PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
14 Dec 2006

On December 11 at 10 o’clock in the morning the chair of the NKR
Central Commission on Referendum Sergey Nasibian released the
preliminary results of the voting to constitution. The number of
eligible people on the electoral registers was 90077, 78389 or 87.02
percent voted, 77279 or 98.59 percent voted for the constitution. 549
citizens voted against the constitution (0.70 percent). According to
the chair of the Central Commission on Referendum, there was more
activity in rural areas, particularly in Haterk with 3837 voters,
where the turnout was 100 percent. In Noragyugh with 4138 voters the
turnout was 97.90 percent, in Azokh with 3638 voters 94.09 percent. In
Stepanakert there was an 82.44 percent turnout at the polling station
at School N9. Sergey Nasibian said the referendum was successful,
and the NKR Constitution was adopted by people.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MANVEL SARGSYAN: THERE IS NO SMELL OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS YET

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 14:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "There are separate activity lines in South Caucasus
region: it is the already mentioned EU program, that is the European
Neighborhood Policy.

Here I have to underline the fact of separate communication vectors
between the EU and regional states. The European Union also has been
lured by the predilections of individual initiatives of the regional
states," told Manvel Sargsyan, the head of ‘Kavkaz’ analytical center
during the interview to the PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, there is no
smell of regional integration in South Caucasus, instead tendencies
of separate integration lines are observed between EU programs and
the regional countries. "In the current period of global changes
the civilized world goes to any experiments for the sake to preserve
universal stability and encourage the growth of political quality of
subjects in the whole world," he stressed.

On his opinion, the old principles of stability providing system work
worse and worse and it is necessary to find methods to transform global
order on the bases of less destructive processes not to allow to appear
different uncontrollable territories. "We notice, that these issues
occupy more and more place in the policies of Western countries. And
the South Caucasus, in this regard, is not the biggest problem.

We should not also forget about the chain of disruptiveness – Iraq,
Iran and Lebanon. The Caucasian problems are less local. Still there is
one more moment – the relationship of Caucasian states with Russia. For
example, Russia has already put a question in front of Armenia – make
your choice. And what it means is difficult to understand not only
for the people of our region but also for Russia herself. I do not
think that anybody fully understands what is right, what is not. The
work is going on as a habit, and the characters of reciprocal demands
do not display well-shaped logic: this is the specific character of
period of changes. From time to time we notice that the presidents of
regional countries just do not understand how to behave, what others
want from them. There is no iron logic – there are only amorphous
approaches and bad knowledge of own interests," Sargsyan underlined.

REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH CAN REMAIN UNRECOGNIZED, BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE IGNORED

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With the adoption of the Nagorno Karabakh
Constitution a new factor occurred in the region, which different
international bodies and Azerbaijan can use, told Manvel Sargsyan,
the head of analytical center ‘Kavkaz’ the PanARMENIAN.Net. In
his words, this factor gives a lot choices both to Armenia and the
Nagorno Karabakh. "The referendum can remain unrecognized, but it
is not easy to ignore the fact of collective will of the people of
this territory. At least the referendum is the leading law of this
territory, and to qualify it as illegal is not easy.

Nobody can do it – the world has not seen anything more legal than
the national law. After all we can qualify as illegal all the legal
acts of Azerbaijan – there is no sense in it," Sargsyan stressed.

Alongside the Armenian political analyst underlined that the nations
live their life. "All the others can define their attitudes towards the
actions of this or that nation. They can recognize their right. The
other nations can also try forcefully to lead away a nation from its
own way with disdain. If a nation has chosen its way it must prove to
himself and all the others the effectiveness of that very way and be
able to defend its choice. Up till now the NKR was able to do that: the
time will show if there is a will to continue that initiative. And the
world always recognizes those who deserve it," said Manvel Sargsyan.

SOUTH CAUCASIAN STATES STAKE NOT ON COMPROMISE, BUT ON EXCLUSIVE FOREIGN SUPPORT

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 15:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In fact there is no special moves in the intentions
to insert the South Caucasian states into a unified new system of
new quality, which is being declared both by the regional states and
the world community, told Manvel Sargsyan, the head of analytical
Center ‘Kavkas’ in the interview to the PanARMENIAN.Net. "In this
regard efforts of individual activity are observed. Georgia tries to
settle its relations with Russia with harsh methods and integrate to
the European structures. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev put
forward a program of total isolation of Armenia, hoping that he will
be able to achieve the support of world community. And Armenia tries
to balance its relations between the West and Russia. No regional
state has time for its neighbors,’ he stressed.

In Sargsyan’s words, such an individual activation strengthens the
dependence of regional states from this or that foreign factors. "More
and more the interests of foreign powers touches this or that country
in the region. The compromise between the conflicting sides becomes
more and more difficult.

Say, more the Armenian authority speaks about its readiness to serious
compromises in the Nagorno Karabakh issue, more the Azeri authorities
strengthen their military calls. An appetite occurs to get all, not a
part through bargaining with foreign powers," the head of analytical
center stressed.

Alongside he underlined that the regional states stake not
on compromise, but on exclusive foreign support for their own
intentions. "As an example is Azerbaijan’s subject of military solution
to the conflict, which totally is put in a wider circle of necessary
means, needed to ‘return the territories’.

In October Ilham Aliev stated that "if there is no progress in
negotiation process any variants will be discussed, stressing it
means that here Baku must think about military operation". It means,
earlier he pointed that military operation is the last choice. It
needs time which on his opinion, works for Azerbaijan’s favor,"said
Manvel Sargsyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO SPLITS OR CLASHES BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND ABKHAZIANS IN ABKHAZIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 16:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently about 60 thousand Armenians live in
Abkhazia: it is the second largest nation in the republic, said in
Yerevan Galust Trapizonian, a depute of Abkhazian Parliament and
the Co-Chair of the Armenian Community in Abkhazia. In his words, the
Armenians take part in the public life of Abkhazia rather actively. "We
have three parliamentarians out of 35, three deputy-ministers and
one minister on State-standards of Armenian origin. Of course, we
could have more Armenians in the power structures. In March of 2007
Parliamentary elections will be held and we hope we can increase the
number of our deputies in the parliament," Trapizonian underlined.

In regard of Georgian population, the parliamentarian said that
45 thousand Georgians reside in Galski region, which borders
Georgia. "This territory is merely uncontrollable and we are not
aware what is going on there. I must say that currently passports
are being distributed for internal use, where citizenship will be
mentioned. The passports will be on three languages – on Abkhazian,
Georgian and Russian. 92 % of the population of Abkhazia has Russian
citizenship but they have Russian foreign, not regular passport. The
Georgians in Galski region have Georgian passports. If they want
to accept Abkhazian citizenship nobody will be against it. It is
worth mentioning that according to the population census of 1989 525
thousand people resided in Abkhazia, now only 236 thousand continue
to live there," Said Galust Trapizonian.

The Armenian Community Co-Chair also added that there are 37 Armenian
acting schools in the republic, where study 2800 children. "In Russian
schools the number of Armenian-origin children is much more higher
– about 8400. It is connected with the fact that the graduates can
continue their education only in Armenia," he stressed.

Talking about armed clashes between the Armenians and Abkhazians
after the war, Trapizonian underlined that such things used to happen
before 1999. "At those times we had to take under our control the
villages in 6 regions of Abkhazia and the state himself provided us
with guards. Now there are no splits or clashes between Armenians and
Abkhazians. By the way, there are only 7 regions in Abkhazia and the
Armenians really make majority after the native population.

EU SUMMIT WILL NOT AVOID TURKISH QUESTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 16:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A two-day meeting of the European Union opens in
Brussels December 14. Though the EU Foreign Ministers already found a
compromise on Turkey-EU negotiations, the discussion of that subject
will be continued on the level of Prime ministers.

Commenting on EU’s decision to halt the negotiations with Turkey on
its membership bid German Chancellor Angela Merkhel stated, "I hope
the Turkish side will understand: we are not talking about toughening
the conditions for Turkey to enter the European Union. We just say:
those things, which were not implemented but should be implemented
before membership, will have its consequences."

It is worth reminding that the Turkish authorities did not fulfill
Brussels’s demand to open a port and an airport for the Republic of
Cyprus. This step would mean an indirect acknowledgment of the republic
by Ankara. In the light of upcoming parliamentary elections in Turkey
in 2007 it would mean political death for Erdogan’s government. The
Turkish Prime minister called Brussels’s decision ‘too tough’, which
do not correspond to the level of relations reached by Turkey and the
European Union last year. "We were treated unfair, though we performed
good will. The split in ‘Cypriot problem’ will lead to the worsening
of bilateral relations. Instead the Greek Cypriots and Greece will
win and they use this fact very well," Erdogan stated.

Despite the interruption in negotiations, Ankara declared that the
course of reforms necessary to enter the EU will be continued. The
European Union welcomed this approach: even those states, which
are standing in tough positions on Turkey, are not interested in
estrangement of Ankara from Brussels.

At the same time Brussels refuses to mention concrete schedule
for Turkey’s membership: The European Union needs to ‘swallow’ the
upcoming adjournment of Romania and Bulgaria. And Croatia already
stands on the threshold. Up till now, after the negotiations were
partially frozen with Ankara, Zagreb occupied the place of number one
candidate. Croatia does not hide that wants to become an EU member
already in 2009, reports Deutsche Welle.

NEW ARMENIAN LOBBYING ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN USA

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 16:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gerard Cafesjian, an U.S. philanthropist
and businessman of Armenian descent, has set up a new lobbying
organization – U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC). The
group will be run by Ross Vartian. The main goal of the organization
is to "complement" the existing Armenian-American advocacy groups
and match their considerable influence in Washington.

Vartian, insisted that the USAPAC is not a splinter group. "Our
primary purpose is to add to the community of the Armenian lobby in a
unique and collaborative way and make the Armenian lobby stronger in
Washington," he told. Following traditions in Jewish lobbying groups,
the organization will become one more link for forwarding the Armenian
issues in the power structures of the USA.

In his words, USAPAC will concentrate on countering the impact of
Azerbaijani oil on U.S. policy towards Armenia and pressing Washington
to take a pro-Armenian stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He
said the Armenian Genocide recognition will also be on the USAPAC
agenda but indicated that the new group will favor a softer line on
Turkey’s membership in the European Union. "What concerns Turkey’s
EU bid and the issues of the Armenian Genocide, we think that Ankara
must do all the commitments for EU membership and join to the European
Union. As a fully mature member of the EU, Turkey would be a much more
friendly neighbor of Armenia. And the issue of the Armenian Genocide
is always in our agenda," said Vartian, RFL Radio Liberty reports.

CMCE HEAD CALLED TO SPEED UP EFFORTS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 17:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "In connection with the ‘constitutional referendum’
held in Nagorno Karabakh December 10, 2006, and which was not
recognized by the international community, the Chairman of Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe again expressed his full support
to the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs for the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict," says the declaration of CoE Ministerial Committee on the
‘Constitutional referendum’in the Nagorno Karabakh.

"The Chairman underlines that the conduction of the ‘referendum’
before the results of negotiations cannot contribute to the settlement
of the conflict. He calls all the parties to speed up the efforts for
the peaceful solution of the conflict in accordance with obligations
taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia before entering the CoE," says the
CMCE, CoE Press Office reports.

PACE: UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA MUST MEET TO EUROPEAN STANDARDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 18:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The PACE Monitoring Commission warned Armenia, that
the upcoming elections must meet the European standards. "Armenia
must perform progress, fixed in the way to democracy and European
integration. The upcoming elections must meet the European standards
as free and fair. The coverage of election campaign in Media must
be objective and express different points of view,’ says the draft
report of the commission, published in Paris yesterday. The Monitoring
commission welcomes the constitutional reforms in Armenia, underlining
that "Only the adopted laws are not enough to fulfill democratic
reforms in the country: the laws must be implemented." The commission
warned that in order to fulfill the Constitution it is necessary to
improve the politic atmosphere and dialog between the ruling coalition
and the opposition." The report will be discussed during the January
session of PACE, RFL Radio Liberty reports.

YEREVAN WATER COMPANY MAY REDUCE WATER PRICE

Armenpress
Dec 14 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: French executives of the Yerevan
Water company said today they were likely to ask every June 1 the
Public Services Regulatory Commission to review the price of drinking
water they charge from households in the Armenian capital city.

Serge Popoff, the chief executive manger of the company, run by
the French General Des Aux, explained it by the continued growth of
Armenia’s national currency-dram-over the U.S. Dollar. He said the
company is paying less now to buy new equipment and therefore it may
reduce the tariffs.

Popoff also said the company has committed to secure 24-hour water
supply to 80 percent of homes in the capital city and will install
extra 65 water pressure meters which will allow to register water
pressure every 30 minute and have a clear picture of water consumption.