NKR Receives Congratulations on 15th Anniversary

PanARMENIAN.Net
NKR Receives Congratulations on 15th Anniversary
01.09.2006 14:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The NKR leadership received a number of
congratulatory addresses over the 15th anniversary of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic’s proclamation. `I wish the people of Artsakh
peaceful, secure and free future and send my warmest congratulations
on occasion of the 15th anniversary of Artsakh’s independence,’ says
the letter sent by first U.S. Ambassador to Armenia (1993-1995) Harry
J. Gilmore.
`South Ossetia closely watches the process of formation of Karabakh’s
state system and is glad to see the social, political, cultural and
spiritual development of the Artsakh people. We are convinced that
these achievements will multiply and Nagorno Karabakh will enjoy a
fair settlement of the problem on the basis of people’s will,’ says
the message by the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry.
`I sincerely congratulate the brave people of Artsakh, NKR President
and the Government on occasion of the 15th anniversary of independence
of Artsakh and wish all the best,’ said The California Courier editor
Harout Sasounian in his message.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DM on Karabakh Issue: Living without Belief and Hope Impossible

PanARMENIAN.Net
RA Defense Minister on Karabakh Issue: Living without
Belief and Hope Impossible
01.09.2006 14:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `It’s good when one has hope and it’s good when this
hope is reasonably limited,’ Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan
told journalists September 1 in the military high school after Monte
Melkonyan when commenting on the process of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement. In his words, it’s impossible to live without
belief and hope, but one should not have big expectations either,
since they may not come true and it may turn tragic.
When touching upon the intention of the chairman of the Caucasus
Muslims Board, Sheik-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade to proclaim
jihad against Armenia, the Minister remarked that `the Sheik has no
connection with the Azeri authorities.’ `Will it have an impact on the
process? Actually he did not say anything precise. He said only that
if the talks do not lead to a fair outcome he will proclaim jihad.
Thus, nothing has happened yet,’ Sargsyan said, reported IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Aliyev-Kocharian Meeting Possible till Yearend

PanARMENIAN.Net
Aliyev-Kocharian Meeting Possible till Yearend
01.09.2006 15:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The possibility of the Kocharian-Aliyev meeting on
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement till the end of 2006
is not ruled out,’ RA President’s Spokesman Victor Soghomonyan
said. `We should not exclude the possibility of the presidential
meeting till the end of the current year, but it’s premature to speak
of it now,’ he said.
Victor Soghomonyan reminded that the other day the sides achieved
agreement on the meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
and Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov. In his words, during the forthcoming
meeting the parties will try to reach consent on the unsettled
issues. `The meeting will lay the foundation for the future
presidential talks,’ the President’s Spokesman underscored, reported
newsarmenia.ru.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Defense Minister Visits Military School

Panorama.am
14:59 01/09/06

DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS MILITARY SCHOOL
Defense Minister Serz Sargsyan joined parents and
faculty at Monte Melkonyan School on the Day of
Science and launch of the new academic year. The
freshmen have already learned to march. They respected
the soldiers who died for the sake of their motherland
with a minute of silence. `I am sure most of you will
become officers at the Armenia army,’ the minister
encouraged the students. After visiting the
classrooms, minister Sargsyan came to the conclusion
that the defense ministry must take up measures to
make this school one of the best educational centers
in the republic. `I admit that I have overlooked but I
promise that we will have an excellent school here in
1-2 years,’ Sargsyan told reporters. /Panorama.am/

First Condition For Conflict Settlement Is Peaceful Process – DPA

FIRST CONDITION FOR CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IS PEACEFUL PROCESS, INVOLVING
GREAT NUMBER OF ASPECTS, DPA CHAIRMAN SAYS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Today, on the background of
absolutely contrasting positions of Azerbaijan and Armenia, any
breaking of the status quo will bring to disbalance. Aram Sargsian,
the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) stated about it
to the Noyan Tapan correspondent. In his opinion, if enmity between
Armenians and Azeris is kept, any solution with help of any compromise
variants will not bring today to peace, the conflict will just be
suppressed, but not finally. In Aram Sargsian’s word, the first
condition for the Karabakh conflict solution is a peaceful process
which must involve in itself a great number of aspects, involving
readiness of elites and societies, what does not factually exist at
present. He mentioned that elites and societies would be ready only in
the case when rulers will lead policy aimed to peace. At the same
time, in his estimation, policy of the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan
is a brake on the way of the conflict settlement. “It’s a policy of
postponing, inactivity and compressing of the situation. Meetings
between the two presidents are not negotiations, but talks of two
people, having power, and no more. The negotiations will start only
when corresponding dimplomatic missions and working groups are formed
which will work on getting agreement on a definite block of issues,”
the DPA Chairman stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kocharian: Duty of All Armenians To Support NKR Development

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: DUTY OF ALL ARMENIANS IS TO SUPPORT NKR’S
DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHENING AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The Artsakh
people has made its historical choice, to protect its national rights
in the war thrusted upon it and today is building a free and
democratic state,” RA President Robert Kocharian’s congratulatory
message on the occasion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Day
reads. “The greatest memorial to the immortal heroes of Artsakh war is
free and independent Karabakh,” RA President emphasized. Mentioning
that the building of statehood taking place in Nagorno Karabakh is
aimed at all-round development of the country and at raising of the
people’s living standard, Robert Kocharian stressed that “the presence
of the strong and democratic statehood in Artsakh is a necessary
guarantee for peaceful and fair solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.” “The duty of the Republic of Armenia and all Armenians is
to support development and strengthening of Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
as well as its international recognition,” RA President’s message
spread by RA President’s Press Office read. Nagorno Karabakh Republic
was proclaimed on September 2, 1991.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

2% Growth in Gasoline Prices, 5.8% Growth in Diesel Fuel Prices

2% GROWTH IN GASOLINE PRICES AND 5.8% GROWTH IN DIESEL FUEL PRICES
REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN AUGUST 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A 2% growth in the prices of gasoline was
registered in Armenia in August on July 2006. The prices of diesel fuel grew
by 5.8% over the indicated period. According to the RA National Statistical
Service, the growth in the prices of gasoline and diesel fule made 18.1% and
7.2% respectively in August 2006 on August 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Does Kocharyan Need The Trust of The Criminal or The Society?

DOES KOCHARYAN NEED THE TRUST OF THE CRIMINAL OR THE SOCIETY?
Lragir.am
01 Sept 06
It was apparent that the August 30 news conference of the speaker of
Robert Kocharyan was the result of fine calculations. It is almost
beyond doubt that on his birthday Robert Kocharyan wanted to become
the hero of the press, not only to be spoken about but also to speak
about the process underway in the country. And though his words would
be mediated, nevertheless they would be perceived as Robert
Kocharyan’s. Why did they prefer press? Because for the major part of
the political sphere of Armenia it is perhaps the only available
media. Available in terms of not only finance but also cognition. They
do not watch TV because in restaurants the band does not allow hearing
anything, and they are technically and genetically incompatible with
the web. Therefore, it was clear to the president that only the
newspapers are accessible for the most part of the political sphere he
would like to communicate.
Speaking about active politics on his birthday, the president in fact
wanted to show to the government community that even his birthday
cannot take his attention from the political affairs of the country
and distract him from the governmental and home political
processes. In other words, his finger is constantly on the pulse of
the process, in other words he is still the president of the
country. It means Robert Kocharyan feels he should confirm this fact.
For its part, this means that the president is worried by the
developments underway in the political sphere. And if he wants to
emphasize that he is the one who may approve or disapprove all this,
it means he feels that maybe most people think otherwise. Perhaps this
is the reason why the speaker of the president acted without Serge
Sargsyan’s instruction.
The anxiety of the president might be determined by two circumstances.
Either he is concerned that the society may start viewing him as an
observer or he thinks that the branches of power may view him as an
observer. The circumstance of the society is unlikely because over the
eight years of his office Robert Kocharyan has never showed that the
public opinion about him interests him. Consequently, the anxiety of
the president is connected with the government circles, who are
hearing increasingly more forecasts and recommendations, and if Serge
Sargsyan does not launch an offensive for power until January, after
January he may no longer believe in the New Year miracle. And the
president does not have any guarantees that Serge Sargsyan will not
believe such forecasts and will not decide to give himself a New Year
gift. And what isthe most horrible thing, the people surrounding him
may decide to give a New Year present to the `grand master’.
Announcing that there are no controversies between Serge Sargsyan and
him, and there are no controversies between Bargavach Hayastan Party
and the Republican Party, the president is most probably temporizing,
until January.
Perhaps he also came to believe that Serge Sargsyan is able until
January and will be unable after January. And in order to instill
trust in unity in the governmental environment Robert Kocharyan
demands facts on the existence of the criminal, in other words, it
wants to convey to the same criminal` one for all and all for one.
Will the criminal believe Kocharyan, however? And most importantly,
will Serge Sargsyan believe the statement that he does not have
controversies with Robert Kocharyan?
However, perhaps, this is not essential. The essential thing is that
by temporizing the president is wasting time, moving in the wrong
direction. It appeared that at least at the end of the second term
Robert Kocharyan would quit in accordance with the law, seeking the
belief of the public, not that of the criminal. To assure that at
least by the end of his office he was ready to make definite efforts
to reform the system of governance. He should have tried to make the
public believe in him, of course, if he is likely to continue living
in this country and participate in its public and political life.
Meanwhile, the president is wasting all his opportunities to cultivate
belief in his actions. And if the same criminal believes him, believes
and does not attack until January, it will be not only the result of
accepting and believing but also not considering him to be a serious
obstacle.
HAKOB BADALYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Concern For The Top Of Power

CONCERN FOR THE TOP OF POWER
Lragir.am
01 Sept 06
The Russian president is said to have told Robert Kocharyan that Serge
Sargsyan is not a desirable successor of Robert Kocharyan. The news
reporters reminded about this, `I am surprised at the short-sightedness
of people, the poison and bile in our news reporters and politicians.
I treat many cases with humor because I know what this information
about the talk of the presidents of two countries means. In other
words, this wretched person circulated this information and confused
the society, considering that they have greater possibilities than the
special services of the world and can have information on it. It is
funny.’
Serge Sargsyan says these people have only one concern, `These people
want to be at the top of power. These people want to get great
influence on the society through dishonest ways. The wish to be at the
top of power is not condemnable, the methods and ways are condemnable.
Especially that sometimes these people make these analyses when they
are not sober.’
Serge Sargsyan also informed that opening the Russian-Georgian
checkpoint of Verin Lars, which has a vital importance for Armenia,
does not depend on us. When the Russian party finishes the repair,
the checkpoint will be opened. Serge Sargsyan thinks the closed
society does not affect our society.
Meanwhile, the military budget depends on us, which will grow along
with the growth of the GDP. 3.5 percent of the state budget will be
allocated for military expenditures. The defense minister of Armenia
thinks Azerbaijan will not cut military expenditures even after the
recommendations of the European Union.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

European College Was Opened

EUROPEAN COLLEGE WAS OPENED
Lragir.am
01 Sept 06
On September 1 the college of European Regional Academy was officially
opened in Yerevan. According to the director of the Academy Husik
Gevorgyan, this is the first step in the reform of the system of
vocational education.
According to him, the reforms in higher education and vocational
educationare determined by the integration of Armenia with Europe and
our country’s joining the declaration of Bologna.
The college corresponding to European standards has branches in Kapan,
Martuni, Idjevan, Hrazdan, Ashtarak, it has contacts with the
universitiesof Marseilles, Munich, Barcelona, which assist the college
in working out curriculum.
It is foreseen to set up relations with the vocational colleges of
Europe and implement student exchange programs, as well as training
for the college teachers. It is also planned to increase branches. In
this academic year, the number of the students of the college will
reach 700.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress