Author: Emil Lazarian

RA FM: WE HAVE NO MAXIMALIST REQUIREMENTS

Yerevan, June 9. ArmInfo. Armenia made serious compromises to achieve
the Karabakh conflict settlement, RA FM Vardan Oskanyan said in an
interview to “Kentron” TV channel.

Having categorically denied the charges in the attempts to “delay the
process”, Oskanyan offered these “critics” to explain by themselves
how they see the conflict settlement. “There exists a definite limit
of compromises, a “red line” which we cannot overstep, no matter how
Azerbaijan blackmails with threats to solve the issue by force and by
its oil-dollars. There exists a border we cannot overstep, as it will
be against national interests. If authorities wish to do it, people
will not allow. Maximum is being done today”, Oskanyan said.

According to him, Azerbaijan, having the alternative of military
solution in mind and maximum delaying the issue resolution, is not
ready for the problem settlement through negotiations and compromises.
“We are already ready for such compromise and our conscience is clear
if Azerbaijan makes the next mistake and tries to solve the issue in a
military way”, Oskanyan said. According to him, it was just Azerbaijan
which did not make adequate steps. “We have no maximalist
requirements. We had touched upon the issue of territories, I tried
to avoid it. Yes, Armenia, in return for recognition of Karabakh
people’s right for self-determination, is seriously discussing this
issue, but Azerbaijan must also be ready for this minimum, i.e. to
recognize the NKR people’s right for self-determination in order to
advance in the process”, Oskanyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIFICATION MAKES ARMENIAN VELVET REVOLUTIONARIES FEEL BAD

Yerevan, June 9. ArmInfo. The representative of the formerly ruling
Armenian National Movement party Aram Manukyan urges Armenian
journalists to fight against Russification.

He says that they on TV are beginning to speak Russian language much
too often. Even mobile services are being Russified. Manukyan is
resolved to fight for the present anthem inherited from the
Dashnaktsoutyun party. The anthem must be preserved not so much
because it calls for revenge but because of the idea of succession.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian minister hopes for peaceful solution to Iran nuclear issue

Arminfo
8 Jun 06

Yerevan, 8 June: Armenia welcomes recent developments in Iran,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a news conference
today.

“Because we also believe that the issue should be resolved by means of
a dialogue,” the foreign minister pointed out. He recalled that this
issue was of greet importance for Armenia which borders Iran.

“We welcome any progress in this issue, we welcome EU official Javier
Solana’s visit, the proposal of a new ‘package’, the fact that Iran
did not decline it and that the USA has proposed establishing direct
contacts with Iran,” Oskanyan said.

He also expressed the hope that the positive events of the last week
would yield positive results and that the issue would be resolved by
peaceful means and through talks, without imposing sanctions or using
military force.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSIAN TO PAY OFFICIAL VISITS TO BELGIUM, NATO CENTRAL
HEADQUARTERS AND LITHUANIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by RA Defence
Minister Serge Sargsian will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of
Belgium on June 12-13, to the NATO Central Headquarters on June 14,
the Republic of Lithuania on June 15-16.

Within the framework of the official visit to Kingdom of Belgium Serge
Sargsian will meet with the Defence Minister of Belgium and the
Defence Headquarters Chief, will visit the Royal Military Academy of
Belgium.

On June 14, Serge Sargsian will take part in the sitting of the
Northatlantic Council, where the process of implementation of the
Armenia-NATO Individual Actions Plan will be discussed.

As Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, the Spokesperson of RA Defence
Minister, informed Noyan Tapan, within the framework of the visit to
Lithuania the delegation led by the Defence Minister will meet with
the President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Defence Minister, the
Chairman of the Parliament Commission on National Security and
Defence, will visit military subdivisions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian leader urges to develop regional cooperation

Arminfo
7 Jun 06

Yerevan, 7 June: Armenia thinks it is necessary to develop regional
cooperation without waiting for the settlement of all the conflicts
because cooperation itself can promote the settlement of conflicts.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said this in his message to the
participants in the 27th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in Yerevan.

Armenia attaches special significance to cooperation in the spheres of
energy, transport, education and science. “Every country [in the
region] can fully develop its potential only if there is intensive
regional cooperation,” the president’s message said.

TO LEAVE AS A REFORMER
Margaret Yesayan

Aravot.am
09 June 06

According to Mr. Dallakian Robert Kocharian has that opportunity.

The NA deputy Victor Dallakian thinks that vulgar and narrow-minded
relations exist instead of political one in the ruling coalition in
coalition; `If political rules acted in Armenia and not vulgar rules
then it would be recorded after OEP leaving the coalition that the
coalition didn’t exist any more that the Government didn’t have
political majority in the National Assembly instead it had button
majority. It isn’t understandable whose project nowadays authority
realizes. In my deep assurance there were two solutions from the
current situation. The solution number one, the government had to be
dismissed, a new coalition agreement should be signed and the new
government should be signed after it which would represent its
projects and the NA political majority would adopt it and only in
that case it will be possible to speak that the government has a
qualitative majority’.

But the solutions aren’t limited. According to our interlocutor, there
is the second solution in case of which the National Assembly had to
be liquidated holding special elections. We noticed that all these
are already a passed stage, because nothing happened. So at what a
conclusion should we arrive? Dallakian’s conclusions are the
following; `The analyze ofparliamentary elections of three republics
of Armenia shows that there is a great deficiency of holding free and
fair elections, that is, deficiency of parliamentarism. The executive
authority has formed the National Assembly since 1995 as a rule and
it is a political nonsense and is dangerous for the
country. Factually executive authority controls legislative one while
it should be the opposite’. In Victor Dallakian’s opinion `market,
trade relations’ have been formed today.

According to Victor Dallakian all these analyzes makes us conclude
that the current president can find himself in a profitable situation;
`Kocharian has that opportunity, especially the interest of the
outside world towards the parliamentary elections in 2007 has been
increased and they even understandin abroad that the wined powers in
parliamentary elections will be dominant during the presidential
elections in 2008. Now will be the opposite, parliamentary elections
will precede the presidential elections and each power will aspire to
get serious seats especially for achieving is goals in connection with
2008. That means mutual control will be great and in this case
Kocharian has an opportunity to be the guarantor for elections and
leave as the reformer. But it’s another problem whether he will use
that opportunity’. To our question why should Robert Kocharian behave
himself in that way when it is obvious today that new-formed parties
are formed by Kocharian’s approval? Victor Dallakian explained in this
way; `If it was profitable for Robert Kocharian to rig the results of
parliamentary elections in 2003 it can’t be profitable for him in 2006
as he can’t be nominated for the third time and in that case if he
becomes the guarantor of holding free and fair elections and powers
accepted and elected by people come to power his made mistakes can be
soothed and he will adopted as a political figure who has performed a
great mission. Anyway those powers, which will come to power in 2007,
must take into consideration Robert Kocharian till 2008. I think he
has an opportunity to use that chance and I, as a politician, consider
important to use that chance’.

Margaret Yesayan

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
Friday, June 9, 2006
Contact: Maral Habeshian

Krekorian Wins 43rd Assembly Seat in California’s Democratic Primary

– Armenian Community Unites in Support of Candidate

GLENDALE, California–The Armenian American community united in
support of Paul Krekorian during the Democratic Primary election for
the 43rd California Assembly district on June 6 and drove the
candidate to decisively defeat Glendale City Councilman Frank Quintero
sending a clear message to Sacramento.

Armenian American voters turned out in large numbers to vote for Paul
Krekorian in order to also send a message to Councilman Frank Quintero
whose campaign and advisors engaged in dirty campaign tactics during
the last week.

It is a widely believed the Quintero campaign collaborated with the
California Latino Leadership Fund in sending out mass mailers and
automated callers to non-Armenian voters labeling Krekorian and his
wife, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the
Armenian community as `terrorists’ in a desperate attempt to scare
away non-Armenian voters. The unethical and racist tactics had the
opposite of the intended effect by galvanizing both Armenian and
non-Armenian voters in support of Krekorian.

`Having Paul Krekorian representing the citizens of the 43rd district
will usher in a new era of empowerment and vision,’ said Leonard
Manoukian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee – Political
Action Committee (ANC-PAC). `As a person who has a strong connection
to all parts of the community, we believe Paul will fill a huge void
that has existed and be a driving force for building bridges and
inspiring positive changes.’

Throughout the campaign for Paul Krekorian, Armenian Americans
volunteered in record numbers, including on the day of the election
where volunteers helped get out the vote, assisted at polling stations
with translating while also monitoring and reporting problems and
irregularities that occur during every election. During the weeks
leading up to the election the local ANCs mounted an unprecedented
voter education and get-out-the-vote campaign informing large numbers
of voters of the issues at stake and getting people to vote.

`If it wasn’t clear before, we hope it is now,’ said Stepan Boyajian
from the Burbank ANC. `The Armenian American community’s voice will
be heard and we will have our rightful seat at the table.’ Local ANCs
who represent different parts of the 43rd Assembly district led
community-wide efforts in support of Krekorian that made the
difference.

`This was a historic victory for the Armenian community and all
Americans who care about justice and preserving the democratic
process. It was a victory of hope over hatred, optimism over cynicism,
common vision over ethnic division,’ said Paul Krekorian.

`I am grateful by the outpouring of support from my fellow Armenian
Americans and non-Armenians alike. The overall community of the 43rd
district came together to reject the politics of hate and division
instead favoring respect, understanding and unity, that should be an
inspiration for everyone.’

Unofficial results show Krekorian with 56.6% of the votes to
Quintero’s 43.4%, with 100 percent of precincts reporting; these
figures do not yet include provisional and absentee ballots which are
still being counted. While the 43rd California Assembly seat has
historically been a democratic seat, Krekorian, as the democratic
candidate will face Republican candidate Michael Agbaba in November’s
general election.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSKANYAN: ADOPTION OF ARMENIA-EU PROGRAM DELAYED BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS OF “OUR NEIGHBORS WITH EUROPE”

Regnum, Russia
June 8 2006

Talks between Armenia and the European Union concerning adoption of
the action plan have not been completed yet, but there are no unsolved
questions in terms of its content, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan is quoted as saying to the press.

As a REGNUM correspondent reports, according to Oskanyan, there
is no necessity in carrying out another round of talks. “However,
the process of adoption is delayed, which is mostly connected with
some difficulties that our neighbors have with the European Union,”
notes the minister.

On March 5, the third stage of talks between EU and Armenia’s officials
was held in Brussels to elaborate the action plan, the main political
document in accordance with which Armenian-EU relations are to develop
in the next few years. The plan envisages reform in politics, economy,
justice, promotion of market relations, development of production,
power engineering, and transport. In case the talks are a success,
the action plan will be presented to the EU Council for ratification.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEMOGRAPHIC INDICES FOR 2006

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 2006

In the months of January-May 2006 793 children were born in Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, which is down by 37 or 4.5 percent compared with the
same months in 2005. The death rate totaled 547 over the past months of
2006, and is down by 39 or 6.7 percent, compared with the same period
in 2005. Hence, the natural growth of the population totaled 246 over
the past five months of 2006, and is up by 0.8 percent, compared
with January-May 2005. Over the past months 309 people arrived in
NKR and 212 people left. In this period 241 marriages were reported,
increasing by 13 or 5.7 percent compared with January-May 2005.

The rate of divorce totaled 49 and is up by 4.3 percent.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 2006

NKR President Arkady Ghukassian congratulated the president of the
Chess Federation of Armenia Serge Sargissian and the men’s chess
team of Armenia on the victory on the 37th World Chess Olympiad. “The
absolute success of the men’s team of Armenia in Italy displayed the
high quality of the national chess school, upholding the glorious
tradition established by Tigran Petrossian. At the same time, the
victory of the Armenian chess players denotes the great intellectual
potential of our people, its reliance on its strength. All through the
Olympiad Nagorno Karabakh cheered and gave its support to you. Today
we are proud of our people, who gave birth to such sons for the world,
for your victory is the victory of the entire Armenian people. Your
success in Torino will spur the development of chess in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.” In the end the president wished new achievements
to the chess players and invited them to Artsakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress