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WASHINGTON SNUBS KHOJALU CAMPAIGN AS AZERBAIJAN'S "ETHNIC CLEANSING" CLAIMS PEAK IN FEBRUARY
KARABAKH | 27.02.13 | 12:47
Photo: www.wikipedia.org
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Azerbaijan and Turkey have got a clear message to temper their
ambitions as the White House issued a statement on behalf of the
president declining to commemorate the so-called massacre in Khojalu.
Moreover, the Obama administration also said that the events in which
the Azeri side claims Armenians were responsible for many civilian
deaths were connected with military operations - another reminder to
Azerbaijan that the Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved by force.
Azerbaijani activists had run two petitions on the White House website,
gathering more than 120,000 votes in their support. The petitions
called for the recognition of the 1992 events near the village of
Khojalu in Karabakh and also for a U.S. presidential statement on
February 26 - the day that marks the tragedy.
The White House response rejected the Azeri propaganda, which has
spent millions of dollars on the dissemination of information about
the events in Khojalu. And while in some cities and states it still
became possible for the Azeri side to hold some events, even in
parliaments, then in other places, like in Moscow, authorities banned
such arrangements. The White House statement proved a final blow to
the efforts of Azerbaijan to make Khojalu a factor in the ongoing
settlement of the protracted dispute and a general attitude towards
Armenia as a state and nation.
U.S. presidents make annual April 24 addresses to commemorate the
anniversaries of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Barack Obama
calls the events by the Armenian term, Mets Yeghern, translated from
Armenian as "great massacre". Turkey and Azerbaijan appear to have
been obsessed with the idea of promoting the international recognition
of the Khojalu events - a "genocide" of their own.
Meanwhile, during these days the Armenian nation also remembers
the victims of the 1988 Sumgait pogroms, which were the reaction of
Azeri nationalists to Karabakh Armenians' demands for reunification
with Armenia and set the armed conflict going. In many countries
local Armenian communities organize events timed to the anniversary
of the Sumgait tragedy. But this isn't the "answer" of Armenians to
intensified Azeri efforts for Khajalu. Recent days have seen another
remarkable event in this regard.
On Tuesday, a parliamentary group of friendship with Karabakh was
set up in the Seimas of Lithuania. This can be considered as the
first diplomatic victory for the new Foreign Minister of Karabakh,
Karen Mirzoyan, who was in Lithuania on the day of the group's
establishment. Lithuania is a member of the European Union and
NATO, and the establishment of friendship with Karabakh in the top
legislative body of this Baltic nation is viewed by many within the
context of early signs of a future recognition of the second Armenian
state's independence.
More active efforts of Turkey and Azerbaijan on Khojalu can also be
regarded as reaction to the world community's increasing inclination
to recognizing the right of the Armenian people to material and
territorial claims to Turkey in view of the approaching Armenian
Genocide centennial. Turkey is waiting for what Obama and Armenian
lobbyists in the United States might do when the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide is commemorated in 2015.
Sentiments are also changing in Armenia itself. Raffi Hovannisian,
the opposition presidential candidate who by official count polled
up to 37 percent of the vote in the latest election, has spoken in
favor of recognizing the independence of Karabakh and presenting
legitimate claims to Turkey. And these views are finding more support
among masses.
Analysts' forecasts for fundamental transformations in the region by
2015 appear to be coming true. And while Azerbaijan and Turkey are
still making desperate attempts to resist them, it is also apparent
that the Western community has been paying less attention to them
of late.
From: Baghdasarian
KARABAKH | 27.02.13 | 12:47
Photo: www.wikipedia.org
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Azerbaijan and Turkey have got a clear message to temper their
ambitions as the White House issued a statement on behalf of the
president declining to commemorate the so-called massacre in Khojalu.
Moreover, the Obama administration also said that the events in which
the Azeri side claims Armenians were responsible for many civilian
deaths were connected with military operations - another reminder to
Azerbaijan that the Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved by force.
Azerbaijani activists had run two petitions on the White House website,
gathering more than 120,000 votes in their support. The petitions
called for the recognition of the 1992 events near the village of
Khojalu in Karabakh and also for a U.S. presidential statement on
February 26 - the day that marks the tragedy.
The White House response rejected the Azeri propaganda, which has
spent millions of dollars on the dissemination of information about
the events in Khojalu. And while in some cities and states it still
became possible for the Azeri side to hold some events, even in
parliaments, then in other places, like in Moscow, authorities banned
such arrangements. The White House statement proved a final blow to
the efforts of Azerbaijan to make Khojalu a factor in the ongoing
settlement of the protracted dispute and a general attitude towards
Armenia as a state and nation.
U.S. presidents make annual April 24 addresses to commemorate the
anniversaries of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Barack Obama
calls the events by the Armenian term, Mets Yeghern, translated from
Armenian as "great massacre". Turkey and Azerbaijan appear to have
been obsessed with the idea of promoting the international recognition
of the Khojalu events - a "genocide" of their own.
Meanwhile, during these days the Armenian nation also remembers
the victims of the 1988 Sumgait pogroms, which were the reaction of
Azeri nationalists to Karabakh Armenians' demands for reunification
with Armenia and set the armed conflict going. In many countries
local Armenian communities organize events timed to the anniversary
of the Sumgait tragedy. But this isn't the "answer" of Armenians to
intensified Azeri efforts for Khajalu. Recent days have seen another
remarkable event in this regard.
On Tuesday, a parliamentary group of friendship with Karabakh was
set up in the Seimas of Lithuania. This can be considered as the
first diplomatic victory for the new Foreign Minister of Karabakh,
Karen Mirzoyan, who was in Lithuania on the day of the group's
establishment. Lithuania is a member of the European Union and
NATO, and the establishment of friendship with Karabakh in the top
legislative body of this Baltic nation is viewed by many within the
context of early signs of a future recognition of the second Armenian
state's independence.
More active efforts of Turkey and Azerbaijan on Khojalu can also be
regarded as reaction to the world community's increasing inclination
to recognizing the right of the Armenian people to material and
territorial claims to Turkey in view of the approaching Armenian
Genocide centennial. Turkey is waiting for what Obama and Armenian
lobbyists in the United States might do when the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide is commemorated in 2015.
Sentiments are also changing in Armenia itself. Raffi Hovannisian,
the opposition presidential candidate who by official count polled
up to 37 percent of the vote in the latest election, has spoken in
favor of recognizing the independence of Karabakh and presenting
legitimate claims to Turkey. And these views are finding more support
among masses.
Analysts' forecasts for fundamental transformations in the region by
2015 appear to be coming true. And while Azerbaijan and Turkey are
still making desperate attempts to resist them, it is also apparent
that the Western community has been paying less attention to them
of late.
From: Baghdasarian