Author: Karakhanian Suren

PLATVOET PROPOSED FORMING WORKING GROUP WITH PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIA, KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At a meeting with Armenian Speaker Tigran Torosyan
PACE Rapporteur for the Missing in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan,
Dutch MP Leo Platvoet discussed the outcomes of his latest visit
to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Torosyan thanked Platvoet for
meeting during the visit with NKR NGOs dealing with the affairs of
the missing and is committed to not politicizing the issue. Platvoet
noted it would be very important for his mission to visit Nagorno
Karabakh and Abkhazia. The PACE Rapporteur suggested that Tigran
Torosyan provide him a lit of missing Armenians to organize search for
them in Azerbaijan and “find those, who is, maybe, still alive.” To
promote search for the missing, Platvoet proposed to form a working
group with participation of all parties under the patronage of the
Red Cross. The Speaker was ready to assist in drawing a report aimed
at solving that important human problem, reports the Press Service
of the NA of Armenia.

RENE VAN DER LINDEN: PACE’S SPECIAL GROUP WILL DEBATE ON FIRES IN NK
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 27 2007
The Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis wished that the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict be resolved by peaceful way soon and stressed
the importance of both parties taking interest in the resolution.
The Secretary General stated these while responding to the question of
an Armenia journalist in the news conference in the frames of the PACE
Summer Session. APA’s Europe correspondent reports that Mr.Davis stated
Azerbaijanis also lived in Nagorno Garabagh alongside with Armenians
and regretted for the delay of the resolution of the conflict.
“This conflict should be taken serious, and solution ways should be
found as soon as possible. However, use of force by any parties is
unacceptable. Both sides already suffered loss of life during these
years, and I denounce these,” Terry Davis said.
PACE President Rene van der Linden also held a pres conference.
Responding to the question of APA’s Europe correspondent regarding
recent massive fires in the occupied Azerbaijani territories set by
Armenians, the PACE President said the issues of preventing fires
in forests and massive fires will be discussed at the sitting of the
Summer Session on 30 June. Mr.van der Linden also said PACE’s special
group will debate the issue on fires in Nagorno Garabagh. He noted
that it would be advisable if rapporteur for Nagorno Garabagh conflict
Rassel Johnston in his report touches on the issue of preventing
these fires.
“Such cases caused by one of the parties to the conflict are very
unpleasant,” Rene van der Linden said.
The PACE President considers happening of such cases due to the lack
of dialogue between the parties.

ERDOGAN’S ISLAMIST PARTY LEADS STATE TO DEMOCRACY
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 15:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I should say that changes take place in Turkey. How
much paradoxical it may sound but the Islamist line pursued by
Recep Tayyip leads the country towards democratization. Islamists
wish to limit the role of the General Staff in the home and foreign
policy. The period launched by the young Turks and Kemal Ataturk
comes to an end, Head of the Department of Turkey of the National
Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Doctor Ruben Safrastyan stated in an
interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.
The incumbent government stands for Islam which promotes the process
of European integration. Erdogan can become Turkey’s new president
and this will mean the final end of Kemalists represented by President
Ahmed Necet Sezer. Of course there is a risk. If the positions of the
military weaken we will have to deal with unpredictable Turkey. But
it’s premature to speak of it yet.

THE VISIT OF THE OFFICIAL DELEGATION OF THE NKR TO THE USA
A1+
[04:35 pm] 27 June, 2006
On June 22, within the framework of the working visit of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s delegation to the United States of America,
NKR National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian and the Republic’s
Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian arrived in Boston.
On June 23, the NKR Parliament Speaker and Foreign Minister visited the
House of Representatives of the state of Massachusetts where they met
with Deputy of the Parliament Rachel Kapriyelian and advisor to Speaker
on Healthcare Issues Chris Hager. In the course of the meetings issues
concerning mutual cooperation in the sphere of education, culture,
and healthcare, as well as parliamentary activity were discussed.
Then the NKR delegation met with the members of the Council of editors
of the “Boston Glob” newspaper.
During the conversation the current state of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement peace process and social-economic situation
in Artsakh were touched upon. The NKR representatives replied to
different questions of journalists.
In Boston the official representatives of Nagorno Karabakh also
had meetings with representatives of the leadership of the Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA) Caroline Mîughar and Anthony Parsamian. The
issues connected with the relations’ expansion between AAA and the
NKR authorities were discussed.
In the evening NKR National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian and
NKR Minister for Foreign Affairs Georgy Petrossian visited Armenian
Cultural and Educational Centre where they met with the leadership
of the Armenian organizations of the state of Massachusetts.
After the meeting a public event took place. During the meeting an
important contribution of the USA Armenian community to the development
of Artsakh was noted. They also spoke about the necessity of the
participation of the Diaspora Armenians in the confrontation to the
challenges facing Nagorno Karabakh. The official representatives of
Artsakh answered the questions of the participants of the meeting,
which mainly related to economic, social and cultural spheres.
On June 24, a meeting was held at Sam and Aida Bedjakians place where
a number of American philanthropists of Armenian origin were present.
During the meeting the NKR representatives on behalf of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh expressed their gratitude to their compatriots
from the USA for the consistent assistance which was being rendered to
Artsakh. In their turn, the Armenian businessmen of America confirmed
once more their readiness to support the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
The working visit of the NKR delegation to the USA is in progress.
–Boundary_(ID_lxRPKNRQIUXg3XsO+iS8rQ)- –

STEPAN HAKOBYAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED
A1+
[04:42 pm] 26 June, 2006
On June 24 Stepan S. Hakobyan born in 1978 was arrested in connection
with the June 22 murder in Malatia. No charge has been brought against
Hakobyan yet but he is suspected of keeping illegal weapon.
During the search in his house cartridges have been found. The
information has been confirmed by press secretary of the Prosecutor’s
office Sona Truzyan.
It is noteworthy that Stepan Hakobyan is the nephew of NA deputy Hakob
Hakobyan. Let us also remind that Stepan Hakobyan and Sedrak Zatikyan
who was murdered on June 22 had a terrible quarrel two years ago.
Stepan Hakobyan will be accused of keeping illegal weapon. The
investigation is under way.

DIASPORA ARMENIAN CULTURAL FIGURES DISCONTENT OF THE QUALITY OF CULTURE AND LITERATURE IN ARMENIA
Panorama.am
19:06 26/06/06
We became the witnesses of unorganized work of One Nation, One Culture
festival in Moscow Cinema House where a meeting with diaspora Armenian
writers was held. Some came with the expectation to listen to poetry
and got discontent and demanded that they get to the point.
The Armenian cultural figures in Los Angeles, Sofia and Austria
mentioned that they are deprived of the opportunity to follow the
developments of the Armenian literature. “We do not know what books are
published in Armenia. We do not get books and literary newspapers,”
Hakob Ormanjyan, the head of Armeniology Center in Sofia said. He
said book fairs are held in Sofia but Armenia never comes up with
its products.
Armenian Writers’ Union Head Levon Ananyan explained that the
transport fair is high enough and sometimes the expenses do not
cover the cost. In his words, the state must eliminate the customs
due on books for transport of books. H. Ormanjyan also complained
about the content of the literature – it is always about our past
and village which does not have demand among the youth. “They want
to see Armenia’s reality today,” he said.

ERIK GEVORGYAN ACHIEVES A SILVER MEDAL AT THE EUROPEAN YOUTH JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP
ArmRadio.am
26.06.2006 14:05
Erik Gevorgyan of Yerevan achieved a silver medal and vice-champion’s
title at the European Youth Judo Championship held in Hungary. Six
other Armenian sportsmen were participating in the tournament.
RA Judo Federation informs that Erik Gevorgyan lost only in the final.
The trainer of the Armenian team is Martin Sargsyan.

ARMENIANS DEBATE DUAL CITIZENSHIP CONCEPT
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS: The main idea of hearings on dual
citizenship convened today by an Armenian parliament committee
on foreign affairs was that it would help Armenians worldwide to
rally around their homeland and use to the full their potentials
and resources.
The clause in 1995 Constitution banning dual citizenship was removed
last November, when Armenians approved a set of constitutional
amendments in a nation-wide referendum. But possible repercussions
of introduction of dual citizenship still remain unclear.
Critics say the introduction of dual citizenship could lead to a
radical change in the relationship between the Armenian state and
millions of Armenians who live outside it. According to different
estimates, the official population of Armenia is no more than three
million, while between seven and ten million Armenians live elsewhere
in the world.
Supporters of dual citizenship argue that its introduction would enable
the Armenian Diaspora to render assistance more effectively, increase
foreign investment into the country and bring expatriate Armenians
psychologically closer to their historical motherland. Opponents
of the idea say that it is fraught with unforeseen consequences and
could surrender sovereignty to people in other states. They say dual
citizenship is only possible where a bilateral agreement could be
struck with another country. But this can be problematic for Armenia.
Dual citizenship is being vigorously advocated by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) which has developed a draft concept
on how to grant Armenian citizenship to Diaspora fellows. ARF member
Armen Rustamian, head of a special commission to tackle the issue, said
today they expect the hearings to clarify answers to many questions,
to help specify the circle of working international norms and standards
which could be used while drafting the Armenian law.
Science and education minister Levon Mkrtchian, also from the ARF,
spoke extensively about the international regulation of the dual
citizenship.
Constitutional Court chairman Gagik Harutunian reminded that only 54 of
191 member states of the United Nations recognize the dual citizenship.
Harutunian said it is critical to adopt such a law that would dismiss
all related concerns.

Russia’s Post Soviet Allies Discuss Economy, Security at Minsk Summit
MosNews, Russia
June 24 2006
MosNews
Leaders of several ex-Soviet nations met Friday to discuss plans to
strengthen their economic alliance and bolster defense and security
cooperation, The Associated Press reported.
Leaders of Russia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations –
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – sat down for a
summit of their Eurasian Economic Community in the Belarusian capital,
focusing on plans to form a customs union. Opening the talks, Belarus’
authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, also said they would
discuss ways to coordinate strategies for joining the World Trade
Organization. Lukashenko said later that they had failed to reach
common ground on coordinating WTO accession talks.
Talks on forming a customs union were also moving slowly, he said,
and the pact’s members so far had agreed on just over half of all
customs tariffs. “The process isn’t advancing as quickly as we would
like it to happen,” Lukashenko said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who took over from Lukashenko
on Friday as the chairman of the group, tried to sound optimistic,
saying that “we are paying a close attention to forming the customs
union and have an intention to form it quickly.”
Numerous previous attempts by the ex-Soviet nations to form a customs
union and coordinate their economic policies have failed because of
sharp differences in size and level of development of their economies,
as well as fears of Russian domination.
The same six leaders and Armenia’s president held a summit of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization on Friday.
Lukashenko – dubbed “Europe’s last dictator” by the United States
and other Western nations for his relentless crackdown on dissent –
has repeatedly accused the West of harboring aggressive intentions
and sought to build closer economic and military ties with Russia
and other ex-Soviet nations.
Belarus this week is hosting the largest ever joint military
maneuvers with Russia, envisaging a joint response to an unnamed,
outside military threat. Belarusian officials have said that Putin
and other leaders would watch the exercise over the weekend, but the
Kremlin said Friday that Putin would not attend it.
Russia backed Lukashenko’s re-election to a third term in March’s
election, which was criticized as fraudulent by the opposition and
Western governments. However, ties between Moscow and Minsk soured
recently over the Russian plan to end cheap natural gas supplies
that kept Belarus’ Soviet-style economy afloat and start charging
market prices.
Observers said the move by Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom natural
gas giant was part of efforts to raise pressure on Belarus to force
it into giving up control over its gas pipeline, which carries Russian
gas exports to the West.

ACCORDING TO NKR PRESIDENT, NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IS STILL FAR AWAY
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The organization
of the authoritative conference in Artsakh is one more step in the
issue of properly presenting NKR to the world an in achieving its
international recognition.
NKR President Arkady Ghukasian said this at the June 22 meeting with
the participants of the international conference titled “Nagorno
Karabakh Republic: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” that started the day
before in Stepanakert under the aegis of the NKR President. In his
conversation with the guests representing scientific and educational
spheres of over one dozen countries, NKR President expressed an opinion
that the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem is still far away
and the opponents avoiding the dialogue have moved the conflict to the
political, economic and even scientific field. “We have to accept the
challenges and your scientific potential and rich experience should
become our firm support in this struggle,” he said. According to NKR
President’s Acting Spokesperson, the interlocutors exchanged opinions
about a number of issues relating to development of education and
science in NKR. Arkady Ghukasian expressed readiness to study various
ideas and programs proposed to him. He suggested making annual such
kinds of conferences in NKR. NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian,
Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Danielian, NKR Minister of Education,
Culture and Sport Kamo Atayan were also present at the meeting.