Kremlin Loses Its Grip On A Dying Empire

KREMLIN LOSES ITS GRIP ON A DYING EMPIRE
By Richard Beeston

The Times , UK
May 24 2006

Four former Soviet republics are set to abandon eastern commonwealth
and look West.

ONE of the last vestiges of the Soviet Union appeared to be crumbling
yesterday, when four former republics signalled that they were pulling
out of the organisation established to keep the Kremlin connected
with its lost empire.

At a meeting in Kiev the leaders of the pro-Western states of
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine pledged to form their own
association to promote democratic values. They also hinted that
they would leave the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which
was created 15 years ago as a group representing most of the former
Soviet republics.

While the CIS never fulfilled any great economic or political
function, its very existence was supposed to reflect Moscow’s
continued influence from Eastern Europe to the Caucasus and on to
Central Asia. But ties between the Kremlin and some of its former
client states have deteriorated in a wave of democratic movements
that swept pro-Western leaders into power in Georgia and Ukraine and
encouraged anti-Russian sentiment in Azerbaijan and Moldova.

The new group will be called the Organisation for Democracy and
Economic Development and will be based in Kiev. It will rival the CIS,
which is based in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, where it is headed
by Vladimir Rushailo, a tough former Russian Interior Minister.

Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian President, said: “Our citizens
are giving us a mandate to develop strong democratic and successful
states.” The move is seen as a huge snub to Moscow, which has not been
invited to join. It faces the prospect of being left in a CIS of eight
states, including Belarus, regarded as the last dictatorship in Europe,
Armenia, and the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The splits within the CIS ranks have
been growing in recent months. Moscow, which backed Mr Yushchenko’s
opponent in the Ukrainian elections, clashed with Ukraine this year
when it suspended gas sales, causing an energy crisis across Europe
in the middle of winter.

The Kremlin has also rowed openly with Tbilisi over Russian support
for two breakaway regions in Georgia and its reluctant withdrawal of
troops from the country. Moscow’s recent decision to ban the import
of Georgian and Moldovan wine has strained ties further.

Azerbaijan has provoked the ire of Moscow by developing close ties
with the US, and building an oil pipeline to pump crude from the
Caspian Sea to Turkey, bypassing traditional Russian control over
energy supply routes.

Moldova signalled yesterday that it may be the first country to quit
the CIS. President Voronin said that the issue would soon be debated
in parliament, where the move was likely to be approved.

Zurab Nogaideli, the Georgian Prime Minister, said that his country
was also debating the value of remaining in the CIS, and that the
question of withdrawal would come up before parliament this summer.

“Many in Georgia have been very critical of the CIS, of its
performance, of its efficiency, and we, as a government, are
accountable to the people’s concerns,” he told The Times during a
visit to London.

He said that Georgia had attempted to make the CIS more efficient
and capable of dealing with important bilateral disputes, such as
the Russian wine ban, but that the CIS was incapable of addressing
real issues.

“What is the sense in having an organisation that fails to discuss
basic issues that affect the countries concerned?”, Mr Nogaideli said.

“It seems to me that Russia itself is not interested in the CIS,
in reality. They want to keep it as an organisation, but they don’t
want it to be an effective and functional organisation. Russia only
keeps it for prestige.”

Vahan Hovhannisian Awarded Fritjof Nansen Medal

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN AWARDED FRITJOF NANSEN MEDAL

Yerkir.am
May 19, 2006

Natioanal Assembly Vice-speaker and Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian was awarded Friday a Fritjof
Nansen gold medal for public humanitarian activities and active
involvement in Armenian Genocide recognition process.

Bestowing the medal, Felix Bakhchinian, chairman of the Fritjof
Nansen Foundation, Hovhannisian was awarded the medal not only as a
politician but also as an intellectual and archeologist.

Hovhannisian, in turn, said the Armenian society sees the importance
of the Genocide recognition. “But I cannot consider me as the real
owner of this medal, it is for my part of the huge work the ARF Bureau
has been doing,” Hovhanisian said. “That enormous work is not for
only one person, or one body. It is the work of the Hay Dat offices
scattered around the world, of our compatriots and now the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.”

The Fritjof Nansen Foundation was established in Moscow in 1994,
in 2002, it moved to Armenia. About 100 people have been awarded the
medal during the 12 years of its existence.

Will Good Monitoring Punish Enterprises?

WILL GOOD MONITORING PUNISH ENTERPRISES?

Panorama.am
16:13 18/05/06

Several substances exceeded the set norm in the composition of air in
our republic, including dust by 1,5 times, sulfur dioxide by 2,2 times,
nitrogen dioxide 2,7 times. The monitoring was conducted in March,
this year, studying 1572 samples. The ministry has not analyzed yet
the results of April monitoring.

The figures may not be very accurate because of old
equipment. Specialists also need training. Simon Papyan, Environmental
Protection deputy minister said today that the presented data do
not comply with international standards but are good guides in the
field.

BAKU: Armenian FM Allows Organization Of A Dialogue Between Azeri,Ar

ARMENIAN FM ALLOWS ORGANIZATION OF A DIALOGUE BETWEEN AZERI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS
Author: À.Mammadov

TREND, Azerbaijan
May 16 2006

The Armenian Foreign Minister does not rule out a probability
of organization of a dialogue between the Azerbaijani and Armenia
Presidents. But stressed that all will depend on results of the meeting
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers and the mediators’
forthcoming tour of the region.

Oskanian said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ visit to the region
was scheduled for late May, Mediamax reports.

The Armenian diplomat stressed that the mediators presented to the
conflict sides some mew ideas, which will be discussed in meeting
with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, to be held this
week in Strasbourg under a meeting o the CE Ministerial Committee.

Any proposal has positive and negative aspects, and all disputable
issues should be resolved during the talks in the course of talks. We
will try to bring closer our positions,” the Armenian FM assured.

–Boundary_(ID_yqjiCL8+pVWOwpnu4Fh6JQ)–

Tehran: Iran can connect Armenia to world: Official

Iran Mania, Iran
May 14 2006

Iran can connect Armenia to world: Official

Sunday, May 14, 2006 – ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, May 14 (IranMania) – Head of Armenia’s Chamber of Commerce
Martin Sarkisian said that only Iran can act as a highway to connect
Armenia to the world, said IRNA.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the first specialized
exhibition on the products of his country in the provincial capital
of Sari, he said that since the independence of Armenia Iran has been
his country’s major partner in all modern economic fields over the
past decade.

He referred to the great attraction of the exhibition on potentials
of Mazandaran province in Armenia to businessmen and said that it
paved the way for inking several cooperation agreements between the
two sides.

“Armenia’s first exhibition in Sari aims to introduce the province to
Armenian producers. As a first experience, we hope that the event
will help strengthen bilateral relations,” he added.

The Armenian official said that his country and Mazandaran province
mostly cooperate in scientific, medical and agricultural fields as
well as rendering various services.

For his part, Deputy Head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries
and Mines, Alaeddin Mir-Mohammad Sadeqi, referred to 30 chambers at
the provincial capitals across the country and said, “Even in some
provincial cities chambers of commerce have been established, which
can prepare the ground for cooperation with other countries.”

He added that continued communication between the two sides will be
in the interest of both Iran and and Armenia.

Don’t People Need Honest People?

DON’T PEOPLE NEED HONEST PEOPLE?
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

Lragir.am
12 May 06

The developments involving the Orinats Yerkir Party fit the logic of
pre-election developments, stated Member of Parliament Hrant
Khachatryan, the leader of the Constitutional Right Union, in a news
conference on May 12. According to him, the government is facing a
problem of keeping what it has, and, considering the pressure on
behalf of international organizations, holding elections concealing
electoral fraud.

Under these circumstances, Hrant Khachatryan thinks that the
government will try to render neutral the forces in the parliament,
which are a more or less independent, trying to shape a National
Assembly with more controllable members. Hrant Khachatryan views the
campaign against the Orinats Yerkir in this context. Hrant Khachatryan
says the Orinats Yerkir may not only secede from the coalition but
also find a more effective strategy. `We would not secede, we would
stay and fight,’ says Hrant Khachatryan. He says it is possible that
what happened is a game. According to Hrant Khachatryan, the game may
alsobe determined by the upcoming elections, calculated to win over
votes. But the member of parliament also says that there are a lot of
arguments that thisis not a game. One of these arguments is
long-lasting contact with the members of the coalition; Hrant
Khachatryan says the coalition colleagues of Orinats Yerkir have
always disliked this political party. Hrant Khachatryan also gives the
example of Artashes Tumanyan, which in the beginning appeared as a
game, but now obviously Tumanyan is having serious problems.

Besides, Hrant Khachatryan emphasizes that as a part of the
government, the Orinats Yerkir has always had its standpoint on
certain issues. At any rate, even if this is a game, people may accept
it, says Hrant Khachatryan, seeing that Arthur Baghdasaryan can make
changes in the country’s life. Hrant Khachatryan says there is no need
for confessions. `I cannot even feel the public demand for
confessions. The society does not need an honest person. It needs fast
changes,’ says Hrant Khachatryan. He also thinks that the future place
of the Orinats Yerkir in the political sphere and in the opposition is
determined by the opinion of the same people. `I am deeply convinced
that the opposition is not a hangout of losers or the repressed, a
temporary shelter, where they can stay, have a rest and try to take
power in one way or another. There are political parties which
expected and even prepared for the entrance of Arthur Baghdasaryan to
the opposition, and there are political parties to whom the secession
of Orinats Yerkir from the coalition means weakening of the coalition
and not strengthening of the opposition,’ says the leaderof the
Constitutional Right Union.

He believes that in the beginning people, and especially the ordinary
members of the Orinats Yerkir must evaluate, either accept or decline
the Orinats Yerkir Party. Hrant Khachatryan says personally he is not
happy about the weakening of the coalition or the prospect of
strengthening of the opposition.

Hrant Khachatryan is concerned by the impact of these developments on
the political sphere.

‘Orinats Yerkir’ Party Will Join the Opposition

‘ORINATS YERKIR’ PARTY WILL JOIN THE OPPOSITION

Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. After leaving the ruling Coalition the
Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party will take its own way and join
the opposition, said on a press conference at the National Assembly
Arthur Bagdasarian, leader of the party at the same time admitting
that the opposition bloc possibly will not welcome that.

Arthur Bagdasarian said that on May 22 he will submit the parliament
his application of resigning his office. Speaking about the today
meeting with the coalition representatives he refused to say anything
of the Presidents’ and Dashnaktsutiun party members’ reaction to
Orinats Yerkir’s decision to leave the Coalition. Mr. Bagdasarian
explained this decision by disagreement of the ruling parties on three
main topics – inner political, social-economic and external political
issues. He admitted that he could remain in the office of the Speaker
even after withdrawal from the Coalition, but he said he is morally
obliged to resign.

Bagdasarian assured that Orinats Yerkir has ever condemned and will
always condemn the negative occurrences in Armenia – corruption,
criminal in economy, privatization of state property, etc. He alleged
that Orinats Yerkir members never abused their authority to their
personal benefit although they had the opportunity. ‘Orinats Yerkir
has ever honestly told the truth and has ever been criticized by those
whose strife against those vices was only fiction. We are determined
to work hard for the progress of Armenia. Our device is “For the
People and with the People”, said the party leader. –

We Have No Political Culture

WE HAVE NO POLITICAL CULTURE

Panorama.am
12:53 11/05/06

“I think that the political culture is underdeveloped here. Otherwise,
we would not be called a post-Soviet country but a democratic state
based on rule of law.

We have much to do in this regard,” Human Rights Ombudsman Armen
Harutunian told a conference at Yerevan State University.

He thinks that adoption of laws and structural changes are not the
most important things for post-soviet countries as long as the soviet
states had some achievements in those fields. “We need development
of a political culture so that people change their mentality and ways
of thinking,” he said.

Another issue is whether the adopted laws are, in fact, enforced or
the structures are functional.

According to political scientist Aghasi Yenokyan, Armenian has stayed
behind of democratic processes during the last few years. “Structures
and institutions for a democratic state are in place.

However they do not perform their basic functions,” he said.

Armenia is in more favorable conditions in terms of democracy as
compared with Azerbaijan, he said. “But compared with Baltics,
we have much to do because our country has never experienced fair
elections, as the Ukraine or Georgia have done,” says the political
scientist.

Serge Sargsian Awards “Cilicia” Vessel Crew With RA Defence Ministry

SERGE SARGSIAN AWARDS “CILICIA” VESSEL CREW WITH RA DEFENCE MINISTRY’S “ADMIRAL ISAKOV” MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 11 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Cilicia” Captian
Karen Balayan and Seaman-Commissar Zori Balayan presented the process
of organizing preparatory works for “Cilicia” vessel’s navigation
along rivers of the Russian Federation as well as issues connected
with bringing the vessel to Armenia at the May 10 meeting with Serge
Sargsian, the Secretary of the RA National Security Service attached to
President, the Defence Minister. The Minister expressed satisfaction
with the successful implementation of the first and second stages of
the navigation, mentioning that the gathered experience and skills
will greatly assist ending the final stage with glory. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by RA Defence Minister’s Press Secretary Colonel
Seyran Shahsuvarian, at the end of the meeting Serge Sargsian awarded
“Cilicia” vessel’s staff sailed to ocean with the RA Defence Ministry’s
“Admiral H.S.Isakov” medal for re-establishing medieval traditions
of the Armenian navigation and shipbuilding, strengthening the
Armenia-Diaspora national unity.

Relatives Bury Urns In Memory Of Missing Armenian Crash Victims

RELATIVES BURY URNS IN MEMORY OF MISSING ARMENIAN CRASH VICTIMS

Agence France Presse — English
May 10, 2006 Wednesday

Relatives have begun symbolically burying urns with Black Sea water
and sand in memory of missing victims of an Armenian plane crash last
week whose bodies have not been recovered.

“It is very important for Armenians to have a burial place after
death,” said a relative of Armenia’s former interior minister Khusik
Arutiunian, one of the victims when the passenger aircraft plunged
into the Black Sea on May 3.

“We bury an urn with sand and thus have we have a place to reflect,
sorrow and light candles.”

Further funeral masses were celebrated Wednesday in memory of all
113 passengers and crew who died when an Airbus A320 operated by the
Armenian airline Armavia plunged into the sea as it tried to land at
Sochi in bad weather on a flight from Yerevan.

Some 1,500 mourners lit candles at the Church of Saint Gregory at
Yerevan, capital of the Caucasian republic.

Of the 51 victims recovered, 47 had been identified, said the Russian
emergencies ministry.

French specialists were helping Armenian and Russian authorities in
their search for plane fragments and the flight recorder, known as
the black box.