Month: October 2006

ALL PACE MEMBERS HAVE COMMITMENTS ON PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 18:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I do not support giving independence to areas
populated by national minorities in Europe," President of the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Rene van der Linden stated. In
his words, a report on Lebanon, illegal migration to Europe, situation
in Kosovo will be discussed at the PACE plenary session. Russia-Georgia
problems will be discussed between the parliamentary delegations of
the two countries and PACE authorities.

"The relations between Russia and Georgia, which are both members
of the Council of Europe and as PACE members undertook commitments
on peaceful settlement of conflicts, should be solved via diplomatic
tools," he said.

The PACE President also commented on French President Jacques Chirac’s
statement in Yerevan over EU-Turkey talks. "It is not new that Jacques
Chirac has made such statements. The game has already started. You
cannot change the rules of the game while it is on.

Like other European states, France signed a document to start
discussions on Turkey’s EU membership.

Jacques Chirac has made a mere political statement. I do not think
this position is right," Mr. van der Linden said. The PACE President
also said he does not agree to Chirac’s comment on the principle of
determining the fate of national minorities and stressed that he does
not support giving independence to areas in Europe where national
minorities live, APA reports.

MEMORIAL TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVORS TO BE BUILT IN CALIFORNIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 18:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Governor Schwarzenegger Monday announced the
signing of AB 1210 by Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) that authorizes
the construction of a memorial for California’s Armenian Genocide
survivors in Capitol Park. "We should never forget the inhumanity and
brutality of the Armenian Genocide," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "The
construction of this memorial will help all Californians remember
the unimaginable suffering genocide survivors endured," reports
Asbarez.com.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO BAKU FOR CONTINUING KARABAKH TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 18:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Talks over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict should not stop, thus the work of the co-chairs is an
inseparable part of the Minsk process. They will travel to the regions
and only after that the results may be summed up. I am sure the talks
should continue," Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasily Istratov
said. He remarked that the OSCE MG co-chairs presented a document for
consideration by the parties and they now await for the responses of
Baku and Yerevan, Day.az reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RELATED BILL INCLUDED IN FRENCH PARLIAMENT’S AGENDA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 19:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian
Genocide has been included in the agenda of the French parliament and
will be discussed at its October 12 session, Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s Central Committee of Western Europe reported. The bill was
introduced by Francois Holland, the first Secretary of the Socialist
Party. The ARF has welcomed the continuous efforts of the Socialist
party, and has called on its members and sympathizers to participate
in the October 12 rally in support of the bill that would make it a
crime to deny the Armenian Genocide, "Yerkir" reports.

ARMENIA EXPECTED TO HAVE BIRD FLU REFERENCE LABORATORY

Armenpress
Oct 03 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: A team of World Health Organization
(WHO) experts is expected in Armenia in mid-October to assess its
capacities for establishment of a bird flu reference laboratory.

Elizabeth Danielian, acting head of WHO Armenia Office, said the
government of Austria has pledged a 200,000 euro aid for establishment
of the laboratory that, if set up, will be the first one in the region.

WB AND IFC RANK ARMENIA 34 IN TERMS OF BUSINESS DOING EASE

Armenpress
Oct 03 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has been ranked 34-th out of
175 nations for its efforts to increase the ease of doing business
in the country, says a report by the World Bank and its arm, the
International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Semion Diankov, director of IFC department for monitoring analysis
and policy, said in Yerevan today that in terms of economic reforms
and actual ease of doing business index Armenia was ranked the best
among CIS member countries.

But he said the report shows that Armenia still has a lot of work to
do. Particularly, Armenia is behind the neighboring Georgia in terms
of reform implementation dynamic. Armenia started sweeping reforms
in mid 1990-s and secured the place due to progress it has made
over a decade, while studies show that Georgia was able to carry out
successful reforms in just few recent years to spring to the 37-th
position from 130-th.

The World Bank and IFC report notes that Armenia must carry out
sweeping reforms in tax collection.

Studies show that an average businessman wastes 1000 hours annually
to fill in different papers, resulting in higher volume of shadow
economic activity.

The report says also that a string of administrative obstacles makes
doing oversea trade complicated. Unlike in Georgia where registration
of documents for export-import operations takes on average 5 days,
this period in Armenia is 30-35 days.

As a result, in terms of tax payment and doing oversea business
Armenia is ranked 148 and 119 respectively, while its index of property
registration is second after New Zealand.

ARMAVIA PLANS TO LEASE FOUR AIRCRAFTS

Armenpress
Oct 02 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s leading carrier, Armavia,
said today it will obtain four new aircrafts. Businessman Mikhail
Baghdasarov, who owns the carrier, said the carrier will most likely
lease an A-321, two A-320 and one 70-seat smaller planes.

He said the agreement on the small plane was reached and very soon
it will arrive in Armenia. He said airbuses will arrive in the first
half of next January. Baghdasarov said Armavia plans to open new
flights next year, particularly to New Delhi, Birmingham, Minsk and
Amsterdam. It will also resume flights to Tehran.

On May 3, 2006, an Armavia Airbus A320 operating Armavia Flight 967
crashed in the Black Sea en route from Yerevan to Sochi, a resort
town in Russia. On May 5, 2006, another Armavia A320 was one of four
aircraft destroyed during a fire at a maintenance hangar belonging
to Sabena Technics at Brussels Zaventem Airport, Belgium.

PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN QUESTIONS ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT’S VITALITY

Armenpress
Oct 03 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS; Before flying to Strasbourg for
a regular session of the PACE Armenian parliament chairman Tigran
Torosian questioned yesterday the vitality of an anti-criminal movement
launched by the opposition to fight, as they say, against the growing
role of criminal elements in Armenian politics and government.

Torosian said the movement’s approaches are absolutely unacceptable. He
said fighting criminals is very simple.

"If there are people who know about criminal acts they must go and
report to police and press for these criminals punishment, everything
else beyond is political speculation," he said.

JACQUES CHIRAC: I THINK TURKEY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
04/10/2006

The 3-day visit of French president Jacques Chirac to Armenia was the
first visit of a leader of a Western super power to our country. Le
Figaro writes that the word "Remember" that Mr. Chirac wrote in the
guest-book of the Genocide Museum is very symbolic.

Jacques Chirac is considered friend of Armenia that got its
independence in 1991. After having planted a tree of memory at
Tsitsernakabrd, Mr. Chirac together with Bernadette put carnations
at the fire. Mr. Chirac was accompanied by Armenian famous footballer
Youri Djorkaeff and journalist Daniel Bilalian.

Le Figaro cites the words of Jacques Chirac uttered after a joint
press conference with president Kocharian: "France recognizes the
Armenian Genocide."

Though Mr. Chirac’s circle does not react on president’s words, the
French-Armenians dubbed his statement a "progressive step". Yet,
many Diaspora Armenians are displeased that Mr. Chirac previously
condemned draft law discussions of October 12 that French socialists
put forward. Once approved, those denying the Armenian Genocide will
face a fine of 45.000 euro and up to 5 years in prison.

In Mr. Chirac’s words, "the draft has to do with dispute than a legal
reality." He believes that the current legislative arsenal allows
punishing denialism.

NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE HAS TO BE SETTLED WITHIN MINSK GROUP AND TURKEY HAS TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
04/10/2006

President of the French Republic Is Sure

The official visit to Armenia of president Jacques Chirac of France
ended on Sunday. During the 3-day stay the French delegation headed
by Mr. Chirac met RA president Robert Kocharian, visited the Memorial
of Armenian Genocide and Genocide Museum. The French delegation also
was received by the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Right after the meeting of presidents a joint press conference
was held. In president Kocharian’s words, the volume and content
of bilateral relations are on a rather high level. He particularly
highlighted economic cooperation saying that more than 100 companies
operate in Armenia by the French capital.

Both countries have more than 20 sister-cities and that, the president
said, adds to the level of bilateral relations.

Robert Kocharian informed that he discussed with Mr. Chirac the present
stage of Nagorno Karabakh regulation process. "I would particularly
like to emphasize that the French president has an experts awareness
on this issue," Mr. Kocharian said. Both presidents touched upon
the proposal to transfer Karabakh regulation process from the OSCE
Minsk Group to UN. Mr. Chirac said: "This is a misplaced proposal
and will sooner complicate settlement process than make it easier,"
as the Minsk Group experts are working superbly for the
solution of this complicated issue and they have made very serious
proposals. Mr. Kocharian added that shifting the format will not bring
solution, and if one of the sides strive for that we are suspicious
that it wants to see the conflict settled.

Touching upon the Socialist party proposal to criminalize denial of
the Armenian Genocide, Jacques Chirac said that France recognized the
Genocide by a law in 2001 and as in a lawful state "every manifestation
of racism" is punishable. "I want to remind again that France has
recognized the Armenian Genocide and the rest is a dispute rather
than legal issue."

Asked by Le Monde correspondent whether Turkey’s membership to EU
is stipulated by recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Chirac
answered: "If the question is whether Turkey has to recognize the
Armenian Genocide to get access to the EU, then I sincerely believe
that a country will become more mature by recognizing its past. Has
Germany, which recognizes the Holocaust, lost its greatness and
trustworthiness? Just the contrary, a country, a nation always becomes
mature by recognizing the mistakes of its past. I believe that Turkey
should think thoroughly and it would be good if it recognizes and
discusses its past."

Asked by a representative of Turkish Hurriyet newspaper why he did not
answer Turkish prime minister’s proposal to set a joint commission of
Armenian and Turkish historians, Robert Kocharian said that it pains
him that the journalist does not know about his reply and added that
he believes that leaders of neighboring states should communicate
not via mass media but diplomatic relations that unfortunately lack
between Armenia and Turkey. Mr. Kocharian said that in his reply he
suggested creating an intergovernmental commission for discussion of
all issues but there was no reply from Mr. Erdogan.

At the meeting with Catholicos Karekin II, French president expressed
satisfaction with the economic and political relations between the two
countries. His Holiness told the president that an Armenian diocese
that the Armenia Church and the Armenian community has long cherished
will be opened in France soon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress