Author: Madatian Greg

RUSSELL JOHNSTON DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE LEGALITY OF THE REFERENDUM IN NKR

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 15:27

"The referendum in Nagorno Karabakh cannot have legal validity
unless the Karabakh conflict is settled," Chairman of the PACE
Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh Lord Russell Johnson said in Baku
today, "Trend" agency reports. Lord Johnston said this during today’s
recurrent sitting of the PACE Political Committee in Baku. The event
was attended by about 60 parliamentarians and 20 experts from the
Council of Europe. The agenda of sitting includes the question of
Chernogoria’s accession to the organization, the situation in Kosovo,
Iran’ s nuclear programs, the question of democracy and human rights
in Council of Europe member states, the situation in Azerbaijan,
Chechnia, countries of the Middle East, etc.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM KICKS OFF IN AZERBAIJAN’S BREAKAWAY KARABAKH

Regnum, Russia
Dec 10 2006

10 December: The referendum on the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh republic]
constitution has started in Nagornyy Karabakh. Polling stations opened
in the capital and districts of the republic at 0800 (0700 Moscow time)
[0400 gmt].

A total of 22 constituency commissions, 278 polling stations and,
respectively, the same number of electoral commissions have been set up
for the referendum. A total of 430 transparent ballot boxes have been
prepared, of which 399 have been distributed to the polling stations
in the NKR. One is in Yerevan for NKR citizens who are temporarily
in Armenia and 30 are backup ballot boxes.

RA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF ADOPTION OF NKR CONSTITUTION

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 16:58

Today RA President Robert Kocharyan issued a congratulating address
to NKR authorities and people on the occasion of the adoption of
Constitution through a nationwide referendum.

The message says:

"I congratulate the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and
Artsakhi Armenians on the occasion of adoption of the Constitution in a
nationwide referendum. With its active participation in the referendum
Artsakhi people once again proved its decisiveness to live free.

This referendum held in compliance with highest democratic standards
laid another foundation stone in the formation of Nagorno Karabakh’s
statehood.

>>From the very first day of declaration of independence, the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic took the way of democratic development. It has been
repeatedly proven by fair elections.

The Constitutional referendum did not only continue the good tradition
of free expression of will, but also provided the opportunity to
include the rules of democracy in the basic law of the country.

Congratulating all Armenians on the occasion of the referendum in
Artsakh, I wish well-being, peace and stable development to the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic."

FAREWELL VISIT OF THE CHARGE D’AFFAIRES, MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Dec 12 2006

On December 11 Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly
of the Republic of A, received Mr. Moukhless Pharaon, the Charge
d’Affaires, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic to
Armenia on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission.

Mr. Pharaon, expressing regret for leaving Armenia, noted that he was
happy working in our country, where both the legislative and executive
authorities rendered great assistance, but it is the Ambassador’s
work to leave completing the mission. "I sincerely wish that my
successor will implement all those goals which I could not succeed,"
said Mr. Pharaon, expressing his gratitude to the President of the
National Assembly for the effective cooperation with the Parliament
and expressed hope to meet him in Syria with an the official visit.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly, wishing
successes him in his further activity, noted, that the next
Ambassador’s work will be a bit heavier, as it is difficult to assume
what he should do better. Mr. Torosyan expressed satisfaction with
the development of inter-parliamentary relations and emphasized the
importance of human contacts which help people of both countries
for becoming nearer and more understandable for each other: in this
context the President of the National Assembly mentioned the meeting
with the spiritual leader of Syria, the Grand Mufti Sheikh Dr. Ahmad
Badr Al-Din Hassoun. It was noted that though the two states and
peoples belong to different nations and religions, they have common
interests and human values. He highlighted the quiet and balanced
position of Syria in the regional processes.

Other issues of mutual interest were also touched upon during the
meeting.

NKR PRESIDENT: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM TESTIFIES TO IRREVERSIBILITY OF PROCESS OF INDEPENDENT NKR’S CONSTRUCTION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Dec 12 2006

In the course of a press conference held in Stepanakert, the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian stated, "a
Constitutional referendum testifies to the irreversibility of the
process of the sovereign and independent NKR’s construction".

According to Arkady Ghoukassian, the Constitution’s adoption was
not an end in itself, but it has crowned what has been done during
the years of the NKR’s independence, DE FACTO own correspondent in
Stepanakert reports. "The basic law has determined the vector of the
Republic’s further development", the President stated. He underscored,
"a nation having a democratic and balanced Constitution has got more
chances for the recognition of its independence".

In Arkady Ghoukassian’s opinion, the NKR Constitution is one of the
most democratic on the post-Soviet territory. He voiced confidence that
"if Azerbaijan had such a democratic Constitution, it would be easier
for the Nagorno-Karabakh to accomplish tasks with it". In his words,
the Azerbaijan’s Constitution was adopted "to documentarily destroy
the Nagorno-Karabakh, and official Baku’s negative response to the
referendum held in the Nagorno-Karabakh has no ground to be perceived
by the international community".

Answering a question on the possible influence of the Constitution’s
adoption on the process of the NKR’s international recognition,
the President stressed, "the Constitution is not a panacea, the
Constitution is a chance for the country’s democratization".

Speaking of the Karabakh settlement process, Arkady Ghoukassian said,
"In Azerbaijan’s stand I do not see constructivism that could result
in the conflict settlement". He underscored the Karabakh party’s
participation in the talks was necessary not for the Nagorno-Karabakh,
but for the process, and, in his opinion, the international mediators
are also aware of the fact.

Commenting on the possibility of the conduct of a referendum on the
Nagorno-Karabakh’s political status, Arkady Ghoukassian remarked,
"if we are offered to hold a referendum under the international
community’s guarantees, and if Azerbaijan recognizes the referendum
irrespective of its outcome, we’ll consider the proposal".

DASHNAKTSUTYUN AND REPUBLICANS FAILED TO COME TO AGREEMENT

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 8 2006

The Republican Party and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, the two coalition
forces, failed to reach agreement to guarantee the existence of a
state anthem set down in the law. Gegham Manukyan, an ARF leader,
told reporters on December 8 that they had failed to reach agreement.

He says the ARF is against adopting "Mer Hayrenik" as a provisional
anthem until the adoption of the new anthem without setting down the
music and lyrics.

Gegham Manukyan also stated that "Mer Hayrenik" had been sung
even before the Armenian state was established. The ARF member of
parliament said now when officially Armenia does not have an anthem,
people perform it as our official anthem. Gegham Manukyan said two
days ago, when "Mer Hayrenik" had already stopped being an anthem
under the law, the day of Dashnaktsutyun was celebrated in Armavir,
and "Mer Hayrenik" was performed.

VARTAN OSKANIAN COMMENTS ON THE NKR CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

ArmRadio.am
08.12.2006 10:35

Commenting on the constitutional referendum in Nagorno Karabakh,
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in particular:

"Once again, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are playing into the hands
of Azerbaijan by meddling into an issue which does not concern them.

A statement by GUAM on the upcoming constitutional referendum in
Nagorno Karabakh is misguided. What is being argued is far from
the truth.

During this decade and a half, in a situation of no-peace and
no-war, and to their credit, the people and authorities of Nagorno
Karabakh have built a lawful, well-regulated internal governance
system. They have built political institutions; through elections
they have selected their own authorities and developed a legislative
framework. Today, they have recognized the need for a basic law,
and chosen the internationally accepted practice of a referendum as
the only acceptable way to collectively adopt that basic law.

Azerbaijan claims that exercising a vote is an obstruction to the
peace process.

Just the opposite, at the core of the negotiations to reach a peaceful
resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the right of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh for self-determination.

What really obstructs the process is the Azerbaijani overreaction to
Karabakh ‘s democratic activities, their refusal to engage Nagorno
Karabakh in peace talks, their repeated militaristic calls and their
persistent efforts to sidetrack the Minsk Group negotiations process.

For Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to dismiss the democratic aspirations
of the people of Nagorno Karabakh and blame them for choosing to
behave democratically is counterproductive."

SOCIAL DISASTER THREATENS "THE DISASTER ZONE"

A1+
[05:01 pm] 07 December, 2006

18 years after the earthquake, despite the promises of the officials,
the concept of the "disaster zone" is still actual in Armenia. This is
what the readers of the website of "A1+" think. 52% of the participants
of the poll think that the living conditions are poor in the "disaster
zone". 153 readers have answered the question "Has the phrase "disaster
zone" been forgotten 18 years after the earthquake?" The rest of the
votes have been distributed as follows:

Yes, it has. The "disaster zone" has been fully restored – 8%

The "disaster zone" was partly restored – 25%

Nothing has changed – 10%

Undecided – 4%

The new poll question of the website is "What do you think about the
results of the December 10 Constitutional Referendum in NKR?"

YEREVAN PHYSICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE PREPARES 141 RESCUERS IN 14 YEARS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 07 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Students of the Armenian State
Istitute of Physical Training of Yerevan also actively took part in
rescue works of the disaster zone during the Spitak earthquake. And
a profession with the name "Rescuing" opened in the department of
applied types of sport of the institute in 1992. As Professor Aghvan
Chatinian, the USSR honourary rescuer, honourary trainer stated in the
interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the department gave 141
graduates during the past 14 years. They at present work at the Rescue
Service, force structures, bodyguarding sphere, etc. He at the same
time mentioned that the results are satisfying, but the institute
has no possibility to get rescue instruments and hold practical
trainings. The "Spitak" rescue center, where the institute students
hold their educational practice, assists the higher educational
institution in this issue.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

EBRD LENDS $5MLN TO ARMENIA’S INECOBANK TO PROVIDE FINANCE FOR MICRO
AND SMALL ENTERPRISES

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. The EBRD lent $5mln to the Armenian
Inecobank to provide finance for micro and small enterprises, the
EBRD office in Armenia reports.
The EBRD will also increase Inecobank’s limit under the Trade Finance
Programme to $1 million.
Technical cooperation funds provided by USAID and the EBRD’s Early
Transition Countries Multi-donor Fund will complement the agreement
and be used to strengthen lending procedures and skills at Inecobank.

The EBRD loan is intended for on-lending to local micro and small
enterprises thus addressing a major constraint for the growth of this
segment of the economy. "At present the still very small Armenian
banking sector does not deliver finance to micro and small
enterprises on a large and sustainable scale. By broadening
Inecobank’s potential customer base, the loan will also support the
bank’s expansion," the EBRD’s press release reports.
Inecobank and the EBRD have been in cooperation since 2005 when the
Armenian bank received the first $1 million loan to expand its
capacity to serve micro and small enterprises. In the same year
Inecobank also joined the EBRD’s Trade Finance Programme which
supports the bank’s activity in terms of foreign trade lending.
"The new loan is expected to boost the involvement of an important
local bank in financing the real economy. This will benefit the
economy in general, but will also foster growth in the banking
sector. Facilitating micro and small enterprises’ access to finance
will support the development of a vibrant segment of the Armenian
economy, which serves as the country’s engine for growth," said
Michael Weinstein, head of the EBRD’s office in Armenia.
Mher Grigorian, Inecobank’s CEO said that he welcomed this EBRD loan.
"Not only will it ensure that Inecobank could meet the growing demand
for the resources of developing businesses, but it also emphasises
EBRD’s confidence in our bank," he said.
The Armenian economy has been growing tangibly over the recent years.
GDP grew by 14% in real terms in 2005, exceeding the 1989 output
level for the first time. According to the recently published
Transition Report, the EBRD forecasts GDP’s estimated growth rate of
8.5 per cent.
Inecobank CJSC was incorporated on February 7, 1996. Since 1997, the
bank has been the first in Armenia to service trade of goods of wide
consumption on credit. The bank’s assets as of September 30, 2006
totaled amd 20.7bln, the total capital – AMD 5.8bln, the balance
sheet profit – AMD 2.1bln. The amount of the bank’s authorized
capital is AMD 2.4bln.
Inecobank’s shareholders are ShoreCap International Company with the
share of 13.5%, founded in 2003 by the American ShoreBank
Corporation, and also the International Finance Corporation with the
share of 10%. R.O. -0–