Author: Antonian Lara

July 11, 2008
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT ST. GARABED CHURCH AND BLESS THE
FOUNDATION OF
THE NEW YOUTH CENTER

On Sunday, July 13th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy at St. Garabed Mother Church in
Hollywood. The Prelate will also deliver the sermon.
Following Divine Liturgy, the Prelate will conduct the blessing of
foundations of the new Armenian Youth Center to be built on the lot adjacent
to the church. The event has been organized by the Armenian Cultural
Foundation and Homenetmen Los Angeles Chapters.

NEW PUBLICATION OF THE DIVINE LITURGY

We are pleased to announce that a new and enhanced publication of
the Divine Liturgy was recently published. The book, which was prepared
with the collaborative efforts of the three Prelacies of North America and
Canada, is comprised of the Divine Liturgy in classical Armenian (krapar),
modern Western Armenian (ashkharapar), English transliteration, and English
translation, thus making it comprehensible to all our parishioners. In
addition, it includes an introduction to the Divine Liturgy, an appendix of
hymns, chants, and psalms, and a comprehensive glossary of terms.
The publication was made possible by the generous sponsorship of
Mrs. Rose Kasimian and Dr. Dennis Kasimian, in memory of their beloved
husband and father Kegham.

PRELATE WELCOMES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
LAS VEGAS PARISH

EVENING SERVICES ON THE FEAST OF ST. THADDEUS
AND ST. SANTOOKHT

On the afternoon of Saturday, July 5th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy representatives from the
Armenian Apostolic Church of Las Vegas. It was the first visit of the
delegation, which was headed by parish council Chairman Mr. Adroushan
Armenian, to the Prelacy.
During their meeting, in which Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian also
participated, Mr. Adroushan reported to the Prelate on the successes and
challenges of the parish as well as on their future activities. On behalf
of the Las Vegas community Mr. Armenian congratulated the Prelate on his
re-election and presented him with a memento. The Prelate presented the
guests with souvenirs, after which they had the opportunity to tour the
headquarters to get better acquainted with the various departments of the
Prelacy.
In the evening, the Prelate presided over services in observance of
the Feast of St. Thaddeus the Apostle and St. Santookht, the first martyr of
the Armenian nation, which took place at the "St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen"
Chapel and the adjacent "Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall. The
members of the Las Vegas parish participated in the services as did members
of the Armenian Church Youth Association.
At the conclusion of the service Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian
briefly presented to the faithful the lives of St. Thaddeus the Apostle and
St. Santookht.
A reception followed the service.

PRELATE MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF A.R.S.
REGIONAL EXECUTIVE

On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy members of the Armenian
Relief Society Regional Executive. The delegation, headed by Chairlady Mrs.
Sonia Peltekian, had come to congratulate the Prelate on his re-election.
Executive Council Chairman Dr. Garo Agopian also participated in the
meeting.
The Prelate and guests discussed the wide-ranging services offered
by A.R.S., as well as the upcoming regional convention, the opening of which
is scheduled to take place at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhie Der
Ghazarian" Hall on Thursday, July 10th.
The Prelate highly commended the charitable works of A.R.S. within
the Diaspora and Armenia, especially the recent aid offered to the Armenians
of Iraq to which the Prelacy lent its support, and wished them success in
their future endeavors

WESTERN PRELACY HOSTS OPENING SESSION OF THE
A.R.S. 88TH REGIONAL CONVENTION

On Thursday, July 10th, the opening of the 88th regional convention
of the Armenian Relief Society Western Region took place at the Prelacy
"Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall, hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary.
During the official opening of the convention, remarks were offered
by organizing committee Chairlady Mrs. Nanig Kupelian, Regional Executive
Chairlady Mrs. Sonia Peltekian, Central Executive Chairlady Mrs. Hasmig
Derderian, A.R.F. Central Committee representative Mrs. John Kossakian,
Consul General of Armenia the Honorable Armen Liloyan, and Glendale Mayor
the Honorable John Drayman.
The Prelate then welcomed the members to the Prelacy and conveyed
his message.
On Saturday, July 12th, a special ceremony will take place at the
A.R.S. Regional Executive headquarters during which the names of new
sponsors will be added to the display at the center. The Prelate will
attend the ceremony and convey his blessings to the members and friends of
the A.R.S.

PRELATE WELCOMES CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER OF THE PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT ALICE PETROSSIAN
TO THE PRELACY

On the afternoon of Thursday, July 10th, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy Chief Academic Officer of the
Pasadena Unified School District Mrs. Alice Petrossian.
The Prelate met with Mrs. Petrossian, who for 31 years has been
serving in Glendale public schools as a teacher and later as Assistant
Superintendent of Educational Services within the Glendale Unified School
District. Most recently, Mrs. Petrossian was appointed to the post of Chief
Academic Officer of the Pasadena School District and also serves as Deputy
Superintendent. She has also collaborated with the Prelacy through the
Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools (CASPS), of which she is a
founding member.
The Prelate highly commended her service and dedication to our
students and wished her success in her new position.
Following their meeting, Mrs. Petrossian participated in the opening
session of the Armenian Relief Society 88th Regional Convention which took
place at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall.

PRELATE WELCOMES DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
MICHAEL AMERIAN

On Thursday, July 3rd, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney Michael
Amerian who is a candidate for the office of Los Angeles City Attorney. Mr.
Amerian was accompanied by Deputy City Attorney Apraham Atteukenian.
During their meeting Mr. American conveyed to the Prelate his plans
if elected to the post. The Prelate wished his success in his campaign and
in his public service.

COOPERATION – PLEDGE OF SHOUSHI’S REVIVAL

DeFacto Agency
July 9 2008
Armenia

Shoushi Revival Benevolent Fund has been working for two years. A
delegation of Republic of Armenia headed by RA PM Tigran Sargsian
visited the town of Shoushi within the frames of the visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh. The meeting with representatives of Shoushi Revival
Fund, which was held here, became some report on the Fund’s two-year
activity.

To begin with, the meeting was organized at the Information Center
for Art, Trade and Tourism, which had been repaired on the Fund’s
initiative.

Grigor Hovhannisian, the Fund Executive Director, presented the work
carried out for the last period. A number of principal directions were
proposed as perspective programs for the town’s restoration. Shoushi
is to be restored as all-Armenian cultural, educational, scientific
and tourist center, as a center, where measures of all-Armenian
significance can be held, and, finally, as Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s
second administrative center. Grigor Hovhannisian is sure there are
all conditions to carry out the work. Another part of the Fund’s
works is targeted at rendering assistance to Shoushi’s population.

According to Grigor Hovhannisian, initial point for the beginning
of perspective programs’ realization is elaboration of the town’s
general plan. There used to be a few general plans of Shoushi. The
last one was elaborated in 1998; however, in Grigor Hovhannisian’s
words, the variant cannot ensure the town’s perspective development.

A new project of Shoushi’s general plan was created last year on
the Fund’s initiative, with the participation of quite authoritative
specialists and structures, which was targeted not only at maintaining
Shoushi’s Armenian historical image, but also at ensuring the
town’s further development. "We are sure that Shoushi can become a
town-preserve", Shoushi Fund Executive Director stated.

For last years the Fund not only made programs, but also realized
some program parts. For example, Information Center for Art, Trade
and Tourism was founded in Shoushi; Yerevan Cinema was repaired and
equipped with modern facilities. By the Fund’s efforts typographical
craft, which has long traditions in Shoushi, has been revived after
interval that lasted for decades.

The Fund’s next program initiative will be repair of Shoushi Kanach
drug store. Besides the restoration of this historical monument,
a work on improvement of the museum’s territory adjoining it and
repair of Tatevos’s spring will be carried out as well.

The Fund also realized a number of social, educational and medicinal
programs. Steps on activating small and medium business were undertaken
in cooperation with American University of America. Taking into
consideration the course of the town’s development, serious attention
was paid to training specialists in the sphere of services. It is
planned to start works on improvement of Shoushi’s water-supply system
within the next few months.

Grigor Hovhannisian is sure that the above-mentioned and other programs
will efficiently start in case of the Fund’s more active cooperation
with NKR state structures.

NKR PM Ara Harutyunian assured the meeting’s participants that the
problems Shoushi faced were in the center of the state’s attention.

According to the NKR government’s head, the fact that Shoushi’s
general plan worked out by the Fund has not been approved yet is
a normal phenomena, since NKR government’s appropriate structures
had not participated in the works on general plan’s elaboration. In
other words, not all priority concepts of the government concerning
the perspective of the town’s development have been reflected in
the general plan. "We vaguely picture what the Fund realizes", in
his turn, stated the NKR Minister of Urban development and expressed
bewilderment, "it should be taken into consideration that Shoushi’s
restoration is a state program".

Yervand Zakharian, Yerevan Mayor, the Chairman of Shoushi Revival
Fund Board of Trustees, also stated that Shoushi’s restoration was a
state program, and if some programs planned by the Fund are dragged
out the reason is unsatisfactory level of cooperation between the
Fund and NKR government.

In any case, both parties voiced confidence that the gap would be
stopped in the near future.

Eurasia Daily Monitor

July 9, 2008 — Volume 5, Issue 130

GUAM SHOWS ITS RESILIENCE AT BATUMI SUMMIT

by Vladimir Socor

The GUAM Summit just held in Batumi (see EDM, July 7) demonstrated
that Georgia and Azerbaijan compose GUAM’s solid core; that Ukraine’s
governing political forces are committed to GUAM while the evenly matched
opposition forces are uncommitted; that Moldova is on the verge of
abandoning the group; and that GUAM is capable of diversifying partnership
relations beyond the group’s own format.

GUAM may now be called `GUAm’ as a result of Moldova’s
all-but-declared defection. Moldova was a co-founder of the group in 1997,
hosted the `GUAM revival’ summit in 2005, and contributed actively to GUAM’s
institutionalization during the Moldovan chairmanship period (see EDM, April
20, 21, and 25-28, 2005). Later on, however, Chisinau distanced itself
demonstratively from GUAM, hoping through this and other gestures to earn
Moscow’s goodwill for a solution to the Transnistria conflict. President
Vladimir Voronin stayed away from the 2007 and 2008 GUAM summits. He only
sent his minister of internal affairs to the Batumi event, a mismatch that
looked like a snub to the five heads of state (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine,
Poland, and Lithuania) who attended this summit. The minister, Valentin
Mejinschi, deviated even further by choosing to deliver his perfunctory
speech in Russian.

Moldova alone has not ratified the GUAM Charter, a failure that
jeopardizes GUAM’s quest for international recognition as a full-fledged
regional organization. The Moldovan parliament with its strong
pro-presidential majority could easily have ratified the GUAM Charter, if
told to do so. Chisinau is not delegating its representatives to the
Kyiv-based GUAM Secretariat, has a poor record of attendance at GUAM
sectoral commissions’ meetings, and is not paying its GUAM membership dues.

Voronin attacked GUAM in Russian press interviews ahead of the Batumi
summit and during the event. He found fault, indignantly and irrelevantly,
with the Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk oil pipeline project for bypassing
Moldova. He claimed credit for vetoing the planned GUAM peacekeeping unit
(notwithstanding that it was only proposed for international missions
outside GUAM states’ territories). Voronin felt obligated to describe GUAM
membership as `pointless’ and the group itself as `economically unproductive
and therefore lacking gravitational pull.’ By contrast he feigned praise for
the CIS as a `highly effective project, confirmed by life itself, with an
economic dimension based on Russia’s energy resources.’ Catering to Moscow’s
adversarial view of GUAM, Voronin reassured Russia that `Moldova will not be
used as [part of a] counterbalance to someone else’ (Kommersant, March 11,
July 2).

Those arguments are reminiscent of Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s
justifications for abandoning what was then GUUAM. Uzbekistan had joined the
group in 1999, only to withdraw de facto by 2003 and officially in 2005, on
the grounds that the group was overly political, underperforming
economically, and irritating Russia. By analogy, Moldova’s arguments gave
rise to speculation during the Batumi summit that Moldova was about to
withdraw from GUAM (Rezonansi, July 4). Moldovan authorities, however, do
not intend to abandon GUAM officially. But they will keep their distance
from GUAM for as long as they crave Russian cooperation on Transnistria, and
until those hopes turn (as seems likely) into disappointment.

The Ukrainian Parliament, unlike Moldova’s, had wrestled for years
with the issue of ratifying the GUAM Charter. Signed by the four presidents
at GUAM’s Yalta summit in 2001, the Charter was revised at the Chisinau
summit in 2005, signed in its updated form by the four presidents at the
Kyiv summit in 2006, and easily ratified by the Georgian and Azerbaijani
parliaments. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada finally ratified the Charter in March
2008 by the narrowest admissible margin (226 votes in favor), with the
opposition parties declining to vote or voting against (Interfax-Ukraine,
March 7). Meanwhile, the GUAM Secretariat’s small headquarters in Kyiv, a
Ukrainian responsibility, is still undergoing repairs ever since the 2006
Kyiv summit (see EDM, May 25, 2006).

Ukraine is the main supporter of creating a GUAM peacekeeping unit.
Kyiv regards this proposal as an opportunity to demonstrate Ukraine’s
capacity for regional leadership. The proposal was discussed in some detail
at the GUAM summits in Kyiv 2006 and Baku 2007 (see EDM, June 20, 2007). In
the run-up to the Batumi summit, Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov
discussed the idea yet again with receptive Georgian leaders in Tbilisi.
They agreed to keep alive the consultations about composition and possible
international missions of such a unit (Interfax-Ukraine, June 5). The Batumi
summit documents do not mention this idea, although it was again discussed
there (Civil Georgia, The Messenger, July 2).

Russia took the floor in Batumi for the first time at a GUAM summit.
It did so by proxy through CIS First Deputy Executive Secretary Vladimir
Garkun, a Belarus diplomat. In the briefest of all speeches, he repeatedly
declared, `We all [ex-Soviet countries] have a lot in common,’ a tentative
overture though blurring the difference. GUAM remains the only interstate
organization in formerly Soviet territory that excludes Russia from
membership.

–Vladimir Socor

IRANIAN CHURCHES ADDED TO UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST

Tehran Times
July 9 2008
Iran

TEHRAN – The Iranian churches St. Thaddeus, St. Stephanus, and Dzordzor
(Zorzor) in East Azerbaijan Province and West Azerbaijan Province
were registered on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The decision was made during the World Heritage Committee session in
Quebec, Canada on July 6.

The UNESCO website described the monuments as "examples of outstanding
universal value of the Armenian architectural and decorative
traditions" and adding, "They bear testimony to very important
interchanges with the other regional cultures, in particular the
Byzantine, Orthodox and Persian."

The committee also asked Iran to give an inclusive report on the
modifications to be carried out on the Jahan-Nama Tower by February
2009, Iranian representative in the session Mehdi Musavi told the
Persian service of CHN on Monday.

The tower spoils the horizontal view of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square,
another Iranian complex in Isfahan, which was inscribed on the World
Heritage List in 1979.

In addition, the committee decided Iran’s Bam Cultural Landscape will
remain on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger until 2010. Bam, a
historical city located in Kerman Province in southern Iran, was almost
totally destroyed by a devastating earthquake on December 26, 2003.

—St. Thaddeus Church—

The St. Thaddeus Church, also known as the Black Church (Qara Kelissa),
is probably Iran’s most interesting and notable Christian monument,
located near the Chalderan region in Maku, West Azerbaijan.

Christians from all over the world annually gather at the church on
July 1 for their annual commemoration of the martyrdom of St. Thaddeus.

One of the 12 disciples, St. Thaddeus, also known as St. Jude, (not
to be confused with Judas Iscariot), was martyred while spreading the
Gospel. He is revered as an apostle of the Armenian Church. As legend
has it, a church dedicated to him was first built on the present site
in 68 CE.

Nothing appears to remain of this original church, which was
extensively rebuilt in the 13th century, but some sections around the
altar may date to the 10th century. Most of the present structure
dates to the 17th century and is of carved sandstone. The oldest
sections are made of black and white stone.

The Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew traveled through Armenia in 45
CE to preach the word of God. Many people were converted and numerous
secret Christian communities were established there.

Around that time, Abgar died after ruling for 38 years and the Armenian
kingdom was split into two parts. His son Ananun crowned himself in
Edessa, while his nephew Sanatruk ruled in Greater Armenia. About 66
CE, Ananun gave the order to kill St. Thaddeus in Edessa. The king’s
daughter Sandokht, who had converted to Christianity, was martyred
with Thaddeus. Her tomb is located near the St. Thaddeus Church.

The church is surrounded by thick walls which form the outer ramparts
of some abandoned monastery buildings.

—St. Stephanus Church—

According to Hayk Ajimian, an Armenian scholar and historian, the
church was originally built in the ninth century CE, but repeated
earthquakes in region severely damaged the original structure.

Located near Marand in East Azerbaijan, the church was renovated
during the reign of the Safavid king Shah Abbas (1588-1629).

The general structure of the St. Stephanus Church, which also known
as St. Stepanos, mostly resembles Armenian and Georgian architecture
and the inside of the building is adorned with beautiful paintings
by Honatanian, a renowned Armenian artist.

The Armenian Orthodox primate of the diocese of Tehran, Archbishop
Sebuh Sarkisian, said on Thursday that some of the remains recently
discovered in Iran’s St. Stephanus Church may be the bones of John
the Baptist.

In July 2005, Shahriar Adl, the director of the team documenting
three Iranian churches for registration on UNESCO’s World Heritage
List, said that they had discovered a box at the St. Stephanus Church
containing the bones of one of the successors of the Apostles of Jesus.

The Armenian Orthodox primate of the diocese of Tehran, Archbishop
Sebuh Sarkisian, approved the report in his August 2005 interview,
adding, "About the box, which contains the remains of the apostles’
bodies and was found under the altar of the St. Stephanus Church, it
is said that the box contains the body of John the Baptist. According
to Armenian historian Arakel Davrizhetsi (17th century), the box,
which was located under the main altar of the Church of the Holy
Trinity in old Jolfa and contained the sacred remains and a scroll,
was given to Shamun, the archbishop of St. Stephanus Church, after
the Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed."

"The remains may very likely have historic value. According to the
tradition of the church, we know that after St. Gregory the Illuminator
was consecrated as archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, in a friendly
gesture, he gave some remains of John the Baptist to Quintius, the
archbishop of the region, during his return trip to Armenia. The
remains were transferred to the John the Baptist Cathedral in the
city of Mush in Armenia.

"Now, the remains were somehow transferred to another place, as a
consequence of the wars and chaotic conditions prevailing in the land
over past centuries, in which believers and church fathers changed the
location of the box in order to safeguard it. A French traveler (Jean
Baptiste Tavernier, 1605-1689), who saw a box at the St. Stephanus
Church when he visited the place in the 17th century, had said that
the box contained the body of one of the Apostles," Sarkisian said.

Some historical sources, such as some photos kept at Tehran’s Golestan
Palace, and the photos taken by Ali Khan Vali, the governor of northern
Azerbaijan during the reign of the Qajar king Nasser ad-Din Shah and
kept in the Adl family archives, indicate that the bones of Saint
Stephanus (Saint Stephen), Saint Matthew, and the Prophet Daniel,
are being kept in the St. Stephanus Church.

—Dzordzor Church—

Located in the village of Barone in Zangar Valley of Chaldoran region
in the north of West Azerbaijan Province, the church was built in
1315 CE.

— Iranian sites on World Heritage List–

1. Chogha Zanbil, Khuzestan Province, 1979

2. Persepolis, Fars Province, 1979

3. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan Province, 1979

4. Takht-e Soleiman, West Azerbaijan Province, 2003

5. Pasargadae, Fars Province, 2004

6. The city of Bam and its Cultural Landscape, Kerman Province, 2004

7. Soltanieh Dome, Zanjan Province, 2005

8. Bisotun, Kermanshah Province, 2006

9. Northwest Iran’s historic churches St. Thaddeus and St. Stephanus,
West Azerbaijan Province; and Dzordzor (Zorzor), East Azerbaijan
Province, 2008

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION DEMANDS FRESH ELECTION AT RALLY – TV

Armenian Public TV
July 4 2008

[Presenter speaking over video of the rally] The rally of supporters of
Levon Ter-Petrosyan started today with a 45-minute delay. Ter-Petrosyan
came to the tribune at 1930 [local time; 1430 gmt] accompanied by
the leader of the People’s Party of Armenia, Stepan Demirchyan,
and the leader of the Republic Party, Aram Sargsyan.

Seven speeches and four statements were planned. Suren Surenyants
[a top member of the opposition Republic Party], who was leading the
rally, said that the Russian union of their [probably of the opposition
Popular Movement] movement has joined them, which like other speakers
at the rally has demanded the conduct of an extraordinary election.

The publicist Tigran Paskevichyan, and the member of the Heritage
Party, Zoya Tadevosyan, have made speeches. They have criticized
the latest resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe [which said that the Armenian government has made certain
progress in carrying out the recommended democratic reforms]. The
deputy chairperson of the People’s Party of Armenia, Grigor
Harutyunyan, and Ter-Petrosyan’s former spokesman, Levon Zurabyan,
have made speeches as well. The speakers said that a few supporters
of Ter-Petrosyan, as a sign of protest, are going to start a sit-in
protest action until the next rally. The rally is not over at the
moment; Levon Ter-Petrosyan is making a speech now. We will broadcast
the full information on the rally in our night bulletin.

UNION OF BANKS OF ARMENIA HOLDS VISITING SESSION IN NAGORNY KARABAKH REPUBLIC

ArmInfo
2008-07-07 10:47:00

President of Nagorny Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received the
delegation of the Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) headed by Chairman
of Armenian Central Bank Artur Javadyan. The delegation arrived in
Stepanakert on July 4 with the Armenian governmental delegation headed
by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

NKR Presidential Administration Chief Information Department told
ArmInfo A.

Javadyan presented NKR President the results of the visiting session
of UBA in the town of Shushi. The parties discussed development of
NKR banking system, prospects of cooperation of the banks of the two
Armenians states.

The parties agreed to expand banking services of Armenia in Nagorny
Karabakh. Crediting of small and medium-size enterprises, organization
of training programs for the specialists of the banking system.

Bako Sahakyan welcomed the initiative of the Union of Banks of Armenia
to study the economic field in NKR and implement new programs. At
the same time he expressed readiness to contribute to fostering the
cooperation of NKR and Armenian banks.

Head of NKR Presidential Administration Marat Musaelyan and Chairman
of Artsakhbank Board Kamo Nersisyan attended the meeting as well.

To recall, the Armenian governmental delegation headed by Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan met with NKR leadership and public.

NKR President Bako Shakyan received the delegation after having
vis-a-vis meeting with the Armenian premier.

NKR President expressed confidence that the visit of the Armenian
premier to NKR and the fact that Armenian high-ranking officials
start their working visits with Artsakh by tradition will foster the
relations and the cooperation of the two Armenian states.

For his part, Tigrn Sargsyan stressed that the Armenian authorities
represented by the government will do their best to support Artsakh.

NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutiunyan also received the Armenian
governmental delegation comprising the minister of agriculture and
natural resources, minister of labor and for social affairs, minister
of education and science, and minister of culture. The ministers
discussed issues of mutual interest with their Karabakh colleagues.

The governmental delegation visited Stepanakert Memorial Complex for
Heroes of Karabakh War, town of Shushi where Shushi Revival Foundation
presented its work at the Center of Arts, Crafts and Tourism. The
governmental delegation participated in the opening of water pipelines
in the village of Khramor, Askeran region and village of Kolkhozashen,
Martuni region, NKR.

ARIF YUNUSOV: "SERZH SARGSYAN OBVIOUSLY FEELS NOT AT EASE IN AN ATTEMPT TO BECOME CLOSER TO RUSSIA AND THE WEST AND PLEASE ALL OF THEM"

Today.Az
04 July 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with famous conflict expert Arif Yunusov.

– How do you assess the current sociopolitical situation in Armenia?

– It is difficult to specify situation in Armenia in brief,
because the events there develop by a script differing from ours or
Georgia’s. Parallels can be formally drawn with the 2003 events and
I can say that the same occurred in Armenia in spring.

At the same time, the situation is even more complicated. Thus, on
the other hand, the society demonstrated strong resentment with the
ruling regime. The fact that regime is not local but originates from
Karabakh even added negative. In the result, people were waiting for
a charismatic and wise opposition leader to reverse the situation
in Armenia.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan has become such a leader, through his second
appearance on the political stage astonished most people greatly,
for Armenia thought he will never return as a politician again. The
statements that the Armenian people will not forgive the terror,
suffered by the people, especially Yerevan residents in the ealy 1990s,
have been repeatedly made before. But it all sank into oblivion. The
most important thing were the organizational and declamatory skills
of the first President.

But it is not enough to have a leader and intention of the society. For
such small countries, as ours, reaction of the leading geopolitical
players is crucial. But here everything is different. In West’s
opinion Armenian opposition was untimely in raising the combat, as
now Russia’s position is more important for the West and today it is
not profitable for the West to argue with Russia for Armenia. This
is not Georgia, where the majority of population is anti-Russian. It
is unclear how can it affect the West in Armenia. Russia’s positions
are strong enough here.

In the result, opposition failed to complete its duty. Russia did not
believe to Ter-Petrosyan urgently arriving in Moscow, while the West
has taken the wait-and see stance, while Armenian society was striken
with pessimistic spirits. Today, these very feelings-disappointment
and pessimism are defining for understanding the situation in Armenia.

At the same time, it can not be said that Serzh Sargsyan has managed to
consolidate his positions. He still feels not at ease while attempting
to get closer to the strongest countries – Russia and the West and
wants to please all of them.

On the other hand, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his supporters have a
rich political experience, they were caught in such situations and
managed to find a way our. Thus, there has been a certain pause in
the political situation in Armenia, which will probably last until
spring of the next year, when situation in Armenia may deteriorate
again under the influence of talks on Karabakh and PACE resolution,
and perhaps on other reasons. But there can hardly be anything serious
in Armenia before it.

– How would you comment on the statement of first Armenian president
Levon Ter-Petrosyan who said that adoption of resolution 1620 at
PACE summer session regarding Armenia is illogical and "evidences the
unscrupulousness of this organization and that the West has created
virtual Armenia for itself and now tries to prove us that the country
where we live is wonderful"?

– Levon Ter-Petrosyan statement proves strong disappointment with the
West’s position. We have sustained this repeatedly in Azerbaijan, while
Armenians have faced this for the first time, as opposition hoped for
the principal position of the West in the face of the OSCE and PACE.

But it did not occur, which has become a kind of a cold shower
for Armenian opposition. But belief in West has been preserved,
otherwise what should they do? Russia’s position in the elections
in any country in the post-Soviet area is primordially known, there
is nothing unclear there. There is no Islam factor in Armenia as
well. Therefore, Armenian opposition’s choise is too restricted. It is
too discontented with the position of the West, if exactly, western
organizations, it will periodically criticize them, but at the same
time not lose hope for their assistance.

– What is a difference between Azerbaijani and Armenian opposition?

– The differences are great and they are caused by many factors,
including actions of the authorities, position of the society
and reaction of geopolitical actors. There is a great difference
everywhere.

For example, energy factor plays important role for the West in
Azerbaijan. Therefore, the West shows passive reaction to the
actions of the authorities, formally in order not to spoil their
image completely. As is said, even PACE resolutions smell of oil
in Azerbaijan, which will last until the time when oil reserve are
exhausted. Our authorities are aware of it, and act fearlessly as
they understand that nothing threatens to them in real. Therefore
they can use force and money is enough to buy opposition when
necessary. Besides, our society is also pessimistic.

The situation is quite different in Armenia and the society is not so
pessimistic there and the West thinks not about the reserves in the
country, therefore, at some stage it will impose pressure on Armenian
authorities and assist to opposition. The latter just hurried, as
our compatriots in South Azerbaijan did in May of 2006.

At the same time, our opposition has to learn from Armenian’s. First
of all, Armenian opposition has a definite strategy, which it executes
consistently enough or at least tries to implement. And tactically it
is more creative. Let’s recall the story with the spread of DVD and
cassettes from Ter-Petrosyan’s meeting among the population. Know-How
is on the high level. It also invests something and tries to act
unexpectedly.

– Nevertheless, despite expectations of most experts, June 20 meeting
of the Armenian opposition involves masses. How did Armenian opposition
manage to attain such a success, as conduction of mass protest action
in the center of Yerevan in conditions of strong pressure by Armenian
authorities?

– Everything is relative. The pressure of Armenian authorities
on opposition is in fact not so strong, especially in comparison
with us. On March 1 the authorities managed to take control of
the situation only with use of force and deploying army in the
streets. Now, when the pressure of the authorities has weakened,
the opposition has a chance to conduct its activity. The question is
how to atract masses? Ter-Petrosyan managed to relieve a part of the
society from apathy and distrust in their powers. But only a part
of the society. Another part, especially beyond the capital city,
is still sleepy and fearing its authorities. Thus, the meetings in
Yerevan are only attended by those who joined them in February-March.

– In this case, what can we expect from the meeting of Armenian
opposition, scheduled for July 4?

– This meeting will not be so decisive for Armenia. The past script
will repeat. Another moment is important here: Armenian opposition,
led by Ter-Petrosyan always invents and undertakes something,
permanently holding the authorities under tension, which is important.

This means that the working Armenian regime will always be under
pressure, Even summer vocations are not for them, through traditionally
political activity is declining in this period, while in Armenia we
see different developments, which is a result of opposition’s actions.

TURKISH THESIS REGARDING 1915 EVENTS ADOPTED BY OSCE

9337483.asp?scr=1
Thursday, July 03, 2008

Turkey’s thesis against Armenian allegations about the events of 1915
has been adopted for the first time by the general assembly of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

"The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s annual session was held in
Kazakhstan’s capital Astana with the main theme of ‘Transparency
in the OSCE’. During the session, a motion submitted by the Turkish
delegation was adopted. The motion underlines that past events like
genocide should be recognized only after historians carried out a
detailed research in all kinds of archives," Alaattin Buyukkaya,
who leads the Turkish group at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly,
told a statement on Wednesday.

In 2005, Turkey officially proposed to the Armenian government the
establishment of a joint historical commission composed of historians
and other experts from both sides to study together the events of
1915 and to open the archives of Turkey and Armenia, as well as
the archives of all relevant third-party countries and share their
findings publicly.

Unfortunately, Armenia has not yet responded positively to this
initiative and Turkey’s proposal remains on the table.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic links since Ankara
intensified its protests against Armenian invasion and violence in
the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Armenia invaded in a war with
Azerbaijan in the early 1990s.

The border between Turkey and Armenia has been closed.

Armenia, with the backing of the Diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million
of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in 1915. Turkey
rejects the claims, saying that 300,000 Armenians along with at least
as many Turks died in civil strife that emerged when the Armenians
took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.

"The OSCE is the biggest international organization behind the United
Nations. Adoption of the Turkish thesis by the OSCE is a significant
achievement against the Armenian allegations. Also, the Turkish thesis
regarding the events of 1915 was adopted for the first time on an
international platform. The OSCE has 56 member states. Only Armenia
voted against the motion. A majority of the other member states voted
in favor of it," he said.

"The motion says that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly encourages the
formation of joint history commissions by historians and experts from
the third countries in case of a research into political and military
archives to scientifically and unbiasedly enlighten a disputed period
in history in an effort to serve transparency and common understanding
among the member states," Buyukkaya added.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE is the parliamentary
dimension of the organization, whose 56 participating States span the
geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok. The primary task of
the 320 member Assembly is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue,
an important aspect of the overall effort to meet the challenges of
democracy throughout the OSCE area.

LEVON ZURABIAN: AUTHORITIES ARE CAPABLE OF ANY MEANNESS

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly 3

At the rally to be held on July 4, leader of the National Movement
Levon Ter-Petrosian was going to make proposals of overcoming
the political crisis and moving the struggle to the constructive
field. However, as Levon Zurabian, a representative of the National
Movement, stated at the July 3 press conference, the authorities
presented manifestation of opposition’s good will as a retreat
"for the purpose of encouraging the criminal elements supporting
them and stirring them to act against the people." The evidence of
it is the act of violence committed against one of Hima’s activists,
Narek Hovakimian, not authorizing rallies, the attack upon peaceful
citizens in Northern Avenue the previous day.

"Therefore, the regime showed its being unable to settle the crisis
through a peaceful, political, civil, constructive dialogue," the
National Movement representative said.

According to L. Zurabian, "under the formed situation the people
has nothing else to do but to rise to show the might of the national
movement," for release of people arrested for their political views,
restoring violated people’s freedoms. "The July 4 meaning changed,
but it was the choice of the administration," he stated adding that
the Movement will continue fighting with legal, national methods,
but henceforth the struggle will be much more decisive.

Touching upon the previous day’s incident, the Movement representative
said that it was committed before the eyes of the Police and more than
300 eye-witnesses, there are many video recordings and photographs. He
said that those attacking had arrived to the scene by cars with
14 SO 265, 286 SO 64, 638 LL 64, 297 LL 64, 436 LL 64 registration
numbers. According to L.

Zurabian, the movement representatives made an attempt to cooperate
with the policemen, gave them many video recordings, a written
complaint was sent to the Central Department of Yerevan Police.

"The incident shows that the authorities are capable of any meannnes
and the nerves of the authorities are weakened," he said. In response
to the question of whether it is possible that a third force acts,
which tries to hinder a possible dialogue between the authorities
and the opposition, L.

Zurabian said that "theoretically it is not excluded." According
to him, the answer to that question will depend on whether the
Police will disclose the instigators and organizers of the July 2
disorders. According to him, if the Police has proper will, the case
will be disclosed easily and quickly.

Otherwise it will be proved that all this was organized by the
authorities and only for that reason those committing it will remain
unpunished.

ABKHAZIA VIOLENCE AND REGIONAL REDEFINITION

Kuwait Times
July 02, 2008
Kuwait

There has been a recent uptick in violence in the Georgian secessionist
region of Abkhazia, with six people suffering injuries June 30 when two
small bombs went off in trash bins in a parking lot across the street
from a market in the Abkhaz capital of Sukhumi. On the previous day,
another six people were injured when two small bombs exploded in the
Abkhaz Black Sea resort city of Gagra. Abkhaz authorities immediately
blamed Georgians for the attacks, and they quickly announced that the
border between Geor gia and Abkhazia would close July 1 in response.

Violence and random attacks occur frequently inside Abkhazia and
across the border in Georgia proper. This sudden spike in violence
is most likely not random, but an attempt by the Abkhaz to sabotage
a new opening of Georgia-Russia negotiations. Georgia has two
separatist enclaves, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, that achieved de
facto independence in 1993 and have benefited from Russian protection –
including the presence of Russian peacekeepers – ever since. Abkhazia
is the more militant of the two.

Tensions have been high in the region for many years, with Russia using
its presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to push back on Georgia,
which has been pro-Western since its Rose Revolution in 2005 – much
to Russia’s ire. Since then, the West (mainly the United States)
has seen Georgia as its closest ally in the region. Over the past
few years, a series of militant and military squabbles has escalated
the situation. In addition, Russia has increased its troop presence
in Abkhazia, and Georgia has sough t NATO membership as part of the
West’s overall protection. But Tbilisi has learned in the past year
that the West has much more significant issues on its plate. The
European Union is in internal chaos over the Lisbon Treaty, and the
United States is bogged down with Iran and Iraq.

Moreover, Georgia has felt increasingly isolated by the West’s
abandonment in the face of Russia’s growing aggression. In the past
month, it has also seen a symbolic consolidation of relations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan with Russia. New Russian President Dmitri
Medvedev has met with the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders at least
twice in the past month, and another trip to Baku is slated for the
week of June 30. Unless it wants to commit geopolitical suicide by
taking on Russia by itself, Georgia now ha s only one real option: It
must strike a deal with Moscow. One is already on the table, according
to leaks in the media. It includes the Georgians partitioning Abkhazia
and allowing refugee Georgians, who fled in the early 1990s during
the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, to return. But Russia has nixed this
deal outright.

According to Stratfor sources, however, there is another deal in the
works. It would allow Georgian refugees to return to a small section in
Abkhazia just north of Gali in exchange for the Kodori Gorge region,
the only part of Abkhazia that is under Georgian control. This deal
could actually work for both the Abkhaz and the Georgians in that both
get back a small sliver of what they claim as their territory. Georgia
might be comfortable giving up Kodori because it includes a small
ethnic group called the S vans-fierce fighters who are pro-Georgian
– who would be capable of keeping watch on Abkhaz and Russians
in the region for Tbilisi. But the deal has to go through Russia,
which has its own hook: It wants Tbilisi to renounce its bid for
NATO membership. The Georgians could go along with such a demand,
since they know the West currently has little interest in their
country. Georgia also knows that a deal with Moscow could be broken
in the future, just as others have been broken in the past.

But in this case, the details do not really matter. Whether Tbilisi
accepts this deal or another also matters less than what this situation
says about the overall power play that is unfolding. Russia has
resumed its authority. The fact that Georgia might be scrambling for
a deal before a crisis erupts marks the return of Russian authority,
and a redefinition of the balance of power in the region. Currently,
the West does not have the wherewithal to confront Russia. If it did,
a defining confrontation woul d have unfolded. The West has passed
on that opportunity, leaving Georgia to fly solo and at the mercy
of Russian will. But this inaction signals a greater understanding
by the West – that Russia’s power will not remain in Georgia, but
expand to other regions and beyond.- Stratfor