HEADING FOR AFRICAN INTEGRATION
Lragir.am
08 Aug 06
It is not news that our government officials are fond of history-making
statements, and we can often see and hear the manifestations. For
instance, our officials doubted the construction and operation of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The pipeline was built and is
already operating. Now the same officials are doubting the gas pipeline
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum. Another official developed the theory of quiet
and peaceful development of the Armenian economy without roads. Now
it is the turn of Artashes Ziroyan, the head of the department of
protection of natural resources of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection. Artashes Ziroyan has decided to sell Sevan. Not the town
and not a restaurant or hotel called Sevan. Artashes Ziroyan wants
to sell Lake Sevan. Not all once. Part by part. Barrel by barrel.
This official stated in an interview with the reporter of the Time
Yerevan that since Lake Sevan is drinking water, we can sell it to
“African countries, like Azerbaijan sells its oil. We will have the
tap, and we will say, bro, you have to consider our opinion.”
In making such an initiative, Ziroyan must have considered the
actuality. If the fishermen and poachers sell the fish and crabs of
the lake, the authorities and power robbers sell the shores of the
lake, why shouldn’t Artashes Ziroyan sell the water of the lake?
Especially that unlike the shores of Sevan, the water of Sevan is a
renewable resource, especially now, when the level of water is rising.
Unfortunately, Artashes Ziroyan declines to say what will happen
to the ecosystem of the lake in particular and Armenia in general,
if the water in Lake Sevan is sold unsparingly as the fish and crabs.
Ziroyan is supposed to know the essential damage of uncontrolled
fishing in the lake, however, for he is the official in charge of
protection of the country’s natural resources.
Or if we are going to sell our water to the African countries and
say “bro, etc” and these African countries are not actors in the
geopolitical developments that are important for us, and we have chosen
the path of European integration rather than African integration,
is it worthwhile to eat, sorry to drink Sevan for a meaningless
“bro”? It would be something else if Ziroyan proposed to sell Lake
Sevan to the members of the European Union. But good old Europe does
not know what to do with its own water. Our strategic partner does
not have a shortage of drinking water either.
No, Mr. Ziroyan, this won’t do. Lake Sevan is not a remedy for our
problems. Besides, who said that the best way of protection of natural
resources is their destruction?
ARAM ZAKARYAN

IT’S NOT THE POWER OF THE LOBBY, BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ITS CAUSE
ArmRadio.am
08.08.2006 16:47
In recent years, as Armenian Americans have been getting better
organized in carrying ut their political objectives, there has
been repeated talk about “the powerful Armenian lobby.” The most
recent example is Julie Corwin’s report on Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty on August 2, titled: “Confirmation Row Shows Power of Diaspora
Lobbies.” The analyst for RFE/RL expresses her surprise that a large
number of Senators, Republicans and Democrats, challenged the Bush
administration’s refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, during
the confirmation hearing of Ambassador-Designate Richard Hoagland.
The current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, is being dismissed
for speaking publicly and truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. On
August 1, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee postponed, for
the second time, Amb. Hoagland’s confirmation. Corwin wrote: “The
prominence of the issue is due in large part to the efforts of two
powerful lobbying groups “the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA), and the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA). There are lobbying
groups representing the concerns of nearly every diaspora community in
the United States. The Armenian lobby is one of the most successful.”
Another interesting article about the Armenian lobby, written by
Heather S.Gregg, a doctoral candidate in the MIT Political Science
Department, has been published a number of times in different
versions and lengths (from 6 to 30 pages) over the past five
years. The article is titled: “Divided They Conquer: The Success of
Armenian Ethnic Lobbies in the U.S.” Various Turkish publications
and websites have featured this article to explain why the Armenian
lobby is “so powerful.” Gregg writes: “Within the last decade,
Armenian lobby groups in the United States have achieved considerable
success in gaining political and material support from Congress, the
White House and other federal bodies.” She explains this success by
“the intense lobbying efforts of Armenian-Americans in the United
States. The lobbying success of this small ethnic minority is largely
the result of two factors. First, an inter-community rivalry within
the Armenian-American population represented by two lobby groups
in Washington,the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
and the Armenian Assembly of America (the Assembly), has led to
hyper-mobilization of this ethnic group’s resources.
Second, the Armenians have formed key alliances in Washington
including members of Congress, other lobby groups and organizations,
and the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues in the
House of Representatives, which have rallied behind Armenian policy
objectives. Together, hyper-mobilization and alliance building have
allowed the Armenians considerable success in achieving specific
policy objectives.”
Why is there such a fascination, to the point of obsession, with the
Armenian lobby? Why Turkish and Azeri publications and officials
make frequent references to the “powerful Armenian lobby?” There
are three possible reasons as to why Turkish and Azeri officials,
political organizations and media outlets are interested in presenting
the Armenian lobby as being all too powerful:
1) To help rally domestic and international support to their side; 2)
To create sympathy among their supporters for having to face such a
“powerful enemy;” 3) To cover up their errors and incompetence after
losing a particular political battle.
One must not exclude the possibility that all those who are lobbying on
behalf of Turkey and Azerbaijan, be they U.S. lobbying firms, Jewish
organizations or Israeli government officials, are intentionally
exaggerating the power of the Armenian-American community in order
to exact a higher price from Ankara and Baku for their artificially
inflated services.
It is simply amazing that a powerful country like Turkey and oil
rich Azerbaijan, with their political clout, financial resources,
lobbying firmsin Washington, D.C., and the support of the highest
officials of the Bush administration, are complaining about the
political activities of the tiny Armenian-American community. Turkish
and Azeri officials along with their U.S. cohorts, on a regular basis,
pressure, censure and threaten, anyone around the world who dares to
support an Armenian issue. And yet, they are the ones crying “wolf!”
While it is true that the Armenian American community has become
politically more active and effective in recent years, the fact remains
that no matter how many millions do the Turks and Azeris spend, they
cannot whitewash their lies and present them as the truth. They are
simply wrong on the issues. What empowers the Armenian lobby is the
righteousness of its cause!

NKR PRESIDENT ARKADY GHUKASSIAN IS THE GUEST OF THE AZAT ARSTAKH
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
08 Aug 2006
Dear readers of the Azat Artsakh, On the 15th anniversary of
proclamation of NKR, NKR President Arkady Ghukassian will be the
guest of the Azat Artsakh website on August 31. This is an exceptional
chance to ask your questions to the NKR President. E-mail your question
to [email protected].
AA. 08-08-2006

SOUTH CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES ENCOUNTER SAME
PROBLEMS RELATED TO MAN-CAUSED RIVER POLLUTION
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Rafael Hovhannisian, Chairman of
the Union of Armenian Ecologists NGO, subscribes to the opinion of
Azerbaijani ecologists that the pollution level is high in the Armenian
part of the rivers flowing from Armenia to Azerbaijan. According
to him, in particular, the Arax River is equally polluted in the
territory of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He explained the high degree
of the river’s pollution in Armenia by the fact that Arax’s valley
is densely populated, while measures aimed at isolating the dumps,
solid waste and waste waters have not been taken. At the same
time, he noted that the Arax River’s pollution in Armenia has not
increased since the Soviet time. In the words of Volodya Narimanian,
deputy head of the the Water Resource Management Agency of the RA
Ministry of Nature Protection, the degree of man-caused pollution,
especially with municipal and household waste waters, is high in
Azerbaijan and Georgia as well. The main reason is that the waste
waters of settlements in these countries are not cleaned due to lack
of financial resources. V. Narimanian said that the level of natural
background pollution is high in Arax and many other rivers of Armenia,
particularly with copper and molybdenum combinations, since these
rivers are rapidly flowing ones and their beds pass through rocks with
a high content of these metals. In his opinion, Azerbaijani ecologists’
claims that the rivers flowing from Armenia are very polluted have no
grounds, especially as these rivers are rapidly flowing, thanks to
which they have a greater capacity of self-cleaning from biological
pollutants. Besides, Armenia has repeatedly proposed that the
situation related to the regional rivers’ pollution be assessed with
joint efforts of the South Caucasian countries, waste water treatment
capacities be launched with the assistance of donor organizations,
and only after that one of the three South Caucasian countries should
raise the problems related to additional pollution of these rivers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARYAN HAS ONE MORE CHOICE
Lragir.am
08 Aug 06
It was not a surprise to see the head of the State Customs Agency Armen
Avetisyan in the first row of the Republican Party and not because
nobody remained in the political sphere, especially in the government
of Armenia, who can surprise the public. Simply the head of the State
Customs Agency Armen Avetisyan could not have been anywhere else. More
exactly, he should either have been where the law provides for or in
the Republican Party. It seems that there is nothing strange about his
presence to deserve special attention but as soon as we state that the
customs committee controls imports and exports in Armenia, it becomes
apparent that Armen Avetisyan acquires special importance. Even more
than the presence of the “authorities, who have quite recently become
Republicans. When the gates of Armenia are under control, control
over the internal movement becomes a matter of technique.
Hence, it is clear that Armen Avetisyan needs the Republican Party
enriched by Serge Sargsyan more than the Republican Party needs Armen
Avetisyan who how became rich nobody knows. And that Armen Avetisyan
is rich becomes clear from his cars, villa in Tsaghkadzor, expensive
Zilli suits. The society has even stopped asking Avetisyan where he
got such possessions. Armen Avetisyan has already explained once that
his wealth is from the Soviet years when his father was the director
of a building enterprise. It is not clear whether he realizes or not,
but Armen Avetisyan confesses that his possession is illegal simply
he hints that his father earned this illegal income, not he. The head
of a Soviet building enterprise could not saved so much money with
salary to live an oligarchic life in the post-Soviet Armenia.
At present, however, the problem is not how Armen Avetisyan lives such
luxurious life. It is a matter of future when neither the Republican
Party will help Avetisyan nor Avetisyan will help the Republican
Party. But presently they are convinced that they need each other. As
I have mentioned above, it is clear why they need each other. Perhaps
it is not accidental that after the extraordinary conference of the
Republican Party rumors were circulated that the president is likely
to dismiss Armen Avetisyan. But the spokesman of the president later
refuted this information. It may mean that Robert Kocharyan and the
Republican Party have agreed on their actions. But this impression
seems real only in case of a scrutiny. The point is that the process
of forming power has started in the Republic.
Perhaps this is what Serge Sargsyan meant when he said in three or
four months his initiative will produce its fruits. In this sense it
becomes clear that Robert Kocharyan is facing the necessity to hold
power of course if he is no likely to retire. As for the intentions of
the president, nobody knows about these intentions. However, during
a meeting with the students of Yerevan State University a year ago
he explained that he does not say anything about being or not being
but he is convinced that he is not worse than anyone. Hence, it means
that Robert Kocharyan is not thinking about retiring from power after
retiring from the post of president in 2008.
However, in this case it is at least surprising that not thinking
about retiring from power he is not considering, for instance,
dismissing the head of the Customs Agency. The point is that the
present situation makes impossible think about power and not think
about getting rid of the criminal. Maybe Robert Kocharyan thinks that
Armen Avetisyan is not part of the criminal system and attended the
conference of the Republican Party as an independent expert. Maybe.
Robert Kocharyan probably knows the pattern and structure of the
criminal better because for a long time he has built his power on it.
But the problem is that currently the native criminal is passing into
the hands of Serge Sargsyan, and the criminal is not a smart lamb to
“suckle two mothers”.
But if Robert Kocharyan is convinced that the head of the Customs
Agency is not part of the criminal, either he must personally explain
to the public or instruct Armen Avetisyan to explain why return on
customs has a very small share in budget receipts. Or how does it
happen that Armenia becomes a transit country of drug trafficking. At
least, both facts are set down in the evaluations of authoritative
international organizations. The International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank emphasize the low level of collection of taxes and customs,
and the report of the U.S. Department of State announced several
months ago that the government officials of Armenia are involved in
trafficking in drugs and are not punished.
If the president fails to answer these questions, the society has the
right to think that Robert Kocharyan does not control the situation.
The international organizations, which warn about the disturbing
situation in customs, also have the reason to think so.
Hence, the president also has a choice. He may either dismiss the
head of the State Customs Agency and thereby display that he keeps the
situation under control or choose capitulation and start negotiations
with the Republican Party on his future status. The second variant
is perhaps easier, considering that Robert Kocharyan has a great
experience in negotiations. But the case of Aliyev is different,
they are in the same situation, whereas in the case of the Republican
Party the negotiations will be absolutely different.
Because unlike Robert Kocharyan, the Republican Party and Serge
Sargsyan have already made their choice.
HAKOB BADALYAN

STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN AVOIDS COMMENTING UPON VICTOR DALLAKIAN’S LEAVING “ARDAROUTIUN”
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. “Nothing unexpected took
place, and I think, Mr.Dallakian must give explanations and
commentaries.” Commenting upon NA “Ardaroutiun” (Justice) faction
Secretary Victor Dallakian’s leaving, faction head Stepan Demirchian
made such a statement at Radio Liberty. Before the NA session, the
“Ardaroutiun” faction will elect a new secretary and will actively
work at the Parliament. Stepan Demirchian still considers early to
speak about the possible soon cooperation of Victor Dallakian and the
“Ardaroutiun” faction: “In any case, if Dallakian remains faithful
to his opposing position, the cooperation is not excluded.” Vazgen
Manukian, a member of the “Ardaroutiun” faction, the Chairman of
the National Democratic Union relates normally to news about Victor
Dallakian’s joining “Bargavach Hayastan” (Prospering Armenia). “It
is natural, elections approach, and different politicians must make
decisions. The “Ardaroutiun” faction was created in the reality of
2003. The reality of 2006 has changed. So, everybody must himself
decide what way he takes. It’s his right,” he said. Hrant Khachatrian,
a member of the faction, the Chairman of the “Sahmanadrakan Iravunk”
(Constitutional Right) union stated relating to the same issue that
he is a supporter of the political freedom, and every person must
himself decides his place and position. “One must just wish that Victor
Dallakian remains in the new political unit as much principal as he
was in the “Ardaroutiun” faction,” he mentioned. In the opinion of
Aram Sargsian, a member of the “Ardaroutiun” faction, the Chairman
of the “Hanrapetoutiun” (Republic) party, Dallakian’s step was not
unexpected, and that issue was, in essense, solved. “Every person
himself makes a decision about his place and role, and the time
gives estimation to the given action,” he emphasized, adding that he
does not think that, by this step, Dallakian or “Bargavach Hayastan”
will get anything. “Just the opposite, I am of the opinion that every
pro-ruling party solves one problem: they unite for everything remains
the same. And we unite and go to changes, for the changes are real. I
do not see that “Bargavach Hayastan” wants any change. Today’s state
completely satifies them, they want changes for everything remains
the same. And Victor Dallakian added those rows,” A.Sargsian said. “A
ruling pyramid exits in the political field, and Robert Kocharian
and Serzh Sargsian, who characterize the evil, unjust, falsification,
corruption, are on the top of the pyramid.
Another, opposing pyramid must be formed which must have its top,
and that top must chracterize the good, just. And the struggle must
be between those two pyramids,” the head of the “Hanrapetoutiun”
party is sure.

YEREVAN LAKE TO BECOME RESTING ZONE IN COMING ONE-TWO YEARS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Lake will be so clean in
one-two years that people will rest near that lake instead of going
to Sevan. Vrezh Gabrielian, the Deputy Chief of the Rescue Service
of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration stated about it at
the August 7 press-conference.
According to him, the territory near the lake will also be in good
order.
V.Gabrielian mentioned that Lake Yerevan must become safe in
the sense of both ecology and emergency situations. According to
him, planning-estimate works of 17 mln drams (about 41.5 thousand
U.S. dollars) were ordered for cleaning the lake, moving and burying
mud in a safe territory.

LEVON ARONIAN IS DEFEATED AT FINAL OF DARTMOUTH INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
DARTMOUTH, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The 19th class chess international
super tournament with participation of 8 most powerful grand masters of
the world finished in August 6 in Dartmouth. Levon Aronian from Armenia
lost the last 3 games after 4 uninterrupted drawn games. Kramnik and
Svidler got 4.5 points from 7 possible ones. Kramkin having higher
coefficients was recognized the winner.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA COURT OF CASSATION OVERWORKED
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first half year of 2006, the
RA Courts of First Instance accepted 29 thousand 176 civil cases,
on 20 019 of which verdicts were issured (among them 15 552 ones
were issured by satisfying the claim), 2181 cases were not examined,
and 6976 cases were left for the second half year of 2006. 57 of
verdicts concerned cases relating to applications on protection
of the electoral rights during elections. Hovhannes Manukian, the
Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation informed about it at the August
7 press-conference. He reminded that in the first half year of 2005, 50
thousand 779 cases were registered at the RA Courts of First Instance,
on 37 147 of which verdicts were issured. It was mentioned that 2509
appeal complaints were got against 19 962 verdicts subject to appeal
at the RA Court of Cassation on Civil Cases. 1396 of appeal complaints
were not satisfied. 1391 cassation complaints were presented to the
Chamber of Civil and Economy Cases of the RA Court of Cassation. 63
of them were left without satisfying. 16 thousand 62 verdicts were
factually not appealed and came into legal force. According to
H.Manukian, in the first half year of 2006, 2509 cases entered the
RA Appeal Court on Civil Cases. On 1080 of them verdicts were issued:
50 cases among them were quashed, 788 were left without examination,
641 ones were left for the second half year of 2006. Compared with
the verdicts issued by the Courts of First Instance, 1396 verdicts
of the Appeal Court were of same context, 304 verdicts were of quite
another context, 168 verdicts were of partly other context. According
to data of the Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation, from the 1080
verdicts issued at the RA Appeal Court on Civil Cases, 831 cases
were appealed at the Chamber of Civil and Economy Cases of the RA
Court of Cassation, 501 of which were not satisfied, 249 verdicts
were not appealed and came into legal power. He informed that in
January-June of 2006, 4500 cases entered the RA Economic Court on
1563 of which verdicts were issued and decisions were made, among
them, 164 cases were quashed, 370 cases were not examined, 10 ones
were sent according to subjection, 2557 were left for the second half
year of 2006. From the 1563 verdicts issued by the RA Economic Court,
297 cases were appealed at the Chamber of Civil and Economic Cases of
the RA Economic Court, 192 of which were not satisfied, 1266 verdicts
were not appealed and came into legal force. H.Manukian mentioned that
the RA Court of Cassations continued working overworked (the Chamber
on Criminal and Soldiers’ Cases of the court examined in the first
half year of 2006 30 complaints relating to criminal cases as well),
what does not give the Court of Cassation a possibility to function
as the highest judicial instance of the country. According to him,
a possibility was given for that court for the main function reserved
by the RA Constitution, an identical usage, security of the law by
the legislative reforms on the judicial system come into force from
August 5, according to which, the RA Court of Cassation got a right
of registering only important cases according to their discretion.

SYRIA AND ARMENIA TO COOPERATE IN SCIENTIFIC FIELD
Tuesday, August 08, 2006 – 07:10 PM
ALEPPO, (SANA) – Syria and Armenia discussed Tuesday ways of enhancing
and developing the bilateral relations between the two friendly
countries particularly in scientific field.
For his part, Armenian Charge’d Affair Ashor Mana Sirian pointed out at
aspects of joint cooperation between Aleppo University and Armenia’s
universities particularly in the cultural domains, underlining the
necessity of deepening the scientific and cultural relations between
the two countries.
A.Zeitoun / S.Younes