Author: Tumanian Talar

ARMENIA AND INDIA INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION

ArmRadio.am
20.06.2007 13:19

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of India to Armenia Mrs. Rina Pandey.

The Ambassador first congratulated the Prime Minister on appointment
and conveyed the congratulating message of the Indian Prime Minister,
which says, in part: "The ties between Armenia and India are warm
and sincere.

We are glad that the past decade stood out for reinforcement of our
relations on all levels. I’m glad that I’ll have the honor to work
with Your Excellency for the sake of friendship between our peoples
and thriving of cooperation."

The parties noted that although Armenian-Indian relations are
developing year by year, and the annual commodity turnover tends to
increase, the level of these relations cannot be considered sufficient,
taking into account the great unused potential.

Mrs. Rina Pandey highly appreciated the Armenian-Indian cooperation
within international organizations.

RA Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Government of India for
the support to our country, especially in the field of agriculture and
expressed willingness to uphold the steps directed at the development
and reinforcement of cooperation between the two countries.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: AZERBAIJAN DISPLAYS SYMPTOMS OF REFUSAL FROM SOME AGREEMENTS

ArmInfo
2007-06-20 17:49:00

Armenia has taken no time-out, it has a distinct position promulgated
for several times by the republic’s representatives: Armenia is ready
to continue the talks around the document on the negation table,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said at the June 20 joint
press-conference with Robert Simmons, Special Representative of the
NATO Secretary General for the Caucasus and Central Asia, commenting
upon Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov’s statement.

But in St.Petersbourg Azerbaijan displayed some symptoms of refusal
from several agreements, V.Oskanyan said. He added that Azerbaijan
tries to make a preventive step in search of guilty persons by means
of such statements.

At the same time, he pointed out that one should wait for further steps
of official Baku and then make a conclusion about the tendencies of
toughening of the position and change of the policy. Minister Oskanyan
denied the rumors about possible change of the OSCE Minsk Group
format. As for Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation in the negotiation
process, the Minister emphasized that this issue is always on the
agenda. Karabakh’s participation doesn’t mean enlargement of the
OSCE MG format, it means returning to the main format, V.Oskanyan
pointed out.

"BARGAVACH HAYASTAN" TO CLARIFY ATTITUDES
Harutyun Gevorgyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily – Armenia
20 June 07

Interview with the secretary of "Bargavach Hayastan" parliamentary
faction Aram Safaryan

"Today the second sitting of "Bargavach Hayastan" parliamentary
faction came to an end. What issues did you discuss?"

"At the moment we are trying to settle issues of organizational
and technical character, which we are going to spell out and
coordinate with our representatives in parliamentary committees
and delegations. One or two private issues were left that has been
regulated during today’s sitting.

>From the next week the constructive stage of BHP (Bargavach Hayastan
Party) parliamentary faction will start and we will be fully involved
in legislative activity.

"Bargavach Hayastan" has also taken the leadership of the two standing
committees in the Parliament – the Standing Committee on Matters of
Integration to European Structures and Standing Committee on Human
Rights. Both committees are newly established and of great importance.

The majority of the bills under discussion in the National Assembly
are going to be examined in those committees.

The chairmen of those two committees are highly qualified
professionals.

Avet Adonts has the diplomatic rank of an Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary and great experience. Arevik Petrosyan is a PhD in law,
professor in Yerevan State University and has held high positions in
state government structures."

"Mr. Safaryan "Bargavach Hayastan" party is one of the country’s
numerous political powers. Didn’t you find it necessary to clarify the
non-proportionality in the number of votes both during the pre-election
period and after recording the elections returns."

"Of course there are some internal problems. Re-registration issue
has appeared. As you have noticed there was a difference between the
number of party-members before and after the elections. Of course
we must clarify all these issues and the party must be purified. The
re-registration process will start during the coming two months.

The leadership of the party even intends to hold extraordinary
conference, congress or an extensive sitting of the political
council. The discussions are still on, to find a suitable
solution. Anyway it is a very delicate issue.

I should confess we are well conscious of the fact that there are
a substantial number of voters that honestly pin their hopes on
Gagik Tsarukyan and his party "Bargavach Hayastan". In this stage of
political developments our goal is to keep and strengthen the faith
of these people. That is why during the extraordinary sitting we are
planning to elaborate a project of primary actions.

"Bargavach Hayastan" is planning to manifest activeness in social
and cultural spheres, in philanthropy and other spheres of social
significance. This will be our one-year guideline.

At present, most of the members of our pre-election headquarters
work in executive and legislative bodies. Today it is indispensable
to re-establish the party’s executive body – the central office. One
of the professional members of political council, Samvel Adamyan has
been appointed as Chief of BHP central office and he will coordinate
the work of the party’s provincial structures.

All the provincial offices are going to be re-established. G. Tsarukyan
has mentioned many times that the work of our seven MPs having been
elected by majority electoral system is going to be in the center of
attention. They will be unconditionally involved in party activities.’
"In five days the government is going to introduce its action plan
to the discussion of the National Assembly. Have you already made up
your mind?"

"A week ago, during the first and the extensive sitting of the faction,
our three ministers represented the proposals that they have submitted
to the discussion of the executive. The proposals met with the
participants’ approval. Another sitting is planned to be hold at the
end of the current week, where the attitudes of "Bargavach Hayastan"
party towards the government action plan will be clarified and sent
to the government.

By the time the government submits its action plan to the discussion
of the National Assembly; we will definitely be ready to express
our attitude.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200

Glendale, California 91206

Phone: 818.500.1918

Fax: 818.246.7353

E-mail: [email protected]

Web:

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 20, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian

Tel: (818) 500-1918

POWER Initiative – 6th edition: ANCA-WR and ANCA-ER Join forces to expand
power initiative coast to coast

— unprecedented grassroots participation registered as genocide resolution
surpasses 200 cosponsor mark

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) is pleased to announce that, working in conjunction with
the Armenian National Committee of America – Eastern Region (ANCA-ER), the
POWER Initiative has helped secure over 200 Members of Congress as
cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide Bill. Initiated in early 2007, the
POWER Initiative has continued to build and increase support for the
Armenian Genocide Resolutions in both the House and Senate (H. Res. 106 and
S. Res. 106). Dubbed "Project Outreach Western Region – POWER", the ANCA-WR
office has been mobilizing ANC chapters throughout the western United States
in educating Armenian Americans on the status of the genocide resolutions
pending in both the House and Senate. As a result, H. Res. 106 enjoys the
cosponsorship support of 202 Members of the House of Representatives.

Recently, the ANCA-ER joined the ANCA-WR’s POWER Initiative with its own
POWER Initiative entitled "Project Outreach Waves the Eastern Region". Both
POWER Initiatives have added significant support to both genocide bills in
Congress

To date, 80 Members of the House of Representatives from the Western Region
have cosponsored H. Res. 106. Those cosponsoring this important human
rights legislation include Members from California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada,
New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

In recent weeks, the ANCA-WR has worked with local activists to continue
securing meetings all across the country with congressional district
offices. The ANCA-WR recently traveled to Idaho to discuss the Armenian
Genocide resolution and other issues of concern with Congressional offices
and members of the local Armenian American community.

"The fact that 202 Members of Congress have cosponsored the Armenian
Genocide Resolution in the House demonstrates the broad bipartisan support
that H. Res. 106 enjoys," remarked Andrew Kzirian, ANCA-WR Executive
Director. "We continue to monitor the strong surge in national support for
this important human rights legislation – and are confident that in due
course the resolution will make its way to the House floor for a vote,"
added Kzirian.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

"OPPOSITION LIBERAL PARTIES SHOULD BE SELF-LIQIUDATED AND CREATE BIG POLITICAL UNIT," SUREN SURENIANTS BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Jun 18 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. After the May 12 elections "the acting
opposition, acting since 2001, has ceased to exist in institutional
terms."

This announcement was made by Suren Sureniants, a member of the
political Board of the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, during the
June 18 debate with Eduard Sharmazanov, a member of the RPA and
parliamentary faction.

In his opinion, all the opposition parties professing liberal
ideologies should be self-liquidated, create one big opposition party,
and, after forming that new opposition party, the politicians bearing
liberal values should decide whose candidature they will support in
the coming presidential elections. S. Sureniants declared that, with
respect to Raffi Hovhannisian and Artur Baghdasarian, the leaders
of the two parliamentary opposition parties, he sees either Aram
Sargsian, the leader of the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, or the
former president Levon Ter-Petrosian at the post of RA President.

E. Sharmazanov mentioned that all the small parties should grow
bigger sooner or later: in his opinion, that "is one of the laws
of democracy."

Touching upon the ARFD’s decision to take part in the presidential
elections with their own candidate, the member of the RPA Board
mentioned that this fact also speaks about the existence of democracy
in the power elite and, in particular, the freedom of having one’s
own viewpoint.

ARMENIA WANTS TO INCULCATE EUROPEAN VALUES IN ARMENIAN SOCIETY AGAIN

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 18 2007

YEREVAN, June 18./ARKA/. Armenia carries out serious steps toward
inculcating European values in the Armenian society, Speaker of the
Armenian parliament Tigran Torosyan said.

The press service of the Armenian parliament reported that at the
meeting with the Caucasian-Caspian Commission’s (CCC) delegation
for facts collection Torosyan pointed out that Armenia has been cut
off from European values for about two centuries due to objective
historical reasons, and this period definitely had an impact on the
public consciousness.

The Armenian Speaker emphasized the fact that Armenia has been a member
of the Council of Europe for already six years, and "it is time to
speak about Armenia’s return to Europe". Torosyan also pointed to
the importance of reviewing deep-rooted ideas in the Armenia-Europe
relations.

Speaking about ways of assistance from the CCC, Torosyan pointed
to the necessity of creating conditions for the Armenian youth to
study social sciences at European universities, and emphasized the
significance of building a comprehensive insight into regional issues.

Speaker Torosyan also wished success to the CCC on the way of resolving
complicated issues, pointed to the importance of their concretization,
and expressed readiness for cooperation.

The Caucasian-Caspian Commission’s (CCC) delegation for facts
collection, led by Scottish Ex-Speaker of parliament George Reed,
is now paying a regional visit to Yerevan.

The EU Caucasian-Caspian Commission was created in February 2007 in
Brussels. It is aimed at forming a future vision of the region and
its European dimension. The commission’s primary issues are conflict
settlement, democracy, energy security, and regional cooperation. The
commission will work in several formats: plenary sessions, working
groups, consulting visits to countries of the region, EU and USA,
workshops and conferences.

411mania.com, TX
June 16 2007

Parisyan Not Cornering Gamburyan at TUF 5 Finale
Posted by Caleb Newby on 06.16.2007

Also responds to Nate Diaz confrontation…

The Heat is….OFF?!? That’s the word from Karo "The Heat" Parisyan.
The Armenian Judo ace was a guest on the 6/15 edition of Sherdog’s
"Beatdown". The two main topics of discussion were Parisyan’s
exchange of words, and mean glances, with TUF contestant Nate Diaz
and his thoughts on the upcoming Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale. The event
on June 23rd features his cousin, Manny Gamburyan, fighting the afore
mentioned Diaz for claim to the season’s championship.

Parisyan started out by expressing an apology for acting like an
"ass" on the show pertaining to his actions on the Ultimate Fighter.
He said he felt the need to clear the air because of how much he
cares about the sport and the fans. Karo stated he did not see the
show, but that he’s not a bully and meant no harm at any point during
the events leading up to the confrontation’s climax. He admitted he
is a "hot head", part of which he credits to his Armenian blood, and
knows he should have acted more professionally. He said he felt bad
and embarassed, though he did not regret what he did in terms of
standing up to what he perceived as Nate’s disrespectful behavior.
Parisyan also said he has nothing against either Diaz brother.

The conversation shifted into the actual TUF Finale when the show’s
hosts asked if any emotion from the situation had carried over into
Manny’s prepartion for the 6/23 event. Karo’s tone shifted and he
genuinely seemed upset to say he wasn’t going to be able to corner
him. According to "The Heat", Gamburyan’s trainer, Gokor Chivichyan,
told Manny he had to choose one or the other. Parisyan was formerly
trained by Gokor and the two had a falling out. He stated he likely
would not even be at the TUF Finale and fans could expect to see him
cornering Phil Baroni at Strikeforce (against Frank Shamrock).

Not-Cornering-Gamburyan-at-TUF-5-Finale.htm

HRANT DINK’S SON STANDS TRIAL UNDER ARTICLE 301

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2007 14:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Istanbul prosecutor office urges up to 3 years of
imprisonment for Arat Dink, the son of Hrant Dink. An action against
Agos editor Arat Dink and his fellow Sargis Serobyan was brought for
a repeated publication of Hrant Dink’s interview where he recognized
the Armenian Genocide.

During yesterday’s court session Arat Dink said the prosecutors
provoked Hrant Dink’s slaying by initiating proceeding against
him. "The most absurd and dangerous is the fact that describing a
historical event as ‘genocide’ is perceived as insulting Turkishness,"
Arat Dink said, RFE/RL reports.

In case he is found guilty, Arat can be deprived of liberty for 6
months and up to 3 years.

Hrant Dink had been handed a 6-month suspended sentence "for insulting
Turkishness" under the same notorious article 301.

Hrant Dink was assassinated outside his Agos newspaper premises
in Istanbul on January 19, 2007, by Ogun Samast, a 17-year-old
ultra-nationalist Turk. 18 other people are accused of complicity
of the murder. Erhan Tuncel and Yasin Hayal are charged of plotting
the crime.

RUSSIA CLARIFIES MISSILES STANCE

EURSOC, UK
sia_Clarifies_Missiles_Stance.html
June 15 2007

Russia scales down threat as NATO discusses southern Europe shield
and Azeris ponder

Newspapers are reporting today that Russia has "backed down" from
its "Cold War brinksmanship" and declared that it won’t, after all,
be targeting its nuclear weapons at European cities: "Only" those
places in Poland and the Czech Republic where the US missile defence
shield will be located.

The Telegraph says that "hawkish" Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov was
trying to wind down the hostility between Washington and the Kremlin
which has resurfaced in recent weeks, following Vladimir Putin’s
threat that Russian rockets would be aimed at Europe in response to
the US shield.

The newspaper reports: "A Kremlin spokesman maintained that Mr Putin
had never meant to threaten European cities directly, although an
official admitted that it had not been in Russia’s interest to correct
any misapprehension."

The climb-down – or clarification, or even renewed threat against
NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic, depending on where you’re
sitting – comes as NATO leaders meet in Brussels to discuss Russia’s
opposition to the shield.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates emerged from a meeting of ministers
yesterday saying that the shield, which Washington argues is designed
to protect against Iranian missiles, will go ahead. He dismissed
suggestions that Russia’s offer to share the Galaba missile base
in Azerbaijan could replace the eastern European location for the
system, and added it was unlikely that the US and Moscow would agree
on a compromise before Vladimir Putin and George Bush meet in the US
next month.

He told press that the Azerbaijan facility, if it was used, would be
an "additional capability" to the Polish-Czech shield. He added that
there is definitely "interest" in bringing the Russians ob-board for
any planned shield.

A decision is due in 2008.

Gates added that NATO defence ministers also agreed to open a six-month
study into a short-range anti missile system which could guard against
an Iranian attack against NATO’s southern flank.

Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and parts of Romania would not be covered
by the proposed US shield.

EURSOC asked last week if anyone had asked the Azeris if they wanted a
joint US-Russia defence base on their land. Seems someone did: Turkish
Weekly reports that while Azeri president Ilham Aliyev is positive
about the Russian idea, senior officials accused the Russian leader of
"tactlessness" and point out that under the terms of the Galaba lease,
any third-party use must be agreed by the Azeri government.

The station, built by the Soviets in 1987, monitors much of Asia,
including Iran. Russia continued to use it after the collapse of the
Soviet empire, but in 2002 it admitted the base belonged to Azerbaijan
and agreed to pay $3 million a year to lease it. One imagines they’d
get a lot more from the Americans.

Azeris are calling for security guarantees from both Russia and
the US if the base is used, claiming with some reason that it would
become an Iranian target if it were incorporated into an anti-Iran
missile system.

The newspaper adds that the government could use US and Russian
influence to secure the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan
in return for accepting a joint base.

ARMENIAN SCIENTISTS NOT INVITED TO TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS CONFERENCE DUE IN ERZERUM

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2007 18:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian historians and specialists in Turkish
studies were not invited to Turkish-Armenian Relations conference due
in Erzerum June 21-22. Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies
at the RA Academy of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter that he did not receive an invitation.

Director of the Armenian Genocide Institute Hayk Demoyan and Turkish
studies specialist Ashot Hovhannisian were not invited either.

Meanwhile APA reported that "scientists from Armenia as well as
Armenian historians from different states were invited to the
conference. However they did not confirm their participation in
the event."