Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

PARTIES OF NK CONFLICT CLOSE TO AGREEMENT, MATTHEW BRYZA SAYS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 7 2006
The parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are close to an agreement,
Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs, told reporters in Yerevan.
The most important steps remain, he added. The issues that have to be
settled are the most difficult ones, and the leaders of the states
must have clear positions, Bryza said. The leaders of the states
must determine the terms of settlement themselves, and “we will do
our best for the decision to be made as soon as possible.”
The US diplomat disagreed with the opinion that the negotiations for
the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement are in the deadlock.
He disagrees with those claiming that the Rambouillet negotiations
failed, and the OSCE Minsk Group has exhausted its potential.
The Presidents did not arrive at a decision in Rambouillet, but it
does not mean that the negotiations failed.

TROOPS TRADE GUNFIRE WITH ARMENIAN FORCES
>From Times Wire Reports
Los Angeles Times
March 8 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian forces exchanged heavy gunfire and mortar
shells at several points along their border in the most serious
fighting in months.
Azerbaijan said one of its soldiers was killed and one seriously
wounded. Armenian forces said several of their troops were wounded.
The two countries remain at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic
Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan. A cease-fire agreement was reached
in 1994 after six years of fighting, and the enclave is now under
the control of ethnic Armenians.

THE COMMISSION OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION PROTECTION WILL CONSIDER K-
TELECOM’S CLAIM UPON ARMENTEL
YEREVAN, MARCH 9. ARMINFO. The Governmental Commission for Economic
Competition Protection will consider the claim of K-Telecom cell
operator upon ArmenTel on March 10.
The Commission informs that K-Telecom complained on ArmenTel’s abuse
of its dominating position. On December 43, 2005 ArmenTel fixed the
price of telephone conversations of the mark of AMD 2 per
minute. ArmenTel uses this tariff system not only in ArmenTel cell but
also in the fixed telephone network. This system will be in use until
April 30 and is subsided by incomes from international
phonecalls. According to K-Telecom, this tariff is unlawful, as
K-Telecom has to pay ArmetTel AMD 9,96 per minute in Yerevan and 14,04
in the regions for retranslating phonecalls in the fixed network.
The K-Telecom company board assures that abusive policy of ArmenTel
causes loss to K-Telecom and creates unhealthy atmosphere in the cell
communication market of Armenia.
ArmenTel says that the 2 AMD per minute limit is a special business
offer for a limited time period. By the License No. 60, given to
ArmenTel, the company has the right of mutual subsiding of inner and
international communication services until January 1, 2010.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US official hails Armenia’s “important” steps towards NATO
Mediamax news agency
7 Mar 06
Yerevan, 7 March: “The pace of development of US-Armenian
military-political relations depends on Yerevan – our doors are widely
open,” US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza told a press conference in Yerevan
today.
“Whatever pace Armenia chooses, it won’t be too fast for us, the
Americans,” Bryza jokingly said.
Bryza pointed out that last year Armenia has taken a lot of important
steps towards the establishment of closer cooperation with the
Euro-Atlantic community. In connection with this, he especially noted
the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) between Armenia and
NATO.
Asked about Russia’s relations with regional countries, Bryza said
this was a matter for decision by Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. He
added that “Russia will continue to remain the major trading partner
of all regional countries”.

PRESS RELEASE
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Streets
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x109
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Friday, March 10, 2006
AGBU ALEXANDRIA SPONSORS CELEBRATORY CONCERT ON THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY
OF COMPOSER ARNO BABADJANIAN

Alexandria, Egypt — On January 29, 2006, AGBU Alexandria, in
conjunction with the Russian Cultural Center of Alexandria and the
Alexandria Center of Arts, sponsored a classical concert to celebrate
the 85th Anniversary of the accomplished Armenian composer Arno
Babadjanian (1921-1983).
With welcoming remarks by Antranig Arzoumanian, Vice-Consul of Russia
and Director of the Russian Cultural Center of Alexandria, AGBU
Alexandria Secretary Hrant Vartzbedian and Ambassador Taher Khalifa,
Head of the External Relations Sector at Alexandria Library, over 200
guests congregated in the Great Hall of the Alexandria Center of Arts
to enjoy a special performance of classical sonatas and concertos by
four members of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Among the many local AGBU members, community representatives and
friends in attendance were distinguished dignitaries and clergy,
including Mr. & Mrs. Ruben Karapetian, Ambassador of Armenia to Egypt,
Libya, Sudan and Ethiopia; Astrid Papazian-Alexanian, Consul General
of Austria; and Reverend Father Krikor Mouradian.
On this special occasion, Ambassador Khalifa was awarded with a medal
by the Russian government for his great work and accomplishments in
bridging Russo-Egyptian cultures.
As AGBU’s first Chapter established in 1907, the Alexandria Chapter is
committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. For
more information on AGBU Alexandria, please email
[email protected].
For more information on AGBU and its worldwide chapters, please visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 12 2006
Lord Russell-Johnston to give a talk on Nagorno Karabakh conflict in
PACE Political Committee tomorrow
[ 12 Mar. 2006 14:35 ]
A regular meeting of the Political Committee of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will be held tomorrow.
Information of the lord Russell-Johnston on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict was also included in the agenda of the PACE Political
Committee.
As APA was told by the press-service of Milli Majlis, the chair of
the standing committee for international and interparliamentary
affairs of Milli Majlis, head of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE
Samad Seidov will also attend the meeting of the Political Committee.
In parallel with the information of lord Russell-Johnston, members of
the PACE Political Committee will also discuss situation in Middle
East, Kazakhstan and Belarus, issues on European Muslim communities’
facing cases of extremism, and hold an exchange of views on future
activity of the Committee. /APA/

ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY TO HOLD SYMPOSIUM ON TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
13 Mar 06
Istanbul, 13 March: Istanbul University Rector Prof Mesut Parlak
held an informative meeting about the symposium on “New Approaches
to Turkish-Armenian Relations” which will be held at the university
on 15-17 March.
Stating that this symposium would be the most comprehensive one with
70 participants from Turkey and some other countries, Parlak underlined
that it would reveal the truths regarding Turkish-Armenian relations.
Parlak said that 1915 incidents [during which the Ottomans allegedly
engaged in genocide against Armenians] had several dimensions –
military, social and psychological – stating that the matter would
be discussed from a scientific point of view.
“I believe that the symposium will help a new period be started in
Turkish-Armenian relations,” he underlined.
Parlak noted that the university invited Armenian historians to the
symposium, but they said that they would not attend.

SUSPECTED MERCENARY ACCUSES KENYAN POLICE OF HARASSMENT, CALLS PRESS CONFERENCE
KTN TV, Nairobi
14 Mar 06
[Presenter] A planned police raid on the Runda residence of one of
the Armenian nationals alleged to be mercenaries was called off early
today under unexplained circumstances.
An advance team of police officers from the Runda police post
was recalled from the posh house without explanation. An Armenian
national who is holed up at the house has accused the police of
harrassment. Arturo Margaryan has announced that he will call a press
conference later this afternoon. [Passage omitted]

ARMENIAN FM TO MEET WITH NATO SEC. GEN. AND EU TOP OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 19:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 19 Armenian President Robert Kocharian will
leave for Belgium on a working visit. There he will have meetings with
representatives of European structures, reported the Press Service
of the Armenian leader. The delegation will include Parliament
Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan, the
Armenian Ambassador to Belgium and other officials. R. Kocharian will
meet with Belgian Premier Guy Verhofstadt, Senate head Anne-Marie
Lizin and Parliament President German de Croo.
Besides, the President is scheduled to meet with European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU High Representative
for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European
Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU Energy Commissioner
Andris Piebalgs, as well as NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer. Robert Kocharian and Belgian Senate head Anne-Marie
Lizin will lay a wreath to the memorial of victims of the Armenian
Genocide. The Armenian President will take part in the opening ceremony
of the Armenian Embassy in Belgium will meet with representatives
of the local Armenian community. He will also visit Made in Belgium
exhibition. The Armenian delegation headed by the President will
return to Yerevan October 22.

Glendale News Times
Published October 14, 2005
Man accused of murdering his mother
Police plan to file charges against man who called 911 after alleging he
stabbed his mother to death.
By Tania Chatila, News-Press and Leader
NORTHWEST GLENDALE — Police plan to file charges today against a
25-year-old Misak Saakian who called 911 Wednesday saying he had just
stabbed his mother, police said.
Saakian, of Glendale, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder after
police received a call from him claiming he had stabbed his 53-year-old
mother, Gohar Saakian, in their kitchen.
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“The son did call 911 and said that he did kill his mother, and at this time
we do not have a motive as to the reason why,” Glendale Police spokeswoman
Sherri Servillo said.
Police received the call at about 5:30 p.m. and found Misak Saakian in front
of the family’s home, in the 500 block of West Dryden Street, where his
father also lives.
“He was very upset,” Sgt. Ian Grimes said of the unidentified father. “Put
yourself in his shoes.”
Misak and Gohar Saakian were the only two people in the house at the time of
the stabbing, Servillo said.
Gohar Saakian died at the scene of multiple stab wounds to her entire body,
Servillo said, adding that the murder weapon, a knife, was found at the
home.
“Probably, I was the last person to see or talk to her,” said next door
neighbor Herosik Ahmadabadi.
Ahmadabadi, who lived next door for about four years, saw the woman just two
hours before the stabbing.
“I was coming by bus, you know, the stop by Pacific Avenue, and I see her,”
she said. “We came home together — we walked together.”
Ahmadabadi copied the front page of Thursday’s newspaper, and kept it on her
coffee table — a constant reminder of her lost friend.
“I was so shocked,” she said. “I was so upset. I couldn’t believe it. She
was so sweet. We would always talk, like when she would water her lawn, I
would too. Always she told me ‘I’m going to take [Misak Saakian] to church
and I’m going to pray for him. I’m going to pray for him.'”
Ahmadabadi, and her husband, Cass Khodaverdin, said they noticed problems
within the family in the past, but never imagined anything like this would
happen.
“Last night was the worst,” Khodaverdin said. “The mother, father, they were
nice people, but you know, they were unusually quiet. We never heard them
play music. They were never laughing, just always quiet. Not even in at
Thanksgiving or Christmas. And the son, he never had friends over.”
Misak Saakian is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles on
$1-million bond, pending an arraignment at Pasadena Superior Court