Author: Emil Lazarian

AZERBAIJAN LOST THE RIGHT FOR ITS TERRITORY

Lragir.am
02 Aug 06

Refugees and the Law of Nations civil society network, set up to
defend the rights and interests of Armenian refugees from Soviet
Azerbaijan and Nakhidjevan, addressed a message August 1 to the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs Bryza, Fassier and Merzlyakov, who are meeting
in Paris August 2 to 4 to set the schedule of work in the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict.

Refugees and the Law of Nations addressed the co-chairs "in an
attempt to draw the attention of the international organizations to
the problem of 500 thousand Armenian refugees".

"We regret to say that none of the proposals of the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict so far has
contained a single hint at defending the rights of the Armenian
refugees displaced from Soviet Azerbaijan and Nakhidjevan, recovery
of direct and indirect material and moral damage by the Azerbaijani
government, retrieving Homeland and the country of citizenship," runs
the message addressed to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The authors
of the message announce that it is impossible to reach a lasting
settlement of the conflict over Karabakh without solving the problem of
the Armenian refugees. Refugees and the Law of Nations also informs
the co-chairs that the results of a poll among Armenian refugees
suggest that they will never return to their homes in Azerbaijan.

"Rejecting that it is the follower of Soviet Azerbaijan, the Republic
of Azerbaijan not only stated that it is not likely to settle the
problem of refugees but also took away from itself the right for
claims to the entire territory of former Soviet Azerbaijan. In terms
of the law, the only legal follower of Soviet Azerbaijan is Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. We think that if the Armenian refugees are granted
nationality of NKR, and the land which lie outside the territory
where NKR was declared but is under its jurisdiction is granted to
them as their property, it may partly solve the problem of Armenian
refugees," runs the message of Refugees and the Law of Nations Civil
Society Network.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHAT CONNECTION DOES THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION HAVE?

Lragir.am
02 Aug 06

In Armenia, nobody doubts who the real leader of the Republican Party
is, who is going to strengthen his position in the political party.

He even set the timing, "in three or four months the results of the
process underway will become visible." It goes without saying that
the minister of defense Serge Sargsyan is concerned, who is simply
going to buy the Republican Party, Manuk Gasparyan says.

However, even the "prophesy" of Manuk Gasparyan is useless already
because the "sale" of the Republican Party has already taken place,
which was confirmed during the extraordinary conference of the
Republican Party, when the one or two-days-old Republicans, who had
bid for membership to the Republican Party on Serge Sargsyan’s fancy,
were elected members of the Council of the party.

One of them, for instance, the mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan,
not only was elected member of the Council, but also elected others
like him. And he was assisted by the minister of communication and
transport Andranik Manukyan, studying the ballot of voting to the
Council of the Republican Party together with Zakharyan. Helping
one’s neighbor is not bad, of course, especially for a man who has
announced for a number of times about his close tie with God. He has
his political party, which is called "Solidarity".

Consequently, it is supposed that the partisan ethic required not
interfering with the election of the Council of another political
party, especially if one is just a guest at the conference of this
political party. Of course, it is difficult to say that Yervand
Zakharyan followed Andranik Manukyan’s advice in voting. It is
also difficult to say that Andranik Manukyan advised anything to
Zakharyan. But it is a fact that Manukyan was scrutinizing the ballot
of voting to the council of the Republican Party, which our photo
camera recorded. Consequently, it is already a historical fact that
Andranik Manukyan was in the focus of the election of the Council of
the Republican Party.

And this fact is interesting not only because it is an interference
with the affairs of another political party. The point is that
Andranik Manukyan has always had controversies with the leader of
the Republican Party Andranik Margaryan. The recent controversy
occurred over the reports of ministries on 2005, when the prime
minister assessed the performance of the Ministry of Communication
and Transport as satisfactory, pushing the minister into a fury. This
is a fresh example. But there is an older, though a more vivid example.

When Andranik Margaryan was opening his hotel in 2001, President
Kocharyan and literally the whole government was there, except
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. So it was a surprise to see the
minister of communication and transport among the few guests of the
extraordinary conference of the Republican Party, who later appeared
during the voting to be more than just a guest. Maybe it was an effort
by Andranik Margaryan to make it up with his namesake, although such a
truce resembles a capitulation rather. And under these circumstances
it is already unimportant who capitulated, the prime minister to the
minister of communication or transport or to the minister who had
probably invited Andranik Manukyan. The fact is that the election of
the Council of the Republican Party already takes place outside this
political party as well.

HAKOB BADALYAN

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"NONSENSE TO BE THE SUCCESSOR OF ILLEGAL AUTHORITY"

Aravot.am
01 Aug 06

– leader of "National Unity Party" Artashes Geghamian says.

Mr. Geghamian, how do you explain internal political situation in
Armenia when the authority powers are more active, than the opposition
powers? While the world worries about settlement of different important
problems, Kocharian-Sargsian couple makes efforts to dispart the
public, create hostility among our despaired people. Their only goal
is to prolong their authority at any cost. This is very anxious,
and when I try to analyze current events in Armenia, I remember the
famous proverb to this situation: feast during the plague. How do
you explain different people’s membership into Republican Party, in
your opinion why did the defense minister become Republican? They,
I mean Kocharian-Sargsian couple, have chosen very simple policy,
they try to distract people’s attention from the serious problems
of the republic focusing them on internal political events. It’s
obvious that it has no connection with the future of Armenia, with
its problems, which need in immediate solution. The ruling party
held its special congress but no party member raises any mental
new idea. They didn’t discuss any problem, which could be decisive
for the fate of country development. So internal political events in
Armenia have nothing general with the fate of Armenia. Anyway, how do
you explain defense minister’s membership into Republican Party, what
object does it purpose? If you follow the press, it will be clear for
you that they try to create such an impression, in particularly among
Minsk Group co-chairs’ countries, that Kocharian-Sargsian couple are
the only sober-minded statesmen who are tolerant in the NK conflict
peaceful settlement and ready to make a compromise that’s why they
are criticized both inside and outside the country. Mr. Sargsian
wants to prove the international community that he has become the
member of a party with Njdeh’s ideology, and prepares adoption of
mutual concessions passing through dangers. He wants to pretend
himself as a hero. There is also another point. Serge Sargsian and
Robert Kocharian fell the coming danger and realize very well that
the time of giving answers has already come. They couldn’t cheat our
people for 8 years assuring that there will be more perspective and
positive settlements in NK conflict, while we witness that great
economic projects, Baku-Tbilisi-Jeihan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum oil
pipelines have already been constructed, and Armenia is out of those
developments. Today it is spoken more and more that defense minister
is Robert Kocharian’s successor. Is it true?

Nonsense to be the successor of illegal authority. As regards the
wishes, there is a Russian famous proverb "wishing is not harmfulÂ".

Margaret Yesayan

–Boundary_(ID_U5kv2YNjg6mXzpW9KoeL7A)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mayor of Kars Stated Necessity of Opening Border with Armenia. Baku Concerned

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2006 15:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Opening of the border with Armenia is beyond the
competence of the Kars municipality head, Azerbaijani Consul General
in Kars Hasan Zeynalov said. In his words, the Armenian-Turkish border
may be opened only in case Armenia fulfills three conditions. Armenia
should abandon its claims for the Armenian Genocide recognition by
Ankara, its territorial claims to Turkey and free the "occupied"
territories of Azerbaijan.

Hasan Zeynalov remarked that some forces in Turkey interested in
opening the border with Armenia. "However, I would like to emphasize
that opening of the border with Armenia is beyond the competence either
of the Kars municipality head or any other individuals concerned,"
he underscored, reported APA.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PM RECEIVES WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Armenpress

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian received today the delegation headed by the executive
director of the World Food Program James Morris who is in Armenia
within the framework of the regional visit.

Governmental press service informed Armenpress that during the
meeting the prime minister highly underscored the work of the WFP
in Armenia starting from 1993 and noted that WFP has contributed to
the improvement of the condition of most needy people and refugees,
in the development of communities.

During the meeting the interlocutors also referred to the consequences
of drought registered in a number of Armenian settlements during
this year. The prime minister asked in case of possibility to support
Armenia to smoothen the consequences of the drought.

James Morris said he is satisfied with the pace of implementation of
WFP programs in Armenia and said that he has managed to visit Lori and
Tavush provinces and get acquainted with the pace of implementation
of the programs right in the place.

Morris also expressed satisfaction about the cooperation with the
Armenian government and Labor and Social Affairs Ministry. He said he
is impressed with the economic growth in Armenia and with the efforts
of the Armenian government directed towards overcoming the poverty. He
expressed readiness to continue cooperation in the coming years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN THEATER OF TBILISI TO BE ON TOUR IN JAVAKHK

AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Tbilisi
Armenian State Dramatic Theater after Petros Adamian will be on
tour in Javakhk on August 1-3. Armen Bayandurian, the Director
and Artistic Head of the theater mentions that this year the 150th
anniversary of the theater is, and tours dedicated to that jubilee
start in Javakhk. The theater will perform in Akhalkalak, Ninotsminda,
Aspindsa. According to Armen Bayandurian, after Javakhk, tours will
be in the Republic of Armenia as well, and in autumn the theater will
perform in Tbilisi. According to the information of the "A-Info"
agency, both already performed and quite new works will be staged
during the jubilee tours.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. Amb to inform his fellow OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
about tour of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict region

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug 1, 2006

Author: A.Mammadova

US Ambassador Matthew Bryza, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, intends to
inform in Paris his fellow co-chairs about the results of the visit to
the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Bryza briefed
about it in Baku on 1 August as a result of consultations held at
the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The diplomat said that the talks with Azerbaijani authorities did
not concern the Azerbaijani-U.S. cooperation. "As a co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group I want to hear the opinions by President and Foreign
minister on the peaceable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,"
Bryza stressed.

Bryza informed that on 2 August he intends to hold an exchange of
opinion in Paris with the OSCE insk Group co-chairs on the results
of the visit.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN 2050 POPULATION OF ARMENIA WILL COUNT 2.334 MILLION

Lragir.am
01 Aug 06

Hranush Kharatyan, the head of the agency of ethnic minorities and
religion of the government of Armenia, made important comments in an
interview with the official website of the Republican Party.

For instance, Ms. Kharatyan announced with regard to the demographic
pattern of Armenia and its possible changes that "Armenia is presently
unfavorable for the population of our country". According to
Hranush Kharatyan, this unfavorable state is the reason why "the
young, the educated, workers, specialists" leave Armenia, and in
a country, which sheltered refugees, "there is no growth of the
population. Armenia remains a labor-exporting country and will remain
for a long time." Hence, it is at least a surprise to hear from Hranush
Kharatyan that "Armenia is becoming a real Republic with the dominant
ideology of Republicanism. A citizen is protected and safe, citizens
have genuinely equal and protected possibilities, a law-abiding and
hard-working person is a respectable citizen of our country and the
key guarantees of his protection are the same qualities. The Armenians
not only stay in Armenia but also give birth to children." Hence, it
appears that non-Armenians leave Armenia. However, Hranush Kharatyan
declines to say who the non-Armenian "the young, the educated,
workers, specialists" are who leave Armenia and are an attractive
resource for the countries which encourage immigration.

Hranush Kharatyan presents figures as well. In 2050 the population of
Armenia will count 2.334 million. If presently 63.1 percent are not
able to work, in 2050 it will be 48.9 percent, "which is the lowest
rate in the OSCE countries". In Turkey 58 percent of the population,
57.3 percent in Azerbaijan will not work. In the upcoming 45-50 years
the population aged 15 to 59 will grow by 37.9 percent in Turkey, 37.9
percent in Azerbaijan, and will go down by 41.9 percent in Armenia.

There is one more thing that Hranush Kharatyan unfortunately and
consciously keeps silent about, namely "the influence of qualitative
and quantitative changes in the demographic patterns of the countries
in the region". Whereas, Hranush Kharatyan should not keep silent, for
due to a demographic change no Armenians were not left in Nakhidjevan
where the Azerbaijanis demolish Armenian khachkars.

After cracking down on the sustainable two-digit economic growth of
the Armenian government for the upcoming 50 years Hranush Kharatyan
takes up Robert Kocharyan’s principle of the genetic incompatibility
of Armenians and Turks. According to Hranush Kharatyan, "peaceful
coexistence of the Armenian and Turkish ethnicities was possible
and will be possible in the future too. Ethnicities do not bring
about conflicts. Conflicts are sparked by planners and implementers
of politics."

ARAM ZAKARYAN

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh denies Azeri report on crease-fire breach – agency

Mediamax news agency
1 Aug 06

Yerevan, 1 August: The press secretary of the defence ministry of the
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR], Lt-Col Senor Asratyan, has denied
a report of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry that "a soldier of the
Azerbaijani army was killed in another breach of the cease-fire by
the Armenians on 29 July".

Asratyan told Mediamax that "Azerbaijan’s military leadership
normally attributes any fatal emergency in the Azerbaijani army to
the Karabakh side".

He said that "by putting the blame on the Armenian side, the
Azerbaijani command always adds more fire to anti-Armenian feelings
in Azerbaijan and tries to salvage its reputation in the eyes of its
own nation".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN-TATARSTAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST MEETING

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 1 2006

Prime Ministers Artur Rasizade of Azerbaijan and visiting Rustam
Minnikhanov of Tatarstan (Russia) today in Baku presided over the first
meeting of the Azerbaijan-Tatarstan Intergovernmental Commission on
trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.

In his opening remarks the Azeri Premier said Azerbaijan attaches
great importance to development of relations with Russian federation
not only at federal level but also at the level of its subjects.

He pointed out that trade between Azerbaijan and Tatarstan which
totaled $35.5 million last year, reached the volume of $25.7 million
over the first six months of the current year that 3.4 times more
than for the corresponding period of 2005.

Speaking of the global energy projects being implemented in Azerbaijan,
Prime Minister Rasizade stressed the country’s intention to develop
its non-oil sector, as well. He said Tatarstan’s experience in this
field would be very useful for Azerbaijan.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the Premier said Armenia takes a non-constructive stance as for the
issue of peaceful resolution of the problem.

Prime Minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said his republic is
ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in both trade and economic and
humanitarian field. He also expressed Tatarstan’s interest in creation
of petrochemical and oil refinery joint ventures with Azerbaijan.

The meeting ended with signing a protocol reflecting prospects of
bilateral cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical and
cultural cooperation.

After the meeting, the two premiers answered questions from
journalists. They said, in particular, at this first meeting members
of the intergovernmental commission had agreed on opening in Baku of
the service center of the truck production plan KamAZ, implementation
of joint projects in the field of petrochemistry, machine-building,
and oil-field equipment.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress