Four Armenian soldiers killed in Artsakh‏

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FOUR ARMENIAN SOLDIERS
KILLED IN KARABAKH FIGHTING

YEREVAN (AFP - By Mariam Harutunian) - Four Armenian soldiers have been killed in fighting in Karabakh, Armenia’s Defence Ministry said on June 19.
“Four soldiers of the Karabakh Defence Army were killed and four wounded on Friday as a result of fighting with an Azerbaijani armed reconnaissance group,” the Ministry said in a statement.
The statement noted that an Azerbaijani soldier had also been killed in the fighting. Azerbaijani authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.
The statement said an armed group of Azerbaijani soldiers entered the region late Friday night and then retreated into Azerbaijani-controlled territory after the fighting.
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian condemned the incident as “an open provocation” aimed at disrupting negotiations.
“Clearly it was a pre-planned action, which shows once again the true face of Baku, which is doing its utmost to disrupt the negotiating process,” Nalbandian told AFP.
He noted that the incident occurred immediately after a meeting Thursday in Saint Petersburg between Armenian President Serge Sargsyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Nalbandian said Baku was trying to “disrupt the negotiations using provocative statements and threat of war. ”Aliyev earlier this month threatened to withdraw from foreign-backed peace talks after he accused Armenia of stalling the negotiations.
Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry said Friday that an Azerbaijani soldier had been killed in fighting with Armenian forces near Karabakh earlier this week.
Baku has repeatedly warned that it is prepared to restore Azerbaijani control over Karabakh by force. On Friday Azerbaijan’s parliament approved a revised 2010 state budget boosting defence spending by a third, as it pursues an arms build-up that has seen it nearly double defence spending in the last two years.

sassounianArmenians Must Take Bold,
Pre-emptive Measures to
Counter all Hostile Acts
By Harut Sassounian - Publisher, The California Courier -read article here
1. Cause the suspension of the peace talks, thus delaying the resolution of the conflict rather than expediting the negotiating process.
2. Lead Armenia to eventually abandon all peace talks, since it has little to gain from these negotiations. Azerbaijan is the one that desperately needs to negotiate in order to secure concessions from Armenia.
3. Signal to the world that the government of Azerbaijan is not interested in finding a negotiated settlement to the conflict and is responsible for its collapse.
4. Discredit the good faith effort of the mediating countries – France, Russia and the United States.
5. Force Armenia to initiate military action, causing a disproportionate amount of destruction, even damaging the oil pipelines, in order to discourage Azerbaijan from further attacks.

TURKEY SEEKS PEACE WITH ARMENIA, SAYS DAVUTOGLU
news.am - June 18 2010 - Turkey wants peace and friendship with Armenia and Greece, Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu said, receiving an "Award for Public Service" by the Woodrow Wilson International Center.
Davutoglu noted that Turkey's ideals are clear, Radikal reported.
Delivering a speech at the awarding ceremony, Davutoglu stated that Turkey does not want either embargo or walls or nuclear weapons.
Turkey does not want any antagonism. "We want old friends and friends of future. Thus, we adhere to this position in relations with Armenia and Greece," Turkish FM noted.
According to him, overall 35 agreements have been signed between Turkey and Greece throughout history, whereas 22 agreements were signed last time during one day. "We will sign such agreements with Armenia as well. It is our goal," he added.

UNDERWATER RESEARCH BEGINS IN LAKE SEVAN THIS WEEK
Aysor - June 17 2010 - Underwater research will be conducted in Lake Sevan from June 21 to 30, 2010.
This French-Armenian mission will be carried out by two authors of the program - Claude Tulumjian (initiator) and Stephan Kojayan (assistant), in cooperation with research centers affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and state structures engaged in resolving the problems in Lake Sevan.
According to the mission members, the underwater research aims at getting specimens for scientists (water, gas, sediments, slime), video films and photographs, holding fauna registration (fish, crayfish) and flora description, getting topographic data to be used for underwater archaeological excavations or geological researches, discovering underwater caves and holding stream measurements.
The program relates to the following spheres: hydro-geology and fish breeding, geological sciences, ecological and noosphere researches, archaeology and ethnography, cave science and history and collaborates with the Ayas Nautical Research Club led by Karen Balayan.
All of the data will be provided to Armenian scientists for conducting researches, the results of which directly relate to ecological balance of this fresh water reservoir which is of much
strategic importance and regional significance.
The data will also make it possible to raise local population's awareness on Lake Sevan, through reports and notifications.

FIRST CEREMONY IN SOURP KHACH CHURCH
IN AKHTAMAR ON LAKE VAN IN SEPTEMBER
Munir Karaloglu, the governor of the eastern province of Van, said they would open the Akhtamar Church to worship in September 2010. "We expect all Armenian citizens to a prayer at the Akhtamar Church on September 12, 2010," Karaloglu told AA correspondent. The Akhamar Church on Akhtamar Island on Lake Van was opened in 2007 as a museum after it was restored by the Turkish government between May 2005 and October 2006. The restoration costed 1.7 million USD (2.6 million Turkish liras). Karaloglu said he had contacted the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for opening of the church to worship, and they would invite all Armenians to the prayer in 2010. Then Turkish Culture & Tourism Minister Atilla Koc, then Armenian Deputy Minister of Culture Gagik Gyurjan, and Mesrob II, the patriarch of Turkish Armenians, participated in the inauguration ceremony on March 29, 2007. The Akhtamar Church was constructed by architect bishop Manuel between 915 and 921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I. Among the important pieces of Armenian architecture, the church draws attraction with its stone workmanship and the relieves on its walls.

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