Author: Emil Lazarian

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
14 October 2004
Minister Oskanian receives the assistant to US Secretary of State Laura
Kennedy
On 14 October Minister Oskanian received the assistant to US Secretary
of State, Laura Kennedy.
During the meeting the two sides exchanged views on bilateral and
urgent international issues of mutual interest. Touching the nature of
the Armenian-American relations, the sides stated with satisfaction
that they are characterized by dynamic progress and high level of
certainty.
The sides paid great attention to the economic constituent of the
Armenian-American relations. They discussed the results of the 9th
meeting of the Armenian-American working group of Economic cooperation,
which recently took place in Washington.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the current
status of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict settlement, Armenia -Turkey
relations, as well as several other issues on the international agenda.
Minister Oskanian expressed his concern regarding the policy of
blockade carried out by Turkey and stressed that such a policy is
inconsistent with current regional developments.
Laura Kennedy is a Minister-Councellor in the Foreign Service of
the USA. Since June, she has been appointed assistant to the US
Secretary of State. In 1992, she was Charge d’Affaires of the newly
opened US embassy in Armenia. In 2001, she was the US ambassador
in Turkmenistan.

Religion in Armenia
Moscow Times
Oct 15 2004
News in Brief
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Authorities in Armenia registered the
Jehovah’s Witnesses on Wednesday, allowing the religious group to
operate in the Caucasus nation after years of debate and denial.
Legalizing the Jehovah’s Witnesses was one of the main conditions
set out by the Council of Europe when it granted Armenia membership
two years ago.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Figaro, France
14 octobre 2004
Relance du dossier turc pour le char Leclerc;
DÉFENSE Nouvel appel d’offres courant 2005
par Philippe Migault
Alors que Giat Industries, menacé d’une rupture de son plan de
charge, est en pleine restructuration et que toutes ses perspectives
à l’export, hormis le canon Caesar, semblaient caduques, la piste
turque se relance. En jeu, un contrat portant sur un premier lot de
250 chars d’assaut, pour lequel un appel d’offres devrait être lancé
courant 2005. Or le Leclerc est très apprécié à Ankara. Les autorités
turques avaient lancé un premier appel d’offres en 1999 pour
l’acquisition de mille engins. Compte tenu de la crise économique
sévissant en Turquie les années suivantes, elles l’ont annulé au
printemps 2004. Mais pour les militaires turcs, le char français
était sorti vainqueur de la campagne d’essais qui l’avait opposé à
ses rivaux. Les trois sociétés turques, FNSS, Otokar et BMC, qui ont
été chargées d’une enquête préalable au lancement d’un nouvel appel
d’offres en 2005 par le haut comité de défense turc et par SSM,
l’équivalent local de la DGA, s’en souviendront sans doute. Et le
Leclerc partira peut-être dans cette compétition avec un temps
d’avance si la Turquie ne tient pas compte de la polémique divisant
l’opinion française au sujet de son entrée dans l’Union européenne.
Déjà, en 2001, le Parlement français avait reconnu le génocide
arménien de 1915, ce qui avait jeté un froid. Seul bémol : le nouvel
appel d’offres sera cette fois-ci différent.
La Turquie souhaite désormais que son industrie de défense participe
beaucoup plus au programme. L’électronique de bord devrait notamment
être d’origine turque, ce qui, compte tenu de la valeur ajoutée de
cette composante dans les chars occidentaux, diminuera d’autant la
part des électroniciens qui emporteront le contrat. En France, Thales
et Sagem représentent une forte part du coût et de l’excellence du
Leclerc. Quoi qu’il en soit, le Leclerc, auquel le Qatar et l’Arabie
saoudite s’intéressaient avant que les négociations ne s’enlisent, a
une nouvelle opportunité. Outre-Rhin, la presse s’est fait l’écho de
contacts renouvelés entre les autorités turques et allemandes. Et les
récentes déclarations du ministre allemand de la Défense, Peter
Struck, estimant que les progrès réalisés par la Turquie dans la
perspective de son adhésion à l’UE devraient faciliter la reprise des
ventes d’armes, sont déjà interprétées comme un signal de départ.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Norwegian minister hails Azerbaijan’s stance on European commitments
Trend news agency
14 Oct 04
Baku, 13 October: Azerbaijan is honouring its commitments to the
Council of Europe, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told the visiting
Norwegian foreign minister and the chairman of the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers, Jan Petersen, on 13 October, Trend reports.
“We are doing it not only because we have assumed the commitments
to your organization. This first of all confirms the policy towards
democratizing our society,” Aliyev said.
Speaking about Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, Aliyev
repeated that Azerbaijan’s position on the issue is in keeping with
international legal norms and principles. Touching on the discussion
of the issue by the Council of Europe, including by the Parliamentary
Assembly, the president said Azerbaijan had always supported any
discussions on the issue because it’s position was fair.
“When our country initiated the appointment of a Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe [PACE] rapporteur for the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagornyy-Karabakh conflict, as always Armenia opposed that, which
clearly shows that it is not interested in informing the international
community of the essence of the conflict,” he added.
Jan Petersen said that while in Baku he had held very productive
meetings and added that the visit was of great importance from the
standpoint of cooperati on between both Azerbaijan and Norway and
between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe.
Pointing to the successful development of Azerbaijani-Norwegian
relations, Petersen said it was particularly commendable in the
economic sphere. Giving a positive assessment of the work of the
Norwegian company Statoil in Azerbaijan, the minister expressed
confidence that bilateral economic cooperation would expand not only
in the oil and gas but in other sectors as well.
Touching on Azerbaijan’s relations with the Council of Europe,
Petersen said Azerbaijan was treating its commitments to the Council
of Europe not only as obligations but also as a way of furthering the
country’s democratic development. The visitor praised Azerbaijan for
such an attitude and added that the development of such cooperation
was equally important to Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe.

ARE USA AND AZERBAIJAN TO DECIDE THE FATE OF LIBERATED TERRITORIES?
A1 Plus
13-10-2004
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has recently been making
strange expressions over Karabakhi conflict settlement. In particular,
answering the question of Opposition MP Aram Sargssyan in Parliament
Minister said: “I see nothing to alarm for. Our diplomacy is in a
good state, the political processes pass the way they are to. We are
the one to give something. But we won’t give Karabakh.”
Vardan Oskanyan announced 6 years ago no one allowed us even to
dream of Karabakh out of Azerbaijan whereas now the international
society has resigned itself that version, Minister thinks. Of course,
it doesn’t mean that they will accept and declare about it but the
fact they have complied with it is beyond controversy for Oskanyan.
Oskanyan doesn’t remember “any serious state” to make a statement over
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan at 6 recent years. Minister
says statements like that are made very carefully, without touching
upon the topic of Nagorno Karabakh.
By the way, Vardan Oskanyan generously agreed to the suggestion by Aram
Sargssyan that independence of Nagorno Karabakh must be recognized.
The most sensational statement of Vardan Oskanyan concerned the
agreement concluded between USA and Azerbaijan over stationing USA
military groups in the liberated territories, which are under control
of Armenian forces. “To tell the truth, it’s the task of Azerbaijan
and USA. But I don’t consider it real. I don’t think USA to make such
a decision”, he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri speaker bans MPs from criticizing foreign countries
Bilik Dunyasi news agency
13 Oct 04
Baku, 13 October: Commenting on the problem of settling the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict at a session of the Milli Maclis, the speaker of
the Azerbaijani parliament, Murtuz Alasgarov, banned the deputies
from criticizing foreign countries.
He said that at their meetings with him, foreign ambassadors to
Azerbaijan express their dissatisfaction with the remarks about their
countries made in parliament.
He pointed out that some members of the Milli Maclis criticize Russia,
the USA and other countries.
“I infer that some of you sympathize with Russia, some with the USA
and others sympathize either with France or with no country at all. Who
asked for your opinion about this or that country?” the speaker asked.
Alasgarov also told the deputies to express their judgments only
through the press.
“You can express your opinion in the press about individual people,
or for example, about the elections in the USA. We have no right to
hold such discussions in parliament,” Murtuz Alasgarov said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Jerusalem’s Armenians seek protection from Jewish harassment
Palestine-info, United Kingdom
Oct 13 2004
Occupied Jerusalem – The small Armenian community in Jerusalem has
urged the Israeli occupation authorities to crack down on Jewish
extremists who have been harassing Christian clergymen, especially
in the old town, where the bulk of the Armenians live.
Earlier this week, a yeshiva student spat at the cross being carried
by the Armenian Archbishop Nourhan Manougian during a procession near
the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City.
The archbishop’s 17th-century cross was reportedly broken during the
brawl and he slapped the yeshiva student.
Christian sources in Jerusalem have reported several other cases where
Yeshiva students spat at and harassed Christian leaders especially
during Jewish holidays.
According to Albert Aghazaryan, one of the prominent leaders of the
Palestinian Armenian community, the act of spitting on Christian
symbols is “deep rooted in the Jewish religious doctrine.”
“Hostility to Christianity is intrinsic in religious Jewish thinking,”
Aghazaryan told PIC.
Manougian denounced the “shocking silence” of the Israeli religious
establishment toward “these unacceptable acts.”
“When there is an attack against Jews anywhere in the world, the
Israeli government is incensed, so why when our religion and pride
are hurt, don’t they take harsher measures?” he was quoted as asking.
A few weeks ago, a similar incident took place when another religious
Jew, reportedly an old man wearing a skullcap, spat at a Christian
Orthodox leader as he opened the window of his car.
A few years ago, Jewish religious students burned down a Jerusalem
flat in which two Christian college students were living.The two
students fled unharmed.
According to the famous Jewish author and philosopher Yisrael Shahak,
much of the Jewish Orthodox hostility to Christianity originate
in theology.
In his book “Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Weight of Three
Thousand Years,” Shahak pointed out that “it became customary to spit
(usually three times) upon seeing a church or a crucifix.”
On page 98, Shahak points out that Christianity as a religion is
classed by Rabbinic teaching as idolatry.
“All the Christian emblems and pictorial representations are regarded
as idols…even by those Jews who literally worship scrolls, stones
or personal belongings of ‘Holy Men.’ ”
According to Shahak, some Orthodox Jews are enjoined to recite the
following curse upon hearing the name Jesus: ” May his name be damned
and his memory be erased.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Opposition picket prevented
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2004
On Tuesday some 50 members of the opposition Whole Azerbaijan
Popular Front Party (WAPFP) attempted to picket the Milli Majlis
(parliament) building in protest against the planned participation
of Armenian parliament members in NATO’s “Rose Roth” seminar due in
Baku in November.
After paying tribute to the Cemetery of Martyrs, the protesters
began to march toward the parliament’s building, chanting “Death to
Armenian aggressors” and “Shame on Armenians”. The police prevented
the protesters from approaching the building. During the clash
about 10 picketers were detained and taken to the Sabayil district
police department.*

NKR PM VISIT TO USA
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
13 Oct 04
October 8 was the first day of the visit of the NKR prime minister
Anoushavan Danielian to the USA. The chief aim of the visit is to
assist to the preparation works of the pan-Armenian telethon of the
foundation “Hayastan” to be held in the USA in November. On the first
day of the visit the prime minister took part in the reception at the
residence of Jack and Sue Tukoyan, Fresno, with the participation of
the representatives of Armenian organizations, businessmen of Fresno.
Congressman George Radanovic elected from Fresno greeted the prime
minister of NKR. During the radio interview Anoushavan Danielian spoke
about the aim of his visit and the economic and social situation in
Nagorni Karabakh. In the morning of the next day Anoushavan Danielian
visited the Armenian cemetery of Fresno and laid flowers to the
graves of the world-famous Armenian writer William Saroyan and other
prominent Armenians. Then the delegation, among them the permanent
representative of NKR in the USA Vardan Barseghian, the chairman of
the board of trustees of the Los Angeles branch of the foundation
“Hayastan” Maria Mehranian, visited a number of companies founded and
run by local Armenians: “OK Produce”, “National Raisin Company”, “MVP”,
“Hy Cuisine” and others. The directors of the companies acquainted
the official guest with the technologies of preservation, processing
and distribution of agricultural products. Prime Minister Anoushavan
Danielian mentioned about the necessity of developing this sphere in
NK, and appealed to the Armenian farmers of Fresno to assist to the
development of NKR agriculture through investments and exchange of
experience. On the same day in the evening the prime minister arrived
at San Francisco and at the Armenian church Saint Hovhannes he met
with the representatives of the local Armenian community. In his
address Anoushavan Danielian thanked the Armenian population of the
city of San Francisco for their contribution to the programs of the
foundation “Armenia”, emphasizing the strategic and economic role of
the highway “North – South”. Speaking about the economic development
rates in Artsakh, A. Danielian mentioned that the investments made
in the recent years total 50 million US dollars. According to him,
favourable conditions have been provided in NKR for doing mutually
profitable business. Anoushavan Danielian answered questions referring
the military threats of Azerbaijan, the program of resettlement,
mine clearance works and development of communications. The visit of
the NKR prime minister to the USA continues.
AA.
13-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian official on fund-raising trip
By Tracy Garcia Staff Writer
Pasadena Star-News, CA
Oct 13 2004
MONTEBELLO — Armenian Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic visited with Montebello city leaders Tuesday
as part of a West Coast campaign to raise money to complete a badly
needed north-south roadway in his home country. Montebello has long
been known to have one of the oldest Armenian populations in the
United States, as many Armenians relocated here immediately after
World War II, officials said.
As a result, Danielian chose to make Montebello one of about a
half-dozen stops on his California tour this week, also taking the
opportunity to place a brightly colored wreath at the city’s nearly
40-year-old Armenian Martyr’s Memorial Monument at Bicknell Park.
“I’m very impressed about how ethnically diverse Montebello is,”
Danielian said through a translator during a reception held for him
at the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Montebello.
“The city houses many different communities — Armenians, Latinos —
and as an outsider, it’s good to see that they are all able to live
together for so many years, learning and helping and working with
each other,” he added.
But the main purpose of Danielian’s visit, officials said, was to
kick off a campaign for a Thanksgiving Day telethon that hopes to
raise $12.5 million to complete the North-South Backbone Highway in
Nagorno Karabakh.
“The road connects the north and south regions of the country, and
it’s a very important infrastructure that needs to happen for economic
development of the country,” said Maria Mehranian , chairwoman of
the Armenian Fund, a humanitarian group that has given more than $100
million in assistance to Armenia in the past decade.
The 12-year-old telethon is aired in 30 U.S. cities, including Los
Angeles, and in Canada, Europe and the Middle East to about 20 million
viewers. Mehranian said the Thanksgiving Day telethon will be aired
on KSCI-TV Channel 18 in Los Angeles.
Although telethon funds have gone to aid orphanages, hospitals and
schools, it has raised money for the past four years for the Backbone
Highway and hopes to raise the rest of the $12.5 million needed to
complete it this year.
Since last Friday, Danielian has visited Fresno, San Francisco,
Los Angeles and will stop in Anaheim, Irvine and San Diego before
heading home Friday, Mehranian said.
“We are always honored to have Armenian dignitaries visit this city,
particularly because we have such a large number of Armenians in
our boundaries,” said Montebello Mayor Norma Lopez-Reid . “For us,
it’s very important to maintain those positive relationships.”