Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

FEUDALS WILL BE ELECTED BY MAJORITARIAN SYSTEM

A1+
[05:43 pm] 19 October, 2006

Vazgen Manukyan, leader of the National Democratic Union (NDU), claims
that both the authorities and the Opposition lack the features and
force to guide the nation.

"The point is that there is people have no confidence in the country’s
future well being. Elections will be held in Armenia but people don’t
believe they will be just and fair," announced Vazgen Manukyan in club
"Pastark." He says that "corruption, criminal and illegality reign
in the country."

"I think this is an interval after different groupings. How can
we speak of perfect future, if there is no collision between the
authorities and the Opposition?" says Mr. Manukyan.

While speaking of the newly formed "Alternative" social-political
organization, Vazgen Margaryan noted that the name of the structure
doesn’t suggest that it is really alternative. "At first they declare
that they are guided by the principles of the Armenian National
Movement introduced by me. Then they pass on to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
article written in 1997. This is inadmissible for me," says Vazgen
Manukyan and adds that we live in a different epoch and we must attach
new approaches to the old ideas.

As for the case of deputy Hakob Hakobyan, Mr. Manukyan says that it is
upon the court to decide whether he is guilty or innocent. Mr. Manukyan
sees criminal coloring in Hakobyan’s actions. "He is but a feudal.

If they say that this small feudal did 20-million USD harm to the
state, can you imagine the total harm done to the country?" says
Mr. Manukyan.

The NDU leader claims that the Opposition didn’t support the
deputy. They merely didn’t participate in bringing an action against
Hakob Hakobyan.

"The authorities chose Hakob Hakobyan as a scapegoat.

As the Opposition’s voice was not decisive, we stayed aside."

As for the 2007 elections, Mr. Manukyan mentioned that in comparison
with 1996 elections, candidates running for the parliament elections
will have to spend huge sums of money as "Armenia has turned into a
country of feudals where a few feudals struggle for the leadership
in the same constituency".

ARMENIAN FM OSKANIAN INSISTS ON ‘TENSION POLICY WITH TURKEY’

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Oct 17 2006

* Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian indicates that Armenia will
continue to increase tension with Turkey

Emboldened by last week’s decision by France to approve a bill
penalizing those who would publicly deny the so-called Armenian
genocide, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian has come forward
with a new allegation against Turkey: "The fact that Turkey has
not recognized the events of 1915-1917 as it should means that the
genocide is still occuring."

Oskanian, who asserts that despite that, Yerevan is anxious to
normalize relations with Ankara, went on to say "It is difficult to
say that things are going well just because France and Switerzerland
have accepted bills recognizing the Armenian genocide. Our real
aim is not to have other countries recognize this genocide. Also,
we gain nothing from humiliating Turkey. For Turkey to ask for a
special research commission to be formed while its borders with us
remain closed is not a very honest or genuine action."

The territorial borders between Turkey and Armenia have been closed
since Armenian forces attacked and occupied Azeri territories.

Armenia does not recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders.

Oskanian’s comments came in the "NZZ am Sonntag" newspaper on Sunday
in Switzerland. He also said "The fact that Turkey has not accepted
or recognized the Armenian genocide up until now means that it is
still continuing. But, as this country’s foreign minister, my duty is
to look towards the future and to find a way to normalize relations
with Turkey."

The relations between Turkey and Armenia is not at the worst level in
the history. The surveys show that most of the Turkish people accuse
Armenia for the French bill, and many think that Turkey-Armenia borders
should not be opened, though the Government offers to establish a
joint commission. More than 70.000 Armenia Armenians live and work
in Turkish cities.

SPEAKER ARINC: CHIRAC’S APOLOGY WAS NOT GENUINE

Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 17 2006

Bulent Arinc, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, has said that
he does not think President Jacques Chirac’s apologetic phone call
to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of the French
Parliament’s acceptance of the "genocide denial" bill was "genuine."

Arinc also asserted that it was no coincidence that the Armenian terror
group ASALA was most active in France. The Speaker’s comments came
yesterday at a parliamentary meeting in Ankara. Arinc also reserved
words for the upcoming 2007 presidential elections in Turkey:

"Do not listen to those who want to foment chaos and disorder in our
country as the presidential elections draw nearer. Don’t pay attention
to those who want to scare you by intoning ‘The country is being sold.’

PRESENTATION OF ALBUM OF ARMENIAN PALEOGRAPHY IN HOLY SEE
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily
18/10/2006

Press service of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informs that on Holy
Translators Day (Targmanchats ton) on October 14 the presentation
of "The Album of Armenian Paleography" took place at the Hall of
Ceremonies that was honored by His Holiness Karekin II. The album
co-authored by Michael Stone, Tigran Guyumjian and Henning Lehman
was first published by Danish Aarhus University Press in 2002. Under
the supervision of the Catholicos of All Armenians and sponsored by
Dolores Zohrap Libman Foundation, the Armenian version of the album has
seen the light this year. The book was translated and edited by Azat
Bozoyan, director of "Karekin I" Center for Armenology and Theology,
scholars of Matenadaran, Aram Topchian and Gohar Muradian. The album
was printed at "Tigran Mets" publishing house and is no inferior to
the English version.

The presentation was attended by members of the Supreme Spiritual
Council, album contributors, professors of Gevorgian seminary,
scientists and art workers. Tigran Guyumjian, co-author and head
of the Department of Armenian Studies at the Fresno University,
presented the process of album’s creation in brief emphasizing the
Catholicos’s contribution.

The Chamber Orchestra of Armenia closed the event with the sounds of
Bach, Komitas, Piazzolla and Babajanian.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY APPLAUDS FRANCE FOR STRONGLY AFFIRMING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA), the Assembly welcomes the continued commitment by
the French parliament to keep the history of the Armenian Genocide
inviolable despite calls from Turkey to drop an Armenian Genocide
bill or risk damaging bilateral ties.

Òhe French National Assembly voted 106 to 19 to approve legislation
that would penalize Armenian Genocide denial with fines and a jail
term. The bill must still be approved by France’s upper house of
parliament and signed by President Jacques Chirac, who called on
Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide during a recent state
visit to Armenia.

According to The Associated Press, Chirac asked, "Should Turkey
recognize the Genocide of Armenians to join the European Union?

Honestly, I believe so. Each country grows by acknowledging its dramas
and errors of the past."

In the week leading up to the vote, the Turkish government warned
France that bilateral relations would suffer if lawmakers approved the
bill. A statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, criticized
the vote saying, "French-Turkish relations….have been dealt a
severe blow today as a result of the irresponsible false claims
of French politicians who do not see the political consequences of
their actions."

The Armenian government, for its part, called the vote a "natural
continuation of France’s principled and consistent defenses of human
and historic rights and values."

The statement from Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian also
said, "To adopt such a decision is the French Parliament’s sovereign
right and is understandable. What we don’t understand is the Turkish
government’s instigation of extremist public relations, especially
while Turkey itself has a law that does exactly the same thing and
punishes those who even use the term genocide or venture to discuss
those events."

–Boundary_(ID_t+S3yRB6om4nH3/zJwqn Kg)–

October 14, 2006
REGNUM
Viktor Yakubyan: Tbilisi is preparing double strike against Moscow and
Yerevan

The Russian-Armenian inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation
met in Moscow a few days ago. The same day the press reported the sides to
have agreed on how to alleviate the impact Russia’s economic sanctions
against Georgia is having on Armenia. To remind, the sanctions were imposed
after the arrest and release of Russian officers in Georgia and,
particularly, concern the sphere of transport, particularly, motor and rail
transportation. This measure has put Armenia in as hard a situation as
Georgia.
"The transit of cargoes from Armenia via Georgia to Russia and vice versa
will not be stopped," the Secretary of the National Security Council of
Armenia, Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan said after the Moscow meeting. His
colleague, the Russian co-chair of the commission, Russian Transport
Minister Igor Levitin appeared with quite a sensational statement. He said
that "the cargoes from Russia to Armenia and vice versa will be transported
via the port of Samsun (Turkey), from there to the port of Kavkaz (Russia)
and then to Poti (Georgia)." The ministers assured that two train ferries
will be launched between Kavkaz and Poti by the end of this year. Sargsyan
said that, presently, there is one train ferry between the ports that can
carry 20 cars.
All they said implies that the Kavkaz-Poti-Armenia route will not be used
hereinafter. Russia has stopped almost all cargo operations with Georgia and
is now forced to search for quite original ways to communicate with Armenia.
It should be noted that the direct transport communication between Armenia
and Turkey was stopped the moment Armenia proclaimed independence and will
hardly be resumed in the near future.
Thus, Russia is planning to send its cargoes from Kavkaz to Samsun and then
almost back to Batumi or Poti and only then to Armenia. Thus, Turkey is
becoming the second go-between (Georgia remains one in any case) in
Armenian-Russian commodity turnover.
We should take this project with certain skepticism as the point here is not
even in political or technical difficulty but in the lack of any sense and
logic. Such a long way round will be by far more expensive for Russian and
Armenian companies than the long-trodden Poti-Ilichevsk (Ukraine) route and
they will hardly give the latter up. Even without Samsum, Kavkaz-Poti is no
rival to the Ukrainian route due to its low capacity. Presently, its train
ferry can carry only 18 cars at one go.
However, the point is even not that the Russian and Armenian authorities
have "felt" some "original" way out the present situation. In fact, by
offering a Turkish transit route to Armenia, the Russian authorities make it
clear that their sanctions against Georgia will last for long. And it seems
that the other possible way-out for Armenia – via the Caspian Sea and Iran –
is not being considered.
In Moscow Armenian DM Serzh Sargsyan had a number of meetings, particularly,
with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Russian sources
report that the sides discussed the aggravation of Georgian-Russian
relations and the ways for Armenia to come out of the present deadlock.
Naturally, under the current economic pressure, the Georgian authorities are
also considering certain scenarios. Some sources say that Georgia is
actively consulting with the US, Azerbaijan and Turkey about its further
actions. First of all, the Georgian leadership is getting ready for a rise
in the Russian gas price. The sources say that starting from Jan 1 2007 the
price will be raised to $250 per 1,000 c m. Georgia will respond in a
counter-ultimatum: the transit tariff of Russian gas to Armenia will be
raised from $30 to $75 per 1,000 c m (after the first rise of the gas tariff
for Georgia from $55 to $110, Tbilisi raised the transit tariff for Armenia
from $15 to $30). Certainly, Gazprom will reject Georgia’s proposal, but the
Georgian authorities will not be "surprised" and will start the practice of
illegal "siphoning" of the gas meant for Armenia.
Meanwhile, as early as Jan 20 Georgia is planning to get the first gas from
Azerbaijan via Baku-Erzurum pipeline. This will mark the beginning of the
plan, reportedly, approved by Washington: Turkey will give its share of the
Azeri gas to Georgia, and this will allow Tbilisi to say that it no longer
needs the Trans-Caucasian gas pipeline, which supplies gas from Russia to
Armenia via Georgia. This will put an end to Gazprom’s plans to privatize
the pipeline – the plans that the US strongly objects to.
Thus, the winter 2006 will mark the introduction of new game rules in the
South Caucasus. It will be a kind of test not only for Georgia, who has
become a target for Russia’s economic sanctions, but also for Armenia, who
has become an involuntary hostage to the Russian-Georgian contradictions.
Yerevan’s only hope is the Iran-Armenian gas pipeline, to be launched by the
end of this year.
Viktor Yakubyan, expert on South Caucasus

RA FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE LEGAL AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 10 2006

October 11 RA Minister of Foreign Affairs received the delegation
headed by Guy de Vel, Director General of the Legal Affairs of the
Council of Europe.

Te Director General arrived in Armenia to participate in the 27th
conference of Council of Europe Justice Ministers.

The interlocutors discussed RA legal field, the process of
accomplishment of Armenia’s obligations in the legal sphere, and
issues related to Armenia’s participation in forthcoming events in
the framework of the Council of Europe.

At the reguest of the guest, the Minister presented the current stage
of setlement of the Karabakh conflict.

PHOTOS OF TURKISH DIPLOMATS KILLED BY ARMENIAN TERRORISTS DISPLAYED IN IGDIR

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Oct 10 2006

IGDIR – The photographs of Turkish diplomats, who were killed by
the Armenian terrorists between 1973 and 1984, were displayed in the
Memorial of Turks killed by the Armenian terrorists in eastern city
of Igdir, Igdir City & Tourism Director Ziya Zakir Acar said today.

Acar told A.A correspondent that a section was set up in the memorial
for the diplomats, and the curricula vitae of the diplomats were also
exhibited in this section.

"Those who visit the memorial will see the massacre of Turks by the
Armenians," he added.

OSCE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION MISSION TO START THE WORK ON NKR TERRITORY

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 9 2006

The OSCE mission, carrying out environmental evaluation of the fire
consequences, will start the work in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
MEDIAMAX agency reports.

October 6 NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent a note to the
Coordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, where
it expressed willingness to assist the OSCE Mission and guarantee
the security of its members.

October 5 the OSCE Mission, featuring NKR experts, started the work
on part of the contact line under Azerbaijani control.

Earlier Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
Bernarad Snoy had applied NKR MFA with the request to assist the
members of the mission and provide security guarantees.

‘THIS IS GOING TOO FAR, PARIS’

Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 8 2006

Kenize Mourad, a French writer of Turkish origin who holds dual
French and Turkish citizenship and is a descendent of Sultan Murat
V, has written a manifesto calling on the French National Assembly
to re-address a bill that would make denying the so-called Armenian
Genocide a crime.

Mourad’s article, in which she says, "This initiative on the part of
the French Parliament is intellectual terrorism. They are the same
tactics employed by Stalin and Hitler", continues as follows:

"It really is too much this time! Europe’s insolence and maliciousness
have reached their outer-most limits.

"But Turkey cannot buckle under European imposition any longer, even
if possible (although not certain) membership would be likely to be
beneficial to Turkey.

"An EU representative declared yesterday that Turkey was obliged to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as a precondition for membership
of the EU, and while they were at it, to acknowledge Greek Pontus
and Syrian genocides too.

"What many historians (not militant historians of course) tell us is
that, rather than simply acknowledging or not acknowledging Armenian
genocide, what we should do is read a lot, research, gather information
and discuss issues, showing tolerance towards others’ views."