NKR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: LATEST PROPOSALS MADE BY OSCE MG MAY SERVE AS A BASIS FOR NK TALKS
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 6 2006
Latest proposals made by the OSCE Minsk group on Nagorno Karabakh may
serve as a basis for the Karabakh talks, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
/NKR/ National Assembly Chair Ashot Gulyan stated in Stepanakert today,
while commenting on the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs’ joint statement
on the principles of the Karabakh conflict settlement.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the NKR FM Georgy Petrosyan
devoted to the outcomes of their U. S. visit, Ashot Gulyan at the same
time noted not all provisions of the statement were acceptable for
the Nagorno Karabakh and RA leadership. In his words, the mediators
made public the proposals on the settlement’s basic principles to
initiate their discussion by the conflict parties’ societies. He
expressed opinion that the OSCE Minsk group made an opportunity for
the parties to find the issue’s settlement on their own. Ashot Gulyan
took a favorable view of the fact that “judging by the Minsk group
Co-Chairs’ proposals, the settlement will be overall”.
While speaking about the possibility of the conflict settlement current
year, Ashot Gulyan underscored that “the situation in Azerbaijan and
the Azeri leadership’s behavior testifies to the fact that Baku is
not ready for the settlement, which was mentioned in the course of
the U. S. meetings”. In his opinion, the Azeri party’s consent to a
dialogue with Nagorno Karabakh will become a signal that Azerbaijan
really strives for the conflict settlement. “I believe till the end
of the year the mediators will attempt to invigorate the settlement
process, however, one should hardly wait for Azerbaijan to alter its
stand”, the NKR Parliament Speaker noted.
Commenting on the possibility of the international peacemaking forces’
introduction to the Karabakh conflict zone, Ashot Gulyan stated,
“The talks on a peacemaking operation are premature”. Having called
the peacemaking forces a guarantor of the preservation of peace and
implementation of an agreement achieved by the parties, the Speaker
stressed armistice in the conflict zone was observed by the parties
without third forces’ participation, which is possible in the future
as well.
In his turn the NKR FM Georgy Petrosyan said, “We regard the
peacemaking forces’ possible dislocation with care”. The NKR FM
underscored the Karabakh party would wish to see the problem’s
solution, and not the elimination of the conflict’s aftermaths.
Georgy Petrosyan informed that the Karabakh party had expressed its
concern to the OSCE Minsk group U. S. Co-Chair Matthew Bryza on the
settlement principles’ publication. “Our stand is unchangeable –
Nagorno Karabakh participated in making a truce, therefore it has
got the right to take part in the negotiation process that resolves
its destiny”, the Minister underscored.

FOR JANUARY – JUNE 2006 NATURAL INCREMENT OF NKR POPULATION FELL FOR 5.6% AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD 2005
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 6 2006
According to the information DE FACTO Agency received at the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic /NKR/ National Statistic Service, in the first
half-year 2006 983 babies was born in the Nagorno Karabakh versus
1019 babies for the same period 2005. Natural increment of the
population for January – June 2006 made 322 people, which is 5, 6 %
lower than the level of the same period 2005. Mechanical increment
of the population for the same time was 15 people.
In June 2006 consumer price index made 105, 9 % as compared with last
December, including that of food products (involving alcohol drinks
and tobacco) – 107, 3 %. The index of non – food goods’ prices made
104, 9 %, pay service rate – 101, 1 %.
Sharp rise in prices for fish products, potatoes, vegetables and
fruit has been registered in the Republic. In the first half-year
2006 consumer price index made 103, 4 % as compared with the same
period 2005.

7 MOUS ON ENERGY INKED BETWEEN IRAN AND ARMENIA
Persian Journal, Iran
July 6 2006
Iranian and Armenian officials signed up seven Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) in the fields of energy, economic and industrial
infrastructures, legal and cultural heritage cooperation. The MoUs were
signed by officials in the presence of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian.
For one document, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his
Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian signed an MoU concerning Iran’s
development aids in the field of industrial and economic infrastructure
for Armenia.
In another MoU, Energy Minister Parviz Fattah and Armen Movsisyan
signed a cooperation agreement in the field of energy.
The two countries agreed in another document to cooperate in the
field of legal issues.
Iran’s Justice Minister Jamal Karimi-rad and Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian inked an agreement about extraditing criminals.
Dissemination of information in the field of cultural heritage was
another MoU signed up by officials from Iran’s Cultural Heritage
Organization and Armenian Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs.
Also agreement about financing electricity power line project was
signed.
In the last MoU, the two countries agreed on the implementing program
of the third electricity power line between Iran and Armenia.
Armenia is located in the Caucasus region and borders with Georgia
in the north, Azerbaijan east, Turkey west and Iran south and it does
not have access to the open sea.
Armenia does not have any oil or gas resources, but has rich mines
of gold, copper, zinc and lead.
The country achieved its independence on September 21, 1991 from the
former Soviet Union.
Armenia’s population is about 3,300,000 according to the census
on 2002.

AZERI OFFICIAL DENIES REPORTS ON BAKU’S CONSENT TO HOLD REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH
Turan news agency
3 Jul 06
Baku, 3 July: Speculations that Azerbaijan has agreed to hold a
referendum in Nagornyy Karabakh on its status is a lie, Azerbaijani
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has told reporters commenting on
relevant statements by Armenian officials.
He said that the Azerbaijani side had repeatedly spoken about the
possibility of holding only a nation-wide referendum on the country’s
entire territory.
That is reflected in the constitution and the country’s leadership
does not intend to revise its opinion.
As to a statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen on the Karabakh
peace talks, Azimov said that it was “premature” to make final
assessment until the end of the talks. Probably, the co-chairmen’s
statement was aimed at “checking public opinion”. However, the
statement was not comprehensive. “Separate passages taken out of
context cannot form an objective idea on the content of the talks,”
Azimov said.
In addition, the Armenian side distorts the content of the talks and
interprets the referendum subject in a manner advantageous to them.
Azerbaijan’s position is clear: political issues can be settled
only when military consequences of the conflict are eliminated. “The
Azerbaijani population should return to Nagornyy Karabakh. For this
purpose, a peaceful atmosphere should be created and the occupied
territories should be liberated. The Armenian side has accepted this
logic,” Azimov said.
He denied Armenian reports about a special status of [occupied]
Lacin and Kalbacar districts. Both sides are interested in the secure
functioning of the Lacin corridor via which Azerbaijan has transport
communication with [Azerbaijani exclave of] Naxcivan and Armenia with
Nagornyy Karabakh.
As to Kalbacar, the issue of [ensuring] security of Nagornyy Karabakh
can be solved through the deployment of international observers
or peacekeepers.
Therefore, Armenians’ attempts to preserve control over Lacin and
Kalbacar are groundless.
Azimov also spoke about the impossibility of one-sided demilitarization
of the region. Commenting on the course of the talks, he said that
the effectiveness of the talks depended on political will of “the
opposite” side.

RUSSIAN-AZERI RELATIONS ARE QUITE OK – AZERI PM
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 6 2006
Russian-Azeri relations are quite OK, Trend reports quoting Artur
Rasizadeh, Azeri Prime Minister, receiving Valentin Buravlev, deputy
Governor of Chelyabinsk Region, the Russian Federation, in Baku.
Azeri Prime Minister said Azeri-Russian relations are successfully
progressing both at federal and regional level. Rasizadeh informed
the guest of Azeri-Armenian conflict , refugees sate and Baku’s
peaceful efforts.
In turn, Buravlev informed Prime Minister of meetings held with heads
of various governmental authorities of Azerbaijan and documents
signed. He stated his confidence in the further development of
relations between Azerbaijan and Chelyabinsk Region.

MATTHEW BRYZA: FURTHER STEPS OF THE PEACE PROCESS DEPEND ON THE PRESIDENTS
ArmRadio.am
07.07.2006 14:30
US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza declare that the
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have political will, “but we do
not know whether it will suffice to take the last complex decisions
and agree upon the basic principles of peaceful settlement.”
Matthew Bryza noted that the further steps of the peace process
depend on the President, “since heads of states are responsible for
the prosperity, peace and democracy in their countries.”
“Minsk Group Co-Chairs consider that the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan should prepare their peoples and primarily the political
societies to think about serious mutual concessions, which both
countries should make if they want to reach an agreement,” Matthew
Bryza said.
“By saying political society I do not mean only the non-governmental
organizations. I’m speaking about the whole population, since
everyone watches TV, read newspapers and listen to radio, and they
should better understand how the discussions are proceeding. I hope
that understanding this, they will support the complex decisions and
mutual concessions the Presidents will have to make,” Matthew Bryza
said in an interview to BBC Russian service.

8TH CHAMPIONSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL GAMES OF SOUTH CAUCASUS TO START IN GEORGIA
ArmRadio.am
07.07.2006 10:38
The 8th championship of intellectual games of South Caucasus will
start today in Georgia. 30 teams from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan,
as well as from South Ossetia and Abkhazia will participate in the
contest to be held at the ” Kalkheti” hotel of Kobuleti.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER: NKR HAS THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT MAY DEFINE ITS FATE
AZG Armenian Daily
07/07/2006
In end July-early August Matthew Bryza, OSCE MG US Co-Chair is going
to visit NKR. Ashot Gulian, Speaker of NKR Parliament, and Georgiy
Petrosian, NKR Foreign Minister, told the journalists about this today.
Gulian stated that at the meeting with Bryza the sides touched upon
the recent interview of the US Co-Chair.
“Bryza said that he just announced the common opinion of the
co-chairs,” Gulian said, adding that they thoroughly informed Bryza
about the latest developments and the beginning of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict to deepen his idea of the settlement process.
Petrosian stated that they expressed concern about the publication
of the certain elements of the negotiation process, as well as about
the point in the interview which links the settlement of the conflict
with the Armenian-Turkish relations. NKR Foreign Minister emphasized
that NKR Foreign Ministry isn’t going to make any official statement
on the above-mentioned interview of Bryza at the current stage.
^_As for the latest suggestions of the OSCE MG co-chairs, Mr. Gulian
said that the document might only serve as a ground for the
negotiations, as not all of the points in that are acceptable for NKR
and Armenia. At the same time, Gulian said that the actions of the
Azeri authorities testify that Baku isn’t ready for the settlement,
yet. He said, if Azerbaijan agrees to negotiate with NKR, that will
mean that Baku is ready for the conflict settlement.
In his turn, Petrosian stated that in the course of the settlement
process a new situation was created and it’s hard to say in
which format the negotiations will launch. “The position of NKR is
unchanged: NKR participated in the establishment of the cease-fire,
and, therefore, it has right to participate in the negotiations that
may define its fate,” Petrosian underscored.

TREASURY OF THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY IS OPEN TO ALL COMERS
ArmRadio.am
07.07.2006 11:27
Press Service of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin clarified the terms
of visiting the Treasury, Art Gallery and Museum of the Mother See. The
Press Service informed that the Treasury is located on the territory
of residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians. Whoever the visitor
is, the permission of entry is given by Bishop Paren Avetickyan or
his Deputies. The Treasury is open to all comers notwithstanding
citizenship or social conditions. Currently construction works are
under way on the territory of the Mother See. The Treasury w ill
be separated from the residence of the Catholicos, so that in the
near future there will be no necessity of receiving special entry
permission.

RA LAWS ON STATE DUTY AND LICENSING TO BE AMMENDED
ArmRadio.am
07.07.2006 11:52
July 6 President Robert Kocharyan signed the Laws on implementing
amendments in RA Laws on State Duty and Licensing.