Author: admin

CANADA: LECTURES ON KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

Azg/arm
18 Nov 04

The AGBU Toronto offshoot and Zorian Institute organized lectures
dedicated to the history of Nagorno Karabakh’s independence and its
current state in the aspect of the recent international political
developments. The lectures were held at the AGBU Aleck Manukian
Cultural Center (Canada). Professor George Burnutian (from Antona
Collage) touched upon the Armenian-Azeri conflict, emphasizing that
Nagorno Karabakh is an Armenian territory. While Vartan Barseghian
(NKR Permanent representative to the US) talked of Karabakh’s current
status within the framework of the international law. He explained
that NKR keeps in line with the international criteria for being
declared as an independent state for the effective control of its
territory, by its permanent population, regular armed forces, the
legislative, executive and judicial elected by the people, as well as
the effective foreign policy. “The main precondition of the
negotiations is the establishment of safety and stability in the
region, that can’t be achieved without maintaining stability in each
country,” he said emphasizing that the policy conducted by the Azeri
authorities is aimed to ethnic annihilation of Karabakh’s Armenian
population and distortion of history. This last issue was touched upon
by professor, emphasizing that Azerbaijan and Turkey give many grants
to the Western experts for the violation of the history. “Few
organizations reflect the attack of these phenomenon. The Zorian
Institute,the AGBU and the National Association of Armenian Studies
are among them,” he said.

By Hakob Tsulikian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reports of anti-Semitism in Armenia seek to save Israel’s reputation – paper

Azg, Yerevan
19 Nov 04

Text of Ara Martirosyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Azg on 19
November headlined “Armenians are expressing anti-Semitism?”

Recently the Jewish community of Armenia has talked about signs of
anti-Semitism in the country. Such statements are weird, to say the
least, as there is no Jewish community as such in Armenia, but there
are Armenian-Jewish families and children from these mixed
marriages. They can be considered both Jews and Armenians. Secondly,
the authors of the statement should have known that not only
anti-Semitism but also any kind of xenophobia is strange for
Armenians. So what is the reason for this statement made on behalf of
the Jewish community in Armenia, most of whom must be unaware of it?

The expression of Jewish chauvinism and disgraceful actions taken
against a servant of the Armenian Church in Jerusalem are still fresh
in our memory. Not long after the incident with the Armenian priest, a
servant of the Greek Orthodox Church was attacked. It is already a
fact that the Israelis do not, to put it mildly, have a friendly
disposition towards the country’s national and religious minorities
and that Armenians see the result of this anti-Armenian mood every
day.

It is interesting why the so-called Jewish community of Armenia did
not condemn the anti-Armenian acts, instead of declaring that they are
being persecuted.

It is clear as day that they are trying to save Jerusalem’s
reputation. As there is no serious ground for accusing Armenians of
anti-Semitism, we may assume that they want to justify the
anti-Armenian mood. This step puts them on a level with their wretched
compatriots.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Parliamentary speaker welcomes youth visit to Karabakh

Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
18 Nov 04

Stepanakert , 18 November: The chairman of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR] parliament, Oleg Yesayan, received a group of youth
organizations from various countries, who are visiting Artsakh
[Karabakh], and also members of NKR youth organizations on 16
November.

The head of the public relations department at the International
All-Armenian Youth Centre (Yerevan), which is the initiator of the
young activists’ visit to the NKR, group leader Ruben Markosyan noted
that the purpose of the visit is to familiarize the guests with the
formation of youth activity in Nagornyy Karabakh, with achievements
and problems in the public, political, legislative, social-economic
and educational-cultural spheres.

It was noted that young people from Sweden, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia
and Montenegro, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Latvia and also
various international youth organizations have arrived in Artsakh.

For his part, Oleg Yesayan said that the NKR authorities are
interested in such visits, as they provide an opportunity to show the
world how, under a political, communications and also information
blockade and without international aid, the people of Artsakh and
their leadership are building an independent and sovereign state.

“We think”, he said, “that we are far from our final goal, but we have
definitely come a long way.” It was noted that the NKR authorities,
including the National Assembly, spoke highly of the Artsakh youth
organizations’ work.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Thames River – Results of EGM

Regulatory News Service
Nov 19, 2004

RNS Number:4554F Thames River Traditional Funds 19 November 2004 STOCK
EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT For Immediate Release 19 November 2004 Thames
River Traditional Funds plc Re: Results of Extraordinary General
Meetings The Directors of Thames River Traditional Funds plc (the
“Company”) wish to announce that, the resolutions regarding amendments
to the Investment Objective and Policy of the Eastern European Fund
and the Global Emerging Markets Fund, sub-funds of the Company, as
detailed in a Circular sent to shareholders on 22 October, 2004, were
passed at an extraordinary general meeting held on 12 November,
2004. The amendments to the Investment Objective and Policy of the
Eastern European Fund and the Global Emerging Markets Fund are set out
below: Eastern European Fund The definition of “Eastern Europe” in
Supplement 3 of the Prospectus has been amended to include the
following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Following this change, the third and
fourth paragraphs of the investment objective and policy section of
Supplement 3 of the Prospectus in respect of the Eastern European Fund
will read as follows: “Investment will be made primarily in the
securities of companies listed or traded on markets or exchanges in
Eastern Europe although the Fund reserves the right to invest in
companies whose securities are traded on other Recognised Exchanges in
which the Company may invest where these derive a substantial
proportion of revenue or profits from investments or business
conducted in or from Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe will for this
purpose include but shall not be limited to any or all of the
following countries or their successor states: Bulgaria, Croatia, the
Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Romania, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Turkey and
Ukraine. Investment in securities of companies located in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be undertaken
through depository receipts or other transferable securities such as
bonds issued by corporate and governmental issuers traded on
Recognised Exchanges.” Global Emerging Markets Fund “Russia and the
states of the Russian Federation” has been replaced with “Russia and
the countries of the Former Soviet Union” in the list of countries
included in which the Global Emerging Markets Fund will primarily
invest. “Bulgaria” has also been added to this list. Following this
change the first paragraph of the investment objective and policy
section of Supplement 5 of the Prospectus in respect of the Global
Emerging Markets Fund will read as follows: “The investment objective
of the Global Emerging Markets Fund is to achieve capital appreciation
through investment primarily in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile,
Venezuela, Peru, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Bulgaria, Croatia, the Baltic Republics, Ukraine, Turkey, Egypt,
Israel, India, Pakistan, the Middle East, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, South Korea, North Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, Russia and the
countries of the Former Soviet Union and, in addition, such countries
as may, at the time of investment, be in the Morgan Stanley Capital
International Emerging Markets Free Index (known as “MSCI EMF”),
collectively “Global Emerging Market Countries” or “Global Emerging
Markets”. Enquiries: Ashling Walsh Dillon Eustace +353 1 667 0022 J&E
Davy Elaine Drennan +353 1 614 8933 This announcement has been issued
through the Companies Announcement Service of the Irish Stock
Exchange. This information is provided by RNS The company news service
from the London Stock Exchange

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Separatist Karabakh premier regrets Azeri absence from youth forum

Arminfo, Yerevan
19 Nov 04

STEPANAKERT

The fact that the republic has not been recognized makes it impossible
to cooperate with international financial organizations, foreign banks
and developed countries, the prime minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic, Anushavan Daniyelyan, told a visiting delegation of
representatives of youth organizations from Sweden, Italy, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Georgia and
Armenia yesterday.

He said that half of Nagornyy Karabakh was destroyed as a result of
hostilities. The process of restoring and reforming the destroyed
Nagornyy Karabakh economy is progressing in very difficult
conditions. However, it has been possible to create a liberal economy
in Nagornyy Karabakh, the process of reforms has covered all spheres
and many of them are experiencing a quantitative and qualitative
change for the better, Daniyelyan said.

He expressed his regret over the absence of Azerbaijani youth from
Stepanakert.

“We need to solve our problems with Azerbaijan at all levels,
including the assistance of people’s diplomacy, and the attraction of
youth is necessary,” he said.

Speaking about the socioeconomic situation in Nagornyy Karabakh, the
prime minister said a programme of economic reforms aimed at free
market relations and based on the equality of all ownership types and
economic liberalization priorities had been under way since 2000,
which has helped boost the economy and ensure a significant growth in
the population’s income. Macroeconomic indices suggest that the
economic reforms of the last few years have been effective and have
produced the anticipated results. In 1999, the government introduced a
new tax policy. The income tax stake was lowered from 25 to 15 per
cent, to 10 per cent in 2000, and to 5 per cent in 2001, which is
still in effect. In 2003, industrial growth in the republic exceeded
40 per cent. Foreign investment commands almost two thirds of the
industrial growth. The amount of foreign investment over the last few
years is approaching 50m dollars. Among major investors are the USA,
Russia, Lebanon, Belgium, Switzerland, Iran, France, Australia,
etc. Not a single foreign enterprise has suffered a failure in
Nagornyy Karabakh so far, Anushavan Daniyelyan said.

[Passage omitted: other industrial and agricultural statistics]

Anushavan Daniyelyan added that the USA is the only country providing
assistance to Nagornyy Karabakh at the state level. Most of US
humanitarian assistance is spent on restoring the residential
settlements and other important sites of the republic destroyed during
the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian speaker seeks security guarantees for MPs at Baku-hosted NATO
seminar

Arminfo
19 Nov 04

YEREVAN

The speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, has
sent official letters to the speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament,
Murtuz Alasgarov, and to the chairman of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly, Pierre Lellouche, asking for security guarantees during the
Rose-Roth seminar organized by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Baku
at the end of this month.

The address has been sent in the light of recent facts of violence in
Azerbaijan and on the part of Azerbaijanis in other countries, as well
as the barring of Armenian officers from NATO exercises in September
and the deportation of a Bulgarian sports journalist of Armenian
descent, Eduard Papazyan, the press service of the Armenian National
Assembly has told Arminfo.

The National Assembly, confirming the readiness of its delegations for
cooperation within international organizations and the decision of the
National Assembly administration to send a delegation to Baku, also
expresses its concern over its security and hopes that the necessary
security guarantees would be provided during the Rose-Roth seminar.

The Rose-Roth seminar will be attended by the chairman of the standing
parliamentary commission on defence, national security and internal
affairs, Mger Shakhgeldyan, and MP Aleksan Karapetyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNO KARABAKH PRESIDENT VISITED DETROIT WITHIN HIS VISIT TO USA

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 19. ARMINFO. If Goris-Lachin-Stepanakert highway
is the road of life for Nagorno Karabakh, the North-South highway will
become one of the most important elements for economic development of
Nagorno Karabakh, the president of NKR Arkadi Ghukassian told a public
forum in Detroit with the participation of Armenian community in the
city.

The chief information administration services affiliated to NKR
president told ARMINFO that Ghukassian arrived in Detroit on Nov 17
from New York on the occasion of a telethon slated on Nov 25 to raise
money for North-South highway. The raised money will be spent on the
construction of the highway which has strategic meaning for Karabakh
and connects all regions of the republic to each other.

NKR president called on all Armenians to take part in the telethon and
contribute to the social economic development of the republic. The
Armenian community voiced his support to the democratization process
and civil society development in NKR, economic reform and revival of
spiritual values in the republic. The participants voiced their
belief that the current achievements of Karabakh determine the current
attitudes among the Armenian community to render their support to the
economy of the republic.

Similar attitudes were expressed at Nov 18 meeting of Ghukassian with
the faculty and students of Michigan university. The gathered were
especially interested in Karabakh conflict regulation. Ghukassian
reiterated that Karabakh is principally for peaceful regulation of the
conflict with Azerbaijan which unlike Karabakh tries to use force. If
Azerbaijan seriously thought about peace, it would enter into direct
negotiations with Karabakh,” Ghukassian stated.

During the meeting at schools after Aleg and Mari Manukians, it was
underscored to establish closer contacts between Armenian schools of
USA and Karabakh.

The same day, a reception was held in the house of Marta and Diana
Shushanians in the honor of the president where most influential
members of Armenian community in Detroit were invited. -A-

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Nov 19 2004

WORLD BANK PRAISES 2005 DRAFT BUDGET

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: World Bank Resident
Representative in Armenia praised today the government for increased
spending on health, education and social sector, earmarked in its
2005 draft budget. The Bank Representative, Rodger Robinson, said it
was evidence of the government’s commitment to implement the Poverty
Reduction Program.
Robinson described bigger spending on education than on defense,
set by the budget as “symbolic,” adding though that defense
expenditures are also a government priority. In general, he said, the
2005 draft budget is balanced.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
Nov 18 2004

ARMENIAN REFUGEES APPEAL TO UN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the period of 1988-1991 over 200 thousand
Armenians residing in Azerbaijan abandoned their homes. In summer
1991, after “The Ring” operation carried out by the Soviet Army with
the participation of the Azeri special forces the inhabitants of
dozens of the Armenians villages bordering with Nagorno Karabakh were
either deported or killed. Most of the deported people found shelter
in Armenia. However, despite this the problem of the Armenian
refugees is often ignored. On November 17 the Shahumian-Getashen
Benevolent Organization sent letters on behalf of the deported
Armenians of the Shahumian and Getashen regions, occupied by
Azerbaijan at present , to the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan
and President of the UN’s 59-th General Assembly, Mr. Jean Ping. The
letters reaffirm the rights of those who were forcibly removed from
their homes in these and other regions and lost all their
possessions, to defend themselves in the appropriate international
organizations. To remind, the Shahumian region of the NKR is situated
to the North of the territories controlled by the Karabakh forces at
present. It has been occupied by the Azeri troops since summer 1992
with the help of bribed Russian generals . The Getashen region is to
the North of Shahumian; its residents were deported and many killed
after the joint operations of the soviet army and Azeri OMON. It
should be also noted that both regions were always mostly
Armenian-inhabited.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
November 19, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES SENATE PASSAGE OF ARMENIA PNTR BILL
President Bush Set to Sign into Law

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America hailed the vote by the
United States Senate today to extend permanent normal trade relations
(PNTR) to Armenia, ending a two year effort by lawmakers supportive of
Armenian issues to enhance trade and investment between the United
States and Armenia. The legislation was enacted as part of a
comprehensive trade measure, known as the Miscellaneous Trade and
Technical Corrections Bill (MTB.)

PNTR status would remove a nearly 30-year-old provision requiring
Armenia and other countries to periodically obtain presidential approval
for continued access to low tariffs. In so doing, it would signal an
upgrade in Armenia’s status as a trading partner and should lead to
additional trade agreements between the United States and Armenia.

“Well aware that a robust economy is critical to Armenia’s future
development, passage of Armenia PNTR was an instrumental part of the
Assembly’s legislative agenda,” said Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “We would like to thank Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) for his steadfast support of Armenia PNTR and
for allowing Senate consideration of this bill. Additionally, we thank
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and it’s
Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-MT) for their active involvement and
support as conferees to resolve differences between the House and Senate
versions of the MTB.”

The House of Representatives, for its part, acted in early October to
grant Armenia PNTR as part of the MTB.

In addition to the heavy involvement of the Senators above, Hovnanian
also commended Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators Paul
Sarbanes (D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for introducing the PNTR bill
(S.1557) and thanked the Administration for fully backing its
enactment.

“A key element to congressional action was the Administration’s public
support which was first announced at a pan-Armenian conference held by
the Assembly, AGBU and Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church,” said Hovnanian. “Community members were highly appreciative of
this endorsement.”

Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian saluted the hardworking
activists who played an integral role in the bill’s passage. “The
Assembly commends its nationwide network of grassroots activists and the
Armenian community at large for their efforts in rallying support among
congressional leaders,” said Barsamian. “Without their unwavering
advocacy efforts over the past two years, we would not have achieved
today’s success.”

The Assembly, since January, has been the only Armenian-American
organization working in conjunction with the Ad Hoc Coalition on
Tariffs, a group comprised of industries from almost every state that
stand to benefit from the duty suspensions and other miscellaneous
tariff provisions in the legislation. Last week, the Assembly and the
Coalition successfully encouraged over 65 Senators to sign on to the
Grassley-Baucus letter urging the Senate leadership to take the
necessary procedural steps to ensure that the bill is enacted before the
108th Congress ends.

The next step in the legislative process is for the bill to be enacted
into law by President Bush.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

NR#2004-100

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress