Tuesday, October 19, 2004 ESPN Soccer Pyunik clinch fourth
straight title YEREVAN, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Pyunik Yerevan hammered
lowly Shirak Gyumri 6-1 on Tuesday to clinch their fourth consecutive
Armenian league title with four rounds of matches to spare.
The win gave Pyunik an insurmountable 16-point lead over second-placed
Mika Ashtarak, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Kotaik Abovyan. It also
secured them a league and cup double this season, their second such
feat in the last three years.
It was Pyunik’s sixth league win since 1992 when the small Caucasus
country began conducting their own independent championship following
the collapse of the Soviet Union.

A1 Plus | 14:35:04 | 20-10-2004 | Official |
TI SAYS CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT IN 60 COUNTRIES
A total of 106 out of 146 countries score less than 5 against a clean score
of 10, according to the new index, published today by Transparency
International, the leading non-governmental organisation fighting corruption
worldwide. Sixty countries score less than 3 out of 10, indicating rampant
corruption.
Corruption is perceived to be most acute in Bangladesh, Haiti, Nigeria,
Chad, Myanmar, Azerbaijan and Paraguay, all of which have a score of less
than 2. In the 2003 Index, where 133 countries were considered, Armenia was
placed 18th with its 3,0 points. In the 2004 Index Armenia is 82nd with 3.1
points among 146 countries.
The Corruption Perceptions Index 2004 shows, oil-rich Angola, Azerbaijan,
Chad, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Libya, Nigeria, Russia,
Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen all have extremely low scores. In these
countries, public contracting in the oil sector is plagued by revenues
vanishing into the pockets of western oil executives, middlemen and local
officials.
TI urges western governments to oblige their oil companies to publish what
they pay in fees, royalties and other payments to host governments and state
oil companies.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is a poll of polls, reflecting the
perceptions of business people and country analysts, both resident and
non-resident. This year’s Corruption Perceptions Index draws on 18 surveys
provided to Transparency International between 2002 and 2004, conducted by
12 independent institutions.
Countries with a score of higher than 9, with very low levels of perceived
corruption, are predominantly rich countries, namely Finland, New Zealand,
Denmark, Iceland, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.
The index includes only those countries that feature in at least three
surveys. As a result, many countries – including some which could be among
the most corrupt – are missing because there simply is not enough survey
data available.

A1 Plus | 13:12:06 | 20-10-2004 | Official |
DINE URGES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO HELP RETURN “AZATUTUN” TO TV AIRWAVES
RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine today sent a letter to Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, denouncing the “Soviet-style” cancellation of the new
RFE/RL Armenian Service news and analysis program, “Azatutiun” by the
private Armenian television station Kentron. Dine urges President Kocharian
“to denounce this contemptible Soviet-style act, and to help return
“Azatutiun” to the air.”
In his letter, Dine asserts that he is “determined to get “Azatutiun” back
on the air and will make every effort to make that happen, including raising
this issue with the Bush Administration, the U.S. Congress, the Council of
Europe, and non-governmental organizations worldwide.”
“Azatutiun,” a new television program created by and featuring news and
analysis from RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, was abruptly pulled from the
schedule of the local Armenian television station “Kentron” on October 13,
three days after it debuted to rave reviews on Kentron. Although the
television station’s management has made no comment on the decision, it is
widely suspected that Kentron was pressured to suspend further broadcasts of
the program, either by official interests or local media competitors.
The suspension of the “Azatutiun” program has been widely covered in the
Armenian press. On October 14, “Aravot” daily alleged that the head of
Armenian state television and radio, Aleksan Harutiunian, was instrumental
in the ban because he wanted RFE/RL to lease airtime from his channel and
pay for that. Harutiunian, in an interview published by “Aravot” on October
15, denied any involvement in the suspension of “Azatutiun”. In his letter
to President Kocharian, however, Dine states that he has been “personally
informed that this cancellation was the result of pressure from a high-level
Armenian government official.”
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service broadcasts four hours of programming a day to
Armenia, produced in Prague and the service’s Yerevan Bureau and transmitted
to listeners via shortwave, satellite and FM, AM, Cable Radio, UKV and
longwave signals provided by local affiliate stations. Armenian Service
programming is also available via the Internet, at the service’s website
and at

Azeri national security chief talks about “Armenian terrorism” at forum
Zerkalo, Baku
20 Oct 04
Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 20
October headlined “Threats posed by Armenian terrorism” and sub-headed
“This is what Azerbaijani National Security Minister Eldar Mahmudov
spoke about at an international summit”
An Azerbaijani delegation led by National Security Minister Eldar
Mahmudov has attended the world summit to combat organized crime held
in Monaco on 13-16 October.
The press service of the National Security Ministry has told Zerkalo
that the summit, attended by representatives of some 60 countries and
influential international organizations, discussed the fight against
transnational crime, including international terrorism, drug
trafficking, money laundering, etc.
In his remarks at a special session of the summit on combating
international terrorism, the Azerbaijani national security minister
focused on threats posed by Armenia’s armed separatism and terrorism,
and the aggressor’s use of the occupied Azerbaijani territories for
these purposes.
Mahmudov spoke about the antiterror measures being taken in Azerbaijan
at the state level. The minister also pointed to the need for stepping
up international cooperation in this sphere.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Azerbaijani national security
minister held a number of bilateral meetings which focused on
prospects for further cooperation.

Armenian president appoints new “economic competition” boss
A1+ web site
19 Oct 04
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan yesterday signed a decree
terminating early the powers of Feliks Pirumyan, chairman of the
Armenian state commission for the protection of economic competition,
at his own request.
Under another presidential decree, Ashot Shahnazaryan was appointed as
chairman of the Armenian state commission for the protection of
economic competition, for a five-year term.

Foreign minister says China ready to invest in Armenian economy
A1+ web site
19 Oct 04
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today received Chinese
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. Markaryan highly evaluated China’s
contribution to maintenance of stability and peace. He expressed his
hope that China’s position on the Karabakh issue will further remain
impartial and unbiased.
The meeting said that close political cooperation between Armenia and
China is based on mutual understanding and equality. Markaryan also
expressed his satisfaction with the fact that close cooperation has
been established between the ruling party of China and the Republican
Party of Armenia, which he leads.
Markaryan and Li Zhaoxing noted the necessity of boosting
Armenian-Chinese trade and economic relations. Noting the significant
growth in trade between the two countries in the first quarter of the
year, the Chinese foreign minister expressed his country’s readiness
to invest in Armenia’s infrastructure.

Armenians concerned about officers rotation at Russian military base in
Georgia
Azg web site, Yerevan
19 Oct 04
The 62nd Russian military base in Javakhk [Georgia’s predominantly
Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti Region] is of great economic and
psychological importance to the local ethnic Armenians, as well as
their security.
At the OSCE Istanbul summit in 1999, Moscow consented to resume talks
on withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia. These are the
62nd and 12th military bases stationed in Akhalkalaki and Batumi.
Georgia believes that three years are enough to pull out the troops,
but Moscow claims it needs 11 years.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili went to Moscow, as he said, “to
make friends with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin”. Though the
Georgian president did not mention the military bases in Akhalkalaki
and Batumi at the Moscow meeting, the sides seem to be hardly getting
along.
On the other hand, Russia has been recently “getting rid” of local
Armenians at the 62nd military base in Akhalkalaki. About 500 ethnic
Armenian officers from Javakhk, who served in this military base and
who are Russian citizens, have been transferred to other Russian
military bases. They have been replaced by officers from North
Caucasus republics and other regions of Russia.
[Passage omitted: reactions to the replacement of officers]
Why is Russia changing the ethnic composition of the 62nd military
base? Official Russian sources note that the transfer of 500 ethnic
Armenian officers to other Russian military bases and their
replacement with non-Armenian officers are simply planned
rotation. One can believe or doubt the truthfulness of this
statement. But it is obvious that by transferring 500 Armenian
officers from Javakhk, Russia has made its “contribution” to the
“cleansing” of Javakhk of Armenians. It is beyond reasonable doubt
that the majority of the officers and their families will never return
to their homeland.
And most importantly, great significance has been attached to the
“Armenian factor” for 200 years in the issue of protecting the Russian
empire. However, at the most responsible moments of defeats, Russians
betrayed Armenians leaving them one-to-one against the Turkish
yataghan [a Turkish sword with a curved single-edged blade].
In all probability, Russians will leave Akhalkalaki. However,
consequences of this are more important for us than their
departure. It is important not to fall into the Russian
whirlpool. Otherwise, the Javakhk Armenians and Armenian-Georgian
relations will be threatened.

Cyprus official in Armenia against Turkey’s growing role in South Caucasus
Mediamax news agency
19 Oct 04
YEREVAN
The president of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Dhimitrios
Khristofias, said in Yerevan today that ”the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict by taking into account the interests of the people
Nagornyy Karabakh will stop the growth of Turkey’s influence on the
region”.
Replying to a question from a Mediamax correspondent, Dhimitrios
Khristofias said that ”the conflict should be resolved peacefully by
taking into account the interests of Armenia and other countries of
the region”.
Dhimitrios Khristofias noted that Cyprus is interested in establishing
good relations with all South Caucasus countries, and particularly,
with Azerbaijan.

Vatican, Chief Rabbinate slam assault on Armenian Patriarch
20/10/2004 13:08

By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent

The Holy See and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel this week issued a
joint condemnation of an assault on the Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem, when he was spat at by a yeshiva student in the Old City.
In a joint statement released Tuesday in Rome, the Vatican and the
Chief Rabbinate called on ?religious authorities to publicly protest
when actions of disrespect towards religious persons, symbols and Holy
Sites are committed.
The statement gave as an example ?the desecration of cemeteries and
the recent assault on the Armenian Patriarch.?
The statement also calls on ?all relevant authorities? to respect the
?sacred character of Jerusalem and to prevent overt and immodest
actions which offend the sensibilities of religious communities that
reside in Jerusalem and hold her dear.?
The common declaration came at the conclusion of a three-day meeting
of Catholic and Jewish officials in Grottaferrata, south of Rome,
constituting the 4th ?dialogue session? since June 2002 between the
Holy See and the Chief Rabbinate.
The discussions this time were focused on Judeo-Christian beliefs
regarding social justice and ethical behavior. Previous sessions have
concentrated on the dignity of Man, the value of human life and the
family, and the importance of Scripture for contemporary society.
The Vatican delegation to the meetings this week was headed by
Cardinal Jorge Meija, the former Vatican archivist. The Israeli
delegation was lead by Sh?ar Yishuv Cohen, the chief rabbi of Haifa,
and its members included Rabbi David Rosen, from the American Jewish
Committee, and chief rabbis of several other Israeli cities.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of a Vatican
commission for the relations with Judaism by Pope Paul the 6th , the
head of the commission, Cardinal Walter Kasper, and Cardinal Meija
will visit Rome Synagogue for the Shabbat services.
Also this week, Cardinal Kasper and Riccardo di Segni, the chief rabbi
of Rome, will open a seminar at one of the Vatican universities, which
will focus on Jewish-Catholic relations of the past few decades.

Armenian passenger bus still trapped on South Ossetia border – agency
Mediamax news agency
19 Oct 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian embassy in Georgia is taking all the necessary steps to
rescue Armenians trapped at the Ergneti checkpoint on the Georgia –
South Ossetia border, the Foreign Ministry press service told our
agency today.
Armenian ambassador to Georgia Georgiy Khosroyev is keeping in touch
with representatives of the Georgian authorities, the ministry
said. The embassy’s staff and representatives of the Georgian eparchy
of the Armenian church went to the Ergneti village today to help
Armenian citizens.
Owing to the efforts of the Armenian embassy in Georgia, three
children and a woman have already been taken to Yerevan from Ergneti,
the Foreign Ministry press service said.
The embassy’s representatives are also taking measures to ensure the
security of Armenian citizens.
[The Georgian border authorities detained a Yerevan-bound Armenian
passenger bus at the Ergneti checkpoint on 8 October.]