Author: Tambiyan Samvel

DECISION ON CONTINUING ARMENIA-"MILLENIUM CHALLENGES FUND" COOPERATION TO BE ADOPTED IN DECEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.06.2007 14:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Compact of the "Millenium Challenges" is
progressing well in Armenia, CEO of the "Millenium Challenges
Corporation" (MCC) Ambassador John Danilovich stated at opening
ceremony of MCC new office in Yerevan said. "We have begun
training farmers to improve their profitability with the Water to
Market Activity and design of the first phase of the Rural Roads
Rehabilitation Project is nearing completion. Additionally, the
early design phase of the Irrigated Agriculture Project is out for
competitive bids, with first construction expected to begin this
autumn," Danilovich underscored.

The CEO of the "Millenium Challenge Corporation" also welcomed the
Armenian parliamentary elections and congratulated the Armenian people
on a more successful poll than previous elections. "It appears that
this election was an improvement towards international standards, but
we continue to closely watch the process of investigating allegations
of irregularities. As with all MCA countries, the MCC Board at its
annual selection meeting in December will make a decision on Armenia’s
continued eligibility," the CEO said.

Armenia was included in the Compact on March 27, 2006.

It supposes assignation of $235 million for developing agriculture and
reducing the level of poverty. The compact includes a USD 67 million
project to rehabilitate up to 943 kilometers of rural roads. It also
includes a USD 146 million project to increase the productivity of
approximately 250, 000 farm households.

GEORGIAN ARMENIAN DIOCESE WISHES TO RETURN SIX CHURCHES BELONGING TO IT

TBILISI, JUNE 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Today the Georgian
Armenian Diocese has only 21 functioning churches and wishes to return
the churches that have belonged to the Georgian Armenian Diocese of
Armenian Apostolic Church for many centuries, but were seized in the
Soviet period (for instance, Tbilisi’s Surb Nshan) or or they just
tried to make them Georgian (for instance, Norashen Surb Astvatsatsin
Church). Today the number of such churches having "indefinite" status
for the Georgian side is six (Tbilisi’s Norashen Surb Astvatsatsin
Church (15th century), Surb Nshan Nikoghayos Church (18th century),
Havlabar’s Yerevantsots Surb Minas Church (19th century), Mughni Surb
Gevorg (14th century), Shamkhoretsots Surb Astvatsatsin Church (19th
century) and Akhaltsikhe’s Surb Nshan (19th century)). The Diocese
wishes to use these churches for completely taking care of the
community’s spiritual needs.

The arguments over belonging of the churches emerged long ago in
Georgia. This disagreement between the Georgian Diocese of Armenian
Apostolic Church and the Georgian Orthodox Church emerged after getting
independence by Georgia. Eight Armenian churches were seized and turned
into Georgian churches over the past seventeen years. Wall pictures,
khachkars (cross-stones) and another Armenian elements were eliminated
in this process.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from the Information Services of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin, in connection with the problem Catholicos of
All Armenians Karekin II sent official messages to Patriarch-Catholicos
of Georgian Church Ilia II and Georgian President M. Saakashvili.

Various structures of Georgian Armenian community, non-governmental
organizations, Union of Armenians in Georgia sent letters to the
President of the Republic of Georgia and Patriarch expressing protest
in connection with this barbarity. In particular, two questions were
officially raised before the Georgian state and Church: the status of
Georgian Armenian Diocese (as no other church except the Georgian one
is registered and has any status in Georgia) and return of historic
Armenian churches to Armenians in Georgia (as currently no church
belongs to the Georgian Armenian Diocese de jure).

In fact, the problem has not been solved so far.

"COW" TO GO ON STAGE AT ARMENIA HIGH FEST

Mehr News Agency, Iran
June 8 2007

TEHRAN, June 8 (MNA) — The Iranian puppet show "Cow" produced by
the Organization for the Intellectual Development of Children and
Young Adults (IIDCYA) is to participate in the ‘High Fest’ Fifth
International Performing Arts Festival in Yerevan, Armenia.

Playwright Hamed Zahmatkesh said on Friday that the play was scheduled
to be performed first in a public show in Yerevan, but the festival’s
secretary proposed that the troupe take part in ‘High Fest’ before
its public performance.

Performances from France, Italy, Germany, England, and Poland are to
participate in the event which takes place from October 4-14, 2007.

Since 2006, the High Fest has welcomed entries from performing arts
companies and artists in many genres. In the theatrical sphere entries
include drama, comedy, mime, movement, circus, street performances
and puppet/marionette shows. In the field of music entries are opera,
classical, contemporary, jazz, and folk.

Mehdi Farshidi and Zahmatkesh have written and designed the show and
will also direct the performance and handle the puppets which have
been designed by Hanieh Zahmatkesh.

"Cow" depicts the story of two men who are traveling to the land of
‘nowhere’ carrying their suitcases. On the way, they meet a cow and
this event causes their lives to change.

THE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS HAD VERY HONEST AND OPEN TALKS WITH THE ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP

ArmRadio.am
08.06.2007 11:53

"We held very honest and open talks with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian," American Co-Chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza stated to a press conference
in Yerevan.

He said, qualitative changes took place in the works of the Minsk
Group – it began to work more actively.

"As you know, I am optimist by nature; however I do not see special
progress after the meeting between Armenian and Azeri Presidents
in Saint Petersburg. The circle of differences becomes narrower,
but they exist.

Namely for that reason we’ve arrived in the region to settle a number
of issues," Bryza said.

The American diplomat particularly underlined that he had not told
anything about returning the 7 regions around Nagorno Karabakh to
Azerbaijan. "I was speaking about returning territories without naming
any figures, and I do not think that I have disclosed anything from
the negotiation process.

The OSCE Minsk Group perfectly knows that there exist Nagorno Karabakh
territories, which are occupied by Azerbaijan. But negotiations over
them are under the competence of Foreign Ministers of both countries,"
the American diplomat underlined.

He also noted that every side of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has
its own stance.

"The issue of Nagorno Karabakh status and its security is the main
one not only for the Karabakhi population, but also for the OSCE
Minsk Group," Bryza said. According to the American diplomat, the
Presidents must settle all issues, the Minsk Group just offers them
ways of resolution.

"Proposals of OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement lie on the bargaining table, and we think that they may
become a basis for working out principles of conflict settlement,"
French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier stated
to a press conference in Yerevan. He said, it is possible to
reach agreements on basic principles, and "that’s why we are
optimists." "Armenian and Azeri Presidents must evaluate our proposals
and decide what points they agree and what points they do not agree
on. And this does not depend on the Minsk Group," Fassier noticed.

He underlined that a "breakthrough" in talks is possible when
Presidents begin to trust each other and come to a balanced and just
solution. Then Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers will begin to
work out a peace treaty," the French mediator underlined.

As for the participation of Karabakh representatives in the
negotiation process, Bernard Fassier once again repeated that sooner
NKR participates in talks, the better. "Now we discuss this issue with
the Azeri side. But we have not reached the point yet to speak about
details of agreement. We are preparing bases, and nobody, including
the Minsk Group knows when the sides will come to a solution," the
Co-Chair said, adding that meetings with Arkady Ghukasyan are necessary
for clarifying issues concerning the stance of Nagorno Karabakh.

"From the legal viewpoint the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region
(NKAR) was a part of the Azerbaijani SSR. Now Nagorno Karabakh is an
unrecognized state and the issue of its borders and who it belongs to
is an issue of international law," Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Yuri Merzlyakov stated to a press conference in Yerevan. He said,
after the collapse of the USSR Karabakh turned into a subject from the
object of international law. "That’s why the issue of who it belongs
to is so painful. At the press conference in Baku I underlined that
Nagorno Karabakh was part of Azerbaijani SSR and not of Azerbaijan,"
he added.

At the same time the Russian mediator noted that OSCE Mink Group
recognizes the principle of territorial integrity of states. "If
not this, can you imagine what would happen in the whole world? I
perfectly know that till 1917 Nagorno Karabakh was part of the Russian
Empire. The history is necessary in order to settle conflicts, but it
is necessary to proceed from international law," Merzlyakov underlined.

VAFA GULUZADE: US WON’T ENGAGE IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH PROBLEM UNLESS IT STRIKES ON IRAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 7 2007

"I see no perspective in the coming St Petersburg meeting of head
of states of CIS. Russia intends to discuss issues of leading joint
policy with Azerbaijan and Armenia if the US attacks on Iran",
political scientist Vafa Guluzada told APA. According to him, the
summit will not debate Nagorno Karabakh issue.

"There is no favorable ground for the discussion of Nagorno Karabakh
problem. Because, states have not changed their position- Armenia
wants Karabakh to be independent while Azerbaijan wants to settle
the conflict within its territorial integrity. Russia’s position
is unchanged. Russia wants freezing the Karabakh issue and uses
the conflict as the lever in stopping Azerbaijan and Armenia from
joining NATO.

As to the position of the US, it will not get engaged in the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict until it has attacked
Iran. The settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict needs Russia’s
collapse. This process is underway. If Russia retreats from pursing
policy on freezing Karabakh conflict this problem could find its
solution.

Rasim Musabeyov told APA he does not share optimistic views on the
settlement of Karabakh conflict soon. "The hopes on the settlement
of Nagorno Karbakh conflict have not proved to be true until today.

During the meeting in St Petersburg besides co-chairs, Russian
President and Foreign Minister can influence Armenia. If Russia uses
its levers then certain progress can be made. I think after the St
Petersburg meeting, Azerbaijani government will seize an opportunity
of choosing more exact policy."

PARLIAMENT ELECTS ALL 9 INTERIM COMMITTEE HEADS

Panorama.am
19:01 07/06/2007

The Armenian parliament elected 9 interim committee chairmen in a
secret ballot shortly. The number of committee went up by 3 in the
new parliament. Ara Babloyan, Armenian Republican Party (HHK) member,
was elected as the chairman of health, social security and nature
protection committee. Babloyan was formerly the head of Arabkir
Medical Center.

Davit Harutunyan, ex-justice minister and HHK member, will chair
the interim committee of state legal issues. Hranush Hakobyan,
with no party affiliation but elected on proportional list of HHK,
was re-elected as the chair of the committee of education, science,
youth and sports affairs. Gagik Minasyan, HHK, was re-elected as the
chair of financial and budgeting interim committee. Vardan Aivazyan,
ex-minister of nature protection, was re-elected as the chairman of
newly established interim committee of economic affairs.

All other committees were divided between the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaksutiun) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK).

Dashnaksutiun will be in charge of the interim committees on foreign
affairs (Armen Rustamyan, chair) and interim committee on defense,
internal affairs and national security issues (Arthur Aghabekyan,
ex-deputy defense minister, chair).

Two newly established interim committees were trusted to BHK, interim
committee on human rights and public affairs (Arevik Petrosyan,
chair) and interim committee on European integration (Avet Adonts,
chair). Both were nominated without an alternative opponent.

"THERE ARE STILL TERRITORIES TO BE LIBERATED"

A1+
[03:19 pm] 06 June, 2007

"Minsk group U.S. Co-Chair Mettew Bryza’s announcement on returning the
seven liberated territories to Azerbaijan has strained the situation,"
reads the announcement of the Order of Hay Aryans.

The order considers Bryza’s step a rough breach of diplomatic norms
and an instigation of a war. The Order urges President Kocharian
to refuse meeting with Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan,
unless provocative announcements stop. "We have still territories
to liberate. The Minsk group C-Chairs are unbiased mediators if they
support Mettew Bryza’s announcement."

The Order of Hay Aryans calls on the RoA officialdom to quit the
negotiations and to recognize the NKR independence.

"Azerbaijan must conduct talks with the NKR authorities and RoA
authorities must act according to necessity and expediency," the
Order says.

The Order of Hay Aryans, recognises the liberated territories a part of
Armenia. We shall do our utmost to protect united Armenia’s frontiers
and security.

SERGE SARGSYAN: ARMENIA DOES NOT INTEND TO JOIN NATO

ArmRadio.am
07.06.2007 17:18

"We are in a security system which completely suffices us," RA Prime
Minister Serge Sargsyan declared in an interview with "Moskovskiy
Komsomolets."

"We do not plan to change anything. I don’t think we must joint NATO,"
Head of the Armenian Government said.

As to the NATO Information Center, "the opening of which is being
ascribed to him", Serge Sargsyan stated, "It looks like that my local
ill-wishers have thought out those rumors about the NATO center and
then it reached to you in Russia. The matter is that the NATO office
works in Moscow long ago and on the same conditions, which we have
here. Or may be you think that Russia must cooperate with NATO and
Armenia must butt with the alliance? To tell the truth, I am glad
that some people in Russia consider me as a pro-western politician,
because a lot of people in the West consider me as a pro-Russian
leader. And this is the very confirmation of the fact that actually
I am a pro-Armenian politician".

The Armenian Prime Minister said "part of our Officers study in Russia,
the rest study in the West, and we have never concealed it." In Serge
Sargsyan’s words, "it is beneficial for us to cooperate with Russia,
since being a CSTO member state we can purchase military goods at he
same price as the Russian army.

"We are implementing an Individual Partnership Action Plan with
NATO. It is a good level of cooperation. We intend to deepen these
relations. It is useful," the Prime Minister said.

MEMBERS OF BH NA FACTION TO HEAD EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEES

Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Bargavach Hayastan faction of NA
of fourth convocation, the second largest one in NA, has convened
its first sitting today. BH Chairman Gagik Tsarukian was elected
faction Chairman and member of party Political Board Aram Safarian
as Secretary. As the latter informed NT correspondent, the faction
members will head two standing committees, European Integration and
Human Rights Committees, to be formed in NA.

SERGE SARGSYAN DID NOT USE RIGHT WORDING

Lragir.am
06-06-2007 13:52:37

On June 5 NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan commented on Prime Minister
Serge Sargsyan’s statement he had made when he was minister of
defense. Of course, it was not his initiative but when the reporters
reminded him his rather tough statement a few months ago that the
territories will not be returned. The reporters asked if there is
disagreement between the NKR president and the Armenian prime minister
regarding the problem.

"I don’t think Serge Sargsyan is inclined to return the territories.

Perhaps it was not a diplomatic pronouncement, I repeat the talks
are on the status first of all. If we reach agreement on the status
of Karabakh and get what we want, we cannot avoid discussing the
territories. We must negotiate.

It already depends on the talks where we will reach. It was about
this. That it is impossible, unfortunately, to get what you dream of
in the talks," Arkady Ghukasyan says.