“ARMENIAN ISSUES SHOULD NOT HARM TURKISH-FRENCH RELATIONS”
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/09/2006
On September 13, Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul met Turkish
journalists in Paris within the framework of “Dialogue of Peoples and
Cultures” conference organized by the Foreign Ministry of France. As
his visit coincided with a series of arrangements under the slogan
“Armenia – My Friend”, journalists asked the FM’s opinion.
“Turkey has no problem of conditioning its relations with France by a
third state. Yet, the Armenian issues should not harm Turkish-French
relations,” Abdullah Gul said. According to Zaman daily, the Turkish FM
reminded about 400.000 Turks living in France and said: “Discords can
be discussed. Opinions also can be voiced. But they never should be a
cause for trouble or argument. We would not want it happen. Therefore,
the Turks, the Armenians and the French should be careful.”
Mesrop II Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, was also
invited to take part in the conference, Lraber newspaper of the
Patriarchy reports.
On his way to Paris at Ataturk Airport, His Holiness met consul general
of France in Istanbul, Jean- Christoph Posel, and US ambassador
to Turkey, Ross Wilson. Lraber reports that Patriarch Mutafian is
scheduled to meet FM Gul in Paris.

HOAGLAND’S CANDIDACY FOR POSITION OF US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA STILL DEPENDS ON CERTAIN FACTORS
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/09/2006
Senator Robert Menendez, who represents New Jersey state, blocked the
voting for the candidacy of Richard Hoagland for the position of US
Ambassador to Armenia.
Mediamax agency informed that the senator stated that taking such a
step he protested against the policy of the American administration
that doesn’t want to characterize the massacre of 1,5 million of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in early 20th century as a genocide.
According to the information, unless Menendez lifts his ban, the
candidacy of Richard Hoagland for ambassador position will not be
discussed at the US Senate.

SYRIA ACCUSES USA OF PROVOKING TERRORISM
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/09/2006
The Embassy of Syria to Washington accused USA of provoking terrorism,
extremism and anti-American moods in the Middle East.
As for the September 12 attack on the US Embassy in Damasks by
extremists, Syrian diplomats state that the events that took place in
Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq only worsened the situation in the war
unfolded against the international terrorism. USA should reconsider
its policy in the Middle East and trace the profound reasons for
terrorism and improve the stability and peace in the region.
France Presse Agence reported that a group of extremists attacked
the US Embassy in Damasks and tried to explode two mine-strewn cars
on September 12.
The security forces of Syria responded the attack and saved the
American diplomats. In exchange of fire all of the four terrorists
were killed. None of the Americans suffered in the accident.
According to the latest data, 14 people were wounded, included one
of the Syrian guards of the embassy, a local employee of the embassy,
a Chinese diplomat and a passer by.
Characterizing the attack of the embassy as “a disgusting act of terror
of a group of extremists,” the Embassy of Syria to USA emphasized,
“The Syrian people spared no efforts to protect the US Embassy,
according to the international treaty of Geneva.”
Meanwhile, Condoleezza Rice, US State Secretary, also emphasized the
devotion and courage of the Syrian people and expressed gratitude to
the Syrian authorities for securing the safety of the American Embassy
to Syria. At the same time, she called for Damasks to cooperate with
USA in the anti-terrorist struggle.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘THE SIX’ TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF IRAN IN NEW YORK
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/09/2006
Ahmadinejad Sees No Reasons for Punishment Measures against Iran
US State Secretary Rise stated yesterday that the coming meeting of
the foreign minister of “The Six” on the issue of the Iranian nuclear
program will take place in New York.
“I think it’s high time to evaluate what we have done and plan our
future actions,” she said, adding that the foreign ministers of “The
Six” member states are currently elaborating the formula for the UN
Security Council.
The matter concerns the probable economic sanctions against Iran,
as this country didn’t meet the demand of UN to stop concentrating
uranium till August 31.
It’s known that the coming meeting of the foreign minister of “The Six”
will be held within the framework of the 61st UN session.
RIA agency stated that Rice will arrive in New York for participation
in the UN session on September 17.
Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, doubts that the UN Security
Council will take such punishment measures against Iran. He added that
his country is for unfolding negotiations and dialogues and they hope
that the issue will be settled within the framework of legal processes.
According to France Presse, he said that he sees no grounds for the
punishment measures. He kept saying that Iran carried out nuclear
researches for solely peaceful goals.

THERE ARE TWO SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MURDER
A1+
[12:18 pm] 14 September, 2006
Yesterday two people were arrested in connection with the murder of
Shahen Hovasapyan, the head of the Operative Investigation Department
of the State Tax Agency.
Sona Truzyan, press secretary of the General Prosecutor’s Office,
told A1+ this information.
One of the suspects is Armen Virabyan, head of the 7th Operative
Investigative Department. The other suspect is Armen Virabyan’s father
who also works in the State Tax Agency. By the way, Armen Virabyan
formerly worked in police forces and is nicknamed “Shvarts.”

BRAZIL INTENDS TO OPEN AN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA
A1+
[02:21 pm] 14 September, 2006
Today Renate Stille, newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Brazil to Armenia, presented letters of credential
to RA President Robert Kocharyan.
Robert Kocharyan congratulated the Ambassador on the new post
and underlined that he expects intensification of the Armenian –
Brazilian cooperation connected with Brasilia’s decision to open an
embassy in Armenia.
In her turn, Mrs. Stille mentioned that the embassy will work more
efficiently trying to enhance economic ties. The cooperation of
the two countries in her words may contribute to the development of
the Armenian community in Brazil. By the way, Renate Stille had met
representatives of the local Armenian community before her arrival
to Armenia.

OMBUDSMAN SEES A MENACE FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
A1+
[03:48 pm] 14 September, 2006
The level of human protection is far from being perfect in Armenia. RA
Ombudsman Armen Haroutyunyan sees a real threat in this respect. His
anxiety is determined by the recent violence and intimidation on
journalists.
As freedom of expression is one of the necessary guarantees for
democracy establishment, the continuation of such atmosphere can be
a threat for our country’s future.
While speaking of Armen Babajanyan’s (editor-in-chief of
“Yerevan-Time”) four-year imprisonment, Armen Haroutyunyan mentioned,
“Arguments might be brought that he was imprisoned to 4-year term from
the legal point of view. But I do think that it is a severe approach to
the case. There are opinions that the editor-in-chief of the newspaper
had oppositional attitude. Those opinions may be grounded. But I don’t
think he made such an act to be sentenced to four-year imprisonment.”
Today Armen Haroutyunyan presented his six-month work in the post
of Human Rights Protector. He has got 1794 applications within this
time. 854 of them were in written form. 121 written applications
found their solution. On the whole, the authors of the applications
complain of the activity of courts (106), Yerevan Municipality (95),
police forces (71) and Ministry of Justice (61).
By the way, referring to the issue life imprisonment and complaints
of prisoners that capital punishment mustn’t be changed to life
imprisonment, the Ombudsman noted, “To tell the truth, our survey
revealed that there isn’t any breech of rights as capital penalty
is already annulled as a means of punishment and changed into life
imprisonment. This is a milder approach to the matter. We see no
violation in this respect.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOUR MILLION AMD FROM STATE BUDGET TO BE SPENT
A1+
[04:16 pm] 14 September, 2006
Four million AMD from the state budget will be allocated to a number
of young people to organize a “tour” round Armenia.
The money squandering in this way is determined by the fact that the
young generation of Armenia is unaware of its country’s history. NGOs
“Areg” and “Centre of Social Technologies” assume that they may
sow love and respect towards 15-year-old Armenia by presenting its
history. In this respect they initiated the program “Generation of
Independence.”
“Our task is to give the youth an opportunity to acknowledge
the country and to make suggestions for the country’s future
well-being. There are places I don’t know myself and I am looking
forward to those visits,” said Gerasim Barseghyan, head of the
scientific-cultural youth association “Areg” during the meeting
with journalists.
During their first tour, on September 16, they intend to visit
Noravank, Tatev, Noraduz. Each group will comprise of 30 people. The
participants will be mainly students. The students’ boards of higher
educational institutions will decide which students to include in the
groups. The initiators and participants of the tour are convinced
that it will contribute to the recognition of our homeland and its
historical background.

A RALLY OPPOSITE THE PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE
A1+
[04:37 pm] 14 September, 2006
Today over 20 citizens, who in their own words, were illegally
displaced from their houses and members of families who suffered
losses because of commercial agents gathered opposite the president’s
residence.
There were many people from Abovyan, Echmiadzin, Gyumri and Martuni
among the strikers. They all had the same claim – to meet the judges,
lawyers and Compulsory Service representatives and to discuss the
matters concerning the strikers tete-a-tete.
Today we face the same scenario; our complaints are presented to the
President’s Office, then they are sent to the General Prosecutors
Office, then to the Police station and so on.
We are tired of long drawn-out proceedings. Corruption has already
penetrated into the homes of the poor, and no one is capable of
eradicating this phenomenon. We shan’t go unless we get a definite
answer to our matter,” claims Flora Shakhgulyan, one of the strikers.

AZERBAIJAN LINGERS THE NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE
A1+
[04:45 pm] 14 September, 2006
Armenia accepts and respects the right of each country to present a
question or an agenda item at the UN.
Although this particular item has reached the General Assembly Agenda
according to UN procedures, however the fact that the UN General
Committee rejected this initiative and that the item passed into
the General Assembly with a mere 16 in favor, 15 against, clearly
indicates the mood of the international community.
The initiative has been presented by GUAM, of which Azerbaijan is a
part. The fact that Azerbaijan has presented such an initiative in
such a forum is evidence again that Azerbaijan is backing down from
the right of self-determination identified in the last version of the
negotiating document that the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have
put on the table, as well as from discussions surrounding the right
of Nagorno Karabakh to determine its status through a referendum.
On the other hand, if Azerbaijan’s purpose is to delay and postpone
the settlement process within the OSCE framework with the intention of
later transferring that process to other forums, that is categorically
unacceptable for Armenia. In that case, Azerbaijan must sit around
the negotiating table with Nagorno Karabakh.