Author: Hambardsumian Paul

ARMENIAN PM FORMS NEW CABINET AFTER ELECTION TRIUMPH
By Emil Danielyan

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
(168 Zham, June 7, 9; Haykakan Zhamanak, June 7-8; Aravot, June 7)
June 12 2007

Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian and his top political allies have
cut a new power-sharing deal resulting from their landslide victory
in the May 12 parliamentary elections. In a decree made public on
June 8, Kocharian formally approved the composition of a coalition
government headed by his longtime close associate Serge Sarkisian and
dominated by representatives of the latter’s Republican Party (HHK),
the main election winner.

The development came after almost a month of difficult negotiations
between the HHK and two other major pro-Kocharian parties,
Prosperous Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, also
known as Dashnaktsutiun. Sarkisian agreed to share power with them,
even though his party won an outright majority in parliament and was
able to single-handedly form a government. He is clearly trying to
mobilize broad-based political support for his intention to succeed
Kocharian in a presidential election due in early 2008.

Officially, the new ruling coalition is made up of the HHK and
Prosperous Armenia, which came in a distant second in the parliamentary
elections. Their leaders signed a corresponding memorandum in
Kocharian’s office on June 6. They then signed a separate "cooperation
agreement" with Dashnaktsutiun, enabling the center-left nationalist
party to distance itself from Sarkisian’s government while retaining
three of the four ministerial posts it has held for the past four
years. The Armenian ministries of agriculture, education, and social
affairs will thus continue to be run by Dashnaktsutiun members. The
party, which is particularly influential in the worldwide Armenian
Diaspora, also clinched the right to appoint one of the country’s
ten provincial governors, a deputy speaker of the National Assembly,
and the chairpersons of two parliament committees. One of its top
leaders, Vahan Hovannisian, was elected as vice-speaker during the
first session of the newly elected legislature on June 7.

Meanwhile, Prosperous Armenia, which is led by Kocharian-connected
tycoon Gagik Tsarukian, got hold of the less significant ministries
of health, urban development, and sport affairs, despite the fact
that it won considerably more parliament seats than Dashnaktsutiun.

The HHK will directly or indirectly control seven ministries,
including those of finance and justice, as well as the newly created
post of deputy prime minister. Kocharian, for his part, filled two
other cabinet vacancies, reappointing his longtime Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian and Defense Minister Mikael Harutiunian. Neither man
is affiliated with any party. In addition, the Armenian president will
continue to control the law-enforcement and tax-collection agencies
that are not part of the government and are directly subordinated to
the head of state.

The coalition talks took longer than expected because of disagreements
revolving around the extent and form of Dashnaktsutiun’s continued
presence in Armenia’s leadership.

Dashnaktsutiun leaders made it clear in the run-up to the May 12 vote
that they will quit the government unless their party is given control
over the Ministry of Defense. But they dropped that demand after the
HHK’s election triumph, mindful of the fact that Sarkisian and his
loyalists can now push any decision through parliament practically
at will. Nonetheless, Dashnaktsutiun set other conditions, including
a greater say in the formulation of government policies and a right
to disavow those policies with which it disagrees. Surprisingly,
Sarkisian appears to have agreed to all of those conditions.

Speaking to journalists later on June 6, another party leader, Armen
Rustamian, stressed that Dashnaktsutiun will have an "independent
political tactic" and will bear no responsibility for the actions of
the prime minister and cabinet members not affiliated with it. More
importantly, he also confirmed that the nationalist party has not
committed itself to endorsing Sarkisian’s presidential bid. The issue
was the main stumbling block during the post-election negotiations,
with Sarkisian reportedly insisting that the coalition partners pledge
to nominate a single candidate for the presidential ballot.

Dashnaktsutiun leaders, whose rapport with Kocharian’s most likely
successor has always been quite frosty, have repeatedly stated
that they plan to have their own presidential candidate. Rustamian
effectively reaffirmed this at the news conference.

All of which raises the question why Sarkisian agreed to give
ministerial portfolios to Dashnaktsutiun without getting anything
significant in return. Some local commentators believe that he did
so under pressure from Kocharian, who has enjoyed the party’s strong
backing throughout his nine-year presidency. They speculate that
Kocharian is keen to limit the HHK’s rising grip on power as part of
his apparent plans to continue to pull the government strings in some
capacity after completing his second and final term in office.

Prosperous Armenia’s worse-than-expected election performance (it
won only 24 of the 131 parliament seats) is thought to have already
dealt a serious blow to the realization of those plans.

Analysts also suggest that Sarkisian still hopes to win over
Dashnaktsutiun or at least keep it from challenging him in the
2008 election. Indeed, while Dashnaktsutiun does not seem to
have potentially electable presidential hopefuls, its independent
involvement in the presidential race would make life much harder
for Sarkisian. In particular, the party’s government levers coupled
with its well-organized grassroots network put it in a position to
restrict and/or expose the increasingly sophisticated vote rigging
that remains the HHK’s and Sarkisian’s principal election-winning
technique. Whether Dashnaktsutiun is really ready to pick a fight
with Armenia’s number one "party of power" remains to be seen. Cynics
say the Dashnaktsutiun leadership has grown too accustomed to power
and the resulting perks to become an opposition force. The next few
months will show if they are right.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 12, 2007

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Ambassador John Danilovich
CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation

On June 12, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, received Ambassador John Danilovich, Chief Executive Officer of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and his delegation in the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness welcomed the ambassador to the headquarters of the Armenian
Church, stating, "We are pleased that through Armenia’s inclusion in the
Millennium Challenge Corporation program, the economy of Armenia in the
rural sector will be the recipient of much needed assistance." His Holiness
also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the MCC for their ongoing
work in the spheres of rural road development and irrigation water projects
focused on the agrarian villages throughout Armenia.

The Pontiff of All Armenians introduced the guests to the present-day
mission of the Armenian Church and its history, including the conversion of
the Armenian people to Christianity, the establishment of the Mother See
more than 17 centuries ago, and the challenges facing the Church and society
in modern times.

Ambassador Danilovich expressed his gratitude to the Catholicos for the
audience and presented the details of the activities of the MCC within
Armenia. The ambassador also noted his satisfaction with the progress of
the work thus far, and stated, "We are confident that this program will have
great impact on the rural residents of Armenia, thereby benefiting the
overall economy of the country."

Also present for the meeting with His Holiness were Ambassador Danilovich’s
family and Alex Russin, the Resident Country Director of the MCC.

ARAZ AZIMOV: YURI MERZLYAKOV HAS EXCEEDED HIS AUTHORITY MAKING SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT BEFORE THE PRESIDENTS’ MEETING

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 8 2007

Yuri Merzlyakov has no right, motivation and authority to introduce
Nagorno Karabakh as a party to the current conflict. Azerbaijani
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told journalists, APA reports.

Saying that Azerbaijan protested this statement Araz Azimov said OSCE
Minsk Group co-chair Yuri Merzlykov’s opinions are not coinciding
with those of Russia’s.

"This statement by Merzlyakov contradicts both international legal
norms and principles and Russia’s – one of the mediators in the
settlement of the conflict- official opinion. Russia has stated its
opinion many times at high levels. Moscow’s recognizes Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and sovereignty," the Deputy Minister said.

Armenian press disseminated information on Yuri Merzlyakov’s statements
in Yerevan in which he said "though Russia has not recognized Nagorno
Karabakh as independent state it does not mean that Russia recognizes
it as part of Azerbaijan". Araz Azimov said he will investigate
this issue seriously. "It is contrary to Russia’s mediator role and
international norms. If we find evidences that Mr Merzlyakov sounded
such statement we will call him to take responsibility. As this was
sounded before the Presidents’ [Azerbaijani and Armenian] meeting we
consider it as a provocation.

We assess it as provocation and irresponsible act," Mr. Azimov said.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REELECTS SPEAKER TOROSYAN

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 7 2007

YEREVAN, June 7 (RIA Novosti) – Tigran Torosyan was reelected speaker
of Armenia’s newly-formed parliament Thursday as the only candidate.

Torosyan has held the post of parliamentary speaker since June 1, 2006.

Armenia’s Constitutional Court is currently considering the validity
of the results of recent parliamentary elections, and must pass a
final judgment by June 10.

Torosyan is deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia and
head of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE).

The South Caucasus nation held parliamentary elections on May 12, at
which the Republican Party gained 65 seats and the Prosperous Armenia
party won 25 in the 131-seat legislature. Both parties are loyal to the
president, Robert Kocharyan, whose term in office ends early next year.

GRADUATE STUDENT PERFORMS SOUNDS OF HOME: ARMENIAN-BORN PIANIST HOPES RECITAL WILL HELP BRIDGE CULTURAL GAP
Matt Erler

Ball State Daily News, IN –
June 7 2007

When Anna Vanesyan came to Ball State from Armenia in 2002, she
was surprised to find that despite Muncie’s cultural and geographic
distance from her home country, students in the School of Music both
embraced her culture and the music that came from it. Vanesyan was
able to transition to the new country while resting in the comfort
of familiar sounds.

"In the music school they are not only tolerant of other cultures,
but want to go deep, and see other cultures and have more knowledge
about other cultures," Vanesyan said. "I think that’s very important
for musicians." Friday, the Armenian-born Ball State student will
present a series of compositions by Armenian composer Alexander
Arutunian at 8 p.m. in Sursa Hall.

James Helton, associate professor of Music Performance, said the
Armenian style of music required musicians who were adept at playing
music from different cultures.

"Any time you play music from a different culture – all music has
elements of its cultures – when you play music from other cultures
you want to find ways to bring out that flavor. You come away with an
idea of the flavor – like trying a different food, there’s a certain
kind of spice in it."

Despite the language barrier between the composer of the pieces
and some of the performers, Vanesyan believes the spirit of the
compositions won’t be lost.

"They feel the spirit of Armenian music so well," Vanesyan said. "It
doesn’t matter that the composer that wrote this music speaks Russian
or Armenian."

In addition to Helton’s performance with Vanesyan, retired professor
of music Mary Hagopian will sing a traditional Armenian lullaby.

Vanesyan hopes the performance will help illustrate that despite
language barriers and cultural differences, people can unite. In many
ways, Vanesyan said the recital is a way for Vanesyan to give back to
the Ball State and Muncie community, as well as represent her country.

But on a broader level, Vanesyan believes that music can change the
world. She repeatedly and steadfastly repeats this claim. She hopes
that the recital will help.

"With music we can build understanding because music is the universal
language," Vanesyan said. "Especially nowadays when we have wars and
conflicts and misunderstandings. Something is wrong in the world. But
music can change the world."

Vanesyan grew up in Yarevan, Armenia, located North of Iran, South
of Georgia and East of Turkey. Armenia was part of the Soviet Union
from the end of World War II to 1991.

In 2002, Vanesyan came to the United States aided by the Edward
Muskie Fellowship, and received her masters from Ball State. After
returning to Armenia for two years to teach at Yerevan Komitas State
Conservatory, where Vanesyan received her bachelors degree, she
returned to Ball State to pursue her doctorate in piano performance.

This is Vanesyan’s 24th solo performance. Arutunian’s pieces have
never been performed in Muncie.

Vanesyan said her performance will help Muncie citizens embrace her
culture like her fellow students did five years ago.

"We all are the same," she said. "Sometimes we speak the same language,
but we don’t understand each other. In any case music will unite
them all."

SIRKAP ARMENIA IS TOO SLOW

KarabakhOpen
07-06-2007 17:52:52

The Sirkap Armenia Company runs a few businesses in Karabakh. The
company is reconstructing the stadium and is building a new hotel in
the place of the former Karabakh Hotel in Stepanakert.

Not far from the home of government Sirkap Armenia is building an
elite block of apartments on the central avenue.

It should be noted that the building by the Swiss company is growing
slower.

Even the Karabakh government confesses. The ministry of territorial
administration and development of infrastructures had demanded a
statement on the construction done so far.

According to the minister Armo Tsatryan, Sirkap Armenia presented
a lengthy report on 800 pages, which was sent back. Minister Armo
Tsatryan said to the KarabakhOpen that they demanded a corresponding
document and the estimates.

Besides, Armo Tsatryan said the pace of work of the company is
too slow.

US MEDIATOR DENIES REFERENDUM TO BE HELD IN BREAKAWAY AZERI REGION

Turan news agency
6 Jun 07

Baku, 6 June: The US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew
Bryza, has denied the statement the media has attributed to him that
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to hold a referendum on the status
of Nagornyy Karabakh. "I have never said that the sides have agreed
to hold a referendum. I said the mediators think that the issue of
the status should be solved by means of voting," Bryza said at a news
conference in Baku today. However, he added, the issue of holding the
referendum should be solved "step by step" during the negotiations
between the two countries’ presidents. "For this reason, nothing has
been decided yet," Bryza said.

In his view, in general "nothing can be regarded as agreed in the
negotiations until all issues are agreed on".

In turn, the French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Bernard
Fassier, added that the presidents will determine "even the very name"
of the planned voting on the status of Nagornyy Karabakh.

The Russian co-chairman, Yuriy Merzlyakov, expressed the opinion that
the results of the meeting with the Azerbaijani leadership give hope
that the 9 June negotiations between the presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia in St Petersburg will be held in a constructive atmosphere
and become a step forward in the settlement process. The mediators
hope that the Armenian side will demonstrate a similar approach during
tomorrow’s negotiations with the co-chairmen in Yerevan.

All three co-chairmen shied away from answering how optimistic they
are about the St Petersburg meeting.

At the same time, Fassier said that one will be able to speak about
the mediators’ "optimism" when a "breakthrough" is achieved. This is
the moment when the presidents will instruct their foreign ministers
to prepare a draft peace agreement. At the same time, Fassier let
it be known that it is too early to hope for a "breakthrough" in St
Petersburg. If the sides supplement the basis of the negotiations in
St Petersburg, "that will be good news", Fassier stressed.

THERE ARE NO OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN NAGORNO KARABAKH AND AROUND IT

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.06.2007 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The meeting between Armenian and Azeri presidents in
St. Petersburg on June 9 will not become fateful, NKR President Arkadi
Ghukassian stated in Yerevan to a press conference after having met
with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel
Moratinos. He said, it will become one of those meetings, during which
the sides will not come to an agreement. "If President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliev continues to insist on his variant of settlement, the
conflict will not be solved," Ghukassian underlined.

At the same time the NKR President stressed that the issue of
territories adjacent to NKR is out of the question. "We do not have
occupied territories and we do not have Armenian army here. The
Defense Army of NKR liberated the security zone around NKR the same
army defends those territories. But for some reasons nobody talks
about those 15 percent of Karabakh territories, which up till now are
under Azeri occupation: part of Martouni, Mardakert and the Shahumyan
region. It is necessary to speak on equal terms about this issue,"
Ghukassian said.

Oshkosh Northwestern, WI
June 2 2007

Oshkosh teacher remembered for classroom work and commitment to
students

By Doug Zellmer
of The Northwestern

Seraph "Kappy" Kaprelian brought a lot to the table as a teacher in
the Oshkosh school district.

Kaprelian, 87, died May 6 and is not only remembered for his years of
teaching, but also his commitment to students and for a good sense of
humor. He taught math and science at South Park Junior High School
and then Oshkosh West High School.

He retired from the school district in 1985 and then spent several
years teaching math at Fox Valley Technical College.

"As far as his teaching, he was always the rock of the math
department at South Park," said William Holm, retired principal at
South Park. "He was cool, clam and collected. He was a fine teacher
and a fine gentleman."

John Sheehy, retired principal at Oshkosh West, said Kaprelian was
student council advisor at West "and the kids loved him."

"He had them going in all directions and they were very willing to
work for him," Sheehy said. "He was popular with the students and
staff."

Holm said Kaprelian had a good relationship with students at South
Park.

"Seraph was just a good solid supporter of most if not all activities
held at South Park," he said.

Kaprelian’s widow, Pat, said her husband was born in Turkey and was
three-years-old when his family immigrated to the United States in
1923 and settled in Racine. She said he was "very proud" of his
Christian-Armenian heritage.

"His parents survived the 1915 genocide by the Moslem Turks against
the Christian-Armenians," she said. "The entire village was uprooted
and forced to march. One thousand started on the march and only 50
people survived and among them were my husband’s parents. They ran
out of food and water during the march."

ZVARTNOTS TO EARN BACK $200 MILLION INVESTMENT IN 30 YEARS

Panorama.am
18:29 01/06/2007

The first flight was annouced in the newly opened departure hall
of Airport Zvartnots today. Gevorg Abrahamyan, press secretary of
Armenia International Airports, said the hall complies with high
quality airport standards. The hall is capable to serve up to 1000
passengers in an hour due to its 12 checkpoints.

Abrahamyan said the passengers will not pass customs checking but only
border checking. Pablo Gechijyan, director of Armenia International
Airports, assured the new complex may serve up to six flights. "The
new complex has Duty-free services, beautiful seats looking to
the flight field and Mount Ararat. There is a cafe, new toilets,
a business section and a smoking section. The complex is going to
support transit flights," Gechijyan said.

"Zvartnots is unique in the region in terms of its quality and
facilities for transit flights. It gives great advantages in terms
of competition to the Armenian air companies," he added.

In the words of the director, in 2010, another complex will be
commissioned. The glass complex will have a car park with a park
behind, Gechijyan said. Some $100 million is expected to cover the
construction, as much as spent on the operating departure hall. The
director of Armenia International Airport says they plan to have to
money back in 30 years.