Author: Chavushian

Russia’s Gazprom may limit natural gas exports to Georgia
Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
June 15, 2004
MOSCOW, June 15 (Prime-Tass) — Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom
may limit natural gas exports to Georgia, Deputy Chairman of the
company’s board of directors Alexander Ryazanov told a briefing
Tuesday.
According to Ryazanov, Georgia’s current debt for Russian gas exports
amounts to U.S. USD 12 million.
Although the Georgian government promised Gazprom to work out a
payment system for the current gas supplies, no relevant documents
have been signed so far, Ryazanov said
Ryazanov said that Gazprom plans to hold talks with the Georgian
government this week on the issue.
He also said that Gazprom is interested in setting up a joint venture
in Georgia but Georgia did not accept this offer.
According to Ryazanov the joint venture could help to modernize the
country’s transportation system.
Gazprom is interested in the upgrade of Georgia’s gas transportation
system because it is essential for Russian gas transit to Armenia.
On May 25 Georgia’s Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said that Georgia
intended to pay 50% of its debt to Russia for natural gas exports
by mid-autumn.
In 2004 Gazexport, Gazprom’s exports sales arm, accounted for 100%
of gas supplies to Georgia.
Tbilgaz’ total debt to Gazprom stood at USD 7.4 million as of March 10.
Georgia imports about 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas annually. End

Looking Back: From the front pages
Jerusalem Post
June 10 2004
65 years ago: On June 10, 1936,
The Palestine Post reported that two Arabs died and 26 Arabs and
Armenians were injured by a bomb which exploded inside the Jaffa
Gate on June 8. Mr. Ormsby Gore, the colonial secretary, told the
House of Commons in London that the Palestine government was taking
all possible action to protect life, property and communications in
the country. The Palestine government was granted further emergency
powers under the Palestine (Defense) Order in Council of 1931.

HEALTH MINISTRY WARNS AGAINST BUYING STREET-MANUFACTURED FOOD
ArmenPress
June 10 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS: In a strongly-worded statement,
Armenian health officials warned the population against buying food
from open-air kiosks after investigating conditions under which food
was manufactured. The investigation covered only those food trades
which seem particularly dangerous to the health.
Marieta Basilisian, deputy head of a ministry-affiliated division
for supervising hygienic conditions of food manufacturing outlets,
said they examined 70 such kiosks in a Yerevan borough, finding that
almost half of barbecue and kebab sold there were contaminated with
staphylococcus. Basilisian said the findings of the inspection were
sent to appropriate bodies of the municipality for further action,
requesting that these kiosks must be closed.
The department has also started sending the findings to judicial
bodies. She said the health ministry is seeking an amendment to
the law on licensing so that a food manufacturing company undergo a
complicated procedure before receiving permission to operate.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/04/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) OSCE Special Envoy Lenmarker Meets with Officials, Leaves for Karabagh 2) Yerevan Students Receive ARS Scholarships 3) May 28 Celebration in Fresno 4) A Joint ARF, Socialist Party of France statement 5) Hamidian Massacre Survivor Vartan Anooshian, Dies at 110 1) OSCE Special Envoy Lenmarker Meets with Officials, Leaves for Karabagh YEREVAN (Armenpress)--OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Chairman's special representative on the Mountainous Karabagh conflict Goran Lenmarker, on his second visit to Yerevan, met with government officials to discuss the current situation and explore ways of regulating the conflict. In meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian, Lenmarker was informed of the present dynamics of the settlement process. After exchanging their views on prospects of a resolution to the long-standing conflict, Lenmarker said he intends to pay a fact-finding visit to Karabagh to become familiarized with the situation first-hand and meet with the residents. He noted the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's capability, together with other European organizations, of building a favorable climate around the conflict's regulation. Oskanian in turn stressed the enlargement of European's organizations' involvement in the regional issues, with both sides reiterating OSCE's vital role in ensuring regional security and cooperation. Lenmarker also visited the Armenian Parliament to meet with Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian, and outline the role of parliaments in establishing peace and cooperation. During the meeting, Baghdasarian stressed the necessity to include Karabagh in the negotiation process, as well as discussed European integration of the entire region and the importance of establishing close ties between regional countries. Lenmarker also met with the head of Armenian delegation in the OSCE National Assembly Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian. The deputy speaker stated that Armenia adheres to a peaceful regulation of the conflict, adding that Turkey's role in the conflict must be unbiased and objective, as objectivity is one of the requirements in joining the European family. Lenmarker said his mission is to provide support to the efforts of OSCE Minsk group directed towards the regulation of the conflict in Karabagh. He articulated that the South Caucasian countries must be also included in the "Wider Europe: New Neighborhood" program. After the meeting, Lenmarker and Hovhannisian left for Karabagh. 2) Yerevan Students Receive ARS Scholarships YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) awarded eighty students from various schools in Yerevan, $100 scholarships based on academic achievement and need. The awards ceremony took place on Friday at the Writers House, where National Assembly Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian congratulated the students, as well as the philanthropic organization for its valuable undertakings in the country and throughout the world. ARS Central Executive member and National Assembly representative Alvart Petrossian noted the scholarship program strives to promote and strengthen a love toward education in Armenia's student circles. ARS United States Western Region chairwoman Nova Hindoyan was also on hand to congratulate the students. The region allocated $2000 to the scholarship program, enabling 20 additional students to benefit. 3) May 28 Celebration in Fresno Vartouhi Rose Megerdichian bequeaths $200,000 to Fresno ARF chapter FRESNO--Fresno's Armenian community gathered at the Asbarez Armenian Center on May 22 to celebrate the 86th anniversary of Armenia's first independence. Organized by the PR committee of Fresno's Soghomon Tehlirian ARF chapter, the event drew not only ARF members and members of affiliate organizations, but also a large number of supporters. ARF Central Committee Representative Hovig Saliba delivered the Keynote address. To highlight the day's celebrations, it was announced that approximately $200,000 from the late Vartouhi Rose Megerdichian will would be forwarded to the Fresno Soghomon Tehlirian ARF Chapter, and that the main hall of Asbarez Center would be named the Vartouhi Rose Megerdichian hall. Vartouhi Megerdichian was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1921, and was the middle child of Michael and Nouritsa Akelian. Growing up in Lebanon, Vartouhi became interested in drama and joins the Hamazkayin Kaspar Ipegian Theatre group, in which she plays many a great roles. In 1960, Vartouhi marries American Armenian Megerdich Megerdichian, and relocates to Waukegan, Illinois, where she becomes a member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS). The following year, the couple is blessed with daughter Julie Rose. Along with her family, Vartouhi moved to Fresno in 1964 and continues her work in the ARS, along with committed friends Sophia Hagopian, Marta Jamushian, and others. Last year, Vartouhi and her daughter Julie Rose died in a car accident. The news of their tragic death shook the entire Fresno Armenian community. The celebrations officially opened with a prayer offered by spiritual leader Vahan Gostanian, followed by a brief history of May 28, 1918 by Armenian school principal Rosine Bedrossian. Fresno ARF chapter representative Viken Yepremian, in presenting the message of the chapter, also conveyed that four youth had been inducted into the ARF ranks only hours before. In speaking about the fateful events of May 28, Keynote speaker Saliba said "The ARF's strength comes not only from our members, but also from those who stand by our side to uphold and protect the rights of the Armenian nation--whose life is filled to celebrate the victories of his nation, and address its concerns; these individuals are in effect Tashnagtsagans." Bedrossian conveyed Vartouhi Rose Megerdichian's biography, and invited Yepremian, who detailed the conditions of Vartouhi's will. Yepremian revealed that before her death, Vartouhi transferred the sum of $200,000 to her friend Adrine Postoian, asking that on her death, the sum be donated to the organization of her choice. Postoian decided to allocate the sum to the Fresno ARF Chapter. Taking the stage and holding back tears, Postoian recounts the life and achievements of the late Vartouhi Rose Megerdichian. Vartouhi's priorities in life, tells Postoian, were her family, Armenian education, and knowledge--as a knowledgeable mother, she guided her daughter Julie, an active Homenetmen member, as such. For more that 36 years, Vartouhi is a member of the Ladies Guild of Fresno's Holy Trinity Church--visiting the residents of the Armenian nursing home once a week with gifts--and traditional Armenian meals, and offering kind words for hours on end. Vartouhi carried a beautiful heart filled with the endearing qualities of a mother and a devout patriot. She gave selflessly to all. The Fresno Armenian community will forever remember them with feelings of obligation and love. 4) A Joint ARF, Socialist Party of France statement On the eve of the June 13, 2004 European Parliament elections, the executive body of the French Socialist Party, the Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western Europe, and members of the Socialist International, reaffirm their deep connection with European democratic values and socialist character. During a June 3 meeting, ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian congratulated France's Socialist Party first secretary François Hollande for his party's firm stance on Turkey's entry into the European Union. A joint ARF, Socialist Party of France statement calling for Turkey's recognition of the Armenian Genocide was signed by ARF Western Europe Central Committee representative Mourad Papazian and Hollande at a joint press conference. 5) Hamidian Massacre Survivor Vartan Anooshian, Dies at 110 By Ara Anooshian Hairig, if you were nothing else but the wonderful father that you have been, you are worthy of the paeans I sing of you today. But you have been much more than that. We, your children, know your inspiring story and would like to share it with others, because we know that you are too modest and self-effacing to talk about yourself. So, with your permission, I shall tell a little of your story. I have learned much about your life, both from you and your older brother, Karnig, who lived with us for many years. We children called him "Aghbar" because that is what you called him. Aghbar was ten years your senior and became a grandfather figure for us. He was widely read, as you are. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of Armenian history, particularly the history of Haght, where both of you were born. Aghbar possessed a phenomenal memory and I consider him the finest oral historian I have known. I should note that some of the history of Haght I learned from you and Aghbar, I have been able to confirm by my later readings of HBF Lynch's "ArmeniaTravels and Studies" and Drtad Drtadian's "Haght Yev Haghetsinere." In telling my father's story, I must also talk about his birthplace, its history, his family, and the times and society into which he was born. As we know, these are the things that shape a person's life. By the Grace of God, on February 13, 2004, my father, Vartan Anooshian, observed his 110th birthday. It is also by the Grace of God that he did not perish before the age of two, for you see, my father is a survivor of the Hamidian Massacres of 1895. My father was born on February 13, 1894, in the village of Haght. Haght was part of the vilayet of Sebastia and about 25-30 miles east thereof. He is the youngest of the four children of Ghazar and Heghine Anooshian. Their other children were named Karnig, Kaloust and Kohar. I suspect that had he not been born in the month of February, the month of the Vartanantz, he, like his siblings, would have a name starting with the letter "K." Permit me to digress a moment and tell you something about Haght. Haght, by the way, means undefeated or victorious. History tells us that Haght and Sebastia regions were settled, under very strange circumstances, in the year 1021, by the Artzerouni King Senekerim whose kingdom had been in Vasburagan (Van). We are told that after more than twenty years of constant war against the Seljuk Turks, a war-weary King Senekerim sent his son, David, as his envoy, to the Byzantine Emperor Vasil II to negotiate an exchange of lands. By the terms of the agreement, King Senekerim ceded to Byzantine, his Vasburagan kingdom, consisting of some 7 fortresses, 400 villages and 8 towns, in exchange for lands approximately 400 miles to the west, namely, Haght and Sebastia; the exchange was completed by the resettlement by King Senekerim and his 14,000 subjects. It is thought that Senekerim felt that his kingdom would be protected from the Seljuks by the Byzantines. Shortly after the resettlement, King Senekerim built the renowned Sourp Hreshdagabed Vank in Haght. For 900 years, Sourp Hreshdagabed drew thousands of pilgrims from the Sebastia region on the Feast of Vartavar and the Feast of Sourp Hreshdagabed until the 1915 genocide, when it was totally destroyed by the Turks. The decision King Senekerim made in 1021 to cede his Vasburagan kingdom provoked harsh words and deeds almost 900 years later from, none other than, Khrimian Hairig. It appears that after King Senekerim died, his remains were returned to Vasburagan and interred in Varag Vank, in the vicinity of Van. Khrimian Hairig, who had become the Abbot of Varak Vank in the 1850s, ordered the removal of the royal canopy covering King Senekerim's tomb because he regarded him unworthy of recognition as royalty. Khrimian Hairig believed that Senekerim should have kept his kingdom and continued fighting the Seljuk Turks to the bitter end. Permit me to pick up the thread of my father's story. My father was about 1.5 years old when the Hamidian Massacres began in Haght in November, 1895. To escape the Turkish, Kurdish, and Circassian mobs incited by Sultan Hamid, the Haghtetsis began to flee to the surrounding mountains. My father's mother, Heghine, fearing that his crying might reveal the family's hiding place further up the mountainside, concealed my father in some undergrowth. The initial massacre and plunder lasted 3-4 days. It resumed again, more bloody than before, by strange coincidence, on November 5, 1895, the date of the Feast of Sourp Hreshdagabed lasting 2 more days. Finally, after the mob's bloodlust had been sated and it withdrew from Haght, the surviving villagers began their slow and fearful return to what remained of their homes. Miraculously, Heghine found the infant Vartan where she had concealed him. Amazingly, my father survived the 1895 massacres; it was regarded as an Act of Providence. At the beginning of 1900, the Tashnagtsoutiun was introduced into Haght and became the dominant partylargely because of Sepastatsi Mourad, the beloved fedayee freedom fighter. Mourad was from the neighboring village of Govdoun. Beginning in 1909, he became a regular visitor to Haght. Mourad preached the need for Haghtetsis to organize for their self-defense; he argued that the Young Turk Constitution of 1908, promising reforms for the Armenian people, was a sham and that the Young Turks could no more be trusted than the deposed Sultan Abdul Hamid. Mourad had a premonition that a terrible calamity was about to befall the Armenian people, one, far worse than the 1895 Massacres. As we now know, history proved him correct. My father has often spoken of Mourad's visits to Haght. He would fearlessly ride into the village, armed, astride Asdghig, his jet black stallion with the small white star-shaped spot in the center of its forehead. Remember, in those days, Armenians were forbidden to ride horses or own guns. In Mourad's case the Turkish authorities looked the other way, because they feared elimination by Turkish and Kurdish bandits that preyed on the peasants. He gladly obliged. My father's admiration for Mourad is unbounded. My father describes Mourad as being largely unschooled, but being extraordinary intelligent, intuitive and clairvoyant. He was also a brilliant orator, who spoke plainly so that all could understand his message. Mourad's constant message to the peasantry was simple, "First, the gun, second, the pen and third, the spade." He invariably would tell the Haghtetsis, "The Armenian people must have the means to defend themselves, so that this time they sell their lives dearly." I'm sure that you would not be surprised if I told you that we had a large framed photograph of Mourad, his wife and infant son, hanging in our living room. Two additional notes about Mourad may be of interest. Mourad dropped his own surname and adopted "Khrimian" because of his admiration for Khrimian Hairig. May family has another connection with Mourad; my maternal grandfather, Zagid, from Gavra, was a member of Mourad's fedayeen band. But, that is a story for another time. Once again, permit me to pick up thread of my father's story. After the 1895 massacres, the oppression and repression by the Turkish Government continued unabated. My father's parents, fearing for the lives of their sons, repeatedly advised their sons, "Leave this dog's country; there is no future for you here." Difficult, though it was, my father and his brothers, one by one, left Haght for America. It was especially painful for my Uncle Karnig, because he had to leave behind his wife and five children. The three brothers intended to come to America, earn money to send home, and, eventually, return to Haght when conditions there improved. So, in 1911, at the age of 17, my father came to America and joined his brothers in New York City. There, he found work and became a highly skilled silver platter and metal etcher. Alas, the 1915 Genocide ended all hope the brothers had of returning home to Haght: except for a few survivors, the Turks massacred their entire family. Tragically, my Uncle Karnig never learned the fate of his wife and five children; he died in 1958, never knowing if any of them had survived. In 1923, my father married my mother, Perouz who was from Gavra, a neighboring village. She had survived the Genocide of 1915 after suffering unspeakable horrors. Her's, too, is a story for another time. My parents had three children; I am the oldest, then, my sister, Alice or Azniv, and the youngest, Armen. Shortly after arriving in America, my father joined the ARF Armen Garo Gomideh. The Armen Garo Agoump was located on 3rd Avenue, between 26th and 27th Streets, in Manhattan, a few blocks from St. Illuminator's Cathedral. As a young boy, I sometimes accompanied my father to the Agoump. The Agoump housed a large library that was well frequented by the members. My father and Uncle Karnig also had a nice collection of Armenian books. I remember some of the titles: Raffi's "Khente," "Samuel," "Gaidzer," etc., as well as works by Shant, Zarian, Yessayan, Malkhas, among others. They subscribed to the Hairenik Daily and the Hairenik Monthly (Amsakir). They prized the Hairenik Monthly so highly that they had saved every issue and eventually had them hard-bound. My father was very active in a compatriotic organizations, namely, Haght Kiughi Verashinats Miutiun, Haght Kiughi Hairenagtsagan Miutiun, and the Mourad Fund. The Mourad Fund was organized by a number of admirers of Sepastatsi Mourad for the purpose of publishing his biography. After funds were raised, Michael Vartanian, the noted intellectual, writer, and editor of Hairenik Daily, was commissioned to write the biography. I recall that we had hundreds of copies of the book my father had volunteered to sell, stored in our apartment. The demand for the book proved to be greater than the supply, so much so, that he forgot to keep a copy for himself. Incidentally, I don't believe any money was made on the venture, but then again, it wasn't undertaken for that purpose. In most of the organizations to which my father belonged, he, invariably, was drafted to be Secretary. The other members would say that he had an "aghvor krich," meaning that he had legible handwriting. In the 1930s and 1940s, being the secretary of any organization was a burdensome undertaking. Obviously, no pay was given or expected to be received. My father would have to correspond, by mail, with members who lived all over the Eastern Seaboard, because most of them did not have a telephone. The only equipment my father had was a good fountain pen, a large bottle of ink and lots of patience. All correspondence was laboriously written by hand and repetitively recopied, over and over. Envelopes were then addressed by hand and postage stamps affixed. Of all the organizations he served, I know that he regards as most important, his service to the Aramian Varjaran as Trustee in the 1930s and 1940s. Aramian Varjaran classes were conducted in a single classroom in Public School 58, located at the corner of 176th Street and Washington Avenue, in the Bronx. We, students, attended classes there on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between the hours of 3:30 PM, after American school dismissal. Although the School's operating expenses were $15 per month for classroom rent and $25 per month for the lone teacher's salary, money was a constant problem for the school. The tuition was 10 cents a week, but needy students did not pay even that. There never seemed to be enough money to pay the rent or the teacher on time. Remember, we were living in the midst of the Great Depression, when fathers, lucky enough to have work, were earning $10 to $12 per week. In those days, a loaf of bread sold for 5 cents and a quart of milk for 7 cents. The annual "hantes" sometimes produced a small surplus, but that was meager help. The chronic money shortage caused many in the community to question the viability of the Armenian School. The Varjaran's meetings were often held in our apartment and, as a young boy, I would overhear the heated discussions of the school trustees about the Varjaran's future. Some advocated closing the school, but my father would vehemently argue for continuing. Gradually, some of the trustees withdrew from active roles, suggesting that if my father wanted to continue the financial struggle, he could do so alone. I guess my father accepted the challenge and decided to find alternate sources of funds, whereupon, he compiled a list of Armenian businesses located in Manhattan, and on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, after work, he made the rounds of these businesses, soliciting funds for Aramian Varjaran. He rarely received more than $1, and occasionally, he would receive 10 cents. Many a businessmen not only refused to make any contribution at all, but also called my father a beggar and gratuitously suggested that if parents wanted an Armenian education for their children, they should pay for it themselves and not trouble others to do so. I can recall the many nights when my father would come home from his fundraising attempts, hungry, cold and wet, clutching the few dollars that he had collected. No amount of pleading and scolding by my mother for him to quit, had any effect on him; he stubbornly and doggedly continued. His determination helped enable Aramian Varjaran to survive beyond the end of World War II; at that point, the demographics of the Armenian community in the Bronx changed and Aramian Varjaran, finally, closed. You might wonder what was accomplished by keeping Aramian Varjaran open. For one thing, the Varjaran was able to retain the services of its dedicated and learned teacher, Deegeen Armenouhi Dicranian Aharonian. Digeen Aharonian came from a noted family and was the sister of the talented Armen Dicranian, the composer of the opera, "Anoush", and many other compositions. Furthermore, she was the wife of the well-known Vartkes Aharonian, son of the legendary Avedis Aharonian, President of the first Armenian republic and writer extraordinaire. Baron Aharonian had been Prosecutor-General of the first Armenian Republic, editor of the Hairenik, and prolific contributor to many Armenian and Russian publications. They were a dynamic team. Digeen Aharonian taught all the grades with no assistance. She instructed us in all the subjects; in addition, she directed us in dramatic and musical productions. As we in the upper grade approached graduation, Digeen Aharonian decided that we needed additional instruction. Accordingly, she required that we attend all day Saturday classes at her Washington Heights apartment. I must confess that we were not exactly thrilled to have to spend our Saturdays in study. As it turned out, the Saturday sessions became memorable. We soon discovered that the Aharonian home was a way station for some of the most legendary figures in contemporary Armenian history. It was there that I met Simon Vratzian and General Dro; later, I met General Sebouh. These thrilling encounters have remained with me to this day. I believe that my father's efforts to preserve Aramian Varjaran played an important role in its survival, which in turn enabled many children to receive Armenian education. My father's name, Anooshian, aptly describes his personality. He has always been a sweet, kind and gentle man, who never raised his voice to us, never scolded or spanked us. He has set an example for us by the way he has lived his life. He has encouraged us to value education and to pursue life-long study. He admires people who are learned and who have dedicated themselves to Armenian causes. His highest praise for a person is, "An ousial e," or An nvirvadz e." Hairig, for all you have done and for all you have been for us, "Mer khorhin shnorhagaloutiunnere." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

ARAM IVANIAN’S PAINTINGS TO BE EXHIBITED IN FRANCE
ArmenPress
June 3 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS: Two French cities of Lyon and Marseille
will host a trade exhibition of 168 paintings by Aram Ivanian, a member
of the Armenian Astghik (Starlet) organization of disabled children,
which he painted by using computer technologies.
The Armenian-French Association of Disabled People (ALFA) was very
instrumental in helping organize this exhibition that will travel
to France later this month. Rosa Bashinian, a French citizen who
is the chairwoman of the ALFA is now in Armenia. She said she hopes
all the paintings will sell and the raised proceeds will be added to
the funds, being collected for construction of Hope Shelter Center,
run by Astghik.
“There is a peculiar simplicity in the works of Aram Ivanian,
typical only of children, but he is able to make masterly daring
generalizations. His works are many-style, sometimes unexpected and
courageous,” Levon Nersisian, the chairman of Astghik said.

Kazakh envoy presents credentials to Armenian president
Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty
3 Jun 04
Astana, 3 June: The Kazakh ambassador in Moscow, Krymbek Kusherbayev,
who is also the ambassador in Yerevan and Helsinki, has presented
credentials to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, the Kazakh embassy
in Russia told Interfax-Kazakhstan today.
During the conversation that followed the ceremony of presenting
credentials, which took place in Yerevan on 2 June, Kocharyan “showed
a lively interest in the Kazakh experience of economic reforms,
especially in the programme of industrial and innovation development
until 2015”, a press release by the Kazakh embassy says.
Kocharyan, the press release says, noted that Armenia “aims for
closer cooperation with Kazakhstan and would welcome joint economic
projects and the entry of major Kazakh banks into attractive sectors”
of its economy.
Preparations for the summits of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization and the Eurasian Economic Community, which are due to
be held in Astana in June, were also discussed at the meeting.
Armenia, as well as Kazakhstan, is a fully-fledged member of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization and has observer status in
the Eurasian Economic Community, whereas Kazakhstan is a fully-fledged
member of the organization.

The Center for Public Integrity
2 June, 2004
A Human Rights Issue
In Europe, nations ban reproductive cloning, but allow research to continue
By M. Asif Ismail
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2004 – As in much of the rest of the world,
the 1997 announcement of the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first
mammal cloned from an adult cell, forced Europe’s legislators,
bioethicists and religious leaders to deal with the topic of human
cloning. When Italian fertility expert Severino Antinori, along with
American physiologist Panayiotis Zavos, declared, the next year, that
they would help infertile couples to have children through cloning,
the continent’s public policy makers responded quickly.
The 45-member Council of Europe, the oldest multilateral political
organization on the continent, outlawed “[a]ny intervention seeking
to create a human being genetically identical to another human being”
by amending its Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine.
The additional protocol to the treaty noted that such an action
was necessitated by “scientific developments in the field of mammal
cloning, particularly through embryo splitting and nuclear transfer.”
Great Britain, whose biotech industry is the largest in Europe, is
one of the many countries to adopt legislation on the issue. “The
Human Reproductive Cloning Act,” enacted in 2001, mandates up to
10 years of prison and an unlimited fine, if convicted of creating
human clones. At the same time, the law allows research on cloning for
therapeutic purposes with strict regulation. The Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority regulates embryo research in the country.
In the other continental biotech giant, Germany, all embryo research
is banned.
Other Western European countries that prohibited reproductive
cloning include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy,
the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
“Issues of human genetics and bioethics in Europe have been widely
accepted as human rights issues concerning human dignity and
fundamental freedoms of the citizens,” according to Emilia Ianeva,
director of the Center for Human Rights at California State University,
Hayward.
About half of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe and former
Soviet republics in the Caucasus have ratified the Protocol on the
Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings. “Notable non-signatories are
Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Armenia
and Azerbaijan, making them possible places of choice for companies
that would like to do human genetic engineering, including cloning,
shielded from legal regulations,” Ianeva wrote in a paper published
last year.
Russia, however, adopted a five-year moratorium on human reproductive
cloning, which is in force until 2007. The Czech Republic, Lithuania,
Romania and Slovakia have also banned reproductive cloning and have
ratified the protocol.
On the issue of research cloning, the political climate differs from
country to country. While Switzerland is against creation of cloned
embryos, and France has proposed a ban, Britain permits it.
Ian Wilmut, who cloned Dolly, recently told the British media that he
would clone human embryos for research. The scientist’s application
will be the first submitted to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority, according to news agency PA News. “He wants to study what
goes wrong in the nerve cells of patients suffering from motor neuron
disease,” the agency reported.
Europe has the finest biotech infrastructure outside of the United
States. There are 96 publicly traded biotech companies in Europe,
compared to 314 in the United States, William Powlett Smith, who
heads of Ernst & Young’s U.K. Health Sciences Group, told the Center
for Public Integrity. However, there are more private companies in
Europe than in the United States, according to Smith.

Lawyer attacks NY Life in Armenian case
United Press International
May 28, 2004 Friday
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 28 (UPI) — New York Life has been accused
of not properly notifying descendants of Armenian Genocide victims
who are owed $20 million from the company.
The allegation comes from the attorney involved in the $20 million
settlement, the Los Angeles Daily News reported Friday.
Ben Nutley, who represented three claimants in the class-action
case, has asked a judge to order New York Life to include the words
Armenian Genocide in public notices of the settlement and to broaden
its advertising of the deal.
“We’re saying the notice wasn’t disseminated widely, correctly or
accurately,” Nutley said.
Any unclaimed money will go into a fund to be distributed to Armenian
charities identified in the agreement, he said. He said legal notices
appearing in newspapers leave out the term “Armenian Genocide.”
But New York Life says it has carefully followed the court’s
instructions.
“The terms of the settlement, including the notice provisions, were
negotiated by attorneys on both sides and subject to court approval,”
said spokesman William Werfelman.
The insurance company reached a $20 million settlement in January with
descendants of Armenian policyholders who perished in the genocide
of 1915.

ARKA News Agency
May 24 2004
NKR President: Hai Data Commission to focus on NKR International
recognition
RA Minister of Foreign Affairs: Armenia is interested in developing
relations with the countries of Persian Gulf
On May 24-26, 2004 a meeting of auditors from central and national
banks of CIS and Baltic states to take place in Armenia
Armenian opposition must return in the Parliament and prepare for
next elections – Leader of Dashnaktsutyun Faction
RA Minister of Territorial Management receives the Ambassador of
Qatar to Armenia
RA President congratulates famous French singer Charles Aznavour’s
80th Anniversary
RA President meets representatives of parties and ruling coalition
The work of Armenian commercial banks regarded as successful on the
whole in 2003
*********************************************************************
NKR PRESIDENT: HAI DATA COMMISSION TO FOCUS ON NKR INTERNATIONAL
RECOGNITION
STEPANAKERT, May, 24. /ARKA/. Arkadi Ghukasian, the President of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) received the Director of the Cenyral
Office of Hai Data Commission of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau Kenet
Khachikyan. According to NKR Press Service Department, Ghukasian
noted the necessity of more active work of the Armenian Diaspora for
NKR international recognition, when speaking of the importance of
work of Hai Data on propaganda and introduction of the Armenian issue
to international community. In regard with this, he emphasized the
importance of coordination of efforts of political organizations of
the Armenian Diaspora and NKR internal political and other structures
for Karabalh conflict settlement, attracting investments to Artsakh.
In his turn khachikyan noted that Hai Data Commission attaches great
importance to the final settlement of the conflict. He assured the
President that the organization will continue its work and defend the
interests of NKR. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
RA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING
RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRIES OF PERSIAN GULF
YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. Vartan OSkanian the RA Minister of Foreign
Affairs received Salekh Ibrahim al-Kuari, Quatar Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia (residence in Teheran),
who handed to Oskanian the copies of his credentials. According to RA
MFA Press Service Department, during the meeting close co-operation
and mutual understanding between Armenian and Arab countries was
noted, as well as the necessity to stimulate present relations
between Armenia and Quatar. Oskanian noted that Armenia is interested
in developing relations with the countries of Persian Gulf, and
especially with Quatar. The parties also discussed the present
situation in the region. A.H. –0–
*********************************************************************
ON MAY 24-26, 2004 A MEETING OF AUDITORS FROM CENTRAL AND NATIONAL
BANKS OF CIS AND BALTIC STATES TO TAKE PLACE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. On May 24-26, 2004 a meeting of auditors
from central and national banks of CIS and Baltic states to take
place in Armenia. According to CBA Press Service Department, this is
the third such meeting. In the course of the meeting some issues to
be discussed, in particular, the role, organization and the methods
of inner control in central banks, the tendencies of their
development, the systems of internal audit, ìthe methods of
management and risks evaluation, description of business processes,
the methods of conducting audit of central banks in specific areas,
the issues of interrelation between the external and internal audits.
According to the press release, a meeting between CBA Chairman Tigran
Sargsyan and the Heads of sub-departments of internal audit of
central and national banks of CIS and Baltic states. Sargsyan wished
fruitful work to the participants of the meeting and hoped that they
would discuss the concept of inner control of CBA. He noted that
during the last three years the role of CBA inner audit increased
significantly, as it studies and evaluates the risks of
sub-departments, submits reports to CBA Board, which allows having
more info about the activities of all departments of the bank and
differentiating their work according to risks levels. It was
mentioned on the meeting that the concept of inner control was
implemented in structural sub-departments of CBA last year, which
allowed bringing the activities of the bank in accordance with the
order of the bank.A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MUST RETURN IN THE PARLIAMENT AND PREPARE FOR
NEXT ELECTIONS – LEADER OF DASHNAKTSUTYUN FACTION
YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. Armenian opposition must return in the
Parliament and prepare for next elections, the Leader of
Dashnaktsutyun Faction Levon Mkrtchian stated today. According to
him, “most of people did not go after opposition, because did not see
perspective or concrete programs”. “Armenian authorities are stable
and have serious programs, external and internal obligations. It is
preferably that opposition also participated in these processes,
using its constitutional rights”, Mkrtchian said and added that even
without opposition, the authorities will try to achieve its goals.
L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF
QATAR TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Territorial Management Ovik
Abramian received the Ambassador of Qatar to Armenia Saleh Ibragim
Al-Kuari. The parties discussed establishment of bilateral economic
cooperation and process of realization of the agreements achieved
during the visit of RA President in Qatar.
The parties agreed on conduction of a sitting of Armenian-Qatar
interstate commission. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES FAMOUS FRENCH SINGER CHARLES AZNAVOUR’S
80TH ANNIVERSARY
YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian congratulated
famous French singer Charles Aznavour of the Armenian descent on
occasion of his 80th anniversary. As RA President Press Service told
ARKA, in his message to the famous compatriot, President mentioned
that the Armenian people loves and is proud of him. “It is hard to
wish you more successes as you had in your rich artistic and public
activity. You are one of exceptional artist that were and continue
being idol for several generations”, the message says. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF PARTIES AND RULING COALITION
YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian met
representatives of parties and the ruling coalition. As RA
President’s Press Service told ARKA, the meeting was attended by
leaders of parliamentary factions United Labor party and MP group
“People’s Deputy. As it is mentioned in te press release, the
participants discussed issues related to agenda of parliamentary
three days session. Also, they touched upon the political situation
inside the country. The president also informed the participants on
his foreign visits. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
THE WORK OF ARMENIAN COMMERCIAL BANKS REGARDED AS SUCCESSFUL ON THE
WHOLE IN 2003
YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. In 2003 the work of Armenian commercial
banks was successful on the whole, as stated by the Chairman of the
Armenian Banks Union (ABU) Samvel Chzmachyan during the 7th session
of ABU. He noted that the growth of GDP made 13.9% by the results of
last year, whereas the growth of capital of the banking system
amounted to 37.7%. At the same time, the sum of credit investments by
the banks increased by 28.6%, and the ratio of profitability to
capital made 19.6%. “This is a very high indicator for both Armenia
and some other countries”, according to Chzmachyan. He stated that it
should be taken into consideration that the results were achieved
because of reduction of the number of banks functioning in Armenia.
He noted the positive role of CBA in this, as the bank created a
positive environment for work of the banks. “The success achieved
testifies to the fact that the strategy pursued by CBA was right”, he
said. Chzmachyan also noted that in 2004 CBA was going to activate
its participation in arrangements aimed at creating a favorable
environment for banks functioning, to co-operate more closely with
CBA and RA Government to develop programs contributing to credit and
financial institutes development, and to co-operate in the issue of
implementation of new principles of corporative management in this
sector.
15 banks out of 19 banks functioning in Armenia are the members of
the ABU. A.H. -0–
*********************************************************************

OTE invests $216 million in Armenian telecoms
Interfax
May 25 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Greece’s OTE has invested $216 million in
developing the telecommunications network in Armenia and does not plan
to leave the Armenian market, Georgios Vasilakis, acting executive
director of Armenian national operator ZAO Armentel, in which OTE
has a 90% stake, said on Monday.
He said that the company will continue to work in Armenia after the
company’s monopoly on mobile communications and external Internet
services is restricted on June 30, following a government ruling.
“How can we leave the Armenian market if $150 million has been paid
for Armentel shares and another $216 million has been subsequently
invested,” he said.