Author: Harutyunian Christine

AZERI, ARMENIAN LEADERS’ TALKS NOT ON G8 SUMMIT AGENDA – US MEDIATOR

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 6 2006

Baku, July 5, AssA-Irada
The US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) has played down reports
suggesting that Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian are
expected to table settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh during the upcoming G8 summit in
St. Petersburg.

"I am unaware of such a meeting. This was not discussed at the June
22 meeting [of the co-chairs] in Vienna," Matthew Bryza told an
Armenian newspaper.

"We have made no proposals to that end. We suggested that the
presidents take a time-out to discuss the framework agreement. But
holding a presidential meeting would be good," Bryza said. He added
that Russia to host the meeting should invite the two leaders to hold
the discussions.

The intermediaries’ earlier statement that there is a framework deal on
the negotiating table has caused a great deal of debate. Azeri Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said such a document is not on agenda.

KARABAKH WAR VETERANS UNHAPPY ABOUT OSCE CO-CHAIRS’ PEACE PROPOSALS

Regnum, Moscow
4 Jul 06

4 July: The Armenian commanders of the Karabakh war issued a
statement on 4 July, condemning the latest developments around the
settlement process of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. In particular,
they expressed disagreement with the Armenian government’s position,
expressed in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen’s statement on the
return of the territories which are under the control of the Nagornyy
Karabakh defence army.

The commanders described the co-chairmen’s proposal as absurd and
Armenia’s policy as defeatist, a Regnum correspondent reported. "We are
calling on all the patriotic forces of Armenia to be united and defend
our Motherland, which is facing a serious threat," the statement said.

Manvel Yegiazaryan, commander of the Arabo detachment, said that
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan will not sign this agreement,
"but people surrounding him will force him to undertake such a step".

In particular, one of the militants of the Independent Army
organization, Lyova Saakyan, said that "these people could be Vardan
Oskanyan (the Armenian foreign minister), Andranik Markaryan (prime
minister), Tigran Torosyan (speaker)". "This means handing over our
Motherland. It all starts from small things. First, they will hand
over villages, then districts, then Nagornyy Karabakh and later also
Armenia," former commander of the National Liberation Army of Artsakh,
Arkadiy Karapetyan said.

At the same time, a number of the veterans came out for equal mutual
concessions in the process of the conflict settlement, as a result
of which the Armenian side will get Shaumyan [Azerbaijan’s Goranboy
District], Getashen [the village of Caykand in Azerbaijan’s Xanlar
District], Martunashen [Xanlar] Mardakert [Agdara] and Martuni
[Xocavand ] districts which are under the control of the Azerbaijani
armed forces. They are also against the deployment of the peacekeeping
forces in the conflict zone and return of refugees to their place of
habitual residence, because as the commanders said, this could lead
to an exodus of the Armenian population.

GUL: TURKISH ECONOMY GIVES CONFIDENCE TO THE WORLD

Anatolian Times, Turkey
July 6 2006

WASHINGTON – Turkey showed its economy is strong after recent
fluctuations in markets, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said
on Wednesday.

Speaking to Turkish journalists after his joint news conference with
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Wednesday,
Gul said that U.S. officials told him that Turkey is strong in economic
aspect and gives confidence to the world. The U.S. officials told him
that Turkey was not considered as a loose link in the chain any more,
he added.

Noting that in his meetings in the U.S., the importance of
Turkish-U.S. relations was emphasized, Gul said, "our relations are
much stronger and healthier."

"We have discussed Iran, Iraq, PKK terrorist organization, Middle
East problem, recent tension between Israel and Palestine, Cyprus,
ending isolations over Turkish Cypriots, drafts about so-called
Armenian genocide, recent contacts in Damascus about Middle East
problem, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline,
Turkey’s economic performance in recent period, Turkey-EU relations and
Turkey’s contributions in regional and international issues," said Gul.

Regarding visit of Turkish Prime Ministry Advisor Ahmet Davudoglu to
Damascus, Gul said that Turkey launched initiatives to stop tension
in Middle East upon demands, and Davudoglu met Syrian President,
adding that the meeting was positive.

When asked how recent Israeli-Palestinian tension can be solved,
Gul said, "our position is obvious. Everybody should do their best
and a peace process should start. The ministers and kidnapped soldier
should be released and operations in Gaza should be stopped. Thus,
a new milieu can be established. Both societies should accept the
two-state solution."

Regarding Cyprus issue, Gul said, "this issue necessitates patience.

We are insistent and determined about negotiations. The important
thing is to explain the right cause to everybody. The United States
does not withhold its support about Cyprus issue, and their efforts
will increase."

Upon another question, Gul said, "Iraq’s territorial integrity,
political unity and stability are common targets of Turkey and the
United States. Also, we have discussed (with Rice) the attitude of
Armenian lobby in the United States. I said everybody should do their
best to prevent adoption of an Armenian draft in the United States."

Following the news conference, Gul met representatives of Jewish
lobby in the United States.

A1+

THERE CAN’T BE ONE-SIDED COMPROMISE
[05:27 pm] 30 June, 2006

«Gas pipeline Baku-Erzrum is already being exploited, and the regions
turns into a transit region of oil and gas pipelines where billions
have been invested», economist Edward Aghajanov announced today.

Answering the question of `A1+’ how the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict will influence the economic development of the region
Mr. Aghajanov answered, `Investments in the region are so huge that
the investors will not allow the destabilization of the situation. If
the process of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is frozen,
Armenia will be left out of all the regional programs’.

Mr. Aghajanov almost excludes the possibility or re-launching
war. `The existence of energy bridges in the region excludes all
possibility of war. A couple of shots are enough for the region to
face an ecological disaster and to be deprived of the alternative
sources of oil and gas’.

Approaching the issue from the point of view of the economic
development of the region Mr. Aghajanov said that the Minsk group
co-chairs are not disappointed at all and they intend to see the
settlement of the conflict will the end of 2007. According to Mr.
Aghajanov, the only possibility of the settlement is equal
compromise. `If we make a compromise, we must receive something
specific in return, for instance clearing the status of Karabakh right
away and not in future’.

Referring to the fact that only the Armenians speak about giving
territories whereas many Armenians regions (Shahoumyan, Getashen,
Artsvashen) are taken by the Azeris, Mr. Aghajanov said,
`Unfortunately, the authorities have never raised the issue. If they
did, Shahoumyan and Getashen are equal to Qelbajar and
Lachin. Compromise must be equivalent. There can be no one-sided
compromise’.

The Nation, Kenya
June 30 2006

Passports mix-up in panic to expel Arturs

Story by LUCAS BARASA and MUGUMO MUNENE
Publication Date: 6/30/2006

The Armenian Artur brothers were mistakenly given return air tickets
in the panic to get them kicked out of Kenya, it was revealed
yesterday.

The tickets were about to be handed over with take-off just 30
minutes away, when the error was spotted and the return part of the
tickets was ripped out, the inquiry into the brothers’ activities was
told.

And as a whirlwind of activity went on around them to ensure they got
on the plane in time, Artur Margaryan was allowed to travel on
someone else’s passport – that of a Russian called Gevorkiyan – while
his supposed brother Sargsyan who had no passport was given emergency
travel papers.

Bizarrely, instead of saying he was being expelled, the document
merely stated he was going to Dubai on business which meant Mr
Sargsyan could legally claim he was never deported. And it was
wrongly dated, too: July 9 instead of June 9, the inquiry was told.

Because the paper, known as a Certificate of Emergency Travel, said
Mr Sargsyan was travelling on business and there are still 10 days to
go until July 9, he could in theory use it to return to Kenya, the
inquiry heard.

And in a day of dramatic disclosures, it was also claimed that the
brothers were cleared to work in Kenya by both the Immigration
Department and the National Security Intelligence Service, which
vetted their work permit applications.

The series of revelations rocked the second day of the inquiry into
the two Armenians, described the previous day by Immigration minister
Gideon Konchella as "dubious international criminals."

Mr Sargsyan’s emergency travel papers showed he was either Armenian
or Russian, the inquiry at Kenyatta International Conference Centre
was told by its second witness, principal immigration officer Joseph
Ndathi.

Asked why the certificate did not read ‘deportation’, Mr Ndathi
replied, "it is a question of language semantics." He explained: "He
was going to Dubai where he had come from to continue with his
business."

Asked by assisting counsel Warui Mungai if Mr Sargsyan could claim he
was not deported, Mr Ndathi said, "he will be within his rights to do
so."

He said it was the deportation orders and the systems put in place to
prevent the Artur brothers from re-entering Kenya that mattered most.

Mr Mungai told Mr Ndathi investigations also showed the Artur
brothers were given return air tickets. Mr Ndathi replied that the
four Kenya Airways tickets – including two for two other people
deported with the brothers – were delivered by lawyer Kamau Mbugua
and two other unidentified people.

"My lords, they were return tickets but the officers scrutinised and
the return coupons were removed. They left with a one-way ticket,"
the immigration officer said.

The tickets were bought using taxpayers money, in spite of the law
allowing the Government to ask wealthy people to pay for their own
travel.

On the deportation date the lawyer, Mr Mbugua also handed Mr Ndathi a
passport in the name of Mr Arthur Gevorkiyan for use by Mr Artur
Margaryan, the taller and bearded brother. It was this passport,
showing Mr Gevorkiyan as a Russian, that Mr Margaryan used to travel
to Dubai.

Mr Ndathi had a hard time explaining to the commission why Mr
Margaryan was allowed to travel using a passport that was not in his
own name. He said that there were only 30 minutes to the flight and
that Kenya Airways had agreed to the arrangement.

"The security of the State should be seen as of greater concern than
a travel document. The passport was also accepted in Dubai," Mr
Ndathi said.

A photograph in a copy of Mr Margaryan’s passport tabled before the
Commission was different from that in Mr Gevorkiyan’s passport.

He said the certificate of emergency travel were recognised
internationally as one-way travel documents and anyone found re-using
one could be fined.

Mr Mungai: Must the deportee have a passport?

Mr Ndathi: It is one of the documents one must have. If not, we issue
an emergency travel certificate.

Mr Ndathi said the true nationalities of the Artur brothers were
unknown and that his department had relied on information given to
them to conclude they were Armenians. "They have given conflicting
documents and we need to research these people further," he said.

He said the Arturs had never applied for Kenyan citizenship and that
Kenyan passports recovered from their Runda home were stolen from the
Immigration department in May. Another passport stolen on May 2, was
still missing. He said Kenyan passports could only be granted to
foreigners with entry permits who had been in the country for at
least five years. Records show the Arturs first came to Kenya last
year.

A passport in the name of Artak Sargsyan recovered from the Runda
residence showed the holder was a Kenyan. And although the name was
slightly different from another passport found there, which
identified him as Artur and not Artak, the photographs in the two
passports were the same. Immigration records showed the stolen
passports belonged to Selasio Njeru Mutumuka and Edith Kahaya
Asegere.

Assisting counsel Dorcas Oduor said signatures in the recovered
passports had been taken for forensic examination. Mr Ndathi said
Kenyan passports were susceptible to having the photographs switched.

He blamed problems facing the Immigration department to under
funding, staff shortage and poor technological advancement. He said
the department received little support from the Treasury and relied
on part of its revenue collection, whose total was Sh1.8 billion last
year, for development, operations, and staff pay and allowances.

Its efforts to upgrade its information communication technology were
hampered by the Anglo Leasing scandal, Mr Ndathi said.

It also came to light that the country’s Intelligence and
Immigrations officials fell for suspect official documents presented
by the Armenian brothers.

The commission was told the brothers were cleared by both the
National Security Intelligence Service and the Immigration Department
to conduct business in Kenya. The clearance was given following a
request made by the Immigration department in keeping with their
tradition of having every request for an entry permit checked before
foreigners were allowed into the country.

The Armenians were finally issued with two-year permits on January 23
this year. They were cancelled after the two were deported.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/29/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM

1) Senators Press Nominee for Explanation of US Genocide Policy
2) Oskanian Comments on Minsk Group Peace Proposal
3) EU ‘May Halt Turkey Entry Bid’
4) 31st Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Festival Begins

1) Senators Press Nominee for Explanation of US Genocide Policy

WASHINGTONSenate Foreign Relations Committee members George Allen (R-Va.) and
Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) bombarded U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Designate Richard
Hoagland with questions about official U.S. complicity in Turkey’s campaign of
Genocide denial, questioning him, during his confirmation hearing Wednesday,
regarding his ability to effectively represent the United States in Armenia
without properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America.
In the days leading up to today’s hearing, the Committee’s Ranking Democrat,
Joseph Biden (D-Del.), in a strongly worded letter, demanded that the
Secretary
of State answers questions concerning the recall of the current U.S.
Ambassador
to Armenia John Evans, before he could support the confirmation of his
replacement.
At the hearing, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), joined with Senators Coleman
and Allen in sharply criticizing the Administration’s refusal to speak
truthfully on the Armenian Genocide. Senator Boxer, who was unable to attend
the hearing, submitted written questions to Amb. Hoagland.
The hearing was marked by repeated calls upon Amb. Hoagland to clarify the
State Department’s policy on the Armenian Genocide. If approved, he will
replace the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, whoamid
great controversyhas been recalled over his truthful description of the
Armenian Genocide in February of 2005.
"We appreciate the leadership of Senators Allen, Coleman and Sarbanes in
pressing hard for a detailed explanation of the U.S. policy on the Armenian
Genocide – and commend Senator Biden for his principled demand that the Senate
receive clear answers on this issue from the State Department before moving
ahead with the nomination of a new envoy to Yerevan," said ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian. "We were deeply disappointed that, in response to these legitimate
inquiries, Ambassador-designate Hoagland – apparently at the direction of his
superiors in the State Department – limited his responses to a series of
unresponsive evasions and euphemisms intended to obscure – not explain – the
U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide."
"We have said from the startand believe even more firmly todaythat the U.S.
Senate cannot, in good conscience, approve the nomination of a new ambassador
to Armenia until the circumstances of the current envoy’s controversial firing
– including a thorough description of the U.S. policy on the Armenian
Genocideare fully, officially and openly explained to Congress and the
American
people," said Hachikian.

2) Oskanian Comments on Minsk Group Peace Proposal

YEREVAN (Armenpress)In an interview with Armenpress Wednesday, Armenia’s
foreign minister Vartan Oskanian point-by-point discussed an announcement
issued by the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group regarding the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.
In a joint statement that was circulated by the U.S. embassy in Yerevan on
Wednesday, the Minsk Group’s American, French and Russian co-chairs said their
confidential peace plan envisions a self-determination referendum to be
held in
Karabakh after the liberation of Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan,
reported RFE/RL Wednesday.
The statement was presented to the OSCE’s decision-making Permanent
Council in
Vienna last Thursday and was not made public until being posted on the U.S.
embassy website almost a week later. Washington’s new top Karabakh negotiator,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, revealed details of the
proposed peace plan to RFE/RL shortly after the Permanent Council meeting.
"These principles include the phased redeployment of Armenian troops from
Azeri territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for
Kelbajar
and Lachin districts [separating Karabakh from Armenia proper]," said the
co-chairs. "Demilitarization of those territories would follow. A
referendum or
population vote would be agreed, at an unspecified future date, to determine
the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh."
"An international peacekeeping force would be deployed," added the statement.
"A joint commission would be agreed to implement the agreement. International
financial assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction,
resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied
territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides would
renounce the use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral
security guarantees and assurances would be put in place."
The mediators said the sides to the conflict would also have to work out
practical modalities of the Karabakh referendum. "Suitable preconditions for
such a vote would have to be achieved so that the vote would take place in a
non-coercive environment in which well-informed citizens have had ample
opportunity to consider their positions after a vigorous debate in the public
arena."
Below are excerpts from the interview:

Armenpress: The co-chairs in their statement say that "our approach has
been a
modified one: we have not tried to solve all aspects of the conflict in one
phase. Instead our principles seek to achieve a major degree of progress but
defer some very difficult issues to the future and envision further
negotiations." What does this mean?
Vartan Oskanian: The actual negotiating document on the principles that is on
the table today is all-encompassing. It covers all the principles affecting
the
resolution of the conflict. It includes the core issue of status of Nagorno
Karabakh, territories, refugees, security issues, peacekeeping and every other
conceivable issue that is necessary in order to arrive at a lasting resolution
of the conflict.
Only after full agreement on all these basic principles would the parties, as
the actual negotiating text says, "in cooperation with the co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk group to begin work on the elaboration of an agreement on the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict." In other words, the agreement on
principles will be comprehensive. The final agreement may envision
implementation over time.

Armenpress: In their report, the co-chairs say "the principles include the
phased redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around
Nagorno Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts."
What are these special modalities?
V.O.: This formulation is indeed very broad, and for a reason. This issue has
two layers. One is the issue of Lachin, where the actual negotiating text on
principles provides clear language stating that there will be "a corridor
linking Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia." For Armenia, it’s very clear that this
corridor must have the same status as Nagorno Karabakh. The second layer is
the
issue of Kelbajar. For Armenia, this also is clear: based on security
concerns,
Kelbajar can be returned only after the referendum is conducted and the final
status of Karabakh is determined. Azerbaijan’s position is different on
Kelbajar. That’s the disagreement that the co-chairs are addressing in their
statement. The co-chairs’ language in the actual negotiating text, with regard
to this issue, is generally in line with our approach.

Armenpress: The co-chairs say that there will be a referendum "to determine
the final legal status of Nagorno Karabakh," but they don’t say who will
vote.
V.O.: The actual negotiating text on principles clearly specifies that "the
final legal status will be determined through a referendum by the
population of
Nagorno Karabakh."

Armenpress: The co-chairs also say "certain interim arrangements for Nagorno
Karabakh would allow for interaction with providers of international
assistance." What does this mean?
V.O.: This is only one element of a much more detailed section in the actual
negotiating text which addresses interim status for Nagorno Karabakh. We think
the co-chairs have emphasized international engagement, because that’s a major
problem for the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Their current, unrecognized, de-facto status, has not allowed them to benefit
from the generosity of international organizations. In the actual negotiating
text, the provisions address such rights as control over their political and
economic viability and security, upholding their personal privileges and
freedoms, the right to democratically elect officials to govern Nagorno
Karabakh, the authority to effectively legislate and administer the internal
affairs of Nagorno Karabakh.

Armenpress: What is Armenia’s overall assessment of the content of the
document as it stands today?
V.O.: This not a perfect document. For anyone. However, there are enough
solid
and balanced provisions, with the right trade-offs on the main issues status,
territories and security that we are prepared to continue to negotiate on the
basis of these principles. In today’s context, Azerbaijan’s rhetoric about
autonomy and desperate calls for militarization surprise us. We have at hand a
real opportunity to resolve all issues, including the much-maligned issue of
refugees. But Azerbaijan must revert to real situations and real
opportunities,
rather than illusory maximalist hopes. Today, we hope that Azerbaijan will
realize that we have a chance to resolve the conflict and achieve a lasting
peace.

3) EU ‘May Halt Turkey Entry Bid’

HELSINKI(Reuters)The European Union said on Thursday that Turkey’s membership
negotiations could be halted unless it moves on Cyprus and makes progress on
reforms, but the EU hopes to avoid a crisis later this year.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn was quoted by the Finnish news agency STT
as saying, in response to a question, that the EU could suspend talks
completely.
"There is that possibility. I hope that we don’t have to resort to that, but
we have no reason not to use it if there are grounds for that," Rehn said.
Finland, which takes over the 25-nation bloc’s rotating presidency from
July 1,
also said that refusal to fulfill an obligation to open Turkish ports and
airports to traffic from Cyprus could jeopardize the talks.
"This is not a threat. I just want to note the fact that it will cause a
serious issue … in the negotiations and may even endanger the
continuation of
the negotiations," Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja told a news
conference in Brussels.
EU ambassadors decided for the first time on Wednesday to move forward faster
in accession talks with Croatia than with Turkey because of Ankara’s
refusal to
open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus.
"I am a realist and that is why I have tried to warn about a possible
collision in negotiations, unless Turkey holds to its commitments on Cyprus
and
speeds up its reforms," Rehn was quoted as saying.
The Turkish lira weakened briefly on the news, traders said, but the reaction
was limited.
Turkey, which invaded northern Cyprus in 1974 in response to a short-lived
coup engineered by Greece’s then ruling military junta, does not recognize the
Greek Cypriot Nicosia government.
The EU says Ankara must open its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic under
an agreement signed last year extending its customs union to 10 new EU member
states, including Cyprus.
In a statement last year, the EU said failure to comply with the customs
protocol would affect the "relevant chapters" of the talks, which are split
into 35 policy areas known as chapters.
But statements by some EU officials have raised the stakes by suggesting the
entire accession process may be frozen.
Rehn’s office said the Commissioner had not intended to break new ground and
had added: "It is always better to look for solutions which keep negotiations
ongoing and which make the candidate country fulfil the conditions of the
negotiations."
Tuomioja also said Finland would work hard to find ways to prevent a
"dramatic
situation" later this year when an EU summit will consider a review by the
executive European Commission of Turkey’s compliance.
The EU agreed on Wednesday to open detailed talks with both Turkey and
Croatia
on competition policy but only with Zagreb on customs, since the Commission
has
not finished screening the compatibility of Turkish legislation with EU law
due
to Cyprus.
It was the first time the EU had made Turkey wait in the talks because of its
stance over Cyprus, reaffirmed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan last week.
Erdogan says Turkey will only open its ports if the EU makes good on a pledge
to ease the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots by allowing direct
trade
with northern Cyprus. Brussels rejects any such linkage.

4) 31st Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Festival Begins

The Navasartian final games and closing festival will begin on Friday, June
30th, with a torch lighting ceremony at Birmingham High School (17000 Haynes,
Van Nuys) at 7:30 p.m. Festivities will continue through the weekend, with the
closing ceremonies on Tuesday, July 4th at 4:30 p.m. with Homenetmen Chapters
Parade. The evening will continue in picnic area with fireworks, live music,
dance, games and food.

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THE KAPAN SPORTSMEN COULDN’T RESIST THE PRESSURE EITHER

A1+
[03:36 pm] 29 June, 2006

Two more meetings were held in the 13th round of the Armenian Football
highest team championship.

"Gandzasar" met bronze winner "Bananats" in Kapan. The Kapan
sportsmen display excellent participation in this tournament and
they were expected to play seriously with their rivals this time
too. But the meeting ended with the overall 7:1 which is typical of
hokey meetings. 4 goals were scored by Aram Hakobyan from "Banants"
who has been the best bombardier of this championship.

"Kilikia" lost to "Mika" 1:2. The latter is in the second place
at present.

To note, prior to this meeting "Pyunik" beat "Ulyss" 3:1 and "Ararat"
tied with "Shirak" 1:1.

GEORGIAN, ARMENIAN MINISTERS COMMENT ON BAKU-KARS RAILWAY

Civil Georgia, Georgia
June 27 2006

Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said after talks with
his visiting Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian on June 27 that
feasibility study of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is currently
underway to find out whether the project is financially profitable
or not.

The Armenian side is against construction of this railway route
which will link Azerbaijan with Turkish city of Kars via Georgia,
as a railway between Kars and Gyumri, Armenia, already exists. But
currently the Kars-Gyumri railway is not operational because of the
trade blockade imposed on Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

"Armenia’s position over this issue is clear: Armenia is ready to let
Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan use this railway [passing via Armenia],
without Armenia’s participation," Vardan Oskanian said at the press
conference after talks with his Georgian counterpart.

The U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee
supported on June 14 a proposal to ban the U.S. Export-Import Bank to
develop or promote any rail connections or railway-related connections
that traverse or connect Baku, Tbilisi and Kars and that specifically
exclude cities in Armenia.

"We are interested in diversification of our transit routes… if
this will be a commercially profitable project, the U.S. Congress
may allocate funds, if not, other sources of financing will appear,"
the Georgian Foreign Minister said.

Some experts in Georgia say that the project needs a very detailed
consideration because new railway route linking Azerbaijan with Turkey
might hit Georgian ports on the Black Sea as cargo can be redirected
on railway.

GUEDIGUIAN SUR LES TRACES DE SES ANCETRES
Par Emmanuèle Frois

Le Figaro, France
28 juin 2006

DEPUIS PEU, Robert Guediguian prend des chemins de traverse. Il avait
deja deserte l’Estaque, le soleil de Marseille, sources d’inspirations
familières, pour le palais de l’Elysee avec le crepusculaire Promeneur
du Champs-de-Mars, autour des derniers jours de Francois Mitterrand. Et
il evoque aujourd’hui pour la première fois ses racines armeniennes
a travers son film, Le Voyage en Armenie. Histoire d’une quete, celle
d’Anna (Ariane Ascaride), medecin au coeur rempli de certitudes parti
a la recherche de son père malade (Marcel Bluwal) qui s’est enfui en
Armenie, la terre qui l’a vue naître. Pour Anna, ce sera un voyage
initiatique et la decouverte d’une identite qui se construit peu a peu.

Le Voyage en Armenie

Le cineaste revient a ses origines armeniennes a travers l’histoire
d’une femme medecin a la recherche de son père malade

LE FIGARO. – Pourquoi avez-vous eprouve le besoin d’effectuer ce
voyage en Armenie, d’aller dans les pas de vos ancetres ?

Robert GUEDIGUIAN. – Je n’ai jamais revendique mon " armenite ". Je
me suis en quelque sorte laisse faire. En 2000, des Armeniens de la
diaspora ont organise a Erevan une retrospective de mes films.

L’accueil qu’Ariane et moi avons recu a ete bouleversant. C’etait
la première fois que je me rendais en Armenie. J’ai subi un choc,
physique, sensuel. À chaque coin de rue, j’avais l’impression de me
retrouver face a mon père. Ce sont mes grands-parents paternels qui
etaient armeniens. Mon grand-père, ne a Sivas, est venu en France pour
poursuivre ses etudes de theologie. Il se destinait a la pretrise. En
1915, après le genocide, l’exode massif, il s’est mobilise pour
aider les immigres, pour s’occuper des Armeniens qui debarquaient
a Marseille. C’est a ce moment-la que ma grand-mère est arrivee,
comme ma grand-tante qui est encore en vie et qui se souvient de sa
deportation a travers le desert, lorsqu’elle etait âgee de 4 ou 5 ans.

Evoquaient-ils leur passe, leurs racines ?

Non car cette generation a mis toute son energie, tous ses efforts
a s’integrer. Mon père ne parlait pas armenien. D’ailleurs, un
des personnages du film declare a un moment : " On dit la langue
maternelle, pas la langue paternelle. Ca n’existe pas, la langue
paternelle. " J’ai appris l’allemand, la langue de ma mère.

Comment est nee cette histoire ecrite avec la collaboration d’Ariane
Ascaride et de Marie Desplechin ?

Grâce a Ariane qui dans Brodeuses jouait une couturière d’origine
armenienne. Elle avait rencontre, au moment du tournage a Lyon, un
vieux cordonnier armenien. Et ce vieil homme lui a rappele son père,
un Napolitain avec lequel elle entretenait des rapports difficiles.

C’est elle qui a eu l’idee de la relation au père, du voyage
initiatique en Armenie. Ce père qui veut faire comprendre a sa fille
a travers sa fuite, que le bonheur c’est d’assumer la complexite
des choses, de douter, de ne pas avoir de certitudes. Il a mis des
cailloux sur son chemin, mais, au debut, sa fille est aveugle.

Dans ce film, vous montrez sans detour tous les visages de l’Armenie,
autant la pauvrete que la richesse naissante, les actions humanitaires
comme les actes mafieux.

Le scenario devait a la fois montrer le present mais laisser egalement
filtrer toutes les tragedies passees de l’Armenie. Le genocide perpetre
par les Turcs, le joug sovietique, le tremblement de terre de 1988,
puis l’independance en 1991 et, enfin, le conflit du Karabakh avec
l’Azerbaïdjan. Depuis l’independance, il s’est constitue, comme dans
certains Etats naissants, des sortes de groupes de seigneurs feodaux,
melange de mafieux et d’anciens du KGB, qui contrôlent des territoires,
le commerce des voitures, du sexe, des medicaments… L’anarchie est
totale. Des gens sont assassines dans les rues. Et en meme temps,
il existe des justiciers tels que Yervanth qui est interprete par
Gerard Meylan. Le personnage s’inspire d’un de mes amis soupconne
de braquage revolutionnaire dans les annees 1980 et qui est parti
pour l’Armenie. Il est devenu un heros national après la guerre du
Haut-Karabakh et tente, comme il peut, de negocier avec des realites
qui ne sont pas toujours " propres ". Dans le film, l’etrangère
qu’est Anna tente de lui donner des lecons du haut de son " purisme
a l’occidental ".

Vous n’etes pas croyant. Et pourtant on trouve une vraie dimension
spirituelle dans votre film, avec, entre autre, la visite de plusieurs
eglises.

On ne peut pas vraiment y echapper la-bas. L’Armenie est le premier
pays a avoir adopte la religion chretienne comme religion d’Etat. Et
puis la première phrase de l’Ancien Testament dit que c’est entre les
deux sommets du mont Ararat que l’Arche de Noe s’est arretee. Mais
c’est surtout la beaute de ces lieux qui me touche.

A travers le discours de certains personnages, vous en profitez pour
porter un sacre coup au communisme.

Oui, mais je dirais plutôt le sovietisme car c’est le mot qui est
employe en Armenie. J’ai ete membre du Parti communiste francais
jusqu’en 1980. Je n’y suis plus. Mais j’ai toujours un reve egalitaire,
celui du partage des richesses.

Comedie dramatique de Robert Guediguian, avec Ariane Ascaride, Gerard
Meylan, Chotik Grigorian. Duree : 2 h 05.

– Voir la critique page 36 Ariane Ascaride et Jean-Pierre Daroussin,
acteurs fetiches de Robert Guediguian (en medaillon).

–Boundary_(ID_TTYSBVMxT8G9FSz/QX14Tw )–

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH IBF/IBO WORLD CHAMPION VIC DARCHINYAN

Yerevan, June 27. ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met
today with five-time IBF and four-time IBO flyweight world champion Vic
Darchinyan who lives in Australia but appears on ring to the music of
Armenian composer Ara Gevorgyan and with the national flag of Armenia.

Kocharyan wished Darchinyan further success. He noted that every new
victory of Darchinyan inspires the Armenian people.

Darchinyan told Kocharyan about his further plans. He said that he is
going to set up a boxing club in Vanadzor for preserving the wonderful
traditions of the Armenian boxing school so that it can give birth
to new world stars.