Author: Tambiyan Samvel

NOVRUZ MAMMADOV: OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS FAIL TO DEMONSTRATE A NEUTRAL STANCE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 16, 2006
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are planning to organize a
meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers, APA reports
quoting Azerbaijani President’s Office international relations
department chief Novruz Mammadov.
“We cannot say the negotiating process for the settlement of the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict is not held. Azerbaijan advocates peaceful
solution of the conflict. This option meets Armenia’s interests at
the same time,” the department chief said.
Mr.Mammadov called on the Minsk Group co-chairs to take a fair stance.
“Regrettably, the co-chairs fail to demonstrate a neutral stance and
compliance with international law principles. This will neither give
an impetus to the settlement of the conflict nor increase confidence of
world states in big international organizations,” Mammadov said.

RA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE TO HOLD EVENTS DEDICATED TO 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Education and
Science envisages holding of a number of events dedicated to the 15th
anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. As Narine
Hovhannisian, the Chief of the Comprehensive Education Department
of the Ministry mentioned at the August 15 press conference, the
first event of that series will be the 2nd All-Armenian Educational
Conference to take place in Tsaghkadzor on August 17-20. 150
representatives of Armenia and Diaspora will participate in it. She
mentioned that a competition of compositions on the theme “My Free
Fatherland” will be held in secondary schools of the republic from
August 20 to September 30.
The best works will be published in the “Krtutyun” (Education) and
“Kanch” (call) periodicals, will be placed in the internet site of
the Ministry.
N.Hovhannisian mentioned that the Day of Knowledge, September 1, will
also be dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Independence. Meetings
with statesmen and politicians and participants of the Artsakh war
will be held in schools in these days as well as demonstrative lessons
dedicated to the theme will be held.
Besides, in schools, Artsakh war heroes’, Armenian Generals’ halls
of glory will be founded, albums will be formed, stands will be
prepared, wall papers will be published, photo-exhibitions will
be opened. N.Hovhannisian mentioned that a republican festival of
recitation entitled “You my Old and New Armenia” will be organized
jointly with the Writers’ Union of Armenia. Its results will be
summed up in October. A competition-review of works of fine arts
entitled “My Republic is 15” will also be held. The best works will be
exhibited at the State National Gallery. And a gala concert entitled
“My Marvellous Armenia” will take place in October, with school
teachers’ participation.
Scientific conferences, seminars, lectures, students’ and lecturers’
scientific sessions are also envisaged.

Armenians carrying out archaeological excavations on the territory of
Nagornyy Karabakh

Arminfo
11 Aug 06

Yerevan, 11 August: Armenian archaeologists have launched large-scale
excavations in one of the biggest and well-known settlements of the
pre-Christian period on the territory of Nagornyy Karabakh founded by
Armenian King Tigran II (the Great), Gamlet Petrosyan, head of the
expedition and doctor of history, has told an Arminfo correspondent.
He said the excavations prove that Armenians lived in the valley of
the Khachenaget River in Agdam District in the first century BC. He
said that during the first days of the excavations, the archaeologists
found remains of a citadel wall that belongs to one of the four cities
built by Tigran II – Artsakh’s Tigranakert.
It is notable that the stone blocks discovered there are joined
together with the help of the then Hellenic technology or so-called
knots in the form of a martin’s tail. The archaeologists are also
excavating barrows and quarters of the city.
[Passage omitted: Armenians archaeologists have been searching for
historic monuments in Nagornyy Karabakh for three years]

TelecomWorldWire
August 10, 2006
Haladjian’s Nabaztag Wi-Fi rabbit targets US consumers
TELECOMWORLDWIRE-10 August 2006-Haladjian’s Nabaztag Wi-Fi rabbit
targets US consumers ©1994-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Nabaztag Wi-Fi rabbit has been unveiled by Violet, a French
company 55% owned by French entrepreneur Rafi Haladjian and 30% by
Banexi Ventures, a private equity arm of French bank BNP Paribas.
Nabaztag means ‘rabbit’ in Armenian, which is the first language of
Haladjian, the man who conceived the idea. The rabbit is able to read
out e-mails and mobile phone text messages, provide alerts to stock
news and offer traffic updates through Internet feeds from a wireless
Wi-Fi network.
Basic Internet feeds, such as certain e-mail reading, stock market
performance and weather forecasts are free, while calls and text
messages are charged to the sender, although text messages are free
for premium service subscribers.
The Wi-Fi rabbit, which is made in China, costs EUR115 in France, £80
in the UK and USD150 in the US, has already been sold in Belgium,
France, the UK and Switzerland and is now being targeted at the US.
Nabaztag is expected to prove popular among certain groups of
consumers, and Haladjian said he expects sales to reach 150,000 by
the end of 2006, 400,000 in 2007 and around 2m by the end of 2008.

ARMENIANS URGED TO GUARD AGAINST UNPRECEDENTED HEAT
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug. 10, 2006
Medical authorities urged the population on Thursday to stay indoors
in the afternoon and take other precautions against a blistering
heatwave that has gripped Yerevan and other parts of Armenia this week.
According to meteorologists, air temperature hit almost 42 degrees
Celsius on Wednesday and was just as high the next day, making August
the hottest month registered in the country in a century.
“This is the highest temperature registered in Yerevan in the last
100 years,” said Albert Torosian, deputy director of the national
meteorological service. Torosian blamed the weather on air currents
flowing into Armenia from the south and said it will remain extremely
hot for at least two more days.
The Armenian Ministry of Health, meanwhile, advised citizens —
pregnant women, elderly people and children in particular — to avoid
walking in the streets from noon until 5 p.m. local time and to drink
at least three liters of water a day. Armenians were also urged to
cover their heads and wear cotton clothes when going out.
The summer heatwave is not confined to Armenia and the region. Many
parts of Europe and the United States have also been suffering from
an extremely hot weather and have reported scored of casualties. In
France alone, the heat has already claimed more than 100 lives.
The Armenian authorities have not reported any fatalities yet. Still,
health officials said the number of ambulance calls has soared
in recent years. Elmira Gevorgian, a senior doctor at the Health
Ministry’s ambulance service, told RFE/RL that her medics received some
50 heat-related calls and treated at least five people who fainted
on the streets of Yerevan on Wednesday. She said exposure to heat is
particularly dangerous for people suffering from cardiac diseases.

“WE KNOW WHEN WE SHOULD USE AND SAVE BULLETS”
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 Aug 2006
The defense ministry of Azerbaijan announces that the Karabakh
party often breaks the cease-fire in different parts of the front
line. Are these statements true and what is the purpose of Baku for
circulating these rumors? We asked Major-General Samvel Karapetian,
First Vice Commander of the Defense Army, to answer these and
other questions. Mr. Vice Commander, what is the situation at the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani front line? Samvel Karapetian: The situation
continues to be stable at the front line. Our force on sentry duty
fulfills its task in accordance with the bylaws and does everything
to guarantee the security of our country. The Azerbaijani side often
accuses the Karabakh border guards of breaking the cease-fire. What
would you say in this connection?
Samvel Karapetian: I would say it is misinformation. Yes, there are
cases of violation of the cease-fire but the Azerbaijanis should
look for the cause among themselves. For us, we know when we should
use and save bullets. The Karabakh party upholds peace and I wish
our potential foe also upheld it. We speak about peace and at the
same time we build a powerful fortification. Does this mean that we
contradict ourselves? Samvel Karapetian: Absolutely no. We take every
step considering the political military situation in the region. Let
us not mix up cease-fire with peace. The resumption of war is highly
probably and we have but become stronger and more powerful. They say if
you want peace, get ready for war. As a person in charge of the front
line of the army, how do you assess the border installations? Samvel
Karapetian: Highly effective.
But this does not mean that there is nothing else to do. The
construction of the fortification began immediately after the
truce. However, this process became better coordinated in 2000, and
continues. It is very important that we know what we want to do and
how. And what do we want? Samvel Karapetian: We want to have defense,
which could resist all kinds of strikes, by air, artillery, tanks or
landing. The army command calls the fortification a defense shield,
which must guarantee the security of the soldier at the front line
to stand up and fight against the attack of the foe without fear
and defend the defense line. Considering the volume and quality
of this work, I can state that the country has effective border
installations, which will be improved further on. Is this the reason
why no significant incidents were reported at the borderline this
year? Samvel Karapetian: Not only that. I would like to emphasize first
of all the discretion of the personnel, the organizational ability
and responsibility of the officers and soldiers. Entrenchment and
fortification are only means of defense, and it depends on knowledge
and training of the soldier how to use them. This enabled to avoid
incidents, which often occur during the sniper war waged by the foe,
the hard climate and geography. I am hopeful that our soldiers will
go on to display conscious approach to the problem and will fulfill
the important duty of defense of the homeland.
The Goyamart.

1500 Monuments in Liberated territories of NK
ArmRadio.am
02.08.2006 11:01
At present around 1,500 archeological, architectural and historic
monuments are registered in the liberated territories of Nagorno
Karabakh.Hakob Simonian, the director of the scientific-research
center of historic-cultural heritage at the Armenian Culture and
Youth Affairs Ministry, told Armenpress that during the war the
center organized expeditions during which the members took photos
of the monuments, formed their certificates and made excavations.
Simonian noted that during the first expedition in 1990 surveys were
conducted in Getashen and Martunashen, in 1992 in Kashatagh, Aghdam,
Fizuli, Jabrayil, Zangelan, Kelbajar and Kubatlu.
According to Simonian, the surveys were conducted mainly during war
time as at that time the Armenians were to prove that the territories
belong to them. Simonian said thanks to the conducted survey “at
present we have a ‘tool’ and in case it is used in the diplomatic
way we can prove that these territories belong to Armenians.
>From 1997 to 2001 excavations were conducted in Tsitsernavank,
during which 6 monuments were studied. Simonian also underscored the
excavations of Kerin tomb-field which started in 2003 and continue
up to now.

THERE WERE NEVER SO CLOSE TIES BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA – VICE-SPEAKER
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug 2 2006
During the unofficial visit of Lithuanian delegation headed by
vice-speaker of Seym Gintaras it held several meetings and saw some
historical places of Azerbaijan, Mr Stepanavichus told Trend in his
exclusive interview.
“We wanted to know Azerbaijan better and see its realities. Last
time ties between our countries got deeper, we developed mutually
beneficial cooperation. I think Azerbaijan and Lithuania have share
common aims. In this connection our visit to Azerbaijan is not
occasional”, he said.
“In autumn Lithuania is opening its embassy in Azerbaijan. We also
know Azeri embassy is opening in Lithuania next year. Probably these
issues will be discussed and solved during Azeri president’s visit
to Lithuania”, he added.
At the same time Mr Stepanavichus said Lithuanian public knows a
little about Azerbaijan. “Time to time some news appear, their number
bigger with time due to increase of mutual cooperation”, he said.
Vice-speaker also mentioned Azeri diaspora’s passivity in Lithuania.

Vote on Hoagland Nomination Delayed till September
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2006 14:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), the Ranking Democrat
on the Foreign Relations Committee, was joined today by Senator John
Kerry (D-MA) in forcing a month-long delay in the Committee’s vote
on the controversial nomination of Richard Hoagland to replace the
current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
The controversy within the Foreign Relations Committee over the
Hoagland nomination began with Senator Biden’s June 23rd letter
asking Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to respond to a series
of questions, including specific inquiries about reports that the
current Ambassador had been recalled due to his having “accurately
described the Armenian Genocide as genocide.”
“The ANCA welcomes the leadership of Senators Biden and Kerry in
ensuring that the Foreign Relations Committee has the time to more
carefully consider the implications – for both our foreign policy and
our values as a nation – of confirming a U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
who is on record denying the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian. “We appreciate, as well, the principled efforts of Senators
Allen, Boxer, Chafee, Coleman, Dodd, Feingold, Kennedy, Reed, Sarbanes,
and others to seek an honest explanation of the firing of Ambassador
Evans, to explore the role of the Turkish government in his recall,
and to insist that the Administration clearly articulate its stand
on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”

NKR FM: NKR PRESIDENT AND OSCE MG US CO-CHAIR DID NOT DISCUSS
RECENTLY PUBLISHED NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT SCENARIO
Stepanakert, July 31. ArmInfo. During the meeting both NKR President
Arkady Ghoukassyan and OSCE MG US co-chair Matthew Bryza showed quite
creative approach. Ghoukassyan has a whole range of new proposals, They
should be coordinated and thoroughly discussed, NKR Foreign Minister
Georgy Pogossyan said after the Saturday meeting of Ghoukassyan and
Bryza in Stepanakert.
He said that the sides did not discuss the co-chairs’ recent statement.