Author: Tumanian Talar

ACCORDING TO OSCE MG AMERICAN CO-CHAIRMAN, “GOOD ATMOSPHERE EXISTED” AT KOCHARIAN-ALIYEV BUCHAREST MEETING

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 06 2006

BUCHAREST, JUNE 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev met in the
capital of Romania, Bucharest, on June 4. The second meeting during
this year that took place in the Embassy of Poland to Romania,
finished a bit after midnight by Yerevan time. After the Armenian
and Azerbaijani Presidents’ leaving the Embassy building, the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairmen remained and negotiated separately for another
hour. “The Presidents had a meeting which lasted two and a half hours.

That was a detailed discussion of issues. Then the Presidents met
with Co-Chairmen for about 45 minutes. We have a not worked out
program to meet tomorrow as well. A good atmosphere existed during
the negotiations. I must repear, a good atmosphere and a detailed
discussion. We’ll see what will be later,” OSCE Minsk Group American
Co-Chairman Steven Mann said to Radio Liberty at the end of the
negotiations. Russian Co-Chairman Yuri Merzliakov, responding the
issue how he will compare these negotiations with the Rambouillet,
stated: “I think that this was a meeting of completely other type,
and the atmosphere has always been good.” Robert Kocharian refused to
comment upon the taken place negotiations in any way, mentioning that
“there is no agreement to speak to press,” that’s why it’s not proper
that he comments upon it. And Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did
not speak to journalists at all.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR MORE REGIONAL ENERGY COOPERATION

TV 5 Kanal, Kiev
5 Jun 06

[Presenter] President Viktor Yushchenko is visiting Bucharest for the
summit – Black Sea Forum: For Dialogue and Partnership. The presidents
of Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia are also taking
part. The main themes of the summit are environmental protection, joint
energy projects, the fight against human and drug trafficking. The
forum will also discuss infrastructure projects. In particular,
Viktor Yushchenko proposed coordinating regional policy in the energy
sector through the framework of the Community of Democratic Choice
[an organization that brings together a number of former Soviet and
East European countries, which was founded in Kiev in December 2005].

[Yushchenko] The Black Sea region occupies a central position in the
transport of fuel from Central Asia to Europe. I am convinced that
regional energy cooperation can be more systemic and effective.

Wishing to optimize cooperation in this sector, Ukraine proposes
to launch a new consultative mechanism, an energy dialogue of three
seas through the framework of the Community of Democratic Choice. We
see its key task as developing a coordinated regional policy in the
energy sector.

Azeris look to Total for energy boost

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31 (UPI) — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyez
began talks with France’s Total and Technip to bolster energy ties.

Aliyez met Monday with Total Executive-Vice President Christophe de
Margerie and Daniel Valot, chief executive officer of Technip, to
expand oil and gas projects already in place in Azerbaijan, the
state’s news agency reported.

“We have managed to construct the biggest production platform in the
Caspian, which was commissioned within the framework of the Sahdaniz
prokect,” Valot said.

Total has been actively involved in Azerbaijan’s oil and gas projects
since 1996 and has a 10 percent share in the project to develop the
Sahdaniz gas field and the South Caucasus Pipeline.

In 2004, the French company joined another transport project, the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which transports
Caspian oil to world markets through Georgia and Turkey.

Technip provides services for the oil and gas industry in Azerbaijan.

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 3 2006

If position of Azerbaijan is strong, thesis of territorial integrity
of country will dominate

Source: Trend
Author: R.Agayev

03.06.2006

The final statement of the Foreign Ministry of Russian Federation
(RF) on the Georgian-Ossetin conflict and the self-determination
principle was forwarded to Georgia and indirectly to Moldova, Azer
Mursaliyev, the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper `Kommersant’,
informed the special correspondent of Trend in Moscow.

`It is clear that these two countries have not good relations with
Moscow, and the history of the bilateral relations over the past two
years – it is a gold war between Russia and Georgia, as well as
Moldova, partially Ukraine. As always, Azerbaijan separates in this
situation and remains alone,’ told Mursaliyev.

In politician’s opinion, it is not by accident that recently the
Russian defense minister Ivanov kindly and neutrally spoke about the
Nogorno-Karabakh conflict at the meeting of the defense ministers of
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member-countries in
Baku. `At the same time, the statement of the Foreign Ministry – it
is the statement of the Foreign Ministry, although it separately
touched up on taken regions. The Russian foreign minister put the
territorial integrity of the neighboring countries under the doubt.
Undoubtedly, it will affect the position of Armenia in the solution
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,’ told Mursaliyev.

Besides, Mursaliyev noted that if Azerbaijan and its position are
strong enough, of course, the thesis of the territorial integrity of
the country will dominate. `If Azerbaijan gets into a conflict
situation and its position weakens, of course, the self-determination
principle and many other principles will be remembered. It is fair
not only from the position of Russia, but also other European
countries. To tell the truth, practically all small and serious
forces of the planet from China, Europe to the USA take interest in
this region,’ said Mursaliyev.

PRESIDNET APPOINTS JUDGES OF RA ECONOMIC COURT, PRESIDENTS AND JUDGES OF FIRST INSTANCE COURTS OF ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
02.06.2006 14:55

June 1, 2006 RA President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on
appointing Judges of the Economic Court of Armenia, Presidents and
Judges of First Instance Courts of Armenia to investigate the cases
of inability to pay.

Samvel Grigoryan was appointed Judge of RA Economic Court on.

Taron Nazaryan was appointed Judge of RA Economic Court.

Vladimir Aslanyan was appointed Judge of RA Economic Court. His
liabilities as the First Instance Court of Lori marz were terminated.

Gagik Hovhannisayn was appointed President of the First Instance
Court of Lori marz. His liabilities as Judge of RA Economic Court to
investigate the cases of inability to pay were terminated.

Arthur Ohanyan has appointed President of First Instance Courts in
Erebuni and Nubarashen communities of Yerevan. His liabilities as
President of the First Instance Court of Shengavit community were
terminated.

Surik Kostanyan was appointed President of eth First Instance Court
of Shengavit community. His liabilities as President of the First
Instance Courts of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities of Yerevan
were terminated.

Ara Kubanyan was appointed Judge of the First Instance Court of
Shengavit community of Yerevan. His liabilities as Judge of the First
Instance Court of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities were terminated.

Masis Rehanyan was appointed Judge of he First Instance Court of
Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun communities of Yerevan. His liabilities as
Judge of the First Instance Court of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities
were terminated.

MURDER OF ETHNIC ARMENIAN IN MOSCOW SAID TO BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED

Channel One TV, Moscow
30 May 06

[Presenter] Today the northern transport prosecutor’s office put out
a search warrant for the criminal suspected of killing 19-year-old
Artur Sardaryan. This young man was stabbed several times on a Moscow
Region train in front of dozens of people. A criminal investigation
has been opened under the article on murder motivated by racial
hatred. Aleksandr Konevich reports.

[Correspondent] Eduard Sardaryan has had only one question on his mind
for several day: Why? Why was his son killed? Nearly everyone from
his block of flats attended the funeral yesterday. The 18-year-old
[as received] was known and loved by everyone. The Sardaryan family
have been living in the Moscow Region town of Pushkina for 17 years.

[Eduard Sardaryan, father of Artur, holding a photograph of his son]
It’s impossible to keep quiet. I have no words to describe it. This
boy was due to go into the army, to serve Russia. He is a Russian. He
should have served Russia. I don’t understand why he was killed. Why?

I still can’t understand it. [Passage omitted]

[Correspondent] He studied at college and then, two months ago,
began working. He was returning home on the evening train. That
evening was like any other, but Artur never reached his destination.

Klyazma station. This is where the killers of Artur Sardaryan got on
the train. Several people came into the carriage and immediately upon
seeing the young man went towards him, shouting “Glory to Russia”.

Artur managed to run away but they caught up with him and he was
stabbed several times. The wounds were inflicted at random, but
targeted the places they would do most damage. It is clear that this
is not the first time the criminal had used such weapons. Artur died
at the scene.

According to the latest information, there were two criminals. One of
them pressed the emergency stop button, the second handled the knife.

There were about 20 people in the carriage. Currently some of them
are providing witness statements.

A terrible murder – even these words are not strong enough. Six knife
wounds, five of which were in and around the heart.

[Simon Tsaturyan, Eduard Sardaryan’s lawyer] Going into the carriage
he [the murderer] purposefully headed towards Artur Sardaryan –
purposefully. So, he had already chosen his victim, he didn’t need
to look for his victim. He must have spotted him from the platform.

[Correspondent] The prosecutor’s office doesn’t doubt that this is
a racially motivated killing. They are not even investigating other
scenarios. The criminal investigation has been launched under that
article [of the Criminal Code]. Thanks to the witnesses a photo fit
picture of the killer has been created.

[Yelena Rossokhina, senior aide to Moscow Region prosecutor] A photo
fit picture of the suspected killer has been created based on the
testimony of the witnesses. He is a young man, who looks about 20-25
years old. He is of medium height, well-built and is of Slav appearance
with light hair. And, according to the witnesses, he looks as though
he is from the provinces. [Passage omitted]

[At 1400 gmt Ekho Moskvy radio featured Tsaturyan who stressed that
there was no doubt this was a racially motivated crime. “The murderer,
as he landed the fatal blows, shouted ‘For Russia! Glory to Russia!’,”
he said.

The station added that, following Sardaryan’s murder, the Russian
Union of Armenians is planning more protests against xenophobia. Head
of the union Ara Abramyan said: “We must realize that the problem
of racism is intricate, extremely complex and the whole apparatus
of the state must be mobilized to solve it. Without this, it will be
impossible. We need to involve the media, the school system, higher
education institutes. The whole of civil society needs to raise
and address the problems, as I have said repeatedly. Our actions,
what we are doing and saying and will continue to do in the future,
is a way of supporting the authorities and the image of our state.”]

NO TO VIOLENCE AGAISNT CHILDREN: COE INFORMATION OFFICE AND FUTURE IS YOURS NGO ORGANISED AN EVENT DEVOTED TO CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Lragir.am
01 June 06

Yerevan, 1.06.2006. Following the decisions of the Third Summit of
Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe (Warsaw 2005)
a Council of Europe’s programme “Building a Europe for and with
children”, was launched in Monaco on 4 and 5 April 2006. The aims of
this three-year programme are to promote and protect children’s rights,
and to ensure the protection of children from all forms of violence.

To raise public awareness of the theme and ensure the widest possible
application of Council of Europe fundamental values and principles,
on the occasion of International Day for the Protection of Children,
the Council of Europe Information Office in Armenia in cooperation
with “Future is Yours” NGO organised an event entitled “No to Violence
against Children”.

At the event, attended by children, Armenian professionals
active in the field of children’s rights, government officials and
representatives of the international community, the Council of Europe
activities in this field were presented in the welcome address by Ms
Bojana Urumova, the Special Representative of the Secretary General
of the Council of Europe to Armenia.

Narine Sargsyan, the President of “Future is Yours” NGO provided the
local perspective on the issue and outlined the main challenges facing
the Armenian society in this regard. Concluding remarks were made by
Director of the Council of Europe Information Office in Armenia Ms
Susan Marukhyan.

The event, hosted by the “Khnko Aper” library, most importantly
featured the thematic play based on Hovhaness Tumanian’s “The End of
Evil” prepared by the pupils of Yerevan No.3 special boarding school
and exhibition of paintings entitled “Violence against Children
through the Eyes of Children”.

Council of Europe Information Office in Armenia

ARMENIAN THEMES NOT COMPULSORY FOR TAKING PART IN GOLDEN APRICOT FESTIVAL’S “ARMENIAN PANORAMA” CONTEST PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 1 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Like the previous
years, works by Armenian film directors living in different countries
will compete in the Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) Yerevan Third
International Film Festival’s “Armenian Panorama” contest program. As
cinema critic Mikael Stamboltsian, Director of festival programs,
mentioned in his interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent, though
the compulsory condition for taking part in the program is being
Armenian, they are free in the issue of choosing themes. “In the
creative respect the subject’s being Armenian becomes senseless as
for the spectator the most important is the film’s quality and not
the director’s origin or the circumstance of his being an Armenian,”
M.Stamboltsian emphasized. The Director of festival programs did not
give any comment or estimation on the selected films. He just said
that in the creative respect the films do not essentially differ from
the works presented in the previous years: “There are succeeded and
interesting films, there is also the opposite. Everything will be
cleared up after the festival.” M.Stamboltsian said that 25 films,
from Canada, USA, France, Holland, Russia, Serbia and Armenia will
compete in the three nominations of this program. One film, “Wedding
Box,” is a joint Russian-Kyrghyzian-German-French production. Its
scenario was written by Yekaterina Trdatova from Moscow.

DAY.AZ DE FACTO RECOGNIZED NKR

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 31 2006

Azeri Day.az site de facto recognized the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

One can draw such a conclusion while reading the news referring
to the Nagorno Karabakh, which are, by the way, placed as a rule
in the site under the heading “Armenia’s News”. Moreover, May 31
Day.az quoted the Chairman of the NKR National Assembly Foreign
Relations Commission Vahram Atanesyan and illustrated the material
with the Emblem of the Second Armenian state, where “Nagorno Karabakh
Republic. Artsakh” can be read in Armenian. Those who doubt can go
to

How can the strike at the back of the Baku strategists be
comprehended? While the Azeri state structures, following the command
of the Centre, day and night search for mentioning the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic out of “Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity”,
examine the region’s maps on various web sites, being permanently
“deeply indignant” and send notes of protest to various international
instances, their own journalists strike at them secretly! What is it –
oversight, political shortsightedness or thoroughly considered step
undertaken by the Azeri site? It is hard to understand, especially
taking into consideration that the site’s owner is Milli Majlis deputy,
active supporter of the Aliyev’s clan Anar Mamedhanov. Has the Emblem
been put by the President’s secret direction? Do the members of the
country’s parliament begin to realize that Nagorno Karabakh is an
independent state that has nothing to do with Azerbaijan, expect
the border?

COMPETITION ON ARMENIAN HISTORY HELD AMONG GEORGIAN ARMENIAN SCHOOLS’ PUPILS ENVISAGED TO MAKE TRADITIONAL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 31 2006

AKHALKALAK, MAY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The ceremony
of awarding prizes of the competition on the Armenian History held
among pupils of Armenian schools of Georgia by the Armenian Relief
Union Javakhk Fund took place on May 28 in the hall of the Akhalkalak
Mayor’s Office. According to the “A-Info” agency, 32 schoolchildren
became prize winners in this competition held with a goal to encourage
teaching of the Armenian History at Armenian schools of Georgia. The
competition organizers envisage to make it traditional and to hold
awarding ceremony on May 28, the Day of the First Republic of Armenia.

The “Akunk” union assisted holding of the copetition as well.