Author: Toneyan Mark

Jerry Brown Wins Nomination for California Attorney General

The New York Times
By JESSE McKINLEY
Published: June 8, 2006

With all precincts reporting, Mr. Brown had received 63 percent of the
vote versus 37 percent for Rocky Delgadillo, the city attorney of Los
Angeles. The Republican candidate, Chuck Poochigian, a state senator
from Fresno, was unopposed.

On Wednesday, Mr. Poochigian blazed through a series of interviews,
promising a serious challenge to Mr. Brown, the son of a former
governor, Edmund G. Brown Sr., and a three-time presidential candidate
who has spent nearly four decades in politics.

“My biggest challenge is overcoming Jerry’s name advantage,”
Mr. Poochigian, 57, said in a telephone interview from
Sacramento. “But Jerry has a bigger challenge to overcome, and that’s
his record.”

Mr. Brown embarked on his own campaign tour, barnstorming through the
state on a private plane, traveling from Oakland, across the San
Francisco Bay, to a pair of Southern California stops in Burbank and
San Diego; then north to Sacramento; and south again to Bakersfield
and Los Angeles.

Along the way, Mr. Brown ventured to Mr. Poochigian’s turf in the
Central Valley to address police officials. At every stop, he sought
to remind voters of his credentials, including his “practical hands-on
experience” as a governor and a mayor.

“I’ve been an independent leader, not just an appendage of narrow
partisan politics,” said Mr. Brown, 68, before boarding a plane in San
Diego. “I’m running against a man who has basically been a staffer or
bureaucrat or a legislator. He’s never run a darn thing.”

But Mr. Brown said he expected a tough campaign, and predicted that
Mr. Poochigian would use negative advertisements to try to paint him
as being out of step with average Californians.

Mr. Poochigian promised to run “a truthful campaign,” but he was
already hammering Mr. Brown for a recent spike in crime in
Oakland. “In the case of Jerry Brown, the truth is going to hurt,” he
said.

In the election to determine Mr. Brown’s successor in Oakland, the
former congressman Ron Dellums appeared to have won, although
officials were still counting the ballots.

Mr. Poochigian has $3.3 million in his campaign chest, aides said, and
has already raised more money than any other Republican running for
statewide office except Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

But he probably faces an uphill battle in a state that often votes
Democratic. Mr. Brown’s vote total among Democratic voters on Tuesday
was just 771 shy of what Mr. Poochigian received from all Republican
voters.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ISSUED JOINT STATEMENT RELATED TO BUCHAREST TALKS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 5 2006

“The solution of Nagorno Garabagh conflict is urgent and it is possible
to achieve it”, this opinion has found its reflection in the joint
statement signed by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on settlement of
Nagorno Garabagh conflict after Bucharest talks.(APA).

The co-chairs have stated that 2006 is of significant period for
settlement of the conflict. “We are sure that proposed solution
variants to conflicting sides will help reaching of mutual agreement.
We feel regret for the sides not reaching an agreement on these issues
so far.”

THE REPUBLICAN KNEW

Lragir.am
06 June 06

News that appeared on Lragir.am on June 1, entitled “Republican Knew
It Has No Votes and Never Had” reported about an opinion poll conducted
by a group of Russian political technologists and sociologists invited
by the Republican Party on the eve of the parliamentary election in
2003. This publication stirred up politicians and the mass media,
whose reaction sometimes acquired ugly expressions, as it is accepted
in Armenia. Considering this interest, we present some facts from
this poll. We have chosen the indices concerning the three political
parties of the former coalition, the Republican Party, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation and the Orinats Yerkir Party, as well as
the United Labor Party. The ULP was also singled out because it came
replace to some degree the Orinats Yerkir Party in the coalition. We
note once again that the poll was ordered by the Republican Party,
on the eve of the parliamentary election 2003.

The outcome of the poll suggests that the leaders of the campaign
are Ardarutiun Alliance, the National Unity Party, the ARF and the OYP.

It is written in the conclusion of the poll that only the Communist
Party and the Republican Party can overcome the hindrance of 5
percent. Here are the results of the poll by regions.

Aragatsotn

ARF 4.6

REPUBLICAN 3

ULP 0.3

ORINATS YERKIR 10.5

Ararat

ARF 12.1

REPUBLICAN 4.7

ULP 0.4

ORINATS YERKIR 9.5

Shirak

ARF 8.6

REPUBLICAN 6

ULP 0.7

ORINATS YERKIR 19.9

Lori

ARF 5.8

REPUBLICAN 3.4

ULP 4.1

ORINATS YERKIR 25.9

Tavush

ARF 15.8

REPUBLICAN 5.6

ULP 0.3

ORINATS YERKIR 20

Once again we want to remind that the poll was ordered by the
Republican Party, and Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan ran for
parliament on the party ticket of the Republican, and, to put it so,
was not “declassified.” If it were ordered by another political force,
the abovementioned reaction would be natural.

Whereas in 2003 the Republican-Serge Sargsyan alliance got the majority
in the parliament.

STEVEN MANN LEAVING THE OSCE MINSK GROUP

ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 15:52

American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann was appointed
to another position at US Department of State, Azeeri media report.

“Another Co-Chair will represent the US in the OSCE Minsk Group,”
Mann said.

At the same time Steven Mann expressed his attitude regarding the June
5th meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Bucharest. He
noted that the Presidents held very intensive discussions.

“In the coming days the Co-Chairs will discuss the negotiation
results. They will plan the further steps and will deliver a report
on these at the recurrent sitting of the OSCE Permanent Council,
Steven Mann said.

TIGRAN TOROSYAN WANTS TO COMBINE TILL JUNE

Lragir.am
02 June 06

On June 1 Speaker Tigran Torosyan could not comment on his combining
the post of speaker and the position of the head of the Armenian
delegation tothe PACE. Meeting news reporters for the first time as a
speaker, Tigran Torosyan said the question of the delegation to the
PACE will be solved later.

`In every question, it is not important who is going to do one thing
or another. It is secondary. It is more important to know what
problems we have, what solutions we are looking for to reach an
effective settlement of problems in our life. The same is with the
Parliamentary Assembly, there are a number of problems,’ says Tigran
Torosyan. He is hopeful that the question will be discussed soon by
the leaders of parliamentary factions and chairs of committees, and
the best solution will be found. However, Tigran Torosyan is likely to
leave once more for Strasbourg in June.

TIGRAN TOROSYAN: NA CHAIRMAN’S POSITION IS HONORABLE, RESPONSIBLE AND OBLIGATING

ArmRadio.am
01.06.2006 17:27

“I consider the position of NA Chairman is honorable, responsible and
obligating,” said NA Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan. He emphasized three
main groups of questions, the intensions of resolving which provided
the ground for not refusing from his candidacy’s being suggested.

He attached great importance to the role of the Parliament in resolving
problems the country faces and noted that he highly emphasizes the
full implementation of Constitutional amendments in the legislature.

“Providing for the Constitutionalism of our life is of extreme
importance, taking into consideration the 2007 parliamentary elections
and the presidential elections in 2008, since a politically tense
period is awaiting us. We should effectively use the term we are
elected for and not leave the work for the post-elections period,
thus losing two years,” Tigran Torosyan said.

Arrangement and conduct of upcoming elections is of extreme
importance. The international community is curious whether
Armenia s able to hold elections corresponding to international
standards. According to Tigran Torosyan’s assessment, such questioning
only should be pitiful and insulting.

“We are obliged to hold elections in compliance with all international
standards, qualitatively changing the life and course of our
country. In the months to come the activity of the parliamentary and
non-parliamentary forces should be targeted at this,” the candidate
for NA Chairman said.

Tigran Torosyan considers that the three years of work with former
NA Chairman Arthur Baghdasaryan were effective.

THERE IS STILL A CHANCE TO SETTLE NK CONFLICT PEACEFULLY – AZERI DM
Author: E.Javadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 31 2006

Azerbaijan supports peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and there is still a chance to achieve it., Trend reports quoting
Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, speaking May 31 at the session
of CIS Defense Ministers Council in Baku.

He said Armenia ignores 4 valid resolutions of UN Security Council
regarding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces
from Nagorno-Karabakh and adjoining occupied lands of Azerbaijan, as
well as creation of conditions for refugees return to their homeland.

Occupation was also mentioned in PACE resolution 1416 on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict managed by PSCE Minsk Group. Abiyev added
that huge amount of unregistered military technique and ammunition
is accumulated on occupied lands, trade of weapon and components
of mass destruction weapon is performed, and drugs are produced and
distributed to other regions of the world.

Minister underlined that the time has come to acquire a new position,
to recognize Armenia as an aggressor and demand it meet international
regulations and leave Azerbaijan’s occupied grounds. Azeri national
will never get along with its grounds occupation and use all its
rights granted by international legislation to restore its territorial
integrity, Abiyev concluded.

MEDIATORS WILL NOT TOLERATE ANOTHER ‘RAMBOUILLET’
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents May Be Forced to Agree in Bucharest

Touching on the Nagorno Karabakh issues in February daily Azg ruled
out that the conflicting sides can come to terms at the Rambouillet
meeting. The reason we mentioned was that Azerbaijan’s public opinion
is not ready for any compromise settlement. Once such a document was
signed, the country’s leader would have problems back home. What
is the situation prior to the Bucharest meeting and how probable
it is that the meeting will yield if not an agreement than at least
a breakthrough?

Contrary to the Rambouillet meeting, the get-together in Bucharest
preceded by international pressure on the sides to come to terms. Thus
we can conclude that this time the co-chairs are instructed by the
states they represent to bring the stances of the sides closer.

For that reason during the last visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
to the region they were accompanied by the heads of foreign affairs
departments of their state. They visited only Azerbaijan and Armenia
but Not Nagorno Karabakh. It also speaks well for the fact that the
European delegation had a specific message to the heads of Armenia
and Azerbaijan and was not another “acquaintance with positions of
the sides”. It’s not accidental that after the European delegation’s
visit the sides announced about the Bucharest meeting.

This means that the mediating states hope to achieve an agreement and
are not going to tolerate another Rambouillet. It seems the slightly
edited settlement option of Rambouillet will be imposed upon Armenia
and Azerbaijan. But will the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan give
in to the mediators’ pressure? Will an agreement be signed? This is
going to be the toughest trial for both Robert Kocharian and Ilham
Aliyev. Yet, one thing is clear: refusal to sign an agreement can
have bad consequences for the two leaders. What agreement do the
mediators put forward?

Judging from the statements of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
and foreign ministers as well as mass media reports, the principles of
conflict resolution are roughly as follows: Armenia withdraws from 5
of 7 occupied territories neighboring Karabakh, Azerbaijan recognizes
the right for self-determination of the people of Karabakh and agrees
to hold a referendum there. Before the referendum Nagorno Karabakh
gets an interim status. According to the Western media, the issue of
Kelbajar region is still disputable.

Agreeing to these principles can cause serious inner political problems
for Kocharian and particularly Aliyev. Some of the principles are
extremely unbeneficial for Armenia and some for Azerbaijan. But the
Azeri president is in even tougher situation as the Azerbaijani society
does not even want to hear of Nagorno Karabakh’s self-determination.

However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a signed agreement in
Bucharest due to the international pressure.

PROFESSOR DORA BAGHDASARIAN ELECTED DEAN OF LAW DEPARTMENT OF URUGUAY STATE UNIVERSITY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 31 2006

MONTEVIDEO, MAY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Professor Dora
Baghdasarian was elected the Dean of the Law Department of the Uruguay
State University. As Diego Karamanukian, the Uruguay “Radio Armenia”
correspondent informs, the Uruguay Armenian lecturer and attorney
got 65% of votes during the elections of the Dean. Dora Baghdasarian
enjoys great respect among the scientific circles of South America,
is an author of numerous works.

AZERBAIJAN REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE PART AT THE 13TH PLENARY SESSION OF CLRP OF CE
Author: R.Abdullayev

TREND, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006

The Azerbaijani representatives will take part at the 13th plenary
session of the Congress of local and regional power of the Council of
Europe (CE) in Strasburg, Trend reports. Fikrat Mammadov, the Azeri
Justice Minister, will deliver a report before the participants of
the session on June 1.

On the same day, Anar Mammadov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation
in the Congress, will also deliver a report.

After the appearance of the representatives of the three countries of
Southern Caucasus, there will be held debates on the development of
the local democracy in regions. Georgian deputy parliament speaker
Mikel Machavarian and the president of national association of the
local self-government organs Mamuka Abulzade will speech on behalf
of the Georgia government. Armenian will be represented by the head
of the Armenian delegation in the congress Emmin Ertisyan.

The debates on “Local and regional democracy in Southern Caucasus”
is the 28th topic of the agenda of plenary session which started its
work today.