Author: Chalian Meline

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 15 2007

Council of Europe’s AGO Group to Join Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Settlement
15.12.07 14:12

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend A.Ismaylova / The Council of Europe’s
AGO Group intends to join the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement in
context of human rights, the Ambassador of AGO Group, Pier Sjogren,
said in an interview with Trend on 15 December.

According to him, the AGO Group is prepared to track the process of
democratization, ensuring human rights in Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh. AGO Group has already been supported in this regard
by the Governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia, he said.

The Ambassador said that the AGO Group intends to visit
Nagorno-Karabakh. Yet the details of the visit have not been
determined.

According to him, returning the Azerbaijani community of
Nagorno-Karabakh to their native lands is very important issue in the
aspect of ensuring human rights.

Russia & CIS Military Newswire
December 14, 2007 Friday 12:16 PM MSK

Armenia could withdraw from CFE Treaty if neighbors review it – MP

YEREVAN Dec 14

Armenia could withdraw from the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
(CFE) Treaty only if its closest neighbors show their intention to
review the document, deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament Vaan
Ovannisian said.

"Armenia, at least today, will not gain any advantage if it revises
the document. Moreover, Azerbaijan, which is a CFE Treaty signatory
as well, does not restrain itself in buying arms," Ovannisian said.

Speaking about Russia’s moratorium on the CFE Treaty, the deputy
speaker said that Russia’s withdrawal from the treaty is not
dangerous, "because its military strategy does not deal with any
claims or aggressive programs."

"By suspending the CFE Treaty, Russia rectifies the mistakes made by
Russian authorities in the early 1990s," Ovannisian said. It would
have been more correct to create legal obstacles to NATO expansion
then, he said.

"Russia either was not able or was reluctant to lay down conditions
as to NATO’s constant expansion on the territory of the former USSR,
which together with the aspiration of some former post-Soviet states
to join the alliance, quite naturally, should make Russia concerned.

"This was not done and now Russia has taken countermeasures,"
Ovannisian said.

MICHAEL HARUTYUNYAN: WAR WILL NOT SOLVE THE KARABAKH ISSUE

armradio.am
14.12.2007 14:43

"There is no mention of any hostile country in our Military
Doctrine. Of course, there are confrontations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan: there is the Nagorno Karabakh issue, which should be
solved at the bargaining table, and not via war," RA Defense Minister
Michael Harutyunyan declared during the parliamentary hearings on the
Military Doctrine of the Republic of Armenia Organized by NA Standing
Committee on Defense, National Security and Interior Affairs.

"I have always said that war will not solve the Karabakh issue,"
the Minister added, noting that sooner or later the conflict will be
settled through negotiation. He recalled his Azerbaijani counterpart
Safar Abiyev’s statement on 100% probability of war. "We had better
escape the war, settle the issue through negotiations and give the
people of Artsakh what they want," Mr. Harutyunyan said.

NATO experts have severely criticized the stipulation of the
Azerbaijani Military Doctrine that in case the Karabakh conflict is
not resolved through negotiations, Azerbaijan apply military means.

6,284 NEW CARS AND 16.6 THOUSAND USED ONES IMPORTED INTO ARMENIA IN 2006

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. 4,491 cars were imported into
Armenia in 2006 by 7 legal entities and 3 natural persons operating
in the market of new passenger cars of Russian production. According
to the RA State Customs Committee, Armenia Lada has the largest share
of sales in the commodity market – 80.18%, followed by Carcomavto –
19.95%. Studies showed that the sale prices of some types of VAZ
and GAZ cars (made in Russia) rose in 2006 as compared with the
previous year.

1,793 new passenger cars were imported from other countries into
Armenia by 30 legal entities and 48 natural persons in 2006. 1,263
cars were imported by legal entities, 530 – by natural persons.

Besides, 1.1 thousand used cars of Russian production and 15.5 thousand
used cars of non-Russian production were imported into Armenia in 2006.

It is noteworthy that out of the economic entities importing cars into
Armenia, 14 ones are official representatives of foreign companies.

ARMENIAN AND U.S. GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP BILATERAL ACTION PLAN ON FIGHT AGAINST SMUGGLING OF NUCLEAR AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Preliminary discussions were held
on December 10 between the Armenian and US governments within the
framework of the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI). NT
was informed by the US embassy in Armenia that the purpose of these
discussions is to develop a bilateral action plan on the fight against
smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials.

U.S. and Armenian officials discussed the possible ways of
cooperation on prevention, detection and response to smuggling
of nuclear and radioactive materials. The two sides confirmed the
necessity of coordinated actions in the fight against smuggling of
nuclear materials.

Within the framework of the NSOI, the United States has already
signed bilateral action plans on the fight against smuggling of
nuclear and radioactive materials with Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan
and Kyrghyzstan.

The U.S. officials intend to visit Armenia again in the spring of
2008 in order to continue discussions.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I MEETS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

On Friday, December 7, 2007, in the context of the annual meeting of the
Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations, a meeting was
held at the Anglican Cathedral of Cairo.

His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy (Co-Chairman of the Anglican-Oriental
Orthodox International Commission), His Grace Bishop Nareg Alemezian
(Co-Secretary of the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission),
Rt Revd Bishop Geoffrey Rowell (Co-Chairman of the Anglican-Oriental
Orthodox International Commission) and five members of this Anglican
Commission, headed by its Chair Most Revd Archbishop Drexel Gomez
participated in this meeting.

Archbishop Gomez conveyed the greetings of the Archbishop of Canterbury, His
Grace Rowan Williams and said that the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on
Ecumenical Relations appreciates the Oriental Orthodox-Anglican contacts of
the last couple of months, in which the meeting of Archbishop Williams with
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I in Antelias has a special significance in the
prospect of resuming the meetings of the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox
International Commission.

Both Oriental Orthodox and Anglican participants in the meeting promised to
explore all the possibilities with their respective church authorities for
the reconvening of the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

3/
Junior Eurovision Song Contest Official Website
Dec. 2007

Armenia
Participants: AREVIK
Song: Erazanq (A Dream)

About the participants

The AREVIK children and youth pop-folk ensemble will perform a song
written by the 15-year old Mariana Javakhyan. Anahit and Christine,
both 10 years old, will help the author of the song to perform it
live on stage. Sargis Mzikyan wrote the lyrics. All other
participants are backing vocalists who will try to amuse the audience
and viewers with a lively dance.

AREVIK is 29-year old ensemble of the Public Radio of Armenia. During
these years, a number of songs was recorded. The group had concerts
in many countries such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Iraq, and
the USA and also in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Odessa and Crimea.

At least seven generations were represented in the group since its
foundation. The kids of AREVIK will make you smile on a rainy day,
and therefore they are often called "the singing Armenian sun."

About the song
The song Erazanq (A Dream) is about the moon, the sun and the fairy,
that hopefully makes all your dreams come true.

(in Armenian)
Mets erknqum paylogh astgher
Dzez khndrum em indz hima tareq verev,
Vor erknqic nayem nerqev,
Im paylov siro luyser ayntegh varem.
Im lav sirun, poqrik lusin,
Qez khndrum em yes du indz dir qo usin,
Togh erkusov paylenk u shoghank, vor
Bolorin tva, te ka erku lusin.

Erazanqneri bari peri, qez khndrum enq
Mer eraze var du katarir,
U manuknerin anhog, bari
Anhamar erger, urakh orer du pargevir.
Erazanqneri bari peri, qez khndrum enq
Mer eraze var du katarir,
U manuknerin, u manuknerin du anhog orer pargevir.

Togh vor tanenq mez het aysor
Voghj astghere, vor tvum en heru, bayc mot.
Ajd zhamanak arden menq el dzez pes
Kpaylenq u kshoghanq arevi pes.

Hey-hey, sirun lusin, bark arev anmar,
Mez hamar garunner bereq luse,
Nor erger u ser.

(in English)
Stars, shining above in a big sky
Please take me up with you
For I need to look at the Earth
And burn the lights of love with my glow.
My dear beautiful and small Moon,
I ask you to carry me on your shoulder.
Let us shine and glow
Like there are two moons in the sky.

Dear Fairy of our dreams
We ask you to make our bright dreams come true and
Please favor with innumerable songs and joyful days
All light-hearted and kind children,
And favor all kids with joyful days

Let us take with us today
All the stars that seem so far, but they are close.
We will shine and glow then
Like everyone, like the Sun.

Hey-hey, beautiful Moon and Bright Shining Sun,
Please bring us sunny springs,
New songs and love.

WATCH THE VIDEO ON LINE
66/293/

Azerbaijani MP offers holding debates on Nagorno Karabakh in parliament

2007-12-08 13:10:00

ArmInfo. Parliamentarian Gudrat Hasanguliyev offered in today’s sitting
of the parliament to hold discussions on Nagorno Karabakh, APA reports.
As APA reports, he mentioned that such a discussion was held in the
parliament during Heydar Aliyev’s presidency. Mr. Hasanguliyev noted
that the document on Nagorno Karabakh presented to the sides in Madrid
does not meet Azerbaijan’s interests. The parliamentarian offered to
invite Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to parliament and
hold discussions. "People should know what issues the 10-item document
covers," he
said. Gudrat Hasanguliyev also said that Armenia will not compromise,
unless Azerbaijan refuses commitment on peaceful solution to the
conflict.

Panorama.am

16:37 05/12/2007

WILL THE STRONG POLITICAL TEAM TAKE UP THE MANAGEMENT
OF THE CITY?

NA blocks expressed their opinion on the bill on local
self government and territorial management in Yerevan.
Stiopa Safaryan, secretary of Zharangutiun block
submitted several suggestions and informed that they
will take part in the discussions running around the
bill. They suggest that the number of elders go down
of 65 and that the mayor is not elected through
indirect elections.
Hrair Karapetyan, leader of Dashnaksutiun block,
underscored the adoption of the bill which transforms
Yerevan from a status of marz into a community. ”We
would prefer the mayor be election by the residents
but even in case of indirect elections, mechanical
election must be excluded,” Karapetyan said voicing
his joy that the shameful elections of the local
self-government heads will disappear.
Naira Zorabyan from Prosperous Armenia said they have
no suggestions and will certainly vote for the bill.

The Republican block also supports the bill. Samvel
Nikoyan, block secretary, spoke against the concerns
that the elections of the mayor through indirect
elections are not democratic. He also said the
strongest political team will take up the management
of the city.

Source: Panorama.am

EurasiaNet, NY
Dec 7 2007

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: MEDIATORS STRIVE TO KEEP PEACE-TALK PARTICIPANTS
"ON THE SAME PAGE"

Jean-Christophe Peuch 12/07/07

Mediators seeking to break the deadlock surrounding the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks believe they have developed "just and
constructive solutions" to existing negotiating dilemmas. However,
the initial responses from Armenia and Azerbaijan indicate that a
peace deal is not imminent.

In Madrid prior to an OSCE ministerial council meeting on November
29, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan were presented
with a set of basic principles for a Karabakh peace settlement. "The
parties to the conflict were strongly urged to bring to a close the
current stage of negotiations by endorsing the proposed basic
principles, and to quickly commence work on a comprehensive peace
agreement," the OSCE said in a statement.

The US State Department issued a similar statement.

The Minsk Group, which comprises representatives from France, Russia
and the United States, has not elaborated on the latest proposals.
Neither have Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and his
Azerbaijani counterpart, Eldar Mammadyarov.

Russia’s Kommersant newspaper on December 1 quoted Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that the basic principles "includes
all positive understandings reached between Baku and Yerevan over the
past few years." Following talks with his Armenian counterpart in
Moscow, the Russian foreign minister on December 4 told reporters
that he and Oskanian both viewed the presentation of the basic
principles as a "very important" step in the peace process.

"Work on this document will continue at the very beginning of next
year. We hope the efforts of the [Minsk Group] co-chairs will be
crowned with success," Lavrov added.

Not everyone shares Lavrov’s apparent optimism. Talking to EurasiaNet
on condition of anonymity, a diplomat familiar with the peace talks
said that rather than any progress in the negotiation process, the
chief motivation for the Madrid presentation was the time factor.

Presidential elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan are scheduled in
February 2008 and in the following fall, respectively. Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev is likely to seek re-election, but his
Armenian counterpart, Robert Kocharian, is constitutionally barred
from seeking a third term. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].

"Changes in the regional political leaderships are expected next
year. Changes among the Minsk Group co-chairs are also expected. So
the idea is to try to capture the moment so that we remain on the
same page and don’t lose those basic principles if the regional
leaders, or the co-chairs change," the diplomat said.

What this diplomat said was corroborated by earlier comments made by
the French and Russian co-chairs of the Minsk Group, which has been
mediating in the conflict since 1992. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].

Addressing the OSCE’s Permanent Council — the organization’s regular
decision-making body — in early November, France’s Bernard Fassier
and Russia’s Yuri Merzlyakov said that despite the absence of
breakthrough in the negotiation process, they intended to finalize
their proposals and transmit them shortly to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The two diplomats also said that although they believed no agreement
on the basic principles could be reached soon, they would
nevertheless continue their efforts to have both regional leaders
endorse them during the run-up to the Armenian presidential ballot.

The basic principles, which were first made public last year,
envisage the progressive liberation of the seven Azerbaijani
administrative districts bordering on Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenian
forces have been occupying since 1992-93. They also provide for the
demilitarization of the conflict zone, the deployment of an
international peacekeeping force, the repatriation of Armenian
settlers, and the return of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons.
The future status of the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh
would be determined later. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].

But, as Mammadyarov once said, "the devil is in the details" and a
number of outstanding differences remain.

Among them are the practicalities of any future referendum on
Nagorno-Karabakh’s final status. The Minsk Group co-chairs have
suggested that, pending a vote, the region be given an interim status
that would be recognized by both sides.

Other sticking points include the scope and modalities of the
Armenian withdrawal from Azerbaijan’s occupied Kalbacar and Lachin
districts, which are sandwiched between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.
Yerevan views those two districts as being of vital importance to
Karabakh’s future security, and has conditioned their liberation on
stringent requirements.

What new proposals, if any, the set of basic principles that France,
Russia and the United States presented the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers in Madrid is unclear. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry
spokesman Xazar Ibrahim on December 7 said the package contained
"nothing particularly new."

"There are a few nuances, but generally speaking those basic
principles are those that have been negotiated within the framework
of the Prague process," he told reporters in Baku.

In their respective speeches to the OSCE ministerial council, neither
Oskanian, nor Mammadyarov made any reference to the document they had
just received.

While noting the existence of a generally positive trend, the
Armenian foreign minister denounced what he said were Azerbaijan’s
persistent threats to resort to a military solution to the conflict.
Mammadyarov, in turn, accused Armenia of "deceiving" the
international community and pursuing a policy of "fait accompli" by
sending settlers and large ammunition stockpiles to the occupied
territories.

The Madrid announcement generated relatively little interest in
Azerbaijan and Armenia — something international mediators may view
as a frustrating circumstance. According to OSCE officials, the
co-chairs had hoped that the presentation of basic principles would
stoke public debate in both countries, thereby accelerating the
negotiation process. Such hopes, however, have not been fulfilled.

Editor’s Note: Jean-Christophe Peuch is a Vienna-based freelance
correspondent, who specializes in Caucasus- and Central Asia-related
developments.