Author: Chavushian

U.S. BELIEVES YEREVAN, BAKU COULD SETTLE N. KARABAKH PROBLEM IN 2006

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
June 6, 2006 Tuesday 9:49 PM MSK

The U.S. believes the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be settled in
2006 and urges the Azeri and Armenian presidents to increase efforts
toward this end, Matthew Bryza, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of
state for European and Eurasian affairs, told journalists in Baku
on Tuesday.

Bryza said an encouraging draft agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh was on
the table now and that the U.S. believed a consensus was possible.

Bryza confirmed that a meeting between the Azeri and Armenian
presidents in Bucharest on Monday failed to produce the desired
results.

Bryza said more consultations were expected with Ambassador Steven
Mann, the U.S. co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, after the latter
completes the discussion of further ways to settle the conflict with
his Russian and French counterparts.

The U.S. diplomat pointed out that the internal political situation in
Armenia would be more complicated in 2007, and therefore the current
year is viewed as more favorable for achieving an agreement.

Armenia will hold parliamentary elections in 2007 and presidential
elections in 2008.

JACQUES CHIRAC PLANNING TO VISIT ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 10:42

The President of France Jacques Chirac plans to visit Armenia, Press
Service of the Elisee Palace told “Arminfo.” According to the source,
no official confirmation about the President’s visit has been received
so far, therefor the exact date and agenda are not known, either.

Nevertheless, according to the same source, French President’s visit
to Armenia is scheduled September 29th, which will overlap with the
official opening of the Year of France in Armenia. The President will
be accompanied by Charles Aznavour.

MONUMENT TO HOVHANNES TUMANIAN UNVEILED AT PARK OF STONE-MONUMENTS OF ARAGATSOTN REGION

Noyan Tapan
Jun 06 2006

ASHTARAK, JUNE 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Unveiling of the “Tumanian and
His Heroes” monument took place in the territory of Park of
Stone-Monuments of Aragatsotn region on June 3. The unveiling was
initiated by the Hanun Gugarats Ashkarhi (For the Sake of Gugarats
Land) charity organization in the person of RA MP Vahram Baghdasarian,
organization’s Chairman. It is the second one in the park, the first,
monument to Anania Shirakatsi, was erected by the administration
of Shirak region. Delegates of Spitak, Tashir, Stepanavan, Alaverdi,
different NGOs of Lori region, students collectives, representatives of
intelligentsia and art figures took part in the unveiling of monument
to great Armenian writer Hovhannes Tumanian. As RA Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepian, Nig Aparan compatriot NGO Chairman, mentioned in
his greeting speech, the dream of creating a park of stone-monuments
begins to fulfil, and the monuments will reach the foot of Aragats
mountain. The honor of unveiling the monument to Hovhannes Tumanian was
given to Vahram Baghdasarian, Chairman of the Hanun Gugarats Ashkharhi
charity NGO, and poet Hrachya Sarukhan, Chairman of the Lori branch of
Writers’ Union. The ceremony of anointment was conducted by Ter Artak
Archimandrite Tigranian, deputy leader of Gugark Diocese. The author of
the sculpture is Varpet Sevo (Sargis Gharibian). Song “Anmah Loretsi”
(“Immortal Lori Inhabitant”), fragments from “Anoush” opera were
sung, Vanadzor “Horovel” state ensemble of song and dance performed
during the event. Verzhine Vardanian, Director of Yerevan Museum of
Hovhannes Tumanian, Roza Ghazumian, Director of Dsegh House-Museum,
and others spoke. Again sounds of the round dance invited everybody
to dance at the end of the event.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDING COMPLEX OF RA DEFENCE MINISTRY TEMPORARILY STOPPED

Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The contract signed with the “Ingeocom”
Russian company, according to which the above-mentioned company was
implementing construction of the comlex of administrative building
of the RA Defence Ministry in Avan was recently dissoluted. RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian informed in the June 5 interveiw to
journalists that the executer’s programs were changed and the latter
decided not to continue the construction. 8.5 mln U.S. dollars were
paid to the company from the exra-budget resources of the Defence
Ministry for already done work. By the way, they were also given
land on the Isakov avenue of Yerevan. “No tradegy has happened, we’ll
simply continue either by our means or by finding another contractor,”
the Prime Minister mentioned.

DEMAGOGIC PROPOSALS OF DIALOGUE UNCOVER DIPLOMATIC WEAKNESS OF TURKEY, HEAD OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF SLOVAKIA EMPHASIZES

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006

BRATISLAVA, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Starting dialogue
on historic fact, Turkey has only one goal – to create an illiusion,
to prove to Europe that it’s a completely ready country for membership
to the European Union and finds a free, openly speaking and civilized
way even in the Armenian Genocide issue to prove its “truth.” Ashot
Grigorian, the Chairman of the Europe Armenian Organizations’
Representation, the head of the Armenian community of Slovakia stated
about it, giving explanations to a number of representatives of
mass media of Slovakia on the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide on the way of Turkey’s membership to the EU. “Thus, first
of all, the fact of a dialogue, if it takes place, is already very
benefitial for Turkey.

It’s natural that it’s needless and harmful for Armenia,” he
explained. “A country that has blocked for dozens of years documents
of the Armenian Genocide in its archives and today states that it
is ready to open its archives in front of specialists, does anybody
doubt that all the documents containing proves will have been cleaned
from those archives? Even more, how one believe a country which puts on
trial its scientists in the case of expressing any true idea concerning
the Armenian Genocide and even adopted a criminal law relating to the
issue,” Grigorian mentioned. It, according to him, is such a laughable
fact that after it, demagogic proposals of a dialogue uncover today’s
diplomatic weakness of Turkey. According to the Chairman of the Europe
Armenian Organizations’ Presentation, Turkey’s worthy panishment for
that demagogy will be to take the second step as well by countries
adopted resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, thus, to make resolutions
adopted by parliaments like a law, in the case of what refusal of the
Armenian Genocide will become criminally punishable. He finds that
European Armenian communities must settle down that affair just now,
in works with parliaments of their countries.

AZERBAIJAN TRIES TO SUBMIT NEXT DOCUMENT TO JUNE SESSION OF PACE ON AGGRESSIVE POLICY OF ARMENIA
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 5 2006

We try to submit the next document to the June session of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on aggressive
policy of Armenia, Rafael Huseynov, the member of the Azerbaijani
delegation in the PACE, informed Trend.

Huseynov noted that the document is submitted to be familiarized and
signed by the members of the committee. He stressed that yet there is
no necessity to announce the title of the document. Huseynov pointed
out that the subject of the document has officially been adopted and
will not be announced until publication. “Because the opposite side
may take several measures to prevent the document,” told Huseynov. He
gave brief information about the importance of the document. Huseynov
stated that the main importance of the document is related to the
results of the aggressive was held by Armenians against Azerbaijan.

Besides, Huseynov ruled out that the primary goal was to receive a
support for the document and after that, submit it to the discussions
of the spring session of the PACE.

Furthermore, Huseynov spelled out that on June 7, he would attend the
meeting of the PACE committee on legal affairs and human rights. “The
agenda of the meeting doesn’t include the issue about Azerbaijan.

Several issues related to human rights will be discussed at the
meeting where I will also participate,” said Huseynov.

PRIME MINISTER ANDRANIK MARGARYAN HAS NO EXPECTATIONS FROM BUCHAREST MEETING

ArmRadio.am
05.06.2006 16:11

RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan does not have great expectations
from the meeting of Armenian and Azeri Presidents in Bucharest. The
Prime Minister said today at the National Assembly that the statements
of the Azeri side do not inspire hope for progress.

Andranik Margaryan noted that the optimistic trends in the settlement
of the conflict this year still exist, but this time the break is
hardly possible.

Nevertheless, according to Andranik Margaryan, there will be no
regress, the prospects for progress will be clear after the meeting
of Presidents.

OLYMPIAD R14: ARMENIA AND UKRAINE TAKE GOLD

Chessbase News, Germany
June 5 2006

05.06.2006 The 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin ended on Sunday. Rapid
draws by the Armenian men’s team and the Ukraine women assured both
teams, which were leading by 2.5 and 2.0 points, of Olympic Gold.

China took Silver in the men’s section and USA Bronze. The Russian
women took Silver and the Chinese team won Bronze. Report, games and
final standings.

The Olympiad is over, the prize giving has been executed, the communial
dinner taken and, as we write these lines, the farewell party is under
way. We bring you the results and games, with a few commemorative
pictures. Full illustrated reports will follow, after the ChessBase
team has returned from Turin to Hamburg, Germany.

Turin 2006: After round thirteen (final) The Armenians, going into the
final round 2.5 ahead of the field, had agreed a quick draw against
the Hungarians. This secured them Gold less than an hour after the
start of round 13. China beat the Netherlands 2.5:1.5 to take Silver,
two points behind the winners.

The US team demolished Norway 3.5:0.5, while Israel beat a lackluster
Russian team 3:1. Both USA and Israel had 33.0 points, but the
Americans took Bronze on tiebreak scores.

For complete scoreboard and photos click
id=3159 .

Armenpress

CENTER FOR PROMOTION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED
BUSINESSES INAUGURATES NEW CENTRAL OFFICE

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Center
for Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses has
inaugurated today a newly constructed central office.
Trade and economic development minister Karen
Chshmaritian said the Center has branches in all
Armenian provinces, which had been opened before the
inauguration of the central office.
He said the Center received in 2003-2005 around 820
million in government subsidies which were used to
render assistance to around 12,000 beginners and
seasoned businessmen. The bulk of them was outside the
capital city Yerevan.
The center has also offered 280 million drams in
loan guarantees since 2005 creating about 550 million
drams worth credit package. This figure is expected to
rise to 850 million by the end of the year. Now the
share of small and medium-sized business in the
overall GDP constitutes 40 percent. Their share in
exports also rose from 14.3 percent in 2003 to 16.4
percent in 2005.
Small and Medium-Sized companies have created also
75,000 jobs. UNDP and the OSCE Armenian offices helped
to establish the Center.

Karabakh’s independence impossible – Armenian paper

Aravot, Yerevan
2 Jun 06

Text of Aram Abraamyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 2 June
entitled “Without white gloves”

They say that in early 1998 when a coup was being plotted and
“nationalist” forces were going to displace non-nationalist ones, an
official was asked: “How do you see the settlement of the Karabakh
problem?” and he replied: “If it is settled one day, it will be
settled in the way as Levon [Ter-Petrosyan, first Armenian president]
wanted”. Politics are dirty business and do not need white gloves at
all.

Approximately the following will be suggested in Bucharest. Armenian
troops should be withdrawn from the occupied five districts. Meanwhile,
communication roads will be opened and refugees will return, Karabakh
will get an “intermediate status”, and peacekeeping forces will be
deployed. Actually, the problem of a final status will be put off for
an indefinite period. There is nothing about the “package” settlement,
as the “package” (as it was understood in 1998) supposes the
withdrawal of troops and an independent status for Karabakh or its
unification with Armenia.

Unfortunately, this option is impossible. But this does not mean that
the problem should not be settled at all. If a miracle happens and
Kocharyan and Aliyev come to agreement on the suggested option, that
agreement should be welcomed. There is no need to enumerate advantages
that Armenia and Azerbaijan will gain if lasting peace is established
in the region. Let our authorities describe this option as
“victorious”, let them prove that this is not the “stage-by-stage
option” proposed in 1997. Let it be so. Let them only find the
strength to make concessions.

But no miracle will happen in Bucharest. The only thing for which the
two presidents are going to meet is to disrupt the talks, but to do it
in such a way that an opponent will be held responsible for that.

Armenia’s positions are stronger in this strategic task. Aliyev, who
became blind because of oil dollars, thinks that he can reach more.
But this “tactical” victory is a very weak consolation.