ANKARA: Turkey To Continue Contributing To Peace, Stability In Middl

TURKEY TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE, STABILITY IN MIDDLE EAST

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Dec 19 2006

NEW YORK (A.A) -18.12.2006 -"Turkey will continue contributing
to peace and stability in the Middle East," said Turkish PM Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.

Qualifying his one-hour meeting with former US President Bill Clinton
as fruitful, Erdogan said that Turkey pursues transparent policies.

According to sources, Erdogan and Clinton discussed Turkey’s EU
membership bid, Cyprus problem and Turkey’s recent diplomatic
initiatives, so-called Armenian genocide allegations, developments
in the Middle East and PM Erdogan’s initiatives regarding the Middle
East in their meeting.

PM Erdogan briefed Clinton on his working trips to Iran, Syria
and Lebanon, and expressed his views about developments in Iraq
and Lebanon.

Clinton stressed that Erdogan makes positive contributions to the
Middle East, and underlined importance of formation of a coalition
government by Fatah and Hamas in Palestine.

On the other hand, Erdogan explained Turkey’s theses against
so-called Armenian genocide allegations, and added that this is a
matter concerning the historians, not politicians.

NKR: Members of Congress Express Continued Support For Artsakh

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

December 13, 2006

PRESS RELEASE: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS EXPRESS CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT OF ARTSAKH AS IT
ADOPTS CONSTITUTION

Washington, DC – The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ), sent a letter to NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian
congratulating him on the adoption of the NKR Constitution and
expressing their full support for `Nagorno Karabakh’s political and
democratic development’. They also emphasized the importance of
establishing a free and democratic society, saying that `the
adoption of the first-ever Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh, is a key milestone on this path.’

The constitutional referendum held last Sunday is a logical
continuation of the state-building process that started with
declaration of Artsakh’s independence in 1991.

`The charter was drafted after most progressive Western
constitutions while reflecting Artsakh’s own experience of the past
15 years and our own vision of the future, and as such it will pave
the way to further strengthening of Artsakh as a sovereign state and
promote greater democratic and economic development of our country,’
said NKR Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian.

Approved by the overwhelming majority of Artsakh’s population in
presence of about 100 international and local observers, the NKR
Constitution specifically notes that NKR is a `sovereign,
democratic, rule of law, and social state’. NKR government structure
is based on democratic principle of separation of power and consists
of executive, legislative and judiciary branches. The state
guarantees basic human rights, such as freedom of assembly, speech,
and religion.

`The referendum conducted on December 10, 2006 on the NKR
Constitution meets most of the standards of the OSCE, the Council of
Europe and other international structures applied to democratic
elections and referenda. The counting of the votes in the polling
stations visited by us was exercised effectively and transparently,’
read the statement of the international observers.

Barseghian thanked Representatives Pallone and Knollenberg for their
unwavering commitment, outstanding vision, as well as critical
support of Artsakh’s successful efforts to build a free, democratic
and prosperous country.

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.

* * *
(The following is the full text of the letter of the Congressmen to
President Arkady Ghoukasian on December 11, 2006. To request a PDF
copy of the Co Chair’s letter, please write to [email protected])

December 11, 2006

H.E. Arkady Ghoukasian
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
20th February Street, 3
Stepanakert, NKR

Dear President Ghoukasian,

We are writing to express our continued support for Nagorno
Karabakh’s political and democratic development. The adoption of the
first-ever Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh,
in a popular referendum last Sunday is a key milestone on this path.

We are pleased to see your citizens unwavering determination to set
an example of important democratic practices in the South Caucasus.
Artsakh’s Constitution embodies your nation’s values to live in a
free and fair society, where human rights and economic opportunities
are enjoyed by all. Societies that are fundamentally free and fair
are the most successful, contributing to international security and
progress along the way.

In addition, these universal values that both of our nations espouse
create an unshakable bond between the United States and Artsakh. A
bond that transcends short-term political or economic
considerations, it provides the most long-lasting basis for
friendship between our governments and our citizens.

We also recall the referendum on independence that the people of
Artsakh held in December, 1991, and which laid legal and political
foundations for the establishment of your Republic. That referendum
went ahead in spite of Azerbaijani rockets and bullets raining on
Artsakh and was a reflection of true civic activism. This year’s
referendum, held amid Azerbaijani threats of renewed violence, was
yet another sign of true patriotism.

Please be assured that we will remain by your side, as the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, continues to pursue its freedom,
security and development.

Sincerely,

[signed] [signed]
Fr ank Pallone, Jr. Joe Knollenberg
Member of Congress Member of Congress

* * *
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.

www.nkrusa.org

Hovhannes Igitian: Nagorno Karabakh Became Hostage Of Armenia’s Wron

HOVHANNES IGITIAN: NAGORNO KARABAKH BECAME HOSTAGE OF ARMENIA’S WRONG DIPLOMACY

Noyan Tapan
Dec 13 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has no connection with
the Nagorno Karabakh constitutional referendum: the referendum
was held by a subject of the conflict that had been pushed out
of the negotiations stage for a long time. Hovhannes Igitian,
Board member of the Armenian National Movement Party, made such
a statement at the December 13 press conference. As he affirmed,
the NKR authorities themselves are responsible for their people and
statements of Armenian power bodies, in particular, RA President’s
Spokesperson Viktor Soghomonian in response to the negative reaction
of the European structures, are unnecessary. In H.Igitian’s words,
Armenian politicians should not make pompous statements that "they are
not interested in international structures’ opinion." In the words
of the Armenian National Movement’s Board member, today the Minsk
Group Co-chairs do not consider the NKR constitutional referendum
as an obstacle to the negotiations, but they do not perceive it as
a factor contributing to the conflict solution, either: for them,
this is "a fact of no significance." Commenting upon the process of
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh problem, H.Igitian said that the
Armenian authorities were not able to keep the resolution "Karabakh
and adjacent security zone" and instead of this the idea emerged among
wide circles of the international community "that allegedly Armenia
has occupied a number of Azerbaijani territories, made ethnic cleansing
in these territories and settled there." "Nagorno Karabakh has become
the hostage of Armenia’s wrong diplomacy," H.Igitian concluded.

Final Results Of Vote On Draft Constitution Announced In Nagorno-Kar

FINAL RESULTS OF VOTE ON DRAFT CONSTITUTION ANNOUNCED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 13 2006

STEPENAKERT, December 13. /ARKA/. The Central Commission in charge
of the referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh summed up final results of the
national vote on the draft Constitution of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Central Commission, based of final reports of local election
commissions, reported that the total number of citizens having a
franchise made 90 077, and the number of voting-papers, presented
by the local election commission, – 94 029, the number of registered
people, who were given (according to signatures) voting-papers – 78
389, the number of unused, wrongly filled in and returned voting-papers
– 15 640. Thus 77 279 people voted "for" , 554 people – "against",
and the number of inaccuracies – 0.

On December 10, a national voting on adoption of the first NKR
Constitution was held in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The draft Constitution mainly says that Nagorno-Karabakh republic is
a sovereign, democratic, jural and social state.

More than hundred international observers and journalists from Russia,
USA, France, Italy, Great Britain, Croatia, Serbia and other countries,
as well as Prednestrovia, Abkhazia and South Osettia watched the
process of the voting.

Armenian Court Sanctions Arrest Of Opposition Leader

ARMENIAN COURT SANCTIONS ARREST OF OPPOSITION LEADER
The Associated Press

International Herald Tribune, France
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, Armenia: A court in the Armenian capital sanctioned the
arrest of the head of an opposition group and a fellow activist on
coup plotting charges and ruled Wednesday to keep them in jail.

Zhirair Sefilian, a Lebanese citizen who heads the Association of
Armenian Volunteers, was detained Sunday along with another activist
of the group, Vadan Malkhasian. Authorities accused them of plotting
a coup, making public calls for the government’s ouster and possessing
illegal weapons – charges they denied.

The court on Wednesday ruled to keep both men in jail for two months
pending investigation.

Armen Agaian, a leading member of the same group, said the arrest was
part of authorities’ efforts to muzzle dissent in the run-up to next
year’s parliamentary elections.

Sefilian is a veteran of the 1988-1994 war in the disputed enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which ended when Armenia-backed separatists drove
out Azerbaijan’s government forces.

OSCE Satisfied That Private Broadcaster In Azerbaijan Resumes Transm

OSCE SATISFIED THAT PRIVATE BROADCASTER IN AZERBAIJAN RESUMES TRANSMISSION

A1+
[05:38 pm] 12 December, 2006

The OSCE Office in Baku and the Organization’s Representative
on Freedom of the Media have welcomed yesterday’s decision to
allow Azerbaijan’s private TV and radio broadcaster ANS to resume
transmission.

The National TV and Radio Council (NTRC), has said that, as an
exception, ANS can resume broadcasting so that "the channel’s
frequencies do not stay empty until the recently announced tender
closes". The Council also explained that the decision was a result of
"the good will of President Ilham Aliyev and numerous appeals made
by the public and rights activists."

"We commend this decision, which signals some political flexibility
by the National Council in view of the public’s desire to see the
channel on air," said Robin Seaword, Acting Head of the OSCE Office.

"We understand that no conditions accompany the decision to allow
the resumption of ANS work and hope to see an unchanged editorial
line of the channel as confirmation of that."

Commenting on a tender announced for the frequencies currently used
by ANS, Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the
Media, said: "The people of Azerbaijan are entitled to choose out
of variety of information sources to know about what’s happening in
their country, region, and the world. "

"We hope that next February, when the NTRC will be considering
applications for frequencies, it will do it in a transparent and
fair manner in order to take into account pluralism and reflect on
the already expressed choices of the public of Azerbaijan," he added.

Founded in 1991, ANS is considered as one of the most-viewed and
professional TV channels in Azerbaijan. ANS TV and ANS Ch.M radio
were taken off air on 24 November without being allowed to appeal an
NTRC decision.

NKR: Expression Of Care

EXPRESSION OF CARE
Svetlana Khachatrian

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
11 Dec 2006

On December 3, the international day of the disabled people, NKR Deputy
Prime Minister Ararat Danielian met with the chairs of the unions of
the disabled. This day cannot be considered as a holiday, of course,
but it is another opportunity to meet, wish good health, discuss
their problems and assure that they are in the focus of attention of
the government. The disabled people comprise 10 percent of the world
population and 7 percent of the population of Artsakh. Unfortunately,
their number is growing. If in 2002 7000 disabled people were
registered in the republic, in 2006 their number has mounted to 9000.

This is an immense number for such a small country, especially that
the social and economic possibilities are not sufficient to solve
all the problems of the disabled people. However, the government does
everything not to let them feel isolated and help them integrate with
the society. Ararat Danielian said several days ago the government
adopted the annual program of social security of the disabled and
extended it to the National Assembly. He said it is foreseen to
increase the allocations for the disabled people. The minister of
social security Vasily Atajanian said they will be trying to send
more people with disabilities to resorts. Afterwards the deputy prime
minister of NKR gave presents to the NGOs. The Vita Organization,
which had won the grant of the government in 2006, got a Ford car. The
unions of veterans of World War II, and the veterans of the Artsakh
Liberation War, Kantegh, the union of people with hearing problems,
the Zangak union of disabled children got TV sets.

Seminar "Human Rights And Armenian Reality" Held In Yerevan

SEMINAR "HUMAN RIGHTS AND ARMENIAN REALITY" HELD IN YEREVAN

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, December 11. /ARKA/. The seminar "Human rights and Armenian
reality" was held in Yerevan on December 9. The press office of the
RA Ombudsman reports that the seminar was held on the occasion of
the World Day of Human Rights.

Reports were made by RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan, Parliament
Speaker Tigran Torosyan, Chairman of the RA Constitutional Court Gagik
Harutyunyan, Head of the OSCE office in Armenia Vladimir Pryakhin
and UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Consuello Vidal.

The seminar was organized by the RA Ombudsman office in cooperation
with the UN and OSCE offices in Armenia and the British Council.

Armenian Teen Wins Global Talent Search

ARMENIAN TEEN WINS GLOBAL TALENT SEARCH

Armenpress
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS; A 17-year-girl from Armenia, Silva
Hakobian, has won a contest to find the hottest new musical talent
in the world.

Silva Hakobian won the BBC World Service’s Next Big Thing competition,
beating six other acts in a final in London.

Second place in the competition was split between a rapper called NiC
from Malawi and London duo Stefan and Mya. The judges said Silva’s
song I Like, which was written by her brother, was "fresh and new"
and described her performance as "second to none".

The seven finalists were selected by a panel of music journalists and
experts from a group of 20 acts, who all entered the competition on
the BBC’s website.

The Next Big Thing competition was part of a big BBC event called
Generation Next.

Minsk Group Labels Useless NK’s Constitutional Referendum At The Mom

MINSK GROUP LABELS USELESS NK’S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM AT THE MOMENT

AZG Armenian Daily
12/12/2006

"The vote organized by Nagorno Karabakh’s de facto authorities can
not have legal force, the world community will not recognize it and
as a result it will have no consequence", the content of CE Secretary
General Terry Davis’s statement is not much different from the other
statements of the international structures made hitherto about the
processes in self-declared states.

To remind, suchlike statements – more precisely statements of not
recognizing the votes – were made in regard to various elections
in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria. That the Azerbaijani
side would label the constitutional referendum an obstacle to the
negotiations came as no surprise. Interestingly, the Minsk Group
co-chairs stated that the December 10 constitutional referendum in
Nagorno Karabakh will not affect the process of peace talks.