Author: Chatinian Lara

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1334 G Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 223-4332
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

PRESS RELEASE
December 10, 2009

KARABAKH MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE
AND ADOPTION OF ARTSAKH’S CONSTITUTION
President Sahakyan Lauds Independent and Strong Artsakh

Washington, DC ` December 10 marks the 18th anniversary of the
national Referendum in NKR, which served as a public endorsement of
the political status of the newly-formed NKR as the nearly all
eligible Artsakh voters (98.9%) voted for an `independent state acting
on its own authority to decide forms of co-operation with other states
and communities’.

More than a decade later, on the same day in 2006, Artsakh people
reaffirmed their commitment to live in a free and independent state by
adopting Artsakh’s main law ` Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, which consolidated all basic principles of state sovereignty
and determined a new stage in republic’s development.

Conducted in full compliance with international norms and acting
legislation, the referenda represent pillars of Artsakh’s independent
statehood and mark key stages of continued democratic development.

Symbolically, December 10 is also the day of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights marked by the United Nations, which, inter alia,
provides that `everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of
person’.

In connection with this fateful day, the republic’s President Bako
Sahakyan delivered a congratulatory address, stressing that а
powerful and independent state was `an exclusive value that has no
alternative’. (Below read the full text of President Sahakyan’s
address)

* * *

Congratulatory Address of NKR President Bako Sahakyan in Connection
with the Day of NKR State Independence Referendum and Constitution

Dear compatriots,

In the modern history of Artsakh December 10 twice proved to be
pivotal. In 1991 on this day the Artsakh Armenians expressed their
unified will and confirmed the dedication of creating an independent
statehood. On the same day of 2006 again through the nation-wide
referendum the basic law of our state, the Constitution, was adopted
registering another great victory of our state, which succeeded in
defending its independence and freedom and was firmly staying on the
path of democracy.

December 10 is also celebrated as International Human Rights Day. This
fact is symbolic for itself as the Artsakh movement, the birth and the
very existence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are the integral parts
of human rights, the reflection of the basic universal rights of
equality and self-determination of nations.

The people and authorities of Artsakh are adherent to the principles
that the December 10 twin holiday has entrusted with us. For us the
powerful, independent, sovereign, democratic and legal state is an
exclusive value that has no alternative.

I congratulate our entire people on this crucial holiday and wish
peace, robust health and all the best.

December 10, 2009

Stepanakert
Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh

* * *

This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the
U.S. Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

YEREVAN TO HOST THIRD WINTER FESTIVAL FROM DEC. 17, 2009 TILL JAN. 6, 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.12.2009 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ From December 17, 2009 till January 6, 2010,
Yerevan will host the third Armenia 2009 Winter Festival (organizer:
Kanachastan NGO).

"The festival aims to impart joy to winter holidays," said Kanachastan
NGO Chair Raffi Naziblyan

Official opening is due on December 17 in Arno Babajanyan concert
hall. Ceremony will be followed by a fir tree exhibition in lovers’
park and a Winter Procession. By December 16, festival organization
committee will accept and select the best sketches of Kaghand Papa,
the Armenian model of Santa Claus, which will be shown to public
on December 19. "Live Manger", a 20-minute performance about the
birth of Jesus Christ, will be staged in Abovyan street, not far
from Katoghike church. Festival program also includes winter games
and exhibition of Armenian dishes.

"Such events are important as they help to shape a tradition of
holidays," Naziblyan said in conclusion.

This is the third Armenian winter festival organized in cooperation
with Deem Communications. Festival sponsors are ministries of economy
and culture, Yerevan Municipality and Bogossian Gardens foundation.

THE RA MINISTER OF DEFENCE RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

p;p=0&id=1085&y=2009&m=12&d=10
08. 12.09

On the 8th of December, 2009 the Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan
received the ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland to Armenia Charles Lonsdale and the military attache
of the embassy, Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Ridaut. During the meeting
they discussed matters of mutual interest, particularly the course
and perspectives of defence strategic review. It was stated that the
British assistance in this process embodies one of the most important
programs of the Armenian-British bilateral military relations, and
that the British side will do its best for continuing the program.

Praising the RA participation in the International Forces of
Afghanistan, ambassador Lonsdale stated that he highly esteems the
Armenia-NATO, Armenia-Great Britain cooperation and that he is ready
to assist the deepening of the relations.

In his turn, the RA Minister of Defence underlined that the Armenian
side is ready to continue and develop the relations with the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He also highly esteemed
the efforts of NATO and personally the ambassador.

RA MoD Department of Information and Public Affairs

ARF: TURKEY’S INTEREST IN OPEN BORDER MERE SHAM

NEWS.am
14:31 / 12/10/2009

"Armenia must immediately pull out of the Armenia-Turkey normalization
process. The longer the process lasts the longer we will remain
stuck in it," Giro Manoyan, Head of the Hay Dat office in Armenia,
member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), told reporters.

According to him, defining the Erdogan-Obama meeting as "meeting
[Armenia’s] interests" is the right thing to do. "At the meeting,
Erdogan said about Karabakh what he had said before, whereas Obama
did not reaffirm his position stated in his letter addressed to the
Armenian community a few days before. The United States has some plans
concerning Turkey and, therefore, cannot exert as strong pressure on
Turkey as Armenia hopes for," Manoyan said.

As to which of the sides will benefit more should the Armenian-Turkish
border be reopened, Manoyan expressed the confidence that this issue
is not of primary importance for Turkey, but "this is only a series
of shams aimed at proving the world that the process is going on and
Turkey is interested in the border being reopened."

As regards the RA Constitutional Court’s expected verdict on the
Armenian-Turkish protocols, Manoyan pointed out that the ARF will take
necessary actions: it will try to pressure the CC and the Parliament
by raising a wave of public protest.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND REBUILDS NOYEMBERYAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.12.2009 18:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is rebuilding the
Noyemberyan Regional Hospital, in Armenia’s Tavush Region. Although
the hospital is in a deplorable condition, it continues to admit
patients throughout Tavush and the neighboring Lori region – some
1400 people annually.

The hospital is about 185km from Yerevan and some 5km from the
Azerbaijani border. To keep the hospital, and namely, the emergency,
delivery and surgery wards working, renovation works are carried out
in one half of the building, to start with.

The initiative is co-sponsored by the fund’s German, Swiss, Australian,
and Lebanese affiliates. Additional in-kind support, in the form of
medical equipment, will be provided by the Union of Armenian Physicians
and Healthcare Professionals of Germany.

Proceeds from the concert held in Germany, Cologne, as well part of
the funds raised in the result of the Phoneathon 2009 are directed
towards the reconstruction of this hospital, which is of strategic
importance to the region.

U.S. WILL HAVE NO OTHER WAY BUT TO MAINTAIN BALANCE IN FAVOR OF AZERBAIJAN’S INTERESTS: RUSSIAN POLITICAL ANALYST
T. Teymur

Today.Az
09 December 2009 [12:32]

Washington seeks to pursue balanced policy trying not to shift the
balance from Yerevan to Baku, Moscow State University Information
and Analytical Center’s Expert Group Head Alexei Vlasov said. He was
commenting on a recent Erdogan-Obama meeting in the U.S.

"Given the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement and possible opening of
the borders and thanks largely to the hard pressure from Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, the U.S. has no other way but to maintain
this balance is in favor of Azerbaijan’s interests. I do not think
this is a long-term trend," Vlasov said.

The expert also shared his views about further resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group.

"It should be noted that Kazakhstan will take over the OSCE
chairmanship in 2010. The Kazakh president has already several times
said his in public speeches that Astana is willing to give more
dynamics to this influential international organization, including
the "frozen" conflicts in the post-Soviet area. Therefore, one can
expect that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be one of the key
issues during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in 2010."

"This activity can be demonstrated through various instruments. For
example, through holding OSCE-sponsored special conference on
settlement of the Karabakh conflict in wide format. Any expansion of
the so-called contact sites, where the parties can exchange views,
develop a common agenda which can be considered a positive factor. If
OSCE shows more activity and develops this dialogue into a higher-level
format, I think it will facilitate resolving real, not virtual problems
in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict," the political expert said.

VIVACELL-MTS PRESENTS THE NEW ‘OFFICE-ZONE’ PACKAGE FOR SMALL OFFICES BASED ON 3G WI-FI ROUTER E960

ArmInfo
2009-12-09 10:18:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS presents the new "Office-Zone" package for small
offices based on 3G Wi-Fi router E960. In case of annual subscription,
Office Zone connection costs 29,9 thsd drams, in case of termless
subscription – 90,000 drams. Monthly subscription fee makes up 29,9
thsd drams. In case of annual subscription, subscribers will receive
free-of-charge intranetwork conversation time of 200 minutes per
month. In case of termless subscription, subscribers will get 1000
minutes inside the network in the first 6 months and 200 minutes –
in subsequent months. Subscribers with both annual and termless
subscription will get maximum Internet speed of 1 Mbps. The calls
within the tariff plans Home-Zone and Office-Zone cost 5 AMD/min, to
other numbers of VivaCell-MTS – 10 AMD/min, to RA other GSM networks –
42 AMD/min, to RA fixed network – 37 AMD/min, to 374 97 GSM network
374 97 – 40 AMD/min, to 374 47 fixed network 374 47 – 45 AMD/min
(all the prices include VAT).

"The significant growth in demand for high-speed wireless access to
Internet and LANs also catalyzes the need for enterprise oriented
devices for small offices. "O-Zone" package for small offices based on
3G Wi-Fi router E960 represents a fast and cost- efficient wireless
solution that enables to share a single connection with multiple
users, with affordable tariffs for both voice and data. VivaCell-MTS
is committed to delivering the best-in-class, simple to use and
reliable mobile solutions for business, and this is another step in
this direction," commented VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

UAE, Armenia sign deal to tackle human trafficking
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
expressed the UAE’s keen desire to promote bilateral relations with
Armenia in the fields of economy, trade and investment.

eral/uae-armenia-sign-deal-to-tackle-human-traffic king-1.548145
Published: 00:00 December 7, 2009

Yerevan: The UAE and the Republic of Armenia have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) to combat human trafficking.

The MoU was signed by Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, UAE Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs, and Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Developments

They also discussed current developments at regional and international
levels and issues of mutual concern.

Armen Gevorgyan, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister, received Dr Gargash
at Yerevan on Saturday.

Dr Gargash expressed the UAE’s keen desire to promote bilateral
relations with Armenia in the fields of economy, trade and investment.

On his part, the Armenian official welcomed the visit of Dr Gargash
and his delegation stressing the importance of these visits in
consolidating cooperation and friendly relations between the two
countries.

He hailed the strong bilateral ties and called for increased
cooperation between the two countries.

In the framework of the keenness of both countries’ leaderships to
enhance bilateral relations, promote cooperation and open new
frontiers of common interests between UAE and Armenia, the two sides
confirmed the importance of exchanging visits between officials from
both sides along with supporting the private sector and business
communities in their countries.

news.am, Armenia
Dec 5 2009

Erdogan wrangles with Obama: Nikoyan

17:19 / 12/05/2009Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
repeatedly indicates the linkage between Armenia-Turkey reconciliation
and NKR conflict resolution, RA NA Vice Speaker and RPA member Samvel
Nikoyan informed NEWS.am.

Outlining there is no provision on the linkage of the two processes in
Armenia-Turkey Protocols, Nikoyan said that Erdogan’s statement at the
meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama is just an attempt to sell
Armenia-Turkey border opening dearly". `It looks like a bargain and
Erdogan tries to bail out of the situation with huge profit,’ Nikoyan
noted.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Turkish Premier said in an interview
with ANS channel: `Turkey informed American representatives from the
outset that if they settle Karabakh conflict, it will normalize also
Armenia-Turkey relations. Otherwise you cannot solve it.
Armenian-Turkish issue is linked with NKR conflict. I declared
expressly this to Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev and they replied
that will accelerate the process.’

FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CONFLICTS ARE SOLVED STEP BY STEP

Aysor
Dec 1 2009
Armenia

"Any conflict, or a complicated matter can be solved step by step,"
said former Armenian foreign minister and a member of the oppositional
Armenian National Congress Alexander Arzumanyan.

The so-called Madrid principles of the Karabakh settlement contain
such a version of solving, according to Alexander Arzumanyan. "After
the certain steps to be taken, the final phase of solving can
be determined, while the only problem is the status of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic," he said.

He also voiced concerns on some articles of the Madrid principles. In
particular, he says there are some uncertain moments in definition of
‘referendum’ which has no correlation with international law. The
declaration of will is written instead.