Author: Torosian Aram

UN WORKS OUT NEW FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM OF COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 17, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 17, receiving Consuelo Vidal,
the UN Resident Coordinator, the Resident Representative of UN
Development Program (UNDP), RA President Serge Sargsian attached
importance to programs implemented in Armenia by many UN agencies
for many years, which are aimed at strengthening of statehood and
development of economy. Expressing satisfaction with close and
constructive partnership, S. Sargsian said that the Armenian side
is ready to deepen it and to more efficiently develop the current
possibilities.

Presenting the RA President wiht the activity and programs of 12
specialized UN agencies in Armenia, C. Vidal said that they wish
these programs with maximum efficiency to serve for Armenian people’s
well-being. The UN Resident Coordinator also said that a new four-year
program of cooperation with Armenia is being worked out at present,
and they suggest that the government point out the priorities and
spheres, where UN’s assistance is expected.

S. Sargsian considered primary passing from humanitarian programs
to development programs at the same time expressing willingness
that joint programs will be more perceptible and purposeful. He
especially attached importance to expert assistance of various UN
agencies mentioning that state’s abilities increase year by year, and
currently their task is to use them more efficiently and purposefully.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, problems of foodstuffs security conditioned by change in
prices for fuel and foodstuffs on the world market and possibilities
of cooperation in that direction were also spoken about. The sides
also touched upon refugees’ socio-economic problems considering use
of apartment certificates system an important step on the way of
their solution.

WALTER SCHWIMMER: "COUNCIL OF EUROPE DOES NOT APPLY DOUBLE STANDARDS TOWARDS AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA"

Today.Az
June 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Walter Swimmer, chairman of the International
coordination committee of the world public forum "Dialogue of
civilizations" and former CE Secretary General.

– What do you expect from the upcoming presidential elections in
Azerbaijan, to be held in October?

– I hope the elections will meet international standards, the standards
of the Council of Europe and OSCE-organizations joined by Azerbaijan. I
think Azerbaijan has passed a long and complicated way towards this
goal. There has been a number of problems in the past, but next year
Azerbaijan will mark the 8th anniversary of its membership in the
Council of Europe and more is expected from him in comparison with
new CE member-states in conduction of the electoral process in line
with international law.

– You have mentioned that Azerbaijan has been the CE member-state
for already the 8th year. Are the changes in the country on the way
to democratic development significant?

– Sure. Azerbaijan was admitted to the Council of Europe during my
chairmanship over the organization in 2001. My task was to assist
Azerbaijan in fulfilling its commitments. I know that there is a
number of concerns, related to mass media and freedom of speech. I
think the forthcoming presidential elections will be a good chance
for Azerbaijan to demonstrate loyalty to democratic values, including
such as freedom of speech, to Europe and the world.

– Baku accuses the CE of application of the policy of "double
standards" towards its member-states, implying regular criticism of
Azerbaijan for various problems in the sphere of human rights and
at the same time passive reaction of Strasbourg to mass violence
and murders, accompanying the post-election period in Armenia this
year. How can you explain this?

– First of all, I do not share a view that the Council of Europe did
not give adequate response to the events, which occured in Armenia
following the elections. I remember a critical statement on the
elections in this country.

Second, death of people resulting from violence is tragic indeed and
is absolutely inadmissible. Political violence, related to elections,
is inadmissible for today’s Europe.

At the same time, we have witnessed violent actions before
parliamentary elections in Macedonia, this was violence between
rival powers. On the other side, authorities should be blamed for
the failure of the police to avert this violence, on the other side,
we do not want dominance of the police.

Unfortunately, no one is insured of various violations of human rights,
but if elections are accompanied by violations, this proves involvement
of the authorities.

I think violence in one country should not justified by violence in
another country. Each country should take steps for full execution
of its commitments.

Therefore, I hope elections in Azerbaijan will not be an object of
criticism this year.

– Are you sure that CE approaches to Azerbaijan and Armenia have
no differences?

– Yes, I do not think there are double standards there. The Council
of Europe tries to avoid such a policy, all member-states are equal
before the criticism. Democracy has no place for violence.

A NEW PLAYER IN THE CAUCASUS
By Sergey Markedonov

Russia Profile
id=International&articleid=a1213634347
June 16 2008
Russia

Kazakhstan Aspires to Take on a Key Role on the Post-Soviet Arena

No sooner was Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Kazakhstan concluded and
mutual assurances of eternal friendship and strategic partnership
abated, than Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a law regarding assistance
in the transportation of Kazakh oil through the "Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan"
system. On April 24, the plenary session of the Kazakh Senate ratified
the "Treaty between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of
Azerbaijan on the support of and assistance in the transportation
of oil from Kazakhstan across the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijani
territory to international markets through the ‘Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan’
system." This system is considered a "political pipeline," and Moscow
views participation in it almost as a challenge. Meanwhile, the project
also presupposes the enhancement of the Kuryk port, from which the
oil from Kazakh fields will be delivered to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
system via the Caspian Sea.

On April 24 and 25, the seventh consecutive Eurasian media forum was
held in Almaty, the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Traditionally,
this event, which brings together influential political analysts,
experts, and diplomats from around the world, has been a presentation
of Kazakhstan’s "homework assignments" in both foreign and domestic
policy. The latest forum was no exception: one of the central themes
became Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010. This structure exercises
supervision over the settlement of conflicts in the Southern Caucasus.

An OSCE Mission has been present in South Ossetia since 1993. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is also within the organization’s "zone of
responsibility," since the Minsk Group of the OSCE handles mediation
between Yerevan and Baku.

Opening the forum, President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the topic
of resolving conflicts in the post-Soviet space: "All the existing
conflicts are still going on, and there are no less threats. There
are even new ones. The world is again faced with the problem of
separatism, which this time has caused a crisis for the system of
international law. Events in Kosovo and in Tibet have immediately
entered the arsenal of tools that is used in this global geopolitical
struggle." Thus Kazakhstan is clearly declaring that it is ready
to come to the OSCE not just as a mute actor with a reactive foreign
policy, but as a state that has its own perceptions of how to stabilize
the ethno-political situation in Eurasia.

This is not the first time that the president of Kazakhstan
has expressed such an interest. Even during the existence of the
Soviet Union, Nazarbayev offered mediation efforts in resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In September of 1991, the first Russian
President Boris Yeltsin, together with Nazarbayev visited the region of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Following the visit, a joint statement
by the leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan was
signed on September 23, 1991 in Zheleznovodsk, with representatives
from the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic participating as observers. The
objectives of this "Zheleznovodsk communiqué" were stabilizing the
situation in the region, returning deported people to their places
of residence, releasing hostages, accommodating information gathering
groups of representatives from Russia and Kazakhstan in the conflict
zone, and ensuring that objective information about the situation is
available. In 1991, Nazarbayev’s mediation mission did not succeed.

But even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan aspired
(and still does) to take on the role of one of the integrators of the
post-Soviet arena. Such intentions have quite a pragmatic basis. The
favorite subject of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy after 1991 is a
diversified course, sustaining stable relationships with the big
players (Russia, United States, the EU) as well as with individual
ex-Soviet states. Pragmatism is more important than ideology for such
a foreign policy. On the one hand, Kazakhstan constantly declares its
commitment to friendship and strategic partnership with Russia. On
the other hand, during the Istanbul OSCE Summit in late 1999,
Kazakh authorities documented their "interest" in participating in
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan "political pipeline," the very existence of
which causes lasting heartburn for Staraya and Smolenskaya Squares. In
Astana, participation in the "Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline" is seen
as a manifestation of a multilateral foreign policy.

The Kazakh president himself has a very lukewarm view of "colored
revolutions" and social shocks in general, as a methodology for
transforming a society and a state. However, this does not prevent
Kazakhstan from actively permeating Georgia’s domestic market
(including taking advantage of both the cooling of Russian-Georgian
relations and the emergence of free economic niches). During his visit
to Georgia in October of 2005, Nazarbayev said: "I compared reforms
in the economy with those that were implemented in Georgia during
the difficult years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And I
am convinced, from the vantage point of Kazakhstan, that the reforms
presently being carried out by the Georgian government are correct."

According to Nazarbayev, "It is this period, the beginning of mass
privatization, and other active changes in the economy, that should
raise the interest level of all investors and facilitate their coming
to Georgia, their participation in tenders and in acquiring objects,
so as to make doing business here advantageous for both Georgia and for
the investors themselves." According to Gulnur Rakhmatulina, an expert
at the Kazakhstan Institute of Strategic Studies under the president
of the republic, "For Kazakhstan, cooperation with Georgia is likewise
very important, as it has enormous transit potential. Additionally,
bilateral cooperation on the TRASECA project seems very promising, as
well as on other major investment projects. Today, Kazakhstan’s capital
is beginning to work actively in the Georgian economy. In particular,
banks from the republic are currently involved in the privatization
of objects of the Georgian communications and energy industries."

The year 2005 marked the intensification of relations between Tbilisi
and Astana. It was then that the Kazakh president clearly outlined
the Georgian direction as one of the priorities for Astana. In three
years, Kazakhstan has become the foremost investor in Georgia (having
surpassed Turkey and Britain), assuming powerful positions not only in
the banking sector, but also in the recreation industry of Adjara’s
Black Sea coast. In 2006 alone, trade between the two countries grew
by 90 percent. In March of 2007, during Mikheil Saakashvili’s visit
to Kazakhstan, the two presidents not only discussed a wide range
of economic issues, but also expressed interest in further deepening
Kazakh-Georgian relations and the desire to pursue political dialogue
at the highest level. At the final press conference, Saakashvili was
literally pronouncing toasts to the hospitable hosts: "I think that
relations between our countries serve as a model of relations in the
CIS. This is exactly how a new type of relations should be developed
in the conditions of independence."

This is the source of Tbilisi’s interest in seeing Kazakhstan chair
the OSCE. Paradoxically, this is the point at which the interests
of Moscow and Tbilisi meet (albeit from absolutely opposite
directions). In 2006-2007, Russian diplomats ardently lobbied for
Kazakhstan’s interests, as it is considered to be "our man" in
Eurasia (and, in the future, in the OSCE). However in Tbilisi they
believe otherwise. At one point in time, Saakashvili stated that he
doesn’t believe that "Kazakhstan will just be the next chairman of the
organization. This will be a chairman of the OSCE that will be able to
turn the organization into an effective mechanism in our region. This
is because, frankly speaking, the OSCE has not yet been able to play
a special role in resolving existing conflicts." As an aside, Astana
and Tbilisi have a unifying theme in the problems of separatism and
territorial integrity. There never was, nor is there now, an "Abkhazia"
or an "Ossetia" on Kazakh territory. However, the ghost of separatism,
having emerged at the turn of the 1980s, has not yet fully vacated
the offices of Kazakh leaders. The trademark caution of Nazarbayev
and his team will also likely not work in favor of self-determination
of the de-facto nations. At the April 2008 Eurasian Media Forum,
Nazarbayev clearly identified separatism as a dangerous political
threat. In this regard, it is naïve to expect Astana to become a
wholehearted "agent of Russian influence" in the OSCE.

Kazakhstan is intensively developing relations with another
Transcaucasian republic that has problems with territorial integrity
– Azerbaijan. Besides the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project, Kazakhstan
is working on another project that is important for Azerbaijan, the
Baku-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, planning to export up to five
million tons of grain a year along this route. Thus, it is not in the
interests of Kazakhstan to destabilize the states that are relevant
to the economic and political ambitions of Astana.

In the nearest future, there will be another serious player on the
Caucasian geopolitical field. Today, this player prefers not catchy
political slogans, but real projects (investment and the development
of transport and energy services). Meanwhile, the economic quantity
will inevitably grow into a political quality. There is reason to
believe that such a dialectic transition will far from serve Russian
interests. Astana will work against separatism (largely measured for
its own interests), but it will also seek to play an independent
role (since Moscow has much less influence over Kazakhstan than
Ukraine). The most important thing for Russian diplomacy is to
appreciate the growing potential of Astana and to learn to take it
into account, in order to avoid subsequent emotional surprises and
disappointments from inflated expectations.

In regard to the Caucasus, Kazakhstan is exposing several important
truths that are still ignored in Moscow. The main axiom is that after
the collapse of the Soviet Union, ex-Soviet republics no longer harbor
feelings of "fraternal solidarity" and historic "gratefulness." There
are only nationalistic egoism and self-interest in the economy and
in politics. These interests (and not phantoms of Eurasian unity
or of the Soviet past) define a strategy for the newly independent
states. Therefore, in Georgia and Azerbaijan, Astana will do not what
is wanted in Moscow, but what the Kazakh national elite considers
beneficial for their country. And no arguments about the "Saakashvili
puppet" or the "militarization of Azerbaijan" will be taken into
account, if they do not fit with Kazakhstan’s own motives.

Sergey Markedonov, PhD, is the head of the Interethnic Relations
Department at Moscow’s Institute of Political and Military Analysis.

–Boundary_(ID_eE5UFvBWqGmGmMnxOMMZpw)- –

AZERBAIJAN LOYAL TO SEARCH FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KARABAKH KNOT – DIPLOMAT
Vaqif Sadixov

Day.az
June 3 2008
Azerbaijan

There remains less and less potential for a peaceful resolution to
the Karabakh conflict, nevertheless Azerbaijan will be completely
devoted to honouring its own commitments’" The co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group, separate organizations and countries have been
permanently calling on the sides to the Karabakh conflict to make
mutual compromises for the resolution of the problem. Being everything
obvious with Armenia, to what extent is it reasonable to demand
compromises from Azerbaijan, the side subjected to the occupation?

Compromises inevitable to have the problem resolved

[Sadixov] Of course, as a whole, compromises as the basis of the
negotiations process, be it the Karabakh or any other issue, are
normal. People sit at the negotiations table when they are ready
for something to sacrifice, to give up something and come to some
an agreed decision at the end. Agree, otherwise, they would not sit
at the negotiations table. This is summary of the simplified view
on the issue. However, in such conditions concerning the issue of
death and life, it goes without saying that one should think time and
again on how far you are ready to make compromises. Moreover, when
issues are about basic moments, such as, the territorial integrity
and sovereignty.

Azerbaijan has been in the so-called Minsk process since 1992, i.e.,
since the establishment of the group. We proceed from the fact that
Azerbaijan has always been open to compromises and we have sacrificed
a lot in the negotiations process under all changes and upheavals of
international life around this process, both in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

However, all the efforts of Azerbaijan have always been channelled into
not overstepping this subtle point between the position of principle
and compromises. Everyone knows there are strategic principles behind
which remain strategic interests. But within the framework of this
strategy any country has, and this is normal, some tactical plans,
synchronizing it in advance taking into account own potential and
opportunities of other countries in a predictable situation. Sometimes,
the development of this situation may not depend on you, something
may take place somewhere and the situation may change.

Therefore, we do not subject the word of a "compromise" to rejection,
but at the same time, study thoroughly what we are suggested,
including by the mediators and what we shall be submitted under
packing of compromises.

I can say that as of now, the executive authorities of Azerbaijan
have not ever, despite any apocalyptic statements from various sides,
forgotten about the position of principal of the Azerbaijani state and
the people of Azerbaijan, and all the activities while performing
the negotiations process have been proceeded on the basis of a
precise plan.

Certainly, at some point, we take into consideration developments
around international situation, and we can, so to speak, present
this or another moment in a distinct form, but at the same time,
we have never made steps back from the principal position and this
will never be the case. At the same time, we, certainly, always study
proposals which we get from different sides and we study those calls
for compromises through the prism of our own interests.

[Correspondent] But some continue to maintain that without compromises
from Azerbaijan, no resolution to the conflict is possible, trying
to compel us to reconcile ourselves with the current status quo…

[Sadixov] You know, at a recent conference in Baku, her speaker while
addressing also spoke in the same course, saying that the manifestation
of a position of principle is fine, but is it possible then to come
to an agreement.

Respect your code of principles – deputy minister

We cannot forget about our position of principle importance. The
permanent calls for compromises being heard from various sides
in conditions when we are trying to resolve this conflict not
somewhere else sitting in a boulevard, but within the framework of
an international organization which has the code of own principles
(in this case, this is the Helsinki Final Act), they say like this:
"You are right. We have principles, but we do not want to use them
while assessing this situation, but simply suggest that you to forget
about them and come to an agreement between yourselves."

My response to it is this: "Do you not seem that by this you thereby
recognize the current situation, and if by virtue of some reasons, you
recognize the seizure of our territories by Armenia, thus you stop at
a very dangerous point, because when tomorrow the situation changes
for 180 degrees and President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham
Aliyev orders the minister of defence to launch military operations
to restore the territorial integrity, the situation will completely
change and then you would be forced to ask Armenia: "Bear in mind
the existing situation and make compromises?"

Thus, there emerges a vicious circle. If you at least once reject the
international principles, then you are get used to repeating about
compromises and forget about principles of independence irrespective
of the situation on the field of battle. This is a cynical approach.

[Correspondent] In the meantime, Azerbaijan itself has trusted the
OSCE to find a resolution to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, however,
this mediation has not been successful until now. Does this call in
question the ability of the OSCE to resolve the problem, and to what
extent is a proposal to replace the mediating countries of the OSCE
Minsk Group topical?

Azerbaijan to go its part in search for a peace solution

[Sadixov] Despite all complexity of the negotiations process and
all those critical remarks of us with regard to the co-chairs and
their separate actions, nevertheless, we consider that we have to go
through the peaceful part of the settlement process, but at the same
time, Azerbaijan is proceeding from the fact that there are still
opportunities to move forward, and we want to be honest and live up
to our pledge. Therefore, we shall go along this way until there is
an opportunity to regulate the conflict by peaceful means.

FIRST STAR SUPERMARKET OPENS IN HRAZDAN CITY

ARKA
June 17
YEREVAN

The first regional Star Supermarket opened Monday in Hrazdan city,
Kotayk region.

This is the 11th chain-operated Star supermarket in Armenia and the
first in the regions, said Executive Director of Star Supermarket
Chain Vahan Kerobyan.

He said the newly opened supermarket is as large as the Star
supermarkets located in Yerevan.

The 1,800 sq/m long supermarket sells about 13,000 articles, including
foodstuffs and household goods.

"We chose Hrazdan city, as it is the administrative center of the
region and is not far from the capital city," the Star Executive said.

"Besides, the city has a solvent population."

The marketing strategy of the supermarket chains in Hrazdan will be
the same as in Yerevan, according to Kerobyan.

"The supermarket has necessary modern equipment and prices are
affordable," he said.

The Star Supermarket also plans to carry out various campaigns for
consumers in Hrazdan.

In his turn, Mayor of Hrazdan Aram Danielyan assured consumers they
can get a range of products in the supermarket. "Both residents of
Hrazdan and nearby communities, including guests from Tsakhkadzor
resort, can buy products from the supermarket," he said.

The Mayor thanked the management of the supermarket chains for
opening over 70 vacancies in the city. He did not say how much had
been invested on the project not to reveal commercial classified
information.

Danielyan believes the Star management can make profits in the city,
while affordable prices in the supermarket will help consumers save
money and time.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is 28.3%
shareholder of the Star Chain of Supermarkets.

Interfax, Russia
June 11 2008

Armenia wants Nagorno Karabakh involved in settlement talks

YEREVAN June 11

Nagorno Karabakh should become a full-fledged party to the negotiating
process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign
Minister Edvard Nalbandian has said.

"The Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be settled on the basis of
compromise with due account to the right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to self-determination, and this is a key aspect of the
talks," Nalbandian said in the Armenian parliament on Wednesday.

Asked when the self-proclaimed republic is expected to join the talks
on a full scale, he said, "The sooner, the better."

He stressed that Armenia’s role in the negotiating process will not
decrease after Karabakh joins the talks.

The sides to the talks should take the opinion of Karabakh into
account, Nalbandian said.

"The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk group for the conflict settlement
during a visit to the region are actively meeting representatives of
the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh. Before meeting the Azeri side we
also held meetings with representatives of Nagorno Karabakh because
the stance of the Karabakhi side is announced at the talks," he said.

The foreign minister also said that the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
group will visit the region at the end of June.

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: KARABAKH CONFLICT SIDES CONTINUE FIGHTING BY
OTHER MEANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.06.2008 15:09

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nothing extraordinary happened during the
Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting in Saint Petersburg, according to an Armenian
expert.

"The core of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is in the region itself
and nowhere else. Nothing can change the format of relations
now. Certain military, human and historical balance of forces was
established during 20 years. The sides are trying to continue the
war by other means, for example, economic blockade and saber-rattling
on Azerbaijan’s part. Talks are also a constituent of this war. The
degree of compromise doesn’t please any of the sides. Azerbaijan
doesn’t give up attempts to bring to nothing the 20-year struggle of
Karabakhi Armenians’ for self-determination while Armenia wants to
fix the status quo. The Karabakh conflict is rather political than
legal," Caucasus Institute Director Alexander Iskandaryan said during
Yerevan-Moscow-Baku television space bridge.

"Kosovo’s independence is a vivid example of self-determination
bypassing the international law.

There are no expectations for a serious breakthrough in Karabakh
talks in the near future," the Armenian political scientist said.

ARMENIAN PUBLIC SERVICES REGULATORY COMMISSION SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNET IN REGIONS

ARKA
June 11, 2008

YEREVAN, June 11. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory
Commission intends to support to development of Internet and
e-communication in the country’s regions, the Deputy Head of
Telecommunications Department of the Commission Hamlet Tsaturian said.

The Commission decided to amend the procedure for issuing licenses
for radio frequencies in the country’s regions as the population of
Yerevan is ten times as big as that of each of the regions alone,
Tsaturian said. He suggested that commission reduces the license
price bys several times.

Under the Commission’s decision the following fees for radiomodem
network licenses are set: 150,000 drams in Yerevan and 15,000 drams
in the regions. For operation 115,000drams and 17,250 drams are to
be paid respectively.

Within time, when the sector will be formed the commission will
set specific conditions for each region depending on the number of
population and other factors, Tsaturian said.

OSCE CALLS ON YEREVAN AND BAKU TO MAKE FULL USE OF MG PROPOSALS

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.06.2008 13:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb
met the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in Helsinki on Monday
to discuss developments related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov of the Russian Federation, Ambassador
Bernard Fassier of France and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matthew Bryza of the United States, along with Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, briefed Minister Stubb on recent
developments, in particular on the meeting between the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan on 7 June in St. Petersburg.

Minister Stubb expressed his full support for the work of the
Minsk Group Co-Chairs. "Conflict resolution in the OSCE area is a
key priority of the Finnish Chairmanship. I encourage Armenia and
Azerbaijan to make full use of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ facilitation
and to consider seriously the proposal for the basic principles for
resolving the conflict.

There is no alternative to a peaceful resolution of the conflict,"
he said, the OSCE communication unit reports.

ICE DEPORTS HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN
By Corinne Ramey

AlterNet
n/87462/
June 9 2008
CA

ICE proves its efficiency at wasting U.S. tax dollars.

I’ve written about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
officials’ schoolyard antics before, but the recent news that ICE
is planning to deport a California high school valedictorian just
affirms my view that these immigration authorities need to get out
of the schools. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The valedictorian at Fresno’s Bullard High School won’t be attending
college in the United States this fall because he’s scheduled to
be deported.

Seventeen-year-old Arthur Mkoyan’s 4.0 grade-point average qualified
him to enter one of the state’s top universities. But he and his mother
have been ordered back to Armenia after their last appeal for asylum
failed. The family fled from what used to be part of the Soviet Union
and has been seeking asylum since 1992.

But, rest assured, ICE shows its nice side once in a while (and if it’s
not clear, I’m being sarcastic here). As a sort of consolation prize,
ICE decided to let Arthur stick around for graduation. According to
the article, "A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement
says they were given an extension until June 20 so Mkoyan could attend
his graduation ceremony."

This past October, the Senate tried to help out students like Arthur,
but to no avail. Legislation called the Development, Relief, and
Education for Alien Minors Act — better know as the DREAM Act — was
introduced in the Senate, but failed a procedural vote. The legislation
would have allowed Arthur and approximately 65,000 other undocumented
students a path to citizenship and the opportunity for a college
education. But unfortunately for Arthur, the legislation failed.

Arthur’s story and that of the DREAM Act are just two examples of what
amounts to an utterly inconsistent immigration policy. Whether ICE
wants to admit it or not, undocumented immigrants are here to stay,
and an enforcement-only policy that consists of random deportations
just isn’t going to cut it. According to a recently-released report
by the Public Policy Institute of California, Immigrant Pathways to
Legal Permanent Residence: Now and Under a Merit-Based System, more
than half of the immigrants in California who have legal permanent
resident status were at some point undocumented. This number is
42% for the U.S. as a whole. These immigrants — both documented
and undocumented — are a vital part of the nation’s economy and
the fabric of our nation. Deporting smart students like Arthur —
especially considering that such a huge percentage of immigrants
eventually receive legal status — is not only bad for the immigrant
community, but for the nation as a whole.

For a slightly happier immigration story, check out this video of
DMI scholar and Mexican immigrant Samantha Contreras. Samantha was
undocumented when she graduated from high school, and soon realized
the hardships associated with being undocumented.. "I learned the
reality of my immigration status," she said. "I couldn’t work,
I couldn’t go to college, I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t even get a
Blockbuster membership card." Unlike Arthur’s story, Samantha’s has
a happy ending — an immigrant rights group helped her to enroll in
college, and now she strives for a career in public policy.