Author: Mamian George

RUSSIA HIGHLY ASSESSES ROLE OF ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE
Author: A.Mammadov

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 19 2006

Russia highly assesses the role of the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) in organization of inter-civilized dialogue and
partnership, Andrey Denisov, the first Russian deputy foreign minister
and the participant of the 33rd session of the Foreign Ministers of
OIC opened today in Baku, told in his interview to the radio "Rossiya",
Trend reports.

The session is attended by the representatives of 97 countries, as
well as international organizations such as the Council of Europe and
OSCE. The session scheduled to last until June 21 will mainly focus on
the problems connected the regional problems, as well as Near-Eastern
and Karabakh conflicts, the situation in Iran Afghanistan and
Somali. Besides, discussions will be held on expansion of the United
Nations Security Council, regulation of the Iranian nuclear problem,
interaction of Moslem countries in fight with global terrorism. In
2005, Russia received the status of observer in OIC.

AZERBAIJAN READY TO GRANT BROAD AUTONOMY TO KARABAKH – MINISTER

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 19, 2006 Monday 10:41 AM MSK

Azerbaijan is ready to grant broad autonomy to the predominantly
ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno- Karabakh, Azeri Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists on Sunday.

"I am speaking about the highest level of autonomy for Nagorno-
Karabakh. There is such a precedent in the world. For instance,
Trieste, or Tatarstan in the neighboring Russian Federation," he said.

Tatarstan’s Constitution envisions broad powers, including the
republic’s right to set up its own representative offices abroad,
the minister said. "There is no point in searching for any new key
to the Karabakh problem," he said.

"All these issues should be dealt with after the Azeri population
returns to Nagorno-Karabakh. Nobody can blackmail Azeri refugees,
denying them any opportunity to return to their homeland currently
under Armenia’s occupation," Mammadyarov said.

THE OIL FACTOR IS NOT IMPORTANT FOR BRITAIN

A1+
[07:17 pm] 19 June, 2006

Today RA NA deputy president Vahan Hovhannisyan and RA Minister of
Education Levon Lazarian met Anthony John James Kentor, Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia, and A. Page, deputy head of
the East administration of the Foreign Ministry.

Mr. Hovhannisyan mentioned that the coming Presidential elections will
depend on the Parliamentary elections. They must not be the touchstone
for the democratization of the country, thus the political powers must
spare no effort to avoid fabrications. He said that external factors,
particularly the blockade of Turkey and the non-constructive approach
of Azerbaijan towards the settlement of the Karabakh conflict affect
negatively the economic development of Armenia.

Asked by Mr. Page about the predictions about the settlement of the
conflict, Mr. Hovhannisyan informed that there were three offers within
the framework of the Minsk group which were accepted by Armenia but
turned down by Azerbaijan. Vahan Hovhannisyan considered the aim of
Azerbaijan to solve the problem by force taking into account the oil
factor and the indifference of the international community intolerable.

Mr. Page mentioned that several economic circles can link the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict to the oil factor, but that is not
the official approach of Great Britain and assured that the country
does everything to find a mutually acceptable peaceful solution for
the conflict.

OPENING OF THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE KALAYDJIAN REST HOME

;pID=5 9&cID=4&s=2
17-06-2006

The President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, on Wednesday 28
June, at 7:00 pm. will open the newly constructed second floor of
the Kalaydjian Rest Home.

Open cocktail reception to follow.

The Kalaydjian Foundation is a non-profit benevolent organization
set up in 1984 with the purpose of helping disadvantaged and needy
members of society, with a major focus being on the Armenian community
in Cyprus.

According to its founding charter, the Foundation aims to set up
and maintain a rest home for the elderly, grant scholarships to
gifted students for higher education in Cyprus or abroad, give
financial assistance to people in urgent need of medical treatment
abroad, provide aid to disadvantaged members of society in Cyprus,
provide funding for the restoration of buildings and monuments of
traditional character and/or architecture, and to promote and sponsor
the development of culture and the arts in Cyprus.

One of the Kalaydjian Foundation’s main roles at present is the
running of the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly, which it opened
in March 1988 in Nicosia, Cyprus. The Kalaydjian Rest Home was built
by the brothers Bedros and Aram Kalaydjian in memory of their parents
and originally comprised 12 rooms, but following a major renovation
and extension in 2005, it now boasts 22 rooms with capacity for
a total of 40 people. Its facilities include two large sitting
rooms with libraries and satellite television, two dining rooms,
and air-conditioning, television and private bathrooms in every room.

Furthermore, a small chapel was added next to the home in 1996 to
address its residents’ spiritual needs.

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14,2006

Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Tel. (613) 235-2622

Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Established

Ottawa – The Canada-Armenia Preliminary Friendship (CAPF) for the 39th
Parliament was established at a meeting in the House of Commons today.

House of Commons and Canadian Senate members were invited by MP Gary
Goodyear (Conservative-Cambridge) to attend the founding meeting and
elect a new executive for CAPF. So far 32 members of Parliament and
Senators have joined CAPF.

In his opening remarks Goodyear thanked MPs and Senators and said:
"Your presence demonstrates your support for the positive relationship
that exists between Armenia and Canada. As you know, our Prime
Minister recently officially recognized the Armenian Genocide of
1915 in Parliament. We believe that this was a positive step toward
healing the wounds of the past and paving the road for a peaceful
and prosperous relationship between Canada and Armenia."

Afterwards, Goodyear called upon MP Derek Lee
(Liberal-Scarborough-Rouge River) to preside over the election of
the CAPF executive.

The following members were elected to the executive:
Gary Goodyear, Chairman
Nicole Demers (Bloc Quebecois, Laval), Vice-President
Jim Karygiannis (Liberal, Scarborough-Agincourt),
Vice-President
Alexa McDonough (NDP, Halifax), Vice-President
Raymonde Folco (Liberal, Laval-Les Iles), Secretary

The Members authorized the newly elected executive to fill in the
vacant post of Treasurer, Membership and two Directors at a later date.

In his "thank-you" remarks, Goodyear said: "Canada’ s know-how
and experience is much needed in Armenia. Canada should stand in
solidarity with Armenia and reward its people for their resolve
and commitment to the principles of democracy, free market economy,
and human rights. Furthermore, Canada should establish diplomatic
presence in Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia. Canada’s
diplomatic presence will have a pivotal role in enhancing our country’s
image in the region."

"By forming this friendship group we send a clear message to
the Armenian people that they are not alone, that Canada and the
international community will stand by them to overcome the current
difficult transitional period," he concluded.

Arman Agopian, the Charge d’ affairs of the Embassy of Armenia,
thanked the Canadian parliamentarians for their support and commitment
to foster and enhance strong and positive bi-lateral relationship
between Canada and Armenia. He also invited the members of CAPF to
visit Armenia to better understand and appreciate Armenia and the
Armenian people.

CAPF new president invited Aris Babikian, executive director of the
Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), to relay the message of
the Canadian-Armenian Community. Babikian said that the establishment
of CAPF marked another milestone for ANCC and the Canadian-Armenian
community. He said that he was gratified to see "so many old friends
of ANCC accepted to join CAPF in addition to new members."

He pledged ANCC unwavering support to CAPF to achieve its mission
and its goals.

MP Lee said that ANCC support is "highly valuable for CAPF’s
success." He noted that many parliamentary friendship groups are
created during the lifetime of a parliament. "Most of them are
dormant and inactive. The support of the Armenian community will
insure CAPF’s productivity."

Senator Grafstein emphasized the importance of economic incentives
to foster peace, prosperity and harmony in the region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, ANCC hosted a reception for CAPF
members and Armenian Embassy representatives. The ANCC contingent was
headed by Krikor Der Ghazarian, Jean Meguerditchian, and Paul Douzjian.

-30-

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.

Regional Chapters
Montreal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge –
St. Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: AZERBAIJAN DID NOT USE IN BUCHAREST POSSIBILITY OF FIXING PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The extreme
nationalism made its run in Russia that is addressed not only against
Armenians, does not come from Russians’ interest. RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian stated about it in the June 14 interview to
journalists. According to him, if this process continues, contrary
steps are also possible towards a great number of Russians living in
different countries of the CIS. "I think that Russia’s authorities
and legal bodies must clearly show their position," Andranik Margarian
mentioned.

According to the Prime Minister, a Tajik girl’s murder in
Saint-Petersburg got its worthy response, and it created a basis for
continuing similar actions.

As for the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers’ meeting taken
place in Paris, the Prime Minister mentioned that it is provided by
the necessity again to organize a meeting between the Presidents of
the two countries.

According to Andranik Margarian, the sides had in Bucharest a great
possibility for a progress connected with the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict: "It’s a pity, that the possibility was not
used by Azerbaijan."

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06/12/2006
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1) ANCA Calls on Senators to Demand Full Explanation of Evans Firing
2) Armenian And Azeri Foreign Ministers to Resume Karabagh Talks
3) Swiss FM Condemns Demolition of Cemetery; Reaffirms Genocide Recognition
4) EU Resumes Talks with Turkey despite Cypriot Objections
5) US Will Never Recognize Northern Cyprus

1) ANCA Calls on Senators to Demand Full Explanation of Evans Firing

WASHINGTON, DC–The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) urged US
Senators Friday to demand a full and open explanation of the highly
controversial firing of the current US Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans,
before the Senate moves to confirm a new envoy to Yerevan.
In June 9 letters, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian encouraged Senators to
vigorously investigate the reasons behind the Administration~Rs decision to
recall the Ambassador more than a year prior to the end of his normal term of
office.
The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Fresno Bee have reported that
the State Department~Rs actions against Ambassador Evans were due to his
comments, made during February 2005 speeches to Armenian American audiences,
accurately and openly describing the Armenian genocide as a clear instance of
genocide. Despite more than 60 Members of Congress having called for an
official explanation of the Administration~Rs policies and actions on this
matter, over the past four months the White House and State Department have
yet
to offer any meaningful explanation about the dismissal of this
highly-regarded, 35 year veteran of the Foreign Service.
Hachikian stressed, in his letters, that, ~SThe US Senate cannot, in good
conscience, approve the nomination of a new ambassador to Armenia until the
circumstances of the current envoy~Rs highly controversial firing are fully,
officially, and openly explained to Congress and the American people. More
broadly, the Administration needs to honestly explain its policies and actions
concerning the Armenian genocide. This is especially true given that serious
questions remain unanswered concerning the role that a foreign nation–the
Turkish Government–played in Ambassador Evans~R firing.~T
The ANCA letter closed with Hachikian urging Senators to delay the final
approval of the incoming ambassador until the Administration clearly and
openly
explains its policies and actions in connection to the firing of Ambassador
Evans.
Hachikian~Rs letters to the 18 members of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee addressed their special oversight during the panel~Rs upcoming
confirmation hearing for the President~Rs nominees to serve as the next
Ambassador to Armenia.

2) Armenian And Azeri Foreign Ministers to Resume Karabagh Talks

YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Yerkir)–Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said on
Monday that he will fly to Paris early Tuesday for talks with his Azeri
counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov to continue talks on the Karabagh conflict
settlement.
~SI don~Rt know yet whether the negotiations will be direct or in the so-called
proximity format,~T he told reporters, adding that they were initiated by the
American, French, and Russian mediators.
The Paris meeting will come just one week after the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan held two days of intensive negotiations to reach a framework
agreement in Bucharest. That meeting did not end with and agreement.
Oskanian said that there is still a chance for peace. ~SThere are still
unresolved problems,~T he said. ~SBut there are also difficult issues on
which we
had for years failed to agree but on which there is agreement now. So there is
that positive element in the process.~T
He declined to disclose those issues or give other details of the talks.
Oskanian added that during their meeting, he and Mamedyarov will also discuss
another meeting between the two countries~R presidents.

3) Swiss FM Condemns Demolition of Cemetery; Reaffirms Genocide Recognition

YEREVAN (Yerkir/RFE/RL)–Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey condemned
Azerbaijan~Rs destruction of the centuries-old Armenian cemetery in Julfa,
Nakhichevan during an official visit to Armenia on Monday.
~SDuring my latest visit to Azerbaijan I stressed the importance of
maintenance
of cultural heritage. We condemn the demolition of the Armenian cemetery in
Old
Julfa in Nakhichevan by an order of the Azeri authorities,~T said Calmy-Rey
at a
news conference in Yerevan.
She said that Switzerland has appealed to UNESCO about the matter and the
PACE
Committee on Protection of Cultural Heritage will pay a visit to the site in
September.
During her visit, Calmy-Rey also reaffirmed her country~Rs recognition of the
Armenian genocide committed against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.
~SThe Armenian genocide has been recognized in Switzerland at different
levels,
including the federal, cantonal, and municipal levels,~T Calmy-Rey said. She
cited a ~Ssubstantial capital of sympathy~T for the Armenians existing among the
Swiss as a major reason for that.
In a move that enraged Turkey, the Swish federal parliament overwhelming
voted
for a resolution in December 2003 that described the slaughter of an estimated
1.5 Armenians as genocide. The vote came two months after the Turkish
government angrily called off Calmy-Rey~Rs planned visit to Ankara in protest
against a similar resolution passed by the Swiss canton of Vaud.
The visit eventually took place in March 2005, with Calmy-Rey publicly urging
Turkey to ~Sconduct an in-depth historical research of its own past, especially
when the question is so painful.~T
Relations between Ankara and Bern further deteriorated over the
prosecution by
Swiss authorities of two prominent Turks who denied that the Armenian
massacres
constituted a genocide during separate trips to Switzerland. Swiss law forbids
public denial of the Armenian and other genocides.
~SSwitzerland makes periodical efforts to improve Turkish-Armenian relations,
but it has not had much success so far,~T Calmy-Rey told a news conference. She
said she hopes a normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey will be
facilitated by further progress towards resolution of the Karabagh conflict.
According to official Armenian sources, Calmy-Rey~Rs talks with President
Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Markarian focused on ways of
increasing the presently modest volume of Swiss-Armenian commercial ties.
Kocharian was also cited by his press service as praising the Swiss government
for providing $34.4 million worth of economic and humanitarian assistance to
Armenia in recent years.

4) EU Resumes Talks with Turkey despite Cypriot Objections

LUXEMBOURG (AFP)–The European Union clinched a last-minute deal to start
detailed membership talks with Turkey, overcoming Cypriot objections and
narrowly avoiding a new crisis for the beleaguered bloc.
But EU Foreign Ministers warned that tension between Turkey and Cyprus risks
clouding the talks so long as Ankara refuses to normalize ties with the Greek
Cypriot Government in Nicosia.
“Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall
progress
in the negotiations,” it said in a carefully-worded compromise formula to
appease Nicosia and keep pressure on Ankara.
The deal paved the way for the vast, mostly-Muslim state to start concrete
talks eight months after it secured a landmark green light from the EU.
“It’s good that the EU found a way out of this situation,” said Turkey’s
ambassador to the EU, Volkan Bozkir. “The good thing is we have achieved a
result and the difficulties have been eliminated.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who had insisted on staying in Ankara
until a deal was reached, was expected to fly into Luxembourg later in the day
for a formal ceremony opening the talks.
Ankara was approved to start accession talks with the EU last October, but
only after allaying critics who wanted Turkey to be offered a “privileged
partnership” rather than full EU membership.
But Cyprus, which as a member state has power of veto, had been refusing to
agree to the first detailed talks until Turkey recognized the Greek Cypriot
Government and fully implemented the so-called Ankara protocol.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied the northern third in
response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup seeking to unite the
island
with Greece.
Monday’s talks were on science and research, the first and possibly the least
contentious of 35 policy “chapters” to be covered during negotiations with
Ankara which are expected to last at least a decade.
The Greek-Cypriot Government had pressed for the accord with Turkey to
include
an explicit reference to the need for Ankara’s recognition, and
ratification of
the Ankara pact to allow Cypriot ships and planes into Turkey.
But other EU states had argued for simply a reference in the text to an EU
declaration made last September which itself set out in details the demands.
In the event, the key paragraph at the center of the diplomatic dispute
steered a fine line between the two versions–and included the clear
warning to
Ankara.
French Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy echoed the warning to Turkey, saying:
“If at any moment the (EU) commission judges that the criteria are not met we
should not be afraid to say it.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shrugged off the threat,
referring
dismissively to “a part of Cyprus.”
“Currently I do not believe… members of the European Union would pay a lot
of attention to that veto of a part of Cyprus,” he said, speaking during a
visit to Croatia.
More broadly, Turkey’s EU hopes have been seriously clouded by the
institutional turmoil into which the European bloc was plunged last year, when
French and Dutch voters torpedoed the EU’s hard-fought constitution.
Public skepticism over EU enlargement, and specifically over plans to take in
country so vastly different from mainland Europe, was widely cited as a reason
for the “no” votes.
“We’re in a different game now. Everyone is much more cautious,” said one
diplomat.

5) US Will Never Recognize Northern Cyprus

WASHINGTON, DC (Anadolu)–Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried said Turkey should open its sea ports and
airports to Cyprus if it hopes to become a member of the European Union. He
also said that the US will never recognize the breakaway Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus and only aims to reunite the island.
At a conference held by the Greek Cypriots, Fried said, ~STurkey should open
its ports to Cyprus ships and airplanes and fulfill its responsibility of
expanding the Customs Union agreement in a way to include the Republic of
Cyprus.”
Fried stated that the United States will continue helping the both parts
reach
a solution with the help of the United Nations and two-party talks.
But he added: “We do not recognize and will not recognize any government
other
than the Republic of Cyprus on the Cyprus Island. We are quite open about this
issue. None of our policies are aimed at recognizing another political
existence; the United States does not even imply this. Cyprus is a single
country. We have a single embassy there and it will remain so.”

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RA FM AND NATO PA REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSSED ARMENIA’S EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.06.2006 18:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met
with the delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, reported the RA
MFA press office. The delegation includes members of the subcommittee
for future security and defense potential, the committee for defense
and security and subcommittee for democratic administration of the NATO
PA as well as 25 members of the NATO PA International Secretariat. The
delegation is led by Turkey’s representative Vahit Erdem and Bulgaria’s
representative Chetin Kazak.

The meeting participants discussed the issues referring to the
NATO-Armenia relations, Armenia’s integration into European structures
and regional cooperation. Vartan Oskanian briefed on the priorities
of Armenia’s foreign policy, constituents of the security system and
relations with the neighbor states. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement was also discussed in a general way.

DO RUSSIAN CITIZENS INHABIT SOUTH OSETIA?

Panorama.am
15:54 10/06/06

“We should think of every Armenian living in Akhalkalak and Akhaltskha
now,” Gurgen Yeghiazaryan, former deputy and former deputy head of
national security service says. He messaged his concern that soon
the Georgian authorities will populate Javakhk, where less and less
Armenians are left, with Turk-Mskhetsis and our northern rout will
stay without Armenian residential areas.

He thinks it normal the recent developments with Russian-Georgian
relations, saying that each country should do what is more
expedient. “If you do not want my Russian basis in your country, I will
not want your wine to be sold on my territory.” He also thinks that
Russia may recognize the independence of South Ossia since “99.9 %
of the residents in Ossia have become Russian citizens. Tomorrow,
Russia may say that it is defending the interests of its
co-citizens.”

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:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES ARMENIAN MPS
IN THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENT

His Holiness Aram I received Kevork Vartanian and Robert Peklarian, the
representatives of the Armenian community of Tehran in the Iranian
Parliament, in his office in Antelias on June 5. The MPs were accompanied by
the primates of the three Armenian dioceses of Iran: Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkissian (Tehran), Bishop Papken Charian (Isfahan) and Bishop Neshan
Topouzian (Tabriz).

The meeting lasted over an hour. The MPs and Primates informed His Holiness
of certain circumstances created as a result of recent developments. They
stressed that despite recent sensitivities, particularly those created by
Azeris in Tabriz, the three dioceses are well organized, active and are
carefully following the situation through constant contact. Internal
diocesan and inter-diocesan issues were also discussed.

His Holiness praised the service of the Primates and MPs for the Armenian
people. He advised vigilance and constant consultations for the sake of
protecting the Iranian-Armenian community’s interests at times like these.

##
View photo here: tm#2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses 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.