Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIA’S POTENTIAL TO FIGHT TERRORISM TO BE DISCUSSED AT CODEXTER SITTING

ArmRadio.am
04.12.2006 12:14

In the framework of the 11th sitting of the Council of Europe’s
Committee of Experts on Terrorism /Codexter/ the core characteristics
of Armenia’s potential to fight terrorism will be presented in
Strasburg today

ArmInfo agency was told at the Press Service of the Council of
Europe Office that besides Armenia, the core characteristics of
Albania, Cyprus, Georgia, Russia, Sweden and Macedonia will also
be presented. Members of the Committee will discuss issues related
to the compliance to the provisions of the convention on fighting
terrorism and the cooperation with Interpol.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR HAS SAME RIGHTS AS AZERBAIJAN
By Karine Mangasarian

Yerkir.am
December 01, 2006

"The final settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should not
decrease the current security guarantees but should increase them,"
Armen Rustamian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Body
representative and National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Committee,
said on November 30.

"Azerbaijan keep saying, ‘those territories are mine, give them back,’
we say, ‘the territorial demands are mutual.’ They speak about 20
percent of their territory — it’s not true, it’s only 13 percent —
and today, 20 percent of the NKR is under Azerbaijani occupation,
including Martakert, Martuni, Shahumian and others."

He said that should the Armenian side speak from the same position,
then we may speak of two equal states formed on the territory of the
Azerbaijani Soviet Republic, and NKR would have the same rights to
speak about its rights as Azerbaijan does.

Only after a final settlement package is on the table and everybody
has a chance to know what is in there, only then would it be possible
to say if the settlement was fair or not, Rustamian said, once again
pointing to the necessity of a package settlement, as only in that
case the settlement would be final and full.

Rustamian was asked to comment on a statement by the president, who
had said he was ready to return all the territories except for the
Lachin corridor if Karabakh’s status is clearly defined.

"We have explicitly expressed our position," Rustamian
replied. "Earlier this year, the Foreign Relations Committee has
adopted a document containing detailed descriptions of the ways and
essence of the settlement process.

There are several assertions that if accepted, then we deem the
process acceptable. If there is a shift from those principles,
then the process would not be acceptable to us, regardless who is
the president today and who is engaged in the negotiations. We have
clearly said that the issue should be resolved based on the principle
of the right of nations to self-determination."

Rustamian added that the self-determination principle is the main
direction of the talks, and "we should reach our goal, which is to
fully implement the self-determination right, which has to addressees –
the international community and Azerbaijan."

"And because it proves unproductive to talk about that principle with
Azerbaijan, we have to work toward the international community."

He compared the situation with the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. If Turkey recognizes it, the issue will be resolved,
but since it does not, we have to have the international community
condemn it. We see that mounting pressure every day, Rustamian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT RECOGNIZE RESULTS OF KARABAKH REFERENDUM – MINISTRY

Interfax, Russia
Dec 4 2006

BAKU. Dec 4 (Interfax) – Azerbaijan will not recognize the results
of the referendum on the Karabakh constitution set to be held in the
unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh on December 10, a statement
by the Azeri Foreign Ministry says.

"Any constituent document on the Karabakh self-government may enter
into force only in the course of a well-considered, legal, democratic
and peaceful process, in which the Armenian and Azeri communities
take part on equal terms," the statement says.

The December 10 referendum "in the occupied region of Azerbaijan would
breach not only the norms and principles of the Azeri constitution
but also those of international law," the ministry said.

"Azerbaijan will never recognize the illegal Armenian-sponsored
acts which derive from the policy of fait accompli and which are in
total opposition to attempts to achieve lasting peace and regional
stability," the ministry said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MONITORING DUE ON AZERBAIJANI-ARMENIAN FRONTLINE
Author: E. Javadova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2006

The OSCE monitoring will be held in the contact line of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani Armed Forces along the line in Gapanli Village of
Terter District on December 4, 2006, the Defense Ministry announced.

Imre Palatinus and Gunter Folk, Field Assistants to the Special Envoy
of the OSCE Chairman-in-office, will carry out the monitoring in the
Azerbaijani side of the frontline.

Miroslav Vimetal, Peter Key and Jaslan Nurtazin, Special Envoy’s
Fields Assistants, are responsible for monitoring the Armenian side
of the contact line.

AN ARMENIAN ENCLAVE
By Nathan Toohey
Staff Writer

The Moscow Times, Russia
Dec 4 2006

Photo: Leopard-skin prints decorate the main dining room in Yerevan.

Restaurants like Yerevan are a rarity in central Moscow these days.

Fully occupying a modern five-story mansion, the place is huge;
its description of itself as a cultural and entertainment restaurant
complex is no exaggeration.

There’s a banquet hall seating 180, a main dining room for 80, and
private rooms seating 30, 25 and eight diners. It even has a casino
section, some hotel rooms and a parking lot.

As soon as you walk in, you feel like you’re in an Armenian community
club, thanks to the number of Armenian speakers waiting by the
foyer’s elevator.

This was not always an Armenian restaurant, however. Until recently,
the restaurant was called U Lyovy and was a Serbian grill house.

Given the size of the place, its changing focus to a larger diaspora
seems to have been a smart move, and the full tables on a recent
Friday night would seem to confirm this.

In the main dining room, U Lyovy’s tame pastels are gone; the new
faux leopard-skin chairs and columns, mirrors and sentimental songs
by a male soloist add up to an atmosphere akin to that of a provincial
hotel banquet hall.

Although some Armenian cuisine is available, the menu also features
some Georgian dishes plus all the Russian banquet hall favorites, such
as olivye salad and borshch. The house specialty salad, "U Lyovy,"
(300 rubles) seems to be of this genre, resembling a mayonnaisey
mimosa salad with salmon.

Fried aveluk (200 rubles), a classic Armenian dish made from the
dried aveluk herb fried with nuts and spices, is a tasty highlight.

Another national dish, ishkhan khorovats (270 rubles) is a grilled
ishkhan trout endemic to Armenia’s Lake Sevan.

The Alanskiye khachapuri (230 rubles) — Ossetian pie filled with a
mixture of cheese and mashed potato — is lighter and no less tasty
than the Georgian varieties, which are also on the menu.

The Armenian wine selection is substantial and starts at 700 rubles
for a bottle.

While the service is attentive, it gives a poor impression at the
end when the waiter doesn’t return any change — especially when a
5 percent service charge has already been added to the bill.

2 Ul. Shabolovka, Bldg. 1, 237-5000, 24 hours, M. Oktyabrskaya.

es/2006/12/04/023.html

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN POLISHED DIAMOND PRODUCTION DOWN BY NEARLY 20%

Tacy, Israel
Dec 3 2006

Armenia reduced its polished diamond production by 19.7 percent in
the first ten months of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005,
says Gagik Mkrtchian, Head of the Armenian Trade and Economic
Development Ministry.

Meanwhile, cut diamond sales fell by over 17 during the same period
as compared to one year earlier.

A drop in global prices for cut and polished diamonds combined with
a weaker dollar in Armenia were behind the drop in output and sales.

Mkrtchian adds that Armenia did not buy any rough diamonds from Russia
in 2006, instead buying most of their rough from Israel and Belgium,
since it was not profitable to buy from Russia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YOUNG ARMENIANS LIGHT UP RUGBY FEST
Anupama Bagri

Kolkata Newsline, India
Dec 2 2006

Kolkata, December 2: There was a different ball game on at the East
Bengal ground today. With the lovely winter afternoon serving as the
ideal backdrop, it was carnival time again as the London School of
Commerce Kolkata Rugby Tens returned to the city in its second year.

The Londoners – the lone contingent from across seven seas – have
been pooled with CCFC and Future Hope, two of the toughest teams
in the city circuit. The boys from LSC may have had a forgettable
day on the field losing both their group matches, but team manager
Judy Parkes said the team is here to enjoy. "The weather here is
just perfect. Back home it’s rainy and cold. The boys may not win,
but they are happy to be part of the sport here," she said.

Meanwhile, the Armenian College team celebrated their entry into the
semi-finals with comprehensive wins over Ashalayam and Jungle Crows.

They huddled together and allowed themselves a loud cheer, their faces
looking brighter than the red jerseys they were sporting. "It’s the
first time since 1997 that we are fielding a full team. We are all
overjoyed having made the semis," said a beaming coach David Purdy.

The Armenians returned to the rugby circuit last season having been
out of business since 1997. As Purdy explained: "There weren’t too
many boys coming to India to study. And, the pool here was either
too young or too old to play. So we had to wait all this while for
the kids to grow up and now we can field a full strength team. I’m
happy we have done well since our return to the circuit."

The boys in red are the youngest team in fray at the Tens, with the
age group varying between 13-19. Captain Armen Markaryan, 17, says it’s
"exciting to lead a side that is young, energetic and raring to go."

The Armenians won the seven-a-side meet at the Police Bodyguard Lines
last month and are now looking to add the Tens title to their kitty.

"We won the plate last time, this year we don’t want to settle for
anything less than the winners trophy," the burly Purdy said.

The adrenaline level is high, the setting is perfect and the colts
are hungry for success. As Purdy said before leaving the ground with
his boys, "We are the side to watch out for in the future."

Today’s results: Future Hope beat CCFC 46-0, Jungle Crows beat
Ashalayam 35-5, Orissa beat LMOB 41-5, YRC beat Bangalore 12-7, CCFC
beat LSC 17-10, Armenian College beat Ashalayam 29-0, TNS Police beat
Orissa 22-0, Future Hope beat LSC 44-5, Armenian College beat Jungle
Crows 17-5, TNS Police beat LMOB 46-0.

p?newsid=211782

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POPE’S ADDRESS IN ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CATHEDRAL

Catholic Online, CA
Dec 2 2006

"To Heal the Wounds of Separation"

ISTANBUL, Turkey, DEC. 2, 2006 (Zenit) – Here is Benedict XVI’s
address to Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafina, delivered Thursday during
the celebration of the Word in the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of
Istanbul. It followed the patriarch’s own address.

* * *

Dear Brother in Christ,

I am pleased to have this opportunity to meet Your Beatitude in
this very place where Patriarch Kalustian welcomed my predecessors
Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. With great affection I greet
the entire Armenian Apostolic community over which you preside as
shepherd and spiritual father. My fraternal greeting goes also to
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the
hierarchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. I give thanks to God for
the Christian faith and witness of the Armenian people, transmitted
from one generation to the next, often in very tragic circumstances
such as those experienced in the last century.

Our meeting is more than a simple gesture of ecumenical courtesy
and friendship. It is a sign of our shared hope in God’s promises
and our desire to see fulfilled the prayer that Jesus offered for
his disciples on the eve of his suffering and death: "that they may
all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I in you, may they also
be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me"
(Jn 17:21). Jesus gave his life on the Cross to gather into one the
dispersed children of God, to break down the walls of division.

Through the sacrament of Baptism, we have been incorporated into
the Body of Christ, the Church. The tragic divisions which, over
time, have arisen among Christ’s followers openly contradict the
Lord’s will, give scandal to the world and damage that most holy
cause, the preaching of the Gospel to every creature (cf. "Unitatis
Redintegratio," 1). Precisely by the witness of their faith and love,
Christians are called to offer a radiant sign of hope and consolation
to this world, so marked by conflicts and tensions. We must continue
therefore to do everything possible to heal the wounds of separation
and to hasten the work of rebuilding Christian unity. May we be guided
in this urgent task by the light and strength of the Holy Spirit.

In this respect I can only offer heartfelt thanks to the Lord for the
deeper fraternal relationship that has developed between the Armenian
Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church. In the thirteenth century,
Nerses of Lambron, one of the great Doctors of the Armenian Church,
wrote these words of encouragement: "Now, since we all need peace
with God, let its foundation be harmony among the brethren. We have
prayed to God for peace and continue to do so. Look, he is now giving
it to us as a gift: let us welcome it! We asked the Lord to make
his holy Church solid, and he has willingly heard our plea. Let us
climb therefore the mountain of the Gospel faith!" ("Il Primato della
Carita," Ed. Qiqajon, p. 81). These words of Nerses have lost nothing
of their power. Together let us continue to pray for the unity of
all Christians, so that, by receiving this gift from above with open
hearts, we may be ever more convincing witnesses of the truth of the
Gospel and better servants of the Church’s mission.

[Original text: English]

Copyright 2006 — Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Contact: Catholic Online CA, US Catholic
Online – Publisher, 661-869-1000 Email: [email protected]

g/featured/headline.php?ID=3858

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WANT TBILISI TO ‘SHOW RESPECT’

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Dec 2 2006

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin said on December 1
that it is too early to speak about the possibility of the Russian
ambassador’s return to Georgia. The ambassador was recalled from
the country after Georgia arrested four Russian officers for alleged
spying.

He also called on Tbilisi to "respect mutual problems" and refrain
from inflammatory rhetoric.

"The inadmissibility of a humiliating tone and officials’ humiliating
rhetoric is a basis in bilateral relations between states," Karasin
said.

Also on December 1, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said that
Russia is guided by purely commercial principles while dealing with
economic relations with Georgia.

He said that USD 230 per 1000 cubic meters, which Russia’s Gazprom
plans to sell its gas to Georgia in 2007, is a commercial price which
has nothing to do with politics.

"Yes, Armenia will receive our gas for a lower price, but not because
of political reasons. Armenia has handed over its gas transportation
infrastructure [to Russia]," Ivanov said.

He has also said that Russia cut air links with Georgia because the
Georgian airway companies have an air service debt to the Russian side.

Ivanov indicated that tensions with Georgia were not triggered only by
the spy scandal. He said that there have been several cases of Russian
officers being beaten up by officers from the Georgian Military Police.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES SUPPORT EFFORTS OF FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN STRENGTHENING ARMENIAN-FRENCH RELATIONS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 4 2006

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. The Armenian government is willing
to support all efforts of the French Ambassador to Armenia in
strengthening the bilateral relations, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan reported at the meeting with French Ambassador Serge Smessov
on Wednesday.

The press service of the Armenian government reported that the
prime minister congratulated the ambassador on the beginning of his
diplomatic mission in Armenia. He expressed confidence that the high
level of political relations, close cooperation and friendship between
the two peoples will be developed and strengthened during his activity
in Armenia.

In his turn, Smessov stated that he will do his best to contribute
to the development of these relations.

The ambassador also pointed out that previously signed plan of
actions under the EU New Neighborhood policy will also provide big
opportunities for partnership.

During the meeting, they also discussed the internal political
situation in the country, the preparations for the upcoming
parliamentary elections as well as the reforms in the electoral laws.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress