Author: Emil Lazarian

ANNAN CRITICIZES ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH ON CEASEFIRE
By Sam F. Ghattas
Associated Press Writer
Christian Broadcasting Network, VA
Aug. 28, 2006
CBNNews.com – BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) – U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
faulted both Israel and Hezbollah on Monday for not living up to key
sections of the cease-fire resolution, while two more countries took
steps to provide troops for an expanded peacekeeping force to secure
the truce.
Germany, meanwhile, hinted it was negotiating a prisoner swap.
Sitting beside Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, Annan demanded
Hezbollah return two captured Israeli soldiers, whose July 12 abduction
touched off the 34-day war, and said Israel must lift its air and
sea blockade of Lebanon.
Although Annan was critical of both sides, he also said the agreement
provided a chance for a long-term peace. As the cease-fire held for
the 15th day, neither side looked like it wanted to resume large-scale
hostilities.
But the U.N. chief cautioned the road ahead would be long, and pledged
the international community’s support. As part of that support, Italy
and Turkey moved to join the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern
Lebanon.
Annan also said the U.N. force, which is to grow to 15,000 soldiers,
will not try to disarm Hezbollah guerrillas.
“Down the line … there will have to be disarmament, but it’s up
to the Lebanese government and people to resolve themselves,” Annan
said. “The (peacekeepers) are not going to go house to house searching
for weapons. This is not their responsibility.”
Annan was booed by residents as he toured the devastated Dahiyeh
neighborhood in the Hezbollah stronghold of south Beirut. He
was greeted by giant posters with photographs of Hezbollah chief
Hassan Nasrallah and one that had a caricature of Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice with vampire’s teeth and blood dripping from
the mouth.
The U.N. chief, accompanied by Saniora and a Hezbollah legislator,
walked for about 50 yards before the protest became noisy and
unfriendly. Annan got back into a car, which drove slowly through
the assembled residents with security men running alongside.
Geir Pedersen, Annan’s personal representative, was pushed into
another car in the motorcade by a bodyguard after some in the crowd
mistook him for Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.
Earlier, Annan issued an unexpectedly blunt assessment of the
cease-fire and its implementation by Israel and Hezbollah.
“It’s a fixed menu. … It’s not an a la carte menu where you choose
and pick,” he said at the end of the first day of his 11-day Mideast
swing that will include stops in Iran and Syria, the main backers
of Hezbollah.
It was not known what Annan would discuss with the leaders of Syria
and Iran, but it would be extremely difficult for Lebanon to disarm the
Shiite guerrillas of Hezbollah without the agreement and participation
of those two governments.
Israel responded quickly and negatively to Annan’s call for an end
to the blockade, which is intended to keep arms from being shipped
to Hezbollah.
An official in the office of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reiterated
that the blockade will remain until the international force takes up
positions along Lebanon’s borders and entry points. He said Hezbollah
continues to try to smuggle weapons into the country.
“Once the international forces are fully in place and they’re able
to prevent the smuggling of weapons to Hezbollah, there will be no
need for the air and naval blockade,” said the official, David Baker.
Although aimed at Hezbollah arms shipments, the blockade also is
hindering shipments of food, fuel and other goods to Lebanon.
Annan has said the Lebanese army could handle policing the Syrian
border on its own and it would be unprecedented for a peacekeeping
force to be deployed along a border shared by countries that have not
been at war. Syrian President Bashar Assad has said the deployment
of international troops would be considered a “hostile” act.
In Israel, Olmert announced an inquiry into the war, hoping to dispel
criticism among Israelis that the army and government bungled the
campaign. But he ignored demands for an independent probe with the
authority to dismiss top officials.
His decision was likely to enrage critics who say Olmert and other top
officials should be the focus of the investigation, not overseeing it.
Israel has said a resolution of the conflict must include the release
of the two soldiers captured by Hezbollah militants in a cross-border
raid that triggered the conflict last month.
Israel’s foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, said that unless the issue
of the two soldiers was resolved, “the whole thing is of little
significance.”
“Our sovereignty has been infringed and if this resolution does not
make that good, then we still have this problem,” she said in Germany.
Livni’s talks in Germany included discussion of efforts to get the
soldiers released, German Deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler said.
Germany has mediated past prisoner exchanges between Hezbollah
and Israel.
“It is well known that Germany has possibilities … to help free
these captured and kidnapped Israeli soldiers,” Erler said.
Annan said in Beirut that as a first step, the captured soldiers
could be transferred with Red Cross involvement to the government of
Lebanon or a third party, and offered U.N. assistance if required.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Cabinet approved sending 2,500 soldiers to the
peacekeeping mission, and the government approved a $38.4 million
aid package for Lebanon.
“In the coming hours we will initiate the complex logistics for the
deployment of the Italian forces in the region,” Foreign Minister
Massimo D’Alema said.
Earlier, the Italian Defense Ministry said a naval task force was
already being assembled to move about 1,900 soldiers to Lebanon. They
were to include marines and engineering specialists and be off the
Lebanese coast by Friday.
Turkey, the only Muslim member of NATO and a country with close ties
to both Israel and Arab states, took a step closer toward joining
the peacekeeping force. Turkey has not said how many troops it could
send, but the presence of Muslim soldiers in the force is regarded
as crucial to gaining its acceptance in Lebanon.
Turkey’s Cabinet called Monday for sending troops to Lebanon and said
parliament would be convened soon to vote on the measure.
But in Lebanon, the spiritual leader of the Armenian Diaspora,
Catholicos Aram I, released a statement calling Turkish participation
in a peacekeeping mission “morally unacceptable.” Armenians want
modern Turkey to recognize atrocities committed by its Ottoman
predecessors. The Armenians estimate they lost 1.5 million people in
massacres or forced marches in Word War I.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN NA SPEAKER MEETS WITH CATHOLICOS GAREGIN II
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 28, 2006
YEREVAN, August 28. /ARKA/. Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran
Torosyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II discussed the
drafting of a bill on relations between the Armenian State and the
Armenian Apostolic Church.
The bill is being discussed on the basis of a relevant article of
the Armenian Constitution after it was amended.
Garegin II expressed hope that the drafting and adoption of the
bill will regulate relations between the Church and the State and
settle the issues related to state ceremonies with the participation
of high-ranking clergymen, spiritual education of society, use of
symbols of the Armenian Church.
In his turn, Speaker Torosyan pointed out the Armenian Church’s role
in the people’s spiritual life, as an integral and important part of
Armenian integrity. He pointed out the importance of adopting the bill
to resolve problems of improving social life during the post-Soviet
period and moral upbringing of society.
“Ensuring freedom of conscience and worship in our country and the
activities of religious organizations within law, we must distinguish
the Armenian Apostolic Church as an all-important element of the
national system of values,” Torosyan said.
According to him, the bill is supposed to define the mission of the
Armenian Church.
The sided reached an arrangement about joint discussions of the bill.
According to Article 8.1 of the RA Constitution, the Republic of
Armenia recognizes an exceptional role of the Armenian Apostolic Church
as national Church in the Armenian people’s spiritual life, development
of national culture and preservation of national identity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN CENTER OF INTERREGIONAL COOPERATION ENHANCES ARMENIA’S REPUTATION IN RUSSIA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 28, 2006
YEREVAN, August 28. /ARKA/. The activities of the Russian-Armenian
Center of Interregional Cooperation contribute to the enhancement of
Armenia’s reputation in Russia, Director General of the Center Henrik
Bakunts told reporters.
“The Center publishes the Russian-language newspaper “Ararat-Info-Most”
in Russia, an international newspaper for the CIS countries,” he
said. Bakunts added that the potential of the Armenian people is thus
being made known to the Russian public.
Among joint measures Bakunts included a forum with the participation
of leading Russian and Armenian scientists, publication of a catalogue
and an exhibition of scientific and technical innovation projects
in Russia and Armenia, as well as the release of electronic English,
Armenian and Russian self-taughts.
The Russian-Armenian Center of Interregional Cooperation was founded in
July 2005 with the assistance of the leaders of the RF Federal Assembly
and RA National Assembly. The Center is carrying out its activities
in medical and biological, scientific and technical, humanitarian and
interregional fields. The Center’s goal is ensuring the involvement
of scientists, cultural workers, businessmen, economists in the
implementation of programs of mutual assistance in professional
and social activities in Russia and Armenia, implementation of
jo0int projects and accumulation and dissemination of experience of
cooperation in Armenian and Russian regions.
On August 23, 2005, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan,
commenting on the reforms of the Parliament staff and particularly
on the liquidation of the Russian-Armenian Center of Interregional
Cooperation, stated that the Armenian Parliament cannot be a donor
for NGOs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT: SLOVENIA IS READY TO HELP AZERBAIJAN BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev visiting Slovenia today had a
one-on-one meeting with Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek.
APA reports quoting Azertag the sides exchanged views on development
bilateral relations and international issues. Following the meeting
of the presidents, the delegations held a meeting. The two heads of
state held a press conference.
Slovenian President Janez Drnovseki said Azerbaijan and Slovenia
declared their independences almost at the same time. Since that
time, the two countries have achieved great improvements in their
developments.
“We can achieve more progress through bilateral cooperation between
our countries. There exist opportunities to develop cooperation
in political, economic and cultural spheres. We can also take an
active part in the project of forming future Europe. I am hopeful
for Azerbaijan’s future EU membership and its full integration into
Europe. I believe the Nagorno Garabagh conflict will be resolved in a
peaceful way in this context. This problem will be solved by mutual
agreement. We know that this dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia
has lasted long. I hope both countries will make joint efforts with
the European Union to cope with difficulties. Slovenia is ready to
help Azerbaijan by all possible means,” Mr.Drnovseki said.
President Aliyev said the relations between the toe countries are
developing very speedily, and this visit will give impetus to further
development.
“There exists a potential to continue the successful cooperation
between our countries. At the same time, we are interested in Slovenia
as EU member country. I want to note that Azerbaijani hero Mehdi
Huseynzadeh fought shoulder to shoulder with Slovenians against
fascism and was buried in Slovenia,” Mr.Aliyev said.
Touching on the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict,
President Aliyev said, Azerbaijan’s position bases on international
law norms.
“Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has been violated. Armenia is
pursuing ethnic cleansing policy against Azerbaijan, which resulted
in over one million Azerbaijanis becoming internally displaced
persons. What Azerbaijan demands is to resolve the conflict within
international law norms,” he underlined.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BELGIUM TO FACE ARMENIA WITHOUT KOMPANY, VERMAELEN
Reuters, UK
Aug. 28, 2006
BRUSSELS, Aug 28 (Reuters) – Belgium coach Rene Vandereycken was
forced to pick replacements for injured central defenders Vincent
Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen in the squad he named on Monday to face
Armenia in a Euro 2008 qualifier next month.
Belgium, who were held to a humiliating 0-0 draw at home by European
Championship debutants Kazakhstan earlier this month, will travel to
Yerevan for the match on Sept. 6.
Hamburg’s Kompany and Vermaelen, who plays for Ajax, were both
unavailable through injury with Vandereycken calling up Pieter Collen
of Feyenoord and Nicolas Lombaerts of Ghent in their places. Squad
Goalkeepers: Stijn Stijnen (Club Bruges), Davy Schollen (Anderlecht),
Brian Vandenbussche (Heerenveen)
Defenders: Pieter Collen (Feyenoord), Carl Hoefkens (Stoke City),
Nicolas Lombaerts (Ghent), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Jelle
Van Damme (Anderlecht), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht)
Midfielders: Koen Daerden (Club Bruges), Wim De Decker (Racing Genk),
Steven Defour (Standard Liege), Gaetan Englebert (Club Bruges),
Karel Geraerts (Standard Liege), Bart Goor (Anderlecht), Timmy Simons
(PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Thomas Buffel (Rangers), Moussa Dembele (AZ Alkmaar), Stein
Huysegems (Feyenoord), Luigi Pieroni (AJ Auxerre), Kevin Vandenbergh
(Racing Genk)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BOOK OF AZERI SCIENTIFIC WORKER REVEALING ARMENIAN CRAFTINESS TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ROMANIAN LANGUAGE
Author: S.Ilhamgizi
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
The book written by the director of the Human Rights Institute of
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Rovshan Mustafayev “Horrors
on Virtual” disclosing Armenian craftiness will be translated into
Romanian language soon, Trend has been told at the Human Rights
Institute.
The work of Mustafayev was accepted with a great interest outside
Azerbaijan – in Europe, Canada, America and Russia. Soon the book
will be published in Romanian language.
It should be mentioned that the book published in Russian language
“Horrors on Virtual” reveals the Armenian terrorism, annexationist
policy, fictitious accusation and ambitions.
For his service in disseminating the realities about Azerbaijan in the
world, Mustafayev was conferred by the Republic Youth Movement “Irali”
with a prize “Friend of Youths” in the nomination of “Researcher
of year”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRE IN BABAKAR MOUNTAINS MIGHT CAUSE WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION
Author: S. Ilhamgizi
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
The fire took place yesterday in Babakar Mountains located in Marneuli
area of Georgia, where mostly Azerbaijanis reside,Trend reports quoting
Aliblaa Askerov, head of Geyrat national movement acting in Georgia.
The version of Armenian trace in this event is spreading now. Askerov
says the fire was not occasional. Alongside the harm it made to
Azerbaijanis farms, it caused problems with water supply. “This fire
resembles those occurring in Azerbaijan, i.e. behind the Azeri-Armenian
frontline. The mountainous gazes have been set on fire, then the
fire was taken to woods by the wind. The gazes we used are now
destroyed. Besides, the villages at the feet of the mountains used
mount springs as a water source, and now their use is doubtful”,
said Askerov.
Askerov also said the fire smoke spread to the nearby areas and the
fire is seen at 2km distance. “These villages are located near the
Georgian-Armenian border and inhabited mainly by Azerbaijanis evicted
from Armenia in 1988”, he said.

TURKS CALL FOR JUSTICE IN KILLING
By Jorge Barrera
Ottawa Sun, Canada
Aug. 28, 2006
Attache’s slaying unsolved after 25 years
He doesn’t want his last name published, fearing Armenian terrorists
will get him this time.
Ercan was a young teenager when three armed men calling themselves
Armenian revolutionaries stormed the Turkish embassy in Ottawa,
killed a guard and blasted their way into the building with explosives.
They were after the Turkish ambassador, who tried to jump out
a window to escape. The men grabbed the ambassador’s daughter and
Ercan’s 11-year-old sister instead. They held them for more than five
hours. It was March 12, 1985.
SECRET HIDEOUT
Ercan’s mother burst into his room and took him to a secret hideout
inside the embassy compound, where the family was living while working
for the Turkish government’s department of external affairs.
“How would you feel if someone holds a gun against your family member
and you question whether she is going to live or not going to live?”
says Ercan, who is now 36. “It leaves a horrible memory in your mind.”
Ercan’s leather jacket is soaked, his wet black hair flat against
his head. He has been hanging signs that read “murderers are still
on the loose” and “condemn don’t justify” at the corner of the Ottawa
River Pkwy. and Island Park Dr.
10 BULLETS FIRED
There, on Aug. 27, 1982, a man carrying a 9-mm Browning handgun walked
up to Col. Atilla Altikat, Turkish military attache for Canada, who
was stopped at the lights going east on the parkway. The man fired
10 bullets into Altikat’s body in the midst of the morning rush hour.
RCMP have never caught the killer.
Ercan and several members of the Turkish community held a rally on
the parkway yesterday to remember the murder and call for justice.
“We want them to find who did this and put them in jail,” said Yalcin
Diker, 46.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VANDEREYCKEN: “DIFFICULT GAME AGAINST ARMENIA”
Anderlecht, Belgium
Aug. 28, 2006
National coach Rene Vandereycken does not feel any pressure against
Armenia, despite obtaining only a draw against Kazachstan last match.
“I don’t feel any pressure from outside”, he reacted clearly.
“Of course the environment is tensed, but we can handle that. Maybe
I reacted too quickly after the draw against Kazachstan, when I said
we needed to win against Armenia.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA WITHDRAWS ABOUT 400 PIECES OF MILITARY HARDWARE FROM GEORGIA
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
August 28, 2006 Monday 3:19 PM MSK
About 180 weapons were relocated from Russia’s 12th military base in
Batumi to Armenia in 2006, Deputy Commander of the Russian Forces in
the South Caucasus Colonel Vladimir Kuparadze told Interfax-Military
News Agency on Monday.
“Six trains have carried 179 units of armaments and military hardware
and 217 tonnes of other property from the 12th base in Batumi to the
102nd base in the Armenian city of Gyumri since the year beginning,”
he said.
This year’s withdrawal of arms, military hardware and property of the
62nd base in Akhalkalaki to Russia will be completed in September,
Kuparadze said.
“It is planned to withdraw 358 pieces of armaments and military
hardware and over 1,671 tonnes of other equipment from Akhalkalaki
to Russia in 2006,” he said.
One hundred and ninety pieces of armaments and military hardware and
738 tonnes of other military cargo have been sent by motor transport
from Akhalkalaki to Gyumri this year, he said.
Bilateral agreements provide for the completion of the Russian bases’
withdrawal from Georgia in 2008.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress