SAMVEL NIKOYAN: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM SYMBOLIZES START OF DEMOCRATIZATION STAGE IN KARABAKH

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The constitutional referendum in
Nagorno Karabakh was fair, honest and transparent. Samvel Nikoyan,
Secretary of RA National Assembly RPA faction, declared at the December
12 press conference. He had participated in the December 10 referendum
in Artsakh as an observer. In his words, this was the estimation of all
observers representing non-state organizations of various countries,
as well as non-recognized republics.

Touching upon referendum’s political estimation, S.Nikoyan said that
the 1991 Referendum of Independence and the Declaration of Independence
can be characterized as a process of realization of NKR’s independence
in accordance with the international norms and the process following
this as a stage of state’s establishment, while this constitutional
referendum lays the foundation of a new democratization stage. "The
fact that the international community does not accept the results of
this referendum is their business. It is not up to them to say whether
Nagorno Karabakh should live with a Constitution or without it,"
S.Nikoyan said. In his words, the constitutional referendum cannot
impede the Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations process just like
the Referendum of Independence held 15 years ago does not impede it.

OSCE’S MINSK GROUP CONDEMNS NAGORNY KARABAKH VOTE

Agence France Presse — English
December 11, 2006 Monday 6:46 PM GMT

The OSCE Minsk Group on Monday condemned a constitutional referendum
held in Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh as
"unhelpful."

Some 98.6 percent of votes cast in Sunday’s poll approved a
constitution declaring Nagorny Karabakh an independent state.

"Conducting such a referendum now… is particularly unhelpful at a
moment when the OSCE Minsk Group-mediated negotiations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan appear to be on a constructive path," the group said
in a statement received in Vienna.

The Minsk Group, under the auspices of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe, is heading efforts to reach a permanent
resolution to a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
breakaway region.

The enclave first declared itself independent in 1991, precipitating
a full-blown war between former fellow Soviet republics Armenia and
Azerbaijan, claiming some 25,000 lives before ending with a ceasefire
in 1994.

Years of negotiations have failed to resolve the dispute between
Azerbaijan and the Armenian-backed Nagorny Karabakh separatists.

The three co-chairs of the Minsk Group — France, Russia and the
United States — added however that "the results of this referendum,
which are not internationally recognized, will have no negative effect
on continuing prospects for an agreement between the sides on basic
principles for the settlement of the conflict."

In another statement on Monday, the OSCE chairman, Belgian Foreign
Minister Karel De Gucht, called the referendum "counter-productive,"
adding: "No member of the international community recognizes the
so-called Nagorno-Karabach republic as an independent state."

NUMBER OF TOURISTS WHO ARRIVED IN ARMENIA IN 2006 JANUARY-SEPTEMBER INCREASES BY 18.3% AS COMPARED WITH SAME MONTHS OF PREVIOUS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. 272 thousand 499 tourists arrived in
Armenia in 2006 January-September against 230 thousand 390 tourists
who arrived in Armenia in the same period of the previous year:
the growth made 18.3%.

According to the data of reports received by RA National Statistical
Service from hotels, 40 thousand tourists stayed at 38 Armenian hotels
in 2006 January-September: 36 thousand 702 tourists stayed at 35
hotels in the same period of the previous year. 22.5% of tourists who
stayed at Armenian hotels in the first ten months of this year fell
to CIS countries (29.4% in January-September of the previous year),
out of which the share of tourists having arrived from Russia makes 17%
(22.6%) in the total number of tourists, from European Union countries
34.5% (28.8%), including those having arrived from France 14.1% (9.1%),
from Germany 5.1% (5.4%), from Great Britain 5% (5.3%), from other EU
countries 10.3% (9%). The share of tourists having arrived from other
countries made 43% (in 2005 January-September 41.9%), from U.S. 23.3%
(22.8%), from Iran 5.4% (8.1%). 250 thousand 639 people left the
country for the purpose of tourism in the first nine months of 2006 or
more by 19.8% as compared with 2005 January-September. In this period
5 thousand 777 tourists left the country on trips organized by travel
agencies or more by 82.1% as compared with 2005 January-September.

NUMBER OF INTERNAL TOURISTS GROWS BY 10.2% IN RA IN 2006 JANUARY-SEPTEMBER AS COMPARED WITH SAME PERIOD OF PREVIOUS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. 247 thousand 962 internal tourists
(RA residents) stayed at accomodation places for collective and
individual tourists in RA territory in 2006 January-September:
growth made 10.2% as compared with the same period of the previous
year. According to the data of RA National Statistical Service, 42.5%
of internal tourists (105 thousand 340 tourists against 95 thousand
274 in 2005 January-September) had a goal of rest and entertainment,
15.8% treatment (39 thousand 271 against 35 thousand 636) and 33.6%
business (83 thousand 226 against 75 thousand 660).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN IS STILL IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Zhirayr Sefilian, Coordinator
of the Defence of Liberated Territories public initiative, former
Commander of the Shoushi special battalion, arrested on December 10 by
employees of RA National Security Service has not been deported from
Armenia. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Artsvi Bagramian,
Spokesperson of the National Security Service, an investigation on
his case in underway. To recap, on December 11, there were rumors
that Zh.Sefilian was to be deported from Armenia the same day.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REFERENDUM ON NKR CONSTITUTION MEETS MOST OF STANDARDS OF OSCE, CE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES, OBSERVERS’ REPORT MENTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "The referendum on adoption of
the Constitution held on December 10 in NKR meets most of the standards
of OSCE, Council of Europe and other international European structures
relating to democratic elections equally used towards referendums as
well," the resume of the independent observers on the results of the
referendum on adoption of the NKR Constitution read. The process
of preparation for the referendum and the referendum itself was
observed by more than 100 international observers and journalists
from Russia, U.S., France, Armenia, Italy, Croatia, Israel, Serbia,
Georgia, Ukraine, Denmark, Kosovo, Republic of Abkhazia, Republic
of South Ossetia, Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic in the presence
of correspondents of TV companies Russia Today, First Channel (RF),
Rustavi-2 (Georgia), radio BBC, agencies France-press, EurasiaNet
(U.S.), Regnum (Russia), Interfax and a number of information
agencies of Armenia. On the day of the referendum the observers
visited 137 polling stations, participated in calculation of votes
at 32 polling stations and "registered no significant violation on
the day of the referendum." As the document mentions, "wide public
confidence the process of elections enjoys in Nagorno Karabakh made
a great impression." 89 044 persons were on electoral rolls. During
the whole day once in every three hours they reported about the
turnout level. In the final result the turnout made 87.02%. "We did
not register any significant violations either in the procedure
of electors’ registration and organization of voting or in the
procedure of working up of votes and transportation of protocols of
vote calculation from polling stations to regional (town) commissions
and further to the Central Commission on Referendum," the document
read. At the same time, the observers mentioned the necessity to
improve accessibility of polling stations, in particular, for disabled
persons to be able to exercise their right of vote, undertaking of
measures for full provision of secret ballot and increase of number
of cabins for voting. As a recommendation they mentioned necessity of
international community’s providing support to democratic processes
in Nagorno Karabakh, including holding of elections.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: THE ISSUE IN KARABAKH RELATES NOT TO TERRITORIES BUT TO POLITICAL STATUS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 12 2006

ISTANBUL, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Karabakh
people held a referendum not to make a decision concerning its
independence, but to have a basic Constitution. RA Foreing Minister
Vartan Oskanian said about it in the interview given to the Turkish
"Jumhurriyet" newspaper correspondent, adding that it is impossible to
imagine a country which will not have its Constitution, and Karabakh
has been an autonomous country for 15 years. In the Minister’s words,
the referendum on the Constitution has no relations with nationality
of the present population. If peace is established tomorrow, and
Azeri refugees from Karabakh return, they will need this Constitution
as well.

Responding the Turk journalist’s reminding that once Levon
Ter-Petrosian and Heydar Aliyev shooke one another’s hands and
agreed that Armenians withdrew from seven regions being under their
control, Vartan Oskanian said that the two Presidents never shooke
one another’s hands with such an agreement. He mentioned that the
OSCE Minsk Group’s proposal was adopted by the Presidents during those
days, according to which issues of the Karabakh problem solution must
be discussed stage by stage. Levon Ter-Petrosian spoke for it but
a strong opposition was formed against him. According to Marmara,
Vartan Oskanian also emphasized that the issue in Karabakh relates
not to the territories, but to the political status. In his words,
in the prepared agreements they speak about the territories till now,
whereas the Karabakh people insists on its self-government, on the
status of independently defining its fate, and the key for solution
of the Karabakh problem is just here. Vartan Oskanian reminds that
today it is impossible to leave defining of the Karabakh status aside
and be engaged in the territorial issues. In his words, the reason for
fixing some movement in the Karabakh issue during the recent period of
time is that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev finally approached
discussion of the status issue. And as for that statement of Ilham
Aliyev, according to which Azerbaijan will resort to military means if
the issue does not find peaceful solution, Vartan Oskanian expressed
a hope that it is not Aliyev’s sincere thought and was said just to
calm down the people, as if one develops the possibility of military
solution in his head, he may never make compromises and support
reaching agreement. In the Minister’s words, it is a great danger
for Azerbaijan, and if similar military solution was possible, Azeris
would resort to that variant till now: Azeris attempted twice and lost.

HOVHANNES ZANAZANIAN AWARDED RA PRIME MINISTER’S MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the 60th birth
anniversary and contribution to development of Armenian football,
by the decision of RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Hovhannes
Zanazanian was awarded the Prime Minister’s memorial medal. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it from RA government Information and Public
Relations Department.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE APPRECIATES WORKS OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The General Assembly of the
European Olympic Committee was held on December 8-10, in Brussels,
the capital of Belgrade. Patrick Hickey, the Chairman of the European
Olympic Committee, who visited Armenia a month ago, touched upon in his
report works done by the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (NOCA),
estimating them as excellent and model ones. Armen Grigorian, the
NOCA Secretary General participated in the assembly from Armenia. He
mentioned in the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent that
representatives of many European countries, especially of the CIS,
were interested in the Tsaghkadzor sports complex. The representative
of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia facted that members of
the national team of swimming of their country, which recently held
a teaching and training gathering in Tsaghkagzor, certainly improved
their results.

SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN: HENCEFORTH TWO ARMENIAN STATES SHOULD COMPETE IN ISSUE OF BEING LAWFUL AND DEMOCRATIC

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The constitutional referendum
in Nagorno Karabakh is a historic event, the significance of
which is difficult to estimate for the present. RA National
Assembly deputy Shavarsh Kocharian reported this at the December
12 press conference. He had participated in the referendum as
an observer. In his words, henceforth the two Armenian states –
Armenia and NKR should compete in the issue of being more lawful
and democratic. In Sh.Kocharian’s words, in this respect NKR’s
Constitution surpassed the Armenian one. Besides, in difference
to Armenian political forces, the Artsakh politicians manifested
unity at the Constitutional referendum. Sh.Kocharian also said
that unlike Armenia, no one forced Karabakh to adopt the path of
democracy or to have a Constitution. Touching upon the process
of Nagorno Karabakh settlement, Sh.Kocharian said that mediators’
optimism on breakthrough in this problem in 2006 had no ground and it
was obvious that the Prague process would not have any result. In the
MP’s words, the reason of such conviction is the bellicose atmosphere
in Azerbaijan. In Sh.Kocharian’s words, it is obvious that Baku is
inclined not to solve the problem, but uses the negotiations process
for its agitation and for gaining time.