Author: Khondkarian Raffi

FOREIGN MINISTER TO ASK ABOUT SEMNEBY’S VISIT’S POSTPONEMENT

Panorama.am
17:18 19/06/2007

Armenian foreign ministry does not have information why Peter Semneby,
EU special representative in South Caucasus, did not visit Nagorno
Karabakh despite of his plans. Armenian foreign minister, Vartan
Oskanyan, said today he had no chance to clarify the issue. He also
told Regnum that he will meet Semneby shortly in Brussels and will
ask about the reasons. NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan has also said
Semneby’s advisers have assured Semneby will visit Stepanakert.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
June 20, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ASSEMBLY COMMENDS THE OVER 200 SUPPORTERS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
RESOLUTION

H. RES. 106 Reaches Another Milestone

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America today credited a
unified community effort as more than 200 lawmakers to date have
committed their support to House Resolution 106, which reaffirms the
historical fact of the Armenian Genocide.

H. Res. 106 calls upon the President to "ensure that the foreign
policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding" of the
"Armenian Genocide" and to "accurately characterize the systematic and
deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide" in the
President’s annual message. The legislation was introduced in January
by Armenian issues supporters Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), George
Radanovich (R-CA) and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), together with Congressmen Brad
Sherman (D-CA) and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI).

"Two-hundred cosponsors is an important milestone," said Schiff in a
press statement. "This overwhelming support for the resolution is
evidence that Members of Congress and their constituents believe that
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which claimed more than a million
and a half lives, is a moral imperative."

"The Armenian Genocide resolution has reached another important
threshold," said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.
"We thank Congressmen Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone, Knollenberg,
Sherman and McCotter for their leadership and continued efforts to
pass this resolution that properly acknowledges the incontestable fact
of the Armenian Genocide. We also recognize the support of their
colleagues."

Over the past several months, Assembly leaders and activists have
conducted meetings with Members of Congress in Washington, as well as
their home districts, urging them to cosponsor this critical human
rights legislation. Most recently, on April 24, Assembly activists
headed to Capitol Hill to encourage their elected officials to
cosponsor H. Res. 106, which brought additional cosponsors.

H. Res. 106 is supported by a broad coalition of lawmakers, including
House Administration Committee Chair Robert A. Brady (D-PA),
Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN), Education and
Labor Committee Chair George Miller (D-CA), Energy and Commerce
Committee Chair John D. Dingell (D-MI), Financial Services Committee
Chair Barney Frank (D-MA), Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers
(D-MI), Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry
A. Waxman (D-CA), Small Business Committee Chair Nydia M. Velazquez
(D-NY), Standards of Official Conduct Committee Chair Stephanie Tubbs
Jones (D-OH), Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Bob Filner (D-CA) and
Ways and Means Committee Chair Charles B. Rangel (D-NY).

The resolution is also supported by over 40 organizations across the
U.S. including: American Federation of Jews from Central Europe,
American Hellenic Council of CA, American Hellenic Institute, American
Hungarian Federation, American Jewish World Service, American Latvian
Association in the U.S., American Value, Belarusan-American
Association, Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis, Center for
Russian Jewry with Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, Center for World
Indigenous Studies, Christian Solidarity International, Congress of
Romanian Americans, Council for the Development of French in
Louisiana, Estonian American National Council, Genocide Intervention
Network, Global Rights, Hmong National Development, Inc., Hungarian
American Coalition, Institute on Religion and Public Policy,
International Association of Genocide Scholars, Jewish Social Policy
Action Network, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Jewish World Watch,
Joint Baltic American National Committee, Leadership Council for Human
Rights, Lithuanian American Community, Lithuanian American Council,
National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, National Council of
Churches USA, National Federation of American Hungarians, National
Federation of Filipino American Associations, National Lawyer’s Guild,
Polish American Congress, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Slovak
League of America, The Georgian Association in the USA, The Workmen’s
Circle/Arbeter Ring, U.S. Baltic Foundation, Ukrainian Congress
Committee of America, Ukrainian National Association, Unitarian
Universalist Association of Congregations, United Hellenic American
Congress, Washington Chapter Czechoslovak National Council of America,
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

The legislation is currently pending in the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, chaired by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), who voted in favor of an
identical resolution last Congress.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

NR#2007-071

GEORGIAN BORDER-GUARDS DETAIN TWO ARMENIAN CITIZENS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 18 2007

TBILISI, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Georgian border-guards
on June 18 detained two Armenian citizens at the Sadakhlo check point
as they tried to leave Georgia.

According to a press service of the frontier police of the Georgian
Ministry of Internal Affairs, these two persons crossed the Georgian
border by bypassing the check point.

IRAN AMBASSADOR TO BAKU: U.S. CAN’T EASILY BRIDGE AZERBAIJAN FOR GOALS

ISNA, Iran
Iranian Students News Agency
June 18 2007

TEHRAN, Jun.18 (ISNA)-Iran’s ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan
said that settlement of world powers in the region, particularly in
Azerbaijan was not easily obtainable.

Referring to the recent U.S. scheme to use a radar station in
Azerbaijan for missile defense against Middle East, Naser Hamidizare
commented that "launching its defense missile in the security
boundaries of Europe" was what the U.S. was obviously after.

"By carrying out this plan, U.S. defense fort draws closer to Russia
and the result is distortion of the new power composition of Republics
in the region," he told ISNA.

He noted that after the fall of the USSR, Russia had unsuccessfully
tried to rest within the security circle of the West.

"Russia is gradually drawing away from the security systems in
the region and this is why it has recently started to declare its
strategies openly," he said.

He further said that convincing other countries to provide others
with their land and human force was not an easily obtainable task in
the world today.

"Settlement of world powers in the region, particularly in Azerbaijan
is not easily obtainable," said Hamidizare while noting the possibility
that the U.S. may use Azerbaijan as a bridge to fulfill its goals.

In another part of his talk, Hamidizare asserted that if the present
methods did not settle the Karabakh issue, then the government of
Azerbaijan would take action on its own to reclaim its lost lands.

He said the Karabakh crisis could not be dealt with as "temporary"
because history of the land in which it is located shows that world
powers have taken action in this region based on their macro-policies.

Karabakh broke away in the late 1980s, triggering a war between
separatists and the Azeri state between 1992 and 1994. More than
35,000 people were killed.

Since the war, the enclave and lands around it have been controlled
by a separatist army, backed by Armenian volunteers.

"In the new geopolitical composition of maps, 20 percent of the
Azerbaijan land is conferred to Armenia. That wouldn’t have happened
without the support of world powers. Today with the rise of crisis,
the Azerbaijani people have come to realize that they are being
treated such because they are Muslims," said Hamidizare.

He further added that Azerbaijan had called for the West and the
Minsk group to resolve the issue via peace and negotiations.

"They hope to get back their lands but if the present methods do not
settle the issue, the government has declared to take action on its
own to reclaim its lost lands," he reiterated.

PROSECUTED AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER DOES NOT CONSIDER HIMSELF GUILTY

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 15 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. K.Zarbaliyeva / The preparation hearing
of Eldaniz Nuriyev, charged with treason, was presided over by Judge
Mammadbagir Zeynalov in the Azerbaijani Court of Grave Crimes on
14 June.

During the closed hearing, Nuriyev testified and did not confess to
being guilty.

Nuriyev is charged with changing shifts of guards, desertion and
treason. Nuriyev was called up to military service from the Fizuli
region Armed Commissariat.

After five months, Nuriyev left the Fizuli region N Military Department
without permission and was taken as prisoner by Armenians.

In compliance with the bill of indictment, the soldier, who left the
Military Department, operated against Azerbaijan and divulged State
secrets to the enemy country.

FIVE FOREIGN BANKS EXPRESS WISH TO START BUSINESS IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 15 2007

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. Five foreign banks expressed wish in 2007
to start a business in Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, chairman of the
Central Bank of Armenia said Friday.

He told journalists that five foreign banks from Germany, Austria,
Netherlands, Lebanon and Russia applied to the CBA for entering
Armenian banking area.

Sargsyan called these banks experienced financial organizations having
professional traditions.

"Their appearance in Armenian banking sector will considerably
intensify competition", he said.

The CBA head also said that only those banks whose management enables
them to deepen the knowledge they possess and obtain new will be able
to survive amid growing competition.

The Central Bank’s figures show that Armenian banking system’s actual
authorized capital has grown 32.9% or by AMD 19809.7mln over 2006 to
AMD 80107.6mln.

Non-residents’ participation in Armenian banks’ capital grew 16% and
reached AMD 35670.2mln by late 2006. They participation made 44.52%
of the Armenian banks’ aggregate authorized capital.

According to the information, Armenian banking system’s aggregate
authorized capital reached AMD 82907.5mln by late March 2007 and
non-residents’ participation in Armenian banks’ capital has risen 8.3%
(by AMD 2956mln) over a period between January and March 2007 to
AMD 38626.2mln.

Non-residents’ quota in Armenian banking system’s capital made 46.59%
by late March 2007 against 44.53% earlier this year.

21 banks function in Armenia now. ($1 – AMD 347.73).

ISSUE OF RETURNING SHAHUMIAN AND GETASHEN REGIONS OF KARABAKH DEMANDED TO BE INCLUDED IN NEGOTIATIONS
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/06/2007

Head of the "Shahumian-Getashen" social organization Edik Baloyan
announced on a conference on June 12, "The Issue of Shahumian and
Getashen regions, occupied by Azerbaijan, shall be in any case included
in the agenda of peace negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh". He added
that azerbaijan, making use of the Minsk Group not including in the
talks the question of those regions, is trying to represent itself
as a victim of Armenian aggression.

Baloyan also spoke of the problems of refugees and people expelled
from Getashen and Shahumian. He said that the question of their
housing can be solved by returning them their own lands. According
to information provided by "REGNUM" agency, the number of people fled
from Shahumian-Getashen equals 21 thousand, of which 17 thousand took
refuge in the Republic of Armenia

It is already 15 years that the regions of Shahumian and Getashen
have been occupied by the armed forces of Azerbaijan. In connection
with that anniversary the "Nicol Agbalian" youth wing of the
"Dashnaktsutiun" party organized a demonstration in Yerevan in order
to draw the attention of the embassies of USA, France and Russia to
the matter.

NABAZTAG IN GRAFFITI ATTACK
Written by Matt Chapman

Absolute Gadget, UK
June 13 2007

It had to happen. The first "limited edition communicating graffiti
rabbit" has finally been created. No, we haven’t been at the gin
again. The latest product to come out of the Nabaztag stable – or
should that be rabbit hutch – is a limited edition graffiti-sporting
model. It’s been personally tagged by graffiti artist Andre, who is
famous for his "love graffitis" work.

"When Mr A took Nabaztag under his wing, he turned it into the newest
creation of a Pop Icon," Nabaztag’s owners said today.

Now the little blighter is ready to be released to the public, and
we’ve got a sneak-peak for you here on Absolute Gadget .

"Nabaztag by Andre connects to the internet via WiFi," the press
gurus tell us, although we know that from previous incarnations.

"He moves his ears, he speaks, he reads text, he plays music, he even
lights up with every color imaginable."

The cute little rabbit – which is what nabaztag means in Armenian –
can scour the net to find lots of services, messages and content for
his owner.

The Nabaztag by Andre is called a Nabaztag/tag and the limited edition
model can be reserved online by visiting the online store.

The recommended retail price is £5, [email protected] or $10.

eous/nabaztag-in-graffiti-attack-20070613-560.html

–Boundary_(ID_z1buZdv9J8nkpaMN8lG0sg)–

NOVRUZ MAMMADOV: THE PRESIDENTS MET, BUT IT IS HARD TO SAY SOMETHING ON ANY PROGRESS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 11 2007

Head of international affairs department at President’s Office Novruz
Mammadov’s interview to the APA

– What are the results of the informal summit of CIS heads of states
in St. Petersburg?

– The main aim of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to St.

Petersburg was to attend the informal summit of the CIS and continue
the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. The summit was normal, the Presidents touched upon
current state and prospects of the CIS. The main summit will be held in
autumn in Dushanbe. No document was signed as the summit was informal.

– How the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents resulted?

– The two Presidents debated the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It was a hard meeting, it lasted for some
three hours. Foreign Ministers and co-chairs partly attended the
meeting, as it was mainly between the Presidents. Some months ago
both co-chairs and heads of different organizations expressed their
positions, they were very optimistic about the meeting. Actually,
it should be so, as Azerbaijan’s successes in political, economic,
cultural, military and others spheres strengthened its position in
the region. International organizations and different states support
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s integrity and position on the settlement of
the conflict is supported. In these circumstances, Armenia had to
assess this situation and prospects and take a step to ensure its
normal development in the future. However, Armenians did not want
to change their position probably at the influence of somebody or
some circle. Armenia can not take constructive position regarding the
items of Prague process’s solution through stages and do not give up
claims. So, while making an assessment, we can say that the meeting
took place, the negotiations continued, but it is difficult to say
something on a concrete progress.

– Do international organizations supporting Azerbaijan’s position
think of any mechanism of impact in order to invite Armenia to
constructiveness?

– There is not such a mechanism in the international organizations
such as Council of Europe, OSCE, Organization of the Islamic
Conference, GUAM, BSECO, ECO. There is not decision of sanction
character criticizing aggressive policy of Armenia yet. But the UN
Security Council passed decision criticizing this policy. The UN
Security Council is the only organization which can make decision
regarding it, but its resolutions turn out ineffective. It has
passed hundreds of decisions regarding the Middle East, tens on
the Pakistan-India conflict, four on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
several on the Cyprus. However, these resolutions have not turned out
effective. Our position is fair according to the international law,
we support peaceful solution of the conflict. We do not want war.

– Will the negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict continue?

– The negotiations should continue undoubtedly. Both co-chairs and
Foreign Ministers will carry out these negotiations, but the exact
date of the next meeting has not yet been specified.

– Did the Presidents debate on the meeting of national football
teams of Azerbaijan and Armenia? OSCE chairman proposed the teams
met in Spain…

– No. Related bodies should give proposals on it, if necessary the
Presidents will comment on it.

– Was there any decision in the CIS informal summit regarding the
executive secretary of the organization Vladimir Rushailo, whose
tenure is expiring?

– There is such issue at the agenda, but there is not any decision.

SERBIA BACKS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, SOVEREIGNTY, INVIOLABILITY OF BORDERS OF AZERBAIJAN

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 11 2007

Russia, Saint-Petersburg / Òrend corr R. Aghayev / Speaking on the
behalf of the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of
any country we mean all countries including Azerbaijan, Serbian
Prime Minister, Voislav Koshtunitsa , said at a press conference
within the framework of an international economic forum held in
Saint-Petersburg. He commented on the position of Serbia regarding
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

"I often compare the situation with the fact that the constitution
of every country guarantees and provides integrity for every
citizen residing in that country. In this case, the UN Charter is
a world constitution intended to protect territorial integrity and
Inviolability of Borders of any state. One of the most senseless
positions is the one urging that the matter regarding Kosovo can
be resolved in such a way which is not threatening to other parts
of the globe. If the integrity of Serbia is to be respected, then
the integrity of all countries is to be respected in the same way,"
the Prime Minister stated.

Koshtunitsa voiced his confidence that if the integrity of Serbia is
not respected, a series of conflict issues will arise in different
parts of the world. Hence, the map of the world can profoundly
change. "If international law and internationally accepted norms
are violated, then there are no civilized ways for settling the
Kosovo conflict. The only way is to provide autonomy of a high level,
which will prevent Belgrade from being condemned of interfering into
internal affairs of Kosovo. Belgrade is interested in the protection
of rights of the Serbians residing in Kosovo and Metohia , returning
of refugees to their lands, preservation of historical, cultural,
and religious monuments. But that absolutely does not mean that
Belgrade will interfere into the internal structure of Kosovo. At the
same time the territorial integrity of Serbia should be respected,"
the Prime Minister said.

–Boundary_(ID_isyv+BTL3HfD4jFCYQ5Qqw)–