BAKU DOES NOT SAY A DECISIVE “NO” TO THE MEDIATORS
Tatul Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
07.07.2006 15:22
On June 22 the mediators actually disclosed the details of settlement
of the Karabakh conflict – the principles presented at the OSCE
Permanent Council, which the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
discussed in Bucharest. If the revelation of the document was meant
to provide a topic of dispute and discussion, then the anticipations
of the mediators did not come true, since the societies in Armenia
and Karabakh, and particularly in Azerbaijan the societies responded
without spirit. This was, surely, a surprise if we consider the
importance the resolution of the Karabakh issue has in the three
countries.
Two weeks have passed after the disclosure of the last suggestions
or, let’s say so, the basic principles. However, it’s not clear up
to now whether Baku accepts these as a basis for negotiations. As
far as the parties involved in the conflict have not said a firm
“yes,” it is hard to anticipate that a healthy discussion, dialogue
or criticism will start among the society.
Official Yerevan has confirmed at least thrice that the latest
suggestions of the mediators are acceptable for the Armenian side
with some reservations.
Still on June 21, i.e. before revelation of the principles, President
Kocharyan clearly stated in Minsk that Yerevan accepts the mediators’
suggestions.
A few days ago RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanyan stated,
“The suggestions put on the negotiations table today are generally
acceptable for Armenia, and we are ready to continue the talks based on
these principles, which, I think are all-embracing and rather balanced
and it seems that a correct choice has been made in regard to mutual
concessions.” Nagorno-Karabakh authorities declared yesterday that
the latest suggestions could serve as a basis for talks, of course
with some reservations.
On the other hand, NKR Parliament Speaker Ashot Gulyan underlined
yesterday that not all of the suggestions are acceptable for Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nevertheless, it’s not clear whether Baku is admitting the Co-Chair’s
suggestions or not. From RA Foreign Minister’s words one can infer
that for the recurrent time Azerbaijan is denying these.
“We hope that Azerbaijan will reassess the situation, will create an
opportunity to continue the talks and achieve results,” Oskanyan said.
Probably, Azerbaijan has no distinct position on the latest
suggestions. One thing is clear: Baku does not accept these, but does
not want to say that it is denying the mediator’s suggestions as a
basis of negotiations. Perhaps that’s why Aliev is saying one thing,
the Foreign Ministry is stating another thing, and the Ministry of
Defense is making quite a different point.
Studying the Azeri media reports, we can say that the point on
referendum is particularly unacceptable for Baku. It deserves attention
that in the course of the recent months have been consistently refuting
that the version of referendum cannot be discussed during the talks. It
comes out, however, that compared with all other previous suggestions
of the mediators, the only novelty in the last package is just the
idea of referendum.
Thus, political scientist, ex-Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia
Hickmet Hajizade expressed the opinion that inclusion of the
referendum in he framework agreement is a serious defeat for
Azerbaijani diplomacy.
“Even if the leadership of Azerbaijan manages to refuse from concluding
a peace treaty, the referendum issue will be included in all other
peace agreements on settlement,” Hajizade said.
A few days ago another famous political scientist Zardust Alizade
also said in his interview with “Radiolur” that what is unacceptable
for Azerbaijan is the issue of referendum, the rest is the repetition
of the old.
“Nothing new has been said. Actually, everything was known to the
Azeri society, first of all from Armenian media. The statement
of the Co-Chairs brought about discontent and another wave of
comments. Azerbaijan cannot agree with the idea of the referendum, if
it is to be held only in Nagorno-Karabakh or among Karabakh Armenians,
since this contradicts the Constitution of the country. Therefore, to
make the Azeri society go to a referendum, it is first of all necessary
to hold another nationwide referendum to amend the Constitution in
force. Today it seems unbelievable that the Azeri society will agree
to that,” Alizade noted.

GEOPOLITICAL REALITY IS CHANGING
Lragir.am
07 July 06
Mathew Bryza’s statements show that the geopolitical situation is
changing in the region, stated Ruben Safrastyan, expert of Turkish
Studies, who commented Mathew Bryza with Hrant Khachatryan on July
7 at the Hayeli Club.
Ruben Safrastyan believes that the geopolitical status quo established
10-12 years ago is changing, the evidence to this is the pullout of the
Russian force from Georgia, the operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline. Ruben Safrastyan thinks that another display of changes
underway will be the alleged membership of Georgia to NATO, which
will happen in the nearest future, says the expert of Turkish studies.
Ruben Safrastyan says Bryza’s statement implies that the United States
is likely to have political processes in the region, including Armenia,
adjusted to the new geopolitical state of things. Ruben Safrastyan,
expert of Turkish studies, thinks that connecting Turkish-Armenian
relations and the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, which Bryza did,
is in this context.
Ruben Safrastyan stresses that this approach is not new and,
unfortunately, expresses the approach of the United States to
this issue. He says Armenia should do its best to divide the
Turkish-Armenian relations and the resolution of the conflict over
Karabakh by changing the approach of the United States.
The leader of the Constitutional Right Union Hrant Khachatryan
agrees with Ruben Safrastyan. According to him, the geopolitical
frontier has moved towards the East since 1985. In his opinion,
Armenia should be more alert and attentive in such a situation, get
rid of historical complexes and make realistic decisions. Therefore,
according to Hrant Khachatryan, there are quite favorable international
components, and we only have to find a correct and effective solution
of national problems.

TURKEY IS PUSHED TO GO EAST
Lragir.am
07 July 06
Influential forces in world politics block the way of Turkey to Europe,
pushing it towards our region to expand NATO’s interests there, stated
Hrant Khachatryan, the leader of the Constitutional Right Union,
on July 7 at the Hayeli Club. According to him, there are forces in
Turkey, which oppose to this process and want their country to move
towards Europe rather than the East.
Hrant Khachatryan says Armenia should build relations with Turkey,
considering the present reality. According to the leader of the CRU,
it would be better if Turkey recognized the genocide, returned the
land, an election was held and the problem of the Armenian Cause
was settled, but these have nothing to do with the reality, Hrant
Khachatryan says. Ruben Safrastyan, Turkish Studies, agrees with him.
He thinks that while speaking about the prospect of Armenian and
Turkish relations our real possibilities should be taken into
consideration.
Both Hrant Khachatryan and Ruben Safrastyan are satisfied that the
issue of the genocide is constantly on the agenda of the foreign
policies of Armenia. Ruben Safrastyan even says otherwise it would
mean depriving our foreign policies from its component of identity.
Safrastyan thinks that Turkey is playing diplomatic games, asserting
its willingness to discuss the genocide.
Ruben Safrastyan mentions that the dialogue cannot be between Armenia
and Turkey. It should be mediated by international organizations. If
Turkey notices that it is alone with Armenia, Turkey starts carrying
out a policy of pressure, thinks Safrastyan. He believes that Armenian
and Turkish relations should be mediated by the European Union and the
United States, combining our interests and their interests in order to
achieve effective work in the direction of Turkish-Armenian relations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DISCUSSIONS ON ISSUES OF EDUCATION TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ArmRadio.am
07.07.2006 10:28
Discussions on the new system of graduation exams in Armenia will
be held today at in the Business Center of the American University
of Armenia.
RA Minister of Education and Science Levon Mktchyan and Deputy Minister
Ara Avetisyan will participate in the discussion.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE AT “ZVARNOTS” AIRPORT DISTURBED BECAUSE OF FUEL CRISIS
ArmRadio.am
07.07.2006 10:58
In the recent days some flights from “Zvartnots” airport are either not
executed, or the planes refuel at reserve airports, Press Secretary of
the Chief Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia Gayane Davtyan told
“Noyyan Tapan.”
According to her, the problem with the avian fuel is connected with
its sole importer “Mika Armenia Limited,” which has not imported a
sufficient quantity of fuel. It is hard to say when the issue will
be regulated.
For executing direct Yerevan-Moscow flight, the planes have to land
at Sochi airport for refueling.
The price of avian kerosene at “Zvartnots” airport currently makes
US$843 per one ton. It is expected that in 10-15 days “Mika Limited”
Company will supply kerosene at a higher price.
It should be noted that recently the price of tickets of the
traditional Russian flights rose with 10-15 percent and it is not
clear so far whether the rise of fuel prices will lead to new rice
in ticket prices.

FOR GAGIK TSARUKYAN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
Lragir.am
07 July 06
One of the recent attention-grabbing news was that Member of
Parliament Ruben Hairapetyan warned Gagik Tsarukyan not to open an
office of the Bargavach Hayastan Party in the community of Avan. For
his part, the head of the Center made a similar “proposal” to Gagik
Tsarukyan. Commenting on this news, Member of Parliament Victor
Dallakyan said, “Such a thing is possible in the political sphere of
Armenia, but for Gagik Tsarukyan it is impossible.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST SUMMER CALL-UP IN ARMENIA
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
07 July 06
In the modern history of Armenia we have witnessed for a number of
times how the government resource is shaped into a noose and this
noose is tightened around the neck of the society. In this sense the
ongoing mobilization of functionaries in the Republican Party is not
a novelty for the Armenian society. Perhaps, therefore, the society
is not worried by this “call-up”, it seems less worried than the
“conscripts”. This is the first summer call-up in Armenia. Moreover,
for the first time the republican military commission is led by the
minister of defense. Therefore, those affiliating with the Republican
Party have every reason to be confused.
This is an emergency case, and quick mobilization is urgent for future
political battles and may be even more than political battles.
And the class, which has now appeared in the Republican Party, usually
adheres to a power group to enjoy, not to fight, be it for power or
for property. They are not used to struggling for something, even
for their property, for they are not the master of their property –
the government guards it. Therefore, this class will prefer agreement
with the force, which will be the most likely candidate to take power
to fighting with the Republican Party.
Therefore the “trumpeters”, who declare admittance to the Republican
without examination, are mistaken. If the Republican Party and Serge
Sargsyan are pursuing quantity or resource, it means they need it. And
for the official-oligarchic criminal it is strange that Serge Sargsyan
needs something, especially quantity or resource.
Consequently, they affiliate with the Republican Party without knowing
whether they will be defended or used for defending others.
If Serge Sargsyan is rounding them up to defend them rather than
to defend himself, a logical question occurs at once from whom the
“almighty” defense minister is going to protect them and why inside
the Republican Party by all means.
Before “taking the army to battle” Serge Sargsyan and Andranik
Margaryan may have to answer the questions of “conscripts” to bolster
up their morale. On the other hand, if they answer this question,
considering the intellect of this “enlisted mass”, we may suppose
that they will not go to battle for the simple reason that under
this circumstance idea does not work, instinct works. In that case,
there can be no self-defense.
There can be only self-protection. Why do you think the rats are
deserting the ship? Are they aware that the ship is sinking? Of course,
not. They simply feel that they may die out though the captain might
be skillful and experienced. And if the ship is sinking, forcing the
rats on board the ship does not mean that it will be saved. Simply the
same fate will befell to rats and the skillful and experienced captain.
Happy voyage?

GENERAL AMNESTY GRANTED
Lragir.am
07 July 06
On July 6 the National Assembly discussed President Kocharyan’s
proposal on general amnesty and adopted it on July 7. As we have
already informed, 300 people will be released.
There was only one change in the decision on general amnesty. The
representative of the president Davit Harutiunyan, Minister of Justice,
offered to include Article 268 of the Criminal Code as well, namely
defiling cemeteries and dead bodies. Amnesty will be granted to persons
who committed a crime before June 1, 2006, convicts sentenced to 3-5
years of imprisonment, inmates aged over 60, disabled convicts of
categories 2 and 3.

INCOME OF 8 MILLION DRAMS TO BE DECLARED
Lragir.am
07 July 06
The bill on declaration of property and income of natural persons,
which sparked heated debate, became a law on July 7. Armen Alaverdyan,
Deputy Chief of the State Tax Agency told the news agency ARKA that
the government edited the bill, and now natural persons whose income
is over 8 percent have to declare their property and income. Initially
it was 6 million drams.
Property worth over 40 million drams is also to be declared. In case
of declaring false or reduced data the declarer will have to pay a
fine equal to 10 percent of the income that was not declared. During
the adoption of the law the representative of the government said
the law will be helpful in fighting corruption.

SERIOUS FORCES CRITICIZED CATHOLICOS
Lragir.am
07 July 06
The instigators of the campaign of protest during the Turkish visit
of Catholicos Garegin II are not simply abstract forces. They are
representatives of serious non-governmental organizations, stated
Ruben Safrastyan, expert on Turkish studies, July 7 at the Hayeli Club,
commenting on the incidents during the visit of the Catholicos.
Ruben Safrastyan thinks that the Christian world should stand up
against the incident involving the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Particularly, the European community should not have remained silent,
thinks Ruben Safrastyan, stressing that the system of values is
concerned. According to him, this incident showed that Turkey is not
ready to become a member of the European family.