Author: Emil Lazarian

DILIJAN TO BECOME ATTRACTIVE FOR TOURISTS AGAIN

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006

DILIJAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. About 10 thousand tourists are expected
to visit Dilijan this year against 3 thousand in 2005. Deputy mayor
of Dilijan Armen Makarian told this to reporters.

According to him, Dilijan has always been a tourist center, the renting
of houses being one of the main incomes of the local residents. He
said that in the 1980s, the city population used to increase threefold
in summer when the number of tourists would reach 70-75 thousand.

The speaker noted that few of the 22 rest homes in Dilijan are
operating now. The Dilijan Sanatorium repaired by SlavGroup will open
again in the next few days, and the Impulse Pension – on June 25. It
is envisaged to put the city hotel (currently under repair) into
operation in May 2007. The Mountainous Armenia Sanatorium under the
jurisdiction of the RA Ministry of Defence is also undergoing repair.

A. Makarian said that the Dilijan historical reserve is being
restored with funds of the Tufenkian Foundation. The reserve was
leased by the foundation for 50 years. It will be restored to its
original appearance and will include a historical museum, a smithy,
carpet-making and other workshops. A 5-star hotel will be built near
the historical reserve by the foundation.

In addition, the Armenian Tourism Development Agency is implementing
the Competitive Private Sector in Armenia Program in the city. Within
its framework, more than 75 private houses offer comfortable conditions
to tourists. In the words of A. Makarian, all these houses accomodate
tourists in summer months.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: ONLY AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS WITH DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 2O, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran
Torosian recieved on June 20 Heike Renate Peitsch, the Ambassador of
Germany to Armenia.

Congratulating Tigran Torosian on the occasion of his being
appointed on the NA Speaker’s post, Mrs. Peitsch emphasized the great
responsibility that is increased especially before elections, and
she attached importance to development of friendly relations which
the Parliaments may greatly assist.

Touching upon work of the Parliament, the NA Speaker attached
importance to reflection of the constitutional amendments
in the legislation of Armenia what means editions of about 60
laws. Appreciating improvement of the political atmosphere of Armenia
before the coming state elections, Tigran Torosian emphasized that
amendments only to the Electoral Code are not enough for holding
elections with democratic standards. He considered inadmissible the
political forces’ enmity towards each other, attaching importance to
their rivalry.

According to the NA Speaker, improvement of the political atmosphere
and holding of elections with democratic standards will assist security
of future developments of the European integration.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
problems of interparliamentary relations will also be discussed at the
meeting: fixing readiness of bilateral cooperation, Tigran Torosian
attached importance to presence of clear programs what will make
effective the mutual relations.

Study of the German experience was attached importance to in the
issue of creating a full multi-party system in Armenia.

Activity of German funds in Armenia was also touched upon. The meeting
participants attached importance to study and exchange of German
parties’ experience for all the parties of Armenia, abstaining from
one-sided direction.

CHAIRMAN OF RA NA COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND CZECH PARLIAMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 20, members of RA National
Assembly Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal
Affairs met with the delegation of Czech Republic Senate’s Committee
on Foreign Relations, Defence and Security.

Committee Chairman Aramayis Grigorian gave assurance that the visit
is an important step in development of Armenian-Czech relations. He
attached importance to cooperation between the parliaments, respective
committees of the two countries. Cooperation at international
organizations, in particular, within the framework of CE and
Euroatlantic Alliance, Czech Republic’s experience in the issue of
integration to European structures and exchange of experience in the
legislative field was considered to be important. Aramayis Grigorian
presented the Committee’s activity, the current level of Armenia-NATO
relations.

In cooperation with NATO he attached importance to cooperation in
the spheres of defence reforms, fighting terrorism, perfection of
the legal field.

A.Grigorian mentioned that Armenia has joined the planning and
reconsideration process of the Partnership for Peace, as well as the
agreement On the Status of the Armed Forces of NATO – Partnership
for Peace.

Rostislav Slavotinek, Vice-Chairman of Czech Senate’s Committee on
Foreign Relations, Defence and Security, gave assurance that the visit
will promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In
the sphere of interparliamentary cooperation he attached importance
to cooperation at the level of the committees. R.Slavotinek briefly
presented the structure of the Czech parliament, the Committee’s
functions, spheres, touched upon the peculiarities of the Czech
army, reforms in the police system. It was mentioned that the Czech
parliament consists of two Chambers – the Chamber of Deputies and
the Senate. The Senate is formed by the principle of majoritarian
electoral system, it consists of 81 deputies. The Czech army has
been professional since January 1 2005, it has about 30 thousand
servicemen. Czech Republic is a member to NATO and takes an active
part in the programs of NATO. Slavotinek mentioned that a Military
University having a high qualification works in Czech Republic and
proposed that the Armenian side send officers to study there.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA NA Public Relations Department,
at the meeting the sides touched upon issues of regional cooperation,
attached importance to activization of parliamentary cooperation. Other
issues of bilateral interest were also discussed, the directions of
future cooperation were outlined.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL REVISED VERSION OF RA NATIONAL SECURITY DRAFT STRATEGY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Interdepartmental
Commission Coordinating Development of the RA National Security Draft
Strategy headed by Secretary of the National Security Council under
the Armenian Presidennt, RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian on June
20 held a final draft discussion sitting.

According to Spokesman for the RA Defence Minister Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvari an, the commission approved the final revised version of
the document. During the process of developing the draft, about 615
proposals received by the interdepartmental commission were taken
into consideration. A draft dictionary of main terms of the National
Security Strategy was also presented to the sitting participants.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER MEET WITH UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER IN KIEV

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006

KIEV, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian’s official meeting to Ukraine started with the
ceremony of laying flowers to the monument to the 1932-1933 Golodomor
(starvation) victims.

Then Vartan Oskanian’s meeting with Boris Tarasyuk, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine took place. Issues concerning the
Armenian-Ukrainian bilateral relations were discussed. The necessity
of a periodical political dialogue between the sides was bilaterally
mentioned. Expressing satisfaction with the level of cooperation in the
comercial and economic sphere, particularly with the speed of increase
of the goods circulation, the Armenian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental
Commission’s role in that issue was attached importance to and was
mentioned that the commission’s regular sitting will take place in
the autumn, 2006, in Yerevan.

For activization of cooperation in the sphere of culture, Ministers
Oskanian and Tarasyuk decided to undertake jointly with the Culture
Ministries of their countries holding of culture weeks of Armenia
and Ukraine correspondingly in Ukraine and Armenia.

Armenian and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers exchanged opinions concerning
the European direction of the foreign policy of their countries,
presented peculiarities of the present stage of their relations with
the European Union and NATO to one another.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, issues relating to the energy security and
regional transport problems were also discussed.

Boris Tarasyuk presented the essense of the mediator’s mission of
Ukraine in the issue of settlement of the Pridnestr conflict.

Minister Oskanian presented the present stage of settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The two Minister’s joint press-conference took place at the end of
the meeting.

President of Ukraine Victor Yuschenko and Prime Minister Yuri
Yekhanurov received RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on the
same day.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOLDING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS TO SERVE FURTHER EUROINTEGRATION OF ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.06.2006 15:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At today’s meeting between Armenian Speaker Tigran
Torosyan and German Ambassador to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch matters
of cooperation between the Parliaments were discussed. Torosyan
drew special attention of the Ambassador to work to make changes
in Armenia’s legislation to make it comply with the reformed
Constitution. He said some 60 drafts are under consideration of
the Parliament. Tigran Torosyan also remarked that making changes
in the Electoral Code of Armenia is insufficient for improving
political atmosphere in the country. He underscored hostility among
political forces of Armenia is inadmissible. In the Speaker’s opinion,
holding democratic elections will serve further European integration
of Armenia. The parties also discussed matters of Armenian-German
cooperation and activities of German foundations in Armenia, reports
the NA Press Service.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE SEC. GEN. TO DISCUSS REGIONAL CONFLICTS IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.06.2006 17:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During talks with OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin
de Brichambaut in Moscow regional topics may be touched upon, Russian
MFA official representative Mikhail Kamynin said. "We proceed from
strict observation of agreements being key to conflict settlement in
OSCE territory," he remarked. Kamynin added that the OSCE supports
parties to conflict searching for mutually acceptable outcomes, full
use of potential of negotiation and peacemaking formats to solve
conflicts, reports Russian MFA Press Service.

June 21-22 OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut will
pay a working visit to Moscow.

AZERBAIJAN CHANGING ITS STYLE?
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
21/06/2006

Neighboring Country Proposes Status of Tatarstan for Nagorno Karabakh

Manifestations of "peace" in the statements of Azerbaijani officials
are becoming more and more frequent. Particularly, if in the past
Baku viewed military settlement as a primary option then today Aliyev
junior speaks of his "intention" to settle the conflict through
peace talks. Meanwhile, he adds, loyal to his belligerent stance,
that other regulation options are still on the agenda.

"Azerbaijan cannot settle the Nagorno Karabakh issue alone," Ilham
Aliyev stated. Such an approach would be welcome but for the pretext
in the president’s words.

In an attempt to project his own deeds onto the "enemy" the Azeri
leader speaks about vandalism organized by the Armenians.

A pretext is looming also in Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar
Mamediarov’s words who said that Azerbaijan is ready to grant Nagorno
Karabakh the highest status of autonomy equal to that enjoyed by
Tatarstan within Russia. Day.az reports that Mamediarov alluded
to Tatarstan’s constitution that allows the republic to have its
representatives abroad.

Azeri FM thinks that the issue of Nagorno Karabakh status has to be
settled sooner or later, and Baku suggest doing it in the shortest
period. To reach all these, Azeri FM thinks, conditions for Azeri
residents of Karabakh to participate in the process should be
created. Besides, Mamediarov flippantly assumes that the Armenians
of Karabakh will eventually realize that it’s in their best interests
to remain citizens of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘CILICIA’ RETURNS HOME
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
21/06/2006

The crew of "Cilicia" left from Germany for Poland last morning. Zori
Balayan, writer, member of the crew, told in the interview with Azg
that they have changed the route of the expedition. Particularly,
"Cilicia" will not go to Copenhagen because of some visa problems.

Mr. Balayan said that the vessel will reach Gdansk, Poland, in 2-3
days. He informed that the crew will sail to St. Petersburg by the
sea, then they will begin sailing by the rivers to Rostov. "This is
the first time in the world, when a ship sails around Europe, making
it an island," he said.

Few days ago, in Amsterdam, Mr. Balayan told the local Armenian
community that they aimed to repeat the sea routes of the old
Cilician sailors who sailed the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the
Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Mr. Balayan
told the representatives of the Armenian community that the members of
the Armenian Navy Research Club decided to built the ship according
to the schemes of the old Cilician ships kept in Matenadaran. He
added that Amsterdam was the final point in their expedition.

He informed that in the course of the expedition, for over 250 days
with the sunrise, they raised the Armenian national flag, the flag
of NKR and the flags of all the countries they sailed to.

"Thus, we begin our way home. "Cilicia" returns home," Mr. Balayan
said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SAHAKASHVILI DIDN’T KEEP HIS PROMISE

A1+
[04:50 pm] 20 June, 2006

"Javakhq counters a number of problems which call for a serious
dialogue between the Javakhq residents and Tbilisi. There are two
approaches here, either a dialogue must be held between the two
countries or between the Armenian residents of Javakhq and Tbilisi,"
claims Na deputy Shavarsh Kocharyan who participated in the round-table
on the Javakhq issues organized in Akhalqalaq at the beginning of June.

The deputy claims that the approach exiting in the times of
Gamsakhurdia, "Georgia is for Georgians" is still in effect. The
Georgian authorities don’t take measures to solve the existing
matters. On the other hand, social-economic problems worsen day by day.

Shavarsh Kocharyan points out that prior to the removal of the Russian
forces from the territory Sahakashvili promised to open 1000 working
places but so far he hasn’t kept his promise. Another concerning
matter is that 57 Armenians applied to various higher establishments
of Georgia but only one of them was admitted. Armenian delegates are
convinced that this is an apparent outcome of discrimination.

Shavarsh Kocharyan claims that the issue of the Javakhq sovereignty
is inadmissible for Georgia and the policy adopted by Georgia is
inadmissible for Armenia.

While speaking of applying the Georgian language as the business
correspondence language Mr. Kocharyan noted that nobody refutes the
fact that Georgian is the official language of the country and it
must be used but Armenian mustn’t be neglected.

Ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan who also participated in the conference
initiated by "Yerkir" NGO notes that the Georgian side has no distinct
approaches to the solution of matters. "I got such an impression that
the Georgian side invited to the debate either wasn’t acquainted with
the material or didn’t want to reply the question," she said.

Asked whether meetings of this format are favorable and efficient
Hranush Kharatyan answered, "If political figures haven’t got enough
will power or wish to discuss the matter it must be done in this way
and on this level." As for Shavarsh Kocharyan he claims that such
discussions may give flooring for settling the matter on a higher
diplomatic level.

The next stage of the conference is likely to be held in Tbilisi
in autumn.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress