Author: Nadirian Emma

HOMELAND IS NOT DECIDED IN A REFERENDUM

Lragir.am
12 July 06

Jirayr Sefilyan, the head of the Initiative for Defense of Liberated
Areas, announced July 12 at the National Press Club that the Karabakh
issue will not be resolved, and there is no danger of losing the
liberated areas. Jirayr Sefilyan believes that all the variants
of settlement discussed after the armistice contained return of
territories, and in this sense Bryza’s revelations and information
on a framework agreement are not a novelty. Jirayr Sefilyan thinks
that dangers thereof are superficial.

The real danger, according to the former soldier of the liberation war,
is inside the country, in the policy of the government. Jirayr Sefilyan
points to the willingness for compromise in the statements of the
ministers of defense and foreign affairs. The head of the Initiative
for Defense of Liberated Areas is amazed that the foreign minister
of Armenia upholds the principles involving return of territories and
recently he has been announcing about it rather often with regard to
Bryza’s revelations on the talks.

"I can see two reasons for Vardan Oskanyan’s activity, namely his
statements on every other day. One of them is that he wants to tell the
Americans on Kocharyan’s order that he is ready for everything. Second,
tasked by his lords, Oskanyan has started preparing people, as they
think," says Jirayr Sefilyan. According to him, these statements about
a compromise are intended to instill certain moods in the society.

"So, they keep repeating day and night that we must cede, we must
cede, we must cede. This may not affect established people like us,
but there is a new generation in Armenia, and this may eventually
affect them," says Jirayr Sefilyan. He is against a new referendum
on the status of Nagorno Karabakh, saying that the homeland cannot
be decided in a referendum, it is betrayal.

Generally, Jirayr Sefilyan thinks that the purpose of Bryza’s
statements is regional developments and the problem of Iran rather
than the Karabakh conflict. The head of the Initiative for Defense
of Liberated Areas believes that the United States uses the Karabakh
issue to put pressure on the Armenian government, to separate Armenia
from Russia. On the other hand, Jirayr Sefilyan thinks it is bad
that Armenia faces Russia only. "Because there is no Russia today,"
says Jirayr Sefilyan.

According to him, there is not a political force, which represents
the opinion of the public, therefore Jirayr Sefilyan does not wonder
why the political forces remained silent about the recent statements
on Karabakh, failing to express the reaction of the society.

"Today’s political sphere in Armenia has nothing in common with our
public," says the head of the Initiative for Defense of Liberated
Areas. "Our people have one opinion. We are the lords of our land,
our homeland. This is the dominant opinion. The real reaction will
be when this wretched government decides to act. There will be a
reaction at that time and you will see what a reaction it will be. I
tell you for sure, because I will be one of the initiators of this,"
announced Jirayr Sefilyan. He also thinks that the danger of igniting
of the war is greater under the present government, whereas "we are
not ready for war with this government" and the way of avoiding it
is, according to Jirayr Sefilyan, is "to get rid of this government
as soon as possible."

Finland Presiding at EU for Soonest Completion of Talks with Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.07.2006 16:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Finland, having assumed EU Presidency on July 1, is
for talks on EU-Armenia Action Plan within the European Neighborhood
Policy (ENP) to be completed as soon as possible. The document can
be approved within two months, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at
a joint news conference with Lebanese FM Fawzi Salloukh in Yerevan
today. In his words, to discuss that issue Finnish Ambassador will
arrive in Armenia in 10 days. The Minister hoped that delay of talks
with neighboring countries would not have an impact on speed of
development of EU-Armenia cooperation.

ARMENIAN PM MEETS HIS GEORGIAN COUNTERPART IN BATUMI

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
paid today a three-day official visit to Batumi, capital of Ajaria,
Georgia to participate in the 5th session of the Armenian-Georgian
economic cooperation intergovernmental commission.

Armenian governmental press service informed Armenpress that the
delegation headed by the Armenian prime minister consisted of the
Armenian Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatrian, Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian, head of the Armenian State
Tax Committee Armen Avetisian, Deputy Energy Minister Areg Galstian,
aide to the prime minister Stepan Margarian, executive director of
"Armenian Railway" company Ararat Khrimian, as well as other officials,
businessmen and members of parliament.

In Batumi the Armenian prime minister met with his Georgian counterpart
Zurab Noghaideli. Noting the high level of relations and cooperation
between the two countries the prime ministers expressed satisfaction
about the activation of contacts on different levels.

They also expressed conviction that during the session of the
Armenian-Georgian economic cooperation intergovernmental commission
they will discuss a wide-range of issues on bilateral relations,
find ways for their regulation. They will also develop new proposals
directed towards the development of further economic ties between
the two countries.

The prime ministers noted with satisfaction that all the
decisions approved at the 4th session of the commission have
completely been implemented, among which is the opening of
Yerevan-Tbilisi-Batumi-Yerevan railway. Expressing satisfaction
over the decision of the Georgian authorities connected with the
restoration of infrastructures of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Armenian prime
minister said that for smoothening the tension of local population it
would be purposeful to involve the local businessmen and population
in the construction work.

Andranik Margarian once again confirmed the readiness of the
Armenian authorities to support the restoration of Javakhq
infrastructures. During the meeting the two prime-ministers also
underscored the necessity of establishing Armenian-Georgian university,
in this respect Andranik Margarian expressed hope that during this
year a relevant decision will be made in connection with it.

The interlocutors also referred to the issues on re-opening regional
railway communication. The prime ministers agreed to create a joint
working group which will survey the opportunity and effectiveness of
the restoration of Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway.

After the meeting the two prime-ministers co-chaired the 5th session
of the Armenian-Georgian economic cooperation intergovernmental
commission. In his opening speech the Armenian prime minister said that
he is sure the session will promote the continuation of constructive
dialogue established between the two countries.

Zurab Noghaideli on his part talked about the increase of the volume of
trade-turnover between the two countries and referred to the necessity
of encouraging investments which may give new impetus to bilateral
economic cooperation.

On the second half of the day the Armenian prime minister visited
Batumi shipbuilding factory, university and airport where he got
acquainted with the reconstruction work.

EXPULSION OF TURKISH ELECTRICITY COMPANY PROMISES GEOPOLITICAL LOSSES FOR AZERBAIJAN
By Fariz Ismailzade

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
July 7 2006

Friday, July 7, 2006

After months of mutual accusations, arrests, investigations,
and political statements, the Turkish electricity company Barmek
has broken its contract with the Azerbaijani government to manage
electricity supplies for Baku, the capital, and the northern regions
of the country. "I did not want to do it," said Barmek president Huseyn
Arabul at a press conference on July 3, "but the other side has forced
me to with their constant pressures and monitoring" (Day.az, July 4).

The contract between Barmek and the Azerbaijani government was signed
in 2002 for a period of 25 years. It was widely reported at the time
that former Turkish President Suleiman Demirel has personally lobbied
on behalf of Barmek, which defeated its German competitor Siemens in
the bidding process. Barmek’s arrival in Azerbaijan was portrayed as
another important step for Turkish-Azerbaijani economic partnership
and integration.

Since then, Barmek’s relations with its Azerbaijani counterpart,
Azerenergy, has passed through many ups-and-downs until finally in
2006 Azerenergy concretely accused Barmek of mismanagement and asked
the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to break the contract.

This was followed by the arrest of several high-ranking Barmek
officials, and the launch of an investigation by the Ministry of Taxes
and the prosecutor general’s office. Last month Barmek’s bank assets
in Azerbaijan were frozen.

"It is impossible to work under these conditions. I broke the contract
unilaterally. And now I will demand compensation for all the investment
[$67.45 million] I have made in Azerbaijan," Arabul told journalists
at the press conference (Sharg, July 4). The Azerbaijani government,
on the other hand, accuses Barmek of evading taxes, violating the
terms of the contract regarding investment volumes, and falsifying
invoices. "We have studied the lawsuit that Barmek has filed in the
International Court on the Protection of Investments. He demands $300
million from us. It is nothing more than blackmail. The Court will
decide," said Minister of Economic Development Heydar Babayev after
freezing Barmek’s assets and bank accounts.

In May ministry officials had stated that Barmek has invested only
$3 million toward improving Azerbaijan’s electricity-distribution
network, which constitutes only 10% of the investment required by the
contract ($27.8 million). Furthermore, Barmek took out loans from
the International Bank of Azerbaijan to purchase transformers and
allegedly misappropriated those funds. Finally, the ministry argued
that invoices for work subcontracted to outside companies have been
inflated and falsified. These serious accusations have been backed by
evidence discovered as a result of the investigation by the prosecutor
general’s office.

Yet despite these problems, Barmek’s departure will still hurt
Azerbaijan in the long run. Foremost, Barmek brought Western-style
practices and consumer relations to Azerbaijan’s electricity system,
which was notorious for its mismanagement during Soviet times. Income
from electricity payments has been always low in the former Soviet
republic, as many citizens and businesses either secretly steal
electric power or refuse to pay, citing poverty. Barmek has fought this
"free-lunch" mentality through a series of public-service announcements
and has markedly improved the rate of payment for electricity among
ordinary citizens. People have finally begun to understand their
responsibilities related to electricity usage, and Barmek made it easy
for them to pay the bills at banks and many customer service centers.

However, Barmek’s expulsion brings opportunities for regional
utilities to compete for the right to manage Azerbaijan’s
electricity-distribution network. Russia’s electricity monopoly Unified
Energy Systems (UES) appears to be the front-runner, as its officials
have frequently visited Azerbaijan in the past and cooperation between
the two sides has increased over the past few years. Having already
taken control over Armenia and Georgia’s electricity assets, UES is
eager to complete the deal with Azerbaijan for total control over
the South Caucasus. This, in turn, could have very negative political
and security implications for the Azerbaijani people and government.

Minister of Economic Development Heydar Babayev has denied that any
company has yet made any offers. Local experts, however, have no
doubt that some Russian company will soon be knocking on their door.

Some even believe that opening the market to Russia is Aliyev’s way
of repaying Russian President Vladimir Putin for the political support
Moscow provided during last year’s disputed parliamentary elections.

It is also possible that Azerbaijan will manage the distribution
network itself, as occurred when another private company, Bayva,
had its contract to manage the electricity-distribution network in
western regions cancelled last year. Rising oil revenues now allow
the Azerbaijani government to invest in infrastructure and thus reduce
the dependence on a foreign company. In any case, the end of Barmek’s
era in Azerbaijan promises uncertainties for the country.

KOCHARYAN CONGRATULATES NATION ON CONSTITUTION DAY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 6 2006

YEREVAN, July 5. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
congratulated the nation on Constitution Day on Wednesday. In his
national address, Kocharyan said that the Constitution "reflects our
people choice and goals".

The head of state stressed the role the Constitution plays in the
process of building democracy in the country saying "our progress is
directly connected with rigorous observation of the Constitution".

In his words, the Constitution amended in 2005 paves the way for the
country and people comprehensive development, makes the republic
authorities’ activity more balanced and human rights protection
system stronger.

Kocharyan is convinced that this amended Constitution will serve also
future generations.

On June 5, 2006, Armenians mark the 11th anniversary of the
Constitution adoption. Being a member of Council of Europe since 2001
and complying with CE demands, Armenia amended its Constitution after
conducting nationwide constitutional referendum on November 27, 2005.

THOSE GUILTY OF THE CRASH OF THE A-320 SHOULD BE SEARCHED FOR ON THE LAND

ArmRadio.am
06.07.2006 17:49

"All non-official versions assert one thing – the pilots are guilty.

Decoding of the flight recorders reveals, however, that those
responsible for the crash should be searched for on the ground,"
wrote the "Moskovski Komsomolets" today.

"One of these days modeling of the flight will be performed in
France, based upon the decoded data of the black boxes. According to
specialists, 3-4 days after that the International Aviation Committee
will draw its final conclusion about the reasons of the tragedy. Up
until now the Committee has not voiced any official version, but all
non-official versions speak about the pilot’s fault. However, analysis
of the data by experts shows that the human factor cannot be considered
the cause of the tragedy," the Moscow based periodical stated.

The newspaper quoted also the words of pilot Alexander Akimenko.

"There are no felones-de-se among pilots. And after the crewmembers
die, taking also the lives of hundreds of passengers, the culprits
should be searched for among the alive," he said.

GEORGIAN BATUMI TO HOST ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COMMISSION’S MEETING

Armenpress
Jul 6 2006

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian delegation headed by prime
minister Andranik Margarian is leaving on July 7 for Georgia’s resort
town of Batumi on the Black Sea coast that was chosen as the venue of
a recurrent meeting of the Armenian-Georgian commission on economic
cooperation.

The government press office said the Armenian delegation comprises
finance and economy minister Vartan Khachatrian, deputy foreign
minister Gegham Gharibjanian, chief of customs committee Armen
Avetisian, deputy energy minister and other government officials. In
Batumi Margarian will have a tete-a-tete conversation with Georgian
counterpart Zurab Nogaideli.

The meeting is to discuss boosting cooperation in agriculture, energy,
nature protection, health, transport, customs and some other areas. The
Armenian delegation will also visit several Batumi enterprises and
the port.

SERGE SARGSYAN DOES NOT KNOW THE HISTORY?

Lragir.am
04 July 06

The participants of the war in Karabakh, condemning the stance of
official Yerevan on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict on July 4,
addressed strictures against Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, who is
conducting a defeatist diplomacy, they say. The same azatamartiks,
however, did not criticize Serge Sargsyan, the minister of defense,
who upholds compromise, moreover, he would not utter a word against
the return of territories, as a minister of defense should have done.

Moreover, the famous phrase that "Aghdam is not our homeland" belongs
to Serge Sargsyan.

"Perhaps he does not know the history well, because Aghdam is our
homeland, and formerly it was not called Aghdam, and used to be
one of the capitals of Armenia, Tigranakert can still be found near
Aghdam. Varazabun, the summer residence of the kings, is near Aghdam,
in the land where there are traces of Armenians everywhere, but not
traces of Turks," says the former commander of the National Army for
the Liberation of Artsakh Arkady Karapetyan. As for an assessment of
the duties of Serge Sargsyan, Arkady Karapetyan is quite brief.

"By saying army I understand ideology. Our army today does not have
an ideology," says Arkady Karapetyan.

His brief speech is completed by Lyova Sahakyan, a former soldier of
the Army of Independence, who recalled the interview of a TV channel
with Serge Sargsyan in 2003.

"He asked have you ever thought about what our army lives on, and
so on, and so forth, our budget is not sufficient, we lack this and
we lack that." Now I am asking who sustains our defense ministry,
our troops. The state should sustain our troops. If someone else is
sustaining the army, it is not an army, it is not a ministry. Draw
your own conclusions," says the former azatamartik.

CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE MG MADE STATEMENT RELATED TO NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ON THE LAST TALKS PROCESS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006

Co-Chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group made statement today. According to
the statement entered APA from the embassy of France to Azerbaijan
"Taking into account recent speculation about the basic principles
for a peaceful settlement of the NK conflict proposed to both parties
by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, it is necessary to make the following
clarification.

On June 22 the Minsk Group Co-Chairs reported to the OSCE Permanent
Council on the results of the past months of negotiations between
the sides on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They reported on their
intensive mediation activities over the past seven months aimed at
achieving agreement on the basic principles for a settlement. These
included three visits of the Co-Chairs to Baku and Yerevan, three
times together and several more times separately, two meetings of
the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and two
summits between Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev, first in Rambouillet
in February and then in Bucharest in early June. In addition, a joint
Mission of Representatives of the Co-Chair countries at the Deputy
Foreign Minister level traveled to the region in May. Throughout
their mediation efforts, the Co-Chairs stressed, as always, the
belief of their nations and of the international community that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved in no other way than a
peaceful one. They also stressed the need for the leaders of Armenia
and Azerbaijan to prepare their publics for peace and not for war.

The mediation efforts of the Co-Chairs resulted in the proposal
to Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian of a set of fair, balanced,
and workable core principles that could pave the way for the two
sides to draft a far-reaching settlement agreement. The principles
are based on the redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani
territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for
Kelbajar and Lachin districts (including a corridor between Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh), demilitarization of those territories, and
a referendum or population vote — at a date and in a manner to
be decided through further negotations — to determine the final
legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Deployment of an international
peacekeeping force and a joint commission for implementation of the
agreement would be established, and international assistance would
be made available for demining, reconstruction, and resettlement of
internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories
and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. Certain interim
arrangements for Nagorno-Karabakh would allow for interaction with
providers of international assistance. The sides would renounce the
use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral security
guarantees and assurances would be put in place. Regarding the vote to
determine the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Co-Chairs stressed
that suitable pre-conditions for such a vote would have to be achieved
so that the vote would take place in a non-coercive environment in
which well-informed citizens have had ample opportunity to consider
their positions after a vigorous debate in the public arena.

Unfortunately, at their most recent meeting in Bucharest the Presidents
did not reach agreement on these principles. The Co-Chairs continue
to believe that the proposals developed through the past two years
of negotiations hold the best potential for achieving a just and
lasting settlement of the conflict. They strongly believe that it is
now time for the two Presidents to take the initiative for achieving
a breakthrough in the settlement process based on these principles,
and they stand ready to assist the parties to conclude an agreement
if the Presidents indicate they are prepared to do so.

Although no additional meetings between the sides under the auspices
of the Co-Chairs are planned for the immediate future, they will be
ready to reengage if the parties decide to pursue the talks with the
political will that has thus far been lacking.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 30 2006

PACE final plenary meeting accompanied by severe polemics between
Azerbaijani and Armenians MPs

30 June 2006 [16:38] – Today.Az

Today final plenary meeting of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE) highlighted on taking of complex prevention measures
against forest fires in Europe.

APA reports from Strasbourg Spanish parliamentarian Inaki Txeukas
reported on the issue. During the debate, Azerbaijani and Armenian
parliamentarians had severe dispute over the issue. The document on
Armenians torching the occupied Azerbaijani territories presented by
the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation on the first day of the PACE
summer plenary session irritated Armenians.

Head of the Armenian delegation Tigran Torosyan and parliamentarian
Hermini Nagdalyan addressing the meeting said Azerbaijan uses this
matter as a means of speculation. Both Armenian parliamentarians
claimed that Azerbaijanis caused fires in Nagorno Karabakh.

Azerbaijani parliamentarians Gultakin Hajiyeva and Ganira Pashayeva
addressing the meeting accused Armenians of concealing truths.
Pashayeva said Armenia is instigating the conflict and presented
facts exposing this country’s aggressive action.

She noted that Armenian President Robert Kocharian sends
congratulatory message to the authorities of the separatist regime in
Karabakh on the occasion of invasion of the Azerbaijani region of
Susha May 8 every year.

The parliamentarian also said Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan and Defense Minister Serj Sarkisyan address to the
separatists in Shusha.

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