GERMAN TECHNICAL COOPERATION HOLDS DISCUSSIONS DEDICATED
TO COMMUNAL GARBAGE DISPOSAL PROBLEMS IN SYUNIK
KAPAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Problems of communal garbage disposal were
discussed at the seminars organized in towns of Meghri, Kapan, Sisian,
Goris, Syunik region, within the framework of the Civil Society and
Communal Democratic Assistance in the South Caucasus program of the
German Technical Cooperation.
Garbage disposal is a serious problem in Armenia, so the German
company found it expedient to discuss the issue with all interested
structures and to find variants of solution.
In the opinion of community heads participating in the seminar
held on July 26 at the Darist hotel of Kapan, though exchange of
experience and cooperation is important, the first and foremost
issue for solving the problems of this sphere is to get funds. But,
as Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Claus Toyfel, expert of
German Technical Cooperation Communal Development Promotion Program,
the organization has lack of funds. At the same time, he did not
exclude that the German Technical Cooperation will provide funds if
necessary. C.Toyfel also added that “garbage disposal is the function
of the local self-government bodies and it is the local authorities
that should mainly get these funds.”

IAC’S REPORT ON REASONS OF ACCIDENT OF A-320 PLANE IS INCOMPLETE, ARMAVIA SPECIALISTS DECLARE
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The report on the conclusion of
the Intergovernmental Aviation Committee’s (IAC) commission that
implemented the investigation of the May 3 accident of Armavia
airline’s A-320 plane carrying out Yerevan-Sochi flight is incomplete,
as contrary to IAC’s statement, the investigation has not been
officially finished yet. Arshak Nalbandian, Head of the Armavia’s
Flight Security Inspection, member of IAC Flight Subgroup, informed
journalists about it on July 27. From the very start he took part
in studying the accident reasons and in works of IAC. In his words,
the Armenian side has not signed yet under any final document.
In A.Nalbandian’s words, no one refutes that the plane crew made
some mistakes during the flight. But, as he said, it is not proved
yet that the accident was caused by the very mistakes.
As A.Nalbandian said, the plane’s hitting the sea surface is connected
not only (if is connected at all) with the mistakes of the crew, but
also with the flying control officers of Sochi airport, in particular,
the wrong information of Sochi meteorological station about weather
also contributed to the accident. It was mentioned that the guards
watching the sea surface confirmed that there were thick clouds in
the area of airport at that time, the same was also fixed during the
conversation of the crew. But there are no data about this at the
airport’s meteorological station. And one of the reasons of plane
accident, as A.Nalbandian stated, could be the influence of external
meteorological phenomena.
The head of Armavia’s flight security inspection did not exclude that
unless they are satisfied with the investigation, the company will
apply to the neutral side for carrying out a new investigation.
Mihran Khachatrian, Director of Armavia on Flights, declared that
the flight was controllable from start to end. He reported that
the conclusion made up after the flight modelling done in the
French city of Toulouse and signed by the Armenian side consisted
of three points. But the last point was not included in the IAC
conclusion. According to it, after turning off the autopilot, during
the last 16 seconds of the flight, the reason of the plane’s lowering
has not been disclosed yet.

RA AUTHORITIES APPLY TO GEORGIA WITH REQUEST TO PERMIT MOVING OF
ARMENIANS THROUGH NON-OPERATING BORDER POINT OF ERGNETI
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. By the instruction of RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, for solving the problem of moving of RA citizens
having accumulated at the non-operating border point in the Georgian
locality of Ergneti for entering RA through Georgia due to the closure
of the Verin Lars check-point on the Russian-Georgian border, in the
evening of July 25, a meeting with Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia
Revaz Gachechiladze took place at RA Foreign Ministry, during which an
official memorandum was passed to the Georgian authorities for them
to show a good will and to permit movement of about 100 Armenians to
Armenia through Georgia when possible.
According to RA government Press Service, for avoiding such situations
in the future, the Embassy and Consulate General of RA in Russia were
charged to inform RA citizens through media and other possible means
that this point in Ergneti does not operate and they can travel by
the Novorossiysk-Poti ferry-boat.
On July 26, they informed from the Georgian Foreign Ministry that the
letter with a proposal on the positive solution of the issue has been
passed to the Georgian government.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION WILL AGAIN INCREASE, MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERS
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.4% decrease of industrial
production in the first six months of this year in Armenia is
temporary and there are preconditions for registering a 5% growth by
the results of the year, as compared with 2005. RA Minister of Trade
and Economic Development Karen Chshmaritian said this at the July 26
press conference.
In his words, the work of the Glass World plant producing glass
containers that opened recently, the relaunching of the RusAl-ArmenAl
foil plant in September, the active work of the Nairit Plant, the
expected growth of electricity generation connected with increase of
exports volumes will contribute to this growth.
It was mentioned that it is planned to release at least 3000 tons of
aluminium foil at RusAl-ArmenAl, 8 thousand tons of rubber at Nairit
Plant in 2006.
The Minister clarified that decrease of industrial production in the
first six months was conditioned by 20% reduction of production of
diamond-cutting sphere greatly depending on international markets. In
his words, three-four years ago such reduction of this sphere’s
production could have a serious negative impact on both industry and
GDP, whereas at present this impact is compensated by growth of other
branches’ production.

POSSIBLE WAYS OF SUPPORTING SHOOTING ARTAVAZD PELESHIAN’S NEW FILM TO BE DETERMINED AT MEETING TO BE HELD IN FUTURE
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs Hasmik Poghosian, world-famous film director Artavazd
Peleshian and former RA Minister of Culture Gevorg Gevorgian will
meet in the future to clarify the ways of allocating funds for the
film director’s “Homo Sapiens” full-length film.
As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Hasmik Poghosian, during
a conversation held earlier G.Gevorgian promised that Armenia will
try to allocate even if 1 mln USD for this film amounting to 10 mln
USD. This sum was to be taken from the annual funds allocated to the
Hayfilm film studio, in the amount of 250 thousans dollars annually. In
H.Poghosian’s words, she is ready to fulfil this agreement and at
the coming meeting they will clarify the ways of doing it, as well
as the work to be done in this direction.
As Mrs Poghosian said, she is familiarized with the works of the
talented film director since her childhood and during the years of
working at the Company of Cultural Contacts and Cooperation with
Foreign Countries she herself supplied Peleshian’s films to this or
that country for many years.

NUBARASHEN PREFECT’S BROTHER ARRESTED
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The brother of Nubarashen prefect,
Ruben Hovhannisian, was arrested within the framework of the
criminal case instituted on the fact of July 12 attack upon Gagik
Shamshian, photocorrespondent of the Chorrord Ishkhanutiun and Aravot
newspapers. This was informed by radio Liberty.
A criminal case was instituted on the signs of articles of impeding
a correspondent’s professional activity, robbing a correspondent
and hooliganism.
“Within the framework of the criminal case, a person, Ruben
Hovhannisian, was involved as a defendant on July 25. An accusation
was brought to him on the above mentioned three articles. According
to the court decision, arrest was used as a preventive punishment to
him. It is also mentioned that R.Hovhannisian pleaded not guilty in
connection with the above mentioned accusation.”

THERE ARE ALSO CITIZENS OF RF AMONG THOSE WILLING TO MOVE
TO ARMENIA FROM RUSSIA FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE
ROSTOV-ON-DON, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In 2005,
more than 400 families of citizens of Armenia temporarily living in
the territory of the South Federal Okrug of Russia returned to the
homeland. Ararat Gomtsian, RA Consul General in the South Federal
Okrug, informed the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians
of Russia about it. In his words, these families had moved to
Russia in different times and lived in the south of the country 3-7
years. Ararat Gomtsian especially mentioned that citizens of Russia
willing to move to Armenia for a permanent residence also apply to
the Consulate General.

WHAT A DEGRADING TURKISH WAY OF ‘USING’ FRIENDS IN JERUSALEM AND ELSEWHERE
USA Armenian Life Magazine
July 28, 2006
Appo K. Jabarian
Managing Editor / Executive Publisher
Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly
Ever since the infamous and notoriously anti-Armenian ‘Turkish Armenian
Reconciliation Commission’ was decommissioned in late 2003, denialist
Turks and their cronies embarked on a series of new attempts at fake
dialogue to lull Armenians into subjugation and pacifism. Several
such attempts were detected early on by alert Armenian activists
and derailed. An attempt made earlier this year by denialist Turkish
officials visiting USC was foiled.
However, another bridge of dialogue called the ‘armworkshop’ continues
to function albeit with much difficulty. The listserv at ‘armworkshop,’
administered by Turkish Prof. Fatma Muge Gocek of University of
Michigan at Dearborn, has hundreds of members from around the world.
Most of the members are scholars. Others are government or civic
leaders representing various countries, including but not limited
to the United States, Turkey, and Israel. Some other members who
represent the Armenian-Americans include Marc A. Mamigonian, Director
of Programs and Publications at National Association for Armenian
Studies and Research ( NAASR ); Dennis R. Papazian, Ph.D., Professor
of History, Director, Armenian Research Center, The University of
Michigan-Dearborn; Harut Sassounian, the Publisher of The California
Courier, among others.
Several Turkish and other scholars are known to be ‘righteous’
individuals who acknowledge the veracity of the Armenian Genocide. When
the subject in that listserv does not deal with the hard core facts of
the Armeno-Turkish conflict, the discussants are content with their
‘highly scholarly’ approach. However, when a fellow like Sassounian
brings to the forefront of public awareness crucial facts that deeply
affect the Armenians and serve as a wake-up call to genuinely righteous
members of the listserv, some members resort to mudslinging against
Sassounian. One such member is Turkish scholar, Dr. Kerem Oktem
(D. Phil, M.St. MMES, Oxon) of St Antony’s College (University
of Oxford) in England. Another is Jewish scholar Louis Fishman,
Instructor in History at Carleton College. A third such member is
Turkish Assistant Professor Ugurhan G. Berkok, Dept. of Politics and
Economics at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.
In a commentary titled, “Israel Asks U.S. Jews to Lobby for
Azerbaijan, Against Armenia,” Sassounian wrote on July 25: ‘It is
common knowledge that Azerbaijan, following Turkey’s footsteps, tries
to use the political clout of Israel and American-Jewish organizations
in Washington, D.C. to counter Armenian interests. Israel obliges
the Azeri demands out of an interest in importing oil and gas from
Azerbaijan and exporting various products, possibly including
weapons. Israel also needs access to Azerbaijan in order to
collect intelligence on neighboring Iran. The details of this close
cooperation, more aptly described as ‘mutual exploitation,’ are
not usually made public. The July 10, 2006 issue of The Jerusalem
Report, however, published a 13-page article by Netty C. Gross
disclosing some of the ties between Azerbaijan, Israel and American
Jewish organizations. The Report covered the visit to Baku of ‘a
delegation of Israeli dignitaries and Russian Jewish functionaries’
in mid-May. The article titled, ‘The Azeri Triangle,’ started with a
straightforward statement: ‘Israel and Diaspora Jewry are deepening
their own links with oil-rich Muslim Azerbaijan and helping the Azeri
regime win friends in Washington.”
Sassounian noted: ‘Describing ‘a strong
Azerbaijani-American-Israel-Jewish connection’ [that] benefits
everyone,’ Gross wrote that Israel ‘is deeply interested in
consolidating its relations’ with Azerbaijan. ‘Israel has seen it
in its interest to encourage U.S. Jews to take up the Azeri cause in
the Washington corridors of power, at the same time reinforcing the
notion held by many Azeris and others in the Third World that the way
to Washington leads through Jerusalem.’ It is noteworthy that Gross
implicated ‘U.S. Jews’ in carrying out the instructions of Israel
‘a foreign power ‘ in the United States to serve the interests of
Azerbaijan. ‘. In early February, a 50-strong delegation from the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Organizations was received
by Aliyev. In April, the Azeri president welcomed Israeli tycoon
Lev Leviev.’
Sassounian continued: ‘Gross gave the details of some of the links
between the two countries as relayed to him by Israel’s ambassador to
Azerbaijan, Arthur Lenk, a native of New Jersey’. Gross then disclosed
the political connections between Azerbaijan, Israel and American
Jews regarding Armenian issues: ‘Israel’s main selling point with
Azerbaijan is not Israeli. Rather, it’s the American Jewish lobby,
which, encouraged by Israel, has helped Azerbaijan in Congress. The
background to the story is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’. A
particularly painful sore point is Section 907, a U.S. congressional
amendment to the 1992 Soviet [sic] Freedom Support Act, aimed at
boosting economic and humanitarian aid to all of the 15 emerging
former Soviet republics except Azerbaijan. Passed at the urging of the
Armenian-American lobby in 1993, when the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
was flaring, 907 barred the U.S. from military or other cooperation
with Azerbaijan’. Encouraged by Israel, influential American Jewish
groups have since acted on behalf of Baku as a bulwark against the
powerful American-Armenian lobby in Congress and have tried to get
907 repealed. Since 2002, when the U.S. needed Azeri airspace to reach
Afghanistan, the U.S. has agreed to annual presidential waivers of 907,
which lift restrictions.”
Sassounian underlined: ‘Gross quoted Mark Levin, (the executive
director of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, a Washington-based
organization that is ‘a member of the coalition of Jewish groups
that have worked on behalf of Azerbaijan’s interests on Capitol
Hill,’) as stating that the American-Armenian lobby in Washington
‘is very strong and organized, and speaks in a unified voice. On other
political issues, we have partnered with [the Armenians], but when it
comes to Azerbaijan, we are on different sides of the fence.’ Levin
acknowledged that, on the whole, American Jewish policymakers feel
comfortable in their strong support of Azerbaijan on the Hill and take
their cue from the U.S. and Israel. Various Azeri officials confirm the
value of the Jewish lobby in countering Armenians: ‘American Jews have
helped us lobby in Washington against the Armenians and their help
is very important. We are very appreciative,’ Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told Gross. ‘ Regrettably, Gross misleads
his readers by not pointing out that not all Jews sell out their
souls to Azerbaijan or Turkey. As it has been repeatedly documented
in previous columns, many Jewish individuals and organizations in both
Israel and the United States are strong supporters of Armenian issues,
despite the pressures from the government of Israel!’
Sassounian further underlined: ‘Gross balanced the effusive
pro-Azeri comments in his article by including statements that accuse
Azerbaijan’s leaders of ‘corruption and political repression.’ He
referred to critics who said that the cozy relationship between
Israel and Azerbaijan ‘will unravel just as Israel’s romance with Iran
did.’ He quoted Dr. Asim Mollazade, the chairman of an Azeri opposition
party, as saying that the United States, Israel and Jewish Americans
would someday be ‘deeply disappointed’ for supporting the undemocratic
and corrupt regime in Azerbaijan. Gross also pointed out the double
standards practiced by Azeri leaders who present themselves to Jews as
being pro-Israeli, while distancing themselves from Israel in front
of the Muslim world. He mentioned, for example, the fact that Israel
opened its Embassy in Baku in 1993, and yet Azerbaijan has not opened
its Embassy in Israel in order to appease fellow Muslims. Last month,
Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic
Countries which held its annual conference in Baku.’
Sassounian concluded: ‘Obviously, Israel is free to establish
economic and political ties with any country, including Turkey and
Azerbaijan. American Jewish organizations are likewise free to send
delegations to various countries. But when they agree to place
their considerable political clout at the services of Azerbaijan or
Turkey against Armenia’s interests, Armenians worldwide then have
the perfect right to expose their sinister arrangements and counter
their every move.’
No sooner than Sassounian’s eye-opening commentary was circulated
on the internet, several listserv members of the ‘armworkshop,’
including professors Oktem, Fishman, and Berkok, resorted to a
campaign of mudslinging against Sassounian. This writer received
copies of their vicious e-attacks against Sassounian from several
members of the ‘armworkshop.’
On July 25, Dr Kerem Oktem wrote: ‘I find Mr. Sassounian’s articles
annoying and disturbing in general. ‘Despite my general dislike of
Mr Sassounian’s contributions, I would like to say that his last
sentence on the article he sent out today is inexcusable.’
Dr. Oktem was rebutted by a fellow list member Attorney Harry Dikranian
of Montreal, Quebec: ‘It may annoy certain readers who would prefer
Jewish-Azeri-Turkish alliances remain undisclosed. Such interest-based
alliances are more than conceivable and indeed sinister (the clearly
appropriate word) without needing to evoke the images you detail. ‘
I would certainly not use this article as an example for an indictment
to reductionism, simplification or incitement, etc., as you suggest,
against Harut Sassounian. I believe there should be ample place on
this list for such well-written and balanced newsprint analysis.’
Apparently disturbed by Attorney Dikranian’s lucid remarks, Dr. Oktem
adamantly e-filed an ‘ADDENDUM’ saying: ‘I certainly do not wish to
imply that Baskin Oran and Harut Sassounian are comparable in the
way they approach the issues debated here. What I meant to imply was
that Baskin Oran’s choice of words (Jewification) led to an outcry
on the list, partly understandable, partly surprisingly hostile to a
leading critical, radical scholar, who has been at the forefront of the
struggle of minority rights in Turkey, at a time mainstream Turkish
leftist intellectuals were concerned with how to establish different
kind of dictatorships for perceived majorities (proletariate [sic],
peasants, you name it). I further meant to say that since Baskin
Oran was vilified so aggressively, and in my view undeservedly for
a misconstrued term, than Harut Sassounian’s hate speech requires
a much stronger response. Hence my request that such should not be
circulated on this list.’
In response to Dr. Oktem’s diatribes, Andrew Kevorkian, a respected
intellectual, wrote: ‘Since when is a true statement ‘hate-speech”
I am on Sassounian’s e-mail list, and I have read his ‘Commentary’
and your reaction, and I am puzzled. It is common knowledge — and,
if I were a Turk, I would be proud — that Ankara dictates policy to
the US State Department. At least, it does so on matters Armenian,
Cypriot, Greek. Why would saying so constitute ‘hate-speech” For
far too-many years, I, too, have been saying and writing the same
thing to anyone who would listen. Why, therefore, should it disturb
you that an Armenian should not only state the obvious but also ask
other Armenians to do something about it”
Kevorkian continued: ‘It would appear that all your years in the West
— and all your schooling (I won’t say ‘education,’ because that is
a different animal) — hasn’t rid you of your Turkishness (and the
thin skin which all Turks have — as a British editor once told me)
and hasn’t enabled you to acquire a respect for such un-Turkish
concepts as ‘free speech’ and ‘free press.'”
Kevorkian added: ‘But, what is worse, you then trot out the favorite
image of the anti-Semite Jew and ascribe it to Sassounian’s intention
or objective. Talk about ‘hate-speech’!!! As a so-called ‘scholar,’
you should be a seeker after truth. Try reading all the studies
that have been conducted — and published — on the various lobbies
that abound in Washington, and read what they say about the ‘Jewish
Lobby’ vis-a-vis Turkey and Turkey’s interests, and then re-read what
Sassounian has said. What Sassounian has been saying is: ‘Israel’s
lobby in Washington supports Turkey’s interests, and we Armenians must
do our best to counter it.’ That is hardly ‘hate-speech.’ Except,
of course, under Turkey’s infamous ‘Article 301.’ Try thinking
“Western.” Who knows, you may even grow to like it.’
And to add insult to the 91 year old genocidal injury inflicted upon
Armenians by Turkey in 1915-23, Assistant Professor Berkok retorted:
‘I’m sure you (Dr. Oktem) must have heard similar chauvinist slurs from
Kevorkian’s Turkish counterparts! And just when I thought chauvinists
were all Turkish! And, I’m sure, your Turkishness predisposes you to
be unable to “… acquire a respect for such un-Turkish concepts as
‘free speech’ and ‘free press.’ That’s why you’ve been a member of
this listserv, haven’t you’ I fully share your scholarly perspectives
on the Sassounian piece and on the Kevorkian e-mail. Your two e-mails
sufficiently highlighted the criterion of scholarliness as opposed
to Sassounian piece and Kevorkian e-mail.’
Last but not least, a crony of denialist Turks, History instructor
Louis Fishman of Carleton University, apparently deeply panicked
by Sassounian’s revelations, showered on the latter a ‘carpet
bombardment’ of meaningless questions. Instead of honestly and
humanely addressing the critical questions raised by Sassounian,
Fishman resorted to a silly campaign of accusations in the form of
‘counter-questions.’ However, when his intimidating tactics failed to
‘produce’ subjugation and silence with his target victim, he resorted
to mud slinging against Sassounian.
To his credit, Kevorkian delivered a swift and decisive blow to
Fishman: ‘I know only what he (Sassounian) wrote, and I obviously
was in agreement. However, when Kerem wrote his comments, I took
umbrage because he didn’t seem to want to refute anything that
Sassounian said, but wanted only to accuse him of uttering of what
was not there”hate-speech.’ I noted in his comment–and in yours
(Louis Fishman), as well — on my message that there was no attempt
to deny the truth of what Sassounian (and I, if I may) said but to
further throw stones:
Is it, or is it not, true that Turkey dictates the US State
Department’s policies regarding Armenia, Cyprus, Greece’
Is it, or is it not true, that the ‘Jewish Lobby’ in the US, fights the
Turkish fight (better, it must be admitted, than the Turks ever can)’
If Turkey can object (as it does) to the role that the ‘Armenian Lobby’
plays in Washington, why, therefore, cannot an Armenian object to
what the Jewish/Turkish Lobby does”
Kevorkian also pointed out: ‘If Kerem purports to be a scholar (I
once knew a man who said that he was ‘in the Circulation Department’
of a major newspaper; it turned out that he took the printed newspapers
from the press and wrapped them and carried the bundles to the waiting
trucks!), then he should, first, set aside his biases and prejudices
and, second, should investigate the contrary opinions that exist
and should therefore, test his with what others say. That is why I
suggested that he read the studies on Washington lobbies (as I have)
and note what is said for the Armenian, Greek, Jewish, and Turkish
lobbies. He will find, among other things, that the first three are
funded by the respective ‘diasporas’ in the US and that the Turkish
is the only one funded by ‘the national government.’ There is nothing
wrong with that, in my opinion, but it says much. Also, he will find
that it is a fact that the ‘Jewish Lobby’ also makes it a point to
fight in the Turkish corner. Although I find it bizarre, I find nothing
wrong with that, either. I would like to see a non-Armenian Lobby (or
two) help fight in the Armenian corner. But, to throw stones at me
(which I don’t mind–I have been assaulted by better stone-throwers
than either of you) and Sassounian, rather than refute the arguments
that we have made shows, if nothing else, that we are right, and you
have no legitimate counter-argument.
And, finally, is it, or is it not true that, almost daily, news
reports come from Turkey that yet another journalist or author
has been cited for ‘insulting Turkishness” Even Turkey’s so-called
‘friends’ are finding that hard to absorb, and I note that neither
Kerem nor you, has responded to my statement that the concepts of
‘free speech’ and ‘free press’ do not exist in Turkey and that the
‘new’ Penal Code with its Article 301 is as wicked as the infamous
‘Star Chambers’ were many centuries ago. But, enough. I don’t know
anything about your “list,” but if it is directed at like-thinkers,
you should give a secret password to those who will automatically
nod their heads at anything that you say, and keep the likes of
Sassounian out. Finally, when your supply of stones is exhausted,
perhaps you may want to get around to the questions above.’
Oktem’s, Berkok’s and their likes’ campaign of deception in service
of their Ankara and Baku-based denialist aggressor masters, is
nothing new to Armenians. However, what’s degrading is their masters’
obstinate efforts to operate in the dark, and force Israel and the
Jewish American Lobby to also operate in the dark doing their dirty
work in return for giving them money, oil and gas. What a degrading
Turkish way of ‘using’ friends in Jerusalem and elsewhere.

FOUNDATION OF NEW CHURCH IN STEPANAKERT WAS LAID
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 July 2006
On July 22 the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin B visited Artsakh
to sanctify the foundation of the second church in Stepanakert,
Saint Astvatsatsin (Holy Mary) Church. In the ceremony of laying the
foundation of the church NKR President Ghukassian, Speaker Ghulian,
members of government were present.
AA. 26-07-2006

IRANIAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA URGES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STOP CRISIS IN MIDDLE EAST
Yerevan, July 27. ArmInfo. The Embassy of Iran in Armenia has made a
press statement today in which it urges the UN and the international
community to take serious measures to stop the crisis in the Middle
East.
The Embassy says that the continuing military actions in the Middle
East have made the world’s nations doubtful as to the ability of the
international community to establish peace and stability in the world.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress