Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

YUSHCHENKO: UKRAINE IS READY TO SEND PEACEKEEPERS TO NK

ForUm, Ukraine
Sept 8 2006

Addressing students and professors of Slavic University of Baku on
Friday, Victor Yushchenko said Ukraine was ready to send peacekeepers
to Azerbaijan to help settle the lasting conflict in Nagorny Karabakh.

Ukraine believes it is necessary to recognize the territorial integrity
of the Republic of Azerbaijan and to withdraw troops from the occupied
territory, he said, President’s press office reported.

"The use of force and pressure yields no results and dead-ends the
conflict," he opined.

The Head of State also said he believed it was important to let
refugees return to their homeland and later decide the status of the
Karabakh autonomy at a national referendum.

He said peacekeeping effort in the region could help stabilize the
situation, adding Ukraine was ready to participate under the aegis
of OSCE or the UN Security Council.

"I told Ilham Aliyev at our meetings Ukraine was ready to offer
peacekeepers to resolve the conflict," he said.

TEXT OF DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UN

Federal News Service
September 7, 2006 Thursday

United Nations, New York City, New York, September 06, 2006

STEPHANE DUJARRIC: Good afternoon.

Ibrahim Gambari, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs,
as well as David Hamburg, the Chair of the Advisory Group on
Genocide Prevention, will be joining us today to brief on the
Secretary-General’s report on conflict prevention.

[parts omitted]

Q: There’s been an item that the General Assembly was supposed to
vote on yesterday, and today, and now it’s going to be tomorrow,
about Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan and Armenia. So, part of the
dispute is this request that the Secretary-General do a report on
the area. Is the Secretariat involved in these discussions at all?

MR. DUJARRIC: It’s before the General Assembly. Once they vote and
instruct the Secretary-General, then we’ll follow that resolution.

But we’re not involved in those discussions.

Q: Is it possible to describe the United Nations activities in
Nagorno-Karabakh? Which agencies are providing services?

MR. DUJARRIC: We can look on the humanitarian side.

(The Spokesman later added that the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) did not have a presence in Nagorno-
Karabakh. Nevertheless, it had recently worked with the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) to support efforts by the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to control the forest
fire situation there.)

ISLAND TAKES TITLE OF MOST SCOTTISH PLACE IN SCOTLAND
Lianne Gutcher

Scotsman, United Kingdom
Sept 11 2006

CONSIDERED by many to be one of the most unspoilt islands in Britain,
the tiny Hebridean island of Barra now has another claim – it is the
most Scottish place in Scotland.

Research has revealed that Barra has a higher proportion of Scots
living there than any other part of the UK. About 85 per cent of its
residents have a name considered to be Scottish.

Experts used the Origins Info marking database to arrive at the
results. It categorises the population into 200 different ethnic
groups on the basis of their names.

Its developers attest to the tool’s reliability despite the tendency
of women to take their husbands’ names on marriage and immigrants to
assume a more "British name" to avoid discrimination.

The research was designed to show the characteristics of "melting pot"
Britain. The details were provided by the 42 million adults registered
to vote.

The database is used by charities, retailers and hospitals to tailor
their services to individual ethnic groups.

Jessie MacNeil, of Voluntary Action Barra, a body campaigning on
social and economic issues, said the island’s remoteness had played
a part in preserving its Scottishness.

She added: "The importance placed on the Gaelic language and culture
has contributed to its high-profile [Scottishness]."

The island holds an annual festival, Feis Bharraigh, to promote the
practice and study of the Gaelic language, literature, music, drama and
culture. Begun in 1981, it is the longest-running event of its type.

Coatbridge in Lanarkshire was identified as the least Scottish town,
with only 39 per cent of residents considered to have names that put
their origins in Scotland.

This was attributed to the influx of Irish immigrants – 28 per cent
of the townsfolk had names traceable to Ireland.

Port Glasgow and Clydebank also shared this Irish trend.

In the Borders, West Linton was the most English town in Scotland
while Berwick-on-Tweed was the most Scottish town in England.

Thanks to an influx of steelworkers in the 1930s, the Northamptonshire
town of Corby also has a high density of residents who are Scottish
or of Scottish descent.

Many there still speak with Scottish accents, celebrate Burns Night
and host an annual Highland games.

Throughout the rest of the country, Ripley in Derbyshire is the most
English place, with nearly 89 per cent of residents having English
ethnic roots.

South Tottenham in North London, home to 113 ethnic groups, is the
most diverse.

The survey showed that immigrants from Armenia and their descendents
are the most successful ethnic group along with those from Japan,
Cyprus and the Netherlands.

Those from Sierra Leone, Syria and Bangladeshi Muslims fare the
least well.

Richard Webber, a professor of spatial analysis at University College
London, who developed Origins Info, said: "The patterns that this
analysis uncovers are very striking. We are hoping it will provide
a valuable tool for government and business."

Days of Yerevan to Be Held in Moscow September 9-11

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.09.2006 17:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Days of Yerevan are starting in Moscow September
9. According to the Yerevan City Administration’s website, the events
will start with the opening of "Golden Pomegranate" trade fair, which
will function till September 10. On the same day Armenian Navy Band
will give a concert in "Pavel Slobodkin" Center. September 11 Yerevan
Mayor Yervand Zakharyan will meet with Moscow head Yuri Luzhkov.

Besides, a photo exhibition dedicated to Yerevan will open in the
lobby of the Music Theater after Stanislavsky. On September 11 evening
a gala concert in the theater will mark the closing of the Days of
Yerevan in Moscow.

RA PRESIDENT DECORATED JOHN EVANS WITH MKHITAR GOSH ORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.09.2006 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
U.S. Ambassador John Evans, who is completing his diplomatic service
in Armenia, reported the RA leader’s press office. By the decree of
05.09.2006 John Evans was decorated with Mkhitar Gosh order for the
contribution in the development of the Armenian-American friendly
relations. Handing the order Robert Kocharian thanked the diplomat for
the efficient cooperation and underscored that during the recent two
years considerable progress wax fixed in the Armenia-U.S. relations. He
also wished Mr Evans every success in his further activities. For
his part Amb. Evans remarked that the successful cooperation in
the service of the whole diplomatic staff of the U.S. Embassy. The
interlocutors also referred to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
process.

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:

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA ALLOCATES 250,000 US DOLLARS
OF THE KHATCHIG BABIKIAN FUND TO ARMENIAN SCHOOLS

The "Khatchig Babikian" Fund, operating under the sponsorship of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, will donate 250,000 US Dollars to the
Armenian national schools of Lebanon, announced His Holiness Aram I
during a special interview with the Catholicosate’s Communications
Office.

"As we had previously announced through the media, the yearly income
of this fund will be channeled for use in educational, cultural,
social and publishing projects. However, considering the hardships
created in Lebanon as a consequence of the recent war, we decided to
exceptionally grant the largest part of the fund’s allocation this
time to our schools. We believe this was a wise decision considering
the importance of the Armenian school in the life of the community,"
said His Holiness Aram I during the interview.

"The Catholicosate of Cilicia and We, personally, will continue to
consider the Armenian school as one of the most important aspects of
our mission," Aram I added.

The decision was taken on September 1 to make the grant for the
academic year 2006-2007. The Khatchig Babikian Fund was established
recently at the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia. It is run by a special committee under the direct supervision
of the Catholicos.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and 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.

"GENOCIDE" ARMENIEN: ANKARA DENONCE UN RAPPORT DE L’UE TURQUIE

Agence France Presse
5 septembre 2006 mardi 9:42 AM GMT

Le ministère turc des Affaires etrangères a denonce mardi un rapport
adopte la veille au soir au parlement europeen (PE) qui exhorte Ankara
a reconnaître le genocide armenien comme une condition prealable a
une eventuelle entree dans l’Union europeenne.

"Nous sommes très consternes des efforts visant a imposer des
pre-conditions qui sont loin d’etre objectives sur des questions qui
necessitent une discipline academique serieuse", affirme un communique.

Il reagissait a un rapport non contraignant adopte lundi soir par la
commission des Affaires etrangères du PE, dans lequel les eurodeputes
ont notamment deplore le "ralentissement du processus de reforme"
en Turquie depuis l’ouverture des negociations d’adhesion avec l’UE
il y a près d’un an.

"Certains elements du rapport, (…) rediges avec des considerations
politiques, ne sont pas compatibles avec la credibilite du PE",
souligne le document.

Les Armeniens estiment que jusqu’a 1,5 million des leurs ont peri
dans un genocide orchestre par l’Empire ottoman entre 1915 et 1917.

Ankara affirme que des massacres ont ete commis de part et d’autre
et recuse les accusations de genocide.

–Boundary_(ID_F1MgcuT2DOjqMJReJz7rbw)- –

KAREN GEVORGIAN: THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TRADE IN STREETS IS ENDLESS
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
06/09/2006

Karen Gevorgian, head of the Trade Department at the Yerevan City
Mayor’s Office, stated that they constantly struggle against the
illegal trade in the streets but they fail to totally improve the
situation. In the course of the yesterday’s press conference, he said
that they will manage to get rid of the illegal trade in the streets
only when there is no demand for that. He called for the Yerevan
residents to give up buying goods from the streets.

According to Karen Gevorgian, they have begun the program of
modernization of the trade kiosks in the Tigran Mets and Komitas
Streets. These measures will help secure hygienic and sanitary
conditions. The department has removed 48 illegal kiosks from Komitas
Avenue.

As for the complaints concerning the loud music coming out of the night
bars and cafes, Gevorgian stated that two restaurants, particularly
"Geghama" and "Parvana" had to pay AMD 25-30 thousand of penalty
for that.

Earlier the given penalty amounted to AMD 1000 that was no big problem
for the restaurants, as well.

Gevorgian also touched upon the sale and display of funeral items. He
stated that the law prohibits the slae and display of funeral items
in the city streets.

While there are several streets in Yerevan that are totally occupied
with kiosks and shops for funeral items, including coffins and wreaths,
etc. Gevorgian added that the city administration suggests allocating
a special place for that purpose out of the town. He said that for
instance, 80% of the catafalques have no permission to work. He
emphasized that the city administration will soon submit suggestions
to the government in this issue, too.

YEREVAN MAYOR’S OFFICE TAKES ALL MEASURES TO REGULATE STREET TRADE

Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Mayor’s Office is taking
all measures aimed at street trade regulation. Karen Gevorgian, head
of the Trade and Service Department of Yerevan’s Mayor Office, stated
this at the September 4 press conference. According to him, citizens
should be aware that foodstuffs and fast food sold in the streets
are harmful to health because their preparation and sale is done in
conditions not in line with sanitary and hygiene norms. K. Gevorgian
said that ckeck-ups are now being conducted at various trade and
service facilities of Yerevan. Stock taking of all trade and service
kiosks and pavilions of the city will be completed by 2008. In
his words, 48 trade kiosks in Komitas Avenue have been dismantled,
and another 70 will be modernized. The regulaion process is under
way in Kochinian, Baghramian, Sundukian, Isakov, Abovian, Koryun and
Acharian Streets. The department head underlined that this work will
help regulate street trade. On the instructions of Yerevan Mayor,
the state of the city’s undercrossings was studied as well, which,
according to K. Gevorgian, are in poor condition and it is time for
all these underground crossings to undergo repair. K. Gevorgian said
that Yerevan Mayor’s Office recently received a lot of complaints from
citizens regarding various bakeries, chemical cleaning points and night
clubs functioning in the basements of residential buildings. According
to him, these complaints are reasonable, as no proper control is
implemented by the mayor’s office in this respect. It was noted
that from now on these facilities will be under control of Yerevan
Mayor’s Office.

OYP CONSIDERS DRAM-DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS ARTIFICIAL AND
CONDEMNS AUTHORITIES’ POLICY IN THIS SPHERE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
party Political Council made a statement in which it expressed deep
anxiety on the occasion of the dram-dollar exchange rate fluctuations
in the last period of time as well as mass closing of currency
exchanges in Armenia. According to the party, because of closing only
in Yerevan 90 currency exchanges during the last period of time, not
only small and medium-sized entreprenuers working in this sphere were
delivered a blow, by losing living resources, but also a goal is
pursued to centralize activity of this sphere, controlling just by it
dram and foreign currency in an artificial way. Againg raising an
alarm relating to "artificial" fluctuations of the exchange rate, the
party mentions as a fact, that "in an organized way, some groups,
getting superprofits of millions of dollars, damage not only people
engaged in small and medium-sized business, but also our people which
annually gets assistance of more than a billion of dollars from abroad
only by the means of bank system, and the dollar-dram sharp
fluctuations directly deliver a blow to pocket of hundreds of
thousands people." The OYP Political Council also emphasizes that
studies of foreign currency rate of Russia, Georgia and other
countries show that only Armenia arrests one’s attention for such a
"preposterous" indexes of sharp fluctuation of the currency exchange
rate. At the same time, as much it is strange, in conditions of
stabilizing dram, prices for goods imported by dollar either do not
reduce and even continue to grow. Prices for food grew more than 8%
only during the last one month. Prices for petrol, diesel fuel, gas,
many goods of first necessity continue to incessantly grow in similar
conditions of fall of dollar exchanhe rate (for example, sugar – 36 %,
petrol, diesel fuel – 10%, meat products, dairy produce – in average
20%), "becoming a source of superprofit for some organized groupings."
Orinats Yerkir "condemns the authorities’ irresponsible policy in the
sphere and calls to take concrete steps to guarantee stable
monetary-credit policy and to improve the situation."