PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 783b06
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:

Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers: Declaration on
the "constitutional referendum" in Nagorno Karabakh on 10 December 2006

Strasbourg, 13.12.2006 – "Following the "constitutional referendum"
organised in Nagorno Karabakh on 10 December 2006, and which is no
recognized by the international community, the Chairmanship of the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe reiterates its full
support to the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairmen in their efforts
towards a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It notes with
concern that conducting such a "referendum", thus pre-empting the
outcome of the ongoing negotiations, cannot contribute to the resolution
of the conflict. It calls on all parties concerned to intensify their
efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, in accordance with
the commitment undertaken by Armenia and Azerbaijan upon accession to
the Council of Europe".

* * *

Présidence du Comité des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe :
Déclaration sur le "référendum constitutionnel" tenu au
Haut-Karabakh le 10 décembre 2006

Strasbourg, 13.12.2006 – " Suite au "référendum constitutionnel"
organisé au Haut-Karabakh le 10 décembre 2006, et qui n’est pas
reconnu par la communauté internationale, la Présidence du Comité
des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe réitère son plein soutien au
Groupe de Minsk de l’OSCE et à ses co-présidents dans leurs efforts
pour parvenir à un règlement du conflit du Haut-Karabakh. Elle note
avec préoccupation que la conduite de ce " référendum ", qui
préjuge du résultat des négociations en cours, ne peut contribuer
à résoudre le conflit. Elle appelle toutes les parties concernées
à intensifier leurs efforts en vue de trouver une solution pacifique
au conflit, conformément à l’engagement pris par l’Arménie et
l’Azerbaïdjan lors de leur adhésion au Conseil de l’Europe ".

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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

December 13, 2006

PRESS RELEASE: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS EXPRESS CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT OF ARTSAKH AS IT
ADOPTS CONSTITUTION

Washington, DC – The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ), sent a letter to NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian
congratulating him on the adoption of the NKR Constitution and
expressing their full support for `Nagorno Karabakh’s political and
democratic development’. They also emphasized the importance of
establishing a free and democratic society, saying that `the
adoption of the first-ever Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh, is a key milestone on this path.’

The constitutional referendum held last Sunday is a logical
continuation of the state-building process that started with
declaration of Artsakh’s independence in 1991.

`The charter was drafted after most progressive Western
constitutions while reflecting Artsakh’s own experience of the past
15 years and our own vision of the future, and as such it will pave
the way to further strengthening of Artsakh as a sovereign state and
promote greater democratic and economic development of our country,’
said NKR Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian.

Approved by the overwhelming majority of Artsakh’s population in
presence of about 100 international and local observers, the NKR
Constitution specifically notes that NKR is a `sovereign,
democratic, rule of law, and social state’. NKR government structure
is based on democratic principle of separation of power and consists
of executive, legislative and judiciary branches. The state
guarantees basic human rights, such as freedom of assembly, speech,
and religion.

`The referendum conducted on December 10, 2006 on the NKR
Constitution meets most of the standards of the OSCE, the Council of
Europe and other international structures applied to democratic
elections and referenda. The counting of the votes in the polling
stations visited by us was exercised effectively and transparently,’
read the statement of the international observers.

Barseghian thanked Representatives Pallone and Knollenberg for their
unwavering commitment, outstanding vision, as well as critical
support of Artsakh’s successful efforts to build a free, democratic
and prosperous country.

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

* * *
(The following is the full text of the letter of the Congressmen to
President Arkady Ghoukasian on December 11, 2006. To request a PDF
copy of the Co Chair’s letter, please write to [email protected])

December 11, 2006

H.E. Arkady Ghoukasian
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
20th February Street, 3
Stepanakert, NKR

Dear President Ghoukasian,

We are writing to express our continued support for Nagorno
Karabakh’s political and democratic development. The adoption of the
first-ever Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh,
in a popular referendum last Sunday is a key milestone on this path.

We are pleased to see your citizens unwavering determination to set
an example of important democratic practices in the South Caucasus.
Artsakh’s Constitution embodies your nation’s values to live in a
free and fair society, where human rights and economic opportunities
are enjoyed by all. Societies that are fundamentally free and fair
are the most successful, contributing to international security and
progress along the way.

In addition, these universal values that both of our nations espouse
create an unshakable bond between the United States and Artsakh. A
bond that transcends short-term political or economic
considerations, it provides the most long-lasting basis for
friendship between our governments and our citizens.

We also recall the referendum on independence that the people of
Artsakh held in December, 1991, and which laid legal and political
foundations for the establishment of your Republic. That referendum
went ahead in spite of Azerbaijani rockets and bullets raining on
Artsakh and was a reflection of true civic activism. This year’s
referendum, held amid Azerbaijani threats of renewed violence, was
yet another sign of true patriotism.

Please be assured that we will remain by your side, as the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, continues to pursue its freedom,
security and development.

Sincerely,

[signed] [signed]
Fr ank Pallone, Jr. Joe Knollenberg
Member of Congress Member of Congress

* * *
This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S.
Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.

PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 375019 ARMENIA
Tel: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: [email protected]

December 13, 2006

American University of Armenia (AUA) Law Students Win the Red Cross
International Humanitarian Law Competition

Yerevan- The AUA Law Department proudly recognizes its three competitors in
the final round of this year’s International Humanitarian Law Competition of
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Narine Aslanyan,
Adelaida Baghdasaryan, and Shakeh Hartounians, as well as two MCLS students,
Narine Aslanyan and Adelaida Baghdasaryan, who won second and third place,
respectively.

2006 marks the first time that students from AUA Law have participated in
this annual event.

To compete, students are first required to write a legal memorandum on
customary International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This year, seven AUA Law
students participated in this part of the competition. To continue,
students are then required to make a presentation and field questions from
the ICRC Regional Legal Advisor, the Head of the ICRC Delegation in Armenia,
and fellow competitors.

AUA Law student presentations stood out for their practice-oriented approach
and legal analysis of regional conflicts through the application of IHL
concepts, while the presentations of competitors were mostly of a
theoretical approach. Law Department students were also the only
competitors to refer to policy as a source of rule interpretation when
answering the ICRC Regional Legal Advisor’s questions.

"The students appreciated the opportunity to practice their analytical
skills and to defend their legal opinions before such a well-qualified
audience," pointed out Dr. Thomas J. Samuelian, Dean of the AUA Law faculty.

The students now have the opportunity to participate in an IHL moot court
sponsored by the ICRC in late February, 2007.

——————————————- —————————-
The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian University
of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia .The American University of Armenia (AUA)
is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the
Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information about AUA,
visit

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE

December 13, 2006

Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC Delegation Travels to Sacramento to Congratulate New State Legislators

SACRAMENTO, CA — Friends, activists, and leaders from the Armenian
National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) traveled to
Sacramento to take part in the California State Legislature’s
swearing-in ceremony for new and returning legislators. The December
4th inauguration of the newly elected and re-elected Assembly Members
and State Senators took place at noon in the State Capitol Building.

"The State of California is home to the largest Armenian American
community in the nation," remarked ANCA-WR Community Relations
Director Haig Hovsepian. "For this reason, our regional board
members and local ANC chapters were pleased to welcome many new and
returning legislators in Sacramento. After all, it is these officials,
people like Assembly Member Paul Krekorian, who will carry the hopes
and dreams of our community with them in Sacramento over the next
several years. The ANC is pleased to have strong relationships with a
vast majority of California’s state legislators," Hovsepian added.

The ANC delegation proudly attended a celebratory dinner for Paul
Krekorian on Sunday evening just prior to his swearing-in ceremony the
next day. At the dinner, ANC officials were joined by a broad array of
Krekorian supporters, celebrating the new Assembly Member’s success in
the 2006 election cycle. Krekorian soundly won his race for the 43rd
State Assembly District, which includes Burbank, Glendale as well as
parts of North Hollywood and Silver Lake.

"Paul Krekorian and his wife Tamar have been two of the most
active members of the Burbank ANC for the past several years,"
noted Arbi Ohanian, Chairman of the Burbank ANC. In recounting
Krekorian’s contribution to the local community, Ohanian emphasized,
"I can confidently say that the Burbank City Council’s Genocide
recognition observances and the effort to collect hundreds of donated
Armenian books for the Burbank Library system would not have been as
successful if not for Paul and Tamar."

One of the offices visited by the ANC delegation was that of newly
elected California State Senator, Dr. Leland Yee. Prior to his election
to the State Senate, Yee served as a State Assembly Member in the San
Francisco Bay Area. "Having collaborated with Senator Yee since
the early years of his political career, we feel very proud to have
been able to see him rise to a new level of responsibility and public
service as a Senate Senator," remarked Roxanne Makasdjian, Chair
of the San Francisco Bay Area ANC. Representatives from the ANCA-WR and
the Sacramento ANC were guests at Yee’s celebration dinner.

Following the swearing in ceremony for new legislators, several members
of the ANC delegation met with other elected officials including
Anthony Portantino, newly elected Assembly Member from the 44th
Assembly District, which includes Pasadena and La Canada. They also
visited the offices of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and spoke with Los
Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was in the State Capitol for
the occasion.

"Traveling to Sacramento to welcome new state legislators is a
great experience for ANC leaders, friends and activists," remarked
the ANCA-WR’s Hovsepian. "As our network of grassroots supporters
grows, the ANC grows with them by providing new and more effective ways
to build relationships and educate local, state and federal officials.
Truly, our trip to Sacramento was democracy in action," he added.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad
range of issues.

####

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

ACUSA LECTURE SERIES SHEDS LIGHT ON THE STRUCTURE AND MISSION OF THE
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA

The lecture series on the Armenian Church organized jointly by the Armenian
Church’s University Students Association (ACUSA) and Christian Education
Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia shed light on the structure and
mission of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in its concluding session on
December 9.

Lecturer Bishop Kegham Khatcherian (Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon),
briefly introduced the nature and implementation of the National
Constitution. He spoke in detail about the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
pan-Diaspora mission in Lebanon and all the other Armenian communities
throughout the world.

The Primate touched on the important role of the youth in the church,
especially its participation in national life, in which he saw the solution
to a number of difficulties society faces today.

##
View the photos here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the youth
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE WCC "FAITH AND ORDER"
COMMISSION MEETING

The "Faith and Order" Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
organized a meeting under the general theme "The Church and its Mission" in
Cairo on December 6-8. Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham
Khatcherian, represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the meeting.

The meeting discussed issues related to the church and the concept of sin,
the limits of differentiation among churches, the concept of local churches
and the place of the church in the world and for the world.

The "Faith and Order" Commission of WCC works on preparing common ground
between churches, primarily by reviewing theological issues that contribute
to this unity. The Commission discusses various theological topics with its
member churches for this purpose.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Armenia: PACE Monitoring Committee calls for free elections and media
reform

Strasbourg, 14.12.2006 – At a meeting in Paris yesterday, PACE
Monitoring Committee welcomed Armenia’s constitutional reform, carried
out with Council of Europe assistance, which has created conditions
conductive to the implementation of many of the country’s commitments.
However, in a draft report the committee also warned that an improved
political climate, and dialogue between the ruling coalition and
opposition, would be necessary for the constitution to work effectively.

`Simply passing legislation is not enough to implement democratic
reforms in the country. The laws must be applied,’ the committee
stressed. `Armenia must now furnish proof of how far it has progressed
along the road to democracy and European integration: the forthcoming
elections must comply with European standards for free and fair
elections, and media coverage of the election campaign and the elections
must be pluralist and unbiased.’

The report, by Georges Colombier (France, EPP/CD) and Mikko Elo
(Finland, SOC), is due to be debated by PACE at its January plenary
session.

Draft resolution on the honouring of obligations and commitments by
Armenia (provisional version)
< sManager/defaultArtSiteView.asp?ArtId=3D584>

Arménie : la Commission de suivi de l’APCE appelle à des
élections libres et à une réforme des médias

Strasbourg, 14.12.2006 – Lors d’une réunion tenue hier à Paris,
la Commission de suivi de l’APCE a accueilli avec satisfaction la
réforme constitutionnelle de l’Arménie, conduite avec le concours
du Conseil de l’Europe, qui établit des conditions favorables à la
réalisation d’un grand nombre des engagements du pays. Dans un
projet de rapport, la commission avertit néanmoins qu’une
amélioration du climat politique et un dialogue entre la coalition au
pouvoir et l’opposition seront indispensables pour que la Constitution
ait une portée réelle.

« L’adoption de lois ne suffit pas à elle seule pour mettre en
=9Cuvre les réformes démocratiques. Il faut que les lois soient
effectivement mises en =9Cuvre », a souligné la commission. «
L’Arménie doit faire preuve de ses avancées dans la voie de la
démocratie et de l’intégration européenne : le prochain scrutin
doit respecter les normes européennes en matière d’élections
libres et équitables et la couverture médiatique de la campagne
électorale et des élections doit être pluraliste et impartiale.
»

Le rapport, élaboré par Georges Colombier (France, PPE/DC) et Mikko
Elo (Finlande, SOC), sera examiné par l’APCE lors de sa session
plénière de janvier.

Projet de résolution sur le respect des obligations et engagements de
l’Arménie (version provisoire)
< uresManager/defaultArtSiteVoir.asp?ArtId=3D584>

ED126b06

UN Development Programme (UNDP) Armenia

14, Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Tel: +374 10 56 60 73 + 121
Mob: +374 91 43 63 12
Fax: +374 10 54 38 11
E-mail: [email protected]
URLs:

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
E-mail: [email protected]

WHEN COMMUNITIES BECOME FULL PARTNERS: A KINDERGARTEN HEATING SYSTEM
ESTABLISHED IN ABOVYAN, AND BUILDING ENTRANCES RENOVATED IN MASIS

//

13.12.2006

Abovyan and Masis – UNDP Armenia continues its advanced cooperation with
different local communities in Armenia. Today, in the framework of the
UNDP project on Performance Budgeting, two small-scale projects were
completed and presented to the heads of communities and UNDP resident
representative in Armenia.

In Abovyan city, the Municipality has firstly developed a local
community budget based on the performance budgeting model, and secondly,
has co-funded the establishment of a boiler house and heating system in
a local kindergarten.

Ms. Consuelo Vidal met with the mayor of Abovyan at hiss residence and
discussed the results achieved and future prospects for cooperation.

"It is crucial for us to involve the local community in selecting the
city’s priorities, and we thank the municipality for joining efforts
with us in achieving a participatory process in this regard.
Furthermore, we managed to co-finance such an important project. As a
result, the first kindergarten in the city will have heating the whole
year round and women will have opportunity to work, while the kids are
at the kindergarten," – noted Ms. Vidal.

The next project was completed in Masis town – renovation of 43
entrances in six multi-apartment buildings. The mayor of the town and
UNDP representative visited the project sites, spoke to the inhabitants
and congratulated the community on the completion of another
participatory project. In Masis, like in Abovyan, a working group
comprised of representatives of the town chose the project to be carried
out.

As the mayor indicated in his speech, he decided not to interfere with
the work of the group at all, and the group chose even the concrete
buildings to be renovated.

Ms. Vidal emphasized: "The projects that UNDP supports in villages and
urban areas are based on local priorities that citizens themselves come
up with, so I would like to also congratulate you in this regard."

Representatives of the community thanked both UNDP and the municipality
for the fruitful cooperation and expressed their hope that the
partnership will be maintained next year as well.

Performance budgeting is a comparatively new methodology for budget
planning, execution and monitoring that is being introduced in Armenia
both at the local and national levels. The new methodology is more
transparent and allows local population to monitor the way the
taxpayers’ money is spent by the municipality.

Since its inception in 2005, the Performance Budgeting Project has
generated much interest among local self-governance bodies in Armenia.
It assists in the implementation of performance budgeting during
community planning, monitoring, and evaluation processes ensuring
citizens’ participation in the whole process. This is new to not only
Armenia, but also to the region.

* * *

For additional information please visit and/or contact Mr.
Aramazd Ghalamkaryan at [email protected], tel.: +37491 436
312, +37410 566 073 + 121:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UN Development Programme (UNDP) Armenia

14, Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Tel: +374 10 56 60 73 + 121
Mob: +374 91 43 63 12
Fax: +374 10 54 38 11
E-mail: [email protected]
URLs:

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
E-mail: [email protected]

WHEN THE COMMUNITY BECOMES A FULL PARTNER: THE RENOVATED KINDERGARTEN #3
OPENED IN ARTASHAT

/Results of the successful cooperation of Artashat municipality, the
Italian Embassy and UNDP Armenia/

Yerevan, December 12, 2006 – Today, the renovated and fully refurnished
building of the kindergarten #3 was inaugurated in Artashat town. H.E.
Mr. Marco Clemente, Ambassador of Italy to Armenia, Ms. Consuelo Vidal,
UNDP Resident Representative/UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Alik Sargsyan,
Governor of Ararat marz and Mr. Gagik Muradyan, Mayor of Artashat
attended the opening ceremony.

With the support from the Italian Embassy in Armenia, UNDP and the
mayor’s office, this kindergarten in Artashat has been completely
renovated; its heating system is reconstructed and ready to operate. As
a result, 100-120 kindergarten children will benefit from this project
now, and the number will hopefully grow in future.

The renovated kindergarten will be operating all year round, so, the
attendance rates will certainly increase especially in the winter
season. Childcare is also improved in this way, providing opportunities
for women to leave their children here if they go to work.

It is noteworthy that the communities constantly transform from a
"receiver" to a "partner": Artashat municipality not only assisted all
the activities of UNDP and the Embassy, but also co-funded the project.

Ms. Vidal noted in her welcoming speech: "The projects that UNDP
supports in villages and urban areas are based on local priorities that
citizens themselves come up with, so I would like to also congratulate
you in this regard."

The project in Artashat is part of a broader community development
programme that UNDP implements in villages and towns of the country.
Twenty village development plans were developed with direct
participation of the village inhabitants and the local self-governance
bodies, with UNDP’s assistance.

"Let’s continue our work together; let’s continue supporting the
communities in Armenia, specially the ones that benefit Armenia’s
children who are Armenia’s future," – emphasized the UN resident
coordinator in Armenia.

The Governor of Ararat province thanked the international partners and
the city municipality for a fruitful partnership, and congratulated
firstly the children and their parents, and then all of the event
participants for the outcome of the cooperation – the renovated building
and improved conditions for the kids.

The total project budget reached around USD 180,000.

* * *

For additional information please contact Mr. Aramazd Ghalamkaryan at
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>,
tel.: +37491 436 312, +37410 566 073 + 121:

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

December 14, 2006

In Light of New Realities: ACNIS Looks at Political Prospects for 2007

Yerevan–So as thoroughly to discuss, against the backdrop of the ongoing
Mountainous Karabagh negotiations and new geopolitical changes, and present
an expert viewpoint on the likely political events of the coming year, the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) today
convened–and concluded its 2006 seminar sessions with–a policy roundtable
entitled "Forecasting Political Developments in 2007."

ACNIS senior analyst Hovsep Khurshudian greeted the audience with opening
remarks. "I believe we will soon become the eyewitnesses to significant
events, and this is already being sensed," he said.

In his address with respect to the correlation between domestic political
occurrences and the Mountainous Karabagh negotiations process, ACNIS
director of research Stepan Safarian noted that those events had become a
captive to the aforesaid process. In his view, the negotiation process,
which took on unprecedented import in 2006–the year for the "window of
opportunities"–resulted in such an "evolution" in the positions of the
authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan that anticipating any public support
would be considered naive. "Should presidents Kocharian and Aliyev sign
under any accord, they would face serious political consequences at home,
whereas the internal and external resources in terms of moving forward and
reaching a final agreement are now depleted," he stressed. According to
Safarian, this situation equally increases the likelihood and uncertainty of
a series of political developments in Armenia: 1) In case an agreement was
put into effect regarding the Mountainous Karabagh issue, the ruling powers
would get a virtually unhindered chance to reproduce themselves; 2) if no
agreement were reached, the ruling clique, despite its apparent internal
strength, would lose its regime; and 3) in line with a "conjoined" scenario,
both internal and external forces, in order not to lose their power
completely, would engineer the next palace coup.

In his turn, chairman of the Union of Political Scientists of Armenia and MP
Hmayak Hovhannisian deliberated on the geopolitical aspects of the
developments that are likely to take place in the country. In Hovhannisian’s
assessment, that numerous Armenian political figures are seeking out foreign
backers is not promising. "This does not trigger at all the interest of
important geopolitical centers toward the politicians who have great
ambitions; on the contrary, this causes a negative societal attitude, and
substantially hurts the image of those politicians who look abroad for
‘approval,’" Hovhannisian noted. With regard to the Mountainous Karabagh
negotiations process, the political scientist asserted that the existing
settlement proposal is unacceptable for Armenia’s authorities not for fear
of weakening their positions, but so they would not be cursed for all
eternity by the subsequent generations. "If the Robert Kocharian-Serge
Sargsian duo sign the agreement on the principles for the regulation of the
Mountainous Karabagh conflict, they will unquestionably remain in power, and
the idea of the postponed referendum is a sure guarantee for the
reproduction of the incumbent regime," Hovhannisian maintained.

The next speaker, director Gagik Ter-Harutiunian of the Noravank Foundation,
focused on the probable global changes and their possible impact on Armenia.
He expressed a conviction that against the background of the
military-technological potential and the politico-military capabilities of
the superpowers, at least four or five power centers are presently being
formed in the world, and this, in Ter-Harutiunian’s view, poses a
significant challenge to Armenia’s foreign policy agenda. This means that
when making externally-related decisions, we "should not go along with just
one country" and consequently forget or disregard others. "The precept of
complementarity is conceivably justifiable for small nations, and all that
remains is simply to make advantageous use of it," Ter-Harutiunian
concluded.

The participants in the ensuing discussion included deputy chairman Edward
Antinian of the Liberal Progressive Party; ACNIS director of administration
Karapet Kalenchian; analyst Alvard Barkhudarian; Anahit Bayandur from the
Armenian Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly; civic activist
Alexander Butayev; Ruzan Khachaturian from the People’s Party; Artak
Poghosian from the Republican Party; and several others.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2006, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit