MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
15-06-2006
Ministers Sargsian and Oskanian Attend North Atlantic Council –
Armenia Meeting
On June 14, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian and Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian attended the North Atlantic Council (NAC) – Armenia
meeting with the ambassadors of the 26 NATO members.
The meeting agenda was a discussion of Armenia’s implementation of
the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). This followed the
first assessment meeting by a delegation of NATO international staff
to Armenia in May to evaluate the implementation of the agreement
between NATO and Armenia.
In their reports, the Armenian ministers focused on deepening
Armenia’s cooperation with NATO, as well as measures targeted at
IPAP implementation.
Following their presentations, Ambassadors of the NAC member states
made statements assessing Armenia’s pace and progress in implementing
provisions of the IPAP. In this regard, the Ambassadors attached
importance to the democratization process in Armenia as the groundwork
for security, reforms in the defense sphere, and extension of the
political dialogue with NATO.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
June 20, 2006
His Holiness Karekin II Departs on Pontifical Visit to Turkey
Today, June 20, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians departs for Istanbul, Turkey for a
seven-day Pontifical Visit.  His Holiness is traveling to 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 of His Holiness Karekin II to
Turkey, the Catholicos of All Armenians will visit Armenian churches
and holy shrines, extend his pontifical blessings to the Armenian
community of Istanbul, and meet with Armenian intellectuals and young
men and women.  On Sunday, June 25, His Holiness will celebrate a
Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Patriarchate’s Cathedral
of the Holy Mother of God.
For two days during the trip, His Holiness will also be the guest
of the Ecumenical Patriarch in a fraternal visit.  His Holiness will
have a number of ecumenical meetings in the Armenian Patriarchate as
well.  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.
Accompanying the Catholicos of All Armenians during the journey is His
Eminence Archbishop Dirayr Mardigian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Romania and Bulgaria; His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of
the Armenian Church of North America; His Eminence Archbishop Karekin
Bekdjian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany; His Eminence
Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, Director of the Publications Department
of the Mother See; His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar
General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; His Grace Bishop Vicken
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate for the Eastern Diocese (USA); His Grace
Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See; His Grace
Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus;
and Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian, Staff-Bearer for His Holiness.
##
–Boundary_(ID_lv5o3V8mxVGtDl9ZQ0sq Hg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
June 20, 2006
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: (510) 987-9125
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Maggie Mead
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON BASE ISOLATED HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
Yerevan – The Anti-Seismic Systems International Society and the
American University of Armenia (AUA), in collaboration with the
Armenian Association for Earthquake Engineering, held an international
workshop on “Base Isolated High-Rise Buildings” on June 15-17, 2006
at AUA. Forty experts attended from 9 countries, including Armenia,
Iran, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and the US.
The event provided a forum for the engineering community to assess
its accumulated experience with the behavior of civil buildings,
such as high-rise apartment buildings and multifunctional complexes,
during different types of earthquakes. Experts promoted the idea of
incorporating innovative Seismic Isolation (SI) techniques into design
rules for high-rise structures, and addressed the growing interest
in extending the application of SI techniques to other fields. Five
academic sessions and an international exhibition were followed
by technical visits to base isolated high-rise building sites in
Yerevan. Workshop findings were summarized during the closing session,
and all scientific documents will be published.
Armenia was the first among developing nations to implement seismic
isolation technology, and the only such country to have supported
substantial improvements to the technology, especially for apartments,
schools, hospitals and high-rise buildings. Armenia also pioneered
the practice of retrofitting buildings for seismic isolation at the
base and roof without vacating residents or terminating maintenance.
Mikayel Melkumyan, AUA Professor, President of Armenian Association
for Earthquake Engineering, VP of the International Association
for Seismic Isolation of NIS Countries, and member of the executive
committee/treasurer of Anti Seismic Systems International Society,
proposed the workshop and its location during the 9th World Seminar
on Seismic Isolation, Energy Dissipation and Active Vibration Control
of Structures in Kobe in 2005. “The aim of the Workshop is the further
strengthening of international collaboration on research, transfer of
technology and information, implementation of anti-seismic systems
in practice, and dissemination of information among decision makers
and construction designers in seismic-prone countries, to promote
implementation of innovative SI techniques in the construction of
high-rise buildings,” he stated.
***************************************** *********
The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered
as a non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian
University of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia .The American University
of Armenia (AUA) is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the
University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading
to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information
about AUA, visit

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LOOKS
TO SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR
ANSWERS TO AMB. EVANS FIRING
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Set to Consider
New Nominee on June 28th at 2:30pm
WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian Americans across the U.S. will be closely
following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearings for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland,
in hopes of gaining concrete insight into the exact nature of the
State Department’s policy of complicity in Armenian Genocide denial
– particularly as it relates to the firing of the current U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
The nomination hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at 2:30
pm in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room, 419 Dirksen
Senate Office Building and is open to the public.
The hearing comes as Armenian American activists across the U.S.
continue to call on Senators to demand a full explanation for the
early recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans.
Concerned Americans can join the ANCA Congressional Call-in
Campaign to urge their Senators to attend the upcoming hearing and
press for answers by visiting:
t?alertid=8836481&type=TA
Amb. Evans, who first took on his post in August 2004, spoke openly
and honestly about the Armenian Genocide in community briefings in
San Francisco, and other cities in February 2005. The Ambassador
was later forced by State Department leaders to twice recant his
statement. The American Foreign Service Association, set to award
Amb. Evans with the Christian A. Herter Award for constructive
dissent, rescinded the decision, according to the Washington Post,
following pressure from State Department officials.
Calls by Members of Congress, the media and activists for answers
to Amb. Evans’ recall have been ignored or sidestepped by State
Department spokespeople, who have simply repeated the fact that
ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the U.S. President.
In recent weeks, Rep. Markey spearheaded a Congressional letter
with sixty signatories calling for clarification on the recall. In
the Senate, Massachusetts Democrats Edward Kennedy and John Kerry
registered a similar letter of concern. In previous months,
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), and
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) have each publicly
called for an explanation for the State Department decision. No
concrete answers have been provided to date.
On June 9th, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, urged Senate Foreign
Relations Committee members to demand the truth about the Evans
firing prior to confirming his replacement. “The U.S. Senate
cannot, in good conscience, approve the nomination of a new
ambassador to Armenia until the circumstances of the current
envoy’s highly controversial firing are fully, officially, and
openly explained to Congress and the American people,” stated
Hachikian. More broadly, the Administration needs to honestly
explain its policies concerning the Armenian Genocide. This is
especially true given that serious questions remain unanswered
concerning the role that the Turkish Government played in
Ambassador Evans’ firing.”
Below find a list of suggested questions that Senators may ask Amb.
Hoagland.
#####
=========================== =====================================
The Firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans:
Suggested Questions for the Ambassador to Armenia-Designate
================================ ================================
* What guidance has the Department of State given you concerning
your public statements on the Armenian Genocide?
* Has the Department of State instructed you not use the word
genocide in characterizing the Armenian Genocide?
* Has the Department of State instructed other Department of State
employees or government officials not use the word genocide in
characterizing the Armenian Genocide? If your answer is yes, was
this instruction given in writing?
* What instructions do you intend to give your Embassy staff
concerning statements about the Armenian Genocide?
* What, in your opinion, is the impact on U.S.-Armenia relations
of having an Ambassador in Yerevan who fails to properly recognize
the genocidal crime that destroyed the majority of the Armenian
people, exiled a nation from its historic homeland, and continues
to severely impact the future of the Republic of Armenia?
* What is your understanding about the recall of your predecessor?
Specifically, can you describe the events, policies, and process
that led to his recall; explain the reasons for his replacement,
and; share your views on the implications of this action on the
U.S. Embassy in Armenia?
* What training and education have you received from the
Department of State on the Armenian Genocide?
* What are your thoughts about the Armenian Genocide – as a
historical event, a moral issue, a subject of denial, and a matter
of ongoing geopolitical significance?
From: Baghdasarian

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS GAREGIN II LEFT FOR ISTANBUL
ArmRadio.am
20.06.2006 17:30
At the invitation of the Constantinople Patriarch of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafyan and Ecumenical Patriarch
His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin
II left for Istanbul on a ministerial visit. During the 7 days
of his stay Garegin II will visit Armenian sacred places, will
bless the Armenian community of Istanbul, will meet with Armenian
intelligentsia and youth. June 25 the Supreme Patriarch will serve a
liturgy in St. Astvatsatsin Cathedral in Istanbul. The Catholicos of
All Armenians will also meet with Istanbul Governor, Press Service
of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin informs.

LAWS CHANGE NOTHING IN CASE OF “A1+”
Anna Israelian
Aravot.am
17 June 06
Whatever change they make in the law or Constitution, it doesn’t have
any influence on NCTR actions towards “A1+”.
National Commission of Television and Radio sent the copy of decision
to “A1+ ” on 13 of June where it must substantiate the reason of
refusing to allocate radio frequency to the company in the contest
announced in December 2005 and the results of which were summarized
on 26 of May 2006. We must mention that the law “About Television
and Radio” was inserted according to which ” National Commission must
properly substantiate decisions about selecting the owner of license,
refuse of giving license and recognition of the expired license” . But
that decision, according to the “A1+” producer Susanna Ohanjanian
is the same in its structure like the answers sent before. ”Only a
preface was added where it is mentioned that we “have examined your
request. It corresponds to the conditions of our contest”. Then they
have mentioned the points, which the companies had got, and comparing
and taking into consideration 37 and 50 articles of the law they have
decided to give them license. The only word, which has been added,
is the word “comparing”. It is interesting that they have stressed
those articles of the law by which the selection must be done and it
was during previous 10 contests. While our superiority towards other
companies by determined criteria were obvious in previous contests”.
We should add that the NCTR ignores the 54 th article of the law
according to which “In case of equal conditions during the contest for
the license by dismissed frequency allocation the privilege is given;
A/ to those TV radio companies, which haven’t, infringes the law
during their operation
B/to those current companies which have experience of at least
three years in the sphere of TV and radio programs production and
broadcasting”.
Not only laws but also the main law has any influence on the NCTR. Only
a body for controlling TV sphere is foreseen by the Constitutional
amendments. And it is supposed that adjusting powers of the Council
of Television and Radio must be passed to the NSTR.
Speaking of the possibility of the NCTR liquidation the chairman of
commission Grigor Amalian didn’t connect the matter with the changes of
law, which haven’t been made. It became clear that G. Amalian was eager
to fill that post till March, 2007. ”It doesn’t mean the commission
should be liquidated. Why shout it? There are six members, who still
fill their posts.” The NA chairman Tigran Torosian informing about
it said; ”What I have said before was only a version, possibility,
which people can use or not. Certainly nobody can make the members of
the commission send in their resignation”. To our observation that the
Constitutional amendments didn’t change anything in case of formation
of independent body of controlling TV sphere, the NA chairman answered;
”No, it isn’t so. Constitutional amendments have a special position
about formation of the commission and that position will operate”.
–Boundary_(ID_6ssg3nKYd0tcF e/UMgV8ew)–

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA
ArmRadio.am
20.06.2006 18:01
June 20 RA Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baibourdian received the
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti.
Issues related to the freedom of media over the OSCE territory,
the reforms of the sphere in Armenia, as well as the suggestions of
implementing joint programs.
The parties expressed appreciation for the current level of
Armenia-OSCE relations in the sphere of freedom of media and showed
interest in upholding the cooperation in the future.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GURGEN ARSENYAN CUT CIGARETTE PRICE
Lragir.am
20 June 06
“The currency of the Republic of Armenia is the dram. In the Republic
of Armenia prices are set and payments are made in drams.
Why should I worry about the depreciation or revaluation of a foreign
currency. I am not a representative of the Federal Reserve, the U.S.
House or Senate. I am a representative of the political sphere of
Armenia, a political party, its parliament faction.” This statement
was made by a particle of the new parliament majority Gurgen Arsenyan
June 20 at the Pastark Club. Considering that Gurgen Arsenyan is
part of the political sphere of Armenia, the news reporters tried
to find out the attitude of this part towards the revaluation of
the dram and depreciation of the dollar. “As a society we appear
in a strange state, when we start considering the value of another
country’s currency in Armenia. It is another country’s currency. We
must be concerned about inflation, what costs how much in Armenia,
in drams. In Armenia salaries, pensions, benefits and other income
of the citizens of Armenia are in drams.
500 thousand people in the Republic of Armenia get salaries
and pensions in drams. Several hundreds of thousand people in
the Republic of Armenia receive their salaries in drams. We must
be interested in how much bread or fuel costs in drams. We must
be concerned about inflation, rising prices, not the correlation
between the dollar and the dram,” said the leader of the Labor Party
Gurgen Arsenyan. He even says as a representative of the economic
sphere rather than the political sphere that he has cut the price of
imported products. “Over the past few months the company I own has
reduced the price of cigarettes by six-seven percent,” says Gurgen
Arsenyan, adding that it is a reaction to the revaluation of the
dram, which renders imports more profitable. Gurgen Arsenyan says
he cut the sale price of cigarettes, whereas the price at which they
buy cigarettes abraod has gone up by 10 dollars. Perhaps the change
of price by Gurgen Arsenyan is the result of some other moral and
psychological change. The problem is that several months ago he dared
to announce that he drew huge profits from the revaluation of the
dram and depreciation of the dollar, and so huge that he felt ashamed.

LABOR PARTY IS RELUCTANT TO CONFORM
Lragir.am
20 June 06
The liberal forces will become more widely engaged in the political
sphere of Armenia in the upcoming parliamentary election, forecast
Gurgen Arsenyan, the leader of the Labor Party, on June 20. He said
that his point of view is based on their information and analyses,
as well as the present picture of the parliament. Gurgen Arsenyan
says this parliament is essentially socialist, whereas people demand
liberalism. “Ardarutiun Alliance is socialist by nature, pro-socialist,
the National Unity is leftist, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutiun) is leftist, Orinats Yerkir is centrist pro-leftist,
the Labor Party is liberal, the Republican is centrist pro-rightist,”
says Gurgen Arsenyan. Among the forces outside the parliament
he points to the All-Armenian Movement and the Heritage Party as
liberal. Arsenyan mentions that the prospect of the political sphere
is liberalism.
He says Bargavach Hayastan Party is not liberal. “It is Gensher’s
program, conservative progressive. These two words mean Gensher,”
says Gurgen Arsenyan, saying that the author of their program is not
MP Victor Dallakyan. He knows who the author is but he declines to say
who. The leader of the Labor Party does not exclude an alliance with
a liberal force, but he says that there is no question of alliance
in 2007 on the agenda of the Labor Party.
“The United Labor Party has not discussed and considered alliance
in any form or under any circumstances so far. This question is
not under consideration. We are reluctant to conform,” says Gurgen
Arsenyan. According to him, the ability of the United Labor Party
will be seen after the election in 2007, when it becomes clear what
percentage of voters supported the political party.

400 PERCENT BLACK PETROL MARKET
Lragir.am
20 June 06
“In Armenia monopoly is not battled, on the contrary, there
is consolidation and growth of black market. Clans are being
developed,” stated Member of Parliament Tatul Manaseryan June
20 at the Hayeli Club. According to him, the Armenian economy is
uncontrollable. “Emergence of monopolies hampers competition greatly,”
says Tatul Manaseryan.
If black economy in Armenia is about 70-80 percent, on the petrol
market it is 400 percent. Presently, twice as less petrol is
imported to Armenia than in 1995. Whereas the customs services boast
considerable collections from the import of cars. According to the
Department of Motor Vehicles, the number of cars has tripled since
1995. “Please multiply and get twice as less petrol by the rules of
arithmetic that we have been taught,” suggests Tatul Manaseryan.
Another Republican Member of Parliament Gagik Melikyan thinks that
the declining consumption of petrol is caused by the rising number of
cars running on gas. “Why are the filling stations closed down?” asks
Gagik Melikyan for his part. Certain filling stations were closed
because they did not comply with standards, and the number of cars
running on gas did not go so high as to cause consumption of petrol
to decline twice, insists Tatul Manaseryan.
Nevertheless, he is optimistic and he thinks that we will have a
normal economy because it is simply imposed on us.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress