Author: Zaminian Bedik

ISLAMIC ARTS CRITIC JOINT THE ARMENIAN SUIT

A1+
[03:05 pm] 23 June, 2006

"In order to generate discord between the Christians and the Moslems
a video has been made which insults both of them", announced Islamic
arts critic Jannat Sergey Markus. He meant the video advertising
Turkey which is broadcast by the 22nd channel of Saint Petersburg.

Let us remind you that in the advertisement Turkish dervishes are
dancing on the image of Jesus Christ. In this connection the Armenian
activists have brought a suit against the TV Channel. "As a Moslem
arts critic I join the suit and I hope that my Moslem brothers will
join us too", Jannat Sergey Markus said, newspaper "Yerkramas" reports.

According to the Islamic arts critic, there are two cases of sacrilege
for the Moslems themselves in the video. "The first case is the image
of Prophet Isah (Jesus Christ) whose representation is prohibited
by the Moslem rules. The second is that even Christian images must
not be trodden as the Koran demands to respect the Christians as the
people of the ‘Holy Book’", Jannat Sergey Markus said.

ARMENTEL DIRECTOR FOR RECONSTRUCTION AWARDED PRIZE FOR RESEARCH INTO EUROPEAN SECURITIES MARKET

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 20 2006

YEREVAN, June 19. /ARKA/. Director of reconstruction of the Armenian
ArmenTel Company Arman Khachatryan was awarded main annual prize
after Joseph de la Vega for outstanding research into the European
securities market of 2006.

The company’s press service reported that the prize was awarded
to Khachatryan for the work "One Action-One Vote Problem in the
European Union. The jury highly appreciated the importance of the
topic addressed, its urgency, methodological approaches and practical
application.

The prize was awarded by the Federation of European securities markets
and the Institute of the markets of European capital during the 10th
convention of European financial markets, held in Zurich on 8 June.

At the end of 1997, OTE Greek Telecommunication Company purchased
90% shares of ArmenTel Telecommunication Company based on the
international contest for $142.47mln. The rest 10% belongs to the
Armenian government.

"ELECTORAL CODE" WILL BE DISCUSSED

A1+
[03:00 pm] 19 June, 2006

Today a consultation took place with NA President Tigran Torosyan and
the Parliamentary factions and groupings about the discussion of the
"Electoral Code". Representatives of all the factions participated in
the consultation except the United Labor Party – Galoust Sahakyan from
the Republican Party, Hrayr Karapetyan from the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, Mkrtich Minasyan from the People’s Deputy, Hovhannes
Margaryan from the Orinats Yerkir, Alexan Minasyan from the National
Unity and Grigor Haroutyunyan from "Justice"?

The consultation was very short. Mainly technical issues were discussed
and an agreement was reached to finish the discussions in the Committee
during the summer months in order to discuss the amendments to the
Electoral Code in the Parliament in September.

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday when
the content of the Code will be discussed.

Vardan Oskanyan: Unity with the Diaspora is our power

ArmRadio.am
17.06.2006 14:46

"Dual citizenship is among the most essential issues that not only
Armenia faces, but also Armenians all over the world," declared
RA Foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan during the "Dual citizenship:
alternative solutions, economic and social consequences."

"I am too liberal on this issue, since I think that we should provide
dual citizenship to all those wishing to acquire Armenian citizenship
in the most simple way. I understand all nuances and complications of
the issue, which we must address. However, when taking decision, our
"starting point" should be the "broad comprehension of the issue,"
the Foreign Minister noted, adding that his position is asoociated
not with his origin and fact that he had to refuse from citizenship
of another country to acquire Armenian citizenship, but with the fact
that he believes in the potential of the Armenian people, the future
of Armenia. He understands the situation very well and considers the
question proceeding from the interests of the Armenian people.

According to the Minister, when judge about the question it is
necessary to consider several factors: the current separateness of
the Armenian people, the newly formed notion of the nation-state,
as well as the fact that Armenia has passed a long path of providing
rights to Diaspora Armenians.

The Foreign Minister noted also that it is not compulsory for those
having dual citizenship to reside in Armenia.

"I think that out unity with the Diaspora is our power as well. Our
task is to have thesde people return to the feelings and belongingness.

GAS FILLING STATION EXPLODED

A1+
[05:23 pm] 16 June, 2006

71-year-old Khachatour Khachatryan died yesterday as a result of an
explosion in the gas filling station. The explosion took place at
about 01:10 PM in the gas filling station belonging to "Multi Group"
on the crossroad of the Bagratounyants and Artashesyan streets.

The Emergency Administration informed us that by preliminary data the
car "Gaz 24" belonging to Khachatryan exploded during filling. Worker
of the station 50-year-old Edik Haroutyunyan was taken to Erebuni
hospital with severe injuries. His situation is assessed as grave.

DELEGATION OF RF SOUTHERN FEDERAL DISTRICT TO VISIT ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 12:30

June 15-16 the delegation of RF Southern Federal District headed by
Plenipotentiary Representative of RF President will be in Yerevan. The
delegation comprises the Governor of Rostov region V. Chub, Commander
of RF North-Caucasian Military District, Army General A. Baranov.

During the stay in Armenia the Russian delegation will have meetings
with RA President Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
and the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

At 09:30 June 16 the delegation will visit the Genocide Museum.

RA DEFENCE AND FOREIGN MINISTERS PARTICIPATE IN NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MEETING

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006

BRUSSELS, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Defence and
Foreign Ministers Serge Sargsian and Vartan Oskanian participated
on June 14 in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council and Armenia
(26+1 format).

The meeting was dedicated to discussion of the implementation process
of the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Actions’ Plan (IPAP),
based on results of the IPAP intermediate estimation given by the
NATO international staff’s delegation on May 18-19 of this year.

Ministers Sargsian and Oskanian made speeches, touching upon
problems of deepening the Armenia-NATO cooperation, events planned
for implementing the IPAP and their implementation.

It was followed by speeches of the Ambassadors of the North-Atlantic
Council member states in which estimations were given to progress
of Armenia in the direction of implementing the IPAP principles,
paying attention to democratic processes in Armenia as a security
guarantee, reforms of the defence sphere, issues of widening the
political dialogue with the NATO.

Then, as Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, the Ministers answered numerous questions,
which related to priorities of the foriegn policy of Armenia,
security components, regional problems and energetic security,
present developments of the peacefull settlement of the NKR issue.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO DEPART FOR MINSK TO PARTICIPATE IN CSTO SUMMIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.06.2006 12:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian will take part in
the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states
to be held in Minsk June 23, RA leader’s Spokesman Victor Soghomonyan
said. In his words, the schedule of bilateral meetings is still
being discussed. At that Victor Soghomonyan remarked that the agenda
of the summit will be rather rich. The participants are expected to
consider a scope of issues referring to security in the CSTO member
states. Secretary of the Security Council at the RA President,
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will also serve on the delegation.

The plenary session of the SCTO summit will open in a limited
composition. Then the Presidents will hold the sitting with
participation of the Foreign Ministers and Secretaries of Security
Councils. The top officials will discuss the priorities of the
organization for the coming year, the place and role of the SCTO
within the architecture of international security, prospects of
cooperation with other organizations engaged in the international
security, reported Novosti-Armenia.

LITHUANIA PROPOSING BIGGER DEFENSE ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

Baltic News Service
June 15, 2006 Thursday 3:06 PM EET

Lithuania has proposed bigger assistance to Armenia in the field
of defense.

The possibility was discussed at a meeting between Lithuanian and
Armenian defense ministers, Gediminas Kirkilas and Serzh Sargsian,
in Vilnius on Thursday.

"Lithuania is ready to assist Armenia in the implementation of goals
stipulated in the Individual Partnership Action Plan," said the acting
Lithuanian defense minister, applauding the progress made by Armenia
in the cooperation with NATO.

At the meeting, Kirkilas assured Sargsian that Lithuania would continue
financing the studies of Armenian military officers in the Lithuanian
Academy of War and the Baltic Defense College.

Kirkilas also suggested a possibility of internships at the Defense
Ministry and the Defense Staff for Armenian officers to learn about
the integrated system of officers and civilians in Lithuania.

Furthermore, the Lithuanian minister informed about appointment of an
adviser to the Armenian council of foreign advisers that will assist in
the assessment of the National Security Strategy worked out by Armenia.

Acting Commander of Field Forces Brigadier General Arvydas Pocius who
was present at the meeting suggested that Armenia may send officers
to the school of petty officers in Kaunas and participate in the
peacekeeping war games Amber Hope 2007 in Lithuania next year.

Armenia had an observer at Amber Hope 2005.

4TH TRAIN WITH MILITARY HARDWARE LEAVES RUSSIAN BASE IN GEORGIA

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 15 2006

TBILISI, June 15 (RIA Novosti) – Another train with Russian military
hardware from a Soviet-era military base in Georgia has left the
former Soviet republic according to schedule, the Georgian Defense
Ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said the train had departed from the Black Sea base of
Batumi carrying combat support vehicles and trucks.

Under an agreement Russia and Georgia signed March 31, Russian troops
and hardware are to leave Georgia’s two Soviet-era bases in Akhalkalaki
and Batumi by 2008. The pullout from Akhalkalaki, about 30 kilometers
(19 miles) from the border with NATO member Turkey, is to be completed
by December 2006.

The withdrawal is being monitored by a joint Georgian-Russian
commission set up under the March agreement.

The bulk of Russia’s weapons will return to Russia and the rest of
it will be delivered to a Russian base in Armenia.