Author: Karakhanian Suren

219 RA citizens and Armenians arrived in Yerevan from Aleppo this morning
ArmRadio.am
21.07.2006 17:35
This morning 219 RA citizens and Armenians arrived in Yerevan from
Beirut with the assistance of RA Embassy in Lebanon. Acting Spokesman
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Karapetyan told “ArmInfo”
that they arrived in two planes. According to the source, the number
of the names included in the Embassy lists has not increased.
“Our citizens apply our Embassy,” Vladimir Karapetyan noted, commenting
on the reports of the foreign media, according to which Armenians leave
Lebanon through Cyprus or with the assistance of foreign diplomatic
missions. Most probably the question here refers to Armenian citizens
of other states. Vladimir Karapetyan noted that there are no reports
on Amenians wounded or killed in the result of teh military actions.

Armenia evacuates citizens, ethnic Armenians from Lebanon
AP Worldstream; Jul 19, 2006
More than 180 Armenian citizens were being evacuated from Lebanon
Wednesday amid intensifying fighting between Israeli forces and
Hezbollah guerillas, Armenian government officials said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Vladimir Karapetian said diplomats in both
Lebanon and Syria were coordinating the pullout, with both Armenian
citizens and ethnic Armenians living in Lebanon converging on the
Armenian Consulate in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.
A Syrian airliner carrying about 70 Armenians was expected in the
Armenian capital Yerevan Wednesday, he said, and more were expected
to arrive on an Armenian airliner later in the day.
About 1,200 Armenian citizens were reported to be in Lebanon as the
fighting erupted last week, Karapetian said.
Lebanon has a sizable population of ethnic Armenians, many of whom
are descendants of those who fled what is today Turkey after World
War I amid a series of mass killings. An estimated 120,000 ethnic
Armenians live in the country today _ some 50,000 in Beirut alone.
Russia, meanwhile, sent two planes to Latakia, Syria to begin
evacuating its citizens fleeing Lebanon. Buses brought more than 200
Russians to Syria on Tuesday, and about 1,000 others were to be bused
in on Wednesday and eventually flown to Moscow, officials and news
reports said.

Israeli Aircraft Continues Attacking Lebanon
ArmRadio.am
17.07.2006 12:18
Israel has extended its air campaign to northernmost Lebanon, killing
at least 14 people, including eight soldiers, in the port of Abdeh
near Tripoli.
The raids come after a Hezbollah rocket attack killed eight Israelis
in Haifa. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that the Haifa
attack would have “far reaching consequences”.
More than 130 Lebanese have died since clashes with Israel began
last week. At least 23 people were killed in air raids in southern
Lebanon on Sunday.
Early on Monday, Israeli air strikes targeted Tripoli, Lebanon’s
second-largest city located in the north of the country, and Baalbek
in the east.
Beirut’s port also came under attack, and a large area of the docks
was set on fire. Ten Lebanese soldiers were reported injured in the
strike that killed eight of their colleagues. The Israeli military
said it had been targeting radar stations in Abdeh because they were
used by Hezbollah to hit an Israeli ship on Friday, the Associated
Press news agency reported. At least six other people were reported
killed in Israeli raids in central and eastern Lebanon. Twelve Israeli
civilians have been killed by Hezbollah rockets since fighting began
on Wednesday, including the eight killed in Haifa.
The Israeli air strikes began after Hezbollah seized two Israeli
soldiers during a raid into Israel on Wednesday.
Editor-in-Chief of the Lebanon based “Azdak” newspaper Shahan
Kandaharyan told “Radiolur” there are no Armenians among the dead
and injured. He said also that different from Arabs, Armenians are
not rushing to leave the country.

OSCE offices co-organize study tour for Armenian groups on fighting human trafficking
ArmRadio.am
17.07.2006 16:54
Representatives of the Armenian non-governmental organizations Hope
and Help and Democracy Today together with the Ministry of Labor
and Social Issues and the Police participated in a study tour to
Odessa, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the OSCE Project
Coordinator in Ukraine.
The purpose of the trip was to exchange experience with NGOs providing
assistance to the victims of trafficking and state units dealing with
combating trafficking in Ukraine.
“In recent years, Ukrainian anti-trafficking actors have acquired a
lot of experience which can be useful for the Armenian side,” said
Blanka Hancilova, Democratization Programme Manager at the OSCE Office
in Yerevan.
“This study tour was a unique opportunity for the representatives of
the two Armenian NGOs and government representatives to learn about
the work of their Ukrainian colleagues. We hope that this knowledge
will help further improve the conceptual and practical approaches of
Armenian anti-trafficking unit,” Blanka Hancilova noted.

K. ZANUSSI: ARMENIA SURVIVES DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT
Yerevan, July 14. ArmInfo. “Armenia survives dynamic development,”
K.Zanussi, Polish film director, said this in the interview to ArmInfo.
Zanussi stated that as compared with the last year, the changes are
obvious. He added that within the framework this year’s festival
he didn’t manage to see any film. Nevertheless, he is familiarized
with the list of the films shown at the festival. He added that there
are much more good and important movies included in the competition
program of the festival than last year.
At the same time, Zanussi stated that in Poland in 18th century
there appeared snoberry to the Armenians, as they were considered
highly intellectual, educated and wealthy people. Moreover, Zanussi
said that The Polish people even have a proverb about the Armenians
which says that if someone wants to have a daughter with beautiful
eyes, he should marry and Armenian girl. Zanussi also said that the
old Diaspora of the Armenians living in Krakov belongs to higher
bourgeois. But the old Armenian Diaspora doesn’t communicate with the
new one. The new Armenian residents of Poland mainly belong to the
working class, but they also gradually try to achieve higher positions
in the society. Zanussi said that wherever he is he never forgets that
he knows the representatives of a nation that was the first to adopt
the Christianity as a state religion. In the end, Zanussi expressed
hope that he will also have Armenian guests, the students in his house.
It’s worth mentioning that Zanussi screened such films as “Contract,”
“The Year of the Serene Sun,” “Life as Sexually Transmitted Fatal
Disease,” “Persona Non Grata” and others.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/14//2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenian Public Support For Karabakh Compromise 'Pointless Now' 2) Armenia Condemns Israeli Attack On Lebanon 3) Glendale's Attarian At Y8 Youth Summit 4) Amenian Relief Society of Western USA Regional Executive's Message On the occassion of the 86th Regional Convention 1) Armenian Public Support For Karabakh Compromise 'Pointless Now' YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Armenian government will not to seek domestic popular support for a compromise solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict favored by international mediators until it is accepted by Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian indicated on Friday. In their recent statements that disclosed the essence of the proposed peace deal, the French, Russian and U.S. co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group urged the presidents of Armenia to display the necessary "political will" and prepare their publics for mutual painful concessions on Karabakh. "We think the parties would be well-served at this point by allowing their publics to engage in a robust discussion of the many viewpoints on those issues," read their statement issued on June 22. "We are confident that neither society wants renewed conflict, and we urge the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to work with their publics and to work with each other to formulate an agreement on core principles that both find acceptable." But according to Oskanian, initiating a public debate in Armenia will be pointless unless Azerbaijan accepts the Minsk Group plan as a basis for further negotiations. "I am not making and will not make any attempts to convince anyone, and especially our people, that the provisions of that document must be accepted, because the Azerbaijani side has yet to accept it," he told reporters. Official Yerevan has said that it finds the framework peace accord, which calls for a referendum of self-determination in Karabakh, largely acceptable to the Armenian side. The Azerbaijani leadership appears to be less supportive of the proposed formula, with President Ilham Aliev repeatedly stating that Baku will never agree to Karabakh's independence or reunification with Armenia. 2) Armenia Condemns Israeli Attack On Lebanon YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia joined Arab nations and the European Union in condemning Israel for its military action against Lebanon that continued for a third consecutive day on Friday, heightening tensions in the Middle East. While denouncing the abduction of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of eight others by the Hezbollah militia, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said Israel should stop its air strikes against civilian targets in Lebanon. "Armenia condemns any violence whether it be abduction or use of force," the ministry said in a statement. "We particularly denounce the use of such disproportionate force intended solely to collectively punish civilians and damage infrastructure. This kind of reaction by Israel is particularly difficult to understand given the fact that the Lebanese government has clearly distanced itself from the abduction incident." "We hope that there will be restraint in the region and also hope there will be an immediate ceasefire so that the issues can be addressed by peaceful means," added the statement. Israel launched a widespread bombing campaign in Lebanon and tightened an air, sea and land blockade of its northern neighbor in response to Hezbollah's deadly cross-border attack on its troops. More than 60 civilians in Lebanon and two in Israel have been killed in the worst bout of fighting since Israel ended its occupation of south Lebanon six years ago Israeli air raids on Beirut international airport have disrupted Lebanon's air communication with the rest of the world, leaving thousands of travelers to and from the country stranded in the region. Among them was Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, who was returning from a visit to Armenia and - like many - was forced to make his way home through Syria. Salloukh's official visit to Yerevan highlighted warm relations existing between Armenia and Lebanon and other Arab states that have large and affluent Armenian communities. Armenians have for decades been represented in the Lebanese government and parliament. The country's President Emile Lahoud is half Armenian. Israel's "disproportionate use of force" was criticized on Friday by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, which now holds the European Union's rotating presidency. French President Jacques Chirac likewise said the Israeli military campaign is "completely disproportionate," while blasting Hezbollah for its "irresponsible" stance. Israel's actions, however, were effectively justified by U.S. President George W. Bush who said the Jewish state "has the right to defend herself." 3) Glendale's Attarian At Y8 Youth Summit ST. PETERSBURG--Glendale resident and Glendale High School student Shant Attarian, 15, is part of a team of students reprenting the US at the "Y8" summit, which convened in the St. Petersburg suburb of Poushkin. Participants of the "Y8" summit represent 13 to 17-year old students from the Group of 8 countries, whose leaders will convene the G8 this weekend. 4) Amenian Relief Society of Western USA Regional Executive's Message On the occassion of the 86th Regional Convention It Was the Best of Times; It Was the Worst of Times As we look back on this year and think of all the events, personalities, civic officials, projects, meetings meetings and more meetings. It seems that this quote from Charles Dickens is very appropriate. The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Regional Executive Board, kept up the momentum created last year and grew exponentially in many directions. Delegates from our entire region are meeting in the Whittier Radisson Hotel for the 86th Regional Convention. They brought with them the resolutions and projects from their respective chapters and have listened to the prepared reports and a retrospective look at the year... The Region has been productive. Our website is filled with the events and personalities of our Region and we have now started including the history of ARS and our region. Check it out at HYPERLINK "; www.arswestu sa.org and enjoy it with us. Our ARS Voice program is a reality and as we look back on our first year of programming, we are filled with wonder that with volunteer hours we have been able to enlarge our website and begin a TV program; both vital tools for communicating in this age of technology. A few days ago, I was reminded that the biggest breakthrough in communication was Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1453; which took the manually written Bible from the hands of the educated elite few; to the people. Television in the Twentieth Century broadened communication; but the age of the Internet has opened a floodgate of information and communication to every corner of the world. It is a major credit to the ARS of Western USA that we are linked to the world and we are very proud of it. This was also a year of challenges, our Social Services battled with grant renewals and cutbacks in staff. The region grappled with ways to encourage membership so that all the generations who join our treasured organization feel welcome and important. Our desire to expand services to reach out to more of our communities' concerns was hampered by difficulties raising money for local projects. Just when our challenges would feel too difficult, we would be reminded that the challenges of today are miniscule compared to the challenges of our heroines in the deserts of Der Zor who continued to teach the Armenian letters in the sand while they felt hopeless and violated. Or those members in our 96- year history who awe us with their sacrifices and dedication; walking, not driving, cooking not hiring cooks, writing not using computers; but always focusing on the goals and values of our people, our Armenian Relief Society, as Khatchouhies or Homouhis and always Ungerouhis. Our challenges include changing attitudes and perceptions in our membership that new ways of doing things is not a reason to forget the traditional ways, but must be used as an avenue to bring in new ideas, new members and new traditions. As an organization, When we are faced with troubles we wonder why do we have to go through this? We are trying to do good, we are giving with a true heart, and we are appealing for a good cause. Why does God allow these difficulties? We are then reminded of Malachi 3:3 which says: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"... which speaks of the character of God through the process of refining silver. For those who know the process the silversmith places the silver over the fire and lets it heat up. He needs to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest to burn away all the impurities and strengthen the metal. He needs to keep close attention the whole time the silver is in the fire. If the silver is left a moment too long in the flames, it will be destroyed. When the silver shines so that the silversmith can see his image, the silver is ready. So, we can be reminded that when we feel the heat of the fire on ourselves or on our organization we need to remember that God has His eye on us and will keep watching us until He sees His image in us. We need to know He is watching over us so whatever we are going through we will be purified and strengthened by the challenges. And challenges we have... Our delegates are faced with getting ready for the following year. They will face the challenge of our social and counseling services, of the needs of our orphans and kindergartens, the needs of bright young Saturday School students, women and children who are abused, and graduates who need scholarships for higher learning. They strive as members, to work to spread our message of service, to encourage others to join hands with us, to donate to our projects, because they know that we still have projects here and in our homeland needing funding. This is an age of the insidious genocide of our people through apathy, intolerance and indifference to our culture and our brethren in need; busy lives filled with selfish concerns and worshiping of money and status. Our delegates are different. They introduce and mentor new members, to help and serve one another on a continuous basis, they work to strengthen this important sisterhood, they are generous and help fund our projects so that we may be free to serve our communities large and small, locally and in the homeland. And they are striving to do it all with the most professional and excellent means available. Members of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA know that they can make a difference; and they do. Join us in service and encourage the next generation by your giving importance to the work of the previous generation. Join us and be blessed with the uniqueness of the ARS bonds of sisterhood. Join the Armenian Relief Society and make a difference in your life and the lives of others. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

OSKANIAN CAGEY ABOUT CONTESTING NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS: Foreign minister Vartan Oskanian was
cagey today when asked whether he might decide to contest the 2008
presidential election, but said he was determined to have his input
in building a stronger Armenia, help it develop economically and
politically.
“I feel I am still able to contribute to Armenia’s advance, but I
can not say what way it may be reflected. I did not even think about
it,” Oskanian said to a news conference today. The minister said his
priorities were now efforts for resolution of the ongoing Karabakh
conflict, organization of the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference,
slated for late September and foreign policy affairs.
Oskanian said he did not either think about joining a political
party and received no invitations from any. Oskanian said the main
objective now is to define the national policy for the next decade
and see which of political forces is able to ensure the continuity
of the state’s policy.
Asked what Armenia can do to counter the commissioning of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyahn oil pipeline that will bring huge profits to
Azerbaijan and Georgia, Oskanian said Armenians must rely on domestic,
Diaspora and international resources.

COMMUNIST PARTY REJECTS UNIFICATION
Lragir.am
13 July 06
The Communist Party of Armenia made a statement July 13 that they
reject proposals on unification by communists who left the party at
different times. The Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party authorized Tachat Sargsyan, the first secretary of political
committee of the City Committee of Yerevan to make this statement.
“With the election drawing nearer, there is more consideration
about the Communist Party, its activities and the alleged alliance
of communist parties. First of all, the Communist Party has never
been divided, but persons were dismissed from the Communist Party
for different reasons, who violated the bylaws of the political party
and did not obey the decisions of its bureau,” says Tachat Sargsyan.
He states that the leadership of the CP decided, “Reject the proposals
offered by separate persons, who were dismissed from the Communist
Party and set up Renewed and Progressive parties, on unification in
accordance with the bylaws of the CP.”
Tachat Sargsyan says they were not offered official proposals on
unification of the Communist Party. Tachat Sargsyan says they deny
all kinds of considerations about unification. Generally, however,
the communists accept the idea of unification.
“We consider the idea of unification as positive. After all it is not
accidental that Europe is being united today. Moreover, it unites
with Nazi Germany, which shattered Europe in 1941. It was thanks
to unification that Soviet Armenia was a ruined country and became
one of the prosperous cities. But this proposal on unification made
by our former fellow communists is a subject of another talk,” says
Tachat Sargsyan.

KIRO MANOYAN: AZERBAIJAN DID NOT AGREE TO PROPOSED VARIANT, WHAT ELSE
SHALL WE ARGUE ABOUT?
YEREVAN, JULY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The optimism expressed
by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs on the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in 2006 was not grounded. Kiro Manoyan, Executive of
the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Bureau Hay Dat and Political Office, declared
this at the July 11 dispute at the Hayeli (Mirror) club.
According to him, Azerbaijan from the very start was not disposed
to solve the issue through mutual concessions. According to Manoyan,
for the Azerbaijani President, the negotiations were means of gaining
time, as he sets his hopes on funds to be received from oil and on
solving the problem with the the help of these funds through a war.
Manoyan declared that the Dashnaktsutiun is against the variant of
Nagorno Karabakh settlement proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs,
as it contains a provision to cede the liberated territories and
the conditions of the referendum to be held for the purpose of
self-determination are not precisely mentioned in it. “Our approach
is that first the issue of status should be solved the way it should
not cause commentaries. As far as the issue of status is unsolved,
the Artsakh issue is not solved for us and it is senseless to speak
about other concessions,” he emphasized.
According to Manoyan, the only positive point in the settlement
variant published lately is that the Co-chairmen, in fact, declare
that they see no other approach of settlement but to recognize
Nagorno Karabakh’s right of self-determination.
Manoyan stated that official Stepanakert and official Yerevan express
readiness to cede the liberated territories to Azerbaijan. Whereas,
the ARFD considers that NKR should stipulate its current factual
borders in the newly worked out Constitution.
According to him, refusing to take away new territories from
Azerbaijan or to resume the war can be considered as a concession on
the part of Armenia.
Besides, holding a new referendum in NKR is already a concession, as
Nagorno Karabakh has once expressed its position through a referendum.
Though the Dashnaktsutiun does not like the proposed variant of
settlement, nevertheless, according to Manoyan, the party is not going
to instigate a dispute in the society for the purpose of preserving
stability in the country.
“I do not think the time has come for us to start an argument in the
country, Azerbaijan did not agree to this variant, what else shall
we argue about?”
Kiro Manoyan declared.

Holding Referendum on Karabakh Status Compromise in Itself
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.07.2006 17:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Joining Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia is an ideal
solution to the NK conflict, Director on Political Affairs of ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Bureau Kiro Manoyan told journalists today. In his
words, the principle of joining NK to Armenia underlay the talks
since 1998.
Manoyan also noted that the latest proposal of the OSCE MG rests
on that principle and the Armenian party holds negotiations around
it. Kiro Manoyan noted with regret that official Stepanakert and
Yerevan consider the territories making the Nagorno Karabakh security
zone from the point of view of concession. He added that holding a
referendum on the future status of Nagorno Karabakh is a compromise
in itself, reports Novosti-Armenia.