Author: Maghakian Mike

MOSCOW TO HOST CONFERENCE OF SELF-PROCLAIMED REPUBLICS

RIA news agency
12 Sep 05

Moscow, 12 September: The conference “Parallel CIS: Abkhazia,
Dniester region, South Ossetia and Nagornyy Karabakh as realities of
the post-Soviet space” will be held in Moscow on 14-15 September,
RIA-Novosti learnt today at the press service of the Institute of
CIS Countries, which is one of the organizers of the event.

The agency’s source said the forum will be attended by representatives
of self-proclaimed states, Russian State Duma deputies, scientists,
experts and famous Russian political scientists. The Dniester region
will be represented by the president of this self-proclaimed republic,
Igor Smirnov, Abkhazia by Security Council secretary Stanislav Lakoba,
South Ossetia by culture minister Konstantin Pukhayev and Nagornyy
Karabakh by minister for education, culture and sport Kamo Atayan.

As part of the conference, a round table discussion, “The right to
religious freedom in conflict zones”, will be held on 15 September. The
discussion will be chaired by the human rights commission of the
Interparliamentary Orthodox assembly. The press service of the
institute reported that the discussion will be attended by MPs from
Russia, Syria, the Palestinian National Authority, Estonia and Armenia
and by clergymen for conflict zones.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THE CONFLICT

A1+

| 15:07:51 | 05-09-2005 | Official |

Today the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the Slovenia Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel who has arrived in Armenia on a 2-day official visit
will meet the President of the Nagorno Karabakh republic Arkadi
Ghoukasyan. The meeting will take place at 09:00 p.m. by local time
in the hotel Yerevan.

It is noteworthy that the meeting is not closed as journalists have
been invited to highlight the meeting.

The NGR President has already arrived in Armenia.

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:

HIS HOLINESS MEETS WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF ARMENIA

His Holiness Aram I met with the Ambassador of Armenia in Lebanon
Arek Hovhannisian on August 31.

The two discussed issues related to Armenia-Diaspora cooperation in
light of the Armenia-Diaspora Intellectuals’ conference held at the
Catholicosate recently.

His Holiness and the Ambassador also talked about the current situation
of Lebanon and the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh.

##

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.

650 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-JULY, 2005

ARKA News Agency
Aug 31 2005

YEREVAN, August 31. /ARKA/. A total of 650 traffic accidents were
registered in Armenia in January-July, 2005, which is by 0.9% higher
than the accidents registered during the corresponding period in 2004,
the RA National Statistical Service reports. The statistics reports
that 129 individuals died in these accidents (by 4% higher than
in January-July, 2005), and 922 individuals were injured (by 9.2%
higher than in January-July, 2004). A.A.

ANDRANIK MIHRANIAN: MEETING IN KAZAN WAS DOOMED TO FAILURE

AZG Armenian Daily #155, 01/09/2005

Opinion

According to the Azeri Trend agency, Andranik Mihranian, political
expert from Moscow, said that the meeting of Kocharian and Aliyev was
doomed to failure, as that would be very difficult to agree something
on the eve of the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. Aliyev
and Kocharian also realize that. Mihranian believes that the sides
‘can’t do anything” to achieve the settlement.

“The settlement may be imposed either by the international community
or the status quo will be preserved, in the given case. This situation
will continue until one of the sides feels confident and strong enough
to settle the conflict by means of a war,” the political expert
stated. Reminding of the militant statements made by Ilham Aliyev,
Mihranian didn’t exclude that Azerbaijan will try to gain revenge.

Unless the super powers didn’t force the sides in conflict “the
decision of mutual concessions,” “that would be very difficult for
the authorities or Armenia and Azerbaijan to explain to their voters
why they make such unhelpful concessions.” As for Russia’s part,
Mihranian said that Russia has very limited financial, economical
and military-political opportunities. “Today the Russian potential
doesn’t allow doing more than they already do. They stopped consider
Russia a key country for the settlement of the conflict,” he said.

SERIOUS ADVANCE IN ARMENIAN-ARGENTINEAN COOPERATION

A1+

| 14:59:16 | 30-08-2005 | Official |

Today Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan met with Minister
of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina
Rafael Bielsa.

When touching upon the current situation and prospects of the
Armenian-Argentenian relations the parties noted that the absence of
political disputes contributes to the efficient development of the
bilateral relations.

Andranik Margaryan and Rafael Bielsa expressed satisfaction
with the bilateral economic cooperation. In part, they noted the
agreements signed in December 2001 between the Armenian government
and America Corporation head Eduard Ernekyan on joint management of
the International Airport of Zvartnots as a serious step forward. In
Mr. Bielsa’s words, the present low index of commodity turnover in
Armenia can be increased taking into account the large-scale airport
development projects, which will give rise to economic interests not
only in Armenia but in the whole region.

The parties also expressed assurance that the friendly relations
between the two states and the existing legal filed will create
favorable conditions for efficient cooperation in various field
of economy.

New California Media, CA
Pacific News Service, CA
Aug 28 2005

Bikers Traverse Armenia to Aid Farmers

Asbarez Armenian Daily, News Report, Staff, Aug 28, 2005

FRESNO–Six Armenians from the United States left for Armenia and
Mountainous Karabagh Republic on August 20 to bike through the
countryside as a part of the Armenian Technology Group’s (ATG) effort
to promote agrotourism there.

The Fresno, California based ATG was formed in 1989 to assist the
Armenian people to become self-sufficient in food production. Much of
its work has revolved around the seed multiplication program, which
aims to make high-quality seeds available to Armenian grain farmers.
ATG agronomists in Armenia have spent the last few years developing
seed varieties that will yield the highest possible output with the
least amount of agricultural inputs and expense. In addition, ATG
efforts to adapt and maintain harvesting equipment have allowed
Armenian farmers to reap significantly larger crops.

ATG’s executive director, Varoujan Der Simonian said that the recent
effort was launched when Vatche Soghomonian embarked on a marathon
bicycle ride last year that took him nearly 700 kilometers across the
mountains and plains of Armenia. The ride played a critical role in
raising the funds to purchase four milk-cooling tanks to serve as
storage for rural farmers, allowing their surplus milk to be kept
fresh and to be sold to dairy processors.

This year, ATG hopes that media coverage of the Bike-a-Thon will
bring rural Armenia into the spotlight, showing the great potential
of the countryside. The concept of agrotourism is a direct expansion
of ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience agricultural
life first hand, and aims to improve the life of farmers.

In 1999, Soghomonian rode from Stepanakert to Yerevan to give a
jump-start to the ATG-proposed grape nursery in Khramort, a village
in Karabagh ravaged by war. ATG estimates that every dollar invested
in the nursery increases local income 14-fold. Fifty-three families
are now employed by the nursery, and hundreds of acres of vineyards
in Karabagh are being rejuvenated yearly with young, disease-free
grapevines.

This year’s Bike-a-Thon has the specific goal of raising the funds
needed to train professional veterinarians who will work with the
Central Diagnostic Lab to help increase farm production and income,
ensure that milk and dairy products are safe for consumption. The
purpose of the Lab is to ensure that Armenia’s rural farming
operations can minimize the spread of a wide range of diseases
including tuberculosis, brucellosis, salmonella, anthrax and ecoli.
“Rural economic development in Armenia is vital to the future of the
country. We sincerely appreciate those who participate in helping us
attain our mutual goal,” said Der Simonian.

Soghomonian, who led the first two cycling events and recently
qualified for the Tour de France, will lead the other riders from
Yerevan, then peddle towards Khor Virab, and then on to Noravank.
They will then journey to Yeghegnatsor and through Areni wine
country, stopping to have a taste of Armenia’s wines. The tour will
continue to Sisian, and then Goris, followed by a stop at Khapan, and
onward to Meghri. The bikers will pass through Karabagh, visiting
Shushi and Stepanakert. They will visit the ATG wine grape nursery in
Khramort, funded by diaspora Armenians, and ride to the ancient
Gantzasar monastery. The tour will then climb from Yeghegnatsor to
Martuni, and along Lake Sevan, then continuing on to Oshagan,
Sardarabad, and finally visit Echmiadzin before returning to Yerevan.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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08/24/2005
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1) Hopeful Signs on Karabagh Emerge after Moscow Meeting
2) New Twist to Bogazici Armenian Genocide Conference
3) US And Turkey Set to Discuss Bilateral Ties and Rebels
4) EU Commission Sees Turkey Accession Talks on Target for October 3
5) Armenian Catholicos Set to Visit Javakhk

1) Hopeful Signs on Karabagh Emerge after Moscow Meeting

MOSCOW (AP/Itar-Tass)–The foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia, and
Azerbaijan
said on Wednesday that they saw hopeful signs recently in the drive to find a
settlement to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry
reported.
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian stressed that the
self-determination
of Mountainous Karabagh is a priority in settling the conflict, which should
focus on the rights of its population to take care of their fate. “Other
problems are to cope with the consequences of the conflict, settle territorial
claims, and return refugees,” and added that there is hope the sides would
find
common denominators. `It would bring peace and stability to southern
Caucasus.”

“The settlement requires active work,” Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said, adding that it is premature to talk about any headway in
resolving the conflict.
The three ministers met in Moscow on Wednesday, along with representatives of
the United States, France, and Russia, who are mediating negotiations on
settling the conflict. They also discussed arrangements for a meeting Saturday
between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev on
the sidelines of a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in
Russia’s
Volga River city of Kazan.
Russia’s mediator Yuri Merzlyakov said that Russia “holds a clear position on
this issue.”
“We believe that one should not impose his solution of the problem on the
parties to the conflict; they should arrive at it independently, without
outside interference,” Merzlyakov said. “If a mutually acceptable accord is
reached, we’ll be able to guarantee it. The settlement should make all the
parties involved feel safer, the balance of forces that historically developed
in the region should not be upset, while the region itself should not
become an
arena of rivalry,” he added.

2) New Twist to Bogazici Armenian Genocide Conference

Abdullah Gul decides to open previously censured gathering of academics

ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)–Bogazici University rector Ayse Soysal and the
President of Sabanci University, Tosun Terzioglu, told the press on Tuesday
that Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul would be opening a conference
titled
“Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific
Responsibility and Democracy.”
The conference was initially scheduled for May, but postponed after Turkish
justice minister Cemil Cicek branded it “a dagger in the back of the Turkish
people.” It has been rescheduled to take place at Istanbul’s Bogazici
University on September 23-25.
Soysal and Terzioglu both stressed that such conferences must be viewed from
an academic standpoint, without forgetting that the universities do not
necessarily share the views of lecturers. They defended their right to
criticize politically motivated opposition or support of such discussions
prior
to their onset, saying that such tactics directly harm the fundamental
freedoms
of science and education. They suggested that viewpoints could more
appropriately be addressed-fully reviewed and criticized in academic
circlesafter presentations are allowed to be made.
Though they did not elaborate on Gul’s appearance, Hurriyet newspaper
reported
that in a phone conversation with Soysal, Gul responded to the invitation,
saying that he would have to check his schedule for conflicts.
However, Gul confirmed that he would be launching the conference. “The rector
requested that I speak, and I accepted. We have no reservations or concerns
about this matter. Why should we bury our head in the sand? That is what I
said
about the first planned conference that was postponed unnecessarily. Our
society can undoubtedly debate this issue.”
But the Turkish Justice Minister had condemned the original initiative as a
blow to government efforts to counter a mounting Armenian campaign to have the
Genocide recognized internationally. “We must put an end to this cycle of
treason and insult, of spreading propaganda against the [Turkish] nation by
people who belong to it,” he had told parliament.
According to the AKI news agency, the conference will feature 12 sessions and
lectures by 38 academics; panel discussion topics will include “Deportation
and
Massacre,” “Disaster and Rescue Stories,” “Memories and Witnesses,” and
“Things
the World Knew that Turkey did not know.”

3) US And Turkey Set to Discuss Bilateral Ties and Rebels

ANKARA (AFP)–A ranking US official is expected in Turkey on Thursday for
talks on bilateral ties and possibly measures to combat armed Turkish Kurd
rebels holed up in the mountains of northern Iraq, a US spokesman said.
Matt Bryza, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian
affairs, “will be visiting Ankara for two days to discuss general matters….
the PKK (the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party) issue could also be brought
up,” the spokesman, who requested anonymity, said Tuesday.
Bryza is also expected to meet officials in charge of the economy and
“possibly” military officials, he added.
US Joint Chief of Staff General Richard Myers, and General John Abizaid, head
of US Central Command, are also expected in Ankara in September, but the exact
date of the visit has not been set, the spokesman said.
Turkey has long pressured the United States to act against thousands of PKK
militants who have found refuge in northern Iraq since 1999 and stepped up
their attacks on Turkish targets over the past several months.
Last month, the Turkish army’s number two, General Ilker Basbug, said that
Washington had ordered the capture of PKK commanders in northern Iraq and
warned of a Turkish military incursion into the region if Baghdad fails to
curb
the rebels.
Last week, the PKK, listed by the US and the European Union as a terrorist
group, announced a unilateral one-month cease-fire until September 20 to give
Turkey time to take steps to resolve the conflict. Ankara did not respond to
the truce offer.
Some 37,000 people have died since 1984, when the PKK first took up arms for
self-rule in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast.

4) EU Commission Sees Turkey Accession Talks on Target for October 3

BRUSSELS (AFX)–The European Union’s executive commission said on Wednesday it
still expects accession negotiations with Turkey to open as scheduled on
Oct 3,
amid French pressure for a delay.
“As far as the views of the commission are concerned, the commission
presented
the negotiation framework for Turkey before the summer break… and of course
it hopes and expects this will be adopted by the member states,” said
Krisztina
Nagy, spokeswoman for EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn.
At the beginning of the month, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin
poured cold water on the prospect of the talks starting on time as long as
Ankara does not recognize EU member Cyprus.
Nagy said that, for the commission, Turkey had met the conditions set for
opening the talks, namely carrying out a package of legal reforms and adopting
a customs agreement with the EU.
“There were two preconditions set for the opening of the start of the
negotiations….these two things have happened.”
EU foreign ministers will have their chance to address the question of
accession talks with Turkey at an informal meeting in the Welsh city of
Newport
on Sept 1-2.
Ahead of that meeting, EU ambassadors are to discuss the issue on Aug 31.
Turkey only recognizes the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,
proclaimed in 1983, nine years after Turkish troops occupied the northern
third
of Cyprus in response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup in Nicosia
aimed at uniting the Mediterranean island with Greece.
Turkey says its position towards the Greek Cypriot administration will remain
unchanged until the conflict is resolved and the Turkish and Greek communities
of the island are reunified.

5) Armenian Catholicos Set to Visit Javakhk

AKHALKALAKThe Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin II is set to visit southern
Georgia’s predominately Armenian region of Javakhk to consecrate the newly
constructed Armenian Diocese building on October 1.
Karekin II also plans to meet with the local population, which has not had a
visit from an Armenian Catholicos since Khrimian Hayrig in 1896.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, August 19, 2005

ARMENIAN PHILHARMONIC SHINES, HOSTS BAYRAKDARIAN, KRADJIAN, TREGER

North American and European Performers Enrich APO’s Season

The AGBU-funded Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) hosted an
impressive array of performances during May and July, including a
special Fourth of July concert with guest American conductor Alexander
Treger. The Orchestra also participated in the highly anticipated
“Il Barbiere de Siviglia” (The Barber of Seville) starring Canadian
soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.

A YEREVAN FAVORITE

A rising star in the international opera world, Isabel Bayrakdarian
first performed in Armenia last year returning to perform one of
Mozart’s most popular operas under the direction of APO conductor,
Eduard Topchjan on May 25 and 27. Music was provided by the Serenade
Chamber Orchestra, Hover Chamber Choir and the wind section of
APO. Bayrakdarian appeared in the role of Rosina accompanied by two
other visiting singers: Georgia’s Besik Gabitashvili as Il Conte
d’Almaviva and France’s Souren Shahidjanian as Don Basilio.

Co-sponsored by Hamazgain Cultural Society, the May 25 performance
was broadcast by Armenia’s H-1 TV. Bayrakdarian, who was accompanied
by her husband pianist Serouj Kradjian, was closely followed by the
local media during her visit.

On May 29, pianist Serouj Kradjian presented Rachmaninov’s Piano
Concerto No. 3 in Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall and the performance
was conducted by Topchjan and dedicated to the Year of Russia in
Armenia.

APO’S MAY CONCERTS

APO performed eight concerts in May 2005: May 6, they welcomed
British violinist Hideko Udagawa whose latest CD with pianist Boris
Berezovsky featured the music of Aram Khachaturian and included seven
premiere recordings; May 13, another Brit, Alexander Ivashkin, led
APO during a dynamic program that included Alfred Schnittke’s “(K)ien
Sommernachtstraum,” Tigran Mansurian’s “Nachtmusik”and the Armenian
premiere of Charles Ives’ “Washington’s Birthday”; May 20, Sergei
Azizian, concertmaster of the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra,
visited his homeland to perform the work of Danish composer Carl
Nielsen; May 21, Hratchia Harutunian (Germany) and Barsegh Tumanian
performed in a program entitled, “An Evening of Violin and Vocal
Music”; May 23, American pianist Sahan Arzruni performed a benefit
concert for the Armenian Bone Marrow Transplant Donors Registry
Charitable Trust.

TREGER RETURNS

Russian American violinist and conductor, Alexander Treger conducted
APO on July 3 for a concert dedicated to the Independence Day of
the United States of America. In addition to the music of Liadov and
Tchaikovsky, there was an unannounced premiere of Caspar Diethelm’s
violin concerto, “Anubis,” by Swiss violinist Sibylle Tschopp.

Representatives of the American Embassy in Yerevan attended the
concert and the event began with welcoming remarks by U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia, John Evans.

As an encore to the evening’s performance, APO performed John Philip
Sousa’s rousing “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

This was Treger’s second visit to Armenia and his second performance
with APO.

Formed over 75 years ago, APO has been primarily subsidized by AGBU
since 1992 in recognition of the importance of the performing arts
in Armenia. Annual grants are allocated for weekly concerts, new
instruments, administration, salary supplements, international guest
artists and special festivals. APO has successfully toured Austria,
England, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Lebanon, Russia, Turkey, UAE
and the United States, and has produced over a dozen CD recordings. For
more information on APO, please visit or

FOOTBALL TEAMS OF ARMENIA AND JORDAN PLAY DRAWN GAME

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The national team of Armenia,
preparing for contests of the electoral round of the 2006 World
Championship, held a friendly meeting with the national team of Jordan
on August 18. The game taken place at the rival’s playing-field, in
Amman, finished a drawn game: by a score of 0 to 0. Some football
players of the national team of Armenia did not participate in this
meeting for different reasons. There are difficult games facing
the national team of Armenia in future. Within the framework of the
electoral contests of the World Championship, the team will first
meet with the team of Holland on September 3, in Yerevan; and the
team of Czechia on September 7, on the rival’s playing-field.