Author: Chaltikian Arsine

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| 20:28:56 | 23-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION |

WESTERN ARMENIA – ON TURKEY’S TERRITORY

The majority of the 15 delegates, who registered for delivering speeches at
the debate on constitutional reform in Armenia, were Azeris and Turks.

Member of Turkish delegation Murat Mercan turned the discussion of the
constitutional reform into the debate on the Armenian-Turkish relations and
the fate of Western Armenia. `Western Armenia has nothing to do with
Armenia, it is on Turkey’s territory. This fact should be fixed in the
Armenian constitution and the Armenian state borders should be drawn
according to international agreements.’

In response head of the Armenian delegation Tigran Torosyan said that the
fact that western Armenia is on the territory of Turkey presently proves
that the Armenian Genocide was perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire, that is on
the territory of today’s Turkey.

Reminding that the Genocide issue has nothing in common with the
constitutional amendments Tigran Torosyan said, `I hope that in 2006 we will
congratulate each other with the successful completion of constitutional
reform corresponding to all democratic standards.’

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| 13:17:31 | 23-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION |

PACE TO DISCUSS KARABAKH ISSUE

Today the PACE Committee for Karabakh will hold its first sitting. As it is
already known, the committee is composed of members of PACE different
committees, representatives of the Armenian and Azeri opposition as well as
the rapporteurs on Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Commission is headed by Lord Russell Johnston.

Armenian, Russian presidents discuss ties at CIS summit

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
22 Jun 05

[Presenter] The leaders of the [CIS] Collective Security Treaty
Organization [CSTO] member-states are attending a regular session of
the organization in Moscow today.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan also left for Moscow earlier
today. The leaders will meet in private. Important issues and
cooperation priorities will be discussed at meetings of the foreign
ministers, defence ministers and secretaries of security councils of
the CSTO member-states.

[Correspondent Lilit Sedrakyan from Moscow by telephone] It is planned
to hold meetings of two structures of the CIS countries at the same
time: a sitting of the Eurasian Economic Community [EAEC] and a
session of the CSTO Council.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has met Russian President Vladimir
Putin in the Kremlin. The Russian president regards as important the
Armenian president’s participation in the sitting of the Eurasian
Economic Community, albeit as an observer. He pointed out that this
would facilitate both multilateral and bilateral cooperation. The
presidents of the two countries discussed the current state of
bilateral relation as well as the intensification of transport
communications.

The sides also touched on events being held as part of the year of
Russia in Armenia. Putin expressed his satisfaction with the high
level of organization of the events. Kocharyan said that a programme
of events to be held within the framework of the year of Armenia in
Russia, which is due to be held next year, was already being prepared.

After the meeting, the presidents attended the sitting of the
interstate council of the Eurasian Economic Community.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

[Video showed the meeting]

CIS foreign ministers agree on ratification of adapted conventional arms
treaty

Interfax news agency
22 Jun 05

Moscow, 22 June: The foreign ministers of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization’s member-states on Wednesday [22 June] signed a
statement on the ratification of the agreement on the adaptation of
the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty.

“The Collective Security Treaty Organization’s member-states believe
that the adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty is a
fundamental security guarantee in Europe and are doing everything
possible to ensure the earliest possible implementation of the
political commitment to make active efforts to finalize the national
ratification procedures, which were adopted in Istanbul in 1999,” the
foreign ministers said in a statement circulated today.

“The member-states hope that all signatories to the CFE treaty will
make similar efforts, which would allow the CFE treaty to remain an
important factor of stability and trust in Europe, and encourage other
countries to join it, which is expected to seriously strengthen the
architecture of European security,” the statement says.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization comprises Russia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia.

The Messenger, Georgia
June 21 2005

Russians reassure Azerbaijan over base withdrawal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Russian TV Vesti
Nedeli that Russia has managed to dispel concerns that Azerbaijan had
held over the deployment of Russian military equipment from Georgia
to Armenia.
“We have explained to our Azeri friends that the property and
equipment will be deployed on the territory of the Russian military
base,” he added, “so there will be no change in the balance of forces
in the region.”
Azeri President Ilkham Alyev said: “We understand that the weapons
are to be transported to the Russian military base and that they will
not be handed over to the Armenian Armed Forces.”
However, he added that Azerbaijan was still going to increase
military spending by up to USD 70 million by the end of the year, as
cited by Black Sea Press.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
June 20, 2005 Monday

PACE summer session begins work with approving agenda

By Yuri Ulyanovsky

STRASBOURG

The summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) began at the Palace of Europe in Strasbourg on Monday
with voting for the session agenda.

The PACE session agenda includes the assessment of the fulfilment of
Russia’s obligations to the Council of Europe and issues related to
the operation of mass media when covering terror acts.

Among other main items on the session agenda are the discussion of
the current situation in Kosovo, debates on the functioning of
democratic institutions in Azerbaijan and on the constitutional
reform progress in Armenia.

The Assembly will also consider issues outside the framework of 46
member-states of the Council of Europe. In view of recent
developments, the parliamentarians will discuss the situation in
Central Asia and the Middle East.

As the “urgent debates” item the PACE will discuss further steps
aimed at the fulfilment of decisions of the third summit of the
Council of Europe held in Warsaw in May. Secretary General of the
Council of Europe Terry Davis will speak on this issue.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and President of the
European bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Jean Lemierre
will take the floor at the PACE summer session. Lemierre will
participate in the discussion of issues related to the EBRD
contribution in the development of countries of Central and Eastern
Europe.

LAW REFORMED, ATTITUDE UNCHANGED

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| 14:24:55 | 18-06-2005 | Politics |

All the proposals by the Venice Commission with the exception of
one were included in the amended Electoral Code. “During the meeting
with the Venice Commission members I said that if fingers are inked
I will not participate in the elections”, Central Election Committee
chairman Garegin Azaryan said. He considers that such a condition
is humiliating not only for the voter but also for the election
commission members.

While working out the amendments to the Electoral Code the CEC chairman
has considered a great number of proposals. Some of them were adopted,
some weren’t. G. Azaryan is content that his proposals on roll filing,
appeal order, creation of computer network, exclusion of “Against all”
column from the voting paper were included in the amended Electoral
Code. His suggestion that the outcomes of the election should not
be summed up at the polling station was as well adopted. As the
CEC chairman Garegin Azaryan should fulfill the requirements of
the Electoral Code. However as an ordinary citizen and specialist
he considers the order of formation of the election commissions to
be inadmissible.

“Let us not forget that our Electoral Code does not determine the
criteria for the members of the election commissions. However I would
be glad if the commissions consisted of professionals. At that parties
and candidates can have the consultative vote. It is a classic variant
functioning in a number of European states”, he added.

Garegin Azaryan views that fact that henceforth the juridical power
will have the right to appoint its representatives to the election
commissions as positive. To remind, in Armenia the President is the
head of the Justice Council, who is empowered to appoint judges.

As for the rights of the empowered persons and observers, Garegin
Azaryan considers that pre-conditions for the conduction of free
and fair elections have been created. “The real shortcomings of
the Electoral Code will be revealed at practice only, since it is
impossible to apply even the best law without appropriate attitude
of the society”, he resumed.

Lena Badeyan

Kommersant, Russia
June 17 2005

Ways of Disconnection

// Georgian refugees protest against the opening of the railroad
traffic through Abkhazia

Friendship of nations

Georgian prime minister Zurab Nogaideli said yesterday Tbilisi is
willing to launch talks on the opening of the railroad traffic
through Abkhazia. Though the government ties up the settlement of the
issue with the problem of Georgian refugees in Abkhazia, the refugees
accuse the prime minister of parricide threatening to block the
railroad. But this does not seem to frighten Georgian authorities.
Tbilisi is ready to take the risk so as to improve relations with
Moscow and derive some benefits.

Abkhazian railway route has been out of operation since August 1992
when the war in the region broke out. The road has an important
strategic meaning and promises big profits to the parties involved.
Besides, if it were reconstructed, Russia would have a strong
connection with Armenia, its main ally in Transcaucasia. Georgia has
always linked the issue of the resumption of the railway services
with the settlement of the Abkhazian conflict and the return of
Georgian refugees to the province.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Eduard Shevarnadze, then Georgian
president, and representative from Abkhazia came to an agreement on
~Sthe synchronization~T of the refugees~R homecoming and the resumption
of the railroad traffic. A considerable part of the Georgian
population has already returned to the Gali district of Abkhazia
despite many unsolved problems, which made further steps possible.

Mikhail Saakashvili, new Georgian president, took over tackling the
problem after Eduard Shevarnadze~Rs resignation. But it was not until
recently that the matter has moved off the dead centre. Tbilisi
hosted a meeting of railroad agencies of the CIS and Baltic countries
last Wednesday. The head of Russian Railway Gennady Fadeev also
attended the summit. He met Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili
and prime minister Zurab Nogaideli and called his negotiations
encouraging.

The talks on the same topic were resumed in Moscow yesterday. They
were a less success, though. The Georgian party was represented by
the country~Rs state minister on the settlement of conflicts Georgy
Khaindrava. The Abkhazian delegation consisted of vice PM Leonid
Lakerbay and Sergey Khamba, interior minister of the breakaway
province. Abkhazia made it a point straightaway that it would not
earmark money on the rebuilding of the railroad since it successfully
operates on the Sochi-Sukhumi section, which is quite enough for the
republic.

Mr. Fadeev said the day before that the reconstruction of the
road-bed on the Abkhaz sector from Sukhumi to Western Georgia~Rs town
of Zugdidi was estimated at $100 million. The figure does not take
into account the rebuilding of the railroad bridge over the Inguri
River blown up during 1992-1993 war. Russia and Armenia are ready to
bankroll the project.

It seems that there is a long way to carry it out, though. Sergey
Shamba flatly rejected the proposal to link the rebuilding of the
road and the homecoming of the refugees to Abkhazia~Rs Gali district
at the Moscow talks. Sukhumi opposes Tbilisi~Rs idea of the
participation of Georgian railroad workers (refugees from Abkhazia)
in the reconstruction since it would entail the return of dozen
thousands of Georgians to Abkhazia, which will influence the
demographic balance of the republic.
Georgia proposed to set up a joint customs centre on the Psou River,
in the Abkhazian sector of the Russia-Georgian frontier. The
Abkhazian delegation rejected any discussion of the proposal
emphasizing that only Abkhazian frontier and customs officers would
guard the border with Russia.

Tbilisi disagree to carry out the customs supervision on the
demarcation line of Georgian and Abkhazian forces (along the Inguri
River) since this would indirectly mean the judicial marking of the
border, which would enrage the opposition and refugees. Tbilisi
offers Moscow to deploy Georgian observers on the Russian side of the
Psou River. Sukhumi insists that alongside the resumption of the
Georgia and Abkhazia railroad traffic Tbilisi should lift
restrictions on the ship service between Abkhazia and Turkey using
ports of Sukhumi and Gagry.

Despite all the conflicts, the parties managed to come to an
agreement that for experts to meet in the Gali district of Abkhazia
on July 1 and follow the route of the railroad together with their
Russian and Armenian counterparts. They are supposed to examine the
road and decide where the rebuilding should be started from. Georgy
Khaindrava, head of the Georgian delegation at the Moscow
negotiations says that ~Sit will be a political decision anyway. ~SThe
Abkhazian conflict can be settled only by peace negotiations and
mutual concessions.~T Georgian prime minister Zurab Nogaideli said in
his interview with Imedi television: ~SWe have discussed the issue
with Russian prime minister Mikhail Fradkov. Out position is clearly
defined: the road can be opened if the refugees return to the Gali
district of Abkhazia and are guaranteed security. There is a number
of other conditions, though.~T

It is only Georgian refugees from Abkhazia that oppose this decision.
~SAuthorities try to sell the refugees in return for the railroad and
its profits,~T Paata Davitaya, a refugees~R leader, said yesterday.
Speaking on behalf of hundred thousands of refugees, Mr. Davitaya
made it clear that the refugees who reside in different Georgian
districts are sure to block up the traffic of trains if they cannot
return to Abkhazia concurrently with the resumption of the railroad
traffic. ~SGeorgian government does not have a unanimous opinion on
the problem. Economic ministers are lobbying the opening of the
traffic because they consider the project profitable. Furthermore, if
the connection with Russia is resumed, the Georgian railroad would
attract investors and it would be easy to sell it at an auction. It
looks like a parricide,~T Paata Davitaya claims.

Nevertheless, Mikhail Saakashvili confirmed at his meeting with
Gennady Fadeev that Tbilisi is ready to take a difficult and risky
decision for the sake of the improvement of the relations and
invigorating ties with Russia, reported reliable sources. Current
Georgian authorities must be feeling quite confident if they are not
afraid of the stream-roller of the refugees.

by Vladimir Novikov, Tbilisi

Congressional Record
June 14, 2005 (Extensions)]

HONORING HIS HOLINESS
KAREKIN II

HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

of california

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor His Holiness Karekin II,
the Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians and universal head of
the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, upon his visit to the San
Joaquin Valley. An event to celebrate his pastoral visit will occur on
June 12, 2005 in Fresno, CA.
His Holiness Karekin II, baptized Ktrij Nersissian, was born in 1951
in the village of Voskehat in the former Soviet Republic of Armenia. In
1965, he entered the Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and graduated with honors in 1971. Upon graduation from the
seminary, he was ordained a celibate priest, taking the religious name
Karekin.
Father Karekin then graduated from Bonn University in Germany while
serving as pastor to the local Armenian community. He earned a
postgraduate degree from the Russian Orthodox Academy in Zagorsk,
Russia in 1979.
In 1980 he was assigned to the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, the
Armenian Church’s most populous diocese, which includes Yerevan, the
capital of Armenia. In 1983, he was appointed primate of the Araratian
Pontifical Diocese, and was elevated to the rank of Bishop and
subsequently to Archbishop.
His Holiness was elected as the 132nd Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians on October 27, 1999 by delegates from
Armenian Churches worldwide at a National Ecclesiastical Assembly, in
the Republic of Armenia.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians and universal head of the
Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, upon his pastoral visit to the
San Joaquin Valley. I invite my colleagues to join me in thanking the
religious patriarch for his dedication to the service of all Armenians.

ANSA English Media Service
June 14, 2005

UNSEEN FELLINI TO BE SHOWN AT PROCIDA

Naples

(ANSA) – Naples, June 14 – Unseen footage from Federico
Fellini’s last film will be shown at the Procida
International Film Festival this weekend.

Two hours of material from La Voce Della Luna (1990) has
been boiled down into a half-hour film called Fellini Rush.

Festival organiser and film buff Enrico Ghezzi, who
found the footage in the archives of state TV RAI, said
“There are silent scenes, photos and rehearsals with dummies
– a bit like the first rough work on a marble statue.”

The short will be the culmination of the festival’s
inaugural day, Thursday.

The opening day will have two other highlights: the
Italian premiere of Jean-Luc Godard’s history of
movie-making, Moments Choisis des Histoires du Cinema; and a
restored, complete version of Fritz Lang’s 1929 classic Woman
in the Moon.

A much-awaited independent feature by French-Armenian
director Yervant Gianikian and Italy’s Angela Ricci Lucchi,
Electrical Fragments Nos 4/5, Asia-Africa, will close the
festival on Sunday.

The leitmotiv of this third Procida fest is The Cinema
Era.

Historians and film folk will discuss generations of
technology and film-makers, with a special look at cinema
dynasties.