BAKU: European Union pays to Azerbaijan special attention

EUROPEAN UNION PAYS TO AZERBAIJAN SPECIAL ATTENTION

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 22, 2006

Special Representative of the European Union on Southern Caucasus
Peter Semnebey held a news conference on results of his visit to the
country, 21 July.

Having noted, that the main purpose of visit consists in discussion
of the Plan of Activity for Azerbaijan in the frame of the New
Neighborhood Policy of the European Union, P. Semnebey informed, that
at meetings with officials of Azerbaijan he had comprehensive exchange
of views in 9 basic directions of the plan. They cover settlement
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, development
of democratic institutes in the country, the human rights protection
and supremacy of law, regional cooperation and other questions.

He has told that ‘though negotiations on the Plan of Activity yet
have not completed, the successes, nevertheless, have been already
reached, and there were only technical questions. The Plan opens new
opportunities for the further rapprochement of Azerbaijan with the
Union. Azerbaijan represents special value for the European Union. I
consider, that Azerbaijan, too, is interested in establishment of
wide contacts with EU’, he stressed.

Noting, that at the meetings he held also discussed was the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, P. Semnebey has once again stated the
position of the European Union in connection with the conflict and
has emphasized, that EU supports peace settlement of the conflict
and though directly is not engaged in its solution, nevertheless,
can assist its elimination.

The Special Representative informed that now he would leave for Armenia
where would also touch the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. At his words,
in the meetings with the Armenian officials he is going also to focus
the arsons committed by Armenians in the occupied areas.

Pharmacist enjoys family, his roses, staying active

Pharmacist enjoys family, his roses, staying active
By: John Karas 07/21/2006

East Hartford Gazette, CT
July 21 2006

When Harry Egazarian, fresh from college, started working at the former
Pat’s Medical Pharmacy Downtown, Dwight Eisenhower was President,
Boeing 707s powered by new Pratt & Whitney engines were just taking
to the air and Founders Bridge had not yet opened to traffic.

Last week Egazarian looked back on a life that in many ways is
the realization of the American dream. The son of Armenian parents
who found in the United States a refuge from the horrors of ethnic
persecution and genocide, he celebrated his 50th year as a pharmacist
on June 12.

Speaking near the subjects he dotes on most these days at his Bancroft
Road home – his carefully-tended roses and his beloved grandchildren –
Egazarian reflected on a life of achievements. That includes family,
his profession and his long political career.

The secret to his lifetime of service has been following a simple
creed.

"I love people, and I love to help people," he explains. "I can’t even
retire," he adds with a smile. "I retired for two weeks, and then I
said to my wife, ‘Honey, I can’t stay home. One of us has got to go.’"

Now he is comfortably back behind the counter at Shaw’s pharmacy on
Main Street. Harry plans to remain there for as long as his health
allows.

"When my kids ask ‘Why do you work dad?’ I tell them ‘Because I enjoy
it,’" he said.

It’s a deep-rooted philosophy of joy for life and caring for his
fellow human beings that he owes to his parents – and especially to
his mother. As a 7-year-old, Harry’s mother witnessed her father being
executed during the massacres of 1915 in Turkey. She later lost two
siblings during a torturous march to the sea.

"She died with nightmares," revealed Egazarian. "She blamed
herself. But she made sure her children did not grow up bitter because
of what had happened."

An uncle who lived in Worcester, Ma. found his mother in an orphanage
in Marseille, France, and brought her to America, Egazarian said. And
when she turned 17 her family introduced her to her future husband.

"Two days later they had the wedding," Egazarian said. "That’s how
thing were done those days. And they were married for 45 years. They
had three children. I am the youngest, and I have two sisters."

How Harry met Marilyn, his wife, could also be a Hollywood
story. Marilyn, also a pharmacist, will celebrate her own 50 years
in the business next year.

"We both grew up in Worcester, although he hadn’t known each other,"
Egazarian said. "We met in College. We both went to the University of
Connecticut. I went in ’52, and she came by in ’53. And I knew she
was coming because my fraternity had sent out a list of incoming
freshmen. I had friends in all the public schools and I asked
around. But nobody knew of her, because she went to an all-girls
parochial school.

"And then I met her the first day on campus. We happened to bump onto
each other. Six months later I got my courage up to ask her to go
out to a basketball game with my roommate and his fiancé. We went
to the game, and I sat her down and told her ‘I’ll see you after the
game.’ She said ‘Where are you going?’ I said ‘I am the manager of
the basketball team. I have to be on the floor.’ I was the manager
with Hugh Greer."

They were married in 1957, although their families raised many
objections. She was Irish Catholic; he Armenian Apostolic.

"But you know what?" Egazarian said. "The moment I gave her the ring,
my father adored her."

In 1963 Harry decided to convert to Catholicism.

"It didn’t trouble me at all," he said. "The differences are very
small."

It helped too that Armenian cardinal at the time was Gregory Peter
Agajanian, one of the most distinguished clerics of his time, whom
Egazarian admires so much he named his oldest son after him. Egazarian
and his wife met the cardinal when he visited Boston.

"You are Armenian," he told him, "But you are not," he said to
her. "No, I am Irish," she said. "What a wonderful combination,"
he responded, "because the Armenians and the Irish suffered greatly
for their faith."

The same year Egazarian adopted his new faith, he also became
a business owner. He had already been working, since 1957, at
"Pat’s Medical Pharmacy," which had started in the 1800s as "Noble
Drugs." Then, in 1963, owner Pat Gulotta unexpectedly passed away and
Egazarian bought the pharmacy from his estate. Harry kept the name –
Pat’s Medical’ adding another chapter to its local reputation. Over
the years Harry’s friendly demeanor and keen interest in both his
patients’ lives and East Hartford politics made Egazarian’s pharmacy
one of the focal points of the town.

"We, of the older generation, have more of a feel for people and their
needs," he said. "We always make it a point to talk to the patient,
as much as possible. Just throwing something out is not enough."

Since ‘small talk’ with Harry always turned to what was happening
in town, it was only natural for the popular pharmacist to become
involved in politics. As a member of the Democratic Town Committee
he was asked to serve on the Town Charter revision in 1965. In 1974,
Egazarian was chosen to replace a Council member who was retiring – a
path that lead him to serving for more than a decade as Council leader.

It was a time when politics in East Hartford became increasingly more
confrontational, something that Egazarian still resents.

"In the early stages it was Republicans and Democrats and you had your
small spats on the floor – after that you went out together and you had
some camaraderie. And it was an off-the-cuffs scene, but nonetheless
we were human to one another. [Unfortunately, later] It got to the
point were even Democrats were antagonistic to Democrats. There were
different factions, and so on. And I think I banged the gavel a little
more often than I should."

Despite this, even his political opponents, at the time, remember
Egazarian with respect.

"Harry was always fair in his conduct to me, and I always liked the
way he kept the order of business in his meetings," said Republican
Donald Pitkin, today Minority Leader of Council.

Still, things did change in town, and Egazarian was voted off after
15 years on the Council.

"If you ask me ‘was it too long?’ Yeah, it was too long," he said. "But
I became a Councilman, and I served not with the idea that it will
be good for business – because that’s a mistake. That’s wrong. I went
because I felt that I wanted to give back to the community."

Over all these years the businesses environment was changing, too.

"Things began to get more and more difficult for independent
pharmacies," he explained. "Until, in 1999, I decided to sell my
store to the Arrow chain."

For anyone else, that would have been a blessing: stay at home and
enjoy his retirement, and maybe a hobby – and Egazarian is an avid
gardener with some of the most beautiful flower patches in town,
which he devotes to his grandchildren.

"There is Grace’s rose garden," he said as he walked among the blooming
flowers. "That’s Chelsea’s garden. Over there is Sara’s lily patch. And
this is Ryan’s tulip patch."

And there is no doubt that he adores his four grandchildren – he and
his wife stopped spending the summer in Maine, where they have a home
on the ocean, because they wanted to stay with them.

"I saw some changes and I said ‘Marilyn, we don’t want to miss that. I
want to grow old with the children," he said.

But his calling proved even more powerful. A few weeks after he
retired, Egazarian took a new position at the pharmacy department
of Shaw’s supermarket. He started in New Britain, at first, and a
few months later transferred to the new Shaw’s supermarket in Putnam
Plaza. He wanted to be near his old customers, some of whom he knows
for almost half a century, he said.

"I have three customers who are over 100 years old," he said,
"which means they were in their early 50s when I came here. They
were my customers back then, and I kind of feel I had a small part
in helping them reach this time of their life."

And he certainly did not want to miss what is happening in his town.

"I loved East Hartford, all these years," he said. "It’s a wonderful
town. I really enjoyed my life here. My kids wanted me to move to a
live-in. I said I can’t."

–Boundary_(ID_Xc+D80VqEqQ6LpCp4fb5X w)–

Azerbaijan-Armenia Summit on N.Karabakh possible – aide

Azerbaijan-Armenia summit on N.Karabakh possible – aide

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
July 19, 2006 Wednesday 6:37 PM MSK

An Azerbaijani presidential aide has argued that further
Azerbaijan-Armenian talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would be
senseless, but he said there may be an Azerbaijani- Armenian summit
on the issue this week if Russian President Vladimir Putin takes the
initiative to arrange it.

Such a meeting would take place during a planned informal summit
of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Moscow on Friday and
Saturday, Novruz Mamedov, head of the foreign relations department
of the Azerbaijani president’s executive office, told Interfax.

"In principle, such a meeting is possible. If it does take place,
it will be only at the initiative of the Russian president, Vladimir
Putin," Mamedov said.

"If, after the G8 [Group of Eight] summit that has taken place in St.
Petersburg, where the Karabakh issue was also raised, Putin considers
it necessary to get the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders together,
such a meeting may materialize," the aide said.

Law Enforcement Bodies Catch Bank Robber on Border

LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES CATCH BANK ROBBER ON BORDER

Panorama.am
15:28 18/07/06

Arthur Khanoyan, 35, in search for robbery of Ardshinivestbank,
is caught by law enforcement bodies on July 14 on Armenian-Georgian
border at Baghratashen checkpoint. 1 kg of gold items, USD 13.260,
RR 15,000, AMD 100,000 and 5,000 Euro was found with Khanoyan while
he was trying to cross the border.

10 kg more gold was found in the course of operative actions. According
to the source, the gold was hidden under the tree in the yard of
Khanoyan’s mother-in-law. Still 5.4 kg more gold and AMD 4,000000
was found at the friend of Khanoyan.

At the moment Arthur Khanoyan is under arrest. Note: On July
3 Ardshininvestbank found AMD 41 mln, USD 56,503, Euro 2,690,
Russian Rubles 44,700 and gold item missing from the bank. Operative
investigation services discovered that the robbery was committed by
a group of people, with a policeman among them. Two of the group were
arrested earlier./Panorama.am/

NK MFA: Official Baku prsues a goal to erode NKR economy

NAGORNO KARABAKH MFA: OFFICIAL BAKU PURSUES A GOAL TO ERODE NKR ECONOMY

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 18 2006

Today the Nagorno Karabakh Republic MFA made a statement on the
fires on the Nagorno Karabakh territory bordering to Azerbaijan. The
statement runs, in part:

"The fires on the Nagorno Karabakh territory bordering with Azerbaijan
have been taking place since early June 2006. The situation is a
subject of serious anxiety for the Karabakh leadership, because it
poses a threat for the security of the NKR and its population.

A special commission formed by the representatives of the ministries
and departments responsible for security issues has been established
in the NKR to study the circumstances and reveal the reasons
for the inflammation. The subunits of fire-prevention service,
the NKR Department for Emergency Situations and the leadership of
local administrations and population have been mobilized for the
localization of the centers of the inflammation and non-admission
of fire spreading. A twenty-four-hour duty has been organized in all
the communities to prevent from emergency situations.

However, the situation in the regions that is becoming worse in
connection with the fires is pregnant with unfavorable long-term
consequences for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic agriculture and food
security. The number and area of the fires of wheat fields on the
territories bordering with Azerbaijan have sharply risen.

As a result of the work of the NKR special commission the incontestable
data have been received that indicate that the reasons for the fires
were the Azerbaijani party’s intentional hostile activities. By these
actions the official Baku pursues a goal to erode the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic economy and deprive it of the possibility of advancing
development. To conceal its intentions the Azerbaijani leadership from
the very outset has launched a wide-ranging propaganda both in the
local and foreign mass media, trying to lay the blame on the Karabakh
side, which is a continuation of a propaganda and psychological war
against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic people and is an awkward attempt
to screen the act of aggression.

We would like to remind that as early as in 2001 the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic authorities suggested via the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement a package of measures on
establishing confidence between the conflict parties, in particular,
we offered cooperation on non-admission of inflammation of pastures and
agricultural territories in the bordering regions. To our regret, then
the official Stepanakert’s initiative was not supported in Baku and was
not honored with proper attention by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen.

Moreover, as early as June 15, 2006, the NKR MFA addressed a request
to the Office of the OSCE Chairman-in Office’s Personal Representative
to hold a crisis-monitoring on the territory bordering with Azerbaijan
to estimate the real situation on the spot and refute the Azerbaijani
party’s forced accusations.

We draw the attention of the whole international community and
especially the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen to the circumstance that in
case the measures concerning Azerbaijan’s hostile activities are not
undertaken the official Stepanakert will have the right to undertake
adequate retaliatory activities to ensure the Republic’s security".

Evacuation of Armenians from Lebanon continues

Evacuation of Armenians from Lebanon continues

ArmRadio.am
18.07.2006 15:35

Last night 103 Armenians were transported to Armenia from Aleppo. Some
of them are Armenian citizens, others are Lebanese nationals.

To remind, because of the military actions the Republic of Armenia
has undertaken transportation of its citizens from Lebanon to Syria
and later to Armenia. July 15 the first group comprised of 70 people
arrived in Armenia.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vladimir Karapetyan said that RA Embassy
in Lebanon has been staffed with diplomats, who will continue working
to arrange the departure of Armenians from Lebanon.

RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps in touch also with RA Consulate in
Israel. Evacuation will be organized in case local Armenians express
such will.

Journaliste armenien: un arret qui bride la liberte d’expression

Journaliste armenien: un arret qui bride la liberte d’expression
(Bruxelles)

Agence France Presse
12 juillet 2006 mercredi 11:28 AM GMT

BRUXELLES 12 juil 2006 — Bruxelles s’est dit mercredi decu par la
confirmation par la justice turque de la condamnation d’un journaliste
armenien pour "insulte a l’identite turque", rappelant que la liberte
d’expression etait l’un des "principes cles" a respecter pour entrer
dans l’Union europeenne.

"Je suis decu par ce jugement qui limite l’exercice de la liberte
d’expression en Turquie", a indique le commissaire europeen a
l’Elargissement Olli Rehn dans un communique.

"Je voudrais rappeler que la liberte d’expression est un principe
cle des critères politiques de Copenhague et constitue le noyau de la
democratie", a-t-il ajoute, en soulignant que le respect par Ankara
des critères de Copenhague ferait l’objet d’une nouvelle evaluation
de la Commission a l’automne.

Pour entrer dans l’UE, un pays candidat doit respecter les critères
politiques, economiques et d’alignement sur la legislation europeenne
definis a Copenhague en 1993.

La Turquie a entame officiellement en octobre dernier des pourparlers
d’adhesion a l’UE, qui s’annoncent très difficiles vu les reticences
de certains Etats membres a l’entree dans le bloc europeen de ce pays
musulman a cheval entre Europe et Asie.

Le commissaire a appele les autorites turques a reviser l’article
301 du code penal sur lequel s’est appuye la cour de Cassation,
et d’autres articles "a la formulation vague", "afin de garantir la
liberte d’expression en Turquie".

–Boundary_(ID_yRpdGjFH22Lb1r8Wa5V /Dg)–

Armenian defense minister: Events in Lebanon extremely dangerous for

Armenian defense minister: Events in Lebanon extremely dangerous for the region

Regnum, Russia
July 15 2006

The events in Lebanon are extremely dangerous for the region, Armenian
Defense Minister Serge Sarkisyan believes. At the same time, he noted
that Armenia’s role in this issue is close to zero.

It is worth mentioning, the Armenian Foreign Ministry made a statement
on shelling of Lebanon by Israel on July 14. The statement particularly
says: "The Armenian Foreign Ministry expresses its serious concern in
connection with large-scale military operations and numerous civilian
victims in Lebanon. Armenia condemns any acts of violence, let it be
hostage taking or use of force. We, in particular, consider it to be
inadmissible the disproportionate use of force that damages civilians
and infrastructure. Actions like those committed by Israel are hard to
understand, taking into account the fact that the Lebanese government
clearly stated that it had nothing to do with hostage taking. We hope
that a ceasefire will be established immediately in order to settle
current problems through talks."

In the morning of July 12, Israel started a military operation in
Lebanon after the Hezbollah group kidnapped two Israeli servicemen.
Israeli Air Forces struck Lebanese transport communications systems
and Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.

At least 124 killedin an air crash in Irkutsk

At least 124 killedin an air crash in Irkutsk

ArmRadio.am
10.07.2006 11:31

A Sibir Airlines passenger jet with 200 people on board veered off
the runway early Sunday while landing at Irkutsk Airport in eastern
Siberia, crashed into a concrete barrier and burst into flames,
killing at least 124 people, according to the Russian Ministry of
Emergency Situations.

The front of the Airbus A-310 was crushed, and 53 people were
hospitalized, most of them with burns, the Ministry informed.

So far, 120 bodies have been recovered. Another 25 are missing and
while most are feared dead, witnesses reported seeing some people
jumping from the wreckage and leaving the crash site.

It is the second fatal crash inside Russia involving an Airbus aircraft
this year. On May 3, all 113 people aboard an Armavia Airlines flight
died when the Airbus 320 crashed into the Black Sea near the Russian
resort of Sochi.

The plane had departed from the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

Three Sibir Airlines flights have been involved in fatal incidents
inside Russia since 2001, including Sunday’s crash.

On October 4, 2001, Sibir Airlines Tupolev TU-154M was hit by a
Ukrainian surface-to-air missile over the Black Sea near Sochi,
killing all 77 aboard. The missile was fired as part of a training
exercise. The flight was heading from Tel Aviv, Israel to Novosibirsk
in Siberia. On August 24, 2004, Sibir Airlines Tupolev TU-154B2
departed Moscow for Sochi and disappeared more than an hour after
take-off. All 46 people on board were killed when the plane went down
near Millerovo, Russia.