Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 25 2006

MEETING OF NKR-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION

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On November 21 and 22 the meeting of the NKR-Armenia Parliamentary
Commission was held in Yerevan. In his address the speaker of the
National Assembly of Armenia Tigran Torosian said for the first time
two meetings are held in a year, and he hopes that this style of work
will not change after the parliamentary election in Armenia in 2007.
NKR Speaker Ashot Ghulian mentioned that the cooperation of the
parliaments enabled the NKR National Assembly to set up relations
with the parliaments of other countries. He also emphasized that the
Armenian parliament members helped to draft the NKR Constitution,
which will be put to popular voting on December 10. The first
question discussed during the meeting referred to the application of
the provisions of the constitution in the legislation. Rudolf
Martirossian, Chair of the Defense, Security and Legality Committee
presented the principles and provisions of the Constitution. Since
1992 the NKR parliament has adopted 600 laws, which necessitate the
adoption of the basic law. It became clear from Mr. Martirossian’s
speech that the constitutions of Armenia and Karabakh have much in
common. NKR is also going to adopt a semi-presidential government,
and the powers of the parliament multiply. The order of appointment
of the prime minister and the attorney general are similar. The audit
chamber of the parliament will become an independent body. There are
also differences. For instance, NKR will not have a Constitutional
Court. But the Supreme Court will have a Constitutional Chamber, and
anyone can appeal to it. The head of state can take legislative
action. In NKR a person aged 23, not 25 can become member of
parliament. Ashot Ghulian said this provision was proposed by the
Democratic Party of Arstakh. According to him, if the defense of the
country is entrusted to a 20-year-old youth, it would be right to
involve him in political processes as well. The orders of forming
government and courts are different, the structure of the
constitution and the chapter on human rights are different too. It
became clear from Armenian Member of Parliament Galust Sahakyan’s
question that Karabakh will have a separate law on citizenship, and
the Constitution does not bar dual nationality. Gagik Minassian asked
to explain why the president is empowered to take legislative action.
Rudolf Martirossian said it was intended to facilitate the solution
of problems. Member of Parliament Mnatsakan Petrossian asked a
question about the power to hold a referendum. The NKR parliament
member informed that they have not foreseen local referendums,
starting from the security of the country. The parliamentary
commission also discussed the Armenian and NKR economic legislations.
Benik Bakshiyan, Chair of the Finance, Budget and Economy Committee
said Karabakh and Armenia have almost the same laws, but there are
urgent problems, namely the compliance of the economic legislation
with the international standards, membership to the World Trade
Organization, the elimination of structural differences between the
economies of the two republics, and investments. NKR Member of
Parliament Arayik Harutiunian said the economic indexes of Karabakh
are lower than in Armenia. There problems with gasifying, irrigation
systems, housing, international investments. Assistant chief of the
Armenian Tax Service Armen Alaverdian said the parliamentary
committee deals with legislations, and the economic and budget
problems are to be dealt with by the government committee. Deputy
Minister of Economy and Finance Suren Gharayan pointed out the
importance of synchronizing the excise tax regulations in the
legislations of the two countries. There were also political
discussions on the regional developments and the settlements of
conflicts.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 25 2006

CLUB OF YOUNG DEFENDERS OF RIGHTS IN ARTSAKH

SVETLANA KHACHATRIAN

The International Association of Lawyers and Psychologists has
visited Stepanakert recently. About 30 high school students, teachers
and parents from Armenia and Javakheti arrived in Stepanakert. We
have learned from the chair of the NGO Khachatur Marozian that the
purpose of the visit is to set up a club of young defenders of rights
in Artsakh, which will help raising legal awareness among the younger
generation. Similar efforts were made in the schools of Armenia, and
Khachatur Marozian says the results were assessed as positive by the
ministry of education, the ministry of justice of Armenia, as well as
the parents and teachers. `They don’t have to become lawyers, it is
important that they be aware of their right to able to defend them
and uphold justice, and fight against castes,’ he says. According to
him, nepotism is deeply rooted in the society, and it should be
battled. It is difficult to develop this among grown-ups because they
have social problems and as they often depend on some person, they
cannot rise against these phenomena. Meanwhile, the younger
generation does not have such problems yet and it is easier to teach
them. If a person has legal awareness, he is able to protect his
rights, but first he must be able to defend others’ right, i.e. to be
aware of his duties as well. There are already teams of defenders of
rights in several Armenian schools, who often hold debates. The
members of the club said these debates are very effective, for
children learn to discuss issues, ask questions to the point and
analyze. The members of the club of young defenders of rights held a
debate at School 7 in Stepanakert on education and patriotism and
thereby set up the first team in Artsakh.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 25 2006

HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEM OF WATER SUPPLY?

LAURA GRIGORIAN

On November 17, the Social Committee of the NKR National Assembly
held hearings on the problems of water supply in Stepanakert and
other areas in the country. The chair of the committee Arpat
Avanessian said after the hearings the parliament will offer a
package proposal to the NKR government. The mayor of Stepanakert
presented the state of the water supply and sewage systems.
Stepanakert gets water from three rivers, four sources and 7 artesian
wells. The system includes two filtering stations, three pumping
stations in the city, 5 pumping stations for high-rise buildings. The
system was built several decades ago, and therefore, the entire
infrastructure is already worn, he said. The reservoirs, especially
the metal reservoirs are worn and are not fit to use. The filtering
stations cannot clean the water, which becomes highly turbid from the
spring torrents, because of the lack of reagents. Pumping stations
are too expensive for the company and are operated in summer only.
The mayor of Stepanakert said the circular pipeline built by Armenia
Foundation operates normally, whereas the network of pipes taking
water to the houses are 30-40 years old and need to be replaced.
Edward Aghabekian said there is a project involving the solution of
these problems, which will be implemented in three years according to
the national program adopted by the government. Afterwards the
members of parliament raised a series of questions: what efforts are
needed to solve the problems, what can the members of parliament do,
how can the city be provided with a 6-hour water supply? Arthur
Tovmassian, Hayrenik faction, asked these questions to the mayor. If
the government – City Hall relations are the reason for this
situation, it should be confessed. The members of parliament may
help. After all, people are suffering, said the member of parliament.
Edward Aghabekian denied these doubts and mentioned that the problem
of water supply has existed over the past ten years. Member of
Parliament Maxim Mirzoyan asked whether the amount of water is enough
to supply the town, and if yes, he proposed finding out where the
water is lost. Vladimir Arzumanian, the director of Water and Sewage
Company said the city gets enough water to supply people but 60-70
percent of water is lost due to the bad state of the pipes. Member of
Parliament Vahram Atanessian, chair of the Committee of External
Relations said the hearings were held too late because soon the
budget of 2007 will be confirmed by the government, whereas it is not
aware of all this. He also wondered why the members of government had
not been invited. `And maybe this infrastructure should be
privatized,’ he said. The chair of the social committee Arpat
Avanessian said the hearings were planned to be held in summer but
were delayed for certain reasons. Member of Parliament Maxim Mirzoyan
reminded that the final draft of the budget is adopted by the
parliament.

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 25 2006

"TELETHON-2006" RESULT MAKES 13 MLN 700 THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS, WHAT
IS ALMOST TWICE MORE THAN INDEX OF PREVIOUS YEAR

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The result of
the "Telethon-2006" started in the city of Los Angeles, U.S., on
November 23 made 13 mln 700 thousand U.S. dollars what is almost
twice more than the money gathered in the previous year. To recap,
the result of the telethon of the previous year made 7.7 mln U.S.
dollars.

As the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the Public Relations
Department of the "Hayastan" (Armenia) All-Armenian Fund, the result
of the "Telethon-2006" is record one, as no such an index was fixed
as a result of the telethons held till now: most of all 12 mln
dollars were gathered. Money gathered during the "Telethon-2006,"
will be given to implementation of the "Re-Birth of Artsakh" program.

It was mentioned that American Armenian benefactors Sargis Hakoubian
(550 thousand U.S. dollars), Louis Simon Manukian are among big
donors. Donations for implementation of purposeful programs have also
been during the telethon. American Armenian benefactor Jerry
Turpanjian allocated 1 mln 250 thousand U.S. dollars for building a
school in Stepanakert, Vahe Karapetian gave 1.5 mln dollars for road
construction, the Lincy foundation donated 2 mln U.S. dollars for
implementation of the program on construction of all the educational
institutions in the whole territory of Artsakh, Project CURE
organization gave 2 mln dollars for getting medical equipment for the
Hadrut regional hospital, Chairman of the Union of Armenians in
Russia Ara Abrahamian gave 1 mln dollars for building a scholl in
Stepanakert.

>From Armenian businessmen, Mikhail Bagdasarov allocated 100 thousand
dollars, Samvel Alexanian gave 50 thousand dollars, Ruben Hayrapetian
gave 50 thousand dollars, and VivaCell company gave 70 thousand
dollars.

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

ARKADY GHUKASIAN MEETS IN U.S. WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN
TRADITIONAL PARTIES

LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "We are
obliged to built the country of our dreams for freedom of which the
best sons of the Armenian people sacrificed themselves," NKR
President Arkady Ghukasian stated at the November 22 banquet
organized by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirussian, the U.S. Western
Diocese primate of the Cilicia Catholicosate of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

As the NKR President’s Acting Press Secretary states, Arkady
Ghukasian went to the mentioned event accompanied by Archbishop
Pargev Martirosian, the Artsakh Diocese primate of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, and Armen Liloyan, the RA Consul General to Los
Angeles, after visiting the new building of primacy being built in
the suburb of La-Crescenta, Los Angeles.

In his speech the President particularly made a speech calling on the
Armenian community’s gathering in Diaspora, entrusting to the
national unity and own forces.

Representatives of the ARF U.S. Western Central Committee, AGBU,
Armenian Relief Association, "Hamazgayin" (National) institution,
Armenian Educational Foundation, Women’s Union attached to the
Cilicia primacy as well as former Mayor of Glendale Larry Zarian and
members of the present city council Ara Najarian and Raffi Manoukian,
other honorary quests participated in the event.

On the same day the NKR President had a number of meetings with
representatives of leading instances of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun,
Liberal Democratic Party and Social-Democratic Hnchak Party Western
structures. Arkady Ghukasian persuaded interlocutors to show their
active assistance for creation of honourable life for the people
passed through war ordeals and won in unequal struggles.

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

CYPRUS MUST SUPPORT ARMENIA IN ALL INTERNATIONAL AND POLITICAL
ISSUES, PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS STATES

NICOSIA, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The official ceremony of meeting
the RA President took place on November 23 at the President’s
residence of Cyprus, after what Robert Kocharian laid a wreath at the
monument to first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios.

Then a private conversation of Presidents Robert Kocharian and Tassos
Papadopoulos took place. A wide circle of issues relating to
economic, humanitarian, educational, banking, cultural spheres as
well as to regional cooperation was discussed during the negotiations
in an enlarged staff followed the private conversation.

An agreement "On Cooperation in Struggle against Organized and other
Types of Crimes" was signed as a result. Working groups were
instructed to jointly work out practical proposals and programs in
the directions of issues arisen during the negotiations.

At the press conference followed the negotiations, the two countries’
Presidents emphasized especially the warm and practical atmosphere
which accompanied the whole process of negotiations.

Expressing satisfaction on the occasion of the RA President’s first
state visit and negotiations, T.Papadopoulos mentioned that during
both personal and official meetings the Cypriot side assured the RA
President that it is willing to deepen the existing bilateral
friendly ties, to more widen the cooperation. "Cyprus must support
Armenia in all international and political issues," the President of
Cyprus stated. In implementation of bilateral agreements, he
especially attached importance to the Armenian community’s role,
which, according to characterization of T.Papadopoulos, is a
community having a high level and has been leading in all spheres.

"Our peoples and countries have very warm relations and an active
dialogue. We have today attempted to widen that dialogue especially
in the sphere of economy," the RA President mentioned.

In R.Kocharian’s words, Armenia and Cyprus have always assisted one
another at different international structures. Today Armenia has
great expectations in the sense of borrowing the experience of Cyprus
in reforms being implemented within the framework of the European
Union New Neighbourhood Policy. The Cypriot side expressed readiness
to cooperate and show considerable assistance to Armenia on that way.

"Cyprus has from the first moment assisted Armenia’s involvement in
the EU Neighbourhood program. It supposes a great number of reforms,
and we are ready to assist their practical implementation,"
T.Papadopoulos assured in his turn.

Responding the question what precept the RA President has to the
Cypriot people within the context of the Turkish-Cypriot relations,
R.Kocharian mentioned that the Armenian side’s attitude can be
estimated with those votes that Armenia displays at different
international instances in issues relating to Cyprus. "We would like
to see the issue of Cyprus solved within the framework of notions of
that country’s people and government what we re-affirmed during this
meeting as well," the RA President said.

Robert Kocharian invited his colleague from Cyprus to visit Armenia
the next year.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office, the
meeting of President Robert Kocharian and Demetrias Christofias, the
President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus was also held in
a warm and friendly atmosphere. The sides agree that the political
cooperation must more strengthen, the legislative cooperation must
more deepen what will bring to more widening of ties in economic,
cultural, tourism and other spheres. The RA President especially
appreciated the attitude which the Cypriot authorities display
towards the Armenian community. "The circumstance that the Cypriot
Armenian community is represented at the Parliament of Cyprus, there
are schools which are financed by the state, is simply appreciable,
and I think that it also gives important warmth to our bilateral
relations," R.Kocharian said.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

GEORGIA MUST HONOR RIGHTS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES

On November 25 the situation in Georgia three years after the Rose
Revolution was discussed at the Friday Club, namely the problems of
the ethnic minorities. The reason was the report of the International
Crisis Group released three days ago. The guests were Levon Zurabyan,
an expert of the International Crisis Group, Stepan Margaryan,
adviser to the Prime Minister of Armenia, and Sergey Minasyan, head
of the Department of Caucasian Studies of the Caucasian Media
Institute.

According to the ICG, in Georgia, which is building democratic
institutions and forging civic identity, there is little progress
towards integration of the Armenian and Georgian minorities
constituting 12 percent of the population. Levon Zurabyan adds,
`Georgia lacks a mechanism of dialogue with eithnic minorities. The
ethnic minorities, communities are ostracized from the life of the
country. Georgia seeks for the help of Armenia to solve the problem
of Javakheti. The problem is given a short-term solution, whereas in
depth it remains unsettled. The ICG deliberately omitted the social
and economic problems, because the equal political rights of all the
citizens of the country is primary. It is desirable to settle these
problems on the Tbilisi-Javakheti level.’ Meanwhile, there are three
groups of obstacles for the settlement of the problem: the ethnic
minorities are underrepresented in government, decentralization is
unsufficient, and there is not even cultural and educational
sovereignty, and the ethnic minorities do not speak Georgian.

The other guests agreed. Stepan Margaryan said `it is impossible to
learn Georgian in an environment where Georgian is not used. The
teachers of Georgian arrive in Javakheti with Armenians constituting
95 percent of the population, and soon they leave having learned
Armenian. Georgia does not trust Armenia, Javakheti does not trust
Georgia. Javakheti suffers from the Russian and Georgian relations.
An annual 30 thousand job migrants left for Russia, now Russia does
not grant a visa to these people. There is going to be a third party
in the Georgian and Armenian relations. It would be desirable if
there was a third party, with which we are trying to integrate.’

Sergey Minasyan views the question in terms of European integration
and notices that Georgia, which is on the track for European
integration, should adopt the European standards of honoring the
rights of the ethnic minorities. `Javakheti and Georgia should settle
the issue. Armenia and Europe can be interested parties.’ Stepan
Minasyan thinks that unlike the issue of Karabakh, there is vast
possibility for a compromise, it is only necessary to overcome fear
and prejudices and discuss the question without fear, `the report of
the ICG can be used as an argument in the negotiations with Georgia.’

The ICG recommends to `introduce legislation allowing Azeris and
Armenians, in municipalities where they exceed 20 per cent of the
population, to use their native language to communicate with
administrative authorities, submit complaints, acquire civil
documents and certificates, benefit from public services and conduct
municipal business and sakrebulo meetings’; `set quotas so that at
least 50 per cent of new entrants in the Akhalkalaki branch of the
Tbilisi State University and the Marneuli branch of the Ilya
Chavchavadze State University are minorities.’ In Armenia they
believe that thereby the problem of learning Georgian will be solved
for young people. Meanwhile, fewer young people go to this university
because they have a language problem. By the way, the Armenian
government is ready to support the Akhalkalaki branch of Tbilisi
State University.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

MINISTERS ARE TRYING TO `INSURE’ THEMSELVES

The information released by the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party
allow concluding that the initiative of releasing the names of
criminal officials are already producing certain results. According
to Aram Karapetyan, certain ministers offered different forms of
support to the participants of the anti-criminal movement in return
for not denouncing them or not denouncing them for one more time.
They did not offer money. Aram Karapetyan said without specifying
names that he assesses the total of all the forms of support offered
by the minister at 50 thousand dollars.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

WAIT FOR SENSATIONAL REVELATIONS

During the meeting of the anti-criminal movement on November 24 the
leader of the National Self-Determination Union Paruir Hairikyan
proposed that the participants adopt the `declassification of the
Armenian KGB agents’ as a priority and offer such a demand to the
government. Paruir Hairikyan believes that thereby the persons who
were `described as agents formerly, and betrayors and spies
presently’ will become free, and we will live quietly. Simply it is
necessary to define clearly in the law that these persons do not have
the right to work for government agencies for 5 or 7 years. `Everyone
must confess, including Andranik Margaryan, those who refuse to
confess will be called to account in accordance with the Armenian
legislation,’ Paruir Hairikyan stated. Paruir Hairikyan also notices
that the countries of the Socialist camp, which declassified their
KGB agents, became members of the European Union.

The leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram Karapetyan is likely to
use airtime in the pre-election period, if the law enables him, to
release the names of certain government officials who are emissaries
of one country or another. Aram Karapetyan is also going to offer
these officials to release facts on his being the emissary of certain
Russian forces, `if there are such facts.’

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

WHY VAHAN HOVANISYAN DECLINES TO GIVE NAMES

Real charity is when they want nothing in return, thinks Deputy
Speaker Vahan Hovanisyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, who met news reporters
November 24 at the Friday Club. Vahan Hovanisyan mentioned that he
knows only two organizations which demand nothing in return for
charity. The deputy speaker of the National Assembly gives the names
of the Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian General Benevolent
Union.

`Those who do good acts, distribute food, repair yards, roofs, lifts,
and so on, expect votes, most probably. At least it is perceived so.
It is impossible to prohibit this, because charity cannot be
prohibited. And now people have to make a decision, to give what is
expected from them or not,’ Vahan Hovanisyan says. He compares the
situation in Armenia with a thing from the Russian history which was
referred to as `kormlenie’. At that time, Vahan Hovanisyan says, the
Russian king did not pay his governors called `voyevods’. They were
supposed to collect taxes, head the local government, guarantee
obedience and take the pay of their people from the taxes they
collected. `In about the 18th century the Russian kings realized that
this is a dangerous system, because every such prince wanted
independence,’ says Vahan Hovanisyan. According to him, the system
changed but the approach remained the same, and now it has reached
even Armenia.

The Dashnak deputy speaker of the National Assembly says if the state
collects all the taxes, charity will not be necessary. `In other
words, the following is happening. People do not pay all the taxes to
the state, whatever remains, which was stolen from people, in fact,
and the state could have given it to people, is distributed to people
with a different name, which is wrong. However, the state should be
able to prevent this, the state is unable to prevent this because
very often, the same people who are feudalists in economy, also
represent certain political sets,’ says Vahan Hovanisyan.

In answer to the request of the news reporters to give the names of
some Armenian `voyevod-feudalists’, Vahan Hovanisyan says their names
are known to everyone, and he would not like to utter them now. `We
do not want to pursue our struggle with scandals,’ says Vahan
Hovanisyan. However, the member of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau says
they give the names and raise the issue before the country’s supreme
government. The news reporters wanted to find out why in 1998 the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun, nevertheless, gave names in speaking about the former
government and denounced them during protests as criminals. What has
changed that you decline to give names, asked the news reporters?
Vahan Hovanisyan says when Dashnaktsutyun denounced these people,
they saw there were no results, and these people were not punished.
Therefore, they changed their approach and adopted a policy of giving
names in a narrow circle of government. In this case, can Vahan
Hovanisyan mention the result of this policy and an example of
punished name denounced by them, the news reporters asked? It became
clear that again Vahan Hovanisyan could not give names. `The problem
is that it is not right because the others, whose names have not been
given yet, start resisting more effectively,’ stated the member of
the ARF Bureau who is the deputy chair of the National Assembly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress