Month: June 2005

The Messenger, Georgia
June 13 2005
Black Sea Business Day Hosted by BSTDB
Business discuss potential – and obstacles – for Black Sea region
businesses
By Messenger Staff
According to the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB), the
Black Sea regional economy is expanding, although further development
demands a more stable investment climate and a wider range of social
services for low income populations.
On June 6 BSTDB hosted the Black Sea Business Day in Yerevan,
Armenia.
An annual event, participants used this year’s meeting to explore the
investment potential of the Caucasus, the role of international
institutions, assistance to SME sector development, and financial
sector development.
According to Mustafa Gurtin, the chairman of the board of directors
and president of BSTDB, business prospects in the region are
expanding. He added, however, that the region needs to take steps to
“more liberal agriculture,” develop intellectual property rights and
improve access to textile and other commodity markets.
“[The region needs] a more stable investment climate and a wider
social safety net, targeting lower income segments, to ensure that
they are not adversely affected from the process of rapid economic
growth,” Gurtin said in his opening remarks.
He underlined that the government should act as a facilitator that
“encourages dynamism of the private sector and structures their
financial systems to make them more attractive for foreign
investments.”
The BSTDB, which as an authorized capital of approximately USD 1.325
billion, and the Izmirlian Foundation Joint Finance Facility (JFF)
announced the extension of two 5-year USD 425,000 and 500,000 loans
to two Armenian companies: OVAL Ltd and Valletta Ltd.
The financing will support the companies’ modernization and expansion
program. OVAL Ltd is Armenia’s leading manufacturer of polymer
packages for food products, in particularly in the diary industry.
VALLETTA Ltd. is involved many different aspects of the Armenian
economy; it also conducts business in Georgia and Russia.
In an interview with The Messenger, Gurtin highlighted that
assistance rendered to different countries does not depend on the
amount of shares owned by these countries. The priority is given to
the viability of the projects submitted by the countries – including
regional cooperation which complies with the BSTDB’s principles.
Representative of Georgia at the conference included Philip Sigwart,
the CEO of ProCredit Bank. The bank also received a USD 5 million
loan from BSTDB in January this year and is successfully implementing
a SME assisting program in Georgia.
In an interview with The Messenger, Sigwart said the meeting was
primarily a chance to talk shop with businesses and international
donor organizations active in the Black Sea region.
He also praised the BSTDB for “offering an alternative to IFC, EBRD,
with sometimes more flexible conditions.”
As for the potential of cross-border economic development in the
Black Sea region, he said this is “very good, but many obstacles
remain.”
“The main obstacles in the Caucasus region are of political nature,
for Georgia the conflict with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the
unclear relations with Russia; another major issue is the conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the closed border between Armenia
and Turkey,” Sigwart said, adding, “Other than that a major
impediment are the frequent problems on the border between Georgia
and Azerbaijan. With other countries like Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria,
Rumania trade works much smoother.”
Georgian Deputy Minister of Finance Lasha Gotsiridze also attended
the meeting. Gotsiridze supported the BSTDB activities in Georgia. He
added that Georgian financial organizations should further promote
cooperation with the bank.
BSTDB is an international financial institution established by
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Next year the annual meeting will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

AZ Central.com, AZ
June 12 2005
Armenian leader to bless site
Diana Balazs
The Arizona Republic
The spiritual leader of the world’s 7 million Armenian Apostolic
Christians will visit Scottsdale on Thursday to bless construction of
a new sanctuary.
His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all
Armenians, will visit the Armenian Apostolic Church of Arizona, 8849
E. Cholla St. Ceremonies begin at 4 p.m. His visit is part of a U.S.
tour this month.
The Scottsdale church is the only one in Arizona and serves the
entire state. Arizona has about 2,200 families of Armenian descent
with more than half living in the Valley. advertisement
The Scottsdale church has a multipurpose cultural center where both
religious services and non-religious activities are held. The plan is
to build a 6,000-square-foot sanctuary to be used only for Divine
Liturgy, its worship service, said Scottsdale resident Jerry Avakian,
chairman of the parish council.”It’s beyond what I can describe. It’s
not something that happens every day. It’s something that doesn’t
happen at all in most communities. It is very fortunate that he
selected to come here,” Avakian, 60, a real estate investor, said of
Karekin II’s visit.
This is his second visit to Arizona. In May 2001, Karekin II visited
Scottsdale as part of a U.S. tour celebrating the church’s 1,700th
anniversary. Armenia, which is in Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey,
is home to 2.9 million people, according to the World Factbook. It
was the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion
in A.D. 301.
Although Karekin II is blessing the sanctuary site, the actual
building groundbreaking won’t take place until early 2006, Avakian
said. The church still must obtain design approval from Scottsdale.
Church members are continuing with fund-raising efforts, said Donna
Sirounian, fund-raising chairwoman. The project is expected to cost
$1.5 million with about two-thirds of the money raised.
The Arizona Armenian community is a close-knit one with many
traveling far to attend the Scottsdale church.
Arsen Ovanessoff, 25, is a church sub-deacon who drives in from
Tucson. Ovanessoff and Sevag Hagopian, another church sub-deacon,
operate a Web site directory at that links
Armenians statewide.
Ovanessoff said he is excited about Karekin II’s visit.
“There are more Armenians outside of Armenia than actually inside
Armenia throughout the world. It’s exciting that the Catholicos is
coming. We call him the Catholicos. For me, particularly, he’s very
involved with the youth,” Ovanessoff said.
Sirounian, who lives in Goodyear, doesn’t mind the long drive to
Scottsdale. She said she is doing it for her two children, ages 2 ½
and 5 months.
“I’m doing it for them so they have a church to grow up in. It’s my
heritage and faith. It’s very important for me to continue it,” she
said.
–Boundary_(ID_Jk9+IJN9Q5zwh34tRxDO9Q)–

Hobbyists meet at Holiday Inn for Vermont State Stamp Show
By Gordon Dritschilo Herald Staff
Rutland Herald, VT
June 13 2005
Eighty-five percent of the stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service
never go out in the mail.
Instead, they end up in the hands of stamp collectors around the world.
“It’s a world history and a geography lesson and I’ve been doing it
since I was eight,” said collector Jerry Weitzenkorn of the Rutland
County Stamp Club.
Weitzenkorn, who lives in New York City but has a summer home in
Mendon, was one of dozens of hobbyists who gathered at the Holiday
Inn in Rutland Sunday for the Vermont State Stamp Show. He was sorting
through a massive box of loose U.S. stamps.
“I don’t collect U.S. stamps, believe it or not,” he said. “I just
use them to trade in Europe.”
The show, which is held every five years, is put on by stamp clubs from
Rutland, Bennington, Brattleboro, Quechee, Burlington and Montpelier.
“In the stamp world, they’re constantly having national and
international stamp shows,” said William Alsop, a member of the Rutland
club. “It’s a big thing. In Washington, D.C., or New York, or Chicago,
you can find stamps worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on display.”
While the collections on display in Rutland were more modest, they
offered a beautiful array of stamps and post cards, from modern stamps
commemorating people like Ronald Reagan and Robert Penn Warren to
older stamps from all around the world.
An exhibit titled “Shah of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlavi – A Philatelic
Biography” used stamps and text to trace the history of the deposed
monarch, starting when the first stamps bearing his image were issued
in his childhood.
Other stamps commemorated the Shah’s marriage, visits from foreign
rulers including Queen Elizabeth II, and his efforts at social
reform. Other stamps were held up as examples of the Shah’s vanity and
egomania. The record went right up to the last stamp issues bearing
the Shah’s image in 1978.
Other displays showed stamps from Australia and Brazil. Another
showed Vermont cigarette tax stamps, and another showed Polish stamps
commemorating the rebuilding of Warsaw after World War II.
One of the larger displays was a collection of antique postcards
bearing photos of Vermont. Owner Michael McMorrow of North Clarendon
said he had been collecting post cards since 1966.
“I bought a box of postcards at a house auction in Bristol,” he said.
“I thought they were interesting so I started collecting them.”
The pictures on the cards were from all over Vermont during the
first half of the 20th century. They included a water wagon on
Lake Bomoseen in 1910, a World War II airplane observation post in
Poultney, Rutland firefighters testing a steamer in 1909, Center
Street in Rutland decorated for a parade in 1915 and workers in a
Proctor Marble quarry in 1910.
Others included the Ko-Z-Diner in North Clarendon in 1935, the Trapp
family in Stowe in 1955, Christmas dinner at the Women’s’ Correctional
Center in Rutland in 1920, the first graduating class from Pawlet
High School in 1914 and workers at a Fair Haven saw mill in 1908.
Gathering a historical record of the state is what McMorrow said
appeals to him about collecting.
“It’s a look at the way Vermont was 50 to 100 years ago,” he said.
“It’s uncut history.”
Many collectors have specific areas they focus on, and Alsop said
there were plenty to choose from. Many people, he said, are interested
in revenue stamps. Alsop said the U.S. government held on to surplus
revenue stamps for many years before deciding to sell them off.
“These included marijuana stamps,” he said. “These were from many
years ago – to deal in that, you had to have a stamp. Every keg of
beer had to have one of these. If you went to the druggist to have
a prescription filled with codeine in it, that had to have a stamp.”
In addition to their historical interest, Alsop said many of the
revenue stamps are quite beautiful.
“Some are really fine 19th century engravings,” he said. “They’re
like little bank notes.”
Alsop said stamps also get put out by places that do not officially
exist. He pointed to an example that arose from the war between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“A big chunk of what Azerbaijan claimed as its territory is now claimed
by Armenia – Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said. “They put out stamps for
it. There’s been a big to-do about it, with Azerbaijan complaining
to the United Postal Union that Armenia can’t put out these stamps.”
While some collect stamps or post cards, still others collect
postmarks.
“Back in the period from the 1860s to World War II it was not at
all uncommon to travel all over the place,” he said. “Mail would be
forwarded to your hotel. If you had just left, they would forward it
again. Some of those envelopes were fantastic. They would religiously
forward mail. A three cent stamp would sometimes go all over the
world.”

Zaman Online, Turkey
June 13 2005
So-Called Genocide’s Passionate Claimer Manoyan Seeks Dialogue
By Fatih Ugur,Tuncay Kayaoglu
Published: Monday 13, 2005
zaman.com
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Balikesir Deputy Turhan
Comez, who continues his contacts in the Armenian capital Yerevan,
held a surprise talk yesterday with Giro Manoyan, deputy of the Dashnak
Party and one of the most passionate claimers of the so-called Armenian
“genocide” allegations.
Comez and Manoyan announced at a press conference following the talks
that Armenian-Turkish relations should be developed. “A dialogue is
certainly necessary,” said Manoyan, “However, building a dialogue does
not mean that all problems are solved. Both parties should sincerely
express their perspectives. The media, in this respect, also has
a huge responsibility to undertake.” He acknowledged meeting with
a politician from Turkey for the first time: “We have conveyed our
stance. Negotiations are our hope. It is possible for our people to
live in peace together.” Comez in return remarked about the exchange
of opinions with Manoyan: “The meeting was held to share our intentions
and ideas. I thank Armenia for their hospitability. We, as two nations
sharing the same geography, can take steps forward in harmony and
mutual understanding, and open the channels of communication with
warm dialogue. Dialogue is a must. ”
Visiting the Horvirat Monastery at the Turkish-Armenian border,
the AKP Deputy bought a pigeon from local children and set it free
by saying, “This was the peace pigeon.” During the Monastery visit,
Comez also attended a national talk show on an Armenian television.
When asked, “Why didn’t you visit the genocide monument?” he replied
that it was not included in his program. To another question, “Will
you visit it during your next visit?” Comez answered by saying,
“Let’s not speak with false assumptions”.
for photo:
;ned=ca&q=armenia+OR+armenian+OR+armenians+OR+karabakh+OR+Qarabagh+OR+Garabagh+OR+karabagh&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&sa=N&start=20
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Budding diva lives up to buzz
BY ROB HUBBARD
Pioneer Press, MN
June 13 2005
So which do you find more rewarding in an artistic experience, breadth
or depth? Would you rather explore the work of one artist in hopes of
gaining greater understanding? Or do you find a buffet more satisfying,
with a variety of styles and approaches to choose from?
The opening weekend of the Schubert Club’s St. Paul Summer Song
Festival presented such a choice. After tenor Michael Schade offered
his insights into the presenter’s namesake with a concert-length
Schubert song cycle on Friday, young soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian
took the SPCO Center stage Saturday and explored the oeuvres of
nine composers, mixing and matching seemingly disparate works in a
triumphant recital that showed why there’s such a buzz about this
budding diva.
Originally from Armenia, the 30-year-old Bayrakdarian has been a
Canadian citizen since her teen years. As she made her mark with
regional opera companies north of the border, it became clear that
she had a talent too big for the world’s second-largest nation to
hold. Soon she won Placido Domingo’s “Operalia” competition and a
Metropolitan Opera award, and has landed on that company’s stage in
a number of prominent roles.
Although best known as an interpreter of Mozart and Handel, the
soprano set them aside Saturday and demonstrated some ear-opening
versatility. Her Rossini reputation precedes her, and an opening
set of four songs showed why, especially on a whirlwind rendition of
“La Danza” that left both performer and audience breathless.
Expertly accompanied by pianist Warren Jones, Bayrakdarian brought
her acting gifts to the fore on four mazurkas by Chopin collaborator
Pauline Viardot-Garcia, deftly capturing an adolescent’s combination of
wide-eyed innocence and feigned worldliness on a pair of works wrapped
around two conflicting looks at love. Each song proved memorable,
thanks to a voice as technically excellent as it is emotionally rich
and an expressive face ideal for both ingénue and character actress.
Not only did Bayrakdarian span the centuries from Rossini to the
world premiere of a moving song by Pierre Schroeder, but she offered
a whirlwind tour of moods from the tenderness of an Armenian lullaby
to the hot-blooded rage of Manuel de Falla. So fully did the soprano
inhabit each song, she made a convincing case that breadth can be
served with a lot of depth.
–Boundary_(ID_7oLhCYVHARjHHxu+kAFYbg)–

The Desert Sun, CA
June 13 2005
Father, son get ready for president
Immigrant and entrepreneur set to meet Bush
Erica Solvig
The Desert Sun
June 13, 2005
Steve Balian grew up in a poor section of Beirut and with just $480
in his pocket, he came to this country in the 1970s in search of the
American Dream.
Thirty years later, the 58-year-old Rancho Mirage father of three has
done enough for the Republican party to score him an invite to this
week’s 2005 President’s Dinner and Salute to Freedom in Washington.
“Since I came to this country, I supported Republican party and I had
no money,” Balian said. “The issue is standing next to the president
and supporting his principles. That’s more important than money.”
The Salute to Freedom event starts today in Washington. The National
Republican Congressional Committee-sponsored dinner, which will honor
President George Bush, is Tuesday night.
Event organizers won’t disclose names on the 6,000-person guest list.
But neither Balian nor Coachella Valley Lincoln Club President Herb
Temple knows of any other Coachella Valley residents who were invited.
“It means the world for me,” Balian said. “What a privilege to go.”
Balian won’t disclose how generous he has been – “it’s personal,” he
says – but he did say he was a table sponsor. The event’s Web site
says that designation comes with a $25,000 price tag and includes
VIP reception tickets, tours of the capital and one photo with
President Bush.
Standing by Balian’s side will be his son and “backbone,” Michael
Balian.
“I’m excited,” said Michael, president of Carpet Empire Plus in
Cathedral City, where Steve is the marketing and sales director.
“You’re in the White House. It’s seeing what America is all about.”
That’s what prompted his father to come here in the first place.
The youngest of seven boys, Steve Balian says he came from poor and
humble beginnings.
Growing up in Beirut, Balian met some American missionaries and had
friends who attended the American University of Beirut.
It was his introduction to the culture of the United States.
“I said, if American people (are) this nice, I am definitely going
to go to this country,” Balian said.
At age 26, he and his wife at the time came here in 1974.
He became a citizen in 1979.
They lived in Sherman Oaks, and Balian moved to the Coachella Valley
in the early 1990s.
During his time in California, he’s had flooring businesses in
Riverside and San Bernardino counties. He now works at his son’s
flooring and window furnishing store, where their office is plastered
with enlarged photos of his family, President Bush and Air Force One.
The Salute to Freedom event is Balian’s first trip to Washington.
The event is the annual fund-raiser hosted by the National Republican
Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial
Committee.
In years when a Republican is not in the White House, the event is
known as the House-Senate dinner.
About 6,000 people are expected for the Tuesday night dinner, but only
1,500 of them are expected to attend the other tours, luncheon and
nighttime cruise, according to Carl Forti, congressional committee
communications director.
Conference members are part of the small business council, which
include small business owners from across the country, Forti said.
“Most of them choose to give to the party,” he said. “But you do not
have to give to be part of it.”
Balian has been a party supporter for years. Besides giving to the
Republican party, Balian has been involved in other fund-raising
events, including being named a major donor for the new Kirkjan Family
Hall at the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert in Rancho Mirage.
But Balian maintains it is not about the amount of money.
“It is more than fundraising,” Balian said. “It is principle issues
for me.”

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
June 13 2005
Tabriz, Yerevan to bolster bilateral ties
Tabriz, East Azarbaijan prov, June 13, IRNA
Visiting Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan met with the Governor
General of the Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan,
Mohammad-Ali Sobhanollahi on Monday, discussing ways to bolster
Tabriz-Yerevan relations.
During the meeting, Sobhanollahi pointed to the province’s economic,
scientific, industrial and trade potentials, calling for consolidation
of cooperation between the two cities.
He called on Armenian officials to accelerate construction of a
transit road between the two regions and settle the transit problems.
Referring to Iran’s abundant energy resources, he said it was
inevitable for neighboring states to cooperate with Iran in this
regard.
He voiced his province’s readiness to boost all-out cooperation with
Yerevan within the framework of the two countries’ agreement.
Movsisyan, for his part, expressed his country’s interest in
cooperating with the Iranian city, underlining the need to construct
Iran-Armenia pipeline to transport oil from Iran to Armenia.

Tehran, Baku set up commission to probe Iranian TV ‘invasion’
Jun 13, 2005, 12:39 GMT
Monsters and Critics.com, UK
June 13 2005
Baku, 10 June: A special commission is expected to investigate the
invasion of Azerbaijan’s broadcasting space by Iranian TV channels,
Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov
said on 10 June. The issue was discussed during Ahmadov’s official
visit to Iran in early June.
“After the talks it was decided to set up a special commission to
investigate the matter,” Abbasov stressed.
Abbasov was invited to Iran by Iranian Minister of Communication and
Information Technology [Seyyed Ahmad] Mo’tamedi. The two sides held
talks on information and communication technologies and discussed
regulating common communication lines and broadcasting in border
areas and other issues.
The minister said that the Iranian programmes, as well as the
Armenian ones from Nagornyy Karabakh, are being illegally broadcast
in Azerbaijan. Abbasov said: “The broadcast of Armenian channels will
be prevented to a certain extent following the commissioning of a
new TV tower in Agsu [in central Azerbaijan],” Abbasov noted.
Together with the executive authorities of Baku the ministry is
planning to install sensors on top of skyscrapers to ensure a
better transmission of TV and phone signals often hindered by the
newly-constructed tall buildings.
“All these problems will be resolved after the expansion of digital
TV in Baku soon,” Abbasov said.

CRI, China
June 13 2005
China and Armenia to Advance Ties
2005-6-13 19:18:55 CRIENGLISH.com
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing says China wants to promote
cooperation with Armenia.
Li Zhaoxing made the statement during a meeting with his Armenian
counterpart on Monday in Beijing.
Li Zhaoxing noted that China values Armenia’s adherence to the
one-China policy.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said his country gives
considerable attention to developing cooperation with China. He also
expressed gratitude to China for assistance in economic and social
development.
Vartan Oskanyan will pay an official visit to China from June 12th
to 14th.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/13/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ARF Candidates Pakradouni and Kasarji Victorious in Parliamentary Elections 2) Chirac's Arch-Rival Sees No Urgent Need for EU Talks with Turkey 3) President Ghukasian Promises Fair Elections 1) ARF Candidates Pakradouni and Kasarji Victorious in Parliamentary Elections Intense voter turnout characterize polls in the Metn area, the second district in Lebanon's third round of elections; Lebanese Armenians hold massive pre-election rally, followed by huge voter turnout BEIRUT (Combined Sources)--If a rally of 20,000 people in Bourj Hammoud on Friday, June 10, was any indication of Armenian show of force in Lebanon, it also served to prelude their determination to elect to parliament two Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) candidates, Hagop Pakradouni and Georges Kasarji, two days later in the Metn and Bekka districts. The party, in spite of certain criticism for boycotting the first round of elections, nevertheless, garnered widespread support as masses turned out to vote in the predominantly Armenian populated area of Bourj Hammoud, as well as the village of Anjar in the Bekka Valley, where unofficial numbers placed voter turnout at 99 percent. In Bourj Hammoud, voters came out as polling stations opened, and by 2:30PM, 85-90% of eligible voters had cast ballots. Official observers described it as "intense voter turnout." According to reports from Lebanon, ARF centers--which were transformed into voter information centers the night before the election--were buzzing with activity. Determined to elect ARF representatives to parliament, supporters--especially youth from the Zavarian Student Organization, Lebanon's Armenian Youth Federation (LEM), Homenetmen, and other organizations-- chose not to sleep, but prepared for elections. "I'm positive that we're going to win because the seat allotted to the Armenian community can only be filled by the candidate that truly represents that community. I'll work for not one day, but for months to ensure the ARF wins and Lebanese Armenians have someone to express their concerns in parliament," said one of the young volunteers working to ensure a smooth vote. Asbarez editor Vatche Proodian spoke with Hagop Pakradouni on Monday, who said preliminary results reveal that of the 11,000 Armenian voters in Metn district, 10,100 voted for him, and 900 for opponent Raffi Madeyan. The general vote in Metn shows Pakradouni getting 53,272 votes and Madeyan 25,043. Aside from a few independent candidates, two electoral lists waged a fierce battle in Metn for eight seats in Parliament: one backed by Michel Aoun, the ARF, and deputy Speaker Michel Murr; and the opposition's list, which contained Nassib Lahoud, Gabriel Murr, and Pierre Gemayel. Unofficial counts showed candidates backed by Aoun set to clinch 15 of 16 seats up for grabs in Metn, as well as Byblos-Kesrwan. At a victory party Sunday evening, Pakradouni spoke to a packed crowed gathered next to the ARF center. "This victory is not mine but yours--it's a triumph for Lebanese Armenians." Thanking everyone, Pakradouni said, "Our strength is in our unity; we are strong only when we are one, and only then can we realize all our dreams." Pakradouni said that as the ARF was born of the people, and since its creation has worked to promote their welfare, he pledged to do the same in the coming four years--to serve the interest of those who both he and the ARF are indebted. In Zahle as well, early indications show a clean sweep for a list headed by Elias Skaff, the ARF, and Aoun, which includes ARF candidate Georges Kasarji. With just one round of voting left next week, the major task for the incoming parliament will be to address the thorny issue of the disarming of Lebanese resistance group Hizbullah, as demanded by the international community. There is also the equally problematic issue of the future of Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud. Calls for Lahoud's resignation have increased in recent weeks as the opposition's victory became more certain. But after casting his vote in Mount Lebanon, Lahoud insisted: "I am staying until the last moment in my tenure and this is because I believe that the Constitution says so." Lahoud added: "We did as much as possible to stop corruption but there are so many corrupt people in politics so I voted for the people who will stop corruption." He also urged Parliament to issue a new electoral law to replace the current law, which was adopted in 2000. At stake on Sunday were 58 of Parliament's 128 seats. But only 56 seats were up for grabs since Druze opposition leader Walid Jumblatt and his ally, Marwan Hamade, had already won uncontested in the Chouf district. Forty-two MPs have already been elected in the first two rounds. In Beirut, the son of slain former Premier Rafik Hariri won all of the area's 19 seats by a landslide. In South Lebanon, Hizbullah and Amal also swept all the region's 23 seats. 2) Chirac's Arch-Rival Sees No Urgent Need for EU Talks with Turkey PARIS (AFP)--French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, also head of the ruling party, said Saturday that there was no urgent need for the European Union to open accession talks with Turkey and pushed instead for a partnership with Ankara. "Is it reasonable to open negotiations with Turkey which is a big nation in Asia Minor, not Europe?" said Sarkozy at a meeting of his party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). Sarkozy said it would cause less "bitterness" if the EU considered offering Turkey immediately the status of a privileged partner. "There is no urgent need to engage in negotiations (for EU accession) with Turkey," he said. The 50-year-old politician, who has made it clear he would like to succeed President Jacques Chirac, said it was time "to rethink our European strategy" and that the first priority was "to fix Europe's geographic borders." "I supported the EU enlargement to the east, although it was done without sufficient preparation or explanation," said Sarkozy, adding that concern over EU expansion was one of the issues that contributed to the victory of the "no" campaign in last month's referendum in France on the EU constitution, which the UMP supported. Chirac has said he is in favor of the opening of talks with Turkey on October 3 to join the EU, rather than pursuing a partnership status. Sarkozy also told the UMP meeting that the party would hold a congress early in 2007 to choose its candidate for the presidential election that year. Besides Chirac, who has not said whether he will seek a third term, Sarkozy's rivals for the presidential nomination include the country's new prime minister, Dominique de Villepin. 3) President Ghukasian Promises Fair Elections YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Mountainous Karabagh Republic president Arkady Ghukasian assured that the country~Rs authorities are doing everything possible to ensure fairness in the upcoming parliamentary elections on June 19. ~SThe Nagorno Karabagh Republic authorities will take every effort to make sure the upcoming parliamentary elections are fair, objective, and transparent--there is no other alternative,~T Ghukasian stated on June 11 in Stepanakert. ~SAll political forces realize that no power chair, no post can be compared with the country's destiny and image. It is natural that everybody tries to present himself better than he really is, but the people have the opportunity to compare words and deeds, things said and done. I hope that they will make the right choice,~T the President said, expressing confidence that all sides will be represented by worthy candidates. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.