Month: June 2005

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS SERVED LITURGY IN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF
LOS-ANGELES
YEREVAN, JUNE 7. ARMINFO. His Holiness Garegin II Catholicos of All
Armenians, being with a Patriarchal visit to the Western diocese of
the USA of the Armenian Apostolic Church, served a Divine Liturgy at a
Catholic Cathedral in Los-Angeles.
As ARMINFO was informed in the press-service of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, His Holiness had repeatedly blessed the flock and
numerous guests. Supreme Patriarch presented a jubilee panagia
decorated with letters of the Armenian alphabet to the Primate of the
Western diocese of the USA archbishop Hovnan Terteryan for his devoted
service to the AAC.

COMMUNIST PARTY OF ARMENIA WELCOMES DISLOCATION OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT
FROM RUSSIAN BASE IN GEORGIA TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 7. ARMINFO. The Communist Party of Armenia welcomes
dislocation of the military equipment from the Russian base in Georgia
to Armenia.
According to the statement of CPA received by ARMINFO, the dislocation
of the Russian armament to Armenia will strengthen the security of the
country, contribute to lifting the blockade of the borders,
integration into regional processes and economic development of the
country. “The strengthening of the Armenian-Russian interstate
relations proceeds from the interests of Armenia will help the country
to counteract geopolitical challenges. The partnership with Russia
will contribute to establishment of stability in the South Caucasus,”
Armenian communists think. They express bewilderment with the fact
that several politicians in Armenia are against dislocation of the
Russian armament to Armenia. “Whose interests they protect – NATO,
USA, who even avoid the words Armenian Genocide?” CPA expresses its
decisiveness to repulse the anti-Russian political forces, the states
says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YOUNG DIPLOMATS CONFERRED ON FIRST DIPLOMATIC DEGREE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 7. ARMINFO. Young diplomats were today conferred on
First Diplomatic Degrees at the Armenian Foreign Ministry. Besides,
they ceremonially sworn in.
The press-service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informs ARMINFO
that Minister Vardan Oskanyan congratulated young diplomats on this
occasion. It should be noted that 12 young diplomats won a contest for
admission to the system of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia in November
2004. Then, they successfully overcome 6 months of probation period
and were conferred on degrees of diplomatic attache.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE: Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANC-PN TO HOLD INFORMATION SESSION FOR TRIP TO ARMENIA
What: Final information session about the ANC-PN Armenia 2005 Summer Trip
Where: Wednesday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m.
When: Armenian National Committee – Western Region Map Room
104 N. Belmont, 2nd floor, Glendale, CA 91206
Details: The Armenian National Committee – Professional Network
(ANC-PN) is hosting a final information session for interested
individuals about its Armenia 2005 Summer Trip on June 8 beginning at
7:00 pm. The session will take place at the ANC-WR’s Map Room. The
Armenia 2005 Summer Trip will be from August 11 to August 22. Light
refreshments will be served.
Additional details about the trip can be found at
For additional information contact (818) 500-1918.

URUGUAYAN PARLIAMENTARIANS CALL UPON TO EU TO DEMAND FROM ANKARA TO
RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY
YEREVAN, JUNE 7. ARMINFO. Collection of signatures under the appeal to
the European Union started in Uruguay’s parliament. Uruguayan
parliamentarians call upon to the EU to demand from Ankara to
recognize Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey early in the 20th
century.
As Radio “Liberty” informs, the collection of signatures under the
same appeal to the EU will take place in Argentine, Brasilia and
Paraguay, too.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reuters AlertNet, UK
June 7 2005
EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Presidential pardon for six Armenians jailed for
coup
Source: IRIN

LIBREVILLE, 7 June (IRIN) – President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has
pardoned six Armenian pilots who were sentenced to between 14 and 24
years in prison last November for allegedly taking part in a
mercenary plot to overthrow him.
In a decree read on national radio on the occasion of his 63rd
birthday on Sunday, the head of the tiny oil-rich West African state
said the pardon was “a humanitarian gesture” and ordered their
immediate release and “repatriation to their homeland.”
According to a translated report on the BBC monitoring service, the
Armenian TV AL+ website said the six Armenians, who repeatedly
proclaimed their innocence, are to be brought home this week and are
currently being treated in hospital.
The group, who made up an aircrew, were among 15 foreign nationals
arrested in March 2004 for allegedly taking part in a coup involving
around 70 mercenaries, most of them South Africans.
A German arrested with them died in detention about 10 days later.
According to Amnesty International, the six Armenians and five South
Africans who were finally convicted of plotting against the president
have spent the last 15 months handcuffed and shackled 24 hours a day,
including during the trial.
News of their release came as Amnesty International released a
20-page report summing up its comments on the November trial against
the alleged coup instigators in the capital Malabo.
“This trial did not respect international laws and standards for fair
trials, and breached national law,” the report said.
Among its recommendations, the rights watchdog called for a quick and
fair hearing of a defence appeal and an investigation into
allegations of torture and human rights abuse.
Nick Du Toit, a former South African soldier alleged to be the leader
of the group, said on the last day of the trial: “We were arrested
and chained and treated like wild animals and tortured by the
police.”
He was the sole defendant to have initially confessed to a role in
the conspiracy. He later said that his admission of guilt had been
obtained by torture.
The prisoners have been held in Equatorial Guinea’s notorious Black
Beach prison outside Malabo where Amnesty said last April they faced
starvation.
Obiang went on air at the time to deny the allegation, saying on
national radio “although there are many prisoners incarcerated at
Black Beach, they are well treated.”
The head of state has been widely accused of corruption and human
rights abuse during his 25-year rule of what used to be one of the
world’s poorest nations.
Equatorial Guinea now produces 350,000 barrels per day of oil and has
become Africa’s third-biggest oil producer after Nigeria and Angola,
but most of its 500,000 people still live in dire poverty.
Although oil generates US $30,000 per year for every one of the
Equatorial Guinea’s 500,000 inhabitants – giving the country a gross
domestic product per capita equivalent to that of Switzerland or
Denmark – life expectancy remains low at 49 and less than half the
population have access to clean drinking water, according the UN
Human Development Index.

Baku threatens Moscow with “countermeasures” over arms transfer to Armenia
Turan news agency
7 Jun 05
Baku, 7 June: Russia has responded to Azerbaijan’s note concerning the
redeployment of arms from Russia’s bases in Georgia to Armenia. Moscow
explained the move as an ordinary relocation of arms from one base to
another, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told
journalists today.
“From the legal point of view, it is perfectly normal to transfer arms
from one base to another. This holds true for both Russia and Armenia.
However, the South Caucasus needs demilitarization. For this reason,
there is no need for tanks and other heavy military hardware in the
region,” Mammadyarov said.
The minister also said that Baku may resort to “counter-measures”.
However, he stopped short of spelling out what that might entail.
A number of unnamed sources said in the local media that Azerbaijan
might reject further cooperation with Russia in the lease of the
Qabala radar station.

European powerhouses face easy opponents in World Cup qualifying
AP Worldstream
Jun 07, 2005
CHRIS LEHOURITES

Perennial European powerhouses Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and
the Czech Republic can significantly boost their chances of qualifying
for the 2006 World Cup finals with wins against relatively easy
opponents Wednesday.
The most competitive of the 13 scheduled matches is likely to be
European champion Greece against visiting Ukraine, however.
The former Soviet Republic can just about guarantee itself a spot in
the final tournament with a win, while the Greeks will be looking to
extend their seven-match unbeaten run and keep themselves ahead of
Turkey in the standings.
The two teams drew 1-1 in their first meeting in Kiev in October.
Ukraine leads Group 2 with 20 points, and Greece is second with
15. Turkey, which visits Kazakhstan, is third with 13 points.
The eight European group winners and the best two second-place teams
qualify directly for the World Cup finals in Germany. The other six
runners-up play off for three more spots.
The Netherlands, which visits Finland in Group 1, made some changes to
its squad Monday, dropping PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mark van Bommel
and replacing him with club teammate Phillip Cocu.
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten also dropped Jan Venegoor of
Hesselink, Andre Ooijer and Wilfred Bouma.
The Dutch team leads the Group 1 with 19 points, one more than the
Czech Republic, which hosts Macedonia.
Spain, which trails Group 7 leader Serbia-Montenegro on goal
difference with 12 points, hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Spanish team
struggled in its 1-0 win over Lithuania on Saturday, however.
Portugal, which was boosted by the return of Luis Figo on Saturday in
a win over Slovakia, visits Estonia in Group 3. The first time the
Portuguese met Estonia, it took 75 minutes to break through the
defense in a 4-0 win.
“We’ll have to stay calm and patient. We need to score a goal to make
them open up a bit,” Portugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo said. “The
Slovakia win really lifted us. We’re motivated and feeling good.”
Also scheduled for Wednesday are Romania vs. Armenia; Denmark
vs. Albania; Latvia vs. Liechtenstein; Luxembourg vs. Slovakia; Faeroe
Islands vs. Ireland; Belarus vs. Scotland; and Iceland vs. Malta.
Ireland, which gave up two second-half goals in a 2-2 draw with Israel
on Saturday, could take over first place in Group 4 with a win.
Switzerland currently leads the group with 12 points, followed by
Israel with 11, and Ireland and France with 10 each.
Germany, which automatically qualifies as host, faces Russia in its
final warmup before the Confederations Cup.
Other group leaders, including Italy, Poland and Croatia, are
idle. The next round of European qualifying is Sept. 3.

EXPO 2005 EXHIBITION PROMOTES MULTILATERAL COOPERATION: ARMENIAN
PREMIER
YEREVAN, June 7. /ARKA/. The international exhibition “EXPO 2005”
Nagoya, Japan, promotes cooperation between the participant-countries,
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan stated during his visit to the
exhibition. He pointed out that the exhibition halls of the three
Transcaucasian countries are under one roof, which is a “positive
factor.” Margaryan took part in the ceremonial opening of the Armenian
exhibition hall. The same evening, a reception will be held in the
honor of the Armenian delegation, after which the delegation will
leave for Tokyo, where the Armenian Prime Minister is to hold
bilateral meetings with Japanese officials. P.T. -0–

SWEDISH AMBASSADOR TO RA PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS TO ARMENIAN
PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, June 7. /ARKA/. The newly appointed Swedish Ambassador to
Armenia Juhan Mulander (residence in Moscow) has presented his
credentials to RA President Robert Kocharyan. The RA presidential
press service reports that during the meeting the Swedish diplomat
pointed out that his country intends to pay greater attention to the
South Caucasian region and in this context attaches importance to
developing its relations with Armenia. Ambassador Mulander said that
Sweden welcomes Armenia’s commitment to European integration and is
ready for serious cooperation. In his turn, President Robert
Kocharyan pointed out the importance of exchanging information and
intensifying business relations in expanding Armenian-Swedish
ties. P.T. -0–