Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA SEEKS RUSSIAN BACKING TO THWART US-BACKED KARABAKH TALKS – EXPERT

Noyan Tapan news agency
12 Apr 06

Yerevan, 12 April: The latest accord on selling the fifth unit of
the Razdan thermal power station, as well as the property-for-debt
programme, is in no way beneficial for Armenia’s national or state
interests, Stepan Safaryan, leading expert with the Armenian Centre
for Strategic and National Research, has told Noyan Tapan news agency.

The deal is linked with the current geopolitical situation in the South
Caucasus, he said. In his opinion, the Nagornyy Karabakh problem is
the prevailing one and it has subordinated to itself all other issues
concerning Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The USA has considerably stepped up its role in the Nagornyy Karabakh
peace talks and, in this context, the governments of the two countries
have found themselves in an extremely “pathetic” state. In order to
take advantage of this “pathetic” state, the superpowers, including
Russia, seek to “obtain maximum benefits”. By handing over to Russia
facilities of strategic importance Armenia once again expects Russian
assistance to derail or avoid settlement [of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict]. The expert is certain that the position of Armenia, as
well as that of Russia, have been formed in the face of pressure from
America regarding resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.

In this sense, it is remarkable that the balance which once existed has
been destroyed and President Bush officially invited the Azerbaijani
president to the USA, Safaryan said. He recalled the 2001 Key
West talks when President Bush received [Armenian President Robert]
Kocharyan and [late Azerbaijani President] Heydar Aliyev “on the sole
condition that they agree to implement the Key West agreements”.

“There was certainly a lot of disappointment later when Heydar Aliyev
rejected this option and thus saved Robert Kocharyan. However, in
any case, it is obvious that this time the USA bets on Azerbaijan,”
the expert said.

The current processes concerning the Nagornyy Karabakh talks can
be described as “Key West – 2” but in an improved way when the USA
and the West use in the negotiations techniques which “reduce the
room for manoeuvre to the minimum as opposed to the 2001 Key West
talks. However, it is somewhat difficult to imagine the ways and the
pressure under which these techniques will be used”, the expert said.

COMMITTEE ON ARMENIA-EU PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION TO SIT IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 21:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 8th sitting of the Committee on Armenia-EU
Parliamentary Cooperation will be held in Yerevan April 17-21. The
delegation members are scheduled to meet with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan,
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian. They are as well expected to meet with the representatives
of the Institute of Public Society, OSCE Yerevan Mission head Vladimir
Pryakhin, German Ambassador to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch and the
Ambassadors of other European states accredited in Armenia. To note,
the EU delegation members intend to visit the Armenian-Turkish border,
RA NA press service reported.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES U.S. CONGRESSMEN
Author: Z.Ibrahimli

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 12 2006

Robert Kocharian, the Armenian President, received U.S. congressmen
Jim Kolbe and Scot Garetta, as well John Danilovich, the Director of
‘Challenges of Millennium’ Corp., in Yerevan.

Kocarian expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development of
the Armenian-U.S. relations, the press service of the President
Administration told Mediamaks. In his turn, Kolbe welcomed the
contribution by Armenian to the peacemaking operation in Iraq.

Expressing gratitude for the financial aid allocated with program
by ‘Challenges of Millennium’, Kocharian stressed Armenia was
loyal to strengthening of democracy and liberalism. The head of
the country regards attraction of the countries’ regions to the
programs implementing at the expense of the funds by ‘Challenges of
Millennium’. According to Kocharian, Armenia waits for the clear and
the exact partnership relationship from ‘Challenges of Millennium’.

“The participants of the meeting mentioned necessity of improvement
of the Elections Code and maximal wide discussions on this issue to
increase the level of the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential
elections in 2007 and 2008,” the press service of the President
Administration said.

ENVER’S MONUMENT IN BAKU
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
13/04/2006

The Azerbaijani opposition has embarked on pulling down the statues
of Soviet leaders in the country.

Popular Front leader Ghudrat Hasankuliev appealed to the parliament
demanding to erect the statue of Enver Pasha. He elaborated that
the latter saved the Azerbaijani people from a genocide at the hands
of Armenians. Writing about this, Milliet Turkish newspaper informs
that the parliament speaker sent the proposal to an ad hoc commission
for discussion.

ARMENIAN IT-SPHERE REPRESENTED IN VIENNA

Yerevan, April 11. ArmInfo. Armenian Information Technologies
representation in Europe has opened in Vienna, Head of Enterprise
Incubator Foundation (EIF) Bagrat Yengibaryan said at a press
conference, Tuesday.

At present 60% of Armenian companies engaged in the IT-sphere cooperate
with the USA, while only 10% of Armenian companies are represented
in Europe, he said. The opening of the representation in Vienna is
a regular initiative of the Foundation which aims to stimulate the
cooperation of Armenian and European IT- companies. B.

Yengibaryan said the representation in Vienna plans to gain at least
$200-300,000 orders for 2006. The representation will work to increase
the Europe’s awareness of the Armenian IT-sphere as well as to present
and distribute IT products and services, to ensure the cooperation
of Armenian and European companies for the purpose of establishing
joint ventures and implementing joint programs.

Head of Armenian IT-sphere representation in Vienna, Robert Trausnig,
says the representation will focus on off-shore orders, however direct
sale of Armenian IT-products is not ruled out either. R.

Trausnig believes Armenian IT- developments for health care,
communications and web-technologies spheres may be in demand
in Europe. He informs of the upcoming joint Armenian-European
conferences wherein the prospects and possibilities of bilateral
cooperation will be discussed. To recap, an Armenian Information
Technologies Representation opened in Toronto in the October of
2004 which had contributed to preparation of 7 contracts between 19
Armenian IT-enterprises and Canadian ones for about a year. Due to
the representation in Toronto, Armenian companies received about
$800,000 orders, with new programs for $1 million are currently
under discussion.

THE SITUATION IS THE SAME IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

A1+
[02:29 pm] 11 April, 2006

The central meetings of the 7th round of the Chess European individual
championship mainly ended in a draw. Ivanchuk, Zdenko and Predrag
have the top scores with 5.5 points in the fixture table. Armenian
grand master Ashot Anastasyan shares the 4th place with 8 other chess
players having 5 points.

Artashes Minasyan and Tigran Kotanjyan reached the places from 13 to
35 with 4.5 points. Arman Pashikyan and Tigran Petrosyan have bottom
places with 3.5 points.

The same can be said about women contest where 3 participants are
leading the table with top scores of 5.5 points. Elina Danielyan
reached 3 – 11 places with her 5 points. Lilit Lazarian has 4 points,
Siranush Andreasyan and Nelly Aghinyan have 3.5 points.

Agence France Presse
7 avril 2006 vendredi 4:02 PM GMT

Lyon: le mémorial du génocide arménien sera inauguré comme prévu le
24 avril

LYON 7 avr 2006

La construction du mémorial du génocide arménien de Lyon, interrompue
la semaine dernière sur décision du tribunal administratif (TA), a
repris jeudi et l’inauguration du monument aura bien lieu à la date
prévue, le 24 avril, a-t-on appris vendredi auprès de la ville de
Lyon.

“Suite à la modification des statuts de l’association pour le
Mémorial, une nouvelle autorisation d’occupation du domaine public a
été donnée par le Grand Lyon, validée par la préfecture, et les
travaux ont repris hier (jeudi)”, a indiqué la mairie.

“Dans ces conditions, les travaux devraient être achevés le 21 ou le
22 avril et l’inauguration se tenir le 24, comme prévu”, a-t-elle
poursuivi.

De même source, outre de nombreuses personnalités locales, la
cérémonie devrait donner lieu à la prise de paroles de “grands
témoins” des génocides rwandais et cambodgien.

En construction dans le centre-ville de Lyon, le mémorial du génocide
arménien a aussi pour but d’honorer les victimes de tous les
génocides du XXe siècle, selon ses concepteurs.

Le 29 mars, suite à un recours introduit par l’Association de défense
et de protection des places Bellecour et Antonin Poncet (ADPBAPL), le
TA avait suspendu la construction, au motif que l’entretien du
monument, une fois achevé, n’était pas assuré.

Pour lever l’obstacle, l’association pour le Mémorial lyonnais du
génocide arménien (MLGA) a modifié en début de semaine ses statuts,
qui prévoyaient initialement l’auto-dissolution de l’association au
terme de la construction.

Outre cette suspension, objet d’une polémique entre responsables
politiques locaux, la construction du mémorial avait donné lieu à un
rassemblement pro-turc houleux, le 18 mars, lors duquel certains
manifestants avaient brandi des pancartes négationnistes.

Les massacres et déportations d’Arméniens sous l’empire Ottoman, de
1915 à 1917, ont fait 1,5 million de morts, selon les Arméniens,
entre 300.000 et 500.000, selon Ankara qui rejette catégoriquement la
qualification de génocide.

RUMORS ON SKIRMISHES ARE FALSE BUT KARABAKH NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT SECURITY

Lragir.am
07 April 06

The situation at the front line is calm. It is true that there has
been certain activity there as it usually happens in spring, `when
theydo engineering on the positions after the snow melts,’ said Seyran
Ohanyan, NKR Minister of Defense, to news reporters. According to him,
there are gunshots from the Azerbaijani side, and it would be at least
unserious not to shoot back. The minister assures that no Karabakh
soldiers were killed during this violation of the ceasefire.

This is an official opinion. The unofficial one does not differ. In
tiny Karabakh where everyone knows one other, there are no rumors
about border incidents and casualties. Here they think that the
information spread by Azerbaijan pursues political aims. We can only
guess at these aims. It is clear, however, that in the future
Azerbaijan will use this information to acquire political
dividends. Armenia will be presented as an aggressor, and Azerbaijan
as a victim.

Huzeyr Jafarov, an independent military expert, told the Zerkalo
Newspaper that skirmishes occur often. `When I was an army officer, we
received information from the officers on sentry, reported to the
minister of defense, who decided to publish that information or not.
Now, apparently, the ministry publishes all the information, having
the approval of the country’s leadership.’

According to the Azerbaijani expert, he does not know how it happens
that every day a person is killed at the positions, which are highly
protected.The commanders are to blame, says Jafarov. He is also
surprised that the Armenian side reports no casualties. The expert
starts thinking that there are no casualties from the Armenian side.

Nevertheless, tensions at the front line, artificial or real, worries
the public. Major-General Vitaly Balasanyan, MP, chairman of the Havat
NGO, is going to introduce a bill on the security and defense of
Nagorno-Karabakh people.

According to V. Balasanyan, the increasingly aggressive militaristic
statements of Azerbaijan, and the frequent violations of the ceasefire
by the enemy at the front line make us focus on the security of the
NKR population and the effectiveness of the Defense Army, and
centralize all our military potential to be ready for a resumption of
military actions.

Under this bill the NKR National Assembly will request the National
Assembly of Armenia to adopt a decision, reflecting the urgency of
stationing troops of the Republic of Armenia in NKR.

The recent statement of the president of Armenia that under threat of
war the Republic of Armenia will assume responsibility for the
security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, i.e. any encroachment on
Karabakh will be viewed as an encroachment on Armenia, may act a
signal for such a decision. The General is convinced that in the
decision of the NKR National Assembly the Republic of Azerbaijan must
be presented as an aggressor, a state claiming to the territories of a
neighbor people.

Considering this reality, the NKR Parliament must draw up a document
on the consequences of possible military actions, and extend it to the
international community and the international organizations, engaged
in the peace settlement of the conflict.

PARUYR HAYRIKIAN: DELIGHT OF “WINNING” LOW GAS TARIFF BY PROVIDING RUSSIA WITH GAS IMPORTED FROM IRAN IS DECEIT

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The delight of “winning” a low
tariff for gas by providing Russia with gas imported from Iran
is just a deceit. Paruyr Hayrikian, Chairman of the National
Self-Determination Union, expressed such an opinion at the April
6 press conference. According to him, “by an unintelligible logic
we are deprived of our main advantage, the alternative possibility
of gass supply”. Hayrikian declared that the authorities want to
deprive the Armenian people of the possibility to have alternative
and competitive prices for gas in the coming decades for this low
price for gas, which will be the hardest blow delivered to Armenia’s
energy security and independence.

According to him, “the independence achieved 15 years ago through a
referendum is taken away from our children with a prospect of dozens
of years, today because of economizing money we make our children
hostages of the Russian imperialism”. From point of view of the
national insterests, according to P.Hayrikian “it is more beneficial
to accept the price thrusted upon by Russia than to let them have our
share of the Iranian gas on the pretext of reduction of the price
for gas”. The National Self-Determination Union Chairman said that
Armenian-Turkish relations continue to be regulated by Russian-Turkish
agreements, i.e. they are submitted to Russia, and an attempt to
submit the Armenian-Iranian relations to Russia is also being made
today. According to Hayrikian, the National Self-Determination Union
considers it possible to organize a rally in front of the building
of RA government on their own or in association with other forces.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EXPRESSES OPTIMISM FOR PROGRESS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Avet Demourian

AP Worldstream
Apr 05, 2006

Armenia expressed optimism Wednesday that progress could be made
toward a settlement of its dispute with Azerbaijan over the status of
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave despite the breakdown in talks between
the two countries’ presidents earlier this year.

“The negotiations must be continued and what we have on the table
today must be used as the basis,” Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
said at a meeting with Peter Semneby, the European Union’s special
representative in the South Caucasus region.

He said there could be no military solution to the dispute, which
sparked a six-year war that ended with a shaky cease-fire in 1994,
and urged Azerbaijan to accept that mutual compromise was necessary.

“Armenia has already made all possible compromises, there is no place
left to step back,” he said. “The time has come for Azerbaijan to
take steps so that we can get this (negotiation) process moving and
bring it to completion.” Semneby urged the two sides to act soon to
get talks under way again. “Indeed, there is a window of opportunity,
which we need to take advantage of,” he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh is inside Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic
Armenians, whose troops face Azerbaijani forces across a half-mile-wide
(kilometer-wide) no man’s land. Clashes break out sporadically and
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliev have traded increasingly bellicose statements since talks to
resolve the enclave’s status broke down in February.

At least 30,000 people have been killed and 1 million made refugees in
the 18-year-old dispute. The hostilities have also hindered investment
in the strategic, oil-rich Caucasus region.

A decade of international mediation has failed to end the conflict.

The dispute has dominated both countries’ foreign policy since they
became independent with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Foreign mediators have been pushing for a resolution of the conflict
this year. Since neither country will have elections, their leaders
should be free of domestic pressure to stand tough on Karabakh,
the mediators have said.