Author: Chalian Meline

ARMENIA CALLS ON ISRAEL AND LEBANON TO SHOW RESTRAINT AND CAUTIOUSNESS

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has called today on Israel and
Lebanon to display restrain and cautiousness in order not to let the
situation in the fragile Middle East spiral out of control.

Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian told today journalists that
Armenia wishes that the standoff between Israel and Lebanon be resolved
through talks and cease-fire established as soon as possible. Oskanian
said Armenia condemns any manifestation of violence-taking hostage
or use of force, especially the inadequate use of force, targeting
civilian infrastructure and claiming civilian lives.

Israel’s bombardment of Beirut’s airport yesterday disrupted Middle
Eastern air travel and threatened to cripple Lebanon’s tourism industry
at the start of its busiest season. The Israeli air strike forced
the closing of the airport and the diversion of all incoming flights.

Even the plane carrying Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh from
Armenia was unable to land and he had to make his way home through
Damascus, in neighboring Syria.

CAUSE OF PLANE CRASH TO BE STATED CLEARLY

Lragir.am
12 July 06

Investigation into the crash of the Armenian A320 will end in late
July. The news agency ARKA reports that the president of the Interstate
Aviation Committee Tatyana Anodina announced this July 12.

"Today we can be sure to state that we possess all the data to state
the cause absolutely clearly and impartially and take necessary actions
and prepare the final report involving experts from Russia, France
and Armenia," said the chair of the Interstate Aviation Committee. She
announced that the cause of the crash will be formulated clearly. She
said the essential work has been done, and the upcoming week will be
devoted to summing up the results. Anodina said the report will be open
and will be extended to international organizations. She mentioned
that the committee reveals technical parameters and the cause of
the plane, but the national agencies will deal with revealing the
guilty. Tatyana Anodina also stated that during the July 12 meeting
with the president of Armenia there were no questions on agreement,
conclusions or instructions. According to Anodina, the president of
Armenia considers his prime problem to find out the cause of the crash.

OSCE Office helps organize training on alternative sentencing in Armenia

ArmRadio.am
10.07.2006 18:03

A four-day training course for personnel of the Armenian Justice
Ministry’s division for the execution of alternative punishment began
today with support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the OSCE Office
for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

"The introduction and implementation of alternative sentencing
options is a serious step towards building a humanitarian system of
penal sanctions," said Silvia Pogolsa, Human Rights Officer at the
OSCE Office.

Some 70 Justice Ministry staff, judges and prosecutors will discuss the
existing national legislation, alternative sanctions, the supervision
of conditional sentences, as well as international standards and best
practices. Rait Kuuse, Head of the Probation Division of the Estonian
Justice Ministry, will share his country’s experience in the field.

Increased awareness-raising and capacity building among justice
administration personnel was one of the recommendations of the
assessment on alternative sentencing in Armenia, supported and
implemented by the OSCE Office in 2005.

The division for the execution of alternative punishment under the
Justice Ministry was established in 2005, following the adoption of the
new criminal code which introduces an "alternative" sentencing option.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WAITING FOR HAPPY END

Panorama.am
15:24 10/07/06

Vahan Hovhannisyan, NA Vice speaker who headed the Armenian
delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly said he had a talk with
Goran Lennmarker, OSCE PA newly elected Chairman. "Mr. Lennmarker
is well aware of further developments and thinks that by the end of
the year further efforts will be put to settle Karabakh conflict,"
Hovhannisyan said.

NA Vice Speaker also delivered the assessment of American, Canadian,
French, Swedish delegations on the statement made by Minsk Group
co-chairs. According to V. Hovhannisyan, the statement aimed to conduct
spadework among the public. "Efforts are made to call for peace and
not war. They all understand that Armenia is putting maximal efforts
to go for concessions unlike Azerbaijan," Hovhannisyan said.

Speaking about change of format of Minsk Group on Karabakh conflict
settlement, V. Hovhannisyan said, "it would mean to erase everything
and start it over." /Panorama.am/

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
July 7 2006

European Public Prosecutors’ Conference
07.07.2006

July 5 7th Conference of Public Prosecutors of the European countries
was held in Moscow. The public prosecutors from 44 European countries
and members of international organizations attended the conference.

The Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Zakir Garalov
attended the conference. The President of Russian Federation,
Vladimir Putin attended the conference presided by the Public
Prosecutor of Russia Yuriy Chaika.

Two-day conference focuses on the coordination of European countries’
efforts in combating the transnational crime in the field of
protection of human rights, and also roles of the offices of Public
Prosecutor in protection of personality that is the main direction of
their activities in all European countries.

The Consultative Board of the European Public Prosecutors, urged to
reinforce the collaboration between the Offices of Public Prosecutors
of the European countries set up within the conference.

Reportedly the Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan, Zakir Garalov this
conference is very important arrangement for all countries, as agenda
has global issues. According to him, the main purpose of the forum is
to ensure close cooperation between the Offices of Public Prosecutor
of CE Member States and to activate the roles of newly-established
Consultative Board. Z. Garalov informed that at moment Azerbaijani
legislation completely meets the standards of the Council of Europe
that grants the broad opportunities for cooperation with European
countries, and also allow close integrating into European structures.

Azerbaijan’s Public Prosecutor also noted that within the framework
of the conference bilateral consulting with Russian Public
Prosecutor, Y. Chaika, and also prosecutors of Hungary, Austria, etc,
would be held. Talking of Azerbaijan-Russian bilateral relations, Z.

Garalov stressed that the relations are developing efficiently and
successfully with Russia as well as with other European countries.

"The Offices of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan and Russia has no
problems and we constantly assist each other for disclosure of crimes
and extradition of offenders," he emphasized.

Z. Garalov stated that Azerbaijan’s delegation prepared detailed
information about reforms being progressed in our country and
presented to conferees. H also added that it involved the information
of Azerbaijan-Armenian Nagorno-Garabagh conflict and its
consequences. "The work for bringing to awareness of European
colleagues and international community the information of this
conflict will continue further at all levels," concluded Z. Garalov.

It is appropriate mention that the conference is held on the
threshold of the G8 Summit to be held on July 15 in St. Petersburg.

>>From May to June 2006 the Russian Federation was in the chair of the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

–Boundary_(ID_PijXMkhLrzPEYicdoHV2+A)–

PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Contact: Maggie Mead
Tel: 510-987-9125
Fax: 510-208-3576
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Constitution Day Panel Discussion at AUA: The Legacy of Mkhitar Gosh and the
Rule of Law

Yerevan- 7 July. The AUA Department of Law, on the occasion of
Constitution Day of Armenia, hosted a panel discussion celebrating
Mkhitar Gosh and his Legacy of Law in Armenia, entitled "Lessons from
Mkhitar Gosh: 800 Years of Legal Tradition."

Panel participants included Tom Samuelian (Dean, AUA Law Department),
who presented Mkhitar Gosh as a legal pragmatist, and Fr. Sasoon
Zumrookhdian of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Vicar for Tavush
Marz, who spoke on the topic of "Mkhitar Gosh: A New Tradition." Also
present were Prof. Garnik Safaryan from the Institute of Law and
Politics of the National Academy of Sciences, who described Mkhitar
Gosh’s legacy, and Gagik Ghazinyan, Dean of the YSU Law Department,
who presented Mkhitar Gosh’s "Datastanagirk".

"800 years ago, Mkhitar Gosh studied international best practice
and compiled an exemplary law code based on the real needs and
Christian values of Armenia. It was such a good compilation that
it was translated into other languages and used by Armenian and
non-Armenian communities in Europe and elsewhere for nearly 500 years.
While times have changed, the value of Mkhitar Gosh’s insights into
the methods of creating good laws has not. Today’s Seminar at AUA
is being held in conjunction with two important national holidays:
RA Constitution Day (July 5) and Sts. Trdat and Ashkhen Day (July 8),
whom we honor this week as the founders of Armenia’s Christian state
along with St. Gregory the Illuminator in 301. The festivities
will culminate in the blessing of civil servants and jurists during
a pilgrimage to Goshavank on Saturday, July 8, under the auspices of
the Gugark Diocese of the Armenian Church"- stated Tom Samuelian.

The event was free and open to the public. Approximately 50 people
attended the panel discussion, included students, members of the
press, judges, and advocates, as well as representatives from bar
associations and the National Assembly.

————————————— ————————————-

The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered
as a non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian
University of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia. The American University
of Armenia (AUA) is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the
University of California.

Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading
to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information
about AUA, visit

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 7 2006

Statement on issue that as though Georgians destroy Armenian
historical monuments is next Armenian provocation

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

07.07.2006

There is not Armenian origin in anything, Aydin Mirzazade, the member
of the Political Council of New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) and also the
deputy chairman of the permanent security and defense commission of
Azerbaijan parliament, told Trend, commenting on the demonstration
of the film "Stones of Ancestors" of Armenian Youth Union "Mitk" in
"Rolan" theatre.

The producer of the film is Austrian Armenia Egish Gevorkyan who has
been living in Georgia for two years. The film deals with the issue
that Armenian churches and other Armenian monuments are purposefully
destroyed in Georgia.

Mirzazade noted that Armenians try to take the place of their nation.
"There is a good attitude towards Armenians in neighboring Georgia.
Even Armenian banners may be observed in several places in Javakheti
region. Along with it, Armenians pursue aggressive attitude towards
Georgians. It means that it needs to always fight with Armenian trick,"
told Mirzazade.

"It is the problem of Georgia to give reaction to it. Azerbaijan
tries to unmask Armenians and protect its objective history because
Azerbaijan has repeatedly felt such provocation of Armenians. During
the summer session of PACE, our speeches unmasking aggressive Armenian
policy of Armenia, Armenians took protection position," he stressed.

The Azerbaijani parliament deputy Anar Mammadkhanli noted that
Armenians becomes the victim of this policy by appropriating the
history of other peoples. Armenia, as a for-post of Russia in South
Caucasus, has always pursued the policy of Moscow in the region.
"Armenians were removed to Caucasus. For more than 300 years,
Armenians have been appropriating Caucasus. It is not unexpected
for us Armenians’ appropriating the historical monuments of Georgia.
Armenians have always tried to appropriate lands, historical monuments
and the culture of other nations. But they will become the victim of
this policy," told Mammadkhanli.

Besides, he pointed out that Armenians don’t understand that the
Javakheti region of Georgia or Azerbaijan’s occupied territories
will not belong to them. "They don’t understand that they will become
victim of this policy," Mammadkhanli noted.

Besides, he stressed that Armenians have always made use of the
slander and blackmail. "Their statement about the issue that as though
Georgians destroy the Armenian historical monuments is the

NKR DEFENSE MINISTER: AZERBAIJAN UNLIKELY TO WAGE A WAR

Lragir.am
07 July 06

Sabine Freizer, director of the Caucasian Program of the International
Crisis Group wondered in an interview with the Azerbaijani news agency
APA why Azerbaijan and Armenia are not worried by the statements of
the Minsk Group co-chairs. Especially that the co-chairs, in fact,
refused mediation and left the sides tete-a-tete. Sabine Freizer says
the war may ignite since Azerbaijan is increasingly preferring war
for the settlement of the conflict. Freizer warns the sides that the
international community will not interfere in case the war ignites. In
other words, the international community will be following one of the
parties defeating completely the other. Freizer only had to say when
and where the provocations will occur which will lead to confrontation,
and where the international force will be stationed.

It is interesting that this is not the first time these words were
voiced by a woman. Maybe in order to make them sound softer, or maybe
there is no man to threaten with a war.

The reporter of the Karabakh Open asked the NKR minister of defense
Seyran Ohanyan if there is intelligence information that Azerbaijan is
getting ready for a war. The minister says armed forces must constantly
be ready for defense. The army of Karabakh has set this goal. However,
according to Seyran Ohanyan, Azerbaijan is unlike to start war. "An
increase of the military budget does not mean effective use of funds,"
said the minister. He mentioned that Karabakh is not going to take
preventive actions, although the NKR government has a clearly worked
out plans for different developments.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO HOLD AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION

ArmRadio.am
04.07.2006 15:42

Chairman of RA National Assembly Tigran Torosyan signed a decree,
according to which under Article 70 of RA Constitution, at the
initiative of the Government of Armenia an extraordinary session of
the National Assembly will be called at 10.00, July 6, 2006.

CALIFORNIA LIKELY TO GRANT RIGHT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HEIRS TO RECOVER BANK DEPOSITS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2006 18:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The California State Assembly Judiciary Committee
passed legislation on June 27 that would grant legal rights to
Armenian Genocide survivors and their heirs to recover bank deposits
wrongfully withheld since the Armenian Genocide by giving California
courts jurisdiction over banks operating in the Ottoman Empire,
reported Armenian National Committee of America. The bill passed the
Assembly Judiciary Committee with a vote of 6-1 and is expected to
go to the floor of the Assembly for vote on August 7, 2006 before
going to the Governor. The State Senate has already passed the bill,
which is authored by Senators Jackie Kanchelian-Speier and Charles
"Chuck" Poochigian, and sponsored by ANCA-WR.