19 Cases of death in Armenian Army
ArmRadio.am
02.08.2006 14:46
In 2006 in the armed forces of RA 413 criminal cases are recorded, 302
of which are soldiers’ and 111 others. According to the data of the
Military Office of Public Prosecutor, compared to the same period of
time of the last year the criminal cases are decreased by 32 cases. In
the same period of time this year 19 cases of death were recording,
while last year the number of deaths was 39. In 2006 574 cases of
different degrees of injuries were recorded, and in 2005 the number
of injuries was 477.

GLOBAL GOLD TO ACQUIRE 100% OF TUKHMANUK MINE IN ARMENIA AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
AND COMMENCES PRODUCTION — GOVERNMENT APPROVES MINING PLAN
Market Wire Incorporated; Aug 02, 2006
Global Gold Corporation (OTCBB: GBGD) (_www.globalgoldcorp.com_
(http://www.globalgoldco rp.com) ) today announced the planned
acquisition of the remaining 49% of Mego-Gold, LLC, the company
holding the licenses to the Tukhmanuk mine and exploration areas in
Armenia. According to the August 1, 2005 acquisition agreement, Global
Gold Mining, LLC acquired a 51% interest for $1.5 million and was
to pay another $2 million by August 1, 2007; the agreement, amended
as of July 19, 2006, allows for the acquisition of the remaining
49% in exchange for $1 million and 500,000 shares of Global Gold
Corporation’s stock.
The Tukhmanuk property consists of over 4,100 hectares in the Aparan
region. The property hosts numerous quartz veins with gold and
polymetallic mineralization. The presence of the mineralized zones
suggested by the existing maps have been confirmed by field mapping
in the 1st quarter of this year and detailed mapping is ongoing
to define and surface sample the mineralized zones to 1:10,000
scale. Historical GKZ (State Committee on Reserves) records in the
P1, C1 and C2 categories indicate a target of 12.1 million tonnes
of mineralization, averaging 6.74 g/t gold and 30.79 g/t silver,
including 2.6 million oz/gold and 11.9 million oz./silver. Global
Gold is updating the categories of this mineralization.
The existing gravity concentration plant has been serviced and
upgraded to full capacity with the addition of a new drive motor for
the second mill and additional tails recirculation line to attempt
to improve recovery. A fully functional sample preparation facility
has been installed with western standard equipment including AAS
(Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) analysis capability for plant and
grade control samples.
Two Caterpillar 325 excavators, a Caterpillar D9R bulldozer, 2 x
20 tonne GRAZ trucks and a grader have recently been purchased for
use in addition to equipment previously purchased for the open pit
mining of the oxide zone above the Armenian approved C1/C2 category
mineralization. A mining plan has been submitted and approved by
the relevant Armenian Governmental authorities for the mining and
processing of an expected 150,000 tonnes of oxide material over a 2
year period. Production has commenced, and full plant commissioning
is anticipated in October.
Drilling of the C1/C2 category mineralization is also in progress with
a program of 10,000 meters planned to confirm the resource and carry
out western standard reserve/resource estimation at year end; 2,500m
of drilling have been completed to date. The terms of the amended
acquisition agreement for Mego-Gold provide for the payment of the $1
million and delivery of 500,000 shares of Global Gold Corporation on
or before August 19, 2006 and also contain a contingency allowing the
sellers to sell back the 500,000 shares on or before September 15,
2007 for a payment of $1 million if Global Gold Corporation stock
is not traded at or above $2.50 at any time between July 1, 2007 and
August 31, 2007.
To date, Global Gold has focused its activities at Tukhmanuk,
Hankavan and surrounding areas in the North Central Armenian
belt. At Hankavan, a drill program is underway to follow up on the
2005 drill program. Global Gold is also conducting exploration at
Getik in Northern Armenia and holds joint venture interests with
Iberian Resources at the southern Armenian Marjan and Litchkvaz
projects. Global Gold Corporation also owns a twenty percent
participation right in any new exploration undertaken in Armenia by
Sterlite Gold Limited or its successors.
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly
historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business
strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions,
goals, future financial conditions, future collaboration agreements,
the success of the Company’s development, events conditioned on
stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such
statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the statements made. Former Soviet
country estimations are presented for historical reporting and to
provide a basis for assessing Global Gold’s choices for its business
activities and not to be understood as indicating the existence of
reserves or resources.
Global Gold Corporation is an international gold mining,
development and exploration company with mining properties
in Chile and Armenia. Global Gold Corporation is located at 45
East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830. The main phone number is
203-422-2300. More information can be found at _www.globalgoldcorp.com_
(http://www.globalgoldcor p.com) .
Contact: Drury J. Gallagher Chairman [email protected]_
(mailto:ggc@globalgoldcor p.com)

ARMENIAN PAPER EXPANDS ON HIDDEN ASPECTS OF US MEDIATOR’S REGIONAL TOUR
Iravunk, Yerevan
1 Aug 06
The USA has certain levers of influence on Armenia and Azerbaijan
and their leaders may achieve some sort of result in their talks
over Nagornyy Karabakh this year, an Armenian daily has said in
a commentary on the regional tour by the US mediator in the peace
talks. Some statements by Matthew Bryza, newly-appointed US co-chairman
of the OSCE Minsk Group, prove that the USA may use the Karabakh card
against the authorities in the two countries which have “the problem
of power”, the paper said. The following is an excerpt from report by
Ovanes Galadzyan in Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 1 August headlined
“`Hairdressing activity’ of Bush’s `barber’ in the South Caucasus”;
subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Many people remember [late Armenian Prime Minister] Vazgen Sarkisyan’s
expression: “Armenia is not an orphan’s head for somebody to shave as
he wants.” By will of destiny today not only Armenia but developments
in the whole South Caucasus depend on the US official who was earlier
labelled by Armenian propaganda machine as “[US President George]
Bush’s barber”, i.e. US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza.
Bryza’s optimism
The South Caucasus visit of this diplomat was short but productive.
He managed to visit Yerevan as well as Stepanakert , Tbilisi and
Baku. The Karabakh conflict was an official agenda of this tour. But
it is clear that US global interests in the region, including those
connected with Iran, could not but was touched on during the visit,
as one should not rule out that the Israeli-Lebanese conflict might
expand and involve Iran. Along with this or maybe despite this,
one should not rule out dramatic developments in Georgia and around it.
But let us speak about our “barber”. For instance, after meeting
[Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan, Matthew Bryza said: “I see
that there is political will for settlement of the conflict, and
philosophy on the basis of our suggestions is acceptable.” [Armenian
Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan’s and [Armenian Foreign Minister]
Vardan Oskanyan’s consent to the option offered by the co-chairmen have
become the basis for the US co-chairman’s “optimism”. Given that the
pro-Western wing of the opposition and first of all representatives of
the former authorities have said that there is no other alternative for
settlement, it becomes clear that the USA may hope for no opposition
plans to take masses to the streets.
The fact that this time Bryza did not met representatives of the
opposition may be explained not only by short timetable of the visit
but also by the fact that at present (but this does not mean that in
future as well) Americans are not eager to establish “orange democracy”
in Armenia and maybe will try to trust on the Armenian authorities once
again. On the whole, Bryza hung his ordinary sword of Damocles over
the head of the Armenian authorities stressing that the Armenian-US
relations will develop as much as the process of democratization
develops in Armenia.
Bryza’s hints to authorities
But the most important of Bryza’s statements is the one made in
an interview with Radio Liberty. Asked about the possibility of
the Karabakh conflict settlement this year, and whether it may be
delayed till 2009 in case of failure, he replied: “Of course, it may
be possibly settled and it would be beneficial for the authorities of
the two countries to meet elections with the settled conflict. But
the elections are not an obstacle for the negotiations process as
well. Simply it is easier to settle the issue when political processes
do not become tense.”
That is to say, in saying this “Bush’s barber” tells Kocharyan and
[Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev not to hope that even if they
manage to postpone the conflict settlement till the end of the
year, nevertheless election campaigns will not save them from the
need to continue the talks, and in that case the USA may start its
“hairdressing activity” in Armenia and Azerbaijan and turn them into
an “orphan’s head”. Both in Armenia and Azerbaijan the authorities
have the problem of power, for the sake of which many things may be
sacrificed. In our case “Armenia’s involvement in the Millennium
Challenge programme is the best way for the USA to be sure that
Armenia is developing in a democratic way”, and our administration
will hardly refuse from 238m dollars allocated under that programme.
Bryza’s contacts with Karabakh
But we should note that there are certain delicate elements in this
time “hairdressing activity” of Bryza which are evidence of some
softening of the pro-Azerbaijani stance. Thus, he directly pointed
at the fact that Lacin as well as Kalbacar [districts of Azerbaijan]
had been included in the suggestions. As for the referendum on the
status, the Karabakh people themselves should resolve the problem.
“But the point is who should be considered the Karabakh people. There
are also those who lived here in 1988 and want to take part in the
referendum too. All these problems should be considered as part
of the agreement package,” Bryza said hinting at the Azerbaijani
minority ousted from Karabakh. Moreover, it is notable that the top
US official visited Stepanakert and travelled there from Yerevan but
not from Baku. [Passage omitted: statements of Karabakh officials
after Bryza’s visit]
We should mention that Matthew Bryza’s contacts with the NKR [Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic] authorities are not new. Being appointed as US
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, he visited the NKR representative
office in the USA ignoring the fact that the Azerbaijani side would
not like that. [Passage omitted: history of Karabakh talks]
Moreover, by establishing close relations with the NKR authorities,
Bryza is gaining levers to affect domestic political situation
in Armenia via Stepanakert, and this will make the [Armenian]
administration aspiring to remain in power more vulnerable during the
pre-election period. [Passage omitted: internal political processes
in Armenia]
Anyway, this time Bryza implemented very serious “hairdressing
activity” in our region, in particular, making both wings of the
Armenian authorities understand that they may have parliamentary and
presidential election campaigns accompanied by the Karabakh talks
which may undermine any power scenario and make those elections guided
by Washington.

ARMENIAN PREMIER ASKS UN OFFICIAL TO RENDER FOOD AID TO DROUGHT VICTIMS
Mediamax news agency
2 Aug 06
Yerevan, 2 August: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan met
Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) James Morris
in Yerevan today. At the meeting, the prime minister requested that
Morris render possible assistance for softening consequences of a
drought in some regions of Armenia.
Markaryan said that during the 13 years of its activity in the country,
aid by the WFP to Armenia had totalled 75m dollars, the press service
of the Armenian government told Mediamax.
These funds have been aimed at assisting 200,000 poorest people
each year, he said. Markaryan pointed out that the WFP made an
important contribution to improve the food situation of the poor in
Armenia, including refugees, as well as to develop infrastructure
and communities.
Morris positively assessed the WFP’s activity in Armenia, noting that
he managed to visit the Lori and Tavush regions within the framework
of his visit and to see on the spot the results of work carried out
in regions.
Morris also pointed out that he was impressed by the activities of
the Armenian government aimed at the economic growth and reduction
of poverty, and expressed his readiness to continue cooperation with
the leadership of the country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI NGO DENIES RECOGNIZING KARABAKH AS PARTY TO CONFLICT
Turan news agency, Baku
2 Aug 06
The Azerbaijani National Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
has denied that its chairperson has recognized Karabakh as a side in
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Turan reported on 2 August.
Turan news agency quoted the committee’s press release as saying that
“some mass media circulated the “inaccurate” reports about this
visit. In particular, a number of mass media outlets reported that
[chairperson of the Azerbaijani National Committee of the Helsinki
Citizens’ Assembly, Arzu] Abdullayeva allegedly stated that it is
necessary to recognize Nagornyy Karabakh as a side in the conflict”.
A delegation led by Abdullayeva visited Armenia and Karabakh on 25-31
July. Members of the delegation attended the international conference
on hostages and missing people in Xankandi [Stepanakert] and
monitored Susa prison where Azerbaijani prisoners are presumably
being held, Turan reported.

Prayers for peace
Turkish Daily News; Aug 02, 2006
Religious leaders led a congregation of Turkish Armenians at a prayer
ceremony at the Kinaliada Surp Krikor Lusarovic Church, praying for
an end to the violence in the Middle East
The prayers were led by Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, Syriac Christian
Istanbul and Ankara leader and Assistant Patriarch Yusuf Cetin and
Father Dositeus — the deputy of Fener Patriarch Bartolomeos.
Mesrob II said they were devastated by the innocent blood spilled
in the Middle East, adding: “The people of Lebanon are subjected
to violence and Israeli citizens face death coming from the
sky, while Palestinians and Iraqis are mourning new deaths every
day. Unfortunately, this sorrow seems to have no end in sight. The
world is shaking, people are harmed and all of this is occurring right
before our eyes.” He said now was a time when all should pray to God
and provide some hope for the people suffering. “We can all see things
are not going well in the Middle East. We all are frightened of the
dangerous escalation and are disappointed and angry. World leaders
are upset they are unable to do anything to restore peace.” Mesrob
II called for an end to violence against innocent civilians and an
immediate cease-fire.
“Leaders are trying to justify violence that goes beyond the
limit of international law. Militant groups are inciting more
violence. No matter what happened, nothing can justify the bombing
of the infrastructure in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine. Terrorist
acts cannot justify a state resorting to terrorism.” “We need divine
guidance. That’s what we seek through our prayers. What we can do for
these people who live so far away is limited; however, we can suffer
for them. We can pray to God for future peace.”

AZERI, ARMENIAN LEADERS’ POSITIONS ON KARABAKH SOLUTION CREATIVE – US MEDIATOR
Yeni Musavat, Baku
2 Aug 06
US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza has described
the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents’ approaches to the Karabakh
settlement as creative.
In an interview with the Azerbaijani opposition daily Yeni Musavat
published on 2 August, Bryza said: “President Aliyev and President
Kocharyan approach [the Karabakh peace] process creatively and want
to work on the advanced proposals. I think so.”
Asked if he knew that a proposal for holding a referendum in Karabakh
run against Azerbaijan’s constitution, he said the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs did not insist on this proposal and that they put forward
certain ideas for the presidents’ consideration. He added that it
was up to the two presidents to determine the ways of learning the
public opinion on the issue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN POLITICIAN DOWNBEAT ON US MEDIATOR’S VISIT
Arminfo
1 Aug 06
Yerevan, 1 August: “The visit of the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Matthew Bryza, showed that the leadership of the Nagornyy
Karabakh republic [NKR] firmly insists that Nagornyy Karabakh should
become the main party to the negotiating process,” the leader of the
Democratic Party of Armenia and chairman of the steering committee of
the Union for the Defence of the NKR, Aram Sarkisyan, told an Arminfo
correspondent today.
He expressed confidence that “as soon as Nagornyy Karabakh becomes
a party to the negotiations, many provisions in the draft frame
agreement proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group will be changed”.
On the whole, Bryza’s visit did not answer most of the
important questions regarding the negotiating process, Sarkisyan
said. “Naturally, this was a factfinding visit by Bryza, however, it
is clear that his statements remain in force. It seems to me that great
attention was paid to one of the co-chairmen and his remarks were taken
with a shiver,” he said. “We consider that there should be the same
balanced attitude to the co-chairmen. I absolutely do not understand
the statements by the Armenian foreign and defence ministers that the
main principles of the settlement proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs
are acceptable to Armenia,” Sarkisyan said.
[Passage omitted: Sarkisyan speaks about the possible deployment of
peacekeepers in Nagornyy Karabakh]

SERIOUS CRIMES ON THE INCREASE IN BREAKAWAY AZERI REGION
Mediamax news agency
31 Jul 06
Yerevan, 31 July: In the first half of 2006, 272 crimes were registered
in the Nagornyy Karabakh republic (NKR), which is 14.3 per cent more
than in the same period of 2005.
The number of serious and especially serious crimes grew from 85
to 104 in the first six months of 2006. In the first half of 2006,
four crimes which involved the use of weapons and explosives and two
murders were committed in the NKR, while no such cases were registered
in the same period of 2005.
In the first half of 2006, the rate of solving crimes in the republic
accounted for 86 per cent compared with 92.9 per cent in the same
period of 2005.

ARMENIAN NATIONALISTS URGE GOVERNMENT TO ANNEX KARABAKH
Arminfo
1 Aug 06
Yerevan, 1 August: Armenia has actually resolved the Karabakh problem
and should now declare Nagornyy Karabakh its province, Armen Avetisyan,
leader of the Armenian Aryan Union, said during a news conference at
the Pastark discussion club today.
As a result of hostilities in the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, it
became possible to implement the decision of the Nagornyy Karabakh
referendum to merge with Armenia, he said. However, in the course
of the negotiations, several local politicians have been talking
about compromises and the handover of territories to Azerbaijan. The
handover of territories will allow Azerbaijan to shell and bomb the
Armenian towns of Kapan or Goris, Avetisyan said. He also expressed
his confidence that Azerbaijan will resume the hostilities at first
opportunity as soon as it considers itself to be ready for this.
Commenting on the visit to the region by the US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, the leader of the union said that
the visit was aimed at “finding out who in Armenia and Azerbaijan
is ready for concessions. Those who are readier will be treated
by the West graciously. It is not by chance that Bryza did not meet
the opposition. If the authorities of either country refuse to make
concessions, they will be replaced,” Avetisyan said.
[Passage omitted: double standards]