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.

RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES DENY BRITISH JOURNALIST ENTRY VISA
CPJ Press Freedom Online, NY
Committee to protect journalists
July 6 2006
New York, July 5, 2006 –The Committee to Protect Journalists is
concerned that Russian authorities have refused an entry visa to
British journalist Thomas de Waal. The Moscow-based Union of Russia’s
Journalists (RUJ) had invited de Waal to present his book on the
conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, which was translated into Russian last
year. The Federal Migration Service in Moscow wrote the RUJ Monday
that de Waal’s application had been denied under a 1996 security law.
De Waal told CPJ that he had not experienced trouble over his work on
Nagorno-Karabakh–a turbulent province in western Azerbaijan under
Armenian occupation for a decade. “I believe the entry denial is
connected to my work on Chechnya and the North Caucasus,” de Waal said.
In the past 12 years, de Waal has written extensively on the war in
Chechnya. From 1993 to 1997, he worked in Russia, covering the North
Caucasus for the English-language daily Moscow Times and The Times of
London. He wrote a book Chechnya: A Small Victorious War, and in 2003,
he testified as an expert witness for the defense at the extradition
trial in Britain of Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev.
“We are very concerned by Russian authorities’ decision to deny Thomas
de Waal an entry visa,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “This
appears to be part of a pattern by the authorities of controlling
coverage. We call on the Federal Migration Service to allow de Waal
to enter Russia, and to stop harassing journalists whose reporting
on the war in Chechnya contradicts the official line.”
De Waal said he believed Russian authorities were now reacting to the
body of his work over the past decade. “I must have somehow gotten
on their black list,” de Waal said. He last visited Russia in January
2005. He has been to the North Caucasus twice during President Vladimir
Putin’s tenure, both times visiting the republics of Ingushetia and
North Ossetia, but not Chechnya.
Oleg Panfilov, director of the Moscow-based media watchdog Center
for Journalism in Extreme Situations, said his organization keeps
a list of foreign journalists denied visas since 2000. The list now
contains over 30 names, Panfilov told the Russian service of Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

IRAN, ARMENIA AGREE TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
July 6 2006
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Wednesday afternoon Iran and
Armenia have reached an agreement to accelerate implementation of
joint projects.
In a joint press conference with visiting Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, Ahmadinejad described his counterpart’s visit to
Tehran ‘positive’ adding the two countries have agreed on different
cooperation fields, including legal, cultural, economic and investment
issues.”
He expressed hope that the visit can be a big step in developing
bilateral ties and pointed out that in the meetings mutual relations
and world issues have been discussed and bilateral cooperation in
different fields have been reviewed.
Ahmadinejad described Iran-Armenia relations historical, friendly,
sustainable and comprehensive and added there are a lot of
commonalities which connect us and we are determined to develop
our ties.
Armenian president appreciated Iran’s government and nation for their
warm hospitality as well as friendly meetings he had in Tehran and
good bilateral agreements and said seven agreements have been signed
which are complementary to former agreements.
Kocharian said there have been one hundred agreements between the two
countries so far, which prepared an appropriate ground to develop ties.
He stressed that although the two countries have cultural and
historical commonalities, but the new round of relations have started
since 15 years ago, and in this concern both countries have tried
hard to prepare a desirable and proper situation to develop relations.
Armenian president arrived in Tehran on Wednesday morning at the head
of a high ranking politico-economic delegation.
During his 2-day official visit, Kocharian is scheduled to meet with
Iranian senior officials.

IRAN, ARMENIA HOLD ENERGY, TRANSPORT TALKS
Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 6 2006
TEHRAN, July 5 (MNA) – Negotiations were held here on Wednesday between
a high-ranking delegation from Armenia headed by its President Robert
Kocharian and officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran led by
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
During the meeting, Ahmadinejad stressed the need for the two countries
to make use of the huge potential for expanding bilateral ties in
various fields.
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes and supports the development
of ties with Armenia in various areas particularly in energy fields
as well as transportation, sports, and tourism, he noted.
Ahmadinejad stated that so far six successful sessions have been
held by the Iran-Armenia joint cooperation committee, adding that
new documents will be signed between the two countries during the
Armenian president’s stay in Iran.
Iran and Armenia also enjoy good cooperation on regional and
international issues, the president said, adding, “I hope the Armenian
president’s trip to Iran would serve as an important step toward the
development of all-out ties between the two countries.”
For his part, Kocharian expressed pleasure with his visit to Tehran
and recalled the good memories of his last visit to the country.
Fortunately, Iran and Armenia enjoy extended ties and have signed as
many as 90 documents on mutual cooperation, he said.
He added that the countries should take new steps to implement
previous agreements.
Kocharian expressed his country’s readiness to develop ties with Iran
in the fields of energy and transportation particularly in a project
to connect the two countries’ railway systems.
He also called for efforts to increase the power transmission capacity
between the two neighboring countries.
Kocharian invited Ahmadinejad to pay an official visit to Armenia
for inaugurating joint projects.
The two presidents were to sign new agreements in a special ceremony
Wednesday afternoon in Tehran.
Iran is building a pipeline to supply Armenia with needed natural gas,
much of which now comes from Russia.
Earlier this spring, OAO Gazprom (GSPBEX.RS) announced a deal that
would give the Russian state-controlled gas monopoly ownership rights
to the Armenian segment of a planned pipeline; Armenian officials
denied they were turning control of the pipeline over to Gazprom.
President Kocharian arrived here at the head of a high-ranking
politico-economic delegation for a two-day official visit Wednesday
morning.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Energy Armen
Movsisyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Kirakosian are accompanying
the president in this visit.
The Armenian president, during his two-day stay here, is scheduled
to hold separate meetings with senior Iranian officials including
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.

REGULATION OF NK CONFLICT TO BE RAISED AT MOSCOW MEETING OF PROCURATORS-GENERAL OF CE
Author: R.Agayev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
Heads of the Procurator’s Offices of the Council of Europe (CE)
member-countries will be presented extensive information about the
important reforms held in Azerbaijan, as well as Armenian-Azerbaijan
conflict. Such statement was made on July 5 in Moscow by the
procurator-general of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov who participates at
the meeting of the procurators-general of CE member-countries.
According Garalov, the activity of Armenian armed forces in Karabakh
and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan is assessed as crime
against humanity, genocide and ethical cleansing. “We have collected
enough materials about these facts and will continue to deliver this
information to European and world public. All these facts, as well
as photo materials have already been presented to the attention of
European colleagues and this action will be continued, ” told Garalov.
The key topic of the present 7th conference of procurators-general
of CE member-countries is dedicated to the interaction of
procurators-general of CE member-countries in fight with crimes, and
realization of the role and activity of newly created Consultative
Council of procurators-general of CE member-countries, Garayev
stressed. According to Garayev,
the legislation of Azerbaijan, as well as criminal and
criminal-procedural codes have been brought into conformity with the
CE standards and this allow us to cooperate with European colleagues.
Garalov pointed out that within this forum it is planned to hold
meetings with the procurators-general of Russia, Hungary, Austria
and other countries.
Answering the question about the level of the relations with the
Russian procurator-general of CE member-countries, Garalov mentioned
that “Azerbaijan procurators-general’s office expands its relations
with not only Russian colleague, but also procurators-general’s
office of the countries around the world. The relations between
procurators-general’s offices of Azerbaijan and Russia are successfully
developing and there is not any unsettled problem. We assist each
other in revealing crimes and delivering offenders,” Garalov added.
The Moscow meeting brought together the representatives of 44 European
countries, and the common number of the participants, including the
representatives of international organizations, exceeds 150. Russia
chair the CE Committee of Foreign Ministers from May to April of
this year, and one of its first tasks is to conduct the constituent
conference of the new Consultative Council of CE.

IRAN FM: LARIJANI-SOLANA TALKS ON IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE CALLED OFF
Author: À.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
(IRNA) – Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here Wednesday said that
talks scheduled for today between Supreme National Security Council
(SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani and European Union foreign policy chief
Javier Solana will not be held.
Larijani and Solana were scheduled to hold talks on Europe’s package
of incentives to Iran on Wednesday (today).
Mottaki made the disclosure on the sidelines of the official
welcoming ceremony held this morning to welcome Armenian President
Robert Kocharian who is in the country for a two-day official visit,
reports Trend.
Mottaki made the disclosure when asked about the Larijani-Solana
talks and what he predicted would be the outcome.
–Boundary_(ID_oaGOlOpKosibfvKLKx2gcg)–