Author: nina hovnanian

Ugly Scenes 2

Lragir.am
Country – 14 March 2015, 16:12

Once reversed, one will never go forward, the saying is. Another
scandal has matured in the Heritage Party after two representatives of
this party Armen Martirosyan and Ruben Hakobyan met with Serzh
Sargsyan.

Another member of this party, Zaruhi Postanjyan, called them “Serzh
Sargsyan’s clients”.

“Perhaps they went in the capacity of clients of 26 Baghramyan Avenue.
This participation has nothing to do with the Heritage Party. Maybe
they acted as sole proprietors but not as politicians and did not
represent the Heritage Party,” Zaruhi Postanjyan said, adding that the
board of the Heritage Party was against that meeting.

Those who met with Serzh Sargsyan say they did not go to the
presidential office on their own, and Raffi Hovhannisian, the leader
of the party, was aware of it.

The press reported that the board meeting did not discuss a format,
the members of the board were against a meeting with Serzh Sargsyan in
an inclusive format whereas they visited the presidential palace in a
delegation of two.

Now they are waiting for what Raffi Hovhannisian will say who is never
“present” at such moment. What is this? Internal democracy of a
political party a unique example of which the Heritage Party,
nevertheless, is, or a usual political trick of balancing with one
foot outside and another foot inside?

After the collapse of the “popular movement” Serzh Sargsyan is freely
“realigning” the field to build the next government. He is having
meetings with the “political forces” in the result of which he will
make a decision on their future role and place.

The forces called political understand what is happening (they
understand such things well, one may say they only understand such
things that are related to tradeoff and opportunities to appear in the
next government). Hence, they are making their choice.

The Heritage Party has appeared in an ambiguous situation, and their
game is ambiguous in this setting. On the one hand, the party did not
have a decision on meeting with Serzh Sargsyan. On the other hand, its
two members met with him.

Apparently, room for reverse has been left in case Serzh Sargsyan
“deceives” this party while forming the next parliament.

They deceived it in the 2012 parliamentary election when there were
not enough seats for the Heritage Party and Raffi had to resign.

Then the presidential election of 2013 followed when nobody could
figure out Raffi’s behavior. He rushed from the square to the
presidential office and then to Moscow.

Then he joined the most ridiculous format of the Armenian politics –
the troika – where, however, he was not given the freedom to make
speeches in rallies until two experienced traders visited Serzh
Sargsyan.

The Armenian political forces have two ways: cooperate with the
government or do politics, forming a new quality environment and
relations.

This is a very complicated and endless path, provided the level of
degradation of the Armenian public and political environment and lack
of quality and requires sacrifices.

Both ways are honest. Dishonesty is maneuvering between these two.

Les revendications territoriales du parti Dachnag vis-à-vis de la Turquie

lundi 27 octobre 2014

Génocide arménien : reconnaissance et réparations

Point de vue de la Diaspora

Les revendications territoriales du parti Dachnag vis-à-vis de la Turquie

F̩d̩ration R̩volutionnaire Arm̩nienne РDachnagtsoutioun

Parti pan-arménien créé en 1890, membre de l’International socialiste,
a participé à plusieurs coalitions gouvernementales en Arménie.

Le 49ème congrès de la Fédération Révolutionnaire Arménienne de la
Côte Ouest des USA, à la veille du centenaire du génocide arménien a
approuvé à l’unanimité une déclaration délimitant la liste des
exigences de justice.

DEMANDES DE JUSTICE POUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Déclaration de la Fédération Révolutionnaire Arménienne de la Côte
Ouest des USA.

ATTENDU QUE, la nation arménienne a été soumise à un génocide
systématique et prémédité commencé officiellement le 24 avril 1915 des
mains du gouvernement Jeune-Turc sous l’Empire ottoman de 1915 à 1919.
Génocide qui a perduré lors du mouvement Kémaliste en Turquie de 1920
à 1923. Plus de 1,5 million d’Arméniens, hommes, femmes et enfants,
ont été massacrés dans le but d’anéantir la nation arménienne ce qui
constitue le premier génocide des temps modernes, tandis que des
milliers de survivants, des femmes et des enfants arméniens, ont été
convertis de force et islamisés, et des centaines de milliers ont été
soumis à un nettoyage ethnique durant la période de la République
moderne de Turquie de 1924-1937 ; et

ATTENDU QUE, la planification et la mise en oeuvre d’un génocide est
incontestablement reconnue en droit international comme un crime
contre l’humanité et est puni comme tel ; et

ATTENDU QUE, ce crime contre l’humanité est resté impuni depuis près
de cent ans. Les gouvernements de Turquie ont en toute impunité
déformer l’histoire et nier le génocide et ses conséquences commis par
son prédécesseur ottoman et les régimes suivants, malgré la
reconnaissance internationale du génocide arménien par 23 pays, dont
les États-Unis d’Amérique ; et

ATTENDU QUE, les Arméniens étaient des habitants autochtones de leurs
terres ancestrales depuis des milliers d’années comme en témoignent
les ruines de centaines d’églises, de monastères de cimetières et
autres structures religieuses et culturelles facilement identifiables,
des sites anitques qui subsistent sur ces terres comme preuve de leur
présence permanente jusqu’au génocide arménien ; et

ATTENDU QUE, le territoire ancestral du peuple arménien, et en
particulier les six régions historiquement arméniennes de Van,
Erzeroum, Kharpert, Bitlis, Dikranagerd-Diyarbakir, et Sepastia-Sivas,
actuellement en République de Turquie, a été dépouillé de ses
habitants autochtones à cause du génocide arménien, sauf pour des
milliers d’Arméniens islamisés ou cachés qui ont été soumis à
l’oppression silencieuse, alors que certains d’entre eux ont récemment
commencé à reconnaître leurs véritables identités et devraient être
encouragés à revenir à leurs racines ; et

ATTENDU QUE, la patrie ancestrale du peuple arménien continue à être
occupée illégalement par la République de Turquie, qui continue
d’effacer toute preuve de la présence arménienne historique sur ces
terres ; et

ATTENDU QUE, la nation arménienne a survécu au génocide, malgré la
tentative par la Turquie ottomane et la République de Turquie de
l’exterminer ; et

ATTENDU QUE, la survie de la nation arménienne des horreurs du
génocide ont été due en grande partie aux efforts américains et
internationaux menés par Near East Relief, une organisation créée en
1916 par le Congrès des États-Unis qui a sauvé plus de 132 000
orphelins arméniens et des centaines de milliers de réfugiés arméniens
qui ont été exilés pour aller survivre et prospérer en dehors de leur
patrie ancestrale partout dans le monde et en particulier aux
États-Unis d’Amérique ; et

ATTENDU QUE, la première République indépendante d’Arménie a été
internationalement reconnue à la suite du génocide arménien par le
traité de Sèvres ; et

ATTENDU QUE, Woodrow Wilson, président des Etats-Unis d’Amérique, a
rendu sa décision arbitrale finale et exécutoire, le 22 novembre 1920,
la restauration des droits territoriaux de la nation arménienne qui
furent pris par le gouvernement de l’Empire ottoman à la suite du
génocide arménien, en redessinant les frontières internationales pour
inclure à la République d’Arménie les provinces de Van, Erzeroum,
Bitlis, Trabzon et avec accès à la mer Noire ; et

ATTENDU QUE, en dépit de ses termes juridiquement contraignants, la
sentence arbitrale de Wilson n’a jamais été appliquée, et l’occupation
turque des terres qui appartiennent légalement à l’Arménie continue en
violation flagrante de celle-ci à ce jour ; et

ATTENDU QUE, le peuple arménien, individuellement et collectivement, a
été privé de ses biens, meubles et immeubles, de la culture et de la
vie sur sa patrie ancestrale pendant près d’un siècle après le
génocide arménien ; et

ATTENDU QUE, la Fédération révolutionnaire arménienne de l’ouest des
Etats-Unis est principalement constituée de membres qui sont les
descendants directs de ces survivants du génocide arménien qui ont
finalement immigré aux États-Unis d’Amérique et qui, en tant que
citoyens américains, et en tant que plus grande communauté organisée
de la diaspora arménienne, a le droit de demander justice au nom de la
nation arménienne, y compris, mais non limitée à la mise en oeuvre de
la sentence arbitrale de Wilson, et de pétitionner le gouvernement des
États-Unis au niveau fédéral, gouvernemental et local pour le faire ;
et

ATTENDU QUE, le gouvernement de la Turquie continue la campagne des
gouvernements qui l’ont précédé dans ses tentatives de destruction de
la nation arménienne en toute impunité en :

(a) occupant illégalement l’Arménie occidentale ;

(b) bloquant illégalement la frontière occidentale de l’actuelle
deuxième République indépendante d’Arménie ;

(c) aidant et encourageant la République d’Azerbaïdjan, son
co-conspirateur et complice, dans son blocus illégal de la frontière
orientale de l’actuelle deuxième République indépendante d’Arménie ;

(d) aidant et encourageant la République d’Azerbaïdjan, son
co-conspirateur et complice, dans son blocus illégal de la République
indépendante actuelle du Haut-Karabakh (Artsakh) ;

(e) aidant et encourageant la République d’Azerbaïdjan, son
co-conspirateur et complice, dans sa tentative d’effacer toute preuve
de la présence historique de la nation arménienne et ses
revendications légitimes au Nakhitchevan, y compris, mais non limitées
à la destruction en toute impunité de l’ancien cimetière arménien de
Djoulfa par l’armée azérie ;

(f) aidant et encourageant la République d’Azerbaïdjan, son
co-conspirateur et complice, dans la perpétration, puis dans
l’engagement dans une campagne de négation et de distorsion quant aux
massacres perpétrés contre les populations arméniennes indigènes de
Bakou, Soumgaït et de Kirovabad ;

(g) aidant et encourageant l’action militante radicalisée et de
nettoyage ethnique contre la population arménienne autochtone de
Kessab et d’autres parties de la Syrie ;

(h) échouant à traduire en justice les auteurs de l’assassinat de
Hrant Dink, un crime lié aux plus hauts niveaux de l’État turc ;

(i) poursuivant son oppression et son intimidation silencieuse des
Arméniens cachés et islamisés, dont la plupart craignent de révéler
leur véritable identité ou de pratiquer leur liberté religieuse sous
la menace de représailles ; et

(j) généralement en prenant toutes les mesures en son pouvoir pour
éliminer toute preuve de la présence historique et les revendications
valides de la nation arménienne comme une conséquence du génocide
perpétré contre elle ; et

ATTENDU QUE, le Parti pour la Paix et la Démocratie (BDP), le
principal parti de la population kurde de Turquie, doit être encouragé
pour avoir adopté dans le cadre de sa plateforme politique d’excuses
pour le rôle de la population kurde dans le génocide arménien, et pour
tenter de restaurer une partie des droits de propriété de la nation
arménienne, et un appel au gouvernement de la Turquie pour reconnaître
le génocide arménien et offrir restitution ; et

ATTENDU QUE, le gouvernement municipal de la ville de Diyarbakir
(Dikranagerd) en Turquie, contrôlé démocratiquement par le Parti pour
la paix et la démocratie (BDP), a en effet récemment pris des mesures
concrètes en vue de la réconciliation par la restauration de la
cathédrale arménienne Sourp Guiragos, l’érection d’un monument aux
victimes du Génocide, permettant et encourageant des cours de langue
et de religion arméniennes pour les Arméniens islamisés ou cachés,
l’érection de panneaux de signalisations de bienvenue dans la ville en
langue arménienne, et d’autres mesures pour lesquelles il devrait être
félicité et encouragé ; et

ATTENDU QUE, les conflits géopolitiques actuels au Proche-Orient et
Moyen-Orient ont un potentiel important d’entraîner un redécoupage des
frontières de la région qui peuvent et doivent inclure la patrie
arménienne occidentale et un Kurdistan indépendant ce qui nécessite le
dialogue, la coopération et une coexistence pacifique fondée sur un
cadre concret pour la réparation et la restitution comme il est
indiqué dans les présentes demandes ;

EN CONSÉQUENCE, IL EST RÉSOLU, qu’à la veille du centenaire du
génocide arménien du 24 avril 2015 et au nom des descendants du
génocide arménien vivant actuellement dans l’ouest des États-Unis
d’Amérique, la Convention régionale de la Fédération Révolutionnaire
Arménienne définit par la présente ses demandes de Justice pour le
génocide arménien, comme suit :

1. La République de Turquie doit reconnaître sans équivoque et
supporter les conséquences du génocide arménien planifié et mis en
oeuvre par le gouvernement Jeune-Turc sous l’Empire ottoman de 1915 à
1919, qui a continué d’être perpétré par le Mouvement Kémaliste de
1920 à 1923, et qui a conduit au nettoyage ethnique par la République
de Turquie de 1924 à 1937.

2. La République de Turquie doit prendre des mesures rapides et
significatives vers l’octroi d’une compensation à la Nation arménienne
pour le crime contre l’humanité commis à son encontre, reconnaissant
le fait qu’aucune tentative de compensation ne pourra restaurer ni en
qualité ni en quantité la vie de la Nation arménienne telle qu’elle
l’aurait été sans le Génocide mais s’efforçant néanmoins en toute
bonne foi de corriger les maux de l’Histoire en restituant à la Nation
arménienne tous les droits dont elle a été spoliée.

3. La restitution des droits de propriété territoriaux de la nation
arménienne doit comprendre le redécoupage des frontières sur la base
de la sentence arbitrale définitive et contraignante du président
américain Woodrow Wilson, publiée le 22 novembre 1920, y compris, mais
non limité à la réunification avec la République de l’Arménie des
territoires et provinces de Van, Bitlis, Erzeroum et Trabzon pour
fournir un accès illimité à la mer Noire, ainsi que les régions de
Kars et d’Ardahan de l’intérieur des frontières de la Première
République indépendante d’Arménie, dont le mont Ararat et ses
territoires environnants.

4. La restauration complète et sans équivoque des droits de propriétés
territoriaux de la nation arménienne doit inclure la reconnaissance de
l’indépendance et de la souveraineté internationale de la République
du Haut-Karabakh (Artsakh) et ses frontières actuelles.

5. La restauration complète et sans équivoque des droits de propriétés
territoriaux de la nation arménienne doit comprendre le Nakhitchevan.

6. La restauration complète et sans équivoque des droits de propriété
mentionnés ci-dessus doit inclure l’accès et l’utilisation libre et
gratuite de toutes les ressources naturelles et voies naturelles et
artificielles de transport, de circulation et d’utilisation des
terres.

7. La République de Turquie et la République d’Azerbaïdjan doivent
reconnaître, protéger et préserver les centaines d’églises
arméniennes, monastères, cimetières et autres structures historiques
et culturelles, les sites et les antiquités intérieures à leurs
frontières actuelles et futures, à leurs frais et doivent s’abstenir
de faire, d’encourager ou de tolérer toute tentative pour les
détruire, les détériorer ou les éradiquer.

8. La République de Turquie et la République d’Azerbaïdjan doivent
immédiatement supprimer tout blocus contre l’Arménie et l’Artsakh et
permettre un accès sans restriction à travers leurs frontières et
prendre de mesures de bonne foi en vue de normaliser et cultiver les
relations entre les dits pays ancrés dans une pleine et entière
reconnaissance du génocide arménien, ses conséquences, et un plan
d’ensemble pour une juste réparation décrite dans la présente.

9. La République de Turquie et la République d’Azerbaïdjan doit
s’abstenir de toute action militaire ou autre visant à provoquer les
violences transfrontalières ou en aucune façon perturber la paix avec
la République d’Arménie et la République de l’Artsakh.

10. La République de Turquie doit rétablir au Patriarcat arménien
d’Istanbul, le Saint-Siège de la Grande Maison de Cilicie, et/ou toute
autre entité désignée par les représentants dûment mandatés de la
nation arménienne des droits de propriété disponibles et l’accès à
toutes les églises arméniennes, monastères, cimetières et autres
structures religieuses, confessionnelles historiques ou culturelles,
sites et antiquités à l’intérieur de ses frontières actuelles et
futures, renonçant à toute demande et en les exonérant de toutes taxes
foncières passées et futures ou autres obligations potentielles dans
le cadre de ses mesures de restitution.

11. La République de Turquie doit procéder à la restitution financière
des descendants des victimes du génocide arménien ou de leur
collectivité désignée ou des représentants d’organisation et fournir
une aide économique à la République d’Arménie dont la quantité et les
modalités devront être déterminées par un tribunal international
dûment nommé et rassemblé à cet effet.

12. La République de Turquie doit fournir un accès sans restriction à
son système judiciaire et ses tribunaux pour tous les descendants des
victimes du génocide arménien, individuellement et collectivement, ou
pour toutes les organisations représentatives ou entités du peuple
arménien pour faire valoir les droits et biens réels et personnels,
sans égard aux délais de prescription, aux théories de l’abandon, à la
prescription acquisitive et/ou aux lois qui existaient soit au cours
de la période ottomane et/ou de la République de Turquie post-ottoman,
ou d’autres obstacles juridiques qui pourraient affecter la validité
de telles réclamations.

13. La République de Turquie doit adopter dans le cadre de son système
éducatif national une reconnaissance pleine et entière du génocide
arménien et ses conséquences et doit permettre et encourager le
dialogue et la recherche ouverte et franche au sujet de ce chapitre
sombre de son histoire.

14. La République de Turquie doit prendre toutes les mesures
nécessaires pour inverser, prévenir et punir toute tentative de
discrimination, d’intimidation, de harcèlement à l’encontre des
Arméniens en raison de leur appartenance ethnique, dans ses frontières
actuelles et futures et permettre aux Arméniens cachés et/ou islamisés
de revenir sans aucune entrave à leur véritable identité si elles le
souhaitent et de pratiquer leur liberté religieuse et ethnique, sans
restriction ni crainte de représailles ;

15. La République de Turquie doit désigner le 24 avril comme Journée
de commémoration des victimes du génocide arménien et doit permettre
et encourager les activités commémoratives sans restriction à
l’intérieur de ses frontières actuelles et futures, à commencer par le
24 avril 2015, centenaire du génocide arménien.

Avec la mise en oeuvre intégrale et rapide de ces Demandes de Justice
pour le Génocide Arménien mentionnées ci-dessus, la nation arménienne
peut enfin aller vers une véritable réconciliation, durable et une
coexistence pacifique avec les populations turques, azéries et kurdes
de la région.

Montebello – le 22 juin 2014.

Heritage Party members meet Vanadzor residents (video)

19:41 | March 13,2015 | Politics

Heritage Party members Zaruhi Postanjyan and David Sanasaryan today
visited Vanadzor as part of public meetings organized by the Party.

During a meeting with residents in Vanadzor, Zaruhi Postanjyan said
Heritage Leader Raffi Hovannisian could not join them as he is
visiting is parents in the USA.

One of the residents asked Zaruhi Postanjyan if she had received an
invitation from Baghramyan 26 (Presidential Palace) to participate in
the discussions over the constitutional reforms.

Details are available in the video of Lori TV

REVUE DE PRESSE
A Lézan dans le Gard, Séda et ses enfants sont menacés d’expulsion

E n 2013, après la disparition trouble de son mari, Séda Balyan, 29
ans, décide de quitter l’Arménie avec ses deux enfants. Tous les trois
embarquent dans un camion pour l’Ukraine, puis la France. Bien
intégrés à Lézan dans le Gard, ils sont aujourd’hui menacés
d’expulsion.

,1133923.php

samedi 14 mars 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

FIRST SOLAR POWER PLANTS IN ARMENIA TO BE BUILT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS

11:20, 13 March, 2015

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS: The development of the solar energy
has been much talked about in Armenia, though up to now no large
investments have been made in the sector and the tariff for the
electric power has not been yet defined. It is not a secret that for
a country, having no gas and oil resources, the alternative energy
is very important and taking into account this problem, an attempt is
made to create the first solar energy stations. Armenpress talked to
the Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic
of Armenia Hayk Harutyunyan about the development prospects of the
alternative energy and the possibilities to establish solar energy
stations.

– How affordable is the purchase of these technologies? Can we afford
having solar power stations now?

– In comparison with 2010, the price for the photovoltaic technologies
has reduced by 80%. It is mainly the result of the programs,
implemented by Germany, as it began using the solar technologies and
China spurred the development of industry. In the result there are
many quality photovoltaic technologies, which can compete with the
production of the traditional energy stations.

We have already attracted funds from the Climate Investment Funds
to develop the solar energy. These funds will be provided to the
future investors as affordable credits to reduce the tariff to be
set. There is also a grant part in the program, which will be used
to conduct detailed studies in the planned areas this year and to
prepare investment programs.

(THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN) Interview
by Gohar Avetisyan

RELICS BROUGHT FROM DEIR EZ-ZOR TO BE ENCLOSED IN CAMPANILE OF STEPANAKERT

10:46, 13 March, 2015

STEPANAKERT, 13 MARCH, ARMENPRESS: The events dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of Armenian Genocide in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic are
not only limited by commemorating. Events, conferences, cultural and
political meetings are to be held throughout the year. In an interview
with “Armenpress” David Babayan, the Spokesman of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic President, stressed that in the mid-April the opening ceremony
of monument-bell tower, which is dedicated to the victims of Armenian
Genocide, will be launched in the capital of Karabakh.

“The monument-bell tower is a unique structure and will become
the most important memorial which is dedicated to the centenary
of Armenian Genocide. The relics brought from Deir ez-Zor will be
buried in the foundation of the bell tower, which has given us by
the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. The bell tower will become a
place, where people of Artsakh will come and will pay their tribute,”
David Babayan stated.

AZERBAIJAN IS RUSSIA’S MILITARY BEACON

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 13 March 2015, 16:27

The Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov announced in Moscow that
Russia is ready to negotiate over opening the Abkhazian railway but
the decision on the issue must be made by Sukhumi and Tbilisi.

If a reference is made to Tbilisi and Sukhumi regarding the final
decision, it means that these two sides must reach an agreement. And
it means that Tbilisi must recognize Abkhazia with some status,
reaching a decision on opening the railway together with that subject.

Considering that official Tbilisi does not recognize the independence
of Abkhazia and considers it part of Georgia and has not hinted so
far that any option of recognition will be acceptable in the nearest
future, it should be noted that Lavrov has actually announced that
it is impossible to open the Abkhazian railway.

The issue of opening of the Abkhazian railway has often featured news
headlines. After a long pause the issue was first brought up after
Ivanishvili came to government in Georgia. Tbilisi initiated this
discourse. Moreover, Ivanishvili even announced that the construction
of Kars-Akhalkalaki may be suspended because it does not meet Georgia’s
requirements for several reasons.

Ivanishvili was perceived as Russia’s candidate, his words about
opening the Abkhazian railway and statements on Kars-Akhalkalaki
were interpreted in the light of the Russian politics. However,
Ivanishvili visited Azerbaijan, and the issue of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku
was resolved, and since then the Georgian government has not spoken
against it in any way. Instead, the issue of the Abkhazian railway
seems to have run into a deadlock.

Although, on the other hand, this issue had never run out of the
deadlock. It has simply been placed in news circulation and is
regularly refreshed for certain political objectives. Obviously,
the issue of Abkhazia’s status is a big and insurmountable obstacle
for official Tbilisi. In the long run, Armenia needs the Abkhazian
railway the most because Russia is the biggest market for the Armenian
products, and there is a need for reliable and cheap transport.

However, Armenia has very little chance to influence the process of
opening of the railway.

As to Russia, the Abkhazian railway connects with Iran and the
adjacent regions. However, the situation it rather sensitive here. It
is necessary to build an Armenia-Iran railway too. There are both
financial and political obstacles to this since the layout of the
Iran-Armenia railway will open up an additional chance for sovereignty
for Armenia, even if it takes place with Russia’s patronage.

Russia is facing a great risk of losing the struggle for regional
influence and is therefore not interested in spending money on regional
infrastructures which will not generate fast profits and are political
projects rather, such as the Iran-Armenia railway.

Moscow has a plan on Armenia – achieve fast and complete military
dominance over the Artsakh area. Moscow’s commercial hopes in the
region are related to Azerbaijan.

WILL THE PACE ADMIT TO BE DECEIVED?

Friday, 13 March 2015 15:42

On October 2, 2014, MP from the UK Robert Walter was appointed the
Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) on the situation in Nagorno Karabakh. This event could be
considered a routine procedure in the framework of the rules of this
European organization, if not a “but.” The matter is that Mr. Walter
has long been known for his pro-Azerbaijani stance, which was once
again confirmed by his report on Nagorno Karabakh.

The very name of this, I may say, document – rather pretentious and
provocative – testifies eloquently to the political allegiances of
the British parliamentarian and his apparent bias. And if broadly, it
testifies also to his morality, or more precisely, its absence. And
the report is entitled… “The escalation of violence in Nagorno
Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan”. This very
fact proves the bias of the report, the contents of which can be
left unread, because the dirty ears of Azerbaijan are sticking out
of it full-length. As for the ears of Walter himself, when preparing
the report, they proved to be quite receptive to the prompting of
official Baku, which, apparently, didn’t scant to cajole the British
parliamentarian.

Elementary logic dictates that for the preparation of such a report one
must have at least some idea of the Karabakh conflict – its origins,
evolution, and current stage of development. Such knowledge would
allow preparing a possibly objective material, reality reflecting
the aspects of the issue, which, in turn, is a guarantee of finding
efficient ways to its solution. Based on the title of the report,
we can make two conclusions. First, Walter did not have the slightest
idea of the essence of the conflict, which he took up to explore. The
second, which is much worse for him, is that he is aware of the issue,
but deliberately, in favor of Azerbaijan, is distorting its essence
in order to present a falsified report at the PACE. Here, completely
raises the issue of the reputation of the proper PACE, which actually
admits to be deceived. But, let us leave the issue of its honor and
dignity upon this international organization itself, if, surely,
it is concerned about its own reputation, and we’ll recall Walter.

The actions of the British give us all the grounds to make the
second conclusion. Common sense dictates that to study the situation
in Nagorno Karabakh, Walter should at least visit it. Meanwhile,
according to press reports, on March 13, within the framework of
preparation of the report on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the MEP
was due to pay an acquainting visit only to Baku, where his meetings
with the Azerbaijani President, Parliament Speaker and Ministers of
Foreign Affairs, Justice and Defense were scheduled. Apparently, for
the presentation of his brainchild to the customer. According to Chief
of the Central Information Department of the NKR President’s Office
David Babayan, official Stepanakert hasn’t received any application
for a visit to Artsakh; neither has the leadership of Armenia. “It is
clear that this report will be yet another politicized anti-Armenian
document. A report with such a title, philosophy, and content is
unacceptable for us – we are not afraid or do not want to hide
anything, we just state that the report must be unbiased and must
reflect the reality”, David Babayan stressed.

Strictly speaking, the NKR authorities have every right not to allow
Walter to visit the Republic, even if he desires this, as, despite the
request of the Karabakh party, he refused to change the name of the
report. The leadership of Artsakh is ready to cooperate with those who
are truly interested in establishing peace in the region; meanwhile,
in this case the PACE platform, at the whim of Azerbaijan, is used not
for the resolution of the conflict, but for the escalation of tension.

After all, the wording “escalation of violence in Nagorno Karabakh and
other occupied territories of Azerbaijan”, taken from the vocabulary
of official Baku, groundlessly considers historical Artsakh, which
has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan, as the territory of
the latter. It turns out that the autochthonal population of Artsakh
“occupied”… Artsakh? Absurd, and only.

Meanwhile, the truth is that it was Azerbaijan that, to prevent
the self-determination of the people of Artsakh, committed armed
aggression, as a result of which part of the NKR territory is still
under occupation. And more. Accepting similar wordings, the PACE, in
fact, forecasts the outcome of the ongoing negotiations, thus striking
both the prestige of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, who are working
to find a solution to the conflict, and the entire settlement process.

This means that with the hands of Walter Azerbaijan plans to solve
yet another issue – by discrediting the co-chairs, whom it has long
accused of inactivity, to prevent the peacemaking process in the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Definitely, the one-sided interpretation of the Karabakh conflict and
its consequences, the protection of the amoral position of Azerbaijan,
which hasn’t abandoned the crazy idea of a new war against the NKR,
cannot serve the supreme goals of peace and cooperation between
peoples, which are declared by the PACE. The slavish activities of
Walter and those like him only inflame the annexionistisch appetite
of the Azerbaijani criminal regime. And in this context, the report
concocted by the British MP is not only harmful, but also extremely
dangerous.

Leonid MARTIROSSIAN Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper

DOES THE EURASIAN QUARTET BECOME A TRIO?

March 13 2015

The ruling party MP is surprised, the opposition is happy, the head
of extra-parliamentary political force us concerned “In general,
yes, there could be such a gathering, but in this case, it should
be especially emphasized that Armenia does not participate for
such-and-such reason, because everyone perceives it as the meeting
of the Eurasian Economic Union member states”, said the Head of the
Armenia’s Democratic Party Aram Sargsyan in the conversation with
“Aravot”, referring to yesterday’s and today’s meeting-discussions
in Astana between Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander
Lukashenko. The official website of the Kremlin details on the meeting,
“The parties intend to discuss the prospects for the development of
trade between the three countries and the Eurasian integration process,
given the effect of the modern trends to the world economy.” In
addition, the leaders of the three countries plan to discuss
bilateral trade-related issues and the situation in Ukraine. Today,
Putin-Nazarbayev bipartite meeting is planned. The upcoming meeting
of the presidents of Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia has nothing to
do with Armenia, yesterday explained Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh
Kocharyan explaining why the Armenian delegation’s attendance at this
meeting is not envisaged. Later, it also revealed that Armenia was not
even invited. “If we were invited, we would discuss the possibility of
participation,” continued Shavarsh Kocharyan. Head of the Democratic
Party Aram Sargsyan who is in favor of Armenia’s accession to the EaEU
believes that definitely the President of Armenia’s participation in
such meetings shall take place regardless of the agenda. “Whatever
issues were discussed between the Trio, they should definitely refer to
Armenia. If not, it turns out that there is a sector or sectors where
Armenia’s involvement in the implemented programs is not envisaged,”
says our interlocutor, adding that Armenia’s authorities should clearly
state that such things are inappropriate. “There are no issues related
to Armenia” is not an explanation at all.” Aram Sargsyan considers
this an expression of some hierarchy. However, he recommends looking
for the reasons inside.

“Armenia itself should have a position and posture to reckon with it.

Armenia’s economic situation, the dependence on international agencies,
particularly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund,
is increasing day by day, and the practice shows that Armenia is
subject to these structures, is of great importance. All the events
happened in Armenia are seriously examined there and an appropriate
treatment is formed. The RA government policy does not provide grounds
to say that the real changes will take place in Armenia, which will
contribute to the enhancement of the status of Armenia. While everyone
in the outer world looks at the status the partner presents. Armenia’s
status does not correspond.” Aram Sargsyan also calls attention to
the fact of who from the Armenian side and how presents Armenia
in the EaEU. “Let’s leave the president, but the staff of the
Armenian representation does not meet their needs. They do not
understand who can sit at the table and what to discuss, how they
are prepared. They should have thought when doing steps. There is a
problem of an elementary free communication. If you do not speak the
language, you cannot interact with people and form relationships and
so on. Such things that seem minor leave a very serious impact. You
should be offended only of yourself, as you do not present yourself
accordingly.” NA member of Foreign Affairs Tevan Poghosyan voted
against Armenia’s joining the EaEU Treaty at the Parliament and has
always been of the opinion that the EaEU plan will not happen and
will be a failure. He considers the meeting of the Trio hosted in
Astana in this framework. Moreover, he hopes that this will become a
good signal for official Yerevan to understand that it is necessary
to be guided by own interests and continue keep moving towards the
European integration. Note that the next European Union summit will be
held in May in Riga. Various Euro-officials already announce about the
possibilities of clarification of the Armenia-EU relations. “Should we
become a member of a club, where we are not invited to the meetings,
I don’t know on what basis, and discuss economic issues, we allegedly
had joined an economic club, in this sense, I am happy to some extent.

>From now on, Armenia can be guided by its interests and solve its
problems,” said Tevan Poghosyan. This, according to the opposition MO,
is one of the evidences of non-establishment of the Eurasian Union,
which enables Armenia to follow its long-term interests towards
the European integration. NA Republican MP Hamlet Harutyunyan cannot
comment on the issue in depth, as he is not familiar with the summit in
Astana and the obtained agreements. But he is surprised that they had
“gathered and Armenia is not there.” To the question of why Armenia
is not invited, the ruling party MP expects to hear the answer soon
from the “high officials”. Now, he is sure that Armenia’s membership
to the EaEU was correctly chosen path. The fact that the transfers
from Russia to Armenia have been significantly reduced starting from
January of this year, the ruling party MP does not view it as a defeat
by Armenia, as the government promises that our countries membership
to the EaEU will positively affect the country’s economy are not
fulfilled. “These promises will soon come true if the domestic economic
situation in Russia is stabilized,” said he suggesting approaching the
situation with understanding. “Just our luck!” said our interlocutor
half-jokingly. To the question that if the sanctions against Russia
are continued, so whether we are going to live worse, he said, “Now,
it is so. However, we must look at the situation real and explain it
with our being wrong that we have entered the Eurasian Union. There
are objective and subjective reasons. We have just entered, it will
be difficult in the beginning until these problems are settled down.”

Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

DOCUMENTARY OF ARMENIAN MUSIC IN DETROIT PREMIERES MARCH 16

The Oakland Press, MI
March 12 2015

“Guardians of Music,” a new documentary about Armenian music in Detroit
will premiere at 9:30 p.m. March 16 on Detroit Public Television. The
film was produced and narrated by Ara Topouzian of Farmington Hills, an
Armenian-American musician. Topouzian is a Kresge Fellow and president
of the Troy Chamber of Commerce. He is proficient in playing the kanun
(Middle Eastern harp) and has performed at many venues across the
nation and world. Topouzian received a $12,000 challenge grant from
the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to create the one-hour film
which features metro Detroit area locations where Armenian music was
once prominent, as well as interviews with some of the musicians and
nightclub patrons of that era.

— Staff writer Kathy Blake