PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 26, 2006
___________________
ARMENIAN CHILDREN FILL UNITED NATIONS WITH MUSIC
By Florence Avakian
Friday, April 7, 2006, was both historic and inspiring, as 26 young Armenian
musicians filled the United Nations headquarters in New York City with
Armenian sharagans and popular music from the homeland. The audience of
world diplomats was treated to two hours of joyful, uplifting Armenian
music.
The concert by the Junior Choir of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of
Providence, RI, and the Narek Bell Choir from the St. Mary Church of
Washington, D.C. was sponsored by the United Nations Russian Book Club and
held in the United Nations’ Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium. The sweet
voices and instruments of these Armenian youth, ranging in age from 8 to 18,
could even be heard in the hallway outside the auditorium as diplomats went
about their duties.
The honored guests in attendance included Armenia’s Ambassador to the United
Nations Armen Martirossian, Metropolitan Opera diva Lucine Amara, Knights of
Vartan former Grand Commander Kegham Tcholakian, the Eastern Diocese’s
Coordinator of Music Ministry Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, and well known
musicologist Krikor Pidejian, as well as several members of the United
Nations diplomatic corps.
Following welcoming remarks by Alexandre Toubolets, president of the Russian
Book Club, Fr. Simeon Odabashian, pastor of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob
Church, related that Armenian sacred and secular music has spanned the
centuries, from the 4th through the mid-19th century. “All music was
written with neumes which Gomidas Vartabed deciphered,” he related.
Several beloved hymns from the Divine Liturgy by Makar Yegmalian were
presented in song and with bells by both choirs. Accompanying on the piano
was the director of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church Junior Choir, Maestro
Konstantin Petrossian.
Especially moving was the rendition of “Aysor Don eh Soorp Dzunutyan,”
(“Today is the Feast of the Holy Nativity”), sung with exceptional phrasing,
breath control, and tonal purity by 14-year-old Tatevik Martirosyan. “Park
Ee Partsoons” (“Glory to God in the Highest)” by the 6th-century composer
Movses Kertogh was another impressive offering by this gifted choir.
Pieces by legendary Armenian composers were introduced to the audience by
the Narek Bell Choir, under the baton of its music director Leon
Khoja-Eynatyan. The program included works by three 12th-century composers
(Movses Kertogh, Nerses Shnorhali, and Grigor Pahlavuni), two 13th-century
composers (Hovhanesess Yerzngatsi and Vartan Areveltsi), Gomidas Vartabed,
and contemporary composer Socrates Boyajian.
Movses Kertogh’s “Khorhoort Medz” (“O, Great Mystery”), and Nerses
Shnorhali’s “Norahrash” (“New Wonders”) evoked the soulful messages of these
timeless hymns. Gomidas Vartabed’s “Gakavik” (“Partridge”) was creatively
presented with several bells thumping as an accompaniment to the melody.
Tamara Martirosyan delighted the audience with several melodies played with
great aplomb and expertise on the kanon, a stringed instrument native to
Armenia. Accompanied with piano, the result was a sweet taste of Armenia in
New York.
The mood turned from one of spirituality as the Junior Choir members sang,
with piano accompaniment, several popular songs. Before each presentation,
a choir member explained its meaning. Special favorites were Aram
Khachatourian’s “Karoon Yerevan” (“Yerevan in Spring”), describing the
happiness of a newly wed bride, and Armen Tigranian’s “Ambee Dageets” (“From
Underneath the Cloud”), a love song from his opera “Anoush.”
“Noobar Noobar” featured the extraordinary talent of David Gevorkian on the
duduk. His fingers flew on this traditional Armenian instrument as he wove
a lyrical tapestry.
The concert concluded with both choirs joining together for the ever-popular
“Yerevan — Erepoonee” by Edgar Hovhanessian, performed with the majesty and
emotion it deserves. It inspired a well-deserved standing ovation, lasting
several minutes.
Ambassador Martirossian expressed his pride and appreciation to the
organizers, parents, and the “youth of the Armenian nation who brought the
spirit and culture of my nation with its ancient and rich history to this
international institution and audience.”
The Junior Choir, organized by Konstantin Petrossian in 1995, has performed
in many special events, including the visits to the United States of
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I and Karekin II. The Narek Bell Choir,
the only such group in the Armenian Church today, was founded in 2000 under
the leadership of Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian and Leon Khoja-Eynatyan. It has
performed at the White House, the Library of Congress, the St. Vartan
Cathedral, and several churches in the United States.
In September 2004, the combined choirs released their first CD, “Park Ee
Partsoons” (“Gloria in Excelsis”), for which they received the 2005 Gomidas
Award and the Armenian Music Award for liturgical and spiritual albums. The
CD is available from the St. Vartan Bookstore online at
— 6/27/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Members of the Junior Choir of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob
Church of Providence, RI, and the Narek Bell Choir from the St. Mary Church
of Washington, D.C. perform at the United Nations in New York City on April
7, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Junior Choir members from Providence, RI, perform at the
United Nations.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Narek Bell Choir members from Washington, D.C., perform
at the United Nations.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 27, 2006
___________________
GENEVA GATHERING FOR WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern), traveled to scenic Bossey,
Switzerland, just outside Geneva, from May 16 to 19, 2006, for a meeting of
the World Council of Churches (WCC) Executive Committee.
The 20-member body oversees the work of the WCC, representing 348
denominations. During this meeting, committee members discussed future
activities of the WCC to tackle important issues in Africa, Asia, Latin
America, and the Middle East.
The committee members focused on the need of international religious leaders
to bring about peace and disarmament. They also discussed various human
rights issues. The planning was for programs and efforts that will take
place from 2007 to 2013.
The program plan approved by the committee members lists six areas which
will provide the framework for the WCC’s activities in that period. These
are: WCC and the ecumenical movement in the 21st century; unity, mission and
spirituality; public witness; justice and “diakonia”; ecumenical and faith
formation; inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.
“We also discussed problems related to terrorists and anti-terrorists and
counter terrorism,” Bishop Aykazian said. “It is something that really
concerns the world, the human family around the world.”
Bishop Aykazian was elected to the WCC Executive Committee during the
group’s general assembly earlier this year in Brazil.
— 6/27/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): WCC officers attending the WCC executive committee
meeting in Bossey, Switzerland. From left: WCC central committee vice
moderator, Metropolitan Prof. Dr. Gennadios of Sassima (Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople), central committee moderator, Rev. Dr.
Walter Altmann (Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil),
general secretary, Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia (Methodist Church in Kenya),
central committee vice moderator, Rev. Dr. Margaretha M. Hendriks-Ririmasse
(Protestant Church in the Moluccas (Indonesia)), with executive committee
member Bishop Vicken Aykazian. (Photo courtesy World Council of
Churches/Peter Williams)
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of
the Eastern Diocese, far right, attends the World Council of Churches
Executive Committee meeting in Switzerland. (Photo courtesy World Council of
Churches/Peter Williams)

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/27/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Georgian Officials Claim Javakhk Autonomy 'Not going to be created' 2) Too Early to Speak of Armenian, Azeri Presidents' Meeting in St. Petersburg 3) Political Tensions Hurting Turkey 4) Turkish Foreign Ministry Responds to Karekin II 5) Preparations for Millennium Challenges Foundation Program Coming to An End 1) Georgian Officials Claim Javakhk Autonomy 'Not going to be created' Georgian Prime Minister Zorab Nogaideli, in response to the Armenian Javakhk non-governmental statement claiming autonomy for Javakhk and promoting the Armenian language at the state-level said, "We already have autonomous republics and a new autonomy is not going to be created." Georgian Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze has also stated that these crude and absurd demands are creating tension in the region. According to Burjanadze, such statements are not in favor of Armenia's or Georgia's interests. Meanwhile, the Javakhk Organization announced that they intend to protest and put more effort towards autonomy for Javakhk. 2) Too Early to Speak of Armenian, Azeri Presidents' Meeting in St. Petersburg YEREVAN (YERKIR)Spokesman for Armenian President Victor Soghomonyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that a meeting between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev within the G8 summit in Saint Petersburg will be too early. During his latest interview with leading Armenian TV channels Spokesman Soghomonyan reminded that Kocharian agreed to the opportunity of meeting President Aliyev within the G8 summit. "It is a rather important factor, and the co-chairs believe, that if it is possible to agree over basic principles of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement before the G8 summit, the international community will do their best to boost implementation of those agreements. The time frames are made to speed up the process," Kocharian said. Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov spoke about the expected meeting of the two presidents in St. Petersburg. In his words, before the G8 summit OSCE MG American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza is scheduled to visit the region. "Only after that visit will the matter of holding a new meeting with the two presidents will become clear," Mammadyarov noted. 3) Political Tensions Hurting Turkey (Zaman)In a 16-page special supplement on Turkey, The Guardian, one of the most prestigious daily newspapers in England, gave an appraisal of Turkey in terms of its economy, history, culture, and tourism industry. The supplement, intended to ease Europe's concerns about the latest political tension in the country dwelled, inter alia, on the state of the economy. To quote the Guardian, "How come a country that only yesterday had run out of hope after crises can become one of the rising stars of today? A certain answer to this question is confidence and stability?" Quoting an anonymous young businessman, "How can he [Erdogan] say it's a stable course? Inflation is out of control and the current account deficit is heading for $50 billion." The Guardian, then, in the article titled "Turkey is Fastest Growing Market in Europe," summarized the accomplishment of the Erdogan government, quoting Erdogan, "We are not the old Turkey that would have been swept away by any wind blowing." The paper also added: "Under Erdogan, Turkey has had four years of stellar growth since the 2001 crisis eroded national wealth by 9 percent and blew the currency to the bottom of the Bosphorusand won premiership status among emerging markets. Growth averaged 7.3 percent a year, inflation was tamed to 8 percent (and still falling), foreign investment rose to $9 billion in 2005, income per head is up to $5,000, privatization receipts topped $9 billion last year, tourism income nudged $18 billion, listed businesses' values are up five times to $150 billionand the government budget deficit has been slashed to 2 percent." Despite the encouraging numbers on the economy, however, the paper touched upon the negative indicators, such as unemployment, income discrepancy between the rich and the working class, current account deficit, and the underground economy, and added: "But, along with this rising-star status, came darkening contradictions. Unemployment, officially 11 percent, stood closer to 18 percent; income discrepancy widened with 10 percent owning 30 percent of national wealth; the current account deficit grew to 6 percent; the black economy bulged to around 40 percent of output." The guardian further quoted Omer Sabanci, chairman of TUSIAD, the main business lobby in Turkey, saying "Market confidence in [Turkey's] political stability and the sustainability of its economy has been shaken." The Guardian also added the words of Mustafa Koc, head of the eponymous holding, "...Older business leaders are politically hostile to the suspected plans of Erdogan's ruling AKP party to cement its Islamist control by calling elections in November, a year ahead of schedule, and electing him president. Their views are out of kilter with a younger generation of executives who see Turkey inexorably committed to Europe and, increasingly, as the financial hub and power-broker in a region stretching from central Europe via the Caucasus to the Middle East." In the supplement, the Guardian also commented on the financial sector in Turkey, mentioning that, "Foreign investors are rushing to purchase stocks of Turkish businesses. Only recently the National Bank of Greece dished out $2.44 billion to purchase 46 percent of Turkish Finance bank. This points to how distant the crisis is." Touching upon the reforms of the Turkish Government to facilitate the procedures for foreign investors, the Guardian wrote: "Government's efforts helped bring the banking standards in Turkey closer to those of the EU." 4) Turkish Foreign Ministry Responds to Karekin II Turkish "Hurriyet" newspaper reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry has sternly responded to Catholicos Karekin II's remarks this week at a press conference that the Armenian genocide is fact and not up to debate. According to "Hurriyet", a representative from the foreign ministry, who declined to state his name, said, "We expect that the Armenians, in their turn, look at their history instead of politically manipulating their status as victims and instead of brainwashing their own people with falsified history, should listen to our advice and have the courage to sit on table to see what has happened and what has not." The same official used the word "unfortunate" regarding the Catholicos' statement, "since the statement came from a spiritual leader, who talks about the improvement of relations between the two countries." 5) Preparations for Millennium Challenges Foundation Program Coming to An End YEREVAN (Armenpress)The preparation round of the Armenian program of the Millennium Challenges Foundation is coming to an end. Deputy Minister of finance and economy David Avetisian announced that US representative of the corporation Alex Rassin has arrived in Armenia and will be the permanent resident representative of the foundation. Meanwhile, the administrative council of the program has formed a short list of candidates for the directorial position and has presented it to the Millennium Challenges Corporation. Avetisian said that according to the initial assessments the first disbursement of the promised funds will be coming in August. Until then, a state non-profit organization should be established that will deal with the administration of the program. He also informed that the foundation had some objections connected with the legislation on forming state and non-profit organizations in Armenia. After the sides agree to the changed option the final legislature will be approved by the Armenian president. It is expected that until August the office of the organization is created and the first funds will be directed towards its projecting and furnishing. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Congressional Record: June 26, 2006 (Extensions)
SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
MEETINGS SCHEDULED
JUNE 28
2:30 p.m.
Foreign Relations
To hold hearings to examine the nomination of Richard E.
Hoagland, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Armenia.

PRESS RELEASE
Hamazkayin Boston
Contact: Ara Nazarian
Phone: 617.924.8849
Email: [email protected]
Announcement of the Winners of Hamazkayin-Boston’s Impact of Genocide
Student Art Exhibit
WATERTOWN, MA – June 27, 2006 – It is Hamazkayin-Boston’s distinct
pleasure to announce the winners of The Impact of Genocide Student Art
Exhibit. This exhibit was held at the Copley Square branch of the Boston
Public Library during March of 2006. The winners are Ms. Areni
Kashkashian from Newton North High School (First place), Mr. Aidan
Fensterman (Second place) and Ms. Jenna Clark (Third place), both from
Brimmer and May School. These students along with all other participants
submitted excellent works of art reflecting upon the ills of humanity in
their own special and enlightening ways. The clarity and the power that
messages were conveyed in these works of art were truly moving; as such
expressions highlight the universal nature of pain, suffering, rebirth
and compassion.
Most importantly, Hamazkayin-Boston would like to thank the students who
submitted their works of art to this exhibit and gave us their
thoughtful impressions of the most unthoughtful acts committed by
mankind. We congratulate all participants for their wonderful works of
art and their parents and teachers for their help and support.
Hamazkayin-Boston will scan all the pictures in the near future and
place them in an online gallery on its website (hamazkayin-boston.org).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

National Review Online
June 13, 2006
Another `No Amnesty’ Amnesty
It was a nice try, at least.
By Mark Krikorian
It’s funny how every new `middle ground’ on immigration is in the same place
as the old ones.
The latest `middle ground’ proposal comes from Rep. Mike Pence (R., Ind.).
Pence, who has solid conservative credentials as head of the House
Republican Study Committee, offered what he billed as `The Real Rational
Middle Ground on Immigration Reform’ at a Heritage Foundation speech last
month. Since there’s no actual bill to look at, we have to judge from Rep.
Pence’s speech and other materials what the program would be like.
It starts out well enough. In seeking an alternative to amnesty, on the one
hand, and mass deportations, on the other, he laid out a four-step plan. The
first step is securing the border, and he included the entire enforcement
bill passed by the House in December (with two minor modifications) in his
measure.
Step two is to reject amnesty. That also sounds good, until you remember
that Senators Kennedy and McCain also deny their amnesty plan is an amnesty.
As do Senators Hagel and Martinez. And President Bush. They all deny that
they support amnesty because, as the president says, the only thing that
constitutes amnesty is `automatic citizenship,’ whatever that is.
Pence has a broader definition of amnesty:
Amnesty is allowing people whose first act in America was an illegal act to
get right with the law without leaving the country. Allowing twelve million
illegal aliens to stay in our country instead of leaving and coming back
legally is amnesty, no matter if fines or back taxes are paid, or how it is
otherwise dressed-up or spun by its proponents. The only way to deal with
these twelve million people is to insist that they leave the country and
come back legally if they have a job awaiting them.
This is exactly the same as the `touchback’ gimmick in the Senate amnesty
bill, which would require illegal aliens who have been here between two and
five years to cross the border to be enrolled in the permanent `temporary’
worker program and then immediately return to their homes and jobs.
That brings us to the third step: the guestworker amnesty. Yes, amnesty. Or,
if you prefer, legalization. Or normalization. Or regularization. Or earned
adjustment. Or whatever is the euphemism du jour. The fact remains that the
guestworker program in the Pence plan is explicitly designed to allow all
illegal aliens to keep their jobs and domiciles in the United States without
interruption.
The congressman is quite explicit on this point. In explaining the need for
speedy processing of the guestworkers, he says:
No employer in America wants to lose employees for an extended amount of
time. No worker who is earning money to feed and clothe a family can afford
to be off the job for long. … And, an illegal alien currently employed in
America will be willing to take a quick trip across the border to come back
outside of the shadows and in a job where he does not fear a raid by
Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In fact, I envision employers working
with placement agencies to make sure that their long-time illegal employees
get their paperwork processed, background checks performed, and visas issued
so that they will be back on the job quickly.
In the 1950s, this process was called – in official U.S. government
publications – `drying out the wetbacks.’ Whether it’s called an amnesty
instead, or is given some other label, the point is to let all illegal
aliens stay legally.
But maybe the amnesty is time-limited? And in fact, part of Pence’s `no
amnesty’ claim is that the guestworker visa would be limited to a total of
six years. This would be an encouraging requirement, except that, in the
congressman’s words, `At that point, the guest should decide whether to
return home or enter the separate process of seeking citizenship.’ If legal
immigration quotas are to remain in force, then these formerly illegal, now
`temporary,’ workers will have to leave, en masse, six years from now, which
is precisely the mass deportation the congressman said (correctly) is
unworkable. On the other hand, if these workers will be able to receive
permanent residency outside the current limits, as they would be under the
Senate amnesty bill, then this plan is the very `path to citizenship’ that
Rep. Pence made a big show of condemning. It’s unclear which of these is
true, but it’s undeniable that the plan is either dishonest or amateurish.
Step four really takes the cake: a promise – really, truly,
cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die – to enforce the ban on hiring illegals in
the future. Pence himself says that since every illegal alien will be
legalized, employers wouldn’t need to hire illegals, but that enforcement
will be phased in nonetheless. This is exactly the bait-and-switch Congress
perpetrated in 1986 – legalization first, enforcement later (i.e., never).
It is for this reason that the House, animated by a `fool me twice, shame on
me’ skepticism, has insisted on `Enforcement First.’
There are plenty of other reasons to dismiss the Pence plan as unserious: by
not calling for an end to automatic citizenship at birth, it makes the
`temporary’ claim meaningless; his gimmick of having the private sector
screen the workers misses the point that they will still need to use (and
receive security clearances for access to) the very same databases that the
FBI and Department of Homeland Security use now; and to get `temporary’
workers, employers will merely have to attest that they tried to hire
Americans, rather than using objective measures to determine need, like
rising wages or low unemployment in the specific occupation in question.
In fact, I didn’t write about this plan when it was announced because I
didn’t think it possible that anyone could take it seriously. I was wrong.
Though the Pence amnesty plan hasn’t been widely covered, it has received
support, or at a least respectful hearing, from insiders who will affect the
final outcome of any bill. It’s no surprise, for instance, that amnesty
supporters like Dick Armey, John Fund, and Michael Barone have had nice
things to say about it (not to mention several newspaper editorial pages),
but even supporters of Enforcement First, like Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner and
Newt Gingrich, have been more receptive of the plan than a close reading of
it would warrant. It’s also ironic that Pence’s speech was delivered at the
Heritage Foundation, given that his plan appears to violate Heritage’s
`permanent principles’ on immigration; it will be interesting to see what
Heritage has to say about the plan.
In the end, the Pence Amnesty wouldn’t go down with the public any better
than the string of other amnesty plans that have been proposed over the past
couple of years. As Peggy Noonan wrote last week about the public’s
suspicions regarding immigration plans: `they think – they assume, at this
point, reflexively – that slithery, slippery professional politicians are
using and inventing complications to obfuscate and confuse. … Americans
don’t trust `comprehensive plans,’ because they don’t trust the
comprehensive planners.’
There’s only one way Congress and the president can earn back the public’s
trust on immigration: Enforce the law – comprehensively, confidently,
unapologetically. Then, after several years have passed and enforcement
mechanisms are in place and working, and the illegal population has shrunk
through attrition, Washington will have proven that, this time, it’s not
lying about immigration.
Until then, no deal.
Mark Krikorian is executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies
and an NRO contributor.
————————————- ————————————–
National Review Online –
MmViMmRhMTEwNTA1OWY0OTEzMjg5ZWU

ALL ARE EQUAL
Karine Asatryan
A1+
[04:31 pm] 27 June, 2006
The PACE deputies are preparing for a campaign. The youth campaign
“All are different, all are equal” will initiate in Strasbourg on
June 29. Terry Devis, CoE Secretary General invited the deputies
to participate in it. The youth campaign which will last till the
2007 autumn has the following slogan, “Diversity, human rights and
participation.”
By diversity the campaign initiators mean that Europe presents various
cultures and traditions. The protection of human rights is the CoE
priority and finally by participation they assume that each person may
have his share in the establishment of the future Europe where each
person will have a right to be different but at the same time equal.
By the way, the CoE has initiated campaigns with the title “All are
equal, all are different” a few times.
The 1995 campaign was devoted to racism, xenophobia and intolerance
combat. But this time the campaign will involve more spheres. “We
just want to say that we are all different and equal regardless of
our skin colour, culture, belief, mental and physical abilities and
sexual orientation,” says the statement of the campaign committee.

THE VISIT OF THE OFFICIAL DELEGATION OF THE NKR TO THE USA
A1+
[04:35 pm] 27 June, 2006
On June 22, within the framework of the working visit of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s delegation to the United States of America,
NKR National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian and the Republic’s
Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian arrived in Boston.
On June 23, the NKR Parliament Speaker and Foreign Minister visited the
House of Representatives of the state of Massachusetts where they met
with Deputy of the Parliament Rachel Kapriyelian and advisor to Speaker
on Healthcare Issues Chris Hager. In the course of the meetings issues
concerning mutual cooperation in the sphere of education, culture,
and healthcare, as well as parliamentary activity were discussed.
Then the NKR delegation met with the members of the Council of editors
of the “Boston Glob” newspaper.
During the conversation the current state of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement peace process and social-economic situation
in Artsakh were touched upon. The NKR representatives replied to
different questions of journalists.
In Boston the official representatives of Nagorno Karabakh also
had meetings with representatives of the leadership of the Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA) Caroline Mîughar and Anthony Parsamian. The
issues connected with the relations’ expansion between AAA and the
NKR authorities were discussed.
In the evening NKR National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian and
NKR Minister for Foreign Affairs Georgy Petrossian visited Armenian
Cultural and Educational Centre where they met with the leadership
of the Armenian organizations of the state of Massachusetts.
After the meeting a public event took place. During the meeting an
important contribution of the USA Armenian community to the development
of Artsakh was noted. They also spoke about the necessity of the
participation of the Diaspora Armenians in the confrontation to the
challenges facing Nagorno Karabakh. The official representatives of
Artsakh answered the questions of the participants of the meeting,
which mainly related to economic, social and cultural spheres.
On June 24, a meeting was held at Sam and Aida Bedjakians place where
a number of American philanthropists of Armenian origin were present.
During the meeting the NKR representatives on behalf of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh expressed their gratitude to their compatriots
from the USA for the consistent assistance which was being rendered to
Artsakh. In their turn, the Armenian businessmen of America confirmed
once more their readiness to support the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
The working visit of the NKR delegation to the USA is in progress.
–Boundary_(ID_lxRPKNRQIUXg3XsO+iS8rQ)- –

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN CONSULTATIONS
A1+
[04:48 pm] 27 June, 2006
Gegham Gharibjanyan, deputy minister of the RA Foreign Affairs will
leave for Moscow on June 27 – 29 to participate in the consultations
of the Armenian and Russian Foreign Ministries on June 29 and in
the International conference titled “on the ways of drug transfer
from Afghanistan.”
He will meet with G. Karasin, RF Foreign deputy minister and the
State secretary the last day of his visit.

PERSISTENT DROUGHT DESTROYS CROPS IN SYUNIK
Armenpress
Jun 27 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: Authorities in the southern province
of Syunik say around 27,000 hectares of land under various crops
are endangered by the persistent drought.. Most affected are 8,400
hectares of land under wheat in Sisian region.
Vahram Avanesian, head of a department in the provincial governor’s
office, said they are going to ask the government to set up a
commission to assess the volume of damages and offer a way out. Exerts
fear that if the drought continues for another fortnight local farmers
may lose all their crops.