CORRUPT GOVERNMENT THREATENS NAGORNO KARABAKH MOST OF ALL
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
Several days ago the leader of the Aryan Armenian Order Armen
Avetisyan stated referring to the recent statements of the U.S.
co-chair of the Minsk Group Matthew Bryza that the future of the
governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan depends on the willingness to
make a compromise over the Karabakh issue. In other words, he drew
the attention of the public to the threat of infringement upon the
national interest in the period of elections in 2007 and 2008.
Considering that the present “chief strategist”, the Republican
defense minister Serge Sargsyan approved the proposals of the Minsk
Group long ago, we may state that Armen Avetisyan’s warning is quite
logical. In fact, in an effort to find support for their aspirations
to power the Armenian politicians make a deal with forces from the
outside. It is possible to understand the Aryan. It is also possible
to understand that he relies on the will of thousands of Armenian
citizens, who are ready to resist deals.
We would like to warn brave patriots, however, that the danger of the
game of those who hold the power and those who protect this power is
not realized. This is half of the trouble that the weakening Armenian
officials are ready to make a deal with the outside world. The main
danger is somewhere else – our worthy patriots and many honest guys
fail to understand everything.
They fail to understand that by their statements that they will
not allow return of territories they keep the mill of our political
merchants working, who are wiser than our patriots. They are wise
because they have learned to play on the patriotic feelings and
speeches of our society. And only they are interested in Armen
Avetisyan’s statements. No, not because they are going to extend the
statements of patriots to their Western sponsors: these cheap games
have stopped being interesting to anyone in the world.
The cynicism of our corrupt officials should not be underrated. They
understood the value of the “party of the war” for their political
games long ago. They need these patriots to make them scapegoats in
possible military provocations. What provocations? one may ask. The
provocations that these political merchants may undertake to justify
their deal with the outside forces. To cause the war to ignite,
accuse patriots and appear to the Armenian people and the world as
a savior and wise prophet.
Our figures are not fools to sit at the wheel of power with the
appearance of a loser. Therefore, dear patriots, if you can discern
danger in the action of our corrupt government, before calling the
public for resistance demand the public officials who have a direct
lever of influence on the situation in the conflict area to dismiss
these figures. Do not forget that presently we deal with the cynical
criminal holding the power, which feels its imminent death against the
background of the elections in 2007 and 2008. These people have already
managed to announce that “their end would be the end of Armenia”.
The situation is, in fact, more complicated than it seems to dear Armen
Avetisyan. The end of the criminal will not be the end of Armenia,
but it can harm Karabakh considerably. Especially that the key levers
there are held by a man also appears unlikely to quit in 2007,
as the law provides for. And in this case one should be guided by
consciousness, not feelings. The presence of the politician criminal
at the wheel of the military and civilian government becomes highly
dangerous. Experienced Bryza did not tell the Azerbaijani president
Ilham Aliyev accidentally that the first half of 2007 may become a
favorable period for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He
hinted that there are people in Armenia and Karabakh who would
sacrifice everything to stay at power.
It is not accidental that Bryza said Armenia is keeping to the right
path to democratization. He was right because he finally realized that
it is the end of the criminal. So he decided to play the last game with
the criminal in the Karabakh sphere. To play and discard finally, both
the criminal and the Karabakh issue. But the criminal does not want to
be discarded. It only wants to play a successful game because there is
no more place to play. Therefore, before becoming engaged in the game,
dear patriots, think how it would end for our Homeland and for you.
MELIK AVANYAN

EITHER MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT PAY LESS OR SUFFER LOSSES
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
A scrutiny of the lists of 1000 big taxpayers of Armenia for the
first quarter and the first half of 2006 leads to interesting
conclusions. Especially considering that less than a year is left
until the parliamentary election in 2007 and the businessmen members of
parliament again want to have a mandate of immunity in their pockets.
Natali Pharm owned by businessman MP Samvel Alexanyan paid 150
million drams of taxes in the first quarter of 2006 and is the 51st.
In the first half of the same year the company is the 48th with 410
million drams – 150+260. Another company owned by the same member
of parliament, sugar importing Fleetfood is the 33rd in the first
quarter of 2006 with 245.5 million drams, and the 66th in the first
half with 309 million – 245.5+63.5. It means that Fleetfood paid an
average of 4 times less taxes a month, which is strange because in
summer the consumption of sugar goes up in Armenia, whereas the price
of sugar went up and the quality declined.
Vedi Alco owned by Manvel Ghazaryan is the 60th in the first quarter.
It paid 142 million drams. In the first half of the year Vedi Alco
is the 93rd. It paid 226 million drams, 142+124. Or 1.1 times less
a month.
Member of Parliament Ashot Aghababyan’s Hrazdan Holding is in the
158th place with 57 million in the first quarter, and the 154th with
138 million in the first half. By the way, Ashot Aghababyan’s company
suffered losses of 71 million drams in 2005.
Leova Khachatryan’s Concern Energy was the 419th and paid 20.2 million
drams in the first quarter, and now it is 481st with 38 million –
20.2+17.8, or an average of 1.4 times less a month.
Tigran Arzakansyan’s Great Valley paid 27.8 million drams in the first
quarter of 2006 and is the 318th, and in the first half it paid 34
million and is the 522nd, an average of 4.5 times less a month.

POPULATION OF ARMENIA TOTALED 3 MILLION 219 THOUSAND 400
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
The population of Armenia totaled 3 million 219 thousand 400 as of July
1, 2006. This figure, which was published by the National Statistics
Service, news agency ARKA reports, is up by 4,400 compared with the
same period in 2005. 1 million 500 thousand are men, 1 million 600
thousand are women, 600,300 are children under 14, including 349
thousand boys and 315, 500 girls. Young people aged 15 to 29 totaled
879,600, including 441 thousand men and 438,600 women. 1 million
300 thousand people aged 30-64 lived in Armenia as of July 1, 2006,
including 624,600 men and 704 thousand women. The population aged
above 65 totaled 346,500, including 139,500 men and 207 thousand women.

WFP ASSESSES HIGHLY COOPERATION WITH ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2006 16:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
met with Executive Director of the U.N World Food Program (WFP)
James Morris, reported the RA MFA press office. During the meeting Mr
Morris briefed on the works carried out for providing those suffered
in hostilities in Lebanon with food. He also gave a high estimate
to the cooperation with the Armenian government. For his part Vartan
Oskanian presented the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement process.

NONE OF OSCE MG PROPOSALS IMPLIES RESTORATION OF ARMENIAN REFUGEES’ RIGHTS
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2006 16:31 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ August 2 the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement will meet to discuss the
current stage and prospects of the settlement basing on the outcomes
of U.S. mediator Matthew Bryza’s regional visit. “Refugees and
International Law” civic society network representing the interests
of the Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan has addressed
the mediators with a message that says in part,
“To OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Matthew Bryza (U.S.), Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France)
Dear Sirs,
“Refugees and International Law” civic society network formed for
ensuring efficient protection of the rights and interests of the
Armenian refugees from the Azeri SSR and Nakhichevan is appealing to
you with a call to draw the attention of international organizations
to the problem of 500 thousand Armenian refugees. We have to state
that up to now none of the settlement options of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, proposed by the MG co-chairs, has even a hint on restoration
of their violated rights. We believe that without solving the issue of
Armenian refugees full settlement of the NK issue is not possible. By
its refusal to be a successor of the Azerbaijani SSR, the Azerbaijani
Republic not only demonstrated it is unwilling to provide compensations
to Armenian refugees, but also was deprived of any legal ground to
claim the entire territory of the Azerbaijani SSR. From the legal
point of view the NKR is the only legal successor of the Azerbaijani
SSR. We believe that if NKR citizenship is granted to the Armenian
refugees and territories outside NKR boundaries, within which the NKR
was declared and which are under its jurisdiction today, are given
to them as private property, this can partially solve the issue.
“Refugees and International Law” civic society network is ready to
participate in actions, aimed at attaining a long-term settlement
of the Karabakh issue. We believe that the solution of the matter
should include restoration and effective protection of the rights of
all victims.”
We remind that earlier “Refugees and International Law” civic society
network sent an open letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian
and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, reports IA Regnum.

AUGUST 4 VARTAN OSKANIAN GOING ON 2-WEEK LEAVE
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2006 16:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ August 4 Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
will go on a 2-week leave, RA MFA Acting Spokesman Vladimir Karapetian
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the Minister will resume
work August 17-18. “Till August 11 the Armenian Foreign Minister will
be in Armenia,” Karapetian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MG MAY SUGGEST NEXT ROUND OF TALKS TO FMs
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2006 17:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Consultations are held in Paris today with
participation of OSCE MG co-chairs Matthew Bryza (U.S.), Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France) and Personal
Representative of the OSCE CiO Andrzej Kasprzyk. US Ambassador,
who was in the region on a familiarization visit July 29 – August
1, will report to his colleagues on the outcomes of the visit, as
well as further steps of the mediators for settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict will be discussed. It is expected that the co-chairs
will suggest that Armenian and Azeri FMs Vartan Oskanian and Elmar
Mammadyarov hold another round of talks within the Prague Process.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN TO MEET IN PARIS SOON
AZG Armenian Daily #145, 03/08/2006
Karabakh issue
The next consultation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen is expected
to take place on August 2-4 in Paris. The main theme of the meeting
is going to be the results of Matthew Bryza’s visit to the region of
the South Caucasus. The Co-Chairmen will consider the attitudes of
the conflict sides to latest suggestions in the framework agreement
by the Minsk Group and will elaborate an action plan for the closest
future. They will also discuss the opportunity of the next meeting
between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

MATHEW BRYZA, OSCE MG U.S. CO-CHAIR HELD MEETING WITH LEADER OF
AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY OF NKR AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN
AZG Armenian Daily #145, 03/08/2006
Karabakh issue
Matthew Bryza, OSCE MG U.S. Co-Chairman, held a meeting in Azerbaijan’s
Foreign Ministry on August 1.
He met with Nizami Bakhmanov, leader of the Azerbaijani community
of Nagorno Karabakh and with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mamedyarov. After the meeting, Matthew Bryza refrained from making
comments. He just stated that he had come to Baku to learn the opinions
of the Foreign Minister and the President. He stressed that he came
to Baku as an OSCE MG co-chairman, to discuss questions related to
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Mr. Bryza said that on August 2 he
will go to Paris to meet with the other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen,
Bernard Fassier and Yuri Merzliakov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARAM SARGSIAN BELIEVES MANY POINTS IN FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WILL
BE CHANGED AS SOON AS NKR PARTICIPATES IN NEGOTIATIONS
AZG Armenian Daily #145, 03/08/2006
Karabakh issue
“The visit of the OSCE MG Co-Chair Matthew Bryza showed that the NKR
authorities insists on NKR’s participation in the negotiations as a
main side,” Aram Sargsian, leader of Democratic Party of Armenia,
chairman of “For Defence of NKR” committee, said. He stated that
“as soon as NKR participates in the negotiations, very many points in
the framework agreement package submitted by OSCE MG co-chairs will
be changed.” Sargsian stated that the visit of Bryza still didn’t
give any answers to many unsettled urgent issues in the agenda
of the negotiations. He said that though this was a familiarizing
meeting for Bryza, his statement do not lose their force still. “It
seemed to me that one of the co-chairs is paid more attention.
We believe that equal and balanced attitude should be displayed to
all of the co-chairs. I absolutely didn’t understand the statements
of the Armenian Foreign and Defense Ministries that stated that the
basic settlement principles are acceptable for Armenia,” Sargsian
stated. Sargsian emphasized that the most burning issue in the agenda
of the co-chairs is the deployment of the peacekeepers in the safety
zone around NKR. He added that in case the Armenian self-defense forces
are withdrawn from the five regions, the task for maintaining peace
will be obviously carried out by the peace keepers. He emphasized that
the deployment of the peacekeepers will break the geopolitical balance
in the region. “According to the OSCE MG format, the co-chairs can’t
participate in shaping of the peace keeping forces, which means that
Russian peace keepers will not be included among the peace keepers,”
Sargsian stated. He added that most likely NATO peacekeeping forces
would be deployed in the region. Sargsian assured that Armenia’s
consent for deployment of the peacekeepers would mean the change of
the geopolitical vector. “Russia is for preserving the status quo in
this issue, as it’s obvious that no peace can be maintained without
the peaceful negotiations, while any forced semi-agreements will
only cause resumption of the military conflict,” he emphasized. At
the same time, he assured that in the near future their committee
is not going to carry out any actions of protest, as they still need
to follow the development of the events. “If RA authorities really
sign the suggestions announced by Bryza, our committee will lead the
movement against that agreement. We have enough force to achieve the
breakthrough, as this very structure of the committee participated in
removing Levon Ter-Petrosian from his position,” Sargsian underscored.