Month: June 2005

Equatorial Guinea’s president grants amnesty to six alleged Armenian
mercenaries
AP Worldstream
Jun 06, 2005
RODRIGO ANGUE NGEUMA MBA

President Teodoro Obiang has granted full amnesty to six Armenians
sentenced to up to 24 years in prison for their role in an alleged
plot to overthrow the government of this oil-rich African nation,
state radio said.
According to a presidential decree read on national radio late Sunday,
the pardon, granted on the eve of Obiang’s 63rd birthday, was
motivated by humanitarian reasons. The six were to be repatriated
after their release, the radio said. It was not immediately possible
on Monday, a holiday in this west African nation, to determine whether
the six had already been released.
After a trial here in November, three Armenian pilots the government
said were hired to fly in gunmen and materiel in the plot were given
24 years each. Three other crew members were sentenced to 14 years
each.
The alleged leader of the mercenaries, South African arms dealer Nick
Du Toit, and six other South Africans were still in detention. Du Toit
was sentenced to 34 years in prison, though he repudiated an alleged
confession that had provided the bulk of Equatorial Guinea’s case.
Equatorial Guinea opposition figure Severo Moto, in exile in Spain,
was sentenced in absentia to 63 years. Eight other opposition figures
also living in exile each were sentenced to 52 years in prison.
Equatorial Guinea alleges Mark Thatcher _ son of former British Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher _ and other, mainly British, financiers
commissioned the bid to overthrow the 25-year-old regime of Obiang and
install an opposition politician as the figurehead leader of Africa’s
No. 3 oil producer.

Summary of Azeri ANS TV programme “Otan Hafta” at 1600 gmt 5 June 05
ANS TV, Baku
6 Jun 05
Presenter Qanira Pasayeva
1. 0014 Headlines.
2. 0103 President Ilham Aliyev has signed an anti-inflation
decree. Details of the decree.
3. 1125 Discussions between the Azerbaijani government and the Council
of Europe Venice Commission on changing the country’s Electoral Code
have come to an end. The Azerbaijani government has turned down a
Venice Commission suggestion on forming electoral commissions on the
basis of parity. Safa Mirzayev, head of the Milli Maclis (parliament)
executive staff, said in the ANS studio that Azerbaijan cannot change
the composition of electoral commissions just five months ahead of the
elections. He said free and fair elections can be held with the
current electoral commissions as well.
4. 1909 The Azerbaijani opposition staged first authorized rally in 20
months on 4 June. Video showed the rally by the bloc of three
opposition parties. The ANS reporter said among the organizers of the
rally the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party seemed more active. The
bloc is expected to stage its next rally on 18 June.
5. 2328 An interview with Mats Lindberg, representative of the Council
of Europe secretary-general. Lindberg said trust in electoral
commissions is important in holding free and fair elections.
6. 3115 The Council of Europe Monitoring Committee discussed the issue
of Azerbaijan’s political prisoners and democratic institutions this
week. Asim Mollazada, a member of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary
delegation at PACE, said in the ANS studio that a struggle is under
way between progressive and regressive forces within the Azerbaijani
government.
7. 4002 Prime Minister Artur Rasizada has said in Tbilisi that
Azerbaijan will draw some conclusions from Russia relocating its
military bases from Georgia to Armenia. No details. The presenter says
Tbilisi is not happy with the relocation either, because it has a
restive Armenian minority on its border with Armenia.
8. 4204 Commercials.
9. 4648 Report on problems in Azerbaijan’s education system.
10. 5412 The presenter says businesses in Azerbaijan’s most lucrative
sectors – the construction industry, wedding houses and transportation
– are evading taxes. The reporter says although the construction
industry makes up 13.5 per cent of the GDP, it accounts for only 4.4
per cent of all taxes collected in the country.
11. 1:0100 Commercials.
12. 1:0401 An interview with Salim Muslumov, head of the state social
security fund. Muslumov says the country’s unemployment figures are
exaggerated.
13. 1:1508 The management of the Azerbaijan State Caspian Sea Shipping
does not permit Audit Chamber officials to inspect the company,
presenter says. The company also behaves as a monopolist. It does not
allow the Hazi Aslanov vessel of the Palmali Shipping company to enter
the Baku port. Aydin Basirov, head of the Azerbaijan State Caspian Sea
Shipping says the vessel is not allowed to enter the Baku port because
it is sailing under the Russian flag.
14. 1:2301 Presenter signs off.

(Kyodo) – Qatar head of state Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to begin
a three-day official visit to Japan.

Kyodo News Service
Jun 06, 2005

Japan, Saudi Arabia to mark 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Armenia to mark national day at Aichi Expo.
Former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil to make a speech in
Fukuoka.
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to release average
household spending for April at 2 p.m.
Kakutaro Kitashiro, chairman of Japan Association of Corporate
Executives, to hold a press conference.

Azeri, Lithuanian speakers discuss economic, interparliamentary ties
Trend news agency
6 Jun 05
BAKU
It is necessary to expand Lithuanian-Azerbaijani economic relations,
Trend news agency quoted Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov as saying at a meeting with the visiting chairman of the
Lithuanian Seimas, Arturas Paulauskas, today.
Alasgarov said that although diplomatic relations between our
countries were established a long time ago, economic relations between
Lithuania and Azerbaijan are weak.
He said the volume of trade between Azerbaijan and Lithuania stood
only at several million dollars, which does not reflect the real
potential of bilateral relations.
Alasgarov also touched on the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement and pointed
to the passive position of the OSCE Minsk Group and the fact that
Armenia ignores the four UN resolutions demanding the withdrawal of
occupying forces from Azerbaijani districts.
In turn, Arturas Paulauskas pointed to the importance of developing
interparliamentary contacts between the two countries. He expressed
his country’s readiness to share experience in entering NATO and the
Council of Europe.
The Lithuanian parliamentary delegation arrived in Baku on 5 June. It
will hold meetings with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, SOCAR [State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic]
President Natiq Aliyev and Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur
Rasizada. On 7 June, the Lithuanian delegation will visit Tbilisi and
on 12 June Yerevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
EQUATORIAL GUINEA PRESIDENT SIGNED DECREE ON PARDONING ARMENIAN PILOTS
06.06.2005 02:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
signed the decree on pardoning 6 Armenian pilots who were accused of a coup
d’etat attempt last November. The President stated that the decree is the
manifestation of good will and was signed on the eve of his birthday. The
Armenian pilots will be immediately released and sent back to Armenia. To
note, several days ago Chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara
Abrahamian said that he is working for discharging of the pilots and hopes
for a positive settlement of the issue. It should be also noted that several
months ago Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian held negotiations on
the problem during his visit to Equatorial Guinean capital of Malabo,
Mediamax agency reports.

“IF AN ALTERNATIVE WAY PASSING BY SHIKAHOGH FOREST RESERVE IS
SUBMITTED AND I FAIL TO “PUSH ITS THROUGH,” I WILL RESIGN,” NATURE
PROTECTION MINISTER OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. “If an alternative way passing by Shikahogh
forest reserve is submitted and I fail to “push its through,” I will
send in my resignation,” has recently stated Nature Protection
Minister of Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan.
The minister said no alternative way has been submitted by ecological
public organizations or anyone else. He could not answer the question
which institution was charged with ecological examination of the
project of highway Meghri-Shvanidzor-Verishen-Tsav-Kapan. Besides, an
alternative way passing by the reserve was submitted to the Ministry
of Transport and Communication of Armenia by Syunik
Administration. Meanwhile, at a recent press conference speaking on
inadmissibility of the 4 alternative ways submitted by the public
organizations, Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukyan said that they were longer by 18 km and 300 meters higher
than the way via the reserve. Both ministers state that the new
highway to Iran has a strategic importance, and this conclusion does
not meet the national or international law, a political decision will
be made in favor of the highway’s construction via the forest reserve.
The colleges also share an opinion that the construction of the
highway will not cause as much damage as public and international
ecological organizations say.
It is necessary to remind the minister that the state ecological
examination department of the Nature Protection Ministry held an
ecological examination of the possible damage of the highway’s
construction to Shikahogh forest reserve. The final decision on the
fate of the reserve is expected during public hearings to be held
within the nearest future.
The motor highway is planned via Shikahogh forest reserve located on
the northern mountainside of Meghri mountain range, Kapan region,
Armenia. Preservation of the landscape and biological diversity of
Shikahogh forest reserve is under question because of the new project
of Armenian Transport and Communication Ministry on construction of a
highway via Meghri mountain range in direction of the Iranian
boundary. The projects provides for construction of the highway
through Mtnadzor section of the reserve and Meghri forest economy. The
implementation of the project will lead to felling of a unique oak
forest, extermination of the population of leopards in Armenia as well
as rare types of animals included not only in the Red Book of Armenia
but also in the International Red Book. It will led to liquidation of
springs supplying water to the nearing villages etc..
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ONE OF KEY TASKS OF DEVELOPMENT OF IT-SPHERE IN ARMENIA – ITS COVERAGE
BY MASS MEDIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. Two-day discussions on the problem of
coverage of the sphere of information technologies by Mass Media were
completed yesterday in the resort town of Tsakhkadzor. The event
organizer was Enterprises Incubator Foundations.
The meeting participants, in particular, mentioned as problems of
coverage of the activity of IT-sphere lack of well-prepared
journalists for the sphere’s coverage, unwillingness of the greatest
part of IT-companies to provide information to Mass Media and the low
public demand for “intellectual information.”
“Sometimes, journalists do not know what information they want from
me. If there are specific and professional questions, they will be
corresponding answers,” said Director of Arminco provider company
Andranik Aleksanyan. In response, Mass Media representatives proposed
establishing an institution of press secretaries at the unions linking
various directions of the IT-sector, which would popularize
IT-information and form public interest in the sphere, on the whole.
Director of Enterprises Incubator Foundation Bagrat Yesayan pointed
out the necessity of upgrading the public awareness of the situation
in the IT-sector from the point of view of introduction of native
IT-developments and solutions in various sectors of economy, state
government and everyday life of the citizens, hereby creating an image
and an artificial agiotage in public. The meeting participants pointed
out that it was due to such artificial agiotage in Mass Media that
Bill Gates launched production in an “empty place” in essence – in
Turkey.
Summing up the discussions, the participants expressed readiness to
exert efforts to form an institution of press secretaries, organize
seminars on the problem of distribution of information on the sector
and to more communicate with journalists to solve the above tasks.
It should be noted that according to official data, IT-sector of
economy in Armenia in 2004 grew 10% – to $50 mln, however, unofficial
data day that the volume is $150-$300 mln. The greatest part of the
production is exported.

ARMENIAN PILOTS IMPRISONED IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA GRANTED AN AMNESTY
MALABO, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. The five Armenian pilots imprisoned in
Equatorial Guinea have been granted an amnesty and will return home
within the nearest future. President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro
Obiang Nguema Mbasogo signed the decree on their amnesty and immediate
release in connection with his 63rd anniversary.
It should be noted that the Armenian pilots worked in that country on
a registered plane AH-12. They were arrested in Malabo March 7 2004
being charged with am attempted state coup and espionage. The pilots
were sentenced to 7-14 years of imprisonment. Besides the Armenian
authorities, Head of the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamyan has
held active negotiations for their release.

TURKISH INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS HARASSING
SCIENTISTS TRYING TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. TUSIAD President Omer Sabanci claimed that
tolerating the illegal courses will fuel rumors in Europe that Turkish
secularism is weakening. According to Zaman, TUSIAD Representatives
criticized the government fiercely regarding the EU process in the
Istanbul meeting . Sabanci opposed the restriction of freedoms in the
new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), police brutality in demonstrations, and
harassing academics who discussed the Armenian Issue. TUSIAD, as a
business association, does not accept any alternative but full EU
membership. Discussion over Quranic study courses occurred in an
association advisory council meeting for The Turkish Industrialists
and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) Friday, June 3.
It should be noted that May 25-27, a conference entitled “Armenians in
the period of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire: problems of
scientific responsibility and democracy” at Istanbul University was
cancelled under pressure of the Turkish Government.

PRESS RELEASE
Cafesjian Museum Foundation
3 Tamanian Street, Suite 31
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Madlene Minassian
Tel: 374-10-56-72-62
Fax: 374-10-5615-89
E-mail: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])
Web: _www.cmf.am_ ()
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
June 1, 2005
Cafesjian Museum Foundation Launches Construction
Seven New Sculptures Unveiled
The Cafesjian Museum Foundation launched the construction of the
Gerard L.
Cafesjian Museum of Art and unveiled seven new pieces from the
Cafesjian Collection at a reception on May 31st in Yerevan,
Armenia. Gerard L. Cafesjian and the Trustees of the Cafesjian Museum
Foundation welcomed President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, President
of Nagorno Karabagh Arkadi Ghukasyan, United States Senator Norm
Coleman, United States Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, renowned
artist Jaroslava Brychtova and over five hundred guests for the
celebration.
The event was held at the Monument Platform at the top of the
Cascade. Upon arrival to the event, guests were greeted by the `Roman
Warrior’, a sculpture by Fernando Botero. The 1986 bronze sculpture
with a brown patina stands proudly over 12 feet tall and is the second
Botero piece to adorn Yerevan.The well known Columbian artist also
created the Cat, which sits at the base of the Gerard L. Cafesjian
Center for the Arts.
The ceremony began with a blessing by His Grace Bishop Paren Avetikian
of The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He read a special address from
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The letter
emphasized the great hope the church has for the project undertaken by
Mr. Cafesjian.
The audience then turned their attention to the unveiling of the six
sculptures placed at the Monument Terrace. The first three pieces
unveiledwere by British sculptor Lynn Chadwick, one of the giants of
20th century art. The three sculptures: “Stairs”, “Two Watchers” and
“Sitting Forms”, are a testament to Chadwick’s distinctive vocabulary
of form and his extraordinary imagination.
The next two sculptures, titled ; “Acrobats”, and “Hare on Bell”, were
prepared by Welsh sculptor Barry Flanagan. Flanagan is best known for
hisdynamic and often monumental bronze hares.
The last peice unveiled was `Open Window’. It is the first sculpture
by Libensky and Brychtova to be exhibited in Armenia. The
collaboration of Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova for more
than forty years took the studio glass movement into the realm of fine
art. The legacy of Stanislav Libensky is, in a very real sense,
present in this work here today. Libensky passed in 2002 but the
Cafesjian Museum Foundation was especially pleased to have Jaroslava
Brychtova present for the unveiling of the piece.
After the unveiling ceremony the guests were treated to a reception
and entertainment including Astor Piazzolla, performed by the Cadence
Ensembleand a spectacular fireworks and music show by the Armenian
Jazz Band.
The evening ended with great anticipation for the completion of the
museum, which is scheduled to open in the year 2007. A model and
animation of the museum were presented to the public for the first
time. The design treats the principal Museum building as an extension
of the Cascade, completing an animated pathway linking Tamanyan Park
to the Monument Terrace by exterior stairways and interior escalators.