Author: Badalian Vardan

$400-500M DOLLARS INVESTED IN ARMENIA EACH YEAR
TSAGHKADZOR, July 27, (Noyan Tapan). Several international companies
have placed bids for the Copper-molibdenum enterprise of Zangezour
that is to be privatized this year Tigran Davtian, Deputy Minister of
Trade and Economic Development of Armenia stated at the “Regional
Bridge 2004” international business conference. He noted that the
package of the shares of the enterprise are estimated about $130m and
the investment package – about $0.5bln. According to T. Davtian,
approximately 2,500 companies work in Armenia through foreign capital.
Each year foreign investments in Armenia make $200-250m. Domestic
investments are about of the same amount. The attractiveness of the
country for foreigners is due stable economic growth and liberal
economic policy conducted by the govermnent. The foreign debt of
Armenia reaches over $1b or about 38% of the GDP which is an afordable
level for countries with developing economy. T. Davtian indicated that
the budget deficit of Armenia formed about 2% of the annual GDP during
the last years. And now it was possible to provide even state budget
proficit based on internal funds only.

CENN — July 27, 2004 Daily Digest
Table of Contents:
1. BP awards contracts for environmental investment Program along the BTC
pipeline route
2. BTC Construction Suspended
3. BP’s pipeline to nowhere: Georgia halts oil giant’s £2.4bn project
4. Who Conserves The World’s Forests?
5. International Resource Award for Sustainable Watershed Management
1. BP awards contracts for environmental investment Program along
the BTC pipeline route
Press Release
BP as operator of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline and
South Caucasus (SCP) gas projects is pleased to announce that in June 2004
it has awarded contract to NACRES – Noach’s Arch Center for Recovery of
Endangered Species NGO, to implement the “Ecosystem and Species Conservation
in Georgia: Brown Bear Project”. This is the second contract award in the
framework of the Environmental investment Program (EIP) for the BTC and SCP
projects.
the principal objective of the Environmental investment Program (EIP) is
delivery of actions that are of ebnefit in the promotion and conservation of
biodiversity. The USD 3 mln EIP is divided into number of themes, which were
identified through the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment studies
and trough the process of consultations with the national and international
stakeholders. Themes include: Rare species conservation management;
Sustainable forestry; Capacity building for NGOs, Environmental Education,
etc.
A request for proposals for the rare species conservation management was
publicly issued in late September 2003. Proposals were ought specially for
the Caucasian Black Grouse and Brown Bear conservation management. However
proposals related to other rare species were also considered, if associated
with pipeline. The contract for the Caucasian Black Grouse research,
monitoring and conservation management project was awarded to the Georgian
Center for the Conservation of Wildlife NGO in January 2004.
Through a review process, the Ecosystems and Species Conservation in
Georgia: Brown Bear project was now selected for funding under the above
theme. The grant award for the project is USD 250, 000.
Project activities include estimation of the Brown Bear population
parameters within the Trialeti range, appraisal of current levels of
threats, description of the underlying reasons for loss of bear habitat,
development of a Bear Conservation Action Plan for the Trialeti range,
establishment of basis for community involvement in conservation activities.
The project will be implemented by NACRES Noach’s Arch Center for Recovery
of Endangered Species, an NGO founded in 1989 to research and safeguard
biodiversity, especially endanger species, in Georgia and South Caucasus and
to promote public awareness in the field of environmental protection.
Project activities stared in June 2004 and will finish in May 2006.
We believe that the Environmental Investment Program gives BP and the
selected NGOs a unique opportunity to make a positive difference to the
preservation of Georgia’s wildlife.
For the more information please contact:
Communication Department, BP Georgia
Tel: (995 32) 59 34 00
Fax: (995 32) 59 34 80
2. BTC Construction Suspended
Source: The Georgian Messenger, July 26, 2004
Minister of Environmental Protection and Nature Resources Tamar Lebanidze
decreed that construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyahn oil pipeline be
suspended for two weeks on July 20, 2004.
The suspension affected a 17-km section of construction through the Borjomi
gorge. The reason of suspension is permission and terms issued by the
Ministry of Environmental Protection on November 30, 2004.
The ministry argues that the ninth item of the agreement, which dealt with
safety measures, was not fulfilled.
The economic and political significance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline is high and the temporary time out does not appear to threaten its
completion. The issue is that one section of the pipeline, which passes
through the Borjomi gorge, recently caused a large scandal as many people
express concern that the pipeline will cross a canyon where there is a
unique mineral spring.
In an interview with the newspaper 24-Hours, minister Lebanidze agreed with
the opinion that the pipeline route has been chosen in an incorrect manner.
“If now the issue of choosing the route was on the agenda, we would by all
means choose a different route,” she said.
At that time there were two alternatives: either the pipeline should have
crossed Karakai route or Akhalkalaki route. investors were categorically
against Akhalkalaki route, because of the neighboring Russian military base
and instability in the region.
As for Karakai route, investors thought that it was too expensive. Instead
planners turned to the Borjomi gorge and Shevardnadze’s government agreed on
it provided there would be security guarantees.
The Borjomi gorge is characterized by very rugged terrain and requires
special environmental protection in order to minimize risks, like that from
landslides. Mtavari Gazeti quoted Tamar Lebanidze as saying that BP agreed
to fulfill these conditions in 2002.
But in Lebanidze’s opinion, Shevardnadze’s government should actually have
made every effort for changing the direction of the route in the past.
According to Georgia’s representative on the intergovernmental commission
for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project implementation, Giorgi Vashakmadze, it will
be impossible to resume pipeline construction as long as all the conditions
are not met.
Lebanidze told Rezonansi that BP obeyed the requirements of the ministry and
it will resume construction in two weeks. Meanwhile, officials say two weeks
is plenty of time to find a solution and that this will not delay the
pipeline’s progress.
3. BP’s pipeline to nowhere: Georgia halts oil giant’s £2.4bn
project
Source: The Observer, July 25, 2004
The government of the former Soviet republic of Georgia has ordered BP to
halt work on a section of a controversial £2.4 billion Caspian oil pipeline
project. The environment minister, Tamar Lebanidze, said the company failed
to provide contractually required environmental information.
Lebanidze said BP should not have started laying the 42 inch-wide pipe until
her government was convinced that BP had in place the best technology to
ensure it could withstand both landslides and terrorist attacks.
BP was on site for just one week in Borjormi before being told to stop.
Borjormi is considered an area of outstanding natural beauty with a mineral
water spring that provides a 10th of Georgia’s exports.
The minister added that she would have rejected the scheme agreed by former
president Edward Shevardnadze, who was forced out of office last November.
Lebanidze fears oil leaks could devastate the region.
At 1,087 miles, the Caspian export pipeline will be the world’s longest,
taking Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani oil through Georgia to Turkey. It is
backed by US President George W Bush, who is keen to reduce US reliance on
Middle Eastern and Russian oil.
James Leaton of the World Wildlife Fund said: ‘BP considers itself above the
law on this project and has no respect for the environment.’
The news will take the gloss off BP second-quarter results, out this week.
Net profits could beat last quarter’s record £2.64 billion.
4. WHO CONSERVES THE WORLD’S FORESTS?
Source: IUCN, July 26, 2004
Indigenous peoples and other communities who live in and around the world’s
tropical forests often are as effective as their national governments at
conserving forests, and are outspending foreign donors by as much as two to
one, according to a new study by Forest Trends, an IUCN member organization
based in Washington, D.C. The announcement comes as delegates from 59
nations gather in Geneva to debate the renewal of the International Tropical
Timber Agreement. Speaking at a press briefing last Thursday, Stewart
Maginnis, Head of the IUCN Forest Conservation Programme, commented: “These
often very poor communities are making the same levels of investment, at a
minimum, perhaps a lot more, in conserving these areas, as developing
country governments.” Some 240 million indigenous and local community
peoples own and manage about one fifth of the world’s tropical forests, and
invest US$ 1.2 billion to 2.6 billion a year in forest management and
conservation, according to the study.
5. International Resource Award for Sustainable Watershed
Management
As one of the world’s leading reinsurers, Swiss Re has committed itself to
supporting the planning, evaluation and implementation of water-related
projects with the aim of promoting awareness and encouraging the efficient
use of this precious resource. To support and encourage water-related
initiatives, in April 2002 Swiss Re launched the ReSource Award for
Sustainable Watershed Management. On 5 April 2004, Peter Forstmoser,
Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Member of the Executive Board Walter
Anderau presented the 2003 award and launched the 2004 award at Swiss Re’s
Centre for Global Dialogue in R?schlikon. The award is worth USD 100,000 in
total and is granted to one or several projects selected by an international
jury. It is conferred annually.
What is the idea behind the award?
Access to water supply and sanitation is a fundamental human need. Human
beings and nature need it for their very survival. But water is a threatened
resource. The increasing pollution of the world’s water reserves, the
growing frequency of water shortages, the exploding world population and
resulting demand for water – not to mention risks arising from climate
change (eg changing water cycles) – are presenting a major threat to the
natural environment, human health, food production and the economy in
general.
The word “source” denotes origin and purity; it projects dynamism and even
mystical power. All water stems from a source: this is where rivers and
streams begin their life before embarking on the most diverse of journeys.
As the Chinese saying goes: “All water has a source and every tree a root.”
Strong leadership and community involvement are essential in preserving and
nurturing our water (re)sources. But there are a number of obstacles to be
overcome before a project of this kind can get off the ground. Swiss Re
established the International ReSource Award for Sustainable Watershed
Management in an attempt to actively support the planning, evaluation and
implementation of water-related projects with the aim of promoting awareness
and encouraging the efficient use of this precious resource. Swiss Re is
convinced that this commitment will attract further funds dedicated to
preserving water supplies.
For the more detailed information please visit:
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

California Courier Online, July 29, 2004
1 – Commentary
Speaker Hastert Misleads Twice,
Opposing Armenian Genocide Bills
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
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2 – Evereg-Fenesse Educational Society
Celebrates 125th Anniversary on Labor Day
3 – St. James Church Honors
Pastor For Elevation
4 – AYF Plans Annual
‘Little Armenia’
Clean-Up, Sept. 25
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Speaker Hastert Misleads Twice,
Opposing Armenian Genocide Bills
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Four years ago, when Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
(Republican-Illinois) needed the votes of Armenian-Americans in a tight
congressional race in Glendale, California, to secure the Republican
majority in the House of Representatives and his own position as Speaker,
he promised to bring the then pending Armenian Genocide Resolution – which
had been languishing in the House for two years – to a floor vote before
the November 2000 elections.
However, a couple of weeks before the elections and just minutes before the
resolution was scheduled for a vote by the full House, Speaker Hastert, at
the request of Pres. Clinton, reneged on his promise and pulled the
Resolution from the floor, blocking its assured passage.
Hastert then shamelessly made a second deceptive promise. “The U.S. House
of Representatives will undoubtedly return to consideration of this
important issue,” he said. In 2003, after the House Judiciary Committee
adopted a Resolution on the U.N. Genocide Convention that included a
passing reference to the Armenian Genocide, Hastert blocked its
consideration by the full House.
To make matters worse, two weeks ago when the House adopted an amendment
proposed by Cong. Adam Schiff (Democrat-Calif.) to the foreign aid bill,
prohibiting the Turkish government from using U.S. foreign assistance to
lobby Congress against legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
Hastert revealed his most antagonistic position yet on the congressional
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
In a joint statement with Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Republican-Texas) and
Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Republican-Missouri), Speaker Hastert attacked not
only the Schiff amendment, but also, even more surprisingly, the U.N.
Genocide Convention Resolution (H.Res. 193) that mentions the Armenian
Genocide. Here is the full text of the statement issued by the House
Republican leadership:
“We are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision
in conference. We have contacted the Bush Administration, and they have
indicated their strong opposition to the amendment. We have also conveyed
our opposition to Chairman Kolbe and he has assured us that he will insist
on it being dropped in the conference committee.
“Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades, and the
deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security relationship
rests should not be disrupted by this amendment.
“On its face, the amendment is meaningless. Current U.S. law already
prohibits foreign governments from using American foreign aid to lobby. But
we understand the political motivation behind the amendment, and for that
reason, we will insist that it be dropped.
“Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in
any way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment.
“Furthermore, we have no intention of scheduling H.Res. 193, as reported
out of the Judiciary Committee in April, during the remainder of this
Congress.”
In addition to the House Republican leadership, the Bush Administration
also opposed the Schiff amendment, even though Pres. Bush, as a candidate,
had promised to support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Richard
Boucher, the Spokesman for the State Dept., issued the following statement:
“The Administration strongly opposes this amendment which seeks to restrict
U.S. assistance to Turkey.
“It should not become law. The amendment is detrimental to the cause we all
seek: reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia in pursuit of regional
peace and economic cooperation. Turkey and Armenia have been pursuing these
goals through direct meetings.
“Turkey, our key NATO ally, and Armenia, our close friend, are partners in
the Global War on Terror and in advancing democracy, prosperity and
stability in the Caucasus. Our goal is to bolster cooperation between these
two countries rather than to separate them.
“We welcome the statement by House Speaker Hastert, Majority Leader DeLay
and Majority Whip Blunt citing their strong opposition to this amendment
and their commitment to insisting that the amendment be dropped in
conference. We welcome the Leadership’s recognition of the important
relationship with our reliable ally and friend Turkey and of the need for
continued close economic and security relations between our countries.”
In the next three months, as Armenian-Americans prepare to cast their votes
in the congressional and presidential elections, they should reward all
those who supported the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and punish
those who opposed it. This is not a partisan issue. The Schiff amendment
would have not passed without the support of many Democrats as well as
Republicans in the House.
In this particular episode, the good guys who backed this measure were:
* Cong. Adam Schiff (Dem.-CA) made extraordinary efforts to secure the
passage of his amendment that for the fourth time, and not the first (as
some members of the media have mistakenly reported), puts the U.S. House of
Representatives on record in recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The
other three times were in 1975, 1984, and 1996.
* Cong. Frank Pallone, Jr. (Dem.-N.J.) strongly supported Schiff’s efforts
with remarks on the House floor and subsequently sent a strongly worded
letter to Speaker Hastert blasting him for blocking both the Schiff
Amendment and the Genocide Resolution (twice).
* Cong. Joseph Crowley (Dem.-NY) delivered very strong remarks on the House
floor in support of the Schiff amendment.
* Cong. George Radanovich (Rep.-CA) joined Congressmen Schiff and Pallone
in co-signing a letter urging other House members to sign a “Dear
Colleague” letter to Speaker Hastert.
Here is the list of the bad guys who opposed the Schiff amendment:
* Speaker Hastert (Rep.-Ill.), a repeat offender.
* House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Rep.-Tex.).
* House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Rep.-Missouri).
* Cong. Jim Kolbe (Rep.-Arizona), the Chairman of Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee, issued a statement opposing the Schiff
amendment after its passage, when the Republican leadership put the heat on
him for not blocking it on the floor. He said: “As the chair of the pending
conference committee on the Foreign Operations bill, I will insist this
meaningless language be removed in conference.”
* The Bush Administration for opposing both the Schiff Amendment and the
Genocide Resolution.
I urge everyone to send a WebFax via to Speaker Hastert,
Majority Leader DeLay and Majority Whip Blunt expressing your
disappointment at their opposition to the Schiff amendment. I would also
urge all Armenian-American organizations to sign a joint letter being
currently circulated to Speaker Hastert asking him to reconsider his
opposition to the Schiff amendment and the Genocide Resolution.

**************************************************************************
2 – Evereg-Fenesse Educational Society
Celebrates 125th Anniversary on Labor Day
By Mireille Kalfayan
PASADENA, Calif. – The Evereg-Fenesse Mesrobian-Roupinian Educational
Society is celebrating its 125th Anniversary, on September 3, 4, and 5,
2004 (Labor Day weekend), during its 17th Triennial International
Convention at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
One would wonder why young, modern, educated Diaspora-born Armenians would
dedicate themselves to propagate this “old country” organization, and
maintain its ancestral traditions with the same awe and affiliation as
their immigrant parents and grandparents?
Is it in respect or nostalgia of our childhood memories at hyrenagitz
(compatriotic) picnics and dances, or of our parents’ and grandparents’
dedication to safeguard old traditions and history, or simply fascination
of the mystery of its long abiding spirit in our veins?
For a daughter of Everegtsi mother and Fenessetsi father, asked to write
about the history and growth of this organization, unfolding the mystery
revealed a culture deep in tradition and its relentless urge for education.
Starting from its geography, its history and legends, to its inception in
the diaspora, Evereg-Fenesse presents the magical mystery of faith and
survival of all Armenians. Here is Our Story.
Geography & History
Evereg is located south of Ceasaria, separated by Erjias Lehr (Arkeos as
the Greeks called it), the highest mountain of the region, covered always
with snow. It is believed that Noah’s Ark had first hit this mountain and
the Nahabed having said, “Arachinnen eh ahs,” his words had been converted
into “Erjias.” Before the Turkish expansion, in the years around 1285,
Evereg had been inhabited by Greeks who had built towers on the mountain
and waterways down to the towns. It was conquered by Turkish generals Dev
Ali, Kheder Elias, and Sheikh Ali, and all its Greek inhabitants massacred.
Dev Ali’s followers settled on the mountain, taking over the towers and its
waters, calling the town Develi.
When war was over, skilled workers were needed for rebuilding. Armenians,
being known for their skills, came and settled there, but half an hour
south of Develi, in the valley where the Greeks had built a church and a
waterway running down to it from the mountain. The church had been
destroyed, but the water was available. The Turks settled on the south of
that waterway. The Armenians settled on the northside, expanding later
over its hills to the other side. Armenian immigrants coming from different
regions were identified by their names; for example, those from Persia were
called Barsamenk, from Tehran, Tarkhanenk, from Tomarza, Domartsook…. These
Armenians co-existed peacefully with the Turks, free to practice their
religion, and living on gardening and commerce.
Two hundred years later, Armenian immigrants from Konya came to settle
above the hills where the Turks’ homes ended, calling it Fenesse. So the
two towns of Evereg and Fenesse, although near each other (about a
10-minute walk) were separated by Turks. Both Evereg and Fenesse prided on
highly skilled craftsmen:
ironsmith, cobbler, carpenter, hairdresser, tailor, weaver, etc. Each had
its own “shooga” with many shops and stores. Each had its own church, both
named St. Toros, with their adjacent schools Evereg-Mesrobian School, and
Fenesse-Roupinian School.
Origins of the Organization
The Evereg Fenesse Farmers Union was first formed in 1861 in Istanbul to
help compatriots in their region. Founded and chaired by Garabed Panossian
and Kevork Kelejian (a “gesaratsi”), it gathered 300 members of cobblers,
painters, “chalmale, shalvarle,” poor people who had come to seek work in
Istanbul. The union
Rented two restaurants and opened one tobacco store, collecting donations –
“passing a hat at the restaurant.” Six months later, it had raised 28,000
ghroosh, for the villages of Evereg and Fenesse. This union dissolved
later.
During 1870’s, when a general movement among the Armenians in Istanbul
aimed at elevating the standards of education in Armenian schools
throughout Turkey, the Everegtsis and Fenessetsis separately raised funds
and sent qualified teachers to their homeland. Thus in 1878, were founded
the Evereg-Mesrobian and Fenesse-Roupinian Educational societies, named
after the schools in these two villages.
With many Everegtsis and Fenessetsis escaping the growing strife in Turkey
and moving to America, Evereg-Mesrobian was founded again in New York on
October 1, 1906, extending chapters later to other states. Many of those
chapters later dissolved except for Detroit which kept sending help to its
school in Turkey till 1914. The society then sent money to its chapter in
Beirut to distribute to needy emigrant families. It also provided tuition
support to elementary school students of Everegtsi or Fenessetsi descent
who attended the AGBU Armenian school in Detroit and to colleges in
Michigan. “When we came to America in 1928 with my husband, there were two
societies, Evereg and Fenesse, but we attended each other’s activities,”
explained 92-year-old Mrs. Nercessian, wife of Nercess Nercessian, a long
time secretary of the society.
When all Armenians from New York and Michigan went to California, they
started working together and suggested joining the societies. One reason,
Mrs. Nercessian explained, was that as most Everegtsi and Fenessetsi
families had intermarried, the funds received from each society by their
members were being duplicated. Considering this and the fact that these two
communities had lived side by side and shared the joys and sorrows of life
together as one community, the need of a merger was felt more and more
strongly. Therefore, on April 17, 1955, authorized representatives of the
Mesrobian and Roupinian Associations met
in New York and signed an Agreement of Unification, drawing a constitution
and by-laws, which was ratified at a joint convention held on September 1,
1956.
The joint Evereg-Fenesse Mesrobian-Roupinian Educational Society still
stands to this day in many chapters in Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, and
Beirut, continuing to raise funds and supporting Armenian education and the
traditions of the culture.
For Information about the Convention, call Margaret Mgrublian at (626)
798-4480, E-mail: [email protected], or Houry Kurkciyan at (818)
346-0893, E-mail: [email protected]
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3 – St. James Church Honors
Pastor For Elevation
LOS ANGELES – The St. James Armenian Church recently held a banquet
congratulating the Rev. Fr. Arshag Khatchadourian on his elevation to Arch
Priest. Over 300 hundred quests were in attendance. Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate, Armenian Church of North America, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy and honored Fr. Arshag with an encyclical issued by Catholicos
Karekin II.
On this occasion, Archbishop Derderian honored the members of the St. James
Parish Council, the Ladies Society, the Memorial Fund and the Chairmen of
all auxiliary bodies for their dedication to St. James.
Archbishop Derderian also presented Mary Najarian with an Encyclical
Blessing from Catholicos Karekin II for her medical and humanitarian
efforts both here and in Armenia.
In his congratulatory remarks, Archbishop Derderian stated that Fr. Arshag
is the embodiment of the Christian faith, love and hope; commending him for
his continued support and dedication to the church; and that the presence
of the faithful certainly testifies to the outpouring love of his people.
**************************************************************************
4 – AYF Plans Annual
‘Little Armenia’
Clean-Up, Sept. 25
LOS ANGELES – The planning and organizing of the Second Annual Little
Armenia Clean Up has begun, the Armenian Youth Federation announced last
week. The Clean Up is scheduled for Sept. 25. The Clean Up is scheduled for
Sept. 25, starting at 8:30 a.m.
The clean up, cosponsored by Council Member Eric Garcetti’s Office, will
follow an opening ceremony, including remarks by Garcetti. Volunteers for
the clean up will work to remove litter and unwanted weeds from the streets
and sidewalks.
The clean up, a project of the AYF Little Armenia Beautification Program,
will include the renewal of the “Welcome to Little Armenia” banners placed
on various major intersections of Little Armenia.
“It is an honor to the Armenian American community to have an area of the
Los Angeles named after our homeland,” said Vicken Sosikian, Chairman of
the AYF Western Region. “Since October of 2000, we have enjoyed this honor,
and feel that we not only need to give back to Little Armenia and its
residents, but also to the city of Los Angeles.”
The AYF counts on the support of the Armenian community to make this
community outreach event a success. Those who are interested in
volunteering for the clean up or contributing to the effort in anyway
should email the AYF at [email protected].
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Le Figaro, France
24 juillet 2004
EUROPE
La marche turque
SYLVIE PIERRE-BROSSOLETTE
C’est une histoire étrange : une majorité de Français sont hostiles à
l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne, les partis de la
majorité ont pris officiellement position contre, l’UMP a même fait
du rejet de l’adhésion turque un thème de campagne lors des élections
européennes de juin et… Jacques Chirac accueille à bras ouverts le
Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Lors de sa visite à
Paris, il lui a renouvelé son soutien à l’intégration future de la
Turquie. Malgré toutes les réticences, les jeux semblent donc faits.
Le 5 octobre, la Commission de Bruxelles remettra son rapport sur la
candidature de la Turquie. Remplira-t-elle les fameux «critères de
Copenhague» qui autoriseraient l’ouverture rapide de négociations ?
On sait déjà que l’exécutif européen va répondre oui. Il restera aux
chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement à acter l’affaire lors du Conseil
européen du 17 dé-cembre. Il faudra alors un vote à l’unanimité, mais
seule l’Autriche continue de manifester son hostilité à la
perspective d’une adhésion turque. Le suspense semble bien mince :
dans cinq ans, dans dix ans, Ankara sera probablement membre à part
entière de l’Union. Cette perspective fche beaucoup de monde en
France. Pas seulement la droite qui sur ce point, à l’UMP comme à
l’UDF, ne cache pas son clair désaccord avec le chef de l’Etat. A
gauche aussi : car si le PS prône un «oui, si» – dont un des «si», la
reconnaissance ou non du génocide arménien, pose un gros obstacle sur
la route de l’intégration de la Turquie -, certains leaders
socialistes disent, en privé, leur opposition nette au projet. Au
premier rang, Laurent Fabius, qui redoute le poids démographique de
la Turquie (71,3 millions d’habitants) au sein de l’Union («En
introduisant le premier pays par son nombre, on rend encore plus
difficile l’organisation de coopérations renforcées») et rejette
l’idée d’une «frontière commune» de l’Europe avec l’Irak. C’est dans
ce contexte que va se dérouler la bataille du référendum sur les
institutions européennes, annoncé par Jacques Chirac pour l’automne
2005. Les discussions avec la Turquie seront alors sans doute bien
engagées. Comment réagiront les électeurs français mis devant le fait
accompli ? Plus que jamais la question : «Quelle Europe voulez-vous
?», aura un sens.

Azerbaijan to buy Pakistani weapons – paper
Ayna, Baku
21 Jul 04

Azerbaijan is interested in buying Pakistani weapons, the Azerbaijani
daily Ayna has reported. The newspaper quoted an independent military
expert as saying that military agreements may be signed during an
upcoming visit to Azerbaijan by Pakistan’s Gen Muhammad Aziz
Khan. Pakistan can help Azerbaijan form a national military-industrial
complex, he said. “Almost 10 Azerbaijani officers are studying in
Pakistan. I believe that if the talks go well and an agreement is
reached, then this number will increase many times over,” the expert
added. The following is the text of C. Sumarinli report by
Azerbaijani newspaper Ayna on 21 July headlined “Pakistan will help
form our military industry” and subheaded “Military sources say that
Azerbaijan is interested in assault rifles made in
Pakistan”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (which includes
the navy, airforce and ground troops), Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan, is to
visit Azerbaijan in about two weeks, the Pakistani ambassador to
Azerbaijan, Faiz Mohammed Khoso, told journalists several days ago.
He said that the visit will take place at the invitation of
Azerbaijan. Khan will meet Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col-Gen Safar
Abiyev and other officials. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is also
expected to receive Khan. During the meeting the sides will discuss
military cooperation.
Official military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan began in
May 2001 when Abiyev visited that country and signed a joint
declaration with Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar. The
agreement envisaged that Pakistan will render Azerbaijan assistance in
military training, education, health, as well as technical aid.
Pakistan’s military education is one of the best in the world. For
instance, the military academy and military communications college in
Pakistan have excellent equipment and personnel. The national defence
college of Pakistan’s military academy is compared with the world’s
leading military education centres. Experts especially note the
special nature of Pakistan’s military education.
In terms of logistics and equipment, the Pakistani armed forces are
very developed and regarded as one of the strongest armies in the
world, experts say.
Talks failed in 2001
We have obtained information from military sources that the
Azerbaijani delegation and their Pakistani counterparts discussed the
purchase of weapons and military hardware in May 2001. For some
reason, however, the deal did not materialize. But chances are high
that the talks will be successful in 2004.
Currently, there are 14 military plants in Pakistan. These facilities
mainly produce small arms, grenade-launchers and machine guns. Some
work was carried out recently to start mass production of military
hardware. For this reason, Pakistan may offer its close ally
Azerbaijan military hardware and weapons at discount prices. This is
crucial for the Azerbaijani government because Armenia, which has
occupied our territories, buys weapons and military hardware from
Russia at reduced prices in accordance with the regulations of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Pakistani assault rifles
Military sources say that Azerbaijan is most interested in acquiring
assault rifles made in Pakistan. They are not inferior in quality to
Kalashnikov assault rifles used by our army and are cheaper.
An independent military expert, retired Lt-Col Uzeyir Cafarov, told
Ayna in an interview that military relations between the two countries
can be described as satisfactory at the moment. “The first time the
Pakistani military visited Azerbaijan was in 1992. By now there have
been numerous meetings between Azerbaijani and Pakistani
servicemen. Khan’s visit will create conditions for signing a number
of documents. They will mainly concern the issues discussed during the
recent visit to Azerbaijan by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.”
Developing Azerbaijan’s military-industrial complex
In the near future, the relationship between the two countries will
become even more dynamic, Cafarov said. “The documents to be signed
during Khan’s visit will concern the formation of Azerbaijan’s
military-industrial complex and the intensification of exchange
programmes for military personnel. It is very important for Azerbaijan
to form a national military-industrial complex. Almost 10 Azerbaijani
officers are studying in Pakistan. I believe that if the talks go well
and an agreement is reached, then this number will increase many times
over.”
Cafarov confirmed that the Pakistani army is one of the strongest
armies in the world and there is a lot Azerbaijan can learn from
Pakistan. “The Pakistani army is mainly formed on the basis of NATO
and some local standards. They have completed a lot of military
reforms. Therefore, I believe that Azerbaijan must maintain close
military cooperation, as well an open and free exchange with
Pakistan.”
Cafarov also touched on the prospects for Azerbaijan’s purchase of
weapons from Pakistan. “I reckon that this will be done in the
future. At this stage, Azerbaijan may obtain some important military
equipment from Pakistan. In general, these two countries can establish
trade in military hardware in the future.”

The Age (Melbourne)
July 22, 2004 Thursday
First Edition
Ararat;
DVD & VIDEO REVIEWS
by PHILIPPA HAWKER
DVD & VIDEO REVIEW: Ararat, AV Channel, 115 minutes, MA, drama, 2002
**½
Canadian director Atom Egoyan explores a complex story of history and
memory, investigation and denial, art and storytelling – examining a
moment in history within a story about family relationships and the
dilemmas of creative work.
A film director (Charles Aznavour) is working on a drama about the
Armenian genocide of 1915. He consults an art historian (Arsinee
Khanjian) who is an expert on the painter Arshile Gorky whose story
he is keen to incorporate into the movie. The multi-layered narrative
– an account of the film as well as flashbacks about a troubled
family past – pulls the strands of the film together. Ararat is an
ambitious and sometimes unwieldy film, dramatically speaking, but it
is still a thoughtful and involving work about belief, engagement and
responsibility.

“Aztag” Daily Newspaper
P.O. Box 80860, Bourj Hammoud,
Beirut, Lebanon
Fax: +961 1 258529
Phone: +961 1 260115, +961 1 241274
Email: [email protected]
Extrait de l’interview de Ben Kiernan par Khatchig Mouradian du journal «
Aztag Daily »
Le 10 juin 2004.
Aztag – Quelles sont quelques-unes des caractéristiques communes aux
génocides arménien et cambodgien ?
Ben Kiernan – En 1919, une Cour d’Istanbul a déclaré Enver Pacha,
l’ex-ministre de la Guerre « Jeune Turc », coupable de « crime de massacre »
pendant le Génocide arménien. Suite à ce jugement, et en l’absence de
condamnation, Enver se rendit en Asie Centrale. Le 1er septembre 1920, Enver
fit sensation au Congrès des Peuples de l’Est à Bakou, en Azerbaidjan
soviétique. Enver exprima son regret d’avoir combattu aux côtés des «
Impérialistes d’Allemagne que je hais et que je maudis, exactement comme je
hais et maudits ceux de Grande Bretagne ». Mais il prit soin de justifier
son alliance lors de la Première Guerre Mondiale : « Nous nous sommes rangés
aux côtés de l’Allemagne qui avait consenti à nous laisser vivre. Les
Impérialistes allemands nous ont habitués à parvenir à leurs fins
malhonnêtes ; mais notre but était seulement de préserver notre
indépendance. Les sentiments qui nous guidaient…n’étaient pas des sentiments
impériaux. » Il dit qu’il « reconnaissait » maintenant que l’Azerbaidjan
devait appartenir à son propre peuple ». Mais Enver ne mentionna pas
l’Arménie. Il déguisa son chauvinisme génocidaire en un désir de vivre et de
laisser vivre, chérissant l’indépendance nationale ; et même en solidarité
internationale, comme lorsqu’il fit l’éloge de son armée turque pour avoir
aidé à renverser le tsar.
Dans ce discours, Enver a fourni d’autres indications intéressantes sur sa
philosophie politique. Sa célèbre armée turque, dit-il, « tirait toute sa
force de la classe rurale ». Tout en dénonçant l’impérialisme, il
spécifiait: « A mon avis, tous ceux qui cherchent à enrichir ceux qui ne
travaillent pas devraient être détruits ». Et il prédisait que « Le monde
oriental » qu’il définissait comme « tous les peuples opprimés » allait «
anéantir les monstres impérialistes
et capitalistes ». Enver plus tard conduisit plusieurs milliers de troupes
contre le régime soviétique, dans le but déclaré de « chasser les Européens
et de créer le grand Etat Musulman d’Asie Centrale ».
Pol Pot aurait bien reconnu cet amalgame de paysannisme, de violence de
`classe’ et de racisme du tiers-monde. Enver rejetait la notion de tout
peuple ami opprimé en Europe, même en dehors de la construction européenne
elle-même, « l’Orient ». L’enfermement ironique d’Enver dans une idéologie
occidentale était tout à fait comparable à celle de Pol Pot. Tous deux
justifiaient leurs campagnes racistes de destruction par une lutte de
classe, tous deux décrivaient leur expansionnisme militariste comme une
auto-défense nationale, et tous deux décrivaient avec romantisme la
paysannerie de leur pays, alors qu’ils avaient réussi à détériorer
spectaculairement ses conditions de vie.
Enver fut condamné par contumace, et fut plus tard tué au cours d’un combat
contre les forces soviétiques. Pol Pot mourut en 1998 sans avoir eu à
affronter une sanction légale. Mais le Cambodge et les Nations Unies étaient
d’accord l’an dernier pour établir un tribunal spécial pour juger les
crimes des dirigeants Khmers Rouges survivants. Le commandant militaire de
Pol Pot, Mok, et son chef de la Sécurité, Deuch sont tous deux incarcérés à
Pnom Penh dans l’attente de leur procès.
Aztag – Vous avez joué un rôle décisif en révélant des milliers de documents
sur le régime Khmer Rouge. Dans la cas du Génocide des Arméniens une
documentation détaillée est bien plus difficile à obtenir à cause de
l’inaccessibilité des archives ottomanes. Que pouvez-vous dire des
difficultés auxquelles vous avez été confronté lorsque vous avez essayé de
déterrer la vérité ?
Ben Kiernan – « Vous êtes stupide » avait dit à Deuch ex-Commandant des
Khmers Rouges à la prison de Tuol Sleng, le député de Pol Pot Nuon Chea,
après avoir appris que Deuch n’avait pas réussi à détruire les archives de
la prison avant de s’envoler de Phnom Penh en 1979. Deuch était resté à
l’arrière pendant plusieurs heures après l’entrée des forces vietnamiennes
dans la ville le 9 janvier, mais au lieu de brûler les archives il avait
préféré s’assurer que les derniers prisonniers soient tués. Plus de 100 000
pages de preuves tombèrent entre les mains des Vietnamiens et furent bientôt
à la disposition des chercheurs. Un `Musée du Génocide de Tuol Sleng’ fut
créé, avec les archives de la « Bureaucratie de Mort » khmère rouge. Un
journaliste britannique, Anthony Barnett se rendit au Cambodge début 1980,
et rapporta une grosse pile de photocopies que nous avons présentées en
couverture du magazine londonien New Statesman du 2 mai 1980. Quand un autre
journaliste montra les copies de ces documents au beau-frère de Pol Pot Ieng
Sary, il fut pris au dépourvu et admit qu’ils étaient authentiques. Cette
affirmation fut aussitôt controversée par un aide Khmer Rouge anonyme, dans
une lettre non signée à la « Far Eastern Economic Review ». Dix ans plus
tard, un autre dirigeant Khmer Rouge, Son Sen, lut la Convention sur le
Génocide, et souligna les passages qui pourraient être utilisés pour le
poursuivre, y compris la définition de ce crime et les paragraphes
spécifiant : « qu’il soit commis en temps de paix ou en temps de guerre, (le
génocide) est un crime qui tombe sous la loi internationale ». En 1996, le
programme sur le Génocide cambodgien de l’Université de Yale découvrit 100
000 autres pages de documents secrets, les archives de Santebal, gérées par
Son Sen.
Quelques mois plus tard, Ieng Sary se livra au gouvernement cambodgien et
forma son propre `Centre de Documentation’ pour défendre son rapport. Pol
Pot assassina Son Sen l’année suivante et mourut lui-même en 1998. Mais Ieng
Sary pouvait encore être jugé par le futur tribunal des Nations Unies.
Les preuves contre eux sont fortes. Un document manuscrit, daté du 17 avril
1978, comporte une liste de noms de parents ou d’associés d’un prisonnier
nommé San Eap. Un commandant de secteur envoya la liste au `Comité 870′ un
terme rappelant la période royale, utilisé par Pol Pot. Utilisant de même un
pseudo personnel `Angkar’ (`l’Organisation’) Pol Pot griffonna sur la lettre
de couverture avec un gros crayon rouge : `A/k 19/4/78 Faire suivre’ (taam
daan). C’était un ordre d’arrêter ceux qui étaient nommés dans la liste.
Les dirigeants Khmers Rouges se sentirent mal à l’aise lors de la
publication de tels rapports internes incriminatoires. Jamais ils ne
se seraient imaginés qu’un jour leurs arrêts de mort, signés, seraient
rendus publics sur le Web. Peut-être qu’une telle possibilité servira de
référence à d’éventuels génocideurs. Leur incapacité à dénier leur génocide
prive les auteurs d’une arme puissante contre la mémoire de leurs victimes.
Aztag – Ces dernières années, vous avez écrit un certain nombre d’articles
relatifs au Génocide arménien. Quand avez-vous commencé à faire des
recherches sur ce génocide et à le comparer aux autres cas de crimes de
masse ?
Ben Kiernan – J’ai commencé ces recherches sur le Génocide arménien en 1989,
après 15 années de recherches sur le Cambodge. J’ai lu l’ouvrage de Ronald
Suny sur l’histoire sociale du génocide arménien avant de lire d’autres
études de dirigeants Jeunes Turcs et de leur idéologie. Au début, j’ai fait
un parallèle entre la destruction du royaume médiéval arménien en 1375, et
celle du royaume de Champa de l’Asie du sud en 1471. Au 20ème siècle, la
population musulmane Chame, sans Etat, au Cambodge, devint une principale
victime des Khmers Rouges, exactement comme les Arméniens devinrent victimes
des Jeunes Turcs.
J’ai aussi trouvé de troublantes similitudes entre Pol Pot, Enver Pacha et
quelques autres dirigeants du génocide, y compris des connexions marginales
avec la royauté. Le dirigeant nazi Heinrich Himmler était le filleul et
l’homonyme d’un prince bavarois. Enver Pacha avait épousé une fille du
sultan ottoman. La s`ur de Pol Pot et sa cousine étaient respectivement
l’épouse du prince consort et la seconde épouse du roi khmer. Plusieurs
auteurs de génocides modernes ont partagé des origines géographiques
marginales. Hitler et d’autres dirigeants nazis comme Kaltenbrunner étaient
d’origine autrichienne. Enver et d’autres dirigeants Jeunes Turcs comme
Talaat et le Dr. Nazim venaient des communautés minoritaires turques de
l’Europe de l’Est. Les dirigeants Khmers Rouges Son Sen et Ieng Sary
venaient d’une minorité cambodgienne du Vietnam.
Quoique la Révolution française ait influencé à la fois les Jeunes Turcs et
les Khmers Rouges, et que ces derniers fussent communistes, les deux régimes
étaient aussi racistes et expansionnistes, comme les Nazis.
Ben Kiernan
Khatchig Mouradian
Traduction Louise Kiffer
Source :
10 juin 2004
(Ben Kiernan est professeur d’histoire et directeur du programme d’études du
Génocide à l’Université de Yale
Il est spécialiste de l’histoire de l’Asie du sud, et le meilleur du monde
occidental pour le Cambodge.
Il est l’auteur de plusieurs livres sur ce sujet.)

Equatorial Guinea pledges fair verdict on jailed Armenian pilots
Arminfo
17 Jul 04

YEREVAN
A delegation of the Armenian Foreign Ministry has returned from
Equatorial Guinea.
The Armenian ambassador to Egypt, Sergey Manasaryan, and the head of
the state protocol service, Gevorg Petrosyan, were on a two-week
mission to Equatorial Guinea from 30 June to 13 July, the Armenian
Foreign Ministry press service told Arminfo. The aim of the visit was
to conduct negotiations on the release of the detained Armenian
pilots.
The members of the delegation had meetings with Equatorial Guinea’s
justice and health ministers, prosecutor-general and state secretary
of foreign affairs. Manasaryan and Petrosyan also met the Armenian
pilots.
Following the negotiations, the conditions of detention were improved
and the necessary medicines were given to them. The pilots were also
given an opportunity to contact their relatives in Yerevan by
telephone.
The top officials of Equatorial Guinea assured the Armenian delegation
that the case of the pilots will be considered impartially and a fair
verdict will be delivered.
The pilots are in a satisfactory physical and moral state. After the
delegation returned to Yerevan, Manasaryan met the pilots’ relatives.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;
ON THE OCCASSION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANADIAN ARMENIAN
DIOCESE PILGRIMAGE TO STE. ANNE DE BAUPRE
Among the many events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the
establishment of the Canadian Armenian Church Diocese, perhaps the
most significant and memorable could be considered the three-day
pilgrimage on the weekend of July 9-11 to Quebec City’s Ste. Anne de
Baupre Shrine. This was the initiative of Rev. Fr. Zareh Avak Kahana
Zargarian, Pastor of Toronto’s Holy Trinity Church, and organized by
the Church’s Christian Education Council, under the auspices of His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate.
In the afternoon of July 9, about 150 pilgrims arrived from Toronto to
Montreal, where they were greeted and welcomed by Rev. Fr. Vazken
Boyadjian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. After a
brief rest, they visited two famous Montreal landmarks – the
St. Joseph’s Oratory and Notre Dame Basilica – where the pilgrims
prayed jointly, then retired for the night in high spirits.
The next morning, some 120 pilgrims from Montreal’s St. Gregory the
Illuminator and Laval’s Holy Cross Churches joined the Toronto group
and the caravan of busses carrying close to 270 pilgrims headed
towards Quebec City, after the blessings and prayers of the Primate,
Rev. Fr. Hayrig Apegha Hovhannisian, Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh
Zargarian and guest visitor Rev. Fr. Zaven Avak Kahana
Arzoumanian. The three-hour pleasant journey was marked by religious,
national and popular songs all the way to Quebec City. Upon arrival to
Ste. Anne De Baupre Shrine, the pilgrims were welcomed by the
sacristan of the Shrine Fr. Pallette. The Divine Liturgy was
celebrated on the main altar by the Primate, assisted by
Rev. Fr. Hayrig and Rev. Fr. Zareh. The Altar servers were the young
Deacons and Sub-deacons of Holy Trinity led by senior deacons Nourhan
Ipekjian and Ara Anmahouni. The choir of Holy Trinity conducted by
Mr. Hagop Deukmedjian sang harmoniously throughout the ceremonies,
highly impressing the attending large number of both Armenian and
non-Armenian faithful, who were also joined by the small Armenian
community of Quebec City. It was the first time that Armenian Badarak
was being celebrated in the magnificent Shrine. Darius Gumushian, 21,
says “I am now a pilgrim. Becoming one has taken me to the depths of
Quebec to huge cathedrals that could only be found in books or
television. Here I learned to take nothing for granted and that we are
not only God fearing community on earth. Rethinking with our
counterparts in Montreal and Quebec City is always a good
thing. However, more importantly, the spiritual aspect is most
important by performing the Holy Badarak in other Churches. I believe
we all bonded well and I cannot wait to return to Toronto to share our
experiences with others”.
Following lunch the pilgrims had a tour of the old city and arrived in
Montreal to be hosted to a wonderful and warm reception in Laval, by
the Holy Cross Church. A joyous program extending into the late night
kept everybody in high spirits. “Before coming to the pilgrimage I did
not understand the reason I was going, but now when we have performed
mass at the beautiful churches it felt different. Spiritually, I felt
very good” Saro Sahagian, 19.
On Sunday morning, pilgrims assembled in St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral, where the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Archpriest
Fr. Zareh Zargarian, assisted by Rev. Fr. Vazken Boyadjian. The altar
servers and the choir singers were from Toronto’s Holy Trinity. Before
the sermon, Fr. Boyadjian welcomed the pilgrims and Fr. Zareh, who had
been the pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator for seven years before
moving to Toronto, said in his sermon that this pilgrimage was a
reaffirmation of our faith in God and in the Mother See of the
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church in Etchmiadzin. In appreciation of the
Primate’s dynamism, Fr. Zargarian presented His Eminence with a
decorative cross as a memory from this historic pilgrimage. Bishop
Galstanian in turn thanked all and presented Fr. Zargarian with an
antique chest cross, wishing him strength and good health in his
mission of service to the church and to our people. “The pilgrimage
to Montreal was very enlightening. I was very surprised by the impact
I received spiritually after this historical event. It was a great
honor for me to be able to celebrate Holy Mass at the Cathedral in
Montreal. The pilgrimage rejoiced and recharged my soul which will
last me through the hardships o this world” says sub-deacon Mher
Torossian, 20.
Following the ceremonies, upon the directive of His Holiness the
Catholicos of All Armenians, prayers for the repose of the souls of
benefactors Alex and Marie Manoogians were conducted. The congregation
then assembled in the Church’s Marie Manoogian hall where a luncheon
was served by the Parish Council and the Ladies’
Auxiliary. Rev. Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian welcomed the pilgrims and
praised the organizers as well as the participants for a unique type
of event to commemorate the Diocese’s 20th anniversary. Fr. Boyadjian
thanked once again the young deacons and presented each one of them
with the Church’s emblem. “I think that this pilgrimage is very
special, because there is a difference in doing the Holy Masses where
we did because there is a history and I really enjoyed it” Haigaz
Mirzoyan, 23.
The gathering ended by Fr. Hayrig’s blessings, and the pilgrims went
up to the Diocesan quarters to receive the Primate’s blessings before
departing for Toronto.
Indeed this has been a weekend full of spiritual revival and joy for
the pilgrims and for the clergy alike.
Department of Christian Education
Information Office

ArmenPress
July 16 2004
NEW GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA IN AUGUST
YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS: Deputy parliament chairman Vahan
Hovhanesian received today the outgoing German ambassador, Hans-Wulf
Bartels, to thank him for his contributions to the development of
Armenian-German relations. Hovhanesian was quoted by parliament press
office as saying that he hopes that the new ambassador will continue
to develop and strengthen bilateral relations.
The ambassador expressed hope that his country’s businessmen will
continue investing in Armenia’s economy adding also that the new
ambassador, Ms. Heike Renate Peitsch, will arrive in Yerevan in
mid-August.