Author: Badalian Vardan

NEGATIVE TRADE BALANCE IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS AMOUNTS TO $481 MILLION
Armenpress
Oct 06, 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s foreign trade in the first
eight months of the year amounted to $1.689 billion. Exports made
$603.77 million and imports reached $1.085 billion. The negative
trade balance was $481.65 million. Not counting humanitarian aid it
was $456.09 million.
Foreign trade growth rate from a year before was 31.4 percent. Twenty
percent of the overall foreign trade was with CIS member countries,
of which 13.6 percent with Russia, 3.1 percent with Ukraine and almost
3 percent with Georgia. Another 39.2 percent was with EU members,
of which 11.5 percent with Belgium, 9.8 percent with Germany and 5
percent with the Netherlands.
Trade with Israel was 8.7 percent, USA-6.4 percent, and Iran -4.4
percent.

U.S. Announces Charges in Massive Scheme to Bribe
Senior Government Officials in the Republic of
Azerbaijan
U.S. Newswire
10/6/2005
To: National Desk
Contact: Herbert Hadad, Megan Gaffney, Heather Tasker,
Bridget Kelly, 212-637-2600, all of the U.S.
Attorney’s Office
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ — Following is a
release from the U.S. Department of Justice:
MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, ALICE S. FISHER,
Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Criminal
Division, and MARK J. MERSHON, the Assistant Director
In Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI,
announced that VIKTOR KOZENY, FREDERIC BOURKE, JR. and
DAVID PINKERTON have been indicted by a federal grand
jury in Manhattan for allegedly participating in a
massive scheme to bribe senior government officials in
Azerbaijan to ensure that those officials would
privatize the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan
Republic (“SOCAR”) and allow KOZENY, BOURKE,
PINKERTON, and others to share in the anticipated
profits arising from that privatization. Each of the
defendants is charged with conspiracy to violate the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), which makes it
a crime to offer to pay, or to pay, foreign government
officials in order to obtain or retain business. The
defendants are also charged with related crimes,
including money laundering.
KOZENY was arrested yesterday by law enforcement
authorities in The Bahamas, where he resides, pursuant
to a provisional arrest request made by the U.S.
government. He will appear today before Bahamian
court. The U.S. government intends to make a formal
request for KOZENY’s extradition under the Extradition
Treaty Between the Government of the United States of
America and the Government of the Commonwealth of The
Bahamas.
BOURKE and PINKERTON, meanwhile, voluntarily
surrendered to the FBI’s offices in Manhattan this
morning and are scheduled to be arraigned today in
front of United States District Judge RICHARD C. CASEY
at 1 pm.
Mr. GARCIA, Ms. FISHER, and Mr. MERSHON also announced
that three other individuals, THOMAS FARRELL, CLAYTON
LEWIS and HANS BODMER, previously pleaded guilty in
connection with their participation in this bribery
scheme.
Background
According to the twenty-seven count Indictment
unsealed today (the “Indictment”), VIKTOR KOZENY
controlled two companies, Oily Rock Ltd. (“Oily Rock”)
and Minaret Ltd. (“Minaret”), which participated in a
privatization program in Azerbaijan. Under that
privatization program, Azeri citizens could use free
government-issued vouchers to bid for shares of
state-owned industries that were to be privatized.
Privatization vouchers were bearer instruments that
were freely tradable, and they typically were bought
and sold using United States currency. Foreigners
could also participate in Azerbaijan’s privatization
program and own vouchers, but only if they purchased a
government-issued “option” for each voucher they held.
The Indictment alleges that beginning in July 1997,
KOZENY directed others to purchase vouchers and
options on behalf of Oily Rock and Minaret. According
to the Indictment, these vouchers and options were
purchased using millions of dollars of cash that was
flown into Azerbaijan on KOZENY’s private jet and on
planes he chartered.
The Indictment further alleges that various
individuals and institutions invested together with
KOZENY in privatization vouchers and options. Among
the individual investors was FREDERIC BOURKE, JR., who
made two investments in Oily Rock totaling
approximately $8 million, on behalf of himself and
family members and friends. The institutional
investors included American International Group
(“AIG”), which invested approximately $15 million
under a co-investment agreement with Oily Rock and
Minaret. DAVID PINKERTON, a Managing Director of AIG
in charge of AIG’s private equity group, was
responsible for supervising AIG’s investment in Azeri
privatization. In addition to AIG, other institutional
investors in this privatization venture included the
Wall Street hedge fund Omega Advisors, Inc. (“Omega”)
and its affiliated investment fund Pharos Capital
Management, L.P. (“Pharos”), which together purchased
approximately $151 million in vouchers and options.
The Indictment alleges that KOZENY and the individual
and institutional investors (collectively, “the
investment consortium”) made their investments with
the intent to acquire a controlling interest in SOCAR
upon its anticipated privatization. The Indictment
further alleges that, beginning in August 1997 and
continuing until 1999, KOZENY, BOURKE, PINKERTON, and
others paid or caused to be paid millions of dollars
worth of bribes to Azeri government officials to
ensure that the investment consortium would gain a
controlling interest in SOCAR and be able to reap huge
profits from its ultimate resale in the market.
The Bribery Scheme
The Indictment charges that KOZENY, acting on his own
behalf and as an agent of BOURKE, PINKERTON, and other
members of the investment consortium, made a series of
corrupt payments and promises to pay to a senior
official of the Government of Azerbaijan (the “Senior
Azeri Official”); a senior official of SOCAR (the
“SOCAR Official”); and two senior officials of the
State Property Committee or “SPC” (the “SPC
Officials”), the agency that was responsible for
administering the privatization program. Collectively,
the four officials alleged to have been bribed are
referred to as the “Azeri Officials.”
According to the Indictment, the corrupt promises and
payments to the Azeri Officials took a number of
forms. For example, in August 1997, KOZENY is alleged
to have promised to transfer to the Azeri Officials
two-thirds of the vouchers and options Oily Rock
purchased, and to give the Azeri Officials two-thirds
of all of the profits arising from the investment
consortium’s participation in SOCAR’s privatization.
In return for this “two- thirds transfer,” the
Indictment alleges that the Azeri Officials agreed to
permit the investment consortium to acquire a
controlling interest in SOCAR upon its privatization.
In addition to this “two-thirds transfer,” the
Indictment alleges that in June 1998, Oily Rock’s
shareholders approved an increase in Oily Rock’s
authorized share capital from $150 million to $450
million, and that the additional $300 million worth of
Oily Rock shares was transferred to one or more of the
Azeri Officials as a further bribe payment.
The Indictment further charges that a number of other
bribes were paid to the Azeri Officials. KOZENY and
others acting under his direction allegedly paid more
than $11 million in total to the Azeri Officials in
May and June 1998, of which approximately $6.9 million
was wire transferred to accounts held for the benefit
of certain of the Azeri Officials and their family
members, and millions of additional dollars in cash
were hand- delivered to one of the SPC Officials in
his government office.
KOZENY is also alleged to have arranged for a
representative of the London jeweler Asprey & Garrard
to travel to Azerbaijan in May 1998 to deliver several
gifts of jewelry and other luxury items to the SPC
Officials, who in turn selected the gifts to present
to the Senior Azeri Official on his birthday.
According to the Indictment, the total value of these
gifts was more than $600,000, which Minaret paid.
KOZENY and BOURKE are also charged with arranging for
both of the SPC Officials to travel to New York City
on different occasions in 1998 to receive medical
treatment, for which Oily Rock and Minaret paid.
KOZENY, through Oily Rock and Minaret, also paid for
the SPC Officials’ hotel, meal and other expenses on
these trips, as well as shopping expenses for one of
the SPC Officials at a high-end department store in
the New York area.
The Charges in the Indictment
The Indictment contains a total of twenty-seven
counts. All three defendants are charged with
conspiracy to violate the FCPA and the Travel Act. As
stated above, the FCPA makes it illegal to offer to
pay or to pay money or anything of value to a foreign
government official to obtain or retain business. The
Travel Act makes it illegal to travel or use the mails
or other interstate facilities to carry on certain
unlawful activity, including violations of the FCPA’s
anti-bribery provisions.
The Indictment also contains twelve separate counts of
violations of the FCPA, of which KOZENY is charged in
all twelve, BOURKE in five, and PINKERTON in one.
There are also seven counts of violations of the
Travel Act, of which KOZENY is charged in six, and
BOURKE and PINKERTON in one count each.
Each of the defendants is further charged with money
laundering conspiracy, based on wire transfers of
millions of dollars to purchase Azeri vouchers and
options, which in turn promoted violations of the
FCPA. There are also four separate substantive money
laundering violations, of which KOZENY is charged in
all four, BOURKE in two, and PINKERTON in one.
BOURKE and PINKERTON are also each charged with making
false statements in interviews with the FBI. The false
statement charge against BOURKE alleges that, in an
interview conducted in April and May 2002, he falsely
stated that he was not aware that KOZENY had made
payments to the Azeri Officials, when BOURKE knew that
KOZENY had paid bribes to those officials. The false
statements count against PINKERTON alleges that, in an
interview conducted in February and March 2002, he
falsely claimed that he was not aware that the Senior
Azeri Official had a financial interest in KOZENY’s
investment in Azeri privatization, when PINKERTON knew
that the Senior Azeri Official had such a financial
interest.
The conspiracy to violate the FCPA and Travel Act
count, the substantive counts of violations of the
FCPA and the Travel Act, and the false statements
counts each carry a maximum penalty of five years in
prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the
gross gain or loss resulting from the alleged
violations. The money laundering conspiracy and
substantive counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20
years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or
twice the value of the laundered funds. Finally, the
Indictment contains a Forfeiture Allegation seeking
the forfeiture by the defendants of $174 million that
was involved in the charged money laundering offenses.
KOZENY, 42, resides in Lyford Cay, The Bahamas.
BOURKE, 59, resides in Greenwich, Connecticut.
PINKERTON, 44, resides in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
Mr. GARCIA praised the investigative efforts of the
FBI, and he said the investigation is continuing.
Mr. GARCIA added, “Corrupt payments to foreign
officials, such as the ones charged in this
Indictment, are a global threat to democratic
institutions and fair competition. We will vigorously
prosecute those who make illegal payments to corrupt
foreign officials.”
Ms. FISHER stated, “Representatives of American
businesses overseas cannot be allowed to bribe their
way into lucrative contracts or illegally purchase the
favor of foreign government officials. Business
conducted abroad must be done with honesty and
integrity. Those who violate U.S. law in their
financial dealings, here or in other countries, will
face serious consequences.”
Announcement Concerning Related Cases
As stated above, THOMAS FARRELL, CLAYTON LEWIS and
HANS BODMER have pleaded guilty in connection with
their participation in this bribery scheme. FARRELL,
who directed voucher purchases for Oily Rock, pleaded
guilty before United States District Judge RICHARD M.
BERMAN on March 10, 2003 to two-counts charging him
with conspiracy to violate the FCPA and violating the
FCPA.
LEWIS, who was a principal of Omega and Pharos and who
oversaw Omega’s and Pharos’s investments with Oily
Rock and Minaret, pleaded guilty before United States
District Judge NAOMI REICE BUCHWALD on February 10,
2004 to the same two charges.
Finally, BODMER, a Swiss lawyer who represented Oily
Rock, Minaret, Omega and other investors in connection
with their investments in Azeri privatization, pleaded
guilty before United States Magistrate Judge FRANK
MAAS on October 8, 2004 to a charge of money
laundering conspiracy.
The case against KOZENY, BOURKE and PINKERTON and the
related cases against FARRELL, LEWIS and BODMER are
being handled jointly by the United States Attorney’s
Office for the Southern District of New York and the
Fraud Section of the United States Department of
Justice. Assistant United States Attorney JONATHAN S.
ABERNETHY, Fraud Section Deputy Chief MARK F.
MENDELSOHN, and Fraud Section Assistant Chief
ROBERTSON PARK are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely
accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty.
-0-
© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

POLITICAL ANALYSIS: GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN HARMONY
By M. Alkhazashvili
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 4 2005
During an official visit to Yerevan, Armenia September 29-30 by
Georgian Prime-Minister Zurab Noghaideli, several pertinent issues
regarding the two countries’ economic relations were agreed upon
and several significant political statements were made as well. The
agreement reached by Armenian and Georgian representatives is of key
importance not only for the two countries, but for the Caucasus region
as a whole.
Part of the agreement regards the restructuring of Georgia’s USD
12 million debt towards Armenia. The sides agreed again to deepen
cooperation in the energy and transportation spheres. On the table
at negotiations was the issue of constructing a 330-km electric
transmission line linking the Georgian and Armenian energy systems.
The newspaper Rezonansi writes that the Georgians side considers
this to be a potential additional resource for energy supply. It is
decided that the Georgian and Armenian energy systems will work in a
parallel regime, much as Armenia does with Iran. This will strengthen
the stability of Georgia’s energy system.
Zurab Noghaideli strove to calm Armenian fears that certain projects
underway in Georgia will not go against Armenian interests. He then
stated that Georgia is ready to assist in the creation of transport
links with Armenia, namely automobile, railway and air transport in
the directions Tbilisi-Yerevan and Yerevan-Batumi directions.
Zurab Noghaideli and his Armenian counterpart Andranik Margarian
applied together to the European Union to allot a grant for the
rehabilitation of the Airum-Sadakhlo highway that connects the two
countries.
Margarian thanked Noghaideli for Georgia’s re-activation of the
Poti-Kavkaz ferry route, which gives Armenia a stable route to
Russia. In addition, the Armenian Prime-Minister thanked the Georgian
side for the stable functioning of the vehicle route linking the two
countries. Akhali Taoba reports that the Armenian side mentioned that
since the creation of the Patrol Police, bribe-taking and blackmail
on this road has all but completely ceased.
The meeting in Yerevan also witnessed an agreement in regard
to certain Armenian activist groups’ demands for autonomy of the
Javakheti region. As Noghaideli stated, “the people that demand the
autonomy of Javakheti are only a small part of the community there
and do not speak for the whole population.”
At the same time, he said, all citizens of Georgia will have
equal opportunities for development. For his part, the Armenian
Prime-Minister stated that the issue of Javakheti’s autonomy would
never be on the agenda. “This issue is always mentioned when somebody
wants to use it for his own interests,” he said, as quoted by Akhali
Taoba.
Armenia expressed its satisfaction with Georgian plans to restore
the Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki road within the framework of the United
States’ Millennium Challenge program. This, they say, will help the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region’s future integration into Georgia and also
serve as a “window to Europe” for Armenia.
During the visit the Georgian side once again warned Armenia that given
safety concerns, large cargo-bearing vehicles will not be allowed to
cross the Georgian-Russian boarder checkpoint at Kazbegi-Lars this
coming winter.
On Noghaideli’s demand, Georgian specialists will soon be given the
opportunity to tour the Armenian Atomic Energy Plant in order to
inspect the safety situation there. The Armenian side maintains that
the plant is completely safe and that it poses no risk to neighboring
countries.

AZG Armenian Daily #176, 01/10/2005
Turkey-EU
ARMENIA WANTS A NEIGHBOUR THAT REVALUES ITS HISTORY AND RESPECTS DEMOCRATIC
VALUES
On the eve of the EU-Turkey negotiations on 3 October, the National Press
Club organized discussions with the participation of central political
parties of Armenia.
Representative of the Republican Party, Samvel Nikoyan, said that Armenia is
not the only country that is interested to see Turkey revaluing its history
and adhering to democratic values, respecting human rights and rights of
national minorities. Khosrov Harutyunian, chairman of the
Christian-Democratic Party, thinks that in order to have such a neighbor,
Armenia has to use the created situation and to put certain Armenian issues
into the European bunch. Representative of Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, Kiro Manoyan, stated that what is important in Turkey-EU
relations is that the former carries out reforms before becoming a member
but not post-factum.
Chairman of the Democratic Party, Aram Sargsian, is sure that Armenia should
view Turkey’s accession to EU not only in the context of the Armenian
Genocide but also in the context of geopolitical developments, considering
the prospects of Iran-Turkey rivalry and Israel’s interests that Turkey
voices.
Political analyst of daily Azg, Hakob Chakrian, reminded of the New
Neighborhood project realization of which supposes Turkey’s membership.
Armenia, being supporter of the project, cannot meanwhile oppose Turkey’s
bid.
Arsen Avagian, adviser of RA foreign minister, informed about official
Yerevan’s stance on the issue, according to which Turkey’s membership will
be viewed as positive if it stems out of materialization of the foreseen
reforms and not of a political decision.
By Nana Petrosian

Congressional Quarterly
CQ Transcriptions
September 28, 2005 Wednesday
KAREN HUGHES PARTICIPATES IN AN INTERFAITH DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIOUS
LEADERS AT TOPKAPI PALACE
SPEAKER:
KAREN HUGHES, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
UNDERSECRETARY HUGHES PARTICIPATES IN AN INTERFAITH
DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS AT TOPKAPI PALACE,
AS RELEASED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT
SEPTEMBER 28, 2005

SPEAKERS: KAREN HUGHES, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE
FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

DINA POWELL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

ILBER ORTAYLI, DIRECTOR OF TOPKAPI PALACE

ORTAYLI: Mrs. Undersecretary, Your Highness, Your Eminence, ladies
and gentlemen, this is not the first time that the spiritual heads of
the communities came to this palace and won’t be the last. We are
very happy to have you here, madam, and leave you for your meeting.
Thank you for coming.
HUGHES: Thank you so much. The tour was wonderful. Thank you. What a
fabulous setting. It’s beautiful. Well, it’s an honor and great
pleasure to be with you here this afternoon at this beautiful Topkapi
Palace. It’s just a gorgeous place. We’ve just had a wonderful quick
tour, a little too quick. I’ll have to come back when I can spend
more time. But I’m so glad that you are here, and I want to thank the
Government of Turkey for helping to make it available to us.
My brief tour helped bring some of Istanbul’s remarkable history to
life for me, and I sincerely want to thank all the palace staff. I
want to thank also each of you personally for joining this meeting. I
understand there is an important interfaith meeting under way right
now in Hatay. Some of you came from there and changed your schedules
to be here with me. I really, really appreciate that and look forward
to learning more about the meeting that you had there.
I’m here on my first trip abroad, really to listen and to learn. One
of the things that President Bush, my boss, told me as I began this
job was to take the time to reach out and meet with religious leaders
— because faith is such an important part of life for so many
Americans and so many people across the world and, I think, to build
better bridges of understanding and mutual respect it’s very
important to work with members of the faith community. In fact, I
have to say that you can probably blame President Bush for this
meeting, because he met with many of the same group when he was here.
He said that it was one of the most important and interesting and
fascinating meetings of his presidency because there is such a rich
mosaic here — not only of the history of Turkey but the history of
so many important faith traditions. So, one of the things I’ve
learned just during my very short time here in Turkey already, just
today, is that the people of Turkey and the people of America share a
language, I think, of the heart. This is a very warm and welcoming
and hospitable place and that language of caring and concern is also
very apparent in the wonderful outpouring of generosity that we
experienced not only from the Government of Turkey, but also from the
people of Turkey in the aftermath of the staggering natural disaster
that we faced with Hurricane Katrina. I want to take this opportunity
to express the gratitude of the American people to each and every
person here in Turkey who brought a dollar or came by with a donation
to our American Embassy. It meant so much to the people of my
country.
We also share many values between the people of America and the
people of Turkey: family, democracy, a belief in human rights and the
importance of interfaith understanding and tolerance. And so I’m
really here to listen to each of you, and I very much look forward to
our discussion together. Thank you all for your time and for joining
me here today.
Would each of you like to say a few words? One thing — when you have
a meeting of religious leaders, they are all so nice and tolerant
that everyone defers to everyone else. (Laughter). But please.
MUSTAFA CAGRICI, MUFTI OF ISTANBUL: (Translated text) First of all, I
would like to thank you very much for coming here and for inviting us
here. I would also like to thank the distinguished religious leaders
who have given me the first word. Especially democracy, family and
interfaith relations are some common points that Turkey and the U.S.
share, and you emphasize this. Now, I find this very meaningful, and
I think these are very important points. Indeed, in the Western world
— and, of course, everywhere in the Western world in line with the
rise of democracy — family and interfaith relations did not develop
at the same pace and with the same sound foundation, unfortunately.
But I think that the United States has an important place and has
some unique features. Turkey and the U.S. also share the fact that
they attach importance to the family and to faith and to tolerance.
So, I agree with what you have said and congratulate you on this very
perceptive remark. And I will happy to say a few more words when it
is my turn. Thank you very much.
MESROB MUTAFYAN, ARMENIAN PATRIARCH: It is a pleasure to meet you in
Istanbul. We ourselves were just participating, as you mentioned, in
a meeting of civilizations in Antioch, where we discussed the common
problems that we will face worldwide and the role of religion. Not
only in building up civilization, but also as a remedy to many of the
problems that we live through today — particularly living in the
Near East or at the tip of Europe. We are particularly concerned
about this West and East — the blocs and the way that especially
some thinkers are trying to promote a clash between civilizations.
This is one of the main points that we discuss in these meetings —
and how to solve issues of this sort in terms of culture and religion
especially. And how religious ministers could lead opinions which
affect public opinion. So, it is particularly important for us in
that sense that you are interested in bringing together the various
religions and traditions in this country as you visit. We are
grateful for this interest. Thank you.
ISAK HALEVA, CHIEF RABBI: (Translated text) First of all, let me say
“welcome” before everything else. You have honored us with your
presence and your smiling face gives us a lot of energy. Of course,
between Turkey and the U.S. there have been wonderful relations in
the past that will continue in the future — because both the U.S.
and Turkey have some common points with respect to faith, to
cultures, to family. These are the things the two countries share.
So, thank you very much for developing this nice atmosphere further.
I believe that today, all around the world, religions can live in
peace. This will certainly eliminate many problems in the world,
because religions in the past did cause some conflicts. But today,
there are other reasons apart from religion to fight. So, maybe
religions can go back to their essential duty of promoting peace and
love. Thank you very much for showing sensitivity and interest. I am
sure you will succeed in your task. We are very hopeful about this.
Thank you very much. May God be with you and be with us.
HUGHES: Thank you so much.
YUSUF CETIN, SYRIAN METROPOLITAN: I would like to bid you a warm
welcome to Istanbul. Last June, we had the chance to be present
during the visit of Mr. Bush. We had a wonderful atmosphere a very
useful meeting then and I am sure that today’s meeting will also be
very beneficial for everyone. Religious leaders and religious
officers must pray to contribute to world peace. You, the
politicians, I think can emphasize peace more. I think that for world
peace, religious leaders and politicians are the two parties that
have very big tasks to fulfill, more than ever today. We need to pray
much more for world peace, and politicians need to work much more
seriously for world peace. Religious leaders, of course, are not
politicians, but for world peace we are ready to discuss any topic,
we are ready to be present at any gathering so long as it calls for
peace to reign all over the world — because we have the tears and
screams of war. These make all countries in the world very troubled.
We believe that when there are good intentions in a meeting like
this, God will hear our voice, respond to our goodwill and hopefully
will show us good days in the future. Thank you.
HUGHES: Thank you so much.
Let me introduce Dina Powell. Dina, would you like to speak? Dina is
my deputy and our Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural
Affairs. One of the things I have asked her to do as she leads
America’s exchange programs is to really look at people who influence
young people. People like all of you in this room. As you know, faith
leaders, clerics, religious leaders have enormous influence, and I’ve
asked her to consider exchange programs that would help foster
interfaith dialogue and a spirit of tolerance and understanding and
so.
POWELL: Thank you. It is a great honor for me to be here, to meet
with all of you, and I want to second everything that Karen just
said. You are not only amazing leaders of faith, but like you said,
you really are leaders of people and of societies. And yes, two days
ago, when we were in Cairo, we had the privilege of meeting the Grand
Sheik Tantawi of Al-Azar University, and then we met with His
Holiness Pope Shenouda. They, like you, are amazing examples. And so
I really hope that we can invite you to come to the United States and
share how wonderful it is to be men of faith who respect each other’s
faith — because, of course, the God of all of us believes in
tolerance and love, and I know you are living it every single day. We
really are so honored to use you as amazing role models and are
looking forward to working with you. Thank you very much.
HUGHES: Professor, would you like to say a few words?
AKIF AYDIN, ISLAMIC RESEARCH CENTER PRESIDENT: (Translated Text) I
would like to say welcome to all of you. One thing I would like to
add to what has been said so far is that people of different
religions and different cultures can live together. I think one of
the best places to discuss the problems of such coexistence is this
very city, because in this city, in this geography — for at least
six centuries, people of different cultural and religious backgrounds
have lived together. We have a lot of experience in this field. And I
hope that this experience will serve the population of the whole
world. Thank you very much and welcome once more.
HUGHES: Thank you so much. Monsignor, would you like —
FATHER DOSITHEOS, REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE:
(Translated text) Most of the important things have been expressed.
Let me tell you another story. Turkey is a very nice country. It is
beautiful, and the evidence that made me think of this is that I
spent 35 years of my life in Germany. I was born in Kadikoy, and I
left this country in 1961, vowing never to come back. But 35 years
later, I came back to Turkey. The nice thing about Turkey is that
Anatolian lands and soils are holy lands and holy soils. As you get
old like me, you understand this. The problems of Turkey are problems
that concern everyone — positive thinking is required, and all kinds
of opinions are positive contributions. Welcome to this very
beautiful country. I have also one sentence to say about the States:
when I was a child, America to me resembled the Statute of Liberty,
and I still believe that. Your presence today opens up the avenues
for liberty. I hope you will assist us in solving our problems
through avenues of liberty and freedom. I would like to greet you
all. Thank you very much.
HUGHES: Thank you. I’m going to call on the Monsignor. But first I
wanted to quickly say that at my last stop here in Istanbul, I
visited a park — a wonderful volunteer program, an after-school
program for young children. One of the young women there who
volunteers — she’s a teenager and she volunteers, working with the
younger children — she asked me, does the Statue of Liberty really
mean anything or is it just a symbol? I told her it really means
something, and someone commented to me that the Statue of Liberty
faces out and says welcome — and we very much in our country want to
face out and say welcome. We want to partner with the people of
Turkey. We want Turkish students and clerics and faith leaders and
teachers and all sorts of citizens to come visit our country. We want
Americans to come visit Turkey and to learn more about Turkey and I
was pleased as I was touring the palace to see a couple of people
from Texas, and a couple from New York. and also a couple from
Bahrain on their honeymoon. This is a wonderful city that welcomes
many, many visitors, and you do have a unique opportunity, I think,
to really focus on the values that we all have in common as human
beings.
MONSIGNOR GEORGES MAROVITCH, CATHOLIC BISHOP: (Translated text) I am
here as the spokesman of the Catholic communities in Turkey. I would
like to welcome you on behalf of all Catholic communities in Turkey.
I know that this great country is going through many problems; please
be assured that we will pray for world peace, and we will support you
through our prayers.
As you know, Turkey has a very important history. For centuries,
people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds have lived
together. In that sense, Turkey is a very experienced country and a
very experienced nation. It can teach others many lessons like we
have this wonderful bunch of flowers. And Turkey is just like this
there are yellow flowers, red flowers, purple flowers. And here, we
are people of different religions, and we will always have our Muslim
brothers respecting us. They have done so in the past they have
treated us with love and respect.
I will give you a small example. I do not know if you have had a
chance to see, but we have a very large institution set up in the
19th century. It is a nursing home called Darulacize. It is for the
elderly and for babies, infants deserted by their parents. In the
19th century, this institution was set up and at that time there was
no other institution in Europe that would open up its doors to people
of different religions. But the Sultan here set up one mosque, one
synagogue and one church in that nursing home, so that everyone could
worship according to their own religion. This can be an example to
the whole world. Turks drew this idea from their holy book, from the
Koran: In the 5-28 verse of the Maide Surah it says, “If God wished
to create you as single nation, he would have done so but he wanted
you to be of different faiths, so that you would raise your beauties
and compete with your beauties.” This competition has been going on
for centuries but sometimes in that competition, some of us stumbled
and some of us made others fall down. We have had some unpleasant
events. But we are now making very big strides. In Antioch, as you
know, we had this big conference for interfaith dialogue regarding
working together for world peace. In Turkey, we have been having
similar events very often, so we are very hopeful about the future.
Turkey should be a model and example for the world.
I would like to conclude here by saying that you should be sure that
there is only one assistant in our work — that is God, Allah.
Muslims pray a lot every day — they pray 5 times — and through
their prayers, Allah, God, protects our world. As you know, the month
of Ramadan is coming. They will be fasting for 30 days, they will be
praying, and these prayers will fall on earth just like raindrops
that will bring good crops. Our great country, Turkey, and the whole
world will benefit from them. Thank you very much.
HUGHES: Thank you so much. We have much to learn from the rich
history and tradition of Turkey, and I’m here to learn. I want to
thank the press for being here, and we look forward to continuing our
meeting in just a minute. Thank you all.
END

AZERI, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET EARLY DECEMBER
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2005
Baku, September 28, AssA-Irada
The next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers
focusing on ways of peacefully settling the Upper Garabagh conflict
may be held in Slovenia early in December.
The Garabagh conflict is to be discussed at a meeting of the OSCE
council of foreign ministers in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana
December 5-6, deputy foreign minister and the President’s special envoy
on the Upper Garabagh conflict Araz Azimov said. The two countries’
foreign ministers are expected to hold a tete-a-tete meeting as part
of the event. Co-chairs of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group are due to
visit the region prior to the ministers’ meeting, Azimov said.
“The issue was discussed at the OSCE meeting yesterday. A final
decision was not made in this respect, but the co-chairs’ visit
is expected on the eve of the parliamentary elections”, the deputy
foreign minister said.
Azerbaijan’s legislative poll is due on November 6.*

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
28 Sep 05
ARMENIAN LEADER, VISITING INTERPOL CHIEF PRAISE TIES
Yerevan, 28 September: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received
Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble in Yerevan today.
The presidential press service has told Mediamax that the Interpol
secretary-general highly values the professionalism of the Armenian
police, adding that they are taking an active part in the work of
Interpol.
Kocharyan noted the importance of the fight against crime in
conditions of globalization and new threats and challenges. The main
task of the Armenian police is upgrading equipment and organizing
training for highly-professional officers.
Ronald Noble noted that in Armenia, Interpol introduced a new system
of passport checks, which will considerably help the work of the
police.

CYPRIOT ARMENIANS SUBMIT CANDIDACIES FOR BY-ELECTION
Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Sept 27 2005
Three members of the Armenian religious group have submitted their
candidacies today for the post of new representative of the Armenian
religious group to the House of Representatives that will take place
9 October 2005.
The new representative will succeed Bedros Kalaydjian, who passed
away on 1st September at the age of 71.
Vahakn Atamyan, Antranig Ashdjian and Parsegh Zartarian submitted their
candidacies to Chief Returning Officer Lazaros Savvides who said that
around 1,950 Armenians are eligible to vote in the by-election.
He also said that four voting centers will operate, two at the
Armenian elementary school “Narek” in Nicosia, one at Larnaca District
Administration and another at Limassol District Administration. The
new representative will be declared at the Interior Ministry around
1930 local time on 9 October.
In statements, Ashdjian said he submitted his candidacy, with the
main concern to preserve the national identity, language and culture
of the Armenian community.
Ashdjian further said he feels he can get the Armenians out of the
deadlock which they are now in, noting that one of the issues which
they are facing is the future of the Armenian Melkonian Institute.
The Melkonian school closed this year but Armenians have been
campaigning to prevent the land from being sold off. The government
has declared 60% of the land as national heritage, while suits are
still ongoing for the remaining 40%.
On his part, Atamyan said that if he is elected, “I will try to do
everything to find a solution to the problems which the Armenian
community is facing”.
One of his priorities, he added, would be to save the Melkonian
Institute, to end the destruction and restore the historical and
religious monuments of the community in the Turkish occupied north of
Cyprus and continue the legacy of brothers Aram and Bedros Kalaydjian
to further develop relations with Armenian political forces.
Zartarian said that the Armenian community has matured and now is
the time for an independent candidate to win the elections.
He also said that he has the ideas and abilities to work with the
Armenians to solve the problems, which they are facing.
The three religious groups, belonging to the Greek Cypriot community,
Latins, Armenians and Maronites, elect a representative each to the
House, who does not take up one of the 56 parliamentary seats.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
26-09-2005
Minister Oskanian Receives the “Grosso d’Oro Veneziano” Award in Veneto,
Italy
The Grosso d’Oro Veneziano award was bestowed on Armenia?s Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian by the Masi Foundation of Italy’s Veneto Region, on
September 24. The prize is a special award on an international level for
individuals who have contributed to the cause of peace and brotherhood among
nations. It was conferred on Minister Oskanian for his contribution to
Armenia?s integration into European structures, to the deepening of
Armenia-Italy ties, and for his active involvement in peace talks.
In the 8th century St. George Cathedral in Verona, before several hundred
Italian intellectuals, artists and businessmen, the Masi Foundation held its
25th awards ceremony.
After receiving the award – a sculpture in silver, decorated with grapes as
well as designs from ancient khachkars, and topped with a gold medal- the
Minister spoke about Armenia’s determination to pursue the path of European
integration. He also spoke about traditional Armenian-Italian ties and the
upcoming Italian-Armenian Days in Yerevan.
During the ceremony, other awards were also given to those who protect and
promote Veneto’s historic legacy and cultural values. The Masi Foundation,
in line with its guiding philosophy and with an original policy for
recognizing subtle changes in the world, awarded prizes for excellence in
education, medicine, theater, fashion, as well as in the area of
vinoculture. The Masi Foundation was created and is run by the descendants
of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri.
The only other recipient of the Grosso d’Oro Veneziano has been Slovenia’s
former President, Milan Kucan.
Below is the text of the Minister’s remarks:
Honorable members of the Board of Directors of the Fondazione Masi,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am privileged to receive this prestigious award, il Grosso d’Oro
Veneziano. This is a special day for me. And this is, of course, a special
place, a special foundation and a special family with a glorious history of
650 years stretching all the way back to one of the greatest poets of all
times, Dante Alighieri.
Dante’s descendants valued their heritage and helped pass on his legacy.
This legacy clearly manifests itself in modern Italy and the Region of
Veneto.
Italy and Veneto also share a legacy with Armenians. There is much symbolism
in the fact that Armenia’s coming back to Europe is being noted and
celebrated here, in Italy.
Armenian-Italian connections are based on rich and ancient traditions. It
was in Italy in 1512, that Hakob Meghapart published the first book ever in
Armenian. The Urbatagirk (or Book of Days) was followed in 1513 with the
first published Armenian calendar. The renowned Briton, Lord Byron, referred
to the Venetian island of San Lazaro as a fortress of Armenian independence,
since the Armenian monks of the Order of Mekhitar had found refuge there in
the early 1700s. For the last three centuries, that haven has turned into a
scientific and cultural locus.
Today, if you ask the Mekhitarist fathers whether they are Venetian, they
will say yes. If you ask them whether they are Armenian, they will say yes.
One can say that they were pioneers in establishing a common European
identity, about which we speak proudly, yet with some apprehension.
If it used to be religion that bound Europe together a millennium ago, it
certainly isn’t any longer. Nor is it the economic advancement that was
specific to Europe two centuries ago. It isn?t ideology either, which was
both adhesive and encumbrance for decades in the last century.
Europe is more than its common history, more than geography, more than a
club for members. All those who’ve said Europe is an idea are right. It is
the idea of a Europe that is the common, if unattainable ideal.
Even those living outside this space have imagined and desired a Europe
which can be addressed collectively, a partner which can be enlisted
conveniently, a Europe to which they yearn to belong.
Armenia is Europe. This is a fact, it’s not a response to a question.
The collapse of the USSR brought us to a point of economic and political
crisis. I remember our discussions in Armenia, before our entry into the
Council of Europe. There were many questions about the choice of path to
take.
Dante once said that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who
in a period
of moral crisis maintain their neutrality. I’m happy to say I won’t be going
there
because I was among the loudest advocates of the European path.
The choice was clear. Armenians believe in the values of the European
enlightenment, of European civilization. The moral, ethical and existential
choices that bring individuals and societies to select democracy over other
forms of government, rule of law over rule of man, human rights over
selective rights – those choices have been made.
A people who have lived under subjugation, have seen ethnic cleansing and
genocide even before the terms existed, have lived as a minority without
rights, now belong to a world where warring neighbors have found that they
can accept new borders based on realities on the ground and move on.
Europe?s nation-states have found that they can transcend borders, without
diminishing or ignoring cultural spaces, without expecting historical
identities to vanish.
The European Neighborhood Policy brings Armenia back home since Armenia’s
foreign policy priority is the gradual integration of Armenia into European
institutions.
In his presentation, my good friend, Senator Demetro Volcic described in
ponderous detail my country’s foreign policy priorities. I must admit that
he is well aware of them not as a common bystander, but as a caring and
thoughtful professional, who has proven to be instrumental in helping to
integrate Armenia into the modern European architecture.
The double digit GDP growth, which Armenia achieved each of the last five
years, the successful admission into the WTO, the spirit of the free
enterprise, the changing political system and society are promising signs
that we are on the right track. However, it is too early to say that the
European standard is round the corner. It is not as close yet as Europe
itself, as Venice, as Verona, as the shared cultural and religious values of
the past and present.
To highlight and share those values, we will be launching a two-month long
Days of Italy in Armenia, beginning in early October. This project has
received the blessing and patronage of President Ciampi, President Kocharian
and Governor Galan. The centerpiece of these important events will be an
exhibition of the riches from the Isla Armena.
In light of all this, then, the Fondazione Masi has, in bestowing upon me
this award, put a great stamp of approval on Armenia, its foreign policy
directions, its European orientation, its future.
I thank you.

CEC ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY HEAD ELECTION RESULTS IN TWO YEREVAN DISTRICTS
Armenpress
Sept 26, 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Central Election Commission
(CEC) said the incumbent prefect of Kentron district in Yerevan,
Gagik Beglarian, won community head election in Sunday polls receiving
32,000 votes, his contender Ruzan Khachatrian from the opposition
People’s Party received 4,430 votes. The voter turnout was 43 percent.
In another community head election Hovhanes Shahinian won the polls
in Yerevan Arabkir community. He received 18,215 votes. Out of 97,00
eligible voters in Arabkir district only 28,000 went to the polls.