Author: Varosian Antranik

DEMOCRATIC POLLS ESSENTIAL FOR PROGRESS ON KARABAKH – AZERI EXPERT

Day.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 18 2006

Azerbaijani expert Eldar Namazov has said that the best way to settle
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict lies through democratic elections in
Azerbaijan and Armenia. In his exclusive interview with the Azerbaijani
website Day.az, he said that democratic elections are essential
because their end result will be a government that will be able freely
to manoeuvre politically for a settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict and will be free from outside pressures. The following is the
text of M. Arzu’s report by Azerbaijani website Day.az on 18 December
headlined "Eldar Namazov: The Armenian president’s statement implies
the beginning of a two-year delay in the Karabakh settlement":

Azerbaijani political expert Eldar Namazov has granted an exclusive
interview with Day.az.

[Correspondent] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has recently
said that he has decided to slow down negotiations over a Karabakh
settlement until after parliamentary elections in May 2007 because
he does not want the process to become a hostage to the election
campaign. What do you think is really behind this decision?

Kocharyan’s statement not surprising

[Namazov] In actual fact, this announcement should not really surprise
anybody since it has been known for some time that the election
campaign is a major influence on the negotiating process.

The practice of putting a freeze on the negotiations in this respect
is not a new one, and therefore, it is no coincidence that the OSCE
Minsk Group has insisted that a breakthrough be made when there are
no elections taking place in either Armenia or Azerbaijan. So it
is natural that the negotiating process should be on hold during an
election campaign. It is another thing that the leadership of Armenia
and Azerbaijan have not spoken openly about this to their people – it
was more of a gentlemen’s agreement between the two sides. Now it is
just that Kocharyan is the first to say this openly. In other words,
everything is proceeding as one might have predicted, and there is
nothing surprising in the president’s announcement.

Change of regime to facilitate conflict settlement

[Correspondent] Accordingly, one will have to wait for the next moves
in the Karabakh settlement until after 2008 when the presidential
elections in Azerbaijan and Armenia are over?

[Namazov] Yes, and international observers had warned of exactly that,
calling on the parties to show the political will for a breakthrough,
to take advantage of a realistic window for a breakthrough in 2006
and not to put off a decision for such a length of time. Furthermore,
any realistic moves towards a resolution of the conflict will be
possible only if in Azerbaijan and Armenia there are honest and open
elections, the result of which will be the formation of a government
whose actions really will have the support of its people.

At present, the existing governments of the two countries are simply
going through the motions of a negotiation process.

[Correspondent] In other words, a change of regime in Azerbaijan and
Armenia is a necessary condition for the conflict to be resolved?

[Namazov] I would say that it would make negotiations a little
easier. Although it is clear form history that even the most
authoritarian regimes can come to some agreement and fulfil its
conditions. A major factor in all of this is the following: how much
is the international community interested in putting pressure on the
parties to the conflict in order to make them come to a compromise?

Therefore, when I say that democratic elections are essential I mean
that the end result will not just be the election of a government
with the backing of a popular majority, but a government that will be
able freely to manoeuvre politically for a settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict and will be free from outside pressures. It is well
known that in the case of a falsified election there is an element of
pressure and certain forces start saying that they will turn a blind
eye to electoral violations, but in return demanding something back
on certain issues. That is why the best way to settle the conflict,
in my opinion, lies through democratic elections.

Autonomy for Karabakh

[Correspondent] How expedient would it be for us to allow another
two years for the separatist regime in Nagornyy Karabakh to exist,
which has in any case been the unrecognized but de facto regime for
more than fifteen years?

[Namazov] In this instance, we are choosing between the lesser of two
evils, for the alternative to negotiations would be military means
which, in my view, is not at present the best way to resolve the
problem. It is possible that with time we will be forced to revisit
the military option, but for now there is a chance to use peaceful
means, and we should take it.

[Correspondent] Some observers consider Baku to be at fault in talking
about its readiness to allow the Armenians of Nagornyy Karabakh as
much autonomy as possible, but not doing anything concrete towards
this idea. What is your opinion?

[Namazov] The level of autonomy of which the president of Azerbaijan
has been talking is predicated on the population of Nagornyy Karabakh
actually being given great freedoms in a wide variety of areas,
including culture, education, welfare and so on. Of course, there are
far-reaching principles concerning our sovereignty that one cannot
ignore. In particular, one thinks of foreign and defence policy,
and law. In other areas the population of Nagornyy Karabakh must be
given freedoms as understood in democratic Europe.

Kocharyan has no room for manoeuvre

[Correspondent] Where do you stand regarding the view that it is
in principle impossible to reach a just resolution of the conflict
with Kocharyan because he took part in the occupation of Azerbaijani
territory?

[Namazov] In answering that, I would like to take as an example two
Armenian politicians: Kocharyan himself and his predecessor Levon
Ter-Petrosyan. Both are considered initiators of moves to split off
part of Azerbaijani territory – one in Karabakh, the other in Armenia –
who came to power because of events in Karabakh.

This notwithstanding, Ter-Petrosyan was ready to find a compromise
and that was exactly why he lost power, making way for Kocharyan. It
is true that the current president has taken a hard line on the issue,
which is understandable coming from someone who overthrew Ter-Petrosyan
on the issue of not agreeing to a staged resolution to the conflict –
he has boxed himself into a hardline position.

Even if Kocharyan himself admits the need for a staged resolution as
do the OSCE, the international community and even a pragmatic section
of Armenian public opinion, it would be difficult for him to bring it
about from a political and psychological point of view. Such a change
of stance would threaten him with a public backlash as Armenians would
ask, why have we been groping around in the dark all this time when
we could have had a solution eight years ago?

In short, Kocharyan has left himself with no room for manoeuvre
and will maintain his position until 2008, the end of his term and
president. So I agree with the view that a compromise is impossible
while Kocharyan is in power.

[Correspondent] Could the situation improve if Defence Minister
Serzh Sarkisyan, considered the most likely successor to Kocharyan,
came to power?

I don’t believe that we need to think about the next elections for the
time being. The elections are a matter for the Armenian people, who
in 2008 will not just have to choose a candidate but also a position
on the Karabakh question. The future of Armenia depends on whether
it will live in peace with its neighbours or continue to teeter on
the edge of war with them as before. On this depends the path of the
country and of the region as a whole.

ELECTRIC POWER COST WILL GO DOWN, PRICE WILL NOT

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 22 2006

The project of modernization of the Thermal Plant of Yerevan costing
160 million dollars will be complete by the end of the year 2008, and
150-160 grams instead of the present 400 grams of gas will be used to
generate 1 kWh of electric power, said the minister of energy Armen
Movsisyan on December 22. After the reconstruction and modernization
of the fifth generating unit of the Thermal Plant of Hrazdan 250
grams instead of the present 330 grams will be used to generate 1 kWh
of energy. However, the electricity bill will not go down, the
minister broke the news. Part of these projects are implemented on
loans, and these loans need to be repaid.

Armen Movsisyan had also good news. Renewable energy has good
prospects in Armenia. We have 50 mini water power plants, another 50
are under construction, which will generate about 500 million kWh of
electricity, 10 percent of the demand of Armenia.

Armenia, which already has wind mills, will develop this sphere as
well. ~SAn Italian company is likely to set up a 902 megawatt wind
farm in Armenia. It implies an investment of 130 million dollars, it
implies that this sphere is attractive for business,~T Armen Movsisyan
stated.

This is not the end. Armenia, which imports 70 percent of energy
resources, is also trying to develop geothermal energy generation.

There is an arrangement with a company owned by Edwardo Ernekyan, the
owner of the company which manages Zvartnots Airport, to start the
construction of the first plant within the upcoming two years.

RA PARLIAMENT RATIFIED AGREEMENT ON EXTRADITION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.12.2006 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The RA parliament ratified Wednesday the Agreement
on Extradition between Armenia and Iran.

According to RA Justice Minister Davit Harutyunian the agreement is
targeted at consolidation of legal cooperation on extradition between
the two states.

Both sides are obliged to extradite any individual persecuted over
commitment of a crime in his state.

The Armenian Constitutional Court found this agreement corresponding to
the RA Organic Law. The agreement will come into force after mutual
notice of the sides on fulfillment of all essential procedures,
reports newsarmenia.ru.

Armenian National Committee of America
Western Region
104 N. Belmont, Ste 200
Glendale, CA 91204
Tel: (818) 500-1918
Fax: (818) 246-7353
email: [email protected]
internet:

ANCA-WR Praises Governor Schwarzenegger For Appointing Armenian
American to State Board

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Armenian National Committee of America —
Western Region (ANCA-WR) has welcomed Califorrnia Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s appointment of Frank V. Zerunyan, Esq. to the
state’s Medical Board. Zerunyan is a longtime supporter of the ANCA
and is currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem in the City of Rolling
Hills Estates.

"We are pleased that Governor Schwarzenegger has appointed an
outstanding Armenian American community member to an important
Consumer Protection board," commented ANCA-WR Community Relations
Director Haig Hovsepian. "Frank Zerunyan is a model Armenian
American who will serve our state with great distinction on the
Medical Board of California. His proven leadership skills will
serve him well as he seeks to enhance the Board’s Division of
Medical Quality," Hovsepian added.

"I am honored and humbled to have been appointed by Governor
Schwarzenegger to a consumer protection board in this great State
of California," Zerunyan remarked after the Governor announced his
appointment. "I am equally honored to represent 38 million
Californians on the Medical Board of California and more
specifically at the Division of Medical Quality. Public service has
been in my family for generations. It now comes full circle more
than 90 years later and more than 10,000 miles away from Ottoman
Turkey where my ancestors were murdered during the first Genocide
of the 20th Century," Zerunyan added.

In addition to serving as a Councilman in Rolling Hills Estates
since 2003, Zerunyan is an executive board member for the
California Contract Cities Association. He serves on policy
committees at the California League of Cities and Southern
California Association of Governments. Most recently, in 2006, he
was elected chairman of the board of governors for the Armenian Bar
Association. Zerunyan is the principal and founder of Public-
Private Community Development, LLC, a policy driven real estate
development company. Frank V. Zerunyan earned his J.D. from Western
State University College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from
California State University at Long Beach. He has also completed
his advanced legal studies in Corporate Taxation at the University
of Southern California’s Law Center.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community
on a broad range of issues.

#####

PHOTO CAPTION: Frank Zerunyan, Esq., who was recently appointed
to the California State Medical Board

ARMENIAN FM MEETS IRANIAN PRESIDENT

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Dec 18 2006

Visiting Armenian Foriegn Minister Vartan Oskonian and Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met here Sunday and discussed latest
developments in bilateral and regional affairs.

In the meeting, President Ahmadinejad told Armenian Foreign Minister
Oskonian that he believed friendly relations with neighboring countries
can contribute to peace and security in the region from which regional
states can benefit.

According to the Media Department of the President’s Office,
Ahmadinejad further referred to the two countries’ increasing
relations and said all available resources should be exploited to
realize the potential.

He also underlined implementation of agreements already reached between
Iranian and Armenian officials, referring in particular to the pipeline
to transfer energy between the two countries dubbed the "Pipeline
for Peace, Friendship and Development," which is nearing completion.

Vartan Oskonian, for his part, said that exchange visits by the two
countries’ officials have had a positive effect on relations.

Underscoring the importance his country attaches to strengthening
of mutual ties, he said completion of the Iran-Armenia gas line is
vital for Armenia’s energy supply.

KIRO MANOYAN: IF TURKEY ENTERS EUROPEAN UNION WITH ITS PRESENT STATE, IT WILL MEAN, EU IS, IN GENERAL, CLOSE BEFORE ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. To enter the European Union
(EU), Turkey must certainly be reformed, and the standard for
that reformation is the recognition of the Armenian Genocide for
Armenia. Kiro Manoyan, the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) office responsible
of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun stated about it at the December 16 press
conference. In his opinion, however, Armenia must not hinder from
Turkey’s membership to the EU. But that country, in K.Manoyan’s words,
did not implement the obligations taken still the last year, that’s, to
open ports and airports before Cyprus. "Our anxiety is the following:
one must not allow that Turkey, with its political accountings,
without being reformed, enters the EU," K.Manoyan mentioned, facting
that doors before Cyprus not opened yet, the EU continued with Turkey
the negotiations on membership. "If Turkey enters the EU with its
present state, it will mean that the EU is, in general, close before
us," the speaker concluded.

ARKADY GHUKASIAN RATES REACTION ON KARABAKH REFERENDUM AS ILLOGICAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 15:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU statement on the constitutional referendum in
Karabakh should not be perceived as negative attitude to democratic
processes in Karabakh, said EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby upon completion of the meeting with NKR
President Arkady Ghukasian. He remarked that according to assessment
of the international community, the level of democracy in Nagorno
Karabakh, however referendum carries some principal elements that
should be settled during the talks. "It specifically refers to Nagorno
Karabakh’s status," he underscored.

For his part Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian expressed
satisfaction with the meeting dedicated to discussion of serious topics
such as the constitutional referendum and the EU’s reaction on it.

"The EU’s reaction seems illogical to me. What does it mean to
recognize or not recognize the outcomes of the referendum or the
Constitution?" the NKR leader said.

In his opinion, here one should speak of the essence of
the Constitution or compare the Constitution of NKR and
Azerbaijan. "Comparison would be useful for both sides. They could
derive something for themselves and it would be beneficial for us
as well, since we would appreciate a dialogue with a democratic
state," he said. According to the NKR President the reaction of the
international community on the referendum is directly connected with
Azerbaijan’s policy. He emphasized that the international community
should promote democratic processes in Nagorno Karabakh and this will
have a positive impact on the talks.

"Negative reaction jeopardizes the negotiation process. With adoption
of the Constitution we inform the international community of principles
and goals of people of Karabakh," Ghukasian said. At that he reminded
that in summer 2007 presidential election will be held in Karabakh
and asked Peter Semneby whether the election will receive a similar
reaction.

In Ghukasian’s words, Mr Semneby answered that conduction of election
is very important and the presidential election should not arouse
the same (negative) reaction. The NKR President also informed that
the EU Envoy is going to visit Nagorno Karabakh in January 2007,
reports IA Regnum.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Armenian National Music Awards-2006

Armenian National Music Awards-2006

ArmRadio.am
15.12.2006 13:10

Last night the Armenian National Music Awards-2006 was held in the
National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Alexander
Spendiaryan. The ceremony was attended by RA President Robert
Kocharyan.

Hayko was named best male singer of the year. Hasmik Karapetyan and
Emmi shared the best female singer’s title. Silva was recognized
opening of the year. `Hayer’ became the best pop group, best rock
group’s title went to ` Empyray.’ Tigran Petrosyan’s `Whom’ album was
named the best. The hit of the year award went to `Blow Wind’ song of
the Hayq group. Arminka-Arman Hovannisyan couple was named the duo of
the year.

Special prizes were awarded to Varduhi Vardanyan, Andre and `Charles
Aznavour and friends’ project. `Red, blue, orange’ song written by
Avet Barseghyan and Armen Martirosyan was awarded Tigran Naghdalyan
prize.

MEKHAK AND VICTOR DISAGREE

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 14 2006

When the international organizations stated that they did not recognize
the referendum on the NKR Constitution, Victor Soghomonyan, the speaker
of President Robert Kocharyan advised them to keep silent. Meanwhile,
the secretary of the Businessman Parliamentary Group Mekhak Mkhitaryan
stated December 14 at the Friday Club that their silence would be
perceived as a sign of agreement, therefore the statements "are not
negative but watchful and natural".

Mekhak Mkhitaryan states that these statements will not have an
effect as long as the Karabakh conflict has not been settled yet,
and he does not think that these statements are the result of the
drawbacks of our diplomacy.

Mekhak Mkhitaryan has observed the referendum on the NKR Constitution
and reports two major differences compared with similar events in
Armenia: first, people are more active, and music is played at the
polling stations. Maybe the music makes people more enthusiastic,
and they go to vote with their families. Generally, "the referendum
was well-organized, no negative phenomena were reported."

THE AIR BLOCKADE OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE NO 102 IN GYUMRI
by Sarkis Gevorkyan

Hayots Ashkhar, Armenia
Dec 13 2006

Since 8 December a military and political blockade has been added
to the economic and communication blockade of Armenia as Georgia has
banned flights by Russian military aircraft to the Russian military
base in Gyumri via its territory. Under an agreement signed between
Russia and Georgia on 31 March 2006, Russia has the right to such
flights via the territory of Georgia. Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Mikhail Kamynin assessed this ban as an attempt to hinder
both the normal work of the Russian military base in Gyumri and the
withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia.

The reason is obvious: the ban on the planned flights of Russian
aircraft via Georgia to Armenia hinders the final withdrawal of
Russian bases from Georgia and they find themselves in a blockade.

But do Georgian national interests require the creation of extra
tension in Russian-Georgian relations? On 8 December, as a result of
talks held in Georgia, the Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian energy
ministers came to an agreement in principle that Georgia’s gas demands
would be satisfied at the expense of Turkey’s share of the Azerbaijani
gas to be received via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline in
2007. That is to say, Georgia’s share increased from 250m sq.m. to
1.5bn sq.m., which will almost cover Georgia’s demand in 2007, which is
estimated at 1.8bn sq.m. Thus, as soon as it became clear in Tbilisi
that Russia’s last attempts to stop gas supplies to Georgia by means
of putting pressure upon Baku had failed, flights by Russian military
aircraft were immediately stopped. In fact, this step by Georgia is
compensation for the generosity of "brotherly Azerbaijan". To save
Georgia from a gas blockade, Azerbaijan and Turkey asked Georgia to
hinder flights by Russian planes to Gyumri so that to deprive Armenia
of an opportunity to make use of its main strategic bases.

This option has also been proven by the second demand put forward to
Georgia by Azerbaijani political experts who suggest that Tbilisi
should sharply raise the transit price of the Russian gas supplied
to Armenia beginning from 1 January 2007. In this way Azerbaijan,
helped by Turkey, is trying to blame Armenia for the tension in
Russian-Georgian relations and to put our state in a military and
political, as well as energy blockade ahead of restarting Karabakh
talks in January 2007. Baku understands very well that the OSCE Minsk
Group mediators are resolute. Moreover, the West is doing its best
to remove Russia from the region. For this reason, they have to take
advantage of the created opportunity and, by supporting the West’s
strategy, foil the energy blockade of Georgia, turn "grateful" Georgia
into an instrument with the help of which Armenia will be blackmailed.

Being a member of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization,
Armenia at the same time did everything possible not to meddle in the
fight between the West and Russia over Georgia. But instead the 102nd
Russian military base is blockaded while Azerbaijan is threatening
to restart war and Turkey is pursuing an openly hostile policy.

We think that Armenia should draw conclusions from this story and
revise its policy towards Georgia. What is the point of taking a
neutral and even reserved position in the events concerning Georgia
if the latter is carrying out an openly anti-Armenian policy?