Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Pan Armenian News
KARABAKH DIPLOMACY CHARGED WITH TASK TO TRANSFORM ARMISTICE IN LASTING PEACE
13.05.2005 03:02
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `One of the tasks the Karabakh diplomacy is charged with
is the transformation of the armistice into final and stable peace’, NKR
Deputy Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian stated on occasion of the 11-th
anniversary of the armistice established in Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone
on May 12, 1994 under Russia’s mediation, De-Facto agency reports. In his
words, the cease-fire became the only considerable achievement in the
peaceful settlement process. According Masis Mayilian, `the maintenance of
the cease-fire in spite of separate cases of its violation is for most part
conditioned by the fact that all the three parties to conflict put
signatures to the agreement.’ Masis Mayilian expressed satisfaction with the
stabilization of the situation on the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed
forces’ contact-line for the recent period. According to him, `considerable
role in this played the firm position of international mediators, who stated
on the inadmissibility of aggravating the situation, as well as the regular
monitoring of the demarcation line conducted by the OSCE Mission’.

Armenia’s ethnic minorities use state-allocated funds ineffectively – official
Arminfo
10 May 05
YEREVAN
The public organizations of Armenia’s ethnic minorities are using
ineffectively the Armenian government’s annual grants to the tune of
10m drams [22,000 dollars], the head of the religious and ethnic
minorities department under the Armenian government, Granush
Kharatyan, has told an Arminfo correspondent.
She said that the money is distributed via the coordinating council
for fighting corruption under the Armenian president. For its part,
the council transfers the money equally into the account of an
individual from each of these ethnic groups who distributes the money
in the community.
Meanwhile, Kharatyan noted that this method of money transfers had
been ineffective since all the grants are spent on peoples’ daily
living needs rather than on resolving major problems connected with
preserving and developing cultural and ethnic values via specific
projects.
In particular, she noted that the problem of preserving the languages
of many ethnic minorities in the republic. At the same time, she said
that this issue is to be solved by other means.
“It would have been more effective if this small grant was distributed
via a special commission which would allocate it to the ethnic
minorities’ projects,” Kharatyan noted.
The grant is distributed among 11 ethnic groups of Armenia, which
number 200 to 40,000 people.
Meanwhile, there are more than 50 ethnic groups in Armenia. Yezids are
considered to be the largest ethnic group among them and number 40,000
people. Most of them live in the countryside and are engaged in
farming.
The Russian community, 16,000 people, is the second largest and
includes Molokans. They mainly live in Yerevan, Abovyan, Vanadzor,
Gyumri and Charentsavan.
Part of the ethnic minorities devoted themselves to intellectual
activities. Others, mainly Molokans, live in the villages of
Lermontovo and Fioletovo and are engaged in farming.
There are also Assyrians and Greeks. According to official data,
ethnic minorities constitute 2.2 per cent of Armenia’s
population. There are about 60 public organizations set up by 11
ethnic minority groups.

TALENTED SCHOOLBOYS OF ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE AT INTERNATIONAL ART
FESTIVAL IN MOSCOW
YEREVAN, MAY 12. ARMINFO. As ARMINFO was informed in Vladimir Spivakov
Foundation, 6 talented Armenian young musicians will participate at
the 2nd International festival “Moscow meets its friends” which will
take place in Moscow in the middle of May, 2005.
More than 1.100 children from Russia and 34 countries will participate
at the festival, organized by International Benevolent Foundation of
well-known Russian musician V. Spivakov. This action is included into
the World list of international festivals and held by the support of
UNESCO, UNISEF and Jeunesses Musicales International. It is dedicated
to the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic war.
16-year-old pianist Tsovinar Suflyan, 12-year-old violoncellist Hakob
Atyan, 16-year-old dudukist Sargis Davtyan, 14-year-old flautist
Lusine Melik-Vrtanessyan, 10-year-old violinist Emmanuel Chgnavoryan
and vocalist Arsen Stepanyan will perform concerts on various Moscow
stages.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Senior Russian MP accuses Georgia of “blackmail” over bases
Interfax-AVN military news agency web site
12 May 05
MOSCOW
The chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs,
Konstantin Kosachev, described today’s statement by Georgian
parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze that Georgia is determined to
unilaterally declare Russian military bases on its territory closed on
15 May as “blackmail and unfriendly attitude to Russia”. [Russian
Interfax-AVN news agency said at 0858 today, quoting Burjanadze, that
“Georgia is ready to unilaterally declare the transfer of Russian
military bases to withdrawal procedure on 15 May”.]
“This is unquestionably blackmail and the expression of unfriendly
attitude towards Russia, and if this decision is made, it will strike
a discordant note with the negotiating process and the position that
Russia is assuming at the negotiations on the dates for the bases’
withdrawal,” Kosachev said at a news conference at the Interfax main
office today.
“Setting deadlines is impossible in any negotiations in principle:
when one of the parties sets these terms, it drives negotiations into
a deadlock,” he said.
Russia has made a number of concessions on the dates for the
withdrawal, Kosachev said. In particular, Russia “has revised the
original dates for the withdrawal to 4 from 11 years, and reconsidered
plans for the further settlement of units to be pulled out of
Georgia. Many of them will be transferred not to infrastructure built
from scratch, but to that which already exists in Russia and Armenia,”
he said.
“Ms Burjanadze’s statement puts Russia into a position in which it
would have either to agree with this demand and hastily withdraw the
troops, or not agree and face sanctions,” Kosachev said.

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:
HIS HOLINESS CALLS ON THE GERMAN CHURCHES TO SUPPORT THE RECOGNITION
OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
His Holiness Aram I has sent a letter to the spiritual head of the German
Protestant Churches, H.G. Bishop Wolfgang Huber, expressing his desire that
the German churches support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
In the letter, His Holiness praises the efforts of the German Parliament in
adopting a resolution concerning the Armenian Genocide. “I understand that
there is a growing interest in Germany in respect to the Armenian Genocide
not only in academic but also in political circles. I also hear, with
special joy indeed, that political parties led by the Christian Democrats
will forward a resolution to the parliament aimed at the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The parliament will discuss this matter in June 2005.
According to my information, in addition to the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, the German government intends to challenge Turkey to take a
similar action. Recently, according to the press, Chancellor Schröider
during his visit to Turkey has already made a similar reference.” notes His
Holiness.
His Holiness also praises German Chancellor Gerhard Schröider for bringing
up the issue of the Armenian Genocide during his latest visit to Turkey.
A long-lasting personal friendship and ecumenical relations connect His
Holiness and Bishop Huber. The latter has been a member of the Central
Committee of the World of Council of Churches and the two spiritual heads
have participated in many meetings in ecumenical circles together.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of th
e Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Sydney Morning Herald , Australia
May 10 2005
Bush praises Georgia for blazing a trail to liberty
By Caren Bohan in Tbilisi
May 11, 2005
The Bush democracy wagon has trundled into the new republic of
Georgia, which the White House described as a “beacon of liberty for
the region and for the world”.
President George Bush was expected to show Washington’s support for
democratic freedoms in Russia’s backyard yesterday.
The first US leader to visit the ancient Christian nation in the
Caucasus mountains was scheduled to speak in the capital’s Freedom
Square, rallying point for a 2003 “Rose Revolution” that installed a
reforming, Western-looking government.
Georgia’s US-educated President Mikhail Saakashvili is hoping Mr
Bush’s visit will strengthen his hand in a dispute with the Kremlin
over the presence of two Russian military bases in Georgia, which he
has likened to an occupation force.
“By coming here he sends such a strong message of supporting
democracy and independence … it’s like encouragement for democracy in
the whole region,” he told reporters.
Mr Bush arrived yesterday morning at Georgia’s parliament building
which was decked with the stars and stripes and the country’s red and
white flag. The President shook hands with ministers before entering
the Soviet-style columned building.
Advertisement
AdvertisementWhite House spokesman Scott McClellan said Mr Bush would
tell the expected crowd of at least 50,000 that Georgia’s revolution
blazed a trail for Iraq, Lebanon and ex-Soviet Ukraine.
While Mr Bush would publicly congratulate the people of Georgia on
their peaceful revolution, his private message to Mr Saakashvili is
likely to be more nuanced. He will remind the Georgian leader that
democracy means more than elections, and further reforms are
essential if the former Soviet republic is to fulfil its European
Union and NATO membership ambitions.
The US National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley, highlighted
Washington’s concerns about simmering disputes in the separatist
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia’s attitude to its
Russophile, Azeri and Armenian minorities and the rule of law were
also seen as key tests of future progress, he suggested.
The US is anxious that an argument with Russia over closing two
Soviet-era military bases in Georgia, with 3000 troops, should not
rekindle broader tensions with the Kremlin. Despite continuing talks,
Mr Saakashvili cited this as his reason for boycotting Monday’s VE
Day celebrations in Moscow.
Mr Bush arrived from Moscow on Monday night after taking part in the
celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi
Germany, and sidestepping Washington’s political differences with
Russia. Mr Bush has criticised what he sees as backsliding in Russia
over democratic reform.
In contrast to the solemnity in Moscow, Mr Bush and his wife Laura
looked relaxed as they mingled with performers at a outdoor concert
of Georgian folk dancing on Monday.
Mr Bush bobbed his head in time to the music and, as he left, swung
his hips. His moves impressed Mr Saakashvili, 37. “Some dancers told
me they like his rhythm. He captured the whole thing immediately.”
The Bushes also dined in a nearby restaurant with Mr Saakashvili, a
fluent English speaker with whom, White House officials say, Mr Bush
has found a strong rapport.

Ponte CTO to Present at DFM Symposium
Dr. Ara Markosian to detail design-for-yield requirements.
BUSINESS WIRE
Monday May 9, 2005
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — May 9,
2005 — Ponte Solutions(TM), Inc., the
design-for-yield company, today announced that Ara
Markosian, Ponte chief technical officer, will present
at the Electronic Journal Design for Manufacturing
(DFM) Symposium at Sohyo Kaikan at Ochano-mizu, Tokyo,
Japan on May 12, 2005. In his presentation titled,
“Model-based Yield Analysis: An effective approach to
design stage yield management”, Dr. Markosian will
highlight Ponte’s approach to bridge the “yield gap”
between design and manufacturing, including a
comprehensive unified yield modeling platform,
high-capacity data processing, and robust yield
analysis.
“At 90nm and below, achieving steady and high yield is
becoming a major issue,” commented Dr. Markosian.
“Model-based yield analysis enables designers to
predict yield before tapeout and enables them to
enhance it – thereby reducing the cost of working
silicon and accelerating time-to-volume production,”
he added.
Dr. Markosian’s presentation will give the audience
deeper understanding of yield issues, yield modeling
platform and model-based comprehensive yield analysis.
For more information, go to
— under
seminar/symposium.
About Ponte
Ponte Solutions, Inc., the design-for-yield company,
manufactures and delivers unique full-chip,
model-based software products that are used to predict
and optimize semiconductor yields at the design stage.
Ponte customers include leading semiconductor
manufacturers, foundries and design houses worldwide.
Founded in 2002, the company has received funding from
Telos Venture Partners, US Venture Partners, Incubic
LLC, Silicom Ventures LLC and private individuals. The
company has offices in Mountain View, California,
Grenoble, France, Tokyo, Japan, and Yerevan, Armenia.
More information about the company can be found at
Ponte Solutions is a trademark of Ponte Solutions,
Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their
respective owners.
Contact:
Susan Mack Marketing
Susan Lippincott Mack, 650-743-7506
[email protected]
Source: Ponte Solutions, Inc.

UNITED ARMENIAN FUND
1101 N. Pacific Avenue # 301
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818.241.8900
Fax: 818.241.6900

25 April 2005
UAF’s 133rd Airlift Delivers $5.2 Million of Aid to Armenia

Glendale, CA – The United Armenian Fund’s 133rd airlift arrived in
Yerevan on April 23, delivering $5.2 million of humanitarian
assistance.
The UAF itself collected $4.8 million of medicines and medical
supplies for this flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares
($2.3 million), the Catholic Medical Mission Board ($1.7 million) and
Eli Lilly ($788,000).
Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were:
Nork Marash Medical Center ($111,000); Armenian Missionary Association
of America ($47,000); American University of Armenia ($34,000); Howard
Karagheusian Commemorative Corp. ($29,000); and Accuware Consultants
($22,000).
Also contributing to this airlift were: Srbouhi Hairapetian ($17,000);
Shushi Music School Society ($16,000); and California State
University, Northridge ($10,000).
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $408 million of
humanitarian assistance to Armenia on board 133 airlifts and 1,172 sea
containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America,
the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary
Association of America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America and the Lincy Foundation.
For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific
Avenue, Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.

Czech president says Turkey most important EU candidate
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
5 May 05
Istanbul, 5 May: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday
[5 May] that the tendency of inwardness in Europe was very detrimental,
adding that this could harm the long-term EU perspective.
Erdogan met with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Dutch Deputy Foreign
Minister and Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm and IMF first managing
director Anne Krueger in Istanbul the same day.
Prime Ministry high ranking officials said that in Erdogan-Klaus
meeting, Klaus said Czech Republic was the country which supported
Turkey’s EU bid the most. Klaus stressed that he favoured EU
enlargement and Turkey was the most important candidate of such
an enlargement.
Regarding Armenian claims, Klaus said that there was a general lack
of information and ignorance in the world about Armenian issue.
Issues of Cyprus, Iraq, and developments in Afghanistan were also
taken up in Erdogan-Klaus meeting.
[Passage omitted]

Azeri parliament urges Armenia to take constructive stance on Karabakh
Interfax news agency, Moscow
6 May 05
Baku, 6 May, Interfax-Azerbaijan: The Azerbaijani parliament adopted a
statement on Friday [6 May] on the 13th anniversary of the “occupation
of Susa [town in Karabakh] by the Armenian military”.
“Armenia’s position on the peace talks, its refusal to recognize the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, modern weapons supplies to the
Armenian army and cease-fire violations increase the danger of the
war resuming,” the statement reads.
[Passage omitted: background details]
The statement said that “the Azerbaijani parliament calls on Armenia
to take a constructive position on the peace process and give up its
actions impeding the negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group”.
The parliament proposed that the UN General Assembly discuss the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization,
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, NATO and the European
Parliament deal with the problem.