Author: Tumanian Talar

PACE INTENDS TO CALL ON ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO COMPLETELY FULFIL
VENICE COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS

STRASBOURG, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The draft on the process of
constitutional reforms in Armenia to be discussed at the PACE June 23
sitting is already ready. According to the Liberty radio station, the
draft calls on the Armenian authorities to completely fulfil Venice
Commission’s proposals and to hold the second reading of the draft
constitutional amendments at the National Assembly not later than in
August. The draft also suggests taking urgent steps aimed at starting
a dialogue with the opposition about this issue and holding the
constitutional referendum not later than in November. At the same
time, it calls on the opposition to stop the parliamentary boycott and
to contribute to realization of CE’s proposals regarding the
constitutional reforms. The radio station foretells that it’s
improbable that any of the above-mentioned proposals fixed in the
draft will be left out of the document to be adopted by the Assembly.

NO DETAILS

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| 20:47:44 | 17-06-2005 | Official |

On June 17 in Paris RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan met the Azeri
Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov. The OSCR Minsk group co-heads
also took part in the meeting held within the framework of the
Prague process.

The Foreign Minister of the two countries discussed issues referring
to the present phase of settling the Karabakh conflict.

AZG Armenian Daily #112, 18/06/2005

World press

FRANCE RAISES SUMMIT STAKES WITH FEARS ON ENLARGEMENT

Now French add Turkey’s admission to tension over budget and constitution

France opened a third front with Britain on the eve of today’s
European Union summit by publicly voicing grave reservations about
Turkey’s impending membership. The statement yesterday by Dominique
de Villepin, the new French Prime Minister, increased the tension
surrounding a summit that is already engulfed in bitter disputes
over the EU budget and constitution. Britain has insisted enlargement
will be a priority during its EU presidency, which begins next month,
and will proceed on schedule.

With the EU now split over its future direction, Jose Manuel Barroso,
the European Commission President, served warning that unless the
dispute over EU financing was resolved this week “the Union will sink
into a permanent crisis and paralysis”.

But Tony Blair and most other leaders were travelling to Brussels
having all but abandoned hope of agreeing a seven-year budget. Britain
will not surrender its £3 billion annual rebate; France refuses to
consider cuts to agricultural spending.

A last-minute compromise proposed last night by Luxembourg, which
holds the current EU presidency, made only small concessions to
British concerns, and is unlikely to break the deadlock. It no longer
suggested the British rebate should be phased out, but proposed that
it be capped, which would cost Britain about ~@25 billion, without
offering corresponding cuts in agricultural subsidies.

Earlier, Mr. de Villepin told the French parliament that the results
of its referendum on the EU constitution had shown the speed of
enlargement had shaken EU citizens.

“We must take it into account,” he said. Bulgaria and Romania should
be admitted in 2007, but “beyond that we must certainly open a
discussion with our partners on the mode of future enlargements”. He
did not mention Turkey by name but was clearly referring to the poor,
predominantly Muslim country which is due to start membership talks
with the EU on October 3.

In London Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, insisted that the
EU’s commitments to Turkey and other applicant countries were
clear and would be honoured under existing rules, not the stalled
constitution. Senhor Barroso also insisted that Turkey’s membership
talks should proceed.

The only dispute the summit is likely to resolve is over the
constitution. Britain looks certain to prevail in its campaign to kick
the treaty into the long grass. There now seems to be broad consensus
among EU leaders that the ratification process should be put on hold.

Even Germany was stalling last night after President Kohler decided
to withhold his signature, pending the outcome of a legal challenge
in the country’s highest court.

Both the Commission and Luxembourg have come round to the British
position. Señhor Barroso said: “I am not proposing that we abandon
the process of ratification, I am proposing a pause for reflection.”

The about-turn came after an internal European Commission report warned
of a “tsunami” of “no” votes if Britain, Ireland, Poland, Denmark and
the Czech Republic continued with their referendums. Gunter Verheugen,
the Commission Vice-President, said: “The mood has changed everywhere
where referendums are planned. A feeling of discontent that has been
building up for a long time has spilled over.”

Britain was having less success persuading Europe to cut its ~@40
billion (£26.5 billion) farm budget in return for Britain surrendering
its rebate. Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg Prime Minister
predicted: “I’m pretty sure we won’t get the financial perspectives
[budget] through at this summit.”

By Anthony Browne in Brussels and Philip Webster; The Times/UK,
June 16, 2005

–Boundary_(ID_DrgyldGuuEoaSmkuiR/h/g)–

East Valley Tribune, AZ –
June 17 2005

Armenian pope, parish consecrate church ground
By Andrea Falkenhagen, Tribune
June 17, 2005

Men in gold and red robes carried crosses and swung smoking incense
holders, surrounding Karekin II, supreme patriarch and catholicos of
all Armenians, as he walked over a gravelfilled plot of land.

The pontiff, who leads the world’s 7 million Armenian Apostolic
Christians, was in north Scottsdale on Thursday evening to bless the
ground where Arizona’s first Armenian Church will stand.

An estimated 1,200 Armenians live in the Valley, with one-third of
them living in the north East Valley, said Scottsdale City Councilman
Kevin Osterman, who attended the ceremony at the Armenian Church
Cultural Center.

When Karekin II addressed the crowd in Armenian, he spoke of the growth
in Scottsdale’s Armenian community, as well as the survival of his
people in the face of genocide 90 years ago, explained parishioner
Hasmik Takoushian.

“Our ancestors adopted Christianity more than 1,700 years ago, and that
has been the color of our skin since. It is how we are recognized,”
he told the audience.

Karekin II is the 132nd successor of St. Gregory the Illuminator,
who converted Armenia to Christianity in 301, making it the first
nation to formally adopt the religion.

The ceremony attracted East Valley residents and clergy of other
faiths, too.

Scottsdale Rabbi Robert Kravitz told the audience there were
similarities between the Armenian and Jewish communities.

“We maintain our language and our cultures, even in the mix of modern
society that often erases tradition,” he said. “Both our peoples
maintain vibrant diaspora communities.”

Teresa and Burk Wurts of Scottsdale recently returned from a vacation
in Armenia and attended the ceremony. They said the architectural
drawing of the church reminded them of the many churches they saw
during their travels.

Parishioner Victoria Manoogian said the Armenian congregation has
met in Scottsdale since the 1950s, and having the resources to build
a church is a dream come true for many of its members.

US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA TO JOIN ACTION ORGANIZED BY “ARMENIAN HABITAT”
ORGANIZATION

YEREVAN, June 17. /ARKA/. On June 21, US ambassador to Armenia John
Evans and 15 volunteers of the US Embassy are to join an action of the
“Armenian Habitat” benevolent organization. The goal of the action is
the construction of a house for the Avagyan family in the village of
Mayakovskoye, Kotayk region. The press service of the US Embassy in
Armenia reports that an action under the Jimmy Carter construction
program is simultaneously to be held in Michigan, USA.

The US ex-president Jimmy Carter and Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II are to take part in the action.

“Armenian Habitat” is a branch of the International Habitat, which
contributes to general development measures implemented in Armenia,
construction of housing for needy families. “Armenian Habitat” was
founded in 2000 and has built 122 houses for 600 people. P.T. -0–

Azeri foreign minister, Council of Europe officials discusses Karabakh

Trend news agency
16 Jun 05

Baku, 16 June: Different aspects of a negotiated settlement to the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict were discussed by Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Council of Europe Secretary-General
Terry Davis in Strasbourg today, the Foreign Ministry press service
has told Trend.

The sides also discussed the situation in Azerbaijan in the run-up to
the November parliamentary elections, the establishment and activity
of the working group set up by the Azerbaijani authorities and NGOs
to deal with the problem of political prisoners, and the latest steps
taken in Azerbaijan in the area of democratization.

The meeting was held as part of the Azerbaijani minister’s visit to
Strasbourg on 15-16 June.

Mammadyarov also held negotiations with the secretary-general of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], Bruno Haller,
and the director-general of the PACE secretariat, Mateo Sorinas.

The sides discussed the issues that have been included in the agenda
of the forthcoming summer session of PACE: reports on the work of
democratic institutions in Azerbaijan, the problem of political
prisoners and the work being done towards conducting the forthcoming
parliamentary elections in line with international standards.

The Azerbaijani minister also met members of the Ago group for Armenia
and Azerbaijan established under the Council of Europe Committee
of Ministers. Issues of a negotiated settlement to the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, preparations for the parliamentary elections and
Azerbaijan’s progress in fulfilling its commitments to the Council
of Europe were discussed.

Urban Service criticizes ARSI for illegal purchasing of lands

The Messenger, Georgia
June 16 2005

Svobodnaya Gruzia reports Deputy Head of Urban Service and Planning
Levan Lominashvili as saying that the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office has
accused the managing directors of the building company ARSI of the
illegal purchase of municipal lands.

The area in question is a plot of land measuring 5,000 square meters
on Ketevan Tsamebuli Avenue between Avlabari metro station and the
Adamian State Armenian Dramatic Theater.

“A part of the square in front of Avlabari metro station comprising
both the road and footways are included in the purchase,” said
Lominashvili.

According to him, the company has already prepared a project to build
an 11-storey residential building, which will be located on part of
the square connected to the thoroughfare . “So as not to impede the
movement of transport, the project intends to build arches over the
road,” he stated.

Lominashvili said, however, that the implementation of this project
would create difficulties for the passage of vehicles. “Taking into
account the intensity of traffic in the square and on Ketevan Tsamebuli
Avenue, there will be serious traffic congestion on the Avenue itself
as well as in neighboring streets,” he stated.

DEMAND FOR JAPANESE “NISSAN” GROWS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 14. ARMINFO. Demand for Japanese cars “Nissan” has
started growing in Armenia. Director General of the CJSC Armenia Lada
Ashot Shahmuradyan informs ATRMINFO that in 2004, the first sales year,
some 100 “Nissan” models were sold in Armenia.

It is forecasted that this year the sale volume will grew to 120-150
cars, he says. These cars are cheaper than German cars but not
less qualitative. The most popular models are “Nissan Maxima” and
“Nissan Altima.” Among “Nissan” subtypes are broadly presented Murano,
“Patrol,” “Armada” and other models. The most expensive are “Nissan
Infinity” cost some $74,000. 5-6 such cars are sold annually. The
official representative of Nissan in Armenia is “Muran.”

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT FINALLY INVITED TO WASHINGTON
By Alman Mir – Ismail

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
June 15 2005

Azerbaijani President Aliev plans to visit the United States. On June
7, Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov made a sensational
announcement. According to him, President Ilham Aliev plans an official
visit to the United States, and Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Washington,
Hafiz Pashayev, is in talks to determine the date of the visit.

The news, which might seem routine for others heads of state, is
highly important for the Azerbaijani president and regional politics
in general. For nearly two years, since his election to the presidency
in October 2003, President Aliev has waited for an official invitation
from U.S. President George W. Bush for him to visit Washington. While
his Georgian and Ukrainian counterparts Mikheil Saakashvili and Viktor
Yushchenko were given warm welcomes at the While House immediately
after their elections, the extended delay in the invitation for
Mr. Aliev had become embarrassing, to put it mildly. Aliev and
Bush have met on several occasions during summits of international
organizations, yet only a handful of Azerbaijani watchers believed
these get-togethers could compensate for the humiliation that the
Azerbaijani authorities were forced to experience.

The Azerbaijani opposition has cheered the cold shoulder from
Washington, pointing to the allegations of election fraud in 2003
and the stated unwillingness of the American president to “work
with authoritarian regimes.” Indeed, the majority of local experts
believe that the 2004 U.S. presidential election made it impossible
for the incumbent Bush to invite President Aliev to Washington, in
order not to risk attacks from his opponents. The lack of democratic
developments in Azerbaijan, particularly evident with the ban on public
rallies and the crackdown on opposition parties, further delayed the
invitation. This, in turn, worsened bilateral Azerbaijani-American
political relations. In Azerbaijan, a country where symbolic gestures
carry considerable significance, the lack of attention from the
American political leadership was perceived as a slap in the face.

Immediately following the recent invitation, local analysts began
speculating on the causes for the changed American attitude. Some
believed that it was tied to the recent opening of the strategic
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, actively supported by the White
House. After all, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman participated
in the inauguration of the pipeline in May and brought with himself
a congratulatory letter from President Bush. Others argued that the
invitation was a reward for the Azerbaijani consent to host mobile
American military bases. The rumors about such bases have been in the
air for more than a year, and the repeated visits by U.S. Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to the Azerbaijani capital only further
increased them. The ongoing negotiations over the Karabakh conflict
and the seemingly growing rapprochement between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian positions are cited as another possible reason for
the invitation.

Yet, there are also those who believe that the invitation from
President Bush is related to the November parliamentary elections in
Azerbaijan and the desire of the American policymakers to encourage
free-and-fair elections. This interest can be tied to President
Bush’s recent drive for freedom and democracy in the world, and his
enthusiastic support for democratic reforms in the post-Soviet space
and Middle East, shown during his visit to the Georgian capital,
Tbilisi, last month.

Indeed, experts on Azerbaijani politics believe that only through
engagement and active lobbying can the U.S. administration achieve
tangible results in this country. Immediately after the U.S. State
Department condemned the crackdown on the Azeri opposition rally on
May 21, the Azerbaijani authorities, for the first time in 19 months,
allowed the opposition to stage a street demonstration on June 4. And
it is not a coincidence that the invitation from the White House came
at a time when Senator Charles Hagel (R-NE), chairman of the Senate’s
Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy, Export, and Trade Promotion, visited the Azerbaijani capital
and stressed the importance of democratic elections.. “At the meeting
with President Ilham Aliev we discussed the necessity of providing
transparency, fairness, and democratic parliamentary elections,”
Senator Hagel reported during the press conference in Baku. Similarly,
on June 7, President Bush sent a letter to the 12th Caspian Oil and
Gas Exhibition, once again showing the growing American attention to
the Caucasus region.

Sources close to diplomatic circles say that the American
administration will use Aliev’s visit as an opportunity to show their
support for more political and economic reforms in Azerbaijan. This, in
turn, might untie President Aliev’s hands in his efforts to modernize
the country and fight the conservative old guard that maintains tight
control over the political and economic life of the nation.

Manchester Evening News, UK
June 15 2005

manchester music

System of a Down @ M.E.N. Arena

Neal Snowdon

NO NONSENSE: SOAD
14/06/05

TICKETS prices were cheaper than average, the light show was basic
and between-song banter was non-existent.

This was no-frills arena rock and the near-capacity crowd loved every
pulsating minute. System don~Rt deal in the niceties of showbusiness.

For them it~Rs a case of turn up, tune up and blast it out.

The result was a solid 90-minute set that had the crowd going wild
from the start and ended with grown men fighting over drumsticks
lobbed into the crowd by skinbeater John Dolmayan.

Their musical stew of thrash punk, heavy metal and progressive rock
means this Armenian-American four-piece serve up a sound similar to
rock opera put through a crusher.

The opening blasts of BYOB and Revenga and old chestnuts like Chop
Suey showed a band unafraid to change tempo and style. And the crowd
loved them for it.