Politics in Yerevan.

English board for english discussions.

Moderator: Supermod

Postby Armenian on Sat May 19, 2007 9:50 pm

Sarkozy Elects Top Diplomat: A Pro-Turkish Jew Who Fully Supports the Illegal War Being Waged by Neocons in Iraq and Afghanistan

To thank the blind idiots in the Armenian community who were kissing his ass for a long time the newly elected French president just appointed a strongly pro-Turkish Jew as Foreign Minister of France.

Time will only tell how damaging this election was for Western Europe.

These strange turn of events in Paris also makes me wonder the following: it is well known that the riots that occurred in France during the past couple of years essentially helped Sarkozy win this election. THus, I ask: Were these riots incited by the authorities (lead by Sarkozy of course) for this very purpose, namely to help elect the current leadership.

Nonetheless, the current Neocon friendly leadership has boldly emerged within the very heartland of Europe - especially at a time when Europe is desperately trying to define itself and set the foundations of its future?

This Kouchner garbage supposedly became a "humanitarian" as a result of what happened to his relatives in Auschwitz. Nevertheless, this so-called humanitarian fully supports the illegal wars currently being waged by his Washington DC based Neocon ideologues. Needless to say, as a result of the Kouchners of this world, Iraq today is the epicenter of one of the bloodiest man-made humanitarian disasters in the world. This Kouchner character also wants to increase France's role in Afghanistan conflict, clearly signaling that he would willing join the bogus "war on terror" circus orchestrated by Neocons. And last but not least, this so-called humanitarian also considers the state of Turkey to be fully worthy of being called a European nation, of course this is most probably due to Turkey's exemplary "humanitarian" record that which the humanitarian Kouchner seems to champion.

I never expected this type of a situation occurring within France, especially at a very crucial time period such at this. Even from the start, however, I somehow felt uneasy about this Sarkozy character. And I could not understand how shallow and shortsighted his Armenian supporters were being. I fear that this new political environment within Paris will in the longterm prove harmful to Armenian national interests and to the national interests of Armenia's closest regional partners, Russia and Iran.

Therefore, let's not be surprised if in the near future Sarkozy "moderates" his anti-Turkish stance. Let's not be surprised if Paris begins to actively support the attacks against Russia and Iran by Washington DC, Tel Aviv and London. And let's not be surprised if Paris willingly enters the greater Neocon agenda.

Armenian

Image

Sarkozy’s Top Diplomat: Undiplomatic Opposite

BERNARD KOUCHNER, France’s new top diplomat, would never describe himself as diplomatic. Named as foreign minister, Mr. Kouchner is in many ways the political opposite of his new boss, President Nicolas Sarkozy. Both are pro-American, but Mr. Sarkozy is conservative while Mr. Kouchner is a man of the left. Mr. Sarkozy opposed the American invasion of Iraq, while Mr. Kouchner, unlike most of the political elite on both the right and the left here, believed that military intervention was justified to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Mr. Sarkozy opposes Turkey’s entry into the European Union; Mr. Kouchner supports it.

“It’s an amazing appointment, a stunning event in French foreign policy,” said Richard C. Holbrooke, the former American ambassador to the United Nations and one of Mr. Kouchner’s closest friends. “He’s motivated by an antitotalitarian drive, whether he sees injustice from the left or the right. It will be very positive for U.S.-French relations because he does not come with a visceral anger towards the American ‘hyperpower.’ ”

Mr. Kouchner, a 67-year-old gastroenterologist, earned his reputation as the star of humanitarian relief by challenging authority, destroying convention, insulting opponents and making up rules along the way. “To change the law, you sometimes have to break the law,” he likes to say. “An unguided missile,” is how Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former United Nations secretary general, once described him. But Mr. Kouchner, who has served as France’s health minister and the United Nations’ administrator for Kosovo, has also been the country’s most popular politician on the left over the years.

Elegant, dapper, with movie-star looks despite his age, Mr. Kouchner is half of one of France’s leading power couples. His longtime partner, Christine Ockrent, is probably France’s best-known female television journalist. They entertain regularly from their grand duplex apartment overlooking the Luxembourg Garden; they always get the best restaurant tables. They have been tarred by their critics with the label “gauche caviar,” Champagne-and-caviar socialism at its worst. Mr. Kouchner intimately addresses women — and men — as “my dear.” His passion and confidence in speaking English help compensate for his charming but sometimes excruciating mistakes.

By naming him and three other leftists to his conservative government, Mr. Sarkozy fulfilled his promise that his tenure would be one of “openness,” while stripping the Socialist Party of one of its icons just weeks before French voters choose an entirely new Parliament. (Accepting the job of foreign minister got him drummed out of the Socialist Party on Friday.) Mr. Sarkozy is also signaling that he is serious about putting both human rights and outreach to the United States at the core of his foreign policy. Mr. Kouchner is as close as a Frenchman comes to being pro-American.

EVEN Mr. Kouchner, a co-founder of the Nobel Prize-winning relief organization Doctors Without Borders, appreciates the novelty of his appointment. “This is a bit unusual,” he confessed Friday in his first remarks at the Foreign Ministry. He added that he “would not have done it” had he not felt the conviction “to serve our country.”

Contrary to long-held Gaullist French policy, which evaluates crises through the lens of France’s national interests, Mr. Kouchner sees things through a humanitarian perspective. He was an effective early advocate of “humanitarian intervention” — the right to interfere in another country’s affairs if human rights are being abused.

Mr. Kouchner defended military intervention against Mr. Hussein on humanitarian grounds, not because Iraq might be seeking unconventional weapons. “It was a question of overthrowing an evil dictator, and it was right to intervene,” Mr. Kouchner said in 2004.

He has said that Turkey is part of Europe and deserves to join the European Union; Mr. Sarkozy has said that Turkey is part of Asia, not Europe, and should never become a member.

Mr. Kouchner appears to support the maintenance of a strong international — and French — presence in Afghanistan to bring stability to the country; Mr. Sarkozy has promised that French troops will not stay there forever.

“On Turkey, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the third world and Africa, we’re not close,” Mr. Kouchner acknowledged in a telephone interview. “I’m against his idea of selective immigration. On other issues — the Middle East, on the need for an alliance with America, on the role of France in Europe — we’re very close.”

But it is no secret that Mr. Kouchner has been restless to get back onto the global stage in a starring role, particularly after he was passed over for the job of director of the World Health Organization and as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He said he turned down the chance to head a new Ministry of Immigration and National Identity when Mr. Sarkozy floated the idea earlier this year. “I refused completely because I am against this idea,” Mr. Kouchner said in the interview.

CHARMING, outspoken, impulsive and at times egotistical, Mr. Kouchner even once thought of running for president himself. Asked in an interview in 2004 whether anyone could beat Mr. Sarkozy, he replied in English, “Me, I believe.” He added, “I am not so arrogant to say I’m serious, but I’m more popular than he is!”

But like his new boss, Mr. Kouchner is hard-charging, impatient, abrasive, media-shrewd and immune to verbal attack. “I have no recipe except one in politics: to continue, to continue, to be obstinate, to be obstinate, to never abandon an issue as long as there remains a small shred of hope,” he said. During the political campaign, the Socialist presidential candidate, Ségolène Royal, largely ignored Mr. Kouchner, but Mr. Sarkozy did not. The two men talked regularly, even though Mr. Kouchner openly criticized the candidate. At one point, he called Mr. Sarkozy a “man who feels no shame,” for his courting of the extreme right. When Mr. Sarkozy said that pedophilia was most likely a genetic flaw, Mr. Kouchner said the statement was “extraordinarily dangerous, entirely irresponsible.”

Mr. Kouchner has always dismissed criticism that his publicity-grabbing techniques can be both unseemly and laughable. In the early 1990s, for example, when he was filmed wading ashore in Somalia carrying sacks of rice provided by French schoolchildren for the starving, he justified the stunt, saying, “I prefer cameras to bazookas.”

BOTH Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. Kouchner in a sense are outsiders. Mr. Sarkozy, who is 15 years his junior, is the son of a Hungarian immigrant; one of his grandparents was Jewish. Mr. Kouchner’s paternal grandparents were Russian-born Jews who escaped the pogroms by emigrating to France, but perished decades later in Auschwitz. He has said that their deaths contributed to his passion for intervention in humanitarian crises and the promotion of human rights.

“I can’t stand the fact that a man is assassinated, that a woman is abused, that a child is beaten up,” he wrote in his 1995 memoir, “What I Believe.”

“Why am I getting indignant? My grandparents died in Auschwitz, and for years no one dared or wanted to tell me. I found out.” He continued: “In a mixed family that is not religious it is even worse: you are either twice as Jewish, or half Jewish. As a result, you react like a tormented soul in the face of oppression.”


Longtime friends of Mr. Kouchner are delighted for him, but worried that his blunt-speaking, off-the-cuff style may clash with that of his new boss. “Sarkozy’s views are totally different from those of Bernard,” said Max Recamier, one of the doctors with whom Mr. Kouchner founded Doctors Without Borders. “He hesitated a lot before accepting. But what drives him is not a hunger for power but a passion for promoting justice and easing suffering in the world. And let’s face it, he’s 67 now. He’s mellowed — like a good wine.”

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/19/world ... chner.html
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Ararat on Mon May 21, 2007 2:47 pm

Armenian

Not only armenians supported Sarkozy, but also many French nationalists who before this elections voted for Le Pen. So Sarkozy was successful to manipulate everybody. He came to the power on national slogans, but now it is eevident that he has a globalist agenda
Ararat
Site Admin
 
Posts: 286
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:16 am

Postby Armenian on Mon Jun 04, 2007 2:59 am

Վտանգավոր տարաձայնութիւններ համացանցի շրջանառության մեջ են նորից: Այսանքամ նախգան Արցախի ընտրութիւնները:

Dangerous rumors circulating once again. This time ahead of elections within Artsakh:

ԸՆԴԴԵՄ ԱԶԱՏԱԳՐՎԱԾ ՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆ ՏԱՐԱԾՔԻ ՀԱՆՁՆՄԱՆ

Ազատագրված հայկական տարածքը առևտրի առարկա դարձնելը և այն հանձնելու փորձերը ոչ մի կերպ չեն նպաստում արցախյան հիմնահարցի լուծմանն ու մահացու սպառնալիք են ոչ միայն Արցախի, այլ ընդհանրապես հայոց պետականության ապագայի։ Հայաստանի քաղաքական գործիչները՝ «կառուցողական երկխոսության» ճահճում խրված, հարվածի տակ են դնում հայ ազգի գոյությունը։ Փաստորեն այսօր տեղի է ունենում մի նոր «մյունխենյան համաձայնություն», որ մեզ մղում է դեպի ռազմավարական փակուղի ու նպաստում ԼՂՀ ու Հայաստանի Հանրապետության դեմ նոր ագրեսիայի սանձազերծմանը։

Այսօր, մայիսի 28-ին, երբ համայն հայությունը տոնում է 1918 թ. առաջին հայկական հանրապետության հռչակման օրը, մենք ուզում ենք հիշեցնել և 1920 թվականին այդ հանրապետության անփառունակ կործանման մասին, որի հետևանքով առանց գեթ մեկ կրակոցի թշնամուն հանձնվեցին Կարսն ու Իգդիրը, Արարատ լեռն ու հին մայրաքաղաք Անին։ Դա հնարավոր դարձավ այն ժամանակվա ղեկավարների անողնաշարության, «դիվանագիտական կոմպլեմենտարիզմի» շնորհիվ։

Այսօր մենք Հայաստանի ղեկավարությունից ու քաղաքական կուսակցություններից պահանջում ենք դադարեցնել Արցախի ազատագրված տարածքների հանձնման մասին ցանկացած խոսակցությունները։ Մենք պահանջում ենք բացահայտել բանակցությունների բովանդակությունը, համարում ենք անթույլատրելի հայ ժողովրդի ապագային անմիջականորեն վերաբերվող տեղեկատվության թաքցնելը։

Ցանկցած քաղաքական գործիչ կամ պաշտոնյա (անկախ երկրին մատուցած նախկին ծառայություններից), որն այսօր հայտնում է հայոց հողը հանձնելու պատրաստակամության մասին, Հայրենիքի դավաճան է ու իր ժողովրդի բացահայտ թշնամի։


AGAINST SURRENDER OF LIBERATED TERRITORIES

Political trading and an attempt to surrender the liberated territories by no means can settle the Karabakh conflict, and represents a deadly threat to not only the future of Artsakh, but to an Armenian statehood as a whole. Trapped in the morass of “constructive negotiations”, the political figures of Armenia put at risk the very existence of Armenian people. The actual events which take place today are a new “Munich agreement”, which drives us into a strategic deadlock and contributes to an unleashing of a new aggression against Republic of Mountainous Karabakh and Republic of Armenia.

Today, on May 28, when Armenians celebrate the date of establishment of the first Armenian Republic, we would also like to remind about the disgraceful end of that republic in 1920. At that time, Kars, Igdir, Mount Ararat and ancient capital of Ani were all surrendered without a single shot. Tens of thousands of young lives perished. It became possible exactly because of faintness, “constructive concessions” and “diplomatic maneuvers” of the country’s government at that time.

Today we demand the Government and political parties of Armenia to stop any rhetoric concerning the readiness to surrender the liberated regions of Artsakh. We also demand to make public the agenda of negotiations; whereby concealing the information, which directly concerns the future of Armenian people, is unacceptable. Any politician or public officer, regardless of previous honors before the country, who demonstrates today the readiness to surrender the Armenian land, - is a traitor of the Motherland and a blatant enemy of his own nation.




No one is giving away the liberated territories.

Not even a square meter of our liberated territories can be in discussion. Besides the fact that the territories in question belong to Armenians, they are also vital for the Armenian Republic militarily and economically. What's more, most of the lands in question are already privatized and divided up amongst the native population in Artsakh. The Artsakh military, and the general population there, will fight to the last soul to ensure their hold on every square meter of the liberated territories.

Thus, anyone that even attempts to give up any amount of our liberated lands will be killed promptly. There are many individuals, organizations, associations, militants, etc, that will make sure that such an attempt does not go unpunished. Have no doubt.

In my opinion, such rumors about "imminent" deals being made with Turks/Azeris most probably stem from foreign intelligence services and the political manipulations of certain major powers interested in the region. These anti-Armenian forces are attempting to start a social/political upheaval within the Armenian Republic similar to what they have done elsewhere.

Several moths ago the big rumor was that Kocharyan and company had struck a deal to sell Artsakh to the Azeris for 9 billion US dollars. Sadly, because the ruling administration is hated by the hungry masses, there were many Armenians willing to believe the dark fairy tale in question.

Just realize that these dangerous rumors begin circulating around election times. Several weeks ago it was the elections in Armenia. And now, its the upcoming elections in Artsakh. Nonetheless, no one, especially the dominant Artsakhtsi establishment in Yerevan and Stepanakert, is willing to give away any of our liberated lands.

I fear, however, that some well meaning but ignorant Armenian, feeling betrayed and distraught by such rumors, may attempt to bring harm to our leadership by assassination. If such an attack occurs against the current leadership in Yerevan and/or Stepanakert, it will only serve to weaken the Armenian Republic. Moreover, such an attack will only serve to weaken Armenia's vital alliance with Russia and Iran and it will only serve to endanger the unique internal stability that our nation has thus far enjoyed.

A violent uprising against the current leadership in Armenia and Artsakh is what our enemies want, it's what certain major powers want. The aforementioned have been seeking an internal uprising, a social upheaval in the Armenian Republic. Sadly, because the general public generally speaking only understands the politics of the stomach, Armenia today is in danger of falling victim to foreign manipulation. In this respect, I have more confidence in Moscow and Tehran not allowing Armenian politicians too veer to far off course.

Nevertheless, it's always good to be vigilant.
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:35 am

Ararat wrote:As i always stated there is a huge problem with Artzakh issue. The problem is that the whole state mashine is propagating a solution where we must give lands. Personally i think that Kocharyan is not a giver. But imagine that some dark forces decide to eliminate the 2-3 persons who for sure will not give the lands then who will come next?


The state has to propose solutions. Officials have to conform to international law and diplomatic protocol. The Artsakh question is not a family dispute, it is not a street fight. The situation in the Caucasus is a very serious international matter. There is superpower politics at play in the region. Also, you are not taking into consideration the numerous international organizations - IMF, WTO, EU, NATO, UN, OSCE, etc, - that pressure our officials on a regular basis.

I also think that Kocharya and Sarkisian would not give up the territories in question. And you are right in stating that there are "dark forces" at play. These dark forces are allowed in to the country as international organizations promoting democracy, free media, womens rights, homosexual rights, etc. These dark forces are also made up of international government offices, embassies, money lending institutions, etc.

The aforementioned is why Moscow is taking the elections in Yerevan very seriously. They see the danger in Armenia. They don't want Armenia falling victim to a color revolution. They also know they - cannot - trust Armenians to do the right thing when it comes to geopolitics. It is quite obvious that we Armenians are not yet ready to see the world in a proper objective geopolitical perspective. Just look at our Hayrikians, Arzumanians, Petrosians, Baghdasaryans, Hovanesyans, etc. These types of individuals and the people they represent in Armenian are not a small minority, and that is why Moscow often times forcefully imposes their political will in Yerevan.

There are geopolitical lines being drawn on maps today. We clearly see this by observing various theaters of political turmoil and warfare. On one side of the line are the nations of USA, GB, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, with various smaller nations playing lesser roles such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Poland, etc. On the other side of the line are the nations of Russia, Iran, China and India, with various smaller nations playing lesser roles such as Armenia, Syria, Serbia, Kazakhstan, etc.

For various reasons, Armenia does - not - serve the interests the alliance represented by USA, Turkey, Israel, GB, Pakistan, etc. I don't see Armenia fitting their agenda for the foreseeable future. As a matter of fact, due to Armenian's historic dispute with Azeris and Turks, I see Armenia becoming a serious problem for these powers. Thus, due to various geopoltical factors we Armenians are destined to be on the side of Russia and Iran. There is no other options for us today. As of now, Moscow and Tehran need a viable Armenian Republic in the Caucasus. Our existence as a nation in the region serves their short/long term interests.

As a result, Moscow is the reason why I am not too concerned about 2-3 persons getting eliminated in Yerevan. Moscow, or Tehran or that matter, will not tolerate such an operation. If anything, Moscow would be the first to eliminate any Armenian official that attempts to move towards the west. Perhaps the assassinations in 1999 had something to do with this. Nevertheless, I believe that Tehran and Moscow will not allow Armenia to mutilate itself thereby serving Turkish, Azeri, American, Georgian interests. A weak Armenia is not in the strategic interests of Moscow and Tehran for the foreseeable future.

The Artur Bagdasaryan who is semitraitor already. Raffi Hovhanesyan who just entered the parliament because some big money in USA buyed his presence in parliament. The Bargavach with the leader that don't understand all aspect of international politics ? Who.. ? The hanrapetakan oligarchs who will be completly desoriented. Even dashnaks cannot take the situation in full control in such case...


How could anyone in Armenia vote for Baghdasaryan or Hovanesyan? How stupid must one be to cast a vote for those scoundrels. I also feel as if the Bargavach party is more or a club than a political organization. However, I have to say, do not underestimate the ARF. You do not know the organization as intimately as I do. The ARF is known for making great impact in times of chaos. In times of peace the ARF does come across as weak. Anyway, I would be willing to say that a large portion of our people today are traitors and/or ignorants. That is why I do not waste a single teardrop when I see authorities cracking down on the masses when the masses get out of hand.

It is completly absurd that such a fundamental question of armenians life depends from the will of 2-3 people. The whole state mashine should change his logic. the whole state mashine should have a such a ideology where just one word about giving lands will create a huge problems for a politician.


It's not much different eslewhere, believe me. The USA is controlled by several special interests/organizations, and so are a majority of the nations of the civilized world. The state machine, especially a small one like Armenia, has to answer to international organizations that give it financial/political support. If and when Armenia becomes a "rogue" state like Iran, Russia or North Korea, then you can say and do whatever you want about Artsakh. Until then, however, you have to play by the rules set by western powers. Incidentally, that is why the western world wants nations to join various international organizations - so that they can control the political/economic/social life of those nations.

Today the situation is completely upside down. Today if a politician says that he is against giving lands then his political carrier is finished in the middle term. More you cry about tolerance toward turks and azeris more you have chance to go up, ... it is crazy but it is a fact.


You can thank western NGOs for that and the prospects of joining the EU.

The members of the organisation who said this, today have problems with the judicial system. ... coincidence or ...


Such people should be hanged publicly.

This declaration is not against anyone precisely. This declaration is against those who speak about "giving our lands". Nobody forces them to speak about it. They just must control their tongues


Although I fully agree with the content of the declaration, such 'unfounded' declarations, however, may cause undue panic within some circles. As a result, such declarations may actually serve to undermine Armenia's internal stability. There is always a danger of some individual taking such news seriously and attempting to bring harm to our leadership. If that happens, what then? Who wins if the current administration is weakened? Who is waiting on the horizon to take over power?

As far as I know, these types of misinformation circulate around election times or other important political events. Several months ago it was the 9 Billion USD for Artsakh fairy-tale that came ahead of the elections in Armenia - and now its this fairy-tale ahead of elections in Artskah.

Foreign intelligence services know the nature of Armenian society well. They must know that Armenians love gossip and rumor. Thus, it is not a surprise that a significant portion of our politicking today is done via rumors and hearsay.
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:14 am

Ապշեցուցիչ յայտարարութիւն Լևոն Մելիք-Շահնազարյանի կողմից:

An astounding statement by Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan.

ԱՄՆ-ի ռազմական ներխուժումն Իրան անխուսափելի է, իսկ Թեհրանում մշակվում է Բաքվի գրավման ծրագիր

ԱՄՆ-ի ռազմական ներխուժումն Իրան անխուսափելի է: Այդ մասին Երեւանում կայացած մամլո ասուլիսում հայտարարել է քաղաքագետ Լեւոն Մելիք-Շահնազարյանը: Նրա խոսքերով, ԱՄՆ-ն չափազանց մեծ կորուստներ ունեցավ վերջերս եւ չի նահանջի: «Ամերիկյան բանակը պարտվում է Իրաքում, որը զենքով է մատակարարվում սահմանակից երկրներից եւ դա բավականին ծանրակշիռ պատճառ է պատերազմ սկսելու համար: Այդ դեպքում Հայաստանը պետք է չեզոք մնա: Ճիշտ է, կա ռադիոակտիվ վարակի վտանգը: Իրանում 4 ատոմակայան կա՝ Բուշերը, որը բավականին հեռու է Հայաստանի սահմաններից, երկուսը Թեհրանի մերձակայքում եւ մեկը՝ Թավրիզում: Անբարենպաստ քամիների դեպքում Թավրիզի կայանին հասցված հարվածը կարող է լրջորեն անդրադառնալ նաեւ Հայաստանի վրա: Ինչ վերաբերում է Ադրբեջանին, ապա Իրանի առաջին պատասխան հարվածն ուղղված կլինի հենց նրա կողմը: Իմ տվյալներով, իսկ դրանք բավականին ճշգրիտ են, Թեհրանում մշակում են Բաքուն գրավելու ծրագիր»,-ընդգծել է Լ.Մելիք-Շահնազարյանը:

Լրաղբյուր: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/arm/?nid=22619


Analyst: In case of military operation against Iran, Baku will be struck first

“We shall be witness of the US operation in Iran; the only thing that halts the United States now is a complicated condition of the US Armed Forces in Iraq,” political analyst Levon Melik-Shakhnazaryan announced at a news conference yesterday, expressing his bewilderment by the fact that the has not started yet.

As a REGNUM correspondent reports, according to him, the USA is pursuing geopolitical targets and has done too much by now to crawfish. As the political analyst said, in case the military operation is started, Armenia will have to take a neutral position, as on the one hand, Iran is counterweighed by a very strong Western influence, on the other hand, “the USA comes and goes, but neighbors are always here.” Elaborating on the subject of the USA-Iran military confrontation, Levon Melik-Shakhnazaryan noted that Baku will suffer most from the war, as Azerbaijan will be struck first. “If the United State use the Azerbaijani territory for attacking Iran, Tehran will unconditionally discuss the question of seizing Baku,” the political expert said. In this case, the question of rescuing Azerbaijan will become acute. At least, Washington’s military action must be expected before the presidential election, the analyst believes.

Source: http://www.regnum.ru/english/841699.html
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:22 am

Ղարաբաղի շուրջ բանակցային գործընթացը սառեցվել է մինչեւ 2009 թվականը

Հայաստանի եւ Ադրբեջանի նախագահների հանդիպումը Սանքտ Պետերբուրգում վերջ դրեց ղարաբաղյան հակամարտության կարգավորման շուրջ բանակցային գործընթացին մինչեւ 2009 թվականը: Այդ մասին Երեւանում կայացած մամլո ասուլիսի ժամանակ հայտարարել է քաղաքագետ Լեւոն Մելիք-Շահնազարյանը: Նրա խոսքերով, ԵԱՀԿ-ն, եւ մասնավորապես Մինսկի խումբը, մեծ ճնշում էին գործադրում Հայաստանի եւ Ադրբեջանի վրա որեւէ համաձայնության հասնելու համար: «ԵԱՀԿ-ի համար հաջողության հասնելը շատ կարեւոր էր Կոսովոյի հարցի պատճառով: Սակայն նախագահները չպայմանավորվեցին, ինչ էլ ակնկալվում էր»,-ասել է քաղաքագետը: Նա նաեւ գտնում է, որ մինչեւ 2025 թվականը ռազմական գործողություններ չեն լինի: «Ներկայումս կարեւոր է նախապատրաստվել պատերազմի հնարավոր տարբերակին մնացած 10-15 տարում: Ադրբեջանը սպառազինություն է կուտակում, սակայն ես պետք է ասեմ, որ 1991 թվականին եւս նա տեխնիկայով գերազանցում էր հայերին 94 անգամ:

Հայաստանը պետք է միշտ պատրաստ լինի պատերազմի»,-ասել է նա, հավելելով, որ ԵԱՀԿ ՄԽ համանախագահները, չնայած որոշ տարաձայնությունների, միասնական են պատերազմ թույլ չտալու հարցում: Միեւնույն ժամանակ նա նշել է, որ ԵԱՀԿ ՄԽ համանախագահները Բաքվում եւ Երեւանում մամուլի հետ հանդիպումներում ասում են այն, ինչ նրանցից ցանկանում են լսել: «Դրանք դիվանագիտական խաղեր են, որոնք կողմերի վրա ճնշում գործադրելու մի մասն են կազմում»,-ընդգծել է քաղաքագետը: Ինչ վերաբերում է ԼՂՀ պատկանելությանը Ադրբեջանին, ապա Լեւոն Մելիք-Շահնազարյանը հայտարարել է, որ Լեռնային Ղարաբաղը երբեք չի եղել ոչ Ադրբեջանի, ոչ առավել եւս Ադր.ԽՍՀ կազմում: «Խորհրդային Միության ժամանակ ԼՂԻՄ-ը ստորադաս էր միութենական իշխանություններին, ոչ թե Բաքվին»,-ասել է հայ գաղաքագետը:

Լրաղբյուր: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/arm/?nid=22616

Negotiation process on Karabakh frozen till 2009

The meeting between Armenian and Azeri Presidents in St. Petersburg put an end to the negotiation process on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict till 2009, political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated to a press conference in Yerevan. He said, OSCE and particularly the Minsk Group exerted heavy pressures on Armenia and Azerbaijan for adopting any agreement. “It was very important for OSCE to reach a success because of the Kosovo problem. However, the presidents could not come to an agreement, which was expected,” the Armenian political scientist said.

He also thinks that no military operations are expected till 2025. “Currently it is very important to prepare for a variant of war during the remaining 10-15 years. Azerbaijan increases its arsenal, but I want to remind that Azeris had 94-times superiority over Armenians in equipment in 1991. Armenia must be always ready for war,” he said, adding that despite some differences, the OSCE MG Co-Chairs have the same stance in preventing any possible war.

At the same time he stressed, during their meeting with press in Baku and Yerevan the OSCE MG Co-Chairs used to say such things that people want to hear from them. “Those are diplomatic games, which are a part for exerting pressure on the conflicting sides,” the political scientist underscored. As to if NKR belongs to Azerbaijan, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated that Nagorno Karabakh has never been a part of either Azerbaijan, or Azeri SSR. “During the soviet times NKAO obeyed central authorities in Moscow, and in no way Baku.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=22616
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:50 pm

Դաշնակցությունը դեմ է ազատագրված տարածքները զիջելուն

Image

Հայ հեղափոխական դաշնակցությունը, ինչպես այսօր հայտարարեց կուսակցության բյուրոյի Հայ դատի եւ քաղաքական հարցերի պատասխանատու Կիրո Մանոյանը, դեմ է ազատագրված տարածքները Ադրբեջանին զիջելուն: «Մենք ազատագրված տարածքները զիջելուն դեմ ենք», - լրագրողների հետ հանդիպմանը ասաց Մանոյանը: - «Ցանկացած տարածք տալու դեմ ենք»:

«Ադրբեջանը պատերազմ է սկսել, Ադրբեջանի սկսած պատերազմը հետեւանքներ է թողել: Մենք այդ պատերազմի արդյունքում այսքան տարածքի վերահսկողություն ենք կատարել: Իրավական-պատմական բոլոր հիմքերը ունենք ասելու, որ այս տարածքները մերն են», - շարունակեց նա` ամփոփելով. - «Եվ, ամենակարեւորը` անվտանգության խնդիր կա... Այն մոտեցումը, որ Ղարաբաղը մի հատ միջանցքով եւ այլն պիտի միանա Հայաստանին, դա անընդունելի է մեզ համար»: Կիրո Մանոյանը նաեւ կարծիք հայտնեց, որ բանակցություններում պետք է խոսվի ոչ թե տարածքների զիջման, այլ Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի կարգավիճակի մասին:

«Ազատություն» ռադիոկայանի հարցին, թե արդյո՞ք դա նշանակում է, որ հնարավոր է Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի կարգավիճակի հարցը լուծել` առանց տարածքներ զիջելու, Մանոյանը արձագանքեց. - «Եթե... բանակցությունները արդյունք չեն տալու, պարզ է, որ կա�մ Ղարաբաղի անկախությունը Հայաստանը պիտի ճանաչի, կա�մ պիտի [Ղարաբաղը Հայաստանին] կցի»: Իսկ հարցին, թե ի՞նչ կանի Դաշնակցությունը, եթե, այնուամենայնիվ, որոշում կայացվի վերադարձնել որոշ տարածքներ, ՀՅԴ-ի ղեկավար անդամը արձագանքեց. - «Դաշնակցությունը ընտրություններին մասնակցում է, որպեսզի այդ հարցերը որոշի` չթողնի, որ եթե ուրիշը տալու լինի, ինքը ինչ պիտի անի: Ինքը ընտրվի` ինքը չի տա»:

Լրաղբյուր: http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniare ... 3F621A.ASP

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) is against the return of any of the occupied Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) is against the return of any of the occupied Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh and believes that they should repopulated by Armenians instead, a representative of the governing party said on Monday. “We are against ceding the liberated territories. We are against giving away any territory,” Giro Manoyan, the chief spokesman for Dashnaktsutyun’s worldwide ruling Bureau, said of the seven Armenian-occupied districts in Azerbaijan proper.

“The notion that Karabakh must be connected with Armenia through a single corridor is unacceptable to us,” he added in a clear reference to international mediators’ existing peace plan on Karabakh. The plan calls for the liberation of at least six of the occupied districts before the holding of a referendum of self-determination in Karabakh. Armenia’s leadership has largely accepted this peace formula. Dashnaktsutyun leaders have never publicly rejected this stance or threatened to quit the governing coalition, in which their party is a junior partner. Manoyan would not specify what the nationalist party will do if the authorities in Yerevan press ahead with the proposed settlement. Blaming Azerbaijan for the collapse of the latest round of peace talks, he said instead that Yerevan should stop even talking about territorial concessions to Baku.

“Given Azerbaijan’s position during the entire negotiating process, we no longer have reason to make such statements, even if they cast us in a positive light,” Manoyan told a news conference. “Because if you say the same thing for many times you will eventually start believing it. So it would be good to put an end to those statements and put the emphasis on resettlement [of the Armenian-controlled lands].” “It is important to instill in the people the notion that repopulated territories can not be given back. That is why the resettlement must start quickly,” he said. Manoyan also made the point that the Karabakh dispute will likely remain unresolved in the foreseeable future and that Armenia should therefore eventually formally recognize Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan. “If negotiations yield no results in two, three, five or ten years … it is clear that Armenia should either recognize Karabakh’s independence or annex it,” he said. “There is no other option.”

Source: http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniare ... 4BE037.ASP


In related news:

Is the historical Dashnak party still a driving force in Nagorno-Karabakh?

Nationalist party founded at the end of the 19th century which kept on acting abroad during the Soviet time and nowadays strongly rooted among the diaspora, the Dashnak or Dashnaktsutiun (abbreviation of Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun which means Armenian Revolutionary Federation or ARF) played a key part in the Armenian History. First secretary of the Dashnak division in Nagorno-Karabakh, Jiraïr Shahigjian highlights the problematics Jiraïr Shahigjian receives us in the newly renovated Dashnak HQ in Stepanakert, two steps away from the Nagorno-Karabakh presidency. Since April 2004, he is the first secretary of the Karabakh section of the party. On the wall, a Dashnak flag adorned with the words « Freedom or death », a black and white picture of the three foundators of the party created in 1890 in Tbilisi, in Georgia : the marxist C.Mikaelian, the populist R.Zarian and the bakuninist S.Zavarian. Jiraïr Shahigjian speaks fluently Armenian and Persian. Not surprising for an Iranian of Armenian origins. The interview is thus done with the help of Nara, a young militante polyglotte, fluent in Russian and English.

« The Dashnak line is a Social policy and it aims at the friendship between peoples », starts Jiraïr Shahigjian, with a solemnal attitude. « There is nothing specific to Karabakh. We follow a same and only national line, identical to the one in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, notably for the recognition of the genocide. Every four years, during the International meeting of comitees, a vote takes place about the main lines of the national politicy. The last one was held in February 2003 ».

But the Stepanakert representation has to adapt to stakes specific to the has to the enclave. Alike the example of the thorny issue of displaced/refugees. «The precarious refugees’ situation is a political and before all financial issue.If we just want to mention the aid for houses construction, this depends on the budgetary choices of the government.», as he thinks. Interviewed about the Dashnak stand about the Nagorno-Karabakh, the first secretary has rather to dodge : «We are today independent. But Dashnak is in favour of the defense of a Great Armenia.».

The offices of Dashnak have just been renovated, and the desks are well equipped with computers. But the budget and financial resources of the party are still taboo. There a lot of gossiping around the financing of local political forces. The party in power, MDA, would be supported by local businessmen and the diaspora. Dashnak zould be no exception to the rule. Its first secretary asserts that each supporter gives 3% of its salary to the party. In addition, the party benefits from various sponsorships and donations, from Karabakh businessmen. Surmounted by the three Armenian, Karabakh, and Dashnak flags, the HQ bustles around by an incessant comings-and-goings of militants and voluntaries. Bought in 1998, the building shelters the secretariat of the party, with its ten or so full-time employees, but also young qnd students sections, or also the editorial team of Aparaj, the organ of the Press of Dashnak. Bimonthly created in Stepanakert, Aparaj printed to 1,000 copies, for a strictly Karabakh circulation.

31 years old, Jiraïr Shahigjian is a probing example of the weight of the youth inside the party. «We have created several youth associations : the first one aimed at schoolchildren and tries to improve the studies, the two other ones gather University students as well as activists », as he explains. Borned in Ispahan, and now maried to a Karabakh woman, Jiraïr Shahigjian was very active in the Dashnak representation in Teheran. He left his country in 1996, since he refused to be any longer under pressure of the power over the Iranian youth. Nara, 22 years old, our translator, has been involved for now ten years in the life of the party. Volontary worker, Nara knew about the Dashnak by her parents. She is nowadays commited in the student association of the party, which gathers 150 students, of which 50 active militants. « By now, our workgroup prepares the muncipal elections of August 8th », explains Nara. Every week, according to the community policy of the party, the representation also organises seminars gathering voluntaries and supporters. The objective ? To follow the international and national news, around two themes : the evolution and the History of the Armenian people.

« Our party has opended offices in the regions for example in Shushi, but it is true that decisions are taken here, in Stepanakert », as confides Jiraïr Shahigjian. According to Rozanna Ishkanian from the newspaper Demo, Dashnak has indeed developed into the regions. «To proove it, a part of the Dashnak deputies of the Parliament are coming from the districts of Hadrut (three of them), or Askeran, two regions at the border with Azerbaijan {the districts of Hadrut and Askeran are respectively located at the South-East and East of Nagorno-Karabakh, editor’s note} », explains Rozanna. « Even if they are particularly active in those Eastern regions, they lack readability». Their impact on the local political life yet stops at the villages. The great municipalities are still at the hands of the MDA. In addition, the local elections are known for being rigged. According to Jiraïr Shahigjian, the stake is still the Karabakh « capital », the decision-making center of the regional political scene.

Present among the government, the party holds the Education, Culture and Sports portfolio, at the hands of the minister Armien Sarkissian, and his principal private secretary. But, according to journalists and specialists of local Policy, the prospects of Dashnak could not break away from its eternal anti-establishment part in which the party seems to contented with. The population does not acknowledged this political force as an alternative power. A stand rejected by Jiraïr Shahigjian. « As a matter of principle, we are not systematically for or against the government in power. Even if we agree about the main lines of the domestic policy of the government of Arkady Goukassian, we disagree about its external policy, as well as about its budgetary allocations».

With nine deputies in the Parliament, the Dashnak influence is undeniable. As for the future of the party, Rozanna Ishkanian is being skeptical : « since Dashnak did not hesitate to take up arms à prendre les armes during the war, the party was welcomed by the public opinion. After 1997, Dashnak made an alliance with the president, that is what lost them as regards the presidency. And now, the party claims to be critical toward the government in power. »

Source: http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/breve_contenu.php?id=50
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:55 am

Վերջապես արեցին այն ինչ որ «վաղուց» պէտք է անեյին:

Armenia Limiting Foreign Broadcasts


YEREVAN, Armenia -- Armenian lawmakers gave preliminary backing to a bill Friday that could restrict the retransmission of foreign news broadcasts, legislation critics said was designed to target Armenian-language programs of Radio Free Europe. The parliament voted 79-16 to pass the amendments, introduced by the government this week, to the country's main broadcasting law. The amendments would require foreign-funded news broadcasters to pay around $200 every time shows are rebroadcast by the country's primary radio and television company. U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is the only foreign news organization whose programs are rebroadcast on Armenian state radio -- up to five times a day in some cases. Radio Liberty's FM broadcasts would not be affected. The amendments would not affect foreign broadcasters, such as Deutsche Welle or the BBC, which broadcast on the FM frequency. Neither has Armenian language service, but do broadcast in Russian.

Source: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2 ... 2/023.html
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:11 pm

The True Face of the Armenian Assembly Revealed

Unfortunately, when we oppose the ruling administration in Yerevan, the ones that gain from it are those who are seeking to destroy the Armenian Republic. The dangers that the Armenian Republic faces today comes not only from Ankara, Washington DC and Baku, it also comes from treasonous Armenians.

My disgust towards the Armenian Assembly of America dates back to when they were first involved with the now infamous TARC fiasco. It is now quite obvious that the Armenian Assembly of America has been the eyes and ears of the US State Department since its inception. The Armenian Assembly has promoted many of the US Department's malicious agendas within the Armenian Republic. In short, the Armenian Assembly of America can not be trusted to promote Armenian issues within Washington DC, nor can they be trusted within the Armenian Republic.

Whether is the self-righteous pompous scumbab called Van Krikorian, or the convert to Judaism the abomination called Ani Totah, or the numerous wealthy ignorants that saturate the organization, the Armenian Assembly of America is an absolute disgrace and poses a real danger to the Armenian nation.

Please read this article in its entirety. I also suggest sending this link to as many Armenian email addresses as one can.

“Look out! Ethnic espionage”: Igor Muradyan about the Armenian Assembly of America

A number of controversial reports about the Armenian Assembly of America have appeared in the media of late. REGNUM has asked Armenian political scientist Igor Muradyan for comments.

“No doubt that the reports have serious grounds. You can turn down some arguments — for the authors seem to be somewhat under-informed about the developments — but certainly it is high time to call a spade a spade. First of all, you should take into account the continuing political struggle in Armenia and view the stance of the Armenian Assembly of America also in this light.”

I don't think that ethnic NGOs enjoy full independence in the US, but the point is that the Armenian Assembly of America is more than dependent. Even more, the Assembly is functionally dependent. The Assembly directors and employees don’t just look down on Armenia's political class and leaders, they look down on them with disdain. Given a whole range of serious political problems of Armenia, the Assembly is focused on the problem of its relations with Robert Kocharyan. Kocharyan has proved not very much convenient a partner for them, just because the Assembly directors are unable to consult, instruct and contact him in private on the phone. One cannot but agree with the opinion that the Assembly is facing a crisis of genre.

First, as an instrument of another state it is very much unwanted in the politics in Armenia. Second, the scope of the Assembly's lobbying has come to its limits — for within the limits of its tasks the US policy in the region is quite conforming to Armenia's interests. And so, the Assembly is forced to search for new domains. Quite enough has been said about this in the internet and so I'd better just remind some facts.

In 2001 the Assembly's board decreed “to fight Armenian nationalism.” This implies suppression of any instance of patriotism, especially over the Karabakh problem and Armenian-Turkish relations. The Assembly is discriminating towards Armenian political parties, NGOs, politicians and experts.

The employees and friends of the Assembly were set to carry out reconnaissance in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Republic. We know at least six citizens of Armenia and one resident of NKR whom they tried to recruit for information gathering. The above activities envisaged the following directions:

Gathering information on the state of the armed forces of Armenia, including armaments, information on senior officers, on the import of military hardware (invoice numbers, payment terms, transportation routes), receiving analytical notes on the fighting capacity of the Armenian army, information and assessment of typical conflicts inside the military command, the concerns and plans of different groups in the military circles; gathering information on the leaders and activists of political parties, the mass media and political leaders of Armenia, including economic interests, ties with foreign countries.

For example, the Assembly wanted detailed information on the economic interests of Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan in Russia, the possibilities for discrediting him and the military command for economic or other motives. Armenian citizens were shown video pictures of Armenia's military equipment and some military commanders, photos of senior officers. Some of the videos and photos had apparently been made from a very long distance. Special interest was given to possible news about the import of air defense units, first of all, C-300, on plans to develop military aviation, on possible purchases. They were even interested in such non secret information as the parameters of dynamic steel on tanks. They paid visits to Nagorno Karabakh — formal and informal — they visited military units, talked with military commanders. The talk was friendly and candid, but they got no sensations — just stupid and thoughtless things. One NKR officer told an Assembly agent in a friendly manner — “You guys are all but profies or you cook like that in your country — you better learn a bit.”

One of the authors has already mentioned the interest of the Assembly in the military intelligence of Armenia. As a matter of fact, one of the “recruited” young experts in Yerevan says that the Assembly is very much interested in the personality of B.Azoyan. The Assembly believes the exposure of the director of the military intelligence to be one of its exploits. Exposed were quite banal facts — there reportedly are proofs that the military intelligence of Armenia works in “the American direction.”

Visitors from the Assembly have never much cared for political figures in Armenia. They did care for analytical community, individual experts. The experts were mostly very young and initially very much eager to provide Assembly people with some information. But soon they were told to supply information relating to the national security of Armenia. These activities covered also the Armenian Embassy in the US. It is a certainty that there were at least two information leaks from the office of the military attaché. Also using documents from the attaché’s table was repeatedly (and as if accidentally) the military attaché of Belarus. So, it takes one no big effort to carry out such activity. Let's just hope that the military attaché of Armenia may have no interesting information.

Mass media directors are also of interest. Of interest was, for example, the dossier of the editor of Aravot daily Aram Abrahamyan, especially his personal incomes and their sources. Very much of interest was the personality of the well-known Alexander Haroutyunyuan (if I am not mistaken, he is now the director of the public television) and so on and so forth. It seems that the whole political class of Armenia is being computerized.

Of certain interest is the impression I got personally from such contacts. Strange but true: Assembly representatives get openly malicious and bilious over the fact that the Armenian armed forces are highly capable of discharging many combat operations on their own. Would they be more comfortable if the army of their “historical homeland” had other characteristics and was like the armies of some other states? Altogether incompetent the Assembly representatives were as much annoyed to know that Armenia is not a perishing country and is successfully developing economically.

The National Security Service and the Defense Ministry of Armenia are perfectly informed of the activities of the Assembly and have relevant directives on hand. For example, the top military command are strictly forbidden to have meetings with their Assembly counterparts.

But no less worthy of mentioning is the fact that the Assembly representatives are not the only ones to take a special interest in their “historical homeland.” Obviously having their definite interests in Armenia and specialization is also the Armenian community of Washington DC. For example, some Richard Kirakosyan, generally known as analyst or political scientist or someone else, has offered an Armenian citizen closely cooperating with the “Caucasian (Yerevan) Center of Iranian Studies” $10,000 for information on Iran — absolutely definitely saying that this service was ordered by CIA.

I guess not everything is so dangerous for our country – as I do believe that the US is our friend who knows that only Armenia can be a strategic partner in the region (“small Israel” or “Big Armenia”). The Armenian society continues being modestly silent that the US strategy is one of the major factors of our security, if not something more. But somebody wants to be “more Catholic than the Pope is.” These are people for whom ethnicity is their profession. So it is time to hang a sign “Look Out! Ethnic Espionage.” In the meantime, we better remember that our compatriots abroad are overwhelmingly citizens of other states and are obliged to express their interests. We are still far from being a “world nation.” We have yet a long way to go. And young vain analysts and political analysts better keep in mind that our country is an active actor in the regional and global politics, with quite a big interest given to it."

http://www.regnum.ru/english/565800.html?forprint
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:48 am

Armenia Concerned at Caucasus Arms Race

Image

Could dissolution of CFE treaty herald outbreak of conflict in the Caucasus?

The sharp rise in defence budgets and accompanying militarization of the countries of the South Caucasus is alarming the international community. Growth in military spending in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia now exceeds GDP growth by 20 to 40 times. For every million inhabitants of the South Caucasus, there are 75 tanks and 85 artillery pieces. This is a much larger proportion than in the three big neighbours of the region, Iran, Russia and Turkey. If you factor in the number of weapons in the three unrecognised separatist territories in the region, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh, the figures rise by around a third.

However, the militarisation of the region needs to be put in a wider perspective. The Stockholm peace institute, SIPRI, calculated that last year world military spending reached 1.2 trillion US dollars, a rise of 3.5 per cent on the year before. That suggests that, despite the end of the Cold War and efforts to put in place a new international security framework, most countries still believe that the best means of preserving their security is maintaining an effective army.

Armenia’s military budget for 2007 was just over 271 million dollars, or 3.5 per cent of GDP. The spending is based on a perceived actual military threat from Azerbaijan and a potential one from Turkey. The Armenian government rejects accusations that it is exceeding the military quotas set by the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, or CFE, and says that it is keeping to the limits and preventing a new arms race in the Caucasus. (Azerbaijan for its part accuses the Armenians of maintaining weaponry outside CFE in Nagorny Karabakh. See accompanying article).

Armenia has been accused of militarising the region by receiving Russian weaponry transferred from the former base of the 62nd army in Akhalkalaki in Georgia - now closed - to the Russian military base in Gyumri in northern Armenia. Armenian officials responded to this by saying that most of the equipment transferred was vehicles and ammunition and that all equipment in the Gyumri base remains the property of the Russian armed forces, not of Armenia. They say that the whole process was transparent and agreed with the Georgian government and that it complies with CFE quotas.

Armenia is watching as Azerbaijan sharply increases its military budget year on year and says that their neighbour is breaking its CFE commitments. For example, in 2006 Azerbaijan declared that it possessed 217 tanks and bought 41 tanks from Ukraine and Belarus, thereby exceeding its CFE quota by 38 tanks. Former Armenian defence minister Vagarshak Harutiunian said, “It’s far from clear to what extent the OSCE and NATO can force Baku to keep to the quotas set out in the CFE. In this situation, it is obvious that Azerbaijan should either leave the CFE or observe it properly.”

The Armenians say that Azerbaijan is trying to use its enhanced defence budget, based on increased oil revenues, to try to force them to make unilateral concessions in negotiations over the Nagorny Karabakh peace process. However, they say increased military spending by Azerbaijan is a necessary but not sufficient condition for achieving success should fighting resume. It is worth noting that a large part of Azerbaijan’s military expenditure is being directed towards naval forces in the Caspian Sea – and therefore not against Nagorny Karabakh or Armenia. Disputes over this large and energy-rich basin are a potential source of conflict in the future. Baku is also compelled to keep some of its forces in other parts of the country, such as the southern border, to repel other potential threats.

“The Armenian side in response to Azerbaijan’s purchase of expensive offensive weaponry is giving its preference to cheaper defensive weapons systems,” said Sergei Minasian, a military expert who is deputy director of the Caucasus Media Institute in Yerevan.

“[Armenia] is also using sensibly its membership of the CIS Collective Security Pact and its alliance with Russia. For example at the end of 2006, Baku bought expensive modern MiG-29 fighter aircraft from Ukraine. And just around the same time there was an announcement that the Russian-Armenian anti-aircraft system on the territory of Armenia had been replaced by a more up-to-date system and put on a state of battle alert.”

Both NATO and Russia are contributing to the increased militarisation of the South Caucasus. The argument can be made that both NATO and the CIS Collective Security Pact have their place in the region and the two are in a state of competition for allegiance rather than outright hostility. NATO’s activities in the region have been met with understanding in Armenia, which has hosted NATO training exercises. However, up till now, relative stability has been guaranteed in large part due to a military balance, whose cornerstone has been the CFE treaty. If the CFE treaty begins to unravel that could lead to a destabilisation and rise in tension in the South Caucasus, with the threat of unresolved conflicts flaring up again.

Source: http://www.iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=337252&apc_state=henh
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:45 pm

Russian expert: Military settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is an affair that will result in collapse of Azerbaijan

Image

National consensus has been reached in Nagorno Karabakh regarding the fact that “the republic must be an independent state,” so victory of one or another candidate at the presidential election will not radically change on the general situation, head of the Caucasus department at the Institute for CIS Studies Mikhail Alexandrov said.

“The matter concerns nuances. For instance, Bako Saakyan is quite moderate and is orientated towards connection with Armenia and talks with Azerbaijan. Masis Mailyan is tougher, he opposes returning of seven occupied areas to Azerbaijan and speaks for a more autonomous from Yerevan negotiation stance,” Alexandrov said adding that in any case, the key direction in Stepanakert will be dialog. At the same time, he noted that Ilham Aliev’s hopes for returning Karabakh through dialog are naïve.

“A military settlement is an affair that will result in collapse of Azerbaijan as a state. It is unreal for Baku to win over Armenia and the NKR, no matter how strongly they increase their military spending,” the expert believes. The matter concerns not only money, but efficiency of the Army. “Besides, Armenia is connected with Russia by military agreements; the most up-to-date military equipment is supplied there at lower prices. Some types of weapons are impossible for Azerbaijan to acquire in foreign markets; nobody will sell them to it. So, it will be ungrounded to hope for superiority and a Blitzkrieg,”

the analyst stressed adding that “this form of being looped” can result in Azerbaijan losing the seven areas of the Nagorno Karabakh security belt. Now, he believes, there is still an opportunity to implement the formula “peace for territories”: Azerbaijan recognizes Nagorno Karabakh independence and the latter returns the territories. “However, now, the time is not serving Baku. The Kosovo precedent that, most probably, will end with a one-sided recognition of the territory’s independence by the West will only encourage Karabakh in its intentions. ‘The Fifth Column’ and a coup in Stepanakert are ruled out, because there is no single Azerbaijani there,” Mikhail Alexandrov is quoted as saying by PanARMENIAN.Net.

Source: http://www.regnum.ru/english/860576.html
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armenian on Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:50 am

Very good news:

ARMENIA: PUBLIC RADIO REFUSES DEAL WITH RADIO LIBERTY

Image

Negotiations to renew Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s broadcast agreement in Armenia have ended, reportedly putting the station’s Yerevan office on the verge of closure. As of August 9, the station’s Armenian service’s programs will no longer be carried on public radio. Critics contend the decision is an attempt to muzzle criticism of government policies.

Under the law “On Television and Radio,” foreign media organizations’ broadcasts are prohibited on frequencies used by the Public Television and Radio Company without the consent of the company’s board. After expiration of an earlier contract, a new agreement for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) was submitted to Public Television and Radio this February, but was never signed. Representatives from the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an independent agency that oversees non-military US government-funded overseas broadcasting, and the International Broadcasting Bureau, which provides support for these operations, negotiated with Armenia’s Public Television and Radio Company for about a week, but were not able to reach agreement. In a July 25 televised statement to explain the negotiations’ failure, Public Television and Radio Company Board Chairman Alexan Harutiunian stated that his organization had “not impeded, but displayed good will and retransmitted the programs of Radio Liberty from February till today despite the absence of a contract.”

“The radio station made payments until February 27 and has not made any payment since then, but the bills were presented to it every month, and that debt today makes about $86,000. In other words, the public radio funded the retransmission of the radio station’s programs since 2007 at the expense of Armenia’s state budget,” Harutiunian said. “Moreover, the public radio expressed readiness to assist in the matter of conducting negotiations with private companies to ensure the consistency of Radio Liberty’s broadcasts,” he added. In a July 24 press release, James K. Glassman, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, stated that the Public Televison and Radio Company had declined payment and had refused to sign a new agreement. Glassman claimed that the “minor technical issues” which had prompted the delegation's trip to Yerevan had been “resolved” during the talks. “It seems clear that whatever is holding up an agreement has nothing to do with legal, contractual, or technical issues,” he said. "The potential end of our very fruitful relationship with Public Radio has no economic or other legitimate justification," added RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin.

The statement affirms that the station's Yerevan office received a communication from the Public Television and Radio Company about its intentions one week after the July 3 failure of legislative amendments that would have imposed stiff fees for the rebroadcast of foreign media materials. Harutiunian, for his part, maintains that the station has “politicized” the dispute. Speaking by phone from Washington, DC, RFE/RL Associate Director of Communication Martin Zvaners told EurasiaNet that the broadcaster still hopes that the decision is not yet final and that a resolution can be found. “As our president already mentioned, we highly evaluate the cooperation with Armenia’s public radio and we hope that the contract will be signed. In any case, we will take all available means for Armenians not to be deprived of the opportunity to listen to Radio Liberty,” said Zvaners.

The US Embassy in Yerevan has not yet issued any statement, but in an interview with RFE/RL on July 20, U.S. chargé d’affaires Rudolf Perina said that “assurances were given to us on a high level that the problem is a technical one and can be worked out through negotiations.” “[T]he authorities in Armenia understand that if it appeared that RFE/RL were being blocked from broadcasts for political reasons, this would be difficult for many friends of Armenia in the West and in the United States to understand,” Perina added. In Armenia, reactions to the news were mixed. As in the run-up to the July 3 parliamentary vote, pro-government political figures again gave assurances that the move does not restrict Radio Liberty’s broadcasting possibilities. Samvel Nikoyan, a member of parliament for the ruling Republican Party, told EurasiaNet that the radio station could easily have its programs retransmitted on private radio companies’ frequencies.

“This decision has nothing to do with the elections. Radio Liberty does not interfere with the Republican Party. It was freely operating during the parliamentary elections and was quite critical of us, however we managed to get an absolute majority in parliament,” said Nikoyan. Human rights activist Ashot Melikian, chairman of the Committee for the Defense of Freedom of Speech, said that the move would boost the ability of Armenian authorities to control the flow of information. Most television and radio outlets are largely pro-government in their news coverage. “If we consider that some private radio will have the guts to sign a contract with Radio Liberty, all the same, the potential audience will shrink 10-20 times, as in remote rural areas people can tune in only to public radio,” Melikian said. A veteran opposition lawmaker, Viktor Dallakian, alleged that officials resorted to administrative measures to remove Radio Liberty from the air after legislative measures failed.

MP Stepan Safarian of the parliamentary opposition Heritage Party, which took part in an opposition boycott that contributed to the July 3 defeat of the earlier legislative amendments, expressed surprise over the failure of negotiations. “I didn’t expect the authorities to be so imprudent. They, in fact, do not avoid overt confrontation with the West, without thinking about the consequences,” Safarian said. He added that the potential consequences of the RFE/RL renewal failure were “quite serious.” In particular, Safarian suggested the decision could endanger the $235.65 million US-funded Millennium Challenge Program. Continuance of the Millennium Challenge program is contingent upon Armenia demonstrating that it is committed to democratic reform, including media rights. In 2006, the Washington, DC-based human rights organization Freedom House urged the Millennium Challenge Corporation to suspend the Armenian program, arguing that freedom of speech rights had not been observed.

Source: http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/i ... 507a.shtml
Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

Գարեգին Նժդեհ
Armenian
 
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Location: Cyberia

Postby Armanen on Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:56 pm

Good news, however, there should be more media outlets not controlled by the government or biased towards it. As much as I don't want western spin in Armenia, neither do I want official Yerevan spin either, there needs to be a balance, otherwise many of the current crooks in power, will stay in their jobs much longer.
It's a custom of the human condition for the masses to remain ignorant. It's what they do. In fact, that IS how "the peace" is kept. Whatever democracy we have here is a spectator's sport.
Armanen
 
Posts: 179
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:13 am
Location: Arnor

Postby artsakh on Sat Jul 28, 2007 5:49 am

Radio Free Europe (RFE)

Radio Free Europe today is not broadcasting freedom. A certain Max Liberty, broadcasting into Armenia in December 2001, promoted bisexualism, porn stars, and religious cults, as well as advising young Armenian youth to practice free sex (Azg, December 10, 2001). This is only one of many ways to destabilize a culture that does not deserve to be contaminated. Does not the Armenian Government notice this? If so, why don’t they file an official complaint to America’s State Department? What is the Armenian Government doing to protect the national character? The United States Government finances Radio Free Europe.

source: ARMENIA -- NATIONHOOD WITHIN GLOBALIZATION

By Ardavast Avakian
<<Երբ իրիկունը գլուխներդ դնեք բարծին որ քնանաք, մի քիչ մտածեք ազգի մասին>>
--ՔԱՋՆ ԱՆԴՐԱՆԻԿ
artsakh
 
Posts: 47
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:47 am

Postby Armanen on Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:41 am

Radio AR signed the agreement proposed by Radio 'Free Europe/Liberty/'
on retranslation of its programs

arminfo
2007-07-28 23:53:00


The management of Radio AR signed the agreement proposed by Radio "Free
Europe/Liberty" on retranslation of its programs, ArmInfo was told
about it at the radio station "Radio AR".

Thereby, the broadcasting time meant for the programs of Public Radio
by Radio AR must be limited, so that the time is provided for the
transmissions of Radio Liberty. The agreement is presently sent to
Radio "Free Europe/Liberty" to be signed.

Commenting on this, the editor of Armenian Radio Liberty Armen Dulian
said that the requirements of the radio station's controlling
authority- the Council of Directors of the American broadcasting
service didn't change. "On July 24 the Council of Directors of the
American broadcasting service made a declaration, in which it expressed
a wish to continue broadcasting the radio station's programs by RA
Public Radio, and since then the Council's position hasn't changed",
Dulian said. To note, the Council of Public Television and Public Radio
already stated that the transmission of the programs of Radio Liberty
on RA Public Radio will be terminated on August 9 2007.
It's a custom of the human condition for the masses to remain ignorant. It's what they do. In fact, that IS how "the peace" is kept. Whatever democracy we have here is a spectator's sport.
Armanen
 
Posts: 179
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:13 am
Location: Arnor

PreviousNext

Return to Aryan World

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests

cron