Author: Emil Lazarian

GET YOUR PAWNS OFF OF MY QUEEN
By Nancy Macdonald
Maclean’s, Canada
June 19, 2006
The ‘Anna Kournikova of chess’ has sparked a violent love triangle
British chess ace Danny Gormally and Armenian Levon Aronian — the
world’s third-ranked player — were out partying earlier this month
during the World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy. Gormally, apparently
drunk, became so jealous when Aronian started hitting on the Aussie
teen sensation Arianne Caoili — known as the “Anna Kournikova of
chess” — that he knocked his rival to the ground. Gormally had
recently struck up an email relationship with the chess beauty, and
didn’t like the moves Aronian was making on the dance floor. Fists
flew again the next morning, when the Armenian team exacted revenge
on Gormally while he was out for coffee. Dubbed “Gormallygate” by
chess fans, this international incident is providing the rest of the
world its closest glimpse of the game since the historic Cold War-era
match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972. And with it,
the image of chess as the gentleman’s sport is coming undone.
You might expect this kind of behaviour from college football stars,
but grandmasters? This is the philosopher’s sport, after all — the
ultimate intellectual pursuit. But chess stars, it appears, are no
better adjusted than your average first-round draft pick. Not that
there haven’t been signs of that before. This esoterics-only club’s
most famous alumnus is Chicago-born Bobby Fischer — the raving,
Jew-hating recluse who now calls Reykjavik home. And the sport attracts
Fischer-like obsessive misfits — the type happy to spend Sundays
watching planes land. At its highest level, the game requires — no,
demands — that sort of compulsive concentration. Matches often exceed
five hours. And aside from pushing chess pieces and hitting the clock,
the only movement during the long silent hours of a match is the rise
and fall of players’ chests.
Stone-faced, players churn through thousands of possible moves in their
head at every turn, in an effort to outmanoeuvre their opponent. Chess
lingo — to capture, to crush, to destroy — suggests that in chess,
as with any sport, there’s no second place. Russian great Viktor
Korchnoi has always said that winning at chess requires hating your
opponent. There’s violence in this — a struggle to the end. And
while usually the killer instinct doesn’t manifest itself physically,
as it does in, say, hockey, there have been physical altercations:
in the late 1970s, organizers of a world championship match had to
put a board under the table so rivals Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov
couldn’t kick each other.
Like in any sport, there are also brittle egos in the world of chess,
and Gormally may be more fragile than others, in part, due to his
recent slide in the ranking. While Aronian, 23, is now recognized
as a future world champion, Gormally, 30, who stumbled in Turin, has
slipped off the charts. Caoili (whose nickname is a reference to the
sexy tennis queen), has been painted as the vixen — perhaps fairly.
“It is my weakness to sometimes start a random friction between myself
and another to test reactions,” wrote the 19-year-old on her website
after the scrap.
Regardless of whether it’s deserved (Caoili is ranked third among
females in chess-poor Australia), the Kournikova tag is becoming
sportswriting’s most tired cliche. And Caoili isn’t even the only
grandmaster to get Kournikovaed — she shares the honour with Russian
chess star Alexandra Kosteniuk. That young, sexy women are excelling
at chess — now common, according to the Chess Federation of Canada’s
Robert Hamilton — should be assumed. Male or female, eccentric,
even, yep, foxy, grandmasters want to win. Chess, according to the
late great Emanuel Lasker, the longest-reigning world champ, has
falsely been elevated to a science, or an art. In Lasker’s opinion
chess is neither. Instead, he once said, it’s what human nature most
freely indulges in: a fight.
GRAPHIC: Photos 1 through 3, CAOILI has two grandmasters — Gormally
and Aronian — fighting for her.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PM HIGHLY APPRECIATES COOPERATION WITH IMF AND WB
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 19 2006
YEREVAN, June 19. /ARKA/. Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan highly
appreciates the cooperation with international financial organizations,
including IMF and World Bank. The press service and public relations
department of the Armenian government, Margaryan stated this during
his meeting with IMF managing director Rodrigo de Rato.
“The reforms carried out with the support of these organizations in
a number of sectors resulted in serious successes and progress in
economy, restoration of economic growth, undertaking of implementation
of the Strategic program on poverty reduction, reforming of
the country’s legislative sector to the end of introducing and
strengthening of liberal economic relations, and implementation of
specific steps toward integrating into world economy.
According to him, the best result of such cooperation is Armenia’s
joining the World Trade Organization in 2003 that became a serious
incentive for intensification of foreign economic relations and
attraction of foreign investments. “As a result of the step-by-step
increase of export volumes, a considerable growth of exports compared
to previous years was recorded as early as 2005,” Margaryan said.
Besides this, as a result of the cooperation with international
financial organizations, according to the WB classification, Armenia
was recognized as a country with average incomes for the incomes
indicator per capita, and in 2005, Armenia ranked 27th among 157
countries for the level of economic freedom and was recognized mainly
as a free country.
Margaryan also pointed out the importance of the IMF’s assistance
with the policy carried out by the Central Bank, which is aimed at
slowing down inflation.
He reported that today the government implements serious works jointly
with the CBA in terms of reforms in pension provisions, social sector
during which assistance by the IMF and WB is expected.
Rodrigo de Rato visited Armenia to participate in the two-week long
representative meeting of the Dutch group.
The IMD and WB Dutch group includes Armenia, Netherlands,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Spain, Croatia, Moldova, Georgia,
Romania, Ukraine, Cyprus and Macedonia.
The next meeting will be held in Moldova.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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