Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

WILL REPUBLICANS HAVE DECIDING ROLE IN ELECTION 2008?
Lragir.am
30 June 06
Unfortunately, I have to say that no political developments are
reported in Armenia now, Galust Sahakyan, head of the Republican
faction, stated June 30 at the National Press Club. According to him,
the political sphere is “taking a nap”, therefore the focus is on
the Republicans and their assembly. “It is extraordinary but not
emergency,” says the leader of the Republican faction.
According to him, the ideology and principles of the Republican will
not change. As for moving the focus onto the Republican Party through
the media, it is encouraging for Galust Sahakyan and is political
capital.
Besides the assembly, the Republican Party began admitting teachers
and businessmen in preparations for the upcoming elections. Does
this artificial “loading” of the political party make think about
the Orinats Yerkir Party? Galust Sahakyan said the Republican Party
and the Orinats Yerkir differ greatly in their activities and paths.
“The political parties, which get this load through struggle, cannot
encounter such problems.” Galust Sahakyan says the businessmen, who are
joining the party, passed a political way with the Republican Party
at some period. The established Republican thinks the businessmen,
who fled from the Orinats Yerkir will hardly join the Republican.
According to Galust Sahakyan, the majority of parliament forces
will not be elected to the parliament in 2007. “The opposition will
hardly get 30 seats. If the forces outside the parliament are wise
enough to ally, a new faction may appear in the National Assembly,”
says Galust Sahakyan.
He denies that an early election is possible, and insists that the
Republican will have a deciding role in the presidential election
in 2008.
From: Baghdasarian

FOUR MURDERS OF ARMENIAN CITIZENS COMMITTED IN MOSCOW AND ITS REGION
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 28 2006
YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA – RIA Novosty/. Four murders of Armenian
citizens committed in Moscow and Moscow region in the 1st quarter
2006, and the two of them are detected, Head of Russian Ministry of
Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliev reported during a press conference.
The minister pointed out that the specific part of the crimes against
Armenian citizens in Russia is committed by their fellow countrymen.
“For instance, in January 2005 in Moscow, $300,000 was blackmailed
for abduction of Armenian citizen Varlanyan; however, the criminal
group consisting of four people that also included Armenian citizens
was arrested,” Nurgaliev said.
He also pointed out that the number of crimes committed by Armenian
citizens considerably exceeds the number of crimes against them. In
particular, the minister referred to the statistical data, according
to which Armenian citizens committed 2,496 crimes, 501 – against them,
and in 2005 this figure totaled 2,940 and 593, respectively.
According to the minister, during the first quarter of the current
year the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia points out reduction
of crimes, whose victims were Armenian citizens.
“During this period, 112 crimes were committed against Armenian
citizens, 11.1% less against the corresponding period of last year,”
the minister said. He pointed out that “the overwhelming majority of
crimes, related to Armenian citizens is of mercenary character”.
In particular, during the 1st quarter 2006 they committed 552 crimes,
including: over 100, related to making and sales of false documents,
26 – illegal sales of drugs, 82 thefts, 40 robberies, 19 frauds, 16 –
hold-ups, 11 – heavy physical trespass, 3 – murders and 3 cases of
gangsterism.
From: Baghdasarian

NON-COMPLEMENTARY DAMNATION
Tigran Avetisian
Aravot.am
28 June 06
There is an impression that the unpleasant incident happened to the
Catholicos of the whole Armenians in Istanbul was just what a lot of
people in Armenia wished. And how great and deep their desperation
would be if the Catholicos’ visit passed without adventures and
didn’t mark by hooliganism of some extremist idiots. Unless they
wouldn’t have such a wonderful occasion to cry about “vandal essence”
of Turkish type and “that people’s indisputable incompatibility to
European standards”. This underlining are quoted from the press.
While a lot of people who consider themselves politicians, public men
or art workers put into circulation such shameful expressions that
they made us think about mass psychotherapy of some groups of our
society. The most interesting thing is that nobody declared about the
above-mentioned incident; ”Dear compatriots, you shouldn’t describe
the whole nation for the reason of some rabbles, which is full of
dangerous political consequences”.
We shouldn’t remind that we don’t have the lack of such kind of
declarations when our innocent compatriots are killed in Russian
cities owing to national identity.
Another observation; nowadays Turks are accused of “false reforms”
and ” providing for the veil of democracy”. But I’d advise those who
accuse, to mark first of all the last presidential and parliamentary
elections, not forgetting the shameful referendum in autumn. Then it
will be clear what veil means.
–Boundary_(ID_Cf7VeNfXyGurz5ruj9VirQ)–
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 28, 2006
His Holiness Karekin II Completes Pontifical Visit to Istanbul
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
having completed his first Pontifical Visit to Istanbul, returned to the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the early morning hours of June 28. The
seven-day visit included a two day fraternal visit to the Ecumenical
Patriarch, followed by five days with the Armenian community of Istanbul and
the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Although His Holiness’ flight arrived in Yerevan in the middle of the night,
waiting for him in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin at 4:00 AM, were
hundreds of faithful who had come to welcome him home. His Holiness’
procession was escorted into the Mother Cathedral under the singing of the
`Hrashapar’ hymn. Standing before the Holy Altar of Descent, the Catholicos
of All Armenians offered prayers of thanks to heaven and thereafter conveyed
the unforgettable and warm impressions from his pontifical visit to all
those present. His Holiness Karekin II joyfully reflected on the
enthusiastic reception he received from the Armenian community of Istanbul,
as expression of their love and devotion to the Holy Armenian Apostolic
Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
His Holiness stated, `Glory and thanksgiving to God. We return from our
pontifical visit to our sons and daughters in Constantinople with a content
heart. Our soul was filled with joy to personally see and meet our faithful
children, their enthusiastic devoted faith, and their patriotic spirit. We
communed with 600 years of history and treasures of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople.’
The Pontiff of All Armenians stated with contentment that the Armenian
community of Istanbul, a community that lives, breathes and speaks Armenian,
is active today with a vibrant national life. The community has 39
churches, 17 Armenian schools and many institutions, the largest of which is
the Holy All-Savior National Hospital. His Holiness also fondly recalled
his meetings with Armenian intellectuals and youth of Istanbul.
As the visit of His Holiness was widely covered by the Armenian and Turkish
press and media in Turkey, His Holiness spoke of the press conference
convened in Istanbul on Sunday, June 25, following the Pontifical Divine
Liturgy, during which the Armenian Genocide was discussed. (The full text
of the press conference will be available tomorrow on the website of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, ). In reply to the
concerns about the prospect that His Holiness’ statements on the Armenian
Genocide could negatively affect the attitude of the Turkish authorities
towards the Armenians of Turkey, the Catholicos stated, `We do not believe
that our thoughts and words can affect the attitude of the authorities
towards our Armenians in Istanbul, because we never expressed hatred or
enmity, we simply stated the reality and the truth. Taking into account the
process of democratization, which the Turkish authorities desire to achieve
in their country, we also do not believe that extremist nationalistic forces
will succeed in sowing hatred and enmity toward the Armenians or other
minorities living in Turkey.’
His Holiness continued, stating that as many countries have recognized the
Genocide of the Armenians, so too must Turkey recognize the Genocide, for
which there exists no need for deliberations.
Regarding the protests that had been organized in Istanbul during his visit,
noting that the Turkish authorities characterized them as the `actions of
extremist groups’, His Holiness emphasized that in no way did they diminish
his impressions from the trip. Due to the unprecedented security measures
which were implemented, they did not obstruct the activities of the
Pontifical Visit and generally remained unnoticed by the delegation.
Just before daybreak in Holy Etchmiadzin, as His Holiness concluded his
remarks, he once again expressed his appreciation to the Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople and the faithful people of Istanbul for the warm
reception, and offered his prayers for the stability and vibrancy of the
Armenian Patriarchate. The Pontiff of All Armenians also warmly expressed
his thanks to all those present who had waited all night long to greet him
upon his return to Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian

UNITED STATES GO INTO A NEW STAGE
Lragir.am
28 June 06
Aram Gaspari Sargsyan, the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia,
thinks that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza’s famous
interview and the revelation of details of the negotiations for the
settlement of the conflict over Karabakh means that the United States
is opening a new stage. On June 28 Aram Sargsyan told news reporters
that the United States is in a hurry because there is little time,
and the United States pursues aims in the region, which are known
to everyone. Aram Sargsyan hints at Iran, for according to him,
the United States pursues the presence of NATO forces in the region,
by stationing peacemakers in the conflict area.
“Because at present the United States is tired of this government,
it must directly impose what it says. I very much doubt that they will
be able to resist. In my opinion, the only way out is Mr. Kocharyan’s
resignation to allow postponing everything for a couple of years and
overcoming this state over that period. I cannot see another way,”
states Aram Gaspari Sargsyan. He says that stationing peacemakers
is unacceptable, independent from all. The leader of the Democratic
Party is even against Russian peacemakers.
Peacemakers will aggravate the situation and disturb the balance of
forces in the region. He does not think that the purpose of Mathew
Bryza’s statement was to increase the influence of the United States
on internal policies through the Karabakh issue.
“I think,if Bryza wished to increase the influence of the United
States, on the contrary. There might be political sets, which are
satisfied with that statement. Our party is not one of them. As for
the possible increase of their influence, it is possible because it is
not accidental that 235 million dollars of the Millennium Challenge as
if disappeared. It means they offer stipulations to the government of
Armenia,” says Aram Gaspari Sargsyan. The leader of the Democratic
Party thinks that the internal political situation will give an
adequate response.
“Let nobody be confused if nothing significant happens in the summer
months. Everything goes on normally, and the results will be seen
later,” said Aram Gaspari Sargsyan.
From: Baghdasarian

RF PRESIDENT ORDERS TO ASSIST RESETTLEMENT OF RUSSIAN SPEAKING CITIZENS IN RUSSIA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/06/2006
RF President Vladimir Putin instructed to assist the voluntary
resettlement of the Russian-speaking citizens in the territory of
Russia. Regnum agency informed that the implementation of the relevant
program began on January 1, 2007. Before that, an interstate committee
will be shaped to deal with the implementation of the program. The
Federal Migration Service will regulate the realization of the project.
The probation realization programs will be carried out in Kaliningrad,
Kaluga, Lipetsk, Tambov, Tver, Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk,
Primorye and Khabarovsk from September 1, this year. It is envisaged
that several millions of Russian-speaking citizens will be resettled
there, including those from the CIS member states. It is expected
that the project will be completed by 2012.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN LGC PARTY TO MAKE ITS PRIORITIES PUBLICS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 25 2006
YEREVAN, June 26. /ARKA/. At its congress this autumn, the Law-Governed
Country (LGC) party will make its political priorities public, LGC
Chairman Artur Baghdasaryan stated at the 5th congress of the LGC
Women’s Union.
“At the LGC’s congress in autumn the party’s political priorities
and our concept of the country’s development will be formed,”
Baghdasaryan said.
According to him, the party will be consistent in its struggle for
“the triumph of the truth.”
He also pointed out that in August the party will start negotiations
with “various healthy political forces of Armenia.”
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN-BULGARIAN RELATIONS ARE INSUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED, ANDRANIK MANUKIAN SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The 4th regular sitting of the
Armenian-Bulgarian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic,
scientific and technical cooperation is taking place in Yerevan on June
26-27. The commission’s Armenian Co-Chairman, RA Minister of Transport
and Comunication Andranik Manukian said that the Armenian-Bulgarian
economic relations are insufficiently developed, underlining the
necessity for their strengthening. In 2005, the commodity turnover
between the two countries made only 85 mln USD, with Armenia’s exports
amounting to 6-7 mln USD.
A. Manukian noted that there are a lot of unsolved problems in the
trade and economic relations between the two countries. Particularly,
up to now the sides have failed to come to an agreement on the issue
of Yerevan-Sofia air communication, to decide a company of which
country will operate flights.
According to the minister, the Armenian side takes a view that these
flights are not profitable.
It was noted that the RA Ministry of Agriculture intends to purchase
fruit and vegetable processing conveyers from Bulgaria. The problem
of Varna-Port Kavkaz ferry transportation is also under discussion.
A. Manukian attached special importance to the experience of the
Bulgarian side, which allows this country to join the European Union
in 2007.
From: Baghdasarian

PACE SUMMER SESSION TO START IN STRASBURG
ArmRadio.am
26.06.2006 10:45
The summer session of the Parliamentary assembly of the Council
of Europe will start today in Strasburg. Yesterday the Armenian
delegation headed by NA Chairman Tigran Torosyan left for France. The
question of the mandate of the Azeri delegation is also on the agenda
of the session.
The discussion of the issue scheduled June 29 will be preceded by the
report of the CO-Chairs of the Monitoring Commission Andreas Gross
and Andres Herkel. The issue of Chernogoria’s independence will be
discussed at today’s sitting.
From: Baghdasarian

ITEMS SOUNDED BY BRYZA DON’T REFLECT CORE OF DOCUMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 13:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The items of the draft agreement on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement sounded by OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair
Matthew J. Bryza are just elements of the document submitted to the
conflicting parties and certainly do not reflect the essence of the
project thus causing inappropriate comments, RA President’s Spokesman
Victor Soghomonyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. Anyway, if media
publishes such revelations again the Armenian party will make public
all the documents discussed during the recent 7-8 years, specifically
the Key-West draft agreement and the draft discussed in Bucharest
recently. I am sure that everything will become clear then. By the
way all the projects were rejected by the Azeri side,” Soghomonyan
said. As for the recent statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, Victor Soghomonyan said, “It’s irrelevant to keep on commenting
on the statements with different wording but the same meaning.”
From: Baghdasarian