NUMBER OF SMUGGLING CASES DOUBLES IN FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2005
COMPARED WITH SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of smuggling cases and
instances of customs rules breach, which were revealed by the RA
Government-affiliated State Customs Committee (SCC) bodies during the
first five months of 2005, was twice as many as the number of such
violations in the same period of 2004. According to the SCC press
service, in January-June, 2005, 190 cases of a total amount of 1 bln
756 mln drams were registered against 93 cases of 287 mln drams (about
645 thousand USD) in the same months of last year. In the period under
review, 8 cases of gold, jewelry and medicine smuggling and 1 case of
cigarette smuggling were discovered, with the violations being mainly
registered at the Bagratashen, Bavra and Zvartnots customs points.

SHIRAK AIRPORT CUSTOMS POINT FITTED WITH X-RAY AND TELEVISION CAMERAS
FOR INNER CARGO CONTROL

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the press service of the
RA Government-affiliated State Customs Committee (SCC), within the
framework of the State Department’s Export Control and Related Border
Security Assistance Program (EXBS), the customs point of Shirak
Airport was fitted with x-ray and television cameras for inner cargo
control, which will help raise the quality of customs services to
international standards. It was noted that the SCC carries out
systematic activities aimed at increasing the efficiency of the
customs check methods at all the customs points and customs houses, as
well as at simplifying the procedures used. For this purpose, modern
equipment will be installed at other customs points as well.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

22 June 2005

2005 DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY MEETS IN THE PARISH OF MELBOURNE

Sydney, Australia – The Diocesan Assembly of 26 delegates was hosted this
weekend by St Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Melbourne. The Assembly
was presided by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand and chaired by
Mr Garo Setian. Mr Varoujan Agacian was appointed Armenian Secretary and Mr
Vasken Kanjian, English Secretary.

The meeting commenced with prayer and the reading of a message from His
Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The
Primate then presented his 2004 annual report. The Diocese report followed
outlining statements on the activities of the Diocese over the year and
financials. Fruitful discussions ensued and constructive decisions were made
concerning the Church and general community life.

The Assembly was attended by delegates from Sydney and Melbourne and
included both clergy and laymen.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

22 June 2005

Y-CONNECT: ARMENIAN YOUTH CONNECTING WITH ARMENIAN YOUTH

Sydney, Australia – Sunday, 19 June 2005 heralded a new era of excitement at
the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection in Sydney with the start
of the first Y-Connect session, a new youth fellowship program targeted at
high-school aged students.

The purpose of Y-Connect is to provide an opportunity for Armenian youth to
hear God’s message and learn about His principles for living in an
environment that is familiar to them (and their parents) and where there is
opportunity for them to build social networks and connect with the Armenian
Church.

Led by a team of enthusiastic, young and dynamic ACYA leaders the sessions
are designed to incorporate fun social activities and games with a daily
message that is manifest in the teachings of the Holy Bible and in
accordance with the doctrine of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

At its introductory session last Sunday evening, more than 50 smiling faces
made there way into the Church Hall in anticipation of what lay ahead. By
the end of the session, the 50 smiling faces were even more gleeful, each
eagerly awaiting a copy of the Y-Connect program for the next session date.
As one of the young participants said “This is a great way to make new
friends, the activities were cool and I even enjoyed learning about the
Bible. It rocked!”

Y-Connect will be held each Sunday fortnight from 6.00 to 8.00 p.m. At the
forthcoming session on Sunday, 3 July 2005, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and
New Zealand will meet with students, bring his blessing to the program and
present the day’s scripture message.

Jamestown Foundation, DC
June 20 2005

Jamestown Delegation Returns from the Caucasus

06/20/2005 – 06/17/2005, Washington DC — The Jamestown Foundation
this week completed a six-day delegation visit to the South Caucasus,
during which participants from Jamestown’s Board of Directors and
several interested U.S. Foundations traveled to the Republics of
Georgia and Azerbaijan . The Jamestown delegation met with the
leaders of both countries in the wake of President Bush’s historic
visit to Tbilisi and the May 25th launching of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhand pipeline in Azerbaijan.

Led by Jamestown Foundation President Glen Howard, the delegation was
also escorted on official excursions to the Pankisi gorge, where
Western-led attempts failed to reinstall monitors on Georgia’s
fragile northern border, and also to the frontlines of the Azerbaijan
sector of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is set for a new round
of negotiations in Europe this weekend. The Jamestown delegation
participated in a series of high-level discussions on these and many
other issues as part of its mission to address conflict and
instability in this area of strategic importance, as well as assess
the prospects for regional integration into Euro-Atlantic security
and economic structures.

A region in the balance of political upheaval and ethnic conflict,
the Caucasus represents one of many strategic locations to the U.S.
where Jamestown closely monitors and reports on security
developments. To learn more about the region and receive daily
analysis of emerging trends in Russia and Eurasia, you are welcome to
subscribe free of charge to Jamestown’s Eurasia Daily Monitor.

A1plus

| 11:56:18 | 22-06-2005 | Official |

NEW APPOINTMENT

By the decision of the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan Eghishe
Nazaretyan has been resigned from the post of the RA deputy Minister of
Labor and Social affairs.

By another decision of the PM Artsroun Aghajanyan has been appointed deputy
Minister of Labor and Social affairs.

The 50-year-old new deputy Minister is an economist. In 1999-2003 he was
deputy of the RA NA, and member of the Standing Committees on Social
Affairs, Health Care and Environment, and on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and
Economic Affairs. Since 2003 he had been working as deputy governor of the
Shirak region.

The new deputy Minister is also member of the «Orinats Yerkir» party.

A1plus

| 20:09:09 | 21-06-2005 | Politics |

EVERYONE SPEAKS OF WHAT HE WANTS

During the recent several days the Azeri press has been spreading
information that the issue of unblocking the roads was as well discussed by
the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs. The matter concerns the road connecting
Nakhivachan with Azerbaijan through the Syunik region and the Lachin highway
connecting Armenia with Karabakh.

When responding to the question `What is your reaction to the Azerbaijani
claim that a connecting road was discussed during the most recent meeting in
Paris of the foreign ministers with the co-chairs?’ Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Hamlet Gasparyan said, `First, in the negotiation process, each
side has the right to talk about any subject. But when one side introduces
or talks about a topic, any topic, that doesn’t mean that the topic is
automatically on the agenda, nor that there is any, even preliminary
agreement on that topic.

Second, Armenia’s position on these matters is very clear. The primary
matter is the status of Nagorno Karabakh, and until there is clarity and
agreement on that matter, it is premature to speak about any other issue.’

A1plus

| 20:01:46 | 21-06-2005 | Culture |

`JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS: PEACE … TODAY’, EXHIBITION AT THE COUNCIL OF
EUROPE

The exhibition `Jews, Christians, Muslims: Peace … today’ opened at 2.30 pm
today in the entrance hall of the Palais de l’Europe.

This exhibition of 20 paintings and a sculpture on the theme of peace by 21
artists (7 of each faith) was organised by the association Accord et Fugue
(Chord and Fugue). The works were inspired by religious texts – the Torah,
the Bible and the Koran.

Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, René van der
Linden, President of the Parliamentary Assembly, and pastor Michel Hoeffel,
President of Accord et Fugue, will take part in the opening ceremony.

The exhibition coincides with the arrival of a group of young people
representing the French Judeo-Muslim Friendship Association (AJMF) led by
rabbi Michel Serfaty, Co-President of the AJMF. They are on a friendship
tour of France, starting at Ris-Orangis, to foster dialogue. They will end
their tour in Paris, bringing up the rear of the 2005 Tour de France and
marking the end of the race.

A1plus

| 21:09:10 | 21-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION |

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN SPOKE ON BEHALF OF EUROPEAN LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

The situation in Central Asia was discussed at the PACE summer session.
According to the regulations, chairman of the PACE political committee Abdul
Kadir Atesh delivered a speech. His report was mostly dedicated to the
developments in Uzbekistan.

170 people were hurt in Uzbekistan on May 13, many of them were just
innocent victims. Majority in Uzbekistan, especially the youth are convinced
that the incumbent President Islam Karimov will not be in power for long.

The Member of the Armenian delegation to PACE Shavarsh Kocharyan was
proposed to make a report on the situation in Central Asia on behalf of the
European Liberal Democratic Alliance.

In his speech he touched upon the democracy development not only in the
countries of Central Asia but also in a number of CIS member-states and
Europe. `Uzbekistan’s example proved that `strong’ power causes numerous
victims. The events of May 13 cannot be approved. The power that applies to
terror against the people has no right to fight against international
terror’, Shavarsh Kocharyan resumed.

Pan Armenian News

LAYING OF HOUSE OF MOSCOW IN YEREVAN PLANNED AT CLOSE OF 2005

21.06.2005 04:15

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The laying of the House of Moscow in Yerevan is scheduled
for the fourth quarter of 2005, First Deputy Mayor of Moscow Government,
head of the Complex of Architecture, Building, Development and
Reconstruction of the City Vladimir Resin stated at an administrative
meeting in the Complex, reported Russian media. The priority task now
include assessment and design of the ground area, suggested by the
authorities of the Armenian capital for the building of the House of Moscow,
issue the respective administrative document, V. Resin said. As stated by
Deputy head of the Moscow Town-Planning Department Sergey Hambartsumyan, a
Moscow investment and construction company established in Yerevan will
patronize the building of the House. The concept of the House, which is to
become center of comprehensive friendly and business cooperation of the
Russian and Armenian capitals, is being worked out at present.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress