Author: Emil Lazarian

THE EUROPEANS REPRESENTED THE KEY TO THE SOLUTION
A1+
[05:26 pm] 19 April, 2006
Armen Roustamyan Opposes
During the 8th session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation
Committee in Armenia critical announcements were made about the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In particular, member of the
Committee Hannes Svoboda announced that the Armenian armed forces
must leave the occupied lands, they must be given a special status;
a referendum will solve the status problem, the refugees must return
to their houses, and peace-keeping forces must be allocated in
those areas.
By the way, he said all this as an agreement with the Armenian
side. Several other Europeans claimed that the areas are occupied
by the Armenian side and it is not a secret for anyone. NA deputy
Armen Roustamyan had to answer these claims, “The RA did not occupy
any lands. The history of the conflict is that Azerbaijan committed
aggression against the Karabakh people in answer to their raising the
issue of sovereignty. We must not forget the 1988 events in Sumgayit;
there are facts, and we can prove whatever we say with facts.
This aggression was beaten by the Armenian forces and control was
established over the areas according to the 51st article of the UN
legislation. We ask you to check everything yourselves.”
He informed that the getting acquainted with the history of the
conflict the Europeans will make sure that the RA is a side involved
in the conflict and not one that started it, “RA cannot fully replace
NKR in the negotiations. We cannot represent the sovereignty right
instead of the Karabakh people and decide their fate.”
“We demand that Karabakh participate in the negotiations and this
is a necessity in order to make the negotiation process more real,”
Armen Roustamyan said informing the European concerned with the
Karabakh conflict those options which are acceptable for Armenia,
“Our approach is clear: Karabakh must make use of its sovereignty
right unconditionally and without restrictions. Speaking about
sovereignty as part of Azerbaijan when they will speak about the
defense of the rights of national minorities in the territory of a
country is completely out of this context. Naturally, the variant
acceptable for us is independence.”
Roustamyan informed that Armenia has seen what autonomy offered by
the Azeri side means by the example of Nakhijevan. “The Autonomous
Republic of Nakhijevan had the highest status in the former USSR.
And in that status all the Armenians were evicted from there while
according to the data of the year 1927, 40% of its population was
Armenian. Today there are no Armenians there. You have also seen
what they have done with the cultural heritage. Seeing all this,
how do you imagine that the Karabakh people will ever agree to have
that highest status as part of Azerbaijan? It is absurd. ”
The head of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations also said it
was totally absurd that the Armenian side too is required to refrain
from militant statements, as “it is no secret that the Armenian side
does not want a new war.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FUTURE IN EFFICIENCY
A1+
[06:13 pm] 19 April, 2006
Today Robert Kocharyan received the delegation of the participants
of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation Committee 8th session.
Underlining the importance of establishing a private cooperation
plan with Armenia as soon as possible within the framework of the
EU New Neighborhood policy, Robert Kocharyan said that it will give
them the possibility to have coordinated relations with the EU and
to go forward, “We see the future of Armenia in efficient governing,
efficient political system and economy, and it can be reached only
by means of radical reforms,” the head of the country underlined.
At the request of the European Parliamentarians the President
represented the recent development of the negotiations of the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict and the approaches of Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU EMPHASIZED THE RIGHT FOR SELF-DETERMINATION
Lragir.am
20 April 06
The two-day session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee finished on April 19. A conclusion of 38 points was
adopted. After the meeting the co-chairs of the committee Ms. Marie
Anne Isler Béguin and MP Armen Rustamyan gave a news conference. The
speakers said a broad range of questions was discussed during
the session, from internal policies in Armenia and the upcoming
election in 2007 and 2008 to Nagorno Karabakh and Turkish-Armenian
relations. Marie Anne Isler Béguin appreciated the high level of
debates and in-depth consideration of issues. By the way, during the
debates one of the Europeans repeatedly used the phrase “occupied
territories.” According to Armen Rustamyan, there is nothing to worry
about, and often the questions are made sharper on purpose to have
an open and productive discussion.
Out of the mentioned 36 points of the conclusion 6 refer to Nagorno
Karabakh and all the six favor the Armenian party. It was unanimously
accepted that the settlement of the Karabakh issue should involve
the rights for self-determination of nations and the minorities,
the settlement of the conflict by military means should be excluded,
the fact that NKR is not recognized should not damage the rights
and freedoms of people who live there, there should be guarantees
of security, etc. The Europeans will discuss the same questions with
the Azerbaijanis. Sure enough, the Azerbaijanis will try to reduce,
if not remove pro-Armenian phrases. Armen Rustamyan says it will not
be easy, for in Yerevan all these were adopted unanimously, in other
words, the EU guarantees what was written. By the way, the previous
efforts of the Azerbaijanis failed thanks to the determination of
the EU delegates. Marie Anne Isler Béguin is hopeful that Azerbaijan
will accept the right of nations for self-determination.
The EU delegates are currently similarly determined, and hoping that
one day we or our children will enter the European Union, advise to
hold elections in compliance with European standards that are known to
everyone, and prepare the society for the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict and learn to live side by side with their neighbors, like
France and Germany, which used to have a lot of problems.
Besides, in all their meetings, including that with Robert Kocharyan,
the EU representatives said they would like to be televised again. They
also said that for elections complying with European standards only
laws are not enough, these require political will as well. They are
willing to monitor the elections in 2007 and 2008. They said and set
down in the conclusion that in Armenia corruption is one of the major
setbacks in economic and social development, and called for a more
consistent struggle against this vice.
–Boundary_(ID_7ZjHY7w6VM/AV3kqU7Y4mw)–

Patrick’s $ man irks Armenians
By Kevin Rothstein
Boston Herald
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 – Updated: 06:14 AM EST
A Washington lobbyist who works with a firm that is pushing the Turkish
government’s contention that the Armenian genocide never occurred
co-hosted a fund-raiser for gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick
last night, angering members of the Massachusetts Armenian-American
community.
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s link to the Livingston Group
raised red flags with Armenians, who despise the Turkish effort to
erase the heartbreaking chapter in their history.
Experts estimate 1.5 million Armenians were killed between 1915 and
the 1923.
“It upsets us,” said Stephen Dulgarian of Chelmsford, whose mother
survived the genocide but lost two children; one to a Turkish bayonet
and one to starvation. “He probably doesn’t know anything about the
Armenian genocide.”
Massachusetts has a large Armenian community, centered largely in
suburbs west of Boston.
Lobbyist Bernie Robinson, one of 39 Beltway bigs who hosted last
night’s fund-raiser, is a consultant to the Livingston Group, according
to the company Web site. He is a former chief of staff for Patrick
supporter U.S. Rep. James McGovern (D-Worcester) and a former Phillip
Morris executive.
Patrick spokeswoman Libby DeVecchi said Patrick was “comfortable” with
Robinson’s role, saying he was only an independent contractor working
“under the umbrella” of the Livingston Group. “He does not, nor has
he ever, worked with the government of Turkey,” she said. “Deval does
acknowledge the Armenian genocide and he’s saddened by the event.”
Robinson, who donated $1,000 to Patrick over the past two years,
did not return a phone call.
The Turkish government has paid the Livingston Group more than $9
million to represent it. Key issues include battling a congressional
amendment recognizing the Armenian genocide and helping steer $1
billion in U.S. aid to Turkey, even though American troops are barred
from using Turkish soil as a staging area for Iraq, the watchdog
group Public Citizen says.
“We’re concerned,” said Aram Hamparian, executive director of the
lobbying group Armenian National Committee of America. “This would be
a great opportunity for Patrick to be very clear with our community
with what he thinks about and where he stands on Livingston’s efforts
to defeat recognition of the Armenian genocide.”
The bill, which would call on Turkey to recognize the slaughter as
a genocide, passed a House committee and is awaiting a full vote on
the House floor.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA TO DEPLOY MILITARY POLICE IN AKHALKALAKI
Armenpress
Apr 19 2006
AKHALKALAKI, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS: The defense ministry of Georgia
said it will establish a military police department in the mostly
Armenian-populated town of Akhalkalaki in Samtskhe-Javakheti region,
saying the department is necessary to ensure security in the course
of Russian military base’s pullout, which is expected to leave Georgia
by the end of this year.
The A-Info news agency operating in the region, said the Georgian
authorities intend to deploy a Georgian military contingent in the
base after it is freed by Russians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE ISSUE OF MISSING PERSONS
A1+
[02:50 pm] 19 April, 2006
NKR has no official date about missing persons. During the event
organized recently in connection with the International Day of missing
persons the representatives of the RA Defense Ministry and the NGOs
which are engaged in the issue mentioned that according to the data
they possess there are about 300 missing soldiers who are currently
in Azerbaijan.
Commenting on the issue at the request of the “A1+” correspondent
in Stepanakert, the Commander of the NKR Defense Army Seyran Ohanyan
said, “We do not have such data officially. I have been head of the
“Union of missing persons of Artsakh” and carried out work in that
direction. It’s a pity that we do not have relations with Azerbaijan
on the state level and cannot reach any results in this sphere”.
Proceeding from the situation, Seyran Ohanyan applied to the NKR
President Arkadi Ghoukasyan and asked him to resign him from the post
of the head of the “Union of missing persons of Artsakh” and to charge
the NKR National Security Service with it.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IT’S NONSENSE WHEN A CONFLICT SIDE DOESN’T TURN INTO A NEGOTIATION SIDE
Panorama.am
14:25 19/04/06
Co-chair of the Committee of EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Armen
Roustamyan thinks the process of Karabakh conflict is not favorable
and constructive for us. One of the results is that Nagorno Karabakh
doesn’t participate in the negotiations.
“Karabakh conflict is recognized as an ethno-political one,”
A. Roustamyan mentioned at the session of the Committee of EU-Armenia
Parliamentary Cooperation in the NA today. He also stated that the
conflict is not going to be solved unless the main reason is not
removed. Thus, as he said, the question of Karabakh status shouldn’t
be omitted, otherwise the expectations of the regulation will be
exaggerated.
“First, the situation when a conflict side doesn’t become a
negotiation side is rather illogical if not absurd.” The co-chair
calls to make the negotiation process full and not yield to Azeri
rough and non-constructive negotiation position as a result of which
NK is being forced out of negotiation process.
Moreover, Armen Roustamyan also stated that it was NK who concluded
a truce in Bishkek. “The situation that we call a situation of
neither war nor peace or simply an incomplete ceasefire has in its
basis two agreements, and there is the signature of NK under those
two agreements,” the chairman of NA Permanent Committee of Foreign
Relations.
“The hostile announcements of Azerbaijan are going on as the
international community gives Azerbaijan the opportunity to continue
the process by the script they like.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YERAZGAVORS AND BAYANDOUR COMMUNITIES WITHOUT WATER
A1+
13:48 19/04/06
On April 18 it has been informed that at about 12.00 as a result of
overflow of Akhuryan reiver the waters of the river have driven away
the territory of 30 meters next to the water pipe of Poultry factory
in Bayandour community. As we have been informed in press department of
Armenian Rescue Service Gharibjanyan and Getkh villages have partially
remained without water, and Yerazgavors and Bayandour communities
became fully “waterless”. The workers of “Shirak water-sewerage”
are carrying out restoration works after the incident.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MOBILIZATION WAS HIGHLY ORGANIZED
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
18 April 2006
The April 12 a planned mobilization was carried out. According
to Arthur Tavaratsyan, Deputy Military Commissar, the head of the
Department for Mobilization, it was intended to check the preparation
of reserve officers and the rank and file, as well as the coordinated
activity of military commissars. The latter were instructed to
mobilize the reserve and direct them to military units in an appointed
period of time. Deputy Military Commissar Arthur Tavaratsyan said the
mobilization was highly organized and well planned. “We fulfilled the
task 11 hours before the deadline, which once again proves that the
society and staffs of companies are highly responsible. Besides it is
patriotism when everyone is conscious of the importance of the problem
and appears in the required place on time,” said Arthur Tavaratsyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PAPER REPORTS ELECTORAL FRAUD IN ARMENIA
Aravot, Yerevan
18 Apr 06
Text of Aram Abramyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Aravot on 18
April headlined “Dynamics of impudence”.
According to the head of a local polling station [name withheld],
[Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan gained 12 per cent of votes at
his polling station during the first round of the 2003 presidential
election. But on orders from above they changed the result to 60 per
cent. Only 60 people participated in the constitutional referendum
of 2005 at the same polling station, but they reported that 1,649
people said “yes” to the reform. In some other country this would be
considered to be a sensation, but not in Armenia. Here from Robert
Kocharyan to a street cleaner nobody doubts that this is true and
not only at this polling station.
Here the dynamics of the authorities’ impudence are interesting. I
think that 12 per cent gained by the president in 2003 is not a bad
sign. In a country like Armenia, where 80 per cent of the population
are displeased with their social status, a president who is elected
for the second term could not gain more than 12 per cent of the vote.
But in this case the difference between the real and invented figures
is fivefold. But in the case of the constitutional referendum it is
27.5 times. First, if only 60 people out of 2,000 turned out to vote,
this means that people are absolutely indifferent to the constitutional
reform. In this case the authorities do what they want. Second, our
opposition should have found the person who rigged the polls instead
of recalling its representatives from polling stations.
Today, if our prosecutor’s office is clever enough, it should
immediately report to the Council of Europe that it has finally
punished the person who committed electoral fraud. It should also
punish [name withheld] so that others do not dare to tell what they
did when rigging elections.
But certainly, this is not so much important. What is important is
that US ambassador to Armenia John Evans liked the constitutional
referendum in Armenia and he considered it to be almost democratic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress