Author: Nalbandian Albert

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
May 17, 2006

Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
(613) 235-2622

The Prime Minister of Canada Congratulates ANCC for Opening of its National
Office

Ottawa – The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, has
sent a congratulatory certificate to the Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC) on the occasion of the opening of its national office in
Ottawa.

The inscription on the Prime Minister’s certificate reads:

`May 2006

This certificate is presented to the Armenian National Committee of Canada
in recognition of the opening of your national office in Ottawa.

The Armenian-Canadian community has made a profound contribution to Canada
in many domains. Your new permanent office in the nation’s capital will
ensure that Parliament and the Government of Canada are aware of the
concerns and aspirations of Armenian-Canadians.’

Over 30 MPs and Senator, among them the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary
Secretary the Hon. Jason Kenney and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe,
attended ANCC’s national office opening on April 25.

The Prime Minister’s heartfelt sentiments and initiative are greatly
appreciated by tens of thousand members and supporters of ANCC, said Aris
Babikian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of
Canada. `We are proud and honoured with our association and cooperation
with the Prime Minister. It is a great pleasure to see a government and a
prime minister with such a compassionate and principled feelings towards
Canadians and their concerns.’

-30-

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of
the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

Regional Chapters
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St. Catharines
– Windsor – Vancouver

KAZIMIROV: KARABAKH’S PARTICIPATION IN TALKS NECESSARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.05.2006 14:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The exclusion of the Nagorno Karabakh delegation from
the negotiation process started immediately after the OSCE summit in
Budapest in December 1994, Russian Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in 1992-1996 Vladimir
Kazimirovtold PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the exclusion
of NKR was initiated by Azerbaijan.

“Official Baku said that if Karabakh is engaged in the talks, it
should be presented by the Azeri community headed by Nizami Bahmanov
as well. This offer was rejected both by the Armenian side and the
mediators.

Then Baku insisted on the exclusion of the Armenian delegation of
Karabakh. Nevertheless I consider that the participation of the NKR
representatives is essential,” Kazimirov underlined.

As for the current stage of negotiations, Vladimir Kazimirov stated
that the responsibility should be shared by the Foreign Ministers
and Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In his opinion, NGOs should
also engage in the process.

NKR PRESIDENT PAYS WORKING VISIT TO YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
May 16 2006

STEPANAKERT, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian
left for Yerevan on a working visit. The NKR President’s acting Press
Secretary informed Noyan Tapan about it.

TOP ARMY OFFICER SAYS RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS UNABATED

Armenpress
May 16 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. A top Armenian army officer downplayed
today the significance of a chain of swift political developments
in Armenia resulting in resignation of parliament chairman Arthur
Baghdasarian and the withdrawal of his Orinats Yerkir party from the
ruling coalition for Russian-Armenian relations, saying they remain
as solid as they used to be.

“Linking political developments in Armenia with Armenian-Russian
relationships is wrong,” Mikael Harutunian, chief of staff of Armenian
armed forces said today in the Russian embassy after being awarded
a Russian medal.

Mikael Harutunian recalled that both Armenian president and its
defense minister have many a time declared that Armenia and Russia
are strategic partners, however he added, “We likewise want to build
good relations with other countries, with Europe and NATO, but we also
say that Armenia’s accession with NATO is not on our agenda. Armenia
is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
and cannot be simultaneously in NATO,” he said. Harutunian described
Armenia’s relations with NATO as normal, which he said are proceeding
in line with Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

Apart from Harutunian, another top army officer, Gurgen Dalibaltayan,
Armenian chief prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian, a businessman Mikhail
Baghdasarov and some others were awarded Russian medals. Defense
minister Serzh Sarkisian was also to be awarded, but he did not attend
the ceremony because of heavy schedule.

Zaman, Turkey
May 14 2006

Compelling Statements from Erdogan
By Ekrem Dumanli, Bali, Indonesia
Published:
zaman.com

Journalists had the opportunity to hear significant remarks from
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on domestic and
international issues during his visit to Indonesia.

Erdogan traveled to Indonesia to attend a gathering of D-8 countries
after his visit to Austria, where a meeting of officials from the
European Union and Latin American countries was held.

On the flight from Austria to Indonesia, journalists heard Erdogan
speak on a wide range of topics – from the Middle East to the upcoming
presidential elections in Turkey, from the tension between the
governments of Turkey and France over the so-called Armenian
genocide, to his recent football performance.

Erdogan is making plans for a surprise visit to the United States; he
believes that as Turkey is Co-President of the Greater Middle-East
and Northern Africa Projects, it has an immense responsibility and
the Turkish government should do its utmost.

`The tension in the region is set to mount due to Iran’s nuclear
activities. I do not expect to see a war; however, there is bound to
be a heavy price for us to pay. I have plans to take a trip to the
United States as soon as I return to my country.’

Erdogan pressed for the need to recognize Iran’s right to have
nuclear power, provided that Iran’s nuclear involvement be open to
international inspection.

The Tehran administration does not object to an examination of its
nuclear activities, said Erdogan, and stressed the need not to be
over-judgmental, since it is not the change of regime in Iran that
deserves focus.

The recent growing trend of reactionary news in Turkey is bound to
the approaching presidential elections, said Erdogan.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced he will ask
the United States for an appointment to discuss the Iran, Iraq, and
Palestine issues after returning to Turkey from Indonesia.

`As co-chairman of the Greater Middle East and Northern Africa
Projects, Turkey is under a huge responsibility,’ Erdogan said,
tension has escalated in the region due to Iran’s nuclear activities.

`I predict hot developments in the region. In such a case, Turkey
will suffer greatly. I am thinking of visiting the US as soon as I
return to Turkey, and I will ask for an appointment. On May 25 and
26, I will meet the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which is
important for the United Nations Security Council. We should discuss
the Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Palestine issues.’

Erdogan stressed that the Iranian issue can be resolved
diplomatically and said Iran has the right to enjoy nuclear power;
however, its activities should be open to international inspections.

`The issue should not be quickly and harshly resolved. A regime
change in Iran should not be discussed. There are problems with
transparency, however, Iran is not against International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections and the international community
should be informed about that.’

Erdogan said he did not approve of the international community
halting the transfer of financial aid to Palestine after HAMAS
(Islamic Resistance Movement) won the elections and discussed the
issue with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

`Palestine is like an open prison,’ Erdogan said, adding, `When Rice
came to Turkey I asked her about the decision to stop humanitarian
and financial aid to Palestine and said, `It is not appropriate.’
Rice said `the US is still sending humanitarian aid’ and I told her
that `Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas does not confirm this.’ We
are discussing humanitarian aid including food, oil, and sugar with
Turkey’s Special Coordinator to Palestine Vehbi Dincerler. I spoke to
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He also shares our feelings.’

Algeria bill implications

Erdogan noted France’s bill to criminalize denial of the so-called
Armenian genocide is related to its domestic political issues.

Emphasizing that French President Jacques Chirac also voiced his
discomfort over the bill during their conversation in Vienna, Erdogan
said: `Chirac wants that the bill be decided by the lower wing and
should not be carried to parliament. He said the agenda of the French
Parliament was already too busy.’

Erdogan said he met with representatives of French companies
operating in Turkey and added that they are also uncomfortable with
the current situation.

Erdogan said that a country that has considerable investments in
Turkey will of course be negatively affected with this kind of a
situation.

Replying to a question on whether Turkey could take a similar
decision about the genocide in Algeria in response to France’s move,
Erdogan said, they have not made any moves towards such a decision
yet and added: `Our patience continues up to a certain point. We want
to reach an agreement and we will continue to act with patience, but
I don’t know what will happen if this process in France continues. We
are not in the position of hostility; however, we can apply our own
sanctions.’

Negotiations can start next month

Prime Minister Erdogan also touched upon Turkey’s relations with the
European Union (EU) during our conversation and said that half the
screening process was complete.

Erdogan said the negotiations, which will be conducted as two
chapters, will start before Austria’s term presidency ends in June.

Erdogan said the process continues and that they do not need to visit
all EU member countries as they did prior to the December 17 process,
and added: `We already meet with the leaders during the summits and
have had the opportunity to impart our position. Even if we do not
have a place in the family portrait, we are invited to participate as
a gesture.’

Erdogan emphasized the government evaluates the developments over the
EU in all meetings it conducts and added that some important steps
will be taken next year in order to strengthen ties with the EU.

AKP ready for contributions to CTA, not for its withdrawal

`We are ready to work with anybody prepared to contribute to the
Counter-terrorism Act (CTA). The lawyers or others should come and
share their concerns about the CTA with us; however, no one should
expect us to completely withdraw the CTA. About twenty NGO’s came to
us with their concerns about the CTA. I told them `Let’s make this
law as a nation not just as the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
Government.’ The security forces expect legal support from us for
their struggle against terrorism. The CTA was already prepared
consulting all organs of the state. The Turkish Armed Forces is one
of them and the Presidency is another.’

AZG Armenian Daily #087, 13/05/2006

People

ARMENIAN PIONEER

A Beirut-native, Haladjian arrived in France as a teenager and studied
linguistics. He entered the telecommunications industry in 1983,
pioneered the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in France in 1994,
FranceNet, and in 2003, sold it to British Telecom. Many would’ve
retired, but Rafi thinks big. He founded two companies, Violet and
Ozone, which are exploding the boundaries between technology and daily
life. Nabaztag (), the Armenian word for rabbit, was
Violet’s next product after WI-FI and their first for mass
consumption. With a barebones advertising campaign that relied on word
of mouth and web postings, it was released in June of this year and
Parisians rushed to grab 5,000 Nabaztags in ten days. Violet rolled
out another 10,000 units immediately after and those sold out in the
following few months. Now, the company is faced with the dilemma of
how to meet the steep increase in demand.

What makes Nabaztag unique is that Violet has found a way to make
techie objects friendly. Not only can users receive transmitted
emotions that tell Nabaztag owners they are loved through pulsing
colors or sounds, but they can be programmed to tell traffic, weather
and stock reports at a scheduled time.

Why Nabaztag? “First, because I’m Armenian,” he replies. “Second, it’s
hard to find names nowadays and if you want to differentiate a product
you want something that sounds different. When you look at Japanese
products they have Japanese names, like Tamagotchi. Nobody knows what
it means but you get used to it – so why not Armenian? People in Paris
don’t speak more Japanese than Armenian.”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 12 2006

12 years have passed since ceasefire announced between Azerbaijan and
Armenia

[ 12 May 2006 16:34 ]

12 years have passed since ceasefire announced between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. (APA). Bishkek protocol signed between two countries, came
into force on May 12.

Spring of 1994 was a hard period in Armenia-Azerbaijan war. Summer-
autumn of 1993 was also hard period for Azerbaijan, in 1994 January,
some successful resistance operation was implemented, in general,
winter campaign was not resulted as it was expected. At that time,
Russia as chairman in OSCE Minsk Group in 1994 has forced the sides
to ceasefire, and as a result, ceasefire protocol was signed.
Azerbaijani parliament chairman and Nagorno Garabagh Azerbaijani
Community head, from Russian side V.Shumeyko, on behalf of CIS PA the
chairman of the organization, Speaker of Kyrgyzstan, Armenian speaker
and Nagorno Garabagh Armenian community has signed the document.
Azerbaijani side has lost 5 thousand militaries within 12 years as a
result of violation of ceasefire, unofficial sources has
informed./APA/

PanARMENIAN.Net

Iran Not Afraid of U.N. Security Council Sanctions

12.05.2006 13:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad blamed the western powers for pursuing the
policy of double standards as regards the Iranian
nuclear program. He said at a news conference he is
not afraid of the U.N. sanctions and is ready to
negotiate with `any state to settle the crisis.’
However, the Iranian President underscored such talks
should not be held from the position of force. `If
someone pokes a gun into your face trying to make you
say what is needed will you yield to these demands? We
will not,’ Ahmadinejad said when commenting on the
U.S. and Troika’s position on the Iranian problem.

He reiterated Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and
has no military purpose. `It by no means refers to the
nuclear weapon development or any other military
goals,’ the Iranian President said. At that he
described as `ridiculous’ the attempts the nuclear
powers to make his country abandon the nuclear energy
processing. Tehran is capable to defend its interests,
he said, reported Iran.ru.

3 WEEKS TO FIND BLACK BOXES AT BLACK SEA CRASH SITE

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 11 2006

SOCHI, May 11 (RIA Novosti) – Recovery teams have about three weeks to
locate and retrieve the flight data recorders of an Armenian airliner
that crashed last week killing 113 people, a Russian transportation
official said Thursday.

The black boxes are seen as the key to understanding why the Airbus
plunged into the Black Sea in stormy weather six kilometers (3.7 miles)
from the Russian coast early on the morning of May 3.

“We have a time limit, about 30 days from the moment of the crash,”
said Alexander Davydenko, who is coordinating the operation to locate
the black boxes.

He added that batteries of the black boxes, which are thought to be
a depth of 400-450 meters (1,300- 1,470 feet), would run down in 30
days. Earlier wreckage had been reported at 680 meters (2,230ft).

Vladimir Yerygin, who oversees technological support for the
operation to recover the recorders, said earlier that specialists from
Toulouse-based Airbus were planning to use advanced hydroacoustic
equipment to find the precise location of the black boxes and later
recover them using a deep-sea vehicle.

He said the main group of French experts, which left the port of Sochi
Wednesday morning, would set up a data-processing center on board one
ship, and another ship with the Kalmar deep-sea craft would continue
scanning the seabed for parts of the A-320.

AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE IN MARTAKERT
Srbuhi Vanian

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
10 May 2006

Recently the NKR minister of agriculture Vahram Baghdassarian has
visited the United States. He reports several useful meetings with
local businessmen; during these meetings the investment policy of
the NKR government, the state of agricultural sector and legislation
were presented. V. Baghdassarian said in America they appreciated the
environment for investments in Karabakh as rather positive. There is
willingness to make investments here, some arrangements were reached
and some projects were discussed. The main purpose of the visit to the
Unites States was to reach an arrangement on creating an agricultural
machinery pool in the framework of the agricultural initiative of
Armenia Fund for the region of Martakert. Armenia Fund is carrying out
a program of reconstruction of the region of Martakert on the money
raised during the telethon 2005. Part of the donations will be spent
on agricultural projects in Martakert. V. Baghdassarian said three
years ago the fund organized the visit of a group of experts headed by
Andrea Pampanini to Karabakh, who studied the state of agriculture in
Karabakh and worked out a programme of reconstruction of agriculture in
Karabakh. “The programme includes different branches of agriculture. It
specifies activities, such as the use of new technologies,
purchase of agricultural machines, processing and production,” said
V. Baghdassarian. For the programme of Martakert, the minister of
agriculture said during the talks between A. Pampanini and the board
of trustees of the fund it was arranged to set up a company, which
will deal with the problems of cultivation of the privatized land. A
new machine pool will be created with new equipment and maintenance
facilities. The competition for the positions of the director and
accountant of the company has started. The minister of agriculture
said the company was set up simultaneously with the Agriculture
Support Fund.

Currently negotiations are going on with the government on where
the company will be based. “This company’s purpose is to guarantee
the cultivation of privatized land from tillage to harvest,” said
V. Baghdassarian. The minister of agriculture said it is also planned
to set up an association of farmers.

Recently an extension group has visited Karabakh, and the visit of the
board of trustees is planned to work out the final plan of activities.