Month: September 2006

NKR PRESIDENT: WE CANNOT CONTROL ACTIVITIES OF ARMENIA FOUNDATION

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

In the online interview with the Azat Artsakh Newspaper President
Arkady Ghukasyan was asked about the reconstruction of the region
of Martakert. "Unfortunately, not everything depends on the NKR
government in this sphere. Yes, we take active part in organizing
telethons. Believe me, what you see on TV, namely the telethon, how
the NKR president calls our compatriots for active participation in
this campaign is only the final step in the colossal work we annually
carry out with the Diaspora. This is preceded by tens of meetings
with thousands of participants and daily trips.

As to donations of our compatriots abroad, these are transferred
directly to the account of Armenia Foundation. The fund orders
projects, holds tenders, chooses the winners, and accounts for the
final results. As to the mechanisms of control of the government,
they are indirect – the government may approve or disapprove the road
or building built or repaired. Recently we have applied to Armenia
Foundation for a number of times demanding to control the schedule
and quality of work, and informed the executives and the board of
trustees of the foundation about the drawbacks. So, we do whatever
depends on us to spend the money effectively."

As soon as the interview appeared on the web site, Armenia Foundation
made a statement on its activities.

NAGORNO KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
Tatul Hakobyan

"Radiolur"
31.08.2006 13:52

On September 2 Nagorno Karabakh will celebrate the 15th anniversary
of declaration of independence. Although the international community
does not intend to recognize the second Armenian state de jure,
i.e. legally. De facto it has been already recognized. Even in case
Nagorno Karabakh is not recognized in the coming 15 years, this will
not devalue the historical decision adopted September 2, 1991.

August 19-21 the attempt to dethrone the President of the Soviet
Union Mikhail Gorbacjev failed. It seems that the above-mentioned
circumstance is not immediacy linked to the remote regions of the
empire in decline, particularly to Azerbaijan, the part of which
Nagorno Karabakh comprised then.

August 19 Azerbaijani leader of that time Ayaz Mutalibov was on a
visit to Iran. Learning about the coup in Moscow, Mutalibov expressed
his conformity to the rebels. His Adviser Vafa Guluzadeh retrieves
that he was advising Mutalibov to refuse from comments on the Moscow
events before his return to Baku.

The Azerbaijani leader, however, did not follow the advice and did
not refuse from criticizing Gorbachev’s policy.

A few days later, however, the attempt of the coup in Moscow failed and
the rebels were arrested. The failed rebellion, however, accelerated
the unevitable collapse of the Soviet Union.

August 30 in a special session the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan
adopted the declaration of independence within the borders of the
1918-1920 Democratic or Musavat Republic of Azerbaijan. September
2 the Regional Council of Nagorno Karabakh and the District Council
of Shahumyan held a joint sitting in Stepanakert, during which the
declaration of independence within the borders of Nagorno Karabakh
and Shahumyan regions.

September 8 Mutalibov was elected the President of Azerbaijan. Only 12
percent of the voters in Nagorno Karabakh, i.e. only the Azerbaijanis,
participated in the elections.

>>From the legal perspective Azerbaijan seceded from the Soviet
Union on the same basis that Nagorno-Karabakh seceded from
Azerbaijan. Besides, on August 30 the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan
adopted the Declaration of Independence within the borders of
1918-1920 Musavat Republic of Azerbaijan. Therefore, today’s Azerbaijan
considers itself the successor of the Musavat Republic. And it deserves
attention that in 1918-1920 Nagorno Karabakh did not comprise part of
Azerbaijan. Moreover, the League of Nations never recognized Azerbaijan
de jure, considering the fact that the Musavats were laying claims
on disputable Armenian territories, particularly Karabakh.

Nevertheless, if the League of Nations refused to recognize Nagorno
Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, then the Soviet or Bolshevik Russia
divided not only Karabakh but also other Armenian territories between
Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Actually, with the establishment of the Soviet Union we lost not only
our statehood, but also what is the most important – the original
Armenian lands.

On September 2, 1991 one of the segments separated from the Armenian
people the Artsakhi Armenians – corrected one of the crimes of
Bolshevik Russia and Ottoman Turkey.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR AUTHORITIES RECEIVE CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARTSAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

ArmRadio.am
31.08.2006 12:37

NKR authorities have received a number of congratulations on the
occasion of declaration of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Particularly, words of congratulation have been conveyed by the first
US Ambassador to Armenia Hurry Gilmore. "I wish peaceful, safe and
free future to the Artsakhi people and convey my congratulations on
the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Artsakh," the Ambassador noted.

"I heartily congratulate the brave people of Artsakh, the NKR President
and the whole government on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of
Artsakh’s independence and wish all the best," says publisher and
editor of "The California Courier" newspaper Harut Sasounian.

NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs told "Armenpress" that the flow of
congratulations from social and political figures from a number of
countries continues.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 16TH SITTING OF THE CLUB OF CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENTS

ArmRadio.am
31.08.2006 13:30

President of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan left for
Irkutsk city of Russia to participate in the 16th sitting of the
Club of Central Bank Presidents of Middle Asia, Black Sea region and
Balkan states.

"Armenpress" was told at the Central Bank that during the sitting
issues related to the independence of world economy, the activity
of Central Banks and the economic situation in the countries of the
region. The Club’s President and Deputy President will be elected
for 2007-2008 period.

ARKADY GHUKASYAN: INDEPENDENCE IS THE ONLY CONDITION OF SURVIVAL OF ARTSAKHI PEOPLE

ArmRadio.am
31.08.2006 14:56

"Independence is not an end in itself. It is the only condition
of survival, development and prosperity of Karabakhi people on the
land of their predecessor," NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan declared,
MEDIAMAX Agency reports.

In Arkady Ghukasyan’s words, "we realize pretty well" that the
international recognition of NKR is an extremely complex and long path,
which depend also on the geopolitical processes in our region.

The NKR President mentioned that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is
de facto a full-fledged state, and many accept this. "We not only
managed to defend our independence in the war imposed by Azerbaijan,
but also managed to overcome its results in a comparably short period
of time and to build a state, which has gone far ahead of Azerbaijan
as it refers to socio-economic and democratic standards."

Commenting on the non-participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the
negotiations process, Arkady Ghukasyan noted that "Baku prefers
to deal with Yerevan for the purpose of reshaping the issue of
self-determination of Karabakhi people into the territorial disputes
between Armenia and Azerbaijan."

RF PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN ON HIS BIRTHDAY

ArmRadio.am
31.08.2006 16:11

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated RA President Robert
Kocharyan on his birthday.

The message says, in particular, "It is very pleasant that the
multi-sided Russian-Armenian cooperation, based on the traditional
mutual respect and friendship between our peoples, is gradually
developing. We highly appreciate you personal contribution to the
reinforcement of the strategic partnership base between Armenia
and Russia.

Vladimir Putin expressed his gratitude to RA President "for the
efforts directed at the further deepening of mutually beneficial
relations both in the bilateral format and in the framework of the
CIS and the Collective Security Treaty Organization," Russian Novosti
news agency reports.
From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN INCREASING ITS MILITARY BUDGET

ArmRadio.am
31.08.2006 17:39

"Azerbaijan must increase its military budget to the volume necessary
to liberate out territories from Armenian invaders," member of the
political council of the "Yeni Azerbaijan" party, Deputy Chairman of
the Mili Mejlis Standing Committee on Defense Issues Aydin Mirzazadeh
told "Trend" agency in response to the question about the statement
by the EU Commissioner on Foreign Affairs Benita Ferro Waldner.

To remind, speaking at the "Caspian Outlook 2008" forum, she called
on Georgia and Azerbaijan to refuse from the increase of the military
budget.

Mirzazadeh said that this demand of the EU Commissioner cannot be
accepted.

According to him, "the position of the EU Commissioner toward
Azerbaijan is not understandable." "The Commissioner does not say
anything about EU’s cooperation with Armenia, instead she lays certain
demands on Azerbaijan," the Azeri political scientist underscored.

"We’ll not give our lands to Armenia. The best argument in this
question is the creation of a well-equipped army," Mirzazadeh declared.

NKR NA CHAIRMAN ASHOT GULYAN RECEIVED BELGIAN SENATOR FRANCOIS ROELANTS DU VIVIER

ArmRadio.am
31.08.2006 17:58

Chairman of the NKR National Assembly Ashot Gulyan received today the
Head of the Foreign Relations and Defense Committee of the Belgian
Senate Francois Roelants du Vivier.

Press Service of the NKR National Assembly told "ArmInfo" that
the Senator associates his visit immediately with the necessity to
learn about the views of the Karabakhi side on the settlement of the
conflict. "It is impossible to understand the whole nature of the
Karabakh issue and the realities of the settlement process without
coming here," he said.

During the visit, featuring Heads of Standing Comittees of NKR National
Asembly Vahram Atanesyan, Rudik Martirosyan and Arayik Harutyunyan,
a number of issues of mutual interest related to the Karabakh conflict
settlement and the democratic processes in NKR were discussed.

POPE BENEDICT XVI TO MEET WITH THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF TURKEY

ArmRadio.am
31.08.2006 11:50

Late in November the Pope of Rome Benedict XVI will meet with the
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mesrop Archbishop Mutafian in
the framework of his visit to Turkey. The Ambassador of Vatican to
Ankara Antonio Lucibello told the Turkish "Jumhurriet" daily that the
meeting with the Armenian Patriarch is not of particular importance
and that Benedict XVI will meet with all religious leaders of Turkey.

WILL GHUKASYAN RUN A THIRD TERM?

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

In an interview with the Azat Artsakh Newspaper Arkady Ghukasyan
touched upon the problem of the third term as well. In answer to the
question of a reader he said: "If you remember my election campaign,
you must know that I promised to promote the adoption of the NKR
Constitution. The basic law of the country, the constitution, is
adopted by people, not the president. And all through my presidency
I did not let people doubt that I guarantee the rule of law. I think
the presidential, parliamentary and local elections held earlier in
NKR assured people that they do elect the president, the members of
parliament or mayor.

By the way, you should know that certain international organizations,
influenced by Azerbaijan, react nervously to elections of different
level in NKR. In other words, many wish Karabakh did not hold elections
at all. But this is not our way. We are building a democratic society,
which is impossible without free and fair elections.

We need the Constitution, and nobody doubts. Moreover, we are a little
late with the adoption. The world does not stay in the same place,
and we must react adequately to the challenges of the civilization. We
must establish and confirm our right for freedom and independence,
our readiness to develop the best traditions of the international
community.

For me, so far I have never expressed likelihood to run a third term.

I think it is wrong when some people view the adoption of the basic
law of the country in the context of a third term. For NKR and its
people need the Constitution, not Ghukassian, including in terms
of international recognition. Even if we suppose that in case the
Constitution is adopted it will give me a chance to run a third term,
a number of important issues will occur, including my wish and,
most importantly, the wish of people.

Independent from all, till the last day of my presidency I will do
everything to settle the problems our country is facing. Certainly,
there will be people who will evaluate every initiative of mine
as populism, as an attempt to appeal to people. But it would be
impossible to do nothing until the end of the term because of these
people. Especially that large-scale programs are on the agenda we
have been attending to for a number of years now.

Besides, sooner of later we had to adopt the Constitution, either
during Ghukassian’s office or someone else’s office. By your logic,
a president during whose office a Constitution is adopted is doomed to
such doubts. Does this mean that we should not adopt the Constitution
at all? I would also like to emphasize that the necessity of adoption
of the basic law of the country is set down in the political platforms
of all the political parties and movements in NKR as well. And it
is normal because it proceeds from the logic of development of our
statehood."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress