Author: Karakhanian Suren

JONATHAN HENICK: THE U.S. APPRAISES VISIT EXCHANGE BY AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 29 2007

"The United States appraises the exchange of visit by Azerbaijani and
Armenian intellectuals. We regard that there should be more contact
between these two countries," the US Embassy public affairs officer
Jonathan Henick told the APA.

"We regard that such visits, relations between the journalists would
reduce the tension over the conflict. That is a good step, such visits
would help reach a peaceful solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,"
the Embassy officer said.

The diplomat saying that mutual visits of Azerbaijani and Armenian
intellectuals were not held on the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group
stated that such steps should be approved in any case.

"Since the Presidents and Foreign Ministers negotiate why not
representatives of other strata of the society maintain contact?" he
concluded.

IRAN PREPARING FOR U.S. INTRUSION?

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2007 18:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Early this week, Tehran deployed in southern Iraq and
southern Iran contingents of Revolutionary Guards Corps of suicide
fighters in anticipation of an American attack on Iranian soil,
DEBKAfile reports.

Those units were posted to fight off a possible U.S. marines landing
in southern Iran. Tehran believes the American force will be assigned
with destroying RG bases and infrastructure in the south and sabotaging
the oil wells and installations of Iranian province of Khuzestan.

The RG fighters were dropped by helicopter in southern Iraq on June
24 and 25. Their task will be to launch suicide attacks on U.S. and
British bases and command posts in the region the moment Iran comes
under American attack.

Also in anticipation of a showdown, Tehran announced Tuesday at only
two hours notice the rationing of gas for Iran’s private motorists
to 100 liters per month.

Protesters started torching gas stations Wednesday.

For lack of refining capacity, the oil-rich country imports 40%
of its gasoline needs and oil products.

Tehran sharply reined in private consumption to free up reserves for
the armed forces in case of war and keep power stations and water
supplies running in an emergency.

These two steps in three days attest to the certainty of Iran’s
government and military that a military confrontation with the US is
around the corner.

The British Sun newspaper first disclosed the Iranian troop thrust into
southern Iraq Monday, June 25, reporting: "It is an extremely alarming
development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we
are in a full war with Iran – but nobody has officially declared it."

DEBKAfile’s military experts add: In effect, the Iranian military
incursion of Iraq is the fourth military invasion of foreign territory
underway in the Middle East at this very moment. None are officially
admitted.

1. The Turkish army is fighting Kurdish PKK rebels in Iraqi Kurdistan
on the other side of their border.

Almost daily, Turkish units backed by tanks, fighter planes
and helicopters cross into northern Iraq and battle with the
rebels. Washington, Ankara, Baghdad and Irbil blandly ignore this
ongoing war.

2. In the second week of the six-week long confrontation between the
Lebanese army and the pro-Damascus radical Palestinian Fatah al-Islam
near Tripoli, the Syrian army and security service began pushing into
the embattled camp reinforcements of hundreds Palestinian fighters,
members of groups under their control. These fighters, an estimated
1,600-strong, have since fanned out in clusters in northern Lebanon,
the Beqaa Valley, the mountains north of Tripoli and south of
Beirut. The Syrian army keeps them well supplied with ammunition,
food and fuel.

3. Israeli tank and armored infantry forces conduct ongoing
counter-terror operations against Hamas, Jihad Islami and allied
Palestinian terrorist groups in southern and northern Gaza. Since
the Palestinian Islamist Hamas takeover of Gaza last week, Israeli
tanks supported by helicopter and pilot-less aircraft are engaged in
ongoing firefights with Palestinian anti-tank units.

EXHIBITION OF BRAZILIAN ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHER MANUK POLADIAN OPENS IN SAO PAOLO

Noyan Tapan
Jun 27, 2007

SAO PAOLO, JUNE 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The opening of
famous Brazilian Armenian photographer Manuk Poladian’s exhibition
"Armenia – 15 years of independence" took place at one of the
exhibition halls of Sao Paolo’s biggest cultural center "Cento Cultural
Sao Paulo" on June 23.

Noyan Tapan was informed about this by the Press and Information
Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Representatives of town authorities, consular institutions accredited
in Sao Paolo, Head of the Brazil’s diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Tatev Archbishop Gharibian, famous figures of the Brazilian
Armenian community, as well as the staff of the Consulate General of
Armenia were present at the opening.

The exhibition will last till July 29.

GREEK PRESIDENT: TURKEY SHOULD RESPECT EU REQUIREMENTS

ArmInfo
2007-06-26 21:52:00

Turkey, that strives for EU, should respect EU requirements, the way
other states striving for EU do, Greek President Karolos Papoulias
said at a joint press-conference with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan in Yerevan, Tuesday.

The Greek President expressed hope that Turkey will realize that it
can’t strive for EU and at the same time keep an occupation army in
the territory of the Cyprus, an EU member state.

IN TIGRAN KARAPETIAN’S OPINION, RPA "CONDUCTS" IN PARLIAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Tigran Karapetian, the Chairman of
the People’s party, does not agree to the idea of taking part in
the presidential elections with one common candidate as yet, because
currently he does not see a political will for it in the opposition
right freedom field. This statement was made during the June 26
debate with Ruben Tovmasian, the first Secretary of the the Central
Committee of the Armenian Communists’ Party. According to Tigran
Karapetian, there is one goal set in front of the People’s party and
that is to help people to overcome the post-electoral depression,
which was a result of an electoral process conducted with violations
and falsifications. "It is a political catagory to support people,"
he declared, mentioning that for that purpose the party will organize
a holiday free of charge on the bank of the Sevan for all those who
want it.

Touching upon the forces that have entered into parliament, Tigran
Karapetian mentioned that the Orinats Yerkir party "is in a tricky
situation" and that "there is only one thing left to do: Arthur
Baghdasarian should leave the Orinats Yerkir party." According to
the Chairman of the People’s party, the Zharangutiun (Heritage)
party "is a pro-west force having capital," Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) "is allegedly pro-Russian," and the Republican
party "conducts" all these parties.

R. Tovmasian declared that not surpassing the 5% threshold in the
parliamentary elections does not mean a defeat for the Armenian
Communists’ party at all. He also stated that the format of the
Armenian Communists’ party for taking part in the presidential
elections will be decided by the party’s convention.

ARMENIA READY TO CONSIDER PROPOSAL ON TRANSIT GAS PIPE

Lragir.am
26-06-2007 20:38:10

The government of Armenia intends to build a new nuclear plant but there is
no certainly on fundraising, technology, terms, Prime Minister Serge
Sargsyan stated June 26 during the meeting of the National Assembly.

"But Armenia must generate atomic energy, I believe," Serge Sargsyan
said in answer to the question of the head of the Orinats Yerkir faction
Arthur Baghdasaryan on the thoughts of the government and Serge Sargsyan on
the construction of a new nuclear plant.

Besides, Arthur Baghdasaryan wanted to know the stance of the government and
Serge Sargsyan on the construction of the second Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
which may be a transit pipeline. "As to the second pipeline, it is not
exactly the second pipeline, efforts are made to improve the first pipeline
to transport more gas. In other words, the second pipeline will not be a
wider pipe, an autonomous pipe, a transit pipe. But if there are proposals,
we are ready to discuss the proposals, although I think it involves
different problems, first of all financial problems, investments,
guarantees, etc.," Serge Sargsyan said.

In answer to the question of the leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party faction
on the intention to increase the lump-sum tax, Serge Sargsyan said it will
create problems for owners of small and medium-sized businesses and lead to
inflation, Serge Sargsyan said the lump-sum tax will not be increased.

"We proposed amendments to two laws to the National Assembly, and these
amendments are intended to curtail black economy. To replace the simplified
tax by the lump-sum tax in one case and usual taxes in the other case. I
understand that some businessmen may dislike it. But we will always have to
make steps if we want to reduce black economy, boost the budget, the GDP, we
will take these steps continuously," the prime minister said.

In answer to OYP Member of Parliament Artashes Avoyan’s question on the
return of lost savings which was one of the frequently asked questions in
the pre-election period, Serge Sargsyan said we will continue to return the
savings as much as we can. "If we could, we would return all the 100
percent," the prime minister said.

RECONSTRUCTED MONUMENT DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN-FRENCH FRIENDSHIP INAUGURATED IN CHAVILLE, FRANCE

ArmInfo
2007-06-25 20:45:00

A reconstructed monument dedicated to Armenian-French friendship was
inaugurated in Chaville, France.

The press-service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo
that the inauguration took place on June 24. The festive ceremony
was attended by Armenian Ambassador to France Edvard Nalbandyan,
Mayor of Chaville Jean Levain and other guests. The monument was set
in 2002, however, perpetrators broke it in December 2006 and stole
the bronze parts.

GREEK PRESIDENT TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON A STATE VISIT ON JUNE 26

Noyan Tapan
Jun 25 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN. At the invitation of the RA President,
Robert Kocharian, the President of the Republic of Greece, Karolos
Papoulias, with his wife, May Papoulias, will arrive in Armenia on
a state visit on June 26.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, a face-to-face conversation between the Armenian and
Greek Presidents will take place on June 26, which will be followed
by a meeting by an enlarged staff. R. Kocharian’s and K. Papoulias’
joint press conference will take place the same day.

The Greek President will also have meetings with the RA NA Speaker,
Tigran Torosian, and the Prime Minister, Serge Sargsian, be received
by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, and will meet with
representatives of the Greek community.

K. Papoulias will also visit the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide
and Yerevan State University.

The Armenian and Greek Presidents, and the First Ladies, will listen
to the concert of Greek singer E. Arvanitaki at the A. Spendiarian
National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.

The delegation led by the Greek President will leave Yerevan on
June 28.

FFA PRESIDENT: UEFA DECISION MUST BE BASED ON IMPORTANT FACTORS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 25 2007

"I regret UEFA Executive Committee decision on cancellation of Euro
qualifying matches between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Nevertheless,
I believe and accept UEFA and FIFA decision. This extraordinary
decision must be based on very important factors and arguments",
stated Ruben Ayrapetyan, president of Football Federation of Armenia,
APA-Sport reports.

Ayrapetyan said he regrets that they Armenian squad which is improving
day by day has been deprived of points. FFA president said they used
all opportunity to play these matches.

"Armenian president’s representative took part in trilateral meeting
between Armenia, Azerbaijan and UEFA. He even gave a guarantee for
security there", he said.

Ayrapenyan stated that they were ready to organize the match in
Yerevan in accordance with the rules of international laws.

The matches between Azerbaijan and Armenia were to take place on
September 8 in Baku and four days later in Yerevan.

"A KARABAKH TALE" WAS ONE OF THE BEST

KarabakhOpen
25-06-2007 11:40:47

On June 19 the Air Casket festival of Russian-language TV programs
was held in Yerevan by the International Academy of Television and
Radio. Over 50 reporters from Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia,
Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Estonia arrived in Yerevan.

The TV and radio reporters presented programs in 4 nominations: News
Program, Cultural Program, We Speak Russian (best command of Russian
on television and radio) and Program which reflect link of audience
with Russia.

Over 200 works were presented. Armenia was represented by Internews
and Stepanakert Press Club with the program "A Karabakh Tale". On
Friday the participants got diplomas. All the participants got gifts
from the IATR.

36 films got wooden caskets, the best 5 got malachite caskets,
including "A Karabakh Tale". By the way, "A Karabakh Tale" was the
only Armenian film on the festival. It will be presented on the Golden
Apricot Festival.