Dogs Won’t Be Killed
A1 Plus | 13:58:49 | 10-05-2004 | Social |
Yerevan Vice-Mayor Arman Sahakyan has today met journalists at a
press conference. He announced there are about 10.000 stray animals
in Yerevan.
According to him, the stray dogs won’t be killed. They will be
injected, sterilized, cleansed and released.
“500-1000 animals in Yerevan can be sterilized daily”, Sahakyan says.
Armenian Government has allotted 20 million drams to solve the problem
of stray animals. But Vice-Mayor thinks it is not much.
He also informed that the cemeteries located intolerably near the
dwelling zones of Yerevan will be moved to new areas.

Politbureau and the Council of Europe
by Haroutiun Khachatrian
NT Highlights #18 (520)
10 May, 2004
Council of Europe is not the Soviet-era Politbureau of the Central Committee
of the CPSU, where they make decisions and compel to fulfil them. This
declaration was made by the President Robert Kocharian on May 6. We think
this is a sort of manifest to Armenian authorities, which has formed the
basis of their actions for, at least, the last three years. More
importantly, they will be guided by this principle in the near future, in
particular, when preparing their answer to the PACE April 28 Resolution. To
say it more clearly, Armenia sees it possible to ignore at least some of the
positions of the PACE document.
Which ones? President’s statement contains implications for possible reply
to this question as well. “There are no serious problems in its informative
part, but there are inaccuracies in the descriptive part connected directly
to the events”. This phrase, which cannot be named as a very clear one,
apparently means, that the Armenian authorities will agree with the PACE
document “in theory”, but will challenge it “in practice”. In other words,
they will agree that democracy is a good thing, but will argue that Armenia
fails to meet the democracy standards. For example, Armenia officially lacks
the institute of administrative detentions, and in all cases arrest of the
people is done only by the decision of the court. Correct. But there still
remains to be sure that: i. No unregistered detentions occur, ii. The courts
are independent of the executive power, iii. …
Of course, the Council of Europe has no resource, nor the powers to check
this type of details. It is not a Politbureau, Kocharian is correct. Nor
will the opposition and/or human rights supporting organizations be able to
do this. And moreover, the CoE will not be able to compel their fulfillment.

Toronto Star
May 10 2004
Anger as `stars’ oust Liberal hopefuls
PM’s sincerity in doubt, says one Party defends
appointments
GRAHAM FRASER
NATIONAL AFFAIRS WRITER
OTTAWA—Paul Martin’s designation of a Liberal candidate in Brampton
puts in doubt his sincerity, a would-be Liberal candidate said
yesterday.
“For me, it says to me they have a very difficult time keeping
promises,” Andrew Kania told the CTV program Question Period yesterday.
Kania said he had initially been told he could not run in Brampton
Springdale.
“Mr. Karl Littler, the Ontario campaign manager, specifically said
to me I would not be allowed to succeed in that riding because I was
John Manley’s Ontario co-chair,” he said.
“I appealed to the Prime Minister, I wrote to him, and he approved
me as a candidate.”
The approval did not last long: On Saturday, the Liberal party
announced that Ruby Dhalla, a chiropractor and long-time Liberal
activist, would be the party’s candidate.
The controversy has underlined the contradiction between Prime Minister
Paul Martin’s position earlier in the year and his recent actions,
and the tension between his constant complaints about a democratic
deficit in Parliament and his desire to name star candidates of
cabinet quality.
First, Martin insisted that the selection of candidates was a local
matter and refused to intervene in the fight between his defeated
rival Sheila Copps and Transport Minister Tony Valeri.
But he or his representatives have subsequently intervened several
times to block candidates who were seeking Liberal nominations,
and appoint candidates of his choosing.
Steve MacKinnon, deputy campaign director for the Liberal party, said
that the decision to appoint candidates involved putting together a
successful team for governing.
“Dr. Dhalla is a very successful entrepreneur in the Brampton area,
runs rehabilitation clinics and is a chiropractor and a very successful
businesswoman,” he said adding she was the first Sikh woman ever to
run for the Liberal party.
The Liberals also announced that the Liberal MP for Brampton-Centre,
Sarkis Assadourian, was being named special adviser to Martin for
Near Eastern and South Caucasus affairs.
Assadourian was one of the driving forces behind the recent
parliamentary vote to acknowledge the events that happened in Turkey
in 1917-1925 as the Armenian genocide — a free vote that challenged
the position of the government, and enraged the Turkish government.
Dhalla is one of a number of Liberal candidates to have been designated
by Martin, including former NDP British Columbia premier Ujjal Dosanjh.
On Friday, Martin named Bill Cunningham, president of the Liberal
party in British Columbia, as the candidate in Burnaby-Douglas,
enraging Tony Kuo, who had publicly pleaded with Martin not to do this.
Yesterday, Kuo called it a very sad day in Canadian politics.
“It symbolized the death of democracy within the Liberal Party in
Canada,” Kuo said.
“In particular, the Prime Minister chose power over democracy.”
He said that in five ridings, where Martin has designated candidates
and short-circuited the local candidate-selection process, members
of minorities cannot run and cannot vote.
“This is not the Liberal party (that) has taken the proud traditions
from (former prime ministers Lester) Pearson to (Pierre) Trudeau to
Jean Chrétien, multiculturalism, true Liberalism, and the belief (in)
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” Kuo said.
“It’s a very sad day.”
MacKinnon said the power of designation has only been used in six
constituencies across Canada out of 308, and that it was done to put
together what he called “a team that we think is unprecedented in
the history of the Liberal Party of Canada.”

Russia has highest salary rate in CIS
Pravda, Russia
May 10 2004
Russia is the only one among the countries of the CIS with the highest
monthly salaries.
According to the CIS Committee of Statistics, average monthly salary
in Russia constitutes 6218 rubles (that is a bit more than $200 USD),
reports Gazeta.ru.
Kazakhstan is second with 5473-ruble average salary. Then goes
Belarus (3953 rubles), Ukraine with 2804-ruble salaries, Azerbaijan
(2588 rubles), Moldavia (2454 rubles) and Armenia (1927 rubles).
Tajikistan has the lowest average salary-516 rubles ($17 USD).
Growth of the actual monthly wages for the first quarter of the year
appeared to be as follows: Moldova-9%, Azerbaijan and Belarus-11%,
Kazakhstan-15%, Russia-18%, Armenia-19%, and Ukraine-23%. Tajikistan
has the highest growth rate-31%, informs the source.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 10 2004
EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN IN BUCHAREST CARRIED OUT ACTION IN CONNECTION
WITH OCCUPATION OF SHUSHA
[May 10, 2004, 14:37:00]
On the action conducted on 8 May at the embassy of Azerbaijan in
Bucharest with participation of Azerbaijanis living and training in
Romania, representatives of mass media there was a conversation on
occupation by the Armenian aggressors the picturesque region of our
country, a cradle of music of the city of Shusha and as a whole, our
lands.
Participants of the action have honored by a minute of silence memory
of the brave sons of Motherland, who fell for native lands.
Ambassador Eldar Hasanov has told about heavy sequences for our
country of the aggressive policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan since
1988, has estimated the fact that the authoritative international
organizations still shut eyes to it as injustice, from the double
standard point. At the same time, he has told that Shusha, and other
lands are under enemy, has temporary character. The
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorny Karabakh conflict will be settled within
the framework of norms of international law, with observance of
national interests of Azerbaijan people, and efforts of President
Ilham Aliyev in this direction will yield the fruits.
The ambassador has called representatives of mass media to write the
truth in the materials connected to this conflict, to allow the
objective information on true position of Azerbaijan.
Staff members of the embassy, and also the vice-president of
Association of businessmen of Romania and Azerbaijan Elchin Mammadov,
the president of the Azerbaijan-Romania association of culture and
youth Igbal Hajiyev, students Askar Dunyamaliyev, Hamza Karimov and
others have emphasized necessity of use of all opportunities for
maintenance of wide circulation in the countries of Southeast Europe
of the truthful information on Azerbaijan, and also about the
aggressive policy of Armenia.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky: Georgia brings trouble to Russia
Pravda, Russia
MAy 10 2004
Vladimir Zhirinovsky estimates the latest events in Adzharia as the
defeat of Russia in the Caucasus region.
This will result in unfavorable consequences for Russia for long-term
perspective – Georgia will remain instability zone, said Vladimir
Zhirinovsky in a Newsinfo interview.
Newsinfo Your opinion on the latest events in Georgia – resignation
of leader of Adzaria autonomous republic Aslan Abashidze?
Vladimir Zhirinovsky Historically, Georgia has been a burden for
Russian empire and the Soviet Union. This is the zone of corruption
and conflicts, the collapse of the USSR was started in Georgia and
followed with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, then it reached Moscow
and all regions. Georgia’s being in Russian state was a major mistake.
This continues today, we are still sponsoring Georgia. This is very
convenient for them. They receive money from Moscow and Washington and
do nothing. They have never been able to do anything, they have always
had a rest, I lived there for 2 years and know what I am saying. This
nation likes to eat, drink and play football, and this is it. Then
they can complain, cry and call to Moscow and Washington, receive some
gifts and continue enjoying themselves. This incapable area is going to
have conflicts forever. Leader of Adzaria Aslan Abashidze withdrew to
Russia temporarily,>Latest News Vladimir Zhirinovsky: Georgia brings
trouble to Russia Cuba: Bush insists with the “dumbest policy of the
world” War as a drug Son of popular leader elected president of Panama
Abashidze resigns; Saakashvili’s next target– Abkhazia
there are many Georgian emigrants here, 800,000 Georgians, many of
Georgian intelligentsia. They all were in opposition to previous
Georgian leaders Gamsakhurdia and Shevarnadze, currently they will
be in opposition to Saakashvili. Georgia brought Russia only losses.
Newsinfo What do you think about future developments in Georgia and
Caucasus region?
Vladimir Zhirinovsky Saakashvili is excited about his victory in
“velvet revolution” in Tbilisi and making the leader of Adzaria
to resign. He is going to advance to Abkhazia and then to Southern
Osetia, and Russia will have new refugees from these regions. Moscow is
making mistakes. No way it should have allowed Saakashvili to do this,
Moscow should have had tough position to Saakashvili. He overthrew
President Shevarnadze, this was against the law, overthrew leader of
Adzharia autonomous republic, and is going to dismiss other elected
leaders in Abkhazia and Southern Osetia. He is winning, we are losing.
Moscow supports this policy and thinks that united Georgia will not
support Chechen terrorists. This is an illusion, Georgia will not
change its policy! Georgia will join NATO soon, NATO troops will be
deployed there to encourage instability in the Caucasus region from
the South. This will result in instability not only in Chechnya,
but also in Karachaevo-Cherkesia region, which will be far worse
than the Chechen problem. Then Azerbaijan will join NATO and will
“put us on fire” through Dagestan republic bordering Chechnya. We
will be losing until major war breaks out in the Northern Caucasus,
and this region will be separated from Russia. This is the kind of
“velvet revolution” we are going to have.

Hogasapian rejects Aoun’s remarks about Armenians
The Daily Star, Lebanon
May 5 2004
Beirut MP Jean Hogasapian rejected former Army Commander Michel Aoun’s
recent remarks, saying Lebanon’s Armenians did not follow democratic
traditions and were manipulated by remote control by those controlling
them politically.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the MP said he would like to clarify to
Aoun that Lebanon’s Armenians had done a good job so far integrating
themselves in this country’s political life.
The Armenians “have set up political alliances and have successfully
interacted with all parts of the Lebanese community around them,”
the MP said, adding that the Armenians “abide by Lebanon’s political
principles, specifically those dealing with democracy and political
liberty.”
Commenting on Sunday’s Mount Lebanon municipal elections, Hogasapian
said Armenians had “exercised their right to vote and were not
influenced by any political pressure.”
Aoun-backed candidates in Sunday’s elections had predominantly failed
to give a good account of themselves. Aoun had held Armenian voters
partly to blame for that failure.

Profile of next US ambassador to Armenia – news agency
Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
10 May 04
Prior to his taking up the appointment as US Ambassador to Armenia,
John Evans is profiled as a diplomat experienced in Russian and NATO
affairs but the news agency questions his ability in dealing with
a previous regional conflict. It notes that he was one of the first
diplomats to chart Vladimir Putin’s rise. Following are excerpts from
a report by the Armenian news agency Mediamax; subheadings inserted
editorially
On 6 May, the President of the United States George Bush nominated
to the Senate the candidacy of the new US Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Armenia – Director of the State Department’s
Office of Russian Affairs, John Marshall Evans. Despite the fact that
Evans’s official appointment, most likely, will take place in several
months we decided to present some facts from his biography.
Previous posts
John Evans is a graduate of Yale College and Columbia University. He
has served in US diplomatic missions in Iran (1971-74), Czechoslovakia
(1975-78), the Soviet Union (Moscow, 1981-83), at NATO Headquarters,
1983-86). In the State Department, he has served as a special assistant
to Secretaries Cyrus Vance and Edmund Muskie in different years.
In the mid-nineties, John Evans John Evans held the posts of Deputy
Head of the US Diplomatic Mission in Czech Republic and US Consul
General in Saint Petersburg. In 1997-1999, he headed the OSCE Mission
to Moldova. After returning to Washington, John Evans became Director
of the Office of Analysis for Russia and Eurasia in the Bureau of
Intelligence and Research. For the last few years John Evans has been
Director of the State Department’s Office of Russian Affairs. The
diplomat’s spouse, Donna Evans, is the executive director of the
World Affairs Council in Washington [D.C.]
Judging by the record of service, John Evans is a more experienced
diplomat than the current US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway, who
will soon head the US diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan. At the same
time, if we compare the biographies of the two diplomats it becomes
clear that they have much in common – Ordway, like Evans worked in the
US diplomatic missions in Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union and NATO,
and before his appointment for the post of US Ambassador to Armenia
he was Deputy Head of the US Diplomatic Mission in Moscow.
Ambassadors with a “Russian past”
Yerevan’s opposition newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak [Armenian Times]
asserts that Washington sends ambassadors with a “Russian past”
to Yerevan as it “considers Armenia to be Russia’s vassal.”
“The fact that a diplomat specialized in Russia will take the post
of the US ambassador to Armenia testifies to the fact that Armenia
is perceived not as a separate geopolitical unit but as Russia’s
vassal. In order to work in Armenia the foreign diplomats should be
familiar with Russia,” Haykakan Zhamanak wrote on 6 May.
We can agree with the newspaper’s one opinion only – the US Ambassador
to Armenia should really be familiar with Russia. But this does not
mean that by appointing John Evans the United States “gave up on
Armenia” which they think to be “Russia’s patrimony.”
In our opinion the appointment of John Evans, on the contrary,
proves the United States’ growing interest towards Armenia. For the
last two years, Armenia and the USA have moved forward considerably
in their relations. The military cooperation between the two states,
which seemed unreal several years ago, has not only become a reality
but is also developing consecutively. Armenia-NATO relations,
the main inspirer of which is the United States, also develop
intensively. Armenia has already stated its intention to sign
Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO, and the Alliance’s
leadership does not hide that NATO’s policy in relation to the South
Caucasus will be formulated and voiced at the forthcoming NATO Summit
in Istanbul in June.
Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
Ambassador Elizabeth Jones said in mid- April [2004] that “Armenia has
taken big steps to enhance its security relationship with the United
States and NATO in the past six months”. “We have strongly encouraged
the Armenian government to permit closer military cooperation with the
US and look forward to a positive response from Yerevan,” Jones said.
Thus, there is every reason to suppose that one of the priority
directions in John Evans’s work will become the development of
US-Armenian military cooperation and the provision of further close
relations between Armenia and NATO. It is natural that the diplomat
will need his acquaintance with Russia while solving these questions.
Early familiarity with Vladimir Putin
An interesting nuance – John Evans is one of those few American
diplomats who was personally familiar with Vladimir Putin at the time
when few people could have expected the former KGB Colonel to become
President of the Russian Federation. Putin and Evans got acquainted
in Saint Petersburg: Russia’s future President was Deputy Mayor at
that time and was in charge of foreign economic ties, and the future
US Ambassador to Armenia was Consul General of the United States in
Saint Petersburg.
Delivering a lecture on the situation in Russia in Mississippi
University in February 2002, John Evans said that he attentively
followed Putin’s career. Speaking about Russian leader’s policy, he
noted that Putin subordinated Russian Foreign Policy to economic goals
and for that reason he was tilting more to the West than to the East,
especially after 11 September 2001.
However, Evans’s favourable attitude towards Vladimir Putin did
not prevent him from making a number of harsh-worded statements in
relation to Russia in the autumn of 2002, the reason of which was the
flight of Russian military planes over Georgia’s territory. Evans’s
statement could hardly be called diplomatic: “we have some doubts
that the Russian highest civil government controls its armed forces.”
John Evans also said: “Due to the opportunities of collecting
information created by the USA during the Cold War, Washington at
once learned what happened to Kursk submarine on 12 August [2000]
and we immediately shared this information with the Russian side
but your military leadership did not disclose the truth for two
years.” “Part of Russian high military officialdom continuously lies
to the country’s leadership,” he said.
Solving conflicts
On the post of the US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans will have to
engage in solving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well. As at the
end of the nineties he headed the OSCE mission to Moldova, which was
actively involved in settling the conflict in the Dniester region,
we can assume that Evans possesses certain experience in this sphere.
Despite the fact that Evans left Moldova in 1999 he did not set aside
the Dniester region conflict. In any case, he discussed the Dniester
region conflict with the Chairman of International Committee of the
Federation Council Mikhail Margelov last November. Evans said in
particular that the memorandum suggested by Russia for settling the
situation in the Dniester region and the fact that both Moldova and
the region spoke for its adoption “gives hope for an earlier peaceful
settlement of the problems in the region.”
In spite of the fact that after this statement by John Evans the
Russian newspapers published articles headed “The USA approve of
the Russian plan” several days later the Russian initiative failed
as official Kishinev refused to sign the document suggested by
Russia, which had already been coordinated with Dniester region
authorities. Moscow was so irritated that Russian Foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov openly accused the United States, which was not informed
about the coming signing of the peace plan, for the failure of the
Russian peace initiative. Nobody explained the reason that made John
Evans support the Russian peace initiative several days before.
We can only hope that such “incidents” will not happen in the process
of Nagorno Karabakh settlement, the fate of which depends of Russia
and USA’s coordinated actions in many respects.

May 10, 2004
CONTACT : Loucia Isaac Seropian
Phone: 961-1-353010 Ext.: 365
Email: [email protected]
Haigazian University-Public Relations Office
PO Box: 11-1748Beirut, Lebanon
HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES DISTINGUISHED LEBANESE MOTHERS
Haigazian University honored five distinguished women from Lebanon for
being pioneers in the philanthropical, cultural and academic fields. The
event took place on Friday, May 7, 2004 at the Phoenicia Intercontinental
Hotel under the auspices of Lebanese First Lady, Mrs. Andree Lahoud.
Present were almost three hundred women from various regions and
communities in Lebanon, among whom were wives of government ministers and
parliament members.
The honorees of this year were:
Mrs. Rabab Al Sader, for her role of empowering women in society;
Mrs. Hermine’ Aydenian, for her well-recognized academic endeavors;
Mrs. Mounira Al Solh, for supporting the disabled and for involvement in
politics;
Mrs. May Arida, for her cultural contribution to Lebanon, especially the
Baalbeck Festivals.
Mrs. Youser Saab, for being a prominent philanthropist in her region.
After a welcoming word by the Haigazian University Women’s Auxiliary chair
Mrs. Terine Hasserjian, HUWA member Mrs. Silva Libaridian led the audience
in a half hour audio-visual journey “down memory lane” presenting the lives
of the five honorees in mesmerizing detail. In her conclusion, she praised
the women for their dedication to the needs and wants of the less
privileged in their society.
Haigazian University President, the Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian addressed the
audience with a message that identified the image of an “ideal mother” with
that of the “servant” in such a way that the focus is put on responding
properly to the true needs of others in society. He said that the honorees
this year have all had “a special eye and a special hand on society.” He
added, ” Mindless giving is also heartless giving. Love misplaced is the
key to alienation. We often do not know what the real needs of others are
and therefore provide insignificant care and misplaced generosity.”
“Giving to the society and our generation means addressing the true needs
of humans that leads to life. This is a divine calling,” Haidostian
concluded.
Then each of the five honorees received a special plaque from the hand of
Mrs. Lahoud and in return President Haidostian awarded the First Lady with
a silver plaque of appreciation.
The program was concluded with a luncheon of fellowship during which the
attendees had the opportunity to meet the various members of the HUWA, chat
with Mrs. Lahoud, and familiarize themselves with the academic services of
Haigazian University.
In addition to the enjoyment of the event as a whole, the attendees
expressed deep appreciation for the participation of some Haigazian
University students who during the celebration presented a special musical
interlude, and an Armenian traditional dance during the luncheon.
Director of Public Relations Office
Haigazian University
Lebanon
Mailing Address:
Public Relations Office
P.O.Box 11-1748
Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2090
Rue Mexique, Kantari, Lebanon
Tel/Fax: 961 1- 349230/1, 961-1- 353010/1/2

NKR Leader Says Karabakh Army Guarantor of Truce with Baku in 9 May Speech
Arminfo, Yerevan
8 May 04
STEPANAKERT
The 9 May has always been honoured by the Karabakh people, the
president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic (NKR), Arkadiy Gukasyan,
has said in his congratulatory speech to the people.
According to an Arminfo correspondent in Stepanakert, Gukasyan said
that in the relatively recent past the 9 May had been celebrated as a
victory of the then common motherland in the patriotic war against
fascist Germany. Every second resident of Nagornyy Karabakh who went
to the front was killed in this war.
“But 12 years ago the 9 May acquired a special importance for us,
indeed becoming decisive for the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagornyy
Karabakh),” Gukasyan said. The town of Shushi was liberated on that
day and again became an Armenian town, as it should be. The NKR
defence army, which marks its birthday on 9 May, liberated this town,
amazing the world with its courage and fighting skill.
“Due to the successful Shushi operation the road of life’ to mother
Armenia was opened, saving the Artsakh people from full physical
elimination,” Gukasyan added. He talked about the historical
significance of the Shushi liberation.
It is very symbolic that these three dates are marked on the same
day. This coincidence embodies the succession of
generations. According to Gukasyan, the current generation of Artsakh
people continued with glorious military traditions of their
grandfathers and fathers who had demonstrated courage and fearlessness
on the battlefield of the World War II. The current generation
defended freedom and independence of Nagornyy Karabakh in fighting
with the enemy which was much stronger, given personnel and hardware.
“May the memory of those, who were killed for Artsakh’s happy future,
live forever. The duty of those living is not to allow the blood shed
by them be in vain. Long live our military veterans!”, Gukasyan said.
He said that, the NKR leadership will take care of them in the future
as well. The NKR defence army, which was formed to fight for the
republic’s freedom, remains the most reliable guarantor of security of
the NKR and its people. Today, when Azerbaijan is trying to turn the
history back and is cherishing revanchist hopes for the forcible
settlement of the Karabakh problem, “we should maintain the rate of
military construction and equip our army with up-to-date weapons and
improve its fighting skills”.
“At the same time, I again declare with all responsibility that the
NKR defence army is an army of peace. Its main task was and remains to
defend Nagornyy Karabakh and its people from external aggression. Be
confident: our army is ready at any moment to repulse the enemy, if it
dares to breach our peaceful life and infringe on our independence,”
he added.
Gukasyan said that this May holiday coincided with another important
event, i.e. the signing 10 years ago of a cease-fire agreement in the
zone of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan, Nagornyy
Karabakh and Armenia. Azerbaijan was forced to recognize Nagornyy
Karabakh as a party to the conflict and sign the truce with it
exclusively due to the successes of the Karabakh army. If cease-fire
has been preserved up till now, this is due to the strength and might
of the NKR defence army which defends our motherland.
“Precisely for this reason our army is also one of the effective
guarantors of maintaining a peaceful settlement of the conflict with
Azerbaijan. I would like to assure you that, as before, the NKR
leadership thinks that there is no alternative to a peaceful
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.
“Dear people of Artsakh, congratulations on the forthcoming holiday. I
would like to congratulate you all on the day of our common victory. I
wish peace, prosperity and happiness to all of us,” Gukasyan said.