Author: Emil Lazarian

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 9 2005
EVENTS DEDICATED TO UN 60TH ANNIVERSARY TO START IN ARMENIA ON
SEPTEMBER 17, 2005
YEREVAN, September 9. /ARKA/. The events dedicated to the 60th
anniversary of the UN will start in Armenia on September 17, 2005,
Resident Representative of the UNDP to Armenia, Ambassador Consuelo
Vidal told a press-conference in Yerevan. She reported that it is
expect to organize a concert in the Republic Square, as well as to
organize the chess tournament for children of 10-12 age group for the
UN Cup with the participation of grand master Smbat Lputyan in
Cascade territory on September 24, 2005. The events will last till
October 24, 2005, which is the UN Day. On this day an exhibition of
works of young photographers will be organized in Yerevan, as well as
a concert of classic music at the Aram Khachatryan Concert Hall.
She also reported that a new video clip was recorded with
participation of stars of Armenian pop music on a new song “We and
our history”. The music is by Anita Hakhverdyan, the words by Aram
Avagyan, and 26 singers, who are well-known in Armenia, sing this
song, namely Shushan Petrosyan, Hayko, Andre, Ani-Christi. Producer
of this clip is Hrach Keshishyan.
2005 is also the year of the 5th anniversary of the UN Millennium
Declaration, which was signed by 191 counties, including Armenia. The
countries committed to reach 8 MD Goals by 2015, particularly poverty
reduction, reduction of child mortality, environmental protection,
improvement of education. A.A. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2005
TABDC co-chairman Kaan Soyak: `Conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia cannot be resolved by keeping the borderlines close’

07 September 2005 [11:31] – Today.Az

Co-chairman of Council for Development of Turkey-Armenia Economical
Relations (TABDC) Kaan Soyak’s exclusive interview to `APA’.

– How do you evaluate the current situation of Turkish-Armenian
economical relations?
– The economical relations are developing well despite of all
difficulties; a lot of businessmen are establishing mutual relations.
Armenian and Turkish businessmen are cooperating especially in the
market of Russia and Middle Asia. Armenian Diaspora and Turkish
businessmen have established serious relations recently. There are a
lot of representatives of Armenian Diaspora willing to meet and
cooperate with the businessmen from Anatolia.
– How much is the total volume of trade turnover between Armenian and
Turkish businessmen at the moment?
– This is not less than 100-120 million dollars. The nations of both
countries are interested in establishing economical relations. There
were large-scale trade relations between the Turks and Armenians in
the history of Ottoman too. Sale and purchase are mutually at the
moment .We have implemented some projects so far through the
organization I run. We are cooperating in a number of spheres,
especially energy, transportation, telecommunication, textile
industry, tourism.
– Have you achieved any positive results as the result of the
implementation of projects to normalize the relations between Armenia
and Turkey? Could you do any change to the public opinion in
comparison with the previous periods?
– Of course…Turkish community got to know Armenia, Armenians again.
They got to know that most of Armenians want to live in a friendly
atmosphere with Turkish people. Turkish community treats the problems
between Armenia and Azerbaijan more objectively; wrong policies of
both countries are given coverage by the press obviously. It is
accepted now that Russia’s obvious policy for the benefit of Armenia
in previous years did nothing good. Besides, Turkish public opinion
advocates objective resolution of the conflict. The economical
difficulties faced by Anatolia province are due to the closing of
Turkey-Armenia borderlines. Azerbaijan is also responsible as Armenia
for Turkey facing this problem.
– Is Turkey which is facing hardships in regard to access to European
Union expected to take any positive step in the direction of opening
its borderlines with Armenia?
-European Union is expecting Turkey-Armenia borderlines to open
obviously. There is no reason to prevent this. Thus, Europeans do not
think like Azerbaijanis regarding this matter.I mean, the conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia cannot be resolved by closing the
borderlines, as you see it has not been solved so far. Azerbaijan
puts pressure on Turkey for leaving the borderlines closed. However,
changing of this policy would ease Turkey and provide opportunity for
finding more active variant supported by the international community
with regard to the resolution of the conflict. If Robert Kocharyan
and Ilham Aliyev reach a consensus concerning the resolution of the
conflict in Kazan on 26 August the matter of opening the borderlines
will come to the agenda, of course.
– How does the international community assess the activity of TABDC?
– They think positively concerning our activity. We have relations
with a number of organizations. We have regular contacts with the
high ranking officials of the important states. Even the UNO approves
the activity of the TABDC and supports it. Our functioning is
indicated as a model in other similar regions of the world.
– How do you evaluate the imprisonment of historical scientist Ektan
Turkyilmaz in Turkey?
-I regretted that Turkyilmaz was imprisoned, regrettably, Armenian
government made a great mistake here. The matter of releasing of
Turkyilmaz brought Turks and Armenians together. We all want him to
be set free. Personally I do not believe that Turkyilmaz attempted to
export forbidden books from Armenia on purpose. Azerbaijanis, Turks
and Armenians can cooperate for releasing this scientist. The number
of those intending to investigate the events happened in 1915 began
to increase in the past few years. The number of those willing to
investigate these archives has increased. The step taken by Armenia
is not a right one.
– The official Ankara announced that it will not open its borderlines
with Armenia in the period when you are increasing your efforts. How
do such statements affect the activity of the TABDC?
– Of course, such statements are not approvable, Ankara stated that
its official position depends on the improvement in the resolution of
the Upper Garabagh conflict and waits for the step taken in this
direction. A consensus should be reached regarding this matter. The
step to be taken by Azerbaijan is also important as the step of
Armenia. Regrettably, it would not be right to announce the
communities of both countries about the steps to be taken. Do
remember how the radical nationalists criticized Turkey’s supporting
Annan plan on the resolution of the Cyprus conflict. The communities
of Azerbaijan and Armenia are very responsible for this matter. They
have to support the step to be taken by the government and should
know that these steps will be the most right steps for the future of
the peoples even if they are not the most ideal ones.
– We would like to know your opinion concerning the so-called
`genocide of Armenians’…
– We do not deal with this matter, however, we want the both sides to
discuss the matter together, exchange their information and
documents. I treat this matter a little bit morally. I am impressed
when seeing that Armenians from Anatolia still preserve the
traditions of Anatolia though they lived in foreign countries for 2-3
generations. Though I want to tell them `come back and turn to your
homes’ inside me I know they will not return. God willing, if
Turkey-Armenia borderlines are opened thousands of immigrant
Armenians from Anatolia will visit Turkey, Armenia, even Azerbaijan
as tourists. It is very important for us to understand each other
morally in regard with the solution of the events happened in 1915.
– Do you believe the reconciliation of Turkish and Armenian peoples
and opening of the borders?
– I believe that, peace will be restored in the South Caucasus in a
shortest time and the borderlines will be opened. Azerbaijan and
Armenia should reach a consensus and Turkey-Armenia borderline should
be opened in order to reconcile. The meeting due to in Kazan is very
important in this matter, I believe that peace will be achieved soon
if no one prevents it. The most important problem will be the status
of the Upper Garabagh, of course. There must a formula for both
countries to reach a consensus. Can Turkish businessmen cooperate
with the businessmen of Upper Garabagh if there is no peace? Why not?
There can never be any obstacle for trade. But, Upper Garabagh is not
recognized by the international community. Therefore, no credit can
be given to this region, the goods exported her can not be insured,
international banks cannot function, there is no international
guarantee for the capital invested here. There are some other
problems, only free trade can be realized with this region unless the
status of Upper Garabagh is defined, but, of course, no one wants
such trade. The situation is the same in North Cyprus that is why no
capital is invested to this region. I think, tourism must be the
first sector which will be given impulse to by Turkey, Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia jointly, if peace is achieved and the borders
are opened. The South Caucasus has the richest tourism potential in
the world; this region can attract thousands of tourisms.
– The TABDC demonstrated the initiative on crossing the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline through Armenia… Do you
still support your initiative?
– The TABDC called the pipeline to pass through Armenia as `Pipeline
of peace’, it means, this pipeline will link us for many years. All
the countries, including Azerbaijan admit that the pipeline to pass
through Armenia is more effective economically. The construction of
Armenia section of the pipeline means 20% reduction in the financial
expenditures. We cannot say that this matter was decided fully, there
are pipelines remained from the USSR period in Armenia and it is
possible to reconstruct these pipelines by the account of very little
investment. As the result, Turkey and Azerbaijan might gain a lot of
incomes from these pipelines.
– How much is Turkish community ready for the opinions, ideas you
mention?
-Turkish public fed up with the political difficulties, we have
Cyprus problem which has been lasted for more than 30 years and
expected to last, the problems with Iraq and Syria have not been
solved and the problem in regard with Armenians has not been solved
either. Turkish public opinion would not judge Azerbaijan 7-8 years
ago, but now the public opinion is that Azerbaijan is not making
enough efforts for achieving peace.
– What do think, your efforts will result in when Armenia makes
territorial claims against Turkey?
– The territorial claims have no ground and I have not met any
Armenian working seriously in this direction. Minor part of the
Armenian Diaspora claim this, but these claims are not accepted
seriously by the community. The borderlines of the two countries are
guaranteed by the international commitments and these claims will be
removed after the diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia are
restored. As the matter of fact, Azerbaijani Turks, Armenians and
Anatolia Turks must chose a target as it is in Europe in which there
is no borders and it is possible to move freely. Who can tell that
one state has a territorial claim against the other in Europe today?
Regrettably, such matters are only disputed in our region.
– There are Russian military bases in Armenia; don’t you think that
this factor might endanger Turkish capital invested to the economy of
Armenia?
– Russia is not a threatening factor for Turkey; on the contrary,
Turkey can meet some needs of Russian military bases. The Turkish are
real professionals in meeting the needs of military objects. The USA
military bases have been in Turkey for a long time and the needs of
these bases have been met by Turkey. Russia intends to function
together with Turkey. Russia and Turkey can keep peace in the South
Caucasus jointly. The dividends gained by keeping peace in the South
Caucasus are many times better for Russia than the dividends gained
by the military bases.
– Have you been put any pressures by the government and NGOs of
Azerbaijan with regard to your efforts in the direction of
normalizing the relations with Armenia?
– We want to establish peace between Armenians and Turkish people and
we believe that our activity will be the foundation of peace and
tranquility in the whole South Caucasus. On the other hand, we do not
treat the problem like Armenia or Turkey. Therefore, we have been
pressured by the organizations that interpret the problem meeting the
interests of Azerbaijan. We always tell them to take into
consideration the interests of Turkey too.
– Does the Foreign Ministry of Turkey support your activity?
– We are not linked with the government; we are NGO that tries to
normalize Turkish-Armenian relations. We have nothing against Turkey,
Armenia or Azerbaijan. Turkish Foreign Ministry is aware of our
activity.
– Are you supported by any people or organization from Azerbaijan?
– No Azerbaijani or organization from Azerbaijan judged us when we
explained our action plan. On the contrary, there are many persons
and organizations that want us to include Azerbaijan into our
activity circle. We are going to expand our action circle by the
account of Azerbaijan and Georgia in a shortest time.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 17:37:07 | 09-09-2005 | Official |
LESSONS STARTED IN THE SEMINARY
Today the opening ceremony of the 2005-2006 educational year took place in
the Gevorgyan Theological seminary of Echmiadzin.
After the Lord’s Prayer the Inspector of the seminary rendered an opening
speech. He mentioned gladly that this year the seminary will celebrate the
60th anniversary of its re-opening, and that there are no more of the
difficulties which existed in 1945.
After the entrance examinations 43 applicants have entered the seminary, and
there are on the whole 240 students in the seminary.

A1+
| 17:14:15 | 09-09-2005 | Official |
THE U.S EMBASSY EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE
The U.S. Embassy, on behalf of the American people and the U.S. Government,
would like to express its heart-felt gratitude for Armenia’s generous
donation of $200,000 to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
The American people are touched and deeply grateful for the generous offers
of help we have received from the Armenian Government, and from governments,
individuals, and private organizations around the world.

Pan Armenian News
REPRESENTATIVES OF UNRECOGNIZED REPUBLICS TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITY OF
`PARALLEL CIS’
09.09.2005 04:37
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A conference titled `Parallel CIS. Abkhazia, South
Ossetia, Transdnesrt and Nagorno Karabakh as post soviet realities’ with the
participation of representatives of the unrecognized republicswill be held
in Moscow September 13-16. The conference was initiated by the Institute of
CIS Studies headed by Russian Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin and Chair of
Sociology of the Moscow State University. Well known Russian political
scientists, representatives of Russian, Armenian and South Ossetian clergy
are expected to take part in the conference. The names of the officials to
represent Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdnesrt and Nagorno Karabakh are not
known yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA AND THAILAND SIGNED JOINT PROGRAM OF ACTIONS
Pan Armenian News
08.09.2005 05:17
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The MFA of Armenia and Thailand today signed a
Joint Program of Actions. As Deputy FM of the Thai Kingdom Virachai
Virameteekul stated at a briefing after the signing of the document,
Thailand views Armenia as one of its best friends in the South
Caucasus. “I was glad to get to know there were Armenians among first
Europeans, who arrived in our country to trade. I am especially happy
as in 1773 Thailand took part in the publishing of the first Armenian
Constitution. Sustaining close relations is important and let me assure
you that Thailand considers these very important,” he stated. “I had
the honor to accompany Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan during his visit
to Thailand July 9-13. Today’s signing of the Joint Program of Actions
is an outcome of that visit,” Virachai Virameteekul added. He also
reported he met with FM V. Oskanian and the parties came to accord
after discussions. Then details of the program were discussed with
Deputy FM Armen Bayburtyan, which was followed by the signing of the
document for 2 years from 2005 to 2007. The document will be the main
instrument, stimulating relations between the two countries and the
MFA of Armenia and Thailand will coordinate and control the program
actions. The parties have agreed on cooperation in trade and economy,
science and technology, information and telecommunication, medicine,
education, agriculture, tourism and sport. “We consider agriculture
a priority. Here both countries have much experience. Armenia will
share its experience in growing grapes, winemaking, brandy production,
as well as growing plants in our climate. Thailand will share its
technologies in poultry farm development and agricultural tourism,”
Virachai Virameteekul noted. In his words, Thailand will present
its goods at Expo 2005 in Armenia. “We will also develop investment
directions. I hope for the document signed today to serve to more
strengthening of the relations between our countries,” the Thai Deputy
FM said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHICH DIRECTOR WOULD MAKE THE BETTER GODFATHER?: EGOYAN V. CRONENBERG
by J. Kelly Nestruck, National Post
National Post (Canada)
September 8, 2005 Thursday
Toronto Edition
At this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, two of Canada’s
top directing dynamos are facing off. Atom Egoyan’s Where the Truth
Lies and David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence are both getting gala
presentations, and the men behind them are vying for the (unofficial)
title of Greatest Canadian Director at the Festival After Deepa Mehta.
The timid critics are quiet as to who is the better filmmaker, but
the Canadian people aren’t shy about saying what’s what. Each day
during the festival, we will show three filmgoers pictures of Atom
and David and ask them to choose. In the end, there will only be one
dude standing (behind Deepa).
Today’s question: Which of these two men would you rather be the
godfather to your child?
Location: Outside the SilverCity movie theatre at Yonge and Eglinton.
– Meghan, a 24-year-old publicist, chose Atom. “He looks younger. His
hair isn’t going grey, and he looks more friendly. This other guy
looks kind of scary. Skeleton-like.”
– Edie, a psychologist, chose David. “Probably it’s because he’s
older, and older people tend to be godfather types. I don’t think
I’d pick either one, really. You think about godfather attributes,
like caring and responsible. I think they’re very creative, but …”
– Beata, mother of Patrick, 2, and Eryk, 9 months, chose Atom. “He
looks younger. He looks like he would be bigger fun to play with for
my children.”
Winner of Round 1: Atom Egoyan. The lean, mean Armenian takes an
early lead thanks to youthful good looks and a fun-lovin’ attitude
that bowl the ladies over. Lock him up, Arsinee, or he may end up
with a gaggle of “god”children!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPPOSITION SET TO END PARLIAMENT BOYCOTT
Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
Aug 8 2005
The Armenian opposition confirmed on Wednesday its reported plans to
put a permanent end to its 18-month boycott of parliament dominated
by President Robert Kocharian’s supporters.
The more than two dozen deputies representing the Artarutyun bloc and
the National Unity Party (AMK) walked out of the National Assembly
in February 2004 after its pro-presidential majority refused to
consider calling a “referendum of confidence” in Kocharian. The move
precipitated a bitter confrontation between the government and the
opposition that deepened political polarization in the country.
The Armenian authorities and the Council of Europe have since
repeatedly urged the opposition minority to return to the parliament.
The two opposition groups suspended the boycott last week to attend
parliament debates on constitutional reform not least because it was
broadcast live by state television. That gave opposition leaders a
rare opportunity to spread their message to TV viewers across Armenia.
“Deputies from the National Unity Party tentatively discussed that
issue and after analyzing the results of the extraordinary parliament
session arrived at the conclusion that they should return to the
National Assembly,” AMK leader Artashes Geghamian told RFE/RL. “Only
in that case will the failings of the coalition become obvious to
the people.”
Geghamian added that the AMK faction’s decision is likely to be
endorsed by the party’s governing board on Saturday and that he and
eight other deputies representing it could return to the National
Assembly on Monday.
A similar decision is expected to be made by Artarutyun. “The people
are asking us to participate in the work of the National Assembly
and expose the real face of the regime,” one of its leaders, Victor
Dallakian, said after Wednesday’s meeting of the bloc’s governing
board.
The end of the boycott continues to be strongly opposed by
Hanrapetutyun, the most radical of the nine parties aligned in the
bloc. “I personally won’t go to the parliament,” its leader Aram
Sarkisian told reporters.
Sarkisian, who has still not attended a single parliament session,
against stated that he does not fear being stripped of his mandate
by the parliament majority because of absenteeism. “If they are such
law-abiding and honest guys, let them expel me,” he said. “I am openly
challenging them to expel me. I have no problem with that.”
The outspoken oppositionist also downplayed the decision by
several prominent members of his party to leave Hanrapetutyun. The
dissenters led by former Yerevan Mayor Albert and former Defense
Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian cited Sarkisian’s growing pro-Western
orientation and readiness to ignore the opinion of other opposition
forces.
“The Hanrapetutyun leader is promising a quick democratic revolution
but his real actions are having opposite effects,” Harutiunian charged
on Tuesday. “We believe that regime change is possible only through
the consolidation of the opposition camp.”
Harutiunian, who has a reputation of a pro-Russian politician, also
claimed that at least half of the Hanrapetutyun chapters across the
country have decided to split from the party. “Those figures are very
far from reality,” responded Sarkisian.
Sarkisian claimed that the discord, heavily publicized by pro-Kocharian
media, is only helping his party attract new and mostly young
members. He said he will outline Hanrapetutyun’s plans at a conference
which will take place later this month or early next.

OSKANIAN MET WITH THAI DEPUTY FM
Pan Armenian News
08.09.2005 06:21
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian met with Thai
Deputy FM Virachai Virameteekul, reported the Armenian MFA Press
Service. In the course of the meeting the parties appreciated the
dynamics of development of the Armenian-Thai relations and noted the
importance of mutual visits at high level within past years. It was
noted that the visits stimulate strengthening economic, scientific,
educational, cultural ties. Besides, the interlocutors exchanged
opinions over a number of issues of mutual interest. Proposals were
made to fully use the potential of expansion and strengthening
of mutual ties. Today Virachai Virameteekul also met with Armenian
Deputy FM A. Bayburdyan. The parties discussed the provisions of the
Joint Program of Actions of the Armenian and Thai Governments and
noted that the Program includes all bilateral cooperation directions.
Specifically, it is a stimulus for strengthening agricultural, trade
and economic cooperation. Within that context the interlocutors
discussed the matter of the legal framework.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES ASPIRED TO MEET NATO AND EU STANDARDS
Pan Armenian News
07.09.2005 07:21
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The goal of the Armenian Armed Forces is to meet
the standards of the NATO and EU, Armenian Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan stated in Riga during the meeting with his Latvian counterpart
Einars Repse.
In his words, over insufficient financing the Armenian defense cannot
meet the EU and NATO standards at present. During the meeting the
Minister signed a treaty on military cooperation. Mr. Repse noted
that after joining NATO official Riga raised interest towards
the South Caucasian states and that it’s time to activate defense
cooperation with Armenia. In his turn the Armenian Defense Minister
added that Armenia has scheduled reorganization of the Armed Forces
till 2015 and is interested in studying Latvia’s experience in the
field. Serge Sargsyan aslo met with Latvian Prime Minister Aigars
Kalvitis, who confirmed his support to the development of programs
targeted at Armenia’s aspiration to the North Atlantic structures
and the establishment of closer ties with NATO. Today the Armenian
Defense Minister departed for Tallinn, reported by Mediamax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress