FORMER YEREVAN DEPUTY MAYOR EXPLAINS WHY HE QUIT DISTRICT MAYORAL RACE
Armenpress
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Arman Sahakian, a former deputy Yerevan
mayor who first had defied his Republican Party’s ruling board’s order
to quit the campaign for the election of a Yerevan district mayor,
but then made a surprise decision to walk out of the struggle for
the post, told journalists today becoming a district mayor was not
an end in itself for him.
Arman Sahakian argued that he abandoned the mayoral race because
that was the decision of his Republican Party’s governing board. “I
regarded and regard the position of a district prefect as a platform
for implementation of community development projects. My refusal to run
for the post must not be transformed into a political show,’ he said.
His major rival, the current mayor Artsrun Khachatrian, who is believed
to enjoy the support of the chief prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian, also
walked out of the campaign. Arman Sahakian, who is the son of Galust
Sahakian, the chairman of the Republican Party’s parliamentary faction,
said he wanted to become mayor to fight against what he said was ‘the
flagrant violation of urban construction norms in the district that has
been flourishing under the incumbent mayor’s rule.’ Four candidates
have been nominated for the position, one of them is Ruben Hovsepian,
chief prosecutor’s youngest brother. The election is scheduled for
October 29.

Armenian and Azeri FMs to Meet in Moscow Today
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 13:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian and Azeri FMs V. Oskanian and
E. Mammadyarov will meet in Moscow. As Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE
MG for Nagorno Karabakh settlement Yuri Merzlyakov reported at a
news conference in Yerevan, later a meeting of Armenian and Azeri
Presidents is possible. “After the meeting of Armenian and Azeri FMs
speaking of a meeting of Armenian and Azeri Presidents is possible,”
OSCE MG French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated in his turn.

Lavrov: Meeting with Oskanian and Mammadyarov Productive
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 13:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian FM Sergey Lavrov positively evaluated the
outcomes of his meeting with colleagues from Azerbaijan and Armenia
E. Mammadyarov and V. Oskanian, who arrived in Moscow to discuss
the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. In the words of the Russian FM, “the
meeting was productive.” A diplomatic source in Moscow reported that
“the major topic of the tripartite conversation relates to searching
for ways to solve the Karabakh conflict.” As OSCE MG Russian Co-Chair
Yuri Merzlyakov had reported earlier, the agreement over the meeting
was reached as a result of the talks with OSCE MG co-chairs in Baku
and Yerevan, reports ITAR-TASS.

EU “Privileged Partnership” Arranged for Turkey?
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 13:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Angela Merkel is leaving for Turkey amid a crisis
of relations of that country with the EU. Ankara considers the German
Chancellor as a reliable partner and expect positive signals. European
Commission is concerned with insufficient level of freedom of
expression in the country. Article 301 of the Criminal Code of the
country provides for imprisonment up to 3 years of insulting Turkey
and its state institutions. Thus, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli
Rehn urged Turkey to reforms.
Angela Merkel is expected to touch upon the issue on criticism that
aroused in Turkey owing to Pope Benedict XVI’s statements on Islam,
Reuters reports. Ankara’s response doubted its role as a “bridge”
between Europe and the Islamic world.
Turkey’s stand over the Cyprus also causes EU pretension. Turkey has to
open air and sea routes with Cyprus, as stipulated by the EU Treaty on
Customs Union. Otherwise talks on EU accession may be suspended. Merkel
has an non-compromising position regarding EU demands towards Turkey
to recognize Cyprus. As the Chancellor’s Department stated October 4,
“there will be no indulgence in terms of EU accession for Turkey.”
Angela Merkel is one of those, who do not believe Turkey may become a
full EU member. She has a concept of “privileged partnership”, i.e. a
level of cooperation, which is already achieved. Representatives of
the conservative camp of Germany have even harsher demands, demanding
ceasing EU talks with Turkey, reports Deutsche Welle.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kazimirov: One Should Not Chase Soap Bubbles from Aside in Karabakh Process
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian and Azeri FMs will focus on two
known factors or “principles” of settlement out of almost 10 –
referendum over Nagorno Karabakh and the schedule of withdrawal of
troops. One-sided concessions should not be expected – progress may be
only mutual, former Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE MG Vladimir Kazimirov
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, guessing the results
of the meeting of the FMs is rather awkward. “Nothing can be decided
on Karabakh issue in other places,” the Russian diplomat said. This
is confirmed by the parties failing to meet the UN SC resolutions in
1993, except for the cease-fire,” Kazimirov underscored.
“The case had at the time an extraordinary development – the SC
refused to receive them over the Karabakh at all due to ignoring the
resolutions. Urges to fulfill these, made by the parties to conflict,
are hypocrisy examples. It is necessary to solve the conflict there,
where it should be solved and not to chase soap bubbles from aside. For
the time being the party, which is most interested in a peaceful
settlement, is isolated from contacts, the other is not hurrying
that much and the third does not wish it in the near future. 2006
is almost over, but it cannot hand on the baton to the next year,
but only 2009,” Kazimirov said.

Semneby Does Not Consider Karabakh Process “Absolutely Hopeless”
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 14:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby stated at a meeting of the EU Foreign Relations Committee
that Armenia and Azerbaijan drag the time during the process of
Karabakh conflict settlement. In his words, Azerbaijan hopes for the
profit from oil to allow the country to become “richer and stronger
from the military point of view.” “Building arms is a serious cause
for concern and it has an impact on the circumstance that Azerbaijan
does not consider solution of the Karabakh conflict extremely urgent,”
Semneby stated. At the same time the EU Special Representative does
not think the situation around settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is “absolutely hopeless.” At that he reported he will soon
meet with Armenian and Azeri FMs, reports RFE/RL.

Romania Supports Armenia on Way to European Integration
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 14:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Romania is interested in Armenia continuing its
European integration process, Romanian leader Traian Basescu stated
in an interview with the Public TV Company of Armenia. At that he
noted that the beginning of this way is Armenia’s participation in
the ENP. “However, first of all interested in peace and stability in
the Transcaucasian region. In this context Romania supports Armenia
on its way to European integration,” Traian Basescu said.
At that Basescu noted the historically good relations between Armenian
and Romanian peoples. Specifically, he reported that many Armenians
live in Romania, two of which have high political posts. “We are also
united by interest in stability and peace in the Black Sea region,
as well as religion and culture,” the President underscored, reports
Novosti-Armenia.

Moscow to Host 8th Session of Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Economic Commission
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 15:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 9 an Armenian delegation led by Secretary of
the Security Council at the President of Armenia, Defense Minister,
Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on
Economic Cooperation Serge Sargsyan will leave for Moscow to take
part in the 8th recurrent session of the Commission. As Spokesperson
for the Armenian Defense Minister, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, representatives of ministries,
departments and organizations of Armenia and Russia will take part in
the meeting. Implementation of a number of protocols, development of
bilateral treaty and legal base, ensuring the functioning of Armenian
enterprises conveyed to Russia within Property for Debt agreement,
as well as fuel and energy, transport and humanitarian cooperation
are expected to be discussed during the session.

Visit of Members of PACE Subcommittee on Karabakh May Be Postponed to Next Year
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 15:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Speaker, PACE Armenian delegation leader
Tigran Torosyan met with Chair of the PACE Subcommittee on Karabakh
Lord Russell-Johnston and PACE Azeri delegation leader Samed Seidov,
reports the Press Office of the Armenian Parliament. During the meeting
Russell-Johnston noted that the visit of Subcommittee members to the
region is not in the most favorable time and proposed to postpone
the visit to the next year. He also proposed a discussion with
participation of members of Armenian and Azeri delegation at PACE
January meeting. The interlocutors agreed to specify the agenda of
the discussion soon.

POLICE ARREST MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING AVIASERVICE HEAD
Armenpress
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian police have arrested a man,
Robert Sarkisian, who is charged with killing Arthur Khalatian, head
of Aviaservice company, whose body was found in a car in Zar village
of Kotayk province on September 30.
The arrested man had an accomplice, Henrik Hovnikian, who is on the
run. The police said Robert Sarkisian, a resident of Byureghavan town,
and the second man who is his cousin, plotted and killed Khalatian
to seize his apartment in downtown Yerevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress