Elmar Mammadyarov discontent with the self-estrangement of the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs
ArmRadio.am
14.07.2006 13:16
Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov declared he is not satisfied
with the “self-estrangement” of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs from
the negotiations process over the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Elmar Mammadyarov declared that the Co-Chairs should continue their
activity. The Azeri Minister noted that “almost all the points have
been agreed upon. There are, however, a number of provisions, which do
not allow the parties to come to an agreement.” He said that currently
the sides are exchanging views on these issues.
To remind, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said this week that
Baku and Yerevan are not holding any consultations for bringing
positions closer. Vardan Oskanyan noted that the Armenian side is
ready to continue the talks based upon the mediators’ suggestions
and anticipates the same on the part of Azerbaijan.
Elmar Mammadyarov said also that he met US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Matthew Bryza, who will soon visit the region. The Azeri Minister
noted he anticipates new ideas from Bryza, since “new Co-Chairs always
do that way.”

WILL ROBERT KOCHARYAN GO ALL THE WAY?
Lragir.am
14 July 06
In the evening of July 12 the Audit Service of the president of
Armenia informed press that serious cases of abuse were revealed in
privatization of state property and land. The cases of abuse revealed
by the Audit Service are so serious that action was taken.
If the Kocharyan administration has just learned about the cases of
abuse in the sale of state property and land, the society has long
been aware of its criminal nature. And if the society was sursprised
at the information, only because the society did not expect that such
revelations are possible in Armenia. On the other hand, there were
no revelations as such. It was merely announced that serious cases
of abuse were reported, and action was taken. The information is not
full, for there are no names of government agencies, public officials,
who are suspected of criminal deals and embezzlement of public money.
In other words, the crime was reported, the criminals will be revealed
later. But it will not take much effort because public crimes and
public criminals are so many that one only needs to match them. In
fact, we must expect that currently the administration is thinking
over matching these. In fact, the role of investigation is going to
be smaller than the role of politics. There is a lot of evidence
to this. The work of the Audit Service of the president gathered
momentum two years ago, when they started hinting at scandalous
revelations to be made soon. These did not take place however,
instead the investigation continued. A year ago they took up the
sphere of expropriation of state land and property. Several months
ago Robert Kocharyan made serious statements. He even threatened to
sue the director of one of the Agencies for Program Implementation,
appointed by the prime minister. Public revelations, however, were
being late. And now they are here. They are made after Mathew Bryza
announces about learning from Azerbaijan, immediately after the
Iranian visit of Robert Kocharyan, by the end of Levitin’s visit,
when the result of the investigation of the crash of A320 is presented
to the president. Finally, the revelation is made when ten days are
left until the extraordinary conference of the Republican Party. It
is notable that the Republican officials attend to the privatization
of state land and property.
Hence, Robert Kocharyan makes a knight’s move on the eve of the
Republican conference, which was said to become a crucial superpartisan
moment for the Republican Party and the defense minister Serge Sargsyan
to acquire a leading position in the Republican Party. The expression
“knight’s move” is losings its originality in the political sphere of
Armenia. However, the president does not have a problem of originality
when someone predicts that this fall Serge Sargsyan will take the
power, who has files on everyone.
In this circumstances all the president can do is show who is the
landlord and what intentions it has. It is not accidental that this
move is made with the knight. “The one who will be up against him
with a knight, he will get the reply with a knight.” It is difficult
to say, however, that the announcement of the Audit Service of the
president is a reply. If yes, it is not a full reply, because it is
important to punish criminals, not to announce about the crime.
Besides, it is rather important who will be punished, an ordinary
official or we will see an unprecedented revelation.
In this sense, any development appears possible except a determined
decision, and that the investigation will go all the way and the way of
“compromise” will not be chosen. In other words, the examiners and the
examined will come to an arrangement, including on a scapegoat. But
in this case the situation of the president may become even more
complicated. If Kocharyan fails to be consistent all the way, he may
lose the public support he might have got in case he went all the
way to reveal the criminals, even if they are people around him.
If he fails to be consistent, the president’s step will not get a high
evaluation of the West, which is no less aware of cases of abuse by
whom and where than the president’s audit service. In other words,
being well aware of the real situation, the West is also rigorous
in changing the situation. And if Aliyev’s example is cited, who put
ministers to prison, it is clear what is required from the president
of Armenia.
Half revelation is not in the home political interests of Robert
Kocharyan. The point is that his move, which might be against the
administrative-criminal resource of the Republican Party mobilized
by Serge Sargsyan, can push this resource to consolidation rather
than crush it. Even if they make a compromise, it will be a mere act
of temporising until they take all the power. In this case, Robert
Kocharyan’s has only one chance to avoid the “status of observer”
not to stop after this move, for otherwise this move may become his
last move.
HAKOB BADALYAN

REFORMS WILL CRUSH INTERESTS OF ELITE
Lragir.am
14 July 06
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan made a series of
interesting statements on internal policies July 14 at the
Hayeli Club, commenting on Armenia’s possibilities to counter the
challenges of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. Vardan Oskanyan points to three
resources to play down the factor of oil – internal, Diasporan and
international. According to the foreign minister, Armenia has a long
way to go in all the three directions.
“Today our problem should not be which political force will assume
the responsibility for ruling the country but what our problems are
going to be in the next decade,” says Vardan Oskanyan.
According to him, currently Armenia is coming to the finish of a
stage, which is marked by the end of two constitutional terms of
the president. “The two five-year terms of the president is over,
he cannot run a third term. The president must change. We also need
to be able to set serious goals. There was a definite problem of
continuity from the first to the second term, because there were
programs launched by the president which were to be completed. Some
of them finished, others are halfway, but we are probably facing a
more serious problem,” says Vardan Oskanyan.
This more serious problem, according to the foreign minister of
Armenia, is setting Armenia on a qualitatively new plane. The minister
believes that Armenia has this possibility today.
“Therefore I would like our intelligentsia, our journalists to be
able to develop these problems in the upcoming one and a half year.
Not only concentrate on the political forces but also concentrate
on problems and see which political force will be able to solve one
problem or another, whether it has the political will or not, whether
it is prepared to do it or not, whether it has the possibility
or not. We must be guided by problems, not political forces or
individuals,” says Vardan Oskanyan.
According to him, the problems are different. With regard to the
three resources of problem solution Vardan Oskanyan considers the
second generation of reforms. “Look, the main reason of positive
economic results is that we were brave enough to carry out serious
economic and political reforms. Economic rather than political,”
says the foreign minister. According to him, Armenia is at present
reaping the fruits of these reforms. Vardan Oskanyan thinks, however,
that these are the first generation of reforms.
“We must embark on the second generation of reforms. If we succeed,
believe me that the internal economic resource will be multiplied. I
am not saying will double, I say will be multiplied,” says Vardan
Oskanyan.
According to him, democratization is another resource, which also
must be part of the second generation of reforms. “And the second
generation of reforms are the reforms which first of all strike the
economic and political interests of the elite. The problem is which
political force will have the courage,” says Vardan Oskanyan.
The second resource, according to Vardan Oskanyan, is the resource of
the Diaspora. According to the foreign minister, Armenia is currently
using 2-3 percent of the Diasporan resource. “Why? Because there are
worries, confidence in the country, abuse, etc.,” says Vardan Oskanyan.
“Here are the reforms. New quality in Armenia-Diaspora relations.
The real political force, which will be able to involve the Diaspora,
will lead to a greater contribution of the resource of the Diaspora,”
says Vardan Oskanyan.
Third, the international resource, according to Oskanyan, depends
on the reforms of the first and second resources. “If we manage
to do this, the image of Armenia, the reputation of Armenia will
be improved. Armenia will become reliable, a reliable partner for
others, and there will be a greater influx of investments,” says
Vardan Oskanyan.
He does not want to be understood wrongly, making an impression that
something new will be setting off. According to Vardan Oskanyan,
considerable economic and political work has been done, and the
result is there. “But if we connect the issue with Baku-Ceyhan, the
great possibilities of Azerbaijan, we do not have other resources than
these three planes,” says Vardan Oskanyan. Therefore, according to him,
it is necessary to place the country on a new quality plane by way of
the next election, and “for right orientation the right goals should
be set”. “The goals should decide who must rule this country now,”
says Vardan Oskanyan.
The foreign minister states, however, that the path pointed out by
him should not be determined by a fair election, but the elections
should be determined by this path. “I say this in the context of
international relations, in the context of competition with Azerbaijan,
in the context of being a leader in the region. You see, it would be
a pity. Believe me that in the existing correlation today we are not
worse than out neighbors, I may even say we are good,” says Vardan
Oskanyan. He thinks that this reality is not only expressed in figures
but it is also visible. The foreign minister announces that we are
leading in the region, “which took an immense sacrifice”.
“But this is the best evidence to the fact that we can be a real
competitor. Because all this has been done using a very small part
of our resources. We have only one way of struggling against oil –
reliance on ourselves, best use of our resources,” says the foreign
minister. He states that Armenia’s resource is the three planes
he mentioned, and there is no need to look for anything else
anywhere. Vardan Oskanyan announces that he is optimistic, that
“our people are determined, and this time normal elections will be
conducted.” And according to Vardan Oskanyan, pursuing problems and
setting them correctly will favor normal conduct of elections.

President Robert Kocharyan visited the French Embassy in Armenia
ArmRadio.am
14.07.2006 12:38
On the occassion of the national holiday of France RA President
Robert Kocharyan and Mrs. Bela Kocharyan visited the French Embassy
in Armenia today.
The President congratulated the employees and noted with appreciation
that the Armenian-French coperation is developing rather effectively.
2006-2007 has been declared the Year of Armenia in France, which,
according to the assessment of the sides, is an evidence of the high
level of relations established between the two countries. According
to Robert Kocharyan, the Year of Armenia will help the French people
learn about the cultural heritage of the Armenian people having
century-old traditions.

Armenia the third in the 15th international “Slavyanski Bazar” festival
ArmRadio.am
14.07.2006 14:45
Karine Asryan of Armenia and Chicks of Italy took th ethird place
at the 15th international “Slavyanski Bazar” festival of pop songs,
receiving also a financial prize.
The Embassy of the Republic of Belarus told “Arminfo” Agency that
Oksana Bogoslovskaya of Russia took the Grand Prix of the international
festival. Natalia Gordienko of Moldova and Alexey Goman of Russia took
the first and second prizes correspondingly. Marina Vasilevskaya of
Belarus was awarded a special prize after Vladimir Mulyavin.
All n all 23 young singers from 20 countries were participating in
the 15th international “Slavyanski Bazar” festival of pop songs

European Commission welcomes opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
ArmRadio.am
14.07.2006 16:02
The European Commission welcomes opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline.
“Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will improve the security in regard
to the supply of oil and diversification of its ways, which is one
of our political objectives,” European Commissioner on Energy Andres
Pibalgsi said in as statement disseminated in Brussels. Yesterday he
participated in the official opening ceremony of the pipeline.
It is expected that by 2008 the volume of oil transported through
BTC will reach 1 million barrels or 50 million tones annually.

ARMENIA SCIENTISTS FIND ANCESTORS OF DINOSAURUSES
Minsk, July 13. ArmInfo. The expedition of the Armenian scientists
found the ancestors of dinosauruses in the Klyapino Kormyanskiy region
of Byelorussia.
“Yerkramas” informed ArmInfo that these amphibious newts are 20 cm and
are considered the ancestors of the dinosauruses. These newts can even
grown in special conditions. Sahak Atanesian, Doctor of Aetiology,
head of “Uniecofor” union, stated that they have been carrying out
special researches on newts in Armenia. The scientists have recreated
special conditions of the Jurassic period for the newts.
The discovery of the Armenian scientists is of special importance for
Byelorussia, as the pectinate newts are included in the Red Book. The
Armenian expedition has found an entirely unknown dwelling place of
the pectinate newts in the swamp near Klyapino village.

RA JUSTICE MINISTER:IF YOUR DOG BITES A PASSER-BY, YOU WILL HAVE TO
BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT
Yerevan, July 13. ArmInfo. RA Justice Minister David Haroutiunian
suggested to make a number of amendments in the current Administrative
Code of Armenia. He informed the journalists about this today, when
representing the initiative to make amendments to RA Administrative
Code. He said that the suggested amendments are conditioned by the
life and the court practice. He meant the unfair court verdicts that
were taken because of the drawbacks in the laws.
In particular, he stated that according to the current law, the
parents should bear responsibility for the damage made by a child
under 14, if it isn’t proved that the damage was made because of the
parents. The minister suggests to exclude this part, i.e. the parents
should always be responsible for the actions of children under 14.
The same thing concerns the educational or other institutions in
which charge the children are of. In the given case that institution
is as responsible, as the parents are. The next amendment concerns
the owner of an object in case of making a harm. The minister brought
the example when an upper neighbor pours you with water. “According
to the current legislation, the responsibility should bear the one
who makes the damage, i.e. the water. We suggest to make the owner
of the property bear responsibility,” he said. Besides, the owner
of the animal that bit someone should also bear responsibility for,
notwithstanding whether the animal escaped, was lost or is in the
charge of another man.
The minister also touched upon the so-called sources of special danger
that include the transport, the electricity lines, etc. In this case,
the owners should bear responsibility, if it isn’t proved that the
damage was made because of the suffered side. The owners also should
make compensations, if it is proved that the sources went out of
control without the awareness of the owner, for example, the sources
were stolen. In these cases, the owner is responsible, if the owner
didn’t take relevant measures to return his property. At the same
time, if the object is given to another person on legal grounds, the
owner is still responsible. For example, if you trusted your car to
someone who ran over a passer-by, the owner of the car is responsible
for the incident. The minister also touched upon the amendments in
the Criminal Code.

REFUGEES FORM AZERBAIJAN URGE ILHAM ALIYEV TO RECOGNIZE INDEPENDENCE
OF NAGORNY KARABAKH FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE IN REGION
Yerevan, July 13. ArmInfo. A network of a civil society “Refugees
and International Law” presenting the interests of 500,000 Armenian
refugees from Azerbaijani SSR and Nakhijevan appealed to the President
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for recognition of the independence of
Nagorny Karabakh.
In their appeal, the refugees, in particular, say that in response to
the political issues raised by the Armenian population, the authorities
of the Azerbaijani SSR applied force, organizing pogroms, murders
and deportation of Armenians from Sumgait, Kirovabad, Gazakh, Tovuz,
Baku and other towns having large Armenian population.
However, local Armenians could not defend themselves. Afterwards,
a second stage-expulsion of the autonomous Armenian population from
the villages of Karabakh started. Then, the Azerbaijani authorities
initiated large scale military actions against the Nagorny Karabakh
Republic that declared independence basing on the will of the
population of Nagorny Karabakh Autonomous Region, Shahumyan region
and Getashen sub-region. Then, NKR was in a full blockade due to its
enclave geographical position. The Azerbaijani Republic was defeated.
The borders of NKR and AR were changed as well. The Constitutional
Act on the state independence of Azerbaijani SSR dated 18 October
1991 contains a refusal of Azerbaijan from legal succession of the
Azerbaijan SSR. It not only means that Armenians expelled from the
Azerbaijani SSR cannot rely on the AR authorities in protection of
their rights, but also that AR can claim only part of the territories
of Azerbaijani SSR, created as “union of Armenians and Muslims.”
The atmosphere of armenophobia in AR, the memory of the tragic past
makes impossible the return of Armenians refugees to Azerbaijani
SSR and Nakhijevan. Taking into account the given realities,
Armenian refugees recognize NKR as the only legal successor of
Azerbaijani SSR, the refugees say. In their statement dated June 30,
the refugees applied to NKR authorities for relevant conditions for
their resettlement in the territories under the jurisdiction of NKR and
transfer of these territories to them on the private property rights.
It will partially cover their direct material losses. As regards
indirect losses, the refugees connect them with the privatization in
Azerbaijani Republic. They were illegally deprived of participation
in this process. The refugees believe it fair if Azerbaijani
authorities propose acceptable and adequate mechanisms of providing
Armenian refugees with a share from the profits from recovery,
processing, transportation and sale of oil and gas. And about the
most important. Of course, we are for durable peace based on mutual
protection and respect of interests. Recognition of NKR’s independence
by Azerbaijan will be the best guarantee of peace and prosperity in
the region, the refugees say.

U.S.-based Turkish professor facing trial over controversial book
AP Worldstream; Jul 14, 2006
A University of Arizona assistant professor has been charged in Turkey
with “insulting Turkishness” and could face a prison sentence.
Elif Shafak, who is a Turkish citizen, said she will stand trial
because of the words uttered by fictional Armenian characters in
her novel “The Bastard of Istanbul” _ a book she wrote while she was
living in Tucson.
In the book, an Armenian character refers to “Turkish butchers.”
The Turkish government and some international historians reject the
claim that a mass evacuation and related deaths of up to 1.5 million
Armenians living in Turkey from 1915 to 1923 was genocide. Turkey
also says the death toll is inflated.
Most Armenian and Western scholars say the massacres were genocide,
but Turkey has denied it, saying only that many Armenians died
of starvation, disease and exposure on forced marches to Syria in
retaliation against the Christian minority for reportedly collaborating
with Russia during World War I.
Shafak, 35, is on a one-year leave from her teaching post in the UA’s
department of Near Eastern studies.
She said her book was released in Turkey on March 8 and already has
sold more than 50,000 copies.
The charges against Shafak were filed under the controversial Article
301 of the Turkish Criminal Code.
The European Union has frequently warned Turkey that its efforts
to join the bloc could be hampered by Article 301, which sets out
penalties for insulting the Turkish Republic, its officials, or
“Turkishness,” and has been used to bring charges against dozens of
journalists, publishers and scholars.
No trial date has been set yet, Shafak said. Her case has been reported
in the Turkish media but has not been confirmed by prosecutors or
court officials.
Shafak said her book “questions two big taboos, one of them a political
taboo _ the Armenian Question _ and the other a sexual taboo _
incest. So it was not easy to digest for some people and it caused
a lot of stir.”