Author: Dabaghian Diana

KARABAKH IS PREPARING FOR REFERENDUM
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
Sergey Nasibyan, chair of the NKR Central Electoral Commission said
36 million drams was allocated for holding the referendum. The voters
registers are ready, and the amended draft of the Constitution will
be printed and distributed to the divisional and district commissions.
We have learned that the text of the Constitution is not ready,
whereas the referendum has already been appointed on December 10. The
local experts cannot understand the reason for this hastiness. We have
delayed the adoption of the Constitution for 15 years and suddenly
we decided to adopt it as soon as possible. The problem is that most
people have not read the text and apparently will not manage. Only
a month is left.

IS THERE ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN CC DECISION AND NA?
A1+
[05:38 pm] 09 November, 2006
Two days ago the Constitutional Court (CC) upheld the claim of the
Opposition and found the involvement of judges in the electoral
commissions anti-constitutional.
“Provided the CC didn’t make such a decision, the provision might
be omitted from the Electoral Code as a result of the Constitutional
amendments,” says NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan while commenting on the
CC decision.
Prior to answering the question of A1+, Mr. Torosyan noted that the
Constitutional amendments were of great importance in the political
sphere and were mainly in favour of the Opposition representatives
who were against the amendments. “The Opposition could appeal to
the CC and make it turn down the proposal of judges’ involvement,”
added Mr. Torosyan.
The NA Speaker doesn’t see any reason for rejecting judges’ involvement
in the electoral commissions as “there a lot of countries where
judges are involved in the electoral commissions and this arouses
no problems. As for Armenia, there are two factors mingling with the
endorsement of the proposal. There are two contradicting provisions in
the acting EC. One of them stipulated that the electoral commission
is a state institution whereas according to the other provision it
is an independent free body.”
I see a contradiction in this connection which must be taken into
consideration. Besides, provided electoral commissions are state
bodies, contradictions arouse in connection with Article 98 of the
Constitution as it states that judges mustn’t hold other posts in
state bodies.”
The NA Speaker informed A1+ that the amendments to the EC, endorsed
during the first hearing, will be put to the second hearing in
December.

PROCEEDING FROM ITS INTERESTS EUROPE CANNOT ALLOW DESTABILIZATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.11.2006 18:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With assuming presidency in the EU during the
intial half of 2007 Germany will try to make the integration of the
South Caicasian states more real using the European Neighborhood
Policy, transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund doctor Jorg
Himmelreich said. In his words, the German government is aware of the
problems available in the South Caucasus, which ‘represent immediate
danger for the European security.’ According to Dr Himmelreich,
Europe cannot allow destabilization in the South Caucasus proceeding
from its own interests. Besides the European Neighborhood Policy
the EU can use extra instruments for regional cooperation, he said,
reports Mediamax news agency.

MURDER REVEALED
A1+
[05:50 pm] 08 November, 2006
On November 4 the Central department of the police found the dead
body of Sasunik Petrosyan (b. 1968) in Nar-Dos 77/10. The body had
head injuries.
The police revealed that on November 3 at about 10:30 p.m. Petrosyan
was killed by Karen Ts. (b. 1964) in a quarrel.
The police has resorted to measures in order to find and arrest
Karen Ts. The case is being investigated by the Prosecutor’s office
of Kentron and Norq-Marash communities.

TURK YOUNG MAN RUINS PICTURES OF ARMENIAN EXHIBITION
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
ROME, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A Turk young man, who
had done great damage during the exhibition presenting the Armenian
Genocide, was arrested in Italy. The exhibition was organized by
Piedro Kuchukian.
According to Marmara, the Turk young man visited the exhibition and
kicking the pictures, ruined them.

Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Vardan Barseghian – Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
On November 16, the Los Angeles World Affairs Council has invited
NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian to speak at the Council’s dinner
program from a stage that regularly features world leaders such as
Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, presidents of foreign countries, major
philanthropists, religious leaders and best-selling authors. Please
consider attending this event and also spread the information about
it among the membership of your organizations, family and friends.
His Excellency Arkady Ghoukassian
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Thursday, November 16, 7:30 p.m.
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
404 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
This speaking engagement is a great opportunity for independent
Artsakh to spread its story from such a respected podium. The
President plans to speak about Artsakh’s efforts to gains
international recognition of its right to live in freedom, develop
democratic institutions and a full-fledged market economy.
In addition, President Ghoukasian has recently announced that he
will not be seeking a new term in office when his second five-year
term expires next year. Although the first-ever NKR Constitution, to
be adopted at a national referendum this December, would allow him
to run again, President Ghoukasian cited the paramount importance of
Karabakh’s continued democratic development as the main reason for
his decision. President Ghoukasian will use this opportunity to
share his views on the future of Karabakh, its relations with
neighboring countries, its place in the international community and
the prospects for greater US-NKR engagement.
We encourage our Armenian-American compatriots residing in the
greater Los Angeles area to attend this unique event, thus showing
your interest and support for Artsakh, as well as your appreciation
to the LA World Affairs Council for hosting Artsakh’s President.
Please call the LA World Affairs Council at (213) 628-2333 or visit
to register for the event and
get directions, if needed.
I look forward to seeing you there,

KAZAKHSTAN, ARMENIA INK BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
Gazeta, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan today
Nov 7 2006
ASTANA. A number of bilateral agreements were inked as a result
of the closed and open talks that took place Monday, November 6,
in Astana between Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, and
Robert Kocharyan, President of Armenia, Kazakhstan Today correspondent
reports.
In particular, an intergovernmental agreement was inked on mutual
travels of citizens. Kassymzhomart Tokayev, Foreign Minister of
Kazakhstan, inked the document from Kazakhstan and Gegam Garibadjanyan,
Foreign Minister of Armenia, from Armenia.
Also a Convention on avoidance of double taxation and prevention
of evasion from payments of income and property taxes was inked
as a result of the talks. Natalia Korzhova, Minister of Finance
of Kazakhstan, initialed the document from Kazakhstan and Karen
Chshmarityan, Minister of Commerce and Economic Development of Armenia,
from Armenia.
An intergovernmental agreement on international road communication was
signed by Serik Akhmetov, Minister of Transport and Communications
of Kazakhstan, from Kazakhstan and Karen Chshmarityan, Minister of
Commerce and Economic Development of Armenia, from Armenia.
Vladimir Shkolnik, Minister of Industry and Commerce of RK, and
Karen Chshmarityan, Minister of Commerce and Economic Development of
Armenia, initialed an intergovernmental agreement on promotion and
mutual protection of investments.
An agreement on co-operation in culture was inked by Yermukhamet
Yertysbayev, Minister of Culture and Information, and Asmik Pogosyan,
Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs of Armenia.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: OSCE MG RECENT PROPOSALS REMARKABLE FOR REAL PERCEPTION OF SITUATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2006 17:24 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recent proposals made by the OSCE Minsk
Group on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement are remarkable
for real perception of the situation, since they base not only on
two separate principles of territorial integrity and the right to
self-determination but also on their comparison, Armenian National
Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian said at a meeting with Polish Senate
Marshal Bogdan Borusewicz, reported the RA NA press office. In his
words, such approach is more flexible for the search of solutions
admissible for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.
When touching on the Russian-Georgian relations Tigran Torosian
remarked that Armenia is interested in the soonest resolution of the
problems and alleviation of tension. He also stressed the importance of
balanced approach of the EU and other European structures. The sides
also noted that Armenia incurs losses because of the Russian-Georgian
opposition.

POLISH MARSHAL IN THE PARLIAMENT
A1+
[04:05 pm] 06 November, 2006
RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan has had a private conversation with
Bogdan Borusevich, the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.
The NA Speaker found the visit of the Marshal important within the
framework of the policy of integration into the European structures. He
mentioned that it is the priority of the foreign policy of Armenia,
and Poland has considerable experience having become member of the
EU only two years ago. Referring to the relations with the NATO,
Tigran Torosyan mentioned that the Individual Partnership Action Plan
is being realized in Armenia, and the two countries can cooperate in
this respect too.
Bogdan Borusevich, who is in Armenia for the first time, expressed
readiness to support Armenia in deepening relations with the EU and
the NATO. The Marshal found it important that the 2007 Parliamentary
elections should be held up to democratic standards as the development
of Armenia depends on it greatly. Mr.
Borusevich also found the peaceful settlement of the conflicts
important for the stability and development of the region.
The Marshal of the Polish Senate also invited his Armenian colleague
to Poland on official visit.

PROPOSAL TO BAN FRENCH MOVIES AND BROADCASTS ON TRT
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
The Corridor
Nov 5 2006
We heard of many proposals to hurt France after its parliament passed
a bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide. Some called for
a boycott of French goods, while some singers canceled their shows
in France. Some more interesting proposals have come in the past
few weeks. CHP deputy from Yozgat Emin Koc noted that Radio France
International (RFI) had stopped its broadcasts in Turkish and asked
the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) to counter this
by suspending its French broadcasts. In a parliamentary question he
submitted, Koc asked State Minister Beºir Atalay whether RFI could
be told that the broadcasts would be suspended until they reinstated
the Turkish broadcasts. He didn’t stop there.
“Which French movies has TRT purchased for this year? Is it considering
broadcasting them on its channels? What are you considering doing
about countering the genocide allegations?”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTUK)
recommended that TRT should boycott media products coming from France.
No one objects to protest actions that are within sensible limits.
However, limitations imposed on the arts, literature, cinema and
culture are defined as censorship, and that is a bit beyond what we
should deem acceptable. Tomorrow, someone may come up with an idea to
ban Edith Piaf, Victor Hugo, Francoise Sagan, Montaigne, Pierre Loti,
Montesquieu, Stendhal, Jean Paul Sartre, Moliere or Emil Zola. What
if we are called to prevent our children from reading Jules Verne?
Will we accept that too?
–Boundary_(ID_tCsbeBULo+czmjiEqN50Ag)–