Author: Kanayan Tamar

Breakaway Karabakh wants to be involved in talks with Azerbaijan

Regnum, Moscow
21 Apr 06

The National Assembly of the unrecognized Nagornyy Karabakh republic
(NKR) has asked the OSCE to treat Karabakh as a party to the peace
talks with Azerbaijan, Regnum news agency reported on 21 April.

In a statement adopted following the hearings on the Karabakh
conflict settlement in Stepanakert, members of the Karabakh
parliament appealed “to the OSCE Ministerial Council to respect the
NKR’s full involvement in the talks for settling the conflict”. The
MPs recalled that Nagornyy Karabakh was recognized as a party to the
conflict by Armenia and Azerbaijan and by several OSCE documents,
Regnum said.

The MPs also said they believed that the international recognition of
the democratic and viable NKR would “become a factor of regional
stability and security”.

The MPs accused Azerbaijan of starting a war against Karabakh and
said that Azerbaijan should therefore bear responsibility for it.
“This country bears responsibility for the fates of hundreds of
thousands of people on both sides who became refugees and internally
displaced persons following hostilities. Azerbaijan should pay
compensation to these people, irrespective of their ethnicity, for
material and moral damage, including the loss of the motherland,” the
statement said.

ARMENIA’S FM: INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO
CONTRIBUTE TO PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE IN THE WORLD

Yerevan, April 20. ArmInfo. Armenia and the Armenian people, as a
people, which underwent genocide, bears a moral responsibility in the
issue of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, thus,
to contribute to the further prevention of genocides in the world, The
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told at today’s joint press-
conference with the State Secretary of the Austria’s MFA Hans Winkler.

According to Oskanyan, entering of the Armenian Genocide’s
international recognition issue in the order paper of the Armenia’s
foreign policy is a natural process and it could not be otherwise.

“The Armenia’s authorities bear moral responsibility before the
Armenian people, previous generations, Genocide victims and the world
community, since Genocide is an actual phenomenon for the world”,
Oskanyan said, having reminded that Genocide, by the UN assessment,
is considered of one of the challenges of the XXI century.

At the same time, Oskanyan noted that the results of issue entering
in the republic’s foreign policy order paper are evident. According
to him, the Armenian Genocide has already been recognized by a host
of countries and their number is growing day by day. Besides, this
led to positive shearings even in Turkey, as more representatives of
intelligentsia talked about this issue. The Minister also noted the
connection of this issue with negotiations about Turkey’s membership
in the EC. In response to the question, if the publications in
the Turkish press about contacts at different levels between the
representatives of Armenia and Turkey represent the facts, Oskanyan
said that some publications relative to the contents of meetings are
overestimated grossly, however, the FM confirmed the fact of such
meetings. According to him, the Armenian-Turkish contacts exist and
they were not interrupted even in a “hopeless time”.

SEYRAN OHANIAN: EXERCISES SHOWED THAT NKR DEFENCE ARMY IS ABLE TO DEFEND REPUBLIC’S BORDERS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
command-headquarters exercises showed that the NKR Defence Army is
able to defend the republic’s borders and to fulfil the tasks set
before it without participation of a third force. NKR Defence Minister
Seyran Ohanian declared this at the April 18 press conference. The
combat training of the reserve forces is also checked during the
exercises. As the Minister mentioned, within 7 hours the forces of the
reserve were able to fulfil the tasks set before them and this “means
that in case of an unprecedented war they can prevent the attack”. RA
Defence Minister Serge Sargsian and Deputy Defence Minister, Head
of the General Headquarters of RA Armed Forces Mikael Haroutiunian
were present at the exercises as observers. The exercises in Nagorno
Karabakh started a week ago. The observation of the final part of
the exercises took place on April 19.

DELEGATION HEADED BY RA MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION IS IN ROSTOV REGION WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF DAYS OF ARMENIA TO RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006

ROSTOV-ON-DON, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The visit
paid to the region of Rostov by the RA official delegation headed
by RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamian is
within the framework of the Days of Armenia in the region of Rostov
on April 16-19. Gegham Gharibjanian, the RA Deputy Foreign Minister,
Bishop Yezras Nersisian, the primate of the New Nakhijevan and
Russia diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armen Smbatian,
the RA Ambassador to Russia, Alik Sargsian, the Ararat Governor,
Karine Khodikian, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Issues,
Manvel Ghazarian, a NA Deputy, Martin Sargsian, the Chairman of the
Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Armenia, S.Galstian, the RA Deputy
Minister of Agriculture, H.Kushikian, the Director General of the
“Nairi” medical center, etc. are in the staff of the delegation. The
current stage and prospects of development of the Armenian-Russian
interregional cooperation were discussed at the meeting taken place
on April 17 between Minister Hovik Abrahamian and Vladimir Chub,
the Governor of the region of Rostov. The RA delegation visited the
same day the “Surb Khach” (Saint Cross) Russian-Armenian friendship
museum of Rostov-on-Don as well as the settlement of Chaltir populated
with Armenians of the region of Rostov. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
H.Abrahamian and V.Chub opened the Days of Armenia in the region
of Rostov on April 17, in solemn conditions. The Armenian dancing
art “Barekamutiun” (friendship) state group, singers Nune Yesayan
and Varduhi Vardanian as well as the Rostov regional philharmonic
orchestra of people’s instruments and the Don Cossacks Song and Dance
State Academician Ensemble participated in the concert of opening
the Days of Armenia. A meeting with representatives of the Armenian
community took place late the same day. April 18 and 19 are also full
of cultural events. Particularly, the RA delegation will visit the
historic-cultural complex of the settlement of Novocherkaskaya and
the Don Cossacks History Museum of Novocherkaskaya and the Catholic
Church. Holding of the Days of Armenia in the region of Rostov are
sponsored by the “Tashir Group,” “Armavia” company and Yerevan “Ararat”
Brandy Factory.

DEMAND FOR “AZERI AUTONOMY IN ARMENIA” NOT SERIOUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.04.2006 19:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan cannot invent anything new and the
demand for “formation of Azeri autonomy in Armenia” is not serious,
leader of ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction, historian Levon Mkrtchian told
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, Turkey practiced such line
in 1950-1960-ies when Armenian and Greek cultural monuments were
announced Turkish and Kurds were named “mountainous Turks”.

“Certainly the international community did not take it serious
and Turkey abandoned ottomanization of the peoples living on its
territory. Azerbaijan follows this way now. It fails to understand
that the world has changed and statements of the kind arouse nothing
but bewilderment,” Mkrtchian said.

He also informed that ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction has introduced
to parliament the draft bill “On rehabilitation of repressed and
displaced Armenians in 1931-1949, who later repatriated to Armenia”

To remind, “Azerbaijan’s Path” political movement has formed an
initiative group for returning “western Azeris, who were expelled
from Armenia in 1948-53 and 1988, to their homeland and granting
them autonomy”.

Glendale News-Press
Published April 18, 2006

Glendale man hit in drive-by shooting
Shooter targets young man on foot. Injuries not thought to be
life-threatening.
By Vince Lovato, News-Press and Leader

SOUTH GLENDALE — A young Glendale man was shot in the knee in a
drive-by shooting Monday afternoon while walking with a group of
friends at Adams Street and Elk Avenue, police said.

Two to four males in a green Toyota Camry passed a group of more than
a dozen teens and young adults who were walking south on Adams about
a block south of East Colorado Street, Glendale Police Officer John
Balian said.

The Camry started to turn west on Elk but stopped. A male in the
rear passenger seat pointed a hand gun at the group and fired, Balian
said. .

The bullet struck a young man in the knee. The wounded man limped
east across Adams, where he collapsed after realizing he was shot,
Balian said.

advertisement The young man was taken to Glendale Memorial Hospital,
Balian said. Police could not release the name of the victim until
family members were notified.

His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, Balian said.

Witnesses said the Camry drove west on Elk as members of the group
walking with the shooting victim used cellphones to call 911. The
early 1990s Camry had no license plates, Balian said.

Police were still looking for leads Monday night.

“We have nothing right now but the good thing we have are a lot of
witnesses,” Balian said.

The victim’s shoe and T-shirt were still on the sidewalk as police
interviewed witnesses inside an area cordoned off with yellow police
tape as dozens of onlookers watched the scene.

Minutes before the shooting, which took place at approximately
3 p.m., the Camry drove past the group when they were near Orange
Grove Avenue and Verdugo Road, Balian said. A witness said a one of
the men in the car fired one shot into the air, striking no one.

The group thought the first shooting was a hoax and laughed it off, the
witness said. Police confirmed that there was an altercation earlier,
but could neither confirm nor deny that a shot was fired into the air.

Forensics investigators removed a bullet from a wall behind the area
of the shooting, Balian said.

Victor Hermosillo, a 28-year-old father who lives on Elk a few houses
west of the shooting, said he thought the shooting was part of a “turf
war” in the old, middle-class neighborhood, where racial tension has
been mounting.

“You see the racial tension between the Armenian kids and the Mexican
kids at school every day,” Hermosillo said. But Balian said beat
police haven’t reported any heightened racial tension in the area.

“We don’t have anything telling us that it was racially motivated,”
Balian said.

“And usually if it’s gang related it’s because of territorial issues
and it just happens that the suspects and victims happen to be from
different parts of the world and are not targeted by their race. They
are fighting over their area.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to
call Det.

Matt Irvine at (818) 548-3987 or the police’s crime stoppers number at
(818) 507-STOP where witnesses can remain anonymous and can receive
a $1,000 reward if they have information that leads to a conviction,
Balian said.

* VINCE LOVATO covers education. He may be reached at (818) 637-3215
or by e-mail at vincent.lovatolatimes.com.

WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF DEEPENING ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN TIES

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 17 2006

On April 17 RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan received Alexander
Bozhko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia.

The Ambassador informed the President about the parliamentary
elections of Ukraine and inner political last developments and
said that according to the results of the elections, a coalition
extended signing of the agreement is prepared, which will regulate the
activities of the parliament and government. The fulfillment of the
inter-parliamentary agreement with the new parliament signed during
the NA President’s official visit to Ukraine was highlighted.

Evaluating the overcoming of the post-electoral difficulties in the
inner-political field, the NA President congratulated the establishment
of the orange colour coalition and expressed a hope that will promote
the strengthening of the stability of the country and deepening
of democracy.

Both sides highlighted that the elections passed according to
democratic standards, equal opportunities were created for political
forces and enjoyed the positive evaluation of the international
structures.

At the Ambassador’s request Artur Baghdasaryan, NA President, presented
evaluations on the political situation and parliamentary activities
of Armenia.

During the meeting both sides also discussed other issues.

BEAUTIES PERSECUTED IN IRAQ
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2006

Winner of Miss Iraq contest 23-year-old Armenian Tamar Goregian
returned her crown to the preparatory committee 4 days ago after the
April 9 contest giving way to persecutions from the Moslem world. “You
are the queen of unbelievers, but not of beauty,” Regnum news agency
quoted Moslem organizations as saying.

Miss Iraq’s preparatory committee proposed the crown to Moslem
participants of the 2d and 3d places but they also refused to accept
it. Eventually the crown decorated the head of another Armenia,
23-year-old Silva Sahakian, on the 4th place. According to the agency,
she did not reject the crown but has to hide now.

International Qods Conference opens in Tehran

IRNA website
14 Apr 06

Tehran, 14 April, IRNA: The Third International Conference on Qods and
Support for the Rights of Palestinian People will kick off here Friday
evening [14 April] with inaugural speech of the Supreme Leader of the
Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamene’i.

President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad, Majlis Speaker Gholamali Haddad-Adel,
Judiciary Chief Mahmud Hashemi- Shahrudi as well as domestic and
foreign political and cultural figures are to attend the conference,
to be held upon the initiative of the Supreme Leader.

After Ayatollah Khamene’i’s speech, President Ahmadinezhad is
scheduled to address the conference.

The conference will be attended by 600 foreign officials including 20
parliament speakers from Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan, Indonesia,
Uganda, Cameroon, Congo, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leon, Cuba, Comoros,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Qatar, Mauritania, Mauritius, the Seychelles,
Sri Lanka and Guinea.

Eleven vice-speakers from Libya, Palestine, Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain,
Oman, Tunisia, the Philippines, Gambia, Togo and Senegal will also
take part in the conference.

Representatives from parliaments of South Africa, Kuwait, Russia,
Mexico, Kenya, Somalia, Benin, Mali, Bosnia, Armenia and Albania are
among other participants at the conference.

Researchers, writers, experts and university professors from Belgium,
Australia, Ukraine, Russia, Kuwait, India, Syria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania,
Qatar, Tajikistan, Bosnia, Jordan, Libya and Algeria are to attend
Tehran conference on Palestine.

Moreover, 200 foreign reporters residing in Tehran along with 50
foreign and some 200 domestic reporters will cover the conference.

3 TOURS REMAIN TO THE END OF CHESS EUROPE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006

KUSADASI, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. After 8 tours in the men’s and
women’s chess Europe individual championships being held in the
Turkish city of Kusadasi, Croatian Zdenko Kozhul is the only leader
in the men’s competitions. He has gained 6.5 points. Vasili Ivanchuk
(Ukraine) who is currently in second place lags behind him by 0.5
points. A number of chess-players share 3-19th places with 5.5 points
each. Representatives of Armenia Ashot Anastasian and Artashes Minasian
are among them. One more Armenian chess-player, representative of
Georgia David Haroutiunian, is also in this group. The results of
another Armenian chess-players are the following: Tigran L.Petrosian,
Tigran Kotanjian 4.5 points each, Arman Pashikian 3.5 points. Tea
Bosbum-Lanchava (Holland) and Yekaterina Atalik (Turkey) are in the
lead in the women’s competitions. Elina Danielian and Lilit Mkrtchian
among representatives of Armenia perform most successfully. Each of
them has gained 5 out of 8 possible points and shares 11-30th places
with a group of chess-players. Another 2 representatives of Armenia,
Nelli Aghinian and Siranush Andreasian, have 4.5 points each. 3 tours
have remained to the end of the men’s and women’s Europe championships.