CIS SECURITY BODY CHIEF CALLS FOR COOPERATION WITH UZBEKISTAN
UzReport.com website, Tashkent
5 May 06
The heads of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization [CSTO] are ready to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan,
the secretary-general of the CSTO, Nikolay Bordyuzha said in Minsk
on Thursday [4 May].
He is taking part in the away session of the international
antiterrorist media forum which is taking place in the capital of
Belarus, RIA Novosti reported.
“An idea of joint activities with Uzbekistan in a number of specific
issues found a complete support of the presidents of all CSTO members
states,” Bordyuzha said.
Bordyuzha said that after meeting Uzbek President Islom Karimov,
during which an agreement on deepening cooperation in a number of
spheres was reached, he also visited leaders of the CSTO member states.
“The presidents believe that we should cooperate with Uzbekistan in
the sphere of countering political and religious extremism, providing
stability in the Central Asian region,” the secretary-general of the
CSTO noted.
As a specific example of cooperation he demonstrated consultations of
the secretaries of the security councils of CSTO of the central Asian
region and Uzbekistan that were held in Dushanbe, and during which
“specific joint measures on ensuring stable situation in Central Asia
were discussed”.
Uzbekistan, Bordyuzha emphasized, as a big and powerful state in the
region, very seriously influences the political situation.
The secretary-general of the CSTO believes that if the steps that
are being made bring the member states of the organization and
Uzbekistan to a new level of cooperation, then, he does not “exclude
a possibility, if Uzbekistan is interested, of its joining the CSTO”.
However, Bordyuzha noted, for Uzbekistan, that had once joined the
collective security treaty, “it is not serious to do hasty steps now
and to join the CSTO”.
“Only joint activities of all states will ensure stability in Central
Asia, particularly, when the situation is getting tense there,”
Bordyuzha underlined.
The CSTO member states are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia and Tajikistan.
From: Baghdasarian

VAHAGN MELIKIAN TO TAKE PLACE OF ARSHAK POLADIAN ON POST OF RA AMBASSADOR TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By President Robert
Kocharian’s May 4 decree, Arshak Poladian was discharged the
obligations of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of Armenia to the United Arab Emirates and Vahagn
Melikian was appointed on that post (residence in Abu Dhabi). Noyan
Tapan was informed about it by the President’s Press Office. Vahagn
Melikian occupied formerly the post of the RA Foreign Ministry’s
“State Protocol Service” agency, which he was discharged on May 4.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN: “WE’LL CONTINUE STRUGGLING FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF EUROPEAN VALUES IN ARMENIA”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “We observe the five
years of Armenia’s membership to the Council of Europe as years of
stable progress,” Armenian National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian
stated at the May 5 conference “Armenia and the Council of Europe:
Five Years of Membership.”
According to him, during this period of time, Armenia has actively
been engaged in implementation of the obligations undertaken in
front of the Council of Europe: “We’ll continue our activity and
will go on struggling for establishment of the European values in
Armenia.” According to Armen Rustamian, the Chairman of the Parliament
Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, a member of the Armenian
delegation to the CE Parliamentary Assembly, it is quiet obvious that
without the close cooperation with the Council of Europe, Armenia would
be few steps behind in its democratic development that it is today. He
mentioned that more and more people in Armenia realize necessity of
holding democratic reforms and see Armenia’s place in the European
peoples’ family. At the same time, Armen Rustamian pointed out not
high speeds of implementation of reforms, what, according to him,
will push development of democracy behind. “The main task is the way
to the European values and raising speeds of reforms during it,”
Armen Rustamian stated. According to him, within the framework of
its further membership to the Council of Europe, Armenia must pay its
attention to issues of raising efficiency in the system of management,
to the active anti-corruption struggle and etc.

JEAN-LOURIS LAURENS: “WE HOPE THAT PROGRESS WILL BE FIXED IN ARMENIA DURING NEXT ELECTIONS”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Five years of Armenia’s
membership to the Council of Europe – it’s a good reason to estimate
all achievements on this way. Jean-Louris Laurens, the Director
General of Political Affairs of the Council of Europe stated about
it. According to his estimation, repeal of the death penalty in Armenia
and reformation of the Constitution of the country became a great
achievement. He estimated positive Armenia’s adoption of few dozens
of laws and legislative acts, corresponding to demands of the Council
of Europe. According to Jean-Louris Laurens, at present the Council
of Europe and the European Union lead negotiations on widening the
cooperation, thus, among the 46 countries of the Council of Europe
and the 25 members of the European Union. According to Jean-Louris
Laurens, in this sense, the role of the Council of Europe is getting
great in implementation of the “New Neighborhood Policy.” Besides,
deepening of the cooperation with the European Union passes through
the way of cooperation with the Council of Europe: “This circumstance
shows that the way to Europe is single.” Jean-Louris Laurens stated
that the Council of Europe attaches great importance to holding
free and democratic elections and connected with it, is going to
concentrate its attention to holding the coming elections in Armenia:
“We hope that a progress will be fixed in Armenia during the next
elections. Free and just elections must be held, and the people’s will
must not be flouted.” Responding to journalists’ question about the
issue that the Council of Europe is not successive in its own demands,
and that the CE observers’ delegation displayed its position rather
clear after the falsifications in the November 27 referendum, the CE
representative said that Armenia is not the only country among the
CE members which has similar problems. To avoid problems during the
coming elections, the CE is going to beforehand start corresponding
work with state structures of Armenia.

FRENCH PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER SEND MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE ON OCCASION OF PLANE ACCIDENT
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. French President Jacques
Chirac sent a message of condolence to RA President Robert Kocharian
on the occasion of the accident of A-320 plane of Armavia airline
carrying out Yerevan-Sochi flight. “Mr President, My dear friend,
I was upset to learn the news about the plane crashed near Sochi, as
a result of which more than a hundred people died, the majority of
which were citizens of Armenia. At these tragic moments, on behalf
of the whole French people, accept my sincere condolences addressed
to you, to the families and relatives of the victims. Mr President,
please, accept the assertion of my respect and my friendly feelings
at this moment of ordeal”. As Noyan Tapan was informed from the French
Embassy in Armenia, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin sent a
message of condolence to Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian:
“I was deeply upset to learn the news about the plane that had an
accident near Sochi, in consequence of which more than a hundred
people died, the majority of which were Armenians. At the moment of
the cruel ordeal of your country I want to present my condolences to
you and the whole Armenian people,” the message, in particular, read.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy sent a message of
condolence to his Armenian colleague Vartan Oskanian. “I was deeply
upset to learn the news about the crashed plane, in consequence of
which more than a hundred people died, the majority of which were
Armenians. At the moment of ordeal accept my support and condolences,”
the French Foreign Minister’s message, in particular, read.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO CHANGE OF PRIME MINISTER ENVISAGED IN NKR
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian disproved
the news about the NKR Prime Minister’s expected change. “There is
no such an issue on our agenda,” Arkadi Ghukasian stated in the May
5 interview given to journalists in Yerevan.

NO MEETING BETWEEN NKR PRESIDENT AND OSCE MG FRENCH CO-CHAIR HELD
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 4, the
representatives of Co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group on settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Bernard Fassier met with the
representatives of NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian and discussed some
issues. NKR President informed about it during his May 5 interview to
journalists. His meeting with the French Co-chair did not take place
as A.Ghukasian was informed about the meeting late: NKR President
was not able to meet the Co-chair in the first half of the day
and in the second half Fassier was already leaving. In response to
journalists’ questions, NKR President mentioned that he does not hold
the opinion that “we are very close to the final settlement of the
problem”. “Nothing can be excluded, may God help us to quickly find
the compromise necessary for all sides but no one can say whether this
will be in July, in August or in February,” Arkadi Ghukasian declared.

ARMENIANS HAVE ALL BASES TO BE CONSIDERED NATION HAVING UNIQUE CIVILIZATION, DIRECTOR OF “NORAVANK” SCIENTIFIC-EDUCATIONAL FUND SURE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Unlike many other
nations, Armenians have all bases to be considered a nation having
a unique civilization. At the May 4 discussion organized at the
“Noravank” scientific-educational fund, Gagik Haroutiunian, the fund
Director expressed such an opinion, presenting results of a survey
on the theme “Armenians’ Political Orientations” held among famous
politicians. According to him, those bases are: Armenians’ origin,
the Armenian language occupying its unique place in the Indo-European
family, the Mesropian letters, Armenian Apostolic Church, literary
heritage, architecture and, according to some specialists, even the
Armenian dance. In Gagik Haroutiunian’s opinion, it is not just a
fact having historic meaning.
According to him, orientations of civilization have a very important
role in the present world as the “civilization” conception has moved
to the global strategic political field. According to Haroutiunian,
conflicts of civilizations of the present and future will be main
directions and main danger of the global strategic policy. “Not taking
into account approaches of civilization in political developments
may cause serious danger for any nation, and Armenians are not
an exception,” the speaker mentioned. According to the speaker,
some strategy must be worked out in sumilar conditions which will
allow avoid danger and use possibilities. The unigue civilization
orientation of Armenians that must be combined with upmost involvement
in world processes may serve as such one. The speaker mentioned that
Anglo-Saxons, Chineses and Jews lead such a strategy today. In the
opinion of Tigran Sargsian, the Chairman of the RA Central Bank,
Armenians represent a civilizations existed once but today they are
not a civilized nation. According to him, the national electorate
of Armenia is today disrupted and is not able to form some valuable
standards and a system of moral norms. According to Sargsian, today
the Armenian nation needs an impudent program which will allow to
gather potential for turning point development. Hasmik Hmayakian,
an employee of the RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies mentioned
that the same issue is today discussed in Egypt as well, but it is
studied in that country at the high state level. NA Deputies Vazgen
Manukian, Armen Ashotian, Khachatur Sukiasian, the RA President’s
Advisor on Security Issues Garnik Isagulian, representatives of public
organizations, experts participated in the discussion.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST CLEARLY SAY TO AZERBAIJAN THAT KARABAKH ISSUE HAS NO MILITARY WAY OF SOLUTION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
VILNIUS, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian participated on May 4 in the conference entitled
“Common Vision for Common Neighborhood” in capital of Lithuania,
Vilnius. The Presidents of Lithuania and Poland made opening speeches
at the conference. At the beginning of the conference, on behalf
of participants, President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus expressed
condolence over the tragic crash of the Armenian plane. Heads and
Foreign Ministers of a number of Baltic, CIS and Eastern European
countries, other high-ranking officials participated and made
speeches in the conference. In his speech Minister Oskanian first of
all thanked the participants for the words of condolence, then spoke
about political developments in the post-Soviet region. The Minister
presented the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as
well. “Democracy is not an issue to be settled immediatly, it may not
be established in a night. We know and are sure that as far we are
on a right way and are sure that we move forwards, evolutionary and
ascending approach towards democracy is more effective and certain,”
Minister Oskanian said. Speaking about the process of settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Minister emphasized that “with
oil reserves and present high prices for oil, the Azerbaijani side,
unfortunately, has come to the conviction or at least states publicly
that they have at hand the variant of solving the problem in the
military way. It will not be easy to go to mutual compromise with such
a thinking. But, they must be clearly told by the EU and international
community that the issue has no military way of solution, and that
necessary mutual compromises must be implemented to reach settlement,
just like ones, Armenia has alreday done.” As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
Minister Oskanian had a number of bilateral meetings within the
framework of the conference. The process of negotatians which are at
the final stage of development of the Armenian-EU Actions Plan within
the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy was discussed with
Javier Solana, the High Representative for the EU Common Foreign
and Security Policy. The interlocutors discussed the process and
prospects of the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement as
well. Armenia-OSCE cooperation issues as well as the present stage
of the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
were discussed with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel de Gucht. The
Ministers touched upon the Armenia-Belgium relations as well,
discussing possibilities of further development of mutual cooperation.
Minister Oskanian met with Foreign Minister of Romania Razvan Ungureanu
as well. The Ministers discussed issues of bilateral cooperation
as well as issues concerning the “Dialogue and Partnership Forum”
Black Sea conference to take place in Bucharest in coming June.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES TO RA PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
ANTELIAS, LEBANON, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia expressed his deep condolences in letters
sent to the president of Armenia Robert Kotcharian and the Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II after an airplane belonging
to the Armenian Armavia Airlines crashed into the Black Sea in the
early morning hours of May 3, killing about 113 passengers and crew
members. “On this sad occasion we share your, our motherland’s and
our nation’s pain. We ask God to grant heavenly rest to the innocent
victims of the crash and to console their relatives with the Holy
Spirit,” the Pontiff wrote. The Catholicos also informed that requiem
services will be held this Sunday in memory of the victims of the
crash in the Mother Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in
Antelias and in all the Dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.