VIDEO FROM THE SCENE OF KHACHIK GALOYAN’S MURDER
Tert.am
03.08.11
A Russian businessman of Armenian origin was gunned down on Yerevan’s
Zakyan Street on Wednesday.
Reports in Armenian press say Khachik Galoyan, 46, was on a business
trip to Armenia.
Galoyan has always lived in the Russian city of Tuapse and was engaged
in concrete production
WE WILL NO LONGER AGREE TO COSMETIC CHANGES – ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN
Tert.am
03.08.11
An opposition activist has said that there is not any political
process in Armenia and that the Sardarapat movement will no longer
agree to cosmetic changes
Zhirayr Sefilian, the commander of the Shoushi Special Regiment and a
member of the Sardarapat movement also said that those people engaged
in politics shouldn’t be considered as political figures, but rather
as liberators.
Further, Sefilian said that there are two forces in Armenia. One
of those forces, according to him, includes those people currently
involved in a recently-launched political dialogue, while the second
one is the people under hardships.
“Unlike, Ter-Petrosyans, we consider the situation as an occupation
regime. Had they agreed to this evaluation, they would have never
gone and sat to negotiate with them,” said Sefilian.
He also said that it is “impossible to exercise classical politics
in what he occupation regimes”.
Sefilian further said that the only way out is holding systemic
changes, and giver the “regime acts beyond the law, our actions must
fully be in line with the law,” he added.
He also said that they are nor adventurous and need to get well
prepared. “Our fight is solely aimed at changing this system. Because
we no longer consent with cosmetic changed,” said Sefilian.
CONGRESSMAN PALLONE CONCERNED OVER LACK OF ASSISTANCE TO KARABAKH
news.am
Aug 2 2011
Armenia
U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone expressed his concerns of reports
that the Appropriations Subcommittee has broken precedent by failing
to provide funding for humanitarian and development assistance in
Nagorno-Karabakh, Asbarez reports.
In his letter addressed to House Appropriations Committee Chairman
Harold Rogers and Kay Granger, Chairwoman of the Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs,
Congressman expressed concerns about the repercussions this lack of
funding would have in the region.
“Since 1998 USAID and other agencies have been providing funds for
humanitarian and other assistance programs in Nagorno-Karabakh as a
result of the Appropriations Committee’s work. The decision to provide
no funds to Nagorno-Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2012 is a break with the
practice of the Appropriations Committee, under both Democratic and
Republican control,” the letter reads.
AZERBAIJAN SEEKING TO SHIFT BLAME FOR FAILURE OF PRESIDENTS’ MEETING IN KAZAN – EXPERT
news.am
Aug 2 2011
Armenia
YEREVAN. – The motivation of the current moment in Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process is the disappointment which is observed in the world,
particularly among the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries.
It comes after the sides failed to progress towards the conflict
settlement seeking compromises on the basis of proposals agreed
between the OSCE Minsk Group countries and presented by Russia at the
meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian President’s in Kazan,
Chairman of the Committee for CIS and ties with Russian Nationals,
RF State Duma, Director of the CIS Institute Konstantin Zatulin told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.
According to him, over the recent year Azerbaijan escalated tension
over Nagorno-Karabakh, hoping the co-chairing countries and the
mediators would believe in Baku’s warlike statements and make
concessions.
“One of Azerbaijan’s targets became Russia. Baku has been exerting
pressure on Moscow in 2 ways, the first – soothered Russian
representatives at the high level, the next – carried out lobbying
activities among those who were not affected by Baku’a charm. It was
accompanied by Baku’s statements on its intention to resolve the
conflict by military means,” Zatulin noted, adding the reason for
choosing so uncomplicated tactics lies in very complex games around
the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, disrupted due to Azerbaijan’s
position. As a result, Turkey faced a dilemma, particularly to
comply with an agreement or not to violate ties with Azerbaijan,
he emphasized.
“Securing its aim in this regard, Azerbaijan took the offensive on
other aspects. Baku’s attack – pressure on the mediators and Armenia
is not sufficiently profound. First of all it is not based on the
actual intention of Azerbaijan to go against everyone and everything
in the question of peace or war in Karabakh. It was a psychological
attack on the enemy,” said Zatulin.
The expert stressed that Azerbaijan has achieved certain success thanks
to this tactics but on the whole the OSCE Minsk Group countries were
not ready to support Azerbaijan’s position.
“Forcing Armenia to agree to the decision, which would in fact leave
Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, would lead to failure of further
negotiations and settlement of any kind, since it is clear that Armenia
can not agree to it. As a result, the attempt failed,” said Russian MP.
Some mediators were disappointed in Baku as Azerbaijan appeared to
be a country which bears responsibility for a deadlock in talks,
even if it is temporary, the expert believes.
“Presently Azerbaijan is trying to find ways that would allow
mediators not to perceive it as a country which appraises war, but
a state standing for peace and working for it,” Zatulin concluded.
SNAP PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS NOT EXCLUDED
by Diana Markosyan
06:22 pm | Today | Interview
“A1+”: How would you rate the current inter-political state in Armenia,
taking into account the current ANC-authorities dialogue?
Vahan Hovhannisyan: Whenever any government finds itself in a
difficult situation, it has two alternatives, especially when it is
in a difficult situation since its legitimacy is called into question.
When some masses and political circles call the government’s legitimacy
into question and create tension, the government has two options. The
first is to mitigate the people’s situation by undertaking real
reforms and establishing justice in the country.
Those reforms must satisfy the people. When the government senses
that it is incapable of implementing the reforms because it will
cause itself harm, it usually chooses the second option and starts
dialogues. There is something false in all this. We have seen such
attempts for dialogue in the early 90s when the general front of the
opposition was close to making Levon Ter-Petrosyan resign. I must
say that that didn’t endanger the Karabakh struggle. The people were
close, but since the government realized that it wasn’t capable of
implementing reforms, it started sectorial dialogue that didn’t benefit
the people. Levon Ter-Petrosyan was creating a block in parliament,
and made the Dashnaktsutyun lose the opportunity to participate in
parliamentary elections because he knew very well that the ARFD would
score a victory in those elections. He also split the opposition
front through dialogue and brought himself the then HHK.
The tables have turned now. The Republican Party of Armenia has engaged
in dialogue with those forces because it is no longer capable of
leading the country and making reforms. But we have seen this before
and are simply waiting to see what will happen next. When I speak of
offers, I refer to the offers to become a part of the coalition. The
ARFD denied the offers and all those who say that the ARFD is in the
coalition for posts are simply stupid.
“A1+”: Fine, this goes to say that you rule out reforms after dialogue?
V. H.: Yes, I rule it out. Dialogue is a way of avoiding reforms and
mainly goes to show that the authorities are ready to talk and are
fulfilling European structures’ demands. We have been hearing about
those reforms for years, but we didn’t see any.
“A1+”: You are speaking from the government’s point of view. What
does the opposition get out of this dialogue?
V. H.: What the HHK got.
“A1+”: Do you mean posts or seats in parliament?
V. H.: I wouldn’t like to assume that the issue will be limited to
some posts in government or seats in parliament. I wouldn’t like to
make predictions at all.
“A1+”: Do you rule out the likelihood of snap elections?
V. H.: I don’t exclude that the authorities will make a concession
for one of the elections.
“A1+: Presidential or parliamentary?
V. H.: It is hard to say, but if you ask me, I would say presidential.
But that won’t change anything. Snap elections are only morally
satisfying. This is where the authorities need to take precaution.
“A1+”: Do you mean that there won’t be a new president after snap
elections?
V. H.: I don’t think it will be possible this way. A president will
change through a pan-national movement when the people realize that
they are the owners of their voices and don’t only rely on this or
that force.
“A1+”: Many parties, the so-called “third force”, complain that they
feel like they are out of the game. Do you see such a tendency?
V. H.: One of the goals of this dialogue is to create an illusion that
there is no other force besides these two and that that situation is
not new. These two forces are trying to present themselves as the
only ones. The forces are not different, but the people are. They
are continuing with the same ideology and working style. All efforts
are aimed at showing the people that there is no alternative to the
line of the political party that originated from the USSR. But there
is an alternative. Robert Kocharyan’s administration instilled hope
for an alternative in the first years, but then that hope died.
“A1+”: Could you tell us who killed that hope?
V. H.: No, I think those who understand, understood me.
“A1+”: Today there is a view that Robert Kocharyan doesn’t see a
favorable ground for his return to politics after this dialogue. What
do you have to say about that?
V. H.: I don’t like to draw conclusions with opinions, especially when
those opinions are formed by the presses. At this moment, I don’t
see Robert Kocharyan’s attempt to return to politics or a struggle
against that attempt. If the former president is concerned about
the problems in Armenia, that is normal. He is as concerned as any
citizen is. But it’s strange that the authorities are not concerned.
“A1+”: If snap presidential or parliamentary elections were held today,
would the ARFD be ready to participate?
V. H.: I wouldn’t like to answer that question now. Of course, any
political force can face unexpected situations, but any force must
be ready for such developments. If we see such a situation, we will
make a decision very quickly.
ARMENIA TO DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES OF ASSEMBLING AGRICULTURAL MACHINES, TRUCKS AND COOLING BODIES
/ARKA/
August 2, 2011
YEREVAN
Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan discussed the prospects
of cooperation with representatives of the companies “Volvo Truks
corporation” and “Krone Holding GmbH&Co.KG”.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the opportunities of
cooperation in the sphere of international cargo transportation and
agriculture, assembling of agricultural machines, trucks and cooling
bodies with carrying capacity to 5 tons with participation of the
mentioned companies specialized in guarantee service of trucks.
Agriculture is a priority sphere for the Government of Armenia. In
this context he emphasized the importance of introduction of new
agricultural machines. Sargsyan introduced the programs targeted at the
development of the sphere to the guests, mentioning that Government
of Armenia is ready to implement the submitted projects. In case of
their successful implementation the support will be positive.
Representatives of both companies thanked the prime minister for his
reception and expressed hope that implementation of the envisaged
programs will play a great role in the development strategy of the
country.
“Volvo Truks corporation” and “Krone Holding GmbH&Co.KG” cooperate
with the Armenian company “Spayka” implementing international cargo
transportation.
US SENATE AGAINST AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY?
Tert.am
02.08.11
After the U.S. Senate approved Resolution #175, which recognizes
Georgia’s territorial integrity and calls Abkhazia and South Ossetia
occupied territories, the US Azeris Network (USAN) applied to the US
Senate for approving a resolution recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity, reports the Baku-based Zerkalo newspaper.
USAN asked the Azeri Diaspora to address letters to U.S. officials
and demand the adoption of a similar resolution on Azerbaijan.
In its letter to the U.S. Senate, USAN calls on them to recognize
the violation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty
and call for a peaceful and fair resolution of the conflict within
internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Stressing that the U.S. Senators are unlikely to give ear to Azeris’
appeals, the newspaper writes: “There are hardly high hopes that the
Azeri Diaspora’s appeal will produce positive results. For some reason,
western politicians do not equally assess the consequences of ethnic
and territorial conflicts in the post-Soviet area. Since early 1990s
European and U.S. politicians have not had any doubts concerning the
territorial integrity of Georgia and Moldova, whereas they have made
an ambiguous interpretation in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“In the case of the Georgian and Moldovan conflicts the west applies
only one international principle, territorial integrity, to them. In
the case of Azerbaijan, however, they ‘recall’ another principle,
peoples’ right to self-determination. So what are the reasons why
the people in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria are denied
the right to self-determination, whereas Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians’
right is recognized?
“Armenians, as a nation, gained independence within the territory
of the Republic of Armenia long ago, and none of their neighbors is
laying claims to their territories though they have all historical
grounds for that,” the source writes.
AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV: RESOLUTION OF ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM AND SORE POINT FOR OUR COUNTRY – UPDATE
Today.az
Aug 1, 2011
Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has said his country become the
region`s ICT hub.
The President gave an interview to the Business Year magazine.
“Azerbaijan has become the region`s ICT hub an the possibilities of
the internet are expanding rapidly. According to the latest statistical
data, the national internet penetration rate is 50%. If, several years
ago, one computer was available for every 1,000 people in Azerbaijan,
today the proportion goes to 15 computers per 100 persons.”
“Azerbaijan is also becoming a country with a space industry.
Azerbaijan`s first telecommunications satellite will be launched in
2012. Taking into account the geographical location of Azerbaijan and
the development level of our national economy, we think that we have
all the opportunities for the ICT sector to become the second most
profitable field after the oil and gas sector in the near future,”
the President added.
Azerbaijani leader also spoke of Azerbaijan’s tourism potential.
“Our country has quite a large and attractive tourism potential. On the
one hand, Azerbaijan has nine climatic zones, beautiful and picturesque
nature, rich flora and fauna, cultural heritage, and historical
monuments. On the other hand, the large-scale measures undertaken
in recent years to ensure rapid social and economic development have
renovated all fields of public life and created an infrastructure of
services, transport, communications, and public utilities that make
for favorable conditions to make tourism become an economic priority,”
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev told the magazine.
“The State Program on the Development of Tourism for 2010-2014 is
being implemented in Azerbaijan. Our main objective is to bring the
national tourism sector in line with world standards by 2014. In the
light of all these tasks, 2011 was declared the “Year of Tourism”
in Azerbaijan.”
“Modern hotels are being opened in large cities of the country to
receive foreign guests. The system of tourism services is forming
rapidly in all the regions. Almost 100 hotels were operational in
2003. However, their numbers exceeded 500 in 2010. For the time being,
the construction of 35 new hotels is underway. By the end of 2011,
six five-star hotels will be commissioned. The world-class Shahdag
Winter-Summer Tourism Complex is of particular importance, being among
the largest projects in the field of tourism,” the President said.
“Nagorno-Karabakh is an ancient land of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis have
always lived there. All historical monuments and names of places
belong to Azerbaijan. It is an integral part of our history and
culture,” President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in an interview
to the Business Year magazine devoted to the 20th anniversary of
Azerbaijan`s independence.
The Head of State underlined Armenians were relocated here from
other areas and today, they want to create another Armenian state. He
added neither Azerbaijan nor international community would allow it
to happen.
President Ilham Aliyev pointed out he had welcomed the 26 May, 2011
joint statement of the Heads of OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries.
The President noted there is no contradiction between territorial
integrity and self-determination in the Helsinki Final Act, adding
peoples may use this right within the framework of territorial
integrity. The Azerbaijani leader said it is the only way of solving
the conflict.
According to the Head of State, peace and prosperity in the region can
be established in the region only after restoration of the country`s
territorial integrity and returning of IDPs to their homeland. He said
Azerbaijan would never agree with Nagorno-Karabakh`s independence or
its joining Armenia.
President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan`s military spending exceeds
the whole Armenia`s state budget.
“In a word, Armenia`s leaders and Armenian lobby must comprehend
the reality rightly and realize international community will never
recognize results of the occupation and that the conflict would solved
sooner or later,” he said.
Aliyev also spoke about the negotiations on the long-lasting Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement.
“Resolution of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the
main problem and sore point for our country”, President Ilham Aliyev
said in his interview to the Business Year magazine dedicated to the
20th anniversary of Azerbaijan`s independence.
On the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Head of State
said twenty percent of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized lands
had been under Armenia`s occupation, with over million Azerbaijanis
becoming refugees and IDPs.
“Azerbaijanis have been exposed to a policy of ethnic cleansing and
Armenians destroyed the historical and cultural monuments at the
occupied territories. In 1992, 613 people were cruelly killed and
hundreds taken hostage during Khojaly Genocide”, the President said.
“United Nations Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding
withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan and return of refugees to their homes. But, these
resolutions have not been yet implemented. Armenia does not also
fulfil the resolutions of the OSCE, the European Parliament, the
Council of Europe, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
and other international organizations”.
The Head of State said in spite of the fact that OSCE Minsk group
co-chairs have been engaged in resolution of this conflict since 1992,
their attempts have not yielded any results because of Armenia`s
destructive position”.
“The international community has to be an active to influence upon
Armenia to refuse from its destructive position and it is the only
thing to do”, President Ilham Aliyev added.
/AzerTAc/
US AZERIS ASK THE SENATE TO STATE AZERBAIJAN’S INTEGRITY
Today.az
Aug 1, 2011
Azerbaijan
The Azeri Diaspora in the US started a new campaign asking the Senate
to state Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, APA’s Washington DC
correspondent reports.
The US Senate passed the resolution 175, which recognizes Georgia’s
territorial integrity, and considers Abkhazia and South Ossetia as
occupied regions of Georgia just recently and therefore the US Azeris
think “that a similar resolution must be passed for Azerbaijan as well,
recognizing Azerbaijani territorial integrity and recognizing Karabakh
region as an occupied territory of Azerbaijan”, says the statement.
The USAN asks Diaspora members and friends to send a letter to the
appropriate officials asking to accept such a resolution.
“We are writing in regards to the July 29 passage of Senate Resolution
175, which was “Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to
ongoing violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Georgia and the importance of a peaceful and just resolution to the
conflict within Georgia’s internationally recognized borders”, and
kindly request that a similar resolution be passed about “Expressing
the sense of the Senate with respect to ongoing violations of the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and the importance
of a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict within Azerbaijan’s
internationally recognized borders”.
/APA/
THE END OF THE KEMALIST AFFAIR
Christopher Hitchens
Slate
August 1, 2011
To read of the stunning news, of the almost-overnight liquidation of
the Ataturkist or secularist military caste, and to try to do so from
the standpoint of a seriously secular Turk, is to have a small share
in the sense of acute national vertigo that must have accompanied
the proclamation of a new system in the second two decades of the
20th century.
For example, today’s vice president of Kemal Ataturk’s historical
political party, the Republican People’s Party or RPP, was quoted on
Friday as speaking of “a second Turkish republic” with a heavy heart
“in the seaside city of Cannkkale,” and not long after, it seemed that
some high-ranking Turkish officers would now be arrested rather than,
as previously reported, having had their resignations accepted. That
famous seaside peninsula, as the New York Times did not emphasize, also
bears the name of Gallipoli. It is the place where Gen. Mustafa Kemal
inflicted the most bloody and tragic defeat on British imperial forces
in 1915-16, while also convincing Rupert Murdoch’s cocky colonial
ancestors that their brave Aussie forebears had been used as cannon
fodder by teak-headed British toffs. The apple of the notorious 1981
Mel Gibson movie did not roll very far from the tree. Within a few
years of Gallipoli, the same Turkish general had, in fact, reversed
the local verdict of the 1914-18 war, and expelled Greek, French,
and British forces from Anatolia.
The historic weight of this is almost impossible to overstate: Ataturk
(who was quite probably a full-blown atheist) could write his own
secular ticket precisely because he had ignominiously defeated three
Christian invaders. Yet for decades, Western statecraft has been
searching feverishly for another Mustafa Kemal, someone who can
jumpstart the modernization of a Muslim community under his own name.
For a while, they thought Gamal Abdel Nasser might be the model. Then
there was the Shah of Iran. They even briefly fancied the notions of
Saddam Hussein, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and other characters who will live
in infamy. But nobody ever came close to touching Ataturk for authority
and authenticity. Under his power, the great caliphate was done away
with, and the antique rule of the celestial and the sublime reduced to
a dream in which only a few ascetic visionaries and sectarians showed
any real interest. Until recently, modern Turkey showed every sign
of evolving into a standard capitalist state on the European periphery.
There was, however, an acid rivalry concealed within the new Turkish
establishment. The nascent Islamist populist movement-the Justice and
Development Party of Recep Tayyip Erdogan-understood very well that,
once in the European Union proper, Turkey would be prevented by EU
law from submitting to another period of rule by men in uniform. We
thus saw the intriguing spectacle of quite conservative and nationalist
Turks (with a distinct tendency to chauvinism in Erdogan’s case) making
common cause with liberal international institutions against the very
Turkish institution, the army, that above all symbolized Turkish
national pride and prestige. This cooperation between ostensibly
secular and newly pious may have had something to do with a growing
sense of shame among the educated secular citizenry of big cities like
Istanbul, who always knew they could count on the army to uphold their
rights but who didn’t enjoy exerting the privilege. The fiction of
Orhan Pamuk, Turkey’s complex Nobelist and generally liberal author,
has explored this paradox very well. His novel Snow is perhaps the
best dress rehearsal for the argument.
Because of course Pamuk is also the most edgy spokesman for the rights
of the Kurds and the Armenians, and of those whose very nationality
has put them in collision with the state. He has been threatened
with imprisonment under archaic laws forbidding the discussion of
certain topics, and he must have noticed the high rate of death that
has overcome dissidents, like Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink,
who have exercised insufficient caution.
But the sordid fact is that the “secular” military elite in Turkey had
already sold out a number of the values that were real to Ataturk and
necessary for Turkey’s integration into the Eurosphere. The Turkish
army not only allowed itself to become a participant in the dirty
and illegal land grab that continues to offend all international laws
and U.N. resolutions affecting the self-proclaimed colonial statelet
in the north of the island of Cyprus, but in the early years of the
occupation, the leader of Ataturk’s party-Bulent Ecevit-was rounded
up as a political detainee. This negation of free movement within EU
borders has poisoned relations with Greece, driven tens of thousands
of Cypriots into economic exile, and delayed the integration of
two advanced economies-Turkey and Cyprus-at just the point when the
Athenian economy cannot go it alone.
Having for years provided a rearguard at Incirlik Air Base for the
humanitarian relief of the Iraqi Kurdish and Shiite populations,
the Turks were offered the opportunity to lend a “northern front”
and to finish the job of Operation Provide Comfort in 2003. The strong
impression received by some of us who sat in the waiting rooms outside
the discussions of this policy was that the Turkish army was declining
the honor mainly because the bribe or inducement wasn’t large enough.
It also seemed that the same army was hoping for a chance to project
its own power in the Kurdish provinces of northern Iraq. To be waging
another dirty war on the soil of a foreign state, and to be paying
for it by using money supplied by the foreign aid budget of the U.S.
Congress, looked like bad faith of a very special kind.
In 1960, the Turkish army held the ring by intervening to execute two
powerful political bosses-Adnan Menderes and Fatin Zorlu-who according
to my best information had instigated vicious pogroms in Istanbul and
Nicosia and even tried the provocation of bombing Kemal Ataturk’s
birthplace in Salonika. (See, if interested, my little bookHostage
to History: Cyprus From the Ottomans to Kissinger.) But this long,
uneven symbiosis between state and nation and army and modernity has
now run its course. In its time, it flung a challenge to the injustice
of the Treaty of Versailles, revived regional combat on a scale to
evoke the Crusades, and saw the American and Turkish flags raised
together over blood-soaked hills in Korea in the first bellicose
engagements of the Cold War. That epoch is now over. One wonders only
whether to be surprised at how long it lasted or how swiftly it drew
to a close and takes comfort from the number of different ways in
which it is possible to be a Turk or a Muslim.