HMAYAK WAS TURNED DOWN AGAIN
Lragir.am
05 July 06
Member of Parliament – political scientist – analyst Hmayak Hovanisyan
is said to have offered his membership and service to Samvel Babayan,
leader of the Dashink Party, on the condition that Babayan will charge
him with the ticket of the party, personnel problems and the power
of leading the ideological line of the party.
Our source says it is possible that Hmayak Hovanisyan’s step was not
voluntary, it was dictated by the link of the government, whom Hmayak
Hovanisyan traditionally served directly or indirectly. Thus both
home political problems and the question of the parliament mandate
of Hmayak Hovanisyan in 2007 is solved. Most probably, however,
the question is up in the air, because we have learned that Samvel
Babayan has rejected Hmayak Hovanisyan’s offer.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT OFFICIALLY WELCOMED BY IRANIAN COUNTERPART
IRNA website
5 Jul 06
Tehran, 5 July: Visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was
officially welcomed by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad at the
Presidential Office here on Wednesday [5 July].
In the welcoming ceremony, the national anthems of the two countries
were played and the two presidents reviewed a guard of honour.
The ceremony will be followed by a private session between the two
presidents.
The first round of official talks of the two countries’ delegations
will be held this afternoon. The talks will be presided by the two
presidents.
President Kocharyan arrived here at the head of a high-ranking
politico-economic delegation for a two-day official visit this morning.
On hand to welcome the Armenian president and his entourage upon
their arrival at Mehrabad International Airport here was Iranian
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Energy Armen
Movsisyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Kirakosian are accompanying
the president in this visit.
The Armenian president, during his two-day stay here, is scheduled
to hold separate meetings with senior Iranian officials including
Foreign Minister Mottaki.

IRAN POSTPONES EU DISCUSSIONS BY A DAY
By Slobodan Lekic
Associated Press Writer
AP
Wednesday July 5, 2006 1:01 PM
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) – Iran has postponed its talks with the European
Union on a package of incentives designed to defuse the standoff over
Tehran’s atomic program by a day, the EU said Wednesday.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who had been scheduled to
meet Wednesday with Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani,
said he was surprised by the move.
“I had made it clear to the Iranians and to Dr. Larijani that we want
to proceed rapidly to examine together the ideas I put to him early
last month,” he said in a statement.
He added that Larijani had assured him they would meet in Brussels
on Thursday.
There was no immediate explanation as to what had caused the delay
over what could be a crucial round of talks on the package put forward
by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.
In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki confirmed
there would be no talks Wednesday, but gave no reason or a new date.
“Today there will be no negotiations between Larijani and Solana,”
Mottaki told the official Islamic Republic News Agency on the sidelines
of a ceremony to welcome the president of Armenia to Iran.
The offer, delivered to Tehran by Solana early last month, includes
incentives for Iran such as nuclear expertise and reactors if it
accepts international oversight of its disputed nuclear program.
Iranian government officials have insisted they need to clear up
“ambiguities” contained in the package, and have brushed aside demands
that they respond by July 12, when foreign ministers of the five
permanent U.N. Security Council nations and Germany consult in Paris.
Earlier, EU officials said they did not anticipate Larijani to formally
respond to the offer, but only to seek clarification of several points
of the package – and perhaps to come up with a counterproposal.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Iran to accept
the package, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair also pushed for
a quick reply.
Tehran repeatedly has asserted that its nuclear program, which includes
uranium enrichment, is peaceful and aimed at generating power.
But the U.S., Israel and the EU fear the research program is a cover
for the development of nuclear weapons.
Western diplomats have increased the pressure, saying they would
restart efforts to punish Iran through a possible Security Council
sanctions unless Tehran stops its nuclear activities and agrees to
talks by July 12.
Work on a Security Council resolution was suspended May 3 to allow the
six powers to draw up the plan of perks if Iran agrees to a long-term
moratorium on enrichment – or punishments that include the threat of
selective U.N. sanctions if it does not.
Possible U.N.-mandated sanctions include a visa ban on government
officials, freezing assets, blocking financial transactions by
government figures and those involved in the country’s nuclear program,
an arms embargo and a blockade on the shipping of refined oil products
to Iran.

CARDINAL OPPOSES TURKEY JOINING EU
Yerkir
05.07.2006 14:28
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The recent stabbing of a Catholic priest in Samsun,
northern Turkey, shows that Turkey is not ready for European Union
membership, according to the head of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper.
“It is not the right moment for Turkey to join the European Union. What
is still missing [in Turkey], is a secular state capable of assuring
real religious freedom, and this is a long process which needs time,”
he said on Tuesday.
Referring to the stabbing by a Turkish suspect of French priest Pierre
Brunissen late on Sunday, Kasper said the Catholic church believes that
“every act of violence committed in the name of God is an insult to
Him and to every religion.”
“Islamic fundamentalism is growing in Istanbul and there is hostility
towards foreigners,” Kasper explained.
“Europe can have a ‘special’ relation with Turkey, but this is not
the right time for more – Turkey should adapt to European culture
beforehand,” he concluded.

ESTONIAN LEADER STANDS FOR CLOSE COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA IN VARIOUS FIELDS
Yerkir
05.07.2006 16:37
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – June 29 Armenian Ambassador to Estonia Ashot
Galoyan handed his credentials to President Arnold Ruutel, reported
the RA MFA press office.
During the meeting Arnold Ruutel remarked that Estonia is ready to
cooperate with Armenia is political, economic and cultural fields. He
also expressed readiness to visit Armenia and give lectures on the
problems available in Armenia and ways of their solution.
During the visit to Estonia the Armenian Ambassador met with the
Estonian Prime Minister, Minister of Economy, Vice-speaker of
the parliament and Political Director for External Affairs at the
Estonian MFA.

KARABAKH WAR VETERANS UNHAPPY ABOUT OSCE CO-CHAIRS’ PEACE PROPOSALS
Regnum, Moscow
4 Jul 06
4 July: The Armenian commanders of the Karabakh war issued a
statement on 4 July, condemning the latest developments around the
settlement process of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. In particular,
they expressed disagreement with the Armenian government’s position,
expressed in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen’s statement on the
return of the territories which are under the control of the Nagornyy
Karabakh defence army.
The commanders described the co-chairmen’s proposal as absurd and
Armenia’s policy as defeatist, a Regnum correspondent reported. “We are
calling on all the patriotic forces of Armenia to be united and defend
our Motherland, which is facing a serious threat,” the statement said.
Manvel Yegiazaryan, commander of the Arabo detachment, said that
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan will not sign this agreement,
“but people surrounding him will force him to undertake such a step”.
In particular, one of the militants of the Independent Army
organization, Lyova Saakyan, said that “these people could be Vardan
Oskanyan (the Armenian foreign minister), Andranik Markaryan (prime
minister), Tigran Torosyan (speaker)”. “This means handing over our
Motherland. It all starts from small things. First, they will hand
over villages, then districts, then Nagornyy Karabakh and later also
Armenia,” former commander of the National Liberation Army of Artsakh,
Arkadiy Karapetyan said.
At the same time, a number of the veterans came out for equal mutual
concessions in the process of the conflict settlement, as a result
of which the Armenian side will get Shaumyan [Azerbaijan’s Goranboy
District], Getashen [the village of Caykand in Azerbaijan’s Xanlar
District], Martunashen [Xanlar] Mardakert [Agdara] and Martuni
[Xocavand ] districts which are under the control of the Azerbaijani
armed forces. They are also against the deployment of the peacekeeping
forces in the conflict zone and return of refugees to their place of
habitual residence, because as the commanders said, this could lead
to an exodus of the Armenian population.

MONITORINGS OF CONTACT-LINE OF NKR AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES IN REGION OF MARZILI AND TO NORTH-WEST OF KUROPATKINO CONDUCTED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 5 2006
STEPANAKERT, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 4, the
Office of the Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office
conducted monitorings of contact-lines of NKR and Azerbaijani armed
forces in the region of the populated area of Marzili and to the
north-west of the populated area of Kuropatkino.
>From the positions of the NKR defence army the monitoring group
was headed by Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprczik. Field Assistants of the Personal Representative
of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Peter Key (UK) and Gunter Folk (Germany)
were included in the group.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from NKR Foreign Ministry Press Service,
the monitorings were held according to the schedule. But during the
monitoring to th e north-west of the populated area of Kuropatkino,
Coordinator of OSCE Office Imre Palatinus conducting monitoring from
the Azerbaijani side informed from the second line of borders of
Azerbaijani army about a shot fired to the left of them. The OSCE
mission conducting monitoring from the positions of the NKR defence
army did not hear the shot. Due to the fact that by violating the
agreement, the Azerbaijani side brought the monitoring group not to the
front borders but to the second line 1.5 km far from the contact-line,
the monitoring participants from the Karabakh side have all grounds to
declare to the OSCE mission that the shot was fired from the positions
of the Azerbaijani army.
Representatives of the NKR Defence Ministry and Foreign Ministry
accompanying the OSCE monitoring group said that against the
information spread by the Azerbaijani side about arsons of populated
areas making part of the NKR security zone the monitoring participants
did not fix such facts.
On July 5, the OSCE mission will conduct monitorings in the region
of populated areas of Kuropatkino and Ashagi Veysally.

MEMBERS OF ARMENIAN CHESS MEN NATIONAL TEAM AWARDED WITH “GRATITUDE” MEDAL
Noyan Tapan
Jul 5 2006
STEPANAKERT, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Nagorno Karabakh
Republic President Arkadi Ghukasian’s July 4 decree the members of
the Armenian men national team, who are the cup-holders of the 37th
Chess World Olympiad, were awarded with “Gratitude” medal for their
significant contribution in the chess development. Noyan Tapan was
informed about this from the NKR President’s press service.

CRIMINAL CASE ON DISAPPEARANCE OF LARGE SUM FROM ARDSHININVESTBANK MALATIA BRANCH INSTITUTED
Noyan Tapan
Jul 5 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Investigation Department of
RA Police carries on investigation on the criminal case instituted
on the fact of disappearance of sums from the depository of the
Ardshininvestbank CJSC Malatia branch.
According to the information on the website of RA Prosecutor General’s
Office, from 19:00, June 30 up to 9:00 July 3, the above mentioned
branch was being guarded by the Malatia Department of RA Police
Patrol-Guard Service. At 9:00, July 3, the guard shift passed the
closed and sealed depository to the branch administration. The latter,
opening the depository door, revealed lack of 41 mln drams, 56 503
USD, 2 690 euros, 44 700 roubles and pawned gold wares, the amount
of which is being clarified.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMBASSADOR OF GREECE VISITS NOYEMBERIAN
Noyan Tapan
Jul 5 2006
NOYEMBERIAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 1, Panayota Mavromichali,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to the
Republic of Armenia, visited Noyemberian. Greeting the Ambassador
and expressing gratitude for accepting his invitation, Noyemberian’s
Mayor Seryozha Amiraghian mentioned that the five-year friendship
between Noyemberian and Virona, which makes part of the Greece’s
capital Athens, strenghtens year after year including new spheres
of cooperation. In his turn, the Ambassador suggested to organize
reciprocal visits of residents’ groups of both friendly cities.
The Ambassador had a meeting with the Greek community of the
Noyemberian region in the hall of the Noyemberian’s music school. A
small concert was held during which the pupils of Noyemberian performed
Greek songs and dances.
Then the Ambassador visited the “Olympus” center of Greek culture.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress