Author: Tvankchian Parkev

RA NA DEPUTIES CONTEMPLATE OVER THE NKR REFERENDUM

A1+
[05:04 pm] 12 December, 2006

Armenian FMs found the position of the international institutions
not to recognise the NKR referendum quite natural.

Shavarsh Kocharyan, NA deputy commented on the loyalty of the
deputies in this respect. "The referendum of which country has been
recognised? Have you ever come across cases? In case international
structures recognise the NKR referendum, it will be a scandal."

On December 10, the mission of 9 Armenian NA deputies observed the
NKR Constitutional Referendum. They were guided by the practice of
OSCE observers’ missions – they worked out similar questionnaires,
studied the provisions – as international observers usually do.

The Armenian deputies concluded; "The NKR Constitutional Referendum
was fair, free and transparent. It was but apparent".

The Referendum of Nagorno-Karabakh even has aroused "envy" among the
Armenian PMs and they consider the balloting as a good model.

"The referendum opened a new phase in the political life of
Karabakh. We can call it a phase of democracy establishment. It is
upon international structures to endorse or turn down the results. It
is not them who must say whether the Karabakh residents must live in
a country with a constitution or without it", noted Samvel Nikoyan,
member of the Armenian observers’ mission.

Shavarsh Kocharyan who was also among the observers claims that the
referendum will have its direct influence on the negotiation process,
but the impact won’t be negative as is often predicted. "We may not
feel it now, but time will put everything in their places", added
Mr. Kocharyan.

"The referendum is aimed at eliminating the ambiguity existing in the
negotiation process. The ambiguity is that the conflict has become
an apple of discord between Armenia and Azerbaijan where Armenia has
the role of an aggressor. Whereas now it is already proved that the
sides involved in the conflict are Azerbaijan and Karabakh. The panic
of Azerbaijan is determined by it".

Today RA FMs mentioned that everything in Karabakh has been done
willingly and not by the order of European structures.

The Armenian deputies claim that after comparing the constitutions of
Karabakh and Azerbaijan it becomes obvious which of them is democratic.

On the whole Shavarsh Kocharyan maintains that "it is high time the
two Armenian countries competed with each other to see which of them
is more democratic and legal".

Judging by the vivacity of the Armenian deputies, the NKR referendum
holding and adoption, the level of the citizens’ participation,
it becomes clear who is the current winner.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH VOTES ON CHARTER
By Matthew Collin

BBC News, UK
Dec 10 2006

People in the former Soviet territory of Nagorno-Karabakh are voting
in a referendum on a proposed constitution.

Officials hope it will increase the disputed territory’s chances of
being recognised as an independent country.

Up to 30,000 people died in a war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in
the early 1990s which left the territory under ethnic Armenian control.

Although it has declared independence, it is still internationally
recognised as being part of Azerbaijan.

About 90,000 people are eligible to vote in this controversial
referendum, and a large Yes vote is expected.

The constitution would declare the small mountainous enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh to be a sovereign, democratic republic.

Karen Ohanjanyan, who works for a civil rights campaign group in
Nagorno-Karabakh, told the BBC that many people voting there saw this
as a historic day which they thought would take the territory further
towards independence.

"People believe that through this referendum, through adopting the
constitution which will become the main law of our life, changes will
come soon," he said.

Key oil pipeline

Armenia supports the separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh, saying they
have the right to self-determination.

But the government of Azerbaijan says the referendum is being held
under an illegal military occupation of Azeri territory.

The war drove more than a million people from their homes, and there
has been no peace agreement since the ceasefire 12 years ago.

Azerbaijan says it is prepared to offer Nagorno-Karabakh significant
autonomy, but not independence. It also wants Azeris who fled during
the war to be allowed to return home.

Concerns have been raised that any renewed violence could affect
a major oil pipeline which passes close to the ceasefire line in
Nagorno-Karabakh, and supplies oil to Western markets.

One Armenian political analyst suggested that only lasting peace in
the region could ensure energy security for Europe.

.stm

SYRIAN CHARGé D’AFFAIRES VISITED THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 13:51

December 11 Armenian Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosyan received
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Arab Republic of Syria Mukhlis
Faraun on the occasion of completion of his ambassador’s mission.

Expressing regret for leaving Armenia, Mr. Faraun noted he was glad to
work in our country, where he was greatly supported by both legislative
and executive authorities, but the Ambassador’s task is to leave,
completing the mission.

"I sincerely wish my successor to accomplish all the objectives I did
not manage to, said Mr. Faraun, thanking the Parliament Speaker for
the productive cooperation with the National Assembly and expressed
hope to see him is Syria on an official visit.

Tigran Torosyan wished him success in his further activity and noted
that the task of the next Ambassador will be a little harder, since
it is hard to imagine how he will manage to work better. Mr. Torosyan
appreciated the development of Interparliamentary ties and underlined
the importance of human contacts, which bring two nations closer. It
was noted that despite the fact that the two peoples belong to
different nationalities and religions, they have common interests
and human values. He attached importance to the balanced position of
Syria in regional processes.

–Boundary_(ID_xzGE4IK2ksnhh8xbsLlFrw) —

ARMENIAN CB MAY SPECIFY INTEREST RATES ON OPERATIONS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 8 2006

YEREVAN, December 8. /ARKA/. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
does not rule out the possibility of specifying the interest rates
on its operations. If the current prospects for economic development
are maintained, the CBA Board may specify the current interest rates
within the next few months.

The CBA Board members pointed out that despite external pressures
on inflation in Armenia, they are expected to be reduced during the
next 12 months. In general, the pressures are not yet connected with
the high prices for energy carriers and for other products.

High growth rates in the construction and services sectors are
maintained as well. In these conditions, the increase in the
population’s incomes accompanied by increase in private transfers
exerts moderate inflationary pressure as well.

At the same time, to satisfy the keen seasonal demand for Armenian
drams and continuing dramalization in economy, the CBA purchases
foreign exchange, which results in excessive economic liquidity
The CBA believes that this excess may be neutralized with current
interest rates.

The CBA Board decided to leave the annual refinancing rate unchanged –
4.75%.

GERMANY DENIES POLITICAL ASYLUM TO OVER 6,000 AZERIS – ENVOY

Turan News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 8 2006

Baku, 8 December: Germany has turned down requests for political
asylum filed by 6,500 Azerbaijani citizens, German ambassador to
Azerbaijan Peer Stanchina has told reporters.

This is a very large number for a small country like Azerbaijan,
the ambassador added. An analysis of the situation has shown that
many of the applicants were of Armenian origin.

It costs German municipalities a lot of money to provide housing and
material aid to those people. It costs Germany 30m-40m euros a year.

"We have started talks with Azerbaijan’s government on the return
of those people to Azerbaijan," the ambassador said. He added that
there were also members of political parties among those applying
for political asylum.

EXHIBITION "SITUATION ON ARMENIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE IN NAKHIJEVAN" OPENS IN STRASBOURG

Noyan Tapan
Dec 08 2006

STRASBOURG, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian on December 6 met with Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg,
Chairman of the city community Robert Grossmann. Accpording to the
RA MFA Press and Information Department, the meeting was followed by
the opening of the exhibition "The Situation on the Armenian Cultural
Heritage in Nakhijevan" in the hall of the Strasbourg mayor’s office,
during which Vartan Oskanian made a speech. The exhibition, which will
last until December 10, has been organized by the French-Armenian
organization "Alsace-Armenia Friendship" under the sponsorship of
the Strasbourg mayor’s office.

MAHMUDALI CHOHRAGANLI: RAFIG TAGI HELPED PERSIAN REGIME WITH HIS ARTICLE

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 8 2006

"Today, there is a group of officials and famous men in North
Azerbaijan who cooperate with Iran special service bodies. They want
to put Azerbaijan under the blow. Rafig Tagi who wrote an article
that insulted Prophet Muhammad helped Persian regime," the chief of
South Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement Mahmudali Chohraganli
told the APA exclusively.

He said that anyone has neither moral nor legal right to insult
Muhammad Prophet who is respected by over billion people. He stressed
that Iran special bodies has role in all happened.

"Iran lost when USSR collapsed and Azerbaijan got its independence.

>>From that time Persian regime tries to use all ways to achieve the
weakening or separation of Azerbaijan. Both Russia and Iran helped
Armenian to occupy Azerbaijani territories. Rafig Tagi’s move can be
directed by Iran. If not, Iran would never stop to keep the issue on
the focus," he said.

Chohraganli said that Rafig Tagi’s article hampers South Azerbaijan
movement.

Persians try to use it for separation of Azerbaijani Turks. They try
to make Azerbaijani Turks believe that their compatriots in North
Azerbaijanis are Kafir. Rafig Tagi with his article can do anything
neither to Prophet Muhammad nor Islam. Only South Azerbaijan Movement
will suffer," he said.

NKR INTENDS TO OPEN NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIONS NEXT YEAR

ArmRadio.am
06.12.2006 14:36

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic has permanent representations in Armenia,
Russia, the US, France, Australia, countries of the Middle East. NKR
Deputy Foreign Minister Masis Mailyan told "Armenpress" that next
year it is envisaged to open in a number of other countries and
international organizations.

Permanent representations of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic exist in a
a number of international organizations, including the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Committee
of the Red Cross and HALO Trust.

ARMENIAN-AUSTRIAN BUSINESS MEETING TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON DECEMBER 8TH

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. With the asistance of the RA Ministry
of Trade and Economic Development, the Austrian embassy in Armenia
(residence – Moscow) will organize a meeting of representatives of
14 Austrain companies with Armenian businessmen in Yerevan. NT was
informed from the Austrian embassy that the puspose of the meeting is
to discuss opportunities of mutually beneficial cooperation. During the
meeting, the Austrian side will present sport outfit, car test-systems,
chip plastic cards, industry automation systems, water pressure
devices, idustrial waste disposal and transportation and water-supply
equipment, as well as equipment of other spheres’ companies.

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
December 1, 2006 Friday 8:27 PM EET

Fradkov hopes Georgia won’t thwart Russian gas transit to Armenia

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said Friday that he hoped
problems in Russian-Georgian relations would not thwart Russian gas
transit through Georgia to Armenia.

Fradkov was speaking at a news conference following a meeting with
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.

He said that he hoped Georgia would not take Russian gas transited to
Armenia without Gazprom’s permission.

Last year Gazprom accused another former Soviet country, Ukraine, of
illegally taking gas intended for European customers.

Fradkov called for making gas transportation routes "more efficient".
It was not clear whether he was referring to launching routes
bypassing Georgia.

Earlier this year Gazprom increased its gas price for Georgia from
U.S. $64 per 1,000 cubic meters to $110 per 1,000 cubic meters and
subsequently said it would hike the price to $230 per 1,000 cubic
meters in 2007.

Gazprom Deputy Chief Executive Alexander Medvedev said last month
that Gazprom would agree to a lower price if Georgia sold some of its
pipeline assets to the gas giant.

Georgian officials have repeatedly said that they would not accept
the price hike and would not sell any pipelines.