Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 8 2005

Mediators to present document to Azeri, Armenian presidents

Baku, July 7, AssA-Irada
Intermediaries on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper Garabagh conflict
settlement will submit a document, prepared during the `Prague
talks’, to the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Kazan, Russia
late in August, Russian co-chair of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group
Yuri Merzlyakov said. He did not elaborate on the details of the
document, saying that `there is still time before the meeting’.
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia Ilham Aliyev and Robert
Kocharian are due to meet as part of an informal summit of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on August 26.
Kocharian said earlier that he does not expect progress from the
upcoming meeting.
`Our positions substantially differ. We believe that a return to the
previous status of Upper Garabagh is impossible.’
The MG is also co-chaired by Steven Mann of the United States and
Bernard Fassier of France.*

Pan Armenian News

NO INFORMATION ON ARMENIANS POSSIBLY HURT IN BLASTS LONDON AVAILABLE

08.07.2005 05:01

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the latest data 33 killed and 400 wounded in
terrorist attacks in London. According to Armenian Ambassador to the UK Vahe
Gabrielian, there is no information of victims of Armenian origin available.
The Armenian Embassy keeps in touch with the British police. Attempts to
find out something about the fate of Armenians are also made via e-mail. The
airports of the UK capital city started functioning. A group calling itself
“The Secret Organization of al Qaeda in Europe” said in an Internet
statement that it staged the blasts in retaliation for Britain’s involvement
in Iraq and Afghanistan. Police said they couldn’t confirm the authenticity
of the statement.

PRESS RELEASE
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Haigazian University
Beirut Lebanon

Haigazian University’s 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Haigazian University’s 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Agbabian: Haigazian University strives to be a vital force in the
forward
momentum of Lebanon.

Haigazian University’s fiftieth Anniversary Gala Dinner, a rousing
success for itself, was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Phoenicia
Intercontinental hotel, on Wednesday the 29th of June, 2005.
The Grand Ballroom glittered with the presence of around 400 guests,
including President Paul Haidostian, former presidents, Board of Trustees,
Members of Parliament, former ministers, head of the Armenian religious
communities, the Armenian Ambassador, the deputy ambassador of the US
embassy, and a full complement of deans, professors, staff and alumni.
After the Lebanese Anthem and the Haigazian Alma Mater, the Master of
Ceremony, Dean Arda Ekmekji, invited former president, Dr. John Khanjian to
offer a word of prayer.
The AMAA’s word was delivered by its President, Dr. Hrair Aharonian,
and a testimony of encouragement from His Holiness Aram I, was read by his
Grace, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian.
In his turn, President Haidostian welcomed the audience, and delivered
a speech. `in other words, we are saying today, that the rich heritage and
spirit of excellence and community service of Haigazian needs to be
uncovered further. It is time to openly celebrate, and together celebrate
not only an anniversary but an educational service’, Haidostian pointed out.
Several recognitions took place during the ceremony, whereupon
President Haidostian, recognized the generous contribution of some
organizations in providing the opportunity for countless students to pursue
higher education. A token of appreciation was presented to the
representatives of the following institutions, the Armenian Missionary
Association of America, the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Scholarship Fund,
the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Stephen Philibosian Foundation, the
Armenian Fund for Health Insurance in Lebanon, the Common Global Ministries
Board of the United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ -USA, and the
Union of Marash Armenians-Lebanon.
In his keynote address, Dr. Mihran Agbabian, President Emeritus of the
American University of Armenia, took the audience in a few minutes on a
peripatetic journey through the United States, Lebanon, Ottoman Turkey and
Armenia. `Higher education at Haigazian is the sum total of the best
qualities of higher education in historical Armenia, the early years in the
United States, the missionaries and the Armenians of Ottoman Turkey, and
the fertile soil of Lebanon that has welcomed institutions of higher
learning’, considered Agbabian.
Agbabian added, `Haigazian University strives to be a vital force in
the forward momentum of Lebanon. The University understands the importance
of its location in Lebanon. Fifty years ago Haigazian University was
created on a very strong foundation. Its mission has not changed since its
founding days: to provide a quality education in a Christian environment
preparing students to become citizens with a sense of social
responsibility. And this will sustain it for years to come.’
The program also featured a 10 minute video documentary projection,
representing Haigazian University today, and its future projects.
Ms. Houry Apartian of Aleppo, accompanied by Arthur Satyan on
keyboard sang beautiful musical selections, while Miss Shake Avanessian
Major of London, highlighted the 50 year journey of Haigazian University by
presenting 3 dances: Giligia, especially choreographed for the 50th
Anniversary of Haigazian, pays homage to the homeland of virtually every
Armenian Lebanese, Dzirani Dzar ( The Apricot Tree), which represents the
seeds planted fifty years ago have grown into a strong and beautifully
branched tree, which has roots in both the Armenian heritage and the soil
of Lebanon, and Dzaghgats Baleni (The Blossoming Cherry Tree), which
represents the 50 year generation of Lebanese youth whom spread the fruits
of Haigazian around the world.
After this cultural interlude, Dean Ekmekji appealed to the audience
to support the future buildings project of Haigazian University.
Founding President of Haigazian University, Dr. John Markarian,
Chairwoman of the Philibossian Foundation, Mrs. Joyce Stein, and the Mayor
of Beirut, Mr. Abdel Mene’m Ariss, shared with the crowd, some greetings
and nostalgic memories. The Mayor presented to President Haidostian a
plaque of appreciation on behalf of the city of Beirut.
Towards the end of the banquet, the 3 presidents of Haigazian
University, Markarian, Khanjian and Haidostian, cut the celebratory cake.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

JULY 1-7, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

EVENTS FOR THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB

THIRTY-SECOND `PRESS-CLUB SHOW’

`ARAVOT’ STARTS A FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL PRINT RUNS

RA OMBUDSMAN’S WEB SITE LAUNCHED

NCTR CONSIDERED THE BIDS FOR BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITIONS

CASE ABOUT THE ATTACK ON THE CHIEF EDITOR OF `SYUNYATS YERKIR’ STOPPED

CONDOLENCES

EVENTS FOR THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB

On July 18 Yerevan Press Club will celebrate the 10th anniversary since its
foundation. A number of events will be held on this occasion by YPC:

On July 15 at 12.00 a presentation of the books, published by YPC during the
past months, will be conducted at the Journalists Union of Armenia;

On July 16 at 12.00 at the House of Chess after Tigran Petrosian Chess
International Grandmaster Artashes Minasian will place a simul with
journalists;

On July 17 at 18.30 at `Pyunik’ stadium a soccer game will be made between a
team of journalists and `Diplomat’ team, represented by the RÀ Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the international and diplomatic missions accredited in
Armenia;

On July 18 at 11.00 at the Journalists Union of Armenia a press-conference
will be held on YPC’s 10th anniversary;

On July 18 from 13.00 till 16.00 the Komitas Chamber Music House will host
YPC Annual Award Ceremony.

THIRTY-SECOND `PRESS-CLUB SHOW’

On July 4 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
thirty-second `Press Club’ show was issued. The cycle is organized by
Yerevan Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network
Media Program.

The discussion subject of representatives of leading media and journalistic
associations of Armenia was the activity of the RA Human Rights Defender. By
the forecast of `Press Club’ participants, the Armenian media will focus
this week at the process of constitutional reforms in the country,
particularly in the context of the 10th anniversary of the Main Law in
force, celebrated on July 5. Another priority event for media, in the
opinion of the program participants, will be the session of the OSCE
Parliament Assembly in Washington (July 1-5, 2005), in particular, the
report of a Special Representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on
Mountainous Karabagh conflict Goran Lenmarker.

`ARAVOT’ STARTS A FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL PRINT RUNS

Since July 7 `Aravot’ started to be produced with the red seal of its
founder and publisher (`Aravot’ LLC), which is now placed on the front page
of each newspaper copy. `The distributors who accept our daily without the
seal will thus be marketing stolen goods and be legally responsible for
that’, `Aravot’ warns in its editorial (`Aravot’, July 7, 2005). The readers
who happen to get illegal copies are requested by `Aravot’ to report this by
a 24-hour-a-day phone line, open also for comments and proposals on the
newspaper content.

RA OMBUDSMAN’S WEB SITE LAUNCHED

On July 7 at Tekeyan Culture Center the presentation of the web site of RA
Human Rights Defender () was held. The internet resource in
three languages, Armenian, English and Russian, was created under `Promotion
of Human Rights in Armenia and Increasing Public Awareness about the RA
Human Rights Defender Institute’ program, implemented by the RA National
Assembly and the UN Development Program with the financial support of the
Cooperation Development Minister of the Netherlands.

NCTR CONSIDERED THE BIDS FOR BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITIONS

On July 1 the National Commission on Television and Radio considered the
bids submitted for broadcast licensing competitions in a number of Armenian
regions. As it has been reported, the competitions were announced on March
22 with two packages of frequencies (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter,
March 18-24, 2005).

The package of 17 UHFs in the cities of Armenia (this time the license for
these frequencies is held by `Akn’ TV company) was claimed by only one
bidder, `Armenia’ TV company.

There was only one bidder for the second package of 9 FMs, too. This was
`ArRadioInterContinental’ that currently has a license for these
frequencies.

The results of the competitions will be announced by NCTR on August 18.

At the same NCTR session on July 1 it was decided to grant `Teleport’ LLC a
license for cable broadcasting in all the communities of the capital.
Previously, `Teleport’ LLC did cable broadcasting only in one community –
Malatia-Sebastia of Yerevan.

CASE ABOUT THE ATTACK ON THE CHIEF EDITOR OF `SYUNYATS YERKIR’ STOPPED

On June 30 `Syunyats Yerkir’ disseminates a statement on the discontinuation
of the litigation on the attack of the Chief Editor of the newspaper Samvel
Aleksanian, committed on October 13, 2004.

As it has been reported, the incident occurred in the editorial office,
where three men, one of them being the Chairman of `Syunyats Artsivner’
(`Eagles of Syunik’) NGO Khachik Asrian, attempted to learn from Samvel
Aleksanian why `Syunyats Yerkir’ published critical articles on the
activities of the Syunik region Governor and the Prime Minister of Armenia.
Not getting to the end of explanations, Asrian hit the Chief Editor into the
face with fist, and then applied the baton he had brought (see details in
YPC Weekly Newsletter, October 8-14, 2004).

On the incident criminal proceedings were instituted on Article 258 of the
RA Criminal Code (`Public Disorder’); the case itself was transferred to the
court of primary jurisdiction of Syunik region. At the same time, in the
opinion of Samvel Aleksanian, the preliminary investigation was conducted
quite partially. `Having studied the materials, I had an impression that
quite a differently incident was investigated’, he told YPC, stressing that
a war is unleashed against him and his publication in Syunik region.
Notably, on the early morning of April 1 another incident occurred – the car
of the Chief Editor was burned, qualified by him as another action of the
local authorities (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 1-7, 2005).

As the statement of `Syunyats Yerkir’ above informs, on June 24 the court of
primary jurisdiction of the Syunik region ruled to discontinue the
litigation on `bandit attack on October 13, 2004 on the editorial office of
`Syunyats Yerkir’ by three mercenaries’, despite the fact that in the course
of the trial `the court proved the fact of the crime committed by one of the
defendants’. `The grounds for this court ruling were, as specified in the
resolution, the change of the situation. The main circumstance that affected
the changed situation, judging from the resolution, was the decoration of
one of the criminals with a medal, invented by organization he himself heads
and distributed in this region by kilograms’, the statement of newspaper
says. It is further said that after the start of the hearings `Syunyats
Yerkir’ had three times challenged the judge, these motions being refused
all the time, for this reason it boycotted the subsequent sessions.

On June 28, the statement says, `Syunyats Yerkir’ challenged the court
ruling with the RA Court of Appeals.

CONDOLENCES

In the early morning of July 1 in a car accident Artak Vardazarian, the
former head of `Armenpress’ news agency and the Press-Secretary of the RA
Interior Ministry, passed away. Yerevan Press Club expresses its condolences
to the family and friends of Artak Vardazarian.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

AZERI PRESIDENT ACCUSES EUROPE OF HYPOCRISY AND ILLEGALITY

YEREVAN, JULY 7. ARMINFO. IN an interview to Turkish journalist Ardan
Zenturk Azeri President Ilham Aliev complains of Europe’s double
standards with respect to Baku and Ankara.

He calls hypocrisy and illegality the EU’s urging Turkey to open its
border with Armenia in the context of the lack of pressure on the
latter. But this is reality. Even rejecting it we have to accept
it. The world is unfair and this approach has once again proved
that. “We should be stronger and get together to attain our goal.”
“The Armenains have occupied our lands for over 10 years while some
still say that we should reach agreement with them. But how? They do
not want to give back our lands and demand Karabakh’s independence,”
wonders Aliev.

“We cannot do that as Karabakh is a native Azeri land and cannot be
separated from Azerbaijan,” says Aliev noting that the different
approach of the international community to the Karabakh conflict as
compared with the other Caucasian conflicts is due to the Armenian
lobby.

He says that the situation over Turkey’s admission into the EU is also
a dual standard policy.

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 06/07/2005

THE CENTRAL BANK OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

STATEMENT

The Central Bank’s policy in the area of money transfers in the Republic of
Armenia

Integration of the Armenian economy into the world economy and volumes of
private money transfers growing year after year bring in new challenges.
These include:

– Proportional development of all possible establishments and instruments of
money transfers [some may be counted] under cooperation of the private and
public sectors;

– General public’s accessibility to the money transfers systems, and
ensuring warrants for safe and reliable functioning of such systems;

– Creation of qualitative criteria and defending user interests in the money
transfers area;

Exclusion of fraud, now widely practiced worldwide, via the money transfers
systems and prevention of using this for criminal offence and terrorism
funding.

In light of these challenges, the Central Bank sets its own objectives, as
follows:

a/ Discussing the possibilities and ways of development of the system with
the representatives of the private sector by rendering technical assistance
when needed;

b/ Contribute to a free competitive environment in this area in order to
make sure affordable and reliable payment services throughout Armenia;

c/ Establish clear and acceptable conditions for the money transfers
activities, and create a proper surveillance system specifically to take
money transmitters from shadow and have them operate within the legal
framework;

d/ Reduce the risks associated with the transfer of money via the money
transfers systems; and

e/ Rule out chances for money laundering and terrorism funding via the money
transfers systems functioning in Armenia.

Under the Armenian Law on `Payment and Settlement Systems and
Organizations’, the Central Bank will deal with these objectives by
clarifying legal status of money transmitters (remittance business
providers) (issuance of license to them) and regulating and supervising
their business.

A. Licensing

The legal status of money transmitters in Armenia will be clarified by way
of issuing a license to perform money transfers. To get a license, managers
of such organizations should comply with the qualification criteria, and the
organization itself should meet the requirements, set by the Central Bank.

B. Regulation

The Law authorizes the Central Bank to set safety, technical adequacy,
hardware and software environment and the recompensing amount requirements
to the money transmitters.

In connection with these requirements, the Central Bank’s policy is as
follows:

1. Safety and technical adequacy requirements to the location of business

To make sure both customers and employees of the organization are secure
while cash assets are authentic and reliably protected in performing cash
money transfers, the Central Bank has initially set strict requirements,
irrespective of the amount of currency in circulation. The organization
shall meet these requirements in performing money transfers in any place.
Apart from money transfers, the organization may only render FX
purchase/sale and postal services.

2. Hardware and software environment requirements

The hardware and software requirements cover verification, integrity and
confidentiality of payment and settlements documents and other related
information during an electronic exchange, and maintenance, limited
accessibility to and prevention of loss and/or distortion of electronic
information.

In the time ahead, the Central Bank’s requirements will be confined to
maintaining internally regulating documents and adhering to the provisions
laid down in such documents.

The Central Bank will periodically conduct monitoring of internal
regulations of money transmitters in order to identify associated risks and
develop proposals for minimization of such risks. In the meantime, the
Central Bank will closely cooperate with these organizations to find
compromising solutions to the arisen issues.

Later on, with a developing legal framework for circulation of electronic
payment and settlements documents, active involvement of interested parties
(banks and money transmitters organizations operating in Armenia) may
contribute to develop certain criteria/requirements covering the said
issues.

3. Requirements to the recompensing amount

The recompensing amount is designed to indemnify people making transfer of
money against possible losses if the money transferor organizations fail to
perform their professional obligations.

In the near future, in order to give shadow money transmitters a doorway to
operate within the legal framework, the Central Bank will determine a small
size of recompensing amount of AMD 500.000, the 500-fold of the minimum
salary.

In the future time, the Central Bank will intend to increase the
recompensing amount by way of determining differentiated sizes of such an
amount, depending on the value, amount, geography of transfers, and
applicable payment instruments, using accumulated statistical data and
holding multi-aspect discussions with the money transmitters.

C. Supervision

To evaluate, restrain and timely respond to the risks of customers of money
transmitters, the Central Bank will exercise off-site and on-site
supervision to carry out monitoring of potential risks and their extent, as
well as a detailed review of customer complaints and applications. The
Central Bank will resort to sanctions in case of infringements.

Supervision will be exercised in connection with the fight against money
laundering and funding of terrorism. The Armenian Law on `Legalization of
Criminal Proceeds and Combating Terrorism’ provides that organizations
dealing with money transfers should submit reports to the Central Bank.

On the way of facing challenges and resolving the tasks, the Central Bank
will always seek consultation with money transmitters. The Central Bank
expects that its cooperation with money transmitters would create
preconditions for broadened spectrum and higher quality of services from the
payment and settlements organizations in the near future, with the inclusion
of new affordable products and instruments.

ARMENIA CALLS FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IRANIAN SOUTHERN PORT

Asia Pulse; Jul 05, 2005

MOSCOW, July 5 Asia Pulse – Armenian Minister of Transport and
Communication Andranik Manukyan called Tuesday for taking advantage of
special situation of the Iranian southern port of Bandar Abbas,
capital of Hormuzgan province, and using it for transit of goods
across the region.

Manukyan made the remarks in Yerevan, Armenia, in a meeting with
visiting Governor General of the Iranian Hormuzgan province Ebrahim
Derazgisou who arrived in the Armenian capital on Monday heading a
trade delegation to discuss with Armenian officials ways to promote
Tehran-Yerevan cooperation.

Derazgisou, for his part, welcomed the the idea of promoting Armenia
relations with the Iranian southern province and expressed hope that
such relations would help promotion of ties between the two capitals.

The Iranian delegation will wrap up its visit to Armenia on Thursday.

AUSTRIAN PROFESSOR DREW HIS INFORMATIONS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT FROM
FALSE RESOURCES

YEREVAN, JULY 2. ARMINFO. Austrian “scientist” Erich Fygle intends to
come out with a report at the centre of Congress in Germany’s town of
Karlsru on the historical roots of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In
his report the so-called professor intends to inform about “historical
materials on acts of genocide inflicted by Armenians against the
Azerbaijani people”. Moreover, the sciolist intends to draw the
attention of the participants of the Congress the results of
“scientific researches” on “anti-propaganda methods, attempts of
falsification of the history, to which Armenians resorted to hide from
the world community the policy of genocide and deportation committed
by Armenians against Azerbaijanis”. As Azerbaijani mass media inform,
Fygle has prepared his report on the basis of investigations carried
out in Turkish archives by him.

Glendale News Press, CA
June 30 2005

Bringing art to the stage

Glendale resident devoted to the arts volunteers her time to
community theater group.

By Ani Amirkhanian, News-Press and Leader

Her living room is decorated with African, Indian and Moroccan
artifacts and contemporary Armenian art adorning the walls of her
home, nestled in the Adams Hill neighborhood.

For Glendale resident Anahid Keshishian, art and culture have always
been a significant part of her life.

Keshishian has dedicated herself to philology, the humanistic study
of language and literature that consists of history and the arts.

“All the arts are a form of language,” Keshishian, 50, said. “They
are expression in a form — expression of human thoughts and
feelings.”

The Iranian-born Keshishian is also an Armenian Language and Studies
professor at Glendale Community College and UCLA.

“Anahid is beloved by her students,” Jean Perry, Language Arts
Division chair at Glendale College, said. “She is dynamic and brings
in lots of culture to her classes.”

When she is not busy teaching, Keshishian enjoys volunteering her
time and energy with her community-based theater company, Arena
Productions.

“I want to bring people together in the community through the arts,”
Keshishian said.

Keshishian founded the nonprofit Arena Productions three years ago
after she felt the need to bring language and literature to the
stage.

Unlike most conventional theater groups, Arena Productions focuses on
the original works of the members, most of whom are college students
who write and stage their own plays, poems and short stories.

They also stage theatrical renditions of translated Armenian poems
and other internationally renowned works.

“Literature, poems, etc., are all life,” Keshishian said. “They deal
with issues all related to life.”

Arena Productions recently published “Random Agenda,” a collection of
original poems, prose, expressions and short stories.

Despite Keshishian’s effort to combine creative talents, her group
lacks funding and the much needed space for rehearsals.

Members often meet at her home to rehearse, but require a larger area
and needs funds for costumes and props.

“We need to be given a space,” Keshishian said.

“We deserve so much. This is so rare, to have such talented and
devoted people. Arena needs a home.”

Aside from the work with her theater group, Keshishian is also the
founder of the then-Armenian Language and Arts School, which served
the Glendale and Los Angeles communities for over 15 years.

Keshishian’s school offered writing, art and literature classes to
children for a nominal fee, which she collected to pay the rent for
the school facility.

“When you bring people together through the arts, you see humanity
come together,” Keshishian said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES MEMBERS OF COORDINATING COUNCIL
OF ARMENIA 2020 PROGRAM

YEREVAN, JUNE 29. ARMINFO. Today Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
has received the members of the Coordinating Council of Armenia 2020
Program Nubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan.

The presidential press-service informs ARMINFO that the president was
informed of the major directions and results of the works carried
out. Afeyan and Vardanyan informed the president of the programs
elaborated and at the stage of elaboration aiming development of
public health, jewelry spheres in the country. A full program and
fulfillment of the work will be presented in the course of a forum
expected in September in Yerevan.

The program Armenia 2020 is an organization of discussions on possible
prospects of long-term development of Armenia and creation of scenarios
of Armenia’s development for the period till 2020 as a result of
discussions. The major goal of the project is unification of Armenia
world wide, contribution to development of the country through joint
discussion of scenarios of development, to expand a common view to
future possibilities to create adequate solutions for application of
the Scenario for Armenia 2020 in conditions of indetermination.