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07/11/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) ARF Says Peace Process Optimistic but Not Realistic 2) Golden Apricot Film Festival Begins in Yerevan 3) Russian Diplomat Says There Is No Framework in Peace Process 4) Armenia Presses Russia To Reopen Georgian Border 1) ARF Says Peace Process Optimistic but Not Realistic YEREVAN (Yerkir)The political affairs director of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau Giro Manoyan said Tuesday that recently announced intentions by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to resolve the Karabakh conflict in 2006 were very optimistic but unrealistic due to the Azeri president's uncooperative position. "This optimism was based on the sole fact that there will be no elections in Armenia or Azerbaijan in 2006," Manoyan said. Hovhannisian added that Azerbaijan continued to pursue an aggressive policy and was not ready for any concession. Manoyan also mentioned that to say the process was "deadlocked" would not be the proper characterization since, from the onset, Azerbaijan had no intention of resolving the conflict based on the principle of mutual compromise. He also added that the only positive provision in the latest statement by the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs was the inclusion of a provision that gives the people of Karabakh the right to self-determination. Hovhannisian noted that the Karabakh negotiations have been favorable for Armenia after 1998, because the issue and discussion of a self-determination referendum did not occur before 1998. Manoyan explained that Stepanakert had never formulated a proper position toward the liberated territories. "The ARF position is that since Nagorno Karabakh is working on a constitution it should declare its dominance on those territories," Manoyan said. "However, both Yerevan and Stepanakert view those territories as part of a compromise," said Manoyan adding that the ARF did not agree with that approach. Manoyan added that Karabakh's agreement to hold a referendum was a compromise in and of itself since a referendum was held years ago to declare independence from Azerbaijan. Manoyan deemed inappropriate the tactic used by the US co-chairman Matthew Bryza to publicize the principles of the peace plan in bits and pieces, saying the entire proposal was made public in its entirety a week later. At the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) summer session, the Armenian delegation succeeded to ensure the support of other countries in turning down proposals put forward by the Azeri and Turkish delegations, Vahan Hovhannesian, head of the Armenian delegation to the PACE and National Assembly vice speaker, told a news conference Monday. Meanwhile, Hovhannesian said, resolutions favorable for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have been passed. "This time our cooperation with leading nations was successful, I mean, the US, Canada, France and Russia," Hovhannesian said. "Most importantly, we succeeded in including a provision regarding the right to self-determination within PACE resolutions based on the results of the Montenegro referendum." 2) Golden Apricot Film Festival Begins in Yerevan YEREVAN (Azg Daily)The Golden Apricot 3rd International Film Festival launched in Yerevan July 10 at the Yerevan Moskva Cinema. The festival's theme is "Crossroads of Cultures And Civilizations." Chairman of the Golden Apricot Film Festival, Canadian film director Atom Egoyan, in his opening remarks, said an Armenian film festival in Paris "one the most important events of my cultural formation, and convinced me that I had to connect with Armenia in a more direct way." "Although I had seen Paradjanov's work in Toronto, this was my first opportunity to see the full spectrum of production. It was also a chance to meet such legends as Henrik Malian, Albert Megerdichian and Tigran Mansourian. I first visited the country in 1991, coming back the next year to shoot Calendar with my wife, Arsinee Khanjian, and Ashot Adamian. Since that time, we have made regular trips back to Armenia, and it has become an essential part of our lives. Festivals are an amazing opportunity for filmmakers to share their stories with an audience and with each other." The festival was launched with the retrospective showing of "Namous", an Armenian film by Hamo Beknazarian, who founded Armenian Cinematography in 1925. An estimated 100 films by directors from 58 countries will be shown at the festival. The competition category of the festival includes films by Perdo Almodovar, Krzsystof Zanussi, Aleksander German Junior, and Rakhshan Bani- Etemada. The documentary film category includes films by Mickael Glavoger, Gunar Bergdal, Sergey Loznica, and Victor Kosakovskiy. 3) Russian Diplomat Says There Is No Framework in Peace Process BAKU (Armenpress)The Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group made a surprising revelation Tuesday, saying that there was no framework agreement, which reportedly was developed by the Minsk group cochairmen as it related to the terms of the proposed peace process principles. During an interview with the Azeri Trend news agency, the Russian co-chairman Yury Merzlyakov said the peace-brokers form the group suggested that the parties to the conflict must first coordinate the basic principles for the resolution of the conflict and develop the agreement on their basis. He then said the co-chairmen do not use such terms as "stage-by-stage," "package" or "universal" conflict resolution options. These terms have been used throughout the 14-year OSCE conflict resolution process. In the most recent peace efforts, Azerbaijan has suggested a "step-by-step" approach, with Armenia and the Minsk Group co-chairs not commenting on the matter. The Russian diplomat hinted that elements of the peace process would be further clarified following the first visit by the US Minsk Group co-chairman Matthew Bryza to the region. "At the moment, I am just not ready to assess the situation. It will become clearer when he goes there and listens to the parties' opinions," he added. Merzlyakov added that Bryza's visit to the region had been originally scheduled for late July or early September. In Armenia, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian announced at a press conference Tuesday that a possibility for rapprochement between Yerevan and Baku over the Karabakh conflict resolution process did not exist. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Sallukh, Oskanian said Bryza's scheduled visit to the region may stimulate establishing contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza, in an interview Friday with the Azeri Service of BBC, said that the Minsk Group's statement, which says "there is nothing more to be achieved for determination of the peaceful principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," does not mean that the talks have reached a deadlock. Bryza commented that the statement means creative capabilities of the mediators have been exhausted and there is a need for new initiatives. "This is not a deadlock. This is a moment when co-chairs say 'now the leaders should make a decision on what they want,'" he said. In his opinion, both leaders have the political will and wish cooperation, "but do not know whether they are ready to conclude the basic principles of the framework agreement." 4) Armenia Presses Russia To Reopen Georgian Border YEREVAN (RFE/RL)Official Yerevan is making "active efforts" to get Russia to reopen its main border crossing point with Georgia which serves as one of Armenia's few external trade routes, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said on Tuesday. "We are working with the Russian side and hope that solutions will be found," Oskanian said without elaborating. Moscow closed the Upper Lars post on Thursday ostensibly to carry out repairs at the customs and border guard facilities on the Russian side of the rugged frontier. The move, which followed a controversial Russian ban on imports of Georgian wine and mineral water, was denounced as politically motivated by the authorities in Tbilisi. Armenian officials have also expressed concern, with Prime Minister Andranik Markarian saying that the Russians should have at least informed the Georgian and Armenian authorities of their actions beforehand. Speaking during a weekend visit to the Georgian Black Sea region of Ajaria, Markarian said the closure of Upper Lars has created a "very difficult" situation for Armenian companies exporting goods to Russia and other former Soviet republics. Scores of Armenian trucks were reportedly left stranded at the border crossing. Oskanian thanked the Georgian government for allowing some of them proceed to Russia via South Ossetia. But he said this "exception" was not a solution to the problem which threatens to hit particularly hard Armenian exporters of perishable agricultural products. Russia is their main market and they are now scrambling to re-route their shipments through the Georgian Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi. The Upper Lars checkpoint had already been closed for nearly two months in the autumn of 2004 as part of "anti-terrorist" measures taken by Moscow following the deadly seizure of a school in Beslan, North Ossetia by radical Chechen militants. The transport embargo was widely criticized in Armenia. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

“LOSERS” ROUND UP. SERGE SARGSYAN AND ARKADY ASK EACH OTHER FOR HELP
By MELIK AVANYAN
Lragir.am
11 July 06
Usually when a politician has no more to tell the society, there
is nothing he can do but to start performing tricks. Minister of
Defense Serge Sargsyan, who has found himself in a similar situation,
decided from out of nowhere that he must get hold of the post of the
next president of Armenia.
Since this person perfectly knows his abilities, authority and
resource, he also knows the real outcome of the upcoming presidential
election, where he is sure not to get anything. So he knows that he
lost in the very beginning, therefore he decided to cheat the nation
again by hindering elections in Armenia. In other words, he wants
to replace elections by some other event, where he can beat everyone
and first of all the Armenian public.
Most probably, someone has told him that the political sphere can be
replaced by a chessboard to manipulate all the symbols and round up
the bulk of the political (i.e. criminal) elite under his flag. Serge
Sargsyan believed in the wonderful effect of political technology.
Most probably, however, he believed that the Club of 50 Loyal Officials
is able to replace elections in Armenia with a game of cards with
Serge Sargsyan’s 100 percent victory.
The debut was good. The talented Armenian chess players did not let
him down in the Chess Olympiad. Real mysticism. It seemed to Serge
Sargsyan that the political world was replaced by a chessboard. And
there is only one thing to do – to play cards on that chessboard.
And the game started. The victory on the Chess Olympiad was declared
“the beginning of victories”. In other words, the native and foreign
criminal was let know that it is high time to become members of Serge
Sargsyan Club.
The corrupt Armenian officials and criminal businessmen started
creeping towards this club. They moved on but with a feeling of fear,
hiding behind one another. They do not believe that the political
sphere can be replaced by a chessboard. Moreover, they do not believe
that it is possible to play cards on a virtual chessboard and win.
They want a more simply thing. For instance, they want Robert Kocharyan
to bless Serge Sargsyan’s plans. Or they want the great powers to
guarantee the game.
But they are waiting in vain. Nobody gives guarantees. This is bad
for Serge Sargsyan, for it means that nobody believes in him, and
especially his chess-card game. Even the headquarters of the Harsnakar
Hotel fails to help. If this goes on, he will have to think about
his future seriously. But Serge Sargsyan appears to have decided to
think out everything beforehand. Observing the tradition, he decided
that as long as everyone in Armenia and the world ignore his efforts,
he will take up unification of chess and Karabakh.
Especially that a “comrade” of his is sitting in Karabakh, who is
also seriously thinking about his fate and has been criticizing Robert
Kocharyan for a long time now.
Serge Sargsyan needs to display to everyone that not only the
chess champions but also the president of Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan
personally with his “army” are beside him. After all, someone may
believe and be amazed by his greatness and power. Therefore, on
September 4 they rounded up in September. What can the champions do?
They cannot refuse their sponsors. Where are they supposed to know
that they are being used as pawns in another chess game? They went to
see the country of their ancestors and provided an opportunity for
Ghukasyan and Serge Sargsyan to perform tricks with chess symbols
together.
The “comrades” performed these tricks perfectly. The slogan “the
beginning of all victories” was expanded and declared as “all our
victories begin in Karabakh”. Whose victories? It is clear whose
victories, of course, not those of the chess players. The problem is
not only the slogans, of course. Besides, it does not matter that the
Karabakh army has a lot to do on the front. This is something to be
done on the move.
It is clear that tricks with symbols will be performed in the future
as well. It is also clear that serious talks and acts will take place
behind these tricks, for neither Sargsyan nor Ghukasyan have anything
to say, especially to people, to convince them in their potential
helpfulness. Everyone already knows everything. The image of these
figures is also well known, as well as their desire to replace the
world by themselves and their wish to get everyone accept this.
In fact, human brazenness has no limits. What are these people busy
with at a moment when Karabakh is facing the danger of resumption of
war, and the publics of Armenia and NKR are exhausted by corruption
and indifference of their leaderships? Did they really imagine that
they could fool everyone? Did they believe that the world is based
on their wishes? If they did, it means they need special attendance.
Never mind that everyday these important persons are reported to make
criminal economic and political deals with foreign figures. Never
mind that the national interest of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
has been turned into a means of getting the support of governments
of foreign countries. But when they are trying to persuade people
that this will last long and will last with their connivance, as the
OSCE co-chairs announced, our imagination is wearing thin. Instead,
the wish and ability to punish these “shameless” people by law have
occurred. Just like the formers were punished. There always comes a
time when there is no need to waste energy on “protocol”.

Azeri Foreign Minister to leave for Turkey
ArmRadio.am
10.07.2006 11:46
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov will leave today
for Turkey on a three-day official visit. In addition to bilateral
relations and prospects of settlement of the Karabakh issue the Prime
Ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey will discuss issues of regional
and international concern.

LEVEL OF LAKE SEVAN WAS 1898,58 METERS IN THE BEGINNING OF JULY
GAVAR, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. As for July 15, the level of the lake
of Sevan was 1898,58 meters above the sea level. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed from the Gegharkunik regional department
of the Hayhydromet service, it is 28 centimeters above the same day
index of the previous year. Nearly 44 million cubic meter of water
had been run off the lake for the purpose of irrigation since the
beginning of the year.

LIFE IS STAGE, PEOPLE ARE ACTORS
Lragir.am
07 July 06
The National Theatrical Creative Society is ten days old. The first
conference of the society was on June 26, where the members of the
presidium including Ara Yernjakyan, Armen Mazmanyan, Armen Meliksetyan
and Jirayr Dadasyan elected Ruben Babayan, the art director of the
Puppet Theater, chair of the organization.
Unlike other organizations, the members of the presidium will chair
the society in turn. “We find that this form of government is right
because this is a public society and sole governance would not be
helpful,” thinks Ruben Babayan. Considering the establishment of
the organization as natural, he says competition and variety are
the guarantee of progress and they stood up considering tomorrow’s
theater important. They say their mission is to clear the way for
the young generation by providing a free stage.

Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov is on a visit in Germany
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 7 2006
[ 07 Jul. 2006 18:23 ]
Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov who is on a visit in
Germany, yesterday visited Marshal Foundation of Germany, joined the
seminar with participation of private company, strategical institute,
and other organization leaders.
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Policy Office chief Tahir
Taghizade has told APA that, making a speech in the seminar, Elmar
Mammadyarov spoke on regional problems, relations of Azerbaijan with
neighboring countries, energy and transport projects implemented
at the initiative of Azerbaijan, especially Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Arzurum pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi- Gars railway station,
integration of Azerbaijan to Euroatlantic area, European Union new
neighborhood policy activity, Azerbaijan-Armenia, Nagorno-Garabagh
conflict’s settlement talks through peaceful way.
Elmar Mammadyarov visited Azerbaijani embassy’s new building in
Germany, met with associates of the embassy.
Today in the end of the visit, Elmar Mammadyarov will meet with Defense
Ministry state secretary Christian Shmidt, economic cooperation and
development deputy minister Ms. Kotman and Germany-Azerbaijan Forum
leadership./APA/

CLERGY TAKES AIM AT EXTREMISM
By Nabi Abdullaev
Staff Writer
Moscow Times, Russia
July 5 2006
Killing in the name of God has long been a hallmark of extremists.
Now moderate voices are invoking the Almighty with the hope of
saving lives.
Meeting Tuesday for the second day of a religious leaders conference
at the President Hotel, clergy from around the globe bemoaned the
explosion in violent secularism.
The three-day meeting has drawn more than 100 senior clergy from 40
countries and all four faiths recognized by Russian authorities —
Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. Other religions were
also represented.
“We are facing international terrorism that misuses religion …
especially when it is used a pretext for hatred and murder,” said
Cardinal Walter Kasper, the top Catholic representative at the meeting.
Armenia’s Catholicos Garegin II also blamed secularism for extremist
violence, and Russia’s chief rabbi, Berl Lazar, called for “responsible
spiritual leaders” to counter extremist movements.
Participants in the meeting agreed to set aside theological differences
to prepare a joint statement directed at the heads of state from the
Group of Eight nations meeting in St. Petersburg later this month.
The statement from the meeting, which is being hosted by the Russian
Orthodox Church, will focus on the intersection between faith and
politics.
President Vladimir Putin has pledged to present a copy of the religious
leaders’ statement to his counterparts at the G8 meeting.
The summit takes place July 15-17.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged religious leaders
not to shy away from attacking extremists and xenophobes.
But behind the veil of goodwill and shared purpose were deep-seated
cultural and religious differences.
Russia’s chief mufti, Ravil Gainutdin, said politics was behind many
religious conflicts.
Without pointing any fingers, Gainutdin said: “Conflicts that have
arisen in Palestine, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan simply reflect a common
discontent with the world having a unipolar trend of development.”
Tuesday’s meeting largely steered clear of discussion between clergy
and instead entailed a series of statements delivered one after
another. The chief mufti of the Caucasus, Allahshukyur Pashazadeh,
moderated the event, calling every speaker “dear brother.”
Israel Singer, head of the Political Council of the World Jewish
Congress and a participant in the conference, said the meeting was
a great step forward for Russia.
“The fact that President Putin chose not just to allow us to work out
recommendations for the government, but encouraged us to do so — what
is it if not a search for partners among religious leaders?” he said.
Putin, speaking on Monday, the first day of the conference, called
on participants to transform the “clash of civilizations” into a
“dialogue of civilizations.”
Similar government-backed, international meetings of religious leaders
were recently held in Cairo and Ankara.
An explosion tore through windows and doors of the home of a Moscow
region Muslim leader early Tuesday, Interfax reported. The man’s name
was not disclosed.
The house is also used by Muslims for prayers. No one was injured in
the blast. Police classified the attack as “hooliganism.”

TURKEY NOT READY FOR EU
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2006 17:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Following an attack on a French Catholic priest in
Samsun on Sunday, a top Vatican official said yesterday that Turkey
shouldn’t become a member of the European Union until freedom of
religion is guaranteed. Speaking to Italian daily Corriere de la
Sera, Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Vatican’s department
for Christian Unity, said, “We believe that Turkey isn’t ready to
integrate with Europe. If it were a truly secular state, it would be
able to guarantee freedom of religion. Right now the atmosphere in the
country is very tense and hostile towards minorities.” Charging that
freedom of religion in Turkey is restricted by radical nationalism
and fundamentalism, Kasper added he doesn’t think attacks on members
of the clergy and missionaries are personal. Kasper also said that
as freedom of religion isn’t guaranteed, Turkey isn’t ready to join
the EU, reported Yerkir.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: ARMENIA’S DEVELOPMENT AND POLITICAL FATE SHOULD BE DECIDED BY PEOPLE PERMANENTLY RESIDING IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 4 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The traditional
friendship between Armenia and Syria should continue: Syria has an
important mission in the Near East and many Armenians live in Syria
being warmly welcomed in this country after the tragedy of the last
century. RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian declared this at the July 4
meeting with Moukhless Pharaon, Charge d’Affaire of Syria.
According to NA Press Service, NA Speaker also touched upon the
principles of the bill “On Dual Citizenship” mentioning that this
subtle issue should be treated carefully and the limits of rights and
obligations should be differentiated. T.Torosian considers unacceptable
for Armenians living in Armenia, bearing all difficulties after
the independence to have equal rights and obligations with their
compatriots living abroad at the same time mentioning that those
wishing to have the right to elect and to be elected can return,
live in Armenia and receive this right. “Armenia’s development and
political fate should be decided by people permanently residing
in Armenia.” Appreciating the contribution of Diasporan Armenians,
T.Torosian attached importance to bringing their experience to Armenia.

ATTACKS ON MINORITIES IN MOSCOW – HATE CRIME, PROSECUTORS SAY
Pravda, Russia
July 3 2006
Four Armenians and one Azerbaijani were attacked by about 15 assailants
at a subway station on Saturday, said Sergei Marchenko, a spokesman
for the Moscow prosecutor’s office. The Moscow prosecutor’s office
initially said only two people were hurt in the attack, and that it
was being investigated as “hooliganism,” not a hate crime.
Russia has seen a wave of xenophobia and hate crimes in recent years,
with hundreds of attacks reported, including many on dark-skinned
immigrants from former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus Mountains
region.
Rights activists say hate groups are emboldened by authorities’
mild approach to prosecuting hate crimes, and say that neo-Nazi and
extremist literature is sold freely.
In Yerevan, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan on Monday
condemned the attack, and called on Russia to do more to head off a
rising tide of violent xenophobia in the country.
Meanwhile, three suspects in the Saturday stabbing of a Kazakh
citizen were arrested for a racially motivated crime, the Interfax
news agency reported.
Also Saturday, two Uzbek citizens were hospitalized with multiple
stab wounds after being attacked in southwest Moscow, Interfax said.