ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT ON AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED LANDS WILL BE BROUGHT TO LORD JOHNSON’S ATTENTION – MP GANIRA PASHAYEVA
Author: R. Abdullayev
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 27 2006
Members of Azeri delegation to PACE are going to bring to attention
of Lord Johnson, head of PACE subcommittee for Nagorno-Karabakh,
the facts of illegal settlement of Azerbaijan’s occupied grounds and
deliberate firing Azerbaijan’s cultural and historical monuments by
Armenians, Trend reports quoting MP Ganira Pashayeva, member of Azeri
delegation to PACE.
“This issue is quite actual and relevant information will be submitted
to Lord Johnson”, Pashayeva noted.
Alongside, Azeri MP said there is no change in session date. “The
session will take place June 29, as planned”, she added.

40 MEMBERS OF PACE SUPPORTED IDEA FOR NEW RESOLUTION ON NK
Author: R. Abdullayev
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 27 2006
Recommendations for working out the draft of PACE resolution on illegal
settlement on Azerbaijan’s occupied lands signed by 40 members of
Assembly have been submitted to authorities of PACE, Trend reports
quoting Ganira Pashayeva, member of Azeri delegation to PACE.
“In the closest days PACE will unambiguously state its position on this
matter. The most important is how Assembly’s position will be stated”,
– Azeri MP said, underlining that members of Azeri delegation provided
authorities of PACE with full; information on this matter.
“We have enough facts and documents to reveal Armenia’s illegal
policy on modifying the map of Azerbaijan”, Pshayeva said, stating
he satisfaction with support of Azerbaijan’s position in PACE.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, FOREIGN MINISTER TO DISCUSS KARABAKH IN WASHINGTON
Yerkir
28.06.2006 17:24
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “Karabakh Conflict: Peace Prospects” conference
will be held on June 28 at the United States Peace Institute in
Washington. Nagorno Karabakh Republic National Assembly Speaker Ashot
Ghulian and Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosian will be the keynote
speakers at the conference.
As reported by the Radio Liberty, the conference is to discuss issues
as whether there still is time for signing a peace accord, what is
needed to bring the peace talks to a conclusion, how can the US help
the process as well as issues related to refugees.
“The visit was planned long before the recent events,” Ghulian was
quoted by the radio station as saying. “We arrived in Washington
yesterday and only hours later met with OSCE Minsk Group’s US co-chair
Mathew Bryza. The meeting was informative to us, we had a lot to say
to each other. I believe we succeeded to make the initial exchange
of information.”
When asked to comment on Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian’s statement
that the Armenian and Azeri presidents have reached an agreement on
the Karabakh status referendum, Ghulian said, “I believe the Armenian
foreign minister’s statement is more than explicit and there is no
need for further comments.”

REPRESENTATIVES OF AATA VISITED MONUMENT OF EX-AZERI PRESIDENT AND MARTYRS’ AVENUE
Author: S.Ilhamgizi
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 27 2006
The delegation headed by the president of Assembly of American-Turkish
Association (AATA) Chengiz Vurulan visited the monument of ex-Azeri
president Heydar Aliyev and Martyrs’ Avenue.
Besides, the delegation put a bunch of flowers in front of the grave
of Turkish soldiers who became martyr in the fight for the freedom
of Azerbaijan at the beginning of XX century.
The primary goal of the visit is to get familiar with Azerbaijan,
collect information about results of economic development programs
realized in the country, and about Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The
delegation is planning to hold meetings with the chairman of the State
Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad (SCWALA) Nazim
Ibrahimov, minister of culture and tourism Abulfaz Garayav, Turkish
ambassador to Azerbaijan Turan Morali and other senior officials.

GEORGE SOROS REJECTS ACCUSATIONS OF FINANCING REVOLUTIONS IN POST-SOVIET SPACE
Author: A.Aleskerov
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 27 2006
George Soros, currently in Turkey, led a news conference in Conrad
hotel in Istanbul, sharing his vision of the processes going worldwide,
Cumhurýyet reports.
Trend’s special correspondent reports from Turkey, Soros rejected
the accusations of being a sponsor and organizer of various revolts
in a post-Soviet space. He said these accusations are fabricated by
Russian propaganda machine. “Revolution in Ukraine scared Russia and
instead of ruling the people correctly they blame me”,- he said.
Speaking on situation on South Caucasus, Soros, stating the conclusions
of Open Society Institute, indicated Armenia’s corruption as greater
than that in Georgia. He said ‘we would love to help Armenia but the
government shall wish it’.
Mr Soros also criticized US President’s policy that ‘opened a war
on terrorism and directed us to wrong side’. In his opinion, the war
will go on and on and weaken US positions worldwide.
–Boundary_(ID_qR8lvpk4wyxws71KAVXIpA) —

KOCHARIAN RECEIVES WORLD BOXING CHAMPION VAKHTANG DARCHINIAN
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 27 2006
YEREVAN, June 27. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian received
today world boxing champion, IBF and IBO, Vic (Vakhtang) Darchinian
and his first coach Vazgen Badalyan.
The press service of the Armenian President reported that Kocharian
wished luck to the Armenian boxer, saying that the fact that Armenian
names appear in the professional boxing is pleasant. According to
him, every success achieved is an example for inspiration for many
sportsmen.
In his turn, Darchinian informed the president of the upcoming programs
and planned fights. He said that he is going to open a fight club
in Vanadzor that will be aimed at preserving beautiful traditions
of the Armenian boxing school and provision of the future victorious
progress of Armenian boxers.
Armenian boxer Vic Darchinian resides in Australia and is the champion
for IBF and IBO qualification. He gained 26 wins in 26 fights; 21 of
them were knockouts.
On June 3, 2006, Darchinian again defended the title of the world
champion for IBF qualification under the weight category up to 50.8kg
during the fight against Louis Maldonado ranking 8th in the IBF rating.
Darchinian was awarded the title of the champion in professional
boxing for the first time in the history of the Armenian sport.
Though the well-known boxer represents Australia, his every fight is
preceded by the music of Armenian composer Ara Gevorgyan and hoisting
of the Armenian flag.

IS THE MAP OF TERRITORIES TO RETURN READY?
Lragir.am
28 June 06
Aram Gaspari Sargsyan, the leader of the Democratic Party, continued
the revelations of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza.
Announcing that Bryza told what everyone knows, Aram Gaspari Sargsyan
said it is not all.
“At the moment the map of the territories that Armenia is gong to
return to Azerbaijan is included in the document of the talks. The
places where the peacekeeping forces will be deployed are already
marked on the map,” stated Aram Gaspari Sargsyan, telling the news
reporters not to ask about the source. Aram Sargsyan says the statement
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia affirmed that they are
willing to accept it, but Azerbaijan is against. And Azerbaijan is
against the conditions because they wetted its appetite, thinks Aram
Gaspari Sargsyan. He says it is not strange that Azerbaijan rejects
conditions, which are so favorable for them.
“Look how the statement of the Foreign Ministry alleges that the
corridor between Armenia and Karabakh is discussed. It means that
this is the best way. I simply demand that Mr. Kocharyan declassify
the content of the document for us to be able to discuss it together,
unbiased and in own interests,” demands Aram Sargsyan.
The leader of the Democratic Party asserts that the NKR president
will never accept it. He also reminds the statements of the leaders of
Yerkrapah not to give up a strip of land. “Therefore the situation is
going to be so tense that we are going to face another February 1998,
and I think it is the most probable scheme. Or Mr. Kocharyan will
unbridle unprecedented repressions to suppress the surge which will
rise in case these agreements are brought into being,” says the leader
of the Democratic Party.

400 L VODKA FOR GOLDEN APRICOT
Lragir.am
28 June 06
The guests of the International Film Festival Golden Apricot will be
treated to vodka, produced by one of the sponsors of the festival.
The organizers of the festival confess theirs is not Class A. For
Class A, their dream, they need a budget of 3-5 million dollars. The
organizers of the festival, which will take place on July 10-15,
have already given several news conferences but declined to tell how
much their budget is this year. It is only known that the government
allocated 50 million drams. Besides, several companies sponsor the
festival. Thanks to sponsors, the program of the festival includes
a show of international feature films, a show of international
documentary films and a show of films entitled “Armenian Panorama”. On
the days of cinema in our country, renowned directors Artavazd
Peleshian, Robert Gedikian and others will give masterclasses. At
the end of the festival a press-cocktail is planned with the media
and guests.

NATO ASKS QUESTIONS TO ARMENIA
Lragir.am
28 June 06
On June 28 Aram Gaspari Sargsyan, the leader of the Democratic Party,
told details of the visit of the NATO delegation to Armenia last
week. The delegation of NATO including 17 people visited different
ministries, from the Ministry of Energy to the Ministry of Defense.
But Aram Gaspari Sargsyan’s information is about the round-table
meeting at the parliament, in which the representatives of the
Committee of Defense and the Committee of External Relations
participated. Aram Sargsyan affirms that the NATO delegates put the
questions definitely and openly.
“They offered five questions: explain what your complementary policy
is, the representatives of NATO say. Second, take into account that
the way to the European Union passes via NATO. Third, who are you
afraid of in NATO? Four, you cannot be in NATO and somewhere else
simultaneously. Eventually, are you with NATO or with Russia? This
was in Yerevan and I think this is political coercion,” says Aram
Gaspari Sargsyan. It is coercion since it is uttered now when Armenia
announces that NATO membership is not a foreign political priority.

CBA CHAIRMAN: TOP AGENDA IN ARMENIA’S CRACKDOWN ON MONEY LAUNDERING IS TO BUILD UP APPROPRIATE BODIES’ CAPACITY
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 27 2006
YEREVAN, June 27. /ARKA/. The top agenda in Armenia’s crackdown on
money laundering and terrorism financing is to build up appropriate
bodies’ capacity, Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Central Bank of
Armenia, said Tuesday at a seminar focused on money laundry.
In his words, high-qualified specialists are needed in this area.
Armenia has never been in need of them before since money laundry
has never been reckoned among pressing problems.
“Today Armenia is actively integrating into international financial
systems. That is why up-to-international-standards measures are to
be taken against money laundering and terrorism financing”, Sargsyan
said and stressed that Armenia needs its own specialists familiar
with world experience and able to combat money laundry in the republic.
The CBA Chairman said mechanisms of cooperation either between
appropriate agencies within Armenia or with international organizations
are necessary as well.
Sargsyan said the Central Bank has already embarked on work with
Finance Ministry, Justice Ministry, National Security Service, State
Tax Agency and State Customs Committee.
He said money laundry is a new phenomenon to Armenian authorities
since they have never faced such a problem before. “Armenia has no
experience in this area, and appropriate legislation just starts
developing here”, the head of the bank said stressing that, taking
into account a special importance of the dealing with the problem,
the international community is trying to create a single standard
for combating this evil. In particular, efforts are being made for
reaching a common interpretation of national laws.
The seminar on money laundry opened Tuesday at the Central Bank of
Armenia. The event is organized by the CBA in association with UN
office on combating crime and drug trafficking and the OSCE Yerevan
office.
The seminar’s aim is to discuss an acceptable model of crackdown on
money laundry in Armenia.