Armenia condemns Israel’s “disproportionate force” against Lebanon
Arminfo
14 Jul 06
Yerevan, 14 July: The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement
today expressing concern over a large-scale military action in Lebanon
that has caused many casualties.
The statement, which was forwarded to Arminfo by the Foreign Ministry
press and information department, said that Armenia condemns any
manifestation of violence, be it kidnappings or use of military force.
“We think that it is unacceptable to use disproportionate force
devastating infrastructure and civilians. It is difficult to understand
Israel’s action, especially as the Lebanese government has clearly
noted that it has nothing to do with the kidnappings. We hope that
reconciliation will be achieved in the region and the problems will
be resolved through negotiations,” the statement of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry said.

Consul denies rumours about Russian naval bases in Montenegro
Vijesti, Podgorica
14 Jul 06
Text of report by N.V Vaniev entitled “We are not interested in that”
Russia is absolutely not interested in opening a military base in
Montenegro. Our relations are friendly and we are working on good
neighbourly cooperation, development of trade, tourism and we have
absolutely no military goals in the area of Montenegro, Russian
Federation consul in Podgorica Vladimir Vaniev told Vijesti recently.
Earlier, unofficial sources in the government told Vijesti that no
country had suggested building a military base in the coastal area.
Not a word can be said about Russian military bases in Montenegro. We
have bases in former Soviet republics, along the borders of Russia,
but we are abandoning them slowly, like in Georgia. In Armenia they
are interested in having our troops remain. It is not only a defence
issue, it also concerns employment, Vaniev explained.

Thousands of Australians in Lebanon
The West Australian, Australia
July 16 2006
The federal government is being called on to help thousands of
Australians flee Lebanon following open conflict between Israel and
the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah.
But it claims there is no longer a safe way to rescue almost 3,000
Australians travelling in the war-torn country, nor the 25,000 members
of the Australian Lebanese community who live there.
“There is no way at the moment for anyone to leave and the sea ports
are dangerous, the road and the highway’s been damaged and also the
airport,” Teresa Gambaro, parliamentary secretary to the Foreign
Affairs Minister, said.
“There’s no means, no transportation mode, that is safe to us at the
moment and, in fact, we would be putting Australians at risk if we
advised them to leave at this time.”
As the violence increases, there is mounting criticism the government
was too slow to decide it must evacuate its citizens.
The parents of 57 young Australians stranded in Beirut lashed out
at the prime minister on Saturday, accusing John Howard of not doing
enough to help their children.
“There is a lot of anger, and a lot of frustration,” said Rosemary
Diodati, who has 12 members of her extended family, including two of
her children, stranded in Lebanon.
“I don’t think they (the government) are doing enough. We want them
out and we want them safe and sound. You don’t just say stay put –
stay put until when?”
About 78 members of the Sydney Armenian Community dance group,
including young children, teens and young adults, are trapped in
Beirut as Israel’s devastating bombing raids continue.
The attacks began after Hizbollah launched a cross-border raid on
Wednesday killing eight Israeli soldiers and kidnapping two others.
On Saturday, Hizbollah’s chief all but declared war on its neighbour.
“You wanted open war. We are going to open war,” Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah said in a call to Hizbollah’s television.
Ms Gambaro urged people in Australia to contact family members in
Lebanon and get them to register with the Australian embassy in Beirut.
But some of the last Australians to flee the war-torn country,
touching down at Sydney Airport on Saturday night, said the embassy
had been slow to act.
Rosemary Haddad, back in Australia with her husband and three
children, spent more than a day sitting by the phone trying to call
the Australian embassy in Lebanon.
“I was abandoned and I think it’s disgusting,” she said. “We are
Australians and we were in a foreign country. We had no idea what to
do or where to go … the only people that helped us were the local
travel agents.”
Escaping across the Syrian border in a car driven by a family friend
was “like Armageddon”, she said.
“There were cars everywhere, everyone was trying to get out and once
we got to the airport we had to wait 16 hours before we could get on
a plane,” she said.
Ms Haddad was one of less than a dozen people who touched down in
Australia on Saturday night after fleeing the violence.

G8 leaders to discuss CIS trouble spots – Putin-1
RIA Novosti, Russia
July 16 2006
STRELNA (near St. Petersburg), July 16 (RIA Novosti)-Leaders of the
Group of Eight industrialized nations will discuss the situation
in the former Soviet Union, particularly troubled areas, Russian
President Vladimir Putin said Sunday.
“I am certain that we will talk about the entire post-Soviet space,
particularly those problem areas that are not yet quiet,” Putin told
a briefing in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He told journalists that he and U.S. President George Bush had talked
about conflicts in territories neighboring Russia earlier in the day.
“We mostly talked about Georgia,” he said.
Talking about the breakaway region of South Ossetia in Georgia, which
has been the source of tension between Moscow and Tbilisi this year,
Putin said it was a concern.
“The situation is tense and is not being defused,” he said.
He called on Georgia to find ways to cooperate with South Ossetia.
Putin also said the G8 leaders would touch upon the problem of
Nagorny-Karabakh, a territory disputed by Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The president said the U.S. and French leaders were particularly
involved in the problem, but added Russia and its partners were ready
to become guarantors of any agreements on the issue.
“We will not foist a decision on either the Azerbaijani nor Armenian
side,” he said.

Iran-Armenia strengthen commercial ties Service: Economy
ISNA, Iran
July 16 2006
TEHRAN, July 15 (ISNA)-Armenian Parliamentarians through attending
in Iran’s Chamber of Commerce announced their interest in expanding
bilateral commercial relations.
In this session the Armenian side while referring to potential
fields which both sides could strengthen their relations asked for
the expansion of commercial ties between both sides.
The Iranian side welcomed this offer and hoped that through removing
existing obstacles this matter could be actualized.

Trapped, scared and begging to come home
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
July 16 2006
Young Australians trapped in the siege of Lebanon have made a desperate
plea for the Government to bring them home as the Hezbollah Islamist
guerilla group declared “open war” on Israel.
More than 50 teenage dancers and their families, among 2200 Australians
travelling in Lebanon, were last night holed up in a hotel in downtown
Beirut listening to an escalation in the Israeli bombardment of
the city.
The leaders of the Armenian Sydney Dance Company said they were afraid
and running out of money to pay for food.
“We need help to get out of this country. Please, before it gets
worse,” said Maggie Kasparian, one of the parents leading the troupe.
Worried relatives in Sydney called on the Government to “pull their
fingers out” and bring them home.
A number of other Australians tried to drive to Syria to catch
flights to Bahrain, but they were being refused entry. They also
risked Israeli air attacks on the Beirut-Damascus highway.
Other countries have started evacuating citizens. In response to the
dramatic spike in violence yesterday, the US used marines to move
Americans to Cyprus.
At least nine civilians were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli
attacks yesterday, raising the death toll to 73 since the start of
the offensive.
An Israeli navy ship was set ablaze off the coast of Beirut and four
Israeli troops were missing after being struck by an unmanned drone
packed with explosives.
Three Sydney men holidaying in Lebanon face being conscripted into
the Lebanese army and forced to fight on the frontline if Lebanon
decides to defend itself against the Israeli attacks.
Ziad Adasi, 25, Anthony El Fanj, 22, and his friend Nabil Saray Eldin,
22, could be forced to perform six months’ compulsory military service
because they hold dual citizenship.
“The Government should do something about this,” Ms Kasparian said.
“We are very tired – and we want to go home.”
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Department said yesterday: “The
Government is looking at possible options for evacuation if the
security situation allows.
“At this stage the best advice is to remain in secure locations
indoors, monitor the media and follow the instructions of local
authorities.”
The Australian embassy in Beirut reopened yesterday. Families in
Australia who could not make contact with loved ones in Lebanon can
phone 1800 002 214.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd called on Foreign
Minister Alexander Downer to marshall every available bureaucrat to
help Australians caught up in the turmoil.
Prime Minister John Howard backed Israel in its “war” with Lebanon
and said it was clear Hezbollah started the conflict. “I do believe
Israel is justified in defending herself,” Mr Howard said yesterday.
Fears the conflict could expand into a region-wide war grew when
Syria declared its support for Lebanon.
There is no end to the conflict in sight with the United Nations
Security Council failing to act on Beirut’s demand for an immediate
end to Israeli attacks on its territory.
WAR OF WORDS
“You wanted open war. We are going to open war.”
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (left) after his apartment
building in Beirut was destroyed by an Israeli air strike.
“The Syrian people are ready to extend full support to the Lebanese
people and their heroic resistance to remain steadfast and confront
the barbaric Israeli aggression and its crimes.”
Communique from Syria’s ruling Baath party.
“I do believe Israel is justified in defending herself.”
Prime Minister John Howard.
“I call on him to make sure that his department has all hands on deck
to provide consular support to these tens of thousands of Australians.”
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd urges Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer to act to assist Australian citizens.
“No. The President is not going to make military decisions for
Israel.” White House spokesman Tony Snow when asked whether US
President George Bush had agreed to a request from Lebanon to rein
in the Israelis.
“We are being asked to stop Hezbollah, but no one is putting the
necessary pressure on Israel to stop the problem.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Teshoian gets a warm sendoff
Worcester Telegram , MA
July 15 2006
By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]
Retiring Judge Sarkis Teshoian, left, receives the key to the city
from retired Judge Paul V. Mullaney. (ED COLLIER) Enlarge photo
I attempted to be understanding and, when warranted, to be
compassionate, while at the same time trying to honor the oath that I
had taken to uphold the laws of the commonwealth and the Constitutions
of the commonwealth and the United States.
WORCESTER- His stern demeanor on the bench belied an inherent
compassion and sense of fairness that earned him the respect of his
peers and the lawyers who appeared before him.
That was part of the portrait of Judge Sarkis Teshoian that emerged
yesterday as more than 100 sitting and retired judges, lawyers,
court employees, friends and family members gathered to wish him a
happy and healthy retirement.
A Worcester native and son of Armenian immigrants, Judge Teshoian
will turn 70 tomorrow, the mandatory retirement age for state court
judges. Yesterday was his last day on the job.
“It’s a sad day, my friend,” said Darlene M. Perro, a sessions
clerk in Central District Court, where Judge Teshoian was regularly
assigned over the last several years. Ms. Perro, among those on hand
in Courtroom 408 to bid Judge Teshoian adieu, described the guest of
honor as “a man respected by all because he respects all.”
“In 32 years of practicing law, he’s as fine a judge as I’ve been
before,” said lawyer Michael M. Monopoli. “He’s consistent and you know
what to expect when you’re before him. He follows the law and does what
he thinks is right. He’s never been affected by the outside pressures.”
Born in Worcester and a product of the city’s public school system,
Judge Teshoian graduated from Clark University and Boston College
School of Law. He passed the bar in 1962 and was then named secretary
to Worcester Mayor Paul V. Mullaney, who would also later become a
district court judge.
It was while he was working for the mayor that he formed a law firm
with Mel. L. Greenberg, now a state Appeals Court judge. The two were
soon joined by lawyer Alexander E. Drapos, who died earlier this week.
“We didn’t make much money, but we had a lot of fun,” Judge Greenberg
told former City Clerk Robert J. O’Keefe at yesterday’s gathering.
“And you were good lawyers,” Mr. O’Keefe said.
Mr. Mullaney, also retired from the bench, presented Judge Teshoian
with a key to the city yesterday on behalf of Mayor Timothy P. Murray.
In 1988, Gov. Michael S. Dukakis appointed Judge Teshoian as the
presiding justice of Uxbridge District Court, a position he held until
1997. For the last several years, he has generally been assigned to
his hometown court.
Regional Administrative Judge Paul F. LoConto, who was master of
ceremonies at yesterday’s retirement party, said Judge Teshoian was
“a person that all of us went to for advice” and “a mentor and model
to many, many new judges.”
Judge LoConto said one of the things he admired most about Judge
Teshoian, who received the Judicial Excellence Award this year at
the Massachusetts Judges Conference annual dinner, was “his respect
and his love for his fellow man.”
Chief Probation Officer William P. Mattei spoke of Judge Teshoian’s
integrity, work ethic and willingness to listen.
“He’s very fair to people and when people deserve a break, they get
a break,” Mr. Mattei said.
“I’m humbled by your presence and I thank you,” Judge Teshoian said
to those gathered in his honor.
In an earlier interview, Judge Teshoian reflected on his nearly 18
years on the bench.
“What I would like to think is that I was fair in the judgments that
I made. I attempted to be understanding and, when warranted, to be
compassionate, while at the same time trying to honor the oath that I
had taken to uphold the laws of the commonwealth and the Constitutions
of the commonwealth and the United States,” he said.
While he feels he was able to contribute to society and do some good
as a judge, he said, the job also sometimes left him with a certain
sense of frustration.”When you look at society as a whole, the level
of civility has diminished. It seems to me that the work ethic that
was the bedrock of this country developing is being eroded,” Judge
Teshoian said. As times have changed, judges have increasingly been
called upon to try to modify behavior, according to the judge. “And
that is an extremely difficult goal to achieve,” he said.
Although he has no specific plans for retirement at the moment,
Judge Teshoian said he was looking forward to just taking it easy
and spending more time with his wife of nearly 33 years, Ardemis
(Afarian) Teshoian, the woman he calls “God’s gift to me.”
“I do have mixed feelings,” he said of retirement. “I will miss some
of the camaraderie. I will miss some of the people. But I do think
it’s time for me to move on.”

Baku ready to keep on talking on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement – Foreign Minister
Source: Trend
15.07.2006
Author: E.Huseynov
Azerbaijan is ready to keep on talking for peaceful settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports quoting Azeri Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov.
He said in the event of necessity Azeri officials, in particular
Mamedyarov himself, might meet in any place and discuss peaceful
settlement. “But the meeting should not pass with no use. There should
be some result, we shall feel our advancement”, minister said.
Commenting co-chairmen statements ‘now initiatives are for the
parties’, Mamedyarov said ‘co-chairmen are appointed to offer the
parties some proposals and coordinate their positions’. He also said
unless there was a necessity in co-chairmen, official Baku would have
conversed with Armenians independently and solved this matter long ago.
“I am optimistic in this matter. Earlier or later, this problem will be
solved. But we want it to be solved faster, as there are many refugees
and IDPs in Azerbaijan who are willing to get home. I believe we will
solve the problem, peacefully or not”, concluded Mamedyarov.

Director chronicles wife’s return
BBC News
July 15 2006
Atom Egoyan’s The Citadel is only receiving a limited release
Canadian-Armenian director Atom Egoyan has taken a major departure
from his intense and often controversial dramas in his new film –
a documentary in which he follows his wife on her first return to
Lebanon in 28 years.
The director is best-known for making the sexually explicit Hollywood
drama Where The Truth Lies – which starred Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon
– and the controversial film Ararat, which explored the real-life
massacre of ethnic Armenians by the Ottoman Empire over four years
from 1915.
The Citadel, however, is a much more personal project, in which he
follows his actress wife returning to her home in Lebanon after a 28
year absence.
“I remembered this footage that I shot on this family vacation to
Beirut – and suddenly I put that into my computer, and I started
playing around with it,” Egoyan told BBC World Service’s The Ticket
programme.
“I came up with this idea of having it as a voiceover, and constructing
a letter to our son – talking about his parents’ relationship –
as a sort of time capsule, something he might watch in 10 years or so.
“So it’s an examination of a number of relationships – parent to child
and husband to wife – but also about a woman returning to a city she
had to leave 28 years ago in the midst of the civil war.”
Exciting technology
Egoyan admitted The Citadel is an “odd piece” – and that originally
he had not imagined it would be shown to anyone else.
He explained that he has been filming his wife on and off for 20 years
– and that one of the things he hoped The Citadel would explain to
his son is this “strange relationship.”
I think if this technology was available when Beckett was alive, it
is something he certainly would have played with
Atom Egoyan “It’s also an opportunity in some ways to look at what
the dynamics of that relationship are – where one part of the couple
is being watched with such a degree of scrutiny all the time,” he said.
“That can be very affectionate – as I think it is – but through the
device of the voiceover I’m able to analyse my own motivation for
doing that.”
He admitted, however, that his wife is not often very comfortable with
being filmed, and this is one of the reasons the film will receive
only a limited distribution.
Meanwhile, Egoyan explained that The Citadel was one of a number of
documentaries he feels are changing modern cinema, in particular in
contrast with formulaic mainstream content.
“It’s such an exciting time, because of the technology and the fact
that people can record things so easily,” he said.
“There was such mystification over how images are made – which is one
of the secrets Hollywood was able to guard for so long. But now you
can have colour, and synchronised, Dolby sound, with a consumer camera.
“The Citadel was shot on mini-DV with a handheld camera, and the
quality is astounding.”
Love of Beckett
He has similarly employed this love of new technology in a new
version of the Samuel Beckett play Eh Joe, originally written for
BBC television in 1958.
The play consists of a single camera shot in which a man is alone in
a room. The camera draws ever closer to his face over 30 minutes,
as a woman in the background is heard chastising him with the idea
that he could forget her.
“I loved this piece from the moment I read it in my teens – and most
people don’t know the text, so I thought there had to be a way of
bringing it back to a new public,” Egoyan said.
“It’s possible with the new technologies that you could have a live
actor, on stage, behind a scrim – a material that can hold an image
and yet allows you to see through it.
“If you have a camera with a long lens in the wings, observe Beckett’s
specific instructions – but you simultaneously project that on the
scrim. I think if this technology was available when Beckett was alive,
it is something he certainly would have played with.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia not to purchase Iran-Armenia gasline
IranMania News, Iran
July 15 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006 – ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, July 15 (IranMania) – Russia has no plans for the time being
to purchase the under-construction Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, said
Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian.
According to ISNA, the Armenian official further said at a joint
press conference with the Russian transportation minister that such
an agreement has not been reached with the Russian side because the
pipeline is yet to be completed.
The agency further quoted a spokesperson for Armenian energy minister
as saying that the Armenian party has not received any offer from
Russia’s Gazprom regarding the latter’s willingness to purchase the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.
Lusine Harutyunyan said no negotiations have been held with Gazprom
in this respect.
ISNA quoted Gazprom’s deputy chairman, Alexander Ryazanov, as saying,
however, that Russia is keen on purchasing the pipeline, which is
under construction.
He said at the annual meeting of the company’s shareholders in Moscow
that the project will have the capacity to transfer 1.2 billion cubic
meters of gas per annum and that it will become operational in 2007.
The Russian official said the pipeline will provide Armenia with a
more reliable source of natural gas supply.
–Boundary_(ID_AnOkcGjNEjTv3xxQfgVweA)–
From: Baghdasarian