ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN TEHRAN
IRNA website, Tehran
5 Jul 06
Tehran, 5 July: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan arrived in Tehran
at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation for an
official visit on Wednesday [5 July].
On hand to welcome the Armenian president and his entourage upon
their arrival at Mehrabad International Airport here was Iranian
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.
An official welcoming ceremony is to be held by Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinezhad for his Armenian counterpart at the Presidential
Office within the next few hours.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanan, Minister of Energy Armen
Movsisyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Kirakosian are accompanying
the president in this visit.
The Armenian president, during his two-day stay here, is scheduled
to hold separate meetings with President Ahmadinezhad and Foreign
Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.
The sides will also discuss issues of mutual interest as well as
regional and international developments.

AZERI DIPLOMAT BLAMES ARMENIA FOR SEEKING NEW BASIS OF TALKS
Trend news agency
4 Jul 06
Baku, 4 July: Consultations between foreign ministers, but not
presidents, are the basis for peace talks on the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the head of the press and
information policy department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry,
Tahir Tagizada, has told Trend.
He expressed surprise at the latest statement of the co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group, which “again insists on the necessity of holding
a meeting of the presidents so that they can take the initiative”.
“But everybody knows very well that contacts and talks between foreign
ministers form the basis for a negotiation process. They must discuss
a whole spectrum of issues and develop a basis for a possible future
meeting and discussions between the presidents,” Tagizada said.
At the same time, he pointed out the similarity of approaches in
the statements of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and Baku on a
stage-by-stage solution to the conflict. First, all the occupied
Azerbaijani territories around Nagornyy Karabakh are liberated,
the Armenian armed forces withdraw, demining is carried out,
internally displaced persons return, their security is ensured,
communications are restored, etc. The security of both communities
[ethnic Azerbaijanis and Armenians] in the Nagornyy Karabakh region
of Azerbaijan is guaranteed after the pre-war composition of its
population is restored. The legal status of the Nagornyy Karabakh
region can be determined within the framework of a democratic and
legal process, Azerbaijan’s constitution and territorial integrity.
Tagizada also expressed surprise at the latest statement of Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. Every time Armenian continues to
eagerly look for a new basis for discussions now that there is a
well-known basis in place, Tagizada said.

PARUYR HAYRIKYAN: CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN THE DESIRE OF CENTURIES
ArmRadio.am
05.07.2006 15:40
On the Constitution Day the National Self-Determination Union called
a presidency sitting to speak about the positive and negative sides
of the amended Constitution.
“By calling the presidency sitting on July 5, we once again
stress the importance of the day,” said President of the National
Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan.
“Constitution is a program-code of the greatest national organization,
the nation state. It is document the existence of which has been the
desire of centuries,” the said.
According to Paruyr Hayrikyan, the referendums of 1915 and 2005 surely
shadowed the idea of Constitution. However, today we have what we have,
let’s try to note its positive and negative sides. Generally, speaking
the positive and negative sides of the document, Hayrikyan underlines,
“We have made three steps forward and a step backward. The greatest
achievement is the accessibility of the Constitutional Court. The
regress is that the Parliament that was elected once in four years
will be elected every five years.”

NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN IN TWO WEEKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2006 12:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Richard Hoagland will arrive in Yerevan immediately
after the formal appointment, that is in some two weeks, U.S. Co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza told Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper.
“Hoagland is a very attentive person and he is perfectly aware of
the history of the Caucasus. As for incumbent Ambassador Evans,
he is an excellent personality and Ambassador. It’s not true to sat
that he is recalled and even removed from diplomatic service,” Bryza
said. “Ambassadors serve the President and they are obliged to follow
his policy. President’s Bush policy as regards the mass killings of
Armenians is precise and he mentions it in his annual statement.
Certainly if somebody doesn’t agree with the president’s policy,
he can take his own decisions, however they should not be announced
publicly. We all serve the President and our job is to contribute to
his policy. We should also give him advice but when matter concerns
public statements we should support the President’s policy,”
Bryza said.
To note, Amb. Evans’ recall is said to be caused by his statement
on the Armenian Genocide. February 19, 2005, during his public
presentation at the University of California, Berkeley, hosted by
Armenian Studies Program Executive Director, Prof. Stephan Astourian,
Evans announced, “I will today call it the Armenian Genocide.” The
Ambassador, who has studied Russian History at Yale and Columbia
universities and Ottoman History at the Kennan Institute, argued that,
“we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens a more frank
and honest way of discussing this problem.
Today, as someone who’s studied it… There’s no doubt in my mind
what happened.”

CONSTITUTION DAY CELEBRATED IN ARMENIA TODAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2006 13:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenia celebrates the Day of
Constitution. July 5, 1995 the Organic Law of the state was adopted at
a national referendum. November 27, 2005 93.3% of the Armenian citizens
voted in favor of the amendments to the Constitution. The Constitution
of the Republic of Armenia consists of 117 articles. The Republic
of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic state, based on social justice
and the rule of law. In the Republic of Armenia power lies with the
people. The people exercise their power through free elections and
referenda, as well as through state and local self-governing bodies
and public officials as provided by the Constitution, it says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LATVIAN PRESIDENT VOICED SATISFACTION WITH LEVEL OF POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2006 14:22 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ June 27 Armenian Ambassador to Latvia Ashot Galoyan
handed his credentials to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, reported the
RA MFA press office. During the meeting Vaira Vike-Freiberga voiced
satisfaction with the level of the political dialogue between the two
states and expressed hope that in the near future the potential will be
used for expanding cooperation between Armenia and Latvia. For his part
Ashot Galoyan remarked that Armenia sees Latvia as a reliable partner
within the European Neighborhood Policy and in the cooperation between
the Baltic and South Caucasian regions. Within the visit framework
Ashot Galoyan met with members of the Armenia-Latvia parliamentary
friendship group, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the Minister of Economy. The latter said Latvia is ready to form
an Armenian-Latvian intergovernmental committee for the elaboration
of economic programs and development of cooperation in various fields.

PUBLICATION OF KARABAKH PRINCIPLES WASN’T BRYZA’S PERSONAL DECISION
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2006 14:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group is expecting the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to make decisions or proposes on the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair
Matthew Bryza said in an interview with Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper. In
his words, the mediators say they cannot go forward without any
decision by the Presidents.
Bryza said the publication of the principles of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict was the decision by all of three Co-chairs taken before he
assumed the post. Some Armenian forces say I am trying to exert press
on Armenia, he remarked. “It’s impossible. My duty is to explain the
decision taken by the Co-chairs to the people,” he said. In his words,
the publication of the settlement principles cannot cause crisis in
any of the conflicting states. “This is a framework agreement and
the consent of the Armenian and Azerbaijani President is essential
for it. I cannot imagine how it can cause change of power, moreover
if the agreement is the consequence of the ongoing process,” Bryza
underscored adding that the agreement is not being imposed on any of
the sides in the conflict.

IS THERE PRESSURE ON BARGAVACH HAYASTAN?
Lragir.am
05 July 06
The Lragir.am has learned that recently Member of Parliament Ruben
Hairapetyan suggested in a friendly way that Gagik Tsarukyan, the
sponsor of the Bargavach Hayastan Party (Prosperous Armenia Party),
change his mind to open an office in Avan, the “native” community of
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
For his part, Gagik Beglaryan, the head of the community of Center
also suggested that Gagik Tsarukyan should stop opening offices of
the Bargavach Hayastan Party in the Center of Yerevan and even close
down some offices.

PLACE OF REPUBLICANIZATION IS HARSNAKAR HOTEL
Lragir.am
05 July 06
The Lragir.am has learned from a source, who is aware of the movement
inside the government connected with the 2007 and 2008 elections,
that a meeting of Republican heads of communities and Republican or
Republicanized businessmen led by Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan took
place in mid-June. According to the same source, they will round up
again till July 10 at the Harsnakar Hotel owned by businessman, Member
of Parliament Ruben Hairapetyan, who is ready to be Republicanized
for the sake of Serge Sargsyan.
The Lragir.am has learned that these meetings are in the context of a
general “mobilization” of Republicans. In particular, Serge Sargsyan,
who also knows that some people hesitate over whose instructions
to carry out, Robert Kocharyan’s or Serge Sargsyan’s, wants to get
clear guarantees. Besides, the heads of communities must report on
the process of Republicanization. Besides, the final scenario of the
extraordinary conference of the Republican Party will be confirmed
at the Harsnakar Hotel.
Finally, our source assures that Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan
will also show up at the “rendezvous” at the Harsnakar Hotel.
And it means that the activity of the Union for Armenia Party
he initiated will diminish, or this political party will run
for parliament together with the Republican Party, although in a
recent news conference Member of Parliament Vahram Baghdasaryan,
a representative of the Union for Armenia Party, sounded quite
indefinitely about cooperation with the Republican Party.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN DOES NOT BELIEVE ARMENIA?
Lragir.am
05 July 06
The Lragir.am has learned interesting details about the Iranian visit
of President Robert Kocharyan. Our source informs that the visit is
determined by the developments connected with the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. It is not a secret that Armenia and Russia are negotiating
the sale of a section of the gas pipeline to the Russians, and quite
recently Gazprom has affirmed its likelihood to buy the gas pipeline.
Iran dislikes this. Our source assures that about 20 days ago the
secretaries of national security of Armenia and Iran had a phone
talk. Serge Sargsyan, the secretary of national security of Armenia
tried to persuade the Iranian side that Armenia is not likely to sell
its section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, our source said. We have
learned, however, that the Iranian party said directly that they do
not believe Serge Sargsyan and proposed discussing the question on a
presidential level, and Robert Kocharyan will personally refute the
news that the gas pipeline will be sold to the Russians.