Author: Maghakian Mike

Belfast Telegraph Saturday Newspaper, UK
June 30, 2007
COM Edition

Derry not relishing Armenian adventure

DERRY City will be up against it when they take on Armenian champions
FC Pyunik in the Champions League.

"It wasn’t an ideal draw," said Derry chairman Hugh McDaid who was at
the qualifying round draw in Switzerland. "But there’s nothing we can
do about it, so we’ll just have to get on with it."

The Armenians play a similar season to the League of Ireland through
the warmer months.

Much of the recent League of Ireland success in Europe has been put
down to the summer season with the players up to speed for the early
rounds unlike, say, those in the Irish League.

It might very well have been a factor in Derry’s wins over Gothenburg
and Gretna last summer.

But that won’t be the case this year with Pyunik 16 games into their
season and sitting on top of the table. Formed in 1992, they have won
the title nine times and this will be their seventh appearance in the
Champions’ League.

Derry director Michael Burns feels the draw is a "nightmare" for the
club.

Burns, the club’s secretary, revealed the pairing "could not have
been worse" for City both on and off the field.

He said: "It couldn’t be worse. Logistically speaking it’s a
nightmare. We are having to charter a plane, we’ve got a hotel sorted
and we’re still trying to get the transportation sorted out.

"Some of our people have played in Georgia in the past. One of our
players Paddy Mc-Court, a Northern Ireland Under-21 international,
was in Armenia and he has already spoken about the difficulties we
could face over there.

"You are basically talking about going to the Middle East, it’s
neighbouring Iran which is as far away in Europe as you can go. It is
a nightmare, it’s going to cost us an absolute fortune.

"You are talking about the full length of Europe and the vast
majority of clubs at this stage of the Champions League are not
wealthy."

And if the thought of crippling costs and traumatic travel
arrangements were not enough, City also face the daunting prospect of
trying to defeat a side which boasts nine Armenian internationals.

"They have nine players in the Armenian national squad at the moment
and are 16 points clear in their own league which means they are by
far and away the best team in Armenia," he added.

"The city they play in is the size of Dublin. Dublin has half a dozen
good quality football clubs so to be the best club they must be
pretty good."

But Burns is confident the club will summon strength from their loyal
travelling support.

"There is always a lot of interest," he said. "We have a bunch of
very hardcore, dedicated fans who travel all over the world with us."

ALEXANDER ARZMANYAN’S LAWYER SAYS NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE TOOK COERCIVE MEASURES TO FAMILY OF HIS CLIENT

arminfo
2007-06-29 16:36:00

"My client does not give testimonies as the National Security Service
took coercive measures to his family from the very beginning," Hovik
Arsenyan, the lawyer of Alexander Arzumanyan, the former foreign
minister charged with money laundering, said at the "Pressing"
Club, Friday.

He said the former head of the foreign political department is
indignant that the criminal case was lodged without warning. "They
could invite him, interrogate as a witness. In the meanwhile, they
started from the search," the lawyer said.

On July 2 the First Instance Court of Center and Nork Marash
communities will consider the petition of the National Security Service
Investigation Department for prolongation of Arsen Arzumanyan’s term
for 2 months.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA READY TO PROMOTE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING COOPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 29 2007

RA President Robert Kocharian received a delegation of representatives
of Armenian and Azeri intelligentsia, who had undertaken a
Stepanakert-Yerevan-Baku trip with the assistance of Armenian and
Azeri Presidents and the two countries’ Ambassadors to Russia.

According to the information DE FACTO received at RA President’s
Press Office, in the course of the meeting Robert Kocharian had
welcomed the initiative noting that establishment of communication
and creation of confidence between the two publics would become a
positive contribution to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict settlement.

According to RA President, despite present realities, common grounds
for cooperation should be found and Armenia is ready to promote
the process.

The guests spoke of the necessity of communication between Armenian
and Azeri societies and the ways of the plans’ implementation.

According to the representatives of Azeri intelligentsia, to establish
tolerance between the nations friendly and partnership relations
should be restored between the representatives of Armenian and Azeri
intelligentsia of the older generation. After visiting Yerevan the
delegation left for Baku to meet with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev. Before that the guests visited Stepanakert and met with NKR
President Arkady Ghoukassian.

TOROSYAN BLUNTS OUR VIGILANCE

A1+
[08:23 pm] 28 June, 2007

The burning discussion on the "RA Law on Radio and Television"
was terminated by a very notable announcement of the NA Chairman
Tigran Torosyan.

Mr Tororsyan announced that the provision of the draft law prohibiting
foreign companies to launch a program on the National Radio and TV had
noting to do with the Radio Liberty. He explained that the "Liberty"
was not a broadcasting company, since by the RA Law a broadcasting
company should have license, while the RL did not have it, thus,
the bill did not concern the RL.

The absurdity is that Gevorg Danielyan, representative of the
Government, had declared in the NA that the provision referred not only
to the RL but to other three companies. It turns out that either the
Government tries to mislead the deputies or the NA Chairman. Anyway,
Tigran Torosyan promised to vote against if anyone proved that this
amendment was directed to the RL.

All factions expressed their attitudes to the bill and as they noted
they were against the possible close down of the Radio Liberty. But
only the "Heritage" party and the "Orinats Yerkir Party" voted against
the draft law, while the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation", the
"Prosperous Party of Armenia" and the "Republican Party of Armenia"
voted for the draft.

Raffi Hovhannisian, head of the "Heritage" party, apologized to the
Radio Liberty and the nation, that such a bill was involved in the
agenda, and urged to improve the bill and then only present to the
NA judgment. "Otherwise, the "Heritage" and the society will say "no"
to the draft", announced Raffi Hovhannisian.

Mher Shageldyan from the "Orinats Yerkir Party" pointed that the
radio would devastate in case Radio Liberty is banned from air just
the was the TV field was devastetd when the "A1+" was was banned from
air and that would be serious stroke to the freedom of expression
and human rights.

Aram Safaryan, secretary of the "Prosperous Party of Armenia",
mentioned that the Council of Public Television and Radio Company
should not be alloted the right of deciding arbitrarily which company
should broadcast. Mr Safaryan offered to vote for this bill for
promoting equal conditions and hoped that other private stations would
be pleased to sign agreements with RL for broadcasting its programs.

In the result of the discussion the "Republican Party of Armenia"
found out that the RL did not have an agreement with the National Radio
and TV. "On which basis the Radio Liberty broadcasts today", wondered
Samvel Nikoyan, secretary of the "Republican Party of Armenia". In
fact the National Radio and TV refused to sign an agreement with the
Radio Liberty without motivating it. The discussion of the issue was
over but the voting is due tomorrow.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Anahit Danielyan

KarabakhOpen
28-06-2007 15:03:55

Recently four youth organizations have set up a youth election
headquarters and said to support Bako Sahakyan. The headquarters is
located at the office of Haiko Serund NGO.

We had informed that such a headquarters would probably be set up
but the initiators met us with strictures and denied everything in
their letter.

Anyway, this was followed by a statement of the representatives of
Haiki Serund during a round-table meeting held by the Unity youth
organization about their intention to set up a youth election
headquarters not to support one particular candidate but to call
the voters to vote. However, recently it has become known that the
headquarters supports Bako Sahakyan.

It is amazing why those young people denied the arrangement to
support the "common" candidate. Is there something bad about it
that they met "secretly" and discussed some questions, with only
a few youth organizations, of course. After all, it is ingenuous
to think it is possible to keep secrets in Karabakh, especially
in Stepanakert. Secrets are always revealed, and if someone does
something secretly, they must be ready to account when it becomes
known instead of "contorting" their stance.

Let the readers judge. The readers who remember from the previous
presidential election the youth organization set up on the eve
of the voting, which was provided with a large office, furniture
and computers in a few days. In other words, an attempt was made to
"bring together" young people on the eve of the election. Now perhaps
many do not remember this organization any more. Now this scenario has
been slightly modified, and instead of setting up a new organization,
an effort is made to "bring together" a few organizations to support
the common candidate besides some other NGOs, including the Union
of Azatamartiks of Artsakh, the Federation of Labor Unions, Helsinki
Initiative 92, etc.

Supporting the common candidate has affected different spheres like
a virus, including the public sector, which is amazing and funny
because the NGOs have set aside their goals and become engaged in
politics. Maybe these NGOs should be reshaped into parties. For
during the elections the NGOs are supposed to observe the election
and protect the citizens’ right to vote and not to shorten this right
by making calls for supporting the common candidate.

Dear friends, who is going to do your job? Thanks God, not all the NGOs
act similarly, otherwise no local observers would get registered with
the central electoral commission. And when an NGO tries to perform
its duties, it is asked to "mind its own business" and is nearly
declared a traitor.

For whatever reason, everything is in a mess in this pre-election
period, and everything is so illogical. Just like in Shakespeare’s
Much Ado about Nothing.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE OBSERVERS REAFFIRM ARMENIAN ELECTION PRAISE
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
June 26 2007

Observers from the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE)
have reaffirmed their largely positive assessment of the Armenian
authorities’ handling of the May 12 parliamentary elections, while
noting major irregularities in the vote count and tabulation.

"The Parliamentary elections in Armenia, held on 12 May 2007, were
largely held in line with Council of Europe commitments and standards
for democratic elections, although shortcomings remain," they said in
a report unveiled at the ongoing PACE session in Strasbourg on Monday.

"The Armenian Authorities, as well as other electoral stakeholders,
showed the political will to address previous shortcomings and to
improve the conduct of these elections, although some issues remain
unaddressed," concluded the report.

The nearly three dozen PACE members monitored the elections as part
of the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) that also
comprised representatives of the OSCE and the European Parliament. In
its preliminary May 13 report, the IEOM concluded that the vote
largely conformed to democratic standards.

Still, the OSCE observers, who accounted for the bulk of the 400-strong
IEOM, toned down the praise in a subsequent follow-up statement. They
said counting of ballots in a large number of polling stations and
their subsequent tabulation by district election commissions was
deeply flawed.

The PACE monitors echoed the criticism, saying that the vote count was
"protracted in most cases." They reported "significant errors" in 8
percent of polling stations observed and "deliberate falsifications
of the results" in some of those precincts.

"Regrettably, the situation deteriorated during the tabulation
process," the report said, adding that the process was "generally
disorganized."

Like their OSCE colleagues, the PACE observers deplored the
"inexplicable" delay in the publication by Armenia’s Central Election
Commission of precinct-by-precinct vote results from Yerevan. "In
addition, by a decision of the CEC, the special computer network
was not used by the Yerevan [district election commissions] to enter
their results," read their report.

The report also contains a list of recommendations which its authors
believe would further improve the conduct of Armenian elections. In
particular, they urged the authorities in Yerevan to enact more
amendments to Armenia’s Election Code, ensure a proper vote count and
tabulation, investigate reports of vote irregularities, and address
"intertwinement, at all levels, of political and business interests."

The report also called on the country’s government-controlled
electronic media to set less "exorbitant" prices of campaign
advertising by political parties and individual candidates.

ARMENIA EXPECTS TO RECEIVE ABOUT TWO MILLION DOLLARS FROM MILLENNIUM CALLENGE CORPORATION NEXT QUARTER
Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Jun 27 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The bid for the fourth allocation and
other documents to be submitted to the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC) were discussed at the June 26 sitting of the Management Board of
the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) in Armenia, which was conducted
by the board chairman, Armenian prime minister, Serge Sargsian. NT
was informed by the RA Government Information and PR Department that,
in addition to the bid, the package contains the quarterly financial
reports, the report on allocation preconditions, the financial and work
plans, the report on quarterly progress, and the report on purchases.

By the fourth bid, Armenia envisages receiving 1 million 991 thousand
753 dollars from the MCC next quarter (July-September 2007). In the
indicated period, the following sums will be allocated to the program
components: 536,107 dollars for rural roads restoration, 1 million 802
thousand 405 dollars for rural irrigation, 89 thousand 490 dollars
for monitoring and evaluation, and 489 thousand 921 dollars for the
program’s management and control. Thus, according to the financial
report, the actual forecast expenses make 2 million 917 thousand 923
dollars next quarter. The difference of the sum indicated in the bid
and the actually required sum will be covered at the expense of the
balance on the bank account.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL AIDE SUPPORTS EX-SECURITY CHIEF IN KARABAKH POLLS

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
26 Jun 07 p 3

Excerpt from Lilit Poghosyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Hayots
Ashkharh on 26 June headlined "This is deliberate misinformation;"

The president’s national security advisor, Garnik Isagulyan, has
just returned from Stepanakert. He presented his views on the current
stage of the election campaign [in Nagornyy Karabakh]

[Garnik Isagulyan] The election campaign is going in a very peaceful
and normal atmosphere. As you know, five candidates have been nominated
for president, and no obstacle has been created to any of them. It
is known that elections in the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh republic] have
always been conducted in a very free and transparent environment. They
have been comprehensible to all. Even international observers have
been surprised that such elections could be held there. In this sense,
this election will be no different from the previous ones.

[Correspondent] Some commentators, however, say that the outcome
of the election is predetermined. In other words, they say that
"no election is going to be held in Karabakh".

[Isagulyan] Indeed, there have been some reports in the Armenian press.

There have also been some public speeches casting doubt on the NKR
presidential election. I simply consider this inappropriate. Everyone,
of course, is free to express his views and promote any
candidate. However, when people go further, personal create offence
and make allegations about the incumbent NKR president or the candidate
who has the biggest chances of winning, this is really unacceptable.

[Correspondent] What would you say about the candidates, their
platforms and positions?

[Isagulyan] I had the privilege of meeting Bako Sahakyan in person. I
can say that he is quite a flawless person. This is not only my
opinion.

Nagornyy Karabakh’s officials, political forces and ordinary people
also think so. I met many people in Karabakh and talked to them,
but none of them expressed a negative opinion about Sahakyan. Of
course, I am not talking about the people who have personal "enmity"
towards him or those who, because of various reasons, are trying to
cast doubt on the electoral process, the current authorities in the
NKR and the candidate who may come to power tomorrow.

Regardless of their background and their role in Armenia’s modern
history, these people should realize that by doing so they are helping
our enemies, and are damaging the images of Nagornyy Karabakh and
Armenia at a time when the international community is closely watching
the developments in Nagornyy Karabakh.

[Correspondent] Why did they decide to discredit [Nagornyy Karabakh
president] Arkadi Ghukasyan right before the presidential election,
particularly at a time when no-one in Karabakh or Armenia had voiced
any serious observations about him or his activities?

[Isagulyan] I don’t know why all this is done. I can’t
understand. Moreover, it surprising to me that a person with whom
I have worked together and have been on good terms for years is now
making such statements. I am talking about Igor Muradyan, who does not
know Bako Sahakyan, has not met him and does not know his positions
on various issues.

Why did he decide to link Sahakyan’s nomination to the future of
Arkadi Ghukasyan and put forward issues that have nothing to do with
the truth, or to find controversy between Armenia and Karabakh and
the positions of the NKR and Armenian presidents? It is unclear why
he says that Robert Kocharyan supports or indirectly does not support
Bako Sahakyan. It is also unclear why Masis Mayilyan, in whose favour
all this seems to be done, did not have courage to protest and say,
"Comrades, what you are saying is a lie."

I think this is a deliberate misinformation to foster a negative view
of a person who had the courage to establish a great environment
in Karabakh during his presidency, not only in terms of personal
relations but also in terms of relations between political forces, and
who did whatever he could to have the NKR constitution adopted. If you
remember, everybody was saying that the constitution had been drafted
to give Ghukasyan a chance to run for a third and a fourth term. And
many, including those who are now trying to discredit Ghukasyan,
joined me in trying to convince him [Ghukasyan] to run for a third
term. But Ghukasyan personally made a decision not to run. Now,
some people are trying to comment on this decision differently.

[Correspondent] They say that Bako Sahakyan’s only "value" is that
he is under total control of the current NKR authorities.

[Isagulyan] When it became clear that Ghukasyan will not run, many
would go and ask Bako Sahakyan to be nominated. Several candidates
could be seen in NKR but proposals by political forces and the reaction
of various groups in society resulted in the conclusion that Sahakyan
is the best and most acceptable candidate. He is a person, who unlike
other candidates, has participated in all the processes in Karabakh
and who is also widely respected by the liberation war veterans,
and he can settle the issues that Karabakh is now facing.

[Passage omitted: Isagulyan says Karabakh president Ghukasyan and
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan are very popular both in Karabakh
and Armenia and their opinions matter for public opinion.]

"SOPPOSITION APOLOGIZES"

A1+
[08:03 pm] 26 June, 2007

More images Today the RA Parliament ratified the 5-year program
of the Government by 94 for, 7 against and 9 abstention votes. The
"Heritage" party voted against the program, the "Orinats Yerkir party"
and Victor Dallakyan abstained from voting. All members of "Heritage"
party asked questions to the RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan to
which the latter asked reluctantly.

The representatives of the parties made speeches. In her speech,
Larisa Alaverdyan underlined "respectable and honorable" words
when turning to the Prime Minister. Raffi Hovhannisian apologized
himself for criticism. "I have always dreamed about such atmosphere
and I am completely satisfied with it", said Serge Sargsyan to the
journalists. "You see, they apologize and that demands great honesty".

Arthur Baghdasaryan talked about the situation in the country, the
existence of shady economy, artificial monopoly resulting in price
rise and other issues. He thanked the Prime Minister for involving
the problem of returning deposits in the Government program.

Victor Dallakyan announced that the program should have been foreseen
not for 5 years but until 2008 presidential elections, since after
that a new Prime Minister and a new Government should be elected.

Service d¹Information
Du saint siège d¹Etchmiadzin

Tel : 00 374 10 517 128
Télécopie : 00 374 10 517 301
Courriel : [email protected]
Responsable : Père Vahram Mélikian

Biographie de l¹évêque Norvan Zakarian
Primat du diocese de France de l¹eglise armenienne

1940 : Naissance à Beyrouth (Liban) dans une famille réfugiée
d¹Arménie occidentale.
Etudes primaires à l¹école Apkarian du quartier de
Bourdj-Hamoud.
1954 : Admission au séminaire d¹Antilias au Liban, puis au séminaire de Beit
Mary puis au lycée
Hovhaguimian-Manouguian de l¹UGAB.
1958 : Admission au séminaire patriarcal de Jérusalem
1957 : A la mort de son père, il doit entrer dans le monde du
travail pour subvenir aux besoins
matériels de sa famille.
1967 : Installation en France. Ordination diaconale le 24 décembre, fête de
saint Etienne.
1968 : Ordonné hiéromoine par l¹archevêque Sérovpé Manoukian.
Durant ces deux années, il apprend le français à l¹Alliance
française tout en assurant la
catéchèse et des cours d¹Arménien à l¹école « Tbrotsasser »
du Raincy.
1970 : Elévation à la dignité d¹archimandrite par Mgr. Sérovpé Manoukian.
1970-1974 : Poursuite de ses études de Théologie à l¹Institut Catholique de
Paris.
1968-1975 : Exerce son ministère à l¹église saint Jean-Baptiste de Paris et
préside le comité de
construction de l¹église d¹Issy-Les-Moulineaux.
1975- 1980 : Recteur de la paroisse de la très Sainte Mère de Dieu
d¹Issy-Les-Moulineaux.
1980 : Vicaire du Légat catholicossal pour la région Rhône-Alpes.
1982 : Ordination épiscopale par Sa Sainté Vazken 1er Patriarche suprême et
Catholicos de tous les
Arméniens.
1987- 2007 : Evêque des Arméniens de Rhône-Alpes.

Sous son impulsion est créée en 1987 la chaire de spiritualité arménienne
Calouste Gulbenkian à l¹Institut catholique de Lyon, en 1988 l¹école
bilingue Markarian-Papazian de Lyon. Participe activement au dialogue
oecuménique au plan local (co-fondateur de Radio-Fourvière /RCF, Association
Unité chrétienne, CREL) et international (représente le Catholicos Karékin
II dans de nombreuses rencontres).

Sous son épiscopat, construction de l¹église du Saint Signe de
Chavieu-Pont-de-Cheruy (Isère) et Saint Grégoire l¹Illuminateur à Saint
Etienne (Loire). Création des paroisses de Vienne et Grenoble dans l¹Isère,
Saint Nicolas de Romans-Sur-Isère (Drôme).

Monseigneur Zakarian est l¹auteur de plusieurs ouvrages dont deux consacrés
à K. Beledian : De la poésie de Krikor Beledian : au sujet de la chambre »
et Approches . Coauteur de deux ouvrages : Les Arméniens, histoire d¹une
chrétienté (1990) et Histoire du peuple Arménien (2007).Collaborateur du
quotidien parisien Haratch et de plusieurs revues en langue arménienne.