ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/05/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) 10,000 Attend Navasartian Closing Ceremony 2) Vatican Opposes Turkey Joining European Union 3) Minsk Group Co-Chairmen Issue Annoucement 4) Kocharian Begins Official Iran Visit 1) 10,000 Attend Navasartian Closing Ceremony VAN NUYS, CaliforniaMore than 10,000 community members flocked to the Birmingham High School field Tuesday for the closing ceremonies of the 31st annual Homenetmen Navasartian Games, which culminated in a parade of athletes and scouts and an impressive display of fireworks. The athletic field and the entire high school was filled with Homenetmen members, supporters and community members who chose to mark the July 4 holiday at what has become a California-Armenian community tradition. The program began with announcers Nora Tchaparian (Armenian) and Patyl Kasparian (English) officially declaring the commencement of the parade and the closing ceremonies. The Homenetmen Regional Scouting Council members escorted the procession of honored guests led by Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, 31st Navasartian honorary chairs Mr.& Mrs. Hovsep and Elizabeth Boyadjian, "Exemplary Homenetmen Member" Samuel Megerdichian and Homenetmen Regional Executive chairman Raffi Ispendjian. Among the guests attending the ceremonies were Armenia's Deputy Consul General Arthur Madoyan, Homenetmen Central Committee member Mheir Davtian and Manuel Marcellian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western Region Central Committee member Hagop Tufenkian, Glendale School Board member Greg Krikorian, Burbank School Board member and the Democratic nominee for the 43rd Assembly district Paul Krekorian, as well as representatives of community organizations. Complete coverage of the 31st Navasartian Games will be featured in the Weekend Edition of Asbarez. 2) Vatican Opposes Turkey Joining European Union VATICAN CITY (AKI)According to the Head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Cardinal Walter Kasper, the recent stabbing of a Catholic priest in the northern Turkish city of Samsun shows that Turkey is not ready for European Union membership. "It is not the right moment for Turkey to join the European Union. What is still missing [in Turkey], is a secular state capable of assuring real religious freedom, and this is a long process which needs time," he told Milan Daily Corriere della Sera on Tuesday. Referring also to the stabbing by a Turkish suspect of French Priest Pierre Brunissen late on Sunday, Cardinal Kasper said the Catholic church believes that "every act of violence committed in the name of God is an insult to Him and to every religion." In Turkey "the church is not even entitled to private property, there is some tolerance, but no real freedom," explained Cardinal Kasper. "The Turkish state administers religion and that is not right. However, it is not just a problem of regulations, it is a mentality issue, and this cannot change quickly," he added. "The atmosphere is pervaded by suspicion and xenophobia, it is not just a problem of individual acts of aggression towards Catholics. Islamic fundamentalism is growing in Istanbul and there is hostility toward foreigners," he explained. According to the cardinal, education is a key issue and the authorities should encourage young Turks to "look at present times with new eyes." 3) Minsk Group Co-Chairmen Issue Annoucement YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan, Armenpress)The co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Monday issued another statement regarding the Karabakh peace process, reiterating the group's position that the principles proposed as a result of a two-year long negotiation process were the best package for the conflict resolution. "On June 22 the Minsk Group Co-Chairs reported to the OSCE Permanent Council on the results of the past months of negotiations between the sides on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They reported on their intensive mediation activities over the past seven months aimed at achieving agreement on the basic principles for a settlement. These included three visits of the Co-Chairs to Baku and Yerevan, three times together and several more times separately, two meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and two summits between Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev, first in Rambouillet in February and then in Bucharest in early June. In addition, a joint Mission of Representatives of the Co-Chair countries at the Deputy Foreign Minister level traveled to the region in May. Throughout their mediation efforts, the Co-Chairs stressed, as always, the belief of their nations and of the international community that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved in no other way than a peaceful one. They also stressed the need for the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to prepare their publics for peace and not for war," the annoucement read "The mediation efforts of the Co-Chairs resulted in the proposal to Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian of a set of fair, balanced, and workable core principles that could pave the way for the two sides to draft a far-reaching settlement agreement. The principles are based on the redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts (including a corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh), demilitarization of those territories, and a referendum or population vote - at a date and in a manner to be decided through further negotiations - to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Deployment of an international peacekeeping force and a joint commission for implementation of the agreement would be established, and international assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction, and resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. Certain interim arrangements for Nagorno-Karabakh would allow for interaction with providers of international assistance. The sides would renounce the use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral security guarantees and assurances would be put in place. Regarding the vote to determine the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Co-Chairs stressed that suitable pre-conditions for such a vote would have to be achieved so that the vote would take place in a non-coercive environment in which well-informed citizens have had ample opportunity to consider their positions after a vigorous debate in the public arena. "Unfortunately, at their most recent meeting in Bucharest the Presidents did not reach agreement on these principles. The Co-Chairs continue to believe that the proposals developed through the past two years of negotiations hold the best potential for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the conflict. They strongly believe that it is now time for the two Presidents to take the initiative for achieving a breakthrough in the settlement process based on these principles, and they stand ready to assist the parties to conclude an agreement if the Presidents indicate they are prepared to do so. Although no additional meetings between the sides under the auspices of the Co-Chairs are planned for the immediate future, they will be ready to reengage if the parties decide to pursue the talks with the political will that has thus far been lacking." Armenpress reported Wednesday that a senior Azeri official reaffirmed official Baku's willingness to continue talks with Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution option based on the so-called "stage and package" approach. Tair Tagizade, head of the Azeri foreign affairs ministry's press office, told the Russian Itar-Tass news agency that Azerbaijan perceives the first stage of the peace process comprising of 8 to 10 elements which include the pullout of Armenian troops from regions surrounding the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh, demining of the front-line, return of refugees, ensuring their security, and restoration of communications. The second stage of talks, Tagizade said, must focus on defining the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. He added that this is possible only after there is restoration of the ethnic composition of Nagorno-Karabakh to that of prior to 1988, ensuring the security of Armenian and Azeri communities of Nagorno-Karabakh in line with the Azerbaijani constitution. Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov was quoted by the Turan news agency on Monday saying Baku has never agreed to a type of solution that would culminate in a referendum on the Nagorno-Karabakh status. Azimov said Baku believes such a vote should instead take place on Azerbaijan's entire internationally recognized territory. "That is reflected in the Azerbaijani constitution and the country's leadership does not intend to revise its opinion," he said. 4) Kocharian Begins Official Iran Visit TEHRAN (Armenpress)Armenian President Robert Kocharian was officially welcomed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at his presidential office on Wednesday. After the welcoming ceremonies, the two presidents spoke privately, and then presided over the first round of official talks with the countries' delegations. President Ahmadinejad, during his opening remarks, expressed hope that Kocharian's visit will be another important step to help boost bilateral contacts. Kocharian, in his turn, said progress was marked after his previous visit to Iran. The Armenian delegation includes Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian, and other top officials. During his two-day stay, Kocharian is scheduled to hold separate meetings with senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Turkey Concerned About Iran’s Attitude – Turkish National Security Council (MGK) Secretary General
Author: À.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
(Zaman) – “Turkey is concerned about Iran’s position about the nuclear
weapons”, Turkish National Security Council (MGK) Secretary General
Yigit Alpogan said.
In an interview with the Dutch daily “De Volkskrant”, Alpogan stressed
that the Middle East is an unstable region, and said that Turkey is
closely monitoring the developments.
Alpogan noted that the developments in Iraq is another matter causing
concern, and stated that any negative development in the region may
cause a universal problem, reports Trend.
Regarding the terrorist organization PKK Alpogan said that Turkey will
never consider PKK as an interlocutor and never sit at a negotiation
table with it, and pointed out that Turkey will not follow Spanish
government’s example (concerning ETA).
Alpogan said that it is also wrong to compare the terrorist
organization PKK with ETA.
Stating that the terrorist organization PKK is trying to divide
Turkey and posing a big threat against Turkey, Alpogan said that
Turkey is carrying out a two-folded fight against this threat. “On
one side Turkey is trying to eradicate terrorism by military means,
on the other side it is trying to improve economic conditions and
living standards of the people in the Southeastern Anatolia Region”,
he emphasized.
Touching on Armenian claims, Alpogan said that this country should
first give up its genocide allegations, and stop lying to its own
people.
Alpogan recalled that Armenia does not recognize the agreement signed
in 1921 which draws the borders, and has territorial demands from
Turkey (in the Eastern Anatolia Region).
–Boundary_(ID_H+TeQ+W77RByDZnT0HKMiA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FIRED AT OSCE REPRESENTATIVES HOLDING MONITORING
Azeri press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
Under the mandate of OSCE chairman in-office personal representative,
the monitoring aimed at holding in Marzili village of Aghdam and in
the direction of Kuropatkia village of Khojavend, borderline of the
troops have been delayed.
Garabagh bureau of APA reports that OSCE representatives held
monitoring in Marzili village of Aghdam at first. Monitoring was
conducted there normally. Then OSCE representatives started for
direction of Kuropatkina village of Khojavend region. While they
were in the territory, Armenian side fired in the direction of OSCE
representatives. The bullets were passed across the representatives.
Fortunately, they were not aimed. After that OSCE chairman in-office
Andrzey Kasprzyk made decision on stopping the monitoring. As a result
monitoring delayed. No information is given on continuation of the
monitoring tomorrow.
It should be noted that the monitoring from the Azerbaijani side has
been planned by OSCE chairman in-office personal representative field
assistants Imre Palatinius and Jiri Aberle, in then opposite side
of the borderline of Azerbaijan known in international level OSCE
chairman-in-office Andrzey Kasprzyk, his field assistants, Gunter
Folk, Peter Kinin. The monitoring was planned to be held related to
the fire in the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROSECUTORS CLASSIFY ATTACKS IN MOSCOW AS HATE CRIMES
By Anton Troianovski
Concord Monitor, NH
July 4 2006
Stabbings Initially Were Labeled ‘Hooliganism’
Prosecutors in Russia said yesterday that they are investigating the
weekend stabbings of five ethnic minorities as hate crimes.
Four ethnic Armenians and one Azerbaijani were attacked by about
15 assailants at a subway station Saturday, said Sergei Marchenko,
a spokesman for the Moscow prosecutor’s office. The office initially
said only two people were hurt in the attack and that it was being
investigated as “hooliganism,” not a hate crime.
Russia has seen a wave of hate crimes in recent years, with hundreds
of attacks reported, including many on dark-skinned immigrants from
former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus Mountains region.
Rights activists say hate groups are emboldened by authorities’ mild
approach to prosecuting hate crimes, with neo-Nazi and extremist
literature sold freely.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian condemned the attacks
and urged Russia to do more to head off a rising tide of violent
xenophobia.
“This is a widespread and continuing phenomenon in Russia,”Oskanian
said. “The Russian authorities need to take serious steps to thwart it,
otherwise such incidents will be a serious threat to Russia itself.”
Meanwhile, three suspects in the Saturday stabbing of a Kazakh
citizen were arrested for a racially motivated crime, the Interfax
news agency reported.
Also Saturday, two Uzbek citizens were hospitalized with multiple
stab wounds after being attacked in southwest Moscow, Interfax said.
Alexander Brod, who heads the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, said
the surge in attacks might be tied to two high-profile conferences
that opened in the capital yesterday before a summit of the Group of
Eight major industrialized nations that begins next week in St.
Petersburg.
“On the eve of two such important events, it’s quite possible that
Moscow’s nationalist radicals demonstrated their aggressiveness to
announce their presence,” Brod said.
Interfax quoted an Armenian community leader, Ara Abramian, as saying
the attacks were “a direct provocation before the G-8 meeting,”
and sharply criticized Moscow law enforcement for failing to prevent
such assaults.
“I can’t understand how big groups of skinheads can walk around the
Moscow metro and freely attack people with (knives) in the center of
Moscow in broad daylight,” he said.

ART BRINGS YOUTH TOGETHER IN GEORGIA
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
Reuters, UK
July 4 2006
Photocredit: Keti Nozadze World Vision MEERO,
More than 150 young people from different ethnic backgrounds celebrated
8 months of working together through ‘Arts and Crafts’ by holding
an exhibition and sale of their traditional works in the Georgian
capital Tbilisi at the end of last month.
During the last 8 months, youth from Azeri, Armenia, Georgian and
Russian origins attending World Vision Georgia Youth Centers across
the country have taken art class and developed craftmaking skills.
They seized the unique opportunity to express themselves, to learn
other traditions, and developed their own, as well as creating possible
source of income through the sale of their artworks.
The ‘Arts and Crafts’ Project aims to support reintegration process
of socially vulnerable and ethnically diverse youth through art and
cultural ties.
“Art is the best tool to address any social problem including poverty
and marginalization” says project manager Anna Mgaloblishvili, who
sees the project as a strong contributing power to further develop
of different ethnic traditions and peaceful interaction of cultures
in Georgia.
Traditional Georgian art of stone carving, the Armenian art of
‘Khachkara,’ the ancient art of enamel work and other arts of master
jewelry-makers are the most popular classes among the youth.
“I make traditional rings and earrings for my friends, art classes
taught me how to make them, and my friends happier” says Keti from
Telavi Youth Centre. Keti also helps mother at home to make valuable
sewing to sell and boost the family income.
World Vision Georgia and Tbilisi Art Academy have also ratified
a memorandum of future cooperation to increase the craft making
resources in the centers.
The project has significantly popularized traditional art among youth
in 7 cities in Georgia and contributed to the further cultural growth
of the communities.
World Vision Georgia’s “arts and crafts” project, supported by World
Vision Germany is for youth interested in art and craft making to
increase their future employment skills.

OSCE MONITORING RELATED TO FIRE IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN BY ARMENIA DELAYED
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
Close to Marzili village of Aghdam and in the direction of Khojavend
region, in the borderline of the troops, according to the mandate
of OSCE chairman in-office personal representative, the monitoring
aimed to hold today, has been delayed.
OSCE chairman in-office personal representative and field assistants
have not visited the territories where the monitoring will be held.
Garabagh bureau of APA has reported quoting Aghdam, Agjabedi,
Terter and Khojavend region executive power heads. According to the
information, OSCE representatives did not give information about it
to Region Executive Power. Azerbaijan Defense Ministry press service
has told APA that no information on the result of monitoring has
entered them.
It should be noted that the monitoring from the Azerbaijani side has
been planned by OSCE chairman in-office personal representative field
assistants Imre Palatinius and Jiri Aberle, in then opposite side
of the borderline of Azerbaijan known in international level OSCE
chairman-in-office Andrzey Kasprzyk, his field assistants, Gunter
Folk, Peter Kinin. The monitoring was planned to be held related to
the fire in the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenians.

BRIT JOURNALIST THOMAS DE WAAL WHO COVERED CHECHNYA BARRED FROM RUSSIA
By Dominic Ponsford
Press Gazette, UK
July 4 2006
A British journalist known for his coverage of Chechnya has been
barred entry to Russia.
According to Reuters, former BBC and Times journalist Thomas de Waal
had been due to attend a presentation on a Russian translation of
his book on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Reuters reported that de Waal was refused entry in order to assist
the Russian authorities in “securing state security”.
He told Reuters: “”This clearly has to be because of the other main
thing that I write about, which is Chechnya.”

REGULAR PHASE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH NEGOTIATIONS SEEMS TO FAIL
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Turkey are preparing for
4th phase of the preliminary negotiations aiming at normalization of
bilateral relations. The Press-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Turkey, Namig Tan informed at weekly press-conference.
Reminding the failure of the previous three phases of negotiations
because of destructive position and statement of fictitious “genocide”
of Armenia, Namig Tan said that currently there is a little hope
for progress. He said that the Prime-Minister of Turkey, Receb
Tayyib Erdogan, the leader of CHP, Deniz Baykal and the Turkish
Parliament uphold Turkish proposal concerning establishment of
the joint commission composed of Turkish and Armenian historians
for exploring the “genocide” issue, but Armenia, to the contrary,
reinforced propaganda of fictitious “genocide”.
Namig Tan, meaning the Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, highlighted that
equally with bilateral relations with Turkey, Armenia has serious
regional problems. He stressed that the official Iravan should take
more constructive approach to its solution.
–Boundary_(ID_iRW2+C10Vmp9KProy0rK3A)- –

ARMENIANS LIVING IN GEORGIA BEGAN TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
§±§â§Ñ§ Ó§a §£§í§Ò§a§& #xE2;§Ñ, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
The regular congress of “The United Javakhk” Organization of
Armenians living in Samtskhe district ended with demands to Georgian
Government. As before, the congress made anti-Georgian slogans, and
also demand to grant the status of autonomy and the special status
to Armenian language. Such requirements, including protection of
the rights of Armenians living in Javakhetia, at times more radical
statements were made repeatedly. But this time the Georgian authorities
did not give any reaction.
In connection with that the Georgian community perceives negatively
an indifferent position of Georgian authorities to Armenian
separatists. At last, the Georgian authorities seem to be liberal
towards Armenians. Georgian mass media remarks that they should be
careful towards Armenians flow to Adjaria in connection with beginning
of holiday season and accentuate particularly the signboards of names
of caf¨¦-bars in the Black Sea resorts of the country are already
written in Armenian language.
Georgian intelligentsia put a fair question: who can guarantee that
Armenians, giving the oldest Georgian songs as their songs in Germany,
won’t call Batumi and Akhalkalaki as Armenian cities?
–Boundary_(ID_bHI8a21UxLmKnS5z91a3vQ)–

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DUE IN TEHRAN
Fars News Agency, Iran
July 4 2006
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Armenian President Robert Kocharian is
due to arrive in Tehran Wednesday morning.
The visit takes place at the invitation of the Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who will extend an official welcome to Kocharian
at the presidential office tomorrow morning.
The Armenian President is scheduled to attend meetings with
different Iranian officials, including President Ahmadinejad,
Expediency Council Chairman Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Speaker of
the Islamic Consultative Assembly Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Supreme National Security Council
Secretary Ali Larijani, to discuss bilateral relations and exchange
views about different issues of mutual interest.
The two sides will also sign several cooperation agreements at the
end of Koucharian’s visit to Iran.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress