Armenian Leader Positively Assesses Serge Sargsyan’s Joining Republican Party
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.07.2006 17:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian gave a positive
estimate to Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan’s joining the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), RA leader’s spokesman Victor
Soghomonyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
“This is a positive phenomenon taking into account the fact that
during the recent years we witnessed collapse of parties but not
unification of political forces,” Victor Soghomonyan said. He also
remarked the presence of an influential political figure in the RPA
can have a positive impact on the Armenian political field, which is
far from being ideal.

URGENT FUNDS NEEDED FOR HEALTH FOR THE LEBANESE PEOPLE
AZG Armenian Daily #138, 25/07/2006
Urgent!
WHO appeals for US$ 32.4 million as part of UN appeal
Geneva – Today WHO is appealing for funds for the health of the people
of Lebanon, who require urgent and secure access to health care.
To date, the current conflict has resulted in more than1200 injured
and 346 killed. Several hundred thousand people have fled their homes,
including to neighbouring Syria. Insecurity in South Lebanon, the
destruction of bridges, roads and other infrastructure, and lack of
electricity are threatening people’s health.
The injured need access to equipped, safe and functioning
hospitals. Those who are displaced need access to clean water,
sanitation, immunization and other services. People who are chronically
ill, with diabetes or heart disease require continued access to their
life-saving medicines. Particularly vulnerable are the wounded, women
and children, the elderly and the chronically ill. Access to health
care, food, shelter, water and sanitation are all critical lifelines.
The WHO, on behalf of the partners working on health issues, is
requesting US$ 32.4 million to serve the health needs of 800,000 people
over the next three months. This includes joint actions and activities
with partners including UNICEF, UNFPA and UNRWA. For WHO-specific
activities, WHO is requesting almost US$ 14 million. This appeal is
part of the total United Nations’ Flash Appeal for Lebanon, which
seeks a total of US$ 150 million.
“As more people are displaced and as more infrastructure is destroyed,
the health needs will grow. International concern for the people caught
in this conflict is high. Funding from the international community for
health will save lives and reduce suffering,” said Dr Ala’ Din Alwan,
the WHO Director-Generals’ Representative for Health Action in Crises.
WHO is leading the “health cluster”- the coordination body for health
action in this crisis, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health
(MoH). The funds will increase the health cluster support to the MoH
in tackling several vital areas of health:
– Coordinate the humanitarian response in the health sector;
– Assess the heath impact, damage to health infrastructure and
emergency needs of the health systems;
– Monitor the health threats and risks, including the enhancement of
the disease early warning surveillance and response systems;
– Address gaps in health services delivery and support in the
re-establishment of essential and emergency medical , public health
and environment health services;
– Establish mobile health care units and strengthen functional health
centres capable of delivering maternal and child health, reproductive
health, mental health services and chronic disease management;
– Urgent immunization services campaigns for internally displaced
people, and host communities if needed;
– Establishment and maintenance of vaccine storage and the vaccine
cold chain.
Current priorities are to ensure safe evacuation for the injured
to hospitals where their injuries may be treated. WHO is tracking
medicines and surgical supplies, and warns that it is difficult
to move these into the areas where they are needed. Safe water and
sanitation is also urgent for those who are displaced and living in
about 110 different public locations. To lower the risks of diarrhoeal
and other water-borne diseases, WHO with its partners is distributing
chlorine to disinfect water. WHO has also strengthened its presence in
the region by sending several experts. As many as 150 000 people are
thought to have crossed the border into Syria, WHO is set to assist
the Syrian authorities meet the health needs of these people too.
For more information, contact:
In Geneva: Fadela CHAIB, Communications Officer, telephone +41 22
791 3228, email [email protected]
In Cairo: Ibrahim KERDANY, Communications Officer for the WHO Regional
Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, telephone: +202 27 65037 mobile –
+ 20 10 6019087 email: [email protected]
Sacha BOOTSMA, Information and Communications Officer, telephone
(+20-10) 182 64 23, email: [email protected]
In Beirut: Altaf MUSANI: Regional Adviser for the WHO Regional Office
for the Eastern Mediterranean, mobile telephone: (+20-10) 258 58 22
email: [email protected].

LETTERS FROM LEBANON:BEIRUT SUNDAY JULY 23, 2006
AZG Armenian Daily #138, 25/07/2006
Give Peace a Chance!
Dear Friends,
It has been eleven days. People are really tired of waiting for an
end to a war that feels like both a repetition of what we have seen
decades ago and a novelty in many respects, such as the speed and
extent of destruction. Lebanon is a special and precious country
and continues to be so, thus people refuse to put an end to their
hope in a bright future. Today, I said a short prayer in church. I
wanted us to remember that every Sunday is a day of Resurrection,
not just the peaceful Sundays!
A ceasefire has been expected from the very first day of this new
war in and around Lebanon, but is has not materialized. Fighting has
intensified on the southern border. Sporadic air and sea bombing
of almost all regions in Lebanon has continued, including the
infrastructure of the country. Rockets fired from Lebanon have been
causing damage and casualties in Israel as well. Dozens of thousands
of foreign nationals have left Lebanon by sea or land, including
hundreds of Indian nationals today from their embassy near Haigazian
University. Most USA nationals, probably exceeding 8,000 who had
expressed a wish to leave have already done so. The problems and the
numbers of the internally displaced are intensifying radically. In
previous wars, displacement from Southern Lebanon had a map. Now,
there is no map. Some of the displaced have moved from the south to
the north, others from Beirut to the Bekaa; others from the Bekaa to
Beirut; some from one suburb of Beirut to another, then to yet another;
others from Beirut to the mountains, etc. etc. This war has no clear
terrain and no map.
To our dismay, a ceasefire has not materialized and will probably not
materialize for a number of days. Secretary Condaleezza Rice has tried
to explain why not: “We do seek an end to the current violence. We
seek it urgently… We also seek to address the root causes of that
violence.A ceasefire would be a false promise if it simply returns
us to the status quo”. Having heard this and other similar speeches,
the world concluded that the current crisis will continue indefinitely,
thus explaining why dozens of thousands of foreigners are leaving the
country without giving a ceasefire a chance. Neither I, nor anyone
else I have spoken with in these two days here and abroad was convinced
that postponing a ceasefire will help anyone address the “root causes”
of violence. With all due respect, we know well that looking into
“root causes” of social, human, political, religious or economic
conflicts is not one of the virtues or interests of political powers.
Neither I, nor anyone else around me was comfortable hearing that
a ceasefire can be a “false promise”. When you are under fire,
every ceasefire is a true promise for another opportunity to breath,
to save a life, to treat an injured person, to decently bury a loved
one, to find drinking water, to enjoy the blessings of electricity,
to communicate with the world, and so forth. Obviously, it may be
a temporary promise, but certainly not less temporary than what
political powers and negotiators will be able to accomplish.
I remember teaching my “Pastoral Care” students that when they are to
help people in crisis they have to address the crisis itself before
anything else. If a person has a history of deep problems, a helper
cannot solve all their problems at the crisis hour. A sensitive helper
will, however, accompany the needy person later and will help address
the deeper problem. The same can be said of medical professionals
who cannot let a patient bleed indefinitely from a wound caused by
an injury if they realize that he/she has a chronic disease!
May we all work, pray, act, write, and hope for a ceasefire before
everything else. May we remember, though, that our hope is not in
the ceasefire itself, but what a ceasefire will allow us to do once
it is realized.
I look forward to a week of hopeful activity even in these difficult
times in Beirut and the Haigazian University administrative
offices. Our communities are not only hopeful this too shall pass,
but many groups have been conducting organized activities to reach
out to the needy and the helpless. The majority of the people in
the country have not been working for eleven days now. They have
been watching the news, waiting for an end. Yet, there are new
and meaningful challenges for serving each other in our societies.
Even in these disastrous days, much good can be done. I thank you
for your letters of support. Keep upholding Haigazian University,
our community, Lebanon, and the whole world in your prayers.
Thanks be to God in every situation!
Paul Haidostian, Ph.D.,President of Haigazian University

EU PREFERS PERSUASION TO SANCTIONS
Panorama.am
17:08 24/07/06
Peter Semneby, EU special representative in South Caucasus held a
joint press conference with Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanyan
today. Talking about Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Semneby said
EU is not involved in Karabakh conflict settlement but is watchful to
the process and is ready to take steps that will step up mutual trust.
In his words, EU is concerned about any proposal that will suggest
military solution to the conflict. Asked what sanctions will EU impose
on the party which will take up military measures, Semneby advised
to change the word “sanction” to “persuasion”. “We would rather talk
the parties into refraining from such statements because they do not
stem from their own interests,” he said.
The Armenian foreign minister also thinks that Azerbaijan should be
talked into returning to negotiation table and first of all relies
on Mathew Bryza to accomplish that mission.
Oskanyan reiterated Armenian’s disposition to the proposed formula
saying that only Azerbaijan has “problems” with it./Panorama.am/

EU TO WATCH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA
Panorama.am
17:40 24/07/06
Peter Semneby, EU special represenative in South Caucasus, said at
the Armenian ministry of foreign affairs that EU expects free and
fair elections during 2007 parliamentary elections in Armenia. He
refused to comment what EU actions will be if the elections turn down
their expectations. EU rep reminded about Armenia’s commitments in
this regard. He also would not comment on the last elections and the
constitutional referendum in Armenia, saying that the international
observers have already expressed their opinion. EU rep warned that they
will be watchful to the opinions and recommendations of international
observers saying these recommendations will be part of discussions
with the Armenian leadership./Panorama.am/

Armenians achieve two medals at the European Boxing Championship
ArmRadio.am
24.07.2006 11:40
Hrachya Javakhyan of Vanadzor lost to Alexey Sishchenko from Russia
in the final round of the European Championship held in Plovdiv,
Bulgaria, thus achieving a silver medal. Before that, Hovhannes
Danielyan of Yerevan had lost in the semifinal gaining a bronze medal.
Thus, the Armenian boxers headed by chief trainer Rafael Mehrabyan
achieved one silver and one bronze medals.
David Hayrapeyan representing Russia won the champion’s title in the
48 kg weight category.

Ceremony of first stone laying of Saint Blessed Virgin Church took place in Stepanakert
ArmRadio.am
24.07.2006 14:58
On July 22, a ceremony of laying of the ground stone in the foundation
of the cathedral church of Saint Blessed Virgin took place in
Stepanakert, the capital of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Catholicos
of All-Armenians Garegin II was invited to Nagorno-Karabakh to
consecrate the construction of the church.
Opening the ceremony, Leader of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church Pargev Martirossian emphasized the historical
significance of the construction of the church in the capital of the
independent NKR.
Having consecrated the Church’s foundation, Catholicos of All-Armenians
Garegin II said, “The Saint Armenian Apostolic Church is a brave and
perfect soldier, who has fought for its people, inspired its struggle
for freedom and independent statehood for centuries. In our history our
people sometimes lost wars, thus loosing statehood but never lost its
faith. All the victories in our history were gained with faith. With
this faith the freedom-loving sons of Artsakh gained their right to
live free and independent.”
NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan, National Assembly Chairman Ashot
Ghulyan, government members, respected citizens and guests of the
NKR capital laid sanctified stones in the foundation of the church.

Political Will Essential for Ceasefire Maintenance
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.07.2006 13:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The proposal for ceasefire strengthening at the NKR
and Azeri armed forces’ contact line made by the OSCE Minsk Group
was signed by Armenian Defense Minister Sargsyan, commander of the
NK army Babayan and Azeri Defense Minister Mamedov. It came into
force February 6, 1995. “The agreement was not an improvisation. Its
mechanism was item by item discussed with the top officials of the
conflicting sides. The readiness of the parties could be proved by
the fact that the document was signed the same day upon receipt,”
said OSCE MG former Russian Co-chair Vladimir Kazimirov.
Vladimir Kazimirov underscored that the agreement was not a panacea,
but it helped to alleviate the situation and take adequate measures on
the spot. “Nothing but political will was essential for it,” he said.
To note, the proposals on strengthening the ceasefire were sent by
Vladimir Kazimirov to the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents on
February 3, 1995. The consent of the parties was received February 4,
1995 from the Defense Ministers of all the conflicting sides.

Karabakh Conflict Sides Fail to Fulfill Obligations on Settling Military Incidents
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.07.2006 13:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The sides in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict have
undertaken to quickly settle all the incidents at the contact line,
however they fail to fulfill this obligation, OSCE Minsk Group former
Russian Co-chair Vladimir Kazimirov told PanARMENIAN.Net.
“Let’s suppose that the implementation of the agreement has uncovered
its shortcomings, but there should be political will and protection
of lives of the civilians living near the contact line. However the
matter was reduced to holding of selective monitorings which cannot
secure either direct contacts between the sides or supervision of the
contact line. Meanwhile the incidents still claim lives and aggravate
tension and distrust between the sides,” Kazimirov underscored.
The Russian diplomat remarked that Armenian Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan has publicly announced the readiness to fulfill the
obligations undertaken if the Azeri side acts the same way. Karabakh
joined the position and reiterated it in May 2006, however Baku keeps
silent for years already. “Baku’s negative approach was conditioned
by the unwillingness to maintain immediate contact with the military
of the opposite side, moreover with Nagorno Karabakh a party to the
agreement,” he said.
To note, the proposals on strengthening the ceasefire were sent by
Vladimir Kazimirov to the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents on
February 3, 1995. The consent of the parties was received February 4,
1995 from the Defense Ministers of all the conflicting sides.

Kocharian and Semneby Discussed Armenia-EU Cooperation
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.07.2006 13:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with EU
Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby, reported
the RA leader’s press office. The parties discussed the Armenia-EU
relations as well as the Armenia-EU action plan within the European
Neighborhood Policy. Robert Kocharian and Mr Semneby also referred to
the regional developments and the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process.