Author: Emil Lazarian

SERGE SARGSIAN MET CSTO ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL
Pan Armenian News
06.05.2005 03:22
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday Secretary of the Security Council
under the RA President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian met with
Assistant to Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization Valery Semerikov, RA Defense Minister’s Press Secretary,
Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian informed. During the meting the parties
exchanged opinions on the process of preparation for the sitting
of the CSTO Defense Ministers and the sitting of the Secretaries of
Security Councils.

When hairy can be scary
By Stella Aslibekian, Health Columnist
Stanford Daily
May 5 2005
The issue of body hair had never concerned me much until one memorable
Saturday morning at the Fitness First gym in downtown Washington,
D.C. Feeling a little under the weather after a night’s very happy hour
at my summer job, I attempted to make up for my unhealthy behavior
with a sacrifice to the exercise gods. As I lethargically pushed the
pedals of the elliptical trainer, I looked around the room, trying
to figure out if the other gym visitors were guilty masochists like
me or healthy people committed to regular exercise.
It was then that I caught a glimpse of possibly one of the hairiest
creatures in the metropolitan D.C. area. This guy was engulfed in
thick reddish bristle from the neck down — it was everywhere but
his head. All of his body hair was glistening with sweat, which
didn’t drip down to the floor as the laws of gravity suggest, but
accumulated in each of the curls on his chest and back. It was a sight
to remember. As much as I tried to remain calm and nonjudgmental, my
hung-over self could not take much more. For the rest of my workout,
I deliberately stared in the other direction, wondering how much the
prissy hair salon in Dupont would charge to wax a beast like that.
Mind you, I am usually a lot more tolerant of body hair for several
reasons: first, I happen to be of Armenian descent, which means that
most of the people in my family are very hairy and some even have
unibrows; second, I have lived in Europe, which is notorious for
people sporting body hair au naturel; and third, I consider myself
a liberal, feminist, even pseudo-hippie human being who appreciates
human bodies the way they are. That guy in the gym, however, made me
seriously reconsider my stances on this issue.
Even Hollywood, the land of Brazilian waxes and unattainably artificial
beauty, cannot seem to come to a conclusion on body hair. A couple of
years ago, Julia Roberts exposed her fully grown armpit hair in front
of the camera during the Notting Hill premiere, provoking a lot of
discussion among fashionistas and feminists alike. Was it a political
statement or was Julia just too lazy to call an esthetician? Or was
it perhaps a requirement for her role in a new movie? Or was she
starting a new fashion trend?
To the disappointment of the body hair activists, Julia Roberts’
choice turned out to be not much of a statement but rather a matter
of personal preference, her movie characters remained feminine (and
presumably waxed), and the trend has failed to captivate Tinseltown
and the rest of the country. Women and metrosexual men everywhere
continue to endure the pain of waxing, while most guys (including my
friend at Fitness First) don’t stress about their body hair at all.
And both camps seem to be perfectly content.
Getting rid of body hair could be a costly enterprise — most waxing
salons in the Palo Alto area charge no less than $50 for a leg wax
and $75 for (ouch!) a Brazilian bikini wax. The procedure has to be
repeated approximately every month, so you do the math. To a large
extent, cost is the reason why most people I know at Stanford prefer
the old-fashioned shaving method, which requires more maintenance work,
but is much cheaper than the salon treatments.
The bottom line is that the “to wax or not to wax” decision
should remain a matter of personal preference for men, women or
Hollywood celebrities. Just, you know, use deodorant and keep things
aesthetically pleasing — especially if you like working out on
Saturday mornings.
@@line:Stella Aslibekian is a junior majoring in Human Biology.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 5 2005
Schroeder: On the open seas and in parliaments your luck lies with
Allah
Ahmet KULAHCI – Ugur ERGAN- Hasan TUFEKCİ/ANKARA:
>>From Turkey’s possible EU membership to the Armenian accusations of
genocide, the leaders of Turkey and Germany put everything on the
table during the visit of the Germany premier to Turkey. German Prime
Minister Gerhard Schroeder comforted Ankara with his words about the
upcoming referendum on the European Constitution in France, which
could affect Turkey’s shot at EU membership.
Yesterday, after the delegations of the two countries met together,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and PM Schroeder held a
joint press conference. A quick overview of some of Schroeder’s views
on a host of different subject at the press conference follows:
It’s the EU’s turn
“Turkey must first sign the protocol which takes the Greek side of
Cyprus into account. The EU must support the planned October 3 start
to discussions….changes in the Turkish Constitution are important.
But the implementation of these changes is even more important. Of
course everything cannot happen in one day.”
A long process
“Despite all the difficulties, Turkey must not detour from the series
of reforms on the way to the EU….Solving the Cyprus issue is the
shared goal of the EU…Aid to Turkish Cypriots from the EU must not
be blocked. There must be serious effort to lift blockades from this
aid getting through.”
Open the borders
“I support PM Erdogan’s suggestion of a joint-commission with
Armenia….The attitude of both these countries is important….The
border between Armenia and Turkey must be opened.”
Armenian protests
Regarding the introduction of bills in European parliaments calling
for the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, PM Schroeder
had a word of advice for PM Erdogan: “There is a saying we have in
German: ‘On the open seas and in parliaments, your luck lies with
Allah.'”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JUSTICE MINISTER CICEK CRITICIZES SWITZERLAND
Turkish Press
May 5 2005
Press Scan
TURKIYE
TURKIYE- Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said “law cannot be built on
lies” criticizing Switzerland that started an investigation against
President of Turkish Historical Society Halacoglu for his words
disproving Armenian allegations of genocide.
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:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS OPPOSITION TO THE CURRENT ELECTORAL LAW
His Holiness Aram I had a telephone conversation with the president
of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency General Emile Lahoud,
and expressed his opposition to the parliamentary electoral law that
was adopted in 2000.
His Holiness stated that the most basic principles of a democracy
are the participation of people in elections and their right to
elect their representatives. He stressed that these principles are
especially important in countries that are based on a confessional
system. President Lahoud shared the Aram I’s concerns and informed
the Catholicos that he has already sent a letter to the parliament
concerning this matter.
His Holiness had met with the American Ambassador to Lebanon a few
days ago and had widely discussed the issue with him.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and the 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Belgian envoy urges Armenia to improve ties with neighbours
Arminfo
4 May 05
Yerevan, 4 May: The speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur
Bagdasaryan, today met the special envoy of the Belgian Foreign
Ministry and the permanent representative of Belgium in the OSCE,
Bertrand de Crombrugghe. The meeting was also attended by the head
of the OSCE mission in Yerevan, Vladimir Pryakhin.
The Armenian speaker informed the visitor of the reforms carried out in
the republic and pointed to the role of the OSCE. He also noted that
Armenia is fulfilling its commitments in line with the established
schedule: constitutional reforms are already being discussed in the
parliament and overall accord has been reached with regard to the
Electoral Code.
The sides said that the implementation of the adopted laws was
important to the further democratization of Armenia.
With regard to regional issues, the sides noted the importance of
Armenia’s participation in economic programmes and the establishment
of normal relations with its neighbours.
[Passage omitted: unclear sentence]
Bertrand de Crombrugghe, on behalf of Belgium, a country which will
take over the presidency in the OSCE in 2006, expressed his readiness
to help implement these programmes. He said it was his first visit
to Armenia and added that he had been provided with good conditions
to familiarize himself with the political and economic life of the
country and its development prospects.
[Passage omitted: De Crombrugghe also held meetings with
representatives of parliamentary groups and factions]

FISH RESERVES IN LAKE SEVAN SHORTENED 10 TIMES WITHIN 10 YEARS
YEREVAN, MAY 4. ARMINFO. Scientists plan to start in June 2005
large-scale investigations to evaluate reserves of fish in Lake Sevan.
Deputy director of hydroecology and ichthyology Institute of
Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences Boris Gabrielyan informed
ARMINFO that “Gydrologist” scientific-research vessel equipped with
proper instruments will be used during investigations.
According to scientists’ investigations results, tendency of fall
in number of food fish is observed in Lake Sevan within the last
10 years. Thus, if in 1990’s fish resources totaled 22.000 tons, in
2004 they totaled about 2.000 tons. In Gabrielyan’s words, results
of last investigations prove that there are almost no sexually mature
fish there.
To remind, on recommendation of ichthyologists, a 6-month ban on food
fishing in Lake Sevan is imposed this year for the first time.

German chancellor, Turkish PM discuss relations, EU membership
By Valery Litvinenko
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 4, 2005 Wednesday 3:05 PM Eastern Time
ANKARA, May 4 — Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder have discussed bilateral, political,
economic and cultural relations and the outlook for Turkey’s admission
to the European Union.
Schroeder arrived in the Turkish capital on a two-day working visit
on Tuesday.
The HaberTurk television channel has said Erdogan and Schroeder also
raised the problem of Cyprus and the theme of genocide of Armenians
in the Ottoman Empire. Schroeder supported Turkey’s position on the
issue of settlement in Cyprus and promised that Germany would back
any steps by Ankara aimed at improving relations with Armenia.
The German chancellor spoke highly of Ankara’s efforts geared to
securing its admission in the E.U. He said Turkey had complied with
all of its commitments to the European Union.
Later in the day Schroeder will be received by Turkish President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The schedule of the German chancellor’s visit
also includes participation in the Turkish-German business forum in
Istanbul and a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, of Constantinople.

VARDAN OSKANYAN GAVE THE FLAG OF THE REPUBLIC TO THE MOUNTAINEERS
A1plus
| 18:02:30 | 04-05-2005 | Social |
Today Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received the group of Armenian
mountaineers who are going to climb up the Elbrus. Wishing them success
Vardan Oskanyan gave them the Flag of the Republic of Armenia to put
on top of the mountain.
Head of the expedition group Hayk Tonoyan represented the program,
the state of the mountain climbing sport in Armenia and told about
the previous expeditions. The other members of the group are Tigran
Nersisyants and Lev Sarkisov.
They are part of the international expedition group of 500 people
representing about 20 countries which is going to climb Elbrus on
May 9. Let us remind you that Elbrus stands 5621 meters high. The
expedition is devoted to the victory in the second World War and the
60th anniversary of the formation of UN.
The Armenian mountaineers have already climbed the tops of the
mountain-chains Pamir, Tyan-Shan and Alaska twice. Tonoyan himself
has climbed up Ararat twice – in 1991 and in 2001.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE DISCUSSION OF KARABAKH ISSUE IN PACE
Pan Armenian News
04.05.2005 06:46
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During today’s meeting with Permanent Representative
of Belgium to the OSCE Bertran de CrumbruggeArmenian parliamentarians
said they are concerned over the possible discussion of the Nagorno
Karabakh problem by the international structures, particularly by
PACE, RA NA press service reported. The Armenian deputies gave a high
estimate to the role of OSCE in the establishment of stability and
security in the region and reiterated that despite some discrepancies
available on various issues all the political forces in Armenia
are deeply convinced that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be
settled via peaceful negotiations. The parties also pointed out to the
necessity of discussing the Karabakh problem within the OSCE frames.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress