VLADIMIR HAKOBIAN AND GABRIEL SARGSIAN BECOME WINNERS OF TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN IN "LINEX MAGIC"
Noyan Tapan
Jun 25 2007
MADRID, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Chess Team Championship of Spain
finished on June 24. Grand masters Vladimir Hakobian and Gabriel
Sargsian played in the "Linex Magic" club. The team received 16 points
and won the title of Spanish champion.
GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT CALLS BACK TURKS MESKHETIANS BUT NOT TO JAVAKHETI
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2007 14:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With 134 votes ‘for’ and 14 ‘against’ the Georgian
parliament passed June 22 the bill "On repatriation of persons expelled
from Georgia by soviet authorities in 1940-ies". The legislation
provides for return of Turks Meskhetians to Georgia.
Democratic Front faction member Ivlian Khaindrava said it was
high time to pass the bill. "Each state should have a law on
repatriation. However there should be a law regulating the process of
stepwise return of Meskh Muslims, their adaptation in the Georgian
society and settlement sites. The most important point here is that
the issue of citizenship of the repatriates should be decided by the
Georgian parliament but not the government," he said.
For her part, Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze underscored
that the government will not create special conditions for the
repatriates.
"Georgia is not so rich. However we will do our best to ensure normal
life for the repatriates. Turks Meskhetians will settle in different
regions of Georgia but not in Samtskhe Javakheti, from where were
deported," she said, Georgian media reports.
Araratbank becomes the first Armenian bank to be rated by Global
Rating Group
arminfo
2007-06-22 19:54:00
The Araratbank became the first Armenian bank to be rated by the
Global Rating Group. At the June 22 press-conference dedicated to this
event, the Chairman of the Araratbank’s Board, Ashot Osipyan, noted
that the bank is awarded credit rating with forecast.
For his part, the President of the Global Rating Group, Richard
Hainsworth, emphasized that the rating is conditioned by high rates of
development, presence of a strong holder, maximum transparency,
available political resources. The factors restraining the rating are
Araratbank’s recent return to the banking market, high level of
competition. To remind, Araratbank (before November 2005 –
Armcommunication Bank) is a small, private, actively developing
Armenian bank, which is controlled by one of the largest oil traders
of the country – the Flesh company.
A.Osipyan noted that Araratbank started rapidly developing since
October 2006. According to him, the rating given by the Global Rating
Group agency is of much importance for the bank. "As the Araratbank
returned to the banking market comparatively a short time ago, this
result is very good for us at the moment. We intend to develop more
actively, this will give an opportunity to the Global Rating Group to
reconsider the rating and raise it," A.Osipyan stressed. He added that
since the day of operation, Araratbank’s assets have increased almost
three times (to 13.7 bln AMD), liabilities – 4.5 times (to 9.5 bln
AMD), total capital – 1.5 times (to 4.2 bln AMD). "The bank has become
an active participant in the financial market and introduced new
banking instruments," he said. In May 2007, the bank successfully
finished issuing corporate bonds worth a total of 250 mln AMD. In
addition, Araratbank is planning to issue shares in the volume of
5-10% of the total capital that totals $12.7 mln at the
moment. "According to preliminary data, the bank will start IPO in
Oct-Nov 2007," A.Osipyan assured. He didn’t rule out another issue of
bonds in the future. He added that it is planned to reorganize the
bank’s status from CJSC to OJSC.
To note, AmRating is an independent rating agency in Armenia. It is a
part of the Global Rating Group. The AmRating agency started its work
in December 2006. The agency focuses on awarding ratings to banks and
researching the banking sector. The mission of AmRating is to
contribute to creation of a reliable, honest and transparent financial
market. The key tasks of the agency are to lobby the advantages of the
national rating, to provide the market with objective analysis of the
companies’ activities, to single out the companies with successful
management and strong corporate administration, to emphasize the risks
of weak management and bad corporate administration.
BRYZA DOESN’T LOSE OPTIMISM ABOUT KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.06.2007 18:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza told
the Russian branch of Voice of America that the sides in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict are close to an agreement and talks may resume in
autumn. "The Foreign Ministers of the two states have carried out a
great deal of work. I was present at the Saint Petersburg meeting. The
Co-chairs were disappointed with little progress, however, the process
goes on and we are hopeful that the Presidents will meet again in
several months," Matthew Bryza said.
The diplomat doesn’t think that the upcoming elections in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, U.S. and Russia may influence on the Karabakh talks. "We
were anxious on the threshold of the Armenian parliamentary
elections. But the process wasn’t stopped. Of course, any political
campaign reduces the opportunity of political maneuvers, but there
is no reason to think that the presidential election in Armenia will
put an end to the peaceful process," he said.
The Co-chairs have been negotiating on the settlement principles for
two years, according to Mr Bryza.
"These principles will help to finally determine the status of Nagorno
Karabakh via a national referendum that will be held simultaneously
with other significant events, these being re-deployment of Armenian
troops, establishment of corridor between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
and deployment of international peacekeepers in the region," the
diplomat said.
When commenting on the proposal to include the Karabakhi side in the
talks, Mr Bryza said, "The Armenian and Azerbaijani government are
negotiating on the issue. Nagorno Karabakh participated in the talks
in past and will possibly participate in future.
Presently the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan should find a way to
breathe life into the process which has already produced effect."
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE SOCIAL SERVICE SEMINAR OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
The Catholicosate of Cilicia recently participated in the seminar on
"Helping Lebanon" organized by the Presbyterian Church of the United States
in the church’s social service center in North Carolina on 25 May- 8 June.
Asdghig Djamboulian from the Armenian Church University Students’
Association (ACUSA) represented the Armenian Church.
Eight representatives from Lebanon’s Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox, Catholic
and Evangelical Churches participated in the two-week conference which shed
light on the socio-economic situation in Lebanon and the possibilities of
fulfilling its increasingly urgent needs.
The participants will continue their meetings in Lebanon and organize
local initiatives.
The director of the project "Helping Lebanon" visited Antelias on March 8
2007 and met with Bishop Nareg Alemeznian (Ecumenical Officer) with the
blessing of His Holiness Aram I.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
GEORGIAN BASE DISPUTE HELPS STOKE NATO-RUSSIAN TENSION
Jean-Christophe Peuch
EurasiaNet, NY
June 18 2007
Georgian-Russian tension is helping to fuel a deterioration of Moscow’s
relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The two sides feuded over Russia’s continuing presence at a military
facility at Gudauta, located in the separatist territory of Abkhazia,
during an extraordinary conference involving the 30 state-parties to
the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. The June 12-15 meeting
in Vienna was convened ostensibly to discuss Russian grievances. The
Kremlin in recent months has agitated to alter the treaty, which was
modified in 1999, in order to enhance Russia’s strategic position
the European theater.
NATO member states were steadfast and united during the meeting in
rejecting Russia’s wish to renegotiate. In addition to the Gudauta
controversy, the two sides jousted over the ongoing presence of Russian
troops in Moldova’s separatist Transdniester region. Moscow reportedly
is seeking a deal under which it would fulfill its commitment to
withdraw troops from Georgia in return for the ability to maintain its
military presence in Moldova. NATO, Georgia and Moldova rejected this.
In addition, Russia during the Vienna gathering insisted that NATO
members ratify the 1999 modifications to the CFE pact. Those changes
contain provisions for the accession of states that are currently not
party to the pact, specifically the three Baltic states of Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania, which regained independence in 1991. Once
ratified by NATO states, Moscow would insist that the Baltic States
join the CFE compact. NATO members have withheld ratification of
the 1999 addendum, known as the Istanbul Commitments due to Moscow’s
refusal to comply with so-called flank provisions, which mandate that
Russian withdraw its forces from Georgia and Moldova.
The closed-door Vienna meeting ended with participants failing to
endorse a Russian-drafted final statement, thus leaving open the
question of whether Moscow would carry on with threats to freeze its
commitments under the landmark Cold War-era arms reduction treaty.
In agreeing to the 1999 modifications to the CFE treaty, Moscow
committed to withdrawing from four former Soviet bases on Georgian
territory. Russia claims to have vacated one of the four bases, known
as Gudauta, on October 26, 2001, 18 weeks behind schedule. Georgian
officials dispute this, insisting that Moscow is maintains a military
presence at the facility, which is located in the separatist territory
of Abkhazia. Earlier in 2001, Russia handed over the Vaziani military
airfield, outside Tbilisi, to the Georgian government of then-President
Eduard Shevardnadze.
Negotiations on Russia’s two remaining bases — located
respectively in Akhalkalaki, in the predominantly Armenian region of
Samtskhe-Javakheti, and in the Black Sea port of Batumi, the capital of
the autonomous region of Ajara — dragged on for nearly five years. On
May 31, 2005, both sides signed in Sochi a couple of agreements under
which Russia finally pledged to vacate the two military facilities
by the end of 2008. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
In a June 14 address to the Permanent Council of the OSCE, made
on the sidelines of the CFE Treaty Vienna conference, Georgian
Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili commended Russia for pulling out
"according to the agreed schedule." But he added that concerns linger
over Gudauta, which is the only former base located in territory
not directly controlled by Tbilisi. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].
Moscow initially insisted on assigning the facility to its Abkhaz-based
peacekeeping forces, something the Georgians strongly opposed. Now,
Russian officials claim Gudauta is mostly a sanatorium for retired
army officers, and no longer hosts any combat military hardware.
Georgia dismisses Russia’s depiction, saying that, in violation of the
CFE pact, the base is still operational and represents a potential
security threat. In particular, officials in Tbilisi say they fear
Gudauta could be used by Abkhaz armed forces. "We know precisely how
many troops are there, what kind of ammunition is there. There are
both transport and combat helicopters on the ground," Bezhuashvili
told reporters following his address to the OSCE Permanent Council.
Moscow last year admitted that four helicopters and about 130 Russian
peacekeepers were located at the base. But it denied accusations
that it had installed a S-300 missile air defense system to protect
its airfield, which Tbilisi insists should be blown up. Georgia is
demanding that OSCE-led inspection teams be authorized to visit the
base to make an independent determination. Tbilisi also wants Russian
officials to hand over all base documentation to OSCE representatives.
Once Tbilisi makes sure Gudauta has been effectively dismantled,
Bezhuashvili said, "the Georgian case will be removed from the list
of issues that are preventing ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty."
Russia argues that an OSCE inspection team already visited the base
in July 2002 but could not officially document its closure because it
had no mandate to do so. Georgia says that the OSCE mission in 2002
had a mandate only to determine a framework for future inspections.
Georgia also insists that Russia is obliged to accept inspection
teams at Gudauta under the CFE Treaty. Moscow counters that the
Istanbul Commitments do not provide for international monitoring of
its withdrawal from the base.
Anatoly Antonov, the chief Russian negotiator at the Vienna talks,
said that "Moscow has met all those of the Istanbul commitments that
are related to the CFE Treaty" and that all remaining issues should
be negotiated through bilateral talks with Georgia, or Moldova.
Tbilisi, meanwhile, points to a 1999 joint Russian-Georgian statement,
saying it is an integral part of the Adapted CFE Treaty and is
therefore creating a multilateral — not bilateral — international
commitment.
In a bid to mollify the Russians, the United States suggested that
Gudauta be visited not by a formal inspection team, but by a "neutral
and objective" fact-finding mission. Addressing reporters at the
start of the Vienna conference, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried described the offer as
one of several "constructive ideas" that could help lift the Russian
objections and "that do not compromise our principled position."
Asked by EurasiaNet to comment on the US proposal, Army Gen. Vladimir
Nikishin — who represented the Russian Defense Ministry at the Vienna
talks, remained noncommittal. "We are not against such a mission
provided it brings necessary, useful and — most importantly —
fair results," Nikishin said.
Antonov in turn claimed no consensus exists among NATO countries on
what exactly constitutes the Istanbul Commitments. Therefore, he said,
prior to consenting to a Gudauta fact-finding mission, Russia wants
all sides to agree on "terms of reference that clearly specify under
which conditions the issue will be considered closed once and for all."
Neither side appears willing to compromise.
Reacting to Bezhuashvili’s address to the OSCE Permanent Council,
US Charge d’Affaires Kyle Scott insisted on the necessity of a
multinational observer visit to Gudauta. "We should stop talking
about it, we should do it," Scott said.
Another problem is that Georgia insists on being part of the Gudauta
observer mission. "We have a legitimate right to be part of the group,"
Bezhuashvili told reporters in Vienna. Sukhumi, which is still formally
at war with Tbilisi, has vetoed such a possibility.
Editor’s Note: Jean-Christophe Peuch is a Vienna-based freelance
correspondent, who specializes in Caucasus- and Central Asia-related
developments.
UNRECOGNIZED STATES ADOPT DECLARATION ON PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.06.2007 13:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Ministries of four unrecognized republics
– Transdnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh
signed Saturday the "Declaration on principles of peaceful and fair
settlement of conflicts on the territory of Moldova, Georgia, Armenia
and Azerbaijan."
"Conflicts should be settled by peaceful political means, basing on
respect to all sides in the conflict and unconditional recognition of
the right of nations to self-determination. Any pressure, including
military, information, economic, diplomatic and other measures,
must be excluded," the declaration reads.
The authors of the Declaration called to respect the will of peoples
of Abkhazia, Nagorno Karabakh, Transdnistria and South Ossetia, who
determined their own way of development via national referenda. They
also agreed to create systems of guarantees of post-conflict
settlement, including foreign, international, legal, economic and
security guarantees as well as to secure unconditional fulfillment
of obligation undertaken by the sides in the conflict.
While the Kosovo problem is discussed the unrecognized states
will issue another joint statement to be sent to the UN Security
Council. Kosovo’s inevitable independence will be a precedent for
unrecognized post-soviet republics," said Transdnistrian FM Valery
Litskay after signing the declaration, the MIGnews.com reports.
FOREIGN MINISTER TELLING ABOUT KOCHARIAN-ALIEV MEETING
By A. Haroutiunian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/06/2007
The June 9 meeting of presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and Armenia,
Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliev, proved fruitless against common
optimistic expectations. The results of the meeting seem like causing
a temporary in the negotiation process.
Predictions say even the worse: a number of experts and political
scientists are sure that the negotiations on Karabakh shall not
progress for 10 more years.
In an interview to "Kentron" TV Channel, Armenia, Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian stated that most probably the presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan will meet again during the next CIS summit, which is
to be held in early October 2007.
"Today we have a three-page document on the negotiation table,
which includes all principles applicable for the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. That is a rather complicated document and
is a result of the two year-long negotiation process of the Presidents
and Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan," said Mr. Oskanian.
The Foreign Minister said that he has some portion optimism on the
matter, nevertheless. He said that the document is consistent and
reciprocally compromised.
He added that of course there are certain articles, which cannot
satisfy both the sides of the conflict, and the most important terms
are yet to be settled.
According to Mr. Oskanian, the document is based upon the principle
of complex measures, while Azerbaijan still insist on step-by-step
model of settlement.
The Armenian Foreign Minister admitted that the actions provided
in the document could be performed by turns, but everything must be
made agree and prearranged beforehand. He once again stressed that
without final determination of the official international status
of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh via referendum, without having
established land communication between the Republics of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh and without having insuried the security of both
the republics, no other questions can be considered.
"Those three terms," said the Foreign Minister, "are by no means
pre-conditions on Armenia’s part, but logical background for the
resolution of the conflict and lie in its basis. I think that Armenia
and Karabakh have made progress in that way. Today the positions
of Armenia and Karabakh in that question are firm and the further
steps shall be made in the same direction. There are international
tendencies that Azerbaijan cannot neglect".
"If Kosovo gains independence, the positions of Armenia shall be
strengthened, and still remain unchanged. There is a problem about
Kosovo, that the West, seeking to comfort a number of states, Georgia
for example, insists that the case of Kosovo cannot be taken for a
precedent for resolution of other local conflicts. Our task is not
to permit the international society to persist in that position and
that the independence of Kosovo shall be the end of story and that
other processes cannot go beyond certain limit.
We have to struggle against that and we do so," stated Oskanian.
Commenting on the role of the mediators in the peace process on
Karabakh Vardan Oskanian said, "The USA are a little hasty, while
Russia makes nothing to slacken the process. Russia, perceiving its
global politics, does not want to be involved in the process more
than the OSCE Minsk Group Mandate provides".
Meanwhile the consideration of the idea of a new Kocharian-Aliev
meeting in autumn is being started, the World Crisis Group is preparing
another rapport.
Azerbaijani mass media, referring to head of the World Crisis Group
project in Caucasus, Magdalena Freecheva, inform that the rapport will
represent the approach of the international public to the conflict and
the dynamics of the peace process. It is said that the World Crisis
Group this time is to drive its attention to the influence of gas
and oil incomes on the process of conflict settlement. According to
information retrieved from "Panarmenian.net" website, Ms. Freecheva
is not expected to visit Yerevan in the observable future.
ON JUNE 15-19 MEETING OF "CHURCH AND SOCIETY" COMMISSION TO BE HELD IN ETCHMIADZIN
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2007
ETCHMIADZIN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 15-19 the meeting of the
Conference of the European Churches (CEC) and the "Church and Society"
commission will take place in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in
which about 35 representatives from the European Christian Churches
will take part.
According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Information
Service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the primary problems
of the commission "Church and Society" in member churches and the
future of the European Constitution will be discussed during the
meeting. The participants will touch upon the European churches and
intercultural dialogue and the minutes of the 2006 conference will
be revised. Working discussions about a number of important issues
confronting Europe, as well as on the role of OSCE in Armenia,
are envisaged.
The participants of the meeting will meet with the Catholicos of
All Armenians Garegin II, then with the Mother See congregation,
and will then go to Tsitsernakaberd, take part in the Holy Mass on
Sunday, and visit the museums of the Mother See. Visits to different
Armenian churches and sanctuaries are also envisaged.
FIRST SITTING OF NA ZHARANGUTIUN FACTION TAKES PLACE
Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2007
YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Raffi Hovannisian, Chairman of
Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party, was elected head of Zharangutiun
parliamentary faction at the June 13 faction sitting. Stepan Safarian
was elected as faction secretary. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
party’s Press Office, faction’s regulations were approved at the
sitting.
Then they made a decision to nominate the candidature of Zharangutiun
Party member Larisa Alaverdian in the NA Standing Committee of European
Integration Issues, of Vardan Khachatrian in the Committee of Defence,
National Security and Internal Affairs, of Anahit Bakhshian in the
Committee of Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs, of
Stepan Safarian Committee of Foreign Relations, of Zaruhi Postanjian
of State and Legal Issues, of Armen Martirosian Committee of Social,
Healthcare and Nature Protection Issues.