200 INVALID CHILDREN UNDERGO MEDICAL EXAMINATION IN ARMAVIR WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF “HEALTHY START” PROGRAM
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
ARMAVIR, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Nariri” NGO engaged in problems of
invalid children in the marz of Armavir, in which about 450 children
are involved, showed regular assistance to invalid children on June 20
within the framework of the “Healthy start” program. Invalid children’s
medical examination was organized at the pediatrics department of
the Armavir polyclinical center on that day. Nune Alexanian, the
responsible for the “Arabkir” medical center of Yerevan held the
medical examination. To recap, medical examination of invalid children
was held on the same day in the rural communities of Karakert and
Dalarik as well.
The main goal of the program is to examine invalid children. 200
invalid children already underwent medical examination in the marz
within the framework of the program.
This medical examination will finish late this week, when a group
of doctors of the “Arabkir” center will visit Armavir. The latters
will hold a final medical examination based on examinations of the
whole week.

STEPAN ROSTOMIAN’S AUTHOR EVENING HELD IN MOSCOW
Noyan Tapan
Armeninas Today
Jun 21 2006
MOSCOW, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Author evening of
Armenian composer Stepan Rostomian dedicated to his 50th anniversary
was held at the Great Hall of Moscow Composers’ Home.
According to the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, the Third and Fourth Chamber Symphonies by Rostomian, as well
as “Songs of Angels” for a chamber ensemble and a vocal cycle on the
lyrics of medieval Japanese poets were performed by Moscow Ensemble
of Modern Music conducted by well-known British conductor David Davis.
Stepan Rostomian’s music is performed and recorded throughout the
world.
Such famous groups as London Symphonietta and the Modern ensemble
order music to him. According to Rostomian himself, one of his
creative tasks is the synthesis of the sacred music of Armenia in the
Christian tradition and the technics of composition of the West. Stepan
Rostomian considers himself not so much a composer as a guide, the
task of which is to as much precisely as he can put down by notes a
creation already existing somewhere.

CHERMOZ INHABITANTS TO SEE “DREAMS ABOUT ARMEIA”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 21 2006
PERM, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The inhabitants of
the town of Chermoz, Ilyinski region, Perm territory, will see an
exhibition “Dreams about Armenia” that will open on June 24 at the
Chermoz museum of history and regional geography. According to the
Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, this gift
was made to the inhabitants of Chermoz by the Armenian community of
Perm for the Day of the Town. The Armenian community gratuitously
organized delivery of the pictures to the town.
The exposition dedicated to Year of Armenia in Russia for the
first time opened in February in Yekaterinburg Gallery of Modern
Art. Photos by professional TV cameraman Artur Poghosian, paintings
and drawings by Natalia Petrenko (Nizhni Tagil), as well as landscapes
by painter-mountain-climber Artur Karapetian from Bereznikovsk were
presented at the exhibition.
The history of Chermoz gets mixed up with the history of the Armenian
Diaspora of Russia. In 1778 Ivan Lazarev from Persia and Armenian
by his origin bought from the Stroganovs the Chermoz plant and the
lands adjoining it and at the end of the 19th century Chermoz became
the administrative center of the estate of the Lazarevs.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS ARRIVES IN ISTANBUL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 21 2006
ISTANBUL, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Karekin II Catholicos
of All Armenians arrived in Istanbul on late June 20. Radio Liberty
informs about it, mentioning that this Catholicos visit is the 12th
one in number during the whole history.
During the last 50 years heads of the Armenian church visited Turkey
only three times. Vazgen I Catholicos paid an official visit to Turkey
in 1961. He met in Ankara with the authorities of Turkey and laid a
wreath to the grave of Ataturk.
Karekin I Catholicos visited Turkey the next time, in 1996. That visit
was not official: the Armenian community of Turkey received Karekin I.
Ara Gochunian, the editor-in-chief of the “Zhamanak” (time) daily being
published in Istanbul informed that the present visit of Karekin II
is not official, either, but, unlike the previous Catholicos visit,
Karekin II met with t he Istanbul Governor.
The Catholicos of All Armenians will visit the Armenian representation
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation organization as well. During the
first two days of the visit, His Holiness Patriarch will be received
by the Greek Patriarchate.
38 Armenian churches, 15 colleges function in Istanbul today where
more than 3500 Armenian children study. Two dailies and one monthly
are published.
There are other adjacent publications as well.
Though there is no official statistics about the concrete Armenian
inhabitation’s number, according to calculation of the Armenian church
and numerous Turk officials, 70-80 thousand citizens of Turkey of
Armenian origin live in the country.
Dozens of thousands of Armenians emigrated Turkey from Armenia, after
Armenia’s becoming independent. Foreign Minister of Turkey Abdullah
Gul stated in one of his recent speeches that there are about 40
thousand Armenians in Turkey. But, in the opinion of representatives
of the Armenian community, those numbers are exaggerated.
His Holiness will stay in Turkey for a week.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BOXER KAREN AYLAZIAN TAKES 3rd PLACE IN EUROPE YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006
TIRANA, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Karen Aylazian (Yerevan, 48 kg weight
category) took the 3rd place in the Europe Youth Boxing Championship
held on June 15-20 in the capital of Albania Tirana. 187 delegates
of 28 countries took part in the championship.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“MY ARMENIA” UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL-CONTEST HELD IN KIEV
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 21 2006
KIEV, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. This year the Union of
Armenians of Ukraine marks its 5th anniversary. In connection with this
date, “My Armenia” three-day Ukrainian festival-contest of Armenian
creation has been held lately in Kiev. The contest nominations were:
choreography, singing, instrumental music and painting.
According to the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, 275 participants from the majority of Ukrainian regions took
part in the contest. According to the results of the selective tour,
36 participants were awarded diplomas of festival laureats (first,
second, third places) and 4 participants the higher award of the
festival, grand prix.
The jury of the festival was headed by world-famous singer Tamara
Avetisian and the President of the festival was film director,
People’s Artist of the Ukraine Roman Balayan.

EUROPEAN PEACEKEEPERS: THE CAUCASUS UNDER ME?
by Sergei Markedonov, Political and Military Analysis Institute
Translated by Elena Leonova
Source: Izvestia, June 21, 2006, p. 6
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part A (Russia)
June 21, 2006 Wednesday
What does the European Union really want in the Caucasus?; The
Europeans are saying that Russia should not only abandon its exclusive
political role in the South Caucasus, but also open up the gates to
European peacekeeping in the North Caucasus. For Russia, such an
approach would be tantamount to admitting its own incompetence as
a state.
Europe has come to the Caucasus. “The Caucasus and Central Asia region
will be among the most important issue for Germany’s forthcoming
period of chairing the European Union. The Caucasus is being called a
‘special region’ which has been overlooked by Europe for some time,”
says Roland Goetz, head of the Russia and CIS group at the German
Institute for International and Security Affairs (an influential
think-tank consulted by the German government).
What kind of significance do the Europeans attach to the Caucasus
region? Its unique natural and geographic significance isn’t the only
reason for their interest. “The Caucasus, with its fairly limited
natural resources, is not a key region,” says Roland Goetz. The
Americans regard the Caucasus as important primarily as a bridge for
their sweeping geopolitical combinations (Iran, the Middle East).
Europe, which is building a “good neighbor” policy, regards the
Caucasus as a political patient suffering an illness known as “ethnic
conflicts.” For European politicians, the priority in the Caucasus
is to overcome ethnic conflicts and disseminate the “European” system
of values.
But the Europeanization of the Caucasus goes back before 2006. The
“special region” has been a focus of attention for European politicians
since the early 1990s. In contrast to the United States, the European
Union’s approach to Caucasus policy emphasizes socio-economic issues,
not military-political issues. The EU’s second priority direction is
promoting stability in the region, as well as striving to ensure that
“European standards” in human rights and democratic liberties are
respected and observed. The common policy plan on South Caucasus
states, adopted by the EU Council in 1995, emphasizes the need
for assisting the former Soviet republics in the Trans-Caucasus
to establish democratic institutions. However, while the EU claims
to uphold universal democratic values, it frequently fails to take
account of ethnic and cultural differences and traditions in Georgia,
Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Russia plays a special role in the “great game” of the Caucasus
region. Firstly, part of Russia’s own territory is in the Caucasus.
Secondly, Russia is extremely active in the South Caucasus, and its
role in regulating the “frozen conflicts” can hardly be disregarded.
It seems that European experts are now prepared to see the Caucasus as
an integrated region, not isolating the problems of the “independent”
South Caucasus from those of the Russian North Caucasus. But this
approach, which is shared by most Russian politicians and analysts,
is interpreted differently in Europe. The Europeans are saying that
Russia should not only abandon its exclusive political role in the
South Caucasus, but also open up the gates to European peacekeeping
in the North Caucasus.
For Russia, such an approach would be tantamount to admitting its own
incompetence as a state and in government. It isn’t clear exactly
what kind of solutions the countries of Europe are proposing to
Russia. Negotiations with the separatists? In the wake of the Beslan
school hostage siege and the death of Aslan Maskhadov, the “Ichkerian
movement” itself has experienced a severe crisis, becoming fragmented
and essentially giving up calls for secession from Russia. Even when
“Ichkerian President” Maskhadov was still alive, negotiating with him
was no more than a sweetly utopian European idea, since the reality
of Chechnya is such that no separatist leader had his authority
recognized by all the others. These days, the European view of the
Caucasus is a combination of obsolete impressions from the mid-1990s
(that is, the period of active military confrontation between the
federal government and the separatists).
All the same, Europeanization of the Caucasus region is a political
reality that we must learn to live with. We need to be able to defend
our vital national interests in language that is comprehensible in
terms of European political and legal thinking. We need to initiate
not only conservation, but also progressive development of the South
Caucasus countries, recognizing that stability in itself, without
progress, is impossible. Russia is the country that can teach the
Europeans to combine the schemes and formulas of legal theory with
Realpolitik in a rational way. Without that, long-lasting pacification
of the Caucasus is impossible.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE “KAISER” AND GERMANY 2006 ARE MAKING FRIENDS!
By Appo K. Jabarian
Executive Publisher/Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine
Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly
June 16-23, 2006
I would have loved being in Germany starting this June 9. Alas! That
didn’t happen. But the next best thing that happened when Jochen
Scherr, my German friend , invited me to the Goethe Institute,
a German cultural center in Los Angeles.
On Friday morning, several dozens of expatriate Germans gathered at
the center to see the opening ceremonies of the long-awaited “Germany
2006” international soccer extravaganza. Opening they saw. We all
saw. The very first match of the tournament pitted the host nation
Germany and Costa Rica. Germany won 4-2.
32 nations converged on German soil to compete through July 9 for
the Federation International de Football Association 2006 World Cup.
According to several sources, the worldwide audience watching this
18th FIFA World Cup, organized by Germany, is estimated to be at over
2 billion soccer fans. The 32 qualified nations are among the 205
nations that have competed during a period of nearly two years for a
spot in the World Cup. 205 nations were divided into six continental
football (soccer) conferences as follows:
– Asian Football Confederation “AFC” with 45 national teams. Qualified
national teams are: Iran, Australia, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia;
– Conference of African Federations “CAF” with 52 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Ivory Coast, Angola, Ghana,
Togo, Tunisia;
– Central and North American Confederation “CONCACAF” with 35 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Costa Rica, Trinidad, Mexico, USA;
– South America Confederation “CONMEBOL” with 10 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador,
Paraguay;
– Oceania Football Confederation “OFC” with 11 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: none;
– Union of European Football Associations “UEFA” with 52 national
teams.
Qualified national teams are: Germany, Poland, England, Sweden,
Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia,
France, Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine.
Armenians and friends may ask: “Where is Armenia?” Armenia couldn’t
qualify.
Armenia is a part of the Union of European Football
Associations. According to FIFA World Ranking, she ranks 44th among the
52 European national teams, and 109th among the world 205 teams. That’s
not bad for a country with a population of less than 4 million that
re-emerged as an independent state only 15 years ago. If it’s any
consolation, let’s look at China with a population of over 1.2 billion,
and India with nearly 1 billion. But no, Armenians would only compare
themselves, and compete with the top world soccer powerhouses such
as Germany, Italy, England, France, Spain, Brazil, etc.
The next question that may be asked: “Is Armenia represented?”
Of course! The valiant team of Iran (despite its tragic loss against
Mexico 1-3) has an Armenian player on its team. His name is Andranik
Teymourian. He wears jersey no. 14. Teymourian represents his country
of birth Iran, and his country of ethnic origin Armenia with flying
color. During the game against Mexico, Teymourian was the Iranian
player who was targeted the most to be subjected to fouls by several
Mexican players.
How about Alecko Eskandarian? Alecko is the American Major League
Soccer’s top scorer. Had he not been subjected to head injury nearly
a year ago he would have surely been qualified to be on team USA. Now
he has recovered and continues to out-perform his competitors. He
has a lot going for him. He is young, energetic, and currently the
top scorer of MLS. Many soccer experts think that his time will come
and he will represent USA with elan.
How else is Armenia represented at this World Cup? Armenia,
Armenians and friends around the world solemnly remember that
several countries out of 32 qualified, have recognized the Armenian
Genocide, and represent Armenians in a much more valuable arena:
political righteousness and morality. Germany, along with USA,
France, Argentina, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands,
has officially recognized the genocide at the hands of Turkey.
Armenians and friends also remember when Greece and France officially
recognized the genocide respectively in 1996, and 1998, both received
the blessings of the one and one half million martyred saints. France
became the gracious host of the spectacular 16th FIFA World Cup
tournament in 1998. A blessing that was well earned. An added blessing:
France became the world champion.
Speaking of Greece, the underdog Greeks astonished the world audience
and became great Greeks, the champion of Europe in 2004.
And now, Armenia, Armenians and friends around the world continue
to remember with gratitude that Germany has not only recognized the
genocide but also legislated a law against the denial of the Armenian
genocide. It is in the spirit of political courage and integrity
that Germany is putting to good use this World Cup’s official slogan
“A time to make friends”.
Franz Beckenbauer, Germany’s most popular soccer player, coach and
manager ever, known as the “Kaiser”, was one of the architects of
then West Germany’s victory in 1974 World Cup. The “Kaiser” is now
the President of the Organizing Committee Germany 2006 FIFA World
Cup. He wrote in the February/March 2006 issue: “… in Leipzig, a
city that in 1974, when DFB hosted a World Cup for the first time,
belonged to the GDR in a divided Germany, but has since become
one of the unmistakable symbols of the peaceful transformation
of the political situation both in Germany and Europe. … We do
not want to attach excessive ideological significance to the 2006
World Cup in Germany. Nonetheless, I consider it one indicator
of how different cultures have come together in recent years in a
Europe with many states. At the beginning of the 21st century, 82
million people … live together peacefully in Germany. And here,
following reunification in 1990, millions of people who were moulded
and divided by two different political systems have joined together
in an open society.”
Kermania (Germany) of Central Europe is civilized, blessed, vibrant
and reunified. Can Ermania of the Caucasus and of the Armenian
Highlands in Western Ermania (Armenia) emulate their Kerman “Kaiser”
cousins? It’s not a question of “if” but “when!” So, can we all start
working toward securing Armenia’s participation in South Africa 2010
FIFA World Cup? Next, can we jointly endeavor for the Armenia 2030
FIFA World Cup possibly in a reunified homeland?

MUSLIM LEADERS URGE ARMENIAN WITHDRAWAL FROM KARABAKH ENCLAVE
Agence France Presse — English
June 21, 2006 Wednesday 2:04 PM GMT
Leaders of Muslim states urged the immediate and unconditional
withdrawal of ethnic Armenian forces from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave in Azerbaijan in a declaration signed in Baku on Wednesday.
In a document called the Baku Declaration, the 57 member states of
the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) said they “strongly
condemn the aggression” of Armenia against Azerbaijan and “urge
the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian
occupying forces.”
The Armenian-majority enclave of Karabakh seceded from Azerbaijan
in the late 1980s, sparking a six-year conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan that claimed 25,000 lives and displaced hundreds of
thousands of people.
Despite a 1994 ceasefire, tensions remain high in the mountainous
region — one of the world’s most militarized zones.
The OIC declaration called on member states to “support Azerbaijan
on the issue of full restoration of its territorial integrity.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OIC DEMANDS ARMENIAN FORCES PULLOUT FROM AZERBAIJAN
by Sevidzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 21, 2006 Wednesday 11:48 AM EST
The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) demanded Armenia
immediately, unconditionally and irrevocably withdraw its armed units
from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, according to a declaration
adopted at the 33rd session of the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers.
The foreign ministers said the settlement of the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan, the economic activity and the exploitation of natural
resources “are illegal and cause damage to the peace process.” They
condemned the destruction of cultural monuments and voiced concern
about mass fires in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
The OIC urged the international community to take all the necessary
measures to achieve a peace agreement on the dragged-out conflict
in Nagorno-Karabakh. “We urge the OIC member-states to support
Azerbaijan’s efforts to restore its territorial integrity and
sovereignty,” the declaration says.