Month: October 2005

OFFICIAL ARMENIA NEGOTIATING WITH INDONESIA

A1+
| 16:30:30 | 12-10-2005 | Official |

October 12 in the capital of Indonesia Jakarta RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan meet the Foreign Minister of the country Pak Hassan
Wirajuda. This was the first visit of a High Armenian delegation
to Indonesia.

During the meeting the sides discussed the perspectives of developing
the relations between the countries. A reference was also made to the
regional problems. Mr. Wirajuda gave details about the signature of the
agreement about the settlement of the Ache conflict. Vardan Oskanyan in
his turn gave details about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict underlining
that the conflict has nothing to do with religion, but it is only the
expression of the right of self-determination of the Karabakh people.

At the end of the meeting the Foreign Ministers signed an inter
governmental agreement about avoiding double tax and a memorandum
about the creation of a Consultation forum. Tomorrow Vardan Oskanyan
will leave for Singapore where he will meet the Foreign Minister of
the country.

ALTERNATIVE DEMANDED

A1+
| 16:19:08 | 12-10-2005 | Official |

October 11 in the margins of his visit to the USA the RA Power Minister
Armen Movsisyan met the US Power Secretary Samuel W. Bodman.

During the meeting the RA Minister highly appreciated the US support to
the different spheres of power in Armenia. Speaking about the possible
shutting down of the nuclear power station the Minister mentioned that
it is possible only in case of creating an alternative power source.

An offer was also made to organize an Armenian-American conference
the aim of which will be to involve financial organization.

The RA Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to USA Tatoul
Margaryan also participated in the meeting.

JUSTICE BLOC WILL DECIDE HOW TO SAY “NO”

A1+
| 16:07:56 | 12-10-2005 | Politics |

“We call everyone to actively participate in the Constitutional
referendum and to say “No” to the draft; we also understand those
citizens who boycott the referendum”, this was the text of the
announcement discussed during the session of the Justice bloc.

The representatives of all the member parties of the bloc participate
in the session. Aram Sargsyan is not in Yerevan, but member of the
Republican party political council Smbat Ayvazyan is present at the
session. By the way, Albert Bazeyan and Vagharshak Haroutyunyan are
also invited to the session.

Their party is not yet member of the bloc, but Bazeyan is member of
the Justice fraction.

Before the session the correspondent of “A1+” asked the secretary
of the People’s party Grigor Haroutyunyan about his attitude towards
the separate anti-preaching of the National Unity. “What do you mean
by separate?

Geghamyan will hold meetings and persuade people to say “No”, and we
will do the same. It is not excluded that we will say “No” together”.

ECHMIADZIN DEPRIVED OF ELECTRICITY

A1+
| 14:48:42 | 12-10-2005 | Politics |

October 16 in Echmiadzin the elections of mayor will be held. The
pre-election heated campaign promises to have a noisy outcome on
the election day. The main candidates are the ex-mayor of Echmiadzin
Yervand Aghvanyan, deputy Defense Minister General Manvel Grigoryan,
and Gagik Avagyan who is supported by the NA deputy Hakob Hakobyan.

Besides electoral bribery, promises and terror, actions against
campaign are also practiced in Echmiadzin. For example, when TV
channels broadcast programs about the opponents of Gagik Avagyan the
whole Echmiadzin is deprived of electricity as the above mentioned
candidate is in friendly terms with the officials of the Echmiadzin
electricity network.

The same took place yesterday when Yervand Aghvanyan was guest of
a program on Shant TV. A woman called and informed that Echmiadzin
is deprived of electricity, and the three candidates for the post of
the mayor have decided to exclude their candidacy in order to support
Yervand Aghvanyan.

The Echmiadzin Local Electoral Committee neither affirmed nor rejected
the information. They only informed that the Committee has not received
a written announcement.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE NAME?

A1+
| 14:15:16 | 12-10-2005 | Economy |

Learning that the company “Synopsis” has opened its branch in Armenia
the computer engineers who left Armenia expressed their wish to return
to their homeland, executive director of the company “Synopsis Armenia”
Hovhannes Mousayelyan announced today. He also underlined that,
“The informational technologies are the future of Armenia”.

After having operated in Armenia for a year the company has decided
to buy the shares of “HPL-Armenia”. The negotiations have already
started, and the final agreement will be made early in 206. “Synopsis”
will buy the shares paying 13 million USD (0.3 for each).

HPL which has been operating in Armenia since 1995 was the first
American company in the field. Chief Director of “Synopsis Armenia”
Rich Goldman announced today that “HPL has created an atmosphere in
Armenia where they can work pretty well”. He also said that their main
aim is “to make Armenia an authority of polytechnic mind in the world”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DR. VAHAKN ATAMYAN ELECTED BY 52%

Gibrahayer e-magazine, Cyprus
Oct 12 2005

(Gibrahayer – Nicosia 11, October) 48 year old Dr.Vahakn Atamyan is
the new representative of the Armenian community in the Cyprus House
of Representatives. He will serve for eight months. He won 52% of the
vote in last Sunday’s by-election, that was held after the death of
Bedros Kalaydjian, who passed away last month.

His candidacy was supported by the Shahoumian Communist faction,
the Henchagian Social Democrats, Ramgavar Liberal Party, the AGBU
and Melkonian Alumni.

The Armenian community of Cyprus gave Parsegh Zartarian’s independent
candidacy 4% of the vote while Dashnaktsoutiun’s candidate –
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus – 33 year old
Dr.Antranik Ashdjian gained 44% of the electorate. (detailed results
on ).

The results were extremely similar to the 2001 vote. Issues
like the closure of Melkonian, the regression of our community’s
Armenian character and the primitive methods of conducting day-to-day
community affairs, the lack of transparency and checks and balances,
made minimal impact on a community that has been heading downwards,
towards a doubtful future littered with scandals, mismanagement and
lack of imagination.

NEWS IN BRIEF

~UThe situation in Akhalkalak is very tense. Tax officers from
Akhaltsakha closed 10 stores demanding acquirement documents for
the goods they traded. Shop-keepers told them that they bring goods
from Tbilisi and get no document there. A few hundred residents of
Akhalkalak gathered before the town administration protesting about
the activities of the tax officers.

~UA 43-year-old Van Nuys man – Melkon Gharakhanian – was arrested
on eight felony counts of federal mail fraud in connection with an
alleged investment scam that bilked about $20 million from mostly
Armenian-Americans, many of whom were from Glendale.

~UFrench President Jacques Chirac said that Turkey would need to
undergo a “major cultural revolution” before entering the European
Union, and he reiterated that France would hold a referendum on
admitting Ankara to the bloc.

~UThe French Insurance Company Axa agreed to pay $17 million to
descendants of life insurance policyholders who perished during the
Armenian Genocide.

~UThe decision of who will be given the Nobel Prize for Literature
has been delayed due to a split among the judges. The announcement is
now scheduled this Thursday. The split occurred over honoring Turkish
writer Orhan Pamuk author of several books including “My Name is Red”
and “Snow”. Pamuk faces trial later this year for having said that
Turkey was GUILTY of the Armenian Genocide.

~UDubai International Properties, a leading property developer
based in the U.A.E., has agreed to invest $5 billion in projects in
Istanbul. The deal between the company and the Istanbul municipality
was signed late Thursday at a ceremony presided over by Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan – a former Istanbul mayor – and Dubai’s
Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum.

~UA journalist in Turkey has been found guilty of insulting Turkish
identity and given a suspended six-month jail sentence by a court in
Istanbul. Hrant Dink, of Armenian-Turkish descent, wrote a newspaper
column which he argued was aimed at improving relations between
Turkey and Armenia. The prosecution interpreted one part as an insult,
but Mr Dink has said he will appeal against the ruling. The verdict
follows criminal code reforms as Turkey seeks to join the EU.

The article written by Mr Dink addressed the killings of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians during Ottoman rule.

Gibrahay calendar ~UCartoonist Massis Araradian in Cyprus. His best
collection of Armenian and International political satire will be
exhibited at The Utudjian Hall of the Armenian Prelature on Friday
October 14, 2005 at 8:00 pm. Organised by The Hamazkayin Oshagan
Cyprus Chapter. Dinner at AYMA will follow by reservation only with
Alice Nadjarian on 99689948.

~UBadanegan meetings – for children from 7- 12 years old – have begun.

They take place every Saturday at 4:00 pm at AYMA.

~UAYMA/HMEM Chicco football practices take place every Friday at 7:30pm
at AYMA ~UEric Simonian invites you to Orpheas Piano Bar. Every Friday:
Spanish Duo Band Flamengo and Salsa. Starting from October 7, 2005,
Italian Chef Sergio at your service. Every Saturday Blues Night with
guitarist George. Marie Louise Kouyoumdjian will soon be performing
at Orpheas Piano Bar together with Eric Simonian. Details to follow.

~UBadanegan meetings – for children from 7- 12 years old – have begun.

They take place every Saturday at 4:00 pm at AYMA.

AYMA/HMEM Chicco football practices take place every Friday at 7:30pm
at AYMA ~UArmenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
via real audio on . Broadcast 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus
time (14:00-15:00 GMT). Armenian news every Friday, Saturday, Sunday
and Tuesday.

~UNew Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance in London
Harout Pampoukdjian and his Band will be performing in London at the
Royal Lancaster at Hyde Park – London on Saturday 31 December 2005.

Organised by HOM (Armenian Relief Society), Hamazkayin and HMEM.

~UThe Honourary Consul of Brasil, Mr. Garo Keheyian, invites you to a
series of Brasilian cultural events in Nicosia, throughout the month
of October. For more information, visit

USAID CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF ITS SEVAN HOSPITAL RENOVATION PROJECT

Armenpress
Oct 12 2005

SEVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS: On October 12, the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated the
completion of the installation of a central heating system at Sevan
Hospital. USAID Mission Deputy Director Karl Fickenscher, the governor
of Gegharkunik marz, the city mayor as well as city officials,
hospital representatives, Thermoservice energy service company, and
members of Advanced Engineering Associates International participated
in the ceremony.

As a result of this project, which was funded by the U.S. Government
and implemented by Advanced Engineering Associates International within
March – August 2005, Sevan hospital now has a modern and efficient
gas heating system. The total cost of the project was $86,773, with
approximately 70% of the funding having been provided by USAID and 30%
by the hospital itself.

GOD BLESS THE OPENING OF THE RAILWAY LINE

Panorama
11:40 12/10/05

The opening of the Georgian-Abkhazian railway line is creating real
perspectives for Armenian economics. Anyhow the minister of defense
Serge Sargsyan told the journalists that Georgia has already given his
agreement for the opening of the railway line. Presently Russians are
implementing reconstructing works at the place. “I hope with God help
the railway line will work after these works”, said S. Serge Sargsyan.

Meanwhile it is interesting Andranik Manukyan’s (the minister of
transportation and communication) behavior concerning this topic. As
during the press conference he said nothing about the possible opening
of the Georgian-Abkhazian railway line. /Panorama.am/

GOVERNOR OF KRASNODAR REGION IMPRESSED BY VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN YEREVAN

Pan Armenian
12.10.2005 19:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian met today with
Governor of Krasnodar region of Russia Alexander Tkachev, RA leader’s
press service reported. Robert Kocharian noted that the conduction of
the Year of Russia in Armenia gave rise to mutual visits and various
events. Stressing the importance of cooperation with the Russian
regions the RA President noted that it serves as a firm basis for
the development of Armenian-Russian ties. In his turn, the governor
of Krasnodar said he is impressed by the volume of constructions
works carried out in Yerevan. He also emphasized that the Armenian
community of the region plays an important role in strengthening
bilateral relations. The representatives of the Armenian community
are engaged in all the fields of life of the region, he added. The
parties also discussed the Armenian-Russian economic ties. In this view
Robert Kocharian marked that thanks to the activation of business ties
Russian business occupies a significant place in the Armenian economy.

RA FM DEPUTY DIDN’T SAY ARMENIA WON’T PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN

Pan Armenian
12.10.2005 18:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The statement arrogated to Armen Bayburdian, who
allegedly said that Armenia will not provide humanitarian assistance
due to the earthquake that struck the country last week, does not
correspond to reality, RA MFA Spokesman Hamlet Gasparian informed. In
his words, Armen Bayburdian never made such a statement. To remind,
yesterday some Armenia media spread information saying that Pakistan
has not requested humanitarian assistance from Armenia. The Armenian
Deputy FM allegedly reminded that no diplomatic relations were
established between Yerevan and Islamabad.