Author: Emil Lazarian

116 YEARS BESIDE THE ARMENIAN NATION
Editorial
By Sevak Hakobian

Yerkir.am
December 15, 2006

The 116th anniversary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party
was celebrated at the Cultural Center in Ashtarak on December 12.

Member of ARF’s Board, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Vahan
Hovhannissian congratulated those attending the ceremony on this
occasion that is celebrated at the end of every year in all Armenian
communities throughout the world.

Hovhannissian briefly presented ARF’s history that is much longer
than the life of one person or one generation. In order to assess
this history it is necessary to look back at the past and examine
it seriously.

In 1890 several Armenians decided that the Armenian nation would no
longer bear on its shoulders the burden of 700 years of slavery and,
as Khrimian Hayrik wrote, "the new Armenian knighthood", the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Party was created. Hovhannissian believes,
ARF has always been the last hope for the Armenian nation, "When our
nation lost its last hope, it relied on the ARF."

ARF only accepts members who are ready, as they state in their oaths,
to die for the nation and the motherland.

And ARF has made these sacrifices during the rebellion in Sassoun,
during the battle of Khanasor, the battles between the Armenians
and Tatars on the territory of the Russian Empire and in many other
instances when the ARF was getting rid of the external and alien
elements that were oppressing our nation in the Armenian Highland.

According to Hovhannissian, as a result of long wars in 1918 it became
possible to establish an Armenian state on a very small part of the
Armenian Highland since in the end of the XIX and beginning of the
XX century Armenia was weak.

"And since that time the two notions of ‘Armenian statehood’ and ‘
Dashnaktsutyun’ converged. For the citizens of Republic of Armenia
in 1919, there were no differences between the flags of ARF and the
tricolor. The anthem, "Our Homeland", even though it was created long
before the ARF, carries ARF’s colors and spirit," Hovhannissian said.

Even though the Bolsheviks from the North and East and the Turks from
the West did not allow us to preserve our statehood and independence
for long, the ARF accomplished a great goal in that period – it laid
the foundations of Armenian statehood that were infallible since then.

"ARF can answer all the questions our nation has whether they be
related to agriculture or industry, war or peace, diplomacy or
any other spheres since we have both experience and a sense of
responsibility.

During our history of 116 years, our party has lived through guerilla
war and political struggle, it has formed the leadership of the
country, it has survived in the Diaspora uniting the Armenian nation,
and now it works in the homeland for quite a long time," Hovhannissian
noted.

ARF has the experience of defending Armenian communities from war
(as it happened in Lebanon). It has the experience of organizing the
nation and engaging in the war in Artsakh in an organized manner. "Had
we not directed our forces towards Artsakh today Armenia would have
been in a very miserable condition. Meanwhile, now the people in
Artsakh freely vote for their Constitution," Hovhannissian added.

In their anti-ARF propaganda, many people call ARF a party of
war. However, Hovhannissian believes, "We are a party of peace,
but peace must be ready for anything.

Funny are the people who are scared of struggle. If you are ready
for struggle there will be no need for struggle. ARF has followed
this principle throughout its history and has struggled to ensure
that the Armenian nation is not extinguished from the map, that it
is not forced to flee its homeland."

Today the homeland is still small. But I am sure that time will come
when we will restore our historical rights and everything that we
have lost.

Unfortunately, we do not live in the richest, most fair and prosperous
country, but we have our state and it gives us the opportunity to
make it rich, prosperous, happy and safe," Hovhannissian noted.

During the celebration, Khrimian Hayrik, Nikol Aghbalian, Garegin
Nzhdeh and others were quoted commenting on ARF. Famous singers and
dance bands performed during the celebration.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARF PARTICIPATED IN THE VII CONVENTION OF PARTY OF EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS

Yerkir.am
December 15, 2006

The VII convention of the Party of European Socialists was held in
Porto, Portugal, on December 7-8.

300 delegates from 32 socialist parties from 27 EU member states
(25+2) and over 1000 other delegates participated in the convention.

The Prime Ministers of Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary,
party leaders, European MPs, representatives of youth and
women’s organizations participated in the convention. The Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Party was also invited to participate. Member
of ARF’s Board and ARF’s representative in the Socialist International
Mario Nalbandian attended the convention. The US Democratic Party
and the Communist Party of China were also invited to the convention.

During the convention the Danish Prime Minister of 1993-2001 Paul
Rasmussen was reelected chairman of the PES, and Philippe Corderi
from France was elected secretary of PES.

The convention approved the reports on PES’s activities of the
past three years and adopted PES’s action plan for the upcoming
three years. The main directions of PES’s activities will be new
socialist Europe, child protection, energy and climate issues. The
structural reforms of the organization as well as the composition of
the chairmanship were also approved. The convention passed bills on
the Middle East and Byelorussia.

The representatives of the invited parties had a special session during
which Mario Nalbandian presented a report on the recent developments in
Armenia and the region expressing appreciation that PES is interested
in becoming an actor in the South Caucasus.

During the convention Nalbandian met PES Chairman Rasmussen, Chairman
of Socialist International and the Greek Party George Papandreou,
Chief Secretary of the French Socialist Party Francois Holland,
Chairman of the US Democratic Party’s National Committee Howard
Dean, leader of the Lebanese Socialist Party Walid Jomblat and
representatives of a number of other socialist parties.

During these meetings a number of issues relevant for Armenia and
the ARF were discussed.

Only socialist parties from EU member states can become members of
the PES.

Socialist parties from EU candidate states can become associate
members.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BOOKS FROM ARMAN KOTIKIAN’S PERSONAL LIBRARY DONATED TO ARMENIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY
Gohar Julhakian

Yerkir.am
December 15, 2006

The daughter of the great Armenian actor and translator Arman Kotikian,
pianist Seda Kotikian visited the Armenian National Library.

She donated to the library 23 French books from her father’s personal
library including fiction books, dictionaries, etc.

"The National Library has contributions from the personal libraries of
great people – Alexander Myasnikian, Nikoghayos Mar, Leo. I am happy
that we now have some books from the great actor and translator Arman
Kotikian’s personal library. These books carry memories, and the return
of Arman Kotikian’s spirit and his presence is very important for me
at this moment," Director of the National Library Davit Sargsian said.

Seda Kotikian says her father often attended the National Library. "I
am sure my father would be happy to learn that his books were donated
to the National Library," Seda Kotikian says.

Arman Kotikian was born in 1896 in Trapizon. In 1925 he graduated
from the Sorbonne University. In 1932 he founded the Armenian Theater
in Paris.

Some of his best roles were those of Ogsen, Sur, Manuk Agha (in
Paronian’s Paghtasar Aghbar, and Honorable Beggars).

Kotikian also played in such films as Tjvjik, Boys from the Band,
Karine, and others.

Kotikian is the author of a number of poems, a study titled "Firdoussi
and his Shahname". He translated E. Rostan’s Serrano de Bergeraque,
E. Zola’s Theres Raque. Kotikian staged Paronian’s, Otian’s and
Kamsarakan’s plays.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

2 MURDERS BY AZERI SNIPERS REGISTERED IN 2006

Yerevan, December 18. ArmInfo. Azeri snipers murdered 2 Armenian
military men in the 1st half of 2006.

Today, Armen Harutyunyan, Deputy Military Prosecutor of Armenia,
in the interview with ArmInfo said that, on the whole, 8 murders and
injuries have been registered in Armenian Armed Forces. Criminal acts
were initiated. Different hypothesis are investigated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA MUST BE INTERESTED IN TURKEY’S IMPLEMENTING ITS OBLIGATIONS TAKEN BEFORE EU, RUBEN SAFRASTIAN BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Union’s (EU) decision
on dampening the negotitations with Turkey was not accidental as Turkey
does not implement its obligations taken before the EU. Politician
Ruben Safrastian expressed such an opinion at the December 16
meeting with journalists. In his words, the course fostered by the
EU, according to which Turkey is still given possibility to correct
its own faults, and by this, the doors are not closed before it,
is right. In the politician’s opinion, Armenia, as a state, must
be interested in Turkey’s implementing all the obligations taken by
it. Only in this case, in R.Safrastian’s words, Turkey will gradually
"become a foreseeable country, condemn dark pages of its past, stop
putting pressures on Armenia." R.Safrastian mentioned that from 1991
till now Armenia has led "instinctively chosen, but right policy"
in the issue of Turkey." At the same time, as the speaker emphasized
both former and present authorities led correct policy.

In his words, from 1998 Armenia attempted to countervail "the
policy of pressure." "Today Armenia does not present precondition,"
R.Safrastian fixed.

But, as he mentioned, if Armenia presented the issue of recognition
of the 1915 Armenian Genocide as a precondition before Turkey, many
countries would "approach that fact with understanding."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN COMPANY SANIR TO CONSTRUCT NEW IRAN-ARMENIA HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The new Iran-Armenia high-voltage
electricity transmission line will be constructed by the Sanir company
(Iran). Sahak Abrahamian, Director of the company High-Voltage
Electric Networks, informed NT correspondent that the contract of
the new line’s design is already raedy. He said that the line will
be 3,200 km long in Armenia and 100 km long in Iran. The capacity
of the new two-link line will be equal to the sum of capacities of
the first and second lines currently in operation. About 64 mln euros
will be provided for the construction of the line’s Armenian section,
15% of which will be co-financed by the Armenian government and the
remaining sum will be allocated by the External Development Bank
(Iran). It was noted that the design work of the construction of the
Georgia-Armenia high-voltage line is continuing.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA NAS CHAIRMAN MEETS IN EGYPT WITH CAIRO UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

CAIRO, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Possibilities of development of the
Armenian-Egyptian scientific ties as well as the process of works
done in 2007 in the direction of foundation of the Armenology Chair
of the Philological Department of the Cairo University were discussed
on December 1-8 meeting of RA NAS Chairman Radik Martirosian, who
is in Egypt, and the Cairo University administration. The Egyptian
side re-affirmed its readiness in the issue of development of the
many-sided cooperation with Armenia and of showing assistance to the
Armenian side’s initiative in the direction of founding Armenology
studies. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s
Press and Information Department, during the visit, Mr.Martirosian
participated in works of the interacademic international round table
organized in the city of Alexandria.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXHIBITION "12 CAPITAL CITIES OF ARMENIA" OPENS IN PARIS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

PARIS, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The exhibition "12 Capital Cities
of Armenia" opened at Conciergerie Hall in Paris on December 15
and will last until March 18. According to the RA MFA Press and
Information Department, the opening ceremony was conducted by the
French Minister of Culture and Communication Renaud Donnedieu de
Vabres and the Armenian Ambassador to France Eduard Nalbandian. In
his opening address, the French minister of culture attached special
importance to the exhibition, considering it as one of the key
events of the Year of Armenia in France that provides the best idea
of Armenia’s rich history and civilization. Ambassador Nalbandian
said that the large number of Armenian capital cities reflects the
stormy and eventful history of the Armenian people that has preserved
its unique cultural legacy as the only time-dictated guideline over
centuries. Information about 12 capital cities of historical Armenia
(from Van to Artashat, from Tigranakert to Dvin, from Vagharshapat
to Ani, fron Sis to Yerevan), old and new photos, ornaments, national
clothes, old carpets and khachkars from the collections of the Yerevan
History Museum are on display at Conciergerie Hall covering an area of
about 1,200 square meters. La Conciergerie is located in the center
of Paris. In ancient times it was the residence of Roman rules, in
the 12-13th centuries it was re-built into a royal palace. Today it
is managed by France’s National Center of Monuments and open to the
public: about 300 thousand people visit it annually. The exhibition has
been organized by the French Ministry of Culture, the National Center
of Monuments, La Conciergerie, the Armenian embassy to France and the
Yerevan History Museum. Its authors are architect Narek Sargsian and
the head of the architecture department of the Institute of Arts of
the RA National Academy of Sciences Murad Hasratian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST REPUBLICAN CONTEST EXHIBITION OF PHOTO ART OPENS IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The first republican
contest-exhibition of photo art opened at the People’s Art Museum
in Yerevan on December 18. 116 works of young photographers from
various Armenian marzes and students of Yerevan State University are
displayed at the exhibition organized by the RA Ministry of Culture
and Youth Issues. In the word’s of the exhibition organizer Sahak
Troyan, photography is gradually undergoing considerable development
in Armenia. "Our aim is to show the current state of photo art in our
country to the Armenian public," he said. In his opinion, technological
advances in the 21st centure have contributed to further development
of photo art as well.

He is convinced that thanks to modern eqipment, works of Armenian
photographers will win recognition both in Armenia and abroad. It
was noted that the exhibition will last until December 21, and the
winners will receive awards.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY COULD CONSTRUCT ITS RELATIONS WITH KARABAKH REGARDLESS OF AZERBAIJAN

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Dec 18 2006

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian expressed
satisfaction with a meeting held with the European Union Special
Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby. The meeting took
place December 17 at the NKR Permanent Representation in RA.

‘~RI am satisfied with the meeting, in the course of which we discussed
a number of important issues. One of the principal subjects was
a Constitutional referendum and the international response to it,
which I do not comprehend. It is not the fact of the referendum’s
conduct that should have been discussed, but the essence of the
Constitution, whether it is good or bad, if it corresponds to the
European criteria. Perhaps, it would be more correct to compare the
NKR Constitution with that of Azerbaijan. It would be logical. As
for the EU response, in my opinion, it was illogical, and I told Mr.
Semneby about it’~R, A. Ghoukassian said.

According to the NK President, the international community should
promote democratic processes in the Nagorno-Karabagh. ‘~RThe
Constitution’s adoption does not hamper the talks; on the contrary,
it promotes the negotiation process. It is very important for the
international community to be aware of the NK people’s sense and its
approaches to various issues’~R, the NKR President stated.

Another important topic of the discussions held between the NKR
President and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
was the necessity to establish close connections between the NKR
and EU. According to Arkady Ghoukassian, Peter Semneby reacted quite
positively to the idea. ‘~RMr. Semneby will visit the NK. The call
is likely to be paid late January 2007. We have agreed to discuss
the issues referring to our interrelations in detail in the course
of the visit. I believe the subject is of great importance for us.

Naturally, we are all interested in the rapid settlement of the NK
issue. However, we have got no guarantees that it will be resolved
in the near future. It is not the NK people’s fault that they live in
the unrecognized country, being deprived of all privileges enjoyed by
the people living in the recognized countries. The ties may be both
political and economic. We discussed some subjects. I am sure the
meetings of the kind will be held more often’~R, A. Ghoukassian stated.

Answering a DE FACTO question, the NKR President said he had
discussed the issue of the Armenian refugees with the EU Special
Representative. ‘~RI can’t recall any meeting I held with the
international community’s representatives, in the course of which
the issue was not discussed. It was also considered at the meeting
with Mr. Semneby. I do not understand the logic, according to which
they are trying to resolve the problem of the Azeri refugees first
and only then to return to the Armenian refugees’ issues. I can’t
say the international community’s representatives believe it should
be like this; however, the issue’s logic is so obvious that, in my
view, both Mr. Semneby and the representatives of other international
structures will pay attention to the fact by all means. It is dangerous
to consider an issue out of the context’~R.

The NKR President reminded that in the course of his two
electoral campaigns he had promised to the NK people to do his
best for the NKR to have its Constitution. ‘~RI considered it’s
my duty to promote the issue’s solution. We could have adopted the
Constitution much earlier. However, there were a lot of questions to
be replied. First, we had to summarize the fifteen years’ experience,
realize what we need, what sort of country we are constructing –
Parliamentary, Presidential or semi-Presidential, which government
mechanisms we should adopt. We have solved a lot of political and
non-political issues for these years. And it is our business – to
have a Constitution or not. Sure, we could have lived without it. We
have adopted the Constitution first of all for ourselves, because,
I think, the Constitution opens a new page in the NK life and creates
new possibilities for the NK’s democratization’~R, the head of the
Nagorno-Karabagh stated.

Answering a question if the NKR expected such a reaction of the
international community, Arkady Ghoukassian mentioned active work
Azerbaijan carried on at the international structures. ‘~RAzerbaijan’s
hysterics and its pressure are familiar to me. I know Azerbaijan
talks to the international community in the ultimatum’s language. It
blackmails: either you condemn, or we break off our relations with the
EU. It is not clear for me, why the international community surrenders
to the intimidation; it does not promote either the democratization of
Azerbaijan, or NK. I think the international community could construct
its relations with the Nagorno-Karabagh regardless of Azerbaijan’~R,
the NK President said.

In his words, the NKR is ready to construct its relations with the EU
and the organization’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus
within the frames of his functional responsibilities. ‘~RWe have come
to an agreement to discuss the issues in detail in Stepanakert late
January. I have presented specific issues Mr. Semneby promised to
discuss. Besides, I have informed him of the fact that we are going to
hold Presidential elections in July – August, and I asked him if we
should hold them or not. However, to Mr. Semneby’s honor, he said he
considered the elections necessary and very important and personally
he believes they must not be condemned’~R, A. Ghoukassian noted.

When asked to express his attitude to the possibility of reducing
the talks’ activeness before Parliamentary elections in RA Arkady
Ghoukassian remarked the process could hardly be artificially
activated or vice versa. ‘~RCurrent negotiation process is a bit
strange, as there are no talks within the Minsk group’s frames. The
OSCE Budapest summit just charged the Co-Chairs to organize talks
with all the conflict parties. It is not being done. Actually,
the MG Co-Chairs do not fulfill their duties on the resumption of
an active negotiation process within the MG frames, where the NK,
Armenia and Azerbaijan are presented’~R, Arkady Ghoukassian stated.

Summing up the results of the current year, the NKR President said,
‘~Rthis year we have continued what we did not manage to finish in
2005. There is one incontestable truth for me. We are approaching
the ideals we have charted step by step. Economic situation has
considerable improved. The political situation is healthy and
competitive. We have got opposition, but we have no hatred. We have
got no tension, we have got inner stability’~R.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress