IN THE STATUS OF OBSERVERS
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 03, 2008
Armenia
In the rallies organized by L. Ter-Petrosyan, the representatives
of the US Embassy acted as observers. As mentioned yesterday by
Joseph Pennington, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, the June
20 rally was estimated as positive since the authorities did not
prevent it from being organized, and the opposition held the event
in a peaceful manner.
–Boundary_(ID_EGk0fdxdF5zPBCfD8n7Z4g)–
ELDAR SABIROGLU: "BISHKEK MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTERS HAS NOT BEEN PLANNED BEFOREHAND"
Azeri Press Agency
Azerbaijan
03 Jul 2008
"Bishkek meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Defense Ministers has not
been planned beforehand", Eldar Sabiroglu, Spokesman for Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry told APA.
To him, Armenian Defense Minister Sergey Ohanian came up to Azerbaijani
Defense Minister Colonel General Safar Abiyev asking discussions on
searching missing people during 54th assembly of the Council of CIS
Defense Ministers.
"Safar Abiyev told him that discussions on any issue can be conducted
after the war and liberation of Azerbaijani lands", he said.
LLUÃS MARIA DE PUIG: "THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE DEMANDS LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED LANDS"
Azeri Press Agency
02 Jul 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. The Council of Europe supports all
efforts directed to the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) LluÃs Maria de Puig told journalists, APA reports.
He added that the Council of Europe demanded the liberation of occupied
lands by Armenian forces. He noted that Resolution 1614 adopted by
PACE covered Article on Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The PACE President
will visit Armenia in two weeks.
"I will conduct negotiations with Armenian Government and will state
my unchangeable opinion to them", he said.
–Boundary_(ID_PtyLFoezH9OCdNawY6S1iQ)–
RPA: ARMENIA SHOULD INTENSIFY ITS FOREIGN POLICY
ARKA
July 2
Armenia should put forward more initiatives in its foreign policy and
apply approaches meeting its national interests, the Press Secretary
of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov
said speaking of the UN and PACE resolutions on Armenia.
The reason is the active anti-Armenian propaganda carried on by
Azerbaijan and Turkey, he said.
Despite the positive approaches and trends in the work of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry, the foreign policy has been rather reacting than
enterprising during the last years, Sharmazanov said.
He considered Armenian President Serzh Sargsian’s intention to invite
the President of Turkey Abdullah Giul to Armenia-Turkey football
match such an initiative.
Yet, much remains to be done in this respect, Sharmazanov said
stressing the necessity to involve all Armenian embassies, Diaspora
organizations the country’s political forces in this process. "We
are obliged to solve urgent issues of our foreign policy regardless
of our political views and disagreements," Sharmazanov said. -0–
BAKO SAHAKYAN: AZERBAIJAN’S BELLICOSE RHETORIC NEGATIVELY AFFECTS THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS
armradio.am
30.06.2008 10:22
On June 28, NKR President Bako Sahakyn met with OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs Matthew Byza (USA), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard
Fassier (France).
A wide range of issues concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement was discussed during the meeting.
Bako Sahakyn emphasized that the final solution to the problem is
impossible without Karabakh’s participation in the negotiation process.
The President noted that Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda and
bellicose rhetoric don’t promote the formation of an atmosphere of
mutual confidence and affect the negotiation process and maintenance
of peace and stability in the region as well. The hostilities provoked
by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Martakert region on March 4
illustrate it.
The NKR President again noted that official Stepanakert stands for
peaceful settlement of the conflict and establishment of a direct
dialogue with Baku.
Bako Sahakyn noted that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be
settled within the OSCE Minsk group framework and Azerbaijan’s
attempts to transfer it to other instances do not further the conflict
settlement. The Co-Chairs shared the President’s viewpoint.
They also expressed their readiness to assist the peaceful settlement
of the conflict and noted that NKR’s participation in the negotiation
process is a question of time.
NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan and Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk attended the meeting.
A STROLL WITH A PAPAL PEDIGREE
Elisabeth Rosenthal
The New York Times
June 29, 2008
WHEN Romans want to fare una passeggiata (take a stroll), they
inexplicably tend to head to the Via del Corso, Rome’s soulless
main shopping street. But you can see Zara and Rolex stores
(not to mention McDonald’s) in any city. If it’s beauty, history
and stress-free strolling you’re looking for, head to Via Giulia,
a roughly half-mile-long cobbled street that is lined nearly end to
end with churches and elegant palazzi. This summer is a perfect time
to explore the street, which is celebrating its 500th birthday and
is being feted with various tours, concerts and renovations.
Commissioned by Pope Julius II (for whom the street is named),
Via Giulia was built in the early 16th century, part of a plan to
build a square of roads near the Vatican. The project was never
completed. But to this day, Via Giulia is lined with an array of
extraordinary churches and cultural buildings, as well as some of
the fanciest homes in Rome.
Via Giulia offers a walk unusual in Rome for several reasons. It is
wide enough that you are not dodging cars and scooters or inhaling
their fumes; arrow straight, so you will not get lost; intimate and
quiet enough to appreciate what you are seeing.
Via Giulia starts with an ivy-covered arch, designed by Michelangelo;
it was part of another unrealized plan, this one to connect the
Palazzo Farnese (now the French Embassy) with the Villa Farnese,
on the other side of the Tiber. The connection was never made, so
the arch instead functions as a sort of majestic entryway.
Just after the arch is the white stone church of Santa Maria
dell’Orazione e Morta, decorated with skulls and etchings of skeletons,
home to the medieval fraternity tasked with burying the dead found
on the streets in Rome. Just beyond that is a gorgeous white palazzo
belonging to the 16th-century Falconieri family with a sumptuous inner
courtyard. Remodeled in the 17th century by Borromini, it houses the
Hungarian Academy.
After that, from the days when every nation and city-state had to
have its own church in Rome, there are churches representing Spain,
Armenia, Siena and Florence, to name just a few. The altar of the
Sienese church, with painting by Girolamo Genga, has been restored
for the anniversary.
EACH church brings a taste of its home base to Rome. The small Armenian
church, for example, has a delicate iron cross on top and an iron
fence that would seem more at home in the Armenian countryside. The
vast white Florentine church at the end of the street, San Giovanni
Battista dei Fiorentina, reflects the grandeur of the Medici family
(who had a palazzo just next door). By far the largest and grandest
church on Via Giulia, it was begun in the early 16th century and took
more than 200 years to complete and includes work by both Borromini
and Bernini. As part of the birthday celebrations, the church is to
host a narrated homage (with music) this weekend to Pietro da Cortona,
the artist whose paintings adorn the altar.
Does Via Giulia sound like a movie set? Not at all. Via Giulia is
very much a street where people — most very rich — live. It is
filled with antiques shops as well as a smattering of more pedestrian
establishments like hardware stores and nail salons. One of Rome’s
best high schools, Liceo Virgilio, is on the street.
And, to remind you that all is not saintly in Italy these days:
Italy’s anti-Mafia commission has its imposing offices on Via Giulia
housed in a vast former jail — thick bars on the windows speak to
its prior function.
While many of the churches and palazzi are closed to the public,
some will open their doors in honor of Via Giulia’s birthday this
year (check for a schedule of tours, concerts
and events). If you see a door open, peek inside. And, if you want
to live like an aristocrat, there are even short-stay apartments for
rent there.
KLAS BERGMAN: "GORAN LENNMARKER HAS NOT YET DETERMINED HOW HE WILL BE ENGAGED IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"
Azeri Press Agency
June 30 2008
Azerbaijan
Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. "Goran Lennmarker, President of OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly has not made a new report on Nagorno Karabakh
conflict", Klas Bergman, Director of Communications OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly told APA.
To him, Goran Lennmaker has not determined how he will be engaged
in the issue. New President will be elected during summer session of
OSCE PA today. Bergman added that special issue on Azerbaijan would
not be debated. He noted that issues raised by Azerbaijani delegation
could be discussed at the session.
ARMENPRESS
PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSIAN RECEIVES OSCE MINSK GROUP COCHAIRMEN
YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsian
received today the OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen Mathew Bryza (USA),
Bernard Fassier (France), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and the OSCE
chairman-in-office’s personal representative, ambassador Andrzei
Kasprzyk.
The presidential press service told Armenpress that during the
meeting the sides discussed a set of issues pertaining to the Madrid
proposals for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution.
President Serzh Sargsian presented Armenia’s views and observations
with regard to the negotiations process. The cochairmen informed the
Armenian president about their meetings with Azerbaijani leadership in
Baku on June 27.
SWITZERLAND GOING TO OPEN DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION IN ARMENIA
armradio.am
27.06.2008 15:29
Sweden is going to open a diplomatic representation in Armenia, Federal
Councilor of the Swiss Confederation, Head of the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey declared during today’s joint
press conference with RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. She noted
that the first step towards founding of the diplomatic representations
will be the opening of the diplomatic office in Yerevan.
According to Micheline Calmy-Rey, Armenia is important for Switzerland
for its geographical position, since it is situated at the crossroads
of energy resources. Besides, Armenia has a large Diaspora, including
in Switzerland.
The foreign Minister of Sweden noted that the two countries are
successfully cooperating within international organizations like
the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the UN. Armenia and Switzerland
also have a good contractual-legal basis for bilateral cooperation,
particularly agreements on economic cooperation and excluding double
taxation, the Swiss Development Agency operates in Armenia, which
addresses issue sof agricultural and humanitarian aid.
The Foreign Minister of Switzerland informed also that her country has
serious programs of cooperation with Armenia in the economic sphere.
For his part, Edward Nalbandian declared that Armenia attaches
importance to the reinforcement of multifaceted relations with
Switzerland, and the relations between the two countries continue
developing rather dynamically.
"Ever since independence Switzerland has been rendering its friendly
support to Armenia in the development, reforms and humanitarian
fields," RA Foreign Minister said. He noted also that the positions
of the two countries overlap on a number of international affairs.
"OCCURRENCES ARE RATHER VIOLENCE THAN TORTURE"
A1+
27 June, 2008
Armenia ranks among the 81 countries which still resort to torture,
Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of
Armenia, Ambassador Raul de Luzenberger said on June 27.
Today Raul de Luzenberger and France’s Ambassador to Armenia, Serzh
Smessov told a press conference in connection with the International
Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The European Union annually earmarks 11-12 million euros (EUR)
to combat tortures. The money is usually spent on training
of law-enforcement bodies and policemen and on NGOs to render
psychological assistance to people undergoing torture.
In reply to A1+’s question whether torturers are mainly policemen and
law-enforcers, Raul de Luzenberger said: "Unfortunately, law-enforcers
ill-treat people and employ torture all over the world."
Asked whether the mass killings of 1915 can be considered as torture
and whether Turkey is included in the 81 countries, Mr. Luzenberger
first tried to find out which events we meant and then said: "They
are rather tragic events than tortures."
He advised the presentees to make inquiries about Turkey from the
"Amnesty International" Organisation which clearly defines the terms
"torture" and "violence." Then he added that many EU member countries
are involved on the list.
Later on we learnt from the organisation’s website that Turkey is
involved among the countries where torture is on the highest level.
A1+ asked the French Ambassador whether the March 1 occurrences in
front of the French Embassy can be considered torture. Serzh Smessov
said in reply: "We really feel sorry about the occurrences but they
cannot be enrolled in the category of torture."