ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN: HEALTHY COMPROMISE IS MORE USEFUL THAN ANY ENMITY

Yerevan, December 18. ArmInfo. A complementary policy of Armenia is
mostly a derivation from the Karabakh problem suspense, leader of the
"Orinats Yerkir" party, ex-speaker of RA Parliament, Artur Bahdasaryan,
said in an interview to ArmInfo.

According to him, this foreign political thesis has proved itself,
it played a definite favorable role, however, it started to become
outdated and no one in the world perceives it seriously today. The
critical mass of complementarism is exhausted, he said and added it
is necessary to seek for the new ideas concordant with the situation
and the time. Compromises in the Karabakh issues must be searched
as well, the ex-speaker said. "The extreme ideas are unacceptable,
since the future is always more important despite the hard way,
passed by our people. For the same reason, the recognition of Genocide
should not be a cornerstone of the foreign policy as well. Well, let’s
suppose some countries more recognize the Genocide. What is next? We
bow to the memory of the Genocide victims, this fact is unofficially
recognized by the whole world community. But what we receive, carrying
it as a standard over the head? A moral satisfaction? And where is
the real policy then? The Genocide issue can be only a component of
the foreign policy to be elaborated. We have to build our foreign
policy counting on the future, for the sake of our children. Look,
the Germans had forced the whole Europe to its knees some 60 years
ago, killed the millions of people, destroyed London by bombing,
razed Warsaw to the ground. But now the Great Britain, France and
Germany are building the European Union and Poland has also joined
them. This is an example of a real policy based on democracy. Today,
Turkey makes its way towards Europe and we also have to go there and
talk to it", A. Baghdasaryan said.

He also underlined he normally treats the nationalistic ideas in the
Armenian society. However, these ideas should not dominate since they
start to prevail, the society falls into an atmosphere of extremism,
with elements and properties, typical for such a society. "Therefore,
we have to sooner realize that our neighbors are our rivals but not
enemies. It is important in so far as the most of the countries of
the region, we are in, has a clearly expressed task of integration
into the European structures, into a civilized family. They do go in
this direction. Meanwhile, we isolate ourselves instead of seeking
for the new approaches with respect to the two important players,
Turkey and Azerbaijan", A. Baghdasaryan said.

"We have to understand that if Turkey strives today after the
European Union, we, showing a flexibility, have to sit at the Table
of negotiations with Turks and try to find mutually acceptable
decisions. And what is of most importance, and we see it well, the
Turkish train has already started and keeps on moving towards Europe.

The train moves heavily, with artificial barriers on the way, but it
moves. That’s why we should not prevent each other from developing
by putting spokes in the wheels of the European locomotive but,
on the contrary, should try to do out best to put our locomotive on
this track. Armenia may play a key role in this integration; having
very tensed relations with 2 of its 4 neighbors Armenia must display
foresight and diplomatic tolerance so as to show its competitiveness
based on democratic values.

"We have no oil, we are not a country with 60 mln population. That’s
why we should use the chance we have – the chance to appear in the
world as a freely developing and truly democratic state. As regards
the sore subject if our relations with neighbors, healthy compromise
is certainly more important and useful that stubborn head-on enmity.

We should understand that the key geopolitical processes developing
in the region are incompatible with our current policy.", Artur
Baghdasaryan said.

HOVHANNES HOVHANNISIAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY OF REVOLUTION IN 2007 ELECTIONS PROCESS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The "executive power does its best
to weaken the role of the National Assembly, and if it continues in
this way from now on as well, the parliamentarism in Armenia will
disappear as a political institute." Hovhannes Hovhannisian, the
Chairman of the Liberal-Progressive Party of Armenia stated about it
at the December 18 press conference. In his words, the authorities
started the pre-electoral propaganda very early, and the struggle
for power proceeds both inside ruling administration and, what is
very perceptible today, and between authorities and opposition. He
mentioned that the authorities always strive for humbling the role
of the opposition, using at the same time mass media under its
control. In Hovhannes Hovhannisian’s opinion, there is no normal
dialogue in the country between the opposition and the authorities:
"The authorities respond ideas of the opposition with some gossips
and misrepresentation of the reality with the help of a number of
media." As for Present Kocharian’s recent statement that "no colour
revolution will take place," H.Hovhannisian stated: "The authorities
have a syndrome of fear before the revolution." He did not exclude the
possibility of a revolution in Armenia during the coming parliamentary
elections in May of 2007. In his words, if the authorities will again
attempt to falsify the election results, one may not exclude that the
people’s displeasure will be expressed in a revolution. Otherwise,
the authorities will again reproduce itself, and then the country will
appear in an awful social-economic and foreign political situation:
"The price for the authorities’ self-reproduction is a strict change
in the negotiation process not in favour of Armenia."

STRIVING OF CONSOLIDATION OF ARMENIAN VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY OF ELECTIONS WAS REASON OF ARREST OF ORGANIZATION’S ACTIVISTS, ARMEN AGHAYAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. "Soon the video recording
of speeches of Zhirayr Sefilian and Vardan Malkhasian will be
presented to the public. This recording became a basis for accusing
the latters of the attempt of coup d’etat. And you will be convinced
that these speeches could not be a reason for arrests." Armen Aghayan,
representative of the Consolidation of of Armenian Volunteers (CAV)
organization, Political Secretary of Defence of Liberated Territories
public initiative, declared at the December 16 press conference. He
said that one of the main tasks of CAV is to provide transparency of
the elections. In his words, if the opposition was able to prevent mass
falsifications at the referendum on constitutional amendments, today
CAV would not be engaged in issues of control over the forthcoming
elections. "Our task is to provide fair political processes for the
Armenian people to solve issues of its future itself," A.Aghayan
declared. In his words, the very activity of CAV became the reason of
such aggressive actions of the authorities who arrested Z.Sefilian and
V.Malkhasian. He characterized the actions of the National Security
Service as negligent. In particular, in his words, the searches at
apartments of organization’s activists were held very negligently. "One
can judge about the essence of the National Security Service only by
the fact that Dzerzhinski’s portraits hang on the walls of the offices
of Security Service employees up to present," A.Aghayan declared.

VARTAN OSKANIAN DISCUSSES POSSIBILITY TO EXTEND COOPERATION IN ENERGY SPHERE IN IRAN

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

TEHRAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 17, the delegation led
by RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was in Iran on a working visit
at the invitation of IRI Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. The
two countries’ Foreign Ministers mentioned with satisfaction that
after RA President Robert Kocharian’s visit to Iran in 2006 July,
the agreements reached during the visit are consistently fulfilled,
in particular, construction programs of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
high voltage electric conductivity third line, as well as construction
program of an alternative road. They also touched upon possibility
of extension of cooperation in the energy sphere. The interlocutors
discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. They expressed
satisfaction with active development of relations, bilateral contacts
at various levels.

Attaching importance to the work of the bilateral Intergovernmental
Commission, the interlocutors touched upon trade and economic
contacts. It was mentioned that cooperation between Armenia and Iran
in various spheres proceeds not only from two countries’ interests,
but also is beneficial for the whole region. In this respect the sides
singled out full-value exploitation of the North-South axis. The
Ministers touched upon regional problems exchanging thoughts about
developments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Near East. Possibilities of
deepening cooperation at international organizations were also
discussed. Minister Oskanian presented last developments in the
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. In the second half of
the day Vartan Oskanian was received by Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Highly estimating cooperation between Armenia and Iran,
the interlocutors discussed issues relating to the bilateral agenda.

Touching upon ancient-old friendship and historic-cultural communities
between Armenia and Iran, RA Foreign Minister emphasized that today
these contacts are a strong basis for development of special relations
between the two countries that continue to be formed in atmosphere of
mutual respect and confidence. During the meeting between Minister
Oskanian and IRI National Security Supreme Council Secretary,
Ali Larijani, the latter informed him about the last developments
relating to Iranian nuclear programs at international organizations
stressing IRI’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. At
Ali Larijani’s request, Minister Oskanian presented the current
stage of negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. During the
meeting between RA Foreign Minister and Majlis Chairman Gholamali
Haddad Adel, the sides greeted activization of interparliamentary
contacts between the two countries giving assurance that the visit
of IRI Majlis Chairman Haddad Adel to Armenia in September will be
favorable for bilateral relations. The Minister congratulated IRI
Majlis Chairman on the occasion of successful outcome of interim
parliamentary elections, town and village Islamic Councils elections
that ended on December 15. The Majlis Chairman emphasized that
the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission is an efficient
structure in the respect of promotion of bilateral relations and
in this context he attached importance to necessity to hold regular
consultations between executive power bodies of the two countries.

According to the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, Vartan Oskanian also
met with the Iranian Armenian delegation of Armenia-Diaspora Third
Conference and with representatives of the Armenian community.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS WILL ENTER INTO A MUCH MORE SYSTEMATIZED STAGE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. EU-Armenia relations were discussed
at the December 18 meeting between RA President Robert Kocharian and
EU Special Representative to South Caucasus, Peter Semneby who is in
Armenia within the framework of regional visit. As NT was informed
from RA President’s Press Office, the sides, in particular, touched
upon the Actions Plan signed within the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy. R.Kocharian said that starting 2007, Armenia’s
relations with EU are entering into a much more systematized stage
and expressed the hope that the start will be successful. In his
words, currently an attempt to separate the main priorities of next
year from the general program of the Actions Plan and to clarify the
mechanisms of work with the European Commission are made. RA President
and EU Special Representative also touched upon the last developments
of negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement, the constitutional
referendum held in Karabakh, as well as the forthcoming parliamentary
elections to be held in Armenia attaching importance to their holding
in correspondence with international standards.

ARMENIA MUST BE INTERESTED IN TURKEY’S IMPLEMENTING ITS OBLIGATIONS TAKEN BEFORE EU, RUBEN SAFRASTIAN BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Union’s (EU) decision
on dampening the negotitations with Turkey was not accidental as Turkey
does not implement its obligations taken before the EU. Politician
Ruben Safrastian expressed such an opinion at the December 16
meeting with journalists. In his words, the course fostered by the
EU, according to which Turkey is still given possibility to correct
its own faults, and by this, the doors are not closed before it,
is right. In the politician’s opinion, Armenia, as a state, must
be interested in Turkey’s implementing all the obligations taken by
it. Only in this case, in R.Safrastian’s words, Turkey will gradually
"become a foreseeable country, condemn dark pages of its past, stop
putting pressures on Armenia." R.Safrastian mentioned that from 1991
till now Armenia has led "instinctively chosen, but right policy"
in the issue of Turkey." At the same time, as the speaker emphasized
both former and present authorities led correct policy.

In his words, from 1998 Armenia attempted to countervail "the
policy of pressure." "Today Armenia does not present precondition,"
R.Safrastian fixed.

But, as he mentioned, if Armenia presented the issue of recognition
of the 1915 Armenian Genocide as a precondition before Turkey, many
countries would "approach that fact with understanding."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KIRO MANOYAN: IF TURKEY ENTERS EUROPEAN UNION WITH ITS PRESENT STATE, IT WILL MEAN, EU IS, IN GENERAL, CLOSE BEFORE ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. To enter the European Union
(EU), Turkey must certainly be reformed, and the standard for
that reformation is the recognition of the Armenian Genocide for
Armenia. Kiro Manoyan, the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) office responsible
of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun stated about it at the December 16 press
conference. In his opinion, however, Armenia must not hinder from
Turkey’s membership to the EU. But that country, in K.Manoyan’s words,
did not implement the obligations taken still the last year, that’s, to
open ports and airports before Cyprus. "Our anxiety is the following:
one must not allow that Turkey, with its political accountings,
without being reformed, enters the EU," K.Manoyan mentioned, facting
that doors before Cyprus not opened yet, the EU continued with Turkey
the negotiations on membership. "If Turkey enters the EU with its
present state, it will mean that the EU is, in general, close before
us," the speaker concluded.

IT IS WORTH THAT IN PERSON OF TURKEY, ARMENIA HAS CIVILIZED NEIGHBOUR, ARAM MANUKIAN BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Foreign fundamental relations of
Armenia with other countries must be anchored exclusively on interests
of Armenia.

Aram Manukian, a member of the "Armenian National Movement" (ANM) party
made such a statement at the December 16 meeting. In his words, the
Armenian-Turkish and Armenia-Turkey relations are different phenomena,
and those forces "led by patriotic romanticism, which identify those
two types of relations, are wrong. "In the Armenian-Turkish relations,
the bearer of which is the Diaspora, the recognition issue of the
Armenian Genocide is completely correct, but it is not correct within
the context of the Armenia-Turkey relations," A.Manukian mentioned. In
his words, one must pursue the Genocide recognition issue, but it may
not be made the foundation stone of the foreign policy of the country,
as the today’s authorities do. Touching upon the possible membership
of Turkey to the European Union, the ANM board member mentioned:
"It is worth that Turkey appears in the civilized board, and it is
worth that Armenia has a foreseeable, civilized neighbour." In the
speaker’s words, it would be better that Turkey enters the European
Union staff than cooperates with "terrorism forces of the east."

HRANT MARGARIAN: "TODAY EVERYBODY, INCLUDING AZERBAIJAN CONFESS THAT KARABAKH HAS NOT BEEN AND CAN NOT BE A PART OF AZERBAIJAN"

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. "The ARF Dashnaktsutiun is a
national party, but has no relation with chauvinism and movements
rousing national conflicts." Hrant Margarian, a representative of
the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Bureau made such a statement on December 14,
in Gyumri, at the event dedicated to the 116th anniversary of the
party. "For us maximalistic and at the same time defeatist approaches
in national issues are inadmissible. To take under care the national
rights does not mean to feel enmity towards other peoples. We are
the masters of our people’s rights, but also for us, the independent
Republic of Armenia is the main argument for the goals pursued
by us," the speaker emphasized. In H.Margarian’s words, there is
no other Armenian organization which, like the ARF Dashnaktsutiun,
involves in itself all the sectors of the Armenian people. "It is not
accidental that it is only the ARF Dashnaktsutiun that is present with
its organization structure and activity both in Fatherland and in,
so called, classic and Soviet Diaspora, and this reality is not at
all a consequence of historic events," the ARF Bureau representative
mentioned.

The ARF representative also touched upon the ARF achivements after the
1998 power shift in Armenia. "They wanted to assure us till 1998, that
the Karabakh issue is the Karabakh people’s problem. Today everybody,
including Azerbaijan, made sure and confess that Karabakh has not been
and can not be a part of Azerbaijan. The Armenian Genocide issue was
considered the problem of the Diaspora till 1988, and the authorities
refused to make it an issue on agenda of the foreign policy of Armenia,
and after the power shift, the Genocide issue became a part of the
RA foreign policy. The Armenian Diaspora was estimated till 1998 as a
collectivity of "ones eating oranges." Today the attitude towards the
Diaspora has been changed," H.Margarian emphasized. The ARF Bureau
representative also touched upon the role of the Armenian Diaspora:
"The Diaspora makes a part of the Armenian statehood and the Armenian
force. The RA is the Fatherland of the Diasporan Armenians as well,
towards which they have obligations and responsibilities, and the
native state, in its turn, has obligations and responsibility towards
the Diaspora," Hrant Margarian stated.

"ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWN IN BRUSSELS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 18 2006

BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Show of French
director Laurance Jourdan’s documentary film entitled "The Armenian
Genocide" (Le Genocide Armenien) took place in one of the Brussels
University halls on December 13. A seminar followed the show, in
discussions of which officials of the Brussels government, scientists,
representatives of public organizations took part. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the RA NA Public Relations Department, Turkey’s
policy of denial in the Armenian Genocide issue was condemned during
the discussions, reservations were made concerning the prospects
of Turkey’s membership to the EU, opinions were exchanged on the
Armenian-Turkish present relations. Preparatory works of the event
were implemented in Brussels, with the assistance of the RA Embassy.