Asbarez news room.

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1. Minsk Group Co-Chairmen want monitoring mission

YEREVAN (RFE/RL, Noyan Tapan)--The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk group co-chairmen arrived in Stepanakert Monday. The US, Russian and French co-chairmen, Carey Cavanaugh Nikolai Gribkov and Jean- Jacques Gaillard met on Sunday in Baku with Azeri President Haydar Aliyev.

 

According to an Associated Press report Nikolai Gribkov, the Russian representative in the Minsk Group said that co-chairmen discussed in Baku the possibility of establishing humanitarian ties between the Armenians and Azeris of the border region. But Aliyev apparently rejected the idea, saying that Armenians should withdraw from the occupied territories first and allow Azeri refugees to return to their homes. AP reported also that OSCE wants to set up permanent monitoring mission on the Armenian-Azeri border.

 

The OSCE Minsk is charged with assisting the conflicting sides to the Artsax conflict to come to a mutually acceptable option, is currently working on a very interesting and heavy initiative, Russian co-chairman of the Minsk group Nikolay Gribkov said.

 

Gribkov announced about this initiative on Saturday in Azerbaijan's capital Baku during his meeting with Azerbaijani president Aliyev.

 

Gribkov refused to disclose the content of the new initiative saying it was exclusively confidential. He simultaneously noted that there were positive shifts in the peaceful process. The Russian diplomat said the Minsk group co-chairman were doing what was possible to help the process.

 

"As mediators, we proceed from the fact that the regulation of the conflict must be secured without winners or losers," said Nikolay Gribkov. In his words, "if a reconciliation is reached under forced conditions it would be unstable and hopeless."

 

An Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman told RFE/RL in Yerevan that the Minsk Group Co-chairmen monitored the Armenian-Azeri border on the Kazakh-Ijevan border line on Monday. The Co-chairmen were assessing implementation of the cease-fire agreement signed in 1994.

 

According to the spokesman the co-chairmen described the situation on the border line as normal. The spokesman said there was no violation of cease-fire agreement and that the co-chairmen's visit to the border region was just a part of routine monitoring mission of the cease-fire regime.

 

The spokesman of the Nagorno-Artsax foreign ministry told our correspondent by phone from Stepanakert that the OSCE Minsk group Co-chairmen will meet with Foreign Minister Naira Melkoumian and President Arkady Ghoukassian.

 

After the talks with Artsax officials OSCE co-chairmen will travel to Yerevan on July 4. There will be no official negotiations with Armenian leaders on that day. The US Embassy in Yerevan has invited them to participate in celebrations of US Independence Day.

 

On Wednesday the OSCE co-chairmen will begin the official part of their visit to Armenia. They will meet with foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, defense minister Serge Sarkissian and President Robert Kocharian.

 

Kocharian returned from his visit to the US and France Sunday and in speaking to reporters at the Yerevan airport, Kocharian said that during his meetings with the US and French leaders he explained clearly Armenia's position on Nagorno-Artsax conflict settlement.

 

His assessment of the Washington and Paris meetings were rather upbeat. Kocharian met with US President Bill Clinton in Washington, last Tuesday and with French president Jaques Chirac Friday.

 

Meanwhile in Baku, Azeri president Haydar Aliyev said that It is impossible to restore economic relations with Armenia until the Armenian-Azeri conflict is settled.

 

The economic cooperation and confidence building measures in relations with Armenia are possible only after the achievement of peace, Aliyev said. The settlement will promote stability and security in the Caucasus, he told the visiting co-chairmen Sunday.

 

The OSCE Minsk Group and its co-chairmen "are the leading and strongest means for settling the conflict," Aliyev said. He stressed significance of a direct dialog with Armenian President Robert Kocharian on a par with the mediating efforts of the Minsk Group for regional peace.

 

The OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno- Artsax will convene in Vienna on July 12. The statement was made at the Sunday meeting between Aliyev and the group co-chairmen in Baku.

 

American co-chairman Carey Cavanaugh said that they would discuss peacemaking efforts in the Armenian-Azeri settlement and preparations for a regional tour of the OSCE president planned for July 15-17.

 

The Minsk Group has plenty of possibilities to make peace, and these possibilities must be used in a more efficient way, Aliyev noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Investigators Deadlock Oct. 27 Case

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--At his July third news conference, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs Vahan Hovanessian summed up the results of the Committee's one-year activities. He stated that the Committee will try to work in an atmosphere of maximum transparency and present regular reports to the public.

 

According to Hovanessian, this year cannot be considered effective as far as the Committee's activities are concerned, as the tragic events on October 27 temporarily paralyzed all the government structures. The hardest blow was delivered to the National Assembly, where the events were taking place, but the Parliament was able to get through it.

 

The Committee was mainly engaged in drafting urgent bills and bills on human rights. Considering the fact that most of the Committee members are inexperienced in law-making activities, an expert council was set up which includes 17 lawyers and several former and incumbent high-ranking officers of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of National Security. During the period under review, the Committee drafted the bills "On Police", "On operational investigation", "On struggle against corruption", as well as the bills "On civil service", "On the declarations of incomes and expenses of high-ranking government officials". The two last-named bills bear a direct relation to the bill "On struggle against corruption".

 

The second stage of parliamentary hearings dedicated to the struggle against corruption is expected to be initiated in the near future. According to Hovanessian, the struggle against corruption "has now become a topic of fashion", and there is hardy any official-be it the prime minister or a minister-who is not speaking about it. Hovanessian believes that this struggle is not "officials' business" and when he sees officials "who are beating their breasts in this connection", he has certain suspicions.

 

The Committee is also drafting the bill "On struggle against terrorism". A governmental working group is simultaneously drafting a similar bill. Hovanessian stressed that if the government fails to submit its bill to the National Assembly before September, the Committee will submit its bill.

 

The Committee did not restrict itself to law-making activities, and, keeping within its powers. It sent its members to military units and studied the problems of the army. Hovanessian stressed that at first, the Ministry of Defense was not too enthusiastic over the visits of the Committee members to military units, but the Committee succeeded in breaking the privacy of the system. He also pointed out that if an agreement is reached with the Ministry of Defense, the participation of mass media representatives in such visits can be ensured. The murders committed in the army are in the center of the Committee's attention. According to Hovanessian, "unfortunately, murders are still committed, and they either remain undisclosed or their disclosure does not inspire confidence, as the people have lost faith. "Without going into specifics, Hovanessian pointed out that in addition to objective reasons, the press also plays its role in the public losing faith.

 

The Committee states that corruption also exists in the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of National Security. He pointed to the free escape of ANM Board Chairman Vano Siradeghian and to the Oct. 27 events. According to Hovanessian, the latter testifies to the fact that the Security Council is not an actually operating body, and the country's security is not ensured.

 

Hovanessian also said that the Committee has reception days and during the period under review it received 200 citizens. The Committee received 600 applications and replied to them, 320 of the replies being in written form.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. 25th Navasartian Victory Ball a Success

STUDIO CITY--The Homenetmen 25th Navasartian Victory Ball took place Saturday at the Universal Hilton with Homenetmen members young and old gathering to mark the organization's success as a venue to educate and raise generations of Armenian youth and families.

 

The Victory Ball came a day after the impressive inaugural of the five-day closing ceremonies weekend Friday night, which featured a festival, performances by well-known singers and an opportunity for the community to come together. Thousands of community members flocked to Birmingham High School in Van Nuys to witness the opening of the Navasartian weekend.

 

At the Victory Ball, the mood was equally upbeat, with more than 800 Homenetmen members, leaders and community activists on hand to mark the 25th Navasartian Games.

 

Present at the Ball were Western Prelate Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian; Armenia's Consul General to Los Angeles Armen Melkonian and his wife Yevgeny; Homenetmen Central Executive member Koko Balian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee representative Mardig Gaboudian and his wife, Lisa; Republican nominee for the 43rd Assembly district Craig Missakian; the honorary president of the 23rd Navasartian Games Dikran Der-Ghazarian; and this year's honorary president Ashkhen Pilavjian, who was accompanied by her sons Vahridj and Peklar.

 

The welcoming remarks by Victory Ball committee chairwoman Jasik Jarahian, set the tone for the upbeat celebratory evening. She praised the Homenetmen for adhering to its mission of serving the community and the Armenian nation.

 

Master of Ceremonies Charlie Ghalian praised the organizing committee and the Homenetmen Regional Executive for mounting the effort to ensure that the 25th Navasartian Games are a success. He then invited Prelate Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian for the invocations and his blessing.

 

In his remarks, the Prelate made special mention of Ashkhen Pilavjian, who along with her late husband Alexan, have been staunch supporters of the Homenetmen.

 

The official program began with Ghalian briefly outlining the important role of the Homenetmen in preserving the Armenian Cause and ensuring that generations are raised with the understanding that until the injustices against the Armenian people are not resolved, the Armenian people will continue their struggle.

 

In his remarks on behalf of the Homenetmen Western Regional Executive, vice-chairman Haig Hovsepian underscored the importance of Homenetmen's activities in providing a safe haven for the youth in the Armenian community.

 

Hovsepian then focused his attention to the unwavering moral and financial contribution of the Pilavjian family, praising them for their dedication to the Homenetmen.

 

Hovsepian's remarks were followed by the moving presentation of the Exemplary Homenetmen member award to veteran member Shant Haytayan.

 

In his presentation, Western Regional Executive chairman Manuel Marselian praised Haytayan's continued activism within the Homenetmen and the Armenian community, as well as his enduring leadership in the various facets of organizational life.

 

Haytayan thanked the Regional Executive for bestowing this coveted honor upon him, saying that his accomplishments in the organization would not have been possible without the work and cooperative spirit of his fellow Homenetmen members and friends.

 

He especially thanked Ashkhen Pilavjian and her family for agreeing to become the 2000 Honorary president. He also thanked his family for its support in his volunteerism in the Homenetmen.

 

"I would like to share this honor with my fellow Homenetmen member Zareh Derdulanian, who, recently passed away," concluded Haytayan.

 

Following the Exemplary Homenetmen member award, Marselian thanked all the sponsors of the Navasartian Games, with special mention to the major sponsors of the games Sunrise Jewelry, Downtown LA Motors and the Gas Company.

 

Following a video presentation about the activities and mission of the Homenetmen, the highlight of the evening was the honoring of this year's Navasardian president Ashkhen Pilavjian.

 

Accompanied by her sons Vahridj and Peklar, Ashkhen Pilavjian was escorted onto the stage and was presented the tri-color medal symbolizing the independent Armenian homeland. Ashkhen Pilavjian was cheered by standing ovations from audience, who expressed its honor to the 25th Navasartian president.

 

Before the conclusion of the program, Homenetmen Central Executive member Koko Balian addressed the gathering saying "It is difficult for me to believe that 25 years ago when we began the Navasartian Games, it would become such an enriching reality for the community."

 

In closing, Balian thanked Ashkhen Pilavjian, who in memory of her late husband Alexan, agreed to become this year's Navasartian President.

 

The Victory Ball continued with a celebration highlighted by the vibrant performance of Dark Eyes band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Foreign Ministry Blasts Expulsions from Turkey

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--As reported, a delegation from Gyumri that was visiting Kars, Turkey at the invitation of the region's governor to participate in a local seminar was expelled in a surprising development last week. The incident was followed by numerous press reports and comments. A Turkish diplomatic representative also provided his commentary regarding the incident. At the request of the Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ara Papyan presented Armenia's position on the given matter:

 

"We regret the fact that Turkish authorities banned the officially invited Armenian delegation from taking part in the Kars forum. The statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry's spokesman conditioning this manner of action by Armenia's efforts to get an international recognition of the Genocide and by the course of the Artsax conflict settlement appears to be even more inexplicable.

 

We find it necessary to state that the Genocide issue has always been and will be on the agenda of Armenia's foreign policy. Armenia will continue its efforts toward an international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, including toward Turkey's admission of guilt. This policy is not aimed at creating tension between the two states, on the contrary, its aim is to settle these relations as early as possible.

 

Armenia's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly emphasized that Armenian-Turkish bilateral relations cannot develop in a normal way as far as Turkey links them with Armenia's relations with a third country--Azerbaijan.

 

As to the incident, it should be underlined that it is not consonant with the recently outlined progress in the Armenia-Turkey dialogue and does not promote the establishment of stability and long-lasting peace in the region."

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Prosecutor Begins Energy Fraud Investigation

YEREVAN (Hayots Ashkharh)--Upon receipt of a lengthy report by a special parliamentary commission on energy, regarding massive fraud and embezzlement from the sector during the early 1990's, the prosecutor general of Armenia has launched an investigation into the charges.

 

A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office stated that this a new phase in the investigation, explaining that a government investigation into abuses in the energy sector were initiated in May 1998, as a result of which 15 people are facing criminal charges and some $1.168 million and 236 million drams have been returned to the government's coffers.

 

Hayots Ashkharh points out that $70,000 and 132 million drams of the "returns" occurred during the first half of this year, at the same time that the special commission was compiling its investigative report.

 

The prosecutor's office assured that the investigation will continue and will be completed by the deadline set by the parliamentary commission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Duma Ratifies Russian-Armenian Agreement On Citizen Status

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—The State Duma, lower house of Russian parliament, ratified the Treaty between Russia and Armenia on the legal status of citizens permanently residing on the territory of the other country on Friday. The Treaty has been passed by 395 votes to eight.

 

The Treaty provides for Russian citizens permanently residing in Armenia and Armenian citizens permanently residing in Russia the legal status that is thes closest to the legal status of citizens of the given country. It specifically refers to civil, social, economic, legal, cultural and other rights. Under the Treaty, the regime established that foreign citizens will not apply to the citizenship.

 

Presenting the Treaty, chairman of the Duma committee for CIS affairs and ties with compatriots Boris Pastukhov stressed that the Treaty makes it possible to bring in the utmost human factor into play on relations between the two countries and consolidates their traditional friendly ties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Minister Urges Artsax War Veterans To Bring In Arms

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Armenian Security Minister Lt. Gen. Carlos Petrosian has called on Artsax war veterans to bring in illegally stored armaments and ammunition.

 

The minister met with the chiefs of the Union of Liberation Strugglers on Friday, the ministry press service told on Friday.

 

He said it is important for Armenian public organizations, the Veterans' Union included, to assist the political and economic stabilization in Armenia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Armenia Owes $108.5 Million To Russia

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—As of June 30, 2000, Armenia's debt to the Russian Federation amounted to $108.5 million. The debt will be paid by installments until the year 2010.

 

The Ministry of Finance and Economy of Armenia refers to the current year as the heaviest in terms of serving the debt. A total of $20.05 million must be paid in 2000. The period of 2001-2007 is going to be a tough one, too, as Armenia will have to pay $17.66 million to $14.33 million yearly, the annual interest being 6.1 percent.

 

Defense Minister and National Security Council Secretary Serge Sargssian reached a preliminary agreement on a revised scheme of payments during his Moscow visit.

 

A draft agreement on the new order of payments has already been prepared and submitted to the Russian side for consideration, said the Ministry of Finance and Economy.