"MOSSAD" ENGAGED IN TERRORIST ATTACKS

A1+
[05:38 pm] 05 December, 2006

Today "Urbat" Club hosted Mukhlis Faraun, the acting Charge d’Affaires
of Syria to Armenia who announced, "All the forces which are in Iraq
today are occupants".

"I understand why Armenians have appeared among these forces but I
can say definitely that Armenians have killed no one in Iraq".

Mr. Faraun maintains that the Palestinian and Iraqi territories are
occupied. "There is an almighty power wishing to become the owner of
all our lands. Today Iraq counters two problems, and there are two
forces in the country. One of them struggles against the American
troops and the other realizes terrorist attacks. They are sponsored
by certain forces who intend to instigate civil war in Iraq and divide
the country into two parts".

The acting Charge d’Affaires of Syria is convinced that MOSSAD
is involved in all terrorist attacks in Iraq. "None of the Arabs
would dare to place a bomb near a church or to organize a terrorist
attack. Syria has always struggled and will still struggle for its
freedom and will never obey anyone. I don’t like to abuse others and
I hate being abused".

As for the Armenian-Syrian relations, Mr. Faraun complains that there
is no link or road bridging the two countries.

Mr. Faraun thinks highly of the Armenian people especially noticing
their great respect and love towards the Syrians. "My neighbours
were Armenians.

Their meals, namely pungent peppers and other spices spoilt my
stomach". Regardless of this problem, Mr. Faraun hasn’t changed his
opinion towards Armenians, "All the Armenian servicemen leaving for
Iraq can stop at my place in Syria, have coffee and gin with me and
then head to Syria".

TWO AND A HALF CONS ARE NOTHING FOR SERGE SARGSYAN

A1+
[06:12 pm] 05 December, 2006

"Have you ever come across cases when the Armenians of the Diaspora
suffered losses. Surely, not. Just on the contrary", RA NA Speaker
Tigran Torosyan comforted all those who feared the Armenian troops’
stay in Iraq.

NA Speaker assumes that we cannot live isolated from the outer world;
we must participate in the international process and have our share.

Galoust Sahakyan, leader of Republican Party, finds the assistance
of the Armenian troops "a kind step".

But he is against open discussion of the issue as in his words;
certain things mustn’t be transparent taking into account the security
of the state.

To note, "Justice" and ARF Dashnaktsutyun are against prolonging the
term of the Armenian peacekeepers’ mission in Iraq for another year.

Summing up the results of the discussion, Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan said that there were only two and a half cons.

By saying two and a half cons Mr. Sargsyan meant Viktor Dallakyan
who didn’t say definitely in his speech whether he was for or against
the decision. In Mr. Sargsyan’s opinion, Viktor Dallakyan made such
a speech so that no one would say anything against him 100 years later.

In answer to Serge Sargsyan’s remark, Mr. Dallakyan only said,
"10 minutes are not enough to understand what I mean".

STATEMENT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH FOR THE OSCE MINISTERIAL MEETING

A1+
[07:34 pm] 05 December, 2006

We are encouraged that negotiations in 2006, facilitated by the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and supported by the OSCE Chairman
in Office, have brought the sides closer to agreement on the basic
principles for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We welcome the support of the leaders of the G8 to these efforts,
expressed at the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg in July.

We urge Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to redouble their
efforts in the coming year to finalize these basic principles as soon
as possible.

We call on the sides, with the assistance of the international
community, to extend co-operation to conduct an environmental operation
to suppress the fires in the affected territories and to overcome
detrimental consequences. These measures can constitute significant
steps toward restoring confidence between the sides. The OSCE is
available to assist.

We also express our continuing support for the Personal Representative
of the OSCE Chairman in Office and his mission to the region and
particularly for their efficient assistance to the environmental
Assessment Mission and for their ongoing monitoring of the
cease-fire. We regret that incidents along the front lines continue
occasionally to result in loss of life on both sides to adhere strictly
to the cease-fire.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOCIETY DOESN’T BELIEVE IN THE PRESIDENTS’ MEETING

A1+
[07:54 pm] 05 December, 2006

Society has already got adjusted to the fact that no information is
revealed after the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

People make conclusions on the negotiation process on the Karabakh
conflict settlement from the presidents’ moods, their manners during
the meeting, etc. The last meeting of the two presidents in Minsk was
not an exception in this respect. Up to now no one in Azerbaijan and
in Armenia is aware of the issues discussed during the presidents’
last meeting.

A1+ held polling titled "Was Kocharyan-Aliev meeting efficient in
your opinion?" Over 330 people participated in our polling.

Only 18 percent of those surveyed gave a positive answer saying that
the meeting was fruitful. 26 percent of the participants assume that
the meeting was favourable for the Azeri side, and 11percent – for
the two sides.

Most of the polling participants maintain that the last meeting was
not favourable for either side.

17 percent couldn’t give a definite answer. By the way, this index
testifies to the lack of the information.

A1+ suggests its readers participating in new polling.

It is already 18 years since the earthquake. Has the promise to
eliminate the phrase "zone of calamity" been kept?

EFFICIENCY OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS : PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT OF THE GROUP OF WISE PERSONS

Panorama.am
13:27 05/12/06

The Council of Europe has made public the report of the Group of
Wise Persons, set up during the Warsaw Summit (May 2005) to examine
the long-term efficiency of the control mechanism of the European
Convention on Human Rights.

Under the chairmanship of Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, the Group
has made proposals on how to tackle the backlog of pending cases
(around 89 000 at the end of September 2006).

The Chair of the Wise Persons" Group will present his report to the
Ministers" deputies on January 17th 2007.

In March 2007, a colloquy, organised in San Marino, which currently
holds the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, will provide
an opportunity to launch a multilateral debate on the Court"s future
development in the light of the report.

–Boundary_(ID_Sac0dwe9FJrlhp8GBogjWA)–

EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK RATES HIGH PRIVATIZATION IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
14:35 05/12/06

"European Development Bank has rated 4 out of maximum 5 points the
privatization implemented in Armenia," Karine Kirakosyan, state
property management department head affiliated to the government,
said at the National Assembly today.

The parliament discussed amendments in the bill on program
2006-2007 on privatization of state property today. According to
government submitted draft, several economic entities are proposed
for privatization among them Hrazdan Complex, Bagavan and Laser
Techniques. Two other companies are suggested to be excluded from
the list on privatization.

The committee on finance and crediting, budget and economic issues has
given a positive assessment to the bill. Hermine Naghdalyan, member
of Armenian Republican Party (HHK) also encouraged the deputies to
vote for.

Aram Sargsyan from Justice Block said it is "imprudent" to include
the mentioned companies in the list of privatization. Kirakosyan
reassured that only shares will be sold.

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION PARTY HEAD SUPPORTS MUTUAL CONCESSIONS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Panorama.am
15:52 05/12/06

Khosrov Harutunyan, leader of Christian Democratic Union party,
believes it is impossible to keep to the status quo in Karabakh
conflict regulation.

In a press conference at Pastark Club he said the conflict settlement
has approached to its best end during this year and hoped that 2006
will be decisive in that regard.

Harutunyan believes USA and EU are more interested in Karabakh conflict
settlement than Russia. He thinks USA and EU have increased their
role in the region.

The deputy also said Russia gives priority to conflicts of Abkhazia
and South Osia than to Nagorno Karabakh.

Harutunyan support mutuals concessions because he believes they mean
conflict settlement. He said mutual concessions do not mean victory
of one and defeat of another.

YOUTH PARTY TO NOMINATE 41 CANDIDATES ON MAJORITY LIST

Panorama.am
15:59 05/12/06

The Youth party will propose exactly 41 candidates on a majority list
in all 41 election centers during the upcoming parliamentary elections
in Armenia. This is the first political decision of the party with
ten years of time record which will be followed by a decision to
participate on a proportional list, too.

The information was released by Vahan Babayan, vice chairman of
the party.

Babayan believes the parliamentary elections will be fair because
he says the political awareness of the public is high. In case the
elections are fair, the vice chairman believes all 41 candidates of
Youth party will win the elections.

"We believe exclusive opportunities are created for the youth now –
to participate in the governance through elections and to implement
program provisions," a statement released by Youth party says.

Sargis Zakaryan, another vice chairman of Youth party, says that
everybody in the parliament is ill with "leader mania." He promised
to show the right way to work.

Speaking about forming alliances, Babayan said any cooperation with
opposition that combats for posts in government" is excluded. "We
are ready to cooperate with those forces who are concerned with the
creation and establishment of a healthy state," he said.

PARTY LEADER ANGRY WITH RUSSIANS

Panorama.am
16:01 05/12/06

Leader of Christian Democratic Union party, Khosrov Harutunyan, almost
cursed Russian for their supposed intervention into the internal
political life of Armenia.

He believes it is painful that Armenians take foreign influences
easily. He was very angry at the statement which says that whoever
Russia supports will become a president of Armenia.

At the same time, he justified the attempts of Americans to appoint
Sahakashvili as the president of Georgia because he believes that
was the will of people. "If Georgian people did not want, they would
boycott as they did with Shevardnadze," he said.

SYRIA SUPPORTS PEACEFUL REGULATION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Panorama.am
16:24 05/12/06

"Syria supports peaceful regulation of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
Mukhlis Faraun, charge d’affaires on issues of Syria in Armenia,
made a statement at Urbat Club today.

In his words, Syria is very familiar with the military solution of
conflicts. Faraun reminded that the Supreme Religious Head of Syria,
Mufti, promised to contribute to peaceful regulation of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict during his recent visit to Armenia. The diplomat
underscored peaceful settlement of this conflict before any other
new conflict will emerge in the region.

Speaking about the conflict in Middle East and his disposition to
Iraq, Faraun said, "There are some forces in Lebanon who try to create
hostilities among close people." However, he believes the authorities
in Lebanon will manage to reconcile. Faraun believe Western forces
support bombings of churches in Iraq.

Speaking about the Armenian contingent in Iraq, he said, "I would
not like the Armenians to be in Iraq but I understand that they are
executing a peacekeeping mission."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress