BLACK SEA SUMMIT OPEN IN ROMANIAN CAPITAL; SMUGGLING ROUTES, ENERGY, POLLUTION ON AGENDA
Alison Mutler
AP Worldstream
Jun 05, 2006
Leaders of Black Sea countries met on Monday for a summit aimed at
combatting the region’s drug- and people-smuggling networks, finding
ways of tackling pollution and discussing alternative energy routes.
The Black Sea region faces “new threats caused by criminality and
terrorism, and insecurity caused by the security of energy (supplies),
and we are called to manage this and improve it,” Romanian President
Traian Basescu said. “We know our problems …
they are problems inherited from a difficult past, but there is the
real potential for development.”
The main topics on the summit’s agenda would be environment protection,
regional cooperation, joint energy projects, combatting cross-border
crime and improving infrastructure.
“Putting the Black Sea on the map is a challenge in itself,” Romanian
Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu said in opening the summit.
Among those attending were Presidents Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine,
Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia, Robert Kocharian of Armenia, Vladimir
Voronin of Moldova and Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan, as well as officials
from Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and Lithuania.
Top officials from NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, the United Nations and the Council of Europe were also
attending the summit.
Russia declined to send a high-level official to the summit, but
requested observer status. In his speech, Basescu called on Russia
to take part in the region’s future development.
“Romania considers that a regional cooperation process cannot take
place without Russia,” he said, pointing to the “rich social, political
and economic resources,” that Russia has. Russia was represented at
the summit by its ambassador to Romania, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Corina Vintan said.
J.D. Crouch II, the U.S. deputy national security adviser, praised
the Black Sea initiative, and said that Washington would contribute
to a public-private partnership called the Black Sea Trust, which
will fund programs to strengthen cross-border cooperation, democratic
governance and the rule of law.
“The American people understand that secure borders in the Black Sea
region enhance their own security, because they impede the global
trade in weapons, dangerous technologies and human beings.”
Kocharian and Aliev were expected to discuss the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh on the sidelines of the summit. Talks between the two
leaders in France in February ended in failure, despite international
mediators’ efforts to push the leaders to resolve the enclave’s status.
Aliev’s spokesman, Novruz Mammadov, told Azerbaijani state television
OTV Sunday that a settlement for Nagorno-Karabakh could only occur
“within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and
according to the norms of international law,” something he said
Armenia did not agree with. He added that talks were difficult, but
“there are hopes that certain steps forward will be taken.”
Nagorno-Karabakh is inside Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic
Armenians, who have run it since an uneasy 1994 cease-fire ended six
years of full-scale war. Sporadic border clashes have grown more
frequent since the breakdown of talks. The lack of resolution has
hindered development throughout the strategic region.
On Sunday, Basescu met separately with Kocharian and Aliev to discuss
ways to reach a settlement for Nagorno-Karabakh, Basescu’s office
said in a statement.
Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia directly border
the Black Sea, which is one of the world’s most polluted seas.
Its only outlet is via Turkey’s Bosphorus Straits.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: THERE ARE NO GREAT EXPECTATIONS FROM BUCHAREST MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. There are no great
expectations from the June 4-6 Bucharest meetings between RA President
Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as responses of the Azerbaijani
side do not shape well that a great progress will be. RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian stated about it responding journalists’
questions at the RA NA on June 5. He considered probable that no
regress will be fixed in the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh problem,
and one will see in future if a progress will be or not. Touching upon
the inner-political issues, the Prime Minister excluded possibility
of straining of the inner-political situation. As for the issue that
the Republican Party of Armenia has undertaken at present both Prime
Minister’s and NA Speaker’s posts, according to the Prime Minister,
the party does not aviod responsibility as it has entered the policy
and went to the elections with a definite program, therefore it
realizes the load of undertaken responsibility and is ready for
it. The issue of participation in the 2007 parliamentary elections
with the alliance or separatly will be defined by the RPA Council not
earlier than in February-March of coming year. According to Andranik
Margarian, the RPA rows are being refreshed at present. There were
dischargements of some members as a result of registration, and
a part left the party itself what is provided by the fact that a
part of members left Armenia or joined other parties. As for keeping
normal relations with opposing figures, including future development
of relations with Artur Baghdasarian, the head of the “Orinats Yerkir”
(Country of Law) party after the party’s joining the opposition field,
they “were warm” and, in the Prime Minister’s opinion, “will continue
in this way.” As for statements and accusations expressed in address
of representatives of the “Orinats Yerkir” and “Azagyin Miabanutiun”
(National Unity) factions during the last statements at the NA, the
Prime Minister mentioned that “he estimates that quality badly as
one may not decrease a debate at the NA to such a level, to injure
each other.” According to him, it is excluded at the Government.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDING COMPLEX OF RA DEFENCE MINISTRY TEMPORARILY STOPPED
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The contract signed with the “Ingeocom”
Russian company, according to which the above-mentioned company was
implementing construction of the comlex of administrative building
of the RA Defence Ministry in Avan was recently dissoluted. RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian informed in the June 5 interveiw to
journalists that the executer’s programs were changed and the latter
decided not to continue the construction. 8.5 mln U.S. dollars were
paid to the company from the exra-budget resources of the Defence
Ministry for already done work. By the way, they were also given
land on the Isakov avenue of Yerevan. “No tradegy has happened, we’ll
simply continue either by our means or by finding another contractor,”
the Prime Minister mentioned.

27TH PLENARY SITTING OF BSEC PA TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON JUNE 6-8
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The 27th plenary sitting of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation will take
place in Yerevan on June 6-8. The 34th sitting of the BSEC PA bureau,
then the 27th sitting of the Standing Committee, the special sitting
of the BSEC PA Committee on Economic, Trade, Technological and Nature
Protectional issues will take place on June 6 in the NA “golden”
hall. The 27th plenary sitting of the BSEC PA will start works at the
NA conference-hall on June 7. After the solemn ceremony of opening the
assembly, when greeting speeches will be made. issues on agenda will
be discussed at the first sitting: the agenda will be affirmed, new
mandates will be discussed, the report of the 26th sitting of General
Assembly of the BSEC PA taken place in Tirana on November 22-24, 2005
and report on PA activity will be affirmed. Then problems of energetic
safety in the Black Sea region will be discussed. Organization,
economic, commercial, technological, nature protectional, legal,
political issues will be discussed on the same day.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
cultural, educational, social and financial issues are on the agenda
of June 8 discussions. At the end of the BSEC PA 27th plenary sitting,
the place and term of holding the autumn sitting of the 2006 BSEC
General Assembly will be decided, rotation of chairmanship will take
place and the chairmanship will pass to the Mili Mejlis (Parliament)
of the Republic of Azerbaijan. RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian will
have bilateral meetings with international parliamentary structures
and heads and representatives of national delegations, within the
framework of the BSEC PA 27th plenary sitting. Assembly works will
be summed up for journalists by a press-conference.

BSEC SECRETARY GENERAL TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN FOR TAKING PART IN BSEC PA SESSION
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos, Secretary
General of BSEC Permanent International Secretariate, will be in
Armenia on June 6-8 for taking part in the general session of BSEC
Parliamentary Assembly (PA) to be held at RA National Assembly. As
Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department, meetings with RA President Robert Kocharian and RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian are planned during the visit. Joint press
conference of Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos and RA Deputy Foreign Minister
Arman Kirakosian will take place in the evening of June 6.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: FORMULA OF OVERCOMING DISAGREEMENTS IS “THROUGH COOPERATION TO THE SETTLEMENT, THROUGH COMMUNICATION TO A BIGGER TRUST”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
BUCHAREST, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 5, RA
President Robert Kocharian made a speech at the Black Sea Forum for
Dialogue and Partnership in Bucharest. In his speech provided to
Noyan Tapan from the President’s Press Service, Robert Kocharian,
in particular, said: “Countries of the Black Sea region have rich
and at the same time dramatic history of co-existence.
The Black Sea has always been a center of strategic interest. This lead
to many devastating wars that have formed its current political map,
ethnic and religious diversity. However, this all has also resulted in
substantial interrelation of our cultures and traditions. Partially
that is why there are so many similarities in the process of
transformation underway in our countries.
This is true in case with the internal transformation, aimed at
deepening of democracy and transparency of the society. This also
influences the shaping of new types of foreign interactions in the
context of the changing world. We are present at the formation of
new dynamic processes, changing the region, forming new perceptions
about it. Two objective questions come across: how possible is
a common direction of development of the region? Will this lead
to the formation of the new regional identity, based on a common
interest and inherited cultural interaction? Our Forum is called to
address these challenging issues. We shall first evaluate the level
of motivation in each country of the region. Secondly, we shall
work out approaches increasing our mutual will for partnership. For
Armenia, with limited natural resources and emphasized entrepreneurial
mentality of the people, the choice was clear. Transformation for us
primarily meant the liberalization of economy, open trade regimes,
and a competitive environment. These reforms substantially changed
the structure of Armenian economy. Today over 85 per cent of GDP is
produced in private sector, with over 40 per cent of it being produced
in small and medium businesses.
Annual growth of GDP during last five years has averaged at above
12 per cent. It is natural, that we watch openness and regional
cooperation as the most effective way for our development. Only lazy
people do not speak about benefits of regional cooperation. It is an
axiom, which however comes across many obstacles, which are often of
a subjective nature. There is a need for pragmatic evaluation of the
positive and negative realities. Let us first assess what unites us:
Commitment to a common system of values and readiness to play along the
same rules. Obvious, tangible economic benefit of regional integration
processes. Common challenges and threats to the stability and security
caused by the increasing transnational crime, extremism and terrorism.
Meanwhile, we are divided by: Unresolved ethnic conflicts, Certain
deficit of trust, caused by the negative experiences of the history
of the region. I am confident that we shall concentrate on those
elements which unite us. We shall take steps to harmonize our reforms,
achieve unification of trade regimes and transportation tariffs. There
is a need for joint investment projects in the infrastructures of
the region. First of all, for energy and transportation projects,
covering the entire Black Sea basin, and increasing its economic
attractiveness. This will create favorable environment for resolution
of existing conflicts. Through cooperation to the settlement,
through communication to a bigger trust, that is the best formula
for overcoming the controversies, based on a search for a common
interest. In this context we are ready to continue dialogue with
Azerbaijan for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and
with Turkey on establishing relations without any preconditions. I
would like to briefly touch upon the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and
our vision for its settlement. The people of Nagorno Karabagh have
implemented in practice the right for self-determination. It was done
fully in line with the requirements of international law. Results of
the referendum on independence were later defended in the war forced
on that people. These events developed in the timeframe of global
changes, related to the collapse of the Soviet Empire. That situation
is classical for cases of self-determination through secesion. Now
for fifteen years Nagorno Karabagh Republic continues to prove its
right for independence by own achievements in effective statecraft. A
whole generation grew up there, which watches itself as possessors
and defenders of that statehood. We believe that there is a need for
effective efforts for a full-scale integration of the Republic in the
international society. We have an organization, the BSEC, which is the
platform for exploration of the economic potential of our region. I
am confident this Forum and the Declaration we intend to adopt will
become a good stimulus for BSEC’s further activities. They are called
to signal the existence of political will at the highest level for
furthering our partnership. In conclusion, I would like to once again
thank the organizers of the Forum. I hope it will contribute towards
strengthening stability, security and cooperation in the Black Sea
region.”

REPRESRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTICIPATES IN MEETING OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF EUROPE CHURCHES’ CONFERENCE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Bishop Natan
Hovhannisian, the Primate of the English Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church participated on May 23-31 in the annual meeting
of the Central Committee of the Europe Churches’ Conference taken
place in the city of Derry, North Ireland. 40 members of the Central
Committee presided by Jean Arnold de Clermont (ECC Chairman) from the
Reformed Church of France and vice-presided by Archbishop Anastasios
from the Orthodix Church of Tirana and All Albania participated in the
meeting. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Interchurch Relations’
Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, issues on the
ECC agenda which relate to configuration of the ecumenic movement,
relations of the World Churches Council and the Commission of Refugees’
Issues in Europe, Council of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences Council
and Europe Protestant Churches’ community with the ECC and the third
European Ecumenic Assembly were discussed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BARSEGH TUMANIAN’S SOLO CONCERT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF MAY 3 PLANE CRASH VICTIMS TAKES PLACE WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF “NATIONAL GALLERY” FESTIVAL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA People’s Artist
Barsegh Tumanian’s solo concert dedicated to memory of the A-320
plane crash victims took place on June 3, within the framework of
the “National Gallery” second music festival. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Responsible for Public Relations of the festival,
it’s Barsegh Tumanian’s first solo concert after getting title of the
RA People’s Artist and the world-famous bass singer dedicates it to
memory of the May 3 plane crash victims. Barsegh Tumanian graduated
from the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. He perfected himself in
the La Scala Opera Theater of Milan in 1982-1983, and in the Moscow
Conservatory in 1985. Since 1989 when Barsegh Tumanian performed in
the Gala-Concert dedicated to Armenian earthquake victims (Royal Opera
House, Covent Garden) he has become a desirable guest of world opera
stages. He performed on stages of best opera theaters and concert
halls, including London Wigmore Hall, Melbourn Opera, Munich Opera
Theater, Paris Opera Bastille, New York Metropolitan Opera, Amsterdam
Concertgebouw, etc. Barsegh Tumanian’s solo concerts in Washington,
Boston, Montreal and Toronto took place during the 2002-2003 series
of concerts.
The “National Gallery” second festival of classic music is being held
from April 20 to June 28.

ARMENIAN APPOINTED TO POST IN GOVERNMENT OF STAVROPOL TERRITORY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
STAVROPOL, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By the order of the
Stavropol territory Governor, Vladimir Minosiants was appointed Deputy
Head of the Staff of the Stavropol territory Government. According to
the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, before
this appointment Vladimir Minosiants held the post of Assistant to
the Stavropol territory Governor.

PREMIERE OF COMPOSER TIGRAN MANSURIAN’S CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA TO TAKE PLACE IN SWEDEN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By Canadian Armenian
violinist Levon Chilinkirian’s order, Tigran Mansurian, a famous
composer, RA People’s Artist, Professor of Yerevan Komitas State
Conservatory wrote a Concerto for Violin and Orchestra premiere of
which will take place in Sweden. As the composer mentioned in the
interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent, this work will be performed
in five cities of Sweden, with participation of the Chamber Orchestra
of Sweden. According to T.Mansurian, though the level of orchestras
of Armenia is high, his and their cooperation does not succeed. “If
I write a new work, it must be checked but orchestras are not ready
to check those works. But I have no such a problem in Europe,” the
composer mentioned.
However, he is sure that orchestras of Armenia are not indifferent
to his art.
T.Mansurian cooperates woth “ECM” company of Munich. The latter
releases regularly his works which are spread all over the world. The
“ECM” company has released Mansurian’s four CDs, and will release
another soon. “I have never seen such an interest towards my work. I’m
glad that my works are being spread in U.S., Europe, Japan and I’m
sure that they will be performed in future in the Fatherland as well,”
the composer emphasized. Tigran Mansurian informed that presentation
of his “ARS poetrica” CD will take place in Yerevan in July. It was
written based on 10 poems of Yeghishe Charents.