Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
June 21, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

CONGRESS HONORS HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II DURING HIS PONTIFICAL VISIT TO
THE U.S.
Assembly Leaders Meet With Spiritual Leader in California

Washington, DC – On the occasion of the Pontifical visit of His
Holiness Karekin II to California this month, Assembly Board of
Directors Members led by Chairman Anthony Barsamian met with the
spiritual leader and attended a banquet in his honor earlier this
month in Beverly Hills, California.

“The Assembly was delighted to welcome His Holiness Karekin II back to
the United States on the occasion of his second Pontifical visit to
the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church,” said Barsamian. “During
our meeting, we discussed a wide variety of issues of importance,
including the current state of affairs with respect to the Armenian
community, Church and properties in the Republic of Georgia.”

His Holiness commended the work and leadership of the Assembly,
stating: “The Armenian Assembly is a very dynamic organization with a
proven record. I appreciate their tireless advocacy efforts on behalf
of the Armenian people and nation.”

Meeting participants included Assembly Board of Directors Members
Richard Mushegain and Lisa Kalustian and Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny.

Meanwhile in Washington, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) delivered statements in the Senate and House of
Representatives respectively, welcoming His Holiness and saluting his
efforts in strengthening ties between the local community and the
homeland.

“I am honored to recognize the historic and joyous visit, which will
strengthen ties between Armenia and Armenians in California,” Senator
Boxer said. “I know that His Holiness Karekin II will have a very
special visit to California and I wish the Armenian community in
California an increased sense of purpose and inspiration.”

Radanovich, a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,
also welcomed Karekin II to his home state and discussed the spiritual
leader’s theological studies and his election as the 132nd Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of Armenians.

“I rise to honor His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians and universal head of the
Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, upon his pastoral visit to San
Joaquin Valley,” Radanovich said. “I invite my colleagues in joining
me in thanking the religious patriarch for his dedication to the
service of all Armenians.”

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

NR#2004-068

Photograph available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:

Caption: L to R: Armenian Assembly Deputy Executive Director Peter
Abajian, Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Board of Directors Chairman
Anthony Barsamian, His Holiness Karekin II, Primate of the Western
Diocese Hovnan Derderian, Board of Directors Member Lisa Kalustian,
Board of Directors Member Richard Mushegain and Assembly Western
Office Director Lena Kaimian in Los Angeles, CA on June 3.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR MOSCOW

YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is to
leave for Moscow tomorrow to take part in a regular session of the
Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The Ra
presidential press service reports that the session will begin with a
meeting of the heads of state, who are to exchange views on the
politico-military situation in the CSTO security zone and on the
Organization’s further tasks. The meeting will be followed by a
plenary session, which is to be attended by Foreign Ministers,
Ministers of Defense and Secretaries of the Security Councils of the
participant-countries.

The session participants are to sign a number of documents, which are
to expand the contractual basis for the partnership of the CSTO
member-countries in the political and military spheres. The session
will be preceded by meetings of committees of the Ministers of Defense
and Foreign Ministers, as well as of Secretaries of the CSTO Security
Councils.

The RA President is also to attend meetings of the Interstate Council
of Eurasian Economic Community as an observer.

On June 24, the Armenian delegation headed by RA President Robert
Kocharyan is to return to Yerevan. P.T. -0–

POLICE, NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICERS AWARDED MEDALS, DIPLOMAS

YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. Police, national security and prosecutorial
officers have been awarded medals and diplomas on the occasion of the
13th anniversary of the internal troops of Armenia. RA President
Robert Kocharyan issued a decree awarding the Battle Service Medal to
the police officers: Captain Valery Khoderyan, Major Shavalla
Karopyan, Lieutenant-Colonel Leva Vardoyev, Colonel Mikael Khachatryan
(posthumously). Vice-Chief of the RA Police, Major-General Grigor
Grigoryan received diplomas from RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.

RA minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan issued an order awarding the
Marshal Baghramyan Medal to Vice-Chief of the Internal Troops
Department, RA Police, Ashot Nalbandyan. The Andranik Ozanyan Medal
has been awarded to Vice-Chief of the RA Police, Commander of the RA
Police Troops, Major-General Grigor Grigoryan. The Drastamat Kanayan
Medal was awarded to Colonel Merjabar Abramyan. The Garegin Mzhde
Medal was awarded to Colonel Artur Mkrtichyan.

The Medal for Combat Collaboration has been awarded to Colonel Hamlet
Mkrtichyan for contributing to Armenia’s security and to cooperation
between the RA national security bodies and the RA Police.

Chief of the RA Police Hayk Harutyunyan issued an order awarding the
Medal of the RA Police for Cooperation to Major-General Artush
Harutyunyan for cooperation and assistance to various police
structures. A Breastplate First Class for Excellent Service in Police
Troops has been awarded to RA Military Prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan,
Chief of the Department of Military Counterintelligence, Ra National
Security Service, Major-General Rafael Zagharyan and to his assistant
Colonel Mnatsakan Bazikyan.

A personal pistol was presented to Commander of a special battalion,
RA Police Troops, guarding the Armenian nuclear power plant,
Lieutenant-Colonel Karen Kuibyshev Stepanyan. P.T. -0–

ARMENIAN FM TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN IRAQ IN
BRUSSELS

YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. At the invitation of US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is to take part in an international
conference in Iraq, which is to be held in Brussels on June 21-22. The
Foreign Ministers of 80 countries, US Secretary General Kofi Anan and
heads of other international organizations are to take part in the
conference. The conference is to focus on issues of systematizing
international efforts toward rehabilitation and economic progress in
Iraq, as well as toward assistance to the country’s newly elected
authorities. P.T. -0–

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS VISITS ARMENIAN CHURCH IN SACRAMENTO

YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II has
visited the Armenian church of Saint Hakob in Sacramento. The press
service of the Holy Echmiadzin reports that about 300 believers were
looking forward to Garegin II’s arrival. He conveyed the blessing of
the Mother See to them, urging them to remain committed to their
Christian faith and maintain ties with the Holy Echmiadzin. P.T. -0–

Karabakh’s status “priority” for Yerevan – Armenian Foreign Ministry

Arminfo
21 Jun 05

YEREVAN

“Every party can speak out on any issue during the talks. But this
does not mean that any suggestion by one of the sides is automatically
put on the agenda even if there is some preliminary agreement,”
Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press secretary Gamlet Gasparyan said
while commenting on a statement by the Azerbaijani side that the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers had discussed the reopening
of roads in Paris.

Gasparyan said Armenia had a precise position on this issue: “The
priority is Nagornyy Karabakh’s status,” he said. “And as long as this
issue remains unclear and there is no agreement on this, it is too
early to discuss any other issue.”

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said in Baku
yesterday that Azerbaijan had suggested opening transport links
between Azerbaijan and [its exclave] Naxcivan via Nagornyy Karabakh
and Armenia.

[Passage omitted: details of Azimov’s statement]

Opposition party in Nagornyy Karabakh Republic refusing deputy mandates

Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
21 Jun 05

STEPANAKERT

The election bloc of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation –
Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD] and Movement-88 is refusing the mandates it
received during the parliamentary elections in the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic, Gegam Bagdasaryan, deputy chairman of Movement-88 and
editor-in-chief of Demo newspaper, has told our Noyan Tapan
correspondent.

Three seats under the proportional system were won by the ARFD
representative and former minister, Armen Sarkisyan, the member of
Movement-88 and mayor of Stepanakert, Eduard Agadzhanyan, and
independent Vitaliy Balasanyan.

Disagreeing with the opinion of international observers about free,
fair and transparent elections, Gegam Bagdasaryan stated that “there
were free and transparent injustices”.

Promising that the parties of the bloc will continue to defend their
rights, Bagdasaryan pointed out that the steps of the further
political struggle are being discussed.

Armenian opposition leader praises polls in Karabakh

Arminfo
21 Jun 05

YEREVAN

MP Aram Sarkisyan, leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, which is
a member of the opposition Justice bloc, has rated highly the quality
of the parliamentary elections in Karabakh and expressed his
perplexity with the complaints of the Karabakh branch of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD] about electoral
irregularities.

“It is surprising and strange why the ARFD describes itself as an
opposition force in the Nagornyy Karabakh republic, but not in Armenia
where the socioeconomic situation is much worse, the quality of
elections is lower and the level of corruption is higher,” Sarkisyan
said.

At the same time, he says that the victory of the pro-government
forces in Artsakh [Karabakh] is explained not by the strength of the
authorities but by the weakness of the opposition: “Undoubtedly, there
are many problems and protesting voters in Karabakh, and the
opposition which received the post of mayor of Stepanakert has not
been able to do well.”

Azerbaijan hikes defense spending by almost a quarter

AP Worldstream; Jun 21, 2005

Azerbaijan’s parliament voted on Tuesday to increase defense spending
this year by almost a quarter.

The assembly voted 100-0 in favor of amending the 2005 budget to lift
the projections for government income and spending. The oil-rich
Caspian Sea state has benefited from record crude prices on the world
markets.

Defense spending is to rise by more than 23 percent to US$313 million
(Aâ=82¬258 million), with most of the extra funds earmarked on buying
new equipment. The country’s overall expenditure is going up by 10
percent.

Azerbaijan is locked in a tense dispute with neighboring Armenia over
the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The mountainous region inside
Azerbaijan has been under the control of ethnic Armenians since the
early 1990s, following fighting that killed an estimated 30,000
people.

A cease-fire was signed in 1994, but the enclave’s final political
status has not been determined and shooting breaks out frequently
between the two sides, which face off across a demilitarized buffer
zone.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev last week boasted of his country’s
military muscle at a rally of the ruling party in the capital Baku as
Armenia accused Azerbaijan of pursuing a weapons build up in violation
of a key arms control treaty.

“Azerbaijan has recently got the upper hand in negotiations with
Armenia over the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” he
said.

“Military and economic potential are on our side. We will get our
lands back,” said Aliev.

CIS security states to hold three exercises in 2006 – Russian official

Interfax-AVN military news agency web site
21 Jun 05

Moscow, 21 June: The armed forces of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization will hold three command and staff exercises in 2006, the
organization’s secretary, Nikolay Bordyuzha, told Interfax-AVN.

“In 2006 we are planning to hold at least three command and staff
exercises within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization,” Bordyuzha said.

He said the now traditional exercises with the codename Rubezh will be
held in the usual region – Central Asia.

“The main theme will also a theme that has become traditional – how to
counter armed terrorist groups,” the organization’s secretary-general,
Nikolay Bordyuzha, said.

He said two other command and staff exercises would be held with the
relevant group of forces of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization in other regions under the collective security agreement
in 2006 – the eastern Europe and the Caucasus regions.

“These exercises will be held in Armenia in the first half of 2006 and
in Belarus in the second half of the year,” the secretary-general
said.