ALLIANCES BY HMAYAK
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
The leader of the Society of Political Scientists Hmayak Hovanisyan
presented November 21 at the Pastark club the possible ideological
alliances in the opposition, which are essential to the political
success of the parliamentary election in 2007 against the non-political
plans of the government.
As a possible alliance, Hmayak Hovanisyan pointed to the partnership
of Arthur Baghdasaryan, Raffi Hovanisyan and Vazgen Manukyan. Hmayak
gave a conventional title to it – Euro-Atlantic Alliance. The other
alliance envisaged by Hmayak Hovanisyan is conventionally entitled
Angloamerican or Atlantic. According to the leader of the Society
of Political Scientists, it would include the All-Armenian Movement,
the Alternative, Hovanes Hovanisyan and Aram Zaveni Sargsyan.
In the alliance of the pro-CIS forces, the supporters of an integrated
post-Soviet economic space, a ruble zone he includes Stepan Demirchyan,
Artashes Geghamyan, the Constitutional Right Union. Hmayak Hovanisyan
refers to Samvel Babayan as the nationalist pole. According to
Hmayak Hovanisyan, time will show who will join him. The political
scientist says as far as he can see, Sambel Babayan will run in
the election alone. And Hmayak considers him as a nationalist pole
because he thinks that Babayan is for settling the Karabakh issue by
the smallest possible compromise. At the same time, he relies on the
support of Europe.
“France, Russia, Iran. There are shared interests. In other words,
an alliance of supporters of the Indoeuropean civilizations may emerge.
I think he will go alone, but life will show who will join him,”
Hmayak Hovanisyan says.
According to Hmayak Hovanisyan, Aram Karapetyan can represent the
absolutely pro-Russian pole. He thinks life will show who his possible
allies will be. Hmayak Hovanisyan believes that if pro-geopolitical
alliances emerge, the international community will grow more interested
in holding a fair election in Armenia.

VARTAN OSKANIAN RECEIVED THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
November 21 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the OSCE Misk
Grouop Co-Chairs on the Karabakh conflict settlement Yuri Merzlyakov
and Bernard Fassier.
The interlocutors continued discussing the questions raised during
the November 14th meeting in Brussels.
The parties dwelt on the issues of the agenda of the possible meeting
between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to be held in the
framework of the summit of CIS leaders in Minsk November 28-29.
The Co-Chairs were received also by President Robert Kocharyan.

GOVERNMENT DELEGATION FROM ARMENIA MEETS WITH PRELATE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate, and the Armenian
Prelacy of Canada’s Executive Council met with a government delegation
from the Republic of Armenia at the Prelacy.
The delegates, Mr. Alexan Karapetyan, National Assembly Deputy and
Secretary of Faction for “National Unity” and Mr. Aramais Grigoryan,
Head of the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and
Internal Affairs, took some time after their conference in Quebec
City to visit Montreal’s Armenian community center.
During the extensive meeting, Prelate Hagopian, Prelacy Council members
and the delegates discussed many topics, including issues and projects
related with Armenia and Armenian Diaspora, which topped the agenda.
The delegates also took the opportunity to tour the Prelacy and
familiarize themselves with the Prelacy’s mission, objectives and
projects.

TURKEY OWES 3.5 BN TO HEIRS OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Yerkir, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
Turkey owes about £3.5 bn to the heirs of the Armenians killed
and robbed in genocide of 1918 in Baku; Azerbaijan, in turn, owes
£134,149,000, according to Khachatur Dadayan of Armenia’s National
Academy of Sciences. The figures appear in his book titled “Baku and
Armenians” and published by Noravank Foundation.
Dadayan’s study is based on the conclusions of a commission set up
by England, France and United States in December 1918 in Baku; only
7 out 30 members of the commission were Armenians. The commission
had suggested that Armenian population submit applications for
compensating the massacres and robberies occurred in Baku in 1918. In
1919, the commission concluded that 453.1 million rubles should be
paid to Armenians.
It also concluded that the money should have been paid by Turkey since
that country was considered the founder of Azerbaijan; in addition,
Turkish troops had entered Baku and submitted the Armenians to massacre
along with the local Azeris on September 15, 1918.
To calculate the sum that was to be paid to Armenians, the author
used the operations of Stepan Lianosian with English banks in 1919.
Lianosian had received a payment guarantee for 400,000 pounds and
issued 4 million rubles in the North-Western Republic.
November 1 was taken as the beginning point for calculations. Dadayan
says that Azerbaijan adopted a constitutional act on October 18,
1991, according to which, it is the successor of the Azerbaijani
Republic that existed between May 28, 1918 and April 28, 1920; this
means Azerbaijan has also assumed the obligation to make financial
reparations.
After applying a 5% banking interest for the periods between November
1918 and April 1920, and 1992-2006, the author concluded that the
successor of the First Azerbaijani Republic owes the heirs of the
victimized Armenians 134,149,000 pounds.
However, the commission has also recognized Turkey to be responsible
for what had happened and concluded that Turkey’s debt was 59,210,000
pounds. If the 5% banking interests for each year between 1918 and 2006
is added to this sum, Turkey’s debt accumulates to 4.552 bn pounds;
3.518 bn of this sum is the money owed to Armenians.
The author of the book believes that even in case Turkey and Azerbaijan
refuse to recognize the Armenian Genocide, they cannot deny to pay the
reparations because all the legal grounds exist for such reparations.
–Boundary_(ID_hvr9IogSzYJH15I+o6lvd Q)–

YEREVAN SPEAKS AND PRESENTS
Nvard Davtyan
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
In 2006 the Armenian Radio is celebrating the 80th anniversary;
the TV is 50.
It comes out that many of the NA Deputies started their career from
the radio. However, it’s not the only reason why the Deputies listen to
and like the radio, which always provides interesting and professional
programs, unbiased and correct political analysis.
Nevertheless, sometimes the Deputies themselves exceed the limits of
precision in their speeches, forgetting that a great number of radio
listeners are following them.
MP Arshak Sadoyan is one of the few Deputies whose love for radio and
radio-listeners is not a secret. “Dear radio-listeners,” this is how
Arshak Sadoyan always starts his speeches at the National Assembly.
Arshak Sadoyan loves the radio. One thing he feels sorry for is that
the frequency on which the parliamentary sittings are aired does not
allow having a broader audience.
The Deputy remembers the times when the radio was his only and
best friend. “That period of my life had an important role in the
formation of my personality,” he says. “In the 9th grade I injured
my leg and I had to spend 1.5 years in bed. In this period radio
was my only friend day and night. I was listening to news, music,
everything that was broadcasted,” Arshak Sadoyan recalls.
The politician attaches the same importance to television.
The radio set is always turned on also in MP Viktor Dallakyan’s office.
The Public Radio arouses the bright and sweet memories of his
childhood, when he was impatiently waiting for juvenile programs.
Today he has subsisted these with political and analytical programs
again broadcasted at the Public Radio of Armenia. “I want to say
that compared to other media the Public Radio is more objective when
presenting and commenting on political events,” Viktor Dallakyan says.
Opposition MP Stepan Zackaryan started his political career from the
radio. He was the first Director General of the radio from 1996.
Before that he worked as editor, editor-in-chief and Vice-President.
These were the best years for the Deputy. “Some years ago the Public
Radio was out of competition, but during the hard dark and cold years
the responsibility of the radio was even greater,” the MP says.
Today the radio remains the main source of information for a great
number of people. And this has been the case for already 80 years.

CONFERENCE TITLED “EXPLORING ICT TODAY FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW” TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
Within the framework of the Armenia School Connectivity Program,
Project Harmony and the US Embassy announce an educational conference
entitled “Exploring ICT Today for a Brighter Tomorrow.” School
principals, Internet Computer Center administrators, and teachers
will share their innovative and successful experiences with their ASCP
colleagues. The Conference presentations will center on the following
themes: Internet Computer Centers as Sources for New Opportunities,
School Partnerships and Collaborative Projects, Internet Computer
Center-Community Links, Resource Creation and Information Management,
Implementation of ICT in Education, ICT and School Management.
The Conference will take place on November 21-22, 2006 at the Yerevan
Armenia Marriott Hotel.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO LEAVE FOR MOSCOW
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
November 23-25 Armenian Parliamentary delegation will leave for
Moscow on an official visit. Speaker of RA National Assembly Tigran
Torosyan said in a press conference today that during the meeting with
Russian parliamentarians urgent bilateral and regional issues will
be discussed. In his words, the visit of the Armenian delegation is
primarily targeted at clarifying the position of Russian colleagues
on those issues.
Urgent issues of the South Caucasus were discussed also in the
framework of the sitting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly held
November 15-16 in Saint Petersburg.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CANADIAN AMBASSADOR HANDED HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
The newly appointed Ambassador of Canada Ralph Lysyshyn (seat in
Moscow) handed his credentials to President Robert Kocharyan.
Congratulating the diplomat, the President wished his success in
carrying out his high mission. Robert Kocharyan highly appreciated
the assistance of the Canadian Government to the process of reforms
implemented in our country. The interlocutors emphasized the necessity
of expanding the political dialogue between the two countries and
promoting the trade and economic cooperation.
Noting that in the economic sphere the bilateral indices are
rather modest, Robert Kocharyan stressed the importance of more
coordinated activity, activation of business contacts and exchange of
information. According to the President, Armenia is interested in close
cooperation with the Canadian Agency for International Development.
The parties ascribed a particular role to the Armenian community in
the further development of bilateral relations.
During the meeting reference was made to the process of the Karabakh
conflict resolution, Armenian-Turkish relations, other regional
questions.

KARABAGH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD
By Gayane Movsessian
Yerkir, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
Signing of European Neighborhood individual action plans for Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia on November 14 in Brussels became the most
important foreign policy event for the three Caucasus countries.
European Commissioner for external relations and neighborhood policy
Benita Ferrero-Waldner noted that the three documents were signed
with the Caucasus states simultaneously and this was done on purpose.
“The action plans are aimed at promoting regional integration. Today
we must work individually with each of the states but we should
also develop economic integration in the region in transport,
communications, energy and other sectors.” The European Commissioner
expressed hope that the documents will contribute to the settlement
of conflicts in the region.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and his Azeri counterpart
Elmar Mammedyarov assured that signing these documents “opens a new
phase” in the Karabagh negotiations process and will constitute a
step towards “Caucasus with no borders”. At the joint press conference
held in Brussels Oskanian and Mammedyarov stated they are determined
to achieve progress in the Karabagh settlement process.
Mammedyarov characterized the frozen conflicts as “the main challenge
for the South Caucasus”.
During the interview given to the Armenian Public TV Mammedyarov noted
that the settlement of the conflict will allow solving the issue of
refugees commenting in this context on the refugees from Shahumian
region. “We shouldn’t be afraid to speak about this,” Mammedyarov
stated. The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed that the Action Plans
signed with the European Union “contain the common vision of the
situation in the region. If we go on to discuss the Karabagh issue this
will be a principally new phase in the negotiation process. We will do
our best to accomplish progress and prepare our presidents’ meeting on
this issue,” Oskanian stated. On this note, the Foreign Ministers of
the two countries proceeded with the next round of Karabagh settlement
negotiations that were held in Brussels on the same day under the
patronage of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. However, as always the
details and results of the meeting are not publicized. It was noted
that the meeting was held in a constructive spirit and that next week
the mediators will visit the region to discuss the planned meeting
the of the Armenian and Azeri presidents to be held on November 28
in the framework of the CIS Summit in Moscow.
As the Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov announced earlier, the
mediators expected the Brussels meeting to result “at least in
agreement around issues that were discussed during the two previous
meetings. If this happens, many things will become clear including
the issue of the next meeting between the presidents”.
The Co-Chairs still hope that Yerevan and Baku will manage to come
to an agreement around the main principles by the end of 2006 or
beginning of 2007. Once such an agreement is achieved the mediators
will start working on the framework agreement. “The document contains
the principles which should be supplemented with specific actions that
should be envisaged n the agreement. We cannot say that immediately
after the principles are agreed upon their specific implementation
will start. For instance, the principle of withdrawal of armed forces:
the principle is accepted, but the document should state when and how
this should be done, from which regions. Or for example, the principle
of peacekeeping – what kind of peacekeeping, who will do it, where
and when? We need time to settle these issues”.
There are several articles in the EU Action Plans signed with Armenia
and Azerbaijan that cover the Karabagh settlement. The plans have not
been publicized either in Yerevan or in Baku, therefore we cannot
refer to any specific provisions. It is known, however, that the
document signed with Armenia contains references to the people’s
right to self-determination.
According to Turan Press Agency, provisions on Nagorno Karabagh are
listed as top priorities in the Action Plans of both countries. The
documents also contain a statement on EU’s readiness to contribute
to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. “The European Union
supports the Karabagh settlement process in the framework of UN SC’s
resolutions, OSCE decisions and supports the efforts of the OSCE
Minsk Group,” the Turkish press agency informs.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Azerbaijan informs that signing of the
Action Plan in Brussels was followed by adopting a “Joint Statement
of Azerbaijan and the European Union” that will be included in the
protocol of the Cooperation Committee. According to representative
of the Azeri Foreign Affairs Ministry Tayir Tagizade, this document
will contain several provisions important for Azrebaijan, including
the Nagorno Karabagh issue.
“The document states that the Cooperation Committee reaffirms
protection of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and contributes to the peace and stability in Europe.
The Cooperation Committee supports the speedy settlement of the
Karabagh conflict based on the principles of international law and
in the framework of the UN SC’s resolutions and OSCE documents and
decisions,” Tagizade stated.
The situation can be analyzed in more details only after the plans for
the two countries are publicized. However, the Azeri Foreign Affairs
Ministry’s statement can be a signal that any significant progress
in the negotiation process is still a far goal.
Baku’s stopping the arms race and anti-Armenian propaganda as well as
specific actions aimed at cooperation might signal its readiness for
consensuses in the Karabagh settlement process. In order to achieve
this, the Azeri leadership would have to radically review its foreign
and domestic policies. It is very difficult to believe that such
a transformation will take place in Azerbaijan, especially in the
short term.

AMERICAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SHOULD PURSUE GENOCIDE RESOLUTION ADOPTION IN CONGRESS
Yerkir, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political
Affairs Office Director Kiro Manoyan commented Thursday on possible
developments following the midterm elections to the US Congress.
Manoyan was asked whether it was realistic to expect that the US
Congress could adopt a Genocide bill taking into account that the
possible candidate for the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee
has a pro-Turkish stance.
“It is an assumption, like the assumption that Nancy Pelosi is to
become the speaker of the Congress,” Manoyan answered. “Democrats
would initiate nothing on their own, they have no reason to adopt
a Genocide bill. The outcome depends on the extend of the influence
of the American Armenian community. However, I believe the Democrats
would make one step forward.”
Manoyan added that it is the Armenian community that should pursue
the case. Besides, Manoyan said, there have been similar resolutions
endorsed by both Democrats and Republicans but no vote has been
scheduled by the Congress speaker. The Armenian community should work
toward including such resolutions on the agenda of the full Congress.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress