DO NOT COMPARE US WITH IRAQ
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| 18:14:17 | 30-08-2005 | Politics |
Today during the discussions of the constitutional amendments the
NA hall was almost empty. Though speeches by the opposition deputies
aroused some interest, during the speeches by the coalition members
the hall became quite empty.
The opposition deputies have worked out a serious tactic and each of
them uncovered the faults of the draft from various aspects. According
to Shavarsh Kocharyan, the fact that the U.S. compares Armenia
with Iraq, on which it is now trying to impose the adoption of the
Constitution, is humiliating for Armenia.
He stated that the international structures approve the draft not
because it is good but because they do not have other expectations. In
his words, this does not do us credit, taking into account that we have
the constitution written by Shahamir Shahamiryan in the 19th century.
DECEIT OCCIDENTALLY
Noting that the draft items conflict with one another NA deputy
Arshak Sadoyan states that the “occidental form of deceit” is being
implemented. “Is it hard to fix that despite the constitutional
amendments one person cannot run for president three times.
Independent deputy Hmayak Hovhanissyan is battling against the
expansion of the Prime Minister’s authority. In his words, presently
the President has less authority than the Premier appointed by the
oligarchic majority.
PRESIDENT’S GRATITUDE
National Unity Secretary Alexan Karapetyan emphasized that the
Constitutional Court is empowered with ultimate authority. In his
words, in this way Robert Kocharyan “covers up” the debt to the CC,
which saved him in 1998 and 2003.
CONSTITUTION BETRAYS HOMELAND?
Aram G. Sargsyan touched upon the clause on land sale, due to which
“our homeland can go to the enemy’s hands in the near future”. He
also pointed out to the technical faults, for example the expression
stating that “The Constitution is adopted by the Armenian people via
referendum”. “Considerable number of Armenian people are members of
the Diaspora and cannot take part in the referendum”, he noted.

GEORGIAN WITH ALLEGED LINKS TO AZERI “COUP PLOT” ARRESTED
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Aug 31 2005
News broke on August 30 that Georgian citizen Merab Jibuti was
arrested by Azeri border guards for alleged illegal crossing of the
Georgian-Azerbaijani border on August 26, Georgian and Azeri media
sources reported.
Merab Jibuti is suspected by the Azerbaijani security service of being
linked to Ruslan Bashirli, chief of the Yeni Fikir youth organization,
who was arrested on August 3 and charged with plotting a coup in
Azerbaijan.
The Georgian and Azeri media also reported that chief of the Georgian
intelligence service Batu Kutelia has recently visited Azerbaijan.
The Georgian Intelligence Department has confirmed this report.
But the Georgian Interior Ministry denied that a visit of Interior
Minister Vano Merabishvili took place in Azerbaijan on August 15.
However, the Azerbaijani state-run news agency AzerTag reported that
Merabishvili met with Aliyev.
No details of the visit were reported, but the Georgian media
speculates that the both of these visits – by Merabishvili and
Kutelia – were linked to the investigation of an alleged coup plot
in Azerbaijan.
The Azeri opposition claims that allegations of a coup attempt are
politically-motivated. The arrested Bashirli also denies charges.
According to the Azerbaijani General Prosecutor’s Office, Ruslan
Bashirli met with an Armenian special service agent in Tbilisi, while
he was visiting the Georgian capital in late July. Merab Jibuti also
participated in this meeting, during which Bashirli received USD
2,000 from the Armenian special service agent.
Azeri media sources reported that Merab Jibuti was arrested while
crossing the Georgian-Azerbaijani border without any identification.
Reportedly, Jibuti had contact information of some activists from
the Yeni Fikir youth organization.
It is unclear why Jibuti was going to visit Azerbaijan. The Azeri media
reported that Jibuti planned to meet with Ruslan Bashirli, but as the
detention of Jibuti occurred on August 26, by that time Bashirli had
already been arrested (on August 3) by the Azeri security service.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSKANIAN CONTENT WITH RESULTS OF ARMENIAN-AZERI SUMMIT
Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 31 2005
The weekend meeting in Russia between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan marked another important step towards the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said
on Tuesday.
Oskanian said he and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov will
now try to build on progress made by Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliev.
“True, no breakthrough was achieved during that meeting, but we do
consider it positive and believe that the negotiations are following
a positive course,” he told a news conference. “The most important
thing is that the presidents’ meeting in Kazan enables the [foreign]
ministers to continue their work. I think that there will be a meeting
of the ministers in the near future. A visit to the region by the
co-chairs [of the OSCE Minsk Group is also possible.”
“I think that we have some work to do regarding the results of the
presidents’ meeting and that there is now new room for continuing
the process,” Oskanian said, adding that he and Mammadyarov received
relevant “instructions” from the two presidents. He did not say what
those instructions are.
“Each meeting at the level of the presidents is a step forward,
but it’s still early to speak of serious progress,” Mammadyarov told
reporters on Monday.
International mediators and the United States in particular hoped the
Kazan meeting will clear the final hurdle to a Karabakh settlement.
It is not clear if Aliev and Kocharian lived up to their expectations.
It is widely assumed that the two leaders will not sign or
announce any compromise agreements on Karabakh before the November
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and constitutional referendum
in Armenia. Unpopular concessions could significantly strengthen
opposition groups in both countries that are plotting fresh attempts
to topple the ruling regimes in Baku and Yerevan.
Oskanian said the upcoming polls will have no bearing on the peace
process. “We have not yet reached a point where we need to inform our
publics about details,” he explained. “We are still not there. That
is why it is not worth thinking about that.”
“We are simply not close to putting anything on paper. So nobody is
thinking yet about the restrictive impact of the elections or the
referendum on the negotiations,” he added.

NO ‘PROGRESS OR BREAKTHROUGH’ IN KAZAN
By Tatoul Hakobian in Kazan
AZG Armenian Daily #154, 31/08/2005
Kazan meeting
Yerevan Considers the Meeting of Presidents Positive Advancement
The foreign minister of Azerbaijan stated, according to ITAR-TASS
agency, that the results of the meeting between presidents Ilham
Aliyev and Robert Kocharian on the sidelines of Kazan summit do
not allow saying that progress or breakthrough was achieved. But,
Elmar Mamediarov underscored, that negotiations of the presidents are
always important as they try to bring things together. “Armenia and
Azerbaijan will need one or two weeks to analyze results and ideas
offered at the meeting as well as to think to what extent are the
sides ready to move forward”, Mamediarov said.
Karabakh regulation talks between Kocharian and Aliyev lasted 2
hours. After the meeting, neither the presidents, nor foreign ministers
and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen made any statement for the media. The
spokesperson of the Armenian President made the only comment. “The
Armenian side has positive evaluation of the Kazan meeting and thinks
there was positive advance in talks process. The foreign ministers
will keep on working with the same spirits considering results of
this meeting”, Viktor Soghomonian said.
Aboard the plane to Yerevan, journalists tried to inquire
from President Kocharian about results of meeting with Ilham
Aliyev. Kocharian said that the meeting was positive on the whole and
said that the talks will reach a good final if they don’t stray. The
foreign minister was also optimistic.
Oskanian said that positive tendencies have not vanished and though
the date of the next meeting within Prague Process has not been set
the co-chairs will try to strike the iron while it is hot.
Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as Minsk group
mediators Yuri Merzlyakov, Steven Mann and Bernard Fassie took
part in discussion of some issues at Kocharian-Aliyev meeting. The
Russian President was also supposed to take part in the meeting but
failed to do so. This can mean that the Russian side did not expect
serious progress in Karabakh regulation or Vladimir Putin was busy
with CIS affairs.
‘Armenia Will Be My Final Destination’
National minorities of Tatarstan also took part in the celebration of
the 1000th anniversary of Tatar capital of Kazan during the CIS summit.
Armenians settled in Kazan in 10th century. Head of the local Armenian
community Mikhail Khachaturian says that Armenian merchants used to
take satin, carpets and cochineal from Volga to Bulgaria. Armenians
grew in number in Kazan and neighboring regions as a result of
Seljuk incursion in 11th century. “There are now 7.000 Armenians in
Tatarstan, particularly in Kazan and Naberezhniye Chelny. Most of
them are engaged in building and business but you can find them in
every sphere”, he says.
Kazan used to be even a center of Armenian studies once. In 1842-54,
Stepanos Nazaryants headed the department of Armenian Studies at the
faculty of Oriental Studies of Kazan University before transferring
it to Saint Petersburg. In 1920, one of Kazan’s streets used to bear
the name of Armyanskaya Str (today it’s called Spartakovskaya).
Though Armenia is considered to be Russia’s military ally, a friendly
state, cases of harassment against Armenians are nothing rare. In
Krasnodar, for one, Armenians are attended as Caucasians in the
negative sense. What’s the situation in Tatarstan? “People know
Armenians as a nation with ancient history. Someone ignorant will
certainly take us as “black” but intelligent ones value Armenians. In
one word, there are people with negative and positive attitude”,
Khachaturian says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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| 12:32:02 | 31-08-2005 | Official |
In connection with the Knowledge day the RA NA President Arthur
Baghdasaryan sent a congratulating message to the teachers, students
and pupils of the Republic.
“The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, as a legislative
body, realizes legislative reforms with the hope to make the
educational system of the Armenia corresponding to the European
standards in order to provide the Armenian pupils and students with
the possibility to find their place in the modern world.
In the Parliament the adoption of laws concerning the education field
is of primary importance. I’m sure that competitive education will
create the possibility to get a good education for all those who
have chosen the way of science irrespective of the social status”,
said Arthur Baghdasaryan.

TILL FINAL VICTORY
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| 19:55:33 | 30-08-2005 | Politics |
The Armenian Foreign Ministry is going to launch a serious struggle
against the construction of an “alternative” railway connecting Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Georgia.
First of all Armenia will try to prevent other states from financing
Azerbaijan. Armenia has already proposed to operate the existing
railway lying through the Armenian territory. However the republic
will not be ready to put into operation the road until all the regional
conflicts are settled.
UNDER THE VEIL OF SECRECY
Till today nothing is known about the details of the meeting of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents that took place August 27 in
Kazan. During today’s press conference Vartan Oskanian warned he is
not going to add anything new. “I assess this meeting as positive
though no crucial decisions were made”, he said stressing that the
meeting opened a new possibility for continuing the negotiations.
The formal statement issued by the RA MFA says in part, “Armenia
positively assesses the Kazan meeting and considers that the
negotiations proceed in the right direction. By order of the Presidents
the meetings of the FMS will continue basing on the agreements
achieved in Kazan. The visit of the OSCE Co-Chairs to the region is
also possible.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARYAN IGNORES UN
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| 19:10:41 | 30-08-2005 | Politics |
Robert Kocharyan is continually avoiding participation in the
UN General Assembly. As it became known, this year the Armenian
delegation to the 60th UN General Assembly Session will be headed
by Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian explains it by the fact that the presence of the Premier is
more expedient.
Today the RA FM rendered a press conference to comment on the upcoming
events and meetings. In his words, the year end promises to be rich in
events. Lithuanian and Finn Presidents are expected to visit Armenia
while Robert Kocharyan will pay a call to Brussels.

ARMENIA TO STRUGGLE AGAINST CONSTRUCTION OF KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI RAILWAY
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #154, 31/08/2005
Region
The official Yerevan is going to struggle against the construction
of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway, proving to the international
community that the project is useless. Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign
minister, stated at the press conference that “Georgia and Azerbaijan
have no moral right” to invest financial sources in the construction
of the railway that overpasses Armenia, as there exists Kars-Gyumri
railway that stopped functioning because Turkey still keeps Armenia
in blockade.
“We find it useless to invest limited international and inner
financial sources in the construction of the new railway,” Oskanian
said, reminding that Armenia can keep away from using Kars-Gyumri
railway but we are ready to provide the territory of our country for
transitional transportations only, to establish railway connection
between Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Recently, the Georgian foreign minister made a threatening statement
that Tbilisi won’t allow any state, including Armenia, to hinder the
construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway. Vartan Oskanian
repeated that one can’t frighten Armenia with regional projects and
even if Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway is constructed, “Armenia
won’t disappear from the map, it will continue developing.”

‘ROSE GAMES’ IN AZERBAIJAN
AZG Armenian Daily #154, 31/08/2005
Neighbors
Merab Jibutia, representative of the so-called Democratic Forces
of Georgia, was detained in Azerbaijan. He was earlier labeled an
agent of Armenia’s special services by Chief Prosecutor’s Office
of Azerbaijan. It’s noteworthy that another “spy”, Ruslan Bashirli,
leader of Yeni Fiqir oppositional party, was arrested on August 3 on
charge of an attempt to seize the power in the country. He conducted
secret negotiations with agents of Armenia’s special services Merab
Jibutia, Georgi Ispirian and Vartan in Tbilisi.
Detained while attempting to cross the border, the Azeri law enforcers
found no identifying document within him but found instead Armenian
money. The Azeri mass media keeps silent as to what Jibutia was
supposed to buy in Baku with Armenian drams.

PRESIDENTS OF LATVIA AND FINLAND TO VISIT ARMENIA
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #154, 31/08/2005
Visit
The presidents of Latvia and Finland are going to visit Armenia till
the end of this year. Foreign minister of Armenia said that President
Kocharian will visit Belgium and another state.
Dmitri Rupel, OSCE chairman, will arrive in Armenia on September 5-6.
Vartan Oskanian will leave for Strasburg, Venice and Bologna in
September.
Kocharian Makes Remark to Oskanian
Vartan Oskanian confirmed that RA President made him a remark
concerning the recent incident connected with his son. Few days ago,
Mr. Oskanian’s son ran over a citizen who was taken to hospital with
injuries. Mr. Oskanian condemned himself for the incident again. In
response to the issue whether the Armenian authorities display
prejudiced attitude to Vartan Oskanian, Mr. foreign minister said:
“I am confused about the incident and concerned about the health of
Karen, the injured citizen.”