DECISION OF RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DIDN’T CHANGE ANYTHING
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2006
A crowd of protesting citizens gathered in front of RA government. The
rally participants are the owners of Dalma orchards, the residents of
the Northern and the Main Avenues, as well as citizens who are deprived
of their pensions for already over a year and a half for refusing to
take social cards. They demanded the resignation of RA prime minister.
The residents of the Northern And Main Avenues were concerned about
the fact that even the decision of RA Constitutional Court didn’t
change anything, as more and more citizens are being forced out from
their homes and at present, the residents of Byuzand Street are to
move from their apartments. The officials state that the decision
of the Constitutional Court will take effect from October 1. The
rally participants have applied to even RA president but received no
response. The owners of Dalma orchards, on their part, demand that the
authorities allow them to privatize the land they have cultivated for
so many years and only after that get compensations. Hranoush Hakobian,
counselor of RA prime minister, met with only the pensioners who are
deprived of their pensions. They wrote a letter to RA prime minister
urging to help settle their problem.

NK ANALYST: “AFTER THE LISBON SUMMIT RUSSIA BEGAN LOSING GROUND IN THE NK PEACE PROCESS”
Regnum, Russia
May 19 2006
“There has been no significant progress in the settlement of the
Azeri-Karabakh conflict in the last 12 years of truce in the conflict
zone; mostly because the trilateral settlement format Azerbaijan –
Nagorno Karabakh – Armenia ‘departed from life’ in 1997-1998 after the
OSCE Lisbon Summit applied the notorious ‘international law principles’
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” independent Karabakh analyst David
Karabekyan says in an interview to REGNUM.
After that, Russia began gradually losing its initiative, and after
the Lisbon Summit of 1996 “the activity of France and the US, as OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs, got, if not higher, then, at least, not lower
than that of Russia.” “The US’ growing activity in the post-Soviet
area, the victory of color revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, the
ongoing withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia, demands for their
withdrawal from Transdnestr, rising US-Iranian tensions – this all
has urged the ‘unrecognized’ or ‘unrepresented’ states to look anew
at the problem of their security,” says Karabekyan.
He says that after the overthrow of the Abashidze regime in Ajaria,
liquidation of the Russian military bases in Akhalkalaki (Georgia),
completion of preparations for launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, creation of the Azerbaijan-Georgian transport corridor
between the Caspian and Black Sea countries, geo-political arc the
US-Turkey-Ukraine-Georgia-Azerbaijan has closed up near the borders of
Armenia in the south, Belarus – in the west and Russia – in the north.
Karabekyan also notes that, apart from being just promising
financially, the transit energy and transport corridor via Azerbaijan
to Europe has inspired Azeri President Ilham Aliyev so much that he
keeps talking about Azerbaijan’s growing role in the South Caucasus.
“Naturally, such conditions will make it easier for Baku to push its
plan of the conflict settlement, and, sooner or later, Yerevan and
Stepanakert will have to reckon with it,” says Karabekyan.

ADVOCATES OF ARMENIA MAY DOUBLE
Lragir.am
19 May 06
The number of Armenian advocates may double in 2006, if all the
applicants of the Chamber of Advocates pass the first round of exams.
In Armenia, says Yenok Azaryan, a member of the Chamber of Advocates,
there are 483 advocates. 382 have applied for membership to the
chamber.
In the upcoming months the qualification board will examine the
documents of the applicants. If these are compliant, in two months
the applicants will be notified of the day of the examination, and
on passing the exams they will become members of the Chamber. Yenok
Azaryan says new advocates were needed to improve the reputation of
the profession and their qualification. According to him, there are
advocates who disgrace their profession, act as a second prosecutor
for a citizen, whereas their job is to defend a person’s rights.
“A weak person cannot defend another person’s rights. No process of
self-filtering is going on. Since we cannot jettison advocates, who
are disgraced and disgrace others, we should at least try to improve
the quality by engaging new people,” says Yenok Azaryan.
To develop the sphere and improve the quality, Yenok Azaryan and other
members of the Chamber of Advocates have set up a new association of
advocates. The association will have the same goals as the Chamber of
Advocates had been established. There is implicit dissatisfaction in
his speech with the activities of the chamber, and although another
organizer of the association Cromwell Grigoryan says there will be
no rivalry between the Chamber and the association, obviously there
is no logical explanation other than rivalry, when the members of
an association establish another association for the same function
and aims.

ARMENIANS ARE NOT THE FIFTH COLUMN
Lragir.am
19 May 06
Georgian Member of Parliament Van Bayburd assessed the talks that
Turkish forces will be deployed in Javakheti after the pull-out
of the Russian military installations as fantastic. “First of all,
the interests of the Georgian state, secondly, Georgia takes into
account and honors the interests of neighboring Armenia,” said Van
Bayburd. According to him, economic cooperation between Georgia and
Turkey is not a reason to draw such conclusions. “I am fully convinced
that there will come a time when Turkey and Armenia will have normal
relations. The question of the genocide cannot be ignored, however, for
it is an essential component of the ethnic consciousness of Armenia,”
stated Van Bayburd.
“If Russia had been reluctant to withdraw from the region, it would
not have signed the documents of the summit in Istanbul. Russia should
not have called the locals Armenians to defend it. Why should they
think in Georgia that the Armenians are the country’s fifth column,”
said Van Bayburd.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHAT SCARED SERGE SARGSYAN AND ARTASHES GEGHAMYAN?
Melik Avanyan
Lragir.am
19 May 06
The secession of the Orinats Yerkir Party from the coalition and the
resignation of Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan sent the country into a
psychosis. The political party and its speaker received strictures
from everywhere. Meanwhile, it seems absurd when they accuse someone
who quits power and leaves them alone with their right to enjoy the
benefits of power the way they can.
Everyone has their reason to blame Orinats Yerkir. However, some of
them attract attention, for behind their assessments and statements one
can discern fear which can hardly be concealed. In the meantime, they
consider themselves to be quite odious. Among them are the “unique”
friend-foe tandem, Serge Sargsyan and Artashes Geghamyan. Over the
past few days they have not missed a single opportunity to assure the
public that nothing serious has happened in the country, and what is
more important, nothing has changed.
They state, not quite persuading, of course, and with an implicit
anxiety, because not only they do not believe it, but they also lose
their nerve. Then they immediately contradict to themselves. For
instance, several days ago Serge Sargsyan admitted that Arthur
Baghdasaryan’s resignation had foiled his plans. Moreover, he said his
political plans are not a dogma and he was going to modify them. Why,
if he assured that nothing had happened? He may have realized that
there had happened the worst thing for him: life progressed, leaving
the “superminister” in the blind alley of history. Artashes Geghamyan
also realized this. For although the roles of these two political
merchants have been different over the past years, they have been
united by something.
Serge Sargsyan, for instance, has instilled in people that he is
almighty “by nature” and by biography. He would never fear what
people would talk about him, all he needed was loud speeches about
his power. But he would always get nervous if anyone mistakenly stated
that Serge’s entire resource is his offices and Kocharyan’s protection.
Nevertheless, he has always aspired to occupy more and more positions
to have a long “service record.” Thereby he wanted to show that his
hands are long. From time to time he was successful, he even believed
in his own power, until the unexpected unveiling of this personage.
The same is with Geghamyan. He was well aware that he had to create
an image of an almighty savior and the only defender of people’s
rights. He did this with care until Serge Sargsyan stopped him not
to become obsessed; the suffered people might believe him. Geghamyan
was satisfied with a pleasant and secure political position, and
most importantly, very useful for Serge Sargsyan: who could build
the image of an almighty with more care than Geghamyan the orator.
Thus our “artistes” lived, singing to one another. But what bad
luck! Someone sent all this system to hell for reasons that were not
clear enough and without notifying anyone. As usual, Serge appeared
on air and let anyone know that it was his victory and no one could
do anything in this country without his participation.
Well, of course, he did not appear personally, they sent a protégé to
justify. However, nothing came out of it, no one applauded. It does not
interest people. Only one thing is important: will Arthur Baghdasaryan
become Sahakashvili? Here Artashes Geghamyan again proved useful,
and he was called for help. The “savior” again voiced how great and
powerful Serge and Kocharyan are, while playing down Baghdasaryan. It
is beyond Baghdasaryan to remove this couple, only the greatest
orator of the century can do it. If Arthur repents, Geghamyan will
accept to his “patrimony.” But Geghamyan appears to have realized
that Serge is “naked.” Fear crept into his heart that he could lose
his “patrimony” and the role that always seemed eternal. What would
he be telling people if the “couple” was not there anymore? After
all, the great Armenians will “cease”, and people will get bored by
biblical “readings.” Whereas he is used to his role. On top of all,
he cannot get over anxiety, for he will have to account to people
for his years of hypocrisy and deception. For he is well aware that
without his total deception the dictatorship of “the almighty” would
have disappeared long before. There is a positive thing, however:
the time of manipulators in Armenia is coming to an end. There is
another positive thing: the manipulators failed to notice how this
happened. Let them preserve their comfortable world in an eternal
status quo in words, for they act so because they are unable to modify
the state of things. When our Lord decides to punish someone, deprives
him of reason. Even Geghamyan has difficulty understanding the truth:
fear disturbs him and shuts his eyes before the truth.
–Boundary_(ID_Qh9ZIOtti2nneL/F2wL05A)–

WHO TRIED TO CONCEAL THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PLANE CRASH?
Lragir.am
19 May 06
I believe that the Russian side is not to blame for the crash of A320
of Armavia Airlines near Sochi, stated Aram Karapetyan, the leader
of the Nor Zhamanakner Party (New Times) on May 19. Before May 17
Aram Karapetyan would have accepted the impression and opinion that
there is reluctance to retrieve the black boxes of the aircraft from
the sea. “However, something happened the day before yesterday, and
now the Russian government will do everything to retrieve the black
boxes and decipher.” Aram Karapetyan will tell later what made Russia
to adopt such a fundamental decision. He will simultaneously publish
the findings of his personal investigation. Presently, he can only
give some information: “I can state clearly that there are no phrases
of abuse for Armenians in the talks with the dispatchers.
It is bad to politicize the plane crash. The Russian side acknowledges
that the question will be manipulated unless the black boxes are
retrieved. No one from the Russian side has stated that 8 tons of
fuel was collected from the sea surface. The black boxes will allow
finding out the truth.”
Aram Karapetyan says it is surprising that after the crash the
defense minister of Armenia left for Sochi instead of the minister of
transport or the Attorney General. The leader of the Nor Zhamanakner
Party thinks that even if there had been an arrangement to hide the
real cause of the crash, “it was a deal between two people, not an
official approach of Russia’s.”

MEMORIAL TO THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE OPENED IN ITALY
ArmRadio.am
19.05.2006 11:24
Memorial to the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide will
be opened in the capital of Italy. “To the memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims. The Big Genocide, April 24, 1915,” it is engraved
on the memorial. The signature of the Mayor of Rome is also engraved
on the monument, which means it is being erected with the support of
city authorities.

“VOTE ANDRE, VOTE VARTKES” ORGANIZERS CHANTED
Lragir.am
18 May 06
ARMENIA, Athens, 16.05.2006 The website of Armenian Cypriots reports
that Sunday May 7 Andre, who will represent Armenia to Eurovision,
underwent heavy abuse for the parliamentary election campaign of
Vardkes Mahdesyan, who is supported by Dashnaktsutiun.
An “unprecedented election gathering” was attended by 700 Armenian
Cypriots, during which Vardkes Mahdesyan supported by Dashnaktsutiun
and the organizers of his rally suddenly invited to the hall Andre,
the ambassador of Armenia to Eurovision. Andre sang the song he is
going to sing in Eurovision and several other songs.
The evening culminated in chants “Vote Andre, Vote Vardkes.”
Andre is obviously abused by Dashnaktsutiun for propagating Hamazkayin
Educational and Cultural Society in Greece, which culminated in the
case in Cyprus. In fact, he has turned into a cause of divide in the
Armenian community rather than a connecting link.
The Armenian ambassador to Greece Vahram Kazhoyan is also the Armenian
Ambassador to Cyprus.
By the way, on May 21 the Armenian Cypriots will elect their
representative to the parliament of Cyprus. On October 5, 2005 the
community elected Vahagn Adamyan, Mr. Mahdesyan’s opponent.

STATUS QUO IN THE CAUCASUS FAVORS ARMENIA ONLY
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
19 May 06
The status quo in the South Caucasus is favorable only for Armenia
among the three states of the region, stated Russian Member of
Parliament Constantine Zatulin, expert on external relations, on May
17. The Russian member of parliament mentioned that the problems of
Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Osetia do not allow Georgia and Azerbaijan
to approve the status quo.
In the meantime, Zatulin thinks that the status quo is better than the
most ambitious plans of changing it. His next statement emanates from
this opinion or vice versa. Zatulin says unlike the United States,
Russia is the power which is highly interested in keeping the status
quo in the South Caucasus.
Zatulin, of course, does not specify with facts or reasons why
the United States should not be interested. The Russian member
of parliament emphasized the possibility of actions against Iran,
which would be disastrous for the South Caucasus. However, it should
be noted that the United States has asserted for a number of times
directly or indirectly that they will not use the South Caucasian
states for actions against Iran. The evidence to this is the loyalty
of the United States towards the Iran-Armenia cooperation, as well as
all the energy projects that include the region and enjoy the support
of the United States. In addition, during Aliev’s visit Bush announced
that it is not going to launch a campaign against Iran, which means
that the United States is not likely to turn the Caucasus a military
polygon. In the meantime, there are a number of facts which contradict
to Zatulin’s words, regarding the interests of Russia, and the next
statement he made in Yerevan is enough to doubt Zatulin’s frankness
concerning the status quo.
The Russian member of parliament says Armenia is the only country in
this region where there is no threat of dissolution of the state.
Zatulin says Georgia and Azerbaijan have scores of problems with ethnic
minorities, which are still sleeping but can wake up. What is this
if not a threat addressed to these countries, considering that Russia
has too many buttons to push alarm. For us, it is especially evident
in the case of the Armenians of Javakkheti, when Russia withdraws
its military installations, allegedly reluctantly, and the Armenians
protest against the pull-out. Seemingly it favors Russia, and is an
excellent card for the trade on the pull-out of the military bases. But
the Russian Federation is likely to take up a different strategy and
demands that the Georgian government guarantee the security of the
pull-out of the Russian military equipment from Javakheti. In other
words, facts come to confirm Russia’s likelihood to instigate new
conflicts in the South Caucasus rather than to maintain the status quo.
Yet another statement by Zatulin on the maintenance of the status quo
contains a suspicious dose of frankness. Zatulin argues that Armenia
is the only country in the region, which is totally interested in
the status quo in the region. Zatulin’s statements seem to favor
Armenia. This is quite ambiguous, however. First, it is essential to
find out the degree of change of the status quo required for regional
integration. The settlement of conflicts implies, nevertheless, certain
inevitable changes. And under these circumstances it appears rather
vague how beneficial the role of a “devotee of the status quo” is for
Armenia, if it can clash with outlooks for regional integration. In
fact, Zatulin appears to be placing responsibility for the status
quo, probably also the failure of outlooks for regional development
on Armenia. And his assertion that Russia is the most loyal defender
of the status quo among the outside forces is but political blackmail
against Armenia. Hence, in the beginning Zatulin places responsibility
on Armenia, definitely blames Armenia, and then immediately declares
Russia the defender of the stance of Armenia, which is guided by the
principle “you have not other way?”

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of Americactn
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
May 20, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
U.S. AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO AZERBAIJAN RESPONDS TO
SEN. BOXER’S CONCERNS ON DJULFA CEMETERY DESTRUCTION
— Diplomat Stops Short of Pledging U.S. Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse
responded to concerns raised by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) regarding
Azerbaijan’s destruction of the over millennia old Djulfa Armenian
cemetery in Nakhichevan, this week, but refrained from pledging any concrete
commitment to investigate the matter, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
Submitting a written response to questions by Sen. Boxer relayed
during her May 12th Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearing, Derse noted that the Department of State is “urging the
relevant Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the allegations of
desecration of cultural monuments in Nakhichevan and take
appropriate measures to prevent any desecration of cultural
monuments. Armenia and Azerbaijan are both members of UNESCO (and
OSCE), and Azerbaijan has raised these issues in those
organizations. We have encouraged Armenia and Azerbaijan to work
with UNESCO to investigate this incident. If I am confirmed, and if
such issues arise during my tenure, I will communicate our concerns
to the Government of Azerbaijan and pursue appropriate activities
in support of U.S. interests.”
Sen. Boxer had specifically asked if the Ambassador Designate would
“visit the cemetery site and commit [herself] to investigating the
demolition of this unique cemetery.”
“We want to thank Senator Boxer for raising Azerbaijan’s
desecration of the Djulfa cemetery with Ambassador Designate
Derse,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We were
deeply troubled by the silence of the U.S. Embassy on this issue
during the tenure of her predecessor, Reno Harnish, and remain
hopeful that, despite her evasive response, Anne Derse will prove a
more vocal and effective advocate for the core American values of
tolerance and respect for cultural heritage. She can start off on
the right foot by personally visiting Djulfa during her first month
in office.”
In December of 2005, approximately 200 Azerbaijani soldiers were
videotaped using sledgehammers to demolish the Armenian cemetery in
Djulfa, a sacred site of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The
cemetery dates back to the 7th Century and once was home to as many
as 10,000 khatchkars (intricately carved stone-crosses). An on-line
video of the destruction can be viewed at:
4.htm
The ANCA has widely distributed DVDs documenting the destruction,
educated Congressional offices about this desecration, and worked
in concert with ANCA affiliates around the world to protest
Azerbaijan’s worsening anti-Armenian behavior. The Congressional
Armenian Caucus, led by Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), has formally condemned Azerbaijan’s actions, as have
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
(D-CA). On February 16, 2006, the European Parliament adopted a
resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s destruction of the cemetery and
demanding that Azerbaijan allow a European Parliament delegation to
survey the site.
Derse also responded to a series of questions by Sen. Paul Sarbanes
(D-MD) earlier this week on belligerent statements and war rhetoric
by Azerbaijani leaders, as well as on the status of Nagorno
Karabagh peace talks.
Anne Derse is a Foreign Service Officer with more than a quarter
century of experience. She most recently served as Director for
Biodefense Policy at the Homeland Security Council. Her prior
postings have included service as Minister Counselor for Economic
Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and at the U.S. Mission to the
European Union. Ms. Derse also has held posts in the Philippines,
South Korea, Belgium, and Singapore, among other locations.
The complete text of Sen. Boxer’s questions and Derse’s responses
are provided below.
#####
Questions for the Record Submitted to
Ambassador-Designate Anne Derse
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
May 12, 2006
Question #1:
In April 2006, the London Times reported on the destruction of a
historic Armenian cemetery in Azerbaijan. According to the
article, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a London-based
NGO, found that only a “dry patch of earth,” stood where there were
once thousands of carved headstones that dated from the 9th to 16th
centuries.
The European Parliament is undertaking a fact-finding mission to
investigate the allegations of attacks on cultural sites. However,
despite pleas from the Armenian American community, U.S. Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish did not visit the cemetery site or
respond to requests for an investigation of the cemetery’s
destruction, which was reportedly captured on videotape.
If confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, would you visit
the cemetery site and commit yourself to investigating the
demolition of this unique cemetery?
In addition, would you work with officials in Azerbaijan to
establish means for protecting other ancient monuments and
religious symbols from meeting a similar fate?
Answer:
The United States is a strong proponent of preserving world
cultural heritage, and we are aware that concerns have been raised
that historic Armenian gravesites in Julfa, located in the
Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan, have been desecrated by
Azerbaijani forces.
We are urging the relevant Azerbaijani authorities to investigate
the allegations of desecration of cultural monuments in Nakhichevan
and take appropriate measures to prevent any desecration of
cultural monuments. Armenia and Azerbaijan are both members of
UNESCO (and OSCE), and Azerbaijan has raised these issues in those
organizations. We have encouraged Armenia and Azerbaijan to work
with UNESCO to investigate this incident.
If I am confirmed, and if such issues arise during my tenure, I
will communicate our concerns to the Government of Azerbaijan and
pursue appropriate activities in support of U.S. interests.
Question #2:
Azerbaijan, along with Turkey, continues to carry out their
blockade of Armenia, despite calls from the United States and
international community for regional cooperation and economic
integration.
The Department of State has estimated that the blockade is
responsible for inflating Armenia’s transportation costs by up to
35 percent. It is also threatening the development of the
country’s free-market economy. Furthermore, the blockade is
preventing the opening of an important East-West trade corridor,
one that would also be beneficial for the United States.
As Ambassador, how would you work toward ending Azerbaijan’s
harmful blockade of Armenia and opening up the East-West trade
corridor? What steps would you take to promote the United States’
policy of increasing regional cooperation?
Answer:
As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the U.S. seeks to help
Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Until this conflict is resolved, it is
unlikely that Azerbaijan and Armenia will normalize economic or
diplomatic relations.
That said, the U.S. Government strongly encourages regional
integration in the Caucasus. Removing trade barriers would improve
regional integration and enhance economic cooperation and
development. Regional integration should, of course, include all
countries of the region. We have long believed that opening the
border between Turkey and Armenia would contribute to the economies
of both countries. If confirmed, I will strongly support the
Administration’s efforts to pursue regional integration for all
countries in the region.