Armenia to provide humanitarian assistance to Lebanon
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 17:08
Acording to RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan’s instruction,
consultations dedicated to the possibility of providing humanitarian
assistance to Lebanon were held in the Government. In the rsult of
teh discussions it was decided to provide medicine, equipments and
tents to Lebanon.
It was noted during the consultations taht up to now 550 Armenians
have arrived from Lebanon and 54 from Israel. It is expected that
another 120 will arrive tomorrow with a charter flight. Most of the
emigrants are Armenian citizens.

RA Ambassador to Lebanon Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan: Armenian districts did not
suffer in the result of the war
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 16:30
Armenian districts did not suffer in the result of the war, the
Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan said in an
interview with “Radiolur” correspondent Tatul Hakobyan. According to
the Ambassador, the military actions are launched particularly in the
South of the country at the Lebanese-Israeli border. Bombardments
executed by the Israeli army occur predominantly in some Southern
districts of Beirut, where Hezbollah bases are situated.
The Ambassador underscored that foreign media exaggerate the
facts. They show the ruins of the same building for dozens of time,
which creates an impression that whole Beirut has been destroyed. This
does not correspond to the reality. The reports that there is
starvation in Lebanon are also false. The people are really in a
difficult situation, but things are not that bad.
Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan noted that the Armenian Embassy in Lebanon
is working day and night. Working in such a regime is necessary to
help Armenians willing to leave Lebanon resolve the problems with
documents and guarantee safe transportation. The Ambassador noted
that the Embassy is assisted by the Armenian Embassy in Damascus
and the Chief Consulate in Aleppo, as well as Armavia Company. Up to
now 400 people have been conveyed to Armenia. Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan
underlined, however, that it should not create an impression that
they are endorsing the migration. The Embassy helps only those who
apply for help, and it first of all refers to Armenian citizens.
The Ambassador urges Armenian media to be cautious in their expressions
and to retrieve from publication, which do not correspond to reality.
The crisis will be overcome, and we’ll see a peaceful Lebanon. We just
need to be patient. Lebanon is a friendly country for every Armenian,
it hosted thousands of our compatriots after the Genocide. However,
a powerful Armenian community existed here even before that. “We want
to see this country flourishing, united, free and happy,” Ambassador
Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan concluded.

4th pan-Armenian youth conference to welcome the Education and Science Minister
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 11:18
The 4th pan-Armenian youth conference in Tsakhkadzor will welcome
today RA Minister of Education and Science Levon Lazarian.
100 Armenian young people from 10 countries of the world are
participating in the conference. They represent different youth,
student and charity organizations, parties and cultural-educational
unions.

Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received IMF Permanent Representative
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 17:48
July 26 RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received IMF Permanent
Representative to Armenia Nienke A. Oomes.
Congratulating the guest on appointment, Minister Oskanyan wished
success to Mrs. Oomes in her responsible mission.
The parties exchanged views on the successful cooperation between IMF
and Armenia. IMF Permanent Representative to Armenian James McHugh,
who is completing his mission in our country, highly assessed the
cooperation with the Government of Armenia, underlining that mist of
the joint programs have been successfully implemented.
At the guests’ request Minister Oskanyan concisely presented the
process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

RA President signs new Laws
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 17:57
July 26 RA President Robert Kocharyan signed the Laws on implementing
amendments in RA Civil Trial code and RA Law on Insurance, President’s
Press Office informs.

Crew blamed for Armenian airbus crash in southern Russia
Centre TV, Moscow
26 Jul 06
Text of “Sobytiya” news report by Russian Centre TV on 26 July
The crash of the A-320 airbus over the Black Sea was caused by a crew
mistake, according to the results of an investigation by an interstate
aviation committee published today. The technical commission, which
included French experts, has established that while operating the
plane manually the crew failed to control the bank angle and height
in time while landing. The airbus fell, with control having been
lost. The commission determined that failure of the engine or other
systems of the plane had not been registered.
The A-320 airbus of the Armenian Armavia company crashed on 3 May
near Sochi. All 113 people aboard were killed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Will Garry Kasparov return to big chess?
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 17:35
On the 22nd of August 13th World Chess Campion Garry Kasparov will
participate in the quick chess tournament dedicated to the 150th
anniversary of the ” Credit Suisse” bank of Zurich. According to the
Russian “Komersant” newspaper, Kasparov’s rivals will be outstanding
chess players Anatoli Karpov, Viktor Karchnoy and Yudith Palgar.
After winning in the Linares international tournament in March, 2005
the World Champion had declared he was leaving chess to concentrate
on a political career.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Highlights from Turkish Islamist press 26 Jul 06
BBC Monitoring
Yeni Safak
Under the headline, “Children Killed by Cluster Bombs,” Yeni Safak
publishes a front-page report which accuses Israel of “starting
to use cluster bombs against civilians and children” in Lebanon.
According to the report, the civilian death toll stands at 400 in
the Israeli bombardment.
In a 7,650-word article entitled “Will US Troops Be Deployed on
Anatolian Soil?” on page 4, Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul
claims that Israel’s attack on Lebanon was planned by the US and
Israeli administrations at a meeting in Colorado over 17-18 June,
adding that the purpose of the attack is to eliminate all sources of
resistance in the region against Israeli authority, enable the United
States to establish a military presence in Lebanon, and open a front
against Syria. Karagul claims Saudi Arabia’s, Egypt’s, Jordan’s and
Turkey’s support for the commitment of a NATO force to the region
indicates they have either “fallen into the trap” or are cooperating
with the US-Israeli plan because “the NATO force to be sent to the
region will not work for a ceasefire but fight for Israel and the
United States.” He also claims that it will not be long before the
same forces attempt to deploy an “international force” consisting of US
troops along the Turkish-Syrian border and in the Port of Iskenderun.
In a 650-word article entitled “What Sort of Order is This?” on
page 12, Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru blasts Condoleezza Rice for
announcing after her meeting with Olmert that “it is time for a new
Middle East” instead of taking Israel to task over the “destruction”
she “personally witnessed” in Lebanon or “at least requesting Israelis
to stop using disproportionate force.” He also asserts that “the new
Middle East Order” looks set to be established at the cost of the
blood and lives of the people of the region.
Vakit
Under the headline, “This is Treason,” Vakit publishes a front-page
report which criticizes the fact that “whereas Misons and Agops
who graduate from Jewish and Armenian schools in Turkey that offer a
religious-oriented education can enter university even when they score
poorly in the entrance exam, imam-hatip students have to surmount
obstacle after obstacle” before they can qualify for university
education.
In a 1.650-word article entitled “Sending Turkish Troops to Lebanon
by Hook or by Crook” on page 11, Vakit Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya
argues that the plan to deploy a NATO force to Lebanon is not intended
to keep the peace in the region but to prevent Hezbollah from sending
missiles to Israel, adding that despite claims to the contrary, a NATO
force in Lebanon is certain to consist mostly of Turkish troops, “which
means” that “Israel’s security will be maintained by Turkish soldiers”
and that the Turkish army will find itself at odds not only with
Hezbollah but also with the Shi’is in Lebanon, and with Iran and Syria.
In a 1,200-word article entitled “What is it Time for?” on page 11,
Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak underlines the significance of
the fact that “black witch Rice” issued her statement calling for a
new Middle East on the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of
Lausanne. He claims that the current Middle East borders were not
drawn in accordance with the will of the people of this region and
that in protecting their respective borders, Middle East countries
are maintaining a map “imposed by international powers centres”
early in the twentieth century. Dilipak also explains why Turkey
should not send troops either to Iraq or to Lebanon.
Zaman
Under the headline, “Issue of Peace Force for Lebanon Turns into a
Riddle,” Zaman publishes a front-page report which asserts that it
still remains unknown when an international peacekeeping force will
be sent to Lebanon, who it will consist of, whether its targets will
include disarming Hezbollah, and what the role of NATO and the UN
will be.
In a 650-word article entitled “Search for Peace” on page 17, Zaman
columnist Mustafa Unal asserts that Ankara “justifiably” does not
look sympathetically on demands for its commitment of troops to an
international peace force in Lebanon because “deploying troops between
the Iran-supported Hezbollah and Israel, which regard the existence
of one another as casus belli, is not different from landing right
in the thick of the fire.”
In a 750-word article entitled “Beyond Israel” on page 17, Zaman
columnist Nihal B. Karaca argues that it is a mistake to look to
the United States to stop the Israeli “outrage” in Gaza and Lebanon
because it was people within the US administration who advised former
Israeli leaders to effect a “clean break” with the Mideast process and
called on Israel to “reoccupy PNA territory even if it should entail
a high price in blood.” A cartoon by Osman Turhan on page 17 depicts
a Western soldier with a smirk on his face directing a handgun to an
amazed Arab militiaman (or a terrorist, judging from his eye mask)
in the form of a hand puppet that the former has put on his right
hand – a possible sarcastic reference to what is presented as the
hypocritical quality of Western preparations to send an international
force to the Middle East in order to disarm Hezbollah.
Milli Gazete
Under the banner headline, “Let Parliament Convene Urgently,” Milli
Gazete publishes a front-page report which censures the fact that
Turkey, “the historical leader of the region,” is “not taking any steps
beyond engaging in telephone diplomacy, to stop the Israeli massacres
in Palestine and Lebanon.” According to the report, Felicity Party (SP)
leader Recai Kutan has called on Parliament to convene extraordinarily
to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East.
In a 700-word article entitled “Their War is on Islam” on page 11,
Milli Gazete columnist Abdulkadir Ozkan claims that in first going
to Lebanon rather than to Israel despite the fact that “the war
was not started Lebanon,” US State Secretary Rice revealed that the
purpose of her visit was not to mediate a “fair” agreement to stop the
hostilities but to “strengthen Israel’s hand.” He also draws attention
to the coincidence of Rice’s visit with press reports that the United
States is preparing to give some 100 bunker buster bombs to Israel and
asks whether this situation does not amount to “taunting the world.”
Bugun
In an 850-word article entitled “Sending Troops to Southern Lebanon?
Why not?” on page 10, Bugun columnist Cengiz Candar argues that Turkey
should “use the opportunity” provided by requests for its contribution
of troops to Lebanon to “raise its international profile,” adding that
for Turkey, maintaining a military presence in Lebanon would be much
more effective against the “PKK scourge” than dispatching troops to
northern Iraq.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ruling party booklet on EU prefaces premier, lists Turkey’s “red lines”
Anatolia news agency
26 Jul 06
Ankara, 26 July: [Ruling] Justice and Development Party (AKP) Foreign
Relations Department prepared a booklet – “EU in 100 questions” –
aiming to introduce Turkey’s European Union (EU) adhesion process to
the society.
One hundred questions have been asked in the booklet as well as
the answers regarding the foundation of the EU, its history, motto,
decisions, consultative and jurisdictional bodies, enlargement process
and screening process as far as Turkey is concerned.
“Turkey’s unifying identity appears to be an important asset at a
time when efforts are underway to polarize the world in the axis of
civilizations and at a time when terrorism gradually became more
destructive and merciless,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan wrote in the preface of the booklet.
Erdogan also reaffirmed that Turkey’s EU perspective was always
“full membership”.
In the booklet, Turkey’s red lines are listed such as:
-“Turkey cannot recognize Cyprus Greek Cypriot administration under
the name of Cyprus Republic. A political recognition is only possible
after a comprehensive and durable settlement.
-“Acknowledging ‘so-called Armenian genocide’ can never be a
pre-condition in the negotiation stage. No concessions will be made
from the Lausanne Treaty and (Turkey’s) territorial integrity.
-“It is out of question for Turkey to accept ‘Privileged Partnership
Status’ (offered by some European politicians). Screening process is
expected to be concluded at the end of this year.
“Agriculture and environment will be the two topics that will strain
most Turkey at the negotiation process,” it was also underscored at
the booklet.

IMF Permanent Representative James McHugh completing mission in Armenia
ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 15:47
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received today Permanent
Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Armenia
James McHugh, who is completing his mission in our country. Information
and PR Department of the Government informs that the Prime Minister
positively assessed the cooperation between IMF and the Armenian
government during McHugh’s tenure in office, noting that the positive
outcomes of this cooperation for Armenia are apparent. According to
the Prime Minister, with joint efforts RA Government and IMF managed
to find solutions to a number of questions.
Mr. McHugh underlined that in the course of the last four years the
Government of Armenia managed to resolve a wide range of problems
and to register progress.
James McHugh introduced RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan to the
new IMF Representative to Armenia Mrs. Nienke A. Oomes, who has five
years of experience of working in the Fund.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the Government will continue
working equally successful with Mrs. Oomes and wished success to
Mr. McHugh in his future activity.