NKR MFA: BAKU AGAIN TRIES TO DISTORT KARABAKH CONFLICT ESSENCE
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 17:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The fact that official Baku does not cease attempts
to attribute religious nature to the Azeri-Karabakh conflict, based on
infringement of basic rights of the Armenian population of the former
Azeri SSR and Azeri party’s lack of desire to recognize NKR people’s
right to decide their fate themselves,” says a comment of the NKR
MFA to the Caucasian Knot portal over the final declaration adopted
at the latest forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) in Baku.
“At the 33rd session of the OIC FMs of the Azeri party made another
attempt to distort the essence of the conflict by presenting
Azerbaijan as a victim. Being unable to solve the issue within the
legal framework, Azerbaijan resorted to armed aggression against
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and ignored UN SC urges to stop
hostilities. The NKR MFA notes with content that in spite of the
increased militant hysteria in Azerbaijan, the OIC announced its
firm position that it is necessary to solve the conflict peacefully,”
says the NKR MFA comment, reports De-Facto.

US WANTS NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 17:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US is seriously considers the opportunity of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations within the context of
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, chair of the department
of Turkey of the National Academy of Sciences, Doctor Ruben Safrastyan
stated in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words,
the issue is a core one during the US-Turkish consultations.
“Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations favorable from
geopolitical point of view to the US, as well as to Armenia and
Turkey,” he remarked.

LINKING KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WITH ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS INCORRECT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 18:24 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By his latest statement new Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
Matthew Bryza probably meant that he understands the issue and
possesses information, Head of Hay Dat Office of ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Kiro Manoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, linking
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations is incorrect. “When Turkey opens the border
with Armenia, Azerbaijan will have to come to an agreement with the
Armenian party in the Karabakh issue. Turkey’s stand is the opposite:
it is going to open the border after settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict,” Kiro Manoyan said.

US SECRETARY OF STATE URGED TO REVIEW RECALLING OF JOHN EVANS
AZG Armenian Daily #118
27/06/2006
Four US congressmen, George Radanovich, Frank Pallone, Adam Schiff
and Joe Knollenberg, called on US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice
to review the recalling of US ambassador to Armenia John Evans. The
congressmen underscored that though John Evan’s recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is not the cause of recalling, all facts speak for
that presumption.
“By allowing John Evans to carry on his diplomatic mission in Armenia
the US would send a powerful signal to Turkey to recognize the Armenian
Genocide,” the congressmen said. In their letter to Mrs. Rice they
emphasized the need for the US to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

TESSA HOFMANN: NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY A NEUTRAL STATE
By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert
AZG Armenian Daily
27/06/2006
International workshop entitled “Nagorno Karabakh Republic: Its Past,
Present and Future” was scheduled to end on June 24 but it was closed
a day earlier.
Prior to the final session workshop participants called a press
conference to summarize results of the three-day meeting. Kamo Atanian,
NKR minister of education, culture and sport, stated in his speech
that the workshop is a unique event in independent Artsakh and that
it’s the first time such a workshop is held here. In his words, the
workshop evidenced that NKR exists as a country that independently
forges its statehood, which is able to defend its borders alone and
develop its economy and culture. He thanked all those who contributed
to workshop’s success.
Aram Simonian, rector of Yerevan State University, thinks that the
workshop showed that Artsakh is not only a center of resistance
but also a center of science and culture. The rector expressed that
young participants were not active during the conference. He also
emphasized that henceforth such workshops should be held using the
local scientific potential as outsiders can only play the role of
a detonator.
Simonian thinks that the Stepanakert workshop cannot directly
contribute to the international recognition of NKR but can create
an environment for the correct perception of the issue by the world
community and also serve as propaganda.
All speeches made at the workshop will be published in a book and
distributed to the public for the people to know the opinions
voiced there, education and culture minister said. Besides, an
announcement-document will be prepared to hand the international
structures.
Asked by daily Azg to comment on her earlier statement that it’s vital
for NKR that at least one state recognizes its independence, famous
German political scientist Tessa Hofmann said that she first of all
means the international structures engaged in Karabakh regulation. For
the world community itself it will be very weighty that any powerful
state recognizes NKR.
Asked whether NKR’s recognition by Armenia will have a positive
impact, Mrs. Hofmann said no reminding the example of Northern
Cyprus. “Recognition by an interested state can even have an opposite
effect.
It’s necessary that a neutral state takes this step,” she said.
Undoubtedly, the Stepanakert workshop was a significant event
in Nagorno Karabakh regulation process. We expect that it will be
adequately evaluated abroad. It seems that the international scientific
thought has created ground for the right legal approaches to the issue.

GLOBAL GOLD IS DOING STUDIES SO FAR
AZG Armenian Daily
27/06/2006
The American Global Gold Mining Company invested about $5,5 million
in the mining industry of Armenia in 2006, Ashot Poghosian, regional
director of the company, said at a recent press conference.
He said that $1,5 were spent on purchasing 51% of “Mego Gold” Armenian
Company, which had the right of exploitation of the Tukhmanuk Gold
mining field and built a concentrating plant near the filed. The
company spent $2 million to purchase the mining equipment. Besides,
$0,5 million was directed to exploration works in that field. Poghosian
stated that they have already completed the preparation works and the
gold field will be exploited by late 2006. The operation expenses of
the company amounted to $1,5 million. Poghosian said that till now
the Global Gold Mining hasn’t begun exploitation of the gold fields
in Armenia being engaged in exploration works in the Hankavan Copper
Molybdenum field, Kotayk region, in Terterasar and Litchkvaz-Teyskyan
Gold field, Syunik region. Soon, the company will begin exploration
of the Marjan field and the area near the Getik river.
Poghosian added that by end 2006, the company is going to make about
$9 million investment. Particularly, additional $2,2 millions will be
allocated for exploration of the Tukhmanuk gold filed, $0,5 million
will be spent on exploration works in Hankavan.
Poghosian said that the Global Gold Corporation (GGC) is a holding
and its shares are in free circulation in the US stock exchange. The
market price of the company’s capital makes $30 million. The GGC
branch was registered in Armenia in early 2004.

ACADEMY HAS 1 VICE-PRESIDENT AND ALMOST THE SAME STAFF AT PRESIDIUM
AZG Armenian Daily
27/06/2006
Academician Yuri Shukurian, director of RA Information Science
Institute, was elected vice-president of the RA National Academy
of Sciences. Besides the elections, the Armenian academicians also
approved the candidates for the academician-secretaries.
The following academicians were elected academician-secretaries: Yuri
Chilingarian for the post of academician-secretary for Astrophysics
and Physics, Vilen Hakobian, Natural Sciences, Vladimir Barkhudarian
for the Armenian Studies and Public Sciences, and Robert Atoyan
for Mathematics, Mechanics and Information Science. In autumn,
the elections for the Academician-Secretary pf RA National Academy
of Sciences will take place. Thus, there are two vacancies for the
presidium of RA National Academy of Science, particularly, the post
of the academician-secretary and the representative of RA State
University.

EDITOR OF “ZHAMANAK” WAS ARRESTED
A1+
[07:55 pm] 26 June, 2006
“They came after Arman Babajanyan, editor-in-chief of newspaper
“Zhamanak Yerevan” as though they had come to arrest an old
offender. Two people knocked at the door making sure it was the
editorial office, 7-8 people raided into the office and without
introducing themselves and informing where they were taking the
editor took him in an unknown direction”, tells Manouk Souqiasyan,
director of newspaper “Zhamanak Yerevan”.
Later on they would find out that Arman Babajanyan was taken to the
Prosecutor’s office to be examined in connection with a criminal
case. Then it would become clear that a criminal case was brought
against Babajanyan himself for fabricating documents and avoiding
military service since 2002.
Lisa Chakharyan, deputy editor of the newspaper, noted that this was
an act of terror against the newspaper aimed at warning the other Mass
Media. She drew parallels between the incident and the period when
“A1+” was banned from air. “‘A1+’ was persecuted in the pre-election
period when there was tension. Now we are in a pre-election period
again, and there is tension over the Karabakh conflict; thus they
want to warn others by our example.”
As for the accusation, the editorial office informed that Arman
Babajanyan came to Armenia many times after 2002 but as far as he
did not publish any newspaper back then, he was never troubled by
military affairs.
“Arman will become a PHD soon. He studied in international universities
and always kept in touch with the military registration office”,
Manouk Souqiasyan informed.
By the way, Artak Babajanyan, Arman’s brother was summoned to the
Prosecutor’s office too but decided to participate in the press
conference instead.
Nevertheless, a few hours prior to the conference his mobile phone
ceased to answer the calls. The staff of the newspaper is sure the
he was arrested too.
We learned from the press secretary of the Prosecutor’s Office that
they received the materials from the Military Police. On this ground
a criminal case was initiated according to the second point of the
second part of the article 327 of the Criminal Code – fabrication of
documents and avoidance of military service.
Arman Babajanyan was examined as a suspect and confessed that he really
fabricated documents in order to avoid military service. After that
he was arrested.
Asked what is the possible punishment in this case we were answered
in the Prosecutor’s office, “He will be taken to the army”.

EVICTION FROM HOTEL “EREBUNI”
A1+
[05:32 pm] 26 June, 2006
Gohar Torosyan, resident of hotel “Erebuni”, told the “A1+”
correspondent today that she will commit suicide if they continue to
treat her that way. She is 86 years old, from Gyumri, and lost her
house in the 1988 earthquake.
A month after the earthquake Gohar Torosyan was given a 17-square
meter room on the 5th floor of hotel “Erebuni”. 18 years after that
a citizen named Edik appeared and announced that the hotel belonged
to his late uncle who used to live in Moscow, and after his sudden
death he has taken charge of the hotel.
12-13 families of refugees have already received financial compensation
and left their rooms. The only resident left is Mrs. Gohar. She has
no running water and electricity, and the watchman of the building
opens and closes the doors whenever he wishes. The old woman spends
the majority of the day outside, under the sun.
We met those who introduced themselves as the owners of the hotel,
but they did not wish to talk to us.
They have offered 3900 USD to Gohar Torosyan which they represented
as an act of charity. Mrs. Gohar turned down the offer and asked
to give her a house of the same area as she refrains from buying a
house herself.
According to her, she has no one to help her, and she lives with 18 000
AMD of old-age pension. The greatest offence for Mrs. Gohar is that
she devoted her life to sports and trained professional basketball
teams ignoring her private life. And now the country for which she
did so many thinks is so indifferent towards her.

KARABAKH WILL GUARANTEE
Karine Asatryan
A1+
[09:23 pm] 26 June, 2006
The delegation of the PACE sub-committee on cultural affairs was
expected to visit the region in late May or in early June must the
visit was postponed. The visit will probably take place in autumn,
Stepan Demirchyan, member of the Armenian delegation to PACE and
leader of the party “Justice” informed.
In the session of the sub-committee today Mr. Demirchyan expressed
readiness on behalf of the Armenian side to support the group and to
provide them with additional materials. “There are no obstacles from
the Armenian side”, Stepan Demirchyan said.
By the way, the representatives of the sub-committee expressed wish
to be in Karabakh and asked the Azeri delegate who participated
in the session if they will guarantee their security. The Azeri
delegate pointed at Stepan Demirchyan and asked to turn to him with
that question.
“The authorities of Karabakh will guarantee your security”, Stepan
Demirchyan promised.