Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN DEMOCRATIZING IN USA

A1+
| 19:37:36 | 07-09-2005 | Official |

Today the RA NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan met the leader of the
US Democratic Party Howard Dean. During the visit issues about the
Armenian-American relations and processes in Armenia and the region
were discussed.

During the meeting with the US International Republican Institute
Judy van Rest issues about the inter political problems of Armenia,
Constitutional and Electoral reforms were discussed.

The next meeting took place in the “Woodrow Wilson” center with the
heads of several US Expert centers. By the way, the heads of the
center are appointed directly by the US President.

SLOVENE FOREIGN MINISTER PLEASED WITH PROGRESS IN NAGORNYY KARABAKH TALKS

STA news agency, Ljubljana
5 Sep 05

Baku, 5 September: Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, the OSCE
chairman-in-office, said he was satisfied with the progress in the
talks on a resolution on Nagornyy Karabakh as he visited Azerbaijan
on Monday [5 September].

Speaking to the press after meeting Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov
in Baku – the first stop of his two-day tour of Azerbaijan and Armenia
– Rupel called on Azerbaijan to keep striving for a solution to the
conflict with Armenia in spite of the current election campaign.

Because of the 6 November parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan,
it is difficult to assess how the talks will progress, he said.

The Slovene foreign minister expects the two countries to continue
their dialogue on the matter, although he admitted that “it is clear
that serious open issues remain”.

The two sides agree on matters in principle, but a lot is open in
terms of the technical nature of the solution, he said.

Rupel also held talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, who briefed
him of the talks he held with Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan
on 27 August in Russia. Moreover, he met Azeri PM Artur Rasizada.

The Nagornyy Karabakh “is a long story with many components”, Rupel
stressed, adding that he doubted a solution could be reached during
Slovenia’s stint as OSCE president.

There is concern in the international community that the forthcoming
elections might derail the progress in the Nagornyy Karabakh talks,
as the conflict could become a tool for internal political purposes.

However, Mammadyarov downplayed the possibility of the conflict
becoming hostage to political campaigning in Azerbaijan. The
negotiations are continuing, however, the issue is so complex that
a solution cannot be reached in just a few days, he told the press.

[Passage omitted – background]

Meanwhile, the upcoming parliamentary elections figured highly in
Rupel’s talks with Azeri opposition officials and representatives of
NGOs, who presented their concerns regarding the elections.

According to Leila Yunus from the NGO Institute for Peace and
Democracy, non-governmental organizations have been barred from
overseeing the elections, which she believes is a sign that the
government does not want the poll to be free and fair.

Rupel said it was not the OSCE’s task to criticise but to offer
advice on elections to participating states. He added that he hoped
that certain problems regarding election teams and electoral rolls
would be resolved ahead of the poll.

Meanwhile, Mammadyarov said he was convinced the elections would
be free and fair. Admitting that Azerbaijan could not achieve
Western-styled democracy overnight, he pointed out that the elections
would be monitored by observers from the OSCE and the Council of
Europe.

ARMENIA’S BIGGEST MISTAKE

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| 12:51:37 | 03-09-2005 | Politics |

Failed meeting and empty talks. This is the assessment given by NA
member Aram G. Sargsyan to the Kazan meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents. To note, A. Sargsyan himself participates in
international meetings for the elaboration of the alternative ways
of the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

A model has been worked out by the representatives of Armenia,
Karabakh and Azerbaijan. According to A. Sargsyan, no one showed
any interest in the document except the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,
who assessed it as positive.

~SThe interests of the Armenian people should be precisely expressed in
a corresponding concept, which is absent today. Azerbaijan toughens its
position day by day and it is rather surprising that Robert Kocharian
and Vartan Oskanian are constantly speaking of progress. However
Azerbaijan is not going to recognize the independence of Nagorno
Karabakh or its joining to Armenia. So what is the discussion held
about? If the issue of the returning of the territories is considered
while the status is not determined yet, so this can be rated as
treason~T, the deputy said.

In A. Sargsyan~Rs opinion, the policy pursued by the incumbent
is dangerous and erroneous and the first mistake Armenia made is
that it had not recognized the independence of Nagorno Karabakh
from Azerbaijan. ~SFrom Azerbaijan, I emphasize, because we have a
resolution of December 1 on unification. After all we should take
into account one important circumstance- Nagorno Karabakh is a
part of Armenia and was forcibly joined to Azerbaijan. If we forget
this fact the independence of NKR will become senseless. Presently
we know that that the people of Karabakh have declared NKR an
independent republic. This is their will and Armenia must recognize
the independence of Karabakh. After that Armenia should establish a
dialogue with Azerbaijan,~T he said.

The deputy is against the negotiation between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. He is convinced that the talks should be held by Azerbaijan
and NKR. However an Agreement of Armistice should be signed between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and this agreement will serve as a security
guarantee for Karabakh.

Lena Badeyan

“OSCE PUTS INTO PRACTICE DUAL PRINCIPLES”

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| 20:19:12 | 02-09-2005 | Politics |

The Human Rights Defender of RA Larissa Alaverdyan is concerned with
the policy of several international structures, including the OSCE.

“I have numerous questions to the OSCE, especially about the practice
of dual principles. Before becoming Ombudsman I have thoroughly
investigated the Karabakh conflict and I think that OSCE puts into
practice dual principles in this respect”, says Larissa Alaverdyan.

Referring to the announcement of the EU representative Len Marker
in the OSCE Ministers Committee latest session that a variant of
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is the uniting of Armenia
and Karabakh, Mrs. Alaverdyan said, “The Armenian authorities must
make it clear on what international document the announcement is
based. In my opinion, Len Marker reminded the 1921 act according
to which Azerbaijan gives up Karabakh. Today there are two Armenian
Republics in the region. I am deeply concerned about the fact that
OSCE does not recognize Karabakh as an independent republic”.

ARMENIAN FM: KARABAKH SETTLEMENT MAY ONLY BE BASED ON COMPROMISES

Pan Armenian News
01.09.2005 05:10

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “In spite no progress is registered in the course of
the talks between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Kazan,
the Armenian party positively evaluates its outcomes,” Armenian FM
Vartan Oskanian stated. In his words, the conflict settlement may only
be based on compromises. The Armenian Minister emphasized that the
Kocharian-Aliyev meeting paves way for further talks at the level of
the FMs. “I suppose the Azeri party positively evaluates the outcomes
of the Kazan meeting as well,” the Armenian FM hoped. V. Oskanian
noted that his recurrent meeting with Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov is
possible soon, as well as a visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
to the conflict region. At the same time he did not specify the
date of those events. The Armenian FM did not link the negotiation
process with either the coming parliamentary election in Azerbaijan
or the referendum over the Constitution in Armenia. “These processes
will take place in our countries this year and the talks have not
produced an outcome that could be registered on paper. Thus, I do not
see a direct relation in the time in this case,” he noted. It should
be noted that the Kocharian-Aliyev meeting in Kazan was devoted to
the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs, representing Russia, US and France were present at the
meeting, reported IA Regnum.

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]
September 1, 2005

His Holiness Karekin II Receives Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs

On August 31, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, received Rafael Antonio Bielsa, Minister of Foreign affairs,
International Trade and Worship for the Republic of Argentina. Mr. Bielsa’s
delegation was accompanied by Arman Kirakosian, Deputy Foreign Minister of
Armenia and Ara Ayvazian, Ambassador of Armenia to Argentina. Also in the
delegation were devoted members of the Armenian Church and benefactors
Eduardo Ernekian and Leon Carlos Arslanian.

His Holiness welcomed the Minister to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and
gladly recalled his meeting with Mr. Bielsa in Buenos Aires in 2004 during a
Pontifical Visit to South America. The Catholicos of All Armenians
requested that the Minister please transmit his personal appreciation and
blessings to the President of Argentina and all state officials for the
respect and care they demonstrate toward the Armenian community in
Argentina. His Holiness also expressed his pleasure at seeing two Armenian
benefactor sons of the Church among the delegation from Argentina, each who
has made significant contributions to the development and progress of
Armenian life.

The Pontiff of All Armenians offered his words of gratitude to the Argentine
people and state for their recognition and condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide. He stated, “Argentina occupies a special place within our hearts
and the hearts of all Armenians. We have a large and vibrant Armenian
community there, who have earned the respect and admiration of their fellow
Argentine countrymen. Argentina is also one of the growing number of
countries that has recognized and strongly condemned the Genocide of the
Armenians as the greatest of crimes against mankind, and for this, our
nation appreciates the courageous spirit of Argentina, her faithful people
and her dedicated government officials.”

##

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES TEACHERS, PUPILS AND THEIR PARENTS ON DAY OF KNOWLEDGE

YEREVAN, AUGUST 31. ARMINFO. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
congratulates teachers, pupils and their parents of the Day of
Knowledge.

The Presidential Press Service informs ARMINFO that the presidential
message in particular says that formation of a new literate generation
armed with modern knowledge is demand of the time and a guarantor of
development. Each family in the public is aware of this and pays a
great attention to education. “Reforms in the system of education
is one of the most important tasks of our country. This issue is
solved step by step. In this direction we carry out a consistent
work,” the message says. Robert Kocharyan is sure that educational
establishments in Armenia will be improved due to the experience and
development of the existing pedagogical potential. “I congratulate
you and wish that the new educational year be rich and productive,”
Robert Kocharyan says.

DAYS OF ITALIAN-ARMENIAN FRIENDSHIP TO LAUNCH IN ARMENIA IN OCTOBER

Armenpress
August 30, 2005

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian told a news conference today that Days of Armenian-Italian
Friendship, initiated by two governments and sponsored by the
presidents of Italy and Armenia will be launched in Armenia in early
October and will run until the end of the year.

An extensive set of events includes display of exhibits from Saint
Lazarus Museum in Venice run by the Armenian Mkhetarist Congregation of
Armenian Catholics at Armenian National Picture Gallery, a conference
on Italian-Armenian historical and cultural relations, Days of Italian
Cinema, theater and music performances, photo and cuisine exhibitions
and other events.

MARS VOLTA STEPS OUT, SYSTEM STEPS UP
By James Parker, Globe Correspondent

Boston Globe, MA
Aug 29 2005

System of a Down
With the Mars Volta
At: Worcester DCU Center, Saturday

WORCESTER — Cedric Bixler Zavala, frontman for the Mars Volta,
is a spectacular dancer.

Saturday night at the DCU Center, as his seven-piece band poured
out highly mutated progressive rock — a sound that marries the
titanic riffing of Led Zeppelin to the polyrhythmic pulse of Fela
Kuti’s Afrobeat orchestras — Zavala tore up the stage. He stamped
and twisted, backsliding on his Cuban heels, kicking away the base of
the mike stand to make a sudden drop, the bulb of his afro quivering
indignantly above the slim, black-clad body, and all of this without
missing a note of his wailing, swirling vocal lines. A saxophone
screamed then chuckled; the music rose around him like flames.

Physically astonishing, the Mars Volta is still somehow remote. There
are grand exorcisms in the music, but its demons are not announced.

The lyrics read like Dylan Thomas fed through a sci-fi blender,
full of ruptured anatomies, altered states, and other symptoms of
an overheated mental life. A sub-section of the track “Cassandra
Gemini,” off the band’s latest album “Frances the Mute,” is called
“Plant a Nail in the Navel Stream.” One wonders what goes on inside
the tour bus. Poetry slams? Birthing rituals?

It’s a brave band that takes the Mars Volta out on the road, but
the members of System of a Down know what they’re doing. These four
Californian post-metal heads, all of Armenian descent, have connected
with their audience in a manner that only highlights the opening act
deficits. The crowd, churning excitedly under a gauzy, germy haze,
was wired into every flicker and time-change, every falsetto squeal,
and metallicized grunt. “Violent Pornography,” a cultural diatribe
from this year’s hugely successful album “Mesmerize,” turned into
the most ferocious sing-along heard outside an English soccer stadium.

Singer Serj Tankian, nodding along in untucked shirt and comfortable
trousers, has less-than-dazzling stage moves. But his gestures —
the extended palm, the inclined head — are those of an orator,
not a rock star.

In a gnawing, satirical voice often compared to the Dead Kennedy’s
Jello Biafra (another highly politicized frontman), Tankian jabbers
out his sermons while his bandmates twitch and roar behind him.

There’s mockery in System of a Down’s presentation — the posturings
of guitarist Daron Malakian are particularly arch — but the kids are
in on it; each elaborate grimace and burlesqued cry of “jump up and
down!” only heightened the fervor. “You and me / Will all go down in
history / With a sad Statue of Liberty . . .” Young men with shaved
heads and big beards, as if their heads were on upside-down, thrashed
exultantly. Like it or not, this is the current face of protest music.

NO COUNTRY RIVALS IRAN IN PAYING ATTENTION TO HOLY CENTERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS

Orumiyeh, West Azarbaijan prov, Aug 29, IRNA

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Aug 29 2005

Head of Armenia’s State Agency of Monument Preservation Artyom
Gregorian said that no other country rivals Iran in paying so much
attention to holy centers of various religions, including that of
the Christian faith Speaking at a meeting with the governor of the
provincial town of Khoy, Mohammad-Amin Rezazadeh on Monday, he referred
to Iran as a country making effort to preserve its religious centers.

He lauded the fact that so much attention is paid to other faiths
by Islam.

Currently visiting Iran at the head of an Armenian delegation,
Gregorian noted, “Prior to advent of Christianity and Islam, the
people of Iran and Armenia lived together. Given the close relations
between the two religions, sowing the seed of discord between them
is out of question.” For his part, Rezazadeh pointed to the amicable
bilateral relationship and hoped that it will continue in the future.

“We do our best to preserve churches and holy centers of the Christian
faith, similar to mosques and our own historical monuments.

“Special focus has been placed in recent years on reconstruction and
repair of ancient relics to attract tourists,” he added.

During its stay in West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, the
16-member Armenian delegation toured a few of the provincial churches
including Qara-Kelisa and the mausoleum of Sadreddin in Siah-Cheshmeh.

The visiting delegation mainly aims to exchange the latest technical
developments in preserving and safeguarding archaic monuments and
their restoration.