AZERI PRESSURE GROUP DENOUNCES VISIT TO ARMENIA
ANS TV, Baku
9 Sep 06
The Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] is protesting about a
meeting between young people from Azerbaijan and Armenia at a Gugark
camp in Lori Region. A statement from the KLO says that a group of
young men, led by rights activist [head of the Azerbaijani National
Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly] Arzu Abdullayeva,
is attending the event designed to contribute to friendly relations
between Azerbaijanis, Armenians and Karabakh residents.
This runs against Azerbaijan’s national interests, the statement said.
Because many Azerbaijanis were killed at the same Gugark camp in 1988
and 32 people were murdered in a welded pipe. The KLO believes that
the Azerbaijani delegates of the so-called people’s diplomacy are again
serving Armenian policy and justify Armenia’s policy of occupation.
The KLO is urging them to end the people’s diplomacy and to reject
steps which run counter to Azerbaijan’s interests, the statement said.

NKR PRESIDENT MET WITH CATHERINE PORTER
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
09 Sept 2006
On September 5 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian met with Catherine
Porter, Chair of the Council of Leaders for Human Rights,
Washington. During the talk Ms. Porter told about the project of
the organization to present the cultural values of Artsakh to the
international community. The guest mentioned that the monuments of
the Christian period and the rich pre-Christian heritage may greatly
foster tourism in Nagorno Karabakh, and international scholars will
get to know the country. The president commended the initiative of
Ms. Porter and expressed the willingness of the NKR government to
cooperate. On September 5 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian met with
the delegation of the Moldavian Republic of Transdnyestr visiting
Stepanakert on the 15th anniversary of independence of NKR. They
discussed the policy on economic development in both states and
questions of peace settlement of conflicts in the post-Soviet space.
Acting Press Secretary Of NKR President
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT GHUKASSIAN CONGRATULATED THE CREW OF THE CILICIA
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
09 Sept 2006
On August 5 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian congratulated the crew
of the Armenian sailing ship Cilicia, which finished its voyage. In
his telegram the president of NKR pointed out that thanks to the
patriotic mission of the crew the Old World got a better idea of the
ideas and values we uphold, as well as the truth about the struggle
for liberation in Artsakh. The president also emphasized the symbolic
coincidence of the end of the voyage and the 15th anniversary of
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

IRANIAN SPEAKER TO VISIT ARMENIA ON 10 SEPTEMBER
Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran
9 Sep 06
The Majlis Speaker [Gholamali Haddad-Adel], heading a parliamentary
delegation, will visit Armenia tomorrow [10 September]. Mr Haddad-Adel
will meet high-ranking Armenian officials during the two-day visit. The
expansion of bilateral ties and discussions over regional issues are
among the items on the Majlis Speaker’s agenda.
He is also scheduled to visit to the Yerevan State University and
Yerevan Blue Mosque during this visit.

ARMENIAN ARMY CARRIES ON ARSONS IN AZERI LANDS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2006
Starting from last afternoon the Armenian Armed Forces continued
to commit malicious arsons in the Azerbaijan territories occupied
by Armenia.
APA’s Karabakh bureau reports strong fires committed in the Paprevend
village of Aghdam were easily observed from the frontline overnight.
Borderers say they witnessed Armenians having committed arsons
here before.
Observation shows that Armenians now set fire to the places which
had been used as shelters before.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON RA COOPERATION WITH EUROPEAN UNION TO BE CREATED
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Government made a decision
at the September 7 sitting to create a National Council on the
RA cooperation with the European Union as well as a commission
coordinating that cooperation. According to information submitted
to Noyan Tapan by the RA Government’s Information and Public
Relations Department, regulations of the mentioned national council
and commission as well as the staff with the RA Prime Minister’s
chairmanship were affirmed by the same decision. It was defined
that representatives of the civil society are involved in the staff
of the national council on the RA cooperation with the European
Union. Standards for choosing representatives are the experience of
the organization they represent and goals of the regulations. The
RA Government’s staff head-minister was instructed to affirm the
individual staff of the national assembly civil society representatives
created by a decision, based on the civil society representatives’
applications.

PRESENTATION OF “YOU CAME, SURPRISED, WENT” BOOK DEDICATED TO
PLAYWRIGHT ZHORA HAROUTIUNIAN TAKES PLACE AT WUA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. During the September 7 memory-party
in the Writers’ Union of Armenia (WUA), dedicated to playwright Zhora
Haroutiunian, the presentation of the “You Came, Surprised, Went”
collection of works was also held. Memories of Zh.Haroutiunian’s
contemporaries, fellow-writers, prominent directors and actors
about the talented playwright are involved in the book formed by
Gayane Haroutiunian, the playwright’s daughter. In WUA Chairman Levon
Ananian’s words, few generations were brought up with Zh.Haroutiunian’s
dramaturgy. And, in his words, it is not accidental that famous
directors like Vardan Achemian and Tatik Sarian staged his plays, and
same Tatik Sarian, Hrachia Nersisian, Mher Mkrtchian, Karp Khachvankian
and others gave scenic life to heroes created by him. But, as L.Ananian
mentioned, the greatest estimation for the playwright’s work was the
people’s love. At the same time, WUA Chairman noticed with pain that
Zh.Haroutiunian’s comedies and dramas are out of the repertoire of
theaters today. He expressed a hope that “in some time producers will
turn to Zh,Haroutiunian’s works.”

TEACHER’S DAY MARKED IN ARMENIAN PHILATHROPIC ACADEMY OF CALCUTTA
CALCUTTA, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Teacher’s Day
was solemny celebrated on September 5 in the Armenian Philanthropic
Academy of Calcutta. The ceremony prepared by the academy students
took place in the ceremonial hall of the academy on that occasion. The
academy staff members and teachers participated in the event. At
the beginning of the event, academy director James Dayas warmly
congratulated all the teachers, emphasizing importance of the teacher’s
mission in the society. He also persuaded them to pay more attention
to children’s education, personally becaming an example for them.
Then the students presented some modern dances, recited, academy
student Etchmin Shahijian and academy teacher Shon Manuk sang a duet
with guitar. Ani Karapetian from the academy led the ceremony. A
sortition was also held. After the artistic part, children invited
academy manager Archimandrite Oshakan Gyulgyulian to address
the speech of his soul to those present. The Archimandrite also
congratulated the teachers on the occasion of their holiday, touching
upon his own experience. He spoke about Armenian first teacher Surb
(Saint) Mesrob Mashtots’ activity, persuading academy students to do
their best to keep high the name of the Philanthropic Academy with
their education and behaviour, bringing just by it honour to their
teachers as well. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Calcutta Armenian
Philanthropic Academy, academy administrator Deacon Tigran Baghumian,
former academy graduate Michael Steven also addressed the speech of
their soul to those present. At the end, Brita Roy, an academy teacher
of many years expressed gratitude on behalf of the teachers. A joint
dinner party took place at the end of the ceremony.

DELEGATION OF EUROPEAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PAYS TWO-DAY VISIT TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. By the invitation of Gagik
Tsarukian, the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of
Armenia, a delegation headed by Patrick Hickey, the newly elected
Chairman of the European Olympic Committee (EOC), a member of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Chairman of the Olympic
Committee of Ireland, arrived in Armenia on late September 6 on a
two-days visit. Ishkhan Zakarian, the RA Sports Committee Chairman
received the guests on September 7. Cooperation of the state sports
structure and the Olympic Committee was especially attached importance
during the conversation. I.Zakarian presented the state of sport
in Armenia and the committee’s work with federations of different
kinds of sports. P.Hickey greeted the circumstance that mass sport
is paid great attention in Armenia. He said that they will continue
showing financial assistance, especially for progress of the youth
sport. Then the EOC delegation met with the NOCA members of the
executive committee and commissions chairmen. After the meeting the
EOC delegation visited the newly built sports base of Abovian where
it had a meeting with NOCA Chairman G.Tsarukian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DIRECTOR OF NOYAN TAPAN: INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST REPORTERS ARE
A RESULT OF LACK OF JOURNALISTIC SOLIDARITY
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. “The present-day press of Armenia
is a direct result of the independence, but it is more difficult to
work now,” the chairwoman of the National Press Club Narine Mkrtchain
stated during a discussion at the club on September 7. According
to her, the recent years’ experience shows that the situation in
the country becomes strained before each election campaign, as a
result of which pressure on reporters grows as well. She noted the
the current situation requires making respective conclusions and
joint efforts of reporters. Hovhannes Galajian, editor-in-chief of
the newspaper “Iravunk” (“Law”), expressed an opinion that the fact
that problems may be solved in Armenia by applying “criminal pressure”
has caused the current situation. In his words, such pressure should be
counteracted by steadfastness of the journalistic corps. According to
Tigran Harutyunian, director of the Noyan Tapan News Agency, instances
of violence against resporters are a result of the lack of solidarity
among them and the split in the journalistic field.
“The field of journalism is now more split than ever. Many mass
media heads make their reporters present events in an incomplete,
even distorted form by violating the journalistic ethics and not to
address certain subjects or persons, which weakens the journalistic
field and prevents the people from implementing control over the
authorities based on impartiality of the mass media,” he said. In his
words, as a result of the split in the journalistic field, violence
against reporters is becoming a usual phenomenon not receiving a
counterblow. T. Harutyunian sees the way out of the situation in
the unity and solidarity of reporters. He said that reporters should
put their professional interests above political and material ones,
which would make the general atmosphere in Armenia healthier.