GERARD CAFESJIAN AND EDUARDO ERNEKIAN AWARDED ST MESROP MASHTOTS ORDER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By RA President
Robert Kocharian’s September 8 decrees Gerard Cafesjian and Eduardo
Ernekian were awarded St Mesrop Mashtots orders in connection with
the 15th anniversary of proclamation of the independence of the
Republic of Armenia, for their significant services rendered to
the homeland. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA President’s Press
Office, RA Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China and
Germany Vasili Ghazarian and Karine Ghazinian were awarded Mkhitar
Gosh medal in connection with the 15th anniversary of proclamation
of RA independence, for their significant services in the sphere of
diplomacy. By another decree of the President, Jivan Movsisian, Chief
of the Agency of Contacts with the Diaspora of RA Foreign Ministry,
was given the diplomatic title of RA Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary.

UN GA RESOLUTION ON FIRES IN TERRITORIES ADJACENT TO NKR ON THE WHOLE ACCEPTABLE FOR ARMENIAN SIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 08 2006
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
A/60/L.60/Rev.2 draft resolution initiated by Azerbaijan on fires in
territories adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh was adopted on September
7, at the 60th session of UN General Assembly. As NT was informed
from RA Foreign Ministry Press Service, Armenia had negotiated on
the draft resolution and had come to agreement in the issue of its
content and formulations. As a result, the document, on the whole,
became acceptable for the Armenian side. RA Foreign Ministry provided
the resolution text, the statement by H.E. Mr. Armen Martirosyan,
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to
the United Nations, as well as the English original variant of the
Co-chairs’ statement. Below is the resolution, Armen Martirosian’s
statement and Co-chairs’ statement: Sixtieth Session of the UN
General Assembly Azerbaijan: resolution The situation in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan The General Assembly, Seriously concerned by
the fires in the affected territories, which have inflicted widespread
environmental damage, Stresses the necessity to urgently conduct
an environmental operation to suppress the fires in the affected
territories and to overcome their detrimental consequences; Welcomes
the readiness of the parties to cooperate to that end and considers
such an operation to be an important confidence-building measure;
Takes note of the OSCE intention to organize a mission to the region
to assess the short-term and long-term impact of the fires on the
environment as a step for preparation of the environmental operation;
Calls upon, in this regard, the organizations and programs of the
United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Environmental
Programme, in cooperation with the OSCE to provide all necessary
assistance and expertise, including, inter alia, the assessment
of and counteraction to the short-term and long-term impact of
the environmental degradation of the region, as well as in its
rehabilitation; Asks the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group of the OSCE to
provide a report to member States of the General Assembly by April
30, 2007. Statement by Armen Martirosyan, Ambassador, Permanent
Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations:
“The draft resolution at hand addresses an issue, which we thought
had been brought to a close, two weeks ago, through discussions
with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the Minsk Group Co-chairs and
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s Personal Representative. A decision
was taken to send a mission of experts under the OSCE to assess the
fires. The authorities of Nagorno Karabagh had already accepted this
proposal, and Armenia was certainly ready to use its good offices to
facilitate such a mission. It was our understanding that Azerbaijan
had also agreed. Given all this, it was surprising to see a draft
resolution circulating at the UN on this same issue, especially since
it called for a parallel mission under the UN auspices. This approach
was unacceptable. We considered such a step to be an obstacle to
continuing negotiations. And, since it was clearly intended to pursue
other political ends, Armenia opposed this motion. However, as a
result of our consultations with the Minsk Group Co-chairs, we have
come to agreement on a text that simply reiterates support for the
OSCE mission. In this regard we would like to welcome the readiness
of all the parties to negotiate in the spirit of compromise under
the able and very effective mediation of the Minsk Group Co-chairs.
Nevertheless, although we support the content of the agreement, we
continue to remain opposed to the general idea of this agenda item and
a UN resolution under it. That is the reason Armenia dissociates itself
from the consensus on this resolution. Statement of the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chair Countries: “The Russian Federation, France, and the
United States of America, as the Co-Chair countries of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group, remain committed
to promoting a peaceful, negotiated resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. In this capacity, we take with great seriousness concerns
raised by either side to the conflict regarding threats to the
security and stability of the region, as well as any developments
that pose new obstacles to the negotiation process. Accordingly,
we have examined closely the information provided by the Government
of Azerbaijan regarding fires in the eastern part of the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. We also note
the report of the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office
of the OSCE, who, at the request of the Government of Azerbaijan and
direction of the Chairman-in-Office, has carried out a monitoring
mission to the affected areas. We note, in particular, that fires
of both natural and manmade origin are a regular occurrence in the
region in question. The question of whether more extensive fires
this year are a cause of ecological concern requiring international
attention to their suppression is one that can only be answered
through a technical examination of the situation. Therefore, the
Co-Chairs stand ready, together with the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, to lend their immediate assistance to the
organization of an OSCE mission, with the support and expertise of
the United Nations Environmental Programme, and to report to the UN
General Assembly 011 the results of the mission, as requested in the
present resolution, as well as to the OSCE. We commend the spirit of
goodwill demonstrated by both Armenia and Azerbaijan in agreeing to
cooperate to address the situation raised through this resolution. We
hope the agreement reached today reflects a new readiness by both
sides to engage in further measures to build confidence that will
advance the process of negotiations, and we will redouble our efforts,
through the OSCE’s Minsk Group, to promote such activities. We note
that over the past two years, the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group have
worked intensively with the Foreign Ministers and Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan to identify core principles of an agreement that would
lead to a just and lasting settlement. Our nations, reinforced by
the voices of the Group of Eight leading nations at their summit in
St. Petersburg in July, have called on the Presidents of both Armenia
and Azerbaijan to accept now these core principles as a basis for
resolution of the conflict, and to prepare their publics for peace,
and not war.
We reiterate that call today and restate the readiness of our
governments to lend full support to the achievement and implementation
of a peace agreement.”

RA FOREIGN MINISTER HIGHLY ESTIMATES BRAZIL’S DECISION TO OPEN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September 8, RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was handed the copy of her credentials
by Ambassador of Brazil to Armenia Renate Stille. Minister Oskanian
congratulated Mrs Stille on the occasion of her appointment and wished
her succes in her responsible mission. During a tete-a-tete talk held
after the handing ceremony Vartan Oskanian touching upon the high
level of relations between the two countries especially mentioned that
Brazil was one of the first countries to recognize the independence
of Armenia. The Foreign Minister highly estimated the decision to
open Embassy of Brazil to Armenia that will be the first one in
the region and expressed confidence that it will be very favorable
from point of view of development of Armenian-Brazilian bilateral
relations. Minister Oskanian also informed Mrs Ambassador about the
Armenian side’s intention to found an Embassy in the capital of Brazil
in the near future. Mrs Stille in her turn expressed satisfaction
in connection with the current level of cooperation between the
two countries. The sides attached importance to strengthening and
extension of the legal field created between the two countries,
efficient cooperation at international organizations, activization
of trade and economic relations.

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS SHOULD TAKE PART IN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN LEBANON, FORMER RA DEFENCE MINISTER IS CONVINCED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian
peacekeepers should take part in the peacekeeping mission in
Lebanon. Former RA Defence Minister Vagharshak Haroutiunian gave such
assurance at the September 8 seminar-discussion at the Armenian Center
for National and International Studies. In Haroutiunian’s words,
Armenian forces can implement two, fighting and rear functions in
Lebanon. In his opinion, Armenia should take part in the rear and
restore the infrastructures with the help of sappers. In the opinion
of arabologist, YSU lecturer, former RA Ambassador to Syria Davit
Hovhannisian, Armenia “has a great act” to do in Lebanon in several
respects. In particular, Lebanon has an important role in the region,
there is a large Armenian community there, the Catholicosate of the
Great Cilician House is there. Davit Hovhannisian gave assurance that
“the Armenian community will feel itself safer with the presence of
the Armenian soldier.”
From: Baghdasarian

IN DPA CHAIRMAN’S WORDS, A GROUP OF KILLERS HAS APPEARED IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The series of violence acts
committed in the recent months in Armenia is conditioned by launch of
preelection processes. Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia
(DPA) Aram Sargsian expressed such an opinion in his interview
to Noyan Tapan correspondent. In his words, “each time Robert
Kocharian gathers representatives of power structures and gives
them a telling-off, but this does not change the picture.” As the
DPA Chairman affirmed, a group of high-level killers has appeared in
the country, as the committed murders were planned and were done by a
cool calculation. In particular, in Sargsian’s words, the murder of
Cheif of the Investigation Department of State Tax Service attached
to RA government, Shahen Hovasapian, is a crime planned, organized
by a whole group, especially as installation of a radiocontrolled
device in a high-ranking official’s car “is not done for no particular
reason.” Shahen Hovasapian was killed in the morning of September 6.

ISSUE OF PUTTING ON AGENDA DRAFT DECISION ON SETTING UP NA AD HOC COMMISSION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMAINS UNSETTLED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The draft decision
on setting up a National Assembly ad hoc commission to examine issues
of the Armenian Genocide – the initiative of Tatul Manaserian, who
recently left the NA Justice faction to become an independent deputy,
has been in circulation in the RA National Assembly since May 3. It
is proposed setting up such a commission “in order to clarify the
chronology of the Armenian Genocide, prevent diverse comments, condemn
the genocide and adopt a common position on recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.” Among the commission’s tasks will be expressing opinions
about various cases of genocide organized and committed by Turkey or
committed with the assistance of Turkey in order to underline their
lasting character and the clear tendency to exterminate the Armenians,
as well as to formulate demands for condemnation and recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, including material, financial and moral
compensation. It was envisaged to discuss the draft at the September
8 sitting of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues
with the aim of making a conclusion about putting the draft on the
agenda of the autumn session that starts from September 11. However,
as NT correspondent was informed from the committee chairman Rafik
Petrosian, the discussion of the issue did not take place due to
Tatul Manaserian’s absence from the sitting.
From: Baghdasarian

ANCA TO CONTINUE TO OPPOSE HOAGLAND NOMINATION UNTIL HE PUBLICLY RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 08 2006
WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) remains firmly opposed to
the Hoagland nomination, and will continue to seek to block his
confirmation until he publicly states that he does not question the
Armenian Genocide, and the State Department explains both its firing of
the current Ambassador as well as the role of the Turkish government
in this controversy,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian,
commenting on the Senate Foreign Relation Committee approval of
Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland as the next U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia.
“We are grateful for the support of Senators Boxer, Coleman, Dodd,
Kerry, and Sarbanes, and look forward to working with them, and others,
to prevent the Administration from making a mistake that would hinder
our ability to represent U.S. interests and advance American values in
Armenia and the surrounding region, as well as undermining our moral
standing on genocide prevention worldwide,” Aram Hamparian stated.

DAY OF ARMENIA TO BE CELEBRATED DURING EXHIBITION “15 JUBILEE YEARS OF CIS”
Noyan Tapan
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. During the industrial exhibition “15
Jubilee Years of the CIS” to be held in Moscow on October 25-28, Day
of Armenia will be celebrated. The delegation of high-ranking Armenian
officials will participate in the event. Mushegh Sargsian, Director
for Export Promotion of the Armenian Development Agency (ADA), told
NT correspondent that the celebration of Day of Armenia is scheduled
for October 26. He said that unlike the previous jubilee exhibition,
at which the CIS member states presented their economic achievements,
this time other spheres will also be displayed by various ministries
of these countries. 10 Armenian ministries are expected to take
part in the exhibition. 15-20 enterprises expressed an intention to
participate in the exhibition. Private enterprises of various spheres
will also be presented by ministries. Armenian-Russian joint ventures
and projects, as well as Armenia’s high and information technologies
sector will be on display at the Armenian pavilion. Besides, various
investment programs, and the trends of Armenia’s economic development
and growth under the conditions of home political stability will be
presented. “Our purpose is to prove that Armenia, which is currently
undergoing development, is a partner worth cooperating with in the long
run,” M. Sargsian said. He expressed a hope that the Armenian products
will be displayed as successfully as at the exhibition dedicated to
the 10th anniversary of the CIS, after which many Armenian companies
signed agreements allowing them to enter the Russian market. At the
present time, about 200 Armenian companies have shops in Russia or
have formed their own systems of production distribution.

“ORINATS YERKIR” AND “DASHINK” PARTIES CONDEMN ACT OF VIOLENCE COMMITTED TOWARDS “IRAVUNK” NEWSPAPER EDITOR
Noyan Tapan
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Dashink” (Alliance) party
political council made a statement in which it condemned the act of
violence committed on September 6 against “Iravunk” newspaper editor
Hovhannes Galajian, qualifying it as a hopeless step taken by weak
people. In the statement authors’ words, the happened was addressed
against free speech. The “Dashink” party political council called
on public, political unions and healthy forces of the society to
unite for establishing a democratic state in the RA and improvement
of free press. The “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) party expressed
deep anxiety on the occasion of the act of violence committed towards
H.Galajian.
“Acts of violence committed against journalists show that there are
forces in Armenia for which the free press speech and independent way
of action are inadmissible and they do not limit themselves in choosing
criminal means to limit that speech,” is said in the statement made
by the OYP press service. The party is also deeply concerned in the
sense of murders of public sonority taking place in Armenia during the
last period which are not revealed. According to the statement, “the
mentioned is becoming a part of our public life what is too dangerous
for future of the Republic of Armenia.” Expecting implementation of
decisive actions by legal bodies, the OYP mentions that “if real-legal
estimations of the “Tsetsi krug” (shooting accident in the outskirts
of Yerevan in early this year) and other noisy murders were given in
time, we would not have such developments today.”

ARMENIAN UNION OF WRITERS TO HOLD A NUMBER OF EVENTS JOINTLY WITH IRANIAN CULTURAL CENTER BY END OF 2006
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 08 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Union of Writers will hold a number of events jointly with the Iranian
Cultural Center by the end of the year. Chairman of the Armenian
Union of Writers Levon Ananian reported this at the September 8 event
dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Persian poet and translator Ahmad
Nurizade’s literary activity. He said that, in particular, Iran-Armenia
friendship festivity will be organized in late October on Meghri bridge
and in the first half of November Armenian writers will visit Tehran
and Ispahan. “All planned events will make closer friendly relations
between the two countries,” Levon Ananian is convinced.