ARKA News Agency
June 15 2004
CBA announces contest on best scenario for cartoon film on inflation
Arthur Baghdasarian and Sergey Mironov discuss development of
Armenian-Russian interparliamentary links
8TH International economic forum opens in Saint-Petersburg
The Chairman of RF State Duma Boris Gryzlov to arrive in Armenia with
official visit in autumn
Exhibition of Karabakh children works opened in Stepanakert
NKR President meets French co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group Henri
Jacolin
RA President Kocharian welcomes Volgaburmash holding company in
Armenia
RA Foreign Minister and US Secretary of State discuss perspectives of
mutual relations
*********************************************************************
CBA ANNOUNCES CONTEST ON BEST SCENARIO FOR CARTOON FILM ON INFLATION
YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. Central Bank of Armenia announced contest
on best scenario for cartoon film on inflation, CBA told ARKA.
According to the statement, interested parties can take part in the
contest till August 1, 2004 by submission of the scenario to CB press
service. The winner will receive money prize in amount of 120
thousand AMD. ($1 – 546.83 AMD). L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN AND SERGEY MIRONOV DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF
ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY LINKS
YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian and the
Chairman of Federation Council of RF Federal Assembly Sergey Mironov
discussed development of Armenian-Russian interparliamentary links,
RA NA told ARKA. The parties stressed the importance of fulfillment
of the agreement on cooperation in the frames of which Armenian
pavilion was opened in Saint-Petersburg. The parties discussed
opportunities of expanding of interparliamentary links between the
countries. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
8TH INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM OPENS IN SAINT-PETERSBURG
YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. 8th international economic forum opened in
Saint-Petersburg today. According to the Chairman of RF State Duma
Boris Gryzlov, similar forums are very important in the view of
establishment of links between the countries. According to him, one
of priority directions of State Duma activity is multilateral
cooperation with CIS countries. He said that State Duma pays
attention of development of bilateral cooperation as well. Gryzlov
stressed that during interparliamentary meetings basic accent is made
on concrete issues of economic cooperation, possibilities of increase
of goods’ turnover, investment flows. He also paid attention to
creation of joint economic area, modernization of the economy and
implementation of new technologies.
Petersburg International Economic Forum is conducted annually in
June. The organizers of the forum are Federation Council of RF
Federal Assembly and Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS Countries in
assistance of RF Government and participation of EBRD.
Basic goal of the forum is conduction of preliminary and independent
discussion on economic and social development of Russia and CIS
countries, integration processes in post Soviet area, perspectives of
international economic and humanitarian cooperation. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
THE CHAIRMAN OF RF STATE DUMA BORIS GRYZLOV TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA WITH
OFFICIAL VISIT IN AUTUMN
YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. The Chairman of RF State Duma Boris Gryzlov
will arrive in Armenia with official visit in autumn, RA NA told
ARKA. He will arrive in Armenia on the invitation of RA NA Speaker
Arthur Baghdasarian. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
EXHIBITION OF KARABAKH CHILDREN WORKS OPENED IN STEPANAKERT
STEPANAKERT, June 15. /ARKA/. Exhibition of Karabakh children works
opened in Stepanakert. According to Director of SCJSC Center of
Children Art Ludmila Barsegian, the exhibition basically represents
pictures, reflecting culture and life of Nagorno Karabakh. 180
children from the Center take part in the exhibition.
Center of Children Art operates in Karabakh since 1993 and at the
moment 850 children attend the Center. Works of the children from the
Center were exhibited in Yugoslavia, France, Moscow and other cities.
L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
NKR PRESIDENT MEETS FRENCH CO-CHAIRMAN OF OSCE MINSK GROUP HENRI
JACOLIN
STEPANAKERT, June 15. /ARKA/. Arkadi Ghukasya, NKR President met
French co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group Henri Jacolin. According to
the personal correspondent of ARKA in Stepanakert, issues concerning
the negotiations and the perspectives of Karabakh conflict settlement
were discussed by the parties. Ghukasyan left for France to
participate in “Days of Karabakh”, held in some cities of the country
on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of armistice in Karabakh
conflict region. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN WELCOMES VOLGABURMASH HOLDING COMPANY IN
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. RA President Kocharian welcomed
Volgaburmash holding company in Armenia during the meeting with the
member of the Council of Federation of RF Federal Assembly, the Head
of the holding company Andrei Ischuk, according to RA President’s
Press Service Department. The President noted that Armenia will have
a reliable partner represented by Volgaburmash. The parties discussed
the issues of preparing the final form of the agreement on
transmitting the shares of Nairit Armenian factory to the ownership
of Volgaburmash. Ischuk introduced the investment program to
Kocharian, as well as the program of restoration of the factory and
operating it with its full capacity. The agreement on purchasing 100%
of the shares of Nairit Armenian scientific-industrial enterprise by
Volgaburmash international holding company was signed in Yerevan on
April 16, 2004. Before, 100% of the shares were transmitted to
Armsviaz bank in exchange for the debt of Nairit to the bank.
Volgaburmash Samara holding represents two monopolies on production
of drill units on post Soviet territory. It also forms monopoly on
production of reserve metal constructions. The consolidated turnover
of the holding company for 2003 makes over $200 mln. Currently,
Volgaburmash includes 14 factories, and two more factories are being
built, as well as 11 construction-and-mounting departments.
Volgaburmash has over one thousand consumers in CIS, and actively
operates on the international market. The policy of holding company
provides for restoration of enterprises on post Soviet territory.
A.H. –0—
*********************************************************************
RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND US SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS PERSPECTIVES OF
MUTUAL RELATIONS
YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. Vardan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister met US
Secretary of State Collin Powell during his two-day visit to the US.
As Ra Foreign Ministry told ARKA, during the meeting the sides
discussed the perspectives of the development of the mutual relations
as well as a number of the issues concerning the regional
developments, Armenian-Turkish relations and the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The officials focused on the issues
related to Armenia’s participation in US Millennium Challenge
program, mentioning the importance of the program for democracy and
economy in Armenia. On the same day, the Minister met Condoleezza
Rice, US National Security Advisor. In the course of the meeting the
officials discussed the regional security issues, the future NATO
summit and the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In the frames
of his visit Oskanian also met the Deputy Assistant to the U.S.
Secretary of Defense Mira Ricardeli, the Assistant Secretary of the
State for Europe and Euroasia, Elizabeth Johnes, acting Assistant to
US Secretary of State on Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs M.
Kozack. The R Foreign Minister took a speech on RA foreign policy and
regional security in the Center of Strategic and International
Studies. T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************

Reagan won the Cold War all by himself? It’s a myth
By Daniel Sneider
San Jose Mercury News
Sunday, June 13, 2004
As a reporter in Moscow, I had the privilege of witnessing one of
the great events of the past century — the end of Soviet communism
and the collapse of the Soviet empire.
What I saw and heard bears almost no resemblance to the pernicious
myth repeated in recent days that Ronald Reagan single-handedly won
the Cold War.
The myth distorts history. It insults the Polish dockworkers,
Lithuanian nationalists and Russian democrats who risked their lives
for freedom. If any single person can be credited for such a momentous
event, it would be Mikhail Gorbachev.
Even worse, the myth perpetuates a dangerous idea, now at play in
the deserts of Iraq, that the United States can, by its own will,
transform other societies.
To his credit, Ronald Reagan didn’t create this myth — his supporters
did. They claim the decision to pursue the “star wars” program,
along with a massive defense buildup, drove the Soviet Union to
economic collapse. And they insist that Reagan’s calls for freedom
inspired the uprising against Communist rule.
There is a kernel of truth to this. The United States had to make
clear to the Soviet leadership that it could not advance its aims by
military means or ever hope to win an arms race. And it needed to not
lose sight of the fact that the Cold War was also a struggle of ideas.
Those principles did not belong exclusively, however, to Reagan. They
are the core of the doctrine of containment crafted at the dawn
of the Cold War by diplomat George Kennan. As long as the West
remained unified and strong, Kennan predicted, the Soviet system
would eventually collapse from its own inherent limitations.
That “long twilight struggle” succeeded. The Soviet Union I
encountered at the end of the 1980s was exhausted. Soviet workers were
soaked in vodka by midday. Dimly lit grocery stores were lined with
bottles of pickled tomatoes nobody would buy. In Soviet offices, a desk
covered with large clunky rotary dial phones was a sign of power. To me
it was evidence of a country left behind by the microchip revolution.
Though it commanded tremendous resources, the Soviet military wasn’t
much more impressive. On the bases of elite Soviet Marines and advanced
jet fighter wings, the men paid more attention to cultivating potato
fields they depended on for food. Even some Russians described their
own country as “Bangladesh with nuclear weapons.”
The crisis of legitimacy was kept in check only by the fading fear
of the police state. Russians read official propaganda in reverse —
whatever the authorities said was white, they knew had to be black.
Cynicism was the dominant ideology of the Communist Party. No one
mentioned Marx or talked of socialism. A failed coup in 1991 was
carried out by drunken apparatchiks desperate to hang on to power,
pale remnants of the ruthless Bolsheviks who created this system.
Nationalism was and remains the most powerful motivating
belief. Russians still felt pride in their nation and hoped freedom
would bring them prosperity as part of Europe. From Poland to Armenia,
entire populations revolted against Russian imperial rule. The depth of
disaffection was a shock not only to Gorbachev but also to the American
leadership, which never saw the breakup of the Soviet Union coming.
The Soviet system was already in crisis by the 1960s. The exposé of
Stalin’s crimes had dug deep into belief. The growth symbolized by
massive projects, many of them built with slave labor, had reached
its limit. An attempt at limited economic reform failed.
The Soviet Union probably lived longer than it properly should have
for two reasons — the Vietnam War, which discredited and fatigued
the United States; and the OPEC oil cartel, which allowed the Soviets
to paper over their problems with booming revenue from oil and gas
exports (which continues to this day).
Gorbachev sought reform not to keep up with America but to save the
system. But each step to open up the Soviet Union only exposed its
weakness, most of all to its own people. Ultimately his reforms only
hastened the end.
To the extent that Ronald Reagan recognized the potential of these
changes and encouraged them, he helped speed the end of the Cold
War. But it is time to dump the self-congratulatory rhetoric into
the dustbin of history where communism now resides.
DANIEL SNEIDER is foreign affairs columnist for the Mercury News. His
column appears on Sunday and Thursday. You can contact him at
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
June 15, 2004
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
AUA COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES DISCUSSES VIOLENCE IN ARMENIAN FAMILIES
Yerevan- On Monday, June 7, 2004, AUA’s College of Health Sciences (CHS)
held a public health panel discussion on “Violence in Armenian Families:
Myths or Reality?” Approximately 50 people, including AUA students and
faculty, community members of the general public, as well as the media
listened attentively as this sensitive and at times controversial issue was
discussed.
Moderated by the Director of the School of Health Care Management and
Administration and former Minister of Health, Dr. Mihran Nazaretyan noted,
“Violent behavior and the incidence of domestic violence in Armenia are not
clearly understood both by the general public and the state. The
epidemiology of domestic violence in the country is quite uncertain, thus
the problem has not been recognized as a public health issue. Just recently,
due to pressure from international organizations, newly created NGOs, as
well as the public, the problem has been disclosed and is currently
considered as an agenda item for state decision-makers and lawmakers.”
Other invited panelists, including Sara Anjargolian, Assistant Dean of AUA’s
Dept. of Law, Susanna Aslanyan, President of Armenia’s Maternity Fund NGO,
Iren Sargsyan, Gender Based Violence Program Coordinator, Prime II, and
Susanna Vardanyan, President of the Women Rights Center NGO in Yerevan, were
given time for short presentations expressing their thoughts and comments on
the social, cultural and gender determinants of domestic violence, education
and cooperation with the families, governmental bodies, and national
legislators.
Several suggestions were offered to help identify the problems more clearly
and provide better solutions. Priority should be given to more information,
education and public discussions, greater mass-media coverage, to involve
the entire family in an educational process, further legislative initiatives
and to engage support and cooperation with national lawmakers in order to
improve the laws regarding domestic violence and the rights of women.
The School of Health Care Management and Administration is the newest
program of the AUA College of Health Sciences and is a joint undertaking
with the Ministry of Health of Armenia. Its focus is on continuing medical
education throughout the regions of Armenia and to improve the health of the
population. The school trains a number of health care specialists in order
to create a critical mass of professionals with necessary level of skills
and abilities to implement plans and strategies of the Ministry of Health.
—————-
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit

Le Télégramme
15 juin 2004
Contents ou mécontents ils campent sur leurs positions
AUTEUR: Y.M.
A l’origine, le camp du Tour-du-Parc devait accueillir trois
familles.
Deux familles de réfugiés arméniens étaient en effet conviées par la
Ddass à rejoindre ce camp après plusieurs mois passés dans un hôtel
vannetais.
L’une et l’autre ont refusé l’invitation. Une mère de trois enfants
s’est justifiée en invoquant l’éloignement du site des lignes de bus.
On ignore où ces familles ont trouvé refuge.
« Sans ça on serait à la rue »
Autres mécontents, mais qui ont, eux, accepté de rejoindre la
presqu’île, la famille Zumberi. Un couple et leurs trois garçons,
originaires du Kosovo et qui séjournaient depuis neuf mois dans un
hôtel de Vannes. « On nous a amenés ici en voiture et le conducteur
est vite reparti », peste la femme, dans un mélange franco-yougoslave
difficilement compréhensible. Ses gestes laissent cependant deviner
qu’elle n’apprécie guère le site.
« De toute manière, nous sommes ici jusqu’au 28 juin, enchaîne son
mari, nous aurons bientôt un appartement. Vannes, Lorient, Locminé,
Troyes, n’importe où, mais surtout pas Pontivy », glisse-t-il,
portant un doigt sur ses lèvres en signe de silence.
Et puis il y a cette autre famille, en France depuis décembre 2002 et
bien heureuse de trouver un toit. Les Eliachvili, ressortissants
géorgiens en attente d’un asile subsidiaire. « Sans cet endroit, on
serait à la rue. Nous ignorons pour combien de temps nous sommes
installés dans cette caravane, mais nous sommes contents d’être là,
même s’il a fait un peu froid le soir », sourit la maman, bien aidée
dans la traduction par la plus grande de ses filles.
Scolarisée en CP à Vannes, non loin de l’hôtel qui les hébergeait,
cette dernière en a terminé avec l’école vendredi. Jour où leur
départ leur a été signifié. Tout comme sa jeune soeur, en maternelle.
« S’il le faut, elles viendront à l’école chez nous », assure le
maire.
GRAPHIQUE: Photo, Legende: Autres mécontents, mais qui ont, eux,
accepté de rejoindre la presqu”île, la famille Zumberi. Un couple et
leurs trois garçons, originaires du Kosovo et qui séjournaient depuis
neuf mois dans un hôtel de Vannes.

Le Télégramme
15 juin 2004
Nécrologie : Jean Gouzoukian
Jean Gouzoukian, compagnon d’Alice Le Roy, est décédé, dimanche
matin, d’un malaise cardiaque.
D’origine Arménienne, mais né en Algérie, le 30 juillet 1929 à
Mostaganem, il était venu à Brennilis en retraite après avoir
travaillé en région parisienne.
Membre actif de plusieurs associations, Jean était très apprécié de
tous pour sa gentillesse et sa serviabilité. Passionné de timbres, il
était aussi membre du club de philatélie de Carhaix. Sa disparition
laissera un grand vide auprès de sa famille et de ses amis.
Ses obsèques seront célébrées cet après-midi, à 14 h 30, en l’église
de Brennilis.
GRAPHIQUE: Photo, Legende: Jean Gouzoukian, était membre actif de
plusieurs associations.

L’EQUIPE
June 15, 2004
Football; Euro 2004
Le premier penalty arrete dans le jeu;
Le penalty repousse devant Beckham contre l’Angleterre (2-1)
constitue une premiere dans la carriere de Barthez en equipe de
France, du moins dans le jeu. Le gardien aux 67 selections en avait
deja arrete un, mais durant sa seule seance de tirs au but en bleu.
C’etait celui d’Albertini, contre l’Italie, en quart de finale de la
Coupe du monde 1998 (0-0, 4-3 aux t.a.b.), tandis que R. Baggio,
Costacurta et Vieri avait reussi le leur, et que Di Biagio avait
trouve la barre.
A l’ultime seconde du quart de finale de l’Euro 2000, France-Espagne
(2-1), Raul avait tire au-dessus alors que Mendieta avait auparavant
reussi le sien. En comptant ce dernier, le gardien marseillais a donc
encaisse 6 buts sur penalty dans le jeu – il faut y ajouter ceux de
Stradli, Norvege (3-3), le 25 fevrier 1998 ; Laudrup, Danemark (2-1),
le 24 juin 1998 ; Shahgeldian, Armenie (3-2), le 8 septembre 1999 ;
Poborsky, Republique tcheque (2-1), le 16 juin 2000 ; R. Baggio, FIFA
World Stars (5-1), le 16 aout 2000.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY MAKES STUNNING DECISION AUTHORISING OPPOSITION RALLY
A1 Plus | 21:00:27 | 14-06-2004 | Politics |
Artarutyun opposition bloc’s Press-Secretary Ruzan Khachatryan said
Monday Yerevan municipality had authorized a rally scheduled for
coming Wednesday.
This is the first time the municipality has given its authorization
to an opposition-staged rally. Before that, the opposition has been
repeatedly denied authorization.
The opposition activists explain such a precipitous shift in the
authorities conduct with the PACE approaching session and PACE
representative Yerzi Yaskernia’s visit to Armenia.

ARMENIAN PEOPLE HAVE TO DO WITHOUT NTV PROGRAMS
A1 Plus | 19:42:52 | 14-06-2004 | Social |
NTV, Russian TV channel, no longer will be retransmitted in
Armenia. Radio and Television National Commission decided Monday
to give 23 UHF, on which NTV were retransmitted once, to Armenian
government for retransmission of Russian Culture channel’s programs.
No tender has been announced for the frequency. It was given to the
government under an intergovernmental agreement made between Armenia
and Russia.
Paradise, a company that retransmitted the NTV on that frequency,
doesn’t dispute the decision and has no claims, the head of the
commission Grikor Amalyan says.
From: Baghdasarian

A1 Plus | 19:57:25 | 14-06-2004 | Official |
NAREK SARGSSYAN SACKED BY ARMENIAN PREMIER
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan issued an order Monday
dismissing Narek Sargsyan from the post of Yerevan Vice-Mayor and
Architect General of Armenian capital.

YERZI YASKERNIA GETS FAMILIAR WITH DOMESTIC CONTROVERSY OVER CONFIDENCE REFERENDUM
A1 Plus | 19:16:02 | 14-06-2004 | Politics |
PACE Monitoring Commission member Yerzi Yaskernia, who arrived Friday
night in Yerevan to see how much Armenia has accomplished in complying
with the PACE resolution demands, has met with parliamentary groups
and fractions as part of his mission.
Yerzi Yaskernia wanted to hear opinions about confidence referendum.
The referendum couldn’t be conducted as it contradicts Armenia’s
constitution, MP Gagik Minasyan, a member the ruling coalition’s
Republican Party, said.
Members of the ruling coalition’s another party Orinats Erkir expressed
the same view.
Levon Lazarian, an MP from Dashnaktsutyun, the third member party
of the tree-headed ruling coalition, told Yaskernia people hadn’t
supported the idea of confidence referendum and the number of rally
participants had become scant because of little public support.
Dashnak Vahan Hovhannisyan said people distrusted the opposition
line and are unhappy about lack of clear program. In his opinion,
the Constitutional Court’s proposal to conduct a referendum leads to
a deadlock. The court has to confess that its proposal was nothing
more than a mere mistake.
Artarutyun fraction leader Stepan Demirchyan, MP of polar-opposite
political background and president Kocharyan’s key rival in
presidential elections, said the steps taken by the authorities to
comply with PACE demands are insufficient and aimed at deceiving PACE.
He also said criminal case against Artarutyun opposition bloc activists
are not dismissed so far, though they are released from detention.
Nothing has been done to prosecute officials having committed fraud
and violating the law during elections, despite abundant convincing
evidence.
The opposition another leader Artashes Geghamyan voiced his concern
about the situation in media field saying Armenia’s population is
deprived of receiving objective information: opposition-staged events
are not being covered in media outlets at all or distorted.
In his words, the opposition is even deprived of paid broadcasting
to air its views. He expressed regret about the fact of stripping A1+
TV Company of its broadcasting license and added today the opposition
can make public its opinion only on Azatutyun radio and through some
opposition-minded newspapers.