Author: Maghakian Mike

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN TO HEAD HERITAGE PARLIAMENTARY FACTION

ArmRadio.am
13.06.2007 15:15

Today the Heritage Party’s parliamentary group held its first meeting
at its office in the National Assembly. The meeting adopted the by-laws
of the Heritage faction, and then elected Raffi K. Hovannisian as
its chairman and Stiopa Safarian as its secretary.

In addition, MP Larisa Alaverdian was nominated to represent Heritage
in the Parliament’s Standing Committee on European Integration,
Vardan Khachatrian in its Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, Anahit Bakhshian at the Committee on Science,
Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Stiopa Safarian at the Committee
on Foreign Relations, Zaruhi Postanjian at the Committee on State
and Legal Affairs, and Armen Martirosian at the Committee on Social
Affairs, Health Care and Environment.

KOSOVO PRECEDENT WATCH
by Nikolas K. Gvosdev

The National Interest Online, DC
4626
June 13 2007

One of the more novel arguments raised by those who maintain that no
new United Nations resolution would be needed to replace 1244-which
explicitly called for the maintenance of the territorial integrity of
"Yugoslavia" and called only for substantial autonomy for Kosovo, is
to maintain that the Serbia of 2007 is a "different" state and that
the dissolution of the union between the two constituent republics of
the 1999-era Yugoslavia-Serbia and Montenegro-invalidates the whole
notion of preserving Serbia’s territorial integrity.

Linked to this, one sometimes hears a second but related argument-that
autonomous provinces within Serbia also have the right to leave Serbia.

Now, an interesting variant of these arguments has arisen
in the context of the Minsk Group which is seeking to find a
settlement between the separatist (and largely Armenian) republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh while preserving the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. There are now reports that the Russian co-chair Yuri
Merzlyakov offered this attempt to "square the circle" -between
recognizing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and permitting an
independent Nagorno-Karabakh state to emerge-by drawing a distinction
between "Soviet" Azerbaijan, within which Nagorno-Karabakh was an
autonomous republic-and "independent" Azerbaijan which has never
exercised sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Merlyakov said, "From the legal viewpoint the Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Region (NKAR) was a part of the Azerbaijani SSR. Now Nagorno
Karabakh is an unrecognized state and the issue of its borders and
who belongs it to lies in the sphere of international law."

U.S. co-chair Matt Bryza has not apparently commented on Merlyakov’s
remarks.

(By the way, a news conference was held in Yerevan earlier today on
this question: Why can Kosovo be independent but Karabakh cannot?)

Nikolas K. Gvosdev is editor of The National Interest.

TOO DIFFICULT TO EXPECT A BREAKTHROUGH IN RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SOON: ICG GROUP

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 13 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / Magdalena Fritcheva,
the International Crisis Group Caucasus Project Director, stated
on 13 June that it is too difficult to expect a breakthrough in the
resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
in the near future.

Fritcheva noted that the continuation of the dialogue is a positive
step and it is very important to hold it at every level. She was
commenting on the recent meeting between the Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian, in St. Petersburg.

Fritcheva announced that in July the ICG will present its third report
on Nagorno-Karabakh, the new report will cover new developments since
the publication of the last report by ICG in 2005, estimating the
situation in the negotiations. The report will consider the tendencies
and dynamics of developments in both communities.

With respect to POWs from both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides,
the ICG representative said that media reports from these sides
actually pursue political agendas.

CONTACT LINE OF TROOPS MONITORED

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 13 2007

Today the monitoring on the contact line of troops, near the
Garakhanbayli village of Fuzuli region of Azerbaijan was held
in accordance with the mandate of Personal Representative of OSCE
Chairman-in-Office. On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring was held
by the Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Miroslav Vimetal and Imre Palatinus and from
the Armenian side which is internationally recognized as Azerbaijan
territory, the monitoring was held by Peter Ki and Jaslan Nurtazin.

The field assistants were in Fuzuli Region’s Office of executive
power meeting there deputy head of executive power Shakir Hajiyev,
APA reports. The line of troops was monitored after the meeting. The
monitoring passed without incident.

ARMENIAN COURTS DELIVERED VERDICTS ON 5 CRIMINAL CASES REGARDING THE VIOLATIONS OVER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

ArmInfo
2007-06-12 22:03:00

Armenian courts delivered verdicts on 5 criminal cases regarding the
violations over the parliamentary election.

As press-secretary of the Prosecutor General, Sona Truzyan, told
Arminfo correspondent as of today a total 6 criminal cases regarding
15 people were transferred to the courts, which delivered verdicts
on 5 criminal cases.

Three persons were sentenced to imprisonment for a year or two. One
person was fined to 300 thsd drams as after voting he left the polling
station taking the lists of voters with him. Another 10 people were
sentenced to conditional sentence.

ALLIES OF SAKOZY TO GAIN MAJORITY AT FRENCH SENATE
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
12/06/2007

According to the final data, the allies of Nikolas Sarkozy gained the
majority in the French Senate after the parliamentary elections. "Union
of Democratic Movement" party led by Sarkozy received 39,54% of
the votes.

The Socialists received 24,73% of the votes, "MODEM" party 7,61%,
"National Front" party and "Communist Party" received 4,29% votes each.

According to FrancePress, 80 political forces and 7639 candidates
ran for the recent parliamentary elections in France. About 60%
of the electors participated in the elections. As a result of the
first stage of the elections, the allies of Sarkozy are expected to
occupy 383-500 mandates at the parliament. The Second stage of the
elections is envisaged for June 17.

According to "Figarot," "Union of Democratic Forces" and their allies
will have 405-445 places in the parliament, while the Socialists will
have 100-140 mandates.

This is an unprecedented case when a faction gains such a majority
in the parliamentary elections in France. This victory is a proof
that most of the French citizens trust the policy of Nikolas Sarkozy.

ZHARANGUTIUN TO PROPOSE INHABITATION OF LIBERATED LAND

Panorama.am
17:27 11/06/2007

"The territories in the vicinity of Nagorno Karabakh are not occupied
but liberated," Vardan Khachatryan, deputy chairman of Zharangutiun
party, told Panorama.am. "Some 450 thousand people have left Azerbaijan
and they have rights in that country. We believe they should reside in
the liberated areas," Khachatryan said. He also said the government
must clearly state that the land is liberated and implement concrete
programs to relocate the refugees in the area. The vice chairman said
Zharagutiun will come up with a program on Nagorno Karabakh in the
parliament, Khachatryan said.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2007

"TOBACCO-FREE ARMENIA" ALLIANCE CALLS UPON PARLIAMENTARIANS TO FIGHT
AGAINST SMOKING

YEREVAN, June 8. /ARKA/. The public alliance for "Tobacco-free
Armenia" delivered a message to members of the new Armenian
parliament calling upon them to implement the provisions of the
Anti-tobacco framework convention of World Health Organization in the
country.
The members of the alliance expressed hope that the new parliament
will do its best to build up independent, prospering and powerful
homeland.
In its message the alliance urged the parliamentarians to ensure
citizens’ right of clean environment and to clear confined public
space from tobacco smoke, to conduct effective price and tax policies
toward the tobacco companies. Alliance also considered it a must to
introduce ban on advertisement of tobacco products in order to reduce
spread of smoking among the youth.
Armenia officially joined the framework convention of the World
Health Organization in 2004.
The "Tobacco Free Armenia" public alliance was founded in 2004 by
efforts of 12 organizations. Currently the alliance consolidates 28
public organizations. N.V. -0–

NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES
By Astghik Bedevian, Ruzanna Khachatrian and Anna Saghabalian

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
June 7 2007

The fourth National Assembly of independent Armenia began its first
session on Thursday with a collective oath of allegiance to Armenia’s
constitution.

The 131-member legislative body was greeted by President Robert
Kocharian, as well as Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, who
gave his blessing to the newly elected parliament and said a prayer.

The ceremonial part was followed by the election of parliament
leadership in the absence of opposition lawmakers, including elected
deputies from ex-parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian’s Orinats
Yerkir and ex-foreign minister Raffi Hovannisian-led Heritage party.

Hovannisian explained that the first session of the fourth National
Assembly was to have taken place the previous day pursuant to the
Constitution. He said that his Heritage party had not received, in a
manner reflective of the rule of law, due notice of that session or
any invitation.

Besides, he said, Heritage found it impossible to be present at any
parliament session until the Constitutional Court decided on the
validity of the parliamentary elections.

Both Heritage and Orinats Yerkir have not yet collected their
parliamentary mandates at the Central Election Commission. Orinats
Yerkir’s Hovannes Markarian said their party is also waiting for
the Court’s ruling due before June 10, but said they will pick their
mandates no matter what the final verdict is. "People trusted us in the
ballot and the mandates are a vote of public confidence," he explained.

Before the afternoon break, the sole nominee for the Speaker’s post,
Tigran Torosian, was installed in his former position due to the
overwhelming backing of his Republican Party (HHK) and its partners,
Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun), which effectively sealed a power-sharing deal the
previous day.

Deputies voted in a secret ballot by 112 to 2 to allow Torosian to
continue as parliament speaker, the post he has occupied since the
resignation of Orinats Yerkir leader Artur Baghdasarian about a
year ago.

The deputies also overwhelmingly appointed BHK’s Ishkhan Zakarian
and Dashnaktsutyun’s Vahan Hovannisian as deputy speakers.

The two coalition partners, HHK and BHK, as well as Dashnaktsutyun
that had sealed cooperation with them, shared between themselves
leadership posts in all the standing parliamentary committees.

The HHK will have leadership in five of the nine committees, including
the committee on education, science and culture, the committee on
finance and crediting, the committee on state and legal issues (to
be headed by ex-justice minister David Harutiunian), the committee on
economic issues (headed by former environment minister Vartan Ayvazian)
and the committee on health, environment protection and social issues.

The BHK will lead the committees on human rights protection and
public affairs and on European integration. And Dashnaktsutyun will
lead the foreign relations and defense committees.

Also today, President Robert Kocharian accepted the resignation of
the government, instructing its current members to continue in office
until the formation of the new cabinet. By another decree he appointed
Serzh Sarkisian Armenia’s prime minister.

By the Armenian constitution, a new government must be formed within
20 days after the appointment of the prime minister and it will have
20 days to submit its program of action to the National Assembly
for approval.

Under the coalition agreement between the HHK and the BHK and their
cooperation deal with Dashnaktsutyun, the president will have the
prerogative of naming and recalling the ministers of foreign affairs,
justice and defense. Dashnaktsutyun will have the same rights in
two ministries, including agriculture and education; the BHK will
have its ministers of health, urban development, youth and sport
(a ministry separated from the former ministry of culture). The HHK
will have its say in all the rest ministries.

CO-CHAIRS HAD A LONG TALK WITH ARKADY GHUKASYAN

Lragir.am
07-06-2007 18:28:25

The meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Merzlyakov, Bryza and
Fassier on June 7 lasted for over two hours. In a news conference
after the meeting in answer to the remark of the reporters the meeting
lasted long the NKR president said they had not met for ages. Arkady
Ghukasyan said during the meeting he reasserted the standpoint of
NKR. "I state that our stance has not changed and will not change. It
is pointless to consider any other issue until there is agreement on
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh," Arkady Ghukasyan says.

According to him, if there is no agreement on the status of Karabakh,
they are not ready to discuss the territories. "It is another thing
that the territories are constantly on the agenda, and it does not
depend on us. I said during our previous meeting that we cannot avoid
participating in the discussion of the issues Azerbaijan is interested
in. But on the condition that Azerbaijan must agree to discuss the
issues that we are interested in.

Issue number one for us is the status, and the security of Karabakh. If
we do not agree on these issues, all the other secondary issues
become moot.

You know that the issues of territories and refugees are the
consequences, they were not the cause of the conflict," Arkady
Ghukasyan said, adding that if the sides do not have a common approach
towards the cause, it is pointless to discuss the consequences.

The reporters asked what the co-chairs say when Arkady Ghukasyan
tells this to the co-chairs. "They know that there is logic in our
standpoint.

Usually it is accepted in diplomacy to say I agree with you, I
understand you, but there is reality. The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh
cannot have a subjective basis. There is objective basis which nobody
can avoid," said Arkady Ghukasyan, mentioning that the objective
basis includes the war Azerbaijan waged against Nagorno-Karabakh.

The NKR president states the resolution of the problem should be
based on compromise. Today, however, there is no need for abstract
talks, because the compromise will be negotiated. "Because our
compromise directly depends on the compromise of Azerbaijan. If we
see Azerbaijan is not ready for a compromise, naturally we will not
agree to a unilateral compromise," Arkady Ghukasyan says.