Month: July 2007

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 4 2007

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN: WESTERN DIPLOMATS SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY KOSOVO MUST
BE INDEPENDENT, WHILE NAGORNO-KARABAGH MUST NOT

`’Unfortunately, world elite is not trying to find a legal solution
to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, taking the way of political
settlement,’ Nagorno-Karabagh President Arkady Ghoukassian stated,
while delivering a lecture at the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State
University in Yerevan July 3. He also noted Stepanakert was not
against political settlement; however, the legal base might
contribute to rendering decision.
`Kosovo’s example encourages us, and it does not matter how hard we
are being convinced that it cannot be a precedent for other
unrecognized republics, it is not in logical frames,’ Arkady
Ghoukassian noted, adding the world avoided precedents. `It is much
easier for the world powers to act according to already existing
standards than to create the new ones. Besides, recognition of
Kosovo’s independence may become a cause for the creation of new
conflicts, while the world community does not want it to take place.
I am sure Nagorno-Karabagh has more reasons to strive for
independence than Kosovo,’ Nagorno-Karabagh President stated.
He reminded that western diplomacy considered that Kosovo could not
be a precedent for other unrecognized republics, however, Russia is
adherent to the opposite stand. `Western diplomats should explain why
Kosovo can be independent, while Nagorno-Karabagh cannot,’ Arkady
Ghoukassian stated. For Nagorno-Karabagh independence and
establishment of statehood was not an end in itself. `We did not want
to prove we can do it. Statehood is inevitability for defending
borders and mobilizing our resources to protect it,’ Arkady
Ghoukassian said, IA Regnum reports.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 4 2007

INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES IN SOCIETY PRIORITY FOR RA GOVERNMENT

Today RA President Robert Kocharian received new representative of
Yerevan Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia Bushra
Halepota.
According to the information DE FACTO got at RA President’s Press
Office, noting there has always been business and productive
cooperation between RA government and this important international
structure, RA President voiced confidence the cooperation would be
successfully continued.
In the course of the meeting the interlocutors discussed social and
economic problems of Armenian refugees and the ways of their
solution.
Robert Kocharian noted the integration of refugees in the society was
priority for RA government.

Planet Rugby, UK
July 4 2007

India beat valiant Volcanoes
Wednesday 04th July 2007

The Philippines fought valiantly in their second international of the
week against the visiting Indian team but ultimately they were
out-thought in the second half of the game played at the Nomad Sports
Club in Manila. India won 11-3.

The home side came out all guns blazing and dominated all facets of
play in the opening fifteen minutes, a period which saw Ron Pena land
a successful penalty kick.

Seemingly unfazed by playing the vastly more internationally
experienced Indian team the Philippines fronted up to their opposite
numbers in the forwards and secured quality ball for scrum-half Jake
Letts.

The three-quarter line were also looking confident and the majority
of play was in the Indian half of the field. Early in the game a
break down the right wing by Philippine hooker Michael Duhig , who
possesses a deceptive turn of pace, had the home fans applauding and
his clever chip ahead was scrambled into touch metres from the line
by the fullback.

The Philippines had been forced to make a last minute change to the
starting line-up with incumbent tighthead prop Josh Sutcliffe failing
to recover fully from a fever. His place was taken by Oliver
Otterbeck who stood up to the challenge having a storming first half
including a 50-metre carry in open play.

The whole front row of Otterbeck, Duhig and Dacanay in fact had a
great game and can hold their heads high having matched their
opposite numbers including the massive Indian tighthead prop
Manmandir Samra who has represented professional team Moseley in the
English leagues.

As the half wore on the sides became more evenly matched and ended
with the score at 3-0 in favour of the Philippines. Thus far little
had been seen of the talents of Indian outside half Emil Vartazarian,
an Indian of Armenian descent who plays his rugby in Chennai. The
Philippine management were well pleased with the half.

The second half saw a complete change in tactics by the visitors.
Vartazarian kicked for field position and the Indian pack seemed to
find another ten percent. In the fourth minute of the half India drew
level after Vartazarian kicked a successful penalty.

Mid-way through the half with the Indian team gaining in confidence
the Philippines lost breakaway Eric Savina for ten minutes after the
referee issued a yellow card for an infringement after a penalty had
been awarded.

The Philippines dug in and the commitment in defence could not be
questioned. Unfortunately, it was one of those days where the last
pass did not stick, and time and again the home side were unable to
finish off promising moves.

On 23 minutes a driving maul by the Indian team resulted in
scrum-half Mukarram Faizullabhoy forcing his way over for a try near
to the touch-line. The kick having been unsuccessful, the score now
stood at 8-3 to India. Six minutes later a Vartazarian drop goal put
the Indians two scores ahead at 11-3.

The Philippines refused to lie down and fought right to the last
minute with the home support willing them on. Blind side flank Fred
Morris of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards had an outstanding game both in
the loose and in particular jumping at four in the line.

Captain Romain Barberis had his usual all-action game and led his
team from the front. The entire squad were given a standing ovation
for their efforts by the substantial crowd in attendance.

At the end of the game coach Matt Cullen said: "Despite failing to
secure promotion this year the Philippine team have moved on a long
way in the last twelve months and with the average age being 24 we
will see this side mature into a regional force within a couple of
years."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 4 2007

Armenian festival to hold retrospective of Jafar Panahi

TEHRAN, July 4 (MNA) — The 4th Yerevan Film Festival, commencing
July 9, is scheduled to honor Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi by
holding a retrospective of his works.

The festival will open with Panahi’s `Offside’ and his other movies
`The Circle’, `The White Balloon’, `Crimson Gold’, and `Mirror’ are
scheduled to be screened during the gala.

Over 68 films including `Aleksandra’ (Russia), `Climates’ (Turkey),
`Flanders’ (France), `Import/Export’ (Austria), `Love Conquers All’
(The Netherlands/Malaysia) and `Yella’ (Germany) are to compete for
the gala’s Golden Apricot award.

`The Banishment’ from Russia will be the closing film of the festival
on July 14.

The Messenger, Georgia
July 4 2007

Armenian Economy Growing, Inflation a Risk

By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)

Armenia’s economic indicators are looking better than other states in
the region, although they are also facing inflation increases, stated
IMF representative Marta Castello-Branco in Yerevan July 2, according
to the news agency Regnum.

So far this year, economic growth and tax revenues are exceeding
predictions, while inflation is under control-for now.

In 2007, state tax incomes will amount to 15.2 percent of GDP, writes
Regnum. Inflation is beginning to rear its head-costs on wheat are
rising, and budget expenses will increase in the second half of the
year.

To ensure healthy economic growth with low inflation, Castello-Branco
said, Armenia must continue with structural reforms, improving tax
administration and weeding out corruption.

Research has revealed that the shadow economy in Armenia is worth 30
percent of the real economy.

The national currency, the AMD, is growing stronger. From the
beginning of the year up to July 1, the AMD rose from 357 to the
dollar to 338. Despite harm done to exports, the IMF says there’s no
serious concern, reports Regnum.

We cannot accept closed borders between Council of Europe member States,
PACE President declared in Yerevan

Strasbourg, 05.07.2007 – During his meetings in Yerevan, PACE President
René van der Linden stressed that utmost priority must be given to
improving relations among the countries of the region as a way to
necessary reconciliation and to building a new future for young
generations.

He called for compromise to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which
may be painful but necessary to ensure the development of the region.
"Open borders are a pre-condition for prosperity. We cannot accept
closed borders between Council of Europe member states," he said.

He called on the Armenian authorities to use the forthcoming
presidential elections to consolidate the democratic progress achieved
during the recent parliamentary elections.

"The Council of Europe and its Assembly are ready to contribute to this
process with their expertise and instruments," he added.

Mr van der Linden mentioned in particular in this connection the need to
ensure that media, especially TV and radio, are truly independent and
the need to continue the judicial reform.

Finally, he called on all political forces represented in the
Parliament, both from the majority and the opposition, to observe the
democratic rules of political life and work in mutual respect for the
future of their country.

The President will continue his visit in Georgia and Azerbaijan
< ager/EMB_NewsManagerView.asp?ID=3D3071&L=3D2&g t;

Press Release
Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
Ref: 485a07
Tel: +33 3 88 41 31 93
Fax :+33 3 90 21 41 34
[email protected]
internet:

The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 318 members from the national
parliaments of the 47 member states.
President: René van der Linden (Netherlands, EPP/CD); Secretary
General of the Assembly: Mateo Sorinas.
Political Groups: SOC (Socialist Group); EPP/CD (Group of the European
People’s Party); ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe);

EDG (European Democratic Group); UEL (Group of the Unified European
Left).

Reuters AlertNet, UK
July 4 2007

INTERVIEW-Georgia asks EU to solve "ethnic cleansing"
04 Jul 2007 12:17:15 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Michael Stott and Margarita Antidze

TBILISI, July 4 (Reuters) – The European Union needs to help solve
"one of the most forgotten ethnic cleansings of the 20th century",
the mass expulsion of Georgians from their lands in the pro-Russian
territory of Abkhazia, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told
Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

More than half the population of Abkhazia, a sliver of land bordering
the Russian Black Sea coast, fled their homeland after separatists
broke free from Georgian control in 1992 and fought a war against
Tbilisi.

The Abkhaz now run the war-scarred province from the city of Sukhumi
— just along the coast from the Russian Winter Olympic candidate
city of Sochi — enjoying tacit support from Moscow.

The region’s unilateral declaration of independence has not been
recognised by any foreign government and it remains politically and
economically isolated.

Saakashvili appealed to the world community not to turn a blind eye
to the plight of thousands of Georgians who cannot return to their
homes in Abkhazia. The region is effectively sealed off by a buffer
zone controlled by Russian peacekeepers.

"What we’ve got there is 80 percent of the population thrown out and
you’ve got people there who are openly saying they will not let
people go back," he said, speaking in English.

Figures on how many Georgians and other non-Abkhaz peoples such as
Armenians and Greeks lived in Abkhazia before the war are disputed.
Most sources say the population has fallen from more than 500,000 at
the start of the 1990s to under 200,000.

"We have people there on the ground who believe ethnicity is reason
enough to kill people, to drive them out from their homes",
Saakashvili said.

"What we need … is a strong stance from the international community
that people should be allowed to go back".

EUROPEAN PARTICIPATION

Saakashvili said United Nations efforts in the region had been
"pretty disappointing", so Georgia was now pinning its hopes on the
European Union.

"That’s why we want to engage more and more European participation in
that part of the world," he explained.

International police could ensure a safe right of return for refugees
and once they returned and met their former neighbours again, mutual
understanding would improve, he said.

"It was one of the most forgotten ethnic cleansings of the 20th
century", he said. "How do you change it? By applying the soft power
of the 21st century."

Saakashvili said he also believed that "people power" — the same
force which saw him swept to office in a 2003 uprising which toppled
the previous government — could solve Georgia’s other territorial
conflict in the province of South Ossetia.

War in that region, located in central Georgia not far from the
capital Tbilisi, also led to a breakaway local administration
declaring independence from Georgia in 1992, again without
international recognition.

A recent outbreak of violence in the region has stirred concern that
war could break out again but Saakashvili said he was committed to
resolving the situation peacefully.

"There is no military solution to this situation," he said.

Most of the local population were now switching sides and starting to
talk to the central government in Tbilisi because they understood
that there was no alternative, he added.

"We see desperate attempts by some local representatives of security
services trying to block this process but they will not succeed,"
Saakashvili said, in an apparent reference to Moscow.

"The universal solution to all these kinds of situations is to give
more democracy," he said. "We should give the say to the people."

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 4 2007

Armenian captive wants to be sent to Russia

[ 04 Jul 2007 16:45 ]

Armenian Valeri Surenovich Suleymanyan living in the occupied
Azerbaijani territory Karabakh and recently captured on the front
line wants to be sent to Russia, State Commission on Prisoners of
War, Hostages and Missing Persons told the APA. Suleymanyan said that
he intends to go to his relations in Russia.

Azerbaijani office of International Committee of the Red Cross told
the APA that the committee officers met with Suleymanyan on June 28
for the third time. They did not publicize the meeting,
Suleymanyan passed the front line in May this year. He asked
Azerbaijani government to send him to a third country and said that
all Karabakh Armenians are tired of the military regime illegally
operating in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, and poverty. /APA/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 4 2007

NKR MFA: CE CASTS DOUBT ON THE ELECTION INSTITUTE AS DEMOCRACY’S
IMPORTANT ELEMENT

Nagorno-Karabagh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed
regret over the statements made by the representatives of the Council
of Europe with the condemnation of the presidential elections to be
held in the Nagorno-Karabagh.
`’It arouses regret that the representatives of the Council of Europe
– the organization, which is called to protect and propagate the
ideals and principles of pluralistic democracy, human rights and
supremacy of law by means of integration processes – condemns holding
of elections. By doing so they cast doubt on the election institute
as an important element of democracy, which contradicts the Council
of Europe’s Charter”, NKR FM Georgy Petrossian stated, commenting on
Vuk Jeremic’s statement, according to which upcoming presidential
elections in the NKR could not contribute to the conflict settlement
and hamper the talks.
According to the NKR FM, unless the European officials wish to
contribute to the democratic processes in the NKR, then `’we have the
right to expect that they, at least, will not hamper strengthening of
democratic institutes in our Republic”. `’ We are deeply sure that
democratization is an important precondition for the Karabagh
conflict’s settlement, as democracy presupposes establishment of
mechanisms, which allow solving any conflict only by peaceful means.
That is what the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic is striving for. It would
be natural if the representatives of various European structures
shared this striving”, Georgy Petrossian noted.

ISNA, Iran
Iranian Students’ News Agency
July 4 2007

Jafar Panahi to be honored at Armenia film festival

ISNA – Tehran
Service: Art

TEHRAN, July 4 (ISNA)-A tribute ceremony is scheduled to be held in
the honor of the celebrated Iranian director Jafar Panahi in the 4th
edition of Armenia film festival, Yerevan. (July 9-19)

Also the five successful movies by Panahi "The White Balloon", "Red
Gold", "Circle", "Offside" and "Mirror" are to be represented at the
event.

Founded in 1991, this year’s edition of the cinematic event is host
to over 68 films from Armenia, Russia, France, Germany, Spain,
Canada, Turkey, Britain and other countries that will compete
alongside each other.

End Item