Author: Kharatian Ani

NKR MFA THANKS AZERI MEDIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.12.2006 17:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/The NKR Foreign Ministry’s press office thanked the
Azeri media for timely notification of the scheduled for December
13 rally of the Azeri community in front of the Armenian Embassy
in Moscow.

"According to your information the goal of the picket is to protest
the illegal referendum on independence," the NKR MFA press office said.

"We are surprised that the picket in Moscow was held in front of
the Armenian Embassy and want to remind that NKR is not a part of
Armenia but a sovereign state. We welcome any public events which
prove recognition of NKR. We are also surprised that a picket against
‘illegal referendum on independence’ is held 15 years later. The people
of Artsakh proclaimed independence December 10, 1991. In this view we
offer the demonstrators to protest the constitutional referendum that
was held December 10, 2006 not to waste money spent on the organization
of the rally," the statement says, reports the NKR MFA press office.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF EUROPEAN FILMS STARTS IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Dec 13 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The annual festival of European
films started in Yerevan on December 12 with show of the "Christmas
Holiday at the Front" German full-length film and "Perished Art" Polish
short animated film at the "Moscow" theater. At the press conference
preceded the start of the festival, convened by the Ambassadors of the
European Union member countries accredited in the RA, Robin Liddell,
the First Advisor of the European Commission delegation to Armenia
stated that the festival will be held this year in Gyumri and Kapan as
well, correspondingly on December 14-17 and 16-19. In Mr.Liddell’s
words, the festival films will be shown in Yerevan with payable
tickets, in Kapan and Gyumri with free tickets. He also stated that
all the money gathered as a result of show of the films in Yerevan
will be used for charity purposes. He mentioned that the festival of
European films being held in Armenia already for the third time has
become traditional one. The festival was organized in Gyumri the last
year, and the city of Kapan was also involved in the festival this
year. "Our goal is to present the European cinematographic art in the
marzes as well, as people here, being far from the capital, are not,
in particular, involved in cultural programs," R.Liddell emphasized.

RUSSIA ACCUSES GEORGIA OF BLOCKING AIR SPACE

Agence France Presse — English
December 11, 2006 Monday 8:50 PM GMT

Russia accused its rival Georgia on Monday of breaching a deal by
blocking its military planes from landing at a Russian base in Armenia,
the latest in a spate of diplomatic clashes between the neighbours.

"Despite an accord reached between Russia and Georgia on the transit
of military cargo planes, the refusal by the Georgians to grant
authorisation to Russian air force planes to use the Georgian air
space continues," Russian air force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevski
was quoted as saying by news agencies.

Russian planes must pass through Georgian air space in order to supply
the airbase in Russia’s ally Armenia, another former Soviet state.

"Over the past six months, we have asked 40 times for authorisation
to use Georgian air space, but have received this authorisation for
only 12 flights," Drobyshevski added.

Diplomatic relations between Russia and its southern neighbour have
declined since Georgia’s pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili
came to power in 2003, and nose-dived in September when Georgia
expelled four Russian officers whom it accused of spying.

Moscow reacted by suspending air and sea links with Georgia and closing
its land borders with the country, as well as rounding up and expelling
hundreds of Georgians it accused of being in Russia illegally.

ARMENIANS WORKING IN RUSSIA TO GET PENSION

A1+
[07:03 pm] 12 December, 2006

Armenia is the forth country that will sign an agreement with the
Russian Federation on social reforms, namely referring to the sphere
of pensions.

This means that the Armenians working in Russia will have no troubles
and concerns while retiring. They can be convinced that the years in
Russia haven’t been in vain.

"This is really a good chance for all the citizens of Russia who
once worked in RF and now fear that they may lose their pensions of
that period and stay in Russia for that reason. This will become a
kind of incentive for them to return to their Motherland without any
further fear", announced Vazgen Khachikyan, president of the Social
Insurance Foundation.

On December 5-6, joint consultation of the heads of Armenian and
Russian Social Insurance Foundations was held in Moscow. The parties
focused on a number of issues; including the citizens of the two
countries, the provision of pensions of oversea workers, the reforms
of the pension system, the activities of the foundations and their
further improvement.

Which country will appoint and pay the pension? Vazgen Khachikyan
claims that citizens’ pensions are discussed and fixed in the country
where they have applied.

For example, if any Armenian has worked in RF for 10 years, RF (which
has got Department of International Pensions) will pay for those 10
years and the rest will be paid by Armenia. According to statistics
data, 600 – 800 thousand RA citizens have settled in Russia over the
past 10-12 years.

In Mr. Khachikyan’s opinion, the number of pensioners will surpass
100 thousand. Though the head of the Social Insurance Foundation is
unaware of the number of the Russian workers in the boundaries of
Armenia, he assumes that it is not great.

There are vital differences between the pensions of the two
countries. Pensioners get 3000 rubles (approximately 120 USD) in Russia
whereas Armenian pensioners get 11 400 AMD (approximately 32 USD). "The
point is that life costs higher in Russia", says Vazgen Khachatryan.

Currently the base pension is 4250 AMD in Armenia.

Average pension will be increased to 13500 AMD in 2007.

By the way, while calculating the pensions of the Armenians working in
Russia, they will take into consideration the payments to the social
insurance foundations and not work experience.

It is not a secret that most of the Armenians working in Russia haven’t
got legal right to work, thus they will not make use of this privilege.

It is noteworthy that 1317 pensioners of Armenia, who were deprived
of pensions because of the absence of social cards, can already get
their pensions.

"Under the decision of Constitutional Court according to which the
existence of social card is no more obligatory, everyone can get
pension henceforth. 700 pensioners have already got pensions", says
Vazgen Khachikyan.

AZERBAIJAN’S BREAKAWAY KARABAKH HOLDS REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTION

RIA Novosti, Russia
December 10, 2006

YEREVAN, December 10 (RIA Novosti) – Azerbaijan’s breakaway province of
Nagorno-Karabakh is voting Sunday in a referendum on its constitution.

The conflict over Nagorny Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan with a
largely Armenian population, first erupted in 1988 when it declared
its independence from Azerbaijan, and moved to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people were killed on both sides between 1988 and 1994,
and over 100 died following a 1994 ceasefire. Nagorno-Karabakh remained
in Armenian hands, but tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have
persisted. Azerbaijan is determined to restore its control over the
separatist region.

More than 100 international observers and journalists from Russia,
France, the United States, Italy, Israel, Serbia and other countries
are monitoring the referendum.

MEETING OF NKR COUNCIL OF SECURITY

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

On December 4 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian held a meeting of the
NKR Council of Security, in which the leadership of the National
Assembly and the members of government were present too. Arkady
Ghukassian heard reports on the situation at the front line between
the Karabakh and Azerbaijani forces and the criminal state in the
country. The head of state told about the results of his visit to the
United States in November, as well as the meetings with the religious,
public and political, cultural and business circles of the Armenian
community. Arkady Ghukassian appreciated the participation of the
Armenians of the United States and other places in the telethon
held by Armenia Foundation for the reconstruction of the region of
Hadrut. In particular, he mentioned that the results of the telethon
and the constant interest in the reconstruction of NKR comes to prove
once again the trust and confidence of the Armenians in the future
of Artsakh and its people. Afterwards, the Council of Security went
on to discuss the questions on the agenda. The participants of the
meeting touched upon the recent developments connected with the talks
for the settlement, the preparations for the referendum on the NKR
Constitution, and discussed the draft budget of NKR for 2007. Hearing
the report of the government on its activities and current issues,
the NKR president gave corresponding instructions.

NAGORNY KARABAKH BACKS CONSTITUTION

The Moscow Times, Russia
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, Armenia — The breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region
overwhelmingly approved a new pro-independence constitution, returns
from a Sunday referendum showed.

Azerbaijan shrugged off the vote as a "farce," and the European Union
said it would not recognize it. The region broke away from Azerbaijan
in the early 1990’s and has no international recognition.

But Karabakh’s leader described the plebiscite, seen as a signal of
the region’s commitment to independence, as a factor which could help
revive languishing talks on its future status.

Karabakh wants to be part of the talks underway between Armenia and
Azerbaijan over the status of the region.

According to official figures released Monday by the Karabakh elections
commission, 98.6 percent of voters approved the constitution, which
describes Karabakh as a sovereign state.

COURT TO HOLD SESSION IN HOSPITAL OVER CHAKHMAKHCHIAN ISSUE

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
December 8, 2006 Friday 08:19 AM EST

Russia’s Supreme Court will hold a visiting session in a hospital on
Friday over the so-called issue of Chakhmakhchian, a former Federation
Council member who is receiving medical treatment.

"Due to the fact that Article 448 of the Criminal Procedural Code
forbids the court to consider such a presentation in the absence of the
person who has a certain status, the Supreme Court has decided to hold
a visiting session in the hospital which is treating Chakhmakhchian,"
his lawyer Boris Kuznetsov said.

On Friday, the court may answer the question of whether there were
hallmarks of crime in actions by Federation Council senator from
Kalmykia Levon Chakhmakhchian.

"I lodged a complaint at the Constitutional Court over the
Chakhmakhchian case, and today, the Supreme Court may suspend the
proceedings until the Constitutional Court has considered this
complaint," Kuznetsov said.

Chakhmakhchian is now in hospital with increased pressure. He is in
satisfactory condition, according to the lawyer.

On June 6, the Prosecutor General’s Office asked the Court to give
a qualification of Chakhmakhchian’s actions which may be covered by
Part 4 of Article 159 of Russia’s Criminal Code /fraud committed by
an organized group or grand fraud/.

Chief accountant of the Association of Russo-Armenian business
cooperation Igor Arushanov and assistant auditor of the Audit Chamber
Armen Oganesyan were detained in Moscow on June 2 on suspicion of
taking a large bribe.

According to investigators, they demanded 1.5 million dollars from
a businessman for taking out negative information from an audit report.

Levon Chakhmakhchian happened to be in their office when detectives
seized 300,000 of marked dollar bills.

However, as a FC member, he enjoyed immunity, so no procedures were
instituted against him. Arushanov and Oganesyan were arrested.

Chakhmakhchian was elected senator of the Federation Council from
Kalmykia in 2004. He occupied the post of Deputy Chairman of the
Committee for problems of local governments.

On June 23, 2006, the Kalmyk parliament, on a presentation by Speaker
of the Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament Sergei
Mironov, voted for early termination of Chakhmakhchian’s powers.

FOUR PEOPLE SET THEMSELVES ON FIRE IN ARMENIA TO PROTEST LAW ENFORCERS’ INACTION

Associated Press Worldstream
December 7, 2006 Thursday

Three teenagers and their grandmother set themselves on fire in
the Armenian capital Thursday to protest what they said was law
enforcement agencies’ inaction in investigating a relative’s death,
a family member said. Two of them were injured.

The protesters poured gasoline on themselves and set themselves on
fire in front of the president’s office in Yerevan, the teenagers’
great uncle Surian Avdalian told The Associated Press.

The elderly woman and her 14-year-old grandson were wounded and
hospitalized with burns, Avdalian said. The other two grandsons
were unharmed.

The four were members of the small Yazidi community, who were
protesting what they called official inaction in last month’s
beating death of the children’s father, which they said was not
being investigated, Avdalian said. They argued that the case was not
being probed because of discrimination against the Yazidi, a Kurdish
ethnic group.

Officials would not comment on the incident.

About 50,000 Yazidi live in Armenia.

BRONZE MONUMENTS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MELTED
By Agavni Harutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/12/2006

Two persons, suspected in stealing the bronze monument of the Armenian
Genocide were arrested in France.

Radio Liberty reports that the bronze monument weighting 300 kilograms
was melted so as to be sold as scrap. The crime was commited in two
days after the law about denying the Genocide was adopted in France.

The investigators do not believe in the criminals’ explanaitions of
their motivation.