NEXT OSKANYAN-MAMMADYAROV MEETING TO BE HELD IN PARIS
ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 12:45
June 13 RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will leave for Paris
to meet his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov, RA Foreign
Minister told the journalists today.
Informing that the meeting will be held at the initiative of the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Vardan Oskanyan noted he does not know
the exact format of the coming meeting, it will be clear only in
Paris. He mentioned that the last meeting of Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan in Bucharest did not yield any certain results. However,
the Presidents arranged they would agree to allow the meeting of
Foreign Ministers in case the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs considered
it is necessary. Vardan Oskanyan assumes that in Paris they will make
attempts to find edges of cooperation for the successful maintenance
of negotiations. They will try to bring the positions of the parties
closer and prepare the ground for the meeting of Presidents. Minister
Oskanyan could not say whether this will succeed in Paris.

MICHELINE CALMY-REY: SWITZERLAND CONDEMNS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMENIAN CEMETERY IN NAKHIJEVAN
ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 13:05
Foreign Minister of Switzerland Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey declared
today in Yerevan that “Switzerland condemns the destruction of Armenian
cemetery and khachkars in Nakhijevan.”
Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey noted, “During my visit to Baku two months
ago I addressed the issue during the meetings with the leadership of
Azerbaijan and I resolutely declared that Switzerland condemns the
destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Nakhijevan.”

THE FORMULA OF SUCCESS
Editorial
Yerkir.am
June 09, 2006
It has always been said that we unlike our neighbors are not rich in
resources, neither do we have an access to the sea, and therefore, when
building a development strategy, we should focus on our intellectual
potential.
The latest events come to prove this. The success of our chess team
has components other than just sports. For a long time, the idea
that we are a nation of individual contesters and could not succeed
in collective competitions had been dominating in our society. But
the opposite was proven: we are able to succeed collectively in
a sport that requires individual rivalry – chess. It would not be
an exaggeration to say that this success came because of the team
feeling, the feeling that the victory could come when acting together
and collectively. Why can’t we act in a the same way of a united team
in other issues to see victories? Sure, we can.

AN UPSIDE DOWN PROPAGANDA
Yerkir.am
June 09, 2006
Stereotypes are awful and mean. Monten has said that an idea is hard
to get into a fool’s head, but once there, it is even harder to get
it out.
Stereotypes formed under habits and traditions are even more awful
than ideas.
It has become a tradition for TV channels to screen movies like
“Nahapet,” ” Missing,” and “Miro of Gorge” on each April 24. In more
recent years, films like Henry Verno’s “Mairig,” Egoyan’s “Ararat”
as well as other films, including “Aram” became additions to this
list. While it makes sense to show those films on the Genocide
Commemoration Day, it makes no sense at all for big and small TV
channels to screen films like “Zangezour,” “Sevan Fishermen,” “Boys
of Band,” and “Mexican Diplomats,” on May 28. All these films mock
the idea of independence that we celebrate on May 28.
“Zangezur,” for example, mocks severely the national hero, Nzhdeh. How
long should we tolerate this film shot under the personal order of
Stalin and falsifying our past? I am not advocating destroying these
films – after all, they represent the history of our film industry
and thus our history. History about how history was falsified. But
why should we show them on the day when we are celebrating our
independence?
How do I have to explain my children why the Armenian general was so
coward, low and funny?
The best way to screen these films would be with a preceding
explanation by a historian and an art critic. But even then, they
are not fit to be shown on May 28. All these films depict how the
‘heroes,’ who mainly are foreigners – Russians, or sometimes even
Turks – destroy our independence. Why, then, are we surprised that
this nation doesn’t really care for its independence?

“THIRD FRONT” FOR ARMENIANS?
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
12 June 06
It was not calm on the Russian-Armenian “front” on the weekend. For the
time being this word can be taken in inverted commas, but murder of
another couple of Armenians, and we can surely state that the third
front is open. Moreover, independent from us and in an unexpected
direction for us. Another Armenian was killed in Moscow, only several
hours after another Armenian was trying to assure the public in Armenia
that the Russian government is not to blame, and there is no need to
become hostile with Russia.
Several hours later the Police found the killer, thus showing that
maybe the government is not related to these murders, if the government
can be not related to serial killings of people belonging to another
nationality in a country at all. However, since there is no evidence
to this relation, we cannot insist that what happened was organized by
the government. However, the government should prevent crime along
with punishing the guilty to prove that they are not related to
the anti-Armenian surge, that they neither organize nor connive in
murders. It does not seem to happen, and there are no signs that it
will do. Moreover, there is no confidence that the real murderer was
found, considering the dependence of the judiciary on the executive
in most post-Soviet countries, particularly in Russia.
He may be a scapegoat, who will be tried in public, whereas nobody
can be sure that the convict will not be released on the next day or
the convict will not become a hero in jail for destroying the foes
of Russia.
In the meantime, there are reasons to doubt the consistency of the
Russian government, and these reasons are widely known. The verdict
of the court leaving the killers indicted for the horrible murder of
the nine-year-old Tajik girl almost unpunished makes it pointless to
recall other examples. And it is surprising why this would not arouse
concern in Armenia, both among the society and the government.
Whereas the problem is much serious than it might seem at first
sight. The silence following every murder directly strikes the Armenian
state. Hence, the authority of the state is diminishing among its
own citizens, who can see that they are not protected abroad, that
their own government is avoiding practical steps in this direction.
The foreign minister of Armenia says Russian-Armenian relations are
administered directly, not through letters. It may be better and
also more effective. It is certain, however, that besides personal
contact it is necessary to make a statement, at least once. In order
for the citizens of Armenia and the Armenians living abroad, namely in
Russia and other post-Soviet countries, to see, to hear and to feel
that there is an Armenian state, which thinks about its compatriots
and does not keep silent about repeating murders. If there is anxiety
that the Russian-Armenian relations will become tense, we can easily
bid farewell to these relations, if the dignity of Armenia and the
Armenians is the price for sustaining them.

SWITZERLAND WANTS STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS
Lragir.am
12 June 06
Swiss Foreign Minister, Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey is
visiting Yerevan. After her meeting with the foreign minister of
Armenia Vardan Oskanyan June 12 Ms. Calmy-Rey had a half-an-hour
meeting with news reporters.
And Vardan Oskanyan and Micheline Calmy-Rey announced that the state
and level of Swiss-Armenian relations, including in the framework
of international organizations is satisfactory, but there is space
to develop. For instance, it is necessary to decide the question of
visas to officials. There is cooperation in the sphere of natural
disasters, displaced persons and sustainable development of rural
areas. The Armenian Diaspora also helps sustain good relations.
Though the legal sphere is satisfactory, economic cooperation is
weak. Switzerland is hopeful that the relations, which began with
the humanitarian aid in 1988, will develop in other directions as well.
So far Switzerland has supplied humanitarian and technical aid
totaling 28 million franks to Armenia. A 4 million frank aid is
foreseen for 2006. On these days a business forum is underway in
Zurich, the Armenian delegation headed by Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan takes part in it. Armenia and
Switzerland are hopeful that the forum will foster economic relations
between them.

SWITZERLAND TO CONTRIBUTE TO TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
Lragir.am
12 June 06
Switzerland has recognized the Armenian genocide, adopted a law
prohibiting the denial of the genocide, and condemned the massacres
of Armenian khachkars in Old Djolfa. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline
Calmy-Rey stated June 12 that their relations with Turkey did not
become tense in the aftermath though there were some trials.
Switzerland is simply interested and willing to contribute to the
improvement of Turkish-Armenian and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
and foster the use of diplomatic methods to settle the conflict and
sustain democracy in the South Caucasus. The resolution of the Karabakh
conflict will both regulate the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and
indirectly foster Turkish-Armenian relations.
Switzerland has always made efforts to foster dialogue between
Armenia and Turkey but has failed so far, said the deputy chair of
the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation, Foreign Minister
Micheline Calmy-Rey.

OSKANYAN TO MEET MAMMEDYAROV
Lragir.am
12 June 06
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will leave for Paris on
June 13 to meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammedyarov.
According to Vardan Oskanyan, the Kocharyan-Aliyev meeting in
Bucharest produced no results, however the presidents “agreed that
if the co-chairs find it convenient to organize a minister-level
meeting, they will be welcome.” “I think that we will be trying to
discuss the same issue and try to reach common approaches,” informed
Vardan Oskanyan.
Vardan Oskanyan does not know the agenda and the format of the meeting
in Paris, but Armenia has announced for a number of times that “there
are quite positive elements, unresolved issues and issues which used
to be complicated and defied any agreement for years on but there is
agreement on them today” on the table.
“The positive element is in the process, and we should do everything
to use this positive moment and try to bring the stances on the
unsettled issues closer and establish a possibility for the next
meeting of the presidents,” said Vardan Oskanyan. But he found it
difficult to say whether it will be a success or not.

SYNOPSIS ARMENIA INVESTED 600 MILLION IN ARMENIA
Lragir.am
12 June 06
In the framework of cooperation between the Armenian State Engineering
University and Synopsis Armenia 54 alumni of the University,
36 bachelors and 18 masters received certificates of education of
Synopsis Armenia on June 12.
Richard Goldman, Executive Director of Synopsis Armenia, said this is
the second group of masters, and the fourth group of bachelors of the
Armenian State Engineering University to take a special educational
course with active involvement of the company. Since 2005 Synopsis
Armenia has invested 600 million dollars in Armenia, and in the
upcoming years the amount of investments will reach 2 billion dollars.

SWISS FM: ARMENIAN CEMETERY DEMOLITION IN NACHICHEVAN SHOULD BE CONDEMNED
Yerkir
12.06.2006 14:57
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “During my latest visit to Azerbaijan I stressed
the importance of maintenance of cultural heritage. We condemn the
demolition of the Armenian cemetery in Old Djulfa in Nakhichevan by
an order of the Azeri authorities,” Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline
Calmy-Rey stated at a news conference in Yerevan.
In her words, Switzerland has appealed to UNESCO on the issue and the
PACE Committee on Protection of Cultural Heritage will pay a visit
to the site in September.
“Armenia and Switzerland have a different history but our cultures
have much in common. The Armenian community of Switzerland carries
out a great deal of work to familiarize the Swiss with the Armenian
culture and traditions,” underscored Ms. Calmy-Rey.