Author: Antonian Lara

ECONOMISTS’ CLUB FUNCTIONS IN GAVAR STATE UNIVERSITY

GAVAR, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The first anniversary of the Economists’
Club of Gavar State University has been marked lately. The club was
founded with the efforts of the students of the Faculty of Economics
and University’s management. Founder-Rector of Gavar State University,
professor Hrant Hakobian, Dean of the Faculty of Economics Samvel
Amirkhanian and Deputy Dean Mariam Hergnian became honorable members
of the Economists’ Club. The club’s mission is to unite the students,
to give them additional information about innovations in the sphere of
economy, about issues relating to this or that sphere. Dean of the
Faculty of Economics Samvel Amirkhanian said in his interview to Noyan
Tapan correspondent that besides economic knowledge, the students
should also get acquainted with practical works and club members’
visits to many industrial enterprises are organized for this purpose.

EXTREMIST GANG IN RUSSIA DISMANTLED
New York Times
Indianapolis Star,IN
May 25 2006
Officials say arrests bring end to group accused of a series of
racially motivated killings
MOSCOW — The authorities in St. Petersburg announced Wednesday that
they had broken up an extremist group that had shocked Russia with a
string of racially motivated killings, including that of an African
student in April and of an expert on hate crimes nearly two years ago.
The authorities said they had recently arrested five members of the
loosely organized group. Two others appeared to have been arrested
earlier on separate charges, while an eighth was fatally shot as police
tried to arrest him May 18. The police seized weapons, explosives
and neo-Nazi literature in raids of the gang members’ apartments,
the authorities said.
Though charges have not been filed, the case amounted to a rare
judicial success in Russia’s fight against a deadly wave of racism
that has resulted in at least 48 killings across Russia in the past
18 months.
St. Petersburg’s prosecutor, Sergei P. Zaitsev, said the seven
young men in custody were members of a small extremist group with no
known name.
The group’s members are accused of killing Lamzar Samba, a 28-year-old
student from Senegal, who was shot in the neck as he left a nightclub
April 7.
Zaitsev accused the group of killing an Armenian and a Korean, as
well as two of its own members. He said the group was also involved
in the killing of Nikolai M. Girenko, a Russian anthropologist who
became an expert on neo-Nazis, skinheads and other extremist movements.

LE KARABAKH VEUT SUIVRE L’EXEMPLE DU MONTENEGRO
Agence France Presse
25 mai 2006 jeudi 1:44 PM GMT
Le territoire azerbaïdjanais du Nagorny Karabakh, contrôle par des
separatistes armeniens, a salue jeudi la separation du Montenegro
de la Serbie, esperant etre lui aussi reconnu comme Etat independant
par la communaute internationale.
“Le referendum au Montenegro a cree un precedent important. (…) Je
pense que nous avons toutes les raisons d’esperer etre reconnus (comme
Etat independant) par la communaute internationale”, a affirme le
“president” du Nagorny Karabakh, Arkadi Goukassian, en visite a Moscou.
“La republique du Nagorny Karabakh est independante et le restera,
independamment de ce que veut l’Azerbaïdjan”, a ajoute M. Goukassian,
cite par l’agence Ria Novosti.
Le Nagorny Karabakh, peuple de quelque 145.000 Armeniens, a fait
secession de l’Azerbaïdjan au terme d’un conflit arme qui a fait,
entre 1988 et 1994, quelque 25.000 morts et des centaines de milliers
de deplaces.
Un cessez-le-feu est intervenu en 1994 mais la situation reste tendue,
malgre des efforts de mediation de l’OSCE.
Le Montenegro a vote dimanche a 55,5% pour sa separation de la Serbie,
lors d’un referendum, un choix qui a marque le demantèlement definitif
de la Yougoslavie.
La separation du Montenegro pourrait ouvrir une “boîte de Pandore”
pour une myriade de mouvements independantistes en Europe et dans
l’ex-URSS, estiment les analystes.
Les independantistes du Pays basque (nord de l’Espagne) et de Catalogne
(nord-est), ainsi que la republique separatiste non reconnue de
Transdniestrie, en Moldavie, et celle d’Abkhazie, en Georgie, ont
exprime leur satisfaction après le referendum montenegrin, esperant
etre legitimes par un processus similaire.
–Boundary_(ID_d/CRkJyvrBEtkdtXLZlE/g) —

WHO DOES HISTORY BELONG TO IF NOT THE HISTORIANS?
By Semih Idiz
Turkish Press
May 25 2006
MILLIYET- I said earlier that the bill to criminalize denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide would be passed by France’s Parliament.
We can’t say that it didn’t pass. In other words, we can’t say that
common sense won. Observers believe that the bill will pass if it comes
to a vote. Now people say the bill will be brought to the agenda by
the end of this year.
The French Armenians aren’t satisfied with the situation either. They
would prefer for the bill to be passed in the General Assembly and
stay in legal procedures even if it’s not accepted. Armenian Deputy
Partick Deveciyan lashed out at French Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy. In his speech in Parliament, Balazy pointed to France’s
important political and economic interests in its relations with Turkey
and said the bill should be rejected. Deveciyan branded Blazy’s request
“unethical.”
However, the French are concerned about their economy. Smart observers
know that foreign trade and foreign investment are very important
in their economy. In other word, they are aware that Blazy’s words
aren’t empty. If we come to ‘ethical’ Deveciyan, in light of the
French approach to Algeria, he is also aware that the bill isn’t at
all ethical. He’s already stated his views on history.
After being reminded how at least one leading French historian is
opposed to the bill, he said meaninglessly: ‘History isn’t the private
property of historians.’
Judging from the comments of French Armenians, this problem is
a political problem rather than a historical one. That’s why the
Armenians are against Turkey’ proposal for a commission of historians
which was also supported by Douste-Blazy. They try to base the problem
on demagogy. That’s why Turkey hast to stick to its proposal.
But Ankara isn’t doing much about this.
The fact that the Armenians didn’t reach their goals this time doesn’t
change the situation much, because there are third parties who want
to use this issue for their own interests.

ALGERIA SIDES WITH TURKEY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2006 13:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Algeria sides with Turkey on many matters,
including the issue of the Armenian Genocide, Algerian President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika said yesterday at a meeting with Turkish PM
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Bouteflika agrees with Turkey, which “proposes a joint study of
history by academics.”
The Prime Minister reportedly said a European Union decision to
reject Turkey’s possible membership would threaten global peace
and lead to a clash of civilizations, instead of an alliance of
civilizations. Erdogan said that the population living in Europe
is not only Christian, stressing that the EU cannot ignore Muslims
who constitute the second largest group in Europe. “If the EU is to
become a Christian club, it should announce this,” he said.
The Turkish PM noted that Turkey has always asked the EU a question:
What they expect from Turkey? “If the answer is integration we say
“yes” but if it is “assimilation” then our answer is “no.” We want an
understanding based on unity in numbers to come true,” Erdogan added,
reports Turkish Daily News.

STANCE OF UKRAINE CONCERNING TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN STABLE
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 24 2006
President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko has declared, that his country
is ready to be one of participants of forming of plans of settlement of
“the frozen conflicts” in territory of the GUAM states. As informed,
Yushchenko has declared it on May 22 in Kiev after the meeting with
the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, answering the question of
the Azerbaijan journalists in connection with Nagorno Karabakh.
“We recognize that each such conflict demands personal plan. There
is no typical recommendation, there is no typical recipe – as,
shall admit, to resolve problem of Nagorno Karabakh, the problem
Pridnetsrovie, or the problem of Abkhazia. These are very personified
conflicts, and they should be considered exclusively proceeding
from the personal plan”, the head of Ukraine has declared. Having
reminded of the plan offered in due time by Ukraine on settlement
of the Pridnestrovie conflict, he has noted, that the given plan was
accepted both by the Moldavian Parliament and leaders of Pridnestrovie.
“Ukraine admits that each country, including the countries of GUAM,
require support concerning the declared sovereignty and the line of
borders which have been originally defined. We speak about firmness
of borders, about integrity of territories. It is a key component of
policy”, Yushchenko said. He added, that the given position concerns
not only to the GUAM countries, but also the world policy as a whole.
“Therefore, the stance of Ukraine concerning territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan is firm, and I can only confirm it”, Mr. Yushchenko stated.

AZERI NEWSPAPER EDITOR HELD HOSTAGE THREE FOREIGNERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ People’s Tribune newspaper editor-in-chief Sharif
Salmanov his acquaintance Aynura Allahverdiyeva, who held hostage
Turkish citizen Yilmaz Mahmoud, Bolgarian citizen Kocheva Ivanovna and
her 7-year-old daughter Marchella Penova, were detained. The local
prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal case; investigation is
being carried out, reported APA news agency.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
05/24/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Bush Nominates New Ambassador to Armenia 2) Azeri Statement Does Not Correspond to Ongoing Negotiations 3) OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen to Arrive in Armenia May 25 4) Greece Condemns Turkey over Fighter Jet Crash 5) Western Prelacy Elects New Council Members And Delegates 6) Second Black Box from Crashed Armenian Airbus Recovered 1) Bush Nominates New Ambassador to Armenia (Combined Sources)--The White House announced on Tuesday that President George W. Bush will ask the US Senate to endorse his nomination of Richard E. Hoagland as the new US Ambassador to Armenia to replace outgoing Ambassador John Evans. Hoagland is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor. Currently, he is serving as the US ambassador to Tajikistan. 2) Azeri Statement Does Not Correspond to Ongoing Negotiations YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The Armenian Foreign Ministry responded Wednesday to a statement made by Azeri Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, in which he advocated a step-by-step solution to the Karabagh conflict. "We are once again surprised that the Azerbaijani side tries to present such an approach to the public, which does not correspond to the content of the negotiations over the Karabagh conflict regulation," said spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry Vladimir Karapetian. Azeri media outlets reported Tuesday that Mamedyarov stated that the optimal regulation of the Karabagh conflict would be a "stage-by-stage" solution and that only after the return of the refugees it will be possible to discuss status of Karabagh. "We have stated many times that to reach a mutually acceptable agreement, Azerbaijan should first recognize the right to self-determination of Nagorno Karabagh's people," said Karapetian, adding that only then will it be possible to discuss eliminating "consequences of the war." 3) OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen to Arrive in Armenia May 25 YEREVAN (Armenpress/Yerkir)The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chairmen Yuri Merzlyakov, Steven Mann, and Bernard Fassier will visit Armenia on May 25. The delegation will also include Russian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Grigori Karasin, Director of the political affairs department at the French Foreign Affairs Ministry Stanislaus De Labouillet, and US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, reported the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The delegation will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian to discuss the current round of the Karabagh conflict regulation process and the possibility of another meeting between the Armenian and Azeri presidents. The Russian, French, and American co-chairs also visited Baku and Karabagh prior to their visit to Yerevan. 4) Greece Condemns Turkey over Fighter Jet Crash PARIS (Reuters)The Prime Minister of Greece Costas Karamanlis condemned Turkey on Wednesday for its part in a crash involving Turkish and Greek fighter jets over the Aegean and said such incidents did not tally with Ankara's ambition to join the European Union. NATO members Greece and Turkey have blamed each other for the crash in disputed air space on Tuesday. "Yesterday's incident should be a signal... to persuade Turkey to abandon such tactics which do not tally with its European perspectives," Karamanlis told a news conference in Paris. A warming in relations between the two long-time foes has been vital to Turkey's drive to join the European Union. Athens' backing of Ankara's candidature in 1999 opened the door to negotiations now taking place with Brussels. Asked whether the incident would prompt changes in Greece's strategy regarding Turkey's EU path, Karamanlis said: "All this is taken into consideration vis-a-vis the European perspectives of Turkey. All behaviors are taken into consideration." The two countries, who came close to war as recently as 1996, have improved ties but have yet to resolve territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea and over the divided island of Cyprus. 5) Western Prelacy Elects New Council Members And Delegates The Western Prelacy held its 34th National Representative Assembly on Friday and Saturday, during which new Religious Council members and Delegates for the Catholicosate's General Assembly were elected. The Assembly, conducted under the auspices of Prelate, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, also discussed the activities of the Religious and Executive Councils of the previous year and various other issues. The Assembly then proceeded to conduct elections. The following is the list of the newly elected members: Religious Council Members: Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, Rev. Fr. Vahan Gosdanian, Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian, Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian, Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian, and Rev. Fr. Gomidas Torossian. Executive Council Members: Dr. Garo Agopian, Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian, Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, Mr. Boghos Sassounian, Mr. Garbis Bezdjian, Mr. Garo Avakian, Mr. Mher Der Ohanessian, Dr. Navasart Kazazian, Mr. Nerses Melkonian, Mr. Vahe Havaguimian, and Mr. Varoujan Der Simonian. General Assembly Delegates: Mr. Khajag Dikijian, Mr. Hrair Balian, Mr. Armand Keosian, Esq., Mr. Peklar Pilavjian, Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian, Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, Mr. Garbis Bezdjian, Mr. Boghos Sassounian, Mr. Hagop Yedalian, Mr. Garo Avakian, Mr. Noubar Demirjian, Dr. Hagop Dickranian, Dr. Garo Agopian, Mr. Khatchig Yeretzian, and Deacon Mark Shirin. Substitute Delegates: Mr. Krikor Sulahian, Mr. Sarkis Kitsinian, and Mr.Vartan Minassian. 6) Second Black Box from Crashed Armenian Airbus Recovered (AP)--Russian search teams recovered Wednesday the second flight recorder from an Armenian airliner that crashed into the Black Sea three weeks ago, killing all 113 people aboard, local media reported. The flight data recorder was lifted by a diving apparatus from a depth of about 1,640 feet (500 meters) after it was separated from a thick layer of silt, said Transport Ministry spokeswoman Svetlana Kryshtanovskaya, according to the RIA-Novosti news agency. The black box was discovered within 16 meters (50 feet) from the spot where workers on Monday found the plane's cockpit voice recorder. Russian television channels showed footage of a yellow, remote-controlled apparatus lifting the red recorder from the sea surface. Investigators hope the two recorders will help determine why the Armavia Airbus A-320 plane plunged into the sea on May 3 amid heavy rain and poor visibility. The flight was en route from Yerevan to the southern Russian sea resort Sochi. All passengers and crew members on board were killed. Prosecutors almost immediately dismissed the possibility that terrorists had brought the plane down, and officials point to rough weather or pilot error as the likely cause. Armavia officials have suggested, however, that air traffic controllers were at least partly to blame. 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) 2006 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.

EDITORS IN AZERBAIJAN BEATEN OR CONVICTED
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
24/05/2006
On May 18, 5 unknown people beat Bahadin Ghaziev, editor-in-chief
of Bizim Yol newspaper. On his way home late at night, Ghaziev was
attacked by unknown people who took him to Masazir settlement and beat
him there. As a result, Ghaziev received several serious traumas. The
beaten editor was found in the morning and taken to the hospital.
In general, taking into account the position of his newspaper, the
crime was characterized as violence against free journalists. While,
at present, Ghaziev has already managed to state that notwithstanding
his traumas he didn’t lose consciousness and remembers quite well
that the attackers called someone on their mobile phone and told that
they had carried out the order. This testimony proves that the case
was a political order. According to some of the political figures
of Azerbaijan, this case of violence against Ghaziev aimed to exert
pressure on the independent press of the country.
Perhaps, the same evaluation can be given to the case that
happened with Fail Balabeyli, editor-in-chief of Yeni Kheber
newspaper. According to the law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan,
Balabeyli was arrested when taking bribe from the chief physician
of Bailovo hospital. Yeni Khaber became popular after publication of
caricatures of Jesus Christ and Holy Mary.
Besides, when the law enforcement bodies were arresting Balabeyli,
the Azeri court was judging Elshad Mehteev, editor-in-chief of New
Press newspaper on charge of corruption.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: COOPERATION WITH NATO IS ONE OF IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF MULTIFOLIATED SECURITY SYSTEM OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 23 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues relating
to implementation of the Individual Partnership Actions Plan of
Armenia with the NATO were discussed at the May 22 meeting of RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian with Robert Simmons, the NATO Secretary’s
General Special Representative for South Caucasian Issues. Observing
development of relations with the NATO within the framework of the
policy addressed to Armenia’s European integration, the Prime Minister
mentioned at the same time that the cooperation with the North Atlantic
Alliance is also one of important components of the multifoliated
security system of Armenia. Within that context, Andranik Margarian
attached importance to widening of Armenia’s political dialogue
with the NATO and reforms in the system of defence. The Government
head of Armenia assured that they will be implemented in parallel to
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, improvement of the general
security situation in the region and especially of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. The Prime Minister emphasized that by that cooperation,
Armenia has never contradicted different systems of security to
each other and has acted in the field of mutual benefit and mutual
interests. Presenting the process of activity of the Committee created
in November, 2004, by the RA Prime Minister’s decision to implement
the Individual Partnership Actions Plan with the NATO, Andranik
Margarian mentioned that after adopting the program on December 16,
2005, by the North Atlantic Alliance, it has already held three working
meetings. The Committee members prepared certificates concerning works
implemented after adoption of the IPAP, planned events and lists of
assistances necessary for their implementation were presented.
Robert Simmons, expressing satisfaction with the process of works
being implemented, emphasized that the NATO’s interest in the
successful implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan
with Armenia, especially from the viewpoint of great attention paid
by the alliance towards the South Caucasian region during the recent
years. He considered his appointment as well to be one of displays
of that attention and interest. The Actions Plan adopted in December,
according to Robert Simmons, was a big step forward of the cooperation
with Armenia and expresses Armenia’s interests, assisting reforms
in the military sphere and strengthening of democracy. Simmons
also emphasized that the NATO has always specially mentioned that
it welcomes widening of the Euroatlantic cooperation and does
not observe it as rivalry with other systems. He mentioned the
necessity of organizing soon a wide public awareness process to have
a right notion concerning NATO activity, goals. The NATO Secretary’s
General Speacial Representative thanked the RA Government’s head
for keeping the work of the interdepartmental commission in the
center of attention and for organizing works at a high level. He
spoke favourably about the Armenian Ambassador’s work in Brussels as
well. “Though the visit hasn’t finished yet, but I can say that the
results are rather impressing. A considerable progress was fixed in
the joint work during the last six months,” Robert Simmons mentioned,
emphasizing that this is a process, that continuous efforts must be
made to reach defined goals which, according to him, coincide with
program goals of Armenia with the EU. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the Government’s Information and Public Relations Department,
the Prime Minister assured that Armenia will continue assisting all
efforts of the NATO which will be addressed to development of the
constructive dialogue, development of the regional cooperation among
the South Caucasian states. He assured that from now on the Government
of Armenia will follow with attention implementation of the Individual
Partnership Actions Plan as well as of aimed events presented within
that framework by interested ministries and departments, expecting
expert’s and technical assistance of the NATO international staff
and member countries as well in it.