Author: Tamamian Anna

YEREVAN DENIES REPORTS THERE WERE WEAPONS ABOARD CRASHED AIRLINER

Interfax
Aug 4 2009
Russia

Armenia’s Main Civil Aviation Department has denied media reports
claiming there were weapons aboard the Tupolev Tu-154 airliner on a
flight from Tehran to Yerevan, which crashed on July 15.

"These reports are untrue and unfounded. Passenger liners cannot
carry weapons," it told the press.

Earlier reports claimed that the crash had been caused by a blast
in the baggage compartment and that the plane was carrying weapons
for Hezbollah.

Italy’s Corriere Della Sera wrote that there were weapons and a large
number of detonators in the plane’s cargo compartment. The weapons
were to be moved to Syria through Armenia and Turkey, and then to
Lebanon, the newspaper claimed.

The plane crashed 16 minutes after takeoff, killing 168 people. The
Iranian authorities have not announced any official theories regarding
the possible reasons behind the crash thus far.

SERZH SARGSYAN FEELS OFFENDED, OPPOSITIONIST SAYS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.08.2009 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congress coordinator Levon Zurabyan announced today
that the Congress will hold a special session dedicated to the Nagorno
Karabakh problem.

"Despite some differences, most of Congress members have a common
opinion on the issue," he said.

Commenting on the Armenian-Turkish relations, Zurabyan said that
Turkey achieved its goal.

"Serzh Sargsyan feels offended. His plan to normalize Armenian-Turkish
relations apart from Karabakh process has failed. It’s clear that
there will be no progress in normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations unless the Karabakh conflict is resolved," he said.

OSKANIAN SPEAKS ON MADRID PRINCIPLES

RFE/RL
Aug 3, 2009

TRANSLATION OF AN INTERVIEW ON RFE/RL

Vartan Oskanian’s interview (translation below) to Radio Free Europe
(FM 102, Yerevan) was aired on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 7 P.M. Click
here to listen on line.

views/199-vartan-oskanians-interview.html

RFE/RL: On debating members of the Armenian National Congress

VARTAN OSKANIAN: I have no problem debating anyone. I’m happy to
debate any issue, but that debate must serve a purpose. Specifically
on the topic of Nagorno Karabakh, I see no reason to engage in that
debate because the opposition’s issue is not with me, but with the
administration. So the opposition’s invitation to debate should be
directed to the administration, to those conducting negotiations
today. Of course we can sit and talk about history, about the past,
about the last 17 years.

Civilitas convenes such discussions. Perhaps in the coming months
it will be possible to convene one on the topic of Nagorno Karabakh
and all those who wish to participate can come and do so. But right
now, there would be no purpose to my debating the opposition. Their
fundamental target should be today’s government.

On being responsible for the Madrid Principles

Each administration is responsible for its period in history. Today,
there has been a change in administration, there is a new
administration, and t hey have decided to continue the negotiations
from where we left off.

Therefore, today, the authorities are responsible and the debate
should be between the administration and the opposition. I think that
for 18 months, the opposition hasn’t understood this and it continues
to try to conduct a debate with the past administration. I think it
would be more useful if the

administration and the opposition actually did debate the issues
which concern our people.

On the Madrid principles.

During the whole of the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations process, all
comprehensive solutions have been based on four fundamental principles.

Those have never changed. The first is the status of Nagorno Karabakh,
the second is the return of territories, the third is the return of
refugees, and the fourth is security guarantees. I want to repeat this:
from the first day all comprehensive proposals have been based on these
principles. I assure you that it will be the same in the future. In
other words, if Madrid fails – and we’re already talking about the
Krakow principles, if they fail – and in the future, there are new
documents, they too will be based on these same principles. If the
Armenian side would really rather not see the return of territories
or the return of refugees in future documents, in other words, if we
are to be lead by the "not an inch of land" principle which, really,
of course, would be a great solution, and in that case I have nothing
to add, then at that time, either Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh or both,
as the Armenian side in the negotiations, must reject negotiations. If,
however, we are engaged in negotiations, then these principles will
be there.

As for negotiated proposals, the content of the Madrid principles
is disproportionately advantageous in comparison with that of all
previous proposals. On this, there is no doubt and no argument. As
regards the status of Nagorno Karabakh, in the past, the worst
proposal was high autonomy within Azerbaijan, and the best was a
horizontal link between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan within a
common state, but the content of the Madrid principles specifically
offers self-determination for the people of Nagorno Karabakh, and
this naturally and obviously means Nagorno Karabakh independence or
reunification with Armenia. So, the Madrid principles in comparison
with those which came before are disproportionately better, without
doubt. And I would hope that you would agree with me that I’m one
of the very few people who is thoroughly familiar with all previous
documents and can make such a comparison.

As to the other principles – territories, refugees and security –
I can say the same. The formulations are such that they offer the
opportunity, when the details are negotiated prudently, to truly
arrive at an outcome that is advantageous for us.

Principles are, of course, important but more important are the
details that must be negotiated. We did not succeed in arriving at an
agreement on the details with the Azerbaijani side because Azerbaijan’s
demands were unacceptable for us, and our demands were unacceptable
for them. There was no common ground. We had our benchmark, based
naturally on our national interests, and we were unable to arrive at
an agreement within range of that bar.

Today, the focus, the debate should be about that benchmark. Today’s
leadership is not the same. Serzh Sargsyan is not Kocharian,
Nalbandian is not Oskanian. There are clear policy changes. I am
frequently blamed for criticizing foreign policy just because I was
foreign minister for 10 years.

Yes, I was minister, but the administration has changed. Certain
policies being implemented today re fundamentally different from
the policies we implemented, so there is room for criticism. When
there are things with which I disagree, I criticize. That’s why
today I will repeat, and in fact I call on the opposition as well,
that their task today is to clarify what the benchmark is. Our bar
was high. I have concerns about where the bar is today. Azerbaijan
says whatever it wants to say, Bryza talks about the return of six
or seven territories, Aliyev rules out the independence of Nagorno
Karabakh – and our leadership is silent. This is my20concern.

This is what the opposition should be worried about today, and our
public too. And we must specifically challenge the authorities, raise
questions and ask that they clarify where that bar stands today,
to quell our concerns.

The opposition’s issue isn’t with me, but with the authorities.

On Matt Bryza’s explanation that Nagorno Karabakh’s non-participation
in Nagorno Karabakh talks was the result of a decision by the
Armenian side

Bryza does not appear to be thoroughly informed. He’s probably unaware
of the background. Nagorno Karabakh’s participation was interrupted
in March 1997, when the Minsk process itself stopped. In other words,
when I was appointed foreign minister, Nagorno Karabakh was no longer
in the process. But there was an ongoing process between presidents,
ministers and meetings between the advisors of the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

It’s true, in those days, we were faced with a choice – to continue
the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations, or to raise the Nagorno Karabakh
participation issue. It was decided that we would continue to
negotiate, because the alternative was that the talks generally would
be stalled. So the decision was about whether to continue or not,
and not whether Nagorno Karabakh would participate or not. That’s
absurd. So the truth is that Nagorno Karabakh’s participation was
interrupted in 1997.

Today, of course it’s desirable that Nagorno Karabakh return;
everyone understands that without Nagorno Karabakh there cannot be
a final agreement.

So the sooner Nagorno Karabakh enters the process, the more engaged
they become and their wishes taken into consideration, their consent
on a final agreement will be more likely. Presenting the Nagorno
Karabakh authorities and people with a fait accompli will make it
much more difficult to bring them on board. There’s no doubt and
Azerbaijan too must realize this – that the sooner Nagorno Karabakh
enters the process, the more the process will benefit.

On an assessment of the 1998-2008 negotiations period

In 1996, there was the Lisbon statement by the OSCE Chairman-in-office.

It’s true it’s not a binding document, and only a statement, but it
was done in the name of all OSCE member states, with the exception
of Armenia. In 1997-98, it was very difficult for us to break down
that wall because those countries were convinced of a Lisbon-based
solution. The documents of 1997 regarding the Nagorno Karabakh
resolution, especially the first one which was comprehensive
and referred to the status, was completely based on the Lisbon
principles. President Ter-Petrossian categorically rejected that
proposal. Later, when it was clear that agreement on the status would
be complicated, they brought forth a step-by-step proposal, about
which Ter-Petrossian made a public statement, wrote an ar ticle, and
the rest is history. But that the notion of autonomy was reinforced
among states was unequivocal. When I say we were struggling against
that, it was not against a document that we were struggling, but
against that perception. We did, in fact, succeed in changing that
perception. I’m not in competition with the former administration. I
believe that between 1998 to 2008 Armenia’s diplomacy succeeded to
break down that wall on autonomy and reach codification of the right
of self-determination that we have today.

I consider that a success. When I hear these arguments which target
individuals or former administrations, I think sometimes we are blinded
by these arguments and motivated by revenge and don’t think about what
we’re saying and doing. I say this with great conviction – if we lose
this one principle, the principle of the right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to self-determination, it will be very difficult to revive it.

Indeed, the negotiations can go off in a completely other direction
and the principle of territorial integrity may be reinforced. Today,
we are at an advantage over Azerbaijan, specifically because of the
existence of the self-determination principle, and that is why we
must be cautious in our statements and criticism.

I want to repeat this – we must understand how far we can go in our
concessions, because without concessions there will be no resol
ution, since the situation now is more complex than in the past,
and this complication is the consequence of our miscalculated
foreign policy. Today, the Armenia-Turkey situation affects the
Nagorno Karabakh issue, pressure has increased, so all seem to
be in a hurry on the Nagorno Karabakh issue, in order to make it
possible to also resolve the Turkey-Armenia border issue. Under that
pressure, it is possible to take steps that are not necessarily in
our national interests, especially since during this year and a half
this administration has taken such steps, that is why there is room
for concern.

On the Turkey-Armenia process and the seeming absence of an Armenian
agenda

In my time, there was a clear agenda. I think there is one today
as well.

But to what extent the Armenian side can bring on discussion of that
agenda, or impose that agenda, that’s another matter. There’s always
been an agenda, I’m sure there is one today. The problem is that
Turkey was able to make its own agenda more prevalent during this
time. In other words, as of today, Turkey has gotten what it wanted
from this process. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but
the Armenian side has so far gotten nothing. From the first day, I
said there was clear miscalculation here. And more and more, we are
convinced of this. The president’s last statement does not correct
the situation. The presi dent continues to leave a window open. I
believe the president should state more clearly that if the border is
not open by the time the football game takes place, then I can’t go
to Turkey. But he has still left this window open and that’s exactly
what Turkey wants. They’ve received what they wanted, they continue to
reap dividends, and I don’t know when our leadership will be convinced
that the Turkish side is exploiting the situation. They should been
convinced of this long ago and so long as the process continues the
way it’s been, the Armenian side will continue to lose.

On the ‘artificial’ and ‘false’ nature of Armenia’s democracy

If government is not formed through free and fair elections, then we
will never be able to create the right checks and balances within our
political system. Without such balance, we can’t solve our problems,
and impose the rule of law. Fair and free elections are necessary
but not sufficient conditions for democracy. There is no doubt about
this. I’m not saying anything new: this is the international practice
and the experience of democratic countries. Without normal elections,
your democracy is incomplete, and not serious. So our focus should
be on that and we need to find the mechanisms to make that happen.

On national mobilization in the context of domestic tensions,
reciprocal distrust and a deficit of legitimacy

In my statement at the Stepanakert conference in July, I said that
the same factors that make mobilization imperative also obstruct
such mobilization.

Here the authorities have a huge role to play. I believe they must
take minimal but specific steps to improve the political environment
in the country, to inspire hope that something will change and to
create clear mechanisms to solve problems. Under such circumstances
it may be possible to collaborate on our most pressing problems.

There seems to be an impression that independent of everything,
however bad the situation internally, however much we may be opposed
to each other, when there are external threats facing the state,
we will come together. In extreme situations, I am convinced that is
indeed the case. But we must also recognize that we are also faced
with political threats. The situation may become such that there will
not be war but that there may be efforts to impose on us conditions
that go counter to our national interest. So we must recognize that
there are not-so-obvious internal and external political threats and
dangers around which we must also rally together. The authorities
must take a leading role in this and recognize that there are such
issues. Because, at the end of the day, it is the rule of law, a
healthy political environment and appropriate checks and balances,
that will make it possible for us to solve our problems.

Armenia is a very politicized country, everything is politicized
and we have problems everywhere. And as much as those problems may
be social, at the end, everything is political. So the solution
to these problems must be sought in the political arena. We will
only succeed in solving them if we can create the right political
mechanisms. Recently, I proposed creating a second political pole,
commensurate to the existing power pole. I believe that’s the right
path. Both the administration and the opposition should think about
that because that is in our national interest. The authorities must
support this, or at the very least, not obstruct it, in order for
such a pole to emerge.

On March 1, 2008 and accusations about willfully re-interpreting
that day

I disagree. That day I had nothing to gain or lose. That day I took
upon myself a great responsibility, more than could be expected of a
foreign minister. I sensed the dangers of that day and it was with that
awareness that I spoke out. It would have been easy to refuse a press
conference that day, but that would not have been the responsible thing
to do. If only other political figures, from both sides, who were the
key players that day, had also demonstrated such responsibility. If
each had done what he could, I am convinced we might have avoided
one of the blackest days in our nation’s history. My conscience is
clear that I did my20part. It didn’t succeed.

But I stood before our people and called on the authorities and the
opposition to sit and talk.

On entering the political arena

In my interviews, my statements, I am already perceived as someone
who is in the political arena. That has not been formalized by a
declaration or an organization. Nevertheless, I am in politics. I
can’t be indifferent to the events that transpire in Armenia today,
and I will do everything to be able to have input and become useful,
especially to help form a healthy political environment in our country,
and to work with everyone, to reach at least a bi-polar political
system – one that would noticeably reinforce our democratization
processes.

Vartan Oskanian’s interview to Radio Free Europe (FM 102, Yerevan)
will be aired on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at 7 P.M. Click here to
listen on line.

RA MINISTER OF DIASPORA MEETS DIASPORAN ARMENIAN TEACHERS TRAINED IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Aug 3, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Problems concerning
most different directions of the Homeland-Diaspora relations were
touched upon at the July 31 meeting at the RA Ministry of Diaspora
between Minister Hranush Hakobian and 79 Diasporan Armenian teachers
trained in Armenia.

According to the RA Ministry of Diaspora, at the beginning Minister
H. Hakobian mentioned that the annual volume of budget allocations
for training of Diasporan Armenian teachres in Armenia increases
year by year. It made 2.7b drams (7.3m U.S. dollars) in 2009. Then,
she presented directions of state politic amendments towards
Diaspora during the recent few years made to the RA Constitution:
Armenian Diaspora conception; to the legislation: registration of the
institute on dual citizenship, foundation of the Ministry of Diaspora,
adoption of the partnership ideology in the Diaspora-Armenia economic
relations. H. Hakobian also presented functions and problems of the
Ministry of Diaspora.

The Minister also mentioned that though the Diaspora is multifoliated
it must by united in the issues of securing and strengthening of the
Armenian state, final and peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem,
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. "We are of 10m and
must pour pride in our people. The 21st century must be the Armenian
people’s century," Minister H. Hakobian emphasized.

Sha also attached importance to the Armenian teacher’s role especially
in the affair of preserving the Armenian essence, mentioning that the
greatest benefactor is just the Armenian teacher. He is the one who
implements the greatest activity of keeping an Armenian as an Armenian.

The RA Minister of Daispora was introduced questions and proposals
by Diasporan Armenian teachers from Argentina, Georgia, Russia,
Iran, Egypt, Kuwait, Syria, Turkey, Switzerland who are trained in
Armenia. In response to the proposal of assistance to Diasporan
teachers by the Armenian state, the Minister mentioned that the
RA government has already started allocation of some financial
assistance for development of the Armenian schools and Armenology in
Diaspora. Besides, the state allocates rather voluminous resources
for implementation of all-Armenian programs in educational, youth,
cultural and other spheres. One of them is the Come Home program
the first two-week stage of which finished on July 30. Many words
of gratitude were addressed to the RA Minister of Diaspora on this
occasion. Egyptian Armenian teacher Shake Artinian assured that the
house of the family received her son within the framework of that
program was "really his." In her words, all the children received
by families within the framework of the program were pleased. The
Egyptian Armenian teacher mentioned that many Egyptian Armenian
juveniles expressed wish to visit the Homeland within the framework
of the Come Home program.

Minister Hranush Hakobian expressed her pride on the occasion that
the families receiving Diasporan Armenian young people accepted them
as own children. "I am proud that our Armenian root is so healthy,"
Mrs. H. Hakobian mentioned.

SITUATION IS TENSE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH, ARMENIANS NOT WANT TO LIVE THERE: AZERBAIJAN’S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Today.Az
/54224.html
July 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s permanent representative to the Council of Europe Arif
Mammadov spoke in an exclusive interview with Day.Az.

Day.Az: The Council of Europe reaction to the post-election events
in Armenia which claimed several lives demonstrated inadequacy of
Strasburg’s attitude to separate member states. Do you see any
political element in this? Can the Council of Europe resort to
sanctions against the Armenian delegation?

Arif Mammadov: Armenians almost faced difficult situation for the
two recent PACE sessions. The Armenian delegation in PACE could be
deprived of a mandate which is an extreme measure. The MPs were quite
tough at the session and demanded Armenia to fulfill commitments.

At the same time, I would not say that here it is a notorious "double
standard." No international organization wants to resort to drastic
measures. Armenia has received a rather harsh warning as a red card,
which it has been getting for quite a long time since the election. It
would be wrong to expect PACE’s deprivation of Armenian delegation
of the mandate especially at a time when the organization is not
experiencing the best of times in its development. Neither the Council
of Europe nor the political factions want to resort to this measure.

There is also factor of lobbying involved here. Armenians did not
sit idly and they understand what this warning means.

In other words, Armenia received a warning, but it is provides an
opportunity to rectify the situation.

Q: Even some member of the Armenian delegation also favor sanctions
against Armenia…

A: Of course, perhaps some would like to see a different situation
including some members of the Armenian delegation. I mean members
of the delegation from the opposition who strongly criticized the
government of their country.

At the last session, Azerbaijani MP Gultakin Hajiyeva signed
(by the way I believe she was right) the document circulated by an
Armenian parliamentarian which rigidly criticized the current Armenian
government. This suggests that there is constant pressure. But again,
the CE does not back extreme measures at least so far. Armenians
are aware that sword of Damocles hangs over them and try to solve
existing problems.

In any case, these problems are indicated in many documents and it
is difficult for Armenia to talk about any democratic transformations.

Q: As to the issue of cooperation between Azerbaijanis and Armenians
within the international organizations, did you encounter cases when
Armenians, whether parliamentarians or diplomats, adequately assessed
the situation in the region and was sympathetic to Baku’s stance on
the Nagorno-Karabakh?

A: I have to many times happened to communicate with MPs and diplomats
from Armenia. I must admit that many of them also realize the need
for the liberation of the occupied territories, because the current
situation does not benefit Armenia at all.

The situation is tense in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenians do not want
to live there. Sensible people wish stability for themselves and
their children which this is natural. Nagorno-Karabakh is now a dead
zone. Despite some promises, some grants, people are reluctant to go
there, even with financial encouragement from the diaspora. Nobody
wants to put his life in danger. Therefore, the conflict has brought
nothing good to Armenia and adequate politicians and representatives
of the public understand that it is much better to have peace with a
neighbor. The recent mutual visits of intellectuals of both countries
to Baku, Yerevan and Nagorno Karabakh again shows that the Armenian
society understanding the real situation.

There are a lot of people from Azerbaijan in Armenia and they are also
part of society. It lives with nostalgia about the old good-neighborly
relations, which also plays a role. Visits by intellectuals show
that there is an opportunity to address the problem. Of course, this
conflict should be resolved within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin must understand this. Life
shows that to be within Azerbaijan means is to develop on an equal
footing with other citizens, Azerbaijani society, which, perhaps,
is an example for the entire region.

Q: Azerbaijan has circulated a large number of documents in the PACE
and most of them directly or indirectly relates to the Karabakh
conflict. How effective are these documents? Does the Council of
Europe has a reliable mechanism to implement them?

A: The Council of Europe does not have reliable mechanisms of
pressure on this issue and the organization is not directly involved
in the conflict. It keeps the matter on the agenda. Of course, the
distribution of documents is very important. But it is not worth
to expect much effect from this. Yes, Armenians are nervous because
Azerbaijani MPs are active collecting signatures.

At the same time, I think the CE would be more important in
post-conflict period when there will be a need to restore all links
to work with civil society. During this period, the best weapon to
deal with differences is democratic institutions.

The development of our society allows to believe that the Armenian
community of Karabakh is aware that it is better to live in peace with
its neighbors as it was before when we shared a lot in common. Today,
Azerbaijan has great possibilities and the Armenians could get
huge dividends from the presence in Azerbaijan and could have the
opportunity to develop like Azerbaijani society and state rather to
spend huge money on the armed forces in Karabakh.

ARMENIANOW.COM
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Internet:
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*************************** *************************************************

July 24, 2009

1. Performance Test: Armenia needs a team effort off the pitch**

2.** Cyber Wars: Experts say Armenia IT sector vulnerable to attack

3. **Former President, New Job: Will Kocharyan be content as a
businessman**

**4.** Bones and Backbones: A history of Azokh, from caves to
politics, from **paleontology to resolution**

5. Changing Landscape and Attitudes: ATP celebrates 15 years of
success on Armenia’s rough soil**

6.** **Letter Home: A Diaspora discovers Armenia and `Armenianness’

7. Sport: Armenia soccer clubs out of European tournaments

*********************************** ***************************************
1. Performance Test: Armenia needs a team effort off the pitch

A week before Armenia shuts down for summer holiday there is an air of
anticipation here that is less about relaxing than about the crucial
condition of regional relations.

When heads of government return to their posts in September, they will have
about six weeks to convince constituents and outsiders that they have a
workable plan for peace between Karabakh and Azerbaijan, and harmony between
Armenia and Turkey.

Let us hope leadership gets lots of rest during the annual holiday. Their
task is monumental.

When (if, as plans have not been formalized) President Serzh Sargsyan and
his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul meet for `Football Diplomacy II’ around
October 14, their meeting could signal the most significant period of change
in independent Armenia’s history.

Or, failing to find common ground could pour fresh salt in old and deep
wounds and lead to an unraveling of whatever peace is found in the tenuous
Karabakh ceasefire and tightening (if that’s possible) of locked borders
with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Recent days – indeed, recent years – have been full of hours-long
negotiation from which invariably emerge the refrain of 15 years of hopeful
doubt: `We believe progress has been made . . .’

The October soccer match outcome could be predicted now – not in favor of
Armenia. But the World Cup qualifier is hardly the focus. Rather it is the
life-and-death issues surrounding it that makes sport secondary to the
chance the game offers off the pitch.

Sargysan and Gul’s anticipated meeting in Turkey carries the weight of
expectation that relations will be `normalized’, or that further fractious
disagreement will lead to an eruption of simmering discontent.

Both presidents stand to gain. Making amends with Armenia would look good on
Turkey’s application for European Union membership. Settling the Karabakh
issue to the satisfaction of his citizenry would put Sargsyan on a pedestal
neither of his predecessors achieved.

But only Sargsyan stands to lose, should any agreement with Gul compromise
Karabakh.

Oddly, the Armenian president in 2009 faces a similar situation as his
nemesis, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, faced and was undone by, in 1998 (when
Ter-Petrosyan appeared ready to concede regions of Karabakh, in exchange for
a settlement).

The stage for the autumn gamesmanship is being set in Yerevan’s blistering
summer when political debate has heated beyond expectation.

This week saw movement toward a potential new oppositional coalition that
would unite ARF (Dashnaks), Heritage (Raffi Hovanissian) and ANC
(Ter-Petrosyan). A unified platform by the three would surely achieve a more
formidable power than the opposition has seen.

Is should also signal a shift (a diminishing in fact) of Ter-Petrosyan’s
leadership role. The former president is famous for demanding regime change.
Meanwhile, the Dashnaks focus on policy change. Even in resigning from the
Government last April, the Dashnaks did not call for Sargsyan to step down
(as ANC has repeatedly done). Plus, the Dashnak call for the resignation of
Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian last week can be read as a
denouncement of policy rather than personnel.

The middle ground is represented in the Heritage Party (national-liberal)
which, like the Dashnaks (socialists), advocates `national ideology’ and has
demonstrated time and again that it is surely a party of the people.

An alignment of the three parties would strengthen attempts to keep pressure
on President Sargsyan to step carefully while under the strong influence of
his Moscow advisors.

Also in this hot summer, every politico in Armenia and plenty outside has
roared his/her/their voice over speculation of positions that should be more
sharply defined when October gets here.

Meanwhile the impression from Baku is that Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev would be disappointed with any outcome except renewing the war in
Karabakh. Short of former US President George W. Bush’s `smoke `em out’
frothing at the mouth (referring to Osama Bin Laden) in 2001, hardly no
president could appear more blood thirsty.

Last week in London the Azeri president said that his country `reserves the
right’ to consider military action against Karabakh, adding that, otherwise,
there would be no incentive for Armenia to pursue peace. Dissected, Aliyev’s
comment says that Armenia is incapable of diplomacy unless it comes with a
threat. Nice. Has anyone pointed out to Aliyev that this discussion would be
irrelevant had his country won the war that led us to this point?

Now is the time to let the air out of patriotic chest puffing. On both
sides. Aliyev’s rhetoric lowers the bar on constructive dialogue. Let us
hope that Armenia’s leadership will show its ability to perform on a higher
plain. Such hope cannot be realized unless there is unity of purpose – a
condition sadly lacking in recent days as Armenia is polarized over `Madrid
Principles’ and `Road Map’ diplomacy, and the usual vagaries that create
division of political ideology.

Let us hope that the August reprieve will return leadership on all sides
that is ready to present a team effort of solidarity when its soccer squad
takes the field for a relatively meaningless match.

****************************************** ********************************
2. Cyber Wars: Experts say Armenia IT sector vulnerable to attack

By Georg Khachaturyan

A cyber security expert has predicted a rise in the number of hacker attacks
against Armenian web resources pointing an accusatory finger at `network
hooligans’ recruited by Azerbaijani special services.

At a press conference Thursday, independent analyst Samvel Martirosyan
further argued that the impact of `cyber terrorism’ on Armenia will become
more appreciable with the country’s development and growing dependence on
information technologies.

`It is one thing in the case with network hooligans, and it is quite a
different thing when Azerbaijani special services use hacker groups,’ said
Martirosyan.

Martirosyan echoed the widespread concerns and speculations among cyber
experts in Armenia that Azerbaijani special services may have been behind
the recent attacks against several government and media websites in Armenia
resulting in their temporary disruptions.

`It is a serious threat because in the course of time Armenia becomes more
and more dependant on information technologies,’ he said.

The specialist predicted that it wouldn’t necessarily be the government
websites that would become the first-choice soft targets for hackers.

`The vulnerability of the financial sector in the cyber space will carry
a
far greater impact not only on the state but also on ordinary citizens,’
he
said.

Meanwhile, speaking at a seminar on cyber security in Armenia, Armenian
Center for National and International Studies Director Richard Giragosian
stressed that cyber security is an important element of the country’s
national security.

`Lately hackers carried out several cyber attacks against Armenian
government and media websites. In fact, we can say that Armenia and
Azerbaijan are in a state of cyber war,’ said Giragosian. `Vulnerability in
a cyber space would also make Armenia vulnerable in a battlefield.’

Giragosian noted that while hacker attacks against Armenian media websites
are routinely carried out from the territory of Azerbaijan, the most recent
one was launched from the territory of Turkey causing a great deal of
anxiety among Armenian specialists.

Giragosian called upon the president of Armenia, the secretary of the
National Security Council and the minister of defense to pay more attention
to problems of cyber security. In particular, he made a case for
de-monopolizing the IT sector, improving copyright protection standards and
making serious preparations for possible emergency situations as effective
measures to solve the problem.

Also, Giragosian suggested developing Armenia’s IT potential to ensure the
sphere does not depend on external factors.

`Energy and transportation in Armenia as well as nearly the whole telecom
sector is owned by Russian companies, which puts Russia in a dominant
position. It is necessary to ensure competition. Otherwise the development
of IT is impossible,’ he said.

Armenia is also heavily dependent on Georgia, its major internet conduit.

**************************************** **********************************3. Former President, New Job: Will Kocharyan be content as a businessman

By Georg Khachatryan

ArmeniaNow reporter

Since March 2008, when President Robert Kocharyan was replaced by another
president, rumors were circulated about his return into major politics.
Kocharyan himself, however, never gave reason to believe he intended to,
say, head the government (as many newspapers wrote) or become one of the
directors of GasProm OJSC (Russian company in Armenia)

After leaving office Kocharyan reappeared in the spotlight only in September
of the same year – during the opening ceremony of the new transport
interchange in the center of Yerevan.

`My return to politics is being much speculated on. After having completed
my tenure in the office I acquired freedom I am not yet tired of. It is the
second time in the last six months I am wearing a tie,’ said the former
president having led the country for a decade from 1998 to 2008.

Kocharyan, now 55, did not comment more, adding only that he wasn’t going
to become `the youngest pensioner of the country’. The question what the
former president was planning to do became less relevant, with more
important issues discussed like those on domestic and foreign affairs.

Last month news on Kocharyan’s, appointment as the director of a major
Russian financial- industrial corporation appeared in the press. The press
release said in part that Kocharyan had been appointed to the position of
the director of Joint-Stock Financial Corporation Systema (JSFC Systema),
where he would be supervising the work and lobbying the interests of the
Armenian assets in the major financial-industrial corporation.

Kocharyan was offered a post on the board of directors yet in March, when a
decision was made to expand the board from 10 members to 13.

`Mister Robert Kocharyan knows very well the market of CIS countries where
our affiliate companies- MTS, Comstar-OTS, Citronix – are operating; he is
also experienced in international cooperation and is highly respected by the
business communities of Russia and abroad,’ says the press release posted
now in the company’s official website.

Armenian assets of JSFC Systema are the affiliate Comstar-OTS and 80 percent
of K-Telecom mobile operator (brand: VivaCell-MTS)

In late 2008, Citronix company expressed its readiness to form a venture
fund for creating a free trade zone on the basis of a major Armenian
electro-technical enterprise CJSC `RAO Mars’.

Mars stock was estimated equal to $56 million and passed to Russia as a
repayment of Armenia’s state debt in 2003. Observers do not exclude the
possible connection between Kocharyan’s appointment and the forthcoming
final deal. There is also a possibility of developing projects on Systema’s
purchase of other Armenian assets passed to Russia as a payback for debts,
in particular, the practically idle research institutes of Mathematical
Machines and Automated Management Systems (known as Mergelyan Institute).

Kocharyan himself has not made any comments since his appointment.

Commenting on Kocharyan’s appointment, an independent political analyst
Yervand Bozoyan said there is nothing unusual about that.

According to him, retired state leaders sometimes hold managing positions in
corporations, like, for instance, it happened with the former German
chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is now leading Nord Stream Russian-German
corporation. Former US presidents often become advisors on foreign affairs,
as in the case of Jimmy Carter.

`I do not think Robert Kocharyan has completely devoted himself to business.
Life proves that major businessmen often switch to politics with the most
vivid example of that being Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The
reverse situations are unknown in history, so Kocharyan’s case can hardly
become an exception. I believe he has decided to wait out a while, before
making a decision whether or not to return to politics. Most probably, the
manager’s position at JSFC Systema is a temporary haven for Kocharyan and we
will still hear about him later. Anyway, time will show,’ says the analyst.

The assistants of the ex-president’s office located on the 6th floor of
Erebuni-Plaza hotel inform that Kocharyan attends the office quite
regularly, reads print and electronic media, has meetings with diplomats and
representatives of NGOs.

During his meeting with the press last September, Kocharyan, reflecting on
the speculations that the domestic situation in Armenia would not stabilize
until the country had gotten rid of `Kocharyan’s heritage’, the ex-president
pointed out that `it is impossible to get rid of that heritage’.

`That heritage is viable Armenia, beautified Yerevan, restored Gyumri, the
Northern Avenue, civil service system, with professionals working in it,
which has been created during many years,’ said the ex-president.

Time will show whether Kocharyan’s election as a member of the board of
directors of JSFC Systema will become the springboard for return into
politics or he will prefer to get completely involved in business.

************************************* *************************************=4. Bones and Backbones: A history of Azokh, from caves to politics, from
**paleontology to resolution

Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow reporter

On July 19 in the village of Azokh Levon Asryan celebrated a significant
jubilee – the 20th anniversary of the Resolution on the Karabakh issue
settlement adopted by the US Senate Committee on Foreign Arrairs.

The Resolution on `US assistance in peaceful settlement of the argument
over Nagorno Karabakh in accordance with Soviet Armenian people’s will’
adopted in 1989 says:

`Call upon the president of USSR Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss with the
representatives of Nagorno Karabakh as well as the representatives of the
democratic movement (including the recently discharged from custody members
of the `Karabakh’ Comittee) the demand on reunion with Armenia’.

People of Nagorno Karabakh remember and know many things.

Or, at least, much more than politicians, political analysts, journalists
and diplomats. The people know the most important thing: regardless of any
decisions and the whole negotiation process, this land has never had another
master.

The village population has always been Armenian – in Soviet times as
well. They
didn’t abandon their native village even during the Azerbaijani military
agression, the culmination of which was in the winter of 1993-94, when
Azokh was under fire from Fizuli region.

Levon Asryan’s house was under intensive shelling, the traces of which can
still be seen – numerous cracks on the walls and furniture caused by
fragmentaion shells.

`During the war the village lost 18 citizen-soldiers,’ recalls Asryan.
`Azokh was isolated and we had to initiate the construction of a road that
would connect the village with the rest of Artskh. During the hardest times
that road was the only communication means by which food supplies were
delivered and defense technology was transported.’

Today more than 800 people live in Azokh with 252 peasant housholds. The
main age peculiarity of the population is the prevailance of children born
in peacetime. The local school has around 200 pupils, which makes more than
25 percent of the total village population. If the number of children born
in the dreadful 1993 was 6 (they are in the tenth form now), there are 42
children in the sixth and eightth forms.

In 1974 Azokh’s population was hardly over 600 people. The highest indicator
was in 1997 when that number reached 1,075. But the residents of Azokh
are certain in achieving the same indicator in the nearst future.

`Today Azokh is among the territories where construction is implemented
within the framework of `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund’s North-South project,’
says Asryan. `That is a really great intitiative’.

According to the contemrporay territorial-administrative division, Azokh is
a part of settlements in NKR Hadrut region.

Virvan or Virapavan is the the ancient name of the famous Azokh Cave given
by the residents of the village sharing the same name. The village acquired
world fame in 1960-1970s, when an archeological expedition discovered in the
cave a cultural layer of Ashel epoch – of orthograde humankind, living here
more than 300 thousand years ago. During the following years the place also
became of great paleontologic interest. Besides the 6,000 working tools,
more than 20,000 bones of different anumal species were found in the cave.

Today the name of this village located in the south-east foothills of the
Karabakh vulcanic plateau often appears in official Azeri documents
submitted to the sessional hearings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe.

Such close attention to Azokh is conditioned by the excavation held in the
territory of the village not only by Armenian archeologists but also those
from England, Ireland and Spain.

Exploration works of an international expedition, according to Azerbaijan’s
version, are nothing more than `unauthorized by official Baku illegal
actions aimed at destruction of an outstanding monument holding whole strata
of Azeri culture’.

In Karabakh itself the construction of the 170 kilometer road North-South
linking Martakert to Hadrut, has not only a major military-strategic
significance, but is also important because 70 percent of agricultural
produce of Azokh is exported to Stepanakert market.

`It has finally become in the villagers’s interest to produce high volumes
of produce and intensify their work,’ says Asryan. `It is mainly meat and
diary that’s taken out to the market, since because of the serious problems
with irrigation we are developing mostly animal husbandry.’

Yet in 1970-80s Azokh was famous for its vineyards. There is practically
none left now because of lack of water. Nonetheless, Azokh residents don’t
lose heart.

`We are able now to deliver cheese, butter, meat to the capital with
practically no effort. We coudn’t have even imagined that would ever be
possible’, one villager says.

Mostly involved in animal husbandry, they have serious hopes connected to
North-South road when it is finally put into operation along the entire
perimeter. The road is often called `Artsakh’s backbone’.

************************************** ************************************
5. Changing Landscape and Attitudes: ATP celebrates 15 years of success on
Armenia’s rough soil

By Karine Ionesyan

It is already 15 years that one of Armenia’s largest environmental
organizations, the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) charitable foundation, has
been involved in tree-planting and other environmental projects in Armenia.

Operational since 1994, the program () has aimed to
restore the green in the territories that had been logged and deprived of
vegetation in consequence of a severe energy crisis in the early years of
Armenian independence when people had to cut trees for fuel in harsh winter
conditions.

Based in Watertown, Massachusetts USA, and Yerevan, ATP has faced an uphill
climb in combating desertification in the biologically diverse but
threatened Caucasus region.

With a staff of more than 80 in Armenia, ATP is going to celebrate its 15th
anniversary by undertaking its most challenging and ambitious plans ever — to
plant more than million trees by end of this year.

ATP’s programs were expanded in 2004 to include poverty reduction, large
scale reforestation, and environmental education in rural villages which
were desperately poor and suffering from the effects of deforestation. A
total of 500,000 trees were planed as part of the ATP program that year
alone.

ATP’s founder Carolyn Mugar says it became clear at that time that
restoration of only public territories would not have a sufficient impact on
the growing problem of deforestation.

`At that time, only five years ago, I instructed our staff to initiate a
program under which 15 million trees will have been planted by 2015, the 100
th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide – ten trees for each genocide
victim,’ said Mugar.

During the 15 years of its activities, ATP has planted and restored more
than 3 million trees some 800 sites around the country and created hundreds
of jobs for impoverished Armenians in tree-regeneration programs.

Yet, Chairman of Armenia’s Union of the Green Hakob Sanasaryan says the
scale of tree-planting in Armenia is far from being sufficient. For
comparison, he cites some statistical data that show 3,000 hectares were
planted with trees in Armenia on an annual basis during the Soviet times.
Only 100 hectares of trees are planted annually now, according to the
environmentalist.

`Logging has proceeded at a higher rate since the end of the crisis years
and export of such trees as oak and beech began,’ says Sanasaryan.

ATP public relations officer Bella Avetisyan says: `We know that logging
is
continuing in different places, but we try at least to mitigate the problem
by planting trees and educating the younger generation.’

The organization also produces documentaries that it believes can educate
people on environmental issues. It has released 13 documentaries on
different environmental subjects and problems. Two of them tell about
tree-planting activities and environmental education carried out by the
foundation. Also, one cartoon telling about how animals preserve their
habitat was recently released.

The ATP released its latest documentary this year in celebration of its 15th
anniversary.

The 15-minute film, `Every Tree=85,’ is about its cutting-edge tree planting
and environmental education programs.

`I personally accompanied the filmmakers on a tour of ATP’s three nurseries,
two education centers, and dozens of planting sites, and I think this new
ATP documentary film captures the emotion and impact of our tree planting,
poverty reduction, and educational programs,’ says ATP Executive Director
Jeff Masarjian.

`Although it is our 15th anniversary, this has been a difficult year because
of the global economic recession. Nevertheless, we are making every effort
to follow through on our commitment to purchase and plant the tree seedlings
grown by partner families in Armenia who are working with ATP.’

Mariam Sukhudyan, an active environmental campaigner in Armenia who, in
particular, has opposed the latest mining project potentially endangering
the unique Teghut forest in the northwest of the country, thinks films like
ATP’s are good instruments in fighting and achieve goals.

`My friends and I are ready to make those films available to the public
through various festivals and other events,’ she says.

At the Energy Globe Awards in Prague in April, ATP was recognized as
national winner with its `Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree’ environmental
curriculum for school teachers – a manual of practical educational
activities.

************************* *************************************************= 6. Letter Home: A Diaspora discovers Armenia and `Armenianness’

Letter Home

By Elizabeth Gemdjian

Armenian Assembly of America intern / Special to ArmeniaNow**

I have reached the point in my trip where the time I have been here exceeds
the time I have left.

And while I still have more questions than answers about my role and place
in Armenia and its affairs, there are moments when everything becomes less
complicated and I can detect a glimmer of insight and clarity.

Such a moment occurred on a weekend trip to Tsaghkadzor summer camp, where
most campers are either orphans or come from poor families. I was excited
to spend the day playing with the children, but did not foresee how much I
could learn from them. The moment our group reached the camp and
disembarked from the bus, we were greeted by excited children who grabbed us
by the hand and immediately pulled us to the play area. This may not seem
so extraordinary, but the more I thought about it, the more inspiring was
the time I spent at the camp.

During my time at the camp, not once did a child ask me whether I spoke
Western Armenian or Eastern Armenian, or if I was Spiurkahay, Hayastanzi, or
Barskahay. They looked past my mistakes and made every effort to
communicate with me, using hand gestures or examples to clarify what I did
not understand. I, in turn, found my shyness and inhibition about speaking
Armenian slipping away as the children’s openness and excitement took over.
We were not there to argue about differences – we were there to play with and
learn from each other. Sure, to do so we all had to make compromises and
put in a little extra effort, but the resulting environment of cooperation
and friendship made it worth it. There was no taking without giving, and in
the end, we were all getting something out of the exchange. Was this a
glimpse of a potential `Great Equalizer’?

I do not have an answer yet. But I do know that it is amazing what you can
learn from children. Problems and distinctions that seemed so complicated
dissolve in their clear eyes. Maybe we all need a dose of such clarity to
be able to see the big picture instead of focusing on petty issues,
resentment, and negative impressions.

For better or worse, we are all Armenian and cling to this essential part of
our identities. What we need is a better system of give-and-take so that we
can all benefit from this relationship, learning from our diverse
backgrounds and experiences in order to build strong connections of support
and collaboration. Just as the children looked for ways to get around
difficulties to reach a level of understanding that would allow
communication and interaction to occur, we must be resourceful and use the
unique characteristics of the Armenian community to our advantage. At least
we must not stifle the open and cooperative spirit of children willing to
look past difference to find similarities.

What will I remember from the time I spent at Tsaghkadzor camp? Certainly
not the words I did not understand or rules broken on the playground. I
will carry with me the smiles of children happy to see me as nothing more
than a new friend, the trust and openness that they approached us with, and
their pleas for us to prolong our trip and play a little longer.

I hope that one day, we can be inspired to make relations between diverse
groups of Armenians worldwide resemble the kinds of interactions I found
amongst the children at Tsaghkadzor.

Elizabeth, 22, is studying anthropology at Columbia University in New York
City, her home. She is in Armenia as part of the Armenian Assembly of
America internship program. She is first generation Armenian-American. Her
immediate family stems from Bulgaria, where her grandparents were moved
following the Armenian Genocide.

************************************* *************************************

7. Sport: Armenia soccer clubs out of European tournaments

By Suren Musayelyan

Soccer

Armenian champion Pyunik were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League
second qualifying round after losing to Dinamo Zagreb on aggregate. After
a goalless draw in Yerevan last week, Pyunik lost 0-3 in Zagreb on Tuesday
and dropped out of further contest.

Kapan’s Gandzasar also lost to Dutch NAC Breda on aggregate and dropped out
of the UEFA Europa League tournament where it started from the second
qualifying round. After losing in the first-leg match in the Netherlands
0-6, Gandzasar lost at home 0-2 on Thursday.

Earlier, Armenia’s Banants and Mika were also eliminated from the Europa
League.

No Armenian club has yet reached the main stage of a European club
tournament held under the aegis of the UEFA since Armenia became associated
with European soccer’s governing body in the early 1990s.

Chess

Olympic champion GM Levon Aronyan takes part in the Rapid World Championship
with the current World Champion Anand, GM Naiditsch, GM Nepomniachtchi.

Aronyan also participates in the Chess 960 World Championship with GMs
Movsesian, Nakamura, Bologan.

Olympic champions GM Vladimir Hakobyan, GM Gabriel Sargsyan, as well as
several other Armenian chess players play in the Ordix Open 2009. GMs
Grishcuk, Bacrot, Gashimov, Kamsky, Mamdeyarov, Nakamura, Navara, Bologan
are among their main opponents.

All these tournaments are included in the program of Chess Classic Mainz
2009 which is being held from 28th July to 2nd August.

(Source: )

Pan-Armenian sports

Pan-Armenian basketball and football tournaments will be held in Armenia in
August, according to organizers, the Pan-Armenian Games World Committee.

The tournaments will be held from August 9 to 16.

Sportinfo.am quotes Ministry of Sport Department head Yeghishe Davtyan as
saying that 15 applications have already been received from football and
basketball teams. He said they expected more applications by the deadline,
which is August 1.

Football matches will be held in Ararat, Artashat, Ashtarak and Abovyan. The
basketball tournament is to be held in sport halls of the Yerevan sport
society Dynamo, Arabkir sport school N1 and the Orange fitness club.

World Games of the Armenian sport society Homenetmen will be held in Yerevan
August 1-8. Participants of the games will remain in the Armenian capital to
take part in the Pan-Armenian games, the online sport resource informs.

(Sources: ; )

PARTICIPANTS OF ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA’S SUMMER STUDENT PROGRAM VISIT RA MINISTRY OF DIASPORA

Noyan Tapan
July 24, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 22, RA
Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian received regional director of
AAA Summer Student Program Arpi Vardanian, co-ordinator of the program
Vram Karakeshishian and eight participant young persons. The latters
arrived in Armenia to have their student practice. Some of them are
in their homeland for the first time.

According to the Press and Public Relations Department of the RA
Ministry of Diaspora, the Minister listened to everyone, got acquainted
to their problems and concerns. The young students were particularly
worried about the local legislative field, what reforms are realized
there and what can be done for the Diasporan Armenian businessmen,
scientists, students to have an opportunity to make intellectual,
professional and financial contributions in Armenia and gain a profit.

The Minister in her turn presented three strategic problems faced by
the Ministry of Diaspora, preservation of Armenian identity, discovery
and use of Armenian nation’s intellectual power and repatriation. It
was noted that the best and perhaps the only pledge of good living of
Armenians is the use of intellectual potential. H. Hakobian reminded
the position of RA President that our compatriots of Diaspora should
have an opportunity to make investments and gain a profit in their
homeland.

"To give a solution to these and many other problems our compatriots
living in Diaspora should at first be informed and concerned,
should take part in all activities concerning the development of the
homeland. And our friendly and kind talk should help you to become
the friends and little ambassadors of the RA Ministry of Diaspora in
your countries," Mrs. Hakobian concluded her speech.

DASHNAKS ARE FINANCED BY ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S BROTHER: ARMENIAN VOLUNTEERS’ UNION COORDINATOR

Today.Az
itics/53988.html
July 21 2009
Azerbaijan

"Dashnaksutun operates upon order of Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan."

"He financed all-Armenian forum of Dashnaksutun held in Khankandi
on July 10-11," coordinator of the Union of Armenian Volunteers and
former commander of the special Shusha battalion Zhirair Sefilyan
told reporters.

He said he has reliable information that the forum was financed by
president’s brother Sashik Sargsyan. The aim was to use this show as
a tool in talks on resolution of the Karabakh problem, Sefilyan said.

Sefilyan strongly criticized Dashnaksutun’s position regarding the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

"Where were Dashnaks 10 years ago? Why diaspora does not use its
forces to form international view on Karabakh?" Sefilyan asked.

WE NEED TO KEEP TERRITORIES
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
11:41:19 – 22/07/2009

There is a common opinion in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue settlement that the most important issue in this conflict for
both Armenia and Karabakh is the status of Karabakh. Moreover, the
official Yerevan insists on this opinion. Let alone the question if
this is the axis of the negotiating process, or this is an ordinary
question. Let us just view if there is anything more important than
the status for the Armenian side.

I think that there is another question more important than the
status. It is the question on the liberated areas. In other words,
the question is who is to control those territories. If they are out
of the Armenian control, Karabakh will have only a temporary status,
which is going to repress the Armenians.

The liberated areas for the Armenian side are a ground for both
physical security and moral rise. Being deprived of them, the Armenian
side will be deprived also of physical security and moral supremacy. By
attributing some kind of status to Nagorno-Karabakh the life does not
end, it does not stop but goes on, which means that the geopolitics is
going to continue. And the geopolitics supposes for infinite interests.

Karabakh has already been once granted a status as a part of
Azerbaijan SSR.

The question is not what status was granted. The question is that the
status changed only in20result of a war. What is the guarantee that
there will not be shaped a new geopolitical atmosphere after several
years, which will enable Azerbaijan change the Karabakhi status with
the help of the international society? Depriving Armenia of moral
and physical supremacy of the liberated areas, Azerbaijan gets a very
good precedent to deprive Karabakh of its status in the future.

If today, the world assures Azerbaijan that it will secure the return
of territories if Azerbaijan reconciles with its loss of border
with Armenia and Karabakh, who may say for sure that tomorrow the
world will not be saying to Azerbaijan that they may also return
Karabakh. The return of the territories fits into the geopolitical
interests of superpowers, depending on who is going to be the "sponsor"
of the return.

If the developments after the 1994 war brought about the point that the
international society thinks that the issue must be solved by returning
the territories to Azerbaijan, so it is not impossible that the same
international society one day will decide to solve another question by
returning Karabakh to Azerbaijan. The Armenians will surely fight but
we must not forget that during our history we had not only military
victories but also defeats. Moreover, if before this war, without
thinking of a possible war, we agree to cede a part of our victory.

In addition, it is considered to be done in order to avoid any
war. Sure, maybe some future generation or we will manage to avoid the
war, though it is not known who says that keeping the territories means
a war. Sure if the territories become the richness and the property
of several people, and in response to the international proposal to
return them, we say if you take them, we will fight, so it is natural
that the international society may "get angry" and force a war to us.

However, if relevant work is done to make Armenia and Karabakh
countries with modern measurements and the liberated areas to
be a legal, a vital component of that country based on law, so
the international perception of the liberated areas will change
completely. They will stop being viewed as saved "coins" during the
war, which would be needed for an exchange with Karabakh. The point
is that the present aspect of the negotiation seems to show that they
do not want to take something from Armenia and give it to Azerbaijan,
but they want to leave something to Armenia.

It is understandable, that the reality and the issue of the
negotiations differ and fortunately, no one forces Armenia yield
anything. But the problem, as many people notice, is that the
international attitude towards the topic of negotiations is going to
change rather than the topic of negotiations itself.

ACCORDING TO DPA, NKR STATUS SHOULD BE CLARIFIED FIRST OF ALL

Noyan Tapan
July 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. No document could be signed at the
last meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan
and Ilham Aliyev, as the Armenian side just is not empowered to
decide Artsakh’s fate without participation of a representative of
NKR. Aram Sargsian, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia
(DPA), stated at the July 21 press conference. In his words, one
of the most important achievements of Armenian diplomacy is that
the international community has begun to realize the necessity of
Karabakh’s participation in the negotiations as a side enjoying
full rights. A. Sargsian mentioned RA Foreign Minister’s statement,
according to which NKR should participate in all stages of the
negotiations and not only in the final discussions.

He said that the views of DPA and RA President coincide in the respect
that the NKR status should be clarified first of all, then the other
issues should be solved. Besides, according to A. Sargsian, it would be
realistic to renounce Madrid Principles as otherwise vain negotiations
will continue and Presidents’ meetings will last for nearly 10
years. "Discussions in the current format have no prospect," he said
stressing that the NKR problem will not be solved as far as there is
no well-disposed attitude between the Armenian and Azeri peoples.

A. Sargsian also said that according to his information, during the
Georgian-Ossetian war Azerbaijan had planned to attack upon Armenia
in four directions, but failed to carry out that plan for these or
those reasons.