Category: Southern Caucasus

Parliament Addresses Armenian Pullout From Turkey Accord

Armenia — The parliament building in Yerevan.

23.02.2010

Sargis Harutyunyan, Karine Kalantarian

The National Assembly began debating on Tuesday a government bill that would make it easier for Armenia to annul its normalization agreements with Turkey if Ankara continues to delay their ratification.

The proposed amendments to an Armenian law on international treaties envisage the suspension or termination of agreements signed by Yerevan before their entry into force.

President Serzh Sarkisian announced his intention to enact such amendments in December in response to Turkish leaders’ continuing statements making the ratification of the Turkish-Armenian “protocols” conditional on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh. He made clear that Yerevan will walk away from the deal if Ankara fails to implement it within a “reasonable” time frame.

Addressing the parliament, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian effectively admitted that the amendments were drafted on Sarkisian’s orders. “The president of the republic made a statement on and I have nothing to add to it,” he said.

Opposition and independent lawmakers criticized the initiative, saying that Armenian law and international conventions signed by Yerevan already allow for the abrogation of international treaties.

“I am sure that our legislation in no way restricts the president’s authority to suspend the process of terminating the ratification of any treaty,” said former parliament speaker Tigran Torosian. “I am more than convinced that there is absolutely no need to pass this bill,” he added.

The bill was included on the parliament agenda just days after Sarkisian formally sent the two protocols to the parliament for ratification. But the National Assembly and its committee on foreign relations are in no rush to debate the documents envisaging the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and opening of their border.

A spokesman for Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), which has a clear majority in the assembly, on Tuesday again made clear that it will not vote on the protocols before their ratification by the Turkish parliament. Like other Armenian officials, Eduard Sharmazanov again avoided setting any deadlines for Turkish ratification.

David Harutiunian, the chairman of the parliament committee on legal affairs, said Yerevan may wait for “one or two or several months” before deciding whether to discontinue the normalization process. “It’s not possible to give a definite answer at this point. It depends on many processes,” Harutiunian told journalists when asked what the Armenian side means by a “reasonable timeframe.”

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly reiterated on Monday that Turkey will not implement the protocols unless there is a breakthrough in international efforts to settle the Karabakh conflict.

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/1966347.html

February 23, 2010
Letters to Obama, Congressmen and Senators

[ 23 Feb 2010 12:15 ]

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. During the past couple weeks American Azerbaijanis and their US supporters have sent 1211 letters to the US Administration, including US President Barack Obama, vice-president Joe Biden, secretary of state Hilary Clinton, as well as US Congressmen and Senators, APA’s Washington correspondent was told at Azerbaijani Diaspora organization USAN.
The reason for sending the letters was to recognize and commemorate the Khojaly Massacre of 1992.

The authors of the letter point out that “All Azerbaijani people will forever remember where they were on February 26, 1992, like all Americans will forever remember where they were on the tragic morning of September 11, 2001. Having experienced terror firsthand, Azerbaijan has become a staunch ally of the United States in the War on Terror and a member of the Coalition, with Azerbaijani battle-ready peacekeepers serving side-by-side with Americans in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq”.

On the 18th anniversary of the massacre the Diaspora is also calling upon the to properly recognize and commemorate this tragedy on the floor of the Congress, in the Congressional Record, and by attending a vigil, and to pressure the Armenian government to accept its responsibility for this massacre and withdraw its troops from the occupied regions of Azerbaijan.

In the meanwhile the Turkish and Azerbaijani Diasporas have sent during the recent two weeks more than 2436 letters to the representatives of US government, including the Congress members and the House and Senate Foreign affairs Committee. These letters are targeting to influence the US Congress to vote against the H252, Congressional resolution on the so called “Armenian Genocide”, voting on which has been has been scheduled for a vote in at the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 4, 2010.

February 23, 2010
Khojaly genocide commemorated at University of California

[ 22 Feb 2010 15:40 ]

Baku – APA. California-based Azerbaijan-American Council, Association of Turkic-speaking students at Berkeley and Association of Turkish-American Assembly organized a ceremony for commemoration of Khojaly genocide on February 19 at the University of California, Berkeley. Azerbaijan-American Council told APA members of the Azerbaijani community, Azerbaijani students educated in California, officials of the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles and Berkeley students attended the ceremony. Professor Thomas Goltz of Montana University, Professor Thomas Ambrosio of North Dakota State University, Parvin Akhanci of University of California, Davis, Azerbaijan Consulate General official Elshan Baloglanov, ATAA representative Ergun Kirikovali and AAC Director Executive Javid Huseynov addressed the ceremony.

Odious Armenian terrorist, Armenian national hero Monte Melkonian, who was killed by the Azerbaijani soldiers in Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in June, 1993, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.

February 22, 2010
Washington DC – Khojali Massacre DEMONSTRATION

COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION

To Commemorate the Anniversary of Khojali Massacre

And Protest Armenia’s Occupation of Western Azerbaijan

Friday, February 26, 2009 Time and Location 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM:

Assembling at Dupont Circle

(intersection of Massachusetts , Connecticut , and New Hampshire avenues).

Closest metro station: Dupont Circle , red line. 1

2:00 PM -1:30 PM:

Walking through Massachusetts Avenue to the Embassy of Armenia

located at 2225 R Street NW (intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and R Street ,

near Sheridan Circle ) and holding demonstration.

1:30 PM:

Disbanding. This event, organized by local community members,

has been coordinated with Washington DC Metropolitan Police and Secret Service.

Sound equipment and signs will be provided, but participants are free to bring their own signs, posters, and flags.

Due to heavy traffic in and around DC area and difficulties with finding parking space,

participants are encouraged to use public transportation,

especially Metro, to ensure timely arrival.

For additional information, contact Bedir Memmedli, 703-400-2523 703-400-2523 or [email protected]

DEMAND JUSITCE FOR KHOJALI VICTIMS!

SAY NO TO ARMENIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN WESTERN AZERBAIJAN !

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR AZERBAIJAN’ S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

February 22, 2010
Three Azerbaijani Soldiers Killed Near Karabakh

February 18, 2010

BAKU — Three Azerbaijani soldiers were killed today after exchanging fire with Armenian armed forces near the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service reports.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry confirmed the deaths and said another soldier was wounded as a result of the shooting, which is a violation of a ceasefire agreement between the two forces.

The ministry did not say exactly where the fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces took place. A ministry spokesman said the Armenian side also suffered casualties.

News agencies reported earlier today that Armenian forces shelled Azerbaijani positions in the Agdam, Terter, and Goranboy districts. Najmeddin Sadikhov, the chief of Staff of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces, told the ANS TV station that Azerbaijan’s army responded to the shelling.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-year war over Nagorno-Karabakh that ended in 1994 with Armenian forces in control of the disputed territory and seven other Azerbaijani districts.

https://www.rferl.org/a/Three_Azerbaijani_Soldiers_Killed_Near_NagornoKarabakh/1962175.html

February 18, 2010
Organizations to commemorate Khojaly genocide

[ 18 Feb 2010 18:41 ]

Baku – APA. State Committee for Diaspora confirmed the plan of events on Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations’ commemorating the 18th anniversary of Khojaly genocide abroad, the committee’s press service told APA. Protest actions, conferences, commemorative events, exhibitions will be held this year, too.
German Azerbaijanis Coordination Center with the support of Azerbaijani embassy in Germany will demonstrate the paintings included into the exhibition of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation “Khojaly in the eyes of children” in Berlin from February 18 till February 28.

Rally on the 18th anniversary of the genocide will be held in Breitscheidplatz, Berlin, on February 26. The event will be held on the initiative of German Azerbaijanis Coordination Center, Azerbaijani House, German Azerbaijan Solidarity Society with the participation of Ireli Public Union and Justice for Khojaly movement.
The 18th anniversary will also be commemorated in France. On February 21, Strasbourg Azerbaijan House will broadcast a special radio program on Khojaly tragedy. The Azerbaijanis living in Strasbourg will also organize “MAIL” action on February 24-25.
Over 6000 mails on Khojaly tragedy in French, English and Turkish will be sent as a result of the cooperation of Azerbaijani House with French organizations. They will be mainly sent to the Council of Europe, European Union, other international organizations, senate and state bodies of France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, US, Israel and Sutralia. Rally on the 18th anniversary of Khojaly genocide will be held in Kleber square, Strasbourg on February 27.

Forum of Azerbaijani Students in Europe (FASE) is planning to hold meetings and other protest actions in several cities of France on 18th anniversary of Khojaly genocide. The officials will be also invited to the events. Union of Azerbaijanis of France and French-Azerbaijani Youth Association and Toulouse-based Azerbaijani Student Association and Public Union of Azerbaijan “Irali” (Forward) will organize a march of protest in the center of Paris.

UK-based European Azerbaijani Society will collect signatures within the campaign Justice for Khojaly on February 24. Our compatriots will join a meeting to take place at the UK parliament between the Azerbaijani embassy and lords on February 26. American writer-journalist, researcher of Caucasian conflicts over the past 20 years, author of Azerbaijani Diary Thomas Goltz will address the meeting.

Representatives of Azerbaijani Diaspora will hold a protest action outside of the UK parliament on February 26.

The genocide victims will be commemorated in the different events in the United States. Truth about the Khojaly tragedy will be delivered to the world community at the events organized by the American-Azerbaijan Council, Azerbaijan New York Association, Houston-Baku Twin Cities Association.

Turkey-based Azerbaijani organizations are also planning to hold commemoration events on 18th anniversary of the genocide.

Students and professors of the Northern Cyprus Eastern Mediterranean University will attend the commemoration event organized by the Economic, Cultural Cooperation Center of the University.

Commemoration events will be organized in the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, UAE, Egypt, Thailand, New Zealand, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

February 18, 2010