Author: Toganian Liana

DROUGHT HITS HARD ARMENIAN AGRICULTURE

Armenpress
Jun 22 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS: According to preliminary calculations
of authorities in the Armenian province of Gegharkunik the persistent
drought there has caused some 47 billion Drams damages to the region’s
agriculture.

Experts say wheat crops have been affected so strongly that they are
good now as only fodder. Potato and winter crops are also endangered
together with hay. Cattle-growers in the province stored every year
about 380,000 tons of hay for winter, this year they will hardly be
able to store 30,000 tons of hay.

Veterinarians say droughts are able to cause outburst of foot and
mouth and other diseases.

33RD SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE OF FMS ADOPTS BAKU DECELERATION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 21 2006

The 33rd Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (June
19-21) in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, was over today (APA). The
session adopted 27-item Baku Deceleration:

"The challenges facing the humanity in the 21st century, in particular
recent threats confronting Islam compel us to further unite around
our values and to display solidarity, and we reiterate our devotion
to the noble ideas of humanism, racial and religious tolerance.

We support the continuation of reforms in the economic, social
and cultural areas, as well as in the spheres of democratization,
transparency and strengthening the role of civil society in the
OIC member states and consider it important to protect cultural,
religious and racial diversity. The diversity must not be a source
of conflict but rather a source of mutual enrichment and dialogue
among religions and civilizations.

We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,
express deep sympathy with and support for the countries that feel
victims to terrorist attacks, and denounce as groundless any attempts
to link terrorism with any religion, culture ands people as this
global scourge does not have any religious or national affiliation,"
the declaration reads.

It was also stated in the document that current new global threats
and challenges demand strengthening of international cooperation.

"In this connection, in order to jointly fight against international
terrorism, transnational crimes, illicit weapons and drug trafficking
and illegal migration in a more active way we propose to establish
the Conference of Heads of Law-Enforcement Agencies of OIC member
states and welcome the offer of Azerbaijan to host the first meeting
at the level of experts in Baku," the Declaration continues.

It is also stated in the Declaration that regarding the cooperation
programmes on exploitation and transportation of energy resources of
the OIC member states as an essential factor in the social and economic
development of the OIC states, it welcomes the commissioning of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline which has taken place on the eve of
the session, as a result of the strategic cooperation in the region,
and look forward to speedy completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum
gas pipeline.

"We also note the importance of inter-regional transport corridors,
including the restoration of the Great Silk Road, which runs through
the OIC member states, and the East-West and North-South transport
corridors projects. We also welcome other regional initiatives,
including transportation of energy resources between Iran and
Kazakhstan, gas pipelines projects involving Afghanistan, India,
Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan.

We welcome the establishment of the OIC Group in Vienna with the
purpose to discus issues of common interest for the OIC member
states. For the improvement of the process of political consultations
and decision making mechanisms in the OIC we consider it expedient
to establish permanent missions of the members states to the OIC
Headquarters.

We once again bring to the attention of international community our
demands for speedy peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israel conflict
which is a principal objective of our Organization.

We once again strongly condemn the aggression of the Republic of
Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan and urge immediate, complete
and unconditional withdrawal pf Armenian occupying forces from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan. We consider the illegal transfer of
Armenian population into the occupied Azerbaijani territories, illegal
economic activities and exploitation of natural resources in the
occupied territories detrimental to the peace process. We condemn the
continued destruction of Azerbaijani cultural and historical monuments
and demand from Armenia to compensate Azerbaijan in accordance with
international law for the material damage inflicted by Armenia. We
express our deep concern over recent massive fires in the occupied
territories and demand the occupying forces to take urgent measures
to prevent ecological disaster. We appeal to international community
to undertake all necessary measures for the peaceful resolution of
the conflict. We urge the OIC member states to support Azerbaijan
on the issue of full restoration of its territorial integrity and
sovereignty," the Declaration reads.

It is also stated that the OIC member states support the process of
settlement of the Cyprus problem and reaffirm their solidarity with
Muslim brothers and sisters in Northern Cyprus.

"We appeal to international community, including the OIC member
states to make all necessary efforts to put an end to isolation of
the Turkish Cypriots and to build cooperation in economic, cultural,
scientific, technological and other fields," the document continues.

It was also decided at the session to hold the 34th session of the
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, Pakistan.

OSKANYAN OPPOSED THE AZERI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

A1+
[08:23 pm] 21 June, 2006

Minister Oskanian attended and addressed the first session of the
newly-formed UN Human Rights Council.

The opening ceremony on Monday was attended by UN SG Kofi Annan as
well as High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour.

In his statement, on Wednesday, June 21, Armenia’s Minister
congratulated the Council on its inaugural meeting and wished the
Council well in its mandate to place the third pillar of the UN human
rights on a par with the other two peace and security, and development.

The Minister said, "Globalization and the electronic media enhance our
knowledge and increase our liability. It is as easy to look into our
neighbor’s living room as our own. To hear the screams next door and
do nothing will be as difficult as ignoring uproar at home. We are now
the first generation who simply cannot afford to do so. And ironically,
we are the first generation that is able to afford to systematically,
fundamentally address the problems and even the crises. We can muster
the time, skills and resources to construct a new pro-active, daring,
spirited international system that not only has the moral authority
but also the tenacity to protect the powerless."

The Minister addressed the linkage between human rights and
development. He said, "I know that it is only when the preconditions
for a full and free life of dignity are in place, only then are markets
powerful engines of development, only then is critical infrastructure
sustainable, and only then do individuals stand up to demand and
protect individual and collective human rights."

He continued, "In Armenia, we are tackling this greatest challenge
through a public-private partnership that will engage the government
of Armenia, Armenia’s business community, the international community
and individual countries, as well as our generous Diaspora, to embark
on eradicating rural poverty through a comprehensive, integrated
approach. Our intent is to meet the Millennium Development Goals,
and to replace hopelessness and desperation with a sense of self-worth
and security."

In speaking about Armenia’s neighbors and regional security,
Minister Oskanian noted that "Armenia has and continues to promote
stronger international mechanisms to prevent and eradicate the crime
of genocide, and all of its precursors including efforts, too often
successful, at not just cleansing a region of its indigenous people,
but also erasing their memory. Armenians have survived and gone on to
live through each of these attempts. Even today, in the 21st century,
we have watched helplessly as the spiritual and cultural markers of
our people are decimated."

He went on to refer to the destruction of the Jugha Cemetery in
Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan. "This violation of the memory and spirit of
centuries of Armenian existence on lands which are today Azerbaijan’s
is cynical and dangerous. These huge, exquisite, unique stone crosses
which were both sculpture and tombstone are now gone – 2,000 of
these medieval markers were destroyed just a few months ago. The
gravemarkers are gone, and Armenian and international fears that
Azerbaijan’s authorities might in fact not be serious about peace
have been reinforced. After all, their organized, violent, armed
response to peaceful calls for self-determination two decades ago,
was the first attempt at ethnic cleansing in the soviet space and
ignited the conflict which remains unsettled today.

This most recent manifestation of organized violence, in a place where
no Armenians live today, and far from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
area, tells us that neither Azerbaijan’s methods nor its intent has
changed. Such unambivalent, callous demolition of culture and history
also destroys trust and peace."

In speaking about the present state of negotiations with Azerbaijan
on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Armenian
Foreign Minister said, "If Azerbaijan’s one step forward, one step
back approach in the negotiations was simply alarming, their recent,
desperate offers of autonomy are concrete examples of a retreat
from the letter and spirit of these talks, and clearly not in sync
with international trends. Offering autonomy to a people who have
for nearly two decades been in control of their lives on their own
historic lands is at the very least, self-deception."

THREE MYTHS UNDERMINED BY TWO REVOLUTIONS
By Celia CHAUFFOUR in Warsaw
Translated by Simone KOSHIMIZU (Proofread by Lili DI PUPPO)

Caucaz, Georgia
June 21 2006

Georgian "Rose Revolution" in 2003 and Ukrainian "Orange Revolution"
in 2004 have undermined some of the preconceptions or even myths on
the region. Interview with Dov Lynch, researcher at the Institute
for Security Studies (ISS-EU) and specialist on Russia-EU relations
and on security issues in Russia and in the ex-USSR.

What were these preconceptions about?

I will mention three of them. The first one was based on Georgia
itself. In 2002-2003, it was said that the country was a hopeless
case. At that time, reports from the American State Department,
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Commission
(September 2003) concluded that Georgia was a country in failure,
less and less capable of following one public direction. The country
had been so much corrupted and torn within, that the notion of public
estate barely existed. Not to mention that the country did not control
either its territory or its frontiers. It was and it is still known
that if there is illicit traffic, it is not restricted to Ossetia
and Abkhazia.

It was hence observed that the country was dysfunctional.

Organisations and international authorities concluded that they needed
to react. And reaction came through financial aids for the country,
but which were largely stolen away.

The second one was based on the region. Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia
and more generally, South Caucasus had fallen into a post soviet
stagnation apparently characterised by a deep social apathy, by
intense poverty at economic level and by deindustrialisation. In the
beginning of the year 2000, none of these countries had reached their
GDP of 1992. Politically, they were marked by an endemic corruption.

There was hence an impression of a post soviet order that had been
established, but which nobody wished for.

In the 1990’s, economic and democratic transition was the paradigm used
to interpret this region. And yet, in the beginning of the year 2000,
it was observed that these countries had not taken the good direction
as Poland and Hungary had. Some very pessimistic analysis even stated
that there was no transition anymore, that these countries had reached
the end of the road and somewhere dark in Europe.

Did not anybody notice the wind of change in Georgia where a popular
democratic feeling had been deeply established?

What actually made a difference in Ukraine and Georgia was the fact
that there was a real civil society that had been developed and that
represented a diversity of opinion.

You have mentioned three preconceptions. You talked about the two
first, what about the third one?

It was a European perspective, where South Caucasus, a politically
and geographically distant region that, nonetheless, carries vital
and strategic interests in the European Union was treated with
disdain. Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were not seen as direct
neighbours or as part of Europe yet. Also, the fact that South Caucasus
had not been part of the European Commission’s first communication
on neighbouring (Wider Europe) is not surprising.

After 2003-2004, didn’t these changes in perception concern more the
region of the Black Sea than South Caucasus?

For the moment, Armenia and Azerbaijan go their own way. There were
great expectations on the resolution of the High Karabakh conflict
this year. It has been confirmed that it will not happen – which is
a serious disillusionment.

For Georgia and the region of the Black Sea, the order has considerably
changed. First of all, it reassured us of what we used to think in the
1990’s that the region was able to embark on an economic and democratic
transition. In 2003, Georgia reminded us that democracy can exist in
these countries and that it can be founded by the people. Today it
can be affirmed that even if problems are excessive -and inevitable
at the same time- Georgia has come back in the good direction.

The "Rose Revolution" has also reminded that Georgia was a European
country. Followed by the Ukrainian revolution, the Georgian revolution
proved that the united and free Europe who signed the "Final Act"
in Helsinki in 1975 was not a reality yet. After the enlargement of
Europe in 2004, it was thought that this bet had been won. Admittedly,
there were still the Balkans, but perspectives of membership were
open. And yet, the Georgian revolution and then the Ukrainian one
reminded us that there are other European countries and that the
frontiers of a united and free Europe are not complete yet.

So why keeping quiet about the consensus on Azerbaijan and its
political situation?

I think that European countries have very little time to think about
South Caucasus. And when they do, they think, first of all, about the
"opportunities". They start knocking doors that are already open.

Compared to other strategic dossiers such as the Balkans or Iran,
South Caucasus has minor importance in the ordinary everyday life of
decision makers of European foreign affairs.

Emphasis has lately been given to Azerbaijan and Armenia on the
High-Karabakh conflict. It was a door to be open so that others such
as those of human rights, party development or even stabilisation of
a national speech could also be open.

At the same time, as far as Europe is concerned, Armenia is a
horse that runs really fast. Yerevan is a good pupil concerning the
European Union’s new neighbourhood policies. Compared to Georgians,
Armenians respond more easily to the demands established by the
European Commission. They are better pupils in terms of negotiation and
determination to adopt a Plan of Action. It is a dossier to be followed
closely. Possibly in two years, Armenia will take over Georgia in this
field. But it is also a matter of geopolitical option. Georgians are
obsessed by the NATO. Armenians are not.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE CATHOLICOSATE’S RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSE
COMES TO AN END

The Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
organized special religious studies courses in the Catholicosate
during the last two years. These courses included topics on
the Holy Book, the history of the Armenian Church and Christian
theology. Rev. Fr. Vaghinag was the organizer of the courses with
several members of the Cilician Brotherhood participating through
lectures. His Holiness Aram I also delivered occasional lectures on
theological issues.

Around 40 students enrolled for these courses during the last two
years. The courses will continue next year.

The purpose of these courses is to provide Christian formation and
illustrations on issues related to religion to teachers, university
students and other interested people.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about
the jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

TWO FORMER EMPLOYEES OF LIGUIDATED CONGLOMERATE OF KAPAN STOP HUNGER-STRIKE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 19 2006

KAPAN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN. 63-years old Vladik Hovsepian and 70-years
old Ilya Barseghian, employees of the former mining conglomerate of
Kapan stopped the hunger-strike late on June 16 because of the health
state’s strict worsening and listening to relatives’ persuations. To
recap, they have been on a hunger-strike since June 11 in front of
the Syunik Regional Governor’s Office.

V.Hovsepian and I.Barseghian got occupational injury, and the present
owner of the conglomerate, "Dino Gold Mining Company" refuses to
pay them compensation. V.Hovsepian’s compensation makes 1 mln 100
thousand drams, and I.Barseghian’s make 360 thousand drams (about
850 U.S. dollars).

MASIS MAYILIAN: HYSTERIA OF AZERBAIJANI MEDIA ABOUT "ARSONS" IN TERRITORIES UNDER NKR’S CONTROL IS A CAMPAIGN AIMED AT AGGRAVATING OF SITUATION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 16 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The propaganda
hysteria of Azerbaijani media about allegedly existing cases of arsons
of border populated areas in territories under control of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic is a campaign aimed at aggravating the situation
in the conflict zone and strengthening the mutual distrust between
the sides. Masis Mayilian, Deputy Foreign Minister of NKR, declared
this answering the questions of media. "In passing, the Azerbaijani
authorities try to divert the attention of the international community
from destruction of Armenian historic and cultural heritage in
the territory of current Azerbaijan, the evidence of which is, in
particular, destruction of Armenian khachkars (cross-stones) in Julfa
(Nakhichevan)," Masis Mayilian emphasized.

According to the NKR Deputy Foreign Minister, inflammation of dry
grass happens in summer in a droughty weather in the lowlands of
Karabakh and putting out the inflammation becomes difficult in
territories bordering upon Azerbaijan in connection with constant
firings from the side of Azerbaijan and impossibility to provide
security of fire-fighting brigades. In addition to dry weather,
reasons for inflammation of dry grass are firings of territories
under NKR’s control with tracer bullets from Azerbaijani positions,
as well as arsons of grass by Azerbaijani servicemen in the neutral
strip dividing borders of NKR and Azerbaijan.

Masis Mayilian informed that on June 15, NKR Foreign Ministry
applied to the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office with a demand to conduct a crisis-monitoring in the
zone bordering upon Azerbaijan for estimating the real situation on
the spot and refuting the far-fetched accusations of the Azerbaijani
party. On its part the NKR Foreign Ministry expressed readiness to
render assistance to the OSCE mission in conducting the monitoring
and to provide the security of its participants in territories under
NKR’s control.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from NKR Foreign Ministry Information and
Analytical Department, Mayilian also reminded that several years ago
the NKR leadership through OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs proposed the
Azerbaijani side as one of the measures on establishment of confidence
working out a bilateral mechanism for coordinating efforts on joint
solution of such kinds of problems, in particular, they were proposed
cooperation for not permitting inflammation of pastures in border
regions. But the initiative of the official Stepanakert did not find
any support in Baku, which demonstrates the real position of the
sides, in particular, lack of the political will of the Azerbaijani
leadership for solving issues of mutual interest.

WHY ARE ARMENIANS KILLED?
Aram Zakaryan

Lragir.am
15 June 06

Vsevolod Maryan announced in an interview with the news agency
Regnum that gangs in Russia spend an annual 50 million dollars
for killing Armenians. In 1999-2001 Vsevolod Maryan was adviser to
the Russian foreign minister on ethnicities. He suggests speaking
about this problem openly and assures that press gives only some
crumbs of the reality. In fact, about 3000 Armenians were killed in
Russia over the past decade, he says. According to him, discussion and
cultural events will not produce any results. It should be revealed and
countered. This is for everyone and namely Ara Abrahamyan who announces
that nothing extraordinary has happened. Whereas, denying that killings
of Armenian young men in Moscow is a tendency is burying your head
in the sand. Accepting it means understanding and preventing. On the
other hand, one may not accept it if they are reluctant, such as Ara
Abrahamyan, citizen of Russia, the president of the Union of Armenians
of Russia and the World Congress of Armenians.

After the second killing Ara Abrahamyan said fewer Armenians are
killed than Tajiks. First of all, it should be noted that it is at
least unserious to count human lives like cucumbers or melons.

Besides, the phrase "fewer Armenians are killed" means that Armenians
are nevertheless killed. However, Ara Abrahamyan does not seem to be
worried. His only concern is to stick to the principle "our tsar is
the best tsar." Even in arriving in Armenia to chide Georgia for the
sake of Russia.

The Armenian political forces, the leaders of various pan-Armenian and
anti-Armenian organizations had better think for a while why Armenians
are killed. How does it happen that with Russian-Armenian friendship
and Russian-Georgian hostility Armenians are killed in Russia,
whereas Georgians do not even hear a bitter word? Or why does the
Russian government remember Ara Abrahamyan only when Russian mariners
are to be released or murders are to be justified for a lot of money?

Or maybe Russia dislikes our "never-ending" devotion?

LITTLE POSITIVE MOVEMENT IN OHAN DURIAN’S HEALTH STATE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The health state of conductor Ohan
Durian moved to the "Nairi" medical center with heart apoplectic
stroke at night, June 1, is estimated stably grave. As Siranush
Martirosian, the Deputy Chief Doctor of the center informed the Noyan
Tapan correspondent, there is a little positive movement. According to
her, artificial breathing apparatus is still connected to the patient.

U.S. PLANS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO NEW BLACK SEA FUND

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.06.2006 18:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The United States plans to make a substantial
contribution to the Black Sea Trust, a new multimillion-dollar fund
promoting democracy and cooperation among nine countries in southeast
Europe, President Bush’s deputy national security adviser says. The
trust will provide grants to focus on enhancing economic and security
cooperation, crisis management and democracy in Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.

In remarks at the Black Sea Forum June 5 in Bucharest, Romania,
Deputy National Security Advisor J. D. Crouch said the United States
would participate in and make a significant financial contribution
to the trust in partnership with the German Marshall Fund, the
Romanian government and other donors. Crouch said the United States is
supporting other initiatives such as the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
initiative and the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative. "We want
to hear your ideas on how to cooperate more effectively to address
a broader range of issues," Crouch added.

The German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States announced
the creation of the trust on June 5 during the Black Sea Forum in
Bucharest, Romania. The GMF said it anticipates launching operations
of the Black Sea Trust in the fall, with initial contributions
of more than $20 million, climbing to more than $40 million as the
trust matures. Contributors include the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Romanian
government and other private and public donors from the United States
and Europe.