Author: Torgomian Varazdat

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
July 3, 2007 Tuesday 09:19 PM EST

Inter-ethnic relations in Moscow assume a new tint

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has said inter-ethnic relations in Moscow
are entering a new phase. The local population and the natives of the
southern republics of the former Soviet Union prepare and agree on
places of mass clashes and brawls.

In an interview with the TVTS television channel on Tuesday, Luzhkov
said that certain groups of young people continued to manifest
nationalism, chauvinism and xenophobia. According to Luzhkov, an
attempt to stage mass clashes in Moscow’s central district of Kitai
Gorod on June 22 revealed a totally new phenomenon. Both members of
nationalistic organizations and youths from southern ethnic
communities gathered with an equal desire to fight. “Both sides
showed an intention to fight. It is a totally new phenomenon,”
Luzhkov stressed.

The police acted quickly. Its actions were well organized.
“Everything was under control, every step was tracked,” Luzhkov
went on to say. However, imperfect laws didn’t allow law enforcers to
intervene and prevent the clashes. More than 20 people were detained.

“All the judicial procedures are under way now. A representative of
the Armenian community was wounded. We arrested a person who did
that. He will be tried very strictly,” Yuri Luzhkov said.

The mayor noted that all the participants in the clash would be
charged for “kindling inter-ethnic strife” and not with “ordinary
hooliganism” as it was done previously.

“This is right!,” he said. “Moscow is a multinational city. We
should learn to treat representatives of any other nationality
calmly, otherwise the country will fall apart,” the mayor went on to
say.

In conclusion, Luzhkov promised that the city will live calmly and
those who kindles inter-ethnic strife will be punished strictly.

MHER MKRTCHIAN HALL TO OPEN IN STATE DRAMATIC THEATER OF GYUMRI

YEREVAN, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A Mher Mkrtchian hall will open in the
State Dramatic Theater of Gyumri at the beginning of 2008 and
performances staged by the great artist, as well as new ones will be
performed there. According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan
correspondent by Eduard Poghosian, the Head of the theater, the work
for which businessman Vahagn Hovnanian gave 25 thousand U.S. dollars
will be finished at the end of this year. According to Eduard
Poghosian, that is the very rehearsal hall, where Mher Mkrtchian played
his first role, that is, Baghdasar akhpar, in 1972.

Eduard Poghosian is convicted that the audience "is tired" of transient
shows and again returns to the theater: "The theater is like a black
suit, which is always in fashion," he mentioned.

KARABAKH GOVERNMENT’S RIGHT HAND IS UNAWARE OF WHAT ITS LEFT HAND IS DOING

Lragir.am
KarabakhOpen
03-07-2007 19:33:38

On July 3 an interesting thing happened at the Caucasus Analytical
Center which is based in Yerevan, where Armenian experts work,
but which is funded from a Russian source. The Caucasus Analytical
Center held a discussion on the presidential election of NKR headlined
View from Yerevan. Analysts, experts, politicians of Armenia had been
invited. From Masis Mayilyan’s team the head of Stepanakert Press Club,
editor of the Demo Public Newspaper, NKR Member of Parliament Gegham
Baghdasaryan was present. The representatives of Bako Sahakyan and
the other candidates did not turn up.

But since Sahakyan is the government’s candidate, NKR President
Ghukasyan had stated a few hours before the round-table meeting that
the former foreign minister of NKR, adviser to president Arman Melikyan
would represent Bako Sahakyan. However, this representation lasted
short although highly notable. After the address of the organizers
Arman Melikyan made an unexpected statement. The meaning of the
statement was the discussion was impertinent and in some sense also
highly unpleasant. According to Arman Melikyan, it would be acceptable
to discuss the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, or the territories,
but it is unacceptable when the presidential election of Karabakh
is discussed in Armenia at the Caucasus Analytical Center funded by
Russia. And it means that a third country is trying to influence the
outcome of the presidential election in Karabakh.

"What we are now discussing is apparently the disbelief that the people
of Karabakh may make a choice at best, or an effort to predetermine
the election, the outcome of the election, or try to influence
it at worst. It would be OK if an Armenian political party or NGO
held this discussion, but unfortunately – this is not an accusation
against my colleagues – unfortunately, this is a conference held by
a third country where the Armenian experts, in fact, there are also
representatives of Karabakh, must discuss the election of another
state," Arman Melikyan says.

He is right. But perhaps Arman Melikyan had better be guided by this
patriotic and dignified approach in performing his duties. And his
duties are to give advice to the president of NKR because he is adviser
to NKR president. For instance, like Arman Melikyan explained the
subtlety of the situation to the experts, perhaps he should explain
it to the NKR president as well who has recently addressed another
Russian institution based in Armenia, the Armenia-Russian Slavic
University and endorsed Bako Sahakyan.

Or does Arman Melikyan think Arkady Ghukasyan may speak about the
presidential election of Karabakh in Russian institutions, and other
may not? Or why did Arman Melikyan fail to advise the president of
Karabakh not to meet with the delegation from Russia led by the
Armenian and Azerbaijani ambassadors to Russia? Why? Because a
pre-election stage is underway in Karabakh, and this visit could
be viewed as support for the policy of the Karabakh government
and consequently for Bako Sahakyan who is ready to carry on this
policy. Why did Arman Melikyan fail to advise the president of Karabakh
to respond, not personally or maybe through advisers or ministers to
the articles in the Russian media on the NKR presidential election
which uphold the idea that everything is predetermined and Bako
Sahakyan will be elected.

Although perhaps Arman Melikyan gave advice to Arkady Ghukasyan but
Arkady Ghukasyan did not take it and all Melikyan can do is to give
advice to others. He cannot keep it all inside his head.

CAUCASUS ARMS RACE
By Vicken Cheterian

Le Monde Diplomatique, France

Jul y 3 2007

The Georgian defence minister, David Kezerashvili, caused a sensation
in May when he announced an increase in the 2007 military budget,
which will now be $550m. Budget revenue for the year will total
$2.1bn. According to the official figures, defence spending has
increased tenfold since the rose revolution, and the real figure
must be even higher. Tbilisi has also announced that it will send
reinforcements to Iraq soon, increasing the size of its contingent
from 850 to 2,000. Georgia will become the third largest military
contributor to the US-led occupation forces. Since 2001 Georgia has
received substantial US military aid in training and equipment.

But why does Georgia need to spend so much? It barely had an army
before the revolution and must make serious efforts if it wants to
join Nato in the near future, one of the government’s top priorities.

Military experts in Tbilisi are complaining that most of the best
officers trained under the US programme have now left the military,
citing the shortage of housing and low pay. Part of the current budget
increase will fund new officers’ quarters and higher wages.

But the government has other goals. The Georgian army has just
finished building a new base for more than 3,000 soldiers at Senaki,
near Abkhazia. A second base is being built at Gori, 30 minutes’ drive
from Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. Georgia also spends
much of its defence budget on procurement, including Ukrainian-built
tanks and field guns, and equipment from the arsenals of east European
countries that recently joined Nato and want to dispose of outdated
Soviet weaponry. Many of the Georgian army’s recent purchases are
not Nato-compatible but could be used in future combats in the
self-proclaimed independent republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Military spending in Azerbaijan has also increased dramatically,
from $135m in 2003 to $871m in 2007. With a steady flow of oil
revenue now that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is running, the Azerbaijani
president has promised military spending on a par with the entire
budget of Armenia. Baku has also purchased ground-attack jets,
tanks, artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems. Since 2003 the
Azerbaijani leadership has asserted that if the current negotiations
with Yerevan do not give it control over Karabakh and the six adjoining
Azerbaijani provinces, currently occupied by Armenian forces, then
it will use force to get its way.

Armenia is keen to catch up in the arms race, and spending has risen
from $100m in 2005 to $210m in 2007. It is determined to support the
Karabakh armed forces, financially and through military cooperation.

This tiny republic has a population of only 150,000. Yet it maintains
a fighting force of up to 20,000 and is spending heavily on a third
line of defences.

There are still three Russian bases in the region. Batumi and
Akhalkalaki in Georgia are being evacuated, but there are no plans to
close the base at Gumri in Armenia. There is also a large radar system
at Gabala in Azerbaijan. The US has increased military cooperation with
all three countries, particularly Georgia. The Georgian government
even announced that it would be prepared to locate parts of the US
anti-missile system on its territory, prompting a furious response
from Moscow.

This fast arms race might give political leaders in the Caucasus
a false but dangerous sense of strength. Since the collapse of the
Soviet Union there have been five wars in the region. Millions still
suffer the consequences. As recent events in the Middle East and
Central Asia have shown, it is easier to start a war than to end it.

ARMENIA IS IN PROCESS OF RECEIVING STATUS OF COUNTRY WITH STABLY DEVELOPING ECONOMY

Noyan Tapan
Jul 2, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is in the process of receiving
the status of a stably developing country by the International Monetary
Fund (IMF). Ms. Marta Castello-Branco, the Head of the IMF delegation
being in Armenia from June 26, said at the July 2 press conference.

Answering Noyan Tapan correspondent’s question, she also said that
the rates of Armenia’s economic growth are high, for reorganizing
country’s economic status from "transitional" into "stably developing"
it is necessary that Armenian governmental bonds be circulated on
the stock markets of foreign countries.

Haigazian University
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut

Haigazian University’s 47th Commencement Ceremonies

On Friday, June the 29th, 2006, Haigazian University graduated a record
number of 142 students, in the First Armenian Evangelical Church courtyard,
Beirut, in the presence of the President of the Supreme Council of the
Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, the Armenian Ambassador to
Lebanon, H.E. Vahan Der Ghevontian, in addition to a number of former
deputies and ministers, clergy, university representatives, diplomats,
members of the Board of Trustees, parents and fellow students.

The ceremony started as Faculty and graduates marched through the crowd of
parents, relatives and friends in a remarkable processional march, followed
by the Lebanese National Anthem, and the Invocation by the Campus Minister,
Rev. Nishan Bakalian.

In his word of welcome, Haigazian University President, Rev. Dr. Paul
Haidostian considered the past year as academically fruitful. "Fruitful
years are not always easy years or joyful years. But when you end up with
good fruits, you know that you/they had the ability to stand firm against
the winds and storms, hail and heat of the surrounding environment,"
Haidostian said.

Haidostian also talked about the role universities should play, especially
during these hard days Lebanon is undergoing. "A university has a message.
Our university has a message of hope especially in the current conditions.
Our hope is rooted in our faith in God’s grace and immanence, which then
becomes real in the fruits of the whole educational experience, in human
interaction and creativity," Haidostian noted.

The guest speaker of the ceremony, Dr. Ahmad Al-Jammal, Director General of
the Ministry of Higher Education, tackled the issue of Higher Education in
this global world.

"Higher education plays an essential role in shaping the present, and the
future of nations, through building human expertise on all levels, be it
social, cultural, or technical", Al Jammal stated. The speaker considered
that in this global era of knowledge, universities play a vital role in
societies, that’s why their role is more and more important in becoming the
central place of openness, dialogue, creativity, and tolerance.

Afterwards, Registrar Roubina Artinian and Deans Fadi Asrawi and Arda
Ekmekji presented the graduates who received their degrees from President
Haidostian.

In their valedictorian addresses, Ani Nadjarian, speaking in English,
acknowledged how Haigazian University shaped her life and character,
transforming her into a more responsible and self-confident person.
"Haigazian granted us the gifts of knowledge, self-confidence, aspiration
and hope. Through its academic, social, and spiritual dimensions, it shaped
our personalities, transforming us into students who are ready to face the
challenges of life", Nadjarian said.

Whereas valedictorian Muhannad El Muhtar, speaking in Arabic, addressed his
fellow students saying, "Lebanon is in deep need of us. Let’s get armed with
what we’ve learned at Haigazian, and face all the difficulties of the future
by the power of our knowledge and faith in God".

After singing the Alma Mater, the ceremony was concluded with the
Benediction given by the President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches in the Near East, Rev. Meguerdich Karageozian.

The class of 2007 threw their caps and marched out proudly with a unique
recessional, while celebratory balloons flew high in the skies.

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA
Dr. and Mrs. Ishkhan and Anahit Babajanian

California,USA
KarabakhOpen
02-07-2007 13:06:29

Dear compatriots,

We are quite pleased to hear that Mr. Masis Mayilian is running
for presidency in Karabakh. We support him wholeheartedly for the
following reasons:

1. We found him to be intelligent and educated who upholds high
traditional Armenian values. He is honest, humble, patriotic, and
devoted to his country and people.

2. We are confident that he would supercede Karabakh’s people interests
ahead of his or any other political party or group.

3. He will strive against poverty, corruption, and injustice. He
believes on democracy and human rights He expressed such goals and
idea’s to us during our volunteer work in Karabakh.

4. He is committed to protect the country against neighboring threats.

5.His intention is to resettle Armenians from all over the world in
Artsakh allowing and assisting them to prosper.

We support his candidacy for president for above reasons. We are
enthusiastic to have him run for the position and would be pleased
have him succeed as we (and other diaspora Armenians) apply for dual
citizenship in Armenia in the upcoming months.

"CREATING ATMOSPHERE OF CONFIDENCE BETWEEN SOCIETIES OF ARMENIA AND
AZERBAIJAN TO BE GOOD CONTRIBUTION TO ISSUE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT," RA PRESIDENT BELIEVES

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Robert Kocharian, the RA President,
received a number of Armenian and Azeri culture and science figures on
June 28, who initiated a one-day joint visit via the
Stepanakert-Yerevan-Baku route after receiving the assistance of the
Presidents of the two countries through the Ambassadors of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation.

R. Kocharian welcomed their initiative and mentioned that the
establishment of communication and the formation of an atmosphere of
confidence between Armenian and Azeri societies will be a good
contribution to the issue of the Karabakh conflict settlement.
According to him, terms of cooperation should be found, and Armenia, to
all appearances, is ready to support this process.

The guests touched upon the necessity to provide communication between
Armenian and Azeri societies and the ways of its implementation during
the conversation with the RA President. Azeri intellectuals believe
that it is necessary to re-establish the former friendly and associate
interrelations between Armenian and Azeri representatives of the old
generation, as well as to envolve the young generation in these
relations.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, after paying a visit to Robert Kocharian, the
group left for Baku to meet with Ilham Aliyev, the President of
Azerbaijan.

It should also be mentioned that they met with Arkadi Ghukasian, the
President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, before arriving in
Yerevan.

Organization for Liberation of Karabakh tries to wreck press-conference
of Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia

arminfo
2007-06-30 22:52:00

The Organization for Liberation of Karabakh led by Akif Nagi tried to
wreck the pres-conference on the
visit of Azeri intellectuals to Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.

Day.az reports that during the press-conference Nagi and Kamal Abdullah
started a squabble. The chief of the Sabaili police department Khanlar
Zeinalov told his men to take Nagi to the police. This caused a stir
but Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbulogly calmed down the
situation. At the end of the press-conference Nagi tried to say
something again but Bulbulogly interrupted him. Nagi flared up again
and was detained. Later he was set free.

To remind, a few dyas ago a group of Armenian and Azeri intellectuals
led by the ambassadors of Armenia and Azerbaijan to Russia visited
Stepanakert, Yerevan and Baku. Nagi was very much annoyed by that.

AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW ON TELEVISION AND RADIO IS A DIRECT THREAT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN ARMENIA, INDEPENDENT EXPERTS THINK

arminfo
2007-06-29 11:08:00

Amendments to the Law on Television and Radio that at present are
being discussed in the National Assembly of Armenia are the direct
threat to freedom of speech in Armenia, expert of Yerevan press-club
Mesrop Harutyunyan said in Journalists’ Union, Friday.

He also added that the draft law is directed first of all against
broadcast of Radio Liberty. speech especially at the threshold of
the presidential election, – Mesrop Harutyunyan said.

For his part, representative of the public organization "Internews",
David Sukiasyan, called this draft law and State Tax draft law as
"made hastily".

All the arguments that balance will be reached in economic field
by means of these draft laws seem not serious, if they wanted they
could also find fault with broadcasting of such TV companies as ORT,
RTR, CNN and others at the territory of Armenia, but they did not
touch them and the blow is directed only against Radio Liberty. It
is inadmissible that for settlement of its political problems the
state interferes in the market rules, manipulating with such a strong
instrument as the state tax.