Author: Ani Tigranian

Agence France Presse — English
July 30, 2005 Saturday 9:15 AM GMT
Russian troops begin pullout from Georgia
TBILISI
Russia began withdrawing its troops Saturday from Georgia two months
after the two countries reached agreement on the closure of two
Russian military bases on Georgian territory leftover from when both
states were part of the Soviet Union, officials said.
An initial column of nine military vehicles pulled out of the Russian
base at Batumi in southwest Georgia on the Black Sea coast and was
headed out of the country as Georgian and Russian military officials
witnessed the start of the withdrawal, they said.
Russia’s military presence in Georgia dates back to the second half
of the 18th century when Georgian leaders requested Russian
protection from Turkish and Persian invaders and the country was
subsumed into the expanding Russian empire.
But that presence became increasingly controversial following the
1991 breakup of the Soviet Union and after years of bitter argument
the two sides finalized an agreement on May 30 this year on the
closure of the last two Russian bases in Georgia by the end of 2008.
One base is at Batumi and the other at Akhalkalaki near Georgia’s
border with Armenia.
The pullout had been scheduled to begin on Friday but was delayed by
one day due to Russian complaints that Georgian authorities had not
provided visas for soldiers and other documentation required to take
the military hardware across the border and out of the country.
A Russian military official said that problem had been resolved,
allowing the pullout to begin.
“The Georgian side promised to provide us with all the necessary
documents for the withdrawal of our armored vehicles,” Vladimir
Kuparadze, the deputy commander of Russian forces in Georgia, said.
A spokesman for the Georgian Justice Ministry said the documents
needed by the Russian forces had been delivered within one day after
they were requested instead of the usual month it takes to process
them.
And Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili stressed that
timely withdrawal of the Russian forces was in Georgia’s interest and
vowed that all necessary documentation would be provided as quickly
as possible.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News Network
July 27 2005
COMBATING ARMENIAN ISSUE ERDOGAN APPEALED TO EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENTARIANS OF TURKISH ORIGIN
27.07.2005 03:17
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the meeting with the European
parliamentarians of Turkish origin Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan called them for help in launching a campaign for
preventing the European parliaments from recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. He called German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish and Belgian
parliamentarians of Turkish origin to spread propaganda against the
activities of the Armenian Diaspora targeted at the Genocide
recognition. However the deputies said Europe is tending to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. In their words, `Turkey should
launch active lobbying against this phenomenon’, Yerkir Online
reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND CAIRO UNIVERSITY SIGN AN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION
ARKA News Agency
July 18 2005
YEREVAN, July 19. /ARKA/. An agreement on cooperation in scientific,
education and teaching areas is signed between Yerevan State
University and Cairo University, according to RA MFA Press Service
Department. According to the press release, the agreement provides for
holding joint scientific researches, exchange of students, aspirants
and teachers, as well as scientific and teaching-methodic literature
and periodicals, as well as aid of Cairo University in activity of
the Arabic Department of YSU in the area of scientific and education.
The agreement was signed by RA Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Egypt Rouben Karapetyan and President of Cairo
University Ali Abdel Rahman. The sides agreed to apply all efforts
to implement all provisions of the agreement and establish active and
mutually advantageous cooperation between two Universities. A.H.-0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Couple leaves CSUN its largest cash gift
By Lisa M. Sodders, Staff Writer
LA Daily News
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
NORTHRIDGE — A former San Fernando High School art teacher and her
husband, who amassed a small fortune through real estate investments,
have donated their $7.3 million estate to California State University,
Northridge, officials announced Tuesday.
The cash donation from the late Mary and Jack Bayramian is the largest
in the university’s 48-year history — topping Disney CEO Michael
Eisner’s $7 million gift in 2002.
It will fund two scholarship programs, including $2.3 million in
student scholarships for the future Valley performing arts center.
“This remarkable gift from Mary and Jack Bayramian will empower the
university to support outstanding students,” said CSUN President Jolene
Koester. “The Bayramians, who were devoted to each other during more
than 60 years of marriage, now have extended that caring to improve
the lives of hundreds of students.”
Mary Bayramian, who died in November 2002, and her husband, who died
early this year, were born a month apart in 1921 — each the child
of Armenian immigrants. They both graduated from Hamilton High School
in 1939 and married three years later.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, Jack Bayramian worked
as a vacuum cleaner salesman and owned a Van Nuys electrical shop. He
then worked 20 years — as a switchboard installer, technician and
system troubleshooter — for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co.
Mary Bayramian was a homemaker who enrolled in college in her 30s. She
earned an associate degree from Pierce College, then attended San
Fernando Valley State College, which later became CSUN, early in the
1960s, earning a bachelor’s degree in art and a teaching credential.
She taught at San Fernando High School, where she was known as
“Mrs. B,” until 1970.
“They were very people-oriented people, especially Mary, when it came
to her students,” said Don Barsumian of Westchester, a nephew. “She
loved young people. She had high school photos from all of her students
that they kept in this album, hundreds of them.
“Her students loved her, and she loved her students,” he said. “They
believed in education and in giving young people chances.”
The couple lived in Reseda and Northridge until their retirement in
1971, when they moved to Laguna Beach. They invested in real estate in
the Valley and in Laguna Beach, where they bought fixer-upper homes,
renovated them and resold them.
Mary Bayramian suffered a stroke and died Nov. 24, 2002, at age
81. Jack Bayramian, who had Parkinson’s disease, died Jan. 29 this
year at age 83. Their only son, Ronald, died in 1998, but they are
survived by five grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Their $7.3 million bequest will create the Bayramian Family Scholarship
Fund.
Earnings from $5 million will fund the Mary and Jack Bayramian
Presidential Scholars program, providing scholarships to at least two
dozen high-achieving upper-division students each year. Recipients
will partner with faculty members on scholarly projects and will each
receive a $5,000 award and other benefits.
The remaining $2.3 million will fund the Mary Bayramian Arts Scholars
program, the largest gift to date to Imagine the Arts, the fundraising
campaign for the $100 million, 1,600-seat performing arts center
planned for CSUN.
The CSU Board of Trustees also approved the renaming of the student
services building to Bayramian Hall in the couple’s honor.
San Fernando High School Principal Jose Luis Rodriguez said he hopes
the couple’s gift will inspire San Fernando High School graduates to
apply for the scholarships at CSUN.
“What a wonderful gift for CSUN,” Rodriguez said. “It speaks well
for the school, and for the family.”
Lisa M. Sodders, (818) 713-3663 [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
July 8 2005

USA to allocate $ 38 mln aid for supporting democracy in Azerbaijan

07 July 2005 [09:22] – Today.Az

USA will allocate for Azerbaijan $38 million aid in 2006 for
realization of the programmes of support to democracy, economic
reforms and pre-eminence of law.

The financial aids committee of the USA Senate plans to allocate in
general $ 565 million for the CIS republics for realization of the
programmes of support to the democracy, economic reforms and
pre-eminence of law. Ukraine will obtain $ 95 million, Armenia $ 75,
Georgia $ 70.5, Azerbaijan $ 38, Kyrgyzstan $ 35, Belarus $ 15 in the
frame of this programme.
It is specially noted in the reference sent to the committee that the
USA State Department and US Agency for International Development
(USAID) must support openly and insistently the programmes on
political processes in Russia and Azerbaijan.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 1 2005
Opinion & analysis
THE CIS AND BALTIC PRESS ON RUSSIA
[parts omitted]
ARMENIA
Russia’s decision to relocate part of the weapons from Georgia to the
town of Gyumri is still a very painful subject for Armenia. “The
statement by the head of the Russian General Staff on the intention
to redeploy a military base from Georgia to Gyumri, made without
preliminary agreement with Armenia, demonstrates once again Russia’s
imperial approach to its ‘outpost'”. (Aib Fe, June 28.) “Considering
the quality of combat equipment that is being relocated to Gyumri, it
is safe to say that this is a junk heap. The withdrawal of Russian
bases to Armenia is rather a psychological factor, first of all, for
Russia”. (Aravot June 25.)
The media note Russia’s opposition to Armenia’s plans for energy
independence. “The agreement on the construction of an
Armenian-Iranian gas main is humiliating for Armenia because due to
the small diameter of the pipe, gas will only be supplied to the
Razdan thermal power station, placed under the ownership of the
Russian Federation. Hence, Gazprom’s monopoly in Armenia will be
preserved. In 2-3 years, the Armenian nuclear power plant working on
Russian uranium will pose a serious threat to every living thing in
the republic”. (Aib Fe, June 28.)
AZERBAIJAN
Anti-Armenian sentiments are increasingly shaping Russia’s image in
Azerbaijan. “Since the 1999 Istanbul agreement, Russia, instead of
discharging its obligations, has started to additionally arm its sole
strategic partner and a reliable outpost in the South Caucasus –
Armenia.” (Ekho, June 24). “The reason for Azerbaijan increasing its
military spending is that Russia is moving military bases from
Georgia to Armenia”, said President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.”
(Day.Az. June 25.)
The press continues to cover the Kremlin’s alleged pro-Armenian
course. In particular, the appointment of Margarita Simonyan as head
of the Russia Today information TV channel is seen as evidence of an
anti-Azerbaijani slant in Russian media policy. “The appointment of
an Armenian woman as director of Russia Today should be seen solely
in terms of Russia’s pro-Armenian policy, since putting an Armenian
in charge of state policy propaganda in such a multi-ethnic state as
Russia cannot be viewed as anything other than idiotic.” (Express,
June 24.)
The media is paying increasing attention to Baltic experience. In
particular, it is proposed to lay claims against Russia in line with
the ‘Baltic model’. “A special commission should be formed to
calculate the sum Russia must pay to Azerbaijan to compensate for the
damage inflicted on this country when it was part of Russia and then
the USSR.” (Ekho, June 28.)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STRONG WINDS FRUSTRATE APRICOT GROWERS
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS: Apricot growing farmers in Armenian
province of Ararat have given up the bulk of their hopes to make
ultimate gains from an unprecedented yield of the fruit this year after
bursts of strong wind a couple of days ago landed apricots on ground ,
forcing them to sell their crops to a local cannery at lower prices.
Sergo Karapetian, the director of Artashat cannery, however, assured
the farmers the plant could procure as many as 100 metric tons of
apricot daily.
The plant pays half of the money for procured apricot on the spot and
the rest within ten days, but farmers say the hot weather is spoiling
quickly the fruit.
Armenia expects this year a significantly bigger crop due to unusually
favorable weather conditions- nearly 400,000 tons of grapes, apples
and other fruit, 54 per cent more than last year. Apricots estimated
to total 80,000t this year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
June 23, 2005
Embassy of Armenia
2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
T. 202-319-1976, email: [email protected]
Embassy of Armenia Marks a Milestone in Habitat for Humanity Armenia Program
On June 16, 2005, Embassy of Armenia hosted a reception to honor an
important milestone in the Habitat for Humanity Armenia program, the
construction of the 100th house in Armenia. Through the work of this
organization in Armenia, which involved efforts by 100 local volunteers,
almost 600 people in Armenia have been provided housing.
In his welcome address during the reception, Ambassador of Armenia to the
U.S., Tatoul Markarian praised the Habitat for Humanity for its humanitarian
spirit, which is manifested through enabling vulnerable people all over the
world to acquire a home. The spirit of charity practiced by the Habitat of
Humanity, the Ambassador said, is an excellent example of Christian faith in
action, which sows seeds of goodness and is rewarding both to the recipients
of such assistance and those who volunteer and provide support to the
program. At the same time, Ambassador Markarian noted, the Habitat for
Humanity Armenia program contributes to alleviating poverty in Armenia,
which is also a strategic objective for the Government of Armenia. Poverty
reduction has direct relevance for success of democratic, economic, and
social reforms in Armenia, the Ambassador added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROPOSALS OF TURKISH AND AZERBAIJANI DELEGATIONS TO PACE RESOLUTION ON
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN ARMENIA FAIL
YEREVAN, JUNE 23. ARMINFO. Proposals of PACE Committee for Juridical
Affairs and Human Rights to the PACE Resolution on Constitutional
Reforms in Armenia on deprivation of the Armenian delegation of its
powers at PACE in case of failing the constitutional reforms was
cancelled at today’s session of PACE, the Council of Europe informs
ARMINFO.
At the same time, the second proposal of the Committee on inclusion of
a provision in the resolution saying that the elaborated Constitution
of Armenia is to come into effect within the shortest terms was
included in the resolution. In their turn, the Turkish and Azerbaijani
delegations to PACE made a proposal to include a provision in the
resolution obliging Armenia to include a point on recognition of the
present borders of its neighbors in the draft constitutional
reforms. However, not only Armenian delegation but also Rapporteur on
the monitoring n Armenia Jerzy Jaskiernia and British MP Jane Griffits
came out against this proposal. As a result, the proposal was failed.
It should be noted that the explanation norms of PACE Resolution on
Constitutional Reforms in Armenia say that the Armenian authorities
referred to the necessity of a detailed discussion of the document
with Venice experts to postpone the referendum, hereby applying a
tactics of “Ping-Pong” to postpone the referendum. In this connection,
the document says tat Armenia cannot further delay the referendum, it
must announce it at least in November 2005. The norms also demand
Armenia to adopt the proposals of PACE Venice Commission on Freedom of
Mass Media, in particular, with respect to A1+ and Noyyan Tapan TV
companies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
June 22, 2005 Wednesday
Putin considers Armenia’s work in EurAsEc useful
By Veronika Romanenkova
MOSCOW
Russian President Vladimir Putin considers Armenia’s participation in
the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) in the capacity of observer
as useful.
“The fact that you as the head of state take part in the EurAsEC’s
activities on the permanent basis is a positive signal,” he said at a
meeting with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian. “Although
Armenia has an observer status in the organization, I am confident
that it will help develop interaction between all our countries.”
Putin expressed satisfaction with the Moscow-Yerevan constant
dialogue. “I am satisfied that we have such close contacts,” the
Russian head of state said.
The Armenian president said that the meeting with Putin was very
useful for discussing bilateral relations, “especially for continuing
the dialogue that began in Yerevan.” “I would like to focus on the
energy sector and investment projects,” he said.
“The orders that have been given so far have been implemented and
relations are on the ascent. Some corrections have to be made,
though,” Kocharian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress