EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICANEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]
April 11, 2006
Congressman Jim Kolbe, Congressman Scott Garrett, and MCC CEO John
Danilovich Visit Armenia
Congressman Jim Kolbe, Congressman Scott Garrett and Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) CEO John J. Danilovich are visiting Armenia April 10-12 as
part of regional travel. The focus of the visit is to review government,
economic, and military issues in the South Caucasus.
As part of their trip, Congressman Kolbe, Chairman of the House
Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Congressman
Garrett, member of the House Financial Services and Budget Committees and
Ambassador Danilovich will visit MCC and other United States
Government-funded assistance project sites throughout Armenia. In addition,
the delegation will hold meetings with Armenian government officials
including President Robert Kocharian, civil society leaders, Millennium
Challenge Armenia representatives and political and business leaders. A
number of issues will be discussed during the meetings, including the U.S.
assistance to Armenia, the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact with
Armenia, U.S.-Armenian bilateral relations, civil society development and
the importance of free and fair elections in Armenia in 2007 and 2008. These
issues are important for Armenia’s continued eligibility for funding by the
Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat” film escalated protests in Turkey
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 17:28
Canadian-Armenian director Atom Egoyan’s `Ararat’ was screened
yesterday in Turkey. As irt had been promised, the film was shown
completely, one a few episodes were cut.
For two years different Turkish Companies were trying to present the
film, picturing only one cadre of the most bloody crime carried out by
their ancestors to the attention of the public. However, the threats
of Turkish rightist nationalists to set the cinemas on fire could
become reality.
Thus, at the eve of the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 11
days before April 24, the CanalTurk private company aired `Ararat’
film, picturing the most dramatic page of our history. Of course,
before airing the film, the spokesman of the channel considered it his
duty to say that the film is a very bad one and none of the episode
corresponds to reality. Nevertheless, the film was screened. First it
was said that it would be shown without cuts, but our compatriot
residing in Turkey, editor-in-chief of `Agos’ weekly Hrant Dink told
`Radiolur’ correspondent that some of the scenes of the brutalities
against Armenian women were, however, cut.
Yesterday Hrant Dink told our correspondent that the film will be
followed by a discussion, featuring Hrant Dink, a Turkish serviceman
and a film critic.
Turkish nationalists declared yesterday that they would hold an act of
protest in front of the CanalTurk TV Company. However, the policemen
were actually ready to prevent their activity. In the result of this
tension, our compatriot, rushing to the TV Company, did not manage to
participate in the discussion.

Miss Iraq forced to go into hiding after death threats
By Jerome Taylor
The Independent/UK
14 April 2006
Tamar Goregian, a 23-year old Armenian Iraqi, stood before a small
crowd in a secret location in Baghdad last Friday and wept with
joy. She had just won the coveted title of Miss Iraq 2006 and was
hoping to travel to Los Angeles to take part in July’s Miss Universe
competition.
“Maybe beauty is the final step to end violence and preach world peace
after all,” she told friends and fellow contestants packed into the
heavily guarded nightclub. Four days later, Ms Goregian was forced to
renounce her crown and flee to Jordan after receiving death threats
from fundamentalists calling her the “Queen of Infidels”.
“I respect her decision,” said the pageant’s director. “The country is
undergoing rough times and we understand her desire to protect herself
and her family.”
It was never going to be easy to hold a beauty pageant in a country
where every day brings more violence and bloodshed. Almost half of the
20 contestants dropped out on the day of the competition and the
organisers had taken numerous precautions to keep the event a secret
even from the media.
The organisers had hoped that sending an Iraqi to the Miss Universe
competition would show a different side to the war-torn country, and
provide a welcome respite from the daily diet of atrocities that
dominates most news from Iraq.
On Wednesday, a fellow contestant, Silva Shahakian, a Christian who
originally came fourth in the competition, said she was prepared to
take over from Ms Goregian as Miss Iraq. Speaking to ABC’s Good
Morning America, Ms Goregian confirmed she would keep her title but
said she would have to go into hiding.
“This chance does not come to every girl. So I’m lucky to have that.
I’m not going to lose it,” she told the programme on Tuesday. “I’ll
take care. I will change my living space. I would like to take that
chance, I will do my best,” she said.
Global beauty pageants have frequently fallen foul of traditional
sensibilities in the developing world as more countries try to cash in
on holding the contests, which bring with them money and publicity.
In 1996, riots erupted in India during the Miss World competition, and
in Nigeria’s competition in 2002 more than 200 people were killed in
clashes when a local journalist suggested the Prophet Mohamed would
have approved of the Miss World competition that was being held there.
Last week’s contest in Iraq was the first to be held inside the
country since the US-led invasion – previous hopefuls had been forced
to travel to Kenya and enter competitions there. The last time Iraq
sent a delegate to a Miss Universe competition was in 1972, when
Wijdan Sulyman represented her country in Puerto Rico. The pageant
organisers say they still hope to send Ms Shahakian to compete in Los
Angeles this July.
Tamar Goregian, a 23-year old Armenian Iraqi, stood before a small
crowd in a secret location in Baghdad last Friday and wept with
joy. She had just won the coveted title of Miss Iraq 2006 and was
hoping to travel to Los Angeles to take part in July’s Miss Universe
competition.
“Maybe beauty is the final step to end violence and preach world peace
after all,” she told friends and fellow contestants packed into the
heavily guarded nightclub. Four days later, Ms Goregian was forced to
renounce her crown and flee to Jordan after receiving death threats
from fundamentalists calling her the “Queen of Infidels”.
“I respect her decision,” said the pageant’s director. “The country is
undergoing rough times and we understand her desire to protect herself
and her family.”
It was never going to be easy to hold a beauty pageant in a country
where every day brings more violence and bloodshed. Almost half of the
20 contestants dropped out on the day of the competition and the
organisers had taken numerous precautions to keep the event a secret
even from the media.
The organisers had hoped that sending an Iraqi to the Miss Universe
competition would show a different side to the war-torn country, and
provide a welcome respite from the daily diet of atrocities that
dominates most news from Iraq.
On Wednesday, a fellow contestant, Silva Shahakian, a Christian who
originally came fourth in the competition, said she was prepared to
take over from Ms Goregian as Miss Iraq. Speaking to ABC’s Good
Morning America, Ms Goregian confirmed she would keep her title but
said she would have to go into hiding. “This chance does not come to
every girl. So I’m lucky to have that. I’m not going to lose it,” she
told the programme on Tuesday. “I’ll take care. I will change my
living space. I would like to take that chance, I will do my best,”
she said.
Global beauty pageants have frequently fallen foul of traditional
sensibilities in the developing world as more countries try to cash in
on holding the contests, which bring with them money and publicity.
In 1996, riots erupted in India during the Miss World competition, and
in Nigeria’s competition in 2002 more than 200 people were killed in
clashes when a local journalist suggested the Prophet Mohamed would
have approved of the Miss World competition that was being held there.
Last week’s contest in Iraq was the first to be held inside the
country since the US-led invasion – previous hopefuls had been forced
to travel to Kenya and enter competitions there. The last time Iraq
sent a delegate to a Miss Universe competition was in 1972, when
Wijdan Sulyman represented her country in Puerto Rico. The pageant
organisers say they still hope to send Ms Shahakian to compete in Los
Angeles this July.

Andrew Goldberg’s `The Armenian Genocide” to be screened in Canada
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 17:49
April 17 and 24 Andrew Goldberg’s `The Armenian Genocide’ will be
screened by Canadian TVO-2, Press Service of RA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs informed. The Turkish organizations of Canada demanded to hold
a discussion featuring Turkish historians, but it did not go beyond a
5-7-minute talk with reporters. `The Armenian Genocide’ will be shown
April 16 and April 24 by TVO-2. April 17 and 24 the film will be
screened by WNED Buffalo.

ARDARUTIUN IS GRATEFUL TO AMERICANS

Lragir.am
14 April 06

During the parliamentary briefing on April 14 the secretary of the
Ardarutiun Alliance Victor Dallakyan thanked the U.S. government for
the Millennium Challenge Corporation grant of 235 million dollars to
Armenia.
Victor Dallakyan compared the action of the U.S. government with the
aid to the first republic of Armenia, when the United States aided
Armenia with a great amount of food to save Armenian children from
starvation.
However, besides gratefulness one of the leaders of the opposition
expresses concern. Victor Dallakyan fears that the government of
Armenia may dissipate the millions allocated for rural
infrastructures.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh leader, Armenian deputy minister discuss exercise
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 06
Yerevan, 14 April: The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic
[NKR], Arkadiy Gukasyan, received the Armenian deputy defence minister
and chief of the General Staff of the Armenian army, Col-Gen Mikael
Arutyunyan, on 13 April.
Mikael Arutyunyan is taking part in the planned command-staff exercise
of the NKR defence army as an observer, Mediamax reports.
At his meeting with the NKR president, Arutyunyan noted that what he
saw impressed him but final assessments can be given only when the
exercise ends.
The sides also discussed recent ceasefire violations on the contact
line between the NKR and Azerbaijan.

Armenian politicians welcome Hungarian verdict
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 06
Yerevan, 14 April: Political forces represented in the Armenian
parliament unanimously welcomed today the verdict by a Hungarian court
to sentence to life imprisonment Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov,
who brutally killed Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan in February
2004.
The leader of the United Labor Party, Gurgen Arsenyan, described the
verdict as “fair”. He said that “the Azerbaijani authorities are
trying to secure Safarov’s return to Baku. “The MP pointed out that if
this happens, the Hungarian side, as well as NATO will bear the
responsibility for Safarov’s extradition, because Markaryan and
Safarov participated in the English language training course in
Budapest within the framework of NATO Partnership for Peace Program.
The secretary of the opposition National Union faction, Aleksan
Karapetyan, thanked the Hungarian court for the verdict. He said that
Armenia should make every effort, in order not to allow Safarov’s
extradition to the fatherland, as it will mean “the release of the
criminal offender”.
The leader of the Dashnaktsutyun faction, Levon Lazarian, criticized
the Azerbaijani authorities for their attempts to present Ramil
Safarov as a hero, but the secretary of the Justice faction, Viktor
Dallakyan, expressed confidence that the Hungarian High Court will not
change the verdict.

Armenian paper speculates on reasons for Azeri president’s visit to USA
Haykakan Zhamanak website, Yerevan
2 Apr 06

Excerpt from report by Armenian newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak website on
2 April headlined “Aliyev to visit Washington”
The Armenian state agencies, the presidential administration, and,
especially the Foreign Ministry were in a state of paralysis
yesterday.
It became apparent that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will pay an
official visit to the USA late April. He has received an invitation
from the White House and will meet US President Gorge Bush. The
Armenian president’s press secretary, Viktor Sogomonyan, yesterday
reported that Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has never received
such an invitation from the White House. So far it has not been
forthcoming.
[Passage omitted: recap od Azerbaijani media reports about the foreign
minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s meeting with US State Secretary
Condoleezza Rice]
The Azerbaijani president received an official invitation from the US
president unlike the Armenian president, who in his eight years of
tenure, has never been honoured by the US president. This is a sign of
serious problems. However, it is strange that Aliyev received the
invitation, especially as talks on the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict appear to be deadlocked. But the USA wishes to solve
the Karabakh conflict in 2006. The Armenian authorities, especially
the Foreign Ministry, had no information about this visit up until the
yesterday, which is indicative of the seriousness of the visit. The
Armenian authorities have found out about this at the same time as
ordinary people.
Had Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan not returned from
Washington a week ago, we would have thought that this was a result of
the inefficiency of the Armenian diplomatic corps. But unfortunately,
this happened during Oskanyan’s visit to the USA and not a single US
official had told the Armenian foreign minister about the scheduled
meeting between the US and Azerbaijani presidents.
Of course, had it not been for the Nagornyy Karabakh problem and a
threat of another war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, we would have
never raised such a question. However, there is the problem of
Karabakh and the international community wants it to be resolved in
2006. The negotiations in Rambouillet have failed. The Americans have
directly degraded Armenia by their attitude to Oskanyan.
It turns out that the US State Department had invited an Armenian
delegation to Washington only for the signing of an agreement [with
the US Millennium Challenge Corporation] on allocating 235m
dollars. After that he was sent back home. During his visit, the
Armenian foreign minister also had a chance to meet the US co-chairmen
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, to discuss the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. The Azerbaijani foreign minister was offered the same chance
to meet Mann. Prior to this meeting, Oskanyan believed that the
meeting between Mammadyarov and Mann will determine the future of the
Nagornyy Karabakh peace process.
But the main goal of Mammadyarov’s visit was to prepare a visit by the
Azerbaijani president to Washington. It must be remembered that, this
is the first official visit of the Azerbaijani president to the
USA. As for Kocharyan, he only visited Washington once back in 2001
for the Key West talks.
According to US and Azerbaijani sources, Aliyev and Bush will discuss
the Karabakh settlement and anti-Iranian programmes drawn up by the
USA. Thus Armenian citizens are interested in whether the USA will put
pressure on Armenia regarding the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

Azeri police disperse rally protesting at Hungarian sentence on officer
ANS TV, Baku
14 Apr 06
The Azerbaijani police have broken up a rally in Baku in protest
against the life sentence handed down by the Hungarian court on
Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani private TV channel
ANS reported on 14 April. Safarov was charged with killing Armenian
officer Gurgen Markaryan during a NATO course in Budapest in February
2004.
In remarks to ANS TV on 14 April, the chairman of the Karabakh
Liberation Organization, Akif Nagi, who was among the protesters,
said: “Our position is that an injustice has been done to Ramil
Safarov, Azerbaijani citizen. Armenians bought the Hungarian court
with money. We demand that the unfair sentence handed down on Ramil
Safarov be changed. We will continue our protests.”
Police officer Sarvar Huseynov told the TV that “the police must
prevent any illegal protest. If they had permission, we would
guarantee their security”.
Protesters gathered in central Baku on the morning of 14 April,
demanding the repeal of the sentence and chanting freedom to
Safarov. However, they met with resistance from the police. Akif Nagi
and another person were detained.

Karabakh objects to US drug trafficking report
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 06
Yerevan, 14 April: The foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic (NKR), Georgiy Petrosyan, and NKR’s Police Chief, Lt-Gen
Armen Isagulov, have sent a letter to Anne Patterson, US Assistant
Secretary for International Narcotics and Law-Enforcement Affairs,
saying that “Nagornyy Karabakh is not a transit route for drug
trafficking”.
The letter says that “unlike in previous years when mutual
understanding on this issue was reached following an explanation
provided by the Karabakh authorities, the US Department of State’s
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report for 2006 again
mentions Nagornyy Karabakh and territories under its control as a
transit route for drug trafficking”.
“Having no doubt that this inaccurate information was provided by
Azerbaijan which has made falsifications and efforts to discredit
Armenia part of its state policy, we are expressing our strong
objection to the fact that unconfirmed information once again has been
included into such an authoritative report although relevant
international agencies have never reacted to the Karabakh authorities’
repeated invitations to form an independent monitoring group and send
it to Karabakh to study the situation on the spot,” the authors of the
letter said.
“We assure you once again with full responsibility that Nagornyy
Karabakh is not a transit route for drug trafficking not only because
there is no transport and communications system due to Azerbaijan’s
ongoing blockade of the NKR, but mainly as a result of efficient
preventive measures taken by the NKR law-enforcement agencies,” the
letter says.
“On behalf of the NKR authorities, we express readiness to receive a
special monitoring group which can give an independent conclusion. We
believe that a thorough examination on the spot will convince the US
Department of State of the validity of the information provided above
and relieve all concern over issues that can complicate the Karabakh
peace process even further and make prospects for peace and stability
remote,” the letter reads.