ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 30 2006
“ARMENIAN ECONOMY” NATIONAL EXHIBITION TO BE OPEN IN MOSCOW ON JULY 7
IN FRAMEWORK OF EVENTS DEDICATED TO YEAR OF ARMENIA IN RUSSIA
YEREVAN, June 30. /ARKA/. “Armenian Economy” national exhibition will
be opened in Moscow on July 7 in the framework of events dedicated to
the Year of Armenia in Russia.
LOGOS EXPO Center Armenian exhibition-organizing company told ARKA
News Agency that the exposition will be held in “Armenia” pavilion of
the All-Russian Exposition Center and will last till December 31.
During the opening ceremony Armenian side will be presented by the
Assistant to the RA President Vigen Sargsyan, Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan and other officials. The
exhibition is expected to be visited by delegations of various
countries, and the total number of visitors of the All-Russian
Exhibition Centre during the event is forecasted to be about 50-100
thsd people every day.
This long-lasting exhibition will enable to widely present common
tendencies of Armenia’s economic development, as well as products and
services produced and rendered in the country. At the exhibition
scientific and technological achievements and results of innovative
activities will be assigned special place as well.
Among participants of the exhibition are: “Grand Tobacco”, “Grand
Candy”, “Dilijan-Frolova”, “Vedi Alko”, “Bio-Chim”, “Royal-Armenia”,
“Nairit” factory, Union of Armenian Handicrafts, Yerevan Factory of
Champaign Wins, Proshyan Brandy Factory, Yerevan State Medical
University, Yerevan State University, Armenian State Economics
University.
“Armenian Economy” national exhibition is organized by the RA
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development and LOGOS EXPO Center
company and is held under auspices of the RA President Robert
Kocharyan.
LOGOS EXPO Center company running since 1999, is the first private
exhibition company in Armenia and the absolute leader in organizing
many-sphere, specialized industrial, national and international
exhibitions both in the republic and beyond its borders. S.P. -0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 30 2006
FAMILIES OF AIR CRASH VICTIMS FROM ARMENIAN A-320 AIRBUS TO RECEIVE
AMD 1MLN SUPPORT
YEREVAN, June 29. /ARKA/. Every family of the 85 Armenian citizens
killed in the air crash of the Armenian A-320 will be given AMD 1mln
(about $2,400). The press service and public relations department of
the Armenian government made such a decision during yesterday’s
sitting of the government.
The financial support will be provided from the AMD 88.472mln
accumulated on the special account of the treasury of the Armenian
ministry of finance and economy. More AMD 2mln will be given to the
families of two Georgian citizens killed in the air crash.
Besides this, AMD 1.472mln will be earmarked for designing of a
monument for the air crash victims.
The families will receive the financial support in cash.
The Ministry of Finance and Economy was assigned to stop receiving
funds on the temporary and off-budget account of the treasury and
close it after all payments are done. R.O. -0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 30 2006
CONDOLENCE BOOK TO OPEN IN RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA IN CONNECTION
WITH DEATH OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS IN IRAQ
YEREVAN, June 30. /ARKA/. In connection with tragic murder of
collaborators of the Russian Embassy by terrorists in Baghdad, on
June 3 from 11.00 to 17.00 o’clock, the Russian Embassy in Armenia
has opened a condolence book, Press Service of the embassy reports.
The day before the RF State Duma demanded detailed investigation of
murder of collaborators of Russian Embassy in Baghdad and take all
the necessary measures for catching and punishing the criminals.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expects from Iraqi
authorities and Headquarters of multi-national forces to spare no
efforts in order those involved in the crime against Russian citizens
could not avoid punishment.
Collaborators of the Russian Embassy in Iraq died as a result of
terrorist attack in Baghdad on June 3. S.P.-0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 30 2006
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO WITHDRAW CENTRAL DEPARTMENT FOR
FRONTIER DEFENSE FROM FRONTIER TROOPS
YEREVAN, June 30. /ARKA/. The Armenian Government proposes to
withdraw the Central Department for Frontier Defense from the
frontier troops. The press service and public relations department of
the Armenian government reported that the government approved during
yesterday’s sitting the relevant draft amendments to the law “On
Frontier Troops” providing for the abovementioned withdrawal.
The government explains that the current frontier troop’s
headquarters effectively performs the functions of the abovementioned
department.
The amendments also specify the authority of the Commander-in-Chief
of the frontier troops, related particularly to allocation and
demobilization of servicemen.
Besides this, the approved amendments to the law “On Frontier” are
supposed to apply these changes only along the frontier line, not in
the entire frontier zone. The need in these amendments is accounted
for by the territorial peculiarities of Armenia, particularly the
location towns and settlements in the frontier zone.
Both of the draft laws will be submitted to the parliament for
consideration. R.O. -0–

Cyprus Observer, Cyprus
June 30 2006
Enlargement fatigue but only for Turkey
30.06.2006
Showing off to their public, the French government seeks to impose
EU’s `absorption capacity’ as a new condition for further EU
enlargements.
By Umut Uras
It is a regular method for EU member state governments to blame their
own failures on the European Union (EU). Actually it has become a
regular tool for governments to use the EU as a scapegoat.
For example, a government could secretly lobby for a positive
decision in the Council of Ministers through alternative methods,
whereas it could vote against it just to satisfy public opinion. Or
similarly, when a decision is certain according to qualified majority
voting, again it can vote against it only to satisfy public opinion
and increase its reputation. France’s stance towards Turkey’s
membership is a good example.
Absorption capacity
The ‘absorption capacity’ of the EU is regularly quoted by EU leaders
these days, but only for Turkey. In the last gigantic enlargement the
public did not hear much about this additional Maastricht criterion,
because the EU was willing to absorb these countries, including
Poland with a population of 40 million and 20% unemployment. In the
conclusions of the 1993 Copenhagen Summit, it was not defined
properly, an issue the EU leaders are working on after enlarging from
12 to 25 since 1993.
However, after the 2004 Central and Eastern European enlargement the
term has become very popular. The Commission quoted the ‘absorption
capacity’ in the new enlargement strategy publicized in December
2005. And in March 2006, the European Parliament requested a clear
definition of this criterion in its report on the Commission’s
enlargement strategy.
French example of playing to public
France’s stance towards Turkey on the issue of absorption capacity is
a good example how the EU governments are using the EU as a tool to
increase political reputations. It is a known fact that in some EU
countries, most significantly France, Turkey’s membership is not
welcomed. However, it is also obvious that Turkey’s membership of the
EU is in the interest of French businesses. Before the Foreign Direct
Investment boom in Turkey that came after the EU bid finally got
serious, for a few years French firms did the highest investment in
Turkey. Today, the trade level between the two countries is more than
10 billion euros per year. Turkey is also among the target countries
for investment according to statements made by the French Foreign
Trade Minister, Christine Lagarde. France made a huge Airbus deal
with Turkey in the past and is regularly interested in military
weapons bids.
We all saw what happened with the Armenian genocide bill that
awakened a huge reaction in Turkey. The French National Assembly
postponed debate and a controversial bill sponsored by the opposition
Socialist Party until at least October after being threatened with
trade sanctions by Turkey.
At the European Council that took place on 15-16 June, the French
suggested bringing a thorough definition to the absorption capacity
of the EU. It was only fully supported by South Cyprus for obvious
reasons. Even euro-sceptic Denmark rejected bringing an extra
condition for enlargements. As a result, France’s view that the
definition of the EU’s absorption capacity should cover the
democratic, institutional, political and financial ability of the EU
to absorb new members was not shared by the rest of the EU. French
President Jacques Chirac went even further and said that the
political ability of the EU is concerned with the views of the
populations, which should “be able to say if they accept or not.”
This approach provides a new criterion to be a member of the EU, as
there was no public voting for Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and the
other new EU member states, as there will be for Turkey. Southeastern
Balkan states will probably also be included in the deal because of
Turkey, if and when this additional criterion is realized.
Olli Rehn’s statement
Just after the enlargement discussions during the Summit in Brussels,
Olli Rehn, the EU Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, made a
call on Monday to European leaders to promote enlargement to their
public and not to make the enlargement of the EU a scapegoat for
their own policy failures like in the issues of unemployment and
globalisation. He also argued that Europeans are often “more
rational” than their governments, adding that the absorption of the
new member states has been a success story, uniting a Continent
previously divided by the Cold War.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 30 2006
ATAA President: “Azerbaijani friendship society in America has
brought together only 17 Congressmen”

30 June 2006 [15:25] – Today.Az

“It is significant for Azerbaijan to strengthen in America and there
is a need for a serious support from inside of Azerbaijan. We are now
trying to establish relations with the Congress, America’s important
decision-making body.”

“Frankly speaking, Turkey is in better condition than you in terms of
relationships with Congressmen. Turkey’s Friendship Society has
involved 70 congressmen while that of Azerbaijan has involved only 17
congressmen. It is significant to increase this number. Besides, we
intend to work on Turkish-Azeri joint cultural projects. We have had
talks with your Minister for Culture and Tourism. We are going to
organize joint festivals.
As APA reports, Boston Azeri-Turkish Festival will be held after that
instead of Boston Turkish Festival. And the last but the most
important issue is making money…,” Vural Cengiz, president of the
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) stated.
Mr.Jengiz said through the friendship society of Turkey and
Azerbaijan has brought together 87 Congressmen, the reason for not
annulling the Section 907 of Freedom Support Act against Azerbaijan
is related to the fact that in America only a powerful can achieve
his aim not a rightful.
“Injustice decisions are often made against Azerbaijan in most issues
and this process is on. We have launched talks with congressmen
regarding the Section 907 and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Before
arriving in Baku, I presented a congressman from Miami with a number
of materials on Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Garabagh and other issues. Our
talks were fruitful. He is now one of the members of the Turkish
friendship group,” the ATAA president said.
Jengiz also said that they need to regularly work with the
congressmen but they cannot do it with 2/3 of the body. According to
the ATAA president the reason for Armenians being powerful in America
is their having a lot of money.
Stressing the importance of promoting to Turkish and Azerbaijani
businessman in America, Jengiz said they intend to organize Turkish
businessmen’s visit to Azerbaijan, “We would do more if we had the
Azerbaijan’s Diaspora policy. Turkey does not take this matter more
serious. Azerbaijan has achieved much in this field. The main thing
is that this is the state’s policy.”
Jengiz said they also intend to organize Jewish Diaspora delegates
visit to Azerbaijan and have much closer relations with them. He
noted that the Assembly is implementing some joint projects with the
Turkish government to get financial allocation adding the Diaspora
work is funded by individuals. The Assembly president said he gets
salary in the cost of US$100.000 per month in the company he owns and
spends 50% of this sum to the Diaspora work.
The Assembly has collected $500 thousand now. In addition, the
donated money is spent on the Diaspora. Jengiz said this sum is many
times less than the money an Armenian businessman spends on lobbying.
He said they study the experience of Jewish and Armenian Diaspora
adding that Azerbaijan and Turkey is on the last stage of achieving
success in Diaspora work.

URL:

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

June 30 2006

OSCE Yerevan Office presents its views on human rights to secondary
school teachers
YEREVAN, 30 June 2006 – An OSCE human rights expert shared her
knowledge today with 55 secondary school teachers who are taking a
year-long class on human rights.
Silvia Pogolsa, a Human Rights Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan,
delivered a lecture as part of the course, organized annually by the
non-governmental organization Armenian Constitutional
Right-Protective Centre.
That centre has organized a Human Rights School since 1996, and 405
participants, mainly secondary school teachers, have so far taken
part in the programme, which includes 11 months of distance learning
and one month of intensive education.
“OSCE considers human rights and democracy explicit elements of the
overall security framework, assigning them the same level of
importance as politico-military and economic security issues,”
Pogolsa said. “We believe education in and for human rights is one of
the effective means of creating peaceful and stable societies.”
The Office donated the latest OSCE publications on human rights and
good governance to the NGO’s Human Rights Library, which consists of
six libraries in different Armenian towns.
The lecture was part of the Office’s human rights education and
public awareness raising programme, which started in 2001. The Office
also has produced documentary movies on human rights issues and
organized public screenings of those movies. It is preparing a series
of Public Service Announcements on torture, tolerance and
non-discrimination and other human rights issues to be broadcast on
national TV-stations starting in September 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Persian League, Iran
June 30 2006

Teymourian’s performance rakes in the offers
Fri 06-30-2006
AFC – Upcoming Iranian star Andranik Teymourian is flooded with
offers from European clubs after his powerful performance in the
World Cup.
The 23-year-old Iranian of Armenian descent won hearts back home in
Iran with his courageous approach and never-say-die attitude, and
came close to scoring for Team Melli against Portugal in the match
they lost 2-0.
And, Iranian fans were not the only ones sitting up and taking notice
of the midfielder’s outrageous talent.
Speaking exclusively to , Teymourian confirmed that
the club he currently plays for – Iran Pro League outfit Abo Moslem –
had already been approached by several European clubs.
`My club has already received offers (for me) from the Bundesliga,
Italy, Turkey and the Emirates,’ said Teymourian, who has a one-year
contract with Abo Moslem.
`The decision will be made by my club and I will be talking to them
(Abo Moslem) shortly on this issue.’
`Going to Europe is a dream come true for a football player like me,’
added Teymourian.
Teymourian started his football career at Tehran’s Ararat Club and,
after a series of age group competitions, caught the eye in Iran’s
third place finish at the Islamic Solidarity Games.
It was only a matter of time before he broke through to the senior
ranks as coach Branko Ivankovic handed the promising midfielder his
international debut against Libya last August. Since then Teymourian
has made the defensive midfielder’s position his own in 10 starts for
Team Melli.
`I always believed that I would be a regular player in Germany,’ said
Teymourian. `I trained hard and was inspired. When people say I got
my chance because of injuries to Nikbakht Vahedi and Fereydoon Zandi
it doesn’t matter as I would have been better prepared had they been
fit.’
The midfielder said the key to his playing uninhibited football
against vaunted rivals was his fitness. `I took great care about my
sleep and food and worked hard on my fitness. I knew that I had to
make the most of this opportunity.’
The Iranian refused to find fault with Ivankovic’s tactics at the
World Cup, saying the team could have done better with a little bit
of luck. `I regret our elimination. Tactical issues are none of my
business. I am a player and should follow the rules. But I wish we
were more lucky.’
The one abiding memory for Teymourian in this World Cup is decidedly
the fierce shot which shook the woodwork in the match against
Portugal. `Yes…it was offside but I enjoy it when I remember it. It
was my biggest slice of action out there!’
`But the goodbye was as painful as it was untimely. I will never
forget the moment when Farakki (Hossein; assistant coach) came to me
and said `don’t cry…this is football, we should accept it…we can show
our ability in next year’s AFC Asian Cup and in the 2010 World Cup.
The world has not come to an end’.’

photo:
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Kathimerini, Greece
June 30 2006
Genocide
A nationalist Turkish lawyer said yesterday that he has petitioned
prosecutors to bring an Armenian religious leader to trial for
`insulting Turkishness.’ Karekin II, whose official title is
Catholicos of All Armenians, made a visit to the Greek Orthodox
leader in Istanbul last week. While calling for improved relations
between the two countries, he repeated Armenia’s long-held view that
the Turks committed genocide against Armenians. Lawyer Kemal
Kerincsiz asked an Istanbul prosecutor to bring charges against
Karekin. (AP)

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 30 2006
Withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from conflict zone would relax
tension in region – US Amb at OSCE Minsk Group

Source: Trend
Author: R.Abdullayev

30.06.2006

The Co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group have led the peaceful dialogue to a
certain stage after which the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
should make a decision, Mathew Bryza, the USA state secretary advisor
on Europe and Eurasia, co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, told in his
interview with Radio Liberty, Trend reports.
`My words may urge people to create a condition for healthy debates
in the region,’ told Brysa.
`I am surprised not at the debates, but at the issue that several
persons who are not familiar with the recent statement of co-chairs
of Minsk group in Vienna gave a rapid reaction to the meeting. In the
statement of co-chair, everything was stated obviously, but my
statement was shorter and common,’ Bryza added.
Bryza answered the question `May you peaceful plan statement be
considered part of the strategy on beginning of debates?’ that `May
be yes or may be no. I only gave information on happening events. The
document offered to the Permanent Council of OSCE is open for
society.’
`Co-chairs of Minsk Group used all their abilities and energy to
prepare a `framework agreement’ where the main principles of
settlement found their reflections. The president need time to make a
decision on the agreement,’ stressed Bryza. I’m very energetic and
familiar with the leaders enough. We will continue working with them
and don’t state that the process has been ceased forever. However, we
want to note that the dialogue was held till the definite level,
after which the heads of the conflict countries should themselves
take a resolution.
Touching on the contradictory statements on the conducting of
referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, American co-chair noted
that the sides couldn’t come to an agreement on main principles of
the solution. Therefore, both presidents take responsibility that no
agreement was reached up to now. `I cannot say which president takes
greater responsibility. The presidents may declare that an agreement
was reached on the main principles or may announce that the agreement
was made changes and a packet plan will be prepared,’ told new
co-chair.
At the same time Bryza noted that he withdrawal of the Armenian armed
forces from the conflict zone, undoubtedly, increase the tension in
the region. `Therefore, the issue is important element of the major
principles of resolution. However, stating to Armenians that withdraw
the arms from the region and it will relax the tension in the region
and we will achieve the desired. The Armenians will go to it, if they
will receive anything in exchange. That is the major principle. The
experts are right -the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces will
relax the tension. But they should receive something in exchange.
Therefore, the heads of state ought to take a difficult resolution.
Bryza noted that the demilitarization of the region will be
accompanied with national voting or referendum on future status of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The problem is linked with coordination of the time parameters for
withdrawal or re-dislocation of Armenian forces with the status of
Karabakh. That’s the major problem complicating the process.
In the end Bryza voiced his hope that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
will be included in the agenda of the meeting of G8 in St-Petersburg.
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the issue will
be under discussion. `We’d like the issue to be included in the
agenda of the meeting,’ the adviser to the US Secretary of State in
Europe and Eurasia, said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress