Author: Khondkarian Raffi

KARABAKH WAR VETS REJECT ARMENIAN LAND CONCESSIONS
By Ruzanna Stepanian and Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 4 2006
A group of prominent Armenian veterans of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh
on Tuesday warned Armenia’s leadership against returning any territory
to Azerbaijan, saying that would be tantamount to high treason.
In a statement which they claimed was signed by some two thousand
rank-and-file veterans, the former field commanders warned that the
authorities in Yerevan will earn the “status of Turkish occupiers
with all consequences stemming from that” if they agree to liberate
any of the seven Azerbaijani districts surrounding Karabakh. “At this
critical moment we are urging all patriotic forces to unite and defend
our endangered homeland,” they said.
None of the known signatories of the statement is affiliated with the
Yerkrapah Union, the biggest and most influential of groups uniting
Karabakh war veterans. The Yerkrapah leadership, which is loyal to
the Armenian government, has not commented on the latest Karabakh
peace initiatives so far.
The angry statement was apparently prompted by the publication of the
main principles of the most recent international plan to resolve the
Karabakh conflict, which envisages Armenian withdrawal from at least
six of the occupied districts. The Lachin district, which serves as the
shortest overland link between Karabakh and Armenia, would remain under
Armenian control at least until a future referendum on the disputed
enclave’s status. Official Yerevan has largely accepted this plan.
“This is not mutual compromise, this is a surrender,” said Manvel
Yeghiazarian, the former commander of the now disbanded Arabo militia
that fought in the Karabakh war. He warned that President Robert
Kocharian will be considered a “traitor” and incur his and many other
veterans’ ire if he signs such a deal.
“Twenty one fighters of Arabo went missing on June 29, 1992 [and
remain unaccounted for]. What should I say to their mothers?”
Yeghiazarian told reporters.
“Nobody must dare surrender those territories, whether he is a
president or a minister,” said Levon Sahakian of the Independence Army,
another former paramilitary group. “Our brothers died there and those
lands are very important for us.”
Ashot Bleyan, a former education minister and the most famous proponent
of far-reaching Armenian concessions to Azerbaijan, scoffed at such
arguments, challenging Armenian hardliners to settle in the largely
deserted Azerbaijani lands with their families. Bleyan, had served in
the administration of former President Levon Ter-Petrosian, rejected
their claims that the Armenians already resolved the Karabakh dispute
on the battlefield and must not concede anything.
“Before saying that we won, every Armenian must ask themselves:
What are they ready for? Are they ready to die? Are they ready to
send their boy to death?” he told a roundtable discussion in Yerevan.
Bleyan raised eyebrows in Armenia and Karabakh when he visited
Baku on a peace-making mission in late 1992, at the height of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani war. He declared on Tuesday that he is ready
to make another trip to Azerbaijan, describing it as a “potential
strategic partner” of Armenia. “If we don’t want to respect a
neighboring state and have relations with it, we can’t be serious,”
he said.
Yerevan’s apparent acceptance of the peace plan put forward by the
OSCE Minsk Group contrasts with serious reservations expressed by the
ethnic Armenian leadership of Karabakh. Samvel Babayan, the former
wartime commander of the Karabakh Armenian army, echoed Stepanakert’s
concerns in an interview with RFE/RL last week, saying that the plan
is too risky for the Armenian side because it calls for the return
of Azerbaijani refugees to Karabakh and Lachin.
“One small incidents, and all roads leading to Stepanakert would
again be blocked and we would return to 1988,” said Babayan.

RA MFA DOESN’T PREPARE FOR NEW ROUND OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH TALKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2006 19:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not
preparing for a new round of the Armenian-Turkish talks, Acting
Spokesman of the RA MFA Vladimir Karapetian told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.
“As for the statement by Turkish MFA Spokesman Namik Tan on the
proposal to form a commission of historians on the investigation of
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, I would like to remind that in
response Armenian President Robert Kocharian proposed to study the
ways for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations at the level
of an intergovernmental commission,” Vladimir Karapetian said.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Azeri Delegation Activities in PACE – Cheap Political Gambling
30.06.2006 17:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Discussions titled `Forest fires. Ecological
consequences and influence of policy of territorial planning’ were
held in Strasbourg today, reported the RA NA press office. From the
very beginning the Azeri delegation accused Nagorno Karabakh of
setting up arsons. In this view Armenian parliament speaker Tigran
Torosian delivered a speech. He said in part, `This is really a very
serious problem and I would not take the floor if our Azeri
counterpart hadn’t call on you to urge my assistance as the chairman
of the Armenian National Assembly. I appreciate the confidence of the
Azeri counterparts and want to response to these statements.
For a week already the Azeri delegation keeps on stating that
Armenians set fire to the forests along the border of Nagorno
Karabakh. The mildest assessment I can give to this show is cheap
political gambling. I will explain why. Three years ago Nagorno
Karabakh authorities being concerned over the fires at the near-border
pastures proposed Azerbaijan to work out joint mechanisms for
prevention of fires. Azerbaijan did not response to the proposal. The
difference of the positions of NKR and Azerbaijan on the matter is
obvious. While Baku was setting up clamor NKR Foreign Ministry June 15
requested the Office of the OSCE CiO’s Personal Representative to hold
a monitoring to assess the real situation and refute false accusations
advanced by Azerbaijan. The OSCE mission has been examining the
near-border territories for several days but found nothing what could
prove Azerbaijan’s statements. Unfortunately, spreading hatred and
invented accusations – these are the methods Azerbaijan uses when
discussing any matter. For this purpose they are even ready to falsify
the CoE documents. This is nothing but disrespect for the PACE and the
CoE principles.’

PATRIARCH MESROB II: I DO NOT AGREE WITH KAREKIN II’S COMMENTS ON GENOCIDE
Hurriyet, Turkey
June 28 2006
Patriach Mesrob II, the leader of the Armenian Orthodox community
in Turkey, has commented on his differing views from those expressed
last week by Catholicos Karekin II, the world leader of the Armenian
Orthodox Church, who was in Istanbul last week for a visit.
Karekin, who came to Istanbul as the guest of Greek Fener Patriarch
Bartholomeus and as well as of Patriarch Mesrob II, held a press
conference at the Armenian Patriarchate on Sunday during which he
called on Turkey to officially recognize the events of 1915 as a
genocide against the Armenians. Mesrob II had subsequently commented
to the press that his perspective on the matter differs from that
of Karekin II’s, and that the Turkish-Armenian relationship is not
soley based on incidents which took place between 1890-1923.
Responding to reporters’ questions about what he thought of Karekin
II’s statements about genocide, Mesrob II said: “How can I comment
on those statements? I guess I could say ‘They were as I expected
they would be.’ At the press conference at which Katekin II spoke,
TV cameras from the Armenian station Shoagat were present. All of
the diaspora watches Shoagat TV. So Karekin knew the public he was
addressing with his comments. I think differently on the matter, as
I have said many times in the past. The disaster of 1915 should be
examined on separate platforms by politcians, historians, diplomats,
and sociologists. This would be very helpful in terms of creating
empathy and understanding, rather than enmity.”

CSTO SUMMIT: MILITARY BLOC NOT YET CEMENTED
By Vladimir Socor
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
June 28 2006
Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Alexander Lukashenka of Belarus,
Robert Kocharian of Armenia, Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan,
Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan, Imomali Rahmonov of Tajikistan,
and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan met on June 23 in Minsk for a dual
summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the
Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEc). The two groups’ membership
rosters are identical except in the case of Armenia, a member of the
CSTO but not of EurAsEc.
Speaking to journalists during a break between the two meetings,
Putin asserted, “Developing closer cooperation between EurAsEc and
the CSTO is one of the most topical tasks, which will make it possible
to protect integration processes from various threats” (NTV Mir, June
23). “Integration processes” being the classic code word for Russian
policies, Putin’s statement confers a distinctly military dimension to
such processes. Combining the CSTO and EurAsEc summits into a single
event in Minsk underscored that idea. Trading chairs at this summit,
Putin handed over the CSTO’s rotating chairmanship to Lukashenka
while the latter turned the EurAsEc chairmanship over to Putin.
The CSTO summit decided to place the Collective Rapid Deployment
Force under the command of a single headquarters that would operate
on a permanent basis. Until now, a standing operational group
based in Bishkek has been in charge of that Force under Russia’s
Major-General Sergei Chernomordin, who is also deputy chief of staff of
the Volga-Urals Military District. The 4,000-strong Rapid Deployment
Force, earmarked for possible operations in Central Asia, presently
consists — at least on paper — of 10 battalions of varying readiness
levels, including: three battalions from Russia, three from Tajikistan
(two of these apparently from the Russian division stationed in that
country and one from Tajikistan itself), two from Kazakhstan, and two
from Kyrgyzstan (the latter country has pleaded poverty asking to be
excused from contributing a second battalion). These units are based
in the respective countries under national control and hold joint
exercises, usually at annual intervals, under joint command. Russia’s
air base at Kant in Kyrgyzstan, with some 10 tactical combat aircraft
and about a dozen helicopters, is designated a CSTO base and assigned
to the Collective Rapid Deployment Force.
According to some Russian media reports, participants in the Minsk
summit approved a decision whereby any CSTO member country wishing to
accept a deployment of non-CSTO troops on its territory must first
obtain the agreement of all the other CSTO countries (RTR Russia
Television, June 23). If so, this implies that military exercises
involving U.S. or NATO countries’ troops, their transit passage,
or their use of military installations in any CSTO member country,
for example on anti-terrorism missions, would necessitate Russian
approval. Thus, Washington or NATO allies would have to negotiate
the approval not just with possible host countries, but with Moscow,
which could either withhold the approval, maneuver one or several
CSTO countries into withholding it, or try to trade its approval for
some geopolitical quid-pro-quo elsewhere.
Thus, if this summit decision is final, Moscow would insert itself
between the Western alliance system and CSTO member countries,
trying to force the latter to deal with the West through Russia,
not directly. In Central Asia, such a situation would reverse the
Pentagon’s historic diplomatic achievements of 2001-2002, when it
negotiated basing agreements directly with Central Asian presidents,
who felt encouraged to resist Moscow’s pressures at that time.
The decision in Minsk may also aim to nudge NATO into
alliance-to-alliance contacts and common activities with the CSTO,
thus granting the latter a form of political recognition. However,
CSTO member countries are generally interested in cooperating with
NATO in a national capacity, and NATO has always related to them
directly, consistently avoiding the pitfall of dealing with the
CSTO collectively.
At present, NATO prepares to expand its operations in Afghanistan and
may request logistical support from certain Central Asian countries.
Moscow apparently calculates that it could in that case arrange to
refer the request formally to the CSTO for consideration, so as to
press NATO into dealing with this Russia-led structure. One item in
the Minsk summit declaration (such documents are Moscow-drafted as
a rule) says that alliance obligations among CSTO member countries
take precedence over other obligations.
Participants in the Minsk summit approved measures designed to turn
the CSTO into a multifunctional organization. At Putin and Russian
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov’s initiative and Lukashenka’s proposal,
the summit resolved to develop joint structures of the member
countries’ intelligence and law-enforcement agencies and Internal
Affairs ministries, as well as strengthen the Defense Ministries’
joint structures. Beyond its military and political-military remit,
the CSTO would create joint capabilities to deal with natural and
technological disasters, illegal migration, and the narcotics traffic.
Contrary to some expectations, the summit did not officially announce
an intent to create CSTO peacekeeping troops or a legal mechanism for
rendering emergency military assistance to member countries in the
event of aggression against them from outside the CSTO. Kocharian
in particular expressed regret over the failure to advance on the
assistance issue (Arminfo, Itar-Tass, June 23). For its part, Moscow
has developed a full-fledged concept for CSTO “peacekeeping” operations
within the CSTO area and collective participation in international
operations beyond that area. Moscow will almost certainly call in the
months ahead for adoption of this concept and a political decision
on creating CSTO peacekeeping troops.
The dual summit was timed to coincide with the final phase of a
Russia-Belarus military exercise, the largest-ever held in the CSTO’s
framework. Forces from Russia and Belarus comprise the CSTO’s “regional
group of forces” in the West, along with the Russian-Armenian group
and the Russian-led Central Asian group in the respective theaters.
(Interfax, Belarus Television Channel One, June 23, 24)

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: 4 DEPUTES UMP DEMANDENT LE REEXAMEN DU PROJET DE LOI
Agence France Presse
28 juin 2006 mercredi 5:07 PM GMT
Nanterre
Quatre deputes UMP ont demande mercredi dans un communique que leur
groupe parlementaire inscrive la proposition de loi visant a reprimer
la negation du genocide armenien de 1915 dans une prochaine “niche”
parlementaire, pour qu’elle puisse etre a nouveau examinee par les
deputes.
Une “niche” parlementaire est une seance publique dont l’ordre du
jour est fixe par un groupe politique.
Dans leur communique, les deputes UMP Philippe Pemezec
(Hauts-de-Seine), Patrick Devedjian (Hauts-de-Seine), Nicolas
Dupont-Aignan (Essonne) et Roland Blum (Bouches-du-Rhône) se disent
“indignes” par les “agissements” ayant empeche le vote de cette
proposition de loi le 18 mai dernier.
Ils precisent qu’ils veulent par leur initiative ” empecher que ne
soient organisees des manifestations provocatrices incitant a des
heurts sur le territoire national”, en reference a une manifestation
a Lyon en mars au cours de laquelle avaient ete releves des slogans
negationnistes pro-turcs.
Le 18 mai, l’examen par l’Assemblee de cette proposition de loi
socialiste avait ete interrompu sans etre acheve et son vote reporte
sine die.
Les deputes UMP et le gouvernement avaient tout fait pour retarder
les debats, au point de rendre impossible le vote de la proposition
inscrite dans une “niche” limitee a 5 heures de debat.
La proposition de loi vise a completer par un volet penal la loi
du 29 janvier 2001 par laquelle la France reconnaît le genocide
armenien. Elle fait de la negation du genocide un delit punissable
d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45.000 euros d’amende.
–Boundary_(ID_Sz9db5d1MlcSOjACS4quug)- –

SERGE SARGSYAN NEITHER DENIES NOR AFFIRMS
Lragir.am
29 June 06
The minister of defense of Armenia, answering the questions of news
reporters June 29, neither denied nor confirmed the information
about his membership to the Republican Party. Serge Sargsyan said he
would give an answer within the upcoming 7-10 days. “It’s a normal
and usual thing, and it isn’t worthwhile to give so much attention
to it,” said Serge Sargsyan.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/28/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Oskanian Reveals More Details of OSCE Plan 2) Erdogan Reacts to Claims of Danish Parliamentarian 3) Oskanian Meets with Georgian Officials 4) Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition 1) Oskanian Reveals More Details of OSCE Plan TBILISI (Armenpress, RFE/RL)Armenia's foreign minister Vartan Oskanian announced Wednesday during a press conference that OSCE Minsk Group US co-chairman Matthew Bryza's revelations last week of confidential provisions of a proposed Nagorno-Karabakh peace plan were incomplete and failed to present other important principles outlined by the plan, reported the Armenpress news agency. He stressed that the Armenian foreign ministry's statements reflect the true nature of the OSCE proposed plan. Security guarantees for the corridor connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the need for a temporary status for Karabakh were two key principles that according to Oskanian should have been included in the interview Bryza gave to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "One of the key components of peaceful resolution should be guaranteeing the security of the corridor between Armenia and Karabakh. The second, until a referendum to decide the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a temporary status should be determined for the region," said Oskanian in response to questions during a press conference with his Georgian counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili. The foreign minister added that for the first time, the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group determined that the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic shall be determined through a referendum of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. He added that the OSCE peace proposal is balanced and all encompassing, pledging Armenia's continuous willingness to negotiate with Azerbaijan within the framework of the outline proposals. "The Karabakh issue has its logical elements and we should allow for a natural progression of the process and not artificially accelerate it," said Oskanian in response to questions regarding a possible meeting between Armenian and Azeri leaders during the upcoming G8 Summit, reported Armenpress. In a joint statement that was circulated by the U.S. embassy in Yerevan on Wednesday, the Minsk Group's American, French and Russian co-chairs said their hitherto confidential peace plan envisages a self-determination referendum to be held in Karabakh after the liberation of Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan, reported RFE/RL Wednesday. The statement was presented to the OSCE's decision-making Permanent Council in Vienna last Thursday and was not made public until being posted on the U.S. embassy website almost a week later. Washington's new top Karabakh negotiator, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, revealed details of the proposed peace plan to RFE/RL shortly after the Permanent Council meeting. "These principles include the phased redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts [separating Karabakh from Armenia proper]," said the co-chairs. "Demilitarization of those territories would follow. A referendum or population vote would be agreed, at an unspecified future date, to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh." "An international peacekeeping force would be deployed," added the statement. "A joint commission would be agreed to implement the agreement. International financial assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction, resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides would renounce the use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral security guarantees and assurances would be put in place." The mediators said the sides to the conflict would also have to work out practical modalities of the Karabakh referendum. "Suitable preconditions for such a vote would have to be achieved so that the vote would take place in a non-coercive environment in which well-informed citizens have had ample opportunity to consider their positions after a vigorous debate in the public arena." This peace formula seems largely acceptable to Armenia. Its Foreign Ministry argued that the mediating powers have thereby recognized the Karabakh Armenians' right to self-determination. The ministry said in its statement that Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian have agreed to the proposed referendum but remain divided on other, unspecified issues. The Azerbaijani side initially responded positively to Bryza's disclosure of Minsk Group peace proposals. But in a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry in Baku chided the U.S. official for "taking them out of the general context of the proposed document." It also reiterated that Baku is only ready to grant Karabakh "the highest status of autonomy" and will never recognize its secession from Azerbaijan. The mediators, meanwhile, warned that failure by the two sides to cut a framework peace deal before the end of this year would close a rare "window of opportunity" to eliminate the principal source of instability in the South Caucasus. "We see no point right now in continuing intensive shuttle diplomacy we have engaged in over the past several months," they said. "We also see no point in initiating further presidential meetings until the sides demonstrate enough political will to overcome their remaining differences." Meanwhile in Baku, the Azeri Foreign Ministry of issued a statement Tuesday in response to what it termed continuing attempts by Armenia to distort the essence of the ongoing Karabakh peace talks, reported Armenpress and RFE/RL. The Azeri statement said that the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh could not be determined until the territories currently occupied by Armenian forces are liberated and the entire conflict zone demilitarized. The statement also affirms Baku's willingness to grant the NKR the highest degree of autonomy within Azerbaijan stipulated by the current Azeri constitution. 2) Erdogan Reacts to Claims of Danish Parliamentarian STRASBOURG (Combined sources)"You shouldn't confuse the concepts of insult and freedom of criticism," said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after claims of Danish radical left parliamentarian Rune Lund following the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. Lund claimed that under the freedom of expression he must have the right to say that "Turks committed genocide on Armenians, occupied Cyprus and outraged Kurds." Erdogan, in return, reacted strongly and said, "You should not fail to distinguish between the concepts of insult and freedom of criticism. The Danish parliamentarian claims that there is a Armenian genocide, but his statements must be based on scientific data." Enumerating freedom of expression and thought among indispensable common goals of humanity, Erdogan said, "All freedoms have a limit under international laws on human rights. You cannot have unlimited freedoms." On the other hand, Rene van der Linden, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said that PACE extends full support to the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative launched by Turkey and Spain. In the session, Linden indicated that the aim of this initiative is to help people understand each other's cultures, and avoid fanaticism and extremism. 3) Oskanian Meets with Georgian Officials TBILISI (Armenpress)Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian arrived in Georgia June 27 on a two-day official visit. On the first day of his working visit, Oskanian met with his counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili. In their welcoming remarks, the two foreign ministers expressed their shared belief that Armenian-Georgian relations, based on solid historic ties, will continue to develop in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. The two ministers discussed bilateral issues in detail. They noted that the Armenian-Georgian bilateral agenda is a full one and their broad relationship is reflected in frequent hihg-level meetings and visits. Oskanian spoke about the economic and political importance of the operation of the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway and its contribution to the growth of trade in the region, equally benefiting all countries. The Georgian foreign minister affirmed that Georgia is aware of its bridging role and responsibility in the region and will continue to work for more favorable transit conditions for Armenia. He explained that Georgia, too, is interested in ensuring diversified transport routes. On the topic of Javakhk, Oskanian stressed that the Armenian government stands prepared to work with the Georgian government to resolve the socio-economic problems facing the population. They addressed issues of border delimitation and confirmed that there exists the political will on both sides to resolve outstanding issues and reach a mutually acceptable solution. Oskanian briefed his colleague on the current state of the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations. In turn, Minister Bezhuashvili spoke about the negotiations surrounding Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Oskanian also met with Georgian parliament chairwoman Nino Burjanadze, who expressed hope that Oskanian's visit will boost bilateral ties between the two countries. Burjanadze said there exists a good legal framework that can support cooperation between the two countries. She also emphasized Armenia's clear-cut position in regard to Georgian-Armenian relations. "Armenia has stressed many times that it defends Georgia's territorial integrity, which is very important issue for us. Both Armenia and Georgia stress that conflicts must be solved exclusively through peaceful means and dialogue," Burjanadze said. "We are happy that the people in Javakhk have proved smarter that some people predicted and did not prevent the withdrawal of the Russian base from Akhalkalaki, realizing what is good for Georgia is good for every citizen, irrespective of their ethnic belonging," she commented. She also spoke about the Karabakh conflict, emphasizing Georgia's good relations with Yerevan and Baku, saying Georgia wants the conflict to be resolved peacefully. During his visit, Oskanian also visited the Armenian embassy in Tbilisi and will deliver a lecture at the Georgian Center for Strategic and International Studies before returning to Armenia. 4) Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition ISTANBUL (Marmara)The Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan told reporters Wednesday that he did not agree with statements made by His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians regarding the need for the Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mutafyan proposed that the "1915 issue" be addressed by historians and sociologists in order for the sides to "understand each other's sensitivities." During a pontifical visit to Istanbul, Catholicos Karekin II said the Genocide was not a debatable issue for Armenians and it is a fact that Turkey should recognize. The Turkish press reacted adversely to this statement, with one newspaperthe Hurriyetcharacterizing the Catholicos' visit as a protest demonstration. Mutafyan said that the Catholicos' statements were not unexpected and since his pontifical visit was being covered by the Armenian media and would be seen by the Diaspora communities, "the Catholicos spoke taking into consideration Diasporan sensitivities." 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.

“MTS” PASSES THE QUALIFICATION ROUND OF THE TENDER DECLARED BY OTE
ArmRadio.am
22.06.2006 16:51
Russian cell operator “MTS” has overcome the first round of the tender
to purchase 90 percent of “ArmenTel” shares declared by OTE Company,
Press Secretary of MTS Kirill Alyavdin told MEDIAMAX Agency. At the
same time he noted that “they have not submitted the final application
so far.”
Press Secretary of “Vimpelcom” Company Yulya Ostroukhova preferred
not to say whether the “BeeLine” Company has passed the qualification,
saying the information is confidential.

USE SENATE TO CONSIDER CANDIDACY FOR US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 22 2006
YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. On June 28, 2006, the Foreign Relations
Committee, US Senate, is to consider the candidacy of Richard Hoagland
for the post of US Ambassador to Armenia.
Armenian National Committee Of America reports that the Armenian
community is closely following the hearings and possible scenarios
may clarify the US Department of State’s policy toward the issue of
the Armenian Genocide.
US-based Armenians believe that the reason for US Ambassador to
Armenia John Evan’s recall is the fact that during his speeches in
2004-2005 he qualified the Armenian pogroms in Ottoman Empire in 1915
as Genocide. In his further comments he pointed out that it was his
personal viewpoint, but not the USA’s official position.
Since October 16, 2003, Richard Hoagland has been US Ambassador to
Tajikistan.