Author: Emil Lazarian

VERBAL DUEL IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT: ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND SERZH SARKISYAN HAVE DESTROYED ORINATS YERKIR?

Regnum, Russia
May 22 2006

Speeches of opposition National Unity (NU) Party and parliamentary
faction Leader Artashes Geghamian and ex-Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan,
who announced his resignation on the same day, turned into a verbal
duel in raised voices.

In particular, speaking before the MPs, Artashes Geghamian stated
that “Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sarkisyan succeeded in destroying
Orinats Yerkir (OE) Party (Head – Artur Bagdassaryan) within several
days.” “Artur Bagdassaryan says that atmosphere of fear has developed
in the country, may be the atmosphere hinders him in revealing true
information that exactly Kocharyan and Sarkisyan have forced him to
reject speaker’s post; otherwise, why he does not call for a vote of
confidence?” he stressed.

Artur Bagdassaryan, who had returned into the session hall at the
moment, sharply retorted that nobody led the OYe out of the ruling
coalition. “We have decided it by ourselves. Much is said in the
hall about President Kocharyan. Yes, we state that we supported his
candidature during first and second rounds of presidential elections
in 2003 because such political figures appeared, who suddenly stopped
to be opposition in the second round (OYe did not support opposition
candidate Stepan Demirchyan in second round of 2003 presidential
elections – REGNUM). Also, very much was said about Serzh Sarkisyan,
but he has been illegally financing you. You fulfill order, why you
were absent when we were speaking about privatization and other vital
important questions?” Artur Bagdassaryan asked himself.

In his turn, Artashes Geghamian proposed Bagdassaryan to take Serzh
Sarkisyan into court as a briber, and Bagdassaryan as bribe-taker.

Effusive sorting out of the parties’ relationship continued some time
else. After that the parties agreed to continue “the duel” on air of
one of Armenian TV-channels.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTRUCTION OF 22.5 KM LONG SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE TO BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST

Regnum, Russia
May 22 2006

The ArmRosgazprom Company intends to complete construction of 22.5
km of the first 47 km long section of the Iran-Armenia pipeline,
ArmRosgazprom Director General Karen Karapetyan announced at a
meeting with the press on May 22. According to him, the agreement
on construction of the 22.5 km long section worth $2.7 million was
signed by the company and Arvandan Company (Iran).

“After finalizing construction of the first section of the Iran-Armenia
pipeline, it will be connected to ArmRosgazprom gas system,” Karen
Karapetyan noted adding that ArmRosgazprom will have to increase
carrying capacity of its pipes, in particular, by extending the
diameter. “We do not know yet, how it will be financed, probably,
from the Armenian state budget, probably, by the Iranian side, or,
maybe, with the help of new investors,” Karen Karapetyan noted.

As he said, all the countries in the region experience deficit in
energy. “From this point of view, Armenia has an opportunity to
become a liberal place, as there is untapped energy potential and a
brilliant perspective to supply energy particularly to Iran, Iraq,
Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan,” Karen Karapetyan pointed out.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER STEPS DOWN

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 22 2006

YEREVAN, May 22 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian parliamentary speaker Artur
Bagdasarian resigned on Monday.

Earlier, the right-wing party Orinats Erkir (The Country of Law)
he heads decided to withdraw from the ruling political coalition to
join the Opposition.

Bagdasarian, who is known for his pro-western stands, had repeatedly
disagreed with the Armenian authorities on major issues of interior
and foreign policies.

The 38-year Bagdasarian has occupied this post since June 2003.

Bagdasarian deems it “important and necessary” to expand the country’s
Euroatlantic integration.

“We consider it necessary to boost relations with the European Union
and Armenian-U.S. cooperation,” he said.

“We have two paths to follow – to be in the same union with Russia
and Belarus and have good relations with the EU, or to be in the
EU and have good relations with Russia. We choose the second path,”
Bagdasarian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW RIGHTS MEMBER PREDICTS IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE COULD HURT GEORGIA

The Messenger, Georgia
May 22 2006

Sakartvelos Respublika reports that a member of the parliamentary
opposition party New Rights Irakli Iashvili forecast that after the
exploitation of the Armenia-Iran gas pipeline, the gas tariff will
be further increased in Georgia.

The article writes that Iashvili stated at a session of the Sector
Economy and Economic Policy Committee that the construction of the
Armenia-Iran gas pipeline will be completed late this year, which
means that while negotiating with Russia, Georgia will lose a key
lever – its role as the key transit route for Armenian gas.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TENDERS RESIGNATION

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 22 2006

MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) – The speaker of the Armenian parliament
officially tendered his resignation Monday.

Artur Bagdasaryan, the chairman of the Orinats Erkir party, initially
announced his plans to resign May 12 following a decision by the
party’s political council to quit the government’s ruling coalition
due to what the speaker said were differences on political issues
and democracy.

The speaker should officially confirm his move in the next five days
after which he will automatically leave his post.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNITED LABOR PARTY CAME TO POWER IN ARMENIA

Lragir.am
22 May 06

There is no need to sign a new memorandum on a coalition or a
parliamentary majority, stated Deputy Speaker Tigran Torosyan May 22 to
news reporters. According to him, the political culture does not impose
anything similar. However, it is attempted to restore the parliamentary
majority, although Tigran Torosyan thinks it is early to consider it.

“I believe that it will be correct to answer these questions in
several days, because the final formulations were voiced today, and
soon there real negotiations are going to take place,” says Tigran
Torosyan. But real negotiations have been kicked off, and perhaps have
already produced the first fruits. Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
appointed members of the United Labor Party to the offices of two
deputy governors and one deputy minister, affiliates of the Orinats
Yerkir Party. Tigran Torosyan thinks that these appointments are a
kick-start. However, he also advises them not to draw deep conclusions,
and not to think that negotiations with the United Labor Party were
successful, whereas there are problems with the People’s Deputy Group.

“First of all, I think it is wrong to give an assessment of a short
period. We have been working with the same People’s Deputy Group
for a long time and we will go on to work. And it is not worthwhile
drawing conclusions from appointing or not appointing to one office
or another,” said Tigran Torosyan. He also announced that the new
parliamentary group including the businessmen who left the Orinats
Yerkir Party will also be involved in the negotiations on forming
the majority in the parliament.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
22.05.2006 11:05

NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for South Caucasus and
Central Asia Robert Simmons will arrive today in Armenia. During the
two-day visit he is scheduled to meet RA President, Prime minister,
NA Vice-Chairman Tigran Torosyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosyan and other officials.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE THREE SOUTH CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES TO MEET IN MOSCOW

ArmRadio.am
22.05.2006 11:30

July 4-5 the Catolicos of All Armenians Garegin II will participate
in the international conference of interreligious dialogue to be held
in Moscow under the auspice of the Patriarch of All Russians Aleksi II.

Press Service of the Mother Sea of Holy Ecmiadzin informs that
it is possible that the religious leaders of Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan will be suggested to have a meeting. The Armenian side
is ready t discuss issues of peaceful coexistence in the region with
the religious leaders of other South Caucasian countries.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN WORLD YOUTH WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HELD IN CHINA

ArmRadio.am
22.05.2006 12:39

Two Armenian sportsmen – Araik Mirzoyan from Baghramyan and Aghvan
Melikyan from Gyumri will participate in the World Youth Weight-Lifting
Championship to be held May 25-June 2 in China. The trainer of the
team is Olympic Champion Ogsen Mirzoyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LESSONS OF HISTORY

Yerkir.am
May 19, 2006

You can often hear that Armenia and the Armenians are facing a
difficult situation today since the interests of super-powers clash in
our region and these clashes threaten our national and state security.

This is a valid observation. However, it should be added that this
situation is not new for Armenia. It has faced the same situation
for at least 25 centuries. Judging from the existing geopolitical
tendencies and the logic of their possible development there are very
slight chances that this situation will change.

This does not mean that we should blame our ‘Armenian luck’ and
complain that our country is located at the locus of clashing
geopolitical interests.

This does not mean that we should fall into despair and yield ourselves
to the benevolence of the fate or of some super-power. We must assess
our own history.

Our history of the past 25 centuries shows that whenever we failed
to mitigate the clash of interests in our region we had to suffer
the loss of independence and statehood. And on the contrary, whenever
we succeeded in mitigating such clashes harmonizing the interests of
super-powers in our region we benefited from it. Today we are facing
the same situation. We are facing the same challenges and have the
same approach. Our political leaders must realize this or at least
think about it.