Author: Chalian Meline

Armenian analyst: War in Karabakh is possible in 2026

Regnum, Russia
Aug. 26, 2006

"Armenia rejected profitable economic projects in Southern Caucasus
for the sake of Nagorno Karabakh," independent analyst Levon
Melik-Shakhnazaryan stated during press conference in Yerevan. He is
quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as stating that "a very interesting
time" is now in negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. "The
settlement process has got into a new stage, when the co-chairs stated
that they have exhausted their imagination. Now, the settlement process
has been laid on shoulders of three parties – Armenia, Karabakh, and
Azerbaijan. At that, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is responsible
for non-recommencement of war. He has to explain to his people, why
the war does not recommence, why Azerbaijan does not try to return
Karabakh," he stressed.

According to the analyst, the war may not recommence in the near
future. "Azeri economy is to such extent integrated into economies
of Europe and the East that Azerbaijan has completely lost its
own policy. It may not decide anything independently. War is not
favorable for any big state, which has own aims in the region,"
he stressed. In that context, responding to question on possible
recommencement of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh, the analyst
stressed that ‘Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is property of the
British Petroleum Company till 2026." "No war with Azerbaijan is
to be expected in the period. It means; we should chose our allies,
cooperating with which we will be ready for the war. If we are well
prepared, the war does not begin," Mr. Melik-Shakhsaryan stressed,
adding that "time would work for those, who would use it in right way."

The analyst is sure it is the right time for Armenia to look for allies
in region. While doing so, the country should take into consideration
allies’ civilization because only coincidence of civilization values
may guarantee strategic union, he believes.

Because the Armenians are eastern people, they have not integration,
but ties, relations with Europe, the analyst stated, adding that Iran
may become Armenian’s ally despite difference of religions. However,
he does not exclude effectiveness of cooperation with Russia, Syria,
Belarus, and Iraq.

As for a possible meeting of Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers
in September, the analyst does not have any expectations. "They will
speak, welcome each other, may be, and drink tea together. Then, they
will come out and say; everything is before; there are foundations
for future meetings," he believes.

Russia suspends probe into Armenian’s murder

Agence France Presse — English
August 22, 2006 Tuesday 9:34 PM GMT

MOSCOW, Aug 22 2006 — Russian prosecutors have suspended an
investigation into the murder of an Armenian national earlier this
year, laying they will never find the culprits, the victim’s lawyer
said Tuesday.

"The investigation is suspended due to the impossibility of determining
those who committed the crime," Simon Tsaturyan said, quoted by the
RIA-Novosti news agency.

Vagan Abramyants, 17, was stabbed to death in a Moscow metro station
on April 22. The assailants escaped from the scene.

There has been a rise in the number of such attacks on foreigners in
recent years and the pace has quickened in recent months.

They are often carried out by gangs of skinheads and usually target
Asians, Africans and people from the Caucasus — such as Armenians —
or Central Asia.

PRESS RELEASE Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Byuzand Street, 375010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100,
New York, NY 10111, USA
Contact: Mariam Dilakian
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8201
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

For immediate release

"A, B, C" in the Words of the Children of Armavir

The Brusov Linguistic University and the Children of Armenia Fund

Completed the English Language Pilot Program in the Model Cluster

Armavir District, Republic of Armenia, August 24, 2006 ¾ The Cultural
Center of the village of Dalarik became the venue of the lively
performance by the students of the English Language Summer School.

Launched in July 2006, this pilot program of teaching English as a
Second Language intended to provide basic knowledge to the children
aged six to eight. The beneficiaries were 88 children from Argina,
Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog, Myasnikyan, and Shenik, in Armavir marz.

The program was initiated and sponsored by the Children of Armenia
Fund (COAF) and implemented by a group of young tutors from the Brusov
Linguistic University (BLU).

At the conclusion of the one-month implementation, children from
one of Armenia’s most vulnerable regions gained basic knowledge of
English: the alphabet, songs and poems on daily routines, the colors,
the numbers, and a rich vocabulary of words delineating fruits,
vegetables, and animals.

In the words of parents and community members, the project was very
successful and must be continued. The young tutors were acknowledged
for their superb performance in teaching and working with children.

The teachers had successfully applied modern teaching methods and
psychological approaches in working with their young audiences. This
fact was witnessed by the enthusiasm the children showed at the
performance and words of appreciation addressed to young teachers
and COAF staff.

At the closing stage of the event, the children were presented
certificates of completion. As one of the parents noted, "We hope that
these first certificates in the lives of our children would open for
them a new era of opportunities and serve as cornerstones for them
to grow up as decent citizens and flourish as educated individuals."

COAF will evaluate the completed pilot project and offer English
courses again in the Fall of 2006 expanding the program on the basis
of the results of the pilot and public demand.

# # # # #

–Boundary_(ID_ZIPq2C8CRxCFFBu+cAT4jg)–

AZERBAIJANI AND JORDANIAN GOVERNMENTS CONCLUDE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON BILATERAL COOPERATION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 23, 2006

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov today received the
delegation led by Abdullah Al-Khatib, Foreign Minister of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan.

The Ministry press service told the APA the discussions focused on
the opportunities of expanding cooperation between the two countries
in political, economic and other fields. The Jordanian delegation
was informed about the large-scale energy and transport projects
implemented in Azerbaijan.

Minister Mammadyarov also touched on Armenian aggression against
Azerbaijani territories, ethnic cleansing policy in these lands and one
million Azerbaijanis becoming refugees and internally displaced persons
as a result of Armenian occupation. He informed about the step-by-step
solution of the Armenia- Azerbaijan conflict within the Prague process.

The sides also exchanged views on the Middle East peace process,
Israel-Lebanon conflict and implementation of the UN Security Council
Resolution on this issue. Jordanian Foreign Minister expressed his
country’s position regarding the Middle East peace process.

In the end of the meeting, Azerbaijani and Jordanian governments
concluded a framework agreement on bilateral cooperation.

YOU WANT A PROJECT? HERE YOU ARE!

Lragir.am
23 Aug 06

The Alliance of National Democrats led by Arshak Sadoyan published
a project August 23, which is intended to guarantee a transparent
and fair parliamentary election in 2007. Arshak Sadoyan says an
extremely dangerous situation has occurred in Armenia, threatening
the country’s future development. Sadoyan believes that not all the
pro-government forces but some of them are likely to forge the results
of the elections.

The leader of the Alliance of National Democrats announces that
the political forces and NGOs, who are worried about the country’s
future, should come together and come together to fight for fair
elections. Arshak Sadoyan says there may be assistance from the
international community since there were a number of tough statements
that "this time election fraud will not be forgiven".

And the Alliance of National Democrats has assumed the role of
prevention of electoral fraud. The project is ready, or the draft
project is ready, which will be edited during the roundup in early
September. In accordance with the project, Arshak Sadoyan proposes
four main activities to guarantee a fair election: publication of
ballots abroad, electronic vote, classes for the local observers,
proxies and candidates of members of election committees, held
independently from the government, propaganda of democratic values
and free and fair elections on TV and radio and in the press, as well
as public meetings including international figures for the government
to avoid using violence during these meetings. These activities are
included in the draft project of the Alliance of National Democrats.

Arshak Sadoyan says it is open for proposals by other political parties
and NGOs. If there are proposals, they will be adopted during the
hall meeting in September, to which representatives of international
organizations and embassies will be invited as well.

Arshak Sadoyan says the idea of the project was approved by the
foreigners with whom he discussed it. Among international organizations
the leader of the Alliance of National Democrats points to the OSCE,
the UN, USAID, the U.S. Embassy. The project was written with the
consideration of the embassy. Arshak Sadoyan has foreseen that the
activities of the project will be implemented on the 6.5 m dollars
that the United States earmarked for a fair election in 2007.

"We asked, well, what are you going to do, you are going to give the
money to the government, and they are going to give it to the police
to make the electoral register precise, etc, so you want to spend the
money this way. They said no. We asked how they are going to spend
it then. They said when you present a project, we will discuss it and
decide how. So we decided to work out this project after their answer,"
says Arshak Sadoyan. The project, he says, was presented to John Evans,
who remains the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.

By the extravagant calculations of Arshak Sadoyan, the project costs
maximum 2.5 m dollars. Sadoyan even suggests setting up a board of
trustees including foreigners who will control spending of the money
they will give.

"If the project is not adopted, we are going to appeal to the
international community, try to meet with the media, such as CNN,
the New York Times, etc. and ask if they are not pretending. We say
give 2.5 m out of 6.5 m dollars and control it to prevent fraud. We
say we are setting up a special board of trustees including your
representatives not to allow anyone to state that they are doing a
revolution on international money. You refuse? So? Either you want
to do a revolution secretly and you give the money or you give it to
the government to misappropriate it later," Arshak Sadoyan present
the plot of possible settling of accounts, in case the project is
rejected, of course.

Arshak Sadoyan is definitely worried by the approach of the opposition
towards this project. He says the aspirations of individuals do now
allow uniting around a common project, but he hopes that his project
will be an exception.

BIDS FOR PROJECTS WORTH 1.1 BILLION DRAMS SUMITTED FOR REALIZATION OF YEREVAN’S MASTER PLAN IN 2007

Noyan Tapan
Aug 22 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Implementation of projects of 570 mln
drams (about 1 mln 425 thousand USD) is envisaged for the realization
of Yerevan’s master plan this year. Chief Architect of Yerevan, Head of
the Architecture and Land Control Department of Yerevan Mayor’s Office
Samvel Danielian stated this at the Augsust 21 press conference. He
attached special importance to the implementation of the project on the
zoning of the Kentron community, during which the community yards will
be reconstructed and improved. According to S. Danielian, out of the
tenders on implementation of all projects, only the tender for external
design of the city was not held because no bids had been submitted. He
said that the ongoing improvement of some Yerevan streets will be
completed within the next few months. In his words, they received
the proposal for regulation of the complex Koryun-Heratsi-Charents
transport nodal point, which envisages joining Heratsi Street with
Khanjian Street by using the Getar River’s bed. According to the
chief architect, bids for projects worth about 1 bln 117 mln drams
have been submitted for the realization of Yerevan’s master plan in
2007. It is envisaged to develop the project on zoning of Ajapniak,
Davitashen, Arabkir and Nork-Marash communities next year. In his
words, at present these are communities of interest to land developers.

KALONSKA: GERMANY SHOULD RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Yerkir
21.08.2006 16:22

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Germany should recognize the Armenian
Genocide unreservedly, Hans Kalonska, the director of Germany’s
Marborg-Bidenkopf Red Cross said when speaking to reporters in Yerevan.

The German Red Cross delegation visited Sunday the Armenian Genocide
Memorial to pay homage to the 1915 Genocide victims.

Kalonska said the Armenian Genocide resolution passed by the German
Bundestag should have had described the events of the past century
in more precise legal terms.

"The resolution has not found adequate resonance in the German society
though Germany shares a responsibility for the crime," Kalonska
said. He added that only 10 percent of the German youth have some
idea of Armenia and even less are aware of the Armenian Genocide.

Kalonska also said that Turkey cannot join the European Union until
it has recognized the Armenian Genocide.

‘Bonnie and Clyde’ held for spate of jewellery thefts

Kuwait Times, Kuwait
Aug. 20, 2006

KUWAIT: A source revealed that an Armenian expatriate and a Kuwaiti
woman embarked on a series of jewellery thefts. The expat and the woman
would go to jewellery shops and ask the salesman to look at chains and
bracelets. They would then put some of them in their pockets while the
salesman wasn’t looking. They would buy one item from the shop but
steal others. They stole from four shops but when they came back to
the first store, the salesman called the police. During interrogation,
they confessed that they committed a number of thefts.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN MEETS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

Armenpress
Aug 15 2006

SOCHI, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: The delegation headed by the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian arrived today in Sochi to participate
in the non-official summit of the Eurasian Economic Association
conducted in Sochi August 15-17. Armenia is participating in the
summit as an observer.

At the airport Robert Kocharian was met by the governor of Krasnodar
province Alexander Tkachov, Russian deputy foreign minister and
executive secretary of Eurasian Economic Association Grigori Rapota
and Armenian consul in Sochi Vardan Azoyan.

Armenian president met with his Russian counterpart at the latter’s
summer residence "Bocharov Ruchei".

The two presidents discussed topical issues within their bilateral
relations, including economic, cultural and a number of regional
issues. Vladimir Putin highly underscored the positive dynamic
development of cooperation in trade sphere between the two countries
and expressed his conviction that the Russian-Armenian business
partnership will prove successful.

In his turn, Robert Kocharian emphasized the importance of establishing
effective cooperation mechanisms in the communication, transport and
investment sectors. Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharian also noted
about the successful conduction of events within the framework of
the Year of Armenia in Russia.

Members of the Eurasian Economic Association are Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Armenia,
Moldova and Ukraine are observers.

TERMS OF MEETINGS OF 16TH STAGE OF RA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CHANGED
BECAUSE OF ELECTORAL STAGE OF EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. It was scheduled to hold the "Mika" –
" Pyunik" and "Banants" – "Shirak" meetings of the 16th stage of the
football highest group of Armenia on August 12. But, as a group of
football players of those clubs, in the staff of 21-year old football
players, will participate on August 16 in the electoral stage meeting
of the Europe championship to take place in Bosnia, so games of the
mentioned pairs took place earlier, on August 10. The following
results were fixed during those meetings: "Mika" – "Pyunik" 0:0,
"Banants" – "Shirak" 3:0. According to the schedule of the 16th stage,
the "Cilicia" – "Ararat" meeting will take place on August 12, and the
"Ulis" – "Gandzasar" meeting will take place on August 13.