Author: Chaltikian Arsine

‘LIKE OUR MOUNTAINS’ – BEST HISTORIC BOOK IN CANADA
By Hakob Tsuliakian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/06/2006

A press release from Ottawa informs that Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill’s
“Like Our Mountains: History of Armenians of Canada” book was awarded
Clio Prize of the Canadian Historic Association as the best historic
book. The Prize was handed to Mrs.

Kaprielian-Churchill during a gala ceremony in Toronto on May 30.

“Dr. Kaprielian-Churchill’s book is a sweeping and complete research
that takes a serious look at the challenges facing a certain ethnic
group in a new world. As a member of that ethnic group the author
manages to successfully maintain scientific impartiality,” the
CHA said.

Congratulating the author, Aris Papikian, head Armenian National
Committee of Canada, said: “We are proud of Dr. Kaprielian-Churchill
and of her unique study of history of Canadian-Armenians. We are
happy that the book that was the result of our cooperation attracted
Canadian historians’ attention.”

Published on the many of Heritage Canada, the book deals with the
history of the Armenian community of Canada from 19th century to 1980s.

FOOTBALL RAISED CREDIT OF “PARLIAMENTARY WEEK”

Panorama.am
15:30 12/06/06

Today the members of National Unity block raised their concern
that Public Television has broadcast Mexico-Iran football game
instead of Parliamentary Week program. Aghasi Arshakyan is sure
that people are more interested in what happens at the parliament
than in football. The leader of NU Artashes Geghamyan said that if
Parliamentary Week is going to be aired at 2 a.m. it may be titled
“for those who do not sleep.”

NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan assured that an agreement is reached
with the management of Public Television to show Parliamentary Week
between football matches. He is sure that more people will watch it
then.

MICHELINE CALMY-REY: SWITZERLAND CONDEMNS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMENIAN CEMETERY IN NAKHIJEVAN

ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 13:05

Foreign Minister of Switzerland Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey declared
today in Yerevan that “Switzerland condemns the destruction of Armenian
cemetery and khachkars in Nakhijevan.”

Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey noted, “During my visit to Baku two months
ago I addressed the issue during the meetings with the leadership of
Azerbaijan and I resolutely declared that Switzerland condemns the
destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Nakhijevan.”

Israel seeks long-term accord on Azeri oil import – minister

Trend news agency
8 Jun 06

Baku, 8 June, Trend correspondent R. Abdullayev: Israel is interested
in signing a long-term deal with Azerbaijan on importing oil, the
minister of national infrastructure of Israel, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer,
said at a press conference in Baku on 8 June.

The minister said that a group of businessmen who represent big energy
companies has arrived in Baku from Israel together with him. “As a
minister I tried to open the door and the private sector has to take
the next step. That is, SOCAR [State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani
Republic], BP and Israeli companies have to establish cooperation
themselves. The next stage will include discussing details of supplies
of oil and gas,” Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said.

The minister cited Israel’s agreement with Egypt on gas import. “That
agreement has been concluded for 50 plus five years. The supplies will
start as early as in 2007,” Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said.

The minister added that Israel and Azerbaijan have many common
interests. “We are just offering our experience to our Azerbaijani
counterparts. This concerns a wide range of areas, including
construction, agriculture and so on,” he said and added that he was
satisfied with the possibility for businessmen from the entire world
to operate in Azerbaijan without restrictions.

CHURCHES REBUILT IN TAVUSH

NOYEMBERIAN, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Opening of the Surb Sargis church of
Noyemberian which is being restored at present by resources of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, by resources of a benefactor, will
take place in autumn.

Restoration works are being implemented in the Amenaprkich church of
Ijevan as well, by resources of another sponsor from Sarigyugh in
origin, living now in Russia. Restoration works were implemented by
sponsors’ resources in the Surb Sargis church of the village of Tovuz
and in the church of the village of Koti as well.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 9 2006

Azeri speaker congratulates Armenian counterpart on election

Baku, June 8, AssA-Irada
The chairman of Milli Majlis (parliament) Ogtay Asadov has
congratulated Tigran Torasian on his election as a new speaker of the
Armenian parliament, Armenian Mediamax news agency reported.
The Azeri Speaker’s letter of congratulation was read out by a member
of the Azerbaijani delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) Asaf Hajiyev at
the session of the Assembly held in Yerevan.
The next session of the BSEC PA will be held in Azerbaijan on
November 22-23. The Armenian delegation has been invited to the event
as well.*

Kenyan police said under pressure “from above” to release Armenians

Capital FM radio, Nairobi
9 Jun 06

A high powered security meeting is currently under way at police
headquarters over the late night raid at the Runda residence [Nairobi]
of the Artur brothers. Sources say the raid has sent panic among
senior police officers due to what they are terming as interference
from above.

No senior police officer involved in the operation is willing to
comment on the matter, referring all questions to the police
commissioner himself.

The meeting at Vigilance House [police HQ] chaired by Maj-Gen Hussein
Ali is reportedly charting the way forward over the matter.

Seven people among them Artur Margaryan, his brother Sargasyan,
another man said to be their brother, a Caucasian lady and three
Kenyans are recording statements with the police at Gigiri, Muthangari
and Hardy police stations. The raid followed an earlier scuffle at the
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport [Nairobi], where the brothers are
alleged to have drawn a gun at customs officials. Police say Margaryan
had gone to the airport to receive his brother and pulled out a
firearm when asked to follow customs regulations. When authorities
raided the residence of the Armenians in Runda, they detained 11
vehicles including one bearing Government of Kenya [GK] number
plates. They also recovered numerous other registration plates with
more GK, UN and ordinary plates.

Back at the Armenian’s Runda residence, trucks that had been brought
in to tow the vehicles have now left the compound. No official at the
scene is offering the explanation to the journalists present and it
remains unclear whether the eleven top of the range vehicles will be
towed to police yards. Officers are still conducting a search at the
expansive residence, where they’re also going through data in
computers found at the residence.

A senior source says police are under pressure to release the Armenian
brothers.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, has demanded thorough
investigations into the matter. Uhuru wants prosecution against the
Armenians should investigations reveal that the brothers actually
roughed up government officials at the airport.

He also says a thorough probe should be conducted into the number
plates which were allegedly recovered at the Runda residence.

SERJ SARKISYAN: AZERBAIJAN MISSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOLVE GARABAGH CONFLICT PEACEFULLY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006

“Azerbaijan is missing the opportunity to solve the Nagorno Garabagh
conflict peacefully,” said Armenia’s Defense Minister Serj Sarkisyan
(APA).

Stating that he has not got detailed information on the recent
meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents in Bucharest, Sarkisyan
explained it by his failing to directly participate in the talks.

“I have not attended the meeting. So, I cannot say detailed information
on the talks. Armenian President informed me about certain details. I
reiterate that Azerbaijan is going to miss the opportunity of peaceful
solution of the conflict,” Sarkisyan said.

Commenting on the issue that the referendum on state status in
Montenegro can be a precedent for the solution of the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict, Armenian Defense Minister said, “Nagorno Garabagh
is already a precedent. There exists an independent republic with
its own attributes through holding of a referendum.”

REPORT: PLAYERS IN PUNCH-UP OVER ‘ANNA KOURNIKOVA OF CHESS’ AT BERMUDA EVENT
By Ruth O’Kelly-Lynch

Royal Gazette, Bermuda
June 8 2006

The Bermuda chess team has been dubbed one of the world’s worst teams
in international papers, but it has also gained the reputation of
throwing the best parties.

This year its annual party will be remembered because of a punch-up
that happened between a world championship judge and the world’s
third-ranked chess champ over a young Australian beauty.

“[The Bermuda party] is always organised by the Bermuda team because
they are one of the world’s worst teams but they run the best party,”
Graeme Gardiner, a former Australian Chess Federation president,
told a Sydney paper.

The young woman who sparked the row at the Bermuda party is Arianne
Caoili, she is ranked number 2,569 in the world and dubbed “the Anna
Kournikova of chess” the Australian paper said.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that British grand chessmaster
Danny Gormally was infuriated when he saw her dancing with the world’s
number three player, Armenia’s Levon Aronian. Arianne, who graces a
stamp in Austria and came in seventh in the first World Chess Beauty
Contest in May, was reported to be salsa dancing with the Armenian
when the first punch was thrown by Mr. Gormally.

“She’s a 19-year-old, very attractive girl,” Mr. Gardiner said.

“She’s probably got the guys queuing up for her. As far as I’m aware
in this incident she was an innocent party in the sense that she was
merely having a dance at the Bermuda party.”

The following day Mr. Gormally, who is ranked sixth in Britain, left
the competition and was reportedly “gutted” when he realised what he
had done, a source told the paper.

He also apologised to the Armenian team, but not before the some
members of the delegation threw some punches at him.

MINISTER SEES NEED FOR FURTHER GARABAGH DEBATE

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006

Baku, June 6, AssA-Irada
The latest meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
to discuss settlement of the long-standing Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict lasted five hours. Discussions were held both between the
presidents and at the level of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs mediating
the peace process.

“It’s premature to talk of any advancement in the negotiations,”
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said while commenting on the
latest round of Aliyev-Kocharian talks.

He said the presidents had reaffirmed their positions on a number of
issues. “By and large, it is necessary to collate the positions of
both sides. The presidents’ meeting has been completed, while the
co-chairs are still in Bucharest and are preparing a statement on
the meeting outcomes,” Mammadyarov said.

The minister added that consultations should be continued on issues
the parties still diverge on. Therefore, the foreign ministers may
still meet if need be. He did not rule out that the two leaders may
hold talks before the end of this year. Mammadyarov said every meeting
was important, noting that discussions were currently focusing on eight
to 10 issues, while a number of other matters had already been agreed.