Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LOOKS TO SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR ANSWERS TO AMBASSADOR EVANS FIRING
ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 10:24
Armenian Americans across the US will be closely following the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearings for US Ambassador
to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland, in hopes of gaining concrete
insight into the exact nature of the State Department’s policy of
complicity in Armenian Genocide denial – particularly as it relates
to the firing of the current US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall
Evans, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The nomination hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at 2:30
pm in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room, 419 Dirksen Senate
Office Building and is open to the public.
The hearing comes as Armenian American activists across the US continue
to call on Senators to demand a full explanation for the early recall
of US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MISSION PLANNING TO CARRY OUT MONITORING OF THE CONTACT LINE
ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 14:15
The OSCE Mission intends to carry out monitoring at the contact
line of the Armed Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the
direction of Aghdam.
June 15 NKR Ministry of Defense had applied the Office of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office with the request to
hold a crisis monitoring at the border with Azerbaijan to assess the
real situation with the objective to deny the imaginary reports of
the Azeri media on arsons on the territories under NKR control.
NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed readiness to assist the
OSCE Mission in conducting the monitoring.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
&quo t;CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FORMS THE HEART
OF THE CHURCH’S MISSION”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
“Christian education is the spreading of the truths, values and principals
introduced through Bethlehem. The aim of Christian education is not only to
spread these values and truths, but also to form a conscious Christian.
Christian education is not the teaching of biblical and religious knowledge,
but in its essence, it is the formation of the Christian man. It is a path
of life, a purpose of life. It is with this approach and perspective that
Christian education should be organized,” said His Holiness while speaking
to a group of clergy and lay people participating in a conference dedicated
to Christian education in Beirut.
Referring to the need to re-evaluate Christian education in light of the
current world’s imperatives and challenges, His Holiness said: “Christian
truths are eternal; but it is essential that they are passed on according to
unique circumstances and concepts of the current time and environment. It is
not possible, for example, to engage in effective Christian education
following the same methods in Lebanon, Palestine and the United States.
Different religious-cultural environments demand different approaches. The
content should be the same, but the cover should be adjusted to the
corresponding environment.”
On textbooks related to Christian education, the Pontiff said: “It is true
that a textbook is essential, but a textbook convenes information only.
Faith, spirit, dedication, love can’t be passed on through textbooks. This
is where the church’s role as an educator comes to the fore; here comes the
role of teachers dedicated to Christian education.”
Representatives of the Catholicosate of All Armenians (Holy Etchmiadzine)
and the Catholicosate of Cilicia are also participating in the conference
along with participants from many countries in the world.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
14-06-2006
Minister Oskanian Meets with Azerbaijani Counterpart
A meeting was held between Minister Oskanian and his Azeri counterpart
Elmar Mammadyarov on June 13, in accordance with the agreement
between the Armenian and Azeri Presidents reached in Bucharest on
June 5 during their last meeting. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Bernard
Fassier of France, and Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia, and Andrzej Kasprzyk,
Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, were present
at the meeting.
During the meeting, the ministers discussed the principles to settling
the conflict and the problematic areas which remain unresolved.
The Ministers expressed willingness to continue negotiations in order
to try to bridge the different positions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
15-06-2006
Ministers Sargsian and Oskanian Attend North Atlantic Council –
Armenia Meeting
On June 14, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian and Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian attended the North Atlantic Council (NAC) – Armenia
meeting with the ambassadors of the 26 NATO members.
The meeting agenda was a discussion of Armenia’s implementation of
the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). This followed the
first assessment meeting by a delegation of NATO international staff
to Armenia in May to evaluate the implementation of the agreement
between NATO and Armenia.
In their reports, the Armenian ministers focused on deepening
Armenia’s cooperation with NATO, as well as measures targeted at
IPAP implementation.
Following their presentations, Ambassadors of the NAC member states
made statements assessing Armenia’s pace and progress in implementing
provisions of the IPAP. In this regard, the Ambassadors attached
importance to the democratization process in Armenia as the groundwork
for security, reforms in the defense sphere, and extension of the
political dialogue with NATO.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
June 20, 2006
His Holiness Karekin II Departs on Pontifical Visit to Turkey
Today, June 20, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians departs for Istanbul, Turkey for a
seven-day Pontifical Visit.  His Holiness is traveling to Turkey upon
the joint invitation of His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian,
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and His All Holiness Bartholomew
I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
During this first Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to
Turkey, the Catholicos of All Armenians will visit Armenian churches
and holy shrines, extend his pontifical blessings to the Armenian
community of Istanbul, and meet with Armenian intellectuals and young
men and women.  On Sunday, June 25, His Holiness will celebrate a
Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Patriarchate’s Cathedral
of the Holy Mother of God.
For two days during the trip, His Holiness will also be the guest
of the Ecumenical Patriarch in a fraternal visit.  His Holiness will
have a number of ecumenical meetings in the Armenian Patriarchate as
well.  Also planned is a meeting between the Pontiff of All Armenians
and the Governor of Istanbul.
His Holiness is scheduled to return to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on June 28.
Accompanying the Catholicos of All Armenians during the journey is His
Eminence Archbishop Dirayr Mardigian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Romania and Bulgaria; His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of
the Armenian Church of North America; His Eminence Archbishop Karekin
Bekdjian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany; His Eminence
Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, Director of the Publications Department
of the Mother See; His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar
General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; His Grace Bishop Vicken
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate for the Eastern Diocese (USA); His Grace
Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See; His Grace
Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus;
and Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian, Staff-Bearer for His Holiness.
##
–Boundary_(ID_lv5o3V8mxVGtDl9ZQ0sq Hg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA
ArmRadio.am
20.06.2006 18:01
June 20 RA Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baibourdian received the
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti.
Issues related to the freedom of media over the OSCE territory,
the reforms of the sphere in Armenia, as well as the suggestions of
implementing joint programs.
The parties expressed appreciation for the current level of
Armenia-OSCE relations in the sphere of freedom of media and showed
interest in upholding the cooperation in the future.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

400 PERCENT BLACK PETROL MARKET
Lragir.am
20 June 06
“In Armenia monopoly is not battled, on the contrary, there
is consolidation and growth of black market. Clans are being
developed,” stated Member of Parliament Tatul Manaseryan June
20 at the Hayeli Club. According to him, the Armenian economy is
uncontrollable. “Emergence of monopolies hampers competition greatly,”
says Tatul Manaseryan.
If black economy in Armenia is about 70-80 percent, on the petrol
market it is 400 percent. Presently, twice as less petrol is
imported to Armenia than in 1995. Whereas the customs services boast
considerable collections from the import of cars. According to the
Department of Motor Vehicles, the number of cars has tripled since
1995. “Please multiply and get twice as less petrol by the rules of
arithmetic that we have been taught,” suggests Tatul Manaseryan.
Another Republican Member of Parliament Gagik Melikyan thinks that
the declining consumption of petrol is caused by the rising number of
cars running on gas. “Why are the filling stations closed down?” asks
Gagik Melikyan for his part. Certain filling stations were closed
because they did not comply with standards, and the number of cars
running on gas did not go so high as to cause consumption of petrol
to decline twice, insists Tatul Manaseryan.
Nevertheless, he is optimistic and he thinks that we will have a
normal economy because it is simply imposed on us.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIA SUPPLYING MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA WITH ANTIAIRCRAFT EMPLACEMENT
Georgian Times, Georgia
June 20 2006
Russia indents to supply its military bases abroad, especially the
102nd base in Gumru, Armenia with S-400 antiaircraft missiles in
near future. APA reports quoting military sources that one of the
antiaircraft battalions in the 102nd base will be supplied with
the S-400 antiaircraft missiles. A group of officers and technical
staff of the base will attend trainings of Russian Air Attack Defense
Troops to master technical and tactical characteristics of the S-400
emplacements.
Russia has started supplying its Armed Forces with new S-400
antiaircraft missiles since last year. It plans to establish five
missile brigades supplied with S-400 antiaircraft emplacement within
five years.
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry press secretary, Colonel Ramiz Malikov
told the APA that the Ministry have control on the armament process
in the region and is informed about it.
“We were informed about this. Russia’s arming the aggressive Armenia
and sending additional forces to this country poses threat to not only
the South Caucasus but the entire Europe,” the press secretary said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EX-MINISTER SKEPTICAL ABOUT KARABAKH PEACE
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 20 2006
Armenia’s former Foreign Minister Aleksandr Arzumanian was on Tuesday
highly pessimistic about prospects for a near-term resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, saying that it is not considered urgent by
both the conflicting parties and international mediators.
Arzumanian claimed that the replacement of the U.S. co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, was a clear indication that Washington
no longer hopes that the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents will cut
a framework peace deal this year. “It was obvious to me that if those
upbeat statements [made by the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs
earlier this year] led nowhere, then some face-saving steps would be
taken,” he told RFE/RL. “This is one such step.”
“The appointment of a new [U.S.] co-chair is just a way to prolong
or review the process,” he added.
Mann was replaced by a more high-ranking U.S. diplomat, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, following the collapse of
the June 4-5 talks in Bucharest between Presidents Ilham Aliev and
Robert Kocharian. The two leaders all but dashed hopes for a quick
solution to the Karabakh dispute.
The mediators seem to be still trying to salvage the peace process,
having arranged a fresh meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers in Paris last week. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
said at the weekend that they want him and Armenia’s Vartan Oskanian
to meet again soon.
Arzumanian insisted, however, that international pressure on the
parties is still not strong enough because Karabakh peace is “neither
imperative nor vital” for France, Russia and the United States. “The
Karabakh conflict’s being unresolved is not a big threat to strategic
U.S. interests,” he said. “The same is true for France and the European
Union in general. As for Russia, it has never been interested in
seeing the small nations and peoples of the region live in peace.”
Arzumanian, who had served as foreign minister in the cabinet of
former President Levon Ter-Petrosian from 1996-98, also claimed that
both Baku and Yerevan are not interested in a compromise settlement.
“Any compromise would be painful for both Armenia and Azerbaijan. And
because experience shows that the Karabakh issue is a brilliant trump
card for seizing power, any president will think twice before accepting
a compromise solution,” he said.
The ex-minister was clearly referring to the fact that Ter-Petrosian
was forced by his key ministers, including then Prime Minister
Kocharian, to step down in 1998 after advocating more concessions to
Azerbaijan. Kocharian supporters may counter that the current Armenian
leader has not rejected any international peace plans since then.
Still, Ter-Petrosian allies are convinced that Kocharian has been
happy with the apparent rejection by Azerbaijan of peace proposals
made by the Minsk Group in recent years. “He came to power to drag
out a settlement,” said Arzumanian.
Arzumanian also reiterated Ter-Petrosian’s belief that the Karabakh
status quo is more detrimental to Armenia than its oil-rich foe. “The
[1998] regime change pushed Armenia several years back,” he said. “As
a consequence, Armenia is in complete international isolation and
not involved in any regional project, and Armenian democracy is
now far more comparable to the political systems of Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress