PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA AND FIRST LADY VISIT US EMBASSY IN RA AND
CONGRATULATE EMBASSY OFFICIALS ON OCCASION OF US NATIONAL HOLIDAY

YEREVAN, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the occasion of the
National Holiday of the United States of America, the Independence
Day, RA President Robert Kocharian and Mrs Bella Kocharian visited the
US Embassy in Armenia on July 1. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA
President’s Press Office, Robert Kocharian congratulated the Embassy
officials and expressed a confidence that, from now on as well, the
strong ties formed between the two countries will develop with
success.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA REITERATES READINESS OF HIS COUNTRY TO ASSIST
ARMENIA IN PROCESS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

VILNIUS, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Andranik Margarian,
the RA Prime Minister, and a delegation headed by him, being in
Vilnius on an official visit met with Valdas Adamkus, the President of
Lithuania, on June 30. At the meeting, the RA Prime Minister mentioned
the importance of mutual visits at different levels for the
stimulation of the Armenian-Lithuanian relations. In this sense, he
especially emphasized the significance of the mutual visits of the RA
President in June, 2002, and the President of Lithuania in September,
2003 in the issue of the stumulation of the bilateral cooperation. The
Prime Minister expressed confidence that the present visit of the
delegation of the RA Government to Lithuania will also support it. He
mentioned that Valdas Adamkus’ visit to Armenia at the RA President’s
invitation is also looked forward in Armenia with great expectations.

Assuring the inflexibility of Armenia in the choice of the way of the
integration into the European family, formation of a state
corresponding to the European political and economy standards,
Andranik Margarian mentioned that the involvement of Armenia in the
“European Neighbourhood Policy” gives great opportunity for deepening
relations with the EU member countries, including Lithuania. Informing
that on June 16, Armenia officially presented to the observation of
the European Commission the preliminary package of proposals of the
Armenian party of the EU-Armenia Join Actions Plan within the
framework of the European Neighbourhood policy, the Prime Minister
mentioned that Armenia is ready to observe possibilities of the
cooperation with Lithuania within the framework of the Actions
Plan. President Adamkus assured that Lithuania numbers relaions with
countries of the South Caucasus chosen the European way of development,
and with Armenia among them, among primary tasks of its foreign policy
attempting to take a role of a connecting circle among the European
Union and those countries. In this sense, the President of Lithuania
once more reiterated the readiness to assist Armenia in the issue of
overcoming difficulties of the European integration process, to share
its experience gathered on that way. Touching upon problems of the
regional cooperation, the parties attached importance to efforts made
in that direction by international organizations, particularly, by the
EU, OSCE, NATO and CE, which are aimed to strengthening of peace and
stability in the South Caucasus. In this context, Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian emphasized the leading role of Lithuania in the
issue of the 3+3 (Baltic+South Caucasian countries) initiation. In his
turn, President Valdas Adamkus assured that the Lithuanian party will
continue to explain the importance of that initiation to his partners
from Estonia, Latvia as well as Scandinavian countries. The
interlocutors attached importance to making close the cooperation of
the two countries within framework of other international
organizations as well. The current situation and development prospects
of the settlement of the Armenia-Turkey, the Armneia-Russia-Georgia
relations, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were touched upon from the
viewpoint of strengthening stability and security in the region. The
RA Prime Minister mentioned that he expects the assistance of
Lithuania in the issue of raising the blockade of Armenia by Turkey,
improvement of relations with that country as well as recognation of
the Armenian Genocide by other EU countries. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA Government’s Information and Public Relations
Department, after the meeting with the President of Lithuania, Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian left for the “Antakalnis” pantheon and
laid a wreath to the Monument to Victims for Independence. After a
dinner given on behalf of Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis
and his wife in honour of the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
his wife, the Prime Minister and members of the RA delegation visited
the Mayor’s Office of Vilnius. Accompanied by the Mayor, they observed
the new building of the Mayor’s Office, got acquianted with
development projects of the city and subconstructions. After midday,
members of the RA delegation went to the Genocide Victims Museum of
the Genocide and Confrontation Research Center where RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian left a writing in the honoured guests’ book. In the
evening, in honour of RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and his
wife, an official dinner was given on behalf of Lithuanian Prime
Minister Algidas Brazauskas and his wife. The RA Prime Minister’s
meeting with Arturas Paulauskas, the Chairman of the Parliament of
Lithuania is scheduled for July 1.

Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 3 2005

Tomas Tomasian house to be added to National Heritage List

TEHRAN, July 3 (MNA) — The house of Armenian merchant Tomas Tomasian
has been registered on the National Heritage List, a Cultural
Heritage and Tourism Organization official announced here on Sunday.

The mid 20th century building was inspired by the modern
architectural style and has two floors connected by a spiral
staircase, Mohsen Shaikh-ol-Eslam said.

The philanthropist merchant, who supported school construction during
his lifetime, donated his house to be converted to an art center for
the Armenian community of Iran after his death, he explained, adding,
`The house was given to the Mostazafan Foundation after his death,
and last year it was sold to a private owner.’

There is also a painting depicting a scene of a battle between the
Armenians and their enemies in the house.

Tomasian’s house is located on Jomhuri St. in Tehran.

Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 3 2005

Art News in Brief

Armenian Iranian composer and conductor Loris Tjeknavorian has begun
composing his 3rd orchestral work, the opera `Siyavash’, which is
based on the Shahnameh stories, ISNA reported on Sunday.

Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria
July 3 2005

3 Bulgarian Films Compete at Karlovi Vari Fest

Charming Bulgarian actress Vessela Kazakova, 27, landed the Silver
Saint George Best Actress Award in an international festival in
Moscow. Kazakova is the lead actress in the Bulgarian-Turkish `Stolen
Eyes.’ Photo by BTA

Three Bulgarian movies will take part in the 40th International Film
Festival in Karlovi Vari.

Andrey Paunov’s “Georgi and the Butterflies” which was awarded with
the “Silver Wolf” in Amsterdam is a part of the documentary section.

Bulgaria’s Nadezhda Koseva “The Ritual” is part of the international
project “Generation: Lost and Found” that will be presented during
the special program of the festival.

The third Bulgarian movie is “Stolen Eyes” which was presented at the
Moscow Film Festival and brought Bulgaria’s actress Vessela Kazakova
the Silver Saint George Best Actress Award.

World famous movie star Sharon Stone, actor Robert Redford, Danish
director Thomas Vinterberg and Canadian-Armenian director Atom Egoyan
together with his wife Arsine Khanjian are expected to take part in
the festival.

Zaman Online, Turkey
July 1 2005

Aliyev’s Historic Gesture to TRNC: Baku Begins Flights and Trade
By Enes Cansever, Mesut Cevikalp
Published: Friday July 01, 2005
zaman.com

Azerbaijan will take more concrete measures to end the isolation
imposed on Northern Cyprus, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said
yesterday, June 30.

Saying, “I have given the order for charter flights to TRNC” Aliyev
announced the Azerbaijani companies would open offices in the
northern part of the island. In Baku for a two-day official visit,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Aliyev
yesterday. In a joint news meeting, Aliyev said the Cypriot Turks
should be saved from isolation and the embargoes imposed on them,
adding that his country is ready to do its best on the subject.
Indicating that he gave the order for the start of flights to TRNC,
Aliyev said Azerbaijani companies would also go to the island, see
the investment opportunities, and open branches there. The policies
of the two countries overlapped about Cyprus said Erdogan and Aliyev
had given him “good news” during the conversation, the Prime Minister
added.

Both leaders talked about regional and international issues as well
as bilateral relations. Aliyev mentioned, the two friendly countries
would be in close cooperation in the future just as it was in the
past. The Azerbaijani President thanked the Turkish Prime Minister
for the support Turkey had given on the “Upper Karabag (Karabagh)
issue” between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Turkey and Azerbaijan would
make efforts to take their relations to a further point with the ‘two
states one nation’ understanding said Erdogan, indicating, Turkey
shared the same opinions with Azerbaijan about the Upper Karabagh
issue: “We are in favor of a solution. Armenia’s attitude will
determine the solution.” When reminded that the European Union (EU)
sets a condition for Turkey to open an Armenian border, Erdogan
responded: ” There is no such thing in the EU Copenhagen political
criteria. No such thing can be imposed on Turkey. This is Turkey’s
own decision. Turkey knows how it will decide about this.”

BirdLife International, UK
July 1 2005

‘SOS! Shikahogh’: the road to nowhere
01-07-2005

1 June 2005: the President of Armenia signs a decree to build a 90km
highway through the pristine Shikahogh Nature Reserve.

9 June 2005: the decision is cancelled!

Plans by the Armenian Government to build a second 90km highway
leading to the Iranian border through the pristine Shikahogh Nature
Reserve, have brought together Armenian communities from both sides
of the border in an unprecedented conservation effort.

Shikahogh Nature Reserve
The flora and fauna of Shikahogh have not been comprehensively
catalogued due to the reserve’s isolated location, mountainous
terrain, and poorly developed road system. The reserve, particularly
the centuries-old Mtnadzor Forest, is a primordial and relict forest
habitat that has remained completely untouched down the centuries.
Shikahogh is home to 1,100 species of plants including many which are
endangered and endemic, as well as a variety of rare animals
including leopard, moufflon and bears.

The diverse habitats within the reserve also support rich avifauna.
>From recent field observations, over 130 species of birds are
currently known to occupy the reserve and surrounding areas. Over
twenty-two raptors have been recorded in the reserve, including the
globally threatened Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca. Caspian Snowcock
Tetraogallus caspius occurs at high elevations while Caucasian Black
Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi finds shelter in the upper tree limits of
the Forest Reserve.

The highway project
A project planned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications to
build a highway from Kapan through Tsav to Shvanidzor would cross the
Mtnadzor section – the heart of the Shikahogh State Reserve,
resulting in the mass destruction of this unique ecosystem. Moreover,
it would clear the way for poachers, loggers and other illegal
commercial activity. The officially-sanctioned logging aimed at
removing a 16.6 km long and at least 30 metre-wide swathe of
Shikahogh, cutting its most well-preserved section, Mtnadzor Forest,
in two.

The construction of the road through Shikahogh was in full
contradiction with all ratified conventions and international
agreements that Armenia has become signatory to, such as UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change, UN Convention on Biodiversity, UN
Convention to Combat Desertification and the European Convention on
Landscape, ratified by the Republic of Armenia. Needless to say, it
violated the Law of the Nature Reserve itself and broke national laws
on Specially Protected Areas and flora and fauna.

Land-locked and blockaded economically, Armenia depends on the bulk
of its imports to come through Georgia and Iran. The latter makes up
approximately ten per cent of the country’s imports, and the existing
road is the only one leading to the Iranian border – keeping the
southernmost communities of Armenia connected with the rest of the
world.

In winter and spring it is barely accessible and offers dangerous
passage to traders. It could be justifiably argued that construction
of the road makes sense strategically, the question being how and at
what cost?

The protests
In March 2005, a WWF-initiated trip to the project site with a
representative of the Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds
(ASPB) revealed that bulldozers had been massed with the intention of
clearing the line and crossing the reserve. (ASPB are working with
BirdLife Inernational on Armenia’s Important Bird Area Programme.)
The decree to launch the construction had been signed and ratified by
the President, without the relevant permissions obtained from the
Ministry of Nature Protection. Meanwhile, the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) that the government had to undertake came forth only
in May. When the picture became clearer, the Armenian WWF Caucasus
Program initiated public appeals to halt the destruction.

A coalition of environmental NGOs including ASPB staff worked
together to save the reserve and established a `SOS! Shikahogh’ Force
Task which spearheaded further counteraction against the
developments. On May 31, a group of independent experts drawn from
the Ministry of Nature Protection, two organisations including ASPB
and the Armenian Forests NGO, a local forestry expert (a local
caretaker for the Zangezur IBA) and the planners hired by the
Ministry of Transport, were canvassed to examine the route proposed
by the government and identify alternatives. The expert study
revealed that the estimated damage to the forest from the road
proposed by the government would amount to a staggering 136,085
trees, which translated financially to over 13 million U.S. dollars.

Consequently, two alternate routes were proposed to the government,
who staunchly continued with their plans and signed a decree to begin
the construction through Shikahogh. The coalition of organisations
claimed that the government pursued other motives, targeting profit
from timber sales. The Armenian Transport and Communications
Minister, Andranik Manukyan, declared in an interview with the Radio
Free Europe that the road through Shikahogh would be constructed
irrespective of the conclusive proofs produced by the assessment.

“If they refuse to accept any of the proposed alternatives then the
road is not the real issue. The plan for a ‘strategic’ road is simply
to get at the forest and the wood. Governmental officials say that
the highway has strategic importance but none can explain why they
have chosen this way through the reserve.” – Karen Manvelyan, Director
of WWF in Armenia

On June 10, ASPB visited the Shikahogh reserve with a large
delegation of WWF staff, environmental organisations including the
Armenian Tree Project and Armenian Forests NGO, independent
journalists and other media representatives, to observe the situation
first-hand and run an expert study of the three alternative routes.
The situation remained unchanged and the government-backed road
builders continued with their preparations. In the heat of the
dispute an adult Imperial Eagle soared high above the protesters, a
poignant symbol of the what was at stake.

Meanwhile, the growing public movement created an extensive wave of
support and the wide media coverage finally forced the government to
suspend construction for at least 15 days. The National outcry to
save the Shikahogh Nature Reserve had united all NGOs into a
coalition never previously experienced in Armenia.

Mamikon Ghasabyan
Environmentalists fought an unprecedented campaign to protect
Shikahogh’s magnificent forests
Zoom In
The victory
On June 17 the coalition organised a hearing to allow the public an
opportunity to discuss the plans with government officials. ASPB
footage of Shikahogh Forest was shown. The Minister of Transport and
Communications, Andranik Manukyan made an announcement that the road
through Shikahogh as originally planned by the government would not
be developed and an alternate route would be taken.

The coalition of organizations remained vigilant until the issue was
resolved and the official decision was made. The voice of the public
was heard: on 29 June 2005 the government ratified a decree to begin
construction of road circumventing the Nature Reserve. Shikahogh had
been saved and the unstinting efforts of those who stood up in
defence of the People’s Forest were rewarded, an unprecedented event
in the history of Armenian conservation.

Luba Balyan (Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGO DEFENDS ARMENIA’S STANDPOINT

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
01 July 05

The head of the AGO monitoring group Roland Wegener is hopeful that
Azerbaijan will also commit to the settlement of the conflict. The
head of the AGO monitoring group of the EC Committee of Ministers,
German Roland Wegener was in Armenia on an official visit. In the
evening of June 28 he gave a press confere nce. Summing up his visit
in the press conference together with the foreign minister of Armenia,
he evaluated his visit as effective. Although the maintopic of the
meetings of the AGO group was the issue of constitutional reforms in
Armenia, the German diplomat said the Karabakh issue was also touched
upon. Minister Oskanian had briefed the ambassadors on the current
process of resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the developments
and prospects. The head of the European delegation stated they were
informed about the issue in detail because they had shown by their
activities that they are confidential. Anyway, as distinct from the
AGO delegation, it again remained a secret for the Armenian people
what definite issues had been discussed by the foreign ministers in
Paris, because declassification would affect the talks. Instead the
minister stated once again that nevertheless something was discussed,
and added, `We did not come to a final conclusion but we came quite
close to it. I think several small questions are left, the solution to
which finally can be reached. Allthe proposals are on the table and
under consideration by the ministers and the president. At the moment
when the final agreement is achieved, it will not be easy to put it
down on paper.’ But it looks like the situation is far from the moment
of putting it down on paper, and neither do the parties seem to have
come to an agreement; the latest meeting in Paris simply brought them
closer to some X point. `I think several small questions are left, the
solution to which finally can be reached. This being successful, we
may say that one of the hindrances is overcome and we can already
proceed to other problems,’ said the foreign minister. In his turn the
German diplomat mentioned that they endorse the commitment of the
president, the government and the foreign minister of Armenia to
resolution. Roland Veneger said that they will also visit Azerbaijan
where election will be held in autumn which, according to him, will
not impact the country’s effort for resolution. As to good news,
V. Oskanian informed that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will arrive
in the region in July but will not bring along any new proposals. One
of the questions of the journalists referred to the recent statements
of the Azerbaijani side. Namely the Azerbaijani political scientist
Salizadeh stated, `In order to resolve the Karabakh issue, Azerbaijan
needs strong army, but even with a strong and effective army it is
necessary to take the position of peace process.’ Salizadeh’s
statement was followed by Ilham Aliev’s counterargument that for
Azerbaijan negotiating with the Armenian side is the same as making a
compromise. And at the point whenthe negotiations are stopped,
military force is used. Vardan Oskanian mentioned that he was not
aware of Aliev’s statement but if Aliev made one, it is pointless to
comment on this kind of statements.

AA.
01-07-2005

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
July 1 2005

He and She meet, and the poetry just won’t stop

Mick LaSalle, Chronicle Movie Critic

Friday, July 1, 2005

Yes: Drama. Starring Joan Allen and Simon Abkarian. Directed by
SallyPotter. (R. 100 minutes. At Bay Area theaters.)

The passion and commitment behind “Yes” — evident in its artistic
daring and in the earnest exploration of its themes — make it very
tempting, when talking about it, to ignore the film and look at the
intent, which is exemplary. Through this story about an Irish
American woman and her romance with a Lebanese man, Sally Potter puts
forth her imaginative response to living in a post-Sept. 11 world.
She does so poetically, and idiosyncratically, by creating a
dreamlike atmosphere and writing all the dialogue in verse.
Yet, aside from a few brief sparks of illumination, the film is
mostly unbearable. The reasons are manifold. Potter’s verse is
ordinary, bordering on silly, and her strategy for how the actors
should perform it is misbegotten: She has them speak it as though it
were standard dialogue. This approach can work for Shakespeare, but
here, for some reason, it just seems like realistic dialogue that’s
off. There are none of the benefits of poetry — no grandeur, no
outsized emotion — just a distancing artificiality.

Furthermore, by doing a film in verse, Potter opens up a sea of self-
indulgent possibility and promptly drowns in it. She introduces an
introspective maid (Shirley Henderson), who serves as a kind of
chorus, doing long, pointless discourses on the nature of dirt. Then
there are the working- class dishwashers and cooks, in the back room
of a restaurant, talking in their jolly, animated, working class way
about life. It’s nonsense, but it’s worse than that. It’s nonsense
that’s supposed to be good for you.

The main characters in “Yes” are known only as “She” and “He,” which
says everything you need to know about the film’s mix of lofty
ambition and cliche. She (Joan Allen) is the unhappy wife of a
philandering, withdrawn British politician (Sam Neill). He (Simon
Abkarian) is a Lebanese waiter, with a mustache and long hair
reminiscent of the Hudson Brothers. He spots She at a reception one
night and tells her that she’s “a beauty” and “a queen.” No man
without an accent — or at least the ability to fake one — could get
away with such a line, but He has an accent, and so, in short order,
the two are soon launched on an illicit affair.

The affair, judged strictly as a romance, is tepid. Joan Allen, for
all her dramatic talent, is not the first actress one would associate
with middle- aged abandon. Her essence is reserved and cautious,
qualities one must infer Potter wanted, since there’s little in the
way of passion on display. Ideally, verse, like music, should
emphasize and crystallize the expression of emotions that are already
there. Potter uses verse to give the illusion of scale to something
insignificant, and it’s a doomed effort.

The rhapsodic, romantic ardor comes totally from the man, while the
woman simply receives it, to the extent that this begins to seem like
the female equivalent of those transparent middle-aged male fantasies
that we’ve all become trained to recognize and laugh at. Indeed, the
question that we might ask of a fantasy cheerleader who chooses to
spend spring break with a broken- down lit professor is the same
question we might ask of He in “Yes”: What’s in it for you, pal? But
no one would think to ask that question, because both the cheerleader
and He are romantic abstractions, adjuncts to be seen only in terms
of their connection to the one character whose feelings matter.

Abkarian, an Armenian actor, deserves credit for maintaining dignity
and selfhood in the face of serious script challenges. He’s helped by
the fact that Potter is on solid ground in one key area — the strain
of politics on She and He’s relationship. In discussing that strain,
He gets to be eloquent, and Potter gets to show her genuine insight.

All the elements in Potter’s experiment — the story, the dreamy
settings, the characters and the poetry — come together in a single
scene, in which He and She confront their cultural barriers, while
arguing in a parking lot. That scene is like a great song on a bad
album. It’s there, and then it’s over, but afterward at least it’s
clear what Potter was after and why it was worth pursuing.

— Advisory: This film contains sexual situations and strong
language.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 1 2005

SPECIAL POLICE UNITS FORCE SADAKHLY VILLAGE RESIDENTS UNBLOCK
GEORGIA-ARMENIA ROAD
[July 01, 2005, 20:48:23]

Over 400 residents of Sadakhly village in Marneuli region of Georgia
blocked, June 29, central road connecting Georgia and Armenia to
express dissatisfaction with recent disappearance of their
fellow-villager Sadreddin Palangov, but were driven away later by
Georgian special police units.

The protesters then gathered in front of the police station as they
linked the incident with its chief Goja Shubitidze who had a row with
Palangov two months ago for the latter’s criticizing the local police
for horrendous corruption and criminogenic situation in the region.

Reportedly, search actions have not yet yielded results. Special
police units left Sadakhly village on June 30. Georgian
law-enforcement bodies have launched an investigation into the case.