Author: Zaminian Bedik

REPORTERS NOT TO BE ADMITTED TO THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL ‘GOLDEN APRICOT’ FESTIVAL

Yerevan, July 8. ArmInfo. Reporters will not be admitted to the hall
of ‘Moscow’ cinema, Yerevan, to the opening ceremony of the Third
International ‘Golden Apricot’ festival because of lack of free space.

The organization committee of the festival says that the reporters
will be able to watch the ceremony on a big screen that will be put in
the square in front of the cinema. So as to recompense the reporters
their loss, the organization committee will organize free fourchettes
for them. During the fourchettes the reporters will be able to meet
world famous celebrities. In particular, it concerns Iranian director
Mokhsene Makhmalbafe, Italian Marco Bellocchio, the French Armenian
Robert Getikian, and outstanding Armenian film director Artavazd
Peleshian and Aleksander Adabashian. All of them will deliver master
classes at RA State Picture Gallery from July 9-16. The festival will
launch by the retrospective show of "Namous" Armenian film screened
by Hamo Beknazarian, founder of the Armenian Cinematography, in 1925.

About 100 films by directors from 58 countries will be shown within
the framework of the festival on July 10-15. The competition program
includes films by Perdo Almodovar, Krzsystof Zanussi, Aleksander
German Junior, Rakhshan Bani- Etemada. The program of documentary
films includes the films by Mickael Glavoger, Gunar Bergdal, Sergey
Loznica and Victor Kosakovskiy. "The Armenian Panorama" competition
includes 25 films from various countries.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS TIES WITH USA STRONGER THAN BEFORE

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
5 Jul 06

Washington 5 July: Turkey showed its economy is strong after recent
fluctuations in markets, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said
on Wednesday [5 July].

Speaking to Turkish journalists after his joint news conference with
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Wednesday,
Gul said that US officials told him that Turkey is strong in economic
aspect and gives confidence to the world. The US officials told him
that Turkey was not considered as a loose link in the chain any more,
he added. Noting that in his meetings in the USA, the importance of
Turkish-US relations was emphasized, Gul said, "our relations are much
stronger and healthier". "We have discussed Iran, Iraq, PKK terrorist
organization, Middle East problem, recent tension between Israel and
Palestine, Cyprus, ending isolation over Turkish Cypriots, drafts about
so-called Armenian genocide, recent contacts in Damascus about Middle
East problem, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline,
Turkey’s economic performance in recent period, Turkey-EU relations and
Turkey’s contributions in regional and international issues," said Gul.

Regarding visit of Turkish Prime Ministry Adviser Ahmet Davudoglu to
Damascus, Gul said that Turkey launched initiatives to stop tension
in Middle East upon demands, and Davudoglu met the Syrian president,
adding that the meeting was positive.

When asked how recent Israeli-Palestinian tension can be solved,
Gul said, "our position is obvious. Everybody should do their best
and a peace process should start. The ministers and kidnapped soldier
should be released and operations in Gaza should be stopped. Thus,
a new milieu can be established. Both societies should accept the
two-state solution."

Regarding Cyprus issue, Gul said, "this issue necessitates patience.

We are insistent and determined about negotiations. The important
thing is to explain the right cause to everybody. The United States
does not withhold its support about Cyprus issue, and their efforts
will increase."

Upon another question, Gul said, "Iraq’s territorial integrity,
political unity and stability are common targets of Turkey and the
United States. Also, we have discussed (with Rice) the attitude of
Armenian lobby in the United States. I said everybody should do their
best to prevent adoption of an Armenian draft in the United States."

Following the news conference, Gul met representatives of Jewish
lobby in the United States.

OSCE MG: KOCHARIAN AND ALIYEV SHOULD SHOW INITIATIVE IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.07.2006 13:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made a recurrent
statement. It says that principles of conflict settlement in Nagorno
Karabakh, the Co-Chairs have presented to Azerbaijan and Armenia,
are interpreted in different ways. The statement specifically notes,
"Taking it into account we consider necessary to make the following
statement.

Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group reported to the OSCE Permanent
Council on the outcomes of the talks with parties of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. They presented a report on intensive mediation aimed
at coming to an agreement over settlement basic principles within
past seven months. The report contains information on the outcomes
of the three individual and joint visits of the co-chairs to Baku
and Yerevan, two meetings with Azeri and Armenian FMs, Rambouillet
and Bucharest meetings with participation of Kocharian and Aliyev
and visits to the region in May at the level of Deputy FMs of OSCE
MG Co-Chair countries."

The statement notes that mediation efforts of the co-chairs have
resulted in handing fair, balanced and practical basic principles over
NK settlement. "This proposal may result in singing of a settlement
agreement desirable to both parties. The essence of those principles
lies in withdrawal of Armenian troops from regions around NK and
providing a special model to Kelbajar and Lachin regions (including the
corridor between Armenia and NK). The date and form of demilitarization
of those regions should be determined at later stages of the talks –
at the time of holding a referendum on NK status. According to those
principles, the parties will stop threatening each other and will
fulfill their promises on international and bilateral security."

Over the issue of the coming referendum on determining the status
of Nagorno Karabakh the Co-Chairs noted that arrangements should be
held for its holding. "It is a pity that the Presidents during their
latest meeting in Bucharest could not agree over those principles. We
believe that both Presidents should take the initiative in their hands
to attain progress in the settlement. In case the Presidents come
to an agreement, we are ready to assist in concluding a treaty." The
Co-Chairs said no additional meetings are planned on their initiative
in the near future. "In case the Presidents agree to continue the
talks, we can again engage in the matter," reports Azeri-Press.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD SUMMIT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS

ArmRadio.am
03.07.2006 11:06

World summit of religious leaders will be held today in Moscow. The
Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II will also participate in
the event.

Over 100 religious figures will discuss the issue of preservation of
religious and moral values in contemporary society.

ANDRE GOING OUT AS ONE OF THE VERY BEST

Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
June 30, 2006 Friday

Andre is retiring.

Andre Agassi, along with Michael, Tiger and Brazilian soccer stars,
is one of the rare sports figures whom people know around the world
by their first name. All good things must end, and Andre has announced
that this will be his last Wimbledon and he’ll retire from competitive
tennis after the U.S. Open.

Andre is one of my personal favorites for many reasons. For one,
he is the most charitable athlete in the world.

He came into this year’s Wimbledon only 4-4 in matches this year,
but he’s 47-12 at Wimbledon, counting two wins this week. His court
movement is clearly restricted from the body that had him No. 1 in
the world for 101 weeks.

At 36, Andre has played opponents 20 years younger.

"I feel old when I see mousse in my opponent’s hair," he said at one
postmatch news conference.

Andre is looking more to the future than to the past or the present.

When friend and former rival Pete Sampras and his wife had a baby,
Andre said, "I’ve got a hundred bucks that says my baby beats Pete’s
baby. I just think genetics are in my favor."

Of course, Andre is married to former Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf.

We can’t help but think of the past, however. Who could forget Andre’s
debut at the U.S. Open? His long hair resembled a lion’s mane, and
his cheetah quickness was evident. He wore fashionable denim shorts,
and the electric New York crowd encouraged his rebel attitude.

Sponsors pursued him and he became a walking billboard. The infamous
"image" ad by a camera sponsor encapsulated his defiant nature.

Ironically, Andre’s toughest opponent that year was another radical
player — an aging one, Jimmy Connors.

Andre, one of only a handful of players to have been in four
consecutive Grand Slam finals, has had wrist, back and hip injuries
that have kept him from being in premium shape. These injuries have
limited him to mostly Slam events the past few years.

Andre is a grinder. He loves to outlast his opponent. No one believed
Wimbledon would be the first Grand Slam tournament he won, yet 14
years after that championship he’s back in the third round.

An Armenian raised in Las Vegas, Andre avoided this premier tournament
like the plague for three years. Wearing white and playing on grass
didn’t suit his personality or game, so he thought. On a lark,
he flew to London mere days before the event with no practice on
the hard-to-find grass courts. He banged away until he won the 1992
Wimbledon event.

He was nearly as adamant about traveling across the world to play
in the Australian Open. For years he didn’t believe he could win it,
but he won it on his first visit. Four other Australian Open titles
followed.

Through the years, Andre has dramatically changed, for the better.

After all, he had to grow up in the limelight. However, instead of
merely "evolving," Andre metamorphosed into an involver.

I will write more about Andre the week of the U.S. Open in August.

Meanwhile, expect a great third-round match between Agassi and Rafael
Nadal at the All England Club.

Regnum, Russia
June 30 2006

Nagorno Karabakh Defense Minister: `No one wants a war’

Presidents should resume the negotiation process and find the issue’s
peaceful settlement, Nagorno Karabakh republic (NKR) Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan stated while talking to journalists.

In his words, the issue cannot be resolved by force, REGNUM reports.
`No one wants a war, especially servicemen,’ stated Seyran Ohanyan.
He alleged that the meetings held between the two countries’
Presidents showed that the Azerbaijani party did not wish to conduct
talks.

Touching upon AR Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev’s statement,
according to which `Armenians fear war’, Seyran Ohanyan stated,
`Armenians do not fear war, and, beginning with 1988 up to today, our
defense makes us absolutely sure of ourselves’. He remarked Baku’s
belligerent statements are oriented exclusively towards inner
consumer.

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 30 2006

Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office field lawsuit against Catholicos of all Armenians

Source: Trend
Author: R. Abdullayev

30.06.2006

Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Garegin II,
Catholicos of all Armenians as per the Article "encroachment on Turks
dignity". Trendreports with reference to Turkish media that during
his visit to Istanbul Armenian Catholicos announced the necessity in
recognition of fake "Armenian genocide", which resulted in complaint
lawyers group dispatched to the prosecutor’s office.

It is noted that it is not possible to take evidences of Garegin II
himself as there is no agreement on legal cooperation between Turkey
and Armenia. However, in case the prosecutor’s office considers this
necessary, it can assign all country’s checkpoints to immediately
apprehend Catholicos as soon as he visits Turkey again.

RF, GEORGIA TO DECIDE ON EXTRADITION OF SUSPECT KILLER OF 2 POLICE

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

Russia and Georgia will decide soon on the extradition to Russia of
a suspected killer of two Moscow policemen, Russian Interior Minister
Rashid Nurgaliyev said here on Wednesday.

"One of the attackers on Moscow policemen was detained in Georgia on
murder suspicions. The issue of his extradition to Russia will be
solved soon," Nurgaliyev emphasized. According to him, another six
suspects in this case are put on the international wanted list.

The minister recalled that two policemen from the police department
in the Chertanovo Severnoye district of Moscow were killed protecting
an Armenian family in Moscow on April 28. It was found out during
the investigation that the ethnic criminal group committed an armed
attack on the apartment where the Armenian family lived and killed
two policemen. "All attackers have been established," Nurgaliyev
pointed out.

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian Volunteer Corps
62 Hanrapetutian St. Apt 108
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Anoush Tatevossian
Tel: (374 10) 540037
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Volunteers’ Efforts Go Beyond Their Capabilities

YEREVAN, June 26, 2006. A protest three weeks ago in front of the Russian
Embassy in Yerevan marked Armenia’s first public condemnation of the growing
xenophobia in Russia towards the Armenian Diaspora and other immigrant
groups living there.

The June 5th protest, in response to an escalating number of crimes and
murders over the past 6 months, prompted President Robert Kocharian to step
up pressure on Moscow on Friday, June 16 to increase efforts to quell such
attacks and take preventative measures. The protest represented a theme
of growing frustration in Armenians within the Republic and worldwide
regarding the issue.

A theme of lesser notice at the protest, however, was the growing role of
the Armenian Diaspora’s volunteer efforts in their homeland. The Armenian
Volunteer Corps (AVC), an organization that brings Diasporans to Armenia to
volunteer throughout the country, was a main organizer of the event and
represented a majority of the protestors. Volunteers expressed their
disgust of the events in Russia by standing in line in front of the embassy
with anti-xenophobia signs and by giving interviews with the media.

Since January, the AVC has brought 22 volunteers to Armenia, many of them
young people coming to the country for the first time to assume various
roles including teaching English in villages, working with organizations in
Yerevan, and helping out at orphanages and with reforestation efforts.
Volunteers also have the opportunity to take Armenian language lessons and
travel to Armenia’s churches and historic sites through the Birthright
Armenia organization, which supports the volunteers with financial
assistance.

Past volunteers have come to Armenia from countries all around the world,
however the majority of them are from the US, Canada, and Western Europe.
Since the AVC’s founding in 2000, over 100 volunteers have given their
services to Armenia. "I’ve been able to lend my capabilities to different
organizations and people here, and in return I’ve gotten to know my homeland
like my own family," said Nick Bazarian, a volunteer from Vermont who came
to Armenia in February after deciding to take a semester off from college.

For those who work with the volunteers, benefits go further than the amount
of work or service the volunteers accomplish. According to AVC’s director
Anoush Tatevossian, "Sometimes it’s the ideas they bring and the
interactions they have with people that ultimately have a greater impact on
the development of society. Their experiences outside of Armenia are shared
with people in day-to-day interactions and help people think outside the
box."

The June 5th protest was one such example of this as the volunteers
organized themselves according to past protest experiences in the US and
Canada, forming a line in front of the embassy and equipping themselves with
signs and ready voices. The protesters then marched to the Armenian Foreign
ministry where they remained for 45 minutes. Civic actions such as this
protest have proved a success with the recent discussions between Kocharian
and the Kremlin.

Open protests of this kind in Armenia are generally rare, unattended, and
usually unorganized without sponsorship of the state. Protests are also
generally reactive rather than proactive, with people taking action after
the fact rather than before it happens, thus limiting the potential to
create influence. Noted protest organizer Arsen Kharatian, "These
volunteers come to Armenia with the intentions of physically helping their
homeland, but they end up influencing people and institutions in ways they
don’t always realize. They are a unique and positive resource for
Armenians."

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN CRITICIZES FOREIGN POLICY OF ARMENIA

Panorama.am
16:23 23/06/06

After parliamentary elections 2007 it is necessary to qualitatively
change the foreign policy of Armenia in relation to Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, leader of Democratic Party Shavarsh Kocharyan told a press
conference today. "Azerbaijan tries to assure step by step that
Armenia is an aggressor country. This is very dangerous for us,"
he said. According to him this is done due to wrong foreign policy
of Armenia which does not focus on Nagorno Karabakh as a party in
negotiations. In his opinion, compromises should be from both sides:
Armenia declares its readiness for concessions whereas Azerbaijan
does not want to make corresponding steps. According to him, another
fault is that Armenia has not recognized Nagorno Karabakh up until
today. Concurrently, Sh. Kocharyan thinks it possible to change the
foreign policy trends in Armenia only if the elections are held in
compliance with European standards. /Panorama.am/