Armenian News

Matthew Bryza's Plans for Artsakh:
Formula for Disaster for Armenians
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

20 August 2009

Matthew Bryza, the U.S. mediator for Artsakh (Karabagh), discussed in
great detail for the first time the critical issues dealing with the
behind the scene negotiations on resolving that conflict.

Mr. Bryza is the U.S. Co-Chair of the Minsk Group and Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. He delivered a
speech on the Artsakh conflict at the International Center for Human
Rights in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia, on August 7. Mr. Bryza's lengthy
presentation, followed by an extensive question and answer period (19
pages), was transcribed by NEWS.am Armenian news agency.

While Mr. Bryza has regularly met with members of the media during his
frequent visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, often recanting in Yerevan
what he reportedly said in Baku, he has never before
disclosed the details of the settlement being negotiated between the presidents of
the two conflicting countries and the three Co-Chairs of the Minsk
Group, composed of France, Russia, and the United States.

The Armenian public certainly appreciates Mr. Bryza's willingness to
discuss the terms of a future agreement on the Artsakh conflict.
Nevertheless, one wonders why was Mr. Bryza in such a talkative mood?
Was he preparing the Armenian public for the painful compromises that
are to be made or was he trying to impress his Washington superiors
with his negotiating skills, as he is being considered for an
ambassadorial post in Baku?
Mr. Bryza began his remarks by stating that the negotiations for the
settlement of the Artsakh conflict are based on the three fundamental
principles of the Helsinki Final Act: Self-determination, territorial
integrity, and non-use of force.

Claiming that the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan "right now are
on the verge of a breakthrough," an assertion he has made many times
before, Mr. Bryza proceeded to disclose a highly controversial roadmap
of the agreement currently under consideration. Mr. Bryza stated that
Artsakh would preserve its current status for an "interim period."
Armenians would then turn over to Azerbaijan most of the "seven
territories" surrounding Artsakh. After the Azeri refugees who left
Artsakh during the war return to their homes, a referendum would be
held to determine the final status of Artsakh.

During the question and answer period, Mr. Bryza stated that the Minsk
Group Co-Chairs were disappointed that during their July 17 meeting in
Moscow, Presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev did not come to an agreement "on
several of the final elements of the basic principles," despite the
fact that, during their January meeting in Zurich, they had "agreed on
the basic concepts." He said he expected an agreement in September "on
the last few elements of the basic principles that remain not yet
agreed."

When asked if Azerbaijan was making any compromises, Mr. Bryza pointed
out Baku's increasingly accommodating position on the Lachin Corridor
which links Artsakh to Armenia, its concern for the security of Artsakh
Armenians and their need to run their own affairs. Mr. Bryza further
claimed that "Azerbaijan had to give up quite a bit from a position
where it was in the beginning when it said it will never talk about
self-determination. And, of course, to bring Azerbaijan to that point,
Armenia had to give something up as well¦. So, both sides are making
compromises."

Mr. Bryza defended the non-recognition of Artsakh by the United States,
by pointing out that the government of Armenia has not recognized it
either. He said that the reason Armenia does not recognize Artsakh's
independence is that `it knows that if it does that, the chances to
negotiate a peaceful settlement finish.'

In response to a complaint from the audience that Artsakh was left out
of the negotiations, Mr. Bryza blamed its absence on the Kocharian
government. "Until 1998, Karabakh Armenians were formally part of the
negotiations, when it was the former government of Armenia who decided
to change that situation. It was not the Co-Chairs who made the
decision -- that was the government of Armenia," he said. Mr. Bryza did
not mention the fact that Azerbaijan had rejected Artsakh's inclusion
in the talks.

Responding to another question, Mr. Bryza made the surprising
disclosure that the international peacekeeping troops to be stationed
in or around Artsakh would not be armed, simply because they would not
be able to compel the two sides not to fight, if they are intent on
going to war against each other. He stated that "the Co-Chairs have to
be smart and skillful enough to put at place a settlement in which the
international peacekeepers will be primarily observers."

Mr. Bryza candidly told his Armenian audience not to trust the
international peacekeepers to secure the peace in Artsakh. He also
stated that a "legally binding" referendum to determine the status of
Artsakh would be held in several years, after the original Azerbaijani
inhabitants, who before the war constituted 20% of the territory's
population, would return to Artsakh.

Mr. Bryza concluded by urging Armenians to accept "a compromise
settlement now," warning that "a decade ago, Armenia was in a much
stronger negotiation position!"

The terms of the possible settlement, as outlined by Mr. Bryza, is a
disaster waiting to happen to Armenians. They are supposed to first
turn over to Azerbaijan practically all of the territories surrounding
Artsakh. Then the former Azeri inhabitants of Artsakh are to return,
after which a referendum would be held on the status of Artsakh, under
the watchful eyes of UNARMED international peacekeepers. If Azerbaijan,
at a future date, uses its massive petrodollars to acquire
sophisticated weaponry and invade Artsakh, particularly after Armenians
have given up the buffer zones they are currently holding, the
population of Artsakh risks being completely destroyed.

From the Armenian point of view, the only acceptable solution to the
Artsakh conflict would be to either maintain the status quo or to agree
to a package deal that would require Azerbaijan's recognition of
Artsakh's independence and the establishment of a demilitarized zone on
the Azeri side of the border, before giving up a single inch of land or
allowing the return of a single Azeri refugee!

Turks interrupt Christian worship at Monastery
Aug 18, 2009
by Pontosworld.com

Once again, Pontic Greek pilgrims from many parts of the world
congregated at one of the holiest places of worship, the Monastery of
Panagia Soumela in Turkey. It was apparent from the outset however
that the pilgrims weren't welcome this year. Priests were ordered to
remove their crosses and holy garments at the airport upon entering
the country, boatloads of pilgrims from Georgia were prevented from
disembarking at ports, and the passage of another eight busloads of
pilgrims from Greece were hampered in their approach to the monastery
by Turkish authorities.

The 15th of August is the holiest day of the Pontic Greek calendar. It
is the one day of the year that descendants of Pontic Greeks who lived
for centuries in Turkey, can revisit the Holy monastery and pay their
respects at the monument in a peaceful manner.

For some reason this year, Greek authorities were pre-warned by
Turkish authorities that certain public performances would not be
allowed. The Greek response in particular by Mr Ivan Savvidis on
behalf of the Council of Greeks Abroad, was that the forced removal of
religious emblems and dress, as well as the banning of peaceful
worship at the Christian monastery was `a violation of the individual
rights of a person'.

The religious service did take place in the presence of a crowd of
followers, but was interrupted by the director of the Museum Nilgün
Yılmazer, as well as officials who poured water over candles and
removed them in an attempt to end the service. Considering the yearly
service has been taking place at the monastery for a number of years
previous to this, the interruption was bizarre in that it created
precedent with regards to such peaceful gatherings taking place in
Turkey in the future.

The treatment of religious minorities in Turkey is one of the main
stumbling blocks for Turkey's bid for EU membership. By coincidence or
not, on the very same day which these bizarre events at the Monastery
took place (15/8/2009), Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ=9Fan met with Turkey's religious minority leaders including
Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew in an effort to pass reforms on
the issue of minority rights. One can only hope that reforms are
passed and actually followed, so that events such as these are not
repeated.

A video of the interruption can be viewed here
The Holy Monastery of Panagia Soumela

The Soumela Monastery was founded in 386 A.D by two Athenian monks and
lies on a steep cliff face on mount Mela in the Trabzon province of
north-eastern Turkey. The monastery has been a place of worship for
Pontic Greeks for thousands of years and is the home of the miraculous
icon of Panagia Soumela. The monastery is made up of a church, several
chapels, and at one stage housed 72 cells, guest quarters, an
aqueduct, icon room, library and dormitories. As with other Christian
places of worship in Turkey, the monastery is now a museum and
attracts a huge number of tourists which provides a lot of income to
the operators. The monastery was abandoned in 1923 following the
forced expulsion of Pontic Greeks in accordance with the Exchange of
Populations between Greece and Turkey. Restoration work has been
carried out on the historic Pontic monastery under the responsibility
of the Turkish Ministry for Culture. Reports indicate that the works
have been to excessive lengths, with many cracks appearing thereby
disfiguring the monument and detracting from its religious character.


INTERNET TO BE MORE AVAILABLE IN PROVINCES
ARMENPRESS
Aug 18, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: The process of working out of document
on development of Information Technology in the Armenian provinces
is coming to an end and will be presented to the Vice Prime-Minister,
Territorial Administration Minister Armen Gevorgyan. Director of the
"Union of IT Enterprises" Karen Vardanyan told Armenpress that after
its discussion certain issues will be clarified after which meeting
will be organized with heads of companies of the union and governors'
offices.

He said companies of the union are ready to support, use their
experience in provinces for the development of IT there. The document
which will be presented to the vice prime minister includes issues
on availability and affordability of internet in the provinces, also
a suggestion on test program to be implemented in one community of
each province.

"Taking into consideration opportunities of a given community, our
means, we will ensure internet and make our services available for
the residents," K. Vardanyan said.

About 80% of internet users in Armenia are in Yerevan and only 20%
in provinces.

MINIMUM 8 ARMENIAN WEB SITE RECENTLY FELL VICTIM TO

HACKER ATTACKS
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.08.2009 18:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A new wave of hacker attacks was recently launched
against Armenian Web sites. While trying to open some of them, users
encounter messages by "Iraqi hackers" - such is the nickname of the
trespassers who left their contacts and a warning.

Hackers have this time targeted the Web sites of RA Agriculture and
Urban Development Ministries. Earlier, they had attacked the sites
of RA Football Federation, Diaspora Ministry and BTA Bank. Some of
the damaged sites were restored to normal operation.

Attacked by hackers Saturday, Iran's Armenian Diaspora Web site
(www. iranahayer.com) contains a statement saying that hackers did
not manage to completely damage the Web page and deleted only recent
news and comments. Site administration reports it will post the news
again but will not manage to restore deleted comments.

Earlier, www.mineconomy.am Web site was reported to be inaccessible
because of some technical problems which were shortly after eliminated
by specialists. Later, it became known that hackers had managed
to damage the site's post service, thus gaining access to ministry
staff's mail correspondence.
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