Month: March 2007

3 MILLION NEEDED FOR REPAIR OF THEATER

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2007 14:54:14

2.5-3 million dollars is needed to reconstruct the Dramatic Theater
of Stepanakert, NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan stated a few days
ago. He said decoration is also possible but undesirable, however,
there is not enough money for the reconstruction of the theater. The
president said they are looking for sponsors. "There are some pledges,
and I hope that next year we will be able to solve the problem. If we
raise the necessary funds, we can add the rest from the state budget,"
said the head of state.

By the way, the only theater in Stepanakert is in a miserable
state. Pledges have been made over the past few years, even definite
dates had been set.

The theater was not included in the program of reconstruction of the
cultural sites in Armenia funded by LINCY Foundation either. Things
are right where they started.

IS THE VOLUME OF BUILDING UP OR DOWN?

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2007 14:53:55

According to the NKR National Statistics Service, in 2006 the volume
of building totaled 17.5 billion drams, which is up by 39.7 percent
compared with 2005. In 2006 47.4 percent of the volume of building
was funded by the government.

Earlier the minister of finance Spartak Tevosyan had reported a 70
percent growth of investments in building in 2006 compared with 2000
as a major achievement. It should be noted that since 2000 the cost
of building has topped 2.5 times or by 150 percent. For instance, the
cost of the construction of a two-room house was 2.9 million drams (3.2
million with a fence), now a similar house costs 8.1 million drams. A
simple calculation reveals that the real volume of construction has
gone down rather than increased. In addition, in 2000 the bulk of
the funds was directed at social programs (houses, village clubs,
etc.) now "grandiose" projects are implemented (for instance, a school
is demolished, and a new school building is built by the same project).

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS ALSO NEED BENEFITS

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2007 14:53:16

The Non-Governmental Organization of Refugees held a round-table
meeting a few days ago in Shushi. The topic was "Refugees and the
Conflict: Integration and Peace Building."

The chair of the organization Sanasar Saryan said the round-table
meeting is an activity of the six-month project financed by the
International Alert. It is foreseen to held similar events in Maraga,
Nor Shahumyan, Kashatagh and other areas.

In the event in Shushi both refugees from Azerbaijan and
internally displaced persons from Shahumyan, Martakert and
Maraga were present. The status, social state, benefits and other
problems of the refugees and the internally displaced persons were
discussed. Sanasar Saryan said the internally displaced persons
demand applying the provisions of the law on refugees to them,
and grant them a corresponding status. The next step would be the
international recognition of the Karabakh IDPs.

"The refugees and IDPs are on the whole positive towards collaboration
with international organizations and the dialogue with the
Azerbaijanis," Sanasar Saryan said.

KARABAKH GOVERNMENT ON INTERPOL RECORDS?

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2007 14:52:22

The law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan continue to prosecute the
best representatives of the Artsakh society, including the national
heroes, even the killed, and sentence them for life, stated President
Arkady Ghukasyan a few days ago answering the question of Professor
Socrat Khanyan. Socrat Khanyan says the Yasmal Court of Baku sentenced
him to ten years in prison. "This is a tragedy for Azerbaijan first
of all because it implies that we can never reach agreement with
them. If these people are inclined to settle the issue and find points
in common, they should act differently. Today "thanks" to Azerbaijan
70 Karabakhis, most of them members of government of the country,
have appeared on the records of Interpol," said Arkady Ghukasyan.

"The problem will not be solved unless Azerbaijan stops the
anti-Armenian propaganda, instills in its public that the Armenians
as neighbors," said the president, underlining that the international
community is either reluctant or unable to influence Azerbaijan.

COMPROMISE WHICH DOES NOT ENDANGER SECURITY?

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2007 14:49:11

We have tried to go to an international court for a few times
but the legal and historical aspects of the issue do not interest
anyone. Everyone insists on a political settlement, which requires
a compromise, NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan said in answering the
question of a student of Artsakh State University.

"We often hear statements that the settlement of the Karabakh
issue should be based on a compromise. It is not clear to me what
compromise on behalf of the Armenian side is meant. I think we already
made a compromise on May 12, 1994. We still have to liberate North
Artsakh. What more are we going to cede?"

asked Hovik Badasyan, a student of Artsakh State University.

"I am glad that our youth thinks so – that we have nothing to
cede. But I wish we were a strong state and did not care what
others think. From the point of view of history, I agree that we
have lost much and we have the right to bring it back. However,
we will hardly become so strong in the nearest future to oppose
to the international community. In reality we are a small country
surrounded by hostile states and isolated, and we cannot afford such
a standpoint. Unfortunately, the international community does not
accept our truth.

We are told that we must make a compromise not because we are not
right but because otherwise a new war will ignite, and Armenia and
Karabakh may be left out of regional projects. They say Azerbaijan
has oil and gas, it can grow stronger and wage a war. Therefore,
our goal is to prevent the resumption of the war.

As to the compromise, they are not related to the principal issues. We
will never give away our independence, because otherwise everything
will become meaningless. We know what we can give away and what we
cannot give away. We must acknowledge one thing – we cannot be at
war for a hundred years, it is necessary to establish peace, and this
is the aim we pursue. I think we must not perceive the Azerbaijanis
as our eternal foes and we do not want the Azerbaijanis to perceive
us similarly. We need to persuade them to leave Karabakh alone, that
Karabakh won its right for independence, that it can be self-sufficient
and build a democratic state.

No international expert will argue if Karabakh is part of historical
Armenia or Azerbaijan. We have tried to go to the international court
for a number of times but nobody cares for the legal and historical
aspects of the issue.

Everyone insists on the political decision, which requires a
compromise. And it is acceptable if we are ready to give something
without endangering our independence and security," Arkady Ghukasyan
said.

AMENDMENTS TO NKR ELECTION CODE

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
12 March 07

NKR Central Electoral Commission drafted amendments to the Electoral
Code, considering the shortcomings of the previous parliamentary
elections and proposals of the international and local observers. The
chair of the CEC Sergey Nasibian says the NKR government approved
the draft, which will be presented to the National Assembly. "The
amendments are many. They are not related to the upcoming presidential
election but are intended to improve the Electoral Code to make
it comply with the European standards. The observers and the media
will have greater authority to cover and control the process from the
nomination to counting of votes. The media will have the right to take
photographs all through the process," said Sergey Nasibian. According
to him, the election will be held 50 days after the president abdicates
power. The National Assembly will appoint the day 100 days before the
voting day. The exact date will be set in one of the upcoming meetings
of parliament. The CEC is presently getting the exact number of the
citizens of NKR abroad. They will be able to vote in the legations
of Nagorno Karabakh abroad.

ABDULLAH GUL: ISSUE OF LOCAL CHARACTER, ARMENIAN CAUSE, HAS NO RIGHT TO POISON TURKISH-AMERICAN STRATEGIC RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12 2007

ANKARA, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian cause is not the
issue of the U.S. policy. An issue of local character has no right
to poison strategic relations of Turkey. Abdullah Gul, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Turkey made such a statement. Finishing the
American meetings and returning Ankara, he stated that U.S. President
George Bush prepares to write to the Congress, and Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice will have meetings with Congressmen to prevent
adoption of the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

"The Congressmen must first of all think of the U.S. interests. It
factually appears that on the one hand we shall work for stability
in Afghanistan, Iraq, together struggle against terrorism, together
implement drafts in the sphere of energetics, and on the other hand,
that resolution will be adopted. It may not be adopted. And I believe
that the U.S. government will interfere and warn the Congress that
its activity exposes the U.S. national security interests to danger."

AN OBVIOUS ECONOMIC STRUGGLE AGAINST "JERMUK" LAUNCHED IN THE WORLD MARKET

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 16:30

Obviously, an economic struggle against Armenian "Jermuk" has started
in the world market. According to economist Edward Aghajanyan, the
matter is that Italy, France and Germany are dominating in the world
market of mineral waters. Armenian "Jermuk" is pressing forward, that
is why it is natural that this struggle started just now. According to
his assessment, this market is a profitable one: a liter of "Jermuk"
costs more than a liter of oil.

Armenian "Jermuk" can have its place in the world market only in
case of having a corresponding brand, while no Armenian product has
an international brand today. To create an own brand long time and
large sums are needed.

According to Edward Aghajanyan, for overcoming the situation some
international brand should be taken, i.e. it is necessary to create a
joint enterprise with some company having international fame, which
will ensure the entry of Armenian "Jermuk" into the world market.

In his words, ever since Soviet times Armenia has exhausted only 1%
of its mineral water recourses. Currently the production of mineral
waters is rapidly progressing.
From: Baghdasarian

PERINCEK APPEALS THE VERDICT OF THE SWISS COURT

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 16:47

Turkish nationalist Dogu Perincek appealed the verdict of the Swiss
Court which sentenced him for denying the Armenian Genocide, his
attorney said yesterday.

According to the Associated Press, attorney Loran Moreyo declared
that the leader of the Turkish Workers’ Party submitted an appeal to
the District Court of Vo canton.

Let us remind that Dogu Perincek sentenced to 90 days of suspended
sentence and was fined $2 500. Judge Pierre- Henry Winzap called
Perincek "a nasty provoker driven by racist and nationalist
reasons." In response to this, Perincek declared that "the verdict
is the correct expression of the hatred of the Swiss judge against
Turkey and the Turkish nation."

NUMBER OF TOURISTS TO ARMENIA GROWS BY 19.6% IN 2006 ON PREVIOUS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, 381,136 tourists
visited Armenia against 318,563 tourists in 2005: the growth made
19.6%. According to reports submitted by hotels to the RA National
Statistical Service, in 2006, 54,474 tourists stayed at 40 hotels
of Armenia; in 2005, 50,025 tourists stayed at 39 hotels of the
country. In 2006, CIS countries accounted for 23.9% of the growth in
the number of tourists (in 2005 – for 29.4%), including Russia that
accounted for 17.6% of the total number of tourists in 2006 (for 22.8%
in 2005).

Tourists from European Union countries accounted for 35.5% of
the total number of tourists to Armenia in 2006 (in 2005, 29.2%),
including tourists from France 14.8% (8.9%), Germany – 5.3% (5.4%),
Great Britain – 5.3% (5.4%), tourists from other EU countries – 10.1%
(9.3%). Tourists from other countries accounted for 40.6% in 2006
(41.4% in 2005), from the US – 21.6% (22.5%), from Iran – 5.3% (7.5%).