Armenian premier, OSCE rep discuss joint projects
Arminfo
2 Jun 06

Yerevan, 2 June: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today met
Vladimir Pryakhin, head of the OSCE office in Yerevan.
The meeting discussed cooperation between the OSCE office and the
Armenian government. Pryakhin expressed his satisfaction with
cooperation in a number of spheres. He in particular noted the
implementation of a joint project on eliminating the rocket fuel
components – melange with the Armenian Defence Ministry.
He also noted cooperation in the ecological sphere, fighting human
trafficking and the implementation of projects on fighting corruption
and reforming the police system. They also discussed other projects,
their implementation, existing tasks and the OSCE’s possible
assistance to this effect.

WORLD BANK TO ALLOCATE 6.25 MLN DOLLARS FOR BIRD FLU PREVENTION
MEASURES IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The Board of Directors of the World Bank
(WB) will soon provide a 6.25 mln-dollar credit for bird flu
prevention measures in Armenia. Head of the Foreign Relations
Department of the WB Yerevan Office Vigen Sargsian told NT
correspondent that the Japanese government will also allocate a 1
mln-dollar grant.

LUFTHANSA OPERATES IN ARMENIA FOR A YEAR

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. It will be a year on June 3 since the
German airline Lufthansa started operating in Armenia by launching
Munich-Yerevan flight. In this connection the Lufthansa Yerevan Office
organized a visit of Armenian reporters to Munich. Director of the
company’s Yerevan and Ukrainian offices Antonio Kuoko assessed
positively the operation of flights to Yerevan, noting that in case of
the Armenian side’s consent, they will increase the number of
flights. To recap, Lufthansa currently operates two flights a week to
Yerevan. A. Kuoko said that Lufthansa is the only airline in the world
to have its own terminal. It owns 40% of shares of Munich Airport’s
terminal.
Terminal-2 was built in 2003. The airline operates 2,361 flights in 95
destinations weekly. It was noted that Lufthansa intends to build a
third terminal. In 2005, the airline made a profit of 577 mln euros
and plans to increase this figure to about 1 bln euros in 2008. Last
year the revenues of Lufhansa amounted to 18.1 bln euros, exceeding
the previous year’s index by 6.5%.

INTELLECTUALS OF JAVAKHK FIND THAT GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES OBLIGED TO
RESPECT JAVAKHK ARMENIANS’ DEMAND FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT

AKHALKALAK, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Security problems
of Armenians of Javakhk and ways of their solution were discussed at
the third conference of the Javakhk Intellectuals’ Union that took
place on May 31 in the hall of the Akhalkalak Mayor’s Office.
According to the “A-Info” agency, conference participants fixed in
details physical, political, economic, nature protection, language,
educational, cultural, spiritual, demographic dangers threatening
Armenians of Javakhk. Intellectuals again came to the conclusion that
in the sense of giving security guarantees to Armenians of Javakhk in
the above-mentioned spheres, the authorities of Georgia are obliged to
respect the demand of self-government of Armenians of Javakhk,
language, local self-government, educational-cultural and other rights
given to national minorities. In the sense of physical and economic
security of Armenians of Javakhk, the conference touched upon removal
of No62 Russian military basis of Akhalkalak as well, and
intellectuals of Javakhk expect for the authorities’ clear guarantees
in this sense as well.

AKHALKALAK SAKREBULO DEMANDS THAT POWER STRUCTURES QUICKLY DISCLOSE
AND PUNISH THOSE SPREADING ANTI-ARMENIAN LEAFLETS

AKHALKALAK, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The issue of
spreading anti-Armenian leaflets in Akhalkalak by an unknown
organization calling itself “Brigade of Akhaltskha Liberation” was
discussed by Akhalkalak regional Sakrebulo on May 31, at the
suggestion of Norik Karapetian, sakrebulo member, Chairman of the
Javakhk People’s Movement organization. According to the A-Info
agency, the sakrebulo has decided to apply to the Georgian power
structures for them to as quickly as possible disclose and call to
account those making an attempt to intimidate the Armenian population
of Javakhk.

RA AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA PAYS WORKING VISIT TO AJARIA
BATUMI, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Ambassador to
Georgia Hrach Silvanian paid a working visit to the Autonomous
Republic of Ajaria of Georgia on May 27-29. RA Ambassador had a
meeting on May 27 with acting Mayor of Batumi M.Beridze. The Mayor
mentioned that municipal authorities are more interested in developing
relations with Armenia in all directions. During the last two years,
positive and hopeful changes are noticed in Ajaria. The process of
privatization of municipal objects is actively being implemented, and
different investment programs are also implemented. As for Armenia,
the Mayor expressed sorrow that they had great expectations with
Armenian businessmen’s wide-spread investment and other activeness but
business involvement of Armenia is not yet satisfying in the municipal
market and there are still many free directions in the sphere of
tourism and service. However, the Mayor’s Office has great
expectations connected with Armenia what is provided by considerable
increase of the number of Armenian tourists visiting Batumi and other
cities of Ajaria. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, the Ambassador had a
meeting on the same day with Prime Minister of Ajaria
L.Varshalomidze. The Prime Minister emphasized that Batumi and
Vanadzor were already sister-cities during the Soviet period, and
proposed to re-start again that healthy and useful tradition. But,
taking into account both present independent states’ status of the two
countries and special relations of the Autonomous Republic of Ajaria
with Armenia and Armenian citizens’ considerable stream to the region,
it would be pusposeful to establish a consular office in Batumi. The
Ambassador responded that he is completely of the same opinion
concerning that idea and supports the issue that may be discussed
during the coming official meeting. Varshalomidze emphasized Ajaria’s
interest in the direction of involving Armenian businessmen in the
inner market and affirmed its readiness to create beneficial
conditions for Armenian business. He fixed that there are already
examples of Armenian businessmen’s successful activity in Batumi,
mentioning opening of the “Armenia” restorant and ice-cream workshop
in the city. The sides came to the idea that it’s necessary to assist
widening and development of bilateral cooperation in any way, working
out new moduses of optimal and mutually beneficial contacts.
The Prime Minister emphasized that problems of the Armenian community
will always be in the center of his attention. The Ambassador’s
meeting with Armenian businessmen also took place on May 27. He called
on during the meeting to continue and even more activize their
activity in the republic. The Embassy delegation participated on the
same day in the celebration dedicated to the First Republic Day,
organized by the Armenian community. Ambassador’s meetings with
N.Mgeladze, the Rector of the Batumi State University and pupils and
teachers of Armenian schools of the city took place on may 29. After
those meetings, the Embassy delegation went to Kobuleti where it met
with T.Zoidze, the Deputy Region Gamgebeli (education department
head). Issues of establishment of sister-cities and possible
activization of Armenian business circles in the region were
discussed.

TRADITION OF HOLDING DAYS OF GEORGIAN POETRY IN ARMENIA AND ARMENIAN
POETRY IN GEORGIA RE-START AFTER LONG INTERRUPTION

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Days of Georgian poetry started in
Armenia on May 31 and they will continue till June 3. As Levon
Ananian, the Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia mentioned at
the June 1 press-conference, holding of days of Georgian poetry what
was once a tradition in Armenia, re-start after a break of about one
and a half of decade, on the initiative of the Ministers of Culture of
Georgia and Armenia. “Similar events will give possibility to implant
the idea of unity between the two countries by the means of
literature,” the Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia
emphasized. Maghvala Gonashvili, the Chairwoman of the Writers’s Union
of Georgia mentioned that she was born in the Armenian district of
Tbilisi and considers herself a bit Armenian. According to her,
similar meetings help Armenian and Georgian writers to understand
their important role in the affair of strengthening friendship of the
two peoples. Till the end of the days of Georgian poetry, in Armenia,
“Anthology of Armenian Poetry” will be published in the Georgian
language and “Anthology of Georgian Poetry” will be published in the
Armenian language, but presentation of those books will take place
later in Tbilisi. By the assistance of the Writers’ Union of Armenia,
Georgian writers’ books have already been published in Armenia. The
“Kamurj” (bridge) literary journal in the Armenian language was
published in Tbilisi by efforts of the Writers’ Union of Georgia, and
translator Anahit Kostanjian published the “Contemporary Armenian
Poets” book in the Georgian language. According to an agreement
reached between sides beforhand, days of Armenian poetry will be held
in Georgia in this September. Writers arrived from Georgia, Ambassasor
of Georgia to Armenia Revaz Gachechiladze were also present at the
press-conference.

Thursday, June 01, 2006
*****************************************
GET OUT THE SHOVEL
**************************************
John Stossel (American TV correspondent and author. Title of his latest book): MYTHS, LIES & DOWNRIGHT STUPIDITY: GET OUT THE SHOVEL – WHY EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG.
*
The difference between dialogue and argument is this: dialogue moves towards consensus, argument polarizes.
*
Armenian dialogue: an oxymoron.
*
You have a better chance to learn from an argument if you lose it.
*
When confronted with a statement he neither understands nor wants to understand, an Armenian will contradict it simply because he perceives it to be anti-Armenian, thus implying that only pro-Armenian statements are valid, only chauvinist Armenians are good Armenians, and only dupes are honest.
*
There are two kinds of disagreement: honest and hostile. The first is a result of divergent experiences, the second a result of brainwashing – that is to say, disagreement in the name of this or that received idea, ideology, or religion, and the misconception that if I speak in the name of God or Country, I can’t be wrong. It follows, if I kill in the name of patriotism, it is not murder; and if I massacre in the name of Allah, why apologize?
*
To get angry during an argument means to reason not with your brain but with your gut. Hence the old Chinese saying, “He who loses temper has wrong on his side.”
*
If you begin an argument with the intention of winning it, you have already lost it if only because you have condemned yourself to learn nothing.
*
An Armenian argument may be defined as one in which both sides lose not only the argument but also their dignity, assuming of course they had any to begin with, which is assuming a great deal.
#
Friday, June 02, 2006
*****************************************
In my first book, THE ARMENIANS: THEIR HISTORY AND CULTURE – A SHORT INTRODUCTION (Toronto, 1975), I included a chapter subtitled “National Characteristics,” in which I bragged about Armenians being adaptable, as if being adaptable were one of the cardinal virtues, as if adapting ourselves to authority no matter how brutal were a certificate of integrity, as if adapting ourselves to being subservient were a major achievement.
*
Our revolutionaries challenged the might of the Ottoman Empire, true, but they did so not as self-reliant thinkers but as double dupes of the Great Powers and of their own megalomania. I say this because I refuse to spend the rest of my life adapting myself to their propaganda line and the lies of chauvinist charlatans who have adapted themselves into thinking they are our betters but who may well be our worst.
*
The present is an extension of the past and history repeats itself. Today there are those who have adapted themselves to the lie that if things are left alone in the Homeland they will improve in one or two generations, as if anything has improved in the Diaspora during the last four generations, or for that matter, during the last thousand years. Which may suggest that we are so adaptable that we can even live with corruption, incompetence and degeneration and pretend they represent development and progress.
*
We are adaptable? So is the mafia. So are parasites and viruses. So are collaborators with evil empires.
#
WHAT IT TAKES
******************************
To survive as an Armenian writer, you need, in addition to the genius of a Shakespeare, the skin of a crocodile, the cunning of a fox, and the taste buds of a dung beetle.
*
Because I am critical of Armenians, some of my Turkish readers may think I am anti-Armenian, and some of my Armenian readers may suspect I am pro-Turkish. I am neither. Even when I discuss Turks or Armenians I do not write exclusively about them. I write about human beings regardless of nationality. I write about human beings even when they behave like swine. I know from personal experience that there is nothing easier for a human being than to behave like swine.
*
I don’t expect anyone to believe me. Shaw is right: the trouble with liars is that they believe no one.
*
The German head of state on the radio this morning: “A nation that doesn’t understand its past cannot have a future.” Do we understand our past? Not yet. We may begin to understand it only on the day we learn to answer such questions as, “Why is it that treason and betrayal are in our blood?” (Raffi); and “Why is it that Armenians survive by cannibalizing one another?” (Zarian).
*
What about Turks? Do they understand their past? They might begin to understand it only on the day they realize that to massacre innocent civilians in the name of Allah is to confuse god with the devil.
#

oikotimes.org, Greece
June 2 2006
Armenia: Andre in press conference stated that not only the diaspora
voted for his entry

Fotis Konstantopoulos reporting from Athens (Greece)
source: armeniadiaspora.com – photo: armeniadiaspora.com
Armenia’s first participation in the Eurovision-2006 song contest
registered great success, whereas there were countries that have
participated in this contest for several dozens of times but have no
success. Singer Andre who represented Armenia at the contest declared
this at the May 31 press conference. Armenia took the 8th place as a
result of voting of viewers of 38 countries and this means that a
representative of Armenia receives an opportunity to perform in the
final without taking part in the semi-final in the next,
Eurovision-2007 festival. Andre is sure that not only the Armenian
Diaspora, but also foreigners have voted for Armenia as they liked
the song.
According to Andre, his performance in semi-final had some
shortcomings that were caused by sound directors. The singer said
that almost participants of all countries had technical problems,
which was normally accepted by them. “We treated this contest very
seriously, whereas for other countries this was a common TV show,” he
emphasized. According to Andre, even the videoing was not done in
accordance with the requirements of the producers of
country-participants. Andre also mentioned that singers with strong
voices, such as representatives of Cyprus and Belgium, took part in
the Eurovision-2006, but they did not pass even to the final: “As a
result, Finland won, which, as the organizers estimated, had come to
Athens for mocking the Eurovision.”

Today, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
Armenians break cease-fire for 150 times, Azerbaijan lose platoon of
soldiers in the past five months

02 June 2006 [13:23] – Today.Az

The Armenian Armed Forces violated the cease-fire from different
directions of the front line for ten times in May this year.

According to the results of APA’s monitoring held on the basis of
Defense Ministry’s reports to the media, Azerbaijani Army lost two
soldiers as a result of Armenians breaking the cease-fire in May.
The cease-fire was violated for four times in Aghdam, twice in Gazakh
and Terter and once in Fizuli and Goranboy. OSCE twice monitored the
contact front line of Armenian and Azerbaijani Armed Forces (Gazakh
and Khojavend) in May. The monitoring passed without any incident.
One Azerbaijani soldier died and six were wounded due to breaking
training regulations in May. One of the wounded was ensign and the
rest were soldiers. The ensign died due to misusing his service gun
and the rest were killed in traffic accidents.
Totally, according to the results of the past five months, the
cease-fire was violated for 150 times. Azerbaijani armed forces’ a
platoon of soldiers-29 servicemen were killed and nine were wounded
due to the cease-fire violation and several other reasons during this
period.
Four soldiers were killed in fire, four due to misusing service gun,
eight in traffic accidents, one committed suicide, two in snow-slip,
one was struck by lightening, and nine of them were killed by the
enemy. Eight of the wounded were targeted by enemy bullet and one
misused his service gun. Five of the killed were officers, two
ensigns, one sergeant and the rest twenty-one were soldiers. Eight of
them were killed outside battle zone. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces
lost eleven servicemen in January, two in February and five in March,
six in April and three in May. All of the killed servicemen served in
the armed groups subordinate to the Defense Ministry.
According to the results of the monitoring held in five months, the
cease-fire was broken in April more times and less in January and
May. The Armenian Armed Forces fired on the Azerbaijani Army’s
positions and living quarters for 10 times in January, 14 in
February, 50 in March, 65 in April and 10 times in May. The
followings were the hot spots of the front:
On state border of Azerbaijan: Mazam, Gizilhajili, Balajafarli and
Boganis Ayrim villages in Gazakh region; Hasangaya, Chayli, Jerabert,
Gapanli villages in Terter; Bash Gervend, Ortagishlag and Guluzchuluk
farm in Aghdam; Ashaghi Seyidahmadli and Ashagi Abdurrahmanli
villagesin Fuzli region.

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