EITHER EVERYTHING OR NOTHING
A1+
[08:38 pm] 29 June, 2006
The OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs announced that “At present the two
sides had better involve their publics into healthy discussions on
multiple opinions on the Karabakh issue.”
The first step was done by the Minsk group American Co-Chair Mettew
Bryza when the latter made public certain details of the negotiation
packet. “If the moment has come and in Mettew Bryza’s opinion it is
necessary to keep the public aware people must be aware of everything
fully.”
They must know either everything or nothing,” claims Armen Roustamyan,
Armenian delegate to the PACE.
According to him certain chosen details from the packet may not
contribute to the conflict settlement, just on the contrary, they
may hamper it.
“If we decide that all the discussions must be made public and if the
moment when the public must be involved in the process has matured it
must be done completely as half-done work may hinder the matter,” said
the Deputy of Dashnaktsutyun Party meaning the mediators by his words.
Stepan Demirchyan, leader of the “Justice” faction also thinks that
it is high time the negotiation packet was made public so that people
could know what is going on.
“Besides making the packet public it should also be revealed when and
why any of the sides refused this or that proposal,” maintains Tigran
Torosyan, RA NA Speaker. He is convinced that partial presentation
will distort the general picture of the negotiations but it must be
done “only after serious discussions.”
“If the time has matured to reveal the side breaching the negotiation
process full information must be presented to the society,” claims
the head of the RA delegation.
The latter thinks that the international organisations are wrong in
neglecting the militaristic position of Azerbaijan and the hostility
towards Armenians which is deepening day by day which is dictated by
the country authorities.
“By the time the international community and the structures engaged
in the conflict settlement realise that the deepening preaching,
hostility towards Armenians and the militaristic attitude towards
the conflict settlement are incompatible they will undoubtedly appear
in the Azeri net and the conflict can never be settled in this way,”
said Tigran Torosyan.

OSKANIAN COMMENTS ON THE OSCE MINSK GROUP STATEMENT
A1+
[09:01 pm] 29 June, 2006
The co-chairs in their statement say that “our approach has been a
modified one: we have not tried to solve all aspects of the conflict
in one phase.
Instead our principles seek to achieve a major degree of progress but
defer some very difficult issues to the future and envision further
negotiations.” What does this mean?
The actual negotiating document on the principles that is on the table
today is all-encompassing. It covers all the principles affecting the
resolution of the conflict. It includes the core issue of status of
Nagorno Karabakh, territories, refugees, security issues, peacekeeping
and every other conceivable issue that is necessary in order to arrive
at a lasting resolution of the conflict.
Only after full agreement on all these basic principles would the
parties, as the actual negotiating text says, “in cooperation with the
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group to begin work on the elaboration of
an agreement on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.” In
other words, the agreement on principles will be comprehensive. The
final agreement may envision implementation over time.
In their report, the co-chairs say “the principles include the phased
redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around
Nagorno Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin
districts.” What are these special modalities?
This formulation is indeed very broad, and for a reason. This issue has
two layers. One is the issue of Lachin, where the actual negotiating
text on principles provides clear language stating that there will be
“a corridor linking Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia.” For Armenia, it’s
very clear that this corridor must have the same status as Nagorno
Karabakh. The second layer is the issue of Kelbajar.
For Armenia, this also is clear: based on security concerns,
Kelbajar can be returned only after the referendum is conducted
and the final status of NK is determined. Azerbaijan’s position is
different on Kelbajar. That’s the disagreement that the co-chairs
are addressing in their statement. The co-chairs’ language in the
actual negotiating text, with regard to this issue, is generally in
line with our approach.
The co-chairs say that there will be a referendum / popular vote
“to determine the final legal status of Nagorno Karabakh,” but they
don’t say who will vote.
The actual negotiating text on principles clearly specifies that
“the final legal status will be determined through a referendum /
population vote by the population of Nagorno Karabakh.”
The co-chairs also say “certain interim arrangements for Nagorno
Karabakh would allow for interaction with providers of international
assistance.” What does this mean?
This is only one element of a much more detailed section in the
actual negotiating text which addresses interim status for Nagorno
Karabakh. We think the co-chairs have emphasized international
engagement, because that’s a major problem for the people of
Nagorno Karabakh. Their current, unrecognized, de-facto status,
has not allowed them to benefit from the generosity of international
organizations. In the actual negotiating text, the provisions address
such rights as control over their political and economic viability
and security, upholding their personal privileges and freedoms, the
right to democratically elect officials to govern Nagorno Karabakh,
the authority to effectively legislate and administer the internal
affairs of Nagorno Karabakh.
What is Armenia’s overall assessment of the content of the document
as it stands today?
This not a perfect document. For anyone. However, there are enough
solid and balanced provisions, with the right trade-offs on the main
issues – status, territories and security – that we are prepared to
continue to negotiate on the basis of these principles. In today’s
context, Azerbaijan’s rhetoric about autonomy and desperate calls
for militarization surprise us. We have at hand a real opportunity to
resolve all issues, including the much-maligned issue of refugees. But
Azerbaijan must revert to real situations and real opportunities,
rather than illusory maximalist hopes. Today, we hope that Azerbaijan
will realize that we have a chance to resolve the conflict and achieve
a lasting peace.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ARRESTED FOR ESCAPE FROM ARMY
Panorama.am
17:00 28/06/06
Apart from Mr. Bryza’s recent statements and the recent incident
at Malatia-Sebastia community, the case of Arman Babajanyan,
editor-in-chief of Jamanak Yerevan, is on the news agenda. Babajanyan
was reported as arrested for faking documents in order to escape from
military service.
According to prosecutor’s office, Babajanyan committed the act
in 2002. However, Babajanyan has crossed the border several times
since that time and consequently no case was initiated against him,
otherwise, he would be under investigation back in 2002. It is no
wonder the law enforcement bodies managed to detail the case in
relatively short time whereas it is almost of a week they cannot
unveil who made the murders in broad day light in Malatia Sebastia
community. May be they do not have political sanction to discover
the case?
If we consider that until today the only person suspended on the case
with the charges of having illegal arms is NA deputy H. Hakobyan’s
cousin, then the verdict of political sanction becomes quite possible.
It is worth to note that similar charges as against Babajanyan
are investigated at the community prosecutor’s office or at the
military prosecutor’s office. Babajanyan’s case, on the other hand,
is examined at the investigation department of general prosecutor’s
office. So, the prosecutor’s office attaches special importance to
this case which in its turn somewhat politicizes the incident with
the editor-in-chief.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPPOSITION IS ACTIVELY WORKING
Panorama.am
14:04 29/06/06
“We lead everyday active work with the representatives of our
regional units,” Armenian People’s Party Political Board member,
NA deputy Grigor Harutunyan told a news conference today promising
to strengthen the efforts in fall.
Naturally, they will put much effort since the parliamentary
elections are coming. At this moment, Grigor Harutunyan cannot say
whether they will go to elections on their own or unified with some
other party. Though he thinks that APP can go to election without any
other union, he said “they had a problem of consolidation that time,”
referring to the establishment of Justice block in 2003.

ELECTIONS WILL SHOW WHO WILL DO WHAT: SERZ SARGSYAN
Panorama.am
15:00 29/06/06
Defense Minister Serz Sargsyan said he is not aware of the statement
made by Republicans that on July 22 he is going to become co-chairman
of the party. However, S. Sargsyan, neither refuted nor accepted
the statement. “You see the process. In ten days you will have an
answer. But do not pay too much attention to the issue,” he said.
The reporters asked how can the political balance be preserved in case
if he joins one political force. “I cannot go to elections with all,”
Serz Sargsyan was amazed, also saying that he is going to keep normal
relations with all others.
Asked whether he will take the post of prime minister or president
after the upcoming elections, the defense minister advised not to
hurry. “The elections will show which political force will do what,”
he said.

WE WILL HAVE AN ARMY COMPATIBLE TO INTERNATIONAL NORMS IN 2015
Panorama.am
15:03 29/06/06
Today titles of officers were granted to the graduates of Vazgen
Sargsyan Military School under the defense ministry. 259 former cadets
were granted the title of lieutenant. The event was celebrated with
ceremony with the participation of representatives of military elite
and the parents of the graduates.
Serz Sargsyan, Armenian defense minister greeted the young servicemen
on the occasion. Some of the graduates expressed their gratitude for
the care displaced to them during the 4 years of education.
Taking the chance the reporters asked the defense minister about the
strategy that the Armenian military forces pursue. “We aim to have
an army compatible with international norms in 2015. We have concrete
projects and plans that we follow. We consider everything – from salary
of officers to their number and units,” the minister said.

FROM RIVER TO RIVER ARMENIA MUST REPLACE FROM SEA TO SEA ARMENIA: TIGRAN KHZMALYAN
Panorama.am
16:01 29/06/06
“I hope that the film will sober up those people who will watch it. I
also hope that this film will be aired on TV unlike my other films
which are not broadcast,” Tigran Khzmalyan told a presentation of
his film “From Arax to Kur, from Artsakh to Javakhk”.
T. Khzmalyan’s 12th documentary aims to disillusion the society and
warn it that Javakhk may have the same fate as Artsakh. The film says
that despite of the fact that Artsakh could liberate itself at the
end of 20th century, Javakhk is at the doors of historical choice
at the beginning of 21st century. “Either it will repeat the fate of
Nakhijevan or will choose the way of Artsakh’s fame and heroism,” the
film says. In that case the precept of our ancestors will come true and
the Armenian statehood will be preserved from Arax to Kur.

LEGAL CONFLICT TRANSFORMED INTO ETHNIC-POLITICAL CONFLICT
Lragir.am
30 June 06
The format of the talks does not reflect the essence of the Karabakh
conflict, stated Georgy Petrosyan in his address at the U.S. Institute
of Peace.
“The present format does not reflect the real essence of the conflict
because Azerbaijan refuses to negotiate with Nagorno Karabakh,”
said Georgy Petrosyan. According to him, Azerbaijan has transformed
the opportunity of a legal resolution of the conflict since 1988,
forcing it into the ethnic-political level.
Speaker Ashot Ghulyan presented the legal aspect of the conflict and
announced that Nagorno Karabakh realizes the vital interests of the
United States and other countries in the region, expecting that these
countries will recognize the interest of Karabakh as well.

MATHEW BRYZA’S NEW INTERVIEW
Lragir.am
30 June 06
On June 29 Mathew Bryza, the OSCE U.S. Co-Chair, again gave transparent
comments on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In fact, Bryza
repeated and completed the statements he made during the first
interview. In his new interview with Radio Liberty he mentioned
that over the past two years the presidents and foreign ministers
of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been unable to reach agreement on the
key principles set forward by the co-chairs.
Bryza said talk about recapturing Karabakh by force or any use of
force by any party is simply not helpful.
“It’s a mere statement of fact that my predecessor, Steven Mann, and
my current fellow co-chairs, have exerted all of the creativity and
all the negotiating energy that they could and they have gotten this
framework of core principles as honed as possible in their judgment,
such that the presidents, in their mind, need a little time to think
things over and decide whether or not they can accept or adjust this
framework. But what we’re saying in the statement is that there is
no more room for diplomatic creativity to make this piece of metal
shine a little bit more brightly,” said Bryza, with regard to the
June 22 statement of the OSCE Minsk Group in Austria.
According to him, from a political aspect, the compromise that will
follow an agreement is so important that it can be made by the conflict
parties only.
The U.S. co-chair thinks that the pullback of Armenian troops from
the occupied territories may reduce tension. “That’s why it’s a
core element of our core principles. But the Armenians aren’t just
going to pull back the troops because we say, “Golly, gee, that would
help reduce tension.” They’ll do it if they get something for it and
that’s precisely what these core principles are all about,” stated
Mathew Bryza.
He mentioned that the recent statement reflects the efforts for the
pullout of troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
“Demilitarization is the phrase used for troop pullback, and that, as
the framework indicates, should be, or could be, accompanied by some
sort of process that would lead to a population vote, or a referendum
vote on the future status of Karabakh. I think that’s, in the Armenian
mindset, extremely important, so that’s what the Azerbaijani side would
have to offer the Armenians, along with the other things within this
statement to which I refer you. On the Azerbaijani side, I think that
they are willing to consider the possibility of some type of a vote on
the status of Karabakh if many other elements of this overall package
are present. What gets difficult is how you correlate the withdrawal,
or the redeployment, of Armenian troops with the timing of a vote on
the future status of Karabakh,” said Mathew Bryza during his second
interview as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair.

IT ONLY SEEMS THAT 1998 RETURNS
Melik Avanyan
Lragir.am
30 June 06
Recently there has been a great deal of consideration that the 1998
coup inside the government may repeat in Armenia. Many people tended
to believe this, namely officials, who have been steadily gathering
around the Republican Party, which has already waited on the coup
inside the government once.
It appears that the stereotype of 1998 is deeply rooted in the
consciousness of Armenian officials. As soon as a complicated state
occurs in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, everyone hurries
up to keep away from the president of Armenia and take up a runner’s
position. The same is now. As soon as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
announced that they wash their hands and hand over the fate to the
presidents of the conflict sides, the officials of Armenia immediately
revived the image of 1998 and ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan in
their minds.
Now it is clear to even an outsider that these peddlars in politics
are going to run away from Robert Kocharyan’s sinking ship, who
has to tackle the current complicated situation. Serge Sargsyan,
imagining himself the analogue of the former defense minister and a
present superminister also broke away. Certainly, he is suspicious,
he is afraid of making mistakes. And he is right to be suspicious,
since unlike his brothers-in-arms runners he is well aware that he
will not be determining the fate of power in Armenia, moreover, the
fate of Karabakh. Simply, he might be hopeful that 1998 will reoccur.
At that time it will be important to assume a convenient position,
for he may manage to jump across the precipice once again.
It would be good, of course, if Serge Sargsyan thought over his
suspicions, which are quite justified. It appears, however, that the
stereotype of the blessed 1998 also prevail over his thoughts. What
should he do if in Armenia they have seen nothing except a coup?
There is no point in relying on elections because he will get the same
3.3 percent as in 2003. There is no place to go, President Kocharyan
has placed him outside the framework of his plans. Besides, he is
not going to quit power. Perhaps, Serge Sargsyan is hopeful that
forces from the outside will make Kocharyan quit. In the meantime,
the sanctuary cannot be left vacant, and he must be ready because
hunters for presidency are all around.
This is for our officials. For Armenia and its political future,
the situation is grave. Mathew Bryza, the new U.S. co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, offered a serious problem to President Kocharyan:
untie the diplomatic knot of Karabakh, and at the same time tackle
the problem of democratization of the country’s political system.
There is no way back. The time is over. All the stipulations assumed
the form of an ultimatum.
It is clear that if he tries to avoid the task and wait until hard
times are over, the super powers will start changing the state of
things themselves, making it even more complicated. The game is
over, and it was not accidental that 235 million dollars was hung on
Kocharyan. They may also add the problems of Karabakh. The problem
would be much more complicated then, and failure in this direction
would mean the end of Kocharyan. Hence, there is only one way out,
especially that the end of the term of presidency is drawing nearer,
and there is no time to maneuver. In addition, for the first time,
he has to act on concern for the country’s future, not on personal
concerns. It happened so, and it is even unusual.
It seemed that he could follow Levon Ter-Petrosyan, with a slight
difference of course, rejecting the agreement on settlement of the
Karabakh conflict and leave as a hero. This way of becoming a hero
is practiced in Armenia only. Everyone is already getting bored by
heroes. Everyone demands progress and considers it a dimension of a
hero. Besides, this will not solve the problem. For it has been put
clearly that the political system must be made democratic, and in
the world they do not joke about such things.
Here is a paradox. They did not even allow Kocharyan to retire
quietly. And it is quite clear why. If he retires, he will hand over
power to our corrupt officials, who are already standing in a queue
led by Serge Sargsyan. The world will never forgive Kocharyan, because
Armenia is an important country with an important role in the region:
nobody would allow “pageantry”.
What is left to do? A very simple solution: if it is impossible to
settle the Karabakh issue even through a resignation, the question
of democratization of the country must be solved. In that case, it is
possible that the stipulations for Karabakh will become softer. We saw
how the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev was caressed in the United
States. Whereas all he did was put a group of corrupt officials to jail
during the election. He did it and appeared as a great democrat. Maybe
he treated his father’s brothers-in-arms unfairly, but they had
treated both the state and the son of that father unfairly.
Our Armenian corrupt officials are also being unfair. They immediately
left the president as soon as he appeared in a difficult state. It
is wrong. They may follow Aliyev’s example, of course, and put them
to prison, especially that the reasons are many. But it is also
possible to direct them towards their dream and dismiss them from
offices as soon as it is possible and let them “soar” over the free
political sphere. Arthur Baghdasaryan disagreed with the president,
he moved towards freedom. Let those who disagree leave as well. For
they believe they can do everything.
Robert Kocharyan has taken a strange step so far. At the sunset of
his presidency he betrayed his belief that his party is his people,
and started setting up his own political party – Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia). It is true that he is shy to confess that it
is his own political party and there is no place for our corrupt
officials there (perhaps he cannot explain to his brothers-in-arms
why), but he is building the political party more intensively. What
is he doing it for? Perhaps he does not know. Let alone the others.
But now there is no necessity to think. Everyone, who is able to
perceive, even those who have mercantile aims, would clear the
government of the present officials and appoint pro-state figures
to these positions. And let Bargavach Hayastan spread over the
vast fields of “free power”. For Arthur Baghdasaryan occupied the
opposition, and Serge Sargsyan’s official republican club will soon
find its place for election in another country far away from Armenia
(his experience in coercion and trade may prove useful), and if he
does not want, the model of Aliyev Jr. may be applied, providing
corrupt officials with custody where the law provides for it.
Robert Kocharyan, however, may realize that “battling corruption” is
also a powerful political mechanism, more powerful than administrative
terror and trade. If he had realized this, nobody would have offered
an ultimatum to Armenia. However, this is already his problem,
and he will have to answer for the artificial feeling of dignity,
not people. Armenia will overcome this situation on its own.
The world did not start and will not end with Kocharyan. Simply
everyone is tired of permanent destruction. Let do something properly
at last!