Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

NKR PRESIDENT: OUR KEY TASKS TODAY ARE TO PRESERVE PEACE AND ATTAIN NKR’S INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Regnum, Russia
Sept 4 2006
“I am absolutely sure that today the world community is not interested
in a new war,” Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Gukasyan said during
a news conference in Stepanakert, when asked about the possibility
of a new war in Karabakh. A REGNUM correspondent reports him to say
that he does not see any political, economic, moral or geographic
prerequisites for new war.
He said that “our key achievement today is that we have attained our
goal, have won in a war imposed on us and have built a developing
state. The free and independent life of the Nagorno Karabakh people
is the symbol of the last 15 years.” Gukasyan pointed out that the
proclamation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was the only way for
the Nagorno Karabakh people to survive. “Life has proved that we were
right. Otherwise, we would have the same fate as Nakhichevan had in
its time,” Gukasyan said.
He said that the key tasks of NKR today are to preserve peace
by concluding a peace agreement with Azerbaijan and to attain
international recognition. “I think we can solve these two key
problems,” Gukasyan said.

EXCAVATIONS IN AGHDAM
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2006
Armenians are dealt with falsification of history
International conference entitled “Restoration of archeological and
historical monuments” is held in Armenia. The arrangement is organized
by the Embassy of Italy to Yerevan and the Center for Armenian Culture
Studies situated in Milan.
Speaking at the conference Marco Clemente, the Ambassador of Italy to
Armenia informed that an interest of the official Rome to historical
monuments of Armenia rides, first of all, on rich cultural heritage
of this state: “Italy will make all efforts to assist Armenia to
protect historical and cultural monument further.”
Gadik Guljian, deputy Minister of Culture of Armenia said that the
conference will focus on rehabilitation of so called Armenian fresco,
as “Italian masters are well-experienced in this field.”
Then Italian and Armenian historians will conduct meetings in Ambert,
Kobairo, Zvartnos and Dashtadem. The specialists of Milan Architecture
University will attend the conference which to last until 15 September.
It is interesting that holding such arrangement Armenia aims not
to discuss “the issues of restoration of historical and cultural
monuments of the country and their protection.” Khrair Tovmasian,
the professor of the Institute of History and Archeology of Armenian
Academy of Sciences informed about true intention of Armenians
to Spriuk agency: “It is necessary to carry our archeological
excavations in the villages of Nagorno-Garabagh hitherto regarding
as Azerbaijanian, and to find there the oldest Armenian historical
monuments and remains of settlements. In this way, we can prove that
these lands belong not to Azerbaijan, but Armenia.”
It is known that recently the archeologist Justo Trayna, the professor
of Lecce University, Italy participated in archeological dig carried
out in Aghdam.
Reportedly, the excavations aim to “discover the remains of four
cities which were constructed by the ruler of the Great Armenia the
Great Tigran in 95-55 years B.C.”
According to Hamlet Petrosian, doctor of historical sciences, the
discovery in the archeological dig carried out three kilometers away
from Aghdam have special importance for world epigraphy. “On the
walls of one of the discovered caves there were written the name of
Jesus in Greece. I think that this inscription belongs to VI. Italian
professor Justo Trayna will help his Armenian colleagues to define to
what ethnic community it belongs,” said H. Petrosian. According to him,
the buildings to which construction attached importance the ancestry of
Garabagh Armenians, are worthy of being included to worldwide manuals
of history as an example of aesthetic beauty and solidity. According
to H. Petrosian, so called Tigranakert complex situated near to Aghdam
turns out to be similar to remains of habitats of people in Artashat
and Armavir regions of Armenia discovered in 2004.
Recently Armenian Institute of History and Archeology made statement
implying that “the facts proving that the Shusha citadel had been
constructed by Armenians were discovered.” “The group led by the
archeologist Shushanik Gambarsumian discovered the inscription on
the walls of the citadel, in which was written the name of Tigran
II who ordered to construct this building in Armenian. In addition,
from the point of architecture and construction Shusha citadel is
one of the cultural monuments of Armenia,” said the statement.
–Boundary_(ID_yeZHq2nHzNH5rcreRkPtyQ) —

PRO-TURKEY FORCES PRESSING EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO RETREAT FROM PRINCIPLED STAND ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 10:29
The European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs is scheduled on
September 4th to consider a draft report on Turkey prepared by Dutch
MEP Camiel Eurlings (EPP). Over the past two months, pro-Turkish forces
with European institutions have sought to ignore or marginalize more
than 340 amendments, mostly critical of Turkey, that have been offered
to the measure.
The draft prepared by Eurling deals with the Armenian Genocide in
a vaguely worded paragraph that calls upon the Parliament to “take
note of the proposal by Turkey to establish a bilateral committee
of experts in order to overcome the tragic experience of the past,
and the position of Armenia regarding that proposal” and “urge both
the Turkish government and the Armenian government to continue their
process of reconciliation leading to a mutually acceptable resolution.”
“This formulation, which is patterned after the outright denial
position of the Turkish government, represents a retreat from the
Parliament’s traditional posture of calling on Turkey to properly
acknowledge this crime against humanity. This proposed dramatic shift
in position prompted a broad range of MEPs to offer amendments to
this measure.
With regard to Turkey’s blockade of Armenia, the draft report “urges
Turkey to take the necessary steps, without any preconditions, to
establish diplomatic and good neighborly relations with Armenia and
to open the land border at an early date, in accordance with the
resolutions adopted by Parliament between 1987 and 2005.”
Rather than recognizing that the large number of amendments reflect
broad-based dissatisfaction with the draft’s pro-Turkey bias, the
Rapporteur and political party leaders chose to propose their own set
of proposed “compromise” changes. These proposals largely ignore the
vast majority of the amendments.
The managers of this process, in the place of allowing MEPs
to weight the merits of the amendments, have chosen instead to
reduce these concerns to a series of weak and basically ineffectual
measures. Collectively, the “compromise” proposals that have more in
common with Turkish government’s position than the standing policy
of the European Parliament.
“The draft and the changes being put forward by the Rapporteur don’t
represent a compromise, but rather a profound retreat from the European
Parliament’s principled position,” declared the Chairperson of the
European Armenian Federation, Hilda Tchoboian.
The European Armenian Federation encourages Members of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs to exercise their right to vote on the duly offered
amendments urging Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide as a
precondition for joining the European Union. The Federation also
calls upon MEPs to vote for amendments calling upon the Commission
to include in the Ankara Roadmap framework the necessity that Turkey
recognizes the Armenian Genocide and lifts its blockade of Armenia.
“On these vital issues, Members of the European Parliament understand
that the false compromises being put forward would both undermine the
EU’s values as well as its security interests. A retreat from principle
will not encourage progress by Turkey, but rather be interpreted as
a sign of weakness that will only embolden the Turkish leadership
in its implementation of ultra-nationalistic policies,” concluded
Hilda Tchoboian.

Ecumenical News International, Switzerland
Sept 2 2006
Israeli bombs united Christians, Muslims in Lebanon, says envoy
Peter Kenny and Stephen Brown
Geneva (ENI). Lebanon’s minister of culture, Tarek Mitri, says the 34
days of fierce fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah movement
forged unity between the country’s Muslims and Christians, despite
many people questioning why the war started.
“Lebanon is still besieged,” said Mitri, despite United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1701 passed on 12 August. “We hear every
day of new conditions that Israel is imposing,” said Mitri saying its
southern neighbour was refusing lift a blockade it imposed in early
July. This began after Lebanon-based Hezbollah seized two Israeli
soldiers and Israel replied with a month-long bombardment.
The Lebanese minister was speaking to journalists on 2 September
during a meeting of the central committee, or main governing body, of
the Geneva-based World Council of Churches where he was responsible
for Christian-Muslim dialogue from 1991 to 2005.
“Lebanon thinks of itself as a society that is tolerant, pluralistic
and democratic,” said Mitri, who represented his country as foreign
minister at the United Nations in New York in August, while the UN
Security Council resolution seeking a halt to fighting was being
hammered out.
Mitri said because he was dispatched to New York he was not able to
meet a WCC delegation that included a Roman Catholic bishop, which
travelled to Beirut, Jerusalem and Ramallah during the fighting. It
was under the leadership of the Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, who is
also the president of the Conference of European Churches.
Earlier in the week, de Clermont reported back to the WCC leaders
about the visit. “The unanimous message we received in Lebanon from
both the non-Christians and Christians whom we met, that a
democratic, multicultural and multi-confessional Lebanon is not only
possible, but is needed to guarantee peace throughout the Middle
East,” he said.
Addressing the WCC governing body, Mitri said the people of Lebanon
had drawn encouragement from the solidarity shown by groups like the
WCC.
“Some of you may have lived in areas that are besieged and the visit
of friends from different parts of the world is a gift from God,”
said Mitri appealing to the church grouping not only to help the flow
of humanitarian aid but also to pressure governments for the peace
process in the region to be resumed.
“Spare no effort as well to allow small countries such as Lebanon to
survive,” urged Mitri, who is a scholar of Christian-Muslim relations
published in Arabic, French and English. “That means pressure on
Israel.”
The first meeting in Geneva of the WCC’s main decision-making central
committee since it was elected in February in Brazil at a once every
seven year assembly, is paying special attention to the role that
churches can play in the Middle East.
And answering a question on how US denominations could help Lebanon,
Mitri said, “The American people in general and the churches in
particular have a real role in challenging the blanket demonisation
of people and religion in the name of the global war on terror.”
Mitri noted at his press conference there had been a history of good
relations between Christians and Muslims since the end of a civil war
during the 1970s, but there had not always been good relations
between religious communities.
“It is not religious wars that have divided us, but wars that divided
religious communities,” said Mitri who studied chemistry and
philosophy at the American University of Beirut and holds a social
science doctorate from the University of Paris-X.
Explaining the complexity of Lebanese politics, and the difficulty of
classifying religious identity, Mitri cited the fact that Hezbollah
has a parliamentary ally in Michel Aoun, a Christian Maronite general
during Lebanon’s 1970s civil war, who has the backing of many
Christians.
Mitri said of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement: “The movement is not
particular friends of ours [the current Lebanese government].” But
its alliance with Hezbollah had helped ease political tensions
between Muslims and Christians, he noted.
During the Israeli onslaught on Lebanon, Mitri said most of the
victims of the bombing of “150 000 homes” were Shiite Muslims. “Many
of them were welcomed in Christian houses and monasteries,” he said,
noting that, “in a fractured society like ours this is always a
pleasant surprise.”
:: Muslims and Muslim related groups make up almost 60 per cent of
Lebanon’s population. Shiite, Sunni, Druze, Isma’ilite, Alawite or
Nusayri are seen comprising this group. The 39 per cent of the
Lebanon population that is Christian is made up of Maronite
Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholics, Armenian Orthodox,
Syrian Catholics, Armenian Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Roman
Catholics, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Copts, and Protestants. Other
religious groups are believed to account for just over 1.3 per cent
of its population.
:: Under Lebanon’s laws; the president is required to be a Maronite
Christian; the prime minister, a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the
Parliament, a Shiite Muslim.

KAREKIN II CATHOLICOS: “ACHIEVEMENTS IN EDUCATION ARE THE BEST
VICTORIES FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE ”

ETCHMIADZIN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Karekin II Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians sent a congratulating message on
August 31 from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to pupils, students,
pedagogues and all employees of the education sphere. Noyan Tapan was
informed about it by the Information Services of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin. “From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we welcome
and congratulate you on the occasion of the new school year and
address to all you Our Patriarchal blessing. We wish you that the new
academic year is productive and fruitful for each of you. Achievements
in education are the best victories on our country’s and people’s way
towards prosperous and good life, towards realization of all our
dreams. By praying the God, we ask that Our Good Lord keep you
healthy, make you powerful with many favours of the soul and mind and
bless our self-devoted efforts to study and to teach, all your
initiatives and kind affairs. Let the God’s love and favour always be
with you, leading and fortifying. Amen,” is said in the Patriarchal
command.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA CONGRATULATES TEACHERS AND PUPILS ON DAY OF KNOWLEDGE
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 31, 2006
YEREVAN, August 31. /ARKA/. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
congratulated teachers and pupils on the Day of Knowledge.
“High-quality education have always been priority aim for our nation.
Armenia’s future is multilaterally developed generation, rich with
knowledge”, Kocharyan noted in his congratulating message, provided to
ARKA News agency by the Press Service of the president on Wednesday
The message says, “Today educational reforms are in the center of
special attention of the authorities, and they must be carried out
combined with best traditions and new tendencies”.
Kocharyan finds that educational programs must be aimed at training
qualified specialists for science intensive economy and sphere of
high technologies.
“Special attention must be focused on children, having special
educational needs, since nobody must be left out from the public
educational process”, the Message notes.
Kocharyan wished high school results to pupils and success to teachers
in their gratifying labor.

GRAND MASTER SMBAT LPUTIAN GETS INTO CAR ACCIDENT ON ARTASHAT-YEREVAN HIGHWAY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Grand Master Smbat Lputian, a
World Olympic champion of chess, the Deputy Chairman of the RA Chess
Federation, a member of the executive committee of the National Olympic
Committee of Armenia, Director of the Chess Republican Academy, got
into a car accident with his personal car on August 27. Members of
his family were also in the car. The suffered members of the family
were moved to the Erebuni hospital of Yerevan.
S.Lputian’s family members got comparatively mild bodily injuries. The
grand master suffered most of all: his ribs were injured. S.Lputian
said in the phone conversation with the Noyan Tapan correspondent
that his health state is good, and in the doctors’ words, he will be
fully recovered in 1-2 weeks.

WORKS OF JOINT SITTING OF COMMISSIONS ON DEMARCATING AND DIFFERENTIATING ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN STATE BORDER CONTINUE ON AUGUST 29
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The joint sitting of commissions of
the Republic of Armenia and Georgia on demarcating and differentiating
the Armenian-Georgian state border took place in Yerevan on August
28. According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the
RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, commission
co-chairmen Gegham Gharibjanian, the Deputy Foreign Minister of
Armenia, and Georgi Manjagaladze, the Deputy Foreign Minister of
Georgia, opened the sitting, then works continued at the level of
experimental groups. The commission works continue till August 29,
after what the co-chairmen will sign a report. An agreement was
reached as a result of the sitting to hold the regular meeting of
the commission in Tbilisi.

HRAYR KARAPETYAN: AZERBAIJAN COMPREHENDS PRETTY WELL THAT IT CAN NO MORE FAIL THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS
ArmRadio.am
29.08.2006 15:44
Three times Azerbaijan failed the negotiation process over the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and the international community
verified this, Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Party (ARF) faction
of the National Assembly Hrayr Karapetyan said in a press conference
today. He considers this was the reason for the softening of the
Azeri position and statements on the resolution of the Karabakh issue.
According to Hrayr Karapetyan, Azerbaijan comprehends pretty well
that this cannot continue long. Azerbaijan understands also that the
international community convicts the militant statements: serious
people and international structures expressed their critical attitude.
Mr. Karapetyan underlined that ARF position on the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict remains unchanged.
Speaking about the statement by the US Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Matthew Bryza that Azerbaijan is one step ahead of
Armenia as it refers to democracy, Hrayr Karapetyan noted that the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation has expressed concern over the
statement to US Ambassador John Evans, who promised to convey it to
US leadership. Hrayr Karapetyan mentioned that even the opposition
representatives n Armenia are unhappy with Matthew Bryza’s statement,
since the opposition also considers that Armenia is ahead of Azerbaijan
as it refers to democracy.

CONSCIOUS THEATRE AT THE FOUNTAIN
LAist, CA
Aug. 28, 2006
LITTLE ARMENIA at the Fountain, the show developed by and for the local
Armenian community surrounding the Hollywood theatre, has added two
more weekend matinees before it closes September 3rd. This play was
developed by Fountain writers throughout 2005, and incorporates stories
from the history of Armenian politics and immigration to California.
Playwright and actress Dael Orlandersmith (Pulitzer finalist for
YELLOWMAN) follows next at the theatre with her one-woman show. THE
GIMMICK is a coming-of-age story set in Harlem, told from the point of
view of teenagers Alexis and Jimmy. Three weeks only: Sept 13 – Oct 2.