ANTI-GOVERNMENTAL RALLIES PROCEED IN BEIRUT
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
05/12/2006

The Friday rallies aimed at toppling PM Fouad Siniora’s cabinet
continue in Beirut. While quenching the protest rally of adherents
of the Shia oppositional organizations 1 man was killed and 12 were
wounded.

The lasting anti-governmental rallies at the weekend were organized
by Hezbollah and Amal movements, Reuters reports. The Shias set up a
tent camp in front of the Government’s residence. Though a part of
protestors was driven away, the rally participants are inclined to
continue their demonstration until the Government resigns.

The governmental crisis in Lebanon began after the resignation of the
6 ministers representing the interests of Hezbollah and Amal as well
as Pierre Gemayel’s assassination.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT ADVISER NAMES THREE PARTIES AS ESTABLISHED

Panorama.am
16:52 04/12/06

Garnik Isagulyan, adviser to the Armenian president on the issues of
national security, thinks that only three parties are established
in the country – Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun) and Armenian Pan-national
Movement (HHSh). These parties have ideology and are real political
forces in Armenia, the adviser said.

Speaking about upcoming parliamentary elections, Isagulyan said that
clear alternative programs must be proposed. "Opposition forces do
not submit such programs and, therefore, we do not witness political
combat during the elections," he said. Isagulyan believes that the
opposition forcers behave as losers.

The adviser pointed out that President Kocharyan will engage in
politics after his term and will play a considerable role in the
political life of the country.

NEWSPRINT SHORTAGE MAY FORCE ARMENIAN PAPERS OFF THE STANDS

Golos Armenii, Yerevan,
Dec 2 2006

"The Armenian press is at the threshold of black Wednesday"

It is very much possible that most of the Armenian newspapers will
not be issued beginning from next Wednesday as there is no newsprint
in Armenia. "Today, about 150 t of our newsprint are in Vladikavkaz
and another seven wagons are in Ilyichevsk," Vrezh Markosyan, director
of the Tigran Mets printing house, has said.

The lion’s share of Armenian newspapers is printed at the printing
house.

"We are unable to collect the newsprint from Vladikavkaz as the
Verkhniy Lars checkpoint is closed. As for Ilyichevsk, they refuse
to load the newsprint on the ferryboat. Thus, all roads are closed
to us. Our stocks of newsprint will be enough only till 6 December,"
Markosyan added.

At first sight, such a catastrophic situation is a regular and
logical consequence of the escalation of tension in Russian-Georgian
relations. Moreover, there is an unofficial theory which proves the
political context of the story. When transporting cargo via Ilyichevsk,
Ukraine gives preference to the cargo of Georgia, its partner in GUAM
[regional alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova]. The
potential of the ferry service is limited and in such a case the
Armenian cargo finds itself off the board.

This assumption seems to be true but as we were told at the Armenian
Transport and Communications Ministry, the official reason is
disagreement between two Ukrainian organizations: the state-run
company Ukrzaliznytsya, which manages the railway, and the private
company Ukrferry, which uses the Ilyichevsk-Batumi ferry service.

They have a financial conflict which has reached the court. For this
reason, the operation of the ferry service has been paralysed since 9
November. A representative of the Armenian railway, Karen Pogosyan,
said that there are currently about 200 wagons [of newspaper] bound
for Armenia in Ilyichevsk [figure as given].

SERGE SARGSYAN IS THE PRESIDENT ISAGULYAN DREAMS OF

A1+
[06:33 pm] 04 December, 2006

"We tried to create a document which proceeds from the reality and
answers all the questions the RA faces today", stated Garnik Isagulyan,
the advisor of the RA President on security issues. The discussion
about the RA National Security draft strategy took place in club
"Urbat".

Seizing the opportunity, the President’s advisor thanked RA Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan. "The Defense Minister who is also the head
of the committee processing the draft said from the very beginning
that the work on the draft will be open, and everyone must have
their contribution to its development", mentioned Mr. Isagulyan. He
also informed that the draft Strategy will not be widely discussed;
it will just be sent to corresponding bodies.

Studying about 30-40 international security doctrines, Mr. Isagulyan
realized, "In this changeable world, if the document is adopted as
a law, we will have serious problems. I’d prefer the Government to
adopt the document which will be sent to be ratified by the President".

Mr. Isagulyan did not deny the fact that the security doctrines of the
country are written for a certain historical period. "The document
must include the processes that take place in the world and in the
region and how the RA must act in the context of those processes". In
this connection the security strategy will change alongside with the
situation in the world.

Speaking about the Presidential elections, Mr. Isagulyan claimed
that his favorite candidate is Serge Sargsyan, especially thanks to
his activity in different fields including chess, army, security,
education, etc. He informed that he will spare no effort to support
Serge Sargsyan in the coming elections.

OSCE CIO: BREAKTHROUGH FELT IN KARABAKH PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2006 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Although some progress had been made in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement, it would be unwise to expect a solution
in Brussels, said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister
Karel De Gucht on December 4 in Brussels at the two-day meeting of the
Council of the OSCE Foreign Ministers. Foreign ministers from the 56
OSCE participating States will focus on tackling protracted "frozen"
conflicts and further improving OSCE efficiency. Minister De Gucht
said Belgium had worked to redress the balance between the three
dimensions of security – politico-military, economic-environmental
and human. He also noted progress had been made on small arms and
light weapons, reports Trend news agency.

The meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers will
be held within the OSCE FMs’ sitting in Brussels.

PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN DRAFTS BILL ON RELATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH

Armenpres
Dec 04 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Before to wrap up the last session
this year Armenian lawmakers are likely to open debates on a draft
law on Relationships Between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian
Apostolic Church, authored by parliament chairman Tigran Torosian.

Torosian said today that the necessity of the law stemmed from the
revised constitution’s provision which says that relationships between
the government and the Church can be regulated by a law. Torosian
downplayed fears that the draft law would undermine the liberties
and rights which the Constitution provides for freedom of religion
and religious organizations, saying the bill would only accomplish
the list of relevant documents specifying ‘special relations between
the government and the Church.’ Torosian said the bill sets that the
history, cultural and spiritual heritage of the Armenian Apostolic
Church is an important and indivisible element of the national
identity.

"The Armenian Church has been acting for 1,500 years as an independent,
national Church with its peculiarities and this is not subject to
questioning, since throughout these centuries the Church has been a
key and inseparable part of our identity, having created spiritual
and cultural values which are special and differ significantly from
religion-related issues and in this sense we need to regulate an
array of issues related to this heritage," Torosian argued.

ARAM KARAPETYAN’S MONEY BELONGS TO HIM

A1+
[07:01 pm] 04 December, 2006

"I want to become an independent president", announced leader of "New
Times" party Aram Karapetyan in club "Urbat". By saying "independent"
he meant financial independence which he claims to have had so far.

Nevertheless, he wouldn’t mind financial support. But he did not accept
the support of any businessman named by the journalists. "There is
a working middle class, and if I manage to have power, I would like
that class to continue their work".

Aram Karapetyan who is famous for his pro-Russian policy referred to
Armenian-Russian relations too.

"Our national tragedy is that we have a police way of thinking: only
that is right what I need. A politician can say that the Russian are
our brothers after he gets a medal, but the next day he will say that
joining the NATO is our priority. Our approaches have to be sensible".

As for the murders of Armenians in Russia, the leader of "New Times"
thinks they are directed by the criminal world. "These murders have
only one aim: to deteriorate the Armenian-Russian relations. Who is
it profitable for? The Mafia which earns money and those powers which
want to alienate Armenia from Russia".

DISAGREEMENTS REMAIN BTWN SIDES TO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TALKS-CORR
Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
December 1, 2006 Friday

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said on Friday that
disagreements are remaining in the negotiating process on the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement. These disagreements concern the principles of
a peace agreement, as well as its nuances, the minister told a news
conference, adding that "a window of opportunities" for the conflict
settlement will probably remain open in the next year.

According to the minister, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
will give concrete instructions to the foreign ministers shortly for
the continued negotiating process. "The process is not in impasse,"
Oskanian believes.

The Azerbaijani authorities keep calling the observance of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity as a basis for settlement, and Armenia – the
right of the Karabakh people for self-determination.

According to the Armenian minister, "A solution to this problem
can be found only at a referendum, the proposal to hold which is
included in the document the sides are discussing." For Oskanian
"it is obvious that a referendum will be held in Nagorno Karabakh,
and people, who lived and live there, will participate in it."

The Armenian foreign minister believes that without participation
of Nagorno Karabakh’s representatives in the negotiating process,
even though at its final stage, "settlement will be impossible".

FIVE MURDERS IN THREE DAYS

A1+
[02:54 pm] 04 December, 2006

On December 1 the Erebouni department of the police found the dead
body of Arpine Margaryan (b. 1971) in Qristapor 25, with corporal
injuries. Investigations revealed that A. Margaryan’s husband,
previously convicted Vahram Zaqeyan (b. 1968) killed his wife during
a quarrel. V. Zaqeyan is arrested, the case is being investigated by
the prosecutor’s office of Erebouni and Noubarashen communities.

On December the police Ashtarak department arrested Armen Sargsyan
(b. 1974), resident of the village of Aghdzq, who had killed his aunt,
Gyozal Petrosyan (b. 1947), with a rifle. A. Sargsyan is arrested,
measures are taken to find the rifle.

On December 1 the police Erebouni department found the dead body of
Aurora Sargsyan (b. 1941) in Rostovyan 20, with corporal injuries. The
case is under investigation.

On December 3 the police Erebouni department found the dead body of
an unknown man, apparently a tramp, near Titogradyan 14. The case is
under investigation.

On December 3 the police Nor Norq department found the dead body
of Sonik Davoyan (b. 1932) in Gay avenue 1/17. The case is being
investigated by the prosecutor’s office of Avan and Norq Marash
communities.

THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE REFUSES TO INITIATE A CASE AGAINST ARAM KARAPETYAN

A1+
[08:02 pm] 04 December, 2006

Leader of "New Times" party Aram Karapetyan turned to the RA
Public Prosecutor asking to initiate a criminal case against
him. Mr. Karapetyan represented the article in "Hayots Ashkharh"
as ground for his request.

The letter of the Public Prosecutor to Aram Karapetyan says, "Dear
Mr. Karapetyan, please be informed in connection with your letter
to the RA Public Prosecutor dated October 9 that the article in the
October 4 issue of newspaper "Hayots Ashkharh" is not ground enough
to initiate a criminal case against you".

This answer seems ridiculous to the New Times leader as "a young
leader of a certain party accused him of punishable actions. How come
the Prosecutor’s Office does not find grounds if he has not examined
the leader of the New Times and has not searched his house? "

It is noteworthy that in his letter to the Public Prosecutor Aram
Karapetyan demanded "to initiate a criminal case against the above
mentioned "young politician" and those who ordered him to write
the article, namely Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan and head of the
National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan" if the accusations turned
out not to be true.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress