Author: Emil Lazarian

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006

War Worst Option For All Parties Of Conflict, Says Bernard Fasye

The Co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group warned all parties of the
conflict that war is the worst option and war means new victims,
tragedies, orphans, destructions, refugees and meaningless expense.

Irregardless of the outcome of a war, the sides will find themselves
in the situation that existed before the war, said Bernard Fasye,
French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, at a press conference
yesterday in Yerevan.

He urged the parties to put off the dispute about who declared
started the war and who settled in Nagorno Karabakh first. It is
necessary to build a peaceful future as neighbors, he added.
Fasye said format of negotiations cannot be changed, it can be
“adapted,” but not replaced. It is impossible to fully resolve the
conflict, because of the absolutely opposite demands of the sides. He
added that the co-chairmen are seeking, for the basis of the future
settlement, to prepare the framework agreement.
The co-chairmen’s hopes for the talks in Rambouillet went unrealized,
but negotiations did not reach an impasse, they continue, he said. In
early May the co-chairmen intend to meet again in Moscow and then
together visit the region to prepare for another meeting between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents.
“Right now I cannot say the place or date of the meeting, because
they are yet to be determined. But the co-chairmen will use every
opportunity to organize the meeting in June or July,” he stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Regnum, Russia
April 14 2006

Powerful Motherland Party: `Armenia has more powerful resource than
oil dollars’

`We are ready to cooperate with parties outside of the National
Assembly, and to take part in 2007 parliamentary elections being
united,’ leader of Democracy and Work Party Spartak Melikyan stated
at a press conference on April 14. According to him, the law On
Electing of Armenian National Assembly Deputies has to be changed. In
particular, Spartak Melikyan stressed, at 1999 elections 23% of votes
were not taken into consideration, as well as 27% in 2007, `because
in total exactly so many citizens voted for parties and blocs, which
did not overcome 5%-barrier, and , correspondingly did not receive NA
mandates.’ `In such a way, forces are now presented at parliament,
which do not represent interests of one third of Armenian
population,’ resumed the party head, suggesting decreasing of the
barrier up to 3%.

In its turn, Head of the Armenian United Communist Party (AUCP) Yuri
Manukyan excluded possibility of unification with other political
groups, motivating his position by fact, `at present, there is no
party in Armenia, except for AUCP, which strives for returning to
socialism.’ Deputy Head of Powerful Motherland Party Shirak Torosyan,
foreseeing `possible falsification of 2007 parliamentary elections,’
insisted on changing of the law’s norm on announcement election
results. According to him, the outcomes have to be known at midnight
of the election day, and not of the following day, as it is foreseen
now.

Finally, participants of the discussion agreed, state should not
`concentrate efforts,’ but `guarantee conducting of fair and
democratic elections.’ `We have not to fear oil dollars of
neighboring enemy, we have even more powerful resource – democratic
society,’ stressed the head of the Powerful Motherland.

Interfax, Russia
April 14 2006

Duma ratifies agreement on CIS anti-terror center

MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) – The State Duma has ratified an
agreement signed by the Russian government and other CIS
member-states on the presence of the CIS anti-terrorist center on
Russian territory.

“The ratification of the aforementioned documents meets Russia’s
national interests and will make the fight against international
terrorism more effective,” the Duma’s CIS committee said in a report.

The agreement, which was signed by Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan and
Ukraine in Moscow on October 21, 2003, and will be valid as long as
the anti-terrorist center continues to operate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

New Anatolian, Turkey
April 14 2006

Turkey To Add Optimism Value To Eu, Polish Fm Meller

ANKARA – Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller said that Poland
supports Turkey’s EU membership process, adding that Turkey will add
optimism value to the EU.

Holding a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul on Thursday, Meller said regarding Turkey’s EU
membership issue that Poland has always supported Turkey’s EU
membership and will continue to support.

Meller said that the criteria which were applied to other countries
(during EU membership process) should be same with the ones applied
to Turkey, noting that Turkey should implement the same criteria
completely to be a member of the EU.

Noting that Poland’s European vision is to further extend the EU,
Meller said that new ”added values” (in the aspects of culture and
civilization) are expected from the countries which will join the EU.
He said that besides other contributions, Turkey will add optimism
value to the EU due to its importance in the region.

Upon a question about the debates in Polish parliament on so-called
Armenian genocide, Meller said that Polish parliament did not take
any decision about the issue; it only stated a view, and that view
reflected the atmosphere of that period.

Noting that there are many bureaucrats, soldiers and artists of
Armenian origin in Poland, and Poland has good relations with
Armenia, Meller said that however, this should not be reflected to
foreign policy. He added that Poland will be pleased with solution of
this problem.

Meller said that there were not any problem in the bilateral
relations between Turkey and Poland.

Eulogizing Turkish businessmen’s achievements in Poland, Meller said
that Turkey and Poland could make joint investments in the third
countries.

Referring to the cultural relations between Turkey and Poland, Meller
thanked the Turkish government for its support to restoration of the
Adam Mickiewicz Museum in Istanbul.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Gul said that
their government was determined to further improve commercial,
economic, cultural and defense relations with Poland.

”I believe that Poland will continue extending support to Turkey in
its EU membership process,” Gul added.

Upon a question about Iran’s nuclear program, Gul said that all
relevant sides should help efforts to find a solution through
diplomatic channels.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NUMBER OF PLASTIC SURGERY PATIENTS ON UPWARD CURVE

AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006

The fifth international congress of plastic, reconstructive and
aesthetic surgery is being held in Yerevan these days. Specialists
from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, France, USA,
Netherlands, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan participate in the congress. RA
First Lady Bella Kocharian was present at the opening ceremony of
the congress. Norayr Davidian, RA healthcare minister, said that the
congress will greatly contribute to the development of plastic surgery
in Armenia. Meanwhile academician Nikolay Milanov, chairman of Russian
Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, said that the
Armenian specialists have elaborated relevant skills in the sphere of
the plastic surgery. The International Congress of Plastic Surgery
was initiated by AAPRAS, SPRAS, RA National Academy of Sciences,
RA Healthcare Ministry and the Yerevan State Medical University.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES DEAL ON RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE WITHDRAWAL

AP Worldstream
Apr 13, 2006

The Georgian parliament on Thursday ratified an agreement on the
withdrawal of Russian military bases from the Caucasus Mountain nation.

With opposition legislators boycotting parliament over unrelated
issues, lawmakers voted 132-0 to back the deal that obliges Russia
to complete the pullout of the bases, leftovers from the Soviet era,
by the end of 2008.

Russia and Georgia agreed on the pullout last May, and military
officials from the two former Soviet republics signed a deal laying
out details late last month.

Under pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia is seeking
to shed Russian influence after centuries of domination by Moscow.

About 3,000 troops are stationed at bases in the southern city of
Akhalkalaki and the Black Sea port of Batumi; two others were closed
over the past decade. Under the deal, the Russian military is to
complete its withdrawal from Akhalkalaki by the end of 2007 and from
Batumi by the end of 2008.

Opposition lawmakers said they favor the withdrawal but oppose
plans to establish a joint anti-terrorist center in Batumi after the
withdrawal. Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze said the deal only
envisages talks about the creation of such a center.

Opposition leaders also questioned why the agreement allows Russia
the right to send military equipment and personnel through Georgia
to Armenia _ the site of another Russian base _ for five years,
when the bases must be withdrawn within about three years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE PARTY “ORINATS YERKIR” IS AGAINST WHAT IT WAS ONCE FOR

A1+
[06:28 pm] 13 April, 2006

Today the party “Orinats Yerkir” (“Country of Law”) was in an awful
state in the Parliament as completely realizing the fact that in
case they vote against the bill “on the program of 2001 – 2003
privatization revenue” criticized by them it will be approved they
chose that version.

By the way, in 2003 and in 2001 “Orinats Yerkir” and “Dashnaktsytyun”
voted for the same program. The party “Orinats Yerkir” was against
of the program only in 2002. Thus, it becomes clear that the party
will vote for the privatization program only in the years preceding
the elections. The member of the “Republican Party” Manvel Badeyan
said that the behavior of “Orinats Yerkir” is determined by the fact
that it is a pre-election year.

The Vice-Deputy of the “Justice” Fraction Victor Dallakyan mentioned
that in the pre-election year “they try to purify themselves and
put away their dust and garbage but people see both the garbage and
the dust.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARTASHES TUMANYAN VICTIM OF RUSSIAN INTERESTS

Lragir.am
13 april 06

Member of Parliament Arshak Sadoyan made a sensational statement
April 13. He said the reason of dismissal of Artashes Tumanyan was
his recent visit to Iran.

“Artashes Tumanyan left for Iran where he reached a quite favorable
arrangement on an Iranian loan for the construction of the fifth
generating unit of Hrazdan. But since there was a problem with Russia,
Artashes Tumanyan was dismissed,” says Arshak Sadoyan. He thinks that
the reason of Artashes Tumanyan’s dismissal was not connected with
the political party he was going to set up.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CALL AGAINST SALE OF IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE

Lragir.am
13 april 06

During a debate at the Pastark Club on April 13 the political forces
condemned the sale of the fifth generating unit of Hrazdan. The
Democratic Way Party, the Alliance of National Democrats and the
Liberal Progressive Party, as well as the Club of Young Politicians,
which had initiated the debate, condemned the sale of the fifth
generating unit, assessing it as an encroachment on the energy security
of Armenia. Manuk Gasparyan, the leader of the Democratic Way Party,
announced that if it is somehow possible to accept the sale of the
generating unit, the sale of the Iran-Armenia pipeline to Russia is
absolutely unacceptable at any rate.

The member of parliament urged the society not to tolerate the sale
of the gas pipeline.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRAMEWORK OF NEGOTIATIONS TO BE ADAPTED WITHOUT CHANGES

Lragir.am
14 April 06

The framework of talks on the conflict over Karabakh will not change,
and rumors about reporting the issue to the United Nations or other
international organizations are groundless. This was stated by the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fassier (France) on April 13 in Yerevan.

The French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said the negotiations
were and will be mediates by the OSCE Minsk Group. He noted that
the framework may simply be adapted. Adapting, according to Bernard
Fassier, means taking advantage of other opportunities outside the
mediatory mission. “There will be an adjustment of the existing
framework, and it means that we the co-chairs will not confine
ourselves to visits and are determined to use every favorable
opportunity,” says Bernard Fassier.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress