OSCE MG HOPEFUL YEREVAN AND BAKU WILL REACH AGREEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.06.2006 13:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Our deputy ministers proposed to Presidents Aliyev
and Kocharian a set of core principles that we believe are fair,
balanced, workable, and that could pave the way for the two sides to
draft a far-reaching settlement agreement. We continue to believe in
these principles, and we urge the Presidents to embrace them as the
basis for an agreement,” says the statement made by the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs and submitted to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna
June 22. “Unfortunately, the Presidents chose not to reach such an
agreement in Bucharest. As mediators in this process, we will not
breach the confidentiality of their sensitive diplomatic dialogue,
as we continue to hope that they will reach an agreement.
At this juncture, though, it is our responsibility to you,
Mr. Chairman, to this Council that has provided the funding for a very
intensive series of negotiations, to the international community, and –
perhaps most importantly – to the publics in Armenia and Azerbaijan,
to acquaint you with the basic principles that we have put on the
table for the consideration of the two Presidents. We note that the
principles the Co-Chair countries proposed to the two Presidents were
not developed in a vacuum, but follow on to nine years of detailed
proposals that have been advanced by our predecessors. Even though
3 those proposals were not accepted by the parties, that work of our
predecessors gave us important insights and foundations. Our approach
has been a modified one: we have not tried to solve all aspects of
the conflict in one phase. Instead, our principles seek to achieve
a major degree of progress but defer some very difficult issues to
the future and envision further negotiations.
In sum, they try to solve – in a practical, balanced way – what
is immediately solvable. These principles include the phased
redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around
Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin
districts. Demilitarization of those territories would follow. A
referendum or population vote would be agreed, at an unspecified future
date, to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. The
sides would commit to further negotiations to define the timing and
modalities of such a referendum or population vote. Certain interim
arrangements for Nagorno-Karabakh would allow for interaction with
providers of international assistance. An international peacekeeping
force would be deployed. A joint commission would be created to
implement the agreement. International financial assistance would
be made available for demining, reconstruction, and resettlement of
internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories
and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The sides would renounce the use or threat of use of force, and
international and bilateral security guarantees and assurances would
be put in place. We note with respect to the idea of a referendum or
population vote to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh
that such a vote would be the product of a negotiated agreement
between the two sides.
Suitable pre-conditions for such a vote would have to be achieved
so that the vote would take place in a non-coercive environment in
which well-informed citizens have had ample opportunity to consider
their positions after a vigorous debate in the public arena,” says
the statement.

PRESENTATION OF THE “TRAFFICKING: URGENT ISSUES” MANUAL TO BE HELD AT UN OFFICE
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 10:50
Presentation of the “Trafficking: Urgent Issues” manual will be held
today at UN Office in Yerevan. The edition is meant for employees of
consulates and consular departments of diplomatic representations.

G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS URGE ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO COME TO AN ARGEEMENT IN 2006
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 11:15
Foreign Ministers of the G8 countries called on Armenia and Azerbaijan
to come to an agreement over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2006.
They confirmed in the statement issued after the meeting in Moscow
that the G8 “supports the mediating efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs,” ITAR-TASS reports.
“We emphasized the necessity of rapid agreement on main principles of
the peaceful resolution of the conflict. We call on Azerbaijan and
Armenia to demonstrate political will and come to an agreement on
the issue in the current year, and prepare their peoples for peace,
not for war,” the statement of the G8 Foreign Ministers says.

PERSONS WITH PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION TO BE INCLUDED IN ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 11:37
Between 14-29 June 1460 citizens applied the Central Electoral
Commission to participate in the professional courses for membership to
Precinct Electoral Commissions of Yerevan. The deadline for submitting
applications is 14:00, July 14th.
According to the Electoral Code, starting from the coming nationwide
elections, the electoral commissions will be recruited with persons,
who participated in the above-mentioned courses and received
corresponding qualification.

RECURRENT SITTING OF THE CIS ECONOMIC COUNCIL TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 11:55
June 30 the recurrent sitting of the CIS Economic Council will be
held in Moscow. The agenda of the sitting includes 15 questions. The
Council will discuss different draft projects, particularly the draft
agreement on establishment of favorable legal and economic conditions
for expansion of leasing activity, the draft convention on boundary
cooperation between CIS member states, and others, Press Service of
the CIS Executive Committee informs.

DAYS OF LEBANESE LITERATURE TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 12:37
By the end of the year days of Lebanese literature will be held will
be held in Armenia. The negotiations in this direction are currently
under way between the Ministries of Culture of Armenia and Lebanon.
President of the Union of Writers of Armenia Levon Ananyan informs
that before the start of the arrangements Armenian writer Avetik
Isahakyan’s monument will be officially raised in Beirut.
In the framework of the arrangements, Lebanese writers will visit
Armenia.
Next year it is envisage to hold days of Armenian literature in
Lebanon.

MATTHEW BRYZA: ARMENIA WILL NOT WITHDRAW UNLESS GIVEN REIMBURSEMENT
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 13:23
US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Matthew Bryza declared that Armenians
will not withdraw the troops from territories under their control
unless they are confident that a reimbursement will follow, MEDIAMAX
Agency informs.
“Will the withdrawal of Armenian troops promote the weakening of
tension?
This is for sure. That is why this issue is the central element of our
pivotal principles. However, Armenians will not withdraw their troops
just because we’ ll tell them “it will help weaken the tension.” They
will do that only in case they receive reimbursement,” the American
mediator said.
Matthew Bryza declared that the referendum or a popular vote on the
future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is “extremely important” for the
Armenian side, and “it is what Azerbaijan must propose the Armenians.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AS CHAIR OF THE COE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS RUSSIA WILL PROMOTE THE SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 13:33
During its presidency over the CoE Council of Ministers Russia will
play an important role in the resolution of the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, RF Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Glushko
declared, speaking at the CoE Council of Ministers during PACE summer
session. In his words, recently the OSCE Minsk Group has been applying
efforts to find a way of mutual concessions, which will guarantee
long-term settlement of the issue. We’ll continue urging Armenian and
Azerbaijani authorities to hold on the dialogue to make best use of
the existing window of opportunities.

VARDAN OSKANYAN COMMENTS ON THE STATEMENT OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 14:10
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian commented on the statement of
the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in an interview to Armenpress.
Question: The co-chairs in their statement say that “our approach
has been a modified one: we have not tried to solve all aspects of
the conflict in one phase. Instead our principles seek to achieve a
major degree of progress but defer some very difficult issues to the
future and envision further negotiations.” What does this mean?
V.Oskanyan: The actual negotiating document on the principles that is
on the table today is all-encompassing. It covers all the principles
affecting the resolution of the conflict. It includes the core issue
of status of Nagorno-Karabakh, territories, refugees, security issues,
peacekeeping and every other conceivable issue that is necessary in
order to arrive at a lasting resolution of the conflict. Only after
full agreement on all these basic principles would the parties, as the
actual negotiating text says, “in cooperation with the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk group to begin work on the elaboration of an agreement
on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.” In other words,
the agreement on principles will be comprehensive. The final agreement
may envision implementation over time.
Question: In their report, the co-chairs say “the principles include
the phased withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories
around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and
Lachin districts.” What are these special modalities?
V.Oskanyan: This formulation is indeed very broad, and for a
reason. This issue has two layers. One is the issue of Lachin, where
the actual negotiating text on principles provides clear language
stating that there will be “a corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh to
Armenia.” For Armenia, it’s very clear that this corridor must have
the same status as Nagorno-Karabakh. The second layer is the issue of
Kelbajar. For Armenia, this also is clear: based on security concerns,
Kelbajar can be returned only after the referendum is conducted
and the final status of NK is determined. Azerbaijan’s position is
different on Kelbajar. That’s the disagreement that the co-chairs
are addressing in their statement. The co-chairs’ language in the
actual negotiating text, with regard to this issue, is generally in
line with our approach.
Question: The co-chairs say that there will be a referendum / popular
vote ” to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh,”
but they don’t say who will vote.
V.Oskanyan: The actual negotiating text on principles clearly specifies
that “the final legal status will be determined through a referendum
or population vote by the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Question: The co-chairs also say “certain interim arrangements
for Nagorno-Karabakh would allow for interaction with providers of
international assistance.” What does this mean?
V.Oskanyan: This is only one element of a much more detailed section
in the actual negotiating text, which addresses interim status for
Nagorno-Karabakh.
We think the co-chairs have emphasized international
engagement, because that ‘s a major problem for the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Their current, unrecognized, de-facto status,
has not allowed them to benefit from the generosity of international
organizations. In the actual negotiating text, the provisions address
such rights of control over their political and economic viability
and security, upholding their personal privileges and freedoms, the
right to democratically elect officials to govern Nagorno-Karabakh,
the authority to effectively legislate and administer the internal
affairs of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Question: What is Armenia’s overall assessment of the content of the
document as it stands today?
V.Oskanyan: This not a perfect document for anyone. However,
there are enough solid and balanced provisions, with the right
trade-offs on the main issues – status, territories and security –
that we are prepared to continue to negotiate on the basis of these
principles. In today’s context, Azerbaijan’s rhetoric about autonomy
and desperate calls for militarization surprise us. We have at hand
a real opportunity to resolve all issues, including the much-maligned
issue of refugees. But Azerbaijan must revert to real situations and
real opportunities, rather than illusory maximalist hopes. Today,
we hope that Azerbaijan will realize that we have a chance to resolve
the conflict and achieve a lasting peace.

YOU CAN’T LOOK TO THE FUTURE IF YOU DENY THE PAST, HEAD OF AAA YEREVAN OFFICE CONSIDERS
ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 15:34
On June 28 Senate Foreign Relations Committee members George Allen
(R-VA) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) bombarded US Ambassador to Armenia
Designate Richard Hoagland with questions about official US complicity
in Turkey’s campaign of Genocide denial, questioning him, during his
confirmation hearing, regarding his ability to effectively represent
the United States in Armenia without properly recognizing the Armenian
Genocide.
Hoagland said that no one in the Administration has ever denied
the tragic events that befell the Armenians. He said his visit to
the Genocide Museum and Memorial in Yerevan was a very sobering and
disturbing experience, but added that the Administration’s position
is clear and that, if confirmed, he would uphold US policy. Hoagland
noted that he is against “getting stuck in the past” and wants to
focus on “living in the future.”
“You can’t look to the future if you deny the past,” commenting on
Hoagland’ s words, Head of the Yerevan Office of the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA) Arpi Vardanyan said in an interview with “Radiolur”
correspondent Alisa Gevorgyan. Hoagland’s response serves as a basis
for Arpi Vardanyan to infer that as US Ambassador to Armenia he will
have opportunities to visit the memorial to the Genocide victims,
but he will never use the word “genocide” like any other US Ambassador
to Armenia except John Evans.
Let’s not forget that the rumors about the recall f John Evans came
about just after using the word “genocide.”
Notwithstanding the political position of this or that
country, the struggle for recognition of the Armenian Genocide
continues. Furthermore, Armenians are struggling not only for
recognition of the massacre of our people but also for prevention of
any genocide in the world.