Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

Taleh Ziyadov: Nagorno-Karabakh peace process: Will it succeed?
TDN
Saturday, May 21, 2005
OPINIONS
Taleh ZIYADOV*
The expectations are high since the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev, respectively, met on
the sidelines of the Council of Europe summit in Warsaw on May 16.
Shortly after the meeting of the presidents, the foreign minister
of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, announced that Armenia is ready to
return seven occupied areas surrounding the former Nagorno-Karabakh
(NK) autonomous region. Armenian troops currently occupy NK.
For almost a year, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
have been engaged in a series of major talks in Strasburg and Prague,
trying to find a common solution to one of the longest-standing
conflicts in the former Soviet Union.
The talks between the foreign ministers were held in strict secrecy,
but the parties appeared to have come to some sort of initial
agreement, which led Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chairs from France, Russia and the
United States to introduce their “new” peace proposal in London on
April 15.
Yuri Merzlyakov, Russian co-chair of the Minsk Group, announced that
“the parties seem to have reached a point where a meeting of the
presidents should give a new impetus to negotiations.”
Despite numerous attempts in the past by the Minsk Group and direct
talks between the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the parties
have not been able to soothe their differences. This time, however,
the Minsk Group co-chairs were convinced that the parties were at a
“sensitive juncture” and that is why the meeting between Aliyev and
Kocharian was so important.
Since the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 1994, Armenia and
Azerbaijan have crossed many “sensitive junctures” they thought would
lead them to a final agreement. And yet, they are still negotiating. Is
it because the proposals by the Minsk Group did not fully satisfy
one or the other party, or is it because they all are driving in the
wrong direction?
While analysts and diplomats have claimed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is complex and difficult to resolve, the Minsk Group co-chairs have
consistently called on both parties to make “painful compromises,”
confusing the already puzzled populations of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The phrase “painful compromise” has a different resonance in the ears
of Armenians and Azerbaijanis. For Armenians it may imply going back
to the situation in the 1990s when the region had loose autonomy. For
Azerbaijanis it may entail ceding a part of their territory. For both,
the aforementioned compromises are nightmares.
The nightmare for the international community, however, stems from the
conceptual debate of the issue. It is a clash between the concepts of
self-determination and territorial integrity that makes international
organizations such as the United Nations, Council of Europe and OSCE
reluctant to act more effectively on adopted resolutions.
When the two concepts clash, international law gives preference to
territorial integrity. But lack of enforcement mechanisms on the
part of the international community and the vaguely defined and
controversial term of self-determination make a solution for the
conflict almost impossible.
For more than a decade, Armenia and Azerbaijan have viewed the NK
conflict from a perspective of where self-determination meant secession
— thus a breakup of the existing state. Indeed, secessionism has
been one of the major obstacles to peace in the region.
Professor of International Relations at Michigan State University
Mohammed Ayoob argues that the term “self-determination” should be
“de-linked from secession and should be defined in terms of empowering
those segments of the population that have been denied access to
political and economic power. In other words, self-determination
should be perceived as synonymous with democratization (and its
attendant power-sharing arrangements) rather than with the breakup
of existing states.”
Dr. Ayoob’s definition is even more relevant to the Caucasus region,
which is a melting pot of hundreds of multi-ethnic and multi-religious
societies. It is also true for Armenians and Azerbaijanis whose
integration into larger European and international organizations
is inevitable.
If only the international community would have stood firmly behind its
principles and the conflicting parties could have looked at the issues
from a problem-solving perspective rather than a maximalist bargaining
approach, the nightmares could have been avoided a long time ago.
Today, the two states realize that the longer the conflict continues to
sit unresolved, the more dangerous and problematic it may become. In
particular, it threatens regional and global security by sustaining
uncontrolled “grey zones.” It hinders both states’ regional integration
and keeps Armenia out of regional energy projects. More importantly,
the status quo does not preclude Azerbaijan from using force to
restore its territorial integrity.
Therefore, reaching an agreement to bring along the withdrawal
of Armenian troops from occupied Azerbaijani lands and opening
communication between the two states is vital to the entire NK
peace process. It will allow for the beginning of dialogue between
official Baku and the Armenian community of NK and the start of the
reintegration process of the exiled Azerbaijani community.
Furthermore, it will settle the issue of Internally Displaced Persons
(IDP) for Azerbaijan, while Armenians can receive guarantees of a
non-resumption of war.
Indeed, the resolution of the NK conflict is complicated as is the
resolution of all other ethnic and territorial conflicts around the
world, but it is not impossible. With a little more attention from
the international community and interested parties, the NK conflict
is solvable.
For Armenians and Azerbaijanis, the 21st century should not be a
century of occupation, ethnic hatred and isolation, but a century of
peace, reconciliation and integration.
* Taleh Ziyadov is a graduate fellow at the Center for Eurasian,
Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University’s Edmund
A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.

PRESS RELEASE
Analysis Research & Planning for Armenia (ARPA)
18106 Miranda Street, Tarzana, CA 91356
& Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA)
417 W. Arden Ave., Suite 112C, Glendale, CA 91203
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 586-9660
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
ARPA Institute and Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America
present the Lecture/Seminar “Advances in Implantable Medical Device
Technologies” on Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 7:30 PM in the Merdinian
School Auditorium. The presenter is Dr. Varaz Shahmirian.
The address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Directions: On the 101 FY Exit on Woodman, Go North and Turn Right
on Riverside Dr.
Abstract: Implantable medical devices have been successfully used in
treating several diseases such as heart failure and sudden cardiac
arrest, diabetes, deafness, neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s
disease. These devices include pacemakers, cochlear implants, neuro
stimulators, and implantable drug delivery pumps used in pain therapy
and insulin delivery. These devices are implanted in different parts
of body depending on the therapy, and consist of highly miniaturized
electronics, electrical leads, wireless communication modules,
electromechanical assemblies, and sophisticated algorithms. They
are packaged and sealed in a fully biocompatible titanium case and
operate on a custom battery for several years. This lecture will
present an overview of several of these implantable medical devices
and the innovative technologies that are approved by the FDA, or are
currently under clinical evaluations.
Varaz Shahmirian: is a Senior Engineering Director at Medtronic
MiniMed in Northridge, CA. He received his BS and MS from Michigan
Tech University, and Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from Drexel
University in 1987. He joined Signal Technology Inc in Santa Barbara,
where he was engaged in algorithm development for speech signal
processing. In 1992, he joined Siemens Medical Systems in Seattle,
WA as Senior Scientist working on diagnostic ultrasound system design
and development. In 1996 he joined the start up Medical Research Group,
in Sylmar, CA, as Engineering Director where he successfully led the
efforts in development of implantable insulin delivery system through
clinicals and approval in Europe. The company was acquired by Medtronic
MiniMed in 2001. Dr. Shahmirian has continued his focus on research
and development of the next generation implantable drug delivery
systems. He holds 15 patents in diagnostic ultrasound technology and
implantable medical devices, and has several journal and conference
publications. He is a member of IEEE Biomedical and Signal Processing
Societies, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation,
and the American Association for Advancement of Science. He is a past
president of AESA and a member of ARPA Board of Directors.
For Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660

Turkey Has Not Committed Genocide Throughout Its History, Erdogan
Published: 5/19/2005
Turkishpress.com
ANKARA (AA) – “Turkey has not committed genocide through its history,
so it is impossible for us to accept such accusations”, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering of his governmental Justice & Development
Party (AK Party), Erdogan said that the so-called Armenian genocide
allegations were brought to the Council of Europe Heads of State and
Government Summit (held in Polish capital of Warsaw at the beginning
of this week).
Erdogan stated that he was out of the meeting room when Armenian
President Robert Kocharian was speaking, and drew attention that
Turkey recognized Armenia but there were not any diplomatic links
between the two countries.
Recalling that flights between (Turkish commercial hub of) Istanbul
and (Armenian capital of) Yerevan had been launched after his party
came to power, Erdogan said that Turkey had started to restore an
Armenian Church in (eastern city of) Van. But, he stressed, border
crossings were still closed.
Erdogan said that any positive step to be taken between Azerbaijan
and Armenia could have a positive impact on decisions to be made by
Turkey (regarding its relations with Armenia).
“During my speech, I said that we have opened our state archives. We
don’t have any concerns about our history, and believe that the
reality should be revealed. Armenia should also open its archives. And,
historians, jurists, political scientists and archivists should work
on them. Then, we make the political decision, but unfortunately I
cannot get any positive response from Kocharian so far,” noted Erdogan.
-WE WILL EXAMINE 15 COUNTRIES-
Erdogan went on saying, “parliaments of some countries recognize these
so-called Armenian genocide allegations after lobbying activities. This
contradicts international diplomacy. There is no word for assuming such
an attitude without basing on any document or information against a
country with which you are together in international institutions. In
Warsaw, I told reporters that parliaments of 15 countries made such a
decision, and we will examine these 15 countries. There are countries
among these 15 which carried out genocide in the past. We will bring
them to our parliament and pass a decision, basing on real documents
and information, not with lobbying. We will take this step because
Turkey had never committed genocide throughout its history.”
“But of course, some people might have died during relocation. It
is true. But, why were these people forced to migrate? Documents
indicate that the Ottomans were fighting in three fronts, and there
was an Armenian nation which started to rebel due to provocations of
some other circles. Naturally, the administration encouraged such a
relocation under these circumstances.
But, it also met travelling costs of the people forced to migrate. And
it issued circulars for protection of these people. There could
be raids on the way. But, the state did not carry out a genocide,”
said Erdogan.
“There might have been some problems for this or that reason, but
it is wrong to define it as genocide. We won’t build our future on
hatred and resentment,” added Erdogan.
-COE SUMMIT-
On the other hand, Erdogan recalled that he had the opportunity
to explain the importance and theses of Turkey to 46 COE members,
25 of which were the EU members, and stressed, “we would like to
recall those who have forgotten at which part of Europe Turkey is,
that Turkey is one of active and strong members of the Council of
Europe for more than 50 years.
-BAN ON ONUR AIR-
Touching on some European countries’ ban on Onur Air flights, Erdogan
said that he discussed this matter with German Chancellor Schroeder
and Dutch PM Balkenende, and added that he and Schroeder agreed to
work together to help Onur Air overcome its technical problems.
-THE FINAL DECLARATION-
Erdogan said that the declaration of the COE summit stressed common
sensitivity of member states about democracy, rule of law and
human rights, and added, “we condemn every type of intolerance and
discrimination like Islam enmity and anti-Semitism. And, in the COE
we confirm our decisiveness to develop rules and efficient mechanisms
to prevent all these.”

SEMINAR ON VULNERABLE GROUPS EMPLOYEMENT PROBLEM TO BE HELD IN
TSAKHKADZOR ON MAY 20-22
YEREVAN, MAy 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Labor and Social
Issues will hold jointly with International Labor Organization’s
Moscow Bureau a seminar, “Professional Training and Increased
Employement Opportunities for Youth and Other Vulnerable Groups
through Business Education”, in Tsakhkadzor on May 20-22. According to
head of the Ministry’s PR department Hasmik Khachatrian, the seminar
aims to promote correct media coverage of the above mention problem. A
competition of the best works on this subject will be held. 25
representatives of the Armenian mass media will take part in the
seminar.

CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA STARTS HIS PATRIARCHAL VISIT TO IRANIAN
ARMENIANS
TEHRAN, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I arrived in
Tehran at midnight, May 12, on his Patriarchal visit to Iranian
Armenians. Among those who met Aram I at the Presidential hall of
Tehran Airpost were RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Iran Karen Nazarian and Chairman of the Organization on Islamic
Communication and Culture of Iran Hojatoleslam Mohammadi Eraghi. In
his welcoming speech, Catholicos Aram I underlined the inseparability
of close links between the Iranian Armenians, the Catholicosate of
Cilicia and the Islamic Republc of Iran. He stressed the strategical
importance of the meeting since Iran and Armenia are good neighbors,
maintain friendly relations, and lebanon also has close links with
Iran. The main purpose of the visit is the 75th anniversary of the
foundation of Dprvank of the Catholocosate of Cilicia and the 10th
anniversary of the Catholicos’ enthronement. According to Catholicos
of Cilicia, the Iranian Armenians have their unique place and role in
the life of the Armenian nation in general and the Diaspora in
particular. “This colony is distinguished by its inseparable linkage
with our cultural, spiritual and national values and aspirations, as
well as by deep faith. I liken this small colony to a small Armenia,
this is a colony that lives and acts, struggles and dreams by our
values, for our Homeland and nation. I welcome this colony with such
feelings,” Catholicos of Cilicia stated.

Indymedia Ireland, Ireland
May 13 2005

“‘NEVER AGAIN’ OVER AGAIN” – on Holocaust Remembrance Day
by Joseph Anderson, Berkeley, California, USA Friday, May 13 2005,
11:11am
dublin / rights and freedoms / other press
I thought that `Never again!’ meant never again for all humanity –
not just never again for European Jews.
–
The Daily Californian newspaper
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Friday, May 6, 2005
Holocaust Remembrance Day
`Never Again’ Over Again
– by Joseph Anderson
Berkeley city councilperson Kris Worthington’s letter to the Daily
Californian (`Lurking Legacy of Discrimination,’ May 3) deals with
Holocaust Remembrance Day and the very profound tragedy European Jews
suffered under the Nazi regime. We are called again to learn the
lessons of history. But have we?
The primary lesson was supposed to be `Never again!’ But, a very sad
disappointment – and even for many Jews, including some Holocaust
survivors – is that we really have not learned. For, as I grew up
seeing the horrors revealed in Holocaust documentaries and movies, I
thought that `Never again!’ meant never again for all humanity – not
just never again for European Jews. Where is remembrance day for the
Native American, the black slave, the Filipino, the Armenian, in
effect the Vietnamese, and the U.S. Vietnam war expansion-triggered
Cambodian holocausts?
Blacks were also victims of Nazi Germany’s holocaust machine that
consumed other ethnic minorities like the Roma, in addition to the
mentally handicapped, and before that blacks were genocidal victims
of Germany’s colonizations in Africa – as with genocidal Western
European colonizers (there and in the Americas).
As a member myself of an often oppressed minority whose religious
traditions have identified with the Biblical legend of the Jews’
oppression, it saddens me to see many pro-Israel Jews oppress others
via a foreign state that would claim to embody Jewish values. For
African American ideals, `The Promised Land’ is not a land to be
“reclaimed” after hundreds, or even thousands, of years, citing God
as the real estate agent. The Promised Land doesn’t echo the
injustices of the past by, in part, replicating them upon others. The
Promised Land is the creation of a just society with an appreciation
for the diversity of all humanity and equality for all.
I appreciate Worthington’s letter, but I object that it makes it seem
like Berkeley has become a bastion of Jew-hatred: `In Berkeley
itself, Jews have far too frequently been victims of hate crimes,’ he
wrote.
California criminal-justice statistics show that hate crimes for all
minority groups have gone down – except for indigenous Middle
Easterners and Muslims.
Kris writes that overt prejudice, discrimination and
institutionalized exclusion are unacceptable. But, that’s exactly
what Jews who commemorate the Holocaust – yet who also ideologically
believe in an exclusionary Jewish state – support every day for
Israel.
Others, like many of us, like `the good Germans’ of another era, turn
our heads away from this human rights catastrophe against, in turn,
another ‘despised’ minority: the Palestinian people. Their resistance
to brutal ethnic cleansing – something any people would resist from
any other people – is, ironically, labeled `anti-Semitic.’
To paraphrase Worthington, Holocaust Remembrance Day should cause us
to reflect, to learn that the horrors of all these catastrophes did
in fact happen, to support the oppressed everywhere, and to join in
the activism to say, `Never again!’ – for all humanity.
__________________________________________________________________
Joseph Anderson is a Berkeley resident, an occasional
contributing columnist/essayist to various newspapers,
political and literary publications, a grassroots progressive
political activist, and an occasional interview guest on KPFA’s
Hard Knock Radio in Berkeley.
(the above is the slightly longer, original version
of the word length-constrained version published at
)

AZG Armenian Daily #086, 13/05/2005
Telecommunication
WILL RUSSIAN ‘SYSTEMA TELECOM’ BUY ‘ARMENTEL’?
The Russian “Systema Telecom” holding that includes MTC mobile operator,
doesn’t exclude the opportunity to purchase “ArmenTel.” Mediamax agency
informed that Vladimir Lagutin, head of “Systema Telecom”, said in an
interview to the Russian Vedomosty newspaper that they are thinking of
purchasing “ArmenTel”.
Lagutin added that “Systema Telecom” is also interested in Magticom-Azercall
mobile operators that functions in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Lagutin said that
the goal of their company is to cover the whole territory of CIS.
At the end of 2003, Alexander Vronets, deputy director of “Systema Telecom”
stated that “Armenia was chosen out of the company’s interests,” adding that
though they don’s have any urgent program to enter the Armenian market.
Recently, the heads of the Greek OTE have been stating for many times that
they have the intention to sell 90% of the share of ArmenTel’s stocks.

Pan Armenian News
CCI SECOND CONGRESS HELD IN YEREVAN
11.05.2005 06:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second congress of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (CCI) was held in Yerevan. The welcoming speech of Robert
Kocharian was read by President’s Adviser on Economic Affairs Vahram
Nersisyants. In his statement the President noted, in part, that the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of Armenia during a short period of time has
carried out a great deal of work for the development of business
contributing to the government for the improvement of the customs and tax
legislation as well as played the key role for the establishing ties with
the foreign Chambers. In his turn RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
stated that the role of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is
invaluable for the development of business undertakings and expansion of
free competition. CCI Chairman Martin Sargsian also made a report. To note,
during the three years of activities the CCI organized Armenian-Belarusian
business forums in Yerevan and Minsk, meetings of the Austrian and Armenian
entrepreneurs in Yerevan, founded a Trade House of Armenia in Moscow,
initiated meetings with the businessmen from Netherlands, Iran and Russia as
well as arranged various exhibitions. The Armenian CCI is the full member of
the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Federation of Chambers
(ICC WCF), the Association of the CCI Black Sea Belt as well as of the CCI
CIS Council. The Armenian CCI has opened representative offices in Russia,
US, Canada, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia, Quatar, Omar, United Arab Emirates and other states, IA Regnum
reports.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Date: 10 May 2005
Norway, UNDP sign aid agreement for Caucasus
New York, 10 May 2005 –
Zephirin Diabre, Associate Administrator of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), and Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of
Norway, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing Norway
to providing $10 million for UNDP projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia over the next three years.
`I am deeply grateful for this commitment from Norway, which builds
on the country’s already substantial engagement, in partnership with
UNDP, in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States,’ Mr.
Diabre said during the signing ceremony.
`This Memorandum represents a great opportunity to strengthen our
ties with UNDP,’ said Mr. Peterson. `Norway would like to help shape
projects by taking part in the implementation of programming in the
South Caucasus.’
Norway will provide the funding for programmes in democratic
governance, energy and sustainable development. The projects to be
funded have yet to be specified, and funding is contingent upon
approval by the Norwegian parliament.
UNDP country offices in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia already
collaborate closely with Norway. In Armenia, for example, Norway
support efforts aimed at fighting human trafficking, raising public
awareness and assisting trafficking victims. In Azerbaijan, Norway is
contributing to a UNDP Blood Bank project. And in Georgia, Norway has
supported work on a child labour survey, which UNDP has conducted
together with the Georgian Department of Statistics.
`These are very promising beginnings,’ said Mr. Diabre. `We are
confident that this will provide an excellent foundation for the
expansion of our joint efforts.’
Diabre and Petersen stressed that both UNDP and the Government of
Norway believe that effective democratic institutions are a key
foundation for mediating and mitigating conflict and crisis by
providing non-violent means of resolving political disputes and
managing resources. They also provide a base for implementing strong,
country-owned development strategies to handle political and economic
shocks, to reduce corruption, and, critically, to give the poor a
political voice to secure the services and protections needed to
provide a better future for themselves and their families.
The Government of Norway plans involvement in the Southern Caucasus
by contributing more directly to development on a larger scale, both
regional and national, official said. In order to contribute in an
efficient manner, Norway needs the unique development know-how and
coordination skills of UNDP – especially in relations with local,
regional and national authorities as well as with civil society
organizations, according to Norwegian authorities.
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
[email protected]; tel. +(212) 906 6801
[email protected]; tel. 421 2 59 337 164; Mobile: 421 915 766
356

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY CALLS ON HOUSE INT’L RELATIONS SUBCOMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING TO
INCLUDE ARMENIAN CONCERNS
Request Made Following Unbalanced Hearing on U.S.-Turkey Relations
Washington, DC – In light of the unbalanced presentation at today’s
congressional hearing on the state of U.S.-Turkey relations, the
Assembly called for additional hearings to take into account several
key Armenian-American concerns.
Assembly leaders said the hearing included presenters who expressed
only pro-Turkish views and that such an imbalance could not provide
for an honest assessment. The hearing was held by the House Europe
and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on International Relations under the
chairmanship of Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA), a member of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
“While we hoped today’s hearing would provide a critical review of
needed changes in Turkish policy with respect to human rights,
treatment of its minority populations, denial of the Armenian Genocide
and its future aspirations to the European Union, we are deeply
concerned that these issues were overlooked,” said Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. “A pro-Turkish panel cannot provide a
critical and honest review on Ankara’s relationship with Washington.”
In separate letters to Gallegly and the Subcommittee’s Ranking Member
Robert Wexler (D-FL), the Assembly outlined several fundamental issues
of concern, namely Turkey’s failure to lift its twelve-year blockade
of Armenia and its continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
“Turkey cannot become the plural, democratic and European
Union-integrated state it aspires to be without opening the last
closed border of Europe, establishing full relations with Armenia
without preconditions and dealing with its genocidal Ottoman legacy,”
said Ardouny.
The EU agreed last December to open membership talks with Turkey and
has also requested that Ankara affirm the Armenian Genocide, normalize
relations with Armenia and improve treatment of the estimated 70,000
to 82,000 Armenians living within its borders as pre-conditions to
entry.
According to the Word Bank, lifting the Turkish and Azerbaijani
blockades could reduce Armenia’s transport costs by 30 to 50 percent;
increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by over 30 percent and
double exports. These findings were included in the Economic Impact
of the Turkish/Armenian Border Closure and on Diplomatic Contacts with
Both Parties on This Issue report that was published two years ago by
the State Department.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
###
NR#2005-048
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress