Author: Karakhanian Suren

RESULTS OF "M CLUB 2ND ANNUAL MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS-2006" COMPETITION TO BE SUMMED UP ON DECEMBER 22

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Results of the "M
Club 2nd Annual Music Video Awards-2006" competition will be summed up
on December 22 at the Kodak theater of Los Angeles. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by the Armenian Music Center, the internet
vote proceeding in the site "; will continue
till the awarding day, and winners will be decided just on the bases
of those results. Prizes will be this year given in 5 nominations:
"Best Singer" (female), "Best Singer" (male), "Best Duet" as well "Most
Sold MP3" and "Most Sold CD" by the ";
internet site during the year. Prizes will be given to artists
working both in Armenia and Diaspora. According to the Armenian Music
Center, the awarding ceremony will be live broadcast by "Armenia TV"
television company.

ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS PROBABLE BANISHMENT FROM THE COUNTRY

A1+
[06:10 pm] 12 December, 2006

"Zhirayr Sefilyan is not surprised by his arrest", Vahe Grigoryan,
Mr. Sefilyan’s advocate informed A1+.

In Mr. Grigoryan’s words, Sefilyan is not discouraged by his arrest; he
is currently concerned over his probable banishment from his homeland.

"Zhirayr Sefilyan deems his banishment probable as the steps of the
acting authorities lead to it", says Vahe Grigoryan and adds that the
representatives of the National Security Service treat Sefilyan kindly
and politely. "Their treatment is determined by Zhirayr Sefilyan’s
reputation". Vahe Grigoryan informed us that Zhirayr Sefilyan cannot
be banished from the country without the corresponding legal grounding.

Reminder: Zhirayr Sefilyan, coordinator of a public organization
Protection of Liberated Territories and commander of the Shushi
battalion has settled in Armenia since 1988. He had his great share
in the Artsakh war and its victory.

All his applications to receive RA or NKR citizenship have been turned
down by the current authorities – by the very authorities who have
granted Sefilyan many titles and awards.

PROVOCATIVE REFERENDUM IN KARABAGH
By Faruk Akkan, Cihan News Agency, Moscow

Zaman Online, Turkey
Dec 10 2006

The Nagorno Karabagh region, the separatist Azerbaijani territory
under Armenian occupation, held an independence referendum Sunday.

The referendum can be compared to those in Moldova’s Transdinyester
and Georgia’s South Ossetia regions.

Azeri foreign minister Elmar Mehmedyarov called the referendum a
disappointing move for the attempts to maintain peace in the region.

The minister warned that any referendum held prior to the return of
the Azeri population removed from the region since the occupation
would not be fair and legitimate.

Pro-Western GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) countries
criticized the Karabagh referendum. The jointly issued statement
raised concerns that the referendum would deteriorate the overall
situation in the region.

Recalling that the referendum had no legal basis, the statement
further noted that it would constitute a beach under Azerbaijan’s
constitution and international law.

After a meeting in Minsk, Azeri and Armenian leaders had announced
their optimism about peace. This referendum held at a time when
prospects for a workable peace were most likely since the truce accord
of 1994 raises serious concerns.

The Nagorno Karabagh region declared de facto independence from
Azerbaijan after the dissolution of Soviet bloc in 1990. With its own
army, flag, and government, the region acts like and independent state.

The international community recognizes the region as part of
Azerbaijan. Russia has often threatened that if regions seeking
independence through referendums were not recognized by the United
Nations, it would veto Kosovo’s attempt to declare independence in
the U.N. Security Council.

Roughly 140,000 Armenian residents in Karabagh depend on financial
aid of the Armenian diaspora in Russia and Western countries.

No significant progress has been in the region since the truce.

People have trouble meeting fundamental needs, such as heating,
shelter and food.

The armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan erupted in the late
1980s. While more than 35,000 died in the fighting, nearly 1,000,000
Azeri had to migrate from the region. The refugees are trying to
survive in camps under dire conditions and are looking forward to
return to their homes.

THE STATEMENT OF GROUPS AND FACTIONS OF NKR PARLIAMENT

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
11 Dec 2006

On December 10, 2006 a referendum on the adoption of Constitution will
be held in Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Over the past years about 500
laws have been adopted, including constitutional laws. It is time
to set down the real basis for public order, organization of the
society, the relations of person and state. The analysis of 15 years
of experience of NKR as an independent state, which survived through
the war that was imposed on it, the success as well as difficulty
of the reform of the society and settlement of economic problems
show that there is no alternative to the track it has taken. The
basis of a democratic society and free market economy was created
in a short period of history. The system of public administration,
democratization and promotion of political reforms, the development
and strengthening of the principles and mechanisms of market economy,
the reform of the legal basis, establishment of the institutions
of civil society, the adoption of the European principles of local
government are the result of the path we have already passed. The
presidential, parliamentary and local elections, which preceded the
constitutional referendum, were a serious test on mature democracy,
commitment to free and transparent elections compliant with European
principles and proved that the line adopted by NKR is irreversible. The
characteristic feature of the development of the state is the urge
of the society for renovation. In this respect, the referendum on
December 10 will become a logical summary of the stage of political
self-organization of the society, which started 15 years ago and was
marked by the expression of the will of people in connection with the
independence. The adoption of the Constitution of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic is the imperative of the time. It will enable not only to
set down the basic principles of sovereignty in the Constitution and
mark the new stage of development of our Republic but will also become
an impetus for the establishment and development of new, more liberal
principles and the civil society. Our people have the right to decide
the fate of the present and future generations by expressing their
will freely, and we expect that the international community, which
upholds the right of nations for self-determination, and principles
of civilized cooperation will appreciate duly the referendum on
the NKR Constitution. The Democratic and Hayrenik factions and the
ARF-Movement 88 Group of the NKR National Assembly made a statement
during the December 6 meeting of the NKR National Assembly.

AZERBAIJAN REGION BACKS SECESSION

Aljazeera.net, Qatar
Dec 11 2006

Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are keen to break away from the central
authorities of Azerbaijan

Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan have
overwhelmingly approved a new pro-independence constitution in
a referendum.

According to official preliminary figures released on Monday, 98.6
per cent of voters approved the constitution, which describes Karabakh
as a sovereign state. Turnout was 87.2 per cent.

"According to preliminary results, the constitution is adopted and
December 10 from now can be declared as a Constitution Day," said
Sergey Nasibyan, the election commission chief.

The vote on Sunday was held on the 15th anniversary of a referendum
in which Karabakh declared independence.

Karabakh split from Azerbaijan in a 1990s war that killed 35,000
people.

The new plebiscite is seen as a signal of commitment to independence
by the region.

No recognition

Azerbaijan and the international community do not recognise
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence and Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry
said in a statement that holding the referendum "may impede the
peace process".

It said: "Azerbaijan does not recognise the results of the referendum,
which contradicts efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in
the region."

On December 10, 1991, the self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
declared independence from Azerbaijan, but despite having its own flag,
military and government, remains unrecognised as a separate state by
other countries, including Armenia.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist government continues to seek
recognition. The majority of people in Nagorno-Karabakh are Christian
ethnic Armenians who associate themselves with neighbouring Armenia
rather than Azerbaijan, a majority Muslim state.

Azerbaijan wants to restore its control over the region and said the
referendum was illegitimate.

Tentative peace

Sporadic clashes inside the territory between Azeri and ethnic Armenian
fighters began in 1988 and escalated to full-scale hostilities in 1992
between Azeri forces and troops from the neighbouring state of Armenia.

About 35,000 people have died in the conflict and up to one million
people have been displaced.

A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but a peace deal has yet to be
successfully brokered.

The Karabakh vote follows similar polls in a number of other
unrecognised former Soviet Union states, including Georgia’s breakaway
South Ossetia and Moldova’s Transdniestr earlier this year.

ARMENIA-NATO RELATIONS ARE A COMPONENT OF THE BALANCED SECURITY SYSTEM

ArmRadio.am
08.12.2006 14:33

Armenia-NATO relations are one of the pillars of the enlarged
cooperation policy with European structures and have turned into one
of the pivotal foreign policy directions, RA Deputy Defense Minister
Arman Kirakosyan declared todat at the "Armenia-NATO: New agenda of
cooperation" forum. In his words, the full cooperation with NATO is
a component of our multi-layer and balanced security system.

"We are often asked why Armenia has chosen the European standards. The
answer is very simple: Contemporary Europe is a successful model of
state building, public relations and economic development. Therefore,
judging from its political history, the Republic of Armenia is
more interested in adhere to the values, ob the basis of which the
well-being and security of peoples is built," the Deputy Minister said.

In the result of two enlargement phases and becoming the
strategic-political alliance of 26 Euro-Atlantic states, NATO has a
pivotal position in the world security system.

REDUCE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO REDUCE POVERTY

A1+
[03:48 pm] 08 December, 2006

Poverty has been reduced in Armenia: only one third of the population
is below the poverty threshold. This is the conclusion of sociologist
Aharon Adibekyan drawn as a result of investigations. According to
him, it is conditioned by two factors, "More jobs are created, and
those who work abroad, send money to Armenia".

The working group of the Poverty reduction strategic plan also claim
that poverty has been reduced.

According to them, the stimuli to this are the economic growth and
the state policy of expenses which is socially oriented.

Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan states that the market service
field equals that of industry and agriculture together. "There one
interesting thing: two people of the living standards differ as one
of them considers himself rich, and the other considers himself poor.

That is, their requirements are different". Hence, Mr. Adibekyan
concludes that the reduction of poverty is not only an economic or
social issue, but also a psychological one, "People have to revise
their values, ways of living and level of demands".

According to Mr. Adibekyan, the schools mush work in order to
solve the problem. "The schools must teach what luxury is and what
wastefulness is".

Today in Hotel "Congress" the Poverty reduction strategic plan
organized a discussion titled "Efficient enhancing of public
governing". "If we return to the work carried out during the past
5 years, where the country introduced structural changes, the task
of the second phase is to enhance them, particularly the quality
and accessibility of state services", said secretary of the reforms
committee Armen Khudaverdyan.

TRAINING COURSE ON "TERRORISM AND THE PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION"

ArmRadio.am
07.12.2006 15:53

The US Department of Defense (DOD) led a four-day training course on
"Terrorism and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction"
in Yerevan December 4-7. Approximately 29 representatives from the
Ministry of Defense, National Security Service, Armenian Rescue
Service, Police Department, Customs Committee, Ministry of Health,
and Prosecutor General’s Office attended the course.

This was the latest of several training sessions conducted in Armenia
over the past five years as part of the US Department of Defense’s
International Counter-Proliferation Program.

The "Terrorism and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction"
course will help Armenia continue to develop its weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) response capability. The primary objective of the
training session is to educate participants about the links between
terrorism and WMD proliferation by examining recent global trends and
studying preventative methods. The course will focus on understanding
the nexus between WMD and terrorism, combating WMD and terrorism,
and avenues for prevention.

The DOD’s Counter-Proliferation Program provides training and
equipment for law enforcement and border security entities in the
Former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic States. The
program’s goals are to assist in the establishment of professional
law enforcement and border security personnel and to help countries
develop appropriate laws, legislation, and enforcement mechanisms
related to counter-proliferation. In addition, the program aims to
establish a long-term and mutually beneficial working relationship
between US agencies and the law enforcement and border security
agencies of participating countries.

AZERI MINISTER SAYS BRUSSELS TALKS PUT OFF AT ARMENIA’S REQUEST

Day.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2006

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that the
Karabakh peace talks expected on 4-5 December in Brussels were put
off at Armenia’s request.

In an exclusive interview with Day.az website on 5 December,
Mammadyarov said:

"A meeting with my Armenian counterparts took place sometime earlier,
after Minsk. They asked me for some time to understand the situation
so as to define the final direction of movement. As I understand,
there is no answer and therefore there is no meeting."

Mammadyarov said that none of the voiced hypotheses about the return
of Armenian-occupied Lacin District and a referendum on Nagornyy
Karabakh’s status were matters braking the negotiating process.

Commenting on a statement by the regional alliance of Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan and Moldova (GUAM) condemning the scheduled constitutional
referendum in the breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh region, Mammadyarov
said that international organizations will not naturally accept the
conduct of the referendum. He believes that the "referendum" fits
into no logical framework and it will give a negative impetus to the
peace process.

WHY EVERYONE WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 5 2006

On December 5 at the Pastark Club the news reporters asked Khosrov
Harutiunyan, the leader of the Christian Democratic Party, to comment
on the statement of the adviser to president Garnik Isagulyan statement
that Serge Sargsyan is the preferable presidential candidate and he
would make every effort for his election, in the context of the home
political developments. Khosrov Harutiunyan commented generally,
without mentioning the names of Isagulyan and Serge Sargsyan.

Khosrov Harutiunyan only said that the office of the president is,
unfortunately, given too much importance, whereas a political body
such as the parliament is not considered important by the political
forces, therefore political passions clash over the election of the
executive post rather than the parliament, the central institution
which shapes politics.