ArmenPress
Aug 18 2004
NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF GERMANY HANDED OVER HER CREDENTIALS TO
PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Newly appointed ambassador of
Germany to Armenia Mrs. Haikei Renatei Paichi handed over her
credentials to president Kocharian today. According to president
press services, the sides praised the present level of
Armenian-German relations noting that they are developing rather
dynamically especially in recent times. The newly appointed
ambassador voiced her belief that bilateral relations will further
develop. She conveyed friendly greetings of German president Horst
Kohler to president Kocharian.
Congratulating the ambassador, Robert Kocharian said that Armenia
attaches special importance to partnership with Germany. The
president of the republic assessed highly the assistance of German
government to reforms in Armenia. Economic ties play special place in
bilateral relations, according to the president. He praised relations
especially in energy and financial-technical fields.
Both sides attached importance to cooperation between different
regions of Armenia and Germany.

ArmenPress
Aug 18 2004
ARE THERE REALLY 20,000 ARMENIANS IN AZERBAIJAN?
BAKU, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Azeri state statistics committee
chairman Arif Veliev told a news conference in Baku that as of July
1, 2004 8 mln 300,000 people live in the republic. He said that
according to 1999 census, 657 Armenians live in Azerbaijan. However,
according to him, the real number is much higher totaling about
20,000. Arif Veliev said that during the census, according to UN
requirement, no documents were asked proving national identity.

ArmenPress
Aug 18 2004
HAIK STUDENT CROSSROAD HOSTS 200 ARMENIAN YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Student council of Yerevan
Architectural Institute (YAI) holds Haik Student Crossroad, a big
event in Sevan, Hankavan and Meghrazor on August 19-28 with the
participation of more than 200 young Armenians from Armenia and
Diaspora as well as Youth Movement of Armenian Apostolic Church. Some
two dozens of teams will be named after different historic regions of
Armenia.
YAI student council Hayk Akarmazian said that this a
de-politicized action. During the event, discussions will be held on
statehood, religion, student self-government bodies. Pro-government,
opposition and spiritual actors will visit the students. Also sports
and intellectual competitions will be held.
The budget of the project totals 4 mln 600,000 dram, 2 mln 400,000
of which is provided by All Armenain Youth Fund and the rest by YAI
and Arartian Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church.

Russian minister pledges help in Karabakh settlement
ITAR-TASS news agency
18 Aug 04
Moscow, 18 August, ITAR-TASS correspondents Natalya Lenskaya and Irina
Chumakova: Russia supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today following talks with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The Russian minister said
that Moscow “is ready to do its utmost to help settle the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict both as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and also
as a nation”.
“Moscow is interested in finding a settlement to the conflict on the
basis of all the existing agreements. But only the sides themselves
can resolve the conflict and they can do so only through
negotiations,” the Russian minister said. “We cannot make a decision
for the sides, if they cannot come to an agreement themselves,” Lavrov
noted.
He expressed satisfaction with the resumption of talks late last year.
“We believe that the negotiations will be continued because what the
Minsk Group has done so far does not cover all the accumulated
problems,” the minister noted.

Armenia visit a learning experience for Kansas visitors and hosts
By Stephen D. Larson
Plains Guardian (July)
When Maj. Gen. (KS) Tod Bunting, Kansas adjutant general, visited Armenia in
May 2004 with members of the Kansas National Guard, one of the first things
that impressed him was an unusual mixture of ancient and recent history.
“The thing that comes to mind when I think of Armenia is that they’ve been a
country for over 3,000 years,” said Bunting, “but they’ve only been free for
13 of the last 100 some years.”
Armenia has been a nation since the Kingdom of Urartu in the 9th century
B.C., but after enduring centuries of conquerors – Persians, Romans, Arabs,
Mongols, Turks, Communists – it did not regain its independence until the
collapse of the Soviet Union.
“We’re actually a fledgling country by world standards,” said Bunting, “but
in terms of total years living free, we’re senior in that department.”
It is that heritage of freedom that the Kansas National Guard hopes to share
with Armenia through the State Partnership Program. Through this program,
developing nations are paired with one of the States to foster military-to
military, military-to-civilian and civilian-to-civilian relationships.
Kansas became partners with Armenia in 2003. Accompanying Bunting on the
trip were Col. Joe Wheeler, Kansas Army National Guard Plans, Operations and
Training (DPOT) officer; Lt. Col. Charles Brown, training administrator,
DPOT, Lt. Col. Joe Knowles, Kansas coordinator of the State Partnership
Program; and Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Putman, Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas
– Land Component sergeant major.
“This was a military to military exchange,” said Knowles. “This was a chance
for us to go meet their senior military officers, develop a relationship and
determine what we can do for each other, what their needs were.”
“We had individual meetings with their minister of defense, their military
officers, emergency management and their medical personnel,” Knowles said.
“We discussed a variety of possibilities,” said Wheeler. “They wanted to do
exchanges on emergency management. We talked about leadership development,
visits by Armenian military leaders, civic leader exchanges, small unit
exchanges, social support exchanges, such as military medicine and hospital
administration.”
The Kansas Guardsmen wanted to dispel any ideas that the Kansas National
Guard was going to be the “teacher” in this partnership.
“We fully expect to learn a lot from them,” said Bunting. “Their soldiers
are well-trained. They’re not a very big country, they’re surrounded by
countries that they don’t get along with so military training and readiness
is important to them.”
While Wheeler said that the Kansas National Guard will be learning from the
Armenians, he added that the Armenians expressed a great deal of interest in
the way the U.S. military works, too, particularly the National Guard system
and non-commissioned officers (NCO).
Because the Armenians do not have a national guard, the concepts of
“Citizen-Soldier” and civilian control of the military were particularly
fascinating to the Armenians.
“They really wanted to know about two things,” said Wheeler, “how the
National Guard operates and about the NCO corps. The whole concept of
National Guard and ready reserves is strange to them.”
“Like most of the former Soviet nations, they never have worked around an
NCO corps. It’s basically conscripts and officers,” said Bunting. “They
don’t have a national guard, so they don’t gain the benefit of keeping those
(experienced) soldiers around for a contingency in any kind of capacity.”
As a noncommissioned officer and a traditional Guardsman who works as a
utility lineman for Westar Energy during the week, Putnam found himself the
object of particular interest.
“They don’t have NCOs like we know them,” said Putman. The Armenians asked
him about his responsibilities and Putman explained to them how officers do
the planning and NCOs see that the work gets done.
“What we use NCOs for, they use their young lieutenants and officers,” said
Putman.
“We got to visit their training academy,” Putman continued. “I got a chance
to go talk with some of their soldiers and they were impressed that an NCO
would come over to talk to them.”
“Even more than their military, the Armenian public was just fascinated by
this notion,” said Bunting. “We had a press conference in Armenia and made a
particular effort to introduce him (Putman) with a longer introduction
because they could not conceive how he could be a Soldier and a utility
worker for the power company.”
“The kept asking me ‘When did you have to choose between being a Soldier and
a utility worker’,” Putnam said. “It took them a while to understand that I
didn’t have to choose, that I could be both.”
“They asked me how I got paid,” he continued. “I explained that the military
paid me and Westar also paid me. When they found out I got a retirement from
the military, that really astounded them.”
In Armenia, every man must serve in the military for a minimum of three
years, after which they can become an officer, the only way to make a career
of the military in Armenia. Putman’s long service record of nearly 40 years
– he entered the Kansas Army National Guard in August 1964 – amazed and
puzzled them.
“Another question they kept asking him was ‘You’ve been in 39 years. How
come you haven’t been made an officer?'” said Bunting. “They couldn’t
understand that he didn’t want to be an officer nor did he have to be an
officer to have major responsibilities.”
The trip, which took place during the Memorial Day week, brought home
another interesting concept for the Armenians.
“They were very intrigued with Memorial Day,” Bunting said. “They believe
very strongly in their armed forces and yet they do not have a day when they
celebrate their armed forces and especially those who made the ultimate
sacrifice.”
Although this initial trip was a military-to-military meeting, the
delegation still had time to meet some of the Armenian public and see a
little of the country. They unanimously found the Armenians to be a very
gracious, hospitable and proud people.
“Armenians are very proud that they were the first country to adopt
Christianity,” said Bunting. “That’s going to come up in the first four
sentences you have with an Armenian.”
“They took us to a church way back in a remote region carved out of a
mountain,” he continued. “It was centuries old.”
“They liked to point out that they were older than the Vatican,” said
Wheeler.
Coupled with that sense of historic pride is a sense of standing alone,
Bunting noted.
“They’re surrounded by Muslim nations,” said Bunting, adding that throughout
its history, the Armenians have viewed themselves as the frontier outpost of
Christendom.
Another somewhat unusual point of pride for the Armenians is a former Kansas
Senator and presidential candidate.
“Another person they are proud of is Bob Dole,” said Putman. “When Bob Dole
was injured during World War II, it was an Armenian doctor that treated
him.”
The land itself was also a delight for the visitors.
“I thought it was a beautiful country,” said Wheeler. “It has a lot of
mountains, waterfalls, canyons, a very volcanic area with lots of rocks.”
The group had the good fortune to be in the country during a national
holiday, which gave them the opportunity to sample a lot of the local
cuisine.
“All the people from each local farming community had a table with whatever
they grew,” said Putman. “There must have been 30 or 40 tables from
different farm communities passing out free samples. There was lamb and
sheep, fish, geese and duck. Not much beef. The fruits and vegetables were
really outstanding. They’re also very proud of their wines and beverages.”
“They even had a bread that they rolled out from wheat or rye,” said Putman.
“It was sort of like a soft shell taco and you put meat or whatever inside.
There was one table that had a honeycomb. They’d just cut out a hunk of
honey, comb and all, and give it to you that way.”
Although this was Bunting’s first trip to Armenia, he said it certainly
wouldn’t be the last for himself or the Kansas National Guard.
“People need to understand that this is a long-term relationship,” said
Bunting. “We hope that everyone in the Kansas Guard will have the occasion
to at least meet them as they visit and work along side them.”
As one step toward that goal, a small contingent of Armenian military
officers were at Fort Riley in July, observing the Kansas Army National
Guard’s 137th Transportation Company.
“They’re learning about our transportation techniques and tactics,”
explained Wheeler. “They don’t have anything like the PLS (Palletized
Loading System).”
Another group of Armenians will make a trip to Kansas in August, visiting
U.S. Army and Kansas Guard facilities and sampling some Kansas hospitality.
As movie legend Humphrey Bogart said at the end of the classic film
“Casablanca”: “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful
friendship.”
Caption: Maj. Gen. (KS) Tod Bunting, the adjutant general (right), displays
the Kansas flag with Maj. Artak Tonoyan, commander of the Armenian
Peacekeeping Battalion. Bunting presented the flag to Tonoyan during a visit
to Armenia in May. (Photo by Col. Joe Wheeler)
Caption: The Kansas delegation had the opportunity to visit an Armenian
troop training facility, where Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Putman’s status as a
traditional Citizen-Soldier made him an instant celebrity among the Armenian
troops, who have no NCO corps. (Photo by Col. Joe Wheeler)
Caption: Maj. Gen. (KS) Tod Bunting listens as an Armenian monk relates the
long history of Christianity in Armenia. Armenia is credited with becoming
the first country to become a Christian nation, converting in 303 A.D.
(Photo by Lt. Col. Joe Wheeler)

FINE TO BE IMPOSED FOR DAMAGE CAUSED TO GREEN ZONES OF CAPITAL FROM
NOW ON
YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). From now on the Mayor’s Office or
the communal administrations will turn to the judicial instances on
each case of illegal tree felling or damage caused to the green zones
of the capital with a demand on compensation. Grigor Melkumian, senior
adviser of the Yerevan Mayor’s Office, said during the August 16 press
conference that the Licensing Expert Commission will determine the
amount of the damage. It was mentioned that 5-6 similar cases are
being examined now.

SOME YEREVAN RESIDENTS CONTINUE PROTEST
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. The Yerevan residents moved out of their
houses have held a picket in front of the presidential residence,
protesting the Government’s decision reducing compensations for their
pulled down flats.
Three representatives of the protestants, who demanded a meeting with
the President, were invited to the reception office. They were advised
to state their demands to the President in a written form and promised
that the demands will be conveyed to the President. However, the
action participants did not believe the promises. From the
presidential residence they made for the Government, the Yerevan
Municipality and then to the office in charge of the program “North
Avenue and Cascade”, etc.. One of the action participants said that
the residents are still forced to sign contracts for purchase and sale
of lands. Government officials have violated some points of the
contract and even admit their errors. But, instead of practical
measures, they apologize to the residents and show the door to them.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base francais
17 août 2004
28e festival de La Btie à Genève Une invitation à la découverte tous
azimuts
Genève (ats) Dans un peu plus d’une semaine et jusqu’au 11 septembre,
Genève vivra au rythme du festival de La Btie. La manifestation ne
dérogera pas à la tradition. Elle se voudra avant tout un lieu de
découverte d’artistes, un moment d’innovation, d’exploration de voies
nouvelles.
Une cinquantaine de projets, dont 13 créations, figure au programme,
ont annoncé mardi les organisateurs du festival. Ces derniers,
conscients de la difficulté d’opérer des choix dans une offre aussi
large, ont recommandé aux spectateurs de se laisser guider par leur
curiosité, d’accepter les surprises.
Bashung à la cathédrale
Les moins téméraires se contenteront de la poignée d’artistes
confirmés invitée à se produire à Genève. Alain Bashung interprétera,
avec sa femme Chloé Mons, le poème biblique “Le Cantique des
Cantiques”. Un spectacle qu’il avait créé à l’occasion de son mariage
et qu’il jouera à la cathédrale Saint-Pierre.
Le festival a également réussi à faire venir Christoph Marthaler.
L’ancien directeur du Schauspielhaus de Zurich, présent pour la
première fois sur les bords du Rhône, arrive avec dans ses bagages
“O.T. eine Ersatzpassion”, sa dernière production jouée dans la ville
alémanique.
Charme de La Btie, le public pourra assister à des spectacles dans
des lieux insolites. Le duo de musiciens finlandais Pan Sonic se
produira sous les arches du Pont Butin, un construction vertigineuse
qui enjambe le Rhône. L’aéroport de Genève servira quant à lui de
cadre à une performance de Massimo Furlan.
Du noir, rien que du noir
Les amateurs de sensations nouvelles pourront assister au concert du
groupe allemand Bohren & Der Club of Gore. Cette formation de Cologne
fuit la lumière. L’obscurité est son royaume. Dans la salle de
l’Alhambra, seuls les instruments bénéficieront d’un éclairage
minimaliste, le reste sera plongé dans le noir.
Des artistes seront aussi là pour déranger. Dans ce registre,
l’écrivain d’origine argentine Rodrigo Garcia devrait tenir un rôle
central. Les deux spectacles qu’il présente à La Btie, deux
critiques sans concession de la société contemporaine, promettent de
faire du bruit avec leurs “moments de vrai liberté”.
Un ukrainien pas comme les autres
Le spectacle sera aussi dans la rue, avec une perfomance de l’artiste
ukrainien Alexander Petlura qui se balladera à travers Genève habillé
de vêtements russes historiques. La place des Volontaires, elle, se
drapera d’une ambiance arménienne, avec des sons retransmis en direct
d’Erevan, 24 heures sur 24.
NOTE: festival de la Btie, du 26 août au 11 septembre. Billetterie
en ligne sur le site ou numéro de tél 022 738 19 19.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

L’Humanité
18 août 2004
L’homme – du jour Julien Lauprêtre
Ils débarquent aujourd’hui. Cinq mille enfants, sur les plages
normandes, armés de pelles et de sceaux, prêts à dresser un mur de
l’Atlantique en ptés. De sable. S’il faut un responsable à ce
déferlement cocasse, il est le coupable indiqué. Julien Lauprêtre
dirige depuis cinquante années le Secours populaire français qui
organise cette journée à la mer. Une initiative renouvelée depuis
1979, dans le cadre de la Journée des oubliés des vacances,
échantillon de la solidarité concrète que l’homme prétend faire vivre
via son association. Une part d’humanité qu’il porte en boutonnière.
En 1998, Geneviève Anthonioz-de Gaulle, présidente d’ATD quart-monde,
la lui a agrafée au revers de sa veste. Une larme rouge, qui rappelle
son présent engagé. Mais aussi son passé. Titi parisien, fils de
cheminot, Julien est déjà vitrier quand les forces nazies prennent
possession de Paris. Avec une bande de potes, il monte un réseau de
résistants et rejoint les Jeunesses communistes. Il sera arrêté en
novembre 1943. L’anecdote est connue de beaucoup: emprisonné, il est
embastillé dans la même cellule que Manouchian et sa bande. «Mais je
ne le savais pas», précise-t-il quand il raconte l’histoire. Il ne
l’apprendra que plus tard, en voyant l’Affiche rouge. «Il faut
continuer la lutte», l’aurait encouragé le résistant arménien. Un
conseil que Julien Lauprêtre, à soixante-dix-huit ans passés, n’a pas
encore omis. Pas plus que la recommandation prodiguée par un
instituteur. «Bon, mais peut mieux faire.» Il s’en est, dit-il, fait
une devise.
M.-N. B.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Croix
17 août 2004
PORTRAIT. Julien Lauprêtre, un demi-siècle au service des autres. ·
la tête du Secours populaire français (SPF) depuis bientôt cinquante
ans, Julien Lauprêtre fut à l’origine de la Journée des oubliés des
vacances , créée en 1979. Cette année, celle-ci est placée sous le
signe du Débarquement. 5 000 enfants sont attendus, demain, en
Normandie.
par LAMOUREUX Marine
Cinquante ans après, c’est le même enthousiasme, la même verve
militante. Entré en 1954 au Secours populaire français comme
assistant, secrétaire général dès l’année suivante, Julien Lauprêtre
est depuis lors l’me d’une des plus importantes associations
caritatives du pays. Toujours réélu à sa tête, cet homme simple, à
l’allure bonhomme, a su développer l’organisation, qui rassemble
aujourd’hui 72 000 bénévoles, plus de 800 000 donateurs, et qui
fêtera l’année prochaine son 60e anniversaire.
Pour autant, à 78 ans, le militant n’en tire aucune gloire, si ce
n’est de rendre la société un peu plus humaine . Fils de cheminot,
apprenti miroitier au début de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Julien
Lauprêtre a rejoint la Résistance dès l’ge de 16 ans, avant d’être
arrêté puis emprisonné en 1943. C’est là, dit-il, qu’il a puisé un
profond désir de s’engager sur le terrain social, au lendemain du
conflit. Son père, qui fut syndicaliste et élu au conseil municipal
de Paris, n’y est pas étranger.
Mais la rencontre, en prison, avec les membres de l’affiche rouge ,
dont le poète et résistant arménien Missak Manoukian, aura été
décisive pour le jeune Julien. Manoukian m’a dit : moi je vais être
fusillé, mais toi, tu vas t’en sortir, il faut que tu sois utile, que
tu rendes la société moins injuste. Bien des années plus tard, le
président bénévole du Secours populaire a le sentiment d’avoir
apporté sa pierre. Aide alimentaire, dons de vêtements, accès aux
soins mais aussi à la culture : chaque jour, plusieurs milliers de
personnes défavorisées s’en remettent à son association, qui tient
tout particulièrement à la Journée des oubliés des vacances .
· l’heure actuelle, un enfant sur trois ne part pas en vacances, car
en cas de difficultés, c’est toujours sur le budget des loisirs que
l’on rogne , rappelle Julien Lauprêtre, pour qui même une seule
journée, à la mer ou à la montagne, peut apporter beaucoup. L’enfant
a des choses à raconter lorsqu’il retourne à l’école, il n’est pas
sec devant la traditionnelle rédaction de rentrée , souligne-t-il.
Demain, à n’en pas douter, le voyage de 5 000 enfants défavorisés sur
les plages de Normandie aura une consonance particulière pour
l’ancien résistant. Qui, bien loin d’être las, après cinquante ans,
n’espère qu’une chose : pouvoir continuer encore longtemps à militer.