ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN CONSULTATIONS
A1+
[04:48 pm] 27 June, 2006
Gegham Gharibjanyan, deputy minister of the RA Foreign Affairs will
leave for Moscow on June 27 – 29 to participate in the consultations
of the Armenian and Russian Foreign Ministries on June 29 and in
the International conference titled "on the ways of drug transfer
from Afghanistan."
He will meet with G. Karasin, RF Foreign deputy minister and the
State secretary the last day of his visit.
CREATIVE DELEGATION OF "ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE" FESTIVAL VISITS TSAKHKADZOR ON JUNE 26
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
HRAZDAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 26, the creative delegation
of the "One Nation, One Culture" second Armenian Cultural Festival
left for Tsakhkadzor. More than a dozen of dance ensembles and solo
performers from Spyurk were included in the delegation. The guests were
greeted by Kotayk Deputy Governor Levon Mikayelian and Tsakhkadzor
Mayor Garun Mirzoyan. Such dance ensembles as "Akunk" from Iran,
"Jeyran" from Tbilisi, "Artuyt" from Volgograd, "Huysi Astgh" from
Rostov-on-Don, "Narek" from Krasnodar and dance ensembles representing
a number of cities of Russian Federation presented their performances
to many inhabitants of Tsakhkadzor and Hrazdan who gathered in the
town square. "Mika" ensemble of Hrazdan, as well as pupils of art
schools of Charentsavan and Tsakhkadzor also performed.
RA PRIME MINISTER GOES ON SHORT LEAVE TO PASS REGULAR MEDICAL EXAMINATION IN FRANCE
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 26, RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian went on a short leave. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA
Government Information and Public Relations Department, the Prime
Minister will use his 1-week leave for passing a regular medical
examination in France.
Additional information and updates can be found at
or
ARMENIA DIASPORA III
Conference to take place at the Demirchian Sports Complex, Yerevan
September 18, Monday
8:30 — 9:30 Arrival at the Conference venue
9:30 — 10:15 General Plenary Session: Opening Ceremony
10:15 — 13:00 General Plenary Session: Statements
13:00 — 13:45 Wreath-laying at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
13:45 — 15:00 Lunch Break
15:00 — 19:00 Second Plenary Session: Rural Poverty
Eradication Program
September 19, Tuesday
9:30 — 13:00 Forum: `New Answers to Old Questions: Armenians in the
21st century’/ First Session
13:00 — 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 — 18:00 Forum: Second Session
September 20, Wednesday
9:30 — 12:00 Forum: Third Session and Conclusion
12:00 — 13:30 Third Conference Closing Ceremony
GENERAL INFORMATION ON ARMENIA DIASPORA III
ArmeniaDiaspora III will take place in Yerevan, from September 18 to 20.
The conference will be comprised of three segments: A general plenary
session; a plenary session on rural poverty eradication and a forum
entitled `New Answers to Old Questions: Armenians in the 21st
Century.’
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION
Everyone is invited to attend the conference and participate in
discussions. Participation is open to all. Registration can be done
at or or through
Armenian embassies and consulates. Communities, organizations,
churches, political, social, religious and educational entities, their
members and representatives, as well as any and all individuals are
welcome to attend, participate, interact, form networks, and engage in
new programs.
CONFERENCE STRUCTURE AND SEATING
General plenary session: During this opening session, speakers will be
given seven minutes to make presentations and will be asked to
examine, analyze, assess our past and consider how history and current
geo-political realities raise new issues before our nation, and to
explore the possibilities and prospects for resolving them
together. Sitting around the table will be the representatives of the
government of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, the heads of Armenian
churches, representatives of pan-Armenian organizations, and heads of
each national delegation. The latter is a symbolic post and allows
for each community to be represented around the table by one person,
with other members of that community sitting around and behind him or
her. All participants will be sitting around the delegations, or in
the stands immediately surrounding the table.
Rural Poverty Eradication: During this plenary, the Rural Poverty
Eradication Program will be launched. Sitting around the table will be
government representatives, international organization representatives
and those individuals or organizations that have agreed to sponsor a
village in the Rural Poverty Eradication Program. Other participants
will be sitting around these groups or organizations, or in the stands
immediately surrounding the table.
Forum: New Answers to Old Questions – Armenians in the 21st Century In
this open forum, keynote speakers will address the audience, followed
by panel discussions. Seating will be theater-style. All participants
will be able to participate in discussions, to the extent that time
allows.
CONFERENCE TIME AND PLACE
The conference will run three days, Monday thru Wednesday, September
18 to 20. Participants are encouraged to arrive Sunday
evening. Conference hours and preliminary agenda are attached.
The conference will take place at the Demirchian Sports Complex, on
the hill adjacent to the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial Monument.
There will be a security check upon entry. Therefore, all participants
are encouraged to arrive early. The conference will start on time
each day.
TRAVEL TO AND FROM YEREVAN
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Yerevan
and from the Yerevan Zvartnots Airport to the city.
LODGING
Participants are responsible for procuring their own lodging in
Yerevan. Hotel information is available on
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CONFERENCE
Buses will run from Republic Square to the conference site from 8 am
to 10 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm each day. Buses will operate free of
charge.
Taxis will be available throughout the day for those who need them.
CONFERENCE WORKING LANGUAGE
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in Armenian, English,
Russian and French.
SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE CONFERENCE SITE
Coffee and lunch will be available, for purchase, on the premises. A
variety of Yerevan’s cafes and restaurants will be setting up at the
conference and offering food and drinks throughout the three days.
A computer center will offer internet connections and local telephone
and fax service.
There will be screens throughout the hall and in the open areas.
RELATED EVENTS
On Wednesday, September 20, at the conference site, the Ministry of
Trade and Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture will present
the Armenia Diaspora Second Economic Forum.
On Friday, September 22, at the conference site, the two ministries
will present Pan-Armenian Expo 2006.
Further information about both are available at
CULTURAL EVENTS
Various cultural events will take place during and around the
conference week. Information and ticket information can be found at
or
15th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
All independence related events, including a parade, a concert and
other festivities in Republic Square, are open to all participants. A
list of such events is available at or
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND RELATED ACTIVITIES CAN BE
FOUND AT or
Armenia Diaspora Desk
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2 Republic Square, Yerevan 375010
Tel. +37410.523531
Fax. +37410.543925
E-mail: [email protected]
Www.armeniaforeignministry. am
Disclaimer: If you received this message in error or would like to be
removed from the list, send an e-mail with "Please Remove" in the
subject heading to [email protected]. Please accept our apologies
for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please forward this
message only to friends and family, who you know would be interested
in this issue. Please note that sending unsolicited e-mail is
considered "spam" and is illegal.
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
Book Entitled Azerbaijan-Council of Europe: Cooperation in Democracy
& Human Rights Published
23.06.2006
Elm Publishing House published the book entitled Azerbaijan-Council
of Europe: Cooperation in Democracy & Human Rights, written by Adil
Veliyev.
This book is devoted to the bright memory of the national leader, the
main founder of Azerbaijan-CE relationship, Heydar Aliyev. The
edition studies specific stages of establishment, form, purpose and
dynamics of development of relations between Azerbaijan and the
Council of Europe, analyses the successful activity of Azerbaijan’s
parliamentary delegation, which the first three years was led by the
President Ilham Aliyev to PACE, human rights protection in our
country, Azerbaijan-Armenian Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, the
implementation of commitments taken by Azerbaijan before CE.
The monograph analyses the political specifities, determines the
priorities of development of Azerbaijan-CE relationship, democratic
processes progressing in the field of protection of human rights.
The book is considered for specialists, students, Masters and
Post-graduates in the field of political studies, international law
and international relations, and also large-scale readers.
Scientific editor of the book is the Doctor of Historical Sciences,
Ali Hasanov. The author of review is the Doctor of Political Studies,
Rovshan Mustafayev and the candidate of historical sciences, Agshin
Mehdiyev.
–Boundary_(ID_P+r8/a2eIq9WcBAY hfTuEg)–
VILLAGES IN SOME REGIONS OF ARTSAKH VACATED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Villages in the
Berdadzor subregion of Shoushi, in some parts of Martakert and in
other places of Artsakh are being vacated. As Aramayis Hovhannisian,
Headmaster of the secondary school of the village of Karintak of
Artsakh, mentioned in his interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent,
currently the capitals of Armenia and Karabakh, Yerevan and
Stepanakert, have become "huge heads" and their "bodies," regions,
have remained "dwarf." As the Headmaster of Karintak school commented,
if we speak about it in the respect of the number of population,
we can say that the half of the population of Armenia and Karabakh
lives in Yerevan and Stepanakert and "indirectly we are turning
into city-states."
According to Aramayis Hovhannisian, such weak regions can hardly
finance education in the future. "State dotations are needed for
maintaining education, I do not see any other variant for providing
a full-value education," the Headmaster emphasized. In addition,
many village schools of Artsakh have few pupils, the total number of
pupils in them is 7, 8, 9 or 10. "A village exists with the young
generation. If there is no school, there is no village, either,"
Aramayis Hovhannisian is convinced.
"Most of villagers are unemployed: one should have a job in order
to keep his family, the state should support villagers. No family,
no village can be kept with the miserable social benefits. So, many
people have to leave our land conquerred at the price of our blood,
they go to where there is bread and job," A.Hovhannisian said.
According to the Headmaster of Karintak village school, today this
problem partly concerns their village. Today the village of Karintak
has 600 inhabitants and 95 pupils attend the village school. The
inhabitants of this village having no sowing areas earn for their
living with money received from growing melons and gourds. "We are
able to live here by cultivating one inch of land realizing that to
leave the village will mean to surrender it," Aramayis Hovhannisian
is convinced.
LAWS CHANGE NOTHING IN CASE OF "A1+"
Anna Israelian
Aravot.am
17 June 06
Whatever change they make in the law or Constitution, it doesn’t have
any influence on NCTR actions towards "A1+".
National Commission of Television and Radio sent the copy of decision
to "A1+ " on 13 of June where it must substantiate the reason of
refusing to allocate radio frequency to the company in the contest
announced in December 2005 and the results of which were summarized
on 26 of May 2006. We must mention that the law "About Television
and Radio" was inserted according to which " National Commission must
properly substantiate decisions about selecting the owner of license,
refuse of giving license and recognition of the expired license" . But
that decision, according to the "A1+" producer Susanna Ohanjanian
is the same in its structure like the answers sent before. Â"Only a
preface was added where it is mentioned that we "have examined your
request. It corresponds to the conditions of our contest". Then they
have mentioned the points, which the companies had got, and comparing
and taking into consideration 37 and 50 articles of the law they have
decided to give them license. The only word, which has been added,
is the word "comparing". It is interesting that they have stressed
those articles of the law by which the selection must be done and it
was during previous 10 contests. While our superiority towards other
companies by determined criteria were obvious in previous contests".
We should add that the NCTR ignores the 54 th article of the law
according to which "In case of equal conditions during the contest for
the license by dismissed frequency allocation the privilege is given;
A/ to those TV radio companies, which haven’t, infringes the law
during their operation
B/to those current companies which have experience of at least
three years in the sphere of TV and radio programs production and
broadcasting".
Not only laws but also the main law has any influence on the NCTR. Only
a body for controlling TV sphere is foreseen by the Constitutional
amendments. And it is supposed that adjusting powers of the Council
of Television and Radio must be passed to the NSTR.
Speaking of the possibility of the NCTR liquidation the chairman of
commission Grigor Amalian didn’t connect the matter with the changes of
law, which haven’t been made. It became clear that G. Amalian was eager
to fill that post till March, 2007. Â"It doesn’t mean the commission
should be liquidated. Why shout it? There are six members, who still
fill their posts." The NA chairman Tigran Torosian informing about
it said; Â"What I have said before was only a version, possibility,
which people can use or not. Certainly nobody can make the members of
the commission send in their resignationÂ". To our observation that the
Constitutional amendments didn’t change anything in case of formation
of independent body of controlling TV sphere, the NA chairman answered;
Â"No, it isn’t so. Constitutional amendments have a special position
about formation of the commission and that position will operateÂ".
–Boundary_(ID_6ssg3nKYd0tcF e/UMgV8ew)–
"THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF ARMENIA WILL, OF NECESSITY, UNDERGO REFORM"
June 19, 2006
Lragir.am
20 June 06
Interview with Alexander Arzoumanian, Minister of Foreign Affair of
Armenia, 1996-1998
How would you assess the internal political situation in Armenia?
The behavior of senior officials in Armenia attests to the fact that
the country’s political system is on the verge of collapse. Both the
internal political situation and international developments have led
to the marginalization of the regime. The limits of what the regime
is able to do have narrowed and the methods it uses to maintain
its dominance have become ineffective. The upcoming elections of
2007 and 2008 have created within the governing camp an atmosphere
of intra-system fear for its own future. The regime has nothing to
offer anymore and cannot justify its relevance to the country.
Has the withdrawal of the Orinats Yerkir party from the governing
coalition played a role here?
Although the senior officials have done whatever they can to persuade
the public at large that nothing extraordinary has happened within
the governing system with Orinats Yerkir’s leaving the coalition,
they themselves realize that the foundation that the government’s
ability to function is based on has crumbled. The rules of the game
established in the 2003 coalition agreement, based on which the regime
has functioned so far, no longer exist. Kocharyan now finds himself
beyond the control of the coalition parties, and can act at his own
discretion. He has skillfully taken control of the parliamentary corps,
in fact turning the Republicans and the Dashnaks into a parliamentary
minority. The government and the parliament are under his thumb.
The foundation of Kocharyan’s authority is the power ministries and
the business elite. No other political force or official is in control
of these structures. They cannot control these structures for a simple
reason – these structures don’t submit to any one else.
They don’t submit because they don’t understand what’s going on. This
is natural. For the first time we have a situation in Armenia where
the acting president is required to leave his office in 2008. For the
clan system, this situation doesn’t make sense. A clan never yields
its position; it does all it can to preserve its existence. But the
current situation makes preserving its existence impossible.
Therefore, each member of the clan is trying to solve his problems
on his own. And here the initiative is in Kocharyan’s hands.
How so?
Kocharyan has decided to solve the problem of his own personal future
at the expense of everybody else. As for how he is going to do it,
no one knows yet. But everyone realizes that he will stop at nothing.
The fate of his former companions-in-arms doesn’t interest him much.
Since Orinats Yerkir withdrew from the coalition, the parliamentary
business elite has found itself in a rather paradoxical situation.
For the big businesses, the parliamentary mandates acted like a shield,
in other words, guaranteed the protection of their property.
Besides, in exchange for their service, the
businessmen-parliamentarians expected from the government preferential
terms for their businesses. And that’s how it was as long as the
governing camp didn’t split up.
But didn’t all the businessmen-parliamentarians from Orinats Yerkir
immediately leave the party, once again assuring Kocharyan of their
obedience?
At present, the property of businessmen with parliamentary mandates
is becoming a target for Kocharyan’s political ambitions – creating
the danger of losing that property. The degree of their obedience
has increased sharply. None of the businessmen knows Kocharyan’s
political plans, and this deepens their anxiety.
Moreover, Kocharyan’s actions don’t suggest a desire to transfer power
to his political base, the Republican Party, or to Serge Sargsyan.
Kocharyan is confidently expanding his political party, Prosperous
Armenia, without taking anyone into consideration. At the same time,
no businessmen or influential officials are allowed to join the
party. Such a governing camp is a novelty for Armenia. The question
arises–if the people in Kocharyan’s environment have no place in
his party, then where is their place going to be? This is not an idle
question, since the nomenklatura wants to know its place in the future
governing system. They want to know, but nobody tells them.
The anxiety of these so-called influential people has now become
palpable. Serge Sargsyan, Andranik Margaryan, and Aghvan Hovsepyan are
beginning to realize that they have no place in Kocharyan’s plans. They
are amazed, since the logic of the clan system should have made this
impossible. And they even attempt independent initiatives, all the
while remaining keenly aware that the guarantee of their strength
lies in supporting Kocharyan.
But Serge Sargsyan doesn’t conceal his presidential ambitions.
Many people thought that if Kocharyan had to leave, the most obvious
step would have been to strengthen the Republican Party, putting Serge
Sargsyan at its helm and shoving this army into power. But that is not
what Kocharyan is doing. To all appearances, Kocharyan has realized,
or has been made to understand, that such a plan for transferring
power would lead directly to a revolutionary situation.
Such a reproduction of power would serve as a catalyst for the
consolidation of the people, and the political forces and the regime,
with its old and new faces alike, would become the target of this
revolutionary energy.
Will the opposition benefit from Arthur Baghdasaryan’s joining it?
Arthur Baghdasaryan’s joining the opposition might animate the
opposition movement to some extent. The regime has created a
potential avenger for itself. Irrespective of whether the public is
indifferent, whether it doesn’t trust anyone including Baghdasaryan,
the enfeeblement thrust on the public at large over the years has,
perforce, produced a certain vengefulness. Sociological surveys attest
that our society is in search of an avenger figure, no matter who
that avenger might be.
The public consciousness in Armenia has become irrational, and any
force, even a radically destructive one, will be able to win public
sympathy if it demonstrates the ability to punish the regime.
What developments can we expect?
Developments will be sudden. The political system of Armenia will,
of necessity, undergo reform. The regime knows that these changes may
be qualitative, unraveling the internal political tangle even before
the 2007 parliamentary elections. That is why the desire of some
officials to artificially accelerate the reproduction of power has
become noticeable. But Kocharyan himself hinders everyone. Therefore,
we may witness some anti-Kocharyan sallies from within the governing
system, on the part of those who see their imminent political demise.
But an internal coup will not satisfy the people. Not even their
hatred of Kocharyan will induce the people to support any part of
this system that is corrupt to the core, no matter how they may try
to use the people’s hatred to prolong their own existence. They will
all have to leave together. There is no alternative.
Of course, it would be better if the people didn’t choose vengeance.
A lot will depend on the political forces in Armenia. A policy of
reforms should be implemented based on the values of independence,
statehood, and democracy. After all, political change only has value
if it leads to the establishment of full-fledged constitutional order
in Armenia. Otherwise, it’s in vain.
THE GRAIN CROP IS IN PERIL
A1+
[12:34 pm] 20 June, 2006
12 360 hectares autumn sawing and about 8 400 hectares spring sawing
was realized in Syunik marz.
Recently there have been cases of aridity in 20 thousand-hectare
fields of grain in Sisian, Goris and Kapan because of the abrupt
temperature increase.
According to the meteorological centre the weather is likely to change
after June 17. Farmers assume that the threat of aridity will die out
in case the temperature decreases. Specialists point out that the
situation is under control and they are now realizing observations
in the fields.
TV Company "Sosi," Kapan
CSTO WILL DEFEND PIPELINE
by: Igor Plugatarev
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 16, 2006, p. 8
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 19, 2006 Monday
NEW WEAPONS WILL BE TESTED DURING SHIELD OF THE UNION-2006; Presidents
Vladimir Putin (Russia), Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus), Nursultan
Nazarbayev (Kazakhstan), Robert Kocharyan (Armenia), Imomali Rakhmonov
(Tajikistan) and Kurmanbek Bakiyev (Kyrgyzstan) will observe the
Shield of the Union-2006 exercise.
The Shield of the Union-2006 exercise will begin in Belarus on
June 17 within the framework of the Collective security treaty
organization. The leaders of six member nations of the Organization
will observe the final phase of the exercise in a week. Presidents
Vladimir Putin (Russia), Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus), Nursultan
Nazarbayev (Kazakhstan), Robert Kocharyan (Armenia), Imomali Rakhmonov
(Tajikistan) and Kurmanbek Bakiyev (Kyrgyzstan) will arrive in Belarus.
Shield of the Union-2006 can be compared with Peace Mission-2005
(Russia-China) regarding the number of servicemen and military hardware
(8,800 servicemen, including 1,800 from Russia). Hundreds of armored
vehicles, artillery complexes, warplanes, helicopters and the Tu-1600
and Tu-95 strategic bombers will be involved.
General of the Army Vladimir Mikhailov, Russian Commander of the Air
Force, said that Shield of the Union-2006 will involve the system of
speechless data transmission system to pilots. Two Mi-28N helicopters
will be involved in the exercise. Sources say that Belarus seeks to
buy new helicopters, and considers the Mi-28N as a candidate.
The scenario of the exercise is based on a military threat to a
member of the Organization and military aid from other members of
organization. Russian and Belarusian ground, anti-aircraft and air
units will cooperate during the exercise. In addition, Russia and
Belarus will work on the creation of the joint anti-aircraft system.
Sources in the Belarusian Defense Ministry state that Shield of the
Union-2006 exercise is also aimed at solving problems of economic
interests of the Russian-Belarusian Union. Russian and Belarusian
units will ensure the security of the most important communications
because oil and gas pipelines cross Belarus. The Collective security
treaty organization focuses on the security of all strategic pipelines
located in member-nations of the organization.