"WINDOW OF HOPE" IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT REMAINS OPEN

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 16:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The "window of hope" in settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains open, Chair of Parliament Standing
Commission on Foreign Relations Armen Rustamyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In his words, there is hope always and 2007 may become
another "window." "Nothing significant happened in 2006. Maybe next
year, or after 2008, when Armenia will have a new President, changes
will occur," he remarked.

In the opinion of the Chair of the Parliament Commission, coming
changes should not be considered as negative ones or those hampering
the talks.

FRIED: NATO EXPRESSED ATTITUDE TO "FROZEN CONFLICTS" FOR FIRST TIME

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 16:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Assistant Secretary of State for European
Affairs Daniel Fried said that the Communique on the outcomes of
the NATO Summit in Riga for the first time reflects the Alliance
attitude to "frozen conflicts" in the territory of the former Soviet
Union. As Fried told journalists, "the Communique language includes
a phrase supporting territorial integrity of South Caucasian states
and Moldova." In his words, the NATO states this for the first time
and it is an important signal for these countries."

When commenting on President Bush statement in Riga in support of
Georgia’s bid for NATO accession, Fried underscored that the President
first of all meant that the doors of the Alliance should be open to all
those wishing. "The President insisted that Georgia should be given
a change to do what it has to do," the diplomat said, noting that
"Georgia has to do everything to be ready to NATO membership." "It
is not so much strengthening democratic institutions and economy,
but peaceful settlement of territorial disputes inside Georgia,"
he noted, reports Prime News.

NO SETTLEMENT DOCUMENT WILL BE SIGNED WITHOUT NKR AGREEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 17:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At present a shift is noted for the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic to become party to the talks, Chair of Parliament
Standing Commission on Foreign Relations Armen Rustamyan stated at
a news conference in Yerevan. In his words, the issue is always on
the bargaining table. "There are no cases in international practice
when an interested party to the conflict does not take part in the
talks. As for statements that the NKR participated in the talks
before 1998, I should remind that at that time NKR President and
Shushi Administration Head Nizami Bakhmanov took part in the talks
and their participation was not equivalent. I hope that the OSCE MG
will not object to NKR involvement in direct talks with Azerbaijan
and will do their best to that end," Rustamyan underscored, adding
that no settlement document will be signed without NKR agreement.

At that head of the Parliament Commission noted that the referendum in
NKR, like those in other unrecognized republics of the former USSR, is
very important to the international community. "It is the will of the
people, which cannot be ignored. It is reflected in the Helsinki Final
Act of 1975. Returning to the principle of territorial integrity I will
remark that for observing it the USSR needs to be restored, as the
borders of all states, in whose territories conflicts are available,
were determined by administrative division of the USSR. Thus, if that
state does not exist, the borders become invalid," the MP said.

FORMAT OF KARABAKH TALKS MUST NOT BE CHANGED

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We assess activities of the OSCE MG over settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as positive, however with some
reservations," Chair of Parliament Standing Commission on Foreign
Relations, ARF Dashnaktsutyun member Armen Rustamyan stated at a news
conference in Yerevan. In his words, the mediators should prevent
any statements on military solution to the conflict. "On the whole
they manage their duties. As for the conversations on changing the
format of the talks, this must not be done, moreover that the CE,
EU, OSCE agree to the OSCE MG format. If the format is changed,
everything should start from the beginning. It means solution of the
conflict may be a very far prospect," Rustamyan underscored.

NEXT OFFICIAL MEETING OF CIS LEADERS SCHEDULED IN DUSHANBE

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 17:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The next summit of CIS heads of state will be
held in Dushanbe, Belarus FM Sergey Martynov reported. In his words,
unofficial meeting of CIS leaders is one of new forms of work, which
is just put in practice and will continue in the future. CIS leaders
will have an unofficial meeting in St. Petersburg next June. Martynov
also noted that the Minsk Summit on November 28, according to unanimous
evaluation of its participants, was not only timely, but also useful:
decisions principally important for the future of the CIS in many
fields were made at the summit, reports the Belarus Embassy in Russia.

GRECO ADDRESSES 21 RECOMMENDATIONS TO TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 18:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ November 30 the Council of Europe’s Group of States
against Corruption (GRECO) has published today its Joint First
and Second Round Evaluation Report on Turkey, which joined GRECO
in 2004. The report focuses on general anti-corruption policies,
specialization of law enforcement bodies in fighting corruption,
independence of the judiciary, immunity from prosecution for
corruption offences, the deprivation of benefits drawn from corrupt
acts, measures to counter corruption in public administration and
the prevention of legal persons – such as commercial companies –
from being used as shields for corruption.

GRECO addresses 21 recommendations to Turkey. They aim at improving
the implementation of the overall anti-corruption policies. Moreover,
it is recommended to consider reforming the system of administrative
investigation, which may be subject to political influence, and to
reduce the number of categories of public officials who benefit from
immunities. It is also recommended that an Ombudsman institution be
established and that the independence of recent bodies, such as the
Ethics. GRECO will monitor the implementation of the recommendations to
Turkey towards the end of 2007, reports the Communications Directorate
of the Council of Europe.

BBC NAMES ARMENIAN POP SINGER GLOBAL TALENT FINALIST

Armenpress
Nov 30 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: A 17-year-old Armenian pop singer
Silva Hakobian is among the finalists in the BBC World Service’s
search for the world’s best young band.

More than 1,000 artists, all aged 18 or under, entered the Next Big
Thing competition in September.

The seven finalists are expected to fly into the UK next week to
perform at the BBC’s famous Maida Vale studios. A winner will be
chosen by a panel of music industry experts.

The competition was open to groups and solo artists in any genre
of music, as long as they were under 18 and performed their own
songs. Entries came from 36 countries, "from Armenia to Azerbaijan
and from Uruguay to Ukraine".

The BBC is working with British embassies to help artists arrange
travel to the UK in time for next week’s recording.

GEORGIA HAS FIRST EVER DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER

Armenpress
Nov 30 2006

TBILISI, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Vera Dzneladze has become the
first ever woman in Georgia to be appointed to a top position in the
country’s defense ministry. Georgia’s defense ministry said Wednesday
she was appointed deputy defense minister.

Before her new appointment Ms. Dzneladze served as deputy of David
Kezerashvili, former head of financial police service who had been
appointed two weeks ago as new defense ministers.

ARGENTINA DESIGNATES APRIL 24 AS DAY OF TOLERANCE AND RESPECT AMONG PEOPLES

Armenpress
Nov 30 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: By a vote of 175 to 2 the parliament
of Argentina passed on November 29 a draft law to designate April 24
as the Day of Tolerance and Respect Among Nations. The date- April 24-
was chosen in memory of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of South America said the bill will
be sent to the approval of the Senate. The bill was motioned at the
initiative of the Armenian National Committee of South America and
was promoted by several parliament members from different parties.

ARMENIAN TAXMEN COLLECT 173 BILLION DRAMS

Armenpress
Nov 30 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenian taxmen collected a total
of 173,2 billion Drams in taxes in January-October of 2006, up 25.2
percent or 34.8 billion Drams from a year ago.

The Armenian state taxation service said 53.6 billion Drams were
collected as profit tax, up from 37.1 billion from a year ago and
27.6 billion in income taxes, up from 20.4 billion from a year ago.

Excise taxes amounted to 10.7 billion drams, up from 10.5 billion in
Jan.-Oct. of 2005. Also some 6.2 billion were collected as so-called
simplified tax, up from 5.5 billion drams from a year ago and 12.8
billion Drams in fixed taxes, up from 10.4 billion in January-October
of 2005.

Mandatory social payments rose to 61.3 billion Drams, 21 percent up
from a year ago.