Author: Chatinian Lara

Caspian Sea
Sun, 20 Jun 2004

gulf-news.com

News

Visa-change run to Kish gets cheaper for 16 nationalities

By Mahmood Saberi

Bureau Chief

Dubai: Sixteen nationalities will no longer need to pay a security deposit
when flying from the UAE to the Iranian island of Kish on a visa-change
trip, according to a Kish Airline source.

“It was a burden on the passenger, though it was only a deposit,” said a
source at the airline.

Those excluded from paying the deposit are expatriates from India, Pakistan,
the Philippines, China and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The CIS includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and
Ukraine.

Kish Airline, which runs six daily flights to the Island from Dubai, earlier
took up to Dh1,500 from each passenger from these countries.

This was to pay for the passenger’s ticket home in case the sponsor did not
send a new visit visa for some reason.

Many passengers on visa-change run to the island have been stuck there for
days and sometimes months, due to glitches at the sponsor’s end.

The security deposit varied depending on the nationality of the person.

For an Indian or a Filipino, it was Dh1,500. For Pakistanis it was Dh1,000.

The number of passengers from the excluded countries who had to be brought
back to Dubai and sent to their home countries was very small, said the
source, explaining the reason for waiving the deposit.

For Chadians and Ugandans the deposit is around Dh3,000 because of the high
air fare back to some of the African nations, said the source.

However, expatriates from Sudan, Chad, Tunisia, Uganda, Senegal and Nigeria,
still have to pay the security deposit.

Passengers from the excluded countries now only have to pay a surcharge of
Dh25.

“The airline has not increased the fare since a long time,” said the source.

However, Qeshm Airline, which does the visa-change run from Dubai to a
smaller island off Iran, is still taking the security deposit from
passengers.

EXCLUDED

Surety amounted to Dh1,500

• Expatriates from countries India, Pakistan, the Philippines, China and the
CIS are excluded from paying a security deposit when flying to Kish island
on visa-change procedures.

• Earlier Kish Airline used to charge up to Dh1,500 from each passenger to
meet any contingency.

• However, Qeshm Airline which flies to a smaller island off Iran still
charges the deposit amount.

Armenian official upbeat on fight against human trafficking

Ayots Ashkhar, Yerevan
17 Jun 04

An interview with the head of the Armenian government’s Migration
and Refugees Department, Gagik Yeganyan. He comments on the Armenian
section of the latest annual US State Department report on human
trafficking.

[Gagik Yeganyan] The fact that according to the US State Department,
Armenia is among the countries of the second group is satisfactory. It
is also good for Armenia that the report said if Armenia continues
its fight against trafficking in the same way and with the same
consistency, it cannot be ruled out that the country may be included
in the first group in the future. The countries which fight this
phenomenon with all their possible means are included in this group.

[Passage omitted: Details of the report]

[Ayots Ashkhar correspondent] Mr Yeganyan, what kind of work has been
launched in Armenia to organize a fight against human trafficking?

[Yeganyan] In the report drawn up four years ago, our country was in
the third group. This assessment of Armenia was like a cold shower,
as their approach was very strict and unexpected. In any case, we
were not disappointed ending up in such a situation, but were given
an incentive and concentrated all our efforts on making the fight
against trafficking more organized. The point is that inclusion in
this or that group is not determined by the volume of trafficking. The
assessment depends on the effectiveness of steps taken against this
evil. Slave trade was annihilated in the previous century. This is
why isolated cases of this phenomenon are considered to be a slap in
the face of all mankind.

In Armenia, the fight against human trafficking started with the
formation of an interdepartmental group on an instruction from
the prime minister. The group was instructed to develop a national
strategic programme of the fight against trafficking. The document was
ready this January and was approved by the government. Systematized
approaches form the basis of the fight, which makes it possible
not only to eliminate the consequences of trafficking, but also to
stamp it out, to take relevant retaliatory steps and to rule out the
conditions that generate it.

It is clear to the world that in Armenia, not only do we understand
the importance of fighting trafficking, we also take certain effective
steps. Naturally, in parallel with our country’s integration into
European structures, progress will become more evident, which is why
doubts about its irreversibility may not be well-founded.

[Correspondent] What are the signs of human trafficking in Armenia?

[Yeganyan] About 600,000-800,000 people are involved in the trafficking
process in the world every year. Human trafficking is aimed mainly at
the sexual exploitation of women and children. Only isolated cases
have been registered in Armenia. In fact, in our country there is
no stratum or a group which would use the results of trafficking. In
our country, there is no stratum of people who would want to pay for
such services. Just two cases of trafficking have been registered
in our country: a group of Uzbek women using false passports tried
to cross the border of the United Arab Emirates from Armenia. They
did not manage to do this and decided to work as prostitutes in our
country. The second group was also from Uzbekistan – young girls
decided to work as prostitutes in our country. Fortunately, Armenia
is not the best country for such activities. Three years ago, the
International Organization for Migration carried out research and
discovered 58 cases when Armenians were trafficked mainly in Arab
countries and Turkey. I am sure that not all the registered cases may
be regarded as human trafficking. Many people understand why they
go there. Simply people involved in such conditions, when they are
exposed, present the situation as trafficking.

Libération, France
17 juin 2004

Las Vegas : les casinos se concentrent

RICHE Pascal

MGM Mirage se paie Mandalay Resort et devient le numéro 1 mondial du
jeu.

Washington, de notre correspondant.

Le milliardaire Kirk Kerkorian est désormais le roi incontesté de Las
Vegas. MGM Mirage, qu’il contrôle, a réussi à mettre le grappin sur
son concurrent Mandalay Resort, devenant le numéro un mondial du jeu.
Dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi, le conseil d’administration de
Mandalay a accepté l’offre publique de rachat avancée par MGM Mirage
pour 4,8 milliards de dollars.

Au terme de l’opération, Kerkorian contrôlera la moitié des 70 000
chambres d’hôtel sur le strip de Las Vegas. Avec un chiffre
d’affaires combiné de 6,25 milliards de dollars, le nouvel empire du
jeu détrônera les anciens numéros un et deux du secteur, Cæsars et
Harrah’s. Mandalay détient plusieurs gros casinos à Las Vegas (le
Mandalay Bay, le Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus…) et un tout
nouveau centre de conventions. MGM Mirage détient de son côté le MGM
Grand et le Bellagio. L’opération doit encore être avalisée par les
autorités de la concurrence et celles qui sont chargées de la
supervision des jeux d’argent.

Après une vie de “coups” à Wall Street, Kerkorian met de l’ordre dans
son groupe et prépare sa succession. D’un côté, il a bâti autour de
MGM Mirage, dont il détient 57 % des parts, un empire du jeu capable
de cracher du cash pendant des années. De l’autre, il cherche à
vendre les studios Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, dont il contrôle 74 % des
parts. Il vient de fêter ses 87 ans et s’apprête à léguer son groupe
et sa fondation à ses deux filles.

Les responsables de Tracinda Corp., le holding qui chapeaute cet
empire, refusent de commenter le sujet : “Personal business.” En
1988, Kerkorian avait fondé la Lincy Foundation, un nom formé avec
les prénoms de ses filles Linda et Tracy (comme celui de Tracinda),
issues de son deuxième mariage – il en est à son troisième.

Tracinda verse 40 millions de dollars chaque année à la Lincy
Foundation, qui finance divers projets, tout autour de la planète,
dans les domaines de la santé, l’éducation ou le sport. La fondation
s’occupe notamment de la reconstruction de l’Arménie, pays natal de
Kerkorian.

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
June 17, 2004, Thursday

CIS SECURITY: TIME TO SET PRIORITIES

SOURCE: Krasnaya Zvezda, June 17, 2004, pp. 1, 3

by Roman Streshnev

Question: What can you say about the CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) nowadays?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: The decision to establish the CSTO was made a year
ago. We’ve concentrated on three directions of work.

Foreign policy activities are the first direction. The main task here
boils down to coordinating the positions of members of the CSTO on
regional security problems. There is nothing new about this form of
interaction, which is quite effective. Numerous international
structures use it. Take the European Union, for example, where
opinions on some matter are first discussed and then the common point
of view is worked out and proclaimed. Approximately the same practice
is used in foreign policy activities of the CSTO. We discuss all
global and regional issues and do our best to work out a common
stance. Considerable importance is attached to contact with
international organizations specializing in security matters. We
actively cooperate with the CIS, the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, the counter-terrorism committee of the UN Security
Council, UN drug enforcement and organized crime structures, other
organizations. As for the OSCE, we even have joint international
programs with it.

Dealing with challenges and threats is the second direction. First
and foremost, the matter concerns coordination of efforts within the
CSTO against religious extremism, terrorism, drug trafficking,
illegal immigration, organized crime. We promote cooperation between
special structures and law enforcement agencies.

The military component is the third direction. It is probably the
most complicated because of the abundance of sensitive issues
inherent in it. First and foremost, the matter concerns formation and
perfection of army groups – Russia-Belarus in the West,
Russia-Armenia in the Caucasus, and the Collective Rapid Response
Forces in Central Asia. Not long ago, we wrote an important document
titled “Priorities of coalition military development to 2010.” It
stipulates establishment of new regional groups and international
integrationist systems. It also specifies some steps that will change
the military component of the CSTO beyond recognition.

At the same time, there are some serious problems within the
framework of the CSTO. I’d divide them into two blocs. The first
includes political problems. Russia’s passivity with regard to its
neighbors was noticeable throughout the 1990s, and resulted in these
countries drifting towards the West and specifically the United
States. This situation complicates the process of reaching a
consensus on key issues.

The second bloc includes the problems that concern the CIS as such.
Political courses of many CIS countries parted company. We have to
decide now in what directions cooperation and interaction within the
CIS will proceed.

I’d like to emphasize nevertheless that the CSTO has retained what
really counts – good will on the part of national leaders who say
that they are prepared to follow in the wake of common interests and
interests of Russia. Now that processes of integration are under way
in the CSTO, it is in the focus of attention of the international
community and particularly NATO. In fact, these steps on our part
worry some world leaders. We even encounter certain resistance from
them. It means that the CSTO may have problems of course but the
progress it is making is undeniable.

Question: The CIS Collective Security Council will meet in Astana on
the level of national leaders on June 18. What matters will be
discussed? Will any agreements be adopted?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: We hope to have a great deal of issued discussed
at the meeting – including the main directions of coalition military
development to 2010.

The document is supposed to specify what we aspire for in the
military sphere – united armed forces or coalitionist forces, what
actions should be taken in armed conflicts (meaning, autonomous or
coordinated). We also hope that the national leaders will discuss an
agreement on the joint use of military infrastructures in special
periods, on mutual protection of the data appraised as state secrets,
etc.

It is time we defined the place and the role of the CSTO in the
international security framework. It is time a decision was made on
political cooperation with NATO (for example). We propose contacts
with the Alliance on the level of organizations as such. In fact,
NATO countries emphasise developing bilateral relations with
post-Soviet countries. We do not have any official contacts with
Brussels – cannot have any, in fact – without a political decision
made at the level of the CIS Collective Security Council.

The concept of the CSTO’s peacekeeping resources is to be discussed
at the meeting as well. We believe that these resources – if
organized, of course – may be used within the CSTO or, with the UN’s
approval, elsewhere in the CIS. Or even on the global scale, provided
the UN made the request and the CIS Collective Security Council
agreed.

In general, national leaders of the CSTO will discuss over a dozen
documents.

Question: United Headquarters of the CSTO of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty began its work on June 1, 2004. Is it an analog of
the CIS Military Cooperation Coordination Headquarters?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: If you ask me, the CIS Military Cooperation
Coordination Headquarters is not a coordinating structure nowadays.
I’d rather call it a structure advancing military-political
cooperation. Of course, it is necessary within the framework of the
CIS to cooperate on the level of defense ministries, but integration,
coordination, transition to common military standards – that’s a
different matter altogether. All of that is becoming more and more
difficult. We all know for example that Georgia is switching over to
NATO standards. Some other CIS countries follow suit – the countries
who are involved in the work of the CIS Military Cooperation
Coordination Headquarters only nominally. Analysis of documents
signed within the framework of the CIS and dealing with military
cooperation and interaction shows that the accords are honored mostly
by members of the CSTO. It is these countries that are ready for
continuation of the dialogue and military integration and
integration.

I believe that the work of the CIS Military Cooperation Coordination
Headquarters should be rearranged. In this light, we energized
military and military technology cooperation within the framework of
the CSTO. For example, its members are permitted to buy military
hardware from each other at the producer’s domestic price.

Question: What is Russia’s role on post-Soviet territory? And what
does the CSTO think about the presence of NATO bases on its
territory?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: As for post-Soviet territory and Russia’s role
there, I’d say that we felt somewhat euphoric in the early 1990s but
discovered soon enough that neither Europe nor the United States were
actually waiting for us with open arms. We are coming to our senses
again – it is dawning on us that we have our own neighbors quite
close by. Considerable impetus to the process has been provided by
the policy of President Vladimir Putin. Strangely enough, however, a
substantial part of the Russian political elite is still pro-Western
– dismissing Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and
other neighbors. That’s a mistake. We all used to live in a single
country. We have so much in common.

As for the presence of NATO bases on the territories of some
countries of the CSTO, Russia’s position (and positions of other
members of the CSTO) is well known. The bases were established with
the UN mandate and with the consent of national governments – for the
duration of the counter-terrorism operation in Afghanistan.

Two journalists in Nakhichevan suffer systematic harassment

Reporters without borders, France
June 16 2004

Reporters Without Borders has called on the chairman of the Supreme
Council (Mejlis) of the autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan, Vasif
Talibov, to act to protect journalists after two correspondents
complained of relentless harassment.

Malahat Nasibova, correspondent for the press agency TURAN and the US
station Radio Free Europe, along with Mohammed Rzayev, correspondent
for the opposition daily Azadlig in Nakhichevan said on 14 June 2004,
that they had suffered systematic harassment for two months.

Nakhichevan is an autonomous republic of Azerbaijan – an enclave
between Armenia and Iran.

The international press freedom organisation urged Talibov to guarantee
the safety of journalists and to ensure that they could work normally
free from official pressure.

Nasibova and Rzayev have said they have been threatened every time
they report on the harassment of the local opposition, whose members
are regularly physically attacked and arrested by police.

Each time they report the facts, police summon the journalists
or telephone to tell them to stop covering the harassment. The
journalists’ families have also received telephoned insults or
threats that they will lose their jobs. Nasibova said she got phone
calls and Internet messages that she risked “mourning family members”
unless she stopped criticising the authorities.

EU INCLUDES SOUTH CAUCASUS IN WIDER EUROPE-NEW NEIGHBORS PROJECT

ArmenPress
June 15 2004

BRUSSELS, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS: On June 14, the European Union
included Georgia, along with Armenia and Azerbaijan, in its Wider
Europe Neighborhood Initiative. Within the framework of the EU
Neighborhood Initiative, a number of projects will be created to
help these countries implement reforms and adopt the common rules,
standards and policies that make up the body of EU law.

The European Security Strategy, adopted by the European Council in
December 2003, identifies the South Caucasus as one of the regions in
which the EU should take a “stronger and more active interest”. The
final decision is expected on June 17 at the EU summit in Brussels.

European Union governments identified also Russia as a “key partner” in
the bloc’s new strategy of upgrading political and economic relations
with its neighbors. Foreign ministers from the 25 nation bloc said
that the policy – including the elaboration of action plans aimed
at bolstering reform in neighboring states – would be prepared for
Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia, Ukraine, Israel and the Palestinian
Authority. Ministers said the E.U. did not want to create “new dividing
lines” between the recently-enlarged Union and its neighbors.

AZERI MINISTER TELLS NATO REP ABOUT DOUBLE STANDARDS IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

ANS TV, Baku
13 Jun 04

It is irrefutable that Armenia has occupied part of Azerbaijan’s
territory. Despite this the international community has not so
far declared Armenia an aggressor state which proves the existence
of double standards in the (Nagornyy Karabakh) conflict settlement
process, Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev told NATO Assistant
Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Jean Fournet at a meeting today
(13 June).

Mr Fournet said in reply that NATO is aware of Azerbaijan’s position
and is looking for ways of improving (bilateral) relations.

The Halifax Daily News (Nova Scotia)
June 13, 2004 Sunday

Much more than three B’s;
Something for everyone, including beer, barbecue, belly-dancing, at
annual party

by Rodenhiser, David

The best annual event in Nova Scotia celebrates its 20th anniversary
this week, and you really shouldn’t miss the party.

No other event in the province delivers the quality and variety of
entertainment and food, complete with fun activities for kids and a
beer tent for adults, as the Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival.

It’s a blast, it’s educational, and it’s cheap.

The festival – www.multifest. ca/2004 – takes place at Alderney Landing
on the Dartmouth waterfront. Even for those Haligonians who loathe
leaving the peninsula, it’s well worth the trip. There’s literally
something for everyone. And, this year, there’s more of everything.

“There are a lot of add-ons. We’ve got two full evenings added to
the agenda,” says Moka Case, the festival’s artistic director. “We’ll
have more than 700 performers on the stage in 1/2ve days, representing
over 40 different cultural groups.”

The festival starts Wednesday evening and runs through Sunday, plus
sneak previews noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday at
Halifax’s Grand Parade. To tie in with Acadie 400 – the celebration
of the 400th anniversary of the 1/2rst French settlers’ arrival –
the festival will feature three Acadian music groups: two traditional
bands and a hip-hop trio. Aboriginal Canadians are represented by
Kanenhi:io, a women’s quartet from Ontario, and Inuit throat singer
Tanya Tagaq Gillis.

Now, I have no idea what any of these performers sound like, which
is actually quite exciting. Hearing them will be a completely new
experience. And, even on the off chance that I don’t like them,
there are plenty of other bands playing that I know I’ll love.

Returning from last year are two top-notch local reggae bands:
Halfway Tree, boasting former Bob Marley and the Wailers bassist Bryan
Atkinson, and Verbal Warning, which features a phenomenal guitarist
who morphs reggae choruses into metal riffs. The always spicy Salsa
Picante and Alma Latina will heat things up with Latin grooves, and
perennial favourite Afro-Musica will lead you on a musical tour of
the birthplace of humanity. I dare you to try not to dance to any of
these bands.

Last year, the festival attracted 45,000 visitors – almost 20 times
the 2,300 who turned out in 1985 for the inaugural showcase at
what was then called the Technical University of Nova Scotia. The
event has grown through the dedicated work of its organizers and
participants. This year, it’s getting $7,500 from the province for
the 1/2rst time, and Ottawa is kicking in $10,000. Compare that
to provincial funding for the Tattoo ($153,300) and Celtic Colours
Festival ($125,000).

The dozens of cultural communities that make the multicultural
festival an annual success take great pride in their contributions,
be it traditional dance, colourful costumes or succulent food. This
year, the Korean Association of Nova Scotia is going the extra mile
by paying to import the Myungji Traditional Dance Company from its
homeland; the Atlantic Jewish Council is co-presenting the Flying
Bulgar Klezmer Band, billed as “Yiddish folk-rock at its 1/2nest”;
and the Armoyans, the land developing family, are sponsoring Haik!,
a children’s dance troupe from Armenia.

Besides the entertainment, you’ll get to peruse 50 exhibit booths and
feast at 28 food booths – shish-kebabs, sushi, jerk chicken, samosas,
sausages, spring rolls, tabouli, baklava and Portuguese sardines
(a steal at 75 cents a head).

Finally, for all you guys who still think it sounds about as fun as
reading a year’s worth of National Geographics, let me leave you with
the three B’s: beer, barbecue and belly-dancing.

You can thank me at the beer tent.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
June 11, 2004

Official Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to Finland Concludes

On June 7, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, concluded his official ecumenical visit to the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and returned to the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Pontifical delegation had departed for
Finland upon the invitation of the Most Reverend Dr. Jukka Paarma,
Archbishop of Finland and Turku, Head of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Finland.

During meetings with Archbishop Paarma and His Eminence Archbishop
Leo of Karelia and All Finland (Finnish Orthodox Church), the
three spiritual leaders underlined the importance of inter-church
and ecumenical relations. The Armenian Pontiff expressed hope that
cooperation would be continued not only between the Heads of Churches,
but also between church-based organizations and structures.

In the course of the visit, His Holiness met with Mr. Matti Taneli
Vanhanen, the Prime Minister of Finland. His Holiness spoke of the
great tragedy which befell the Armenian nation and people at the
beginning of the 20th century in the Ottoman Empire, and expressed
regret that there are still many states which have not officially
recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide, which was one the
gravest crimes committed against the whole of mankind.

During the five-day trip, the Catholicos of All Armenians and
the Pontifical delegation visited the Finnish Bible Society, had
meetings with the administrative staff of the Department of Theology
of the University of Helsinki and became acquainted with the work
and activity of the scientific/research centers of the Department.
His Holiness was also received by the philanthropic organizations of
both Finnish Churches.

His Holiness also met with the local Armenian community, giving them
his Pontifical blessing and encouraging them to remain steadfast
in their faith, continue to love their homeland and to be loyal,
contributing and honorable citizens of the Republic of Finland.

His Holiness Karekin II was accompanied during the journey by His
Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian, Pontifical Legate for Central
Europe; His Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrosian, Director of Inter-Church
Relations; His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian, Primate of the Armenian
Diocese of New Nakhijevan and Russia; and Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamian,
Staff-bearer of His Holiness. Mr. Vladimir Karmirshalian, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the
Republic of Finland, Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Norway,
accompanied the Pontifical delegation in Finland.

##

KOCHARIAN CONFERS DECORATIONS ON 40 REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS SECTORS

ArmenPress
June 9 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of Republic Day president
Kocharian conferred today Armenian medals, orders and other decorations
on a group of police and national security officers, prosecutors,
employees of local self-management bodies and health and education
communities.

President Kocharian was quoted by his press office as saying that
it is a good tradition to confer national decorations on people
from different branches for their merits on the occasion of national
holidays. He said: “You too have earned this distinction by your hard
work. This means that the progress of our country is contingent on
every of us and a breakthrough is possible only given a harmonized
cooperation between all branches.”

Kocharian said their appearance on the list was an evidence of their
good name and high professionalism that cannot be earned in one day
and without hard and enduring work.

Kocharian also said that a simple comparison of crime rates in Armenia
and other developed countries, or in countries with the same level of
living standards is enough to commend Armenian police and appreciate
its work. Kocharian said the difference is significant, an evidence
of good work of the police.

“It is at this moment that we have to be more optimistic about our own
forces, we have to believe that hard work and initiative help surmount
all obstacles,” the president said. The recipients of the awards in
turn thanked the president for his warm attitude and conferring state
orders on them, adding it was a boost to their further activity.