Dubai hosts 9th annual GSM in Middle East, Gulf and North Africa conference

Al-Bawaba
October 4, 2004 Monday
By Mena Report Reporters
The ninth annual GSM in the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa
conference and exhibition is due to take place 5-6 October 2004, at
the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, UAE.
Held under the patronage of the Minister of Communications for the
United Arab Emirates, GSM in the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa is
the established annual meeting place for the GSM community in the
region. This year the event will incorporate the North Africa region,
an initiative backed by a marketing campaign to Algeria, Chad, Egypt,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia.
Organized by IBC Global Conferences, the event will showcase the
latest in GSM technology, solutions and services. It will provide a
platform for the region’s mobile industry to learn from key industry
speakers on the critical business, strategy and technical issues
facing the region as well as providing market case studies of the
leading services, applications and products.
“GSM in the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa conference and
exhibition is a unique event, focused purely on the GSM market,
technology and services,” said Fiona Loud, marketing manager, IBC
Global Conferences. “The event aims to provide a platform where GSM
operators, network vendors and software developers can meet and
exchange experiences in order to better serve the customer in the
region and enrich the lifestyle of the people,” she added.
“Mobile subscribers in the Middle East and North Africa grew to 38.8
million at the end of 2003, an increase of 40.1% on 2002. This figure
is forecast to rise to 51.9 million by the end of 2004, fuelled in
particular by rapid subscriber growth in the North African markets of
Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria,” said John Everington, Senior Analyst at
EMC World Cellular Database, a company internationally reputed as the
best source for operational data and analysis on the mobile industry.
Opportunities for 3G in the region, regulation and liberalisation
developments, customer retention and acquisition strategies, effective
pricing strategies in a competitive market, billing for increased
revenue and customer relationship management (CRM), together with
developing GPRS for the corporate market, will be among the conference
topics.
Endorsed by the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation – Etisalat and
sponsored by the world’s leading GSM technology providers, including
Huawei Technologies, Ericsson, Siemens mobile, Convergys, LogicaCMG,
Metrica, Gemplus, Giesecke & Devrient and Atos Origin, the GSM in the
Middle East, Gulf and North Africa exhibition will demonstrate the
latest in GSM technology, services and solutions.
According to EMC World Cellular Database analysts, the Middle East is
one of the few regions in the world where the mobile
telecommunications industry is still expanding and experiencing strong
growth.
IBC’s GSM in the Middle East and Gulf 2003 set an attendance record
last October in Dubai with an increase of 43% on the previous year,
reflecting the new developments and challenges facing the GSM
community in this region. The audience of over 500 included over 160
mobile operators and delegates from more than 31 countries including
UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Libya,
Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Palestine, Armenia, UK,
France, Belgium, Sweden and Germany. (menareport.com)

Armenia nuclear power plant re-launched
TASS
October 4, 2004 Monday
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
The Armenian nuclear power plant has been successfully re-launched
after 65 days of overhaul and replacement of fuel.
The plant’s reactor has been started overnight, the director-general
of the plant, Gagik Markosyan, told Itar-Tass on Monday. Tuning
operations and physical experiments are being carried out.
The plant will join Armenia’s energy system in the night to Tuesday,
he said.
The Armenian nuclear power plant was shut down on July 31 for the
overhaul, which was the largest during its whole history.
All spent fuel was unloaded. The steel jacket of the reactor was
examined and fresh fuel loaded.
Specialists of Russia’s Research Institute of Nuclear Power Plants and
the Czech Republic’s company Skoda carried out this work.
Russia’s holding company InterRAO EES bought and delivered to the
plant 100 cassettes with nuclear fuel worth 12 million dollars.
The Armenian nuclear power plant was opened in 1979 and stopped in
1989 after a destructive earthquake.
It was reopened in 1996 with assistance from Russian specialists who
re-launched the second reactor.
The plant’s electric output last year accounted for 38 percent of
Armenia’s total energy supply.
According to a Russian-Armenian intergovernmental accord, financial
management of the nuclear power plant was turned over to InterRAO EES,
the daughter firm of Russia’s national electricity utility RAO EES.
Meanwhile, the European Union urges for closure of the Armenian
nuclear power plant that is located 40 kilometres west of Yerevan.
Armenian authorities say such step is only possible if alternative
sources of energy become available.

ARMENIA THIS WEEK October 4, 2004

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DEFENDS IRAQ DEPLOYMENT DECISION
Senior Armenian officials last week defended the government’s plan to send
Armenian servicemen to Iraq later this year, as political and public
opposition to the move appeared to be mounting. In a recent message to
Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian, President George W. Bush stressed that
he was “look[ing] forward to seeing [Armenian] troops on the ground soon.”
Most opponents are concerned that should Armenia join the U.S.-led
coalition, members of the Armenian Diaspora communities in Iraq and
elsewhere in the Middle East, numbering hundreds of thousands, might be hit
by a wave of violence.
Interviewed on Public Television last week Defense Minister Serge Sargsian
said that while he shared these concerns, Armenia was obliged to assist the
U.S.-led effort. Armenia cannot be a beneficiary of stability accorded by
stronger states, he said, and expect not to contribute even in modest ways.
Sargsian admitted that some Defense officials were not enthusiastic about
the mission since the Armenian Army’s overarching purpose is defense of the
country rather than peacekeeping abroad. Both Sargsian and Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian stressed the largely “humanitarian” nature of Armenia’s
50-person task force, made up of military drivers, engineers and medics.
They are expected to serve under Polish command in South Central Iraq that
has seen much fighting recently, with at least 13 Polish, eight Ukrainian,
six Bulgarian and one Salvadoran soldiers dead.
Leaders of the Iraqi Armenian community, including Bishop Avak Asadurian,
appealed to the Armenian government to call off the deployment. Some Iraqi
Armenians report that public attitudes toward them have worsened since
Armenia’s decision was made public. Opposition politicians railed against
the government, accusing it of disregarding the Armenian community’s safety
and exposing Armenia itself to new threats. Civic groups appealed to
Parliament not to approve the move. A public opinion poll conducted by the
opposition-leaning Vox Populi group found that some 60 percent of 664
Yerevan residents opposed Armenia’s involvement, with only 6 percent in
favor and the rest undecided.
There are also doubts within the ruling parliamentary majority made up of
the Republicans (HHK), Country of Law (OYeK) and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (HHD) with, respectively, 40, 20 and 11 out of the 131 total
seats. Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, who heads the HHK, said that
sending the troops was in Armenia’s interest. But Parliament Vice Speaker
Vahan Hovannisian (HHD) argued that in addition to concerns over Armenians’
safety, Armenia could not ignore the views of Armenia’s ally Russia, as well
as those of France and Germany, countries that remain reluctant to support
the U.S. in Iraq. Chairman of the Parliament’s Defense and Security
Committee Mher Shahgeldian (OYeK), who had earlier backed the move, said
last week that the mandatory vote on whether or not to send the troops to
Iraq has not yet been scheduled.
Armenians and other Christian minorities that number some 800,000 people in
Iraq have already been targeted by Islamic radicals, and media reports that
upwards of 50,000 of them have fled the country in recent months. Violent
attacks have ranged from church bombings to kidnappings to destruction of
businesses owned by Christians. Armenian officials have said they were ready
to host Armenians who are forced out of Iraq and several hundred families
are said to be already in Armenia. Meanwhile, a Lebanese-Armenian, Aram
Nalbandian, was last week reported to be among dozens of foreign workers
currently held hostage in Iraq. (Sources: AIM 3-19-03; Armenia This Week
9-20; The White House 9-21; Arminfo 9-24, 28, 29, 30; RFE/RL Armenia Report
9-24, 28; Ekho 9-30; RFE/RL 9-30; Azg 10-1; Washington Post 10-1)
RUSSIAN BORDER CLOSURE IMPACTS ARMENIA
Russia’s efforts to crack down on Chechen rebel groups reportedly supplied
via Georgia and Azerbaijan are interfering with Armenia’s commerce, media
reports say. Businessman Arsen Ghazarian estimated that as many as 200
trucks bound from or to Armenia have been stuck at the Lars checkpoint on
the Russian-Georgian border. Prime Minister Andranik Margarian said that
Armenia had appealed to Russia over the problem, but to no avail. Russia
tightened its border controls since the bloody school hostage taking by
Chechen rebels a month ago.
Meanwhile, Armenian and Azeri trucks are said to be using Georgia’s
breakaway South Ossetia region to cross into and from Russia, a part of the
border that is reportedly open. The region has seen a return to calm since
Georgian forces withdrew in August after two months of fighting. Although
Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili promises a peaceful solution to his
country’s conflicts, some analysts believe that a new Georgian offensive is
imminent. (Sources: Armenia This Week 8-30, 9-13; Civil.ge 9-21, 30; Noyan
Tapan 9-21, 22; RFE/RL 9-23, 10-1; Arminfo 9-29; Reuters 9-29)

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STATEMENT By H.E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia at the 59th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL
ASSEMBLY New York, September 29, 2004
Mr. President, […]
This year we wish to especially note the critical need to end the tragedy in
Darfur. Armenians, victims of the 20th century’s first genocide, know well
the long-lasting effects of victimization and homelessness. This is no way
to begin a new millennium. The benefits of globalization should be utilized
to defeat this newest global crisis.
We comprehend all too well that peace and security abroad and at home are
clearly correlated with social and economic dignity today, or, faith in
their possibility tomorrow. Neither self-satisfied smugness on the one hand,
nor self-righteous violence on the other, are solutions to the great
inequalities around the world, and within each of our countries, even those
most developed. Terrorism, in all its manifestations, affects security,
political and economic stability in our neighborhoods and on our planet.
Terrorism from Madrid to Beslan, in all its manifestations, is inexcusable
and unacceptable.
Cognizant that the success of counter-terrorism efforts is conditional on
collective measures, Armenia has readily joined the global fight against
international terrorism. This fight must go beyond effective regional and
international cooperation. It must include the very goals of the Millennium
Declaration – replacing deprivation, poverty and injustice by a universal
respect for human rights and democracy, economic development, equality and
social justice. […]
In these short years, we have done away with the false proposition that we
must choose between East and West, between the old world and the new. We
have done away with the myth that our neighbors can control the pace of our
economic growth and shape its direction. Now, we want to do away with the
dangerous suggestion that yesterday’s adversary is an enemy forever.
Armenia is ready to compromise and collaborate with neighbors who are ready
to join us in making history, not rewriting it. We want to work with an
Azerbaijan that understands its place in a rule-based international order,
not one whose policies, practices and statements threaten the fragile peace
and stability of our region.
Azerbaijan was first in introducing ethnic cleansing to the Soviet space,
first in engaging mercenaries and international terrorists in its own
defense, first in discarding the rules of engagement in international
organizations.
Let me explain. The Armenian presence in this region has been long and
extensive. Denying or revising this history requires systematic planning,
energy and resources. Unfortunately, the government of Azerbaijan has not
spared such resources. Azerbaijan succeeded in eliminating the Armenians of
Nakhichevan who comprised more than half the population. There are none
there today. In Baku and Sumgait, and throughout Azerbaijan, there were over
400,000 Armenians in the Soviet years. There are none there today. The
Azerbaijani experiment in ethnic cleansing worked.
A decade ago, Azerbaijan retained the services of some of our region’s most
notorious mercenaries and international terrorists — the same names which
you hear again and again – to fight against the Armenian men and women who
were defending their lands and their lives against aerial bombings and
proximate shelling. The terrorists lost, Armenians won.
Finally, Azerbaijan’s leadership dismisses the opportunities offered by
membership in international organizations to build bridges and seek
solutions. Azerbaijan rejects mediation by those who wish to help halt drug
trafficking through its territory. Azerbaijan also dismisses efforts by
Council of Europe and other monitoring groups to come to the region to see
first hand the destruction of thousands of irreplaceable historic and
cultural markers. It crows about its desire for NATO membership even as it
repeatedly prohibits an alliance partner’s participation in NATO exercises.
Worse, Azerbaijan not only does not rebuke, it champions the Azeri military
officer who decapitated a fellow Armenian officer in a NATO training course
in Budapest. It maligns the Minsk Group of the OSCE in order to hide its own
refusal to consider proposals that have grown from the discussions and
negotiations in which its own leadership has participated. For more than
half a decade, it has rejected every proposal placed before it from the
Common State Proposal in 1998 to the Key West document of 2000.
Mr. President,
Armenians prevailed in the military confrontation unleashed by Azerbaijan as
a response to the peaceful demands of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh for
self-determination. Contrary to the assertion of Azerbaijan’s president,
Armenians have occupied those lands for over 2000 years, and not just in the
last 10. Today, Nagorno Karabakh has reversed the injustice of the Stalin
years and is free and democratic, tolerant of minorities. Nagorno Karabakh
holds regular elections, has state and security structures, complete control
over its territory, and a growing economy. If in the last century, Armenians
and Azeris were forcibly linked together, in this next century, where we
have earned the right to our own destinies, we can determine to live
together peaceably. If we are serious about becoming full, deserving
residents of the European neighborhood, where borders don’t matter, but
intentions and tolerance do, we will have to come to terms with our past,
with our history, with the realities that have gripped our region. Thank
you.
[AAA Note: This is an excerpt of the statement. For the complete text visit
]

Rare Arshile Gorky Paintings to Be Sold at Paris Auction
Dickran Kouymjian
(International Press Service, Paris) A major three-day auction sale
by François Tajan will take place in Paris next week on three
successive days, October 5, 6, 7. On sale will be a part of the
massive private collection of the New York art dealer Julien Levy, in
whose gallery Arshile Gorky had a number of shows in the 1940s.
Among the more than 800 paintings and drawings to be placed on the
block are four paintings and eleven drawings by Gorky, a few of which
are barely known to the public. Among the scores of artists who
works are in the sale – Hans Arp, Dali, Toulouse-Lautrec, Marcel
Duchamp, Max Ernest, Fini, Lichtenstein, Magritte, Man Ray, Matta,
Naguchi, Tanguy, the highest estimated price for any single item in
the sale is a the painting by Gorky entitled Pirate 1 of 1942, with a
suggested price of 1,300.000. 1,600,000 euros or close to two million
dollars. Pirate II of 1943 is estimated at 1,100,000-1,300,000
euros. Several drawings are priced at 5,000 to 8,000 euros or
$6-9,000.
Tajan is among the most famous of Paris auctioneers his own auction
house, like Sothebys and Christies, rather than using the famous
Parisian establishment, the Hotel Drouot. Articles in the French
press on this major sale of the fall season have featured the Gorky
paintings, emphasizing the rarity of Gorky works on the art market.
The expert who organized the sale and prepared the massive 515 page
large format catalogue, “Hommage à Julien Levy,” is Marcel Fliess and
son David. A couple of years ago Fliess also had an exhibit and sale
in his own Galerie 1900-2000 in Paris of Gorky works from the
collection of the famous surrealist and friend of Gorky, André Breton.
The auction will take place at the Espace Tajan, 37 rue des
Mathurins, 75008 Paris. In formation is available by phone (33) 1 53
30 30 30, fax (33) 1 53 30 30 31 or on the website

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
10/04/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Senator Jackie Speier One of Many Guests to be Honored at October Annual Banquet 2) Catholicos Aram I Honored by Swedish Church 3) Kocharian, Mironov Talk of Increasing Cooperation 4) EC May Take up Destruction of Armenian Cultural Monuments 5) Dynamite Threatens Ancient City of Ani 1) Senator Jackie Speier One of Many Guests to be Honored at October Annual Banquet --ANCA-WR Meets with State's Highest Ranking Armenian Democratic Public Official GLENDALE--California State Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco, San Mateo) visited the offices of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) on September 28 to discuss issues of concern to Armenian-Americans in California with community leaders. Members of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors and the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) greeted the Senator and were briefed on the issues that the Senator has been working on in the State Capitol. Senator Speier will be among the many public officials in attendance at this year's Annual Banquet which will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California on October 24. ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian welcomed Senator Speier to the ANCA-WR headquarters and thanked her for steadfast support of legislation and issues that affect Armenian-Americans in the state. The Senator is the state's highest ranking Democratic elected official of Armenian descent and the only Armenian-American woman currently serving in the State Legislature. ANCA-WR Board Member Steven Dadaian briefed the Senator on economic developments in the Republic of Armenia and highlighted the necessity for the State of California to remain committed to its promise of establishing the California Regional Trade Office in Armenia. Angela Savoian, Chairwoman of the ARS Western United States, also briefed the Senator on the history of the ARS and described the essential social services that the organization continues to provide to immigrants. During the meeting, Senator Speier reiterated the importance of her Armenian ancestry in shaping her commitment to being a public servant and fighting for justice. Senator Speier's career-long commitment to public service was nearly cut short in 1978 when she traveled as legal counsel to California Congressman Leo J. Ryan to Jonestown, Guyana as part of a US fact-finding mission that was to investigate rumors that people, including many Bay Area families, were being held hostage by cult leader Rev. Jim Jones. On November 18, 1978, at the end of a two-day investigation, gunmen from the Peoples Temple cult ambushed, shot, and killed Congressman Ryan and four others in his traveling group. Speier, then 28 years old, was struck by five bullets and was "left for dead" on a jungle airstrip for 22 hours. The day she was shot, 911 cult members committed mass suicide or were murdered at the Peoples Temple compound. Senator Speier has stated that "the Jonestown tragedy is a daily reminder that no one is guaranteed tomorrow . . . this has absolutely molded my philosophy and my zest for work and for life." To this day, she carries two bullets in her body from the incident. Two years after the Jonestown shootings, Speier became the youngest member ever to serve on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors when she won her first election by defeating a 20-year incumbent. Senator Speier served in the State Assembly from 1986 to 1996 before being elected to the State Senate, where she is completing her second term. Senator Speier has announced her intent to run for Lieutenant Governor of the State of California. If elected, Senator Jackie Speier would become only the second Armenian-American to serve in statewide office since Governor George Deukmejian (1983-1991). "Senator Speier's dedication to public service and to the people of California is truly admirable and an excellent example for other young aspiring Armenian-Americans to follow," commented Ardashes Kassakhian, ANCA-WR Executive Director. "We're looking forward to having her attend our Annual Banquet on October 24th and joining us in honoring other Armenian-American public officials who have paved the way for future leaders," added Kassakhian, referring to the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet which will honor Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) with the ANCA-WR Legacy Award and State Senator Chuck Poochigian (R-Fresno) with the Person of the Year Award. Individuals or organizations interested in attending the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet may call the ANCA-WR Offices at (818) 500-1918 to reserve their table or individual tickets. 2) Catholicos Aram I Honored by Swedish Church ANTELIAS--During an evening reception on Saturday, October 2, held in honor of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, Sweden's Primate, Archbishop Karl Hammer of Uppsala, bestowed His Holiness with the highest honor of the Swedish Church. "Only three individuals have received this honor--you are now the fourth," noted Archbishop Hammer. "We decided to extend this medal as a token of appreciation for your leading role in advancing interfaith cooperation during these fateful times." After thanking the Archbishop and the Swedish Church, the Catholicos spoke about the Armenian people and highlighted their will to overcome the various difficulties that resulted from the genocide of 1915, and the church's role in assisting the survivors. His Holiness then moved on to address the international efforts in promoting cooperation amongst churches, and commend the role played by the Swedish Church within the ecumenical movement. A guest of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, His Holiness, who arrived in Sweden on the morning of Thursday, October 5, met with a host of international organization representatives, participated in the Swedish ecumenical meetings, lectured at universities in Uppsala and Helsinki, and delivered a Sunday sermon at the Cathedral of Uppsala. 3) Kocharian, Mironov Talk of Increasing Cooperation YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--President Robert Kocharian pledged to continue relations with Russia as political allies and strategic partners when meeting with Russian Federation Council Chairman Sergey Mironov on Saturday, before the Russian delegation wrapped up its official visit to Yerevan. Sources in the Russian delegation told Itar-Tass that the visit began a new phase in Russian-Armenian relations. Mironov remarked that the talks had a candid atmosphere, as the two discussed a range of issues related to Russian-Armenian relations. "We are ready for cooperation not only on a bilateral basis, not only within the CIS, but also in other international organizations," Mironov said, adding that Russia and Armenia still have potential to cooperate that is not yet fully realized. Cargo transit via Georgia to Armenia was also discussed, as the Russian-Georgian border is closed, impacting the Armenian economy negatively. "We discussed possible solutions to the problem, bearing in mind our partnership with Armenia," Mironov said. A joint declaration was signed by Mironov and Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur Bagdasarian, which provides legislative steps in the anti-terrorist fight. "Not only Russia, but also all countries of this unique land need stability in the Caucasus and Transcaucasia," Mironov told servicemen of a Russian regiment stationed in Yerevan. "You are one of the outposts of security on Russian southern boundaries," he said. 4) EC May Take up Destruction of Armenian Cultural Monuments YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--The issue of preserving Armenian monuments in Azerbaijan is currently on the European Commission's (EC) agenda, following calls--by the Armenian delegation to the EC--for an inquiry on their destruction. The Armenian Foreign Ministry's Interim Head of Council of Europe Division Ara Margarian, noted that the destruction of cross stones in the Jugha cemetery in Nakhichevan has specifically garnered attention, and that an EC fact-finding mission may be dispatched there. "The destruction of Jugha's cross stones is a premeditated act of vandalism, so as to erase all remnants of Armenian culture in the area--and is proven by the footage and photos shot from the Iranian side," said Margarian. He revealed that while Armenia has consistently welcomed monitoring groups, Azerbaijan has resisted. But because of its recent aspiration to integrate into Europe, Azerbaijan has agreed to allow monitors in the country to review the current state of Armenia's historical monuments. According to the European Convention for The Protection of Architectural Heritage, all member countries inherit the responsibility to preserve cultural and historical monuments found on the territory of member states. According to the same convention, if a country is found guilty of destroying cultural, historical monuments, they must be punished accordingly. 5) Dynamite Threatens Ancient City of Ani ISTANBUL (Armenpress)--The Turkish newspaper Zaman reported that detonations at Armenian stone quarries across the border damaged some of the ruins located in the 6000-year-old city of Ani on the Turkish-Armenian border. Sabit Osman Avci, President of the Protection of Historical Heritage Foundation and a former Speaker of the Turkish Parliament (TBMM), conducted studies in the region and said that up until two years ago, there was only one stone quarry in the region; presently, the number is eight. He warned that the dynamite being detonated at these quarries is damaging the ancient city of Ani. The ancient ruins of Ani are among the 100 historical works in the world that are in need of protection. The ancient city was a great center of trade and is mentioned in records of the Silk Road from the Middle Ages. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“ARMENIA DECIDED TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAQ? WHY?”
Azg/am
5 Oct 04
Arab Newspaper Gives Some Advices
“Urgent news coming from Armenia don’t predict a good outcome and it
becomes certain that this honest state, which has unsolved territorial
problems with neighboring Azerbaijan, has decided to campaign against
its seventh neighbor. Why?”, the Azzaman, an Arab newspaper published
in London, writes in its September 12 article titled “Advices for
Armenia”.
“Armenia decided to send a squad of 50 soldiers to become victims of
kidnappers – We are not ready to protect Armenian soldiers and advise
that they bring bodyguards with them to stay as long as they will be
in this land burnt under the feet of our friends and enemies”, Azzaman
writes.
This article would not be of much importance if not the fact that it
expresses the position of the Iraqi society about the Armenian group
of deminers, drivers and doctors to be sent to Iraq. The author of the
article uses suchwords as “squad” and “campaign against Iraq”.
A retired Iraqi official was reporting lately. He was certainly aware
of Armenia’s decision to send 50 unarmed people. “‘Armenia Sends
Troops, Joins American Coalition’, this was the headline of all Iraq
newspapers today”, he said.
Iraqi Armenians (a considerable part of whom are survivors of the
Armenian Genocide) pointed at different occasions that Armenian
presence may endanger the future of Iraqi Armenians as (no matter that
the group will join Americans only for humanitarian purposes) Armenia
is still joining the Americans, Iraq’s occupants and murderers of
Arabs.
Armenian authorities promised the US (probably under pressure) to
contribute to the war on terror. Therefore it will be wrong to break
the promise because the US may, the least, condemn Armenia of dropping
out of the anti-terror fight. President Bush warned after 9/11 saying:
“You are either with us or against us”.
Armenian media’s critical coverage of the group sending obviously
makes the authorities frustrated. So, the defense minister Serge
Sargisian stated during his televised appearance: “Why fall behind
Georgia and Azerbaijan?” But why did Armenia fall behind the two
neighbors in the case of Afghanistan? Why didn’t we send deminers,
doctors and drivers to Afghanistan? The fact that the Afghan
mojahedins fought against the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh could
bevalid grounds for joining the anti-Afghani campaign.
Is Armenia sincere in claiming that it joins the US anti-terror war?
If yes (that is, if Saddam Hussein was somehow connected with Al Qaeda
and Iraq was a threat for the world community) then why did only 30
states out of 191 UN support America?
Vartan Oskanian, foreign minister, notes that Armenia is ready to
contribute to Iraq in the humanitarian sphere. Again a question comes
up: isn’t it possible that Armenia support Iraq without joining the US
coalition? Why doTurkey, US’s close ally, and Jordan succeed in this?
There may also be other questions addressed to the Armenian
government. For instance, why did Yerevan refer to the UN’s
legislation in case of Yugoslavia’ s bombing and didn’t in case of
Iraq?
The Azzaman goes on with advices: “Armenia’s calculations are obsolete
as there is no time to sign treaties now, when America faces
elections. Neither the 50 soldiers will save Bush, nor will they
influence social researches in favour of Kerry”.
“Armenia has dropped its mask. If it tends to be part of the
multinational forces then we are ready to provide a place in `red’s
knick-knack market’ adding a ration card, certificate of death and a
videotape of being kidnapped”, newspaper writes.
By Tatoul Hakobian

MICKAEL, WOUNDED IN BESLAN, TO UNDERGO MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GERMANY
Azg/am
5 Oct 04
The leading news agencies of the world still speak about unprecedented
brutal terrorist act in Beslan, Northern Ossetia. More than 300
innocent people were killed in Beslan.
There were 33 Armenians among Beslan hostages. Nine of them, including
children, were killed.
At present, many of the former hostages undergo medical treatment in
various cities of Russia. Mickael Mkrtchian, pupil at Beslan school
N1, and Tamar Galstian, his grandmother, undergo medical treatment in
Moscow, at Children’s Hospital after Morozov.
The four members of the Mkrtchian’s family were among the participants
of September 1-th ceremony. Unfortunately, the mother and the small
sister of Mickael were killed as a result of the terrorist act.
When Mickael was transferred to the Moscow hospital, he was in quite
hard state, but after the operation, according to the physicians, the
health of the boy improved. We were informed that by the suggestion of
German physicians, Michael will undergo medical treatment in
Germany. From the very first day,when Michael and his grandmother were
moved to Moscow, they were in the center of the attention of the
representatives of Union of the Armenians in Russia. Several times a
week, the members of the union visit the Mkrtchians. According to Ara
Abrahamian, Chairman of the World Armenian Congress, they have already
accumulated half a million rubles for the fond of the Victims of
Beslan Terrorist Act.
By Hamlet Khushian

NATIONAL MINORITIES ENJOYING FULL RIGHTS IN ARMENIA
Azg/am
5 Oct 04
Representatives of Jewish, Assyrian, Georgian, Byelorussian and German
communities of Armenia gathered yesterday at the Yerevan State
Pedagogical University after Abovian. They presented their national
songs and dances.
“This is a very important undertaking. It teaches our youth to be
tolerant and respectful to those of other cultures and religions
around them”, Rima Varzhapetian, co-chairman of the Nations’ Council
of Armenia and head of the Jewish community said.
Varzhapetian stated that the conditions of the national minorities,
2.8 per cent of Armenia’s overall population, are well and that there
is noviolation of their rights in the country. “Our relations with the
government are very warm. They are actively supporting us”, she
said. Rima Varzhapetian added that being citizens of the Republic of
Armenia they and their children have to study Armenian history and
language though trying to preserve their national culture by means of
such gatherings.
By Tamar Minasian

National interest should be priority
Politics
Yerkir/am
October 01, 2004
Two years ago when there was a proposal to adopt a law criminalizing
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, a group of politicians and media
outlets reacted hysterically. The authors and the supporters of the
proposal were even accused of violating the rights of the Armenian
citizens.
Even now, after new “initiatives” of reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia have been brought to arena, the same political force and media
advocate the thesis that today’s Turkey is different, it is trying to
join Europe, and that Turks are ready to reform their government and
society to meet the European standards.
This thesis – actually directed at countries that are to decide
whether or not to accept Turkey in the European Union – has ironically
found agreater “understanding” in Armenia than in Europe. Some in
Armenia seem to be even more interested in Turkey’s joining the EU
than Europeans themselves and even some Turkish political circles.
Those people are trying hard to persuade us that after Turkey has
joined the EU, the Turkish-Armenian border will be opened
automatically becoming a border between Armenia and the EU. By the
way, Turkey is the only country opposing the opening of the border it
has shut itself.
Ironically, Turks are the only ones ruining this myth by trying to
introduce a law that would criminalize admitting the Armenian
Genocide.
This is how those who deem their national interest as priority are
preparing to join Europe. It would be great if some of us too could
base their positions on our national interests. Then, maybe many would
base their words and deeds not on virtual reality and foreign grants
but on knowledge of the reality.

Azerbaijani Delegate Appeals PACE Dismiss Armenia Form Membership
ANS
05/10/2004
Member of Azerbaijani staff at Parliamentary Assembly of Council of
Europe MP Rafael Huseynov made appeal to Committee of Ministers to
dismiss Armenia from membership.
In his appeal Mr. Huseynov states that every organization must protect
its reputation, not to give way statements contradicting its
principles and not allow those standing on its lines that ignore
standards and regulations.
For instance in the spring session of PACE Armenian President Robert
Kocharian delivered speech and answered questions. His speech
contradicted democracy and human rights. There are many concrete facts
on pressure on free media in Armenia. PACE also prepared documents on
the issue and held discussion. But Robert Kocharian denied all these
and accused PACE of interfering its internal affairs. On June of 2004
President of Armenia said he was proud of occupation of Shusha city of
Azerbaijan and his direct participation in massacre of Azerbaijanis in
Khojaly city. Besides the statement points to Armenia’s drug
trafficking in occupied lands of Azerbaijan, conducting nuclear
researches and contamination of nuclear wastes in occupied lands may
create second Chernobl in the region. Council of Europe adopted
documents several times on suspending Metsamor atomic station. Rafael
Huseynov’s appeal has been distributed among participants of the PACE
and will be brought to discussion at Committee of Ministers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress