Author: Mamian George

NOW HAVE A LOOK AT THIS CRIMINAL

Lragir.am
25 Aug 06

Tigran Torosyan, speaker of the National Assembly disagreed in an
intervew several days ago that in the pre-election year the Republican
Party admitted a criminal contingent. Certainly, Tigran Torosyan is
right. Because the criminal contingent had joined the Republican
Party long before. The speaker of the National Assembly announced
that on speaking about the criminal it is necessary to specify names
and facts. Certain opposition parties and unions already have the
names that Tigran Torosyan wanted to see. They have the lists of the
criminals, and a scrutiny revealed that these lists overlap by almost
100 percent. The lists are not published yet, and are undergoing a
final revision, therefore for the time being almost all the forces
which initiated the lists abstain from publishing their lists and
their names first of all. But since Tigran Torosyan wanted names, they
agreed to give some names from the lists for the sake of the speaker
of the National Assembly. These names are familiar to Tigran Torosyan:
Serge Sargsyan, Hovik Abrahamyan, Galust Sahakyan, Ashot Aghababyan,
Levon Sargsyan, Gagik Beglaryan, Mher Sedrakyan, Arakel Movsisyan,
etc. It is notable that recently Galust Sahakyan has endorsed Paruir
Hairikyan’s anti-criminal statements, perhaps thinking that these
did not refer to him.

KARELIAN EVACUEES FEATURED IN BERLIN EXHIBITION

Helsingin Sanomat, Finland
Aug. 23, 2006

Karelians shown alongside Armenians and Jews

The 20th Century was a time when millions of people were forced
to leave their homes in mass deportations and other transfers of
population linked with wars and major conflicts.

Examples include the mass deportation and genocide of Armenians by
Turkey in 1915-1916, leading to the death of an estimated 1.5 million
people. In the 1920s Greece and Turkey "exchanged" population: a total
of 2.6 million had to leave their homes, and as many as 700,000 are
believed to have lost their lives.

The most extreme example was naturally the industrial-scale genocide
of millions of Jews by Nazi Germany.

The horrors of displacement are on display at an exhibition that opened
in Berlin recently, called Erzwungene Wege – Flucht und Vertreibung
in Europa des 20. Jahrhunderts ("Coerced Paths – Escape and Expulsion
in Europe in the 20th Century").

One of the stories detailed in the exhibition is exceptional.

The fate of Finland’s Karelians in the Second World War was more
humane, and their escape route was no death-march. Nevertheless, more
than 400,000 Karelians had to leave their homes during the war years,
and in 1944 the displacement became permanent, when the territories
were annexed to the Soviet Union. The tragedy directly affected more
than ten per cent of the Finnish population.

"The fate of the Karelians is interesting in many respects", says Dr.
Doris Muller-Toovey, who is responsible for the Karelian section in
the exhibition.

"The people left of their own free will. What is also exceptional is
that it all happened not once but twice."

When studying the events, which were quite new to her,
Dr. Muller-Toovey was also impressed at how successful Finland was
at settling the Karelian population in other parts of Finland.

The exhibition places the Karelian displacement story within a European
framework in a completely new way. It is also exceptional that any
interest is shown in the Karelian issue in Central Europe.

"It is not known that anything like this would have happened previously
in exhibition activities", says Mervi Piipponen, cultural secretary
of the Karelian Association.

Similar thoughts were expressed at the South Karelia Museum, the
Carelicum Travel and Cultural Centre in Joensuu, and the Äijala
Cultural Centre in Kangasala, all of which lent objects for the
exhibition.

The exhibition has sparked heavy controversy in Germany. The reason
for the political dispute is that the exhibition highlights the
expulsions of more than 14 million Germans from territory that is now
part of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, which took place
in the late stages of the Second World War and immediately after the
fighting ended.

evacuees+featured+in+Berlin+exhibition+/1135221168 840

–Boundary_(ID_QeFrUCXAfwQB5DUDEfgPpw)–

KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN: JORDAN AND AZERBAIJAN WILL COOPERATE TO SOLVE REGIONAL CONFLICTS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 23, 2006

King Abdullah II of Jordan is visiting Azerbaijan, APA reports.

Azerbaijani and Jordan heads of state and delegations of the two
countries met in the President’s Office today. President Ilham Aliyev
and King Abdullah II held a press conference.

President Aliyev stressed the importance of this visit for development
of relations between the two countries noting there is already a high
level political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Jordan, and they are
cooperating within international organizations as well as. Mr. Aliyev
said yesterday and today they exchanged views on regional security,
stability, situation in the Middle East and in the region as well
as conflicts, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno
Garabagh problem and Palestine conflict.

The heads of state also focused on developing economic and trade
relations. President Aliyev expressed hope the visit of King of Jordan
will provide opportunities for further exchange of delegations of
government officials and businessmen.

Azerbaijani President also stressed that opening of the embassy of
Azerbaijan in Jordan soon will expand the relations between the
two countries. He said there exists a solid ground for expanding
relations between Azerbaijan and Jordan in all fields adding political
relations and his friendship relations with the King of Jordan provide
opportunity for that cooperation.

Thanking to Azerbaijani President for warm welcoming, King Abdullah
II expressed satisfaction with his two-day visit in Azerbaijan.

Touching on challenging regional conflicts, King Abdullah II stressed
Jordan and Azerbaijan will cooperate to solve these issues. He also
said he takes serious developing trade relations adding he closely
works with Azerbaijan for that.

POPULATION IN NAGORNYY-KARABAKH REPUBLIC [NKR] IS OVER 137,000

Mediamax news agency
22 Aug 06

Yerevan, 22 August: The permanent population of the Nagornyy-Karabakh
republic [NKR] totals 137,737 people.

These are the final results of the census held in October 2005,
the NKR National Statistical Service told Mediamax today.

Men comprise 48.3 per cent of the population and women 51.7 per cent.

Urban and rural residents makes up 47 and 53 per cent of the population
respectively.

About 49,986 people live in the NKR capital Stepanakert.

PRESS RELEASE

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 18, 2006

Lake Sevan Hosts Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin

For the first time in more than a century, the ranks of the Brotherhood
of Holy Etchmiadzin have swelled to more than 90 members. In order
to increase their fraternal ties to one another and reinforce their
oath of service to God, the Armenian Church and the Mother See of
All Armenians, regular clergy conferences have been convened in Holy
Etchmiadzin for the past decade.

The second day of the 2006 conference, gathering the members of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, continued its activities on August
17. The two sessions of the day took place at the Vaskenian Theological
Seminary of Lake Sevan. Nearly 70 young monks and archimandrites
(vardapets) from throughout the world have gathered in Holy Etchmiadzin
on this occasion.

During the sessions, the priests participated in the lectures of
Very Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, Dean of the Vaskenian Theological
Seminary, and Very Rev. Fr. Komitas Hovnanian, (Marseille,
France). Fr. Proshian’s lecture was entitled "The Priest as Teacher
of the Faith", and Fr. Hovnanian’s was entitled "The Priest as
Preacher". Discussion sessions, as well as question and answer periods,
followed both lectures.

At the conclusion of the two sessions, the clergymen participated in
Evening Services at the historic monastery of Sevan, in the Church of
the Holy Apostles. The conference continues on Friday and Saturday,
concluding with Divine Liturgy in Holy Etchmiadzin on Sunday,
August 20.

##

ARMENIANS’ ILLEGAL TRANSFER TO OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI LANDS, ARSONS, DESTRUCTION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS ON UN GA’S AGENDA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 15, 2006

Armenia’s illegal transfer of its citizens to occupied Azerbaijani
lands, arsons committed in Azerbaijani lands and destruction
of historical monuments have been included into the UN General
Assembly’s agenda in the frames of Azerbaijani delegation’s report
on the situation in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Deputy foreign minister Araz Azmiov told journalists, APA reports.

"The inclusion of this item into the General Assembly’s agenda was due
to Azerbaijan’s insistence. We achieved to present a relevant report to
the UN which analyzed the facts as well as assessed Armenians’ actions
and claimed demands. One of these demands is that Armenia should end
the illegal transfer of its people to Azerbaijani territories. This
demand has been voiced both in the report presented to the UN and
in the letter written by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs," the deputy
minister said.

Stating that the issue on fires is being investigated, Azimov said
the issue of sending a mission to the occupied territories will
be considered.

"Armenians are illegally functioning in these territories, and the
illegal transfer of Armenians continues. Our knowledge creates a
basis to investigate this matter," he said.

Berlin exhibition stirs painful memories

By Tristana Moore
BBC News, Berlin

pe/4788167.stm

2006/08/13 10:41:13 GMT

Even before it opened its doors, the exhibition "Forced Paths"
attracted a lot of controversy in the German and Polish media.

The aim of the organisers of the exhibition at the Kronprinzenpalais
on Berlin’s Unter Den Linden Avenue is ambitious – to explore the
plight of millions of people who were forced to flee their homes in
Europe during the 20th Century.

There are dozens of examples of civilians who were expelled in Europe,
ranging from the mass killing of Armenians from 1915-16, the
Holocaust, to refugees in Cyprus and the former Yugoslavia.

There are many objects on display, including suitcases, photo albums
and other personal belongings which the refugees took with them into
exile.

But, controversially, the exhibition also focuses on the suffering of
Germans who were expelled from Poland and Eastern Europe after World
War ll.

German victims

The exhibition has been organised by a foundation closely linked to
the Federation of the Expelled, which represents 12 to 14 million
ethnic Germans, and their descendants, who were forced from their
homes.

"It’s clear that expulsion in the 20th Century was a common instrument
of politicians who did not pay any regard to the fate of humans," said
Erika Steinbach, president of the Centre Against Expulsions
Foundation.

The struggle against totalitarianism, Nazism and
Communism… were the most important parts of 20th Century
history. The expulsion, especially of Germans, was only a
consequence of that Slawomir Tryc
Polish Embassy official

For Ms Steinbach, who is a Christian Democrat politician, this
exhibition is seen as the first step towards setting up a permanent
centre in Berlin to remember the millions of Germans who were expelled
after WWll.

But that is highly controversial, and many politicians and other
groups in Germany are opposed to the idea.

The organisers are hoping that the exhibition will focus attention on
the plight of ethnic Germans who were driven from their homes, but
also the plight of many other Europeans.

"It’s probably not well-known outside Germany that at the end of World
War ll, around 12 million Germans had to leave their homes in the
former eastern German provinces and elsewhere," said Wilfried Rogasch,
the curator of the exhibition.

"It was the largest forced migration in the history of modern
Europe. We show this in European context."

But the exhibition has angered many people in Poland and several dozen
Poles staged a demonstration outside the gallery in Berlin on the
opening night.

‘Re-writing history’
Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has condemned the exhibition
as a "very bad, worrying and sad event," as it "relativised the
history of the World War ll".

The acting mayor of Warsaw, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, has cancelled a
trip to Berlin, saying he could not visit the city while the
exhibition was running.

"My visit to Berlin could be misinterpreted and abused under these
circumstances," he said.

Critics argue that the exhibition is an attempt to re-write history,
claiming that Germans are portrayed mostly as victims and the role of
the Nazi regime is overlooked.

"We think that the struggle against totalitarianism, Nazism and
Communism, and the resistance movements, were the most important parts
of 20th Century history. The expulsion, especially of Germans, was
only a consequence of that," said Slawomir Tryc from the Polish
embassy in Berlin.

But the exhibition’s curator says Germans should be able to explore
all aspects of history.

"I think it’s significant to show that Germans were victims after
World War ll," said Mr Rogasch.

"We know that Germans committed many crimes, and that’s well
documented. More than 60 years after the end of the war, we can start
to focus on the fate of 12 million Germans who were expelled. This is
an important part of our national history."

Relations between Berlin and Warsaw are strained, and given the
reaction to this exhibition from the Polish government, it is likely
to deepen the mistrust between the neighbouring countries.

AZERI FM CONCLUDES HIS VISIT TO SWEDEN
Author: A.Ismayilova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 9, 2006

The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, is to be back
from Sweden on 9 August.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend that Azerbaijani on 8
August Mammadyarov had a meeting with the Swedish Secretary of State
for Industry and Trade, Oven Erik Seder. Talks were held at the Trade
Council of Sweden and the Russian Swedish Trade Chamber.

The Azerbaijani FM also met with the Vice President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE, Swedish MP, Ton Finskard.

The Azerbaijani FM discussed the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh in
a meeting with the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, special
representative of the organization on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Goran Lennmarker.

TODAY IS THE HOTTEST DAY IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
10.08.2006 14:47

Today is the hottest day of the year in Armenia. Armenian
hydro-meteorological center informed ArmInfo the temperature on August
10 will reach 42 degrees centigrade.

The hot and sunny weather will continue till August 14. Taking
into the account the season of summer holidays and leaves, weather
chart-makers recommend the residents of Ararat valley, where the
weather is the hottest, to visit the areas near the town of Aparan and
Lake Sevan. The temperature in the area of Lake Sevan in the daytime
will be about 31 degrees and 32-33 degrees centigrade in Aparan.

Medics recommend the population to avoid direct sun rays and drink
much, in particular, the Armenian national drink "tan."

CIS SECURITY MEETING IN KYRGYZSTAN DISCUSSES CLOSER COOPERATION

Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty
10 Aug 06

Bishkek, 10 August: The drawing up of a package of documents on the
improvement of the legal basis for military and economic cooperation
within the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] have been
included on the agenda of a meeting of the interstate military and
economic cooperation commission of the CSTO member states. The meeting
was opened in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, today.

An Interfax correspondent reports that the heads of the national
bodies of the interstate military and economic cooperation commission,
as well as representatives of the military departments in Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Tajikistan are participating in
the meeting. A delegation from Uzbekistan is also attending.

[Passage omitted: Kyrgyz Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism
Medetbek Kerimkulov stressed that military and technical integration
of the states should be discussed at the meeting; the meting will
discuss the setting up of a working group and election of the chairman
of the commission]