AZIMOV: “NEW PROPOSALS FOR SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT ARE EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER”
Today, Azerbaijan
Aug. 15, 2006
There is not a concrete proposal whether or not Azerbaijani and
Armenian Foreign Ministers will meet, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov told journalists.
Mr.Azimov said the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are discussing this issue
adding there will be concrete information in few days, APA reports.
“We have always assessed the meetings in terms of their efficiency and
concreteness. We’ll have heard constructive proposals not repetition
of old stances. We can achieve something only if Armenia demonstrates
a constructive position,” the Deputy Minister said.
Reminding that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has offered concrete
proposals regarding the principal issues, Azimov said details are
discussed at the meetings at a level of Foreign Minister.
He admitted that some standstill appeared in the negotiating process
for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict after the Bucharest
meeting stressing new proposals are expected to be made in September
this year.
“We can hope for something to happen in September. Proposals are on
the table. Armenia can state its position if interested,” the Deputy
Minister said.
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AZIMOV: ARMENIANS ARE SURE TO WITHDRAW FROM KALBAJAR AND LACHIN REGIONS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 15, 2006
“Armenians are sure to withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani regions
of Kalbajar and Lachin. This does not depends on their intention,”
Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov told journalists,
APA reports.
Mr.Azimov said as both regions are Azerbaijani territory, no
speculation will be allowed.
“As concerns Lachin corridor, this can neither be a basis nor a
pretext to occupy any part of Lachin. We’ll never consent to this.
The road on Lachin is to serve both parties. In addition, other
states can also use this corridor in regional scale,” the deputy
minister underlined.

ARMENIAN ARSONS DEVASTATE 100 HECTARES OF PASTURES IN AZERBAIJANI REGION
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 15, 2006
Armenians have been committing arsons in Aygatyor village of Shemseddin
region situated in border with Azerbaijan since last night. The fires
have caught pastures in Hajalli village of the Azerbaijani region
of Tovuz.
Hajalli residents told APA’s west bureau the fires spread to 100
hectares of pastures in Gush Daghi area in Tovuz. Azerbaijani Army
soldiers have been involved in preventive measures. The fire was
brought under control by joint efforts of military men and villagers.
Alibayli village residents said the fires also caught the village
yesterday evening but it was put out by the soldiers and local
residents.
The fires caused mine explosions in no man’s land. The local residents
say at least seven anti-tank mines and four anti-personal mines
exploded in the burning areas in Alibayli.
Armenian-committed arsons spread to Agdam region from Tovuz.
Fortunately, the fire was put under control on time.
Tovuz executive power told APA’s provincial bureau the cost of the
damage inflicted by the arsons is calculated.

WAY OF ST. JAMES IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY : PORTUGALETE AND MUSKIZ
EiTB, Spain
Aug. 15, 2006
Church And Feudal Tower
Portugalete, at the mouth of the estuary, is another obvious example
of a Middle Age city, with its layout of ordered streets, walls,
church and feudal tower.
This town was created by Doña María Díaz de Haro, the Good, widow of
Prince John, who was murdered by Don Tello, and was granted the fuero
de Logroño in 1322. Its old part has been declared an Historic-Artistic
monument.
It has a remarkable church, called Santa María, which is Gothic in
style with three naves and a vault supported by strong columns. A
primitive construction, dating from the 14th century, not much
is left of the original since it was rebuilt in the 15th and
16th centuries. It has a small triforium in keeping with typical
pilgrim’s churches. Although Renaissance in general, its altarpiece
is outstanding for its 14th century Andra Mari, by the master Guiot
de Beaugrant. It also has a small altar dedicated to Saint James the
Moor Slayer at Clavijo.
Not far from here, defending one of the entrances to the town, above
the ancient port, is Salazar Tower. The Salazar family was an important
lineage from the Encartaciones region, whose influence spread through
the Mena Valley to the Jurisdiction of Castile. Its most famous member
is the first chronicler of Biscay, Don Lope García de Salazar, who left
us a precious historic document, a real social and political chronicle,
and a mirror of noble life in the late Middle Ages with his work:
“Biendazas y Fortunas”. This tower was the setting for Don Lope’s
“adventures”, such as his escape from the hands of his own sons who
had taken him prisoner; on leaving the tower he took refuge in the
belfry of Santa María, until he was recaptured.
Portugalete is explicitly and directly documented by a pilgrim. The
person in question is the Armenian Martyr Bishop, de Arzendjan, who
made the return journey along the coastal route in 1494; settling in
“the great city of Portugalete” on his way back.
We continue on towards Muskiz, home to the Muñatones Castle, cradle
and ancestral home of the Salazar lineage, and perhaps the most
outstanding of all Bizkaian fortresses. This castle had a nearby
palace and hermitage, dedicated to San Martín; these buildings were
declared an Historic-Artistic Monument in 1944.
In prison, and after two escape attempts, Don Lope states: “…here,
in my birthplace of San Martín, a prisoner of those I engendered and
raised, fearing a poisoned drink and that the unorganised covetousness
for taking my belongings will prevent them from setting me free,
I await the mercy of God and rid myself of thought and imagination
by writing this book”. He was poisoned as feared at the age of seventy.
We continue along the coast towards Finisterre, through Cantabrian
lands.
–Boundary_(ID_za2J/8EX2pMCymhe Pyv8oQ)–

CHILDREN OF ARMENIAN OFFICIALS KEEP FLOCKING TO LAW SCHOOL
By Irina Hovannisian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug. 15, 2006
The law school of Armenia’s biggest and most prestigious university
remains exceedingly popular with teenage children of senior government
officials and other influential individuals, education officials said
on Tuesday.
According to the Education Ministry, more than 12,400 young people
have been vying this summer for about 10,000 places available at the
state-run Armenian universities. The winners will be chosen on the
basis of admission examinations that are administered by a high-level
commission formed by the ministry. The process began late last month
and will end on Wednesday.
As always, competition is particularly tight for 120 places at the
Law Department of Yerevan State University (YSU). Only 20 of its
first-year students, to be selected later this month , will study
there free of charge. The others will have to pay an annual tuition
fee of 660,000 drams ($1,700), a hefty sum which is beyond the purse
of most Armenian parents.
That is a reason why Armenian law students come from well-heeled
families that can not foot the bill. Quite a few of them also have
influential parents who hold senior positions in government. YSU
officials confirmed that the pool of Law Department applicants this
year includes the offspring of Armenian customs chief Armen Avetisian,
Environment Minister Vartan Ayvazian, police General Hovannes Varian
and Deputy Minister for Local Government Vache Terterian.
Education Minister Levon Mkrtchian denied a widespread perception that
their enrollment is a forgone conclusion, saying that he instructed
university officials handling the exams to be particularly “strict”
towards such applicants. He also insisted that their parents have
not attempted to influence the selection process.
“Officials in the Republic of Armenia are citizens of our country
and their children too have the right to receive higher education,”
Mkrtchian told RFE/RL.
“I don’t want to pretend that we don’t know in advance about applicants
whose parents are senior officials,” said Edik Gevorgian, a YSU
professor who oversees exams on Armenian history which prospective
lawyers have to pass. “There were officials who informed us in advance,
but not in order to give their kids preferential treatment.”
Gevorgian also insisted that many of those young people are gifted
individuals who deserve to study at YSU and work as lawyers,
prosecutors or judges after graduation. “For example, parliament
deputy Hakob Hakobian’s daughter and nephew passed their history
exams brilliantly,” he said. “The daughter of [former Karabakh army
commander] General Samvel Babayan also did well. Just because she is
a former official’s daughter doesn’t mean she can’t be bright.”
Paying bribes for enrolling in prestigious programs of state
universities has long been commonplace in Armenia, a problem
acknowledged by Mkrtchian. Speaking to journalists last month, he
pledged to take anti-corruption measures that will significantly
scale down the practice.

SYDNEY OFFICE OF “APPLE” COMPANY TO BRING AN ACTION AGAINST ARMENIANS
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug. 15, 2006
The Sydney office of world famous company “Apple” is going to bring
an action against Armenians.
Propagandizing the far-fetched “Armenian genocide”, Armenians, without
the permission having used posters from the world-entertaining site
“iPod”, have pasted over with them together with anti-Turkic slogans
of the wall of the Sydney University.
Turkish students have torn down these posters from walls.
The correspondent of Turkish News Agency “Ikhlas” investing the case
has called in office of the company in Australia. The representative of
“Apple” Fiona Martin has declared that she does not know about campaign
of Armenians, and they do not wish to join political actions. She
has informed, that has directed certain instruction to lawyers of
the company to filer a judicial claim connected with this act of
Armenians. She has noted that they would hold a news conference to
make public the case.

ARMENIAN FORCES BROKEN CEASE-FIRE REGIME IN FRONT LINE ABOUT 70 TIMES THIS YEAR
Author: E. Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 15, 2006
Over the period January-August 2006 Armenian forces have broken the
cease-fire regime about 70 times, Ilgar Verdiyev, the Official of
the Press-Service of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan Republic
told Trendtoday.
“Over this period, Armenian forces units have subjected to sub-machine
and machine-gun firings. If over this period the cease-fire regime has
been broken in the directions of the Gazakh District of Azerbaijan
Republic, now it is broken in the Tartar direction”, pointed out
I. Verdiyev.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA GOVERNMENT ASSIGNS AMD 2.2 BLN FOR DOMICILE FOR VICTIMS OF 1988 EARTHQUAKE
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 15, 2006
YEREVAN, August 15. /ARKA/. In 2006, Armenian government assigned
AMD 2 billion 225 million (about $5,5 mln) for implementation of
programs on providing families of Armenian and Azerbaijani refuges
and families living in Lori and Shirak regions of the republic,
which had lost their homes after the 1988 earthquake, with domicile.
Such statement was made during a session of the Committee in charge for
providing this category of people with domicile under the chairmanship
of the RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan,
the press and public relations department of the RA government reports.
The money is spent on accomplishment of 101 unfinished houses in Lori
region and 34 unfinished houses in Shirak region, as reported during
the session.
It was also reported that AMD 775 million from AMD 875 million assigned
for implementation of the program on issuance of certificates to
refugee families for purchase of domicile, was assigned to Kotayk
region, and AMD 100 million – to, 20 families, living in one of the
hostels of Yerevan. AMD 875 million was assigned for the program on
issuance of certificates for purchase of domicile to families from
Gyumri city, which had lost their shelters after the 1988 earthquake.
The Committee discussed progress of work on implementation of priority
programs on providing 20 refugee families living in one of Yerevan
hostels, with domicile, as well as families of Armenian refugees,
who had escaped from Azerbaijan in 1988-1992.
According to the report, the Committee estimated satisfactory the
process of the work.

NIXON TROUBLESHOOTER A KEY WATERGATE FIGURE
By Doug Button
Herald Sun (Australia)
August 15, 2006 Tuesday
FIRST Edition
Robert Mardian
Lawyer
Born: October 23, 1923
Died: July 17, 2006
ROBERT Mardian was among the most intriguing minor players in the
Watergate scandal.
He was a high Justice Department and Nixon campaign official who
was convicted for his part in the scandal, only to have the sentence
overturned on appeal.
He led the administration’s pursuit of alleged subversives and
troublemakers.
But he was also briefly rumoured to have been “Deep Throat”, the secret
source who helped bring about the resignation of the 36th US president.
The son of an Armenian immigrant from what had been then the Ottoman
Empire, Robert Charles Mardian was born in Pasadena, California.
He was a member of the large Californian contingent in and around
the Nixon administration.
In 1972 he was appointed a lawyer and “co-ordinator” for Nixon’s
re-election committee, the infamous CREEP (Committee To Re-Elect
the President), which was behind the break-in attempt on June 17,
1972, at the Democrats’ national offices in the Watergate building
in Washington, D.C.
Despite his enthusiasm at the Justice Department for bugging and
surveillance operations, Mardian insisted he had known nothing of
the incident. Prosecutors contended that, on the orders of CREEP’s
director, Mardian phoned one of the burglars, telling him to contact
the Attorney-General to have the leader of the group released from
custody before his identity was discovered.
Thus Mardian became one of the Watergate Seven indicted on March 1,
1974, five months before Nixon quit.
In January 1975, he was convicted on one count of conspiracy to hinder
the Watergate investigation.
The following year his conviction was quashed.
Mardian, 82, died in San Clemente, California.

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN TRADE TURNOVER GROWING – PUTIN, KOCHARIAN
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
August 15, 2006 Tuesday 7:19 PM MSK
The Russian and Armenian presidents agreed that trade between the two
countries is growing and expressed their hope for good prospects in
bilateral relations.
“Trade turnover is growing, and I am sure there are good prospects
for this grow and a desire of the business community to develop
relations of partnership,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said
at a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian in the run-up
to the opening of an informal Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC)
summit in Sochi on Tuesday.
The Armenian president also pointed to growth in mutual trade turnover,
but emphasized that “it would be difficult to achieve good quality
without resolving the problems of communication and transportation.”
Kocharian proposed that the two countries focus on the “investment
component” and mentioned a project in which the Russian aluminum giant
Rusal was involved and which had been announced in Sochi two years ago.
The presidents also expressed their willingness to discuss difficult
problems facing Armenia.
“As for the well-known complex problems in the region, I believe we
will have time to talk about them as well,” Putin said.