30 November 2006

TRANSITIONAL ANTHEM

Yesterday the NA adopted the draft “About the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia ” by 64 “for”, 6 “against”, 4 “abstained” votes. ARF didn’t vote. Three members of ULP voted against. Prime Minister Andranik Margarian told the reporters that the ULP leader had proposed to select Aram Khachatrian’s music. “It was inadmissible for the government”, - the PM said.

“CONSTRUCTIVE” STAGNATION

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have positively marked the duration of negotiations in Minsk . According to “Arminfo”, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said to journalists in “Zvartnots” airport. In his words, Kocharian and Aliev have stressed on the constructive character of negotiations. The RA Foreign Minister says that the presidents have focused the main attention on those items of the document round of which they haven’t come to any agreement. “I still can’t give any remark whether a progress has been recorded or hasn’t but both presidents have positively marked the meeting. I think they will analyze everything thoroughly in the coming days after which the foreign ministers will be ordered about the further activities”, - Vardan Oskanian has mentioned. Speaking about negotiating process in 2006, Oskanian mentioned that the intention was positive. In his opinion, though there aren’t serious changes but there aren’t also steps back. “I think the negotiating process hasn’t suffered in this period; we must wait for the further steps in 2007. At this moment I won’t speak about the content of yesterday negotiation, I can only say that such issues were being discussed round of which both sides hadn’t come to agreement yet”,- Oskanian summarized.

In his turn, the President of Azerbaijan has declared that the negotiations have reached to the last stage. “There have been different negotiating stages, but I can say that we reach to the finish”, - Aliev has said. He has mentioned that the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan has discussed all issues round Prague process. But there are still some arguable problems and both presidents have spoken about it. Considering the negotiations “constructive” Aliev has mentioned that there is no change in the position of Azerbaijan . “ Azerbaijan insists that the conflict must be settled round the principle of territorial integrity, the Armenian forces must go out from the occupied territories and the Azerbaijani refuges must return to their former settlements”, - Ilham Aliev reminded.