Author: Parkev Tvankchian

CLOSER TO PEACE THAN A YEAR AGO?
A1plus
| 15:06:35 | 27-06-2005 | Politics |
“It is very difficult to win peace, but I believe we can do it”, said
the OSCE Minsk group co-head Stephen Mann in his interview to the
“Azatutyun” Radio station Azeri service.
He also said that “The positions of the Armenian and Azeri sides
are closer now than a year ago, but we cannot claim that agreement
looms”. Stephen Mann has confirmed the information given by Vardan
Oskanyan that in July the Minsk group co-heads will arrive in the
region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 16:44:50 | 22-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION 2005 |
GEORGIA BLAMED RUSSIA
«I am worried especially by the absence of free and independent Mass Media
in Russia as the existing ones represent their neighbors as terrorists.
Georgia has never been a terrorist country», mentioned member of the
Georgian delegation to CoE Mrs. Telderadze during the discussions of the
issue of Honoring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation.
She mentioned that she is glad for the decision of ousting the Russian
military bases from Georgia and announced that the decision must be executed
as soon as possible. Mrs. Telderadze also blamed the Russian Federation for
refusing the offer of Georgia of joint control of the Russian-Georgian
borders and called the RF to be more tolerant towards its neighbors.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN NKR MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS: OBSERVERS
FROM USA
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 20. ARMINFO. June 19 elections to the parliament of
the 4th convocation in NKR were transparent and free.
According to ARMINFO’s special correspondent from Stepanakert,
Representative of the “Group of Public Right and Policy of the USA”
Paul Williams made this statement on behalf of the group today. He
says the amendments to the Election Code of NKR allowed political
parties to participate in the elections. The elections met
international standards, the American observer thinks. He says the
reform of the Election Code has led to development of democracy and
the country has made a considerable step towards democracy. Factually,
electors had a right to get first hand view of the pre-election
programs of the candidatures. Participation of the army in the
elections was restricted. All the 6 participants of the US Observation
Mission met with all the political parties running for the parliament,
journalists, representatives of all the power branches, visited all
the electoral districts and did not fix any extraordinary situations,
Pail Williams says.
At the same time, he thinks there were some problems of technical
nature, International recognition of Nagorny Karabakh requires further
development of democracy and improvement of the country’s
administrative structure, which functions rather effectively at
present, he thinks.
It should be noted that 73.6% of electors from 89,925 potential or
66,197 citizens participated in June 19 elections. The largest
attendance was 95%, the smallest 55%, the special correspondent of
ARMINFO reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’s PRIME MINISTER: TURKEY DOES NOT WANT TO CONTACT WITH
ARMENIA EVEN IN ABSENCE OF PRECONDITIONS
YEREVAN, JUNE 10. ARMINFO. Turkey does not want to contact with
Armenia even in the absence of preconditions, stated Armenia’s Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan in an interviwe to Japanese independent
NHK TV-channel. He stressed that Turkey denying Armenian Genocide in
Ottoman Turkey in 1915 continues to keep communications closed, thus
preventing the economical growth in the country. At the same time,
Margaryan noted that Armenia’s authorities do everything to maintain
balanced relations with superpowers. -r-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #106, 10/06/2005
Discovery
DINOSAUR CONGENER IN ARMENIA
Zoologists made an interesting discovery in mountain lakes in Shamlugh town
of Lori region (northern Armenia). This animal with round head, fish-like
torso and gradually widening tail is congener to prehistoric dinosaurs, a
unique amphibian that has preserved in few places of the world. The
discovery was kept under wraps for a long time fearing that the triton may
become an object of bargain. Allegedly the Armenian dinosaur has been
conveyed to the United Arab Emirates and was put in a terrarium in a hotel
for tourists to see.
By Karine Danielian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Former member of Nixon Administration reacts to Deep Throat unveiling
KVOA DT-23 (NBC affiliate in Tucson, Arizona)
June 1, 2005
PHOENIX — It was one of the best-kept secrets in Washington, D.C.,
until yesterday.
Valley resident and former Watergate figure Robert Mardian is mentioned
in the Vanity Fair article due out next week that revealed the identity
of “Deep Throat.”
Mardian says hearing that Mark Felt is “Deep Throat” comes as a shock.
As for President Richard Nixon’s reaction, Mardian says he’d be
astounded to learn that Felt was the chief leaker known as “Deep
Throat.”
Mardian says he doesn’t see Felt as a hero, but rather as a man who
betrayed his oath and his country.
Mardian was embroiled in the Watergate scandal as one of the Watergate
Seven who were indicted by a Grand Jury for campaign violations. He’d
been a close aide to Attorney General John Mitchell inside the
Justice Department.
Mardian was convicted at the main Watergate trial, but his conviction
was quashed.
(thanks to KTVK-TV)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgia wants to join Iran-Armenia gas pipeline – premier
Mediamax news agency
2 Jun 05
Yerevan, 2 June: Georgia reiterates its interest in being involved
in the construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli said this at the meeting
with his Armenian counterpart Andranik Markaryan in Tbilisi on 1 June,
the press service of the Armenian government has told Mediamax.
Markaryan said in reply that the first phase of the project is
being implemented now, but “the Armenian side does not rule out the
possibility of discussing this issue with Georgia in the future.”
To recap, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli arrived in Armenia
on an unscheduled visit on 11-12 March 2005. He said following the
visit that the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline had been one of the main
subjects of talks.
“We are certainly want that the gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia to
be used to import gas to Georgia. It will be a profitable project
for Armenia. If Georgia is a transit country for Armenia today,
then Armenia will become a transit state for Georgia,” Noghaideli
said during his visit in March.
“The Georgian side raised the issue that Armenia become a transit
country for gas supplies from Iran to Ukraine through Armenia and
Georgia. We have heard this desire and will discuss it in the future,”
Markaryan said in reply.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARLY ENLARGEMENT OF EUROPE TURNED INTO «HEAVY BURDEN»
Pan Armenian News
31.05.2005 08:32
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Europe began efforts on enlargement, which turned
into a “heavy burden” for it, Nagorno Karabakh PM Anushavan Danielian
told representatives of the French Department of Hayastan (Armenia)
All-Armenian Foundation, when commenting on the negative outcome
of the referendum in France, reported the Press Service of the
NKR Government. In his words, the “burden” is felt just by the old
European countries, which are the EU locomotive. He also noted that
if the referendum over the European Constitution was held in other
old European countries, France would have not been the only one to
vote against it. At that Mr. Danielian said he was sure that Europe
will find ways to solve the puzzle using a more realistic approach
to its own future.
–Boundary_(ID_z8rkPYYzU/ls6uBFedpIdQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
TURKISH GOVERNMENT FORCED TO CANCEL CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN
ISTANBUL
25.05.2005 03:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Under pressure from the Turkish government, organizers of
an unprecedented Armenian Genocide conference are being forced to cancel the
event set to open in Istanbul May 25, the Armenian Assembly of America
reported. The conference, entitled `Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of
the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy,’ was due to
be held at Bogazici University. According to Agence France-Presse, Turkish
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek today accused Conference organizers of
committing treason, saying, `We must put an end to this cycle of treason and
insult, of spreading propaganda against the [Turkish] nation by people who
belong to it.’ The Armenian Assembly is monitoring this official assault on
academic freedom and will report any developments as they happen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia should not give in to Turkish demands, says ARF Bureau
representative
23.05.2005 17:06
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – In an interview posted on the Yerkir’s website,
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau representative Hrant
Margarian answered a question regarding ARF’s keenness to establish
normal relations with Turkey.
“It is not the ARF but Armenia that is to have normal relations with
Turkey. It is the hostile position of the Turkish government toward
Armenia that obstructs the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations; since Armenia’s independence, Turkey has refused to
establish diplomatic relations with Armenia. Moreover, it has been
keeping Armenia in blockade since 1993. The ARF disagrees that Armenia
should give in to the Turkish preconditions to establish relations
with that country.
The process of establishing “normal relations” between the two
countries would not succeed unless Turkey recognizes its
responsibility for the Armenian Genocide.”