OSKANYAN MET BURJANADZE
A1+
[08:51 pm] 28 June, 2006
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan who is in Georgia on a two-day
official visit met the President of the Georgian Parliament, Nino
Burjanadze.
The sides discussed a wide circle of issues concerning
Armenian-Georgian relations. Referring to the cooperation of
the Armenian and Georgian parliamentarians the sides found their
cooperation in international organizations important.
A reference was also made to the problems in the Samtskhe-Javakhq
region.
Vardan Oskanyan also made a speech in the Georgian Foundation for
Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS). The Minister spoke about
the regional developments and the priorities of the foreign policy
of Armenia.

SITTING OF THE PACE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NKR TO BE HELD IN STRASBURG
ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 10:11
The sitting of the PACE Subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh will be
held today in Strasburg. Head of the Committee Russell Johnston’s
suggestions regarding the visit of the members of the Committee to
the region will be discussed.

LAKE SEVAN EVAPORATES 3 CENTIMETERS
YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: Dry weather and hot
Armenpress
Jun 28 2006
temperatures have lessened the level of Lake Sevan by three
centimeters, according to Armenian nature protection ministry, which
attributed it to extensive evaporation.
Nevertheless, the lake’s level is 27 centimeters higher from a year
ago standing now at 1,898 m and 57 centimeters above sea level. The
authorities will let out this year 120 million cubic meters of water
from the Lake for irrigation purposes.

JOINT ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MILITARY EXERCISES IN TSAKHKADZOR
ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 10:25
Joint military exercises of special divisions of the Police Departments
of Armenia and Russia will be held today in Tsakhkadzor.

MATTHEW BRYZA TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN ISTANBUL
ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 10:33
“Democratization and security in the Black Sea region” international
congress will be held in Istanbul. The event will be attended by US
Assistant Secretary of State, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza
and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA PUBLICIZED THE STATEMENT OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 11:52
Yesterday US Embassy in Armenia publicized the text of the statement
of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs made June 22nd at the OSCE Permanent
Council. The Co-Chairs underline they see no sense in initiating
additional meetings between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
unless they demonstrate adequate political will to overcome the rest of
the misunderstandings. The statement includes the principles presented
to the consideration of the Presidents of the two countries.
Armenian military units should be withdrawn from Azerbaijani
territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; special attention should be paid
to Kelbajar and Lachin regions.
For determining the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh it is
envisaged to hold a referendum or a general voting, the terms of which
have not been set so far. The referendum or the voting should come
in the result of a compromise agreement between the two sides. The
parties are obliged to continue the talks to decide upon the terms
and format of the referendum. International peacekeeping forces will
be deployed in the conflict zone.
“Now it is time for the two Presidents to try to achieve progress
in the settlement process. This is the only way to reinforce the
positive results achieved during the last two years of negotiations,”
the statement says.

SENATE PANEL PRESSES PROPOSED US ENVOY FOR CLEAR EXPLANATION OF US POLICY ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 12:05
Senate Foreign Relations Committee members George Allen (R-VA) and
Norm Coleman (R-MN) bombarded US Ambassador to Armenia Designate
Richard Hoagland with questions about official US complicity in
Turkey’s campaign of Genocide denial, questioning him, during his
confirmation hearing, regarding his ability to effectively represent
the United States in Armenia without properly recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
At the hearing, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), joined with Senators
Coleman and Allen in sharply criticizing the Administration’s refusal
to speak truthfully on the Armenian Genocide. Senator Boxer, who
was unable to attend the hearing, submitted written questions to
Ambassador Hoagland.
The hearing was marked by repeated calls upon Ambassador Hoagland to
clarify the State Department’s policy on the Armenian Genocide. If
approved, he will replace the current US Ambassador to Armenia, John
Marshall Evans, who – amid great controversy – has been recalled over
his truthful description of the Armenian Genocide in February of 2005.

NA CHAIRMAN MET COE SECRETARY GENERAL
ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 12:42
Yesterday Chairman of RA National Assembly, head of the Armenian
delegation to PACE Tigran Torosyan had several meetings in the
framework of the PACE summer session.
During the meeting with Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Terry Davis the issue of the aggressive policy of Azerbaijan in the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was discussed.
Head of the Armenian delegation noted that the Azeri delegation uses
the rostrum of the Parliamentary Assembly to disseminate falsehood
and forgery, and present fake accusations on Armenia.
In particular, this time during the discussion of all issues Azeri
deputies raise the question of arsons of the green areas on territories
adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh. Considering that that forgery and fake
accusations counter the CoE principles, Tigran Torosyan suggested
undertaking steps to correct this unhealthy situation. Terry Davis
promised to undertake corresponding steps.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSYAN: BY 2015 THE ARMENIAN ARMY SHOULD NOT GIVE IN TO ANY OTHER ARMY IN THE WORLD
ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 14:10
Today 2006 alumnae of the Military Institute after Vazgen Sargsyan
received graduate diplomas. After four years of study at the Military
Institute, they received also a Lieutenant’s title. After a one-month
vacation they will continue the military service as Officers.
“It has been several years already that an important event is occurring
in the army life of the Republic in these summer days – the Military
Institute gives its recurrent graduates,” Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan said.
“This year the Officer Staff of our Army will be supplemented with
439 Officers, 259 of whom graduated from the Military Institute after
Vazgen Sargsyan.
This means we are approaching the line when our Army will be
complemented with Officers with higher education,” the Minister
underlined.
By 2015 the Armenian Army should not give in to any other army in
the world.
This is a great desire, which is already on the way to fulfillment. And
this, according to the Defense Minister, will depend on the moving
force of the Army – the Officer Staff. In the Minister’s words, the
state will do everything for the Officers to feel support of the state.
“The socio-economic conditions of the Officers have improved and it
will continue this way. Issues of housing and medical care of their
families will be resolved. The salaries of the Officers will be
raised. In one word, everything will be done to simplify the sacred
duty of serving the motherland,” the Defense Minister mentioned.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSYAN: THERE ARE NO PRECONDITIONS FOR RESUMPTION OF MILITARY ACTIONS
Tatul Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
29.06.2006 14:50
Today RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan turned to the disclosures
of the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza. A
few days ago the newly appointed Co-Chair publicized the content of
negotiations between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Bryza
said, in particular, “We have a framework agreement, which urges to
withdraw the Armenian troops from the territories, where they are
currently deployed. The agreement envisages normalization of economic
and diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
There are also other factors like the deployment of peacekeepers,
international economic assistance to the Karabakh region and economic
development. That is to say, there is package suggestion. At the end,
at some point it is envisaged to hold a referendum to determine the
future status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
This is the main sketch of the suggestions put on the negotiations
table.
During today’s meeting with journalists at the Military Institute after
Vazgen Sargsyan Serge Sargsyan said, “I think it would be correct if
MR. Bryza presented the document itself and refrained from making
personal comments. The Co-Chairs urge the parties not to publicize
the details of talks to avoid emotional impact, while they try to do
it themselves.”
Yesterday US Embassy in Armenia made public the text of the statement
of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs made June 22nd at the OSCE Permanent
Council. The Co-Chairs underline they see no sense in initiating
additional meetings between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
unless they demonstrate adequate political will to overcome the rest of
the misunderstandings. The statement includes the principles presented
to the consideration of the Presidents of the two countries.
Armenian military units should be withdrawn from Azerbaijani
territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; special attention should be paid
to Kelbajar and Lachin regions.
For determining the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh it is
envisaged to hold a referendum or a general voting, the terms of which
have not been set so far. The referendum or the voting should come
in the result of a compromise agreement between the two sides. The
parties are obliged to continue the talks to decide upon the terms
and format of the referendum. International peacekeeping forces will
be deployed in the conflict zone.
“Now it is time for the two Presidents to try to achieve progress
in the settlement process. This is the only way to reinforce the
positive results achieved during the last two years of negotiations,”
the statement says.
In response to the question whether the Armenian side is going to make
known the complete framework agreement imposed by the Co-Chairs in
the result of the recent meetings between Presidents Robert Kocharyan
and Ilham Aliev, RA Defense Minister said, “We’ll see. In any case,
we act within the limits of the logics, the main idea of which is to
keep the parties from an emotional attitude towards the document.
Serge Sargsyan does not think that the lack of progress in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict causes a situation where the war
becomes inevitable.
“I don’t think that there has been any events recently that envisages
war.
What kind of war are you speaking about? Why war? Who has said there
will be a war? I do not consider there are any preconditions for
resumption of military actions in the nearest future,” the Minister
said.
After Matthew Bryza’s revelations, RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
issued a statement, underlining, in particular, that Armenia agreed
to the suggestions made in Bucharest, while these were rejected
by Azerbaijan.
“Besides, Azerbaijan’s instability of opinion is a serious obstacle
for achieving progress in the negotiations process. In case this policy
is maintained, Armenia will insist that Azerbaijan holds direct talks
with Karabakh,” the statement of the MFA said.