Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Appeal
APPEAL TO ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES
Canada Averted Terrorism
Azg/am
19 Oct 04
Armen Qyurkchian, representative of Canada, wrote a letter to the
foreign minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian on behalf of the central
administrationof the World Armenian Organization. He drew minister’s
attention to the fact that the authorities of Canada displayed wisdom
and foresight and didn’tgive in to the USA’s pressure to support in
the Iraqi war thus averting the danger of terrorism. The author of the
letter notes with pain that in case Armenia sends a group in Iraq,
security not only of the Diaspora but also of Armenia will be put
under danger.
Armen Qyurkchian expresses hope that Armenian authorities will break
their promises to America and will put nation’s interests first.
By Nana Petrosian

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY READY TO ACKNOWLEDGE KARABAKH`S INDEPENDENCE
Noyan tapan
YEREVAN, 16.10.04. The international community has come to terms
with Nagorno-Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan and is ready
to recognize its de facto independence, Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian declared on 13 October in response to a question from an
Armenian parliamentarian. “Whereas six years ago nobody was letting
us even dream about Karabakh not being part of Azerbaijan [under a
future peace accord], today not only we but also the international
community, including the co-chairs of the [Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s] Minsk Group, are freely talking about
that,” he said.
“Today the fact of Karabakh not being part of Azerbaijan is real, and
the international community looks at it in a very normal manner. This
doesn’t mean they will publicly affirm it. But I can state for certain
that they consider that option a real one.”
Oskanian was apparently alluding to a Karabakh peace agreement
worked out during talks in Paris and Florida during the spring of
2001. According to Western press reports, the plan put forward by
French, Russian, and U.S. mediators called for Karabakh’s formal
incorporation into Armenia in return for the latter guaranteeing a
transport corridor between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave. The
Armenian side maintains that the two sides came close to signing
that accord, but that Azerbaijan’s former President Heidar Aliyev
backtracked on the deal. However, Baku claims that no such agreements
were reached at the time.

Alameda Times-Star, CA
Oct 14 2004
Father and son exhibit works to inspire hope and healing
ADISPLAY of mosaic works by Galust “Nick” Orduyan and paintings by
his son, Greg, at the San Mateo Medical Center is meant to make
people feel better, both physically and spiritually. The artists
offer their talents as an act of gratitude to the medical team there
who saved the life of Greg’s mother when she developed a serious
illness. Hospital CEO Nancy Steiger believes the Orduyans’ art “will
help bring hope and healing” to patients. Patients, staff and
visitors can see “Hope Through Art” on the walls of the long-term
care corridor of the main hospital through Nov. 19. Both father and
son espouse a “family tradition” to bring such positive things to the
community through art. When Galust Orduyan, a noted artist, poet and
wine master, returned home to his destroyed Armenian village after
being badly wounded in World War II, he “took a shovel, baby fruit
trees and grape cutters and he began to plant a public garden,” his
son recalls. “His words were, ‘This is my art today.'” Greg and
Galust Orduyan were granted permanent residency in the United States
based on their contributions in the field of fine arts. Today, Galust
Orduyan is a newly sworn American citizen. Greg Orduyan would like
the show at the hospital to inspire more art for the community, “and
not only the wealthiest.” He emphasizes that being an artist “is not
about selling as much of your work as possible for as much money as
possible,” but rather it is “about inspiring change for the better by
delivering a message from the divine.” You can meet the artists at a
reception from 5 to 7 tonight on the first floor of the San Mateo
Medical Center, 222 W. 39th Ave., San Mateo. “Hope Through Art” is
supported by the San Mateo County Arts Commission and a grant from
the Peninsula Community Foundation. For more information, call (650)
573-2796. Oaxacan woodcarving Renowned woodcarver Jacobo Angeles of
San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Mexico will be in Half Moon Bay to
offer demonstrations of his craft at Nuestra Tierra Gallery from 11
a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and again Oct. 22-24.
The gallery is at 421 Main St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays
through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more
information, call (650) 712-9135.
Gouache demonstration
At today’s 7:30 p.m. meeting of the Menlo Art League, Napa artist
Gianna Marino will present a gouache demonstration. The public is
welcome to attend. The meeting is at the Menlo Park Recreation
Center, 700 Alma St. For more information, call Diana Beuttler at
(650) 323-5716.
California Poetry
Kevin Hearle is one of five poets reading from the new anthology
“California Poetry: From the Gold Rush to the Present” Sunday at the
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in San Jose. Hearle, who lives in
San Mateo, is joined by Lucille Lang Day, Juan Felipe Herrera, Sam
Maio and Al Young. A book signing follows the reading.
The free event is co-sponsored by the Poetry Center San Jose and
California Center for the Book as well as the King Library. It will
take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at 150 E. San Fernando St., rooms 225 and
229. For more information, call (408) 292-3254 or (408) 808-2397.
Information on visual and literary arts can be sent to Bonny Zanardi,
San Mateo County Times, 1080 S. Amphlett Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402,
faxed to (650) 348-4446 or

Le Figaro Économie, France
11 octobre 2004
Gymkhana pour Ankara
par Baudouin BOLLAERT
Dans les conclusions du rapport de la Commission européenne sur la
candidature turque, une petite phrase à première vue anodine n’en est
pas moins importante. Elle précise en effet que les négociations avec
Ankara ne déboucheront pas forcément sur un succès. Une fois le «
processus ouvert », souligne la Commission, « le résultat ne peut
être garanti à l’avance ».
Cela paraît couler de source. Pourtant, voici quelques semaines
encore, certains s’opposaient à cette mention. Notamment en
Allemagne, pays du commissaire à l’Élargissement Günther Verheugen,
social-démocrate notoirement turcophile. « Une négociation est
toujours un processus ouvert », faisait-on remarquer dans l’entourage
de Günther Verheugen, à Bruxelles, comme dans celui du chancelier
Schröder, à Berlin.
Le gouvernement SPD-Verts redoutait, en réalité, qu’une telle
précision ne fasse la part trop belle aux objections à la candidature
turque émises par l’opposition chrétienne-démocrate. La France, au
contraire, même si Jacques Chirac n’a jamais caché ses sympathies
pour Ankara, n’y voyait aucun inconvénient. Elle a même poussé à la
roue. Le collège des commissaires a donc repris à son compte cette
formule qui, sans injurier l’avenir, ne le dicte pas.
Le premier ministre du Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, souligne lui
aussi que « le résultat ne saurait être connu à l’avance ». Comme
quoi il n’est jamais inutile de rappeler une évidence… Il refuse «
l’idée que l’adhésion de la Turquie puisse se faire au galop ». Pour
ce fin connaisseur des arcanes communautaires, « elle devra être
préparée de façon minutieuse afin que ni l’Union européenne ni la
Turquie ne souffrent des conséquences d’une adhésion mal conçue ».
Jusqu’à présent, certes, toutes les négociations d’adhésion se sont
achevées positivement. Même pour la Norvège. Si elle n’a pas rejoint
l’Union, c’est parce que son peuple l’a décidé par référendum. Mais,
cette fois, l’ampleur des adaptations nécessaires, la poursuite et la
mise en oeuvre indispensables des réformes, dans l’UE comme en
Turquie, s’opposent à l’irréversibilité du succès final.
La Commission a également prévu dans son rapport une clause de
suspension des négociations. Elle s’est appuyée sur ce que l’on
pourrait appeler la « jurisprudence Jörg Haider ». On se souvient que
les Quinze avaient mis en quarantaine l’Autriche, du 4 février au 12
septembre 2000, après l’entrée dans la coalition gouvernementale du
parti dirigé par le leader populiste de Carinthie. Et ce, en vertu
des articles 6 et 7 sur la protection des droits de l’homme du traité
d’Amsterdam. La même quarantaine pourrait donc s’appliquer à la
Turquie si, demain, durant les négociations, elle manquait à certains
de ses engagements…
Enfin, il faut rappeler que les négociations d’adhésion ne sont rien
d’autre qu’une Conférence intergouvernementale où l’unanimité est
requise. Ces négociations seront menées par la Commission pour le
compte des vingt-cinq Etats membres, mais à tout moment un pays
pourra dire stop. A une autre époque et dans d’autres circonstances
le 14 janvier 1963 puis le 27 novembre 1967 , le général de Gaulle
avait opposé son veto à la poursuite des discussions pour l’entrée de
la Grande-Bretagne dans ce qu’on appelait alors le Marché commun.
Rien n’empêcherait un Etat membre, demain, d’utiliser son droit de
veto à l’encontre de la Turquie ou de tout autre pays candidat à
l’Union s’il le jugeait nécessaire…
Dans le dernier élargissement aux pays d’Europe centrale et
orientale, il fut beaucoup question des « critères de Copenhague ».
C’est encore le cas avec la Turquie. Même davantage. Définis le 22
juin 1993 dans la capitale nordique par le Conseil européen
c’est-à-dire le sommet des chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement , ces
critères concernent à la fois les pays candidats (1) et l’Union (2).
1. « L’adhésion requiert de la part du pays candidat qu’il ait des
institutions stables garantissant la démocratie, la primauté du
droit, les droits de l’homme, le respect des minorités et leur
protection, l’existence d’une économie de marché viable ainsi que la
capacité de faire face à la pression concurrentielle et aux forces du
marché à l’intérieur de l’Union. L’adhésion présuppose la capacité du
pays candidat à en assumer les obligations, et notamment de souscrire
aux objectifs de l’union politique, économique et monétaire. »
2. « La capacité de l’Union à assimiler de nouveaux membres tout en
maintenant l’élan de l’intégration européenne constitue également un
élément important répondant à l’intérêt général aussi bien de l’Union
que des pays candidats. »
Après avoir reconnu officiellement à la Turquie, en 1999, la qualité
de pays candidat, les Quinze avaient fixé, fin 2002, le calendrier
suivant : « Si, en décembre 2004, le Conseil européen décide, sur la
base d’un rapport et d’une recommandation de la Commission, que la
Turquie satisfait aux critères de Copenhague, l’UE ouvrira sans délai
des négociations d’adhésion avec ce pays. » Nous y sommes puisque les
chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement devraient donner leur feu vert le 17
décembre prochain à Bruxelles.
Mais ils se sont entourés, on l’a vu, de nombreux garde-fous. La
route sera longue pour Ankara. Un véritable gymkhana ! Plus de dix
ans de négociations, voire quinze… Que se passera-t-il d’ici là ?
La Turquie reconnaîtra-t-elle sa responsabilité dans le génocide
arménien ? Chypre sera-t-elle enfin réunifiée selon des modalités
acceptées par tous les habitants de l’île ? Les droits de la femme
auront-ils été consolidés ? Le rôle des militaires se sera-t-il
clarifié ? Et, du côté de l’Union européenne, les difficultés
budgétaires et institutionnelles auront-elles été résolues ?
Le 1er novembre 2006, le Traité constitutionnel devrait entrer en
vigueur et, le 1er janvier 2007, la Bulgarie, la Roumanie et
éventuellement la Croatie pourraient adhérer à l’Union. Mais
qu’adviendra-t-il si le Traité constitutionnel n’est pas ratifié ?
Pourra-t-on se contenter d’en revenir au traité de Nice et de
poursuivre les négociations d’adhésion avec la Turquie comme si rien
n’était arrivé ? L’Europe des incertitudes n’a pas fini
d’intriguer…
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian nuclear plant back after major repairs
Arminfo
5 Oct 04

YEREVAN
The Armenian nuclear power plant was connected to the national power
grid today at 1419 local time [0919 gmt], the director-general of the
plant, Gagik Markosyan, has told Arminfo news agency.
He said that the Armenian nuclear power plant was closed for major
repairs and refuelling on 31 July 2004. The reactor is repaired once
every four years. The director-general said that the uniqueness of
the repairs in 2004 was that the amount of work was unprecedentedly
large.
[Passage omitted: Fuel was sent from Russia]

Karabakh plans to double population
Yerkir web site, Yerevan
5 Oct 04

October
Since 2000, 5,300 families have moved to Nagornyy Karabakh, Anushavan
Daniyelyan, prime minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, has told
a correspondent of Armenpress news agency. He added that immigration
is an important issue as Artsakh’s [Karabakh’s] human resources do not
correspond to its natural resources.
The Karabakh prime minister said that the issue was of both
demographic, economic and strategic importance.
Immigration has intensified since 2000. Under a decision of the
Nagornyy Karabakh government, it is planned to double the number of
the population, i.e. to bring it from 150,000 to 300,000 within a
short time. The immigration programme will be implemented in all
districts [of Karabakh], and in border districts in the first
place. The programme is being financed from the budget of the Nagornyy
Karabakh government. Various organizations are also funding this
programme, Daniyelyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IHL INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE FOR ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4. ARMINFO. A five-day training course on
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for 12 officers of Armenian Armed
Forces has started today in the resort town of Tsakhkadzor (30 km
north of Yerevan). The course for future IHL instructors is organized
by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation
with the Ministry of Defence of Armenia.
The press-service of ICRC Office in Yerevan told ARMINFO that
conducted by the ICRC regional IHL expert, this course focuses on the
effective use of the “IHL for Commanders” and “IHL for Instructors”
manuals, used as a didactic tool for IHL training in the Armenian
Army. The course also covers topics such as conduct of operations,
commander’s responsibility, behaviour in combat and the ICRC and its
activities.
Similar training courses have been organised in the past. Through such
course. the ICRC seek to ensure that officers from Armenian Armed
Forces know and respect the rules and principles of IHL. The ICRC
stands ready to support the Armenian military authorities in
Integrating IHL into the teaching and combat training of the Armenian
armed forces, the source reports.

RUSSIA AND ARMENIA TO FIGHT TERRORISM SIDE BY SIDE
01 Oct 04
YEREVAN, October 1 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and Armenia are on the one
side in their confrontation with terrorism. This was stated on Friday
by Sergei Mironov, speaker of the Federation Council (upper house of
the Russian parliament) upon his arrival in the capital of Armenia.
He noted that during his visit a joint statement on fighting terrorism
is to be signed.
Russia had to toughen control regime at the checkpoints of the
Russian-Georgian border, Mr. Mironov said.
“After the tragic events in Beslan we had to take certain measures
being aware of the fact that it is from the territory of Georgia,
where many terrorists feel themselves free-and-easy, they penetrate
into our territory,” this is how Sergei Mironov commented upon the
closure by the Russian side of the Verkhny Lars border passage point
at the Military Georgian Highway which links North Ossetia and Georgia
via the Daryal Gorge.
He also stressed that these measures are in no way aimed to hinder
transit of cargoes from Armenia.
The speaker of the Federation Council expressed hope that in the long
run Georgia and the Georgian people will understand that “only
peaceful friendly co-existence of all states in the Caucasus makes for
the prosperity of our peoples and the common position on combating
terrorism.
At the same time advisor of the Georgian president for political
affairs Timur Alazania said in an interview with RIA Novosti, while
commenting on the recent interview with Chechen separatist leader
Aslan Maskhadov in the air of the Georgian private channel Mze, which
made so much noise, “that there are no militants on the territory of
Georgia nor there will be any.”
“There are no militants not because we want to please somebody. We are
proceeding from the strategic interests of Georgia,” Mr. Alazania
stressed.” The presence of any kinds of militants, armed people,
terrorists, nationalistically-minded people or religious extremists
would have been to the detriment of Georgia first of all.
At that Mr. Alazania said that it is true that refugees from Chechnya
reside on the territory of Georgia. “We have refugees and we admit
this openly. We are speaking about women, children and old people,”
Mr. Alazania stressed.
In his words, as of today part of the Chechen refugees have left for
Turkey, another part dispersed in the region, and still another part
returned to Russia,” Timur Alazania said.
Within the framework of his visit to Yerevan, Sergei Mironov will hold
meetings with President Robert Kocharyan of Armenia, Prime Minister
Andranilk Markaryan and chairman of the National Assembly Artur
Bagdasaryan.
The speaker of the Federation Council will visit the military base of
the 123rd motor-rifle regiment of the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation, take part in the ceremony of placing wreathes at the
Memorial to 1915 Armenian genocide victims in Osman Turkey and will
speak before students and teachers of the Yerevan State university.
Mr. Mironov will also take part in the ceremony of opening the Center
for Assistance to Inter-regional cooperation between Armenia and the
Russian Federation.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 29 2004
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF AZERBAIJAN VISITS BULGARIA
[September 29, 2004, 20:52:35]
A delegation of the Azerbaijan Parliament led by Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov staying on an official visit to Bulgaria was received by
President of the country Georgiy Prvanov to discuss the prospects
of political, economic and cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan
and Bulgaria.
The parties also focused on the problem of peaceful settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. President Prvanov
stated in this connection that his country stands for resolution
of the problem in accordance with the norms and principles of the
international law.
Touching on his forthcoming visit to Azerbaijan, the Bulgarian
President stressed he pins great hopes on the meeting with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.
In Bulgaria, the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan had also
meetings with Chairman of the country’s National Assembly Ognyan
Gerdzhikov and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha.

PRODI: “BORDER-GATE OPENING MAY BECOME A PRECONDITION”
Azg/am
29 Sept 04
Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, told the Turkish PM
Ragep Tayyip Erdogan during the weekend talks that the Armenia-Turkey
border-gate opening is not a precondition for Turkey’s membership
in the EU, Turkish daily Sabah informs. But Prodi didn’t exclude
that issues concerning Armenia may emerge during the membership
process. Erdogan in his turn noted that Turkey is inclined to preserve
friendly relations with all its neighbors.
During his September 19 Yerevan visit Prodi didn’t exclude the
possibility that the border-gate issue might be drawn forth as
precondition in the course of time. The foreign minister and defense
minister of Armenia are apt to think that Turkey’s membership is
favorable for Armenia.