Author: Hambardsumian Paul

TICKET TO PROSPERITY OF CAUCASUS CASPIAN REGION IS INTEGRATION: SLOVENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 25 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku/ corr. "Trend" À. Gasimova/ Trend’s exclusive
interview with the chairman of Caucasus Caspian Commission, the
Minister of foreign affairs of Slovenia Dimitrij Rupel

Question: Could you inform about goals and tasks of the Commission?

What are the priority tasks?

Answer: The Caucasus-Caspian Commission was launched as a civil
society initiative to which eminent persons from Europe, the US,
Russia and from the wider Caspian region were invited to consider
improving and increasing the dynamics of the relationships – both
political and economic – in the region and between the region and
the EU. Given that both the EU and the region are in the process of
evolution we need to think of ways to capitalize on the new political
and economic opportunities. Not least, the region is important for
the EU as an energy source and it is a land link to Asia. In short,
Commission is reviewing the developments and may issue recommendations
in four areas: sustainable regional economy, political stability,
conflict resolution and Europe-Caspian affairs.

Question One of the objectives of the Commission is to define a
strategy to encourage regional cooperation on political, economic and
security platforms, taking into consideration the presence of several
"lingering conflicts" in the region, how do you see the chances for
such comprehensive cooperation?

Answer: I am optimistic. There is a real chance and a need to promote
cooperation in the broader Caspian Sea region. It is important that
the South Caucasus states have good relations with the EU. The region
will also benefit from a vibrant regional dynamic. The ticket to
prosperity is integration. At the same time, division, conflict and
political instability drives away investors, dries up profit margins
and undercuts productivity. The general public in the end pays the
price. EU is about stability and prosperity and the EU’s Neighborhood
Policy was designed to push this stability and prosperity beyond our
immediate borders. I see the South Caucasus as a real link for Europe
into Asia. The strategy to integrated Europe and the South Caucasus
has to be long-term based and predominantly economically driven.

Question: What are your views on failure of Azerbaijan, a country
imposed to Armenian aggression, to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in a peaceable way, despite efforts taken for 10 years? What
essential role can the Commission, the EU and the international
community take in this respect?, a country imposed to Armenian
aggression, to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a peaceable
way, despite efforts taken for 10 years? What essential role can
the Commission, the EU and the international community take in this
respect?

Answer: The Nagorno-Karabakh solution will have to be reached by the
parties. Armenia and Azerbaijan are neighbors, that is a fact and
that will not change. Both will be better off if they can resolve
this dispute, but I am aware of the fact that my friends from the
region know this. I also know that genuine political will exists on
both sides to move beyond the conflict phase and focus on the more
positive aspects of the inter-state relationship – like the chance to
develop a meaningful economic exchange. The solution will have to be a
peaceful one. Europe can play an important role in helping resolve the
frozen conflicts. The role of the Commission is not to produce magic
answers to the frozen conflicts – I don’t think we have them nor is
it up to us – but by helping through drawing international attention
to these regional issues, this region, and to the opportunities for
economic cooperation in the wider Caspian region.

Question: The Commission is reported to have an intention of
dispatching its fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh. What tasks
will be put set for the mission and when it might occur?Question:
The Commission is reported to have an intention of dispatching its
fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh. What tasks will be put set
for the mission and when it might occur?

Answer: Fact-finding missions have been a topic of our discussions.

However, no agreement has been reached to actually launch them. In
any case, I can assure you that the activities of the Commission will
be transparent and fully coordinated with the local authorities.

Question: How could the Caspian-Caucasus Commission help the region,
particularly, Azerbaijan in improvement of relationships with Europe?

What are the Commission’s plans in this respect?

Answer: The Commission Report will be released sometime at the end
of November. The matter of improved relations between Europe and the
region will be addressed in full in the Report. It is relevant only
to stress that the Caspian-EU axis is growing increasingly relevant in
the economic and energy exchange between the regions, and thus we need
a more comprehensive and streamlined political and security dialogue.

Question: Do you plan to act as a co-chair at an international
conference on "Role of media in encouragement tolerance and mutual
understanding" to be held in Baku in April? How do you estimate
Baku’s initiative on arrangement of such discussions and how much
are they significant?

Answer: Unfortunately due to prior NATO and other government
engagements I was unable to attend this year. The role of the media
in promotion of tolerance is an important issue and it is very good
to see Baku taking the lead on this. We need to find a way to balance
the principal of freedom of speech and protect free press, but at the
same time use our media to promote tolerance, intercultural dialogue
and peace. I hope to see Baku continue this great initiative and I
hope to have another chance of participating in the future.

–Boundary_(ID_G1HUF78GOUXcIVnLHmvHMA)–

ROBERT KOCHARIAN AGREED TO MEET ILHAM ALIEV IN SAINT PETERSBURG

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2007 13:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenian President Robert Kocharian agreed to meet
with Azeri President Ilham Aliev in Saint Petersburg, and we hope
Baku will also give his agreement," OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair
Yuri Merzlyakov stated to journalists in Yerevan. The mediator said
a working document on basic principles of the settlement has been
worked out, which has certain progress. "If we orient ourselves
to the result and suppose that the meeting between both presidents
is successful, in other words, the working document is accepted as
a basis for working out an agreement, it is not excluded one more
meeting on high level," Merzlyakov underlined. The Russian mediator
noted if the basic principles are approved by both presidents, the
Co-Chairs will begin to work on the final agreement on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement.

"We shall not visit Nagorno Karabakh this time, we shall visit
there in a week, when American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza joins us,"
Yuri Merzlyakov underscored.

U.S. CONGRESSMEN: ARMENIA FOR HOLDING FREE AND FAIR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.05.2007 17:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Speaking on the floor of the House of
Representatives yesterday, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Co-Chair
of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, commended Armenia
for holding free and fair parliamentary elections on May 12.

"This is the first positive assessment of an election in the former
Soviet Republic since it gained independence in 1991," Pallone
said. "This encouraging outcome will most certainly enhance and deepen
U.S.-Armenia relations, while also elevating Armenia’s reputation
regionally and internationally."

Pallone noted that Armenia’s achievements address concerns raised by
the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and urged the MCC to fully fund
its five-year $235 million Compact with Armenia.

He also renewed his call for $75 million in economic assistance
to Armenia in Fiscal Year 2008. "This assistance demonstrates
our commitment to Armenia, which is a friend and a supporter of
U.S. policies for peace and security in that part of the world,"
he said.

Frank Pallone also entered into the congressional record a letter he
sent with Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) to President
Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, marking Armenia’s
achievement, the Armenian Assembly of America reports.

WOLFGANG TRIER GIVEN TITLE OF HONOURARY DOCTOR OF RA NAS

Noyan Tapan
May 23 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. A decision was made at the May 23 sitting
of the RA NAS Chairmanship to give the RA NA Honourary Doctor’s title
to famous mathematician, Professor of the University of Trier (Germany)
Wolfgang Luh.

Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA NAS Information Service.

W. Luh actively initiated and participated in strengthening of the
cooperation among mathematicians of Armenia and Germany, among it he
did a great work in the sphere of organizing numerous conferences,
seminars, exchange of scientists and implementation of other programs.

SHUSHI "INDIGESTIBLE" FOR AZERBAIJAN IN ANY WAY
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/05/2007

Sometimes following the behavior of Azerbaijani government, it seems
that the latter perceives everything from the aspect of making
any anti-Armenian announcements. Particularly, its attitude of a
"touchy woman" towards Human Rights speech of US Department of State
was not enough. These days Azerbaijan expresses its disappointment
on an announcement placed in the website of US Department of State,
which is about the "Role of Shushi in the Armenian history" conference
on June 20-25.

Probably Azerbaijan will again be sulky with the facts that the town is
mentioned as Shushi in the announcement and besides; it is represented
as an Armenian cultural center with its role in the Liberation war
of Karabakh.

The organizers of the conference are NKR Minister of Education Kamo
Atayan and rector of Artsakh State University Hamlet Grigorian.

ONE OF LISTS OF THOSE CARRYING OUT "CAROUSEL" APPEARED IN HANDS OF PPA

Noyan Tapan
May 18 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Well-organized fraud at the state
level played the main role in the past parliamentary elections. Felix
Khachatrian, CEC member from Ardarutiun bloc, stated at the May 18
press conference.

He introduced journalists a list including names of 225 voters of
polling station N 17/01. This is the list of those who carried out
so-called "carousel" at the polling station. In F. Khachatrian’s words,
groups of people were divided according to place of their work and
represented various organizations.

Passport data and even telephone numbers are mentioned in the lists. A
certain Elmira Zakarian is N 1 on the list. She is an employee of
Armrosgasprom’s local branch. The hours when the above mentioned
groups of people are to go to vote are also mentioned in the lists.

In F. Khachatrian’s words, this is a high level of committing
falsifications of elections. He did not exclude that such lists could
have been made up for another polling stations, too.

In F. Khachatrian’s words, the study conducted at all of 41 electoral
districts showed that the number of ballot-papers given by territorial
commissions to polling station commissions in total was less by 5539
than the number of ballot-papers received by them. For instance,
district electoral commission N 19 received 61 thousand ballot-papers
and the total number of ballot-papers sent to polling stations is 53
728. Khachatrian said that the ballot-papers that remained in the
territorial commissions (which is prohibited by the law) were used
for voting illegally.

PPA Spokesperson Ruzan Khachatrian expressed an opinion that
Yerevan’s polling station N 9/11 where RA President Robert Kocharian,
Prime Minister Serge Sargsian usually vote, must have been free
of violations. However, in her words, the examination of only one
page of electoral rolls of the polling station showed that only 8
of voters indicated there have the respective registration and the
right to vote at the above mentioned electoral district. Part of
addresses indicated in lists does not exist at all and some persons
are registered by some addresses, about which the owners of those
apartments have no information.

As F. Khachatrian said, PPA has many facts of the kind, in connection
with which it is going to apply to Prosecutor’s Office and to the
Constitutional Court. In response to the question, whether PPA is joing
to join Orinats Yerkir, which intends to apply to the Constitutional
Court, F. Khachatrian said that they should still discuss this issue.

DRINKING WATER TARIFF TO REMAIN UNCHANGED UNTIL JULY 1 2009

Noyan Tapan
May 16 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the lease agreement signed with
Yerevan Water company, the current drinking water tariff of 172.8
drams in Yerevan will remain unchanged until July 1, 2009. Starting
from July 1, 2009, it will make 132.6 drams. The RA Public Services
Regulatory Commission made this decision on May 16 after examining
the company’s bid. To recap, under the agreement, starting from 2009,
Yerevan Water shall reduce the water tariff to 129 drams.

The bid submitted by the company proposes that in 2007, the tariff
of drinking water be raised by about 9 drams, due to a decline in
water consumption.

However, the monitoring conducted by the commission has revealed that
in 2006, Yerevan Water supplied 59.3 mln cubic meters of water, and
not 55.1 mln cubic meters as indicated in the bid. For this reason the
commission decided to increase the water tariff by 3 drams (without
VAT) and use this tariff from 2009. In the words of the commission
chairman Robert Nazarian, this will mitigate the problems of consumers.

Director of Yerevan Water company Serge Popoff said that their primary
problem is to ensure continuous water supply rather than to reduce
water losses.

At the same time he noted that water losses (currently making up 80%)
should be reduced to 55% by 2016, thanks to which 95% of the population
will have a 24-hour water supply.

MONEY, MUSCLE AND A MENAGERIE WIN POWERTONY HALPIN IN YEREVAN

The Times, UK
May 14 2007

He is a millionaire former world arm-wrestling champion with a
fondness for lions. Today Gagik Tsarukyan is poised for political
power after the party he formed a year ago came second in Armenia’s
parliamentary elections.

The burly oligarch’s Prosperous Armenia party is expected to enter a
coalition government led by the Prime Minister, Serge Sargsyan, the
quietly spoken strongman backed by the military in this impoverished
Caucasus republic.

Mr Sargsyan’s Republican Party won 33.8 per cent of votes followed by
Prosperous Armenia with 15.1 per cent and two other pro-Government
parties. Only two opposition parties cleared the 5 per cent hurdle
for representation in the 131-seat parliament.

International observers called the elections an improvement on previous
campaigns marred by extensive fraud and ballot-stuffing.

The preliminary verdict will safeguard hundreds of millions of
pounds in aid from the US and the European Union that had been made
conditional on a clean vote.

But the observers refused to describe Saturday’s election as free
and fair, raising concerns about efforts to prevent fraud and "the
intertwining at all levels of political and business interests"
in Armenia.

Mr Tsarukyan, 50, personifies many of those concerns, but did
not appear overly troubled by them as he gave The Times a tour of
his private zoo next to his palatial mansion outside the capital,
Yerevan. His four lions hold pride of place alongside ostriches,
mountain goats, deer and 30 pedigree horses.

"I love strong animals and strong people," he smiled. The lion
is also the symbol of Mr Tsarukyan’s business empire, Multi Group,
which controls more than 40 companies that include a brewery, a dairy,
a cement factory and a network of petrol stations.

He is widely regarded as Armenia’s richest man and was among several
oligarchs who entered parliament at the previous elections in 2003
in what was seen as a move to protect their business interests.

Mr Tsarukyan has close ties to President Kocharyan, who encouraged
him to set up Prosperous Armenia to drain support from opposition
parties among voters disillusioned by widespread official corruption.

He remains a physically powerful man a decade after winning world and
European arm-wrestling championships. His muscle-bound image led many
Armenians to call him "Dodi Gago", a nickname he despises because it
means roughly "stupid Gagik". Few would dare say it to his face.

However, Mr Tsarukyan’s powerful physique and business success
also symbolised his appeal to voters to "build a prosperous Armenia
together". His party ran in opposition to the Republicans but both
support President Kocharyan.

THOSE ELECTIONS ARE NOT ELECTIONS OF VICTORY OF AUTHORITIES, BUT ARE
ELECTIONS OF LOSS OF OPPOSITION, NDP STATES

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The authorities organized the May 12
parliamentary elections with a normal from outside, but beforehand
directed result. This is said in the statement of the National
Democratic Party (NDP).

According to the NDP, the physical pressures put during the previous
elections were changed by psychological pressures. "At the same time,
with the help of organized movable groups, using the cycle mechanism,
the real participation of voters was exaggerated 1.5 times and those,
not existing in reality votes, were fixed for the ruling parties."

In the statement authors’ words, all these considerably influenced on
the elections in the quantitative sense. But, in the qualitative
sense, the victory of the opposition is doubtful even in the case of
absence of the electoral falsifications.

According to the estimation of the National Democratic Party, "these
elections were not elections of the authorities’ victory, but were
elections of the opposition’s loss." And the main reason of the
opposition’s loss, according to the statement authors’ words, is that
the opposing forces were not able to present themselves as a real
opposition towards the acting authorities and unite round alternative
ideas and programs. "It was displayed especially with the denying
position fostered towards the 2005 constitutional amendments what is
the reason of complete loss of the parliamentary opposition as well as
before the 2007 parliamentary elections what is the reason of failure
of the whole opposition."

Emphasizing that the approach to function only against exhausted
itself, and, in essence, assist that no qualitative changes take place
in Armenia, the statement authors mention that the NDP did not manage
to present itself to the people as a real alternative to the acting
authorities, including for the reason to stay alone in the real
oppositng field and absence of necessary financial resources.

The main reason for the created situation, according to the NDP,
continues remaining absence of an organized opposition led by
conception programs of qualitative amendments in the country.

JAVIER SOLANA COMMENTS ON ARMENIAN ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS: Javier Solana, EU High
Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy
(CFSP), today made the following comments concerning
the parliamentary elections in Armenia:
"I congratulate the people of Armenia on the
improvements in the conduct of the parliamentary
elections yesterday, which were conducted largely in
accordance with OSCE and Council of Europe
commitments, and I encourage the Armenian Government
to rapidly address the shortcomings identified by the
international observers.
This is good news for EU-Armenia relations, in
particular as they were the first elections after
Armenia and the EU agreed last year on a wide-reaching
Action Plan.
The Armenian people have demonstrated greater
political maturity through these elections. I am
confident that Armenia and the EU will continue to
develop relations in a spirit of partnership. This
will also be a positive signal to other countries in
the region.
I also congratulate the election observers – in
particular the many EU nationals among them – on
successfully completing their important work."