Author: Jalatian Sonya

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
July 8 2007

World Focus Attention On Iran
08.07.2006

Political Innovations & Technologies Center informed about important
events occurred last month
Recently the Political Innovations & Technologies Center set out the
regular analytical materials in connection with regional public and
political events which were held last month. At the press-conference
the Director of the mentioned Center, Mubariz Ahmedoghlu informed
that the more important question interested worldwide last month was
situation in Iran. "6" dealt with nuclear technologies in Iran,
proposed Iran to stop activity concerning uranium enrichment. Russia,
holding certain place in "6", stated about its intention to launch
for applying specific sanctions against Iran, if Iran denied to
fulfill taken commitments. Reportedly M. Ahmedoghlu, to date some
tensity in the U.S.-Russian relationship, manifesting itself in
reduction of finances allocated by the U.S. Congress to Russia, is
being observed. At the same time, M. Ahmedoghlu noted the fact that
dynamics development of the relations between Turkey and Russia was
the most important event.

Regarding the South Caucasus, Russia was discontent with development
in post-Soviet countries. Thus, the official Moscow did not cancel
its indignation concerning desire of Ukraine and Georgia to accede to
NATO. Moreover, M. Ahmedoghlu informed that the United States
continues to rehabilitate its influence in Central Asia and charges
Russia and China of exerting pressure upon the Central and South
Asia. Intending to realize US$8 billion project in this region, the
U.S. intends to reach its target.

One more important event concerning the United States which was held
last month was a refusal of the main candidate for the post of the
Ambassador of the United States of America to Armenia, Richard
Houghland to express "Armenian genocide" and his statement that "the
opening of frontiers between Turkey and Armenia is not a subject of
discussion." Furthermore, M. Ahmedoghlu touched upon the point of
aggravation of Armenia-Georgian relationship as a result of
"appropriation" of Georgian songs. According to him, there is a
certain tensity in Armenia-Russian relationship: "The facts of
killing of Armenians in Russian territory and the attempts of
privatization of Armenians’ properties by the Russian incited Armenia
against the Russian. At the same time, Armenia is concerned with that
the U.S. regards Azerbaijan as more democratic. Armenian opposition
assessed this opinion as slap in the face of Kocharian."

Last month was also important for Azerbaijan, as a number of
international arrangements and forums were held here. Regarding
Georgia, the official Tbilisi accusing Russia of conducting agitation
activities, reinforced frontier control with Armenia. The situation
tensity caused new charges by Armenia that accuse the Saakashvili
Government of aggravation of conditions of their compatriots living
in Georgia. Moreover, they are seriously concerned with development
of Azerbaijan-Georgian and Georgia-Turkish relations.

–Boundary_(ID_s1EOyqDomX+KlRpgtKuzog) —

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER RESEIVES ANNE DERSE

Today, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received US new Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Anne Derse.

As APA reports, Mr.Mammadyarov stressed the new ambassador starts
her mission in a period that is important for our states.

The Minister said President Ilham Aliyev’s recent visit to the
United States gave a great gift to the development of cooperation
between the two states adding the ceremony of inauguration of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will be take place soon and wider
prospects for much closer cooperation between the US and Azerbaijan
will be established.

Mammadyarov said integration into EuroAtlantic structures is one of
the priorities for Azerbaijan.

Touching on the negotiating process for the settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the Azerbaijani Minister stressed the
importance of solving the conflict through stages and liberating the
occupied territories and providing resettlement of the internally
displaced persons before the determination of the future status of
the Nagorno Karabakh.

The newly appointed ambassador pointed out Azerbaijan’s important
role in countering threats to global energy security. She welcomed
Azerbaijan becoming regional power center and its role as key
participant of significant regional energy projects.

Ms.Derse also appreciated Azerbaijan’s participation in fighting
against international terrorism and thanked for the support given in
Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the end, the Minister received the copy of the Ambassador’s
credentials and wished success in her activity.

URL:

STRUGGLE FOR JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
03 July 06

Every step, every breath in and out testify to the increasing gap in
the layer of ozone of the government. Naturally, it causes sudden
temperature changes inside the government, and sudden changes in
temperature can make everyone unpredictable. Therefore, the different
branches of power had better be careful with one another and not rely
on others, for there are serious reasons to be cautious. Recently,
especially over the past few weeks, threats have been heard inside
the government. For instance, we had not seen the Attorney General
threaten the Ministry of Justice so openly before. We saw what we
had not seen before. Celebrating the day of the procuracy on July 1,
Aghvan Hovsepyan announced that the procuracy needs reforms and does
not stick to the idea of keeping extra levers but the procuracy will
not tolerate dominance of interest groups, stated Aghvan Hovsepyan.

It was strange to hear such a categorical and threatening expression
from a humanist, who thinks about nation. But one starts thinking about
the nation as soon as one does not have to think about themselves,
but when one’s own fate is on the table, there is no time to think
about the nation and unity. And the reform in the judicial system is,
in fact, struggle for fate. The legislative package of the reform is
being worked out by the Ministry of Justice.

It provides for cutting the powers of the Procuracy, essential powers,
such as investigation. This power will be delegated to the Ministry of
Justice. In fact, Aghvan Hovsepyan definitely addressed the hint at
interest groups and threats of intolerance to Davit Harutiunyan. It
is not excluded that both used to dance in the same round dance, but
now both are worried about their prospects. Both public officials,
who do not hide their political aspirations, are likely to multiply
their levers before the election, especially that one will not let
the other grow at their expense. Moreover, the game is apparently
wider than just the Procuracy-Ministry of Justice format.

And it means that people, who think that they deal with the
presidential aspirations of Aghvan Hovsepyan and Davit Harutiunyan,
are mistaken. Several weeks ago Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
announced definitely and categorically that investigation will not
be delegated to the Ministry of Justice. Perhaps, it means that the
prime minister is not with Davit Harutiunyan, if we decline to say he
is with Aghvan Hovsepyan. However, being with one or the other is not
essential. It is essential that the redistribution of powers among
the law-enforcement agencies gives rise to serious controversies,
including involvement of top officials in the process.

It seems that the power pyramid must be more integrated with regard to
the law enforcement system because this system is the only reliable
instrument for the government, guaranteeing the reproduction of the
system. And if now a tense race between the systems of law enforcement
and justice is underway, the government forces may not be relying on
this system for reproduction. Perhaps, it is the contrary.

The danger of losing power makes everyone undertake changes inside the
judicial system to become invincible for this system, in other words,
to prevent the application of this system against them.

Consequently, there is danger that it will be applied. If they threaten
each other, they may take definite actions, considering that the
necessity, to all appearances, is gradually maturing. Someone will
be picking the harvest this fall. It is interesting to know who will
be packing their things.

HAUNTED BY CHANGE OF POWER IN 98

Lragir.am
29 June 06

Pre-election processes are underway in the country, the evidence
to this is the summer congress of the Republican Party, and it is
connected with the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Member of
Parliament Grigor Harutiunyan expressed this point of view on June
29 at the Pastark Club. According to him, the statement of the OSCE
Minsk Group American Co-Chair Mathew Bryza, then the joint statements
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs show that the process of settlement
of the conflict over Karabakh is becoming more active.

Grigor Harutiunyan says there were different agreements in different
stages of the talks over the Karabakh conflict but Armenia and
Azerbaijan violated these agreements, therefore the mediators are
stating that they did their work, and the rest is to be decided by
the presidents.

And what is the job of the opposition in this situation? Grigor
Harutiunyan does not give a clear answer to this question. At least,
the opposition does not have anything to do with the authors of
the statement.

"But if you think that we must organize rallies, protests in front of
the embassies of the co-chairs. These people put it clearly that all
that has been reached, the proposals in the statement, were approved
by the heads of our states," says Grigor Harutiunyan.

He thinks that these proposals may lead to an early election. In the
long run, however, the opposition has nothing to do here. At least,
Grigor Harutiunyan says, a possible change of power will not be pushed
by the opposition, however it will not be the consequence of a process
going on inside the government.

"Early elections may be connected with the Karabakh process. It is not
real to consider an early election under the pressure of the government
or opposition, or inside the government. There is not a revolutionary
state. I repeat, however, that the change of power may repeat the
model of 98. Not the change of power, but the early election," says
Grigor Harutiunyan. He thinks that now the way out is the resignation
of Robert Kocharyan to temporize and try to improve the situation.

"We think there will be a resignation, and afterwards a change of
power," states Grigor Harutiunyan, declining to say who will push
Kocharyan to resign.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

SENATE AID PANEL VOTES SHARP CUT IN AID TO ARMENIA

— Proposes $5 Million for Nagorno Karabagh;
Allocates Equal Amounts of Foreign Military
Financing to Armenia and Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON, DC – In a departure from its traditional support for a
robust U.S. assistance package for Armenia, the Senate
Appropriations Committee today voted to dramatically reduce aid to
Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

Early reports from Capitol Hill indicate that the Senate
Appropriations Committee has approved a $50 million economic aid
package for Armenia as part of its fiscal year 2007 aid bill. This
allocation was broken down into $34.2 million for Freedom Support
Act aid, $9.96 million for the Democracy Fund, and $5.8 million for
the Child Survival Health Programs Fund. An additional $1.8
million was allocated for Peace Corps programs in Armenia. The
panel’s proposal is $25 million less than the actual allocations
for Armenia over the past several years.

In a positive development, the Senate panel approved $5 million for
humanitarian and relief assistance for Nagorno Karabagh, a $2
million increase over the fiscal year 2006 allocation of $3
million. The panel also voted to recommend equal amounts of U.S.
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Armenia and Azerbaijan, with
each appropriated $3.5 million. The panel did not clarify,
however, whether they intended this parity to extend to the
International Military Education and Training (IMET) and
Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs
(NDAR) funds.

"We are troubled by the retreat of Senate appropriators from their
long-standing commitment to the U.S. aid program for Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh – all the more so given Armenia’s impressive
domestic progress, robust and expanding bilateral relations with
the United States, peacekeeping support in Iraq and Kosovo,
cooperation in settling the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, and on other
pressing regional and security concerns," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working with
appropriators in both houses of Congress to restore aid to at least
last year’s level."

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision stands in contrast
to the House vote earlier this month, which allocated $62 million
in U.S. economic aid for Armenia. Over the course of the past
decade, the Senate has consistently proposed higher levels of aid
for Armenia than the House.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the fiscal year 2007 foreign
aid bill following its return from the July 4th Congressional
recess, after which House and Senate appropriators will hold a
conference to work out differences between their two bills.

In March of this year, the Millennium Challenge Corporation – a
newly established, performance-based foreign aid program – approved
a five-year, $235 million assistance package to build roads and
irrigation systems in Armenia’s rural regions.

PUTIN: SOME VIEW STRONG AND REVIVING RUSSIA AS A THREAT
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
29/06/2006

Speaking at the council of Russian ambassadors on June 27, president
Vladimir Putin of Russia touched upon Russia’s role and place in a
monopolar world and CIS.

In the presence of 200 diplomats Putin advised the USA to treat Russia
as an equal partner, not to build up new walls in the place of the
"iron curtain" and think over prolonging the ban on assault weapons
production.

In Putin’s words, some states still live with prejudices of the
past. They "view strong and reviving Russia as a threat." Some are
ready to accuse Russia of "new imperial ambitions and energetic
terror."

Moscow will continue its peacekeeping mission in Abkhazia "despite
clear provocations." Hinting at Ukraine, Putin expressed surprise
that passing to market prices for Russian gas can meet such a fierce
opposition.

Reminding that the West used to urge the USSR to remove the "iron
curtain" – the obstacle to human contact – Putin called on USA and
other states to build relations with Russia based on honesty and give
up any pretence of privileged position in these relations.

The Russian president thinks that after the collapse of bipolar
world order new improbabilities have emerged. Underscoring Russia-USA
relations for strategic stability, he called for a joint fight against
terror and building relations based on mutual respect.

"Russia does not need any kind of clash. And we will not take part
in any ‘holy treaty’," Russian president stated.

SERGE SARGSYAN: THERE ARE NO PRECONDITIONS FOR RESUMPTION OF MILITARY ACTIONS
Tatul Hakobyan

"Radiolur"
29.06.2006 14:50

Today RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan turned to the disclosures
of the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza. A
few days ago the newly appointed Co-Chair publicized the content of
negotiations between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Bryza
said, in particular, "We have a framework agreement, which urges to
withdraw the Armenian troops from the territories, where they are
currently deployed. The agreement envisages normalization of economic
and diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

There are also other factors like the deployment of peacekeepers,
international economic assistance to the Karabakh region and economic
development. That is to say, there is package suggestion. At the end,
at some point it is envisaged to hold a referendum to determine the
future status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

This is the main sketch of the suggestions put on the negotiations
table.

During today’s meeting with journalists at the Military Institute after
Vazgen Sargsyan Serge Sargsyan said, "I think it would be correct if
MR. Bryza presented the document itself and refrained from making
personal comments. The Co-Chairs urge the parties not to publicize
the details of talks to avoid emotional impact, while they try to do
it themselves."

Yesterday US Embassy in Armenia made public the text of the statement
of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs made June 22nd at the OSCE Permanent
Council. The Co-Chairs underline they see no sense in initiating
additional meetings between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
unless they demonstrate adequate political will to overcome the rest of
the misunderstandings. The statement includes the principles presented
to the consideration of the Presidents of the two countries.

Armenian military units should be withdrawn from Azerbaijani
territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; special attention should be paid
to Kelbajar and Lachin regions.

For determining the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh it is
envisaged to hold a referendum or a general voting, the terms of which
have not been set so far. The referendum or the voting should come
in the result of a compromise agreement between the two sides. The
parties are obliged to continue the talks to decide upon the terms
and format of the referendum. International peacekeeping forces will
be deployed in the conflict zone.

"Now it is time for the two Presidents to try to achieve progress
in the settlement process. This is the only way to reinforce the
positive results achieved during the last two years of negotiations,"
the statement says.

In response to the question whether the Armenian side is going to make
known the complete framework agreement imposed by the Co-Chairs in
the result of the recent meetings between Presidents Robert Kocharyan
and Ilham Aliev, RA Defense Minister said, "We’ll see. In any case,
we act within the limits of the logics, the main idea of which is to
keep the parties from an emotional attitude towards the document.

Serge Sargsyan does not think that the lack of progress in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict causes a situation where the war
becomes inevitable.

"I don’t think that there has been any events recently that envisages
war.

What kind of war are you speaking about? Why war? Who has said there
will be a war? I do not consider there are any preconditions for
resumption of military actions in the nearest future," the Minister
said.

After Matthew Bryza’s revelations, RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
issued a statement, underlining, in particular, that Armenia agreed
to the suggestions made in Bucharest, while these were rejected
by Azerbaijan.

"Besides, Azerbaijan’s instability of opinion is a serious obstacle
for achieving progress in the negotiations process. In case this policy
is maintained, Armenia will insist that Azerbaijan holds direct talks
with Karabakh," the statement of the MFA said.

GAREGIN II: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE NOT SUBJECT TO DISCUSSION

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 15:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II stated
in Istanbul that the Armenian Genocide by Turks is not subject to
discussion. "For our people it is an event, which has taken place
and should be recognized. Scholars have studied the genocide issue
for 90 years," the Catholicos said. AP supposes that this statement
will make the completion of the visit to Turkey more complicated and
tense. Besides, Garegin II stated that protest actions organized in
Istanbul did not have an impact on him, "They did not break my spirit,
However, if these actions continue, it will prove that we have much
to do for the two societies to co-exist," reports RFE/RL.

Russia’s VimpelCom, MTS bidding for 90% stake in ArmenTel
21:13 | 22/ 06/ 2006

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 22 2006

ATHENS, June 22 (RIA Novosti, Alexei Bogdanovsky) – VimpelCom [RTS:
VIMP] and Mobile Tele Systems [MTSS] will be among four bidders for
a 90% stake in Armenian telecom company ArmenTel, the share’s owner
said Thursday.

Greek company OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA)
first said it was planning to sell the stake in Armenia’s fixed-line
communications monopolist and a mobile operator in April.

"OTE received a total of 10 non-binding offers for its 90% stake
in ArmenTel, the incumbent telecommunications operator in Armenia,"
OTE said Thursday on its Web site.

But Russia’s two largest mobile operators will face strong competition
from other foreign bidders.

"After reviewing the bids, the following companies were invited to
participate in the next phase of the sale process: a) AO Vimpelcom;
b) Mobile Telesystems (MTS) OJSC; c) The consortium, Emirates
Telecommunications Corporation (ETISALAT) / Istithmar PJSC /
Emergent Telecom Ventures (ETV); d) The consortium, VTEL Holdings /
Knightsbridge Associates," OTE said.

ArmenTel’s turnover in 2005 was $140 million.

The Armenian government holds 10% in ArmenTel, which with about 330,000
users as of late March 2006 counts just over a tenth of the country’s
population as its clients.

The winner of the tender is expected to be announced after July 20.

Ex-Soviet group looks at boosting security ties

Euronews.net, France
June 23 2006

Leaders of a collective of former Soviet states have been meeting
in the Belarussian capital Minsk – aiming to boost their level
of cooperation in order to serve as a counterweight to NATO. The
Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, or CSTO,
brings together presidents from Belarus, Kazhakstan, Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Russia.

One of the Kremlin’s objectives is for the CSTO to be able to launch a
peacekeeping force that could be deployed either within member states
or outside under a UN mandate. The Russians are concerned by NATO’s
planned expansion into neighbouring states such as Ukraine and Georgia,
and complain of being given the cold shoulder by the Alliance.

Other issues on the agenda include what are described as "concrete
measures" to stop the flow of drugs westwards from Afghanistan,
and cooperation on halting the illegal trade in light arms.