ACTUAL QUOTATION
Jaap de Hoop SCHEFFER, NATO Secretary General:
“NATO, 28 countries of the block, support settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and the resolution of the conflict must be based on the principle of the sovereignty and territorial integrity. Azerbaijan is the country playing a key role for NATO in the region. Although, NATO is not involved in the conflict settlement, the principle of territorial integrity should not be disputed”.
From the statement at press-conference in Brussels, 29 April, 2009
Dmitry MEDVEDEV, President of Russia:
“Russia would like to achieve maximum progress in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh resolution. I think the regular meetings between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia are very important. Russia is ready to fulfill its mandate. There are prospects, and first of all one needs to rely on international law and resolutions adopted by the UN and the OSCE”.
From the statement of mass-media in Moscow, 17 April, 2009
Rajab Tayyib ERDOGAN, Prime Minister of Turkey:
“We did not neglect interests of the Azerbaijan people up to now, and will not do it in the future. Turkey will never be released from Karabakh, cannot keep silence in a question of Nagorno-Karabakh and will never leave Azerbaijan alone in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. All know that before elimination of the occupation fact, establishment of normal relations between Turkey and Armenia is impossible. Without settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem the establishment of the peace and stability on southern Caucasus is impossible also. In a question of closing of borders between Turkey and Armenia there is a reason and a result it caused. The Nagorno-Karabagh was occupied by Armenians. One million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their homeland. Therefore we closed the borders. The occupation is a reason and the closing of borders is a result. They have to lift the reason that we can open the bordersthere is one reason and one result”.
From statements during visit to Azerbaijan in May, 2009
Nikolae URECHE, Romania Ambassador to Azerbaijan:
“Romania has always been and will be reliable partner of Azerbaijan. In very beginning, Romania supported the peaceful solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, according to the UN and OSCE resolutions. At the same time, we are concerning over the daily incidents in the front line causing new losses. NATO is always respecting the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Moldova”.
From interview with IA APA in Baku, 5 May, 2009
German BUNDESTAG:
“Decisions and the resolutions accepted by the United Nations, СЕ and OSCE in connection with Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, should be carried out. Bundestag unambiguously condemned the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories and underlined that Armenia must withdraw forces from Azerbaijani lands and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be solved within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Displacement of the people as a result of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories was condemned in the hearings, it was noted that the displaced peoples must return to their native lands”.
From the resolution of the Germany’s Bundestag “Strengthening of security, stability and democracy in the South Caucasus” 14 May, 2009
Ahmed DAVUDOGLU, Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkey:
“OSCE Minsk Group fails to achieve improvement in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia’s keeping Azerbaijan’s territories under occupation is not the situation meeting the interests of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. It’s time to take out this issue from the status of the frozen conflict. For us the main thing is a territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Turkey will continue its endeavors in this direction. Armenia should put an end to occupation, release region from intensity. The Azerbaijan territories should be released from occupation on the basis of United Nations resolutions”
From statements of mass-media in Damascus and Baku, 25-26 May, 2009
Armenians about Armenians
Robert ARAKELOV
KARABAKH DIARY
(Beginning in previous issues)
FUNERAL BANQUET
Wine glasses are full and tamada, no longer standing up from his place and as if continuing the interrupted speech, tells the people gathered in the funeral banquet, what a brave people are the Fidains and how courageously they fight for ‘Miatsum’ (Arm. – ‘reunification’ – tr.).
– The victory will be ours, – shouts the tipsy tamada, and suddenly… he starts singing. Yes-yes, singing; singing the most popular song lately here “Karabakhians,” composed by one of the composers living far from these places. Tamada’s voice sounds in high falsetto, so not natural for his heavy, stuffed figure and face, disturbing hostess’s shadow, whose soul will come back, as they say, to this house for forty days. But it seems that many at the table already do not remember what has brought them here in such an hour. Having bitten a pickle, they hurry to support tamada in singing. After a minute or two, in one corner or the other, dissonant male choruses appear, in the bass registers of which tamada’s falsetto drowns hopelessly.
I do not know the lyrics of the song, and they are not the ones that touch me, but the music… The music, the tune of this semi-marsh – semi-anthem strangely invigorates even me, and I, having closed my eyes, suddenly with my inner eye can see faces dear to me and I also start to believe. To believe that someday all this nightmare will end and I will sit at such a rich table, not of a funeral, but of a holiday feast; and I will be able to sing. To sing other songs about other things. About something pure and everlasting. But now… but now on the lips of these fool men, there is invigorating song ‘Karabakhians,’ as if three hours before, they were not performing a funeral for the deceased woman. Oh God, how everything has distorted and spoiled in this world.
IN FEAST, 3
My grandfather from father’s side was born and lived in and never left the Karabakh village, Dashbulag, which is 25 km away from Stepanakert (at grandpa’s times it was still called Khankendi). The residents do not remember by whom and when this village was called Dahsbulag, which in translation from Azerbaijani means ‘Stone spring,’ but why it was named like this is easy to guess: up to date in the entrance to the village there is a limpid coldwater spring dressed in boulders. Till the notorious events, there were both Armenians and Azerbaijanis living in Dashbulag, sharing all kolkhoz related misfortunes and happiness. Although villagers had sufficiently of each, there was more of happiness as the kolkhoz was well off. So well off that it could finance its own ‘Dashbulag – Baku’ route bus, which was unaffordable for neighboring villages. Yes, it was so, but right after February 1988, Azerbaijani villagers started to have difficult, terrible times, and they started to leave the village. The last Azerbaijani left the village Dashbulag after an explosion in front of his house at the night of August 11, 1989. And since then, the village became absolutely, as the newspaper ‘Soviet Karabakh’ loved to express it, ‘Armenian-speaking’… Somedays, in the far childhood, my mother used to take me to those places: almost every summer. Since then, I remember when I came back from fields to the village I was lying on a squeaking bullock with yoked oxen, covered with thatch, and looking at the summer sky, which was as cloudless and endless as my life seemed to me at those times. But the childhood passed, my mother was no longer with me, and although late I still visited Karabakh frequently, I limited myself to regional cities, but I never had free time to go to grandpa’s village. Probably, it would continue like this if the bloody ‘Karabakh’ events did not break out and if I were not thrown to those places for many months. Suddenly, having found myself there, I clearly remembered all those trips to the village, and I felt a pang in my chest that I wanted to go to Dashbulag by all means. So, once in the circle of people, among whom there was a stiff woman from the management of Stepanakert city hall, I expressed my desire to go to Dashbulag. Hardly had I finished my sentence, that woman looked at me severely and muttered from among her teeth:
– There is no such village anymore!
The pictures of a terrible pestilence, massive bombardment, and incinerating fire went through my mind and I asked with a trembling voice:
– What you mean, where did it go?
– There is no such village – this time she punctuated – there is the village of Artsakhashen.
– What does it have to do with Artsakhashen? I want to go to Dashbulag, – I cried in reply. This time she looked at me as if there was a lunatic in front of her and demonstratively turned her back to me. Wondering I did not know what to think, but a man next to me came to my help:
– Yes, your Dashbulag was renamed, renamed to Artsakhashen. And here is all the secret…
Oh, here what it is – I finally got it, – the village initially called Dashbulag, was renamed by these alchemists of toponymy, with a dash of the pen, to Artsakhashen. Adroitly, what else to say, sharper’s handwriting was evident. But I must confess I did not ponder over such adroitness for a long. However, I decided to go to that village anyway, no matter how it was called now. Done as was said – the next Sunday I headed to the local station. By the way, having arrived there, I looked for the bus I needed for a long time and could not find it, until I remembered the change of the name of the village. Having remembered it, among tens of vehicles, I immediately saw a bus, on the windscreen of which there was a board with laconic writing ‘Artsakh.’
(to be continued)
Yuriy POMPEEV, academician Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (RANS), professor at Saint-Peters State University of Culture and Art.
RUINS
(beginning in previous numbers)
Another unmasker of the criminal arms traffic, the then minister on CIS affairs, Aman Tuleev, in one of interviews, tried to clarify: “It is first of all, Russia’s inner problem. Somebody sells arms, but nothing comes into the budget. It is the real theft of significantly large amounts – arms were sold for more than one milliard USA dollars. It happens at the times when in our army military people are not paid salary, and the Russian military units are badly armed, which was witnessed in Chechen war. To what extent would these means have been useful for Russia, if they had gotten to its treasury, how would they have assisted in loosening the social tension in the country, in the same Primorye or in Kuzbass? I have always been against any criminal arms traffic, and if not to fight against it all the time and no matter to whom it is illegally sold, later the process will be out of control.” Further, the minister on CIS affairs decided to ponder over which strategic task Russia solves through delivering arms to Armenia: “Is it for Armenia to win over Azerbaijan and take Karabakh away? But Azerbaijan is also a former union republic and the participant of CIS. Moreover, did anybody think what would be the consequences of arms traffic to Armenia? Peace? Of course, not! Azerbaijan, undoubtedly, will also get better armed. And will start to look for allies in some other place. Turkey is on the spot. Here you are another unfriendly alliance for Russia in the Caucasus, but who is to blame? If to add that such a step significantly has complicated the solution of the Caspian Sea and the Caspian oil for Russia, the wrong of this step becomes more evident.” In other words, by illegal arms traffic to Armenia, Russia, the peacemaker in the region, acted against its geostrategic interests. It is not surprising that the Caucasian countries are more and more consolidating with other countries, striving away from Russia. ‘The Silk Road’ is being constructed (China, Mongolia, Kirgizstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Europe), which can become the alternative to the Russian ‘Trans-Sib.’ Azerbaijan found itself cut from Russia due to the blockade of the railway communication through Chechnya. Azerbaijan had nothing to do, but to get closer with Turkey in an economic cooperation as well, whereas, it was supposed to become Russia’s strategic partner.
In the Caucasus, the situation develops not in Russia’s favor, Aman Tuleev summarized his sincere thoughts, and Russia is actually being ousted from it. The main reason is, first of all, the shortsighted policy of Kozirev’s MFA, which destroyed everything that could be destroyed. How could the minister on CIS affairs, A.Tuleev, state that Russia’s policy in terms of newly-established states, foremost in the Southern Caucasus, is unproductive, uncongenial, and antinational; and that its roots go not to Kozirev’s MFA, but much deeper.
The truth-seeker Aman Tuleev was expelled from the authority and sent to Kuzbass, to his little homeland. The only thing that makes one happy is that the truth does not vanish utterly. It is clear that in the Karabakh war, Yeltsin’s Russia was siding with Yerevan and Stepanakert. But before the scandal on the delivery of hundreds of armored machinery to Armenia for three years, which ended in an obscure instruction to the Prosecutor General’s Office, nobody from military and civil officials in Moscow had opened their mouths. Large amounts of dollars, which the Armenian side paid in cash, according to the assumptions of some press people, floated away for election campaigns, the conveyor of which worked continuously from 1994 through 1996. (Dollars were being filled into Xerox boxes). Everybody, starting from Duma’s fighter, Staravoytova, to the General Lebed (may their sinful souls rest in peace) rose to the strategic ally’s defense. The heads of Yerevan and Stepanakert did not forget the bygone heroic deeds of the revenging general, who successfully led a tank column with shaggy-haired reservists, who fired at confused Baku residents to death in the black January 1990. They translated his book ‘It feels sorry for orb’ into Armenian and published it. An authoritative intellectual and Maecenas, Garri Kasparov (Baku resident, raised with Azerbaijan’s bread and salt – ed.) became the right hand of Lebed’s party.
(to be continued)
Samuel A.Weems
“Armenia: secrets of terrorist “Christian” state”
The great series of Armenian frauds
Vol. I
(beginning in previous flimsies)
Chapter three
ARMENIA WAS CREATED AS A DICTATOR COUNTRY
Real formation of Armenia
The dictatorial power adopted one new proposal. However it was a completely different way to enforce the new decree. “The citizens of Armenia unwilling or unable to depend on governmental protection, regardless of Christian and Muslim faith, clung to their weapons” (from the book of Ovanisian, p. 46).
There was also an attempt “to circumscribe the right of the Armenian Church to continue its traditional role in education”. There were voices pleading to ensure “separation of the Church and the state”, but the attempt was unsuccessful (p. 47). The Church of Armenia plays an important role in the government of the state even today. Of course, in a free and democratic nation no church or religion is permitted to involve itself in state matters. It is not so in “Christian” Armenia.
Compare the difference between Turkey and Armenia. Even though Turkey is 98 percent Muslim, religion is not permitted to be a part of government in any way. Turkey today has a true democracy and there is true separation of the church and state. This cannot be said for the Christian state of Armenia.
In 1918 there were still other problems for Armenia. “The homeless, disease-ridden masses in the Yerevan Gubernia were an incessant scourge for the government. Some, 300,000 refugees had crowded suffocating the bounds of the barren republic” (p. 48).
“To feed the refugees the Minister of Interior levied arbitrary food quotas upon the few districts not devastated by the war. These extralegal measures evoked a bitter response in the affected villages and in Karabakh. The charge of aspiring to perpetual dictatorship was hurled at Aram Manukian. Even more distressing to the critics were the reports that men in military uniforms were terrorizing the peasantry and seizing its goods in the name of the Armenian government” (p. 48).
The Armenians faced a severe financial crisis throughout the two-and-half years they attempted to establish a nation. “The government established a monopoly on the sale and distribution of grain” (p. 48). This system evoked complaints because it was not administered fairly or honestly. There was always widespread official corruption throughout the entire brief history of the state.
“The populists, respected for their business acumen, maintained that the monopoly had precipitated an artificial shortage of food. The peasantry, well aware that the prices set by the government were far below the actual retail value of the grain, had resorted to hoarding and to illegal sales. If the monopoly were abandoned in favor of a free economy, the Populists explained, a large supply of grain would reach the public and famine would be averted” (p. 48). Needless to say, the suggestion to establish a free economy was rejected by the dictators. The people continued to suffer terribly because the individuals in political power lacked a vision for freedom.
The Armenian dictatorial government realized, early on, that they must have help from established nations to survive. Armenian agents were sent to the major countries of Europe, to the Ukraine, and to Soviet Russia. “For five months, until the end of World War I, they toiled under trying and humiliating conditions, with petitions, statistics, and logic as their only means” (p. 49). In other words, the Armenians had nothing to offer of interest to established nations. The Armenians were seeking handouts and judging by the statements made by Hovannissian, they were treated by those established nations as no more than nuisance panhandlers.
(to be continued)
National Heroes of Azerbaijan
Sorrowful jubilee of the police captain
It’s already seventeenth year since his two children together with the family have visited his tomb in the Alley of Martyrs in Baku on his birthday. This year’s visit was also marked by the sorrowful fiftieth jubilee of the courageous son of Azerbaijani people who became a martyr for the motherland…
Ilgar Sadi oglu Ismailov was born on 29 March, 1959 in the capital of Azerbaijan – Baku city. In 1976 he graduated from high school No. 45 of Narimanov district.
Ilgar, who was seriously indulged in sport since the very childhood, entered the Azerbaijan State Institute of Physical Education (nowadays the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sport – G.N.) having successfully passed entrance exams, and graduated from this Institute in 1981.
I.Ismailov, called up for military service by the military commissariat of Narimanov district in the same year, passed it in the Baku Army Sports Club. After the military service, to be more precise since 1983, he worked as a trainer in the capital Sports “Dynamo” Club for three years.
In 1986, I.Ismailov, having a lieutenant rank, was appointed a police operative agent in the Internal Affairs Department of Sabunchu district of Baku city. For a short period of time he proved himself to be a skilful agent by his discipline, working efficiency and other professional qualities. It is not accidental that he was given the rank of senior lieutenant and then captain of the police after some years.
Perfidious Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, which started in 1988 over territorial claims of Armenia to this country, inspired serious anxiety and feeling of justified anger in Ilgar’s soul, as well as in every citizen’s soul of the republic. Since the end of 1991, on his own initiative, he again went to the regions where the Armenian troops ran riot and often participated in the military operations against them. Some foreign citizens, who fought on the Armenian side, were taken hostages thanks to his heroism and courage.
I.Ismailov displayed real courage and bravery in the battles in the territories of Malibeyli and Meshali villages of Shusha region, as well as in the territory of Agdam region. In 1992 he was sent to Lachin region by a special order. A group of 128 Azerbaijani fighters, commanded by valiant captain Ismailov, mopped up Gizarty height near Mazutlu village from the Armenian occupation troops.
1 October, 1992… This day appeared to be the last in the brave police officer’s life. Ilgar Ismailov died as a hero in an unequal and fierce fight where the enemy had sizeable numerical superiority.
He was married and the father of two children – now orphans.
On 19 October, 1992, Ilgar Sadi oglu Ismailov, the police captain was posthumously conferred the honorary title of National Hero of Azerbaijan by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan.
The hero’s ashes are in the Alley of Martyrs in Baku. One of capital streets is named after the hero, and his bust is installed at the building of high school No. 45 where Ilgar studied.
CAPTIVE’S STORY
(beginning in previous issues)
I spent the first eleven months of captivity in Martuni. We were kept in an old store, turned into something like a prison. There were about thirty people with me. They kept several women separately. We were fed like this – three loaves of bread per thirty people in a day and a cup of raw water per individual. It was our breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was not armistice yet, there was a war, battles. There were times when ours won and bodies of the Armenians fallen in the front were brought to Martuni. Then crying was heard through the entire town. While secretly being happy for the victory of ours, we were more afraid for our lives.
Almost every time after the coming of a next group of bodies from the front, the relatives of the fallen arrived. Brothers, cousins, fathers, and sons of the fallen on the front demanded revenge, blood, our blood. The Armenians killed, shot, cut, tortured many of our captives and hostages in revenge for their losses on the battlefield. It continued this way until a new military commandant was appointed to Martuni.
If it were not for this man, maybe, I would not return home, see my relatives, sit in front of you, and tell this story. The new commandant of Martuni stopped shootings and executions, and we breathed more freely. He did so not without a reason. Once, before the launch of the war and the present military operations in Karabakh, when there were demonstrations in Stepanakert, and Azerbaijanis were exiled from mountainous villages, setting fire on Azerbaijanis’ lean-tos, houses, shooting at windows, he arrived at a market in Fizuli to buy food. Food delivery was impeded, the prices drastically increased, and there was starvation on the mountains. He had a good command of Azerbaijani and thought he could pass for a local, buy goods, and go back. But he was recognized in the market. A large crowd gathered and started to beat him. They would beat him to death if it were not for a butcher, Djabrail or Djabi, from the same market.
Djabi took him away from the crowd, brought to his house, washed blood from his face for him not to draw attention, bandaged the wound on his arm to stop bleeding, and then saw him off from the backyard to deserted roads to the mountains and let him go wherever he chose. So, he remembered this good and said that he would never forget the Azerbaijani Djabi, who had saved him, who had not let his children become orphans. But there were only very few persons like him among Armenians…
Once, after another battle with heavy losses for Armenians, about forty people in military uniforms came with arms and wanted to shoot us. Again, the commandant saved us all. There were so many fights, sometimes shootings into the air in front of the former store, made to a prison, where military captives and hostages were kept. Armenians avid for revenge argued and fought with the soldiers of the commandant’s platoon, who were guarding the prison. Because of us. “As long as I am the commandant here, I won’t let you kill the Turks for nothing,” the commandant would say. Once, after a particularly violent fight, I got to wash blood away from the pavement in front of the commandant’s office. It was an Armenian blood, shed by Armenians themselves.
In 1995, I was transferred to a prison in the city of Shusha. I was in the same cell with an old man from Kalbadjar. Here, shootings and tortures for ‘revenge’ continued. It was very scary; many could not bear hunger, work beyond their strength, beatings, tortures, overall atmosphere of fear and alarm and died, some people lost their minds. Most Azerbaijani captives and hostages died in Shusha prison. Sometimes eight people died in one day for various reasons. Armenians did not differentiate between civil and military people, between military aged and old people.
Azerbaijani captives were forced to work all day. Ours are exploited there for heavy physical labor, mostly, in lumbering, chopping of wood. In Karabakh, winter is cold and the only fuel is firewood. Therefore, we were sawing and chopping wood until exhaustion. Also, we worked in the construction of private houses as workers, for example. But it was very seldom…
I spent five and a half months in the Shusha prison, then, we were transferred to Stepanakert. Beatings, tortures, shootings ‘for the revenge of the fallen in battles,’ the atmosphere of fear and terror continued here as well.
They bound my hands behind, kneed me down and beat me with gun handles on the head. They tortured me squeezing the shells and lobes of my ears. Therefore, my ears are like this. They also tortured me with a red-hot iron. They made ‘shishs,’ skewers for barbeque, red-hot and put them to my body, sometimes crosswise for me, if I stay alive, to remember their ‘holy faith,’ ‘Christian mercy.’ The cross on my thigh was burnt this way, by skewers.
They wound some hostages’ feet with wire, hung them heads down and caned. After such tortures, many had cerebral hemorrhage, lost their hands, legs; parts of their faces were paralyzed, they lost the power of speech. But it was not very frequent. Most of all, two or three captives were driven into a ‘hole,’ a box for vehicles, to make it more comfortable and handy to beat from above; and thrashed with anything at hand, shovel sticks, rubber truncheon, and simple wooden stakes. Trying to get out of it and lying down on the bottom was forbidden, it could be punished with a bullet.
(to be continued)
Occupied territories of Azerbaijan
“Shusha – Ancient corner of Azerbaijan”
The book is published by the Public Association
Shusha – the ancient corner of Azerbaijan is 17 years of age. The city, situated at the height of 1368 meters above sea level, was established in 1751 by Panakhali khan, the representative of Javanshir khan dynasty, as a fortress for the defence of Karabakh khanate.
It is noteworthy that Shusha, which played a great role in the history of the whole Azerbaijan, was included into the administrative division of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAR) in 1923 at the insistence of Armenians, and under the pressure of official Moscow. The city, which was before the centre of all Karabakh, was deprived of this status, and the city of Hankendi became the new centre of the NKAR, which was later renamed into Stepanakert in honour of dashnak and executioner of Azerbaijani people, Stepan Shaumyan.
Shusha was long since famed for its historical, cultural and natural merits. It was not randomly named the “Conservatory of the East”. It has given the world many distinguished people. It is enough to list the names of just some outstanding persons – the natives of Shusha as Mir Movsum Navvab, Uzeyir Hajibayov, Jabbar Garyagdioglu, Seid and Khan Shushinski, Bulbul, Fikrat Amirov, Niyazi, Afrasiyab Badalbeyli, Suleyman Alaskarov and others. Shusha was also the motherland of outstanding historic and public figures, such as Gasim bay Zakir, Hurshid Banu Natavan, Abdulrahim bay Hagverdiyev, Najaf bay Vezirov, Yusif Vezir Chemenzeminli, Firidun Kocherli, Mehmandarov etc.
At the end of 80s of the past century Armenians, who have time and again exposed Shusha to the aggression starting from the time of their settlement in Azerbaijani territories, occupied the city and the villages of the same name again claiming to transfer Nagorno-Karabakh into the structure of Armenia. On the night of 8 May, 1992, Armenian armed gangs, supported by 40 units of armoured vehicles of the 366th motorized infantry regiment of the former Soviet Union, occupied Shusha – the ancient corner of Azerbaijan.
About 200 people were killed during the occupation, more than 600 were wounded and 150 people became disabled. 552 children became orphans and more than 20,000 people were internally displaced. As a result of the occupation, more than 600 historical monuments, 7 preschool institutions, 22 comprehensive schools, an agricultural and cultural-educational vocational schools, secondary music schools, 8 culture houses, 14 clubs, 20 libraries, 2 cinemas, 3 museums, a tourist base, a factory of eastern musical instruments and hundreds of other monuments of culture were destroyed.
All this was discussed at the event held on the threshold of the 17th anniversary of Shusha occupation by the Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan and the Public Association “Protection of Rights of Migrants and Internally Displaced People in Azerbaijan”, as well as at the presentation of the “Shusha- Ancient corner of Azerbaijan” book published by the Public Association (PA) in Azerbaijani, Russian and English languages devoted to the 17th anniversary of the occupation of Shusha.
Professor Nadir Abdullayev, the chairman of the PA, opening the meeting, gave brief information about the history of Shusha, sights of the city and its occupation. The project chief, Dayanat Musayev informed the participants of the ceremony about the general content of the book and thanked everyone who worked for the implementation of the given project.
The speakers – doctor of historical sciences, Professor Jamal Mustafayev; the chairman of the Karabakh Liberation Organization, Akif Nagi; the representatives of the Ombudsman Office, Rashid Rumzade and Zemfira Magerramli; the head of Legal Department of the Shusha Executive Power, Bahtiyar Aliev; the director of Shusha Culture and Tourism Department, Zahid Abbasov; the representatives of Shusha intellectuals, Teymur Alban, Zahid Guliev and others expressed their opinions touching upon the question of Shusha occupation and expressed a desire to liberate the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including Shusha. The speakers noted a big value of the published book in informing the world community about the historical truth of Shusha.
A new edition and the next release of the “Voice of Karabakh” newspaper were distributed among all the action participants.
G.JABRAILLY,
“Voice of Karabakh”
Lachin – mountain falcon of Azerbaijan
The meaning of the word “Lachin” in Azerbaijani means “white falcon,” “hawk.” The city of Lachin really looks like a falcon, landed on the top of the mountain to the South-Western slopes of the Karabakh mountain ridge. But this ‘falcon’ is now in the cage of the Armenian occupants…
According to the data at hand, the place for the establishment of the city of Lachin was selected by an eminent intellectual of the time, Tagi Shahbazi Simurg. Lachin is the word that is not only used as a geographical territory, but is also the symbol of height, beauty, pride…
After a long-time and thorough preparation, the Armenian armed formations from the side of the occupied Shusha region of Azerbaijan, as well as from the territory of Armenia, exposed Lachin to intensive firing, as the result of which, 17 years ago, at the night from 17th to 18th May 1992, they occupied the city and the region of the same name.
As the result of the occupation, the invaders seized, ravaged and plundered 1 city, 1 settlement, and 125 villages; 13745 apartment buildings, 48 industrial, 63 agricultural, 460 trade facilities, 217 cultural-educational, 142 medical, 5 out-of-school and 2 pre-school facilities, 101 schools, hundreds of social buildings, a number of machineries, public and private property in large quantities. The approximate material damage, inflicted onto the city, is calculated in 7.1 milliard dollars according to the estimation of those times.
The heaviest damage is human victims: during military operations on the territory of Lachin, 264 individuals died , 64 captured, hundreds of people were disabled; in the overall region, there were 328 martyrs’ families, 33 children were left without both parents. Five men among many Lachin residents, heroically fighting for their Motherland, were granted the title of honor, the National Hero of Azerbaijan. The population of approximately 60 thousand people was driven out from their places of origin and these people, having become internally displaced, settled in 53 settlements throughout the territory of Azerbaijan.
The territory of the ancient Lachin was rich with historical, cultural and architectural monuments: there is a cave-temple relating to V century in the village of Khochaz, the tomb of Malikadjar (XIV century) in the village Djimdjimli, the castle of Kafir (XVII c) in the village of Zeyva, the palace of Khamzasultan (XVIII c) in the village of Khusnu, a bridge over the river Khakari (XVIII c), etc. The state reserve of Lachin region and the natural reserve Garagol are also under the occupation now. In Lachin, there are therapeutic springs, like Turshsu, Galaderesi, Aganus, Khirmanlar, Tigig, Tursh-tigig, Nureddin, Nagdali, Khadjikhanli. On the territory of the region, there are 3 mercury deposits (Narzanli, Chilgezchay, Saribulag), Khochaz deposits of marble limestone, two tuff deposits (Agoglan and Ahmedli), Lachin limestone, a deposit of clay in Novruzlu, of pumice in Gushchu, of clay-sand mixture in Yukhari Khakari-chay, of agate, 2 deposits of color stones, 3 deposits of volcanic ash, and mineral waters in Minkend. There are 33.285 ha of forest resources, where 26.6647 ha or 80.05% of the total territory were covered with forests.
All international norms, rights and documents are ignored. The Armenians strive to armenianize Lachin. They have changed the name of the city, villages of the region to Armenian names. They try to settle Armenians on the territory, although it is hard to do. They built three churches here. Notably, based on their actions, Armenia does not seem to think about the return of the occupied Lachin to Azerbaijan, although this region is inherently Azerbaijani and is not even within the administrative composition of the former Autonomic Province of Nagorno-Karabakh, which the former claims. However, it is surely just an Armenian pipe dream. Lachin has never been and will never be Armenian!
G. ZEYNALOGHLU,
“Voice of Karabakh”
15 years of “peaceful” battle
15 years ago, on May 12, 1994 an Agreement on ceasefire signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Bishkek on May 8 entered into force.
Russia had introduced the proposal on ceasefire on May 4, 1994. The reason to this was that the pro-armenian forces in the top administration of Russia were worried about the intensified successful operations of Azerbaijan when 20 villages of Fuzuli and Horadis were liberated from Armenian occupation. Probably the friends of Armenians were afraid that this kind of development of the situation could result in the victory of Azerbaijan and liberation of all territories under Armenian occupation.
So the agreement that stipulates the conditions for ceasefire between the parties and obliges both sides to maintain the ceasefire regime became 15 years old. Let’s see however if the conditions of the agreement are respected. Of course, no! The following facts are the obvious indicators of this.
We shall start with mentioning that there was no single day during the last 15 years when Armenian would not open fire either from the territory of Armenia or their positions on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
According to unofficial information there were more than 8000 cases of ceasefire regime being broken by Armenians with 5000 soldiers and civilians killed from either bullets or mines. Hundreds were wounded and even civilians taken hostage.
It should be emphasized that the cases of violation of ceasefire regime by Armenians has been intensifying with each year since the last 3 years.
Comparing the ceasefire violation figures for 2006 which is 220 to that of 575 in 2007 and 1250 in 2008 we can easily see the tendency. Other words the cases of Armenian attacks have increased for 675 attacks from the last year.
As a result of these attacks 18 Azerbaijani soldiers become martyrs defending their mother land against Armenian aggression.
Moreover several civilians were killed by the Armenian side during the last year. They are dwellers of Aghdam region, Niyameddin Ismailov, Etibar Mikailov. Dwellers of Tapqaraqoyunlu village of Goranboy region, Mashallah and Muzzaffar Ismailov brothers. Rahman Aliyev, Miralam Heydarov and Rovshan Aljanov.
According to APA information agency, from January to April of this year the ceasefire regime was violated by Armenians 231 times. Figures are similar to those in 2008 for the same period of time – 233. Armenian violation took lives 5 soldiers and wounded 2.
APA monitoring has observed that the majority of attacks were during February and April of the year with 64 and 60 cases accordingly. These indicators were 51 times of ceasefire violation in January and 56 in March.
In addition to this, Azerbaijani side has also been suffering on mine explosions put by Armenians on frontline Azerbaijani territories between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces.
During the last year 16 people – 14 civilians (2 children) and 2 solders suffered of mine explosions. 1 civilian has died. Majority of mine explosions happen in the territory of Aghdam, Fuzuli, Terter and Khajavand regions. More than 2000 Azerbaijani has suffered from mine explosions since the beginning of the conflict and 475 people of them died.
It is true, though, that no active military confrontation happened during the last 15 years between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. This could have been a positive moment in the process.
However the situation in general can not of course be characterized as normal. The last 15 years could be characterized as “peaceful war” years. Another issue is that majority of the confrontations happen on Azerbaijani territories where the presence of Armenian forces is illegal as such.
There is already too much of a prolongation of the so called ceasefire lasting for the last 1.5 decades. The possible negative outcome of such a limbo situation is obvious. Therefore it is vital to fiend a proper remedy instead of trying to push the pain down by such analgesics as ceasefire…
G. Jabrayilli
Voice of Karabakh
History and Politics
Armenian separatist trick of 90 years’ remoteness
Many people know that Armenian dream of creating the so-called “Great Armenia” was aroused in Armenians quite long ago – from the times of settlement of Armenians from Iran and Turkey in the Southern Caucasus. But it was officially made public in the beginning of the XIX century, 90 years ago, to be more exact, in spring 1919, in the program speech by Ovanes Kachaznuni, one of the leaders of international Armenian terrorist organization ‘Dashnaksutyun,’ in Paris.
Considering that the given speech is not known to many and that it was a ground for the forthcoming massive assassinations and the deportations of Turkish-speaking and Muslim peoples of USSR, which were planned by “Dashnaksutyun” under the banner of the communist party of the Soviet Union; and that in the report, the special room was allotted to the expansion of Armenia’s territory at the expense of the neighboring countries, and primarily, of Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, we think it is important to present to the readers’ attention the content of the above-mentioned speech (the text of the speech is taken from the book ‘Compassion’ by T.Chaladze).
So, here is what O. Kachaznuni, one of the major Armenian terrorists and separatists, said: “In spring 1919, in Paris, the republican together with national delegations presented to the union’s great powers a Memorandum, which contained our requests on the peace conference (it concerns Paris peace conference of winner countries at World War One – ed.). According to the Memorandum, the Armenian state must contain:
a/ Transcaucasia Republic with extended borders: all Irevan province, Kars region (Turkey) without the Northern part Ardagan, the Southern half of Tbilisi province (Georgia), the South-Western part of Yelizavetpol province (Ganja, Azerbaijan);
b/ seven provinces in Turkey: Van, Bagesh, Diyarbekir, Kharberd, Sebastia, Karin, Trapezund;
c/ four provinces on the South of Turkey: Marash, Siye, Djalal, Bereket, Adana with Alexandretta.
It was projected and requested to establish the vast state of great Armenia from the Black sea to the Mediterranean Sea, from Karabakh’s mountains to Arabian deserts. How could it be possible to carry out these requests? It is strange and incredible, but the Armenian Diaspora of Paris put forward these requests and our delegation followed the dominant sentiment. The delegation was told that if it did not support these requests, then Armenians living in Turkey, in the person of the national delegation, would separate their question from the one of “Yerevan” republic and regardless of us, would appeal to the powers. Besides, it was stated that America would not mandate small Armenia, but would the Armenia from sea to sea. Our delegation gave its consent and signed the Memorandum. But the Sèvres agreement caused disappointment. We considered that the powers appeared unjust, did not appreciate us and did not reward our efforts, and decreased our indisputable rights. After a little while, more disappointment came: the Senate of the USA refused to mandate Armenia, the mandate for which we hoped so much. The Armenian borders, projected by the president, Woodrow Wilson, did not satisfy us either. In less favorable conditions, maybe, through making mistakes and stumbling, it would be possible to find a way, a firm ground under feet, to establish gradually a state building. But under such terrible conditions, there was a need for people, who, with no support and all by themselves, are able to carry out herculean work. Do not get offended, as I was in the front line of the powerless alongside with you. I was your companion-in-arms, equally responsible for our defeat. What about the present? Between Araxes and Sevan, today we have a small republic, independent by name, but actually an autonomous, suburban region of the reviving Russian Empire. About a million Armenians are outside of the republic – in Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Southern Caucasus, Persia, Syria, Constantinople, the Balkans, and even in all world countries. Only miserable part of foreign Armenians can find shelter in the republic of Armenia. Regardless of temporary difficulties, the very narrow borders of the republic do not allow compact re-emigration. The foreign Armenians, overall, do not imagine a state element for today’s Armenia; the further into future, the more they will get alienated. The armenianship in Armenia and big parts of the people in the neighboring countries, Georgia and Azerbaijan, remain the state element. The Armenian state must be based and firmly established on them. The armenianship of the colonies, in the best scenario, will remain as contributing power; but even that will be within a modest scale and as a reserve for the indefinite future (?!). Today the immediate subject of concerns of Armenian political idea must be the existing republic, the Armenian nation, living inside and around it. It must be a starting point for our future activity. Actually, Armenia is an autonomous province under Moscow’s observation and command. Is this our political ideal? Of course, not! There has not been any dashnaksutyun, by whichever spirit they have been possessed, and who would not be inspired by the idea, or rather, by an instinct of independence.
So, neither the political situation, nor the management, and nor the internal social-economic politics of the Soviet Armenia can satisfy us. The short and simple answer is that we have to fight! The fight implies a certain goal and available and useful means to achieve it. For which goals can we cooperate with the Bolsheviks? If to get determined, to work steadily and not to disdain to use any means, with luck, we will manage. Let the anti-Bolshevik Russia deal with the Soviets without us. Through much suffering, the Armenian nation has gained the right to rest and cure its deep wounds. In the present political situation, Armenia needs the Bolsheviks. Armenia needs either them or Russia. Today Armenia itself must be soviet. I remember the Bolsheviks’ activity in Armenia well, and the Bolshevik system is unacceptable for Armenia. Then what to do?
Half of the Armenian nation is crashed and needs a long rest. ‘Dashnaksutyun’ must contribute to the economic revival of Armenia from outside, must organize various trade and industrial partnerships for importing goods to Armenia, for exporting available raw materials of the country to foreign markets, for irrigating lands, establishing workshops and factories in the country. The real scopes of ‘Dashnaksutyun’ are much wider than those of our party organizations. Our party is one of the means of expressing a fighting armenianship. The reality has shown us that the establishment of an independent state right now, immediately, under the given unfavorable conditions, is beyond the power of the Armenian nation. Average situation and a politically prepared class are needed. For its education, its gaining skills for a state life, after large-scale perturbations, slaughter and plunder, rest are needed to get organized and to muster up its strength. In such a contingency, Armenia must spend this period under the Bolshevik banner. Be it so. It is often said that for our cause, we cannot have only one direction; prudence requires having another parallel direction alongside with the one we already have, as power in reserve. The Bolshevik Armenians line with Russia, let them do so. But we must foresee other possibilities. For example, the Russian Bolsheviks are in the same front with the Turks, but tomorrow this artificial alliance may disintegrate, and we may encounter the necessity to get along with the Turks, as well as with the Europeans at their rear.
In the past, Armenia and Armenian people needed ‘Dashnaksutyun,’ in the future, another party should replace it. It may be Armenian state ‘Dashnaksutyun.’ The Bolshevik Armenians must continue our cause, like it or not, they must strengthen our position, contribute to future achievements. The Bolshevik Armenians, dashnaksutyun in essence, are the only dashnaksutyun today, and they are more dashnaksutyun than you and me. Because wherever you and I are powerless, they replace us and carry out the cause of our life. The Soviet republic is the maximum of independence, which today’s Armenia can manage. For what reasons should we be desirable and acceptable partners in the eyes of the Turks? Just because we were against the Bolsheviks? But we were against them when the Turks were friends with them and had common politics with them. We rose against the Turks when they signed a peace treaty with the Bolsheviks in Brest-Litovsk, and we even fought to break this treaty. However, we were against the Bolsheviks not because we loved the Turks, but because we were in the camp of Antanta, in the camp of enemies, both of the Bolsheviks and the Turks. We requested from Turkey an Armenia from sea to sea! Including Adana, and Kharbert, and Svaz, and Trapezund! We signed Sevr peace treaty, the treaty, which was supposed to behead Turkey. We called upon Europe and America to bring their armies into Turkey and establish our power in the provinces, undoubtedly belonging to Turkey. Finally, throughout our existence, we continuously fought with the Turks…
Still, Armenia must guarantee one thing, its state existence. Only three and a half provinces (Irevan, Novobayazid, Echmiadzin, and half of Shirak) cannot be enough for Armenia. If it gives up Akhalkalaki for Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh for Azerbaijan, then in any case, it must keep Sharur and Nakhichevan; if it gives up Kars for Turkey, it cannot give up Surmali and Kagizman… Armenia has no further access to the outside world. It must communicate with Europe through Georgia, i.e. Georgia must provide if not a territorial, then a seriously guaranteed transit. But neither Turkey, nor Georgia, and nor Azerbaijan agree to voluntarily satisfy the Armenians’ request even in such minimal scopes. Connecting us with Russia, the Bolsheviks provided that extent and form of independence which are possible only under today’s conditions, and thus, saved the future.”
Are you convinced in the Armenian slyness and evil intent, which are clearly reflected in their separatist trick of 90 years’ remoteness?
Ruined dreams of Armenians
Recently there was a situation that could serve as a prerequisite for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. There were even moments when it seemed that the border between Turkey and Armenia closed by Turkey in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani lands would open.
Armenia was even getting prepared for the ceremonial opening of the border by doing some preparatory works at the border with Turkey.
Not less happy were the leaders of some countries, as well as co-chairs of the OSCE MG. Barak Obama could be an example to such kind of an attitude. During his first official visit to Turkey he tried to keep his promise given to his Armenian voters and influence Turkey to open its border with Armenia.
The US president was not concerned at all with the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, Armenian territorial claims to Turkish, blackmailing against Turkey for centuries. He instead preferred to please the Armenian diaspora in exchange of the votes and support he got from them during the elections. He importunately called the Armenian foreign minister E. Nalbandian to Istanbul and organized his meeting with the Turkish minister Ali Babajan.
Obama was insistently demanding the Turkish authorities to open the borders with Armenia: “An open border would return the Turkish and Armenian people to a peaceful and prosperous coexistence that would serve both of your nations,” Obama continued. “So I want you to know that the United States strongly supports the full normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. It is a cause worth working towards” was stated by Obama during his speech in front of the Turksih parliamentarians. Strangely enough, but it appeared that the only goal of the visit of US president to Turkey was to achieve the opening of borders with Armenia. This gesture of him encouraged other armenaphils willing to support the realization of their dreams.
However neither the recommendations of Obama, nor the expectations of proarmenian forces came true. Their illusions scattered away. Turkey demonstrated it will and declared that border with Armenia will not be opened until Armenia leaves the occupied Azerbaijan territories.
This was a fair and logical decision. Why the border was closed? It was closed due to aggressive policy of Armenia towards Azerbaijan. This policy continues and escalates. Armenia does not step back from its position of claiming genocide of Armenians by Turkey in 1915 and moreover putting forwards territorial demands to Turkey. Then why should Turkey satisfy the Armenian ambitions? Armenia impudently demands the opening of borders without any preconditions to itself. It means that the borders shall be opened by Turkey and there shall not be any conditionality for Armenia.
Here are some statements of Armenian officials on the issue: “Opening of borders will not change the Armenian attitude towards Nagorno-Karabakh”, “I have to say that forming relations with Turkey does not undermine the fact of genocide”, “Karabakh can no way be granted to Azerbaijan” (President Serzh Sarkizyan).
“There are no and there will not be any points in the agreement that would confirm the Kars agreement or establishment of commission of historians on the genocide”. “There are no preconditions for normalizing the relations and opening the borders”. (Tigran Sarkizyan, prime minister).
“Development of armenian-Turkish relations does not undermine the fact of genocide of Armenians during the Ottoman empire”; “Turkish-armenian relations can be established without preconditions. If Turkey tires to put conditions, we will asses it to be the end of the dialogue”. (Edward Nalbandian, Armenian FM) (As if Turkey is in blockade and beg Armenia to open borders).
Isn’t it super impunity?
Therefore the sweet Armenian dreams ruined and they continue floundering with their blockade. No one else but Armenia itself created the blockade. Let it suffer in spasms, unless becomes smarter.
G. ZEYNALOGLU,
Voice of Karabakh
The Armenian plagiarism
This time on “Eurovision – 2009”
On May, 11-16 of the current year, the International Song Contest “Eurovision – 2009” has taken place in Moscow, capital of Russia, on which 42 countries took part.
Let’s notice, that following the results of competition to which 25 countries could represented in the final, the contest was won by Norway’s Alexander Rybak and his song “Fairytale” which received 387 points, on the second place – singer Johanna from Iceland with a composition “Is It True?” – 218 balls. The third place with 207 balls at a duet of Aysel Teymurzade and Arash from Azerbaijan, acted with a composition “Always”. No, we, of course, do not pursue the aim of the description of all details of the given competition. And it is for example.
We wish to talk besides about the next plagiarism and the political hypocrisy shown by Armenians this time at named competition. An unpleasant theme of the Armenian plagiarism we concerned repeatedly but what to do, if larceny, assignment to ourselves belonging to the stranger – congenital character of Armenians. Also it is shown eternally, during all time of existence of Armenianize, irrespective of time, a place, circumstance etc., etc. Now it has proved to be on “Eurovision – 2009”. But, let’s to say it systematically.
So, at the named international competition Armenia was represented by sisters Inga and Anush Arshakyan, which have sang a composition “Jan Jan”. At once we will notice that on a pronunciation (Jan Jan) it is a word-combination on-Azerbaijani means “Spirit” or “Oh, my soul”. It is necessary to concern and the next Armenian political hypocrisy. So, in a video card which was shown before performance at competition of representatives of Armenia, among architectural monuments of this country has been presented as a monument “We – our mountains”, being not in Armenia, and in Nagorno-Karabakh – an integral part of Azerbaijan, that is, not having any relation to Armenia. However, after intervention of the Azerbaijan party, the given image has been cleaned from a clip. But nevertheless at the final, broadcast during the announcement of results of voting, the Armenian party has made the next provocation. The representative of Armenia on last year’s Eurovision Sirush during announcements of results of voting purposely some times lifted a notebook and so that images of the monument already withdrawn from a videoclip clearly were seen. And it is not all.
The main element of the Armenian plagiarism at competition was the use of the Azerbaijan melody in the presented song by them. More precisely, their composition is prepared on the basis of a dancing melody “Nakhichevan” written by great Azerbaijan composer Tofig Guliyev, still in 60-s’ years of the last century and motives of Central Asia. Simply Armenians have a little altered a musical fragment from “Nakhichevan”, so if in the original 3 steps, 2 steps sound in a composition of Armenians. They have decided so to use cunning that, apparently, it has not turned out. And a song primordially accompanied by Azerbaijan musical instruments – balaban, a pipe (muz), and etc.
If it is fair, a case not too shocking if to consider that it after all – not a single fact and we have already got used to similar attack of our disgraceful neighbours.
Simply it is rather interesting, how the people for all life can be engaged in larceny, misappropriate of somebody else’s?!
Will have to be thinking about other means, shall Armenia refrain from thinking about the fair ways of regulation
Armenian –Azerbaijani conflict remains to be the main catalyst of tension in the Southern Caucasus and important issue on the agenda of influential international organizations like UN.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon made special report in early May this year on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. 18-item report reproduces the replies received from the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, and the Governments of 12 UN Members States.
The document that was introduced on behalf of the OSCE Co-Chairs describes the reasons why the MG members voted against the UN General Assembly resolution 62/243 of 14 March 2008.
It should be noted that this was report on “The occupied territories of Azerbaijan” proposed for discussion by Azerbaijan.
The reasons for voting against the proposal was stated by MG countries as if the “resolution 62/243 was selectively propagating only certain of those principles to the exclusion of others, without considering the Co-Chairs’ proposal in its balanced entirety. This lack of balance forced our countries to vote against the resolution, much to our regret. Nevertheless, in their explanation of vote, they reaffirm our support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
It also should be emphasized that in their report to the SG of UN, MG Co-Chairs of OSCE did not recognize the right of self-determination of peoples as such. However they still mention it indirectly as a note: “We are assured that the most effective way for Azerbaijan in recovering its territorial integrity is to continue a more constructive dialogue in line with the basic principles our countries proposed to both parties in Madrid, and thereby establish the framework for a comprehensive settlement that also incorporates the principles of self-determination and non-use of force in a mutually acceptable way”.
In its letter attached to the report Azerbaijan expressed its satisfaction with the fact that the General Assembly, in its resolution 62/243, reaffirmed the continued respect and support of the Assembly to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and with the official votes from UN member states supporting the conflict resolution with the above mentioned principle.
Azerbaijan demanded the immediate withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and referred to UN Security Council Resolutions No. 822 (1993) point 1, No. 853 (1993) point 3, No. 874 (1993) point 5 and No. 884 (1993) point 4 that demand the immediate withdrawal of Armenia from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. It was also mentioned that these resolution are still being ignored by Armenia.
In addition, Azerbaijan re-addressed the issue of illegal settlements conducted by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which was initially addressed to UN General Assembly in 2004. Let’s note that, Ban Ki-Moon’s above-stated report should be discussed also at 63-rd session of General Assembly of the United Nations.
General Assembly asked the OSCE to assign a special mission to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in order to determine the mentioned facts. Unfortunately all concerns and recommendations of UN General Assembly are being ignored by Armenia.
It seems that the international community and resolutions of the most respected recognize the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and influential international organization, namely UN could be sufficient to solve the problem based on the principles of international law. But, is this all that simple?
Armenia in its turn remains blind and deaf towards all these documents. It does not even think in the direction of possible return to Azerbaijani territories. It is obviously seen from one of the recent ravings of Serj Sarkisian – one of the leaders of Armenian occupation policy – on the inadmissibility of consideration of Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijan and liberation of adjacent to it regions.
History has been proving that peaceful resolution cannot be achieved by any resolutions, recommendations etc.
It sees we have to be thinking of other means to solve the issue…
The most unfortunate country in the world is Armenia
The global network of social scientists, the World Values Survey Fund, since 1981 has conducted surveys in different world countries, the main purpose of which is to identify countries, where the happiest and the unhappiest people of the world live. At the beginning of the year, the Fund published the survey results of year 2008.
According to the results of the survey, it appeared that, the happiest people of the world live in Denmark. The next places in the rating are taken by Puerto Rico, Columbia, and Island.
The worst place in the given rating belongs to the countries of the former USSR. Among these countries, Azerbaijan is the only country with positive rating except for Kyrgyzstan. Russia is number 88 and the Ukraine is number 93. The list of the involved 97 countries is concluded by Armenia and Zimbabwe. In other words, it means that one of the unhappiest countries in the world is Armenia.
Recently the IA APA published the results of its own research on some economic indicators of Armenia in comparison with Azerbaijan for the recent year.
In 2007 economic growth in the country has made 13,8 %. Last year the volume of a cargo transportation in Armenia has decreased on 11,6 % whereas industrial output has increased on 2 %, investments into a fixed capital – on 1,7 %.
Average monthly salary, a benchmark to weigh the population purchasing power, reached AMD 91 000 (approx. $298) in 2008, and up 17.4% increased from analogous figures of 2007. Besides, employees earned AMD 64 800 (+18.6%) in budgetary organizations and AMD 113 900 (+16.3%) in non-budgetary organizations.
According to figures released, unemployment stood at 6.3% at the end of 2008, down 0.7% percentage points from 2007. Armenian State Employment Service counted 90 200 jobseekers and 74 700 people registered as jobless. According to the Nationa