Author: Talalian Arpi

ARMENIA DELAYS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SOLUTION: VICE SPEAKER

Trend
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenia delays the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
First Vice Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan said.

At a meeting with a member of the House of Lords of Great Britain,
John Desmond Forbes Anderson Veyverli, the First Vice Speaker of
Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafet Askerov spoke about the essence of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem. He said that the meetings of parliamentarians
have been held for more than ten years, but aggressive Armenia does
not behave as a serious state and refuses positive tendencies achieved
in the negotiations, thus delaying the solution of the conflict,
the press office of the Parliament told Trend News on Nov. 23.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

According to Askerov, despite 18 years activity of the OSCE Minsk
Group, there is no result. "Being interested in preserving the status
quo, Armenia does not fulfill UN Security Council’s four resolutions,
does not follow international legal norms and principles," the
report said.

Askerov said that Azerbaijan is a supporter of peace and wants a
peaceful solution to the conflict. "But if Armenia would indefinitely
delay the peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan will
have to liberate its occupied lands by military means," he said

According to him, the international community approaches the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the position of observer. Askerov also
highlighted another important point, saying that the world countries
should not have same attitude towards Azerbaijan experiencing
occupation and occupant Armenia. "These two countries should be
assessed for their actions, and to resolve the conflict it is necessary
to look through this prism," said the First Vice Speaker.

To resolve the conflict, firstly the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan must be ensured, later refugees and internally displaced
persons must be returned to their homes and the security of Armenians
living in Nagorno-Karabakh must be guaranteed, said Lord Veyverli.

PressTV, Iran
Nov 22 2009

Azeri, Armenian leaders discuss Nagorno-Karabakh

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:20:28 GMT

A Soviet-made tank is seen near the town of Agdam, which is controlled
by the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani and Armenian heads of state have met to attempt to
resolve the longstanding territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.

On Sunday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks with his
Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian with hopes of reestablishing
Baku’s authority over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan
lost to Armenia in the 1990s, the AzerTAj state news agency reported.

The meeting took place at the residence of the Consul General of
France in Munich and was also joined by the co-chairmen of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Robert
Bradtke (US), Bernard Fassier (France), and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia).

Azerbaijan lost control of the region in a rebellion by local
Armenians, who were supported by the military of the Republic of
Armenia. The conflict killed tens of thousands of people and displaced
over a million others.

However, the international community has refused to recognize the de
facto rule of the ensuing Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

"That meeting must play a decisive role in the process of
negotiations," the Azerbaijani president said on Friday, adding that
should the session end short of a deal, "then our hopes in
negotiations will be exhausted and then we are left with no other
option" than to reclaim the territory by force.

"We are doing that because we never excluded and we do not exclude
that option. We have the full right to liberate our land by military
means," he insisted.

HN/SS/HGL

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS TURKEY’S FINAL PERSPECTIVE IS EUROPE

Anadolu Agency
Nov 17 2009
Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) -Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that
Turkey would never give up its final perspective Europe.

Davutoglu said during a debate at the parliament on the budget of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Turkey cannot be offended in its
relations with Europe, the United States, the Middle East and the
Central Asia. Turkey is a regional actor. Also, our unique geographical
position entails us to develop foreign policies for many regions at
the same time. We cannot say that we do not care about what happens
in Europe or in Iran."

Referring to the protocols signed with Armenia, Davutoglu said, "our
target with those protocols is mutual recognition of the borders by
Turkey and Armenia. The protocols clearly define the borders. There
is nothing in those protocols against Turkey’s interests."

"Azerbaijan has lost 20 per cent of its territories. This status quo
has not changed for the past 17 years. We attach great importance to
protection Azerbaijani territories. If we do not try to change the
status quo for another 10 years, it will become permanent. Our target
is to change the situation in the region through diplomatic ways. In
that case, Turkey-Armenia relations can be normalized. Also, we can
create a peaceful atmosphere between Azerbaijan and Armenia that
can pave the way to end of occupation of Azerbaijani territories,"
Davutoglu added.

HRAIR KARAPETYAN: VAZGEN SARGSYAN WAS AWARE OF TER-PETROSYAN’S DANGER

news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

Below is an interview with Hrair Karapetyan, the Chairman of
the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal
Affairs, RA Parliament, and member of the Executive Council, Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakstutyun) ARF(D).

NEWS.am: Mr. Karapetyan, what is your comment on the speech delivered
by Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan at the meeting of
active members of the Armenian National Congress (ANC)?

H. Karapetyan: Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s speech was inconsistent, and he
himself was inconsistent during his presidency. His speech is evidence
he has not changed. For example, his speech did not make it clear what
is the ANC’s position on the Armenian-Turkish relations. Now they say
that no concessions are possible on the Armenian Genocide issue now
they deny the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause). I have the impression that
Ter-Petrosyan has no idea of Hay Dat and of whether it has anything
in common with the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

Nonetheless, from Ter-Petrosyan’s latest speech I draw the conclusion
that he has remained committed to the foreign-policy strategy he was
advocating when President. Ter-Petrosyan continues denying Hay-Dat ,
whereas the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue is the first of Hay Dat’s
demands. It was no coincidence that, when President, Ter-Petrosyan
was pursuing a defeatist policy – leaving Nagorno-Karabakh as part
of Azerbaijan. His article entitled "War or Peace" is evidence thereof.

When President, Ter-Petrosyan was pursuing a disguised defeatist
policy, whereas he is openly advocating his ideas now, calling the
struggle waged by the Hay Dat supporting forces "a hysteric struggle."

All the statements are evidence of lack of political seriousness. A
political force whose only aim is to change power cannot be called
Opposition.

NEWS.am: What can you say about the fact that, despite his
severe criticism of President Serzh Sargsyan, in his recent speech
Ter-Petrosyan tried, as it were, to screen and justify the incumbent
President by laying the responsibility for the present situation on
his predecessor Robert Kocharyan?

H. Karapetyan: I consider Ter-Petrosyan’s speech nothing but a play
on words. I think that neither the people nor political figures,
including President Serzh Sargsyan, should take his words seriously –
he is a person disregarding national interests and ideals, an ambitious
person seeking to regain power. One of the most outstanding political
figures of the Third Republic, Vazgen Sargsyan, played a great role
in Ter-Petrosyan’s removal from power, as he was well aware of the
threat that one posed to Armenia.

NEWS.am: Many experts think that, by addressing Serzh Saregsyan,
Ter-Petrosyan was "extending a cooperating hand" to the authorities
on the threshold of parliamentary elections…

H. Karapetyan: The experts may be right. In this context the following
question should be put to the ruling majority: is their policy really
in line with the ideas of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the ANC? If so,
the ARF is right – the incumbent authorities made a U-turn in their
policy. It means that the fundamental principles of the national
security concept have been revised, which is not publicized.

NEWS.am: What is the possible result of the ferment within the ANC?

The matter particularly concerns the criticism voiced by Zhirair
Sefilyan, the leader of the Miatsum (Unity) movement, which is part
of the ANC.

H. Karapetyan: I think the recent processes may split the ANC,
as Ter-Petrosyan’s policy is "after the heart" of the ANC members
representing the Armenian National Movement (ANM). Many of the
political forces forming the ANC accuse Ter-Petrosyan of being
inactive. They believe that the ANC’s passivity against the ARF’s
vigorous activities is affecting the ANC’s rating. In this context,
I think Ter-Petrosyan’s speech was aimed at encouraging his supporters
and assure them that the ANC will come to power without fail – if
not by elections, then by cooperating with the authorities.

NEWS.am: Mr. Karapetyan, what is the reason for the second president’s
prompt response to the first?

H. Karapetyan: An accused person is usually in a hurry to respond. On
the other hand, if a guiltless person tries to justify himself,
such one becomes half guilty.

KHOSROV RESERVE DIRECTOR KILLED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.11.2009 14:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Director of Armenia’s Khosrov reserve, 51-year-old
Samvel Shaboyan was assassinated on the night of November 19 .

Police said Shoboyan’s Toyota Prado was shelled by unknown. Law
enforcers counted 30 bullet holes in the car. Shoboyan, who was
sitting on the backseat, died from numerous bullet wounds.

A criminal case was initiated.

Earlier, Shaboyan told journalists about the threats from local
poachers.

PROTECTION OF MORBID CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 16:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A program on protection of morbid children’s rights
will be discussed in Yerevan on November 20. The purpose of the program
is to offer an incentive to protect the children and teenagers with
integration of pupils of Yerevan and Vanadzor special schools.

The program is financed by European Union (83 211 euro) and
Franco-Armenian Development Fund (29 000 euro).

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS LAW ON "CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR UNIT(S) IN ARMENIA"

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
signed November 16 law on making changes in the law on "Civil
Service" and law on "Construction of New Nuclear Unit(s) in Armenia",
presidential press service reported.

ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT CRUCIAL FOR OBAMA: ZAMAN

news.am
Nov 16 2009
Armenia

"How can a country that is supposedly turning authoritarian at home
and Islamist in its foreign policy be pursuing a democratization
package for Kurds and an engagement policy with Armenia?", Turkish
Zaman daily quotes Turkish analyst Omer Taspinar.

"The Kurdish reform initiative, which will expand cultural rights for
Kurds, is applauded by both the EU and Washington. Such democratic
steps aimed at a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem are likely
to bolster Ankara’s stalled accession process with the EU. One
can thus argue that by tackling the Kurdish issue, the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) is also trying to improve Turkey’s chances
of EU membership. The same goes for the opening with Armenia.

Rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia is a crucial priority for the
Obama administration. The US president needs a face-saving excuse in
order to convince the Armenian lobby and the US Congress that genocide
recognition is not the way to go with Turkey. He can only to do so
by pointing at the progress on the ground. Therefore, by improving
its relations with Yerevan, Ankara is in fact also improving its
relations with Washington," the daily reads.

"So where is the Islamic agenda in all these policies? Skeptics will
argue that Ankara’s close relations with Iran and recent problems
with Israel illustrate the Islamist tilt in its foreign policy. But is
Turkey’s Iran policy based on a sense of Islamic solidarity? Would a
more secular government in Turkey follow a very different Iran policy?

There are major trade and energy contracts, amounting to $10 billion,
between the two countries. In my opinion Turkey’s Iran policy is
more about economic interests and "realpolitik. As far as Israel is
concerned, the policies of the AKP government reflect the feelings
of the Turkish street. In other words, Turkey’s anger with Israel
is not an Islamic expression. It is rather a populist expression,"
the daily says.

"Do you have to be an Islamist to feel such anger? This is why it
doesn’t make much sense to talk about an Islamist turn in Turkish
foreign policy. Turkey is becoming a country where public opinion
matters much more than before. Populism and democracy often go
hand-in-hand. After all, politicians who run democratic countries
need to always think about elections and the ballot box. This is
why they develop a chronic habit of looking at opinion polls. They
do their best to follow the wishes of their constituency. In that
sense, the AKP is not any different. It is a populist party rather
than an Islamist one. If the EU is popular with the Turkish street,
the AKP will push for more EU reform," Omer Taspinar outlines.

"Are there, then, no dangers in populism? The answer depends on the
social and economic context. The street can sometimes turn to extreme
ideologies and elect extremist politicians. After all, Hitler was an
elected politician, and he was popular with the German street. But
any objective observer of Turkey would agree that the Turkish street
is pragmatic. Turkish voters, like voters in Western democracies,
look at the economic situation first. Bread and butter issues are
much more important than ideology for them.

Therefore, if the AKP is unable to run the economy properly, it
will most probably lose the elections. This is why job creation, the
economic growth rate, the trade balance and volume with neighbors are
such critical factors for Turkey’s democratically elected politicians.

No democratically elected government can ignore such issues. For all
these reasons, democracies tend to be pragmatic systems. The need to
get re-elected has a moderating impact on politicians. There are no
reasons to doubt that the same dynamics are at play in Turkey’s own
political evolution," the daily concludes.

ARMENIAN LEOPARDS ALMOST COMPLETELY EXTINCT IN WILD

RIA Novosti
Nov 16, 2009

YEREVAN, November 16 (RIA Novosti) – Only five to seven leopards
remain in the wild in Armenia, Novosti-Armenia news agency reported,
citing the Armenian director of the World Wildlife Fund.

"These noble animals are under the threat of extinction," Karen
Manvelyan said.

According to him, the main reason leading to the leopards’ extinction
is poaching.

"Illegal hunting of rare species registered in the Armenian Red Book,
including Bezoar ibex, Armenian mouflon sheep, and leopard, has not
ceased," Manvelyan said. He added that even the brown bear is hunted
out of season.

Manvelyan believes poaching can be solved by creating nature
conservation areas.

The conservationist said that Armenia had recently made a historical
decision by creating two conservation areas in southern Armenia.

Arevik National Park and Zangezur Sanctuary might solve the problem
of rare species extinction, he said.

He said that more than 1,500 types of plants, including 24 registered
in the Red Data Book of Armenia and 19 endemics, around 245 species
of vertebrates, including 49 registered in the RDBA and 12 in the
IUCN Red Data List are located in the Arevik National Park.

Zangezur Sanctuary has also become an important conservation park
for rare and threatened flora and fauna.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 14 2009

Yerevan considers Ankara-Baku alliance danger for Armenia- Turkish MP

14.11.2009 12:23
Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.14 / Trend News K.Zarbaliyeva/

Yerevan believes the Ankara-Baku alliance is danger for Armenia, the
chief of the Turkish Center of International Relations and Strategic
analyze (TURKSAM), Sinan Ogan, said during the meeting on "Existing
process and perspectives in the South Caucasus" in the Center of
Strategic Analysis under the President of Azerbaijan.

The existing principle of "one nation-two states" is the cause of
concern of some forces, Ogan added.

"Former co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, US diplomat Matthew Bryza
said in a press conference in Yerevan that Turkey and Azerbaijan have
to leave aside the "one nation-two states" conception," Ogan said.

This fact testifies that not only Armenia and Russia, but the United
States, are against this alliance, Ogan added.