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07/21/2006
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1. Karabakh: Agreement on General Principles Possible in 2006
2. ARS Central Executive Issues Appeal on Lebanon Crisis
3. ARS of Western USA Elects New Executive Members
4. Kocharian Cancels Moscow Trip ‘Due To Illness’
5. Georgian Leader Stays away from CIS Summit in Protest

1. Karabakh: Agreement on General Principles Possible in 2006

YEREVAN (YERKIR)–The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process is very
different in 2006 than in 1997, before the resignation of then president Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, said Giro Manoyan, political director of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Bureau, during a press conference Friday.
"I believe that the first President meant that Armenia will not have to
choose. In 2006 some form of an agreement on general principles is possible at
best. However, the inadequate conduct of Azerbaijan will bring to naught all
efforts of the mediators and the international community," Manoyan said.
The ARF leader underscored that in case an agreement reached by Armenian and
Azeri presidents regarding the security of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic did
not serve the interests of the Armenia people, the ARF will appeal to the
state
leaders for explanations "in accordance with the law."
Speaking about the idea of changing the format of the talks, which issues
from
Azerbaijan, Manoyan stressed, that it was merely a desire of official Baku,
which is not a decisive one in this issue.
"The format of the OSCE Minsk Group for the resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh
conflict remains the same. At least for the near future," he remarked.
Deputy Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Masis Mayilian met
Thursday with the Field Assistant of Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Gunter Folk.
The Karabakh Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that during the
meeting Folk presented a report of the Office of the Personal
Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on skirmishes, which took place in the border
areas.
As was announced earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to the
Office of the OSCE Personal Representative Chairman-in-Office with a
request to
conduct a monitoring in border region in order to provide a proper assessment
of the situation and to address Azeri accusations regarding wildfires in the
areas.
The OSCE mission conducted a series of visits in the border region, as a
result of which a corresponding report was prepared, which concluded that the
Azeri side was to blame for the arsons.
At present the document is being studied at the Karabakh foreign ministry.
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs from Russia, the US and France, who are the
only international body spearheading efforts to end the Karabakh conflict, are
scheduled to meet in Paris in early August to decide on their next steps,
Russian cochairman, Yury Merzlyakov, was quoted by Trend news agency as
saying
in an exclusive interview.
He said the objective of the meeting is to hold consultations on the results
of a tour to the region conducted by the recently appointed US cochairman
Matthew Bryza.
Merzlyakov said for the time being it was not clear whether they would
adopt a
resolution after meeting in Paris or whether they would discuss organization
of the next round of meetings between the conflict sides.
"We will resolve this issue as soon as we meet. I don’t know what kind of
conclusions the US co-chairman may have arrived at. Before our meeting in
Paris he will have had more contacts, he will talk to both presidents and in
all likelihood he will have some conclusions," he said.
According to some reports, Bryza will pay a two-day visit to Nagorno-Karabakh
on 29th of July from Yerevan and then he is to leave for Baku for talks from
July 31 to August 1.

2. ARS Central Executive Issues Appeal on Lebanon Crisis

WATERTOWN–The Armenian Relief Society Central Executive Board issued an
announcement Thursday urging its members and the community to support the
Armenian community of Lebanon through contribution as the Israeli attacks on
Lebanon continue. Below is the text of the announcement:
While the precarious situation of the Iraqi-Armenian community still
remains a
source of concern and worry, the Diaspora has come face to face with a new
calamity which threatens one of the solid pillars of Armenian presence in the
Middle East. The Armenian community of Lebanon — whose odyssey during the
long
and devastating Civil War is still fresh in our minds — again, faces an
immediate threat of disruption and decimation.
The on-going brutal assault on Lebanese cities and population, perpetrated in
plain view of the international community, has stunned the world with its
disproportionate scope and multiplicity of targets, causing countless civilian
casual-ties. Leaders of world opinion have already condemned the
indiscriminate
destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructure and demand an immediate cessation of
all military action, while the conflict continues with no sign of remission.
Fellow Armenians, today, the school buildings and athletic fields of our
community in Bourj Hammoud are full of Lebanese refugees fleeing the zones of
armed conflict, while the ARS Boulghurjian Socio-Medical Center in Beirut is
treating hundreds of people who are casualties of this deadly conflict.
As in the past, this time also, the Armenian Relief Society calls on our
sup-porters and all caring Armenians to render the necessary humanitarian
assistance to our beleaguered people in the conflict zone. You can do this by
sending your tax-exempt donations for the "ARS Lebanese Relief" to your local
ARS affiliate’s office.
In these catastrophic days for the hospitable Lebanese people, let us show
the
world that we are cognizant of our commitments towards all those whose
generous
hospitality, 91 years ago, granted new life and prosperity to our homeless
multitudes, decimated, starved and brutalized by the 1st genocide of the past
century..
ARS, Inc. Central Executive Board

3. ARS of Western USA Elects New Executive Members

The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA’s 86th Regional Convention took
place at the Radisson Hotel in Whittier, California from July 13 to 16. The
Convention elected the following member for a two-year term on the Regional
Executive: Sonia Peltekian, Seda Khojayan, Sona Bostanian and Nvart Mooradian.
The Regional Executive members whose two-year term ended were: Angela Savoian,
Rita Hintlian, Nanik Kupelian and Maral Nashalian-Arsenian.The Regional
Executive members who will continue to serve for another year are: Karine
Barikian-Setian, Rose Altounian, Kristine Keshishian, Hourig Aintablian and
Adrine Postoyan.

4. Kocharian Cancels Moscow Trip ‘Due To Illness’

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–President Robert Kocharian abruptly canceled his
participation in an unofficial summit of former Soviet republics in Moscow on
Friday because of what his office described as a respiratory illness.
A statement by the presidential press service said he was diagnosed with an
"acute viral disease of respiratory tract" and could therefore not fly to the
Russian capital. No other details were reported.
The statement was issued less than 24 hours after an official confirmation of
Kocharian’s participation in a two-day meeting of the presidents of the
Commonwealth of Independent States which was due to start later on Friday. He
was also scheduled to hold a separate meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin on the sidelines of the summit.
Kocharian, 51, is known as a sporty person who likes swimming, skiing and
playing other sports on weekends and holidays. Incidentally, the presidential
administration announced on Monday that he went on a "brief vacation" which it
said will be spent in an unnamed Armenian resort. It is not clear if he caught
the reported disease there.
The Armenian leader was previously reported ill in February 2002 when he
underwent surgery in a Yerevan hospital after suffering from acute
appendicitis.

5. Georgian Leader Stays away from CIS Summit in Protest

MOSCOW (AP)–Leaders of several former Soviet republics were due in Moscow on
21-22 July for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States,
but the planned talks were overshadowed when Georgia’s president abruptly
canceled plans to attend.
President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia had wanted to meet with Russian
President Vladimir Putin for a private meeting on the sidelines of the
gathering to discuss rising tensions over Russia’s perceived support for
separatists in his nation.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, another leader who has sought to
lessen
Russian influence and turn his country toward the West, also decided not to
attend the two-day meeting.
A Georgian Foreign Ministry official who was organizing Saakashvili’s visit
said he would not go because the busy summit schedule would not allow for a
substantive meeting with Putin. The Kremlin never confirmed that Putin would
hold separate talks with the Georgian president.
Talks with Putin were "the main reason for the president’s trip" to Moscow,
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze told Georgia’s Rustavi-2
television.
He said Russian and Georgian officials had agreed a visit would be planned in
the near future.
Georgia’s parliament recently passed a resolution calling for the withdrawal
of Russian peacekeepers whose presence in two separatist Georgian regions,
South Ossetia and Abkhazia, is one of a host of irritants between the two
nations. The parliament resolution was widely seen as a bid to strengthen
Saakashvili’s position in talks with Putin.
Russian authorities, who accuse Georgia of planning provocations as a pretext
for a forceful takeover of South Ossetia, warned this week that Moscow would
use all means at its disposal to protect its peacekeepers and citizens in the
separatist provinces – where most residents have Russian passports.
Created amid the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the 12-nation,
Russian-dominated CIS has been criticized by its own members as ineffective
and
torn in recent years by the rise of Westward-leaning leaders in Georgia and
Ukraine and Moldova’s reorientation toward the West. Russia, meanwhile, has
shored up ties with authoritarian Central Asian nations.
Yushchenko’s spokeswoman, Iryna Gerashchenko, said he would not attend
because
of his country’s political situation.
Ukraine has been embroiled in political crisis since Yushchenko’s
Russian-backed rival for the presidency in 2004, Viktor Yanukovych, came out
ahead in March parliamentary elections, and the president has been
deliberating
about how to respond to parliament’s effort to make Yanukovych prime minister.
Turkmenistan’s President Saparmurat Niyazov was to stay away from the summit,
as he has repeatedly in the past, and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov’s
plans
were uncertain.
The informal summit was expected to include dinner at a waterside restaurant
in an upscale Moscow suburb and a visit to the track for a horse race dubbed
the Russian President’s Cup.
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Georgian police violates agreement on free movement of Ossetians in
the conflict zone; citizens of Armenia and Azerbaijan are blocked, too

Regnum, Russia
July 21 2006

Movement of ethnic Ossetians is blocked again by Georgian police in
Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. South Ossetian Interior Minster
Mikhail Mindzayev is quoted by REGNUM as stating that recently,
Georgian police did not let pass passenger buses to remote villages
of Tskhinvali and Leninogorsk districts of South Ossetia. It was a
gross violation of agreements on the movement of persons and vehicles
in the conflict zone, the minister noted.

Mikhail Mindzayev assessed the Georgian police behavior as abusive. He
said that while performing their personal and baggage checks, the
police are going into minute details and insult people.

Georgian police control all roads connecting Ossetian and Georgian
villages. The minister pointed out that an agreement on free movement
of Ossetians was achieved earlier. "In case the Georgian side’s
tactic is continued, we will be forced to take adequate measures,"
Mikhail Mindzayev said.

At present, Georgia does not let pass Armenian and Azerbaijani citizens
through South Ossetian territory too.

AZG Armenian Daily #137, 22/07/2006

Opinion

ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERTS DISCUSS ISSUE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT

The Conflict and Peace Research Armenian Association initiated a
political experts’ dedicated to the discussion of the recent statement
by OSCE MG Co-Chair Matthew Bryza. Khachik Galstian, Head of the
Association, gave a positive evaluation to the settlement project. He
said that the new suggestions by the OSCE MG are meant to settle the
contradictions in the principles for the self-determination of the
nations and the territorial integrity of the states.

Mr. Galstian believes that it is impossible to reach that within
the project’s framework, as it does not emphasize the priority to
the determination of Nagorno Karabakh’s status. Stephan Grigorian,
a political expert, noted that in the program the cessations
by Armenia and Azerbaijan are not balanced: the Armenians receive
nothing in exchange of withdrawing the military forces and returning
Azeri refugees. Galstain stated that the weak point in the settlement
scheme is the issue of considering and imposing the deployment of the
peace keeping forces in the zone of the conflict. The cornerstone of
the issue is the very formula for these forces formation that may
yield unexpected results in cases they are not perfect. Moreover,
the deployment of the peacekeepers may break the current balance of
the forces based on solely the political will of the sides in conflict
for peaceful settlement. In his turn Aleksander Manasian, political
expert, stated that the co-sponsors of the peaceful settlement
process see the settlement only at political layer, as they consider
that from solely the political viewpoint. He added that the Azeri
side that put the stress on the issue of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity misled the international organizations. As a result,
it’s impossible to find the solution to the given problem. While
Stepan Grigorian, political expert, emphasized the importance of the
settlement of conflicts in Montenegro and soon in Kosovo, when the two
international basic principles are considered in the same context and
at a same level. Aleksander Iskandarian , Head of the Caucasian Mass
media Institute, stated that "the whole expertise of the problem is
through and this is no intellectual problem any longer." He added
that the conflict may be settled only politically and depends on
the international political developments. Manvel Sargsian, said that
disclosure of the settlement scheme is a kind of an attempt to exert
pressure on the parties.

"Information blockade" imposed on defence minister – Armenian paper

Iravunk, Yerevan
18 Jul 06

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 18 July
headlined "Is the "super minister" in an information blockade?"

According to a source close to the president’s office, a political
decision has been made to restrict television appearances by [Defence
Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan and people close to him.

In fact, this decision is aimed at imposing an information blockade
on the "super minister". According to the source, this is a special
"punishment" meted out to Sarkisyan by the presidential office.

Certainly, this does not mean that Sarkisyan will be completely
deprived of airtime on television, as some TV channels, which
are under his direct influence, can ignore the decision of the
presidential office.

Some newspapers and media organizations are also backed by the
defence minister.

But we should wait for the parliamentary election campaign and see
if TV companies treat Armenia’s "second man" the way they treated
the opposition.

"Zerkalo": Positive Regulation of Nagorno Garabagh Conflict Requires Definite Time

Democratic Azerbaijan
July 19 2006

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan declared it
underling that Armenian part should refuse non-constructive statements
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mamadyarov gave
exclusive interview for IA "Trend". We would like to present it below:
– How do you evaluate 33rd session of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
of Organization of Islamic Conference held in Baku? To what extent it
was efficient for Azerbaijan? – Results of 33rd session of Ministers
of Foreign Affairs of Organization of Islamic Conference were useful
from the point of view of political importance of discussed issues
and taken decisions and from the point of view of high evaluation
given by member-states. Wide opportunities were opened to address
global problems, threats, calls faced by world of today. In the
course of discussions such issues as peace process in the Middle
East, situation in Iraq and Somali, nuclear program of Iran etc. were
focused on. Important resolutions were adopted at session: "Destruction
of historical, cultural monuments of Islam on occupied Azerbaijani
territories on the part of Armenia", "Aggression of Republic of Armenia
against Republic of Azerbaijan", "Economical aid to the Republic of
Azerbaijan". – Which compromises should Armenia make for progress
of the process of regulation of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Garabakh
conflict? Is any preparation made for next top level meeting? –
Efforts directed to regulation of the conflict should be made within
the scope of peace talks. In this respect Armenian side should refuse
non-constructive statements concerning previous talks, put up with
the fact that in the world of today occupation policy and policy of
ethnic cleaning cannot be accepted. As for top level meetings if the
matter concerns meeting of the Presidents, I can say that now talks are
held within the scope of Paris Peace talks process. In accordance with
Paris process uncoordinated issues shall be presented for discussions
of the Presidents as soon as they are coordinated at the level of
ministers of Foreign Affairs. Unfortunately, non-constructive position
of Armenia regarding some issues including return of IDPs impedes
talk process. Positive solving requires definite time. International
law and international conventions definitely recognize the right
to return persons who were forcibly removed from their places of
constant residence. – Which measures will be taken by official Baku
following acts of vandalism on the part of Armenia, which destroys
natural and cultural heritage on occupied territories of Azerbaijan?

– The issue was raised in the course of 33rd session of the Ministers
of Foreign Affairs of OIC. In this connection it was decided that OIC
Secretary General would apply to the UN Secretary General. Moreover,
diplomatic representative offices of the Republic of Azerbaijan to
foreign countries particularly to international organizations have
appropriate tasks in order to demonstrate documents and photos made
by satellite proving committed arsons and other acts of vandalism
to world community. In connection with this issue we declare
that no matter that these fires are natural or set purposefully,
Armenian side is responsible for negative consequences of fires
from ecological and moral point of views. – What development
perspectives Azerbaijan has within the frames of GUAM? – I hope,
GUAM will turn into influential international organization to solve
such issues as creation of democratic society and promotion of social
economic development, integration in European structures, providing
stability and security in the region, and it will promote joint
solving of complicated matters faced by member-states now. – Taking
into account statements made by some CIS members concerning walkout,
what is Azerbaijan’s position in this respect? – Now we have no plans
to review the level of our CIS-membership. We support more sweeping
reforms in CIS aiming at accordance with modern world building. –
What position does official Baku adheres regarding tension connected
with Iranian nuclear program? How possible attempt of forcible solution
may affect the situation? – We repeatedly stated that development of
nuclear program in peace effort and within the frames of cooperation
with International agencies on atomic energy is sovereign right of
every state. We hope that following efforts of international community
tension will be removed diplomatically. We do not believe that problem
will be solved by military intervention as we hold that maintenance
of stability and security is major task.

ARMENIAN WRESTLERS SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM AT OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS INTERNATIONAL
MEMORIAL TOURNAMENTS

TBILISI, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Wrestling Olympic Champions Vakhtang
Balavadze’s and Givi Kartozia’s traditional International Memorial
Tournaments were held on July 13-16 in Tbilisi with participation of
sportsmen from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Greece and Armenia.

Armen Karapetian from Yerevan (weight category of 60 kg) and Zhirayr
Hovhannisian from Vanadzor (66 kg) won among 12 free-style wrestlers
representing Armenia and took the first places. The other members of
their teams took the 3rd places.

4 out of 20 wrestlers representing Armenia in the Greco-Roman wrestling
took the 2nd places, 3 the 3rd places. By the way, Movses Karapetian
from Yerevan (74 kg), last year’s Europe champion, and Roman Amoyan
from Yerevan (55 kg), this year’s champion, also took the 3rd places.

Flood of claims for ‘Noah’s Ark’ Legendary vessel of Genesis story goes from nowhere to everywhere

WorldNetDaily, OR
July 17 2006

By Joe Kovacs

After centuries of scouring the Earth for Noah’s Ark, claims are now
flooding in that the legendary vessel of the Bible has been found.

‘Noah’s Ark’ by Pennsylvania artist Edward Hicks, 1846

Last month, headlines screamed that a Texas team of archaelogists
believed they had possibly located the biblical boat in Iran.

But hang on to the "Hallelujah!" chorus a little longer.

There are numerous claims about the final resting place, from Ararat
to Armenia. With modern technology and digital photography being
utilized in the hunt, it seems like everyone is finding what they
think is Noah’s Ark.

The Iran claim

As WorldNetDaily reported June 30, a 14-man crew that included
evangelical apologist Josh McDowell says it returned from a trek to
a mountain in Iran with possible evidence of the remains of Noah’s Ark.

The group, led by explorer Bob Cornuke, found an unusual object
perched on a slope 13,120 feet above sea level.

Cornuke, president of the archeological Base Institute and a veteran
of nearly 30 expeditions in search of Bible artifacts and locations,
said he is cautiously, but enthusiastically, optimistic about the find.

Some of the team’s photos can be seen here.

Also on the team were Barry Rand, former CEO of Avis; Boone Powell,
former CEO of Baylor Medical Systems; and Arch Bonnema, president of
Joshua Financial.

The team returned with video footage of a large black formation,
about 400 feet long – the approximate length of the ark, according
to the Bible – that looks like rock but bears the image of hundreds
of massive, wooden, hand-hewn beams.

Bonnema observed: "These beams not only look like petrified wood, they
are so impressive that they look like real wood – this is an amazing
discovery that may be the oldest shipwreck in recorded history."

The team said one piece of the blackened rock is "cut" at 90-degree
angle.

Even more intriguing, they said, some of the wood-like rocks tested
this week proved to be petrified wood.

It’s noteworthy, they pointed out, that the Bible recounts Noah sealed
his ark with pitch, a black substance.

Mount Ararat

Despite the hype, there are those who maintain the vessel is definitely
on Mount Ararat, in present-day Turkey.

Among them is Edward Crawford, a former draftsman illustrator for the
U.S. military who now teaches Christian theology at Evergreen Bible
Presbyterian Church in the Seattle suburb of Pullayup, Wash.

Crawford has made numerous climbs up Ararat, and says in 1990, he
discovered a large, rectangular structure buried in the ice at an
elevation of 14,765 feet.

"I don’t have any doubt about it at all, and the Turks don’t either,"
he told WND.

He says the structure currently sits under snow and ice, which he calls
"ridiculously hard stuff," but he expects it will be at its highest
point above the frozen water this summer, as forecasts call for an
unusual warm-up.

Crawford has put much of his discovery online at a website called
Project von Bora, where photographs and diagrams are available,
and he alleges the structure has 90-degree angles.

Edward Crawford believes a rectangular Noah’s Ark lies at this location
on Mount Ararat (courtesy Edward Crawford)

"Those don’t happen in nature," he said. "If you think someone went
up there to build that, it would take a greater miracle than the Flood
[of Noah] itself."

Crawford is now urging the Ankara government to formally acknowledge
his find, and grant him permission to explore the site again this
summer.

"This is not a politically correct discovery," he said. "I never
imagined that I would discover the structure and its disposition. I had
no idea it would take this long to sort through the Turkish red tape."

Not far from Crawford’s "structure" on Mount Ararat is something which
made headlines in March with the release of a new, high-resolution
digital image of what has become known as the "Ararat Anomaly."

Satellite image of ‘Ararat Anomaly,’ taken by DigitalGlobe’s QuickBird
Satellite in 2003 and now made public for the first time (courtesy:
DigitalGlobe)

The location of the anomaly on the mountain’s northwest corner has
been under investigation from afar by ark hunters for years, but it
has remained unexplored, with the government of Turkey not granting
any scientific expedition permission to explore on site.

"I’ve got new found optimism … as far as my continuing push to have
the intelligence community declassify some of the more definitive-type
imagery," Porcher Taylor, an associate professor in paralegal studies
at the University of Richmond, said at the time.

For more than three decades, Taylor has been a national security
analyst, and has also served as a senior associate for five years at
the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

"I had no preconceived notions or agendas when I began this in 1993
as to what I was looking for," he said. "I maintain that if it is
the remains of something manmade and potentially nautical, then it’s
potentially something of biblical proportions."

The anomaly remains ensconced in glacial ice at an altitude of 15,300
feet, and Taylor says the photos suggest its length-to-width ratio
is close to 6:1, as indicated in the Book of Genesis.

The mountains of Ararat

Some 15 miles from Mount Ararat is perhaps the most well-known
candidate vying for the title of Noah’s Ark.

Many believe this is Noah’s Ark, already found on a mountain next to
Mt. Ararat (courtesy: wyattmuseum.com)

A boat-shaped object thought by many to be the fossilized remnants of
the the vessel sits in Dogubayazit, Turkey, and was first photographed
in 1959 by a Turkish air force pilot on a NATO mapping mission.

It gained worldwide attention after its photo was published in a 1960
issue of Life Magazine.

The man most responsible for promoting this location as the ark’s
actual resting place from the Bible was Ron Wyatt, who died of
cancer in 1999 after years of searching for biblical antiquities,
also claiming to have found the remains of Pharaoh’s chariots that
chased Moses through the Red Sea, and the "true" location of Mount
Sinai in Arabia.

In 2004, Wyatt’s widow, Mary Nell Wyatt Lee, published a history of
the discovery in a book titled, "The Boat-Shaped Object on Doomsday
Mountain."

She writes that on Dec. 12, 1987, "it was the official decision of
members of [Turkey’s] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of Internal Affairs,
and researchers from Ataturk University, among others, that the
boat-shaped formation did indeed contain the remains of Noah’s Ark!"

An Associated Press story from that month read:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A group of Turkish researchers has decided that
a boat-shaped formation found in 1977 on a hill in eastern Turkey
is the remains of Noah’s Ark, a Turkish tourism official says.
Her Cornersville, Tenn.-based foundation, Wyatt Archaeological
Research, is filled with on-location photographs and charts promoting
its case with physical evidence including radar scans of bulkheads
on the alleged vessel, deck timber and iron rivets, large "drogue"
stones which are thought to have acted as types of anchors.

However, there’s been no shortage of critics from both scientific
and Christian circles who think the Dogubayazit site is erroneous.

Lorence Collins, a retired geology professor from California State
University, Northridge, joined the late David Fasold, a one-time
proponent of the Wyatt site, in writing a scientific summary claiming
the location is "bogus."

"Evidence from microscopic studies and photo analyses demonstrates
that the supposed Ark near Dogubayazit is a completely natural
rock formation," said the 1996 paper published in the Journal of
Geoscience Education. "It cannot have been Noah’s Ark nor even a
man-made model. It is understandable why early investigators falsely
identified it."

The Armenian factor

The final entrant is Leroy Blevins, a New Richmond, Ohio, man who
carries a 1950 Catholic Press Bible which states the ark rested
"upon the mountains of Armenia," leading him to believe the location
of the vessel is indeed in the former Soviet republic.

Is this Noah’s Ark on Mt. Aragats in Armenia? (courtesy Leroy Blevins)

Blevins offers little proof for his claim, except a series of photos on
his website, as he purports the ark is situated on Armenia’s highest
point Mount Aragats, not to be confused with the similar sounding
Ararat in Turkey.

"No one has ever looked for Noah’s Ark on this mountain in Armenia,"
he told WND. "There is a rectangle-shaped boat on the top of this
mountain. This boat has what appears to be either a vent or windows.
You can see the whole outline of this ship and it is locked in the
mountains. … You can see that it is big and man-made."

Joe Zias, a Jerusalem-based anthropologist who is a former curator
at the Israel Antquities Authority, is quick to throw cold water on
all these claims of the ark being discovered.

"Just when I think I’ve seen it all, another group of nutters shows
up," he told WND.

Zias says the parties making the discovery claims are "pimping"
off the Bible for money, suggesting they have no training in geology,
archaeology or anthropology; nor any peer-reviewed articles, university
appointments and "any credibility whatsoever in academic circles."

"Aside from myself who follows this craziness, few if any in the
profession have ever heard of them," he said.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible speaks of Noah and
the ark, and Jesus Christ and the apostles Paul and Peter all make
reference to Noah’s flood as an actual historical event.

According to Genesis, Noah was a righteous man who was instructed by
God to construct a large vessel to hold his family and many species
of animals, as a massive deluge was coming to purify the world which
had become corrupt.

Genesis 6:5 states: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great
in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually."

Noah was told by God to take aboard seven pairs of each of the "clean"
animals – that is to say, those permissible to eat – and two each of
the "unclean" variety. (Gen. 7:2)

Though the Bible says it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, it also
mentions "the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty
days."

The ark then "rested" upon the mountains of Ararat, but it was still
months before Noah and his family – his wife, his three sons and
the sons’ wives – were able to leave the ark and begin replenishing
the world.

Oskanian Hints at Presidential Ambitions

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 14 2006

By Anna Saghabalian

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on Friday did not rule out the
possibility of his participation in Armenia’s next presidential
election, effectively adding his name to the list of President Robert
Kocharian’s potential successors.

Asked by a reporter whether he plans to contest the ballot due in 2008,
Oskanian said, "I think I may still participate in the processes of
state building and development in Armenia. But I can’t say at this
point which manifestations that participation could have. I haven’t
even thought about that."

"I have until now focused on my work," he added. "I have some really
serious tasks: the Armenia-Diaspora conference [slated for September],
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, issues relating to foreign policy.

"One thing is clear to me. I want to be involved and make may
contribution. But time will tell how that will manifest itself."

The remarks are bound to fuel speculation that Oskanian, 51, is
harboring presidential ambitions and may therefore become actively
involved in Armenian politics. The Syrian-born minister, though one
of the longest serving members of Armenia’s government, has until
now steered clear of domestic political battles, dealing with foreign
affairs and being accountable only to Kocharian.

Oskanian, who had moved with his family to Armenia from California
in 1992, was a U.S. citizen until being chosen by Kocharian to run
the Armenian diplomacy in April 1998. He had until then held senior
positions in the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

Oskanian’s possible presidential run would be seriously hampered by
his current lack of a political support base both inside and outside
the government, which is essential for making a strong showing in
the presidential election. In that regard he would find it extremely
hard to compete with Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, Kocharian’s
most likely successor who is poised to enlist the backing of the
governing Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) as well as a host of
other government factions.

Oskanian refused to comment on Sarkisian’s impending pre-election
alliance with the HHK and said he has no plants yet to team up with
any political party. In an indication that he is not fully satisfied
with the current Armenian leadership’s track record, he stressed the
need for carrying out urgent "second-generation reforms" in Armenia
which he said would "hit the economic and political interests of the
[ruling] elite." "Which political force will have that courage?" he
said. "This is the key question."

Oskanian had warned earlier that Armenia will pay a serious "economic
cost" if it again fails to hold elections recognized as free and fair
by the international community. "I am optimistic in the sense that
our people are determined to make sure that our elections are normal
this time around," he noted on Friday.

Oskanian is not the first former Diaspora Armenian to consider running
for president. Raffi Hovannisian, Armenia’s U.S.-born first foreign
minister, was controversially barred by from contesting the last
presidential election in 2003 on the grounds that he had not been
an Armenian citizen for the previous ten years — something which is
required by the country’s constitution.

Hovannisian, who insists that he had been illegally denied Armenian
citizenship by Kocharian and his predecessor Levon Ter-Petrosian
for nearly a decade, obtained an Armenian passport only in 2001. The
increasingly outspoken opposition politician is therefore unlikely to
be deemed eligible for running in the next presidential ballot as well.

NEW VERSIONS OF THE MURDER
Naira Mamikonian

Aravot.am
14 July 06

It refers to Sedrak Zatikian’s murder committed on 22 of June

The murder committed near "Metax" industrial center in Malatia
Sebastia community on 22 of June, the target of which was the former
district mayor of the mentioned community Vahan Zatikian’s son,
Sedrak Zatikian and an accidental passer-by Karine Sargsian is still
under investigation. Only a person is arrested within the framework
of the brought criminal case on the occasion of the committed
crime. That person is Stepan Hakobian who is the NA deputy Hakob
Hakobian’s nephew. His culpability in that murder isn’t proved yet,
as we know. While the criminal case on Sedrak Zatikian’s murder is
under investigation, new versions of that murder are being discussed.

In one of our issues /24.06.06/ "Why has Sedrak Zatikian been
killed?" by headline we mentioned about the quarrel round Vahan
Zatikian’s purchased "Paros" restaurant as one of the versions of
the murder. Sedrak Zatikian could also been killed for unsettled
debts. According to our sources there is another version on the
occasion of the murder where the above-mentioned two versions are also
included. According to that version a killer killed S. Zatikian. The
same source informs there were no cars pursuing Zatikian’s car
and there was no exchange of fire as the witnesses told on that
day. According to our source the killer who killed S. Zatikian was
a blonde, thin young person with a violin case in his hand standing
not far from Sebastia-Tichina crossroad. When he informed that the
car was moving at that direction, he passed the street, stood on tram
rails and shot into the target. They say that if there was a passenger
next to S. Zatikian, he was been shot instead of Zatikian whose head
was injured by that shoot. The car ran over a lorry, and the killer,
reaching his target, assured by a checking shoot that he had killed
his target, got on a car, which was waiting for him and ran away.
As regards the motivation of the murder, the cause was the quarrel
over the above-mentioned "Paros" restaurant, which RA deputy Minister
of Defense Manvel Grigorian wanted to purchase.

By our source the NA businessman deputy Samvel Alexanian was also
interested in purchasing that restaurant. The latter and S. Zatikian
had even concluded a bargain, and S. Alexanian had even paid about
2 million Drams in advance. Later, S. Zatikian has changed his mind,
and gave half of the advance payment back. S. Alexanian called Zatikian
to negotiation for the rest of money on the day before his murder. The
negotiations turned into quarrel and they shot at each other. They say,
S. Zatikian was the first who shot. Finally the latter was given time
to pay the rest of money back otherwise he would be killed.

According to our sources this is the most credible version of the
murder. According to some information President Robert Kocharian
demands from the RA Public Prosecutor to detect that murder, while
there are some opinions, if deputy S. Alexanian is involved in this
murder, the case won’t be detected.

We tried to talk to Samvel Alexanian about this version but he isn’t
in the Republic.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN OFFICE CONCERNED OVER HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON

Arka News Agency, Armenia
July 14 2006

YEREVAN, July 14. /ARKA/. The RA Foreign Office is concerned over
the military operations in Lebanon and over numerous victims among
civilians.

"Armenia condemns any violence, including hostage taking and use of
force. We consider unequal use of force causing damage to civilians
and infrastructures especially inadmissible," says a statement of
the RA Foreign Office.

"Israel’s actions are difficult to understand, considering the fact
that the Lebanese Government clearly stated that it has nothing to
do with the hostage taking," the statement says.

The RA Foreign Office hopes for the establishment of cease-fire in
the region for the settlement of the problem by means of negotiations.