More on Karabagh (plus a couple of general interest items at end)‏

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: THE RECENT NOISE ABOUT NAGORNO
KARABAKH GROUNDLESS
AZG DAILY
21-07-2009

"The recent noise around the Karabakh issue is groundless. On one hand
it can be explained by naivety, on the other hand it's an attempt to
fish in troubled waters," Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
said at a press conference with his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt.

The EU Troika Delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of the
Kingdom of Sweden, Carl Bildt, is in Armenia within the framework of
a regional visit.

Minister Nalbandian said that during the meeting with Carl Bildt he
had informed his Swedish counterpart about the process of settlement of
the Karabakh issue, the results of the talks between the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow. "We confirmed our common approach
that the issue should be solved exceptionally in a peaceful way,"
Edward Nalbandian said.

The Armenian Foreign Minister reminded that Armenian had not given
its consent to the Madrid Principles. "The principles provide a basis
for negotiations," he said.

As for the statement that the parries discussed the time frame for
the return of territories during the Moscow talks, the Minister said
the issue had not been touched upon in Moscow.

Turning to Armenia-EU relations, the Foreign Minister of Sweden said:
"We are ready to help and support Armenia on the way of implementation
of reforms. We will continue what we have started," Carel Bildt stated.

"We are ready to provide assistance to Armenia on issues of regional
security and support the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. As for
the Armenian-Turkish relation, we consider that the opening of the
border will benefit Armenia," The Swedish Foreign Minister stated.

During the meeting the Foreign Ministers of the two countries dwelt
upon Aremnian-Swedish relations, discussed the cooperation in the
economic sphere. "All of us face economic difficulties. Therefore,
we should encourage free trade. We have to consider different ways
of simplifying the visa regime," Carl Bildt said.


RA FM: ARMENIA HAS NOT APPROVED MADRID PRINCIPLES
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.07.2009 18:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia has not approved the Madrid Principles
concerning NKR conflict settlement, RA FM Edward Nalbandyan said during
a joint press conference with EU acting chairman and Swedish Foreign
Minister Karl Bildt, answering a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent's
question. "Armenian side has never made any official statement on
approving Madrid Principles. We just announced that they serve as
basis for talks," Mr. Nalbandyan stressed.

Commenting upon Azeri FM Elmar Mamedyarov's statement on Armenian
forces withdrawal having been discussed during talks, Edward Nalbandyan
said that the issue hadn't been touched upon.


THERE IS PROGRESS IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH
CONFLICT: AZERBAIJANI FM
Today.Az
July 20 2009
Azerbaijan

There is certain progress in solving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a news
conference in Baku on July 20.

"The co-chairmen will arrive in the region to prepare possible meeting
of presidents in Moscow in September. I think there is certain progress
in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Some hopes appeared
after presidents met in Moscow," the minister said.

Mammadyarov said that several principles of the agreement were
disclosed and work over these principles continues. "Armenian troops
must leave occupied territories. Afterward, question on return of
refugees to their lands will be raised," the minister said.

Mammadyarov said big funds are required to restore land and
infrastructure. This issue is expected to be discussed with the EU,
he said.

"When I say intensifying process of settlement of the conflict, first,
I mean Russia's intensification in this process," Mammadyarov said.


ARMENIAN DEPUTY MINISTER SAYS AZERI AUTHORITIES
"MISLEADING" PUBLIC ON KARABAKH
Public Television of Armenia
July 13 2009

[Presenter] We invited Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan
today to Haylur studio in order to hear his interpretation of the
Obama-Sarkozy-Medvedev statement, and receive answers on matters
that worry our public. Mr Kocharyan, what is your assessment of the
statement by the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries,
on the publicized provisions and topics of the negotiations?

[Kocharyan] You very correctly drew a distinction between the two
documents: a statement by the leaders of the three co-chair countries,
and another one which contains the basic principles on which the
negotiations are being held - the one which has been posted on
websites. Of course, this is not a complete list of issues on the
negotiating table. As for the statement, it is obvious that the
leaders of such powerful states would make a joint statement. This
is aimed at giving a new boost to the negotiation process on an issue
that has failed reach its logical conclusion for years.

Secondly, as for the provisions around which the negotiations are
being held, this shows what kind of achievement the sides have made in
this long negotiation process. Of course, the co-chairs specifically
mentioned comprehensiveness in reaching consent. This does not mean
that some provisions can be applied separately. The three principal
approaches of the Armenian side, around which we are working and on
which we will continue working, are expressed here. The first one is
the status of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic.

Only the population of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR] should
decide its fate through a referendum, and its results should be
binding. Before this referendum is held, it should be given an interim
status, by which the Nagornyy Karabakh republic will, to a certain
extent, be recognized as an international entity.

The next one is a reliable territorial route between the Nagornyy
Karabakh republic and the Republic of Armenia. And finally,
an extremely important provision: an internationally established
multi-layer system, which will ensure the security of the population
of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic.

These are the three basic principles we have always striven for. In
fact, the negotiations still continue. This does not mean at all that
that document which has yet to be signed has been published. There
is still serious work, and very serious approaches and very hard work
is required to make all those provisions precise.

[Presenter] A meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
will be held at the end of this week [17 July] in Moscow. What are
the expectations from this meeting between Sargsyan and Aliyev?

[Kocharyan] You know, on the one hand, this is just another meeting. On
the other, this is a meeting that is held after that the statement
[by the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries]. From this
point of view, one should not have very exaggerated notions as often
happens and then to say - oh, you know... In reality, clarification -
negotiations - around a few provisions will be held. That is not to
expect that issues will be resolved immediately after the statement
of the three co-chair countries. It is not like that. I can even say
it is unfortunately not like that because the approaches of the sides
are still different in many issues.

[Presenter] Mr Kocharyan, you came back from [the NKR capital]
Stepanakert, where you took part in a forum on Armenian-Turkish
relations and the Karabakh settlement, organized by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun. With what impressions did
you come back, and how would you assess the results of that forum?

[Passage omitted: Kocharyan says that the forum discussed
two main issues: Armenian-Turkish relations and the Karabakh
settlement. Kocharyan speaks about Dashnaktsutyun's role in the
Karabakh war.]

I believe that Dashnaktsutyun's approach is very logical, and also,
that it organized the forum. A resolution was approved [at the
forum]. Of course, it does not always coincide with our official points
of view and approaches, but whatever case, I assess it as positive.

[Presenter] Mr Kocharyan, there has been a lot of talk about the need
for Artsakh's [Karabakh] participation in the negotiations. What is
being done in this direction? What is being done in order to ensure
the participation of the Artsakh side?

[Kocharyan] This has always varied; the approach of the Armenian side
is that the two Armenian sides take part in the negotiations, and
in the first place, the Nagornyy Karabakh republic itself. It is not
accidental, if we view the so-called already published principles, we
will see that all there refer to the Nagornyy Karabakh republic itself,
and a question arises here, and there is often criticism as to why
the co-chairs, addressing the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, do
not address the president of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic. You know,
addressing it would mean recognizing the Nagornyy Karabakh republic.

[Passage omitted: Kocharyan says the statement by the US, French and
Russian leaders may help Nagornyy Karabakh's in its bid to participate
in the talks]

[Presenter] Mr Kocharyan, the last question - we have already seen
some elements of hysteria rising in Azerbaijan. How would you view
the fact that the Azerbaijani society itself may not be ready for
progress in the settlement?

[Kocharyan] You know, if we pay attention to the already published
provisions and to the statements the Armenian authorities have made
over these years, you will see no contradiction between them. What
we have consistently said - the status, security guarantees and a
reliable territorial route - all these are available.

Now, let's see what Azerbaijan has said. What it has said and what
has been published are, essentially, contradictory. Just recently, the
Azerbaijani president and foreign minister said: "Only we will decide
the status of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic, this is our territory."

So, what happened? Their panic is connected with the fact that
the Azerbaijani government was misleading its own public about the
reality of the negotiations, about the topic on the negotiations
table. Moreover, you remember that for about a year, it denied the
existence of the Madrid principles, around which it had agreed to
hold negotiations.

That's why they have found themselves in a very difficult
position. They also realize the following: the document that exists,
in essence, means that Azerbaijan is being obliged to accept something
that has become a reality a long time ago.

What is this circumstance? It is that the Nagornyy Karabakh republic
in fact has no connection with Azerbaijan. It is independent, it
is sovereign, and the provisions [words indistinct] Azerbaijan is
accepting in an obliged way that it has no more authority over the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic. This refers both to the final status,
which will be decided by the people of Nagornyy Karabakh republic in
a referendum, and the interim [status].

Moreover, if they have hope, the only hope is that the people of the
NKR may express a wish to be part of Azerbaijan.

First of all, let me state a few things. First, the vote will be held
with the ratio of Armenians and Azerbaijanis that existed in 1988. And
this was 75-80 per cent Armenians and the rest - Azerbaijanis. This
is the first, and extremely important one.

The next one: The issue that the Azerbaijanis who resided in Karabakh
should return, and only then a referendum can be held is not on the
negotiation table at all. The foreign minister has said very clearly
recently that there is no issue of return until the settlement
takes place. That is, it is understandable what the word is about,
that is, distortions made again by the Azerbaijani authorities. Two
communities, contradiction, conflict - all this was again aimed at
misleading their own people.


AZERBAIJAN COULD NOT ACHIEVE DESIRED RESULTS AT
PRESIDENTS' MOSCOW MEETING: SENIOR OFFICIAL
Today.Az
July 20 2009
Azerbaijan

"Azerbaijan and Armenia could not achieve the desired results at
presidents' Moscow meeting."

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration International Relations
Department Head Novruz Mammadov said in his comments on the meeting
of the Azerbaijani and Armenian President that took place in Moscow
on July 18-18.

"The presidents went to the Moscow meeting with great optimism, taking
into account the processes that occurred prior to the meeting - this
is a constructive approach Armenia demonstrated in the St. Petersburg
meeting and then a joint statement by the heads of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair countries Nicolas Sarkozy, Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama.

We believed there would be opportunity to achieve significant progress
in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the Moscow meeting. But
as I understand it, despite all this, Armenia has been far from being
constructive to a certain extent at this meeting," Mammadov said.


ARMENIA SEEKS ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS FROM AZERBAIJAN
: POLITICAL EXPERT
Today.Az
July 20 2009
Azerbaijan

"The result of the meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents
Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan indicates that the negotiations have
reached one of the numerous deadlocks in the Karabakh labyrinth again."

Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Agayev said in his comments on the
Moscow meeting on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution between
the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents.

"I did not expect breakthrough from the meeting as there is change of
mood in the Armenia side. I was surprised at the news of discontent
and demonstrations by the Armenian diaspora condemning Madrid
Principles. This is very alarming factor. The statements by the
Armenian diaspora are serious factor, too. Even if to suggest that
it is spontaneous and not related with Yerevan, Serzh Sargsyan will
anyway reckon with this factor," the said.

"It means that Armenia wants to get additional concessions from
Azerbaijan. All these are alarming symptoms. Therefore, there was
not any breakthrough in the meeting," Agayev said.

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA TOOK A BREAK TO WEIGH EVERYTHING
AGAIN: POLITICAL EXPERTToday.AzJuly 20 2009Azerbaijan"I think Azerbaijan and Armenia are not yet prepared to make concretedecisions on the conflict resolution."Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Musabayov said in his comments onresults of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents' Moscow meetingon peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."The negotiating process was quite intense, but, given that this is avery responsible decision, I think the parties took a break to weigheverything once again," he said."At the same time, I think that if Azerbaijan understands that thecurrent negotiation process will not end up with anything acceptablefor the country, it will have to think about alternative steps,"he said.


TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER AHMET DAVUTOGLU: "TURKEY
- ARMENIA BORDERS WILL NOT BE OPENED UNLESS NAGORNO
KARABAKH CONFLICT IS SOLVED"APAJuly 20 2009AzerbaijanAnkara - APA. "Turkey - Armenia borders will not be opened unlessNagorno Karabakh conflict is solved", Turkish Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoglu made such statement, APA reports quoting Panarmenian.Touching upon Turkey's relations with EU, Ahmet Davutoglu noted thatserious progresses would be achieved in this direction during the EUpresidency of pro-Turkey countries - Sweden, Spain and Belgium.

SHUSHA BREATHES NEW LIFE AFTER YEARS OF STRIFEDaniel BardsleyThe National July 20 2009UAESHUSHA, Nagorno-Karabakh // With broken buildings and near-emptystreets, this city of a few thousand has a desolate air, despite itsspectacular mountain setting on a plateau overlooking the centre ofNagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region between Azerbaijan and Armenia.Before the war over control of the region erupted in 1988 betweenMuslim ethnic Azeris and Christian ethnic Armenians, there were25,000 people living in Shusha. At the time, Nagorno-Karabakh wasan ethnic Armenian majority region within Azerbaijan. Shusha was theonly large settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh with an Azeri majority. Now,the only residents of Shusha are 4,000 Armenians; all of the Azerisfled during the fighting.But Shusha, or Shushi as Armenians call it, is on the brink of thekind of renewal that has transformed Stepanakert, the enclave'scapital that lies 16km to the north. Since a ceasefire was agreed in1994, with Armenia in de facto control, Stepanakert has turned intoan attractive and leafy city with a string of new hotels, a modernassembly building and countless street cafes, even though Armeniaand Azerbaijan are officially still at war over the region.To promote Shusha's regeneration, Nagorno-Karabakh's unrecognisedethnic Armenian government is moving ministries to the city, andat least one new hotel is planned as more tourists arrive, mostlydiasporan Armenians from countries such as France, as well as thosefrom Armenia itself.Also, funds from an annual telethon in November organised by theHayastan All Armenian Fund, an international organisation set upby Armenian presidential decree in 1992, will go to Shusha. Most ofthose who now live there are ethnic Armenians who fled Azerbaijan asthe conflict intensified.Armen Asryan, an ethnic Armenian, left the Azerbaijani capital Bakuin 1988, first going to Russia before coming to Nagorno-Karabakh,where his parents originate, in 1997.The 40-year-old, a soft spoken cobbler, said for him the city was"not a depressing place"."I have come to my own land," he said from his ground-floor workshopbeneath an apartment block."There wasn't a chance to live in Stepanakert, but here the governmentgave us a free flat. It was ruined. There were no windows. We restoredeverything.During the war, when ethnic Armenians backed by Armenia foughtAzerbaijan, Shusha was an Azeri stronghold and the source of manyof the shells that landed on Stepanakert, forcing its residents tolive in bunkers. Armenians took the city in an offensive in 1992 thatresulted in heavy casualties on both sides.Ashot Ghoulian, chairman of the Nagorno-Karabakh national assembly,said government ministries were currently too heavily concentratedin Stepanakert. He said ministries covering such areas as culture,youth and sport were moving to Shusha."Some of them will be in already existing buildings of greatarchitectural value, maybe restored, and some buildings will beconstructed for ministries," he said.Moving the ministries will help "activate the life" in Shusha, MrGhoulian added, although given the city's strong historical Azerilinks, it may not be a popular move with Azerbaijan."The most important reason why we want to activate the life of Shushiis the role Shushi played in the life of Armenian Karabakh earlier,"he said.Shusha dates from the mid-18th century and went on to develop separatequarters for its Muslim and Christian residents. Clashes betweenAzeris and Armenians began in the early 20th century and intensifiedafter the First World War, when Azerbaijan claimed Nagorno-Karabakh.After a revolt in 1920, at a time when Nagorno-Karabakh was claimed bythe short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, as many as 20,000 ofthe city's Armenian population were allegedly killed by authorities,an event Mr Ghoulian describes as a "massacre". The enclave becamean autonomous region within the later Azerbaijan Soviet SocialistRepublic."In 1920, 45,000 people were living in Shushi, but by 1921 thepopulation had decreased to 12,000 people," Mr Ghoulian said."Nobody rejects that people of Azeri origin were living in Shushi[before the Nagorno-Karabakh war], but that was a result of theconflict of the past century. Today, nobody should distort thathistorical fact."Conflicts always change the demographic situation. Shushi is a citywith a tragic fate. Even centuries ago the city was fought over."The city's Ghazanchetsots Cathedral has been restored since theconflict ended and is now one of the few pristine-looking buildingsin the city. Despite the Muslim residents of Shusha having fled,there are still several mosques, although the minaret of one of themis badly damaged.While Shusha still appears to be a broken city, Mr Asryan said itshowed signs of improvement."During the past five years it has developed," he said. "There ismore transport here. Many buildings are restored now and more peoplelive here compared to previous years."It was obvious it would be difficult to live here but now it'sdeveloping."EXCAVATIONS TO PROVE ARMENIAN TRACES IN KARABAKHLena Badeyan"Radiolur"20.07.2009 17:45While the world powers and politicians are trying to resolve theKarabakh issue, historians and archeologists are trying to prove thatthe territory has been originally Armenian. The Armenian specialistsreached the greatest success in 2005, when they found one of the fourTigranakert cities founded by Armenian King Tigran the Great on theliberated land of Aghdam, to the southeast of Martaket region."For me this is Troy, this is how I would assess it. We continuefinding different items here, but it's not the most important. What'simportant is that the city once existed here," said Vardges Safaryan,member of the Tigranakert expedition, assessing the political andhistorical essence of the diggings."The two main walls and the towels of the Hellenic city have beendiscovered. The city was founded in the 80s B.C. and survived throughthe 15th century, about 1 500 years. That is whey here we have notonly Hellenic monuments, but also Christian ones. We have discoveredan Armenian church built in 5-7th centuries, where we found one ofthe most interesting items last year - a clay disk-like item with anengraving: "Me, Vache, the slave of God." This inscription dates backto the 6-7th centuries and it is the most ancient Armenian inscriptionfound on the20land of Karabakh up to now," Vardges Safaryan said.The authorities of Nagorno Karabakh also attach great importance tothe excavations of Tigranakert and the government has been financingthe works for about two years.
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