TIGRAN TOROSIAN ON NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE
AZG Armenian Daily #147, 05/08/2006
Karabakh Issue
The official Baku does not dare to recognize the real situation in
the Karabakh process and that causes the anti-Armenian militaristic
propaganda in Azerbaijan,
Tigran Torosian, Chairman of RA National Assembly, said in the
interview to Regnum agency. He added that obviously the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict is possible only through respecting the
principle of national self-determination. Nevertheless President Ilham
Aliev is not still ready for that, although during backstage talks
he also assumes that this is the only possible way. The only thing
which remains for the President of Azerbaijan to do is to lie to his
own people and make them believe that the problem can be solved by
military force, he said. Torosian called for the international society
to help Azerbaijan face the reality. For example, the international
institutions could recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. In that case Azerbaijan will be liberated from necessity
doing that step first and will only have to accept the fact. When it
becomes obvious absolutely to everyone that Azerbaijan is not ready for
peace settlement and is even hampering the process, the independence of
Karabakh will be once again affirmed through referendum. The right of
the Armenian people for national self-determination will be respected,
irrespective of the position of Azerbaijan.
As for the current stage of the settlement negotiations, he said
he wouldn’t evaluate today’s situation of negotiations for Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement within the OSCE MG framework as a
failure. He emphasized that the settlement principles, including that
of respecting the right for self-determination, had been elaborated
for several years, but today these principles are announced and are
discussed by the publicity. Torosian condemned the official Baku in
double-faced behavior, as the statements made for the home auditorium
didn’t match with those made to the co-chairs. “Unless certain details
of the negotiations were revealed and everything was held beneath
the closed doors, Aliev and Mamediarov didn’t neglect them. Today,
when many people are informed about the details, they try to deny the
principles or some of them,” Torosian said. He added that the new
stage of the negotiations will have the same results as those in the
last year: “when the times come to fully publish the principles and
define the formulae of the documents, the Azeries will again retreat.”
Commenting on the issue of the territories under the control of
NKR Armed Forces, he said that for the first time the right of
people for self-determination is recognized as a principle for the
settlement of a conflict. This is an undeniable fact and is fixed
in several documents. The application of this principle will yield
the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh’s independence. Tigran Torosian
emphasized that the issue of territories around NKR is directly linked
to the issue of the NKR people’s right for self-determination and can’t
be considered separately from that. “They sometimes say that NKR has
held a referendum once. But one may ask which borders was that held
in. If we keep insisting on the results of the referendum held in NKR,
we shouldn’t forget that we are also instating on preservation of
the borders the referendum was held in,” he said. “17 years passed,
if we count from 1988, as the international community has fixed that,
the principle for the people’s self-determination should be taken into
account. If it’s necessary to wait for NKR’s independence recognition
for 17 years more, I believe that both in Armenia and in NKR people
will have the required patience to wait for that day. None should
ever doubt that this day will come,” Torosian underscored.
As for the information on holding the independence referendum
in 15 years, he said that the term for holding the referendum for
self-determination in NKR in 10-15 years isn’t fixed anywhere. There
is no such a document and there are no reasons for talking about such
a term. Tigran Torosian said it isn’t reasonable to talk of any term,
as it should be linked to certain actions. Besides, the borders for
holding the referendum should also be precisely defined. Moreover,
one should accurately fix that notwithstanding the position of
Azerbaijan after the referendum, the international community should
recognize its results, Torosian emphasized, adding that Azerbaijan
is ready to deny any agreements, viewpoints or promises any time
at all. “The international community should secure the recognition
of these results. At the same time, if we need some 2-3 years for
holding the referendum, one should define the intermediate status
of NKR,” Torosian stated, adding that there are many issues that
should be answered to complete the elaboration of the document and
to prepare that for signing. He expressed hope that by that time NKR
will participate in the negotiations. “It’s very important that the
document is also signed by the representatives of NKR, as Nagorno
Karabakh is an internationally recognized full fledged side in
conflict,” he underscored.

“ART WITHOUT BORDERS” EXHIBITION AIMS TO MITIGATE HOSTILITY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. An exhibition “Art without Borders”
opened on August 4 at the Innovatory Experimental Art Center. The
exhibition features works of 25 artists from Armenia and three
neighboring countries: Iran, Turkey and Georgia. Paintings,
photos, videos, installations and mixed technics are on display. 6
participants are from Armenia, 7 – from Iran, 5 – from Georgia and
7 from Turkey. Azerbaijan also received an invitation to participate
in the exhibition but its delegates refused to come to Armenia. The
project head Eduard Balasanian said that the event aims to promote
contacts among artists of the neighboring countries and to mitigate
hostility by means of art.
“All works on display have a certain social, sometimes also political
implication,” E. Balasanian said. Sonya Balasanian’s “The Playground
of Crosshairs”, which is a combination of video art and installation,
impresses by its unpredictablity. At first, some people’s faces appear
above the small houses in a dark room, then a terrible crash is heard,
after which all the people are taken at aim. Sonya Balasanian said
that people should raise their voices against political, economic
and religious oppression. The painting of Iranian artist Khosrov
Hasan Zade depicts 16 prostitutes killed in Mashad, Iran’s religious
capital. The pictures were made based on police photos. The work
“Stop: You are Surrounded” by Berat Isik (Turkey) is an example
of video art. It is a tragicomedy about the oppressed and their
oppressors. The exhibition will last until August 25, then it will
be held in Iran, Georgia and Russia.

“DURING WAR ACTIONS, LEBANESE ARMENIANS HAD NO HUMAN AND MATERIAL LOSSES,”
AMBASSADOR OF LEBANON GABRIEL GEARA ASSURES
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. “War actions of Israel are systematized
actions to destroy Lebanon in a systematic way. It’s evidence is
attacks of the Israel airforce, as a result of what bridges, civil
infrastructures, etc. are destroyed. Gabriel Geara, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lebanon to the RA informed about
it at the August 4 press conference. He mentioned that he was informed
in the same morning about other 3 important bridges’ being destroyed,
about 50 mln U.S. dollars will be necessary for restoration of each
of them. According to G.Geara, during the 22 days of the war actions,
losses incured by Lebanon are estimated about 5 bln dollars. He also
mentioned that 1000 inhabitants of Lebanon died till now, 3000 were
injured, about 1 mln people migrated. The Ambassador mentioned that
taking two soldiers of Israel prisoner by the Lebanese “Hzbollah”
grouping of assaults is not the only reason of outbreak of the
war. According to G.Geara’s estimation, the other reason is territories
of Lebanon which Israel captured. The Ambassador also mentioned that
there are 8 Lebanese prisoners of war as well as about 10 thousand of
Palestinian prisoners in prisons of Israel. G.Geara mentioned that
there is a possibility at the UN Security Council sitting on Monday
or Tuesday to make a decision concerning cease-fire. The Ambassador
also informed that the Lebanese Government adopted a document
consisting of 7 proposals on the purpose of outcome of the present
crisis. Particularly, the Lebanese party demands to state cease-fire
immediately, to carry out exchange of prisoners, to remove the Israeli
Armed Forced from the territories captured during this armed conflict,
to place international peace-keeping forces functioning under the UN
patronage in the south of Lebanon. According to one of the points,
it is proposed that Lebanon and Israel return the truce agreement
concluded in 1949. The Ambassador of Lebanon mentioned that the
issue of disarmament of “Hzbollah” will also be solved after return
of the captured territories. The Ambassador assured that the Lebanese
Armenians had no human and material losses. “No Armenian institution,
even a small shop that belongs to an Armenian, had no material
loss. Maybe, the God loves Armenians for what we are only happy,”
G.Geara said.

“WE WON ON THE KARABAKH BATTLEFIELD BUT TODAY WE ARE INFERIOR IN PROPAGANDA
AND INFORMATION WAR,” NEMESIS’ CHAIRMAN STATES
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. 24 years ago, two members of the
ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia) Levon
Ekmekchian and Zohrab Sargsian were killed by Turkish policemen
during an armed attack at Ankara Airport. On the occasion of this
anniversary, members of the Memesis charity organization on August
7 visited Erablur Pantheon and laid wreaths at the memorial to ASALA
martyrs. Nemesis’ Chairman Vazgen Petrosian said: “Since that incident
in 1982, the Diaspora has commemorated August 7 as a day of remembrance
of martyrs of the modern armed liberation struggle.” According to him,
25 years ago armed struggle was perceived as “advertisement terrorism”:
such actions made the powerful of the world to pay attention to the
Armenian Cause.
Speaking about negotiations on the Karabakh problem, V. Petrosian said:
“We won on the battlefield but today we are inferior in the propaganda
and information war.”

‘HAYASTAN’ ALL-ARMENIAN FUND CONTINUES CONSTRUCTION WORKS
AZG Armenian Daily #147, 05/08/2006
“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund informs that hospitals of Sisian and
Artik will soon be repaired. Thanks to the French branch of the Fund,
the hospital of Sisian will be able to serve the population of 40.000
of Sisian and neighboring villages in early 2007. The British offshoot
of the Fund will finance the construction of Artik hospital that will
serve 60.000 people.
Construction works keep going in Artsakh. A trend will soon determine
who will build Kichan-Drmbon section of the South-North highway.
By Tamar Minasian

115 ACCIDENT-PRONE BUILDINGS ARE IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. There are 17 second-degree,
64 third-degree and 34 fourth-degree accident-prone buildings in
Yerevan. Vrezh Gabrielian, deputy head of the Rescue Service of the RA
Ministry of Territorial Administration, said during a press conference
on August 7 that the third-degree accident prone buildings will be
repaired, while the fourth-degree ones are subject to demolition. Most
of the buildings to be pulled down are in Ajapniak community. According
to him, the inhabitants should be given apartments in the newly built
houses as compensation.

ACCORDING TO CASES INVESTIGATED IN FIRST HALF YEAR,
75 PEOPLE SUBJECTED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. 17 criminal cases concerning cases of
trafficking and organization of being engaged in prostitution were
investigated under the jurisdiction of investigation agencies of
Armenia in the first half year of 2006. 15 of them were under the
jurisdiction of the investigation department of the Prosecutor’s
General Office, and 2 (concerning organization of being engaged
in prostitution) were investigated in the investigation department
of the Police of the marz of Lori. 5 of the mentioned 17 criminal
cases relate to trafficking (Article 132 of the RA Criminal Code),
and 12 ones relate to organization of being engaged in prostitution
(Article 262 of the RA Criminal Code). The number of criminal actions
brought on the occasion of the fact of trafficking increased by 2
cases in 2006, compared with the same period of time of 2005. 11 of
the investigated criminal cases, towards 16 people, were sent to the
court, among which 2 cases towards 3 people on the basis of Article
132, 9 cases towards 13 people on the basis of Article 262. On the
cases of crimes of the above-mentioned character, courts did not
return materials of preliminary investigation, did not issue a “not
guilty” verdict, the accuser did not refused the presented accusation,
accusations presented by the preliminary investigating body were not
re-qualified at the courts of first instance. According to criminal
cases existed under the jurisdiction of the investigation bodies
in the first half year of 2006, 75 people were subjected to sexual
exploitation, 71 of who were citizens of the Republic of Armenia,
4 were citizens of other countries. 14 of them were subjected to
sexual exploitation in Armenia, 61 of them – abroad, including 55
people in the United Arab Emirates, 6 in Turkey. During the period
of time under review, 37 people were subjected to administrative
liability for being engaged in prostitution.

AIMING AT KARABAKH;
AZERBAIJAN CONDUCTS MILITARY EXERCISES FOR LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 7, 2006 Monday
by Sokhbet Mamedov
AZERBAIJAN: ANTITERRORIST EXERCISES OR TESTING OF A FORCEFUL SOLUTION
FOR THE KARABAKH PROBLEM?; Exercises for checking combat training
of the Interior Forces of the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan were
held in the Khyzinsky District of the country having relief similar
to relief of the problematic Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Exercises for checking combat training of the Interior Forces of the
Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan were held in the Khyzinsky District
of the country having relief similar to relief of the problematic
Nagorno-Karabakh region. Such exercises are organized periodically
but the latest exercises differ from the previous ones. First,
together with an operation for neutralization of terrorists the troops
stormed a mountain height defended by a conventional enemy. Second,
the exercises were organized for the first time in the newly built
training center in the north of the country and reminded rather of a
military operation for taking an enemy’s position. Interestingly,
Azerbaijani Interior Minister Ramil Usubov who had been born in
Nagorno-Karabakh watched the exercises.
Meanwhile, the press service of the Interior Ministry advised
journalists to focus attention on these circumstances and rejected
any connection with the choice of the place for the exercises and
with participation of servicemen of the Interior Ministry in possible
combat operations in Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to analyst Alpay Akhmed, it is necessary to take conduction
of such exercises with understanding. Armed Forces and Interior
Forces of the country that has 20% of the territory “occupied by
the neighboring country” should be prepared to liberate the occupied
territories any time. Moreover, so that official Baku does not rule
out a military way for resolving the drawn out conflict with Armenia
about Nagorno-Karabakh and is building up its military potential.
Incidentally, recently President of Azerbaijan Ilkham Aliyev announced
that the budget of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan would be increased
by $100 million to $700 million.
Interestingly, the exercises were conducted immediately after
departure of the American co-chair of the Minsk group of OSCE for
regulation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict from Baku. There
the co-chair held meetings with the Interior Ministry and with the
President of Azerbaijan, after which he announced that chances for
resolving the conflict in the first half of 2007, were sufficiently
high. Earlier, intermediaries announced an intention to solve this
problem in 2006. Now they postpone the deadline for six months, which
shows that they fail to move positions of the conflicting parties
closer. In such circumstances official Baku has nothing else left
besides buildup of its military potential and to turn to a forceful
solution of the problem in case of failure of peace talks.
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, August 04, 2006, p. 6
Translated by Pavel Pushkin

ARMENIAN PAPER SCOFFS AT WEST’S STANCE ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Armenian newspaper 168 Zham, Yerevan
3 Aug 06
Excerpt from report by Armen Bagdasaryan in Armenian newspaper 168
Zham on 3 August headlined “The unsettled conflict is only an argument”
For the first time in 12 years since the process of settlement of
the Karabakh conflict has started, the West says that the Armenian
and Azerbaijani authorities do not in fact want to reach final peace
because the unsettled conflict gives them an opportunity to use it as
an argument to postpone democratic reforms. In other words, the West
makes public the fact which Armenian and Azerbaijani societies knew
long time ago. Of course, it does not mean that the West has realized
this now. But they decided to make this public today. That is to say,
an emphasis of the world community has changed.
If previously the world community used to persuade us that in case
of final settlement of the conflict Armenia and Azerbaijan will have
huge economic benefits, today instead of economic benefits they
suggest democracy to us: settle the conflict and your states will
become really democratic. We have a vicious circle: the conflict
will not be resolved until Armenia and Azerbaijan are democratic,
but on the other hand, our states will not become democratic until
the conflict is resolved. What to do?
The point is that up to now the world community has not said why the
negotiations that have been lasting for 12 years yield no results.
The problem is not in difference of approaches or a dispute over the
stage-by-stage or the package option for the settlement. The problem
is that purposes of the two sides are absolutely different. The
position of the Armenian side is known: Karabakh should not be ruled
directly from Azerbaijan, it should have international guarantees
of security and a reliable ground link with Armenia. The position
of the Azerbaijani side is also known: Armenians should not live in
Karabakh, although this position has not been officially announced.
[Passage omitted: in Soviet times late Azerbaijani President Heydar
Aliyev managed to expel Armenians from the exclave of Naxcivan but
failed to do the same in Karabakh.]
Briefly, the purposes are absolutely contradictory, and it is clear
that it will be impossible to reach settlement in this case. Thus, we
should first agree on purposes. We are sure that the world community
should try to coordinate the purposes. That is to say, it should be
said that Armenians live in Karabakh and will continue to live there.
What is necessary should be discussed only after that. For instance,
it should be discussed whether Armenians’ secure life in Karabakh
is possible without a status of an independent state and without
a reliable ground link with Armenia; if full military and economic
security is possible without an army, constitution, own currency and
so on. [Passage omitted: reiteration]
As for democracy, it in fact has nothing to do with the “neither
war nor peace” situation. Israel, which has been in the situation of
a permanent war for 60 years, is a democratic state. It is another
problem that our authorities do not want to see this example. One
can understand them though: a son of a senior Israeli official was
wounded in a military operation several days ago. An example of this
kind could hardly encourage our authorities.

ALL COURT CASES BEING AT RA COURT OF CASSATION TO BE REVIEWED
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to the new legislation
concerning the judicial-legal reforms as well as to activity of
the judicial system were discussed at the August 7 working meeting
of RA President Robert Kocharian and Chairman of the Court of
Cassation Hovhannes Manukian. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA
President’s Press Office, the process of works of the second, big
stage of the judicial-legal reforms and issues connected with them
were particularly discussed during the meeting as well. H.Manukian
informed the RA President that during the coming week, they are
going to review all the court cases being at the Court of Cassation,
arising of the demands of the new legislation.