Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

PARLIAMENT OF ARGENTINA ADOPTS DRAFT ON PROCLAIMING APRIL 24 DAY OF
TOLERANCE AND RESPECT AMONG PEOPLES

BUENOS AIRES, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
Parliament of Argentina adopted a draft by which April 24 is
proclaimed as day of tolerance and respect among peoples, in memory
of the Armenian Genocide. 175 deputies voted for the draft, 2 ones
were abstaining, Radio Liberty states.

The draft allows statesmen of Armenian origin to be absent from work
on April 24 to take part in events dedicated to memory of the
Genocide victims. Students of Armenian origin are also allowed to be
absent from lessons on that day.

Author of the draft, Rafael Bielsa, the former Foreign Minister of
Argentina, who once visited Armenia, facted that the Armenian
Genocide "is a crime against mankind."

The draft, the vote of which was delayed for a long time owing to
efforts of Turkish lobby, must still be affirmed at the Senate. The
commentators did not exclude that the Senate will discuss this issue
on the coming days.

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

MELIK SHAHNAZAR AND PUGHI FROM ARMENIAN FABLE JOINED VICTOR AND SERGE

The camouflage conflict between the defense minister of Armenia Serge
Sargsyan and Member of Parliament Victor Dallakyan was resumed on
December 1 during the parliamentary debate on the National Security
Strategy. Victor Dallakyan finished his speech about the draft
strategy with the topic of camouflage. `I think what was said about
camouflage or the water pipelines was humor and there was no need to
be upset and give an adequate reaction,’ said Victor Dallakyan with
regard to the comments of Serge Sargsyan on the previous statements
of Dallakyan on leaving for the meeting of the CIS Council of Defense
Ministers.

This time Serge Sargsyan’s answer came on time, immediately. `Mr.
Dallakyan, when you said there is no point in giving an adequate
answer regarding the camouflage, I want to say I did not give an
adequate answer. But I would like to tell you a story. Pughi goes to
the square wearing clothes with patches. Melik Shahnazar wants to
show off how witty he is and says, you are wearing nice clothes part
by part. Pughi answers, Melik Shahnazar, thank you every other day.
If Melik Shahnazar did not say that, Pughi would not answer that
way,’ Serge Sargsyan said to Victor Dallakyan.

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

DEFENSE MINISTER’S ANSWER TO DASHNAKTSUTYUN

During the parliamentary debate on the National Security Strategy on
December 1, the defense minister, who presented the draft strategy,
reacted to the opinion of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun that the Council of
Security under the president of Armenia is not effective.

`The reality is that the head of state considers the Council of
Security as an advisory body, and this is the reality, because our
Constitution provides for this,’ said Serge Sargsyan, mentioning that
since the Council of Security is an advisory body, the head of state
decides when and how he takes the advice of this body.

During the parliamentary debate Serge Sargsyan disagreed with another
opinion of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun. Member of Parliament Spartak
Seyranyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, said it is wrong to set down in the
National Security Strategy that pursuing the recognition of the
Genocide is the problem of the Diaspora.

`I would like to assure everyone, and first of all Mr. Seyranyan,
that we have never considered, and there is no such statement in the
document that the genocide is the problem of the Diaspora,’ Serge
Sargsyan said. According to him, when we say the struggle for Artsakh
and imply the people of Artsakh in this context, it is very natural
and does not mean that the people of Gyumri, for instance, have
nothing to do in this respect.

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ARMENIA RECOGNIZES AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

The minister of defense of Armenia Serge Sargsyan told reporters on
December 1 he considers the statement that NATO recognizes the
territorial integrity of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan as normal.
`Has Armenia ever announced that it does not recognize the
territorial integrity of any country? We recognize the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan too. But we also recognize the territorial
integrity of Nagorno Karabakh because the Republic of Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic were established simultaneously, on the
basis of the laws of the Soviet Union, and Karabakh cannot be
considered part of the integrity of Azerbaijan,’ Serge Sargsyan
stated.

He also mentioned that for Armenia the recognition of the
independence of Karabakh by Azerbaijan is more important than the
international recognition of Nagorno Karabakh. `For us, the
recognition of the independence of Nagorno Karabakh is important of
all. Even if 50 countries of the world recognize the independence of
Karabakh, it is only a means, even a means of pressure, if you like
it, to make Azerbaijan recognize the independence of Karabakh. The
only and complete way of eliminating the threat of war is the
recognition of the independence of Karabakh by Azerbaijan,’ Serge
Sargsyan says.

In answer to the request to comment on the meeting of Robert
Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev in Minsk Serge Sargsyan advised to change
the addressee. `I think it would be right to ask this question to
Kocharyan. I did not take part in the meeting. Nevertheless, both
Kocharyan and Aliyev and the foreign ministers of both countries
think it was a useful meeting,’ Serge Sargsyan says. He emphasizes
that the words useful or positive do not mean that the problem has
been solved. Serge Sargsyan thinks the resolution is rather
complicated, and in this sense there will be considerable difficulty
regarding not only the past meeting but also the future meetings.
`That is why we said the settlement of this problem will be painful
for everyone, that is why we said compromise. That is why we said if
it were easy, it would have been solved long ago,’ says the defense
minister of Armenia.

As to the settlement of the issue in 2007 and the expectations of the
co-chairs to reach agreement on the `basic principles’, the minister
of defense does not assume responsibility to say that these
expectations are realistic because he is not Nostradamus, and because
he does not know what the `basic principles’ are. `What are the basic
principles? It is not rewarding to set a definite timing regarding
this problem. It is a difficult process. It would be different if you
asked `do you expect?’ or `do you think?’. I am not Nostradamus to
say it will be in 2007 or not. I wish it, I wish it strongly,’ the
defense minister conveyed his wish to the public.

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

OSKANYAN WILL NOT BE IN NEW GOVERNMENT

The foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan stated December 1
that after the parliamentary election in 2007 there will be a new
prime minister, a new government with its new perceptions of all the
policies, including the foreign policy. However, if Vardan Oskanyan
is offered to be part of the new government, he will refuse. `10
years is the maximum for a post. A new, fresh force is needed, fresh
thoughts are needed.’

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

WHO APPOINTED ARMEN SMBATYAN

After the murder of 6 citizens of Armenia in Russia the ambassador of
Armenia to Russia Armen Smbatyan graded the relations between the two
countries as excellent. Is this the official stance of Armenia or the
personal opinion of the ambassador? If this is the personal opinion
of the ambassador, how should such an ambassador be assessed? We
asked these questions to the minister of foreign affairs of Armenia
Vardan Oskanyan.

According to him, it is possible that the ambassador generalized.
`Our relations with Russia are really very good, profound and
strategic,’ stated Vardan Oskanyan. According to the foreign minister
of Armenia, these murders are painful, but it is a serious problem
and worries not only Armenia but also Russia, because not only
Armenians are killed. `This is a problem that must worry Russia, and
the Russian government needs to make very serious efforts to prevent
this, otherwise it may aggravate.’ This adds another question,
another concern to the agenda of our relations, but it does not
impact the Armenian and Russian relations, it is not an obstacle in
the two-party relations, Vardan Oskanyan says.

If problems and concerns occur, why Armen Smbatyan, who lacks
diplomatic experience, is not replaced by a more experienced
diplomat? Vardan Oskanyan declined to answer our question. However,
the answer is clear – the president of Armenia appoints ambassadors
of Armenia. The uncle of Armen Smbatyan’s wife is the head of the
Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography of the Russian
Federation, and has connections in the Kremlin. Our sources say that
the Kremlin has `facilitated’ the appointment of Armen Smbatyan.

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

A BETTER THING – RECOGNITION OF KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE

The meeting of Kocharyan and Aliyev in Minsk for the settlement of
the Karabakh issue was positive, the atmosphere was constructive, the
presidents focused on the problems which remain unsettled, the talks
have not reached a deadlock, but it would not be precise to state
that the presidents reached agreement on these questions because
there are still controversies, stated the Armenian minister of
foreign affairs Vardan Oskanyan December 1 in Yerevan.

With regard to the statement of the Azerbaijani president that
Azerbaijan will not change its stance, and this stance is the
principle of territorial integrity, Vardan Oskanyan stated that
Armenia will not change its stance either, which is the right of the
nations for self-determination. `These two principles could be
combined in a referendum. It is necessary to enable the people who
live and used to live in Nagorno Karabakh to decide and choose
between territorial integrity and self-determination,’ Vardan
Oskanyan stated, adding that he means a right for self-determination
without any restrictions. Armenia may reject the proposal on holding
a referendum in Karabakh in case something better is offered, a good
alternative. For instance, if the independence of Karabakh is
recognized.

The president of Azerbaijan had also stated that the negotiations
have reached the final stage. The minister of foreign affairs of
Armenia finds it difficult to enumerate the present stage, however,
he thinks, this is not the last stage. The question of engagement of
Karabakh in the talks remains. If it were the last stage, Karabakh
would also take part in the talks for settlement. `Settlement is
impossible without the participation of Karabakh.’

The International Crisis Group has announced that the outcome of the
referendum on Constitution to be held in Karabakh will not be
recognized internationally. With regard to this Vardan Oskanyan
suggests realizing that the independence of the people of Karabakh
and their independent existence is a fact. Everyone who understands
this cannot make such statements which may frustrate the people of
Karabakh and lose their reputation among the people of Karabakh. They
cannot make statements which `encroach on the achievements of the
people of Karabakh.’

Vardan Oskanyan describes the mentioning of the right of nations for
self-determination in the EU-Armenia action plan as positive, and the
mentioning of the territorial integrity in the NATO statement on the
South Caucasus as standard. If NATO decided to dwell on the problem
of Karabakh in detail, it would mention that the problem should be
settled through negotiations between the sides, Vardan Oskanyan says.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ARMENIAN PREMIER INVITED TO IRAN

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. Iranian Agriculture Minister Mohammad
Reza Eskandari, who met Tuesday Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan in Yerevan, passed on Iranian Vice-President’s invitation
to him, Armenian government press office reports.
The Iranian minister expressed gratitude to Armenian government for
balanced stance on Iran.
A wide range of issues related to Armenian-Iranian cooperation was
discussed at the meeting. M.V.-0—

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

RAMKAVAR PARTY OF ARMENIA DOES NOT ALLOW ARA ABRAHAMYAN TO LOSE THEIR
EMBLEM

The Ramkavar Party of Armenia called Ara Abrahamyan not to use the
symbols of the political party.

To the chair of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan

Although you have stated to the Armenian media that you are not using
the emblem and the name of the Liberal Democratic (Ramkavar Azatakan)
Party of Armenia, the sign on the office of the Azg Daily owned by
you bears the emblem of the Ramkavar Azatakan Party and the phrase
`Ramkavar Azatakan’. We are sure that the name `Ramkavar Azatakan’
and the emblem are not found in the bylaws of the Union of Armenians
of Russia and the Azg Daily. Moreover, the republic administration of
the Ramkavar Party of Armenia did not authorize any person outside
the political party to use our emblem.

We give you two days, and if you fail to replace the sign of the Azg
Daily within two days, we will `erase’ the emblem of the Ramkavar
Azatakan Party from the office of the Azg Daily.

We have to take this step, first, because of your speeches, second,
none of the shareholders of the Azg Daily is member of the Ramkavar
Azatakan Party.

Arthur Gevorgyan
Secretary

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Next sitting of the CIS Economic Council will be held November 15
01.12.2006 17:37

The recurrent sitting of the CIS Economic Council will be held
December 15 in Moscow. CIS Executive Committee reports that during
the sitting it is envisaged to discuss issues of improvement,
reformation and rise of efficiency of the CIS adopted during the
sittings of the CIS Councils of Presidents and Heads of Governments.