CEREMONY DEDICATED TO COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEM IN VILLAGE OF MOVSES, TAVUSH REGION, ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20. ARMINFO. A ceremony dedicated to completion of
construction of water supply system was held in the village of Movses,
Tavush region, Armenia.
The water pipeline was constructed with support of Greek organizations
Developmental Cooperation and Solidarity and International Center of
Development. Due to the system, the bordering village is supplied
with water it was deprived of before. Director of the International
Center of Development George Anastopoulos said that the first stage of
the program is completed. It provided for construction of 8 new pools,
7 of them were constructed, as well as for laying of a 18 km water
pipeline. He said that under the program a 11 km road was built, which
will contribute to developing agriculture in the village. George
Anastopoulos added that all the necessary measures are taken for
completion of the second stage of the program, which provides for
supply of drinking water to the village’s residents. $600,000 were
allocated for completion of the first stage of the program. The given
sum includes in it the contribution to the regional administration of
Tavush and to the village, as well as the sum provided by the Greek
party.
The contribution of the Greek party was 60% of the total sum,
$400,000. The Armenian party provided $200,000 for the program’s
implementation. He said that there is a program providing for usage of
the water pipeline by the residents of the nearing villages, however,
it is the project of the Armenian Government and will be implemented
by the regional administration of Tavush. Greek Ambassador to Armenian
Antonios Vlavianos said that development of villages in Armenia will
prevent the local residents from leaving their villages and moving to
Yerevan. As regards other programs aiming development of the country’s
regions, Ambassador said that a new sanatorium is planned to be
constructed in the resort town of Dilijan, however, the Greek diplomat
expressed hope that this program’s implementation will be started next
year. Besides, the Greek party implement other contribution programs
in Armenia, including a program aimed at bringing the Armenian
Parliament in conformity with European standards. For this purpose,
various seminars are organized in Greece. Ambassador Vlavianos pointed
out the cooperation between Armenia and Greece. Due to it, many
Armenian officers are educated in Greece. He added that the programs
implemented in Armenia are aimed at establishment of peace and
security in the South Caucasus. Greece, as part of the EU, considers
these three states as single and wants development of the region and
establishment of cooperation between the states. He pointed out that
Armenia exerts efforts to establish this cooperation, unfortunately,
it receives no response from other states of the region. Antonios
Vlavianos added that this fact must not make Armenia
dissapointed. Official Yerevan must further make steps in this
direction, as investments in the region are possible only in case of
peace in the South Caucasus.

La Croix , France
21 septembre 2004
Portrait. Le P. Avedikian dans les pas de saint Grégoire. Recteur de
la cathédrale apostolique arménienne à Marseille, le P. Zadik
Avedikian organisait dimanche à Tallard (Hautes-Alpes) le 50e
pèlerinage en l’honneur de saint Grégoire, missionnaire venu
d’Arménie et décédé dans ces contrées alpines il y a exactement 1 600
ans.
par PEIRON Denis (à Marseille)
Chaque troisième dimanche de septembre, le P. Zadik Avedikian prend
de l’altitude. Le temps d’un pèlerinage, le recteur de la cathédrale
arménienne de Marseille, désormais responsable de son Eglise pour
tout le sud de la France, part pour Tallard, aux portes de Gap, afin
de rendre hommage à saint Grégoire. Ce dernier fait partie des
missionnaires qui ont quitté l’Arménie (premier pays à avoir reconnu
le christianisme comme religion d’Etat, dès le IVe siècle) pour
porter la bonne parole.
Au terme de son périple, il a été l’hôte de l’évêque de Gap et, à son
invitation, a pris la tête de la paroisse de Tallard. C’est là qu’il
devait mourir il y a exactement seize siècles, raconte le P.
Avedikian. Les gens du coin ont alors commencé à lui vouer un culte
populaire, qui allait être reconnu, au XVIIe siècle par le pape
Innocent X .
Célébré dimanche, cet anniversaire coïncidait avec la 50e édition du
pèlerinage. 400 personnes – parmi lesquelles des catholiques, membres
des paroisses alpines – ont participé à la messe, célébrée selon la
liturgie arménienne, et suivie d’un repas convivial.
Lieu de transmission et de rassemblement, entre culture et
spiritualité, l’Eglise permet de retrouver un peu de la patrie perdue
, souligne le P. Avedikian. Les 450 000 membres de la communauté
arménienne (80 000 pour la seule ville de Marseille) sont, pour
l’essentiel, les descendants des exilés fuyant le génocide perpétré
par les Turcs et arrivés en France entre 1915 et 1922. Les ans ont
passé, l’identité a eu tendance à se diluer. Pour autant, le P.
Avedikian ne craint pas l’ouverture : L’enfermement n’est pas une
promotion de la foi , répète le recteur, qui, samedi dernier, a une
nouvelle fois célébré un mariage mixte, apostolique arménien et
catholique.
Aujourd’hui, son Eglise doit relever un défi : susciter des vocations
à l’intérieur de l’Hexagone : Aucun des prêtres qui, actuellement,
servent en France, n’y est né , déplore le P. Avedikian. Lui-même est
venu d’Erevan, il y a une vingtaine d’années. D’expérience, il sait
qu’il faut du temps pour apprendre parfaitement la langue. Surtout,
dit-il, cela permettrait de mieux comprendre la mentalité des
générations montantes .

Turkish optimism?
By Aram Ananian
Yerkir/am
September 17, 2004
Gunter Verheugen , EU Commissioner on Enlargement visited Turkey last
week. The Commissioner’s introductory visit will have a significant
impact on the launch of accession talks for Turkey and the country’s
report on progress in proceeding with EU membership.
Verheugen ‘s visit reminds of Gogol’s `Inspectorâ=80=9D – on the one
hand, the EU Commissioner is trying to make general statements and put
forward neutral arguments to make the Turks understand that they still
have a long way to go before they can become EU member.
The Turks, in their turn, are trying to convince Europe that they have
already done their best to meet the Copenhagen criteria for EU
membership.
Verheugen ‘s visit included meetings with public officials,
representatives of the civil society, local authorities in the regions
and the population.
The first procedural meetings were held with prime-minister Erdogan
and foreign minister Gull. At these meetings, Verheugen reaffirmed his
support for Turkey’s membership in the EU, Turkish newspaper
`Akshamâ=80=9D states. After the meeting with Erdogan, the
Commissioner pointed out that Turkey has made significant
progress. Nevertheless, Verheugen also stated that Turkey needs time
to complete the reforms necessary for jopining the EU.
Interestingly, Verheugen visited Diarbekir and Izmir where he met
governor Nusret Miroglu, mayor Osman Baydemir as well as member of
democratic party, ethnic Kurd ex-deputy Leila Zana who is currently
under home detention.
Diyarbakir has a large Kurdish population and the EU Commissioner had
a good opportunity of getting a better understanding of the problems
the Kurds are facing especially that a meeting with the
representatives of local NGOâ=80=99s was scheduled during the visit.
Minority issues are most likely to be the core issue during the
accession talks. Even though Turkey has tried to meet some of the
Copenhagen criteriait has neglected minority issues. Turkish newspaper
Zaman has quoted Verheugenas saying that minority issues will be
reflected in the report. Verheugen stated Turkey still has a lot to do
in this sphere.
During his visit, Verheugen has pointed to the necessity of granting
the Kurds more comprehensive cultural and social rights. This means
that Turkeysimply overlooks the problems of religious minorities. The
Turkish public administration machine is having problems with
adjusting to the realities and norms accepted in the civilized
world. The official Ankara has not changed its approach of neglecting
problems it does not want to address.
According to Turkish newspaper sources, Verheugen discussed accession
issues with representatives of NGO’s in Diyarbakir . He also visited a
Kurdish village. Answering the journalists’ questions at Ataturk
airport inIstanbul, Verheugen called the Turkish government to pay
more attention to the situation in South-Eastern Anatolia specifically
ensuring more comprehensive cultural rights for the Kurds and
undertaking the necessary measures for economic development of the
region.
Verheugen stated that despite some drawbacks, Turkey has accomplished
political reforms and is now trying to consolidate them. One of the
most important issues in the Turkish progress report is the creation
of a Christian spiritual lyceum.
Strange enough, the issue is on the agenda of Turkey’s Security
Council. In other words, Turkey believes that the spiritual education
of the religious leaders of minorities can seriously threaten Turkey’s
national security.
According to Turkish newspaper sources, Verheugen has also met with
the representatives of religious minorities. Verheugen has expressed
his satisfaction with Turkey’s efforts to join the EU noting that the
progress report will be objective and unbiased. He noted that
religious freedom will necessarily be included in Turkey’s progress
report.
The Turkish press has broadly addressed the activities of a joint
Independent Committee on Turkey established by the British Council and
Open Society Institute. This Committee includes ex-heads of state,
foreign ministers, EU Commissioners and other high-ranked officials.
The Committee’s publication of a report on Turkey’s accession to the
EU coincided with Verheugen ‘s visit. The report stated that
accessiontalks with Turkey can start only after it has met the
Copenhagen criteria. The Committee members stated that it is necessary
to clarify the issue of accession negotiations with Turkey since
otherwise the EU will lose Turkey’s trust.
The Committee has noted that the EU has to treat Turkey in an unbiased
and respectful way. The report was presented by Finish ex-president
Marti Ahtisaari. He stated that a `silent revolution’ has taken place
in Turkey in the last few years driven by the determination to join
the EU.
What are Turkey’s real chances of joining the EU? Turkish
newspaper`Radical’ concludes its analysis of the question by stating
that Turkey’s comparative advantage is its relatively young
population, the geographical location and the strong army.
Another optimistic article published in `Radical’ newspaperassures
that the report to be published by the EU Commission will finally
clarify the date for launching the accession negotiations. The
newspaper’s optimism derives from Verheugen ‘s assurance that the
report to be presented to the Commission will be unbiased. Turks seem
to really believe that their country is European and that they are
facing double standards when the issue comes to the country’s
membership in the European Union.
The newspaper quotes foreign minister Gull’s statement that he is
expecting a `great decision’ from Europe and that Turkey is even more
interested in consistency in implementing reforms than Europe.
A similar opinion has been expressed in all the major Turkish
newspapers. Turkey’s ex-foreign minister Ilter Turkman has pointed
out that minority issues are among Europe’s top priorities. He noted
that even though Greeceis formally supporting Turkey’s membership in
the EU, it is playing a double game by constantly bringing up the
issue of the property of religious organizations, spiritual centers
and the Orthodox church.
Mehmed Ali Birand, an experienced journalist, noted that the European
officials’ visits do not mean anything since they promise to start
accession talks while at the same time stating that the start of the
accession talks does not mean membership. Their position is that
Turkey can become EU member in 10-15 years. Finally, the European
officials state that even 15 years is not enough for Turkey.
This means that some segments of the Turkish society have come to
understand that Brussels is not satisfied with Turkey’s efforts to
join the EU. This can potentially result in two developments. The less
likely scenario is that Turkey will try to improve its performance in
terms of democratic reforms.
The other option is that the Turks will get tired of efforts to join
the EU and will adjust to a compromise which will not mean membership
in the EU but some kind of special relations with Europe (for instance
a more comprehensive customs union).
Publications in other Turkish newspapers reveal that there are some
new pre-conditions for Turkey’s membership including the addressing
theissues of unemployment, stopping emigration from South-Eastern
Anatolia, legal regulation of adultery and creation of customs union
with Cyprus.
In other words, Europe is taking its time with Turkey’s membership.
Interestingly, the French and German media coverage of Verheugen
‘svisit to Turkey was more pessimistic than the publications in the
Turkish media.
We believe the report to be presented to the European Commission will
be positive but not as optimistic as the Turks would like to see
it. The Commission will probably decide to address the launch of the
accession talks next year.

Le Télégramme , France
21 septembre 2004
Tentatives de vol d’essence. Deux hommes interpellés
LANVOLLON. Dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche, deux hommes ont tenté
de voler de l’essence à la station service de Lanvollon.
Ils s’en sont pris aux camions qui étaient stationnés devant le
commerce. C’est le propriétaire de la station qui les a mis en fuite.
Les deux hommes, un Géorgien et un Arménien, ont été interpellés
dimanche par les gendarmes de Plouha et placés en garde à vue. Ils
sont gés d’une vingtaine et d’une trentaine d’années. Les deux
hommes seront convoqués devant le tribunal de grande instance de
Saint-Brieuc.

Le Figaro, France
21 septembre 2004
Concours de chant de Toulouse
Les hommes n’ont pas remporté de premier prix au 45e Concours de
chant de Toulouse. Pour les femmes, la mezzo géorgienne de 20 ans
Ketevan Kemoklidze s’est imposée en tête. Le 2e prix ex aequo est
allé à la basse canadienne de 23 ans Robert MPomakov et à la soprano
chinoise de 30 ans Na Shen ; le 3e prix ex aequo au baryton argentin
de 27 ans Armando Noguera et à la soprano arménienne de 24 ans Liana
Alexanyan.

Le Figaro, France
21 septembre 2004
Les dérives autoritaires de l’ex-URSS
par Laure MANDEVILLE
Treize ans après l’effondrement du système communiste, la carte
politique de l’ex-URSS n’affiche pas vraiment des couleurs
démocratiques. Partout, à l’exception des trois pays Baltes qui ont
miraculeusement tiré leur épingle du jeu, le verrouillage du pouvoir
central exécutif se précise.
De Moscou à Astana, en passant par Minsk ou Tachkent, de petites
castes, issues des anciennes élites soviétiques converties au
capitalisme, ont remis la main sur les leviers de commande, avec la
ferme intention de ne plus les lcher. Après une brève période
libérale, au tournant des années 90, les élections y sont redevenues
des procédures formelles, dont le seul but semble être de parer le
pouvoir des nouveaux autocrates d’atours démocratiques. Gangréné par
la corruption, l’Etat prédateur, mais non protecteur, y a abandonné
les populations paupérisées à leur triste sort. Confortant les
bureaucraties et les services de renseignements héritiers du KGB, au
détriment d’une société civile quasi inexistante.
C’est le cas de la Russie, qui, après la libéralisation chaotique,
mais réelle, de l’ère gorbatchévienne et eltsinienne, s’est engagée
sous Poutine dans une voie nettement autoritaire, au nom d’une plus
grande efficacité économique.
Mais le verrouillage est encore plus spectaculaire en Asie centrale,
où les traditions autoritaires et claniques s’étaient toujours fort
bien accommodées du communisme soviétique. Le Tadjik Rakhmonov,
l’Ouzbek Karimov et l’ubuesque président turkmène Niazov tiennent
leurs républiques d’une main de fer, réprimant férocement tout germe
d’opposition, au nom, notamment, de la lutte contre le terrorisme
islamiste. Considéré comme le plus présentable des régimes d’Asie
centrale, le Kazakhstan n’en est pas moins totalement contrôlé depuis
quinze ans par le président Noursoultan Nazarbaïev, face auquel
seule… sa fille peut prétendre faire figure d’opposition, les
autres partis restant largement décoratifs ! Autoritarisme et
népotisme se portent aussi très bien au Kirghiztan, en Moldavie, en
Arménie et Azerbaïdjan, où le fils Aliev s’est aisément coulé dans le
siège de son père Gueïdar, en octobre dernier. En Biélorussie, où un
scrutin législatif est prévu mi-octobre, le dictateur Alexandre
Loukachenko mijote un changement constitutionnel qui lui permettrait
de se faire réélire en 2005.
Et puis il y a le tableau de la campagne électorale ukrainienne pour
la présidentielle du 31 octobre. Dans ce dernier pays, sur lequel
l’Occident a les yeux fixés, vu sa taille et son importance
stratégique sur la frontière orientale de l’UE, les jeux ne sont pas
encore faits, mais l’équipe au pouvoir du président Koutchma semble
prête à tout tenter pour garder le contrôle du pays. Ce week-end, le
chef de l’opposition Viktor Iouchtchenko, actuellement crédité de 5 à
10 % d’avance sur le premier ministre Viktor Ianoukovitch, a dû être
hospitalisé à Vienne en urgence, après avoir absorbé des substances
chimiques toxiques. Son entourage a accusé le pouvoir ukrainien
d’avoir tenté de l’empoisonner… Alors que les observateurs du
Conseil de l’Europe ont exprimé récemment leur vive préoccupation,
les deux tiers des Ukrainiens estiment que les résultats du scrutin
seront falsifiés.
Seule la petite Géorgie a pour l’instant réussi à promouvoir de
nouvelles élites, lors de la fameuse révolution de la rose de
décembre 2003, qui a porté au pouvoir le jeune président Mikhaïl
Saakachvili. Ce précédent a d’ailleurs frappé de stupeur les autres
dirigeants des ex-républiques soviétiques, bien décidés à tout faire
pour ne pas subir le sort du vieux président géorgien Edouard
Chevardnadze.

Russian, US leaders congratulate Armenia on independence anniversary
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
21 Sep 04

[Presenter over video of celebration ceremony] Armenia today
celebrates the 13th anniversary of its independence. On 21 September
1991, exactly 13 years ago, Armenian society made a resolute decision
by saying decisive “yes” at an independence referendum.
Celebrations started today by government members’ visit to Yerablur
[monument to martyrs in Yerevan]. The country’s high-ranking officials
led by President Robert Kocharyan laid flowers at the graves of
[assassinated Prime Minister] Vazgen Sarkisyan and Andranik [known to
the Armenian public as Zoravar Andranik, a distinguished leader of the
Armenian national liberation movement in the early 1900s].
[The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Arkadiy Gukasyan,
captioned, in Yerablur] Armenia’s independence belongs not only to the
Armenians, this is a holiday for the whole Armenianhood. Armenia’s
independence is the basis on which the independence of Nagornyy
Karabakh and the diaspora – Armenia – Nagornyy Karabakh union have
been established. But, as you now, Karabakh’s independence is 18 days
older than Armenia’s independence. We all understand that without free
and independent Armenia there would hardly be the free and independent
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic and it would have been very difficult to
win this war [for Nagornyy Karabakh]. This is natural for
Armenianhood, and this is the greatest and most valuable achievement.
[Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, captioned] Today we have a
combat-ready and strong army which is able to defend our
independence. I think this is the greatest achievement.
[Presenter] US President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir
Putin and Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka have sent
congratulatory messages to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on the
occasion of the 13th anniversary of independence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message to
the Armenian president. Our peoples’ historical friendship is based on
Russian-Armenian multifaceted cooperation. I am sure that the further
deepening of Russian-Armenian military cooperation meets our
countries’ interests, which plays the most important role in
preserving and strengthening peace and stability in the Caucasus, the
message said.
US President George W. Bush has also sent a congratulatory message to
President Kocharyan: I send my congratulations to you and all the
Armenian people on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence. Today, independent Armenia is one of the most important
partners of the USA. My special thanks to Armenia for its special
support to the USA in the antiterror fight. The USA will continue
supporting the Armenian government and people to achieve economic
development and settle the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. I hope that
cooperation between our countries and friendly relations between our
peoples will strengthen, the message said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian president to visit China from 26 Sep
Xinhua news agency
21 Sep 04
(New China News Agency)
Beijing, 21 September: At the invitation of Chinese President Hu
Jintao, President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Sedrakovich
Kocharyan will pay a state visit to China from 26 to 30 September,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a regular press
conference here Tuesday [21 September].

HEALTH SPHERE MOST CORRUPT IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16. ARMINFO. The most corrupt sphere in Armenia is
public health, said 19.4% of 1,956 Armenian citizens involved in a poll
conducted by the Armenian Center of National and International Studies.
According to the poll results, the judicial system is second most
corrupt. 10 per cent of the respondents said that Armenia’s armed
forces are the most corrupt body in Armenia, followed by the Taxation
Service, education system, Police and Traffic Police. According to
23.2%, the executive power is the most corrupt in Armenia. 15.6%
of the respondents consider the judicial power corrupt, and 5.7% of
them pointed out that it is the legislative power. According to 5.2%
of the respondents, local government bodies are corrupt. According to
30.7% of the respondents, superior officials force inferior ones to
practise corruption, and 29.4% said that it is nothing but mutually
advantageous deals, inferiors pay to their superiors to retain
their posts. According to 35.9% of the respondents, the authorities’
arbitrary rule is the main reason for corruption. 20.7% said that the
main reason is the priority given to personal or sectional interests in
the country. 12.1% of the respondents said that Armenia’s unspecified
legislation is another reason for corruption.
According to the Transparency International organization, Armenia
tanks 78th in the list of 133 countries, followed by Romania, Russia,
Moldova, Kazakhstan. The neighboring countries, Azerbaijan and Georgia
rank 124th and 127th respectively.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The last of the Armenians
MADHURIMA NANDY
The Times of India
TIMES NEWS NETWORK TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2004 03:15:04 AM
Eighty-three-year-old Charles Sarkies misses his friends who used to join
him for a quick game of bingo at the Armenian Club on Park Street. “There
are no births, weddings or engagements but only deaths of Armenians in the
city now.
The few left are just waiting to get six-feet under. Even the Armenian Club
is nearly non-functional,” reminisced Sarkies, who lives with 15 Armenians
at the Sir Catchick Paul Chater old-age home near Park Circus.
Sadly, even the much-popular Armenian rugby team in Kolkata has ceased to
exist now. Earlier, older students of the Armenian College who used to play
the game, along with professional players from abroad, are no more there.
“Unfortunately, the college had closed down for four years and that’s how
the team ceased to exist. I’ve managed to reopen the school in 1999 and
hopefully in the next two years we will get back our rugby team,” said Sonia
John, honourary manager of Armenian College and chair person of the Armenian
Church. The Church that was built in 1724 is possibly the oldest in the
city. Incidentally, there are about 100 Armenian students who now come from
Iran and Armenia to study here on scholarships.
It may be a forgotten history, but Armenians were the first hoteliers in the
city who set up landmark hotels like Grand, Kenilworth, Carlton and
Fairlawn, to name a few. They were known for their great communication
skills and fine sense of cuisine. John, who once owned Carlton Hotel in
Chowringhee, said, “Most of us sold our hotels off or just closed them down.
But like the Swiss, who were unparalled as the first confectioners in the
city, there is no match for Armenians in the hotel industry.”
Interestingly, of the 100-odd members of this community who remain here
still, only five are probably true blue Armenians who still speak in the
Armenian language. “Most Armenians have had inter-community marriages
because they couldn’t find partners from their community here. As a result,
the community is not very close-knit anymore,” said John. The Armenians, who
came here at the end of the 16th century, were as many as 20,000 in number
before Independence. However, post-Independence, moneyed Armenians started
migrating to USA, Europe and Australia.
From: Baghdasarian