ANOTHER LETTER FOR ROBERT KOCHARYAN?
Lragir.am
27 June 06
On these days there has been a more intensive indirect dialogue
between Armenian and U.S. officials in the form of statements. The
new OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Assistant Secretary of State Mathew
Bryza made several interesting statements. Namely, he stated that
democracy in Armenia falls behind of Azerbaijan. Bryza had also
revealed the details of negotiations for the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. The reaction of official Yerevan shows how serious
these statements are. The press secretary of the president and the
Foreign Ministry tried to reply to Mathew Bryza, and the former even
threatened that Armenia would publish the history of the past 7-8
years of negotiations. In the meantime, the Lragir.am has learned
that besides statements the U.S. officials sent a letter to official
Yerevan. The letter is said to have been written by John Danilovich,
Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
There is information that Danilovich touched upon democratization in
Armenia, which is the main stipulation of the Millennium Challenge
Account. Moreover, he even said that the United States may reconsider
allocating 235 million dollars to Armenia.

WE HAVE NO TRUNCHEONS, THEY HOLD A CONGRESS
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
27 June 06
Count chickens in fall, Republicans in summer. We have to admit that
the Republican Party had not given the society a surprise during its
biography in power as it did by holding an extraordinary congress
on July 22. In the meantime, summer is raging in Armenia, and human
brains are on the point of melting. What a risk did the Republican
take, staking their own brain?
However, the midsummer extraordinary congress is out of fear
rather than out of risk. Besides, what is risking a brain for the
Republicans if the whole is risked, power, posts, business and finally
freedom? This is the reason for holding a congress of the Republican
Party at the high of the summer vacation. The party leaders hold the
congress on July 22 for the Republicans, who attend the congress,
not only understand but also feel that their leisure, interrupted
for a while, can be lost forever. For them to realize what they are
going to lose. If the Republican leaders are treating the activists
of their own party so severely, the situation must really be serious.
The Republicans could have waited until fall to hold a congress,
especially that the rest of the political sphere, including the
Republicans, delayed all the questions of political developments
until fall. What happened suddenly? What is the reason for this
hastiness? Especially for a ruling party, which added the post of
speaker of the National Assembly to that of the prime minister.
Perhaps they realized that they are given part by part to take away
the whole at once. However, most probably, it was too late when they
realized this. They should have known before taking it part by part
and refuse the part to keep the whole. Now they can only count on
the “great combinator”. However, he is not the same as he used to
be. It is true that now he is an honorary citizen of the Center,
but he has never liked to be in the center, especially as a citizen,
who can get killed in the street by a stray bullet. A citizen when
already dual nationality is under consideration.
In other words, a citizen should have been a past stage, but it is
just coming up. And many others are coming up. Some of them are from
the United States: an OSCE Co-Chair, an ambassador, directors of other
offices. They are coming, so let them come, but as soon as they come,
they make announcements, advising Armenia to learn democracy from
Azerbaijan. Whereas, how nice it was when there was nothing new!
Whereas, now the new are on the way, but statements are already
there. In this sense, the summer congress of the Republic is belated,
independent from what problems they are solving. They could have
spent the money of the congress more effectively, and bought 500
batons instead of 250 and distributed to the Police. Otherwise, how
much do they have to wave 250 batons for it to be cool in summer and
warm in winter?

IN WHOSE INTERESTS IS BRYZA’S REVELATION?
Lragir.am
27 June 06
The principles of settlement of the Karabakh issue, “uncovered” by the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza, are not in the interests of
Karabakh, stated Vahram Atanesyan, Chair of the Committee of External
Relations of the NKR National Assembly.
According to him, these revelations were addressed to the Armenian
public because they are in the interests of Azerbaijan. “In particular,
I mean the claims to return territories and uncertainty over the time
of settlement of the problem of status,” said Vahram Atanesyan.
Earlier an Azerbaijani foreign ministry official affirmed that the
“revealed” proposals are in the interests of Baku. It is interesting,
however, that the president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan stated that
the same proposals had been rejected by Azerbaijan.
Davit Babayan, political scientist, says Bryza’s step shows that there
are major controversies and hurdles in the process of settlement, which
are difficult to overcome. “Apparently, the talks for settlement did
not produce significant results,” said Davit Babayan. He also thinks
that the logic of Azerbaijan and certain international organizations
is unacceptable for Karabakh.
“Some of the liberated areas have the same role for the security of
Karabakh as the independent state. Real independence is impossible
without these areas,” said the political scientist.

POPULATION OF KASHATAGH DECLINES
Lragir.am
27 June 06
Over the past several years the population of the region of Kashatagh,
NKR has been declining. After the armistice the local government
had about 100 settlements populated, mainly thanks to extra sources
of funding and privileges. For instance, the people of Kashatagh did
not pay for electricity. Now there are no privileges, and some people
leave the region.
We cannot stop emigration because social conditions are very bad in
the region, says Hamlet Khachatryan, the head of the administration
of the region over the past two years.
According to the results of the latest census, 10 thousand people live
in the region. 51 out of 71 settlements do not have electricity supply.
Armo Tsatryan, the minister of territorial management and development
of infrastructures, affirmed that in 2006 another 12 communities will
have electricity. 140 million drams have been allocated for this
program. 50 million drams have been allocated for gasifying. This
year 35 families in the town of Berdzor will have electricity.
The settlement of Kashatagh is a strategic issue. In this context,
it is surprising that the population of the region is declining,
especially after the replacement of the head of the government of
the region. In other words, when the funding and governance of the
region is controlled by the NKR government. The former head of the
government of the region Alexan Hakobyan was completely independent
from the government of Karabakh. It is difficult to say whether it
was good or bad, at that time, however, the population grew and social
problems were solved quickly.

OBSCURE PLANS OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT IN KARABAKH
Lragir.am
27 June 06
The home political developments in Armenia are already reflected in
Nagorno Karabakh Republic, stated Alexander Arzumanyan, the former
minister of foreign affairs of Armenia, on June 27 at the Pastark
Club. Alexander Arzumanyan told news reporters that Karabakh is losing
its democratic image, which was one of the strongest trump cards of
the Armenian party in the settlement of the conflict.
Alexander Arzumanyan reminds that after the first election of Arkady
Ghukasyan Karabakh had a chance to be an island of democracy, but
now it is going to lose this chance.
“They conducted excellent presidential elections, a rather progressive
Election Code was adopted. These reforms led to an unprecedented
transparent and fair election of mayor of Stepanakert, where a
member of the opposition won. This logic should have been carried
on. I have said and I will repeat that the democratic development
of Nagorno Karabakh is one of the key warrants for settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh. And
the government of Karabakh stepped back as soon as they saw what is
going on in Armenia. Realizing that free elections suppose a change
of power, fear made them conduct the recent parliamentary election
in an Armenian manner,” says Alexander Arzumanyan.
He says home political life in Karabakh is made to resemble that of
Armenia, and the system of government is made oligarchic. Alexander
Arzumanyan thinks it is necessary to do everything to save Karabakh
from this danger. “Look, the Task Force for the Constitution of Nagorno
Karabakh was set up 5-6 years ago. Nobody heard anything about the
Task Force over the past 5 years. In May the Karabakh media reported
that two out of the ten chapters of the draft constitution were ready
and they were still working on the other eight chapters.
Two weeks later it was announced that the Constitution is ready. It
aroused suspicions and worries among the society in Karabakh that the
government of Karabakh is seeking for reproduction, and Ghukasyan is
likely to run a third term,” says Alexander Arzumanyan. According to
him, the Armenian government should not be allowed to implement its
obscure plants in Nagorno Karabakh.

GOVERNMENT IS IN SHOCK
Lragir.am
27 June 06
Armenia is facing a grave home political crisis and the home political
developments impact foreign policies, stated Alexander Arzumanyan,
the former minister of foreign affairs of Armenia at the Pastark
Club. Considering the grave home political situation, Alexander
Arzumanyan announced that he speaks neither as a former foreign
minister nor as a member of the All-Armenian Movement. “I speak as
an ordinary citizen of this country, who is worried about the future
of this country where my children will be living,” says Alexander
Arzumanyan. He thinks that the government in Armenia is concerned
about a single problem – its reproduction.
“In other words, the problem of reproduction of power has become
a prime problem, and the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh is used as
a trump card to keep this or that figure in power. In other words,
a group of people decided that they determine our future and they
must do everything to remain in their offices,” says Alexander
Arzumanyan. Alexander Arzumanyan believes that, “the will of our
people, the will of the citizens must dictate what we have to do in
the future.”
Alexander Arzumanyan points to the statements of the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chair Mathew Bryza as a consequence of the internal behavior of
the government. Alexander Arzumanyan also views Bryza’s statement in
the context of home policies. “So Bryza says that the president of
the Republic of Armenia can visit Washington if he carries out the
democratic reforms that Ilham Aliyev carries out.
This is another strange slap in the face,” says Alexander
Arzumanyan. According to him, there are problems with democracy
in Armenia, but we cannot be compared with Azerbaijan. “We have a
different notion, we have another system of values. Therefore, such
statements, when they simply dictate Armenia from above, is worrying,”
says Alexander Arzumanyan.
“If Bryza implies that Azerbaijan went a step ahead of us, and points
to the democratic elements of the recent parliamentary election, let
us see what preceded the election. Several weeks before the election
Ilham Aliyev arrested several people, on the whole 16 people, the
leaders of their mafia, charged with an attempt of coup.
In other words, if this is what he hinted at, Robert Kocharyan
is supposed to arrest 17 people from his aides, thus appearing
more democratic and able to compete with Azerbaijan. This is very
dangerous,” says Alexander Arzumanyan. He mentions that in Armenia
there are, in fact, a great number of people who deserve punishment,
but we cannot be compared with Azerbaijan.
“The society should dictate the list to Kocharyan, not Kocharyan
should make a list of 17 people to please one organization or another
and wage a crusade against corruption whose father he is, whose
embodiment he is,” says Alexander Arzumanyan. According to him, the
entire government should quit, and those who quit should try their
hardest not to appear on that list. “In other words, the society
makes the list. Me and you. We must do it together,” says Alexander
Arzumanyan. According to him, it should be explained to the society
that there cannot be arrests of officials chosen by Kocharyan. “The
regime, which has led the country into this situation, should quit,
and the theses of strongmen should be cracked down. All of them are
going to account for their actions,” states Alexander Arzumanyan.
He believes that the government is unable to explain their role in
this country. “They have nothing to add. The system collapsed, a
situation has occurred in which nobody knows what is happening. Look
at the nervous statements of the so-called top officials, look what is
happening in the political sphere. They are trying to explain people
that nothing happened after the Orinats Yerkir left the coalition,
but it is, in fact, on the verge of collapse,” says Alexander
Arzumanyan. According to him, the government is shocked.
“They are making statements about suspending party building. The
Attorney General we all know, who says that he has nothing to do with
the political party, with politics, announces now that he is suspending
the building of his political party. Look at Artashes Tumanyan. Look
at this situation. Look how he is expanding his Bargavach Hayastan
Party,” says Alexander Arzumanyan, hinting at Robert Kocharyan.
Alexander Arzumanyan believes that the media are also to blame for
this situation. “Because when one reads newspapers, the impression is
that there is nothing we can do against them. But the public is going
to read it. Who are they that nothing can be done against them? They
are reproached every day. Write about it, that they are in a miserable
state, and they cannot be even considered politically bankrupt because
they were supposed to have some capital to go broke. These are people
who do politics in tattered clothes. It does not matter that they spend
millions on setting up a political party,” says Alexander Arzumanyan.

FOREIGN MINISTRY DISPLAYS INABILITY
Lragir.am
27 June 06
On June 27 the former foreign minister of Armenia Alexander Arzumanyan
commented on the answer of official Yerevan to Mathew Bryza, the
American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, namely the statements of
the press secretary of the president of Armenia and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. According to him, the message of the foreign
ministry of Armenia in answer to Bryza’s statement is simply a display
of inability.
“So, what is said, Lachin was also discussed. Imagine a person is
sentenced to death and says the verdict was not read till the end,
it was not said that the bullet is made of gold,” says Alexander
Arzumanyan. According to him, this statement was an effort to dispel
doubts, but it made them deeper, showing that the negotiations are
for the security area of NKR. “In other words, unlike the victorious
policy of not even a patch of land, today the pullout of troops from
all the areas is discussed, which causes worries in both Armenia and
Karabakh,” says Alexander Arzumanyan. He stresses that the society
in Karabakh is tense because the issue has not been settled, which
also causes worries because this is a matter of security.
Alexander Arzumanyan says it is not strange that Bryza revealed
the details of the negotiations. “There has always been information
leakage throughout the years of the negotiations. This time it happened
publicly,” says Alexander Arzumanyan. He notes that what was revealed
became known to public in one way or another.
“If we view Bryza’s interview and statement in a couple of words,
the message is that the presidents must have courage to explain it
to their publics. Yes, it is possible that an effort is made to
involve the public in a debate, which is a regular thing. If you
can remember, the proposal of debate by Levon Ter-Petrosyan led to
a change of power. Another proposal of debate is made now,” says
Alexander Arzumanyan. He is not saying this proposal of debate will
lead to a change of power, but he is not denying it either.
According to Alexander Arzumanyan, it would be perfect if the Karabakh
issue did not become a subject of manipulation in home political
processes in Karabakh. However, according to Alexander Arzumanyan,
the government is responsible for this manipulation.
“The government made Karabakh an instrument for its reproduction,
therefore the other political forces are trying to manipulate the
issue,” thinks Alexander Arzumanyan. According to him, home political
processes in Armenia and the Karabakh conflict are interdependent. The
former foreign minister thinks that these two processes must be the
continuation of each other, and the development of one should not harm
the other. In the meantime, the government of Armenia has willfully
replaced Karabakh in the talks, whereas the president of Karabakh does
not seem to be related to this issue at all. “He does not even stay
in Karabakh, he is constantly traveling to different countries. If
you read Karabakh press, you will constantly come across the question
where Arkady Ghukasyan is,” says Alexander Arzumanyan. He believes
that the talks will fail unless the situation changes soon. Therefore,
Alexander Arzumanyan underlines the prevention of reproduction of
power in both Armenia and Karabakh.

FOR THE SAKE OF ARMENIA?
Aram Zakaryan
Lragir.am
27 June 06
The Dashnaktsutiun (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) faction
has worked out a conception of dual nationality and offered for
discussion. In the ARF they think that “dual nationality is a
unilateral obligation of Armenia to make Armenia the spiritual
homeland of all Armenians and foster repatriation.” How is Armenia
going to assume unilateral obligation to solve a problem, which
refers to at least two countries. What if no other country adopts dual
nationality? By the way, the world tends to reject dual nationality,
restrict the rights of dual citizens. The representatives of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation admit this.
In other words, the countries, which tasted dual nationality, did
not like it very much. And the ARF conception does not explain why
we are reluctant to learn from others’ mistakes and experience and
are trying to repeat the useless way the passed.
The ARF suggest granting citizenship of Armenia to people who will
offer proof of their Armenian origin. It is clear that there should be
some agency, which will check the Armenian origin, and it is possible
that some people will get a refusal. Hence, in countries with a large
Armenian community groups if not crowds of people who have a grudge
against Armenia will appear, which is not desirable with the currently
complicated relations within the Armenian Diaspora and with Armenia.
The ARF conception suggests that dual citizens must participate in the
defense of the Republic of Armenia as set down in the law and pay taxes
in the country where the source of their income and the most part of
property is. In other words, in Armenia men under age 27 or 35 are
drafted, and if one is not drafted without violating the law, they
will have no problems. Now imagine a great number of Dashnaktsutiun
members, who were born and lived abroad until age 27 or 35, become
citizens of Armenia and buy less property than they have abroad and
live on the income they earn abroad, they will have the same rights as
each of us, who survived the cold and dark days of economic crisis,
with a low income and quality of life, resulting from corruption and
protectionism, potential victims of street shootings. They will have
political rights as well, because although they know in the ARF that
in countries with dual nationality eligibility stipulates a period of
permanent residence in that country, they suggest in the conception,
that “in conformity with the renewed Constitution of Armenia there is
no restriction of the right to vote, therefore people who will get dual
nationality in Armenia will fulfill their right to vote.” The Armenian
Revolutionary Federation suggests conducting universal elections in
the territory of the Republic of Armenia only. We should agree that
for a political party such as the ARF it is as easy for a dual citizen
member of the ARF to arrive in homeland for a day as to piss.
We learn from the conception of the ARF that in a globalizing world
the countries are likely to introduce the notion of a world citizen.
It should be noted, however, that this is not done through dual
nationality. Again the ARF admits it. Only 54 out of 191 countries
of the UN adopted dual nationality. Some of these countries allow
only elements of dual nationality. Now everyone is going in for
restrictions. Our strategic partner Russia does not allow a dual
citizen to occupy high posts. Our key partner United States does not
allow its citizens to become subjects of other another country. And
if the globalizing world is establishing a “citizen of the world”,
it is achieved by opening borders, providing more opportunities and
cooperation with neighbors. Here is a path where the ARF principle of
genetic incompatibility is devoid of any sense and dual nationality
desired by the ARF has a tertiary role. For instance, the European
Union. First they created a common market and economy, provided new
opportunities of economic development, only then they are trying to
adopt EU citizenship. In addition, they are not in a hurry. It is
not essential to welfare.

SUMMER ADVENTURES OF THE ARMENIANS IN STRASBOURG
Margaret Yesayan
Aravot.am
27 June 06
The PACE summer session was opened in Strasbourg yesterday. The
delegation of Armenia; Tigran Torosian /the head of delegation/,
Stepan Demirchian, Artashes Geghamian, Armen Roustamian and Hermine
Naghdalian is in Strasbourg since Sunday and participates in the
works of the session.
SESSION BY DEMIRCHIAN
The member of the PACE sub commission of cultural heritage, PPA leader,
the head of “Justice” bloc Stepan Demirchian raised again the questions
of protection of New Jugha historical-cultural monuments. It has been
decided since the PA previous session that the representatives of the
commission must visit the region, to be introduced to the examples of
vandalism on the spot but that visit was being constantly postponed
for unknown reasons. It was assued during the sitting yesterday that
the delegation would visit the region soon.
Stepan Demirchian has informed that all necessary documents have
been introduced, the members of the commission are informed enough,
they must simply come and assure on the spot. One of the members of
the commission has been interested from the delegate of Azerbaijan
whether the security of delegation will be guaranteed in the territory
of Karabakh. The Azerbaijani delegate, glancing at Stepan Demirchian
has said; “Why do you ask me, ask Armenia.” Stepan Demirchian promised;
“I’m sure that the authorities of Karabakh will guaranteed for the
security of everybody.”
SESSION BY GEGHAMIAN
The head of “National Unity” fraction Artashes Geghamian taking part
in the sitting of the PA group of the European Christian-democratic
and European people’s parties round the work of Armenian delegation
in PACE yesterday counterattacked the member of Azerbaijani delegation
Mrs. Hajieva.
Issues on the commissions of the Azerbaijani delegation have been
discussed during the sitting, and Mrs. Hajieva has devoted the main
time of her speech to Armenians, as it is usual and declared again
about ”occupied territories”.
She has said that the Armenians are engaged in firing forests at the
length of those “occupied” territories. She has declared that she
has been informed about those fires by satellite connection. She has
proposed the PACE to be engaged in prevention of these crisis and very
serious fires. Artashes Geghamian has made his speech after her. First
of all he has congratulated Azerbaijan for becoming a ”cosmic state”
taking into consideration the fact that they communicate thanks
to satellite connection and then he thanked Mrs. Hajieva that she
highly marks the Armenian science as she connects the high weather
temperature with the Armenians. ”While the Armenian department of
state of emergency has rather realistic appraisal of fires, the reason
of fires is the high temperature though in case of those hard weather
conditions the Azerbaijani party doesn’t stop bombing of it artillery
addressed to the Armenian side though the document of mutual cease
fire signed more than a decade ago.”
Artashes Geghamian counterattacked the Turkish delegates, too. The
head of Turkish delegation Mr. Merchan has proposed to adopt a draft
about violation of the rights of Muslims in the region during the
discussion of the issue of the freedom of the speech and religious
beliefs. In response to this proposal Artashes Geghamian has presented
the violation used against the Catholicos of the whole Armenians
in Istanbul.
SESSION BY TOROSIAN
The NA chairman, the head of delegation Tigran Torosian passed us
yesterday the following; ”I can mention the matter of resignation
of the commissions of Azerbaijan among the issues discussed in the
sittings of the commissions. The Azerbaijanis produced 10 changes,
from which the commission only proved two editorial changes.” The
Assembly has concluded that the major part in 14/80 resolutions
hasn’t been committed and it decided to return to this question in
spring session in 2007 when the question of honoring commissions of
Azerbaijan will be discussed. Tigran Torosian considered the point
of fires as a usual Azerbaijan slander and the latters will try to
activate on the last day of the session when there will be a special
report about fires of forests in the agenda.
As regards the “counterattacks” of our delegation Mr. Torosian said
that those were simply usual disputes in political groups in the
result of which no document or decision is made.
–Boundary_(ID_Zdcb1ccosdXMRDYBQOoGCA)–

WRONG PROVIDENCE
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot.am
27 June 06
The detection of the main ideas /circular document/ of the peaceful
settlement offered to Armenia and Azerbaijan by the new appointed
OSCE Minsk group cochairman Mathew Brayza and the RA President Robert
Kocharian’s declaration in Minsk that Armenia was ready to adopt
that circular document as a ground in Bucharest, made the current
stage of the NK conflict rather simple and transparent. Armenia is
ready to leave the occupied territories instead of opening ways and
replacing peacemakers in the contact zone for holding a referendum
in Karabakh later.
The point is that Azerbaijan is against it. The leadership of that
country wants no replacement of Armenian forces and peacemakers but
replacement of the Azerbaijani forces everywhere. But in that case
by what the ”autonomy of high class” will be over, which as if
will be given to Karabakh, isn’t secret for everyone. That version
is offered for delaying the problem and later by strengthening the
army with ”oil money” to solve the problem by military way.
The project of “becoming rich by selling oil” seems to me a little
utopian, for example Kuwait or Venezuela must belong to the richest
countries of the world and to have the most powerful armies, which
isn’t so. The economy of the country can develop only by free rivalry
and by technologies of the 21st century.
The leadership of Azerbaijan misleads it people knowingly, telling
tales as if we live in darkness, die of hunger and if they insist
a little more, we’ll yield. Yes, Armenia is a developing, poor and
non-democratic country. But it is obvious that it doesn’t yield
Azerbaijan and Georgia. And these three countries can’t get out
from this situation together but with open borders and good-neighbor
relations.
I have already written that Brayza’s version if isn’t worse than
the version of ’97 “step by step”, isn’t also better. But it
shouldn’t become the point of internal political manipulations in
Armenia. Especially those who were for “step by step” version won’t
say we were offering it 10 years ago. The necessity of making peace
is higher than anyone’s personal ambitions.
–Boundary_(ID_kbilNHEytdJQl2liGTPNBw) —