GEORGIA HOPES FOR SUCCESSFUL TALKS OF EU WITH ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.09.2006 17:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia FM Gela Bezhuashvili hopes that before
Georgia’s signing of the Action Plan with the EU Azerbaijan and Armenia
will finish the talks within the European Neighborhood Policy. When
asked whether absence of agreements on the neighbor countries’
joining the EU Action Plan will have any impact at a briefing today,
the Minister remarked that according to the information he possesses,
Armenia has already completed EU talks, while Azerbaijan “will
hopefully manage to agree by that time.” Gela Bezhuashvili named
October 2-3 as the date for signing the Action Plan with the EU –
within that period the EU Troika will arrive in Georgia within a
regional visit, reports Trend.

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE IN VATICAN
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/09/2006
On September 6, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mesrop II Mutafian
took part in prayer ceremony on square of St. Peter’s Cathedral and
then met Pope Benedict XVI. The Patriarch thanked the Pope for his
contribution to the dialogue between the religion and the civilizations
and said that he is earnestly waiting for his visit to Turkey.
The Pope on his part expressed gratitude to the Armenian Patriarch
and said that during his Turkish visit “he will experience the joy
of visiting the Armenian Patriarchy and the Armenian church.”
After the visit Patriarch Mutafian paid a courtesy visit to Turkish
ambassador to Italy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH TO CELEBRATE THE 160-TH ANNIVERSARY
Armenpress
Sept 13 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Evangelical Church will
convene a four-day conference in Yerevan on September 14 to mark the
160-th anniversary of its foundation. Speaking to a news conference
today in Yerevan senior ministers of the Armenian Evangelical Church
from Americas, Europe and the Middle East and Rene Levonian, the head
of the World Armenian Evangelical Church Council and president of the
Armenian Evangelical Association, said there are 100,000 Armenians
in the world who follow the Evangelical Church. He said they have
150 churches across the globe.
Representatives from 22 countries have arrived in Yerevan to
participate in the gathering. They are expected to be received by
president Robert Kocharian.
The Armenian Evangelical Church was established in 1846 in Istanbul,
Turkey by a group of Armenian intellectuals advocating a deeper study
of the Bible, but a strong retaliation from the Armenian Patriarchate
of Istanbul and eventual excommunication of the reformists, the latter
were forced to organize themselves into a separate religious community,
the Protestant Millet (millet means ‘people’ in Turkish).
This separation led to the formation of the Armenian Evangelical
Church in 1846.

WHAT AFFECTS IMPORT?
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/09/2006
Karen Tchshmaritian Indicate Several factors
Touching upon problems connected with export, Karen Tchshmaritian,
minister of trade and economic development, said on Friday that there
is no decline of export volumes in Armenia. But there is drop of pace
of growing export. It’s impossible to have 25 percent growth each
year; and the decline is connected with conquering new markets. In
minister’s words, in conditions of reviving economy conquering of
new markets is carried out more swiftly but a phase comes when
it slows down. Then we face a need of investing more resources,
marketing capacities and financial means in order to keep the pace
of growth. The market of Diamond also has an impact on the drop of
growth pace. “The more we integrate into the international market,
the more we feel the influence of these impacts. But what rejoices us
is that if we had such a decline in the diamond sphere 4-5 years ago,
Armenian export would have serious drop. Now there is no such drop
as due to diversification of economy new branches of export have
emerged,” Karen Tchshmaritian said. He added the closed border pass
of Upper Lars has also affected the export.

THE UN GA HINDERS THE NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE
A1+
[06:01 pm] 11 September, 2006
NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian’s commentary on UN General
Assembly Resolution on Fires.
Mr. Minister how do you assess the Resolution on fires on the
territories under the NKR control adopted at the 60th session of UN
General Assembly?
On the whole taking into account the final result, namely an intention
to send the OSCE Mission with support of the UN experts to the region
to assess the long-term and short-term threats, which can lead to
ecologic catastrophe in the region, the Resolution can be considered
acceptable for the NKR. Moreover, it is necessary to emphasize that
this process is a logical continuation of Nagorno Karabakh authorities’
initiative. The NKR authorities were extremely alarmed at the situation
with the fires as those inflammations caused damage to the agriculture
of our republic. In connection with this the NKR MFA sent a note to the
Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
with an urgent request to conduct a crisis-monitoring in the area
bordering with Azerbaijan. Two weeks late the OSCE Mission conducted
a series of monitorings, which resulted in the report of Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, which refuted the
accusations of the Azerbaijani side on alleged burnings of settlements
in the NKR security zone. Thus, the NKR authorities were the first to
address the OSCE for a dispatch of a monitoring group to the region,
which was passed over in silence by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen
in their report, which was made public at the General Assembly’s
session. However, if the report of the OSCE high rank needs additional
confirmation, – we are ready to receive a new Mission of the OSCE to
discredit Azerbaijani myths once more.
The position of this issue in the UN itself and some formulas of the
Resolution are not acceptable. The attempts to transfer the issues
which are to be solved by the OSCE Minsk Group to the UN cannot
promote the advance of negotiation process but only postpone the
possible prospect of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
The fact that the given Resolution, namely its contents is a result
of consensus between Armenia and Azerbaijan – rare phenomenon for
recent years, especially under the conditions of the absence of
confidence between the parties, is worthy of notice and it can be
only welcomed. We consider that such projects are to be discussed
with participation of all three parties to the conflict in order to
avoid problems in the course of implementation of accepted decisions
especially because these decisions concern the territories which are
exceptionally under the control of the Nagorno Karabakh republic’s
authorities.
The NKR’s position remains invariable – we are going to continue
our cooperation with the international structures and are ready to
assist the work of a group of experts sent by the OSCE exclusively
from neutral countries.

PRISON IS NOT A BLEMISH FOR VAHAN HOVHANNESYAN
A1+
[08:37 pm] 11 September, 2006
Aram Manoukyan, member of the Armenian National Movement (ANM), aroused
a question recently; why ANM doesn’t turn to Aghvan Hovsepyan, RA
Attorney General, who was engaged in the case hearings. “Everything
is in their hands, let them close the case,” said Manoukyan. We
turned to Vahan Hovhannesyan, the former main suspect in the case
“Vahan Hovhannesyan – 31.”
The latter answered, “Why should we turn to him?”
I think it was the best time in my and Armen Rustamyian’s lives. We
fought against the regime of those times with all possible means and
we don’t want to cross out that period from our lives.
Isn’t the term “change of political situation” (Vahan Hovhannesyan
was released on that ground) vulnerable in case some other political
situation is established?
If our country turned into the country of fascism, of course, we would
become vulnerable. But we would become vulnerable in either case. Thus,
I don’t see any reason for the reconsideration of the case.
But there are members of your party who are still in prison and are
even sentenced to life imprisonment.
There aren’t such people.
I mean Mnjoyan and Artsruny.
They aren’t members of Dashnaktsutyuan.
I see, but weren’t they sentenced for the crimes ascribed to
Dashnaksutyun?
In the case of “Dro” they tried not to mix black with white; there
were people who were not guilty and there were still others who were
trying to be involved in the crime. But their attempts failed and
they are free now.
Do you mean that the crime of those people who are sentenced to life
imprisonment was proved?
I can only say that it was all upon the court to decide who would be
sentenced and who would be set free.

“HAMLET” STAGED BY INTERNATIONAL GROUP
Panorama.am
15:49 11/09/06
Fourth international Shakespeare festival “Armmono” will be held in
Yerevan September 12 to 18.
Representatives from 14 countries will take part, including from
Georgia, Germany, Turkmenia, Iran, USA, Russia, England, Japan and
others. Seventeen plays will be staged in eight days connected with
Shakespeare’s art.
Hakob Ghazanchyan’s play “Hamlet” is going to make a sensation. The
play is going to be staged by actors from different countries who
are going to speak in their native languages with an accompanying
simultaneous translation running on the screen.
Hamlet’s role is trusted to renowned actor Vardan Petrosyan.
Festival “Armmono” will run without a jury and all actors will receive
certificates this year.

YSU RECTOR INTENDS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AT UNIVERSITY
Panorama.am
16:48 11/09/06
Aram Simonyan is aware that corruption is part of Yerevan State
University. “So many students speak about it. How could it be that
they were all libelers?
There is no fire without smoke,” he told a press conference
today. Simonyan says he is not sure he can eliminate corruption from
the university but thinks about ways to reduce it. Simonyan connects
hopes with students, parents and YSU management board chairman Serzh
Sargsyan. He did not answer what concrete steps he has taken during
his tenure to fight corruption saying the university was on vacation
during summer.
Simonyan’s argument is very weak since summer is the most active
period for corruption when student take their exams.
YSU will launch anonymous student polls as part of fight against
corruption. Simonyan says the deans do not want to lose their face
in front of department heads accusing them in corruption. However,
Simonyan says he is going to do that personally. “I am not afraid to
lose my face. Nor am I afraid of swearings.
If I am elected to this post, I must do everything to deserve it,”
A. Simonyan promised.

EIGHTH SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY KICKS OFF
Panorama.am
18:01 11/09/06
EIGHTH SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY KICKS OFF Eight session of
National Assembly kicked off today with Vahan Hovanisyan, the only
deputy speaker of the parliament, being 33 minutes late. By that time,
NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan read out the notice by Viktor Dallakyan and
Tatul Manaseryan saying they are leaving Justice Block. Independent
deputy Hmaiak Hovanisyan complained that he had not received session
agenda saying it is a result of “over lays off” at the parliament. He
said the staff discriminates between the deputies based on the party
affiliation. It turned out the Hmaiak Hovanisyan could not see the
agenda in front of him. Hmaiak Hovanisyan also proposed to find out
what is behind the devaluation of dollar calling it “cheating.”
The parliament declined NA draft decision proposed by Justice block
on establishing an interim committee to study government’s activities
in civil aviation. Only 51 voted for the bill.

ARMAN SAHAKYAN TO RUN FOR ELECTIONS DESPITE OF HIS PARTY’S REFUSED SUPPORT
Panorama.am
19:03 11/09/06
“Arman is a friend of mine but the decision of the party is subject
for execution,” Armen Ashotyan, Armenian Republican Party (HHK)
member and member of parliament, told Panorama.am speaking about
HHK’s decision not to support Arman Sahakyan’s candidacy at Ajapniak
community elections. Ashotyan pays high credits to Arman’s father,
Galust Sahakyan, who is HHK parliamentary faction head. The deputy
could not clearly say why the party declined to support his son in
the elections. “It is the internal job of the party because the party
has set some priorities,” he said.
Despite of that Galust Sahakyan assured Panorama.am that “Arman
Sahakyan is going to run for elections and that is not without
reason.” Speaking about HHK board decision, the faction head said,
“the party will not issue any disposition during the elections.”
Reminder: Earlier HHK Board Chairman Serzh Sargsyan had said,
“The party is not obliged to support any member in any issue. Every
member must understand that he is in an organization… In case of
taking a decision based on personal issues he must be responsible for
that decision. If someone does not consider the party while taking
a decision, why should he expect the party’s support?”