“ARARAT” TRIES TO FIGHT THE CRISIS
A1+
[01:26 pm] 12 June, 2006
After several defeats in the National championship of Armenia “Ararat”
finally celebrated a victory beating “Kilikia” 3:2. Despite the fact
that Nshan Erzroumyan from “Kilikia” scored first, three goals (two
from Edgar Sarafyan) from “Ararat” gave them the desired three points.
As for “Kilikia”, this was their last game before the start if
the Intertoto Cup. On June 17 “Kilikia” will play with “Dinamo”
from Tbilisi.
“Ulis” suffered another defeat, this time from “Gandzasar” (2:1).

AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIAN FMS AGREED TO CONTINUE TALKS ON CONFLICT REGULATION
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
On June 13 in Foreign Ministry building of France Azerbaijan and
Armenian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanian held
the next round of talks on regulation of Nagorno Garabagh, within
“Prague process.”
Foreign Affairs Ministry Press and Information Policy Office chief
Tahir Taghizade has told APA that agreed issues were discussed in the
meeting, the ministers came to accord to continue the talks. In the
negotiations, OSCE Minsk Group Russia and France co-chairmen –Yuri
Merzlyakov and Bernar Fasie, as well as OSCE chairman in- office
personal representative Andrzey Kasprzyk have participated. American
co-chair, Steven Mann, terminating his duty did not participate
in Paris. No information is given on the date of the ministers’
next meeting.

ANNUAL CAMP OF “YOUTH FOR ACHIEVEMENTS” ARMENIAN NGO TO BE HELD IN TSAGHKADZOR FROM JULY 17 TO AUGUST 1ST
Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. About 600 pupils of comprehensive
schools of Armenia will participare in the camp to be organized by the
“Youth For Achievement” Armenian NGO which will be held this year from
July 17 to August 1 in Tsaghkadzor. As Susanna Manukian, the Press
Secretary of the organization informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent,
this program has been implemented since 1995.
The “Youth For Achievement” Armenian NGO is an organization
implementing educational programs which has functioned since
1992. On the initiative of Armenuhi Hovhannisian, the Executive
Director of the organization, “Human Rights,” “Civil Education,”
“State and Right” subjects were involved in the education programs of
the comprehensive schools of the republic. According to S.Manukian,
children will deepen in the camp theoretical knowledge got on those
subjects by educational games.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S.DEPT OF STATE
12 Jun 2006
U.S. Plans “Significant” Contribution to New Black Sea Fund
Public-private grant-making trust will promote democracy, regional cooperation
By Vince Crawley
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington — The United States plans to make a substantial
contribution to the Black Sea Trust, a new multimillion-dollar fund
promoting democracy and cooperation among nine countries in southeast
Europe, President Bush’s deputy national security adviser says.
The trust will provide grants to focus on enhancing economic and
security cooperation, crisis management and democracy in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey
and Ukraine.
In remarks at the Black Sea Forum June 5 in Bucharest, Romania,
Deputy National Security Advisor J. D. Crouch said the United States
would participate in and make a significant financial contribution to
the trust in partnership with the German Marshall Fund, the Romanian
government and other donors.
Crouch said the United States is supporting other initiatives such
as the Black Sea Economic Cooperation initiative and the Southeast
European Cooperative Initiative. “We want to hear your ideas on how
to cooperate more effectively to address a broader range of issues,”
Crouch added.
“For centuries, these lands have been a cultural crossroads —
connecting Europe to the Middle East and Central Asia,” Crouch
said. The flow of communication through the region was stifled during
the Cold War, he added, “but today your nations have a new opportunity
to build stronger links with each other — and thereby reclaim your
historic position as a region of connections between East and West.”
The German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States announced
the creation of the trust on June 5 during the Black Sea Forum in
Bucharest, Romania. The GMF said it anticipates launching operations
of the Black Sea Trust in the fall, with initial contributions
of more than $20 million, climbing to more than $40 million as the
trust matures. Contributors include the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Romanian
government and other private and public donors from the United States
and Europe.
The trust is expected to provide grants to local organizations —
including civic groups and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),
local and regional governments, educational institutions and media,
according to a news release by the German Marshall Fund. Grants will
be awarded for civic-participation programs as well as projects that
promote cross-border cooperation in the region.
“Approximately $2 million in rolling grants will be given out each
year,” said the GMF, which will staff the trust. “Individual grants
would range from $1,000 to $75,000 with an average size around $15,000
or $20,000, and will be approved monthly by a grant-making committee
that will include GMF representatives and one representative from
each of the donors to the Trust.”
The German Marshall Fund is also in negotiations with the Romanian
government to base the trust’s operations in Bucharest. (See related
article.) The U.S. State Department recently signed agreements with
Bulgaria and Romania to share military bases near the Black Sea
coast. (See related article.) The GMF, USAID, and the Mott Foundation
previously joined forces in 2003 to create the Balkan Trust for
Democracy, a $30 million fund that has given out millions in grant
money toward promoting regional cooperation and reconciliation,
civil society development, and democracy-building ideas and
institutions throughout the Balkans. The Balkan Trust for Democracy
“has successfully grown and added new partners after its founding,
a process the Black Sea Trust will emulate,” the GMF said. (See
related article.) In March, the German Marshall Fund co-sponsored a
conference aimed at promoting cross-border cooperation, particularly
in disaster response planning, and some of the same countries attended
that were represented at the Black Sea Forum. (See related article.)
The U.S. Embassy in Bucharest has posted the full text of Crouch’s
remarks on its Web site. The Black Sea Trust press release is posted
on the Web site of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
The Southeastern Europe Cooperative Initiative (SECI) is a law
enforcement consortium that allows authorities to share intelligence
and coordinate activities in the pursuit of criminals across
jurisdictional lines.
Information on SECI’s work against human trafficking is available in
a USINFO Electronic Journal article “European Alliance Combats Human
Trafficking” and the Web site of the SECI Center in Bucharest.
Additional information is available on the Web site of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation, to which the United States was recently granted
observer status.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“PLANT AN IDEA, PLANT A TREE” PUBLICATION TO BE PRESENTED 16 JUNE
ArmRadio.am
14.06.2006 17:26
Presentation and discussion of a new publication entitled “Plant an
Idea, Plant a Tree”, published with the support of the OSCE Office
in Yerevan and the Armenia Tree Project will take place on 16 June
in the Public Environmental Information (Aarhus) Center.
Representatives of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Armenian Ministry of
Education and of Nature Protection, Armenia Tree Project, teachers
and experts in the field will participate in the discussion.
The book is written by Karla Wesley, Ph.D. and is recognized by the
National Institute of Education as a Science Teachers’ Manual for
public schools.

SPRING SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OVER
ArmRadio.am
14.06.2006 17:40
The National Assembly of Armenia concluded today the spring
session. Before leaving on a summer vacation, the last sitting was
held today in the hall of sittings. Even on the last day the Deputies
did not refuse from the tradition of using insulting expressions.
Before the start of today’s work, some conflicts in the Parliament
found their expression through direct or circuitous abuses. The
newly elected Chairman of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan had
to remind the Deputies who they are and where they are.
>>From the very beginning it became apparent that the NA Deputies
and the President of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan
were on different sides of the barricade. The latter was not in the
Parliament today, but his yesterday’s statements served as a reason
for the conflict voiced by Secretary General of the “Justice” block
Viktor Dallakyan. In his words, the President of the Central Bank
publicly insulted the Parliament.
The irritation and position of the opposition Deputy were shared also
by Republican Hamlet Harutyunyan. Chairman Tigran Torosyan chose a
more delicate way to defend the colleagues. In Tigran Torosyan’s
words, this should serve as a motive for everyone to demonstrate
corresponding attitude toward the Parliament’s dignity, which should
find its expression in the statements in the speeches.
Nevertheless, the spring session of the National Assembly was over
today.

CHARGE PRESENTED AGAINST LEVON CHAKHMAKHCHYAN’S COLLEAGUES
ArmRadio.am
14.06.2006 17:55
General Prosecutor’s Office of Russia has presented a charge against
two colleagues of the member of the Federal Council of Russia Levon
Chakhmakhchyan.
“According to point 4 of the Article 159 of the Criminal Code of
Russia a charge has been presented against Chief Accountant of the
Armenian-Russian Business Cooperation Association and Assistant to
the auditor of the Counting Chamber of Russia Armen Hovhannisyan,”
Official Representative of RF General Prosecutor’s Office Natalya
Vishnyakova told “InterFax.”
She informed that according to the preliminary investigation, the
arrested demanded US$1.5 million to exclude the negative information
from the report prepared in the result of audit of the Counting
Chamber.

INTERNATIONAL GENOCIDE MEMORIAL MAY BE CONSTRUCTED IN CALIFORNIA
Yerkir
14.06.2006 17:57
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region expressed it support this week for AB 1210, legislation that
calls for the construction of an International Genocide Monument in
Sacramento’s State Capitol Park.
The California State Legislature took the first step this year
in working to construct an International Genocide Memorial in the
State’s Capitol.
Authored by State Assembly member Lloyd Levine, AB 1210 was introduced
in 2005 and is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee. If
passed, the legislation would call for the establishment of an
International Genocide Memorial Commission to determine the design,
construction, and dedication for a memorial, on the grounds of Capitol
Park, to honor genocide victims.
The State of California has a longstanding history in protecting the
rights, history and culture of all its citizens, including those who
are survivors and descendents of genocide and crimes against humanity.
An International Genocide Monument in the State Capitol would not
only serve as a symbol for remembrance of past genocides, but also as
a tool to educate thousands of students who visit the State Capitol
annually for class trips.
If constructed, the monument would recognize crimes perpetrated
against the Sudanese in Darfur and the Tutsis in Rwanda, the Armenians,
and the Jews, among others.
Noting the ANCA-WR’s support of AB 1210, Chairman Steven Dadaian said,
“The passage of this legislation that would bring about a permanent
reminder of past atrocities, is especially important in the face
of genocides that are still shamefully denied today, such as the
Armenian Genocide.”
On behalf of all Armenian Americans, the ANCA-WR commends the
California legislature and Assembly member Levine’s leadership
for their efforts to create an enduring symbol of remembrance and
recognition in California for all victims of genocide and injustice,
reported the ANCA.

HRANT DINK TO VISIT KRASNODAR REGION IN SEPTEMBER
ArmRadio.am
14.06.2006 18:05
In September 2006 Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of the Ankara based
Armenian Agos newspaper will visit the Krasnodar region of Russia. As
reported by the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia,
Dink’s visit is private, however he is expected to hold meetings with
the representatives of the local Armenian Diaspora.
As it was reported earlier, the Turkish court of first instance
sentenced the editor-in-chief to 6 months of imprisonment for
“outrage of Turkish national dignity” in February 2006, since in one
of his articles he wrote that ” Turks’ hostility poisons the blood of
Armenians.” At that time the judges decreed that the journalist called
Turkish blood poisonous. However the Court of Appeal concluded that the
accusation against Dink was brought through misunderstanding. Recently
the General Prosecutor’s Office of Turkey fully acquitted Hrant Dink.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARDAN AIVAZYAN AGAINST INDIAN GOLD PRODUCERS
Lragir.am
14 June 06
The talks between Ararat Gold Recovery Company and the Ministry of
Environmental Protection resemble the Aliyev-Kocharyan meetings:
first they have a friendly talk, then they blame each other for the
lack of results and immediately deny accusations against them. But
if Aliyev and Kocharyan discuss governmental issues, Vardan Aivazyan
and AGRC are discussing the construction of a new factory.
The owner of the company is Anil Agarval, Indian by origin. On June
13, 2006 Vedanta Resources, which is also owned by Anil Agarval,
acquired the controlling interest of AGRC.
The dispute with the Ministry of Environmental Protection occurred
when AGRC decided to build a factory near Lake Sevan, 20-30 km from
the lake. The Armenians say it does not comply with the environmental
standards. The company, which has spent a lot of money for the place
and project, suggests that the government decide the place of the
factory for them to avoid wasting money. “The government must assist
companies which pay taxes,” notices Armen Ter-Tachatyan, the lawyer
of AGRC.
The president of AGRC B.K. Sharma stated June 14 that they are ready
to build the factory where the government will say. The minister of
environmental protection Vardan Aivazyan stated that choosing the
place of the factory is not the problem of the government. The gold
miners are not saying that Vardan Aivazyan is lying, they cannot see
a tendency in his actions, but they stress that the government did
not reject their proposals but informed that it is being discussed.
The gold miners deny accusations against them. With regard to hiding
1000 kg gold, Armen Ter-Tachatyan, the lawyer of the company, said,
“For 1000 kg of gold several billion kg of soil must be dug. It is
impossible to hide several billion kg of soil.” After denying that
the company invested less than it had pledged and other accusations
made by Vardan Aivazyan, B.K. Sharma first announced that an
authoritative international organization, as well as the relevant
agencies, audited AGRC. And generally the volume of investments
is the concern of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development,
not the Ministry of Environmental Protection. And if Vardan Aivazyan
still has doubts, B.K. Sharma is ready to cover the travel expenses
of any international company to Armenia and open his factory before
it to reveal the truth. Vardan Aivazyan only has to invite.
According to B.K. Sharma, they have already invested 45 million dollars
in AGRC, they are going to invest another 85 million. They work with
losses. But it is normal, he assures, because in the first 6-7 years
they work with losses in this type of business.