Author: Emil Lazarian

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan, in Armenian
13 Sep 06
ARMENIAN MINISTER SAYS KARABAKH RESOLUTION SHOULD BE SPEEDED UP
[Presenter] Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan met the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group in Paris [12 September]. Oskanyan
told Armenian journalists that the framework of problems had been
clarified and the sides would discuss it in the near future.
[Oskanyan] We discussed additional problems constantly raised by
Azerbaijan in order for this process [negotiations] not to go off its
normal rails. This year, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen want to
make additional progress [in the negotiating process] before the
[Armenian] parliamentary election. We have no time to deviate from
this process.
I thing that it is time to put on the negotiating table a document
that we regard as balanced. Azerbaijan’s position regarding this
document is also positive and we think that it is time to avoid
making pointless statements and the sides should concentrate on
speeding up this process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am
15:32 16/09/06
ANDRANIK OZANYAN’S MUSEUM HOUSE RE-OPENED IN YEREVAN
The sculptures of Vazgen ISAKOV, a sculptor, will be
exhibited at museum house of Andranik Ozanyan. The
re-opening of the museum house took place Saturday at
the pantheon after Komitas. The eighty-years-old
sculptor is happy that he is donating his sculptures
to the museum house on the occasion of 15th
anniversary of independent statehood in Armenia. The
museum house exhibits about ten thousand samples
telling about the leaders of fidai movement, a
national liberation movement in early 20th century.
In the words of Iliech Beglaryan, the founder of the
museum, the exhibition aims to `educate the new
generation in the spirit of the great people of the
nation who have fought for the sake of our
independence.’
`Wherever there is violence, there is my sword,’
Zoravar Andranik had said. And his sword is right here
– in this museum -house. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am
15:54 16/09/06
ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA REFUTES ANTI-ARMENIAN MOODS IN RUSSIA
The Armenian Ambassador to Russia, Armen Smbatyan, believes the
violence against Armenians in Russia is not related to anti-Armenian
moods of Russians. `Russia is a big country and such attacks are
common. Some organizations are suffering from xenophobia and
Armenians fall victim to them,’ Smbatyan mentioned Saturday. In his
words, the Armenian embassy and the law enforcement officials are very
serious to such incidents and are watchful for their disclosure.
Asked why the prosecutor’s office has suspended the case on Vigen
Abrahamiants murder, the ambassador said, `Vigen Abrahamiants case was
never suspended. Recently a person was arrested on the case who
admitted that he has killed Abrahamiants. This man is a student of
police school and is related to skinheads.’
Note: Almost all Russian media told August 22 that the case in Moscow
subway was suspended due to `impossibility to identify the identity of
criminals.’ /Panorama.am/

Congressional Record: September 14, 2006
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access
wais.access.gpo.gov
HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY AND SHOGHAGAT
ARMENIAN CHURCH
HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join
me in recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Holy Virgin Mary and
Shoghagat Armenian Church located in Swansea, Illinois.
The Church has historically been an integral part of the Armenian
community. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its
official religion in 301 A.D. So it was natural that the Independent
Club, an organization of Armenian Americans, would seek to start a
church for their community in 1956.
The new Church, then named Holy Shoghagat Armenian Church, began in a
small white structure at 13th and Summit Avenue in East St. Louis,
Illinois. A neighboring parish house and additional parcel of land were
later acquired.
Circumstances required that the original church properties be sold in
the early 1970’s and for several years the congregation had to
celebrate the liturgy in different local churches. Throughout this
difficult period, the parish family stayed together and finally, in
1978, the new Church in Swansea, Illinois was consecrated.
On the occasion of their 50th Anniversary, in addition to celebrating
that milestone for their local Church, the members of Holy Virgin Mary
and Shoghagat Armenian Church are paying tribute to their ancestors who
were victims of the Armenian Genocide, both those who lost their lives
and those who survived. A large khatchkar, carved in Armenia, will be
dedicated to honor those who suffered during that terrible period in
history.
For 50 years, Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Armenian Church has
served, not only as a place of worship, but as a unifying religious
center for the local Armenian community. Though their numbers may be
small, their dedication to their Church and their culture remains
strong.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 50th
Anniversary of Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Armenian Church and to
wish the best to them for many years to come.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmeniaNow.com, Armenia
Lessons in Change: `Exceptional’ school year starts with confusion for
parents of first graders

By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow reporter

When the new school year started two weeks ago in
Armenia, the opening bell rung sour notes for some
parents confused by republic-wide changes in the
education structure.
Beginning this year, Armenia converts from a 10-year,
to a 12-year program (see
;AID=1577&lng=eng&IID=1087).
Unaware of the new reforms in education, disbelieving their children
are ready for school life, or taking into account the unhygienic
conditions in some schools, many parents have kept children at home
who should be enrolling for the first time.
As the situation became apparent, the Minister of Education and
Science, Yerevan Municipality officials and other representatives of
the education discuss to how they can overcome this `exceptional year’
and the difficulties and problems that the new educational system has
created.
(To accommodate the conversion, this year should see two kinds of
`first graders’ – junior and senior – 5.8-6.5 year olds, and 6.5-7
year olds.)
`We have schools this year that have no first grade pupils or have
just a few, which causes problems. This is unprecedented,’ says Narine
Hovhannisyan, the Head of the General Education Department at the
Ministry of Education and Science.
Since Soviet times and until this year, children began school at 7. A
World Bank credit program has provided for the systemic changes,
however the mental shift has not yet penetrated.
The 12-year education is a requirement for all the countries that have
joint the Bologna Treaty. Armenia has joined the Treaty in 2005. The
purpose of the Bologna process in Europe is to create a joint
educational system. Armenia is the last among the CIS countries to
join the 12-year education system.
`This is based on international experience,’ says Nurijan Manukyan,
head of the General Education Supervision Department at the RA
Ministry of Education and Science. `The 10-year education system is
still operative in the African and Asian countries. And we are
committed to striding evenly with the world, we are committed to
advancement and every failed year will keep Armenia back from world
developments.’
Many Armenian parents, however, have chosen to be out of stride,
believing that six year olds should be concerned with toys instead of
books.
According to the data of the Ministry of Education and Science, the
number of first graders this year should have grown from about 40,000
pupils registered last year to at least 52,000 as the schooling was to
include also children aged 5.8 and older.
However, unlike the estimations of the experts who supposed to have
nearly 15,000 children of 5.8 and older, the preliminary surveys have
shown the number of children under 6 going to school so far, at nearly
10 times less.
`Many parents believe if they don’t take their children to school this
year but take them the next year the children will learn 11 years
instead of the 12,’ says the education department’s Hovhannisyan.
`Besides, many parents who were aware of the changes took their
children to school earlier, which also caused problems.’
Narine Hovhannisyan says there have been schools even in the central
part of the capital that have had just one or two applications for
admission to the first grade.
In Yerevan and particularly in the Kentron community, 10 of the 36
schools did not have a single `junior’ first class pupil on September
1.
`The law provides opening first grade even if there is just one pupil
registered, but in practice it is more suitable to encourage parents
to take their children to other schools if there are only 2 or 3
applications,’ says Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan.
School principals disagree. They believe having no first grade and
sending children to other schools discredits their schools.
The experts at the Ministry of Education assert they need to take
measures to overcome the situation, adding that they have anticipated
problems that must be worked out over the coming years.
`If the school lacks first grade this year, it will not have graduates
either. If it does not have applications next year, it will lead to
its self-liquidation,’ says Manukyan. `The principals and the teachers
should care for attracting pupils to their schools.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
FM OF AZERBAIJAN RECEIVES USA DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ON
EURASIA AFFAIRS
[September 16, 2006, 10:52:59]
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan on 15 September received the USA Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense on Eurasia Affairs Mr. Jim MacDougall.
The guest highly assessed the reforms conducted in Azerbaijan in
military sphere, noting that the country comes closer to NATO
standards. Emphasizing that NATO is not only a military organization
and it also unites political elements.
Minister Mammadyarov noted that there is decisive move in the defense
sphere.
Highly estimating development in Azerbaijan, J. MacDougall pushed to
forward the importance of equal partner relations in the defense
field, took interest in the talks aimed at settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Informing the guest on major elements of these negotiations,
E. Mammadyarov, first of all, noted necessity of withdrawal of the
Armenian armed forces form the occupied Azerbaijani territories, and
then, return of refugees and IDPs to native lands and maintenance of
their safety, restoration of infrastructure and communications.
Noting significance of the ecological investigations to be conducted
by the international experts in the field o prevention of arsons,
committed by Armenians at the occupied areas, the Minister also stated
that would be sent experts of OSCE, UN and other structures.
Informing on the large-scale projects being implemented in the
Republic, including realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline, completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas main, realization
of intensive works connected to Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway,
the Minister brought to notice that because of aggressive policy,
Armenia remained out of this projects.
In meeting, also discussed were a range of issues representing mutual
interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
BUSINESSMAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FREE TO CHOOSE THE WAY
TO CONTEST 2007 ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Mekhak
Mekhitarian, the secretary of a parliamentary group
which is made of defectors from former parliament
chairman Arthur Baghdasarian’s Orinats Yerkir faction,
said today the ten members of the group called
Businessman are free to join a political force or an
alliance to contest the 2007 parliamentary election.
He said some may choose to run from single-mandate
constituencies, while some others are very likely to
be placed on some party’s slates.
He said the time will show what format 10 members
of the group, five of whom were elected form
single-mandate constituencies and the other five on
party lists, will eventually choose. Mekhitarian said
members of the group maintain ‘normal, human
relationships with Orinats Yerkir.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kommersant, Russia
United Nations Gets Involved in Conflicts in the CIS
Sep. 16, 2006Print | E-mail | Home United Nations
Gets Involved in Conflicts in the CIS
// Against Moscow’s Will
At its 61st session in New York, the UN General
Assembly resolved to discuss frozen conflicts in the
former USSR. The initiative was put forth by the GUAM
association of countries (Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, and Moldova), which managed to get the
question included in the session’s agency despite
vigorous opposition from Russia. The fact that the
General Assembly agreed to discuss the question
amounts to an admission by the international community
that the activities of Russian peacekeepers in the
conflict zones are ineffective.
The resolution was adopted on Thursday by the General
Assembly after a fierce struggle in which 16 countries
sided with the GUAM countries and 15 opposed the
motion, with 65 abstaining. The request of the GUAM
countries to include the matter in the General
Assembly’s agenda was originally turned down two days
ago by the UN general committee, but with the help of
the US and Great Britain, among others, the motion was
passed in a second attempt.
A spokesman from the Azerbaijani government blamed
Armenia and, especially, Russia for trying to hush up
the problem of frozen conflicts in regions of the
former USSR. Armenia and Azerbaijan are still locked
in a dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region that
lies between them and is claimed by both countries.
Russia’s influence in the region’s frozen conflicts is
felt most keenly in Moldova and Georgia, however,
where the breakaway regions of Transdniestr in Moldova
and South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia are seen as
being courted by Moscow. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry
likewise took aim at Russia for its unwillingness to
see the problem of such conflicts discussed in the
General Assembly.
Diplomats from the GUAM countries did not hide their
satisfaction at the adoption of the motion, calling it
testimony to the rising political clout of their union
and a show of interest by the UN in conflicts in the
territory of the former USSR. The Russian Foreign
Ministry, however, noted dryly in response that the
fact that only 16 countries were for the motion, while
80 either opposed it or abstained from voting, does
not point to any particular interest in the matter on
the part of the UN.
Although the resolutions adopted by the UN General
Assembly, unlike those of the Security Council, have
no legal force, the beginning of a broad discussion in
the international community of the problem of frozen
conflicts is still widely seen as an unexpected
success for the GUAM countries and as a diplomatic
defeat for Moscow. Though it is too early to talk
about what the General Assembly’s final words on the
matter will be, it is possible that the discussion
could lead to success for the GUAM countries in
replacing Russian peacekeepers in the regions with an
international peacekeeping contingent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Seoul Declaration was included
clause supporting territorial integrity of countries and condemning aggression

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

15.09.2006
The Seoul Declaration adopted at the fourth Assembly General of the
International Conference of Political Parties of Asian Countries held
in Seoul from 7 to 10 September was included a clause supporting the
territorial integrity of the countries and condemning the aggression,
the Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), MP
Ali Ahmadov told a press-conference on September 15 held in
headquarter of NAP, Trend reports.

He noted that generally the conference was dedicated to the peace and
development in Asia. The conference brought together the
representatives of the ruling parties from 36 countries. Ahmadov also
emphasized that during the meeting discussions were held on the
problems with the peace and development in Asian countries, conflicts
and their prevention.
The representative of NAP emphasized that two months earlier before
the beginning of the conference in the Assembly General, a letter had
been sent with the information regarding the results of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and aggressive policy of Armenia. `Our goal
is that the Seoul Deceleration reflects the results of annexationist
policy of Armenia. But taking into consideration a large number of
conflicts in Asia, this clause took a common character,’ Ahmadov
added.
In addition, Ahmadov stressed that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was
discussed during the meetings at the conference with the
representatives of ruling parties of Asian countries. `Such
conferences assumes a great importance for us in delivering the
realities about Azerbaijan to the world public,’ he underlined.
The conference is held every two years. The last conference had been
held in Peking. Yet it is not clear where the next conference will be
held.
The deputy executive secretary of NAP Siyavush Novruzov also
participated at the conference.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
GUL MEETS WITH FRANCE’S CHIRAC, DOUSTE-BLAZY
In meetings during Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s
visit to Paris, French President Jacques Chirac and
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy stated that
they were extremely pleased about Turkey’s decision to
send troops to Lebanon. French officials also
continued to warn Turkey about fulfilling its
commitments emerging from the Customs Union, but they
also gave signals that this won’t turn into a crisis
between the European Union and Turkey. Gul’s meeting
with his French counterpart Douste-Blazy gave him the
opportunity to state Ankara’s diplomatic views,
especially on the Armenian and Cyprus issues.
`Instability in the Eastern Mediterranean wouldn’t
only be to the detriment of Turkey, as both regional
stability and the world’s balance would be affected by
this,’ said Gul. He also told Douste-Blazy of Ankara’s
uneasiness about the French Parliament’s move to
criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian genocide
claims. /Milliyet-Star/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress