Month: July 2007

PACE PRESIDENT: FROZEN CONFLICTS MUST BE SOLVED

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2007

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Frozen conflicts must be solved, said the
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) Rene van der Linden on eve of visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia scheduled for July 4-10.

"This is an important region for the Council of Europe, and my main
aim in returning here is to see how we can do more to solve the frozen
conflicts in the countries concerned ", he said.

Rene van der Linden pointed out that only the settlement of the
conflicts will enable the peaceful development of the region in the
interest of all its peoples and the building of one Europe without
dividing lines, the Information Office of the Council of Europe
reported.

Within the regional visit to visit Armenia (4-5 July), Georgia (5-7
July) and Azerbaijan (8-10 July) the PACE President will meet with the
presidents, leading members of the parliament and the governments of
the South Caucasus countries, as well as with leaders of political
forces, representatives of civil society, mass media and religious
leaders.

PACE President also intends to raise the rights of the opposition,
freedom of expression, the role of civil society, intercultural and
inter-religious dialogue.

KARABAKH GOVERNMENT’S RIGHT HAND IS UNAWARE OF WHAT ITS LEFT HAND IS DOING

Lragir.am
KarabakhOpen
03-07-2007 19:33:38

On July 3 an interesting thing happened at the Caucasus Analytical
Center which is based in Yerevan, where Armenian experts work,
but which is funded from a Russian source. The Caucasus Analytical
Center held a discussion on the presidential election of NKR headlined
View from Yerevan. Analysts, experts, politicians of Armenia had been
invited. From Masis Mayilyan’s team the head of Stepanakert Press Club,
editor of the Demo Public Newspaper, NKR Member of Parliament Gegham
Baghdasaryan was present. The representatives of Bako Sahakyan and
the other candidates did not turn up.

But since Sahakyan is the government’s candidate, NKR President
Ghukasyan had stated a few hours before the round-table meeting that
the former foreign minister of NKR, adviser to president Arman Melikyan
would represent Bako Sahakyan. However, this representation lasted
short although highly notable. After the address of the organizers
Arman Melikyan made an unexpected statement. The meaning of the
statement was the discussion was impertinent and in some sense also
highly unpleasant. According to Arman Melikyan, it would be acceptable
to discuss the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, or the territories,
but it is unacceptable when the presidential election of Karabakh
is discussed in Armenia at the Caucasus Analytical Center funded by
Russia. And it means that a third country is trying to influence the
outcome of the presidential election in Karabakh.

"What we are now discussing is apparently the disbelief that the people
of Karabakh may make a choice at best, or an effort to predetermine
the election, the outcome of the election, or try to influence
it at worst. It would be OK if an Armenian political party or NGO
held this discussion, but unfortunately – this is not an accusation
against my colleagues – unfortunately, this is a conference held by
a third country where the Armenian experts, in fact, there are also
representatives of Karabakh, must discuss the election of another
state," Arman Melikyan says.

He is right. But perhaps Arman Melikyan had better be guided by this
patriotic and dignified approach in performing his duties. And his
duties are to give advice to the president of NKR because he is adviser
to NKR president. For instance, like Arman Melikyan explained the
subtlety of the situation to the experts, perhaps he should explain
it to the NKR president as well who has recently addressed another
Russian institution based in Armenia, the Armenia-Russian Slavic
University and endorsed Bako Sahakyan.

Or does Arman Melikyan think Arkady Ghukasyan may speak about the
presidential election of Karabakh in Russian institutions, and other
may not? Or why did Arman Melikyan fail to advise the president of
Karabakh not to meet with the delegation from Russia led by the
Armenian and Azerbaijani ambassadors to Russia? Why? Because a
pre-election stage is underway in Karabakh, and this visit could
be viewed as support for the policy of the Karabakh government
and consequently for Bako Sahakyan who is ready to carry on this
policy. Why did Arman Melikyan fail to advise the president of Karabakh
to respond, not personally or maybe through advisers or ministers to
the articles in the Russian media on the NKR presidential election
which uphold the idea that everything is predetermined and Bako
Sahakyan will be elected.

Although perhaps Arman Melikyan gave advice to Arkady Ghukasyan but
Arkady Ghukasyan did not take it and all Melikyan can do is to give
advice to others. He cannot keep it all inside his head.

JUST RUSSIA, ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION DASHNAKTSUTYUN SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2007

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Just Russia political party signed Tuesday
a cooperation agreement with Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun, RIA Novosti News Agency reports.

The agreement was signed between Sergey Mironov, the Russian party
leader and Russian Federation Council speaker, and Armen Rustamyan,
chairman of Dashnaktsutyun.

Mironov thinks this agreement paves a way for further cooperation
among CIS member countries’ socialists parties.

Vahan Hovhannisyan, a member of Armenian Revolutionary Federation
board, said Dashnaktsutyun is the only party in CIS enjoying fool
membership in Socintern.

In his opinion, the world socialist movement "is not complete without
Russian component".

"We’ll be working together to put ideas of socialism, democracy and
justice into reality", Hovhannisyan.

Dashnaktsutyun has offices in 30 countries.

LET’S GIVE ARMENIAN NAMES TO CHILDREN

KarabakhOpen
03-07-2007 11:52:06

The youth election headquarters which said to support Bako Sahakyan
continues pre-election events. The press service of the headquarters
reported to KarabakhOpen.com that the youth organizations held an
event "Let’s give Armenian names to children." The event was held at
the Republic Maternity Hospital. A list of Armenian names was made
which will be hung in all the maternity wards.

According to the message of the press service, the staff of the
maternity hospital approved this initiative. According to the head
of the Center of Mother and Child Health V. Osipov, the rate of birth
has increased in Stepanakert over the past year.

The young people gave presents to future mothers.

ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMAN URGES CITIZENS TO PAY GREATER ATTENTION TO PAPERS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2007

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Armenian Constitutional Court Chairman Gagik
Harutyunyan, speaking Tuesday at the court session, urged citizens
to pay greater attention to the papers they submit.

"Very often citizens appeal to Constitutional Court without resorting
to qualified lawyers’ help, since they don’t realize how serious this
institution is. That is why there are many errors in their papers",
he said.

As an example of these errors, Harutyunyan singled out Arshaluys
Hakobyan, who disputes Civil Code’s provision N 313 insisting that
it contradicts the Constitution. The plaintiff was surprised when
told that the defender would be National Assembly.

HOW EFFECTIVE "POLISHED MEETINGS" WILL BE

KarabakhOpen
03-07-2007 11:51:29

The Armenian society was controversial about the visit of the
Azerbaijani delegation to Karabakh.

KarabakhOpen.com asked Shushan Khatlamajyan, coordinator of the
Institute of Civil Society and Regional Development (Yerevan), to
comment on this visit.

"The one-day visit of the Armenian and Azerbaijani scholars
Stepanakert-Baku-Yerevan was "served" by the Kremlin, and nobody
denies this. The ambassadors of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia held
consultations, and the scholars got the support of the presidents of
both countries to prepare for their tour. The most important site in
this itinerary was Stepanakert where the delegations and ambassadors
Armen Smbatyan and Polad Byul-Byul-Oghli met with NKR President
Ghukasyan. What does this mean, and why does it take place now?

Transformation and settlement of conflicts is impossible without
contacts and communication. It is the ABC of conflict management. It
is constantly asserted that it is necessary to set up contacts and
build confidence between the Armenian and Azerbaijani societies but no
result. Baku is known to disagree to compromise. So what has changed?

The issue was initiated by Moscow which wants to be in the avant-garde
of conflicts in the post-Soviet space, but Russia is not always
successful and not everywhere. In particular, with regard to the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Moscow is under pressure
(it is evident from the joining of Matthew Bryza with the Minsk
Group). Besides, Moscow does not have possibility, means and ideas
for sustaining its engagement in this process.

In the meantime, the Kremlin decided to launch a pro-active external
policy and gave corresponding instructions to the foreign ministry
of Russia.

Therefore, I think the so-called initiative of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani ambassadors of the official news releases and media reports
was initiated and thoroughly prepared by Moscow, which did not have
to beg Yerevan and Stepanakert. As to the arrival of Azerbaijanis,
the issue was solved at a higher level, probably between Aliyev and
Putin. They first convinced the latter of the "innocence" of the
tour, and more importantly, its benefit for the improvement of the
non-constructive image of Baku in the talks on Karabakh.

It is possible that similar contacts will be set up proceeding
from the same logic. However, for the time being, it is not clear
how effective these "polished meetings" Moscow pushes the conflict
sides to make will be, and whether Aliyev will have to "okay" every
time. It is highly probable with regard to the secret political aims
of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. All this sounds
highly doubtful. The impression is that the imitation of resolution
is shifted to a new level," Shushan Khatlamajyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PUBLISHES SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF DM OFFICIALS WITH POPULATION

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2007

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. The press-service of the Armenian defense
ministry published the schedule of meetings of DM officials with
the population.

DM Press-Secretary Seyran Shahsouvaryan, receptions will be held
at the republican military registration and enlistment office (5
Moskovian st. Yerevan), starting from 17:00.

In particular, Defense Minister Michael Haroutounyan will meet with
citizens on the first Tuesday of each month, Head of Staff of the
Armenian armed forces, first Deputy Defense Minister, and Colonel
Seyran Ohanyan – on the first Friday of each month.

Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Yuri Khachaturov will
receive citizens on the Tuesday of the third weak of each month, Deputy
Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Melkonyan – on the Friday of the
third weak of each month, Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General
A. Mirzabekyan – on the Friday of the fourth week of each month.

In addition, Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General M. Grigoryan
will hold a reception for citizens in the building of the Union of
Yerkrap Volunteers on the Tuesday of the second week of each month.

Citizens should register for the reception at the republican military
registration and enlistment office beforehand.

FIRST ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL HIGH TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN SAN FRANCISCO

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2007

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. ArmTech, the first international high
technology conference and exhibition for professionals interested in
the rapidly developing tech sector in Armenia, is to be held at the
Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, California from July 4 to 7, 2007,
Armenian Competitive Private Sector Project (CAPS) Program’s office
reported on Monday.

This conference will provide opportunities for Armenian IT companies
to showcase their products and services, meet potential investors
and business partners, and establish other contacts with important
members of the global IT and high-tech community.

Congress organizers also seek to promote opportunities to do business,
recruit, and invest in Armenian high tech companies. Over 500 companies
are expected to participate in the Congress, CAPS office says.

ArmTech’s organizational sponsors include the Armenian Development
Agency (ADA), AGBU, and USAID through the CAPS and HICD programs.

CAPS and HICD are providing investment planning support to
participating companies and assisting them to attend the conference.

Corporate sponsors include: Synopsis, VivaCell, Armenia TV, Viasphere
Technopark, Impreva Labs, R2E2 fund, Sonics, Virage Logic, Morgan
Stanley, and Ponte Solutions.

Among participants of the opening ceremony of the Exhibition are
Mr. Vardan Oskanyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and high-ranking
officials from international investment community.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH MUST INTENSIFY ITS WORK TOWARDS ITS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

arminfo
2007-07-03 23:19:00

Nagorno-Karabakh must intensify its work towards its international
recognition, Nagorno-Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassyan said while
giving a lecture in Russian-Armenian University today.

"If Azerbaijan continues doing propaganda instead of searching for
solutions to the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, we will have to review
some of our approaches and to search for ways-out of this situation,"
Ghoukassyan said. He noted that neither the international law not
the UN charter exclude support for nations seeking self-determination.

Nagorno-Karabakh has explained to the international community why it
wants independence and hopes for their understanding.

The key argument of Nagorno-Karabakh in the matter is that all its
efforts to involve Azerbaijan in constructive peace process are
failing. And so, it can ask the international community to consider
recognizing our independence irrespective of Azerbaijan’s position.

"We don’t say that we have already solved our problems and we do
not care for Azerbaijan’s opinion. We urge Baku to jointly solve the
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status. If they ignore our calls we will
intensify our efforts in international organizations," Ghoukassyan
said. He noted that the only factor keeping Nagorno-Karabakh from
this step is the urges not to hurry and the assurances that there
is still hope for progress. Today, the world is obsessed with the
idea of political solution but if we worked with legislation a bit,
we would be able to pave the way for political solution.

PRIVATE TRANSFERS SENT BY ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES EXCEED AZERBAIJAN’S OIL FUND

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2007

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Private transfers coming here from overseas
Armenian communities exceed Azerbaijan’s oil fund, Armen Darbinyan,
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University rector and former prime
minister, said Monday while speaking for the attendees of the
university’s Summer School.

In his lecture, Darbinyan said that $1.5 billion was transferred to
Armenia last year while Azerbaijan gained only $1.3bln from exporting
its oil.

Darbinyan said that Armenian communities in Russia, the United States,
France and Latin American countries are quite strong.

"These people constitute a huge capacity for lobbying Armenian
political interests and contributing to Armenian economy", he said.

Central Bank of Armenia says 504.7bln (about $1.2bln) was transferred
to Armenia in 2006 by individuals through Armenian banking system.