Author: Kamalian Hagop

MP Warns against Overlooking of Mid-East Crisis

Fars News Agency, Iran
July 17 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Chairman of the Parliament’s National
Security Commission stressed that the Middle-East crisis would continue
as long as realities of the region remain unheeded.

Speaking in a meeting with the chairman of Armenia-Iran Parliamentary
Friendship Group, Alaoddin Boroujerdi described the two countries’
relations excellent and stated that establishing deeper relations
with the neighboring states, including Armenia, sets a priority for
the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy.

The parliament deputy viewed the role of parliamentary friendship
groups influential in the development of bilateral relations and
reiterated the need for continued exchange of political visits.

Elsewhere, he referred to the ongoing crisis in the region and said
that the Islamic Republic of Iran is decisive to utilize all its
potentials to render help and assistance to the Iraqi people and
cooperate with the government of that country for the establishment
of stability and calm.

Boroujerdi termed presence of the alien troops a major factor
responsible for the intensification of the present unrests in Iraq
and stressed the necessity for the immediate withdrawal of foreign
troops from that country.

Regarding Afghanistan, the chairman of the Parliament’s National
Security and Foreign Policy Commission stated that Tehran would make
an optimal use of its potentials and capabilities to help to the
reconstruction of Afghanistan, adding that Iran has made enormous
efforts and dedicated many of its valuable troops to prevent transit
of illicit drugs to Europe .

Referring to the Middle-East crisis, the MP pointed out that the mass
killing of the innocent civilians with high-tech weaponries cannot
be interpreted as a display of power while it does not help to the
settlement of crisis either.

"Such actions would add up another black point to the Zionist regime’s
already dark performance report," he continued.

Touching on Iran’s nuclear issue, Boroujerdi reminded that Tehran is
not asking for anything beyond its NPT rights, stressing that Iran
will not give up its right.

He described continued talks as a necessity for solving the current
stalemate, underlining that the Islamic Republic of Iran may not submit
to foreign pressures for the suspension of its nuclear enrichment.

For his part, head of Armenia-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group
Galust Sahakian viewed his country’s relations with the Islamic
Republic of Iran to be moving on a growing trend and further
stressed the need for the utilization of all the existing political
and parliamentary potentials for the deepening of mutual ties and
cooperation.

Noting the visit of the Armenian parliamentary friendship group to
Iran, he stated that continued exchange of political and cultural
visits between the two counties would render considerable help
and assistance to the development of mutual understanding and the
ever-growing expansion of relations.

To conclude his words, he called for the increasing support of the
Islamic Consultative Assembly for the development of the two states’
relations in various political, economic and industrial grounds.

FOURTH ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPING PLATOON TO FLY TO IRAQ LATER THIS MONTH

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS: The fourth 46-member contingent of
Armenian peacekeepers comprising truck drivers, sappers and medics
will leave for Iraq during the last week of July, Armenian defense
ministry said.

Armenians participate in the multinational force in Iraq. Each shift
serves for approximately six months, contributing to international
efforts to support Iraq’s growing democracy and ensure a peaceful
and prosperous future for the Iraqi people.

Armenians are deployed in Alkut town, 100 km off Baghdad. Armenian
parliament voted recently to extend the presence of its troops in
Iraq until January 2007.

Karabakh People Will on NK Status Principal

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.07.2006 14:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The present scheme of the OSCE Minsk Group is as
follows: majority of territories against a promise for referendum on
the NK status. It provides for the withdrawal of the Armenian forces
from 5 regions while the rest remains uncertain. In such a case it’s
naïve to think that the sides can agree on referendum afterwards,"
says the article PanARMENIAN.Net received from former OSCE MG Russian
Co-chair Vladimir Kazimirov. In his words, with such state of things
the main problem – the NKR status determination- would remain unsettled
and represent danger of war. This issue must not be protracted. The
will of the Karabakh people is principal. Caucasus is a delicate
region and the international community should undertake to prevent
any attempts to settle the problem by threats and bloodshed. Nagorno
Karabakh should not be considered somebody’s territory and the will of
its population should not be neglected," Vladimir Kazimirov considers.

He also remarked that Baku quotes the Azeri Constitution that allows
conduction of national referenda only. "However it’s worth mentioning
that the Azeri Constitution was adopted in 1995 in order to prevent
the NK population from expressing will. This transformation of the
Organic Law of a state into an instrument of political and propaganda
war will lead to irreversible changes in this chapter. Let me also
remark that Article 9 of the above mentioned Constitution denies war as
"means of settlement of international conflicts," Kazimirov said.

The Russian diplomat pointed out to another fault in the
Azeri Constitution that badly troubles Baku in asserting its
"heritage". "When repealing the Constitution of 1978 the authors of
the Constitution of 1995 failed to give a proper name to their previous
republic. Thus the trick with Constitution doesn’t work. Nowadays the
voting on status is held by those who is immediately concerned in the
matter, that is by Quebec but not Canada; by Catalonia but not Spain,"
the article says.

–Boundary_(ID_W0FFhs5ESZWskEVrBzq6JQ)–

MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI: BLOCKING UPPER LARS BORDER CONTROL POINT IS MORE HARMFUL
FOR ARMENIA THAN FOR GEORGIA

AZG Armenian Daily #131, 14/07/2006

Regional

The blocking of the traffic through the Kazbegi- Upper
Lars control point on the Russian-Georgian border by
the Russian party was a greater blow for Armenia than
for Georgia. Mikheil Saakashvili, President of
Georgia, said this at July 11 press-conference.
"Closing of the control point "Upper Lars" did not
affect the economy of Georgia, because Georgia exports
goods using another way. But it is bad for the people
who travel from one country to another. And it is
especially bad for Armenia as the main freight from
Russia was transported through "Upper Lars",
Saakashvili emphasized. It~Rs worth mentioning that on
July 8 the Russian frontier guards closed the north
part of the Georgian-Russian border on CP "Kazbegi-
Upper Lars". According to the official information,
the CP was closed in connection with repair works.

The authorities of Georgia made a decision to open a
temporary control point on July 10 near village
Ergneti of Tskhinvali region to let people who could
not enter Georgia from Russia through "Upper Lars"
enter the territory of the country. Many people trying
to enter Georgia reached the control point "Lower
Zaromag" on Russian side and entered Tskhinvali region
through Roki tunnel where there were no official
control points for crossing the Georgian-Russian
border.

By Nana Petrosian

Lebanon seeks Armenia’s support for mine clearing operations

Arminfo
11 Jul 06

Yerevan, 11 July: Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallukh, who is on
an official visit in Armenia, has requested Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Markaryan to help with mine clearing in areas south of
Lebanon.

The Lebanese foreign minister said that Armenia both has rich
experience in mine clearing and professional specialists, the press
service of the Armenian government reported.

Andranik Markaryan assured Sallukh of consulting the heads of relevant
bodies over the request.

TREND, Azerbaijan
July 10 2006

Report on Nagorno-Karabakh to be prepared again

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

10.07.2006

The report of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Nagorno-Karabakh will be
prepared again, PM Fazil Gazanfaroglu, the member of the Azerbaijani
delegation in PA OSCE and also the chairman of the Great Establishment
Party, told Trend.

Due to the Goran Lennmarker’s election the chairman of PA OSCE
during the summer session on July 3-7, he completed the results of
his mission as reporter on Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to Gazanfaroglu, after appointment of a new reporter,
the report prepared by Lennmarker will be looked through. "We met
with Lennmarker. The report of Lannmarker reflects several aspects
dissatisfying the sides," told Gazanfaroglu.

In the document, the aggression of Armenia was approached from the
same position with Azerbaijan. "Soon, the document will be again
prepared by the appointed reporter," he told.

Besides, Gazanfaroglu stressed that during the summer session of PA
OSCE, the Azerbaijani delegation have raised enough questions about the
Armenian aggression. But, Armenians didn’t raise the question about
the conducting of a monitoring on the fires committed by Armeniand
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

South Bend Tribune, IN –
July 10 2006

Pita pizzas add pleasant dash of Armenian flavor

ROBIN MATHER JENKINS
Chicago Tribune

A stop at a Middle Eastern bakery and a stack of freshly baked pitas
rekindled my appetite for lahmajoun, a dish I learned to make from
Armenian-American friends in Detroit. It’s a terrific solution for
the dinner rush. I’m told that lahmajoun (la-ma-ZHOON) translates
from Arabic to "meat dough," but if you think of it as individual
pizzas, you would be closer to the mark.

If lamb isn’t your favorite, substitute ground beef or even ground
turkey.

Try adding diced tomato or tomato paste to the meat while browning.

If you can find za’atar, the Middle Eastern blend of sumac, oregano
and sesame seeds, use that instead of the oregano.

Lemonade and limeade are both so easily made at home that you can
make a pitcher while the lahmajouns bake. The juice from half a lemon
or a whole lime should be adequate for a glassful. Sweeten to taste.

Lahmajoun

1 pound lean ground lamb

1 onion, finely chopped or grated

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

8 whole wheat or regular pitas

1/4 cup pine nuts

4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

Heat oven to 350 F. Combine lamb, onion, garlic, oregano, salt and
red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl. Mix gently with hands until
well-blended.

Arrange pitas on baking sheets. Divide lamb mixture among the pitas.
Scatter pine nuts and feta over the meat mixture. Bake 20 minutes, or
until meat is done and pitas are crisp. Sprinkle with parsley. Serves
8.

Nutrition information per serving: 354 calories, 37 percent of
calories from fat, 15 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, 50 mg cholesterol, 38
g carbohydrates, 19 g protein, 677 mg sodium, 5 g fiber

Preparation time: 30 minutes.

Serge Sargsyan and Bryan Ardouny Discussed Armenia-U.S. Cooperation

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.07.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the Security Council at the
RA President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with Executive
Director of the Armenian Assembly of America Bryan Ardouny and Regional
Director Arpi Vardanian. As RA Defense Minister’s Spokesman, Colonel
Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net, the parties discussed the
Armenia-U.S. cooperation in the military sector and the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Bryan Ardouny briefed
to Serge Sargsyan on the AAA activities and processes in the
U.S. referring to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Ave, S-803
New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.
Tel:1-212-689-5307
Fax:1-212-689-5317
E-mai l: [email protected]

Armenia Fund USA’s Agricultural Initiative in
Nagorno-Karabakh Underway
~The first Agricultural Development Association established in Mardakert ~

NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA, East Region affiliate of
All-Armenian Fund is pleased to announce that its agricultural
development project, promising to revitalize the agricultural sector of
Karabakh’s economy, is currently underway. The Agricultural Initiative
aims at upgrading the standards of living of the rural communities
in the Mardakert Region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The three-year, three
phase program, developed by leading experts in the United States
with the initiation of Armenia Fund USA and All-Armenian Fund, and
in cooperation with the governments of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
involves a new approach to the idea of development by empowering
rural communities to invest in their agricultural potential.

While initially aimed at converting subsistence farmers (producing
just enough to feed their families) into export producers, the Agro
Initiative is a long-term strategic plan targeting rural poverty
reduction in the region.

The Agro Initiative, implemented by Armenia Fund USA, is one of the
many other components of the "Rebirth of Artsakh" Regional Development
Program – a large-scale initiative undertaken by all 18 affiliates
of the Fund to provide much needed assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh
through a series of projects that include construction of new schools,
healthcare facilities, drinking and water irrigation systems and
access roads.

Building upon continued success of implementing development projects
in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia Fund USA is now focusing on
the Agro Initiative. Addressing the issue of functional agricultural
infrastructure, given the region’s historical potential as a major
agricultural area, appears to be the logical place to start in
revitalizing the agricultural economy on basis of which regional
development can become feasible.

After conducting a field study of Nagorno-Karabakh villages and the
situation of rural farming communities, a team of leading experts from
Turnaround Associates, Inc., a New York based corporate consulting
firm, designed a step-by-step plan to expand Karabakh’s food production
capabilities by careful balancing of import-export ratio.

The plan involved supporting rural farmers in nearly all aspects of
agricultural activity. However without access to fundamental farm
equipment, this was simply impossible. Armenia Fund USA therefore
focused on strategies that would support purchase and maintenance of
new agricultural equipment as well as provide technical support related
services to small farmers. This is when the necessity of establishing
Agricultural Development Associations (ADA), complemented by Service
centers to house equipment and serve as a source of technology transfer
through Agricultural Service Corporations (ASCOs), came into being.

A very recent trip (May 2006) to the region by Armenia Fund USA
representatives was, among many other activities, to establish the
Mardakert Agricultural Development Association (MADA) in Mardakert
Region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which was done in cooperation with
All-Armenian Fund in Yerevan and the local government.

After selecting the site for the MADA and appointing Director in
Residence responsible for the project in Karabakh, the rationale
of the Mardakert Agricultural Development Association, a voluntary
non-profit association of farmers, as well as Mardakert Agricultural
Services Corporation, a joint stock commercial company that is to
provide technical and farm equipment services at affordable rates, was
presented to the Karabakh Ministry of Agriculture on the one hand, and
to the local farming communities on the other. To introduce Mardakert
farmers to the organizational structure of the ADA and explain the
benefits of becoming a member of the Association, Armenia Fund USA held
meetings with Karabakh farmers to encourage them to join. Particularly
noteworthy were the farmers’ enthusiasm and openness to cooperate and
receive expert training in areas where their agricultural methods
had proven outmoded. Their readiness to join efforts in improving
agricultural production by collective efforts is what will make the
further development of the ADA a success.

According to present estimates, over 18 villages with a population of
more than 9,000 will be direct beneficiaries of this initiative. The
newly established Mardakert Agricultural Development Association will
start accepting applications for local farmers in the fall. Currently,
the Fund is in the process of purchasing the necessary equipment for
the first ADA.

Tractors, share plows, wheat seed drills, trucks mowers and combines
are being ordered from China and Russia to be transported to Armenia
and then to Nagorno-Karabakh. A $700,000 worth of farm equipment is
needed for the ADA to start its function this fall.

The Agro Initiative will start with production of wheat, the dominant
field crop in Karabakh. Apart from providing upgraded technical
assistance to farmers, the Initiative involves significant efforts
to involve the social factor of change in agricultural production
in Karabakh. The idea of ADAs owned by local farmers, the expert
trainings and exchange of information are specific steps to engage
rural farming communities to become entrepreneurs.

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was one of
the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates
and serves constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As
a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund
represents all Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international
affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia
and Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles
of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210
residential buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.

Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic
socio-economic infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing
on major projects such as major highways, schools, drinking water
to communities and humanitarian programs in education, training and
medical facilities. The Fund has adopted a policy to go "Beyond Bricks
and Mortar" to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

Scientific conference dedicated to the investigation of the historical
heritage of Shushi started in Stepanakert

ArmRadio.am
08.07.2006 15:00

Scientific conference dedicated to the investigation of the
historical-cultural heritage of Shushi city, the prospects of
activities in this direction, revival of religious-educational
traditions of this ancient city of Karabakh, reconstruction of
the infrastructures damaged during the war opened in NKR capital
Stepanakert.

"Arminfo" correspondent informs from Stepanakert that the event was
attended by the delegation of Katoghike Church and the delegation of
Armenian businessmen headed by the Mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan.