Armenia should prepare for life without Genocide. Serzh Sargsyan is pressing forward with his plans to open the Turkish border, to save Armenia from the impending Georgian blockade brought about by its Russian allies. Sargsyan has impressed the entire international community in the manner in which he managed to reach this historic milestone, without committing Armenia to otherwise onerous Turkish demands, achieved when Turkey’s President Gul joined him at a European cup preliminary round football match.
Behind the scenes, Serzh and his Minster of foreign Affairs have continued with their secretive meetings, despite the shock and amazement of the Armenian people, who would not dream of giving up Genocide to Turkey, nor Armenia’s historic lands, not to mention returning Karabakh to Azerbaijan. But Serzh marches on, encouraged by the international community and impervious to domestic disagreement.
Armenian opposition groups are eventually starting to wake up to this sale of Armenian heritage, apparently unaware that Sargsyan and his predecessor have for years been preparing for this ultimate betrayal of the very people who liberated them from their Azerbaijani aggressors in the early nineties.
The Dashnak Party makes politically correct statements, objecting to the sell-out plan which it secretly supports; Eduard Nalbandian asserts that the people of Karabakh will determine their own futures through an internal referendum, knowing that that will never happen; and Matthew Bryza continues to flip-flop, this time favouring the return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
The consequences of this all-encompassing Sargsyan / Kocharian regional conflict resolution package; the people of Armenia will be able to put to lay any thought of international recognition to their Genocide, notwithstanding that many countries have already registered their recognition, soon to include America, and the people of Karabakh and the surrounding territories will once again be under Azerbaijani threat.
The families and friends of Armenian Genocide victims will be required to fall in line with Turkey, banned from talking about the Genocide of one and a half million Armenians at the hands of the Turks. As an alternative, they will have the honour of joining the Karabakhi clan in mourning the ethnic cleansing of a hundred and thirty thousand Karabakhis at the hands of Azerbaijan.
Armenia’s Karabakhi clan will soon be changing the Genocide Memorial to the Karabakh Memorial; the Genocide Museum will become the Karabakh Museum; and Genocide Memorial Day will be replaced with a Memorial Day to remember when in 2008 Azerbaijan cleansed Karabakh of its Armenian occupiers – and all thanks to a 6th September football match.
That day is coming in the very near future, unless the people and political parties of Armenia mount a genuinely determined and orchestrated effort to put a stop to the Sargsyan sellout.
Most interesting at this critical junction in Armenia’s history is the silence by Raffi Hovhanissian and his Heritage Party, the only voice the Armenian people thought they had to rely on in the National Assembly?
or 
, you too can participate in controling what appears on the front page of Khosq for hundreds of daily readers to see.It's free, fast and anyone can join. 
Nagorno Karabakh Must be Defined by Free Will of its People
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
11 October 2008 - Today.Az - More assertions from Nalbandian
Nalbandyan announced that the key issue is the status of Nagorno karabakh must be defined on the basis of free expression of will by its people.
Nalbandyan said that statements of some analysts that Armenia is in hard state in the negotiation process are "not the analysis but working of a sick imagination".
http://www.today.az/news/politics/48154.html
"That day is coming in the
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
"That day is coming in the very near future, unless the people and political parties of Armenia mount a genuinely determined and orchestrated effort to put a stop to the Sargsyan sellout".
Don't you think the 75 prisoners are taken hostage to force Levon to slow down. And through libel and blackmail they have made it clear for the opposittion that they will go to any length (new killings of demonstrators, vandalizing the city, final collapse of industry , etc,) to realize the 5 billion plan. They gave away their native Karabagh, after all Armenia is only a pot of gold for them and they can do away with it without any remorse.
Raffi and Levon may be well aware of this threat, there may have been even an ultimatum to them to stop the move for some time and this may be the reason why they have become so toothless recently.
Numbers
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
Bruce and the other commentator,
I think your claims of purported government "sell-out" are baseless. But while it's difficult to agree on what other people's true intentions are, it is possible to try to agree on numbers.
For example, I keep seeing this number of 70+ "political prisoners" or "prisoners" or "hostages" being cited by RFERL and others. Who are these 70+? Do you have their names?
By my calculation no more than half that number are in fact in prison on convictions or in pre-trial detention in all the cases that can be connected to the election.
Rgds,
Emil S.
Exactly the opposite
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
Emil,
As you ask my opinion, I would say the emphasis should be placed in exactly the opposite way, the numbers are not the dominating factor, more the fact that it should happen - at all.
With regard the 70+ "political prisoners to whom you refer, I have no details of those who remain in jail, although I do know that some have been released and many remain on trumped up charges and without a proper hearing. I also know (by talking to them) that the regime has released some who were forced into agreeing to their participation in some kind of illegality, and on the understanding that they will not be involved in more opposition activities. These are generally those who were not centrally involved in the opposition movement, simply those who attended the rally of the 1st March. The important issue here is the way the regime uses any illegal means to impose its illegal authority.
In the same way, you can be absolutely assured that my claims of purported government "sell-out" are NOT baseless, although the five Billion Dollars I quote may not be correct - it could be very much more.
I have been attempting to bring this sell-out to the Armenian public for the past year, because I consider it to be of vital importance, and happily others are now starting to pick up the issue. In July this year, Armenia Now (recently accused of being associated to the CIA) touched on the $5 billion figure, a sign that the US is already trying to cover its back, as Bryza makes no mention of the several thousand Armenian civilians living in the surrounding territories, nor of the compensation package. I can no longer access Armenia Now (another sign of the times in Armenia), although I do have a computer copy of that report.
My claims are based on concrete information, and in the knowledge that both the Karabakh and Genocide issues have considerable intrinsic historic and monetary value to Armenia. I am also very well experienced with how the Armenian regime repeatedly lies to the people, irrespective of the importance of the issue, and through this campaign, I have highlighted those lies on an almost daily basis. On the contrary, it is heartening that Turkey will obviously not put up with lies from the Armenian regime, as it clearly corrects incorrect Armenian information in the Turkish press.
Emil, I am impressed with your articles, and I would like to suggest that the Armenian press should make a specific effort to draw attention to the endless occasions when the Armenian regime makes false statements, especially with respect to these two most important matters of Karabakh and genocide.
Prisoners are hostage
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
“They gave away their native Karabagh, after all Armenia is only a pot of gold for them and they can do away with it without any remorse”. – Absolutely right.
“Raffi and Levon may be well aware of this threat, there may have been even an ultimatum ..............."
Quite possible, the prisoners are hostage, and they will go to any length (new killings of demonstrators, vandalizing the city, final collapse of industry etc), and this is most important. But the opposition must stand up to these threats and find the way to get the message out, as often as possible and in no uncertain terms. Moreover, the media has a very important role to play in this process. It is high time reporters started holding government and other officials to account for their misleading comments, deceit, and often downright lies. Otherwise it will be too late and Sargsyan / Kocharian will have completed their total and irreversible Karabakhi conquest of Armenia.
In fact the construction industry is now in a state of collapse, and will only recover if and when Serzh gets his payment for the sale of Karabakh and Genocide, which will also be the time for the people of Karabakh and the surrounding territories to start packing their bags for a trip to their new homes in Yerevan. They will be forced to take up loans, which Serzh will provide through his new Pan Armenian investment and other such banks, filled with the compensation money he has stolen from the Armenian (and Karabakhi) people.
There are NO other potential buyers for these thousands of new apartments, which have been empty for years.
Why is the Armenian
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
Why is the Armenian mass-media including the blogs picking up your sell-out and world bank issues so slowly, if at all.I found out they are available also in Arrmenia. Why are such essential and rational messages being ignored?
Armenian Psychology
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
My understanding is that, unfortunately this is a central part of the Armenian psychology; Armenians are too busy looking after their individual situations to think of the greater problems that face the Republic. And that is why an empire that once boasted 3 (or 4) oceans soon will not even be able to claim an association with Mount Ararat, other than it can be seen over the border in Turkey.
Your comment gives me the opportunity to explain that this is exactly why I feel it is necessary to repeat and repeat the seriousness of what is now happening to Armenia, especially as a group of Brits has been centrally involved in this Armenian sell out to the Karabakhi clan.
The media and the blogs should make this a central issue and start demanding detailed and correct information from the authorities, not just the generalities we keep reading - I think this and he thinks that. Have no doubt they do not need to think, they know very well what they are doing, with whom they are doing it, and who they are betraying.
Thanks a lot. I'll try
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
Thanks a lot. I'll try within my power to link people to Khosk.
What can the media do?
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
Bruce,
What do you suggest the media can do to improve the quality of information provided by the authorities?
Numbers and facts
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
Hi again Bruce,
I agree that the goverment is using questionable methods to defend itself from the opposition, but the reverse is also true - LTP tried but failed to bully and cheat his way back into power. As a result we have 10 dead, many more wounded and I dont know how many more f'ed in their heads for life.
No one looks good, although on the record Kocharian/Sargsian are a significant improvement on LTP&Co and personally I am happy they prevailed in this power struggle.
Now about you and why I find it meaningless to continue this discussion.
I first heard of you in the context of the World Bank water project in Armenia, in which you alleged certain funds were misappropriated.
To tell you the truth, even without looking at that case in any great detail, the allegation seemed true just because this sort of thing - mismanagement and misappropriation -is what normal governments and normal World Bank experts do on the daily basis.
But to be brutally honest now reading of your other claims - "ArmeniaNow-CIA connection," "Karabakhi conquest of Armenia," etc. - you come across as kind of nutty. May be well-intentioned, but certainly not a reliable source or holder of credible opinions in any way.
Sorry and cheers,
Emil S.
LTP responsible for ten 1st March deaths!
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
Hello Anonymous:
“LTP tried but failed to bully and cheat his way back into power. As a result we have 10 dead, many more wounded”
I see you are in league with the parties, such as the Nikoyan independent Parliamentary Commission, which blames LTP for being a radical opposition and for the bloody events of the 1st March. That is very interesting.
You are right about the World Bank, they do what they have been doing in Armenia in most countries, and we now see the results of that philosophy through the worldwide financial meltdown, which has led to an equally disastrous worldwide economic depression.
The "ArmeniaNow-CIA connection” I refer to is simply a quote from other less ‘nutty’ sources, http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/10/09/armenia-more-crazed-rantings/ although I am aware that ArmeniaNow is US backed, as its management would not even meet to discuss my action against the World Bank, let alone report on it. So much for the fight against corruption.
With regard my "Karabakhi conquest of Armenia," of course today that appears to be a ‘nutty’ notion, except for those who are fully informed of what is going on, including Sargsyan, Kocharian, Nalbandian, and many others. Unfortunately, when it becomes less of a ‘nutty’ notion it will be too late, Armenia will be completely dominated by the Karabakhi regime, and the multi-billion dollar compensation package which belongs to the people of Armenia will have been stolen by the Karabakhi regime and their cronies, in the same way as most of Armenia’s multi-billion dollar assets, which once belonged to the Armenian people, have already been stolen.
If you don’t mind, I will keep up the conversation, as others continue to express their appreciation of my ‘nutty’ efforts, although unfortunately without your valued input.
Emil, “LTP tried but
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
Emil,
“LTP tried but failed to bully and cheat his way back into power. As a result we have 10 dead, many more wounded”, Let me add "and 75 or so political prisoners and suffering families". Are you really that short-sighted as to mean that people should not have taken the street to voice their demands, otherwise they might be killed by orders from a "president" who even didn't have Armenian citizenship.
So, it's natural that you don't even have an idea of the "Karabakhi conquest of Armenia" and in what ways this conquest is being realized.
Another Nalbandian Non-Statement
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
10/10/2008 EDWARD NALBANDYAN: “NAGORNO KARABAKH STATUS PRINCIPLE KEY POINT IN THIS CONFLICT”
“Regarding the point that the principle questions of Nagorno Karabakh conflict are solved, I’d like to repeat once more that the status of Nagorno Karabakh is its principle question in this conflict, which should be solved by the people of Nagorno Karabakh. And if they say that the principle questions are solved, then we could conclude that this part of the conflict is solved,” said the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan.
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2008/10/10/gharabagh/
(My comment: Should we assume from this statement that the people of Karabakh have had their referendum and agreed that Armenia should withdraw its troops from the surrounding territories – and its support to Karabakh? When will the Armenian press start demanding sensible statements from Armenia’s senior officials)
How can the principle
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
How can the principle question be solved? In 1999 Kocharian signed the charter on territorial integrity of Azerbeijan in Istanbul. This means predominance was given to the principle of territorial integrity contradicting the principle of self-determination of a nation. Will the Karabaghi people agree to this?
Signing that treaty by
Կարեն Կարապետյան 1 year 21 weeks ago
Signing that treaty by Kocharian significantly weakened Armenian diplomatic position, especially given 2 facts:
A)that Armenia itself does not recognise NKR as a sovereign state, and
B) that Kocharian himself removed NKR from the negotiating table (a mandate that it had obtained before Kocharian).
Levon Ter-Petrosyan too was invited to sign that treaty affirming Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, but he played an elegant tactical maneuvre to avoid signing it.
As for Karabakhi people, I guess nobody in recent administrations cares what they think?
LTP and NK
Anonymous 1 year 20 weeks ago
LTP's biggest problem is that he, for whatever number of reasons could not believe in possibility and even reality of Armenian victory in Karabakh. That is why already in 1991 he agreed to NK status quo ante (autonomy) within Az. - see the Zheleznovodsk declaration. This is why he was not informed of the timing of Shushi operation. Or all the other operations for that matter. While Azeris were overrunning Shaumian and Mardakert he was at the Earth summit in Brazil. Throughout the war LTP went to Karabakh only once in June 1993 to demand an Armenian withdrawal from Kelbajar. Instead Armenian army took back Mardakert.
Anyway, when we won, instead of accepting that he was wrong he predicted gloom and doom and demanded compromises and then disappeared for 10 years only to come back to claim that he was the one to win the war.
But there is only one true history of this conflict. And the war was one inspite of LTP's paranoia and defeatism and thanks to the guts of others, first and foremost Robert Kocharian's and Vazgen Sargsian's.
All this bs about Istanbul charter is all baloney invented by LTP's retinue. Kocharian bet his entire being on our success in the war and we all won.
This is briefly.
Cheers,
Emil S.
Some may love him, some may hate him, but...
Կարեն Կարապետյան 1 year 20 weeks ago
I don't think LTP had lack of confidence in the courage of Armenian jokats. What is closer to reality is that LTP always viewed (and continues to view) the Artsakh issue as a Humanitarian issue. I don't agree with Levon on this one (my personal understanding, just like Monte's, is that at stake is the Security of Syunik and therefore Armenia's existence), but this is what Levon's position on Artsakh has always been: human rights for Armenian population in the mountaneous region of Gharabagh.
That being said, Levon is a realist -- he understood that Shaumyan would not last and with Azerbaijan being, at that time, the most militarized zone in the world, as well as Turkey starting to make waves, it becomes obvious what Zheleznovodsk declaration was, and what purpose it served in 1991 (Shushi operation was an eternity away, and Armenians were starting to loose badly, while people were fleeing their native lands). First, it was a way to bring Russians into all that escalating mess and install Russian peacekeepers (like we're seen in Abkhazia and South Ossetia). And it was at this stage that the foundation for the new Russo-Armenian relations was forged. Second, it was a way to prevent Turkish aggression, which at the time was becoming quite probable. Third, it was an attempt to renew transport links and prevent a total economic collapse which we saw in 1992.
In diplomatic terms, Zheleznovodsk was the right thing to do at the time, while politically maintaining the imagery of a "distance" from jokats and their operations.
I personally may have some major disagreements with LTP's position on Artsakh and his analyses. I may especially despise his neo-liberalist economic policies in 1990s, but one thing I'll grant him is that he certainly is not a traitor or a defeatist, but a brilliant diplomat and a politician in the true sense of the word (until 1996).
Kocharian / Istanbul - Most Interesting!
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
I have studied dozens of documents on Karabakh, and have followed events very closely. This is the first time I have heard of a 1999 charter on territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, signed by Kocharian in Istanbul.
I am sure that Armenia would love to know the details. Can you add a link to them as a comment on this article, or please send me a personal message. Or even better publish a separate post on khosq with all the details.
Removed from negotiations
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
I am aware that Kocharian reached agreement under which Karabakh was removed from negotiations related to resolution of its own destiny. But I have not heard of a treaty (charter)that actually affirms Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. If that treaty has been signed, then why on earth has (still is?) the Armenian Parliament considered/ing acknowledging Karabakhi independence? I would very much like details of this treaty, and I am sure many others would.
Also, in 1999 LTP was in no position to sign any treaty, he had already been replaced by Kocharian.
As for the Karabakhi people; by Nalbandian's latest nonsensical remarks, I would imagine their President is already well on board the Karabakhi sellout roller coaster.
I don't know what exactly
Կարեն Կարապետյան 1 year 21 weeks ago
I don't know what exactly was Kocharian's rationale behind signing it. Maybe something along the lines of "What we understand by "Azeri territory" and what they understand it to be is different. We (Armenians) acknowledge the territorial integrity of what we think Azeri territory is". Or something along those lines, because later on he turned around and said that Nagorno-Karabakh secceeded before Azerbaijan officially declared it's own independence.
I don't have the exact details of that charter, but I'm sure Google is smart enough to find something.
As for Ter-Petrosyan not signing it, I think it was in 1993... or could be later. I think it he avoided to sign that on more than one occasion.
They say the opposition
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
They say the opposition media of 1999 -2002 covered the Istanbul Charter thoroughly, it took place immediately after October 27. The Russian intelligence was well aware of both the October 27 and the mentioned Charter.
Right now you can find the details of this event in Vahagn Ghukasian's blog. He has a couple of newspaper articles of 1999 there. Unfortunately, it's only in Armenian.
I blamed the opposition media for still not giving a full coverage of that event and Vahagn gave the following answer:
Ինձ նույնպես հետաքրքրեց «Armenia without Genocide» հոդվածը, ափսոս անգլերեն չեմ հասկանում, ցանկացա տեսնեմ արդյոք այնտեղ նոր բան կա ասված, թե այն է, ինչի մասին դեռեւս 8-9 տարի առաջ ենք տեղեկացել ու անհանգստացել…
Hավաստիացնում եմ , որ ընդդիմադիր կեցվածքով հանդես եկող լրատվամիջոցներիը ու նաեւ Ղարաբաղյան շարժմանը մոտ կանգնած բազմաթիվ անձիք, բազմիցս են անդրադարձել այդ խնդրին.
«ԵԱՀԿ Ստամբուլի գագաթնաժողովում (1999 թ., նոյեմբեր) Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանի ղեկավարած պատվիրակությունը (որի կազմում առանցքային դեր ուներ Ա նախարար Օսկանյանը) ոչ արժանապատիվ դիրք բռնեց եւ ստորագրեց Ստամբուլի խարտիան, որով ճանաչեց Ղարաբաղը Ադրբեջանի կազմում»
«Ստամբուլի խարտիան… դա Ադրբեջանի տարածքային ամբողջականությունը ամրագրող առաջին փաստաթուղթն էր»
«Այն օրը, երբ Քոչարյանը ստորագրեց Ստամբուլի խարտիան եւ կողմ քվեարկեց ՄԱԿ-ի Հազարամյակի հռչակագրին, նա ճանաչեց հիմնահարցի լուծումը` Ադրբեջանի տարածքային ամբողջականության եւ սահմանների անխախտելիության սկզբունքի հիման վրա»
«Ռ. Քոչարյանը, ստորագրելով ՙՍտամբուլի խարտիան՚, իսկ 2001թ. մայիսին Վ.Օսկանյանը կողմ քվեարկելով Եւրոպայի խորհրդի Ա նախարարների կոմիտեի բանաձեվին, արդեն ՙդե յուրե՚ համաձայնել են հարգել Ադրբեջանի տարածքային ամբողջականության եվ սահմանների անխախտելիության սկզբունքը»
Սրանք 2000-2002թթ.-ին միայն «Հայկական Ժամանակում» եւ «ՀԺ»-ի «Արմատ» ներդիրում տպագրված հարյուրավոր հոդվածներից ընդհամենը մի քանի մեջբերումներ էին:
Ինչ վերաբերվում է «Հոկտեմբերի 27»-ի եւ «Ստամբուլի խարտիայի» միջեւ կապին, ապա այն ուղղակի է. «Հոկտեմբերի 27»-ի դրդապատճառնեը աշխարհքաղաքական էր: 3 շաբաթ հետո` նոյեմբերի 17-ին Քոչարյանը պետք է ԵԱՀԿ Ստամբուլի գագաթաժողովում Ադրբեջանի տարածքային ամբողջականությունը ամրագրող փաստաթուղթ ստորագրեր: Միանշանակ է, որ Քոչարյանը նման փաստաթողթ երբեք չեր համարձակվի ստորագրել, եթե Վազգեն Սարգսյանին նախապես ֆիզիկապես չվերացնեին:
«… Եվ ոչ մի Մեղրի էլ չի եղել, որ դրանից բխող հոկտեմբերի 27 լիներ: Եղել է Ստամբուլի փաստաթղթի ստորագրելու հարց՝ հոկտեմբերի 27-ից անմիջապես առաջ: Եվ եթե պրոբլեմ է եղել մի կողմից՝ Քոչարյանի, մյուս կողմից՝ Դեմիրճյանի ու Սարգսյանի միջեւ, ապա դա այն է եղել, որ Ստամբուլում Թուրքիայից ու Ադրբեջանից հողային պահանջներ չունենալը հաստատող ստորագրություն դրած Քոչարյանը հնարավոր է, որ չկարողանար վերադառնալ Հայաստան»
Ավետիս Հարությունյան, «ՀԺ», 17.01.2001թ.
ի դեպ 2005թ.-ի մարտին ռուսական ԱԴԾ նախկին գնդապետ, ահաբեկչությունների գծով ՌԴ ՖՍԲ-ի մասնագետ Ալեքսանդր Լիտվինենկոն (2006 նոյեմբերին,Վ.Պուտինի հրամանով Լոնդոնում սպանված) հայտարարեց.
«Ռուսաստանի հատուկ ծառայությունների ղեկավարությունում շատերը տեղյակ են, որ 1999 թ. հայկական խորհրդարանի գնդակահարությունը կազմակերպել էր մեկ այլ հատուկ ծառայություն՝ ԳՌՈւ-ն
(ՌԴ ռազմական հետախուզություն_Վ.Ղ.) … Եթե չեմ սխալվում, խոսք էր գնում Ստամբուլի ԵԱՀԿ գագաթաժողովում նախագահներ Հ. Ալիեւի եւ Ռ. Քոչարյանի հուշագիր ստորագրելու մասին»
Հ.Գ.
Հիշեցնեմ նաեւ, որ նանատիպ մի փաստաթղթի ընդունման փորձ եղել էր նաեւ 1996թ.-ի դեկտեմբերին Լիսաբոնում: Սակայն այն ժամանակ ՀՀ առաջին նախագահ Լեւոն Տեր-Պետրոսյանը դա վետոյի միջոցով փաստորեն կասեցրեց:
Thanks for that
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
Thanks for that, I'll have it translated
The Goble Plan
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
The only information I have regarding Kocharian signing an agreement on Karabakh during the same 1999 - 2002 period is what was known as the Goble Plan. The fundamentals of that were of course the complete opposite to what is being proposed here, he was apparently negotiating independence for Karabakh and the Lachin corridor in a swap deal for Meghri.
I have had the text verbally translated and would very much like to have some documented evidence on this new information, if anybody can help?
Is Vahagn Ghukasian connected to Arkadi Ghukasyan, NKR President in any way?
Can you give me his blog link?
In Nazarian's blog you can
Anonymous 1 year 21 weeks ago
In Nazarian's blog you can find a blog name "Septemberi 21". Here are his articles and contact addresses.
Here is where you can access
nazarian 1 year 21 weeks ago
Here is where you can access Mr. Ghukasian's blog: septemberi21.blogspot.com
As far as I know, he was exiled from Armenia some time ago for his journalistic activities.
1999 Kocharian Charter on Karabakh
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
I have looked into Vahagn Ghukasian and I understand he was not exiled, but left the Republic in fear of threats from the authorities (regime).
With respect to the claim that Kocharian signed a 1999 Charter which acknowledges Azerbaijani territorial sovereignty of Karabakh, I can find no documented evidence of that, and in as much as the Armenian Parliament is still debating Karabakhi independence, I find it hard to believe that it could be true. So unless someone can provide concrete evidence to the contrary, I regard this as hearsay.
I do however have considerable documented evidence which supports what is referred to as the 'Goble' plan, although not copies of the draft agreement which was apparently never signed.
$1,400,000 for 700 Weddings in Karabakh
Bruce Tasker 1 year 21 weeks ago
Does anybody give a thought to why Russian-Armenian entrepreneur Levon Hairapetian, a native of Artsakh would pay $1,400,000 for 700 couples from all over Nagorno-Karabakh to be married during two separate ceremonies on October 16.
I am sure that all will wish the 1,400 newly weds and their children to be the very best. But it seems to me there is more to this mass matrimonial ceremony than at first meets the eye?
http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?objectid=0727038F-3FF3-752C-2C49E20550A...
Emil - Shushi
Bruce Tasker 1 year 20 weeks ago
Emil,
Shushi was taken on the 8th May by Commander Arkadi Ter-Tatevossian, and contrary to information put about by the Sargsyan /Kocharian regime, LTP was fully aware of and supported the battle. (BTW Arkadi's son was on of the 700 recently married in Karabakh)
I for one do not question Sargsyan's and Kocharian's heroic involvement in the Karabakh war, as I do not question that of Vazgen Sarkissian and the support of LTP. Most important for me is that Armenia lost 6,000 lives in the fight to liberate Karabakh from Azerbaijan, and now Robert and Serzh want to make a fortune out of 'selling' it back to Azerbaijan - at the expense of the very people who liberated them!!
Here is what I know. Plans
Anonymous 1 year 20 weeks ago
Here is what I know. Plans for capture of Shushi were drawn up in early April. At the time Serge Sargsian was the commander of NKR Self-Defense, Arkady Ter-Tatevosian was his chief of staff. Kocharian was a member of NKR parliament and like many other local officials took part in the fighting himself.
LTP was certainly aware of the plans, but as usual, didnt believe that Armenians could prevail considering the geography and balance of forces; he was afraid of the escalation. He would not give his approval and unqualified support for the operation.
Ter-Tatevosian had to personally go to Yerevan to lobby for weapons and ammunition. While Vazgen helped secure some, they didnt get as much as they needed and decided to launch the operation anyway.
The operation was launched on May 8 while LTP was in Iran for a meeting with then Azeri acting Pres. Yaqub Mammadov. In part it was done so that LTP could not prevent from being launched.
Again, while LTP was aware of the plans for the operation he did not support it and was not aware of its timing.
Had the operation not been launched when it was, the war could have well been lost, since just weeks later Soviet Army began to be divied up by national armies, and by June Azeris could have had dozens of Grad launchers in Shushi instead of a few they had in May. And certainly many more tanks and other heavy weapons than what Armenians could helicopter into NK.
In the end, I am sure like any other Armenian LTP was happy that the operation was successful. But he could never bring himself to admit - you know what there are some things I just dont very well, I was wrong, etc.
That went on throughout the war and following the war as well. It was tolerable as long as LTP didnt try to put pressure on NKR publicly. When he began doing that in the fall 1997 Vazgen, Robert and Serge decided to force him out and did.
Good Info
Bruce Tasker 1 year 20 weeks ago
Thanks,
I have the same info , except I understand that LTP was aware of the Shushi battle and supported it.
BTW - Commander Arkady Ter-Tatevosian's son was one of the 700 married in Karabakh in October this year.
Encouraging signs of Change?
Bruce Tasker 1 year 20 weeks ago
Regarding this "Armenia without Genocide" posting, recent events and the Armenian shift away from Russia toward the US and Europe indicate that the urgency to open the Turkish border has fallen away and therefore the Genocide question 'might' have been taken off the table. This will have been the result of the pressure we have been putting on the Sargsyan regime for the past year.
I cover that scenario in my LTP 17th October post:
http://www.khosq.com/en-us/article/2008/10/17/ltp_17th_october_meeting
Let us hope so.