Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

WELCOME UPWARD?
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
19 June 06

The great American maneuvers are gathering momentum. While the Armenian
community was speaking about the recall of John Evans, the United
States took up the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, and replaced Stephen
Mann by Mathew Bryza. At first the rotation of the co-chair seems
to be determined by the aspiration of the United States to reach a
breakthrough in the settlement. It is interesting, however, why the
United States trusts the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh to
a State Department official, who deals with the energy sector. Either
Bryza’s profile changed, or the United States is changing the profile
of the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh.

The latter seems to fit the political strategies of the United States
better, which is based on the energy infrastructures of the region.

And it is not surprising or strange. After all, what is the most
powerful weapon of Russia in the South Caucasus? Of course, the
"switch." Consequently, in order to undermine Russian influence the
United States needs to seize the switch from Russia or supply the
region from another switch. The United States has probably chosen
the second. It was not accidental that the United States was highly
interested in eliminating or relieving consequences, when the Russian
gas pipeline was blown up in January.

Even there was information that the United States mediated Azerbaijan
to supply gas not only to Georgia but also Armenia. This information,
by the way, was not refuted officially. Besides it is important that
during Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the United States neither Iran nor
Karabakh was the primary issue. Bush’s announcements during Aliyev’s
visit were mostly on partnership in the sphere of energy. Hence, it is
not unexpected that an official specializing in energy is engaged in
the settlement of an ethnic confrontation. By the way, the "evolution"
of the OSCE Minsk Group American co-chairs displays the dominance of
energy-based moods of the United States in this process.

Rudolf Perina was replaced by Stephen Mann, the special envoy of
the U.S. President to the Caspian region and the "godfather" of
Baku-Ceyhan. Mann’s specialization is further developed by Bryza.

Therefore, for the United States the conflict over Karabakh as such
does not need a settlement any more. It does not damage the energy
interests of this country.

On the contrary, every effort for settlement may become a serious
obstacle or threat for the energy policies of the Unites States.

Hence, in the framework of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict
the Unites States is regulating other processes. It was not accidental
that Bryza’s appointment to Armenia aroused a rather nervous reaction
of the government.

Everything looked differently, however. The minister of defense
had an unprecedented visit to Brussels, where he smiled a wider
and longer smile shaking hands with NATO officials than even his
smile at Azatutiun Square on the occasion of the victory on the chess
olympiad. Perhaps only Mathew Bryza had smiled a wider smile in Yerevan
when he announced on March 7 that the United States started building
upward democracy, which was perceived as a call for revolution. Maybe
it was worthwhile to smile a wider smile than Bryza’s in Brussels to
have the West believe that his smile was frank, and to announce in
Yerevan that there is no demand for revolution, for the community to
be convinced that the smile was not frank.

However, it is certainly very difficult to smile in Brussels and make
a statement in Yerevan at the same time. However, a friend in need is
a friend indeed. On June 16 Artashes Geghamyan announced in Yerevan
that the results of a poll conducted by Gelap suggest that 70 percent
of the population of Armenia is against revolution. In other words,
why are you coming, Bryza? However, lo and behold, Bryza is not coming
alone, and the new ambassador to Armenia is coming along. More exactly,
the former is leaving. As well as new representatives of American
organizations are coming. And it is at least strange that the leader
of an opposition party announces at this moment that the public does
not want a revolution. But who said that the new Americans are coming
for a revolution? Maybe they are just replacing the old ones. Why are
our old ones anxious and smiling "downward"? They say they laugh in
the end. But how did they know that it is the end?
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIANS OF ASTRAKHAN CHOSE "MISS AREV-2006"

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 16 2006

ASTRAKHAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The "Miss Arev-2006"
first annual beauty competition took place in Astrakhan.

It was organized by the Astrakhan "Arev" (sun) Armenian cultural
company.

In the semi-final of the competition that was held in the "Arev"
company, girls were to display perspicacity, sharpness, to show
knowledge of history and culture of Armenia. As the "Yerkramas"
(country) newspaper of Armenians of Russia informs, the competition
participants fulfilled all the tasks perfectly, and all their efforts
were estimated by the jury in the staff of which members of the "Arev"
company administration were involved.

According to results of votion of the jury, Varduhi Hakobian became
"Miss Arev-2006". The judges awarded the following nominations as well:
"Miss Tenderness" to Nano Khachatrian, "Miss Charm" to Lusine Shiyan
and "Miss Fascination" to Arevik Tamrazian.
From: Baghdasarian

VALDAS ADAMKUS: SECURITY IN SOUTH CAUCASUS VERY IMPORTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 16:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus underscored that
security in the South Caucasus is very important for the international
community. The report of the Lithuanian leader’s press office says
that Mr Adamkus voiced hope that the current year will offer new
opportunities for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

Within the framework of his 2-day visit to Lithuania Serge Sargsyan
will meet with Acting Defense Minister of Lithuania Gediminas Kirkilas
and attend the Seimas to hold meetings with the members of the National
Committee on National security, reported BNS.
From: Baghdasarian

‘IT’S LIKE BEING A BIRD,’ SAYS FORMER WING WALKER JOHNNY KAZIAN OF KUNA WAS ALSO A STUNTMAN FOR STARS SUCH AS JAMES BROLIN, DAVID HASSELHOFF, ROBERT REDFORD
by Tim Woodward

KRTBN Knight-Ridder Tribune Business News – The Idaho Statesman
June 14, 2006 Wednesday

KUNA — When Johnny Kazian’s son was a little boy, he thought his
father was Batman. "It wasn’t surprising," Kazian said. "How many
dads wear a leather helmet and goggles to work?" These days, Kazian
and his wife live quietly in a rural area near Kuna. The only clue
to his remarkable career is found on his license plates — Stunt 1.

Kazian made his living as a Hollywood stuntman for nearly 35 years.

He also was a wing walker, credited with saving the death-defying
practice from virtual extinction. Before that he was a tumbler and
before that a trapeze artist. He’s Idaho’s elder statesman of thrills
and spills. A transplanted easterner, he says he "was born where the
cement grows, but now I live in the country. When you travel all over,
you can pick where you like it best. For me, this was it.

Seattle is nice, but it’s too liquid." An Idaho resident for 32 years,
Kazian grew up in Philadelphia. It was there that his high-flying
lifestyle began, with a casual inquiry and a trapeze. "My father was
an Armenian immigrant who designed rugs," he said. "He had a friend
who was in the circus. His friend didn’t have a son of his own, and
one day when I was 7 he asked my father if he could train me. I don’t
know any 7-year-old who wouldn’t want to be a trapeze artist." He did
his first professional show, at Coney Island, N.Y., in 1947. He was
14. "It takes a long time to learn," he said. "You have to be in great
physical condition, and your timing has to be perfect. If everything
isn’t done at just the right time, you’re going to the net." Even
falling is an acquired skill. "The net has a sweet spot. You want
to land on your back in the center of the sweet spot. If you don’t
hit it just right, the net’s going to act like a racquet and you’re
the ball." What’s it like up there? "It’s graceful and beautiful,"
he said. "It’s like being a bird. You’re alone in the air. And once
you learn the timing and balance, it’s not difficult.

I’ve never been afraid of heights, and you develop this little bubble
in your head that tells you whether you’re upside-down, right-side-up
or somewhere in between." Kazian spent two seasons flying hand to
wrist with the Ringling Brothers Circus. When the Korean War began, his
skills made him a natural candidate for aviation training. He became a
Navy pilot and was flying a seaplane when his wrist was badly broken in
a crash. The break didn’t heal properly, ending any chance of returning
to his job as a trapeze artist. What initially looked like bad luck,
however, proved to be a jackpot. "A friend helped me get a job as a
stuntman in Hollywood. You do a little of everything when you work
in a circus. I’d been a tumbler, as well as a trapeze artist, so I
knew how to fall and hit an air bag. I’d tumble out of movie belfries
dressed as a German officer, get thrown out of jeeps, that sort of
thing." The pay reflected the risk. "I have an engineering degree
from Temple University, but I could make more money doing stunts,"
Kazian said. "I got $500 just for showing up. I’d get another $500 for
every bump (stunt), more if it was something special. It was fairly
easy to make $2,000 a day." Every stunt was planned to minimize the
risk. He sketched the trajectories on paper so he’d know exactly when
and where he’d be at the moment of impact and how to execute a fall or
car crash with the least likelihood of hurting himself. "You plan it
so you go to the bank and not the hospital. And when they’re spending
$100,000 a day on camera locations, you’d better know where you’re
coming down. If not, a) they’ve ruined a car, b) they’re not going
to get the shot and c) you’re not going to work again." He worked
as a stuntman in movies and television programs, doubling for James
Brolin, David Hasselhoff and other actors. But it was wing walking
that brought him his greatest fame. The practice — some would say
madness — of walking on wings of airplanes while they do loops and
rolls was popular during the barnstorming era of the 1920s. With the
more powerful planes that followed, higher speeds made it increasingly
difficult and dangerous. By the time Kazian began experimenting with
it in the late 1950s, wing walking had become a memory. "He’s the
one who reinvented it," said Illinois aerobatic pilot Dave Dacy,
who worked with Kazian for 10 years. "By the time he came along,
they had planes that landed faster than the old barnstorming planes
cruised. Johnny found a way to bring it back at the higher speeds." It
took him two years to perfect the techniques. "I learned that if you
make yourself an airfoil at the higher speeds, you’ll be lifted off the
wing," Kazian explained. "If you curve your back enough, it becomes
a lifting surface and you fly off. The key is to lean forward at the
correct angle into the wind. That keeps you from becoming an airfoil.

I also put pieces of traction tape on the wings in case it rained.

"There’s a lot of communication with the pilot because he’s always
compensating for your weight. It’s a team effort. When his eyes are
as big as his goggles, you don’t push it any farther." Was it scary
the first time? "No. That’s not bravado, either. I enjoy heights,
and I knew I could do it." He did it well enough to stand on wings
of planes looping, rolling and flying upside down at speeds in excess
of 200 mph. "He’s the original, the real thing," Dacy said. "There’s
no net, no nothing. He’s the only one I know of who did it without
ropes or cables except for one other person, and she did it on an
old cropduster that was really slow. Johnny set the standard. He’s
the example of how it ought to be done. He even looks the part." In
1975, Kazian doubled for actor Robert Redford in the title role for
the wing walking movie, "The Great Waldo Pepper." Masks were made of
his face and the actor’s; a third had the shape of Kazian’s face on
the inside and Redford’s on the outside. "It was about a quarter of
an inch thick, and they glued it to my face. That way, if I smiled or
my cheeks moved, it looked like it was Redford’s face moving. … He
was a real nice human being and quite a character. He wanted to do
everything. They put a cable on him, and he walked out on the wing."

Kazian retired from stunt work in 1994. "I found out then that my wife
was worried the whole time and never let on," he said. "She was afraid
of the phone call telling her I’d fallen." Mary Kazian admits that the
nature of her husband’s work kept her awake nights. "The traveling
around the country made me as apprehensive as his performing every
weekend," she said. "I was happy when he decided to retire. I felt he
had the right to relax and spend more time at home doing what he loves
— fishing, boating and hunting." Ten years after retiring, Kazian
was inducted into the Airshow Hall of Fame, honoring four decades
of work as a wingwalker and stuntman. "Retirement," in his case, is
relative. He still does some engineering work and occasionally uses
his skills as a stuntman. One example: a 50 mph head-on crash at a
convention of Idaho law enforcement officers. "We used junk cars that
still ran. I took out the rearview mirrors, sun visors, the dashboard
knobs … those are the things that will hurt you. Both I and the
officer driving the other car came out of it without a scratch. We
wore crash helmets and harnesses I attached to the chassis. The
harness goes over both shoulders, which is the way seat belts ought
to be. Seat belts over just one shoulder break your clavicle."
From: Baghdasarian

JUNE VISITS

A1+
[07:56 pm] 12 June, 2006

On June 13 RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will leave for Paris
where he will meet Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov together
with the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs.

On June 14 Minister Oskanyan will leave for Brussels to participate
in the meeting of the NATO and Armenia (format 26+1) together with RA
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan. During the meeting the course of the
realization of the Individual Partnership Action Plan Armenia-NATO
will be discussed.

On June 19 Minister Oskanyan will leave for Kiev on official visit
where he will meet the President and the Foreign Minister of the
country.

On June 20-21 the Foreign Minister will be in Geneva and will leave
for Georgia on official visit on June 27.
From: Baghdasarian

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE CATHOLICOS HONORS THREE SERVANTS
OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

His Holiness Aram I concluded his pontifical visit to the Diocese of Lebanon
by an official dinner held at the “Emirate” hall of Habtoor Hotel on June 8.
Organized by the Diocese of Lebanon, the dinner was also dedicated to the
“Year of the Armenian School” and particularly the Lebanese-Armenian
schools.

Speakers at the dinner focused on the new activeness and spirit brought
forth by His Holiness’ Pontifical visit to the Diocese and the great
satisfaction and encouragement caused by the consecration of the newly built
St. Vartananats Church.

After the welcoming and greeting words of Primate Bishop Kegham Khatcherian,
His Holiness granted the “Knight” medal to Tsolag Tuitelian, Hovhannes
Keleshian, Hagop Shamelian and Zohrab Toruigian, four Lebanese-Armenians who
have in one way or another served their community with great dedication. The
medals were given following the request of the Primate and the local
national authorities of the Diocese.

With the kind intention of supporting Armenian schools and their progress,
Mr. Hrayr Sarkissian donated 100,000 US Dollars to the National Schools’
Student Fund. More than 500 people, including the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Karabakh Kevorki Bedrossian, ambassadors, representatives of
unions and organizations, attended the dinner.

His Holiness highly praised all the structures and organizations functioning
in the Diocese of Lebanon and all those Armenians who breather life into
them. Referring to the latter, he said they “share a part of their time,
just earnings and intellect with the nation, church, school and our civil
organizations.”

“Our Diaspora life would wither without our spiritual cultural and national
values, traditions and dreams. They are rivers that always flow from the
living history and healthy identity of our people. The identity of small
nations is subject to danger in this age if globalization. Therefore, the
preservation of our identity demands double work and commitment from us
today. The Armenian School is the fortress of the preservation of our nation
‘s identity, in front of which all hampering, polluting and misguiding
trends will be destroyed. The Armenian School should be kept strong so we
can be strengthened by the Armenian School, so the Diaspora can become
stronger, so Armenia can become stronger through a strong Diaspora,” said
His Holiness.

The Pontiff then spoke with praise about the strength shown by the Armenian
community of Lebanon. “The Armenians of Lebanon should continue their pan
national role. Let’s not forget that many of our communities refer to
Armenian community of Lebanon when they need spiritual leaders, teachers,
principals, editors, etc. The Lebanese-Armenian community should not view
its role with pride, but should asses its pan national role as a task to be
fulfilled with the sense of responsibility,” the Pontiff concluded.

##
View photo here: tm#3
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Baghdasarian

Torre bows to Akobian in round 7

Philippine Daily Inquirer; Jun 11, 2006

FILIPINO GRANDMASTER EUGENE TORRE LOST HIS BID FOR A top finish by
bowing to GM Varuzhan Akobian of the United States in the seventh
round of the second San Marino International Chess Open Friday at the
Kursaal Congress Centre in Republic of San Marino.

The win gave Akobian 6 points and a tie for the lead with top seed GM
Sergei Tiviakov of the Netherlands, GM Vadim Milov of Switzerland and
GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia.

The 54-year-old Torre, who beat Croatian Fide Master Darko Doric in
the sixth round, got stuck at 5 points and dropped into a big logjam
for 8th to 17th places that includes GM Dmitry Svetushkin of Moldova,
the Filipinos eighth and penultimate round opponent.

GM Mark Paragua, FM Wesley So and reigning national champion Darwin
Laylo all scored 1.5 points in the sixth and seventh rounds to tie
Filipino compatriot and newly installed IM Oliver Dimakiling at 4.5
points.

Paragua, 22, the country’s top-ranked player with an ELO rating of
2617, downed WGM Joanna Dwora-kowska of Poland in then sixth round
and settled for a truce with compatriot Dimakiling in the seventh.

So, 12, and the youngest RP member to the Olympiad, halved the point
with GM Salvador Del Rio Angelis of Spain in the sixth then subdued
IM Jacek Stopa of Poland in the seventh.

Laylo, 26, upset GM Viorel Iordachescu of Moldova in the sixth then
split the point with GM Sarunas Sulskis of Lithuania in the seventh.

Dimakiling had earlier yielded to Ukrainian GM Malakhatko in the
sixth.

Another Filipino entry, NM Rolando Nolte, succumbed to GM Vladislav
Nevednichy of Romania in then sixth then beat WIM Katarzyna Toma of
Poland in the seventh to join the 4-pointers.

Torre and Svetushkin were in the company of GM Vladimir Epishin of
Russia, GM Jaan Ehlvest of Estonia, GM Tomasz Markowski of Poland, GM
Vadim Malakhatko of Ukraine, GM Michele Godena of Italy, GM Nenad
Sulava of Croatia, IM Mikulas Manik of Slovakia and IM Parimarjan
Negi of India.

With 5.5 points each were 16-year-old GM Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine, GM
Baadur Jobava and GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia with 5.5 points
each.

In other Saturday matches, Paragua faces IM Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi
of India, Dimakiling takes on GM Alexander Aresh-chenko of Ukraine,
So battles GM Pawel Jaracz of Poland, Laylo tackles GM Namig Guliyev
of Azerbaijan and Nolte meets GM Stefan Djuric of Yugoslavia. Marlon
Bernardino, contributor
From: Baghdasarian

Panorama.am

14:33 09/06/06

DID EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VICE SPEAKER GIVE EMPTY HOPES?

Just two days ago the Vice Speaker of the European Parliament said
that he does not see any obstacles for Armenia to join EU within next
10 years. Speaking about this statement, Armenian Republican Party
member Armen Ashotyan told a press conference today saying that `the
statement was made to establish some positions in the Armenian
political market. It is obvious that Armenia cannot manage to meet
Copenhagen standards neither in economy nor in politics or law.
Besides, there are unresolved conflicts in the region. Those people
who believe in such statements are hopelessly optimistic.’

He noted that in near future three groups of countries can join EU –
developed European countries that have failed to join the organization
thus far, Baltic states which are in the stage of negotiations and
countries which are already in the process of membership, including
Turkey.

Ashotyan had made earlier forecasts saying that Armenia may join EU
only after 50 years. Those forces which promise membership to EU in
nearer future are only collecting votes, the young politician had
said. /Panorama.am/
From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN DOESN’T SUPPORT ANY MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST NEIGHBORING IRAN
Author: E.Huseynov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006

“We don’t support realization of any military operation against
neighboring Iran,” told Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev in his
interview to the American television NBC, Trend reports.

“The position of Azerbaijan is clear. I consider that all
question should be resolved peacefully and diplomatically,” told
president. He noted that the international community recommended to
resolve Azerbaijani-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully and
Azerbaijan has been holding negotiations for more that ten years. “We
recommend not to consider the military force. We consider that still
there are opportunities to peacefully resolve the conflict and this
process should be continued until the final moment,” told Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani president considers that the opportunities to
peacefully resolve the conflict haven’t finished yet. “These
opportunities should be researched and a decision should be made. And
the made decision shouldn’t violate the stability in the region,”
stated Aliyev.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT URGES KARABAKH’S INTEGRATION INTO WORLD COMMUNITY

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
6 Jun 06

[Presenter] Bucharest or another Rambouillet. After the 4 June meeting
that lasted for more than three hours in Bucharest, the face-to-face
meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, Robert
Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, continued on 5 June. The meeting lasted
for one hour.

The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group hope that these meetings will
make it possible to make progress on the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. They said that the meetings were held in a good
atmosphere. After yesterday’s meeting, the presidents were expected to
make a statement on the results of the talks, but they left Bucharest
without saying anything to journalists. Prior to the second round
of the negotiations, Kocharyan and Aliyev spoke about the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict in their speeches at the Black Sea summit.

The Armenian president insisted on the Karabakh people’s right to
self-determination, while his Azerbaijani counterpart defended his
country’s territorial integrity. The Armenian president said that
in fact, the Karabakh people have already exercised their right to
self-determination and it is necessary to try to fully integrate
Nagornyy Karabakh into the international community.

[Kocharyan, speaking in English with Armenian voice-over] I would like
to briefly touch on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and our view of
its resolution. The people of Nagornyy Karabakh have in fact exercised
their right to self-determination. This has happened in line with norms
of international law. The results of the referendum on independence
were also supported during the war that was thrust upon them. These
events happened during the downfall of the Soviet Union. This is
a classic example of independence by means of secession. Now the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic has been continuing to prove its right to
independence with its achievements in the establishment of statehood
in the last 15 years.

A new generation is growing in Nagornyy Karabakh and they regard
themselves as defenders of this statehood. We are sure that it is
necessary to make an important attempt to integrate this republic
into the international community.
From: Baghdasarian