Author: Chalian Meline

VAZGEN MANOUKIAN DEMANDING TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT

AZG Armenian Daily
21/12/2007

On December 19, Vazgen Manoukian made a statement that he had applied
to prosecutor’s office for bringing an action against "Haykakan
jamanak" daily newspaper that had offended and defamed his personality.

To recall, the newspaper has recently published an article of Vazgen
Manoukian under the heading "My struggle".

According to Vazgen Manoukian, the article is far from being considered
as a journalistic publication with its style and content. "The whole
article is built on a handwriting that is ascribed to me without
adducing any proof", announced the Chairman of National Democratic
Party (NDP).

Vazgen Manoukian’s attorney Vardan Zurnachian phoned the newspaper’s
editor-in-chief Nikol Pashinian to get the latter’s consent to a
joint examination of the handwriting, but the editor-in-chief of
"Haykakan jamanak" declined the offer.

"In these conditions, taking into account the urgency of the question
also the cynicism of the newspaper that tried to offend and defame
me and provide the society with false information, I had to apply to
the prosecutor’s office. I underline that I wouldn’t do it if the
newspaper’s editor-in-chief agreed to a joint examination of the
handwriting", said the Chairman of NDP in his statement.

HE EDITED SERGE SARGSYAN AND KOCHARYAN

A1+
[07:09 pm] 18 December, 2007

Today the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanyan tried to
edit viewpoints of Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan expressed during
his visits in abroad.

In the interview in the United States Serge Sargsyan mentioned, that
the religious difference of the two nations was a serious problem and
was the basis of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Vardan Oskanyan had to
explain Serge Sargsyan’s declarations to Azerbaijani journalists that
religious difference did not lay in the basis of Karabakh conflict.

Today he informed the Armenian journalists that nations’
self-determination problem was the basic problem of Karabakh conflict
to be settled. Besides the declaration in the US, Vardan Oskanyan
tried to explain Serge Sargsyan’s words on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
in the interview to "Reuters" agency. Serge Sargsyan said that a
document might be signed on Karabakh negotiation process by 2008
presidential elections.

As compared with Serge Sargsyan, Robert Kocharyan is not an optimist
in this regard. Kocharyan ensured that by 2008 presidential elections
no document might be signed on Karabakh problem. Oskanyan tried to
elucidate Sargsyan’s optimism.

"I am also an optimist in regard with negotiations. It is a common
endeavor to come to consensus on basic principles, which will be
followed by a great procedure. This 2,5-paged document should turn
to a 30-50-paged agreement on peace and we should negotiate on the
details. The sooner we begin, the better for us", explained Oskanyan.

As to Robert Kocharyan’s pessimism in this regard, Vardan Oskanyan
said joking: "A pessimist is the well-informed optimist".

Oskanyan also added: "The President may approach this problem
from another point of view, he may be more cautious. If we do not
have that hope, it will be difficult for us to negotiate. Thus, we
should negotiate hoping to register progress. And the document we
are negotiating on is advantageous for us".

In the interview with "Routers" in Brussels Serge Sargsyan also said
that he had been participating in the development of Armenia’s policy
on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and approved the document
submitted to the concerned parties in Madrid.

Vardan Oskanyan doubted to say anything: "Maybe you have misunderstood
something. Only the President is competent to approve the
document. Maybe the Prime Minister has not chosen correct words. He
could not say he agreed with the document, since as we know only the
President can do that. I think that the Prime Minister said he was
completely aware of the content of the document. It’s not the right
time to express our approach on this problem".

We should mention that Vardan Oskanyan was surprised by Serge
Sargsyan’s declaration, while this part of his interview was
broadcasted by the Public TV Company.

Mr Oskanyan reminded the journalists, that when 2 days ago Azerbaijan
tried to shift the discussion of Karabakh conflict to the UN, Mr
Oskanyan announced that the Armenian part would stop the negotiations.

Oskanyan said that the negotiations continue today and we would
continue them.

He also pointed out that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen presented
the document, on the main principles of the conflict solution,
to the parties in Madrid and did not bind it to the parties. "They
expressed their viewpoints in that document, but they did not bind
anything. The document is open to discussion. Their approaches are
expressed in it. We will express our viewpoint, Azerbaijan – its
viewpoint. I consider that the negotiations on this document will
continue in the next year", said Vardan Oskanyan.

"A1+" asked Mr Oskanyan to comment on presidential candidate Arman
Melikyan’s viewpoint, as if the liberated territories should not be
returned, since they were the compensation to the Azerbaijani-Armenian
refugees.

"I would not like to comment on anybody’s declarations, since we may
hear many viewpoints in this period. We have our position and we will
continue our path", said the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs.

RA CEC RECEIVES AN INVITATION TO OBSERVE THE ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA

armradio.am
17.12.2007 13:01

The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia ahs
received an invitation from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (ODIHR) to delegate two of its representatives to the
OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the presidential elections in Georgia
on 5 January.

CEC Press Secretary Tatevik Ohanyan told Armenpress that the Commission
will definitely participate in the mission, but the Armenian observers
have not been chosen yet.

Panorama.am

12:47 15/12/2007

TOURNAMENT IN SHATKOV’S NAME WITHOUT FORECASTS

The national team of boxers until 18 years old will take part in the
international box tournament after the name of Olympic Champion Genadi
Shatkov in St. Petersburg on December 16-19, Armenia box federation
executive director Alik Sargsyan told Panorama.am. In his words,
Armenia will represent 7 sportsmen in the tournament in 48, 51, 54,
57, 60, 75, 81 kg weight category.

The delegation will be accompanied by Derenik Voskanyan, chief coach
of the national team, and Norair Fahradyan, second coach. Two of the
sportsmen, Karen Alazyan and Tigran Armenakyan, are bronze medal
winners at the European championship. Speaking about the opportunities
in the tournament, Sargsyan said that there are expectations but `it
is not possible to make forecasts in boxing.’

Source: Panorama.am

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.