Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

Pan Armenian News
EUROPEAN COMMISSION READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO REFORMS IN ARMENIA
24.05.2005 08:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Artur Baghdasarian met with
head of the European Commission Director General for External Relations
Eneko Landaburu. In the course of the meeting Landaburu noted that the EC
New Neighborhood program is being worked out and the South Caucasian and
Balkan states are a priority in it. In A. Baghdasarian’s words, the program
is especially important to Armenia during the integration to the European
family. A. Baghdasarian presented the process of implementation of reforms
in Armenia and noted the importance of the participation and contribution of
the European Commission to the process. A. Baghdasarian also noted that
Armenia is ready to have normal relations with all neighboring states,
including with Azerbaijan and Turkey. In his turn Landaburu noted that today
the European Commission budget for 2006-2010 is discussed and it will
include programs referring to Armenia.

Georgia hopes for NATO entry action plan in 2007
ARE, Sweden, May 24 (Reuters) – Georgia hopes to start the road to
NATO entry in 2007 and does not expect its unresolved conflicts or two
remaining Russian bases to get in the way, European integration
minister Georgy Baramidze said on Tuesday.
Since his election last year President Mikhail Saakashvili has made
closer ties with Western institutions a priority.
Visiting the ex-Soviet state earlier this month U.S. President George
W. Bush said Washington encouraged Georgia’s closer co-operation with
NATO, although alliance officials have said in the past it still has
to resolve political problems.
“We hope that at the next NATO summit, which will probably take place
at the start of 2007, that we will be given a membership action plan
invitation,” Baramidze said at a meeting of NATO countries and partner
states in northern Sweden.
NATO hopefuls Croatia, Macedonia and Albania have all been given such
action plans. Georgia is already a NATO partner and has held military
exercises with the alliance.
Baramidze said neither the two Russian bases, located near the border
with NATO-member Turkey, nor unresolved conflicts in the breakaway
Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, would halt Tbilisi’s plans.
“It is a mistake to think that someone could block Georgia’s NATO
entry using that,” Baramidze said.
Georgia is in the middle of painful talks with Moscow over a timetable
for closing the Russian bases and withdrawing troops.
A new round of talks started in Tbilisi on Monday, with Georgia
demanding a pullout by the end of 2008.
Russia said last week it might move armoured vehicles from Georgia to
nearby Armenia, prompting an angry reaction from neighbouring
Azerbaijan.
“We understand Azerbaijan’s concerns, it is very clear why they are
concerned, but we cannot influence this process,” Baramidze said.
05/24/05 17:58 ET

A1plus
| 19:59:15 | 23-05-2005 | Sports |
ARMEN NAZARYAN – CHAMPION OF EUROPE
In the Judo European Championship which took place in the Netherlands Armen
Nazaryan from Hrazdan became champion of the continent. Before that the
experienced sportsman had taken only the 3rd place. Our other sportsmen
could not win prizes.
It has been a long time since our sportsmen have won prizes in judo. In
general, in 2005 the Armenian sportsmen have improved their results
considerably. As we know, the Greco-Roman athletes and the weightlifter won
medals in the European Championships.

PRESSRELEASE
Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 N. Jackson Street Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
818-243-6222 tel
May 23, 2005
Contact: Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected]
Hayastan All Armenian Fund Convenes 14th Annual Meeting
Telethon 2005 Beneficiary Project Identified
Glendale, CA – With the North-South Highway in Nagorno Karabakh on the
verge of successful completion, the Board of Trustees of `Hayastan’ All
Armenian Fund identified a new three-year beneficiary project, Revival of
Artsakh, during its 14th annual meeting on May 2, 2005 in Yerevan,
Armenia.
Scheduled to air live on Thursday, November 24 this year (Thanksgiving
Day) from Glendale, California, Telethon 2005 will raise funds for the
first stage of the program – structural development of Martakert region of
Nagorno Karabakh. `The Board of Trustees meeting reassured once again that
as always Armenia Fund, Inc., along with its 19 worldwide affiliates, is
on the frontline of nation-building. This time we embark on a grand
program of bringing regional development to Nagorno Karabakh. Upon
completion, the multifaceted project, that is broken up into three stages
will lay down the necessary infrastructure in key areas in each of the
three zones that would induce overall economic development. Health care,
housing, rural roads, education, drinking water, agricultural initiatives
and irrigation are the primary areas that we are going to target in
Martakert, which is the first zone that we have chosen. The Trustees
chose Martakert as the first zone taken the fact that it is the most
damaged region in the war with Azerbaijan, it is right on the border with
Azerbaijan and it has the greatest potential for growth.’ explained Maria
Mehranian, chair, Armenia Fund – United States Western Region.
Chaired by H.E. Robert Kocharian, president of the Republic of Armenia,
over 27 trustees and 19 representatives from affiliates worldwide convened
for Hayastan Fund’s annual meeting. Armenia Fund’s U.S. Western Region was
represented by Mehranian and Ara Aghishian, Vice-Chair.
Highlighting the accomplishments of 2004, Naira Melkoumian, executive
director of Hayastan Fund, emphasized the significance of Telethon 2004
and the unprecedented $11.5 million dollars raised towards the completion
of the North-South Highway. `In 2004, Hayastan Fund implemented over 100
projects at a cost of $18 million throughout Armenia and Karabakh,
financing or which was made available through the donations of Armenians
from around the world.’ added Melkoumian.
It is noteworthy that Hayastan All-Armenian Fund passed a rigorous
financial and construction audit conducted by Grant Thornton Amyot, a
leading global accounting and business advisory firm. Commenting on the
financial audit, chief auditor Armand Pinarbasi noted `In our opinion, the
financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position
of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund as of December 31, 2004, and of the funds
received and expenses incurred and its cash flows for the year ended in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards’.
For more information on Armenia Fund – US Western Region, please visit
or call 818 – 243 – 6222.

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET VNESHTORGBANK CHAIRMAN
23.05.2005 03:15
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian received
Chairman of the Russian Vneshtogbank Andrey Kostinin, RA President’s Press
Service reported. During the meeting the RA President gave a high estimate
to the Bank’s contribution to the cultural exchange between Armenia and
Russia, particularly in assisting in the organization of the tours of the
famous Russian troupes to Armenia. The parties also discussed
Vneshtorgbank’s participation in ArmSavingsBank activities. As Robert
Kocharian noted, the dynamic development of the Armenian banking system
allows displaying activities in insurance, hypothecary crediting, leasing as
well as other fields. In this view Andrey Kostinin noted that Vneshtorgbank
intends to pay more attention to the expansion and improvement of services
rendered to physical persons.

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran
May 16 2005
Leader of world Armenians meets Judiciary Chief
Arak, May 15, IRNA
Shahroudi-Armenian Archbishop-Meet
The spiritual Leader of the World Armenians Archbishop Jasliq Aram I
Keshishian here Sunday met and conferred with Head of IRI Judiciary
Force Ayatollah Seyed Mahmoud Shahroudi.
Ayatollah Shahroudi during the meeting briefed the top Armenian top
priest of the Islamic Republic’s efforts aimed at providing for the
well being of the religious minorities in Iran, setting example of the
recently passed law on equal blood money for them with Muslim citizens.
He added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s ultimate objective,
followed from the day this political system was established here,
was to secure full rights of the religious minorities in Iran, based
on the IRI Constitution and the divine Islamic jurisdiction.” The
Judiciary Chief said, “In order to meet that end, the country’s
judiciary Force, too, has in addition to its routine activities,
pursues a comprehensive research work aimed at full recognition of
the religious minorities’ rights, following which we propose the
related drafts to the parliament to be passed as laws.” He referred
to the Judiciary Force’s readiness to cooperate in establishment of
Minorities’ dispute dissolving councils, arguing, “Problems related
to personal disputes among followers of religious minorities, too,
can be solved at such councils.”
Ayatollah Shahroudi meanwhile asked for presentation of joint plans and
shared planning aimed at boosting the monotheist faiths’ commonalties,
arguing, “unfortunately, some materialist and oppressor world powers
resorting to populist policies, and taking advantage of such phrases
as democracy, human rights, and freedom, violate the rights of the
other nations, and insult the followers of other monotheist faiths.”
He added, “It is the duty of the leaders of world’s great monotheist
faiths to raise against such injustice, boost the commonalties among
followers of various authentic monotheist faiths, and launch an
international campaign aimed at boosting the spirit of monotheism and
promoting the divine ethical values at global level.” The Judiciary
Chief condemned the desecration of the Holy Qur’an by US forces in US
detention camp in Guantanamo, adding, “Islam considers insults against
all monotheist faiths, such as Christianity, as great sins, and equal
to insulting Islam.” He said, “We are, unfortunately, witnesses to
desecration of the Muslims’ Holy Book, and if the religious leaders
of other faiths would fail in dully condemning the move, and in
sympathizing with the World Muslims, they, too, would have to wait
for a day when the intruders would desecrate the other holy texts.”
The leader of the world Armenians, too, during the meeting appreciated
the Islamic Republic of Iran’s moved aimed at securing the religious
minorities rights in Iran, saying, “It will not be possible to fight
against injustice and oppression in the world, unless the world nations
would embrace the true spirit of monotheism, and respect the exalted
ethics promoted in divine faiths.
Archbishop Jasliq Aram I Keshishian conferred with President Mohammad
Khatami in Tehran on Saturday.
The spiritual leader of the World Armenian arrived in Tehran on
Thursday, May 12 for a 14-day visit.
He has already visited Iran for three times.
During his stay in Iran, he will tour the provinces of Isfahan,
Markazi, West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan.
He will pay tribute to the founder of the Islamic Revolution the late
Imam Khomeini on Thursday, May 19.

17-TH ARMENIAN SONG COMPETITION TO BE HELD IN HOLLYWOOD
Pan Armenian News
19.05.2005 07:01
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tomorrow the 17th traditional Armenian Song
Competition will open in Hollywood, in which over 100 Armenian
performers from the US and other countries will take part. The
competition is considered rather prestigious. The winner of the contest
will be awarded with Anush premium, which is called Oscar of Armenian
Song in Hollywood. The competition will be held in Hollywood Palladium
hall. Compositions of diverse genre – jazz, rock, national song will
be performed, reported the Yerkir newspaper.

K. DASOYAN: NO ONE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUTH IN RUSSIA AND ARMENIA
Pan Armenian News
19.05.2005 03:09
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Russia and Armenia cannot do without a systematic,
comprehensive approach to youth problems,” stated head of the Union
of Youth of Russia and Armenia (UYRA) within the structure of the
Association of the Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation, member of
the Supreme Council of Russian Party of Self-Government of Workers,
Chairman of party the Youth Movement Karen Dasoyan, reported the
Yerkramas newspaper of Armenians of Russia. In the opinion of the
young leader no one is seriously concerned about the youth in Russia
and Armenia. “Only politicians rarely remember us, raising under the
banner of pledges of free education in higher education institutions,
beneficial crediting of young families, increasing child birth
allowances, building new sport grounds, day nurseries, kindergartens,
schools… They promise, but these words tly away with the speed of
the wind just after the recurrent election,” Dasoyan says. TO solve
the problem he considers necessary working out of the youth policy
program along with a Law on Youth that would mention the mechanisms
of interaction of youth organizations and the state, the ways to
support the youth, the role of the youth and the opportunities for
its having impact on the state decision-making process. The UYRA
leader considers the forming of a state department that would engage
in the youth affairs (state committee for youth affairs or ministry of
youth) the third component of the solving of the problems of the young
generation. “The Union of Youth of Russia and Armenia will consider
its task fulfilled if we manage to solve these three basic problems,”
K. Dasoyan notes.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: WHAT HIDES BEHIND AZERI OFFICIALS STATEMENTS
Pan Armenian News
18.05.2005 08:31
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The statement by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov about Armenia’s readiness to return seven regions stirred
up a clamor incited by the Azeri party among the Russian media even
after the Armenian Foreign Ministry refuted it. The articles published
in the Russian press often contradicted one another. On one hand
the matter concerns “the volunteer return of the territories with
the guarantee that Azerbaijan will not wage war” on the other hand
there is hearsay that the Azerbaijani army can receive back the seven
territories by force. Azeri opposition parties accuse the incumbent
leadership of the inability to settle the Karabakh problem and call to
restore Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity by force. The opposition
representatives assure that the Aliyev administration has a plan of
resumption of hostilities in case the domestic situation deteriorates
after the parliamentary elections. However Baku can apply force only
with the “secret consent of US, Russia and… Armenia”, some Russian
sources report. According to Russian media, “lately the hearsay on
US and Russia’s consent for such developments has been spread in
Baku. These countries are allegedly convincing Yerevan not to support
Karabakh during the “little war”, which will not touch Karabakh itself
anyway. There is a version that after convincing the Armenian party
Moscow and Washington can organize a demonstrative withdrawal of
the Armenian troops from Azerbaijan. Then long and inefficient talks
will start. Meanwhile some forces in Baku are celebrating victory and
“generously” give OK to the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border –
the fact Armenia to all appearances “cannot resist”. However, despite
discrepancies the Russian sources are tended to think that Mamedyarov’s
“sensational” statement is addressed first of all to the population of
Azerbaijan on the threshold of the upcoming parliamentary elections,
since with the help of such statements Ilham Aliyev will try to enlist
the support of the voters to secure himself from possible revolution.

AZERI SOLDIER WHO LEFT MILITARY UNIT AND PASSED TO ARMENIAN SIDE
RETURNED TO AZERBAIJAN
YEREVAN, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 13, by the petition of the
International Committee of Red Cross, Azerbaijan’s citizen Safarov
Orham Isa oghli, born in 1985, was passed to the Azeri side in the
village of Sadarak of Ararat marz. Noyan Tapan was informed about
this by Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, RA Defence Minister’s
Spokesperson. On May 7, Safarov was brought to the Vayots Dzor’s
military police by 2 women from the village of Zaritap. Here it was
found out that Safarov, resident of Nakhichevan, who was called up for
military service on May 1, voluntarily left the military unit and
appeared in the village Zaritap, which was rather far from the
Armenian-Azeri border. He left the unit because of violence and
humiliations towards him.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress