Author: Toneyan Mark

ARMENIA WILL BE SPOKEN ABOUT IN 2007
Karine Asatryan

A1+
[01:43 pm] 30 June, 2006

The CoE building is already half-empty, although the PACE session is
bound to last till midday. The Azeris look forward to the session
about the protection of woods in order to speak about the alleged
fire in the forests in Karabakh.

Part of the PACE delegates is already interested in the agenda of the
autumn session. There was no issue directly referring to Armenia in
the current session.

Will there be any in the coming one? In answer to this question the
head of the RA delegation, NA President Tigran Torosyan answered that
there won’t be a discussion about the commitments of Armenia in autumn.

"There is one issue connected with Armenia which will be heard in
the 2007 January session. It is the application of the Constitutional
reforms in the RA legislation", he said. Mr. Torosyan reminded that
the issue about the commitments of Armenia was heard in October
2004. "This shows that although there are problems to be solved,
Armenia has taken the right course in honoring the commitments".

According to Mr. Torosyan, the issue about the commitments will be
heard in October 2007, "if there is nothing extraordinary during
the elections".

Let us remind you that the reporters on the issues of honoring the
commitments will pay a visit to Armenia in autumn.

KARABAKH IN G8

Lragir.am
29 June 06

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and U.S. Assistant
State Secretary Nicolas Burns discussed June 28 the settlement of
regional conflicts in the CIS, reports the news agency Mediamax. The
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Mediamax that burning issues
of U.S.-Russian relations, with the stress on the problems of CIS,
including the regional conflict were discussed. Nicolas Burn did
not deny that the Karabakh conflict might be discussed during the G8
Summit in July.

NURGALIEV PRAISES COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA IN CRIME CONTROL

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
June 28, 2006 Wednesday

Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev spoke at a meeting of the
Joint Collegium of the Russian Interior Ministry and the Armenian
police here on Wednesday. He pointed in his report to a high level
of cooperation with the Armenian police. "Russia-Armenia cooperation
in the sphere of crime control is developing effectively," he said.

According to his information, the Russian Interior Ministry and the
Armenian police regularly organise meetings of the Joint Collegium,
which discuss the most topical problems of crime control. "The
problems to be discussed at the current meeting are to ensure further
strengthening of cooperation between our countries in warding off
the most dangerous crime challenges and threats," Nurgaliev said.

According to Nurgaliev, the strengthening of cooperation in curbing
illegal migration is one of the most topical problems.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER VARDAN OSKANYAN ON A WORKING VISIT TO GEORGIA

ArmRadio.am
28.06.2006 10:20

On the last day of his working visit to Georgia RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan will deliver a speech at the Georgian foundation
for strategic and international studies. His speech is dedicated
to regional policy issues. Last evening the Foreign Minister was
received by the President of Georgia Mikhail Sahakashvili. Vardan
Oskanyan met also hi Georgian opposite number.

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:
June 26, 2006

His Holiness Karekin II Meets Governor of Istanbul

On June 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, visited Mr. Muammer Güler, Governor of Istanbul, at the
governor’s office. His Holiness was accompanied by His Beatitude Archbishop
Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern); Mr. Karen Mirzoyan, Representative of the Republic of
Armenia in Turkey; and Mr. Bedros Shirinoghlu, Chairman of the Pontifical
Visit Committee.

The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his happiness to be in Istanbul
through the joint invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Armenian
Patriarch of Constantinople, and noted his pleasure to have the opportunity
to closely know the Armenian community of Istanbul.

In his remarks, His Holiness Karekin II stated his awareness of the
achievements of the Armenian community of Istanbul in its national and
spiritual life. His Holiness also noted that there are certain issues which
exist in the Armenian community related to properties and educational
matters, and expressed his hope that they will find their positive
solutions.

Governor Güler welcomed the visit of the Pontiff of All Armenians to
Istanbul, and conveyed his hope that the relations between the Armenian and
Turkish peoples will improve.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness Karekin II, reflecting on the
relations between the two peoples, confirmed that the Armenian people have
the same desires to see them improved and stressed his conviction that
relations will progress based on the principles of justice.

During the meeting, they also discussed matters related to the Pontifical
Visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the activities of the
governor’s office.

The Genocide Education Project reaches out to California students and teachers

ArmRadio.am
24.06.2006 11:40

The Genocide Education Project concluded a series of workshops over
the last two months targeting junior high and high school students
and teachers throughout California. Developed by a team of educators,
Sara Cohan, Armen Sedrakian, and Hasmig Tateossian, the interactive
workshops provided a vehicle for students and teachers to learn
about the Armenian Genocide in more depth, and also how it relates
to current human rights issues.

"Genocide education is imperative, especially at a time when such a
crime is not just a historical reality, but is part of our contemporary
reality as seen in Darfur," said Raffi Momjian, the Executive Director
of the organization. "The opportunity to work directly with students
and teachers over the last few months was truly rewarding, as their
passion for the subject was palpable in all the workshops."

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO TAKE PART IN CSTO SUMMIT IN MINSK

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 22 2006

Yerevan, June 22. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan is to leave for
Minsk on June 23 to take part in a plenary meeting of the Council of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the RA presidential
press service reports.

The CSTO Presidential Summit will be preceded by meetings of the CSTO
Ministers’ Council and Secretaries of the Security Councils.

The plenary meeting is to begin with a meeting of the Presidents of the
CSTO member-countries. The meeting participants will exchange views on
the political situation in the region of the CSTO’s responsibility. The
presidential meeting will be followed by a joint plenary meeting to
be attended by Foreign Ministers, Ministers of Defense and Secretaries
of Security Councils.

The Presidents are to discuss the priorities of the organization’s
activities and approve the CSTO Declaration on further reforms of
the organization and enhancement of its efficiency.

The meeting participants are to sign a number of documents to expand
the contractual basis of cooperation between the CSTO members.

The Armenian President is to take part at a meeting of the EurAsEc
Council as observer. The same day the Armenian delegation led by
President Robert Kocharyan is to return to Yerevan.

The CSTO comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrchyzstan
and Tajikistan. P.T. -0–

U.S. SENATE TO DISCUSS RICHARD HOAGLAND NOMINATION FOR U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.06.2006 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Americans across the U.S. will be closely
following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearings for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland,
in hopes of gaining concrete insight into the exact nature of the
State Department’s policy of complicity in Armenian Genocide denial –
particularly as it relates to the firing of the current U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA). The hearing comes as Armenian American
activists across the U.S. continue to call on Senators to demand a
full explanation for the early recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Marshall Evans.

To remind, the recall of Amb. Evans was caused by his statement on
the Armenian Genocide made February 19, 2005 at a meeting with the
Armenian Diaspora in California. "Today I will call it the Armenian
Genocide," Amb. Evans said.

"HAMSHEN" ARMENIAN ENSEMBLE FROM SOCHI RECOGNIZED BEST DANCING GROUP AT SEA BREEZE FESTIVAL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2006

KRASNODAR, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The "Hamshen"
folk ensemble of Armenian music, song and dance of the Center of
National Cultures of the settlement of Lazarevski, city of Sochi,
received grand prix in the Folk Dance nomination at the festival
held in Sochi within the framework of the Sea Breeze National Contest
of Young Talents. The festival was held by the "Children of Russia"
fund for support to development of children’s creation, and performers
and creative collectives from many regions of Russian Federation took
part in it.

According to the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, the Hamshen ensemble performed dance "Berd" ("Fortress")
and a pot-pourri from folk dances of Armenians of Hamshen (Armenians
of Hamshen came from the region of Hamshen in the territory of the
historic Armenia, currently in Turkey).

As Honored Worker of Culture of RF Vitali Postnikov, principal
ballet-master of the State Philharmony of Vologodski region, chairman
of festival’s jury, mentioned, "Hamshen" was the only group that
presented folk dance at the professional level. Besides the Winner Cup,
the "Hamshen" ensemble was given a special diploma for preservation
of national traditions and a valuable present.

The "Hamshen" ensemble cannot take part in the "One Nation – One
Culture" Second All Armenian Festival of Culture though it had applied
for participation earlier. The reason is that no funds were found in
the Krasnodar territory for financing the tour of the young artists
to this festival.

FLIGHT RECORDER SHEDS NO LIGHT ON ARMENIA A-320 CRASH – OFFICIAL

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 19 2006

YEREVAN, June 19 (RIA Novosti) – Examination of the flight recorder
from an Armenian airliner that crashed into the Black Sea last month
has produced no new information on the reasons for the crash, an
official said Monday.

The A-320 Airbus, operated by the Armavia Airline, came down in stormy
weather off Russia’s Black Sea coast May 3 with the loss of all 113
passengers and crew on board.

"The interstate aviation committee has finished decoding the flight
data recorder," said Gayane Davtyan, spokeswoman for Armenia’s main
civil aviation department.

"The decoding … showed that the plane had not disintegrated in the
air," Davtyan said. "The engines were operating until the plane hit
the water."

She said the flight recorders had held information about eight flights
made by the plane April 30-May 3, including the fatal trip.

The tape lasted 26 hours 20 minutes, including 1 hour 26 minutes of
the last flight.

Russia’s Transportation Ministry said in a statement earlier Monday
that the plane had enough fuel to complete the flight safely, and
that the autopilot was off in the last minute.

Davtyan also said the commission had started detailed analysis of
recorders and planned to model the crash on a special A-320 training
plane.

"The conclusion about the reasons will be made after the analysis
and investigation, to be followed by flight safety recommendations,"
she said.

On June 8, the commission finished deciphering the other black box –
the cockpit voice recorder. The recorder had captured 33 minutes of
exchanges between the pilot of the plane and air traffic controllers at
Russia’s southern Adler airport, outside the popular resort of Sochi,
where the plane was heading.

The Russian Transportation Ministry said the transcript would not be
published in line with the standards and practices of the International
Civil Aviation Organization.