Month: December 2008

ARMENIA REMEMBERS VICTIMS OF 1988 EARTHQUAKE

The Associated Press
December 7, 2008

GYUMRI, Armenia: Armenians marked the anniversary Sunday of a
devastating 1988 earthquake that left 25,000 people dead — even as
some of the survivors, 20 years later, remain homeless.

President Serge Sarkisian and the head of Armenia’s Orthodox Church,
Karekin II, unveiled a monument to the victims in the northern town
of Gyumri, which was nearly leveled by the magnitude 7.0 quake.

People throughout Armenia, a small Caucasus nation, observed a moment
of silence 11:41 a.m. (0741 GMT)_ the time the quake struck the
then-Soviet republic, leaving tens of thousands injured and homeless.

Critics attribute the high death toll to the poor quality of apartment
buildings and the inefficient response of emergency officials.

The Soviet government had promised to restore the area and
accommodate the homeless within a few years, but in 1991 Armenia
gained independence.

Restoration efforts were also stalled by Armenia’s war with neighboring
Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sarkisian promised Sunday to provide housing for 6,000 families who
still live in makeshift huts built shortly after the quake.

NKR PAID HOMAGE TO VICTIMS OF SPITAK EARTHQUAKE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2008-12-08 13:15
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The 20th anniversary of Spitak earthquake was observed in the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.

The NKR authorities, at the head of President Bako Sahakyan, the
National Assembly deputies, the republic’s government members,
representatives of the NKR Defense Army command, as well as the
staffs of establishments, departments, organizations and educational
institutions visited the Stepanakert Memorial Complex to lay flowers
and wreathes on the memorial to the victims of the earthquake.

A church service for the dead was held in St. Ghazanchetsots church
of Shushi by the spiritual servants of the Artsakh Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church.

"Today not only Artsakh shares the bitterness of the tragedy,
happened 20 years ago. The whole civilized world shared that sorrow
with us. The tragedy happened in the hottest period of the Nagorno
Karabakh liberation movement. Due to our unbending will and unity we
managed to some extent overcome the tragedy. The only way to hold
the victims in remembrance is to strengthen our homeland – Artsakh
and Armenia", NKR President Bako Sahakyan noted.

GOVERNMENT ADOPTED NKR LAW PROJECT ON STATE BUDGET 2009

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 01, 2008

On December 1, 2008, the regular session of the NKR Government chaired
by the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan took place. The first agenda
issue referred to the NKR law project "On NKR State Budget 2009", which
was presented by the NKR Deputy Minister of Finance M.Hakobjanyan. The
programme of the NKR Government activity, approved by the NKR National
Assembly, according to which in 2009 the economic growth recorded
in the Republic will be secured, served as a basis for the project
development, particularly, the gross domestic product is intended to
have an actual growth at 14 percent in 2009, which corresponds to the
obligations assumed by the NKR Government activity’s programme. It will
form 102.1 mlrd drams against 86.14 mlrd drams of the current year.

Own profits of the NKR State Budget in 2009 have been planned to form a
sum equal to 20912 mln drams, namely, the growth against 2008 will form
15.2 percent. According to the Budget project of 2009 the obligatory
payments on social insurance have been intended to form 5.2 mlrd drams,
which will exceed the level of maintained receipts in 2008 by 900
mln drams. As for official grants, 710 mln drams is expected to be
received from the Republic of Armenia for building and reconstruction
of the flats of the NKR perished for liberty soldiers’ families.

According to estimate, the deficiency of the NKR State Budget in 2009
will form 4490.1 mln drams. The deficiency financing is anticipated
to be implemented on account of borrowed means, free balance means at
the beginning of the year, on the basis of repayment of credits lent
during the previous years, and other foreign and domestic sources. The
volume of the State Budget forms 58.542.1 mln drams against 51.417.6
mln drams in 2008, or the growth forms 13.9 percent (7124.5 mln drams).

The average monthly rated salary of teachers and administration staff
of comprehensive schools were increased by 29.5 percent forming nearly
110 thousand drams. The salary of pedagogical, administrative and
school assisting personnel of educational institutions planned for
primary and secondary vocational education increased according to the
general principles of increases implemented in the system of general
education. The salary of the personnel of pre-school and extra-school
educational institutions was increased by 20 percent.

Increase of salaries of public health system employees’ is
also foreseen: 50 percent increase in the salary of doctors, 20
percent increase in that of hospital nurses. In tote, the expenses
of healthcare system make up a sum of 3.25 mlrd drams, which has
increased by 645.4 mln drams against 2008.

The rate of the main pension has increased by 17.6 percent making it
equal to 8000 drams against 6800 drams in 2008. The insurance value
per a year work experience has increased by 13.9 percent and forms
450 drams against 395 drams in 2008. The basic pension rate has also
increased by 16 percent and 5800 drams against 5000 drams in 2008 were
defined. For rendering benefits and aids 4.4 mlrd drams are envisaged
by the State Budget, which is by 600mln drams more than in 2008 (3.8
mlrd drams). On the whole, in 2009 to the sphere of social welfare 15.9
mlrd drams are allotted from the State Budget, which in comparison with
2008 is more by 2.2 mlrd drams, or the increase forms 16.1 percent.

Increase of salaries at 10 percent is envisaged in the sphere of
culture too . As a whole, expenses of sphere make 602, 3 mln drams,
which in comparison with 2008 is more by 32, 0 mln drams.

According to the State Budget project 2348.7 mln drams are envisaged
for the sphere of agriculture, which is 867.3 mln drams more in
comparison with 2008. 1624.4 mln drams subsidy against 1098 mln drams
in the previous year is foreseen to every community budget.

Calculations made for a state employee’s basic official rate of pay
formed 40000 drams, for an employee of the tax service it formed
55.5 thousand drams, and for compulsory executors’ – 42000 drams,
maintaining the level of 2008.

Summing up his speech, concerning the NKR law project "On NKR State
Budget 2009", the Prime Minister noted that the Government will try to
avoid ungrounded expenses in any possible way. The Government session
has approved the project of this law, which will be submitted to the
discussion of the NKR National Assembly.

After approving of the NKR law project on introducing changes and
additions to the NKR law "On NKR Budgetary System", the Government
had also affirmed the programme "On State Assistance to SME in 2009".

A wide range of resolutions, such as "On Tax Service", "On Taxes",
"On Profits Tax", "On Income Tax", "On Excise-Duty", "On VAT", "On
Trade Tax" aimed at optimization of tax field, to which additions
and changes must be introduced, was presented by the Chief of the NKR
State Tax Service A. Balayan and these law projects were approved by
the Government.

The session had also affirmed presented by the same service law
projects on making changes and additions to the NKR laws "On Affirmed
Payment", "On Arrangement and Realization of Supervisions in NKR",
"On Functioning of Cash Register Inspection Machines", as well as on
activities of persons using them.

According to the law projects on introducing changes and additions
into the NKR law "On Minimal Monthly Salary Size" presented by the NKR
Social Welfare Minister N.Azatyan, from January1, 2009, the defined
size of minimal monthly salary will form 30 thousand drams. According
to the law project on making changes and additions to the NKR law
"On Invalids’ Social Insurance", it was proposed from January1, 2009,
to cease granting of monthly allowance to invalid children and instead,
to increase the size of granted welfare payment. Instead of 8500 drams
benefit and 6000 drams monthly aid it will form 18000 drams. The
annual programme "On Invalids’ Social Insurance for 2009" was also
affirmed at the session, and the state programme "On Regulation of
Employment and List of Arrangements" was approved.

By the next agenda issue the Executive had approved the NKR law
project "On Affirmation of Healthcare State Purposeful Programmes
for 2009" and its’ submission to the discussion of the NKR National
Assembly. While discussing this project in the NKR NA the NKR Minister
of Healthcare A.Khachatryan was appointed the official representative
of the Government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The NKR state purposeful programme on scientific, scientific and
technical development for 2009, as well as the programme on development
of physical training and sport was approved by the NKR NA.

Law projects on making changes and additions to the NKR laws "On
NKR Citizenship", "On NKR Electoral Code", "On Military Service"
which will be also submitted for the discussion of the NKR NA were
affirmed by the Executive.

According to the Government resolution "On NKR Theatres" state non
commercial establishments, dated March 16, 2004 will be reorganized.

The Government had approved the annual programme on fight against
illegal circulation of narcotics and their usage for 2009, which will
be presented to the discussion of the National Assembly within the
project of the State Budget. Law projects "On Police Service" and
"On NKR Police’s Discipline Code Affirmation" will be submitted to
the discussion of the NKR NA.

R.Shaferyan, Chief of the NKR Police was appointed the official
Government representative.

On concluding the agenda, the session had accomplished its work.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SITTING OF STATE COMMISSION ON HOUSING PROGRAMMES’ SYSTEMATIZATION TOOK PLACE

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 01, 2008

On December 1, the regular session of the State Commission on Housing
Programmes’ Systematization chaired by the NKR Prime Minister Ara
Haroutyunyan took place. It resolved to suggest the NKR Government
implementing works for the settlement of housing problems of persons
and families involved in the agenda on account of the means anticipated
by the programme of decree 472 dated June 20, 2008, on affirmation of
the state order of capital investments to be implemented on account
of the NKR State Budget 2008. In compliance with this a resolution
was adopted to build a house in Karin Tak village of Shoushi region
for the perished soldier’s widow Yeranik Arstamyan. It was resolved
to buy a house for the perished soldier’s widow Svetlana Haroutyunyan
in Berdashen village of Martouni region and to construct detached
houses for the perished soldiers’ families in the villages Karin Tak
of Shoushi region and Berdashen of Martakert region (for Astghik
Avanesyan, Roza Abrahamyan in Karin Tak, Ksenya Aivazyan, Hamest
Petrosyan in Vaghuhas, Varya Sevyan, Seda Sevyan, Ruzanna Beknazaryan,
Alena Abrahamyan, Lida Abrahamyan in Khnkavan).

In the town of Shoushi and in the villages of Vaghuhas and Khnkavan
construction of houses for the socially needy families of NKR war
invalids Vardan Mirzoyan, Rafik Gharakhanyan, Hermon Verdyan, Vazgen
Mikaelyan, Pasha Beknazaryan, Rafik Verdyan, Areg and Lorik Abrahamyans
will be implemented.

During the session it was resolved to render the one-room flat N2 in
the Azatamartikneri street of Stepanakert to Artak Beglaryan, a first
group invalid out of paternal care, to conduct reconstruction works of
the house of children out of paternal care (Vagharshak Hakobjanyan)
in the village Sghnakh of Askeran region. The commission resolved
to render houses to four refugee families (Ashot Shaboyan, Valeri
Aroushanyan, Aleksandr Baghdasaryan and Mikael Abrahamyan) in the
district Ajapnyak of Stepanakert, to carry out reconstruction works
of the house belonging emigrant Seyran Avagyan’s family inhabiting
in the same district.

A resolution was adopted to buy a house for the refugee Slavik
Tevosyan’s necessitous family in the village of Badara and to buy a
two-room flat in Shoushi for the inhabitant of Stepanakert Kaitser
Aleksanyan (7 members in the family).

Thus the session accomplished its work.

* * *

After the NKR Government session had been accomplished a conference
at the NKR Prime-Minister Ara Haroutyunyan with participation of the
Heads of Regional Administrations took place, during which problems
concerning the overdue repayment of credits and the process of
agricultural works were discussed.

PROJECT OF NKR STATE BUDGET 2009 WAS SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 27, 2008

Today, the NKR Government submitted the project of the State
Budget 2009 of the Republic to the joint session of the NKR
National Assembly’s permanent commissions. The main data included
in the document were announced by the NKR Deputy Minister of Finance
M.Hakobjanyan. It was noted that in 2009 the incomes and expenses are
anticipated to form correspondingly 54 mlrd 52 mln 14.4 thousand and
58 mlrd 542 mln 100 thousand drams. The Budget deficit is anticipated
to form a sum of 4 mlrd 490 mln 85.6 thousand drams.

During the session the NKR Prime Minister delivered a speech,
introduced a number of macro indices and touched upon the pivotal
references holding a place in the financial project.

The NKR Prime Minister underlined that according to the middle-term
expense programme in 2008 the GDP should have formed 87 mlrd drams,
today it is expected to form 86.1 mlrd drams, which has increased
by 14.9 percent against the index of 2007 in case of 5.9 percent of
deflator. According to the middle-term expense programme 103 mlrd
drams and according to the State Budget project equal to 102.1 mlrd
drams was planned for 2009, which corresponds to an increase of 14
percent under the conditions of 4 percent of deflatinn. The average
annual real growth of 14 percent anticipated by the NKR Government
activity’s programme will be retained as well under these economically
hard conditions. The rates of growth will be retained, first of all,
due to agriculture, construction services and other spheres. In 2007
the GDP per head formed 1489 USA dollars, in 2008 it will form 2023,
and in 2009- 2400 dollars. In 2007 the State Budget own incomes against
the GDP formed 20.6 percent, which corresponds to 14.5 mlrd drams,
in 2008 it formed 21.1 percent, corresponding to 18.1 mlrd drams, in
2009 it will form 20.5 percent, correspondingly 20.9 mlrd drams. For
2009 the tax revenues are planned with a decrease of 1.8 mlrd drams
and the expenses with that of 2.3 mlrd drams, as compared with
the middle-term expense programme, which is stipulated by the "Base
Metals", the greatest tax-payer company, and tax payment decrease. In
2007 the tax payments of this company formed more than 40 percent
of the receipts recruited by the State Budget, in 2008 they will
form 20 percent and in 2009 up to 10 percent. Without "Base Metals"
the tax receipts of 2008 will increase by 50 percent against 2007.

In concern with expenses the NKR Prime Minister noted that according
to the Budget project of 2009 the factual expenses will increase by
6.5 mlrd drams in comparison with 2008 taking into account as well
the 600 mln drams’ deficit of receipts from capital services. In 2009
the increase of the salary fund will be equal to 3.2 mlrd drams and it
will form 16.3 mlrd drams. The expenses in the social sphere (pensions,
allowances, indemnities, etc) will increase by 2.2 mlrd drams and will
be equal to a sum of 15.9 mlrd drams. The grants rendered to Community
Budgets will increase by 526 mln drams and will form 7.62 mlrd drams.

Subsidies allotted to community budgets will increase by 526 mn
drams and will form 7.62 mlrd drams. Means rendered to the sphere of
agriculture will increase by 900 mln drams, which will be used for
realization of different agricultural state programmes and in tote
will form 2.35 mlrd drams, credit programmes excluding.

"I want, in particular, note that allotment of 340 mln drams assigned
for protection of monuments and that of 150 mln drams for formation
of the state fisc, by the way, was envisaged for the fist time,
regardless of the fact that, within the year additional means for
forming the state exchequers will also be allotted..

It is foreseen to assign 9.3 mlrd drams, or 1.8 mlrd drams more, to the
sphere of education, from which 6.85 mlrd drams will be destined for
salaries (42 percent of total salaries), which is by 1.45 mlrd drams
more than in 2008. Sums assigned to the sphere of higher education
will increase by 183 mln drams.

According to the State Budget 2009 capital investments will form 12
mlrd drams, which is 1.2 mlrd drams less in comparison with 2008.

The Prime Minister announced that a hypothecary fund is foreseen to be
founded, which will finance more than 3 mlrd drams for implementation
of programmes by securing the process. Moreover, about 3 mlrd drams
of bank resources are foreseen to draw in for realization of capital
construction programmes at state guarantee, as well as 300 mln drams
of draw in means – for supply. "We shall issue governmental bonds
at the rate of 1 mlrd drams, which will be aimed at shortening of
budget deficiency,-A.Haroutyunyan noted. He has qualified the State
Budget 2009, both like social and crisis-proof one, which will allow
providing high tempos of economic growth.

"Taking into consideration total volumes of draw in and off-budget
means and guarantees of the Budget, draw in sums, hypothecary market,
assistance envisaged for development of SME, unprecedented sums
assigned to the sphere of agriculture, growth of capital investments
foreseen by the State Budget and the heavy economic situation we shall
manage to record high tempos of economic development satisfying us
by the end of 2009,- the head of the NKR Government stated.

On delivering the speech, the Prime Minister answered deputies’
questions, gave additional clarifications, in particular, with regard
to the NKR fisc, house construction and other issues.

At the session, the Chairman of the NKR National Assembly Ashot
Ghoulyan spoke with his considerations in concern with the State
Budget. He attached importance to active cooperation between
legislative and executive authorities both in adoption of the document
and its implementation activities.

Discussions of the State Budget project with separate commissions,
according to spheres, will continue in the Parliament, within the
next few days.

The document will be finally adopted by the NA by the end of the
current year.

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT WAS PAID TO COMMEMORATION OF EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 08, 2008

On December 7, the Artsakh people paid a tribute of respect to the
commemoration of the great earthquake victims of Spitak. Thousands
of citizens, representatives of state and public structures visited
the memorial complex of Stepanakert. Wreaths were put at the monument
dedicated to the earthquake victims erected in the memorial complex
by the NKR President B.Sahakyan, the Prime Minister A.Haroutyunyan,
officials of executive, legislative, judicial and military authorities.

Liturgy was chanted in Artsakh churches in completion of the great
earthquake’s 20th year.

SPEECH OF TIGRAN SARGSYAN, THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EARTHQUAKE

n_centre_8/official_news_en.php?&date=12286800 00
Monday, 8th of December, 2008

Distinguished Guests;

Today, we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the disastrous earthquake
that took place on December 7, 1988. 20 years ago, our land was
shaken. Together with it, our hearts and minds were shaken. All
Armenians were shaken. The disaster claimed the lives of thousands of
innocent civilians, including a large number of children. One third
of our country was leveled to the ground. At the time, not everyone
was fully aware of the gravity of the tragic blow, and the impact it
would have in our people’s hearts and our country’s economy.

The situation looked desperate, but we did not fall into despair:
we stood strong, as we were supported by people from virtually every
corner of the earth, turning Armenia and the Earthquake Zone into a
zone of universal solidarity and compassion.

Today, we wish warmly and profoundly to thank all those that that
stood by our sides just after the earthquake, endangering and
sacrificing their lives, assisting and saving our fellow Armenians,
and for many years helping our country to overcome the consequences
of the catastrophe.

We remember everyone; we are grateful to them for their heroic deeds,
selfless philanthropy, and helping us out at difficult times.

The other reason why we did not fall into despair lay deeper:
we had history and genes of resisting pain–an inherent "program"
of survival. We withstood the disaster and struggled on several
fronts. The national revival of 1988 was a popular struggle for the
liberty of Armenia and Artsakh. When our land shook, some feared that
our people would shake and expected our faith and determination to
weaken. Those fears, however, were short-lived.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia was at the worst
starting point among all of the former Soviet republics: blockade,
energy crisis, war, and one third of the industry and housing stock
leveled to the ground.

This is to emphasize that, actually, we have travelled a much longer
path than may seem at first sight.

A breakthrough in the restoration of the Earthquake Zone was made
after 1998, when the ex-president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan,
declared the matter "one of honor to the state." During 1998-2006,
construction was carried out under various funding sources (state
budget, charitable and other organizations, and individuals). As a
result, over 20,000 families received new or improved housing. The
housing needs of 5,914 households were met through the provision of
Housing Purchase Certificates. A larger number of schools, health care
facilities, and cultural centers were constructed or renovated. Spitak,
the earthquake epicenter, and Gyumri began to look like towns again.

A large amount of work has been accomplished, but it is obviously
not sufficient. Twenty years have passed, but an enormous number of
challenges still remain in the Earthquake Zone, including the fact that
some families still remain without shelter. I would like to assure our
people that we have concrete plans and a clear timetable; our plans
will be implemented. Our country can afford to fill the remaining
gap. A variety of financing sources will be engaged in the process.

Though some of the earlier problems of the Earthquake Zone have
persisted, the regions affected by the earthquake now face many of
the same challenges that other regions of Armenia do. Of course, it
does not mean that the authorities will henceforth pay less attention
to this part of the country.

It only means that all the regions of Armenia should develop evenly.

President Sargsyan has already declared that, in the next few years,
we will finalize the solution of the housing problems of families
hit by the earthquake.

Under the Concept Paper for Solving the Housing Problems of Families
Left without Shelter Due to the Earthquake in the Earthquake Zone, at
least 4,883 new apartments and houses will be built by 2013, including:

-At least 2,300 apartments with the related services facilities will
be built in the Ani and Mush districts of Gyumri;

– 182 apartments in the Akhuryan Village of the S hirak Marz, including
the related service facilities;

– At least 226 individual houses in 10 rural settlements of the
Shirak Marz;

– At least 354 apartments in Spitak, including the related service
facilities; and

– At least 1,821 individual houses in 24 rural settlements of the
Lori Marz.

Besides, we plan to build another 49 apartments in Stepanavan under
the 2009 state budget. Under the "Housing through the Provision of
Housing Purchase Certificates" Program of the 2008 state budget,
268 families that lost their houses in the earthquake have already
been given the opportunity to purchase an apartment. 1,785 families
will be given the opportunity to solve their housing needs under the
same state-funded program during 2009-2012.

The Armenian Government has launched new plans and initiatives for
economic development of the North of Armenia. Gyumri, Vanadzor,
and other towns and villages can and should become modern centers
of entrepreneurship, culture, and sports; they will become transport
hubs. The progress in this field will be noticeable.

Dear Friends;

Today, 20 years after the earthquake, we honor the memory of many
thousands of victims. The greatest and irreversible loss is that of
human lives.

Everyone in Armenia personally experienced the grief of this
loss. Everyone lost a family member, relative, friend, or
acquaintance. It was a moment when everyone condoled e veryone else.

Now, our country, hardened by these challenges, continues its
path. We are on the path of creative work that will turn Armenia into
a prosperous country of well-educated and free people, tomorrow’s
Armenia. Our course is irreversible, as we are convinced that disasters
come and go, while fatherland eternally remains.

Thank you.

TWO QUESTIONS TO THE PATRIARCH

Azat Artsakh Daily
06 Dec 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

The appeal made during the assembly of the supreme religious council of
Echmiadzin (under the leadership of the Catholicos of all Armenians)
in connection with the encroachments upon St. Astvatsatsin church of
Norashen leads to the belief that the Patriarch of our church is not
indifferent to the violent seizure of the church and the elimination of
all the Armenian symbols by the Georgian church. It should be noted,
however, that back in March 1995 when our Patriarch was the primate
of the Ararat diocese, he had the occasion to express his concerns
to Ilya II.

In the period between the above mentioned addresses and appeals,
the Georgian church managed to eliminate the traces of the Armenian
history, architecture and art (a sacristy, cross-stones engraved
on the walls, cuneiform inscriptions, wall paintings, tomb-stones
etc.) and even a Georgian graveyard was built nearby the southern
wall of the church with the tomb stones stolen from the graves of
the Georgian cemetery of the village of Mlet, Doushet region.

All over the world, any person who is guilty of a crime is subjected to
liability and convicted. No one on earth has ever turned to a criminal
with a request not to commit a crime anymore. So addressing a message
or appeal instead of filing a case means that we will have to record
new spir itual and cultural losses before we hear our church voice
its next "address and appeal".

The next issue arousing concern is the Patriarch’s statement with
regard to the recent clashes between the Mayor of Gyumri and the
primate of the Diocese of Shirak. In particular, the Patriarch said
that Bishop Mikayel Ajapahyan is capable of protecting himself and
does not need the protection of the Catholicos.

In view of the fact that dioceses are the new pillars of the
church, with the Catholicos being on the top, it becomes clear that
any encroachment upon the diocese is actually a blow to the given
structure. Therefore, the protection of the diocesan in this particular
case was first of all the primary and unreserved duty of the Patriarch,
as may be the case with a Commander who protects his officer corps.

If there is no officer corps, there can’t be any officer, and woe to
the Army whose General thinks that the protection of his officer and
soldiers is none of his business.

SAMVEL KARAPETYAN Head of the "Armenian Architectural Monuments
Study" NGO

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS YET FAR FROM FINISH-LINE
Lilit Poghosyan

Azat Artsakh Daily
06 Dec 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

So, the session of the Council of the Foreign Ministers of
OSCE member states launched on December 4 in Helsinki and the
"optimistic" predictions to make the regular meeting in Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen-Nalbandyan-Mamedyarov format previewed in the before
mentioned framework historical and crucial, didn’t go beyond "kind
wishes".

Though OSCE Chairman in office Alexander Strub hurried (or maybe hoped
to preview to coming events), to announce that the Helsinki meeting
of the Foreign Ministers of OSCE member states will most probably
be marked by the adoption of the declaration on Nagorno Karabakh,
nothing fatal happened in Helsinki.

The "political and politological" circles that take at face value the
announcements made by Azerbaijani and western officials over again
became confident that not to appear in ridiculous situation it would
be helpful to trust our local authorities as well. In this special case
the conversation is about Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan,
who, in the person of the Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry have
unequivocally refuted the rumors about the adoption of the declaration.

With their joint announcement the representatives of Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen countries, the Russian, French Foreign Ministers and
the US Deputy Secret ary of State one more time enshrined that
"Karabakh Conflict can’t have military settlement and they called
the two parties to make efforts during the coming months "to finish
their work around the main principles of the settlement and later
to set about the elaboration of the bill of a universal peace treaty
based on those principles" they reiterated their loyalty towards the
peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Nothing more.

Thus the Minsk Group reiterated something that was clear, at least
after the last visit of the Co-Chairman: that is to say it is not
possible to record any "breakthrough" in the settlement process, at
least at this refuge. The American Co-Chairman Mathew Brize, by the
way, quite realistically stated this. He said that the regular meeting
in the framework of Minsk Group was far not extraordinary. "It happened
because we all were here and we were expecting a breakthrough".

Of course, this time as well Brize remained loyal to the creation
of a public livelihood around him. Firstly he made the Azerbaijani
journalists happy, by saying that "the peace treaty must start
from territorial integrity because that principle works all over
the world. But the treaty can’t exist without the points about
self-determination."

To which Nalbandyan responded in a very rude manner: "I would like
to think that Brize hasn’t made similar ann ouncement, because it
doesn’t seem to be an announcement made on the level of a Co-Chairman,
but rather a person who is not interested in the right course of
the negotiations, who doesn’t want the negotiations to continue. I
hope he hasn’t made similar announcement, maybe he wanted to say
something else.

The American diplomat "justified" the hopes of the RA Foreign
Minister, as a rule over again refuted himself, saying that he
hasn’t said such a thing. What he really wanted to do was to make
the Azerbaijani journalists understand that while Ilham Aliev insists
on the principle of territorial integrity, Serge Sargsyan insists on
the right of self-determination. And that in this case the settlement
must be based on all the 3 Helsinki principles: territorial integrity,
nations’ right to self-determination and not using force.

It is noteworthy that only one of the before mentioned principals:
territorial integrity matches with Azerbaijan’s aspirations, the
other two: self-determination and not using force comply with the
stance of the Armenian party.

Thus the Helsinki process gave nothing new to the two parties or to
the Co-Chairmen.

The only new thing expressed by the joint announcement made by the
Foreign Ministers of the Co-Chairman countries was the exhortation
addressed to the parties to withdraw the snipers from the conflict zone
as a manifestation of mutual trust, to save the lives of the innocent
people and the soldiers and to establish stable cease-fire regime."

We must underscore that this clause is addressed to Azerbaijan –
if not absolutely at least mainly. Because it is Azerbaijan that
time after time makes provocative actions in Armenian-Azerbaijani
contact line. It is Azerbaijan that stubbornly hinders the efforts
of the international community to hold monitoring linked with the
breaching of the ceasefire. It is Azerbaijan’s President that makes
bellicose announcements recording with pride that Moscow declaration
is far not an obstacle for re-starting military actions.

If we add to all the before mentioned the "autonomous" announcement
made by RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying that the Moscow
declaration gave a powerful signal to the settlement process of
Karabakh conflict, then it becomes clear that the Foreign Ministers
of OSCE member states and the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen confessed their
powerlessness in Helsinki to bring closer the diametrically different
approaches of the two sides, around the document enshrining the main
principles, which will be acceptable for the Co-Chairmen as well.

For the simple reason that besides Karabakh status and Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity they are mainly interested in deploying
peacekeeping forces, the before mentioned is simply insolvable because
of Russia-USA rivalry.

And the fact that Karabakh is estranged from Minsk Group process and
as Brize underscored it is not yet known when it will be "formally"
involved in the negotiation format proves that the negotiations are
far from the finish line.

ORATORY AND POLITICAL DECISIONS ARE DIFFERENT
Gevorg Haroutyunyan

Azat Artsakh Daily
06 Dec 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

Interview with HRAYR KARAPETYAN, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly

"Mr. Karapetyan, how do you estimate the statement made by the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in Helsinki?"

"I don’t think the Helsinki statement contains any extraordinary
clauses. Anyway, they didn’t say anything we hadn’t heard before.

Neither did they take any action we hadn’t been aware of. What
the Russian, French and American Foreign Ministers did was just
the reiteration of the clauses enshrined in the trilateral Moscow
Declaration.

I was more surprised by the contradictory statements made by American
Co-Chair Matthew Bryza. Unfortunately, this is not the first case,
and in this respect, Bryza may be considered a record holder as a
politician and diplomat.

He is reported to have first appealed to the parties to start the
settlement of the Artsakh issue with the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and then rejected his own proposal. I think as a responsible
politician and diplomat representing a superpower he should have a
more serious attitude to his obligations.

Unfortunately, the fact that this particular figure lacks seriousness
is not something new to us. With regard to the Armenian-Turkish
relations, Mr.

Bryza again represented his desires as some thing real. Our President
did, of course, make a real step by taking advantage of the football
match between the Armenian and Turkish representative teams and
inviting the Turkish President to Armenia, but the official Ankara
has not made any political or diplomatic response so far.

Moreover, what is happening now is just the contrary, because we more
often hear different responsible Turkish officials make statements
directly reiterating the traditional approaches of that country.

Unfortunately, Turkey has not made any positive step in its
relationship with Armenia. Whereas it is obvious that the country
uses advocacy tools, and deliberately represents Mr. Gul’s visit
to Armenia as an attemet of establishing warmer relations with our
country. And by doing this, it making an attempt to hamper the process
of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide."

"In its plenary session, the ARFD Bureau made a decision that the
mutual concessions with regard to the Karabakh settlement process be
adequately, proportionally and simultaneously involved in the system
of package settlement. Can this be considered as a denial of one
of the Helsinki statements or do the basic principles of conflict
settlement need to be specified during the upcoming months?"

"Oratory and political decisions and actions are different things. The
decision of the ARFD Bureau naturally expresses the approaches
and principles of Dashnaktsutyun. Our party doesn’t have essential
arguments to the settlement principles declared by President Serge
Sargsyan.

I believe, not only Dashnaktsutyun but also any other political
force guiding itself by national interests cannot disagree with
the principles according to which Nagorno Karabakh cannot form part
of Azerbaijan in any status. The NKR should receive international
security guarantees and have a land border with Armenia.

Of course, the political negotiations are based on mutual concessions,
and we all should realize this. We are also required to realize the
fact that we do not want a war. We have held victory in a war imposed
on us, and we are trying to fix that victory in a relevant document.

Our enemy too, is naturally trying to extort something. Although one
of the negotiating parties is periodically making bellicose statements
pursuing propaganda goals, all the settlement principles are enshrined
in the official documents. If one of the parties violates that
principle tomorrow (we also know which party it is), it will find
itself in a strictly unfavorable and dangerous situation.

For us, this is an ace which we must be able to use for our
propaganda. And we must never cease that propaganda, at least for
an instant."