Month: October 2005

ARMENIAN-ITALIAN FRIENDSHIP DAYS BEGIN IN YEREVAN
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #179
06/10/2005

Event

“Armenians in Italy. Armenian Community of Italy” discussion will
open the Days of the Armenian-Italian Friendship. Vartan Oskanian,
RA foreign minister, will receive Adolfo Urso, Italy’s trade
minister. They will officially open the Days of the Armenian-Italian
friendship and “Armenian Venice. Treasures of St. Lazarus.” Gala
concert of classical concert at Aram Khachatrian Philharmonic Concert
Hall will complete the day.

83-YEAR-OLD TEACHER TRAINING UNIVERSITY STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND TRADITIONS IN THE SPHERE OF EDUCATION
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #179
06/10/2005

Education

Study and development of the Russian philology always was in the
limelight of the State Teacher Training University of Armenia. The
Armenian-Russian educational, scientific and cultural relations
that have seen periods of trials are gradually cementing today. The
Year of Russia in Armenia this year did not escape the university’s
attention either. Prof. Artush Ghukasian, rector of the university,
gave an interview to daily Azg on the prerequisites for development
of Russian philology in Armenia.

Demand for teachers of Russian language and literature in Armenian
schools made the administration of the university open a department of
Russian Philology and Romano-German Languages in 2001-2002. The four
departments of the university teach Russian language and literature
and foreign languages and literature. The department that currently
has 480 students is rapidly growing. It prepares Russian language
specialists not only for Yerevan but also for different schools of
the republic and the Diaspora. Approach to Russian studies sticks
out vividly from among other studies in the university. The rector
says that special attitude to Russian comes from old Armenia-Russian
traditions that the university preserves and develops. “Most of the
Armenian intellectuals were educated and got qualification in Russia.

Those relations need revision, reform and development”, Mr. Ghukasian
said.

Armenia has agreements of international cooperation with such states
as Sweden, Holland, Spain, Italy, Syria but “our relations with Russia
are special”.

Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s present of computers and equipment
for language laboratory that will open on 8 October was another
step towards fostering Armenian-Russian relations in the sphere
of education. Moscow mayor and representatives of Moscow’s
Teacher Training University will take part in the opening of the
laboratory. The rector said that they have decided together with
mayor Luzhkov to grant annual scholarship to 10-15 students of the
university. The sides look to signing an agreement between Yerevan
and Moscow universities once the Russian delegation arrives in
Armenia. The agreement will open a project of exchange of students,
lecturers and scientific literature as well as will enable joint
researches recognition of each other’s diplomas, scientific meetings
and cultural gatherings.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COUNTERING NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL TERRORISM

A1+
| 12:24:44 | 06-10-2005 | Politics |

U.S. officials are participating in the “Advanced Research Workshop
on Countering Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism,” which is being
held in Yerevan October 2 through October 6.

The four-day conference, which is focused on such issues as global
security, non-proliferation strategies, and countering radiological
terrorism, is being held with the support of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and the International Science and Technology Center
(ISTC).

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Godfrey, in addition
to representatives from countries throughout Europe and North
America, are participating in the conference. Dr. David Diamond of
the U.S. Brookhaven National Laboratory is one of the workshop’s
co-directors.

President Bush stated that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) and their delivery systems constitutes a major threat to
international peace and security. The threat is compounded by the
interest of terrorists in acquiring WMD. This would undermine the
foundations of international order. Together with other international
partners, the U.S. has pledged to use all means available to avert
WMD proliferation and the calamities that would follow.

This NATO-sponsored conference is intended to help achieve our shared
goal of preventing the spread of WMD.

THE ISSUES OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMENIA-ITALY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISCUSSED

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 6 2005

On October 5 Artur Baghdasaryan, RA NA President met the delegation
headed by Adolpho Urso, Deputy Minister for Productive Activities
of the Republic of Italy. Marco Clemente, the Ambassador of Italy to
Armenia participated at the meeting.

NA President Artur Baghdasaryan highlighted the holding of the days of
Italian culture in Armenia, which creates opportunity once again for
the Armenian-Italian close relations and interpenetration of cultures.

Mr. Urso noted that besides cultural programme, there are 30
businessmen in the delegation. The sides discussed issues of
strengthening economic relations, assisting the development of small
and medium entrepreneurship and deepening of regional cooperation.

Artur Baghdasaryan highlighted the establishment of the Italian
Chamber of Commerce in Armenia, which in its turn can become a good
mechanism of the development of trade-economic, scientific-educational
and historical-cultural relations.

During the meeting the sides also discussed issues of mutual interest.

PATRIARCH MUTAFIAN CONGRATULATES PM ERDOGAN
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #179
06/10/2005

Turkey

Jack Staw, foreign secretary of the country that currently holds
EU presidency, officially declared of opening of EU-Turkey talks on
the night of October 3. Turkish newspapers conditioned the start of
the talks with the resolution of foreign minister Abdullah Gul and
steadfastness of prime minister Recep Erdogan.

In his October 5 congratulation note, Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, Mesrop II Mutafian, underscored the importance of these
two features, resolution and steadfastness, in attaining success,
saying that he prays that the negotiation process is beneficial for
both the state and the citizens and for bringing closer the day of
Turkey’s full membership to the EU.

Meanwhile, he emphasized the vital importance of Muslim Turkey joining
EU for peace in the world, expressing hope that the Turkish state
will successfully reach the end of the talks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US’S NAGORNO KARABAKH POLICY REMAINS UNCHANGED

AZG Armenian Daily #179
06/10/2005

Karabakh issue

Sean McCormack, official representative of the US State Department,
stated that the policy of the United Stated in the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement remained unchanged. In response to the question
whether the letter by 50 congressmen addressed to President George
W. Bush claiming to protect the right for self-determination of
the NKR people testifies to the change in the in the American
policy, McCormack said that they certainly support the interest of
the congressmen concerning different political issues. As for the
US policy on the NKR issue, he said that nothing has changed. They
support the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group and all the efforts
of Armenia and Azerbaijan directed to the settlement.

While Elmar Mamediarov, Azeri foreign minister, stated that they agreed
in the issue of demining in the course of the negotiations. “Demining
is a very important process and it will be of primary importance when
the Armenian side leaves the occupied territories,” Elmar Mamediarov
said in the interview to Mediamax agency.

UNITY FAIR TO OFFER BLEND OF CULTURES, FOOD, FUN
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Oct 6 2005

GLENDALE – The city’s multicultural character will be on display
Sunday at the fourth annual Unity Fest, featuring singers and dancers
and ethnic food.

City Councilman Bob Yousefian started the festival in 2002.

“There were some conflicts (then) because the makeup of the city was
changing and it was shifting, and a lot of the people who had been
here for many, many years didn’t know what the Armenians were about
and they were very suspicious (of) them,” Yousefian said.

“Armenians didn’t know about the Hispanic culture or the Filipino
culture or the Korean culture. I thought this would be a good way of
introducing the different cultures to each other.”

The city-sponsored Unity Fest will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday at Verdugo Park. Thirteen groups will perform everything from
traditional Indian dance to Celtic music throughout the day.

Seven booths offering a variety of ethnic foods, including Korean
barbecue and Armenian food, will be set up. Fifteen arts and craft
booths with custom jewelry, costumes, books and pottery, are planned.

Unity Fest usually attracts 3,000 to 5,000 visitors, said Zizette
Ayad, senior administrative analyst with the city and an organizer
of the festival.

“It’s like a big, huge carnival or county-fair type of environment,”
Ayad said.

City Councilman Ara Najarian is the chairman.

“It’s just a chance to invite and entice residents with different
ethnic backgrounds to come together and meet as one … in a beautiful
park setting,” he said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304

[email protected]

IF YOU GO

Unity Fest 2005 will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Verdugo
Park, 1621 Caada Blvd., Glendale. The event and parking are both free.

RUSSIA AND EU SHOULD COOPERATE FOR SETTLEMENT OF “FROZEN” CONFLICTS

Pan Armenian
05.10.2005 13:13

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Jan Truszczyñski
stated today that Russia should more closely cooperate with the EU
for the settlement of the “frozen” conflicts on the post-soviet
territory. “Russia and the EU are obliged to settle the Nagorno
Karabakh, Abkhazian, South Ossetian and Transdnetrian conflicts,”
he stated when addressing an international conference in Moscow. “If
we work jointly we will be able to help the people living in the
conflict zones”, he added.

–Boundary_(ID_c0y84+N9HWxn+q+2TvpH4A)–

GEORGIAN PRESIDENT OFFERED TO CONVENE SUMMIT OF SOUTH CAUCASIAN AND BALTIC STATES

Pan Armenian
05.10.2005 12:36

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili offered to
hold a summit of the South Caucasian and Baltic states in Tbilisi. “We
hope that will we succeed in enabling the 3+3 format proposed by
Georgia and Lithuania. The format includes the three South Caucasian
and three Baltic states”, Mikhail Saakashvili said during a joint press
conference with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. According
to the Georgian President, the summit will promote the closing of
the former USSR republics in a new European format and the process
of integration of the South Caucasian states into the European
structures. “Such contacts are significant for consolidation of
democracy in the region and peaceful settlement of the conflicts
available”, Mikhail Saakashvili added.

ILHAM ALIYEV: KARABAKH TALKS FRUITLESS

Pan Armenian
05.10.2005 12:14

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We should strengthen our military potential,”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated Wednesday when addressing
the National Guards.

The Azeri leader noted that the military construction is rapidly
developing and the military budget grows year by year. “We should
consolidate our military potential, since our lands are occupied”,
Aliyev said adding that the talks on the Karabakh conflict settlement
have proved fruitless so far.

“Our military budget will increase and we will return our lands,”
he assured.