Author: Tigranian Ani

PRESIDENTS WAITING FOR FOREIGN MINISTERS

Lragir.am
30 Aug 06

It is early to consider a new meeting of presidents in the framework
of the talks over the Karabakh conflict, stated Victor Soghomonyan,
speaker of president August 30. However, he did not deny that the
presidents may meet until the end of this year. Victor Soghomonyan said
it is accepted practice that the meeting of presidents takes place on
the basis of the outcome of the meeting of foreign ministers. Robert
Kocharyan’s speaker said the arrangement on the meeting of foreign
ministers was made on the eve, and a new meeting of Robert Kocharyan
and Ilham Aliyev depends on the outcome of this meeting.

COE TO REALIZE SERIES OF PROJECTS IN AZERBAIJAN FOR DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE
Author: S.Agayeva

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 29, 2006

The Council of Europe (CE) intends to implement a series of projects
in Azerbaijan directed towards developing intercultural dialogue,
the representative of the CE Department on Protection of Cultural
Heritage Fransuaza Kondol told on August 29 in Baku during the
presentation of the project of tourism route "Aleksandr Duma in
Caucasus", Trend reports.

The project has been created with the initiative of the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan and supported by the CE Supervisory
Cultural Committee. Both sides consider that the project will serve
mutual understanding and mutual support between nations, development
of intercultural dialogue, as well as propaganda of the cultural
heritage of Caucasian nations.

Azerbaijan is interested in further development of the co-operation
with CE in the protection of cultural heritage, development of
intercultural dialogue with European nations, Deputy Minister of
Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Sevda Mammadaliyeva said during the
presentation. In her opinion, this project will open the Caucasian
culture to Europe.

Also, the Deputy Minister voiced her concerns about the existence
of many military conflicts in Caucasus. She stressed that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the territory of Azerbaijan and the
separatist conflicts in the Georgian territory impose serious obstacles
for the realization of such projects.

Besides, the presentation was attended by the representatives of the
Ministries of Culture and Tourism of Georgia, Dagestan, as well as
cultural attaches of the Russian and French Embassies in Azerbaijan.

AZERBAIJAN ACCUSES ARMENIA OF CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

Interfax, Russia
Aug. 28, 2006

BAKU. Aug 28 (Interfax) – Armenia on Sunday broke its ceasefire with
Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Armenian units positioned 1 kilometer from the village of Gyulyustan
in the Azerbaijani district of Geranboi opened upon assault rifle
and machinegun fire on Azerbaijani army positions and only stopped
shooting after the Azerbaijanis returned fire, the ministry said.

The skirmish caused no losses.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 25, 2006

Silva Kaputikyan, key ideologist of Armenian aggression against
Azerbaijan died

[ 25 Aug. 2006 16:50 ]

One of the ideologists of Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands,
Nagorno Garabagh conflict Silva Kaputikyan died of stroke at the age
of 87 today, APA reports.

Armenian government ordered to set up a special commission for his
funeral. Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has been appointed chief
of the commission.

Silva Kaputikyan was born in Van city, Turkey in 1919. After the
Kars agreement between Turkey and Russia Kaputikyan’s family moved
to Armenia, which was established in ancient Turk lands.

Beginning from early 80s, Silva wrote works on poor Armenian people
propagating the so-called "Great Armenia" and "Armenian genocide". He
was key ideologist of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijani
territories

But in fact, Silva caused troubles to Armenians by such
propagations./APA/

Armenian leader saddened by loss of life in Russian plane crash

ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 23, 2006 Wednesday 01:11 PM EST

YEREVAN, August 23 — Armenian President Robert Kocharyan expressed
condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the loss of life
as a result of the Tupolev-154 passenger plane crash in Ukraine
on Tuesday.

"On behalf of the Armenian people and on my own behalf I express
deep condolences and sympathy to the near and dear of those killed,"
Kocharyan said in his message.

7-8 TECHOPARKS CAN BE SET UP AT RA NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Noyan Tapan
Aug 21 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, NOYAN TAPAN. It is possible to set up 7-8
technoparks, in particular those of laser technologies, microbiology,
superhigh frequency equipment, precision instrument making, on the
basis of some institutions of the RA National Academy of Sciences
(NAS). Aram Vardanian, Director General of Viasphere Technopark,
told NT correspondent about it. According to him, the possibility of
creating such technoparks was discussed with the RA NAS President Radik
Martirosian. He said that the draft law on technoparks, incubators
and scientific parks has been in circulation for a long time. The
draft envisages that such infrastructures should be given status of
a special economic zone. Such a legislative leverage for increasing
the investment attractiveness of technoparks is used throughout the
world. The speaker noted that the Armenian authorities have not yet
formed a single view on this issue.

Particularly, the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy objects
to the idea of granting such status to technoparks, as status
of a special economic zone presupposes certain tax and customs
privileges. A. Vardanian underlined the necessity of defining the
notion of technopark at least legislatively because, for example,
Viasphere is now operating as a close joint stock company (CJSC), which
does not provide the technopark’s companies with the opportunity to
sell electricity supply or phone services. Under such conditions, each
company of the technopark has no choice but to become a subscriber,
spending much time and resources on solution of problems unrelated
to scientific developments. In his words, there are 10-15 thousand
scientists, engineers, inventors and designers of the middle and old
generation in various spheres of Armenia, who have valuable ideas
and are prepared to work for a moderate payment in order to put their
ideas into practice but they lack funds and experience to turn their
ideas into scientific results and realize them. "These people need
sponsorship of venture funds, technoparks and incubators to generate
great results," A. Vardanian said, adding that "only in case of forming
a 15-20 thousand army of technocrats actively engaged in their business
in Armenia, it would be possible to ensure an irreversible development
of high technologies in the country."

THE CATHOLICOS AGAIN FORGOT

Lragir.am
22 Aug 06

Garegin II receiving congratulations on his 55th birthday on August
21 met with Georgy Trapeznikov, the president of the International
Academy of Spiritual Unity of the Peoples of the World. Trapeznikov
delivered the Gold Medal of Pride of Russia in the name of the Russian
charity fund Pride of Homeland. The gold medal was awarded to Garegin
II for his great contribution to the spiritual unity of the peoples
of the world, Russian-Armenian friendship and peace building.

Certainly, every Armenian is proud that their patriarch is the
pride of Russia. But the Armenian Christians are again frustrated. On
receiving the award for the spiritual unity of peoples, the Catholicos
of All Armenians again forgot about the physical existence of peoples,
especially his own people, and on receiving a gold medal of pride from
Russia he did not utter a single word about Armenians assassinated in
this country. Meanwhile, our Catholicos received this award the next
day of another assassination of Armenians in Moscow: on the previous
day 3 Armenians were stabbed to death.

Press Release

Armenian National Committee
San Francisco – Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617
[email protected]

Contact: Roxanne Makasdjian (415) 264-4203

REP. PETE STARK COSPONSORS "OPEN RAILROADS ACT," JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS
— Rep. Eshoo states opposition to the removal of US Amb. to Armenia John
Evans
— Part of string of Bay Area ANC meetings with district representatives
/2006/08182006.htm

Fremont, CA, Aug. 10 – Meeting with the Bay Area ANC and constituents,
Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) agreed to join the growing list of cosponsors
of H.R. 3361, the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2005.
During the meeting at his district office, Rep. Stark also agreed to join
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. The meeting, attended by ANC
representative Armen Carapetian, and Stark constituents, Sergey Malyan and
David Ojakian, was one of several visits to Bay Area Congressional offices
initiated by the Armenian National Committee of America’s Western Region
office and coincided with the Congressional August Recess. The group also
thanked Rep. Stark for recently cosponsoring the latest House resolution
reaffirming the US record on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res. 316), and for
joining other representatives in calling on President Bush to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide.

Carapetian briefed Stark on the South Caucasus Integration and Open
Railroads Act of 2005 (H.R. 3361), introduced by Armenian Issues Caucus
Co-chairman Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). The group explained that the bill
would prevent any US financing of the $1 billion railway connecting Turkey
and Azerbaijan, if the track deliberately bypassed Armenia. They said the
Baku-Tibilisi-Kars railway project is one of a series of moves in the region
serving to undermine Armenia’s development rather than building regional
peace through inclusion of Armenia. Congressman Stark, a senior member of
the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, agreed to cosponsor the bill.

ANC members and constituents Hasmig Samurkashian and Khatchig Tazian joined
Carapetian in a meeting with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) in her Palo
Alto office on August 9th. The group updated Rep. Eshoo on the State
Department’s removal of US Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, for his
forthright characterization of the Armenian Genocide.

"I’m very concerned about the removal of US Ambassador to Armenia [John]
Evans and the nomination for his replacement, Ambassador Richard Hoagland…I
will do everything I can to oppose this unwarranted change," wrote
Congresswoman Eshoo in a letter following the meeting.

Rep. Eshoo, who is of Armenian and Assyrian descent, expressed her
appreciation for the ANCA’s continued advancement of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans as well as it’s early and continued support of her public
service. She cited the organization’s effort urging the Public Broadcasting
Service (PBS) to remove a program featuring a panel discussion on the
Armenian Genocide that framed the event as a debatable issue. Rep. Eshoo was
instrumental in the Bay Area effort that led to San Francisco PBS affiliate
KQED’s cancellation of the program.

Following the meeting with Rep. Stark, Carapetian visited the district
offices of Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA). In meetings
with the district directors and staff of each office, Carapetian reviewed
the ANCA’s mission and goals and thanked the Representatives for their
steadfast support of efforts to end the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Collaborative initiatives aimed at raising each Representative’s involvement
in both legislative and community affairs were also discussed.

#####

Photo 1 caption: (From left to right) – Sergey Malyan, Armen Carapetian,
Rep. Pete Stark, and David Ojakian.

Photo 2 caption: (From left to right) – Hasmig Samurkashian, Rep. Anna
Eshoo, Khatchig Tazian, and Armen Carapetian.

IAC REGULATIONS PREVENT FROM MODERNIZATION OF AIRCRAFT FLEET IT
ARMENIA: AVIATOR

Yerevan, August 17. ArmInfo. The Regulations of the International
Aviation Committee (IAC) prevented from modernization of the aircraft
fleet in Armenia, a well-known aviation worker Dmitry Adbashyan says
in an interview with "Iravunk" newspaper.

The IAC registration and certification rules Armenia has got are
contrary to the ICAO codes. "Once, we brought in two planes which we
failed to register. We asked IAC to register them. The ICAO codes did
not require certificate for registering such a brand but IAC claimed
one. By the way, one article of the IAC codes said that one should have
a certificate for registering such a plane while another article gave
the list of documents one should present to register it and there was
certificate mentioned in it. While the ICAO codes clearly said that
for having his plane registered an owner has just to prove that its
worthiness, with no certificate required," Adbashyan says.

Reference to the regulations of ICAO did not allow Armenian aviators
persuade IAC of the necessity of certificates for the purchased
planes. They in IAC stated that brand certification is necessary if
a company acquires more than 2 planes. ICAO has no such rule and in
Russia they invested it just to earn money. There are over 500 such
planes in the world, so, according to IAC, it is obligatory to have
their brand certificate.

IAC rules were very much different from the international standards
So, if there are so many contradictions between the IAC and ICAO
rules, which ones Armenia should adopt? "Of course, there are, and
we should adopt the ICAO rules," says Adbashyan. "IAC is no longer
effective. There is ICAO and we should cooperate with them and,
in some cases, with their European counterparts," says Adbashyan.

The point in this particular case is not so much if the pilots or the
planes were guilty for the Sochi and Irkutsk crashes. The point is
that IAC – who says that it is exclusively professional structure –
has allowed or, at least, has failed to prevent those cases from being
politicized. In the Armavia case, IAC has failed to professionally
substantiate its position and to prove that its findings are true. And
even if in this particular case IAC is professionally right and fair,
we can still see that it can no longer normally regulate its own
functions and decisions. This proves that it is stagnating, and not
only Russian but also our relevant authorities should do something
about it, "Iravunk" writes.

EU allocates funds to facilitate Georgian-Ossetian dialogue

Kavkas-Press
17 Aug 06

Tbilisi, 17 August: The European Union has allocated 140,000 euros
to facilitate meetings of the Joint Control Commission [JCC] for the
settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, the head of the European
Commission Delegation to Georgia and Armenia, Torben Holtze, has said.

"The European Union has allocated 140,000 euros to facilitate meetings
of the Joint Control Commission. We hope that these funds will allow
the meetings to become regular and effective," Holtze said at a JCC
meeting in Moscow [on 17 August].

Holtze described JCC as an important body fostering the exchange of
views between the parties to the conflict.

"We highly evaluate the fact that peace is the top priority at these
meetings," Holtze said.