ARMENIA CONCERNED WITH THE FACTS OF MURDER OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA
ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 17:01
Armenia is concerned with the facts of murder of Armenians in
Russia. In RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s words, the issue is
on the agenda and is being raised on all levels when there is such
opportunity. Armenia expresses concern and suggests its assistance
to jointly fight and exclude similar phenomena.
“We want to believe that these are individual cases and not a special
policy against Armenians by a group of people. But the phenomenon
exists and first of all the Russian authorities should be concerned,”
the Minister said.
According to Vardan Oskanyan, it can be inferred from the reaction
of Russia that the country is also worried and promises to prevent
similar cases if possible.
To remind, on May 25 ethnic Armenian Arthur Sardaryan was killed near
Klyazma station in Moscow, in a few days another Armenian young man
was killed in Saint Petersburg.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS TO MEET IN NEAR FUTURE
Yerkir
08.06.2006 16:45
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian party is not going to provide
assessment of the past talks and the meeting in Bucharest, Armenian
FM Vartan Oskanian stated at a news conference in Yerevan.
In his words, he may soon meet with his Azeri counterpart
E. Mammadyarov. As of the outcomes of the two Presidents’ meeting in
Bucharest, Oskanian reminded Kocharian’s words before that meeting
that he has “modest expectations from the talks.”
“This was the case. As of further talks, Armenian and Azeri FMs will
meet soon. I should note that it seems after any talks that dialogue
opportunities are exhausted. This is not so. I should again underscore
there is no military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh issue,” the
Armenian FM said.
At that he said that the talks have their own logic. ”It lies in
every party thinking each time that it is worth meeting and some
agreement can be reached in a way. It does not turn out each time
as the parties want. However, this does not mean talks should be
stopped,” Oskanian underscored.
–Boundary_(ID_GZbvq1biy+YOuN8Zc+HYJ g)–

OSKANIAN: NOTHING SECRET IN MEETINGS OF ARMENIAN AND TURK DIPLOMATS
Yerkir
08.06.2006 16:49
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian authorities do not disregard events in
Russia, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at a news conference in
Yerevan. In his words, everything possible is being done for murders
on the national ground not to repeat. “However, it is the business
of the Russian party, not ours,” Oskanian underscored.
As of Turkish press reports on meetings between Armenian and Turk
diplomats, Oskanian remarked there is nothing secret in these. “We
always meet, hold talks. Of course the Armenian party would like
those talks to be productive,” the Armenian FM said.

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN: PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN IS NOT READY FOR CONCESSIONS
ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 18:06
“We have seen many times that the President of Azerbaijan is not
ready for concessions, and this can be explained with the public
opinion in Azerbaijan.
We should not forget, however, that the public opinion was formed
mostly with the influence of the aggressive statements of the Azeri
President,” NA Deputy Speaker Vahan Hovhannisyan said.
The Deputy Speaker considers it is irrefutable that the oil factor
has a certain role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He
does not think, however, that Baku can use this as a guarantee that
no pressure will be exerted over it in any case.
“In reality, it is not that difficult to match the positions
of the parties, only Azerbaijan should recognize the right of
self-determination of people of Nagorno-Karabakh. International
experience shous that it is an applicable mechanism,” Vahan
Hovhannisyan said, turning to possible developments of further
development.
The current world processes, in Vahan Hovhannisyan’s opinion, will
at last make Azerbaijan realize the necessity of a more tolerating
approach.

DEMOGRAPHIC INDICES FOR 2006
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 2006
In the months of January-May 2006 793 children were born in Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, which is down by 37 or 4.5 percent compared with the
same months in 2005. The death rate totaled 547 over the past months of
2006, and is down by 39 or 6.7 percent, compared with the same period
in 2005. Hence, the natural growth of the population totaled 246 over
the past five months of 2006, and is up by 0.8 percent, compared
with January-May 2005. Over the past months 309 people arrived in
NKR and 212 people left. In this period 241 marriages were reported,
increasing by 13 or 5.7 percent compared with January-May 2005.
The rate of divorce totaled 49 and is up by 4.3 percent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTITUTIONAL TASK FORCE MET JUNE 5
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 2006
On June 5 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian conducted the meeting of
the NKR Task Force for the Constitution. Arkady Ghukassian highly
appreciated the work done in drafting the main law of the country,
stressing that it has already received positive opinions from
experts. Then the head of the Task Force Armen Zalinian presented
a report on the work of the Task Force. The representatives of the
political forces, government and the National Assembly expressed
their opinions on the draft. Summing up the opinions and approaches,
Arkady Ghukassian decided to introduce the draft constitution to the
National Assembly. At the same time, the head of state instructed
the Task Force to go on to study the proposals on the draft.

NKR PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 2006
NKR President Arkady Ghukassian congratulated the president of the
Chess Federation of Armenia Serge Sargissian and the men’s chess
team of Armenia on the victory on the 37th World Chess Olympiad. “The
absolute success of the men’s team of Armenia in Italy displayed the
high quality of the national chess school, upholding the glorious
tradition established by Tigran Petrossian. At the same time, the
victory of the Armenian chess players denotes the great intellectual
potential of our people, its reliance on its strength. All through the
Olympiad Nagorno Karabakh cheered and gave its support to you. Today
we are proud of our people, who gave birth to such sons for the world,
for your victory is the victory of the entire Armenian people. Your
success in Torino will spur the development of chess in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.” In the end the president wished new achievements
to the chess players and invited them to Artsakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GOVERNMENT AWARDED CHESS PLAYERS
Lragir.am
08 June 06
At the June 8 meeting the government decided to award the men’s chess
team of Armenia which became champion on the World Chess Olympiad. The
chess players and the coaches were awarded 2.5 million drams each,
plus 5 million dollars each from the reserve funds of the government.

LEAVING ORINATS YERKIR DID NOT HELP GOVERNOR OF GEGHARKUNIK
Lragir.am
08 June 06
On June 8 the government of Armenia, relying on the May 6, 1997 order
of the president on regional governance, dismissed Stepan Barseghyan
from the post of governor of the region of Gegharkunik. Arsen Grigoryan
was appointed governor of Gegharkunik. Stepan Barseghyan, being a
member of the Orinats Yerkir Party, became governor thanks to the
coalition agreement. After the secession of the Orinats Yerkir Party
from the coalition Stepan Barseghyan left the party.

VARDAN OSKANYAN DID NOT LISTEN TO SERGE SARGSYAN
Lragir.am
08 June 06
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated June 8 that he had not heard
the June 7 statement of Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan. The defense
minister announced June 7 that judging by the information he has about
the meeting in Bucharest Azerbaijan is missing the opportunity of a
peace settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Vardan Oskanyan declined
to comment on Serge Sargsyan’s opinion but he, nevertheless, set
forward suggestions on what it could emanate from.
“After every round of negotiations one tends to think that another
opportunity was missed. Maybe this is what the defense minister had
meant. I have just told you that we must carry on the talks. There
is no other alternative. It is Armenia that keeps stating, asserting
that the Karabakh issue cannot be settled through a war. If it could,
it should have been settled long before,” said Vardan Oskanyan. He
announced that despite the failure of the talks in Bucharest the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will use the open “window”
in 2006 and reach an agreement on the key principles of the
resolution. However, the presidents rejected the agreement of the
mediators on this dispute, and it is interesting whether the new
meeting will not be an opportunity for a new refusal.
“I think that every party thinks that it is not acceptable for them,
but maybe it is close to its goal and can persuade the opposite
party to accept it. I think the presidents keep this in their
minds in approaching the issue and preparing to meet,” says Vardan
Oskanyan, adding that it is difficult for both parties to reach an
agreement because they have major controversies. Vardan Oskanyan did
not mention the exact time of the next meeting of the presidents,
saying that there were no arrangements in Bucharest. He mentioned
that they promised to meet as soon as there was an invitation. Hence,
everything depends on the co-chairs.
“All the problems of settlement of the issue are on the table, all the
problems. Different sides are offered different proposals; therefore,
every party stresses the issue that is favorable for it.
For us, we have asserted for several times that self-determination and
recognition of Nagorno Karabakh by Azerbaijan is primary. Then we can
discuss different consequences of the conflict,” Vardan Oskanyan once
again expressed the stance of the Armenian side on June 8. According
to him, there is no outside pressure on the process of settlement,
and there will be no pressure. Vardan Oskanyan said it is pointless to
apply the model of Dayton, adding that in Dayton the great powers had
to stop a blood-shed, whereas there is no such a problem in Karabakh.