ARMENIAN ELECTIONS AND DIASPORAN INVESTORS IN ARMENIA AND KARABAKH
Lragir.am
11 July 06
The nation is again facing a presidential election in Karabakh. For
independent Armenia and Karabakh elections imply immense funds for
some people, for others a new means of bargain votes enabling them
to get privileges. The same is for our Diasporan “compatriots”.
In other words, some people give some money during the elections and
in return for it they get land or a company, which is about “to go
broke”, and assume certain “obligations”, which they never fulfill
or they fulfill from one election to another election.
As a result, people lose a number of important “objects”, such as the
sport base of Dzoraghbyur, which was transferred to the new owners
of Ararat Football Club in 2001 by the decision of the government
for 50 years, who assumed sponsorship of the club and reconstruction
of the sport base (including 32 hectares of fertile land and several
thousands of fruit trees), which was privatized in 2004 for only 14
thousand U.S. dollars. It is said that after this deal 400 thousand
U.S. dollars appeared in the pocket of certain people, whereas at
that time this land cost as much as 1.5 million dollars. Anyway,
these people enjoy the protection of the NKR president and prime
minister, acquired supporters, who come from Armenia, and started
“cheating” the first persons of the country. In the same period they
gave a promise to the Ministry of Defense they would buy part of the
building of the Institute of Physics for 12 million dollars and many
other promises, namely 5 hectares of land in the orchards of Dalma,
where a modern watch factory would be built and the production would
be exported, which made the leadership of the state go “silent”. After
all, presidential and parliamentary elections are drawing nearer in
Armenia. In the same period these “businessmen-benefactors” enjoying
the protection of the NKR president and prime minister started
privatizing several companies, such as the Karabakh Hotel, which was
reconstructed by Spitak Tnak in 2002. The project was worked out by
Armenian engineers invited from Italy (by the way, the “benefactors”
did not pay them, and these people left Armenia forever). The old
building was pulled down in 2005, before the election, and now they
are allegedly continuing the work of Spital Tnak, but it is not known
by what project.
They bought the only factory of lead in Armenia and Karabakh, the Karin
Factory with 7 quarries, the only sport base and stadium of Karabakh
and many other companies. Besides, they got 2000 hectares of pastures
known as Shrlan, and another 2000 hectares of land in Fizuli to develop
wheat production there. In return for these, several tens of thousand
dollars was paid to the pre-election funds of the president and prime
minister of Karabakh. After this deal the president and prime minister
of Karabakh were hosted by these “patriots” in Switzerland and the
United States, where they went on discussing what else they could buy.
What do we have now? Today we may say that nothing is done in Karabakh
except for a little work on the Karabakh Hotel. The other enterprises
are idle. And most importantly, these people pay tens of thousands of
dollars to slush funds before every election, while people receive
nothing. On the eve of the presidential election they have again
started working on these enterprises to display to people that they
were able to engage investors to reconstruct the country.
Recently President Ghulasyan has personally met with these people and
asked for their support to run a third term, promising it is already
clear what.
VARDAN GABRIELYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WILL TER-PETROSYAN’S RETURN BE HELPFUL
Lragir.am
11 July 06
The first president of Armenia should give up meetings in the shade
and become engaged in politics openly, announced Member of Parliament
Hmayak Hovanisyan July 11 at the Hayeli Club. He mentioned that the
former leadership cannot quit politics, and in this sense it is normal
that they are engaged in political processes. They should come out
of shade politics, however, and start open activities. The member of
parliament says it would be expedient if Levon Ter-Petrosyan returned
to the political stage and led liberal forces. Hmayak Hovanisyan thinks
it would be helpful for the rehabilitation of the political sphere.

Pesident of Georgia to participate in the opening of BTC oil pipeline
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 11:46
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili will leave for Turkey today
to participate in the official ceremony of opening Baku-Tbilisi-
Ceyhan oil pipeline.
During the visit to Turkey the Pesident of Georgia will dwell on
the issue of acquiring an extra amount of gas after exploitation of
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline. Georgia intends to receive about
2 billion cubic meters of gas at a reduced pride.

FOREIGNERS ADOPT CHILDREN
Lragir.am
11 July 06
The minister of justice Davit Harutiunyan told the news agency ARKA
that 44 Armenian children were adopted by foreigners in 2005. In the
first half of 2006 four children were adopted by families from foreign
countries. According to the minister, foreign families annually adopt
50-60 children from Armenia.
Davit Harutiunyan also informed that 75 percent of families adopting
children from Armenia are Armenians living abroad or families of
Armenian origin.
The majority of these families live in the United States, Russia,
France and other countries with Armenian communities.

NATO proud of cooperation with non-member states
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 13:37
NATO is proud of cooperation with countries, non-members of the
alliance, particularly the Transcaucasian ones, NATO Secretary General
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer declared yesterday in Madrid.
The Secretary General underlined that NATO’s cooperation with
non-member states has started being established after the end of
the cold war, “Arminfo” informs. “Relations were established with
countries of Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia,” Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer noted.
To remind, Armenia cooperates with NATO in the framework of the
Individual Partnership Actions Plan, which envisages conduct of
reforms in the security system of Armenia.

David Nalbandyan the third best tennis player in the world
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 14:00
With 3185 points Argentinean Armenian tennis player David Nalbandyan
is the third in the list of the best tennis layers of the world
issued by the Professional Tennis Association.
Swiss Roger Federer, winner of the last Wimbledon Championship is
leading the list with 7260 points. Rafael Nadal of Spain is the second
with 5125 points. Ivan Lyubichich of Croatia occupies the 4th place
with 3125 points.

Relations between our countries are warm and friendly, Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Lebanon state
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 18:04
Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Fawzi Salloukh
is paying an official visit to Armenia. During the three-day visit
he will have meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, NA Speaker
Tigran Torosyan and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. The Minister
will be received also by the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin
II. After the meeting on July 11 the Foreign Ministers of Armenia
and Lebanon Vardan Oskanyan and Fawzi Salloukh gave a joint press
conference. The journalists’ questions referred to Armenian-Lebanese
bilateral relations, as well as to regional issues, including the
Karabakh conflict.
“Armenia and Lebanon have exceptionally good relations today. After Mr.
Harriry’s death the pace of economic processes and dialogue somewhat
slowed down due to various reasons.
This is Minister Salloukh’s first visit to Armenia, and we hope
this visit will help arrange the meeting of the Intergovernmental
Commission as soon as possible. The Armenian-Lebanese agenda is rather
deep and all-embracing.
Friendly relations exist between the two countries, and the existence
of the Armenian community is an important factor in interstate
relations, in the development of Yerevan-Beirut ties. There is an
extensive field for the further development of relations between the
two countries,” Minister Oskanyan remarked in his opening speech.
RA Foreign Minister noted that he had an interesting conversation
with Mr.
Salloukh on a number of questions.
“The Minister informed me about the processes under way in Lebanon. We
spoke also the events in Iraq. The Minister presented the [position of
Lebanon. I presented in detail the Karabakh issue, the content of the
talks, the latest developments, as well as other regional questions,
particularly focusing on Armenia’s relations with neighbouring
countries, considering also Armenian President’s last visit to Iran. It
was a rather productive dialogue, I’m content with the meeting an I’m
sure this visit will become a new impetus for the further development
of Armenian-Lebanese relations,” Minister Oskanyan underlined.
The Foreign Minister of Lebanon noted that he has a very constructive
talk with his Armenian counterpart.
“Our countries have very warm and close relations. During today’s
meeting we discussed the ways of deepening and reinforcing these
relations. These ties have an emotional side also. Lebanon is home
to a large Armenian community.
We are proud of them and appreciate their efforts and contribution
to the prosperity of Lebanon. We are proud of the Armenian community
also because during the disastrous war of 1975-1990 they did much
for the reconstruction of Lebanon. We are very proud of the role the
Armenian community played during the war,” Fawzi Salloukh said.
“We discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest:
Iraq, nuclear programs of Iran, Nagorno-Karabakh – Azerbaijan conflict
and many others. Armenia and Lebanon are active members of the
international community, and our views are similar in regard to the
establishment of peace and security in the region and the world. We
have a future of warm and friendly relations with Armenia. I invite
Minister Oskanyan to Lebanon to participate in the sitting of the
joint Armenian-Lebanese Commission,” the Lebanese Minister of Foreign
affairs and Emigrants added.
Turning to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue, Fawzi
Salloukh noted, “We do not see the Karabakh conflict as a religious
one. This is a conflict for land, and we are ready to apply efforts
and assist those who are trying to resolve the issue peacefully. We
are confident that wars proceed from the interests of the conflicting
sides, diplomacy and peace talks are proper way. We hope for a peaceful
end, which will satisfy both sides.”

WILL THE WEST PREVENT 1998?
Lragir.am
11 July 06
The opposition in Armenia ingenuously thinks that Robert Kocharyan
will reach signing an agreement on the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict, and it will lead to a resignation like in the case of
Levon Ter-Petrosyan in 1998. But it will not happen, forecast Hmayak
Hovanisyan July 11. According to him, the West will not allow Robert
Kocharyan’s resignation for having signed an agreement. The member
of parliament believes that the West will do everything to go all
the way to fulfill the principles of the agreement.
From: Baghdasarian

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS DETERMINED BRYZA’S STATEMENT
Lragir.am
11 July 06
50 percent of the readers, who voted to the poll of the Lragir,
think Mathew Bryza’s statement is connected with regional developments.
In answer to the question what determined Mathew Bryza’s statement
offered to our reader for over two weeks 50 percent of participants of
the poll answered “regional developments”. 22 percent of the readers
of the Lragir voted for the “conflict over Karabakh”. 17 percent
chose the answer “promotion of democracy in Armenia”. 11 percent of
readers chose the answer “hot political summer”.

European Parliamentarians demand Armenian Genocide recognition be
included in the negotiations roadmap
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 12:23
On Wednesday, July 12th, the European Parliament’s Committee for
Foreign Affairs will vote on a draft resolution on “Turkey’s progress
toward accession,” but not until it considers some 343 amendments
submitted to the report prepared by Mr. Camiel Eurlings, reported
the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).
While Mr. Eurlings’ report made only vague references to Armenian
concerns, the amendments tackle key conserves comprehensively. Many
parliamentarians from the main political parties – including the
Conservative, Socialist, Liberal, and Communist – unanimously call
on Turkey to “withdraw without condition the blockade of Armenia” and
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as “a prerequisite to accession”.
Further, many amendments urge the European Commission and Council to
include the Armenian Genocide as a perquisite in the Revised Accession
Partnership – the roadmap of the negotiation process.
“Twenty years ago, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on ‘a
political solution to the Armenian question’ the findings of which were
considered ‘insurmountable obstacles’ to Turkey’s accession. Twenty
years later, none of these issues has been resolved. Given these
circumstances, the continuation of the negotiations, without dealing
with the root concerns, is a political anomaly which must stop,”
commented Hilda Tchoboian.