NKR SPEAKER MET WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 16 2006
On November 9 NKR Speaker Ashot Ghulian met with some representatives
of youth NGOs of Artsakh on the eve of the international day of the
youth. The speaker of the National Assembly emphasized the role of
the youth NGOs in building a civil society and promoting democracy
in all the spheres of life. He also appreciated that the problems
put forward by these NGOs are relevant to the needs of the society,
and are directed at the resolution of problems in parallel with the
efforts of the government. The speaker of the National Assembly
also asserted the willingness of the leadership of the country,
including the parliament to assist in the development of the youth
organizations. The speaker of parliament answered the questions of
the participants of the meeting on enhancing government control on the
education of the young generation, employment of young people, housing
of young families, establishment of a youth parliament in NKR, etc.

US APPROACH TOWARD NKR DIFFERS FROM THAT TOWARD OTHER UNRECOGNIZED REPUBLICS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
US position on the referendum in NKR varies from that on the possible
referendum in South Ossetia. Head of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Kiro
Manoyan noted in a press conference today that the US policy on other
post-Soviet conflicts does not apply to Nagorno Karabakh. “It does
not mean that the White House cannot have a denialist position,
but the fact is that Nagorno Karabakh is the only conflict zone,
the only unrecognized republic, which annually receives filve million
USD from the United States,” he added.

KIRO MANOYAN: ARMENIA CAN LEGALLY RETURN ITS HISTORIC LANDS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
The Sevres Agreement is the only legal document, which can fairly
satisfy Armenia’s claims on its historic lands in international
structures, Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan said in a
press conference today. He agrees with the former Armenian Ambassador
to Canada Ara Papyan’s idea of returning the Armenian lands in a
legal way. “Ara Papyan’s approach is quite realistic, since according
to Article 89 of the Sevres Agreement, US President Woodrow Wilson
was entrusted to clarify the border between Armenia and Turkey and
he allocated more than 160 thousand sq. km to Armenia,” he noted,
adding that the Agreement is a legal document.
Turning to the question of Turkey’s accession to the European Union,
Kiro Manoyan noted that it comes from the US interests. However,
it’s not in the authority of the US to suggest terms and requirements
of accession. “As far as the accession process is underway, and the
EU sets its requirements, the Armenian lobby has the right to demand
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and exert pressures on Turkey,”
said Kiro Manoyan.

TIGRAN TOROSYAN MET WITH CHAIRMAN OF THE RF FEDERAL COUNCIL
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
In the framework of the 27th plenary sitting of the CIS
Interparliamentary Assembly Armenian Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosyan
had a meeting with the Chairman of the Russian Federal Council Sergey
Mironov. During the meeting reference was made to the activities of
the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, the Caucasus Four meeting, as well
as NA Chairman’s upcoming official visit to the Russian Federation.
The meeting of the Caucasus Four, featuring Parliament Speakers of
Armenia, Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan was held the same day.

BILL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WILL BE PRESENTED IN NEXT CONGRESS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
In the next Congress together with our partners Adam Schiff and George
Radanovich we shall prepare and present a bill on recognition of the
Armenian Genocide,” Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and
Joe Knollenberg said during the meeting with Chairman of the Armenian
Association of America Brian Adouny. The Congressmen expressed hope
that the adoption of this bill will once and forever reconfirm the
crime committed against Armenians of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923.
“Proper acknowledgment of this awful reality will become the first step
for preventing reoccurrence of such crimes in the future and to give
meaning to the “never again” expression,” they said, appreciating the
fact that 90 percent of the Caucus members have been reelected. “We
expect that our joint work will reinforce the ties between the US
and Armenia, will prevent the efforts of Turkey and Azerbaijan to
isolate Armenia and will finally confirm the historic fact of the
Armenian Genocide,” the Congressmen mentioned.
Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg informed also that in April they
intend to organize a special event in the Capitol dedicated to the
92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Assembly of
America reports.
The Assembly expressed gratitude to the Co-Chairs for their consistency
and resoluteness to present the bill on Armenian Genocide recognition
to the Congress.

NKR PARLIAMENT DONATES 350 000 DRAMS TO “REBIRTH OF ARTSAKH” PROGRAM
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
NKR Parliament will transfer 350 thousand drams to assist the Telethon
in Los Angeles for the accomplishment of “Rebirth of Artsakh” program,
NKR Parliament Speaker Ashot Gulyan declared during the plenary
session of the National Assembly, ArmInfo correspondent reports from
Stepanakert. The sum was donated by deputies and staff of the National
Assembly. The Speaker called on all the citizens and organizations
of the Republic to have active participation in this nationwide event.

ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: THERE ARE STILL DISAGREEMENTS IN THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
We discussed the suggestion presented by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
in Moscow and came to the conclusion to continue the talks, said the
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov, commenting on the
results of the meeting with Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian, Mediamax
agency reports.
Elmar Mammadyarov informed that after the November 20 the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs will visit Yerevan and Baku. They suggested to arrange
the meeting of Presidents following their visit to the region. Azeri
Foreign Minister considers that the meeting of Presidents may be held
November 28 in Minsk in the framework of the summit of CIS leaders.
Commenting on the course of the talks with RA Foreign Minister,
Mammadyarov said here are still disagreements. He noted also that for
two years negotiations have been held in the framework of the Prague
process, and Armenia understands the position of Azerbaijan. “It is
still early to speak about any progress. It will be possible only
after the meeting of the Presidents,” said Elmar Mammadyarov. He
noted that the talks will be completed this year.

RA PRESIDENT TO SPEAK AT THE BERTELSMANN FUND
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
November 15 in Berlin RA President Robert Kocharyan attended the
festive ceremony of opening of the new Armenian Embassy building in
Berlin, which is located in one of the most celebrated districts of
the city.
Today Robert Kocharyan will have meetings with the Mayor of Berlin
Klaus Voverayt and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Angela Merkel.
RA President will deliver a speech at Bertelsmann – the most
influential political fund of Germany.

WE DON’T NEED RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, WE NEED THEIR WEAPON
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
In Armenia we don’t need the Russian soldier, we need the Russian
weapon and equipment, stated Kiro Manoyan, ARF on November 16,
who is in charge of the Hay Dat and political issues. He expressed
this view when the reporters asked him how a Russian young man can
guarantee the security of the people of Armenia, if he is brought
up in an atmosphere of xenophobia in his homeland, and who kills the
citizens of Armenia in his homeland.
“In Armenia, we do not need Russian soldiers to come to Armenia, we
need their weapon and equipment to be here,” says Kiro Manoyan. He
also thinks that the killings of citizens of Armenia in Russia are
not an anti-Armenian policy. Kiro Manoyan says the chauvinism and
xenophobia in Russia is worrying but they do not kill only Armenians.
Kiro Manoyan says, however, that it does not mean we do not need
to worry about the killings of our compatriots. The murder of one
person is worrying and should be condemned, let alone that millions
of Armenians live in Russia, says Kiro Manoyan. The representative of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun is worried by the reaction of the Russian law
enforcement agencies towards these incidents, which fail to expose
and punish the guilty.

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS CALL FOR SAVING POLITICAL PROCESS
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
The leader of the Christian Democratic Party of Armenia Khosrov
Harutiunyan thinks that economy cannot be separated from politics, and
if we want to have a competitive economy, we must have a “political
system able to make effective political decisions in any sphere of
the public life. I am inviting all the political parties: let us
save the political process.” The leader of the Christian Democratic
Union presented his standpoint to the news reporters on November
16. Khosrov Harutiunyan thinks that the best way to reach this is
to step up political struggle instead of struggle for power, when
the political teams of the political parties struggle, when before
the election the political teams of the political parties present
the pattern of the future parliament to the public, they say who
the minister of science or culture is going to be. In this case,
according to Khosrov Harutiunyan, the finance and the number of
the members of the party will not be the only and deciding factor,
“Everyone who has something to say and does not have money will be
able to become involved in the political struggle.”
Of course, the leader of the Christian Democratic Party does not think
that the financial factor can be ignored completely, but he is for
the existence of “political teams which make effective political
decisions” and he thinks “the purpose of the political parties
should not be coming to power but having a positive influence on the
processes underway in the public life and politics.” Thus the factor
of the personality will diminish in the political processes. And
now the political forces are thinking about coming to power and “if
you want to be a minister, you have to do two things: guess who the
prime minister will be and do him a favor.” The Christian Democratic
Party thinks that today the Republican Party, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
and maybe also Bargavach Hayastan have the potential to present a
political team. There is no such force in the opposition but it is
commendable that alliances with an ideological basis are outlining.
Khosrov Harutiunyan is for criticizing the governments, against
swearing, and he also thinks that the success of the present government
is the success of all the previous governments. “Newton says I could
see far because I was standing on the shoulders of the giants.”
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union says the media have
an important role in saving the political process. Today, however,
he says there are no serious analyses in the media, “I had expected
more from the media.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress