U.N. to Appoint Mission for Clarifying Causes of Fires in Karabakh
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.09.2006 12:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.N. General Assembly has decided to organize a
mission for clarifying the causes of fires in Nagorno Karabakh and the
territories adjacent to it, and for rendering assistance essential for
the liquidation of consequences. According to Azeri Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov, the international mission will be sent to the
problem zone in compliance with the 191st resolution. ~SAzeri, Armenian
and international experts, including members of the U.N. ecology
program and OSCE representatives will serve on the mission,~T he said.
In the Minister~Rs words, after the assessment of the situation
an ecological measure for rehabilitation of the lands will be
conducted. Thereupon the OSCE Chairman-in-Office will submit a report
to the U.N General Assembly, reported Day.az.

Hoagland’s Chances in Senate 50/50
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.09.2006 13:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Richard Hoagland’s nomination has been only approved
by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The final decision will
be taken by the Senate, ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Office
Director Kiro Manoian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words,
Hoagland’s chances in the Senate are 50/50.
Even if the Senate approves an Ambassador who denies the Armenian
Genocide it will be not the end of the world. However I suppose that
the Senators will voice opinion and will urge the State Department to
recognize the Armenian Genocide or consider a new designation. It may
happen that the U.S. will remain without an Ambassador to Armenia for
a while, but to my mind, it’s inadmissible for the United States,
since the Bush Administration needs close ties with Armenia,”
Manoian emphasized.

ANCA to Seek to Block Hoagland’s Nomination Approval by Senate
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.09.2006 13:22 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Following more than two months of delays,
and amid growing controversy and bipartisan opposition to his
nomination, Richard Hoagland moved a step closer today to winning
Senate confirmation to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“The ANCA remains firmly opposed to the Hoagland nomination, and
will continue to seek to block his confirmation until he publicly
states that he does not question the Armenian Genocide, and the
State Department explains both its firing of the current Ambassador
as well as the role of the Turkish government in this controversy,”
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We are grateful for
the support of Senators Boxer, Coleman, Dodd, Kerry, and Sarbanes,
and look forward to working with them, and others, to prevent the
Administration from making a mistake that would hinder our ability to
represent U.S. interests and advance American values in Armenia and
the surrounding region, as well as undermining our moral standing on
genocide prevention worldwide.”
On two previous occasions, June 28th and again on August 1st,
the panel had delayed its consideration of Ambassador-Designate
Hoagland’s nomination.

U.S. Welcomes Turkey’s Decision to Send Troops to Lebanon
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.09.2006 13:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Department of State spokesman Sean McCormack
has said that his country welcomed the approval of the government
motion in the Turkish parliament regarding the deployment of Turkish
troops to Lebanon, reported Cihan news agency.
Spokesman McCormack on Wednesday stated that they (U.S.) welcomed the
offer, in his regular press briefing held in U.S. capital Washington
DC. “We think it’s important that countries around the world step
up and meet an important need so that we do — we are able to make
progress in that small corner of the world”, the McCormack remarked.
McCormack added that, thus, they would not end up back where they were
at the beginning of hostilities thanks to finding such common points.
A total of 340 deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) voted in favor of the government motion, while 192 deputies
voted against the motion. One deputy abstained from voting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
TURKEY HAS INTERESTS IN LEBANON
[01:53 pm] 08 September, 2006
By allocating forces in Lebanon Turkey is trying to
enhance its position in the region.
“We must not forget that the Near East has been under
the reign of Turkey for centuries. There were suchlike
comments in Turkey too – We left Lebanon 88 years ago,
and now we are returning”, said Ruben Safrastyan, dean
of the RA National Academy of Science oriental studies
chair commenting on the decision of the Turkish
Parliament about sending peace-keeping forces to
Lebanon. According to the historian, this is also an
attempt by Turkey to flatter the USA and the EU.
“The USA, as well as the EU is interested in Turkey’s
sending peace-keeping forces to Lebanon. This is a
gesture by Turkey”.
The Armenians of Lebanon were against the Turkish
troupes in the country saying that Turkey cannot be
defender of rights. According to Ruben Safrastyan, not
only the Armenians, but also the majority of the
Turkish society was against it.
“The concern was that the peace-keepers might collide
with “Hezbollah” which could arouse anxiety of the
pro-Islamic powers in Turkey. That’s why the Turks
avoid those regions where they can get in touch with
“Hezbollah”, Mr. Safrastyan thinks.
According to the historian, the Arabian world does not
approve of the Turkish peace-keepers fearing that
Turkey might try to restore its former influence.
As for the Armenian policy of not sending troupes to
Lebanon, the historian thinks it right.
“What could we gain sending troupes there? We do not
have geo-political problems to solve in the Near East.
We have a large community there which is in certain
relations with all the political powers, that is we
poke into relations which could harm our nations. We
would lose more than gain”, Mr. Safrastyan says.

UN RESOLUTION WITH UNFAVORABLE TITLE
A1+
[01:25 pm] 08 September, 2006
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the U.N. to
urgently assist in preventing environmental damage from fires in the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The resolution stressed “the necessity to urgently conduct an
environmental operation to suppress the fires.” It took note of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s intention
to organize a mission to the region to assess the short-term and
long-term impact of the fires.
Azerbaijan’s U.N. Ambassador Yashar Aliyev introduced the draft
resolution, saying that in early June Azerbaijan registered massive
fires in the eastern part of the territory occupied by Armenia, and
by August the fire had damaged more than 600 square kilometers. After
the vote, he thanked everyone who supported the resolution.
Armenia’s U.N. Ambassador, Armen Martirosyan, said that although he
supported the content of the resolution, he had serious problems
with its title and opposed bringing any Nagorno-Karabakh issue to
the United Nations.
U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff, speaking on behalf of the
OSCE group dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue – the U.S.,
France and Russia – said the three countries remain committed to
promoting a peaceful, negotiated solution to the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Here goes the full text of the resolution.
Sixtieth Session of the UN General Assembly
Agenda Item 40,
Azerbaijan: resolution
The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan
The General Assembly,
Seriously concerned by the fires in the affected territories, which
have inflicted widespread environmental damage,
1. Stresses the necessity to urgently conduct an environmental
operation to suppress the fires in the affected territories and to
overcome their detrimental consequences;
2. Welcomes the readiness of the parties to cooperate to that end and
considers such an operation to be an important confidence-building
measure;
3. Takes note of the OSCE intention to organize a mission to the region
to assess the short-term and long-term impact of the fires on the
environment as a step for preparation of the environmental operation;
4. Calls upon, in this regard, the organizations and programs
of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations
Environmental Programme, in cooperation with the OSCE to provide
all necessary assistance and expertise, including, inter alia,
the assessment of and counteraction to the short-term and long-term
impact of the environmental degradation of the region, as well as in
its rehabilitation;
5. Asks the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group of the OSCE to provide a
report to member States of the General Assembly by April 30, 2007

FOR SUBSTANTIAL SERVICE
By September 8 decrees of President Robert Kocharyan
A1+
[02:04 pm] 08 September, 2006
Gerald Gafeschyan and Eduardo Ernekyan have been awarded Medals of
St. Mesrop Mashtots in connection with the 15th anniversary of the
independence of Armenia, for substantial service to the country.
In connection with the 15th anniversary of the independence of
Armenia, Vasili Ghazaryan and Karine Ghazinyan, the RA Ambassadors
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to China and Germany respectively,
have been awarded the medal of Mkhitar Gosh, for substantial service
in the field of diplomacy.
By another decree of the President Jivan Movsisyan, the head of the
agency of links with the Diaspora of the RA Foreign Ministry, has
been awarded the diplomatic rank of RA special envoy and authorized
minister.

A1+
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAESTRO
[03:06 pm] 08 September, 2006
Today is the 84th anniversary of renowned conductor
Ohan Duryan. After being discharged from hospital in
June the Maestro is recovering.
“A1+” congratulates the Maestro wishing him good
health and return to the stage.
PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULTES
In connection with Maestro’s 84th anniversary RA Prime
Minister has congratulated the conductor wishing him
strong health and success is his creative work.
WE’LL MEET THE NEW DAWN TOGETHER
We warmly congratulate our dear friend, renowned
conductor Ohan Duryan on his birthday. Our dear
Maestro, we pray to God for your quick convalescence.
We are convinced that we will meet the new dawn of the
Armenian nation together, and you will greet it with
your art.
Alderman of the forum of intellectuals
Yervand Manaryan, Rafayel Ghazaryan, Dmitri Atbashyan,
Hrachya Matevosyan, Anna Boyajyan, Khoren Palyan,
David Sedrakyan, Lenser Aghalovyan, Robert Karayan.
OHAN DURYAN IS ONE OF THE MASISES
It is good that Mount Masis is the only one. It is
good that there are many Masises in the Armenian
culture. And it is good hat today we have the occasion
to join our voice to that of thousands of Armenians
and to tell with all our heart that we love our Mount
Masis Ohan Duryan. Happy Birthday, dear Maestro.
Political Council of the party “Homeland and Honor”

A1+
TRAFFICKING GROWS
[03:46 pm] 08 September, 2006
During the latest report of the UN State Department
Armenia was included in the second risk group in
connection with trafficking. The problem of
trafficking is growing deeper in Armenia. Private
non-governmental investigations testify to this. Today
two suchlike presentations took place.
The investigations were carried out by the Armenian
Aid Union and Armenian Sociology Association. In both
cases the US Embassy and the OSCE Yerevan office
supported the works. The first theme was “Illegal
trade and work exploitation of Armenian migrants”; the
second was “Children in Armenian children’s homes and
special schools”. In the first case 2500 citizens
participated in the survey. 48 of them were exploited
during migration. Part of the cases can be considered
trafficking.
“Taking into account the fact that about a million
Armenians have left abroad to find work during the
last 12-14 years, the proportion presupposes that
about 20 thousand people have had similar problems”,
the report says. The investigations prove that 2/3 of
the participants of the survey have been subject of
work exploitation, 15% were forced into prostitution,
and about 5% were forced into slavery.
By the way, the lists of countries where work
exploitation and sexual exploitation takes place,
differ a lot. From the point of view of work
exploitation Russia takes the first place followed by
Turkey, USA, Germany, Poland and Greece. From the
point of view of sexual exploitation the list is
topped by Turkey, Arab Emirates, Russia, Iran and
Syria. The second report revealed that from the point
of view of exploitation the children from children’s
homes and special schools are considered the risk
groups.
Factually, the investigations, as well as the
discussions after them do not offer any remedy for
this “disease”. They just mention that we ought to
raise public awareness about the concept of
trafficking, as well as the mechanisms of leaving for
abroad and finding job there.

OPPOSITION STRUGGLES FOR AMERICAN MONEY
Lragir.am
08 Sept 06
A real race has started in the opposition of Armenia for the 6.5
million dollars of the U.S. Department of State they are likely to
provide for holding a fair parliamentary election in Armenia in 2007.
After Arshak Sadoyan the leader of the National Democratic Party
Shavarsh Kocharyan announces about the project on control over
elections. However, if Sadoyan’s project cost 2.5 million U.S.
dollars, on September 8 Kocharyan announced at the Pastark Club that
his model of control costs 4 million U.S. dollars.
It seems, however, that the money is hard to get, since the Americans
are reluctant to fund a project, which does not have the approval of
the entire opposition. Like Sadoyan, Kocharyan also complains that
the other forces of the opposition cannot come together over his
project. Kocharyan believes that the project is not only good and
worth approving but also singular.
“For us it is not important who proposed it is important if it is
pro-active, well-thought. Let them propose something else, we will
consider it, but there is no other proposal. This is the problem.
There are words, calls, but there are no documents, mechanisms,
approaches,” says Shavarsh Kocharyan.