“THE POET’S RETURN” FILM BY HAROUTIUN KHACHATRIAN TO PARTICIPATE AT KARLOVY VARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Yerevan, July 28. ArmInfo. “The Poet’s Return” film by Haroutiun
Khachatrian will participate in the competition program of the Karlovy
Vary International Film Festival. Haroutiun Khachatrian, said this
at today’s press conference. He said that the film festival will take
place on July 8.
He said that about 16 films from Brazil, Russia, Denmark, Germany,
Spain and Sweden participate in the Karlovy Vary film festival.
“The Poet’s Return” have already participated in the Rotterdam Film
Festival and, according to the regulation of the Karlovy Vary Film
Festival, it couldn’t be included in its competition program. But,
according to Sousana Haroutiunian, film critic, the organization
committee of Karlovy Vary Film Festival made an exception for
Khachatrian’s film. The film attracted the attention of the foreign
film makers by its sincerity and professional technical solutions.
She added that thanks to the participation in the Rotterdam Film
Festival, the film can be represented also in 20 other festivals. The
film was shown in Tehran and Getteborge.

“METAKSIA” THEATRE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON JULY 2-8
Yerevan, July 28. ArmInfo. On July 2-8, “Metaksia” first republican
theatre festival will be held in Armenia. The festival is dedicated to
80th anniversary of the outstanding Armenian actress Metaksia Simonian.
In the course of today’s press conference, Vahe Shahverdian, art
director of the Yerevan State Academic Theatre after G. Soundoukian,
said that 15 performances will be staged at the Armenian theatres
within the framework of the festival.
It’s worth mentioning that by RA Government decision, the anniversaries
of nine prominent Armenian art workers will be celebrated, namely
the anniversaries of Hakob Hovnatanian, Dmitriy nalbandian, Grigor
Khanjian, Mkrtich Armen, Hakob Gyurjian, Metaksia Simonian, Makar
Yekmalian, Tatevik Sazandarian and Tigran Levonian.

CE SECRETARY GENERAL: FORCEFUL METHODS IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT INADMISSIBLE TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Strasbourg, June 28. ArmInfo. Council of Europe Secretary General
spoke at a press conference in Strasbourg. He expressed hope that the
settlement of Karabakh conflict will meet the interests of Nagorny
Karabakh people, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the whole South
Caucasus region.
He said he attentively follows the negotiation process as the
settlement of Karabakh conflict is one of the commitments of Armenia
and Azerbaijan to the CE. The commitment implied display of only
peaceful initiatives on the conflict’s resolution, T. Davis said. He
expressed disappointment at the protraction of the process. He said in
the course of the recent international conference he met with Ilham
Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, who informed him of the current
state of affairs. T. Davis intends to discuss the Karabakh conflict
with the leadership of the Armenian delegation to PACE this week. He
reiterated that the Council of Europe is for peaceful settlement
of the conflict on the basis of a compromise treaty. T. Davis is
disappointed about the lack of an agreement unlike the encouraging
moments before the last round of negotiations of the presidents in
Bucharest. Terry Davis said he is well aware of all the difficulties
the parties are facing and tries not to criticize them.

BAKU USES PACE AS PLATFORM FOR INVENTED ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 12:59 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Speaker, head of PACE Armenian delegation
Tigran Torosyan yesterday met with CE Sec. Gen. Terry Davis, reports
the Press Service of the NA of Armenia. During the meeting Torosyan
remarked that after the constitutional referendum changes should be
introduced to over 60 laws to make them comply with the Constitution
of Armenia: changes are already made in 10 out of these. In his words,
during the summer active work will be carried out for the Electoral
Code to be adopted this autumn. The Speaker noted the importance of
forming of atmosphere of solidarity with political forces.
In his turn Mr. Davis congratulated Torosyan over election as
Parliament Chair and noted the importance of the Parliament’s work
during the next year from the point of view of democratic development
of Armenia, especially the coming election in 2007.
The interlocutors also noted the issue of Azeri delegation’s aggressive
policy at the PACE. As Torosyan noted, Azeri MPs use PACE as platform
to spread senseless and false information, as well as invented
accusations against Armenia. Specifically, in this case during
discussion of all issues Azeri delegation members raised the issue
of fires in the Nagorno Karabakh security zone. Torosyan presented
the true state of affairs to the CE Sec. Gen. The Armenian Speaker
underscored that while the NKR leadership addressed the Office of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, asking for monitoring to refute the alleged
accusations, Azeris organized a political show in Strasbourg. In
the situation it is not possible to make Armenian MPs refrain from
statements in response.
Torosyan underscored that spreading invented accusations runs
counter to CE principles and suggested taking measures to fix the
situation. Terry Davis agreed that the problem is serious and promised
to take respective steps.

NEXT ECHELON WITH RUSSIAN MATERIAL FROM AKHALKALAKI HEADS FOR ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 13:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An echelon of 24 units of material left the 62nd
Russian military base in Akhalkalaki, heading for Armenia. The
motorcade comprises 18 units of wheeled equipment and 6 pieces
of ordnance. The materiel is sent to Gyumri Armenian city for
being completing bringing Russian 102nd military base there up
to strength. This is not the first echelon with equipment sent to
Gyumri. In June 17 cars with 106 tons of various ammunition were
taken there.
Two days ago 12th echelon with arms of Russian bases, being withdrawn
from Georgia, left Tsalka railway station. The echelon was included 22
self-propelled artillery plants, as well as 72 tons of ammunition and
other military property from the 62nd Russian military base. Earlier 7
consists with equipment, arms and other property of the 62nd Russian
military base (Akhalkalaki) and 12th base (Batumi) were transited
to Russia through Azerbaijan. Another four echelons left Batumi
for Armenia to complete bringing the 102nd military base in Gyumri,
reports Interfax.

PLATVOET PROPOSED FORMING WORKING GROUP WITH PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIA, KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At a meeting with Armenian Speaker Tigran Torosyan
PACE Rapporteur for the Missing in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan,
Dutch MP Leo Platvoet discussed the outcomes of his latest visit
to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Torosyan thanked Platvoet for
meeting during the visit with NKR NGOs dealing with the affairs of
the missing and is committed to not politicizing the issue. Platvoet
noted it would be very important for his mission to visit Nagorno
Karabakh and Abkhazia. The PACE Rapporteur suggested that Tigran
Torosyan provide him a lit of missing Armenians to organize search for
them in Azerbaijan and “find those, who is, maybe, still alive.” To
promote search for the missing, Platvoet proposed to form a working
group with participation of all parties under the patronage of the
Red Cross. The Speaker was ready to assist in drawing a report aimed
at solving that important human problem, reports the Press Service
of the NA of Armenia.

SHIRAK MARZ IS DEPRIVED OF CROP
A1+
[12:37 pm] 29 June, 2006
The sowing areas of Shirak marz have greatly suffered because of the
recent hail and aridity. On the whole, about 23 communities suffered
because of the hail falling last week.
About 1250 hectares arable lands suffered by 30%, 150 lands – by 50%
and 70 lands – by 70% and so on. There is no hope for recovery. In
some cases the representatives of the marzpetaran (regional council)
advised to use unripe crop as fodder.
The observation of the Shirak marz corresponding committee is still
under way. According to the specialists’ calculations the total harm
of the region is about 300 million AMD by now. Romik Manoukyan,
Shirak marzpet claims that the aridity was preferable to the hail
as the harm would have been partial in that case and they could have
saved part of the harvest.
According to the marzpetaran the government is already aware of
the situation. He maintains that their foremost task is to provide
the peasants with seeds without any discrimination, that’s to say
rendering equal assistance.
The current situation signals to the necessity of having anti-hail
system. Romik Manoukyan noted on this score that the testing of the
systems has been under way since last year and Shirak marz will be
one of the first regions where anti-hail systems will be located in
case they give positive results.
TV Company “Tsayg,” Gyumri

COASTAL AREAS OF RIVER DEBED ARE BEING RESTORED
A1+
[01:02 pm] 29 June, 2006
The restoring work of the breast-wall of the river Debed on the way
to Engels district in the city of Alaverdi has initiated since June
11 in the framework of the 2006 environmental programs.
6 million AMD was assigned in this connection in the framework of
the 2006 environment protection and population health recovery of
Alaverdi. The restoration is carried out by “The Mikayelyans and
Their Friends” LTD. 8 workers are employed on the site to implement
the restoration and they will get piece-rate payment. The brigade
will get 16 000 AMD per 1 square breast-wall.
TV Company “Ankyun+3,” Alaverdi.

AN INTERVAL IS ANTICIPATED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS
A1+
[01:05 pm] 29 June, 2006
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza announced the principles
of settlement of the Karabakh issue discussed by the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
These principles include withdrawal of Armenian troops from the
territories, where they were stationed, economic assistance to Karabakh
and communication, as well as a referendum on the status of Nagorno
Karabakh at some stage.
“For the first time a co-chair presented systematically all the
information that is possible to get from various sources,” Vahram
Atanesyan, Chair of the Committee of External Relations of the NKR
National Assembly, said to the Karabakh Open. He emphasized that
the proposals of the American co-chair are not in the interests of
Karabakh. According to Atanesyan, opening the cards is an effort to
make pressure on the parties. “Otherwise, the presidents might reach
agreement. Besides, agreement without the engagement of the government
of NKR is impossible,” said Vahram Atanesyan. “Unfortunately,
it seems to me that the principles of settlement of the Karabakh
issue, “revealed” by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza, are
addressed to the Armenian public because they are in the interests
of Azerbaijan,” said Vahram Atanesyan. “In particular, the return
of territories and uncertainty over the time of settlement of the
problem of status,” said Vahram Atanesyan.
“I think opening the cards at the moment means there are major
controversies and hurdles in the process of settlement. Moreover, these
hurdles are impossible to take. Therefore, the cards were opened in
the summer of 2006, which was said to be an expedient year for the
settlement of the Karabakh problem. It means that the talks did not
produce significant results,” Davit Babayan, political scientist,
said to the Karabakh Open.
“The logic of Azerbaijan and certain international organizations,
namely the return of territories and holding a referendum at a period
which is uncertain is unacceptable for the Armenian party. Some
liberated areas have the same role for the security of Karabakh as the
independence. Real independence is impossible without these areas. For
instance, 85 percent of Karabakh rivers, as well as the rivers Vorotan
and Arpa nourishing the Sevan start from the region of Karvachar. If
this area is not controlled by NKR, Karabakh may undergo ecological
terror. Even if the independence of Karabakh is recognized. However,
Azerbaijan rejects this as well, and insists on maintaining the status
of Karabakh in an indefinite period of time. If the developments follow
this path, it may be a powerful psychological shock for the people
of NKR, and it will be difficult to get over it. It is absolutely
absurd for a winner to take such a step,” said Davit Babayan.
“What is more, both the independence and autonomy of Karabakh
contain equal risk for Azerbaijan, because in both cases the other
ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan, namely the Talish and Lezgis will
demand similar rights. And this could lead to the dissolution of the
Azerbaijani statehood,” noted the political scientist.
The “proposals” revealed by the new American co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Mathew Bryza did not find support in Karabakh. The chair
of the Committee of External Relations of the NKR National Assembly
Vahram Atanesyan, Democracy faction, Gagik Petrosyan, representative
of the second political party in the parliament Azat Hayrenik, and the
opposition announced that the package discussed by the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia is against the vital interests of Karabakh. The
proposals on returning territories and holding a referendum in an
indefinite period are unacceptable. “The impression is that the
revelations were addressed to the Armenian party because they are
totally in the interests of Azerbaijan,” said Vahram Atanesyan.
At the same time, they think in Karabakh that Bryza’s revelations
may be a swansong of the package proposal.
Political scientist Davit Babayan thinks that since the proposals
have been published, the presidents will not discuss them, and a
necessity for new approaches will occur.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSYAN, “IT WOULD BE WISE TO MAKE ALL THE DOCUMENTS PUBLIC”
A1+
[03:10 pm] 29 June, 2006
“Bryza had better make the documents adopted during the Qui West
negotiation and after it public instead of his own interpretation,”
Serge Sargsyan, RA Defense Minister told the journalists today while
commenting on OSCE Minsk group newly appointed American Co-Chair
Mettew Bryza’s “discoveries.”
“There is some misunderstanding here. The OSCE Minsk group
Co-Chairs call on the sides not to make the documents public to
avoid emotional outcome whereas they do the contrary themselves,”
noted Serge Sargsyan. He announced that the conflict settlement is
the two presidents’ priority and the Co-Chairs will accept whatever
the two presidents decided.
According to the Defense Minister the publication of the Karabakh
conflict negotiation details will not lead to the war relaunch. “I
don’t thing that the current situation can lead to any war. There
are no preconditions for war.”