Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
September 1, 2005
His Holiness Karekin II Receives Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs
On August 31, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, received Rafael Antonio Bielsa, Minister of Foreign affairs,
International Trade and Worship for the Republic of Argentina. Mr. Bielsa’s
delegation was accompanied by Arman Kirakosian, Deputy Foreign Minister of
Armenia and Ara Ayvazian, Ambassador of Armenia to Argentina. Also in the
delegation were devoted members of the Armenian Church and benefactors
Eduardo Ernekian and Leon Carlos Arslanian.
His Holiness welcomed the Minister to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and
gladly recalled his meeting with Mr. Bielsa in Buenos Aires in 2004 during a
Pontifical Visit to South America. The Catholicos of All Armenians
requested that the Minister please transmit his personal appreciation and
blessings to the President of Argentina and all state officials for the
respect and care they demonstrate toward the Armenian community in
Argentina. His Holiness also expressed his pleasure at seeing two Armenian
benefactor sons of the Church among the delegation from Argentina, each who
has made significant contributions to the development and progress of
Armenian life.
The Pontiff of All Armenians offered his words of gratitude to the Argentine
people and state for their recognition and condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide. He stated, “Argentina occupies a special place within our hearts
and the hearts of all Armenians. We have a large and vibrant Armenian
community there, who have earned the respect and admiration of their fellow
Argentine countrymen. Argentina is also one of the growing number of
countries that has recognized and strongly condemned the Genocide of the
Armenians as the greatest of crimes against mankind, and for this, our
nation appreciates the courageous spirit of Argentina, her faithful people
and her dedicated government officials.”
##

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES TEACHERS, PUPILS AND THEIR PARENTS ON DAY OF KNOWLEDGE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31. ARMINFO. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
congratulates teachers, pupils and their parents of the Day of
Knowledge.
The Presidential Press Service informs ARMINFO that the presidential
message in particular says that formation of a new literate generation
armed with modern knowledge is demand of the time and a guarantor of
development. Each family in the public is aware of this and pays a
great attention to education. “Reforms in the system of education
is one of the most important tasks of our country. This issue is
solved step by step. In this direction we carry out a consistent
work,” the message says. Robert Kocharyan is sure that educational
establishments in Armenia will be improved due to the experience and
development of the existing pedagogical potential. “I congratulate
you and wish that the new educational year be rich and productive,”
Robert Kocharyan says.

DAYS OF ITALIAN-ARMENIAN FRIENDSHIP TO LAUNCH IN ARMENIA IN OCTOBER
Armenpress
August 30, 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian told a news conference today that Days of Armenian-Italian
Friendship, initiated by two governments and sponsored by the
presidents of Italy and Armenia will be launched in Armenia in early
October and will run until the end of the year.
An extensive set of events includes display of exhibits from Saint
Lazarus Museum in Venice run by the Armenian Mkhetarist Congregation of
Armenian Catholics at Armenian National Picture Gallery, a conference
on Italian-Armenian historical and cultural relations, Days of Italian
Cinema, theater and music performances, photo and cuisine exhibitions
and other events.

MARS VOLTA STEPS OUT, SYSTEM STEPS UP
By James Parker, Globe Correspondent
Boston Globe, MA
Aug 29 2005
System of a Down
With the Mars Volta
At: Worcester DCU Center, Saturday
WORCESTER — Cedric Bixler Zavala, frontman for the Mars Volta,
is a spectacular dancer.
Saturday night at the DCU Center, as his seven-piece band poured
out highly mutated progressive rock — a sound that marries the
titanic riffing of Led Zeppelin to the polyrhythmic pulse of Fela
Kuti’s Afrobeat orchestras — Zavala tore up the stage. He stamped
and twisted, backsliding on his Cuban heels, kicking away the base of
the mike stand to make a sudden drop, the bulb of his afro quivering
indignantly above the slim, black-clad body, and all of this without
missing a note of his wailing, swirling vocal lines. A saxophone
screamed then chuckled; the music rose around him like flames.
Physically astonishing, the Mars Volta is still somehow remote. There
are grand exorcisms in the music, but its demons are not announced.
The lyrics read like Dylan Thomas fed through a sci-fi blender,
full of ruptured anatomies, altered states, and other symptoms of
an overheated mental life. A sub-section of the track “Cassandra
Gemini,” off the band’s latest album “Frances the Mute,” is called
“Plant a Nail in the Navel Stream.” One wonders what goes on inside
the tour bus. Poetry slams? Birthing rituals?
It’s a brave band that takes the Mars Volta out on the road, but
the members of System of a Down know what they’re doing. These four
Californian post-metal heads, all of Armenian descent, have connected
with their audience in a manner that only highlights the opening act
deficits. The crowd, churning excitedly under a gauzy, germy haze,
was wired into every flicker and time-change, every falsetto squeal,
and metallicized grunt. “Violent Pornography,” a cultural diatribe
from this year’s hugely successful album “Mesmerize,” turned into
the most ferocious sing-along heard outside an English soccer stadium.
Singer Serj Tankian, nodding along in untucked shirt and comfortable
trousers, has less-than-dazzling stage moves. But his gestures —
the extended palm, the inclined head — are those of an orator,
not a rock star.
In a gnawing, satirical voice often compared to the Dead Kennedy’s
Jello Biafra (another highly politicized frontman), Tankian jabbers
out his sermons while his bandmates twitch and roar behind him.
There’s mockery in System of a Down’s presentation — the posturings
of guitarist Daron Malakian are particularly arch — but the kids are
in on it; each elaborate grimace and burlesqued cry of “jump up and
down!” only heightened the fervor. “You and me / Will all go down in
history / With a sad Statue of Liberty . . .” Young men with shaved
heads and big beards, as if their heads were on upside-down, thrashed
exultantly. Like it or not, this is the current face of protest music.

NO COUNTRY RIVALS IRAN IN PAYING ATTENTION TO HOLY CENTERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS
Orumiyeh, West Azarbaijan prov, Aug 29, IRNA
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Aug 29 2005
Head of Armenia’s State Agency of Monument Preservation Artyom
Gregorian said that no other country rivals Iran in paying so much
attention to holy centers of various religions, including that of
the Christian faith Speaking at a meeting with the governor of the
provincial town of Khoy, Mohammad-Amin Rezazadeh on Monday, he referred
to Iran as a country making effort to preserve its religious centers.
He lauded the fact that so much attention is paid to other faiths
by Islam.
Currently visiting Iran at the head of an Armenian delegation,
Gregorian noted, “Prior to advent of Christianity and Islam, the
people of Iran and Armenia lived together. Given the close relations
between the two religions, sowing the seed of discord between them
is out of question.” For his part, Rezazadeh pointed to the amicable
bilateral relationship and hoped that it will continue in the future.
“We do our best to preserve churches and holy centers of the Christian
faith, similar to mosques and our own historical monuments.
“Special focus has been placed in recent years on reconstruction and
repair of ancient relics to attract tourists,” he added.
During its stay in West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, the
16-member Armenian delegation toured a few of the provincial churches
including Qara-Kelisa and the mausoleum of Sadreddin in Siah-Cheshmeh.
The visiting delegation mainly aims to exchange the latest technical
developments in preserving and safeguarding archaic monuments and
their restoration.

DRAFT ARMENIAN PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES
CORPORATION ARE REALISTIC
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, NOYAN TAPAN. At the August 25 meeting between RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and the delegation of the Foreign
Relations Commission of the US Congress, issues related to Armenia’s
participation in the Millennium Challenges Program were
discussed. According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department,
V. Oskanian presented the work done by Armenia within the framework of
the program, as well as the main elements of the Armenian proposals
submitted to the Corporation. The representatives of the US Congress
Commission noted that Armenia’s draft proposals have been developed in
detail and are realistic. They expressed hope that the Corporation
Council will approve them. During the meeting, the sides stated their
satisfaction at the current level of the Armenian-US relations. They
were unanimous in the opinion that bilateral contacts should be
promoted in all spheres of the relations between the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Caucaz.com, Georgia
Aug 26 2005
Azerbaijan. Forthcoming general election: the crackdown continues
By Franck MADIOT, freelance political journalist (Russia, Central
Asia, The Balkans) in Paris
On 26/08/2005
(Translated by Michèle-Ann OKOLOTOWICZ)
© Yeni Fikir
Three months away from the general election set for 6 November 2005,
the Azeri authorities are sparing no effort to contain democratic
impulses. The recent arrest of Ruslan Bachirli is just further proof.
At 27, Ruslan Bachirli heads Yeni Fikir (New Thinking), one of the
main Azeri opposition movements, following in the footsteps of
movements led by a youth hungry for political reform such as those
initiated in Serbia with Otpor!, followed by Kmara in Georgia and
Pora in Ukraine.
Arrested on 3 August, this charismatic young man is suspected of
having plotted a coup in Azerbaijan, with the backing of Armenian
intelligence agencies. This crackdown occurs just as popular protests
are multiplying against the background spectre of an `orange
revolution’. These past few weeks, the country’s authorities have
been quick to launch a widespread public relations campaign on the
`democratisation’ of the media in the country in order to attempt to
deflect the American strategy of expansionism through democracy.
But the Ruslan Bashirli incident has two sides to the story. Through
the voice of their Attorney general, Zakir Garalov, who claims to
have a video tape of the incident, the authorities first declared on
4 August that Ruslan Bachirli was given 2,000 dollars by Armenian
secret service agents in Tblisi on 28 and 29 July 2005 to finance
demonstrations in Azerbaijan. A further 20,000 dollars were promised.
Affiliated to the Popular Front, one of the country’s main opposition
parties, Ruslan Bachirli has allowed the Azeri authorities to use the
opportunity of this arrest to point the finger at the mastermind
behind this operation, namely Ali Kerimli, a serious opponent in the
forthcoming elections… The authorities have also claimed that Ruslan
Bachirli worked for the National Democratic Institute, an American
organisation. Thus, the stage is set: Azerbaijan is neither Ukraine
nor Georgia or Kirghizia.
Elchin Garalov, Ruslan Bachirli’s lawyer, has not denied that the
video exists but explained that the protagonists were members of
Georgian and Armenian democratic movements, and not agents. He added
that what was said during the dinner in Tbilisi, where alcohol ran
freely, had been quoted out of context. He also added that the money
paid to Ruslan Bachirli, who was drunk at the time, was returned the
following day by his client.
However, an important question was raised by Bachirli’s lawyer: how
come the so-called Armenian agents, who allegedly filmed the dinner
to encourage Ruslan Bachirli to stick to his promises, gave the video
recording to Osman Almuderov, Bachirli’s aide, also present at the
dinner? Almuderov supposedly rushed the next day to deliver the
recording to the Azeri authorities because he did not want to work
with the Armenians against his own country.
The situation is not very clear, Bachirli’s defenders are today
trying to understand who is responsible for this sting operation and
what its outcome will be. Is it a ploy to discredit Ali Kerimli and
the Popular Front or an attempt to postpone the general elections
based on political and security issues?
Another hypothesis is that minority factions within the political
apparatus organised this imbroglio to destabilise President Ilham
Aliyev and to damage his credibility in the eyes of international
bodies before the elections.
One thing remains certain: the events in Georgia, Ukraine and
Kirghizia will henceforth weigh heavily on all the upcoming elections
in the post-Soviet states.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 24, 2005
HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (PACE)
On August 18, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians received René van Der Linden, President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Mr. van Der Linden was accompanied by the
Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,
Tigran Torosian.
Welcoming the honored guest to the headquarters of the Armenian
Church, His Holiness reflected on the sacred mission of the Church
and the Mother See in the life of the Armenian people. His Holiness
expressed his appreciation to the PACE president for the assistance and
efforts being invested by the Council of Europe aimed at strengthening
democratic values in the newly independent Republic of Armenia and
its future successful integration into the European Union.
His Holiness, stressing the importance of solving the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict only through peaceful means, stated: “We are
hopeful that through the assistance of the Council of Europe, we will
be able to make unavoidable and inevitable the peaceful settlements
of the conflicts in this region, and through dialogue and mutual
understanding, thus secure a just and lawful solution specifically
to the Karabagh conflict which continues to concern us.”
President van Der Linden expressed his gratitude for the warm reception
granted by the Pontiff of All Armenians, and stated his conviction
that this meeting was especially important for him. Mr. van Der Linden
reflected on the democratic values and the protection of human rights
which form the core of the Parliamentary Assembly, noting that the
role of Churches and religions in these spheres was vital, and that
through inter-Church and inter-faith dialogue, society would greatly
benefit from their contributions and moral positions.
Also present in the meeting was His Grace Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian,
Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia.
##
–Boundary_(ID_yZg+JXLWihXPTu90uKHoXw)–

Armenian minister says “common ground” may be found with Baku on Karabakh
ITAR-TASS news agency
24 Aug 05
Moscow, 24 August: Baku and Yerevan may “find common ground” about the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh issue, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan said at a meeting with the Russian and Azerbaijani
counterparts in Moscow today.
“There is hope that we will find common ground,” he said. “This could
bring peace and stability to the South Caucasus region.”
“The main topic of the discussions in Moscow were preparations for the
meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Kazan on 27
August [on the sidelines of a CIS summit],” he said. “We discussed
details of the forthcoming talks,” Oskanyan said.
Like his Armenian opposite number, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov also assesses positively the Moscow meeting. At the same
time, he said “it is too early to speak about any progress towards the
Nagornyy Karabakh settlement”.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed Russia’s intentions
“to create all conditions for achieving progress in the settlement” as
a result of the Moscow talks.

IN CASE OF FAILURE OF REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS ARMENIA TO
APPEAR IN VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, PACE CHAIRMAN WARNS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Rene van der
Linden, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Counsil of
Europe, which was on a three-day visit in Armenia, had meetings with
groupings-factions of the RA National Assembly and members of the
Committees. Tigran Torosian, the RA NA Deputy Chairman, the Chairman
of the Ad-hoc Committee on Matters of Integration in European
Structures, briefly presenting the present stage of the constitutional
reforms, mentioned that today, the Constitutional reform is the most
important issue for Armenia both on political arena and within the
context of the obligations undertaken at the CE. He stated that the
final conclusion of the Venice Commission was received on July 21
which has fixed a complete fulfilment of the agreements, except two
points, concerning which there is still something to do. According to
T.Torosian, during the last month, there were meetings with public
organizations, soon there will be discussions with the authors as well
to improve the draft upmost. The NA Chairman considered important and
necessary the implemention of a dialogue among all political forces
around the Constitutional reforms, which is the demand of the
resolution of the Venice Commission and the PACE. T.Torosian mentioned
that the Constitutional reforms are of particular meaning for Armenia
and it is necessary to work in order that no important proposal is
left out. At the same time, he expressed a hope that opportunities to
secure the issue from political speculations and to give solutions to
all problems have not been exhausted yet. Rene van der Linden
mentioned that for Armenia, the referendum of the constitutional
reforms will become a touchstone, and for Azerbaijan, the
parliamentary elections will become a touchstone, as both countries
have not come out of the CE monitoring process. He expressed a hope
that the most important problem for politicians is the country’s
coming out of the monitoring process and implementation of the
obligations undertaken at the CE what is a national obligation. Within
this context, a successful holding of the referendum was attached
importance to; that will support implementation of the political
dialogue what is equally an issue both of authorities and opposition.
The issue of the public awareness around contents problems was also
attached importance to. It was mentioned that the referendum will be
in the center of the attention of the Council of Europe: 40 CE
observers will participate in the referendum, and results will undergo
monitoring. According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by
the RA NA Public Relations Department, Shavarsh Kocharian, Gurgen
Arsenian amd Hmayak Hovhannisian, committee members, presented their
viewpoints around the process of the constitutional reforms. Armen
Rustamian, the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations, presenting the functions of the Committee to the guests,
mentioned that among the Committee’s activities, a great place is
given to issues of the Eurointegration, implementation of the
obligations undertaken by Armenia at the CE. Touching upon the
relations with neighbors, particularly with Azerbaijan and Turkey, he
mentioned that the two countries carry out a joined policy, proposing
preconditions for settlement of relations, and Armenia stated many
times that it is ready for cooperation without preconditions. As for
the issue of settlement of the relations with neighbors, A.Rustamian
considered important assistance of European structures. The PACE
Chairman once more attached importance to adoption of the
Constitutional reforms, mentioning that the obligations undertaken by
Armenia at the CE can not be considered completed without
constitutional reforms. In this context, Armenia’s involvement in the
“Wider Europe: New Neighbours” program that will become an important
precondition for the economic development, was attached importance
to. Within the framework of the regional cooperation, settlement of
the relations with neighbours was also attached importance to. Rene
van der Linden met with representatives of opposing factions of the
Parliament, “Ardarutiun” (Justice) and “Azgayin Miabanutiun” (National
Unification) as well. Future strategy of the opposition was within the
pivot of the conversation: the issue of participation in the process
of the constitutional reforms. The PACE Chairman assured opposing
deputies to cooperate with the authoritied in the issue of amending
the Constitution, starting a dialogue to reach a common denominator.
He mentioned that both authorities and opposition will equally take
responsibility for final results. He also warned that in the case of
failure of the referendum of the Constitutional reforms, Armenia will
appear in a very hard situation. According to him, both Europe and
whole international community will observe that referendum as the main
ordeal for Armenia on the way of the Eurointegration. According to the
PA Chairman, it also will have a direct influence on the relations of
Armenia and the European Union, the process of the “Wider Europe: New
Neighbors” program. During the meeting, the heads of both opposing
factions touched upon falsifications and violations commited during
the previous elections, mentioning that calling their organizers to
account, today the authorities will take a real step in the direction
of creating an atmosphere of confidence. With its help, according to
him, the risk of the draft constitutional reforms’ failure by the
referendum will decrease. However, realizing the importance of the
issue and listening to the European partners, both factions envisage
to participate in the August 29 sitting. Artashes Geghamian, the
Chairman of the “Azgayin Miabanutiun” (“AM”), expressed anxiety that,
in the case of saying “yes” to the Constitutional reforms, the people
not trusting the authorities will not trust the opposition, either,
and a political chaos will be created in the country. In order to
avoid this situation, he proposed to dissolve the Parliament after
putting the edited variant of the Constitution on the referendum, and
organize, first, parliamentary, then, president’s special elections.
The “AM” agrees to carry out propaganda for the new draft of the
Constitution with this precondition. And Stepan Demirchian, the
Chairman of the “Ardarutiun” faction demands to punish falsificators
(organizers) of the previous elections, correct and clean the
electoral rolls, create an atmosphere of confidence in the country.
Otherwise, according to him, there is no difference if the authorities
violate a good Constitution or a bad one. As for the contents of the
amended variant of the Constitution, according to S.Demirchian, their
approaches are represented in the draft incompletely. At the
Parliament, the PACE Chairman had a meeting with representatives of
the political forces of the coalition and the “People’s Deputy”
grouping as well. According to Galust Sahakian, the head of the RPA
faction, initiating the constitutional reforms, the coalition has also
taken the responsibility for it. He assured that today Armenia in on
the way of system changes, strengthening democracy and the
Eurointegration. Levon Mkrtchian, the head of the ARF faction
emphasized that, having a large number of electors, they also attache
importance to reaching an agreement with the opposition and to the
cooperation issue. He doesn’t agree with those formulations of those
opposing that the rulling parties do not cooperate with them. As an
example of cooperation, he mentioned the calls of the coalition
addressed to the opposition still a year ago to participate in the
discussions on the Electoral Code and constitutional reforms. But,
according to L.Mkrtchian, the opposition is led in its activities with
the tactics “first, change of authorities.” If in future, they succeed
to organize a contents discussion on the Constitutional reforms with
the opposition’s participation, the atmosphere will significantly
change, L.Mkrtchian thinks. Mher Shahgeldian, a member of the “Orinats
Yerkir” (Country of Law) faction shared the PACE Chairman’s opinion
concerning not making the Constitutional reforms a subject of
speculation in the political competition. He considered urgent
solution of problems like separation of powers, fixing of mechanisms
of balance and control, independence of judicial and information
structures by the Constitution.