Author: Emil Lazarian

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN NKR TO COST 40 MILLION DRAMS
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
NKR Government has allocated $40 million for the Constitutional
Referendum scheduled December 10.
President of the NKR Central Electoral Commission Sergey Nasibyan
said in an interview with Mediamax agency that 280 precincts will
open in the republic. One precinct will be opened in Yerevan, in the
NKR Permanent Representation.
Currently the voting lists are being corrected. The final lists will
be posted up in precincts two days prior to the referendum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CAUCUS MEMBERS TO TAKE OVER IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE SENATE
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
The balance of power shifted in Washington yesterday as Democrats
took control over the House of Representatives, paving the way for
Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to become the first
female Speaker of the House. As part of that power shift, House Speaker
Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) will pass the Speaker’s gavel to Pelosi, making
her the first Armenian Caucus Member to hold that position. Pelosi
has a strong record of support on Armenian-American issues and has
regularly called on the Administration to properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide.
Additionally, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will run for Majority
Leader, and if elected, will be another Caucus first. Like Pelosi,
Hoyer has co-sponsored legislation reaffirming the Genocide and has
given commemoration addresses to Congress during the month of April.
“Representatives Pelosi and Hoyer have strong records on Armenian
issues of any Democratic leadership and we look forward to building
on these strong relationships, as well as others in the House, to
address issues and concerns facing Armenian-Americans, as well as
our homeland,” said Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member
Annie Totah.
In total, some 50 Democratic Armenian Caucus Members are positioned
to take over important leadership positions and full committee
chairmanships including Representatives Charles Rangel (NY) House
Ways and Means, John Dingell (MI) Energy and Commerce, John Conyers,
Jr. (MI) Judiciary, George Miller (CA) Education, Henry Waxman (CA)
Government Reform, Barney Frank (MA) Financial Services, Collin
Peterson (MN) Agriculture and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY) Small Business
Committee.
Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), who is the current Ranking
Member of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and is
also poised to become a subcommittee chair and potentially the first
Armenian Caucus Member to Chair Foreign Operations. Lowey, an ardent
supporter of Armenian issues, has commemorated the Armenian Genocide
with statements on the House floor and urged Congress to retain
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Representatives Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), William Delahunt
(D-MA) and Grace Napolitano (D-CA) are positioned to Chair various
International Relations Subcommittees. Additionally, Representatives
Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Dale E. Kildee (D-MI),
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),
Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
are anticipated to become subcommittee chairs, among others.
The majority of Armenian Caucus Members were re-elected including
Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).
Representative Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) won a seat in the Senate. As
for Caucus Members of Armenian descent, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
(D-CA) was elected for an eight term, while Congressman John Sweeney
(D-NY) was defeated after serving four years in the House, where he
championed issues facing Armenian-Americans.
Totah also noted that prior to the election, several lawmakers pledged
to join the Armenian Caucus if elected and that the Assembly will
reach out those new Members.
In other House leadership posts, Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA),
who has traditionally opposed efforts to reaffirm the Genocide, but
supported the Armenian Genocide resolution during a 2005 vote before
the International Relations Committee, is anticipated to Chair the
International Relations Committee. The Appropriations Committee
Chairmanship is expected to be filled by Congressman David Obey
(D-WI), who has also supported Armenian issues.
On the Senate side, longtime Armenian issues supporter Senator
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) faced a hard-fought race and retained his
seat, while Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Lincoln D. Chafee
(R-RI) lost their re-election bids. Earlier this year, Santorum and
Menendez introduced a major bill (S. 2461) to bar assistance for
a railroad bypass of Armenia. In September, Menendez also placed a
“hold” on the nomination of Ambassador-designate Richard E. Hoagland
as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. The move is in protest to
the Bush Administration’s flawed policy on the Armenian Genocide,
neither denying nor properly affirming the events as genocide.
“The Assembly congratulates Armenian-American supporters in the Senate
and House on their victory and looks forward to reaching out to new
members in the coming year,” said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Adouny. “To that end, we also encourage Armenian Americans to join
us in our outreach efforts and build on our advocacy successes in
the current Congress.”
Ardouny noted that, with this election, the anticipated leadership of
the 110th Congress will offer new opportunities to pass an Armenian
Genocide resolution, to ensure that attempts by Armenia’s neighbors to
isolate her are addressed, and to make security issues facing Nagorno
Karabakh and Armenia priorities. When Congress returns next week for
the lame duck session, several outstanding items remain including the
rail legislation, appropriations funding for Armenia and Karabakh,
as well as the confirmation process for Ambassador-designate Richard
E. Hoagland.
Governors in 36 states were also elected. In Ohio, Armenian Caucus
Member Ted Strickland (D-OH), a cosponsor of the pan-Armenian Genocide
bill H. Res. 316 and the House rail bill H.R. 3361, was elected
governor, while in California, incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA)
defeated his Democratic challenger by a large margin. As governor,
Schwarzenegger has championed Armenian-American issues. Last month
he signed legislation authorizing the construction of a memorial for
the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
Earlier, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 1524, enabling
Armenian Genocide victims and their families to seek legal action to
recover assets lost or stolen as result of the tragedies, as well as
Senate Bill 424, which permanently recognizes April 24 as the Day of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in California.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOUSEWARMING IN MARTUNI
Gayane Balayan
Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 9 2006
The official ceremony of opening of the block of apartments built
by the NKR defense army in Martuni for 15 families of officers took
place on November 2. The minister of defense Lieutenant-General
Seyran Ohanian, commissioned officers, the regional administration
were present. The two-storey building in the center of Martuni had
been founded for the town library decades ago, but the building was
not finished. Seyran Ohanian congratulated the owners of the new
apartments and handed them the keys. He emphasized the importance of
welfare of officers and mentioned that the Armenian army constantly
thinks about improving their lives. In 2006 over 1 billion dollars
was allocated for this policy. In Martuni this is the second house
built for officers. The defense minister of NKR said that hopefully
next year more funds will be allocated for this policy because for a
strong army it is highly important to have secure and strong families
of officers. By the way, the apartments in the new house are very
comfortable with modern conveniences. The house also has a hall
for ceremonies.

BRIAN FALL: UK READY TO ASSIST OSCE MG IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2006 14:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the Security Council at the RA
President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received Wednesday the
British delegation led by Sir Brian Fall, the UK Special Representative
for the South Caucasus, Col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan, RA Defense Minister’s
Spokesman, told PanARMENIAN.Net. UK Ambassador to Armenia Anthony
Cantor was also present at the meeting. Welcoming Armenia’s policy
on peaceful settlement of conflicts Sir Brian Fall said the UK is
ready to assist the OSCE Minsk Group in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Pointing out to the usefulness of mutual contacts
in order to maintain ceasefire in the conflict zone the interlocutors
touched upon the recent meeting of the RA and Azeri Defense Ministers
at the Ijevan-Ghazakh sector of the Armenian and Azerbaijani border.
When commenting on the conference organized by Wilton Park in Yerevan
Sir Brian Fall emphasized that it’s the first-ever conference held
in a South Caucasian state. When touching upon the current stage
of the Armenian-British military cooperation the sides noted the
importance of extending the program of English language courses for
Armenian servicemen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND NKR OFFICIALS THANKED GREEK PARLIAMENT FOR RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN 1996
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2006 16:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Early November NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosian
departed for Greece to participate in the events dedicated to the
10th anniversary of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the
Greek parliament. As reported by the NKR MFA press office, November
7 Armenian National Assembly Vice-speaker Vahan Hovhannisian and the
NKR FM met with Greek parliament Vice-speaker Giorgio Surlas. The RA
and NKR officials thanked the Greek parliament for the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in 1996. For his part Giorgio Surlas dwelled
on the ethnic cleansings of Armenians and Greeks in the Ottoman
Empire and stressed the necessity of consistent measures for their
recognition. The sides also discussed expansion of the Armenian-Greek
friendly ties and the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, reports IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CIS INTERPARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY TO MEET IN SAINT PETERSBURG
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2006 18:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent sitting of the CIS Interparliamentary
Assembly is due in Saint Petersburg November 15-17. According to
the CIS IPA website, the reformation of the CIS, which is marking
its 15th anniversary, prospects and outcomes of cooperation will be
discussed. Laws on security, recommendations on migration issues,
a number of legal documents including the ecological, water and
educational codes will be signed.
The meeting of the speakers of the parliaments of the Caucasian Four
(Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia) will be held within the
sitting framework, reports Trend news agency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GOVERNMENT DECISION REQUIRES AUCTION FOR MINING INDUSTRY
Panorama.am
16:55 09/11/06
“Efficient use of mining industry will promote our economy,” Vardan
Aivazyan, minister of nature protection, told a briefing followed by a
government session. The government issued a decision according to which
a tender will be announced for processing the bowels of the earth.
According to the new order, the government announces starting amount
of the auction and the participating companies invest as much or more
to win the auction.
Aivazyan said the starting capital for 5 tones of gold may be “380
million drams.” Aivazyan said these auctions may fill the budget with
big sums.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR FM DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IN GREECE
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
Early November the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic FM Georgy Petrossian
visited Greece to participate in the measures devoted to the 10th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide’s recognition by the Greek
Parliament.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR MFA Press Service,
November 7 RA Parliament vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian and NKR FM
had met with the Greek Parliament vice Speaker Georgios Surlas.
The RA and NKR officials expressed their gratitude to the Greek
Parliament for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 1996. In his
turn Georgios Surlas dwelled on the policy of the ethnical cleansings
of Armenians and Greeks being pursued in the Osmanian Empire.
In the course of the meeting the parties also considered the issues
referring to extending friendly ties between Armenia and Greece and
the current stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTRUCTION OF THE STRATEGIC KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY TO START IN 2007
By Taleh Ziyadov
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Nov 9 2006
For almost a year, officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey
have been engaged in intense discussions about ways to finance the
construction of the strategic Kars-Akhalkalaki railway system. This
rail link will bridge the gap between the Georgian and Turkish rail
networks, permitting an uninterrupted flow of cargo from markets in
Asia to Europe or vice versa.
Earlier this year, a Turkish firm completed a feasibility study of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki project. Soon after, Turkey announced that it would
finance the construction of the 68-kilometer portion of the railway
on its territory ($200 million). Azerbaijan also stated its readiness
to allocate funds for the project, while Georgia remained undecided.
It took several high level-meetings and intense negotiations among
the three countries to hammer out the remaining differences. The
major problem has been the source of funds for the construction and
rehabilitation work in the Georgian segment of the railway.
A 220-kilometer (137 mile) portion of the railroad (from the
Georgian-Turkish border to Tbilisi) runs through in Georgia. Some 30
kilometers (18 miles) of this rail link will be built from scratch,
while the remaining 190 kilometers needs modernization. The estimated
cost of the Kars-Akhalkalaki project is $450 million, of which $220
million will be spent for work in Georgia.
In a September 25 interview with a local newspaper, a high-ranking
Turkish diplomat complained that Tbilisi “intentionally delays
the construction of the [Kars-Akhalkalaki] railroad” (Azeri Press
Agency, September 25). “Georgia is posing bureaucratic obstacles to
the construction of the railway. We cannot understand [Georgia],”
stated the unnamed diplomat.
The reason for delay, however, is related to negotiations between
official Baku and Tbilisi. Because the major construction and
rehabilitation work is to take place in Georgia and Turkey, the
Georgian government had to bear at least half of the cost of the
project. This created financial problems for Georgia, which does
not have vast natural resources like Azerbaijan or a strong economy
like Turkey.
The issue became more complicated when the Georgian government’s
major financial donor, the United States, was taken out of the
funding picture.
On September 30, Armenian lobbying groups managed to include a
prohibition provision (Section 11) in the U.S. Senate resolution S.
3938, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2006. The bill
prohibits the U.S. ExImBank from extending a credit or participating
in “any railway connection or railway-related connection [project]
that does not traverse or connect with Armenia,” thus eliminating
any possibility of credit from the U.S. government to Georgia.
Nonetheless, on September 12, the general director of JSC Georgian
railways, Irakly Ezugbaiya, declared that Azerbaijan had agreed
to allocate a credit in the amount of $220 million to the Georgian
government.
Confirmation of this offer came after Georgian Minister of Economic
Development Irakli Chogovadze visited Baku on October 12-14. After
trilateral discussions with Turkish and Azerbaijani officials,
Chogovadze confirmed that the Georgian government would finance the
project using long-term and zero-interest credit from Azerbaijan
(Trend, October 13). The funding will come from the International
Bank of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani government. The amount of the
credit will be determined in early 2007 (Sharg, October 14).
In addition to Azerbaijan’s credit to Georgia, China has offered a
13-year loan with a 5.5% interest rate to Turkey. But Ankara declined
the offer, stating that it has sufficient funds to finance the project
by itself (Trend, August 28).
The construction of the railway is scheduled to begin in 2007 with
an expected completion date at the end of 2008. Georgia alone is
expected to earn $150 million annually from the cargo shipments via
the Kars-Akhalkalaki rail connection (Today.az, September 7).
According to Turkish Minister of Transportation, Binali Yildirim,
the railway system could accommodate a transfer of as much as 20
million tons of cargo per year (Trend, August 28). Other estimates
put the volume of cargo in the initial stage at 2-4 million, with a
potential to increase up to 8-10 million in the following three years
(BakuToday.net, April 20).
Besides the strategic importance of the Kars-Akhalkalaki rail
connection, linking the railway networks of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey
— and potentially Europe, Central Asia, and China — the project
has a great significance for the development of the regional economies.
Due to the landlocked geography of the Caspian Basin, strengthening the
non-oil economies of countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
and Turkmenistan depends on increased volumes of intercontinental
container trade via their territories. Moreover, initiatives
such as creating free-economic zones in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and
other countries along the Caspian Sea coast will also depend on the
successful development of the infrastructure and interstate rail and
highway systems in these countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV WALKS TIGHTROPE BETWEEN RUSSIA, WEST
By Valentinas Mite
Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
Nov 9 2006
PRAGUE, November 9, 2006 (RFE/RL) — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
visited Moscow today on the heels of a trip to Brussels during which he
signed a memorandum on cooperation in energy with the European Union.
Ahead of the visit, President Vladimir Putin officially gave his stamp
of approval to his Azerbaijani counterpart’s visit to EU headquarters
and NATO.
“I would like to congratulate you on your successful visit to
Brussels,” Putin said. “I know, indeed, the visit was very practical,
concrete. Important agreements have been made regarding Azerbaijan’s
participation in European efforts in the energy field.”
Behind The Scene
But some observers believe that away from the microphone, Putin cannot
have much good to say about Azerbaijan’s efforts to curry favor in
the West.
Ali Kerimli, who heads leading Azerbaijani opposition party Popular
Front, says the issue was sure to be a hot topic during today’s talks.
“Every year it is becoming more and more difficult for Aliyev to stay
in two places at the same time,” Kerimli said. “To be at a friend,
a satellite, a supporter of the authoritarian Russia, and at the same
time to participate in all the NATO and EU integration programs.”
A commentary in the Russian daily “Kommersant” on November 9 suggested
that, as compensation for this policy, Russia might ask Azerbaijan to
participate in an energy blockade of Georgia. The daily wrote that
the Kremlin is prepared to offer Russian investment in Azerbaijan’s
energy sector and also to supply Russian armaments at a discount.
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, branded as a “strategic
partnership,” are complicated.
The Karabakh Card
Shain Abbasov, an independent analyst based in Baku, says many in
Azerbaijan believe that the resolution of Azerbaijan’s conflict
with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh is in the hands of Moscow, not in
the West.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been under the control of Armenia since a 1994
cease-fire ended a six-year war. Russia plays a key mediating role
as the sides try to come to an agreement on the region’s final status.
However, Kerimli has said the conflict serves Moscow by helping Russia
to preserve its influence in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Analyst Abbasov says the Kremlin’s policy toward Armenia, a Russian
ally, remains more benign than toward Azerbaijan.
“Armenia is a traditional Russian ally in the southern Caucasus,”
Abbasov said. “You know that Azerbaijan is a member of GUAM, which
in principle is considered to be an anti-Russian political grouping
and nobody tries to hide it very much. So there is no doubt that
Azerbaijan is trying differently from Armenia to balance its foreign
policy between the West and Russia.”
Analysts have also suggested that some practices in Azerbaijan —
antidemocratic ones — serve to bring it closer to Russia than
the West.
Everything Under Control
Abbasov, for example, says Aliyev is clearly following Russia’s model
of “controlled democracy.”
Azerbaijani police breaking up an opposition demonstration in November
2005 (AFP)”In fact, Azerbaijan is clearly following the Russian way,
the way of Putin’s democracy,” he said. “It is under way already
now. There is no question which way Azerbaijan might choose.
Aliyev’s administration has already made a choice, and we are already
heading down this road. You can see all this pressure on the press,
a very strict authoritarian way of rule and so on. In fact, we have
a very similar situation as in Russia.”
As for other topics, economic issues were likely on today’s agenda —
including natural-gas prices. .
Moscow could threaten, as it has done to other neighboring states
of late, to raise considerably the price of its gas exports to
Azerbaijan. But the move might not provide much leverage in getting
Baku to avoid making overtures to the West. Azerbaijan uses only an
estimated 10.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, and only
1.5 billion of that is imported from Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress