Author: Emil Lazarian

AZERI DM SAYS HIS ARMY READY TO FREE OCCUPIED LANDS

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 26, 2006 Monday 6:09 PM MSK

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said on Monday that his
country’s armed forces are ready to liberate the occupied Azerbaijani
lands.

"If necessary, our army will liberate the occupied lands by force,"
Bakiyev told reporters in Baku. Azerbaijan celebrates Armed Forces
day on June 26.

According to the minister, Azerbaijan will boost the defense spending
this year in order to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The armaments to be manufactured by the newly-established Defense
Industry Ministry will further strengthen the Azerbaijani army’s
capabilities, he said.

Abiyev stressed that not only Armenia, but "several large countries"
threaten Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.

"There are several large countries that still want to keep Azerbaijan
under control. Time will come and the countries that put pressure
on us will understand that Azerbaijan is an independent country that
is capable of protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity,"
Abiyev said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"LAZAREVS READINGS" DEDICATED TO HISTORY AND CULTURE OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA HELD IN MOSCOW

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006

MOSCOW, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Lazarevs Readings
which have already become traditional, were held in Moscow on June
3-6. They were dedicated to culture and history of Armenians as well
as to study of their contribution in the general cultural heritage of
peoples of Russia. According to the "Yerkramas" (country) newspaper
of Armenians of Russia, the conference which is mainly organized with
efforts of the "Ararat" Armenian cultu ral-educational society and
the Armenian Historic-Genealogical Society already for the third time,
gathers participants from all over the world.

Year by year the program organizers puts something new in organization
of the Readings, gradually increasing the level of the event. As it
was before, opening of the conference was organized with great luxury,
officials made speeches from the Russian and Armenian sides. The
second day sitting of the readings was outgoing, involving a visit
to Fryanovo, near Moscow, where famous patrons of arts Lazarevs also
left their wonderful trace. The third and forth days of the readings
took place at the city library after N.Nekrasov, which again received
hospitably the conference participants.

Three main thematic directions may be separated in the variety of
the reports presented during the third Lazarevs readings. First
of all, those are researches concerning history of the Lazarevs’
family and the heritage left by its prominent representatives. The
second large thematic direction was history of other eminent Armenian
dynasties, a problem, to study of which the activity of the Armenian
Historic-Genealogical Society is dedicated as well. Speeches dedicated
to different issues of history of the Armenian Diaspora and its
present problems may be united in the third group.

Participants of the Lazarevs readings implement interesting researches
relating to a wide circle of issues connected with history of Armenians
of Russia and the present state, introducing their contribution in
the affair of development of the Armenian-Russian ties.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE COOPERATES WITH 30 COUNTRIES WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS AND PROGRAMS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. 35 post-graduate scholarships, 20
master’s places and 80 ones for bachelor and specialists with diplomas
are envisaged for RA citizens every year. Corresponding competitions
are implemented for envisaged places. Vahe Grigorian, the Chief of the
International Cooperation Department of the RA Ministry of Education
and Science informed about it at the June 23 press conference.

According to Grigorian, according to interstate treaties, agreements,
practical programs, memoranda of mutual understanding, the Ministry
of Education and Science cooperates with about 30 countries, including
the Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Egypt.

According to him, the competition for places for the bachelor and
the educational degree of a specialist with diploma continues in
the RF at present for what the Russian side allocated 70 places this
year. 50 applications were presented for the 70 places at the first
stage of the competition organized in May, 36 people were recognized
winners. A new competition was announced for the vacant 34 places,
agreeing beforehand with the side allocating scholarship.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BBC WRITES ABOUT "MASKED" ARMENIANS OF TURKEY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006

ISTANBUL, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The unpleasant
event taken place on the day of the visit paid by the Catholicos
of All Armenian to Istanbul, when Turk nationalists were holding a
demonstration of complaint at the airport, became a reason for BBC
correspondent Sara Rainford touches upon this theme as well as the
present state of Armenians in Turkey and the issue of blockade of
Armenia by Turkey. She spoke to Armenians from Contstantinople who
were conditionally named "Vardan" and "Anush."

"Turks ask me till now from where I am. They have no notion that
hundred of thousands of us lived here once," "Vardan" said. The
journalist mentions that 60 thousand Armenians live in Turkey, in a
territory where their forefathers lived more than 2 thousand years
ago. It is a very difficult community," the BBC correspondent noticed.

"We have seen only violence since we were born. Insults are written
on walls of churches, we are humiliated in streets. I think twice
till now wheather to say my name or not," "Anush" said.

"Life of previous generations was more difficult. It is not surprising
that they do not make public their opinion about the 1915. Armenia
wants that Turkey recognizes the universal slaughter, qualifying it
as a genocide," the journalist continues.

She mentions that "Anush" and "Vardan" are those scanty exclusions who,
living in Turkey, say what happened in 1915. They forefathers were
by force removed to south. They gave their children to Turk neighbors
for safety and never returned. "Anush" says that it is terrible. Such
a tradegy took place in the family of any Armenian there.

"The international community puts pressure on Ankara now, imposing
to review its position concerning this issue. "Vardan" greets it but
he also feels that in response to it, Turk nationalists’ aggression
increases gradually," the BBC correspondent writes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ONE MORE NGO CREATED IN JAVAKHK

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006

AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The constituent
congress of the United Javakhk people’s union NGO was held on June
24 in Akhalkalak.

The congress announced the organization’s main goals – improvement of
the socio-economic position of Armenians of Javakhk, giving the status
of the second state language to the Armenian language in the region,
giving a cultural autonomy to the region.

According to the A-Info agency, the congress also elected chairmanship
of the organization consisting of 13 persons.

NKR MFA: BAKU AGAIN TRIES TO DISTORT KARABAKH CONFLICT ESSENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 17:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The fact that official Baku does not cease attempts
to attribute religious nature to the Azeri-Karabakh conflict, based on
infringement of basic rights of the Armenian population of the former
Azeri SSR and Azeri party’s lack of desire to recognize NKR people’s
right to decide their fate themselves," says a comment of the NKR
MFA to the Caucasian Knot portal over the final declaration adopted
at the latest forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) in Baku.

"At the 33rd session of the OIC FMs of the Azeri party made another
attempt to distort the essence of the conflict by presenting
Azerbaijan as a victim. Being unable to solve the issue within the
legal framework, Azerbaijan resorted to armed aggression against
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and ignored UN SC urges to stop
hostilities. The NKR MFA notes with content that in spite of the
increased militant hysteria in Azerbaijan, the OIC announced its
firm position that it is necessary to solve the conflict peacefully,"
says the NKR MFA comment, reports De-Facto.

LINKING KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WITH ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS INCORRECT

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 18:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By his latest statement new Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
Matthew Bryza probably meant that he understands the issue and
possesses information, Head of Hay Dat Office of ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Kiro Manoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, linking
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations is incorrect. "When Turkey opens the border
with Armenia, Azerbaijan will have to come to an agreement with the
Armenian party in the Karabakh issue. Turkey’s stand is the opposite:
it is going to open the border after settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict," Kiro Manoyan said.

THE AZERIS DID IT

A1+
[09:09 pm] 26 June, 2006

"The cup is half full". These were the words of Murad Mergan, the head
of the Turkish delegation to PACE with which he offered to confirm
the authorities of the Azeri delegates. In the January session they
were given a chance to prove that Azerbaijan is following the path
of democracy. The chance was the May 13 Parliamentary reelection in
several polling stations.

Today Resolution 1480 was being discussed in PACE which was prepared
by co-reporters Andreas Gross and Andreas Herkel. During the listening
10 delegates addressed the session five of whom were delegates from
Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Azeris announced with voices trembling
with excitement that theirs is a democratic country and follows the
path of democracy at the same time thanking the CE for support.

Gultekin Hajieva from Azerbaijan was so "excited" that she announced
Azerbaijan was on fire at that very moment when they were discussing
the issue. And those who burned her country were the Armenians. Hajieva
did not miss the chance to say that "Armenia has occupied 20% of the
territory of Azerbaijan, uses the natural resources and burns the
Azeri forests".

Resolution 1480 was adopted with several amendments, that is to say,
the authorities of the Azeri delegates were confirmed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES STATE THERE WILL BE NO ARMENIAN AUTONOMY IN JAVAKHETI

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In response to the demand of Javakhk Armenian NGO,
which advocates creation of an Armenian autonomy in Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, populated by Armenians, and announcing the Armenian
language as the state one, Georgian PM Zurab Nogaideli said, "there
are autonomous republics already present in the republic and a new
one will not be formed." In her turn Georgian Speaker Nino Burjanadze
stated, "demands like those are absurd and may cause exacerbation of
the situation in the region." In her words, statements like those
are not in the interests of either Armenia, or Georgia. Meanwhile,
Javakhk NGO has announced its intention to launch protest actions,
reports IA Regnum.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ARRIVING IN ARMENIA TODAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 13:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Russian Minister of Internal Affairs, army
general Rashid Nurgaliyev will arrive in Armenia on an official
call. Within the framework of the visit Rashid Nurgaliyev and Armenian
Police Chief Hayk Harutyunyan will take part in a joint session of
boards of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Armenian
Police. Besides, joint anti-terror exercises of Russian Ministry of
Internal Affairs special destination troops and the Armenian Police.

Specifically, during the exercises the special forces soldiers will
hold an operation to release hostages.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress