Author: Nahapetian Boris

Une idee pour agir. Du theâtre pour aider le Haut-Karabakh.
par RETO Tiphaine

La Croix , France
20 avril 2006

Etrange ceremonie a l’eglise reformee de Port-Royal, dans le 13e
arrondissement de Paris. L’autel a disparu et la grande croix de bois
domine une drôle de scène… Allonges sur le sol, dans le choeur,
dans la nef et dans les travees, ils sont 13, bras ecartes et jambes
tendus, a “poser” leur respiration sur une musique “oceane”. Moment
de relaxation avant les trois coups. Scribe prepare sa grande première
theâtrale: Douze hommes en colère, de Reginald Rose.

Scribe pour “Solidarite Chretienne Resolument Internationale (pour
le financement) de Bourses d’Etudes”. Scribe pour une vingtaine
de jeunes Parisiens soucieux de faire de l’art un vecteur de
developpement. Scribe pour une association oecumenique. “La première
fois que je suis allee en Armenie, explique Sophie Roullet, presidente
et cofondatrice de l’association, j’ai ete extremement marquee.” En
1992, avec deux compagnes de voyage, elle decide d’agir.

“On avait passe l’âge de vendre des gâteaux a la sortie du culte,
sourit-elle, alors on a opte pour le theâtre.”

Jason, Olga, Marie et les autres abandonnent jeans et tee-shirts pour
endosser les costumes et les attitudes de leurs personnages. Mais
personne n’oublie l’objectif du jeu: recolter des fonds pour financer
des bourses destinees aux etudiants du Haut-Karabakh. “Une province
armenienne enclavee de l’Azerbaïdjan, expliquent en choeur Olga
et Lelia. La republique s’est autoproclamee en 1991, mais n’a pas
ete reconnue par la communaute internationale. Du coup, elle ne
recoit aucune subvention, aucune aide exterieure.” Scribe comble
a sa manière les lacunes humanitaires. Partie avec 10 bourses la
première annee, l’association atteint aujourd’hui les 52 aides pour
32 etudiants. “Quand on commence a aider un jeune, reprend Sophie,
on le suit tout au long de ses cinq annees d’etudes.”

Gilles a pris part a l’aventure il y a deux ans. L’homme est comedien
professionnel et aide a la mise en scène des pièces. “Je suis d’abord
venu pour le theâtre et pour la dimension spirituelle de l’association,
avoue-t-il, mais l’ete dernier, je suis alle sur place remettre les
bourses aux etudiants.” Il y decouvre “et l’extreme gentillesse et
l’extreme pauvrete” des habitants.

“Je voulais faire de l’humanitaire, reprend Sophie, et le meilleur
moyen d’aider, c’est d’accomplir des choses simples pour mieux
connaître les autres.”

TIPHAINE RETO

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2006 PROGRAM ON REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENT OF TECHNICAL CONDITION OF
VOROTAN-ARPA-SEVAN TUNNEL APPROVED

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 20 sitting, the Armenian
government approved the 2006 program on maintenance, improvement of
the technical condition and repairs of the Vorotan-Arpa-Sevan Tunnel
envisaged by the RA Law on the 2006 State Budget of the Republic of
Aermenia. NT was informed about it from the RA Government Information
and PR Department. The above mentioned law envisages the allocation
of 1 bln 320 mln 690 thousand drams for this purpose. Of this sum,
1 bln drams (about 2.2 mln USD) will be allocated for repair work
of Arpa-Sevan Tunnel No.2 of the Vorotan-Arpa-Sevan hydroelectric
generating station, while the remaining sum is envisaged for the
operation of this hydroelectric station and the maintenance of the
state organization “Department for Operation of Vorotan-Arpa-Sevan
Tunnels”. It was noted at the sitting that the list of work and
services for 2006 is part of the extended program on restoration and
repair work of the tunnel, for the completion of which about 11.5
bln drams is needed, as shown by preliminary estimates. Most of work
done with the funds allocated for 2006 is of preparatory character,
which will allow to restore the most destroyed fragments of the tunnel
within the next few years.

STATEMENT BY TURKISH AMBASSADOR NABI SENSOY ON THE PBS PROGRAM “THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

Anatolian Times, Turkey
April 19 2006

The program “The Armenian Genocide,” which aired on PBS on April 17,
provides a blatantly one-sided perspective of a tragic and unresolved
period of world history. Its premise is rejected not only by my
Government, but also by many eminent scholars who have studied the
period in question. Instead of acknowledging that this issue remains
unresolved, the program reflects a self-serving political agenda by
Armenian American activists who seek to silence legitimate debate
on this issue and establish their spurious orthodoxy as the absolute
truth.

Contrary to the program’s claims, Armenian allegations of genocide
have never been historically or legally substantiated. Unlike the
Holocaust, the numbers, dates, facts and the context associated with
this period are all contested, and objective scholars remain deeply
divided. The legitimacy of this debate – and the continuing lack of
consensus – was recently validated by the respected scholar Guenter
Lewy, whose latest book The Armenian Massacres in Ottoman Turkey:
A Disputed Genocide documents the incomplete historic record and
excessive politicization associated with the issue.

Regrettably, the producer of “The Armenian Genocide” does not
let facts get in the way of his effort to identify a scapegoat for
tragedies that befell many thousands of innocents during a period of
World War I when the circumstances of war, inter-communal strife,
disease, famine and instability took countless lives regardless of
ethnicity or religion. As a result, the program is rife with errors,
misrepresentations, exaggerations and unsubstantiated conclusions,
with other widely accepted facts and interpretations conveniently
omitted. The lack of objectivity, however, is common practice for
the film’s producer, who in the past has worked with funding from
Armenian Americans on similar projects and who has done little to
hide his antagonism for Turkey or his bias on the sensitive matter
in question. Such predilections are to be expected from this program
as well, underwritten by those who subscribe to the genocide thesis
and who seek to ignore or suppress evidence that would in any way
contradict their view. For this reason, PBS’ own Ombudsman has
expressed reservations regarding the almost exclusive participation
of Armenian Americans in the funding of the program.

To its credit – and in recognition of the strong bias inherent in
“The Armenian Genocide” – PBS also produced a panel discussion to
accompany the program consisting of experts with a range of views on
this matter. Unfortunately, as the New York Times and the Wall Street
Journal have reported, many PBS viewers were unable to watch the
televised debate, due to the concerted efforts of Armenian American
partisans who embarked on a nationwide campaign to prevent its airing
by PBS affiliates. By succumbing to overt pressure by these activists
and their political allies, PBS affiliates became instruments of
self-censorship that should have no place in American society.

For Armenian American activists, PBS programming is just one avenue
by which to silence the ongoing debate on this issue. In another
recent incident, the University of Southern California cancelled an
academic forum featuring two prominent Turkish experts on the matter,
due to pressure by Armenian American groups that openly took credit
for this heavy-handed suppression of academic expression. Meanwhile,
in Massachusetts, teachers and students have been forced to go to court
to preserve the presentation of alternatives to the genocide thesis
in a state-mandated curriculum guide, yet another incidence of overt
and unacceptable censorship driven by Armenian American activists.

It is heartening that in contrast to those running from this debate,
the Turkish American community in the United States has taken up
the mantle to defend America’s constitutional principle of free
expression. This community and a growing constituency of friends
have pressed for opening this debate to all viewpoints. As a result,
in parallel to grassroots efforts to persuade PBS affiliates to
air the panel discussion, over 40,000 individuals have signed a
petition sponsored by the Assembly of Turkish Associations (ATAA),
urging PBS to air other more balanced programs on this difficult and
controversial period. In other instances when the right to undertake
or express scholarly research has been threatened, Turkish Americans
and organizations like the ATAA have consistently supported free and
open examination of the facts.

Turkey itself has pursued the facts via numerous collaborative
efforts. Last year, Prime Minister Erdoðan issued an unprecedented
proposal to Armenian President Kocharian for an impartial study of
the matter through the establishment of a joint historical commission,
a landmark opening that has yet to receive a favorable response. And
unlike U.S.C.’s recent forum cancellation, conferences on this subject
are taking place in Turkey with the full support of Government leaders.

Today, Turkey and its expatriates are willing to address these
sensitive unresolved matters. Yet each time an effort is made – even
here in America, the world’s exemplar of open and free expression –
our Armenian interlocutors either run from the debate or do anything
possible to quash it. Through their efforts, freedom of speech on
this issue has been virtually eliminated, from the policy community
to university campuses to the televisions of millions of Americans.

It is clear that until and unless the Turkish and Armenian peoples
can begin an open, honest and introspective dialogue on this
matter, genuine reconciliation will not commence here or in the
Caucasus. The circumstances surrounding the PBS program and its airing
unfortunately demonstrate that we are nowhere close to reaching a
mutual understanding about our common history. Stifling debate and
perpetuating a unilaterally established narrative may be expedient
for some, but it will not bring about the closure that is needed to
lay this difficult issue to rest.

19626

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LILIT MKRTCHIAN BRONZE PRIZE-WINNER OF EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006

KUSADASI, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of Armenia Lilit
Mkrtchian performed successfully in the women’s chess Europe
championship that finished in the Turkish city of Kusadasi. In the
competition among 96 woman chess-players she took the 3rd place
and won a bronze medal. Gaining 7.5 points in 11 tours held by
the Swiss contest rules, Mkrtchian had shared 3-11 places with
a group of participants but after the additional games she was
able to surpass all others and to become the 3rd prize-winner. At
the same time Lilit received the right to take part in the next
world championship. The results of another 4 woman chess-players
representing Armenia are the following: Elina Danielian 6 points
(30-44th places), Nelli Aghinian, Siranush Andreasian 5.5 points each
(45-54th places). 5 representatives of Armenia took part in the men’s
Europe championship. Ashot Anastasian performed most successfully. He
shared 25-35th places with 6.5 points. Artashes Minasian, Tigran
L.Petrosian and Tigran Kotanjian shared 35-64th places with 6 points
each. International master Tigran Kotanjian was able to pass the norm
of grand master. The 5th representative of Armenia, Arman Pashikian,
shared 65-86th places with 5.5 points.

Yekaterina Stalik (Turkey) won in the Europe women’s championship
and Zdenko Kozhul (Croatia) in the men’s championship.

NOGORNO KARABAKH IS NOT USED AS A TRANSIT ROUTE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING,
NKR AUTHORITIES UNDERLINE IN LETTER TO US ASSISTANT SECRETARY

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Recently the NKR
Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian and Head of the NKR Police
Department Armen Isagulov have sent a letter to Anne Patterson,
U.S. Assistant Secretary, Head of the Bureau of the US State
Department for International Strategic Narcotics Control. The letter,
which was submitted to NT by the NKR FMA Information and Analytical
Department, in particular says: “We highly appreciate and welcome the
U.S. contribution to the establishment of true democratic principles
in international relations. We also appreciate the consistent efforts
of the American Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group toward settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We are writing to draw your
attention to an issue of great importance to the authorities of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)”. “The U.S. State Department’s 2006
International Narcotics Control Strategy Annual Report, published last
month, referred to the Azerbaijani government’s allegations that
Nagorno Karabakh and territories under NKR control are used as
“narcotics transiting route”. This is a departure from previous
similar reports, when mutual understanding over this issue had been
reached after we provided clarifications to your office in our
February 7, 2002 letter”. “We express our strong objection to the
fact, that Azerbaijan’s deliberate disinformation once again has been
included into the U.S. State Department’s reputable report.

We have no doubt that this new misleading information was
intentionally provided by Azerbaijan, which has made falsifications
and efforts to discredit Nagorno Karabakh part of its state
policy. Resorting to such allegations, Azerbaijan hopes that the
international community would regard Nagorno Karabakh as an
uncontrolled, outlaw territory. Since 1994, Azerbaijan has no access
to or control over Nagorno Karabakh and, therefore, is not in a
position to provide any fact-based information. As you know, in 2002
the NKR Government called upon relevant international bodies to send
an independent verification mission to Nagorno Karabakh to assess the
situation on the ground, but no action was taken. This provided
ground for Azerbaijan to continue its misleading efforts”. “Once
again, we would like to state, with full responsibility, that Nagorno
Karabakh’s territory is not used as a transit route for narcotics,
which is a direct result of effective preventive measures by the NKR
law enforcement agencies. Nagorno Karabakh’s border with Iran is
sealed. In addition, Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of Nagorno Karabakh
makes NKR’s territory unattractive to international drug smugglers –
an unexpected positive side-effect of Azerbaijan’s deliberate hostile
action”. Further the letter contains the facts, testifying the
abovementioned arguments: “As you know, since 1994 the NKR authorities
have been maintaining the cease-fire regime without international
peacekeeping forces and, thus, control the whole line of contact
between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, as well
as the situation in bordering areas of Nagorno Karabakh. By itself,
this fact offers an indisputable evidence of high self-organization of
our state. The Office of Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, which regularly monitors the cease-fire regime,
provides international supervision over the situation in the Nagorno
Karabakh and can confirm the absence of any criminal activities in
those territories”. The letter also points out that in
January-February 2005 an OSCE fact-finding mission accompanied by the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen visited Nagorno Karabakh. “More than
thirty diplomats and experts from different countries conducted a
thorough monitoring of the situation in the NKR-controlled territories
and prepared a substantial report, which does not mention a single
case of narcotics trafficking activity”. “In this respect, we consider
it necessary to stress that the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic are committed to strengthening of the democratic values,
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and international
recognition of the NKR independence. For almost fifteen years, the
NKR leadership has been governing the state responsibly and ensuring
the security of its citizen”, – the letter stressed. “For these
reasons, we respectfully request that you reconsider the inclusion of
unverified information in the official report of the U.S.

State Department. We hope that you will receive our request with
understanding and will positively resolve this issue by removing
unverified information about Nagorno Karabakh from the report and the
web-site. We are certain that this step would affirm the United
States’ unbiased mediating role in the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement”. The letter reiterated readiness of the NKR authorities to
cooperate with the U.S. in the fight against international narcotics
trafficking and receive a special monitoring group of experts for an
independent verification of facts on the ground. “We look forward to
working with the United States in addressing issues that can
potentially complicate the Nagorno Karabakh peace process and
undermine the prospects of regional peace and stability”. The copies
of the letter are sent to Dr. Condoleezza Rice, U.S.

Secretary of State, Ambassador Steven Mann, U.S. Co-Chairman of the
Minsk Group, John Walters, Director of the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006

Novruz Mammadov: OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ stances do not coincide

[ 14 Apr. 2006 20:18 ]

`It is early to express an opinion on the new proposals made by OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs regarding the settlement of the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict,’ said Novruz Mammadov, director of Presidential
Administration Department for International Relations.

`The proposals should be grouped and formed in order to air an
opinion on this. If a specific proposal is put forward, we’ll express
our opinion,’ Mr. Mammadov added.
The state official thinks that the stances of the conflicting sides
not just the stances of the Minsk Group are important.
`There should be some changes in the sides’ stances, they should take
a constructive position and take serious steps to solve the
conflict,’ he underlined.
Commenting on OSCE Minsk Group French co-chair Bernard Fassier’s
statement `The new proposals can satisfy both sides 80 percent’ and
Russian co-chairs Yri Merzlyakov’s statement `If both sides are
satisfied 50 percent, I would think the mediation had been
fulfilled’, Mammadov said that every co-chair make proposal basing on
their certain conclusions.
`The co-chairs’ stances do not coincide. The main thing for us is to
liberate our territories from occupation, make the internally
displaced persons return to their native lands, and ensure the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the international
juridical norms,’ the Department director said.
Responding to the question whether Azerbaijan will agree to the
liberation of 50% or 80% of its occupied territories, Mammadov said
Azerbaijan can never consent to this.
Commenting on the stance of Azerbaijan to the co-chairs’ suggestion
of organizing a meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents,
Mammadov stressed that the co-chairs’ opinion do not coincide
regarding this issue either.
`There can be an opinion, if there is an opportunity for the meeting
of the Presidents,’ he added.
Mammadov also touched on the American co-chair Steven Mann’s visit to
Baku scheduled for 18 April, explaining it by the recent intensified
negotiating process.
`Therefore, the co-chairs often visit the region to express their
stances, exchange views and consult together on the issue,’ Mammadov
concluded./APA/

“THE IMPORTANT IS TO NEUTRALIZE THE ROOT OF THE EVIL”
Margaret Yesayan

Aravot.am
12 April 06

The leader of “Republic” party Aram Sargsian assures.

Mr. Sargsian, the most important event of last days is the gas
price and refreshment of the project “Estate instead of debt”. The
PM Andranik Margarian marked that bargain successful, you, as the
former Prime Minister of Armenia how do mark this bargain?

– I think that ‘Estate instead of debt” and “Estate instead of gas”
solve other problems in reality which can be formulated in this way;
“Everything instead of post”. It’s obvious that the authority of
Armenia delivers the last blow to the possibilities of the energetic
security of the country. The problem isn’t in becoming Russia’s
vassal, the problem refers to the state and State system of the
country. The property of the country mustn’t be sold either to Russia
or other country, then to speak of independence and profits. These
authorities overpassed themselves and the deadlock proves it. There
is no reasonable explanation for the circumstance that the government
sells its suspicious strategic partner those resources, which would
form profitable and stable guarantees for the energetic security
of Armenia. I don’t know, I can simply guess, instead of which the
president of the state devote the property of the country to another
country and then boasts hypocritically, did you see what I did, I saved
your pocket money. But there is a question, why did the Caucasian
tiger become a frightened cat at once? I think that this bargain is
only the circle of those unsuccessful bargains, which starts from
ArmenTel and won’t be over until Armenia has a piece of land.

– Factually you are against the bargain, but what do you suggest
instead, again revolution?

– If there is another way for Armenia and Yerevan not to be devoted
to the foreigners and the future of Armenians and Armenia not to be
sold day by day.

Suggest yourself; I’ll join to you. I think you are sure that the
country can be empties but it won’t be disappeared. The gas price
will be raised in price in three years, what mechanisms will be
formed in those three years. No empire will subdue its interests to
the interests of another, especially to an “outpost” country.

This is axiomatic. Though axioms aren’t proved but the complete failure
of “Estate instead of debt” project can serve as the axiomatic proof.

– Then what does the opposition suggest?

– Opposition and authority succeed each other in civil countries,
which fill posts by the free election of the people for serving people
and achieving their projects. The authority in our country considers
the opposition its enemy.

Unfortunately we can simply be against to all these. But
tomorrow… Our party is designing a project about the law of
nationalization, because when a law exists about privatization and
anti-state system the best version for avoiding of its abuses is the
adoption of a balanced law about nationalization, which will allow
to consider invalid all illegal bargains irrespective Who, When and
What has privatized.

– You have proposals on the NK conflict settlement. Have you got
any reply?

– Nothing. Never mind. It is spoken of mutual concessions. We are
agree.

Mutual concession suggests mutual profits. Where is it? And the profit
of Azerbaijan is obvious in the proposed versions. And as it is a fast
period I’d like to cite Matthew’s word’s “Good tree can’t give bad
fruits, neither the bad tree can give good fruits. Every tree which
doesn’t give good fruit is cut and thrown into fire.” It’s rather
severe but fair judgment. Will we be able to neutralize the root
of evil, if we are we’ll be able to provide for profitable result
and if we aren’t the Armenian land will be emptied, we’ll loose the
current state.

DOCUMENTARY BY CANADIAN ARMENIAN AUTHOR AND FILM DIRECTOR HAKOB GUDSUZIAN ENTITLED “MY SON SHALL BE ARMENIAN” SHOWN IN OTTAWA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006

OTTAWA, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 11, the
80-minute documentary by Canadian Armenian author and film director
Hakob Gudsuzian entitled “My Son Shall be Armenian” was shown at the
Canadian Libraries’ and Archives’ Institution, on the initiative of
the Ottawa Armenian Youth Unions and with the assistance of a number
of Canadian Armenian organizations and RA Embassy. The film was
produced by the Canadian National Film Board. Studying the idea of
Armenian originality, the author accompanied by 5 Armenian residents
of Montreal, visited Armenia, the country of his ancestors, for the
purpose of collecting testimony from those who have experienced
the Genocide and for passing the viewers his reflections about
the history and future of the Armenian people spread throughout the
world. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, after the showing of the film the viewers
among which there were many people of foreign nationalities (Jews,
residents of Rwanda) had an opportunity to ask the author questions.

ARMENIA PARTICIPATES IN SITTING OF CIS RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS’ HEADS TO TAKE PLACE IN TALLINN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The regular sitting of the CIS railway
administrations’ heads is held on April 12-14, in the capital of
Estonia, Tallinn.

The delegation of Armenia also participates in the sitting. The
delegation is headed by Ararat Khrimian, the “Armenian Railways”
CJSC Director. The Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about this
by the Press Service of the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

April 12, 2006

Armenia in a Transforming World: ACNIS Releases New Yearbook

Yerevan–Today the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) publicly presented its annual trilingual almanac, this year entitled
“Armenia in a Transforming World.” The event brought together the yearbook’s
participating authors, editorial staff, publisher, foreign embassy staff,
political scientists, and media representatives for the expression of mutual
gratitude and the sharing of views and evaluations.

Held in the official reception hall at ACNIS headquarters, the program was
opened by Stiopa Safarian, the Center’s director of research and academic
editor of the new release. “The research presented in the yearbook
encompasses Armenia’s transnational and domestic challenges, which in the
transforming world render imperative Armenia’s own transformation. The
answers provided by the authors to a variety of problematic issues such as
international and regional security as well as Armenia’s global surroundings
and its complex relationships dictate new approaches for our Center and
Armenia’s analytical circles alike,” he said.

Stiopa Safarian then conveyed ACNIS founder Raffi Hovannisian’s greetings as
expressed in the preface to the new yearbook. He also added that the
objective of this almanac is to elicit and share with policymaker and public
alike the principal trends of the contemporary world, Armenia’s development
priorities against their background, and policy responses to the challenges
facing the Republic.

Before turning to the presentation of its contents, Safarian extended the
Center’s deep appreciation to the editorial staff and contributors for their
diligent work, and acknowledged Vrezh Markosian, director of the Tigran Mets
Publishing House, for his high-caliber production of the book. He also
expressed gratitude to all the supporters of the Center throughout the
world, who have made it possible to carry out such cutting-edge research
programs in Armenia.

The comprehensive studies on the strategic directions of regional security,
Armenia’s economy, and other domains of utmost importance, in addition to
the applied analyses and documentary materials published in this volume, he
said, consist of three main parts-“Armenia, Region, World”; “Public and
Expert Opinion Surveys”; and “Maps.” These reflect the activity of the
Center and its associated partners during the past year.

Part one of the 826-page compendium starts, in a chapter called “The Region
and Its Conflicts,” with an article by Dr. Martin Malek, a scholar from the
Austrian National Academy of Defense, in which the author examines state
collapse as a phenomenon of international relations. This monograph is
followed by the works of ACNIS analysts Stiopa Safarian and Alvard
Barkhudarian. The first of these is devoted to the origins of conflicts and
symmetric and asymmetric solutions thereto, and the second to Mountainous
Karabagh and its security parameters. Next, ACNIS analyst Hovhannes
Vardanian presents the current democratization processes in the post-Soviet
space, and senior fellow Hovsep Khurshudian looks into the latest dynamics
in Armenian-Russian economic relations. This chapter concludes with Yerevan
State University professor Aram Harutiunian’s incisive analysis of modern
Russian-American correlations and ACNIS analyst Alen Ghevondian’s
examination of modern Iran. Also a valuable asset for the reader is Alvard
Barkhudarian’s exploration of interests and speculations with respect to the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

The second chapter, on “Domestic Challenges,” contains scholarly analyses
and policy recommendations concerning the transformation of political
thinking in Armenia; the peculiarities of the country’s transitional period;
constitutional and electoral code amendments in Armenia; the country’s
energy system; civil-military relations; and the attitude of Armenia’s youth
toward matters of national importance. These studies are prepared by
Constitutional Court Justice Felix Tokhian, Karapet Kalenchian, Hovhannes
Vardanian, Areg Barseghian, Alvard Barkhudarian, and Syuzanna Barseghian.

The book’s second part features a bilingual presentation of ACNIS’s public
and expert opinion polls conducted over the course of 2004 and 2005. They
are entitled “Corruption in Armenia”; “Armenia’s Thirteen-Year-Old
Independence and Sovereignty”; “Public Opinion and Urgent Issues on Armenia’
s Political Agenda”; “Constitutional and Electoral Reforms”; “The Karabagh
Story: 17 Years in Progress”; “The Armenian Genocide: 90 Years and Waiting”;
“The South Caucasus: Common or Separate Destinies? Armenia’s Place and Role
in the Region”; “Regional and Community Development Issues in Armenia”; and
“Development Issues in Yerevan.”

Finally, for the first time ever, this year’s annual work product includes a
section with twelve annotated maps depicting the past and present of the
Mountainous Karabagh conflict. Yearbook 2005 concludes with a complete list
of individual and institutional supporters of ACNIS from its founding to
date.

Words of appreciation were delivered, and assessments offered, by
participating authors Alvard Barkhudarian, Hovsep Khurshudian, and many
others. It was yet again emphasized that the main characteristic of the
yearbook is the variety of themes and genres and the free competition of
ideas and policy options.

On behalf of the entire editorial staff, comprising Gevorg Lalayan, Stiopa
Safarian, Hasmik Mkrtchian, Gor Grigorian, Noune Aidinian, Sayat Kuyumcuyan,
Karapet Kalenchian, and Syuzanna Barseghian, the yearbook’s editor-in-chief
Gevorg Lalayan extended his heartfelt message. “First and foremost, this
compilation is a product of teamwork. Even though the articles in this work
explore different perspectives upon regional and geopolitical developments,
in inherent measure they are geared toward the same objectives: the
determination of Armenia’s contemporary place and role and the bolstering of
its political gravity,” Lalayan closed.

All invited guests and public participants were then offered complimentary
copies of “Armenia in a Transforming World” together with a glass of
Armenian sparkling wine.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2006, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit