KARABAKH CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 10
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By Nagorno Karabakh
Republic President Arkady Ghukasian’s decree, the constitutional
referendum will be fixed for December 10. NKR National Assembly
Vice-Speaker Rudik Hyusnunts informed radio Libery about it.
As he affirmed, on June 15, the President will give the draft
Constitution to the Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian and the document’s
discussion will start in September.
Nagorno Karabakh has no Constitution by now.
The Nagorno Karabakh referendum of independence took place on December
10 1991.

PLENARY SESSION OF BSEC PA STARTS IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The plenary session
of 27th convention of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC PA) started at the Parliament of Armenia
on June 7. As Tigran Torosian, the newly elected Chairman presiding
at the session informed, parliamentary delegations from all the BSEC
member-states, excluding recently separated Serbia and Chernogoria,
participate in work of the plenary session in Yerevan.
Parliamentarians from 12 countries, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine,
Serbia and Chernogoria, were involved in the BSEC PA up to the recent
times. As a result of separation of Serbia amd Chernogoria the number
of BSEC PA member-countries reached 13. Armenia, which has presided
at the organization during the last half year, will pass at the end
of the sitting its commission to the country next by alphabit order,
Azerbaijan, representatives of the Parliament of which also participate
in the Yerevan sitting.
As Tigran Torosian mentioned in his speech, the BSEC PA widens
its activity year by year, becoming a most important factor for the
political and economic stability in the region. “I’m sure that economic
cooperation among countries of the region, openness and accesability
of transport communications may create an atmosphere of trust, such
necessary for solution of the most important problems of the region,”
Torosian mentioned.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VICE-CHAIRMAN SEES NO REASON IN PRACTICE FOR ARMENIA NOT TO JOIN EU IN COMING 10 YEARS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “In practice I
see no reason for Armenia not to join EU in the coming 10 years,”
European Parliament Vice-Chairman Edward Macmillan-Scott, who is in
Yerevan on an official visit, declared at the June 7 press conference
at RA National Assembly. He also mentioned that personally he is
“open before the issue of Armenia’s and RF’s membership when the
convenient time comes.” Meanwhile he emphasized that like the other
members of the European Parliament he also has some reservations in
connection with Turkey’s possible membership to EU. According to him,
the European Union is not a closed organization, just the negative
results of the EU constitutional referendum held several months
ago in Holland and France gave rise to some problems for membership
of new countries. Rather a great number of Europeans, also in the
above-mentioned two countries, are anxious about EU’s extension
and especially about Turkey’s possible membership. Nevertheless,
the process of new countries’ membership is rather active.
In response to the question on the prospects of Armenia-European
Union relations and some delay in the issue of implementation of
the European Neighborhood policy because of Azerbaijan, Scott said:
“My personal preference is that we should show an individual approach
to any country taking into consideration their cultural and historic
differences.” He also stated that the above-mentioned approach is
used towards the Balkan states and he as a personality and not as a
EU official sees no reason for not applying the same approach in the
South Caucasus. As a member of the European Parliament Commission of
Foreign Relations with the largest working experience, he promised
to speak to his parliamentary colleagues as he gets to Brussels and
to persuade them “for excluding any artificial delay in this process.”

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: IT IS IMPORTANT TO STIMULATE COOPERATION WIHOUT WAITING FOR CONFLICTS SETTLEMENT
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA President Robert
Kocharian addressed the participants of the 27th plenary session of
the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC) being held in Yerevan. President’s Assistant Vigen Sargsian
read the address on June 7, at the plenary session of PA BSEC at RA NA.
“Up to this day time BSEC has acted successfully in development of
economic cooperation in the region. Nevertheless, there is still a
great potential.
Joint investments to regional infrastructures, especially in the sphere
of energy and transport should be stimulated,” the Armenian President’s
address read. According to him, cultural, educational, scientific
programs, tourism development can also have great importance.
Robert Kocharian’s address mentions that the parliamentarians with
their law-adopting activity can form a favorable legal-contractual
field for effective cooperation in the region. “Use of the common
potential of our countries is possible only under conditions of
more liberalized economics. This should envisage free circulation of
capital, goods and services, open borders in the whole region. It is
important to stimulate cooperation without waiting for the settlement
of the current conflicts and smoothing over the disagreements.
Cooperation itself can have a favorable influence on the process of
overcoming the existing difficulties.”
“Our countries are faced with common challenges of organized crime
and terrorism and at the same time they have common striving for
deepening the European integration. This means that we can unite
our efforts for a large-scale regional cooperation,” the Armenian
President’s address read.

SERGEI LAVROV: ACHIEVEMENT OF ENERGY SECURITY REQUIRES JOINT ACTIONS OF ALL PARTICIPANTS OF MARKET
Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Achievement of energy security requires
joint actions of all participants of the energy market. This was
mentioned in the address of current BSEC Chairman, RF Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov to the participants of the 27th plenary session of
BSEC PA.
According to him, issues of providing energy security were by right
put to the center of discussion in the coming session of BSEC PA. The
same subject in the global context will be one of the main themes at
the forthcoming summit of the Big Eight in Saint Petersburg. According
to Lavrov, energy security can be a safe guarantee against destructive
competition for energy resources and a pledge of stable development
of world economics.
“Russia on its part fully fulfils all commitments assumed by it,
concerning energy supply of its partners, strives for creating a
system of energy security, which takes into account the interests
of all states, both consumers and suppliers of energy resources,”
RF Foreign Minister’s address read.
Lavrov mentioned that other issues vitally important for the states
of the Black Sea region are also on the agenda: fighting economic
crime, raising the role of the civil society in promotion of economic
cooperation, dialogue of cultures in interests of deepening trust
between peoples.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S ROLE IN DEEPENING RA-EU DIALOGUE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN- ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 7, RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian received European Parliament Vice-Chairman
Edward McMillan-Scott who is in Armenia for the purpose of taking part
in the official opening ceremony of the Armenian Office of Business
and Parliament International Association.
The sides expressed satisfaction with activization of bilateral
contacts between the European Parliament and Armenian parliamentarians,
in particular, touching upon the sitting of Armenia-EU Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee held in April 2006 in Yerevan.
Minister Oskanian attached importance to the role of the European
Parliament in the issue of deepening RA-EU cooperation.
RA Foreign Minister in general outline presented the last developments
in the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
Armenia’s approaches in this connection.
According to RA FM Press and Information Department, RA National
Assembly Vice-Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian also took part in the meeting.

ARMENIA IS INDEBTED TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 9.9 MLN DOLLARS AS MEMBERSHIP FEE
Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Expenses of the sphere of foreign
political activity by the 2005 state budget made about 9.5 bln drams
(22 mln U.S. dollars) or 97.7% of the program expenses. Among them,
about 6.9 bln drams or 97% of about 7.1 bln drams allocated to the
Foreign Ministry was factually spent.
It was said at the June 6 joint sitting of the NA Standing Committees
which was dedicated to discussion of the report on implementing the
law on 2005 state budget.
According to Atom Janjughazian, the RA Deputy Minister of Finance and
Economy, all the envisaged programs were completely implemented in
practice, excluding buying a building for the RF Consulate General in
Gyumri for what 187.8 mln drams were envisaged. According to Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian, negotiations are led between
the RA and RF Foreign Ministries for the building of the RA Ambassy in
Moscow is given to Armenia as property in return for buying a building
for the RF Consulate General in Gyumri by financial resources of the
Armenian side. The money envisaged and not spent in 2005 was passed
to the 2006 budget.
Additional 940 mln drams were allocated in 2005 to the Foreign Ministry
from the Government’s reserves fund, besides the financing envisaged
by the state budget. Additional 18 mln drams as well were allocated
for implementation of the foreign political activity. Fees for the RA
membership to international organizations made 910 mln drams. Besides,
1.693 bln drams were paid to international financial organizations
by the RA membership line.
According to G.Gharibjanian, the Foreign Ministry’s debt on the
RA membership fees to international organizations made 9.9 mln
U.S. dollars at present, and the Ministry intends to pay off previously
gathered debt in a year.

OFFICIAL YEREVAN CONCERNED ABOUT ENROACHMENT UPON ARMENIANS IN RF
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Foreign Ministry
has already informed the RF Foreign Ministry’s Press Spokesman who
was in Yerevan recently, about its concern about nationalists’ killing
6 Armenians in the RF starting from early 2006. Gegham Gharibjanian,
the RA Deputy Foreign Minister informed journalists about it on June
6 at the RA National Assembly.
According to him, the problem will be discussed during the coming
high-ranking meetings. He himself, as a coordinator of ties with CIS
countries, intends to speak with RF Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to G.Gharibjanian, the problem itself is serious, and the
Foreign Ministry of Armenia and the RA Embassy to Moscow look after
events carefully.
“We must come to the point that there will be no similar cases
with our citizens,” the Deputy Minister emphasized. At the same
time he noticed that “there is a problem of observing the happened
from a more global viewpoint” irrespective of citizenship of killed
people. According to Gharibjanian, displays of chauvinism as well
as interracial clashes, exist not only in the RF but in “any country
where cheap manpower has appeared during the recent years” so it is
not proper to look for a Slavonic or other track. The Deputy Ministr
is more than sure that display of enmity in the RF towards Armenians
may not obstacle the Armenian-Russian relations as the latter are
seriously strategic and “are not based on few individuals.” He is not
of the same opinion with the circulated viewpoint either that in the
issue of preventing cases of chauvinism or punishing those guilty,
the RF authorities’ pasiveness proves that criminals enjoy patronage
of some state structures. According to Gharibjanian, one of reasons
for the recent dischargement of the RF Prosecutor General may be his
not preventing displays of chauvinism. He also expressed an opinion
that one of steps of the new Prosecutor to be appointed soon will be
the struggle against interracial clashes.

CINEMATOGRAPHY IS A WONDERFUL MEAN TO START DIALOGUE AMONG PEOPLES OF CONFLICTING COUNTRIES, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF “GOLDEN APRICOT” SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “Directors Across
Borders” two-day working seminar will be held on July 12-13, during
the days of the “Golden Apricot” (Voske Tsiran) 3rd international
film festival. World famous film directors, film makers, film
critics, representatives of international funds from the region,
CIS and European countries will participate in the seminar. Susanna
Haroutiunian, the Artistic Director of the festival stated about it
at the June 7 press-conference.
According to her, during the seminar days, participants of the
“Directors Across Borders” program will present their observations
and programs on regional cooperation, including implementation of
joint film production and programs on cinematography. The foudation
meeting of the “Directors Across Borders” international organization
will take place during the days of the festival, the staff of the
Board of Trustees of the organization will be affirmed.
Besides, a special program of “Directors Across Borders” films will be
shown during the “Golden Apricot-2006” festival days. 20 films from
20 countries are involved in the program, among them Azeri director
Ayas Salayev’s “Near Distant Village” as well as a film dedicated to
bordering villages shot by Armenian and Azeri two directors.
According to S.Haroutiunian, this program is of global meaning
as ethnic conflicts exist not only in this region but in Israel,
Palestine, Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, etc. Cinematography is a wonderful
mean to start a dialogue between peoples of conflicting sides, that’s
why, as S.Haroutiunian emphasized, the program was warmly received
and sponsored by the European Cultural Parliament.
The “Directors Across Borders” program was started during the days
of the “Golden Apricot” 2nd international film festival. The primary
task of the program is to reveal general problems characteristical
for the region and particularly for South Caucasian countries of
transit period, to support development of dialogue in the region
with the help of cinema. As a result of activity of the year a net
of cinematographers of the region was formed in which more than 50
members of 12 countries are involved.

THIS YEAR GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES ABOUT 120 THOUSAND USD FOR GOLDEN APRICOT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The Golden Apricot
(Voske Tsiran) international film festival has already become the
component of the Armenian culture. It is not important at all who is
the festival’s founder, the state or an individual. The only thing
which is important is that the festival exists and moves forward
with proud steps,” Karine Khodikian, RA Deputy Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs, declared at the June 7 press conference.
According to her, RA government and Ministry of Culture estimate and
attach importance to this festival exending year by year.
According to K.Khodikian, in this circumstance the state is only a
financial partner. “The best assistance of the Ministry of Culture
is financial, the amount of which increases year by year.” The Deputy
Minister informed that in the first year the state had allocated only
3 mln drams for the festival, in the second year it became 25 mln
and in 2006 doubled and became 50 mln drams (about 118 thousand USD).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress