Author: Khoyetsian Rose

SITTING OF PACE SUBCOMMITTEE ON KARABAKH TO BE HELD IN JUNE 2006
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2006 00:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent sitting of the PACE Subcommittee
on Nagorno Karabakh will be held in June 2006, vice-speaker of the
Armenian National Assembly, head of the Armenian delegation to PACE
Tigran Torosyan stated at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words,
the most important mechanism to be discussed is the reconsideration
of the subcommittee composition. “There are preliminary agreements
on the issue. It’s supposed that people aware of the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement process will serve on it. The subcommittee will include two
representatives of the Armenian and Azeri delegations, rapporteurs
and the chairman. The subcommittee members will possibly visit the
conflict region in October,” Torosyan said.

Cyprus News Agency
April 15 2006
CYPRUS – ARMENIA – CENTRAL BANKS – MEMORANDUM
The Central Banks of Cyprus and Armenia signed a memorandum of
understanding.
The memorandum was signed by the Governors of the Central Bank of
Cyprus and Armenia, Christodoulos Christodoulou and Tigran Sargsyan,
respectively.
An official statement said the Central Bank of the Republic of
Armenia and the Central Bank of Cyprus, expressing their mutual
interest and willingness in establishing and promoting bilateral ties
in supervising credit institutions, signed today in Nicosia a
Memorandum of Understanding.

London Free Press (Ontario)
April 15, 2006 Saturday
FINAL EDITION
WHEN ‘CLEANSING’ SOUNDS A LITTLE IMPURE
BY GEORGE CLARK, LONDON FREELANCE WRITER
Holy euphemism, Batman! Robin, the caped crusader’s sidekick, came to
mind when the OPP officer in charge of the investigation into the
slaughter of eight bikers last weekend referred to the motive of the
killings as an “internal cleansing.”
The bizarre killings and dumping of the bodies near the village of
Shedden in Elgin County brought a variety of responses, once the
original shock over the discovery had faded. Both print and talk
radio included the point of view that, because it was bikers who had
been killed, perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing.
At the same time, half the letters to the editor in the London Free
Press on Tuesday expressed dismay and disapproval over a newspaper
photo on the weekend showing part of a man’s body hidden in a car
trunk.
The use of the word “cleansing” by police in their search for a
motive seemed to also put this event on a different scale. I checked
Google’s news website for the mention of “cleansing” in news stories
in the past few days. At the top was the bikers’ bodies discovered in
Elgin County. There were also stories on a charge by the UN over
ethnic cleansing in the Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, a rights
group in Bangkok accusing Myanmar troops of ethnic cleansing in Karen
villages, and a story from Great Britain in the Telegraph in which
Labour MP Jane Kennedy accused the Tony Blair government of “social
cleansing” in a program that called for the destruction of thousands
of homes — many low-income — to make way for new housing and a road
to Liverpool’s city centre.
And now we join the world’s list of “cleansing” news with the
slayings in Elgin County.
It may be nitpicking, but to me, the use of the word “cleansing” as a
euphemism for slaughter in this case, goes way beyond the Merriam
Webster definition of “getting rid of impurities by, or as if by,
washing.” That’s like referring to a fire in a slum district as urban
renewal. The previously mentioned MP Kennedy might disagree with me.
What it does, though, is verbally put these homicides or executions
(which they really were) on a different scale, as though part of a
socially understood phenomenon: “cleansing.” Does that make the
killings, if not more acceptable, then more understandable? Probably.
Does it remove some of the horror from the situation? Probably.
Is that right? I’m not sure.
The London Free Press, in its thorough, detailed coverage of the
massacre, the history of bikers in the region, and potential
implications for the future, also included descriptions of the murder
victims as quiet, unassuming neighbours and family members. Does that
become muted when police choose to describe the slaughter of eight
men as a “cleansing”?
At the same time, I feel that when we broaden meanings of words to
embrace more and more uses, we can diminish their original
definitions. In this case, I wonder if it means in any way that the
racial or ethnic cleansing that still goes on in this world is any
more acceptable or understandable because of the widespread usage of
“cleansing.” Hopefully not.
The specific use of words still sparks debate and fierce
disagreement. The president of the UN General Assembly this week, in
describing the ethnic “cleansing” in the Sudan, said he didn’t know
if it was on the scale to qualify as “genocide,” as the U.S.
government had termed it. Reference to the forced removal in the
early part of this century of an estimated two million Armenians from
Turkey, and the tens of thousands of deaths that ensued, as a
“holocaust,” can bring a swift response that “holocaust” refers only
to the treatment and killing of Jews by Germany in the Second World
War.
Words and meanings matter. Before we trivialize the word “cleansing”
in reference to Elgin County last weekend or, on the other hand,
marginalize the slaughter through the use of words suggesting an
historically understood phenomenon, let’s think twice.
And let’s do it before Robin, the sidekick of the cartoon caped
crusader, Batman, can actually fit the situation with a saying
previously attributed to him: “Holy cliche, Batman!”
NOTES: George Clark is anchor/host of First Local News and
Politically Speaking on Rogers Television.
GRAPHIC: photo by Free Press File Photo LIMITED RISK: Ontario
Provincial Police tried to reassure Elgin County citizens this week
with statements that last weekend’s slaughter of eight bikers was an
“internal cleansing,” rather than an attack by the Bandidos on others.

Historic Armenia Perks Up After Soviet Era
The Washington Times, Travel Section
Saturday, April 8, 2006
Randy Mink, Copley News Service
Yerevan, Armenia
Armenia sits poised on the brink of discovery. Blessed with historical
attractions and rugged splendor but closed to tourism for many years, this
ancient land is seeing an increasing number of well-traveled Americans.
Encouraged by improved standards of comfort, visitors are satisfying their
thirst for intrigue in this small Christian country tucked in the Caucasus
Mountains of southwestern Asia.
Armenia was the smallest of the former Soviet Union’s 15 republics. Since
gaining independence in 1991, it has been transitioning to a market-based
economy, with tourism is a key component.
“This cradle of civilization wants to rock,” said Nina Hovnanian, director
of the fledgling Armenian Tourism Development Agency.
As a travel destination, Armenia – one of the world’s oldest Christian
nations – is best known for its mountains and monasteries, but Yerevan, the
capital city, abounds with urban diversions and hums with a youth-driven
cafe and disco scene.
Images of pop star Cher, who is of Armenian ancestry, come to mind as you
watch the sidewalk parade of long-haired girls in tight jeans, spangly tops
and high heels, many of them talking on cell phones. (The singer’s family
name, Sarkisian, is typical of Armenian surnames, most of which end in
“ian.”)
One-third of Armenia’s 3 million people live in Yerevan, a logical base of
operations for visiting the major sights. After a day trip to the
countryside, it’s heartening to know an air-conditioned room awaits your
return. Most Americans choose the new Armenia Marriott Hotel. An oasis of
luxury, the country’s first internationally branded hotel overlooks Republic
Square, a grand oval in the heart of town.
On clear days, the snow-shrouded peak of Mount Ararat dominates Yerevan’s
skyline. Although it lies across the border in eastern Turkey, the mountain
is a symbol of historic Armenia, which once covered a large territory that
extended to the Black Sea. Biblical tradition says Noah’s ark rested on its
summit after the great Flood.
Through the centuries, Romans, Persians, Turks and Russians invaded and
carved up Armenia, a strategic crossroads on the land bridge connecting
Europe and Asia. Today the landlocked country is about the size of Maryland.
Armenia is also bordered by Iran and the former Soviet republics of Georgia
and Azerbaijan, but geopolitical tensions keep the Turkish and Azerbaijani
borders closed, hurting the Armenian economy. Though Armenia is politically
stable and safe to visit, one U.S. diplomat in Yerevan admits “it’s a rough
neighborhood.”
American tourists find that Armenia blends Soviet-era drabness with Middle
Eastern exotica. The Armenian alphabet throws outsiders for a loop and adds
to the otherworldly flavor.
The country is not culturally diverse because 96 percent of the people are
ethnic Armenians. Curiously, the majority of Armenians – about 4 million –
live outside their homeland. In the United States, the largest
concentrations are in metropolitan New York and Boston, and California,
especially Glendale and Fresno.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is so intertwined with Armenian life that
religion and culture are practically synonymous.
Established there some 1,700 years ago, Christianity has survived and is
being embraced by all age groups after decades of Soviet-era atheism. Gilded
icons, priests’ elaborate vestments and other Eastern flourishes invite
comparisons to the Russian and Greek Orthodox churches.
A short drive west of Yerevan is the Echmiadzin complex, the `Vatican’ of
the Armenian Church. There in a palace at the country’s holiest religious
site resides Karekin II, the catholicos, or patriarch of the worldwide
church.
Walking through the gardenlike campus, visitors see black-robed monks and
ancient khatchkars, the intricately carved stone crosses found throughout
Armenia. Burning incense permeates the main cathedral, on the site where St.
Gregory the Illuminator built the first church.
Another shrine is Khor Virap Monastery, south of Yerevan, where St. Gregory
was imprisoned in a dark pit for 13 years for preaching the Gospel. When he
miraculously cured King Tiridates III of a disease in 301, the king set him
free and converted to the faith, or so the legend goes, forever
distinguishing Armenia as the first Christian nation. Agile visitors can
climb a ladder into the dungeon where Gregory languished.
On a trip to this border area near Mount Ararat, you’ll spy guard towers at
American military bases in Turkey.
East of Yerevan, make a pilgrimage to Geghard Monastery, hewn into a
mountainside. You may witness worshippers lighting candles in cavelike
chapels dating to 1215.
By a stream, the devout tie scraps of cloth onto tree branches, an act of
faith that is said to make a wish come true and assure a return to Geghard.
In the parking lot, folk musicians and village women wearing kerchiefs hawk
round loaves of bread and jars of honey, jam and fruit, offering more
subject matter for photographers.
>From the bus window, keep your eyes peeled for boys herding sheep or donkeys
burdened with saddle baskets full of tomatoes.
Roadside stands offer everything from cucumbers and eggplants to walnuts and
sunflower seeds.
Apple, peach and plum orchards dot the rocky terrain. You’ll also see many
pomegranates. Famous for its brandy and table wines, Armenia counts grapes
as another important crop.
A longer day trip from Yerevan is the northward excursion to Lake Sevan. One
of the largest alpine lakes in the world, it occupies about 5 percent of
Armenia’s landmass. Hotels and camping resorts cater to Yerevan residents;
foreigners come for the two lakeside monasteries, both with the trademark
conical domes that crown other churches.
To truly understand the Armenian nation, it’s essential to visit the
Genocide Memorial, the No. 1 site in Yerevan.
An underground museum tells of the ethnic Armenians who suffered in Anatolia
(eastern Turkey) before, during and after World War I. Visitors pay their
respects by placing flowers around an eternal flame.
On Republic Square, formerly Lenin Square, the State Museum of Armenian
History overlooks fountains in a huge reflecting pool, and the National Art
Gallery has an impressive collection of European masters.
Both museums face the Armenia Marriott, where tables under Coca-Cola
umbrellas provide ringside seats for people-watching. Clad with the pinkish
volcanic stone common in Yerevan buildings, the 225-room hostelry opened in
2004 after a $42 million refurbishment that transformed the Hotel Armenia, a
1950s dinosaur that offered Soviet-style service.
Abovian Street, off Republic Square, has small souvenir shops. Popular items
include brandy, carpets, woodcarvings, embroidery and costumed dolls.
Ceramic pomegranates also make good mementoes.
For a night on the town, try the Old Yerevan Restaurant, a rustic place that
dishes up folk entertainment and classic Armenian cuisine. Feast on
khorovats (marinated pork or lamb barbecued on a skewer) or tolma (spiced
meat in cabbage or grape leaves). There will be greens, tomatoes, rice and
cheeses, along with yogurt to roll into thin sheets of pitalike bread called
lavash.
IF YOU GO
The following will be helpful in planning a trip to Armenia:
Lufthansa, British Airways and Austrian Airlines flights from the U.S. to
Yerevan involve a change of planes in Europe and cost an average of $1,400
round trip.
Armenia travel specialists with offices in Glendale, Calif., include Tatians
Travel, (818) 550-8790, ; Levon Travel, (818) 552-7700,
; and Sidon Travel, (818) 553-0777,
A top guidebook is `The Stone Garden Guide: Armenia and Karabagh’ sold in
select U.S. bookstores and through Amazon.com.
Tourist information: The Armenian Tourism Development Agency’s Web site is
Randy Mink is a freelance travel writer.
Visit Copley News Service at
Copyright 2006 Copley News Service
GRAPHIC:
– Armenia, the world’s oldest Christian nation, is best known for its
mountains and monasteries, but Yerevan abounds with urban diversions and
hums with a youth-driven cafe and disco scene.
– The main cathedral at Echmiadzin, a complex sometimes referred to as the
Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It stands on the site where St.
Gregory the Illuminator built the country s first Christian church 1,700
years ago.
– The Genocide Memorial in Yerevan commemorates the suffering Armenians
endured from the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
– A pizza restaurant s sidewalk tables reflect the lively street life of
Yerevan, Armenia, a logical base of operations for travelers visiting the
small country.

Armenian paper speculates on reasons for Azeri president’s visit to USA
Haykakan Zhamanak website, Yerevan
2 Apr 06

Excerpt from report by Armenian newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak website on
2 April headlined “Aliyev to visit Washington”
The Armenian state agencies, the presidential administration, and,
especially the Foreign Ministry were in a state of paralysis
yesterday.
It became apparent that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will pay an
official visit to the USA late April. He has received an invitation
from the White House and will meet US President Gorge Bush. The
Armenian president’s press secretary, Viktor Sogomonyan, yesterday
reported that Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has never received
such an invitation from the White House. So far it has not been
forthcoming.
[Passage omitted: recap od Azerbaijani media reports about the foreign
minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s meeting with US State Secretary
Condoleezza Rice]
The Azerbaijani president received an official invitation from the US
president unlike the Armenian president, who in his eight years of
tenure, has never been honoured by the US president. This is a sign of
serious problems. However, it is strange that Aliyev received the
invitation, especially as talks on the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict appear to be deadlocked. But the USA wishes to solve
the Karabakh conflict in 2006. The Armenian authorities, especially
the Foreign Ministry, had no information about this visit up until the
yesterday, which is indicative of the seriousness of the visit. The
Armenian authorities have found out about this at the same time as
ordinary people.
Had Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan not returned from
Washington a week ago, we would have thought that this was a result of
the inefficiency of the Armenian diplomatic corps. But unfortunately,
this happened during Oskanyan’s visit to the USA and not a single US
official had told the Armenian foreign minister about the scheduled
meeting between the US and Azerbaijani presidents.
Of course, had it not been for the Nagornyy Karabakh problem and a
threat of another war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, we would have
never raised such a question. However, there is the problem of
Karabakh and the international community wants it to be resolved in
2006. The negotiations in Rambouillet have failed. The Americans have
directly degraded Armenia by their attitude to Oskanyan.
It turns out that the US State Department had invited an Armenian
delegation to Washington only for the signing of an agreement [with
the US Millennium Challenge Corporation] on allocating 235m
dollars. After that he was sent back home. During his visit, the
Armenian foreign minister also had a chance to meet the US co-chairmen
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, to discuss the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. The Azerbaijani foreign minister was offered the same chance
to meet Mann. Prior to this meeting, Oskanyan believed that the
meeting between Mammadyarov and Mann will determine the future of the
Nagornyy Karabakh peace process.
But the main goal of Mammadyarov’s visit was to prepare a visit by the
Azerbaijani president to Washington. It must be remembered that, this
is the first official visit of the Azerbaijani president to the
USA. As for Kocharyan, he only visited Washington once back in 2001
for the Key West talks.
According to US and Azerbaijani sources, Aliyev and Bush will discuss
the Karabakh settlement and anti-Iranian programmes drawn up by the
USA. Thus Armenian citizens are interested in whether the USA will put
pressure on Armenia regarding the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

NA DISCUSSES PRIVATIZATION OF STATE PROPERTY
AZG Armenian Daily
13/04/2006
As a result of privatization processes in 2001-2003, the state property
was squandered away, Hovhannes Margarian, member of Orinats Yerkir
Party, said at parliament on April 11. He said that the government
keeps complaining of the lack of financial sources. He added that
this is quite possible, as the property costing AMD 5 billion 850
millions was sold at AMD 950 million, which makes the 16,2 % of its
real cost. In particular, the assets of Orbita CJSC were valued at
AMD 3 billion 212 millions but the company was privatized for AMD 116
million, which makes 3,6% of its real cost. “How can our authorities
restore the banking deposits of the population or secure the residents
of earthquake zone with flats, to reconstruct the transportation
infrastructures of Ashotsk and Amasiya regions that connect Armenia
with Javakhk if the people’s wealth had been squandered?” he posed
a rhetoric question.

ALBERT BAZEYAN THINKS DEPOSING DEFENSE MINISTER IS POINTLESS
Lragir.am
12 April 06
The threat to banish Jirayr Sefilyan from Armenia is determined by
Sefilyan’s statements against Serge Sargsyan, said Albert Bazeyan,
the leader of the Azgayin Veratsnund Party, on April 11.
“For years they have criticized the government’s policy on the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and during one of the recent news
conferences a demand for resignation of Serge Sargsyan was voiced,
and there were appraisals,” says Albert Bazeyan.
Bazeyan agrees with Sefilyan and his supporters but in the sense that
the defense minister should not speak about concessions, have a more
tough and rigorous standpoint, considering Azerbaijan’s tough stance.
Azgayin Veratsnund, however, disagrees with Jirayr Sefilyan and his
supporters in deposing Serge Sargsyan.
“You know that the head of state appoints Serge Sargsyan and all
the other ministers. We have pursued the deposal of Kocharyan for
years on but we did not reach anywhere. The other problem will not
be solved unless this problem is solved,” says Albert Bazeyan.

AIR FRANCE: POLITICS TRAVELS BY PLANE
Lragir.am
10 April 06
Guarantee of France-Armenia ties. This is how the officials of Air
France and the French Embassy to Armenia describe the entrance of Air
France to the Armenian market. There will be Yerevan-Paris scheduled
flights three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Flights are already carried out, and several days after the start, on
April 10 Ambassador Henry Cuny and the Air France officials assessed
their step at the French Embassy in Yerevan. Ambassador Henry Cuny
thinks that the presence of Air France in Armenia has a political
importance. The ambassador thinks that the entrance of the French
airlines implies enhancement of ties between two countries.
The ambassador points out the economic aspect of this event,
particularly the development of tourism. “Besides an evidence of
friendship, it is a call to other French investors,” says the French
ambassador to Armenia.
To mark the entrance of Air France, this time Charles Aznavour flew
to Armenia in the plane of the French company.
The price of the ticket Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan is 399 dollars, taxes
excluding. Besides Air France planes fly to Moscow, Sanct Petersburg
and Kiev. The representatives of the company say this provides a
circulation of 100 million euros. They are hopeful that Yerevan will
comprise one quarter or one third of this sum.

ARMEN NAZARYAN WON SILVER MEDAL
A1+
[02:17 pm] 10 April, 2006
In the judo world “Super Cup” championship in Moscow Armen Nazaryan
from Hrazdan won silver medal in the 66kg weight category. In this
championship Armenia was also represented by Hambardzum Tonoyan (66kg)
and Hovhannes Davtyan (60kg) who did not win medals.
The Armenian Judo Federation informs that after the Moscow competition
the Armenians sportsmen will prepare for the European Championship
in Tampere.
There will probably be three sportsmen in Finland including Armen
Nazaryan.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Azeri MFA: Baku Cannot Prohibit Azeri Journalists from
Visiting Karabakh
08.04.2006 01:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Azerbaijan is a democratic state
and we cannot prohibit journalist from going where
they want,’ head of the department of press and
information policy at the Azeri MFA Tahir Taghizade
stated. In his words, it would be more advisable for
the Azeri journalist to go to Karabakh after `the
seized territories are liberated, communications
restored and peacekeepers deployed.’ `When the issue
of return of Azeris to Nagorno Karabakh is discussed
the trips of journalists there will be not only
possible by essential,’ Taghizade said.
To remind, Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov said there
is nothing bad in the journeys of Azeri journalists to
Nagorno Karabakh while Deputy FM Halaf Halafov called
to bar such trips.