Month: October 2006

VICE-PRESIDENT OF ALCATEL: ARMENIA HAS GREAT POTENTIAL IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006

YEREVAN, October 6. /ARKA/. Vice-President of Alcatel company for
CIS countries and Mongolia Johan Vanderplaetse told journalists in
Tbilisi that Armenia had a great potential in software development.

"Recent visit of President of Alcatel Serge Churuka to Armenia
together with the delegation of President of France Jacques Chirac
was conditioned not only by the fact that the company is a supplier,
successfully selling its solutions at Armenian market, but also by
the circumstance that Armenia has a great potential in the sphere of
software development", Vanderplaetse said.

He said that as early as a year ago after Churuka’s meeting with
President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan it became clear that Armenia
was highly interested in software development.

"We find it a very right decision, since Armenia does not have gas
or oil reserves, but it has a great advantage thanks to its human
resources and high system of education", Vanderplaetse emphasized.

"We are satisfied that in Armenia on the highest levels people clearly
understand that the development of telecommunication and availability
of internet not only in Yerevan but also across Armenia is a key
target of the country", he said.

"We have unique offers on ViMax, which we want to promote in Armenia",
he pointed out, meantime adding that in the country the development
of the internet itself depended on the operators, engaged in
telecommunication software.

Answering to a question about the possibility of opening an enterprise
of ready production of Alcatel company in Armenia, Vanderplaetse
pointed out that at present the software was the main part of
telecommunication software, and "the iron is less and less important".

"We have a choice – either to invest into production of "slow-witted"
iron, or use brains of Armenian engineers in the sphere of software.

I think that the second is worth counting on", he said.S.P.-0–

Storytellers head for the road

Hexham Courant, United Kingdom
Oct 6 2006

IT’S the traditional season to curl up next to the fireside and listen
to a good yarn, and the North Pennines Storytelling Festival is booked
to arrive right on cue.

The 15th annual celebration of the myths and legends of this colourful
part of the UK lasts the whole of next weekend, from Friday, October
13 to Sunday, October 15.

The stories are being told at several venues, and visitors can take
circular bus tours enlivened by guides and musicians, as they are
carried to storytelling destinations.

For Tynedale locations, Hexham railway station is the place to start,
and the route ends just over the Cumbrian border at Alston.

The Tynedale part of the festival programme starts at 6pm on Friday
evening, with tales at Whitfield Church in the Allen Valley.

The village is famed for its field sports and associations with the
Earl of Derwentwater and the Jacobites, and Malcolm Green – a member
of the North-East based A Bit Crack storytelling trio – promises to
breathe new life into old sagas helped by local school children.

On Saturday, the storybus leaves for an all-day trip from Hexham
station calling at Stanhope in Weardale, the Station Yard Hub in
Alston, and Allendale library, with musician Mike Bettison and a
local guide aboard.

At the library in Allendale, expect an abundance of short stories
from Michael Harvey and Chris Bostock, with a tea-time spread of
Northumbrian fayre included in the ticket price.

On Sunday, make tracks after lunch to the Garden Station at Langley to
join Malcolm Green, Michael Harvey and a small cast of giant puppets
for stories, followed by teatime refreshments.

Other storytellers taking part in the festival include Pascale Konyn,
Pat Renton, Nick Hennesey and Vergine Gulbenkian from Turkish Armenia.

Tickets can be bought on the door for most events, but weekend
tickets and bus reservations can be bought in advance by calling
01229 861355. Check the website www.npenninestorytelling. org.uk for
the latest information.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006

Employee of Azeri Ombudsman Office in OSCE Annual Meeting for Human
Measurements

Source: Trend
Author: S.Agayeva

06.10.2006

The annual report meeting of OSCE for human measurement will take
place in Warsaw from 8 to 13 October. The representative of the
Azerbaijani Ombudsman Office Aydin Safikhanli will also attend the
gathering, Trend reports quoting the Ombudsman Office.

The agenda of the meeting include discussing the questions such as
democratic elections, citizenship and political rights, humanitarian
problems, information freedom, pre-eminence of law, ensuring the
rights of national minorities, etc.

The representative of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman Office will make a
report at the meeting regarding human rights, results of the measures
taken in the local prisons and military units. In addition, he will
inform the guests about the Armenian aggression and the hard results
of this aggression.

Turkish economy may become growth engine of Europe

FreshPlaza, Netherlands
Oct 6 2006

Turkish Industrialists & Businessmen Association (TUSÝAD) Chairman Omer
Sabancý has stated that Turkey could not be a member of the European
Union without convincing the European public opinion, and added "Truths
about Turkey should be told. A fair evaluation should be made. Turkey’s
membership in EU is an additional value for all. Turkish economy may
become growth engine of Europe. " TUSÝAD Chairman delivered a speech
in Paris, France at a panel titled ‘Global Challenges of Europe and
Turkey’ within the scope of Turkish Week.

Reminding that the TUSÝAD demanded the abolition of article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code within the context of freedom of expression, Sabancý
went on to say, "When we make steps toward more freedom of expression,
I cannot comprehend the attitude on freedom of expression in France",
referring to recent attempts in France to legislate a prohibition on
any speech against alleged Armenian Genocide issue. Sabancý added
he thinks such an attitude befitted a country fearing the truths.

–Boundary_(ID_WRRHv8aPhRO4BctAvft1pA)–

ARMENIAN-GERMAN BUSINESS FORUM TO LAUNCH MONDAY IN YEREVAN

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006

YEREVAN, October 6. /ARKA/. Armenian-German Business Forum to launch
Monday in Yerevan, Armenian Development Agency reports.

The agency says Armenia’s economic capacity and investment environment
will be presented to German entrepreneurs.

Armenian Trade and Economic Cooperation Minister Karen Chshmarityan
and German Ambassador to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch are expected
to speak at the forum.

Armenian Deputy Trade and Economic Development Minister Tigran Davtyan
and Armenian Development Agency General Director Vaagn Movsisyan are
set to read their reports.

Seventeen German companies such as Alcatel Deutschland GmbH, AREVA
Energietechnik, Siemens AG, Multitrade Commerz GmbH and ABB AG will
attend the event. M.V.-0—

SERJ TANKIAN WELCOMES HOAGLAND "HOLD"

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006

Serj Tankian, lead singer for the Grammy Award-winning band System of a
Down, has welcomed the "hold" placed by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
on the confirmation of Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
until the Bush Administration ends its denial of the Armenian Genocide.

According to the information DE FACTO Information-Analytics agency
received at the ANCA, Serj Tankian stated, "I respect U.S. Senator
Bob Menendez’s decision to block the President’s nominee for U.S.

Ambassador to Armenia until the Bush Administration ends its cover-up
of the Armenian Genocide’~R. "His principled stand represents a
powerful contribution to the worldwide effort to end the denial
of justice for this crime, and break forever the worldwide cycle
of genocide."

This April, Tankian was joined by fellow System member John Dolmayan in
a three-day Armenian Genocide recognition advocacy tour of Washington,
DC, featuring meetings with Members of Congress, an anti-denial rally
outside the Turkish Embassy, and a Capitol Hill screening of the new
Genocide documentary "Screamers."

In announcing his decision last month to block the Hoagland nomination,
Sen. Menendez stressed that, "as a leader and defender of democracy,
it is our nation’s responsibility to speak out against injustice and
support equality and human rights. But if the Bush Administration
continues to refuse to acknowledge the atrocities of the Armenian
Genocide, then there is certainly cause for great alarm, which is
why I am placing a hold on this nominee."

He added that, "I will continue to work with my colleagues in the
United States Senate to make strides toward ensuring that all people,
regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity, receive protection from
policies of discrimination and hate that lead to genocide."

On September 7th, after more than forty minutes of intense debate,
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Ambassador-Designate
Hoagland’s nomination. Following the vote, the ANCA announced that
it would continue to urge Senators to place a hold on the Hoagland
nomination. On two previous occasions, June 28th and August 1st, the
panel delayed its consideration of the nomination due to bipartisan
concerns over a series of controversies. Among these points of
contention were the nominee’s written responses to Senator Boxer’s
inquiry, in which he questioned the genocidal intent of the Ottoman
Turkish government.

Also of concern to members of the panel was the State Department’s
firing of the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshal Evans.

His early recall from Yerevan is widely seen as retribution for his
public statements, in February of 2005, calling for an end to "word
games" by the U.S. government in avoiding the proper recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. Despite dozens of Congressional inquiries, the
Administration has yet to explain its reasons for firing Amb. Evans or
to reveal the communications it received from the Turkish government
on this matter.

In a September 1st letter, the ANCA urged Members of the Committee to
block the Hoagland nomination until: 1) Ambassador-designate Hoagland
provides a responsible and unambiguous public statement affirming
that he does not question the clear genocidal intent of the Ottoman
Turkish government against its Armenian population.

2) The State Department provides a full, honest, and public explanation
regarding the reasons for the controversial firing of the current
Ambassador, John Marshall Evans.

3) The Administration explains any and all communications, directly
or indirectly, between the U.S. government and the Turkish government
concerning Ambassador Evans.

Since February of this year, the ANCA has led nationwide efforts to
demand answers concerning the recall of Ambassador Evans and, later,
to educate Senators about the adverse impact of sending an envoy
to Armenia that has called into question the genocidal character of
Ottoman Turkey’s systematic destruction of its Armenian population.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006

EU to Do Everything Possible for Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict – EU Special Representative in Azerbaijan

Source: Trend
Author: A.Ismayilova

06.10.2006

Alan Wadams, a special representative of the European Commission in
Azerbaijan, declared at a conference dedicated to the co-operation
between Azerbaijan and the EU, to do everything possible to resolve
the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports.

He noted that the signing of an Action Plan of the European
Neighborhood Policy will be held in Brussels in November. Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev will also attend the signing ceremony relating
to a memorandum on the energy sector.

Wadams stated the EU offers Azerbaijan its co-operation in the
economic, social and political fields. The signing of an Action Plan
of the European Neighborhood Policy will be an agreement between
Azerbaijan and the CE. The settlement of suspended conflicts was also
included in the Agreement. The EU is signing a similar document with
Armenia and Georgia.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006

Peter Semneby: Azerbaijan and Armenia delay the solution to Garabagh
conflict

[ 06 Oct. 2006 15:40 ]

Azerbaijan and Armenia delay the solution of Garabagh conflict,
Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus said
in the meeting of European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ha said Azerbaijan hopes petrodollars will ensure its economy and
military strength.

"Increase of the number of weapons in the region is a great problem
and causes concern. It means Azerbaijan does not consider the solution
to Nagorno Garabagh conflict actual," he said.

He also said Armenia waits for the solution to Kosovo problem.

"Armenia hopes the reality will play its part," the representative
said.

Mr. Semneby plans to meet with Azerbaijan and Armenia Foreign
ministers. /APA/

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006

"Zerkalo": Armenian Separatists Undermined OSCE "Fire" Monitoring
06.10.2006

"We regret that OSCE didn’t provide necessary conditions for
participation of representative of Nagorni Garabagh in preparation of
OSCE mission in order to evaluate ecologic situation on territories
damaged by fire.

However, it doesn’t exclude Garabagh experts’ opportunity to realize
given monitoring as realization of it has been postponed to next
day in connection with necessity of joining of "Nagorni Garabagh"
representatives to mission". "Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorni
Garabagh", Georgiy Petrosyan, said it while informing "Regnum"
correspondent on activities of "official Stepanakert" connected
with departure of OSCE group from Baku to the places where fires
were committed.

G. Petrosyan also informed that "Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Nagorni Garabagh" sent note to OSCE stating position of "leadership of
Republic" concerning participation of experts from "Nagorni Garabagh
Republic" in monitoring. "Part of territories where evaluation is
expected to be made, is under jurisdiction of "Nagorni Garabagh
Republic" being serious ground for our participation in mission
realized on opposite side", "minister" stressed.

We should remind that accordingly to information available at "Nagorni
Garabagh Republic" authorities "alarming ecological situation is
observed on Garabagh territories "occupied by Azerbaijan": felling of
woods in Shaumyan region is going on, ecological balance of eastern
part of Martuni region with damaged soil structure is upset".

Thus Garabagh separatists undermined OSCE monitoring that should have
started October 4.

–Boundary_(ID_O4q6klNTv+OXMmPMxfWKcg)–

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006

Russian Foreign Minister Positively Assessed Results of Meeting with
Azerbaijani & Armenian Foreign Ministers

Source: Trend
Author: Trend

06.10.2006

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov positively assessed the
results of his meeting with his colleagues from Azerbaijan and
Armenia who arrived in Moscow to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the meeting was
very productive.

The tri-lateral meeting held in Smolensk Square was attended by the
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign
Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, Trend reports quoting
ITAR-TASS.

"Moscow was not selected a place for the trilateral meeting by
accident but because historically Russia has played an important role
in the Caucasus, particularly in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the diplomatic source in Moscow stated.
He stressed that the key topic of this meeting was directed towards
finding ways of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Russian co-chair of the OSCE Yuri Merzlyakov said the agreement
to conduct the meeting of the Azerbaijan and Armenian Foreign
Ministers was reached as a result of the negotiations of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs in Baku and Yerevan.