Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

‘DASHNAKTSUTIUN’ PARTY WORKED OUT A CONCEPT OF GRANTING ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP AS A SECOND ONE

Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. The ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party worked out a
concept about granting a second Armenian citizenship to Armenians
residing abroad, said the head of the party’s parliamentary group
Levon Mkrtchian. The concept contains the main terms of adopting dual
citizenship in Armenia which will be taken as a base for corresponding
legislation. To the opinion of ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party members, persons
with dual citizenship that have resided in Armenia for several years
and have fulfilled al their civil duties must be give the right to
elect and be elected. Also a list of offices, to which citizens of
only Armenia can be admitted, must be published.

The concept says that the persons with dual must pay taxes and do
military service in only one of the states of their citizenship. The
concept provides for simplified order of becoming of citizenship for
Armenians from all over the world. Mr. Mkrtchian said that this term
is also in accord with the Constitution of Armenia, which is based
upon the principle of blood and not of terrotory.

L. Mkrtchian and his party fellow A. Rustamian said that all the terms
of the party’s concept are taken from the experience of other states
and are to be regulated also by international agreements. They said
those terms will be submitted to the National as a draft legislation
bill in autumn 2006.

UEFA CHIEF EXECUTIVE ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer
Olsson, arrived in Yerevan on an official visit on April 3, at the
invitation of Chairman of the Football Federation of Armenia Ruben
Hayrapetian, had a meeting with FFA Chairman Ruben Hayrapetian on the
same day at which Ishkhan Zakarian, the Chairman of the Sports State
Committee attached to the RA Government, was present as well. The
UEFA Chief Executive, touching upon the state created after the
Evro-2008 drawing of lots, when the national teams of Armenia and
Azerbaijan must compete with one another, said that the UEFA is ready
to create a commission which will be both in Armenia and Azerbaijan,
will study the created state and make conclusions. Ch.Osslon mentioned
that the wish of the UEFA is that meetings take place in Armenia
and Azerbaijan, but it’s clear that there are difficulties connected
with issues of security. Osslon mentioned at the same time that they
do not want to touch upon political problems and have a hope that
they will find solutions for the issue isn’t turned into a political
problem. He specially emphasized that Armenia has a very stable and
firm position in this issue what is very valuable. On the same day
the UEFA Chief Executive visited the Matenadaran (Armenian repository
of ancient manuscripts), the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and had
meetings with Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the Press Secretariate of the Football Federation of
Armenia, the solemn opening ceremony of the second small field with
artificial grass surface took place in the address of Khorenats 47
(in the yard of former “Druzhba” department store) at 11:00, April
4. The UEFA Chief Executive and the FFA Chairman were to be present
at the ceremony.

A NEW AUTHORIZED PLAN OF SAVING ARMENIA

Lragir.am
03 April 06

It is possible that in 2006 Raffi Hovannisian will present a detailed
report on his notion of development of Armenia. Hovannisian stated
this during his news conference on April 3 at the Pakagits Club. The
interesting thing about the statement is that Raffi Hovannisian cannot
be found in the model of development he will present. The leader of
the political party Zharangutiun stated several times that for him
power is not a goal, and according to him, this should be the motto
of qualitative changes in Armenia, guiding all the political forces.

“For me it does not matter whether there will be early or scheduled
elections in Armenia if their quality does not change. A large-scale
consolidation is necessary for qualitative changes,” says Raffi
Hovannisian. He says this is the only way of achieving change of
power and quality of governance. His presence in this new quality of
governance is not necessary for Raffi Hovannisian.

“Power is not the meaning of my life,” he says. Of course, he does
not deny that he would try to satisfy the public and civil demand if
there is such.

Raffi Hovannisian will begin the process of transforming power from a
goal into a means from his political party. He remembers that during
the meeting in May, when the election to the party’s bureau will be
held, he will demand that there be several candidates of the leader
of the party.

“We have to get rid of the complex of a political party of one person,”
says Raffi Hovannisian. Thus he hints at his fellow oppositionists
who mostly suffer this complex. According to Raffi Hovannisian, one
of the reasons of failure of the opposition movement is that everyone
wants to be leader.

“The recent activities of the opposition need a self-critical
approach. There was, in fact, a public, civil demand, but I think
there were both organizational and ideological drawbacks, also in the
sense that everyone wants to be leader, axis,” says Raffi Hovannisian.

He says there are small axes within the opposition, and the problem
now is to organize a consolidated movement. Raffi Hovannisian believes
that the movement will develop within the current year.

“We should give up the gladiator’s “you or me” approach,” says the
leader of the Zharangutiun Party. According to him, this struggle
must have one main goal – “to mobilize citizens” for them to feel
the power of initiative. For this purpose Raffi Hovannisian’s party
is going to be in the regions, halls, and “to listen to people.” “As
well as to listen to the citizen, not only propagate downward. We
have lost the art of listening,” says Raffi Hovannisian.

HEAD OF MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES CORPORATION TO VISIT ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 31 2006

Yerevan, March 31. /ARKA/. Executive Director of the USA Millennium
Challenges Corporation John Danilovich is to be on a visit to
Armenia on April 10-15, 2006, RA Minister of Finance and Economy
Vardan Khachatryan told a press conference. The goal of the visit is
discussing the details of the Millennium Challenges Corporation~Rs
program in Armenia and getting acquainted with preparatory work.

Danilovich intends to get acquainted with the terms of establishing
the Corporation~Rs office in Armenia, which is expected to be opened
in June 2006, as well as with the projects implemented and planned
under the program.

On March 27, 2006, the Millennium Challenges Corporation and the
Republic of Armenia signed a 5-year compact worth $235.5mln under the
program of assistance to Armenia. The program envisages 6% poverty
reduction through a steady increase in agricultural produce.

The Millennium Challenges Corporation was founded early in 2004 under
the US Department of State~Rs program of economic development and
poverty reduction worldwide. P.T. ~V0–

45 PER CENT OF IRAN-ARMENIA AND ANOTHER THERMAL POWER PLANT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO RUSSIA

Lragir.am
31 March 06

On March 31 Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party
and Republican Gagik Minasyan were to discuss the energy security
of Armenia at the Hayeli Club. The debate, however, involved a wider
range of issues.

First the topic. Aram Karapetyan thinks that the best solution for
the energy system of Armenia would be the establishment of joint
ventures. But we preferred to give, we implemented a program “Property
for Debt.” According to Aram Karapetyan, probably it is not the worst
thing that we gave the property to the supplier of row materials. “At
least, we will not have problems with other countries.” Aram Karapetyan
thinks that 45 per cent of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and another
thermal power plant will be transferred to the Russian Federation. “We
have given so much that the transfer of these is objective.” Unlike
Aram Karapetyan, Gagik Minasyan spoke about the past and future of
the energy sector of Armenia and omitted the present. “Ten years
ago we could not build a gas pipeline from Iran. Now it is being
constructed. We must increase the amount of energy generated by
water power plants to 3.7 kWh out of the 6 billion kWh. It is about
1 billion now.” For this reason the government of Armenia spurs the
construction of small water power plants, states Gagik Minasyan. “Let
us consider the news about transferring the Iranian gas pipeline and
the water power plant to Russian Federation to be news,” offered the
Republican MP.

Moreover, Gagik Minasyan thinks the complementary policy of Armenia
has led to the ability to combine the interests of the West,
Russia and Iran in Armenia. In addition, “all the international
organizations, engaged in the settlement of the Karabakh issue, accept
the standpoint of the Armenian party and reject the standpoint of the
Azerbaijani party.” Aram Karapetyan disagrees. “The complementary
policy is applied to the economy, and applying it to politics is
Vardan Oskanyan’s know-how. What complementarism is concerned if one
comes and presses on us and we give them whatever they want, another
comes and presses on us, demands something, we give it to them. As
a result we remain barefoot.”

Aram Karapetyan thinks the Iranian gas pipeline width is small due
to pressure from the outside. “The gas pipeline is intended to supply
gas to Armenia in case the Russian gas pipeline is blown up. Whereas
Khanjyan had also foreseen the construction of an oil pipeline.”

The only question to which the parties agreed was the nuclear plant.
Armenia should never give up on nuclear energy. Moreover, Armenia
should build another nuclear plant or replace the nuclear plant of
Metsamor by a modern one of a capacity of at least 1000 megawatt and
a regional importance. Considering that Turkey and Iran have greater
wish and possibilities to build powerful nuclear plants, the speakers
think there is no time to wait. However, a nuclear plant costs 1.7-2
billion dollars. We know this. We also know that we do not have so
much money. Either they do not know, or they do not want to tell
where we could get this money.

MINISTERS EVADE QUERY ON ARMENIAN ‘BROTHERS’

Story by NATION Reporter
Publication Date: 03/31/2006

Daily Nation, Kenya
March 30 2006

A question on the presence of two foreigners at the centre of mercenary
allegations was not answered because of confusion on which ministry
is responsible.

The question, by Mr Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya, Narc), was deferred for
the second time in a week after it became apparent that no ministry
was willing to answer it.

The question on the controversy surrounding Armenians Artur Sargsyan
and Artur Margaryan first appeared on the Order Paper on Tuesday.

Mr Kamotho wants to know if the two businessmen are really investors as
they say, the kind of business they are in and why they were accorded
high security by the state. He also wants to know if the two have
any links to the Armenian government.

The question was first directed to the ministry of Foreign Affairs,
but could not be answered after assistant minister Danson Mungatana
said it should be referred to the minister for Internal Security in
the Office of the President. Mr Mungatana said he would consult with
OP to have the question answered.

But when the question came up yesterday, it had been redirected to
the ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons.

There was even more confusion when Mr Ananiah Mwaboza, an assistant
minister in the ministry, said he could not answer the question
because it should have been directed to the Office of the President.

Mr Mwaboza’s reply caused uproar, with several Opposition MPs rising
on points of order to demand that the question be answered.

Mr Gor Sungu (Kisumu Town East, Narc) said the Government was not
interested in answering the question and was taking Parliament for
a ride.

Dr Abdullahi Ali (Wajir North, Kanu) accused ministers of “taking
Parliament for a joke” and insisted that the question be answered.

Speaker Francis ole Kaparo said he was also amused by the answer given
by the assistant minister: “There are some issues that amuse, and this
is one of them. This question has been redirected from one ministry
to another. Why is that no minister wants to handle this issue?”

Mr Paul Muite (Kabete, Safina) said the leader of Government Business
should explain why no minister was prepared to answer the question.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua agreed
there was confusion. Ms Karua, who is the deputy leader of Government
Business, promised that the question would be answered on Tuesday.

She said: “I want to promise that the question will be answered on
Tuesday, even if it is me who will answer the question under the
doctrine of collective responsibility.”

Parliament does not sit Friday to Monday.

WILL JEWS TAKE PART IN AZERIS’ ‘GENOCIDE DAY COMMEMORATION’?
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006

Jewish and Azerbaijani communities of the United States have common
approach to a number of vital issues, Trend news agency quoted the
former chairman of the Association of Jews of the USSR, Yuri Zilberman,
as saying.

“The Azerbaijani and Jewish communities have established close friendly
ties,” Zilberman said adding that an agreement with Tomriz Azer, head
of the Azerbaijani Association of America, has brought their positions
closer. Touching upon the so-called “genocide day commemoration”
(precisely delirium – A.

H.) today, Zilberman stated that the Jews understand Azerbaijani
people’s problems and will take part in the arrangements of the
Association.

DARTMOUTH CONFERENCE: KARABAKH TALKS SHOULD BE DIVIDED INTO TWO STAGES

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2006 01:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The authors of the framework agreement on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement stated today in Yerevan that
plenipotentiaries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh will
conclude agreements on a number of issues within the OSCE Minsk
Group framework. “Those who undertake the responsibility will hold
the negotiations and sign the agreement,” Dartmouth Conference
Co-chair Harold Saunders stated. He divided the negotiation process
into two stages. The first will include intermediate steps, namely
measures for establishment of mutual trust, equal concessions by
the parties, synchronized withdrawal of troops, demilitarization of
the territories, return of refugees, restoration of communications,
economic and cultural cooperation. The second stage will comprise
talks on the NKR final status, conclusion of peaceful agreement and
establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In his words, the formula of the project is as follows “Peace and
intermediate status in exchange for territories”, which differs from
the mutually excluding principles of the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides
– “peace in exchange for territories” and “territories in exchange for
status.” Harold Saunders also noted that the project was submitted
to Russian and U.S. Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, who rated
it positive on the whole. “Ambassador Mann specifically noted the
measures for establishment of mutual trust between the conflicting
parties provided by the framework agreement,” Mr. Saunders said. At
that he noted that the Dartmouth Conference is not a substitute to
the OSCE MG. “The task of the Minsk group is to propose the final
decision while our task is to offer the possible ways of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement,” he stressed.

To note, the Dartmouth Conference launched activities in mid 1960-ies
for the elaboration of common positions of the United States and
Russia on the settlement of regional conflict. After the collapse of
the USSR the conference is co-chaired by Russia and the U.S.

MONITORING WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF SHOTS

A1+
08:43 pm 29 March, 2006

The monitoring of the contact line of the Karabakh and Azeri armed
forces near the settlement of Seysulan of NKR Martakert region
scheduled for March 29 did not take place over the shots fired by
the Azeri side from the occupied village of Karmiravan, reported the
information and analytical department of the NKR MFA.

The OSCE observing mission led by personal representative of the OSCE
CiO, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk as well as representatives of the
NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs registered 3 shots. Due
to the absence of any guarantees from the Azeri side Andrzej Kasprzyk
cancelled the monitoring.

ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING BECOMES GLOBAL – ARMENIAN PREMIER
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 29, 2006 Wednesday 02:51 AM EST

Illicit drug trafficking became a global phenomenon, Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Migranyan said.

Addressing participants in a session of the CSTO Anti-Drug Coordinating
Council on Wednesday, the Armenian prime minister said illicit drug
trafficking as a dangerous social phenomenon “became global and
trans-national and turned into the most acute problems of mankind.”

Drug trafficking “wrecks political, social and economic stability of
states,” the Armenian prime minister stressed.

In his view, internationalisation of crime and “the growth of
international elements, which commit crimes in the territory of two
or more states, evoke the need to improve and develop international
and interstate cooperation between law enforcement agencies.”

Migranyan said the CSTO Anti-Drug Coordinating Council plays a
big role and have a great significance in the fight against drug
trafficking. “This will help work out and realise the common strategy
and new mechanisms to counteract illicit drug trafficking,” he said.

The Armenian prime minister proposed “to think together how we can
use our accumulated experience better and more efficiently in order
to deliver a sensitive blow against drug trafficking.”

The CSTO Anti-Drug Coordinating Council gathered for a session in
Yerevan on Wednesday to discuss the fight against trans-national
crime and analyse the results of the Kanal-2005 preventive operation.

Armenia has no anti-drug agency and police deals with this
phenomenon. The session will also focus on the CSTO joint efforts to
counteract drug trafficking from Afghanistan.

The agenda also includes a draft concept of the united database to
prevent illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and their
precursors, and measures to battle their illicit trafficking.

The session is chaired by Viktor Cherkesov, head of the Russian
Federal Service for Controlling Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Circulation. The meeting involves representatives of Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and officials of the
CSTO secretariat.

The participants in the session will approve a document on the
Council’s working groups, cooperation on training personnel, exchange
of information, a plan of action and other issues.