Author: Nahapetian Samvel

ENERGY SECURITY IS ON FOCUS OF ATTENTION OF NATO – SEC-GEN
Author: R.Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006

Ensuring the energy security is on the focus of attention of NATO,
and in the near future it is expected to hold one more session of
Alliance on this topic, the deputy secretary general of NATO Jane
Furne told while answering the questions of correspondent of Trend.

According to him, the energy security, especially security of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, were on the focus of attention of
several measures of NATO. "There will be held discussions on what
contributions the North-Atlantic Alliance may make to the provision
of security of energy lines," told Furje.

Besides, Furje expressed his satisfaction with the policy of official
Baku within the action plan of Individual partnership program of NATO
and Azerbaijan.

Deputy secretary general of NATO noted that Azerbaijan’s entrance to
the alliance is not on the agenda. "This question should be addressed
to the head of Azerbaijan," told Furje, adding that NATO is interested
in development of the relations with each countries of South Caucasus.

Touching on Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Furje noted
that Alliance is not going to substitute the OSCE Minsk Group in the
negotiations, but supports the rapid settlement of the conflict.

NKR PRESIDENT AND SWEDISH LEFT PARTY DELEGATION DISCUSS LEGAL BASES OF
KARABAKH PROBLEM

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues relating
to the Karabakh problem settlement as well as to development of ties
among NKR and European political and public organizations were
discussed at the June 29 meeting of NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian
with the delegation of the Left Party of Sweden.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NKR President’s Acting Press
Secretary, the meeting participants touched upon the process of
democratic development in NKR and legal bases of the Karabakh problem.

Arkadi Ghukasian expressed a hope that the existing cooperation will
continue in future as well.

The delegation headed by Mrs. Ulla Hoffmann, the first Deputy
Chairwoman of the party, a member of the Swedish Parliament, arrived
in Stepanakert on June 28.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

June 30, 2006
___________________

DIOCESAN LEGATE, CLERGY REPRESENT CHURCH AT CONSULTATION

The annual United States Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic Consultation
took place May 30 and 31, 2006, at the Cardinal Spellman Retreat Center in
Riverdale, NY.

Leading a delegation from the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) was Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical
officer. Other members of the delegation included Fr. Papken Anoushian,
pastor of the St. Thomas Church of Tenafly, NJ; Fr. Shnork Souin of the St.
Mary Church of Livingston, NJ; and Fr. Tateos Abdalian, pastor of the Holy
Trinity Church of Cheltenham, PA.

The consultation was among leading members of both the Roman Catholic and
Oriental Orthodox Churches, including His Eminence Metropolitan Mor Cyril
Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Church and Bishop David of the Coptic
Orthodox Church.

During the two-day consultation, the 25 clergy discussed the general
relationship between the Catholic and Oriental Orthodox Churches. During
the meeting they discussed many subjects including the Armenian Church’s
support in the newly formed Christian Churches Together, the activities of
the World Council of Churches General Council, and the dire situation in
Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Also during part of the session, Fr. Souin read a paper about marriage and
annulment in Oriental Orthodox churches to further understanding of that
area among the Roman Catholic community.

"It was important that we attend because the Armenian Church has been
playing a leading role in the ecumenical movement in United States," Bishop
Aykazian said.

— 6/30/06

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
June 29, 2006 Thursday 8:04 PM MSK

Baku angered by Swedish MPs’ visit to Karabakh

BAKU

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has instructed its embassy in Britain,
which is in charge of several countries, including Sweden, to check
whether reports alleging that Swedish MPs had visited Nagorno
Karabakh without Baku’s notification were true.

"Our embassy has been instructed to check these reports and issue a
note of protest if they are true," Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman
Tair Tagizade told Interfax on Thursday.

Armenian media reported that a Swedish parliamentary delegation led
by Deputy Ulla Hofman had visited Nagorno Karabakh. The delegates
allegedly reached the territory from Armenia.

The delegation reportedly met with Nagorno Karabakh’s Parliamentary
Deputy Speaker Rudik Usnunch.

Has Noah’s Ark Been Found?
Christian Archaeology Team Believes It Has Found the Ark

June 29, 2006 – – A team of Texas archaeologists believe they may have
located the remains of Noah’s Ark in Iran’s Elburz mountain range.

"I can’t imagine what it could be if it is not the Ark," said Arch
Bonnema of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration (B.A.S.E)
Institute, a Christian archeology organization dedicated to looking
for biblical artifacts.

Bonnema and the other B.A.S.E. Institute members hiked for seven hours
in the mountains northwest of Tehran, climbing 13,000 feet before
making the apparent discovery.

"We got up to this object, nestled in the side of a hill," said Robert
Cornuke, a member of the B.A.S.E. Institute. "We found something that
has my heart skipping a beat."

At first, they didn’t dare to hope it was the biblical boat.

"It wasn’t impressive at first," Cornuke said. "Certainly didn’t think
it to be Noah’s Ark. But when we got close, we were amazed. It looked
similar to wood."

In addition, some B.A.SE. members say, their discovery didn’t look
very distinctive.

"It looked like the deck of any boat today," Bonnema said.

Long Search for the Ark The Bible places the Ark in the mountains of
Ararat, a mountain range theologians believe spans hundreds of miles,
which the team says is consistent with their find in Iran.

The Bible also describes the Ark’s dimensions as being 300 cubits by
50 cubits — about the size of a small aircraft carrier. The
B.A.S.E. Institute’s discovery is similar in size and scale.

"It is provocative to think that this could be the lost ark of Noah,"
Cornuke said Throughout history, people have been searching for the
Ark to help prove God’s existence.

"There’s this idea, if we can prove that the ark existed then we can
prove that the story existed, and more importantly, we can prove that
God existed," said Bruce Feiler, author of "Where God Was Born."

Previous scholars have searched for the Ark on Mount Ararat in Turkey.

"Czar Nicholas, actually, in 1916 sent two expeditions to photograph
it on top of Mount Ararat," said Feiler.

One former U.S. president, Feiler said, looked for it in the mountains
of Iran.

"There is a story that Jimmy Carter, on his way to visit the Shah of
Iran in 1977, purposefully flew over it," he said.

As recently as March, researcher claimed to have satellite photos that
proved the presence of Ark remains. The B.A.S.E institute hopes the
physical evidence they’ve brought back from Iran will hold the answer
to this enduring mystery.

"People will always be looking for it, always be skeptical, always be
excited of the search," Cornuke said. "But I think we found something
here that’s very notable."

The B.A.S.E. Institute’s samples are being examined at labs in Texas
and Florida. B.A.S.E officials concede that there would be no way to
conclusively prove that their finding is actually Noah’s Ark.

So the hunt goes on. The biggest hurdle in identifying Noah’s Ark
comes down to "gopher wood." The Bible says the Ark was made of gopher
wood but no one knows what it is.

ABC News’ Chris Cuomo reported this story for "Good Morning America."

Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

ARAM SARKISYAN: ARMENIA AGREED TO RETURN FIVE REGIONS TO AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 28 2006

"The OSCE Minsk Group co-chair from the US Matthew Bryza has
not announced all the details of the negotiating process for the
settlement of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict," the Armenian Democratic
Party leader, parliamentarian Aram Sarkisyan stated (APA).

He said the co-chairs presented the parties to the conflict with the
map of the five regions which Armenia is ready to return to Azerbaijan
and the map of territories where peacekeeper will be deployed.

"The recent statement by Armenian Foreign Ministry shows that Yerevan
agrees to this document but Azerbaijan is against this variant of
solution. Now Baku taking into account Armenia’s having no territorial
claim against Azerbaijan, demands returning of seven regions not five
and Nagorno Garabagh as well. However, as far as I know, Baku has
agreed to the returning of five regions and a half-Kalbajar region,"
the Armenian parliamentarian said.

Sarkisyan said Arkadi Gukasyan, president of the alleged "Nagorno
Garabagh Republic" will never consent to this way of solution.

"The situation will become so tense that we’ll have to face the 1998
February events. The Armenian authorities are committing treachery.

We urge Robert Kocharyan to make public the content of negotiations
had with Azerbaijan," Sarkisyan underlined.

ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT ON AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED LANDS WILL BE BROUGHT TO LORD JOHNSON’S ATTENTION – MP GANIRA PASHAYEVA
Author: R. Abdullayev

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 27 2006

Members of Azeri delegation to PACE are going to bring to attention
of Lord Johnson, head of PACE subcommittee for Nagorno-Karabakh,
the facts of illegal settlement of Azerbaijan’s occupied grounds and
deliberate firing Azerbaijan’s cultural and historical monuments by
Armenians, Trend reports quoting MP Ganira Pashayeva, member of Azeri
delegation to PACE.

"This issue is quite actual and relevant information will be submitted
to Lord Johnson", Pashayeva noted.

Alongside, Azeri MP said there is no change in session date. "The
session will take place June 29, as planned", she added.

LENNMARKER’S REPORT ON NK TO BE HEARD AT OSCE PA SESSION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 25 2006

The regional security, human rights, conduction of elections, secret
prisons and trafficking in people will be discussed at the 15th annual
session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to be held in Brussels
July 3-7.

The resulting document with recommendations on the above-mentioned
and other issues will be adopted on the final day, PanARMENIAN.Net
reports quoting OSCE PA Headquarters in Copenhagen. The report on
Nagorno Karabakh prepared by the OSCE PA Special Representative Goran
Lennmarker will be heard at the sitting of the Permanent Committee
July 4.

THOUSANDS RALLY AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

BÝA, Turkey
June 26 2006

Organized by the leftist Freedom and Solidarity Party 6,000.rally
against discrimination. Party chairman Kozanoglu criticizes pending
Anti-Terror Law and urges: "Everyone, including those on the mountains,
should be granted the right to participate."

BÝA (Istanbul) – The Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP) has held a
"Let’s Defend Living Together" rally in Istanbul’s Kadikoy district to
voice reaction to increasing intolerance towards people of different
origin in the country and stress that cultural and social diversity
is a wealth for Turkey.

Approximately 6,000 people attended the meeting with party members
arriving from all parts of Turkey. Starting at the square in front of
the Haydarpasa Numune Hospital, thousands marched to the Kadikoy Port
Square shouting slogans "We are here, we defend living together",
"Don’t be silent, shout, the people are brothers" and "There is no
freedom alone, either all of us or non of us".

"We are here, we defend living together".

Bulent Aydin and artist Zeynep Tanbay who presented the meeting reacted
to those saying "Either love it or leave it " and telling those wearing
a turban "go to Arabia" by saying "we are going no where and we are
standing up in front of them because we defend living together. We
have not a single citizen to post anywhere else.

We defend not compulsory citizenship but voluntary citizenship".

Agaoglu: "We multiplied through the democracy and freedom struggle".

Addressing the crowd during the meeting, author Adalet Agaoglu said
"We have multiplied to this extent by showing solidarity on the path
to democracy and freedom. This success is the result of belief and
the truth is here in this square".

Noting that the social diversity in Turkey was more colourful than
anywhere else in the world, Agaoglu added, "Difference and diversity
is good. This brings freedom and democracy together with it".

Kozanoglu: Don’t keep on serving us the TMY.

ODP Chairman Hayri Kozanoglu said in his speech that "as the Kurd,
Turk, Laz, Circassian, Armenian we are different, we are together. We
cover our heads, we have open hair, we have short skits, we have ear
rings, we are different but we are all together. ODP members coming
from Hopa, Diyarbakir, Adana and Mersin… we are all different but
we are together".

Stressing the need for more freedom and democracy in Turkey, Kozanoglu
said "We do not want a Turkey where they keep on reheating the
Anti-Terror Law and serving it to us". He called for the government
to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem.

Kozanoglu said that everyone in Turkey including those on the mountains
should be given the chance to participate in social life and reacted
to children being involved in the Kurdish problem. "Leave them alone
so children can live their childhood" her said. He also defended that
everyone, including those who hold ranks, should be tried.

–Boundary_(ID_JJdgvAzDCEY+S4aM6UGnEw)–

OSCE U.S. CO-CHAIR READS OUT CONTENT OF KOCHARYAN-ALIYEV NEGOTIATIONS

Yerevan, June 23. ArmInfo. Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State, U.S. Co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group, read out
the content of the negotiations of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
for the first time in the history of the conflict’s settlement.

In an interview to RFE/RL, M. Bryza said a framework agreement has
been prepared. The agreement calls Armenia for withdrawal of troops
from "the territories of Azerbaijan under the control of Armenia." On
the other hand, the document provides for normalization of diplomatic
and economic relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, M. Bryza said. The
agreement contains also other provisions providing for dislocation
of peacemakers in the conflict zone and international economic
assistance to the region of Nagorny Karabakh, as well as for a
referendum for Nagorny Karabakh’s status at a certain stage. Thus,
a finished specific document is currently on the negotiating table of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, which, however, the parties refuse to adopt
so far, M. Bryza said. He did not mention what provisions exactly
do not meet the interests of the parties. The U.S. Co-chair urged
the presidents to adopt the framework agreement and added that it
requires a political will.