CULTURAL, HISTORICAL TOURISM DEVELOPING IN ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. Cultural and historical tourism is
developing in Armenia, Armenian Deputy Trade Minister Ara Petrosyan
said Wednesday at a press conference.

He thinks Armenian tourism’s niche in international market is cultural
and historical tourism, which has room for development.

In his words, Armenia’s museums, monuments, bio variety and cultural
peculiarity lay favorable ground for tourism development here.

Petrosyan said 272 thousand foreign tourists traveled to Armenia
between Jan-Sept 2006.

This number is 18% greater than that of the same period a year earlier.

In his words, 318563 foreigners visited Armenia in 2005. This number
exceeded the 2004 result by 21.3%.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ADOPT BILL ON THE ORDER OF ALIENATION OF LANDS FOR PUBLIC AND STATE NEEDS

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

Despite the active protest of the opposition, Armenian parliamentarians
adopted bill on the order of alienation of lands for public and
state needs.

Justice Minister David Haroutunyan said that earlier the
Constitutional Court recognized a number of provisions in the above
codes contradictory to the Constitution of Armenia. This necessitated
the elaboration of the bill. The key goal of the bill is introduction
of the alienation institutions, regulation of the issues concerning
the owner’s rights, the mechanisms of relevant decisions by courts.

In this connection, the Government as a responsible body is to assess
the necessity of alienation. The owner has a right to appeal against
the Government’s decision to the court, implying European Human
Rights Court. The public interests are prior when making decisions
on alienation of property. It concerns the construction of airport,
energy and other facilities. After the owner appeals against the
decision of the Government to the court, the parties get a right
to at least 3 months of negotiations. During this period of time
the alienation is banned. If the owner disagrees with the proposal,
a third stage starts to estimate the reasonable price of the property.

This implies application of market prices plus 15 percent from the
owner’s sum. At the same time, the owner does not pay any taxes from
these funds. When the sum is transferred to the depository account
of the owner and the court makes decision, the property is considered
alienated. If the court resolves to re-estimate the property, this may
not be in favor of the owner as a higher market price may be applied at
the given moment. The courts have 7 days to execute this decision. – M-

RA PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZED, IN SECOND READING, MANY LAWS, ADOPTED
EARLIER BY ARMENIAN SUPREME COUNCIL, STALE

Today, RA Parliament has recognized, in a second reading, a number of
laws, adopted earlier by the RA Parliament and the Armenian Supreme
Council, stale.

As the RA deputy Justice Minister, Gevork Malkhasyan, told the
deputies, a situation has been formed at present, when many laws,
adopted earlier, either do not function or conflict with the provisions
of the country’s Basic Law. Actually, they have effect but are inactive
in fact. In view of this, the Government has determined a list of 80
laws which now stale.

R PARLIAMENTARIANS PASSED BILL, IN THIRD READING, ON ESSENCES WHICH
DESTROY OZONE LAYER

Today, the Ra Parliamentarians have passed a bill, in the third and
final reading, on essences, which destroy the ozone layer.

As the Minister for Nature Preservation, Vardan Aivazyan, noted
in his speech, the bill was developed by RA Government based on the
liabilities, taken by Armenia in line with the clauses of the Viennese
International Convention on the Ozone Layer Protection, as well as
with the Montreal and London Protocol to the Copenhagen Agreement
about essences which destroy the ozone layer. According to Aivazyan,
production of essences, which affect the ozone layer destruction,
is forbidden in Armenia. Though, it has never produced such essences,
however, a tendency of their import is observed. Based on this bill,
Ra Government is obliged to annually set the volumes of import and
use of these essences. Their import from the countries , which did
not joint the International Conventions and Agreements, is banned. The
deputies have also made corresponding changes to the Law on State Due.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ADOPT BILL ON TERRITORIES UNDER SPECIAL
PROTECTION

Armenian parliamentarians have adopted the third and the final reading
of a bill on the territories under special protection.

Nature Protection Minister Vardan Ayvazyan says the bill consists
of 17 chapters and 33 articles. It classifies the territories under
special protection, establishes the order of their protection and
development. For the first time, the document provides for the
mechanism of elaboration and application of a plan of preservation
and sustainable development of reserves. The development of eco-
tourism can become one of the sources of sustainable development,
the minister says. The bill establishes the rights and the duties of
the bodies responsible for creation, preservation and development of
the given territories. In particular, these are local self-government
bodies. The document defines the territories of international, state
and private importance. The bill underwent examination of foreign
specialists twice, the minister says.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ADOPT PACKAGE OF LAWS REGULATING TRADE AND
CONTROL OVER SAFE FOODSTUFFS

Armenian parliamentarians have adopted the third and the final reading
of a package of laws regulating the trade and control over safety
of foodstuffs.

Minister of Agriculture of Armenia David Lokyan said these are 5
laws the adoption of which will bring the country’s legislation
in harmony with European standards. The Government has prepared a
relevant law applied in Europe. The new law on safety of food products
regulates the whole turnover of foodstuffs, including the procession
and consumption. The bill establishes such notions as harmful food
products, mechanisms of control and withdrawal from circulation. The
order is established by the Government. However, the Health Care
Ministry has a prior right to withdraw products from circulation. A
single supervisory body can be formed in future. A producer is
responsible for the quality of foodstuffs. A relevant supervisory body
will control over the activity of producers. Additional requirements
are made to advertising of foodstuffs. Advertising must be coordinated
with the Health Care Ministry. Information exchange is of special
importance as well. The document regulates also the rights and the
powers of inspectors.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AMENDS LAW ON ARMENIAN CIVIL DEFENSE SUBDIVISIONS

Armenian parliamentarians has amended the Law on the Armenian Civil
Defense Subdivisions in the second and final reading, Monday.

Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Arthur Aghabekyan necessitated the
amendments with the fact that the subdivisions were transferred to the
structure of the Armenian Defense Ministry under the amendments dated
May 26 2005. However, the structure and the staff of the sub-divisions
were approved by the Armenian Government. In this connection, there
was a necessity of amending the law and granting this right to the
defense minister.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AMENDS CODE ON ADMINISTRATIVE VIOLATIONS

Armenian parliamentarians amended the Code on administrative violations
in the second and final reading, Monday.

One of the authors of the amendments, representative of the United
Labor Party faction, Hripsime Avetisyan, stated that on July 7 2006,
the Armenian Parliament adopted a Law on declaration of the property
and incomes of citizens. Under the law, many citizens pledge to make
declarations on their property and incomes. In addition, a Law on
declaration of the property and incomes of high-ranking officials
came into effect in 2001. The amendments provide for giving citizens
additional 30 days to make a relevant declaration. Fines are to be
imposed when the citizens do not declare their property and incomes
also after the expiry of these 30 days.

R PARLIAMENTARIANS PASSED LAW ON NATIONAL WATER PROGRAM

Today, RA Parliamentarians have passed a Law, in the third and final
reading, on the National Water Program.

As the RA Minister for Nature Preservation , Vardan Aivazyan,
said, the main provisions of the bill proceed from the Water Code
requirements. The requirement of keeping and rational use of the
country’s water resources is assumed a s a basis of the National
Water Program. In particular, the classification of water resources,
the water quality standards are given in the document. Thus, the
water resources are divided by the degree of importance, danger and
use. Keeping and increase of wager resources is carried out on the
account of both the state budget means and the credits and grants of
international organizations. Taking into account the peculiarities of
water resources, all this, in the Minister’s opinion, will contribute
to their efficient control and reduction of losses. As the Minister
noted, the volumes of water reserves in the Republic at present make
up 9 bln cub.m, 2,4 bln cub. m of which is actually used. The task
number one, Aivazyan underlined, is to increase these volumes. 1,5
bln cub. m more are sent to the transboundary rivers. According to
the Minister, these volumes are fixed by international documents,
to which Armenia has also joined.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT OF COOPERATION IN EXPOSURE AND RETURN OF HIJACKED VEHICLES

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

Armenian parliament ratified Armenian-Georgian inter-governmental
agreement of cooperation in exposure and return of hijacked vehicles.

Deputy Head of the Armenian Police, Ararat Mahtesyan, said the
agreement provides for activation of bilateral cooperation in the
exposure, confiscation and return of hijacked vehicles to their
owners. The problem is prevention of such phenomena. During 2006,
35,000 motor vehicles were inspected in Armenia, and 175 hijacked
cars were exposed. 106 of 175 were acquired and imported to Armenia
from Georgia. The Georgian party has not ratified the agreement yet.

MEETING WITH MILITARY COMMISSARS, INSTRUCTORS AND SCHOOL HEADMASTERS HELD IN ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

A meeting with military commissars, military instructors and school
headmasters was held in the Armenian Defense Ministry, Monday. The
goal of the meeting was to discuss the issues of patriotic upbringing
of the youth.

In his opening speech, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan
reminded that the Defense Ministry is interested in raising the
authority and role of school, as the majority of conscripts join the
army after school. The Minister appealed to the participants of the
meeting to focus on specific issues of current importance, and not
to think of them only in the course of today’s meeting.

In compliance with the Minister’s proposal, the participants pointed
out a number of problems to be solved and made some offers. According
to the Director of the Vazgen Sargsyan’s Military Institute, Stepan
Mirzoyan, 38 secondary educational institutions of Armenia out of
1342 have no military instructors. 68 military instructors out of
1416 working in educational establishments of Armenia and Karabakh
are at a pensionable age, and 507 – at the age of 51-64. It means
that there will shortly be a need of new personnel, S.Mirzoyan said.

211 military instructors have no military ranks, and 96 didn’t serve
in the army at all. 474 people have less than 5 years of experience,
360 – less than 10 years, and 539 – over 11 years. Only 79 instructors
got higher military education, 749 – higher civil education, and 588 –
secondary and specialized secondary education.

Demonstrating the data of the public opinion poll held among soldiers
of the rural regions, S. Mirzoyan noted that only 30% positively
appreciated the work of their schools’ military instructors. 70%
consider the instructors’ work to have a formal character. In a number
of schools there is a direct evidence of contemptuous attitude to
the subject. There is no room to store the training weaponry in 555
schools, which is explained by lack of an larm system. The latter
costs about 30 thousand AMD. "Hasn’t the school directorate such
money?", asked S.Mirzoyan. There is no playground in 396 schools,
and 223 schools have no room for primary military training. In this
connection, S.Mirzoyan offered to reinstate military instructors
as deputy directors of schools, to set up skilled commissions for
determining the professional suitability of military instructors,
as well as to solve the problem of uniforms for the instructors.

S.Mirzoyan noted that provision of daily uniforms will coast over 72
mln AMD, and the provision of field uniforms – over 52 mln AMD .

To note, the participants of the meeting were also Armenian Minister
of Education and Science Levon Lazarian, Chairman of the Parliament
Standing Commission for Education, Science, Culture and Youth Hranush
Hakobyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Army Commander Seyran Ohanyan, the NKR
Minister of Education Kamo Atayan.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL FORCES HAVEN’T CHANGED THEIR OPINION ABOUT DRAFT REFORMS A YEAR AFTER CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

A year has passed since the draft constitutional reforms were adopted
in Armenia. Even a year later, the political forces have not changed
their opinion about the draft constitutional amendments. The opposition
keeps on thinking that the draft amendments passed with mass violations
and the referendum didn’t reflect the electorate’s will, and the
ruling coalition is convinced that the constitutional referendum was
call of the times and the adoption of amendments introduced essential
positive changes in the public and political life of the country.

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Deputy Chairman of the Republican
Party Tigran Torosyan told journalists that the constitutional reforms
had an exclusive importance for the country from the democratic point
of view. He noted that one shouldn’t dissemble the positive tendencies
after the constitutional referendum, and it is simply unreasonable to
speak of the voting fraud. He stressed that the draft reforms were
approved at the referendum, and the items of the document should be
implemented now.

T.Torosyan also emphasized that the parliamentary elections in
2007 should correspond to international standards. He qualified the
opposition’s statements about early parliamentary and presidential
elections as meaningless.

Speaking of the constitutional referendum, Grigor Harutyunyan, the
Secretary of the "Justice" opposition bloc, once again said that
the referendum passed with numerous violations, no more than 200-250
thousand people took part in it, but the authorities assert that 1.5
mln voters participated in the plebiscite.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS NOT A PRECONDITION FOR GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS OF TURKEY AND ARMENIA, VARDAN OSKANYAN

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

"Acknowledgement of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915 is not
a precondition for good neighborly relations of Turkey and Armenia",
Vardan Oskanyan, Foreign Minister of Armenia, said at the interview
with France-Presse.

Radio Liberty reports that V. Oskanyan is sure that the "interdiction
can be overcome by cooperation of Armenian and Turkish people". He
called "dubious" the proposal of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, to set up a joint commission of scientists-historians
to investigate the events of 1915-1917 in Ottoman Empire. "A joint
commission can’t be set up before diplomatic relations between official
Ankara and Yerevan are established. The question is a political one
and it should be treated accordingly. Turks have never before been so
mobilized, on the state level, about the negation policy", V. Oskanyan
pointed out. He added that Turkey’s aggression on Armenian Genocide
grows along with its acknowledgement by other countries. He pointed
out that French Parliament’s adoption of the law on criminalization
of denial of Armenian Genocide was a "definite response on Turkish
government’s policy of denial."

The Minister said that presently only acknowledgement of the Genocide
is in the agenda of Armenia’s foreign policy and that there should
be no fears about its demand for contribution.

He agreed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a serious obstacle in
Armenia’s relations with Turkey and that "Ankara’s definite solidarity
with Azerbaijan works against Turkey itself because it risks the
country’s credibility to take over the role of the East-West bridge."

Mr. Oskanyan disagreed with correlation of Nagorno-Karabakh and South
Cyprus due to that the first appeared in the result of USSR’s collapse
and the other – on the UN member-state’s territory. He agreed that
both Cyprus and Armenia see obstacles in Turkey’s membership in EU
but the two countries do not work against Turkey.

"We do have common questions we discuss but we do not unite against
anyone", emphasized Armenian Foreign Minister.

VATICAN ENVOY: FRENCH MPS WHO VOTED FOR THE BILL CRIMINALIZING DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DON’T KNOW THE ESSENCE OF PROBLEM

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

The Envoy of Vatican considers that the French MPs who voted in favor
of the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide don’t
know the essence of the problem, said Mons. Georges Marovitch, the
press-secretary of Vatican and spokesman of Turkish bishops.

According to EUOBSERVER, the Vatican envoy noted that the bill is a
result of political discussions. The press-secretary of Vatican hopes
that the bill will not pass the hearings in the Senate, otherwise it
will be a big mistake. Turks themselves acknowledge that Armenians
were slaughtered, but it wasn’t a genocide. He emphasized that it is
for historians, and not politicians to take up the issue.

The source also informs about a mass protest rally in Istanbul against
the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey.

KREMLIN CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS ROUTES TO EUROPE STOKES WESTERN UNEASE
By George Jahn, Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press
November 27, 2006 Monday 8:14 PM GMT

For the West, the threat from Moscow was supposed to end with the
collapse of the Soviet Union 15 years ago. But Russia’s growing energy
clout is generating renewed cause for anxiety.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, set up in the early days of
the Cold War to keep Soviet-led forces in check, has begun speaking
out about the potent new energy lever being wielded by the Kremlin
in the international struggle for influence.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said last week that
energy security would be high on the agenda at its summit starting
Tuesday in Riga, Latvia. He noted that there was "added value to NATO
discussing energy and security policies."

The main issue is natural gas. Russia is an oil giant, second only
to the Saudis in exports, and Europe depends on it for a quarter of
the crude it consumes. But oil supplies can be diversified because
shipping is easy, while the most efficient way of distributing gas
is through pipelines. With Russia the world’s largest gas exporter
and Europe’s neighbor, European dependency has grown to the point
that the EU now counts on Moscow for nearly half of its gas needs.

And Moscow’s control of pipelines that deliver not only gas from
Russia but from much of central Asia is stoking Western unease.

"With gas, control over pipelines is crucial," says energy expert
Michael Klare. "Once you put oil on a tanker you cannot control it, but
gas is different; whoever controls the pipelines controls the flow."

Like NATO, U.S. officials also are warning of the dangers of allowing
Russia a free hand in monopolizing gas shipments. And the European
Union is trying without success so far to pry open the Russian grasp
on gas and gas pipelines supplying EU member countries.

Just last month, Russian energy giant OAO Gazprom announced it would
develop the huge Shtokman gas field without foreign partners, in a
fresh setback to western oil companies looking to exploit the nation’s
vast hydrocarbon riches.

At the same time, companies like BP PLC, Royal Dutch Shell PLC and
Total SA are fighting back-tax bills or threatened license annulments
apparently another reflection of the Kremlin’s push to ensure that
the state has a major role in all key energy projects.

The two sides appeared to come no closer at an EU-Russia summit in
Helsinki last week. Speaking to reporters Friday, Russian President
Vladimir Putin restated his opposition to giving foreign companies
easy access to his country’s energy sources, or breaking up oil and
gas state monopolies.

Western concerns reflect a growing understanding that in the 21st
century control of energy has become more than ever before a weapon
of geopolitical advantage.

Klare, author of "Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of
America’s Growing Petroleum Dependency," says the world already has
entered "a new era, where energy has replaced nuclear weapons as the
medium of superpower rivalry."

"Vladimir Putin believes that," says Klare. "And he is moving to
accumulate as much energy power as he can."

A study conducted earlier this year for the Swedish Defense Research
Agency concludes that Russia uses its growing energy punch to "extend
influence, avert geopolitical and macroeconomic threats and to reduce
the risk of being blackmailed."

As in the Cold War, Europe is the most vulnerable. It now imports just
over half of its energy needs but will depend on outside suppliers
for 90 percent of its oil and 80 percent of its gas within 20 years.

Moscow insists market forces are driving its price policy. But its
allies, like Armenia, pay much less than its critics, like Georgia.

The Swedish study notes more than 50 cases since 1991 where the
Russian "energy lever has been used for putting political or economic
pressure on Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova
(and) Georgia."

Other surveys also draw worrying conclusions.

A recently leaked confidential study by NATO economic experts warned
Russia may be seeking to build a gas cartel including Algeria, Qatar,
Libya, the countries of central Asia and perhaps Iran and cautioned
that kind of OPEC-like near monopoly would strengthen Moscow’s leverage
over Europe.

Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin this month denied that Russia
was planning on building a cartel, however.

Washington is also concerned.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew J. Bryza warned this
month that a prospective natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea
could further increase Europe’s energy dependence drawing an angry
retort from Moscow, which has cast the project as a key contribution
to the EU’s energy security. And U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney
accused Russia earlier this year of using its energy resources as
"tools of intimidation or blackmail."

Such comments reflect a recognition of the key role of energy and
frustration on the part of "have-nots" like the United States and
most other NATO countries.

"Possessing a rich accumulation of energy is the equivalent of
a nuclear arsenal in the 20th Century," says Klare. "And being a
‘have-not’ creates a strategic vulnerability."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SEPARATISTS MANIFEST MILITARY ACTIVENESS
by R. Manafly

Source: Echo (Baku), November 22, 2006, p. EV
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 27, 2006 Monday

Azerbaijani experts explain this by the visit of Arkady Gukasyan to
the US and increase of military expenditures of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Experts Point At Growing Military Activeness In
Nagorno-Karabakh; Lately, Armenian separatists started taking active
military measures.

Azerbaijan should express decisive protest about actions of Armenian
separatists on the occupied territories. Well-known military expert
Uzeir Dzhafarov said this in a conversation with Echo.

Lately, Armenian separatists started taking active military measures.

For instance, on November 20, units of the armed forces of Armenia
started large-scale military exercises on the occupied territories of
the Agdam District of Azerbaijan. The exercises are conducted mostly
in Uzunder village. Explosions are heard on the territories where
the armed forces of Armenia are having military exercises.

In the framework of the combat training plan of the armed forces of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic for 2006, competition of commanders of
mechanized infantry and tank companies was conducted in one of the
training military units. For five days commanders demonstrated their
skills in use of armament and improved their field skills. Regnum
reports that such events are organized in the armed forces of
Armenian separatists regularly with participation of commanders of
various levels.

Really, Dzhafarov points out that now the separatist armed forces
manifest excessive military activeness on the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. Along with this, the military expert does not rule out
that this time rattling sabers is connected with trip of leader of
Armenian separatists Arkady Gukasyan to the US. Dzhafarov stresses,
"It is possible that the exercises about which we hear today are a
part of a military plan developed by Armenian separatists."

According to Dzhafarov, military exercises are conducted on the
occupied Azerbaijani territories that incur serious damage on
environment of the region. Dzhafarov warns that this damage is much
bigger than the damage from the summer arsons.

The expert says that he is amazed by the indifference of the Foreign
Ministry and Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan. Official stance of the
ministries remains unknown still.

In turn, Ilgar Mamedov, another military expert, presumes that growing
activeness of Armenian separatists in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
is connected primarily with statements of Azerbaijani authorities
about regaining the occupied territories in a military way that have
grown more frequent. The expert presumes, "Such statements of state
officials have sounded very often lately and it is possible to say
that this scares Armenia."

According to Mamedov, the growing Armenian military activeness is
also a result of the statements of Azerbaijani authorities regarding
an intention to spend up to $1 billion on military needs of the
country. Mamedov points out, "How can Armenian military stay quiet
if their budget, according to the most optimistic forecasts, will not
exceed $300 million? That is why Armenian separatists try to manifest
activeness in the military field."

STRENGTH OF THE COMMONWEALTH
by: Yury Gavrilov

Source: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, November 24, 2006, p. 6
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 27, 2006 Monday

Defense ministers of the CIS countries broaden collective security
in Brest

Heads Of Defense Ministries Of The Cis Countries And Collective
Security Treaty Organization Gathered In Brest; Yesterday, Belarusian
city of Brest gathered a big military council. Heads of defense
ministries of the CIS countries and Collective Security Treaty
Organization met there.

Yesterday, Belarusian city of Brest gathered a big military council.

Heads of defense ministries of the CIS countries and Collective
Security Treaty Organization met there.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, chair of the council of
defense ministers of the CIS, outlined the key topics for discussion:
– We will talk about peacekeeping activities, about establishment of
a unified communication system and about improvement of the united
air defense system of the commonwealth. As to the Collective Security
Treaty Organization, we will talk about the military technological
assistance, namely armament and combat hardware supplies and training
specialists in Russian military higher educational institutions free
of charge.

It was expected that agreement on the regional air defense system of
Russia and Belarus would be signed in Brest. This document passed all
approvals. Theoretically, defense ministers and even commanders of the
air force and air defense forces can sign it according to instructions
of the presidents of the two countries. However, this procedure was
postponed again. In any case, Ivanov said that the agreement would
come into effect by the end of the year for sure.

Meanwhile, obvious and hidden contradictions among the former Soviet
republics are sometimes manifested in the most unexpected way.

For instance, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan did not arrive
at the meeting of the council of defense ministers of the CIS countries
in Baku in May. The drawn-out Nagorno-Karabakh conflict makes Sarkisyan
persona non grata for Azerbaijan. At any rate, the Azerbaijani and
Armenian ministers did not refuse to meet on a neutral territory,
for example, in Belarus.

The most paradoxical situation is related to Uzbekistan. Recently,
this country announced restoration of its membership in the
Collective Security Treaty Organization. However, the Uzbek Defense
Minister somehow did not arrive at the meeting of the council of the
defense ministries in Brest where it was planned to discuss return
of Uzbekistan to the treaty separately. Instead of him he sent his
deputy for international cooperation with a rank of colonel.

This action does not contradict the bylaws of the organization but
when defense ministers ignore such meetings under various pretexts
this looks ambiguous. Meanwhile, Tashkent limited its representation
by a deputy defense minister at the meeting of the committee of chiefs
of general staff of the CIS countries in October.

One participant of the negotiations in Brest commented: – Uzbekistan
is interested not as much in cooperation via the CIS and Collective
Security Treaty Organization as in bilateral military and military
technological relations with Russia. Tashkent has very ambiguous
relations with other members of the commonwealth and the treaty in
the form of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Sometimes the matter comes
to firing exchange on their borders. That is why we cannot expect
friendly hugs from the ministers.

Of course, this is only a partial opinion and it is disputable but
it is clear that Russia remains the only real force that can unite
interests of various CIS member states now.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress