International Association Of Business And Parliament Open Office InA

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND PARLIAMENT OPEN OFFICE IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 6 2006

YEREVAN, June 6. /ARKA/. An Armenian office of the International
Association of Business and Parliament is to be opened in Yerevan
on June 7, 2006. The ceremony will be attended by Vice-Speaker
of the European Parliament Edward McMilan Scot, foreign guests,
diplomats, Armenian parliamentarians, small and big businessmen and
representatives of international organizations.

The Association organized its Secretary General Hide Chamber’s official
visits to Armenia. Chambers paid two visits to Armenia during which
he held meetings with members of the RA Parliament and representatives
of international and public organizations.

The newly opened and legally registered Armenian office of the
Association enjoys guarantees and assistance of the Association’s
structure in Great Britain, which ensures transparency and prevent
corruption in its activities. It also serves as a resource for the
RA Parliament in exchanging international experience.

“You Do Nothing”

“YOU DO NOTHING”
Naira Vanian

Aravot.am
06 June 06

6 Armenians have been killed for national hostility in Moscow in 2006.

Ten public organizations organized action of protest in the RA in
front of Embassy of Russia and then Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
organizers of the action were accusing our authorities of being
indifferent towards those incidents. The action started by quarrel
between journalists and security officials at the Embassy. The latter,
seeing the participants of the action from distance, and their cameras
stopped their progression. “Don’t shoot”, I’ll take your camera and
I’ll be responsible for it”, – the security official said.

The journalist of “Hetq” was surprised at that behavior; “I have
always taken photos and I haven’t been forbidden anyway, why do you
forbid?” “It isn’t my problem what you do anywhere else”, – was the
answer. Anyway the initiators of the action had closed the way of
entrance to the RF Embassy with “STOP” posters. Demonstrators made
an announcement to the Embassy where it is said; “Demonstrations of
racism and hatred in Russia in last years are too anxious.

28 foreigners were killed and 402 suffered from attacks by
racist groups in 2005. Foreigners from Caucasus and Middle
Asia become the victims of attacks in most where there
are also Armenians. Nationalistic groups cry anti Armenian
expressions… Improhibitive actions of racist, fascistic groups
and unpunishment of crimes and actions make us think that the
above-mentioned groups act by support of the RF state structures. We,
the representatives of public organizations of Armenia and citizens of
Armenia strongly condemn actions of racist groups and not correspond
steps of the RF authorities to arrest and punish the killers.” To
the question whether the sponsorship of some Russian state structures
addressed against Armenians or against other foreigners too, one of
the organizers of the action Avetiq Ishkhanian answered; “Let give
me an example. Sergey Baghdasarian’s trial which was spread in media
as if he had wanted to violated a Russian girl wasn’t true. There was
a severe murder by a drunk woman Ivankova. And she was justified and
all people gathered round the court, including the members of Russian
liberal-democratic party were crying anti-Armenian expressions. We
can say that the court authority in this case and other powers which
have some influence on him assist that hatred”.

But can we say that those incidents are small demonstrations of foreign
relations between our country and the RF. Mr. Ishkanian answered; “I
see a great logic in it. When you bow more you lose you respect. There
is a truth in it.

If the authorities of Armenia sent a serious note in time the situation
would calm down, while the authorities of Armenia don’t want to offend
Russia as a lot of things depend on it, even the authority of Armenia.”

The member of “In favor of development of science” initiating group
Arsen Kharatian criticizing indifference of the Armenian authorities
said; “Doing nothing is also a sin, not expressing a position is
a part of crime itself. The frightened behaivior of the Armenian
authorities is shameful. Naming such a privilege, about which we have
spoken for many years, having the Russian Army in Armenia which as if
defends the Republic of Armenia and its citizens but at the same time
Armenians are killed in Russia must cause a serious anxiety for the
Armenian authorities. If Russian authorities punished such groups,
demonstrations wouldn’t be repeated. We have never seen the reply of
our country to that reality. If they have sent a note of protest we
aren’t introduced to its text. We want to break the stereotype that
it isn’t allowed to say anything to Russians. The problem must be
raised to diplomatic level and to influence on Russian authorities
in that way.”

–Boundary_(ID_+pxEAkLZrnvkQMT4Tr0LFg)–

Brotherly Azeris And Turks Uniting In Pathetic Fight Against CommonE

BROTHERLY AZERIS AND TURKS UNITING IN PATHETIC FIGHT AGAINST COMMON ENEMY – ARMENIA

Yerevan, June 6. ArmInfo. Some 250 Azeri intellectuals, scientists
and artists from 31 countries as well as MPs from Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Latvia and Estonia, are holding a forum in the Turkish city of Antalia.

June 7 the Azeri-Turkish federation will demonstrate a film about
“Armenian terrorism.” The same day they will hold a conference to
consider join plan of action of the Azeri and Turkish diasporas. The
participants in the forum will watch a film “We Are 50 Million Strong
Nation” about the 2nd Congress of World Azeris. They will also consider
forming an Assembly of American-Azeri Associations which will involve
US based Turks and Azeris. June 9 the Congress of European Azeris
will meet to hear the report on its last year’s activities.

Armenia, Adzharia Should Spur Their Bi-Lateral Relations By WorkingO

ARMENIA, ADZHARIA SHOULD SPUR THEIR BI-LATERAL RELATIONS BY WORKING OUT NEW MODELS OF MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 5 2006

YEREVAN, June 5. /ARKA/. Armenia and Adzharia should spur their
bi-lateral relations by working out new models of mutually beneficial
cooperation, Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanyan and
Adzharian Prime Minister Levan Varshalomidze said as met last week
in Batumi. In particular, the PM said Adzharian Batumi and Armenian
Vanadzor cities had ties of brotherhood. He thinks this tradition
can be revived. The Premier also said that Adzharia is interested in
Armenian investments.

In his words, there are successful investments of Armenian capital.

As an example of these successful investments, Varshalomidze singled
out Armenia Restaurant and a company producing ice-cream.

Silvanyan held a series of meetings with other officials. He met with
Murman Beridze, Acting Mayor of Batumi. The mayor pointed out that
many investment programs are being implemented there in recent years.

At the same time, he said Adzharian authorities expected greater
investments from Armenian businessmen.

The Armenian ambassador met Armenian entrepreneurs and urged them to
keep investing in Adzharia and intensify their activity there.

Will The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Change?

WILL THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CHANGE?

A1+
[11:40 am] 06 June, 2006

The OSCE Minsk group American Co-chair Steven Mann will take up another
job in the USA State Department according to the agency “Trend.”

The Co-chair noted that it is a normal change. “The Minsk group will
have another American Co-chair instead,” says Steven Mann. He also
referred to the meeting of the Armenian and Azeri Presidents held in
Bucharest and noted that the discussions were rather intensive. “The
Co-chairs will discuss the results of the negotiations one of these
days, plan their further steps and inform about them in the next
session of the OSCE Council,” mentioned Steven Mann.

Environmental Problems Are Being Solved In Sisian

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ARE BEING SOLVED IN SISIAN

A1+
[12:44 pm] 06 June, 2006

Cycling and photo contests were initiated in the city Sisian by the
“Sisian Development Centre” NGO with the participation of 3-17-year
old children in connection with the International Day of Environment
Protection.

According to Manvel Soghomonyan, initiator of the ceremony the best
participants will have a chance to master computer skills in the
“Sisian Development Centre” free of charge.

The environment protection issues were the theme of the roundtable
organized by the above mentioned NGO with the participation of
representatives of many interested organizations. The participants
focused on the issues of the city purification and environment
protection. There are huge piles of waste and rubbish in some parts of
the city regardless of the fact that the garbage is frequently taken
away. This question becomes more vulnerable especially in summer. They
also noted that tree-planting must be organized in the city. All the
suggestions were put down with the hope that they will be realized
one day.

TV Company “Syuni” of Sisian.

Armenian Parliament To Take Summer Recess With One Deputy Speaker

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT TO TAKE SUMMER RECESS WITH ONE DEPUTY SPEAKER

Armenpress
June 05 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 5, ARMENPRESS: Members of the Armenian National Assembly
have agreed today to put off election of a deputy parliament until
autumn when they will be back from the summer recess. The position
of one of two deputy parliament speakers became vacant after Tigran
Torosian from the Republican Party of prime minister Margarian was
elected parliament chairman to replace the former speaker Arthur
Baghdasarian.

During a Q&A session in the parliament today prime minister Margarian
said his party was not afraid of taking up the second important
position in the country, in addition to the third important position of
prime minister. “We never avoid shouldering responsibility, especially
that we still have a duty to fulfill. Our party went to the polls in
2003 with specific programs and knowing what sort of a burden it may
shoulder,’ he said.

Margarian said his party will decide only next February or March
either to participate in 2007 parliamentary elections alone or in an
alliance with another force of forces. He said the Republican party
hopes to win as many seats as it has now.

BAKU: Garabagh mediators due Tuesday

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006

Garabagh mediators due Tuesday

Baku, May 22, AssA-Irada

The OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict will arrive in Baku on Tuesday
evening.
The Minsk Group co-chairs Steven Mann of the United States, Yuri
Merzlyakov of Russia and Bernard Fassier of France are to hold
meetings in the Azeri capital on Wednesday and leave for Yerevan on
the next day, the Foreign Ministry told AssA-Irada.
Visiting the region along with the intermediaries will be Russia’s
Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin, US Assistant Secretary of
State Daniel Fried and French Foreign Ministry political director
Stanislas de Laboulaye.
The Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov said the next meeting of the
Azeri and Armenian leaders may be held in Bucharest June 4-6. The
discussions are to take place on the sidelines of a summit on
cooperation and dialogue in the Black Sea region, he said.
The parties failed to agree upon the issues of principle during the
latest talks held by the two presidents in Rambouillet, France in
February, which was followed by Azerbaijan’s threats to resort to
military action.*

Prosecutor-General Again Denies Links With New Party

PROSECUTOR-GENERAL AGAIN DENIES LINKS WITH NEW PARTY
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
June 1 2006

Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian insisted on Thursday that he
was not behind the recent creation of a new political party that has
staked a claim to a role in Armenia’s next government to be formed
after next year’s parliamentary election.

“I have said repeatedly that I am not engaged in party building,” he
said. “You may say something once and everyone will understand. But
you may say something for ten times and not everyone will understand.”

Hovsepian was commenting on allegations by a top leader of the
governing Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun),
Hrant Markarian, that he is illegally sponsoring the Association for
Armenia party. Some of the party’s leaders have close ties with the
influential prosecutor.

“The current prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia has no right to
create a party. Neither directly, nor indirectly,” Markarian told the
newspaper “Iravunk” last week. He repeated his view in an interview
with RFE/RL on Tuesday.

Markarian also accused Hovsepian of behaving like a “feudal ruler”
of the central Aragatsotn province which is governed by a member
of Dashnaktsutyun. Reports in the Dashnaktsutyun-controlled media
have said the Prosecutor-General’s Office has conducted politically
motivated inspections of local government agencies and schools in
recent weeks.

One of the Aragatsotn districts, Aparan, is known as the stronghold of
Hovsepian’s Nig-Aparan organization uniting prominent natives of the
area. The Association for Armenia plans to make a strong showing there.

“The people know well who is who,” Hovsepian told RFE/RL after
inaugurating a new U.S.-funded forensic laboratory of Armenia’s
law-enforcement bodies. He refused to answer more questions.

TBILISI: Russian Military Hardware Leaves Tsalka

RUSSIAN MILITARY HARDWARE LEAVES TSALKA

The Messenger, Georgia
May 31 2006

The latest consignment armored military vehicles from the Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki left the railway station in Tsalka
(Southern Georgia) on May 30 at 09.00 the Georgian Ministry of
Defense announced

This consignment of 15 mobile artillery units will leave Georgia via
Azerbaijan, where they will go on to Russia.

The next consignment of armaments from the Akhalkalaki base will
be taken to Armenia on May 31. At the same time military vehicles
from the military base in Batumi are being withdrawn. A column with
armaments from the Batumi base will leave Georgian territory on June 1.

Armaments, heavy armored vehicles and soldiers are being withdrawn and
the military bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi are being dismantled,
according to the Georgian-Russian Agreement which was singed by
representatives of Defense Ministries of Georgia and Russia on March
31, 2006 in Sochi.