Author: Chakrian Hovsep

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF JEWELLERS AND DIAMOND MANUFACTURERS OF ARMENIA TO OPEN ON SEPTEMBER 29
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The annual exhibition of works of
jewellers and diamond manufacturers of Armenia will open in Yerevan
on September 29. As Artur Gyulnazarian, the Executive Director of the
Association of Jewellers and Diamond Manufacturers of Armenia informed
during the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent, gold adornments,
jewels and poli-precious stones and subjects made of them, souvenirs
as well as instruments and equipments used in jewellery and diamond
manufacture will be exhibited.
According to A.Gyulnazarian, about 3 dozens of companies and more
than 20 individual businessmen placed orders for participation in
the exhibition.
According to him, during such exhibitions, meetings of jewellers and
representatives of companies standing near to the sphere, exchange of
experience support development of jewellery and diamond manufacturing
in Armenia.

Politicians are voted the world’s least trusted people
Brian Whitaker
Thursday September 15, 2005
The Guardian
()
Most people believe their government does not act according to their
wishes, a worldwide opinion survey shows. Lack of confidence in
governments is highest in the former Soviet bloc, where 75% say their
country is not governed by the will of the people, but similar views
are held by most Europeans (64%) and North Americans (60%).
The findings come from one of the largest international polls ever
undertaken. Commissioned by the BBC World Service, Gallup interviewed
more than 50,000 people in 68 countries, representative of the views
of 1.3 billion people worldwide. The main exclusions were China and
most of the Middle East, where government restrictions make polling
difficult or impossible. Overall, slightly less than half of those
surveyed (47%) felt that elections in their country were free and
fair. Confidence in elections was highest in Scandinavia (82%) and
South Africa (76%), and lowest in West Africa (24%) and the former
Soviet Union (25%).
Worldwide, politicians represent the least trusted occupation in the
survey, scoring only 13%. Religious leaders are the most trusted
(33%), followed by military/police leaders (26%), journalists (26%)
and business leaders (19%).
Asked which types of people they would like to give more power to, 35%
favoured “intellectuals” (writers and academics), followed by
religious leaders on 25%.
Behind the global figures there are wide variations between countries
and regions. There is a low level of trust in all types of leaders
throughout Europe. Almost a third of people expressed no trust in
military, religious, business or political leaders or journalists. The
media and journalists are particularly distrusted in Europe.
Japanese people have very little trust in authority figures – only 1%
have faith in military / police leaders and 3% trust religious
leaders. Only 4% of Ukrainians and 8% of Russians said they trusted
military or police leaders.
Confidence in religious leaders varies widely. They are most trusted
in Africa (74% against 33% globally), and in Nigeria 86% would give
them more power.
In the US 50% trust religious leaders and 40% would give them more
power.
Almost everywhere, people said family and friends were the most
important influences on their personal decisions, but religious
leaders were the most important influence for 13% in Africa and 12% in
North America. Elsewhere, religious influence was small or negligible.

FROM 2006 ICRC TO INTENSIFY WORK ON SEARCH OF THE MISSINGS IN ARMENIA,
NKR AND AZERBAIJAN
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17. ARMINFO. From 2006, the International Committee
of Red Cross (ICRC) is to enlarge the activity on collection of
life-time information about missing citizens of Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
The ICRC Armenian mission delegate Catherine Patronoff informed
ARMINFO’s reporter that the intensifying may help in identifying the
remains of bodies of the deceased during a conflict. The information
collection will be conducted in close cooperation with the State
committees on POWs, hostages and the missings affairs, as well as with
the Armenian Red Cross Association, Patronoff noted.
To remind, the renewed list of the missings transferred by the ICRC to
Armenia’s, NKR and Azeri authorities in Feb 2004 includes 3165 names,
419 of them are Armenians. In Jan 2005, the ICRC transferred the
parties a Memorandum appealing to clear up the fate of the
missings. The document supposes a number of methods necessary for
giving the required information, as well for conducting exhumation and
identification procedures of remains, and rendering assistance to the
missings families, she noted.
Patronoff also noted that 652 Armenian and Azeri POWs and civil
persons have been released at the ICRC mediation since the beginning
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to its mandate, the ICRC since
1992 have assisted to Armenia’s, NKR and Azeri authorities in
organizing the return of POWs to their motherland.

UEFA.com
Sept 16 2005
FOOTBALL EUROPE: Pyunik close in on Armenian title
League split
The return to action saw the league split in two, with the top six
sides competing in the championship pool and retaining the points
they had accumulated from playing one other, while the remainder
battle it out in the relegation group.
Pyunik prevail
Championship leaders FC Pyunik have increased their advantage from
five to ten points in just two matches after their rivals slipped up.
Pyunik began with a 5-0 triumph against FC Dinamo-Zenit Yerevan
before winning 2-1 against second-placed FC MIKA. MIKA could only
draw their previous game against FC Kilikia thanks to two penalties
from Aghvan Mkrtchian.
Trio missing
However, it was not all good news for Pyunik. Armenia Under-21
goalkeeper Apoula Edima, midfielder Karl Lombe and forward Mamadou
Diawara failed to return after the holidays, and it is unclear when –
indeed if – they will return to the Pyunik fold.
Danaev signs
Third-placed FC Banants have also struggled after the restart, a
goalless draw against FC Kotayk preceding a 3-1 home defeat by
Kilikia which only strengthened Pyunik’s title challenge. Banants
have released Moldovan forward Dumitriu Gusila while signing Andrei
Danaev on loan from Ukrainian club FC Stal Alchevsk.
Triple capture
Kotayk, now within one point of third position after a 2-0 victory
against Dinamo-Zenit, resumed their campaign with three new players.
Arkadij Chilingaryan and Karen Navoyan joined from FC Lernayin
Artsakh along with midfielder Nikolay Agasyan whose Dinamo-Zenit
contract had expired.
Relegation issue
In the relegation section, FC Ararat Yerevan and FC Shirak drew 1-1
in the first leg of their play-off. Gor Atabekyan’s early goal for
Ararat was cancelled out on 68 minutes by Karen Khachatryan’s penalty
for the hosts. The losing side will face another play-off against the
team finishing second in the first division to determine whether they
preserve top-flight status.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 15 2005
US Amb. terms indication of Garabagh as Armenian territory as mistake
Baku, September 14, AssA-Irada
The presentation of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan and Upper Garabagh
regions as Armenian territories on the website of the US embassy in
Armenia is simply a mistake, US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish
has said.
`The talk of Nakhchivan’s affiliation to Armenia is ridiculous. This
was a consequence of a mere mistake. The United States recognizes the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and is working
hard to support dialogue aimed at settling the Garabagh conflict.’
The ambassador mentioned the efforts being taken by Washington within
the OSCE Minsk Group mediating the conflict resolution.
The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Taghizada has
regarded the distortion of facts as unacceptable, calling for a
thorough scrutiny. Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is
visiting the United States, will be informed of the incident
immediately upon his return to the country, he said.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 15 2005
Armenia can’t prevent Azerbaijan’s WTO admission – official
Baku, September 14, AssA-Irada
Armenia will not be able to prevent Azerbaijan’s admission to the
World Trade Organization, says Economic Development Ministry official
Shovgi Mehdizada.
The country is required to sign a bilateral agreement with each WTO
member state for its admittance to the organization. However, such an
agreement will not be signed with Armenia. Azerbaijan has already
stated that it will not establish any ties with aggressor Armenia,
said Mehdizada.
`In legal terms, according to the 13th provision of the Morocco
agreement which formed WTO, each country reserves the right not to
forge any ties with another state that it faces problems with. We
will apply this provision and Armenia will not be able to take the
matter to the WTO court of arbitration in any case. Even if this
country forwards an appeal, the court will not consider it.’*

THERE IS NO FORGIVING TO THOSE WHO COMMITTED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE:
GOVERNOR OF ST.PETERSBURG
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. An official delegation of
St.Petersburg led by the governor of the city Valentina Matvienko
visited today the memorial and museum of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
“We are shocked with the outrageous crime against humanity – the
Armenian Genocide. There is no forgiving to those who committed this
atrocity. The whole world should condemn this,” Matvienko wrote in the
visitors’ book. She also planted a fir-tree in the memorial
park. “This is a great honor to me,” she said.

BELARUSSIAN AIR FORCE TO BE ARMED WITH RUSSIAN S-300 MISSILE SYSTEMS
Xinhua General News Service
September 10, 2005 Saturday 1:30 PM EST
The defense ministries of Russia and Belarus signed a contract in
Minsk on Saturday, under which Belarus will receive Russia’s S-300
air defense missile systems, the Interfax news agency reported.
“The missile systems will be of the S-300PS modification,” and will
arm one air defense brigade, a source of Belarussian Defense Ministry
was quoted as saying.
Under the terms of the contract, the S-300 missile systems will be
on duty for common air-defense of Russia and Belarus, according to
the source.
The Russian-made S-300PS missile system is one of the most advanced
air-defense missile systems in Russia and also one of the most demanded
weapons in the world weapon market.
Russia before sold the missile systems to Belarus, Armenia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan and other countries.
The dates for delivering the missile systems to Belarus have not been
discussed, the Belarussian source said.

ETHNICALLY-ARMENIAN BUSH ATTACKER TO STAND TRIAL IN GEORGIA
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 12 2005
Baku, September 9, AssA-Irada
The Armenian terrorist charged with attempting on US President George
Bush’s life during the latter’s visit to Tbilisi, Georgia on May 10,
will stand trial in Tbilisi on September 20, according to Georgian
interior minister Vano Merabishvili.
Vladimir Arutunian, 27, will be imprisoned in Georgia and no other
measures are planned, Merabishvili said.
The US Department of Justice has charged Arutunian with two offenses
– an attempt on President Bush’s life and illegal possession of
weapons. However, the United States has not demanded his extradition.
The results of the investigation into Arutunian’s case carried out
by US experts will be handed over to the Georgian interior ministry
on September 20.
Arutunian will face life in prison if he is convicted under US laws.
Meanwhile, the Georgian media quoted Arutunian’s former lawyer as
saying that Arutunian has demanded a meeting with US investigators
to provide them with important information. Arutunian has demanded
$50,000 for the information that is allegedly not related to the
unsuccessful terror attack on Bush.*

70% PASSIVE VOTERS
A1+
| 15:23:17 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |
September 18 community heads will be elected in three communities of
Yerevan. After than each Sunday in different communities the citizens
will elect the community head and alderman. “Will you take part in
the election to the local self-government?” We addressed this question
to 100 citizens September 5-8.
30% of the respondents found it hard to answer our question. Some
of them were unaware of the coming election. 40% said they will not
vote. Only 35% answered they will take part in the election.
“I have no belief. They speak well but do nothing”, a woman said. To
note, 80% of the respondents mentioned of the absence of any belief.
“I will certainly go and vote. It’s my civic duty,” a woman of 40
said. “In case we do not go there will be more falsifications” said
a man, who, in his words, was a member of the electoral committee
for 5 times. About 30% of those surveyed are going to vote against all.