Author: Emil Lazarian

Vartanov’s influential documentary “Parajanov: The
Last Spring” premieres in Poland
Mozart Entertainment
Post Office Box 17257
Beverly Hills, California 90209 US
World’s first Chechnya-born filmmaker, Armenian master documentarian,
Russian Academy of Cinema Arts Award recipient, Mikhail Vartanov
(Vardanov), will arrive to the Polish land on the 21st of July 2006
to present his influential masterpiece “Parajanov: The Last Spring”
which will open the Parajanov film retrospective and exhibiton at
the Era New Horizons Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“IT IS GOOD THAT THE SECRECY IS NOW GONE”
(The exclusive interview of Zeyno Baran, Director of the Center for
Eurasian Policy, Hudson Institute, to Armenian Mediamax news agency,
July 2006)
The situation around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in
recent several weeks has been developing like a “snowball”. Shortly
after the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Bucharest
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs issued a statement that was perceived
in the region as an “ultimatum” to the parties in the conflict. Do
you agree with such definition?
– I don’t consider the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ statement as an
“ultimatum”. It is a statement, however, that makes clear that the
co-chairs believe they have done all they can in this process. From
here on, the burden is going to be on the Armenian and the Azerbaijani
sides–if they want a solution, then they need to work with what
there is. Neither side is very happy with what is on offer, but each
side would be better off if this conflict is resolved, so the two
Presidents and the two peoples need to figure out what they want.
I think it is good that the secrecy is now gone and the people of
Armenia and Azerbaijan see clearly what is on offer. For too long
people were debating the plan based on speculations; the whole process
was in the hands of the Presidents and a small group of people around
them. Having more of the society engaged is part of the democratic
and much healthier way to go about it.
Unfortunately I still do not see how either of the Presidents will
move. There are very good reasons for both of them to accept what is
on offer, and declare it as a major success to their people. However,
I think their calculations are different and both believe it is better
to wait a bit longer and see how the situation may evolve. For example,
we still do not know what will happen with Iran; in case of increased
tension with the West, what will Iran’s policy be towards Armenia
and Azerbaijan? What will their positions be vis-a-vis Iran and the
West? How about the deteriorating relations between Washington and
Moscow, especially in areas Moscow still considers to be in its
“backyard”. I think without a clearer picture of the future of
the South Caucasus region and the dynamics that affect it, neither
president will risk making a move that may leave their country in a
worse situation than it is now.
– Can a breakthrough be anticipated at the talks if the G8 Summit
in St. Petersburg discusses the Karabakh settlement?
– Of course it would be very important for the G-8 Summit to include
Karabakh (as well as the other so-called frozen conflicts). While just
raising them at one meeting is not going to lead to any “breakthrough”
it would send a message that the G-8 community is committed to the
peaceful resolution of these conflicts. It would also be important to
underline that it is in Russia’s interest too to see these conflicts
resolved and the South Caucasus prosper.
– Speaking at “The future of democracy in the Black Sea area”
hearings before the Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on
European Affairs on March 8th, 2005 you expressed the opinion that
“to change the political and economic conditions on the ground and
the calculations of two sides U.S. needs to get engaged into the
Karabakh conflict settlement at the highest level.” To your mind,
can we speak about such engagement today?
– I think over the last year the US has increased its engagement,
but still not at the sufficient level. That is why we need to see
US President Bush raise Karabakh at the G-8 so he commits the US at
the highest levels. Why? Because everyone knows that in addition to
working out the issues between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides,
there is also the Russia factor, and only the US has the ability to
work with Russia in a way to help them see that solution to Karabakh
is in their interest as well.
– You have also stated: “Azerbaijan is told by the West that it lost
Karabakh in the war and needs to give up this piece of land for
the sake of peace and prosperity and move on with its EU and NATO
integration process. This kind of talk only hardens the nationalists,
who believe that with massive oil and gas revenues starting to flow
into the budget over the next several years, they can strengthen
their military and take back their land.” What, to your mind, is
the West doing wrong and what steps should the West take? Can we
describe as nationalists the senior Azerbaijani government officials
who constantly threaten to increase the military budget and resolve
the problem in a military way?
– There is a lot of frustration in Azerbaijan and a sense that the
international community would have supported them a lot more if they
were Christian. Making compromise is always difficult and especially
in a region where such a tradition is not that prevalent. If one looks
at the facts on the ground in Azerbaijan, especially the two digit
growth rates and oil starting flow in massive quantities, it is easy
to understand that the Azerbaijani people would feel increasingly more
secure and feel that time is on their side. Then there is the rise of
nationalism which is not just an Azerbaijani phenomenon but is seen in
many of the countries, including in neighboring countries like Russia
and Turkey. The talk about the military option may be part of the
negotiating tactic, or it may reflect the sense of frustration. I am in
general opposed to people -including senior government officials–using
such language as it fuels mutual mistrust and makes compromise
even harder.
– How viable the prospect of determining Nagorno Karabakh’s status
at a referendum is?
– I do not believe there can be a referendum held in the short
term that would have international legitimacy, but there could and
probably will be one in the future. It all depends on when and under
what conditions.
– In last several years, the representatives of the U.S. Administration
have stressed that unlike other post-Soviet frozen conflicts, Russia
and the USA cooperate closely in Nagorno Karabakh. Is this conditioned
by the specific character of the Karabakh conflict or you may outline
other reasons?
– There is a major difference between Karabakh and the other frozen
conflicts–in the others, such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia
is almost a direct player. Whereas in Karabakh, it is only an indirect
player and hence it is easier for the US and Russia to cooperate.
– The opinion that the USA will henceforth connect the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement with the internal political developments in Armenia and
the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections abandon in
Armenia. How justified this
tactics will be?
– I frankly have not heard anyone mention this in the US
administration. The only thing I hear being mentioned repeatedly is
that 2006 is the “window of opportunity” to reach a solution as after
this year Armenia will start the election cycle and in that climate
it is much harder to resolve a difficult issue like Karabakh.
– Addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European
Affairs last March you said that “the strength of Armenian Diaspora
limits U.S. ability
to encourage democratic change in Armenia.” You noted then that
“the U.S.
simply cannot put the same kind of pressure on President Robert
Kocharian as it was able to do with President Leonid Kuchma of
Ukraine. It is inconceivable to think that Washington would threaten
to keep senior Armenian government officials out of the U.S. in case
of falsified elections.” To your mind, will this tendency be preserved
or Washington will be ready to harden its position if the elections
in Armenia again fail to meet international standards?
– Well, I guess I do not foresee any change as the Armenian Diaspora
is still as effective as it has been and would not want the Armenian
government to come under any kind of criticism. But Armenians should be
able to join the community of democracies and all those civil society
and NGO activists, as well as those reformers in the government,
should be able to get the kind of support other pro-democracy people
in other parts of the world get from the US. There has to be a way
to come up with some sort of a constructive and effective criticism,
but I don’t have the answer as to how.
– What do you think, has Washington already defined its “allies”
at the upcoming elections in Armenia?
– No, I don’t think anyone in Washington is really thinking about
the elections at this point–those few who cover the region are all
focused on the Karabakh conflict. When it gets closer, Washington (by
that I mean the US government) will of course be mostly interested
in the pre-election process; if there will be some “more favored”
candidates, these will be people who will have a vision for Armenia
that is democratic, on its path to integrate closer with the European
and Euro-Atlantic institutions, has a clear and workable reform
agenda, etc.
– Why do U.S. efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and
Turkey turn out to be fruitless? How real is it to speak about the
possibility of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations before the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict?
– I always had difficulty seeing how Turkey would normalize relations
with Armenia, mainly open the border, before there is some progress
on the Karabakh issue–it does not have to be fully resolved, but
there has to be sufficient progress so that the Turkish people and
the Azerbaijani people would let their leaders make such a move. Of
course there are regular flights between Turkey and Armenia, and
people-to-people exchanges and dialogues are going well. But no matter
how much pressure (or encouragement) there is from the US (and the EU),
Turks will not be able to change policy before the conditions on the
ground change. Turks are simply too close with Azeris in many ways
(ethnic, religious, culture, etc) for them to just act on their own.

DEFENSE MINISTER TO THINK ABOUT NOMINATING FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Panorama.am
15:03 19/07/06
Armenian Republican Party vice chairman Razmik Zohrabyan refuted rumors
that Serz Sargsyan is going to take up the post of ARP chairmanship
upon teaming up with the party. Zohrabyan said he has no such plans
but also said that Sargsyan will think about nominating himself for
presidential elections after the parliamentary elections./Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Americans frustrated, angry over US evacuation efforts in Lebanon
By VERENA DOBNIK
Newsday, NY
July 19 2006
July 19, 2006, 4:50 PM EDT
NEW YORK — Americans trying to flee Lebanon struggled on Wednesday
to find out what their government was doing to evacuate them, with
many relying on the news media for information _ only to learn that
plans were still not in place.
“We’re getting e-mails from the U.S. Embassy saying, ‘We’re working
on it,”‘ Maria Bakalian said by telephone from Beirut, where she was
trying to get her 19-year-old son out of the country and back to his
college classes in Pennsylvania. The family used the U.S. Embassy Web
site to register Sevag Bakalian for an American evacuation list. He’s
heard nothing so far.
In Manhattan, his uncle was waiting. “I think incompetence explains
the situation,” said Mirhan Bakalian. “The U.S. system is not working _
it’s ill-suited to think on its feet and move fast.”
On Wednesday, a cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 Americans sailed
out of Beirut’s port, but more than 20,000 other Americans were still
in Lebanon a week after Israeli airstrikes started.
Some wondered why they were waiting for basic information _ like
confirmation that their names were even on a list for evacuation
_ while other nations already had transported thousands of their
nationals, free of charge.
The U.S. government at first said that anyone wishing to leave would
have to sign a note pledging to reimburse the government the price of
a commercial flight from Beirut to Cyprus _ usually $150-$200. After
criticism from Congress, the State Department dropped plans to charge.
Two other young Americans visiting friends in Beirut watched the
foreigners leaving.
“They all got out _ the Turkish, the British, the Danish, the French,
the Spaniards and the Italians,” said Paola Rizzuto, 22, who was
in Beirut with her boyfriend, Rafael Greenblatt, 26, both of New
Brunswick, N.J.
U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman told The Associated Press that the
evacuation’s slow start was intended to safeguard Americans. A call
to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut was answered by a Marine who said he
could not comment.
In New York’s borough of Queens, Rizzuto’s parents waited anxiously
to hear when they could pick up their daughter at an airport here.
“I’m getting angrier and angrier. The American government seems to
have money for everything else except its citizens,” said Joseph
Rizzuto, a high school teacher in Queens who with his wife and son
waited for Paola.
He said he had called the State Department 800 number available to
answer questions about U.S. citizens in Lebanon, and although she had
registered, “they couldn’t find my daughter’s name on any evacuation
list, and had no information on her.”
Rizzuto then called the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, “and it rang and rang,
and finally the line went dead.”
In a telephone interview from Beirut, Paola Rizzuto told the AP that
after registering for evacuation with the U.S. Embassy via e-mail,
“we were supposed to receive an e-mail confirmation that we’re on
the list, that they’ve received our registration,” she said. So far,
they’ve heard nothing from American officials.
The couple was in Lebanon on a month-long visit at the American
University in Beirut, whose students were among the first to be
evacuated. Left behind were Greenblatt and Rizzuto, a graduate
of Rutgers University in New Brunswick who had attended American
University as a student.
With water pressure fading and electricity cut for hours at a time,
Rizzuto and Greenblatt have spent their days as volunteers helping
Lebanese families displaced by the airstrikes and now living in a
makeshift camp in a Beirut park.
The Bakalian family huddled in their apartment in the Zokak El-Blat
neighborhood overlooking Beirut’s port, watching CNN for any new
instructions from U.S. officials. From the ninth floor, through thick
smoke from the airstrikes, “we see the ships come in and go out,” said
Maria Bakalian, adding that the Israelis allowed “windows” of time when
the port area was safe from airstrikes and vessels could be loaded.
Bakalian, a Beirut-born Canadian citizen, said she had received
several cell phone text messages from Canadian officials offering
plans for evacuation, with costs for the trip covered all the way to
Canada. “The Canadians are keeping their citizens in the loop. The
Americans are not,” said Bakalian.
She’s staying in Beirut, along with her husband, the Rev. Nishan
Bakalian _ the Armenian Evangelical chaplain of Haigazian University
there. Until 2000, the Philadelphia native was pastor of the Armenian
Evangelical Church in Manhattan.
Their biggest concern now was “getting our son out safely,” said
Maria Bakalian.
But once that’s accomplished, the family faces another reality. “The
thought crosses my mind that if he goes, I may not see him for God
knows how long,” she said. “But I know that it all has to come to an
end at some point.”
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
20-07-2006
Acting Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetian Replies to Question by
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Question: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan received report
by Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, on the fires around Nagorno Karabakh. Are you
acquainted with this report?
Mr. Karapetian: We have in fact received the report; and hope that it
will put an end to the irresponsible and absurd charges by Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Human Rights Association Expressed Support for Dink
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.07.2006 18:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Human Rights Association (IHD) expressed support
for editor of Istanbul-based Agos Armenian newspaper Hrant Dink, who
was recently convicted on charges of “insulting Turkishness.” Sanar
Yurdatapan, a representative of the Peace Initiative group, said that
they advocate the same ideas that were expressed in the article Dink
was charged on and demand that Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code
(TCK) be abolished.
Dink, as well as many other writers and journalists, have faced
charges based on Article 301. Speaking at a press conference marking
the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Association as well as the
recent prison sentence imposed on writer Hrant Dink, IHD head Yusuf
Alatas said that the IHD always advocated peace, particularly for
the resolution of the Kurdish problem, reports the New Anatolian.

VAZGEN MANUKIAN: SERGE SARGSIAN’S JOINING RPA ENDANGERS NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian’s
joining the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) can result in power
monopolization. RA MP Vazgen Manukian, Chairman of the National
Democratic Union, expressed such a concern at the July 18 press
conference.
According to him, they can dispute around the issue, whether the
Defence Minister should belong to any party or not, but this issue is
secondary. Vazgen Manukian said that 40 thousand soldiers serving
in the army have always voted for the person they were dictated
from above.
According to the NDU Chairman, today the Armenian economy is
absolutely monopolized and is controlled by the authorities. It is
known, he mentioned, that Serge Sargsian controls not over the army,
but also the most part of economic and financial flows. Joining
Andranik Margarian’s party that controls the rest of the economy, he
will create a party, which controls the whole economy. As a result,
a one-party system, a monopoly power will be formed in the country
that will continue to keep economy monopolized.
According to Vazgen Manukian, the Soviet Union’s experience shows
that state control over economy results in a collapse. The NDU
Chairman also gave assurance that this situation can endanger not
only the issue of Armenian people’s prosperity, but also the Nagorno
Karabakh problem, and no matter what the above mentioned political
figures declare, they work to the detriment of Nagorno Karabakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VAHAGN HOVNANIAN ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF ASSOCIATION OF FOREIGN INVESTORS
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Vahagn Hovnanian, Co-chairman of the
Hovnanian International company, was elected as Chairman of Board
of the Association of Foreign Investors at the organization Board’s
July 17 sitting. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by
Ashot Petrosian, Association’s Executive Director.
American Armenian businessman and benefactor Vahe Karapetian
was elected Board Deputy Chairman. According to A.Petrosian, the
organization’s 5-year program was approved at the Association’s
Board sitting.
It was mentioned that 11 big foreign investors of different spheres
are already members of the organization finctioning since 2006 April 1,
another 17 have put in an application of joining the organization.
Among the Association’s goals are to represent and protect the
interests of foreign investors, to support integration to investment
atmosphere, information support.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA EVACUATES ITS CITIZENS IN LEBANON
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first group
of citizens of Armenia has been already evacuated from Lebanon. As
Vladimir Karapetian, Acting Spokesperson of Armenian Foreign Ministry,
informed radio Liberty, “a group consisting of 70 persons was formed,
which was first moved to Aleppo, then by a direct flight on Saturday
to Yerevan.”
The official representative of the Armenian diplomatic department
also stated that a serious attention is paid to the work of Armenian
representations in the Near East in these days. According to him,
a decision to strengthen the Armenian Embassy in Beirut and the
Consulate General in Aleppo has been made. “Additional diplomats
will be sent to these two cities. They are sent for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of the citizens of Armenia and supporting
the efforts of evacuation of those willing.”
Vladimir Karapetian does not exclude that new groups of citizens of
Armenia will be formed and evacuated from Lebanon to Armenia in the
coming days.

POSSIBILITIES OF SUPPORTING ARMENIANS WISHING TO MOVE TO ARMENIA IN
CONSEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN LEBANON DISCUSSED AT RA PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A consultation
dedicated to providing possible assistance to RA citizens wishing to
move to Armenia and any assistance to our compatriots in consequence
of the events in Lebanon was held on July 18 at RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian’s Office. RA Ministers of Territorial Government,
Finance and Economy, Transport and Communication, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs, head of the Civil Aviation General Department
attached to RA Government, heads of the National Security Service
and Police took part in the consultation.
The Prime Minister expressed anxiety about the situation in the region
of Near East and emphasized the necessity to provide possible state
assistance to our Armenian compatriots in the formed situation.
RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian reported that
160 RA citizens have already arrived in Yerevan from Lebanon
through Syria. According to the preliminary data of RA Foreign
Ministry, there are almost 1200 RA citizens in this 120-thousand
Armenian community. However, these figures need to be finally
clarified. G.Gharibjanian also informed that the Embassies of Lebanon
and Syria and Consulate General of Aleppo have been charged to give
three-month free entrance permits to the citizens of Lebanon of
Armenian origin wishing to leave for Armenia, as well as to foreign
citizens in Lebanon and to members of families of RA citizens. Now
there is great accumulation on the Syrian border, in connection with
which RA diplomatic representations were charged to do the necessary
work on the spot.
According to RA Government Information and Public Relations Department,
the Prime Minister also charged RA Foreign Ministry in a short period
to clarify and to provide information about RA citizens currently
residing in Lebanon, about our compatriots and those willing to
arrive in Armenia assisting them on the spot in issues of stay, food,
etc. through RA diplomatic representations. It was also instructed
to open a hot line at the Foreign Ministry.
After the consultation RA Deputy Foreign Minister G.Gharibjanian
reported that a hot line with 58-60-17 telephone number has opened
and will operate every day at 9:00-21:00.
The Prime Minister also gave instructions to the head of the Civil
Aviation General Department and Minister of Territorial Government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress