THE VISIT OF THE ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO ROSTOV CONTINUES
ArmRadio.am
19.04.2006 10:45
RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan and
Governor of Rostov region of Russia Vladimir Chub will sign a memo,
which will define the future directions of development of trade and
economic and humanitarian cooperation between Armenia and Rostov.
To remind, the Armenian delegation headed by Hovik Abrahamyan had
left for Rostov in the framework of the Year of Armenia in Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FM ON KOSOVO PRECEDENT
Yerevan, April 18. ArmInfo. Generally, we don’t agree with the
arguments of those saying that Kosovo’s possible independence will
be non-alternative and unique, Russian Deputy FM Grigory Karasin
says in an interview to Novye Izvestiya, when asked how Kosovo’s
independence may influence Moscow’s position on the four unrecognized
post-Soviet republics (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transniestria and
Nagorny Karabakh).
This would make Kosovo just one more example of a self-determined
nation, along with Eritrea and East Timor. Naturally, this would become
a precedent for other unrecognized but de facto existing states. We
can’t prohibit one to act the way the others are allowed to. That
would be illogical.

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES BREAK CEASE-FIRE AGAIN
Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 18 2006
Azeri news agencies reported that Armenian armed forces violated the
cease-fire in Azerbaijan’s regions of Gazakh and Terter.
The Defense Ministry told APA that the units of the Armenian forces
from their positions located near Mazam village, and occupied
village Ashaghi Askipara, Gazakh, fired on the opposite positions of
Azerbaijani armed forces and Mazam from 00.00 till 00.45 on 15 April.
The enemy forces from their positions located in north-east of the
Berkaber village of Armenia’s region of Ijevan fired on the positions
of Azerbaijani armed forces located near Gizil Hajili village, Gazkah,
with submachine and machine guns. Armenian forces fired on the opposite
positions of Azerbaijan from their positions near Garmiravan village
of Terter with submachine and machine guns from 05.30 till 05.35.
The enemy was silenced by response fire. No casualties were reported.
The experts warn that the Armenian aggressive attitudes may cause
a new war. About 20 percent of Azeri territories have been under
the Armenian occupation and Baku says that it will retake all these
occupied territories by force if Yerevan continues to reject the
withdrawal calls from the EU, OSCE, Turkey and US.
Lenkeran Aliyev: “Our Armed Forces are the strongest in the South
Caucasus”
“Our officers-leading force of the Azerbaijani Army is ready to
fight war. However, we are training more professional officers for
the Azerbaijani Armed Forces,” Chief of Defense Ministry Training
and Education Center (TEC), Major-General Lenkeran Aliyev stated.
Mr. Aliyev said that Azerbaijani Armed Forces were the most trained
and the strongest in the whole South Caucasus. He stressed that
hostile Armenian Army was many times weaker from moral-psychological
and professionalism aspects.
“Armenians depend on the Russian military bases in the country.
Therefore, their national Army is many times weaker than ours,”
the Ministry official underscored.
Aliyev also said youths have begun to show more interest in military
sphere recently. According to him, the young men conscripted into
the army are trained beforehand.
“We have normal base which provides an opportunity to meet NATO
standards in military training. Our military training is many times
professional than that of Armenians. Belarusian officers also confirm
it. But I think the military training is still not in satisfactory
level. Much needs to be done and more professional officers should
be trained,” Aliyev added.
Touching on housing of servicemen, the General said they have
raised this question at the Defense Ministry and the Supreme
Commander-in-Chief.
“Our proposals have been positively responded. The Supreme
Commander-in- Chief is interested in living conditions of out
military men. I made it urgent to provide military trainers in the
center with houses. Most of military trainers have no house to live,”
he underlined.
Lenkeran Aliyev considers it important to publicise truths on the
Army to remove negative stereotypes in the public regarding the Army.
Admitting that there are some shortfalls in the Army, Aliyev said
measures are being implemented to remove these deficiencies.
“You witness the processes in other structures. If to compare, the
Army looks stronger,” the General concluded.

ARMENIAN MINISTER, RUSSIAN DEPUTY MINISTER DISCUSS TIES
Arminfo, Yerevan
18 Apr 06
Yerevan, 18 April: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoriy Karasin, who has arrived in
Yerevan within the framework of his regional visit, discussed ways
to settle conflicts in the South Caucasus.
They exchanged views on dynamically developing bilateral relations,
as well as a number of urgent and promising international and
regional issues of mutual interest. They also discussed in detail
the situation in the South Caucasus, ways to settle conflicts, as
well as possibilities of restoring transport communications.
In this context, the ministers pointed out the importance of peaceful
solutions through talks. They also discussed the situation around
Iran and relations between Armenia and Turkey.

FILM ABOUT LAKE SEVAN BY ARMENIAN JOURNALIST TO BE DEMONSTRATED AT ECO- JOURNALISM CONTEST IN SLOVAKIA
Yerevan, April 18. ArmInfo. A documentary film by Armenian journalist-
ecologist Inga Zarafyan on the problems of Lake Sevan “Threads of
Hope” will be demonstrated in Slovakia at the International Contest
of Ecological Journalism of Banska Bystrica.
Inga Zarafyan, who is also Chairwoman of the public organization
“Ecolur,” told journalists at the film’s presentation, Tuesday.
She says the film passed the first selection round and will be
demonstrated at the contest to be held on May 2-7 2006. The film
reflects the real problems of Lake Sevan, where the measures on
raising water level resulted in the problem of waterlogging. The film
presents the plan of acts by the Armenian Government on prevention of
eutrophication of the lake and restoration of the water level. The
film shows the disastrous consequences of uncontrolled fishing. It
presents the surveys by ichthyologists working on the Russian vessel
“Gydrolog.” The scenario emphasizes the coastal hotels and motels
which ignore the threat of being flooded despite the warning of the
authorities about water raising measures.
To recap, in 1998 Armenian Nature Ministry proposed cutting water
pumping and elaborating a strategy on restoration of the ecological
state of Lake Sevan. In 2001, the Parliament adopted the Law On Sevan
saying that all the measures and acts connected with the lake were
to base on a complex program of raising Lake Sevan level by 6 meters.
Armenia Tree Project public organization, Armenian Forests public
organization and WWF rendered the financial assistance to the creative
staff of Vem Media Arts studio and scenarist Inga Zarafyan.

ARDSHININVESTBANK ANNOUNCED 2006 YEAR OF CAPITALIZATION
Yerevan, April 18. ArmInfo. One of the Armenian leaders in bank
sphere, Ardshininvestbank, has announced the year 2006 a Year
of Capitalization. Aril 18 assembly of CJSC “Ardshininvestbank”
shareholders made a decision to invest $10 million in the bank’s
authorized capital from the last year’s profit of the shareholders.
Aram Andreasyan, Chairman of Ardshininvestbank Board, said at
a press-conference Tuesday that due to its 4,898.2 million AMD
undistributed profit, the bank was in the lead among the 21 commercial
banks in Armenia in 2005. The bank occupied the second position due to
the following indicators: total assets (53,130.1 million AMD), total
capital (9.408.7 million AMD), liabilities (43,721.4 million AMD),
financial investment (7,901.1 million AMD), provision of crediting
(22,813.0 million AMD).
Ardshininvestbank press-service announced that under the analysis of
the banking system drawn by the Agency of Rating Marketing Information
(ARMINFO) Ardshininvestbank alongside with HSBC Bank Armenia occupied
the second position as to the key figures specifying the bank’s
activity in the so-called nomination “universal bank.”
Ardhininvestbank rose by one position since last year. It is
noteworthy that the first position is still vacant. During the last
year, the bank’s assets rose by 42%, with average growth in the bank
system being 22%. The bank’s total capital grew by 63,3%, the average
growth rate in the bank system being 47.4%. Liabilities grew by 38.5%,
the average growth in the bank system being 16.6%. Net profit growth
rate made up 26.9%, whereas in average in bank system this indicator
fell by 28.1%. Of 13 distinguishing factors brought by ARMINFO,
Ardhsininvestbank is in the lead on 5 ones: share in past-due loans
in the advances portfolio; the quality of the advances portfolio;
stability of financial resources; financial stability level; income
possibility.
The bank was founded at the beginning of 2003 due to the RA CB
license No.83. The bank is represented by 49 branches throughout
Armenia and NKR, as well as by a branch in Paris. Over 1,000 people
are engaged in the system of Ardshininvestbank. The bank participates
in the World Bank international programs on agricultural reform and
enterprise development, in the programs of the International Migration
Organization, in the governmental program on credit guarantees of
SMEs. The bank intends to participate in international program on
development of rural areas and construction of small hydro-power
plants.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

S7 AIR COMPANY STARTED ‘VICTORY DAY’ COMPANY
Yerevan, April 18. ArmInfo. ‘S 7’ air company starts a company
dedicated to the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. The
company office in Armenia reports that the action gives World War II
veterans and prisoners of Nazi camps the opportunity of traveling
free on the territory of Russia and the CIS. ‘Code sharing’ joint
flights with other air companies are not subject to this action.
Booking of tickets by in the frameworks of ‘Victory Day’ is available
in “S 7” representations in April 14 – May 20, 2006. The ‘Victory
Day’ trip must start in May 1-20. The ticket is valid in a month
after the first flight. The ‘Victory Day’ flights are available in
eth economy class.

AZERBAIJAN HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE REQUEST OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SO FAR
ArmRadio.am
19.04.2006 14:30
So far Azerbaijan has not responded to the request of the European
Parliament to allow the fact-finding mission to learn about the fact
of demolition of Armenian khachkars and ancient monuments in place.
To remind, according to April 6 decision of the President of the
European Parliament and Heads of political groups, a fact-finding
mission should be sent to Old Jugha to investigate the destruction of
Armenian cemeteries by Azerbaijanis. The mission is to be carried out
by members of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission,
who are currently in Yerevan to participate in the 8th sitting of
the Commission. In case of permission, the will leave Yerevan for
Nakhijevan.
Head of the EU delegation Mary-Anne Isler Beguin told “Armenpress”
that the European Parliament has asked UNESCO to provide data about
the fact of demolition of the Armenian monuments. The organization,
however, possessed no information.
“Currently we are working with Armenia, Azerbaijan and UNESCO to find
out what has happened in reality,” she said.
According to Mary-Anne Isler Beguin, the facts provided by Armenia
evidence about the destruction that occurred still a few years ago.
As early as February 16, in its resolution adopted with the majority
of votes, the European Parliament condemned the Azeri vandalism and
called on Azerbaijan to “allow carrying out missions directed at
investigation and preservation of historic, particularly Armenian
heritage on its territory.”

BRITISH COUNCILS’ MISSION IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA, NA SPEAKER STATES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 18 2006
Yerevan, April 18. /ARKA/. Speaker of the RA Parliament Artur
Baghdasaryan attaches importance to the British Council’s mission in
Armenia. At his meeting with Head of the British Council office in
Armenia Nigel Townson Speaker Baghdasaryan expressed hope for further
cooperation with the British Council.
The sides discussed the possibility of the British Council’s assistance
in organizing the teaching of English and computer skills from the
first year in Armenia’s schools. This innovation will soon be pout
into practice in conformity with Artur Baghdasaryan’s new legislative
initiative. The sides also pointed out the importance of retraining
specialists, providing assistance in methods of teaching and adopting
international experience.
Welcoming the initiative, Townson expressed willingness to help in
its development. A program will be elaborated for the consolidation
of relations between the RA parliament and the British Council.

Sunday, April 16, 2006
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ANOTHER HOJA STORY
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The following Nasredin Hoja story is my own version based on what I heard many years ago as a child. Like all truly wise men, the Hoja didn’t write a single line for publication. As a result there are as many versions of his stories as there are tellers. Most so-called Hoja stories, moreover, are not even his stories but counterfeits. In his anthology, THE SUBTLETIES OF THE INIMITABLE MULLA NASRUDING (London, 1973) Idries Shah, the foremost authority in the English language, includes even stories about the Hoja in an airplane, and another on a psychoanalyst’s couch, and still another about Hoja in London. I wouldn’t be in the least surprised, therefore, if an expert writes to say that the story that fellows does not belong to the canon. The only reason I am recounting it here is that “Se non vero, ben trovato” (freely translated: if untrue, it’s as good as true, because it’s good”).
*
When on his way home late one night Nasredin Hoja sees a man bent over looking for something, the following exchange takes place: “What did you lose?” “My gold ring.” “Where did you lose it?” “In the barn over there.” “If you lost it in the barn, why are you looking for it in the street?” “Because there is more light here.”
*
This story has several morals, among them:
(i)Most people pretend to solve a problem because pretending is easier even if completely useless. (ii) Before men hit on the right solution, they will try all the wrong ones first.” (iii) Common sense is the least common of all faculties. (iv) Before you act, consider your motives and the consequences of your actions. (v) Action without contemplation is meaningless.
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Monday, April 17, 2006
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JESUS AND HITLER
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According to scholars who have studied the underlined passages and marginalia of Hitler’s private library, one of the subjects that interested him the most was, “Where did Jesus derive the power that has held his followers for all eternity?” For more on this subject see, EVERY BOOK ITS READER: THE POWER OF THE PRINTED WORD TO STIR THE WORLD by Nicholas A. Basbanes (New York, 2005).
*
POETRY
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I don’t read much poetry, especially that of our vodanavorjis, whose number probably exceeds that of our self-appointed pundits, but I love these lines by Salvatore Quasimodo: “Your eyes have seen my depths / Unto the darkness of my bowels.”
*
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A FORUM
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Some years ago I was a member of an Armenian discussion forum whose moderator did not allow four-letter words, abusive language, and aliases. Any member that did not abide by his rules was immediately and unceremoniously removed. As a result, after dwindling from over a hundred members to only one, the forum was terminated. Moral: Armenians are better at sharing insults than ideas.
*
TOLERANCE, ARMENIAN STYLE
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A fascist thinks he is being tolerant when he allows the free exchange of fascist ideas. Tolerance of anti-fascist ideas he equates with treason.
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JESUS AND TURKS
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In his memoirs, Zaroukian quotes the following two lines from an unidentified Armenian poet: “The Turk did not yet exist / When Jesus said, Forgive your enemy.”
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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
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ACADEMIC MAFIAS
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After publishing a genocide-related book, a friend of mine complained that no one had bothered to review it. “I know something I didn’t know before,” he went on. “We have a genocide mafia that treats non-members as interlopers.”
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EGO TRIP
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In his memoirs, Zaroukian writes that Nikol Aghbalian not only contributed scholarly essays to an Armenian academic periodical but also paid his annual subscription fee. When asked why he did that, he is said to have replied: “This is one of those publications whose sole subscribers are its contributors. If we don’t pay, it will cease to exist.” There you have a typical failing of our academics: instead of educating the masses, they try to impress one another with their erudition.
*
I REMEMBER
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When I write about mafias, fascists, and dupes, I write about myself. I imagine nothing. I guess even less. I only remember.
*
Z/Z
***************
Zarian’s fans outnumbered his detractors; but whereas his fans were silent, his detractors were not, probably because he was an outsider, an interloper – an Armenian from Karabagh among Armenians from Istanbul and Yerevan. He could never qualify as a member of the club. Anywhere else he would have been a best seller. Among Armenians, his status continues to be marginal. For every positive statement that Zaroukian makes in his memoirs of Zarian, there are more than a dozen negative ones. Had I known Zarian only through Zaroukian’s, or for that matter, Oshagan’s writings, I wouldn’t even have bothered to read him.
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Wednesday, April 19, 2006
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MORE ON ZAROUKIAN
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One of the most astonishing aspects of Antranik Zaroukian’s memoirs is the degree of seriousness he and his contemporaries took themselves. Their internecine tempest-in-a-teacup disagreements and quarrels are treated as if they were historic events with serious repercussions. Case in point: When the three political parties agree to sign a document, the argument that erupts is about whose signature will appear on top. The wisest words in the book are spoken by a gifted poet who, when asked why he has quit writing, replies: “To write what? To what end?”
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I REMEMBER
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Once upon a time when I was young, naïve, and ignorant, I too treated our elder statesmen with some respect and believed what they said. But when in time I decided to rely more on my own observations and experiences, the Tashnaks assumed I was a Ramgavar, the Ramgavars assumed I was a Tashnak, our bishops assumed I was an atheist, and our capitalists, or rather their flunkeys, assumed I was a communist. It never even occurred to these gentlemen that one could be anti-partisan, anti-clerical, and anti-capitalist and be a decent human being able to have one’s own thoughts and to be independently poor by surviving on bread and books.
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