ARMENIA KEEPS HELPING ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL MECHANISMS TO PREVENT GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.06.2006 13:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Globalization and electronic media enhance the
level of information and increase responsibility, Armenian FM Vartan
Oskanian said at the opening of the first session of the UN Council
on Human Rights in Geneva. “Entering neighbor’s drawing-room is just
as easy as one’s own. Hearing shouts from the adjacent room and not
respond to them is as difficult, as not noting noise in one’s own
home. The current generation can unite time, skills and resources
to create a new and efficient international system, which will enjoy
not only moral authority, but will also be a long-standing defender
of the weak,” he remarked.
Oskanian underscored that Armenia has been helping to establish
international mechanisms to prevent Genocide and its causes. “These
causes imply not only “cleansing” of a people, living in its historical
fatherland, but also successful attempts to wipe out such facts
from humanity’s memory,” the Minister said, reports the Armenian MFA
Press Service.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/22/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Istanbul Patriarch Bartholomew Meets Karekin, Urges Solidarity 2) Canadian Company to Search for Oil and Gas in Armenia 3) Murderer of Armenian Citizen Found Guilty in Russia 4) Kocharian to Attend CSTO Meeting in Minsk 1) Istanbul Patriarch Bartholomew Meets Karekin, Urges Solidarity (AP)--Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I urged the world's Orthodox churches to minimize differences and seek solidarity as he met with the head of Armenian Apostolic Church on Wednesday. Deep divisions are prevalent throughout the Orthodox Church. Although Bartholomew controls several Greek Orthodox churches around the world, including the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and is considered the spiritual leader of some 250 million Orthodox worldwide, relations with two of the largest churches, in Russia and Greece, remain tense. The Armenian Apostolic Church also operates independently and is not under his jurisdiction. The two spiritual leaders met under heavy security and after a brief religious ceremony in Istanbul, the formerly Greek Byzantine city of Constantinople that is the seat of Bartholomew's Orthodox Patriarchate. Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, was accompanied by clerics wearing long black robes and black hats. His hat bore a jeweled cross and he held a staff with a golden handle. "We must always keep in mind that we aim only for the glory of God," Bartholomew said in a speech to Karekin II in which he touched on the ancient split between the two churches. "He himself taught us this: 'May they all be one.' It is a sacred goal." Bartholomew praised what he called the ongoing "unofficial theological meetings" between the two churches, saying the dialogue between them began in the fifth century. Armenian Christians pride themselves on being descendants of the first people to adopt Christianity as their official national religion. The Armenian national church was established in AD 301. That predates the Roman Empire's edict of AD 313 tolerating Christianity, which was previously illegal, and was 94 years before it became the official religion of Rome and the Orthodox lands of the East. Karekin arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday for a weeklong visit to the Armenian community here and to hold talks with Bartholomew. He is expected to visit several Armenian churches in Istanbul, as well as Armenian graveyards and other religious sites including the Hagia Sophia. Both Armenians and Greeks had huge roles in the history of the city, though their numbers have dwindled to just a few thousand combined. Police tightened security to protect the visiting cleric from Turkish nationalists who protested his arrival on Tuesday night, prompting the police to accompany Karekin out of the airport through a separate entrance. Karekin has angered Turks by openly discussing the Armenian genocide. 2) Canadian Company to Search for Oil and Gas in Armenia YEREVAN (PanArmenian)A Canadian energy company, Transeuroenegery Corporation, will launch an exploratory mission to search for oil and gas fields in the Armenian regions of Armavir, Krasny, and Shoghaghbyur. "I am sure there are oil and gas deposits in Armenia," said the head of the corporation's Armenian Office Mike Smith. "Why shouldn't Armenia have oil and gas, if all their neighbors have them? In the past, in my opinion, Armenia was not lucky and prospecting works were not a success. However I am sure Armenia has oil and gas deposits," he remarked. According to Smith, researchers searched for oil in Armenia in the 1970's, but they were not pursuing commercial goals. "We are ready to introduce the necessary technical equipment and get responses to the questions of interest," Smith said. The Canadian corporation has just signed an agreement with an exploration company, which is ready to transport more modern equipment to Armenia. "This equipment will allow exploring at depth of 2500 meters, while causing minimal damage and getting the maximal outcome," Mike Smith said. He said the project will begin in September, while the first results will be ready in February 2007. 3) Murderer of Armenian Citizen Found Guilty in Russia YEREVAN (PanArmenian/RFE/RL)A court in the Russian town of Kostroma found Alexander Belov, Alexander Serov, and Andrey Potapov guilty for planning and committing the murder of an Armenian citizen, Ivan Khaltyan. Although the prosecutor demanded a life sentence for Potapov, the murderer was sentenced to 21 years in prison. His accomplices received 18 and 8 years in prison for their involvement. The month-long interrogation process also resulted in weapons charges against the accused. They have 10 days to appeal the verdict. This case is only the latest in a string of ethnic violence in Russia. At least six ethnic Armenians were beaten, stabbed or shot to death this year in xenophobic extremism targeting dark-skinned immigrants from the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Africa. The Russian authorities' failure to solve the vast majority of those crimes has is increasingly raising eyebrows in Armenia, leading to pressure from the Armenian Government on Moscow to stop the violence. Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Markarian raised the issue with a visiting senior Kremlin official last week. The two men told President Vladimir Putin's representative to southern Russia, Dmitry Kozak, that they expect tougher action against Russian neo-Nazi groups responsible for the increasingly serious violence. Kocharian said the Russian law-enforcement bodies, widely accused of inactivity and even connivance in the deadly attacks, should act in a more "quick, steadfast, and understandable" manner. Markarian urged Moscow to take "serious steps to identify and bring the guilty to justice as well as to avert more such incidents." According to Markarian's press service, while condemning the racist murders, Kozak said that "they are not specifically directed against Armenians" and that "the Russian authorities are doing everything to solve and rule out such crimes." 4) Kocharian to Attend CSTO Meeting in Minsk YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenian President Robert Kocharian will visit Friday the capital of BelarusMinskto attend a recurrent meeting of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), made up of the heads of its member countries. The Council meeting will be preceded by meetings of CSTO Foreign Ministers, Ministers of Defense, and Secretaries of Security Councils. The meeting of the CSTO Council will focus on sweeping reforms of the regional security organization and will set priorities for future activities. The heads of CSTO member states--Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan--will also focus on current developments in neighboring regions, including Afghanistan and Iran. The meeting is also expected to discuss a draft document on CSTO reform and further improvement of its activities. 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.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 12, 2006
AGBU MONTREAL MAKES NEW HISTORY
Montreal – In its inaugural meeting today, the newly formed Executive
Board of AGBU Montreal elected its first ever female chairperson.
Dr. Rita Kuyumjian, becomes the 12th chairperson of the Montreal
chapter on the eve of its 50th anniversary to be celebrated in 2007.
Dr. R. Kuyumjian is a well-known Montreal psychiatrist; she is the
director of the outpatient clinic at St. Mary’s hospital, and a
professor at McGill University. She is also a known intellectual,
author of several volumes, including a groundbreaking book on Komidas.
“I humbly accept this position to continue the great work done by all
of my predecessors”, said Dr. Kuyumjian, “I am particularly proud of
our new Executive Board, because it is formed by a wonderful balance
of seasoned former members and a strong group of newly elected young
individuals that will bring youth, vitality, international focus as
well as an experienced approach to move the AGBU Montreal chapter to
even greater achievements.”
The composition of the new Executive Board will be displayed on the
chapter website,
For further information, please contact AGBU Montreal at 514-748-2428
or at [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA NOT SURE CREATION OF PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF “CAUCASIAN FOUR” POSSIBLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.06.2006 17:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is not sure that creation of the
Parliamentary Assembly of “Caucasian Four” is possible, Armenian
Speaker Tigran Torosyan stated at a news conference in Yerevan. In his
words, “Some optimism of the Armenian party is due to possibility of
discussion of the matter of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
at the Assembly. This is why we take part in events like that.” At
that he noted that the Karabakh issue will also be discussed at the
Rose-Roth NATO seminar, opening tomorrow. “Report “NATO Role in the
South Caucasus” may be presented,” Torosyan said.

AZERBAIJAN BRINGS DISCUSSION OF ITS PACE MANDATE TO KARABAKH ISSUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.06.2006 17:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian delegation should be ready that
Azerbaijan may make unexpected statements at the PACE Summer Session,
Armenian Speaker Tigran Torosyan stated at a news conference in
Yerevan. In his words, Azerbaijan tries to attract attention of PACE
delegates to invented facts regarding Armenia, when Azerbaijan’s
mandate is discussed.
Torosyan reported that October 15-16 the PACE Monitoring Commission
will meet in Armenia. “We got the consent of the Commission. It is
now PACE Bureau’s turn to approve the trip. We should, in our turn,
clearly determine our tasks at the session,” Torosyan underscored. He
added that PACE Interim Commission on Nagorno Karabakh will visit the
region in autumn and the PACE Bureau’s decision is already available.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN IS CONTENT WITH IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF AREMENIA’S COMMITMENTS TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
23/06/2006
Tigran Torosian, Speaker of RA National Assembly, expressed
satisfaction with Armenia’s implementation of commitments to Council
of Europe, in the course of today’s press conference. In June 2007,
the issue of bringing in line the Armenian legislation with the
constitutional amendments will be discussed in the course of the
winter session of the PACE. He said that the report on Armenia’s
implementation of commitments to CE will be included in the PACE agenda
in October 2007. Besides, according to him, 4-5 important reports on
Armenia and NKR will be discussed at PACE. As for the activities of
the Armenian delegations at the international parliamentary instances,
Torosian touched upon the resignation of Mher Shahgeldian from the post
of head of the Armenian delegation to NATO PA. He said that in early
June he suggested Shahgeldian to continue his activities at NATO PA.
But, yesterday he learnt from the newspapers about his decision to
resign. He admitted that the withdrawal of “Orinats Yerkir” party to
opposition might make Shahgeldian’s activities more complicated. At
the same time, Torosian said that it’s quite groundless to state that
his refusal to send him to USA to the sitting of one of the NATO PA
commissions. Torosian said that he merely wanted to send to “Rose Roth”
NATO seminar in Sochi, where the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was to be
discussed. Shahgeldian came and stated about his resignation from
his post and refused to go to Sochi, the day before the seminar,”
Torosian said.
Besides, he said that the issue of stopping the plenipotentiaries
of the Azeri delegation to PACE will be discussed in the course of
the June session of PACE. He stated that simultaneously with PACE
June session, the sitting of the PACE Special Commission on Nagorno
Karabakh will be held. He said that it is envisaged that suggestion
of Lord Russell Johnston will be discussed during the session. Lord
Johnston suggested organizing the meeting of the commission members
to the region. Torosian also said that PACE Bureau decided to change
the format of the special commission. According to the given decision,
two members each will represent the Armenian and the Azeri delegations
to PACE in the commission. The monitoring reporters for both countries
will also be included in the commission. As for the scandal that
happened during the visit of Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
to Turkey, revealed the true face of the Turkish people, as Turkey
is far from European values and culture. He emphasized that Turkish
PM Erdoghan should hold speech at CE PACE on issues of freedom of
belief in the course of the coming session. “I wonder, what he will
say and how he will explain the incident that happened during the
visit of the Catholicos,” he said. At the same time, Torosian added
that he knows how the Turkish people can get rid of the complexes
they suffer of. He said that the Turks should only reconsider their
positions in many issues, including the issue of the Armenian Genocide.
As for the accusations of Vahid Erzem, member of the Turkish delegation
to NATO PA, who said that during his recent visit to Armenia he was
given neither a car, nor guards, Torosian said that only high ranked
guests are provided with car and guards in Armenia.

REV. DR. MITRI RAHEB LECTURES IN HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY
By Mira Yardemian
AZG Armenian Daily
23/06/2006
The Palestinian Christians: Immense Challenges and Endless
Possibilities
On Thursday, June the 8th, 2006, the Cultural Hour at Haigazian
University hosted the Director of the International Center of
Bethlehem, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, to dwell on “The Present of the
Palestinian Christians, and discuss their challenges, opportunities
and threats facing this ever-diminishing, but quite potent community
in Palestine.
Among the presence were, the President of the Supreme Council of the
Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni,
the Secretary General of the Christian – Muslim Committee for
Dialogue, Mr. Mohammad Sammak, the President of Haigazian University,
Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, The President of the Near East School of
Theology, Dr. Mary Mikhael, in addition to a large number of scholars
and clergy.
In her welcoming speech, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences,
Dr. Arda Ekmekji, talked very briefly about Christian ethnicities
in Palestine: “It is in fact tragic that in the ongoing polemic
on Palestine, and in this eternal debate on whose land is the Holy
Land, very often one tends to overlook a very important community:
The Palestinian Christians, who in their turn could belong to various
ethnic and diverse cultural groups: Arabs, Armenians, Copts, Syriacs,
Abyssinians and even Franks”, said Ekmekji.
Rev. Raheb started his lecture by providing facts and figures on the
Palestinian Christians. It’s an urban society, concentrated mainly
in the cities of Bethlehem, the West Bank region, and Jerusalem, the
majority being orthodox, and catholics and evangelicals. Christian
Palestinians are less than 2% of the total population of the country,
yet they are a very active community. They possess 64 schools, 2
universities, and 2 colleges. They also provide 30% of the health
service in Palestine. Raheb presented the major challenges of this
small community, which is the minority complex, and the fear of
disappearing, the absence of law and order, the rise of the Islamic
parties, the Israeli occupation and the system of segregation and
racism.
A 20-minute moving documentary was shown during the lecture, featuring
the city of Bethlehem, the construction of the dividing wall, and
true stories and experiences of land confiscation and segregation.
Finally, Rev. Raheb concluded his speech, by calling to a living hope
in conditions of despair, as the Palestinian cause is more explicitly
presented today than any other day, the developmental projects of the
churches are increasing, and the Palestinian Christians have a pivotal
role to play in building a Christian identity in the Middle East.

A MURDER IN SEBASTIA STREET
A1+
[06:38 pm] 22 June, 2006
Today at 2:47 p.m. an unknown citizen phoned the Yerevan board police
station and informed that shots were heard opposite 29 building in
Sebastia street. An operative group sent to the scene immediately
after the call found Sedrak Zatikyan’s dead body on the scene.
A casual passer-by was also killed during the shooting. According
to the data of the police station the dead woman was Karine Sargsyan
born in 1969. An action was brought against the crime.
An operative group of prosecuracy and police workers was set up
immediately. The details are still being revealed.
To note, Sedrak Zatikyan is Vahan Zatikyan’s son, the ex deputy of
Malatia-Sebastia community.

KOCHARIAN IS LEAVING YEREVAN TOMORROW
A1+
[12:44 pm] 22 June, 2006
President Robert Kocharian will leave for Minsk tomorrow to participate
in the session of the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s
Council.
The sessions of CSTO Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministries’ Councils
and Security Secretaries’ Council will be convened prior to the above
mentioned session.
The heads of the countries will meet at the beginning of the
session. They will focus on the military-political situation in the
CSTO region.
Then the plenary session of CSTO will be convened in which the
Presidents, Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministers and Secretaries of the
Security Council of the CSTO member-countries will participate. The key
issue of the round-table will be the main tasks of CSTO. A Declaration
on the CSTO further improvement and increase of its efficiency is to
be adopted.
A number of documents aimed at enlarging the normative-legal base of
the CSTO member countries’ cooperation will be signed at the session.
Robert Kocharian will also participate in the session of the Eurasian
Economic Organization’s Intergovernmental Council as an observer. On
the same day the President’s delegation will return to Armenia.

“THE AAU LEADER IS PERSONA NON GRATA FOR THE US AUTHORITIES”
A1+
[01:21 pm] 22 June, 2006
Armen Avetisyan, head of AAU was denied entry to the USA in the
US Embassy on June 22. Armen Avetisyan (and a member of AAU Youth
and Students’ Organization Council) got a 15-day invitation from
“Armenian Ethnic Organization” in order to meet with the Armenian
community and deliver lectures on national ideology and history.
The invitation of 2005 on the same purpose was approved and the AAU
leader stayed in America for a month. Armen Avetisyan participated in
20 TV programs, held two meetings with the Armenian community and had
separate meetings with organizations and individuals during his visit.
According to our data, AAU expressed its doubt in connection with
the denial as the questions put forward by the Embassy were apparent
last year as well when Armen Avetisyan was conditionally released
from the courtroom.
The AAU statement says, “The US authorities who constantly speak of
speech freedom and consider their country a free one are concerned with
the following issues; why Armen Avetisyan was condemned and when will
his term expire, what is the opinion of the AAU leader about the Jews,
why the complete list of the homosexual officials hasn’t been made
public yet, what was the aim of Armen Avetisyan’s visit to Iran and
what is the aim of his visit to the USA now, why the USA leader met
only with the representatives of the Armenian community and whether
his audience was large.”
“We express our complaint on the USA government denial and demand
them to motivate their absurd explanation which is as follows, “We
don’t want you to say in the USA whatever you say in your country…”
“We are convinced that this denial has political grounds and is
incoherent of the country which considers itself a superpower,”
concludes the AAU Council.