Author: Kalantarian Kevo

PEOPLE IN MARSEILLES GETTING READY FOR YEAR OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JULY 6. ARMINFO. About 50 Armenian organizations of France
took part in the public meeting in Marseilles on july 2, the objective
of which was preparation of the French public for the Year of Armenia
in France.
ARMINFO was informed in the department of press and information of
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, Ambassador of Armenia to France Edward
Nalbandian informed the participants about the preliminary programs
and main directions of the planned arrangements. During the
discussions participants made many new proposals and new ideas, which
will be submitted to the state commission for organization of the Year
of Armenia. They stressed that the decision to hold a Year of Armenia
in France shows the high level of Armenian-French relations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reuters, UK
July 4 2005
INTERVIEW – Chess master Kasparov takes on Russia’s Putin
By Christian Lowe
MOSCOW (Reuters) – In 20 years at the top of the chess world, he used
his laser-like focus to destroy his rivals. Now Garry Kasparov is
turning his fearsome brainpower on a new opponent — Russian
President Vladimir Putin.
Four months after retiring from competitive chess, Russian native
Kasparov has re-emerged as the leader of his own opposition political
movement dedicated to destroying what he calls Putin’s “growing
dictatorship”.

Chess legend Gary Kasparov is seen wearing a pair of ‘X3D’ viewing
glasses at a news conference in New York City in this November 2003
file photo. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
“I don’t think intellect harms you in politics,” he said in the
cramped office of his United Civil Front, flanked by brown paper
parcels of anti-Putin leaflets.
“I’m building a strategy,” he said. “Today our goal is not to lose
immediately. Not to get mated in one. Our goal is to survive.”
Kasparov, 42, is still ranked world chess number one and was
undefeated world champion for 8 years in a row.
But he has swapped the hushed auditoriums where he played chess for
boisterous meetings with voters in the Russian provinces. At one, in
North Ossetia last week, he had eggs hurled at him.
Kasparov is unbowed. Like many in Russia, he believes Putin will try
to stay on when his final term ends in 2008 — the Kremlin denies any
such plan — and has set himself the task of mobilising people to
stop that happening.
“We want to unify all activists who believe the Putin regime is the
greatest danger for Russia,” he said. “We have to win. We have to
make sure that in 2008 there is an open, fair contest. We have to
restore democracy.”
PENDULUM SWINGS
Kasparov says Putin’s administration has stamped on political
freedoms, swiped businesses from their rightful owners and failed to
deliver on promises to transform living standards and end a
separatist war in Chechnya.
It is the standard liberal critique that to date has fallen on deaf
ears — with Russia’s economy flooded with petrodollars and incomes
at their highest for years, Putin is popular and the opposition is in
disarray.
But Kasparov says he has spotted a chink in his opponent’s defence.
“Putin was a president of hope … But when the hope evaporates, the
pendulum goes in the opposite direction and that’s what is happening
now,” he said.
“(Many people) don’t believe this government is capable of bringing
Russia into a better future.”
“So far, all this turbulence hasn’t affected Putin … But the trend
cannot be guessed wrong,” he said. “(It is) the radicalisation of
Russian society.”
Kasparov said a revolution — he described it as “showtime” — could
happen as early as next year.
“Most of the crises that are getting hot now in Russia, they could
explode,” he said. “Nobody wants to see (this) in Russia but this is
one of the scenarios.”
UNLIKELY PRESIDENT
Kasparov said he is not interested, for now, in running for political
office. Hunger strikes, protests and walkouts will be the favoured
tactics of his group, not elections, he says.
In any case, he makes an unlikely Russian president.
His radical politics put him outside the mainstream and his
Jewish-Armenian parentage may be a handicap in a country where
parties with anti-Semitic and nationalist sympathies hold more than
10 percent of the seats in parliament.
Kasparov has not abandoned chess completely.
He is working on two books about the sport and at night he takes on
other players in online blitz chess games. “Of course, not under my
real name,” he said.
But he says he does not miss the sport that gave him fame, wealth and
unrivalled achievement.
“I’m too busy,” he said. “In my life I am happy and satisfied when my
presence makes a difference.”

A1plus
| 12:31:57 | 02-07-2005 | Politics |
ARMENIA CAN TAKE OVER ITALY’S EXPERIENCE
Constitutional reforms are usually carried out by the parliament with the
majority of votes.
In Germany constitutional changes are adopted with the consent of 2/3 of the
deputies of the two houses of the parliament. In some countries a more
complicated order is provided. For example the confirmation of the draft
adopted by the parliament via referendum or confirmation by the parliament
of the next convocation.
To change the US Constitution the reforms should be approved by 2/3 of each
house of Congress and at least 3/4 legislative council of the states. That
is, at least 38 states should support the constitutional reform.
In Italy a series debates should be held in two houses of the parliament and
the break between them should make at least 3 months. During the second
reading the amendments should be passed by overwhelming majority. If not,
they should be put on referendum by demand of 1/5 of the members of each
house, 500 000 voters or at least 5 regional councils.
‘The Armenian Constitution is one of those unique constitutions for changing
which a referendum is to be held. At that the draft is considered to be
adopted with over half of the votes. In the countries of transition period a
more simplified procedure is needed. In part, it would be advisable if the
majority of votes the National Assembly was empowered to make amendments to
the chapters of the constitution referring to the structure of the state,
while the obligatory referendum should be held on issues referring to human
rights and constitutional order with the availability of corresponding
number of signatures. In this view Italy’s experience can be taken over. As
for the constitutional amendments, the number of votes essential for the
referendum should be lowered from 1/3 to 1/4, Vardan Poghosyan says.
To note, the Armenian authorities and the Venice Commission agreed on the
issue on June 25 and it will be included in the draft to be sent to the
Venice Commission till July 7.
Victoria Abrahamyan

A1plus
| 14:17:46 | 01-07-2005 | Sports |
POSSIBILITY OF A MEDAL
In the Chess European Championship the 12th round took place. Karen Asryan
played a draw with Vasili Ivanchuk, the player with the highest reputation
of the tournament. And Levon Aronyan beat Alexey Federov.
Now Asryan and Aronyan have 8.5 points each and are in the 3dr place with 3
other players. In the last 13th round they will play with each other. Both
of them are real pretenders of medals, but if one of them wins, he will
secure his place among the first three.

IRAN’S AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS FROM NORTHERN PORT UP 670% IN Q1
Asia Pulse; Jun 29, 2005
BANDAR ANZALI, June 29 Asia Pulse – Agricultural exports from the
Caspian Sea port city of Bandar Anzali grew 670 per cent in terms of
value during the first quarter of the current Iranian calendar year
(started March 21, 2005) compared to its corresponding period last
year, a local official said here Tuesday.
Deputy head of Agricultural Jihad Office of Bandar Anzali, Changiz
Shabrang, told IRNA that during the said period 5.824 million tons of
various agricultural products, worth 37 billion rials, were exported
to Asia and Africa through Bandar Anzali, about 40 km north of the
provincial capital Rasht.
Raisins, dates, pistachio, tea, potato, tobacco and henna were among
major items exported to Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and
Kenya, the official said.
Shabrang noted that 56,279 square meters of wood had also been
imported via Bandar Anzali over the said period, indicating a 14 per
cent decrease compared to the previous year.

A1plus
| 18:56:11 | 24-06-2005 | Politics |
HMAYAK HOVHANNISYAN ABOUT THE SOUTH CAUCASIAN «APPENDIX»
Today the Political Debate Club organized a seminar in hotel Congress about
the isolation of Armenia from regional programs.
The first reporter was NA deputy Hmayak Hovhannisyan, and the second was to
be a representative of the government or the coalition, but the club had not
managed to come to an agreement with a reporter from the coalition. Hmayak
Hovhannisyan represented his opinion alone. He repeated that our country is
completely left out of regional developments and has turned into an
«appendix».
Deputy Hovhannisyan quoted an American theoretic who has considered Ukraine,
Southern Korea, Turkey, Iran, and Azerbaijan political-geographical centers.
And the political-geographical centers, according to Hovhannisyan, are the
countries which are of particular interest for China, Japan, India, USA,
France, and Germany. The quotation was made with the aim of proving that
Armenia is not of any interest for any country, and the opposition must not
wait for an impetus from abroad to start revolution.
He said, «USA does not mean to drive Russia out of the region, they simply
do not allow Russia or Turkey to become super powers in the region, and
Russia has already put up with the situation».
As for the countries which are not considered political-geographical centers
but are undertaking democratic changes (Georgia, Moldova, Iraq, and
Kyrgyzstan), Hmayak Hovhannisyan said, `Moldova is the country where the
West realized changes without investing resources, Iraq had oil, Georgia is
an interim country which helps to realize regional programs, and the events
of Kyrgyzstan were to created background to realize the same changes in
Uzbekistan’.
Hmayak Hovhannisyan gave special importance to Uzbekistan among the CIS
countries, by which the interest of the world towards the country is
conditioned.

A1plus
| 22:09:53 | 23-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION |
PACE SECRET SITTING
Today the sitting of the PACE Committee on Karabakh started in Strasbourg.
The sitting is secret and journalists will be furnished with information
from official sources later.
To note, today the discussion of organizational and technical issues was
planned.
We will furnish more detailed information on the work of the commission
tomorrow.

NEGOTIATION ON FINANCING OF CONSTRUCTION OF SECOND SECTION
OF GAS PIPE-LINE IRAN-ARMENIA TO BE FINISHED SOON
YEREVAN, JUNE 23. ARMINFO. The negotiations on financing of the
construction of the second section of the gas pipe-line Iran-Armenia
will be over in the nearest future. Deputy Energy Minister of Armenia
Areg Galstian informed journalists during the briefing, Thursday.
According to him, this project is basic in the concept of the energy
development of Armenia till 2025, approved by the Government of the
republic Thursday. It is divided into two sections on probation – the
first one from Meghri to Kajaran, and the second – from Kajaran to
Ararat. The construction of the first section, which is being
continued intensively, started in Nov of last year. It is implemented
through the credit of Iran’s Government worth $30 mln. The Iranian
company Sanir is the general contractor is the project. The deputy
minister reminded that the whole project will be implemented till
2007. Negotiations for attraction of investors for construction of
the second section are in process now.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Tmes/UK
June 23, 2005
On This Day – June 23, 1905
In the intercommunal unrest that characterised the last years of the
Ottoman empire, Armenians again found themselves under attack

HARROWING details have been received of massacres in Transcaucasia.
Indiscriminate slaughter is proceeding in which Armenians, Tartars,
Persians and Kurds are all engaged. There are said to be 30,000
combatants. There appears to be no means of unravelling the butchery
except that it is the result of the long period of misrule. It was
this which led to the sanguinary outbreak at Stavropol between members
of the Orthodox and the Old Faith.
Thirty-seven thousand insurgents in the district of Sharukhan, in the
province of Erivan, sacked and burned four Armenian villages and
surrounded Owlianorashan, the inhabitants of which repulsed the
attack, killing 100 men.
A body of infantry and Cossacks who were besieged in the village of
Khulundian also beat off the insurgents, taking 870 prisoners and
capturing a quantity of arms and a black standard.
Mussulman proclamations were found exhorting the Sunnites and Shiites
to combine for a common struggle. The agitation is spreading to other
districts of the province of Erivan.
At Hadjivar the altar in a church was overturned and a priest was
killed. At Yarimdja the holy relics were stolen, and at Badamlu 800
Christians and a priest were converted by force to Islamism, eleven
young boys were mutilated and the church was transformed into a
mosque. At Djagrakh women are stated to have been outraged before the
eyes of their husbands and sons, while 37 men were beheaded in the
presence of their wives and children.

Putin welcomes Armenia’s Kocharyan to Eurasian summit
ITAR-TASS news agency
22 Jun 05
Moscow, 22 June: Russian President Putin considers Armenia’s observer
status in the Eurasian Economic Community to be useful.
“The fact that you, in your capacity as a head of state, already take
part in the work of the Eurasian Economic Community on a regular
basis, is a very good influence, a positive signal,” Putin said today
at a meeting with the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. “Although
Armenia is present in this organization in the capacity of observer, I
am sure that this benefits cooperation between all of our countries,”
he said.
Putin is also satisfied that Moscow and Yerevan maintain permanent
dialogue. “I want to express my satisfaction that we have had such
close contacts in recent times,” the Russian leader said.
The Armenian president thinks that today’s meeting with Putin is
useful as a means to discuss bilateral relations “and in particular to
continue the conversation which took place in Yerevan”. Kocharyan
said: “I would like to discuss the energy sector, very specific
investment projects.”
“The orders which were given have been fulfilled, things are going
quite dynamically,” Kocharyan said. However, the Armenian leader said
“there are a few issues in bilateral relations which must be corrected
“.