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07/05/2006
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1) 10,000 Attend Navasartian Closing Ceremony
2) Vatican Opposes Turkey Joining European Union
3) Minsk Group Co-Chairmen Issue Annoucement
4) Kocharian Begins Official Iran Visit
1) 10,000 Attend Navasartian Closing Ceremony
VAN NUYS, CaliforniaMore than 10,000 community members flocked to the
Birmingham High School field Tuesday for the closing ceremonies of the 31st
annual Homenetmen Navasartian Games, which culminated in a parade of athletes
and scouts and an impressive display of fireworks.
The athletic field and the entire high school was filled with Homenetmen
members, supporters and community members who chose to mark the July 4 holiday
at what has become a California-Armenian community tradition.
The program began with announcers Nora Tchaparian (Armenian) and Patyl
Kasparian (English) officially declaring the commencement of the parade and
the
closing ceremonies. The Homenetmen Regional Scouting Council members escorted
the procession of honored guests led by Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, 31st Navasartian honorary chairs Mr.& Mrs. Hovsep and Elizabeth
Boyadjian, "Exemplary Homenetmen Member" Samuel Megerdichian and Homenetmen
Regional Executive chairman Raffi Ispendjian.
Among the guests attending the ceremonies were Armenia’s Deputy Consul
General
Arthur Madoyan, Homenetmen Central Committee member Mheir Davtian and Manuel
Marcellian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western Region Central Committee
member Hagop Tufenkian, Glendale School Board member Greg Krikorian, Burbank
School Board member and the Democratic nominee for the 43rd Assembly district
Paul Krekorian, as well as representatives of community organizations.
Complete coverage of the 31st Navasartian Games will be featured in the
Weekend Edition of Asbarez.
2) Vatican Opposes Turkey Joining European Union
VATICAN CITY (AKI)According to the Head of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting
Christian Unity Cardinal Walter Kasper, the recent stabbing of a Catholic
priest in the northern Turkish city of Samsun shows that Turkey is not ready
for European Union membership.
"It is not the right moment for Turkey to join the European Union. What is
still missing [in Turkey], is a secular state capable of assuring real
religious freedom, and this is a long process which needs time," he told Milan
Daily Corriere della Sera on Tuesday.
Referring also to the stabbing by a Turkish suspect of French Priest Pierre
Brunissen late on Sunday, Cardinal Kasper said the Catholic church believes
that "every act of violence committed in the name of God is an insult to Him
and to every religion."
In Turkey "the church is not even entitled to private property, there is some
tolerance, but no real freedom," explained Cardinal Kasper. "The Turkish state
administers religion and that is not right. However, it is not just a problem
of regulations, it is a mentality issue, and this cannot change quickly," he
added.
"The atmosphere is pervaded by suspicion and xenophobia, it is not just a
problem of individual acts of aggression towards Catholics. Islamic
fundamentalism is growing in Istanbul and there is hostility toward
foreigners," he explained.
According to the cardinal, education is a key issue and the authorities
should
encourage young Turks to "look at present times with new eyes."
3) Minsk Group Co-Chairmen Issue Annoucement
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan, Armenpress)The co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group
Monday
issued another statement regarding the Karabakh peace process, reiterating the
group’s position that the principles proposed as a result of a two-year long
negotiation process were the best package for the conflict resolution.
"On June 22 the Minsk Group Co-Chairs reported to the OSCE Permanent Council
on the results of the past months of negotiations between the sides on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They reported on their intensive mediation
activities over the past seven months aimed at achieving agreement on the
basic
principles for a settlement. These included three visits of the Co-Chairs to
Baku and Yerevan, three times together and several more times separately, two
meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and
two
summits between Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev, first in Rambouillet in
February and then in Bucharest in early June. In addition, a joint Mission of
Representatives of the Co-Chair countries at the Deputy Foreign Minister level
traveled to the region in May. Throughout their mediation efforts, the
Co-Chairs stressed, as always, the belief of their nations and of the
international community that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved in
no other way than a peaceful one. They also stressed the need for the leaders
of Armenia and Azerbaijan to prepare their publics for peace and not for war,"
the annoucement read
"The mediation efforts of the Co-Chairs resulted in the proposal to
Presidents
Aliyev and Kocharian of a set of fair, balanced, and workable core principles
that could pave the way for the two sides to draft a far-reaching settlement
agreement. The principles are based on the redeployment of Armenian troops
from
Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for
Kelbajar and Lachin districts (including a corridor between Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh), demilitarization of those territories, and a referendum or
population vote – at a date and in a manner to be decided through further
negotiations – to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Deployment of an international peacekeeping force and a joint commission for
implementation of the agreement would be established, and international
assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction, and
resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied
territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. Certain interim
arrangements for Nagorno-Karabakh would allow for interaction with
providers of
international assistance. The sides would renounce the use or threat of use of
force, and international and bilateral security guarantees and assurances
would
be put in place. Regarding the vote to determine the future status of
Nagorno-Karabakh, the Co-Chairs stressed that suitable pre-conditions for such
a vote would have to be achieved so that the vote would take place in a
non-coercive environment in which well-informed citizens have had ample
opportunity to consider their positions after a vigorous debate in the public
arena.
"Unfortunately, at their most recent meeting in Bucharest the Presidents did
not reach agreement on these principles. The Co-Chairs continue to believe
that
the proposals developed through the past two years of negotiations hold the
best potential for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the conflict.
They strongly believe that it is now time for the two Presidents to take the
initiative for achieving a breakthrough in the settlement process based on
these principles, and they stand ready to assist the parties to conclude an
agreement if the Presidents indicate they are prepared to do so. Although no
additional meetings between the sides under the auspices of the Co-Chairs are
planned for the immediate future, they will be ready to reengage if the
parties
decide to pursue the talks with the political will that has thus far been
lacking."
Armenpress reported Wednesday that a senior Azeri official reaffirmed
official
Baku’s willingness to continue talks with Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution option based on the so-called "stage and package"
approach.
Tair Tagizade, head of the Azeri foreign affairs ministry’s press office,
told
the Russian Itar-Tass news agency that Azerbaijan perceives the first stage of
the peace process comprising of 8 to 10 elements which include the pullout of
Armenian troops from regions surrounding the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh,
demining of the front-line, return of refugees, ensuring their security, and
restoration of communications.
The second stage of talks, Tagizade said, must focus on defining the legal
status of Nagorno-Karabakh within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. He
added that this is possible only after there is restoration of the ethnic
composition of Nagorno-Karabakh to that of prior to 1988, ensuring the
security
of Armenian and Azeri communities of Nagorno-Karabakh in line with the
Azerbaijani constitution.
Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov was quoted by the Turan news agency
on Monday saying Baku has never agreed to a type of solution that would
culminate in a referendum on the Nagorno-Karabakh status.
Azimov said Baku believes such a vote should instead take place on
Azerbaijan’s entire internationally recognized territory. "That is
reflected in
the Azerbaijani constitution and the country’s leadership does not intend to
revise its opinion," he said.
4) Kocharian Begins Official Iran Visit
TEHRAN (Armenpress)Armenian President Robert Kocharian was officially welcomed
by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at his presidential office on
Wednesday.
After the welcoming ceremonies, the two presidents spoke privately, and then
presided over the first round of official talks with the countries’
delegations. President Ahmadinejad, during his opening remarks, expressed hope
that Kocharian’s visit will be another important step to help boost bilateral
contacts. Kocharian, in his turn, said progress was marked after his previous
visit to Iran.
The Armenian delegation includes Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,
Minister of
Energy Armen Movsisyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian, and other
top
officials.
During his two-day stay, Kocharian is scheduled to hold separate meetings
with
senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
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