Author: Emil Lazarian

MOSNEWS, Russia
May 30 2006
Young Armenian’s Killing Near Moscow May Be Race-Related
MosNews
Prosecutors have opened a hate crime investigation into the fatal
stabbing of an Armenian teenager at a Moscow suburban train station,
a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said Tuesday. Artur
Sardaryan, 19, was killed on Thursday in the latest in a string of
racially-motivated attacks in Moscow and throughout Russia, The
Associated Press reports.
Three young men approached Sardaryan as he was sitting on a commuter
train around 11:30 p.m. and stabbed him for no apparent reason. He
died later on the way to a hospital, Yelena Rossokhina, a spokeswoman
for Moscow regional prosecutors, told journalists.
Lawyer Simon Tsaturyan said that witnesses reported the youths
yelling `Glory to Russia!’ and `Long Live Russia!’, Ekho Moskvy radio
said.
Russia in recent years has seen an increase in racially-motivated
attacks on foreigners and migrants from the poorer Caucasus region
and Central Asia. Last month, a skinhead fatally stabbed an Armenian
student on a central Moscow subway platform.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
JH. TUYMEBAEV: ‘AZERBAIJAN IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR KAZAKHSTAN’
[May 30, 2006, 16:02:42]
`The Azeri-Kazakh interstate relations are high level: Azerbaijan is
of great importance for Kazakhstan’, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to
Russia Jhanseid Tuymebaev told AzerTAc correspondent.
Dealing with joining of Kazakhstan the transportation of oil through
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the diplomat said Kazakhstan is going
to take part in transportation of energy resources via this pipeline,
and currently the question is in the process of elaboration.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia also stated that Kazakhstan is for
closer cooperation with Azerbaijan in numerous fields, including in
raising commodity turnover between two countries.
Responding to the question whether Kazakhstan will as CIS chairman
for current year lift the issue of settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the diplomat said
that in the frame of heads of the Commonwealth, are discussed complex
of questions of multilateral cooperation among the countries.
`Kazakhstan is for peaceful settlement of all the problems in the
post-soviet space’, the Ambassador noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Outlook , India
May 30 2006
Indian eves beaten by Armenia in Chess Olympiad
FROM OUR CHESS CORRESPONDENT TURIN, MAY 30 (PTI)
Indian mainstay Koneru Humpy had a rare off day as India suffered
defeat for the second successive day, going down 1-2 against Armenia
in the Women’s Chess Olympiad here.
Humpy fumbled against Lilit Mkrtchian to encounter her first defeat
in the event and Woman Grandmaster D Harika also had a similar fate
in store. The saving grace was National Women champion and WGM Swati
Ghate who won an engrossing battle to thwart a whitewash.
Russian eves could manage only a draw with the United States, thus
giving a ray of hope to Ukraine who narrowed the lead once again to
just half a point after a 2-1 victory over Hungary.
As things stand, Russia on 19 points is followed by Ukraine on 18.5
while USA and China are a distant third with 17 points apiece.
After today’s debacle, the Indian team is struggling on 14.5 points
and share 18th spot with just five rounds to come.
In the next round, India is slated to meet Kazakhstan.
The Russian team rested its top player Alexandra Kosteniuk and in her
absence Tatiana Kosintseva took board one to beat Anna Zatonskih.
However, on the second board Russian aspirations suffered a setback
as Nadezhda Kosuintseva lost to Iruna Krush and a draw on the third
board between Ekaterina Kovalevskaya and Rasudan Goletiani led to the
sharing of honours.
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
30-05-2006
Minister Oskanian Meets with Leadership of
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had a long-standing cooperative
relationship with the Tufts University Fletcher School, in Massachusetts. On
May 29, Fletcher Dean Stephen Bosworth visited the Ministry, accompanied by
Professor Alan Henrikson, and businessman-philanthropist Aso Tavitian who
has sponsored various educational programs associated with Fletcher.
During the meeting, the guests spoke with satisfaction about the cooperation
established years ago between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. They also
discussed future programs.
The Minister noted that more than 60 diplomats and civil servants have been
trained at Fletcher, and said this is invaluable for building capacity
within the government.
Following the meeting, Dean Bosworth and Professor Henrikson addressed
Ministry staff in the MFA Tavitian Library. Professor Joyce Barsam, a member
of the Tufts Board of Trustees and a member of the Tavitian Foundation,
accompanied the guests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenians get together to celebrate independence
Thousands gather to mark declaration of independence from Ottoman Turkey and
Russia.
By Fred Ortega
(Published in Glendale Press: May 28, 2006)
LOS ANGELES — In a sign of their growing political clout, thousands of
Armenians and Armenian Americans were joined Sunday by Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa for a street fair to celebrate Armenia’s first
independence day on May 28, 1918.
The fair, held in the Little Armenia section of Hollywood along Hollywood
Boulevard between Vermont and Alexandria avenues, featured 45 vendor booths
selling everything from shish kebabs and Armenian bread, or lavash, to
Armenian arts and crafts and portraits featuring traditional Armenian
costumes.
More than 5,000 turned out for the event, put on by the Armenian Youth
Federation. It was the first time the event was held in Little Armenia, said
Bo Patatian, media liaison for the Armenian Youth Federation.
“We wanted to have it in a central place, and since 65% of the residents in
this area are Armenian, there is no better place for this event to fit in,”
Patatian said, adding that previous Armenian Independence Day festivals have
been held at Glendale High School and in Pasadena.
Armenians are blessed with two independence days, Patatian said. The first,
in 1918, marks the date on which the Armenian National Council declared the
country’s independence from Ottoman Turkey and the old Russian Empire. That
first Armenian republic, however, was short-lived; in 1920, the country was
absorbed into the former Soviet Union.
“The real independence day is Sept. 21, 1991,” Patatian said, referring to
when the modern Armenian state was born after the collapse of the Soviet
Union. “But this first date still has a very important emotional connection
to our people.”
Among those celebrating independence day in Little Armenia Sunday was
Glendale Unified School District Board member Greg Krikorian.
“This is the day on which Armenians first claimed independence, after
surviving the genocide and stopping the Turkish armies,” said Krikorian, who
was also joined at the fair by Burbank Unified School District Board member
and 43rd Assembly District candidate Paul Krekorian. “Being here today with
so many different families, friends and neighbors is an emotionally moving
time, a time to be thankful for what we have here in this country, to be
thankful for our families, a chance to get together and enjoy life.”
Villaraigosa arrived at the event and was almost immediately mobbed by
families who handed him their babies and shook his hand vigorously as
Armenian love song crooner Paul Baghdadlian wailed in the background and
dozens of people performed an impromptu, traditional Armenian dance on the
stage.
“This is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate not just the
independence, but the fact that Armenians play such an important role here
in Los Angeles, being part of the largest Armenian population outside of
Armenia,” said Villaraigosa, whose city officially declared the Hollywood
neighborhood Little Armenia in 2000. “We appreciate all the contributions
they have made and continue to make to our city.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am
03:02 28/05/06

OPERA HOUSE IN THE SHADOW OF NORTHERN AVENUE
One of the first government decisions on Northern Avenue said that the
buildings must not be higher that the Opera House. However, two newly
opened buildings of the Northern Avenue are higher than the Opera
building. What changed during that time? `The architecture and city
building have creative elements and, naturally, some things changed in
the initial design,’ Samvel Danielyan, Yerevan Chief Architect
says. In his words, the authors’ group established in 2001 has come to
this conclusion.
450-meter long avenue will be only for passers-by and they can enjoy
the pleasant energy coming from the colorful buildings, former
architect Narek Sargsyan said. Today, instead of that energy, the sun
radiates in the glasses of the windows.
The underground part of the front section of the Northern Avenue may
host up to 1000 cars. S. Danielyan assured that there will be no shops
in the part assigned for car park./Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian general to attend Baku meeting of CIS defence council – agency
Arminfo
29 May 06
Yerevan, 29 May: Maj-Gen Aleksey Antonyan, representative of the
Armenian armed forces in the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States]
and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, will represent
Armenia at a meeting of the Council of Defence Ministers of the CIS
countries in Baku, the press secretary of the Armenian Defence
Ministry, Col Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, has told Arminfo.
The meeting will take place on 31 May. As was reported earlier,
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan will not take part in the
meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 29 2006
Caspian Oil Reaches Turkey’s Mediterranean Port Ceyhan Print
Monday , 29 May 2006
* The Azerbaijani oil has reached Turkey’s Mediterranean port Ceyhan
at 21:10 last night (Sunday).
BAKU – The Project of the Century Baku-Thbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Oil
Pipeline experienced a pinnacle moment yesterday, on Saturday.
Oil that was pumped from the Baku end of the pipeline, the
construction of which began 6 years ago, on May 10 reached Ceyhan
yesterday evening after a journey of 1,770 kms.
The first oil was stored in special tanks and the oil will be
transported by “The British Hawtharne” tanker.
The Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan Pipeline is 1768 km, its 1076 km part is in
Turkey.
The first drops of oil were expected to be loaded from Haydar Aliyev
Sea Terminal onto a ship named, `The British Hawtharne’ on May 28;
however, officials from the BTC said they may wait a couple of days
for better loading conditions.
An official ceremony to celebrate the first drop of oil reaching
Ceyhan from Baku will be held on July 13.
Presidents and prime ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and
related ministers and representatives from 16 countries will
participate in the ceremony.
The BTC pipeline is expected to make a major contribution to the
development of world energy supply with its annual 50 million ton
capacity.
Thanks to this project, which was created with a sustainable
environmental and economic system, Turkey is expected to earn about
$300 million annually.
Around 15,000 people were employed during the construction of the
pipeline which cost $3 billion.
The project constituted an important leg of the East-West energy
corridor, gaining Turkey greater geopolitical importance thanks to
the BTC pipeline.
Ceyhan will be an important international oil market and the
reduction of oil tanker traffic on the Bosphorous will contribute to
greater security for Istanbul.
High-Quality Crude
The crude flows 1,768km from the Caspian Sea direct to the
Mediterranean for the first time, bypassing Russian pipelines and
Turkish straits.
About 300,000 barrels a day will be pumped from the pipeline this
year – set to rise to a million barrels daily.
The pipe begins near Baku in Azerbaijan and passes through Georgia.
Previously states in the region sent almost all of their oil via
Russian pipelines.
The Caspian area produces high-quality light crude but has suffered
because of difficulty getting the oil to consumers in Europe, the US,
China and Japan.
Turkey Benefits $300 Million Annually
In addition to opening up an alternative supply to the West, it will
provide Turkey with $300 million in revenue annually. The Turkish leg
of the BTC cost $1.4 billion, while the total cost exceeded $3
billion.
Georgia Will Also Benefits
Geogia has also welcomed the development. The BTC will not only
contribute to the Geogian economy, it also support Geogia’s
independence against the Russian and Armenian threats.
The fiercely pro-Washington government of Georgia’s president,
Mikhail Saakashvili, welcomed the BTC with open arms, saying transit
payments would help to kick-start the economy of the faltering
ex-Soviet state.
Security Alert
British The Guardian yesterday reported that the security men are on
alert before the historical day. According to the paper, a possible
terrorist attack is the greatest threat the pipeline faces. The
Kurdish terrorist organisation PKK and the separatist groups in
Georgia are considered the biggest threats against the project.
Russia and Armenia were also not happy with the project. Turkish
experts warn about the Armenian terrorism.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STARTING FROM SEPTEMBER CNN TO AIR COMMERCIALS ADVERTIZING ARMENIA AS
COUNTRY OF TOURISM

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting September 2006, CNN will
advertize Armenia as a country of tourism. RA Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Ara Petrosian stated this on May 25. In his
words, the Armenian TV companies “Armenia” anf “H2” were announced the
winners of the competitions for making 30- and 60-second
commercials. An agreement was reached with the CNN management that
these commercials will be aired 7 times a week.
According to A. Petrosian, a minute of a commercial airing by CNN
costs 800-1,000 USD. In his opinion, it is profitable for Armenia to
pay such a price, since 70% of the countries watch CNN programs. The
deputy minister reminded that each tourist spending 4-5 days in
Armenia Armenai spends on average the same amount as a minute of the
airing of a commercial by CNN costs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HRAYR KARAPETIAN: IRRESPECTIVE OF RE-ARRANGEMENTS, 66 VOTES NECESSARY
FOR MOST IMPORTANT VOTIONS TO BE AT PARLIAMENT

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The United Labour Party’s (ULP)
involvement in the staff of the parliamentary majority is more a
political issue than one of clear mechanical counting of votes. Hrayr
Karapetian, the “ARF” faction’s newly elected head stated about it at
the May 26 parliamentary breifing. Responding the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question, Karapetian assured that formation of a new
majority at the Parliament does not oppose results of parliamentary
elections as a result of what the coalition was created. According to
him, the issue is not the mandates the ULP has, but joining the
principles stated by the memorandum signed by the parliamentary
political majority. “I’m sure that those 66 votes that are necessary
for the votion, will be at the Parliament,” the “ARF” faction head
stated. According to him, the world experience shows that the role of
the once smallest in number faction of the Parliament was decisive in
the issue of the Prime Minister’s election and the Government’s
formation. Hrayr Karapetian mentioned that one must not understand his
word in the way that the ULP may have a decisive role at the
Parliament of Armenia tomorrow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress