VASILI ISTRATOV: CO-CHAIRS ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO MAKE THE PARTIES REACH AGREEMENT
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
New Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov today visited
the Honor Alley in the capital Baku today.
He laid garlands on the tombs of the then President Heydar Aliyev,
his spouse Zarifa Aliyeva and great composer Bulbul. Then he visited
the Martyrs’ Alley. APA reports the ambassador sharing his first
impressions on the Azerbaijani capital with journalists said he
approved this city. “I liked this city very much. I am sure we’ll
have efficient cooperation with the brotherly Azerbaijani people in
all spheres. I am very pleased for my appointment as ambassador to
Azerbaijan and will take up my duties soon. I arrived in your country
just yesterday. I’ll present my credentials to President Ilham Aliyev
soon and assume office after that,” Mr.Istratov said. Assessing the
role of Russia as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group in settlement of the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict, the ambassador said the co-chairing states
do not deal with this issue separately. “The co-chairs are mediating
together and doing all they can do to achieve peace agreement between
the parties to the conflict,” he underlined./APA/

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS PROPOSE AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN PRAGUE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
On August 2, 2006, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador
Yuriy Merzlyakov (Russia), Ambassador Bernard Fassier (France) and
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (USA) met at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris to assess the current stage in
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The French Embassy told the APA the co-chairs discussed as well
the results of Matthew Bryza’s introductory visit to the region,
in his capacity as a co-chair. Proceeding from the St Petersburg G8
Chairman’s statement on Nagorno Karabakh, the co-chairs considered
different options to achieve its objectives, which will be proposed to
the parties, and await them for their thoughts. Diplomatic sources
told the APA the co-chairs proposed Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan to meet in the
Czech capital, Prague in autumn this year. The Ministers are due
to discuss the options proposed by the co-chairs as well as issues
concerning ending the clash of opinions and agree on organizing
meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents as a result of
these discussions. /APA/

ARMENIAN FEST SLATED IN GLENVIEW AUG. 12 AND 13
Pioneer Press Online, IL
Aug 3, 2006
On Aug. 12 and 13, the Armenian All Saints Church, 1701 N. Greenwood
Road, Glenview will host its 3rd Annual Armenian Fest. Hours are noon
to 10 p.m. Aug. 12 and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 13.
One special festival feature is the ancient ritual of the Blessing
of the Grapes, slated for 4 p.m. Aug. 13. A service performed by
priests and deacons across the world in August, the gestures welcome
autumn and prayers are for a bountiful harvest. For centuries, farming
Armenians in the small region depended on prosperous crops to survive.
Food featured will include shish kebobs, hummos, flaky spinach pies,
Armenian meat “pizza”, pilaf and desserts ranging from paklava to
flat breads made of sweet tahin. Carry-outs will be available.
Free Armenian dancing shows by the local cultural organization and
live Armenian music by the Chicago-based The Mideast Beat are slated
from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12. The Beat, all self-taught from
age 13, have been playing Armenian music together for 30 years.
A kids’ tent will feature a moonwalk, ethnic crafts, carnival games,
face painting and clowns throughout the weekend. Uncle Raffi’s Petting
Zoo Sat at 6:30 pp.m. Aug. 12 and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 13, will feature
animals typical in the Armenian region — goats, lambs and donkeys —
along with other animals kids can pose with and pet.
Ethnic novelties and mementos, arts and crafts will be sold at the
Armenian bazaar. Visitors also can sign up for daily Armenian card
or backgammon tournaments.
Admission and street parking will be free. In case of rain, the event
will be held indoors in spacious hall. For more information, call
(847) 437-4937 or e-mail [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Regnum, Russia
Aug 3, 2006
Karabakh human rights activist: “There are no Azerbaijani prisoners
of war in Nagorno Karabakh”
“The Azerbaijani authorities have been exaggerating the subject
of Azerbaijani prisoners of war in Karabakh captivity to conceal
the true number of its Army losses in the war imposed upon Nagorno
Karabakh. Instead of cooperating with Armenian and Azerbaijani NGOs
in solving this humanitarian problem, Baku is politicizing it,”
Karen Ohanjanyan, head of Helsinki Initiative ’92 organization,
commenting on a report by TURAN news agency, which says that allegedly
“Azerbaijani prisoners of war are being exploited in tunnels of gold
mines in Kelbajar District.”
“Since May 12, 1995, there has been no prisoners of war and hostages
in Nagorno Karabakh. All of them were extradited to Azerbaijan. Today
there are only separate cases of Azerbaijani servicemen becoming
prisoners of war because of their attempts to carry out subversive
activity, however, Nagorno Karabakh authorities immediately inform
Stepanakert Office of the International Red Cross Committee and in
two or three months these prisoners are extradited to the Azeri side
with the Red Cross assistance,” Karen Ohanjanyan stressed.
It is worth mentioning, recently, a regional conference on issues of
missing people with participation of Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian
and Nagorno Karabakh representatives initiated in the framework
of The Yellow Tulips Project with support of The Interchurch Peace
Council (the Netherlands) was held in the Nagorno Karabakh capital,
Stepanakert. The reporters spoke on carious aspects of the missing
people problem, gave a brief on history of cooperation of the Helsinki
Citizens Assembly in South Caucasus, role of mass media in solving
the problems of missing, attitudes of the governmental institutions
to the problem of missing.

A FAMILY WAITS – WHITE LAKE RESIDENTS TRAPPED IN LEBANON
Milford Times, MI
Aug 3, 2006
By Aileen Wingblad
STAFF WRITER
When Jack Chopjian’s wife, Karine, and their two young sons left for
an overseas trip to visit family in May, he said good-bye with the
intent of joining them there at the end of August.
Chopjian was to fly in for a huge celebration with friends and
relatives in honor of their little boy’s baptism, followed by a
few weeks of vacationing with Karine and the kids – Christopher, 4
and Armen, 2. Chopjian, a White Lake resident and owner of Milford
Jewelers in downtown Milford, was to enjoy with the family days of
sunning at the beach, splashing in the sea, enjoying the beauty of
the surrounding mountain range, reveling in the seemingly endless
nightlife and the other wonders the country holds.
ADVERTISEMENT
The beloved country of his and Karine’s childhood, Lebanon.
More specifically, the rural village of Anjar, in a lush and exotic
region of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley – the adopted homeland of thousands
of Armenians, like Chopjian’s parents and grandparents.
Yet fate was to intervene in a most grim and destructive way.
Instead of relishing an extended holiday, Karine, Christopher and
Armen are trapped in Anjar, just north of the Syrian border. Hunkered
down in the home of Karine’s parents since Israel’s aerial bombardment
began in Lebanon last month, they are challenged by the daily rumble of
bombs – some hitting just a mile away. Telephone, water and electrical
services are severely limited. Gas stations are shut down, and grocery
stores are picked clean.
At this point, Chopjian said, his wife’s best bet is to get to
neighboring Syria and make arrangements for a return flight. However,
though the Syrian border is just a few miles away, major streets
leading there are closed or demolished. And travel along the back
roads is questionable – and risky.
So for now, he said, there is no manageable way back to the United
States for his wife and kids.
“It was supposed to be a nice vacation, but it turned into war,”
said Tamar Aguilar, Chopjian’s sister and business partner.
Frustration rules the day “I am frustrated, very frustrated. There’s
nothing I can do. I can’t just fly there and get them,” Chopjian
said. “I’m freaking out, of course. But what can I do?”
He watches daily news updates on TV, and gets other information from
friends who have satellite feeds from Arabic news services. And he
puts on a brave and friendly face each day, hoping for the best while
biding his time until his loved ones return.
“But he is nervous, very nervous – and so am I,” Aguilar said. “It’s
hard to stay concentrated at work. It is on your mind all the time.
Friends keep calling and asking what’s going on, if there is any
change. But right now, we just don’t know. It is really hard.”
Chopjian tries to contact his wife every day, having more luck with
land lines than cellular service. “The cell phones just aren’t clear.
And the regular phones are clearer, but still it’s hard to get
through. And lots of times, after about two minutes, the phone just
drops right off,” he said.
Those brief but invaluable phone calls include conversations with his
sons, too. Armen, still a toddler, is frightened and confused, Chopjian
said. Christopher has been told the sounds of the bombs are fireworks.
“That way, it doesn’t scare him,” he said. “When he hears the bombs,
he just says, ‘oh, there are the fireworks again.”
Unwanted legacy Though Karine and the others are surrounded by danger,
Chopjian said he has faith in his wife’s ability to hold up until she
can return home. Her parents’ house is a safe haven, for now, and the
community of Anjar is close-knit and supporting, he said. Besides,
he added, Karine – like himself and countless family and friends – has
already proven an ability to endure the horrors of armed conflict. Just
as he did, Karine grew up in the Armenian-populated region of Lebanon
during that country’s civil war of the 1970s.
“She’s strong. She’s made it through this type of thing before,”
he said.
But picturing his young sons in that environment is weighing heavily
on Chopjian’s heart. He shudders to think his little boys could
harbor some of the same kinds of memories of war that have haunted
him since his own childhood. Living through air strikes and gun fire
– and watching as your neighborhood crumbles around you – has left
a profound impression on Chopjian. And the recollections are still
fresh, some 25 years after he emigrated to the United States.
Aguilar shares her brother’s dread that the children will be adversely
affected by this summer’s trip to Lebanon. “I’d hate it if they have
flashbacks – and all the kids that are over there,” she said. “I know
what they are going through.” Aguilar said she’s troubled to this day
by the sound of thunder, which always brings to mind memories of air
strikes that were a part of her pre-teen years.
“People say it’s just thunder. But to me, I’m reminded of all the
bombings,” she said. “I hate it.”
The waiting game Chopjian said despite the unrest that plagues much
of the Middle East, the latest conflict in Lebanon came as quite a
shock to him. After all, he said, Lebanon and its people over the past
several years have been undergoing a renaissance of sorts with rebuilt
infrastructure and plenty of corporations eager to invest there.
He last visited in 2001. The country was occupied by Syrian security
forces at the time, which left him a bit uneasy, yet the area was
breathtakingly beautiful. It was easy to see, he said, why Lebanon
had earned a reputation as a vacation hot-spot recently throughout
much of the world.
After Syrian forces left last year, Chopjian said he believed Lebanon
was well on its way to the democracy desired by the people. “The
country was coming back, they were happy. There was a lot of
construction, lots of money and tourism and business,” Chopjian said.
Now, there is heartbreak.
“Any country that is in war, it is horrible,” he said. “As for the
politics, I don’t know what to say about who is right and who is
wrong. There are no winners in this.”
Aguilar said all she can do now is “pray for peace” and urges others
to do so, too. “It is just such a mess over there. Such a mess,”
she said. “I never imagined anything like this would be happening.”
Chopjian won’t venture a guess as to when Karine and the boys will
be back. “Honestly, I don’t know. Obviously, I want them here as soon
as possible. Perhaps there will be a cease-fire and they can get out,
but it’s crazy. That whole region is suffering.
“But no matter what you say, she’s there and I am here,” he said.
“The situation is changing every minute. And there is nothing I can
do about it.”
Aileen Wingblad is a reporter for the Milford Times. She can
be reached by phone at (248) 685-1507 ext. 22 or by e-mail at
[email protected].

“AZERBAIJAN IS FORCED TO SIGN PEACE AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE FOR
DEFEATED COUNTRY BY THE AGENCY OF MINSK GROUP”
Democratic Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
Organization of Garabagh Liberation holds that there are clear
attempts to state that Azerbaijan should compromise in the latest
statement of co-chairmen
Accordingly to news, recently group of Azerbaijani politician
scientists and human right activists informed about their support for
“Frame Agreements” prepared by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen aiming at
regulation of Nagorno Garabagh conflict. Among persons who signed the
said agreement there are member of leaders’ staff of “Soros” Fund in
Azerbaijan, Rasim Musabekov, chairman of “Fund in the name of
Azerbaijan”, Eldar Namazov, Zardusht Alizade, Arzu Abdullayeva, head
of “Turan” agency, Mehman Aliyev etc. Representatives of Organization
of Garabagh Liberation expressing their attitude to this issue
manifested their surprise regarding the fact that above persons
support such unacceptable proposal.
Organization of Garabagh Liberation states that Azerbaijan is forced
to sign peace agreement acceptable for defeated country by the agency
of OSCE Minsk Group. Leadership of the mentioned structure is against
the above “frame agreements”, underlining that co-chairmen of Minsk
Group don’t take into consideration the fact of occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia: “Discussion of the status of the
regime of “Nagorni Garabagh Republic” is proposed as the principal
issue, instead of regulation of the conflict itself”. At the same
time, there is no mention of international sanctions which should be
applied to Armenia”.
Accordingly to Organization of Garabagh Liberation, “Frame
agreements” contain ambiguous attitude towards occupied territories.
“Thus, for some time Lachin and Kelbejer will be peculiar buffer zone
between Armenia and Nagorni Garabagh, on the territories of which
Armenia will place armed forces. Document also points that
co-chairmen would be able to coordinate issues on legal status and
referendum within proposals concerning referendum. However, it
contradicts to the interests of Azerbaijan”.
Moreover, Organization of Garabagh Liberation considers it
unacceptable for Azerbaijan including proposal of OSCE Minsk Group on
peacemaking forces location on conflict territory: “This proposal
helps to maintain so-called regime, created by Armenians in Nagarno
Garabagh. Peacemaking forces will not serve for Azerbaijanis’
interests, those who would return to their own lands, contrariwise
they will provide security for Armenian occupants, and Armenians will
commit outrages on the given territories. Peacemaking forces
shouldn’t be located on conflict zone, but on Azerbaijan-Armenia
frontiers. However, it will be possible after relative conflict
regulation”.
As Organization of Garabagh Liberation underlines co-chairmen
advocate non-use of force either by Armenia or Azerbaijan: “Given
position of co-chairmen contradicts to UN charter, which ensures the
right of every state which suffers aggression for military defense.
In case Azerbaijan agrees with such proposals, it will be deprived of
chance to use this right provided by UN”. Organization of Garabagh
Liberation holds that in case Azerbaijan starts negotiating on the
basis of principles put forward by co-chairmen, it will strike
through decisions adopted by UN and other international organizations
regarding Garabagh: “Decrees 822, 853, 874, 884 adopted by UN
Security Council, envisage withdrawal of Armenian military forces
from Azerbaijani territories. One of the false positions of
co-chairmen is that they are not guided by decrees adopted by UN
Security Council, but by Armenians’ demand”.
Organization of Garabagh Liberation also touches upon the visit of
American co-chairman Mathew Brayza: “Methew Brayza started his visit
to Nagorni Garabagh from Armenian territory, thus expressing his
“positive” attitude to territorial integrity of Azerbaijan”.

18 ARMENIAN BANKS LISTED AMONG 1,000 LARGEST TAX-PAYERS IN 1ST HALF OF 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/ Eighteen out of 21 Armenian banks were
listed among the largest tax payers in the 1st half of 2006. The RA
Taxation Service reports that direct taxes totaled AMD 3.62bln or
94.24% of all direct taxes paid by Armenia’s banks.
The banks in question paid 2.81% of the taxes paid by the 1,000
largest tax-payers of Armenia.
The first hundred of Armenia’s largest tax payers includes
Ardshininvestbank (AMD 672.3mln), HSBC Bank Armenia (640.5mln),
Conversebank (404.7mln), Armeconombank (370.8ln), ACBA (351.9mln),
Armsavingsbank (AMD 336.4mln), and Bank Anelik (240.9mln).
Among the 1,000 largest tax payers are also Inecobank, Unibank,
Areximbank, Bank Prometey, Mellat Bank, Armimpexbank, International
Investment Bank, ITB, ArmSwissbank, Armenian Development Bank and
Cascade Bank.
The list published by the State Taxation Service also includes three
credit institutions: ACBA Leasing – AMD 154.5mln, Izmirlyan Eurasia –
AMD 36.6mln, “SEF International” – 15.1mln, as well as the national
payment system “Armenian Card” CJSC (AMD 38.5mln), and Armenian Stock
Exchange (ARMEX) (AMD 23.5mln).
The 1,000 largest thousand AMD-payers of Armenia paid a total of AMD
136.7bln to the state budget in the 1st half of 2006. P.T. -0–

ARMENIA SEEKS UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM ASSISTANCE TO EASE CONSEQUENCES OF DROUGHT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
at his meeting with UN World Food Program Executive Director James
Maurice on Wednesday, asked the program to provide assistance to
Armenia to ease consequences of drought, governmental press service
reports.
Margaryan described current problems caused by this year drought
and expressed gratitude for WFP assistance sent in 2000for the same
purposes. The PM said the assistance had brought considerable relief
to drought-stricken regions of Armenia.
WFP delegation visited Armenia on Aug 2-3 as part of its regional tour.
This summer drought has struck hard at many farmers. Armenian
government has decided to allocate AMD 1bln 18mln for 8 provinces –
Aragatsotn, Gegharkunik, Lori, Kotayk, Sunik, Shirak and Vayots Dzor –
to compensate the damage inflicted by drought. ($1- AMD 412.54).

TOTAL OF INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS DECREASES BY 15.2% TO AMD 3.9BLN IN
ARMENIA FOR 1ST QUARTER 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. The total of insurance payments made by
insurance companies for the 1st quarter 2006 totaled AMD 3.9bln in
Armenia. The National Statistical Service reported that amount of
this indicator compared with the beginning of 2006 decreased by 15.2%
or AMD 697mln.
At the same time, the amount of insurance payments made by insurance
companies in the 1st quarter 2006 decreased by AMD 77mln and totaled
AMD 444.6mln.
According to the statistics, the amount of insurance risks under the
contracts in force by March 31, 2006, totaled AMD 1,184.8bln, 31.6%
or AMD 549.3 decrease compared with the beginning of the year. At the
same time, the number of active insurance contracts increased by 5991
and totaled 29,449.
As of March 31, 2006, 26 insurance companies were incorporated in
Armenia against 23 at the beginning of the year. ($1 – AMD 415.54).

HEAD OF AZERBAIJAN ISLAMIC PARTY REFUSED TO MEET WITH ADVISER OF U.S. EMBASSY
TREND, Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
The head of Azerbaijan Islamic Party (AIP) refused to meet with the
political adviser of the USA embassy Reveto Neslo, Trend reporta with
reference to AIP.
The initiative for the meeting was made by the USA embassy.
It was stated in AIP that the reason to refuse the meeting is the
anti-Islamic policy of USA and policy of double standards that is
implemented by the USA in relation with Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Besides, the refuse to the meeting is justified through occupation
of Iraq by USA, non-recognition of Armenia as an occupant country
and occupation of Lebanon and Palestine by Israel.