Author: Hakobian Adrine

EU, GEORGIA TO SIGN ENP ACTION PLAN IN A ‘COUPLE OF MONTHS’

Civil Georgia, Georgia
June 15 2006

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told
RFE/RL on June 14 that the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plans
with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed "in a couple of
months’ time."

He said only minor issues remain to be negotiated with Georgia,
but he added that talks with Azerbaijan are more difficult, as
differences persist between the EU and Azerbaijan on how to address
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

"But the slowing [down] of one will not affect [the negotiation
process with] others," Semneby added.

OSKANYAN: COMPREHENSIVE AND ACTIVE DIALOGUE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ARMENIA, SWITZERLAND

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 13 2006

YEREVAN, June 13. /ARKA/. Comprehensive and active dialogue is
established between Armenia and Switzerland, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan said as met with his Swiss counterpart Micheline
Calmy-Rey on Monday in Yerevan.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press service reports that Oskanyan finds it
important to make economic and cultural ties between the two countries
closer and expressed hope that Armenian businessmen participation in
Swiss Invest Forum in Zurich will produce significant effect.

Oskanyan expressed appreciation of Switzerland’s contribution to
reformation process in Armenia. As an example of this contribution, the
minister singled out the involvement of Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation in the program focused on developing Armenian resort
of Tsakhkadzor.

He also expressed hope that Swiss side will display its interest in
Armenian rural areas development.

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey arrived in Yerevan on
Sunday for a three-day visit.

She is set to meet Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Prime
Minister Andaranik Margaryan as well as to tour Mission Armenia
organization and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Office
in Yerevan and to visit Armenian Genocide Memorial to pay floral
tribute to those killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915.

THE MEETING OF THE HEADS OF THE CENTRAL STAFF OF AZERBAIJAN AND LITHUANIA TOOK PLACE
Translated by Anastasia Zanina

Source: Information agency "Turan" (Baku), 9 June, 2006
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 14 2006

The questions of the development of military cooperation were discussed
today during the meeting in Baku between Head of the Central Staff
of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, Second in Command of the Minister
of Defense Nadzhmeddin Sadugov and Head of the Central Staff of the
Armed Forces of Lithuania Vitalius Vaiksnoras. As was reported in
the press-service of the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, during
the meeting the questions of integration into the European security
structures, the participation in the international peace-management
operations. Besides, there was an exchange of opinions concerning
the military-political situation in the Caucasian and Baltic regions,
including the questions of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and some
other questions, which arouse mutual interest.

INTEGRITY AND DETERMINATION – ALL ABOUT THE NATION
By Raffi K. Hovannisian

The Moscow Times, Russia
June 14 2006

With the purpose of keeping people informed, newspapers can and should
publish, side by side or in sequence, comment pieces offering points
and counterpoints concerning conflict situations that affect peace
and security.

At some juncture, however, partisan polemics must give way to the
consideration of hard facts in order to resolve contemporary divides
inherited from the ebb and flow of history. The truth is often harsh
and can cause pain to both the messenger and recipient.

None of us — Armenians, Azeris, Turks — can boast a spotless register
of state-building, mutual respect for human rights, or even regard
for the liberty and dignity of our own citizens. We must do better
in having our deeds match our words both individually and in concert.

With regard to Nagorno-Karabakh, understanding the following points
is vital:

~U In no way discounting Azeri cultural affinities, Nagorno-Karabakh
has been historically and will be in modern times part of the Armenian
patrimony. Its forcible inclusion by Stalin in Soviet Azerbaijan had,
and continues to have, no juridical basis under international law. For
those who might argue that it does, then so should Nagorno-Karabakh’s
response to the aggression by Azeri forces, in the form of its 1991
referendum on independence from Soviet Azerbaijan. The referendum was
held not only according to universal principles of self-determination
and other standards of international practice, but also pursuant to
the Soviet Constitution and relevant law on secession.

The question at issue is not the indisputable right of today’s
Azerbaijan to its territorial integrity, but specifically the lawful
frontiers of that integrity. Nagorno-Karabakh’s legitimate quest for
decolonization and for sovereign control of its own identity, security
and destiny is anchored both in fact and in law. Whether acknowledged
or not, it is a precedent established in East Timor, Montenegro and
other places yet to come and requires no further foundation.

~U The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s 1992
mediation mandate and the tripartite 1994 ceasefire bear witness,
no matter how or how many times you slice it, to the fact that there
can be no enduring settlement to the conflict without the full-fledged
participation of the republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. That is the bottom
line. For its own reasons, the Azerbaijani government in Baku can
whip up militant xenophobia, raze the medieval Armenian cemetery at
Julfa to the ground and then try with a straight face to deny it. But
if it ever means to negotiate, it has to talk to the Nagorno-Karabakh
capital of Stepanakert just as much as the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

~U No comprehensive solution on Nagorno-Karabakh will ever be
achieved without a synchronized normalization of the Turkish-Armenian
relationship based on an honest and brave assessment of history and its
contemporary consequences. We cannot build a peaceful and prosperous
region, where all political actors are on the same page with regard
to security and cooperation, by seeking an escape hatch from the
record of genocide and its derivative legacy, however sensitive or
inconvenient dealing with this history may be. We’re all grown men
and women. It’s time to face the music.

~U Finally, we will be unable to forge a meaningful reconciliation —
one that touches the lives of all of the region’s nations and people —
without the victory of democracy and rule of law in every jurisdiction,
whether considered separately or taken together. There can be no
peace, security, realization of national interests or international
partnership where tyranny triumphs over liberty and where semi-feudal,
post-Soviet verticals of power prejudice the future of forward-looking
generations in Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, Turkey, and
the world beyond.

The promise of freedom, justice and equity belongs to all of us,
but the long road to its fulfillment must start at home.

Raffi K. Hovannisian is the former foreign minister of Armenia and
director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies.

NAME OF NEW U.S. CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MG TO BE KNOWN IN 2-3 WEEKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.06.2006 15:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Steven Mann will proceed with the activities of the
Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, PR-officer of the U.S. embassy in Azerbaijan Jonathan
Henick stated. According to him, Steven Mann will be appointed to a
new post within two or three weeks and only then leave the post of
the OSCE MG Co-chair. The name of the new U.S. Co-Chair of OSCE MG
will be announced by that time, reported APA news agency. To note,
Steven Mann will assume the post of Assistant to Undersecretary of
State for South and Middle Asia.

MINISTER’S RELATIVE TO GO TO 12-YEAR SCHOOL

Panorama.am
15:41 13/06/06

The minister of education and science Levon Lazarian said today
that the educational system should become student-centered instead
of teacher-centered. The minister said we are losing our position
in the world in science and comprehensive changes should be made to
resist “downfall”. He said the problems are more management related
rather than financial. The minister is concerned with education more
at the moment, particularly with 12-year school system which launches
this year. “I have the impression that we have taken the same 10 year
program and made it 12 years,” also saying the junior and mid schools
are clear but there is no concept for high schools yet. By the start
of educational year everything will be ready, including textbooks,
the minister said. According to him, some parents have taken their
children to schools last year because they do not trust the new
system. He also said that 12-year school system is not bad and his
cousin will go to school this year, too.

NUMBER OF TOURISTS TO ARMENIA GROWS BY 15.3%, THOSE FROM ARMENIA BY 13.5% IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2006

Noyan Tapan
Jun 12 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2006, 46,023
tourists visited Armenia against 39,907 in the same period of last
year. According to the RA National Statistical Service, during the
indicated period, 42,675 people left Armenia to travel abroad, which
is by 13.5% more than in January-March 2005.

The number of those who left Armenia through tourist organizations in
the period under review made 1,079 against 723 persons in the same
months of last year. According to information provided by hotels,
33% of tourists to Armenia in January-March 2006 were those from CIS
countries. During this period, 28 hotels received foreign tourists
against 32 hotels in the same period of last year. In the first
three months of this year, Armenian hotels and hotel facilities
accomodated 6,394 tourists compared with 7,157 in the same period of
last year. During the period under review, tourists from CIS countries
accounted for 33% of the total number of tourists who visited Armenia
and were registered in the country’s hotels and hotel facilities
against 41.5% in the first quarter of 2005. Their absolute number
declined by 29%, including a decline from 34% to 23.7% in the number
of tourists from Russia (a 37.7% decline in the absolute number),
while the number of tourists from Georgia grew from 5.8% to 6.4%
(a 1.2% decline in their absolute number). Tourists from EU countries
accounted for 27.4% of the total number of tourists to Armenia in
January-March 2006 (against 20.7% in the same months of last year),
while their absolute number grew by 18.4%. Out of 6,394 tourists who
were registered at Armenian hotels and hotel facilities in the first
quarter of this year, 36.3% or 2,321 ones visited Armenia on business
(compared with 3,180 tourists in the same period of last year),
22.1% or 1,414 – for pleasure, and the remaining number – for other
purposes. Out of 1,079 tourists who left Armenia for foreign countries
through tourists companies, 10.4% or 112 persons left on business
(116), 11.5% or 124 – for pleasure (196), and the remaining ones –
for other purposes.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 9 2006

Report may stir Azeri-Lebanese diplomatic row

Baku, June 8, AssA-Irada

A diplomatic row may arise between Azerbaijan and Lebanon after a
report was published on the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud’s website
saying the head of state has recently met with the foreign minister
of the self-proclaimed Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh Republic Georgi
Serasian.
Official Baku is now studying the evidence concerning the relations
between Lebanon and the separatist regime, the Foreign Ministry
spokesman Tahir Taghizada said.
`It is not ruled out that we will take decisive steps if the facts
are proven,’ he warned.*

NATIONAL KHURAL OF KALMIKIA STOPS POWERS OF SENATOR L. CHAKHMAKHCHYAN

Moscow, June 9. ArmInfo-RBC. The National Khural (Parliament) of
Kalmikia, recalled Senator Levon Chakhmakhchyan by majority of votes
(18 of 19), Kalmikia presidential press-service told RBC. National
Khural Chairman Alexander Dekolov set the issue for voting at the
request of Sergey Mironov, RF Council of Federation Speaker, on a
pre-schedule stoppage of Senator L. Chakhmakhchyan’s powers made on
June 3 2006. The Council of Federation will consider the pre- schedule
stoppage of the senator’s powers at the upcoming session on June 23
2006. L. Chakhmakhchyan headed the Party of Workers’
Self-Determination.

After the party’s self-dissolution in December 2005, L. Chakhmakhchyan
joined the Russian Life Party. He was expelled from the party on June
3 2006. To note, on June 2, L. Chakhmakhchyan was detained in the
course of a special operation of the Federal Security Service officers
for taking a bribe. The confiscated 300,000 dollars were marked with a
special substance, which allowed officers detaining the senator. The
special operation aimed to verify the information that officials take
bribes to remove facts from materials of the Clearing House of the
Russian Federation.

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

Press Release
June 8, 2006

Armenia Joins International Community in Commemorating United Nations World
Environment Day, with a Focus on Illegal Logging and Desertification

YEREVAN–The United Nations Development Programme and a wide range of
partners in Armenia jointly marked World Environment Day (WED) on June 5. A
number of environmental NGOs and individuals attended the WED celebrations,
where a new film on illegal logging titled `From Need to Greed’ was
premiered.

The documentary was funded by Armenia Tree Project (ATP), Armenian Forests
NGO, and the World Wildlife Fund Caucasus Office, and produced by Vem Media
Arts. Another event was hosted by American University of Armenia (AUA) later
that evening, where the film was followed by presentations from two leading
forestry experts in Armenia.

The WED theme for 2006 was Deserts and Desertification, and the slogan
`Don’t Desert Drylands’ emphasized the importance of protecting
drylands–arid and semi-arid regions that are home to more than two billion
of the world’s most vulnerable people. World Environment Day is one of the
principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of
the environment and enhances political attention and action.

During a conference at the UN with Simon Papyan, Deputy Minister of Nature
Protection, and Consuelo Vidal, UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Vidal provided
background on Armenia’s historical forest cover. `According to historical
data, forests covered 20 percent of Armenia at the turn of the 20th century,
but by the early 1990s this area was reduced to 11.2 percent and is now
below 10 percent,’ stated the UN official.

`We would like today to call upon the government, civil society, media
representatives, and general public to combine their efforts towards
preventing desertification. Applying sustainable agriculture practices,
measures to prevent landslides, forests’ rehabilitation, appropriate waste
disposal practices, and increasing awareness of threats posed by
desertification and its causes already would make a big difference,’ noted
Ms. Vidal.

Mr. Papyan outlined the efforts of the Ministry of Nature Protection in
beginning to address environmental problems including the adoption of a
draft law on Environmental Impact Assessments. He called for closer
collaboration between NGOs and the government in addressing environmental
issues. `We are capable of making brilliant decisions when we work
together,’ stated Mr. Papyan.

Karine Danielyan, head of the Association For Sustainable Human Development,
presented her observations regarding desertification and deforestation. `A
recent public opinion poll indicated that from a total of 500 people, none
found the condition of the environment in Yerevan to be `good’ or `normal,’
while 32.3 percent are convinced it is `extremely endangered,” said Ms.
Danielyan. `We are turning Yerevan to a desertified city with concrete and
stone constructions instead of greenery.’

Premiere of `From Need to Greed’ Documentary

The event continued with the screening of the new film `From Need to Greed,’
for the audience of nearly 100 people, which documents deforestation and
illegal logging in Armenia. Vache Kirakosyan, Director of Operations for
ATP, cited the need for broader public education on environmental issues as
the reason ATP joined with other NGOs to support the creation of this and 10
other films about Armenia’s environment.

`The situation is different than it was in the early 1990s with the energy
crisis,’ noted Armenian Forests NGO President Jeffrey Tufenkian in the film.
`There is still need-based cutting for people who can’t afford fuel other
than wood, but it has moved from need to greed. The greed of a few who are
taking truckloads of wood out of the forest and keeping local villagers from
entering the forest.’

AUA Environment Conservation and Research Center Screening

Another event correlated with WED was hosted by AUA later that evening. The
AUA Environment Conservation and Research Center (ECRC) organized the second
public preview of `From Need to Greed,’ hosted by ECRC head Dr. Renee
Richer. After the film, two leading forestry experts in Armenia discussed
their latest research.

Dr. Hovik Sayadyan, head of the Forestry Department of the Armenian
Agricultural Academy, presented his recently published research on `Forest
Policies, Management and Conservation in Soviet and Post-Soviet Armenia’ and
`Evolution of the Forest Cover in Armenia.’ The material shows how
dramatically the extent and condition of Armenia’s forest ecosystems have
decreased since independence in 1991. This decline is not only a consequence
of the recent history of the area, but also the result of improper forest
policies, management, and forest-use practices.

Armen Asryan from Agricultural Academy Forestry Department and ECRC then
presented his research study on `Mapping Armenian Deforestation,’ which uses
remote sensing technologies. The results of his research will be used to
assist public agencies, NGOs, and international organizations document the
problem and formulate appropriate policies and programs.

PHOTO CAPTION: (L to R) Karine Danielyan, head of the Association For
Sustainable Human Development, Consuelo Vidal, United Nations Resident
Coordinator, and Simon Papyan, Deputy Minister of Nature Protection, at the
program hosted by the UN in Armenia for World Environment Day