Author: Emil Lazarian

THE CONDUCTOR SEEMS TO REGAIN HIS CONSCIOUSNESS

A1+
[07:59 pm] 08 June, 2006

Outstanding conductor Ohan Douryan’s health is still troubling. But
there is an anchor of hope that he may regain his consciousness
judging by his state today and yesterday; Maestro nodded in answer
to the questions of different doctors. He also raises his hands
subconsciously and makes various movements.

His close friend Vahan Vardapetyan informed us that especially
his right hand is very active. And though now the conductor still
breaths with the help of artificial apparatus his state has become
stable within the recent 4 days. The doctors cannot say how long the
critical state will last.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SUCH A LIE NEVER HEARD FROM PARLIAMENT STAGE

Panorama.am
16:24 08/06/06

Today Black Sea Economic Cooperation 27th parliamentary assembly closed
in Yerevan. The assembly will hold its next session on November 22-23
in Baku.

Tigran Torosyan, NA Speaker who chaired the session, handed over to
Azeri delegation head Asaf Hajiev a hammer, symbol of chairmanship. The
Azeri deputy read the statement of Azeri Mejlis Speaker Ogtai Osadov
which said in particular, “We are neighbors determined by history and
we should live in peace. There is no alternative to that.” However,
it turns out that Azeris have another alternative – the war as stated
by another Azeri delegation member, Musa Guliev. In his words, if all
the options for conflict regulation end up, the only solution would
be the war.

Asaf Hajiev words excelled all the lies ever heard in the Armenian
parliament. “We invite all parliamentary assembly members to Baku which
has been prominent with its internationalism and tolerance throughout
the history,” he said. Most probably, the Azeri does not remember that
quite recently Armenian defense minister Serz Sargsyan did not leave
for Baku because Azeris said they cannot provide security guarantees.

These words will be remembered in November which is not so far. It
will be then clear if Azerbaijan will do everything to ensure the
works of the parliamentary assembly, especially with the participation
of Armenians.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH ISSUE TO BE SETTLED AFTER “COLLAPSE OF RUSSIAN EMPIRE”, AZERI POLITICAL SCIENTIST CONSIDERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.06.2006 13:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “International structures with undisguised
assurance reiterated the year of 2006 will become the year of
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. They attempt to force
Azerbaijan to concessions, that is cede Nagorno Karabakh, Lachin
and Kelbajar to Armenia,” Azerbaijani ex-President Heydar Aliyev’s
former advisor for external political affairs Vafa Guluzade told
Zerkalo Baku-based newspaper. In his words, all these attempts are
absolutely fruitless. “Azerbaijan’s position is precisely outlined. It
means that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not a subject
of discussion and our state is guided by the fulfillment of the U.N.

Security Council Resolution on withdrawal of all occupying troops
form the Azerbaijani territory,” he remarked.

As for Armenia, the Azeri political scientist considers that this
state sounds the position of its “elder brother” – Russia. “The core of
Armenia’s position is that it has no intention to renounce Karabakh’s
independence supported by Russia. Russia prohibited Armenia from
signing any peaceful document with Azerbaijan. I have stated many
times that we should wait for the collapse of the Russia Empire. I
foretell it will happen in 10 years. All my forecasts have proved
true so far,” the Azeri political scientist said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MG TO CHOOSE STEPWISE SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH PROBLEM, BAKU SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.06.2006 14:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The Bucharest talks proved that Armenia is
not ready for the stepwise settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
problem. International organizations including the OSCE Minsk Group
come to understand that only the stepwise settlement can lead to
conclusion of a peaceful agreement,” Azeri political scientist Eldar
Namazov stated in an interview with Real Azerbaijan newspaper. In his
words, the possibility of signing a peaceful agreement will appear
after 2008 only.

“Sooner or later Azerbaijan will liberate all its lands by force. There
is no third variant. The longer the problem lasts the more Armenia
loses. It fell aside all the economic projects in the region. If
Armenians chose a correct position they would actively participate
in all the regional projects referring to oil, gas and railway
communications,” he remarked.

Namazov considers that the OSCE MG Co-chairs will choose the stepwise
settlement. The Co-chairs understand that not Nagorno Karabakh’s
status but the problem of territories should be discussed at the first
stage. It’s known that Armenia tries to exclude Lachin and Kelbajar
from the list of territories, but this position is inadmissible for
Azerbaijan,” he said.

AZERBAIJAN TO ACCEPT BSEC PA ROTATING PRESIDENCY FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2006

The 27th session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation is currently running in Yerevan with the participation
of 11 states (except for Serbia and Montenegro). In his greeting
speech President Robert Kocharian said: “Our countries face common
challenges of organized crime and terrorism.

Meanwhile it’s obvious that our nations strive for the European
integration. This means that we can unite our efforts for a large-scale
regional cooperation.”

“Economic cooperation of the region’s states and development of
communication infrastructures will create an atmosphere of trust thus
contributing to solving of regional problems,” parliament speaker
Tigran Torosian said in his opening speech. All participating
delegations agreed that the BSEC PA represents interests of
the entire region and is a good ground for fostering economic
relations, implementing joint economic projects and attracting new
investments. During the 6 months of running the BSEC PA presidency
Armenia took steps in direction of spurring economic cooperation
and strengthening legal foundation of the structure, Gagik Minasian,
head of the Armenian delegation to BSEC PA, and speaker Torosian said.

By the end of the session Armenia will hand over the rotating
presidency to Azerbaijan, representatives of which stated on June
7 that feel safe in Armenia and had a chance to get in touch with
the Armenians. Musa Guliev accompanied by deputy Samvel Nikoyan
visited his native home in a village of Sisian region. At any case,
the National Security Service provided the Turkish and Azerbaijani
delegations with special security guards.

Besides session-related questions journalists asked Turkish and
Azerbaijani delegates about the Nagorno Karabakh issue and Armenian
Genocide recognition thus transform the interview into an emotional
dispute.

Aside from this, the representatives of the not-so-friendly
states stressed the importance of economic cooperation. Turkish
deputy Mehmed Sevige avoided a direct answer to a question about
Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway construction but emphasized that
his country’s Foreign Ministry and Communication Ministry are looking
into this issue and assured that a beneficial decision will be taken.

Georgia’s representative, Davit Saganelidze, said answering the same
question that if the two options are put on the table Georgia will
accept the one that includes Gyumri railway but disagreement of Turkey
and Azerbaijan can halt the project which is vital for the region.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALIYEV SOUNDS PEACE-LOVING ON AMERICAN AIR
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2006

“We will never agree to Nagorno Karabakh’s separation or independence
from Azerbaijan. We can grant the Armenians of Karabakh the highest
status of autonomy that exists in the world,” RFE/RL quoted Azerbaijani
president as saying in an interview with NBC US television.

It would be strange if Aliyev juniors forgot to remind
that Azerbaijan’s territorial wholeness is no subject of
discussion. “Azerbaijan’s territorial wholeness is recognized by all
states, the international community and UN and only Armenia neglects
it,” Aliyev stated.

Though in Aliyev’s words the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will be
settled only based on international principles and regulations,
the Azeri president sees Nagorno Karabakh’s autonomy only within
Azerbaijan.

Clearly outlining Azerbaijan’s position, Ilham Aliyev puts forward
another prerequisite for the settlement: “Immediate withdrawal of
Armenian occupying forces from our (Azerbaijani – A.H.) lands.”

Interestingly, in the interview with the American TV Aliyev seems to
tend to a peaceful regulation and does not use militant language. In
Aliyev’s words, Azerbaijan is recommended not choose a military
solution. “We find that as long as the dispute persists we should
stick to the peaceful settlement,” he stated.

It’s not hard to notice that Aliyev junior’s statements were
specifically designed for the US audience to represent him as a
peace apologist.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LUFTHANSA READY TO ENLARGE ITS MARKET IN ARMENIA
By Tamar Minasian in Munich

AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2006

Lufthansa airline’s jetliners welcome football fans hurrying for the
World Cup in Germany with “football noses.” Football balls adorning
the aircrafts, special in-flight meals and “sports” looking cakes will
await passenger of Lufthansa. The airline, which has been conducting
Yerevan-Munich and Munich-Yerevan flights from last June, is ready
to safely transport Armenian football fans to Germany.

Today, Lufthansa has one scheduled flight from Yerevan to
Munich. Airline’s executive director for Ukraine and Armenia, Antonio
Kuoko, is satisfied with their activity in the Armenian market and
looks forward to wider activity. “We conduct flights with Armenia in
accordance with an agreement between the two states.

We are hopeful that authorities on both sides will take a positive
decision on increasing the number of flights and satisfying passengers
demands. That will be mutually beneficial. We are ready to satisfy
market’s demands,” Antonio Kuoko said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US BELIEVES 2006 TO REPRESENT A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR RESOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT – US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
Author: E.Huseynov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006

The United States remains committed to helping secure a peaceful
resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Matthew Bryza, the US
Assistant Secretary of State, told Trend in exclusive interview.

The Presidents met in Bucharest last weekend for intensive, detailed
negotiations. “Obviously, no breakthrough was reached, but we
continue to believe that 2006 represents a window of opportunity
if the Presidents can make difficult, courageous decisions to move
forward with a settlement,” he underlined.

Bryza also underlined that the United States is interested in
broadening our cooperation with Azerbaijan in all spheres. We already
enjoy excellent cooperation on military and security matters, energy
issues, and democratic and economic reform. President Aliyev’s visit
to Washington was very successful in advancing this cooperation and we
hope to deepen our cooperation still further in the weeks and months
to come, he stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Hamazkaine Armenian Educational
& Cultural Society- ‘Sevan’ Chapter
682 Cabramatta Road Bonnyrigg,
NSW, AUSTRALIA 2177
Contact: Giragos Bakalian
Tel: 61 414 951 301
Fax: 61 2 9837 7379
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

Australia to Send 42 Dancers to Armenia

Sydney, Australia – The Hamazkaine Armenian Sevan Dance Ensemble will
be sending 42 of its senior dancers from Australia on the 20th June
2006 in an unprecedented tri-nations tour to participate in the
official Armenian Cultural Festival performances in Armenia and
Artsakh between the 25th and 30th of June 2006 and on return will go
on to perform at dedicated concerts in Lebanon and Syria.

This is a momentous occasion for all Australian-Armenians primarily
because an Australian Armenian group has never before performed in
Armenia, Lebanon or Syria. Being the first Australian group to do so
will no doubt pave the way for more Australian-Armenian cultural
groups to follow suit – strengthening the growing bond between the
Armenian Diaspora and their Motherland. The 42 dancers eager and
enthused to perform in front of fellow compatriots in Armenia, Lebanon
and Syria will be accompanied by 7 officials, including organisers and
their dance instructor, and 24 supporters during their 3 week long
tour.

The Sevan Dance Ensemble, established in 2003 has come a long way in
the past three years, staging numerous performances including guest
appearances at several Australian cultural dance festivals, two
devoted annual concerts and performing at Ara Gevorgian’s – ‘Meg Azk,
Meg Joghovoort, Meg Hayrenik’ April 2006 concert organised by the
Hamazkaine ‘Sevan’ Chapter of Western Sydney- which happened to be the
largest Armenian concert ever held in the Asia Pacific.

The Australian-Armenian community is very proud of its youth, its
energetic organisations and the support of each and every Armenian in
Australia. The Hamazkaine Sevan Dance Ensemble’s tri-nations
performance tour is just proof of the promising future the blossoming
Armenian community in Australia.

Hamazkaine ‘Sevan’ Chapter
Sydney, Australia

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, June 8, 2006
Contact: Maral Habeshian

ANCA-WR among Exclusive California Leadership Honoring Mexican
President

LOS ANGELES, California–The Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA – WR) was among a select group of civic and
business leaders at a dinner hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa to honor Mexican President Vicente Fox.

ANCA – WR Chairman Steven Dadaian attended the May 26 event at the
Getty Center Museum, and had a chance to brief President Fox about
Armenian Genocide recognition efforts, and urge the President to
consider passing such legislation in Mexico.

President Fox, who was on a four-day trip through Utah, Washington and
California, repeatedly said that Mexico must regulate the migration of
its citizens to the U.S. and must bolster its economy so would-be
migrants no longer see leaving as an economic necessity.

In his remarks during the dinner, Mayor Villaraigosa lamented what he
called `so much heat and so little light illuminating the debate over
the relationship between our two countries.’ Addressing the economic
ties between the two countries, the mayor said, `Our economy is driven
by the labor of Mexican immigrants.’

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a
broad range of issues.