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September 25, 2009
1. Raffi Hovannisian speaks out on protocols: Turkey-Armenia and the
Fruits of Genocide**
2.** With God's Help: Supreme Patriarch hails Sargsyan's move to
talk
to Diaspora
3. Animator Death: Heart failure claims well-known Armenian artist
Robert Sahakyants
**4.** In Our Opinion: Serzh faces no-win situation he created
5. The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged
statement caused controversy and confusion
6.** **The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged
statement caused controversy and confusion
7. H1N1: Health official says Armenia still `Swine Flu free'**
8. Eco alarm: Armenian endangered wildlife is again under threat of
hunt
9. Sport: Mika take center stage as they catch up with leader in
soccer title race
******************************************* *********************************
1. Raffi Hovannisian speaks out on protocols: Turkey-Armenia and the Fruits
of Genocide
By Raffi K. Hovannisian
Governments and commentators have hailed the two recently-announced
protocols between Turkey and Armenia. If signed and ratified, they will
provide a timetable for the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border and the
establishment of full diplomatic relations.
Unfortunately, the exuberance in Western capitals is based on energy routes,
geopolitics and the desire to smooth the way for Turkey as a regional power
and EU aspirant. It ignores the sinister aspects of the deal.
Certainly, Armenia has long pushed for an end to the Turkish blockade of
Armenia, an open border and diplomatic relations with Turkey without
precondition. This has also been the stated U.S. and European position.
This approach acknowledges that the Armenian-Turkish relationship is
complicated and burdened by the Armenian Genocide. Open borders, diplomatic
relations and people-to-people contacts must come first before Turkey and
Armenia can begin to sort out a very difficult legacy, issues of restitution
and reparations and to what extent Turkey should continue to enjoy the
fruits of genocide.
The proposed protocols, however, will serve to meet two long-standing
Turkish preconditions to normalization of relations with Armenia. The first
is to forestall further progress in formal international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The second is to confirm and help remove the juridical
cloud from the Turkey Armenia frontier.
This frontier, which, under the Turkish blockade, is the last closed border
in Europe, lacks legal status. It is an important issue for Turkey. The
day after the protocols were announced, Turkey's Foreign Minister stated
that recognition of the current boundary was a basic element of the proposed
agreements, without which, `we cannot talk about being neighbors.'
Turkey's strategy to shirk its obligations to Armenia under international
law is to marginalize Armenia and to deny the Genocide, in which 1.5 million
Armenians were killed and the survivors dispossessed of most of their 3,000
year-old homeland. Turkey uses its growing strategic and economic power to
enlist American and European support for these initiatives. The offending
provisions in the proposed protocols are part of this process.
Armenia is small, land-locked and vulnerable. It previously resisted
Turkish preconditions to normalization. However, after elections marred by
fraud and political violence, the current Armenian administration has been
susceptible to Turkish, European and American pressure on this issue. Given
the legacy of the Armenian Genocide, European and American roles in
promoting, rather than objecting to, these preconditions are outrageous.
In the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, President Woodrow Wilson fixed
Turkey's boundary with Armenia in an arbitral award issued under U.S.
presidential seal. This remains the only binding demarcation of the
Turkish-Armenian frontier in accordance with an agreement between sovereign
and independent Turkish and Armenian states.
Although the de jure border and the award of these territories to Armenia
continue to be legally valid, the 1920 invasion of Armenia by Kemalist and
Bolshevik forces sealed these lands in Turkey and gave us the current de
facto border.
The great irony is that a significant stretch of the energy and transport
routes that are the sources of an emerging Turkish power pass through these
territories, which were also the killing fields of the Armenian Genocide.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the parallel natural gas South
Caucasus Pipeline do. So will the proposed Nabucco pipeline project. These
territories and projects, so vital to Turkey's goal to become a major
international energy hub, are the fruits of genocide. And Armenia enjoys
none of their political and economic benefits.
Sadly, open hatred of Armenians is everywhere in Turkey, in official and
semi-official media, in the state school system, in state-sanctioned
discrimination and elsewhere in and out of government.
Of course, the pinnacle of this hatred is genocide denial, which genocide
scholars tells us constitutes the final stage of genocide. But consider the
Turkish Defense Minister who asks rhetorically whether the present Turkish
nation state would have been possible without the elimination of the
Armenian population or the Turkish President who charges an opposition
Turkish parliamentarian with defamation for alleging he has Armenian roots.
Remember the murder of the Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, or the
planned attacks on Turkish-Armenian community leaders by Ergenekon, the
ultranationalist organization associated with what in Turkey is referred to
as the `Deep State.'
With the demonization of Armenians in Turkish nationalist ideology, an
official policy of genocide denial and Ankara's proven hostility to the
reborn Armenian state, that the West does not actively oppose Turkish
preconditions should give everyone pause.
The enduring legacy of the Armenian Genocide is not just a challenge for
Turkey and Armenia. It is also a challenge for Europe and America. The
West, despite growing Turkish power and influence, should encourage Turkey
to take responsibility for the Armenian Genocide, not assist Turkey in
compelling Armenia to agree to preconditions that humiliate the victimized
party and prejudice the integrity and outcome of any future genuine
reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia.
Ultimately, the Turkish-Armenian conversation must include two thorny
issues: first, to what extent Turkey should continue to enjoy the fruits of
genocide and second, the integrity of the border it shares with Armenia.
Raffi Hovannisian was independent Armenia's first minister of foreign
affairs.
******************************** ********************************************
2. With God's Help: Supreme Patriarch hails Sargsyan's move to talk to
Diaspora
By Suren Musayelyan
His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, has welcomed President Serzh Sargsyan's planned visits to several
centers of the worldwide Armenian Diaspora to listen to their opinions on
the current Armenian-Turkish normalization.
As reported by the presidential press office, during the meeting of the two
on Thursday, Sargsyan said that the process has reached `an important stage
of public-political discussions.' He said that the widening debate is
important because `regardless of whether the published protocols [on
establishing diplomatic ties between Yerevan and Ankara] will be signed or
not, ratified or not, the discussions are a good ground for talking about
our relations and problems.'
`Of course, there are emotional phenomena and elements in them, it couldn't
be otherwise, since a huge part of our people are the generations of those
subjected to genocide. Besides, across the border are our sacred places, our
churches, our capital, and for many also the remnants of their ancestral
homes. I understand this, since in many cases I myself struggle with my own
emotions. But, nevertheless, I am convinced that these discussions are
necessary,' said Sargsyan.
During the meeting Sargsyan informed Catholicos Karekin II about his planned
weeklong visits beginning October 1 to a number of large Armenian
communities abroad, including Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Beirut and
Rostov-on-Don `in order to listen to the opinions and viewpoints on the
process of the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations from local
Armenians and Armenians from other relatively close communities.'
The Sargsyan administration's yearlong fence-mending talks with Turkish
leadership culminated on August 31 in two initialed protocols on
establishing diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations with Ankara.
The draft protocols, however, have drawn mixed reactions both from some
political groups inside Armenia as well as across the far-reaching Armenian
Diaspora.
Among the concerns presented by some Diaspora-based groups and leaders are
that several key provisions of the documents are potentially damaging to the
national interests of Armenia and its Diaspora as they purportedly make
Yerevan-Ankara normalization conditional on several concessions, including
the reaffirmation of the existing Turkish-Armenian border, the agreement to
set up an intergovernmental sub-commission to discuss historical
discrepancies, construed as agreement to start discussing and therefore
questioning the 1915-1918 Genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, as well
as making territorial concessions in a separate Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute
over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Sargsyan administration has, on the contrary, insisted that the
protocols contain no preconditions and are a step forward in resolving a
century-old feud with the big neighbor and historical foe.
Karekin II said he welcomed the president's initiative to hold meetings with
Diaspora representatives to address the concerns.
`The Diaspora is an important and inseparable part of our people and it is
only right that our sons from the Diaspora who, too, are in heated
discussions about the initialed Armenia-Turkey protocols during these days,
should have an opportunity to hear answers personally from you regarding
questions of concern to them and also that you should learn what our sons in
the Diaspora think, their viewpoints and concerns,' said Karekin II.
The Catholicos reportedly informed President Sargsyan that at its upcoming
meeting the Supreme Spiritual Council will discuss the current
Armenian-Turkish process, the initialed documents and will issue a
corresponding statement.
`We wish you every success, Respected President. May God show His blessing
and help you on this important journey,' concluded the Supreme Patriarch.
************************************* ***************************************
3. Animator Death: Heart failure claims well-known Armenian artist Robert
Sahakyants
By Georg Khachaturyan
Famous Armenian animator Robert Sahakyants died in Yerevan on September 24,
aged 59, shortly after undergoing a heart surgery.
Sahakyants was taken to hospital on September 21 after he felt a sudden
heartache. Doctors revealed aorta exfoliation; the surgery, however, did not
save his life.
Sahakyants became renowned thanks to an animation film shot still in the
1980s, which was called `Knopka' (thumbtack). The film contains a sharp
satire towards the Soviet reality of that epoch, and the animation film is
shot in the genre of comic surrealism. After `Knopka' came the films
`Tebye
Armenia' (To you, Armenia), and `Taverna' (tavern), where he touched
upon
sad philosophical issues concerning the present and future of Armenia that
declared its independence.
Among the famous works of Sahakyants is the cycle of animation films based
on the tales of Armenian classic writer Hovhannes Tumanyan.
In 2002, as a result of cooperation between Robert Sahakyants and an art
group later named `Yellow Submaryan', a series of identically titled
cartoons were produced.
Sahakyants was author and artistic-director of about 30 scenarios of
animation films, many of which got awards at international film festivals in
France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Estonia.
In 1987 the animator was awarded with the title of Honored Artist.
Sahakyants was the Artistic Director of the Union of Animation Films at the
`Hayfilm' film studio.
Sahakyants was famous in Armenia not only due to his professional activity,
but also for his tough statements concerning different political issues or
events.
However, in life he was quite different. According to Sahakyants' colleague
- artistic director Erik Muradyan - working with Sahakyants at `Zatik'
(lady-bird) Studio, the famous animator was easygoing, kind, friendly,
simple and available in communication. `Youth was kept in him, and it is
impossible to create animation films without it. This is an irretrievable
loss,' Muradyan says.
Sahakyants is survived by wife, four children and seven grandchildren. Two
of his sons also pursue careers in animation film making.
***************************************** ***********************************
**
4. In Our Opinion: Serzh faces no-win situation he created
Whether you are for or against the pending Armenia-Turkey protocols is of
little consequence. Or so, regrettably, it appears.
As Week IV of the six-week debate period passes, what becomes more clear is
that public dissent and discourse may eventually prove to be cathartic, but
will likely have no bearing on an outcome that appears to have been
determined even before it was announced.
Better stated: If average Armenians want a voice in these matters, they'd
better solicit the Turkish Parliament, as it looks as if the signing is a
fait a'compli on this side of the border.
Opening of the Armenia-Turkey border should happen. It should not happen
this way.
Rightly achieved, such a significant step in the history of independent
Armenia should produce opportunity for public and political triumph and
should leave a needy nation feeling good about herself. The capital should
be planning for street dances rather than fearing street clashes.
Now, though, October 13 approaches more as a storm front than a dawn.
In all the shouting and sit-down protesting and faux `hunger strikes' and
televised analyses and newsprint propaganda of these days, an informative
moment emerged when both President Serzh Sargsyan and his Minister of
Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan conceded that amending the protocols is
out of the question.
In other words: The time for debate passed, before the public even knew
about it.
How did such a moment arrive? How is it possible that a democracy can be
forced to either accept or reject a history-changing document that it had no
chance to review in its conception, to say nothing of the
presumably-democratic privilege of informing its content?
In 2005, Armenians were invited to voting polls to endorse or reject a
package of amendments to the Constitution. Among them were curtailing the
sweeping powers of the President in favor of the parliament, the government
and the judiciary; providing for a democratically elected city council and
mayor in capital Yerevan; removing the ban on dual citizenship; and allowing
citizens of Armenia to apply to the Constitutional Court after they have
exhausted all other judicial opportunities.
It is fair to argue that, to the average Armenian (excluding international
relations), the expected result of these protocols will have greater impact
on lives here than those amendments to fundamental law.
So why was there no referendum on the formative issue of these protocols?
Our answer is not a good one.
It wouldn't have mattered. Simply: The voting process in Armenia has
remained so fraudulent, so easily manipulated by authorities and so
confoundingly tolerated by international bodies that ought to know better,
as to become meaningless.
The most fundamental freedom of what should be a democratic society has been
allowed to be corrupted beyond believability, and in so doing has choked the
only voice the wide majority here should expect to have.
Serzh Sargsyan faces a lose-lose situation he deserves, because he and his
parliament were put in power by fraud, intimidation and payoffs. When the
protocols are ratified at home, he will face charges of having sold out the
causes (unequivocal Genocide recognition, independence for Karabakh) for
which he was seen to champion. And: If the Turkish parliament should not
ratify the protocols, he will be seen as having put his legitimacy for
leadership on the line only to have it impugned by his historic enemy.
There are some - perhaps many - who will glory in this conundrum. But none
should find it satisfying.
************************************* ***************************************
5. The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged statement
caused controversy and confusion
Analysis by Aris Ghazinyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
On September 21, Armenia's Independence Day, many Armenian news sites posted
President Serzh Sargsyan's statement with reference to a Russian newspaper
as a source.
`I committed 21 years of my life to Artsakh land and will not allow them
to
be lost. Karabakh has been and will stay free. The ;occupied territories'
that Azerbaijan is demanding to concede to them are border settlements
between us and them, it is our security zone. We will not give them up. Let
them call us occupiers. I will not feel offended,' popular Russian daily
newspaper Moscovski Komsomolets sited Sargsyan.
These words gave hope to many and raised concerns of as many, since the
President's statement did not fit into the context of his very cautious
foreign policy, totally denying any kind of radicalism even in things he
says.
However, news outlets kept publishing passages from his speech and nobody
disclaimed them.
`We will not go to any one-sided concessions to Azerbaijan,' said Sargsyan.
`They are absolutely out of question. We are ready to find a compromise with
Azerbaijan with three amendments: Karabakh will never be a part of
Azerbaijan again, Karabakh's independence will be recognized on a political
level and, finally, independent Karabakh has to preserve safe land
communication with Yerevan. If these three conditions are met, we are ready
to start a dialogue.'
So, on September 21, the Armenian authorities, on the one hand, were
officially celebrating the main state holiday, and Armenian experts, on the
other hand, were thrilled about the famous interview.
And only by late evening that day, when festivities were over, it became
known that the Armenian president did not make any such statement, at least,
not on a official level.
Nonetheless, Armenian newspapers published on September 22 placed that
sensational statement on their cover pages with references to electronic
media outlets. This was immediately followed by complete confusion.
It's difficult to say unequivocally whether it was a deliberate provocation
on the part of Moscovski Komsomolets or violation of `journalism ethics'
took place on the part of that newspaper's correspondent, who had, indeed,
met the Armenian president, however, the mere fact of the current confusion
completely reflects the state of things in the sphere of Armenian-Turkish
relations and the perspectives of settling the Karabakh issue.
Official Ankara even more often and more unambiguously connects the
perspective of possible reconciliation with the settlement of the Karabakh
issue.
Just days ago Turkish Prime-Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement
that `Turkey will not open the Turkish-Armenian border until the
Armenian-Azeri conflict is settled'.
On September 20, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davotuglu, in his turn, tied
the perspectives of establishing Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations with
the Nagorno Karabakh issue.
In his interview to CNN Turk, Davotuglu stressed that `the occupation of
Azeri territories by Armenia is against all international norms. Something
has to be undertaken.'
The Turkish Prime-Minister and Foreign Minister are currently in New York to
take part in the 64th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to Turkish mass media, they are planning to discuss the issue of
normalizing relations with Armenia and officially state that bilateral
relations will be normalized only in case if the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk
group register a serious progress in the Karabakh settlement issue and
unconditionally recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an inalienable part of
Azerbaijan, and if Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey sign the
Protocols before October 14.
It is noteworthy, that the parliamentary hearings in Armenia scheduled for
September 22 on the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
during which standpoints on the Protocols inked on August 31 would be
presented, have been postponed till October 1.
What is Yerevan's official standpoint?
In his September 22 interview to a Russian TV program `Vesti v Subotu'
(News
on Saturday), President Sargsyan said:
`Everybody got to know the logics laid in the basis of the current stage
of
settlement, that is the Madrid principles. It is about holding a referendum
on defining Nagorno Karabakh's final status, return of those territories
into Azerbaijan's control, which you called and which we and Karabakh call
`security zone', and normalizations of all our relations.'
This implies that the president confirmed once again, that Madrid principles
suggest concession of 5 regions surrounding the former Autonomous Region of
Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan, and that by
`Nagorno Karabakh' mediators and diplomats mean not the current Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh, but the former autonomous region.
***************************************** ***********************************
**
6. **The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged
statement caused controversy and confusion**
Analysis by Aris Ghazinyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
On September 21, Armenia's Independence Day, many Armenian news sites posted
President Serzh Sargsyan's statement with reference to a Russian newspaper
as a source.
`I committed 21 years of my life to Artsakh land and will not allow them
to
be lost. Karabakh has been and will stay free. The ;occupied territories'
that Azerbaijan is demanding to concede to them are border settlements
between us and them, it is our security zone. We will not give them up. Let
them call us occupiers. I will not feel offended,' popular Russian daily
newspaper Moscovski Komsomolets sited Sargsyan.
These words gave hope to many and raised concerns of as many, since the
President's statement did not fit into the context of his very cautious
foreign policy, totally denying any kind of radicalism even in things he
says.
However, news outlets kept publishing passages from his speech and nobody
disclaimed them.
`We will not go to any one-sided concessions to Azerbaijan,' said Sargsyan.
`They are absolutely out of question. We are ready to find a compromise with
Azerbaijan with three amendments: Karabakh will never be a part of
Azerbaijan again, Karabakh's independence will be recognized on a political
level and, finally, independent Karabakh has to preserve safe land
communication with Yerevan. If these three conditions are met, we are ready
to start a dialogue.'
So, on September 21, the Armenian authorities, on the one hand, were
officially celebrating the main state holiday, and Armenian experts, on the
other hand, were thrilled about the famous interview.
And only by late evening that day, when festivities were over, it became
known that the Armenian president did not make any such statement, at least,
not on a official level.
Nonetheless, Armenian newspapers published on September 22 placed that
sensational statement on their cover pages with references to electronic
media outlets. This was immediately followed by complete confusion.
It's difficult to say unequivocally whether it was a deliberate provocation
on the part of Moscovski Komsomolets or violation of `journalism ethics'
took place on the part of that newspaper's correspondent, who had, indeed,
met the Armenian president, however, the mere fact of the current confusion
completely reflects the state of things in the sphere of Armenian-Turkish
relations and the perspectives of settling the Karabakh issue.
Official Ankara even more often and more unambiguously connects the
perspective of possible reconciliation with the settlement of the Karabakh
issue.
Just days ago Turkish Prime-Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement
that `Turkey will not open the Turkish-Armenian border until the
Armenian-Azeri conflict is settled'.
On September 20, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davotuglu, in his turn, tied
the perspectives of establishing Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations with
the Nagorno Karabakh issue.
In his interview to CNN Turk, Davotuglu stressed that `the occupation of
Azeri territories by Armenia is against all international norms. Something
has to be undertaken.'
The Turkish Prime-Minister and Foreign Minister are currently in New York to
take part in the 64th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to Turkish mass media, they are planning to discuss the issue of
normalizing relations with Armenia and officially state that bilateral
relations will be normalized only in case if the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk
group register a serious progress in the Karabakh settlement issue and
unconditionally recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an inalienable part of
Azerbaijan, and if Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey sign the
Protocols before October 14.
It is noteworthy, that the parliamentary hearings in Armenia scheduled for
September 22 on the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
during which standpoints on the Protocols inked on August 31 would be
presented, have been postponed till October 1.
What is Yerevan's official standpoint?
In his September 22 interview to a Russian TV program `Vesti v Subotu'
(News
on Saturday), President Sargsyan said:
`Everybody got to know the logics laid in the basis of the current stage
of
settlement, that is the Madrid principles. It is about holding a referendum
on defining Nagorno Karabakh's final status, return of those territories
into Azerbaijan's control, which you called and which we and Karabakh call
`security zone', and normalizations of all our relations.'
This implies that the president confirmed once again, that Madrid principles
suggest concession of 5 regions surrounding the former Autonomous Region of
Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan, and that by
`Nagorno Karabakh' mediators and diplomats mean not the current Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh, but the former autonomous region.
***************************************** ***********************************
7. H1N1: Health official says Armenia still `Swine Flu free'
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
Armenia still remains unaffected by the world's latest outbreak of swine
influenza, according to a representative of Armenia's Health Ministry.
All of Armenia's regional neighbors, meanwhile, have reported swine flu
cases.
Reports about H1N1, or swine flu as it is commonly known, affecting humans
first came in April this year. Since then, the virus, according to the
latest World Health Organization (WHO) report, has affected a total of about
300,000 people (as of September 18) around the world. Such countries as
Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom and others have been affected
most of all. The WHO has so far reported 3,486 confirmed deaths from swine
flu. The organization has been keen on providing an effective vaccine to
contain the spread of the disease that many fear may grow into a rampant
killer unless restrained.
Laboratory tests for six suspected swine flu cases in Armenia did not
confirm the presence of the disease. Still, healthcare workers urge the
population to be cautious, since the risk of swine flu penetration, they
say, remains high at this time of the year when regular seasonal flu is
common.
Liana Torosyan, chief specialist at the Health Ministry's State Hygienic
Anti-Epidemic Inspection, said at a press conference on Thursday that the
risk is particularly high in Armenia that is surrounded by countries where
swine flu cases have already been reported. Besides, according to her, many
Armenian migrant workers in another affected country, Russia, choose this
time of the year for temporarily returning home.
`For this reason the preventive measures that were taken still in April have
been stepped up,' said Torosyan.
According to Torosyan, stricter controls have also been put in place at the
borders, including at the Zvartnots and Shirak air terminals.
`We already have two thermal imaging detectors at Zvartnots Airport. They
make it possible to reveal passengers who have a high running body
temperature from a distance,' the epidemiologist said.
Torosyan also said that Armenia possesses the necessary supply of a flu
prevention and treatment medicine, Tamiflu, which was provided to the
contagious diseases hospital `Nork' in Yerevan as well as to the regional
centers of the State Hygienic Anti-Epidemic Inspection.
H1N1 flu signs and symptoms are very similar to those of a regular flu
(fever, headache, muscle aches, cough, sore throat and others). For this
reason, the WHO advises people to seek professional aid at the first signs
and symptoms of a regular flu and not to make attempts at self-treatment or
use Tamiflu without medical prescription.
Torosyan said that a laboratory analysis is required in order to diagnose
the disease. She said this analysis in Armenia is made free of charge.
Armenia is also taking steps towards purchasing a vaccine for H1N1.
According to Torosyan, the Armenian Health Ministry has turned to the WHO
and corresponding structures in Russia to supply this material at the very
first convenience. She said that if this supply proves insufficient, Armenia
will take steps to purchase additional vaccines.
Vaccination will be conducted among the first risk group, such as medical
workers in primary health centers, ambulance crews and workers of first-aid
clinics, pregnant women as well as people suffering from chronic diseases.
Only the United States and China have so far been engaged in preparations
and conducting of mass vaccinations for swine flu. Russia is still at the
stage of experiments with vaccination.
************************************ ****************************************
8. Eco alarm: Armenian endangered wildlife is again under threat of hunt
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
An Armenian environmental organization is trying to stop the hunting of
animals in Armenia that are registered in the Red Book of endangered
species.
Ecolur Non Governmental Organization says that Ibex, a Russia-based hunting
club, is organizing hunts in the Urtsasar mountains in which hunters pay to
track and kill bezoar goats (3,500 euro), Armenian mouflon (4,000 euros) and
Caucasian bear (450 euros).
`The hunt of Armenian mouflon is organized in the mountains of Meghri (near
the Iranian border). The whole hunting tour is held on 2,000-2,500 meters
above sea level. Usually 3-5 days are enough for a successful hunting. The
season of hunting is the whole year; the best period is March-November,'
says the Ibex website.
http://club-ibex.com/rus/tourdetail.php?t _id=3D570<http://club-ibex.com/rus/tourdetail.p hp?t_id=3D570:>
These animals are registered in the Red Book, and only the Armenian
Government can give permission for their hunting, and moreover, only in rare
case, for example, for scientific research purposes. Besides, Armenia has no
year-round season, but allows hunting only August-February.
Igor Khorozyan, project coordinator of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Armenian
office, says that bezoar goats and mouflons live mainly in the southern part
of Armenian. He could not say for sure how many such animals used to be in
Armenia, because there was no research in this respect. Now, according to
Khorozyan there are about 200-250 Armenian mouflons and about 2,000 bezoar
goats in Armenia. The number of those animals essentially decreased in
1990s, when people were unsparingly hunting them. Now, however, poachers
face a fine of 3,000,000 drams (about $7,900). `The hunting of those
animals cannot be legal, as far as both species are registered in the world
and Armenian Red Books. And the hunting of endangered animals is simply not
allowed,' Khorozyan says. Oleg Podtyazhkin, head of Ibex, insists that the
hunting of those two species of animals is considered to be legal in
Armenia. An ArmeniaNow reporter introduced herself as someone who wants to
order a bezoar goat hunting. She asked Podtyazhkin (who, besides a phone
number, also left the username of his Skype in the Ibex website) about it
via Skype. Podtyazhkin assured his potential client that the hunting of
those animals is legal. `We offer only legal hunting. It is possible to hunt
Armenian mouflon and bezoar goat in Armenia,' he said. Artsrun Pepanyan,
press-secretary of the Ministry of Ecology of Armenia says that the State
Inspectorate of the Ministry is planning to send a letter to Ibex informing
the organization that the hunting of the above mentioned animals is banned
in Armenia. `They would better first of all get acquainted with the laws
of
Armenia, and only then to offer hunting tours,' Pepanyan says. Even though
hunting of those animals is banned in Armenia, there have been several
reported incidents of Armenian oligarchs and high tanking officials taking
hunting trips that include tracking and shooting animals registered in the
Red Book. Information about Armenian mouflon hunt was spread last year, too
(http://www.ecolur.org/hy/news/2008-11-21/127/ ). As mass media informed, the
hunting was organized by `Safari International' Organization, the head
of
which is Marzpet (governor) of Vayots Dzor Province Vardges Matevosyan.
According to the decision of the Armenian Government in 2004, the
territories of wood funds of Yeghegis (Vayots Dzor Province) and Geghi and
Darmanadzor (Syunik Province) were given to `Safari International' Ltd.,
aiming to implement the development program of wildlife species natural
reproduction, as well as ecotourism and hunting tourism. Soon after that
information was spread, Matevosyan told different mass media representatives
that no hunting is done in that territory, however in the website of the
organization headed by him, currently it is possible to find announcement
about Besoar goats and Mouflons hunting, and their prices (
http://www.safariinternational.com/en/p_Muflon-a nd-ibex-in-Armenia.htm).
*********************** ************************************************** ***
9. Sport: Mika take center stage as they catch up with leader in soccer
title race
By Suren Musayelyan
Soccer
Armenian soccer league stalwart Mika have leveled with leader Pyunik in the
current championship after achieving a home victory in the latest round of
play and seeing the longtime titleholder dropping all points in an away game
over the weekend.
Mika took a walk in the park in their Saturday match against Gandzasar
beating the visitors from Kapan 3-1 and catching up on points with Pyunik
that still had a game at hand. The reigning champions, however, slipped
against Banants that snatched a victory thanks to a late goal from Samvel
Melkonyan on Sunday.
Both Mika and Pyunik have 47 points in 22 games now. Ulis, in the third
position of the eight-team league, have 43 points.
The Round 23 fixtures to be played this weekend include Pyunik v Ulis,
Shirak v Mika, Kilikia v Ararat and Gandzasar v Banants.
Pyunik, who have won eleven national titles since the establishment of the
Armenian Premier League in 1992, have been unrivaled in the last eight
seasons. Ararat came close to ending Pyunik's hegemony in the 2008 season
but lost to the champion in the `golden match'.
Remarkably, the 28th and final round of the current championship slated for
November 7 will pit Mika and Pyunik against each other.
Meanwhile, the current season's underdog Ararat, the winner of the 2008
Armenia Cup, came from a goal down to take a 2-1 victory in the Thursday
Super Cup match against 2008 champion Pyunik, playing mostly its reserve
team. This is the first Super Cup title (named after Hakob Tonoyan) won by
Ararat.
(Source: FFA)
Wresting
Armenian wrestlers have returned home empty-handed from the world freestyle
wrestling championships that ended in Denmark on Wednesday. Suren Markosyan
in the 74-kg section came closest to winning a bronze medal for Armenia, but
he lost to a Bulgarian athlete. The other freestyle wrestlers representing
Armenia, including Artur Arakelyan (66 kg), Harutyun Yenokyan (84 kg) and
Ruslan Basiyev (120 kg) were unsuccessful in their fights as well.
(Sources: A1 Plus, Panorama.am)
Chess
Armenian grandmasters are gearing up for weeks of intensive chess that will
feature several major international events.
GMs Levon Aronyan, Vladimir Hakobyan, Gabriel Sargsyan, Arman Pashikyan and
Tigran L. Petrosyan will be on the Armenian national team taking part in the
17th European Team Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, from October 21 to 30.
The members of Armenian women's national team in the European Women's Team
Championship will be WGMs Elina Danielyan, Lilit Lazarian, Lilit Galoyan,
Nelli Aghinyan and WIM Siranush Andriasyan.
Before that, the identical men's team will be joined by Zaven Andriasian
to
play as part of the Mika (Yerevan) team in the European Club Cup-2009, which
is to be held in Ohrid, Macedonia, from October 3 to 10.
The members of the Mika women's team in the tournament will be WGMs Elina
Danielyan, Lilit Galoyan as well as Harika Dronavalli and Nino Khurtsidze.
And from November 4 to 19, Armenia's N1 chessman Aronyan will take part in
the traditional Tal Memorial in Moscow, Russia. The Armenian grandmaster's
opponents will be Vishwanathan Anand (India), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia),
Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Peter Leko (Hungary), Boris Gelfand (Israel),
Vasili Ivanchuk, Ruslan Ponomaryov (both Ukraine), Aleksander Morozevich and
Peter Svidler (both Russia).
(Source: www.armchess.am)
Figure-skating
An American-Armenian single skater is representing Armenia at an
international tournament in Germany later this month, reports
PanArmenian.Net. **
Pierre Balian is taking part in Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf,
Germany, (September
23-26) as Armenia outfit hoping to qualify for the upcoming Olympics. The
tournament is the final Olympic qualifier to the 2010 Winter Olympics in
Vancouver.
The online publication also reports that in Ladies' single skating Armenia
is represented by Ani Vardanyan.
Balian's career record includes the 8th place at US Junior Championship and
18th place in adult championship. He was previously trained by figure
skating legend Irina Rodnina and trainer Alexei Mishin.
(Source: PanArmenian.Net)
******************************** ********************************************
Administration Address: 26 Parpetsi St., No 9
Phone: +(374 1) 532422
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.armenianow.com
Technical Assistance: (For technical assistance please contact Babken
Juharyan)
Email: [email protected]
************************** **************************************************
September 25, 2009
1. Raffi Hovannisian speaks out on protocols: Turkey-Armenia and the
Fruits of Genocide**
2.** With God's Help: Supreme Patriarch hails Sargsyan's move to
talk
to Diaspora
3. Animator Death: Heart failure claims well-known Armenian artist
Robert Sahakyants
**4.** In Our Opinion: Serzh faces no-win situation he created
5. The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged
statement caused controversy and confusion
6.** **The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged
statement caused controversy and confusion
7. H1N1: Health official says Armenia still `Swine Flu free'**
8. Eco alarm: Armenian endangered wildlife is again under threat of
hunt
9. Sport: Mika take center stage as they catch up with leader in
soccer title race
******************************************* *********************************
1. Raffi Hovannisian speaks out on protocols: Turkey-Armenia and the Fruits
of Genocide
By Raffi K. Hovannisian
Governments and commentators have hailed the two recently-announced
protocols between Turkey and Armenia. If signed and ratified, they will
provide a timetable for the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border and the
establishment of full diplomatic relations.
Unfortunately, the exuberance in Western capitals is based on energy routes,
geopolitics and the desire to smooth the way for Turkey as a regional power
and EU aspirant. It ignores the sinister aspects of the deal.
Certainly, Armenia has long pushed for an end to the Turkish blockade of
Armenia, an open border and diplomatic relations with Turkey without
precondition. This has also been the stated U.S. and European position.
This approach acknowledges that the Armenian-Turkish relationship is
complicated and burdened by the Armenian Genocide. Open borders, diplomatic
relations and people-to-people contacts must come first before Turkey and
Armenia can begin to sort out a very difficult legacy, issues of restitution
and reparations and to what extent Turkey should continue to enjoy the
fruits of genocide.
The proposed protocols, however, will serve to meet two long-standing
Turkish preconditions to normalization of relations with Armenia. The first
is to forestall further progress in formal international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The second is to confirm and help remove the juridical
cloud from the Turkey Armenia frontier.
This frontier, which, under the Turkish blockade, is the last closed border
in Europe, lacks legal status. It is an important issue for Turkey. The
day after the protocols were announced, Turkey's Foreign Minister stated
that recognition of the current boundary was a basic element of the proposed
agreements, without which, `we cannot talk about being neighbors.'
Turkey's strategy to shirk its obligations to Armenia under international
law is to marginalize Armenia and to deny the Genocide, in which 1.5 million
Armenians were killed and the survivors dispossessed of most of their 3,000
year-old homeland. Turkey uses its growing strategic and economic power to
enlist American and European support for these initiatives. The offending
provisions in the proposed protocols are part of this process.
Armenia is small, land-locked and vulnerable. It previously resisted
Turkish preconditions to normalization. However, after elections marred by
fraud and political violence, the current Armenian administration has been
susceptible to Turkish, European and American pressure on this issue. Given
the legacy of the Armenian Genocide, European and American roles in
promoting, rather than objecting to, these preconditions are outrageous.
In the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, President Woodrow Wilson fixed
Turkey's boundary with Armenia in an arbitral award issued under U.S.
presidential seal. This remains the only binding demarcation of the
Turkish-Armenian frontier in accordance with an agreement between sovereign
and independent Turkish and Armenian states.
Although the de jure border and the award of these territories to Armenia
continue to be legally valid, the 1920 invasion of Armenia by Kemalist and
Bolshevik forces sealed these lands in Turkey and gave us the current de
facto border.
The great irony is that a significant stretch of the energy and transport
routes that are the sources of an emerging Turkish power pass through these
territories, which were also the killing fields of the Armenian Genocide.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the parallel natural gas South
Caucasus Pipeline do. So will the proposed Nabucco pipeline project. These
territories and projects, so vital to Turkey's goal to become a major
international energy hub, are the fruits of genocide. And Armenia enjoys
none of their political and economic benefits.
Sadly, open hatred of Armenians is everywhere in Turkey, in official and
semi-official media, in the state school system, in state-sanctioned
discrimination and elsewhere in and out of government.
Of course, the pinnacle of this hatred is genocide denial, which genocide
scholars tells us constitutes the final stage of genocide. But consider the
Turkish Defense Minister who asks rhetorically whether the present Turkish
nation state would have been possible without the elimination of the
Armenian population or the Turkish President who charges an opposition
Turkish parliamentarian with defamation for alleging he has Armenian roots.
Remember the murder of the Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, or the
planned attacks on Turkish-Armenian community leaders by Ergenekon, the
ultranationalist organization associated with what in Turkey is referred to
as the `Deep State.'
With the demonization of Armenians in Turkish nationalist ideology, an
official policy of genocide denial and Ankara's proven hostility to the
reborn Armenian state, that the West does not actively oppose Turkish
preconditions should give everyone pause.
The enduring legacy of the Armenian Genocide is not just a challenge for
Turkey and Armenia. It is also a challenge for Europe and America. The
West, despite growing Turkish power and influence, should encourage Turkey
to take responsibility for the Armenian Genocide, not assist Turkey in
compelling Armenia to agree to preconditions that humiliate the victimized
party and prejudice the integrity and outcome of any future genuine
reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia.
Ultimately, the Turkish-Armenian conversation must include two thorny
issues: first, to what extent Turkey should continue to enjoy the fruits of
genocide and second, the integrity of the border it shares with Armenia.
Raffi Hovannisian was independent Armenia's first minister of foreign
affairs.
******************************** ********************************************
2. With God's Help: Supreme Patriarch hails Sargsyan's move to talk to
Diaspora
By Suren Musayelyan
His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, has welcomed President Serzh Sargsyan's planned visits to several
centers of the worldwide Armenian Diaspora to listen to their opinions on
the current Armenian-Turkish normalization.
As reported by the presidential press office, during the meeting of the two
on Thursday, Sargsyan said that the process has reached `an important stage
of public-political discussions.' He said that the widening debate is
important because `regardless of whether the published protocols [on
establishing diplomatic ties between Yerevan and Ankara] will be signed or
not, ratified or not, the discussions are a good ground for talking about
our relations and problems.'
`Of course, there are emotional phenomena and elements in them, it couldn't
be otherwise, since a huge part of our people are the generations of those
subjected to genocide. Besides, across the border are our sacred places, our
churches, our capital, and for many also the remnants of their ancestral
homes. I understand this, since in many cases I myself struggle with my own
emotions. But, nevertheless, I am convinced that these discussions are
necessary,' said Sargsyan.
During the meeting Sargsyan informed Catholicos Karekin II about his planned
weeklong visits beginning October 1 to a number of large Armenian
communities abroad, including Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Beirut and
Rostov-on-Don `in order to listen to the opinions and viewpoints on the
process of the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations from local
Armenians and Armenians from other relatively close communities.'
The Sargsyan administration's yearlong fence-mending talks with Turkish
leadership culminated on August 31 in two initialed protocols on
establishing diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations with Ankara.
The draft protocols, however, have drawn mixed reactions both from some
political groups inside Armenia as well as across the far-reaching Armenian
Diaspora.
Among the concerns presented by some Diaspora-based groups and leaders are
that several key provisions of the documents are potentially damaging to the
national interests of Armenia and its Diaspora as they purportedly make
Yerevan-Ankara normalization conditional on several concessions, including
the reaffirmation of the existing Turkish-Armenian border, the agreement to
set up an intergovernmental sub-commission to discuss historical
discrepancies, construed as agreement to start discussing and therefore
questioning the 1915-1918 Genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, as well
as making territorial concessions in a separate Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute
over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Sargsyan administration has, on the contrary, insisted that the
protocols contain no preconditions and are a step forward in resolving a
century-old feud with the big neighbor and historical foe.
Karekin II said he welcomed the president's initiative to hold meetings with
Diaspora representatives to address the concerns.
`The Diaspora is an important and inseparable part of our people and it is
only right that our sons from the Diaspora who, too, are in heated
discussions about the initialed Armenia-Turkey protocols during these days,
should have an opportunity to hear answers personally from you regarding
questions of concern to them and also that you should learn what our sons in
the Diaspora think, their viewpoints and concerns,' said Karekin II.
The Catholicos reportedly informed President Sargsyan that at its upcoming
meeting the Supreme Spiritual Council will discuss the current
Armenian-Turkish process, the initialed documents and will issue a
corresponding statement.
`We wish you every success, Respected President. May God show His blessing
and help you on this important journey,' concluded the Supreme Patriarch.
************************************* ***************************************
3. Animator Death: Heart failure claims well-known Armenian artist Robert
Sahakyants
By Georg Khachaturyan
Famous Armenian animator Robert Sahakyants died in Yerevan on September 24,
aged 59, shortly after undergoing a heart surgery.
Sahakyants was taken to hospital on September 21 after he felt a sudden
heartache. Doctors revealed aorta exfoliation; the surgery, however, did not
save his life.
Sahakyants became renowned thanks to an animation film shot still in the
1980s, which was called `Knopka' (thumbtack). The film contains a sharp
satire towards the Soviet reality of that epoch, and the animation film is
shot in the genre of comic surrealism. After `Knopka' came the films
`Tebye
Armenia' (To you, Armenia), and `Taverna' (tavern), where he touched
upon
sad philosophical issues concerning the present and future of Armenia that
declared its independence.
Among the famous works of Sahakyants is the cycle of animation films based
on the tales of Armenian classic writer Hovhannes Tumanyan.
In 2002, as a result of cooperation between Robert Sahakyants and an art
group later named `Yellow Submaryan', a series of identically titled
cartoons were produced.
Sahakyants was author and artistic-director of about 30 scenarios of
animation films, many of which got awards at international film festivals in
France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Estonia.
In 1987 the animator was awarded with the title of Honored Artist.
Sahakyants was the Artistic Director of the Union of Animation Films at the
`Hayfilm' film studio.
Sahakyants was famous in Armenia not only due to his professional activity,
but also for his tough statements concerning different political issues or
events.
However, in life he was quite different. According to Sahakyants' colleague
- artistic director Erik Muradyan - working with Sahakyants at `Zatik'
(lady-bird) Studio, the famous animator was easygoing, kind, friendly,
simple and available in communication. `Youth was kept in him, and it is
impossible to create animation films without it. This is an irretrievable
loss,' Muradyan says.
Sahakyants is survived by wife, four children and seven grandchildren. Two
of his sons also pursue careers in animation film making.
***************************************** ***********************************
**
4. In Our Opinion: Serzh faces no-win situation he created
Whether you are for or against the pending Armenia-Turkey protocols is of
little consequence. Or so, regrettably, it appears.
As Week IV of the six-week debate period passes, what becomes more clear is
that public dissent and discourse may eventually prove to be cathartic, but
will likely have no bearing on an outcome that appears to have been
determined even before it was announced.
Better stated: If average Armenians want a voice in these matters, they'd
better solicit the Turkish Parliament, as it looks as if the signing is a
fait a'compli on this side of the border.
Opening of the Armenia-Turkey border should happen. It should not happen
this way.
Rightly achieved, such a significant step in the history of independent
Armenia should produce opportunity for public and political triumph and
should leave a needy nation feeling good about herself. The capital should
be planning for street dances rather than fearing street clashes.
Now, though, October 13 approaches more as a storm front than a dawn.
In all the shouting and sit-down protesting and faux `hunger strikes' and
televised analyses and newsprint propaganda of these days, an informative
moment emerged when both President Serzh Sargsyan and his Minister of
Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan conceded that amending the protocols is
out of the question.
In other words: The time for debate passed, before the public even knew
about it.
How did such a moment arrive? How is it possible that a democracy can be
forced to either accept or reject a history-changing document that it had no
chance to review in its conception, to say nothing of the
presumably-democratic privilege of informing its content?
In 2005, Armenians were invited to voting polls to endorse or reject a
package of amendments to the Constitution. Among them were curtailing the
sweeping powers of the President in favor of the parliament, the government
and the judiciary; providing for a democratically elected city council and
mayor in capital Yerevan; removing the ban on dual citizenship; and allowing
citizens of Armenia to apply to the Constitutional Court after they have
exhausted all other judicial opportunities.
It is fair to argue that, to the average Armenian (excluding international
relations), the expected result of these protocols will have greater impact
on lives here than those amendments to fundamental law.
So why was there no referendum on the formative issue of these protocols?
Our answer is not a good one.
It wouldn't have mattered. Simply: The voting process in Armenia has
remained so fraudulent, so easily manipulated by authorities and so
confoundingly tolerated by international bodies that ought to know better,
as to become meaningless.
The most fundamental freedom of what should be a democratic society has been
allowed to be corrupted beyond believability, and in so doing has choked the
only voice the wide majority here should expect to have.
Serzh Sargsyan faces a lose-lose situation he deserves, because he and his
parliament were put in power by fraud, intimidation and payoffs. When the
protocols are ratified at home, he will face charges of having sold out the
causes (unequivocal Genocide recognition, independence for Karabakh) for
which he was seen to champion. And: If the Turkish parliament should not
ratify the protocols, he will be seen as having put his legitimacy for
leadership on the line only to have it impugned by his historic enemy.
There are some - perhaps many - who will glory in this conundrum. But none
should find it satisfying.
************************************* ***************************************
5. The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged statement
caused controversy and confusion
Analysis by Aris Ghazinyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
On September 21, Armenia's Independence Day, many Armenian news sites posted
President Serzh Sargsyan's statement with reference to a Russian newspaper
as a source.
`I committed 21 years of my life to Artsakh land and will not allow them
to
be lost. Karabakh has been and will stay free. The ;occupied territories'
that Azerbaijan is demanding to concede to them are border settlements
between us and them, it is our security zone. We will not give them up. Let
them call us occupiers. I will not feel offended,' popular Russian daily
newspaper Moscovski Komsomolets sited Sargsyan.
These words gave hope to many and raised concerns of as many, since the
President's statement did not fit into the context of his very cautious
foreign policy, totally denying any kind of radicalism even in things he
says.
However, news outlets kept publishing passages from his speech and nobody
disclaimed them.
`We will not go to any one-sided concessions to Azerbaijan,' said Sargsyan.
`They are absolutely out of question. We are ready to find a compromise with
Azerbaijan with three amendments: Karabakh will never be a part of
Azerbaijan again, Karabakh's independence will be recognized on a political
level and, finally, independent Karabakh has to preserve safe land
communication with Yerevan. If these three conditions are met, we are ready
to start a dialogue.'
So, on September 21, the Armenian authorities, on the one hand, were
officially celebrating the main state holiday, and Armenian experts, on the
other hand, were thrilled about the famous interview.
And only by late evening that day, when festivities were over, it became
known that the Armenian president did not make any such statement, at least,
not on a official level.
Nonetheless, Armenian newspapers published on September 22 placed that
sensational statement on their cover pages with references to electronic
media outlets. This was immediately followed by complete confusion.
It's difficult to say unequivocally whether it was a deliberate provocation
on the part of Moscovski Komsomolets or violation of `journalism ethics'
took place on the part of that newspaper's correspondent, who had, indeed,
met the Armenian president, however, the mere fact of the current confusion
completely reflects the state of things in the sphere of Armenian-Turkish
relations and the perspectives of settling the Karabakh issue.
Official Ankara even more often and more unambiguously connects the
perspective of possible reconciliation with the settlement of the Karabakh
issue.
Just days ago Turkish Prime-Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement
that `Turkey will not open the Turkish-Armenian border until the
Armenian-Azeri conflict is settled'.
On September 20, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davotuglu, in his turn, tied
the perspectives of establishing Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations with
the Nagorno Karabakh issue.
In his interview to CNN Turk, Davotuglu stressed that `the occupation of
Azeri territories by Armenia is against all international norms. Something
has to be undertaken.'
The Turkish Prime-Minister and Foreign Minister are currently in New York to
take part in the 64th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to Turkish mass media, they are planning to discuss the issue of
normalizing relations with Armenia and officially state that bilateral
relations will be normalized only in case if the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk
group register a serious progress in the Karabakh settlement issue and
unconditionally recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an inalienable part of
Azerbaijan, and if Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey sign the
Protocols before October 14.
It is noteworthy, that the parliamentary hearings in Armenia scheduled for
September 22 on the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
during which standpoints on the Protocols inked on August 31 would be
presented, have been postponed till October 1.
What is Yerevan's official standpoint?
In his September 22 interview to a Russian TV program `Vesti v Subotu'
(News
on Saturday), President Sargsyan said:
`Everybody got to know the logics laid in the basis of the current stage
of
settlement, that is the Madrid principles. It is about holding a referendum
on defining Nagorno Karabakh's final status, return of those territories
into Azerbaijan's control, which you called and which we and Karabakh call
`security zone', and normalizations of all our relations.'
This implies that the president confirmed once again, that Madrid principles
suggest concession of 5 regions surrounding the former Autonomous Region of
Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan, and that by
`Nagorno Karabakh' mediators and diplomats mean not the current Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh, but the former autonomous region.
***************************************** ***********************************
**
6. **The truth is somewhere out there: Armenian President's alleged
statement caused controversy and confusion**
Analysis by Aris Ghazinyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
On September 21, Armenia's Independence Day, many Armenian news sites posted
President Serzh Sargsyan's statement with reference to a Russian newspaper
as a source.
`I committed 21 years of my life to Artsakh land and will not allow them
to
be lost. Karabakh has been and will stay free. The ;occupied territories'
that Azerbaijan is demanding to concede to them are border settlements
between us and them, it is our security zone. We will not give them up. Let
them call us occupiers. I will not feel offended,' popular Russian daily
newspaper Moscovski Komsomolets sited Sargsyan.
These words gave hope to many and raised concerns of as many, since the
President's statement did not fit into the context of his very cautious
foreign policy, totally denying any kind of radicalism even in things he
says.
However, news outlets kept publishing passages from his speech and nobody
disclaimed them.
`We will not go to any one-sided concessions to Azerbaijan,' said Sargsyan.
`They are absolutely out of question. We are ready to find a compromise with
Azerbaijan with three amendments: Karabakh will never be a part of
Azerbaijan again, Karabakh's independence will be recognized on a political
level and, finally, independent Karabakh has to preserve safe land
communication with Yerevan. If these three conditions are met, we are ready
to start a dialogue.'
So, on September 21, the Armenian authorities, on the one hand, were
officially celebrating the main state holiday, and Armenian experts, on the
other hand, were thrilled about the famous interview.
And only by late evening that day, when festivities were over, it became
known that the Armenian president did not make any such statement, at least,
not on a official level.
Nonetheless, Armenian newspapers published on September 22 placed that
sensational statement on their cover pages with references to electronic
media outlets. This was immediately followed by complete confusion.
It's difficult to say unequivocally whether it was a deliberate provocation
on the part of Moscovski Komsomolets or violation of `journalism ethics'
took place on the part of that newspaper's correspondent, who had, indeed,
met the Armenian president, however, the mere fact of the current confusion
completely reflects the state of things in the sphere of Armenian-Turkish
relations and the perspectives of settling the Karabakh issue.
Official Ankara even more often and more unambiguously connects the
perspective of possible reconciliation with the settlement of the Karabakh
issue.
Just days ago Turkish Prime-Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement
that `Turkey will not open the Turkish-Armenian border until the
Armenian-Azeri conflict is settled'.
On September 20, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davotuglu, in his turn, tied
the perspectives of establishing Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations with
the Nagorno Karabakh issue.
In his interview to CNN Turk, Davotuglu stressed that `the occupation of
Azeri territories by Armenia is against all international norms. Something
has to be undertaken.'
The Turkish Prime-Minister and Foreign Minister are currently in New York to
take part in the 64th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to Turkish mass media, they are planning to discuss the issue of
normalizing relations with Armenia and officially state that bilateral
relations will be normalized only in case if the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk
group register a serious progress in the Karabakh settlement issue and
unconditionally recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an inalienable part of
Azerbaijan, and if Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey sign the
Protocols before October 14.
It is noteworthy, that the parliamentary hearings in Armenia scheduled for
September 22 on the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
during which standpoints on the Protocols inked on August 31 would be
presented, have been postponed till October 1.
What is Yerevan's official standpoint?
In his September 22 interview to a Russian TV program `Vesti v Subotu'
(News
on Saturday), President Sargsyan said:
`Everybody got to know the logics laid in the basis of the current stage
of
settlement, that is the Madrid principles. It is about holding a referendum
on defining Nagorno Karabakh's final status, return of those territories
into Azerbaijan's control, which you called and which we and Karabakh call
`security zone', and normalizations of all our relations.'
This implies that the president confirmed once again, that Madrid principles
suggest concession of 5 regions surrounding the former Autonomous Region of
Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan, and that by
`Nagorno Karabakh' mediators and diplomats mean not the current Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh, but the former autonomous region.
***************************************** ***********************************
7. H1N1: Health official says Armenia still `Swine Flu free'
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
Armenia still remains unaffected by the world's latest outbreak of swine
influenza, according to a representative of Armenia's Health Ministry.
All of Armenia's regional neighbors, meanwhile, have reported swine flu
cases.
Reports about H1N1, or swine flu as it is commonly known, affecting humans
first came in April this year. Since then, the virus, according to the
latest World Health Organization (WHO) report, has affected a total of about
300,000 people (as of September 18) around the world. Such countries as
Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom and others have been affected
most of all. The WHO has so far reported 3,486 confirmed deaths from swine
flu. The organization has been keen on providing an effective vaccine to
contain the spread of the disease that many fear may grow into a rampant
killer unless restrained.
Laboratory tests for six suspected swine flu cases in Armenia did not
confirm the presence of the disease. Still, healthcare workers urge the
population to be cautious, since the risk of swine flu penetration, they
say, remains high at this time of the year when regular seasonal flu is
common.
Liana Torosyan, chief specialist at the Health Ministry's State Hygienic
Anti-Epidemic Inspection, said at a press conference on Thursday that the
risk is particularly high in Armenia that is surrounded by countries where
swine flu cases have already been reported. Besides, according to her, many
Armenian migrant workers in another affected country, Russia, choose this
time of the year for temporarily returning home.
`For this reason the preventive measures that were taken still in April have
been stepped up,' said Torosyan.
According to Torosyan, stricter controls have also been put in place at the
borders, including at the Zvartnots and Shirak air terminals.
`We already have two thermal imaging detectors at Zvartnots Airport. They
make it possible to reveal passengers who have a high running body
temperature from a distance,' the epidemiologist said.
Torosyan also said that Armenia possesses the necessary supply of a flu
prevention and treatment medicine, Tamiflu, which was provided to the
contagious diseases hospital `Nork' in Yerevan as well as to the regional
centers of the State Hygienic Anti-Epidemic Inspection.
H1N1 flu signs and symptoms are very similar to those of a regular flu
(fever, headache, muscle aches, cough, sore throat and others). For this
reason, the WHO advises people to seek professional aid at the first signs
and symptoms of a regular flu and not to make attempts at self-treatment or
use Tamiflu without medical prescription.
Torosyan said that a laboratory analysis is required in order to diagnose
the disease. She said this analysis in Armenia is made free of charge.
Armenia is also taking steps towards purchasing a vaccine for H1N1.
According to Torosyan, the Armenian Health Ministry has turned to the WHO
and corresponding structures in Russia to supply this material at the very
first convenience. She said that if this supply proves insufficient, Armenia
will take steps to purchase additional vaccines.
Vaccination will be conducted among the first risk group, such as medical
workers in primary health centers, ambulance crews and workers of first-aid
clinics, pregnant women as well as people suffering from chronic diseases.
Only the United States and China have so far been engaged in preparations
and conducting of mass vaccinations for swine flu. Russia is still at the
stage of experiments with vaccination.
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8. Eco alarm: Armenian endangered wildlife is again under threat of hunt
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
An Armenian environmental organization is trying to stop the hunting of
animals in Armenia that are registered in the Red Book of endangered
species.
Ecolur Non Governmental Organization says that Ibex, a Russia-based hunting
club, is organizing hunts in the Urtsasar mountains in which hunters pay to
track and kill bezoar goats (3,500 euro), Armenian mouflon (4,000 euros) and
Caucasian bear (450 euros).
`The hunt of Armenian mouflon is organized in the mountains of Meghri (near
the Iranian border). The whole hunting tour is held on 2,000-2,500 meters
above sea level. Usually 3-5 days are enough for a successful hunting. The
season of hunting is the whole year; the best period is March-November,'
says the Ibex website.
http://club-ibex.com/rus/tourdetail.php?t _id=3D570<http://club-ibex.com/rus/tourdetail.p hp?t_id=3D570:>
These animals are registered in the Red Book, and only the Armenian
Government can give permission for their hunting, and moreover, only in rare
case, for example, for scientific research purposes. Besides, Armenia has no
year-round season, but allows hunting only August-February.
Igor Khorozyan, project coordinator of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Armenian
office, says that bezoar goats and mouflons live mainly in the southern part
of Armenian. He could not say for sure how many such animals used to be in
Armenia, because there was no research in this respect. Now, according to
Khorozyan there are about 200-250 Armenian mouflons and about 2,000 bezoar
goats in Armenia. The number of those animals essentially decreased in
1990s, when people were unsparingly hunting them. Now, however, poachers
face a fine of 3,000,000 drams (about $7,900). `The hunting of those
animals cannot be legal, as far as both species are registered in the world
and Armenian Red Books. And the hunting of endangered animals is simply not
allowed,' Khorozyan says. Oleg Podtyazhkin, head of Ibex, insists that the
hunting of those two species of animals is considered to be legal in
Armenia. An ArmeniaNow reporter introduced herself as someone who wants to
order a bezoar goat hunting. She asked Podtyazhkin (who, besides a phone
number, also left the username of his Skype in the Ibex website) about it
via Skype. Podtyazhkin assured his potential client that the hunting of
those animals is legal. `We offer only legal hunting. It is possible to hunt
Armenian mouflon and bezoar goat in Armenia,' he said. Artsrun Pepanyan,
press-secretary of the Ministry of Ecology of Armenia says that the State
Inspectorate of the Ministry is planning to send a letter to Ibex informing
the organization that the hunting of the above mentioned animals is banned
in Armenia. `They would better first of all get acquainted with the laws
of
Armenia, and only then to offer hunting tours,' Pepanyan says. Even though
hunting of those animals is banned in Armenia, there have been several
reported incidents of Armenian oligarchs and high tanking officials taking
hunting trips that include tracking and shooting animals registered in the
Red Book. Information about Armenian mouflon hunt was spread last year, too
(http://www.ecolur.org/hy/news/2008-11-21/127/ ). As mass media informed, the
hunting was organized by `Safari International' Organization, the head
of
which is Marzpet (governor) of Vayots Dzor Province Vardges Matevosyan.
According to the decision of the Armenian Government in 2004, the
territories of wood funds of Yeghegis (Vayots Dzor Province) and Geghi and
Darmanadzor (Syunik Province) were given to `Safari International' Ltd.,
aiming to implement the development program of wildlife species natural
reproduction, as well as ecotourism and hunting tourism. Soon after that
information was spread, Matevosyan told different mass media representatives
that no hunting is done in that territory, however in the website of the
organization headed by him, currently it is possible to find announcement
about Besoar goats and Mouflons hunting, and their prices (
http://www.safariinternational.com/en/p_Muflon-a nd-ibex-in-Armenia.htm).
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9. Sport: Mika take center stage as they catch up with leader in soccer
title race
By Suren Musayelyan
Soccer
Armenian soccer league stalwart Mika have leveled with leader Pyunik in the
current championship after achieving a home victory in the latest round of
play and seeing the longtime titleholder dropping all points in an away game
over the weekend.
Mika took a walk in the park in their Saturday match against Gandzasar
beating the visitors from Kapan 3-1 and catching up on points with Pyunik
that still had a game at hand. The reigning champions, however, slipped
against Banants that snatched a victory thanks to a late goal from Samvel
Melkonyan on Sunday.
Both Mika and Pyunik have 47 points in 22 games now. Ulis, in the third
position of the eight-team league, have 43 points.
The Round 23 fixtures to be played this weekend include Pyunik v Ulis,
Shirak v Mika, Kilikia v Ararat and Gandzasar v Banants.
Pyunik, who have won eleven national titles since the establishment of the
Armenian Premier League in 1992, have been unrivaled in the last eight
seasons. Ararat came close to ending Pyunik's hegemony in the 2008 season
but lost to the champion in the `golden match'.
Remarkably, the 28th and final round of the current championship slated for
November 7 will pit Mika and Pyunik against each other.
Meanwhile, the current season's underdog Ararat, the winner of the 2008
Armenia Cup, came from a goal down to take a 2-1 victory in the Thursday
Super Cup match against 2008 champion Pyunik, playing mostly its reserve
team. This is the first Super Cup title (named after Hakob Tonoyan) won by
Ararat.
(Source: FFA)
Wresting
Armenian wrestlers have returned home empty-handed from the world freestyle
wrestling championships that ended in Denmark on Wednesday. Suren Markosyan
in the 74-kg section came closest to winning a bronze medal for Armenia, but
he lost to a Bulgarian athlete. The other freestyle wrestlers representing
Armenia, including Artur Arakelyan (66 kg), Harutyun Yenokyan (84 kg) and
Ruslan Basiyev (120 kg) were unsuccessful in their fights as well.
(Sources: A1 Plus, Panorama.am)
Chess
Armenian grandmasters are gearing up for weeks of intensive chess that will
feature several major international events.
GMs Levon Aronyan, Vladimir Hakobyan, Gabriel Sargsyan, Arman Pashikyan and
Tigran L. Petrosyan will be on the Armenian national team taking part in the
17th European Team Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, from October 21 to 30.
The members of Armenian women's national team in the European Women's Team
Championship will be WGMs Elina Danielyan, Lilit Lazarian, Lilit Galoyan,
Nelli Aghinyan and WIM Siranush Andriasyan.
Before that, the identical men's team will be joined by Zaven Andriasian
to
play as part of the Mika (Yerevan) team in the European Club Cup-2009, which
is to be held in Ohrid, Macedonia, from October 3 to 10.
The members of the Mika women's team in the tournament will be WGMs Elina
Danielyan, Lilit Galoyan as well as Harika Dronavalli and Nino Khurtsidze.
And from November 4 to 19, Armenia's N1 chessman Aronyan will take part in
the traditional Tal Memorial in Moscow, Russia. The Armenian grandmaster's
opponents will be Vishwanathan Anand (India), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia),
Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Peter Leko (Hungary), Boris Gelfand (Israel),
Vasili Ivanchuk, Ruslan Ponomaryov (both Ukraine), Aleksander Morozevich and
Peter Svidler (both Russia).
(Source: www.armchess.am)
Figure-skating
An American-Armenian single skater is representing Armenia at an
international tournament in Germany later this month, reports
PanArmenian.Net. **
Pierre Balian is taking part in Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf,
Germany, (September
23-26) as Armenia outfit hoping to qualify for the upcoming Olympics. The
tournament is the final Olympic qualifier to the 2010 Winter Olympics in
Vancouver.
The online publication also reports that in Ladies' single skating Armenia
is represented by Ani Vardanyan.
Balian's career record includes the 8th place at US Junior Championship and
18th place in adult championship. He was previously trained by figure
skating legend Irina Rodnina and trainer Alexei Mishin.
(Source: PanArmenian.Net)
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