ASBAREZ Online [10-18-2005]

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10/18/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenia's Military Spending to Keep Pace with Azerbaijan 2) 'Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians' conference concludes in Sochi 3) Turkey Warns it May Take Action against PKK in North Iraq 4) Orange County Community Welcomes His Holiness Aram I 1) Armenia's Military Spending to Keep Pace with Azerbaijan YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--A nearly 20 percent increase in Armenia's military spending next year is a response to the drastic rise in similar expenditures in neighboring Azerbaijan, officials in Yerevan said following Tuesday's closed meeting of parliamentary commissions. National Assembly Standing Defense, Internal Affairs and National Security Commission Chairman Mher Shahgeldian confirmed plans to increase next year's military budget to $150 million. Saying that the move was planned considering Azerbaijan's drastic increase in military spending, the lawmaker added: "We should pay attention to this correlation. Our task in this case is to preserve our qualitative level to ensure the country's defense capability and security." Minister of Defense Serge Sarkisian said the sum is sufficient to ensure the country's defense. "This amount of spending is the minimum to ensure a due level of our army's combat efficiency," he told the media. "For the first time the defense budget has been made not proceeding from the absolute sum of previous years, but from the percentage of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), that is, there is an agreement that at least 3 percent of our GDP should be spent for defense purposes." Meanwhile, Azerbaijan plans to double its military spending in 2006 increasing it to $650 million. During the press conference, Sarkisian also spoke about the possible outcome of upcoming elections in Azerbaijan and how they could influence the Karabagh peace process. "It is natural that if the opposition suddenly wins perhaps the negotiating process would have to begin from scratch, and if the authorities win, I think the negotiating process will be continued," the minister said. Regarding his trip to Washington slated for late October, Sarkisian said it was a routine visit, and not one to intensify military cooperation with the US--at the expense of Armenian-Russian relations. "We wish to be friends with both sides," the minister said. Talking about the upcoming referendum on constitutional amendments, Sarkisian said: "I don't want this referendum to be compared to a football match. I think that in case of proper work, a sufficient number of voters will turn out and will say 'yes' to the constitutional amendments." 2) 'Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians' conference concludes in Sochi YEREVAN (Yerkir)--A three-day conference about Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians ended on October 15 in the southern Russian city of Sochi, home to over 100,000 Hamshen Armenians. Currently a part of Turkey, Hamshen was a historic Armenian region that was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1491. Some Hamshen Armenians adopted Islam, while others emigrated to the Russian Empire. The conference was organized by the History Institute of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's (ARF) Moscow Armenian Affairs office, with the support of Hamshen Union of the Krasnodar region, and Yerkramas Armenian news center located in southern Russia. Scholars from Armenia, Russia, Iran, and the United States, including UCLA Professor Richard Hovannisian, participated in the conference. ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian, ARF Bureau member and National Assembly Vice-speaker Vahan Hovhannisian, ARF's Moscow Armenian Affairs Office Director Yura Navoyan, European Armenian Federation Chairwoman Hilda Tchoboyan, and ARF Bureau's Armenian and Political Affairs Office Director Giro Manoyan, also participated. The reports of the conference will be published in Armenian, Turkish, Russian and English. Organizers and participants noted that the event holds not only scientific significance but that it also served as a bridge between Hamshen Armenians, Armenia, and diaspora Armenians. There are currently 400,000 Hamshen Armenians, half of which are Muslims. Most Christian Hamshen Armenians reside in Abkhazia and the Krasnodar region of Russia. 3) Turkey Warns it May Take Action against PKK in North Iraq ANKARA (Reuters)--Turkey said on Tuesday it would take steps to end the presence of Turkish Kurd rebels in the mountains of northern Iraq, but stopped short of directly threatening military action. Turkish officials have repeatedly demanded US, Iraqi Kurd, and Iraqi government forces crack down on Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) forces in north Iraq from where rebel leaders direct their fight for Kurdish self-rule in nearby Turkey. "The principal point which we have stressed at these meetings is that the terrorist presence in northern Iraq must be combated," Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of his parliamentary party. "So far, Turkey has maintained a patient stance." But, he said: "Our nation expects us to take effective measures to clean up the terrorist presence in the region. We will take clear and effective steps to bring this about. I remind you we will do what is necessary when the time is right." In the 1990s, Turkish forces launched repeated raids into northern Iraq to hunt down PKK rebels in the mountainous region. Turkey still keeps several hundred soldiers inside Iraq, close to the Turkish border, despite Iraqi calls for them to leave. But since the 2003 Iraq war, Turkish troops have not mounted any operations inside Iraq against the PKK which is based on the Qandil Mountain in the far northeast of the country. US officials admit their troops are too tied up fighting the insurgency in Iraq to turn their attention to the PKK which rarely engages in any hostile activity inside Iraq. 4) Orange County Community Welcomes His Holiness Aram I Pontiff meets World Vision, students, and visits Glendale Adventist and Ararat Home LOS ANGELES--His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia kept to his busy schedule, reaching out to all parts of the southern California community and on October 13, traveled to Orange County to visit Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church in Santa Ana. Greeting His Holiness were leaders from Forty Martyrs Church and the various community organizations as well as clergy from the Coptic Church and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido with the welcoming procession led by the Homenetmen scouts. Anticipating the visit, The Orange County Register newspaper had printed a lengthy article that day about His Holiness. After presiding over Hrashapar service, the community proceeded to the large community center adjacent to the church for a special welcoming banquet cultural program. In his remarks during the banquet His Holiness stressed that there should consistently be greater collaboration and unity in the community and the church with a renewed level of proactive participation, especially with the youth. Earlier His Holiness started his day meeting with the international Christian relief and development organization World Vision in Monrovia, California, where he held leadership meetings to discuss strengthening ecumenical collaboration and partnerships between churches and humanitarian organizations. His Holiness also spent some time at Glendale Adventist Medical Center where he met with the medical center's President Scott Reiner, the center's leadership, and visited patients. The Glendale News-Press and the Associated Press wire service covered his visit to Glendale Adventist. On Thursday afternoon, His Holiness met with over 250 college students at Glendale Community College, an event organized by the ARF Shant Student Association and co-sponsored by the Armenian Student Associations of Glendale Community College, the University of California Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles, and Loyola Marymount University. His Holiness partook in a lengthy open forum question and answer session in order to make the session interactive. He answered questions regarding religion, faith, education, the church, Christianity, and moral and family values. Students came away from the forum feeling enlightened and inspired because of their intimate interaction with His Holiness as he clearly articulated his philosophy on the many current issues facing students in everyday life. As with all the events during the visit, the college student session received an enthusiastic response because of the ability of His Holiness to connect with all people, including the youth. On the previous day, His Holiness visited the Ararat Home in Mission Hills, immediately after returning from Fresno, California. There he met with the Ararat Home's Board of Trustees and staff and spent time with residents. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western United States stated: "His Holiness specifically wanted to visit the Ararat Home to share his love, care, and respect toward our mothers and fathers." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress