Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Vartan Oskanian: The talks are not in a deadlock, the window of
opportunity is open
01.12.2006 17:35

Tatul Hakobyan
"Radiolur"

Only two days have passed after the meeting of Presidents Robert
Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, and in this period there have been
diverse analyses and statements regarding the negotiations on the
Karabakh issue. Azerbaijan is making optimistic statements on the
highest level, asserting that the parties are close to the settlement
of the conflict. What is the position of the Armenian side? In
response to the question, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
said, `the Minsk meeting was positive. It was held in a rather
constructive atmosphere. The Presidents mainly focused on the
questions, which remain unsettled. Despite the fact that the positive
course of the talks is obvious, it would not be correct to say that
the Presidents agreed upon the disputable questions. There still
remain discrepancies on some principles. Nevertheless, the talks are
not in a deadlock. We did not have the confidence after the previous
meetings, but this time we can assert that the negotiations are not
in a deadlock. The Presidents will soon give instructions to the
Foreign Ministers to continue the talks and there will be precise
instructions on which issues to focus and what kind of approach to
take in order to register further progress in the negotiation
process.’
The Foreign Minister noted that there is a 2.5-page document on the
bargaining table. Azerbaijan’s position is the same, Armenia’s
position has not changed either. Baku insists on territorial
integrity, while Yerevan adheres to the right of self-determination
of peoples. `There is only one way of combining these two seemingly
contradicting principles, and this way is the referendum. And since
the idea of referendum has found expression in the document on the
table, I can say that we see the perspective that these two
principles can be combined. Thus, NKR people should be given the
chance to determine which one they prefer: the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan or the self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh.’
Turning to the contemporary topic of open windows, Vartan Oskanian
said, `Even if the window is closed, it can always be opened.
Progress can always be achieved under the conditions of existence of
political will. I think the window is open.’
Minister Oskanian turned also to the topic of murders of Armenians in
Russia, characterizing these as painful phenomena.
What kind of shifts will be registered in Armenia’s foreign policy
after the parliamentary elections in 2007 and the presidential ones
in 2008? Vartan Oskanian does not think there will be abrupt changes
in the foreign policy priorities.

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Armenia not discussing the opportunity of joining the GUAM
01.12.2006 16:55

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in a press conference today
that as before the Armenian side opposes the GUAM initiative to
transfer the issue of frozen conflicts to the UN General Assembly.
The Foreign Minister mentioned that adoption of such a resolution
could seriously harm the process of the Karabakh conflict resolution,
which has been proceeding in a constructive course recently.
Vartan Oskanian stated also that `putting in one basket’ all the
conflicts on the post-Soviet space is unacceptable for Armenia. `The
mediators have been repeatedly saying that the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict substantially differs from other confrontations,’ declared
Vartan Oskanian.
The Foreign Minister declared that `Armenia is not discussing the
opportunity of joining the GUAM, since the ideological basis of the
organization does not proceed from our interests.’

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Namik Tan: The instructions to suspend EU-Turkey talks were hasty
01.12.2006 16:29

Press Secretary of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Namik Tan
characterized the instructions of the European Commission to suspend
the talks with Turkey as hasty and `dictated by a number of visible
and invisible reasons.’ He underlined that no decision was taken,
there were only instructions.
According to Namik Tan, `these are not objective and were adopted in
the conditions of negative conjuncture in Europe, which often hampers
the fair approaches.’ `There are hasty actions, absence of field for
diplomacy and application of means of political pressure,’ he said.
Tan noted that Turkey does not intend to involve into dispute with
the European Union. `The main purpose of Turkey are the modifications
that will correspond to the people’s interests,’ he said.

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Armenian-Russian intergovernmental negotiations held in Moscow
01.12.2006 15:20

The Armenian-Russian intergovernmental negotiations, featuring the
Prime Ministers of Armenia and Russia Andranik Margaryan and Mikhail
Fradkov, started in Moscow today.
`I’m sure your visit will promote the further deepening of ties
between the two countries,’ said Mikhail Fradkov, noting that the
main purpose of the Armenian Prime Minister’s visit to Russia is the
participation in the official closing ceremony of the Year of Armenia
to be held in Saint Petersburg.
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan thanked for reception and
expressed confidence that that the constructive meetings and
negotiations will be continuous. He stressed the importance of the
Year of Armenia in Russia, which was the result of efforts of the two
countries.
`Today we can say that all the arrangements in the political,
economic and humanitarian spheres enabled to deepen bilateral
relations,’ said RA Prime Minister.
The intergovernmental negotiations were followed by the joint press
conference of the two Premiers.

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Prime Ministers of Armenia and Russia to meet in Moscow
01.12.2006 10:44

Armenian and Russian Prime Ministers Andranik Margaryan and Mikhail
Fradkov are due to meet in Moscow today. Issues related to a number
of issues of bilateral cooperation will be discussed, the results of
the Year of Armenia in Russia will be summed up.
In the evening the delegation headed by Andranik Margaryan will visit
the All-Russian Exhibition Center.

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Bishop Galstanian will celebrate Divine Liturgy in Toronto
01.12.2006 10:33

On the 78th anniversary of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, His Eminence
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will be leaving to Toronto on Saturday,
December 2, 2006. During his visit, the Primate will have the chance
to meet with the Diocesan and Parish affiliated bodies and examine
the current activities and future projects of Holy Trinity Armenian
Church Parish in Toronto, the Armenian Church of Canada informs
On Sunday, Bishop Bagrat will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, at the
Holy Trinity Armenian Church and will convey the message of the Word
of God. Following the Holy Badarak, the Primate will be present at a
luncheon at Magaros Artinian Hall.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

RA FM: MURDERS OF ARMENIANS AND RA CITIZENS IN RUSSIA DO NOT AFFECT
RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO STATES

Armenia-Russia relations are very good, deep and strategic, RA FM,
Vardan Oskanyan, said at today’s press-conference, asked if the
murders of Armenians and RA citizens in Russia affect the relations
between the two states.

"Of course, these murders cause deep regret and pain. It is a serious
problem and not only for Armenia. It is a more serious for Russia ",
RA FM said. He noted that murders of Armenians are mostly seen in
Armenia, but the persons of other nationalities are killed as well.
As the Minister said, the issue must worry the Russian side and RF
authorities have to take very serious steps to stop this phenomena,
otherwise, it may go on with more range. At the same time, the
Minister stressed again that it does not affect the Armenian-Russian
relations.

Asked about the recent statement of RA Ambassador to Russia, Armen
Smbatyan, who estimated the Armenian- Russian relations for "five
plus", V. Oskanyan said one should not talk by estimations. At the
same time, the Minister refused to comment the Ambassador Smbatyan’s
activity.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ARMENIAN FM HOPES THAT ARMENIAN AND AZERI SIDES WILL AGREE ON POINT
OF OSCE FMs’ POLITICAL STATEMENT CONCERNING NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Dec 3-4 Armenian FM Vardan Oskanyan will visit Brussels to take part
in a meeting of the OSCE FM Council.

During a press-conference today Oskanyan said that the OSCE FMs will
focus on OSCE reformation and will also make a political statement
concerning conflicts. Oskanyan said that the Armenian side has
already started negotiations with the OSCE MG co-chairs and
Azerbaijan concerning the point on Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides have
not reached agreement yet. The talks were started in Minsk and will
probably be continued in Brussels. Oskanyan hopes that the sides will
come to agreement. The sides will also discuss with the OSCE MG
co-chairs GUAM’s initiative on "frozen conflicts."

>From Brussels Oskanyan will go to Strasbourg where he will meet with
CE Secretary General Terry Davis and the Ago group. He is going to
raise the question of Armenian cross-stones in Nakhichevan and to ask
the CE to send a monitoring group there. From Strasbourg Oskanyan
will go back to Brussels to meet with NATO Secretary General Jaap de
Hoop Scheffer. From Brussels Oskanyan will go to Paris to take part
in the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Armenian General
Benevolent Union.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ARMENIAN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER: KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS DEVELOPS
UNDER AZERBAIJAN’S SCENARIO

Former Foreign Minister of Armenia Alexander Arzumanyan is extremely
pessimistic about the result of the Karabakh peace process,
considering that it develops under Azerbaijan’s scenario.

Today, at the "Urbat" discussion club, A.Arzumanyan said that no
negotiations have been held between the sides of the conflict since
1998, i.e. since Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s administration left the
political arena. Only consultation and meetings are held by the OSCE
Minsk Group cochairmen who have already decided everything and the
heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan are only specifying the details of
settlement of the problem. A.Arzumanyan also specified the details:
Armenia is to hand over 7 regions to Azerbaijan. These regions are
under the Karabakh armed forces’ control, and they will immediately
be settled with Azeri refugees. The narrow Lachin corridor (40 km
wide) is to link Armenia and Nagorno- Karabakh, and the corridor is
to be controlled by some third forces. The issue of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s status is to be determinaed at some referendum.
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev was right to say that there are no
crisis and deadlock and everything develops constructively, i.e. the
way, the Azeri side wanted, he noted.

A. Arzumanyan considers that it is the fault of present Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan’s administration which is only concerned
over the matter of its re-election. At the same time, he didn’t deny
the critics of the administration he was in, noting that under Levon
Ter-Petrosyan many of those in power also thought only about their
re-election.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ARMENIAN FM: KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE SETTLED ON THE BASIS OF THE
PRINCIPLE OF PEOPLES’ RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

The position of the Armenian party in the settlement of Karabakh
conflict remains unchanged: the issue must be settled on the basis of
the principle of peoples’ right to self-determination, said Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan at a press conference, Friday.

The minister thinks there is only one way to unite the two
contradictory principles (territorial integrity and peoples’ right to
self-determination – ed.) – through a referendum. The minister said
the document on the negotiating table reflects the idea of the
referendum. "That is why, I can say that we see the prospect of
combination of these principles. Thus, to allow the people of Nagorny
Karabakh, to which all this concerns, to chose either the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan or its full self-determination," the minister
said. He added that self-determination means a choice. "It is the
only solution, and, fortunately, its elements are included in the
document. Serious discussions are in process on the possible
referendum and voting. That is why, we see the prospect of
combination of the principles," the minister said. At the request of
journalists, Vardan Oskanyan explained that the referendum applies to
the territory of Nagorny Karabakh and the people that reside and
resided there. Asked if refugees are also taken into account, the
minister said: "There are so many details there that one should not
go into details until the principle is finally determined. It is a
typical example of the principle and the details. For instance, an
agreement to the referendum does not mean anything yet. As dwelling
on the issue, one can get into a confusion: who, when, if refugees
will return, if yes, so when etc.," the minister said.

Asked what can make Armenia refuse from the idea of referendum, the
minister said: "if we are proposed a better alternative – recognition
of Nagorny Karabakh’s independence." Asked if the referendum will
cancel the results of 1991 referendum for independence of NKR, the
minister mentioned that if the international community acknowledged
them, there will be no necessity of the present negotiation process.
At the same time, the minister said that Karabakh conflict is
different from others in the eyes of the international community. "I
think this gives an advantage to Nagorny Karabakh. Everything should
be done to maintain this situation," the minister said.