Hürriyet, Turkey
Jan 14 2007
Argentina declares Armenian Genocide Day
Hürriyet
Argentina declared 24th April Armenian Genocide Day after President
Nestor Kirchner approved a draft bill for a ‘day for tolerance and
respect between peoples’ last Wednesday. Ankara’s response was swift,
in the form of a note from Prime Minister Erdoğan to Kirchner in
which he maintained that Genocide Day was not in line with historical
events.
PanARMENIAN.Net
In Framework of PACE January Session Subcommittee on Karabakh to Hold Meeting
11.01.2007 18:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the framework of PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of
Council of Europe) winter session, which will be held in Strasbourg
January 22-26, the Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh will organize a
meeting, said Azeri delegation head to PACE Samed Seidov. In his
words, `the Nagorno Karabakh problem is always at the center of
attention of CoE. This issue has already become a subject for
permanent discussions.’ He also stressed that during the session Leo
Platvoet’s report will be discussed on Missing people in the zone of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Posted on Wed, Jan. 03, 2007
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Ban on caviar partially lifted
A move by a U.N.- sponsored organization lets Caspian Sea nations legally
sell limited amounts of caviar.
BY FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press
GENEVA – A United Nations panel has lifted a ban on international
trade in several types of caviar from the Caspian Sea, but it still
hasn’t decided whether to permit exports of the highly prized — and
hugely expensive — beluga variety, an official said Tuesday.
The move by a U.N.-sponsored conservation organization means that
Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan can legally sell
limited amounts of the gourmet delicacy on the world market in 2007.
Last year, the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES, banned the global
trade in most Caspian caviar — the processed eggs of the sturgeon —
to help protect the endangered fish.
Only Iran was allowed to export caviar from certain fish that are more
abundant in its waters. The website of a Seattle caviar company offers
one type of Iranian caviar for $2,960 per pound. Beluga caviar, still
under a U.N. ban, can sell for $5,000 a pound or more, depending on
taste and quality.
”This is very good news,” said Armen Petrossian, whose family
business in Paris has been selling caviar for more than a
century. “It’s very important that there is a legal trade in order to
support the restocking efforts.”
The legal market in caviar is about 100 tons annually, he said, and
worth about $265 million. The black market, supplied by poachers, is
about the same size, Petrossian estimated.
The U.N.’s 2006 ban ”undoubtedly helped to spur improvements to the
monitoring programs and scientific assessments carried out jointly by
the five Caspian neighbors,” CITES Secretary-General Willem
Wijnstekers said.
The Caspian nations — all former Soviet states, except Iran — have
made great progress in their conservation efforts, said CITES chief
scientific officer David Morgan. But he added: “I can’t disguise the
fact that the situation is still serious in all countries of origin
for all sturgeon species.” The Caspian’s sturgeon population has
declined by more than 90 percent in the last century, he said.
”That’s why we have to redouble our efforts together with the
countries concerned to make sure that we can rebuild the sturgeon
stocks in the interests of the species and the local people who are
using them,” Morgan said.
Under the U.N. action, caviar and meat from the Caspian stocks of
Russian sturgeon, Persian sturgeon and stellate sturgeon can now be
legally tradedon the world market.
CITES, based in Geneva, sets annual quotas for caviar exports that are
recognized by many countries. Its 2006 quota for caviar from beluga
sturgeon and several other Caspian species was zero.
Although CITES has lifted its effective ban on the trade in three
species, its export quotas for those species are still on average 15
percent lower compared with 2005.
CITES postponed for a month a decision on whether to permit the export
of caviar from the rare and expensive beluga sturgeon to give the five
Caspian nations time to provide more information on the health of
their beluga sturgeon stocks.
© 2007 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources.
SCIENTIFIC SECTOR GETS A BOOST
by Haroutiun Khachatrian
Transitions Online, Czech Republic
Jan 11 2007
Yerevan has a new program to demonstrate that Armenian science and
technology can still attract investors. From EurasiaNet.
With an eye toward attracting foreign investment, the Armenian
government is trying to update and overhaul Armenia’s scientific
sector for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
During the Soviet era, Armenia was known for its scientific edge –
aside from academic pursuits, the country excelled in applied uses
of physics, chemistry, and materials sciences. As in other former
Soviet republics, though, the end of Kremlin subsidies for research
institutes involved in the development of technologies for the
Soviet military left many scientific professionals without work,
prompting a brain drain that still continues. Those scientists left
behind continue to work under difficult conditions, with almost no
funding for scientific projects and salaries barely over the minimum
of $40-$50 per month. Scientific research and development accounts
for less than 1 percent of Armenia’s gross domestic product.
The government is now trying to correct that situation. In May
2006, the Armenian parliament adopted a law for the state support of
so-called "innovative activities." Four months later, the government
adopted a five-year program outlining specific measures to encourage
scientific innovation.
"This program is the first serious attempt by the Armenian government
to show that Armenian scientific products are interesting to
investors," commented Ashot Khandanian, head of the department of
science, technology, and investment policy at the Ministry of Trade and
Economic Development. Both the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization and the United Nations Development Program have pledged
their financial and technical support for the government’s plans.
Under the program, an analytical center, housed in an existing
scientific institute, will evaluate promising scientific projects and
developments and then promote the findings to outside investors. In
a complementary move, the government intends in 2007 to adopt
legislation to establish venture capital funds that would use both
state and private monies to encourage development of privately run
scientific projects.
The lack of such financing has already tripped up some scientific
institutes from securing foreign investment. In one such institute,
according to Khandanian, a proposal from a leading European consulting
firm for mass production of nano-batteries with better performance fell
flat after the institute failed to secure the $15,000 needed to produce
a trial run of the batteries for testing and certification. No legal
basis existed for the government itself, in the absence of private
funds, to back the project, Khandanian said.
Meanwhile, a draft proposal on restructuring academic scientific
research was released in October 2006 for public discussion; reforms
are expected to start in 2007 once a final policy paper is adopted.
As an initial step, the monthly salary of scientific workers in
state-run institutes, which averages about 22,000 drams, or $50
(the national average is 60,000 drams), will be doubled in 2007.
The private sector is also getting involved in developing Armenia’s
research potential. The privately funded National Foundation of
Science and Advanced Technologies (NFSAT), together with a team of
business consultants, recently sent out promotional materials on 16
peer-reviewed scientific proposals to potential investors worldwide.
The Washington-based Civilian Research and Development Foundation –
an NFSAT partner that tries to reverse the outflow of scientific
specialists from former Soviet republics – provided $36,000 for
the initiative.
The program has already had one success. Plans are now under way for a
joint venture between an Armenian researchers’ group and an American
firm interested in a vibration detector developed at Yerevan State
University that can be used in seismic devices.
"These successes are important not only by themselves, but also as
evidence that Armenia is still a country with a scientific sector
which is interesting for investors," commented NFSAT chairman
Harutyun Karapetyan. "The problem is that many people, both in
Armenia and abroad, do not believe this. Skepticism is still high
about the potential of Armenian science and its ability to create
viable products."
The government’s Khandanian shared NFSAT’s optimism. Having one
successful proposal out of the 48 received by NFSAT is not a bad
result for a country like Armenia, he said. "With start-up businesses,
three, four, or five successful results out of a hundred are considered
normal," he said.
Whether similar results can be obtained elsewhere remains to be seen,
but the government maintains that Armenia has the wherewithal for
other joint ventures as well. More than a dozen Armenian institutes
of applied science continue to work successfully and regularly
cooperate with colleagues in Europe, the United States, and China,
Khandanian said.
Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer specializing in
economic and political affairs. This is a partner post from EurasiaNet.
ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS MULL CONSOLIDATION AHEAD OF PARLIAMENT POLLS
Aravot, Yerevan,
9 Jan 2007 pp 1, 3
Artashes Geghamian, the leader of an Armenian opposition party, has
confirmed he is in talks with the leader of another opposition party
to unite efforts in the March parliamentary election. In addition,
the leaders of two other smaller opposition parties also spoke
of unification to succeed in the election. The following is the
text of Anna Israelian’s report in Armenian newspaper Aravot on 9
January entitled "Geghamian and Demirchian in talks. New union but
on one list":
Aratashes Geghamian, the leader of the [opposition] National Unity
party, confirmed yesterday [8 January] to Radio Liberty the recent
news that his party is actively conducting talks with the [opposition]
People’s Party of Armenia [PPA].
"You are right. There were some discussions with the PPA in that
regard, but first of all, we agreed that everything should be done
to ensure a democratic process and the legitimacy of the forthcoming
elections, and rule out election fraud," Geghamian said.
Before the New Year holidays, [leader of the Alliance of National
Democrats and MP] Arshak Sadoyan told the press that an alliance
between the Alliance of National Democrats [AND] and the Democratic
Path Party [DPP] would be the best. "I think that a union between me
and Manuk [Gasparian, the leader of the DPP] can be quite effective,
especially that neither of us has ambitions to be the first and we
are ready to be the second on the list. This can be a very viable
union taking into account both my and Manuk Gasparian’s popularity."
"We have almost reached mutual understanding with Arshak," Manuk
Gasparian told us.
But the agreements are not limited only to DPP. The DPP leader said:
"We are conducting negotiations with a number of individual politicians
who enjoy great popularity among the people and are respected. However,
we are not considering establishing a bloc; instead, we are talking
about running [in the elections] with a single party list. The
party, which proves to be more practical, more prepared in terms of
participating in the elections and capable of obtaining finances,
will be selected. We have decided to unite several people in one party
without forming a bloc because we are afraid that if there is a bloc,
when one more party joins [the bloc], additional 25,000 votes should be
gathered to overcome the 5-per-cent [threshold]. We consider this to
be very dangerous: 25,000 votes are not there waiting on the streets
while the number of pro-government political parties has been on the
increase (four clearly pro-government forces are already running
in the election). We cannot do that in order to ensure 7 per cent
[sentence as given]. Simply, our parties will support each other in
the elections; one or two members from each party will be admitted
to that one party. According to the plan discussed, we will announce
that the politicians included in that list – those who enjoy respect
of the people – accept the provisions of the party and are ready
to collaborate."
Manuk Gasparian did not reveal the names of individual politicians
they are negotiating with. "There are two or three of them. You might
actually know yourselves the individuals who enjoy popularity. These
people might have their own parties. I simply do not want to publicize
their names because we may not come to an agreement.
Everything is going fine, but one of them still has doubts, another
one is thinking whether it is going to work, the third one has asked
for some time to make a decision. After we come to a final agreement,
I’ll give their names. However, if I give their names now, some of
them may withdraw or obstacles may be created for them. While all
the pro-government parties count on money to get into the parliament,
we want to gain votes by engaging individuals who enjoy respect and
win votes without money. I think that if we manage to unite these
five figures (Manuk Gasparian, Arshak Sadoyan plus three undisclosed
individuals – Anna Israelian), we will have 15 per cent in the
parliament. But if it is only Arshak, I am sure we can have 7 or 8
per cent."
When speaking to Arshak Sadoyan, we tried to find out some details but
he only gave this information: "Discussions, meetings were conducted
before the New Year. We agreed that it is worth forming a wide front
to struggle for free and fair elections, to make sure that they [the
government] don’t do what they want. There were consultations but no
final decisions have been made."
Sadoyan, too, refused to reveal the names of the three other
politicians they were conducting talks with. "The discussions are
still under way. I have met many people, but it is not right to
publicize their names. Later, we will inform you about the results."
Manuk Gasparian spoke about running as one party whereas Arshak
Sadoyan mentioned "a front".
"We have not even decided yet whether we will be running as one party
or as a bloc, and since everything is at an initial stage, I don’t
think it is right to speak about it," Sadoyan said when asked whether
he had thought of a name for the front.
OSCE MISSION REPORT ON FIRES IN KARABAKH TO BE READ IN UN TILL APRIL 30
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.01.2007 17:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Mission report on fires in Karabakh and adjacent
territories is a objective document and will be read in UN till April
30, said Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to a news conference
in Yerevan. "The report gives objective estimation to the situation
and stresses on the importance to prevent the repetition of fires. It
also gives concrete recommendations," said the RA Foreign Minister,
adding that most likely the report will be accessible for examination.
BACK IN THE PICTURE
Tom Tugend
The Jerusalem Post
January 7, 2007, Sunday
A new American documentary explores the roots of 21st century anti
-Semitism
The PBS documentary Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence
will discomfit viewers of all stripes. Airing Monday on public
television stations across the United States the film will annoy
those who believe that rising anti-Semitism is a myth fueled by Jewish
paranoia and self-serving Jewish defense agencies.
Equally upset will be those who argue that anti- Semitism particularly
in the Islamic world is just using the same old stick to beat up on
a blameless Israel.
In addition fervent believers in a global Jewish conspiracy if any tune
in will be enraged at seeing their worldview demolished and ridiculed.
Within one hour the documentary narrated by veteran CNN journalist Judy
Woodruff covers a lot of territory in a graphic and efficient manner.
Viewers are given a capsule history of anti-Jewish hatred both in the
Christian West and the Muslim East accompanied throughout by horrifying
cartoons across the centuries depicting the Jew as Christ killer
blood sucker ravisher of virgins and plotter of world domination.
Numerous experts weigh in on the Middle East conflict and its impact on
the resurgence of anti-Semitism. On the whole the arguments balance
each other out with perhaps a slight edge given to supporters of
Israel thanks to Woodruff’s narration.
Considerable airtime is given to New York University professor Tony
Judt often denounced for his harsh criticism of Israel. In this program
however he limits himself mainly to exploring the growing influence
of Muslim immigration on Europe. Former Israeli government minister
Natan Sharansky and the American Jewish Committee’s David Harris
effectively lay out the Jewish role in the fight against anti-Semitism.
A telling analysis of the corrupting effect of anti- Semitism on the
Arab masses is given surprisingly by Sa- lameh Nematt Washington bureau
chief for Al Hayat an independent Arab daily published in London.
Princeton historian Bernard Lewis draws a useful distinction between
Christian and Muslim anti-Semitism over the centuries.
In the Islamic world the Jew though not equal was tolerated and did
not carry the satanic aura painted in medieval Europe says Lewis who
"credits" British and other Christian theologians with introducing
modern anti- Semitism into the Arab world.
Perhaps the most surprising emphasis in the film is on the deep and
persistent impact of The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion in
shaping the prejudices of European anti-Semites and the convictions
of Arab leaders and masses.
The Protocols a Czarist forgery of the early 1900s has proven
particularly useful to Muslim presidents and clerics to rationalize
how the "inferior" Jews of Israel could repeatedly outfight proud Arab
nations. While the Arabs have never gotten over their defeat in the
Six Day War their humiliation is lessened if they can believe that
they were beaten by the cosmic evil power portrayed in The Protocols.
The one point of agreement among the experts is that anti-Semitism
will not disappear because "it serves so many purposes notes Professor
Dina Porat of Tel Aviv University.
Woodruff adds that Israel is used as a coat hanger" by Arab leaders
who can attach all their problems to it and divert their populations’
attention from their own poverty and corrupt rulers.
The PBS production was produced written and directed by Andrew Goldberg
who recently released The Armenian Genocide in association with Oregon
Public Broadcasting.
GRAPHIC: Photo: THE ARAB world’s obsession with Israel may be partly
connected to medieval Christian anti-Semitism ‘The Resurgence’
argues. (Credit: Ap)
President Kocharyan awarded the prize of the International Orthodox Peoples’
Unity Fund
ArmRadio.am
29.12.2006 12:02
The prizes 2006 of the International Orthodox Peoples’ Unity Fund have
been awarded to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Archbishop Savvas
of Warsaw and All Poland, sixth UN Secretary General Butros Butros
Gali and `Gazprom’ Company. `The award ceremony will be held January
21 in Moscow under the auspice of the Patriarch of Moscow and All
Russia Alexi II,’ President of the International Orthodox Peoples’
Unity Fund Valeri Alexeyev told RIA Novosti. He said that the Fund
`attaches particular importance to the reinforcement of ties with
ancient Eastern Churches, among which is the Armenian church.
`Armenian President Robert Kocharyan managed to maintain the spiritual
integrity of the nation under very hard conditions,’ Alexeyev
noted. `The recent years in Armenia showed how the relations between
the sate and church should be built in the new political situation and
under the conditions of partition of the nation, when in many counties
of the world the Diaspora exceeds the local population in number,’ he
added.
Armenpress
STATE TAXATION SERVICE REVEALS BREACHES OF EXCISE STAMP USE
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian State
Taxation Service (STS) said it had revealed tens of
instances of excise stamps breaches. A press release
by the STS said these breaches had been discovered
during surprise inspections carried out in Yerevan,
Sevan, Tumanian, Gyumri and Etchmiadzin. A special
commission of the service is now examining these
breaches and will later send them to law-enforcement
bodies.
The STS said also it registered 66 cases of excise
stamp use breaches in the first 11 months of the year
and penalized these companies in the amount of 6
million Drams.
It also said 15 instances of sale of fake alcoholic
drinks, revealed by it, are being investigated now by
prosecutors.
AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER ARRESTED IN NKR TERRITORY IS TRANSFERRED TO AUTHORITIES OF HIS COUNTRY
Noyan Tapan
Dec 26 2006
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The authorities of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh transferred to the Azerbaijani side on December
23 Azerbaijani private soldier Vusal Mahomed oghli Garachayev, born in
1988 in the region of Belakan, Azerbaijan. According to the information
of the NKR State Committee on Prisoners of War and Traceless Lost
People, the transfer took place near the village of Bash-Karvend, the
region of Aghdam, with the mediation of the International Commitee of
the Red Cross (ICRC). V.Garachayev passed to the Karabakh side and
was arrested with the weapon in his hand by servicemen of the NKR
Defence Army in the direction of Aghdam of the contact line of the
Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan Armed Forces. The NKR authorities,
corresponding to the undertaken international obligations, in time
informed the OSCE and ICRC offices accredited in Nagorno Karabakh about
the happened. The Red Cross representatives were given a possibility
to meet without prohibitions with V.Garachaev who was maintaining
relations with their help with his relatives in Azerbaijan.