DISCUSSION OF FRESH IDEAS
Aravot, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The imagination of the OSCE MG cochairmen, which was expired a few
months ago, nowadays freshly operates. RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian told “Azatutiun” b/s after his meeting with Elmar Mamedyarov
in Paris, yesterday that they had discussed “fresh ideas” sounded in
the previous meeting in Moscow. In Oskanian’s words the dialogue will
be continued in Brussels on November 14, after which the MG cochairmen
will arrive the region.

WILL THE OSCE OBSERVERS BE INVITED?
Anna Israelian
Aravot, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
Though the authorities give positive answer to this question but the
anxieties after referendum are unsettled.
The U.S. Ambassador to OSCE Julie Finley for not meeting with
R. Kocharian during her visit to Armenia last week joked: “Perhaps
he didn’t meet with me as he thought I had no admiration and was a
bad company”. Then she added more seriously: “Perhaps he doesn’t meet
with me supposing I must teach him what and how to do.”
Julie Finley said during the same interview with the journalists that
one of the Armenian officials noted during non-official conversation
with her “maybe the authorities won’t invite OSCE observers”. And J.
Finley called the journalists: “You must make pressure on you
government to send the invitation just after determining the day
of elections.”
Mrs. Finley expressed the same anxiety during her conversations with
the Armenian officials. In particularly, she considered necessary
90-day presence of the OSCE monitoring mission, insisting that the
presence of observers before the elections is as important as it is
during the elections.
Vladimir Pryakhin, the head of OSCE Yerevan office has noted during
his meeting with the NA chairman that the OSCE is ready to send
a monitoring mission in case of receiving the invitation from the
Armenian authorities in time. He has also asked Tigran Torosian to
send invitations till the end of the year for the monitoring mission
of international organizations for the coming parliamentary elections.
V. Pryakhin said to “Aravot” yesterday: “I’m sure, there will be
invitations. Only a technical question worries us. It is better to
send the invitation beforehand, as there is no time. As sooner we
get those invitations as it is better.”
NA chairman Tigran Torosian said to “Aravot”; “There is matter
to worry. But as the day of elections isn’t decided yet, it is
meaningless to send invitations”. Vahan Hovhannisian, the NA vice
chairman, the head of Armenian delegation in the OSCE PA noted during
the interview with us: “My personal opinion is that we must provide
free, open doors for every observer. I don’t see any problem here.”
It seems the problem is expired. But the anxieties aren’t relieved
when we remember the debates before constitutional referendum last
year. Elsy Hastings, the chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
told “Azatutiun” b/s two weeks before the referendum that they had
discussed with the Armenian officials of high rank the question of
inviting OSCE monitoring group to follow duration of constitutional
referendum. V. Hovhanisian replied to that incident /not inviting the
observers/ in the following way: “Referendum is another thing. OSCE had
no experience to monitor referendums. They have never sent observers
for referendum. Why must Armenia become the first?
Elections are another question.” V. Pryakhin said on this occasion:
“That’s right, the OSCE was ready to send observers to monitor the
referendum. But the Armenian party didn’t consider it important. They
had right as it is said in the Copenhagen document that the parties
are obliged to invite observers for parliamentary and presidential
elections. Referendums aren’t mentioned there.”
We also tried to find out which state body will invite the monitoring
group. Tigran Torosian answered; “Our country has sent invitations
for several elections, there was no problem. I think we’ll invite
by the same mechanism this year.” CEC press secretary Tsovinar
Khachatrian informed us that they don’t send invitations: “The RA
government, National Assembly and Foreign Ministry have the right to
send invitations”.

WHAT WILL ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND VLADIMIR PUTIN DISCUSS?
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
While the media reported that if the Russian embassy first informs
about the upcoming visit of Robert Kocharyan to Moscow, it means
Russia does not respect Armenia and the Armenian government, the
leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram Karapetyan outlined October
25 the framework of the talk of Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin.
The two presidents will first speak about the question of Nagorno
Karabakh. “When the Israeli prime minister arrived in Moscow and it
became clear that the Iranian problem, unfortunately, is proceeding
towards a military settlement, it is clear that in this context it
becomes a vital problem for the United States to control the liberated
territories. The Americans will need to control the Armenian political
sphere in the geopolitical context. It is clear that in this relation
the Russian geopolitical interests presuppose certain actions in
reply,” states Aram Karapetyan.
Afterwards, Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin will speak about gas.
“Perhaps, the Russians want definite information on when the
Iran-Armenia pipeline will be operated, because soon there will be a
problem of gas with Georgia. The price of the gas supplied to Georgia
will go up. Iran will supply us,” thinks Aram Karapetyan.
The presidents of Armenia and Russia will not forget about the
problems of Javakheti and Georgia. “For Russia, the passive stance
of the Armenian government is not clear.”
Besides, Vladimir Putin will inquire about all the developments that
are underway in Armenia, “As a country, which possesses considerable
property in Armenia, Russia is interested in the future developments.”

DID THE PLANE TOOK GOLD AND DRUGS TO SOCHI ONCE IN THREE MONTHS?
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
There is no official statement on the crash of the Armenian A320 May
3 in Sochi, which took 113 lives. According to the initial conclusion
of the Interstate Aviation Committee, the cause of the crash was the
mistake of the pilot. Five months later the Russian media recalled the
plane. In answer to this, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram
Karapetyan stated some questions October 25 in Yerevan, which he will
extend to the Attorney General on October 26. Aram Karapetyan said he
got the information that gave rise to his questions from the media,
as well as the National Security Service of Armenia and his source
in Armavia. This is the only plane crash in Armenia over the past 20
years, and unfortunately, the government is trying to forget about it,
stated Aram Karapetyan.
Q. 1. In the first telegram Yerevan received after the crash of the
plane it was stated, “the plane disappeared from the display of the
radar.” According to Aram Karapetyan, experts say such telegrams
are sent when the plane explodes. Did the procuracy pay attention to
this circumstance?
Q. 2. Did a criminal group try to get the plane land in Sochi and
not return to Yerevan? Was there a fight? Was the captain of the
liner beaten?
Q. 3. Why did not the plane return to Yerevan when the dispatcher of
Sochi warned that it is impossible to land there? Who in the territory
of Georgia made the plane return to Sochi, and the plane did not get
to its destination?
Q. 5. Did the security service of the airport check all the VIP
passengers? Did these passengers carry weapon, explosives? Were they
checked? Are there records of the checking? We have learned that the
VIP lounge is under 24 hour surveillance. Were these records and the
video tape confiscated and attached to the criminal case?
Q. 6. Is the information in the Russian media true, or is the reality
different but it is presented this way to settle certain political
problems?
Q. 7. Is it true that after deciphering the information of the data
recorders the French party extended information on 6 parameters
instead of the required 40 to the Russian party?
The cause of the crash was not the mistake of the pilots, states the
leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party. Considering that nobody gives
explanation or information to the National Assembly, Aram Karapetyan
stated, “In most cases certain government agencies make no efforts,
and it appears that the National Assembly is neglected. The society
cannot get information.” This leads to emergence of various rumors.
For instance, Aram Karapetyan has heard that this plane took gold
and drugs to Sochi once in three months.
According to Aram Karapetyan, all the documents of the crashed plane
were in another A320 of Armavia which burnt in the hangar in Belgium
after the crash of A320.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNITED JAVAKHETI DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE CONDEMNS THE HZOR HAYRENIK PARTY
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The Statement of United Javakheti Democratic Alliance
In answer to the statements of the deputy leader of the Hzor Hayrenik
Party Shirak Torosyan in the October 24 edition of the Iravunk
Newspaper, United Javakheti Democratic Alliance, realizing its
responsibility for the stability in Javakheti and the protection of
the national and civil rights of the Armenian population, considering
the dangerous situation in the region, condemns the efforts of several
marginal political sets and the criminal groups, which joined them,
to dissolve the alliance and stain its activities.
In Javakheti, which remained within independent Georgia after the
collapse of the Soviet Union, different forces emerged to defend the
political and civil rights of the Armenian population of Javakheti
but were unable to unite and direct the potential of the Armenians
of Javakheti at the urgent and effective settlement of the problems
of this region.
At the same time, certain people living in Armenia and pursuing their
personal goals in the political sphere of Armenia, who joined the
Hzor Hayrenik Party, have succeeded in manipulating the feelings of
the citizens of Armenia from Javakheti in their constant efforts to
enter the National Assembly.
United Javakheti condemns the efforts of these people, who are members
of the Hzor Hayrenik Party, to use Javakheti for their own interests
confined to Armenia. The fact that the deputy leader of the Hzor
Hayrenik Party, a certain “international expert” Shirak Torosyan has
usurped the post of the president of the Javakhk Union of Compatriots
is unacceptable from the point of view of the elementary rules of
political ethic. The alliance commends the wish of Javakhk Union of
Compatriots to assist in settling the problems of the Armenians of
Javakheti. Nevertheless, Javakhk Union of Compatriots cannot remain
a toy in the hands of the leadership of the Hzor Hayrenik Party,
suffering from political and ideological bancruptcy.
United Javakheti considers the efforts of the Hzor Hayrenik Party to
monopolize the right to act on behalf of the Armenians of Javakheti
as groundless and destructive.
United Javakheti Democratic Alliance condemns the politically dangerous
and intolerable efforts of the leadership of the Hzor Hayrenik
to interfere with the home political developments in Javakheti and
control them from Yerevan. The alliance warns that this political
party will be accountable for the possible destabilization of the
situation in the region.
United Javakheti Democratic Alliance condemns the efforts to denigrate
the alliance in the Armenian media. Using the unawareness of the public
in Armenia, primitive and condemnable efforts are made to distort the
reality. Unfortunately, the Hzor Hayrenik Party has again taken up an
underlying role in these processes. The local elections in Javakheti
on October 5 were marred by brazen cases of electoral fraud, and the
assertions of the Hzor Hayrenik Party about the “absolute victory”
of the “pro-Armenian forces” in the elections are a vivid example
of moral decay. (For instance, how can an election be considered as
democratic, if communities with 7000 voters and 100 voters send an
equal number of delegates to the “sakrebulo”?)
Over two years of its activities United Javakheti has displayed
resolve to defend the security and the civil rights of the Armenians
of Javakheti and has earned the trust of the population. “30 percent”
of United Javakheti despite the administrative resource used by
the government of the country and the immoral campaign conducted by
their local proxies, shows the real importance of United Javakheti
for the population.
United Javakheti Democratic Alliance is convinced that the Armenian
government will reconsider the decision on the arrest of Vahagn
Chakhalyan, a leader of the Alliance, provoked by certain marginal
forces and on an absurd charge.

CAUCASUS LIKE KARABAKH
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
For Russia the Caucasus is the same as Karabakh for Armenia, stated
Member of Parliament Hmayak Hovanisyan October 25 at the Hayeli Club,
speaking about the Russian-Georgian relation. According to him, Russia
uses the wrong methods to react to the hostility that began from the
“spy games” by Georgia, but this reaction is appropriate and logical
because Georgia offended Russia by striking its strategic interests.
Hmayak Hovanisyan says the point is that they are trying to oust Russia
from the region through Georgia but they have forgotten that all the
Russian commanders were “baptized” in the Caucasus, the Caucasus was
the theater of all the great historical battles of Russia. “Russia
needed an idea of mobilization, and this idea has emerged,” Hmayak
Hovanisyan says.
He thinks that Georgia offended Armenia as well by announcing that
the actions of the spies were coordinated in Yerevan. Therefore,
Hmayak Hovanisyan is surprised that Armenia did not give an adequate
response despite the statement, though an impertinent one, by such
a friendly member of parliament as Zatulin, says Hmayak Hovanisyan.
According to him, the goal of integration with European and Western
organizations is justified, whereas the tactics chosen by Georgia is
wrong. Hovanisyan advises not to choose this tactics, be realistic
and remember that 80 percent of transfers exceeding the budget of
Armenia twice are made by the Armenians working in Russia.

NEW DETAILS OF CRASH OF ARMENIAN PLANE
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The news agency Regnum published an anonymous report on the crash
of the plane of Armavia Airlines on May 3 near Sochi. The anonymous
author, who introduced himself as the relative of one of the victims,
writes that a group of passengers flying in business class, i.e. they
were close to the cockpit, were leaving for Sochi for an “important
meeting”. The group had already had several drinks. Learning that the
crew decided to return to Yerevan because of the bad weather, they got
one of the pilots out of the cockpit and taking him hostage, demanded
to land in Sochi. The author writes that the panic that occurred on
board resulted in uncoordinated actions of the crew and the dispatcher.

AZERBAIJAN BECOMES RUSSIA’S NATURAL ALLY
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The current Russian and Georgian relations show that Georgia is
escaping the Russian influence and this is inevitable. In this
situation, Azerbaijan becomes Russia’s natural ally in the Caucasus,
stated the leader of the Christian Democratic Union Khosrov Harutiunyan
at the Hayeli Club. He supports his opinion by an analysis which
starts with an explanation of the importance of the Caucasus for
Russia. According to Khosrov Harutiunyan, the Caucasus is important
for Russia for it is a bridge connecting with other regions. In this
context, if it loses Georgia, Azerbaijan becomes the shortest and the
most logical way, concludes the leader of the Christian Democratic
Union.
In this connection he reminds the construction of the North-South
railroad, openly negotiated by Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran. In
addition, it does not occur to any Russian official to invite Armenia,
their strategic partner to these negotiations, Khosrov Harutiunyan
says. “If we continue to refer to Russia as our strategic ally, the
strategic importance of Armenia will not increase. This is the reality,
and we have to accept it and plan our short-term and long-term moves
in this context,” says the leader of the Christian Democratic Union.
He thinks that Armenia should move from complementarism to a clear
policy of European integration. “It is impossible to determine the
security of the country by setting up ties with a separate power,
and in this context the European Union, the family of the European
nations is the best environment for the collective security, and the
process of European integration should become a priority for Armenia.
I want to emphasize that instead of complementarism, today there
is every possibility to move from complementarism to Europe without
offending anyone, without encroaching on anyone’s strategic interest,”
says Khosrov Harutiunyan, adding that if he were not convinced that
it is possible, he would not have said that. According to him, it is
only necessary to choose the right tactical stages.

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS OF ARMENIA SYMPATHIZE WITH GEORGIA
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The leader of the Christian Democratic Party of Armenia Khosrov
Harutiunyan stated October 25 at the Hayeli Club that in the current
state of Russian and Georgian relations their sympathy is with
Georgia. “Any sovereign country is free to choose its geopolitical
line if this choice, I repeat, does not threaten the security or
strategic interests of the third country or countries. If there is a
threat, it should have been negotiated instead of barring the import
of Borjomi or wines,” says Khosrov Harutiunyan.
He says Georgia does not benefit from this situation and the action
of President Sahakashvili, whereas Russia suffers from the methods of
its reaction, says Khosrov Harutiunyan. According to him, however,
nobody or no country is supposed to judge the actions concerning
the relation of other states, and not judging Georgia and Russia
the leader of the Christian Democratic Party judges Armenia, the
Armenian parliament saying that the parliamentary diplomacy can act
as a mediator because there are restrictions on the activities of
the executive. For instance, Khosrov Harutiunyan says Armenia could
accuse Georgia of creating demarcation lines in the Caucasus by its
policy. “Meanwhile, our parliament didn’t even make a statement on
the existing situation although the new Constitution empowers it,”
says Khosrov Harutiunyan, noting that this shows that the parliament
is a political impotent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRANCE MANEUVERS AND GIVES ARMENIA SOME TIME TO PREPARE
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
A strange similarity can be noticed in the actions of the foreign
legacies in Armenia. The ambassadors do not make that significant
steps over the years of their work than when they prepare to leave.
The reason perhaps is that since they are diplomats, representatives
of other countries, their actions are restricted by the “imperative
mandate” and they beware evaluations and comments, meanwhile as they
are about to leave, they are more free, at least with regard to the
given country. The evidence to this is that the ambassadors of two
great states to Armenia the United States and France left with a noise
although they worked quite tacitly. We should not forget that after
John Evans had left, the U.S. embassy announced about extending facts
on corruption to the Armenian government. Meanwhile, they had insisted
on the contrary before Evans left. Henry Cuny outdid Evans with his
“post-diplomatic ease”. His five years in Armenia were so unnoticed
that some people were even surprised to hear that Cuny was ambassador
to Armenia for five years. And it is possible that for this reason
he decided to leave slamming the door behind him. And the slam was so
hard because it concerned the recent delight of the Armenian foreign
policy: the law passed by the French parliament and its influence on
the Turkish and Armenian relations. Ambassador Cuny literally stated
that our relations with Turkey is our business. This was but an overt
answer to the Armenian diplomacy with Commander Vardan Oskanyan and
“Commander-in-Chief” Robert Kocharyan, who used their entire arsenal
to present to the public from early morning till late at night what
a diplomatic victory Armenia celebrated by the decision of the French
parliament. Meanwhile, Cuny hints that it was not the goal of France
to interfere with the Turkish-Armenian relation and solve a problem
for Armenia but France solved its own problems, and the ambassador
naturally did not speak about these problems because unlike Armenia
in France they usually keep and solve their problems inside their
own circle.
I wish Cuny had stated that the relation with Turkey is our business.
He also advised to listen not only to the opinion of people who hurry
to thank France but also the young people who, besides gratefulness,
say that their future, if they want to live in Armenia, depends on
the dialogue with the neighbors rather than confrontation. In other
words, the ambassador of France conveyed to the Armenians that before
the delight and celebration of a decision made by another country
it is first of all necessary to realize the effect of this decision
on the future of their own country. Of course, Cuny cannot imagine
that moral victories are of more value in Armenia because these do
not require special intellect and efforts, all they take is some PR.
Moreover, he cannot imagine that the people who deal with the foreign
policies and who should have calculated and analyzed for the people
what practical use the bill adopted by the French parliament would have
for the future of the country are in reality busy analyzing their own
future, not the future of the country and people. And they concluded
from their analysis that the decision of the French parliament is
what they need to stir emotions and turn into a means of praising
themselves. And while anyone in Armenia who would speak against this
public psychosis propagated by the government would immediately be
characterized as a betrayor, a false Armenian or a foreign agent,
it is impossible to say the same about the French ambassador. He
cannot be a betrayor, a false Armenian and especially a foreign
agent. Consequently, he did not have any motivation stemming from the
logic of the Armenian government to announce what he announced only
five days before leaving Armenia. In other words, the motivation is
quite different, and the ploughmen of the Armenian foreign policies
should at least now make an effort to analyze and get the meaning of
Cuny’s words.
It appears that by hinting that the bill on the genocide has nothing
to do with the Turkish-Armenian relation and the future of Armenia
Cuny definitely opposed to the parliamentarians of his own country,
who asserted that they adopted the bill out of moral standards and
support to the Armenian people. This may be true, and it may even
appear that like in Armenia in France too the right had does not know
what the left hand is doing. But again this is what the logic of the
Armenian elite suggests. In reality, it is highly probable that Cuny
is preparing the failure of the bill on the genocide in the Senate or
at the Palais d’Elisees, where Jacques Chirac may simply decline to
sign the law. We should not forget that Chirac will retire soon and
he may agree to accept the blow, namely the dissatisfaction of the
Armenian voters in France. In other words, it is more expedient that
the French Senate adopts the law not to arouse dissatisfaction among
the Armenian voters, meanwhile Chirac is the most convenient way of
preventing the triumph of this bill. France did what it needed to do
and now it does not need to go forward. The bill will prove useful
in their relations with Turkey, therefore it is not necessary to
adopt it right now. It may appear that only several days ago Chirac
spoke about the friendship of Armenia and France in Yerevan and he
would never agree not to sign the law. Meanwhile, Cuny’s words, who
is announcing, in fact, that the bill is against the interests of
Armenia, may serve this purpose. Hence, already an effort is made to
justify the possible move by Chirac, presenting it in the light of
the pursuit of the Armenian interest. Therefore, though it may seem
that the Armenian government should be offended by Cuny revelations,
it had better thank him for outlining so early the possible moves
of the French policy. The point is that the French ambassador simply
tried to help the Armenian government to take its time and work out
an action plan not to be given a surprise when the Senate rejects or
Chiract declines to sign the bill to include this move immediately
into the national liberation propaganda and present it as another
diplomatic victory of Armenia.