Author: Nargizian David

FRENCH EMBASSY IN AZERBAIJAN: FRANCE PREFERS NEUTRALITY IN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA

Today
Feb 17 2010
Azerbaijan

The embassy of France in Azerbaijan has issued a statement on military
cooperation agreement signed between France and Armenia recently.

"On Feb. 10, 2010, Defense Ministers of France and Armenia signed a
technical agreement on cooperation in the field of defense in Paris.

The text of the agreement, which has common content, covers issues
of administrative cooperation between the defense ministries," the
embassy said in a statement.

"The agreement is about the defense and security agreements, as well as
organizing of armed forces (democratic control over the armed forces,
organizing command, administration and staff management, military and
language education, public relations, lawmaking, military history,
military court, military health care)," the statement said.

"The agreement specifically showed that it has no classified exchange
of information and materials. The agreement aims to specify content
of consultations between the defense ministries of both countries."

"France prefers neutrality in its relationship with Azerbaijan and
Armenia in accordance with its position of co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and this
agreement doesn’t overshadow the neutrality. Just in the essence of
this neutrality, France proposes Azerbaijan to sign similar agreement.

The government of Azerbaijan has not responded top France’s proposal
yet", it said in a statement.

BAKO SAHAKYAN PROPOSES CONSIDERING TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERNATIONAL LAW

ArmInfo
2010-02-16 13:56:00

ArmInfo. President of the Nagorny Karabakh Repulbic (NKR) Bako Sahakyan
and OSCE CIO, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev have met.

The NKR President said after the meeting that he proposed considering
the territorial integrity principle in the context of the International
Law. He said that they discussed Azerbaijan’s position on the
Karabakh conflict settlement including application of the territorial
integrity principle to the Karabakh conflict, which is the key
topic on agenda in Baku. "The OSCE CIO attentively listened to the
opinion of the Karabakh party regarding the negotiation process. I
proposed introducing a new direction into the negotiation process in
order to move the issue of the territorial integrity principle to the
discussions in the context of the international law. Such an approach
will lead to certain results in the negotiations and finally achieve
peaceful settlement of the conflict," Sahakyan said. In addition,
the NKR President said he pins hopes with Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship
of the OSCE for settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

‘FOLLY’ OPENS IN YEREVAN’S MODERN ART MUSEUM TOMORROW

Tert.am
09:36 ~U 16.02.10

Organized by the Art and Cultural Studies Laboratory, an art exhibit
simply titled "Folly" will open on February 17 at 5 pm at the Modern
Art Museum in central Yerevan. The works on display, by Austrialian
artist Katie Saunders, are the result of six months spent as an
artist-in-residence at the Art Commune in Armenia.

The exhibit will feature canvases depicting pomegranates and dunces
with a focus on the foolish, stubborn, and the absurd. According
to the Art and Cultural Studies Laboratory’s Facebook event page,
the artist describes the paintings as such:

"The pomegranate dominates this body of work, each canvas tells a
different story, some of loneliness, some of hope, sadness, joy and
folly. Sometimes the dunce figure is the aggressor, sometimes he
is a victim, a fool or even a hero. But whatever his actions he is
intrinsically linked to the pomegranate for better or worse.

"Prior to coming to Armenia, I was aware and very conscious of the
significant religious history of the Caucasus region as well as the
weighty political history of Armenia. What struck me upon arrival,
however, was the sense of humour deeply ingrained within the people. I
have approached these themes of history, religion, tradition and art
with a playfulness that is directly influenced from the general humour
of Armenian people."

The work will be on display till February 27 at the Modern Art Museum
on 7 Mashtots Avenue in Yerevan.

news.am, Armenia
Feb 13 2010

NKR President met Armenian community of Abkhazia

12:13 / 02/13/2010February 12, Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako
Sahakyan met representatives of Armenian community of Abkhazia at
Sukhum school N 9 after H. Toumanyan.

At the meeting the President presented the participants
social-economic situation and development programs in the NKR as well
as current stage and prospects of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict
settlement, NKR President Office Central Information Department
informed NEWS.am.

Bako Sahakyan touched upon issues related to further strengthening of
ties between Motherland and Diaspora and answered the participants’
questions.

Adviser to the NKR President Armen Isagulov, NKR deputy foreign
minister Vasily Atajanyan and head of the central information
department of the office of the NKR President David Babayan
participated in the meeting.

A.G.

ARMENIA MISSED THE MOMENT

.html
13:19:23 – 12/02/2010

Interview with the member of the HHSh board, the former head of the
NA permanent commission on foreign relations Hovhannes Igityan

Leaving for London, Serge Sargsyan addressed a message to Gul and
after, held a long speech about the Armenian and Turkish relations
and the Karabakh issue. What would you say in connection with this
"warming" of the Armenian and Turkish relations?

Note that everyone including Serge Sargsyan, Abdullah Gul and the
international society dwell on everything except the opening of the
border and establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey. While, the whole process seemed to be have to dwell on
these issues. But now it becomes clear that the process is dwelling
on completely other issues. Turkey today is trying to become the
pigeon of peace in the region, as well as a mediator in the issue of
Karabakh. This proves also Erdogan’s statement who accused Armenia of
being an occupant and Armenia did not say a single word affirming his
definition with its silence. It is evident to everyone that the process
is in deadlock and the sides are trying to show to the international
community that the each of them is not to blame for the failure of the
process. After the CC decision, Serge Sargsyan addressed that message
to confirm Armenia’s commitment to the arrangements, Gul answered
in the same spirit, but one of the arrangements is that Armenia has
to return "5 occupied regions" to Azerbaijan. I suppose that the
international community will try to make repressions on both sides.

Considering the fact that during his speech in London, Serge
Sargsyan said the protocols will be sent to the National Assembly
for ratification, can we presume that repressions are already made?

Of course. Serge Sargsyan is trying to shift the responsibility to
the representative body. The NA is evident to keep the protocols
as long until Turkey does not ratify them. NA is not an independent
body. And now if the National Assembly does not ratify the protocols,
this means that Serge Sargsyan personally does not want it.

As you said the process is in deadlock. Will it be possible to register
results only with the help of international tension?

If you mean the opening of the border and the establishment of
diplomatic relations, we are too far from it. Now the point is about
Armenia’s resistance to repressions. Because of Armenia’s wrong
diplomatic policy, Armenia is now forced to settle the Karabakh issue
and the settlement is supposed to be the one desired by Azerbaijan.

The Armenian government used to keep affirming that the Armenian
and Turkish process has nothing in common with the Karabakh issue,
but now, it is obvious that Turkey will ratify the protocols only if
Armenia gives 5 regions to Azerbaijan. In other words, Armenia comes
out to be guilty for the failure of the process. The ball is still
in Armenia’s field and everyone waits for Armenia to make concessions
in the Karabakh issue. This is the failure of Armenia’s foreign policy.

Republicans affirm that there is no word about the Nagorno Karabakh
issue in the protocols and it is meaningless to speak of this as
a precondition.

If they do not read international press, that is their problem. But
even when reading the Armenian press, they had to see that senior
Turkish officials say: no matter what was signed, most importantly
is how Turkey interprets everything.

I would like to draw your attention to the following: Edward
Nalbandyan when torpedoing Davutoglu’s speech in Zurich presented it
as a diplomatic victory, but he had better let him state in presence
of mediator what Turkey expects from the protocols. Then, the real
aim of Turkey would become known. Nalbandyan had to let Davutoglu
speak about the Karabakh issue and the genocide, and after he had
to refrain from signing the protocols. The only chance for Armenia
to come out of this harmful process was in Zurich, and now Armenia
is in a situation when it will be in harm anyway regardless it will
ratify or not the protocols.

Which is the way out of the situation?

If I was the foreign minister, I would resign, and if I was in Serge
Sargsyan’s place I would make steps strengthening Armenia’s resistance
to repressions. In 21st century, only democratic countries are strong
where human rights are respected and there are no political prisoners.

The first step would be the solution of all home problems connected
with human rights. And second is to consolidate democracy around the
Armenian Diaspora.

Interview By Arman Galoyan

OSCE CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE TO VISIT SOUTH CAUCASUS

Panorama.am
17:54 12/02/2010

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakh Secretary of State and Foreign
Minister Kanat Saudabayev, is due to visit Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia from 14 to 17 February, according to the OSCE press report.

He will meet the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well
as Foreign Ministers, Parliament Speakers and representatives of
political parties of the three countries, to discuss OSCE-related
topics as well as bilateral and international matters.

The Chairperson-in-Office seeks to promote progress in the settlement
of protracted conflicts in the region. The OSCE has a mandate
to support the sides in their search for the resolution of these
conflicts.

Minister Saudabayev will use the trip to reiterate OSCE support for the
processes facilitated by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs for the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He will also discuss the matters
arising from the Geneva Discussions, the forum co-chaired by the OSCE,
EU and UN.

In his meetings, Saudabayev will also discuss the role of the OSCE in
supporting democratic processes in the countries, including in areas
such as elections, the media environment and the implementation of
legislative reforms.

ABDULLA GUL RESPONDS SERZH SARGSYAN

APA
Feb 11 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Turkish President Abdulla Gul sent a letter of response
to his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, APA reports quoting the
official website of the Turkish president.

"Dear friend, I am grateful for your polite message sent during your
flight over Turkey. I send greetings to you and Armenian people. I
kindly accept thoughts expressed in your messages. I join the idea
that our efforts towards the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations created new hopes for peace in our geography kneaded with
the conflicts and fairly caused worldwide interest. Our main goal was
to create mutual understanding and trust by lifting the stereotypes
existed between our peoples for long years. If similarity between
the goals and commitments are protected, please don’t doubt that we
are also decisive to move these ideals. I also join the ideal that
liable administration requires to keep promises and to make words
coinciding with the actions. We will continue our efforts to move the
normalization process on the basis of agreement reached between our
countries. We need to fulfill our commitments fully and to have enough
political courage to complete this historic process. Our common target
is the building of future with permanent peace, security, welfare
and cooperation for the peoples in our region. I will continue to
work on this process looking forward for satisfactory result for
our countries".

Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter to Abdulla Gul on
February 8, while passing the Turkey’s air space on his way to the
United Kingdom. Sargsyan called on his counterpart to take resolve
stance and to make actions towards the normalization of relations
between the two countries contributing to the stability in the region.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: IF IT IS PROVEN THAT TURKEY’S GOAL IS TO PROTRACT, RATHER THAN TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS, WE WILL HAVE TO DISCONTINUE THE PROCESS.

ArmInfo.
2010-02-10 20:45:00

ArmInfo. We are confident that the normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations can become the greatest input of the recent decades in
achieving peace and stability in the South Caucasus, President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during his speech in the Chattem House
British Royal Institute of International Affairs.

With this vision, we have agreed to move forward without any
preconditions, not making our relations contingent upon Turkey’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

However, if, as many suspect, it is proven that Turkey’s goal is
to protract, rather than to normalize relations, we will have to
discontinue the process.

I would not claim that the process has so far been easy. It is common
knowledge that Turkey repeatedly attempted to voice preconditions
related to the resolution of the Mountainous Karabakh issue. It is,
however, obvious that attempts to link these two processes will
undermine both the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations and the
talks around the Karabakh issue.

AZERBAIJAN UNLIKELY TO RESUME WAR: ARMENIAN EXPERT

ArmInfo
2010-02-10 13:19:00

ArmInfo. War is not a scuffle and Azerbaijan is unlikely to launch
it, Ruben Mehrabyan, the military expert, said in a press conference
on Wednesday.

He said that the military and political situation in the region and
alignment of forces, has not been changed significantly over the
last year and a new war is hardly possible. As regards the latest
statement by Dennis Cutler Blair Director of US National Intelligence
who did not rule out possible resumption of war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, the expert said that the above statement was addressed to
Russia. "The USA hinted at Russia that new war is inevitable if its
mediation efforts fail. However, the negotiation process is continued
and it is manageable, which is very important," the expert said.

Mehrabyan said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair-states declare about
inadmissibility of war more and more frequently and Azerbaijan cannot
but reckon with the united stance of the leader superpowers.

FAMILY MEMBERS OF POLITICAL MURDERS’ VICTIMS SIGN STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF DINK FAMILY

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The "deep family" of Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, who was fatally shot by an ultranationalist teenager
outside the Agos weekly in 2007, was present yesterday during the
12th hearing of the Dink trial.

"We are the ‘deep’ family of Hrant Dink," said Filiz Ali, daughter
of the great Turkish poet Sebahattin Ali, who was murdered in 1948
while trying to flee the country after serving time in prison for
insulting Ataturk. "Hrant’s friends gave us permission today. We will
speak instead of them," she continued.

Family members of other victims of political murders have signed
a statement in support of the Dink family, including relatives of
journalists Ugur Mumcu, Cetin Emec, Metin Göktepe and Abdi İpekci;
prosecutor Dogan Oz; Kurdish writers Umit Kaftancıoglu, Turan Dursun,
Onat Kutlar and Musa Anter; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’
Unions (DÄ°SK) President Kemal Turkler; folk singer Hasret Gultekin;
poets Behcet Aysan, Nesimi Cimen and Metin Altıok; terror victims
Yasemin Cebenoyan and Sevinc Ozguner; publisher Ä°lhan Erdost;
academic Cavit Orhan Tutengil; and Adana Police Chief Cevat Yurdakul.

"We came to share and bear witness to the injustice we have been
enduring for many years. We came to remind people how organized
political murders are covered up, which we have held in our memory
since the murder of Sabahattin Ali," Filiz Ali said. By calling
themselves the "deep family," the Dink family’s supporters are
referencing the "deep state," which is believed to have played a role
in Dink’s murder.

The relatives of the victims demanded that no secrets should remain,
saying: "We came here to say that we are following you. We do not
believe that any secret can be so important as to carry the burden of
this dishonor, this humiliation. We came here to express our hope
that this court, which will start the hearing in a few minutes,
is powerful enough to bring out all the secrets."

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Ä°stanbul deputy Ufuk Uras, Ä°pekci’s
daughter Nukhet Ä°pekci, Oz’s wife Sezen Oz and writer Adalet Agaoglu
were also present to support the Dink family in addition to observers
from bar associations from Brussels and Paris.

In addition, the Demokratik Yargı Dernegi (Democratic Judiciary
Union), which was found as an alternative to the highly politicized
Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV), released a press
statement, calling for light to be shed on political murders like
Dink’s and others. They stated that political murders stand before
the democratic development of Turkey.

Security was tight near the courthouse in BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ because of the
high number of people who came out in support of the Dink family. A
group of people who gathered at the BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ pier protested against
all political murders with slogans such as, "For Hrant, For Justice"
and "Murderer State Will Be Held Accountable."

Dink’s wife, Rakel, told reporters outside the courthouse that
there will be no salvation unless there is "admission, repentance
and apology."

Hrant Dink (September 15, 1954 – January 19, 2007) was a
Turkish-Armenian journalist and columnist and editor-in-chief
of Agos bilingual newspaper. Dink was best known for advocating
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and human and minority rights in
Turkey. Charged under the notorious article 301 of the Turkish
Criminal Code, Dink stood a trial for insulting Turkishness. After
numerous death threats, Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul in
January 2007, by Ogun Samast, a 17-year-old Turkish nationalist.