ARMENIAN ENVOY TO NATO HANDS OVER CREDENTIALS TO SECRETARY GENERAL
BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s recently appointed envoy
to NATO, Samvel Mkrtchian, handed his credentials to NATO Secretary
General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on October 4 at NATO headquarters in
Brussels.
Armenian foreign ministry said following the ceremony NATO
Secretary General and Armenian envoy discussed the details of
Scheffer’s upcoming visit to Armenia, as well as issues on
NATO-Armenia cooperation, South Caucasian developments and regional
conflicts regulation. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO will attach
bigger attention to the South Caucasus with the aim to increase its
stability and create new development prospects.
Samvel Mkrtchian was appointed new Armenia envoy to NATO by
president Kocharian on September 10, replacing Vigen Chitechian,
Armenian Ambassador to Belgium, who served simultaneously as envoy to
NATO. Before the appointmentSamvel Mkrtchian was head of the Foreign
Ministry’s European Department.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BULGARIAN PRESIDENT GEORGY PARVANOV’S INTERVIEW TO ARMENPRESS
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: In an exclusive interview with
Armenpress news agency, Bulgaria’s president Georgy Parvanov, who
arrives on October 5in Armenia at the invitation of president Robert
Kocharian, said there are now all preconditions for both nations to
boost their relations in all areas. “Bulgarians and Armenians are
tied together not only by traditionally friendly reciprocal feelings
and historically close relations, but also by contemporary domestic
and international political processes, which make your country a
perspective partner of Bulgaria in the strategically important South
Caucasian region,” he said.
“I assess the two meetings between Armenian and Bulgarian
presidents held within one year as manifestation of the reciprocal
readiness to further consolidate the regular and fruitful political
dialogue between the two countries that plays a crucial role in giving
a fresh muscle to the entire complex of bilateral relations,”
president Parvanov said, adding also that his talks with Kocharian in
Yerevan will serve as a basis to analyze what has been achieved so far
and to also specify next moves for solution of concrete issues.
Georgy Parvanov also underscored positive tendencies in development
of relations between Armenian and Bulgarian ministries, administrative
and business structures on the regional level, which he said were
evidence of maturity and efficiency of bilateral political
partnership, but added that there is still a great deal of unused
potential.
In response to a question whether the Bulgarian-Armenian
cooperation was sufficient for European integration process, as well
as for their interaction within international organizations Georgy
Parvanov said his country is interested in strengthening security,
democratic development and prosperityof the South Caucasian
states. “The successful development of Armenia and other countries of
the region is largely dependent on how clearly they perceive their
European perspective,” he said.
“I believe that Bulgaria’s successful process of joining the
European Union, as well as the interest, shown by Armenia to
Bulgaria’s experience in this area create excellent preconditions for
making their cooperation an important component of bilateral relations
regarding the European integration and a key factor of their further
development. And because of that I hail Armenia’s inclusion in Wider
Europe, New Neighbors Initiative, and hope that it will result in a
serious progress in its relations with the European Union and
Bulgaria. As a future member of the EU Bulgaria will make its
contribution to the development of such relations. I believe that
deepening of these processes will also result in a new dynamism in
Armenian-Bulgarian relations,” Parvanov said.
Bulgaria’s president also lauded Armenia’s intention to continue
and deepen cooperation with NATO through its Partnership for Peace
program and other forms of Euro-Atlantic cooperation. “As a member of
NATO Bulgaria is ready for active cooperation with Armenia in the
general strive towards expanding the zone of stability and security in
the Black Sea basin and the Caucasus,” hesaid.
According to Parvanov, there is also a development potential,
offered by such a specific regional organization as the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) that should not be overlooked. “We have to
realize that BSEC’s development prospects are tied to a great extent
to European integration processes,” he said, adding that not only in
regional, but also in a more global perspective Bulgaria and Armenia
are not only interested, but have to interact closely in fighting
against international terrorism, the most dangerous challenge to the
peace and stability.
In response to a question about whether the Armenian-Bulgarian
Business conference held on the sidelines of a last year visit by
Armenian President Robert Kocharian to Bulgaria has contributed to the
development of bilateral economic cooperation Georgy Parvanov said: ”
Though I risk to introduce a negative element in the generally high
assessment of the current Armenian-Bulgarian relations, I have to
state that the trade and economic cooperation between the two
countries does not meet the level of political dialogue, but the
growing tendency that started last year is very optimistic,” he said.
He said the Bulgarian-Armenian Business Forum was very important,
first of all because business communities in both countries started
looking at one another as perspective business partners, who can
develop wide economic ties on the basis of modernized
legal-contractual basis that is in line with market requirements,
supported also by the two countries’ membership in the World Trade
Organization. He added that now economic entities and business circles
haveto directly support trade. “It is now the time to think about
establishing a permanently working joint business forum that would be
a significant support to the activities of the intergovernmental
commission for economic, scientificand technical cooperation, whose
work in the several years has been positive.
According to Bulgaria’s president, the most perspective branch of
cooperation among the two countries is transport. “Bulgaria is
interested in getting established as Europe’s transport “gates” to
Armenia and other South Caucasian and Central Asian
countries. Contacts in this area can develop both on bilateral level,
within the frameworks of TRACECA project, as well as within the
BSEC. “Another such area are mutual investments. Now both countries
are home of foreign investments, concurrently the national capital in
both is gearing up and needs to be supported and encouraged by a 1995
signed agreement on assistance and mutual protection of investments. I
would like to mention a concrete example of jointly implemented
investment project, a winery built near Yerevan with Bulgarian
technical assistance,” he said. According to Parvanov, thereare
possibilities also for cooperation in energy, including also nuclear
energyand nuclear security, agriculture and in scientific researches.
In response to a question how he could assess the OSCE Minsk
grouprole in the process of the regulation of Nagorno Karabagh
conflict Georgy Parvanov said his country assesses positively and
supports the OSCE Minsk group and is ready to continue to render its
assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan in their efforts to find a
long-lasting and mutually acceptable peace formula for ending the
Nagorno Karabagh conflict. Georgy Parvanov said efforts now should be
focused on preventing tension on the line of contact and reaching a
constructive and efficient dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“The meetings between Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers within
the frameworks of so-called Prague process, as well as the meetings of
presidents Aliyev and Kocharian in Warsaw and Astana this year with
participation of the OSCE Minsk group cochairmen are important steps
in that direction. I believe that there is a real possibility in
making a breakthrough in the negotiation process,” he said, adding
that Bulgaria will continue, after termination ofits chairmanship in
the OSCE, to support the efforts, directed at the establishment of
inter-ethnic tolerance and peaceful co-existence, economic
rehabilitation and development of the region, attraction of the
support of other international organizations and donors for
implementation of projects, able to produce economic results.
President Parvanov was also asked to comment on the role of the
Armenian community of Bulgaria in the strengthening of bilateral
ties.” It gives me a pleasure to answer this question. The Armenian
Diaspora of Bulgaria plays a significant role in public, political and
spiritual life of the country, making its contribution to further
strengthening of ties between the two nations. The Armenian cultural
organization Yerevan, Armenian churches, the Armenian school in
Plovdiv function effectively. Besides, Armenian is taught in seven
other schools in Sofia, Rusa, Varna, Pazarjik, Sliven, Dobrich and
Burgas,” he said.
“We shall be counting on the Armenian community’s knowledge, ideas
and its possibilities in future as well in order to expand contacts
between ourtwo nations. I would like the youth in our countries, both
from the viewpoint of our historical fate and mutual sympathizes, as
well as in the context of our common European future to establish firm
communication skills in culture, education, sports and culture. During
president Kocharian’s visit to Bulgaria we reached concrete
arrangements in some of these areas. Now we have to fill them with
concrete content, to find new and modern forms of interaction and make
spiritual ties an integral part of our everyday life, but not an
element of official visits’ programs.” he said.

ICRC BEGINS TRAINING COURSE FOR IHL
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The International Committee of
theRed Cross (ICRC), Armenia office has started today a five-day
training course on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for 12
officers of Armenian Armed Forces in the resort town of
Tsakhkadzor. The course for future IHL instructors is organized by the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation with
the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.
Conducted by the ICRC regional IHL expert, this course focuses on
the effective use of the “IHL for Commanders” and “IHL for
Instructors” manuals, used as a didactic tool for IHL training in the
Armenian Army. The course also covers topics such as conduct of
operations, commander’s responsibility, behavior in combat and the
ICRC and its activities.
Similar training courses have been organized in the past. Through
such courses, the ICRC seeks to ensure that officers from Armenian
Armed Forces know and respect the rules and principles of IHL.
The ICRC stands ready to support the Armenian military
authoritiesin integrating IHL into the teaching and combat training
programs of the Armenian armed forces.

RECEPTION IN THE CABINET
AzerTag
October 04, 2004
Prime Minister of the Azerbaijan Republic Mr. Artur Rasizadeh has
received the delegation of Finland headed by Minister of Foreign
Affairs of this country Erkki Òuomioja, 4 October.
Having welcomed visitors, the head of the Azerbaijan Government has
expressed hope that visit of the Finnish delegation would serve
expansion of bilateral relations. Having noted the low level of the
Azerbaijani-Finnish economic relations, Mr. Artur Rasizadeh has
stressed interest of Azerbaijan in exchange of experience with Finland
on development of non-oil sector. Finland could participate more
actively also in global transport projects – “North – South” and
ÒRÀÑÅCÀ, he said.
Speaking about the economic reforms conducted in the country, the
established political stability, the Prime Minister has emphasized
that the main problem for Azerbaijan remains the unsolved
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
Erkki Tuomioja has emphasized interest of the Finnish side in
expansion of links with Azerbaijan in various fields, including in
sphere of information technologies and communications. During visit,
according to the Finnish minister, there has been achieved an
agreement on arrival in Azerbaijan delegations of businessmen from
Finland with the purpose of studying investment prospects.
The parties had exchange of views on other questions representing
mutual interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VISIT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF FINLAND TO BAKU RECEPTION AT THE AZERBAIJAN
PARLIAMENT
AzerTag
October 04, 2004
Foreign minister of Finland Mr. Erkki Tuomioja has arrived in Baku on a
business visit.
On 4 October, Chairman of Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan Parliament) Murtuz
Alaskarov received the Finnish minister and delegation he leads.
Greeting warmly the guests, Speaker of Milli Majlis recalled the kind
relations between the two countries, the group of friendship with the
Finnish Parliament in Azerbaijan Parliament, also stressed urgency of
creation of such group in the Finnish Parliament.
Head of the Azerbaijan Parliament updated the guests on the reforms
conducted in the legal, economic, political and other spheres, as well
as the accomplishments Azerbaijan has achieved, emphasizing that
Azerbaijan is themost developed country of the region, however, he
said, some problems, in particular, the unsolved Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorny Karabakh conflict impedes progress in the region. Speaker of
Azerbaijan Parliament told of the history, reasons of the conflict,
stressing the non-consecutive position of Armenia related to the
problem, underlining that some states and international organizations
regard the question from the position of `double standards’.
Expressing gratitude for warm reception, Mr. Erkki Tuomioja stated
that his country is interested in development of links with
Azerbaijan. The country, therefore, considers necessary to make some
steps in this direction. Goal of the visit is to have exchange of
views on this and other issues, he underlined.
The Minister said that Finland wishes the Nagorny Karabakh conflict be
settled in peace way. The conflict should be solved only with the
consent of the sides concerned, but also with the participation of
international structures and Finland stands ready to render assistance
in this cause.
Also were exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

A1 Plus | 19:19:14 | 04-10-2004 | Politics | PACE FALL SESSION |
AGO GROUP WILL PAY ATTENTION TO A1+ PROBLEM
“I am not an expert in the media-related issues, but it is known that
Armenia is now under monitoring and I expect to get due information about
A1+ TV Company”, CE Secretary General Terry Davis said answering the
question A1+’s correspondent put to him at a news conference held Monday in
Strasbourg.
He also said, in addition to the CE monitoring group. There is his Ago
group, which will leave for Armenia in one week.
He said he thought Ago group would present reliable report about the
situation in Armenia, including information about A1+.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Network of America, Washington Region
P. O. Box 10423
Arlington, VA 22210-9998
Email: [email protected]
Washington, DC. You are cordially invited to a presentation on the state of
the environment in Armenia. An event that is jointly sponsored with the
Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA), St. Mary Chapter, and
the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Ani Chapter.
The presentation is entitled `A 21st Century Struggle: How Environmental
Conservation Will Save Armenia’ and is hosted by St. Mary Armenian Church.
It features keynote speaker Professor Charles Duncan, Director and Assistant
Professor, Environmental Conservation and Research Center, American
University of Armenia, and Research Fellow, University of California, Santa
Cruz.
Professor Dunlap has lived and worked in Armenia since 1998, serving as
project director and consultant for programs funded by the USAID, the UN
Development Program, the State of California, the USDA, the World Bank, the
Urban Institute, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, and the Civilian Research and
Development Foundation, among others. He was the first to identify the
national threat of chronic lead poisoning among Armenian children caused by
the improper disposal of car batteries, and his ongoing work encompasses
projects to alleviate the cycle of poverty and deforestation; provide safe
drinking water and modern hospital laboratory facilities to the people of
NKR; develop innovative approaches to environmental education that stimulate
civic participation in problem solving.
The presentation is scheduled for 1pm, Sunday, October 17, 2004, at the St.
Mary Armenian Church Cultural Hall, 4125 Fessenden St., NW Washington, DC
20016 202.363.1923 Friendship Heights and Tenleytown are nearest metro
stops on the red line.
RSVP, while not required, is appreciated to [email protected]. Reception
will follow. Event is free and open to the public.
The Armenian Network of America, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership
based organization dedicated to the advancement of the Armenian American co

Armenians uneasy at proposed Iraq deployment
ISN
4 Oct 04
Critics say that the Armenian government’s decision to send non-combat
personnel to Iraq could turn Iraq’s entire Armenian community into
hostages.
By Liz Fuller for RFE/RL
The Armenian government’s decision to send non-ombat personnel to
serve with the international peacekeeping force in Iraq has met with
resistance from civic groups, opposition parties, one member of the
three-party ruling coalition, and some senior military
officers. Acknowledging that unease, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
told parliament on 22 September that the Armenian contingent, which
numbers some 50-60 medics, US-trained sappers, and drivers, will be
sent to Iraq only after the legislature has approved the planned
deploymentthat he stressed is of a “humanitarian” nature. Deputy
Defense Minister Artur Aghabekian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on 3
September that the Armenian contingent would serve in central-southern
Iraq as part of a Polish-led international peacekeeping force. On 6
September, Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Polish
counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski signed a protocol formalizingthe
Armenian commitment. John Evans, the new US ambassador to Yerevan,
hailed Armenia’s announced intention to send noncombat troops to Iraq,
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported on 16 September. But some senior
military officers were less than enthusiastic. Deputy Defense Minister
Lieutenant General Yuri Khachaturov told journalists on 7 September he
is “not delighted” at the prospect. He expressed concern that the
deployment could create future problems both forthe Armenian community
in Iraq and for Armenians in general.
Fear for Iraq’s Armenian communityArmenians across the political
spectrum appear to share those misgivings. Parliament deputy Grigor
Harutiunian of the opposition Artarutiun faction warned on 14
September of the potential danger to Armenian communities throughout
the Middle East, Noyan Tapan reported. One week later, a second
Artarutiun parliamentarian, Viktor Dallakian, argued that the threat
could extend to Armenia, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported. He told
parliament that “sending a medical, humanitarian or any other Armenian
contingent to Iraq is dangerous for the security of the Republic of
Armeniaas well as for the Armenian population of Iraq”. That minority
is estimated to number some 20’000 – 25’000 people. Armenian civic
groups issued astatement on 24 September appealing to the Armenian
parliament not to approve the planned deployment. One signatory told
RFE/RL that the deployment risks turning theentire Armenian minority
in Iraq into hostages; a second argued that “60 people cannot cause a
breakthrough in the Iraq war.” In a 25 September press release, the
extraparliamentary Hayrenik front argued that the dispatch of an
Armenian contingent to Iraq “will destroy the mutual trust and
friendship between the Armenian and Arab peoples”, Noyan Tapan
reported. The press release suggested that the entire Armenian diapora
could suffer “human, cultural, and economic losses” as a result.
`Friendly’ Armenia to help `occupiers’ – The planned deployment may
even exacerbate perceived tensions within the governing three-party
coalition. On 24 September, Vahan Hovannisian, a leading member of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun, one of the two
junior coalition partners, told parliament that as a signatory to the
CIS Collective Security Treaty, Armenia should consult with Russia
before sending its contingent to Iraq, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service
reported. He added that as a member of the Council of Europe, Armenia
should similarly take into account the opinion of those European
states – he mentioned specifically France and Germany – that opposed
the US intervention in Iraq. But Hovannisian too stressed that the
primary consideration should be the safety of the large Armenian
communities throughout the Arab world. Finally, members of the
Armenian community in Iraq have themselves signaled their opposition
to the planned deployment. Archbishop Avak Asadurian told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service on 28 September that he has written to both President
Kocharian and the Armenian parliament asking that Yerevan not send
troops to Iraq lest the Armenian community there become “a target for
terrorists”. The wife of the priest at Baghdad’s sole Armenian church
said that the Arab population has already learned from media reports
of the imminent Armenian deployment, andis displeased that “even
friendly Armenia […] is going to help the occupiers”. But during
talks in Yerevan on 28 September with Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister
Ruben Shugarian, Tariq Muhammad Yahya, an official from the interim
Iraqi government, praised what he termed Armenia’s “balanced” policy
towards Iraqand called for the restoration of bilateral economic ties,
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian leader, Bulgarian envoy discuss expanding ties
Noyan Tapan news agency
4 Oct 04
Yerevan
The new Bulgarian ambassador to Armenia, Stefan Dimitrov, handed his
credentials to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on 4 October.
[Passage omitted: Kocharyan congratulated the ambassador on his
appointment]
Robert Kocharyan said that Armenia is interested in developing
relations with Bulgaria and is ready to deepen the political dialogue
between the two countries and speed up bilateral relations in all
spheres. He said that the Armenian president’s official visit to
Bulgaria a year ago and the Bulgarian president’s official visit to
Armenia on 5 October testify to the two countries’ desire to expand
cooperation.
The Armenian president and the ambassador also touched on bilateral
economic ties and pointed out with satisfaction that trade between the
two countries has been increasing over the last few months. They noted
the special role of transport infrastructures as a priority sphere of
cooperation.
[Passage omitted: Dimitrov met Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan]

Red Cross organizes humanitarian law course for Armenian officers
A1+ web site
4 Oct 04

A five-day course on international humanitarian law [IHL] for 12
officers of the Armenian armed forces started in Tsakhgadzor [near
Yerevan] today. The officers will become IHL instructors after the
course. The course is organized by the International Committee of the
Red Cross [ICRC] in cooperation with the Armenian Defence Ministry.
During the course, the officers will discuss the following topics: the
conduct of hostilities, commanders’ commitments, behaviour in action,
the ICRC and its activities.