Author: Vardanian Garo

AZERBAIJAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO UN ACCUSES ARMENIAN REPRESENTATIVE OF LIE

Trend
March 29 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s permanent representation to the UN distributed a letter
of reply to a letter from the permanent representation of Armenia to
the UN regarding the Khojaly events.

The letter reflects the cruelty of the armed forces of Armenia against
Azerbaijani civilians, the views of foreign media representatives,
who witnessed the atrocity committed by Armenian armed forces against
civilians, and the views of the Armenian servicemen and intellectuals,
who participated in the slaughter, press service of Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry reported.

"I would like to draw your attention to the letter dated 24 February
2010 from the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to
the United Nations, contained in document A/64/680-S/2010/102. This
letter, which purports to respond to my letter addressed to you
in connection with the eighteenth anniversary of an unprecedented
massacre of the Azerbaijani population in the town of Khojaly
(A/64/658-S/2010/78 of 8 February 2010), is not a single example
of sophisticated and blatant falsification, by means of which the
Armenian side attempts to deny its responsibility for the serious
crimes committed during the aggression against Azerbaijan," the
permanent representative of Azerbaijan to the UN, ambassador Agshin
Mehdiyev said in his letter.

"The Armenian side feigns ignorance of the fact that its responsibility
for the brutal killings during one night from 25 to 26 February
1992 of 613 residents of Khojaly is recognized and documented by
numerous independent sources, eyewitnesses of the tragedy, as well
as admitted by Armenia’s high-ranking officials and public sources,"
the letter says.

"Thus, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia omits
clarifying the words of his country’s then defence minister and current
President, Serzh Sargsyan, who unequivocally admitted culpability
for extermination of the inhabitants of Khojaly (Thomas de Wall,
Black Garden. Armenia and Azerbaijan through Peace and War (New York
and London: New York University Press, 2003), p. 172), as well as the
revelations of another Armenian author who gave a detailed account
of how Armenian soldiers had been killing the residents of Khojaly
(Markar Melkonian, My Brother’s Road. An American’s Fateful Journey
to Armenia (London and New York: I. B. Tauris, 2005), pp. 213-214),"
the diplomat says in his letter.

"The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia refers to
ambiguous, politically motivated and groundless interpretations of
the events in Khojaly, according to which the Azerbaijanis themselves
allegedly "prevented the evacuation of the local civilian population
from the military operation zone" and "the Azerbaijani militia
shot those who attempted to flee" in order "to utilize civilian
losses of such a magnitude" for internal political purposes. It is
no coincidence that such a preposterous idea immediately collapses
like a house of cards under the weight of evidence testifying of a
situation diametrically opposite to that represented by the Armenian
side," Mehdiyev said.

According to Mehdiyev, the Armenian propaganda is not fastidious about
any means it uses in attempts to enlist at least a kind of support
to its cynical allegations. Thus, while manipulating the content of
the Helsinki Watch report of 1992, the Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Armenia seems to have forgotten that this non-governmental
human rights organization had officially responded to the gross
misinterpretation of its position by the Armenian side.

Furthermore, the letter of the Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Armenia is yet another illustration of the Armenian side’s
"forgetfulness" as to the chronology of events pertaining to the
beginning of the present-day stage of the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, Mehdiyev said. According to him, thus, the Armenian
side passes over in silence that the events in some Azerbaijani
cities, notably in Sumgait on 26-28 February 1988, were preceded by
a number of illegal declarations and decisions taken with a view to
securing the unilateral secession of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan,
attacks at the end of 1987 on the Azerbaijanis in Khankandi (during
the Soviet period – Stepanakert) and Armenia, resulting in a flood
of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons who were
directed, among other places, to Sumgait. It must be also recalled
that on the eve of disturbances in Sumgait, namely on 22 February
1988, near the settlement of Asgaran on the Khankandi-Aghdam highway,
the Armenians opened fire on a peaceful demonstration, killing two
Azerbaijani youths.

"While trying to qualify the events in Sumgait as either "pogroms"
or "massacre" against Armenians, the Armenian propaganda at the same
time prefers not to mention at all a number of circumstances that
are of vital importance in elucidating the true causes of these events.

Indeed, on 26-28 February 1988, 26 Armenians and Azerbaijanis were
killed in Sumgait. It is notable that one of the leading figures in
these disturbances was a certain Edward Grigorian, an Armenian and
native of Sumgait, who was directly involved in the killings and
violence against the Armenians," the letter says.

"Whereas it has been internationally recognized that the occupation by
force of the Nagorny Karabakh region and adjacent areas of Azerbaijan
and the ethnic cleansing of the captured territories constitute
a flagrant breach by the Republic of Armenia of its obligations
under international law, it is curious that the Armenian propaganda
continues to qualify the aggression against Azerbaijan as "a peaceful
demand of the Nagorno-Karabakh people to exercise its right to
self-determination"," the permanent representative of Azerbaijan says.

"The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan made it clear more than
once, and I am instructed to point it out once again, that Armenia’s
claims to the application of the principle of self-determination
are contrary to and unsustainable in international law. Otherwise,
this would be tantamount to accepting the results of a violation of
fundamental norms of international law, including, in particular,
those relating to the most serious international crimes as well as
a rule prohibiting the use of force," Mehdiyev concluded.

ARMENIAN FM MEETS OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS

news.am
March 29 2010
Armenia

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian held a meeting with OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs, Robert Anthony Bradtke (USA), Bernard Fassier (France)
and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), as well as with Personal Representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Minister Nalbandian expressed his condolences to the Russian Co-Chair
on the death of people as a result of today’s terrorist act in Moscow.

The sides discussed the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process, as well as the possibilities of the conflicting parties’
reaching an understanding on the basis of the Madrid Principles. The
mediators informed Minister Nalbandian of the results of their meetings
with Nagorno-Karabakh representatives.

Speaking of the recent speculations about the Madrid Principles,
Minister Nalbandian stated: "It was two years ago that Armenia accepted
the Madrid Principles as a basis for negotiations, and they remain
as such."

ARMENIA DISAGREES WITH SOME OF MADRID PRINCIPLES

Yerkir
29.03.2010 13:04
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Armenia does not agree with some points of the
updated Madrid principles, Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
(MG) Yuri Merzlyakov has said.

He said presently, recent suggestions made by the co-chairs are
under consideration. Armenia has already expressed its disagreement
on some points. "However, we do not exacerbate the situation, since
a couple of years ago the same situation emerged in respect of the
Madrid principles, which Armenia has accepted, but now appears not
completely," he stressed. The co-chair also noted that the parties
reached an agreement on the Madrid principles, except upon the
four points.

He also stressed that this was his last visit to the region as co-chair
of OSCE Minsk Group. He said that he will lead the new post and who
will replace him is yet unknown.

French Co-chair Bernarrd Fassier, in turn, noted that the proposals
for the Madrid principles are still being discussed, and the fact
that the parties have periodically come to a mutual agreement, says
about the seriousness of the process and mutual understanding. "War
can not be a solution to the conflict. We remain at the opinion that
the matter must not be settled by military means. In the event of war,
little will change, the question on the contrary, will acquire a more
serious connotation," he added.

ARMENIAN GIRL VICTIM OF MOSCOW BLAST RUSSIAN CITIZEN

news.am
March 30 2010
Armenia

There are no RA citizens among the Moscow subway blast victims,
according to the preliminary data, RA Foreign Ministry informed
NEWS.am.

A 17-year-old Armenian girl, Yeghiazaryan Valentina, whose death was
confirmed on March 30, is a citizen of the Russian Federation. The
girl died in Moscow City Hospital #1.

RA Armenian Embassy in Russia will provide necessary assistance to
the victims’ families.

On Monday morning, two powerful blasts rocked the Lubyanka and Park
Kultury subway stations in Moscow. According to latest data, the
death toll reached 39. Seventy-two injured are in hospitals.

A LESSON FOR VARDAN?

11:14:54 – 25/03/2010
hos17286.html

On these days, the session of the Republican Party executive body
headed by Serge Sargsyan passed in a quite tense atmosphere. As a
result a strict remark was made in address of the RP board member, NA
parliamentary member Vardan Ayvazyan. Recall Vardan Ayvazyan,
commenting on the RP and BHK quarrel in the press, voiced his support
towards Gagik Tsarukyan. He said parliamentary members have the right
to issue their opinions, and if they say such a thing, it means there
are grounds.

The head of the RP faction Galust Sahakyan, in a conversation with us,
commenting on this fact, said `Team work differs from personal work.
Issuing opinions must stem from the ideology of the whole team’.
According to him, the remark is not to be viewed as a negative
attitude towards Vardan Ayvazyan.

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 26 2010

Nagorno-Karabakh also focus of OSCE Magazine

Azerbaijan, Baku, March 26 /Trend News, Ð-.Ostapenko/

The latest OSCE Magazine, now available in print and online,
highlights the priorities of the 2010 Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship, its
first activities and preparations towards the goal of holding a summit
later this year, OSCE official statement said.

"As a country straddling East and West and the first Central Asian
participating State to assume the Chairmanship of the OSCE, Kazakhstan
has a unique opportunity to bridge divides and affirm the cohesiveness
of this prestigious Organization," writes Ambassador Kairat
Abdrakhmanov in the introduction.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was one of the topics covered in the
magazine. An interview with the Chairperson-in-Office’s Personal
Representative on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and a first-person
piece by Field Assistant Peter Keay describe the OSCE’s work on the
ground to build confidence and facilitate dialogue on finding a
peaceful settlement of this longstanding conflict that continues to
cost lives every year.

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.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

His predecessor as Chairperson of the Permanent Council, Greek
Ambassador Mara Marinaki, retraces the journey of the year 2009, which
saw the launching of the Corfu Process, the Organization’s discussions
on fundamental questions of European security, and highlights the
significance of decisions taken at the Athens Ministerial Council in
December.

This issue of the OSCE Magazine showcases the OSCE’s work in Ukraine,
with articles on the largest-ever OSCE project to eliminate the toxic
rocket fuel mélange; aproject to remove explosive remnants of war from
Crimea, and the observation of the recent presidential election.

US Legislators Appeal to House Foreign Aid Subcommittee to Increase
Aid to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

12:00 – 26.03.10

With Congressional appropriators in the early stages of crafting the
Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11) foreign aid bill, Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ, pictured) was joined by 27 of his
US House colleagues in urging the inclusion of a series of provisions
aimed at strengthening US ties to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and
bolstering the prospects for a lasting regional peace, reads a press
release issued by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

"We want to thank Representative Pallone for his leadership and to
express our appreciation to each of his colleagues who joined in this
effort, including, of course, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Mark Kirk, for
helping to ensure that the foreign aid bill properly reflects
America’s support for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"We look forward to working toward the adoption of the vital foreign
aid priorities outlined in this letter."

In a March 22 letter to Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Nita
Lowey (D-NY), a longstanding supporter of the US-Armenia relationship,
and Ranking Republican Kay Granger (R-TX), lawmakers cited six key
foreign aid priorities, including:

Increasing US assistance to Armenia to $70 million in Fiscal Year 2011.

Directing USAID to spend $10 million in Fiscal Year 2011 for
humanitarian and development programs in Nagorno Karabakh.

Enhancing Section 907 restrictions on US assistance to Azerbaijan by
narrowing presidential waiver authority of the measure.

Upholding the Committee’s long-standing tradition of maintaining
parity in military funding between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which
includes $4 million in FMF and $1 million in IMET funding for Armenia
in Fiscal Year 2011.

Ending restrictions on travel, contacts, and the free exchange of
ideas between US officials and the democratically elected leaders of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Requesting language urging Azerbaijan to support confidence-building
measures that facilitate interaction among the parties, in order to
address regional security, resource management, infrastructure,
development and people to people programs.
Tert.am

Armenian government should develop long-term program to address
demographic problems: expert

YEREVAN, March 26, /ARKA/. Armenian authorities should develop a
long-term program of actions to address the worsening demographic
situation, Arsen Petrosian, an aide to head of the State Employment
Inspectorate, said today to participants of an international
conference entitled `Socialist Approaches to Armenia’s Challenges:
Global Perspectives, Local Realities,’ organized by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation.

`The demographic problem is one of the most painful problems faced by
Armenia. The country’s future hinges on its solution. We have
short-term programs, which address immediate problems, but we need
long-term programs for the next 20-30 years,’ he said.
The Armenian government approved in 2009 July the Demographic Strategy
Policy for 2009-2035.

Arsen Petrosian urged the government to take action to prevent the
ongoing out emigration, to stimulate the return of those who left it,
to offer worthy pays to skilled specialists to make them not leave the
country. He also said the government must build social housing and
exempt small businessmen from taxes in small towns and rural
communities.

According to the latest government figures, Armenia’s permanent
population grew last year by 12,500 people to 3, 250,000. In 2009 some
44,466 babies were born, by 8% more than in 2008. The number of
weddings grew to 18, 773 from 18, 465 in 2008 and the number of
granted divorces dropped to 2, 800 from 3,031 in 2008 годÑ?.

The two-day gathering includes both Armenian and non-Armenian
delegates from around the world who have converged in Yerevan to
discuss workable solutions to Armenia’s challenges. Some of the
questions explored by the conference include the modern applications
of socialist ideology and practice. Participants in the conference
include experts and activists from such countries as Russia, the US,
France, Sweden, Greece, Argentina, Chile, Iran. There are also
participants from Armenia and various Diasporan political,
intellectual and public institutions. -0-

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 26 2010

Turkey reaches out to Armenians after `deportation’ row

In a show of goodwill towards the Armenian people, the Turkish
government has decided to take two significant steps to improve
relations: allowing a religious service to be held at the Akhtamar
Church in the eastern province of Van and launching studies on
providing educational opportunities to the children of illegal
Armenian workers.

The government’s move came amid growing criticism in Turkey over Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s latest remarks on the possibility of
deporting illegal Armenian workers in the country if necessary. On
March 16, while on a visit to the UK, ErdoÄ?an said Turkey could send
100,000 Armenian workers who are working in the country without the
necessary permission back to Armenia. Facing fierce criticism, ErdoÄ?an
later complained that he had been misquoted in the media, which he
said misrepresented his remarks to mean that they were targeting
Turkey’s Armenian community.

In Van, the governor’s office announced on Thursday that Culture and
Tourism Minister ErtuÄ?rul Günay had approved an application submitted
by the Van Governor’s Office in December 2009 to permit a religious
sermon to be held once a year at the Akhtamar Church, which was
re-opened as museum in March 2007 following restoration that was
undertaken at the behest of the government. At the time, the Armenian
community pressed for the 1,100-year-old church on Lake Van’s Akhtamar
Island to be made available for religious services.

According to the decision signed by Günay, the church will be opened
for religious services only one day every year and this service will
take place in the second half of September, to be attended by a
limited number of visitors and at a time which will not complicate the
movement of visitors to the museum.

On Thursday in Ankara, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç told the NTV
news channel that the government has been attempting to create a
formula which will allow the children of illegal Armenian workers to
attend non-Muslim minority schools.

`The Education Ministry is continuing its studies on the requirements
for enrolment in minority schools,’ Arınç said. `Up until this date,
Turkey has always opened its arms to those who come to this country,’
he added.

According to a recent study, the `State of Armenian Irregular Migrants
in Turkey,’ the children of these workers, especially if they are born
in Turkey, face many problems, including being stateless since there
is no diplomatic representation for Armenia in Turkey and the children
are not registered as citizens of any country. The children are not
able to attend school because their parents are irregular workers and
they need to keep this fact hidden. There are schools in Turkey for
the Armenian minority but under Turkish law only Turkish citizens can
attend.

Education Minister Nimet �ubukçu, speaking to reporters in Ankara,
however, was cautious regarding the chances of providing opportunities
for the children of illegal workers to receive an education, saying
the government was considering whether to ease laws that specify only
those children who are Turkish nationals and belong to a non-Muslim
minority can attend minority schools.

�ubukçu said Arınç thus referred to possibilities for children of
foreigners who reside in Turkey legally to attend minority schools.
`It’s an issue which is still under consideration. The final decision
has not yet been made,’ she added.

26 March 2010, Friday
TODAY’S ZAMAN ANKARA

452-100-turkey-reaches-out-to-armenians-after-depo rtation-row.html

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: SYRIA HAS A UNIQUE POSITION IN THE HISTORY OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE

SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency
.htm
March 23 2010

Syria has a unique position in the history of the Armenian people,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on Tuesday.

"It (Syria) is very close to us, not only geographically but through
friendship, similarity of destiny and the distinguished relations
between the two peoples in addition to the several other links,"
the Armenian President said in a lecture at Damascus University.

According to him Syria and Armenia were through their joint history
parts of the Middle East. They also lived together in one place.

"Syria played a unique and an important role for Armenians. It was
the bridge that had linked Armenians, Arabs and Moslems," President
Sargsyan pointed out.

He said Syrian Armenian cooperation had got a new impetus after
Armenia’s independence and that the two countries were ready to boost
cooperation on the basis of mutual understanding.

"The most important thing is the excellent relations between MR,
President Bashar al-Assad and me," he clarified.

"This is the best example for civilizations convergence," he concluded.