Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenian speaker criticizes Russian counterpart’s remarks on ties
Aravot, Yerevan
21 Dec 04
Text of report by Anna Israelyan in Armenian newspaper Aravot on 21
December headlined “Replying to Gryzlov”
Yesterday 20 December the chairman of the Armenian National Assembly
Artur Bagdasaryan expressed his negative attitude to Russian State
Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov’s statement that Armenia is Russia’s
outpost in the South Caucasus.
“Certainly, I treat this statement badly,” Mr Bagdasaryan said. “First,
the Republic of Armenia is a sovereign state and cannot be an outpost
of any state. Second, the Armenian-Russian relations develop naturally
and the statement of the Azerbaijani president that Azerbaijan
is confused and does not know whether the peace talks should be
conducted with the outpost or its master should be considered just
in this context. For instance, today there is not an Azerbaijani
delegation in the Council of Europe, there is a Turkish-Azerbaijani
delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and
they jointly discuss and vote for all the issues,” Bagdasaryan added.
In fact, chairman of the National Assembly duplicated Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan, who replied to Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev’s statement: “For instance, we are not concerned about
warm Turkish-Azerbaijani relations”. But is it worthy to compare
the Armenian-Russian and the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations?
Artur Bagdasaryan replied: “No, we do not have an ethnic problem here.
Everybody understands that Russian-Armenian cooperation, including
military and political ones, has deeper roots than cooperation of
Russia with other states of the region. The Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations are qualitatively higher than the Armenian-Russian
ones. Anyway, the Armenian-Russian relations are unique due to
the dynamic of their development, and the Azerbaijani president’s
statement should be also considered in this context because the finger
was pointed not only at Armenia, but Russia as well. For this reason
we should be able to strengthen our sovereignty”.
Incidentally, the chairman of the National Assembly also joked that we
may thank Gryzlov for saying this, emphasizing that the word “thanks”
should be in quotation marks.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALEXANDER GRIGORIAN STAGES “THE BEAST ON THE MOON” PLAY DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE VICTIMS IN MOSCOW
YEREVAN, December 20 (Noyan Tapan). The premiere of the “The beast
on the Moon” play staged by RA People’s Artist Alexander Grigorian,
the Artistic Director of the Yerevan Russian Dramatic Theater after
K. Stanislavsky, was held at the Art Theater after A. Chekov in
Moscow on November 20. According to Alexander Grigorian, American
playwright Ruchard Kalinoskie’s play is dedicated to the memory of the
Armenian Genocide victims. It tells about the two Armenian young men,
who survived the 1915 terror.
According to the Artistic Director, “The beast on the Moon” brought
great recognition to the author: the play was staged in about 50
theaters of the US, it was translated into several languages and
was awarded with the Osborne prize of the American Drama Critics
Association.
The playwright was present at the Moscow premiere of the play, he said:
“This play is a real story of the parents of my first wife.” Russian
People’s Artist Oleg Tobakov, the Artistic Director of the Moscow
Art Theater, mentioned that the Armenian Genocide, which had 1.5 mln
victims, isn’t of less importance for him than Holocost.
According to art critic Margarita Yakhontova, the play is topical
not only for the Armenians. According to him, Russian artists Sergei
Ugryumov and Janina Kolesnichenko’s brilliant play delighted the
Russian spectators.

KOCHARIAN PRAISES NAIRI MEDICAL CENTER
ArmenPress
Dec 20 2004
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: President Kocharian attended today
inauguration of Nairi medical center that was privatized two years ago
and whose new owners say they have invested $3 million to renovate
the building constructed in 1967 and furnish it with state-of-the
art equipment.
Talking to reporters after strolling around the center, the president
praised the new owners for honoring all assumed commitments and
bringing the center in conformity with international standards.
Kocharian said the Nairi center case may serve as a best example of
how medical institutions should be privatized.
The center’s owners pledge another $ million investments in two
years. The center will have to render services also as part of a
government program of free medical services and has capacities to
service up to 5,000 people a year, but prices of some services will
be higher than in other clinics. The equipment was brought from
German Siemens.

Kazakh TV says bank chief’s death may remain mystery
Kazakh Television first channel, Astana
20 Dec 04
The death of the Kazakh TuranAlem private bank’s president, Yerzhan
Tatishev, may remain a mystery, Kazakh TV first channel has said. The
TV report also said that an attempt was made on Tatishev’s life in
2002. Tatishev was shot dead in a hunting accident in southern Kazakh
Zhambyl Region on 19 December. The following is the text of report
by Kazakh TV on 20 December:
[Presenter] Despite the fact that media sources have said that Yerzhan
Tatishev’s sudden death was an accident, as the head of a leading
financial establishment and a well-experienced and rich banker, his
death will undoubtedly give rise to various rumours. There had been
few rumours even before Tatishev’s death.
[Correspondent, over video of an archive footage of Tatishev at a
meeting, a TuranAlem bank office] The name of Yerzhan Tatishev, who
put the TuranAlem bank to its feet and brought it to the international
financial market, became well-known after his joining the Democratic
Choice of Kazakhstan [opposition] party. However, Tatishev left the
party two years ago, saying that the bank should be engaged in its
professional business and, first of all, be concerned with depositors’
interests.
A rumour, which damaged not only the bank chairman’s name but the
country’s international reputation, was circulated on an Internet
web site in summer last year. According to the rumour, the bank
chairman appropriated all the funds of the bank and escaped to the
USA. Tatishev denied this rumour via a video-link while being on a trip
to the USA. The rumour’s authors linked Tatishev’s trip to the USA
with the early release of Mukhtar Ablyazov [a former minister and an
opposition leader who was given a prison sentence for abuse of power].
In addition, an attempt was made on the banker’s life two years
ago. But he was not in a service car [when attacked]. The police said
there was a hidden political motive. Having signed the statement by
major Kazakh banks, Tatishev recently once again said that he would
not be involved in politics.
Some foreign media sources link the name of the TuranAlem bank chairman
with Kazakhstan’s debt worth 2.5m dollars to Uzbekistan.
In recent years, the Kazakh bank has started to penetrate the financial
markets of CIS countries. Ukrainian media sources called the TuranAlem
bank’s intention to buy a bank in this country a Kazakh offensive. The
bank also has its branches in Russia and China.
The bank ranks sixth among private banks in the CIS. Its assets are
worth 4bn dollars. The bank has recently voiced its plans to open joint
ventures in Azerbaijan and Armenia and to buy a bank in Tatarstan.
No matter what they say, it is possible the banker’s death at the age
of 37 will remain a mystery. There are a lot of questions which have
not been answered yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA SHOULD GRADUALLY QUIT NEGOTIATION PROCESS, KARABAKH POLITICIANS CONSIDER
PanArmenian News
Dec 20 2004
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The principal part of the conflict remained beyond
the negotiation process. Besides all, we were the belligerent”,
member of the commission for foreign policy of the NKR parliament,
AFR Dashnaktsutyun representative Maxim Mirzoyan considers.
Non-participation of the Karabakh party in the negotiations is not
justified, he said in his interview with Azg Armenian newspaper.
Editor-in-chief of “Demo” newspaper Gegham Baghdsarian says there are
issues “Armenia is not empowered to negotiate on, for example, the
issue of the liberated territories”. Developing the topic, Mirzoian
says that Armenia should categorically state that she will not take
part in the talks without Nagorno Karabakh. Moreover, Armenia should
gradually quit the negotiation process, leaving Stepanakert and
Baku at the bargaining table”. Karabakh political scientist Murad
Petrosian is of the same opinion: “Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian’s statement that if Baku brings forward the discussion of
the issue in the UN Armenia will quit the negotiation process should
have been made still in 1994”, he says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
20 December 2004
DEACON ORDAINED FOR SERVICE IN CHURCH IN SYDNEY
Sydney, Australia – On Sunday, 19th December, 2004 in the Armenian Apostolic
Church of Holy Resurrection, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian,
Primate of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand ordained Acolyte Shnork
Nigoghossian as Deacon. Also partaking in the ceremony were Reverend Father
Norayr Patanian, Reverend Father Bartev Karakashian, Deacons, Acolytes and
the Church Lousavorich Choir.
Deacon Shnork is the seventh ordained deacon of the Church of Holy
Resurrection.
During the ordination rite, through prayers and blessings, the
newly-ordained received the order of sub-deacon and deacon. It was deeply
moving when he committed himself to the service of God in front of the
congregation, humbly kneeling before the altar with arms raised and ears
blocked rejecting earthly standards.
The new order grants Deacon Shnork the privilege to perform sacred rituals
in the church that includes censing, chanting the Gospel reading during the
Divine Liturgy, and transferring the veiled chalice containing the gifts
(bread and wine) to the priest during The Eucharist.
The word “deacon” means “one who serves”. The position is believed to have
its origin rooted with the Apostles in the Jerusalem church. The primary
role of the deacon then was to care for the physical needs of the
congregation, a role which continues until today in traditional churches.
St Paul writes in his first letter to Timothy “Deacons are to be men worthy
of respect, sincere .. they must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith
with a clear conscience.”
Deacon Shnork Nigoghossian has served the Armenian Apostolic Church over the
past 15 years. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, is married to Askanoush
and has two children. For many years, Deacon Shnork has been actively
involved in all aspects of church life.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Head of Kazakh bank shot dead while hunting
Reuters
12/19/04 08:05 ET
ALMATY, Dec 19 (Reuters) – The head of Kazakhstan’s second largest
bank TuranAlem, Yerzhan Tatishev, died on Sunday in a shooting accident
while hunting wolves, the government spokesman said.
Government spokesman Murat Buldekbayev said Tatishev had died on a
hunting expedition in the Central Asian state’s southern region near
the border with Kyrgyzstan.
“He died at about noon,” he said. “His death was caused by a lethal
gunshot wound to his head, due to incautious use of firearms,” he
added. He gave no further details.
Three days ago Tatishev, 37, had unveiled during a visit to Russia
TuranAlem’s ambitious strategy to borrow $1.5 billion next year.
The rapidly growing bank, which has bought several banks in Russia,
Ukraine and Belarus and eyes new acquisitions in Armenia, Azerbaijan
and ex-Soviet Georgia, plans to issue a 7-year, $200-million Eurobond
in the first quarter of 2005.
Earlier this month the bank said it also planned to raise around $350
million via a rouble bond issue in Russia next year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘Aggressor unequivocally turned into object of reproach’ – President
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 18 2004
President Ilham Aliyev stated with regard to the closeness observed of
late in the Armenia-Iran relations that bilateral relations between
Azerbaijan, which pursues an independent foreign policy course,
and Iran should meet both countries’ interests.
The President pointed that the dialogue between the two countries has
intensified and that this country has repeatedly supported Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity with regard to the Upper Garabagh conflict.
As for Iran’s relations with other countries, Aliyev termed this as
this country’s prerogative.
He emphasized the importance of taking into account every process
that takes place in the region in maintaining relations.
“I hope that the aggressor has unequivocally turned into an object
of reproach for the sake of peace and stability, and international
organizations and regional states should state their position on the
issue as well.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

With deal on Turkey in hand, Europe’s borders set to press into Asia
Agence France Presse — English
December 18, 2004 Saturday 1:35 AM GMT
BRUSSELS Dec 18 — Barely seven months after its biggest ever
enlargement, the European Union has taken a bold step to push its
eastern-most borders deep into continental Asia’s western frontier
in Turkey.
After a bruising two days of summit haggling, and not a little
nail-biting, leaders of the 25 EU member states agreed terms to begin
EU accession talks with Ankara on October 3 next.
Then, on Friday, Turkey accepted its long-cherished invitation.
“We did not obtain all that we wanted 100 percent,” said Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “but we can say that it was a
success… We have reached a point where Turkey is rewarded for 41
years of efforts.”
“We have been writing history today,” added Dutch Prime Minister
Jan Peter Balkenende, savouring success as his nation wraps up its
six-month turn at the rotating EU presidency.
He called the outcome — which EU leaders welcomed with a robust
round of applause — “an important and brave decision by Turkey,
by Cyprus and by the EU as a whole”.
Significantly, the European Union pledged Turkey nothing less than
full membership at the end of the process — and not a second-class
“partnership” as some skeptical EU members, led by Austria, proposed.
Accession talks, plus a raft of economic and political reforms to
bring Turkey closer to EU standards, are likely to run a decade or so.
So no one should expect to see Turkey as a bona fide European power
before 2015 or so.
When it does join, however, it will be the EU’s first predominantly
Muslim member state — and bring Europe’s political borders right up
to Iraq, Iran, Syria and the Caucasus states of Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia.
The significance was not lost on British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
a staunch supporter of EU membership for NATO-member Turkey, which he
sees as a beacon of secularism and democracy for the wider Middle East.
“It shows that those who believe that there is some fundamental clash
of civilisations between Christians and Muslims are actually wrong,
that we can work together, that we can cooperate together,” he said.
The United States was delighted, too.
“Turkey’s full integration into the EU will be good for Europe and
the world. The announcement of accession talks brings this step closer
than ever,” said a White House spokesman.
Smiling for their own reasons Friday were ex-communist EU hopefuls
Bulgaria and Romania, who were told that they will sign accession
treaties in April next year, ahead of their planned entry in January
2007.
Croatia, born out of the violent break-up of the old Yugoslavia,
was meanwhile told it can start accession talks in March next year,
but under a strict condition — that it “fully cooperate” with the
UN war crimes tribunal.
Closing a deal with Turkey turned out harder than expected when a
rift emerged Friday over extending a 1963 customs protocol between
Ankara and the then European common market to include the 10 newest
EU member states, which joined last May 1.
One of the 10 is the ethnic Greek republic of Cyprus — a problem
because Turkey only recognises an ethnic Turkish statelet on the north
side of the Mediterranean island that it militarily helped to create
30 years ago.
Deft diplomacy meant that language in the final agreement was
rewritten to allow Turkey to promise that it will sign the protocol not
immediately, but sometime before the October 3 start of negotiations.
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said he was “satisfied”. But he
warned that once Turkey signs on the dotted line, it must fully live
up to its obligations under the protocol, which covers free movement
of people as well as goods.
“The implementation of the protocol is not only the commitment to
sign, but its (actual) implementation… If they don’t do it, simply,
they don’t start negotiations,” he said.

PRESENCE OF OPPOSITION IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT WILL INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF
ELABORATION AND CONSIDERATION OF BILLS: ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER
BODY:YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18. ARMINFO. Presence of the opposition in the
Armenian Parliament will increase the efficiency of elaboration and
consideration of bills, says Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Artur
Baghdasaryan in his interview with the Armenian Second TV channel
“H2.” A.Baghdasaryan is the Leader of the Orinats Yerkir party included
in the ruling coalition.
In his words, if the boycott is continued, the opposition is better
refuse from its presence in the parliament at all. Artur Baghdasaryan
thinks that this problem must be solved only through political
discussions. Finally, the people will send the MPs to the parliament,
in order that they protect its interests, first of all. There are
national problems like the peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict
and they cannot be “favorable to the authorities and unfavorable to
the opposition or vice versa,” Baghdasaryan says.
Speaking of the domestic political situation in Armenia on the whole,
he states that it can be called stable. It is for the first time that
the political forces in the parliament has formed a coalition. Of
course, there are conflicts of opinions and approaches inside the
coalition in conditions of powerful positive potential. Of course,
there are obstacles, which can be overcome through structural reforms,
first of all. As regards the talks on the necessity of extraordinary
presidential and parliamentary elections, they are illogical from
the political point of view, he states. He assessed the activity of
the parliament in 2004 as effective as it was possible.