Author: Badalian Vardan

SESSION OF INTERPARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO BE HELD IN AUTUMN IN YEREVAN

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
July 4 2006

On July 3 Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia received Ashot Ghulyan, President of the National
Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Mr. Ghulyan told the NA President about meetings with representatives
of the USA President Staff, Congress, Armenian community and analytical
centers during his visit to the USA, which were of mutual effective
and useful character.

The RA NA President Tigran Torosyan informed the NKR NA President
about the debates at PACE summer session in Strasbourg, referring to
the debates on the issue of prevention of forest fires, which the
Azeris’ delegation was trying to turn into regular speculation. He
talked about the upcoming visiting session of PACE Subcommittee
on Nagorno-Karabakh in Karabakh, and also about envisioned visit
of Leo Platvoet, Rapporteur on Missing People in Armenia, Georgia,
Azerbaijan of PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population.

It was mentioned that though in debates of the report on independence
referendum in Montenegro speakers tried to abstain from comparisons
with other countries, it was evident that the use of the right to
self-determination is becoming more and more acceptable for PACE MPs.

Mr. Torosyan mentioned also that during the debates of the report on
countries that didn’t ratify the Convention on Human Rights to Abolish
the Death Penalty it was reported that the death penalty is cancelled
in Nagorno-Karabakh, in contrast with other conflicting regions.

During the meeting the issues of the works of the RA NA and NKR NA
Interparliamentary session were touched upon. The regular session of
the Committee will be held in autumn in Yerevan.

ART BRINGS YOUTH TOGETHER IN GEORGIA

Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
Reuters, UK
July 4 2006

Photocredit: Keti Nozadze World Vision MEERO,

More than 150 young people from different ethnic backgrounds celebrated
8 months of working together through ‘Arts and Crafts’ by holding
an exhibition and sale of their traditional works in the Georgian
capital Tbilisi at the end of last month.

During the last 8 months, youth from Azeri, Armenia, Georgian and
Russian origins attending World Vision Georgia Youth Centers across
the country have taken art class and developed craftmaking skills.

They seized the unique opportunity to express themselves, to learn
other traditions, and developed their own, as well as creating possible
source of income through the sale of their artworks.

The ‘Arts and Crafts’ Project aims to support reintegration process
of socially vulnerable and ethnically diverse youth through art and
cultural ties.

"Art is the best tool to address any social problem including poverty
and marginalization" says project manager Anna Mgaloblishvili, who
sees the project as a strong contributing power to further develop
of different ethnic traditions and peaceful interaction of cultures
in Georgia.

Traditional Georgian art of stone carving, the Armenian art of
‘Khachkara,’ the ancient art of enamel work and other arts of master
jewelry-makers are the most popular classes among the youth.

"I make traditional rings and earrings for my friends, art classes
taught me how to make them, and my friends happier" says Keti from
Telavi Youth Centre. Keti also helps mother at home to make valuable
sewing to sell and boost the family income.

World Vision Georgia and Tbilisi Art Academy have also ratified
a memorandum of future cooperation to increase the craft making
resources in the centers.

The project has significantly popularized traditional art among youth
in 7 cities in Georgia and contributed to the further cultural growth
of the communities.

World Vision Georgia’s "arts and crafts" project, supported by World
Vision Germany is for youth interested in art and craft making to
increase their future employment skills.

LEVON MKRTCHIAN: PASSING TO 12-YEAR EDUCATION IS ONE OF CONDITIONS OF
INTEGRATION INTO GENERAL FIELD

YEREVAN, JUNE 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The discussion held at the RA National
Assembly on June 30 with participation of the RA Minister of Education
and Science, directors of all schools of the country, representatives
of interested departments and public organizations was dedicated to
passing to the 12-year educational system.

According to Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchian, the
goal of the discussion is again to present the society the next stage
of reforms being implemented in the country, passing to the 12-year
education. According to the Minister, the previous, Soviet educational
system has exhausted itself long before, and naturally, in the 21st
century, Armenia as well was to join a new educational system with
many countries, in the given case, the Bologna processes. According to
Minister Levon Mkrtchian, children’s education starts from the
pre-school age, and other stages are closely correlated. "So, every
step of reforms adds another and prepares for the next stage," the
Minister mentioned.

He attached much importance to the issue that when implementing those
passings, goals are made clear, and any change and passing have a
correct goal and result. Passing to the 12-year education is one of
conditions of integration to the general educational field, and if
this passing is not implemented in 2008, final certificates and
diplomas of schools and higher educational institutions of Armenia may
not function in other educational territories.

Upcoming re-trainings to be organized for teachers were touched upon
during the discussions, which, according to the Minister and other
specialists of that sphere, suppose meaningless and unproductive waste
of time and money. "They will just get acquainted with the made
amendments during those 20 days. As for a deep re-training, it will
not be," the Minister emphasized. According to him, the Yerevan
Khachatur Abovian Pedagogical University almost does not work today in
that sense. This institution of higher education must change its
traditional methods of preparing personnels and ways of teaching as
well as must secure teachers’ methodical re-training," Levon Mkrtchian
mentioned.

Nagorno-Karabakh official accuses Azerbaijan of not wanting to resolve
dispute

AP Worldstream; Jun 30, 2006

The defense minister of Nagorno-Karabakh on Friday accused Azerbaijan
of resisting efforts to resolve the territory’s disputed status.

"Azerbaijan does not want (to see a) continuation of talks on
regulating the conflict," said Seiran Oganian, who is defense minister
in Nagorno-Karabakh’s internationally unrecognized government.

Nagorno-Karabakh is in Azerbaijan, but has been under control of
Karabakh and Armenian forces since a shaky cease-fire in 1994 ended a
separatist war.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are under increasing international
pressure to reach an agreement on the region this year; international
mediators fear that elections in the countries in 2007 and 2008 would
make officials leery of undertaking any compromise on the volatile
issue.

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia held talks in Romania in
June, but without reaching agreement, and the OSCE "Minsk Group" of
mediators later took the unusual step of releasing details about the
proposals that were presented at the meeting.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev in recent months has made a series
of increasingly aggressive statements on Nagorno-Karabakh. On
Thursday, commenting on the region, he noted "our military potential
is growing."

Oganian said his forces are not seeking a renewal of armed conflict.
"Nobody wants war, especially our soldiers because the first attack
would be on them," he said.

GAZPROM GOING TO PURCHASE IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.06.2006 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ When addressing Gazprom stockholders at the annual
sitting Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee Alexander
Ryazanov said Gazprom is going to purchase the abuilding Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline. In his words, the purchase of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline is conditioned by the necessity of raising the durability of
gas delivery to Armenia because of instability of gas delivery via
Georgia, which misappropriates some amount of gas. The gas pipeline
is likely to be put into operation in 2007, its’ capacity will make
1.2 billion of cubic meters per year, reported Russian media.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION ACCORD SUGGESTED BY BRYZA OF THE OSCE MG
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Source: Turan news agency (Baku), June 24, 2006
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 28, 2006 Wednesday

RFE/RL quoted Vagram Atanesjan of the "parliament" of Nagorno-Karabakh
as calling "unacceptable" terms of the conflict resolution accord
suggested by Matthew Bryza, American representative in the OSCE
Minsk Group. As far as Atanesjan is concerned, the document promotes
interests of Azerbaijan and is actually an attempt to put Armenia under
pressure. Commenting on the framework accord, Press Secretary of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Karapetjan said that official
Yerevan views the matter of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as a
priority. "Proposals concerning Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution
constitute an integral whole, they cannot be considered separately,"
he said.

President of Armenia Robert Kocharjan in his turn announced that his
country was still involved in the negotiations. "Armenia was ready to
accept the document mediators had come up with for the latest summit
in Bucharest. Azerbaijan, however, found it unacceptable. The talks
will therefore continue," Kocharjan said addressing the summit of
the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization in Minsk.

These are the fundamental provisions of the framework accord aired
by Bryza:

– Armenian troops are withdrawn from the territory of Azerbaijan;

– Armenia and Azerbaijan normalize their economic and diplomatic
contacts;

– Peacekeepers are deployed in the conflict area;

– International economic aid is made available to the sides of the
conflict;

– Referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is organized.

VALENTIGNEY FETE L’ANNEE DE L’ARMENIE MAIS CENSURE LE GENOCIDE
Claire Guillot

Le Monde, France
28 Juin 2006

L’Annee de l’Armenie s’annonce moins consensuelle que celle du
Bresil. En avril, a Lyon, le Memorial dedie au genocide armenien par
les Turcs en 1915 etait tagge avant meme d’etre inaugure.

Le 17 juin, c’est le photographe Antoine Agoudjian, connu pour son
travail sur la communaute armenienne, qui etait vise. Invite par
la ville de Valentigney (Doubs), il a vu son exposition decrochee
après les vives reactions de la communaute turque, forte de plusieurs
milliers de personnes en pays de Montbeliard, choquee par deux legendes
mentionnant le mot "genocide".

Cette exposition etait presentee dans le cadre du festival folklorique
Rythmes et couleurs de Valentigney (13 000 habitants), qui presentait,
les 17 et 18 juin, des danses, spectacles et expositions sous le
signe de l’Annee de l’Armenie.

Sous un chapiteau, Antoine Agoudjian exposait 35 images de son travail
Empreintes, publie dans la collection "Photopoche" (Actes Sud). Mais
dès l’ouverture, les legendes de deux images ont crispe les visiteurs
turcs : l’une montre des rescapes du genocide a Sassoum (Turquie),
l’autre fait reference au Memorial de Lyon et au million et demi
d’Armeniens morts en 1915.

Le ton est monte, mais le photographe s’est obstine, rappelant que
l’Assemblee nationale a reconnu le genocide armenien en 2001.

L’adjoint a la culture, Daniel Petitjean, a decide alors de fermer,
puis de decrocher l’exposition.

Rentre a Paris, Antoine Agoudjian ne decolère pas. "Au lieu de me
defendre, la municipalite m’a laisse me debrouiller avec la communaute
turque, au milieu des insultes et des menaces. Et quand j’ai refuse
d’enlever les legendes incriminees, elle m’a censure." La municipalite
de Valentigney, embarrassee, precise dans un communique qu’elle a dû,
devant les "risques", "suspendre durant les deux jours du festival
en plein air, et non censurer, l’exposition de M. Agoudjian".

Mais le photographe dit qu’avant l’exposition "un marchandage" a eu
lieu : "La mairie a soumis mes images, a mon insu, aux representants
de la communaute turque, afin qu’ils valident mon expo. N’est-ce pas
de la censure ?" La mairie estime que cette "reunion preparatoire"
organisee avec deux associations turques de la ville etait necessaire
afin de "prevenir les tensions".

Les photographies d’Antoine Agoudjian sont desormais visibles, jusqu’au
30 juin, a la MJC de Valentigney. Le conseil municipal vient de voter
l’organisation d’un vernissage de clôture "en hommage a l’artiste,
a son oeuvre et au peuple armenien".

–Boundary_(ID_9voLqIcSavcoL4zEVf +kUQ)–

NEW ORGANIZATION IN JAVAKHETI

Lragir.am
26 June 06

A-Info reports that on June 24 United Javakheti Popular Alliance
NGO was founded in Akhalkalaki. The goals of the organization were
proclaimed, including improvement of the social and economic state
of the Armenians of Javakheti, giving Armenian a status of a second
official language in the region, granting cultural sovereignty to
the region. The board of the NGO including 13 members was elected.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
<;

PRESS RELEASE

26-06-2006

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Taking into account the statement that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
presented to the OSCE Permanent Council, in Vienna, on June 22, and the
interview that Matt Bryza, the new US co-chair gave soon thereafter, where
albeit partially, the principles of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict were revealed for the first time, and also taking into account the
recent desperate calls by Azerbaijan for a military solution and autonomy
for Nagorno Karabakh, we would like to make several observations.

1. The co-chairs have partially revealed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution principles; they have left out references to a corridor linking
Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, and issues relating to Nagorno Karabakh¹s
interim status until a referendum;
2. The co-chairs have, for the first time, affirmed that the people of
Nagorno Karabakh shall determine their own future status through a
referendum;
3. Those items over which the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue
to disagree does not include a referendum; that concept has been agreed to
by the presidents; The area of disagreement between the presidents has to do
with the sequence in which the consequences of the military conflict are
removed;
4. In an attempt to resolve this remaining area of disagreement, a proposal
was made by the co-chairs after Rambouillet. This proposal was accepted by
Armenia in Bucharest. Azerbaijan rejected it;
5. Armenia finds that the basic principles, overall, on the table today
remain a serious basis for continuing negotiations; Armenia is prepared to
continue on that basis to negotiate with Azerbaijan;
6. Armenia believes that Azerbaijan¹s wavering on these principles is a
serious obstacle to progress in the negotiations. If this policy continues,
Armenia will insist that Azerbaijan conduct direct negotiations with Nagorno
Karabakh;
7. Finally, we would remind Azerbaijan once again that regardless of the
size of their military budget, they cannot force the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to renounce freedom and the right to self-determination.

GLOBAL GOLD MINING HAS MINE EXPLORATION LICENCE, DIRECTOR OF COMPANY’S
ARMENIAN SUBSIDIARY CLAIMS

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Global Gold Mining (GGM), a company
engaged in mineral resource mining in Armenia, operates based on
the licences granted by the RA ministry of nature protection and
the RA ministry of trade and economic development. Ashot Poghosian,
director of the company’s Armenian subsidiary, stated this during a
round table at the Club of Economic Reporters on June 23. Thus, he
actually refuted the statement of the RA Minister of Nature Protection
Vardan Aivazian that GGM has no licence. A. Poghsian said that GGM has
already invested 6.5 mln USD and intends to increase this figure to
9.6 mln USD by late 2006. According to his agruments, since 2003, GGM
has been a shareholder of the SHA company that conducts exploration of
mines in Hankavan and Marjan. SHA’s licence, which was granted by the
RA ministry of nature protection in 2002, is valid until 2017. However,
according to the amendments to the legislation, old licences have
to be replaced by new ones valid for the same period. SHA applied
to the ministry of nature protection with a request to receive a new
licence for the same period, but the ministry granted a licence for
exploring about 120 mln tons of Hanakavan mine’s reserves for only a
year. Although the company has submitted a 1.2 mln-dollar investment
program, after which the ministry reassured that it will grant a new
licence, no licence has been granted so far. Under the current law,
if the authorized body does not make a decision on a new licence
within a month, the old licence is not considered as having lost its
effect and the company continues operating. A.

Poghosian said that a company’s operating licence may be cancelled
only under a court decision. If a company has committed a violation,
before applying to court, the ministry of nature protection must warn
the company in writing and allow it to eliminate this violation within
at least 90 days. A. Poghosian noted that GGM has not received such
a warning.