PUTIN OPENS WORLD RELIGIOUS SUMMIT IN MOSCOW
Interfax, Russia
July 3 2006
Moscow, July 3, Interfax – Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened
the World Summit of Religious Leaders, delivering a speech at Moscow’s
President Hotel.
The forum involves more than 200 representatives from four Orthodox
Churches, the heads of the Armenian, Ethiopian and Coptic Churches,
representatives of Judaism and Buddhist organizations, and guests
from Islamic countries.
The Vatican sent one of the largest delegations to the Moscow forum.
The religious summit is considered unique because it involves a large
number of representatives of different religions and is taking place
in the run-up to the G8 summit in St. Petersburg. The forum will
offer G8’s political leaders solutions to key problems facing the
world from the point of view of various religious communities.
The religious summit will give top priority to ways to combat terrorism
and extremism, solutions to issues related to family and human life,
ways of promoting equality between genders, the moral upbringing of
young people and poverty reduction measures.
The forum will also address the role of the media, environmental
issues, steps to counter infectious diseases and drug addiction,
the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, dialogue between
civilizations and other issues.
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II came up with an initiative
to hold the forum, which was organized by the Interreligious Council
of Russia.

ATTACKS ON MINORITIES IN MOSCOW – HATE CRIME, PROSECUTORS SAY
Pravda, Russia
July 3 2006
Four Armenians and one Azerbaijani were attacked by about 15 assailants
at a subway station on Saturday, said Sergei Marchenko, a spokesman
for the Moscow prosecutor’s office. The Moscow prosecutor’s office
initially said only two people were hurt in the attack, and that it
was being investigated as “hooliganism,” not a hate crime.
Russia has seen a wave of xenophobia and hate crimes in recent years,
with hundreds of attacks reported, including many on dark-skinned
immigrants from former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus Mountains
region.
Rights activists say hate groups are emboldened by authorities’
mild approach to prosecuting hate crimes, and say that neo-Nazi and
extremist literature is sold freely.
In Yerevan, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan on Monday
condemned the attack, and called on Russia to do more to head off a
rising tide of violent xenophobia in the country.
Meanwhile, three suspects in the Saturday stabbing of a Kazakh
citizen were arrested for a racially motivated crime, the Interfax
news agency reported.
Also Saturday, two Uzbek citizens were hospitalized with multiple
stab wounds after being attacked in southwest Moscow, Interfax said.

STATEMENTS OF ARMENIAN SIDE REGARDING REFERENDUM, KALBAJAR AND LACHIN TAKE SPECULATIVE AND PSEUDO CHARACTER – AZERI DEPUTY FM
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006
Many statements of the Armenian side, as well as regarding the
referendum, status of Kalbajar and Lachin take speculative and pseudo
character, Araz Azimov, the deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan,
told journalists on July 3, Trend reports.
According to Azimov, the Azeri side has repeatedly stated that only
national referendums may be held in the territory of Azerbaijan
and this position has been exactly defined in the Constitution
of Azerbaijan. Azeri government is not going to stand beyond this
position and all speculations in this direction are lie, told Azimov.
He remembered that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh didn’t live
alone, but together with the Azerbaijanis, and if we speak about
the democracy, then the demography of the region should be restored
and Azerbaijanis should return to Nagorno-Karabakh. For this it is
important to ensure the relevant peaceful conditions and release of
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories. “It a normal logical process,”
Azimov added. “The settlement of political questions – appointment of
the status of both peoples’ joint living should be made democratically,
within Law,” Azimov told.
Azimov emphasized that the statements about the issue that as though
Kalbajar and Lachin will remain under the control of Armenian side is
absurd because the talks on release of these districts have been held
from the first day to the present time. Nobody will allow Armenians
to keep any territory of Azerbaijan under control, Azimov stressed.
According to Azimov, Lachin problem may be resolved through the joint
use of the road infrastructure of the district for relation between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh,
as well as with Nakchivan Autonomous Republic.
“The statements regarding Kalbajar will be lie because the exits
from this district to Nagorno-Karabakh will be kept under a proper
control. An international peaceful contingent or controller will be
placed there, and there will be no danger and threat,” Azimov added,
mentioning the importance of ensuring the security of Azerbaijanis
in Nagorno-Karabakh. “There could be no one-sided demilitarization
in the control zone. And the demilitarization should be mutual,
and Armenian armed forces’ remaining there is impossible,” told Azimov.

ARKADY GHOUKASYAN: AZERBAIJAN’S ATTEMPTS TO MISLEAD INTERNATIONAL INSTANCES DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO ESTABLISHMENT OF MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN PARTIES
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 3 2006
July 2 the Nagorno Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukasyan
received the OSCE Chair-in-Office’s Personal Representative Andrzey
Kasprzyk.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR President’s Press
Service, in the course of the meeting the parties had discussed a
number of issues referring to the Karabakh conflict settlement and the
situation along the Nagorno Karabakh and Azeri Armed Forces’ contact
line. The interlocutors touched upon the information circulated by
the Azeri party, according to which the Karabakh party, allegedly,
set fire to the populated localities near the contact line.
The NKR President noted the Azeri party’s attempts to mislead the
international instances did not contribute to the establishment of
mutual trust between the conflict parties’ societies.

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES $58MLN ALLOCATION TO ARMENIA AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 2007 FISCAL YEAR
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2006
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. The U.S. Senate Committee on foreign
assignments approved Thursday allocation of $58mln to Armenia as
financial assistance for 2007 fiscal year.
Armenian Assembly of America told ARKA News Agency that this assistance
is $17mln smaller than that of 2006 fiscal tear.
Armenian Assembly of America expressed concern over the reduced
assistance and announced its intention to work with the U.S. Senate and
House of Representatives to ensure necessary resources for Armenia’s
security, prosperity and democratic development.
This assistance is very vital to Armenia, since the country is in
blockade from east and west, the Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny stressed.
Besides, the Senate’s Committee voted for $3.5-million parity
military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries will
also receive $790 thousand each under international military education
and training program.
Another $5 million was approved as humanitarian assistance for Nagorno
Karabakh. This assistance is $5mln greater than that of 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTER: ARMENIA FACES PROBLEM OF SUBSTANTIAL REFORMATION OF EDUCATION SECTOR
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2006
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Armenia faces the problem of substantial
reformation of education sector, Armenian Education Minister Levon
Mkrtchjyan said Friday in parliament.
In his words, the republic’s education system is badly in need of
being updated and brought in conformity with international standards.
In his opinion, it is very important to make the country’s schools
diplomas recognizable and admissible outside the republic.
He said the intellectual reserves accumulated for long years of soviet
rule are already expiring.

GASPROM INTENDS TO ACQUIRE IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2006
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA – RIA Novosti/. Gasprom intends to acquire
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline that is under construction now, the company
board Vice Chairman Alexander Ryazanov said Friday at shareholders’
annual assembly in Moscow.
In his words, the gas pipeline exploitation will make it possible
to enhance security of gas supply to Armenia. He says there are
problems with gas transit to Armenia from Georgia, since the latter
“takes gas without any authorization”.
Ryazanov said that the gas pipeline would start functioning in 2007
and would convey 1.2bln cubic meters a year.
Construction of Armenian section of Iran-Armenia 141-km pipeline with
700-diameter pipes is estimated to cost $120 million. The construction
is to be carried out at the expenses of Iranian side. In return,
Armenia will provide electric power to Iran.

BAKU BELIEVES REFERENDUM ON NK MUST BE NATIONWIDE
Today, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006
Baku believes that a referendum on the status of Nagorno Karabakh
should be nationwide, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
told journalists on Monday.
According to Itar-Tass, he pointed out that Azerbaijan’s stand was
“clear.” “The Nagorno Karabakh problem may be settled after effects
of the armed conflict are eliminated.”
“Earlier, not only Armenians, but also Azerbaijanis resided in Nagorno
Karabakh,” Azimov said.
If to speak of democratic conflict settlement, the demographic
situation in Nagorno Karabakh as it was before the conflict waged
should be re-established and the Azerbaijani Diaspora should be
returned back to their homes, he said.
As for future signing of the framework agreement on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement during the G8 summit due in St.
Petersburg, where the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents will take
part, Azimov said “such agreement should be drafted first as it does
not exist.”
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZIMOV: THOSE SPEAKING OF SECURITY OF ARMENIANS IN THE CONFLICT ZONE DO NOT TOUCH ON THAT OF AZERBAIJANIS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006
The liberation of both Kalbajar and Lachin regions has been the
topic of discussions from the very first day and will be discussed,”
Azerbaijani deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told journalists while
commenting on the statements released by Armenian sources regarding
the returning of the entire Lachin and some part of Kalbajar not
being discussed (APA).
The deputy minister said Kalbajar and Lachin should surely be liberated
like other regions adjoined to Nagorno-Garabagh province of Azerbaijan.
“Armenia’s attempts to take any territory as hostage will be
prevented. As coming to the issue on Lachin, there is one way
that connects Azerbaijan, Armenia, Armenians and Azerbaijanis
in Nagorno-Garabagh as well as inseparable part of Azerbaijan,
Nakhchivan. The full use of this way would promote to solve the Lachin
problem. Armenia’s main argument- the claim on establishing reliable
and direct contact with Nagorno-Garabagh Armenians can be ensured
by mutual using of this way, I think. As coming to Kalbajar, I must
say the one, who claims Kalbajar being a special problem, is wrong,
because the roads connecting Kalbajar with Nagorno-Garabagh will
be controlled. International contingent can be deployed there and
there will be no security problem. I don’t know why those speaking
of security of Armenians in this region do not touch on that of
Azerbaijanis. The demilitarization in the conflict zone cannot possibly
be one-sided. In general, the demilitarization of this zone would help
provide the security of both sides. It is impossible to disarm the
Azerbaijani side only but not Armenia,” Mr.Azimov said. He recommended
the opposite side to a little bit renounce their claims.

NKR MFA CLOSELY FOLLOWS PROCESSES IN TRANSDNESTR, ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 3 2006
The NKR MFA closely follows the processes going on in the Transdnestr
Moldavian Republic, Republic of Abkhazia and Republic of South Ossetia,
as well as the corresponding conflicts’ settlement, Nagorno Karabakh
Republic FM Georgy Petrosyan stated while commenting on the adoption of
a declaration on the establishment of the triple alliance by Abkhazia,
Transdnestr and the South Ossetia, KarabakhOpen reports.
“We regularly keep in touch at various levels, exchange information
and hold multipartite and bipartite consultations. I would not say
that the NKR is distant from its partners. We build our policy taking
into consideration our own interests and the specific features of the
situation in the each of the above-mentioned countries. Our colleagues
from TMR, RA and RSO show great understanding to the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’s stand”, noted the NKR FM.