KARABAKH SETTLEMENT MEDIATORS TO WORK WITHOUT CHANGES
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.06.2006 17:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ No changes in the OSCE MG mission for settlement of
the Karabakh conflict are foreseen due to replacement of Steven Mann,
acting Spokesperson of the Armenian MFA Vladimir Karapetyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the mediators will continue
their work, as before. We remind that the US has replaced Ambassador
Steven Mann, appointing him Deputy Assistant State Secretary for
Central and South Asia.

ENCOURAGING DOCUMENT ON KARABAKH BARGAINING TABLE, SAID BRYZA
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.06.2006 17:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An encouraging document lies on the bargaining
table on settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the US
calls Armenian and Azeri leaders to make additional efforts to solve
Karabakh issue this year, stated Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew J. Bryza. In his words,
“attaining a peace accord this year is possible.” “We believe in the
possibility to solve the conflict this year as domestic situation
in Armenia will be more complicated next year. Thus, this year is
crucial for settlement,” Bryza underscored, reports Day.az.

OSCE MG: KARABAKH PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT TOPICAL AND ATTAINABLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.06.2006 17:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is topical and attainable, says a joint statement by co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group adopted in Bucharest on June 6. “The co-chairs
believe that Karabakh peaceful settlement is topical and attainable and
the year 2006 is a favorable “window” for progress. The co-chairs of
the OSCE MG are sure that basic principles suggested to the parties
provide for adoption of mutually acceptable decisions. They regret
the parties have not reached an agreement over these principles yet,”
says the OSCE MG statement, reports Mediamax.

JEWISH STUDENTS CONDEMN FRENCH PARLIAMENTARIANS
AZG Armenian Daily
07/06/2006
According to “Paris Updated” website, the Union of Jewish Students of
France strongly condemned the French parliamentarians for their May
18 decision to postpone the discussion of the draft law that punishes
the genocide denials by criminal prosecution. “The excuse for the
probable consequences of Turkey’s political and economic sanctions
hurts the memory of the 1,5 million of Armenians massacred in the
Armenian Genocide in 1915,” stated the representatives of the union
at the press conference. They added that “registering the truth and
moral duty are no primary issues for the country’s political leaders.”
The French branches of other Jewish organizations, particularly,
“Crifi” and “Bney Briti” demanded that the Armenian Genocide and the
genocide in Rwanda should be acknowledged as crimes equal to Holocaust.
“Certainly, this is a very complicated issue, as it concerns the
relations of Turkey with France and Israel. But we will remain by
the side of the Armenian people until the full recognition of the
Armenian Genocide,” the “Bney Briti” representatives stated.

WORKSHOP ON ARMENIAN ECONOMY AT UCLA
By Hakob Tsulikian
AZG Armenian Daily
07/06/2006
A press release from the University of California, Los Angels,
informs that on May 14 the chair of Armenian Studies organized
workshop “Armenia: Challenges of Permanent Development” during which
economists, financial policy specialists and sociologists tried to
discuss achievements and shortcomings in issues of Armenian economy
development and poverty reduction.
In his opening speech Prof. Richard Hovhannisian noted that after 19
conferences on cities and provinces of historic Armenia its now the
time to tackle challenges facing the present-day Republic of Armenia.
Famous economist Prof. Armen Alchian was the honored guest of the
workshop. Born in Fresno in 1914, he majored in economy at the Stanford
University. From 1946 for 50 years he was a member of UCLA staff.
Alchian’s father emigrated to the USA from Erzrum and his mother was
one of the first Armenians born in California.
In his childhood memories Alchian told about Zoravar Andranik who
lived in their house for several months in 1920.
Professors Harold Demsetz, Michael Intriligator, Dr. Enrique Gelbard
and others held speeches at the workshop.

RAMBOUILLET REPLACED BY BUCHAREST WITH SAME UNSETTLED ISSUE, SAME EXPECTATIONS AND NO CHANGES
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
07/06/2006
RA president Robert Kocharian met with Ilham Aliyev, president
of Azerbaijan on June 4- 5 within the framework of Dialogue and
Cooperation Black Sea Summit. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
Karel de Gucht, OSCE chairman in office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, personal
representative of the OSCE chairman in office, as well as the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan were preset at the June 5 meeting.
Steven Mann, US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, stated that the June
4 Kocharian-Aliyev meeting was held “in friendly atmosphere.” Yuri
Merzliakov, Russian co-chair, said that as compared with the
negotiations in Rambouillet, the meeting in Romania was quite a
different one, “and the atmosphere was always good.” After the meeting,
Mr. Kocharian refused to make any comments on the negotiations,
as there had been no agreement on talking to the journalists.
Aliyev didn’t say anything at all. While Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign
minister, said that the sides failed to agree only about the issue that
remained unsettled at the Rambouillet meeting, though new approaches
were suggested for the settlement of that issue. According to unchecked
data, the issue concerns Kelbajar region.
Meanwhile, according to “Novosti Armenii,” Mr. Kocharian stated
in Bucharest that the militant statements of Azerbaijan that almost
aren’t connected with the discussed theme make the impression that the
other side isn’t that interested in taking serious decisions for the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh issue. “We discuss a variant that will
help achieve long-lasting and peaceful settlement. But I don’t have
big expectations from the meeting with the president of Azerbaijan,”
Kocharian said. He also expressed surprise concerning the Azeris’
statements, according to which the issue should be settled within
the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and giving some
autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh.
Mr. Kocharian said that from the very first day of the establishment of
UN there has not been any nation that de facto achieved independence
due to its right for self-determination would change its mind and
return to the state they separated from. He added that the Armenian
people gave no grounds to think that they can act so.
The sides met at the Polish embassy in Bucharest. None makes any
comments on the place or the details of the negotiations. Daniel
Fried, US deputy State Secretary for European and Eurasian affairs,
said that the Nagorno Karabakh issue can and may have solely peaceful
settlement. Besides, Fried stated that the settlement depends on the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
At the same time, Peter Samneby, EU Special Representative to the
South Caucasus, refused to make comments on the current negotiations,
adding that at present, the sides have unique opportunity to settle
the conflict.

DISCORDS OVER BAKU-TBILISI-AKHALKALAK-KARS PROJECT
AZG Armenian Daily
07/06/2006
Georgian side participating in the project of
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalak-Kars railway construction says there are
misunderstandings concerning the project.
According to Irakli Uzugbaya, head of Georgian Railway Company,
dissatisfaction is connected with how Turkey addresses
technical-economic tasks in the project.
It is the future goods transportation handling that concerns Tbilisi.

HOW TO SOLVE THE JAVAKHQ ISSUES
A1+
[04:19 pm] 06 June, 2006
The working meeting on the theme “the forum of dialogues on
Samtskhe-Javakhq issues in the framework of the Armenian-Georgian
relations” was held in Akhalqalaq which was organized by the Caucasus
Media Institute (Yerevan), the Caucasus Institute of Peace, Development
and Democracy (Tbilisi) and the Union of NGOs “Yerkir”(Yerevan).
The key issues of the meeting were the current situation of Javakhq
and the prospects of the Armenian-Georgian relations. All the Armenian
participants laid the stress on the appalling state of Javakhq and
claimed that the best solution of the situation is self-government
which will become a cultural, political, economic and social guarantee
for the region.
The Georgian participants of the meeting (Gia Nodia, Dia Andguladze)
also underlined the urgent necessity to improve the situation but
they didn’t offer any distinct ways.
In the second part of the meeting it was decided to convene a session
on the matter in autumn and to hold a consultation of corresponding
state bodies which will contribute the solution of the matter,
according to “A-Info” agency.

CORRUPTION STARTS FROM HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS
A1+
[04:55 pm] 06 June, 2006
The leaders of the youth wings of three parties assembled today
to discuss corruption in educational sphere and its outcome among
the youth.
They were unanimous in one matter; certain measures were taken but
the drawbacks are still evident. There is no country where one cannot
counter corruption in every step and by this conclusion they tried
to find a consolation.
They particularly referred to the corruption in higher educational
establishments. The representatives of the Dashnatsutyun Party youth
wing urged that they held polling on educational corruption. At first
other parties also joined them but later many of them left them,
among them Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Republican Party representative.
His opponent Karen Avagyan, chairman of the Republican Party youth
wing claimed that they still continue corruption combat but they
didn’t sign the document in which false data on corruption was
presented. Arman Vardanyan, chairman of “Young Political Figures’
Club” noted that he can illustrate 100 examples of corruption but it
will be useless as none of the bribe takers has been punished so far.
He addressed to Ishkhan Saghatelyan with the question whether they
will continue their combat in the same speed and in the same way
taking into consideration the fact that the Minister of Science and
Education is from their party. The latter answered that their combat
wasn’t against Eritsyan and it wasn’t personal.
“The combat will become much easier as the Minister is from the
Dashnaktsutyun Party,” said Saghatelyan.
Samvel Farmanyan, chairman of the OYP youth wing noted that when he
was still a student he could unite students and expel a lecturer from
the university, “the youth must differ with their behavior and deeds.’
Then they suggested a few ways of corruption combat.
“We either combat against corruption or join it,” concluded Karen
Avagyan. “We must be guided by the motto “I am the country,” added
Ishkhan Saghatelyan.
Then they decided to meet in two months to discuss the results.

THE CHESS PLAYERS WERE AWARDED WITH MEDALS OF “MOVSES KHORENATSI”
A1+
[08:06 pm] 06 June, 2006
According to the decree of President Robert Kocharyan international
Grand Masters Levon Aronyan, Karen Asryan, Smbat Lputyan, Vladimir
Hakobyan, Artashes Minasyan, Tigran Nalbandyan, Arshak Petrosyan and
Gabriel Sargsyan were awarded with medals of “Movses Khorenatsi”
for their significant share in the RA chess sphere and for their
victory in the Chess World Olympiad.
Today Robert Kocharyan handed the highest state awards to the members
of the Armenian men’s team which won the gold medal of the 37th Chess
World Olympiad and the Olymiad Cup.
Kocharyan claimed that all Armenians watched their participation
attentively and the victory greatly encouraged all Armenians spread
all over the world.
According to Kocharyan the result of the participation of our
team could be anticipated from their start which inspired great
expectations.
The chess players noted that they left for Turin with triumphant
inclination and they felt the assistance of their compatriots during
the whole tournament.
Robert Kocharyan, the president of the Chess Federation and the
members of the Armenian chess team referred to further activities of
the chess players and the prospects of chess promotion in our country.
Kocharyan urges that such victory may serve as a good imputes for
the chess development and may become an inspiring example for many
other chess players.