THE CATHOLICOS AGAIN FORGOT
Lragir.am
22 Aug 06
Garegin II receiving congratulations on his 55th birthday on August
21 met with Georgy Trapeznikov, the president of the International
Academy of Spiritual Unity of the Peoples of the World. Trapeznikov
delivered the Gold Medal of Pride of Russia in the name of the Russian
charity fund Pride of Homeland. The gold medal was awarded to Garegin
II for his great contribution to the spiritual unity of the peoples
of the world, Russian-Armenian friendship and peace building.
Certainly, every Armenian is proud that their patriarch is the
pride of Russia. But the Armenian Christians are again frustrated. On
receiving the award for the spiritual unity of peoples, the Catholicos
of All Armenians again forgot about the physical existence of peoples,
especially his own people, and on receiving a gold medal of pride from
Russia he did not utter a single word about Armenians assassinated in
this country. Meanwhile, our Catholicos received this award the next
day of another assassination of Armenians in Moscow: on the previous
day 3 Armenians were stabbed to death.

“NKR IS FORMATED AND ANNNOUNCED AS AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC ON ITS LAND, WHICH HAS NOTHING COMMON WITH AZERBAIJAN”
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 09:49
“It is a fact that NKR is an independent and self-governmental republic
with state institutions and civic society. The Azerbaijanian government
can not accept this fact. The Azerbaijanian people have accepted this
fact long ago.
The government does not accept the NKR indepedance as in order to
stay in the government they have to look for external enimies and
have to load people with “all-national” problems. This is a strategy
which unfortunatly has justified itself. In reality I have not noticed
that the Azerbaijanian authorities have the wish to find the rational
solution of the problem”, said Arman Melikian, the counsellor of
foreign policy issues of the NKR President, to “Radionews” .
“I am more than confident: in order to solve the problem the NKR
participation is nessecary and there are also some other problems
which need to be disscused”, Melikian added.
“It is not new that Azerbaijan announces Nagorny Karabagh as a part
of Azerbaijan, but this is not the reality” told the former minister
of Foreign Affairs, now the counsellor of foreign policy issues of
the NKR President Arman Melikyan, evaluating the ordinary document
that Azerbaijan is spreading within UN.
The other day the minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Araz
Azimov announced that in September new proposals are awaited from
the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group and that this time “they will here
constructive suggestions”.
According to the words of the counsellor of foreign policy issues of
the NKR President it is good that Azimov has such an opinion but it
would be better if we could hear such words from the Co-chairs . “I
do not know maybe Azimov is the confidential person for them and he
has the “right of the first news” and he may announce the news to
the world”, said Arman Melikyan in sarcastic tone.
“Let the Co-chairs give their suggestions and we will see if it will
be in September or in January, the time and circumstances will show”,
he added.
Arman Melikyan also spoke about the caracterization of the suggestions
of the Co-chairs by Azimov as “constructive”, saying “As long as
I have noticed these past years the suggestions of the Co-chairs
have always been refused by Azerbaijan and I want to mention that
“constructiveness” is different for Azerbaijan than it is in our
imagination. We mix the reality with the desired”.
“I can agree that Azerbaijan does not want the existance of a second
or third Armenian State on their land. But NKR has been formed and
announced about itself on their land that has nothing common with
Azerbaijan,” mentioned the counsellor of the NKR President.
Speaking about the current status of the peace process, Arman Melikyan
expressed the opinion that there is nothing strange that Azerbaijan
and Kharabagh were against the suggestions of the Co-chairs, but
Armenia was not against with some abstemiousness.
“We have to take into account that the status of Armenia in this
negotiations is as much mediatory as the status of the Co-chairs
is. Armenia is interested in the protection of its national interests,
and on the other hand Armenia is interested in the quickening of the
peace process. In that sense the position of Armenia is milder.
Conerning some other problems, Arman Melikyan thinks that they can
be solved in the framework of Azerbaijan-NKR negotiations. There are
such problems where Armenia does not have the opportunity to tell
its opinion.
“For example, in the solving of the problem of the Armenian refugees of
Azerbaijan. This is a problem that NKR has to arise and to solve. Or
the problems concerning the territories under the control of NKR,
or the problems concerning the Azerbaijani internal displaced
persons. There is a package of Kharabagh-Azerbaijan bilateral
negotiations, formulated the counsellor of foreign policy issues of
the NKR President.
According to his considerations, superpowers and other interested big
centers have their strategy and as they tell it is easier to solve the
problem in the framework of bilateral that in trilateral negotiations,
but “I think that time will show that the negotiations have to be
continued in other framework and have to include other problems that
do not exist in the agenda now. I am more than sure that in order to
overcome the dead lock the participation of Kharabagh and disscusion
and solving of some other problems is mandatory “.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZNAVOUR TRAVEL TO CUBA
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 10:15
The famous French singer of Armenian origin Charles Aznavour is
expected to travel to Cuba to record a new album with the outstanding
Cuban director, pianist and composer Jesus Chucho Valdes, announced
Le Figaro newspaper on Friday.
During the presentation of a biographical volume he authorized,
the French star, who will soon count on a museum paying homage to
his brilliant career in Armenia, described himself as a “writer”
and not as a “songwriter”.
The new book entitled “Charles Aznavour or the Restrained Destiny”
was written by journalist Daniel Pantchenko and published two years
after the presentation of the Aznavour´s memories (Le temps des avants)
written by the artist himself.
–Boundary_(ID_v+Y6B6dwDQo7mDyTwj/s7g)–

UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 10:38
Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees arrived in
Armenia on August 20 to pay a two-day visit. Within the framework of
the six-day regional visit started in Baku on August 16, Guterres
intends to meet with Azerbaijani, Georgian and Armenian officials
and displaced people and refugees. The UN at present makes efforts to
activize the role of the Refugee Agency in the political negotiations
proceeding on settlement of regional conflicts.
The peaceful settlement will allow refugees to return their former
settlements and to re-integrate. The UN, in its turn, will be able to
reduce one of expensive programs: the main worry of the UN Refugee
Agency in Europe is the South Caucasus, and the UN spends about 9.7
mln dollars annually to cover needs of refugees of the region, Noyan
Tapan reported.
On August 20, a UN delegation has arrived to South Ossetia headed
by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. As REGNUM is
told at South Ossetia’s Press and Information Committee, during the
visit the delegation called on to a center for refugees and IDPs,
where the UN delegation had a discussion with refugees and IDPs from
Georgia’s internal areas. Then South Ossetia’s President Eduard Kokoity
received Antonio Guterres. The UNHCR and the South Ossetian president
expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and
noted they hoped for future cooperation, they stress in the committee.
It is worth mentioning that in the first years of the Georgian-Ossetian
conflict the whole number of refugees and IDPs totaled over
14,000. With time, through the mediation of the UNHCR construction
of houses started in the places of their previous living and
rendering assistance to them. As a result people started returning
back home. In Tskhinvali and Znauri districts over 70% refugees
returned. In first years after the conflict people stayed in hotels
or at their relatives’. At present time, there are four collective
centers left where 200 families live. These are three dormitories
and Ossetia Tourist Camp, a REGNUM correspondent is told at Refugees
and IDPs Department at the South Ossetian Office of the Joint Control
Commission.

LEVON ARONYAN ACHIEVES “CHESS 960” CHAMPION’S TITLE
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 12:17
Grand Master of Armenia, 2005 World Cup holder, 2006 World Olympic
Champion Levon Aronyan scored 5:3 in the game with Russian Grand
Master Pyotor Svedler, thus achieving the “Chess 960” Champion’s
title. The tournament was held in Mainz, Germany in the framework of
the chess festival.
Levon Aronyan won Pyotor Svedler in the last 7th and 8th games,
preceding which the score was equal.
Levon Aronyan competed also with chess players of Mainz.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS AMBASSADOR ANDRZEJ KASPRZYK
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 12:55
August 21 at the NKR Permanent Representation in the Republic of
Armenia NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan met with the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk at the latter’s request.
The parties discussed issues of mutual interest, particularly those
related to the fires at the contact line of the Armed Forces of
Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, “Arminfo” was told at the NKR
Permanent Representation.

MEDIATORS SUGGEST ARRANGING A MEETING BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 14:05
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said today in Yerevan that after
the last meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Paris the
Armenian side has received no new ideas from the mediators regarding
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, MEDIAMAX Agency reports.
The Foreign Minister noted that the mediators suggest organizing the
meeting of the Heads of the Foreign Ministries. “These talks are,
however, preliminary. No agreement has been reached upon the place
and the date of the meeting,” Vardan Oskanian said.

SECURITY AGENCIES AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Lragir.am
21 Aug 06
The Republican Party has over 500 heads of communities and does
not necessarily need to win all the local elections, stated Galust
Sahakyan, member of the Council of the Republican Party August
19 at the Azdak Club, commenting on the election in the village of
Nalbandyan, Armavir region. In the election, which took place several
days ago, the candidate backed by the Republican Party was defeated
by the candidate supported by Bargavach Hayastan Party.
“I think that we the Republican Party did not use all its potential
in Nalbandyan, personally I did not visit there because these are
common elections, there will be both defeats and victories,” says
Galust Sahakyan. He thinks that many tried to turn the election into
a greater political problem and draw conclusions.
“As for the Bargavach – Republican relations, myths and lyrics
succeeded alternately. The problem is that over these months Bargavach
Hayastan has become considerably strong, set its path and will run in
the election duly. This is my logic,” says the chair of the Republican
faction. He did not give a direct and clear answer to a news reporter
whether the Republican Party and Bargavach Hayastan do not have an
arragement to divide the parliament seats equally.
“As for arrangements. In fact, it would be too good if there was an
arrangement with the Bargavach Hayastan Party along with the other
political forces. It would allow a more normal and logical stance
in the election,” says Galust Sahakyan. Returning to the election
in the village of Nalbandyan, Galust Sahakyan made another effort to
relieve the impression about the defeat of the Republican Party.
“I do not think that there was a race between political parties
there. Yes, in our logic it was an election full of alarms and
troubles, in accordance with our analyses. It is usual for our reality
that the security agencies always back one of the candidates.
And if the elections are not politicized, the candidate wins which is
backed by the logic of force and the local strongmen, who can back
one candidate or the other one way or another,” says the member of
the Council of the Republican Party.
Not only does he think that it is time to prevent the participation of
law enforcers but he also thinks that it is too late. However, Galust
Sahakyan, who thinks so, disagrees that the underlying precondition
for neutralizing the factor of force is to remove the Republican
defense minister from the army to bar the army from being involved
in the election. It appears that Galust Sahakyan does not consider
Serge Sargsyan a representative of a security agency, he thinks he is
“one of the political and public figures of the time”.

ARMENIA, KARABAKH READY TO PUT OUT FIRES TOGETHER WITH AZERBAIJAN – MINISTER
Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
21 Aug 06
Yerevan, 21 September: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
said today that Yerevan and Stepanakert are ready to cooperate with
Azerbaijan to extinguish fire on territories bordering Nagornyy
Karabakh.
Vardan Oskanyan was speaking at a joint news conference with UN High
Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, Mediamax reported.
“We have always said that we are ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan
on a variety of issues. I am convinced that the authorities of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic are also ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan
and the international community to extinguish the fires,” the Armenian
foreign minister said.
Vardan Oskanyan described as “incomprehensible” Azerbaijan’s
speculations about the fires and quoted a report by the personal
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Andrzej Kasprzyk,
as saying that the fires are a natural disaster and not consequences
of arson.
The Armenian foreign minister also described as “incomprehensible”
Azerbaijan’s attempts to submit the problem of fires for discussion
at the UN General Assembly.
“It is not clear what the UN has to do with it,” Vardan Oskanyan said.

WHAT DOES THE UN HAVE TO DO WITH THE FIRES IN KARABAKH?
Tatul Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
21.08.2006 16:12
Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees is paying a
working visit to the South Caucasus. In Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Armenia the Commissioner had meetings with the authorities of the
three countries. Although this is Guterres’ first visit to Armenia,
the Office headed by him has done much for the integration of refugees
into the Armenian community. Today’s meeting with the Foreign Minister
of Armenia was followed by a joint press conference.
“I would like first of all to say that we have an excellent cooperation
with the Armenian Government in the support of people that have
been refugees or are still refugees. I would like to express our
appreciation for the decision that was taken to grant temporary
protection to all people coming from Lebanon both Armenians and
Lebanese, in the recent crisis,” the Commissioner said.
In his turn Vardan Oskanian noted that they discussed all the questions
connected with refugees, focusing particularly on the issues of
Armenian refugees.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union over 1.5 million people
became refugees in the South Caucasian region, that is to say about
10 percent of the region’s population has lost shelter and has no
permanent place of residence.
About one third of the refugees – 500 thousand people – are
Armenians, who left their homes in Azerbaijan still preceding the
Karabakh conflict. They were subjected to massacres, brutalities
and persecution. Unfortunately, nobody remember them today, while
the question of 750 Azerbaijani refugees is still on the agenda,
and Baku articulates this for political aims.
In response to the question whether the property rights of the
Azerbaijani refugees will be resumed, Commissioner Guterres said,
“From our perspective when there is a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the property rights of both sides [Armenian
and Azerbaijani] should be respected.”
Turning to the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Vardan
Oskanian noted that that the mediators have not suggested any new
ideas, adding, however, that “new ideas can be expected any time. At
this point they speak about the meeting of the Foreign Ministers. The
Co-Chairs are trying to fix the possible place and the time of the
meeting. There is nothing concrete so far.”
As for the arsons on the territories bordering Nagorno-Karabakh,
Oskanian said, “Mr. Guterres is a Portuguese, and he can assert that
every year great inflammations occur in Portugal because of the summer
heat. A similar phenomenon is observed on the territories bordering
Nagorno-Karabakh.”
In response to the Azerbaijan’s intention to transfer the question to
the UN, the Armenian Foreign Minister noted, “The discussion of the
question in the UN is not understandable for us. If such an attempt
is made, a question arises – what does UN have to do with the all
this. The issue should be considered from the practical perspective. We
should try to resolve the question locally, particularly considering
that there has been nothing intentional.”
A few days ago Armenian lobbyist organizations of the US applied the
US Administration, complaining of the possibility of sending Turkish
peacekeeping forces to Southern Lebanon. What is the position of the
official Yerevan regarding the question?
“We have one position: any country having foreign peacekeeping
forces on its territory should agree to the presence of this or that
country. It is the sovereign decision of the Lebanese Government
and it should be respected and not imposed by anyone,” the Foreign
Minister said.