Month: October 2006

AZERI GROUP PICKETS FRENCH EMBASSY

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 16 2006

The hard-line Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) picketed the
embassy of France in Azerbaijan on Monday against Thursday’s decision
of the country’s National Assembly to enforce criminal prosecution
for denying the so-called "genocide of Armenians".

Armenians say Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in 1915,
a claim strongly denied by Turkey.

After submitting a resolution to the embassy, the protesters started to
throw eggs, tomatoes and eggplants at the building in protest at the
decision of the French parliament’s lower chamber. 18 picketers were
detained and taken to a police precinct. All but three protesters
were released shortly afterwards. Two of the picket participants
were injured.

The protesters demanded to immediately repeal the "genocide" law, to
close down the French embassy and to estrange France from brokering
settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagrono) Garabagh conflict
within the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) also co-chaired by Russia and the
United States.

ARMENIAN ALPHABET EXHIBIT AT MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY

Monmouth University News & Events, NJ
Oct 16 2006

Program Celebrates the 1,600th Anniversary of the Armenian Alphabet and
Will Feature Multiple Armenian Alphabet Artifacts Monmouth University,
in conjunction with the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), will host an Armenian Alphabet Exhibit, November 6 to 9, 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, in historic Wilson Hall, located on the Monmouth
University campus. The program celebrates the 1,600th anniversary
of the Armenian Alphabet and will feature multiple Armenian Alphabet
artifacts. In addition, on November 8 at 7 p.m., Mr. Aram Arkun will
give a keynote address about the history of the Armenian Alphabet in
Wilson Hall Auditorium.

Mr. Arkun, a specialist in Armenian history serves as the coordinator
of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern). He is editor of the periodical
Ararat, chairman of the Armenian Student Association Arthur H. Dadian
Armenian Heritage Award committee, and secretary of the board of
directors of the Armenian Center at Columbia University.

Mr. Arkun is a doctoral candidate in Armenian history (C.Phil.) at
UCLA, for which he is completing his dissertation on the Armenians
of northern Cilicia after World War I.

The exhibit and keynote address are free and open to the public.

Local schools and large groups are asked to please contact the
Office of Public Affairs at 732-571-3526 to schedule a time to view
the exhibit.

Media Contact: Val Manzo 732-571-3526/[email protected]

IGOR MURADIAN CONSIDERS THAT RA LEADERSHIP TRIES TO CONCEAL JAVAKHK PROBLEM TO PLEASE WESTERN COMMUNITY

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. "NATO, expert community of Europe
and U.S. very throughly study the situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti. A
task has been set – not to permit problem’s internationalization and
to suppress it. And Armenia has some commitments towards the western
community, which strives for considering the events to please the
Georgian authorities." Political scientist Igor Muradian declared
this at the October 17 press conference at the National Press Club
organized within the framework of the program titled "Actual Subject,"
commenting upon the situation formed currently in Samtskhe-Javakheti.

In the political scientist’s opinion, the Armenian leadership tries to
conceal the problems in this Georgian region populated with Armenians,
to please the western community. Announcing that he has no document
about possible Armenian-Georgian secret agreement, I.Muradian meanwhile
said that it would not take much time to reach such kind of agreement,
as this could also be an oral one.

As for the issue, what steps can yield good results, I.Muradian said
that we should not permit to conceal the Javakhk problem. Whereas,
in his words, currently the Armenian authorities have a single goal,
to hold "on the surface," as power crisis, in fact, emerged in Armenia.

As regards real possibility of Georgia’s joining NATO in the near
future, in I.Muradian’s words, the events between Russia and Georgia
delayed the prospect of Georgia’s joining NATO for even more.

Besides, in his words, this issue will not be solved, until the
problem of Ukraine’s joining NATO is solved and the issue of the
Black Sea is determined.

Returning to the subject of the recent local self-government elections
in Samtskhe-Javakheti, I.Muradian declared that there is no doubt that
the United Javakhk won the elections. As for the arrest of Vahagn
Chakhalian, member of Board of the United Javakhk democratic bloc
by Armenian law enforcement bodies, I.Muradian declared that the
initiators of this force pressure are intimidated and do not know
how to come out of the formed situation. He called for releasing
V.Chakhalian.

ARMENIA ACCOUNTS FOR 1% OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN CIS COUNTRIES

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the UN annual report on
foreign investments worldwide, the flow of foreign investments into
Armenia is quite small and made about 220 million dollars in 2005,
whereas the total amount of foreign investments in CIS countries
made 27 billion dollars last year. Thus Armenia accounts for only 1%
of these investments.

According to Radio Liberty, the UN report published on October 16
not only observes the latest developments in this sphere but also
indicates the countries which are most attractive for investors.

According to a research, last year foreign businessmen invested about
14 bln USD in Russia, 7 bln USD in Ukaraine and 1.7 bln in Azerbaijan.

"Along with Georgia and Belarus, Armenia is in one of the last
positions on this list," Carman Calutay, one of the research authors,
said.

According to him, foreign investors are attracted first of all by
natural resources, then – by consumer goods and the food sector
of CIS countries. Although Armenia lacks natural resources and a
big consumer market, according to the research authors, it has a
considerable potential for attracting foreign investors.

By another mechanism of calculation which shows how much interest
foreign investors have in the infrastructures, human potential and
educational level of the given country, Armenia is in 77-79 places
among 141 countries. It means that Armenia is in a middle position
in the world in terms of its potential.

The report authors also indicate that last year a considerable decline
was registered in the foreign invsetments in three CIS countries –
Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. In 2004, 3.6 billion dollars was
invested in Azerbaijan, while in 2005 this index almost halved.

"The fact is that foreign investments are mainly made in Azerbaijan’s
gas and oil sectors, and as in 2005 the investors made huge profits
in these sectors, there was no need to invest new sums there,"
Vitali Kramarenko, Director of the International Monetary Fund’s
(IMF) Azerbaijani branch, explaines. According to him, this tendency
will continue in the coming years. "These programs will mainly be
completed in 2007. They include the operation of a gas pipeline and
an oil pipeline and extraction of huge resources in this sector. So,
there will mostly be a decline in foreign investments in Azerbaijan
in the next 1-2 years," V. Kramarenko said.

MONUMENT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS DEFILED IN FRANCE

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

CHAVILLE, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The monument
dedicated to memory of the Armenian Genocide victims was defiled by
vandals on early October 14, in Chaville, suburb of Paris. As Marmara
states quoting monk Grigor Khachatrian, the spiritual pastor of the
Saint Gregory the Illuminator church of Chaville, they stole the
bronze cross placed in the center of the monument.

The monument, erected on October 5, 2002, with resources of the
community members, symbolizes with its twelve columns 12 old Armenian
colonies, as well as both Masises, and the pivotal part makes a binding
of bronze letters that looks like a cross in the central part, what
was, factually, stolen.

The local authorities as well as police representatives believe that
the monument was stolen for its metal value, thus, the police does not
see a political motive in it, but Armenians consider interesting that
it was stolen in almost two days after the votion for the French draft
(fixing punishment for denial of the Armenian Genocide).

After the liturgy celebrated at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator
Church of Chaville on October 15, those present directed towards the
monument to condemn the mentioned deed. Deputy Jean-Jacques Guillet,
Mayor Jean Levain, representatives of the Mayor’s Office and regional
administration as well as the population of Chaville were present.

The Mayor and the Deputy not only condemned at the monument the
happened, but also promised in a short time to restore in the same
way the monument valueable for Armenians in the symbolic sense,
using resources of the Mayor’s Office and the Regional Council General.

The Turkish press stated touching upon that theme that the Police
continues examination but was not able to check any trace.

TWO EARTHQUAKES OCCURED IN ARMENIA

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

At 14:57 and 15:15 local time two 2.5 and 3 magnitude earthquakes
occurred in Armenia 10 km away from Lake Sevan. The strength
of underground quakes in epicenters reached 4 and 5 points
correspondingly. The quakes were felt in a number of settlements
of Armenia, particularly Sevan and Tsovaghyugh, Dilijan, Ijevan and
Yerevan, the Armenian National Survey for Seismic Protection reports.

US DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND FBI CONDUCT TRAINING AT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACADEMY

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

A team of emergency response experts and hazardous materials
specialists from the US Department of Defense and Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) is in Yerevan to conduct a realistic two-day
training scenario October 17-18, 2006. This training scenario,
which takes place at the Emergency Management Academy and involves a
simulated Weapons of Mass Destruction incident, is the culminating
event in a series of courses taught by this team in Armenia over
the past few years under the US Department of Defense International
Counter-proliferation Program.

During this visit, the team also is providing training for
representatives from the Armenian Rescue Service, the Ministry of
Defense and the RA Police on the use of detection and monitoring
equipment, as well as evidence collection equipment. This equipment
was part of a US Government equipment donation to the Government of
Armenia in July that totaled more than $300,000.

HENRY CUNY: ARMENIA IS A COUNTRY OF HISTORIC EVIDENCES

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

October 17 in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin the Catholicos of
All Armenians Garegin II received the Ambassador of the Republic of
France Henry Cuny, who completed his diplomatic mission in Armenia.

"We are extremely happy that we had the chance to enjoy your presence
in Armenia and the amity with the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin and
to see your love for Armenia and the Armenian people," His Holiness
Garegin II said. Conveying the deep gratitude of the Armenian nation
to French authorities, the Catholicos appreciated the assistance and
support of France to Armenia in different spheres.

Mr. Cuny also shared his impressions from the period of his mission
in Armenia. "Armenia is a country of historic evidences. It possesses
inexhaustible wealth," the Ambassador noted.

At the end of the meeting the Catholicos of All Armenians thanked for
the Ambassador’s service and wished success in his further activity.

ARMENIA RANKS 4TH IN FIDE RATING LIST

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

President Robert Kocharyan received today Chairman of the World Chess
Federation, the President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who arrived
in Armenia to participate in the under 20 World Chess Championship.

FIDE President welcomed the efforts of Armenian authorities directed
at the development of chess in Armenia, saying that "when there is
serious attention, there is result and the success of Armenian chess
players is a good evidence of this." IN his words, Armenia ranks 4th
among 165 countries in FIDE rating list.

President Kocharyan said that the recent numerous victories of Armenian
chess players have become inspiring examples for many and the interest
in chess has grown.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the prospects of further
development of chess in our country, and teaching chess in schools.

They turned to the possible collaboration between Armenia and
Kalmykia. Noting that our country has a good experience of cooperation
with Southern regions of Russia, Robert Kocharyan said it is necessary
to combine the economic potential of the countries and clarify the
directions of cooperation.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Oct 17 2006

On October 12 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian met with Envoy Andrzej
Kasprzyk, the personal representative of the OSCE CiO. They discussed
the findings of the recent monitoring of the special OSCE mission in
the territories on both sides of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani front line
and the regions which suffered from fires. They also discussed the
plan monitoring near the village of Gyulistan, the region of Shahumian,
NKR on October13.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress