Author: Ekmekjian Janet

AZG Armenian Daily #104, 08/06/2005
Visit
ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS TO MEET ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Catholicos of All Armenian, His Holiness Karekin II is paying a patriarchal
visit to California these days. On June 4, His Holiness met with the
Armenian consul to Los Angeles Gagik Kirakosian. A press release by the RA
Foreign Ministry informs that the Catholicos is to meet with the California
governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on the sidelines of his visit.
The press office of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin informs that Karekin II
served holy liturgy at the temple of Hreshtakatz. Representatives of 10
religious organizations and denominations headed by Archbishop Roger Mahoney
of Los Angeles’ Catholic diocese attended the service.

Pan Armenian News
SERGE SARGSIAN MET SWEDISH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
08.06.2005 03:30
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the National Security Council under the RA
President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian received Swedish Ambassador to
Armenia Johan Molander, RA Defense Minister’s Press Secretary Seyran
Shahsuvarian reported. During the meeting the Minister informed the
Ambassador of the current situation at the contact line, the activities of
the OSCE Minsk Group in Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement as well as
cooperation with Russia, the US and NATO. The parties also touched upon the
present situation of the military-industrial complex, staff training and
mine clearing in the Syunik region of Armenia.

A1plus
| 12:29:13 | 06-06-2005 | Official |
FROM GEORGIA TO JAPAN
The delegation with RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan at the head left
for Japan this morning on an official visit. The delegation went to the city
of Nagoya in the region of Aichi, where the world exhibition «Expo-2005» is
held. During the day the Prime Minister and the members of the RA delegation
will visit the sights of Nagoya, in particular the Nagoya castle and the
cathedral «Atsuta», they will get acquainted with the historical-cultural
and architectural monuments.
Tomorrow morning the delegation with PM Andranik Margaryan at the head will
go the exhibition «Expo-2005», where an official ceremony in connection with
the National Day of RA will take place. Further, the PM will visit the
Japanese, Caucasian and other stands of the exhibition and get acquainted
with the exhibits.
In the evening the RA delegation will leave for Tokyo.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Analytical Information Agency, Russia
June 6 2005
Impexbank will directly hold 19.9% of Areximbank’s stocks.
Next week Impexbank will acquire a 19.91-percent stake in commercial
Areximbank.
Areximbank’s capital equals $4.7 million. Accordingly the deal value
will total $935.77 thousand.
The share of direct participation of Impeksbank in Areximbank will
make 19.9 %. AT present the shareholders of Areximbank are Armenian
company ” Finmarket ” and the non-resident – RosCreditResources,
being controlled by Impexbank and Unikor-Finance which operates the
assets of businessman Boris Ivanishvili.
The Russian-Armenian export-import bank has been created in 1998 for
support of business and service of financial flows between Russia and
Armenia. As of April 1, 2005, Areximbank’s assets amounted to $46.64
million.
Impexbank was founded in 1993, its authorized capital is 2.334
billion rbl. It enters 30 largest Russian credit organizations,
monthly published by the Central Bank. The Bank is supervised by the
structures close to businessman B.Ivanishvili.

60% OF ARMENIANS HAVE EXCESS WEIGHT AND 26% – ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION
YEREVAN, JUNE 3. ARMINFO. According to recent investigations conducted
by the Armenian Medical Association (AMA), 26% of Armenian citizens
have arterial hypertension.
Chief of the AMA Parunak Zelveyan informed at today’s press-conference
that the investigations were conducted in Yerevan, 800 people of
various ages were questioned. According to the questioning, 60% of
respondents had the excess weight, 90% noted that they do not realize
or do not take into consideration the information about the harm of
cholesterol excess in blood. 50% of questioned hypertensive patients
noted that they received medical treatment only a week. In Zalveyan’s
opinion, short treatment is worse than not receive treatment at all.
Zalveyan noted that Armenia’s government should take measures for
precautions of hypertension and to enter to the state order patients
with arterial hypertension as most of them give up the treatment
because of the inaccessibility of drug prices.

PRINCIPLE OF POWER DIVISION NOT PRESERVED
A1plus
| 12:37:10 | 04-06-2005 | Politics |
May 11 the National Assembly in the first reading adopted as a basis
the draft of constitutional amendments submitted by the coalition. The
draft that does not solve the main problem of reformation- the
regulation of balance of power between the states bodies. The Venice
Commission adheres to the same opinion.
“Even in December 2004 the conclusion said that the draft does
not secure the principle of power balance, moreover the President
still preserves his dominating position in the political system”,
constitutional right specialist Vardan Poghosyan reminds. In his words,
both in the acting Constitution and the adopted draft the government
still bears a double responsibility before the National Assembly and
the President. “It means that the President can any moment dismiss
the Prime Minister, what means that the government activity directly
depends on the President’s will.
Vardan Poghosyan assures that in none of the countries with
semi-presidential government system the government bears double
responsibility. “Semi-presidential system supposes that the government
that enlists the support of the parliament is functioning until it
loses the NA’s trust. Besides the problem of dismissing the Premier
the draft adopted leaves the government formation in the President’s
hands. The only change is that the NA will be dissolved not after the
third but after the second time it does not approve the government’s
program” Vardan Poghosyan said.
In his words, these two clauses are enough to be convinced that
the draft violates the logics of the semi-presidential government
system. Thus we are dealing not with the semi-presidential but
the super-presidential system. “The government is obliged to take
decisions on the basis on normative acts by the President. Though
the President does not ratify decision of the government he has the
right to suspend any decision and appeal to the constitutional court
to check it with the Constitution. At that the matter concerns not
only the normative but also individual decisions by the government”,
V. Poghosyan noted.
According to the draft adopted though the President does not preside
over the government sittings he can exercise his right to do that.
The functions of the President remain almost unchanged . “There is
a gap in Article 49. It says that for performing his functions the
President is empowered to undertake any steps; thus the President
has boundless authority. Consequently, Article 49 should define
that the President of the republic can perform his functions within
his authority only”, V. Poghosyan stressed. According to him, the
draft does not solve the problem of expanding the authority of the
National Assembly. On one hand its authority on exercising control is
insignificant, on the other hand with the absence of precise majority
it can turn into an uncontrollable body that can cause governmental
crisis.
In its conclusion the Venice Commission with regret noted the reduction
of the number of questions included in the legislative authority
of the National Assembly (in 2001 draft -37, now – 18). The draft
adopted in the first reading provides for 10 exclusive legislative
authorities of the National Assembly.
Victoria Abrahamyan

The Daily Star, Lebanon
June 4 2005
Nassib Lahoud announces list for northern Metn
Gabriel Murr will stand for Orthodox seat and not ally with Aoun as
predicted
By Therese Sfeir
Daily Star staff
NACCACHE, Metn: Metn MP Nassib Lahoud announced an electoral list for
the northern Metn supported by the Christian opposition Qornet
Shehwan Gathering and the Democratic Renewal Movement. The list
includes Lahoud, Metn MP Pierre Gemayel, Wadih Hajj and Eddy Abi
Lamaa for the Maronite seats.
It also includes Qornet Shehwan Gathering member Gabriel Murr and
Michel Akl for the Orthodox seats, Rafi Madoyan for the Armenian seat
and Philippe Maalouf for the Catholic.
The announcement came during a news conference held at Murr’s
residence in Naccache. It had been understood that Murr was going to
ally with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, who has parted
company from the Lebanese opposition.
Lahoud stressed the need to promote the unity of the opposition and
enhance cooperation between its leaders in order to stand up to the
challenges facing the country.
In an indirect reference to Aoun, Gemayel said: “This is the real
opposition list that expresses the true voices of Metn’s citizens.”
He added that the opposition had sought to reach an agreement with
Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, but had been surprised by the
latter’s announcement of an incomplete electoral list earlier in the
week that left seats open for the Maronite, Orthodox and Armenian
seats.
Aoun explained the lack of a full list by saying: “The circumstances
didn’t allow us to form one unified list because of our alliance with
the opposing list in northern Metn, which will be declared Friday.”
Commenting on the assassination of journalist Samir Kassir, Gemayel
said: “We have called, during the meeting of the Bristol Gathering on
Thursday, for the resignation of President Emile Lahoud.”
Responding to comments made by Aoun on Thursday, in which the retired
general held the Cabinet responsible for Kassir’s murder, Gemayel
said: “The interim government is formed by neutral figures and cannot
be held responsible for the crime.”

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Antranig Kasbarian
Tufenkian Foundation
20 Capitol Drive
Moonachie, NJ 07074
mailto:[email protected]
TUFENKIAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW SPONSORSHIP IN KARABAGH RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM
Dr. Albert Karamanoukian joins effort to resettle NKR’s border regions
STEPANAKERT, NKR — The Tufenkian Foundation today announced a generous
gift by Dr. Alber Karamanoukian toward its ongoing efforts to promote
Karabagh’s resettlement. Dr. Karamanoukian’s gift of $20,000 will
underwrite the construction of one house and associated facilities
in Arajamough, a new village the Foundation is building in Karabagh’s
border regions.
Begun in 2004, Arajamough currently houses 25 resettlers, consisting
of 6 families, most of them refugees from Azerbaijan. The village
will welcome another 6 families this fall. The Tufenkian Foundation
is committed to building and resettling at least 6 houses per year
until the Arajamough project is completed.
“We are grateful to Dr. Karamanoukian for his generous support of
this project,” stated Antranig Kasbarian, a Program Director with
the Foundation. “Indeed, his support for resettlement extends
beyond this project and toward the larger vision of fortifying
Artsakh–particularly its vulnerable border regions–as a crucial
component of our national security.”
In turn, Dr. Karamanoukian praised the Foundation for its
efforts. “Resettling Karabagh is of vital importance, particularly
when many people still lack decent housing, facilities, and especially
jobs. I commend the Foundation’s commitment to raising the bar in each
of these fields, and urge others to join the effort to consolidate
our victories on the ground. ”
The Arajamough project features newly built houses with modern
amenities. Alongside these, the Tufenkian Foundation is providing
water, power lines, gravel roads, as well as administrative support
in bolstering the village. Future plans include animal husbandry and
land cultivation, in order to provide sustainable livelihoods and to
spur economic growth in surrounding areas.
“Our view of resettlement is an integrated one, and moves beyond the
usual humanitarian-subsistence approaches,” stated Kasbarian. “The
Karabagh war created many thousands of refugees and homeless persons;
some of these have left the area entirely, while many others
continue to eke out an existence in ruined areas amidst primitive
conditions. Under such circumstances, our very existence on these
lands remains tenuous. If we are to attract Armenians back and
solidify our presence, then clearly having a roof over one’s head
is not enough. Rather, people must gain hope that there is a future
living on these lands, which is why modern facilities, infrastructure,
and the promise of economic activity are essential as well.”
Dr. Karamanoukian is a prominent physician and businessman based in
Glendale, California. He has a long record of philanthropy toward
Armenian causes.
The Tufenkian Foundation was established in 1999 by New
York-based entrepreneur James Tufenkian. The Foundation
currently pursues a wide array of projects in Armenia and
in Karabagh, and also sponsors the “Armenian Forests” NGO,
which addresses environmental issues. To learn more about the
Foundation’s efforts, please see the Foundation’s website at
<;, or contact Antranig Kasbarian at [email protected] .
###

BTC launch draws differing reactions from Armenians
Baku, May 31, AssA-Irada
Armenian officials have issued conflicting statements following the
launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline on May 25,
which sent them into panic.
“The BTC commissioning rules out the resumption of hostilities in
Upper Garabagh. We can talk of settling the conflict only in peace”,
Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian said.
Armenian media quoted Oskanian as saying that with the launch of
pipeline, Azerbaijan will face ‘serious restrictions’.
“Azerbaijan will now be unable to start military action on its own. But
if such a decision is made, it will be opposed not only by Armenia
but the entire international community.”
The Armenian minister came out against statements that the BTC
pipeline’s bypassing Armenia’ is a defeat for this country.
“If people that believe this were present in the Armenian government,
they would turn Upper Garabagh into a subject of speculation”, he said.
“To ensure the BTC passes through Armenia, Upper Garabagh had to be
returned. But this is unacceptable”, said Oskanian.
A day after the first oil was pumped into the BTC pipe, Armenian prime
minister Andranik Markarian made a contradictory statement. He openly
expressed concerns over the BTC launch, saying that the project would
‘disrupt the balance of forces’ in the region.
The Armenian official also suggested that Iranian gas be transported
from Armenia to Europe.*

OSCE MONITORING HELD AT KARABAKH AND AZERI CONTACT LINE
Pan Armenian News
01.06.2005 05:25
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A recurrent OSCE monitoring was held at the
contact line of the Karabakh and Azeri armed forces in the region
of Fizuli near Karakhanbeily settlement. From the Karabakh party
the monitoring was group was headed by Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzuk. The Azeri side in
contrast to the Armenian did not lead the monitoring commission to
the front line. The monitoring was held according to the schedule;
no violations of the cease-fire were fixed. Today Andrzej Kasprzuk
will meet with NKR Defense Minister Seyran Shahsuvarian.