Month: June 2005

Pan Armenian News
OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS AND VARTAN OSKANIAN MET IN VIENNA
08.06.2005 06:54
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to a report of the RA MFA press center, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Steven
Mann (US), Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) in Vienna
today to discuss the process of the Karabakh conflict settlement proceeding
from the outcomes of the Warsaw meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents. The parties also specified the details of the meeting of Vartan
Oskanian with Azeri FM Elmar Mamedyarov scheduled for June 18 in Paris.
Today Vartan Oskanian will depart on working visit for Washington where he
will meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US President’s
Advisor on National Security Steven Hedley.

Pan Armenian News
ROSE ROTH SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN UNDER NATO PA AEGIS
08.06.2005 05:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Rose-Roth seminar will open in Armenia under the aegis of
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly October 6-9, 2005. The conference will
forestall the NATO PA Autumn Session, head of the Armenian Parliamentary
Committee on Defense, National Security and Interior Mher Shahgeldian stated
at a press conference. In his word, 80-100 delegates from NATO and NATO PA
member-states and partner-states will arrive in Yerevan to discuss the
regional problems in the context of global processes. To note, previous
Rose-Roth conference was held November 26-28, 2004 in Baku. Despite
readiness of the Armenian party the Armenian delegation could not
participate in it, IA Regnum reports.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Genève: Le catholicos Aram ler fustige le terrorisme religieux
Une “alliance impie”: religion et violence
Genève, 7 juin 2005 (Apic) S.S. Aram I. Un haut responsable du Conseil
oecuménique des Eglises (COE) a exhorté les religions mondiales à exercer un
encadrement moral, dans le contexte d’une “alliance impie” entre la religion
et la violence.
“La violence qui se manifeste pour certains sous forme de terrorisme et pour
d’autres comme une guerre légitime a été justifiée au nom de la religion”.
C’est ce qu’a affirmé le président du Comité central du COE, le catholicos
Aram 1er, de l’Eglise apostolique arménienne, dans l’allocution qu’il a
prononcée au début de la réunion le 7 juin. “La religion contribue à
l’édification de la paix. Cependant, la religion a toujours eu sa part dans
l’émergence d’une culture de la violence”, a déclaré le catholicos Aram aux
quelque 130 responsables bouddhistes, chrétiens, hindous, juifs, musulmans,
zoroastriens et autres qui participent à la rencontre tenue du 7 au 9 juin
sur le thème “Un moment critique pour le dialogue interreligieux”.
“Pendant des siècles, les religions ont façonné et défini leurs identités et
bti leur force sur la base de ce qui les sépare”, a affirmé le catholicos
Aram. “Le monde actuel appelle à des partenariats et des alliances.” Les
modes de vie entraînés par la mondialisation ont engendré un “vide moral”, a
souligné le président du Comité central du COE, en suggérant la création
d’un Conseil mondial de responsables religieux. (apic/eni/vb).
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 8 2005
Azerbaijani Minister: South Caucasus Needs Demilitarization
08/06/2005 08:25
The Russian news agency RIA Novosti quotes Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov as saying that the transfer of Russian
military bases from Georgia to Armenia is not illegal.

`Bases will be transferred not to Armenia, but to the Russian
military base deployed in Armenia and in terms of legality, there is
no problem in this. However, we consider the issue this way – our
region [South Caucasus] needs demilitarization rather than
militarization. Hence, there is no need to keep troops and tanks
here,’ RIA Novosti quotes Mamedyarov as saying.
He said that as soon as Moscow and Tbilisi finalize the agreement on
the pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia, `we will analyze
this issue and take relevant steps.’
Recently, official Baku sent a protest note to Moscow regarding the
transfer of Russian military bases to Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO HALT CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD THROUGH UNIQUE FOREST
RESERVE
KAPAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: A cohort of top government officials,
including deputy energy minister, nature protection and transport ministers
and territorial minister traveled Tuesday to Armenian’s southern Shikahogh
reserve, the planned site of a new highway, the authorities want to build to
have a short and safe road to neighboring Iran, but ecologists warn once the
road is built it would endanger one of the country’s three pristine forest
reserves.
The new highway is planned to take a route across the Mtnadzor Forest
that covers a third of the Shikahogh reserve in southern Armenia.
Established in 1958, the reserve is inhabited by rare and endangered plants
and animals. Ecologist say at current rates of cutting, the last of the
forests could be gone in as little as 20 years, saying also that Armenia’s
forest areas have drastically reduced from 40 percent of the country w to
around eight percent.
A coalition of organizations and individuals, including the Armenia Tree
Project, Armenian Forests NGO, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Armenian
Assembly of America have been have asked the government to halt the plan
until a viable alternatives could be proposed . Ecologists fear the
construction of the proposed road through the preserve will introduce
pollution from passing vehicles into this almost pristine forest, destroy
the habitat for rare wildlife and migratory paths, and attract illegal
logging.
The government ministers traveled across the site together with Syunik
governor, who is one of the staunchest proponents of the alternative route
Transport minister Andranik Margarian told reporters the government has
already released around 9.5 million drams for earth works, saying also the
alternative route would be 2 km longer and would require more funding. After
four-hour discussions the officials agreed to halt works for a fortnight, to
prepare a feasibility plan for an alternative route and only then to make
the final decision.

Armenpress
ARMENIAN EYECARE PROJECT STARTS BLINDNESS PREVENTION CAMPAIGN
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian EyeCare Project plans to
distribute around 600,000 booklets across the country in an attempt to raise
the people’s awareness about the causes of blindness, early diagnosis and
prevention. The distribution is part of a wider primary health maintenance
program.
Out of 12 names of brochures eight were published with the financial
support of the USAID, the rest with the assistance of Jinishian Foundation.
Three of the brochures are intended for parents to help them identify at
early stages eyesight disorders.
Since 1992, the Armenian EyeCare Project has been “Bringing Sight to
Armenian Eyes” through a comprehensive ophthalmology program. Dedicated to
the elimination of preventable blindness and making 21 st century eye care
accessible to every Armenian child and adult, the EyeCare Project’s
Initiative is an integrated program of assistance focused on strengthening
the Armenian eye care delivery system and reducing preventable blindness in
Armenia. The five comprehensive program components include direct patient
care; medical training and education; public education; research; and
capacity building.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
June 8 2005
EBRD Allocates Fresh Loan to Support Small Businesses
08/06/2005 08:19
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has
allocated $1 million to an Armenian commercial bank to support local
small businesses.
Under an agreement signed between the EBRD and Armenia’s INECO Bank
on 7 June, the allocated funds will be issued to small businesses in
Armenia in the form of micro (up to $10,000) and small (up to
$60,000) loans for a period from two to three years.
INECO Bank Executive Director Yervand Barseghian said at a press
conference following the signing of the agreement that the interest
rates for the loans will be close to the rates on the market.
“We have no intention to issue loans at dumping rates,” he said.
Loans available on the market today are issued at interest rates
ranging from 15 percent to 20 percent, differing from bank to bank.
EBRD Director for the South Caucasus, Belarus and Moldova Mike Davey
said the EBRD sees the main direction of its work in Armenia in
financing small and medium-sized business projects.
“The EBRD’s strategy is to work in a range of different sectors here
in Armenia,” he added.
The EBRD implements similar credit projects with four private banks
in Armenia and also has a 25 percent stake in Hayeconombank’s
capital.
According to Davey, the EBRD is conducting negotiations with another
Armenian bank, ACBA, to acquire a certain share in the latter’s
capital.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Mercury , South Africa
June 8 2005
Armenian mercenaries to be freed
June 8, 2005
Malabo (Equatorial Guinea): A senior Armenian diplomat has arrived in
the oil-rich African nation of Equatorial Guinea as authorities
prepare to hand over six Armenians accused of being mercenaries and
granted a presidential pardon after being convicted in a coup plot.
Ponciano Mbomio, a lawyer for the six, said they could be released
soon.
On Sunday, the eve of his birthday, President Teodoro Obiang granted
amnesty to the six who had been sentenced to 14 and 24 years in
prison.
On Monday, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry expressed satisfaction at the
move, saying a diplomat was headed to Malabo to collect the men.
At a trial in Equatorial Guinea in November, an Armenian pilot was
jailed for 24 years. Five other crew members were sentenced to 14
years each. The leader of the group, South African arms dealer Nick
du Toit, and six other South Africans are still in jail.
Du Toit was sentenced to 34 years in prison. – Sapa-AP

Armenpress
TOYOTA TO OPEN REPRESENTATION IN ARMENIA
TOKYO, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: A Japanese delegation representing Japanese
small and medium-sized businesses and Japan’s International Cooperation
Agency is now in Armenia to explore ways for opening a representation of
Toyota company in Armenia as well as to examine on the ground Armenia’s
investment legislation and environment.
Japanese companies are particularly interested in establishing
partnership relations with Armenian agricultural processing industry and
high technology sector. Hrant Poghosian, a professor at Tokyo’s
International Christian University, who is also chairman of
Armenian-Japanese Association, told members of the Armenian delegation,
visiting Japan, negotiations are underway with Japanese Sumitomo company in
search of opportunities to start joint ventures.
During a meeting today with prime minister Andranik Margarian members of
the Association emphasized a June 24 Armenian-Japanese business forum to be
held in Moscow. The Armenian-Japanese Association has around thirty members,
including private businessmen and leading companies, such as Sumitomo and
Mitsubishi. Prime minister Margarian and Japanese officials signed today in
Tokyo an agreement on Armenian-Japanese technical cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger, Georgia
June 8 2005
Political Analysis: Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey military alliance:
another red herring in the Baku-Yerevan conflict?
By M. Alkhazashvili
Talk of a new military pact between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey
started flowing along with the first drops of oil along the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. However, Azeri government officials are
denying any plans for a military block to protect the pipeline and
some experts think the rumors are just another extension of the
on-going Baku-Yerevan power struggle.
According to a report in the Baku-based 525 newspaper, the Azerbaijan
ministry of defense has flatly denied the creation of any military
alliance between the three countries. The newspaper reports that
since an agreement has already been signed concerning pipeline
security, any addition measures would be redundant.
However, the Georgian paper Akhali Taoba cites local analysts as
saying that such an alliance is still possible if needed. But the
newspaper also reported most former government officials believe the
talk about new military alliances is just that – talk.
Vapa Gulazadem, a former Azeri government advisor on foreign policy,
thought it was just a case of unbiased rumors. “Such a military
alliance has no prospects,” Gulazadem told Akhali Taoba. “Perhaps
this is just an invented story.” Tapik Zulpugarov, the former
minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan, agreed with him. According
to Zulpugarov, it is not hard to find the source of the rumors:
Armenia.
The former foreign affairs minister is not the first to suspect
Yerevan of plotting against the pipeline. Last month the Baku-based
newspaper Zerkalo reported that all BTC working documents are in the
hands of Armenian special services. “At this stage, the BTC pipeline
is practically left defenseless to potential terrorists,” the head of
an Azeri think tank Roshvan Novruzoglu is quoted as saying in the
newspaper.
In fact, as early as 1993 the Azeri media was predicting the then
planned pipeline would fall victim to Georgian and Armenian
terrorists in a future ‘pipeline war.’ Although there were no threats
from Armenia, the Baku-based newspaper Ekho was convinced the country
had plans for terror. “Yerevan refrains from making any strict
statements or threats so far. But this does not mean that Yerevan
will not try to change the situation by using radical methods,” the
newspaper reported.
To date, the only official statement from Armenia concerning the
pipeline was more concerned with maintaining balance in the Caucasus
than starting a ‘pipeline war.’ According to the Prime Minister of
Armenia Andranik Markarian, the new pipeline will violate the power
balance in South Caucasus and Armenia will have to seek alternative
ways to restore it. In his statement, he announced that Yerevan was
investigating the possibility of an Iran-Armenian gas pipeline
through which Europe will receive gas via Georgia.
Regardless of what Yerevan feels about the new pipeline, it is one in
a continuing series of regional projects being initiated without
Armenia’s participation. In addition to the BTC oil pipeline, there
is also the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline, and the
Baku-Akhalkalaki-Karsi railway. Despite their relations with Russia
and Iran, Armenia is looking increasingly isolated in its own back
yard. Perhaps this will be enough to motivate more productive
relations with Azerbaijan – and a break through in the on-going in
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.