FESTIVAL OF ARMENIAN CULTURE HELD IN BARNAUL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 04 2006
BARNAUL, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenians’
Union of the region of Altai held in Barnaul a festival of the Armenian
culture entitled “Pomegranate Flower,” within the framework of the Year
of Armenia in Russia. According to the “Yerkramas” (country) newspaper
of Armenians of Russia, in the festival, one could see well-known
Armenian masters’ and gifted beginners’ paintings and sculptures,
listen to Armenian music performed by folk groups. For Armenians of the
Altai region, the festival became one of ways of keeping traditions
of the native land, telling about them to representatives of other
peoples. The festival had many guests: interest towards the Armenian
people’s history, traditions, culture is rather big. In the opinion of
Vladimir Farashian, the Armenians’ Union Board Chairman of the Altai
region, similar holidays assist strengthening mutual understanding
among peoples living in the Altai region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TO LOVE AND HONOUR … THE LEAFS
Toronto Star, Canada
Sept 4 2006
ACC employees, hockey fans have dream wedding
Everything was blue and white, even the ring
NASREEN GULAMHUSEIN STAFF REPORTER
Years before she met her husband, Sandi Joseph knew her wedding would
be blue and white. Blue and white for the Toronto Maple Leafs, that is.
Yesterday at centre ice (without the ice, although Joseph would have
preferred it to be there), her dream came true. She married Kevin
Kandaharian at the Air Canada Centre, where the couple met five years
ago and still work part-time.
“I worked as an usher of a section and he worked the ice-cream stand
outside my section,” Joseph, 31, said.
“We are both diehard Maple Leaf fans, so we hit it off right away.”
One year later, Kandaharian went on a hockey road trip through western
Canada, following the Maple Leafs from Calgary to Edmonton, and on
to Vancouver.
“Sandi was the only one crazy enough to do it with me,” Kandaharian,
25, said.
“We went as friends and came back as more.”
The wedding ceremony was simple: Blue-and-white bows adorned the
fold-out chairs, and a blue carpet stood in for the church aisle.
The priest, Kandaharian’s grandfather, married the happy couple as
they stood on a large carpet bearing the Maple Leafs logo, flanked
by a wedding party decked out in blue and white.
“There has never been a wedding of this magnitude held at the ACC
before,” Joseph said of the 250 people in attendance.
Poetic vows were exchanged in English and a prayer read in Armenian,
Kandaharian’s first language.
Family members – some wearing Leaf jerseys, others in blue-and-white
evening gowns and ties – held hands and wiped tear-filled eyes.
“The groom may kiss the bride,” the priest announced at the end of
the ceremony, and the crowd erupted into applause.
More than half the guests raised Maple Leaf flags and towels into
the air and waved them, as though they were at a hockey game. A lone
voice yelled “Go Leafs Go!” as a young boy loudly sounded a horn.
As the grinning couple walked down the aisle, the blue-and-white
crystals in Joseph’s dress shimmered, as did the blue-and-white
wedding ring on her hand.
“I told Kevin I had to have sapphires,” she said, laughing. “The
sapphires were more important to me than the diamonds.”
Kandaharian proposed to Joseph at the Hockey Hall of Fame last year
and surprised her with a ring tucked in one of the display cases
among hockey memorabilia.
“I saw the ring…. It didn’t click, so I walked away. Only when he
dropped onto one knee did I clue in – that was my ring.”
The newly married couple’s blue-and-white wedding reception included
a Maple Leaf-shaped cake topped with a bride and groom wearing Leaf
jerseys, and blue-and-white centrepieces and place cards.
“By getting married at the ACC,” the bride said, “hopefully we brought
the team some luck this year.”

“NAREKATSI” ART CENTER DEPARTMENT OPENS IN SHOUSHI
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 04 2006
SHOUSHI, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Shoushi
cultural complex of the “Narekatsi” art union opened on August 31. The
“Yerkir” (country) Union of Public Organizations for Repatriation
and Resettlement assisted its creation. The “Narekatsi” art union,
which was founded in Yerevan by American Armenian Narek Haroutiunian,
has a goal to assist development of the Armenian modern art. Narek
Haroutiunian made the opening speech of the event. NKR Minister of
Culture Kamo Atayan participated in the ceremony. The Karabakh state
choir, Shoushi “Varanda” choir, “Meghedi” dance group, “Berdzor”
children’s ensemble, “Shoushi” national musical instrumental ensemble,
singers presented music performances, unique instrumental performances
were also presented.
The complex consists of a central building which has an exhibition
hall, classrooms, a music classroom, a library, guest rooms envisaged
for artists.
Conditions are created for invalids’ free movement. The Shoushi complex
of the “Narekatsi” art union will in future have a theater building,
center for exhibitions, children’s camp as well.

JIHAD MEANS LIFE, AND NOT WAR OR MURDER, THE MUFTI OF SYRIA CLARIFIES
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 17:58
NA Chairman Tigran Torosyan received today the delegation headed
by Mufti of the Arab Republic of Syria Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din
Hasun. The Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II and Ambassadors of
two countries were present at the meeting.
Tigran Torosyan noted that he is closely observing the events that
keep the region in chaos. He is concerned not only with the fate of
his compatriots, but with the one of the friendly nations. NA Chairman
attached particular importance to the Mufti’s visit in a period when
the religious leader of the neighboring country is threatening with
Jihad. Turning to the Jihad declared by religious leaders of the
Muslims of the Caucasus, the Mufti noted that Jihad means life, and
not war or murder. He noted also that the task of religious leaders
should be supporting the political leadership to establish peace
and well-being.

NA PARLIEMENT SPEAKER ASHOT GULYAN RECEIVED THE SOUTH OSSETIAN DELEGATION
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 18:07
Issues related to the expansion of cooperation were discussed today
during NKR Parliament Spealer Ashot Gulyan’s meeting with Deputy
Foreign and Defense Ministers of South Ossetia Alan Pliev and Ibrahim
Hasiev.
NA Press Service informs that members of the South Ossetian delegation
emphasized the increase of contacts between the two countries, which
provide great opportunities to the sides for further cooperation.
Ashot Gulyan expressed readiness to Deepen the cooperation between
Nagorno Karabakh and South Ossetia on the level of Parliaments.

ARMENIAN MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT “OBSTACLES” FOR MEETING AZERI COUNTERPART
Arminfo
4 Sep 06
Yerevan, 4 September: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has
shied away from naming specific dates of his next meeting with the
Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov.
At a today’s meeting with journalists, he noted that he was aware of
statements by the Azerbaijani side, according to which the meeting will
allegedly be held on 13 September in Paris or on 15-17 September in
London. However, the minister said, the Azerbaijani side had recently
tried to transform the settlement process to the UN format. However
“some other processes” are under way in the UN at the moment.
It is difficult to make predictions on the meeting, if there are
obstacles for holding it, the Armenian foreign minister said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI LEADER SAYS ISLAM SHOULD NOT BE LINKED TO TERRORISM
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
4 Sep 06
Presenter] Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity. As we
noted earlier, President Ilham Aliyev said this at the Youth Forum of
the Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] held in the Turkish
city of Istanbul. The president said that today Islam is identified
with terrorism, which is a completely wrong policy.
[Passage omitted: Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech at the forum]
In his speech, President Ilham Aliyev focused on boosting ties and
contacts between the young generation of the [OIC] member states. The
president stressed the importance of building dialogue and cooperation
and added that this was being done successfully.
[Ilham Aliyev, shown addressing the forum] The Youth Forum has already
started working actively. Enough has been said here today about the
forum’s work and its future plans. There are very nice plans and
programmes. I am sure that all these plans will be implemented.
[Correspondent] Ilham Aliyev drew the attention of the participants
in the forum to the dangerous trend of forming a negative opinion
of Islam. The president noted that cooperation between young Muslims
could contribute to Muslim unity all over the world.
[Aliyev] We should demonstrate to the world that Islam is a religion
of peace. Islam must never be identified with terrorism.
[Correspondent] In his speech, the president particularly spoke
about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Over 3,000 innocent people
were killed in over 30 bloody crimes committed by Armenian terrorist
organizations in the early 1990s. As a result of Armenia’s occupying
policy, Azerbaijan has been subjected to economic, political and
cultural terrorism.
[Aliyev] We have always been the side subjected to terror. We want to
restore justice, we want to restore our territorial integrity and we
will achieve this because international law is on our side, justice
is on our side. We should be more active. We should take advantage
of all opportunities – political, economic, diplomatic and others –
to restore justice.
[Correspondent] The president rated highly the publication of a book
about the Karabakh conflict in the Arab language by the Youth Forum
of the organization. Ilham Aliyev also drew the attention of the
participants in the forum to education, health and sport issues.
Today’s youth should be educated, healthy and spiritually pure. Ilham
Aliyev said that this policy had been successfully pursued in
Azerbaijan and spoke about prospects for young people and tasks facing
them. The president also demonstrated the Azerbaijani government’s
support in this regard with a specific step.
[Aliyev] It is very important that our youth are both educated,
skilled, modern and at the same time observe all national and religious
traditions and are brought up in the spirit of patriotism so that
our countries can develop. To that end, the Azerbaijani government
has allocated 100,000 dollars to the forum’s budget. I am confident
that this small contribution will help in your work.
[Azartac news agency, Baku, in Azeri 0730 gmt 4 Sep 06 reported that
on 3 September, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting
with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. They
discussed issues of mutual interest, the report said.]

ARMENIAN MINISTER URGES INTERNATIONAL KARABAKH TALKS INVOLVEMENT
Arminfo
4 Sep 06
Yerevan, 4 September: The Armenian public is satisfied with the
current state of talks on a peaceful settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has said
during a Yerevan-Stepanakert TV bridge organized by Armenian Public TV.
The problem is that the talks have reached a critical point, he said.
All depends on the involvement of the international community in
the process and on future developments. There is a document on the
negotiating table today which is based on the right of the Nagornyy
Karabakh people to self-determination. This is a major success of
Armenian diplomats since until recently the Armenian side has never
even dreamed about a referendum on the right to self-determination
of the Nagornyy Karabakh people.
Vardan Oskanyan said that Azerbaijan could not help noticing that
the situation was not developing in its favour and was trying to
reverse it. Azerbaijan has been toughening its position, therefore
the international community should intervene and make Azerbaijan stop
making bellicose statements and, taking into account the current
realities, hold negotiations and make compromises to settle the
conflict.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EURO 2008 QUALIFYING GROUP A
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Sep 04, 2006
P W D L F A Pts
Finland 1 1 0 0 3 1 3
Serbia 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Belgium 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
Kazakhstan 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
Armenia 0 0 0 0 0 0
Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0
Azerbaijan 1 0 0 1 0 1
Poland 1 0 0 1 1 3
Poland (0) 1 Finland (0) 3
Gargula 89 Litmanen 54 76 (pen),
Att 17,000 Vayrynen 84
Serbia (0) 1 Azerbaijan (0)
Zigic 72 Att 12,500
Fixtures: Wednesday Azerbaijan v Kazakhstan; Finland v Portugal;
Poland v Serbia; Armenia v Belgium; Oct 7 Serbia v Belgium; Portugal
v Azerbaijan; Kazakhstan v Poland; Armenia v Finland. Oct 11 Belgium
v Azerbaijan; Kazakhstan v Finland; Serbia v Armenia; Poland v
Portugal. Nov 15 Finland v Armenia; Portugal v Kazakhstan; Belgium
v Poland. March 24 2007 Poland v Azerbaijan; Portugal v Belgium;
Kazakhstan v Serbia. March 28 Azerbaijan v Finland; Poland v Armenia;
Serbia v Portugal. June 2 Finland v Serbia; Kazakhstan v Armenia;
Azerbaijan v Poland; Belgium v Portugal. June 6 Finland v Belgium;
Kazakhstan v Azerbaijan; Armenia v Poland. Aug 22 Finland v Kazakhstan;
Armenia v Portugal; Belgium v Serbia. Sept 8 Azerbaijan v Armenia;
Serbia v Finland; Portugal v Poland. Sept 12 Armenia v Azerbaijan;
Finland v Poland; Kazakhstan v Belgium; Portugal v Serbia. Oct 13
Azerbaijan v Portugal; Belgium v Finland; Armenia v Serbia; Poland
v Kazakhstan. Oct 17 Kazakhstan v Portugal; Azerbaijan v Serbia;
Belgium v Armenia. Nov 17 Serbia v Kazakhstan; Finland v Azerbaijan;
Portugal v Armenia; Poland v Belgium. Nov 21 Azerbaijan v Belgium;
Serbia v Poland; Portugal v Finland; Armenia v Kazakhstan.

ROMANIAN DM TO VISIT ARMENIA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 4 2006
YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. A Romanian delegation headed by Minister
of Defense Teodor Atanasiu is to arrive for a 3-day visit to Armenia
on September 6, 2006.
Press Secretary of the RA Minister of Defense, Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvaryan reported that on September 7 the Romanian delegation is
to hold meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan, Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan and Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan.
The Romanian delegation is to visit the Institute-Museum of the
Armenian Genocide and lay a wreath in memory of the victims.
On September 8, the Romanian delegation is to visit the Mother See of
Echmiadzin and the institute of ancient manuscripts Matenadaran.