Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

NKR MFA TO FACILITATE THE CONDUCT OF THE OSCE MONITORING

DE FACTO
2008-07-16 11:02:00
STEPANAKERT

The NKR Ministry for Foreign Affairs has expressed its readiness to
facilitate the conduct of monitoring near the settlement of Yusufjanly,
Aghdam region, scheduled for July 16, and to ensure the OSCE mission
pledging of security.

The NKR MFA has given its consent to the OSCE representative to
facilitate the conduct of monitoring after getting confirmation of
pledging of security from Azerbaijan, taking into account the fact
that the last 2 monitorings on the contact line of the armed forces
of Armenia and Azerbaijan were frustrated by the Azerbaijani side,
which had not provided the monitoring mission the pledging of security.

PRESIDENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH RECEIVED DELEGATION OF DIASPORA YOUTH

Panorama.am
20:35 14/07/2008

Delegation of Diaspora Youth went to Stepanakert in the frames of the
visit organized by "Towards Hayq" foundation. The President of Nagorno
Karabakh, Bako Sahakyan greeted their initiative, reported the press
service of the President’s Administration of NKR. The President said
that the similar visits became more traditional and contributes to
the improvement of Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora relations.

The President of NKR said that it would be better to strengthen the
current project. "A project should be drafted to give the youth of
Armenia and Artsakh to pass training in the Armenian Organization in
Diaspora," he said.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN: AZERBAIJAN BREAKS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON ARMS LIMITATION

ArmInfo
2008-07-16 12:16:00

Azerbaijan openly breaks international agreements on arms limitation,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan over yesterday’s meeting
with co-chair of US Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues Joe
Knollenberg and members of the commission.

As press-service of Armenian Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo, Edward
Nalbandyan said that Azerbaijan is breaking Conventional Forces in
Europe Treaty, but the world community pays no attention to this fact.

Touching on the problem of regional security ensuring, Nalbandyan
attracted the congressmen’s attention at the revanchist campaign held
by Azerbaijan.

THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHY OF THE GOLDEN APRICOT

AZG Armenian Daily
10/07/2008

Culture

It has been already five years that the Golden Apricot Film Festival
is cooperating with diplomatic representations of foreign states in
Armenia and various international organizations. The days of French,
Dutch and German films, for example, have become traditional for the
festival. This year the Golden Apricot cooperates with the Embassies
of the USA, China, Romania, Egypt and Lebanon, and works by filmmakers
from those countries are to take demonstrated.

The cooperation of the Golden Apricot Film Festival with the Embassy of
Italy in Armenia has already a long history. This year a retrospective
demonstration of Michelangelo Antionioni is to be held.

With the assistance of the Lebanese and Egyptian Embassies the
"Arabic Nights" event is to be organized in the frameworks of the
festival. The event will feature works by Egyptian, Palestinian,
Lebanese and Syrian filmmakers. Later on Harutiun Khachatrian’s
"The Return of the Poet" and Vigen Chaldranian’s "The Priestess"
are to be demonstrated during the Alexandria film festival in Egypt.

COMMITTEE FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS SET UP

A1+
09 July, 2008

On July 9 a Committee for Political Prisoners was set up in
Armenia. "Under the current state of legal permissiveness, the
protection of people detained for their political dissent and
activities becomes a must," say Armenian human rights activists and
political figures, the founders of the Committee.

The Committee is aimed at rendering them political, moral and material
assistance to the political prisoners and spurring activities for
their release.

The Committee was set up upon the initiative of Commander of a Shushi
special battalion Zhirair Sefilian /former political prisoner/,
human rights activist Vardan Harutiunian, ex speaker of the National
Assembly Karapet Rubinian, Karabakh war veteran and member of the
"Ordeal of Spirit" NGO Mesrop Mesropian, activist of the "Alternative"
Movement Norik Norikian, freedom fighter Arshavir Bozinian, film
director Tigran Khzmalian and Chairwoman of the "Women for Peace"
NGO Gayane Martirossian.

The Committee is open to everyone who wants to join in.

The Committee supports the protest action staged by the Union of
Armenian Women in front of the presidential office. The action is
organised in support of Anush Ghavalian, the only female political
prisoner, an employee of a cafeteria who is imprisoned for financial
misuse.

Hürriyet, Turkey
Sunday, July 06, 2008 11:31

GOOD MORNING–TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 6

GUL MEETS AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Turkish President Abdullah Gul met on Saturday with his Azerbaijani
and Armenian counterparts on the sidelines of a ceremonial event in
the Kazakh capital of Astana. Gul had a brief chat with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan.

MATTHEW BRYZA: "THE LEADERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA WILL ELABORATE THEIR VIEWS ON A HANDFUL OF REMAINING ISSUES"

Azeri Press Agency
04 Jul 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva-APA. "I have on positive impression from our
visit last week to Baku, Yerevan, and Khankendi.

I sensed on deepening mutual respect among the Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia, both of whom genuinely seem to want to work through the
remaining issues", said Matthew Bryza, US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group in his exclusive interview with APA. "While there is more work to
do, we are moving closer to both Presidents accepting the reality that
international law recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, while
political expediency requires that the parties negotiate on political
(rather than legal) compromise on Nagorno-Karabakh’s status". Speaking
about the next steps towards the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, Matthew Bryza said the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia
would elaborate their views on a handful of remaining issues. "The
Foreign Ministers will then share those views with each other and
the Co-Chairs later in July".

"UNITED STATES WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT"

AZG Armenian Daily
04/07/2008

US-Armenia

On July 4, the United States is celebrating the 232nd anniversary of
its independence and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The celebration was held on July 3 in the US Embassy of Armenia.

"Two hundred and thirty two years ago, the founders of the United
States risked their lives and fortunes in pursuit of freedom by
adopting the Declaration of Independence", U.S. Chargé d’Affaires
Joseph Pennington said.

He touched upon the strong Armenian community in the United States
and its contribution to the US successes.

"As a true friend of Armenia, the United States will always support
the Armenian people and government as they work together to realize
their aspirations."

–Boundary_(ID_g/E1zIXxEUhWYIo qoOOLXQ)–

OSCE MG FRENCH COCHAIRMAN HOPES FOR ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS TO COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING

ArmInfo
2008-07-01 12:42:00

OSCE MG French Cochairman Bernard Fassier told journalists in
Stepanakert that they hope Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan will
be able to gradually come to an understanding, that needs time,
ArmInfo correspondent in Stepanakert reports. B. Fassier emphasized
the necessity of "creating a minimum of trust among the people".

The French cochairman thinks that a new stage has begun in the
negotiation process on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement concerned
with involvement of new people from the Armenian party.

He also said that it would better to take place as soon as possible. To
recall, OSCE MG cochairmen arrived in Stepanakert on June 28 within
the frames of a regional visit. A two-hour talk with NKR President
Bako Sahakyan was held during which the present situation in Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement process was discussed and the Karabakh
party’s positions were specified.

SERGE SARGSIAN PRESENTS ARMENIAN SIDE’S CONSIDERATIONS ON KARABAKH PROBLEM NEGOTIATION PROCESS TO OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

NOYAN TAPAN

JU NE 30

Issues related to the Madrid proposals on settlement of the Karabakh
conflict were discussed during the June 28 meeting of the RA president
Serge Sargsian with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minks Group Bernard
Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza (USA) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia)
and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzei Kasprzyk.

According to the RA presidential press service, S.Sargsian presented
the Armenian side’s opinions and considerations on the negotiation
process.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in their turn informed the Armenian
president about their meetings with Azerbaijan’s leadership in Baku.