Author: Kalashian Nyrie

THEY SEEM LIKELY TO RECONSTRUCT SHUSHI
Lragir.am
08 July 06
The delegation of businessmen of Armenia led by the mayor of
Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan is visiting Stepanakert. The delegation
includes the members of the Shushi Revival Foundation. On July 7 the
businessmen had meetings in Shushi and Stepanakert. On the same day
the delegation of the Shushi Revival Foundation led by the president
of the foundation Yervand Zakharyan were received by NKR President
Arkady Ghukasyan. During the talk the reconstruction and strategy of
development of Shushi were discussed.
Yervand Zakharyan mentioned in particular that the foundation is
already working on a series of important program, including the
reconstruction of the town and a four or five-year plan of development,
reconstruction of infrastructures and development, as well as
fundraising and creating jobs in the town. Mr. Zakharyan pointed
to water supply as a prime problem and added that the Foundation
cooperates closely with the NKR government.
The NKR president said the reconstruction of the town is highly
important for the Armenians all over the world, and the town’s fame
as an all-Armenian spiritual, educational and cultural center must
be restored.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER: NKR HAS THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT MAY DEFINE ITS FATE
AZG Armenian Daily
07/07/2006
In end July-early August Matthew Bryza, OSCE MG US Co-Chair is going
to visit NKR. Ashot Gulian, Speaker of NKR Parliament, and Georgiy
Petrosian, NKR Foreign Minister, told the journalists about this today.
Gulian stated that at the meeting with Bryza the sides touched upon
the recent interview of the US Co-Chair.
“Bryza said that he just announced the common opinion of the
co-chairs,” Gulian said, adding that they thoroughly informed Bryza
about the latest developments and the beginning of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict to deepen his idea of the settlement process.
Petrosian stated that they expressed concern about the publication
of the certain elements of the negotiation process, as well as about
the point in the interview which links the settlement of the conflict
with the Armenian-Turkish relations. NKR Foreign Minister emphasized
that NKR Foreign Ministry isn’t going to make any official statement
on the above-mentioned interview of Bryza at the current stage.
^_As for the latest suggestions of the OSCE MG co-chairs, Mr. Gulian
said that the document might only serve as a ground for the
negotiations, as not all of the points in that are acceptable for NKR
and Armenia. At the same time, Gulian said that the actions of the
Azeri authorities testify that Baku isn’t ready for the settlement,
yet. He said, if Azerbaijan agrees to negotiate with NKR, that will
mean that Baku is ready for the conflict settlement.
In his turn, Petrosian stated that in the course of the settlement
process a new situation was created and it’s hard to say in
which format the negotiations will launch. “The position of NKR is
unchanged: NKR participated in the establishment of the cease-fire,
and, therefore, it has right to participate in the negotiations that
may define its fate,” Petrosian underscored.

AZERBAIJAN CONSIDERS GEORGIA MOST IMPORTANT STRATEGIC PARTNER
Author: S.Agayev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
Azerbaijan has always considered and is considering Georgia its most
important strategic partner in the region and on world scale, Artur
Rasizade, the prime minister of Azerbaijan, made such a statement at
the meeting with his Georgian colleague Zurab Nogaideli, Trend reports.
According to Rasizade, the sides closely cooperate with in GUAM
(Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) and other international
organizations. “Azerbaijan has achieved high indicators in the economic
development, The gross domestic product (GDP) of the country in 2006
has increased by 40%, and in 2005 the growth was 26 %,” Rasizade told.
Rasizade told that by the end of the year, all districts in Azerbaijan
will be provided with gas. “Over the past two and a half year, 400
thousand work places have been opened and this corresponds to the
social policy of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan attaches a great importance
to the military creation because the country is in the war situation
with Armenia,” Rasizade stressed.
According to prime minister of Azerbaijan, the military budget
of the country has grown by 2,3 times as comprised to 2006. “The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the biggest problem for Azerbaijan and the
country tries to settle the problem peacefully,” Rasizade mentioned.
Rasizade pointed out that Azerbaijan supports the territorial integrity
of Georgia and expresses its gratitude to Georgian side for supporting
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
The Georgian prime minister told that the trade turnover between the
two countries in 2005 was 72% and it will continue. “The construction
of SCP is the new phase in the energy cooperation between the two
countries. Kazakhstan’s joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is
also stabilization fact in relation with oil prices,” he emphasized.

SHIRAK PROVINCE HIT BY DROUGHT AND HAIL
Armenpress
Jul 6 2006
GYUMRI, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: Officials in the northwestern province of
Shirak are calculating the volume of damage sustained to the region’s
agriculture by hails and drought.
They say the drought alone has destroyed barley planting in 15,000
hectares. Now farmers expect less than 400 kg of crop from a hectare
instead of previously anticipated 2,000 kg. Barley was completely
destroyed in Ani, Akhurian and Artik sub-regions.
Movses Manukian, head of agriculture department at the governor’s
office, said more damages were sustained by hails, hitting hard around
60 rural communities and 3,500 hectares of crops, especially under
wheat.. Officials estimate that the province has sustained 1 billion
drams damages.

PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATED RA CITIZENS ON DAY OF CONSTITUTION
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.07.2006 18:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Constitution has invaluable historical importance
for any state and nation, says the congratulatory message of Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan issued over the Day of Constitution
celebrated July 5. “The Organic Law helped to realize the fundamental
principles of independent Armenia and was the guarantor of its
progress. In the hardest times the Constitution was the basis of
sustainable development and independence of the Armenian state,”
the message says, reported the RA government’s press office.

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 ARAM I RECEIVES AN INVITATION TO ATTEND
AN INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW
The Russian Orthodox Church has organized an inter-faith conference in
Moscow on July 3-5. The conference will look into issues related to
inter-faith dialogue and cooperation and problems the current world
faces in general. The purpose of the conference is to also issue a
statement about the several difficulties humanity faces today prior
to the G8 summit planned in Moscow.
The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Alexi
II has personally invited the Armenian Catholicos of the Holy See
of Cilicia to participate in the conference. His Holiness Aram I
delegated Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian (Primate of the Diocese of
Tehran) and Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer) to represent
the Catholicosate of Cilicia and himself at the conference.
The Pontiff also sent a message to the conference.
##
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.

REGULAR PHASE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH NEGOTIATIONS SEEMS TO FAIL
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Turkey are preparing for
4th phase of the preliminary negotiations aiming at normalization of
bilateral relations. The Press-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Turkey, Namig Tan informed at weekly press-conference.
Reminding the failure of the previous three phases of negotiations
because of destructive position and statement of fictitious “genocide”
of Armenia, Namig Tan said that currently there is a little hope
for progress. He said that the Prime-Minister of Turkey, Receb
Tayyib Erdogan, the leader of CHP, Deniz Baykal and the Turkish
Parliament uphold Turkish proposal concerning establishment of
the joint commission composed of Turkish and Armenian historians
for exploring the “genocide” issue, but Armenia, to the contrary,
reinforced propaganda of fictitious “genocide”.
Namig Tan, meaning the Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, highlighted that
equally with bilateral relations with Turkey, Armenia has serious
regional problems. He stressed that the official Iravan should take
more constructive approach to its solution.
–Boundary_(ID_iRW2+C10Vmp9KProy0rK3A)- –

ABKHAZ POLITICIANS AT ODDS OVER RAILWAY
Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 4 2006
The Abkhaz authorities are thoroughly considering proposals over
resumption of railway connection between Georgia and Russia via
Abkhazia and are ready to contribute only if the project coincides with
the Sokhumi’s interests, a statement issued by the breakaway region’s
government on July 4 says, according to the Apsnipress news agency.
The statement follows after a Forum of Abkhaz People’s Unity,
which includes three opposition parties and nine public movements,
said on June 30 that an agreement on setting up of the international
consortium on railway rehabilitation uniting the Russian, Georgian,
Abkhaz and Armenian sides, pose threat to the Abkhazia’s sovereignty.
Forum of Abkhaz People’s Unity said in a statement that it is
not against of rehabilitation of the railway, but it categorically
opposes handing over property of the Abkhaz state-run railway to the
international consortium.
Some opposition parliamentarians, including Kesou Khagba, alleged that
Abkhaz and Russian criminal interests are behind the railway project.
The Abkhaz government denounced the opposition’s allegations as
groundless and said in the statement that talks over the consortium
are of “consultative nature” and no legally binding document has been
signed yet.
The government of the breakaway region also noted that the process
is transparent and open for public discussions.

DENOUNCEMENT AGAINST KAREKIN II
Anatolian Times, Turkey
July 3 2006
ISTANBUL – Kemal Kerincsiz, chairman of the executive board of the
Union of Jurists, denounced Karekin II, head of the Armenian Orthodox
Church, to the Chief Prosecutor`s Office in Istanbul on Thursday
on charges of denigrating Turkish people by claiming that Turks had
committed genocide against Armenians.
In a petition he submitted to the Chief Prosecutor`s Office, Kerincsiz
said that a public prosecution should be filed against Karekin II
for denigrating Turkish people in accordance with Article 301/1 of
the Turkish Penal Code.
Kerincsiz also requested the Chief Prosecutor`s Office to issue
a warrant of arrest to detain Karekin II if he enters the country
once again.
Karekin II paid a visit to Istanbul last week at invitation of
Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I.
During a news conference at the Turkish-Armenian Patriarchate on June
25th, Karekin II said that it was impossible to find a solution as
long as Turkey denied the so-called Armenian genocide.
Article 301/1 says that individual/s who openly denigrate/s Turkish
people, Republic of Turkey or Turkish parliament is/are sentenced to
prison from six months up to three years.

SUMMER SESSION OF NATO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL STARTED IN BAKU
Author: R.Abdullayev
TREND, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006
The summer session of NATO international school started in Baku. The
event brought together 40 youths and girls from NATO member-countries,
as well as partner-countries of NATO, Trendreports.
The event was organized by the Azeri Foreign Ministry, as well as
Social diplomacy department of NATO.
The session is dedicated to the topic “The prospects of Euro-Atlantic
integration into region of three seas”.
Delivering a report during the session, the Azeri deputy foreign
minister Araz Azimov mentioned the importance of concentrating the
efforts in prevention of threats and risks in the region. According
to Azimov, the realization of the potential of the region will make
a contribution to the global development.
Besides, the participants of the five-day session discussed the
international security, role of NATO in provision of the stability
in the world, settlement of the crisis in the Near-East and
Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The participants of the event have the opportunity to publish their
work in the magazine of Azeri Foreign Ministry “World of Diplomacy”.
Besides, during the session, reports were delivered by the deputy
secretary general of NATO Jane Furne, as well as ambassadors of Norway,
France and Georgia to Azerbaijan.