JIRAIR SEFILYAN ARRESTED

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 11:00

Leader of the "Defense of Liberated Territories" civil initiative and
the " Union of Armenian Volunteers" organization Jirair Sefilyan was
arrested yesterday. Press Service of the National Security informs
that in the result of operative measures, proofs have been found for
the fact that Jirair Sefilyan and his supporters pursued the aim of
undertaking illegal measures in the forthcoming political processes
of Armenia, particularly to carry out radical actions during 2007
parliamentary elections.

The Pres Office of RA National Security Service informs that on
December 2, 2006 during a conference in Yerevan some leaders of the
organization called to seize state authority through violence and
force. They declared that the authorities in power should be dethroned
only via armed struggle and rebellion.

Action plans were elaborated in this direction.

Leaders of the "Union of Armenian volunteers" organization planned
to induce the opposition to political disobedience and clashes.

A criminal case has been launched on the fact in the Investigation
Department of RA National Security Service in compliance with Article
301 of the Armenian Criminal Code. Leaders of the organization Vardan
Malkhasyan and Jirair Sevilyan were arrested, Press Office of the
National Security Service informs.

NEW ARMENIAN FRENCH COLLEGE

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 11:05

Sunday December 10, in presence of many French and Armenians was posed
the first stone of the French-Armenian College "Nevarte Gulbenkian"
and cultural space "Tebrotzassere," Jean Eckian iformsfrom France. On
a surface of 1600 m2, this school will be inaugurated on September
2007 and will be able to accommodate 400 students who will be added
to the 265 children of primary and secondary Tebrotzassere School
(100% of success to the general exam). It is located close to Paris
on the communes of Livry-Gargan and Le Raincy. France counts already
seven Armenian school establishments.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

98.58% CAST THEIR VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE NKR CONSTITUTION

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 11:22

According to preliminary data, 98.58 % of those who participated in
the constitutional referendum in Nagorno Karabakh voted in favor of
the draft NKR Constitution, Mediamax agency reports.

Only 0.7 % of the voters sad "no" to the Constitution.

The voting turnout comprised 87 % or 78,339 people.

90,077 citizens were included in the voting lists.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN NKR HELD IN COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL NORMS, FRENCH OBSERVERS SAY

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 13:27

"The Constitutional referendum in NKR was held in compliance
with international norms. Step by step you are approaching to your
objective, declared French observer Alen Fresner, ArmInfo correspondent
reports from Stepanakert.

Another French observer, editor of a geopolitical edition Ives
Batay, who has a rich experience of participating in elections
in different countries, noted that the voting process was very
correct and expressed hope that the people of Nagorno Karabakh will
achieve its right for independence. "Why should it be possible for
separate peoples. Standards should be equally applied to all peoples
irrespective of the place of their residence," Ives Batay underlined.

RUSSELL JOHNSTON DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE LEGALITY OF THE REFERENDUM IN NKR

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 15:27

"The referendum in Nagorno Karabakh cannot have legal validity
unless the Karabakh conflict is settled," Chairman of the PACE
Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh Lord Russell Johnson said in Baku
today, "Trend" agency reports. Lord Johnston said this during today’s
recurrent sitting of the PACE Political Committee in Baku. The event
was attended by about 60 parliamentarians and 20 experts from the
Council of Europe. The agenda of sitting includes the question of
Chernogoria’s accession to the organization, the situation in Kosovo,
Iran’ s nuclear programs, the question of democracy and human rights
in Council of Europe member states, the situation in Azerbaijan,
Chechnia, countries of the Middle East, etc.

REFERENDUM IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH HELD WITHOUT INCIDENTS: OBSERVER

Stepanakert, December 11. ArmInfo. "We visited a number of polling
stations. Everything was well organized. The voting took place without
incidents," says international observers from Croatia Marina Lipovsak.

Observer from the UK Nina Kaspersen says that the voting was held
without violations.

The international observers will give a press-conference today evening.

STANDARDS MUST BE EQUAL FOR ALL PEOPLES IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE THEY LIVE: FRENCH OBSERVER

Stepanakert, December 11. ArmInfo. "The Constitutional Referendum
of Nagorno Karabakh was held in line with international standards
and highly-organized. You are going to your aim step by step", an
independent observer from France, Alen Fresnel, said, ArmInfo special
correspondent in Stepanakert reports. Another international observer
from France, Ives Batai, who has a rich experience in elections in
different countries of the world, noted that the "voting process was
very correct" and expressed hope that the "people of Nagorno Karabakh
will achieve its right for independence". "Why it is possible for one
peoples (meaning the Kosovo precedent, ed. note) and not for others".

The standards must be equal for all the peoples irrespective of where
they live", Ives Batai.

TERRY DAVIS CONSIDERS THE NKR REFERENDUM ILLEGAL

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 14:18

"This Sunday’s vote organized by the ‘de facto’ authorities of
Nagorno-Karabakh cannot have any legal validity. It will not be
recognized by the international community and is therefore of no
consequence," says the official statement by CoE Secretary General
Terry Davis, ITAR-TASS reports. In his words, " A lasting solution for
Nagorno-Karabakh can only come out of the political process facilitated
by the Minsk Group. Any future solution must respect human rights,
and if it is submitted to popular consultation, the vote must be free
and fair and open to everyone," sad Davis.

"The main responsibility for the settlement is with the political
leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan and especially President Kocharyan
and President Aliyev. This is one of the accession commitments of
both Armenia and Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe," concluded the
CoE Secretary General.

HEAD OF PUBLIC-PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATION "IN DEFENSE OF LIBERATED TERRITORIES", ZHIRAIR SEFILYAN, ARRESTED

Yerevan, December 11. ArmInfo. The Head of the public-patriotic
organization "In Defense of Liberated Territories ", Zhirair Sefilyan,
has been arrested in Yerevan.

According to ArmInfo information, Zh. Sefilyan was arrested December
10 night in a restaurant, where he had been with his wife. The arrest
has been carried out by a special group of RA National Security
Service. Five associates of Sefilyan were also arrested that night.

Zh. Sefilyan is incriminated calls to subversion of the constitutional
system in the country.

To remind, one of the heroes of operations of Karabakh conflict,
Zhirair Sefilyan, has been living in Armenia for the recent
years, unsuccessfully trying to get RA citizenship from Armenian
authorities. Lately, his adherents and him have been multiply appeared
with sharp claims in address of Armenian authorities, threatening by
"actions of disobedience in case of transfer of territories, controlled
by Karabakh Armed Forces, to Azerbaijan".

SYRIAN CHARGé D’AFFAIRES VISITED THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 13:51

December 11 Armenian Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosyan received
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Arab Republic of Syria Mukhlis
Faraun on the occasion of completion of his ambassador’s mission.

Expressing regret for leaving Armenia, Mr. Faraun noted he was glad to
work in our country, where he was greatly supported by both legislative
and executive authorities, but the Ambassador’s task is to leave,
completing the mission.

"I sincerely wish my successor to accomplish all the objectives I did
not manage to, said Mr. Faraun, thanking the Parliament Speaker for
the productive cooperation with the National Assembly and expressed
hope to see him is Syria on an official visit.

Tigran Torosyan wished him success in his further activity and noted
that the task of the next Ambassador will be a little harder, since
it is hard to imagine how he will manage to work better. Mr. Torosyan
appreciated the development of Interparliamentary ties and underlined
the importance of human contacts, which bring two nations closer. It
was noted that despite the fact that the two peoples belong to
different nationalities and religions, they have common interests
and human values. He attached importance to the balanced position of
Syria in regional processes.

–Boundary_(ID_xzGE4IK2ksnhh8xbsLlFrw) —