Author: Kanayan Tamar

What attracts the tourists to Artsakh are its people
ArmRadio.am
17.06.2006 14:31
“What attracts the tourists to Artsakh are its people with a unique
psychology and hospitality coming from the bottom of the heart,” said
Director of the NKR Tourism Development Agency Sergey Shahverdyan in
his talk with “Radiolur” correspondent.
Statistics shows that the number of tourists visiting Artsakh increases
with 40 percent annually. The tourists are interested not only in
this region rich in historical monuments, but also the mentality,
traditions of the people living here.
Artsakh has always been considered a country possessing a rich
historical heritage. Twenty years age 1 700 historical monuments
were counted here. Now the number is four times as much, since new
Armenian monuments were found on liberated territories.
In Sergey Shahverdyan’s words, ethnic tourism has also been developing
in Artsakh during the recent years. Karabakh hosts tourists from Italy,
France, Japan, Israel and other countries.

ARMENIA IS NOT TOLD, ARMENIA DOES NOT TELL
Lragir.am
15 June 06
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan stated June 14 that Russia decides
how to handle the companies given to Russia in return for debt. The
point is that press ran information several days ago that the Russian
government, which became the owner of four big companies in Armenia,
is going to sell them. “It is Russia’s property, the property of the
government, and they decide to privatize them or hand over management
to another company or country,” said Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
with regard to the rumored step of the Russian government.
Everything is not as bad as it might seem, however. We learned that
not only Armenia is not asked or told, or informed about matters that
concern our country, but also Armenia does not inform other countries
about all the processes concerning us. Namely, a senior official of
the Iranian Embassy to Armenia stated June 13 that he had not learned
about the intention of the Armenian government to transfer part of
the shares of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to the Russians. “Is
it obligatory that we tell our neighbors everything that happens in
Armenia in writing?” counters Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
The problem is, however, that Iran states the arrangement on the gas
pipeline was made by Armenia and Iran and any changes or introduction
of another participant must be approved by both countries. In other
words, Iran must give its agreement to transfer shares to Russia.

“ARARAT” TRIES TO FIGHT THE CRISIS
A1+
[01:26 pm] 12 June, 2006
After several defeats in the National championship of Armenia “Ararat”
finally celebrated a victory beating “Kilikia” 3:2. Despite the fact
that Nshan Erzroumyan from “Kilikia” scored first, three goals (two
from Edgar Sarafyan) from “Ararat” gave them the desired three points.
As for “Kilikia”, this was their last game before the start if
the Intertoto Cup. On June 17 “Kilikia” will play with “Dinamo”
from Tbilisi.
“Ulis” suffered another defeat, this time from “Gandzasar” (2:1).

DELEGATION HEADED BY RA DEFENSE MINISTER TO LEAVE FOR BELGIUM
ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 10:41
Delegation headed by RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will leave
today on an official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium. The Minister is
scheduled to meet his counterpart and Head of Defense Staff of Belgium.
In Brussels Serge Sargsyan will participate in the sitting of the
North-Atlantic Council, where the process of accomplishment of
Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Actions Plan is to be discussed.

ARMENIAN CITIZEN SHOT DEAD IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.06.2006 13:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two Armenian citizens were assaulted Saturday evening
in park near the North Boulevard, Moscow. A 44-years-old citizen of
Armenia was wounded in the chest and immediately died. A 24-year-old
man was taken to hospital. The investigators found a pistol at the
locus delicti. A criminal case was initiated. “A 52-year-old driver
and guardian of the Nogin meatpacking plant was detained as suspect of
murder,” Sergey Marchenko, a representative of the Moscow Prosecutor’s
Office informed, reported Interfax.

Ceremonial hall of Sassanid palace discovered in western Iran

TEHRAN, June 10 (MNA) — A team of archaeologists has discovered ruins
of the ceremonial hall of the Sassanid era Khosrow Palace near the
city of Qasr-e Shirin in the western Iranian province of Kermanshah,
the Persian service of CHN reported on Friday.
The hall was constructed of cobblestone and gypsum and measures
12.5×26 meters.
`Studies indicate that the hall had a large arch built of bricks of
different sizes overhead,’ team director Yusef Moradi said.
The hall is surrounded by a number of porticos with stone and brick
columns, and the team recently discovered frescos on the columns, he
added.
Covering an area of 75,000 square meters, the palace was built by the
Sassanid king Khosrow II for his Armenian Christian wife Shirin. Some
Iranian and Arab geographers and historians of the early Islamic era
called the palace one of the wonders of the world.
Archaeological studies are underway to determine the original
appearance of Khosrow Palace.
The region was excavated by French archeologist and prehistorian
Jacques de Morgan in the late nineteenth century, British
archaeologist and writer Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell in 1910 and
1911, and then by Oscar Reuter. Each one prepared architectural plans
of the Khosrow Palace, but the Iranian team believes that none of the
plans are reliable.
The archaeological team working at the site recently discovered a wall
surrounding the palace about 40 kilometers in length, which they
believe was used as a defensive device for the palace.
Moradi said last February that the team is also searching for traces
of Byzantine emperor Heraclius (ruled 610-641) at the palace.
Khosrow II (reigned 590-628) began a long war against the Byzantine
Empire in 602 and by 619 had conquered almost all southwestern Asia
Minor and Egypt.
Further expansion was prevented by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius,
who between 622 and 627 drove the Persians back within their original
borders. Many experts believe that the Khosrow Palace had been sacked
and pillaged by Heraclius.

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:
17th anniversary of the death of
Imam Ruhollah Khomeini
“THE CURRENT SOCIETY SUFFERS FROM
A FALLBACK IN MORAL VALUES”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
His Holiness delivered the above message during an official commemoration
held in UNESCO Palace on June 6 on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of
the death of Imam Ruholla Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“One of the greatest conflicts of current society is the fallback in moral
values. We see this worrying phenomenon in families, in structures that
function within societies, in government institutions and in the current
world order in general. The health of a society does not rely on its
political, military or economic power, but on the existence of moral values.
Where moral values are absent, injustice, insecurity, violence, human rights
violations and all kinds of evil reign. Thus we consider the return of moral
values an imperative necessity,” wrote the Catholicos in his message.
The Pontiff’s message was read out by the Primate of the Diocese of Tabriz,
Bishop Neshan Topouzian. The representative of the Lebanese Parliament’s
speaker and the spiritual leaders of the country’s Christian and Muslim
communities also gave speeches during the event.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

JUNE 18 – 20 10TH ROUND OF NK TALKS TO BE HELD WITHIN THE FRAMES OF DARTMOUTH CONFERENCE ON REGIONAL CONFLICTS
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
June 18 – 20 the 10th round of the talks between the representatives
of RA, Azeri and Nagorno Karabakh public within the frames of the
American-Russian Working group of Dartmouth Conference on Regional
Conflicts will be held in Snegiri, a town in the Moscow region.
The issues to be discussed will be determined at the spot, RA
Democratic Party leader, RA NA deputy Aram G. Sargsyan told DE
FACTO Information-Analytics Agency. However, it is known that in the
course of the 10th round of the talks the outcomes of the RA and AR
Presidents’ Bucharest meeting are to be discussed.
Aram G. Sargsyan also said some modifications had been made in
RA delegation: RA first ombudsman, executive director of the Fund
against Violations of Law Larissa Alaverdyan had been included in the
delegation. To note, Mrs. Alaverdyan has already participated in the
work of the Dartmouth conference on Karabakh, however, she suspended
her activity being appointed RA ombudsman.
Dartmouth Conference on Regional Conflicts is the only format of the
Karabakh talks held with the participation of the representatives of
the Nagorno Karabakh public. At the 9th round of the talks within
the frames of the Dartmouth conference on Karabakh conducted in
December, 2005 a Frame Agreement on peace process in the region was
coordinated and approved by the representatives of RA, Azeri and
Nagorno Karabakh. March 2006 the Co-Chairs Harold Saunders and Vitaly
Naumkin visited Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert for the first time.

“ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE THE CONFLICT IN PEACEFUL WAY WAS MISSED”
A1+
[03:44 pm] 08 June, 2006
“The window is open, we mustn’t exclude any development, hope dies
but last; we must anchor hope that we shall be able to come to an
agreement on the matters of principle,” RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian announced in today’s press release.
The latter didn’t exclude the possibility of meeting with his Azeri
counterpart at any moment but he didn’t go into details and didn’t
inform anything about that forthcoming meeting. “Every meeting is
held when there are new approaches and new offers,” noted Vartan
Oskanian and added that he didn’t see any ground for new offers
yet. He connected the efficiency of the Bucharest meeting with the
offer which is in the process of discussions and with the complication
of the matter. “Unfortunately we failed; the matter under question
was rather complicated. It was also put in front of the Presidents
in Rambouillet and it was again a failure. The new approaches were
not approved either.”
Yesterday the Azeri deputy informed the Armenian journalists that the
Armenian side refused to take the Armenian forces out of 6 regions
and turned down the offer to allocate the peace-keeping forces
instead though they had agreed beforehand. Asked the question by
“A1+” whether the announcement of the Azeri deputy was grounded and
whether the offer was finally turned down Mr. Oskanian answered, “Today
all the questions connected with the conflict settlement are put on
the table. Our foremost task is the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh
status. As for the elimination of the consequences it must be done
after the NKR recognition.”
By the way, if one-page document was put in front of the presidents
during the Paris meeting, it turned into two-page document in
Bucharest. Asked the question what the length of the document is
determined by Vartan Oskanian answered jokingly, “Not by the budget”
and then added that there were no many changes in the contents only
the length of the document changed.
As for Serge Sargsyan’s announcement that Azerbaijan is likely to lose
its chance to settle the conflict in peaceful way Oskanian answered
diplomatically, “After each negotiation we think that another chance
to settle the conflict in peaceful way was missed.”
Vartan Oskanian once more claimed that the NKR conflict has no military
solution; if it had it would have been settled long ago. The Armenian
side frequently announces about the necessity of peaceful negotiations.

‘YOU’VE GOT MAIL,’ SAYS BUNNY NABAZTAG
OhmyNews International, South Korea
June 7 2006
French wi-fi rabbit debuts in the United States
Claire Ulrich (briconcela)
Nabaztag, the wi-fi rabbit
©2006 Violet Company
A CNN tech report, an article in the New York Times, top tech blogs
like Engadget all gush about Nabaztag, a cute plastic rabbit with
wifi-superpowers that makes it the first known wifi-toy on this
planet. To French technophiles, this is old news. Nabaztag was born
in Paris in mid-2005.
50,000 rabbits have been sold since in Europe, where an on-line
cult is developing around the tech-pet. Sold on line or at high-end
retailers for the not cheap price of US$150, it now tackles the North
American market.
What does this 9-inch bunny do, exactly? Nothing robotic. Everything
wi-fi. With a Nabaztag at home, you don’t have to stay glued to
your desktop to stay tuned. Your rabbit will flash colored signals,
tweak its ears, sing, talk, to keep you informed of what goes on in
your online life while you are busy in the kitchen or watching TV in
the lounge.
Given a power outlet and a wifi connection, it warns you of incoming
mail, activity in your RSS reader, briefs you on stocks price, air
quality, weather,trafic conditions in your town (or on the other side
of the world). What else? Wake-up calls, text-to-voice SMS and mails,
domotic alerts (red cheeks? you forgot to close the garage door! ).
And a few fun options, such as Tai-Chi classes for your rabbit, or
marrying two bunnies to synchronise their tasks and ear-positions
through rabbit-to-rabbit communication. Some services are free of
charge, others require a paying subscription.
Nabaztag has a story. It was created by Rafi Haladjian, a French
Net entrepreneur. Why a rabbit? “Because, by pure chance, there
was a toy-rabbit sitting on my desk when we brainstormed about a
non-intrusive object that didn’t need a screen to provide information
in the home.” Why name it Nabaztag? “Because it’s the word for rabbit
in Armenia, my parents’ country.”
Nabaztag is not Mr Haladjan’s first venture. In 1993, he founded
FranceNet, the first French Internet provider, then Fluxus (sold
to British Telecom), and now manages Ozone, an Internet thought
wi-fi network, as well as the Violet company, a design studio of
“smart objects.”
Nabaztag is Violet’s first release. A test run of 5,000 Nabaztags
sold out within a few days in France in July 2005. The company main
challenge nowadays is to keep ahead of the demand, while working on
brothers and sisters for Nabaztag, a whole family of smart objects.
In France, Mr Haladjian is considered an expert on the future of the
Internet. He believes in the dawn of “Pervasive network,” a concept
he frequently lectures about at universities and French think tanks.
He forecasts that Internet connection, thanks to wifi technology, will
soon become as natural and expected as electric power or running water
in homes. At least, in industrialized countries. Screens, desktops,
UC towers will then be cumbersome things of the past.
Borders between the physical and digital worlds will slowly be
erased. Smart objects in your home and life will link directly to a
wifi flow of orders and information. Mr Haladjan intends to make those
not only intelligent but beautiful, poetic, soothing and, above all,
not intrusive.
Right now, cuteness is obviously Nabaztag’s main asset. But will the
tech-bunny become a mainstream household feature? A survey on the
Nabaztag French blog profiles users and their motives for adopting
a wi-fi rabbit. One French fan uses it daily to check on weather and
traffic conditions in Athens (Greece) where her boyfriend lives.
Another writes candidly about what hooked her to her tech-pet:
“Nabaztag makes me feel superior. I am the only one who understands
what my rabbit is telling me.”
Photo:
Rafi Haladjian takes a break in a Paris cafe: the creator of Nabaztag
is at work on a new breed of smart objects for the Internet age ©2006
Claire Ulrich
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