West Wishes to Push Russia out of Karabakh Process
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.07.2006 17:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The West will never succeed in pushing Russia out
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, Director of
the RF Institute of the U.S. and Canada Sergey Rogov considers. “The
resolution of this problem demands multilateral efforts but no one
will be able to deprive Russia of the mediating mission and moreover to
substitute it by NATO or any other western structure,” Rogov said. In
his opinion, the mentioning of Karabakh in the resulting document of
the G8 summit is conditioned by the West’s wish to press Russia.
Sergey Rogov reminded that Russia “maintains balanced relations
with Armenia and Azerbaijan”. Besides, he said, the appearance of
a provision on the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant proves the G8’s
contradictory approaches. “Western Europe and America’s idea about
the construction of a new silk-road bypassing Russia and use of the
Caspian energy resources prompt them to support Azerbaijani positions,”
Rogov underscored, reported RIA Novosti.

NKR Adheres to Supreme Values – Freedom and Democracy
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.07.2006 18:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
responded today to a July 17th speech on the House floor by Congressman
Dan Burton (R-IN) that seriously misrepresented Nagorno Karabakh’s
history, status, and right to self-determination.
The Indiana legislator took to the House floor yesterday in an apparent
attempt to undermine the growing Congressional support for Nagorno
Karabakh – as demonstrated by the successful recent Washington, DC
visit and U.S. Capitol reception for the Parliamentary Speaker and
Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Commenting
on what he perceived as a pro-Nagorno Karabakh tilt among U.S.
legislators, Rep. Burton stressed that: “Any outside influence, any
shift in neutrality can only result in a false peace. That is why I
am deeply concerned when I hear some of my colleagues throwing barbs
at the Azeris and attempting to lay all the blame for this complicated
issue at their doorstep.”
In a factually incorrect statement, he sought to call into question
Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self-determination, asserting that:
“So far as I know, the Nagorno Karabakh region has never been a part
of Armenia. To suggest otherwise, and to suggest that the problems
in Nagorno Karabakh are caused solely by Azerbaijan seems to me to
distort the facts and potentially undermine our good faith efforts
to see this conflict resolved; and to see peace and prosperity come
to the people of both Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
In a three-page fact sheet sent to every Congressional office, the
ANCA challenged Congressman Burton’s inaccurate description of the
Nagorno Karabakh issue as well as the biased and counter-productive
advice he offered to his House colleagues. The key points addressed in
the ANCA document included: 1) Nagorno Karabakh’s commitment to peace;
2) Azerbaijan’s threat to regional stability; 3) Nagorno Karabakh’s
economic growth; 4) Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self-determination;
5) Nagorno Karabakh’s commitment to democracy; 6) Nagorno Karabakh’s
pivotal role in ending the Soviet threat to America
In addition, the ANCA provided a one-page update on Azerbaijan’s
post-Soviet evolution into an increasingly corrupt and autocratic
petro-state, characterized by leaders who seek to bridge the growing
gap with their own population by demonizing their Armenian neighbors,
ANCA press release says.

Construction of Cathedral to Be Started in Stepanakert July 22
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.07.2006 18:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The first stone of the cathedral of the Artsakh
diocese will be laid in Stepanakert July 22. Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II will take part in the ceremony. As reported by
KarabakhOpen.com, the place for the new church was chosen by head of
the Artsakh diocese, Archbishop Pargev Martirosian.
To note, Stepanakert has lived without church for many years. The
soviet statistics says that Karabakh was the only spot on the USSR
territory where no single church has functioned since 1930. But before
1930 each village in Karabakh had a small church. The big church in
Stepanakert was transformed into a theater while the ancient church of
Vararakn is still located on the territory of an entertainment center.

Fourth Shift of Armenian Peacekeepers to Depart for Iraq July 23
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.07.2006 18:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ July 23 the fourth shift of Armenian peacekeepers
will depart for Iraq. RA Defense Minister, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan
told PanARMENIAN.Net, three shifts of Armenian peacekeepers, each
consisting of 46 people, have been sent to Iraq so far. The current
shift includes 3 staff commanders, 2 medical officers, 10 combat
engineers and 31 drivers. To note, the Armenian units have been taking
part in the peacekeeping mission in Iraq since January 25, 2005.

“GREAT 8” STATES CALL FOR ARMENIA TO SECURE SAFE OPERATION OF METSAMOR NPP
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
The leaders of the Great Eight states called for Armenia to allocate
financial sources and take measures for securing the safety of the
Armenian NPP’s operation up to its final closing. The official site
G-8 informed about this. The report of the group for the nuclear
and physical security stated that they take into consideration
the short-term measures that Armenia took to increase the nuclear
safety. Taking into account the fact that at present, the donors
can allocate only limited sources for the most urgent measures,
“the group of eight” called for Armenia to elaborate and implement
universal program, for increasing the safety level of the NPP,
to secure the required number of staff members at the NPP for the
regulating body and allocate financial sources for that, as well as to
impart that with relevant plenipotentiaries for effective functioning
in accordance with the international standards. G-8 also calls for
creating a fund for closing the Armenian NPP in the future.
By Nana Petrosian

GREAT EIGHT LEADERS CALL FOR ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO
DISPLAY POLITICAL WILL FOR SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO
KARABAKH CONFLICT IN 2006
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
According to G-8 site, the Great Eight leaders emphasized the
importance of agreeing about the basic principles for the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in 2006. The communique of Russia as the country in
chair of G8 Summit in St. Petersbourg as of July 15-17 stated about
this. “We confirmed that “Group of Eight” supports the mediatory
efforst of the OSCE MG and emphasized the importance of agreeing
about the basic principles for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2006. We call for
Armenia and Azerbaijan to display political will, achieve agreement
and prepare their peoples for peace and not for war,” it is stated
in the communique.
By Nana Petrosian

RA EMBASSY IN BEIRUT ORGANIZES DEPARTURE OF ABOUT 150 ARMENIANS AND RA CITIZENS FROM LEBANON
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Latest Developments in Lebanon
RA Embassy to Lebanon has organized the departure of about 150
Armenians and Armenian citizens from Lebanon. RA Embassy to Lebanon
informed about this. The departure took place through the border
with Syria. “Mainly, we departed the people that should have normally
left the country, i.e. those who have no problems with documents,”
the source stated. Besides, RA Embassy makes the lists of the Armenians
who want to leave Lebanon. At the same time, the source stated that the
military actions didn’t reach the regions with the Armenian residents.

RA FOREIGN MINISTRY HOT LINE SERVICE FOR CURRENT SITUATION IN LEBANON
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Emergency Actions
Today, RA PM Andranik Margarian held a consultation for rendering
assistance to the Armenians who wish to leave Lebanon RA Territorial
Management Minister
Hovik Abrahamian, RA Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatrian,
RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegam Garibjanian, head of RA Civil
Aviation Department Artem Movsisian, and other officials participated
in the council.
RA Government’s press service informed that RA Prime Minister expressed
anxiety about the events in Middle East, where a considerable number of
Armenians live, and emphasized the importance of assisting them. RA
Deputy Foreign Minister Garibjanian informed that the diplomatic
representatives of Armenia in Syria, Lebanon, Aleppo are working 24
hours a day and are ready to render any available assistance. The
Foreign Ministry organizes transportation of Armenian citizens from
Lebanon to Armenia. Mr. Garibjanian said that already 160 citizens have
reached Armenia through Syria. He also said that those ethnic Armenians
who do not have Armenian citizenship, can also enter Armenia, being
given free visas for 3 months. Head of RA Civil Aviation Department
Artem Movsisian represented the opportunities to organize charter
flights to Beirut and Syria.
The relevant departments of RA Foreign Ministry were ordered to
find out the exact number of Lebanese Armenians who want to move to
Armenia and create a telephone hotline. RA Civil Aviation Department
was ordered to start negotiations with ArmAvia company for organizing
special flights to Syria. The Government is ready to partly finance
the flights.
By Ara Martirosian

VAZGEN MANOUKIAN: NO SETTLEMENT CAN BE REACHED, IF AZERBAIJAN DOESN’T
ACCEPT THAT NAGORNO KARABAKH IS OUT OF ITS STRUCTURE
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Opinion
The statement by American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza about Minsk Group
resigning mediation between Armenia and Azerbaijan was a mere
attempt to exert psychological pressure upon the conflict sides,
Vazgen Manukian, leader of the
‘National-Democratic Union’ party, said. He believed that the Armenian
politicians usually exaggerate the influence of the OSCE Minks Group on
the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He said that there was only
once in the history when the international structures forced a state to
cede territories to another: Adolf Hitler was given the Sudet region of
Czechoslovakia so as to prevent the war, but nevertheless it unfolded
a year after. He added that even if ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian
had ceded the security zone territories, still Azerbaijan would not
stop claiming Karabakh for its own, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipe line would still go round Armenia. Vazgen Manukian admitted
that the new suggestions by the Minsk Group are more profitable for
Armenia than the previous ones that President Ter-Petrosian was about
to sign. He assured that in any case none of the project could insure
peace in Karabakh, as they do not provide for the determination of
the status of Nagorno Karabakh, the cause of the conflict. The new
project contains another dangerous term – return of Azeri refugees
to Karabakh, which can provoke new skirmish among the population.
By Marieta Khachatrian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA EDUCATION MINISTER STATES ENTRANCE EXAMS TO
ARMENIA’S UNIVERSITIES TO BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Levon Mkrtchian, newly appointed RA Education and Science Minister,
stated that the entrance exams to the Armenian universities will be
fair and transparent. He said that the entrance exams will launch on
July 20 and added that it is planned to open a special site that will
fully cover the process of the exams. This year, the exam marks will
not be rounded off. Minister stated that at present the given system
of evaluation is the most convenient one. As for the tuition fees,
Mkrtchian said that thanks to the contract system the university
students will be able to pay a fixed sum of money that will not
change in the course of the education process. He added that at
present not a single local university has increased the tuition fee
as compared with the last year. The most expensive university is
still the Yerevan State Medical University, while the faculties of
International Relations and the Law Departments are the leading ones.
According to Mkrtchian, 12 413 entrants applied to the local
universities. This indicator surpassed that of the last year by 500
entrants. Minister stated that this year the entrants’ interest to
the Yerevan State Economic University has grown, as 1633 people
applied to that. Besides, as compared with 2005, the number of
entrants who applied to the faculties of the English Language at
various universities has also grown. The Yerevan State University
has 671 free of charge vacancies, while the Yerevan State Medical
University has only 148. In total, there are 4 342 free of charge and
5 598 paid vacancies opened at the Armenian universities. Mkrtchian
stated that just like in the previous years the faculties of Physics,
Biology and Chemistry are not popular.
By Sousana Margarian