Author: Jidarian Alex

IN TURKEY LANDS ARE PURCHASED BY FOREIGNERS, RAHSAN ECEVIT

Anatolian Times, Turkey
June 14 2006

ANKARA – "Lands are purchased by foreigners rapidly following
permission by (Turkish) authorities," Rahsan Ecevit, wife of former
PM Bulent Ecevit affirmed on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Rahsan Ecevit said 272,5
million square meters of land and property were purchased by 52,818
foreigners before April 15th, 2005.

"Apart from those, Turkish citizens and companies purchased lands and
areas rich in mineral ore on behalf of foreigners," Ecevit defended,
adding that, "Greek and Armenian lobbies are behind the purchase of
territories in Turkey".

Rahsan Ecevit said Turkish farmers could not produce and forced to sell
their lands because of decisions made for the sake of EU membership."

Ecevit said Jews living in the United States purchased (in the past)
lands in Palestine for years and said "this is Israel (of today)".

"Israel is getting prepared to play the same trick in GAP region
(southeastern Turkey) today. It has been stated that Israelis did not
purchase any land in the GAP region, but the web page of the Title &
Deeds DG and Government Office, where cadastral records are kept,
were blackened out" Ms. Ecevit reaffirmed.

"Israelis purchased most of this land through Turkish citizens of
Jewish origin ," Rahsan Ecevit said, indicating "sale of lands also
covers regions with strategic importance. For instance Israelis
purchased 4,000 ha. of land near Konya Military Airport."

EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN SENIOR CLASSES AT ARMENIAN SCHOOLS TO BE COMPLETED BY 2014-2015: MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 14 2006

YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. Educational reforms in senior classes at
Armenian schools will be completed by 2014-2015. Armenian Minister of
Education and Science Levon Lazarian reported that the final round of
the program on reforming the education system in the country requires
a serious reconsideration.

According to him, the process of reforming, providing for 12-year
education, should be carried out step-by-step.

"The current education system does not imply any principles and
concepts that could prepare students for entering a university
without reducing the quality of education," he said and added that
the reforms should not affect the quality of knowledge of students
and their further life In this context, the minister pointed out the
necessity in including some courses, taught during the first year at
universities, in the school curriculum for senior classes.

"Students of senior classes should have an opportunity to independently
choose courses and teachers," he said.

Lazarian reported that this process is rather long. "At least a
decade is required to complete the work on the education system and
its criteria, and also those elements that will be introduced to the
high school little by little.

BRITISH-TURKISH DIALOGUE GROUP URGE BELGIUM TO RECOGNIZE CONGO GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 16:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The British-Turkish Committee for Dialogue (BTCD),
a London-based non-governmental organization, has said that it
supports the Early Day Motion tabled by British Labor Party deputy
Andrew Dismore calling on the Belgian government to recognize the
genocide it perpetuated in what is today the Democratic Republic
of Congo. Dismore, a deputy from Hendon and chairman of the Joint
Committee on Human Rights in the British Parliament, argues that
the tragic incidents of 1884 and 1907 that resulted in the deaths
of millions of ethnic Congolese under the rule of King Leopold II of
Belgium constituted genocide.

The Early Day Motion calls on Belgium to recognize the Congolese
genocide. The Congo incidents were brought to Dismore’s attention
by the BTCD at a public meeting in London in April. At the meeting
Dismore said that Belgium had to officially recognize the events as
genocide. After having had confirmation from the British Parliament’s
library that Belgium so far has not apologized for the incidents,
Dismore tabled the motion at parliament.

In a press statement, BTCD said it thanks Dismore for the compassion
he has shown for the victims of this tragedy. The Belgian parliament
has passed resolutions calling on other nations, including Turkey,
to reconsider their history and recognize that they had perpetuated
genocide. Therefore, we call upon the Belgian parliament to face the
dark pages of its history in the same way that it has suggested to
other nations, by recognizing the tragedy Belgium caused during this
period as genocide, the BTCD said.

Dismore’s motion was also signed by 12 other British deputies: 10
Labor, two Liberal Democrat and one Conservative, reported Turkish
Daily News.

AZERI, ARMENIAN FMS TO MEET IN PARIS ON 13 JUN
Author: A.Mammadov

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 12 2006

The Azerbaijan and Armenian Foreign Ministers will meet in Paris on
13 June 2006, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian stated in
Yerevan on Monday (12 June), Midiamax reports.

Addressing the news conference Oskanian said that the format and
agenda of talks are still to be defined.

“The last meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in
Bucharest yielded no results. In Paris we will try to close the
positions on the issue which the presidents had failed to accord. We
have repeatedly stated that the variant under discussions contains
a number of positive aspects, in particular, we succeeded to reach
agreement on the matters which earlier were stumbling bloc. Thus,
it is necessary to put every effort to benefit the favorable moment,”
Oskanian underscored.

Armenian found difficult to forecast the results of the Paris talks
of the Foreign Ministers, noting that the key objective is to make
possible the next meeting of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

SWITZERLAND WANTS STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS

Lragir.am
12 June 06

Swiss Foreign Minister, Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey is
visiting Yerevan. After her meeting with the foreign minister of
Armenia Vardan Oskanyan June 12 Ms. Calmy-Rey had a half-an-hour
meeting with news reporters.

And Vardan Oskanyan and Micheline Calmy-Rey announced that the state
and level of Swiss-Armenian relations, including in the framework
of international organizations is satisfactory, but there is space
to develop. For instance, it is necessary to decide the question of
visas to officials. There is cooperation in the sphere of natural
disasters, displaced persons and sustainable development of rural
areas. The Armenian Diaspora also helps sustain good relations.

Though the legal sphere is satisfactory, economic cooperation is
weak. Switzerland is hopeful that the relations, which began with
the humanitarian aid in 1988, will develop in other directions as well.

So far Switzerland has supplied humanitarian and technical aid
totaling 28 million franks to Armenia. A 4 million frank aid is
foreseen for 2006. On these days a business forum is underway in
Zurich, the Armenian delegation headed by Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan takes part in it. Armenia and
Switzerland are hopeful that the forum will foster economic relations
between them.

NEW STATUES IN THE CAPITAL

A1+
[03:02 pm] 12 June, 2006

Very soon new statues will be erected in the capital.

In particular, in Ajapnyak community Gevorg Chaush’s statue will
be erected, a monument to Mher Lazarian will be erected near the
theater after Sundukyan, and another to Garegin Nzhdeh – near cinema
“Hayreniq”.

The Yerevan municipality announced a competition in order to make
the statues. The competition took place, but according to chief
architect of Yerevan Samvel Danielyan, the results were not really
pleasing. None of the participants of the competition won, and some
of them were asked to process their plans further and represent them
to the Council of Art and urban development.

Armenpress

ROAD POLICE WARNS AGAINST JUVENILE DRIVING

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS: In connection with a
school-leaving ceremony called ‘The Last Bell’
Armenian road police have undertaken a set of special
measures aimed at ensuring safe traffic until June 13.
The ceremony to take place across the country is
slated for June 10. On that day many young boys are
driving carelessly their parents’ cars through the
city streets. Norik Sarkisian, a senior road police
officer, urged today parents not to allow their sons
to drive their cars on June 11 overnight, warning also
that all drunk drivers will be subjected to most
severe punishment.
Sarkisian said out of 1,312 road accidents
registered by police in 2005 164 involved youngsters
below 16. In the first ten days of June last year 50
road accidents involving youngsters below 16 were
reported, 15 boys received injuries and 341 cars were
taken to penalty lots because their drivers were
drunk.
Sarkisian said all road accidents involving
juvenile drivers will be taped and offenders will be
subjected to severe administrative penalties. He said
not only the juvenile drivers who will be driving cars
without having a permission will be punished but also
their parents in the amount of 50,000 drams.

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:

MEMOR IAL EVENING DEDICATED TO
PROFESSOR KHATCHER KALOUSDIAN IN ANTELIAS

A memorial evening dedicated to prominent educator, pedagogue, principal and
teacher, Professor Khatcher Kalousdian, was held in the “Gulbenkian” hall of
the Catholicosate in Antelias on June 2.

The event was organized under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I, who also
presided over the evening.

The opening remarks were delivered by Vosgeperan Arzoumanian, Chairman of
the Central Executive Council and chairman of the Executive Council of
“Khatcher Kalousdian” center for pedagogical development. Arzoumanian spoke
briefly about the center’s history and the vision of Professor Kalousdian to
establish such a center that would prepare Armenian teachers.

The speakers at the event included Professor Kalousdian’s son, Shahe
Kalousdian, the center’s dean, Krikor Shahinian, Antranig Dakessian and
Jirayr Tanielian. Each of the speakers focused on a unique characteristic in
Khatcher Kalousdian, presenting Khatcher Kalousdian the individual, the
teacher, the educator, the principal, the pedagogue, the sports’ lover, the
religion follower, the kind civilian and the father.

Keynote speaker Jirayr Tanielian shared his memories of Professor Kalousdian
with the audience, highlighting the self-dedication of the professor. He
considered the pedagogical center to be the continuation of the professor’s
vision.

His Holiness Aram I delivered the closing remarks, assuring that Professor
Kalousdian is worthy of all the praise spoken about him, particularly for
his adoration and respect for the Armenian school.

On the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian School”, His Holiness made
several self-criticisms, calling on all those interested in educational work
and concerned by the situation to work together for solutions.

“This evening dedicated to “Khatcher Kalousdian” should remind us to think
together on what should be done to transform the Armenian schools into a
real forging institution, reorganizing its internal life and educational
standard,” His Holiness said.

“Khatcher Kalousdian was a man dedicated to a mission and he carried out
that mission with the highest degree of dedication and commitment. The same
mission continues to be carried out today, as per wish and with the
conscious commitment of his children, by the Center for Pedagogical
Development named after him in the Catholicosate of Cilicia,” the Pontiff
concluded.

Armen Ketcheg, Zakar and Camila Keshishian entertained the audience with
performances.

##
View photos here: tm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
institutions 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.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 9 2006

Azeri FM to take diplomatic demarche against Lebanon president

Source: Trend
Author: E.Huseynov

09.06.2006

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs is going to take
diplomatic demarche steps in respect to Lebanon, Tahir Tagizade, the
head of the Press and Information Department of the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry, told Trend. He was commenting on the news article
placed the website of the President of Lebanon on 6 June.

President Lahoud is reported to have a meeting with a delegation of
the Armenian Tashnak Party headed by its secretary general Hovik
Makhtarian.

The meeting was also attended by a delegation of the Armenian
`Nagorno Karabakh’ region chaired by Georgi Pedrossian, former
minister Sebouh Hofnanian, Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Serge
Amerkhanian, and Benjamin Butchakajian.

Tagizade said that the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry will take
relevant steps.

BEELINE CLAIMS FOR ARMENTEL STOCKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.06.2006 18:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Head of VympelCom press office Yulia Ostroukhova
confirmed that Beeline cellular operator has filed an application
for purchasing 90% of ArmenTel stocks. “All the details are kept
in secret by mutual agreement of the sides. Additional information
will be furnished after summing up the outcomes of the tender,”
Ms. Ostroukhova said, reported Mediamax. AFX Europe agency reported
that OTE Greek company, the owner of 90% of the stocks, has received
8 applications in all.

Besides Beeline, Russian cellular operators MTS and Rostelekom have
announced of their intention to purchase ArmenTel’s stocks.