Month: June 2005

SEVERE HAIL IN GEGHARKUNIK REGION, ARMENIA, DAMAGES ROOFS AND CROPS
YEREVAN, JUNE 14. ARMINFO. A severe hail (diameter 4 sm.) in
Gegharkunik region has damaged roofs of houses and crops. The
press-service of the Emergency Situations Department informs ARMINFO
that on June 12 the severe gail damaged the roofs of 20 buildings and
crops in the villages of Chambarak, Getik, Ttu Jur. According to the
source, the same day another severe hail was recorded in Lori region.
Besides, June 12-13 night, in the village of Chin-Chin the wind and
lighting partially destroyed a house.

Calmy -Rey spricht Armenier-Frage an
Ankara – Unterschiedliche Auffassungen in der Frage des Genozides an
Armeniern, aber Einigkeit in der Notwendigkeit einer historischen Aufarbeitung:
Dies
ist das Ergebnis des Treffens von Bundesrätin Calmy-Rey mit dem turkischen
Aussenminister Gul.
An einer gemeinsamen Medienkonferenz in Ankara sagte Abdullah Gul, er habe
Micheline Calmy-Rey den Standpunkt der Turkei in der Armenier-Frage und die
historische Entwicklung des Problems ausfuhrlich erläutert. Die Haltungen der
Schweiz und der Turkei sind verschieden, stellte Gul fest. Der Entscheid des
Waadtländer Grossen Rates im Jahr 2003, den Genozid an den Armeniern
anzuerkennen,
sei unangemessen gewesen. Grund fur das Missverständnis sei nach seiner
Meinung die Darstellung der Ereignisse durch die im Ausland lebenden Armenier,
fugte
Gul hinzu.
Calmy-Rey wurdigte Engagement
Die Armenier-Frage hatte nach dem Entscheid des Waadtländer Parlaments zu
diplomatischen Verstimmungen zwischen der Schweiz und der Turkei gefuhrt Eine .
Reise der Aussenministerin an den Bosporus wurde in der Folge annulliert. Ein
weiteres Thema des Treffens der Schweizer Bundesrätin mit Gul waren die
Menschenrechte.
Micheline Calmy-Rey sprach Tacheles. / Foto: David Adair ex-press.ch
Calmy-Rey wurdigte dabei die erfolgten Reformen und Anstrengungen. Zu den
Anfang März in Istanbul gewaltsam unterdruckten Kundgebungen sagte die
EDA-Vorsteherin, sie hoffe, dass der politische Wille auch im Alltag seine
Umsetzung
finde.
Wirtschaftliche Beziehungen verbessern
Die wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen kamen ebenfalls zur Sprache. Diese konnten
noch verbessert werden, sagte Calmy-Rey. In diesem Zusammenhang erwähnte sie
die Moglichkeit eines Abkommens zur Vermeidung von Doppelbesteuerung.
Aussenministerin Micheline Calmy-Rey hatte ihren dreitägigen Besuch in der
Turkei in
Ankara mit einem Hoflichkeitsbesuch bei Staatspräsident Ahmet Necdet Sezer
begonnen und anschliessend einen Kranz beim Mausoleum von Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,
dem
Grunder der modernen und laizistischen Turkei, niedergelegt. Am Mittwoch
besucht die Aussenministerin Diyarbakir, eine kurdische Stadt im Sudosten der
Turkei, bevor sie in die Wirtschaftsmetropole Istanbul weiterreist.
–Boundary_(ID_mFfsqWE4rpHsrd1iwi11kA)–

ILHAM ALIYEV PROMISES STATUS OF AUTONOMY TO KARABAKH AND MAKES HIS AMENDMENTS TO HISTORY
YEREVAN, JUNE 14. ARMINFO. Provision of a status of autonomy to
Nagorny Karabakh is the maximum concession on the part of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made this statement talking to
journalists in Croatia, Azertaj reports. “We are ready to provide
Karabakh the highest status of autonomy in the world and guarantees of
security. These are the maximum concessions we can go on,” Azerbaijani
president said. Drawing parallels between Azerbaijan and Croatia
Ilham Aliyev stated that these two stated had much in common as
“Azerbaijan has also suffered from external aggression becoming a
victim of Armenia’s aggression.” “And the reason was ‘protection’
of the Armenians residing in Azerbaijan. However, there was no need
to protect the Armenians in Karabakh as they had lived in our country
for over 150 years and had never had problems. The major reason was
an intention to occupy the territory of Azerbaijan, and Armenian has
managed to do it due to external support and assistance,” Aliyev said.

LAKE SEVAN LEVEL CONTINUES GROWING
YEREVAN, JUNE 14. ARMINFO, June 12 the level of Lake Sevan was 1,898.27
meters which is 42 cm higher than last year, says the spokesman of
Armenia’s Health Care Ministry Artsrun Pepanyan.
120 mln c m of water will be released this year for irrigation via
the Sevan-Hrazdan water power cascade.
In 1933-1950 the level of Sevan dropped by 19 meters putting it on
the verge of disaster by 1991. If in 1990 released for irrigation
were 208 mln c m of water – in 1993 as much as 1.643 bln c m. This
lowered the level by 2 more meters and killed several species of fish.
Since 1998 the Ministry has been working to reduce water release from
the lake and to restore the “pearl” of the republic. In 1999 the
government built Argel water power plant and Arzni-Shamiram water
canal to stop water release in the winter. In 2001 the parliament
approved a law on Sevan aiming to raise the lake’s level by 6 meters
and prevent its eutrophication.
In 2004 the government launched Vorotan-Arpa water canal allowing
to transfer to Sevan 165 mln c m of water from Spandaryan water
reservoir. This will allow to raise Sevan’s level by 20 cm a year
and to ensure the planned 6 meters in 30 years. In the last two years
the level has been raised by 94 cm – much more than expected.

ASHOT MANUCHARYAN INSISTS THAT HE KNOWS TRUTH ABOUT ACT OF TERRORISM
IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT, HOWEVER THERE IS NOBODY TO IMPART WITH IT
YEREVAN, JUNE 14. ARMINFO. Leader of Armenia’s Socialistic Forces Union
Ashot Manucharyan insists as usual that he knows the true situation of
the act of terrorism perpetrated in Armenia’s Parliament on October 27,
1999, when Armenia’s Prime Minister, Speaker and both Vice-Speakers
were perished from terrorists’ bullets.
ARMINFO reporter reminded him about his systematically repeated
promises to tell all the truth on the act of terrorism during today’s
press-conference in the National press-club. Manucharyan stated in
response that if he tells Police (forced its way to power of criminal),
Office of Public Prosecutor or restricted mass media about it, he will
become a part of this criminal. “My offer to create an independent
deputy commission I might tell all the truth had been rejected. And,
it was for the better as no independent commission may be in an
illegitimate parliament. However, the time will come and I will tell
the whole”, Manucharyan stated do not specifying when this day comes.

WB VICE-PRESIDENT: COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA EFFICIENT
Pan Armenian News
14.06.2005 07:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
World Bank Vice-President Shigeo Katsu and WB Yerevan Office head Roger
Robinson, reported the Press Service of the Armenian leader. Having
emphasized the successful implementation of programs in Armenia
by the WB, Shigeo Katsu qualified the cooperation with Armenia as
efficient. He also noted certain progress in economic development
of Armenia. Having expressed confidence that the cooperation will
further be efficient, R. Kocharian said, “We hold reforms being sure
that we are those who needs them first of all and our goal is to pass
the transition period as soon as possible.” In the course of the
meeting the parties discussed questions referring to perfection of
the tax and customs administration, enhancement of efficiency of the
activities of industrial infrastructures. In R. Kocharian’s words
these were announced a priority task and the Armenian party will
be consistent in working over it. “Administration, transparency,
publicity are the main aspects we have to actively work over,” the
Armenian President remarked. The interlocutors also concerned problems
of education system and health protection, as well as reforms of local
self-government bodies. Having mentioned the rate of education and
health reform is slow, R. Kocharian added a timetable of reforming
the system of higher education institutions and the scientific sphere
is already worked out. In the President’s words, decentralization is
the main policy line in the self-government reform. Having noted that
notable work has been done within the past two years, R. Kocharian
stated, “Our goal is to commission as much power as possible to local
self-government bodies, specifically in everyday matters.” Within the
context of the territorial policy the Armenian leader remarked the
importance of development of border settlements and poverty reduction.

LARISA ALAVERDIAN’S LETTER TO ARA ABRAHAMIAN
AZG Armenian Daily #109, 15/06/2005
Letter
Various organizations and officials welcomed the release of the six
Armenian pilots from the prison of the Equatorial Guinea. Larisa
Alaverdian, RA ombudswoman, send a letter of gratitude to Ara
Abrahamian, chairman of World Armenian Congress and the Union of the
Armenians of Russia, on the occasion of the return of the Armenian
pilots to their motherland.
Mrs. Alaverdian emphasized in the letter that she was very glad
to hear that the Armenian pilots are released. RA ombudswoman also
emphasized the importance of the efforts Ara Abrahamian made, stating
that his deed will be highly appreciated. “Such a step taken by a
representative of Armenian Diaspora evidences real patriotism and love
to his own people, true benevolence and humanity have no borders,”
the letter said.
Larisa Alaverdian expressed her deepest gratitude to the World Armenian
Congress and wished success in their further activities for their
people and Armenia.

TWO OTHER ARMENIANS ELECTED TO LEBANESE PARLIAMENT
AZG Armenian Daily #109, 15/06/2005
Diaspora
On June 12 another stage of Parliamentary elections took place in
Lebanon. The elections were held in the most important regions of
Highland Lebanon and Bekaa Valley. The Beirut-based Zartonk daily
informed that this time more Armenians were elected to the Parliament
of Lebanon. These two deputies are Hakob Bagratouni, member of ARF
Dashnaktsiutiun, and non-party George Kasarj. Hakob Bagratouni has
been the head of the Sofia Hakobian National College. He also occupied
various positions in the party. The second candidate George Kasarj
though non-party man, has been cooperating with ARF Dashnaktsiutiun
very frequently.
Thus, there are six representatives of the Lebanese Armenians elected
to the Parliament of the country. The newly elected deputies are Hakob
Gasarchian, Yeghik Geregian, Jean Oghasapian, Serge Tursargisian,
Hakob Bagratouni and George Kasarj.

AZG Armenian Daily #109, 15/06/2005
Exhibition
‘OUR PIECES GO HAND IN HAND AND BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND NEW YORK’
“New York Meets Armenia” exhibition opened at “Academy” Gallery on June 13.
Vasken Galachian, painter from New York, and Gevorg Ghasabian, artist from
Yerevan, represented their pieces in a joint exhibition.
These two artists that are also friends hope that the exhibition will help
the Armenian art-lovers to get familiarized with their pieces. The artists
aim to represent the same exhibition in New York, too. Thus, the
deliberately chose such a title for the exhibition, meaning that they are
building a bridge between Armenia and New York.
Sculpture Gevorg Ghasabian represented 12 sculptures made of tuff at the
exhibition. “When I saw tuff I greatly admired it. It’s no ordinary stone.
It bears the warmth of the earth inside,” Ghasabian said. He is sure that
tuff can be used not only in construction but also in contemporary art.
While Vasken Galachian represented about 15 pieces in the exhibition. The
artist practices Transcendental Meditation; he studies Sufism, Daoism,
Buddhism and Esoteric Christianity. He is also well aware of Gurdiev’s and
Uspensky’s theories. The pieces of Galachian reflect his researches of the
human mind, of the human psychology and the feelings. “Vasken’s feelings are
deeply reflected on his canvases,” Ghasabian said about his friend.
Galachian said that he creates his pieces in not less than six months.
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #109, 15/06/2005
Economy
ARMENIA WILL JOIN COUNTRIES WITH AVERAGE INCOME IN 1-2 YEARS
^_Representative of WB Assures
At the press conference at World Bank’s Yerevan office yesterday Shigeo
Kazu, vice-president of WB European and Central Asian region, said
that Armenia will join countries with average income in 1-2 years. But
before this, he said that his last visit to Armenia was 3 years ago
and that he has noticed obvious progress since then. In particular
he pointed out the increase of Armenia’s gross domestic product. The
WB representatives said that Armenia was in the list of states that
had the best cooperation with the WB in the period of 1993-2002.
Shigeo Kazu highlighted the elaboration of long-term projects with
the Armenian government that will enable to bring new investments
including ones directed at development of infrastructures. As to the
external debt, our country does not have serious problems in contrast
to the situation a few years back when the external debt of Armenia
equaled to the 50 percent of GDP. Now it amounts only to 35 percent
of GDP. Armenia reached the indices of 1989-1990 with its per capita
distribution of the gross domestic product. Kazu noted that Armenia is
more prepared to compete in the world market today than it was in 1989.
The WB representative thinks that reforms in neighboring Georgia
have launched only lately, after the rose revolution. Now Georgia
is trying to catch up with Armenia and may well do that using its
capacity for transits.
Azerbaijan has just entered a period that will last 12-15 years and
during whish the country will mobilize its oil resources.
Roger Robinson, head of the WB Yerevan office, dwelled on the projects
of the WB implemented in Armenia. He informed that the WB carried
out 4 projects during the last 4 years with an overall cost of $70
million. In the coming financial year the World Bank will carry out
4 more projects on $60 million. For the project in the forthcoming 4
years the Bank will spend $220 million. As Robinson put, Armenia now
gets those resources as it maintain good cooperation with the WB. He
also noted that the Bank is involved in all spheres and there is no
need to direct finances only for one specific sphere.
Asked about the economic importance of open Armenia-Turkish border,
the WB regional vice-president said that it is very difficult to
separate economy from politics. That issue, he thinks, is more to
the politicians to solve than to the World Bank.
By Ara Martirosian