WHY IS THE ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT IDLING?
Lragir.am
02 June 06
The roots of the current home political developments should be sought
for in the All-Armenian Movement. This almost sensational statement
was made by Karapet Rubinyan, All-Armenian Movement, at the Hayeli
Club on June 2. Later he clarified himself, however, showing that
there is nothing sensational. Tracing the roots in the All-Armenian
Movement has a simple reason, said Karapet Rubinyan. He says the
All-Armenian Movement is the cause of both the good and the bad,
because it established the independence of Armenia, and everything
started when the All-Armenian Movement was in power. Karapet Rubinyan,
however, declines to comment on the silence of the political party
which gave birth to both the good and the bad. He says that as a
member of the All-Armenian Movement he is not responsible of the
idleness of the All-Armenian Movement.
Karapet Rubinyan says only that the paralyzed state of the
All-Armenian Movement is favorable for certain people. Rubinyan
declines to specify names, because he cannot give their names. But he
tells where these people, who benefit from the paralyzed and idle
state, can be found. `Both inside the government and the political
parties,’ Karapet Rubinyan tells the place wherecertain people can be
found.

THE WITNESSES OF MENTALITY
Lragir.am
02 June 06
`And if we are unable to change people’s mentality and approach to
problems, even the best laws will not work in our society.’ This is an
expression from the approaches of Ombudsman Armen Harutiunyan he told
the public on May 31, on his 100th day of office. With such an
approach, Armen Harutiunyan will stay in office for several hundreds
of thousands days, let alone 100 days.And generally, one may occupy an
eternal place in the government of Armenia, take up any post, because
the government solves the problem of its eternity by instilling this
idea in the public. If a minister of defense blames the national
mentality for electoral fraud, what else can an ombudsman do to stay
in office? And generally, what else can the government do besides
declaring mentality the source of illegalities. Is there another way
of justifying corruption, electoral fraud, tax avoidance?
But it should be noted that this mere approach itself is a crime,
because the government is trying to blame the way of thinking and
outlook of the society for its illegalities. For its part, the society
also commits an offence by listening and not reacting to all this. And
allowing itself to be turned into an excuse for the government. The
intention is clear; to instill in the consciousness of people the idea
that the mentality should be changed and everything comes from the
mentality. Every separate member of the society believes that he does
not bear this mentality but he also believes that the rest are the
victims of mentality, and he or she alone cannot do anything because
the mentality remains the same. Hence, the human rights defender has,
in fact, learned the key principle of the government within his 100
days in office.The rest is a matter of technique, minor problems that
can be solved, sometimes even in favor of the society. Hence, the
government can even encourage those public officials who are able to
discern the key problem and uphold it, even at the price of changing
certain things for the sake of leaving the mentality unchanged.
HAKOB BADALYAN

THE LAST OF RECTORS AND ANOTHER CHAMPION OF SWIMMING
Lragir.am
02 June 06
On June 2 a new rector of Yerevan State Engineering University was
elected. Vostanik Marukhyan, member of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, was elected rector, reported ARKA News Agency. 30 out of
the 32 members of the managing board of YSEU showed up. 29 voted for
Vostanik Marukhyan. One member voted against him. Vostanik Marukhyan
replaced Yuri Sargsyan, whose age did not allow him to be
nominated. Before his election he was the head of the Chair of Thermal
Energy and Environmental Protection. Vostanik Marukhyan is also member
of parliament, elected on the party ticket of Dashnaktsutiun. In his
new position he cannot be a member of parliament. Hence, within the
last 10 days Vostanik Marukhyan is the second ARF member of parliament
who takes up a post in the system of education, providing an
opportunity for deciding to make another `champion in swimming.’

RA Prime Minister received Head of the OSCE Office in Armenia Vladimir
Pryakhin

ArmRadio.am
02.06.2006 16:35
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received today Head of the OSCE
Office in Armenia, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin.
Issues related to cooperation with RA Government were discussed during
the meeting, Information and Public Relations Department of RA
Government informs.
Vladimir Pryakhin appreciated the cooperation in a number of spheres,
referring particularly to the program of recycling of 872 tons of
mélange rocket fuel, accumulated in the course of decades. Head of the
OSCE Office in Armenia emphasized also the cooperation with RA
Government in the spheres of ecology, fighting trafficking,
accomplishment of anti-corruption programs, implementation of police
reforms, etc. The interlocutors dwelt on implementation of certain
programs, the results achieved, existing problems and the possible
OSCVE assistance in resolving these.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x141
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, June 2, 2006
AGBU SYDNEY CHAPTER LAUNCHES BRIDGE OF HARMONY YOUTH PROJECT
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Sydney Chapter recently
celebrated the launch of its latest publication, Bridge of Harmony,
which is an extensive study on the youth project carried out by the
Chapter in 2005. The report is the latest in a series of publications
aimed at serving the needs of the Australian-Armenian community in the
Sydney area. The book was presented to the public at the AGBU
Alexander Primary School’s Palm Sunday function on April 9, 2006.
The name Bridge of Harmony was chosen to signify the Project’s focus
on both bridging the cultural divide between Australian-Armenians and
wider Australian community, as well as the gap between different
generations of Armenian-Australians. The Project targeted Armenians
aged 16-40 and provided them with a forum to discuss issues of
everyday life for Australian-Armenians through workshops, seminars and
lectures. The central focus of the project was to assess the value of
past youth events and to encourage participation in future events that
appeal to Armenian youth.
The report is the product of twelve months of research and outreach
that included four components: groundwork and consultation, youth
survey, educational activities and evaluation. Young members of the
Australian-Armenian community were surveyed on the kinds of activities
they envision within their community, such as film nights, educational
activities, Genocide and Armenian-cause related activities, language
lessons, social gatherings and outings, sports, cultural activities
and travel to Armenia. “This report is for all Armenian-Australian
community organizations. Our hope is that it will serve as a toolkit
and a discussion starter for those who want to work with the youth,”
Bridge of Harmony Project Coordinator Dr. Armen Gavakian said.
The Bridge of Harmony Youth Project was funded by a generous grant
from the Community Relations Commission (CRC) for a Multicultural New
South Wales (NSW). The AGBU Sydney Chapter dedicated Bridge of Harmony
to all Australian-Armenian youth on the occasion of AGBU’s Centennial.
AGBU Sydney is committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs. For more information on AGBU Sydney, please visit
To find out more about AGBU events or to view the accompanying photos
online, please visit

Armenian parliament elects commission chairmen
Mediamax news agency
2 Jun 06
YEREVAN
Non-party MP Aramais Grigoryan today was elected chairman of the
parliamentary standing commission on defence, national security and
internal affairs of the Armenian National Assembly.
Grigoryan’s candidacy was nominated by the parliamentary faction of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun.
[Passage omitted: Grigoryan’s a biography]
MP Mnatsakan Petrosyan was elected chairman of the standing
parliamentary commission on issues of social, health and nature
protection of the Armenian National Assembly today. The parliamentary
faction of the United Labour Party put forward his candidacy, Mediamax
reports.
[Passage omitted: Petrosyan’s a biography]

SUREN HAROUTIUNIAN TO BE REPLACED BY OLEG YESAYAN ON POST OF RA
AMBASSADOR TO BELARUS AND RA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN CIS BODIES

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Under RA President
Robert Kocharian’s June 1 decrees, Suren Haroutiunian was relieved of
the post of RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the
Republic of Belarus, as well as RA Resident Authorized Representative
in CIS regulations and other bodies. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
President’s Press Service, Oleg Yesayan (residence Minsk) was
appointed to these posts.

AZG Armenian Daily #100, 01/06/2006

Neighbors
EMPLOYEES OF AZERBAIJANI PAPERS BEING ARRESTED IN IRAN
Ekho newspaper of Baku reports that the employees of
Azerbaijani newspapers are being arrested in
northwestern Iran. In particular, the staff of Yarpag
newspaper of Tabriz was arrested, employee of Yarpag,
Seid Mughanli, told Ekho. In Mughanli’s words, the
authorities in Iran are trying to find out what is the
reason of continuing rallies of the Azerbaijanis.
“Problems of ethnic Azerbaijanis had no solution for a
long time,” Mughanli says. “The reason behind the
protest rallies is considered to be insulting
publications and caricatures of Azeris but statesmen
see it in enduring ban on Azerbaijani language in
Iran.”

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF
KAZAKHSTAN IN ASTANA

ASTANA, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian is on a two-day official visit to the Republic of
Kazakhstan on June 1-2. During a meeting with the Foreign Minister of
Kazakhstan Kasimzhomart Tokayev on June 1, the sides discussed a
number of issues of bilateral and international importance. The
meeting participants stated their satisfaction at the current level of
political relations between the two countries. They expressed mutual
interest in further extension of economic cooperation, which is
promoted by activities of the Armenian-Kazakh intergovernmental
economic commission, as well as by the legal field formed and the
absence of political disagreements between Armenia and
Kazakhstan. Minister Oskanian attached importance to meetings of
Armenian and Kazakh businessmen and to cultural events in both
coutries in terms of activization of bilateral trade and economic
links and offering the two peoples an opportunity to know each other
better. The ministers pointed out the importance of mutually
beneficial cooperation within the framework of the CIS, Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Cooperation,
as well as various international organizations. The meeting
participants paid special attention to energy and transport
problems. In this connection Minister Tokayev presented Kazakhstan’s
position on the issue of the country’s involvement in a number of
regional programs, particularly in Caspian regional projects. Taking
into account the fact that Kazakhstan intends to hold the OSCE
Chairmanship in 2009, V. Oskanian presented to the Kazakh foreign
minister the recent developments of Karabakh conflict’s peaceful
settlement. At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Oskanian
invited his Kazakh counterpart to pay a visit to Armenia at a time
suitable for him. On the same day, the Armenian foreign minister had a
meeting with the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and made
a speech before students of the Institute of Diplomacy. According to
the RA MFA Press and Information Department, Minister Oskanian will
meet with members of the Armenian community in Almaty on June 2, after
which he will return to Armenia.

AZG Armenian Daily #100, 01/06/2006

Cinema
`NAMUS’ TO OPEN GOLDEN APRICOT FILM FESTIVAL
The first Armenian fiction movie “Namus” (honor) will open the 3d
Yerevan Golden Apricot International Film Festival due to be held July
10-15. The movie that celebrates its 80th anniversary this year was
only recently reconstructed. Armen Mazmanian, director of the
Festival, told yesterday’s press conference that the opening and
closing ceremonies of this year will vary from those of the last
year. This year’s celebration will be staged in Yerevan’s streets and
the official ceremony is going to be restrained and less flamboyant.
The list of fiction films is almost complete. In a week the lists of
documentaries and participants of the “Armenian Panorama” contest will
also be completed.
Program director of the festival, Mikael Stambultsian, is unsatisfied
with how the previous festivals were covered by the media and hopes
that this time journalists will more frequently touch on the movies’
content and quality. Part of the works of filmmakers from 58 countries
took part in other festivals as well. Asked if the Golden Apricot aims
at premieres only, Mikael Stambultsian said: “There are more film
festivals in the world than good movies.”
By Tamar Minasian