Month: October 2005

RUSSIA INTERESTED IN SOONEST LAUNCHING OF ARMENIAN ENTERPRISES CONVEYED TO RF

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 19:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
Minister of Transport of Russia, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian
Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical
Cooperation Igor Levitin, reported the Press Service of the Armenian
leader.

In R. Kocharian’s words, the Commission is an important mechanism
in the Armenian-Russian relations, that were always marked with
efficiency. The parties discussed bilateral cooperation programs,
paying special attention to issues of development of energy,
transport and communication. As of restoration of communication
via the Abkhaz part of the railway, the state of the rail line
and conditions necessary for its restoration are being examined
at present, the parties said. The conditions include participation
of Russia, Georgia and Armenia as well. The parties also discussed
matters of beginning exploitation of Armenian enterprises, conveyed
to Russia within Property for Debt Program. In Levitin’s words,
Russia is interested in soonest exploitation of these enterprises,
so a special working group is formed to that end.

USAID TO HELP HEALTH MINISTRY TO DEVELOP EFFICIENT MEDICINES MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE

Armenpress
Oct 13 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) will help Armenian health ministry
to implement an efficient medicines management project.

As part of the project an extensive study will be carried out to learn
the real extent of medication demand, which, according to deputy health
minister Tatoul Hakobian, may differ substantially from the amount of
medicines imported by local companies. The study will be carried out
based on a range of peculiarities, such as life expectancy, death
rate and other indices and only then a new procedure of efficient
medicines management will be developed. The project will be launched
in 2005 and run into 2007.

ANTI-SMOKING CENTER TO CHARGE $50 TO HELP GET RID OF DANGEROUS HABIT

Armenpress
Oct 13 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Smokers wishing to give up this
pernicious habit can from now on pay $50 to doctors of a special
anti-smoking center who will help by medications and psychological
consultations to quit smoking.

The center was inaugurated yesterday at a Yerevan hospital. The
treatment of each patient will depend on the extent of their tobacco
dependence. David Petrosian, the chief manager of the center, cited
some figures yesterday saying that this sort of centers have helped to
reduce the number of smokers in the USA and some European countries
from 70 to 25 percent. The center has a dietitian to consult people
fearing they may put on weight after quitting smoking.

The World Health Organization estimates that 63.7 percent of Armenian
men are smokers – the highest rate in Europe. By comparison, an
estimated 60 percent of men in neighboring Georgia are smokers and
31.2 percent in Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s first ever restrictions on smoking in public places came
into force on March 2nd 2005, prohibiting smoking in hospitals,
cultural and education institutions and public transportation. There
are no mechanisms in place for enforcing the measures, and to date
there is little evidence of compliance with the restrictions.

RUSSIAN PM TO VISIT ARMENIA AT YEAREND

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 22:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan met with
Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for
Economic Cooperation, Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian Government. The
interlocutors noted the large role of the Armenian-Russian
Inter-Governmental Commission. The parties were satisfied with the
growth of the volume of commodity turnover between Armenia and Russia,
which increased 31% within former six months of 2005 as compared to
the same period past year and was equal to $120.4 million. Russia is
still Armenia’s biggest trade and economic partner and the contractual
basis, specifically over 160 interstate and intergovernmental documents
provide an opportunity to develop and expand comprehensive cooperation,
the parties emphasized. In the opinion of meeting participants, the
events held in Armenia within the Year of Russia promote strengthening
the Armenian-Russian relations. These will be continued in the Year
of Armenia in Russia in 2006.

Armenian PM noted the importance of ties and cooperation between
administrative units of the two countries, as well as that of mutually
favorable arrangements.

A. Margaryan remarked that establishment of efficient transport
communications may promote further expansion of the trade and
economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia. Armenia highlights
the regular work of Kavkaz-Poti train ferry in this respect. He also
stressed Armenia’s interest toward resumption of communication via the
Abkhaz part of the Georgian railway. The interlocutors also discussed
opportunities of participation of Russia, Georgia and Armenia in the
building of the railway.

Mr. Margaryan remarked that trying to activate the process the Armenian
party holds periodical discussions with Georgian authorities over
resumption of rail communication.

Besides, A. Margaryan and I. Levitin discussed the question of putting
into operation Armenian enterprises conveyed to Russia within the
Property for Debt agreement. I. Levitin assured the working groups
formed with that purpose make efforts and the Russian party is
interested in the soonest launching of the enterprises as well. Upon
completion of the meeting the parties expressed hope for the visit
of Russian PM to Armenia scheduled at the year-end to convey new
impetus to the development of the Armenian-Russian political and
economic relations.

LARGE POTENTIAL FOR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE IN ARMENIA AND UKRAINE

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 21:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan today met
with newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Aleksandr
Bozhko, reported the Press Service of the NA of Armenia. In
the course of the meeting the parties discussed matters of
development of Armenian-Ukrainian inter-parliamentary and inter-state
relations. A. Bozhko said he was pleased with his repeated appointment
for the office of the Ambassador to Armenia. He said promotion of
relations between the parliaments would underlie his diplomatic
mission.

In his words, both countries have chosen the way of European
integration. At that he indicated the large potential of mutual
assistance available in Armenia and Ukraine. Specifically, the
legislative experience of Armenia may be useful to Ukraine on the
way to WTO accession, while Ukrainian experience will help Armenia in
holding constitutional reforms. A. Bozhko informed Artur Baghdassaryan
on the domestic situation in Ukraine. Besides, the parties discussed
constitutional reforms in Armenia. The Ukrainian diplomat noted
their importance. A. Baghdassaryan noted that the constitutional
referendum is scheduled November 27 and there are all preconditions
for Armenia to make a move forward in strengthening democracy and
European integration with nation-wide accord. The Armenian Speaker
attached much importance to strengthening the ties between the two
parliaments and new quality cooperation – this one being at the level
of inter-parliamentary commissions.

AXA INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY $17 MILLION TO HEIRS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 21:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Descendants of Armenians, who had fallen victim of
the Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915, agreed to call back their
collective suit against Axa French insurance company. The latter
agreed to pay $17 million to Armenian philanthropic organizations. The
case was heard at a California court. The plaintiffs accused Axa in
unwillingness to pay insurance sums for their relatives’ killed in the
massacre. One of the lawyers of the Armenian community stated their
ultimate goal is to convince Turkey and US to officially recognize the
Genocide fact, when 1.5 million Armenians were killed, reported BBC.

STALLING PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT NECESSITATES POWERFUL MILITARY – ALIYEV

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 – 19, 2005

Azerbaijan is seeking a peaceful settlement of the Upper Garabagh
conflict but no results have been achieved in this area yet, which
prompts the country to continue strengthening its military power,
President Ilham Aliyev said at the ceremony of opening a new
administrative building of the Special State Guard Service last week.

Aliyev pointed out the need for establishing strong military
potential. “Only powerful Azerbaijani army will achieve liberation
of the country’s territories. If the peace talks turn out fruitless,
the occupied lands will be freed through military action,” he said.

President Aliyev said the government is increasing military spending
every year. Whereas military expenses made up $175 million in 2004,
the figure is $300 million this year and will reach $600 million in
2006. But in defiance of the Azeri President’s statement, Armenia
has cited rapprochement in the positions of the conflicting sides.

“The positions on the Armenian and Azeri sides have drawn closer on
a number of pivotal issues. A commonality of approaches is observed
on the status, security and territories. There is hope that with the
increasing number of such elements, they will be reflected on paper”,
Armenian media quoted the country’s foreign minister Vardan Oskanian as
saying. With regard to the conflict mediation, Oskanian said there is
no alternative to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States,
Russia and France. Touching upon the possibility of transferring
the negotiations to a new format, notably, the Council of Europe,
which has been repeatedly proposed by Azerbaijan, Oskanian said: “The
discussions on the conflict resolution may take place anywhere. But
OSCE MG is the only entity for full-fledged talks on resolving the
problem. If a decision is made to consider the issue in a different
format, we will do so. But there is no alternative for the OSCE MG
today.” As for the participation of Upper Garabagh in the negotiations,
Oskanian said this is inevitable. “Someday Upper Garabagh will become
a full-fledged party in the negotiating process.

The Azeri side realizes this as well”, he claimed.

EU WARNS AZERBAIJAN MAY ‘FALL BEHIND’

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 – 19, 2005

A high-ranking European Union official has warned Azerbaijan may
‘fall behind’ in joining the EU New Neighborhood Policy due to its
forging ties with the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC), Armenia media reported.

Cyprus is an ethnically-divided island and only the southern Greek part
is internationally recognized. The European Commissioner for Foreign
Affairs Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the international community
recognizes the Cyprus republic, which is an EU member state. This
country is blocking the progress achieved by Baku within the mentioned
program due to the opening of direct flights with TRNC, she said.

“I have informed Azeris that if they do not change their decision,
we will continue collaborating only with Georgia and Armenia.

Nonetheless, we hope Azerbaijan will find a solution for the problem”,
said Ferrero-Waldner. Cypriot Turks hope the newly-established ties
with Azerbaijan will help to end three decades of international
isolation. The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Taghizada
said Baku’s policy is aimed at facilitating efforts to prevent
crisis both in the Turkish and Greek communities of Cyprus. “The
initiative to launch flights is of commercial nature and has no
bearing on the government’s foreign policy.” Former state adviser,
political analyst Vafa Guluzada said Azerbaijan is pursuing a proper
policy with regard to Turkish Cyprus. “The European Union has blocked
access to TRNC, as it does not want other states to cooperate with
this country. Official Baku is on the right path. The EU will not be
able to influence Azerbaijan on the issue in any way.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MURDER VICTIM ‘A MEMBER OF MAFIA’
Christine Cunningham

Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK
Oct 13 2005

A man who was shot and stabbed at a Norfolk factory before his body
was doused with petrol and set alight was said to belong to the
mafia and was wanted for questioning about a murder in Belgium,
a jury heard yesterday.

Detectives spent almost a year trying to identify the body of
42-year-old Armenian Hovanhannes Amirian, whose burning body was
found dumped in a field at Upton, near Peterborough in December 2002.

Armenians Nishan Bakunts, 28, and his father-in-law Misha Chatsjatrjan,
44, allegedly killed their countryman Amirian over a ‘family quarrel’,
then sought to destroy evidence linking them to the crime, Norwich
Crown Court heard.

Bakunts of Lichfield Road, Yarmouth, and Chatsjatrjan, who was living
in Holland, have both denied murdering Mr Amiran, also known as Sako,
who was the godfather of Bakunts and his wife Arpine Karapetian, 24.

A statement read to the jury yesterday revealed that Mr Amirian was
wanted for questioning about the murder of Pogosian Ernait, who was
killed on November 30, 2000 at Ostend, in Belgium.

Belgian police suspected Mr Amirian was the culprit and he was
described as a “self-confessed mafia man”.

Clare Matthews, junior barrister for the prosecution, said: “It was
known that he was involved in organised crime.

“He had a number of known associates and used a number of different
aliases.”

The jury also heard from Bakunts’s sister, Irina Aroustamian, who
said she had spoken to Chatsjatrjan and that he had confessed to
putting eight bullets into Mr Amirian’s head.

Speaking through an interpreter, she said that Chatsjatrjan told
her Mr Amirian had gone on his knees and said “don’t kill me, I
have children”.

The trial continues.

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PROTESTS IN JAVAKHETI OVER FINANCIAL POLICE CLOSURES
By M. Alkhazashvili

The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 13 2005

Recent protests in Akhalkalaki immediately made headlines in the
Georgian, Russian and Armenian media. After the incident many in
the media, as well as Armenian officials, called on the Georgian
government to exercise special caution in the Javakheti region, which
is populated largely by ethnic Armenians, and to avoid further ethnic
conflict within its borders.

The presidential representative, or governor, in the Samtskhe-Javakheti
region Goga Khachidze stated that for the last three months Akhalkalaki
has not been able to fulfill its local budget because many locals
refuse to pay taxes. Recently the regional Tax Service, which is
staffed by ethnic Armenians, inspected three enterprises and the
financial police closed these businesses due to tax evasion.

Svobodnaia Gruzia reported that on October 5 locals staged a
demonstration in protest of the closures. During the meeting some
residents confronted the police and officers fired into the air to
restore calm.

According to reports by Akhali Taoba, despite the fact that all
participants in the confrontation – both residents and the police –
were Armenian, it is being treated by the Russian media as a case
of Georgian police attempting to stomp out separatist movements in
the region.

Even in Armenia the incident was viewed as an ethnic confrontation.

Garnik Isagulian, President Robert Kocharian’s national security
adviser, issued a statement calling on Georgia to be more careful in
dealing with Javakheti.

“It is possible that the smallest provocation in this region may grow
into wide-scale conflict. Thus the Georgian authority must be more
attentive and careful,” Isagulian is quoted as saying in Rezonansi.

Even the Georgian media has warned the local administration to be
careful. Indeed, exercising caution is important, but in the end we
still have a simple dilemma: will we stand for people claiming ethnic
discrimination when they are forced to pay taxes?

President Mikheil Saakashvili has defended the police and supported
their work to control the situation in the region. “All attempts to
create disorder will be unsuccessful,” he said.