounded villages. Khosrov bek Sultanov,
who was appointed the governor of Karabakh region by Azerbaijan
government, implemented the state sponsored plan of the elimination
of the Armenians by organizing the massacres of the local Armenian
population and the robbery and burning of the Armenian quarter. The
Tatar battalion with Muslim population of the city exterminated more
than 10,000 Armenians as well as destructed and burned the Armenian
quarter of the city. Only several thousand Armenians could survive
in this horrific massacre, as they had succeeded to escape from the
town. Once prospering city, with the majority of Armenian population
was turned into ashes. The demographic image of Shushi was sharply
changed after this atrocious day and the city lost its Armenian
population and identity. During Soviet years Shushi was continuingly
presented as a historical and cultural centre of Azerbaijanis. In
1960-1970 by the initiative of Heydar Aliev (the first secretary of
the Central Committee of Azerbaijani SSR in1969-1982) the ruins of
Armenian quarter as the tragic memory of 1920 disaster and the obvious
evidence of the presence of the Armenian culture and Armenian tragedy
were erased.
CE COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REFERRED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE
Panorama.am
15:55 23/03/2010
Politics
Historical controversies should not hold human rights hostage.
One-sided interpretations or distortions of historical events have
sometimes led to discrimination of minorities, xenophobia and renewal
of conflict. It is crucial to establish an honest search for the truth,
CoE website quotes Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner
for Human Rights, as saying.
"Coming to terms with history is always essential, but particularly
crucial in cases of massive atrocities and human rights violations.
Such crimes cannot be ignored without severe consequences. Prolonged
impunity or lack of acknowledgment over several generations tends
to create bitterness among those who identify themselves with the
victims. This, in turn, can poison relations between people who
were not even born when the events in question took place" said the
Commissioner.
Highlighting past events whose interpretation is still controversial,
the Commissioner stresses that more efforts are needed to disclose the
truth. "Establishing true accounts of previous human rights violations
is indeed essential for building the rule of law in all post-conflict
situations. In the immediate aftermath this is crucial to bring those
responsible to justice, to compensate the victims and to take actions
to prevent the recurrence of these crimes."
The Commissioner also underlines the importance of a proper education
and the need to further those initiatives aimed at fostering
multi-perspective history teaching.
EDWARD NALBANDIAN GOES TO MOSCOW
Tert.am
13:10 ~U 24.03.10
>From March 25-26, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward
Nalbandian will be in Moscow for an official visit.
While in the Russian capital city, Nalbandian will participate in a
meeting of foreign ministers of both the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation (CSTO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),
according to a release issued by the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
TIGRAN GHARAMYAN TOOK THE FIRST PLACE
Aysor
March 22 2010
Armenia
As the Armenian Chess Federation informs the Armenian Grand Master
Tgran Gharamyan who appears under the French flag took 7 points from
the possible 9 and gained the 1st prize in the Open that took place
in Cannes. It is a serious success as 91 chess players were present
on the tournament.
LEADING OPPOSITION PARTY BRINGS MOTION FOR ARMENIA PROTOCOLS
Hurriyet
March 22 2010
Turkey
Turkey’s leading opposition party requested on Monday a session of
Parliament as part of the country’s strategy to counter Armenian
claims of genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks in 1915.
The motion carried the signature of key members of the Republican
People’s Party, or CHP, Kemal Anadol, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu and Hakkı
Suha Okay.
The motion said the protocols signed on Oct. 10 between Turkey and
Armenia created serious pitfalls for Turkey’s national interest.
It recalled the Armenian "genocide" resolutions that were passed in
the U.S. Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Swedish parliament
and said the current situation would inevitably have destructive
consequences on relations between Turkey and European Union countries.
"There is no advantage to keeping the protocols in Parliament but
rather serious disadvantages," the motion read.
The motion also said the fact that the protocols are being held in
Parliament after the passage of the resolution in the U.S. House
Committee on Foreign Affairs creates the wrong impression and invites
pressure on Turkey.
Making it appear that the protocols will pass through Parliament will
also not help prevent President Obama from using the word genocide
on April 24, the motion said.
NO EARLY SIGNS OF REPUBLICAN PARTY AND PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY COALITION BREAKING DOWN
Tert.am
22.03.10
"Relations between HHK [Republican Party of Armenia] and PHK
[Prosperous Armenia Party] have always been normal," said HHK Deputy
Chair, MP Razmik Zohrabyan today, adding that, of course, there can
be disagreements inside the coalition.
"It’s a free press, it’s democracy, if nothing’s being said, they say,
you’re implementing closed, secret policies. As soon as someone says
two words, it seems unusual: perhaps they see early signs of collapse
here. There’s no such thing," said Zohrabyan.
Media Should Appeal to Azerbaijan to Sign Agreement Not to Use Force:
Sarsgyan in Euronews Interview
14:18 – 20.03.10
The history is well known. Nagorno-Karabakh has not been part of
independent Azerbaijan, said Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in an
interview with Euronews TV channel yesterday, in response to the
interviewer’s statement that the international community is of a
different opinion to that issue.
`The international community does not have a different vision.
Nagorno-Karabakh was not a part of independent Azerbaijan. It was the
Caucasus Bureau of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union that
attached Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
`Why did the international community acclaim the collapse of the
Soviet Union and not consider Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan
and Uzbekistan part and parcel of the Soviet Union? – still saying
Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan? It’s not logical, is it?’
Asked what kind of compromises he’s willing to make in order to reach
a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Sargsyan said:
`One cannot eliminate the consequences of this conflict without
addressing its causes. And when speaking about the causes… we talk
about recognizing the people of Nagorno Karabakh’s right to
self-determination… the recognition of this right and its
implementation. The other problems will be solved rapidly after that.
`The Armenian parts of this conflict, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
are profoundly interested in a swift resolution of this conflict. But
a sustainable resolution that would allow for peace and security in
the region, as opposed to giving Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh, which
would spell the end of its existence.’
Azerbaijan states very clearly that it will never accept
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, noted the Euronews correspondent.
`What does the international community propose to us? To solve this
conflict on the basis of three principles of international law:
firstly, self-determination; secondly, territorial integrity; and
thirdly, the non-use of force.
`I propose, through you, the media, to appeal to Azerbaijan to sign an
agreement not to use force. This would instill trust in the Armenian
people of Karabakh and Armenia. And under these conditions of trust we
would begin the negotiations for a settlement.
`We Armenians know very well what Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
means. We’ve talked about it openly several times. The Azerbaijanis…
can they say what the right of self-determination means for the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh?
`When we issue joint declarations about the right of
self-determination, Azerbaijan is not talking about the Armenian
people’s right to self-determination but of the right of the main
player in the conflict… the people of Nagorno-Karabakh,’ concluded the
Armenian president.
Tert.am