Month: November 2006

PARLIAMENTARY FORCES CONDEMN ARMENIANS’ MURDERS IN RUSSIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian state officials should
undertake serious steps in connection with murders of Armenians in
Russia. RPA faction head Galust Sahakian said this at the November 17
NA briefing. In his words, by now the Armenian side has only limited
itself to statements, whereas recurrence of such incidents “should
give rise to great interest.” “Sometimes it is difficult to say how to
overcome the incidents happening in Russia,” he said at the same time.
In the words of Azgayin Miabanutiun (National Unity) faction head
Artashes Geghamian, we should call the Russian authorities for
disclosing and punishing the forces existing in Russia that do
everything for damaging the Armenian-Russian strategic alliance. In
his words, if parallel with the Georgian events similar events develop
in Armenia, too, the South Caucasus will burst from inside: this does
not proceed from interests of either Armenia or Russia.
Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) faction Secretary Heghine Bisharian
considers these incidents as a result of Armenia’s bad policy. In
her words, if there is some progress in the country, the Armenian
families will return and no incidents of the kind will happen.
Bisharian declared tat OYP condemns these phenomena. She also mentioned
the necessity to hold serious discussions among political forces.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA STRIVES TO FORM A KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Not having rich natural resources,
Armenia strives to ensure the sustainable development of its economy by
developing the human capital and forming a knowledge-based economy. The
Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated this in his speech at the
Bertelsmann Foundation in Berlin on November 16.
According to him, there is no field of the Armenian life that has
not undergone serious reforms since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
This process was made difficult by the war imposed on the country,
blockade, energy crisis, to which Armenia responded by accelerating
the changes and increasing the efficiency of governance.
The president said that diligence and enterprise are peculiar to
the Armenian people. Among the important goals of the government
are the creation of favorable conditions for businessmen and the
protection of investments. As a result, 85% of GDP is now formed in
the private sector, including 40% – by small and medium business. “We
are especially proud of this index. The middle class in the process
of formation. This seriously affects the society’s perception of its
future,” R. Kocharian said.
He underlined the necessity to improve tax and customs administration
and conduct the fight against corruption.
He also underlined the necessity to further develop financial services
in Armenia, for which good prerequisites have been created by the
efficient banking system. In this connection he expressed gratitude
to Germany for providing technical assistance to Armenia.
“While we see a serious growth in direct foreign investments in
Armenia, we know that we’ll have greater achievements in the near
future,” Robert Kocharian noted. He reminded that according to a joint
research by “Wall Street Journal” and the Zharangutyun Foundation
last year, Armenia was in 17th place among the open economies in the
world. In the last 6 years, the average annual growth of GDP has made
12.2%. Last year, foreign investments made 500 million USD.
The president attached importance to the Poverty Reduction Program
developed by the government, international financial organizations
and the civil society of Armenia. Armenia’s experience in this
field is used by the World Bank to develop similar programs in other
countries. Another program that may cause new system changes is the
program on development of the country’s rural regions, in which the
government tries to involve the Armenian Diaspora as well.
R. Kocharian said that one of the important achievements is that the
share of information technologies in Armenian GDP is now 2%. “At the
same time, we realize that it would be impossible to make use of this
advantage without making serious changes in science and education.
For this reason Armenia started its active participation in the Bologna
process,” he noted. In his words, a comprehensive strategy is now being
developed in order to make reforms in fundamental and applied sciences.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DID REPUBLICAN PARTY START GATHERING PASSPORTS?
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
Republican Artak Grigoryan believes they will win the parliamentary
election in 2007: “We have a serious reserve.” While Artak Grigoryan
was trying to persuade the news reporters that their “pure” political
party is not going to give election bribes, and the votes will be
given by people in a fair election, one of the reporters asked why
the Republican Party has started gathering passports in the regions,
“I have no information,” said the Republican.

THERE IS NO NATION WHICH VOLUNTARILY REFUSES ITS INDEPENDENCE OF 15 YEARS: KARABAKH IS NOT EXCEPTION, RA PRESIDENT AFFIRMS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
BERLIN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. “We are supporters of peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen attempt to bring our positions closer. Unfortunately,
in spite of proceeding active negotiations, there is little ground
for optimism.” RA President Robert Kocharian said about it during
his November 15 speech at the Bertelsmann Foundation, within the
framework of the working visit paid to the FDR.
In his words, the principal position of Armenia is that the Karabakh
people carried out its right of self-determination, and it was
implemented fully corresponding to the international norms. “Many
independent states of present were founded after fall of former
empires. The Nagorno Karabakh independence was got at the time of
fall of the Soviet Union. Even more, that is the end of ideological
huge split. Nagorno Karabakh has never been a part of independent
Azerbaijan,” the RA President mentioned.
R.Kocharian emphasized that owing to successful building of its
statehood, the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh proved its right of
existence. “It periodically holds democratic parliamentary and
president’s elections. We are witnesses of development of the civil
society,” he said, adding that a generation has already grown which
considers itself personification and keeper of that statehood.
“We do not remember an example of a nation which itself voluntarily
refused its independence of 15 years. Nobody intends to do it in
the case of Karabakh. We speak about irreversible changes which took
place in people’s consciousness,” the RA President stated.

REGIONAL COOPERATION MUST BE CONSIDERED AS MEANS FOR CREATING CONFIDENCE, ROBERT KOCHARIAN MENTIONS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
BERLIN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia intends to develop the
effective cooperation with the European Commission and strengthen
bilateral ties with the European Union member countries. RA President
Robert Kocharian said about it during his November 16 speech in Berlin,
at the Bertelsmann Foundation. In his words, it will permit to secure
an intensive political dialogue, a bigger volume of trade, activization
of social and public mutual cooperation, greater involvement of mutual
safety. “We expect Germany’s assistance and cooperation within this
new framework,” R.Kocharian said.
In the RA President’s words, Armenia’s entering the Council of Europe
5 years ago created basis for legislative reforms and foundation of
institutes. Membership to the World Trade Organization allowed to
have a quicker and more interested transition to liberal economy.
“Thinking about continuing the reforms, we consider the European
Neighbourhood Policy as a new standard. The Actions Plan recently
signed in Brussels, as we see it, is the new guideline of reforms,”
he said.
In the RA President’s words, Armenia has mainly formed its foreign
policy for years based on the idea of deriving benefit from combining
interests and not on speculation of disagreements existing in our
region. “It permitted us to combine wonderful relations with Russia,
the European Union, U.S. and Iran. It is also an important part
of transfiguring of our country and society. For dozens of years,
living in the Soviet Union, we have been tought to see the world as
black and white, enemy and friend,” R.Kocharian said, adding that
the complementarity policy relates to our security model as well.
“Armenia is an active member of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, and at the same time it fixed a considerable progress in
the NATO cooperation sphere. The Individual Partnership Actions Plan
was affirmed, laying down the foundation for long-term institutional
cooperation,” he mentioned.
“Our vision of the future of Armenia is a prosperous country in
stable friendly surroundings,” the RA President said. He mentioned
with pain that Armenia has no relations with two of its four direct
neighbours. We have kept good-neighbourly relations with Georgia
for centuries, and we hope that the tension started recently between
Russia and Georgia will be settled soon,” the RA President said. At
the same time he estimated as active and stable Armenia’s cooperation
with Iran, mentioning that the two countries mutually cooperate in
many spheres and have started significant infrastructure programs.
In contrast to all these, R.Kocharian mentioned that our another
important neighbour, Turkey, keeps the border of Armenia close. “We
even have no diplomatic relations with that country. We think that
being a NATO member and having striving for membership to the European
Union, Turkey must carry out more positive policy in the region.” In
the RA President’s words, Armenia proposed to establish diplomatic
relations many times, and that proposal is still in force.
“We believe that neighbouring countries must built their relations
without preconditions, and more, without conditioning them with third
country’s demands,” he said.
In R.Kocharian’s words, Armenia attaches great importance to the
regional cooperation. “We believe that settlement of conflicts
must not be considered itself as a precondition for establishing a
dialogue and cooperation. On the contrary, the regional cooperation
must be considered as means for creating confidence which is aimed to
settlement of existing disagreements. It is obvious that unsettled
conflicts hinder from the process of normal development of South
Caucasus,” the RA President emphasized in his speech.

ARMENIANS OF JAVAKHETI WILL PROTEST NOVEMBER 20 AT ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 18 2006
United Javakheti Democratic Alliance informs that on November 20
the Armenians of Javakheti will hold a protest meeting at the border
of the Republic of Armenia demanding to dismiss Vahagn Chakhalyan’s
case on an absurd charge, a co-chair of the Alliance, and to adopt
legislation on the simplified order of entry to Armenia and customs
administration. During the protest the Gyumri-Akhalkalaki road will
be closed to traffic around 10 o’clock A.M.
United Javakheti Democratic Alliance apologizes to and asks the
citizens to travel by this road only in case of necessity.
United Javakheti Democratic Alliance is hopeful that the claims of
the Armenians of Javakheti for a simplified order of crossing the
border and customs administration will get due attention from the
executive and the legislative of Armenia, and the National Assembly
of Armenia will adopt a law.
The alliance appeals to the demonstrators to respect public order
and legality and not to yield to possible provocations. For any
provocation, the persons who usurped power in an unfair local election
and are ready to destabilize the situation to remain in power and
the forces who support them will be accountable for every provocation.

GOVERNMENTAL CORRUPTION ENDANGERS THE FAST GROWING TREE PROJECT IN ARMENIA
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 18 2006
It has been now 15 years that Armenia is free and the Diaspora has
been actively supporting Armenia by sending money and initiating
projects to strengthen its independence and improve the economic
situation. It is unacceptable to see that some corrupt government
officials are taking advantage of the generosity and nationalistic
support for homeland of the Diaspora to fill their own pockets. This
write up provides background information regarding the Fast Growing
Tree Project in Armenia, its accomplishments, and the governmental
corruption issues that put some parts of the large plantations that
were developed as part of this project, in jeopardy of destruction.
BACKGROUND
Armenia is a mountainous country with approximately 8% forests in
its total territory. Up to the early 1990s forests in the country
were properly maintained and resources were utilized according to
environmental requirements. However, economic and energy blockade,
which resulted from political crisis with neighboring countries,
brought the country to an energy crisis. This crisis was the main
reason for massive deforestation of Armenia. About one million cubic
meter of wood was cut, which caused a terribly harmful damage to the
forests of the country.
In 1994, the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA) of
Glendale, California and Institute of Botany of the Armenian Academy
of Sciences embarked on a project to introduce fast growing hybrid
poplar trees in Armenia, which can be used as fire wood or as soft
wood lumber. These trees then can be cut to satisfy the need for
wood instead of cutting old trees from established forests. A few
years later, the Armenian Forest Service (Hay Andar) also joined the
project team.
Approximately 130,000 US and Canadian hybrid poplar cuttings from
59 different hybrid poplar clones have been imported into Armenia
and planted in different sites in Armenia since 1994. The two major
plantations are in Armavier (Ararat Valley). Approximately 17,000
cuttings of selected six clones were planted on 24 hectares during
spring of 1998 and approximately 23,000 cuttings of selected five
clones were planted on 28 hectares in the spring of 1999.
These trees are planted using 10-inch long cuttings and they grow to
be 6-foot tall in about seven months. Trees that were planted in 1994
and 1995 in Armenia are now 45 to 55-foot high after 11 years.
Typically these trees become mature in 10 to 12 years. The main part
of these mature tree trunks could be used for producing lumber.
Branches and leftovers of the trunk can be used as a biomass source
or in production of particleboard.
Wood produced from the fast growing hybrid poplars could be used by
the furniture manufacturers in Armenia, who normally import almost all
the wood needed. The poplar wood can also be used in the construction
industry. Agro-forestry is a viable option for Armenia because Armenia
has very limited soil suitable for the agricultural use. Trees that
are planted for production on plantations are planted widely enough to
allow intercropping of traditional crops such as cabbages, tomatoes,
melons, alfalfa, etc. between the trees.
FINANCING
This project is financed by the AESA, and locally managed by the
Institute of Botany of the Armenian Academy of Sciences. AESA has
funded the planting and the maintenance expenses for all the test
plantations, as well as the purchase of a tractor, a mower, and two
submerged irrigation pumps. The Lincy Foundation has been one of the
major contributors to this project. In addition, ACDI/VOCA has financed
15 travel expenses to Armenia by the U.S. specialists. CRDF has also
given a grant for analyzing the heat content of the different hybrid
poplar clones. USDA office in Lancing, Michigan, has provided technical
support for this project and several thousand cuttings. University
of Washington and Washington State University have also provided
staff that has traveled to Armenia to provide assistance for this
project. Oakridge National Laboratories has supported this project by
sending one of their experts to Armenia to evaluate biomass potential
in Armenia.
IMPROVING SOIL SALINITY
Another objective of the Fast Growing Tree Project is to determine
the feasibility of large scale, short rotation plantations in parts
of the Ararat Valley which have saline soil. Several types of poplar
trees have shown encouraging growth rates in the saline soil, which
presently is not used for agricultural purposes. These salt tolerant
hybrid poplar plantations in conjunction with special halophytes
could lower salinity after several years by lowering the underground
water table. Besides hybrid poplars, various salt tolerant plants
(halophytes) have also been introduced to Armenia as part of this
project. It is estimated that more than 30,000 hectares of land in
the Ararat Valley could be used for commercial crops if salinity of
soil were reduced.
THE PROBLEM
Parts of the plantations in Armavier that were developed with a
large investment from the US private and governmental sources are
now in jeopardy due to the corruption in high levels of the Armenian
government. Land where these plantations are established belonged
to Armenian Forest Service (Hay Andar). In December of 2004 Armenian
Forest Service dissolved their organization in Armavier region because
there were no forests at that region. They had land that was leased
to the farmers, a small apricot plantation, and 52 hectares where
the fast growing hybrid poplars were planted. When the government
decided to dissolve the Armavier region of Forest Service, all the
land excluding the 52 hectares were given to the governor’s office
for distribution. Government’s decree 128 dated December 8, 2004
clearly indicates that the ownership of 52 hectares where the fast
growing trees are planted plus 3000 square meters of land where the
water well is should be given to the Armenian Institute of Botany to
continue the experiment of the fast growing hybrid poplars.
In early 2005, the governor of Armavier region appealed this decision
and claimed that this land should also be divided and sold to the
local farmers. Attempts were made to meet with the governor but he
was not willing to meet with the plantation project team members.
AESA, Armenian Forest Service, Ministry of Agricultural, Ministry
of the Environmental Protection, and National Academy of Sciences
protested against the governor’s request about destroying the
plantation and selling the land. They had written letters to the Prime
Minister requesting that the governor’s appeal to be denied and land
ownership to be given to the Institute of Botany. After consideration
of all the facts, the Armenian Government denied the governor’s request
and on firmed its previous decision of transferring the land to the
Institute of Botany.
After government’s confirmation of the land ownership, governor’s
office and the county recorder started to put different types of
hurdles about transferring the ownership of the land to the Institute
of Botany. First they were claiming that boundaries were not clear and
a new survey was needed. The Institute of Botany hired land surveyors
to draw the requested map. Then, there were some requests of payment
of $300 for expediting the transfer of ownership that was denied by
the Institute of Botany. Finally it became apparent that all of these
were smoke screens to sell big chunks of land released by the Forest
Service to some governmental officials.
Approximately 80 hectares of land has been sold to the minister of
finance at a ridiculously low price. However, the land deed was issued
under his mother-in-law’s name. A few months later, the land was sold
to a friend of the minister who lives in the City of Echmiatzin,
for $40,000. This means that the sale price of one hectare was
approximately $500 when the market price of this land is $1,500 per
hectare. Most probably he will turn around and sell the land in open
market and make a large profit. So much for the governor’s claim that
the land should not be given to the Institute of Botany but to the
farmers who need the land for their livelihood.
Approximately 9 hectares bearing the best trees in the fast growing
tree plantation and the nursery where Institute of Botany had planted
all 59 types of hybrid poplars for the future reproduction were part
of these 80 hectares that was sold to the Minister of Finance. When
the issue of this sale, which is in direct contradiction with the
government’s decision, was presented to the governor’s office, their
response was that “This is a fact now and if you do not like it,
then you can start legal proceedings against this issue”. Another 3
hectares of the plantation with large nice trees were sold (or should
be said “given away”) to the mayor of the City of Armavier as part
of another large parcel. These 3 hectares are also part of the 52
hectares that should have been given to Institute of Botany. Figure
1 shows a typical tree in September 2006.
This picture makes it obvious why people want this land. They can cut
these large trees and sell them by ignoring all the efforts that have
been made for this experimental project.
Destruction of the nursery where all 59 imported clones of the hybrid
fast growing trees are planted will especially be a major loss. This
nursery should be used to supply needs for establishing fast growing
tree plantations at different parts of Armenia. Cutting for these
59 types were sent to Armenia via airlift from the US and Canada
with major difficulties and expenses. This is a clear indication of
the level of corruption at the high levels of the Armenian government
where some officials take the ownership of the land virtually for free,
and then turn
around and sell it to their friends for a large profit, but still under
the market price. Then the farmers have to buy the land at the market
price. This happens despite the clear government decision that part
of the land should be given to the Institute of Botany to continue the
experimental fast growing tree project and the remainder should be
transferred to the farmers.
However, some government officials see an opportunity to make large
sums of money and help their friends make money at the expense of the
farmers. At the beginning of the fast growing tree project, it was
decided to lease 5 hectares of the land to a farmer for planting
cabbage and alfalfa within tree rows. The idea was to evaluate
viability and profitability of the concept of agro-forestry. Because
these trees were under private care, they are considered to be
best-maintained trees. Unfortunately these 5 hectares have been
divided between the land parcels that are given to the minister of
finance and the mayor of City of
Armavier. According to the information received, they are planning
to cut and sell these trees.
The farmer who was leasing the land claims that, he has the first
right to purchase this land if it is sold, but that he was fine if
the land was given to the Institute of Botany. He filed a claim first
with the local court and then with the appeals court, but both times
the court decisions were against him even though he was defending
his right under the law. According to reliable sources, the judges
of both courts were bribed.
This clear violation of the government’s formal decision, and the
evidence for obvious corruption, was reported by letters to the office
of the speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Tigran Torossyan; Land Governing
Minister, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan; and Foreign Minister, Mr. Vardan
Oskanyan. The US Embassy and the Millennium Challenge Corporation
representatives in Yerevan were also notified about this situation.
Since protection of the trees are under the jurisdiction of Ministry
of Environmental Protection, they were also notified and warned about
the plans to cut trees on the land that is illegally occupied by some
government officials.
It should also be mentioned that the governor’s office has offered
to give the Institute of Figure 1 – Trees in Armavier Botany some
land nearby, instead of the illegally taken parts of the plantations.
However, the land that was offered is useless without any trees. Their
claim was “If you want 52 hectares of land, we will give you land
but from useless areas”. This is another example of the level of
arrogance in governmental agencies and their attempt to cover-up
their illegal acts.
SUMMARY
The situation facing the Fast Growing Tree project could be applicable
to any other major project initiated and supported by the Armenian
Diaspora or the US Government. Typically there is not much of help or
assistance from governmental agencies at the beginning of any project,
but once some government officials see that there is a successful
project, they abuse their power to take over such project for their
own personal benefit.
During the Third Armenia-Diaspora Conference, Armenia’s Foreign
Minister was asking Diaspora to spend millions of dollars to renovate
50 villages near the boarders of Armenia. This request begs the
question of who will be benefiting from such a large investment –
villagers or some government officials. There was a governmental
decision to distribute land belonging to the Armavier division of
the Armenia’s Forest Service to local farmers. Instead of the farmers;
however, the mayor and the minister received big portions of land at
the original cheap price and then local farmers had to go to them to
purchase the land at the market value. Would this also be the fate
of the developments in those 50 villages?
The US government is planning to give Armenia $236 million grant
under the Millennium Challenge initiative. Basic requirements of
this large grant are governmental transparency and the elimination of
corruption. Grabbing land by governmental officials near the irrigation
canal that will be renovated as part of the Millennium Challenge grant
should be of concern to the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The US
taxpayers’ money is given to Armenia to help the general population
and not some governmental officials.
Armenia has enormous potential for advancement, but corruption could
seriously hinder such advancement and progress. This is of concern
to the Armenian Diaspora, which needs to pull all of its resources
to put pressure on the Armenian Government to eliminate corruption by
actions, not just by words, and to put the country on the right track
toward a prosperous future for ALL the Armenians.
We are asking your assistance in resolving this issue. Please call,
fax, and send your letters and e-mails to Armenian Government and
demand them to save the Fast Growing Tree Project. We suggest that
you send your correspondences to the Prime Minister and Armenian
Ambassador in your country. Let them know that Armenian Diaspora
will not accept such illegal acts by government officials. We did
not struggled hundreds of years for a free homeland to witness this
types of actions.

HRAYR KARAPETIAN CONSIDERS DISREGARD OF LAW ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP AS SECOND GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. For the ARF Dashnaktsutiun,
parliamentary work is only one episode of party’s whole activity:
ARFD is engaged in issues of Hay Dat, preservation of Armenian
communities in the Diaspora, protection of rights of Armenians in
Javakhk and other issues. Hrayr Karapetian, leader of NA ARFD faction,
ARFD Supreme Body member, said at the November 17 meeting with students
of YSU History Faculty.
In H.Karapetian’s words, ARFD mainly accentuates bills on national
security, social and anti-corruption issues in its law-creating
activity. In H.Karapetian’s words, the ARFD member deputies pay great
attention to creation of laws aimed at fighting corruption.
He also informed students that upon their faction’s initiative NA
adopted the respective law “On Military Service,” according to which
the young people who left the homeland evading military service can
return, pay some money and receive a military identification card. In
H.Karapetian’s words, the number of such young people is 15 thousand
abroad, 2300 out of which, according to data of RA Defence Ministry,
have already returned to Armenia and were released from military
service by paying a sum in drams equivalent to 3000 dollars.
H.Karapetian said that currently ARFD faction works at the law “On Dual
Citizenship.” In his words, today a great mass of Armenians is abroad
and “there is a necessity to remove the barrier separating Armenians
of Armenia and abroad.” As H.Karapetian is affirmed, adoption of
the law “On Dual Citizenship” will contribute to unification of all
Armenians. “If we had not done this, it would be the second genocide
towards the greatest part of Armenians,” H.Karapetian declared.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CALL ON THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO USE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
The recurrent meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev will be held November 28 in Minsk,
in the framework of the summit of CIS leaders, Russian Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told ITAR-TASS.
On behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Yuri Merzlyakov called
on the Presidents of the two countries to use the unique opportunity
to agree upon the principles of the Karabakh conflict resolution,
since next year they will have no such opportunity. He stated that
in 2007-2008 elections are expected in both Armenia and Azerbaijan,
which will have a negative impact on the negotiation process.
“Besides, the key political figures, who have been participating
in the talks from the Armenian side, will start dropping out of the
negotiation process,” Merzlyakov said without going into detail who
he meant.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: NKR PEOPLE HAS PROVED ITS RIGHT FOR EXISTENCE
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
RA President Robert Kocharyan delivered a speech at the Bertelsmann –
the greatest and most influential political fund of Germany.
Speaking about the relations with neighboring countries, Robert
Kocharyan said, in particular: “We think that neighbor countries
should build their relations without any preconditions, without
associating these with the demands of a third country. Armenia
attaches great importance to regional cooperation. We think that the
settlement of conflicts itself should be conceived as a precondition
for establishment of cooperation.
Moreover, regional cooperation should be a tool for establishing an
atmosphere of trust targeted at the settlement of existing conflicts.
Tuning to the Karabakh issue, Ra President said in particular, “It is
obvious that the unsettled conflicts prevent the normal development
process of the South Caucasus. That is why we stand for the peaceful
resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are trying to bring our positions
closer. Unfortunately, despite active negotiations, there are no
bases for optimism.
Our position is that the people of Nagorno Karabakh has realized its
right for self-determination. Nagorno Karabakh has never been part of
independent Azerbaijan. Through effective state building the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic has proved its right for existence. It periodically
holds democratic parliamentary and presidential elections. We
observe the development of civil society. The contemporary generation
considers itself the embodiment and defender of this country. There
is no single circle of the nations that will easily drop the 15-year
independence. No one intends to do it in case of Karabakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress