PSYCHOLOGY THAT IS STRONGER THAN MIND
James Hakobyan

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 18 2006

The diminishing activity of Armenia in the talks over Karabakh had
been expected before the recent interview with Robert Kocharyan when
different officials in Karabakh and Armenia, including the speaker of
the Armenian parliament, started developing the theory of "not a patch
of land". Hence, Robert Kocharyan only summed up these statements. And
these statements were rather interesting. First of all, it is evident
that Armenia’s standpoint contains certain threat.

Robert Kocharyan’s words on avoiding active talks, i.e. signing of an
agreement, was addressed to the opposition, and maybe also the part
of the government who were thinking about coercing Robert Kocharyan
using the agreement and making him accept their rules of the game.

Meanwhile, Robert Kocharyan’s statement contained elements of coercion
which are evidently directed against the mediators in the talks for the
settlement of the Karabakh issue. They are known to have stated several
weeks ago that the Armenian parliamentary election cannot obstruct the
negotiations. In fact, Robert Kocharyan shows that it can obstruct. And
the purpose is clear. By questioning the talks the Armenian president,
in fact, wants to extort guarantees of reproduction of government from
the mediators to have them shut an eye on the quality of the election
in 2007. Therefore, Robert Kocharyan is stating that he will not sign
anything until the election in 2007. At the same time, an atmosphere
of not returning the territories is being created in Armenia to boost
the value of the government who return the territories and convince
the mediators that eventually the reproduction of this government is
the right thing.

However, the intention of the Armenian president has another nuance.

After the recent negotiations the co-chairs and Azerbaijan became
more optimistic, and Mammedyarov even stated that Lachin and the
status are not a reason for disagreement. This shows that Azerbaijan
may have finally adopted a milder standpoint. And the standpoing of
the Armenian side over these years has been based on one thing – the
intolerance of Azerbaijan. Yerevan, which was ready to return these
territories for the sake of a status, perhaps does not have a vision
of bringing this formula into being, but is saying that hopefully
Azerbaijan will never accept it. Hence, the optimism of the mediators
and Azerbaijan allows supposing that Azerbaijan has become milder in
its standpoint. In this case, the Armenian side would have to replace
words with actions, and shift the issue of returning territories
to a more practical level. And it would mean sentencing the present
regime led by Robert Kocharyan without pardon. The regime which is
almighty in all the questions does not have hegemony over the issue
of the territories. All Yerevan can do is coercion. And it means a
new promise. In other words, the mediators approve reproduction but
they stipulate that an agreement must be signed after the election in
2007. In this case, the question occurs what’s the difference when
the "sword" of signing will hang above Robert Kocharyan, after the
election or before the election.

The difference is significant. Kocharyan is rather weak before the
election so that he has to "shout" regularly that everything happens
with his approval to overcome his fear. It is not a secret that the
Armenian opposition expects assistance from the outside without
having an idea what he should do for victory, and when it is not
there, 150 thousand people are sent home. Hence, the election is
vital energy for Robert Kocharyan if he can prevent the West from
interferening. After getting this energy he can carry on the tactics
in the talks over Karabakh used since 1998 for both the inside and the
outside. This is a situational solution and does not seem to contain
any prospects. But the problem is that Robert Kocharyan does not have
opponents who work out and pursue far-reaching problems.

There is competition in situational solutions, and here Robert
Kocharyan has not only a psychological advantage over his opponents,
which makes mental exercise obsolete.

IS REVOLUTION POSSIBLE?

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 18 2006

The leader of the Liberal Progressive Party of Armenia Hovanes
Hovanisyan stated December 18 at the Pastark Club that although they
are against major quakes, "there is too much trash in the country
and evolutionary development would take 50 years. Consequently, we
need a movement and a shake-up to clean up this trash. Trash cannot
foster stability." Hovanes Hovanisyan had one impression from Robert
Kocharyan’s recent interview. "He did not say a new thing. He said
they will do everything to hold power."

According to the leader of the LPP, if this logic of the government
persists, the parliament as a political institution will become
obsolete, the end of parliamentarism will come. "The government does
not pursue progress and change in this country, and the principle is
who will give out more. The government is seeking for a miscarriage
of the political thought and removing political struggle from the
political sphere. They do their best to eliminate political dialogue
and ideas." In addition, the electoral campaign started too early,
the entire political sphere was monopolized, the media are crammed
with PR campaigns, "however, these campaigns are not always effective,
very often these campaigns bring evidence against themselves."

According to the LPP leader, the government is waging an internal
struggle and a struggle with the opposition, and the second is not
adequate to the steps of the competitor, "we have no political
opponents, the government responds to our ideals with gossip,
distortion, rejects a political dialogue, acts boyishly in this
process." If the government carries out this policy successfully,
it will eventually reach the degradation of the society, the society
will become a dull, castrated mass unable to make any decisions. At
the same time, Hovanes Hovanisyan does not exclude that electoral
fraud in 2007 will make the society rise, "and a process may start
which is called a revolution."

Hovanes Hovanisyan denounces only the Republican Party. According to
him, the Republican Party gave no new ideas to the Armenian nation in
the 21st century except the ideas of Garegin Nezhdeh. But the ideas
of Nezhdeh are formal for the Republicans. Moreover, in connection
with shaping the structure of the parliament in 2007 by government’s
scenario Hovanes Hovanisyan said, "the Republican Party has become
an errand political party. There are people who have not uttered a
word at the National Assembly over the past decade but are likely to
run for parliament." By the way, Hovanes Hovanisyan thinks that no
one in Armenia can mention a definite rating of one political party
or another because "the elections have been falsified since 1995."

NEW STATEMENT ON ARREST OF SEFILYAN AND MALKHASYAN

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 18 2006

The arrest of Jirair Sefilyan and Vardan Malkhasyan cannot be
considered as the start of persecutions before the election. The
reason is that the persecutions started when the Bolshevists were
in power, and continue in independent Armenia. Paruir Hairikyan,
the leader of the National Self-Determination Union, described the
arrest of Sefilyan and Malkhasyan on December 18 at the Friday Club.

According to him, the government is afraid of polarization and took
this step to prevent the danger that threatened it. Even if we admit
that Jirair Sefilyan made an appeal for a coup, the punishment is
a fine, not arrest and charges, Paruir Hairikyan says. He disagrees
with Member of Parliament Manuk Gasparyan that Sefilyan was arrested
in connection with the problem of Akhalkalaki. Hairikyan says it is
an opinion which has the right to exist, but he thinks that Sefilyan’s
arrest is related to home problems.

Paruir Hairikyan also informed that the anti-criminal movement is
preparing a new statement on the arrest of Jirair Sefilyan and Vardan
Malkasyan, which runs that the government arrested Sefilyan to flatter
the West, namely the forces who support an agreement on settlement
of the Karabakh conflict to show that there are militaristic forces
in Armenia which may try to obstruct a peace settlement. Hence,
according to the new statement of the anti-criminal movement, the
government is trying to aggravate the situation and gain the support
of the West for reelection by means of manipulation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PETER SEMNEBY: THE REACTION OF INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES NOT DIRECTED AGAINST DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES

ArmRadio.am
18.12.2006 11:34

One should not conceive the reaction of international structures to the
Constitutional referendum in Nagorno Karabakh as a negative reaction
towards democratization processes, EU Special Envoy for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby told the journalists after the meeting with
the President of Nagorno Karabakh in the NKR Permanent Representation
in Yerevan.

"We recognize that there is a high level of democratic culture
in Nagorno Karabakh, and it is positive. As for the referendum, it
includes other questions of principle, which we cannot agree to, since
it predicts the questions due to be resolved during the negotiations,
including the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh," Semneby noted.

PETER SEMNEBY: THE RIGHT FOR SELF-DETERMINATION SHOULD ONE OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES

ArmRadio.am
18.12.2006 11:46

The right for self-determination of peoples is one of the principles
that should be basic for the settlement of the Karabakh issue and
other conflicts, EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
told the journalists after the meeting with the President of Nagorno
Karabakh in the NKR Permanent Representation in Yerevan.

At the same time he underlined that it is not the only principle,
referring to the Helsinki Final Act, which includes also
other principles, among which is the territorial integrity of
states. "However, the principle you mentioned should be one of the
basis ones," Peter Semneby added.

FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANIAN VISITED IRAN

ArmRadio.am
18.12.2006 12:21

At the Invitation of the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
December 17 the delegation headed by RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian was in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries noted with appreciation
that the bilateral agreements have been consistently accomplished
after President Robert Kocharyan’s visit to Iran in July.

The interlocutors discussed a broad circle of bilateral and regional
issues, appreciating the active development of relations, the bilateral
contacts on different levels.

Attaching importance to the activity of the intergovernmental
commission, the interlocutors turned to the existing trade and economic
relations. It was noted that the diverse cooperation between Armenian
and Iran stems not only from the interests of the two countries,
but also benefits the region as a whole.

The Ministers also turned to regional problems, exchanging views on
the developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Minister
Oskanian presented the latest developments in the talks on the Karabakh
conflict settlement.

Vartan Oskanian was receied also by the Presidnet of Iran Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Highly assessing the cooperation between Armenia and Iran,
issues related to the bilateral agenda were discussed.

During Minister Oskanian’s meeting with the Secretary of the Supreme
Council of National Security Ali Larijani the latter presented the
latest developments in international organizations connected with
the nuclear programs of Iran, emphasizing the right of the Islamic
Republic of Iran to use nuclear energy for peaceful objectives. At
the request of Ali Larijani, Minister Oskanian presented the current
stage of the talks on Nagorno Karabakh.

Vartan Oskanian met also with the Iranian Armenian delegation of the
Armenian-Diaspora Third Forum and representatives of the Armenian
community.

ARKADY GHUKASYAN: SOLUTION IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT KARABAKH’S INVOLVEMENT

ArmRadio.am
18.12.2006 13:02

Settlement of the Karabakh conflict is impossible without the
participation of Nagorno Karabakh, NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan told
the journalists yesterday. "I do believe that the negotiation process
is necessary, the contacts should continue. The meetings between
Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders are also important. However, I want
to repeat the formula which I have been talking about many times: the
solution of the question is impossible without Nagorno Karabakh. No
matter how much Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiate, the participation
of Nagorno Karabakh is necessary. There is simply no other way,"
Arkady Ghukasyan underlined. He added that this has peen emphasized
also by the leadership of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

TURKISH MFA DISSATISFIED WITH THE ARGENTINEAN LAW ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmRadio.am
18.12.2006 14:00

Turkish MFA has issued a statement, in which it condemns the adoption
of the law on Armenian Genocide during December 13th sitting in
the Argentinean Senate. The statement notes that Turkey condemns
and denies all the groundless accusations from legal and historical
perspectives, Azeri "Trend" agency informs. It is noted that this
decision will damage the bilateral relations and hope is voiced that
the President of Argentina will be reasonable enough not to ratify
the Senate’s decision.

Let us remind that according to the decision of the Argentinean
Parliament, April 24 has been declared "The day for tolerance and
respect between peoples" and a day off for Armenian students and
workers.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT CAUSES THE IRRITATION OF BAKU

ArmRadio.am
18.12.2006 17:45

Baku has assessed the recent statement by Ra president Robert Kocharyan
on the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict settlement as "the
intention of the Armenian side to use the issue for its own interests."

"This statement proves once again that the Armenian side is not
sincere," Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Office to
the Azerbaijani President Novruz Mamedov told the journalists.

"It seems that the Armenian side is trying to save time, and the
Armenian President is willing to have these talks serve his political
interests and is trying to gain points connected with the parliamentary
and presidential elections in Armenia," the representative of the
Azeri President noted.

116 YEARS BESIDE THE ARMENIAN NATION
Editorial
By Sevak Hakobian

Yerkir.am
December 15, 2006

The 116th anniversary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party
was celebrated at the Cultural Center in Ashtarak on December 12.

Member of ARF’s Board, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Vahan
Hovhannissian congratulated those attending the ceremony on this
occasion that is celebrated at the end of every year in all Armenian
communities throughout the world.

Hovhannissian briefly presented ARF’s history that is much longer
than the life of one person or one generation. In order to assess
this history it is necessary to look back at the past and examine
it seriously.

In 1890 several Armenians decided that the Armenian nation would no
longer bear on its shoulders the burden of 700 years of slavery and,
as Khrimian Hayrik wrote, "the new Armenian knighthood", the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Party was created. Hovhannissian believes,
ARF has always been the last hope for the Armenian nation, "When our
nation lost its last hope, it relied on the ARF."

ARF only accepts members who are ready, as they state in their oaths,
to die for the nation and the motherland.

And ARF has made these sacrifices during the rebellion in Sassoun,
during the battle of Khanasor, the battles between the Armenians
and Tatars on the territory of the Russian Empire and in many other
instances when the ARF was getting rid of the external and alien
elements that were oppressing our nation in the Armenian Highland.

According to Hovhannissian, as a result of long wars in 1918 it became
possible to establish an Armenian state on a very small part of the
Armenian Highland since in the end of the XIX and beginning of the
XX century Armenia was weak.

"And since that time the two notions of ‘Armenian statehood’ and ‘
Dashnaktsutyun’ converged. For the citizens of Republic of Armenia
in 1919, there were no differences between the flags of ARF and the
tricolor. The anthem, "Our Homeland", even though it was created long
before the ARF, carries ARF’s colors and spirit," Hovhannissian said.

Even though the Bolsheviks from the North and East and the Turks from
the West did not allow us to preserve our statehood and independence
for long, the ARF accomplished a great goal in that period – it laid
the foundations of Armenian statehood that were infallible since then.

"ARF can answer all the questions our nation has whether they be
related to agriculture or industry, war or peace, diplomacy or
any other spheres since we have both experience and a sense of
responsibility.

During our history of 116 years, our party has lived through guerilla
war and political struggle, it has formed the leadership of the
country, it has survived in the Diaspora uniting the Armenian nation,
and now it works in the homeland for quite a long time," Hovhannissian
noted.

ARF has the experience of defending Armenian communities from war
(as it happened in Lebanon). It has the experience of organizing the
nation and engaging in the war in Artsakh in an organized manner. "Had
we not directed our forces towards Artsakh today Armenia would have
been in a very miserable condition. Meanwhile, now the people in
Artsakh freely vote for their Constitution," Hovhannissian added.

In their anti-ARF propaganda, many people call ARF a party of
war. However, Hovhannissian believes, "We are a party of peace,
but peace must be ready for anything.

Funny are the people who are scared of struggle. If you are ready
for struggle there will be no need for struggle. ARF has followed
this principle throughout its history and has struggled to ensure
that the Armenian nation is not extinguished from the map, that it
is not forced to flee its homeland."

Today the homeland is still small. But I am sure that time will come
when we will restore our historical rights and everything that we
have lost.

Unfortunately, we do not live in the richest, most fair and prosperous
country, but we have our state and it gives us the opportunity to
make it rich, prosperous, happy and safe," Hovhannissian noted.

During the celebration, Khrimian Hayrik, Nikol Aghbalian, Garegin
Nzhdeh and others were quoted commenting on ARF. Famous singers and
dance bands performed during the celebration.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress