Author: Tumanian Talar

OPPOSITION NEWSPAPER REPORTER SUFFERS PRESSURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STRUCTURES AND NUBARASHEN COMMUNITY PREFECTURE

Yerevan, August 8. ArmInfo. ‘In case of any attempt to threaten my
life I will accuse the authorities and the law enforcement structures
of Armenia,’ says the statement of Gagik Shamshian, photo-reporter of
‘The Fourth Authority’ opposition newspaper.

G. Shamshian states that the staff of the Nubarashen police department
and prefecture put pressure upon him so as to prevent his professional
activity. He said that his claim against the prefect of the Nubarashen
community Mher Hovhannisian did harm only to himself.

In result, the prefecture posed a counter-claim, a criminal case was
roused and as a result his apartment was sealed up.

AS OF AUGUST 6, 2812 ENTRANTS GOT UNSATISFACTORY
MARKS LEFT OUT OF EXAMINATION MARATHON

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. 8 days are left before the end of
the entrance examinations of institutions of higher education. As of
August 6, 2812 entrants got unsatisfactory marks were left out of the
examination marathon. As Sasun Melikian, the Responsible Secretary
of the Republican Entrance Commission informed at the August 8
press-conference, 6122 entrants got 18-20 points, including 2614
people on the "Armenian Language" subject, 1789 people on the "English"
written exam. According to Sasun Melikian, results are again low on the
"Mathematics" (875 unsatisfactory), "Physics" (412 unsatisfactory) and
"Armenian History" (299 unsatisfactory) subjects. No 20 points were
fixed during the "Biology," "French Language," "Italian Language,"
"General History," "Geography," "Creative Competition" and "Chemistry"
exams. S.Melikian mentioned that as of August 4, 1238 marks of written
works were presented for appeal, only 251 ones of them were raised,
and 1 was made lower. According to the REC Responsible Secretary,
the number of double appeals was this year twice reduced compared
with the previous year: 95 applications were got. As a result of
double appeal, marks of 16 written works were raised (0.5-1 points),
and marks of 4 were made lower (0.5-1 points).

Professor Faces Trial in Turkey

The Chronicle of Higher Education
July 28, 2006 Friday

By AISHA LABI

A professor at the University of Arizona faces a possible trial in
Turkey based on the content of her latest novel, which traces the lives
of a Muslim-Turkish family living in Istanbul and an Armenian-American
family in San Francisco.

Elif Shafak, an assistant professor of Turkish and women’s studies
in the department of Near Eastern studies, has been charged with
"denigrating Turkishness" in The Bastard of Istanbul.

"The novel deals with the question of ‘memory and amnesia,’ mainly
through Turkish and Armenian women’s stories," Ms. Shafak explained
by e-mail. "It deals with two particular taboos in Turkish society.
One of them is a political taboo — the Armenian question. The other
is a sexual taboo — incest."

The Turkish government officially rejects the widely accepted view
that the killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in the waning
days of the Ottoman Empire constituted genocide.

Ultranationalist lawyers and prosecutors in Turkey have vigorously
pursued those who even suggest otherwise, using the controversial
Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code, which criminalizes insults to
the republic, Turkishness, and various state institutions.

Last year Turkey’s most internationally acclaimed novelist, Orhan
Pamuk, faced similar charges for remarks he had made in an interview
with a Swiss publication. His trial was adjourned soon after it began,
and the charges were dropped.

Ms. Shafak, a Turkish citizen who only recently moved to the United
States and who returns regularly to her homeland, is in Turkey on
leave from Arizona. She could be jailed if she is tried and convicted
under Article 301.

The Bastard of Istanbul, which she wrote in English and then had
translated into Turkish, has sold more than 50,000 copies in Turkey
since its publication there in March, she said. An English-language
edition will be published in January by Viking Penguin.

The book includes passages that have enraged nationalist critics.
Even so, Ms. Shafak said, it drew an overwhelmingly positive response
until she was notified, in June, that Kemal Kerincsiz, head of the
nationalist Turkish Lawyers’ Union, had filed a complaint against her.

Ms. Shafak and her publisher were interrogated by the public
prosecutor in a local district court, who also subjected the novel to
a thorough inspection. At the end of that process, Ms. Shafak said,
the prosecutor dismissed the case. But Mr. Kerincsiz took the case to
a higher court, which he persuaded to reinvestigate the matter. Ms.
Shafak now faces the possibility of a trial this year. If convicted,
she could be sentenced to up to three years in jail.

"This is an extraordinary situation, without precedence at the
University of Arizona," said Jacqueline L. Mok, vice provost for
academic programs and initiatives. "What we are trying to do is
to take this time to review all our options, to determine what the
university can and should do to bring about a positive resolution to
this situation. Our preferred outcome is that all charges are dropped."

Arka News Agency, Armenia
July 28, 2006

VIEWS OF CURRENT AUTHORITIES, ARMENIAN PEOPLE ON KARABAKH PROBLEM
DIFFERENT

YEREVAN, July 27. /ARKA/. Views of current authorities and Armenian
people on Karabakh problem are different, Mikael Apresyan, Artsakh
(Karabakh) regiment commander, told journalist on Thursday.
In his opinion, Armenian authorities’ reaction to OSCE Minsk Group’s
statement showed something related to the talks that had been
conducted behind closed doors for years. "It has become clear that
the negotiations have nothing in common not only with Armenian
people’s interests, but also with the whole region’s interests", he
said.
Apresyan finds cession of liberated territories unacceptable,
especially taking into account the fact that they are Armenian
historic areas. "Not a single inch must be ceded", he said adding
that there are no acceptable clauses in draft agreement.
OSCE Minsk Group American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza unveiled key
principles of Karabakh conflict settlement last week.
Under this draft agreement, Armenian troops have to withdraw from
Karabakh-controlled "Azerbaijani territories" and peacekeeping forces
will be deployed there instead. M.V.-0—

ITAR-TASS News Agency
July 27, 2006 Thursday 06:29 PM EST

Armavia denies pilot error caused Airbus A-320 to crash on May 3

by Tigran Liloyan

The Armavia Air Company has denied pilot error was the root cause
behind the Airbus A-320 crash near Sochi on May 3 and demands further
investigation.

Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said in Moscow on July 26
that human factor had caused the A-320 plane to crash. At the same
time, Tatyana Andonina, the head of the Inter-State Aviation
Committee (MAK), explained the A-320 captain failed to ensure due
control over the airliner’s altitude and rolling motion when it was
descending in difficult weather conditions.

Arshak Nalbandyan, the Armenian air company’s security chief, said
Armavia might demand an independent investigation by a third party.

“No one is denying some errors committed by the crew. However, it
cannot be claimed that they caused the accident. A mistake of the air
traffic controller, the conditions of the Sochi airport and the
meteorological situation could also be plausible reasons,” Mr.
Nalbandyan went on to say.

The A-320 Airbus plane belonging to Armenia’s Armavia air company
crashed as it was trying to land in Sochi airport on May 3, 2006. All
the 113 people on board were killed.

United Nations World Food Program will continue cooperation with
Azerbaijan in future – Executive Director of WFP

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 27, 2006

Author: S.Agayeva

The United Nations World Food Program highly assesses the efforts
of Azerbaijan to improve the condition of refugees and internally
displaced persons (IDPs) and will continue its cooperation with
Azerbaijan.

James Morris, the executive director of WFP, told at the meeting
with Azerbaijani prime minister Artur Rasizade, Trend reports with
reference to the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

Touching on the poor condition of refugees, Morris noted that the
world public should continue all efforts to settle Armenian-Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and return the refugees and IDPs to their
native lands.

Rasizade highly assessed the visit of Morris to Azerbaijan and
refugee camps where he could get familiar with the hard situation
of refugees and IDPs suffered as a resuly of Armenian aggression
against Azerbaijan.

Speaking about non-settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Rasizade
mentioned non-constructive position of Armenia in this process.

The prime minister expressed his gratitude the head of WFP for
rendering assistance to Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs.

AKP releases booklet to tout its EU efforts

The New Anatolian, Turkey
July 27 2006

The ruling party, which pledged to make Turkey a member of the European
Union when it assumed power in 2002, yesterday published a booklet in a
move to further inform the public about the body and tout EU accession.

The booklet — "The EU in 100 questions" — was prepared by the AK
Party’s Foreign Relations Department and reportedly aims to introduce
Turkey’s EU accession process to the public.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasizing a rising need for
a unification of countries to ensure peace, touted his party in the
booklet’s preface for its sincere efforts to become a member state.

Erdogan also reaffirmed that Turkey has always aspired to full
membership of the EU.

In the booklet, answering 100 questions about the foundation of the
EU, its history and administration, Turkey’s "red lines" are listed
in broad detail.

The booklet underlined that Turkey can’t recognize the Greek Cypriot
administration as the "Republic of Cyprus" and added that such
political recognition will only be possible after a comprehensive
and durable settlement to the problems on the divided island.

It also ruled out the possibility of the so-called Armenian genocide
claims becoming a pre-condition in the negotiations process.

Opening Turkey’s territorial integrity for discussion is also a no go
area, the booklet stressed. It also stated that any attempt to force
the government to accept "privileged partnership" status instead of
full membership would be unacceptable.

The booklet underscored how difficult the negotiations process can
be, saying that agriculture and the environment will be the two most
difficult topics for Turkey.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF USA AFFIRMED POLICY OF REGIONAL
COOPERATION AND REJECTED ATTEMPTS TO ISOLATE ARMENIA

Yerevan, July 26. ArmInfo. The House of Representatives today voted
to help ensure that U.S. regional cooperation and economic integration
is maintained by making certain that no Export-Import funding is used
for a railroad project sponsored by the Turkish and Azeri governments
that seeks to exclude Armenia from economic and regional transportation
opportunities.

As ArmInfo was told today in the Armenian Assembly of America, the
lawmakers approved H.R. 5068, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization
Act of 2006, which included an amendment by Congressman Joseph Crowley
(D-NY), along with Congressmen Edward Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman
(D-CA), ensuring that taxpayer dollars will not be spent on efforts
that would isolate Armenia – which is already facing dual blockades
by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The source reminds that the amendment, which was unanimously approved
by the House Financial Services Committee last month, states that "The
Bank shall not guarantee, insure, extend credit, or participate in an
extension of credit in connection with the development or promotion
of any rail connections or railway-related connections that do not
traverse or connect with Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku,
Azerbaijan, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars, Turkey."

In a statement submitted for the House record, Crowley said: "This
language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus region,
help in ending long standing conflicts, and save U.S. taxpayers
the responsibility of funding a project that goes against U.S.
interests." Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who spoke in favor
of H.R. 5068 on the House floor, said: "I support the provisions which
would prohibit the Export-Import Bank from funding railroad projects
in the South Caucasus region that deliberately exclude Armenia."

90% of Armenian school-children are sure, their educational system is corrupt

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 26 2006

(REGNUM) – 90% of school-children believe; corruption still exists
in Armenian educational system. Science Ministry General Education
Department Head Naira Hovhannisyan stated during a news conference,
devoted to results of monitoring, conducted by the National Center
of Liberalization Processes Monitoring (NCLPM) NGO.

As a REGNUM correspondent informs, according to her, 70% of pupils
are being trained in accordance with new teaching system. According to
NCLPM President Lusine Margaryan, the pupils evaluated accessibility
of general education program in 7.11 points (according to ten-point
scale). Unsatisfactory attendance of elder grades is caused by their
assurance of general education program’s insufficiency for entering
universities. 44% of respondents have such opinion, reports Trend.

The poll, in which 130 respondents took part, was conducted on May 1 –
June 15, 2006 by NCLPM NGO among elder grades’ pupils of four schools,
subordinated to the Armenian Ministry of Science and Education, in
the framework of public monitoring of educational system’s transparent
functioning with assistance of OSCE Yerevan office.

Iran World Cup midfielder to move to Bolton

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
July 26, 2006 Wednesday 8:22 PM EST

DPA SPORTS Football Iran Iran World Cup midfielder to move to Bolton
Tehran Iran midfielder Andranik Teymourian – the only Christian on an
otherwise Muslim national team – is moving to English Premier League
club Bolton Wanderers, the ISNA news agency reported Wednesday.

The 23-year old Iranian-Armenian, widely known as Ando, will leave
the Abu Moslem club in Mashad, northeastern Iran, and play in England
next season, ISNA said.

Ando was among his side’s best at this year’s World Cup, where Iran
lost two games and drew one, dropping out in the group stage.

ISNA said Abu Moslem president Nasser Shafaq confirmed the transfer
and said that the Bolton manager would come to Iran next week to
finalise the contact.

After Karim Baqeri, who played for Charlton Athletic in the 2000- 2001
season, Ando would be the second Iranian to play in the Premier League.

He was the second Iranian-Armenian to play for Iran in a World Cup
final round.

In 1978, defender Andranik Eskandarian played at the World Cup in
Argentina. He was signed by New York Cosmos to play with football
legends such as Franz Beckenbauer and Pele.