Author: Hambardsumian Paul

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FM GRUSHKO TOUCHES ON NK CONFLICT AT PACE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 29 2006
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, chair of the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers addressed the plenary meeting of the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today.
APA’s Europe bureau reports Mr.Grushko responded to the questions asked
by parliamentarians. Azerbaijani parliamentarians Aydin Mirzazadeh,
Rafael Huseynov and Ganira Pashayeva addressed him some questions
regarding the Nagorno Garabagh conflict. Mr.Grushko tried to make
common answers to the questions and said Russia’s presidency of the
Committee of Ministers will have a positive impact on the resolution
of the conflict.
“The OSCE Minsk Group remains as main mediator regarding this issue.
First of all, Azerbaijan and Armenia should come to an agreement on
resolution. The Minsk Group is making all efforts to promote to find
a suitable compromise. The parties could not agree on mainly two or
three principles in the negotiations. We welcome the regular meetings
of the heads of state for the resolution of the conflict. Despite
lack of improvement in the negotiations, it is good that none of the
parties step back from the peaceful settlement process,” the deputy
foreign minister said.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 29, 2006
___________________
SPREADING THE GOSPEL TO OUR YOUNG FAITHFUL
On June 21, 2006, Angela Costello, director of animation and creative
services for the Virginia-based Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), visited
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
She met with Elise Antreassian, coordinator of Christian education, to
discuss the recent gift by CBN of 800 Christian children’s videos to the
Diocese. The two also spoke about ways to coordinate and cooperate on
upcoming projects to spread Christ’s teachings to young children.
“We’re looking for new and innovative ways to reach children with the
Gospel,” Costello said, noting that CBN is looking to create programming for
iPods and cell phones. “Not just to present the Gospel, but we want to do
it in a creative and imaginative way. We want children to be entertained as
they begin to understand the real mission and purpose of these programs:
That Jesus loves them.”
The CBN videos were distributed to the Eastern Diocese and other Armenian
Church organizations throughout North America. They are cartoons depicting
Bible stories along with other films exploring Christian themes such as
courage and love.
Antreassian said the videos would be used by the Diocese in its Sunday
School programs. Mission parishes will also be sent some of the videos for
use in their educational efforts.
“These are wonderful ways to bring the Bible to life for today’s children,
who grew up on television and the Internet,” Antreassian said. “We’re
grateful to have a partner such as CBN to help us with our Christian
education mission.”
Part of the discussion at the Diocesan Center in New York City revolved
around ways CBN and the Armenian Church could work together.
“My big goal is to create effective partnerships,” Costello said.
“Scripture reminds us that every child should hear the Gospel message. And
partnerships are necessary to accomplish that goal.”
She said organizations like the Diocese have a connection to people and CBN
can provide resources that otherwise wouldn’t be available.
“Partnerships help us all reach people we might not otherwise reach,”
Costello said. “We’re glad to be able to provide you with resources you can
use to help people learn about the gospel.”
The partnership can grow in the future, including things such as the Diocese
undertaking an effort to translate CBN videos into Armenian, or new CBN
videos on the specific stories of Armenian Christianity, such as how Armenia
became the first Christian nation.
“We look forward to working with CBN and joining our skills, resources, and
passions to spread a love and appreciation of our Lord,” Antreassian said.
— 6/29/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Elise Antreassian, coordinator of Christian education for
the Eastern Diocese, (left) meets with Angela Costello, director of
animation and creative services for the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN),
at the Diocesan Center in New York City on June 21, 2006.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER SAYS ARMENIA SHOULD PRESS FOR MAINTENANCE OF KARABAKH CURRENT STATUS QUO
Armenpress
Jun 28 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: Aram Sarkisian, a parliament member
from the opposition Ardarutyun (Justice) alliance and also head of
a minor Democratic Party, argued today that Armenia must press for
maintenance of the current status quo of Nagorno-Karabakh, because
any other option would lead to further deterioration of the situation.
Speaking to a news conference today Aram Sarkisian said judging from
what was revealed lately by the US cochairman in the OSCE Minsk group,
Mathew Bryza, the only acceptable option for Armenia is holding of
a referendum on Karabakh status, but he added that the people of
Karabakh had already held referendum back in early 1990s.
He said however, Azerbaijan has also expressed its position on it
saying that the referendum can be held only in line with requirements
of its constitution, which means holding referendum in entire
Azerbaijan.
Sarkisian said Nagorno-Karabakh will never agree to it.
He then argued that the USA wants a soonest resolution of the conflict
as it wants to deploy NATO peace-keeping troops in the zone, which
he said would result not only in shattered balance of regional forces
but also in spoiled Iran-Armenia relations.

ARMAN BABAJANYAN WILL BE IN CUSTODY FOR TWO MONTHS
A1+
[09:06 pm] 27 June, 2006
Today the Court of First Instance of Kentron Nork-Marash communities
decided to keep Armen Babajanyan, editor-in-chief of “Zhamanak
Yerevan” newspaper in custody as a prevention means. Judge Gajane
Karakhanyan refused advocate Robert Grigoryan’s mediation to use pawn
as prevention means.
The judge didn’t find the advocates’ arguments that Babajanyan
confessed and regretted for his action and his promises that he
doesn’t avoid and won’t hamper the implementation of the preliminary
investigation convincing. She supported the Prosecuracy’s mediation
and sentenced Arman Babajanyan to two months imprisonment.
Advocate Robert Grigoryan informed “A1+” that he will turn to the Court
of Appeal within 10 days as the Court of First Instance didn’t have
enough grounds to refuse their mediation. And in case there mediation
is rejected their either they will qualify it as a political approach.

AZG Armenian Daily #117, 24/06/2006
Karabakh issue
VARTAN OSKANIAN: TO SUGGEST AUTONOMY TO NAGORNO
KARABAKH IS SELF-DECEPTION
Armenia has supported and still supports all the international measures
directed to aversion and condemnation of genocides, ethnic purges
of people in their historical lands and the attempts to deny these
events. Vartan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister, said this in the course
of the sitting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, on June 21.
In his speech, Oskanian touched upon the destruction of 2000 Middle
Aged Armenian cross stones in Nor Jugha, Nakhijevan, when the Armenians
had nothing to do but to watch how the Azeris were destroying their
cultural and spiritual heritage. Oskanian stated that this brutal
attitude to the Armenian spirit and culture lasts for already centuries
and is very cynical and dangerous. “2000 marvelous medieval cross
stones were totally destroyed few months ago,” he said. Mr. Oskanian
stated that the Armenians and the international community are quite
concerned that the intentions of the Azeri authorities to settle
the peace are not serious. He emphasized that the cross stones
were destroyed in a place where not a single Armenian lives at
present. Mr. Oskanian said that this factor testifies to the real
intentions and methods of Azerbaijan. He stated that such a brutal
annihilation of a nation’s culture and history leads to mistrust and
loss of peace.
As for the current stage of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
process, he said that Azerbaijan’s approach “one step forward, one step
back” applied in the negotiations was concerning, while the suggestion
of autonomy to NKR testify to Azerbaijan’s retreat and decline from the
essence of the negotiations and from the international trends. “It’s
a mere self-deception to suggest autonomy to people who manage their
life in their own historical land for about two decades already,”
Mr. Oskanian said.
Anyway, Mr. Oskanian expressed hope that the negotiations will be
held in the direction that will lead to long lasting peace for all
sides in conflict.
By Aghavni Harutyunian

ARMENIAN SAILORS SCORE IN ANOTHER VICTORY
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily #117, 24/06/2006
Moushegh Barseghian and Vahagn Matevosian, sailors of “Cilicia” sailing
vessel, were awarded with “steersman of long lasting expedition”
title. Zori Balayan, writer and member of the crew, informed that
the young sailors passed quite a difficult exam at one of the German
ports and received the abovementioned certificate. The sailors of
“Cilicia” celebrated the victory by drinking toast of Artsakh vodka.

Athens News Agency, Greece
June 23 2006
Protest demonstrations in Halki against the Armenian Patriarch
ISTANBUL 6/23/2006 (ANA-MPA/A.Kourkoulas)
The protest demonstrations held upon the arrival of Catholicos and
Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians Karekin II in Istanbul, Turkey on
June 20 were repeated in Halki at the Prince’s Islands, off the coasts
of Istanbul, where he visited the closed Halki Seminary on Thursday
as the guest of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Ecumenical
Patriarch is the host of Patriarch Karekin II and Constantinople
Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Mesrop who are
also scheduled to visit the Armenian summer camps at the Prince’s
Islands on board the patriarchal yacht “Halki”.
Increased security measures went into effect around the yacht which
was escorted by two Turkish Coastguard speedboats after information
that nationalists had gathered to protest against the visit.
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II is on a formal pastoral
visit to Istanbul at the joint invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew and Constantinople Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Archbishop Mesrop.

Court to look into possible crime in senator’s actions June 30
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 22, 2006 Thursday 04:48 PM EST
MOSCOW, June 23 — Russia’s Supreme Court postponed, until June 30, the
deliberation of the issue of whether there were hallmarks of crime in
actions by Federation Council senator from Kalmykia Levon Chakhmachian.
The session was postponed because Chakhmachian is now in hospital,
the senator’s lawyer told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
The previous session was postponed for the same reason.
On June 6, acting Prosecutor General Biryukov asked the Supreme Court
to give a qualification of Chakhmachian’s actions which may be covered
by Part 4 of Article 159 of Russia’s Criminal Code /fraud committed
by an organized group or grand fraud/.
Chief accountant of the Association of Russo-Armenian business
cooperation Igor Arushanov and assistant auditor of the Audit Chamber
Armen Oganesyan were detained in Moscow on June 2 on suspicion of
taking a large bribe.
According to investigators, they demanded 1.5 million dollars from
a businessman for taking out negative information from an audit report.
Levon Chakhmachian happened to be in their office when detectives
seized 300,000 of marked dollar bills.
However, as a FC member, he enjoys immunity, so no procedures were
instituted against him. Arushanov and Oganesyan were arrested.
In accordance with the Criminal Code, judges will meet behind closed
doors to consider the Chakhmachian issue. A prosecutor and the
senator’s lawyer will attend.
Meanwhile, Kalmykia’s parliament decided on June 9 to recall its
representative from the Federation Council. The upper house is expected
to decide on termination of his powers at the next meeting on June 23.
Chakhmakhchian was elected senator of the Federation Council from
Kalmykia in 2004. He occupied the post of Deputy Chairman of the
Committee for problems of local governments.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS BEGINS PONTIFICAL VISIT TO ARMENIAN
PATRIARCHATE AND ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the evening
of June 22, having concluded the Fraternal Visit to the Ecumenical
Patriarchate and His All Holiness Bartholomew I, the Catholicos
of All Armenians officially began the Pontifical Visit to the
Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian community of Istanbul. His
Holiness and the pontifical entourage visited the Mother Cathedral of
St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) in Kumkapi, Istanbul, and were
greeted by a “Hrashapar” service welcoming the Pontiff. In attendance
were high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Patriarchate, representatives
of Sister Churches, Mr. Karen Mirzoyan (Representative of the
Republic of Armenia in Turkey), and countless Armenian faithful,
many who had come to see the Catholicos of All Armenians for the
first time. According to the information system of Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, following the traditional service of greeting a hierarch,
His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, warmly greeted the Catholicos of All Armenians and
welcomed him to Istanbul on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate, the
clergy and faithful. His Beatitude then invited His Holiness to offer
his words of blessing to the assembled. His Holiness addressed his
message of blessing and love, stating in part, “…We are with you
now with our prayers of thanksgiving and praise. At this historic
and emotional moment, we turn our gaze to heaven with the prayer
of our holy forefathers: ‘King of Peace, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
keep and protect Your people under Your holy and revered Cross in
peace’. “This cherished prayer has resounded throughout the halls of
this sanctuary for centuries as well. It has been uttered from the lips
of many courageous and glorious clergymen, who became martyrs of the
faith; the good shepherds who devoted their lives to God for the flock
entrusted to them, and with the life-giving light of faith, led them to
creativity, loyalty and fidelity. Five Patriarchs of Constantinople,
by the will of God and the nation, were called to become Catholicos
of All Armenians – the first servant of our Holy Church. Only after
kneeling down before this Holy Altar and asking for the intercession
of the Holy Mother of God on behalf of the Armenian nation, did they
depart to sit on the Throne of the Illuminator. In difficult times,
our luminous and brave-hearted Pontiffs protected our people and
kept them gathered around Holy Etchmiadzin with the hope and belief
in salvation. And now from the Throne of the Illuminator – the holy
cradle of our faith – Holy Etchmiadzin, we have come to see you, our
dearly beloved sons and daughters, to extend our blessings and love
to you all. We have come so that Pontiff and flock can be united once
again with the same oath of our holy fathers, and unite our prayers to
their appeals for the peace of mankind and for keeping all Armenians
dispersed throughout the world reinforced in faith and unified. “…For
six hundred years, the churches of the Armenian Patriarchate kept
the belief in Christ and hope of salvation alive and vibrant in the
souls of our people. For six hundred years, our mother tongue was
proclaimed undefiled in our schools, where our national traditions
transformed into the spirit of our people. Connected with the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople are the brightest achievements of
our culture – in literature, art, music and architecture… “It
is with these emotions that we have come to visit you, to see our
ancient, incense-filled churches, which remain vibrant through your
presence. We came to see our educational and cultural institutions,
which continue to remain alight through your vigilant efforts. We came
to bless your lives, to encourage your devoted spirits, your resolute
will and selfless allegiance, through which you are firmly standing
on the foundation-stone established by Saint Gregory our Illuminator,
keeping the light of Holy Etchmiadzin sparkling in your souls, which
has always shined and glowed in the monasteries and churches of the
Patriarchate. “We have brought the boundless yearning and love of the
Mother See of All Armenians to you, dear faithful, and greetings from
your brothers and sisters in Armenia, Artsakh and the Dispersion,
who are always with you in their warmest of prayers. We have also
brought the optimism of the reborn new life of our homeland, and our
people’s hopes for strengthening our unified spiritual and cultural
life. Our Church is strong and alive with all of her children, and
steadfast in the path of her mission, which is the same yesterday,
today and always – to lead the small flock of the Armenians toward
the life-giving and saving light of faith, toward God Who makes peace
and creates beneficence. Let us stay loyal to the Holy Gospel of our
Lord, loyal to our Holy Church, and loyal to our inherited appeal for
peace.” In his remarks, His Holiness also offered prayers to heaven,
asking for God to grant rest to the souls of the Armenian Patriarchs
of Constantinople of blessed memory, as well as long years of health
and fruitful reign to His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian. At
the conclusion of the service, the special Pontifical Encyclical of
the Catholicos of All Armenians was read, wherein His Grace Bishop
Aram Ateshian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and
the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, was elevated to the
rank of “Archbishop” by His Holiness Karekin II. Archbishop Ateshian
was commended by the Pontiff of All Armenians for his devotion and
efforts as Chairman of the Religious Council and Sacristan of the
Armenian Patriarchate.

NEXT ECHELON WITH RUSSIAN MATERIAL TO LEAVE FOR ARMENIA FROM AJARIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.06.2006 16:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The next, fifth echelon with Russian materiel,
owned by 12th Russian military base in Batumi, left Ajaria Thursday
night. The echelon heading for Armenian city of Gyumri is composed
of 18 cars. AMZ-53 automatic machine for pumping oil, MNUG-20 and
MPG-20 machines for pumping fuel, as well as two units of MNUG-14
device for pumping oil, two units of device for pumping oil ZSZh,
17 units of KP-12530 field-kitchens and 24 units of 15- and 4-ton
water containers are in the cars, reports RIA Novosti.
The withdrawal of Russian military bases and equipment takes place
within the agreements between representatives of the Defense Ministries
of Georgia and Russia, concluded in Sochi March 31 this year.