MATTHEW BRYZA: “PRESIDENTS ARE PRESENTED A FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT”
PRAGUE, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Matthew Bryza, the U.S.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs,
already the OSCE Minsk Group American Co-Chairman made public in
the interview to Radio Liberty those fundamental principles or the
package of proposals which is today put on the Karabakh negotiations
table. “We have a framework agreement which calls to remove the
Armenian armies from those territories of Azerbaijan where they
are placed at present,” Matthew Bryza stated. On the other hand,
the agreement envisages normalization of the economic and diplomatic
ties of Armenia and Azerbaijan. There are other principles as well,
like, suppose, placing of peace-keepers, international economic
assistance for the Karabakh region, and economic development. Thus,
there is a package proposal on the table.” “And finally, a votion on
the issue of the future status of Nagorno Karabakh is also envisaged
at a moment. This is the main outline of the proposal put on the
negotiations table,” the new American Co-Chairman stated. Factually,
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are presented a concrete
proposal, a concrete agreement is put on their table which they refuse
to accept for the present. The American high-ranking official refused
to go into details, especially on which principal the Presidents do
not agree. Matthew Bryza persuaded the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to accept this agreement. “We encourage the Presidents
to accept the framework agreement what demands political boldness,”
the Minsk Group American Co-Chairman mentioned.

ACCORDING TO NKR PRESIDENT, NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IS STILL FAR AWAY
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The organization
of the authoritative conference in Artsakh is one more step in the
issue of properly presenting NKR to the world an in achieving its
international recognition.
NKR President Arkady Ghukasian said this at the June 22 meeting with
the participants of the international conference titled “Nagorno
Karabakh Republic: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” that started the day
before in Stepanakert under the aegis of the NKR President. In his
conversation with the guests representing scientific and educational
spheres of over one dozen countries, NKR President expressed an opinion
that the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem is still far away
and the opponents avoiding the dialogue have moved the conflict to the
political, economic and even scientific field. “We have to accept the
challenges and your scientific potential and rich experience should
become our firm support in this struggle,” he said. According to NKR
President’s Acting Spokesperson, the interlocutors exchanged opinions
about a number of issues relating to development of education and
science in NKR. Arkady Ghukasian expressed readiness to study various
ideas and programs proposed to him. He suggested making annual such
kinds of conferences in NKR. NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian,
Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Danielian, NKR Minister of Education,
Culture and Sport Kamo Atayan were also present at the meeting.

Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
OIC voices support for Iran
By Aida Sultanova
BAKU ~W Foreign ministers from member nations of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference said Wednesday that the dispute over Iran~Rs
nuclear program needs to be resolved through the U.N. nuclear
watchdog – the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tehran also has
insisted the issue should be dealt with solely within the IAEA, but
the United States and other Western countries have pushed for
possible referral to the United Nations Security Council.
In recent weeks Iran has indicated it might be is willing to
negotiate the nuclear dispute with six world powers who have offered
a package of rewards if halts uranium enrichment.
In a statement issued at the end of a three-day meeting in the
Azerbaijani capital Baku, diplomats said the Islamic organization~Rs
57 member nations had ~Sthe inalienable right~T to develop nuclear
energy for peaceful purposes.
~SWe believe that the outstanding issues between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the IAEA should be resolved within the IAEA framework as
the sole competent authority,~T the statement said. ~SThe only way to
resolve the issue is to resume negotiations without any
preconditions.~T
Iran insists that its nuclear program is aimed at generating
electricity, but the United States and European Union suspect that it
is aimed at building weapons. Tehran is considering a Western package
of incentives, also backed by Russia and China, that calls on Iran to
suspend, not permanently halt, uranium enrichment as a condition for
the start of talks, although the negotiations are aimed at getting
Iran to agree to a long-term moratorium on such activity.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the OIC~Rs secretary general, said the
organization also called for ridding the Middle East of all nuclear
weapons ~W a long-standing demand by many Arab states directed mainly
at Israel and its clandestine nuclear arms program. Israel neither
acknowledges nor denies having nuclear weapons.
The OIC ministers also condemned Azerbaijan’s neighbor, Armenia,
blaming it for the lingering conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Ihsanoglu also criticized the media for last year’s controversy
surrounding the publication of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
A Danish newspaper first printed the cartoons, and other foreign
newspapers later followed, infuriating much of the Muslim world and
sparking deadly riots.
“This is impermissible. This is a crime against Islam. This is an
insult to Muslims,” Ihsanoglu said.
“Freedom and responsibility should go hand-in-hand,” he added.
“Irresponsible freedom is anarchy. We call on the Europeans to pay
attention to this issue.”

HEARINGS DEDICATED TO DUAL CITIZENSHIP PROBLEMS HELD AT PARLIAMENT
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Representatives of
parliamentary and extraparliamentary forces, government, analytical
centers, institutions of higher education, diplomatic corps and
international organizations took part in the parliamentary hearings
on the subject “Problems of Dual Citizenship: International Law and
Experience” organized on June 23 by RA National Assembly Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations. The participants of the hearings
were given the conception of the bill “On Giving a Status of Dual
Citizenship to Foreign Armenians in the Republic of Armenia.” As Armen
Rustamian, Committee Chairman, member of ARFD faction, mentioned,
this is still the working variant of the draft that can be changed
as a result of these hearings.
According to him, after summing up the results of the hearings, the
Committee will come up with a conclusion. At the end of the hearings
Rustamian said that there was a wrong understanding and a subjective
perception about the dual citizenship institution in the society and
as a result of the hearings they succeeded in moving the issue to
the subject professional field.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN PACE SUMMER SESSION
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. PACE summer session
will open on June 25 in Strasbourg. The Armenian delegation led by
Tigran Torosian, RA National Assembly Speaker, Head of NA delegation
in PACE, will take part in the session. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from RA NA Public Relations Department, Armen Rustamian (ARFD),
Gurgen Arsenian (ULP), Stepan Demirchian (Ardarutiun), Artashes
Geghamian (National Unity) and Hermine Naghdalian (RPA) will leave
for Strasbourg as members of the Armenian delegation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
Book Entitled Azerbaijan-Council of Europe: Cooperation in Democracy
& Human Rights Published
23.06.2006
Elm Publishing House published the book entitled Azerbaijan-Council
of Europe: Cooperation in Democracy & Human Rights, written by Adil
Veliyev.
This book is devoted to the bright memory of the national leader, the
main founder of Azerbaijan-CE relationship, Heydar Aliyev. The
edition studies specific stages of establishment, form, purpose and
dynamics of development of relations between Azerbaijan and the
Council of Europe, analyses the successful activity of Azerbaijan’s
parliamentary delegation, which the first three years was led by the
President Ilham Aliyev to PACE, human rights protection in our
country, Azerbaijan-Armenian Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, the
implementation of commitments taken by Azerbaijan before CE.
The monograph analyses the political specifities, determines the
priorities of development of Azerbaijan-CE relationship, democratic
processes progressing in the field of protection of human rights.
The book is considered for specialists, students, Masters and
Post-graduates in the field of political studies, international law
and international relations, and also large-scale readers.
Scientific editor of the book is the Doctor of Historical Sciences,
Ali Hasanov. The author of review is the Doctor of Political Studies,
Rovshan Mustafayev and the candidate of historical sciences, Agshin
Mehdiyev.
–Boundary_(ID_P+r8/a2eIq9WcBAY hfTuEg)–

ORINATS YERKIR PARTY WOMEN’S UNION READY TO CONSISTENTLY STRUGGLE IN
KEEPING WITH PARTY’S POLITICAL LINE
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
Party’s Women’s Union is ready to consistently struggle in keeping
with the party’s political line for building a country of law,
Armenia’s democratization and strengthening of Armenia’s positions in
the international sphere. This was mentioned in the statement of the
Union’s 5th forum held on June 23. The statement authors also express
readiness to activize the Union’s activity in protection of women’s
rights and basic freedoms, in raising their role and extending their
involvement in socio-economic progress. Over 700 delegates took
part in the forum convened at the government sitting hall. Party
Chairman, former NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian and the members of the
parliamentary faction were also present. As A.Baghdasarian mentioned
in his speech, no woman official has left the party lately and
parliamentary faction head Samvel Balasanian in his turn mentioned
that in difference to the women making over 70% of party members,
“many mercenary men ran away.” The forum approved the work done by
the Women’s Union in 2005-2006 and reelected Margarita Petrosian as
Chairwoman of the OYP Women’s Union. The latter expressed the hope
that in 2007 OYP will be stronger, firmer and more united. The staff
of the Union’s board was also approved. It consists of the chairwomen
of women’s unions elected from OYP regional boards.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: WORK OF SPRING SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROCEEDED IN NORMAL WAY
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. 103 laws were adopted at the regular
plenary sittings of the spring session of the RA National Assembly,
other 13 were adopted at the special session. 36 international
agreements are certified. NA Speaker Tigran Torosian informed
about it at the June 22 press conference, summing up results of
the session. According to him, the above-mentioned proves that the
NA work proceeded in a normal way. By the outbalancing part of the
adopted laws, amendments were made in the acting laws, “but it does
not humble the done work.” According to him, the necessity of a
part of changes appeared as a result of using the laws and of the
other part was connected with the constitutional amendments. The NA
Speaker expressed satisfaction on that occasion that during the short
period of time followed adoption of the constitutional amendments,
the Parliament has already adopted 8-9 laws coming out of the latter
ones, what is rather hopefull. During the summer the Government will
aslo go on working in the direction of the drafts arising of the
constitutional amendments, putting them in the official circulation of
the Parliament, according to the schedule affirmed beforehand. By the
way, another special session of the National Assembly will, perhaps,
be convened in early July.
Responding journalists’ questions, the NA newly elected Speaker foresaw
that the re-arrangements at the Parliament may be considered finished,
and new re-arrangements are not expected at the autumn session, so the
Parliament will finish works within the circle of the already formed
correlation of forces. As for the staff, according to Tigran Torosian,
the only goal of the staff must be securing of an effective work of the
Parliament, and a necessity to review the structure of the NA staff
will be soon, as a number of services, boards, departments exists
at the Parliament at present to solve issues of the same field. At
the same time, the NA Speaker mentioned that possible changes may
be observed not in contrast to the previous NA Speaker’s work,
but within the context of increasing the effectivity of work of the
Parliament. According to him, the above-mentioned amendments will
have no relation to the staff representatives’ belonging to this
or that party. The NA Speaker informed on the occasion of coming
visits that many visits were envisaged beforehand, but the visits
to be paid by parliamentary delegations to Armenia and from Armenia
will be defined only in July. According to the speaker, they must
be purposeful, and just protocol ones must be excluded or, at least,
their number must be brought to minimum.

RA NA REPRESENTATIVE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN WORKS OF “ROSE ROTH” SEMINAR
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia will
participate at the level of the Foreign Ministry’s representative in
the regular, 63rd “Rose Roth” seminar to take place in Sochi in June
22-24, within the framework of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. It was
invasiged beforehand that Mher Shahgeldian, a member of the “Orinats
Yerkir” (Country of Law) faction who has resigned the post of the
head of the Armenian delegation to the NATO PA recently, must also
participte in the seminar, but he refused to go there at the last
moment, returning the tickets. NA Speaker Tigran Torosian informed
about it at the June 22 press conference. He also mentioned that he
found purposeful that M.Shahgeldian participates in the above-mentioned
seminar to be held on the theme “Russia-NATO: Security Issues in South
Caucasus” as it directly relates to Armenia as well. Conflicts in South
Caucasus will be discussed at the seminar and the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict will be a subject of a separate discussion. According to
T.Torosian, M.Shahgeldian expressed a wish to participate in a number
of meetings to be held in Washington almost at the same time, June
19-23, within the framework of the NATO PA, what was not encouraged
by the NA Speaker. By the way, the NA Speaker also informed that he
proposed M.Shahgeldian to head the Armenian delegation at the NATO PA
still in early June coming out of two circumstances: the first, there
is a short period of time left till the end of the acting parliament’s
commissions, and the second, a number of issues must be brought to end.

IN ALL PROBABILITY, SITTING OF PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE SCHEDULED FOR
OCTOBER TO BE CONVENED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The delegation headed
by the RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian will participate
in works of the PACE summer session to be convened in Strasbourg on
June 26-30. He again re-affirmed at the June 22 press conference that
there is no issue on the agenda directly relating to Armenia, noticing
at the same time, that Armenia, as a CE full member, is interested in
all the issues being discussed. According to the speaker, discussion
of the issue on the delegation’s mandate connected with the elections
of Azerbaijan is envisaged at the session. The head of the Armenian
delegation expressed a confidence that Azeris will again get off the
point and will again touch upon issues connected with Armenia always
speculated by them, for what one must be ready beforehand. In most
probability, the sitting of the Ad-hoc Committee on Nagorno Karabakh
Issues created by the PACE Bureau will also be convened during the
session days. The speaker found it difficult to suppose what kind of
questionings will be. According to T.Torosian, it is scheduled for
the session days, that the Bureau will at last approve the proposal
made beforehand by the Armenian side concerning holding of the October
16-17 sitting of the PACE Monitoring Committee in Yerevan.