Author: Khondkarian Raffi

Interfax News Agency, Russia
June 6 2008

MEDVEDEV HOLDS BILATERAL SUMMITS WITH CIS LEADERS

*** The informal CIS summit began with the bilateral meetings between
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and CIS leaders that had arrived
in St. Petersburg on Friday.

For the second time, the CIS summit will be held on the fields of the
St. Petersburg Economic Forum that is slated to open on June 7. This
tradition began in 2007.

Dmitry Medvedev, as Russian president, will participate in this CIS
summit for the first time. New Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will
also participate in the St. Petersburg summit for the first time.

During his meeting with Sargsyan, Medvedev invited him to visit Russia
again within the next several months.

Sargsyan thanked Medvedev and said stronger Russian-Armenian relations
were in the interests of the Armenians.

I am sure we shall meet again soon, Medvedev said.

Dmitry Medvedev and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev agreed at a
meeting in St. Petersburg on Friday to meet in Baku in the nearest
future.

Medvedev plans to make an official visit to Azerbaijan on July 3-4 and
to Turkmenistan on July 4-5, his senior aide Sergei Prikhodko has
said.

On Friday the aide told the press about Medvedev’s bilateral talks
with his Azerbaijani and Turkmen counterparts Ilkham Aliyev and
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow.

"Dmitry Medvedev confirmed with gratitude his agreement to make an
official visit to Azerbaijan in the nearest future, or to be more
specific on July 3-4 this year," Prikhodko said.

In addition, an agreement on the president’s official visit to
Turkmenistan was reached at the meeting with Berdymuhammedow. "The
Turkmen president confirmed his invitation to Medvedev to make an
official visit to Turkmenistan. The visit will take place on July 4-5
this year," Prikhodko said.

President Dmitry Medvedev described Uzbekistan as a key strategic
partner of Russia in Central Asia on Friday.

At a meeting with Uzbek President Islam Karimov in St. Petersburg,
Medvedev said he put a high value on all areas of Russian-Uzbek
cooperation, including security and law enforcement.

"I am ready to discuss various proposals for both bilateral and
multilateral integration," the Russian leader said.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said he is convinced that all
issues in relations between Russia and Ukraine will be resolved.

"All issues between our peoples will be resolved," Yushchenko said at
a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

Yushchenko said that "Russia an Ukraine are countries that form their
relationships at a strategic level."

"We have many issues that need to be addressed. Maybe the fact that we
are neighbors means difficult problems. But we will solve them," he
said.

Yushchenko said that he had invited his Russian counterpart, Dmitry
Medvedev, to pay a state visit to Ukraine in the second half of 2008
and that the two leaders had decided to have several working meetings
"within the next month or two."

The working meetings will take place either in Russia or in Ukraine,
Yushchenko told reporters.

Yushchenko said that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet will remain in
Sevastopol until 2017 as the framework agreements stipulate.

"The treaty on the presence of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol,
which implies that it [the fleet] will remain there until 2017, is a
treaty that the Ukrainian side will fulfill to the last letter," he
told the press in Stelna.

Lately many things have appeared that cloud bilateral relations, such
as the violation of the rules of deployment and transfer of army
units, the misuse of real estate and land by private companies and
individuals, Yushchenko said.

The Ukrainian president said that with Medvedev he discussed the
disputed issue of the use of navigation frequencies. An understanding
on resolving the problem had been reached, he said.

He reaffirmed that under the Ukrainian constitution no foreign
military bases can be deployed in the country. The Verkhovna Rada took
a friendly step when it approved the agreement on the fleet deployment
on Ukrainian territory until 2017, he said.

"We should continue the negotiating process calmly and with due
respect," he said.

KSEE, CA
June 6 2008

Valedictorian Continues to Fight Deportation

By Jon Brent

Bullard High senior Arthur Mkoyan continues his fight to stay in
America. The straight ‘A’ student along with his family faces
deportation to Armenia on June 20th unless a miracle happens.

Multimedia Watch The Video Arthur Mkoyan is planning to graduate on
June 10th. He’s been accepted to UC Davis. The problem is his family
is being deported to Armenia on June 20th, unless a personal bill in
his behalf can be sponsored in the U.S. Senate.

A meeting to that end with Arthur and his mother Asmik occurred
Thursday evening. While there are thousands of cases like this one in
America today, this case is making national news. Jon Brent has more
on the story.

ALIRZA SHEIKH-ATTAR: "IRAN IS READY TO ACT AS INTERMEDIARY IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Azeri Press Agency
June 5 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ramil Mammadli-APA. "Iran was a mediator in the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the past. Unfortunately, our country
has been debarred from this mission", said Deputy Foreign Minister
of Iran Alirza Sheikh-Attar at the press conference devoted to the
outcomes of his visit to Azerbaijan, APA reports.

According to him, Iran is ready to act as intermediary in settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict again. Despite he expressed his
dissatisfaction with the OSCE Minsk Group’s activity, he stated
that his country backed up the talks within this framework. Alirza
Sheikh-Attar stressed that Iran supported the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and added that his country had no cooperation with the
separatist Nagorno Karabakh regime.

Moreover, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran said that his country
supported the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Caspian Littoral States.

ARFD IS A POLITICAL FORCE HAVING NO FUTURE, RUZAN KHACHATRIAN CONSIDERS

56

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. "According to a number of authoritative
countries, today Armenia is a poor and not democratic country," Ara
Sahakian, the former RA NA Vice-Speaker, stated at the May 30
discussion. As he classed, Armenia is like a child thrown to an
orphanage, whom they have bathed, clothed, taught him to use dishes "to
make him a man." Under such a situation, as A. Sahakian affirmed,
Armenia is just obliged to take the way of democratization.

The speaker touched upon the foreign political principles of ARFD
making part of ruling coalition mentioning that it seeds hatred for
Turkish people among Armenians every day, "while Armenia should live in
peace, happily with its neighbors." ARFD representative Artsvik
Minasian opposed to him. According to him, ARFD is a national political
force, in difference to some parties, for which the national is alien.

Ruzan Khachatrian, a Board member of the People’s Party of Armenia,
reminded to those present that ARFD took part in the February 19
presidential elections with the slogan "Neither to the Past Nor to the
Present," but today it "sticks to the present, therefore it will have
no future."

"TURKEY, ARMENIA AND DEFENCE OF FREE EXPRESSION" EVENT TO BE HELD IN
LONDON

LONDON, MAY 30, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN.

The "Turkey, Armenia and the Defence of Free Expression" event will
take place in the Institute of Contemporary Art of London through the
generous support of Amnesty International. Participating in the event
are Fethiye Cetin, the author of "My Grandmother", which describes her
discovery of her Muslim grandmother’s true Armenian Christian identity,
translator and writer Maureen Freely, Armenian writer and filmmaker
Nouritza Matossian, and Ragip Zarakolu, one of Turkey’s best-known
dissident publishers.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia participated in NATO PA session
29.05.2008 18:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian parliamentary
delegation led by chairman of the standing committee
on armament, internal affairs and security Artur
Aghabekyan attended the NATO PA spring session in
Berlin May 24-27, the RA MFA press office reported.

The Armenian delegation and Ambassador Samvel
Lazarian to NATO attended the meetings on politics,
defense and security.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, NATO Secretary General Jaap
de Hoop Scheffer also addressed the session.

The participants discussed the Alliance’s new
strategy, energy security and the bloc’s expansion
eastwards.

ARMENPRESS

ALIK SARGSIAN APPOINTED CHIEF OF THE POLICE

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian signed today a decree dismissing Hayk
Harutyunian from the office of the chief of the
police. Presidential press service told Armenpress
that with another decree the president appointed Alik
Sargsian the chief of the police. By the decree of
Serzh Sargsian Alik Sargsian has been granted title of
General-Mayor.
Alik Sargsian was born in 1957, June 1, village
Kanachut, Artashat province. He graduated from the
Khachatur Abovian Pedagogical Institute and high
school of the Armenian Home Affairs police.
From 1979-1980 served in the Soviet Army. From
1982-1986 worked as an officer in the Shahumian Home
Affairs Department on teenager affairs.
From 1991-1992 worked as the head of the criminal
investigation department of the Artashat Home Affairs
Department. A. Sargsian was awarded medals of peace of
nations, Fritjof Nansen, Anania Shirakatsi, Nerses
Shnorhali.
On June 1, 2007 has been awarded medal of the
Armenian prime minister for his long-term
conscientious activity. From 2000 until new
appointment was the governor of Ararat.

ACCORDING TO SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN, OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS HAVE NO
POLITICAL VISION AND ARE GUIDED BY LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S PERSONALITY

3930

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. As Shavarsh Kocharian, the Chairman of
the National Democratic Party (NDP), affirmed, Armenia cannot resist
regional challenges until the home political tension and public "split"
are liquidated. As Shavarsh Kocharian said at the May 29 press
conference, establishment of a dialogue between the authorities and
opposition is almost impossible, as the culture of disputing over
programs, ideas has not been formed in the country yet.

According to the NDP leader, opposition supporters do not have an
ideological basis or a "vision," either. They are only guided by
antipathy to the current authorities and sympathy to first President
Levon Ter-Petrosian’s personality. Being discontent with the activity
of the authorities, according to S. Kocharian, is natural, but people
having no vision finally turn into an instrument in the hands of some
political forces.

In response to an observation of one of the journalists that in
consequence of the authorities’ policy the current vision of the
oppositionists is entering Liberty Square and in responde to the
question of why, nevertheless the policemen do not permit people to
enter the above mentioned square, S. Kocharian said that there are many
questions at present. "Why the person, who led the country to this
situation, who was the architect of the current governmental system and
is not sorry for his acts, became the opposition leader?," the speaker
said.

As regards PACE Resolution N 1609, as S. Kocharian predicted, its
requirements will be fulfilled in Armenia partially, and the Armenian
delegation will not be deprived of vote in the Assembly.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

ARMENIAN YOUTH AND TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE TO BE ORGANIZED IN ANTELIAS THIS SUMMER

A conference of teachers of Armenian Language, Armenian history and religion
will be convened in the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias on July 17-19
on the initiative of the Catholicosate’s Armenological-educational
department.

The "Armenian Education Today" conference convened in Antelias in 2004 had
decided to continue discussions on issues and concerns related to Armenian
education with further depth and professionalism and to devise projects in
line with these discussions.

The Armenian school, with its mission of formation-both of people and
Armenians- is one of the important fields of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
mission. With this in mind, Catholicos Aram I continues organizing
initiatives, in cooperation with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s
Armenian Department, that bring to the fore issues related to the Armenian
school.

It is in this context that the conference of Armenian history, Armenian
Language and religion teachers will be convened as a follow-up the above
mentioned pan-Diaspora conference four years ago. The conference will
comprehensively discuss issues related to all three subjects: language,
methodology, teachers, textbooks, curriculum, etc. Teachers in these
subjects in Armenian schools throughout the Diaspora will participate in the
conference. Those interested can contact the director of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia’s Armenological-Educational Department, Mr. Sarkis Giragossian.

On August 14-16, 2008 a pan-Diaspora youth conference will be held in
Antelias. The conference was planned two years ago but was postponed at the
time due to the unstable political situation in Lebanon. Under the theme
"The Armenian youth in front of the challenges of the 21st century" the
conference will feature lectures, round tables and group discussions. Over
100 youths from the various Dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia will
participate in the conference. Those interested can contact the director of
the Catholicosate’s Youth Department, Rev. Father Sahag Yemishian.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

Times of Oman, Oman
May 28 2008

HM greets Azerbaijan, Armenia and Ethiopia

ONA
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 12:25:14 AM Oman Time

MUSCAT – His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of
greetings to President Ilham Heydar Aliyev of the Republic of
Azerbaijan on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

His Majesty the Sultan expressed his greetings and best wishes of good
health and happiness to President Aliyev, and his country’s friendly
people further progress and prosperity.

His Majesty the Sultan also sent a cable of greetings to President
Serge Sarkisian of the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of his
country’s National Day.

His Majesty expressed his greetings and best wishes to the president
and the friendly Armenian people.

His Majesty the Sultan also sent a cable of greetings to President
Girma Woldegoirgis of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on
his country’s National Day.

His Majesty expressed his greetings and best wishes to President
Woldegoirgis and wished his country’s friendly people further progress
and prosperity.

;de tail=16955&rand=0QfjweFv5sTKvjUne56pnx0u9i