Author: Emil Lazarian

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:

THE AMBASSADOR OF NORWAY VISITS ANTELIAS

His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of Norway to Lebanon and Syria
in his office in Antelias on May 22. The Catholicos and the Ambassador
discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Syrian-Lebanese relations
and the Christian-Muslim dialogue. The Pontiff in particular expressed some
concerns related to the dialogue.

The talks also included discussions on Turkey’s accession to the EU and the
current efforts in the pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

The Ambassador has been appointed by his government as a representative of
Norway in issues related to the Middle East and the peace process in
particular.

##
View the photo here: tm#2
****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

RA PRESIDENT CONSIDERS RELATIONS WITH NATO WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION POLICY OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 23 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues relating
to NATO-Armenia cooperation were discussed at RA President Robert
Kocharian’s May 23 meeting with Special Representative of NATO
Secretary General on South Caucasian Issues Robert Simmons. Positively
estimating the process of the Armenian Individual Partnership
Actions Plan with NATO, Robert Simmons mentioned that considerable
progress was registered in the issue of fulfilment of the program’s
provisions in a short time. In this context they attached importance
to implementation of the respective reforms in the country’s defence
system and to strengthening of democracy. Considering relations with
NATO within the framework of Armenia’s European integration policy,
the President said that an interdepartmental commission has been formed
lately for the purpose of confronting the work with different European
structures and for moving forward in a more systematized way. The
commission will periodically inform the President of the process of
actions in this direction. “Our goal is not to lag behind the planned
work, on the contrary, to move forward at quicker rates and to fully
implement the joint programs,” Robert Kocharian stressed. As Noyan
Tapan was informed from RA President’s Press Service, Robert Kocharian
in general outline also touched upon the recent developments in the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACCORDING TO SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN, NA REGULATIONS NOT CORRESPOND WITH INNERPOLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Noyan Tapan
May 23 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The regulations of the Parliament of
Armenia do not correspond with those situations which may be created
in Armenia.

Shavarsh Kocharian, the Chairman of the National Democratic Party
made such a statement at the May 22 sitting of the Parliament. The
Deputy considered natural the circumstance that the NA Speaker’s
resignation but not the agenda of the sitting was being discussed
at the Parliament. “If the second figure of the country resigns,
presenting very serious accusations to the NA in the sense that
anti-democratic laws were adopted, then in this case not to have
an opportunity to discuss means that the regulations have only one
function: not to allow that political forces are able to hold a normal
discussion in similar situations,” Shavarsh Kocharian emphasized. To
recap, the NA regulations do not envisage discussion of the Parliament
Speaker’s resignation, and the resignation is adopted if the NA Speaker
insists on it in five days after presenting it for the first time.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia Tree Project
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 0026
Tel: (37410) 44-74-01
Web:

Armenia Tree Project
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
May 23, 2006

ATP Breathes Life Into Environmental Education in Armenia by Organizing
Training for Teachers and Tree-Planting Guidance for Communities

YEREVAN–After publishing its environmental education curriculum, `Plant an
Idea, Plant a Tree,’ for public school students, Armenia Tree Project (ATP)
sponsored a special teacher training course on April 25-29 to explain how to
use the teacher’s manual.

A total of 16 teachers from Yerevan and the regions of Syunik, Lori, and
Kotayk participated in the `Training of Trainers,’ organized by Dr. Gayane
Ghukasyan, ATP Environmental Education Program Manager.

In his welcoming speech, ATP Director of Operations Vache Kirakosyan
emphasized the importance of teaching the environmental education curriculum
in local schools, and thanked all attendees for participating with ATP.
`Your cooperation is very important to increase the awareness of
environmental issues, specifically among Armenia’s youth,’ he stated. `As a
result of our work together, we may reap fruit in the very near future. The
assistance received from such motivated and devoted educators as yourselves
is another step toward improving the ecological situation in our country.’

All lessons were based on the contents of ATP’s environmental education
curriculum, which is available online at
The lessons were designed for
students in grades 4-9 in more than 1,400 schools throughout Armenia.

The workshop was also attended by Artashes Torosyan and Marine Aghajanyan
from the Ministry of Education and Science, Amalia Poghosyan from the
Armenia Social Investment Fund, and ATP supporter Joseph Matossian of
California.

The honored guests expressed their appreciation and admiration to the
teachers and the presenters. Artashes Torosyan expressed his confidence in
the preparation of the teachers, who will be going on from the workshop to
conduct similar training for their colleagues.

Vache Kirakosyan presented `Certificates of Participation’ to each of the
trainees, thanking them for their input and enthusiasm during the workshop.
Anonymous evaluation sheets revealed that the participants were very pleased
with the content and process of the training.

`It would be an honor for me to continue collaborating with the ATP
Environmental Education Program, as I feel this gives me an overall
understanding of a new methodology along with practical advice which I will
definitely apply in my teaching activity,’ wrote one teacher in the
evaluation. Another teacher believed the program should be expanded to the
governmental level under the slogan `Our Planet Belongs to Us.’

In addition to the environmental education training course, ATP’s Spring
tree planting campaign was accompanied by trainings organized by the
Community Tree Planting (CTP) Program at 19 sites all over Armenia. A total
of 1,334 community residents participated in the ATP trainings.

To ensure a high survival rate of trees at sites, ATP created guidelines on
tree planting and care. Prior to planting, CTP staff distributed the
information to local residents and trained them on topics such as the
special care different varieties of trees require, proper depth for planting
new seedlings, how often to irrigate seedlings, and how to monitor the
growth of the trees.

According to ATP site monitor Seyran Honhannisyan, `I was astonished to see
the children so well acquainted with planting techniques. Our training
allowed the children to get not only theoretical but also practical
knowledge. While putting seedlings in the soil, they were asking us great
questions regarding insects, plant diseases, and applicable pesticides, so
we had an opportunity to educate them even further on tree care.’

PHOTO CAPTIONS

1. (EE training.jpg) Armenia Tree Project organized a training course to
show teachers from Syunik, Lori, Kotayk, and Yerevan how to use its new
environmental education curriculum

2. (Kurtan village.jpg) Armenia Tree Project staff organized a training and
tree planting with the kindergarten class at Kurtan village

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KAREL DE GUCHT: I’M NOT A PESSIMIST, BUT NOT AN EXCESSIVE OPTIMIST, EITHER

ArmRadio.am
23.05.2006 15:58

“I’m not a pessimist, but I’m not that optimistic about reaching mutual
concessions in the Karabakh issue in 2006,” declared Karel de Gucht,
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Belgium.

In his words, the OSCE takes every effort to have the parties come
to a common solution of the Karabakh issue. Sometimes the hope for
soon settlement reinforces, sometimes weakens.

“Everything depends on both Armenia and Azerbaijan, they should come
to an agreement themselves, the OSCE can only provide assistance,”
Karel de Gucht underlined.

He noted also that the resolution of the conflict is sometimes hindered
by side circumstances, which worsen the situation. One of these side
circumstances in the Karabakh issue is the closed Armenian-Turkish
border, which hinders the settlement of the issue. As for the prospects
of resolution, the OSCE Chairman advises to be optimistic in any case.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN: ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR IS SPREAD IN ARMENIA

Yerevan, May 22. ArmInfo. An atmosphere of fear is spread in Armenia,
the Armenian parliament speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan told today in
the Parliament, having declared about his resignation.

According to Baghdasaryan, much have been done for the past
three years, however, a number of problems still remain unsolved,
particularly, a sad state of the border regions of the country and the
area of Spitak earthquake. He emphasized that disagreements with the
republic’s ruling coalition appeared a year ago. These disagreements
were aggravated more and more for a number of reasons.

Particularly, Baghdasaryan paid attention to the demographic crisis
in the country, which threatens the national security, to the problem
of corruption and other issues. The speaker sees the Armenia’s future
in the European Union and not in the Russia-Byelorussia Union. At
the same time, he is a follower of active relations development with
Russia. He promised to call, during the further work, concrete names
and facts concerning the available problems.

As for the decision about the party’s withdrawal from the coalition,
A. Baghdasaryan reminded that 21 attempts were made to discredit the
“Orinats Yerkir” party’s name for the past three years. As a result,
the party itself decided to leave the coalition. As for the RA
President Robert Kocharyan and the Defense Minister Serzh Sarkissyan,
the party was always respectful to them as to political figures,
speaker said.

To be noted, based upon the Law about the RA Parliament Regulations,
the Parliament Chairman has to confirm his resignation during the
nearest five days. On the basis of the existing legislation clauses,
the duties of the Armenian Parliament speaker will be fulfilled by
the RA Parliament Vice Speaker Tigran Torossyan.

ROBERT SIMMONS HIGHLY ESTIMATES PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF NATO-ARMENIA IPAP

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 22 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Robert Simmons,
Special Representative of NATO Secretary General on South Caucasian
Issues, paid a visit to Armenia on May 22. The same day he was
received by Arman Kirakosian, Deputy RA Foreign Minister. Summing
up the working meeting of NATO representatives and members of the
Interdepartmental Commission on the Armenian Individual Partnership
Actions Plan (IPAP) held on May 18-19, the Special Representative of
NATO Secretary General highly estimated the process of implementation
of NATO-Armenia IPAP mentioning that in a short period Armenia has
passed a considerable way in the issue of carrying out the IPAP program
provisions. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press
and Information Department, Arman Kirakosian said that cooperation
with NATO and participation in IPAP and Partnership for Peace is
one of the important components of the Armenian security system. In
this respect he attached importance to extension of the political
dialogue with NATO and to implementation of the respective reforms in
the country’s defence sphere, including working out the conception
of the national security. The sides also attached importance to
notification of wide circles of the society about NATO’s goals and
policy, in particular, about Armenia-NATO cooperation. RA Deputy
Foreign Minister in general outline presented the last developments
in the direction of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
the current state of Armenia-Turkey relations. After the meeting with
Arman Kirakosian Robert Simmons took part in the regular sitting of
the Interdepartmental Commission created by the order of RA Prime
Minister for the purpose of implementation of IPAP. Simmons briefly
presented the commission members the preliminary results of the IPAP
implementation intermediate estimation visit.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS HELD IN 5 SYUNIK VILLAGES

Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006

KAPAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Elections of village head and councillors
were held on May 21 in 5 village communities of Syunik region
electoral district N 38. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
from district electoral commission N 38, Albert Beglarian, member
of the Republican Party of Armenia, was elected head of the village
community of Vardanidzor, RPA member Varuzhan Tumanian in Aldara,
non-partisan Sasun Zakarian in Lehvaz, non-partisan Mkrtich Mkrtchian
in Nyuvadi. Zhora Khachatrian, one of the candidates of head the
community of Yegheg, received 33 votes and the next one, Valery
Mayilian, 32 votes. The empowered person of the latter has submitted
an application-complaint to the district electoral commission.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGRICULTURE SUPPORT FUND ELECTED PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Srbuhi Vanian

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
23 May 2006

Recently the NKR Fund for Rural Areas and Agriculture Support was
established. The NKR government set up this fund to enable the
involvement of research and strategic programs in agriculture. One
of the functions of the fund is to hold seminars and conferences, as
well as support poor families in rural areas. The fund is a non-profit
organization, but under its bylaws it can run business to direct the
profit to the implementation of goals, set down in the bylaws. On May
19 the first meeting of the board of trustees of the fund was held to
elect president of the board and director. The board has 11 members,
7 showed up at the meeting. The NKR minister of agriculture said
the board of trustees includes representatives of the parliament,
the government, companies, running businesses in various branches of
agriculture. The board of trustees elected Minister of Agriculture
V. Baghdassarian president of the board, T. Gabrielian was appointed
director. The president of the board of trustees proposed to include
a point in the bylaws of the fund to enable it to hold auctions. On
the request of the members of the board, the minister of agriculture
presented the programme of agricultural machinery pool implemented
in Martakert by Armenia Fund and the programmes of the Association
of Proprietors.

The minister mentioned that the programme is complicated and large
in scope, for they deal with over 6000 proprietors, each with their
interests and opinions. V. Baghdasaryan thinks it is equally important
to control the process, therefore a managing council was set up,
including 4 members from the NKR government and Armenia Fund.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A 70-MINUTE FILM ABOUT “TURKISH GENOCIDE” DISSEMINATED IN RUSSIA
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
23/05/2006

Turkey keeps on distorting facts as it fights international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

Another manifestation of this policy came into sight in Russia where,
by the way, the Genocide is recognized by the State Duma. But that was
no obstacle for Komersant-Dengi journal to insert a 70-minute film on
the “Turkish genocide committed by the Armenians” in its recent issue.

Speaking to daily Azg, Ara Abrahamian, chairman of the Armenians of
Russia, labeled the film “absurd” that does not deserve to be commented
on but added that they wait for explanation from the Russian magazine.

Mr. Abrahamian said that there is no man by the name of the ad owner
as the publishing house gave it. He said that the Union works with
the Armenian Embassy in Moscow to find who is behind the ad.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress