Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

ARMENIAN-IRANIAN COOPERATION DEVELOPS ON MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL CONDITIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.08.2007 14:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Armenian community of Iran plays a great
role in strengthening the Armenian-Iranian relations. The newly
established "Iran-Armenia" union of friendship, which also includes
some representatives of the Armenian community, will continue
its productive activities aimed at strengthening the prosperity
and progress of both nations," RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
stated. He also underlined the productive work of the Armenian-Iranian
Intergovernmental Commission on coordination of bilateral ties,
the 7th session of which was held in Yerevan July 20.

According to the Armenian FM, during the recent years the sides have
undertaken steps on realizing mutually beneficial projects. "The
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was inaugurated by Armenian President Robert
Kocharian and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on March
19, 2007. The same day energy ministers of both countries signed an
agreement between the governments of Armenia and Iran on cooperation
in the sphere of construction and exploitation of a hydroelectric
power station on Araks River. Currently other programs in the energy
sphere are under discussion," the RA FM noticed. At the same time
he underlined Armenian-Iranian cooperation is not limited only to
energy sphere. "A productive and active cooperation is observed in
transportation, trade, agricultural, scientific, educational and
cultural spheres," Oskanian told in an interview to the Iranian-based
Armenian newspaper "Huys" adding that since acquiring independence
in 1991 Armenia and Iran have established strong and good-neighbor
relations, which became a good base for realizing joint projects.

SAMVEL KHACHATRIAN APPOINTED AS DEPUTY MINISTER OF SPORT AND YOUTH ISSUES

Noyan Tapan
Aug 08 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. By the decision of the Armenian prime
minister Serge Sargsian, Samvel Khachatrian has been appointed as the
deputy minister of sport and youth issues of the RA, NT was informed
from the RA Government Information and PR Department.

NOMINATION WITHDRAWN
By Ryan Vaillancourt

Glendale News Press
August 4, 2007

Hoagland, who did not cite genocide, won’t become the U.S. ambassador
to Armenia.

GLENDALE — The White House announced Friday that its controversial
nomination of Richard Hoagland for U.S. ambassador to Armenia has
been withdrawn.

Hoagland, the former U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan, was tapped by
President Bush last year to replace former Ambassador John Marshall
Evans after Evans was allegedly forced into early retirement in
November 2006 for publicly referring to the Armenian genocide.

After a Senate confirmation hearing last year, Hoagland came under
fire from Armenian American political organizations for not recognizing
the Armenian genocide.

Hoagland’s dismissal is being hailed as a major political coup for
the Armenian American community, which has lobbied intensely for more
than a year against his appointment, officials said.

"The most important thing is the administration will learn the
political message that in dealing with Armenian issues, they have to
be more reasonable and accommodating and work with the community,"
said Harut Sassounian, who, as publisher of the California Courier,
a Glendale-based Armenian newspaper, reported Hoagland’s imminent
dismissal in a July 19 column. "If they don’t, they’ll pay a price
for it, and in this case, Hoagland paid the price."

Evans’ 2005 comments about the genocide won him admiration from the
Armenian American community, and the American Foreign Service Assn. —
comprising current and former U.S. foreign service officers — picked
Evans to receive its "constructive dissent" award.

But the State Department, which has not recognized the 1915 killings
of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide, ordered Evans to issue
a retraction of his statements, and the American Foreign Service
Assn. revoked the constructive dissent award on a technicality, Evans
said during a March appearance on the Larry Zarian Forum in Glendale.

Despite the retraction, Evans was forced by the State Department into
early retirement after a career in foreign service, he said.

Hoagland had already been chosen as Evans’ successor in June, but
his status in Washington has been in limbo for more than a year,
due in large part to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, who twice placed a
hold on Hoagland’s nomination.

A hold is a rarely used parliamentary procedure that allows a senator
to delay certain appointments.

That move afforded time for lobbyists to flood congressional offices
with letters and phone calls in opposition to Hoagland’s nomination,
Sassounian said.

"Richard Hoagland’s nomination became tainted the moment he disclosed
his position denying the historical veracity of the Armenian genocide,"
Andrew Kzirian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee
of America Western Region, said in a statement. "The Armenian American
community of the western United States welcomes the administration’s
decision to withdraw the nomination and sincerely expresses gratitude
to Sen. Robert Menendez for his leadership in this regard."

Rep. Adam Schiff, whose district includes Glendale and Burbank,
also saluted the White House move.

"The president was right to withdraw Mr. Hoagland’s nomination,"
Schiff said in a statement. "I hope that the president will soon
nominate a new ambassador who will be more forthcoming in discussing
the Armenian genocide."

White House officials said Hoagland submitted a letter of withdrawal
this week to the president, which the president "accepted."

"The president, obviously, claims he would have been a wonderful
ambassador and appreciates his willingness to serve his country,"
White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said.

ARMENIAN PM TO TAKE LEAVE ON WEDNESDAY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 7 2007

YEREVAN, August 7. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan
will take leave from August 8-25.

"Prime Minister will spend his vacation outside Armenia," reported
the press service of the RA Government.

According to the Premier’s decision, Vice-Premier, Minister of
Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan will be entrusted with
the Premier’s duties.

ACCORDING TO KIRO MANOYAN, PREVENTION OF RICHARD HOAGLAND’S APPOINTMENT IN POST OF U.S. AMBASSADOR IN REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA IS VICTORY OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF AMERICA

Noyan Tapan
Aug 07 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The prevention of the appointment
of Richard Hoagland, an American diplomat, who calls the fact of the
Armenian Genocide to question, on the post of the U.S. Ambassador in
the Republic of Armenia is the victory of the Armenian community of
America and the success of the diplomacy of Armenia. This statement
was made by Kiro Manoyan, who is in charge of the Office of Hay Dat
and Political Affairs of the ARF Bereau, at the press conference,
which was held on August 7.

He mentioned that in difference to the official position of the USA
State Secretariat or the American executive, in general, according to
which the fact of the genocide is not called to question even by not
using the word genocide, Richard Hoagland believes that those events
can be classed as genocide if they are proved to be intentional.

And as for the above-mentioned attitude fo the U.S. executive power,
according to Kiro Manoyan, it "does not hinder" the legislative bodies
and media of the country to support the recognition of the genocide.

"The fact of the recognition of the genocide by most of the legislators
and Governors of the American States, as well as the attitude of
the American most famous newspapers, such as "New York Times",
"Los Angeles Times", and "Boston Globe", according to which those
events should be called genocide, speaks about the fact that there is
a public opinion. I also believe that the legislator is most likely
to endorse the fact of the recognition of the genocide once again in
the forthcoming months, as over 220 to 224 Congressmen in the House
of Representatives have already become co-authors of the resolution
on the genocide," Kiro Manoyan said.

Touching upon the issue of the treaty of Sevr, Kiro Manoyan mentioned
that the border issue of Armenia with Turkey is mainly settled with
that treaty.

"The anxiety, which is called "Syndrome of Sevr", as well speaks about
the fact that they also realize in reality that Sevr will, finally,
be applied in some way and to some extent," the responsible for the
Office of Hay Dat and Political Affairs of the ARF Bereau declared.

GAZPROM STRIKES BACK: "GEORGIA’S CLAIMS GROUNDLESS"

Regnum, Russia
Aug 6 2007

Georgia has no grounds to demand monetary payment for the transit
of Russian natural gas to Armenia through the Georgian territory,
Gazprom’s information department representative informed.

"According to the terms of transit of Russian gas to Armenia, the
transit service is compensated for exclusively by supplies of natural
gas in the agreed volumes. In June and July, however, the Georgian
side consumed less gas than it was provided for."

"There are no agreements at this point regarding monetary payment
for the transit service. The Georgian side has no grounds to speak
of a monetary debt, let alone demand that it is paid," he said.

According to the Gazprom representative, earlier made statements of
the leadership of the Georgian Oil & Gas Corporation (GOGC) alleging
that Georgia for already three months does not receive neither gas,
nor money from the Russian company for the transit of natural gas to
Armenia, and that "the debt of the Russian company has reached $2mln,"
are unfounded. "At the same time, Gazprom management is hopeful that a
mutually acceptable decision can be found," Vedomosti quotes Gazprom’s
officials to say.

RFE/RL SIGNS A DEAL IN ARMENIA BUT SAYS NATIONAL AGREEMENT IS ELUSIVE

Radio World, VA –
Aug 3 2007

The Broadcasting Board of Governors renewed a contract to carry
programs of Radio Liberty’s Armenian language service on a private
network based in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

The contract with AR Radio Intercontinental runs until September
2008. The network has 23 transmitters, covering the city and outlying
districts.

The deal means Armenian listeners will be able to continue to
hear the programming on AR Radio Intercontinental. But Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty officials said efforts to renew a contract
with Armenian Public Radio, with transmitters covering the country,
"have so far proven unsuccessful." Armenian Public Radio announced in
July that it would stop carrying Radio Liberty broadcasts on Aug. 9
on its 80 transmitters.

RFE/RL Armenian programs have been aired on Armenian Public Radio
since 1997. The Armenian Service has been on the air since 1953.

NATURAL GAS TRANSIT TO ARMENIA WILL NOT BE DELAYED

ImediNews
Aug 3 2007
Georgia

The accident taken place on the gas pipeline has not caused a delay
of gas transit to Armenia, the statement has been made by the General
Director of Gas and Oil Corporation. According to Aleko Khetaguri’s
explanation, the pipeline, which has been damaged by the element,
does not cause a delay in supplying Georgia with gas and gas transit
to Armenia. Repairing works have already been started; the problem
will be eliminated in the nearest days.

SFEIR HOLDS OUT HOPE FOR CONSENSUS IN METN BY-ELECTION CLASHES BREAK OUT IN BURJ HAMMOUD
By Hani M. Bathish

Daily Star, Lebanon

Aug 3 2007

BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir on Thursday
said he hoped that his efforts during the coming days to avoid an
electoral battle in Metn would bear fruit, while supporters of Metn
candidates clashed in the streets of Burj Hammoud in the tense run-up
to Sunday’s voting. "If our efforts are not successful, then we hope
our people, especially in the Metn, carry out their electoral duties
in a democratic and proper manner, without tension and avoiding strife
between the people," Sfeir said.

No sooner had those words been uttered from Dimane than clashes erupted
in Burj Hammoud between dozens of supporters of former President Amin
Gemayel’s Phalange Party and those of Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)
leader MP Michel Aoun, according to witnesses. A Tashnag Party source
denied that any clashes of a political nature had taken place in the
mostly Armenian neighborhood.

Sfeir said there was a great need for calm, patience and wisdom. "The
Lebanese are brothers, and brotherly feelings and wisdom must overcome
ignorance and all things that harm the Lebanese, their future and
their children’s futures," Sfeir said after meeting Lebanese Labor
Party leader Maroun al-Khawli in Dimane on Thursday.

Aoun addressed supporters in Rabieh Thursday evening, urging them to
be ready and vote their consciences. He said the electoral battle
was being fought to assert the rights of the presidency, which he
said had been "sold" by the majority. President Emile Lahoud did not
sign the government decree calling for the by-election in the Metn
and Beirut’s second district.

"I don’t have to say much to convince you. You all know Sheikh Amin
[Gemayel] well – I am afraid of those who have been away and do
not know him," Aoun said, speaking of his political opponent in the
by-election. "Let the fathers and grandfathers who know him well tell
their children and grandchildren. They would be more convincing than
I would."

Aoun promised his supporters he would uncover during a televised
interview on OTV on Friday the lies and deceptions of his political
opponents, adding that he would be silent no longer. "Today there is
an attempt to take the country back to the mood of the 1970’s. We
will prevent this. You can prevent it by voting. You can do it. Do
not think you have little impact – your impact is great," Aoun told
his supporters.

Aoun slammed politicians in the ruling majority, saying they had
accused him of being anti-Syrian when they were bowing to Syria before
2005, while now that Syria has left Lebanon they were accusing him of
aligning himself with Syria. He dubbed those behind the accusations
"slippery politicians."

"They continue to say in the media that there is an initiative to
end this electoral battle," Aoun said in reference to his political
opponents.

"They are lying to you, so you are not ready to vote. Be ready,
elections are on Sunday as planned," he added.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the Metn by-election would
be an election for all of Lebanon, and he renewed his call for the
vote to be democratic and conducted in the spirit of sportsmanship.

He said that good sportsmanship was not achieved through violence in
the streets.

Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Dory Chamoun called for a strong
voter turnout Sunday, saying that Gemayel represented a certain
political path. Chamoun said all political differences that existed
between the LNP and the Phalange Party had been set aside and he
declared his support for Gemayel. He said if Aoun won the by-election,
"he will present the Metn as a bouquet of flowers to Syria and its
allies."

Former MP August Bakhous on Thursday also announced his support for
the former president in the upcoming by-election, "out of respect for
traditions." Speaking to the Now Lebanon Web site, Bakhous said it was
not possible for anyone to monopolize the Christian vote, insisting
that the FPM was split and that there was a lack of enthusiasm for the
electoral battle among FPM allies MP Michel Murr and the Tashnag Party.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Change and Reform Bloc MP Nabil
Nicholas refuted reports that Armenians in the Metn did not support
the FPM and that Murr was not keeping his word.

Nicholas said that Murr was "stubborn with his enemies and faithful to
his allies," adding that the Armenians in the Metn were faithful and
"do not stab anyone in the back."

He said the State Shura Council had been politicized, as had all other
institutions in Lebanon, and he said the by-elections were illegal
because Lahoud had not signed the decree. Nicholas said he considered
the elections a referendum and left it to Parliament Speaker Nabih
Berri to decide how to deal with the victorious candidates in the
by-elections.

Responding to talk about the anti-Syrian FPM garnering the support of
the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), Nicholas said that the his
party would "represent any person who finds himself unrepresented, and
if the SSNP agrees with us concerning secularism, that is also good."

All pubs, cafes to close in metn Sunday

BEIRUT: Mount Lebanon Governor Antoine Suleiman issued a decree on
Thursday concerning the closure of certain establishments within the
Metn district, where a by-election is scheduled to be held this Sunday.

The decree orders the closure of all cafes, nightclubs, pubs and places
that serve alcoholic beverages, as well as all pigeon-hunting clubs,
from noon Saturday until 8 a.m. Monday.

The decree also orders the closure of all theaters and cinemas from
9 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Monday. The decree also bans fireworks
within the Metn from noon Saturday until Monday morning.

The only public establishments exempt from the decree are restaurants
that serve only food.

BAKU HOPES TO RESOLVE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT THROUGH TURKIC POWER

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.07.2007 GMT+04:00

Even if "Turkic Schengen" is applied, it will happen only the day
when Turkey is rejected the EU membership once and for all.

Turkish government has unilaterally introduced into practice the
visa-free system together with a number of Turkish speaking states –
Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The
system is applicable only for citizens entering the country for not
more than 30 days. Almost the whole Azeri Press writes about it often
contradicting each other and the reality.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thus, the Turkish Embassy in Baku functions according
to former system and grants visas.

According to Wafa Guluzade, "If Europe can establish its union, its
visa-free zone, why the Turkish speaking countries can’t establish
a similar union and zone?" Really, why shouldn’t be this union
established? This step will allow Turkey to become a more active
state in the region.

The Azeri Ministry of Foreign Affairs tried to do some illustrations
on the issue. "In spite of the decision of the Turkish government
about canceling the visa system with Azerbaijan, Baku doesn’t consider
taking any similar steps towards Turkey. This decision of the Turkish
government is unilateral and doesn’t oblige the other party to take
similar measures. The statement made by the Turkish Minister of Foreign
Affairs Abdullah Gul about the forthcoming abolition of the visa
system for the citizens of Turkish speaking countries is qualified as
a serious step towards the unification of Turkic Word, said the Press
Secretary of the Azeri Minister of Foreign Affairs Khazar Ibrahim.

According to Nizami Jafarov, the statement made by A. Gul proves
that Turkey’s leading party has started thinking on all-Turkic
level. "So far different opinions have been heard in this regard,
the issue of establishing a Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States
has been put on the agenda. The establishment of the united Turkic
zone is necessary. Most of the problems will be decided after
its establishment. Today one side of the Turkic World is Europe,
the other one is East. East is in the center of attention of the
international monopoly and the exploitation of the given territories
from economic point of view still continues. Together with this,
great is the necessity of liquidating all the possible difficulties
in transportation and other spheres. The works carried out in the
sphere of transportation are expanded and the construction of the
roads from Azerbaijan to Turkey has begun," said N. Jafarov.

According to N. Jafarov, the visa system among the Turkic
countries should be abolished and it will be more profitable for
all parties. "It’s quite a different thing that there should be
a common control over the entry and exit of the country. However,
only the declaration of the idea about abolishing the visa system
for the citizens of Turkic Countries is not enough. A serious work
should be carried out. I am sure that at the times of the present
powers in Turkey this question will find its adequate answer for up
to the last Turkic state," he said.

One of the most interesting things is that Azerbaijan insists on
visa-free system to Turkey. The Central Asiatic countries try to
avoid being integrated into the Turkic Union, and this is quite
understandable – Russia is obviously stronger than Turkey and besides
for Presidents of Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan it is more useful to be CSTO
(Collective Security Treaty Organization) rather than GUAM member,
which Islam Karimov left right on time. Even if "Turkic Schengen"
is applied, it will happen only the day when Turkey is rejected the
EU membership once and for all.

There is one more thing which must be mentioned; no matter how much
Baku speaks about the "United Turkic World", this union doesn’t
exist in fact. Only Azerbaijan hopes to resolve the Karabakh
Conflict by through Turkey. The visa-free system will allow Baku
to receive Turkish military advisors or send its soldiers there for
trainings in Turkish military camps without any difficulty. But the
question is whether this will really help Baku to solve the Karabakh
Conflict? Hardly will it. The former President of Turkey Suleyman
Demirel had once said, "The Azeri people are our brothers… But we
are not carpet-baggers…" Honestly speaking we will help as much
as we can, but do not count on anything more. And Redgep Erdoghan’s
party may hardly become a "carpet-bagger".