Author: Emil Lazarian

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ONLY SOLUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS HOLDING OF REFERENDUM
IN NKR, VARTAN OSKANIAN SAYS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. "I consider the meeting between
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents held lately in Minsk within the
framework of Nagorno Karabakh settlement as positive and subject: it
passed in rather constructive atmosphere." RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian declared this at the December 1 press conference.

He said that the negotiations have come out of the deadlock: "We
could not express such confidence about previous meetings."
V.Oskanian said that soon the Presidents will give instructions to
the Foreign Ministers of the two countries on continuing the
negotiations and on issues to be discussed during them.

V.Oskanian said that during the Minsk meeting the Presidents focused
their attention on problems that remain unsolved. "Of course, we
would like a complete agreement to exist between the Presidents over
these issues, but this is not so. Though the meeting went on
positively and some rapprochements were noticed, it will not reflect
the reality rightly if we say that they came to an agreement around
these issues," he said.

In the Foreign Minister’s words, the sides still have some
disagreements on settlement principles and especially on details
regarding the principles.

V.Oskanian stressed that the Armenian side’s position has not
changed: the problem should be settled on the basis of Nagorno
Karabakh people’s right of self-determination. As regards two opposed
principles – Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and NKR people’s
self-determination, in the Minister’s words, these principles can be
combined only by holding a referendum. By the way, the idea of
referendum was included in the Minsk Group Co-chairs’ proposals,
around which negotiations proceed today. "We see a prospect in
confronting these principles, i.e. in giving the Nagorno Karabakh
people the opportunity to decide what it wants to choose,
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity or its self-determination. This is
the only solution and, fortunately, the elements of this solution
have been already included in the document," V.Oskanian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ALEXANDER ARZUMANIAN: NOT COMPROMISES, BUT VERY SERIOUS CONCESSIONS
OF ONE SIDE ARE SPOKEN ABOUT TODAY

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Since 1998, for eight years
running, the negotiations around the Nagorno Karabakh problem have
been proceeding in the form of visits of Minsk Group Co-chairs to the
region who presented documents coordinated between them to the sides.
Former RA Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian gave assurance at the
December 1 press conference. He said that according to information in
Armenian and foreign press, Armenia and Azerbaijan have come to an
ageement on the document put into circulation lately. In
A.Arzumanian’s words, the document’s essence is the following:
withdrawal of Armenian troops from seven occupied regions, return of
Azerbaijani refugees to places of their former residence and "some
referendum, at that, it is not clear what it is, when it will be held
and in what territory."

"Being for compromises I consider that today we speak not about
compromises, but only about very serious concessions of one side,"
A.Arzumanian declared. In his words, over the past eight years the
Armenian authorities have been conducting and continue to conduct
incompetent home and foreign policy. Armenia’s positions at
international instances, in his words, have weakened, while
Azerbaijan "has achieved many chings."

"Today the statements and actions of the Armenian authorities do not
correspond to each other," A.Arzumanian said. In his words, today not
the country of Armenia, but a certain group of people representing
the power negotiates with this or that country. And the Armenian
public, as A.Arzumanian said, does not receive reliable and
full-value information about the negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ARMENIAN PREMIER INVITED TO IRAN

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. Iranian Agriculture Minister Mohammad
Reza Eskandari, who met Tuesday Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan in Yerevan, passed on Iranian Vice-President’s invitation
to him, Armenian government press office reports.
The Iranian minister expressed gratitude to Armenian government for
balanced stance on Iran.
A wide range of issues related to Armenian-Iranian cooperation was
discussed at the meeting. M.V.-0—

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Next sitting of the CIS Economic Council will be held November 15
01.12.2006 17:37

The recurrent sitting of the CIS Economic Council will be held
December 15 in Moscow. CIS Executive Committee reports that during
the sitting it is envisaged to discuss issues of improvement,
reformation and rise of efficiency of the CIS adopted during the
sittings of the CIS Councils of Presidents and Heads of Governments.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 30 2006

Turkey: Pope, Armenian patriarch discuss Armenian-Turkish dialogue

Istanbul, 30 November: "A peaceful dialogue between Turkish and
Armenian peoples is obligatory and our most important expectation,"
Patriarch of Turkish Armenians Mesrob II said.

During the religious ceremony conducted by Pope Benedict XVI at the
Sourp Asdvadzadzin (Virgin Mary) Church in Istanbul, Mesrob II noted,
"our Patriarchate was improved during the Ottoman period, and became
the most important catalyst for reviving the western Armenian culture
and literature."

After the ceremony, Pope Benedict XVI left the patriarchate.

Tight security forces were taken during the pontiff’s visit to the
Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) Museum, Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) and
Turkish Armenians Patriarchate.

Roads were closed to traffic, snipers took positions on the tops of
the buildings, and two helicopters flew over the area.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 1, 2006 Friday

MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA WAS HELD IN SECRECY

The meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held in
the Embassy of Russia in Minsk. At first, negotiations were conducted
within a broad group with participation of Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov, acting Chair of the OSCE Karl de Gucht, Russian
co-chair of the Minsk OSCE group Yury Merzlyakov and personal
representative of the OSCE Chair Andjei Kasprshik. According to
unofficial sources, in the course of the meeting the parties reached
certain agreements related to liberation of a number of districts
around Nagorno-Karabakh. According to some other sources, the
agreements deal with resolving the conflict in general. The parties
have reached a verbal agreement and are going to fix them on paper a
little later.

Source: Turan news agency (Baku), November 29, 2006

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU PULLS THE RUG ON TURKISH TALKS OVER REFUSAL TO LIFT CYPRUS BLOCKADE
by David Charter, Suna Erdem Istanbul

The Times (London)
November 30, 2006, Thursday

* Negotiations on eight issues halted

* Blair denounces ‘serious mistake’

Turkey reacted furiously yesterday to the proposed suspension of a
large section of its talks on joining the EU as a punishment for its
refusal to open trade with Cyprus.

Eight of 34 areas of negotiation will be frozen under the European
Commission’s plan until Ankara fulfils an agreement signed last year
to open its ports to Cyprus, an EU member that it does not recognise.

The Commission’s move was criticised by Britain, Sweden and Spain,
but -in a sign of the faultlines within the Community over Turkish
accession -was applauded by France and Germany.

Turkey itself was defiant, insisting that it was not prepared to make
any further concessions. "We have set out the framework (for progress
on Cyprus)," Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, said.

"If they are approaching the issue with the idea that they might grab
a new concession, then we have no concession to make."

He was referring to earlier statements that Turkey would open its
ports only if the EU made good a pledge to end the economic isolation
of the breakaway Turkish enclave of northern Cyprus. Nicosia has
blocked any such relaxation.

Ankara is unlikely to make any move on Cyprus until after elections
next year; an increasingly nationalistic public is likely to punish
any sign of weakening on what is a pet issue for hardliners.

In spite of the blow to negotiations, Mr Erdogan said that Turkey
would continue to make progress towards membership. "This is a long
road -previously the date mentioned (for accession) was 2014. In
the meantime we will continue talking and working on the remaining
chapters and continue on our way just as before."

Britain backed Turkey, describing the Commission’s position as
"disappointingly tough" and voicing concerns that it could fuel
anti-European sentiment and drive the country away from the EU.

Tony Blair said that the EU’s proposal was a "serious mistake", while
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, urged EU
leaders to keep the door open to Ankara. Mr Blair’s concerns were
shared by Carl Bildt, the Swedish Foreign Minister, who spoke of a
possible calamity if EU leaders followed the tough Commission line
next month. "If you put the brakes on too hard there is a risk of the
collateral damage being very extensive," he said. "If it comes to a
standstill, we are talking about a strategic calamity for the EU in
a rather volatile, sensitive part of our neighbourhood."

But Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, who takes over the rotating
EU presidency on January 1, approvingly called the proposal a strong
signal and President Chirac, a powerful opponent of Turkish membership,
insisted that the EU "had no other choice".

The furore ensures that another row over Turkey will dominate the
EU heads of government summit on December 15, which will take the
final decision on the sanctions after they are considered by foreign
ministers earlier that week.

As part of the punishment, talks on other areas of the accession
process could be opened but will not be able to be signed off until
Turkey resolves its blockade of Cypriot vessels, Olli Rehn, the
Enlargement Commissioner, said. He added that Turkey could score a
"golden goal" before the foreign ministers’ meeting.

Christodoulos Pashiardis, a Cypriot Government spokesman, said that
freezing some aspects of the talks while allowing discussions on
other areas was not a punishment.

Bronwen Maddox, page 40

* STICKING POINTS

Cyprus Turkey does not recognise the southern part of the divided
island Armenian genocide the Government will not acknowledge Turkey’s
role in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians between 1915
and 1917 Article 301/1 states that "public denigration of Turkishness
shall be punishable by imprisonment". It was used to bring charges
against the writer Orhan Pamuk, who acknowledged the Armenian
genocide The Kurds the minority group continues to be persecuted,
with prosecutions brought against Kurds who use their language in
public life. Only Turkish can be taught as a first language in schools
Clash of civilisations the predominantly Muslim culture has attracted
accusations that Turkey lacks European credentials. France’s Interior
Minister says that Turkey "has no place in Europe".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

" TRESORS D’ARMENIE " A FAYMOREAU : DERNIERS JOURS DE L’EXPOSITION D’ART SACRE
Dominique Michonneau

La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest, France
30 novembre 2006 jeudi
Edition DEUX SEVRES

Jusqu’au dimanche 3 decembre inclus, une soixantaine d’objets anciens
sacres d’Armenie sont visibles en la chapelle des mineurs de Faymoreau.

Il ne reste plus que quelques jours pour admirer des tresors sacres
et culturels dans le cadre de l’exposition " Tresors d’Armenie ",
presentee jusqu’au dimanche 3 decembre inclus en la chapelle des
mineurs de Faymoreau (sud de la Vendee). L’entree est libre .

L’expo est co-organisee par le conseil general vendeen et la petite
commune minière, a l’occasion du 90 anniversaire du genocide armenien
et de " l’annee de l’Armenie en Vendee ". Dans la chapelle des mineurs,
c’est un veritable florilège de l’art chretien que l’on peut decouvrir,
mis en lumière par les dix-neuf grands vitraux d’art figuratif sur
le thème de la mine, crees par Carmelo Zagari. Soit une soixantaine
d’objets, pour la plupart dates du V au XVIII, qui temoigne de
l’anciennete et du raffinement de la culture armenienne.

Autre particularite : certaines oeuvres n’avaient jamais quitte
le territoire armenien. Au travers de ses tresors, cette porte de
monastère (1176) cachee lors du genocide de 1915, qui porte en elle
les stigmates de tout un peuple. Des pièces d’orfèvrerie religieuse,
des vetements d’apparat et autres chapiteaux ou pierre-croix veneres
seulement en Armenie, ont ete pretes aussi par le musee d’histoire
d’Armenie a Erevan.

Leur deplacement constitue une première culturelle reservee a la
Vendee et a Faymoreau avant, notamment, le Louvre ! La participation
financière du departement vendeen sera d’ailleurs utilisee en Armenie
pour restaurer des oeuvres, sous forme de cooperation culturelle.

(1) Expo ouverte gratuitement au public jusqu’au dimanche 3 decembre
inclus, de 10 h a 12 h et de 14 h a 18 h. Catalogue explicatif gratuit.

–Boundary_(ID_aSdX8iKufO2bBQrcp6qAig)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROCOMMISSION DECISION TO CEASE TALKS WITH TURKEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Eurocommission decision to suspend accession talks
with Turkey should have been expected, Chair of Parliament Standing
Commission on Foreign Relations Armen Rustamyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In his words, the talks should have been started with the
precondition regarding Cyprus. "As you remember Greece and Cyprus
were against launching the talks, however the EU did not listen to
their opinion at the time," he said.

As for a possible turn of Turkey towards the Islamic world, and as
a consequence, fuller support to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh
issue, Rustamyan noted that "Azerbaijan has huge support of Turkey in
all questions. If Armenia had had that support, we would have nothing
else to undertake," Rustamyan underscored.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PEOPLE WILL RISE AND SAY NO

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 30 2006

The implementation of the right for self-determination should be
absolute and maximum regarding the Karabakh issue. Karabakh has
the right to use this right at the highest level, stated Armen
Rustamyan, representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Supreme Body
November 30 at the Friday Club, thus formulating the stance of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun. "Our goal should be the full implementation of this
right, which supposes two addressees – the international community
and Azerbaijan," Armen Rustamyan says. If agreement is reached with
Azerbaijan based on this principle, it will be the utmost and the
ideal, Armen Rustamyan thinks. If not, efforts should be made for the
recognition of the right for self-determination by the international
community.

What does the ARF Dashnaktsutyun think about the statements of official
Yerevan on returning the territories, even though it stresses the
condition of settling the question of status? Armen Rustamyan declined
to give a clear answer. "The territories are de facto guarantees for
the central function of sustaining military security performed by
the territories around NKR. We must choose a starting point not to
weaken the guarantees of security existing today. Today, in fact, we
have a certain state of guarantees. These guarantees are not definite
because if these were definite, it would not occur to Azerbaijan to
frighten us with militaristic statements.

These guarantees are not sufficient, but at least we should not take
steps to lose what we have today," says Armen Rustamyan, adding that de
factor security should be reinforced by guarantees of de jure security,
based on the law of nations.

However, Karabakh’s participation is essential to achieving something,
Armen Rustamyan believes. Armen Rustamyan thinks it is nonsense
that Karabakh is a conflict side but not a negotiating party. To the
question if the governments of Armenia and Karabakh make sufficient
efforts for the engagement of Karabakh in the talks, Armen Rustamyan
gives a reassuring but indirect answer. "Recently this question
has been discussed intensively, and I have to say that I can see
breakthrough regarding this problem, a process is underway to make
Karabakh a full-right party of the talks.

These problems are offered to Azerbaijan every time, these problems
are raised at international rostrums, and get an adequate perception
because this absurdity is clear to everyone – to be a conflict side
but not to be a party in the talks," says the representative of the
Supreme Body of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun. According to him, there are
questions only Karabakh should speak about, namely the status, the
territories, and the return of refugees. Armenia has no credentials
on these questions, Armen Rustamyan thinks. In this case is the
president of Armenia trespassing on the credientials of Karabakh when,
for instance, he states on Al Jazeera about returning territories,
what should be given and what should not be given? It becomes clear
from the answer to this question that Robert Kocharyan’s statement is
diplomacy. "The president of Armenia, the other officials can make
different statements depending on the situation, the nature of the
talks, the diplomatic necessity. These should not be confused, after
all the final settlement must be what it must be. These may differ
so there is no need to go ahead of time," says the representative
of the Supreme Body of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun. He states that the
settlement is the question which cannot be solved without the agreement
of the people of Karabakh, and the agreement should be expressed by
popular voting.

The news reporters reminded Armen Rustamyan that the referendums in
Armenia are never popular, although the turnout is the highest ever.

His answer resembled a confession. "This is not the case when a
referendum can be held by a scenario written beforehand. If people say
no, but they turn it into yes, people will rise saying no," stated
the representative of the Supreme Body. And if they beat again like
they usually beat demonstrators, the news reporters reminded Armen
Rustamyan. "We have been beaten since 1988 for this question, it’s
not news," he answered.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress