Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Regnum, Russia –
March 12 2006
Taleh Ziyadov: What is next in the Karabakh Peace Process?
In Paris last month, another round of negotiations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan attempting to resolve the eighteen years old Karabakh
conflict ended with no results. The OSCE Minsk group mediators from
France, Russia and the United States watched quietly as Armenia’s
President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev
tried and failed to agree on a framework document, which was supposed
to be the foundation for future talks.
The so-called Prague peace progress, which has been going on for more
than two years, has reached its climax in Paris. The talks revealed
that in the view of today’s political realities and the situation on
the ground in the South Caucasus, Armenia and Azerbaijan are not
ready to sign any agreements in 2006. It suddenly became clear when
the two presidents failed to reconcile the issues of security,
self-determination and territorial integrity.
Once again the negotiations collapsed. But this time they also buried
along all hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict in
the near future. This has left many western officials, regional
experts and ordinary citizens alike anxiously guessing about what is
next in the Karabakh peace process.
As cynical as it may seem, the Karabakh peace process does not have a
bright future. Out of many possible development scenarios, there are
three main courses of action: a status quo, a new war or a solution
within the framework of territorial integrity. Although the last
option holds the key to a long-term peace in the region, in the
absence of international pressure the first two choices are bound to
overweight the third one.
A status quo option is the most likely alternative between now and
2008 – a year when both countries will have their next presidential
elections. This does not mean, however, that political, economic and
military processes will go smoothly in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Armenia has already threatened that in case the negotiations fail,
Yerevan may recognize a self-declared and unrecognized
Nagorno-Karabakh republic. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, repeated
that if the peace process is unsuccessful, Baku will use all possible
means, including the military option, to restore the territorial
integrity of the country.
Moreover, during this temporary status quo period, Armenia will be
further isolated from regional energy and transportation projects and
Azerbaijan will triple or quadruple its military budget thanks to
money from the country’s energy exports.
The growing economic and military strength will make Azerbaijan even
more reluctant to consent to solutions that are on the table today.
The increasing self-confidence and loud demands of anxious refugees
and internally displaced will compel the future Azerbaijani
governments to take increasingly drastic actions to settle the
conflict by force. Then it will be not a question of `whether or
not’, but rather `when’ a new war is likely to begin.
Yet, neither a prolonged status quo nor a new war will settle the
Karabakh conflict permanently. Instead, a peace and prosperity for
Armenians and Azerbaijanis will come out of the optimal proposal – a
solution that will guarantee the security and self-governance rights
of Armenian and Azerbaijani ethnic communities of Karabakh without
breaking up the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.
The security of Armenians in Karabakh has been the major concern of
Yerevan. Armenia wants to make sure that Armenians in the region will
be safe and secure after the pullout of all Armenian troops from
Azerbaijan. This genuine concern, however, becomes hypocritical and
damaging when President Kocharyan continues to reject solutions that
incorporate options that guarantee the security of Karabakh Armenians
within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
If President Kocharyan is sincere in his statements, he should work
constructively to find an optimum, not maximum, solution. President
Aliyev has already stated that he is open to all proposals that do
not jeopardize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
In fact, the resolution model for the Aland Islands – predominantly
Swedish province of Finland – that was recently circulated in the
Armenian and Azerbaijani media, could constitute a good framework for
addressing concerns of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia could
obtain exclusive rights for security of Karabakh Armenians and
resolve the issue of the region’s final status without delay, while
Azerbaijan will preserve its territorial integrity and return its
extensive IDP population back to their homes.
This year might be the last time when Armenians and Azerbaijanis will
have a real chance to settle their disputes peacefully. A lack of
international attention and pressure, a rapidly vanishing mutual
trust between two nations, and further delays in the peace process
will inevitable strengthen the hands of those who advocate a military
solution for the conflict. This could lead to unanticipated actions
that would bring more misfortune to both nations and the whole South
Caucasus region.
Taleh Ziyadov holds a Master’s degree from the School of Foreign
Service at Georgetown University. He specializes in energy, security
and geopolitical issues in the Caspian region and Eurasia.
From: Baghdasarian

GEORGIA’S OMBUDSMAN CONDUCTS PRESS-CONFERENCE REGARDING TSALKA EVENTS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
TBILISI, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the 11th of
March a press conference was conducted in public defender’s office
regarding the incident that took place on the 9th of March as a result
of which Mr. Gevorg Gevorgyan was killed and other ethnic Armenian
citizens of Georgia were injured to various degrees. According to
official data, five suspects were detained by the Police of Georgia
and other suspects are searched for. The incident provoked a mass
protest of ethnic Armenian residents of Javakhk region, which later
grew into violence. The demonstration was dismissed by special
security service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
based in other regions of Georgia. The next day after the collision a
group of representatives of the Public Defender of Georgia arrived in
Tsalka. After having preliminarily studied the case the Ombudsman of
Georgia Mr. Sozar Subari stated that the conflict happened based on
‘common’ grounds. Public defender called to let government officials
finish the investigation of Tsalka events without any pressure or
hindrance. According to the Armenian portal of Georgia “Armenia.ge”,
Mr. Karen Elchyan, President of the Armenian Centre of Cooperation of
Georgia, has also come out with a statement. He expressed condolences
to the family of the murder victim and presented the official position
of his organization. He stated that there are two different versions of
the motivation of the crime, and one of the versions, namely the ethnic
hatred motivation, is held by the victims of the crime. Responding to a
journalist’s question regarding Javakhk Armenians’ requests of autonomy
for Javakhk he noted that such requests are entirely lawful and are
based on the principles of federalism and territorial integrity of
state. Residents of the region, he stated, are convinced that granting
Javakhk autonomy would contribute to fulfillment of their obligations
and rights as of citizens of Georgia. The Armenian Apostolic Church
Diocese of Georgia has also commented on the events in Tsalka. The
Assistant to the Head of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church,
Mr. Levon Isakhanyan supported the position of Mr. Karen Elchyan
regarding the existence of two versions of motivation of the crime. He
added that such crimes are consequence of anti-Armenian hysteria,
launched by the means of Georgian mass-media. On behalf of the Diocese,
he called for the appropriate government bodies to pay sufficient
attention to the problems of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese
of Georgia, interethnic relations and defending rights of the ethnic
minorities residing in Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GERMAN AUTHORITIES PROHIBIT HOLDING OF “TALAAT-PASHA ACTION” IN BERLIN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 14 2006
BRUSSELS, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The German
authorities have prohibited a series of rallies the Turkish
organizations planned to hold in mid-March in Berlin. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the ARF Dashnaktsutiun European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy, the ban is based on the Article 189 of German
Criminal Code, according to which it’s prohibited to show “disrespect
to the deceased”. In their statement the German authorities used the
expression “those who died in 1915” in order to avoid mentioning the
Armenian Genocide.
The rallies that were to be held in Berlin were to be the beginning of
the events under the title “Talaat-Pasha Action” within the framework
of the “Grand Operation – 2006” initiative. The initiative a number of
Turkish figures, led by former President of self-proclaimed Republic of
North Cyprus Rauf Denktash, came up with, pursued the goal to achieve
Bundestag’s withdrawing its resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
Executive Director of European Armenian Federation for Justice
and Democracy Loran Leylekian expressed hope that all the European
politicians will show resoluteness as at present Europe is a witness
of an unprecedented wave of negationism threatening not only the
Armenians but also all Europeans.
According to the “Marmara” newspaper of Istanbul, the German Embassy
in Ankara refused to give visas to all Turks who intended to leave
for Berlin for taking part in the rally.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian Youth: Ready to Rock?
Hetq Online, October 17, 2005
On September 2, 2005, Yerevan staged its first international rock
festival, Rock ‘n People, in the capital’s central Republic Square. In
a country where most “live” pop music concerts – a music genre much
preferred over rock – are lip-synched, there are many obstacles to
overcome. However, the organizers of the festival were convinced that
audiences in Armenia would prefer to hear music being played live.
Sound checks, a relatively new phenomenon in the country, can prove
problematic. During the middle of a sound check by Empyray, a band
typified by heavy bass and drum rhythms as well as searing guitar
solos, an official from the nearby Ministry of Foreign Affairs
requested that preparations for the concert be put on hold for half
an hour while an important diplomatic meeting took place.
The number of police, including Ministry of Interior troops deployed
as security for the event, also surprised many. Although the festival
would only attract a few thousand people, hundreds of police assembled
in front of the stage. “Perhaps they think we’ll start a riot,” said
one young rock fan, arriving early to watch the main stage being set
up. “Maybe they like rock music,” joked another.
The location, flanked on all sides by government buildings, a luxury
hotel and the National Art Gallery, might not seem the most appropriate
of venues to stage a rock concert, but with sponsors such as Radio
Van and Viva Cell involved, permission was granted. Viva Cell, the
long awaited competitor to ArmenTel, has been consistent in targeting
its advertising and promotional campaigns towards youth.
Yerevan hasn’t seen a rock festival in such a high profile location
since the end of the Communist era. Even today, many consider the last
years of the Soviet Union to be the heyday of Armenian rock. Bands
such as Asbarez had huge followings and others even had a role to
play as ethnic conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis erupted
over the predominantly ethnically Armenian populated territory of
Nagorno Karabakh.
In 1989, for instance, Vostan Hayots took their set based on the 1915
Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turkey throughout the country and even
performed in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh. The next
day, Soviet troops confiscated their equipment.
“We soon earned the reputation for arriving somewhere just before
trouble broke out,” remembers Hovhannes Kourghinyan, Vostan Hayot’s
vocalist. “When we went to Agarak [in Southern Armenia] there were
clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis and the same happened
in Kapan. We even brought information from Meghri to the Karabakh
Committee. A few people knew what was going to happen and were getting
ready by arming themselves. We were involved in that.”
Gradually, as tensions with Azerbaijan over Karabakh turned into
full-scale war, rock music became less and less popular in Armenia. In
particular, military conscription put an end to the careers of many
young and promising rock musicians. The electricity crisis of the
early nineties also forced many others to find work abroad. “Without
electricity you really can’t play rock music,” says Kourghinyan,
“It’s as simple as that.”
Other musicians were more fortunate, however. Hripsime Jangiryan,
wife of Eduard Abrahamyan, lead singer with Manic Depressive Psychosis
(MDP), remembers how the band assembled a hundred fans in Yerevan’s
Agricultural College in 1993 when the capital was otherwise deprived
of electricity. At the time, Abrahamyan worked as an electrician at
the college, one of the few buildings supplied with power.
A bottle of cognac convinced the college’s elderly security guard to
leave, and the premises became MDP’s to use.
But, even with electricity supplies now constant and Armenia’s
economy well on the mend, there are few people who listen to rock
music in the Republic. Instead, contemporary singers and musicians
are reliant on the support of government-connected businessmen rather
than CD sales to sustain their careers.
Even among those young Armenians that do like rock, however, many say
they instead prefer foreign bands. “In the nineties there were maybe
20 or 30 rock groups in Armenia,” says MDP’s Abrahamyan. “However,
after those difficult years, many left for England, the United States
and Russia. As a result, the market is under-developed and when the
quality of rock music deteriorated, the audience instead turned to
Western groups.”
Attracting listeners is also an ongoing obstacle, especially as rock
music is starved of exposure in the mainstream media. Live concerts
are also out because many young rock fans find it difficult to pay
the 1,000-1,500 drams [$2-$3] entrance fee to Yerevan’s two rock
clubs. Pricing tickets higher – over $15 – can lead to inadequate
sales and cancellations, as one three-day-event planned this August
near Lake Sevan showed.
Armenia’s large Diaspora, a potential market for Armenian music, is
also off-limits to local rock bands because ethnic Armenians living
abroad instead prefer to listen to music that serves a nostalgic or
nationalistic purpose. Even Bambir, a charismatic young band from
Gyumri that is fast earning a reputation with its eccentric live
performances in Yerevan, has so far been unable to find an audience
outside of Armenia.
Narek Barseghyan, Bambir’s 21-year-old guitarist, says that young
Armenians want something different, but a monopoly on the music
industry prevents rock bands from being shown on television or played
on the radio. He also says that when compared to other former Soviet
republics, Armenians are more conservative in their mentality. “In
Georgia, it’s different,” he says. “Here, if you have long hair,
people call you a gypsy.”
Despite the problems, however, Artyom Ayvazyan, president of the
Antennae non-governmental organization (NGO) and the main organizer of
the rock festival, is optimistic. In the past, national rock festivals
in Yerevan have attracted audiences of around 500. The free festival
staged on 2 September, however, attracted at least 2,000 people as
well as rock bands from neighboring Georgia.
“It’s true that rock music doesn’t attract a large audience in
Armenia,” he admits. “However, there are many people who want to listen
to something different, even if they don’t yet know what. Although
very few rock groups are played on the radio, there was almost
nothing before.”
Marieke Kitzen, a Dutch volunteer working with the Bem Youth
Progressive Action Center, a local NGO that considers the development
of youth culture key to involving young Armenians in the country’s
socio-political life, agrees. “I thought the rock concert was a great
success, although at the beginning, when there were more police than
spectators, I had my doubts if rock in Armenia would ever work,”
she says.
Text and Photos by Onnik Krikorian
—
From: Baghdasarian

PanArmenian.net
Mann believes Yerevan and Baku Can Simultaneously Come out Victors at Talks
15.10.2005 19:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is a lull in the talks on settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict lately, however this is not due to the parliamentary
election in Azerbaijan, US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann
stated. In his words, at present the attention of the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia is drawn to the coming election in those countries.
«We expect the NK talks to continue after the parliamentary election in
Azerbaijan and referendum in Armenia,» he said. In spite the parties have a
firm stands at the talks, the mediators observe a favorable atmosphere in
the negotiation process, S. Mann remarked. «If both parties display more
creativity, we will advance,» he said. As of the peace proposals made by the
International Crisis Group, «various ideas are considered,» the US Co-Chair
said. Noting confidentiality should be observed at the talks, S. Mann added,
«We consider various options of compromise. I believe both Armenia and
Azerbaijan will be able to simultaneously come out victors at the talks.
This is not an easy thing to do. However I suppose it is still possible.» It
should be noted that October 24-25 the OSCE MG US, Russian and French
Co-Chairs will meet in Washington to discuss future plans. Steven Mann also
noted that the cooperation between the Co-Chairs is rather fruitful,
reported RFE/RL.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
Email: [email protected]
For more information:
Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
Mercata Group
Los Angeles Pontifical Banquet Draws Over 1,200 People Including Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa
Inspired by His Holiness, Surprise Donation of $1,000,000 Made to Western
Prelacy

(Los Angeles, CA – October 13, 2005) – The Los Angeles Armenian American
community joyously hosted a Pontifical banquet for His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, on Sunday, October 9, 2005,
drawing a capacity crowd of over 1,200 people from all segments of the
community. In addition to the many prominent members of the Los Angeles
Armenian American community, also in attendance were Gagik Kirakosian,
Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, Charbel Wehbi, Consul General of
Lebanon and several high-level public officials including Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, State Senator Chuck Poochigian, members of Congress
and other city officials.
In addition to honoring His Holiness, the banquet also served as a forum to
thank the many large church benefactors who have recently made large
donations to the Western Prelacy to advance several large-scale projects
underway, especially the construction of the new Western Prelacy
headquarters building in La Crescenta, California.
Charlie Gailian was the banquet’s Master of Ceremonies and one of the first
words of appreciation were for John and Asdghig Bedrosian who generously
underwrote the cost of the entire banquet as well as making other major
contributions to the Western Prelacy. The welcoming remarks were made by
Ara Bedrosian, a member of the Public Relations Committee for the Pontiff’s
visit who was followed by Khajag Dikijian, from the Western Prelacy
Executive Council, who outlined the themes of the visit and the many
important leadership roles His Holiness plays throughout the world. Hrair
Balian, the chairman of the Executive Council offered a toast to His
Holiness stating that this visit will usher in a new era of expanded
activity for the church in the western United States. Eastern Prelate
Oshagan Choloyan gave brief remarks and said that His Holiness, through his
multi-faceted work beyond the Armenian community, has earned our church a
special place on the world stage. California State Senator Chuck Poochigian
took to the podium to welcome His Holiness and thank him for re-energizing
the community with his visit and offered a special proclamation from the
state senate recognizing his visit on the occasion of his 10th anniversary
of being elected Catholicos.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa briefly addressed the banquet and
expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunity to meet His Holiness and
respect for the important role the church plays in the life of the city.
While the Mayor met privately with His Holiness briefly that evening, Mayor
Villaraigosa said he looked forward to the official meeting he will have
with His Holiness at City Hall on October 14 along with the rest of the City
Council.
His Holiness shared many important thoughts during his remarks at the
banquet. He first recognized the Consul General of Lebanon explaining the
important role the country has played for him while growing up there and
noted that Lebanon is not just a country but a living message of how people
of different cultures and religions must learn to live with each other. He
then directed his remarks to the Consul General of Armenia by stating that
“while we in the diaspora were not born in Armenia, however Armenia was born
inside us and lives in each of our souls.” He said that over the course of
the past many decades, the diaspora kept the hopes of freedom alive for
Armenia and has struggled for the Armenian Cause and a free, independent and
united Armenia. The Great House of Cilicia in Antelias has played its part
in this struggle by keeping the Armenian yerakouyn (tri-color) waving and to
this day works hard to help rebuild Armenia stated His Holiness.
The Catholicos then focused on the theme of values and community service.
He said, “people come and go, but values remain” and for that reason it is
important that we live life with high moral values always seeking to unite
together to build our communities and build bridges of understanding and
trust. “Positions don’t elevate people but rather people elevate
positions,” he said. In that context he also noted that the Great House of
Cilicia always seeks close collaboration with the Holy See in Etchmiadzin to
reinforce our national values and faithfulness by serving the people.
“While we are physically in Antelias, we live outside Antelias,” stated His
Holiness. “Antelias is alive in each of us.”
Inspired by His Holiness, one of the highlights of the evening was the
surprise donation of $1,000,000 by Khachik and Elo Mouradian to establish an
endowment fund for the Western Prelacy. This added to the generosity of the
many other major benefactors who were recognized during the evening by the
Catholicos for their major contributions including Mr. and Mrs. John and
Asdghig Bedrosian and Carolan Family for contributing $250,000 each; Mr. and
Mrs. Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian, Mrs.Ashkhen Pilavjian, Mrs. Rose
Kasimian, Forest Lawn Memorial Parks, Mr. and Mrs. Osko and Yeran
Karghossian and Mr. and Mrs. Krikor and Kohar Sulahian all of whom made
donations in excess of $100,000 each.
To honor some of the benefactors for their exemplary contributions to the
Western Prelacy building fund and to various schools and community centers,
His Holiness presented special medals of honor including the “Cilician
Eeshkhan (Prince)” medal to Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian for her sponsorship of
the ARS preschool at Holy Martyrs in addition to recent contribution to the
Western Prelacy building; and “Cilician Asbed (Knight)” medals to Mr. and
Mrs. Sarkis and Susan Kitsinian for their contribution to the Pasadena St.
Sarkis Church, Mr. and Mrs. Krikor and Kohar Sulahian, Mr. and Mrs. Tony and
Eileen Keusseyan, Mr. and Mrs. Osko and Yeran Karaghossian and Mr. and Mrs.
Varant and Houri Melkonian all for their various contributions to the
Western Prelacy building fund and other endeavors. His Holiness also
presented a special cross to Father Nareg Shrikian for his more than 50
years of service to the church and community.
Representatives from many of the major organizations in the Armenian
community of Los Angeles were in attendance including the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Central Committee and Bureau, the Armenian Relief
Society, the Homenetmen, Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Board of
Regents of Armenian Schools, National Representative Assembly of the Church
and the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy. Also present were clergy
from various churches including a representative of the Diocese. Other
officials in the audience included various Armenian American judges and city
officials including Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian and City Councilman Ara
Najarian.
From: Baghdasarian

LITERATURE NOBEL: KEEP GUESSING
The Times, UK
Oct 14 2005
[ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2005 12:24:08 AM ]
Citibank NRI Offer
Stockholm: A row over last year’s winner has done nothing to
stifle rampant speculation about who may win the 2005 Nobel Prize
in literature.
On Wednesday, the day before the planned announcement, a bevy of names
– some familiar and others less so – emerged as likely candidates for
the prestigious prize, although trying to guess the secretive 18-member
Swedish Academy’s choice is, at times, an exercise in futility.
Still, Swedish media was buzzing with names like Syrian poet Ali Ahmad
Said, known as Adonis; Korean poet Ko Un; and perennial contenders
Margaret Atwood of Canada and Americans Philip Roth and Joyce Carol
Oates.
Respected daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter said other authors like
Turkey’s Orhan Pamuk, who faces prison after he was charged with
insulting Turkish identity for supporting Armenian claims that they
were the victims of genocide under the Ottoman Turks in 1915, could
be tapped.
“The first names that come to mind are Joyce Carol Oates and (Swedish
poet) Tomas Trans-tromer,” Uppsala University literature professor
Margaretha Fahlgren told Svenska Dagbladet, another Swedish daily.
Online betting Web site, Ladbrokes, also says the Czech Republic’s
Milan Kundera is a choice, with 12-1 odds, while Belgian poet Hugo
Claus, Italian poet Claudio Magris and Indonesian novelist Pramoedya
Ananta Toer each have 14-1 odds of winning.
From: Baghdasarian

THE SINGLE UNSOLVED QUESTION
Panorama
19:28 13/10/05
“You know, that enterprises have been given to us instead of
debts. Russia had to activate the production system there. I think
that Russia haven’t done this. Till now we really do not know what
to produce in the firms, I mean military or civil products. So in
the previous meeting we had an agreement to create a working group
to deal with these problems. The working group had the first meeting
yesterday. They have already decided what to do.
I think that at the beginning of the next year the group members
will report in detail what they are exactly going to produce “, said
the Minister of Transportation, and co-chairmen of Armenian-Russian
intergovernmental committee Igor Levitan. /Panorama.am/
From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIA HAS NOT MET ALL CONDITIONS DETERMINED AT RECEIVING ARMENIAN ENTERPRISES
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 23:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I consider that up to now Russia has not fulfilled
all conditions, based on which the Armenian enterprises were conveyed
to it within the framework of the Property for Debt Agreement,” said
Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for
Economic Cooperation, Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin. The
Minister stated it when answering the question on fulfillment of
obligations to run the enterprises Armenia had conveyed to Russia
within the framework of the Property for Debt Agreement. In his words,
Russia has not determined yet whether to produce military or civil
destination output at these enterprises. “Thus, we agreed to create
a working group over launching these enterprises,” Levitin said.
He informed that “yesterday and today the working group held its first
meetings and they have also reached a specific plan of measures over
production types.” He hoped for the group to report to the co-chairs on
the type of the production in the course of the next meeting. “Russia
understands its responsibility for these enterprises, we were to
organize their functioning and it is one of the points Russia has not
fulfilled yet,” I. Levitin said. The protocol of the working group
first session titled “For securing efficient work of enterprises
Armenia conveyed to Russia” is available, he also reported. “The
first document is signed today,” he reported. Answering the question
whether the enterprises will produce military items, Levitin said
“when assuming ownership of these enterprises we did not plan to launch
works on producing military destination goods there.” At the same time
he noted that the enterprises are property of the Russian Federation,
“thus a question like that will not prevent production of these goods.”
From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH INTELLECTUALS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR HRANT DINK SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
ANKARA, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Hrant Dink, the Agos newspaper
editor-in-chief, convicted and given a six-month suspended prison
sentence for insulting Turkey in one of his articles, has received
support from journalists, writers, academics, association chairmen
and artists.
Intellectuals, including journalist Ali Bayramoglu, author Oya Baydar,
Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DISK) Secretary-General
Musa Jam, Istanbul Chamber of Doctors Chairman Gengay Gorsoy, Human
Rights Association Istanbul Branch Chairwoman Eren Keskin, publisher
Zarakolu and member of the board of International PEN Eugene Schoulgin
visited Dink in two separate groups.
After their visit to the Agos newspaper building Oya Baydar, a Turkish
writer, offered a statement to the press and said: “As citizens, we
want to announce that we are proud of being fellow countrypersons of
Hrant Dink. We will always support him.”
From: Baghdasarian