Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

MATTHEW BRYZA TO BE U.S. CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MINSK GROUP

Today, Azerbaijan
June 15 2006

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said on Thursday that Matthew
J. Bryza, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and
Eurasian Affairs, will co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group that mediates
between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh.

Bryza will replace Ambassador Steven Mann as the U.S. co-chairman.

The Minsk Group is co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev held their latest round of talks on June 5 in Bucharest,
but no progress was reported.

Oskanian told RFE/RL that he met on June 13 in Paris with Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov to try to narrow differences,
but failed to make progress.

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KENYA: COMMISSION SET TO INVESTIGATE BREACH OF SECURITY ON AIRPORT
Apunyu Bonny

SomaliNet, Somalia
June 13 2006

(SomaliNet) A commission of inquiry to investigate a serious breach
of security at Nairobi’s main airport which took place last week has
been set by the Kenyan Government.

Britain had demanded for a formal explanation from Kenya’s Ministry
of foreign affairs.

The breach of security which involved two Armenian brothers who
brandished weapons when challenged to open their luggage by airport
security staff last week, earlier led to the suspension pf police
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) head Joseph Kamau and 11
other officials.

The two Armenian brothers Instead of being charged, they were quietly
deported, prompting claims they were receiving top-level protection.

The two Armenians first came to public attention during a controversial
raid on a Kenyan newspaper in March.

Kenya’s president, Mwai Kibaki, on Sunday this week, dismissed
newspaper reports of a family connection with the men. The pair,
Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan, have always maintained that they
are innocent businessmen.

AGO GROUP SATISFIED WITH MEETING BETWEEN AZERI AND ARMENIAN FMS
Author: R. Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006

"We are glad that by the totals of meeting between Azeri and Armenian
FMs the conditions for ongoing cooperation in the settlement of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been preserved", – reportedly said
Ronald Wegener, German diplomat and head of AGO group at Council
of Ministers of CE, speaking on the totals of negotiations at Azeri
Foreign Ministry June 14.

Wegener said the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was one of
top priorities on the day agenda.

Alongside, German ambassador said, quoting, "Azeri, Armenian FMs came
to agreement on continuation of conversations during their yesterday’s
meeting in Paris. We know the meeting took more than 4 hours and was
very tense. FMs also discussed the issue of Presidents’ meeting".

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: RESTORATION OF SHUSHI MORE IMPORTANT THAN BUCHAREST TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I am not apt to consider that conflicts can be
settled via normalization of economic cooperation. Nothing can be
settled by money only, Director of the Caucasus Media Institute (CMI),
political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan stated in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, this doesn’t mean that economy should
not be taken into account. “If funds flow to the conflict region
the sides may spend them on weapons. This way has no prospects,”
he considers.

Alexander Iskandaryan noted that as regards the Nagorno Karabakh
problem the society should be interested in other issues as well. “In
other words, people should decide what is more important: the
Bucharest talks or restoration of Shushi. Certainly, the restoration
of Shushi is. I would add that juridical settlement of conflicts is
counterproductive. Let us take Taiwan for example.

They do not shout or press for recognition. They do not demand
independence but live and form their state.

We should determine what is more important: independence or state
building. In my opinion, state building is more important, since
it includes political mechanisms, formation of institutes of a
civic society, democracy building and many other aspects,” the CMI
Director said.

DOGHAGORTS OJSC EMPLOYEES RAISE QUESTIONS

Panorama.am
13:00 13/06/06

175 employees of Doghagorts-1 open joint stock company have applied
to one of parliament blocks with a request to support their rights as
employees. They want to know whether Doghagorts-1 has been privatized
and if yes, under what conditions. The employees also want to know
what is their share of the capital. How can they get 20% of shares
which they are entitled to?

They also want to know how much was invested last year. The employees
address these and similar issues to the deputies hoping that they will
help to settle their relations with company management.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS AT HIGHER RATE THAN DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES

Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Problems of cooperation between the RA
National Assembly and the IMF were discussed during the June 13 meeting
of the RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian and IMF Resident Representative
to Armenia James McHugh. NT was informed about it from the RA National
Assembly PR Department.

J. McHugh attached special importance to the RA NA’s supervisory
function over all stages of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper,
as well as over programs that the IMF implements jointly with the RA
government and the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA).

T.Torosian said that over the last five years, Armenia’s economic
development has proceeded at a higher rate than the democratic
processes in the country such as the establishment of civil society,
the fight against corruption and polarization of incomes. Whereas,
acoording to him, a complete succees can be achieved only by combining
these two components, which will allow Armenia to occupy its worthy
place in the international commmunity.

Both sides underlined the importance of keeping the public informed:
people should have a clear idea of what is going on and what
expectations to have after each measure taken. It was pointed out that
both awareness and providing information about ongoing developments
are aimed at conveying positive impulses to the society, which is no
less important than economic development and political stability.

RICH GOLDMAN: COOPERATION WITH THE YEREVAN STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY IS BEST EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION

Yerevan, June 12.ArmInfo. “SYNOPSYS” world leader in electronic
projecting of automatic technologies initiated the official
ceremony of awarding the graduates of “Synopsys” educational
center with diplomas. This educational center is also known as the
inter-parliamentary chair of “Microelectronic Schemes and Systems”
of the Yerevan State Engineering University. 18 graduates of the
center received the master’s degree, while 36 graduates were given
the bachelor’s degree.

Hovik Musaelian, SG-director of “SYNOPSYS-Armenia,” stated that the
company began collaborating with the YSEU in 2002. Besides financing
the salaries of the teachers and the grants for the students, the
company provided the chair of “Microelectronic Schemes and Systems”
with 50 super contemporary program packages that cost $ 260 million
in total. Thanks to the investments in the educational sphere, the
most of the graduates of the YSEU became employees of the company.

“Armenia has huge intellectual potential,” Rich Goldman, director
general of “SYNOPSYS,” said. He stated that they give preferences to
innovatory thinking and strive for perfection, when choosing students
for their educational center. “SYNOPSYS cooperates with over 450
universities in the world, but the cooperation with the Yerevan State
Engineering University is the best example of effective collaboration,”
Rich Goldman said.

“The educational program of SYNOPSYS in Armenia is an example of
effective cooperation of business and science, business and education,”
Lilit Gevorgian, assistant of RA President said. She also stated that
“SYNOPSYS-Armenia” also finances the presidential awards for the best
students in the sphere of informational technologies.

Ara Hakobian, adviser of RA PM, said that Armenia’s future is
in the creation of the informational society. Ara Avetisian, RA
Deputy Education Minister, stated that the educational program of
“SYNOPSYS” is dynamically developing and enlarging, today, adding
that the Yerevan State University also became the partner of the
company in 2005. “The secret of the educational program of “SYNOPSYS”
in securing qualified specialists is conditioned by the fact that the
final stage of the education was maximally close to real production
process,” Academician Yuri Sargsian said. He awarded Rich Goldman
with a diploma “For considerable contribution to the development of
the Yerevan State Engineering University.”

At present, “SYNOPSYS-Armenia” has 350 employees. According to
theadministration of the company, the goods turnover of the company
makes $1 billion.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE DIES

Yerevan, June 12. ArmInfo. On June 12, Head of the Intelligence
Department, Armenian Armed Forces, Major General Bassenciy Azoyan
died at the age of 59.

RA Defense Ministry reports the funerals of the untimely deceased
general will take place on June 13 at 6:00pm in 4, Yerznyak street. A
farewell ceremony will take place on June 14 from 12:00 to 2:00pm at
G. Sundukinyan State Academic Theatre. Major General Azoyan will be
buried in the pantheon “Yerablur.”

Bassenciy Azoyan was born on Nov 30 1947 in Sisian region, Armenia.

In 1970 he graduated from the Oriental Faculty of Yerevan State
University. In 1987, he graduated from USSR State Security Committee
High School. In 1974-1995, he occupied a number of responsible
positions in the national security system. In 1980-1982, he was
detached to Iran, in 1983-86 to Afghanistan. Since 1995, B. Azoyan
served at the Armenian Armed Forces. The title of Major General was
conferred on him in 2002. He was awarded numerous medals and orders:
“Military Service,” “Marshal Baghramyan,” “Andranik Ozanyan,” “Garegin
Nzhgeh,” “For Strengthening of Cooperation,” “For Good Service,”
as well as state awards of the Soviet Union. He was married, had
two children.

MAMMADYAROV: AZERBAIJAN GIVES PREFERENCE TO NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT THROUGH PEACEFUL WAY

Today, Azerbaijan
June 13 2006

Foreign affairs minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov has received
the delegation of South Africa Foreign Ministry Center and South
Asia Office associates headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of South African Republic to Kazakhstan, Beki Gila.

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry press service has told APA that the
ambassador stated the main objective of the visit as development
of relations between two countries on different fields and serving
investigation of these kinds of chances.

In his turn, the minister stating South Africa to be one of the leading
countries in the world and the UNO, stated for further possibilities
for future cooperation. The sides came to an agreement on studying
political, economic, tourism fields’ cooperation and for development
of consultation of relevant state structures, and mutual exchange of
visits of businessmen.

Elmar Mammadyarov in the reply to questions interested the guests
concerning Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, stated the 20 percent of
territories being occupied by Armenia Armed Forces, ethnic cleansing
policy was implemented in this territories. The minister stated that
Azerbaijan gives preference to solving the conflict through peaceful
way, pointed out the necessity of liberating occupied territories
from the occupation, returning refugees and internally displaced
people to their lands.

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AZERI FM RECEIVED BSEC ORGANIZATION SECREATRY GENERAL LEONIDAS KHRISANTOPULAS

Today, Azerbaijan
June 13 2006

Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov received Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Organization Secretary General Leonidas
Khrisantopulas.

According to the information given to APA from Foreign Ministry press
service, the minister stated Azerbaijan to be reliable partner in BSEC.

In his turn, secretary general said within the BSEC organization one of
the problems is not having thorough information on the organization
among the population, for this purpose he stated necessity of
implementing series of projects. He added that for strengthening the
organization and increase of role, series of measures are implemented,
as well as brought to the attention the meetings between European
Union and BSEC organization.

Elmar Mammadyarov expressed his confidence to BSEC to be prestigious
regional economic organization, support the projects that the
organization planned. The minister stated that within BSEC stability
and talks opens wide perspectives to cooperation in the region,
and Azerbaijan attaches more attention to the cooperation with this
organization. The only problem as an obstacle in the region to the
stability is Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, occupation of Azerbaijani
territories by Armenians, ethnic cleansing policy against peaceful
population being inadmissible. The minister said that Azerbaijan is
ready for continuing the talks on establishing the peace in the region.

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