Author: Vardanian Garo

US RAISES CONCERNS OVER ARMENIAN ENERGY TIES WITH IRAN

Raw Story, MA
_over_Armenian_en_06152007.html
June 15 2007

The top US diplomat in Armenia raised concerns Friday about the
ex-Soviet country’s growing energy cooperation with neighbouring Iran.

"We have passed on our concerns about this issue to the Armenian
government," US Charge d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey said at a press
conference in the Armenian capital Yerevan.

"The US is encouraging Armenia’s active participation in the process
of persuading Iran that it must fulfill its international obligations,"
Godfrey said.

The UN Security Council has imposed two rounds of sanctions in a bid
to get Iran to halt uranium enrichment, which can be used for nuclear
reactor fuel but also for making atomic bombs.

Landlocked Armenia has sought closer links with Iran because of an
economic blockade imposed by neighbours Azerbaijan and Turkey over
the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region.

In March, the two countries inaugurated a 150-kilometre (93-mile)
pipeline that will deliver 36 billion cubic metres of gas from Iran
to Armenia under a 20-year contract.

Armenia will pay for the gas with electricity it produces at a
Soviet-era nuclear power plant. The two countries have also signed
an agreement to jointly develop a hydroelectric power plant on the
Arax river that runs along their shared border.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: THERE IS NO OTHER REASONABLE WAY OF SOLVING KARAKH PROBLEM THAN TO MAKE COMPROMISE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. "The European Union is following with
interest the election process, whose results are also important in
that after the adoption of the EU-Armenia action plan, Armenia is
the first South Caucasian country to have held elections. By these
elections, Armenia may serve as an example for its neighbors," the
Armenian prime minister Serge Sargsian said during the June 15 meeting
with the EU Special representative Peter Semneby. Underlining that the
election results were also important from the viewpoint of relations
with other regional countries, he expressed a hope that this positive
trend will continue at the presidential elections to be held next year.

S. Sargsian in his turn expressed confidence that these positive
trends will continue and even more develop not only prior to the
upcoming parliamentary eelctions but efforts will be made so that
the democratic process will become irreversible in Armenia.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, during
the meeting the interlocutors also discussed in detail the process
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. P. Semneby noted that the
EU is continuing to be greatly interested in the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict not only because Armenia and Azerbaijan
are important partners for the EU but also with the aim of creating
an atmosphere of confidence and providing greater assistance.

S. Sargsian said that the frequent statements of the Azerbaijani
president, this country’s defence expenditures increasing with every
year give only pessimism – in contrast to Armenia’s constructive
approach and its position to settle the conflict peacefully through
negotiations, which inspires optimism.

The EU special representative attempted to explain Azerbaijan’s
bellicose propaganda by the mode of action of its mass media, saying
that in the recent period the president I. Aliyev does not seem to
have manifested this position in his approach. P. Semneby once again
underlined the EU’s approach to solve the conflict in an atmosphere
of trust through peace negotiations.

S. Sargsian re-asserted Armenia’s position, pointing out that no
one should view compromise as a unilateral concession, and everybody
should realize that compromise is the only reasonable way to settle
the conflict. In his words, Armenia is prepared to activize contacts at
all levels and create an atmosphere of trust, but unfortunately so far
there have been no such positive impulses from the Azerbaijani side.

NEXT MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA MAY TAKE PLACE IN AUTUMN: DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 13 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend E.Huseynly / The Head of the Foreign
Relations Department of the Executive Apparat of Azerbaijan President,
Novruz Mammadov, briefed the media on the 13th of June that the next
meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia,
Robert Kocharyan, with regards to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement may take place in autumn. According to N.Mammadov, after
the meeting of the Presidents in Saint-Petersburg, the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group continue to attend to their activities.

"In the near future, the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan
and Armenia will take place," Mammadov added.

The ninth meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and
Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, took place on the 9th of June within the
formal summit of the CIS State Heads.

YEREVAN DISAPPROVED ARKADY GHUKASYAN

Lragir.am
12-06-2007 16:07:34

The leadership of Armenia does not approve the urge of the president
of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghukasyan to impose Bako
Sahakyan on the society of Nagorno-Karabakh, stated Igor Muradyan,
political scientist, at the National Press Club on June 12. He says
the candidates are two, the candidate of the government Sahakyan
and the NKR deputy foreign minister Masis Mayilyan named by a civil
initiative, who differs from the government by his determined stance,
especially regarding the present borders of NKR.

Muradyan says the NKR president Arkady Ghukasyan is nervous, and
it is not clear why because the previous elections in NKR were also
competitive.

"For the first time in the history of NKR one of the candidates has
a rather determined stance and is not controlled by the government,"
says Igor Muradyan, pointing to it as the first cause for Arkady
Ghukasyan’s nervousness. The second reason, he says, is the protest
nature of the voting to president. "Nothing of the kind was observed
in the previous presidential elections. There was something similar in
the parliamentary elections but not in the presidential elections. It
also makes him nervous.

But this is not all. The most unpleasant thing is that this election
is crucial for the future of the acting president," Igor Muradyan
says. He says Ghukasyan hopes to continue his career, but before he
leaves he wants to make sure someone will remain in Stepanakert who
will be fully controllable.

"Ghukasyan makes a double mistake. First, whoever is elected will not
obey Arkady Ghukasyan all the time. It is already a mistake. It’s
just an assumption, but he must leave in a dignified way, the way
he perceives a dignified way. And if this campaign smells defiance,
indecency, administrative terror, his future will not be good," Igor
Muradyan says, adding that all these things make Arkady Ghukasyan
nervous.

Igor Muradyan says in order to promote his plan Arkady Ghukasyan has
launched information terror in Karabakh, when all the media, Igor
Muradyan refers to most of them as Ghukasyan’s tabloids, are busy with
illogical advertisement of the government candidate. Administrative
terror is underway as well, and now Arkady Ghukasyan himself meets
with officials and instructs them to support Sahakyan, otherwise
they will be sacked. Some have been dismissed already. "In addition,
they circulate lies that Robert Kocharyan endorses Bako Sahakyan. Now
they are spreading other rumors, they say Kocharyan does not make
decisions, and Serge Sargsyan makes decisions now. The idea is
instilled in the society that the election has already taken place,
and there is no need to go to the polling station. They are trying to
instill in people that the Armenian government is interested in this
issue, it is directly involved in these affairs, and will encourage
any violation. I do not want to support anyone, neither does the
Armenian government, but frankly speaking it is a lie. This person
is in hysteria, and wants to get over this state by all means," Igor
Muradyan says about Arkady Ghukasyan. He says in the beginning Robert
Kocharyan was against Bako Sahakyan’s nomination. "He was cornered,
the person could not say he could not be named. He only said let him
be elected, he did not say the police, the army should support him. He
never said this. It is impossible because the person’s relation with
someone is quite different. You see?" Igor Muradyan says. He says
Arkady Ghukasyan broke down because Armenia does not support him.

"Why not? Because they like or dislike him? No. It makes no different,
he is hopeless. The person was outside Armenia for half of the
year, at least half of the year. In Dubai, elsewhere. He is fond
of traveling. He is fond of being away from home. The parliament of
Karabakh decided to provide him with a house and a car, OK, but it
also decided to pay two trips. Is there a similar thing in any other
country of the world? Even in Latin America. In addition, he is fond
of traveling on others’ expense," Igor Muradyan says.

The political scientist expects interest, public reaction, dialogue
from Armenia towards the process underway in Karabakh, which he thinks
is absent.

Igor Muradyan also says Arkady Ghukasyan tries his best to hinder the
presidential candidate Masis Mayilyan, but he will fail because there
are people with a civil thinking and standpoint in the government.

US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA SAYS THAT BRYZA WAS NOT REFERRING TO ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS

ArmInfo
2007-06-12 22:00:00

The US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza was not referring
to Armenian journalists, the US Embassy in Armenia says in response
to the request of an ArmInfo correspondent to comment on the report
by Azeri media that Bryza has called Armenian journalists idiots.

To remind, Azeri media claim that during a speech on ATB TV channel
Bryza refuted a report by Armenian media and did that in a very
tactless and provocative way. He reportedly said that those who had
made that report were idiots. The Azeri sources do not specify what
report Bryza meant exactly but one can guess from their comments
what they are hinting at. They say that "last week Armenian media
said on behalf of Bryza that Azerbaijan has occupied some territories
of Nagorno-Karabakh."

To note, during a press-conference in Yerevan last week a journalist
asked if the co-chairs, who kept talking about occupied Azeri
territories, knew that there were also Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian
territories occupied by Azerbaijan. Bryza said that the co-chairs
knew that but at the moment they were discussing principles and he
would prefer keeping details secret as making them public would mean
showing disrespect for the negotiating parties.

So, it is not clear who Bryza referred to if not Armenian
journalists. It may so happen that the Azeri journalists provoked
Bryza to use the insulting word.

In this context, we have remembered the well-known phrase from
Dostoyevsky’s Idiot: "Beauty will save the world," which in this
particular situation and in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process can well be changed into "Tolerance will save the world"
and referred to Bryza.

PRESS TV, Iran
June 10 2007

Leaders to talk on Karabakh
Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:28:02

Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are to continue talks on
settling the status of the mountain territory of Nagorny Karabakh.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
are to meet during an informal gathering of heads of state of the CIS
(Commonwealth of Independent States) group of ex-Soviet countries in
Saint Petersburg, a member of Kocharian’s press service said.

The talks began on Saturday with the participation of mediators from
France, Russia and the United States.

Western diplomats have indicated that an agreement could be signed by
the end of this year on basic principles for resolving the dispute
over Nagorny Karabakh.

The two ex-Soviet states have remained at loggerheads since they
fought a war in the early 1990s, with corrosive effects for the whole
Caucasus region.

Minister says Russian-US talks on radar station must meet Azeri
interests

Lider TV, Baku
8 Jun 07

[Presenter] The Baku government has reacted to the issue [of the joint
use of the Qabala radar station by Russia and the USA proposed by
Putin]. All talks to be conducted from now on regarding the joint use
of the Qabala radar station by the USA and Russia should meet
Azerbaijan’s national interests, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov has said. The minister added that these steps were not
directed against a third state.

[Mammadyarov speaking in a news conference] We are ready for bilateral
or trilateral talks on the use of the Qabala radar station. Azerbaijan
is ready to consider the issues like whether there will be a new
contract, how it will be and the form of cooperation there. I do not
believe that this issue will cause any difficulty with any country.
Because Azerbaijan’s foreign policy and position have been first of all
built on its national interests. Therefore, it is early to predict
which results we will achieve. But if you [means Russia and the USA] go
to talks, first of all the discussions should be based on Azerbaijan’s
national interests.

ARMENIA: PRIORITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE ELECTIONS

Equilibri.net (subscription), Italy
June 8 2007

The country is facing a delicate moment in its history. Following May
twelfth’s elections democratic rule appears to be in place, however,
economic growth is unstable and is far from uniform throughout the
country. A point of force could be the energy sector. Future foreign
policy will be fundamental to improving the troubled diplomatic
situation with neighbouring countries.

Gianfranco Brusaporci Equilibri.net (08 June 2007)

Democratic elections: the key to international trust

Following the parliamentary elections held on 12 May, the Government
of Yerevan is once more in the hands of the Republican Party of
Armenia’s (RP) leader, Serzh Sarkisian. In addition to the RP another
pro-Presidential and pro-Russian party achieved a significant number of
votes, Gaguik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia (PA). The opposition was
comprised of three groups: Dashnaktsoutioun (Armenian Revolutionary
Federation), Orinats Erkir (Rule of Law), and the Heritage Party
Armenia’s Central Electoral Committee (CEC) counted the votes of
1.389.521 electors out of the 2.316.038 who have the right to vote.

Of the 21 parties that participated only 5 passed the 5% minimum
threshold: Republican Party of Armenia – 457.032 votes – 32,8%
Prosperous Armenia – 204.443 votes – 14,7 Dashnaktsoutioun (Armenian
Revolutionary Federation) – 177.792 votes – 12,7% Orinats Erkir (Rule
of Law) – 95.256 votes – 6,8% Heritage Party – 80.890 votes – 5,8%

This is the fourth time that Armenia has voted since the collapse of
the Soviet Union and the first time that elections have been judged
positively by the international observers. An Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) report – the organisation sent 300
experts – states that the elections were held "in conformity with
international democratic standards". The head of the OSCE mission,
Boris Frlec, underlined how the vote had been important to restoring
the trust of the Armenian citizens.

Notwithstanding, opposition leaders protested claiming that
the electoral results had been manipulated. A demonstration was
held during which exponents claimed to have proof of electoral
irregularities conducted by the winning parties during the counting
of the votes. The Orinats Eerkir party, which lost about 6% compared
to the previous elections in 2003, declared their intention to appeal
to the Armenian Constitutional Court. The current tense climate is
not helping the country to concentrate on more relevant issues and
of distancing the spectre of internal revolution, as has happened in
Georgia and the Ukraine.

Due to the positive reports of the international observers Armenia
has conquered the trust of the Unitised States and Europe. Both had
applied diplomatic pressure to the political classes in order to
assure the correct management of the voting procedure. The US has
promised 200 million dollars to assist development while Europe has
committed to examining a series of agreements with Armenia.

Javier Solana, the European Union High Representative for Common
Foreign and Security Policy, commented that: "the Armenians have
demonstrated greater political maturity in respect to the past and
have been an example to the other countries in the region" Economic
development is tied to foreign policy

The Armenian electoral campaign was somewhat confused. The opposition
was defeated because they presented themselves in a disjointed
fashion without any common plan that represented an alternative
to the pro-Presidential parties.All 21 parties focused above all
on development and foreign policy; however, none of them gave any
convincing arguments in merit to how the situation of these sectors
could be improved.

In an interview given to the Russian daily newspaper, Nezavisimaja
Gazeta, Sarkisian described the Republican Party’s seven priorities: a
strong army, creating new jobs, territorial development, the doubling
of the lowest pensions, health services for all of the citizens,
quality education, and a competitive scientific sector. The Premier
claimed to be capable of implementing the necessary reforms and noted
the positive economic results that have been reached over the last two
years; in 2005 and 2006 Armenia’s GDP grew by 13 and 14% respectively.

>>From a 2006 International Development Agency (IDA) analysis the
growth of GDP can be traced over a ten year period, the average is
10%. In the same timeframe the level of poverty has decreased from
55 to 30%.These positive signs are insufficient, the economy is still
to grow in some of the internal areas of the country, for example in
the mountain areas where infrastructure, transport, and communications
are lacking.Change is required, According to data contained in a 2006
report by the International Organisation for Migration (OIM), since
1998 around 1 million people have emigrated, 300 thousand between
2002 and 2006 alone.

To contrast this phenomenon on 3 April the Energy Minister, Movsisian,
stated that the development strategy for the RP had to focus on
industrial production. This, in his opinion, would create employment
and better the quality of life of citizens in general.

Movsisian has announced the restarting of chemical production in the
Mayor Ghukasian region, suspended in 1988 due to an earthquake.

According to predictions this will create around 370 new jobs.

The opposition parties have concentrated on developing the poorest
and most needy areas. The objective is to create an equal balance
throughout the country. In particular attention is being paid to the
northern border regions which are characterised by economic depression
and a high level of unemployment. In Gyumri, the principal town of the
north-west region of Shirak, the Orinats Erkir party has promised the
local population that they will install aerials for the transmission
of Russian television. The party has also stated their wish to build
safer roads and bridges for the villages that remain isolated during
the winter months.

Another key element that distinguished the electoral campaign was
foreign policy. According to the majority of political leaders
Armenia’s difficult relations with the surrounding countries have
to be resolved. The most important issue regards the diverse ethnic
minorities present in Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The
nationalist character of the populations is very strong and the
parties in government, during the electoral campaign, used this fact
to their advantage.

Due to the question of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia has
particular diplomatic difficulties both with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The borders with both countries are closed. There are no commercial
exchanges and the export of goods takes place via the Georgian
border alone.

Both political groups, government and opposition, have underlined
the necessity to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh question, however the
majority’s position appears to be more determined. The Government has
decided that military needs to be strengthened and that agreements
have to be reached with both Russia and the United States. During the
beginning of the current year the historical Soviet ally organised a
series of military anti-terrorism exercises that involved the Armenian
forces, while the US, on 30 March, emitted an amendment that brought
military support funds to the level of 75 million dollars.

Even if the Government parties are considered pro-Russian and
those of the opposition pro-Western the effective foreign policy of
Yerevan is balanced between Russia and the United States. Military
agreements with Russia have been solid since 2002, the year in which
the Collective Security Treaty was ratified, and relations with NATO
are advancing quickly. On 12 March NATO opened an information centre
in Yerevan, the objective is to introduce the population to NATO
and facilitate relations with the Armenian Government. The Foreign
Minister has pronounced himself as satisfied that the "centre, one of
the objectives of the Individual Partnership Action Plan, was created
in the course of the first year of entry into the plan". The objective
of the Individual Partnership Action Plan between NATO and Armenia is
bilateral assistance on general themes: politics, security, defence,
science, environment, management of emergencies etc.

The most difficult foreign policy issue for Yerevan will be continuing
to ponder upon relations with the major international players. The
Government will have to exercise particular attention not to lean too
much to one side because, as Premier Sarkisian has stated, "the best
situation for us is not to be found in conflicts between the major
powers, but, on the contrary, in their collaboration".

Energy at the centre of national interests

On common point in the electoral campaign was the will to invest in
the energy sector.

The political class understands Armenia’s geo-strategic position and
knows that this could be of benefit in the future. Iran, Russia,
the US, and Europe are all ready to ‘make friends’ with the small
south Caucasian Republic. In an astute fashion Yerevan is attempting
to maximise its interests though careful, balanced moves and through
making a series of economic agreements at international level.

Over the last few years the energy Minister, Movsisyan, has encountered
the American Energy Security Secretary, Samuel Bodman, on a number of
occasions and has assured Armenia a high level of technical assistance
and finance in order to develop the country’s energy sector.

On 19 March, in Meghri, a city on the border with Iran, the Armenian
President Kocharian and his Iranian counterpart Ahmadinejad,
participated in the opening ceremony of a new 140 km long gas
pipeline. The pipeline will unite Iran and Armenia transporting,
initially, 1,1 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year which will
rise to 2,3 after 2019. The old system only allowed the importation
from Tehran of 300/400 million cubic metres a year.The project of the
Armenian-Russian company ArmRosgazprom takes into consideration the
construction of a further 197 km on Armenian soil that will connect
the line from Kajaran as far as Ararat. This second phase will require
52 billion drams, approximately 144,5 million dollars. The project
which sees the frontline involvement of the Russian multinational
Gazprom will allow Armenia to improve its economic-strategic position.

Conclusions

The 12 May elections have been considered by some critics as a general
exam for the Presidential elections which will be held in 2008. Ample
popular consent for the leader Sarkisian has confirmed him as one
of the favourites to take over from the current Prsident, Robert
Kocharian. Over the coming months the choices of the new Government
regarding economic development and foreign policy will crown, or be
the fall of, Sarkisian.

rmenia__priorities_and_economic_development_after_ the_elections

PM SERGE SARGSYAN RECEIVED AMBASSADOR VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN

ArmRadio.am
08.06.2007 17:37

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan received the Head of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, who is completing
his mission in our country.

The Prime Minister thanked Ambassador Pryakhin for productive
cooperation and the great contribution of the OSCE to the
democratization process in Armenia.

Vladimir Pryakhin also said the cooperation with the Armenian
authorities and the political society was fruitful. The Ambassador took
the opportunity to congratulate Serge Sargsyan on assuming the Prime
Minister’s Office and expressed hope that the recent achievements
and progress in the sphere of economy and in the direction of
democratization will sustain and Armenia will register new successes
in different fields.

At the end of the meeting the Prime Minister wished success to Vladimir
Pryakhin in his future activity.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CONFESS THAT NEGOTIATIONS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PROCEED WITH DIFFICULTY

Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. During the June 7 meeting with the
NKR president Arkady Ghukasian, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Yuri
Merzlyakov, Bernard Fassier and Matthew Bryza noted that negotiations
are proceeding with difficulty. According to them, it is necessary
to make some progress, which is expected from the conflict parties.

According to a press release of the Permanent Representation of the NKR
in Armenia, at the request of the co-chairs the NKR president presented
the position of the Karabakh side. Arkady Ghukasian underlined that
the negotiation format determined by the OSCE Budapest summit needs to
be restored, saying that the negotiations cannot lead to the expected
result without the full participation of Nagorno Karabakh.

The NKR president said that the foundation-stone of negotiations is
the issue of status of Nagorno Karabakh, while all the other issues
are the consequences of the conflict, and it is necessary to specify
the formulations of the issues under discussion.

Arkady Ghukasian noted that it is impossible to reach a compromise
in today’s atmosphere of hatred and distruit between the conflict
parties. He proposed that the mediators should get definite guarantees
from all the conflict parties that they will not use force and make
threats.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs assured A. Ghukasian that they share
the concerns of the Karabakh side.