DROUGHT EXPECTED
Panorama.am
19:19 26/06/06
There are some indicators that drought will start across
the republic due to high level of temperature especially at
mountainous regions. “This can have dire effect on plants. We speak
particularly about Sisian, Kotaik, Shirak and Gegharkunik marzes,”
agricultural branches development department head Garnik Petrosyan
told Panorama.am. The ministry agriculture has not made estimates
on the costs of drought since they wait for further surprises of the
nature.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN CHURCH UNDAUNTED BY TURKISH PROTESTS
Armenpress
Jun 26 2006
ISTANBUL, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS: The head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, who will end on June 28 a week-long Pontifical visit
to Turkey, stated in Istanbul that the genocide of Armenians planned
and executed by the government of the Turkey during World War 1 is
an undeniable historical fact and not subject to debates.
“The genocide of Armenians is a crime that had happened and which
must be acknowledged. The issue of the Armenian genocide has been
explored by researches for 90 years,” he was quoted by Turkish Dogan
news agency as saying. A report by the Associated Press said Karekin
II’s remarks will complicate the end of his visit that was already
marked by protests of nationalistic organizations.
Karekin II said meantime he was not impressed by the protests. “They
are not able to break my spirit and have no impact on my visit, but
if such protests continue they will prove that we still have to a
lot to do to have these two nations live in peace.”
Karekin II is visiting Turkey upon the joint invitation of His
Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople; and His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical
Patriarch of Constantinople.
During this first Pontifical visit the Catholicos visited Armenian
churches and holy shrines, extended his pontifical blessings to the
Armenian community of Istanbul, and met with Armenian intellectuals
and young men and women. On Sunday, June 25, His Holiness celebrated
a Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Patriarchate’s Cathedral
of the Holy Mother of God.
Also planned is a meeting between the Pontiff of All Armenians and
the Governor of Istanbul. His Holiness is scheduled to return to the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on June 28.

ARMENIAN-BULGARIAN COMMISSION MEETING STARTS IN YEREVAN
Armenpress
Jun 26 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS: The fourth regular meeting of
the Armenian-Bulgarian inter-governmental commission on economic
cooperation that opened today in Yerevan will discuss a wide scope
of issues such as transport, communications, trade, agriculture,
social security, yuth, sport and nature protection.
The Armenian cochairman of the commission, transport and communication
minister Andranik Manukian, said there are many obstacles to boosting
bilateral contacts, the main, according to him, is the absence of a
direct air communication between the two countries. He said officials
on both sides could not agree which country’s carrier should operate
the flight because air companies consider it unprofitable.
The Bulgarian cochairman, Nikolay Vasilev, who is a deputy minister
of state management and administrative reforms, said unlike strong
political ties, economic contacts between the two nations are
very weak. He said last year the bilateral trade amounted to only
$85 million, of which $6-7 million were Armenian exports. Andranik
Manukian underscored boosting relations with Bulgaria because in 2007
January 1 it is set to become an EU member.

BAKU CAN NEVER MAKE KARABAKH PEOPLE REFUSE THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 13:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Taking into account the statement that the
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group presented to the OSCE Permanent
Council, in Vienna, on June 22, and the interview that Matthew Bryza,
the new US co-chair, gave soon thereafter, where albeit partially,
the principles of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement were revealed for the first time, and also taking into
account the recent desperate calls by Azerbaijan for a military
solution and autonomy for Nagorno Karabakh, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) of Armenia would like to make several observations.
The co-chairs have only partially revealed the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict resolution principles; they have left out references to a
corridor linking Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, and issues relating to
Nagorno Karabakh’s status before a referendum.
The co-chairs have, for the first time, affirmed that the people
of Nagorno Karabakh shall determine their own future status through
a referendum.
Those items over which the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
continue to disagree do not include a referendum. That concept has
been agreed to by the presidents. The area of disagreement between
the presidents has to do with the sequence in which the consequences
of the military conflict are removed.
In an attempt to resolve this remaining area of disagreement, a
proposal was made by the co-chairs after Rambouillet. This proposal
was accepted by Armenia in Bucharest. Azerbaijan rejected it.
Armenia finds that the basic principles, proposed by co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group, overall, on the table today remain a serious
basis for continuing negotiations. On that basis Armenia is prepared
to continue negotiations with Azerbaijan.
Armenia believes that Azerbaijan’s wavering on these principles is
a serious obstacle to progress in the negotiations. If this policy
continues, Armenia will insist that Azerbaijan conduct direct
negotiations with Nagorno Karabakh.
Finally, we remind Azerbaijan once again that regardless of the size
of their military budget, they cannot force the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to renounce freedom and the right to self-determination,”
says the Armenian MFA statement.

GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES STATE THERE WILL BE NO ARMENIAN AUTONOMY IN JAVAKHETI
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 18:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In response to the demand of Javakhk Armenian NGO,
which advocates creation of an Armenian autonomy in Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, populated by Armenians, and announcing the Armenian
language as the state one, Georgian PM Zurab Nogaideli said, “there
are autonomous republics already present in the republic and a new
one will not be formed.” In her turn Georgian Speaker Nino Burjanadze
stated, “demands like those are absurd and may cause exacerbation of
the situation in the region.” In her words, statements like those
are not in the interests of either Armenia, or Georgia. Meanwhile,
Javakhk NGO has announced its intention to launch protest actions,
reports IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ARRIVING IN ARMENIA TODAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 13:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Russian Minister of Internal Affairs, army
general Rashid Nurgaliyev will arrive in Armenia on an official
call. Within the framework of the visit Rashid Nurgaliyev and Armenian
Police Chief Hayk Harutyunyan will take part in a joint session of
boards of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Armenian
Police. Besides, joint anti-terror exercises of Russian Ministry of
Internal Affairs special destination troops and the Armenian Police.
Specifically, during the exercises the special forces soldiers will
hold an operation to release hostages.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE TO HOLD NEXT MONITORING OF CONTACT LINE BETWEEN KARABAKH AND AZERI ARMED FORCES
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 13:51 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the mandate of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office the recurrent monitoring of the contact line between
Karabakh and Azeri Armed Forces is planned June 28. The OSCE monitoring
will be held in the west of Yusifjanly village of Agdam region on
Tuesday. Imre Palatinus and Harry Eronen, field assistants to the
special envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, will hold monitoring
in the Azerbaijani side of the frontline. Yuriy Aberle, Gurter Fork
and Peter Key, special envoy’s field assistants, are in charge of
monitoring in the Armenian side of the contact line, reports Trend.

SPEAKING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS MEETING IN ST. PETERSBURG EARLY
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 14:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Speaking of a meeting between Armenian President
Robert Kocharian and Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev within the G8 summit
in Saint Petersburg is early, Armenian President’s Spokesman Victor
Soghomonyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
At that the Spokesman reminded that during his latest interview with
leading Armenian TV channels Kocharian admitted the opportunity of
meeting Aliyev within the G8. “It is a rather important factor and
the co-chairs believed that if it is possible to agree over basic
principles of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement before the G8 summit,
the international community doing their best to boost implementation
of those agreements will be the best guarantee. Those time frames
made to speed up the process,” Kocharian said.
We note that Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov stated about the expected
meeting of the two Presidents in St. Petersburg.
In his words, before the G8 summit OSCE MG American Co-Chair Matthew
Bryza is scheduled to visit the region. “Only after that visit the
matter of holding of a new meeting of the two presidents will become
clear,” Mammadyarov noted.

ARMENTEL NEW OWNER NAME TO BE KNOWN IN LATE JULY-EARLY AUGUST
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 14:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The name of the new owner of 90% of ArmenTel
company shares will be known in late July – early August, Armenian
Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manukyan told
journalists yesterday. In his words, only in case the stockholder
is changes the issue of reconsideration of the terms of the license
will be solved. Manukyan remarked the Armenian Government has not
yet expressed its stand over four possible buyers of ArmenTel. He
expressed satisfaction with OTE Greek Company selling its 90% shares,
reports the Yerkir newspaper.
We remind that after the first phase of the tender for buying ArmenTel
company, Vympelkom and MTC Russian companies, as well as ETISALAT
(Emirates Telecommunications Corporation /Istithmar ETV -Emergent
Telecom Ventures) and VTEL Holdings/Knightsbridge Associates will
continue the competition.

US INTERESTS IN CAUCASUS REFER TO ENERGY, SECURITY AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 14:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, OSCE MG
Co-Chair Matthew Bryza stated, “US President Bush advocated for
making US closer with the positions of President Aliyev, which will
have a positive impact on the course of democratic reforms in the
Republic.” Matthew Bryza remarked that US strategic interests in the
Caucasus refer to three directions: energy, security and democratic
reforms.
“We do have energy interests. US also has traditional security
interests, first of all struggle against terrorism, nonproliferation,
preventing armed conflicts, ensuring territorial integrity of the
states of the region,” he said. In the words of the OSCE MG co-chair,
“all conflicts in the region should be settled taking into account
territorial integrity of states.”
“Using Georgia as an example it is necessary to note that conflict
situations in that country should be solved ensuring its integrity. As
of Nagorno Karabakh, the US stand in the issue is well-known. We
support territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” Bryza said.
The US diplomat also noted that the US pursues a policy of supporting
economic and democratic reforms in the countries of the region. In
his words, security is based on legitimacy, while legitimacy demands
both democracy and economic welfare, reports radio Azadlyg.