NATO INTERIM ASSESSMENT MISSION TO FURNISH OUTCOMES OF VISIT JUNE 14
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.05.2006 19:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 18-19 the NATO Mission was in Armenia to make
the interim assessment of Armenia’s Individual Partnership Action
Plan, reported the RA MFA press office. The discussions of the NATO
representatives and the Armenian IPAP commission were dedicated to
the measures referring to the IPAP implementation. The final outcomes
of the visit will be furnished in Brussels June 14.

ANDRANIK MIHRANIAN: SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE DEPENDS NEITHER ON YEREVAN NOR ON BAKU
AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2006
The sooner Nagorno Karabakh conflict is settled, the better it is
for Armenia. Andranik Mihranian, political expert, said at a press
conference yesterday. At the same time, he stated that the settlement
of the conflict depends neither on Armenia, nor on Azerbaijan. “The
super powers settle it,” he said. He said that the speeding up of
the settlement process will follow from the interests of USA in the
region. He added that Baku will never agree with the independence of
NKR, while Armenia and NKR will not agree to see NKR in the structure
of Azerbaijan.That’s why the experts should find a solution that will
make Yerevan and Baku agree with a certain formulae.
Passing on to other regional issues Andranik Mihranian said the
Georgian-Russian relations add tension in the South Caucasus. He
stated that the Armenian authorities should figure out how can the
Georgian-Russian relations, as well as Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey circle
influence Armenia and how to avert isolation. He stated that Armenia’s
future is in cooperation with Russia and USA. At the same time he
emphasized the naivety of Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili who
thinks that they may use Washington against Moscow. He said that
hysteria in Georgia in the last months is directed to drawing the
attention of USA to the fact that Georgia “is a small innocent victim
in the hands of a wild bear.”
Moreover, Mihranian thinks that the current Georgian authorities are
“the biggest enemy of the Georgian people.”
Mihranian stated that the American-Iranian relations are also
tense. He emphasized that the probable confrontation in Iran may have
great impact on Armenia, taking into account the fact that the only
trustworthy path for Armenia to the outer world stretches through
Iran. As for the path through Georgia, Mihranian emphasized that “the
neighbor of Armenia is not trustworthy. Besides, destabilization in
Iran may have negative impact on the construction of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, moreover cause destabilization in Azerbaijan, as well. The
construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway may isolate Armenia
and the Armenian authorities should talk over Washington to exert
pressure on Turkey to hinder the construction.
Mihranian stated that he doesn’t think that the cold war between
USA and Russia will resume. In particular, he pointed out that
these countries compete for influence in the former Soviet republics
(Ukraine, Georgia, and the Central Asian countries). Mihranian said
that Russia’s position has changed and it wants to become a partner
country. But, being accustomed to the lack of competition, it doesn’t
want to quit its leading role. Mihranian said that in connection with
this, there can occur some clashes and local competition. As for
Armenia’s relations with super powers, Mihranian said that Yerevan
managed to preserve normal relations both with Russia and USA. He
conditioned this in some respect by the activities of the Armenian
lobby and well as by the coinciding interests. At the same time,
he pointed out the growth of the Azeri lobby in USA.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DARFURIAN GENOCIDE
AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2006
Opposing Villains With God’s Love
“We should not allow that the dark deeds of the villains shadow
God’s love and light. Raise your voices to be heard to the genocide
perpetrators and masterminds of the present and past. Let them
know that they will not go unpunished,” Father Thaddeus Abdalian of
Trinity Church in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, stated in a speech to
15.000 protesters on April 30.
The protest march, that according to Armenian Mirror Spectator
was organized by Million Voices For Darfur organization, was aimed
at condemning the genocide in Sudan that has claimed lives of 400
thousand people and left two million displaced since 2003.
“The Armenians’ support to this movement is logical as a nation that
suffered the first genocide of the 20th century. Nothing has changed
for 100 years. People are still killing each other. We have to learn
lessons and put an end to violence,” Father Abdalian said.

PACE TO EXAMINE MONUMENTS IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
By Aghavni Hovhannisian
AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2006
On May 28, Edward O’Hara, reporter of the PACE’s sub-committee on
cultural heritage, will arrive in Baku. According to Baku office of
the Council of Europe, the British parliamentarian will examine the
state of monuments in Azerbaijan and will head for Yerevan May 31.
The initiative of sending PACE representatives to Armenia and
Azerbaijan came from CE secretary general Terry Davis after the
destruction of Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan late last year. The
aim of the delegation is to examine historic and cultural monuments
in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Karabakh issue
Representatives of mediating states visit region to discuss
Kocharian-Aliyev meeting
High-ranking diplomats representing the three countries mediating
in Nagorno Karabakh issue will visit Baku and Yerevan next week to
discuss prospect of Nagorno Karabakh regulation, day.az quoted Pyotr
Burdikin, Russian charge’ d’affaires in Azerbaijan, as saying.
In Russian diplomat’s words, currently the OSCE Minsk Group is
working on the soonest regulation of Karabakh issue. As to the visit
of European delegation Burdikin thinks that “often involvement of
new people helps reveal new approaches.” Pyotr Burdikin thinks that
progress in the issue is well possible but no one can be sure about
the future owing to conflict’s complex nature.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry, the delegation will include
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Grigori Karasin, assistant secretary
for European and Eurasian affairs Daniel Fried and French Foreign
Ministry political director Stanislas de Laboulaye. Besides discussing
general issues, delegation members will talk about possible meeting
between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ARMENIAN WOMEN CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY
By Hakob Tsulikian
AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2006
The International Association of Armenian Women of America
celebrates its 15th anniversary, the Armenian Mirror Spectator
reports. On this occasion an annual dispute “Armenian Women in the
Government and Business” at the city club of Winchester (Watertown,
Massachusetts) on May 20. Deputy of the Armenian National Assembly,
Hranush Hakobian, and famous actress Nora Armani will also participate
in the gathering. Representatives of the Armenian community presenting
US government Rachel Gabrielian, Nancy and Michel Kolikyan and Sharin
Burnazian will also take part in the dispute. Margaret and Nshan
Atinizian will organize a concert that will follow the dispute. The
preparatory committed is headed by Olga Brutian, Michel Faschian and
Margarit Kilajian.
The Association organized 4 international conferences in London,
Paris, Genova and Yerevan, implemented healthcare, educational and
social programs in Armenia etc.

ANOTHER ACCIDENT
A1+
[01:08 pm] 19 May, 2006
At night of May 18 a bronze car of brand “Infinity” with state
numbers 90LO200 burned in the yard of the house N1 on Yekmalyan street,
Yerevan. It was registered by the name of Alexander Vardanov, executive
director of “ArmEconomBank” but was used by a woman of about 25-30
named Gayane. The site of the fire is an elitist building built by
businessman Mika Baghdasarov. Let us inform you that Mika Baghdasarov
is also stockholder of “ArmEconomBank” and owner of “Armavia” the
two planes of which were destroyed recently.
The fire brigade received the alarm at 02:03 AM, and at 02:14 the
fire was put out. We received the information from the information
service of the Emergency Administration. Besides this, they also knew
that the wheels and the left back part of the car had burned and that
it belonged to someone by the name A. Vardanov.
One thing strange about the case is that yesterday it was not included
in the police statements. The representatives of the corresponding
police service learned about the arson of the car from us.
After the fire had been put out Gayane who uses the car informed
those gathered that it belongs to his grandfather.
According to the friends of the woman, leakage of petrol took place in
the back of the car which resulted in the fire. There had been about
20 liters of petrol in the car. But eyewitnesses give evidence that
the fire was result of external interference, as some of the wheels
were destroyed by explosion, not by fire.
According to the Rescue service, the case is being investigated by
experts, and conclusion will be drawn days later. The police service
does not give any information about initiating a criminal case.
You learn about the details of the accident in today’s issue of the
newspaper “Ayb-Fe”.

DOES IT THREATEN US?
A1+
[02:02 pm] 19 May, 2006
The EU has decided to freeze the assets of President of Belarus and
35 Belarusian officials. The EU has announced that the reason is the
March 19 illegal elections in Belarus as a result of which Lukashenko
was elected President for the third time.
Besides Lukashenko, the head of the President’s Administration,
the President of the lower house of the Parliament, the Attorney
General, and head of the National Security Service, several workers
of the Central Electoral Committee, several Ministers, as well as
the President of the State Television are included in the list.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ARRIVING IN ARMENIA MAY 22
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.05.2006 19:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for
the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons is arriving in
Armenia May 22, reported the RA MFA press office. During the visit
Robert Simmons will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian,
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, RA NA Vice-speaker Tigran Torosyan
and some other officials.

“THEY SECURE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS INSTEAD OF TEACHING”
A1+
[02:50 pm] 19 May, 2006
The students of the departments “Accountancy and Audit” and
“Statistics” of the Yerevan State Economic Institute Finance faculty
have been holding an action of complain since 10AM opposite the
Ministry of Education of Science.
The students have been boycotting the studies for the last four
days. They also hold actions of complaints with posters saying
“Respect our opinion” and “No to Zeytun”.
The reason of the anger of the students was the announcement of
the newly appointed rector of the institute Yuri Suvaryan that the
above mentioned departments must be separated from the faculty and
joint the faculty of Informatics and economic cybernetics which is
located in Zeytun near the famous market. According to the student,
the building is supposed to be under construction. Besides, it is not
provided with necessary literature and cafeteria, and is separated
from the cultural centers. Besides, it is too small and is hardly
enough for the present students in it.
“There are people among us who come from Hrazdan, Eghegnadzor and
they need more than three hours to come to the Institute. And now they
will have to take an extra taxi and spend 2000 AMD more and still be
late for the lesson,” one of the students said.
Four of the students have already been threatened to be expelled from
the Institute. Another student said that several lecturers are also
blamed by the Institute authorities for not wanting to go to Zeytun.
They also think that they are transferred as new departments are
supposed to be opened. “They are doing it on purpose,” the students
say.
According to the students, if the new departments are sent to Zeytun,
next year no one will want to apply for them. “The authorities
themselves told us that they want to secure the high number of
students,” they said.
Today the students sent a letter with 200 signatures to the Ministry
of Education. They were promised to get an answer within a week. But
deputy Minister of Education Ara Avetisyan said that he is not aware
of any letter and that this kind of problems are solved inside the
Institute.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“THE GREATEST PROBLEM OF THE OYP WAS SERGO”
A1+
[03:32 pm] 19 May, 2006
“The OYP was a project, not a party, and every project has its
beginning and its end,” Leader of the New Times Party Aram Karapetyan
announced in the National Press Club and noted that the OYP tried
to become a party and today only those people “who were in the party
and not in the project” remain there.
“But the greatest problem of the OYP was Sergo,” Aram Karapetyan
announced and added that he was member of the political team and if
he has left, he did not like the ideological tendency of the party, in
particular and announcements of the head of the party about membership
in the EU and in the NATO.
“That is to say, Sergo became a pro Russian body,” otherwise Aram
Karapetyan dose not understand what could make the founding member
of the party leave it.
But it is clear for Karapetyan and not only him that Sergo preferred
his chair.
By the way, Aram Karapetyan tends to think that the crisis is
controllable and he does not exclude the possibility that Kocharyan
and Baghdasaryan are involved in a political game together.