GLENDALE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT SMB DEVELOPMENT IN KAPAN
KAPAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 24, the delegation of Kapan
returned to the homeland from the U.S. The delegation had visited
Glendale, Los Angeles and Washington at the invitation of the
Glendale-Kapan Sister-Cities Co mmission. As Armen Karapetian,
head of the delegation, Kapan Mayor, said in his interview to NT
correspondent, during the visit they got acquainted with the activity
of Glendale Mayor’s Office, visited educational, health protection,
cultural institutions. In the Mayor’s words, they have reached
agreements of concrete cooperation. In particular, for the purpose
of SMB development in Kapan the Armenian community of Glendale will
provide 80-100 thousand USD, the delivery room of regional center’s
hospital will be repaired.
In September the delegation of Glendale will pay a return visit
to Kapan.

LILIT MKRTCHIAN DEFEATED BY VLADIMIR HAKOBIAN’S CHINESE PUPIL
KRANSNOTURINSK, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 24, Lilit Mkrtchian
was defeated with black by Chen Zhuin, representative of Qatar, in
the second tour of the ladies chess international supper tournament
held in the city of Krasnoturinsk, Russian Federation. She is Chinese
by nationality, former world champion, and now her trainer is grand
master Vladimir Hakobian from Yerevan.

STATE DEPARTMENT MISLED SENATE ON TURKISH COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT AMB. EVANS
WASHINGTON, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In yet another
troubling development concerning the controversial nomination of
Richard Hoagland to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Department
of Justice records have revealed that the State Department has
misled the U.S. Senate regarding its communications with the Turkish
government concerning the February 2005 public affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In a letter, dated June 28, 2006 written on behalf of Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice to Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), the
Ranking Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
the State Department denied that the Turkish government had even
approached the Administration on this issue. However, official
Foreign Agent Registration filings by the Turkish government’s
registered foreign agent, the Livingston Group, document that, in
the days following Ambassador Evans’ February 19, 2005 remarks, one
of Turkey’s agents communicated on at least four different occasions
with State Department officials concerning the envoy’s statement and
his subsequent retraction.
“With each new revelation, we see more clearly the corrosive
impact that the Administration’s complicity in Turkey’s denial is
having on our own core values as Americans,” said ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian. “This latest failed attempt by the State Department to
mislead the Senate adds to the many compelling reasons to block the
confirmation of a new Ambassador to Armenia.”
Consistent with the pattern of unresponsiveness that has come to
characterize the Administration’s actions on the Hoagland nomination,
the only answer the State Department chose to provide in response
to Senator Biden’s four questions was a misleading one. His other
inquiries – including an official request for an explanation of why
Ambassador Evans was being replaced prematurely – remain unanswered.
On June 23rd, as part of Ambassador Richard Hoagland’s confirmation
process to replace Amb. Evans in Yerevan, Senator Biden wrote a letter
asking Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a series of questions
including the following: “Has the State Department received any
communication – written, electronic, or spoken – from the Turkish
Government concerning Ambassador Evans?”
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey T. Bergner
responded on behalf of Secretary Rice with the following assertion:
“Please be assured that allegations that the U.S. is removing
Ambassador Evans under pressure from the Government of Turkey
are simply untrue. The Government of Turkey has not approached the
Administration on this issue, and the United States and Turkey engaged
in no diplomatic exchanges related to this matter.”
However, Justice Department filings by the Livingston Group reveal
that a day after Amb. Evans’ statements on the Armenian Genocide were
publicized in an ANCA-San Francisco press release dated February
24, 2005, a Turkish agent communicated with the State Department
concerning his statements. On February 28, 2005, one business day
after the agent’s first phone call, Ambassador Evans issued his
first public retraction – noting that his mention of the Armenian
Genocide was made in a private capacity. Later that same day, the
Livingston Group reported three additional calls between one of
Turkey’s agents and State Department officials including the Deputy
Chief of Mission-designate at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara to discuss
Ambassador Evans’ retraction. The very next day on March 1, 2005,
Ambassador Evans issued a public correction of his retraction –
removing entirely any mention of the Armenian Genocide.
In addition to the Justice Department filings, several Turkish
press accounts reported that officials of the Government of Turkey
communicated their concerns to the State Department regarding
statements made by Ambassador Evans:
1) Turkish Press
On March 3, 2005, Turkish Press reported that, “Turkey’s Ambassador
in Washington Faruk Logoglu reacted to this. Ambassador Logoglu
reminded his interlocutors in the State Department that the United
States did not recognize ‘Armenian genocide’ noting the expression
in Evans’ apology was unacceptable. Justifying Turkey’s warning,
US State Department made Evans to issue a ‘correction’ for the
apology.” (“Evans Had to Correct His Statement Again After Using
‘Genocide’ in His Apology,” Turkish Press, March 3, 2005)
2) Anadolu News Agency
On March 4, 2005, the Anadolu News Agency reported that, “The Turkish
ambassador to Washington Faruk Logoglu reacted to this message and
the Washington administration approved Turkey’s demand and made
Evans correct the message of apology. Logoglu reminded the US State
Department that the US does not recognize the Armenian genocide,
but the term was used in the message of apology of the US Yerevan
Ambassador. Logoglu noted that a term that is not accepted by USA could
not be used in a statement of policy.” (“Double Genocide Correction
from US Yerevan Ambassador,” Anadolu News Agency, March 04, 2005)
3) Turkish Daily News
On May 27, 2006, Turkish Daily News reported that, “‘After his remarks
last year that caused reaction at the State Department and by Turkey,
Evans was gi ven a second chance, but he continued to deviate from the
official U.S. policy, working almost as a part of Armenian groups
that have a specific agenda,’ one U.S. analyst familiar with the
matter said on Thursday. ‘As a result he was recalled.'” (“US Envoy
Fired Over ‘Genocide’ Claims,” Turkish Daily News, May 27, 2006)
The ANCA has circulated relevant sections of the Justice Department
FARA filings to Congressional offices.

WEEK OF ARMENIAN FILMS TO BE HELD IN SAO PAULO ON SEPTEMBER 19-24
SAO PAULO, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September 19-24,
within the framework of events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
independence of Armenia, a Week of Armenian films under the title
“Ararat: Film masters of Armenia and Diaspora” will be held at the
biggest cultural complex of Brazil, “Sao Paulo Cultural Center”.
Works of Sergei Parajanov, Haroutiun Khachatrian, Vigen Chaldranian,
Albert Mkrtchian and Ruben Kochar, as well as the films by Atom Egoyan,
Henry Vernoy and Robert Keshishian (11 films) will be presented to
Brazilian audience. At the suggestion of Brazilians, the musical film
“My Sardarapat” will also be presented.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from the Press and Information department
of the RA Foreign Ministry, the event is organized by the joint
efforts of the Consulate General of Armenia in Brazil, RA Ministry
of Culture and Culture Secretariate of Sao Paulo.
On the same days, the photo exhibition named “Armenia, the country
of my ancestors” by young Brazilian Armenian photographer Norayr
Shahinian will be opened at the same cultural center. Three dozen
big-sized photos from the 10 thousand ones that he did in Armenia in
2004 will be presented at the exhibition.

DAYS OF TERIAN SOLEMNLY MARKED IN JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAK, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The annual holiday
dedicated to great Armenian poet Vahan Terian, Days of Terian, were
solemnly marked on July 22-23 in Javakhk.
The unveiling ceremony of bust to the great poet took place on July 22
in front of the Youth House, in the Ninotsminda regional center. And
on July 23, the traditional field event dedicated to Terian was held
in the poet’s native town, Gandza.
According to the A-Info agency, Georgian President’s Plenipotentiary
to Samtskhe-Javakhk Georgy Khachidze, Acting Head of Ninotsminda
Region Mels Bdoyan, Chairman of Javakhk compatriotic union Shirak
Torosian, Chairman of Georgian Armenians Unity organization Tachat
Hayrapetian, cultural figures and others spoke during the official
part of the event.
Local singers, choirs, musical ensembles and those having arrived
from Armenia performed at the event.

ONE LIVES NOT ONLY CONSTITUTIONALLY BUT ALSO VIA GORIS-LACHIN-STEPANAKERT AND BACK
Lragir.am
26 July 06
The Armenian opposition, especially its leading part has always
surprised and will undoubtedly go on to surprise the society.
Formerly, however, the opposition used to surprise by the steps it
failed to take, whereas now it surprises by the steps it takes. It
would occur to hardly anyone to set out for Karabakh in such an
internal political, although relatively hot summer in Armenia.
However, the peculiarity of an idea is that it occurs to very few
people. And it is natural that at some moment Stepan Demirchyan would
decide to travel to Karabakh. One of the ancient races must have had
the custom that in order to know your rival you must know his place
of birth. There must be such a custom, but even if there is no such
custom, one day it should have been born for the first time. After
all, failures make a man stronger and wiser, and after all a man
understands in some year of his biography that one lives not only
constitutionally but also via Goris-Lachin-Stepanakert and back. And
after all, if they come from Karabakh to Armenia and become president,
why shouldn’t they go from Armenia and become president in Karabakh? In
brief, Stepan had a number of reasons to go to Stepanakert, even if
we do not take into account the magic factor of “the first time”.
In Nagorno Karabakh he was met adequately, on a president level. It
is true that the press service of Arkady Ghukasyan denied that
Stepan Demirchyan was invited by the NKR president, but at any rate,
Arkady Ghukasyan met with the leader of Ardarutiun Alliance kindly
and willingly. From the point of view of subordination this does
not fit into any logic, because Demirchyan’s visit is not official,
but let the one who will point to a step in the Armenian reality that
fits into subordination and logic be the first to banish Demirchyan
from Stepanakert. Let us leave alone logic, however, not to cut this
essential episode of the Armenian reality from the reality. And the
reality is that recently there has been a tendency of moving towards
Karabakh. Probably, Stepan Demirchyan followed Serge Sargsyan’s words
attentively that we must account for everything to Stepanakert.
Serge Sargsyan went there to given an account for Torino, Stepan
Demirchyan probably will give an account for Great Britain, where
he spent a holiday with his family several days ago. Of course,
it is surprising that a man who considers him president elect of
Armenia goes to give an account to the president of NKR. But Serge
Sargsyan said another thing too. He said one must know how to obey
in order to make obey. In other words, one must be obedient because
they will get the throne, and the powerful will be dethroned. Serge
did not say this, it is written in the Bible, but God is already on
the lips of the Republican Party. They even say the name of God is
mentioned twice in the program of the Republican Party. And several
days before receiving Stepan Demirchyan Arkady Ghukasyan had met with
the Catholicos and spoken about the importance of belief, although it
is not clear belief in who and in what. Probably God sent Demirchyan
to Karabakh, or he was rather sent by the one about the belief in
who Ghukasyan and the Catholicos had talked about. In this case,
the question occurs – why? Say Demirchyan went to Karabakh and saw,
say he understood what was all this about, say he felt reassured,
say he understood the secret of coming from Karabakh and becoming a
president. Let us suppose that it is unattainable for him. What next?
Say he accounted for Great Britain and got back. Well, the secret
is in the return. Demirchyan must return. Otherwise, the “sanctuary”
remains vacant, and anyone may take it.
HAKOB BADALYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IT IS CLEAR WHO WILL NOT BE PRESIDENT
Lragir.am
26 July 06
Something is definitely wrong in Armenia. It’s been a long time we
have not seen the president carry out the instructions of the defense
minister. And when Robert Kocharyan approved of the membership of
the Republican Party through his spokesman, many people thought that
the years return in Armenia when the president was an observer,
and the defense minister ruled the country. However, this is only
the appearance. In fact, Robert Kocharyan needed to approve Serge
Sargsyan’s step. The point is that the president needs to show that
the internal political developments in Armenia take place under his
surveillance and with his approval, in other words, he keeps the
situation under control.
On the other hand, Serge Sargsyan understood this, in fact, when he
announced that the president would soon express his standpoint. The
defense minister understood that the president has to express his
opinion otherwise it would appear that Serge does whatever he wants
to do. Certainly, all Serge Sargsyan wants is to make this impression
for the administrative criminal consolidated around the Republican
Party to become convinced of the power and almightiness of the defense
minister. But if Robert Kocharyan himself stated his approval of the
action of the defense minister, it would appear that in fact he acts on
the instructions of Robert Kocharyan. For the defense minister it would
have a negative effect rather than a positive effect. The positive
effect would be that the circle which relies on him for the future
would become convinced that Serge Sargsyan is the heir of president.
It is highly important for the defense minister that his circle is
convinced. On the other hand, if the minister acts on the president’s
approval only, his prospects would be doubted because Robert
Kocharyan himself did not uncover his plans for the same circle,
as well as for everyone. In other words, in this case, no matter how
sure they are about the heir, they nevertheless rely on the one who
gives instructions. Hence, realizing the situation, realizing that
it was in the interests of the president to approve of the action
of the defense minister, Serge Sargsyan hurried to announce that
Robert Kocharyan would soon speak. And when the president spoke,
it appeared that he spoke on the “instruction” of Serge.
Now Robert Kocharyan needs to dispel this impression that he speaks on
the instructions of the defense minister. Therefore, besides approving
his membership to the political party, Robert Kocharyan also needs
to take other steps worthwhile for the lord of the situation. And he
literally pushed Gagik Tsarukyan onto the stage, who announced that
everyone who criticizes his political party had better meet with people
and find out what they think about them. He announced that they would
account for their vote. Tsarukyan also announced that some people are
getting too far and an adequate answer should be given to them. On
the next day Davit Harutiunyan appeared on TV and announced that the
next parliament of Armenia cannot be unipolar, and he did not exclude
that he may resign from the post of minister if he becomes member of
a political party. Hmayak Hovanisyan came forth between Tsarukyan and
Harutiunyan, who spoke about Serge Sargsyan for over an hour and did
not use the words “Fouchet” and “files”. Probably, he had heard that
Serge Sargsyan hates to be compared with anyone. It is not the time
to compare. “Fouchet, files, everything is gone, boss, everything,”
Hmayak appeared to be eager to tell this but he only said he could not
understand why Serge chose a suicide. How is he supposed to understand
if he keeps announcing that Serge Sargsyan is Robert Kocharyan’s heir
and the question is settled. Hmayak studied the history of France well,
almost excellently but he had forgotten about the Russian history. He
compared Serge with Fouchet, and Robert with Napoleon. He had forgotten
about Ivan Grozniy, “Boriska an emperor? Put him to death.”
“Boriska” can be only chair of the council of the Republican
Party. Kocharyan is still the president of the country, who has not
thought yet who his heir will be. He may have thought who will not
be his heir.
HAKOB BADALYAN

SISTEMA WILL BUY PART OF ARMENTEL AND MART
Lragir.am
26 July 06
We learned from the minister of trade and economic development Karen
Chshmarityan that there is no official message connected with the
sale of Armentel. Meanwhile, the names of the Russian company Sistema
and the Indian company Knightsbridge Associates have already appeared
in press. Karen Chshmarityan did not say anything about the second,
as for the Russian company, “Sistema is a rather serious company.
In some sense, I can say that this company will contribute greatly
to the business environment in Armenia.”
The same Russian company is likely to buy the factory MARS, which was
given to Russia under the project Property for Tax. Karen Chshmarityan
said he things there is not a political context. “The company has a
high-level management” and is far from political developments.

THE STORY OF A DROP OF BITUMEN
Lragir.am
26 July 06
Most people remember that before building, more exactly not building
a New Country Party Artashes Tumanyan, the head of the administration
of the president, was building the old country, more exactly, he
built the roads. By the way, there is a point of view that Artashes
Tumanyan could not build the New Country because he was building the
old country. Today it is already a history, but many episodes are
becoming known.
People who followed the activities of Lincy Foundation remember that
the United States stipulated that bitumen for roadworks should not be
bought from Iran. Our source assures that bitumen is imported from
Iran by one of the coalition parties. And the source standing close
to Lincy Foundation says Artashes Tumanyan coordinating the work of
the foundation registered a company in Kuwait with the help of the
same political party, which allegedly imported bitumen produced in
Kuwait via Iran but in fact Iranian bitumen. The point is that the
Iranian bitumen is cheaper than the bitumen produced in Kuwait. It
should be noted that Artashes Tumanyan was the third on the party
ticket of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in 2003.

ARARAT GOLD RECOVERY COMPANY MAY LOSE LICENSE
Lragir.am
26 July 06
The minister of trade and economic development Karen Chshmarityan
told July 26 that Ararat Gold Recovery Company is looking for a
site to build a new factory outside the basin of Lake Sevan. The
government of Armenia had turned down the offer of the company to
build a factory 30 km from Lake Sevan for environmental reasons.
Afterwards the company had suggested that the government offer a site
to avoid more expenses on bills of quantities.
Besides, Karen Chshmarityan informed that the company is facing
problems with the Armenian legislation, it extended its problems to
the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and “as far as I know,
AGRC admitted they are having problems.” Karen Chshmarityan says
it is possible that the company will end up losing their license,
“Never say never.”