Author: Tavakalian Edgar

FOURTH GROUP OF ARMENIA PEACE-MAKERS DISPATCHED TO IRAQ BY ROTATION

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 25, 2006

YEREVAN, July 25. /ARKA/. The fourth group of Armenian peace-makers
was dispatched to Iraq by rotation on July 23. Press Secretary of
the RA Minister of Defense, Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan reported that
three 46-member groups of Armenian peace-makers have been dispatched
to Iraq. The third group, which is currently in Iraq, comprises three
staff officers, two military doctors, ten sappers, and 31 drivers.

Shahsuvaryan reported that after the fourth group of Armenian
peace-makers has been dispatched to Iraq, the number of Armenian
servicemen that have participated in the operation "Freedom to Iraq"
reaches 182. Liaison officers served for one year. Armenian Armed
Forces have been involved in post-war rehabilitation of Iraq since
January 25, 2005. On December 24, 2004, the Armenian Parliament
ratified a memorandum on the dispatch of an Armenian contingent as
part of the polish mission. In 2005, the Armenian Parliament prolonged
the term of the Armenian mission in Iraq for one year. P.T. -0–

219 ARMENIANS FROM BEIRUT ARRIVE IN YEREVAN TODAY EARLY MORNING

Yerevan, July 21. ArmInfo. 219 Armenian citizens and Armenians who
left Beirut with the help of the local Armenian Embassy arrived in
Yerevan today early in the morning.

The acting spokesman of the Armenian FM Vladimir Karapetyan says that
they have come by two planes.

The Embassy’s list of those wishing to leave Beirut has not been
changed since yesterday – 60 people.

Commenting on the reports that some Armenians are leaving Beirut
via Cyprus or with the help of other foreign embassies, Karapetyan
says that these might be citizens of other states. He says that the
FM has got no reports of Armenians wounded or killed as a result of
the military actions in Lebanon.

Armenian communists condemn Israeli attack on Lebanon

Arminfo
20 Jul 06

Yerevan, 20 July: "The undeclared war against Lebanon has created
a direct threat to the large Armenian community of that country,
which plays a great role in the state’s life," the Communist Party
of Armenia said in a statement issued today.

"More than 250 Lebanese civilians, mainly women, old people
and children, have already fallen victim to Israel’s military
operations. Condemning any manifestations of terrorism and kidnapping,
we also point out that the Israeli authorities are speculating with
the capture of several soldiers and have carried out a massacre on the
territory of the neighbouring country," the Armenian communists said.

The authors of the statement said that the United States wishes to
provoke a large-scale military conflict in the Middle East with the
help of the Jewish state and to draw the Syrian Arab Republic and
the Islamic Republic of Iran into that conflict.

The Communist Party of Armenia demands "an immediate end to the
military actions launched by the Jewish state against the peaceful
Lebanese population and coordinated by the United States of America"
and expresses its solidarity with the peoples of Lebanon, Syria
and Iran.

SERZH SARGSYAN SPOKE UP FOR PROPOSALS MADE BY OSCE MG ON KARABAKH

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 21, 2006

"I support the principles proposed. I have repeatedly stated it in
written form", stated RA DM Serzh Sargsyan, while commenting on the
principles of the Karabakh conflict settlement made public by the
OSCE Minsk group.

In an interview with Freedom Radio Station Serzh Sargsyan stated
he did not apprehend for his political career, in case the Armenian
public clings to another position. "If the public takes another view,
it will vote for a political force that adheres to another position
in the Karabakh issue, and there will be nothing horrible in it. How
can I oppose something close to our nation?" RA DM noted.

July 19, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]

Website:

PRAYER FOR PEACE AND UNITY IN LEBANON – PRELATE PLEDGES SUPPORT TO THE CONSUL GENERAL OF LEBANON

For over a week now Lebanon has been subject to attacks by Israel,
which has left the country in bloodshed and resulted in a humanitarian
and security crisis.

The attacks have left hundreds of Lebanese dead, mostly innocent
citizens, and damaged the infrastructure of the country.

In light of this tragedy, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, spoke with Consul General Charbel Wehbe on
Tuesday July 18, expressing his sympathy and that of the entire
Armenian community for the casualties the country has suffered,
wishing for unity and solidarity to prevail in Lebanon and among the
Lebanese people. The Consul General spoke of the situation in Lebanon,
and on behalf of the government requested that the Armenian community
offer any humanitarian assistance within their means to the civilian
victims. The Consulate is planning to designate a special committee
to coordinate these humanitarian efforts.

On Sunday July 23, a special prayer will be said in all Prelacy
churches for the lives lost in the fighting.

We urge our faithful to pray for peace, security, and unity in Lebanon.

WESTERN PRELACY DIVAN

TREND, Azerbaijan
July 14 2006

American co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group to pay visit to Azerbaijan and
Armenia in early August – Azeri FM

Source: Trend
Author: V.Sharifov

14.07.2006

The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov doesn’t approve
the self-removal of co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group from the process
of talks on regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mammadyarov pointed out that co-chairs should continue their activity,
Trend reports with reference to ATV. Almost all moments have been
agreed, and several aspects have remained which don’t allow the sides
to reach a common denominator. At the moments, the sides exchange
views on this issue. The minister considers expedient the active
participation of co-chairs in the negotiations process.

According to minister, he has met in Turkey with the American co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza who is expected to pay a visit
to Azerbaijan and Armenia in early August and bring new ideas on
settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, because new co-chairs usually
proposes new ideas.

FRENCH AND GERMAN PRODUCERS AWARDED WITH GOLDEN APRICOT PRIZE

Panorama.am
14:11 15/07/06

Renowned French film producer of Armenian decent Serj Avetikyan is
awarded with Golden Apricot prize. The award was granted for his
film "Return". Avetikyan has worked on the film about 18 years. The
organizers of the festival say not only the film presents the Armenian
history and traditions to the world but also brings new impressions
about foreign countries to Armenia.

Also, German producer Andreas Drezen was awarded for his film
"Summer in Berlin." The film is about the struggle for survival of
two women. Drezen has said he has never seen friendlier nation in
the world speaking about Armenia.

Note: the closing of the third international film festival Golden
Apricot will take place late today at Moscow Theater. 92 films from
58 countries were shown during the festival. The festival hosted
renowned figures of cinematography from about 10 countries, including
Russian, Canada, France, USA, Spain, Germany, Chili, Belgium, Turkey
and Italy./Panorama.am/

650 applications submitted to the European Court of Human Rights from Armenia

ArmRadio.am
15.07.2006 12:55

650 applications have been submitted to the European Court of Human
Rights by Armenians since Armenia’s joining the Council of Europe in
2001. The Committee of the Court qualified 146 of the applications
unacceptable.

Armenian Judge at the European Court of Human Rights Alvina Gyulumyan
told "Armenpress" that some of the plaintiffs were prisoners
complaining of too many prisoners in prison cells. Many of the
applications have to do with inhumane and humiliating attitude and
unfair trial. Applications connected with freedom of conscience were
submitted by religious minorities.

Azeri President anticipates the support of Turkey in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict

ArmRadio.am
13.07.2006 16:30

Azeri President Ilham Aliev anticipates the support of Turkey in the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"I have been always saying and I want to repeat that unity is our
power. The closer we cooperate, the stronger our positions will
get. We shall resolve the Karabakh issue jointly," the President of
Azerbaijan declared in Turkey.

Repeating his assertions about the occupation of territories and one
million refugees, Ilham Aliev again noted that Azerbaijan "will never
reconcile itself with the loss of land." He reminded that Azerbaijan
is strengthening its political, economic and military power. In
Ilham Aliev’s opinion, the successful development of Azerbaijan
and reinforcement trends evidence that it is aspiring for the fair
resolution of the issue. "We provide the opportunity to the Armenian
side to withdrow from the occupied territories voluntarily,
on its free will to have the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
resumed. However, at the same time we should be ready for all other
possible alternatives. The growing power and the military potential
of Azerbaijan, the processes under way in the region reinforce our
positions even more," Ilham Aliev declared, AzerTag reports.

Embassy Magazine
Canada’s Foreign Policy Newsweekly
July 12 2006

Protocol Deputy Says It’s a Job He’s ‘Thoroughly Enjoyed’

Last Friday was Haig Sarafian’s last day as the Deputy Chief of
Protocol at Foreign Affairs before he embarks to Libya to take over
as Ambassador from David Viveash. As he rushes to meet this reporter
at the reception room at the Office of Protocol at Foreign Affairs
headquarters on Sussex Drive, he warns, "I can’t talk about Libya
because I am not yet there."

Mr. Sarafian may not be familiar with Libya, but after spending 15
of his 32-year diplomatic career in the Middle East, his knowledge
of the country that gave the world Muamar Gaddafi belies his initial
ignorance.

"Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa," he says. "And I
received the news [of the posting] with enthusiasm."

Mr. Sarafian was appointed ambassador to Libya last month, together
with 25 other envoys destined for a number of countries around the
world. A career diplomat, he has worked extensively on trade issues
and was director of the International Trade Centre in Montreal from
1990 to 1993. He has also served as ambassador to Lebanon and has
previously worked in missions in Lima, Baghdad, Sao Paulo, Paris,
Tunis and Damascus.

Together with his wife, Mr. Sarafian will travel to Tripoli in
September to take up his duties.

"I don’t know if I would call it deja vu, but I would call it a
feeling of not going into the unknown," he says.

Relations between Canada and Libya have been on the mend since 2001
when Tripoli opened an embassy in Ottawa. In 1986, Canada and other
Western countries imposed sanctions on Libya after it was accused
of terrorism acts in Europe. But in 1999, when Libya handed over two
suspects wanted in the bombing of PanAm Flight 103 over Lockerbie in
Scotland, Canada lifted its bilateral sanctions.

"Relations with the West have improved," says Mr. Sarafian. But like
the diplomat he is, he carefully avoids the term "pariah status"
when describing the frosty relations that existed between Libya and
the West then.

One of his tasks is to improve trade ties between both countries,
mainly by increasing Canadian investment in the oil sector. But Mr.

Sarafian also hopes relations will be "multi-faceted."

As Deputy Chief of Protocol, Mr. Sarafian interacted with many
diplomats in Canada in many professional capacities. One of these
included hosting heads of missions at the Diplomatic Forum, a two-day
event where diplomats meet cabinet members, think-tanks and business
leaders.

"I leave with sadness," he says. "It was a job I thoroughly enjoyed."

Mr. Sarafian, who speaks French, English, Armenian, Arabic, Portuguese
and Spanish, says his job also allowed him to exercise his language
skills with diplomats from many countries.

"It was as close to being overseas while in Canada."

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