FRADKOV HOPES GAS DELIVERY THROUGH GEORGIA TO ARMENIA WON’T BE STOPPED

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2006 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I think that the delivery of the Russian gas to
Armenia will not be hampered or suspended, Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov told a news conference upon completion of the
meeting with Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan. In his words,
Russia is concerned about the Russian-Georgian relations but hopes
for the better. He also remarked that the Russian-Georgian problems
have a negative impact on relations with Armenia, which is being
isolated in a way. To improve the situation, in Fradkov’s opinion,
the efficiency of the existing transport flows and routes should be
raised. When asked whether Georgia may illegally take Russian gas,
Fradkov said the problem was not discussed at the meeting but the
Russian side hopes the situation will not deteriorate. "We hope for
the better," he resumed, reports Prime-TASS.

TURKEY HAS NO PLACE IN EUROPEAN UNION

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2006 17:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey has no place in the European Union, said
French presidential contender, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. He
offers to fully stop Turkey’s EU membership talks. "This is not a
topic for discussion. Turkey has no place in the EU. It’s impossible,"
Sarkozy said.

The Minister also proposed privileged partnership instead of full
membership and called on Segolene Royal to express opinion on the
issue. " I would like Ms Royal to express opinion. I am convinced
that she has her own standpoint on the issue," he said, reports RFE/RL.

EAFJD: EU SHOULD FULLY SUSPEND TALKS WITH TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2006 17:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The European Commission has fallen far short of its
obligations to enforce Turkey’s compliance or to punish its flagrant
violation of its own commitments across a broad range of issues.

Europeans expect the Commission to act in a more principled and
responsible manners on this core matter concerning the future of
the EU," said the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation,
Mrs Hilda Tchoboian. In her words, the European Armenian Federation
considers these half-measures a clear retreat from the Council’s own
decision in December of 2004, which firmly established the terms of
the negotiation framework. This understanding stipulated that, in case
of serious and persistent violation of the principles on which the
Union is based, the Commission must fully suspend its negotiations
with Turkey, the EAFJD told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"European civil society does not understand why the Commission keeps
on acting as the hostage of Ankara’s demands for double standards
and special treatment.

Far from demanding Turkey’s compliance, the Commission is actively
ignoring the recent European Parliament resolution regarding
the conditions for the suspension of talks with Turkey," said
Tchoboian. "As such, we call on Member States to recognize the
Commissions moral failure and to enact measures of their own accord to
ensure that the values and the standards of the Union are respected,"
she said.

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN TALKS UNDERWAY IN MOSCOW

Armenpress
Dec 01 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Russian prime ministers
Andranik Margarian and Mikhail Fradkov respectively are chairing
Russian-Armenian talks that kicked off today in Moscow.

Before the start of the talks the Russian prime minister said, "I
am happy to have this chance to meet with our Armenian partners and
discuss cooperation issues. I hope this visit will promote further
strengthening of Russo-Armenian ties."

Armenian prime minister is heading an extensive delegation that flew
to Russia yesterday to attend the closing ceremony of the Year of
Armenia in Russia.

Armenian prime minister said, "We emphasize the successful
accomplishment of the Year of Armenia in Russia. We can say now that
all events proved success.

The Year of Armenia has promoted the intensification of the political
and economic dialogue and made it possible to expand bilateral
interaction."

ALL URGENT ISSUES BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA DISCUSSED AT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS

Armenpress
Dec 01 2006

MOSCOW, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: During the Armenian-Russian
intergovernmental negotiations held today in Moscow all the urgent
issues existing between the two countries have been discussed, Armenian
and Russian prime ministers Andranik Margarian and Mikhail Fradkov said
at a press conference which followed after the extended negotiations.

"We discussed the majority of the issues and gave the members of the
Armenian and Russian delegations opportunity to speak up," Mikhail
Fradkov said.

According to him, Armenian-Russian trade-economic relations are
developing quite dynamically and the frequency and deepness of
bilateral contacts on political level witness it.

"We have discussed a set of projects as well as steps that must be
undertaken for developing our cooperation even more," the Russian
prime minister said. Referring to the conduction of Year of Armenia
in Russia Fradkov positively assessed the pace of conduction of the
events which, according to him, will give new impetus to bilateral
relations. As to being on the third place in respect of the volume
of investments in Armenia, Fradkov said that there exists a great
potential for increasing the number of investments in Armenia which
was discussed during the meeting of the prime ministers.

"We will use the existing potential and if today we are on the third
place after Germany and Greece we must try to go forward," Russian
prime minister said.

Referring to transport cooperation between Armenia and Russia Andranik
Margarian said that cooperation is going on with difficulty as all
the roads connecting Armenia and Russia pass through Georgia and the
Upper Lars road is closed until now.

"We were informed that the issues for which the border check-point
has been closed will be solved by spring," Andranik Margarian said,
adding that the issue is the reconstruction of the road.

Referring to the Russian-Georgian relations Mikhail Fradkov described
them as rather problematic and said that the created situation has
negative impact on Armenia in respect of blockade.

Today the delegation headed by the prime minister will visit
"Armenia" pavilion where "Legends of Ararat" concert program will
be presented. Tomorrow the Armenian delegation will leave for Saint
Ptersburg.

WAYNE MARY: ARMENIA HAS ARMY, AZERBAIJAN ONLY HAS ARMED FORCES
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
02/12/2006

Nagorno Karabakh conflict can have no military settlement, US foreign
policy and military expert Wayne Mary stated in a speech delivered
at John Hopkins University in Washington. "The military option of
Nagorno Karabakh regulation has been openly discussed in Azerbaijan
recently. But in that case Azerbaijan cannot succeed. Nagorno Karabakh
is an impregnable fortress in itself that is even more reinforced
by the Armenian military detachments. Even the US army will face
difficulties in attacking it," Mary said. In expert’s words, this is
a dominating opinion in the Pentagon.

"The Armenian detachments leave the enemy behind in respect to their
battle-worthiness. It’s no secret that the Armenians have an army
whereas Azerbaijan has only armed forces. In case of a new war,
Azerbaijan will be forced to lean on its human resources whereas
Armenia can count on the superiority of its weaponry," Mary said adding
that in case of a new stage of hostilities it will suffice for Armenia
to only defend Karabakh but Azerbaijan will have to occupy its whole
territory, which is impossible in fact. She pointed out that by using
war rhetoric Baku poses danger to OSCE Minsk Group’s commitment not
allow another bloodshed.

"For the regulation of Karabakh issue the Armenian side has to get
Karabakh and control Lachin corridor.

The other territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh that serve as
buffer zone should be handed over to Azerbaijan," Wayne Mary stated.

ARGENTINA RECOGNIZED THE FACT OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
By Aghavni Harutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
02/12/2006

On November 29 the Parliament of Argentina recognized the fact of
the Armenian Genocide, thus Argentina become the second Southern
American state after Uruguay to mark the crime of the Ottoman Turkey
in the beginning of the 20-th century as Genocide. 173 deputies of
the Argentinean Parliament voted for the corresponding law and 2
abstained from voting.

According to the law, April 24, the day of memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims, is a non-working day for the Armenian employees
and the Armenian students of Argentina. Uruguay was the first of
the Southern American States to recognize the deed of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 – making a condemnatory declaration in 1965, April
20, and adopting a law in 2004, March 26. The National Congress of
Argentina officially condemned the Genocide on April 23, 1985. Since
then the policy of the Foreign Ministry of Uruguay has been assisted
the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide. Another declaration by the Senate of Argentina was made on
August 20, 2003, expressing condolences in connection with the 88-th
anniversary of the Genocide.

A HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN PRISON

AZG Armenian Daily
02/12/2006

Freedom Of Expression At Risk

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World
Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) express their deep concern
regarding the condemnation of Mr. Selahattin Demirtas, a lawyer and
the Chairman of the Diyarbakir Branch of the Human Rights Association
(HRA).

According to the information received, on November 14, 2006,
Mr. Selahattin Demirtas was sentenced to 15 months in prison by the
4th Heavy Penal Court and a suspended sentence of 15 more months by
the 5th Heavy Penal Court for propaganda for an illegal organisation,
on the basis of an official complaint filed by the Diyarbakir Security
Directorate. This complaint followed two public statements made by
Mr. Demirtas in June and July 2005, during which he took position in
favour of a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Kurdish issue
through discussions with Abdullah Ocalan, who, he stated, should
be considered as indispensable as he is regarded as a leader by the
Kurds. The Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecution Office decided to
file two separate claims against Mr. Demirtas at the 4th and 5th
Heavy Penal Courts (previously known as State Security Courts), for
violation of Article 220/8 of the Turkish Penal Code which provides
that "those who do propaganda for an illegal organisation or for its
aims in published writings or through media channels are sentenced
to 18 months to 4.5 years imprisonment with hard labour".

Mr. Demirtas appealed against both sentences, and the Supreme Court
should make a decision within six months. Our organisations recall
that Mr. Demirtas has been subjected to numerous legal proceedings due
to his statements or activities in favour of human rights, peace and
democracy. Indeed, more than 80 investigations were launched against
him, and among them, 14 cases were brought to court in the last few
years1. Our organisations express their deepest concern about this
sentence which illustrates ongoing repression of freedom of expression
in Turkey, in particular when it comes to statements regarding a
peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue. This decision blatantly
violates Turkey’s commitments regarding freedom of expression,
in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (article 19.1 and 19.2), as well article 10 of the European
Convention on Human Rights and article 9.1 of the Document of the
Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference of the Human Dimension of the
Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), which all
provide the right for everyone to "freedom of expression" including
the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas, without
interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. FIDH
and OMCT remind the Turkish authorities that they have to conform
with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular
article 6c), which provides that everyone has the right "to study,
discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in
practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through
these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those
matters". Our organisations urge the Turkish authorities to ensure
Mr. Demirtas a fair and impartial trial in appeal and to guarantee
freedom of expression in any circumstances, in accordance with the
above-mentioned regional and international human rights instruments.

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) World Organisation
Against Torture (OMCT).

13 TOWNS OF ARMENIA WILL HAVE THEIR GENERAL PLANS
Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
02/12/2006

The Government of RA has approved the general plans of 13 urban
communities of Armenia – Ijevan, Berd, Noyemberian, Dilijan,
Stepanavan, Charentsavan, Vedi, Gavar, Talin, Kapan, Eghegnadzor, Artik
and Echmiadzin. Deputy-Minister for City Construction Ruzan Alaverdian
said that the adoption of the towns’ general plans aims improvement
of the environment and development of the infrastructures. The general
plans provide for the ways of development of construction, as well as
social, industry, ecology, and transportation systems. The plans also
provide for the measures preventing natural and technical emergencies.

"SOLUTION" TO THE KARABAKH CONFLICT HAS BEEN FOUND

A1+
[07:59 pm] 01 December, 2006

"The Conflict Can’t Be Settled Without The Participation Of Karabakh"

"The meeting has been constructive. The Presidents have discussed
issues which are by now not agreed upon", said RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan about the Minsk meeting of Kocharyan and Aliev.

Although the Minister did not speak about progress, he mentioned,
"The negotiations have not reached a dead end. The Presidents will
soon tell the Foreign Ministers which issues to focus upon".

While the RA authorities kept silent, the Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan gave an interview immediately after the Minsk meeting
and said that the position of Azerbaijan has not been changed and
they are ready to give Karabakh the highest degree of sovereignty in
Azerbaijan. After the statement of the Azeri official the optimism
of Vardan Oskanyan was a bit troubling.

Referring to the statement of Elmar Mammadyarov that there is only
one issue left to agree upon, Mr. Oskanyan said, "The position of
the Armenian side has not changed either. There is only one way
to put together the two contradicting principles – the territorial
integrity and right of self-determination of nations. As the idea of
a referendum has been mentioned in this document, we think that the
people of Nagorno Karabakh can be given a chance to make their choice –
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan or their self-determination. This
is the only solution and fortunately the elements of this solution
have been included in the document".

Mr. Oskanyan did not confirm the statement of Ilham Aliev that the
negotiations have entered the final phase. "If we are in the final
phase, then Karabakh must join the negotiations. It is impossible to
settle the conflict without the participation of Karabakh".

The Foreign Minister claimed that the announcements by Azerbaijan
that a decision has been made to give the seven liberated territories,
do not correspond to reality.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress