TRANSDNISTRIA AND NAGORNO KARABAKH HAVE MUCH IN COMMON

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2006 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Transdnistria and Nagorno Karabakh have much in
common. These are two self-sufficient states with all inseparable
attributes, Yuri Hayrapetian, the chairman of the committee on state
and legal issues at the NKR National Assembly, told a news conference
in Tiraspol. Yuri Hayrapetian and NKR government representative Garry
Jahangirian arrived in Transdnistria to observe the presidential
election due on December 10.

The NKR delegates are going to attend the polling stations and meet
with the Armenian community of Transdnistria. "Both Transdnistria and
Nagorno Karabakh are not perceived by the international community as
full structures of international law.

Both states formed and asserted their independence and survived
bloody wars. Both are in blockade and experience economic and
political hardships," Hayrapetian said. At that he remarked that
unlike Transdnistria Nagorno Karabakh has a supporter – the Republic
of Armenia, which defends its interests at international level and
renders financial assistance having a common border with NKR.

"The other difference is complete absence of any interaction between
Karabakh and Azerbaijan, the borders with which make the front line
and actually we are still in state of war. Meanwhile Transdnistria
and Moldova maintained some kind of dialogue. Nagorno Karabakh has
repeatedly stated its readiness to hold talks, however the Azeri
authorities are not aspired to dialogue but threaten with war. The
negotiations proceed limply and we decided not to turn back to these
activities and build our state in accordance with our interests,"
Yuri Hayrapetian said, reports New Region.

ARMENIA LEFT WITHOUT HYMN FOR SOME DAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2006 17:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s National Assembly will hold a special
session within the next few days aiming at adopting the bill
"On Hymn" in final reading, Prime-Minister Andranik Markaryan
said. "Unfortunately we did not have time to adopt the law in second
and third readings, it is very unpleasant. In fact within the next
few days from legal point of view Armenia will not have a hymn,"
the Prime Minister remarked.

Touching on the causes of such situation Markaryan noted, that by his
estimations for final adoption of the law just there was not enough
time in Parliament.

"We should take into consideration the fact that this very law
regulates an issue that we cannot discuss in quick procedure," said
the Prime Minister, reports IA Regnum.

NATO SEC. GEN. ASSESSED HIGHLY ARMENIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO ALLIANCE’S PEACEKEEPING

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2006 18:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met
with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, reports the RA MFA
press office. The parties discussed the process of implementation of
the Individual Partnership Action (IPAP) launched in January 2006. They
also gave a positive estimation to the sitting of the Council of
the North-Atlantic Alliance held in 26+1 format in June. Minister
Oskanian informed that the IPAP Armenian committee responsible for
the implementation of the plan held 8 sittings dedicated to the
various issues.

Expressing NATO’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Armenia Jaap
de Hoop Scheffer strssed the importance of strengthening democratic
processes in Armenia, pointing out to NATO’s assistance in reformation
of the defense system of the republic and assessed highly Armenia’s
contribution to NATO peacekeeping activities.

The interlocutors marked out the role of the Yerevan-based NATO
Information Center informing the public with the Armenia-NATO
cooperation. Minister Oskanian gave a high estimate to the elaboration
of the Strategy of National Security formed with the assistance
of the Alliance of International Consulting Group. For his part,
the NATO Sec. Gen. briefed on the outcomes of the Riga Summit. The
parties also referred to the Armenia-Turkey relations and the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement.

GEORGIA, UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA MEDDLING INTO ISSUE THAT DOESN’T CONCERN THEM

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2006 19:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are playing into the
hands of Azerbaijan by meddling into an issue which does not concern
them, said RA FM Vartan Oskanian when commenting on GUAM’s statement
about referendum in Nagorno Karabakh. In his words, the statement
does not have anything with reality.

"During this decade and a half, in a situation of no-peace and no-war,
and to their credit, the people and authorities of Nagorno Karabakh
have built a lawful, well-regulated internal governance system.

They have built political institutions; through elections they
have selected their own authorities and developed a legislative
framework. Today, they have recognized the need for a basic law, and
chosen the internationally accepted practice of a referendum as the
only acceptable way to collectively adopt that basic law. Azerbaijan
claims that exercising a vote is an obstruction to the peace
process. Just the opposite. At the core of the negotiations to reach
a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the right
of the people of Nagorno Karabakh for self-determination. What really
obstructs the process is the Azerbaijani overreaction to Karabakh’s
democratic activities, their refusal to engage Nagorno Karabakh in
peace talks, their repeated militaristic calls and their persistent
efforts to sidetrack the Minsk Group negotiation process, reports
the RA MFA press office.

TURKEY’S INTEGRATION INTO EU IS SUSPENDED AT LEAST FOR 20 YEARS

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.12.2006 GMT+04:00

According to the Hudson University expert Zeyno Baran the probability
of military upheaval in Turkey in 2007 is estimated 50/50.

European Politicians have started to speak of Turkey as of a
country having small possibilities for integrating into EU more
frequently. Nicola Sarkozy, a possible candidate for the French
presidency, announced that "Turkey has no place in EU"; these words
caused recurrent indignations in the country.

"The latest events caused troubles in Turkey’s relationship with the
European Union.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Pope’s visit together with the European
Commission’s decision on suspending the negotiations about
the country’s integration into EU, in fact, breaks off Turkey’s
relationship with the West. The Pope’s visit emphasized the great gap
between the Islamic religion and culture and the Christian Europe,"
writes John Hopkins University professor Steven Sabo.

Leaders of a number of European Countries, including Germany, France,
and Greece consider it a paradox that Turkey, which is ambitious
to become fully integrated into Europe, denies recognition of the
EU Member Cyprus, and applies economic sanctions against it. EU
Council’s session on foreign affairs and common issues is going to
be held on December 11. The President of the European Commission Jose
Manuel Barroso hopes that the European countries will have developed
a common view point by that time and says that Turkey’s integration
into EU is suspended at least for 20 years.

Turkey’s integration into EU has become the number one question on
the agenda of the US Foreign Policy. Will US, regardless everything,
impose its will on EU regarding Turkey’s Euro integration, or will
EU fight the pressure and make it on its own way, which in fact, was
obvious already last year, when the negotiations on full membership of
Turkey in European Union had only started. Such turnings in the doings
gave birth to some problems; after the defeat of the Republicans,
it is senseless to speak about the US policy in Europe. America has
already got stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan. But there is also the
problem with North Kurdistan, which, mildly speaking causes troubles
in the Turkish-Iraqi relationships. Besides, it should be remembered
that Turkey, finding itself on the roadside to Europe, may suddenly
recall its belonging to Islam, and then the world will have a rather
powerful country ruling over the army headquarters, and which can very
soon become uncontrollable and even unpredictable. Both Brussels and
Washington is well aware of this fact, that’s why they are trying
to avoid such a scenario. Moreover, according to Hudson University
expert Zeyno Baran, the probability of military upheaval in Turkey
in 2007 is estimated 50/50. That is why, she advises to recognize
Turkey’s integration into EU, to avoid "unpleasant" outcomes.

George Bush’s true ally Prime Minister of Great Britain Tony Blair
called Turkey and EU "to compromise over the issue of Turkey’s
integration into Europe".

According to Turkish mass media the British Prime Minister fears
Turkey’s close relations with Islamic radical countries (because of
Ankara’s confrontation with EU), which will have its negative impact
on the Caspian power stuff supply. "We must take measures to help to
carry on the process of Turkey’s integration into EU. It will demand
compromises from all the sides involved in it. To deny Turkey, I
believe, would be a serious mistake for Europe in respect to long-term
prospective", quotes British Mass Media. EU demands from Turkey to
satisfy the requirements of the additional protocol of Customs Union
and open its sea and airport to Cyprus. The Turkish authorities in
their turn demand to remove the trade and economic embargo from the
northern part of the island, where the self- declared "Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus" is formed, which is recognized in the whole world
community by Ankara only. Other requirements are the negotiations with
Armenia over the matter of the Armenian Genocide, reestablishment of
the railway communication with Armenia and negotiations with Greek
refugees from the Northern Cyprus (occupied by Turkey in 1974),
and provision of equal rights of Kurds.

As for the words of the Pope Benedict XVI, according to which he
"supports the country’s urge towards integration into European Union",
then it must be mentioned that this statement doesn’t adjust with
his previous statements, when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
of Germany. At the time he announced, "The fact that Turkey is an
Islamic country means that this country can never belong to the
European Union".

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

300 KARABAKH CITIZENS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA FOR DECEMBER 10 REFERENDUM

Armenpress
Dec 07 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh
refrained from setting up a polling station in Russian Moscow for
its citizens who will be asked on December 10 to go to the polling
stations to cast ballots in a constitutional referendum.

A deputy foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, Mayis Mailian, cited
instances of fierce Azeri protests over cultural events organized by
Karabakh authorities in Moscow lately. "Just imagine what Azeris in
Moscow would do should we try to set up a polling stations there,"
he said to Armenpress.

He said the majority of Nagorno-Karabakh citizens outside their
country are in Russia and in Armenia.

Raya Nazarian, the press secretary of the Central Election Commission
of Nagorno-Karabakh, said a polling station will open at the permanent
representation of Karabakh in Yerevan. She said 300 Karabakh citizens
have already registered there.

Seven international organizations and nine local ones have registered
with CEC to watch the December 10 referendum which will be covered
by 55 Armenian and foreign journalists.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN REVIEWS THE DISASTER AREA

Armenpress
Dec 07 2006

GYUMRI, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: President Kocharian who traveled
today to the town of Gyumri, the capital of northwestern province of
Shirak, to commemorate victims of the destructive 1988 earthquake,
met with city officials to review the problems of the city that had
been nearly razed to ground 18 years ago and what had been done to
overcome these problems.

Hray Karapetian, head of the urban department of the municipality,
said the priority was to provide still thousands of homeless families
with apartments.

According to local authorities, 4,000 families are homeless and almost
half of them still live in what are called domiks (shacks).

Karapetian said in recent years 17,000 domiks were removed from the
town after their inhabitants received new apartments. Some 875 million
drams were released by the government to promote a housing certificate
program which enables homeless families to buy apartments in the
town. The government has earmarked 163 million drams to help homeless
families of the province living in rural areas next year. Overall the
province will receive next year about 1.8 billion drams for various
urban projects.

President Kocharian also went to see the town’s swimming pool that
was built on Hayastan Fund’s money.

Before the quake the town had two pools.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANIAN AND AGO GROUP MEMBERS MEET IN STRASBOURG

AZG Armenian Daily
08/12/2006

On December 6, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with Ago Group
members of CE Committee of Ministers.

It’s worth mentioning that this structure observes the process of
Armenia’s fulfillment of commitments to the CE. The Press Service of RA
Foreign Ministry informed that Mr. Oskanian dwelt on the current stage
of the Nagorno Karabakh peace process and the nation-wide referendum
for adoption of NKR Constitution scheduled for December 10 at the
meeting. He also touched upon the preparations for the parliamentary
elections in Armenia. Ago Group members drew the attention of Mr.

Oskanian to the issues concerning the coming elections; in particular,
they emphasized the importance of carrying out relevant reforms to
the Electoral Code and the specification of electoral lists.

LACHIN’S RETURN OR REFERENDUM AREN’T "THE UNSETTLED POINT" IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/12/2006

In the interview to "Day.az" agency, Elmar Mamediarov, Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan commented on in his recent statement in which
he said that there is only one issue concerning the main principles
of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement that remained unsettled in the
negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In Particular, he said
that he wished he could have done that any time he wanted, but he
needs to keep the details of the negotiations in secret, taking into
account the feelings of the Armenian and the Azeri peoples, though
there become less unsettled points.

In this context, Mamediarov emphaszied the importance of unvailing
the secret details of the negotiations, " as a movement of liberating
the territories and returning the refugees in the future." He added
that when the common agreement is achieved, the theme of the agreement
will be widely discussed, as no long term agreement will be achieved
without the concent of the society.

In response to the question whether "the unsettled issue" concerns
the deadline for the referendum for the status of the Nagorno
Karabakh. It’s worth mentioning that the Armenian side demands
5 years for that, while the Azeri side insists on 15 years. As
for returning Lachin region to Azerbaijan as the second variant,
Mamediarov rejected that. Thus, the so called "unsettled point" that
hinders the negotiations concerns neither the returning of Lachin
nor the referendum that may be held in 5 or 15 years.

Mamediarov also touched upon the GUAM statement concerning the
coinstitutional referendum in Nagorno Karabakh. It’s worth mentioning
that the GUAM member states didn’t support the referendum. According to
Mamediarov, there is a contradiction between the negotiation process
and the referendum. Besides, he expressed doubts that the Armenian
side is cincere.

Perhaps, we need to remind to Mamediarov that Ilham Aliev and
he himseld do not negotiate with the political subject where the
constitutional referendum will be held on December 10.

ARMENIA IS LESS CORRPUPTED THAN LATVIA AND LITHUANIA
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/12/2006

"Gelup" service research displayed that Armenia is the 69-th in
the list of most corrupted states with 82 of 100 points. Russia and
Ukraine are on the 96-rd place, Georgia -31-st. It is notworthy that
Armenia is less corrupted than Latvia (81-st place) and Lithuania
(100-th). Finland, New Zeland, Denmark, Singapore and Saudi Arabia
are in the first ranks.