RA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF ADOPTION OF NKR CONSTITUTION

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 16:58

Today RA President Robert Kocharyan issued a congratulating address
to NKR authorities and people on the occasion of the adoption of
Constitution through a nationwide referendum.

The message says:

"I congratulate the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and
Artsakhi Armenians on the occasion of adoption of the Constitution in a
nationwide referendum. With its active participation in the referendum
Artsakhi people once again proved its decisiveness to live free.

This referendum held in compliance with highest democratic standards
laid another foundation stone in the formation of Nagorno Karabakh’s
statehood.

>>From the very first day of declaration of independence, the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic took the way of democratic development. It has been
repeatedly proven by fair elections.

The Constitutional referendum did not only continue the good tradition
of free expression of will, but also provided the opportunity to
include the rules of democracy in the basic law of the country.

Congratulating all Armenians on the occasion of the referendum in
Artsakh, I wish well-being, peace and stable development to the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic."

NKR PRESIDNET RECEIVED THE SOUTH OSSETIAN DELEGATION

ArmRadio.am
11.12.2006 18:00

December 11 NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan received members of the
delegation of the South Ossetian Republic headed by Deputy Foreign
Minister Alan Plievm, who had arrived in Nagorno Karabakh to observe
the Constitutional referendum.

Acting Press Secretary of NKR President told ArmInfo that the
guests conveyed to President Arkady Ghukasyan the congratulations
of the Ossetian President Eduard Kokoyti on the occasion of the
Constitutional referendum. During the conversation the interlocutors
attached importance to the existence of a precedent of peaceful and
civil settlement of conflicts for the resolution of issues in the
region, regional security, stability and cooperation between peoples.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: AZERBAIJAN PASSES BY IN SILENCE CALLS ON STOPPING DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CULTURAL MONUMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11 2006

STRASBOURG, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian made a speech on December 6 in Strasbourg, at the opening
of the exhibition entitled "State of Armenian Cultural Heritage
in Nakhijevan." The RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department submitted to Noyan Tapan the text of V.Oskanian’s
speech, which is completely presented below. "Dear Deputy Mayor,
Dear President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like, first of all,
to express gratitude to the Strasbourg Mayor and the Strasbourg City
Community Chairman who favourable showed hospitality at the Strasbourg
Mayor’s Office to this exhibition which represents the dramatic state
of the Armenian architectural heritage in Nakhijevan. Of course, a
long-lasting tradition of solidarity and cooperation exists between
Alsace and Armenia. Today, when the year of Armenia is being held in
France, I express my great satisfaction with the cultural events to
be organized in Strasbourg in the first half of 2007 which will give
possibility to make Strasbourg, Alsace and Armenia closer. I would like
to congratulate the "Alsace-Armenia Friendship" organization and its
President Pierre Zouloumian who initiated to present the Strasbourg
society these expressive evidences of destroyed centuries-old
culture and killed memory. This exhibition does not only prove the
Armenian presence during that period of time, beauty of the Armenian
churches having been in a good state still since early the 20th
century, values of Romanic art, but also denies the policy of regular
destruction of the centuries-old Armenian monuments belonging to the
whole humanity. This state vandalism arose negative responses of the
international community, particularly, of the Council of Europe. But
the Azerbaijani authorities passed by in silence the calls on stopping
destructions and continue prohibiting entry of international experts
and parliamentarians expressed wish to visit those places. I once
more express gratitude to you for your participation and solidarity
displayed in these circumstances.

KARABAKH WAR PARTICIPANTS ARRESTED IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Karabakh war participants
were arrested during the night of December 9-10. The Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed about it by the "Hayrenik ev Pativ"
(Fatherland and Honour) party. Vardan Malkhasian, a member of the
"Hayrenik ev Pativ" party political council, the head of the Aragatsotn
marz department of the party, a participant of the Karabakh war,
was arrested in his own house by the RA National Security Service
employees. V.Malkhasian’s daughter Sona informed the Noyan Tapan
correspondent that 7-8 employess of the National Security Service
really broke into their house at night of December 10 and searched the
house. Responding the family members’ questions, for what purpose they
were searching their house and where they were taking V.Malkhasian,
the Special Security Service employees said that they "must speak to
Malkhasian." Sona Malkhasian mentioned that her father was specially
arrested on Sunday as it is known that neither jousnalists nor special
services themselves work on that day. The Noyan Tapan correspondent
managed to find out that besides Malkhasian, other participants of
the Karabakh war as well, including Zhirayr Sefilian, the "Shoushi"
special battalion commander, coordinator of the "Defence of Liberated
Territories" public organization, were arrested.

YERKRAPAH VOLUNTEERS’ UNION TO SUPPORT SERGE SARGSIAN’S CANDIDATURE AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Yerkrapah
(Defender of the Land) Volunteers’ Union will support Defence
Minister Serge Sargsian’s candidature at the presidential elections of
2008. Lieutenant-General Artur Aghabekian, Deputy Defence Minister,
member of the Union Board, declared this at the press conference
held after the Union’s 7th congress. Presenting his point of view
at journalists’ request, Lieutenant-General Manvel Grigorian, Deputy
Defence Minister, Yerkrapah Volunteers’ Union’s Board Chairman, said
that we have two years before the presidential elections and many
things can be changed. But Artur Aghabekian hurried to assure that his
and General Manvel Grigorian’s opinions "have always coincided." In
his words, the Yerkrapah Volunteers’ Union and the army are closely
connected with each other. "All Board members of the Union are first
class reserve: we will do our best for most of Board members to have
the title of senior officer of reserve, for them to take the post of
the commander in military units to be formed in the future," Deputy
Defence Minister Artur Aghabekian said. Manvel Grigorian categorically
denied the possibility that the army will act against the people in
case of strengthening of home political tension in connection with
the elections.

Answering journalists’ question, what will happen if the country’s
leadership makes an attempt to stir the army to act against the
people, he said that personally he will not obey this order. "The
army is for defending the people.

The army belongs to the people and is not someone’s property and those
stirring the army to act against the people are not from our nation,"
the Yerkrapah Volunteers’ Union Chairman declared.

CONSOLIDATION OF ARMENIAN VOLUNTEERS PLANNED TO INTERFERE INTO COURSE OF FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS BY MAKING EXTREMIST ACTIONS, NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE DECLARES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The organization Consolidation of
Armenian Volunteers initiated by Lebanese citizen Zhirayr Sefilian and
a number of his supporters having no registration envisaged by RA law,
pursued the goal to undertake illegal, force intervention into the
coming political processes in the country, in particular, into the
elections to be held in 2007, by making extremist actions. This was
reported by RA National Security Service Press Service on December
11. According to the report spread by the Press Service, during
the closed conference held on December 2 at the hall of Yerevan
Choreographic School, some heads of the structure publicly called
for seizing RA state power by violence, forcible pressure and with
any means and for concrete actions: in particular, it was announced
that we should get rid of the current authorities only through armed
fight, revolt. Action plans in this direction were presented. The
leaders of the Consolidation of Armenian Volunteers had planned with
their systematized actions first of all to incite the opposition to
political disobedience and conflicts, at that, they had planned to
exert pressure on opposition political structures, too, for them to
undertake illegal actions against RA authorities," the report read. A
criminal case has been instituted by RA National Security Service
Investigation Department in connection with the fact, by the signs
of Article 301, RA Criminal Code (public appeals for changing RA
Constitutional order through violence). Organization leaders Vardan
Malkhasian and Zhirayr Sefilian were arrested on December 10.

Illegal fire-arms was found about the latter. To recap, Zhirayr
Sefilian was the Commander of Shoushi battalion, the Coordinator of
Defence of Liberated Territories public initiative and the Chairman of
Board of Trustees of Araks-Kur fund. According to the report received
from the Defence of Liberated Territories, they threaten Zh.Sefilian
to deport him from Armenia. Besides, the office of Araks-Kur fund, as
well as apartments of many members of the above mentioned organizations
were searched.

RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY YEREM KARAPETIAN PASSES AWAY

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly Deputy Yerem
Karapetian passed away. The deputy’s brief biographic data, which were
submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA NA Public Relations Department,
are presented below.

Yerem Haykazuni Karapetian was born on May 1, 1933, in the village
of Shahumian, the region of Ararat. He graduated from the Yerevan
Medical College in 1953, getting the specialty of dentist. He served
in the Soviet Army in 1954-1956.

He worked as a dentist in 1956-1996. He was the Shahumian village head
in 1996-1999. He was elected a NA deputy from No 32 electoral district
in 1999-2003. He was a member of the NA Standing Committee on Finance
and Credit, Budget and Economy Issues, a member of the "Kayunoutyun"
(Stability), then "Hayastan" (Armenia) deputy’s group. He was elected
a NA deputy from No23 electoral district on May 25, 2003. He was a
member of the NA Standing Committee on Finance and Credit, Budget and
Economy Issues, a member of the "People’s Deputy" deputies’ group,
RPA member. He was married, had three children.

ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY DATA, 98.58% OF VOTERS VOTE FOR NKR CONSTITUTION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11 2006

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary
data of the NKR Central Electoral Commission, 77 thousand 279 people
voted for adoption of the main law at the December 10 referendum
on the Constitution held in Nagorno Karabakh. It makes 98.58% of
the total number of voters. 549 people or 0.7% voted against the
Constitution. As the Regnum information agency states, on the whole,
78 thousand 389 voters took part in the votion what makes 87% of
the total number of citizens of Nagorno Karabakh having the right of
vote. The final results of the vote will be announced on December 13.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA GOVERNMENT APPOINTS NEW REGIONAL GOVERNORS IN LORI AND ARMAVIR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. It was decided at the December 8
special sitting of the RA Government to appoint Aram Kocharian as
the Lori Regional Governor and Ashot Ghahramanian as the Armavir
Regional Governor. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA
Government’s Information and Public Relations Department. The newly
appointed Governors’ brief biographic data are presented below:
Aram Vladimir Kocharian was born in 1952, in Kirovakan. He entered
and gratuated from the Yerevan Kh.Abovian State Pedagogical Institute
in 1975-1979. He worked at the Kirovakan Instrument Making Technical
School as the history, political economy teacher in 1979-1985. He was
the instructor, department head of the CPA Gugark regional committee
in 1991-1996. He occupied the post of the deputy director general of
the Vanadzor "Hats" (bread) commercial-industrial union in 1997, and
the post of the Education Department Chief of the RA Lori Governor’s
Office in 1997-1999. He was the RA Lori Deputy Governor in 1999-2005,
and the Deputy Chairman of the RA Social Insurance State Fund from
2005 till the appointment. He is married, has two children, is a RPA
member. Ashot Sargis Ghahramanian was born in the village of Aygeshat,
the region of Hoktemberian, in 1949. He graduated from the Yerevan
State University with specialty of lawyer in 1972. He worked as the
inspector of the department on struggle against plunder of socialistic
property of the Etchmiadzin Internal Affairs Department in 1975-1976,
as the inspector, senior inspector of the office on struggle against
plunder of socialistic property of the USSR Ministry of Internal
Affairs in 1976-1980. He occupied the post of the section chief of
the department on struggle against plunder of socialistic property
the Yerevan Internal Affairs Office, then the post of the section
chief of the criminal investigation department of the same office
from 1980. He was the chief of the social-legal department of the
staff office of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1992-1993, and
occupied the post of the Internal Affairs Department Chief of Goris,
Masis, Etchmiadzin, Gyumri, in different years from 1993. He worked
as the Chief of the Internal Affairs Department of the marz of Lori
in 1996-1999, he was the Yerevan Internal Affairs City Office Chief
in 1999, and occupied the post of the RA Police Department Chief of
the marz of Syunik from 2002 till the appointment. He is married,
has three children, is non-partisan.

IN U.S. CONGRESSMAN’S WORDS, TURKEY DOES NOT IMPLEMENT YET REGIONAL AND POLITICAL REFORMS TO JOIN EU

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11 2006

WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. "Turkey must first of all
accept its mistakes, stimulate cooperation in South Caucasus and
respect neighboring Armenia before becoming a European Union member,"
is said in the statement made public at the House of Representatives
by Joe Knollenberg, the Co-Chairman of the U.S. Congress Caucus on
Armenian Issues. The Congressman reminds that the time given to Turkey
by the European Union expired on December 6 of this year, when the
latter was to display will of making amendments. "We call on Turkey
to respect the obligations undertaken by it and to implement economic,
regional and political reforms to join the European Union," is said in
the statement. Addressing to members of the House of Representatives,
Joe Knollenberg emphasized that Armenia has friendly relations with
the U.S. and other countries of the world, and Turkey ignores the
important role of Armenia in the South Caucasian region. "The goal of
the European Union is to establish cooperation among countries having
similar interests, and Turkey, which, having history of terrorizing
other countries, does not correspond to those principles until it does
not change its way of actions, U.S. Congressman Joe Knollenberg stated.