Month: July 2007

RELATED ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN RELATION
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir, Armenia
July 30 2007

There are things which are talked about in general terms which usually
do not convey anything. Amazingly, the Armenian and Georgian relations
have become one of these things. Meanwhile, their importance and
significance shows that these relations should cause public debates
more often because these relations obviously lack the level and quality
that their vitality requires. Recent evidence to this is the visit of
the Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan to Georgia. The visit was
not announced to have a definite purpose. In other words, it could be
viewed as contact between neighbors to discuss current working issues.

Nevertheless, the visit has interesting nuances. In addition there
are several interesting things about it. First, the Armenian foreign
minister met with Varsholomidzeh, the prime minister of the autonomous
republic of Adjaria. Certainly, this is not the case when the parties
discussed the centuries-old friendship of Armenians and Adjars. This
friendship might be centuries old or not. But there are more important
things that the Armenian foreign minister and the prime minister of an
autonomous republic within Georgia could discuss. Certainly, economic
programs are meant. Adjaria is an opportunity to expand the economy
of Armenia, if not by piercing the border of blockade, at least by
getting it farther from us. The point is that the dynamic growth of
the number of Armenian tourists and the opportunities for Armenian
businessmen to make investments in Adjaria somehow leads us out of
this 29 thousand square meter area. It is not a way out, of course,
but at least it lets hope… Perhaps the foreign minister of the
country caught in innumerable regional, geopolitical problems meets
with the prime minister of a coastland sovereign state for this purpose

It is notable that the next interesting point of the "Georgian review"
of Vardan Oskanyan also has an obviously economic context. It is
the meeting with the foreign diplomats accredited to Georgia, which
happened in the region of Lori. At least the official purpose of
this meeting is to discuss economic issues and possibilities for
investments, presenting to the ambassadors the opportunities our
country provides and expecting that they will share their impressions
with the businessmen of their countries. At first sight, everything
is highly logical. However, there are foreign diplomats and embassies
to Armenia as well. What’s the point of inviting the diplomats to
Georgia if the same could be done regarding the diplomats accredited
to Armenia? Certainly, most countries do not have embassies to Armenia
and set up diplomatic relations with Armenia through their ambassadors
to Georgia. In this case, however, they could invite together with
the diplomats accredited to Armenia the resident ambassadors to
Georgia. Didn’t official Yerevan think about it even if we assume that
the initiative came from the Armenian ambassador to Georgia Silvanyan?

Ostensibly, the meeting of the ambassadors accredited to Lori has
another purpose. Certainly it is difficult to say what purpose it
is because unlike the seaside business component, the political
aspect of the Armenian and Georgian relation is not so public. The
elites of both countries come in touch in a peculiar manner, and
usually before or after a meeting with the elite of another country
which is interested in the issues of the region. It is notable,
for instance, that a few years ago, before his visit to France,
the president of Armenia visited Sahakashvili to ski, injured the
leg and delayed the visit to France. Now it is notable, by the way,
that the president of Armenia has just returned from France when
the foreign minister meets in Armenia with the foreign ambassadors
accredited to Georgia. The mentioning of France does not mean this
country is directly related to this. It is just an example that the
Armenian and Georgian relation is not direct and is mainly based
on related relations, which is evidence that despite declarations
of mutual respect and importance Yerevan and Tbilisi do not have a
"good opinion" on each other. And it is already a major problem,
even though the related influence mitigates all the possible problems.

"HERITAGE" PARTY LEADER, U.S. CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MG DISCUSS LARGE SPECTER OF ISSUES

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 30 2007

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. "Heritage" Party leader Raffi Hovannisian
met today with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and
Eurasia Matthew Bryza, who is visiting Armenia as the US co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group.

The Party’s press service reported that Hovannisian and Bryza touched
upon the issues of Armenia’s foreign and home policy, Armenian-American
relations, peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict, and discussed
regional developments

The "Heritage" is a national-liberal party founded in 2002. The Party
has about 5ths members.

In May, the Party participated in the parliamentary elections for
the first time and obtained seven deputy seats.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER’S VISIT TO KOSOVO CANCELED

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 30 2007

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Defense Mikael Haroutounyan’s
visit to Kosovo scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled.

Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan, Press Secretary of the RA Minister of
Defense, reported that the visit has been canceled "for technical
reasons."

The RA Defense Minister was earlier reported to be planning meetings
with Armenian servicemen carrying out a peace-making mission in Kosovo,
as well as with the top officers of the multinational forces.

In July 2001, at the UN Headquarters in New York, representatives of
the RA Foreign Office signed a memorandum on understanding envisaging
Armenia’s involvement in peace-making activities. By signing the
document Armenia expressed its readiness to provide forces for
participation in peace-making missions.

Armenian servicemen have been involved in peace-making missions in
Kosovo, forming part of the Greek battalion, since February 12, 2004.

The seventh group of Armenian peace-makers is serving in Kosovo now.

OLYMPIAD ON ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, CONTEST ON ARMENOLOGY TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON SEPTEMBER

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 30 2007

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. Two big pan-Armenian events – third Olympiad
on the Armenian language and literature and contest on Armenology –
for pupils will be held in Armenia on September 14-20.

The press service of the RA Ministry of Science and Education said
that the objective of the event is to stimulate and encourage the
knowledge of the Armenian language, literature, Armenian history and
culture, as well as creative skills in terms of free competition and
search of gifted children.

Applications for participation should be submitted to the RA Ministry
of Science and Education by July 31, 2007. Local and foreign pupils
over 14 from Armenian colleges and Sunday schools of Diaspora can
participate in the Olympiad and contest.

In the contest of Armenology questions from the History of Armenia
and Culture will be included, and for the Armenian language the
participants should pass an oral interview and creative composition.

Within the event contests of readers, rhetoric, patriotic songs will
be held.

The Ministry said that the Armenian language will be the working
language of the Olympiad, however the participants will be able to
choose tasks either on Western or Eastern Armenian.

Within the event, the participants will be able to get acquainted with
the social, educational and cultural life of Armenia, participate
in events, dedicated to the country’s Independence Day on September
21.

PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL COVERS OVER 25% OF ARMENIA’S CIGARETTE MARKET

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 30 2007

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. The Philip Morris International Company
covers over 25% of Armenia’s cigarette market, Olaf Colditz, Production
Director, Philip Morris Ukraine CJSC, told reporters during Armenian
journalists’ visit to the company’s factory in Kharkov, Ukraine.

According to the results of monitoring conducted in March-April 2007
the share of Philip Morris International on Armenia’s market was
26.4%. The volume of Armenia’s markets is about 5bln cigarettes.

Colditz pointed out that PMI products are a success in Armenia. He
added that the company is seriously concerned with developing its
activities in Armenia.

Colditz reported that the PMI supplies nine cigarette brands to
Armenia – Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims, Chesterfield, L&M,
Assos, Bond Street, Red &White, Next, which are produced at the Philip
Morris Ukraine in Kharkov. He pointed out that the factory was opened
in 2006 and its annual capacity is 40bln cigarettes.

The PMI Company invested $100mln in the construction and operation
of the factory in Kharkov. A total of 1,300 people are employed at
the factory, with 600 of them being immediately involved cigarette
production, Colditz said. He also pointed out that 63 disabled people
are working at the factory.

The Philip Morris Ukraine Company is a daughter company of the Philip
Morris International, which, along with Philip Morris USA, Philip
Morris Capital Corporation, forms part of the US Altria Group, Inc.

The net annual profit of Altria Group, Inc exceeds $97.9bln.

The annual output of Philip Morris International is about 805bln
cigarettes, and its net annual profit is $45bln. The company currently
has over 50 cigarette factories employing over 80,000 people.

99 YEREVAN’S SCHOOLS TO BE PROVIDED WITH LOCAL HEATING SYSTEMS BY LATE 2007

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 30 2007

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. Onik Vatyan, chief of Yerevan Municipality’s
education unit, told journalists on Monday that 99 Yerevan’s schools
will be provided with local heating systems by late 2007.

He said that Armenian government targeted AMD 4bln 370mln ($12.3mln)
for this program. This amount is four times greater than that of 2006.

Vatyan said that 54 schools were provided with local heating systems
in 2006.

Yerevan municipality is in charge of 205 secondary schools.

TRIVIALIZING GENOCIDE
By Garin Hovannisian

Washington Times
/article?AID=/20070730/EDITORIAL/107300007&tem plate=nextpage
July 30 2007

Riding a strong summer wave of good press just before Congress
takes a holiday, the Armenian National Committee of America is
sparing no trick in effecting a vote on House Resolution 106: The
Armenian genocide resolution is, quite simply, the raison d’etre of
the Armenian-American lobby – the horizon event that has, since the
genocide in 1915, animated and inspired the million-strong crew of
our clipper ship. Yet on the eve of our final paddle, this lonely
sailor is harboring some doubts.

At least France’s resolution in 2001 delivered the message straight:
"France recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915." This was a humble
nod to history. But just the title of its American counterpart, the
"Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide
Resolution," is more breathtaking. As for the text, we jog through
1,600 words and a few dozen "findings" before we reach the actual
declaration, which is addressed to the president "to ensure that the
foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding
and sensitivity" concerning the Armenian Genocide.

The marathon span is unbecoming of the resolution; as it replaces the
elegant nod with a parade of winks and waves, it makes one suspect that
it is Congress that craves a nod from history. Some of the findings
are clearly irrelevant; number 11 reads that the U.S. Senate once
resolved that the president "be respectfully asked to designate a
day on which citizens of this country may give expression to their
sympathy" for Armenians.

Others seem counterintuitive: numbers 28 and 29 record presidential
statements of remembrance that make no mention whatsoever of
"genocide." Much of the rest pads a catalogue of historical facts
about the first mass slaughter and displacement of the 20th century.

We learn, for example, that the United Nations, international archives
and even the man who coined the word "genocide" defend the term’s
applicability to the events of 1915. Except these aren’t billed as
facts or axioms or details of reality or historical discoveries;
they are presented as "findings" of the U.S. Congress.

As the great grandson of genocide survivors, the grandson of genocide
historians, and the son of Armenian repatriates – though writing,
I’m afraid, without the sanction of the generations – I am insulted
by that sticker. That Congress "finds" the genocide to be a fact
makes the tragedy no more real than its refusal, so far, has made it
unreal. Truth does not need a permission slip from the state.

As an heir, moreover, of an American tradition of limited government,
I am annoyed that the legislature is poking into a sphere in which
it has neither business nor experience: the province of truth. It is
bad enough that a committee of aristocrats governs the conventions
of politics, economics and human rights. We the citizens scarcely
need to sign over the laws of nature, too, lest gravity be repealed
and the whole race goes floating about the universe.

Of course, as its eventual declaration suggests, the Armenian
genocide resolution is aimed at the right bullseye: the repair of
a foreign policy that is rooted in de facto denial. No account of
Turkey’s "strategic importance" justifies why John Evans, the last
U.S. ambassador to Armenia, was fired for asserting (never mind in a
"personal capacity") the reality of the Armenian genocide. And no
reference to neutrality explains why President Bush insists, against
the sabotaging endeavors of the Armenian lobby, on giving the post
to Richard Hoagland, an avowed genocide denier.

Congressional symbols of good faith will not do the job. When
Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul flies into Washington to
smear the resolution as a "real threat to our relationship" and
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice slobbers back that Turkey is a
"global partner (that) shares our values," it isn’t House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi’s problem. U.S. foreign policy should be sobered up and
called to honesty by the institution that directs foreign policy:
the president of the United States. Only his leadership, and not
the dubious decrees of congressmen with Armenian constituencies,
can beget real victory for Armenian hopes and American principles.

But should the Armenian genocide resolution pass, we will at least
enjoy the consolation of some high comedy. As imperious Turkey
runs away from the West and then reluctantly returns, and as the
Armenian lobby revels in its final success before the inevitable
existential crisis, bad congressional resolutions might well begin
to sound like good Philip Larkin: "Sexual intercourse began / In
nineteen sixty-three…/ Between the end of the Chatterley ban /
And the Beatles’ first LP."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN HOPES FOR QUICKER KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – AZIMOV

Interfax, Russia
July 30 2007

BAKU. July 30 (Interfax) – Azerbaijan hopes for a quicker settlement
of the Karabakh conflict, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said
on Monday. "If the current situation persists, neither side will
benefit from it," he said. "We can only hope that the intermediaries
take serious and resolute attempts and continue the drafting of an
agreement which will lay down the settlement principles suggested
over the past three years," he said. "The Armenian president asked
for a timeout in St. Petersburg. He was given enough time. Probably,
the Armenian administration will analyze national interests correctly
and make positive changes in its position," Azimov said. First and
foremost, it is necessary to create conditions for the safe coexistence
of Azeri and Armenian communities in Karabakh, he said.

A GHOST BATTLESHIP FOR ARMENIA: YEREVAN DENIES EXISTENCE OF MILITARY CONTACTS WITH TIRANA
by Yury Simonyan, translated by Pavel Pushkin

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
July 30, 2007 Monday

Armenia denies information about an attempt to buy a large batch of
armament from albania; Turkey denied the transit of a large batch of
armament and ammunition for Armenia to Albania, reported BBC Monitoring
European in IndustryWatch with reference to Albanian Gazeta Shqiptare.

Turkey denied the transit of a large batch of armament and ammunition
for Armenia to Albania, reported BBC Monitoring European in
IndustryWatch with reference to Albanian Gazeta Shqiptare.

The text published by the IndustryWatch website quotes the words of
Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berish, that Turkey forced an Albanian
ship with armament to turn back. Berish said, "One of our ships with
60 containers filled mostly with heavy artillery and ammunition was
heading from the port of Durres to Istanbul." He pointed out that the
problematic relations of Turkey and Armenia resulted in a situation
when the ship had to return and unload the armament in Durres.

The publication also quotes a top-ranking representative of Albanian
company MEIKO specializing in armament trade as saying that Albania
does not care about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, "All procedures
of sale were in order and complied with the law. Now we are considering
the possibility of using other routes."

According to description of the deal, a representative of the Defense
Ministry of Armenia contacted the Defense Ministry of Albania and
expressed readiness to pay for a large batch of armament including
air defense guns with calibers from 75 mm to 122 mm. However, the
operation was ruined by Turkish authorities.

Colonel Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, press secretary of the Defense Ministry
of Armenia, announced, "The Defense Ministry of Armenia did not
sign any deals for the armament purchase of Albania. We consider
the published information as another Turkish-Azerbaijani provocation
against Armenia."

Any private paramilitary organizations of Armenia could not turn to
Tirana for weapons either. Lieutenant Colonel Musheg Kroyan, deputy
director of the PR department of the police of Armenia, commented,
"All trading operations with combat weapons are conducted only through
the Defense Ministry. According to the law, private security companies
have a right to buy and use pump and pneumatic small arms that can
be bought in local stores and this is under control."

Artvin Bagramyan, official spokesperson for the national security
council of Armenia, commended laconically, "Gibberish!" A top-ranking
representative of this organization pointed at the absurd nature of
the publication, "Our strategic partner is Russia, who produces the
best armament in the world. The Armenian army is armed with Russian
weapons. Why do we need to order weapons in Muslim Albania and to
deliver it via Turkey-whose relations with our country we do not even
need to speak of–and not, say, deliver the weapons via the ports of
Russia or by a direct air flight?!"

Most likely, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia will not leave the
scandal with "Albanian armament" without comment. The Foreign Ministry
simultaneously denied other rumors regarding the instruction received
from international organizations regarding significant excess of
armament in Armenia. Officials of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia
said, "To date, not a single delegation inspecting Armenia under
the CFE registered the volumes of armament exceeding international
agreements. This information that has nothing in common with reality."

MILITARY PROSECUTOR OF ARMENIA STATED THAT FIVE ARMENIAN SERVICEMEN DIED FROM BULLETS OF AZERBAIJANI SOLDIERS IN 2007

Agency WPS
Turan news agency (Baku), July 26, 2007
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 30, 2007 Monday

Five servicemen of Armenia died from bullets of Azerbaijani military
since the beginning of 2007. Military Prosecutor of Armenia, Armen
Khachaturyan, announced this at a meeting of the prosecutor’s office.

According to Khachaturyan, overall there were 15 cases of "attempts
to kill" on the part of Azerbaijan and ten of them failed. During
the same period of 2006, the Azerbaijani military killed two Armenian
servicemen and committed six attempts to kill them.