Author: Emil Lazarian

ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND INDIA DEVELOP
Noyan Tapan
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN. 60 Armenian specialists are undergoing
training in India with scholarships of the Indian government under
the Technical and Economic Cooperation Program of this country. The
Indian Ambassador to Armenia Ms Rina Pandei while presenting India’s
diamond cutting and jewelery making sector in Yerevan on August
31. The event was organized by the delegation of India’s Gem and
Jewelery Export Promotion Council. According to the ambassador,
in 2002, trade turnover between the two countries made 4.6 million
USD, in 2005, it amounted to 11 million USD, while in January-June
2006 – to 5 million USD. It was noted that the Indian capital has
participation in the Armenian economy, particularly in such sectors as
gold extraction and processing (Vedanta company) and diamond cutting
(Rosy Blue company). The ambassador expressed a high opinion about
the Armenian economy’s investment opportunities, which is evident
from the growth of foreign investments from 200 million USD in 2003
to 500 million USD in 2005. According to her, out of 300 tractors to
be provided to Armenia by the Indian government, 60 are already in
Armenia, while the remaining part will be delivered in October. Rina
Pandei called on the Indian delegation members to develop mutually
beneficial cooperation with Armenian partners, who have considerable
experience in diamond cutting and jewelery making.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN-INDIAN COOPERATION HAS GOOD PROSPECTS IN GEM AND JEWELLERY INDUSTRY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian-Indian cooperation in
the gem and jewellery industry can produce good results, especially
in terms of setting up joint ventures. Gagik Mkrtchian, Head of the
Gem and Jewellery Department of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development, stated this in Yerevan on August 31 during an event to
present the gem and jewellery sector of the Indian economy. According
to him, such an attempt has already been made: an Armenian-Indian
jewellery design institute will be founded in Yerevan by late 2006. He
said that the Armenin legislation on gem and jewellery industry is
one of the best in the world, which is also evident from the large
amount of foreign investments in this sector. The event was organized
by India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s (GJEPC)
delegation that arrived in Armenia on August 31. The delegation is
headed by Sanjay Kothari who expressed confidence that out of the
delegation’s visits to Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Armenia, the last one will be the most successful. He noted that the
delegation is composed of businessmen representing all sections of
India’s gem and jewellery industry. In the opinion of Emil Grigorian,
Chairman of Armenia’s Gem and Jewellery Makers Association, a body to
perform the functions of GJEPC should be established in Armenia. He
noted that Armenia should use the Indian experience of jewellery
marketing, thanks to which Indian businessmen sell about 1,000 tons of
jewellery a year in India, and approximately the same amount is sold
abroad. Most of Indian jewellery is manufactured by small and medium
enterprises (the GJEPC represents some 7,000 Indian jewellers). In
2004-2005, production of the gem and jewellery industry accounted
for 18% of India’s industrial production exports. According to some
forecasts, in 2005-2006 fiscal year, the sector’s production will
amount to 16.7 billion USD. 11 out of every 12 diamonds used in the
world are produced in India. In 2005, the production of Armenia’s
gem and jewellery industry made 220 million USD.

UNITED COMMUNISTS ARE NOT AGAINST ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
The United Communist Party of Armenia is not against the return of
the All-Armenian Movement to the political sphere. The leader of the
United Communist Party Yuri Manukyan also thinks that “in fact, every
political ideology has the right to exist, including the All-Armenian
Movement.” Yuri Manukyan thinks the All-Armenian Movement is the
“product” of the right wing of AAM.
“If it cannot get on well with political parties dominating the right
wing, this is not our problem. And if it managed to set the importance
or necessity of its stance on the settlement of the problems the
people, the country are facing as its objective, again it is not our
problem, it is their problem,” says the leader of the United Communist
Party of Armenia.
He states he is not an enemy of the AAM but a political opponent.
However, he is against that the attempts of the All-Armenian Movement
to return are presented with the name of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THEY DO NOT THINK ANY MORE THAT SERGE SARGSYAN DESERVES
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
There is a year and a half to go before the presidential election,
and it is early to speak about a candidate, stated Yuri Manukyan, the
leader of the United Labor Party, August 31 at the Pastark Club. He
said if the Communist parties come together, they can name a candidate
who bears the rightist ideology, but at any rate it is early to speak
about a candidate, says Yuri Manukyan.
It is notable that a year ago Yuri Manukyan did not hide that they
preferred Serge Sargsyan as a candidate because he is the best
prepared figure in the political sphere. Presently, Yuri Manukyan
already considers it early to give names.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COUNTRY OF NAIV AND FRIGHTENED OFFICIALS
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
On August 31 the trial of the editor-in-chief of the Jamanak Yerevan
Newspaper indicted for avoiding subscription by forged document was
resumed. The trial ended, the speeches of prosecution and defense
and verdict are left.
None of four witnesses showed up. For the witnesses Tigran Harutiunyan
and Arshak Khachatryan, they announced that they are not in Armenia,
for Karen Khachatryan they said they did not find him at home. Maybe
he was playing backgammon with the neighbor? Nobody found it out. No
explanation was given about Garush Mansuryan. Their testimonies were
read. Surprisingly, everyone learned from the media that the marriage
certificate and the birth certificates of his children are forged. “We
believed and trusted his mother, Mrs. Emilia, who worked at the
president administration”, said the naiv officials who took or gave
documents to Mrs. Emilia. By the way, the same court sentenced the
70-years-old municipality official for giving a false document. It is
not clear why the officials who were as careless were not involved
in the case. Or how can one describe a country where on hearing the
phrase “president administration” senior public officials tremble with
fear and bow as low as possible? Send your answers to the president
administration and the copies to the first instance courts of Yerevan
Center and Nork-Marash.
It is known that Arman Babajanyan was accused on the grounds of a
letter signed by his former neighbor Khachatryan. Khachatryan wrote
that he felt it was his duty to inform the law-enforcement agencies
that Arman Babajanyan avoided military service by forged documents.
It is not clear why the neighbors of public officials never “fulfill
their civil duties”. It is not clear how the counsel for prosecution
Janna Kotikyan insists that the letter was not anonymous when there
is no evidence that such a neighbor exists.
Meanwhile, it is illegal to sue on the grounds of an anonymous letter
or announcement.
Arman Babajanyan’s friend Vahe Abovyan and his wife Armine Arakelyan
did not mention in their testimonies that their certificate of
marriage and birth certificate of their children were forged by Arman
Babajanyan. They did not announce that those documents were stolen
and lost. Whereas, Arman Babajanyan’s attorney Robert Grigoryan found
out that it is possible to get the copy of anyone’s birth certificate
in the United States for 17 dollars.
He got the copies of birth certificates of the children of Vahe
Abovyan and Armine Arakelyan and presented to the court. Attorney
Robert Grigoryan also presented positive references from the mayor
of Glendale, the group of the Armenian media of the United States,
other persons and organizations. The reference of the Armenian media
of the United States seemed suspicious to Janna Kotikyan. Anyway. The
next sitting of the court will be on September 4.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DONATION OF FOUNDATION TO NKR GOVERNMENT
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
Armenia Foundation bought 500 copies of the film “Welcome to Nagorno
Karabakh” in three languages. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary
of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic the foundation gave
200 copies to the NKR government. The foundation will give the other
300 copies to its benefactors, who contribute to the programs of the
foundation in Artsakh.
Armenia Foundation, Department of Public Relations
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNO KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
Tatul Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
31.08.2006 13:52
On September 2 Nagorno Karabakh will celebrate the 15th anniversary
of declaration of independence. Although the international community
does not intend to recognize the second Armenian state de jure,
i.e. legally. De facto it has been already recognized. Even in case
Nagorno Karabakh is not recognized in the coming 15 years, this will
not devalue the historical decision adopted September 2, 1991.
August 19-21 the attempt to dethrone the President of the Soviet
Union Mikhail Gorbacjev failed. It seems that the above-mentioned
circumstance is not immediacy linked to the remote regions of the
empire in decline, particularly to Azerbaijan, the part of which
Nagorno Karabakh comprised then.
August 19 Azerbaijani leader of that time Ayaz Mutalibov was on a
visit to Iran. Learning about the coup in Moscow, Mutalibov expressed
his conformity to the rebels. His Adviser Vafa Guluzadeh retrieves
that he was advising Mutalibov to refuse from comments on the Moscow
events before his return to Baku.
The Azerbaijani leader, however, did not follow the advice and did
not refuse from criticizing Gorbachev’s policy.
A few days later, however, the attempt of the coup in Moscow failed and
the rebels were arrested. The failed rebellion, however, accelerated
the unevitable collapse of the Soviet Union.
August 30 in a special session the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan
adopted the declaration of independence within the borders of the
1918-1920 Democratic or Musavat Republic of Azerbaijan. September
2 the Regional Council of Nagorno Karabakh and the District Council
of Shahumyan held a joint sitting in Stepanakert, during which the
declaration of independence within the borders of Nagorno Karabakh
and Shahumyan regions.
September 8 Mutalibov was elected the President of Azerbaijan. Only 12
percent of the voters in Nagorno Karabakh, i.e. only the Azerbaijanis,
participated in the elections.
>>From the legal perspective Azerbaijan seceded from the Soviet
Union on the same basis that Nagorno-Karabakh seceded from
Azerbaijan. Besides, on August 30 the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan
adopted the Declaration of Independence within the borders of
1918-1920 Musavat Republic of Azerbaijan. Therefore, today’s Azerbaijan
considers itself the successor of the Musavat Republic. And it deserves
attention that in 1918-1920 Nagorno Karabakh did not comprise part of
Azerbaijan. Moreover, the League of Nations never recognized Azerbaijan
de jure, considering the fact that the Musavats were laying claims
on disputable Armenian territories, particularly Karabakh.
Nevertheless, if the League of Nations refused to recognize Nagorno
Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, then the Soviet or Bolshevik Russia
divided not only Karabakh but also other Armenian territories between
Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Actually, with the establishment of the Soviet Union we lost not only
our statehood, but also what is the most important – the original
Armenian lands.
On September 2, 1991 one of the segments separated from the Armenian
people the Artsakhi Armenians – corrected one of the crimes of
Bolshevik Russia and Ottoman Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WILL GHUKASYAN RUN A THIRD TERM?
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
In an interview with the Azat Artsakh Newspaper Arkady Ghukasyan
touched upon the problem of the third term as well. In answer to the
question of a reader he said: “If you remember my election campaign,
you must know that I promised to promote the adoption of the NKR
Constitution. The basic law of the country, the constitution, is
adopted by people, not the president. And all through my presidency
I did not let people doubt that I guarantee the rule of law. I think
the presidential, parliamentary and local elections held earlier in
NKR assured people that they do elect the president, the members of
parliament or mayor.
By the way, you should know that certain international organizations,
influenced by Azerbaijan, react nervously to elections of different
level in NKR. In other words, many wish Karabakh did not hold elections
at all. But this is not our way. We are building a democratic society,
which is impossible without free and fair elections.
We need the Constitution, and nobody doubts. Moreover, we are a little
late with the adoption. The world does not stay in the same place,
and we must react adequately to the challenges of the civilization. We
must establish and confirm our right for freedom and independence,
our readiness to develop the best traditions of the international
community.
For me, so far I have never expressed likelihood to run a third term.
I think it is wrong when some people view the adoption of the basic
law of the country in the context of a third term. For NKR and its
people need the Constitution, not Ghukassian, including in terms
of international recognition. Even if we suppose that in case the
Constitution is adopted it will give me a chance to run a third term,
a number of important issues will occur, including my wish and,
most importantly, the wish of people.
Independent from all, till the last day of my presidency I will do
everything to settle the problems our country is facing. Certainly,
there will be people who will evaluate every initiative of mine
as populism, as an attempt to appeal to people. But it would be
impossible to do nothing until the end of the term because of these
people. Especially that large-scale programs are on the agenda we
have been attending to for a number of years now.
Besides, sooner of later we had to adopt the Constitution, either
during Ghukassian’s office or someone else’s office. By your logic,
a president during whose office a Constitution is adopted is doomed to
such doubts. Does this mean that we should not adopt the Constitution
at all? I would also like to emphasize that the necessity of adoption
of the basic law of the country is set down in the political platforms
of all the political parties and movements in NKR as well. And it
is normal because it proceeds from the logic of development of our
statehood.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI ANALYST: KASPRZYK HAS NEVER GIVEN OBJECTIVE INFORMATION CONCERNING AZERBAIJAN
Regnum, Russia
Aug. 30, 2006
Fires in territories, bordering to Nagorno Karabakh, have been
lasting for about two months. Recently, the personal envoy of the OSCE
chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk monitored the territory in order to
clarify causes of the fires. According to the diplomat, “hot weather,
which has early set in, and strong winds are reason, which caused fact
that area in contact line’s zone, enveloped in fires, turned out to be
considerably bigger, comparing with ones in previous years.” Requested
by a REGNUM correspondent, Political Innovations and Technologies
Center Chairman Mubariz Ahmedoglu commented on arisen situation.
REGNUM: Mr. Ahmedoglu, personal envoy of the OSCE chairman-in-office
Andrzej Kasprzyk stated that fires in territories, bordering to
Nagorno Karabakh, were not caused by Armenians, as the Azerbaijani
side maintains, but they were caused by heat, wind, and other natural
phenomena. To what extent, in your opinion, his words correspond
with reality?
When the fires began, the weather was not hot. If they had been
lasting for 15 last days, i.e. when the weather was really hot,
his words could be considered seriously. The matter concerns other
thing here. Armenians realizes very good; they should return Agdam,
Fizuli, and other occupied areas to Azerbaijan; that is why, they
committed arsons. As for Kasprzyk…It is worth mentioning, he has
never given objective information concerning Azerbaijan. Even during
his stay at the fire line, he succeeded in not making notes of shots
from the Armenian side.
REGNUM: Let’s ignore Kasprzyk’s words. Finally, Armenian officials and
mass media went much further, maintaining that the fires were made
by Azeri soldiers, who shot fire-bullets at territories, controlled
by Armenian servicemen…
No Azeri would set fire to native land under any circumstances. It is
enough to remind old parable in order to prove absurdity of Armenian
statements. Two women came to King Solomon, each of them maintaining,
she was mother of baby. The King ordered to bring the baby and
pronounced sentence. The child should be cut up in two parts in
order to give each woman one part, because none of them could prove
its right on the child. One of the women stayed absolutely calm,
while the other one fell to the king’s foots, crying and refusing
her claims on the child. The wise king ordered to hand over the baby
to the woman, who immediately refused her mother right in order to
rescue the child. Probably, no further commentaries are necessary.

ARMENIA NOT TO SEND PEACEKEEPERS TO LEBANON
by Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 30, 2006 Wednesday 06:20 AM EST
The Armenian president’s spokesman said that Armenia is not going
yet to send its peacekeepers to Lebanon.
“At present, Armenia is not going to send its contingent for a
peacekeeping mission in the area of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict,”
the president’s press secretary Viktor Sogomonyan told reporterson
Wedbesday.
He cited as a reason uncertainty of the mandate of peacekeepers
in Lebanon.
Besides, Armenia is concerned about the interests of the Armenian
community of 130,000 in Lebanon.
The presence of peacekeepers from Armenia could prove of negative
consequences for the Armenian diaspora in this country, Sogomonyan
said.
“We are interested in the establishment of peace in Lebanon,” Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Gegan Garibdhzanyan said last week.
He said that the republic had its peacekeepers “who are efficiently
fulfilling their mission in Kosovo and Iraq”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress