Relations between our countries are warm and friendly, Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Lebanon state
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 18:04
Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Fawzi Salloukh
is paying an official visit to Armenia. During the three-day visit
he will have meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, NA Speaker
Tigran Torosyan and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. The Minister
will be received also by the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin
II. After the meeting on July 11 the Foreign Ministers of Armenia
and Lebanon Vardan Oskanyan and Fawzi Salloukh gave a joint press
conference. The journalists’ questions referred to Armenian-Lebanese
bilateral relations, as well as to regional issues, including the
Karabakh conflict.
“Armenia and Lebanon have exceptionally good relations today. After Mr.
Harriry’s death the pace of economic processes and dialogue somewhat
slowed down due to various reasons.
This is Minister Salloukh’s first visit to Armenia, and we hope
this visit will help arrange the meeting of the Intergovernmental
Commission as soon as possible. The Armenian-Lebanese agenda is rather
deep and all-embracing.
Friendly relations exist between the two countries, and the existence
of the Armenian community is an important factor in interstate
relations, in the development of Yerevan-Beirut ties. There is an
extensive field for the further development of relations between the
two countries,” Minister Oskanyan remarked in his opening speech.
RA Foreign Minister noted that he had an interesting conversation
with Mr.
Salloukh on a number of questions.
“The Minister informed me about the processes under way in Lebanon. We
spoke also the events in Iraq. The Minister presented the [position of
Lebanon. I presented in detail the Karabakh issue, the content of the
talks, the latest developments, as well as other regional questions,
particularly focusing on Armenia’s relations with neighbouring
countries, considering also Armenian President’s last visit to Iran. It
was a rather productive dialogue, I’m content with the meeting an I’m
sure this visit will become a new impetus for the further development
of Armenian-Lebanese relations,” Minister Oskanyan underlined.
The Foreign Minister of Lebanon noted that he has a very constructive
talk with his Armenian counterpart.
“Our countries have very warm and close relations. During today’s
meeting we discussed the ways of deepening and reinforcing these
relations. These ties have an emotional side also. Lebanon is home
to a large Armenian community.
We are proud of them and appreciate their efforts and contribution
to the prosperity of Lebanon. We are proud of the Armenian community
also because during the disastrous war of 1975-1990 they did much
for the reconstruction of Lebanon. We are very proud of the role the
Armenian community played during the war,” Fawzi Salloukh said.
“We discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest:
Iraq, nuclear programs of Iran, Nagorno-Karabakh – Azerbaijan conflict
and many others. Armenia and Lebanon are active members of the
international community, and our views are similar in regard to the
establishment of peace and security in the region and the world. We
have a future of warm and friendly relations with Armenia. I invite
Minister Oskanyan to Lebanon to participate in the sitting of the
joint Armenian-Lebanese Commission,” the Lebanese Minister of Foreign
affairs and Emigrants added.
Turning to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue, Fawzi
Salloukh noted, “We do not see the Karabakh conflict as a religious
one. This is a conflict for land, and we are ready to apply efforts
and assist those who are trying to resolve the issue peacefully. We
are confident that wars proceed from the interests of the conflicting
sides, diplomacy and peace talks are proper way. We hope for a peaceful
end, which will satisfy both sides.”

WILL THE WEST PREVENT 1998?
Lragir.am
11 July 06
The opposition in Armenia ingenuously thinks that Robert Kocharyan
will reach signing an agreement on the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict, and it will lead to a resignation like in the case of
Levon Ter-Petrosyan in 1998. But it will not happen, forecast Hmayak
Hovanisyan July 11. According to him, the West will not allow Robert
Kocharyan’s resignation for having signed an agreement. The member
of parliament believes that the West will do everything to go all
the way to fulfill the principles of the agreement.
From: Baghdasarian

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS DETERMINED BRYZA’S STATEMENT
Lragir.am
11 July 06
50 percent of the readers, who voted to the poll of the Lragir,
think Mathew Bryza’s statement is connected with regional developments.
In answer to the question what determined Mathew Bryza’s statement
offered to our reader for over two weeks 50 percent of participants of
the poll answered “regional developments”. 22 percent of the readers
of the Lragir voted for the “conflict over Karabakh”. 17 percent
chose the answer “promotion of democracy in Armenia”. 11 percent of
readers chose the answer “hot political summer”.

European Parliamentarians demand Armenian Genocide recognition be
included in the negotiations roadmap
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 12:23
On Wednesday, July 12th, the European Parliament’s Committee for
Foreign Affairs will vote on a draft resolution on “Turkey’s progress
toward accession,” but not until it considers some 343 amendments
submitted to the report prepared by Mr. Camiel Eurlings, reported
the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).
While Mr. Eurlings’ report made only vague references to Armenian
concerns, the amendments tackle key conserves comprehensively. Many
parliamentarians from the main political parties – including the
Conservative, Socialist, Liberal, and Communist – unanimously call
on Turkey to “withdraw without condition the blockade of Armenia” and
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as “a prerequisite to accession”.
Further, many amendments urge the European Commission and Council to
include the Armenian Genocide as a perquisite in the Revised Accession
Partnership – the roadmap of the negotiation process.
“Twenty years ago, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on ‘a
political solution to the Armenian question’ the findings of which were
considered ‘insurmountable obstacles’ to Turkey’s accession. Twenty
years later, none of these issues has been resolved. Given these
circumstances, the continuation of the negotiations, without dealing
with the root concerns, is a political anomaly which must stop,”
commented Hilda Tchoboian.

EBRD to provide US$ 20-21 million for reconstruction of “Zvartnots” airport
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 13:23
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will
provide a credit of US$ 20-21 million for reconstruction of the
international “Zvartnots” airport. The credit will be provided for
the period of seven years.
In 1994 EBRD had provided 17 million for the construction of the
freight terminal in “Zvartnots” airport.

RF Minister of Transport arriving in Armenia
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 15:49
Russian Transport Minister, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian
Intergovernmental Economic Commission Igor Levitin is to arrive in
Armenia on a working visit on July 11. The Transport Minister is
accompanied by Head of the Interstate Aviation Committee Tatyana
Anodina.
During the visit, the Russian delegation is scheduled to meet Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan, Secretary of the Presidential Council of
National Security, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan, as well as other
top officials of the Armenian Government. During the meetings issues
of bilateral cooperation and investigation of the A-320 crash near
Sochi on May 3 are to be discussed, reports IA Regnum.

VARTAN OSKANIAN EVALUATES FRAME AGREEMENT PROPOSED BY OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS
AS ALL-EMBRACING AND BALANCED
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “I do not perceive
the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs as a statement aimed
at ceasing the Minsk process,” RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
declared at the July 11 press conference. As he affirmed, in their
statement the Co-chairs “want to say that the document proposed by them
is a balanced synthesis of everything done over the past two years.”
In the Minister’s opinion, if the sides start to conduct the process on
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in this direction, it
is possible that new opportunities will be created in the negotiations
process.
Vartan Oskanian again confirmed the position of the Armenian
side on the frame agreement proposed by the Co-chairs. “This
is really an all-embracing, balanced document envisaging right
mutual concessions. Of course, it is not ideal for any side, but is
acceptable for all sides that want to solve the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict through a compromise. So, we really want Azerbaijan to
return to reconsideration of this document,” the Armenian Foreign
Minister declared.
According to him, there is no contact with Azerbaijan at present. He
informed that the American Co-chairman is to pay a visit to the region
soon, which will become a reason for establishing some contacts and
planning the next steps. At the same time, he found it difficult to
say, whether the American side will assume the initiative to organize
the next meeting of the Presidents.
As for the developments connected with the EU New Neighborhood program
and, in particular, discussion of the Actions Plan proposed by Armenia,
Vartan Oskanian informed that Finland currently presiding in the
EU expressed interest in the quick solution of issues connected
with the Actions Plan within two months. The Ambassador of Finland
accredited in Armenia will arrive in Yerevan on July 22 for clarifying
a number of issues connected with Armenia’s participation in the New
Neighborhood program.

Lilit Lazarian to participate in an international chess tournament in Krasnokurinsk
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 14:48
Leading Armenian woman chess player, Grand Master Lilit Lazarian
will participate in a celebrated international chess tournament to
start July 21 in Krasnokurinsk, Russia.
Among the participants of the tournament are Katerina Lakhno of
Ukraine, Maya Chiburdanidze of Georgia and Anna Kovalevskaya of Russia.

VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO HOLDING FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
IN ARMENIA IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to the Electoral Code
and cases of fire in areas near Azerbaijan were the main subjects of
discussion at RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian’s July 10 meeting with
OSCE Yerevan Office Head, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin.
Congratulating Tigran Torosian on the occasion of being elected as
Parliament Speaker, Vladimir Pryakhin expressed OSCE’s readiness
to provide support in the issue of improving the Electoral Code
attaching importance to holding the forthcoming state elections
in correspondence with the democratic standards in the respect of
Armenia’s future development.
NA Speaker stated that discussions will be held in mid-July for the
purpose of clarifying the parliamentary forces’ positions on the
proposals of OSCE and Venice Commission experts around amendments to
the Electoral Code and the final clarifications will be made in August,
after which in October the Electoral Code will be discussed and adopted
by the National Assembly. For holding the elections in accordance with
the democratic principles the Parliament Speaker attached importance
not only to perfection of the legislation, but also to formation of
a favorable atmosphere between the authorities and the opposition
and to working out machanisms of responsibility. T.Torosian attached
importance to OSCE’s assistance in the respect of expert evaluations
and at the level of unbiassed observation mission expressing the hope
that the elections will be held at a new qualitative level.
In connection with the speculations of Azerbaijani propaganda that
started over a month ago, T.Torosian said that Azerbaijanis spread
misinformation in all directions, including the international
structures, about cases of fire in areas adjoining Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan. He reminded that on June 15, the NKR
Foreign Ministry applied to the OSCE Office with an expectation to
conduct the respective observation and to clarify the issue, but
no official response was received for the issue to be considered
concluded. V.Pryakhin promised to convey the NA Speaker’s concern to
his chiefs.
They also touched upon the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen’s statements
and expectations on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. It was
mentioned that when pursuing the goal to quickly solve the conflict
exact estimations should be given to the conduct of the sides, in
particular, to the bellicose statements and agitation of hatred of
the Azerbaijani side.
In connection with the possibility of Saint Petersburg meeting
between the two countries’ Presidents T.Torosian said that the
meetings will not give anything new henceforth, as far as there are
no mechanisms that will enable to clarify who declined the agreement
reached beforehand.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from NA Public Relations Department,
issues relating to NA staff within the framework of OSCE programs
were also discussed at the meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IGOR LEVITIN ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Igor Levitin, RF Transport Minister,
Co-chairman of Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, will
arrive in Armenia on a working visit on July 11. NT was informed
about it by Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, Spokesperson for RA Defence
Minister.
According to the Regnum agency, Head of the Interstate Aviation
Committee Tatyana Anodina will also arrive with Igor Levitin.
During the visit the delegation will have meetings with RA President
Robert Kocharian, RA Defence Minister, Secretary of the National
Security Council under RA President, Serge Sargsian and other
high-ranking officials. Issues relating to bilateral relations, as
well as the investigation of the accident of Armavia airline’s A-320
plane will be discussed at the meetings.