CONSULTATION AT THE NKR GOVERNMENT

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 Aug 05
On August 22 the consultation of the NKR government took place, during
which the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the government were
discussed. The government discussed the projects of the government
decisions on the governmental body in charge of technical control of
electric power and energy consumption, establishment of a governmental
body in charge of postal services and the national operator of postal
communication. Besides, the members of government discussed the
procedure of granting and paying pension to prisoners and the
procedure of giving the inmates the status of disabled, the temporary
data set of the land cadastre about the farming land located in the
administrative territories of NKR communities, provision of personal
protective equipment to the population. A number of questions
referring to the system of education were withdrawn from the agenda of
the meeting for additional investigation and revision. In case the
government decision is adopted, extraordinary local elections will be
held in several communities of the republic.
AA.
26-08-2005

CENSORSHIP PROHIBITS ATOM EGOYAN’S LAST FILM
ISTANBUL, AUGUST 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. According to the “Sabah”
newspaper, Atom Egoyan’s last film “Where the Truth Hiden” met ban of the
American censorship because of presence of open sexual scenes. “Call me naive
if you want, but I really didn’t think that these scenes may be prohibited by
the censorship, so I didn’t prepare a second variant,” Egoyan said. According
to “Marmara,” famous cinemas in the USA refuse to show films prohibited by
the censorship. But the film reporter of “Gyunaiten” who informed about all
these, wrote that such films with open sexual scenes were shown during the
Cannes festival compared with which scenes of Egoyan’s film are mild, and the
punishment envisaged for them is not justified.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian conference and bill in September
TDN
Saturday, August 27, 2005
If my memory is not playing tricks on me, a similar resolution was
submitted during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ=9Fan’s visit to
Washington in June, and a minor crisis ensued.
Gila BENMAYOR
I met U.S. Consul General in Istanbul Deborah Jones at a
Turkish-American Business Council (TAÄ°K) reception the other
night. Jones was appointed to the post upon the departure of David
Arnett.
Jones is very knowledgeable about the Middle East.
She speaks Arabic well because she worked in Baghdad and Damascus. At
the reception I also talked to the congressional staffers who were
invited to Turkey as part of a program sponsored by TAÄ°K and its
American counterpart, the American-Turkish Council (ATC).
I would like to talk about this program.
Unfortunately, most American congressmen and their staffers know
almost nothing about Turkey.
Turkey, for them, is a country at the opposite end of the world. Even
though they know nothing about it, they draft many bills that affect
Turkey.
This is why it is very important and beneficial for TAÄ°K and the ATC
to invite a delegation from Congress from time to time in order to let
them see Istanbul, Ä°zmir and Ankara and to meet with representatives
from nongovernmental organizations.
Just as TAİK President Yılmaz Argüden said, there is a considerable
disparity between what those who come to Turkey hear and what they
see.
In the past three years, TAÄ°K has welcomed around 90 congressional
staffers.
If we return to the reception the other night, everyone I talked to
confirmed Argüden’s assessment.
`We never expected Turkey to be like this,’ some said.
I should also note that those I spoke with had visited Bodrum.
There was, of course, some congressional gossip making the rounds, and
we learned that a resolution on the Armenian genocide allegations
would be submitted to the House of Representatives in September.
If my memory is not playing tricks on me, a similar resolution was
submitted during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ=9Fan’s visit to
Washington in June, and a minor crisis ensued.
The timing of the bill is very interesting because the Armenian
conference at BoÄ=9Faziçi University that was postponed last May will
now be held in September.
The exact date the resolution will be submitted is not yet known, but
the conference will be held on Sept. 23.
I believe both happening in the same month is very unfortunate.
Unfortunately, most of the nation has negative views on the conference
due to the mistaken interpretations of the conference in the media.
If the resolution is submitted to the House at the same time, public
reaction may grow.
In summary, some very important developments will happen on the
Armenian problem in September.
Angel of villages: Nurten Ã-ztürk: The letters I receive from the
readers of my Turkish Daily News column show that they are interested
in social projects.
Maybe such reports give them hope and inspiration, I don’t know, but I
know that when I hear those involved in the project speak, I get very
excited.
One of those who inspires me is OPET board member Nurten Ã-ztürk.
Ã-ztürk, a successful businesswoman, is the person who initiated the
`clean toilets’ campaign five years ago.
If you are wondering why all the OPET gas stations have clean toilets,
don’t look any further. Ã-ztürk is responsible.
She is also supervising the `green highway’ project, whichaims to
plant trees around OPET stations.
She also helps in the development of certain villages.
This project is called `pilot village.’ She is involved in the
development of three villages right now.
They are the village of Dara, in Mardin right next to the Dara ruins;
the village of Yesemek, where the Hittite Open-air Sculpture Workshop
is located; and the village of Pazarköy in Bolu.
Ã-zürk shows the villagers how to contribute to the village economy,
ways to make their village more beautiful.
Villagers are trained in hygiene, health, and arts and crafts.
The first two villages have huge tourism potential, and that’s why
they are being shown how to utilize it.
Villagers are given brochures and CDs to hand out to tourists.
Ã-ztürk, who spends most of her time traveling to villages, does not
forget about children and supports efforts to open computer classes,
libraries and game rooms.
After having met her and witnessed her enthusiasm, I began to call her
the` angel of villages.’

COMMENTS OF NKR FOREIGN MINISTER TO `DE-FACTO’
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 Aug 05
– Mr. Minister, how will you comment the formation of the voting
district by the Central Electoral Commission of the Azerbaijani
Republic for the citizens of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic? – As for
the current agiotage around the formation of voting districts by the
Azerbaijani Central Electoral Commission (CEC) for the population of
territories currently under the sovereignty of the NKR then it is a
serious threat to the possible democratic reforms in AR because this
allows Azerbaijani authorities using at least several hundreds of
thousands virtual voters for their purposes. The same perspective is
evident also in the proposed electronic voting. These steps of the
Azerbaijani CEC indicate that local and international observers will
be deprived of possibilities to effectively supervise the course of
elections in AR. – Doyou consider participation of NKR citizens in
Azerbaijani elections possible? – NKR legislation provides for dual
citizenship and if one day a NKR citizen obtained Azerbaijani
citizenship then the necessity of interstate agreement betweenthe
Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Azerbaijani Republic would
arise. This agreement will have to regulate such issues as rights and
responsibilitiesof people with dual citizenship including the
realization of their electoral rights. This is international
practice. For such agreement to be signed, anumber of issues have to
be solved in advance. First of all, it is the recognition of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s sovereignty by the Azerbaijani Republic.
Without this further steps will be impossible. In the second place
Azerbaijani legislation must provide for the right to dual citizenship
and if necessary corresponding changes have to be introduced. In the
aftermath of these steps it will be possible to speak about signing an
interstate agreement on persons with dual or more citizenship. However,
it seems quite problematic that AR will be able to carry out
corresponding actions before the coming parliamentary elections,
though everything depends exclusively on the political will of
Azerbaijani leaders. Any positive steps in this direction will be
welcome.
`DE-FACTO’.
26-08-2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Department of Armenian Studies, Haigazian University
Beirut, Lebanon
Contact: Ara Sanjian
Tel: 961-1-353011
Email: [email protected]
Web:
HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ARMENIAN STUDIES
invites you to a series of three public lectures
organized in parallel with the international academic conference on
‘The Armenians of Lebanon: Past and Present’
* * *
Tuesday, 13 September 2005
Armenian Orphanages and Shelters for Abandoned Women
in Lebanon and Neighboring Regions
after the First World War
[in Armenian]
by
Vahe Tachjian
(AGBU Noubarian Library, Paris)
* * *
Tuesday, 14 September 2005
The Role and Status of Lebanon in the Development of the Armenian Diaspora
[in Armenian]
by
Khatchik Der Ghoukassian
(Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires)
* * *
Thursday, 15 September 2005
Political Developments in Lebanon and Armenian Communal Strategies:
A Preliminary Exploration
[in English]
by
Nicola Migliorino
(University of Exeter, England)
All three lectures will be held at the Haigazian University Media
Center, Mexique Street, Kantari, at 7:30 p.m.
N.B. Please accept this message as a personal invitation.
Haigazian University is a liberal arts institution of higher learning,
established in Beirut in 1955. For more information about its activities
you are welcome to visit its web-site at <;. For additional information on the activities of its Department of Armenian Studies, contact Ara Sanjian at

PRIVATIZATION BEGAN TEN YEARS AGO
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 Aug 05
Ten years ago privatization of the state property began. In February
1995 the National Assembly passed the law on privatization and
denationalization of state enterprises and unfinished buildings. On
the basis of this law the Agency for Census and Denationalization of
State Property was established,which was put in charge of
privatization. The first programme of privatization, the 1995-1996
programme was adopted. Privatization in Karabakh can be divided into
two stages. In the first stage which lasted from 1995 to 1998 shops,
public food places, services, rented areas and unfinished buildings
were privatized. The second stage, the privatization of large
enterprises, began with the adoption of the law on privatization of
state property in 1998. According to the head of the department of
state property management and privatization of the NKR Ministry of
Territorial Management and Development of Infrastructures Arsen
Abrahamian, by August 1, 2005 871 small enterprises (92 per cent of
the 936 enterprises included in the programme) have been
privatized. Of these 168 were privatized by the staffs of the
enterprises, 430 by the lessees, 184 were put out to auction, 62 by
direct sale. 26 enterprises were provided free of charge according to
the investment plan. Budget return on privatization totaled 468
million drams. As to large enterprises, A. Abrahamian said, 62of the
104 companies one of the shareholders of which is the state (the
evaluated cost of which is 2 billion 953 million) have been
privatized. Half of these enterprises were privatized through direct
sale, 18 (28.1 per cent) were put out to tender, 14 (21.9 per cent)
were provided free of charge. State budget receipts from
privatization of the mentioned companies totaled 727.3 million
drams. Besides small enterprises and large commercial organizations
structural units separated from the property of 34 companies were
privatized as well, of which 28 (82.3 per cent) through direct sale, 5
were provided free of charge, 1 was put out to tender. Budget return
on these units totaled 84.5 million drams. Budget return on
privatization of unfinished buildings totaled 4.2 million drams. As to
the aims of privatization and denationalization, A.
Abrahamian said, `Generally, privatization of state property is the
most lasting reform of the government. The public opinion about the
idea of privatization varies, but it has many positive sides. The
privatization of state enterprises allows improving the effectiveness
of the operation of these enterprises.
Besides the competition between companies of different types of
ownership enable sustainable economic growth. The government expects
growth in the number of private companies through privatization. The
means from privatization, as the numbers cited above show, are a
source of budget receipts. There are also other aims, such as the flow
of foreign and local investments, importof new technologies.’ In
reference to investments A. Abrahamian mentioned that since the
beginning of privatization investment programmes of 7 billion drams
have been implemented, about 2 thousand NKR and foreign citizens have
become proprietors. A. Abrahamian said the investors mainly implement
their liabilities (by 95 per cent). `But, of course, there are cases
when the buyers cannot make the payments and investments in time,’ he
said. In such casesthe government studies the possibilities of
implementing the liabilities of the investor. If the possibilities are
good, the payment of liabilities is deferred, if not, the government
resorts to confiscation through court. A. Abrahamian mentioned 20
similar cases. `It should be noted that the governmentis interested in
completion of the contract by the buyer. Therefore, if the least
chance is there, it tries to solve the question in favour of the
buyer.’ In connection with the legislation of the republic
A. Abrahamian mentioned that it provides for normal privatization and,
according to him, it does not need any changes.
SRBUHI VANIAN.
26-08-2005

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of South Florida
931 NE 48 Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
Contact: Michael Toumayan
Tel: 561-716-6155
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
ANC FLORIDA EDUCATES THOUSANDS OF FLORIDIANS
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA – Thousands of Floridians, from the serene
Panhandle to sultry Miami, attended the System of a Down concerts in
Pensacola, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale held from August 15-17. While
enjoying the music of one of rock music’s most notable bands, they
were also apprised of the ongoing fight for United States recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of
Florida.
Young politically aspired activists from organizations such as the
Armenian National Committee of South Florida, Axis of Justice, Amnesty
International Miami chapter, and Florida Voter Registration, set up
booths at the entrances of the Office Depot Center in Fort Lauderdale
at the request of System of a Down (SOAD) to educate the public about
injustices occurring throughout the world.
Representing the Armenian National Committee of South Florida were
activist Taniel Koushakjian, and ANCA 2004 summer intern Michael
Toumayan. The two Hai Tahd activists provided critical analysis of the
injustice behind many of the Turkish government’s policies, thereby
convincing over 200 people to sign a petition in less than 2 hours in
support of the House Resolution (H.Res.) 316, which would reaffirm the
U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide.
The petition titled `End the Cycle of Genocide’ is a two-part letter
addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Dennis
Hastert, urging him to work for a timely passage of legislation
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and to work for the passage of the
Darfur Peace and Accountability Act to bring an end to the systematic
massacres and forced starvation in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Toumayan and Koushakjian came across two SOAD fans of Turkish
ancestry. `When Taniel asked them to sign the petition, they looked at
us and pointed to the red Crescent and Star imprinted on their
t-shirts, indicating that they were Turkish and do not support our
cause that contradicts their views,’said Toumayan.
Many fans of Armenian ancestry came running to the ANC booth when they
recognized the tri-colored ANCA logo in the background. For them, a
System of a Down Concert is the ultimate venue for marrying their
concern for the Armenian Cause with their enjoyment of contemporary
music they can relate to. The Armenian flag could be seen fading in
crowd in the monumental arena as thousands jumped up and down and
shook their heads to SOAD’s revolutionary, adrenaline pumping music.

VILLAGE COUNCILS UNDEVELOPED YET
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 Aug 05
At the local elections held in our republic people have also elected
local councils. However, not everyone knows what a community council
is, what its rights and powers are and whether this institution can be
considered accomplished. We discussed these and other questions with
the member of the community council of Stepanakert, the chairman of
the foundation `Stepanakert’ Naira Petrossian. Laura Grigorian:
`Mrs. Petrossian, you have been elected to the community council twice
and already have considerable experience. What does the community
council represent and what is its role in the development of the
country?’ N.P.: `The axis in building Nagorno Karabakh Republic is the
creation of a legitimate democratic national state, and on the way of
building such a country local government as a peculiar form of
democratic society is utterly important. Local governance is
instituted throughout the territoryof NKR to serve and improve the
life of the population. The community is the democratic basis of the
system of government, which is a legal person and a separate
administrative unit which deals with its property. It should be noted
that for the orderly and legal development of the local governmental
system the role and activity of the community council is utterly
important. The community council is a representational body and is
elected along with the head of the community. It possesses powers
granted to it by the Constitution and the NKR law on local
government. The community council controls the implementationof the
community budget, manages the lands located within the administrative
territory of the community, confirms the annual report of the head of
the community on the implementation of the budget. The representatives
of the community council are also involved in the standing committees
under the City Hall. ‘ L.G.: `What are the rights and duties of the
members of the community council and which is the circle of their
action?’ N.P.: `The members of the community council may come up with
proposals referring the agenda and the questions under consideration,
prepare and propose questions, projects and messages for discussion by
the community council, demand and receive official data from the mayor
about the activity of the community. At the same time the members of
the community council must take part in the meetings of the community
council, regularly meet with the members of the community and inform
them about the work of the community council, be present at the
reception of citizensby the community council, study the proposals and
complaints of the members of the community, attend to them. The
community council must organize its work combining their rights and
duties. Of course, the sphere of its activitiesis many-sided, requires
hard work, especially that it works in the form of meetings which take
place once a month. Any questions referring to the interests of the
community may be discussed at the meeting. The council may make
decisions and issue messages. However, it should be noted that not all
the conditions necessary for the determined work of the community
council of Stepanakert are provided. And although the NKR law on local
government has been in action since 1998, the institution of community
councils cannot be considered as fully accomplished. The rights of the
community council are limited by thelaw in action and therefore are
not sufficient to place and sustain the activity of the council on a
sound basis. The members of the community council should not merely be
present at the meetings of the council. Each of them should assume the
control of one of the spheres of life of vital importance for the
city.
Not only should the members of the council be worried by the problems
of the city but these should become the subject of their everyday work
and concern.
Therefore, it is necessary that the village council have permanent and
precise mechanisms and leverages.’ L.G.: `Is the communityaware of the
activity of the council?’ N.P.: `The public television informs about
all our meetings, the decisions are published in Stepanakert
Weekly. That is to say our activity is transparent for
everyone. Nevertheless, I think, the activity of the community council
needs improvement and precision.’
LAURA GRIGORIAN.
26-08-2005

COUNCIL ALDERMEN OF INTELECTUALS’ FORUM CALLS TO BOYCOTT REFERENDUM OF
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Council of Aldermen of the
Intelecturals’ Forum calls on the citizens of the republic to boycott
the referendum on the constitutional reforms to be held in November.
This is said in the August 25 address of the organization. According
to authors of the document, the authorities’ stating the constitutional
reforms as of most importance follows one main goal: to make
legitimate the power not elected and formed by the people. “By this
regular simple and shameless step of disorientating the society, the
authorities want to give a legal and countinuable character to
shameful crimes committed and to be committed by them,” the address
reads. The Council of Aldermen of the Intelectuals’ Forum finds that
if parties participate in discussions of the Constitutional reforms,
and the people participates in the referendum, even with an intention
to say “No,” it will be considered as recognition of the authorities’
legitimacy by the people. According to the Council of Aldermen’s
estimation, it will be an inadmissible mistake “with all negative
consequences coming out of it.” According to the authors of the
address, particularly, if the authorities make decision not beneficial
for Armenia concerning the Artakh problem, “they may quote that they
are those elected by the people and fulfil the people’s will, in the
case, when the 2003 president’s and parliamentary elections were
widely falsified, the power was taken, and nobody has been punished
for that hard crime by now.”

DRAFT ARMENIAN PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES
CORPORATION ARE REALISTIC
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, NOYAN TAPAN. At the August 25 meeting between RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and the delegation of the Foreign
Relations Commission of the US Congress, issues related to Armenia’s
participation in the Millennium Challenges Program were
discussed. According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department,
V. Oskanian presented the work done by Armenia within the framework of
the program, as well as the main elements of the Armenian proposals
submitted to the Corporation. The representatives of the US Congress
Commission noted that Armenia’s draft proposals have been developed in
detail and are realistic. They expressed hope that the Corporation
Council will approve them. During the meeting, the sides stated their
satisfaction at the current level of the Armenian-US relations. They
were unanimous in the opinion that bilateral contacts should be
promoted in all spheres of the relations between the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress