Author: Kalashian Nyrie

RUSSIA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING IN THE INTERESTS OF ARMENIA RECENTLY,
REPRESENTATIVE OF FORMER REGIME THINKS
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27. ARMINFO. “Russia has not done anything in the
interests of Armenia in the course of few years,” deputy chairman of
the former ruling party, Pan Armenian National Movement, Aram Manukian
told reporters today.
In the words of Manukian, he does not have anti-Russian positions. He
said he is merely reacting to the recent policy by Russia towards
Armenia. “It’s enough to recall that no one country, including
Russia, opposed the inclusion of so called occupied territories into
UN General Assembly 59th session agenda. Russia will soon control
all strategically important fields of Armenian economy. However,
it is insulting that even after that it does not support Armenia,”
he said. Aram Manukian thinks that Russia dictates its will on other
countries with the help of truncheon. “One call from Russian president
Vladimir Putin was enough for the head of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan
and Kirgizia to congratulate Viktor Yanukovich with the victory in
elections,” he said. -A-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
Nov 24 2004
Armenian-Indian relations develop successfully
Armenian-Albanians relations discussed by Deputy Armenian Foreign
Minister and newly Appointed Ambassador to Armenia
No emergencies recorded for the last day because of snowfall in
Armenia
An international workshop on social monitoring opened in Yerevan
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN-INDIAN RELATIONS DEVELOP SUCCESSFULLY
YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. Armenian-Indian relations develop
successfully, RA Ambassador to India Armen Baiburian and Indian
Foreign Minister Natvar Singh stated at the meeting in accordance to
the completion of diplomatic mission of Baiburian. The parties
discussed process of fulfillment of agreements, achieved during the
visit of RA President Robert Kocharian in India in 2003 and new
bilateral programs. Baiburian invited Singh to visit Armenia in 2005.
Singh in his turn highly estimated the contribution of Baiburian in
development of Armenian-Indian relations. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN-ALBANIANS RELATIONS DISCUSSED BY DEPUTY ARMENIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER AND NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. Armenian-Albanians relations discussed
by Deputy Armenian Foreign Minister Ruben Shugaryan and newly
Appointed Ambassador of Albania to Armenia Avni Jelili (residence in
Moscow), mentioning that these relations must be intensified. As
Armenian Foreign Minister Press and Information Department told ARKA,
the sides exchanged opinions around further steps, including mutual
evaluation of potential, study of markets, organization of business
forums, creation of legal and contractual base. Among the possible
spheres of cooperation the sides mentioned trade, tourism, culture.
To mention the newly appointed Ambassador of Albania to Armenia also
heads diplomatic missions to Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan. T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************
NO EMERGENCIES RECORDED FOR THE LAST DAY BECAUSE OF SNOWFALL IN
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. No emergencies were recorded for the
last day because of snowfall in Armenia, as Colonel Nikolay Grigoryan
Head of Armenian Department of Emergency Situations stated. In his
words all roads are in working conditions except the Selim pass and
Bagratashen bridge. He mentioned that due to icy roads a car accident
was recorded in Vayots Dzor without human casualties. There were
breakdowns on electric lines in Aragatsotn marz, while they were
removed and the electricity was restored. T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************
AN INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL MONITORING OPENED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. Today, at the Yerevan Marriott Hotel,
the Government of Armenia and United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) opened a three-day international workshop on Strengthening the
Capacity for Social Monitoring in the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS): Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Poverty
Reduction Strategic Papers (PRSP). Senior representatives of the
Government of Armenia, UN Agencies and offices in Slovakia, the
United States of America, and Switzerland, international and local
organisations, Governors’ Offices, as well as distinguished experts
from Poland, Tanzania, Albania, Kazakhstan, and other countries are
participating in the workshop. The main objective of the regional
workshop is to share experiences on social monitoring and identify
the steps that are needed to establish comprehensive national social
monitoring systems. The workshop also aims at strengthening the
capacity of participants by: a) exchanging experiences and discussing
case studies in the field of social monitoring, with a special focus
on methodologies and indicators; b) reviewing linkages between MDGs
and PRSPs in the CIS; and c) discussing mechanisms for building
partnerships in social monitoring.
UNDP office to Armenia was founded to 1993. Total cost of UNDP
programs in Armenia makes $11 million. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
–Boundary_(ID_QGSLDAgnYvd6sXnh1FI/Aw)–

Armenian premier plays down UN debates on Karabakh
Ayastani Anrapetutyun, Yerevan
25 Nov 04
Excerpt from Gayane Gasparyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Ayastani
Anrapetutyun on 25 November headlined “We should act jointly in the
Karabakh issue”
After the parliament’s Wednesday 24 November session, Armenia’s Prime
Minister Andranik Markaryan answered several questions by journalists.
Ayastani Anrapetutyun correspondent What do you think about the recent
developments in the Karabakh issue, particularly, the UN discussions?
Andranik Markaryan Naturally, now the situation is not like it was a
day or a month ago but this is not the first time the UN is adopting
decisions on Nagornyy Karabakh. We should try to neutralize their
negative effects through our Foreign Ministry.
Correspondent Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Tigran
Torosyan said on Tuesday that Armenia has been left alone: there is
no friendly country that might vote in Armenia’s favour. Does this
mean that Armenia has found itself in political isolation as far as
the Karabakh issue is concerned?
Markaryan I would not say so. It is not only the Council of Europe
that is considering the Karabakh issue as published . It has been
considered and will be considered by other structures too. If today
for some momentary reasons some countries are making decisions that we
do not accept or that run counter to what they have said before, this
will bring about some problems but it is not a tragedy. We should take
purposeful steps in this directions during the next discussions. The
government, the parliament and public organizations should act jointly
in the matter.
Correspondent Who is mainly to blame for the failed attempts to
prevent undesirable statements?
Markaryan Armenia’s representatives, both the Foreign Ministry and
the Armenian delegation have tried to work but the opponent is also
working. There is an international institution, certain changes,
ebbs and flows. In the meantime, some countries may change their
approaches, but this has not been and will not stay constant.
Correspondent Tigran Torosyan says we need a specific programme on
the issue. Does the government have such plans?
Markaryan Do you really think that to date the government has had no
specific program on the Karabakh issue and has been acting impromptu?
Passage omitted: comments on other minor issues

Baku to seek new UN resolution
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Nov 25 2004
Azerbaijan will not confine itself to discussions on the occupied
Azerbaijani lands at the 59th UN General Assembly session and will
seek adoption of a new resolution, President Aliyev told journalists
while on a visit to the Oil Rocks on Monday. The Foreign Ministry
of Azerbaijan is engaged in intense consultations to gain support on
the issue from as many countries as possible.
Armenia is trying to avail of all means to hamper the discussions,
the President said.
Aliyev pointed out that Armenia’s statements that Azerbaijan will
have to negotiate with Upper Garabagh are ridiculous, and that the
country will negotiate with Armenia as a party to the conflict.
“If Armenia wants the talks to be held with Upper Garabagh, it must
abandon the issue, withdraw its forces from the occupied lands and
stop financing Upper Garabagh from its budget. In this case, we could
solve problems differently and much faster.”
Touching upon the development of oil fields in the country, Aliyev said
that due to the successful implementation of Azerbaijan’s oil strategy,
Azerbaijan has become a rapidly and dynamically developing European
country. He said that when the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline
is put into operation, Azerbaijan’s oil revenues will triple, which
will allow to considerably raise wages and social benefits. 110,000
jobs were opened in the country this year, including 70,000 permanent
positions, he said.
Commenting on the reports on the increase in the project value,
the President said that certain reserves were envisioned during the
discussions on the BTC pipeline construction.
He said that the value of any major project is subject to a decrease
or increase and it is difficult to say at this point how much the
expenses will change.
Aliyev noted that according to the initial version of the project,
expenses were estimated at about $2 billion, but its value was later
reconsidered and brought to $3 billion. “Azerbaijan is fulfilling
all of its commitments. All the payments are made in cash and an
international finance system has been developed. No complications in
this respect are expected.”
UN starts discussions on Upper Garabagh
The UN General Assembly launched discussions on Upper Garabagh
on Tuesday.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated that the OSCE
Minsk Group is working toward the Upper Garabagh conflict resolution
and stressed Armenia’s unlawful policy of settlement in the occupied
Azeri lands.
“750,000 Azerbaijanis have been driven out of their homes in Upper
Garabagh as a result of ethnic cleansing amidst the ongoing talks
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Besides, the mass settlement of
Armenians in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan continues and we are
well aware of this.”
The Minister said that four resolutions adopted by the UN Security
Council on unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from
the occupied lands of Azerbaijan remains a basis for the conflict
resolution.
Azerbaijan’s observance to the ceasefire over the last 10 years shows
that Baku gives priority to a peaceful settlement, Mammadyarov added.
The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution on Upper
Garabagh after the discussions complete.
Azerbaijan’s permanent representative at the UN Yashar Aliyev earlier
forwarded a request to the United Nations to include the issue into
the session agenda. The UN General Assembly approved putting the
issue on discussion by 42 votes, 2 against (including Armenia),
with 99 members abstaining.

Libération, France
lundi 22 novembre 2004
Ottomane success story
Basées à Paris, Ece et Ayse Ege sont les créatrices aujourd’hui
renommées de la griffe de luxe Dice Kayek. Un parcours emblématique
de l’intégration réussie des Turcs en Europe, changeant l’image d’une
immigration rurale et miséreuse.
Par Marc SEMO
Parquet de chêne et murs nus. Les fenêtres du show-room donnent sur
les poutrelles d’acier et les briques d’une belle cour intérieure.
oeuvre de Gustave Eiffel, le bâtiment se dresse en plein coeur du
quartier du Sentier. Pendues sur les portants, des robes aux lignes
pures et aux détails raffinés, un galon brodé de fils de bronze, le
liseré en dentelle d’un col bénitier. Collection après collection, la
touche Dice Kayek enchante les chroniqueurs de mode qui saluent «un
style féminin, impertinent et romantique traversé de subtiles
réminiscences ottomanes mais jamais folklorique».
Inséparables et complémentaires
C’est dimanche mais, comme à l’accoutumée, les soeurs Ege sont au
travail. «Dans la haute couture, il n’y a qu’une seule division, la
première, et dès le début il faut se mesurer au Real Madrid ou à la
Juventus», explique Ece, la créatrice qui, comme la plupart des
Turcs, hommes et femmes confondus, reste une fanatique du ballon
rond. Ayse, elle, s’occupe de la gestion. Inséparables et
complémentaires, l’une et l’autre ont la trentaine. Un gros client à
peine débarqué de Séoul examine réjoui les modèles de leur dernière
collection. Elles s’apprêtent à partir pour Tokyo. «Nous marchons
très bien au Japon et en Asie, qui représentent aujourd’hui les
marchés les plus compétitifs et les plus porteurs pour le luxe»,
souligne Ayse. Elles y font souvent les cover des magazines qui
narrent leur carte du coeur (bistros, restaurants, galeries et
monuments préférés) à Paris ou à Istanbul. Elles appartiennent
désormais autant à l’une qu’à l’autre de ces deux métropoles. «De
nombreux Français sont réticents à l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE
parce qu’ils ne la connaissent pas. Ils nous voient comme un pays
arabe et ils ne savent pas que dans la tradition ottomane les femmes
ont toujours joué un rôle très important», expliquent en choeur les
deux soeurs qui ont monté en France cette griffe pesant désormais
quelque 3 millions d’euros de chiffre d’affaires annuel.
La success story d’Ece et Ayse raconte les transformations de
l’émigration turque. Longtemps ses gros bataillons furent composés de
ruraux anatoliens et kurdes fuyant la misère ou la répression
politique (lire ci-contre). Désormais, ce sont aussi des hommes
d’affaires travaillant en interface avec leur pays d’origine lié
depuis 1995 à l’UE par un traité d’union douanière. Les grands
groupes industriels turcs ont pour la plupart pignon sur rue dans la
capitale française où la Tusiad (Medef turc) a ouvert il y a quelques
mois un bureau, après Bruxelles et Berlin. «Cette nouvelle
immigration est à l’image d’une Turquie qui change très vite,
beaucoup plus vite même que ses immigrés déjà installés en Occident
depuis vingt ou trente ans», souligne Altan Gökalp, anthropologue au
CNRS. En Allemagne, beaucoup d’immigrés de la deuxième génération
montent leur propre boîte ou s’affirment dans la création artistique,
sinon dans la politique. Ce phénomène commence aussi en France où
l’immigration turque est plus récente et plus limitée, bien que Paris
ait été depuis des lustres l’un des lieux d’installation préféré des
élites ottomanes puis républicaines formées dans les lycées français.
«Un professeur fou de Baudelaire»
«Nous sommes un peu atypiques parce qu’il n’y a que peu de femmes
créatrices et entrepreneurs dans la mode», reconnaissent les soeurs
Ege. Leur installation parisienne est le fruit du hasard. Elles sont
nées à Bursa, la première capitale ottomane sur la rive anatolienne
de la mer de Marmara, dans une famille de la bonne bourgeoisie. Leur
père avait jadis étudié à Genève mais c’est au lycée américain de la
ville qu’il inscrivit ses filles, estimant que l’anglais était
désormais un meilleur viatique. «Un professeur fou de Baudelaire m’a
quand même donné l’amour du français», raconte Ece. Fascinée par les
bijoux anciens, elle voulait partir étudier la gemmologie à Los
Angeles. Trop loin : les parents mettent leur veto. «Un cousin qui
étudiait à Paris m’a parlé d’Esmod (1). Au lieu des pierres, ce fut
donc les tissus mais, quand on aime le dessin, cela n’est pas si
différent», explique la créatrice. Ayse, elle, étudie le marketing
pour travailler dans le tourisme. Mais, avec le grand boom économique
turc de la fin des années 80, l’industrie textile commence à
décoller. Elle débute donc dans l’une des plus grandes entreprises
d’Istanbul, qui tente de se faire une place sur le marché
nord-américain. «On inventait des noms de marque sonnant italien car
l’image des produits fabriqués en Turquie était déplorable et souvent
à raison. Les fermetures Eclair ne tenaient pas, les couleurs
déteignaient. Il fallait rester la nuit dans les ateliers pour tout
vérifier», se souvient Ayse, vite devenue une des managers du groupe.
Le grand tournant fut l’été 1991. Les deux soeurs sont en vacances
dans la maison de famille au bord de la mer. Ece vient de finir
l’école et rêve de créer sa propre marque à Paris. Lasse des navettes
Istanbul-New York, Ayse veut changer de vie. Ece assure que sa
première grande idée est née là en regardant la forme parfaite et
lisse d’une feuille de magnolia : «Pourquoi ne pas orner une simple
chemise de popeline blanche de feuilles, de fleurs ou de scarabées ?»
Le savoir-faire local est d’abord mis à contribution : Nalan, une
vieille femme travaillant à domicile dans une banlieue d’Istanbul,
façonne les ornements de tissu. «Elle ne sort jamais de son quartier
mais elle a le talent hérité d’un savoir-faire ancestral et, encore
maintenant, quand je l’appelle pour lui demander d’inventer une rose
vintage, elle me donne en quelques jours quelque chose
d’extraordinaire», souligne Ece. C’est un artisan arménien du grand
bazar d’Istanbul qui fabrique les carapaces en métal des insectes.
Comme leurs amies adorent, les soeurs décident un an plus tard de
présenter ces premiers modèles au Salon parisien du prêt-à-porter.
Des «people» parmi les fans
«Nous n’avions pas de nom et, à l’époque, l’idée même d’un créateur
turc semblait totalement incongrue. Les organisateurs installèrent
notre stand dans un coin perdu avec ceux des pays émergents
fabriquant du coton bas de gamme», raconte Ayse. Mais le bouche à
oreille fonctionne. Les commandes pleuvent. On leur demande aussi de
créer «des bas qui vont avec ces hauts». Dice Kayek naît, un nom
formé avec les initiales des copines, toutes turques, partenaires de
l’aventure. Ayse y met l’argent obtenu de la vente de ses parts dans
l’entreprise textile qu’elle a quittée. En 1993, c’est le premier
vrai défilé à l’Institut du monde arabe, intitulé «Mille et une
nuits». C’est l’ovation. Dice Kayek décolle. Les people suivent
(elles disent compter parmi leurs fans Uma Thurman ou Agnès Jaoui).
Ece Ege est désormais reconnue dans le club très exclusif des grands
de la haute couture où s’illustrent déjà deux autres turcs d’origine,
Rifat Ozbek et Huseyin Chalayan, l’un et l’autre installés à Londres.
Les soeurs Ege créent leurs modèles dans la capitale française et y
organisent leurs défilés. Mais, pour leur ligne de prêt-à-porter
Dice, elles travaillent avec l’Italie et bien sûr la Turquie. «Il y a
maintenant des tissus de très bonne qualité car des entrepreneurs ont
compris qu’il leur fallait se positionner sur le haut de gamme face à
la concurrence chinoise.» Le Sentier ­ quartier de la confection au
coeur de Paris ­ connaît la même mutation. Depuis le début des années
90, ouvriers et façonniers turcs ont été peu à peu remplacés par les
Chinois sur le créneau du bas prix. Beaucoup d’ateliers ont fermé ou,
pour les meilleurs, changé de catégorie.
Brillante styliste stagiaire à Dice Kayek, Eda Arar incarne ces
bouleversements. Son père, Ali, était arrivé il y a trente ans de
Topak, dans le nord-est de la Turquie, où il vivotait comme tailleur.
Dans la capitale française, il monte un atelier rue de Rochechouart,
travaillant en sous-traitance dans la confection pour dames. Il y a
dix ans, après un accident, il décide de fermer boutique et de
rentrer vivre au village une retraite bien méritée. Rapidement, Eda
préfère revenir à Paris avec son grand frère, ne supportant pas
«l’hypocrisie et la pesanteur de la tradition». «J’étais la petite
dernière de cinq frères et soeurs et j’étais la seule que mon père
voulait pousser dans les études. Finalement, je suis la seule qui ait
décidé de travailler dans la mode, peut-être à cause des souvenirs
des bouts de tissus avec lesquels je jouais toute gosse au pied des
machines à coudre.»
«Un complexe d’empire»
Elle a tâté du droit puis étudié le turc aux Langues O’ avant de
finalement s’inscrire à Esmod. Dès le début avec l’idée bien arrêtée
de faire ses classes à Dice Kayek, pour «placer la barre très haut.
Un peu par revanche, pour montrer qu’en tant que Turque on peut faire
de la création haute couture, mais aussi avec le sentiment de
retrouver une famille», explique encore Eda, qui se dit néanmoins un
peu perturbée de parler turc toute la journée.
Ce parcours n’a rien d’exceptionnel. «Les jeunes Turcs immigrés qui
émergent comme créateurs ont toujours trouvé un soutien parmi les
intellectuels ou grand bourgeois des élites turques installés en
France», explique Stéphane de Tapia, du CNRS, spécialiste à
Strasbourg d’une émigration turque très présente dans toute l’Alsace.
A la différence de nombreux jeunes Maghrébins, ils n’ont pas cette
relation de fascination-haine avec l’ancienne puissance coloniale.
Les jeunes Turcs auraient plutôt un «complexe d’empire» ­ nourri par
le passé de l’Empire ottoman ­, une certitude sur la grandeur de leur
culture et de leur histoire, et une disponibilité à tout intégrer
tout en restant soi-même.
Ainsi, Eda Arar, née à Paris, se sent «à la fois pleinement française
et pleinement turque». Elle ne sait pas si elle épousera un Français
ou un Turc mais en tout cas elle enseignera le turc à ses enfants.
Elevée par un père laïc convaincu, elle regrette de n’avoir pas suivi
quelques cours à l’école coranique : «J’aurai mieux connu ma religion
et donc mes racines, même si c’est pour m’en séparer.» Elle est des
deux mondes, comme les fondatrices de Dice Kayek. Leur appartement
d’Istanbul, dans le quartier résidentiel de Sisli, est meublé dans un
style minimaliste et dépouillé. Leur intérieur parisien, près de
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, cultive la nostalgie ottomane avec meubles
anciens et calligraphies sur les murs.
photos VINCENT FERRANE
(1) Esmod International, établissement privé.
–Boundary_(ID_TRk8hu+8sKuJmabx0XDVlw)–

Parliamentary speaker welcomes youth visit to Karabakh
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
18 Nov 04

Stepanakert , 18 November: The chairman of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR] parliament, Oleg Yesayan, received a group of youth
organizations from various countries, who are visiting Artsakh
[Karabakh], and also members of NKR youth organizations on 16
November.
The head of the public relations department at the International
All-Armenian Youth Centre (Yerevan), which is the initiator of the
young activists’ visit to the NKR, group leader Ruben Markosyan noted
that the purpose of the visit is to familiarize the guests with the
formation of youth activity in Nagornyy Karabakh, with achievements
and problems in the public, political, legislative, social-economic
and educational-cultural spheres.
It was noted that young people from Sweden, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia
and Montenegro, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Latvia and also
various international youth organizations have arrived in Artsakh.
For his part, Oleg Yesayan said that the NKR authorities are
interested in such visits, as they provide an opportunity to show the
world how, under a political, communications and also information
blockade and without international aid, the people of Artsakh and
their leadership are building an independent and sovereign state.
“We think”, he said, “that we are far from our final goal, but we have
definitely come a long way.” It was noted that the NKR authorities,
including the National Assembly, spoke highly of the Artsakh youth
organizations’ work.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WERE KOCHARIAN’S MEETINGS WITH THE ALIYEVS POINTLESS?WERE KOCHARIAN’S
MEETINGS WITH THE ALIYEVS POINTLESS?
President Recalled that Karabakh Is a Side in Conflict
Azg/arm
16 Nov 04
President of Armenia stated at yesterday’s joint press conference with
his Estonian counterpart that he is not optimistic about the present
state of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process. Robert
Kocharian singled out two major issues that hamper progress in talks.
“First issue is that the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh has no
representative at the talks”, Pres. Kocharian said. He thinks that
Baku wants to talk exclusively to Yerevan. That is the reason why
Armenian President has to represent Karabakh’s stance as well at the
negotiations. Kocharian claimed that this is a wrong format of talks
and does not reflect the essence of the conflict.
Secondly, Azerbaijan is reluctant to start regional cooperation before
the conflict is settled. “Regional cooperation may create a better
atmosphere for conflict settlement”, Kocharian said. “We are sure that
the necessary atmosphere for taking decisions and carrying them out
may be created only by means of cooperation”, he added.
It must be noted that Pres. Kocharian never expressed his discontent
in public over Stepanakert’s secondary role in settlement process
during last 4-5 years. Back in 2001, after Paris meeting with late
Heydar Aliyev, Pres. Kocharian said that he represents Nagorno
Karabakh’s interests at the talks. In general, official Yerevan seemed
to be content with the meetings of presidents, foreign ministers and
presidents’ personal representatives though Karabakh side was, in
fact, left out of the talk process.
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian said to Freedom radio
station on November 9: “Azerbaijan should not hope to continue the
talks within the framework of OSCE Minsk group from one side and to
represent articles grabbed out from the whole package form the other
side. Either we keep on negotiating within the Minsk group framework
trying to reach complete settlement or Azerbaijan takes the issue to
other structures trying to find solution for separate articles. In the
second case Baku will have to cooperate with Karabakh authorities”.
It turns out that Armenia is ready to resign if Baku decides to
transfer the issue to other structures. But if the issue remains
within the Minsk group frameworks then Karabakh’s participation will
be not that important. This is a conclusion drawn from Yerevan’s
approach to the conflict settlement.
During a recent Stepanakert meeting with the correspondents of London
War and Peace Institute and France-Presse, foreign minister of Nagorno
Karabakh Ashot Ghulian said that Karabakh is not actively involved in
the talks “though it paid careful heed to the process trying to make
constructive suggestions”. “For us the participation in the talks is
not an end in itself”, Ghulian said adding that by rejecting Karabakh
as an independent side in the conflict Azerbaijan tries to distort the
essence of Karabakh conflict.
The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan stated on November 10 that Baku
will not agree to negotiate with Karabakh authorities. Earlier, Ali
Hasanov, aide on political issues at Azeri president’s administration,
said that Karabakh is not a side in the conflict and that Armenia
plays that role now.
We may suppose that Karabakh talks are in complete impasse now, and
the confronting sides can do nothing but condemn each
other. Pres. Kocharianâ=80=99s statements made yesterday make the
impression that Azerbaijan is not willing to continue from the Key
West agreements reached by Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev and according
to which Karabakh should join with Armenia via Lachin corridor, and
Armenia should provide a way for Azerbaijan-Nakhichevan overland
connection.
Robert Kocharian noted yesterday that there were situations “when we
were so close to finding a solution”. Kocharian stated that the OSCE
Minsk group co-chairmanship remains the most acceptable and most
optimal format for conflict settlement. “Minsk group is doing
everything for the sides to find a solution. We may say that the
problem today is between the confronting sides and not the mediators”,
Kocharian said and added that Minsk group has no mandate to impose
peace on either sides.
After his tête-à -tête with Kocharian, Estonian President Arnold
Rüütel said that Estonia is ready to help Armenia in every issue. He
said that Estonia’s membership in EU opened new perspective for
developing relations with Armenia.
This was the first visit of an Estonian president to Armenia since the
independence. Robert Kocharian was in Tallinn during his Baltic visit
in 2002.
By Tatoul Hakobian

Pravda, Russia
Nov 15 2004
Lessons on religion to become compulsory at Russian schools

Moscow authorities offended Russia’s leading confession when
substituted lessons in Orthodox culture with lessons in the history
of world religions
Disputes about religion lessons in the secular school are still
heated. It seems to be generally admitted that pupils should know the
history of religion as part of the world history. But today the scope
of the lessons in the history of religion is in the focus of the
disputes. Russia’s Minister for Education and Science Andrey Fursenko
spoke at the 2004 All-Russian Social Forum and stood up for lessons
in the history of world religions at school. He said at that the
lessons must not be optional and they are to be taught by secular
teachers. Andrey Fursenko says lessons in the fundamentals of the
world religions should be secular, and pupils must be given an option
at that. The minister thinks the lessons in the history of religion
differ from religious studies carried out by clergymen of various
confessions and religions. “In this country, the school goes
separately from the church; pupils are given secular education, that
is why religion lessons cannot be compulsory at state schools,”
Andrey Fursenko says. The Ministry for Education and Science is now
compiling textbooks and drafts of two manuals on history of
religions.
The Russian Orthodox Church supports introduction of the fundamentals
of the Orthodox Culture. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II
says introduction of these lessons is advisable because school
children should be given education in religion. He also emphasized
the lessons are important as Orthodoxy is Russia’s major religion.
The Patriarch also says that followers of Islam, Buddhism or Judaism
may study their cultures as well. “Every civilized man must know the
history of his culture. The whole of Russia’s history is based upon
Orthodox traditions and moral principles,” Alexy II says. Generations
to come must know Russian historical figures such as Daniil of
Moscow, Dmitry Donskoy and Ivan Kalita, he adds.
Opponents to introduction of Orthodox culture fundamentals at schools
often say they would not let God’s Law be taught at schools. But the
Patriarch explains that history of Orthodox culture is not a
religious subject. These lessons would make school children
acquainted with Russia’s thousand-year culture if introduced at
schools as optional studies, he adds.
It was in 1992 that introduction of optional courses in God’s Law at
schools was touched upon for the first time. In 1993, head of the
Church education department Abbot Iohannes Ekonomtsev suggested
establishing of a dialogue between the church and the government as
concerning education issues. Soon, the Patriarch, the Moscow State
University President Viktor Sadovnichy and several academicians wrote
a letter requesting to introduce theology at higher education
institutions.
January 16, 1999 the Patriarchate and the Ministry for Education
concluded an agreement on cooperation. However, the minister for
education was still negative as concerning introduction of Orthodox
culture lessons at schools even till 2002. In August 2002, President
Vladimir Putin said fundamentals of Orthodox culture may be
introduced as optional lessons at schools.
However, Moscow authorities disagree with Putin’s opinion. Head of
the Education Department in the Moscow administration Lyubov Kezina
says “Orthodox lessons cannot be introduced at schools not to disturb
people practicing other religions”. Officials say it is important
because Moscow is the city where followers of various confessions
live. Instead of lessons in fundamentals of Orthodox culture, the
Moscow education department introduced lessons in all religions at
once; secular experts developed the course.
Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Public Relations department
Mikhail Dudko said in an interview to RIA Novosti that Russian
Moslems, Jews and Buddhists insist that fundamentals of any
particular religion must be taught in those parts of the country
where majority of the population practice this religion. He adds that
the situation is quite different in Moscow today. Fundamentals of
Orthodox culture are already taught in some parts of the country, but
no intensification of ethnic hatred has been registered there. On the
contrary, Mikhail Dudko says that such knowledge helps people
understand each other better. Indeed, major achievements of the
Russian culture in architecture, painting and literature are also
connected with Orthodoxy. People must know everything about the
religion that formed the history and the culture of the country.
Spokespersons for the Russian Orthodox Church say that some parts of
the textbook about fundamentals of the world religions were not
coordinated with the church. So, opinion of church experts is ignored
at that. The new course was not coordinated with clergymen of other
confessions as well.
What about religion lessons abroad?
Fundamentals of Orthodoxy have been taught at schools of Serbia,
Romania, in Central Europe and Baltic countries, Georgia and Armenia
for several years already. Many schools in Ukraine begin their
lessons with Our Father prayer. Religion is traditionally taught in
majority of state schools in Europe, which agrees with the secular
education there. Lessons in religion fundamentals are obligatory at
schools of Germany, Finland and Norway. Majority of Britain’s private
schools have chapels where pupils attend services two or three times
a week. Pupils practicing other religions may not attend these
services.
In 1962, the US Supreme Court decreed that school lessons in religion
disagreed with the Constitution; as a result, the Bible, the Koran,
the Talmud and other religion books were withdrawn from school
libraries. Today, religion lessons are optional in the USA. After
dictator Franko died in Spain, school lessons in religion became
optional there as well.

Yegor Belous
Read the original in Russian:
(Translated
by: Maria Gousseva)

Armenia interested in opening transport link with Azerbaijan, official says
Media-Press news agency
15 Nov 04

BAKU
Armenia is suffering major losses due to the closure of transport
communications with Azerbaijan, the head of the international
relations department of the Armenian Transport Ministry, Garik
Grigoryan, has said in Baku.
“We would like to start cooperating in this sector of the economy. We
first need to open roads. No-one is benefiting from the fact that they
are closed. The whole region is suffering losses. The cargo that
could have crossed our territories is bypassing us. We are losing a
lot of money because of this,” Grigoryan said, but stopped short of
specifying the amount of the losses suffered.
He said Armenia was ready to restore transport communications with
Azerbaijan.
A representative of the Armenian Energy Ministry, Levon Vardanyan,
said earlier that Armenia was ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan also
in the energy sector.
However, the Azerbaijani deputy prime minister, Abid Sarifov, has said
any cooperation with Armenia is ruled out until the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict is resolved.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 10 2004
European Diplomats Stress Azerbaijan’s Important Role in Maintaining
Stability in Region
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received political
directors of the German and French foreign ministries Michael Scheffer
and Stanislaw Leserve de Labulier.
Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan has established high-level cooperation
with the European Union, Council of Europe, NATO, UN and other
international organizations.
Azerbaijan’s recent joining the European Union’s “New Neighborhood”
and NATO’s “Individual Partnership Plan” programs testifies to
expansion of the country’s relations with these organizations, the
foreign minister stressed.
Mammadyarov noted that his country’s leadership attaches great
importance to integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures
and stepping up such values as human rights, democracy and civil
society.
Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Azerbaijani diplomat
underlined that official Baku adheres to settlement of the conflict
based on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity within international
legal norms.
“The Azerbaijani side makes every effort to support the activity of
the OSCE Minsk Group, which tackles solution of the Nagorno Karabakh,
but not to achieve its replacement with any other organization,”
Mammadyarov underscored. The European diplomats, in their turn, stated
that Azerbaijan plays an important role in maintaining stability in
the South Caucasus region and that the country has great potential
to take a leading position within international organizations.
The parties also exchanged views on regional and international
situations and discussed issues related to determination of the Caspian
legal status and Azerbaijan’s role in fighting the international
terrorism.