FORMING A SOCIETY LONGING FOR PARTY FAVORS
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
12 May 06
The accession of members to the Republican Party on May 1 was
considered a rather significant and prospective step in the political
sphere of Armenia. It was a touching scene watch how Andranik Margaryan
and Tigran Torosyan could hardly manage to distribute membership cards
and congratulate 120 school teachers. This event would receive greater
response if there were not for the crash of the Armenian plane. The
crash took all the attention of the society, and on those days it
was not only impertinent but also improper to discuss any other topic.
However, now that the society has partly recovered from the shock of
the plane crash, it would not be impertinent to recall events which
did not get due attention, whereas they may be rather significant in
terms of home political developments, and subsequently the fate of the
country. On May 1 while the Republicans were admitting new members,
a rather important accession was underway at Karen Demirchyan Center
of Sport and Culture. Businessman Hrant Vardanyan, who consistently
and tenaciously explains to public that our production is better
and sweeter, celebrates May Day at Demirchyan Center every year. He
celebrates it with Grand Holding he leads.
However, May Day 2006 was curiously different from previous May
Day celebrations. On that day Hrant Vardanyan had invited President
Robert Kocharyan, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan and Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan. It is difficult to explain why Hrant Vardanyan had
chosen especially Serge Sargsyan and Vardan Oskanyan to accompany
Robert Kocharyan. Robert Kocharyan is Hrant Vardanyan’s friend, as
the businessman likes to announce during meetings in a narrow circle
of his employees, and the invitation can be understood.
But the fact of inviting Serge Sargsyan, for instance, is surprising.
The point is that during the parliamentary campaign in 2003 Hrant
Vardanyan allied with Dashnaktsutiun, and in a rally of Dashnaktsutiun
in the hall of Grand Sun Factory he announced that Serge Sargsyan
is the source of all the troubles of Armenia, and it is impossible
to eradicate corruption in the country unless Serge Sargsyan is in
office. This statement, made in a narrow circle, appeared in press, and
Serge Sargsyan and his aides could have read the newspapers. Naturally,
he disagreed with Hrant Vardanyan, and disagreement between Hrant
Vardanyan and Serge Sargsyan occurred due to contrasting visions of
the role of Serge Sargsyan in the country’s future.
Most probably, Hrant Vardanyan has changed his mind over these years,
and has discovered another cause of corruption, and if on May Day
he invited Serge Sargsyan and Vardan Oskanyan, it means he does not
consider them corrupt. He even had a long interview with the Golos
Armenia several days ahead and criticized the economic policy in the
country. It is interesting to know who Hrant Vardanyan blames for
this policy. After all, the persons he invited have a key role in the
economic policy of Armenia. Robert Kocharyan guarantees environment
for investments, Serge Sargsyan sells off infrastructures and plants
that we do not need any more, and Vardan Oskanyan considers the key
objective of foreign policy to attract investments. Was it accidental
that Hrant Vardanyan did not invite the prime minister? Of course,
it is not worthwhile to ascribe such a key role to Hrant Vardanyan
in home political developments in Armenia. And this is not what I am
trying to do. Simply, it is obvious that a home political episode
involving Hrant Vardanyan took place, which may help to outline
preferences inside the government.
In this sense, it is possible that Hrant Vardanyan did not invited
Serge Sargsyan and Vardan Oskanyan; Robert Kocharyan may have taken
them along. The host would hardly have turned away the guests who had
come with his friend. In this sense it is rather interesting to know
on what principle Robert Kocharyan had chosen his company.
“My house is you house,” showed the Soviet television. Well, if
blood is one, and the house is one, why shouldn’t the holiday be
one? Especially the good and old Soviet holiday which is revived on
a top governmental level. It is also possible that we deal with a
state policy, which is successfully applied in Russia as well. It is
a policy of nourishing people’s nostalgias, sustaining their vague
tie with something which will never be there, for them not to claim
what must be there. They will be happy with party favors on May Day,
moreover, not for all the workers but the best ones whom the owner
will choose. Tractors, cars, home appliances, and other gifts will
be given. And those who will get them will not think what the cost of
these gifts is. They will not realize that it would be better not to
get any gifts at all but receive a normal salary. For the owner not
to give out party favors publicly and with the president watching,
instead of the salaries that they did not get.
The government encourages the formation of a society longing for
party gifts. And this makes them dependent on the giver who may be
a proprietor, a mayor, a minister, or the head of state. After all,
the gift is not perceived as a reward, it is perceived as a favor
that the boss does. And by inviting the head of state on May Day this
phenomenon is, actually, enhanced to the level of a state policy.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PRESS SECRETARY CONFIRMS REPORT ON MEETING OF SPEAKER AND PRESIDENT ON THURSDAY EVENING
Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. Press Secretary of Armenian President,
Victor Soghomonyan, confirms the report on the meeting of Armenian
Parliametnary Speaker,Leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party, Arthur
Baghdasaryan and President Robert Kocharyan late in the evening
on Thursday.
After the meeting, Arthur Baghdasaryan convened an extraordinary
session of “OY” party Board. In fact, the party adopted decision on
withdrawal from the ruling political coalition and on resignation
of the speaker. the most probable nominees to the post of the
parliamentary speaker are considered Karen Karapetyan, the head of
deputy group “People’s Deputy,” Vahan Hovhannissyan, Vice Speaker a
member of ARFD Bureau, Tigran Torosyan, Vice Speaker, Vice Chairman
of RPA.
In addition, the party resolved to recall its ministers from the
government: Sergo Yeritsyan, Minister of Education and Science, Aram
Haroutunyan, Town Planning Minister, Gevorg Gevorgyan, Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs.
To recap, 10 big businessman-members of the “OY” parliamentary
faction have recently left the party. The party representatives
connect the developments around the party with a certain pressure
by the ruling circles that are dissatisfied with the recent harsh
statements by Arthur Baghdasaryan as well as with his criticism of
the state property privatization program 2001-2003.

“ORINATS YERKIR” PARTY WITHDRAWS FROM RULING COALITION OF ARMENIA
Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. Thursday, 10:30 PM, “Orinats Yerkir”
Party Board resolved to withdraw from the country’s ruling political
coalition.
In addition, the “OY” Board adopted a decision on resignation of “OY”
Leader, Parliamentary Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan from his post.
Arthur Baghdasaryan intends to made public the party’s decision today
at 2:00 PM. Sources close to the party report that approximately an
hour before the party meeting yesterday, A. Baghdasaryan met with
President Robert Kocharyan and then convened immediate meeting of
the party Board.
To recap, 10 big businessman-members of the “OY” parliamentary faction
have recently left the party. The party representatives connected the
developments around the party with a certain pressure by the ruling
circles that are dissatisfied with the recent harsh statements by
Arthur Baghdasaryan as well as with his criticism of the privatization
program 2001-2003. At present the most probable nominees to the
post of the parliamentary speaker are considered Karen Karapetyan,
the head of deputy group “People’s Deputy,” Vahan Hovhannissyan, Vice
Speaker a member of ARFD Bureau, Tigran Torosyan, Vice Speaker, Vice
Chairman of RPA. To note, the ruling coalition of Armenia comprises
the Republican Party of Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and “OY.” It
was formed immediately after the parliamentary election in 2003.

NDU OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER BELIEVES WITHDRAWAL OF “ORINATS YERKIR” FROM RULING COALITION APPROPRIATE
Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. The withdrawal of “OY” party from the
ruling political coalition of Armenia was appropriate and expected,
Leader of the National Democratic Union included in the “Justice”
opposition bloc, MP Vazgen Manukyan says in an interview with ArmInfo.
To recap Thursday “Orinats Yerkir” Party Board resolved to withdraw
from the country’s ruling political coalition. In addition, the “OY”
Board adopted a decision on resignation of “OY” Leader, Parliamentary
Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan from his post. Arthur Baghdasaryan intends
to made public the party’s decision today at 2:00 PM. Sources close to
the party report that approximately an hour before the party meeting
yesterday, A. Baghdasaryan met with President Robert Kocharyan and
then convened immediate meeting of the party Board.
Vazgen Manukyan sees nothing surprising in the withdrawal of the party
as it was repeatedly stating about its inability to control over the
situation in the country and was coming against the course taken by
the coalition. “However, the party has been shaken and split, which
was unnatural,” V. Manukyan says. Withdrawing from the coalition, the
party will automatically become an opposition, but if it will join the
opposition or will act independently will become known over time, he
believes. As regards the probable nominees to the post of the speaker,
V. Manukyan says: “We shall not participate in these games. There
are no elections in Armenia. There is no parliament. There is only a
Plenum of the Central Committee that resolves who will take the post
of the speaker.”

RESIGNATION OF ARMENIAN SPEAKER NOT RESULT OF CONFLICT WITH PRESIDENT: HEAD OF RPA FACTION
Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. “The expected resignation of Armenian
parliamentary speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan cannot be connected with
his interview with the German newspaper ” Frankfurter Allgemeine
” wherein the speaker tried to specify the priorities of Armenia’s
foreign policy ahead of the country’s president,> Galust Sahakyan,
Head of RPA faction, told ArmInfo.
G. Sahakyan believes that “withdrawing from the coalition, “Orinats
Yerkir” team is settling its own tasks.> He thinks it untimely
forecasting the election of the new speaker. Naming no nominee from the
RPA, G. Sahakyan stressed the role of the party in the election of the
new speaker. “The frames of cooperation with political forces remain
wide enough and our legislative activity will not be interrupted,
he says.
Commenting on the statement by “Orinats Yerkir” representative
Hovhanness Margaryan, that “OY” displayed readiness to leave the
posts for ideas, hereby gaining new voters, G. Sahakyan says:
“We shall only welcome if they gain new voters.”

BAKU-JEYHAN AND THE GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS (ANALYSIS)
Armen Manvelyan
12.05.2006 14:20
“Radiolur” [ArmRadio]
Mass media report that Turkish Prime Minister Rajab Tayib Erdoghan
invited US President George Bush to participate in the official
ceremony of opening Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan pipeline to be held July 13
at Jeyhan port. The invitation was sent to the White House through
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The response of the American side is not known so far. It is noted,
however, that Washington has promised “to participate in the ceremony
on the highest possible level.”
It should be noted that still a year ago Baku-Jeyhan pipeline was
officially opened. Then it was asserted that everything was ready and
in autumn 2005 the first oil carrier loaded with Azeri oil would leave
from the port of Jeyhan. Despite the fact that a year has passed from
that day, Azeri oil has not even reached Jeyhan, which means that it is
still early to expect entry of oil carriers to this Mediterranean port.
It should be noted that the pipeline is of great political importance
for the real owners of it, i.e. Americans, who constructed it
proceeding primarily from political considerations. In this regard,
it is important just for the foreign policy of Armenia to correctly
comprehend and evaluate the political value of the program. We should
note that both underestimation and overestimation of the project are
equally dangerous, since it can result in incorrect understanding
of the political developments in the region and the struggle between
the heavy powers around these. Speaking about the politicization of
Baku-Jeyhan, we should first of all understand that the White House
is interested in the pipeline primarily as an alternative route for
exporting oil from the Caspian region, which will allow Washington
to reduce the so-called pipeline dependency on Russia. That is to say
that directing the oil flows to Baku-Jeyhan from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan
and later from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the US attains not only
economic, but also complete political control over these countries.
>>From the geopolitical perspective Central Asia is of strategic
importance for official Washington, and Baku-Jeyhan is the means
through which the US can subject the countries of the region to its
interests. It should be noted that this region has nothing to offer
to the world except for oil and gas, therefore domination over this
branch means control over these countries. Hence, the United States
conceives Baku-Jeyhan as the most essential factor in the gradually
strengthening struggle between the US, Russia and China. What is
the most attractive for the United States in Central Asian region
is its geopolitical location. It’s not a secret that the region
neighbors four possible rivals of the US, i.e. China, India, Russia and
Iran. Therefore, considering these countries as possible competitors,
number one superpower of the world aspires to exert control over
a region, from where it can threat its potential enemies. In this
geopolitical game the South Caucasus and the Baku-Jeyhan pipeline
are mere links to help the US make its control more complete.

VAZGEN MANUKYAN: “ORINATS YERKIR” PARTY’S LEAVING THE COALITION WAS NATURAL AND EXPECTED
ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 14:50
“Orinats Yerkir” Party’s leaving the coalition was natural and long
expected,” Head of the National Democratic Union, MP Vazgen Manukyan
said in his interview to “Arminfo” correspondent.
According to Vazgen Manukyan, “Orinats Yerkir” declared long ago that
it is unable to control the situation in the country and came forward
with statements counter to the coalition policy. Therefore there is
nothing surprising in yesterday’s statement of the political council of
the party. But what is unnatural is that the party started dissolving.
Vazgen Manukyan confirms that by leaving the coalition, “Orinats
Yerkir” automatically gains the status of an opposition party. However,
time will show whether the party will join the existing opposition
or will operate separately.
Speaking about the probable candidates for the Chairman of the National
Assembly in case Arthur Baghdasaryan resigns, the Deputy said his
party does not intend to participate in any elections on candidacy.

NA CHAIRMAN ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN RESIGNED
ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 14:56
Few minutes ago Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Arthur
Baghdasaryan declared about his resignation.
To remind, at a special sitting on May 11 the political council of
“Orinats Yerkir” Party took the decision to leave the coalition.

“JOINT EFFORT – 2006” MILITARY EXERCISES TO START TODAY IN GERMANY AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 11:42
Under NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program “Joint Effort – 2006”
military exercises will start today in Germany and Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Earlier the Armenian side participated in the planning
conference in Tbilisi.
“If Armenian Officers participate in the planning activities, they
will take part also in the military exercises. The issue is that
Armenia should be invited by the organizing party,” Press Secretary
of the Defense Minister Seyran Shahsuvaryan said.

AMBASSADOR OF NIGERIA HANDED HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDNET KOCHARYAN
ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 14:30
Today the newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria to Armenia Ibrahim Ganyama Abubackari handed his credentials
to President Robert Kocharyan.
Noting that currently Nigeria restricts its relations with Armenia
to cooperation in the framework of international organizations,
the President expressed confidence that accreditation of the first
Nigerian Ambassador in our country will promote the development of
bilateral relations and clarification of the possible directions
of collaboration.