HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN UNION OF RA FM IS APPOINTED CONSUL GENERAL OF ARMENIA TO LOS ANGELES
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
By the order of RA FM, Vardan Oskanyan, the Head of the Department of
the European Union of RA Foreign Ministry, Armen Liloyan, is appointed
today to the post of the Consul General to Los Angeles.
As ArmInfo was told in the RA FM’s press-service, Armen Liloyan was
born in 1971 in Yerevan. He has graduated from the Yerevan State
University, the Faculty of Oriental Studies. He received the master’s
degree in the London Academy. A. Liloyan has been working in the
system of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry since 1995. He had been working
in the diplomatic mission to Great Britain in 1998-2002. A. Liloyan
heads the Department of the European Union since 2002.

FUTURE LAW ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP OF ARMENIA MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL ISSUES TO INEVITABLY ORIGINATE WITH ITS ADOPTION
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
The future law on dual citizenship of Armenia must take into account
all the issues that will inevitably originate with its adoption, said
Narine Soghomonyan, the RA Constitutional Court Staff Chief Expert,
at a seminar at the Congress Hotel, Monday. The seminar was entitled
“Migration and Dual Citizenship Problems In the Light Of Integration
Processes.” The seminar was organized by the public organization
“European Organization” with support of the Friedrich Ebert Fund.
She said the most liberal legislation on dual citizenship is
in Czechia, Finland and Macedonia. As regards Armenia, it should
determine the citizenship of two or more countries can acquire the
citizens of Armenia; what rights and obligations the dual citizenship
grants etc.. Under International Conventions on Dual Citizenship,
which Armenia has not joined so far, the Armenians residing in foreign
states must have a right to Armenian citizenship, while persons of
other nationalities can be granted Armenian citizenship only for great
services to Armenia. As regards the right to vote or to be elected,
the first one is granted to all the citizens of Armenia, the second
must apply only to those having permanent residence of Armenia. The
taxes are paid in the country where the citizen of Armenia has more
property. As regards the most acute problem for Armenia, the army
service, a citizen of Armenia serves in the army in the country he
permanently resides in, the expert said.
Regarding the possibility of acquiring the citizenship of more then
two countries by Armenian citizens, Narine Soghomonyan thinks it
inadmissible as it will lead to numerous problems in Armenia. Anyway,
in November 2005, the ban on dual citizenship in the Armenian
Constitution was abolished. Now, it is legislators who are to elaborate
mechanism of acquisition of dual citizenship and settle all the other
problems, she said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YOUNG ARMENIAN BEAUTY MARIAM MELYAN TOOK THIRD HONORABLE PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY CONTEST MISS EUROPE-JUNIOR 2006
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
A young Armenian beauty, Mariam Melyan, has taken the third honorable
place in the International Contest of Beauty and Art of Communication
“Miss Europe- Junior 2006”.
The title Miss Europe-Junior 2006 was conferred on the girl from
Slovakia, Nikoletta Koshova, the beauty from Bulgaria, Galina Demireva,
has taken the first place and the Russian beauty, Marina Noskova,
– the second place. Girls at the age of 15-20 participated in the
Contest. The requirements to girls included ability to communicate
in English, knowledge of Internet an computer. From CIS countries,
besides Armenia, the young beauties from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus,
Great Britain, France, Turkey, Rumania, Finland, Hungary and other
countries participated in the Contest. As a result of Contest, girls
from nine countries have passed to the super-final.

FRANCE KEEPS ON HOLDING EVENTS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ARMENIA’S YEAR
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
The press-service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told the ArmInfo
News Agency that a number of French cities have started activities
within the framework of Armenia’s Year in France.
On October 26, Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to France Edvard Nalbandyan and Mayor of Nice, Senator Jacques Peyrat
made the festive opening of Armenia’s Year in Nice. Activities
in this city will be held during the whole year, covering various
spheres of culture: music, fine arts, choreography, etc. After the
ceremony of opening, the Armenian Ambassador and the Mayor of Nice
gave a press-conference, presenting the program of events to the mass
media representatives.
On October 27, an exhibition entitled “The Treasures of Armenia” was
organized in the city of Vanda. Edvard Nalbandyan was pleased that
Armenia’s Year in France involves not only the Armenian community,
but also the whole population. To note, the program provides for 500
events in 125 cities of France.

GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR THANKED ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT FOR BALANCED POSITION IN GEORGIAN-RUSSIAN CONFRONTATION
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan met with Georgian
Ambassador to Armenia Revaz Gachechiladze, Monday.
The Armenian parliamentary press-service told ArmInfo that during the
meeting the Ambassador thanked the Armenian Speaker for the balanced
and acceptable for the international community position in the
Georgian-Russian confrontation. Tigran Torosyan expressed hope that
the contradictions between the two countries will soon be overcome,
and noted that, with its balanced position, Armenia is willing to
contribute to the settlement of the problem. He said that Armenia
advocates peace and prosperity in the region and will do its best
for it.
Tigran Torosyan and Revaz Gachechiladze discussed the report devoted to
the creation of a pact of stability in South Caucasus to be presented
in San-Marino on November 17. They also touched upon the possible
development of the Armenian-Georgian inter-parliamentary relations.

DOGGED BY TRIVIAL CONTROVERSIES, MACKAY IS DISTRACTED FROM VITAL WORK
by Mike Blanchfield, The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen, Canada
October 30, 2006 Monday
Final Edition
Foreign policy experts lament time spent on petty squabbles in House
The night before he allegedly called his ex-girlfriend, Liberal MP
Belinda Stronach, a dog in the House of Commons, Foreign Affairs
Minister Peter MacKay was doing something one would more closely
associate with his job — he was offering up bon mots to polite
applause at an embassy soiree.
No slurs were hurled on the evening of Oct. 18, as Mr. MacKay spoke
for several minutes at the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa. He expressed
thanks for “the warm embrace that Canadians received from the Turkish
people” when their ports welcomed ships carrying stranded Canadians
from war-torn Lebanon last summer.
The nights of foreign ministers around the world are filled with
such events, and most of them are mundane and attract little, if any
attention. But in the wake of Dog-Gate, the serious business of how
Canada conducts its relations with the world has now been pushed even
further to the backburner.
The daily assault in question period has included calls for
Mr. MacKay’s resignation.
The noise has drowned out serious discussion of Canadian foreign
policy at a time when Canada is fighting a war in Afghanistan, and the
nuclear brinkmanship on the Korean Peninsula has reached new heights,
to name just a couple of crises.
But when Canadians hear about Mr. MacKay, more often than not, it
appears it is in the context of his failed relationship with Ms.
Stronach, or unsubstantiated speculation that there are romantic
sparks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — a level of
discourse that seems more in keeping with a high school cafeteria
than the halls of international diplomacy.
“He should concentrate more on the international agenda. There’s
not so much about his visits, or his activities as a real foreign
minister. There is much more on this issue with the dog and Belinda.
For us, it is not very encouraging,” said a western diplomat, who
offered that assessment on the condition of anonymity.
Douglas Goold, president of the Canadian Institute of International
Affairs, said it really doesn’t matter who is responsible for
diverting the public’s attention from the global agenda — whether
it is opposition politicians, the media, or Mr. MacKay himself —
it is Mr. MacKay who will suffer in the long run, if it continues.
“Who the hell knows whether he actually made the comment? But if
he did, I guess he brought it on himself. … Whether he deserves
this reputation or not, there has been that list of things. It does
definitely detract from the things the government is trying to say,”
Mr. Goold said.
David Bercuson, a University of Calgary defence and foreign affairs
analyst, said he doubts the dog fixation will hurt Mr. MacKay in the
eyes of the U.S., the European Union, China or any country watching
Canada.
“It reflects not only the state of politics, but the state of mind
of a lot of people in the country today that when we’re facing some
really serious issues — and I don’t think anything is more serious
than a war in Afghanistan — that this is the sort of thing that gets
the attention,” he said.
As Canada’s No. 1 diplomat, the ability to choose words carefully is
one of the top priorities for Mr. MacKay.
On Oct. 19, a Liberal apparently shouted to Mr. MacKay “what about your
dog?” during a boisterous exchange on climate change in the Commons. On
tape, a voice that could be Mr. MacKay’s responds: “you have her.” The
Liberals say he gestured toward Ms. Stronach’s empty seat.
Mr. MacKay’s trip to the Turkish embassy the night before the dog
drama flared had a serious intent. He had welcomed the Armenian
foreign minister the same day. The Turks and Armenians are at polar
opposites in interpreting the killing of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915
by Ottoman Turks. Canada and two dozen countries call it genocide,
while Turkey flatly rejects that.
So Mr. MacKay offered an olive branch to the Turks: “The Canadian
government supports the Turkish government’s practical proposal
to establish a joint committee composed of Turkish and Armenian
historians, as well as historians from a third country, to look
into the events of 1915 and encourages the government of Armenia to
participate in this committee.”
Mr. Goold said he has no doubt Mr. MacKay is doing other valuable work
on the diplomatic front, but until he learns to watch what he says,
he won’t be seen as an effective minister.
“He’s got to approach his portfolio with a degree of seriousness that
is important to anyone who is managing Canada’s external relations,”
he said.

SECRET POLICE CHARGE DENIED BY EU CANDIDATE
by Jamie Smyth In Brussels
The Irish Times
October 28, 2006 Saturday
ROMANIA: Romania’s candidate for the post of EU commissioner has
rejected allegations that he collaborated with secret police during
the communist era or accepted corrupt payments.
Romanian prime minister Calin Tariceanu and president Traian Basescu
also backed their nominee yesterday, describing media reports carrying
the allegations as unsubstantiated.
However, senator Varujan Vosganian, who was nominated on Thursday
for the high profile post, has still not received the endorsement of
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, leading some EU
insiders to speculate he is now a “dead man walking”.
Mr Barroso’s spokesman said consultations were still ongoing over
Romania’s nominee, who is relatively unknown in Brussels circles.
“There are no specific vetting procedures but there are certain
requirements that a member of the commission must fulfil,” said the
spokesman, who denied there were problems with the nominee. “No one
is afraid of anything, people are consulting.”
Media reports in Romania carried two specific allegations against
Mr Vosganian: that he collaborated with the Securitate secret police
during the communist era and that he received money inappropriately
from a businessman.
At a press conference in Bucharest Mr Vosganian strenuously denied
the allegations.
“I had never co-operated . . . with the Securitate or intelligence
organs,” he said. “Since 1990 my income came exclusively from my
salary as senator, leader of the Armenian community and the writers’
union, and dividends from my two small companies.” EU sources said Mr
Barroso was being very careful to scrutinise Mr Vosganian’s background
before deciding whether to back him. “He doesn’t want a repeat of
the Buttiglione affair,” said one source, referring to the European
Parliament’s rejection of the Italian nominee to the commission in
2004, who Mr Barroso had supported.
Other sources predicted Mr Vosganian was a “dead man walking” after
failing to get the endorsement of Mr Barroso at a meeting with him
on Thursday.
Mr Barroso endorsed Bulgaria’s nominee after a meeting on the same day.
Difficulties over the appointment of the Romanian commissioner
coincided with renewed tensions between EU officials and industry
commissioner Gunter Verheugen.
Civil servants are reported to have asked for Mr Verheugen’s
resignation following his strong criticism of EU officials.
Earlier this month the German commissioner launched a scathing
attack on officials saying they are far too powerful, have their own
fiefdoms and advance their own opinions as the official position of
the commission.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE LEADER SAYS FRENCH ARMENIAN ACT NOT TO AFFECT TURKEY’S EU TALKS
Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
28 Oct 06
Gelibolu, 28 October: The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
(PACE) president, Rene van der Linden, who is visiting Gelibolu town
of northwestern city of Canakkale, said that even France reacted
to the decision of French National Assembly regarding so-called
Armenian genocide.
Replying to a question on effect of the bill criminalizing denial of
so-called Armenian genocide that was approved in the French National
Assembly to Turkey’s EU accession process, Linden indicated, “Turkey is
a part of Europe but this process can take a long time. The decision
made by the French National Assembly will not make a negative impact
on Turkey’s EU accession process because even France reacted to this
decision. It was not approved in many European countries, either.”
Stating that PACE had a positive stance regarding Turkey, Linden
underlined that Turkey has been playing a significant role in works
and efforts of the EU for a long time.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THERE IS NO PROBLEM CAPABLE OF VIOLATING AZERBAIJAN-RUSSIA TIES
by Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
October 29, 2006 Sunday 06:42 AM EST
Russia and Azerbaijan achieved pushing aside all unsettled problems
in their relations, claimed President Ilkham Aliev. “There is no
single problem now which can darken our relations. On the contrary,
we have very good achievements in developing cooperation in the
economic, political and cultural spheres,” the president said in an
interview with members of the foreign mass media, the text of which
was circulated in Baku on Sunday through official channels.
Aliev noted that Russia is one of the three co-chairmen of the Minsk
OSCE Group, having a mandate of a mediator in settling the Karabakh
conflict. He called as “positive experience of work with Russian
officials and their policy on settling the Karabakh problem”.
“We see tht the Russian government takes sincere efforts at a peaceful
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict,” the president said,
noting that the period of tension between the two countries which
was present in the 1990s, is over. Aliev noted that Year of Russia
in Azerbaijan is nearing completion, and the year 2005 will be Year
of Azerbaijan in Russia.
He does not believe that good relations with Armenia prevent Russia
from having similar good relations with Azerbaijan. Replying to
reporters, Aliev also said that tension between Russia and Georgia
“has not influenced and will not influence” Baku’s relations with
Moscow and Tbilisi. “The two countries are our neighbors. We have
good relations with both of them, which are relations of strategic
partnership,” he said in conclusion.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO MOSCOW TO DISCUSS GAS SUPPLIES, REGIONAL SECURITY
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
October 29, 2006 Sunday
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan will arrive in the Russian capital
on a two-day working visit on Monday.
His meeting with President Vladimir Putin, the fourth one this year,
“will be continuation of the active political dialogue between Russia
and Armenia that matches the strategic character of Russo-Armenian
partnership,” a representative of the Kremlin administration told Tass.
According to the source, “the agenda of the meeting will center on
issues of bilateral relations, new opportunities of economic ties,
and cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, investments,
and real economy.” He also stressed that “there will be a detailed
discussion of prospects of cooperation in the natural gas sector.”
Trade between Russia and Armenia reached US$278million in the first
eight months of 2006, a 60-percent increase from the same period last
year, he said.
“Russia is the most important trade partner of Armenia and one of
major investors in its economy,” he said.
“It is planned that in the course of the visit, the parties will
exchange opinions on the most important international and regional
problems: including coordination of efforts to improve the situation
in the Caucasus,” the official said.