ARMENIANS PROTEST ETHIC KILLINGS IN MOSCOW
Pravda, Russia
June 5 2006
Protesters gather outside the Russian Embassy in Yerevan on
Monday, protesting against attacks on ethnic Armenians in Russia by
skinheads.The demonstration came just 10 days after a group of apparent
skinheads stabbed a teenager on a train outside of Moscow the sixth
such fatal attack on ethnic Armenians in or around Moscow this year.
Avetik Ishkhanian, head of the Helsinki Committee of Yerevan, said
protesters were calling on government authorities to condemn the
Moscow attacks.
Russia has seen a marked rise in xenophobia and hate crimes in recent
years, with a series of attacks on dark-skinned migrants, foreigners
and Jews. Rights groups say authorities do little or nothing to combat
the crimes, reports the AP.

6 PRESS AND FREEDOM CASES THIS WEEK
Erol ONDEROGLU
BÝA, Turkey
June 5 2006
Istanbul courts to be busy this week with journalists, jurist and
publisher on trial. Journalist Magden to appear at court on June 7,
columnist Belge, reporter Saymaz, Selek and jurist Kaplan on June 8
and Peri Publishing House owner Onal on June 9.
BÝA (Istanbul) – Istanbul courts will be busy this week hearing six
cases against journalists, a jurist, sociologist and publisher in
a judicial marathon that will once again put press freedoms and the
freedom of expression in Turkey under the spotlight.
Journalist Perihan Magden is to appear at court on June 7 while cases
against columnist Murat Belge , reporter Ismail Saymaz and sociologist
Pinar Selek will be heard on June 8.
Jurist Hasip Kaplan, who was on trial last week, will stand before
the court once again on June 8 while Peri Publishing House owner
Ahmet Onal also tried last week will be at court again on June 9.
The Initiative Against Thought Crimes has described the cases as “an
ongoing festival” and issued an appeal for as many people to attend
the hearings as possible.
Magden’s case on June 7
On trial for her article “Conscientious Objection Is A Human Right”
that appeared in the “Yeni Aktuel” magazine, the case against
journalist Perihan Magden will continue at Istanbul’s 2nd Criminal
Court of First Instance at 10:30 on June 7, Wednesday.
Magden is charged under article 118 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK)
for “discouraging the people from military service”.
Belge to appear at court
A day after the Magden case is heard, “Radikal” newspaper writer
Prof. Dr. Murat Belge will appear at court charged under article 288
of the TCK for his article titled “A Court Verdict”.
Belge is accused of attempting to “influence justice” by criticising
an administrative court decision that postponed a controversial
conference in Istanbul related to Ottoman Armenians.
Belge will appear before the Istanbul Bagcýlar 2nd Criminal Court of
First Instance on June 8, Thursday at 10:30.
Selek held responsible for explosion
The same day Belge stands before judges, Pinar Selek who is known
for her researches into children outcast from society and the Kurdish
problem, will face charges holding her responsible for a bomb explosion
at Istanbul’s historic Spice Market.
Selek will appear before the 12th High Criminal Court at the Besiktas
Justice Hall at 14:00 on June 8, Thursday, where she is charged
under article 125 of the TCK and faces life time imprisonment if
found guilty.
Kaplan on trial for TV remarks
Again on June 8, the Beyogu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will
hear the case against jurist Hasip Kaplan who is on trial for remarks
he made on private Flash TV’s “Alternatif” program.
Charged under TCK article 216, Kaplan is accused of “inciting hatred
and enmity” with his remarks and his hearing is listed to start
at 10:00.
Saymaz faces “influencing justice” case
Another case that will be heard on June 8 is that against “Radikal”
newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz in relation to his news report titled
“Torture allegation involving 11 year old child”.
Saymaz, similar to Belge, is charged with influencing justice. The
former chairman of the Contemporary Journalists Association (CGD)
Istanbul Branch is listed to appear before the judge at 10:35, at
the Bagcilar 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
No end to cases against publisher Onal
Peri Publishing House owner Ahmet Onal who was sentenced on May 31
in relation to another book is to be tried on June 9 at the Fatih
2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of insulting modern
Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk by publishing the book “Being
an Alawite in Dersim”.
The book, authored by Munzur Cem and Huseyin Baysulun, is only one
of 27 charges levelled against the publisher up till now.
The Turkish language CETELE web site gives updated information on
all freedom of expression and opinion cases that have been opened in
Turkey.
–Boundary_(ID_dmcgpKE3zedW+tvftdzxoA) —

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN LEADERS MEET
United Press International
June 5 2006
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Romania to discuss
their dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh but details were not available.
The meeting between Armenia’s Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijan’s Ilham
Aliyev was their second since their last one in February near Paris.
Speaking to Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, Steven Mann, the
U.S. co-chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe’s Minsk Group, said the two leaders met Sunday for 2 1/2 hours.
There was a good atmosphere in the talks and again, a good atmosphere
and a detailed discussion,” he told the radio network.
The Minsk Group, led by the United States, Russia, and France, has
been negotiating the conflict since 1992.
The enclave has remained a dispute since the predominantly Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh seceded from Azerbaijan in 1988. That set off a
six-year war before a truce was called. Officially, the countries
are still at war.

FRIED: “AS US REPRESENTATIVE, I WISH AZERBAIJAN CAN RESTORE AS MORE LANDS AS POSSIBLE SOON”
Today, Azerbaijan
June 5 2006
“The Nagorno Karabakh conflict can and should be solved. Reaching
peace agreement is the only way to settle the conflict.
“We have introduced to both presidents our opinions how to improve
the peace process,” said US Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried.
He said reaching an agreement on the solution of the conflict depends
on Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, APA reports.
“The co-chairs offered a number of ideas to solve the conflict. We
have offered these ideas to the leaders as a neutral side, without
defending interests of any of them. However, as US representative,
I wish that Azerbaijan can restore as more of its lands as possible
and refugees come back to their native lands soon. Both parties to
the conflict have certain interests. There are different options
of solution, we offered the optimal one. Everything depends on the
Presidents now. I believe both Presidents are quite serious persons.
They are analyzing the ideas we offered. We do not mean to exert
pressure on them, as a friend, we intend to help both parties,”
Mr.Fried said.
URL:

ARMENIA SWITCHING TO 12-YEAR SCHOOLING
By Hovannes Shoghikian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
June 5 2006
Armenia is gradually extending the length of study in its public
schools to 12 years, in line with an ongoing reform of its system of
primary and secondary education supported by Western donors.
Officials confirmed on Monday that Armenian children who were born
after June 2000 will study longer than the current students who need
10 or 11 years to finish school. The transition to 12-year school
education, the norm around the world, will get underway with the
start of the next academic year on September 1, they said.
Armenians have for decades gone to school at the age of seven and
needed ten years to complete their secondary education. The Armenian
government reformed this Soviet-era system in 2001 when it lowered
the age of first-graders to six years and prolonged the duration
of school instruction by one year. The government made it clear at
the time this is only the first step towards brining the country’s
education system into greater conformity with Western standards.
Officials at the Ministry of Education say lengthier instruction
will ease pressure on students and allow for the introduction of new,
non-traditional subjects that were not taught in Soviet times.
“Naturally, the school curriculum for 12-year first-graders will be
much lighter and easier,” said Onik Vatian, head of the education
department at the Yerevan municipality.
The structural reform enjoys the strong backing of the World Bank
which disbursed a $19 million loan to support it two years ago. The
bank is expected to provide tens of millions of dollars in additional
funding in the coming years.
However, the reform has also raised concerns among many parents and
schoolteachers who believe that children below the age of seven
are too young to be taught reading, writing and other skills. “I
am against 11-year and 12-year instruction,” said one teacher. “The
previous system was much better.”
Parents of small boys also fear that their sons will be drafted to
the army when they finish school at the age of 18 before being able
to try to enroll in a university. But Narine Hovannisian, head of an
Education Ministry department on secondary education, sought to dispel
their fears. “I think every graduate will be given a chance to try
to enter a university [before doing compulsory military service],”
she told RFE/RL.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS: SISTEMA BIDS FOR 90% IN ARMENIA’S ARMENTEL
Cellular-News, UK
June 5 2006
MOSCOW, June 5 (Prime-Tass) — Major Russian holding AFK Sistema has
filed a bid to participate in the tender of a 90% stake in Armenian
fixed-line and mobile operator ArmenTel, Sistema’s Chairman Vladimir
Yevtushenkov said, Vedomosti business daily reported Monday.
The stake is currently owned by Greece’s OTE, which said in late April
that it planned to sell the stake. The remaining 10% in ArmenTel is
held by the Armenian government.
Neither OTE, nor Sistema have indicated the price for the possible
purchase. An analyst with MDM-Bank estimated the price of the 90%
stake at U.S. $140 million, the daily reported.
Meanwhile, Russia?s largest mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (MTS),
a subsidiary of Sistema, has opted out of a tender for a 70% stake
in Serbia and Montenegroen mobile operator Mobi 63, Yevtushenkov
said, the daily reported. MTS said in mid-May that it had applied to
participate in the tender.
ArmenTel is a fixed-line and long-distance monopoly in Armenia. It
also had a monopoly on mobile services until mid-2005. ArmenTel’s
fixed-line subscriber base stands at about 600,000 users and its
mobile subscriber base at about 330,000 users.
Armenia’s population amounts to about 3.2 million people, of which
about 20% use mobile services.
ArmenTel’s revenue totaled $145.3 million in 2005, while its net
profit stood at $55.9 million, the daily reported.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS FAIL TO SIGN JOINT DECLARATION IN THE END OF BUCHAREST MEETING
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 5 2006
The meeting of Azerbaijan’s and Armenia’s Presidents Ilham Aliyev
and Robert Kocharian today in Bucharest with participation of OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs failed to have any results.
APA reports quoting American co-chair Steven Mann as saying to Radio
Liberty that the presidents had very intense discussions. The co-chairs
will discuss the results of the talks and plan further steps. They will
report about it in the upcoming meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.
Mr.Mann said there was a good atmosphere in the talks, “I’ll not
inform about the content of the discussions. I can say it was a
detailed discussion.”
Responding to the question “What is the difference between today’s
talks and the previous talks in Rambouillet,” the co-chair said,
“We had a detailed discussion. Yesterday evening and today, the
Presidents had one-one meeting and with presence of the co-chairs. We
are on the stage of detailed discussion.”
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told the Radio Liberty
that the issues dividing them are related to general principles,
“Azerbaijan’s position remains unchanged.”
Mammadyarov also said the Ministers may meet if it is necessary.
Though the Presidents expected to sign a joint Declaration, they
failed to do it.

BOXING: VIC “RAGING BULL” DARCHINYAN DESTROYS MALDONADO!
Hardcore Boxing, CA
June 5 2006
“Team Fenech” Media Release – 6/5/2006
Reigning IBF/IBO flyweight world boxing champion Vic “Raging Bull”
Darchinyan – Australia’s only current male boxing world champion –
was at his destructive best in defending his world titles against
previously undefeated Mexican Luis Maldonado on Saturday night at
the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, USA.
30 year-old Darchinyan’s power packed left hand destroyed the 28
year-old from Mexicali with an eighth round TKO stoppage at the 1:38
minute mark.
Considered one of the hottest new stars in world boxing, Vic “Raging
Bull” Darchinyan from Sydney now has an undefeated record of 26 wins,
0 losses and 21 knockouts
Maldonado, who was rated No.10 in the world at flyweight by the
influential The Ring magazine, now has a record of 33 wins, 1 loss,
1 draw and 25 knockouts.
Darchinyan’s trainer is three-time world boxing champion and
International Boxing Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech.
30 year-old Darchinyan, the Armenia born Australian citizen southpaw,
is promoted by well-known American Gary Shaw, who guides the careers
of some of the best active boxing talent today.

ALIYEV MET WITH CHAIRMAN OF OSCE, DEPUTY ASSISTANT OF USA PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY GENERAL OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 5 2006
The Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev on June 5 in Bucharest met
with the present chairman of OSCE, Belgian foreign minister Karel
de Hukht, Trend reports. The meeting focused on the solution of
Azerbaijan-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh problem and other questions.
Karel de Hukht congratulated Ilham Aliyev that Azeri oil has reached
Turkish port Ceyhan.
Besides, president received the deputy assistant of the USA president
on national security James Crouch. The high level of the cooperation
between Azerbaijan and America and their successes were stressed and
the present situation of the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
was discussed at the meeting. Crouch also congratulated Ilham Aliyev
on Azeri oil’s reaching Turkish port Ceyhan.
Besides, Aliyev met with the secretary general of the Council of Europe
Terry Davis and discussed the issues of developing cooperation with
this organizations.

TAJIK-AZERBAIJANI MILITARY ACCORD
United Press International
June 5 2006
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5 (UPI) — Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have
signed an agreement on military cooperation.
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev and Tajik Defense Minister
Shirali Khayrulloyev signed the agreement in Baku on June 1.
AssA-Irada reported Thursday that Abiyev told a news conference
after the signing ceremony, “I believe the document will positively
influence the expansion of bilateral ties in the area of defense and
serve to establishing stability in the Caucasus and Central Asia.”
The document provides for holding joint military exercises and training
of personnel.
Abiyev told Khayrulloyev that large quantities of weaponry and
ammunition are stored in Azerbaijani territories under Armenian
occupation. As the USSR collapsed in 1991, Azerbaijan and Armenia
became embroiled in a shooting war. In 1994, a cease-fire was signed.
About one-seventh of Azerbaijan’s territory is occupied by Armenian
forces, and Azerbaijan has 800,000 refugees and internally displaced
persons.
Tajikistan and Azerbaijan are also involved in NATO’s Partnership for
Peace program and the Commonwealth of Independent States, a union of
11 former Soviet republics.