AZG Armenian Daily #127, 08/07/2006
Education
L. MKRTCHIAN: NEW SYSTEM FOR GRADUATION AND COMMON
EXAMS WILL BE APPLIED IN ARMENIA
The new system of graduation and common exams at
schools will help decrease the corruption risks. Levon
Mkrtchian, RA Education Minister, said this today.
He stated that notwithstanding the positive experience
of the foreign countries, Armenia isn’t ready for full
application of the new system. He added that an
imperfect system application may cause complicated
problems and proceeding from this, Mkrtchian stated
that our country will fully pass to the new system in
3-4 years.

BANK ROBBERS ARRESTED
Panorama.am
16:33 07/07/06
Earlier reports said that Ardshininvestbank made an emergency call
saying that money is stolen from the bank, amounting to AMD 41.000.000,
$ 56.503, Euro 2.690 and 44.700 Russian Ruble. Also, golden items are
missing. There were speculations that it would be impossible to commit
the crime without the help of security guards. Today police reports say
that 4 people are suspected in committing the crime, with one policeman
among them. The policeman and one of the group have been arrested.
AMD 12.000.000, $ 6.620, RR 14.000, Euro 500 and 50 pound sterling
is discovered from hiding places in Yerevan and Malishka village. The
preliminary investigation is in process. /Panorama.am/

UNTIL NAGORNO KARABAKH IS RECOGNIZED NO TERRITORIES
WILL BE HANDED OVER: NKR DEFENSE MINISTER S. OHANYAN
Panorama.am
16:34 07/07/06
“Until recognition of NKR we do not plan to hand over any territories
which serve as security zone for Karabakh,” defense minister of
Nagorno Karabakh Seiran Ohanyan told a press conference today.
According to De Facto, S. Ohanyan mentioned that Karabakh exclusively
supports peaceful settlement of the conflict “but Azerbaijan imposed
a war on us and we had to take up military measures.” In his words,
the territories under Karabakh control serve as security zone for
Karabakh to ensure normal functioning of the republic.
Ohanyan also said that deployment of peacekeeping forces also
may be discussed only after the status of Nagorno Karabakh is
decided. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
16:42 07/07/06
TURKISH POLICY TOWARDS ARMENIA CONDEMNED
“To initiate a case against a spiritual leader of a
neighboring country is beyond any international
norms,” Ruben SAFARYAN, expert on Turkey told a debate
today with Constitutional Rights Union chairman Hrant
KHACHATRYAN. It is difficult, of coarse, to call it a
debate since both opponents had similar ideas about
Armenian-Turkish relations.
Both the political scientist and the political actor
condemned Turkish policy towards Armenia,
particularly, outrageous demonstrations of Turk
nationalists against the Armenian spiritual leader.
R. Safaryan thinks that Europe does not make clear
demands upon Turkey to recognize the Genocide.
However, he also said that “we should raise our
problems ourselves and not wait foreign leaders.” H.
Khachatryan thinks the return of West Armenia,
recognition of the Armenian Cause and conducting
referendum there are not realistic. Both think that
the Armenian Genocide must be part of Armenian foreign
policy as it is. “If we do not raise that issue we
lose part of Armenian identity,” R. Safaryan said./Panorama.am/

Elmar Mammadyarov urges German businessmen to make investment in Azerbaijan
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 8 2006
[ 08 Jul. 2006 14:21 ]
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with secretary of
German Defence Minister, Christian Schmidt and secretary of state Ms.
Karin Kortman at the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
He informed Mr. Schmidt of Azerbaijan’s integration to Euroatlantic
arena, its close cooperation with NATO, EU and CE as well as existing
political, economic and democratic process in Azerbaijan and regional
energy and infrastructure projects.
He also touched on the talks on Nagorno Garabagh conflict and said
that agreement in military field signed between Azerbaijan and Germany
in March enables to strengthen the relations and cooperation within
NATO individual partnership plan.
Mr. Mammadyarov stated that relations between Azerbaijan and German
have been strengthened in all fields especially in the economic
sphere and German investors show greater and greater interest in
Azerbaijan and gave information about economic and democratic reforms
in Azerbaijan at the meeting in Ministry of Economic Cooperation
and Development.
Mr. Mammadyarov also met with newly elected members of managing staff
of German-Azerbaijan Forum.
Head of the managing staff, Otto Chauzer, who was a Bundestag member
for a long time, and secretary of state in Helmut Kol’s government,
said that the goals of the forum are to contribute to strengthening
of relations between the two countries in economic, scientific,
cultural, educational and other sphere and to help with recognition
of Azerbaijan in Germany.
The Minister also met with other members of the forum.
On the very same day, Mr. Mammadyarov met with management of German
Sifal Group of Companies, gave information about suitable business
climate for foreign investor in Azerbaijan and invited German
businessmen to make investment in Azerbaijan. /APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Valley Sun, CA
July 8 2007
Dining with Duvall: Summer Picnic in the Park
Lynn Duvall
The word “picnic” entered the English language from either German or
French. The French used the word first in the 1500s to describe a
group of diners who brought their own wine to a restaurant. A hundred
years later, the word appeared again, this time in a dictionary.
The French verb piquer means to peck or pick. Nique translates as
“things of little importance.” Picnics were not held outdoors; they
were more likely to be potlucks where each guest contributed a
special dish. Over time, a picnic became a meal eaten outdoors in
pleasant surroundings.
Sunday afternoon, I made a tour of parks to see what was on the menu
at local picnics. Turned out that the heat and glaring sun kept most
residents at home during the day. Traffic was light, store parking
lots were nearly empty and most parks were deserted.
However, in Crescenta Valley Park the tree canopy provided deep shade
for a host of extended families that had piled the picnic tables with
hearty fare.
I approached a group of ladies relaxing on a blanket. The male family
members were engrossed in a chess game at the picnic table. I didn’t
realize that my big greyhound Baby might appear threatening from a
recumbent position. After I apologized for frightening the ladies
with the dog, I introduced myself. “What’s on the menu for your
picnic, today?” I asked.
“Barbecue,” answered Rozi Hakobyian.
Rozi explained that the whole family had gathered to celebrate the
19th birthday of Sevak and Sarmen Ghazaryan. The twins’ parents, both
sets of grandparents, two sets of aunts and uncles, assorted little
cousins and a brother and his wife were all in attendance. Some
family members lived nearby in La Crescenta, a few were from Tujunga
and the rest made the short drive from Glendale.
I asked if the family came from Iran. “Yes,” Rozi said, “we were born
in Iran, but we returned to our native Armenia and lived there for 30
years.” Rozi is an aunt to the birthday boys on their mother’s side.
She was one of the first of the family to immigrate to America five
years ago. She gestured to the boy’s fraternal aunt; “She is
celebrating her arrival in America one year ago from today.” The
fraternal aunt beamed at me with a huge smile.
Sevak and Sarmen attend Glendale Community College. Sevak works for
Subway and Sarmen is an employee of Video Hut. Rozi said she would be
starting classes at the college in the fall.
In Armenia, Rozi received a bachelor’s degree in chemical
engineering. She said she is uncertain about the path toward work in
that field in America, but she’s pleased that she can study close to
home at the college.
Rozi invited me over to the table to inspect the picnic food. She
wanted to show me the chicken because she couldn’t recall the words
to describe how they’d prepared the poultry.
I am always pleased to make a new friend from Armenia because I know
that hospitality is the hallmark of an Armenian household. In a few
minutes, I had a heaping plate of barbecue meats and grilled
vegetables, a glass of Pepsi and was digging in.
I was hoping for some sarma, as I am a great arbiter of sarma,
lemon-flavored rice wrapped in grape leaves. The texture of the grape
leaves makes the difference between very good and excellent. But,
there was no sarma. I’m still learning the fine points of Mid-Eastern
and Armenian cuisine. Maybe sarma isn’t picnic fare, although my
friends, the Balekjians, serve it on nearly every occasion.
The chicken was ground and formed into a long roll, a bit like a hot
dog. It was mildly seasoned. The pork and lamb were also lightly
seasoned. The best, boneless cuts of the meat from the loin were
grilled to perfection. The simplicity of the preparation permitted
the high quality of the cuts of pork and lamb to shine.
The grilled meats and vegetables were accompanied by whole-wheat
lavash and a good loaf of Armenian bread. The two aunts could not
agree on the green salad ingredients. One claimed Persian cucumbers
were used and the other believed they were plain cucumbers. If you’ve
never tried the short, thin, crisp Persian cucumber, you’ve missed
out on a delicious alternative to the long, fat variety.
Plain cakes studded with walnuts, and tea or coffee, served in tiny
porcelain cups, ended the meal. I had to scoot home because Bob’s
family was en route from the airport for a holiday visit. Rozi helped
me pack up my food, giving me some extra for Bob. What a happy
experience. How fortunate, too, that on the Fourth of July weekend, I
could picnic with a lovely family of new Americans. Hope you had a
great holiday with your family.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 8 2006
Armenian expert’s statement confirms Baku-raised question on illegal
settling occupied Azeri grounds – Azeri Foreign Ministry
Source: Trend
Author: S.Agayeva
08.07.2006
Official Baku is always confident that information twice disseminated
at sessions of UN General Assembly on illegal settling of occupied
Azeri grounds represents the facts, Trend reports quoting Tahir
Tagizadeh, chief of press and information policy with the foreign
Ministry of Azerbaijan.
Tagizadeh commented the statement of Manvel Sarkisyan, expert of
Armenian analytical center “Caucasus”. The statement says that “Armenia
and so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic are implementing the program
for settling freed grounds around Nagorno-Karabakh”. “The program is
implemented at the governmental level with financing from Armenian,
NKR’s state budgets and funds of Armenian diaspora”, expert said,
outlining that the program mainly covers LAchin and Kelbajar areas,
partially Agdam and Jabrayil areas.
“Armenian expert’s statement is the best argument in favor of
Azerbaijan’s position, said Tagizadeh, all lame excuses of Armenians
are just rhetoric. International community shall keep this matter
in the center of attention and such breaking of occupation regime
under Geneva Convention and its additional protocols shall become
the matter of protest worldwide”.

Return of Territories out of Question before NKR Recognition
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.07.2006 16:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We are not going to return territories, which
serve as security zone for Nagorno Karabakh,” NKR Defense Minister,
lieutenant general Seyran Ohanyan stated at a news conference in
Stepanakert. He remarked that Karabakh supports exclusively peaceful
settlement of the conflict.
“Azerbaijan imposed a war on us and we had to solve the problem by
force. Territories controlled by Nagorno Karabakh are not end in
itself, but serve as security zone,” he underscored.
The NKR Defense Minister emphasized that questions of territories and
deployment of peacekeeping forces of an international peacekeeping
contingent should be considered only at the final phase of settlement,
after the core issue – determination of the Nagorno Karabakh status –
is solved. “If there is not decision over the core issue, return of
territories is out of question,” Ohanyan said.
Speaking of the probability of resumption of hostilities within the
context of militarist statements of the Azeri President, he said
that the Azeri party does not wish to launch a war. In his opinion,
militant rhetoric is aimed at testing the public opinion and is aimed
at domestic goals. The Minister said the NKR Defense Army has a plan
of counter measures, aimed at defense. At the same time Ohanyan said,
“If there is an extraordinary situation, the life will show what
everyone is capable of.”
Commenting on the proposal of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed
Forces of Armenia on the need to involve Karabakh detachments in joint
exercises of Russia and Armenia, Ohanyan remarked, the NKR Defense
Army is always ready to take part in these, reports IA De-Facto.

THEY SEEM LIKELY TO RECONSTRUCT SHUSHI
Lragir.am
08 July 06
The delegation of businessmen of Armenia led by the mayor of
Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan is visiting Stepanakert. The delegation
includes the members of the Shushi Revival Foundation. On July 7 the
businessmen had meetings in Shushi and Stepanakert. On the same day
the delegation of the Shushi Revival Foundation led by the president
of the foundation Yervand Zakharyan were received by NKR President
Arkady Ghukasyan. During the talk the reconstruction and strategy of
development of Shushi were discussed.
Yervand Zakharyan mentioned in particular that the foundation is
already working on a series of important program, including the
reconstruction of the town and a four or five-year plan of development,
reconstruction of infrastructures and development, as well as
fundraising and creating jobs in the town. Mr. Zakharyan pointed
to water supply as a prime problem and added that the Foundation
cooperates closely with the NKR government.
The NKR president said the reconstruction of the town is highly
important for the Armenians all over the world, and the town’s fame
as an all-Armenian spiritual, educational and cultural center must
be restored.

Golden Apricot International Cinema Festival to Open in Yerevan July 10
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.07.2006 13:52 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ July 10-15 Golden Apricot Third International Cinema
Festival will be held in Yerevan.
Like the first two the festival will be held under the slogan:
“Armenia: A Crossroad of Civilizations and Cultures.” 92 films
out of 280 presented were selected to participate in the contest
screenings. These films represent 58 countries. According to the Press
Service of the Organization Committee of the Festival, well-known
figures of the world cinema from over 10 countries – Russia, Canada,
France, US, Spain, Germany, Chile, Belgium, Turkey and Italy – will
take part in the cinema forum. Contest films will be nominated for
Fiction Film, Documentary and Armenian Panorama.