Author: Boshkezenian Garik

GUAM WORKS TO ATTAIN MAXIMALLY POSITIVE UN RESOLUTION ON FROZEN CONFLICTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The inclusion of the issue of frozen conflicts
in the territory of GUAM member states in the UN GA agenda is huge
success," Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zurab Gumberidze told
journalists November 2. "It is a huge positive for organization member
states for the international community to have a more impartial
acquaintance with issues in our countries," he underscored. GUAM
member countries actively work now for attaining a maximally positive
UN resolution at the discussions, reports Trend.

TeleGeorgraphy, DC
Oct 27 2006

ArmenTel selects ZTE for DSL rollout

Armenia’s national PTO ArmenTel has signed a contract with ZTE of
China for the supply of the country’s first DSL broadband network,
writes Telecompaper. In August this year ArmenTel selected ZTE to
build it a CDMA450 wireless in the local loop (WiLL) network to
complement its existing fixed line infrastructure, providing coverage
in areas not presently served by the telco’s PSTN.

According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, ArmenTel was
established in March 1995 as a joint venture between the Ministry of
Communications and US-owned Trans World Telecom. In 1997 the MTC
launched the privatisation of the telco, and at the end of that year
Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) won an
international tender, paying USD143 million for a 90% stake in
ArmenTel in March 1998. OTE has been looking to offload its holding
however, and in October 2006 UAE-based operator Etisalat was reported
to have won the tender for the stake, although it has since denied
this.

WEEK OF ARMENIAN CULTURE TO BE HELD IN KRASNODAR UNIVERSITY OF
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

KRASNODAR, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The week of
national culture of Armenia will be held from October 30 to November 3
in the Krasnodar University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of
Russia. As they informed from the editorial office of the "Yerkramas"
(country) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, the week during which
different events will be held at the university is held within the
framework of the "Year of the Republic of Armenia in the Russian
Federation" being marked in 2006.

Panorama.am

18:56 26/10/06

CAUCASUS-POTI TO WORK ALSO FOR ARMENIA

It is most likely that Caucausus-Poti ferry crossing will work also
for Armenia in December, 2006 or January of the next year, Arsen
Ghazaryan, chairman of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs,
told reporters today

In his words, this ferry rout can transport 52 goods wagons. `It is
rather profitable with such capacity,’ Ghazaryan noted. In his words,
trade turnover between Russia and Armenia through ferry routs makes up
some $ 650,000, which may reach $1 million. /Panorama.am/

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN EXTENSION OF COOPERATION
WITH JAPAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 26, Yasuo Saito, newly
appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to
Armenia (residence in Moscow), handed his credentials to RA President
Robert Kocharian. During the talk that followed the ceremony, RA
President said that Japan is a good example of success that can be
achieved thanks to efficient government and diligence. R.Kocharian
declared that Armenia is interested in extension of cooperation with
Japan. He highly estimated the Japanese government’s assistance to
development of Armenian economy. He especially attached importance to
programs implemented in the sphere of energy, in particular,
mentioning the agreement of taking preferential credit for the purpose
of reequipping Yerevan TPP.

According to the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA President’s
Press Office, during the talk the interlocutors also touched upon
international events, particularly, in the context of testing nuclear
weapons by North Korea.

TWO MINISTERS MET IN PARIS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
Oct 24 2006

PARIS, October 24 (Itar-Tass) — The Paris negotiations on the Karabakh
settlement are aimed at the elaboration of "main principles of the
drafting of a peace treaty acceptable for the both sides," French
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told commenting on
meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers.

The two ministers met in Paris under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk
Group.

The diplomat stressed that the principles should be "balanced, fair
and workable."

Mattei reaffirmed that the October 6 meeting between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Moscow, which also was held under
the OSCE auspices, gave the start to the present-day round of talks.

France, jointly with Russia and the United States, is one of the
countries co-chairing the Minsk Group, created by the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to promote progress in
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

CDU LEADER SAYS AZERBAIJAN MAY BECOME A NATURAL PARTNER OF RUSSIA

Panorama.am
14:52 25/10/06

Georgia gets out of Russian sphere of influence and the role of Armenia
as a strategic partner diminishes, Khosrov Harutunyan, chairman of
Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told a discussion today. In his
words, Russia will start looking for new ways of realization of its
strategic goals and in this sense Azerbaijan becomes the most natural
partner. "In the process of realization of its programs in the South
Russia will look at Azerbaijan and Iran as its possible partners,"
he said.

Speaking about the tension in Russian-Georgian relations, Harutunyan
pointed out that Georgian authorities clearly uttered their disposition
inclining towards NATO trying to oust Russia from South Caucasus. In
the words of Harutunyan, Russia was not ready for this conflict and
today Russia loses its rating in the international community – she
it looked at as a non-democratic country.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS FOR FLEXIBLE POLICY REGARDING GEORGIA

Arminfo
21 Oct 06

Yerevan, 21 October: Armenia has to pursue a flexible and stable policy
regarding Georgia, not a rough policy that Yerevan is pursuing now,
the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, Aram Sarkisyan, said
at a news conference at the Azdak discussion club today.

Sarkisyan described the arrest of Vaagn Chakhalyan, one of leaders
of the [Georgia’s] United Javakhk organization, as shameful. "Nobody
believes the foolish statement that Chakhalyan had illegally crossed
the Armenian-Georgian border. It is clear that his imprisonment
in the detention centre of the National Security Service has a
political nature and is aimed at playing with Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili," the MP said.

[Passage omitted: Sarkisyan advised Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan to take over the role of a mediator between Russia
and Georgia]

‘WE CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF OUR COUNTRY IN RELATIONS WITH OUR FRENCH PARTNERS’

Sabah, Turkey
Oct 21 2006

Oyak Holding General Manager Coþkun Ulusoy told that they will evaluate
their relations with French partners within the framework of Turkey’s
benefits. Ulusoy asked the government to shed light on this issue.

Oyak Holding General Manager Coþkun Ulusoy has gathered with reporters
in Ereðli factory of the Oyak Holding and evaluated the relations with
France after it approved the bill which imposes penalty on those who
deny the Armenian genocide. Ulusoy said: "I do not understand why we
always try to do something at the very last moment. Why don’t we pursue
a deterrent policy? We have partner companies which would defend us
in their own countries. What do we gain if we boot them? As Oyak we do
not only have partners in France but we also have partners from other
countries. We do not oppose the benefits of our country. But what
we need is the government shedding light on this issue. Boycotting
France is not a decision we can make all by ourselves."

–Boundary_(ID_RHM1bp39bwbN0yi0K 0WD3g)–

STEPS THAT THREATEN SECURITY OF ARMENIA

Lragir.am
20 Oct 06

Following the developments of the past few weeks connected with
the Armenian government, one wonders what Tigran Torosyan, who is
part of the government, did to this government that they tenaciously
humiliate him. Quite unlikely to defend Tigran Torosyan, especially
that he surely has sufficient mental potential, as well as physical
potential considering his immense political party, to defend himself,
I am nevertheless worried about the post of the speaker of the National
Assembly, which has not been neglected to this degree over the past
15 years than over the past 15 or may be a few more days.

When Tigran Torosyan was not included in the orbit of Jacques Chirac’s
visit to Armenia, it seemed that they simply did not want to overload
the speaker of the National Assembly with international policies,
because there were a number of other internal problems in the National
Assembly, which require urgent solution. But when the Attorney General
arrested the Member of Parliament and despite the provision of the
Constitution, forgot to inform Tigran Torosyan, people started doubting
that they had forgotten about the speaker of the National Assembly
or they remembered, therefore they neglected. Certainly, this is not
the first time when the shortcoming of the Attorney General breaks
the Constitution of Armenia. The Constitution has been violated on
a higher level, and this is perceived as normal in the government
of Armenia. However, this violation stands out because if all the
former violations neglected the public and the rules of coexistence,
this particular violation neglected an entire government institution,
which has been called the National Assembly since 1995.

In fact, it is doubtful that it was done on purpose. Why should the
Attorney General, who is appointed by the head of state, neglect Tigran
Torosyan? Would the president forgive him, who rigorously prevents
every breaking of the Constitution? The answers to this questions
had not formed fully in the logic of the processes underway, when
another incident occurred. This time the judicial system neglected
the speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan. And strange
though it may seem, the head of this system is again appointed by
the president of the Republic. In this case, it is already impossible
not to consider an intended action along with misunderstanding. And
the first question is whether by neglecting publicly the president
humilates the deputy leader of the Republican Party Tigran Torosyan
or the post of the speaker of the National Assembly. For the society,
the second is worrying because for the society the normal functioning
of the government in compliance with the law is prior to all. And
when the second post of the government, the legislative body, is
neglected publicly, it means the function of the neglecting body
is not fulfilled or is not fulfilled by the one who is entitled to
it, but someone else. This makes think about the problem of shade
governance, which threatens the national security when the top
government post is simply paralyzed and, despite the Constitution,
pushed out of the government system. The second question is why,
and the answer to this question can be found in the context of the
president – Republican Party relations. But if Robert Kocharyan and
the Republicans cannot build their relations in a way as not to harm
the government and the constitutional order, they had better set up
relations with the system of government rather than each other.

HAKOB BADALYAN