Month: November 2006

THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO HOAGLAND
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
The U.S. Embassy to Armenia does not know when the new U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia Richard Hoagland will arrive in Armenia. U.S. Charge
d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey, whom Matthew Bryza describes as an
excellent diplomat, stated November 8 that the question on the timing
of arrival of Hoagland should be asked to the Senate.
Anthony Godfrey only stated that other candidates besides Hoagland
are not considered. The Charge d’Affaires also said that two months
without an ambassador does not affect the quality of the work of the
embassy because a significant team works at the embassy and a person
does not decide everything.

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION APPROVES 2007 ARMENIA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Noyan Tapan News Agency. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Board of Directors of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation approved Armenia as a country
eligible for assistance in 2007, taking the annual performance
into account. Thomas Adams, Co-chair of the US-Armenia Task Force,
Co-ordinator of the Office of the US Assistance to Europe and Eurasia
of the US State Department, stated this during the November 9 meeting
with the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian. At the same time he
noted that there are some reservations regarding the declined indices.
A. Margarian assessed as efficient the work of the US-Armenia Task
Force (USATF), noting that various issues related to promotion of
the economic cooperation between the two countries, increasing the
efficiency of the assistance programs implemented by the US government
are discussed at regularly convened sittings of the USATF.
A. Margarian thanked the representative of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation and Thomas Adams, expressing a hope that the existing
problems will be solved thanks to bilateral efforts.
T. Adams said that all the problems to de discussed at the regular
sitting of the USATF have already been considered in detail with
the co-chairs and the ministers interested during this visit. He
presented briefly the results of the meetings with the RA president,
the RA prosecutor general and the minister of energy.
T. Adams also addressed issues related to the strengthening
of democracy and the holding of the upcoming elections in line
with international standards, the US assistance and the Armenian
government’s efforts in this direction, and the fight against
corruption.

ROLE OF INTELLIGENTSIA IN PROGRESS OF ARTSAKH SOCIETY
Norair Hovsepian
Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 9 2006
The round-table meeting at the Union of Journalists of Artsakh on
November 3 was headlined “The Role of the Intelligentsia in the
Life of the NKR Society”. Members of parliament, representatives of
different spheres of culture, reporters were present. “When we say the
intelligentsia are the wealth of the nation, we mean the potential of
the intelligentsia. In this sense, we are a lucky nation,” said Kim
Gabrielian, the president of the Union of Journalists. Unfortunately,
we lack a “bank” which would convey these ideas to those who are
supposed to bring them into being, whereas the government needs such
ideas, says Kim Gabrielian. Meanwhile, the intelligentsia often
is absorbed by daily problems, a teacher has to grow vegetables,
and an actor has to sell things to earn their living. As a result,
it is clear who suffers. Kim Gabrielian says this regress leads the
intelligentsia to decay. Naturally, in this state the intelligentsia
cannot be imagined to have an influence on the society and political
life in the country. Meanwhile, it was the intelligentsia that waked
people in the 1060s, and the intelligentsia is at the origin of the
Artsakh movement. Member of Parliament Vahram Atanessian, chair of the
Committee of External Relations and Information expressed his opinion
on why the role of the intelligentsia has diminished. The crisis
of the intelligentsia started when public speeches were replaced by
state building, he says. During the public speeches the role of the
intelligentsia was highly important. When state building started,
the intelligentsia slowed down (Vahram Atanessian says this behavior
is typical of the intelligentsia), and other forces went ahead. Today
the intelligentsia is unable to make important decision. Therefore,
it has no importance in the society. According to Vahram Atanessian,
the change of the political order was another heavy blow to the
intelligentsia. Formerly, the intelligentsia used to get instructions
from the government and carry them out without thinking about problems
with their implementation that would occur later. The intelligentsia
is supposed to be free, whereas carrying out the instructions of
the government restricts freedom. Today the intelligentsia is free
and is supposed to create their audience on their own. However,
Vahram Atanessian declined to say what the intelligentsia does in
this direction, and only noticed that the society should be offered
what it needs, and that is required by the time. The chair of the
Press Club of Stepanakert Gegham Baghdassarian expressed a similar
opinion. He believes that a strong individual is sure to find his
place, whereas the government support and working in the framework
of the government instructions is favorable for mediocrities. “Today
there is fertile soil for finding talents,” Gegham Baghdassarian
believes. The participants of the round-table meeting had different
opinions whether the intelligentsia is able to overcome the crisis
without help. The intelligentsia must preserve its best moral
characteristics. “We need strong, authoritative individuals,” says
Gegham Baghdassarian. He believes that when mediocrities outnumber,
it is difficult to hope for progress.
Finally, there were interesting opinions on the
government-intelligentsia relation. Most participants of the
round-table meeting believe that these two forces form a dichotomy. A
creative person is opposition. The next question stemmed from this
whether the intelligentsia should become engaged in politics. The
controversial opinions eliminated the probability of a general
formula. Is it necessary to set up a union of the intelligentsia or
the existing unions have already proved ineffective? These and other
questions remained unanswered. The participants of the round-table
meeting agreed that it is impossible to answer all these questions in
a single meeting. Especially that these problems are becoming sharper.

NOR ZHAMANAKNER PARTY LEADER INFORMS DIPLOMATIC INSTITUTIONS ABOUT HIS BEING DEPRIVED OF POSSIBILITY TO SPEAK ON TV FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS
Noyan Tapan News Agency. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. It is about one year and seven months
that Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) Party Chairman Aram Karapetian has
been deprived of the possibility to speak on TV and to share his and
his party’s viewpoints with the population in a live broadcast. This
was mentioned in the party Board’s letter to diplomatic institutions
functioning in RA.
The Nor Zhamanakner Board stressed that “the political decision not
to voice the name of the Nor Zhamanakner Party and its Chairman on TV
was made by RA President Robert Kocharian and Defence Minister Serge
Sargsian and the process of obstruction is controlled by Director of
RA National Security Service, Gorik Hakobian personally.”
The approach of laying obstruction towards Aram Karapetian is
considered as strange and unacceptable, as according to the votes
received by him in the presidential elections, “he was officially
recognized the fourth and currently he heads a party with more
than 20 thousand members.” The party Board pointed to both RA and
international laws “grossly broken by RA authorities who use the
above mentioned prohibition.”

GEVORK KHERLOPIAN’S “GENOCIDE STUDIES” BOOK PUBLISHED IN BEIRUT
Noyan Tapan News Agency. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
BEIRUT, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Doctor, Professor
Gevork Kherlopian’s “Genocide Studies” book was published in Beirut.
Theological, political, historic, diplomatic, legal and
social-psycological sides of the Genocide were touched upon in
the book.
Maps of the times of widening and decomposition of the Ottaman Empire,
defeated Turkey and its allies, Armenian massacres and Wilson’s
Armenia are presented in the appendix of the book.
G.Kherlopian presented in the book the decisions made concerning
the Armenian Genocide during the recent one year by international
scientific institutions.
The book was published with 750 copies, under the patronage of Beirut
Armenian Armen Haroutiunian.

HOW CAN ARMENIAN-KAZAKH RELATIONS IMPACT THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT?
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
We want Armenian-Kazakh relations to have positive impact on the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, said Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Khalaf Khalafov, “Trend” agency reports. At the same time
the source does not clarify how the Armenian-Kazakh relations can
impact the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO BESIDES BEGGING?
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
The International Monetary Fund expressed worry on November 7 about
the share of the government in the oil and gas sector in Russia. The
worry is clear considering that the Russian government is presently
conducting a policy of reducing foreign ownership in the oil and gas
sector and keep the sector under the control of the Kremlin. This wish
is natural, and the reaction of the IMF is natural, which represents
the interests of the Western companies and governments, which are
reluctant to let the Russian oil and gas wealth go.
In the long run, in the geopolitical context and with regard to Armenia
this question has an indirect relation. But there are nuances in this
story, which are directly related to Armenia. The same International
Monetary Fund does not express worry about the reality that the energy
sector of Armenia is taken over by the Russian government. Not an
IMF official, let alone its representatives to Armenia expressed
worry about the actions of our government. If the IMF is so worried
about the growing government share in the energy sector of Russia,
how about an almost 100 percent share of the same Russian government
in the energy sector of another country, even though this country is
referred to as a strategic partner.
On the other hand, there is nothing surprising that no Western
organization pays attention to this reality in Armenia. Simply
they think that this attention is unnecessary because the Armenian
government officials state that there is nothing dangerous about the
dominance of another country in the energy sector. For instance, the
minister of defense stated that the worries that are still expressed
in Armenia are the result of anti-Russian ideas. For the government
officials of Armenia it is difficult to imagine that these worries may
stem from objective judgment. And this judgment prompts that handing
the energy capacities of the country to Russia is the same as giving
the switch of Armenia to Russia, and deprive the country of choice.
The Armenian government might be right when it relates the country’s
security to Russia. It might be right when it considers Russia as
our only friend. But when we give our energy sector to the Russians,
it means we do not want to have other possibilities of security and
other friends, or interests. Serge Sargsyan says there is no case
when Russia used its influence for political pressure. Serge Sargsyan
may be right. But can he guarantee that if tomorrow the interests
of Armenia suddenly require something that is against the will of
Russia, the Russians will not use their energy levers. Can anyone in
Armenia in charge of the country’s security guarantee this? Simply
there has been no necessity so far because the Armenian government is
begging Putin to report to him. Why should Russia use its levers? Why
should it do if the minister of energy of Armenia states that even
if the Russians wish to give up the management of the nuclear plant
earlier, the Armenian side will ask them to stay. And what else can
the Armenians do besides begging the Russians to stay? Otherwise,
the Russians will stay by force, and will not invite to Moscow for a
report but somewhere in the region of Krasnodar, especially that the
president and the government officials of Armenia have considerable
experience of work with the governors of Russia.

ALIYEV WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER AZERBAIJAN WILL UPHOLD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIA
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
Today Russian President Vladimir Putin will suggest to his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev to decide whether Azerbaijan intends to
uphold its “strategic partnership” with Russia. If Azerbaijan responds
positively, Moscow will request Baku’s cooperation in Russia’s struggle
with Georgia and will offer Russian arms and investment by UES Russia
and RusAlum in return, Kommersant reports.
President Aliyev’s visit to Europe unnerved the Kremlin chiefly
because of Azerbaijan’s projected defense spending for 2007: the
country will spend $1 billion on the military next year, up from $600
million currently. Russia fears that this could be a preliminary step
towards membership in NATO. If Azerbaijan joins neighboring Georgia
in a NATO bid, the ex-Soviet Caucasus could end up hosting NATO and
American military bases as the West seeks to control Iran.
In an effort to forestall the possibility of NATO bases near its
southern border, Russia is attempting to lure Azerbaijan back to its
own camp with promises of increased sales of cut-rate Russian-made
weapons. Russia has been curtailing its arms trade with Azerbaijan,
fearing to fan the flames of Azerbaijan’s long-standing feud with
neighboring Armenia.
Russia is also focusing on Azerbaijan in an attempt to create a
unified front within the CIS against the Kremlin’s latest enemy,
Georgia. Moscow is seeking to impose an energy blockade on Georgia
in the winter of 2006-2007, while Azerbaijan last winter stepped
in with emergency supplies of electrical energy and gas when Russia
interrupted deliveries to Georgia. In 2007, Gazprom is threatening
to raise the price of gas for Georgia from $110 to $230 per thousand
cubic meters. According to unofficial sources, the same proposal
has been made for Azerbaijan as well, angering President Aliyev. The
country currently pays $95-100 per thousand cubic meters for the 1.5
billion cubic meters of gas that it imports from Russia annually.
Other proposals from the Kremlin are more palatable: according to
Kommersant’s sources, Vladimir Putin will offer President Aliyev
investment by the company RusAlum to the tune of a $1 billion aluminum
plant in Azerbaijan. Mr. Putin will also mention interest on the
part of the Russian company UES Energy in investing in Azerbaijan’s
energy sector.
Technically, Mr. Aliyev’s trip to Europe before coming to Moscow puts
Mr. Putin in the position of asking rather than dictating with regard
to his Azerbaijani colleague. Mr. Aliyev demonstrated in Brussels
that his trip to Europe was more about energy than military matters,
though he met with the NATO leadership. After his meeting with Mr.
Barroso, Mr. Aliyev announced agreements between Azerbaijan and
the EU to guarantee energy supplies from the Caspian region and
negotiations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine on a project to deliver
oil to Eastern Europe. President Aliyev has held similar talks with
Belarus, a project that cannot be interpreted as pro-Russian.
With regard to the “anti-Georgia bloc,” the Azerbaijani president
announced yesterday in Brussels that he hopes that relations between
Russia and Georgia improve, since Azerbaijan “is building strategic
partnerships with both countries.” That stance is hardly likely to
appeal to Vladimir Putin, meaning that today’s meeting promises to
be tense.

SCIENTIFIC FORUM ON “ARMENIAN-FRENCH HISTORIC CONTACTS” HELD IN YEREVAN
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
An international scientific forum on “Armenian-French Historic
Contacts” was held today in the Yerevan State University. The newly
appointed Ambassador of France to Armenia Serge Smessov, who was
participating in the event, noted that during his previous office he
addressed issues related to the CIS region, particularly Armenia.
“I still have to discover many things in Armenia for myself,” said
the Ambassador, adding that he was particularly impressed by Armenian
hospitality and reception. He expressed hope that the close cooperation
between Armenia and France will continue deepening during his tenure
in office.
During the conference a number of reports connected with a Armenian
and French history were presented.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN NKR TO COST 40 MILLION DRAMS
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
NKR Government has allocated $40 million for the Constitutional
Referendum scheduled December 10.
President of the NKR Central Electoral Commission Sergey Nasibyan
said in an interview with Mediamax agency that 280 precincts will
open in the republic. One precinct will be opened in Yerevan, in the
NKR Permanent Representation.
Currently the voting lists are being corrected. The final lists will
be posted up in precincts two days prior to the referendum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress