Author: Kajoyan Gevork

What progress was achieved at Kocharyan-Aliev meeting in Bucharest?

ArmRadio.am
09.06.2006 16:28

What progress was achieved in the process of settlement of the
Karabakh issue during Kocharyan-Aliev meeting in Bucharest?

`The fact that Aliev compared the status of Nagorno-Karabakh with that
of the most ordinary Armenian community without considering the real
atmosphere established in Artsakh during all these years evidences
that Azeri authorities demonstrate a naive approach to the issue.
Similarly, it is naive to think that the delay of the negotiations may
be beneficial for any of the sides,’ said Seyran Avagyan, Adviser to
RA President.

As for Doctor of Philosophy Alexander Manasaryan, he turned today to
those diplomatic niceties, which the Armenian side often ignores, `We
should always emphasize that there are no territories occupied by
Armenia, there are liberated territories, which comprise part of
Nagorno-Karabakh. We forget to raise the issue of Azerbaijani-
Armenians, who are the main victims of this conflict,’ Alexander
Manasaryan said.

In Alexander Manasaryan’s opinion, the Bucharest meeting should be
generally considered from the viewpoint of the dynamics of the
negotiations process. As for the position of Azerbaijan, analysts see
some changes here.

Alexander Manasaryan considers there are no unimportant words in
diplomacy, all words here are important. Therefore, in Arthsakh issue
we should take this principle into consideration and should dispute
the questions important from the diplomatic point of view.

ARMENIAN DM: AZERBAIJAN LOSES ITS CHANCE TO SETTLE THE CONFLICT OVER
KARABAKH PEACEFULLY

Yerevan, June 7. ArmInfo. The Azerbaijani party loses its chance to
settle the conflict over Nagorny Karabakh peacefully, Defense Minister
of Armenia,

Serge Sargsyan, told journalists, Wednesday. The minister said he is
not informed of the details of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents’ meeting in Bucharest as he was not present there.

However, the minister said the president informed him of the meeting
results. At the same time, Minister Sagrsyan disagreed with the
opinion that the situation in the conflict zone has become tense
recently and the threat of military actions has grown. The situation
on the contact line is as usual, the minister said. As regards the
model of Montenegro whose independence is likely to be recognized by
the international community sooner than expected, Minister Sargsyan
said: “Nagorny Karabak’s time will come as

Armenian minister hopeful Karabakh may be resolved in 2006

Mediamax news agency
8 Jun 06

Yerevan, 8 June: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan does not
rule out that Armenia and Azerbaijan will manage to agree on the
principles of Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement in 2006.

The Armenian foreign minister said that “nothing can be ruled
out”. “As the saying goes, hope springs eternal,” Oskanyan said.

The Armenian foreign minister pointed out that the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents, Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, did not
agree on a new meeting at talks in Bucharest on 4-5 June.

“The sides agreed that a meeting would be held between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers if the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
considered it necessary,” Oskanyan said.

He noted that there was no agreement yet on a possible meeting with
his Azerbaijani counterpart. “It is up to the mediators to decide,”
Oskanyan said.

“In Bucharest, like in Rambouillet, the presidents could not agree on
one very difficult issue,” Oskanyan said. Asked what the expectations
for a possible favourable outcome of the Bucharest talks were based
on, the Armenian minister said: “Every time there are new formulas and
approaches to major issues on the negotiating table, the sides hope
that they will manage to persuade the other side to soften its
position. This did not happen in Bucharest. We should try again.”

The Armenian foreign minister pointed out that the position of the
Armenian side remained unchanged – Yerevan is ready to discuss issues
related to the elimination of the aftermath of the conflict, but only
after Azerbaijan recognizes the Nagornyy Karabakh people’s right to
self-determination.

Oskanyan said that Armenia did not feel pressure from the [OSCE]
mediators and said he doubted they would face this kind of pressure in
the future.

ZORY BALAYAN: “SUCH BOOK DOES NOT EXIST”

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006

During two last years the Azeri sites have been often quoting passages
from a book titled “Our Soul Revival” written by an Armenian writer
Zory Balayan, as Azeris allege. The book, allegedly, “refers to
the Hojalu events”. We publish a letter by Zory Balayan, who is in
“Kilikia” sailboat at the moment, addressed to “all mass media,
including the Azeri ones”.

“My acquaintances and unfamiliar people are repeatedly calling
“Kilikia” sailboat asking me if I have written the book titled “Our
Soul Revival” published by Vanadzor publishing house. The point
is that one and the same dirty information has been appearing in
Internet more than two years quoting, to put it mildly, nonsense
allegedly taken from my book. I do not want to lower to the level of
those who even do not realize that they first of all discredit their
own nation by insinuations of the kind.

I request that all those who ought to investigate such statements,
violations of writer’s copyrights should show the above-mentioned book
to the readers just once. If there is such a book, it is another thing.

I am quite convinced and sure that a person’s rights are not a
hollow sound, but the reality necessary in our life, so they should
be protected”.

COUNCIL OF IABP TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN OFFICE IN LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES IN BUSINESS SPHERE

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006

YEREVAN, June 8. /ARKA/. The IABP Secretary General Frederick
Hyde-Chambers told journalists in Yerevan that the Council of the
International Association of Business and Parliament (IABP) will
render assistance to the Armenian office in legislative activities
in the business sphere.

“A separate businessman can’t understand the whole economy. We are
going to use business-skills of separate businessmen, generalize them
providing information about the European economy”, Chambers said.

According to his estimates, not only the Armenian economy is in
transitional period but also it politics and society.

“I am sure that the great potential of the Armenian people will enable
to overcome this period successfully”, Chambers finds.

He emphasized that the Council of the association is very serious
towards foundation of an Armenian office and intends to render all
kind of assistance.

In his turn the Vice Speaker of the European Parliament Edward
Macmillan Scott welcomed foundation of IABP Armenian office.

“We will support the activity of the national office taking into
consideration the fact that Eurointegration process is attached great
importance in Armenia”, he said.

On June 7, IABP Armenian office was opened in Yerevan. The
IABP office has the guarantee and support of the organizations’
structure functioning in Great Britain that secures transparacny and
uncorruptedness of its activities, and may be possible resource for the
RA National Assembly from the viewpoint of exchange of international
experience.

The coordinative council of the office is already formed, and it
includes deputies of almost all factions and groups of the RA National
Assembly, as well as representatives of small, medium and large-scale
entrepreneurship and NGOs, which will act on the basis of principles
and standards worked out by the IABP.

NKR SPEAKER CONGRATULATES TOROSYAN ON NEW APPOINTMENT AS ARMENIAN SPEAKER

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006

STEPANAKERT, June 7. /ARKA/. NKR Speaker Ashot Gulyan sent Tigran
Torosyan a letter of congratulation on his new appointment as the
Armenian Speaker.

“We appreciate your contribution to the building and establishment of
the Armenian statehood at its true value, and, in this context, to the
introduction and strengthening of democratic values in the Armenian
socio-political life and the sphere of formation of parliamentary
traditions in Armenia,” the NKR Speaker’s letter says.

Gulyan emphasized the considerable role of Torosyan as the leader
of the Armenian delegation in the EU Parliamentary Assembly and in
the development of statehood building in Armenia. The NKR Speaker
also pointed out the comprehensive presentation of realistic ways
of a fair resolution to the Karabakh problem to the European and
international community, and also protection of the right and will of
Karabakh’s Armenians in the issue of self-determination and creation
of independent statehood.

In the end of the NKR Speaker’s letter, he expressed confidence that
Torosyan’s new appointment will doubtlessly serve as an additional
incentive for closer mutual contacts in future and the development
of the current achievements in this sphere to the benefit of the
Armenian people.

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN SPEAKS ON EFFECTIVE PARLIAMENT OF FUTURE

Panorama.am
15:42 07/06/06

International Association of Business and Parliament will open its
Yerevan office today. According to NA vice speaker Vahan Hovhannisyan,
“the association will try to promote small and mid size businesses
in Armenia.”

The Secretary General of the Association Federik Hair Chembers noted
that 20 countries have membership in the association. He also said
they are quite serious about Armenia’s membership. Edward Macmillan
Scot, European Commission vice chairman, also said that membership
to this organization is a serious step forward for Armenia to join EU.

Hovhannisyan shared his considerations on the presence of businessmen
in our parliament. In his words, until the people have trust in law,
businessmen will try to appear in the safest place – the parliament. He
thinks it is natural that big businessmen appear in parliament as
it is not difficult for them. “When the laws are equal for all, the
businessmen will understand that their presence impedes both their
businesses and the parliament.” Then economists, lawyers and other
specialists will come to the parliament and it will become much more
effective, Hovhannisyan said.

ARMENIAN-SPEAKING LAWYERS IN JAVAKHETI DENIED LICENSES

Armenpress
Jun 07 2006

AKHALKALAKI, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian population of Akhalkalaki
and Ninotsminda regions in the southern Georgian province of Javakheti
has been unable since June 1 to hire Armenian-speaking lawyers to
defend their interests at courts.

The local A-Info news agency said the point is that the Association
of Georgian lawyers has refused to grant licenses to Armenian-speaking
lawyers in Javakheti on grounds that they do not speak Georgian.

The agency said this will drastically deteriorate the situation of
local Armenians, who will have to hire Georgian-speaking lawyers from
other regions and consequently pay much more for their services.

RF DM’S STATEMENT EVIDENCE OF SERIOUSNESS OF CURRENT ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS OVER NK

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 5 2006

STEPANAKERT, June 5. /ARKA/. The statement made by RF Minister of
Defense Sergey Ivanov on the possibility of stationing peace-making
forces in Nagorno Karabakh is evidence of seriousness of the current
round of negotiations for the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, Chairman
of the Standing Commission for Foreign Relations, RA Parliament,
Vahram Atanesyan told ARKA.

According to him, Moscow may give a new impulse to the whole process,
as Russia and Turkey started new consultations embracing the problems
of Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

“Azerbaijan’s response provides grounds to believe that Ivanov
addressed the subject at the right moment and in a clear context,”
Atanesyan said.

FRIED: “AS US REPRESENTATIVE, I WISH AZERBAIJAN CAN RESTORE AS MORE LANDS AS POSSIBLE SOON”

Today, Azerbaijan
June 5 2006

“The Nagorno Karabakh conflict can and should be solved. Reaching
peace agreement is the only way to settle the conflict.

“We have introduced to both presidents our opinions how to improve
the peace process,” said US Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried.

He said reaching an agreement on the solution of the conflict depends
on Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, APA reports.

“The co-chairs offered a number of ideas to solve the conflict. We
have offered these ideas to the leaders as a neutral side, without
defending interests of any of them. However, as US representative,
I wish that Azerbaijan can restore as more of its lands as possible
and refugees come back to their native lands soon. Both parties to
the conflict have certain interests. There are different options
of solution, we offered the optimal one. Everything depends on the
Presidents now. I believe both Presidents are quite serious persons.

They are analyzing the ideas we offered. We do not mean to exert
pressure on them, as a friend, we intend to help both parties,”
Mr.Fried said.

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