PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Embassy Yerevan
1 American Avenue
Yerevan, Armenia 0082
Telephone: (+374 10) 46-47-00
Email: [email protected]
September 14, 2006
U.S. Embassy Invites Armenian-Americans to U.S. Assistance Presentation
The U.S. Embassy welcomes all U.S. citizens visiting Armenia to
participate in the September 18-20 Armenian Diaspora Conference to
attend a presentation of U.S. government assistance programs in Armenia
at the U.S. Embassy (1 American Avenue) This event will follow the
concluding session of the Diaspora Conference and will take place on
Wednesday, September 20 at 2:30 p.m. America is fully engaged to help
Armenia become a more secure, more democratic and more prosperous place
for all who live here, thereby becoming a stronger partner for the
United States.
The U.S Embassy invites all those interested in attending the event to
register by 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 19, by sending an email with
their name to [email protected]. All those who register must present a
U.S. passport and must arrive by 2:30 p.m. in order to enter the U.S.
Embassy.
Only those who have registered prior to the event and have a valid U.S.
passport will be allowed to attend.
The Embassy event will include:
* Presentations by U.S. Charge D’Affaires Anthony Godfrey, USAID
Director Robin Phillips and Millennium Challenge Corporation Country
Director Alex Russin
* An opportunity to learn about various aspects of U.S Government
assistance to Armenia
* The screening of Bridges for the Future, a film on
American-Armenian Diaspora and U.S. government partnerships in Armenia
* Optional visits for a limited number of participants to
assistance sites outside Yerevan

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
A MEETING WITH THE ANGLICAN BISHOP OF JERUSALEM
“WE REMAIN SUPPORTIVE OF THE JUST PALESTINIAN CAUSE”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
His Holiness Aram I met with the new Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem and the
Middle East, Suheil Dawani, in Bikfaya on 12 September. Accompanying the
Bishop were the Anglican ministers of Lebanon and Jordan and a Christian
deputy from the parliament of Jordan.
Bishop Dawani and His Holiness Aram I focused their discussions on the
situation in Jerusalem, the Palestinian conflict and the status of
Christianity in the region.
The newly elected Bishop spoke highly of the efforts of His Holiness Aram I
towards a just solution of the Palestinian conflict and his support of this
cause both in the Middle East and in international circles. Dawani also
praised the Pontiff’s decades long and leading role in the ecumenical
movement, expressing hope that he continues his involvement in ecumenical
movement and in inter-religious dialogue by various means.
His Holiness drew parallels between the Armenian and Palestinian causes,
stressing on the resolution of the two states co-existing on the basis of
mutual respect, and shared security.
His Holiness Aram I also stressed the importance of invigorating the
long-standing co-operation between the Anglican Church and the Catholicosate
of Cilicia, particularly in the Middle East. He commended the co-operation
between the Christian communities in Jerusalem.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PanARMENIAN.Net
No Positive Shifts in Karabakh Settlement Expected in 2007-2008
15.09.2006 13:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The current situation in the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement is a stalemate one owing to illegal territorial claims of
Azerbaijan, elimination of the most interested party – Artsakh itself,
and excessive stupidity and historical and legal ignorance of all
kinds of mediators, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Vladimir Stupishin
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, owing to the same
reason it is hard to expect positive shifts in 2007 and 2008.
`When the moment comes for NKR representatives to return to talks as
full participants, making forecasts is hard owing to aforementioned
factors. As for the military solution of the issue, Baku does not urge
to use of force, but threatens Armenia with war. It is inadmissible
position and it looks like bluff,’ he underscored.
The Russian diplomat believes that sustaining status-quo is optimal at
present and talks are always better than hostilities.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Fooling OSCE MG Co-Chairs Much Harder than UN Representatives
15.09.2006 13:22 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Azeri diplomacy disposition to go to various
international institutions and spend efforts instead of focusing on
the talks within the OSCE is not occasional. There are several goals,
the most important of these being prolonging the talks and searching
for propaganda infusion within organizations that are little aware
with the course of the Karabakh conflict,’ former co-chair of OSCE MG
for settlement of the NK conflict, Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
`This is not the first time official Baku departs from actual
settlement tools. It is covered by cock-and-bull story about the
future power of Azerbaijan. Both helps pulling wool over the eyes of
those, who expect the soonest resolution of the conflict, first of all
Azerbaijan’s own internally displaced persons. Besides, fooling OSCE
MG co-chairs is harder than representatives of states, who know little
about Transcaucasia and the Karabakh conflict. There are more such
states in the UN, than in the OSCE. There are also countries, whose
votes can be gathered by appeals to Muslim solidarity,’ he remarked.
At that the Russian diplomat noted that it is easier to convince the
UN that keeping others’ lands occupied is odious. `It is easier to
conceal from them more odious refusals of Baku to cease hostilities in
1992-1994 and even several failures of agreements over that
matter. Accumulating minor propaganda scores is a fragmentary and
peripheral occupation, it cannot speed up settlement of the
conflict. It is not that much important how it will tell on actual
search of compromise. Especially that partial publication of the
settlement scheme by the mediators has made `game in the dark’ with
their own people harder and made moving back. This should be either
compensated by something, or covered. The internal `logic’ of foreign
policy maneuvers of Azerbaijan looks like this. In other words, it is
seeking for effectiveness at the expense of effectiveness,’ Kazimirov
underscored.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Muslims Demand that Pope Apologize
15.09.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Muslim figures did not like some statements,
included in theological lecture of Pope Benedict XVI at University of
Regensburg, Bavaria. Specifically, when citing a medieval Byzantine
source, the Catholic Church leader said, «Considering what new
Mohammed brought, we will see only evil and inhumanity, this is his
call to spread faith by means of a sword.»
In response to that head of the French Council on Muslim Religion
Dalil Bubaker said, «We hope that the Catholic Church will
immediately explain its position, recognizing that it does not mix us
Islam… and Islamism, which is not a religion, but a political
ideology.» In his turn, head of the Turkish Government Committee
for Religious Affairs Ali Bardakoghlu called Pope’s words full of
«hostility and malice.»
Representatives of religious organizations, governmental and public
structures of Kuwait, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and other Muslim
countries have also demanded that the Catholic Church leadership
apologize and provide explanations.
Head of Vatican Press Office Federico Lombardi responded to this
criticism, stating that Benedict XVI respects Islam, but he does not
accept violence, motivated by religion. «The Holy Father definitely
did not mean to hurt the feelings of Muslim believers,» Lombardi
said,

PanARMENIAN.Net
Having Suggested Principles, OSCE MG Still Expects
Responses of Armenia and Azerbaijan
15.09.2006 14:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `OSCE MG co-chairs have proposed a number of basic
principles and we sill expect the responses of Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The two leaders should decide themselves whether they want
to change those basic principles,’ said OSCE MG US Co-Chair Matthew
Bryza.
`It is evident that none of the parties agrees to the basic
principles. Otherwise, one of them would have stated that it agrees
with these fully. One party say they `have problems with the
principles,’ others say `we agree with these in principle, however
there are several small changes,’ stated M. Bryza. In his words, this
summer the mediators stated the degree of their activity will depend
on the response of the Presidents. `They did not provide a formal
response yet. If we enter the electoral period, but the parties say
they would like the mediators to continue their efforts, we will of
course continue,’ the mediator said.
As the election campaign becomes closer in Armenia, the `opportunity
window’ in the Karabakh issue will become smaller, however it is still
`open’ now, Bryza believes. `There is a good opportunity for both
parties to display a creative approach,’ he remarked.
The diplomat underscored that if he had considered the peace process
hopeless, he would not spend his time in vain. Touching upon the terms
of conveying Kelbajar to the Azeri party, the US mediator noted that
it depends on when the parties will built mutual confidence. `I do not
know when it will happen, however the measures we speak about
referring to fires are aimed at creating that confidence. When this
happens, speaking of conveying Kelbajar in exchange for referendum or
Lachin corridor guarantees, that Armenia works for, will be
realistic,’ he summed up, reports Mediamax.

PanARMENIAN.Net
In Astana Garegin II Calls to Recognize Armenian Genocide
15.09.2006 14:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II took part in
the 2nd World and Religious Leaders conference in the Kazakh capital
of Astana. The Catholicos made a report titled the Importance of
Faith, in which he stated that Armenians “will to protect their
beliefs despite what they experienced in the 1915 Genocide, and
despite their trials and slander aimed at them.”
In the declaration, a promise was made by religious leaders to “fight
against pre-judgement and ignorance” across the world.
`Garegin II used his last chance to speak to the some 150 journalists
in attendance at the conference,’ writes the Hurriyet Turkish
newspaper.
The newspaper reminds that Garegin II, who is often considered the
voice of the Armenian Diaspora, speaks often on the Armenian genocide.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenian Genocide: Ankara Urges Paris to “Think”
15.09.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, on a visit to Paris,
has reportedly relayed Ankara’s concerns over a bill being introduced
to the French Parliament by the Socialist Party which would make it a
crime to publicly deny the Armenian Genocide. Gul voiced the concerns
of the AKP-led administration at a working dinner with his French
counterpart, Foreign Minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy. Reminding
Douste-Blazy that Ankara had already proposed that a joint commission
of historians work together on the matter, Gul said that French
historians and historians from any country interested would be welcome
to work on the commission, the Hurriyet Turkish newspaper writes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Pogroms of Caucasians in Saratov Region: 1 Killed, 5 Wounded
15.09.2006 15:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 1 person is killed and several are in reanimation
resulting from a mass fight in Volsk town. Reports on the occurrence
are very contradictory. According to some, two young persons quarreled
with Armenian Diaspora representatives at Galaktika local club. Over
10 took part in a fight. By the time the police arrived, there were
three wounded, one of them later died.
There are no official reports. It is known that many re-settlers from
southern republics live in Volsk. The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed
there was a fight, but nothing similar to the events in Kondopog – the
conflict was an ordinary one. The situation in the town is normal
now. The police works in an intense regime.
Meanwhile, law-enforcement bodies do not confirm media reports on
disorders in Volsk. «The situation in the town is normal,»
stated person on operative duty of the Department of Internal affairs
of Volsk, Russian media report.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
NKR Constitution Can Make International Recognition of Karabakh Closer
15.09.2006 15:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ This is not the first time that the matter on
«occupation of Azeri lands by Armenia» is raise at the UN by
Baku, head of the Department of Issues in International Relations of
the Institute of Political and Military Analysis Sergey Markedonov
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, including the issue in
the GA agenda was already suggested in 2004. «However the
discussion was postponed. Later Baku and Yerevan reached a compromise:
Baku quits its claim, while the Armenian party agrees to admitting
OSCE fact-finding mission’s visit to territories, controlled by
Nagorno Karabakh. Visiting the seven disputed regions in winter 2005
the mission made public a report, according to which Armenia and NK do
not organize planned settlement in these regions,» the Russian
political scientist noted.
Sergey Markedonov believes that the attempt to attract attention to
the Armenian aggression» is not casual. The NKR will soon join the
parade of referendums» of unrecognized state formations of the
post-soviet space – nation-wide vote on the Constitution will be held
in NK December 10, 2006. The territorial issue is the most important
in NKR Constitution: were is the beginning and the end of the
fatherland of the Karabakh people. The last attribute of a full state
– the Constitution – will help make the day of international
recognition of NK closer,» he underscored.