Author: Karagyozian Lena

ARMAVIA STARTS FLIGHTS IN FIX NEW DIRECTIONS IN JANUARY, 2005
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21. ARMINFO. The national air carrier of Armenia,
Armavia company, will start flights in six new directions in January,
2005, the company’s press-service informs ARMINFO.
According to the source, these are the flights U8-303/304
Yerevan-Dubai-Yerevan on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 00:30,
U8-305/306 Yerevan-Beirut-Yerevan on Wednesday at 22:50, U8-
101/107 Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan on Mondays and Thursdays at 05:00,
U8-105/106 Yerevan-Athens-Yerevan on Saturdays at 06:35, U8-888/889
Yerevan-St.Petersburg-Yerevan on Saturdays at 16:35 and U8-855-856
Yerevan-Kiev-Yerevan ¬ on Thursdays at 7:00.
The first flight Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan is fixed on January
3. Armavia Press Secretary Garik Siroyan states that Armavia will
carry out non-stop flights from Yerevan to Beirut, Dubai, Paris,
Athens. Meanwhile, as to the flights to Saint Petersburg and Kiev,
Armavia has rivals, “Pulkovo” air carrier (one flights weekly) and
“Donbassaero” air carrier (one flight to Kiev weekly). The flights
to all the six directions will be carried out by Airbus A320.
It should be noted that flights in these directions are currently
carried out by the “Armenian International Airlines.” The license of
this company exhausts on Dec 31, 2004. It should be noted that within
9 months of 2004, Armavia transported over 316,000 passengers and 1.1
thousand tons of post and cargoes. The company’s passenger-turnover
totaled 557.7 mln p/km, with cargo turnover being 2.3 mln t/km. The
share of Armavia in the total passenger turnover in Armenia in 9 months
of 204 grew as compared to the same period of 2003 by 17% and totaled
43%. The company serves 20 routes and has interline-agreement with
over 40 air carrier in the world. The company was founded in 2001. Its
strategic partners the second large Russian air line Siberia.-
–Boundary_(ID_52wpPzxFrh0JoT3z7shGJg)–

NOR ZHAMANAKNER PARTY SUGGESTS TO SEND DETACHMENT TO ANOTHER REGION
Azg/arm
21 Dec 04
Nor Zhamanakner party (the New Times) made a statement in which the
party members again condemn the Armenian authorities for sending an
Armenian detachment to Iraq, taking into account the bitter experience
of 1970s in Lebanon, when one of our Diaspora communities was on
the verge of disaster. The tragedy was averted only by conducting a
balanced and neutral policy. The statement said that the necessity
to join the international anti-terrorist struggle should not endanger
the interests of Armenia, otherwise we should look for an alternative
version of joining the program. The party suggests to discuss and
find another hotbed for sending the Armenian detachment under the UN
shelter, where the interests of the Arabic world and the Republic of
Armenia will not clash. At the same time, the party calls on holding
an open vote at RA National Assembly on the abovementioned issue, so
that both the people who took the decision and the ones who approve
it feel responsibility.
Itâ~@~Ys worth mentioning that recently, John Evans, US ambassador
to Armenia, visited the office of Nor Zhamanakner party where he
had a conversation with Aram Karapetian, leader of the party, for
several hours.
–Boundary_(ID_wYcKM2m7R04QQUneD6uCsg)–

Turkish PM basks in EU triumph
Nicolas Rothwell, Middle East correspondent
The Australian
Dec 20 2004
TURKEY’S reformist Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the man behind
his country’s successful bid to stage an entry to the European club,
returned home to his capital in triumph yesterday, and basked in a
ticker-tape parade before his jubilant supporters.
Mr Erdogan, a convinced democrat at the head of an Islamic-flavoured
party, was greeted by thousands in Ankara’s central square.
Confetti filled the air, and fireworks were let off in broad daylight
as he addressed the crowds in near-freezing temperatures.
The celebrations capped a week of high tension as the Turks watched
the progress of the Brussels summit, where Ankara’s bid to secure a
date for accession talks with the European Union was almost derailed
at the last moment.
Mr Erdogan, a politician who combines pragmatism and intense emotional
commitment, seized the high ground at once on his return, committing
his Government and nation to the path of continued social reforms
and economic development.
Despite fringe protests by hard-line leftists and right-wing
nationalists, Mr Erdogan stands at the head of a united country,
and his authority, after the drama of the Brussels summit and his
high-octane performance there, stands at a new level.
“Turkey has now turned a critical corner,” Mr Erdogan proclaimed,
to rolling cheers, as his listeners waved the Turkish flag and the
European Union banner.
“Our road is open, and you should not have any doubt about it. From
now on, democracy will have a different meaning – human rights and
freedoms will be practised in a more meaningful manner, and the economy
will perform better. Turkey will take its rightful place among modern
and civilised countries.”
These heady claims, and the general atmosphere of euphoria, have
combined to make this an extraordinary time across the diverse
nation of 70 million people, stretching from the frontiers of Iran
and Armenia to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
Unalloyed national exultation of this kind has not been seen in Europe
since the collapse of Eastern communism in 1989.
Mr Erdogan’s words, and his broad message of progress, repeated
constantly in recent weeks, places him firmly in the tradition of the
nation’s Westernising founder, Kemal Ataturk, whose name has been on
everybody’s lips in recent days.
Mr Erdogan himself, in his proud and controlled performance at his
first press conference after the EU decision, pointedly invoked
Ataturk, and referred to Turkey’s European trajectory as a “second
great national revolution”.
Mr Erdogan’s work, though, is only just beginning. European leaders,
still sceptical about the implications of admitting a vast, rapidly
expanding and still-developing Muslim state into their union, have
stressed it may take 15 years before full membership is possible,
and they have refused to guarantee a successful conclusion to the
Turkish negotiations.
The critical stumbling block at the summit was Ankara’s position
on Cyprus.
Turkey occupies the northern part of the island and has for decades
refused to recognise the southern Republic of Cyprus – a full EU
member since May this year.
By giving an oral pledge on Friday to expand an EU trade protocol,
Ankara provided an intent to grant technical recognition to Cyprus,
and this highly unpopular concession will have to be finessed through
parliament by the Erdogan Government before the formal talks with
Europe begin on 3 October 2005.
“Our sensitivity about the issue is beyond comparison,” Mr Erdogan
insisted, while his Foreign Minister and key lieutenant in the talks,
Abdullah Gul, stressed there would be no recognition of Cyprus until
a lasting solution to the island’s political impasse has been found.
Turkey’s treatment of its Kurdish minority also remains a chief
concern of EU member states, and assuaging European doubts on this
front will be one of the main tasks of the Government in Ankara over
the years ahead.
Kurdish leaders placed advertisements in European papers last week
appealing for quasi-autonomous status for the region: a move the
Turks will not condone, given their sensitivity to the threat of
territorial carve-up and the distinct possibility a Kurdish state
may emerge across the border in the north of war-torn Iraq.
Turkey under Mr Erdogan has transformed conditions in the Kurdish
southeastern region by permitting the public use of the Kurdish
language and removing pressure on Kurdish political leaders.
Mr Erdogan also faces the difficult task of maintaining his country’s
strong, and newly revived, sense of national unity during a period
of further sharp social and economic changes. He addressed this
point obliquely yesterday in pledging that all Turks, those from the
rural far east as much as those from the busy metropolis of Istanbul,
were of equal value.
Hard days lie ahead, as even Mr Erdogan’s most ardent admirers in
Turkey’s fractious media concede: the road before the country in its
bid for full admittance to the EU is still a long one.
But the sense of delight and fulfilment is keen, after almost four
decades of slow progress towards this goal. “We succeeded,” exclaimed
the weekend edition of the leading newspaper, Hurriyet – and of that,
at least, there could be no doubt.
–Boundary_(ID_zvKrouxzFdgeQg0S0IyxwQ)–

Armenia comes out for creating reg security system in S Caucasus
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 17, 2004 Friday
YEREVAN, December 18 — Armenia comes out for the creation of a
regional security system in the South Caucasus, Armenian Defence
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said in his report “South Caucasus: issues
of regional security” during the debates that were organised by the
Center of public dialogue and development on Friday.
He noted that “the constructive policy and interest to ensure
stability by external forces – Russia, the United States, European
Union, Iran and Turkey is important in order to ensure security in
the South Caucasus.” “However, the position and policy of countries
of the region have primarily the decisive significance in this issue,”
the minister emphasised.
According to him, “real guarantees of regional development can be
provided only with the system of comprehensive security, atmosphere
of stability and mutual trust.” “Armenia will pursue the policy for
the development of a multipolar system of country’s security till
these conditions are not provided yet,” the minister pointed out.

Turkish premier returns to a hero’s welcome after historic deal with EU
By SELCAN HACAOGLU
The Associated Press
12/18/04 04:55 EST
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkey’s prime minister returned from an EU
summit to a hero’s welcome Saturday, hours after the European Union
grudgingly agreed to seriously consider his country for membership
despite widespread public opposition to a Muslim nation joining
the bloc.
Hundreds of supporters waving Turkish and European Union flags greeted
Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the airport in Istanbul. Some held banners
proclaiming him “the conqueror of EU” and “the new star of EU.”
Hours earlier in Brussels the European Union offered to begin talks
aimed at bringing Turkey into the EU. The long-coveted invitation
came despite Erdogan’s refusal to formally recognize Cyprus, Turkey’s
longtime adversary and an EU member since May.
EU leaders hailed the agreement as a historic step, one that would
expand the borders of the 25-nation EU from Ireland to Iran. Turkey’s
stock market rose to a record high.
“We have been writing history today, and the agreement we reached today
will acquire full significance in the years ahead,” said Dutch Prime
Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose country holds the EU presidency.
The talks will begin Oct. 3, 2005, the beginning of a process that
could take years and could transform the political and social landscape
of both parties.
If the talks succeed, Turkey would become the largest EU member, with
a population of 71 million – expected to grow as high as 85 million
by 2020. But its per capita income is roughly one-third of the average
of longtime EU member states, requiring far-reaching economic reforms.
Turkish membership would also add millions of citizens to the EU at
a time when many Europeans are questioning whether their countries,
which have a Christian heritage, can absorb large numbers of Muslim
immigrants.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the decision to accept Turkish
membership shows “that those who believe there is a fundamental clash
of civilizations between Christians and Muslims are actually wrong,
that they can work together, that we can cooperate together.”
Most Turkish newspapers were ecstatic. “We Succeeded,” read the
headline in Saturday’s edition of the leading Hurriyet. Another daily,
the Sabah, blared: “European Revolution.”
But the deal nearly fell apart because of an EU requirement that
Turkey initial an agreement Friday expanding its customs union with
the EU to include Cyprus and nine other members that joined in May. The
agreement would have to be signed by October.
Erdogan balked at the requirement, which EU diplomats said amounted
to tactic recognition of the Greek Cypriot government.
Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 to block a coup by Greek Cypriots,
and decades of diplomacy have failed to reunite the Mediterranean
island. About 40,000 Turkish troops remain in northern Cyprus, which
is controlled by Turkish Cypriots.
After hours of intensive negotiations, the EU agreed to accept a
statement from Erdogan that he would sign the customs agreement before
the talks start and that the move would not constitute recognition
of Cyprus.
“This is a win-win agreement,” Erdogan said. “The process from now
on will be even more difficult … but I strongly believe Turkey will
be able to achieve this.”
Back home, he pledged to work harder and strengthen the country’s bid.
“This result will not spoilt us, will not relax us,” Erdogan told
the crowd at the airport.
However nationalist newspapers were furious, arguing the terms were
too harsh. “Dishonored,” the daily Yeni Cag newspaper declared in
Saturday’s edition.
EU officials said the talks would be open-ended and without a guarantee
of eventual EU membership. Opposition leaders said that gave Turkey
little chance of success.
Several EU countries strongly oppose admitting Turkey, fearing an
influx of culturally different migrants who would compete for jobs.
French President Jacques Chirac, who has promised a referendum on
Turkish membership if the talks succeed, said Ankara would have
to recognize the mass killings of Armenians by Turks in the early
20th century.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said he would also call a
referendum because bringing a Muslim country into the EU “must not
be decided in an ivory tower. … We cannot be indifferent about
public opinion.”
Supporters of Turkey’s entry contend the country could be a bridge
between Europe and the Middle East and stand as an example of a
democratic state with Islamic traditions. Turkey, a longtime NATO
member, has been legally secular since the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire after World War I.
Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser, Raf Casert, Art Max and Robert
Wielaard contributed to this report.

UNDP ANTI-CORRUPTION PROJECT BACKS DEVELOPMENT OF LAW ON LOBBYING
ArmenPress
Dec 17 2004
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Today, at the Congress Hotel in
Yerevan, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in
cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development of Armenia, held a discussion of the draft
Concept of the Law on Lobbying of the Republic of Armenia.
Representatives of the Government, Parliament, local and
international organizations, trade unions and business associations,
as well as experts participated in the discussion, UNDP Country
Office in Armenia told Armenpress.
The aim of the discussion was to review the approaches and
suggestions on the draft concept of interested non-governmental
organizations (NGO) including those representing interests of the
private sector. At the event, The international experience of
regulating lobbying, ways, restrictions, financing and reporting of
lobbying, rights and responsibilities of lobbyists, licensing and
accreditation issues will be discussed. A special importance will be
attached to the suggestions on NGO lobbying.
Developing the regulatory framework for lobbying is the request of
the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and the Anti-Corruption
Strategy adopted by the Government of Armenia. At the same time, it
is a key step towards providing equal and transparent opportunities
for civic participation in decision making and is called to foster
participatory processes in Armenia.
Vahan Asatryan, Coordinator, UNDP/Government Project on “Support
to Information Society and Democratic Governance”, noted in his
speech: “Within the United Nations System, UNDP plays an important
role of providing assistance for equal political, economic and social
opportunities. In this context UINDP supports the Government of
Armenia in developing legislation and implementing policies promoting
efficient participation of citizens in decision-making processes. Our
mission in Armenia is to help reducing political inequalities in the
country through promoting effective and broad civil society
participation in decision-making. We help the Government to establish
responsive participatory policy frameworks and to foster
consolidation of information society. We support establishing a civil
society anti-corruption network in the country and strengthen the
capacity of civil society to participate in anti-corruption
initiatives effectively.”
The UNDP support to the Government of Armenia and the Parliament
in developing a viable law on lobbying will continue in 2005.

Senior Iranian cleric urges Iraqis to participate in elections
Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran
17 Dec 04
Secretary of the Guardian Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati told
worshippers at Tehran Friday prayers that if Iraqis want to get
rid of oppression and dictatorship, “they should participate in the
elections” and “vote in ample numbers to those who care for the Iraqi
people”. The following are excerpts from the sermon, broadcast live
by Iranian radio on 17 December:
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Passage omitted:
on religious matters
What can we say about the Ahvaz festival? Of whom should we complain?
However, it is clear who those people are. Have we got to the point
that we should import dancers from abroad? Haven’t we reached
self-sufficiency yet? Should we import dancers from Armenia and
elsewhere? What is going on in this country?
This is not the first time. The same has happened in other festivals
and they did not listen to the objections made. Similar banal scenes
have been there in ten-day dawn festivals ceremonies celebrating the
anniversary of Iran’s Revolution . I would like to warn them right
now since we have the ten-day dawn ceremonies ahead of ourselves,
it you want to do the same, you should know that the people will
encounter you.
Ethical deviation and banality is one issue. There has as well been
a lot of waste of public wealth. This is the money that should have
been spent on those who are homeless and sleep in the streets. I hope
that the statistics on those who sleep in the streets on the cartons
and die of cold is not true. The money that should be spent on those
people the homeless is being spent on them dancers . This is just one
issue, while there are plenty of such wastes. If there were not such
wastes, there would have not been even one homeless.
They officials would have made a place for them the homeless to sleep
and not to die on the streets.
God helps us if one day we open the dams in the name of freedom, but
fail to fortify the dikes. The water will wash everything away. If
the dams’ gates are to be opened, the dikes should be fortified to
prevent the water’s destruction. Let me not explain any further. We
hope that God would save us all from ignorance. Passage omitted:
on Hajj pilgrimage and ongoing reconstruction following Bam earthquake
And my last point is about Iraq. You know that the elections are
imminent and the American crimes are ever-increasing. They drop 250 kg
bombs on the people. I do not really know what they want to do with
these people. What sin they have committed that their women, men,
children, elderly, sick and healthy should all be burnt and killed
under bombings. Slogans chanted by the worshippers: “Death to America”
At any rate, we expect the noble and Muslim people of Iraq to be
mindful of clear realities. They should know that America is facing
Islam rather than the Shi’is, Sunnis, Kurds or Arabs and it will
indiscriminately repress all. They should also know that if they want
to have a relatively promising future they should participate in the
elections. They should vote in ample numbers to those who care for
the Iraqi people and not others. The oppressed Iraqi people who got
rid of the former dictator, just to face a worse dictator.
If they the Iraqi people would not be able to fend for themselves,
the result would be the dominance of dictators, as it is now. The way
out is to create a popular power in the form of a strong parliament to
take the fate of the country into its hands. However, the religious
scholars have a substantial role to play in this regard. They should
have a comprehensive supervision over the elections.
A lot of cheating and vote riggings may take place. Things may be
done to prevent the people from achieving their optimal result. They
should therefore be ready for what may come. Passage omitted: on
final prayer of the sermon

PRESS RELEASE
Chess Academy of Armenia
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Aram Hajian
Tel: (3741) 52-02-46
Fax: (3741) 52-02-46
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Re: The Tigran Petrosian Memorial Internet Chess Tournament
In homage to one of the greatest chess players of all time, the Chess
Academy of Armenia is proud to hold a unique tournament honoring
Armenia’s favorite son. The former world champion, who passed away in
1984, would have been 75 this year and most probably quite impressed
with Armenia’s chess legacy he helped initiate and encourage.
The Tigran Petrosian Memorial Internet Tournament, the last in
a series of tournaments dedicated to the memory of the 9th World
Champion, includes a novel twist on the conventional tournament format
customarily seen. The organizers have decided to host a tournament
before the largest public audience possible, with the games themselves
being played online. The national teams of France, China, Russia,
and host country Armenia will square off via the internet, with
each four-player team locking horns in a six round event. Tune in
to for live games, commentary, and news about
this exciting event. Total prize fund: $55,000. Games begin at
12:00 noon (Paris time), 14:00 (St. Petersburg), 15:00 (Yerevan),
and 19:00 (Beijing) daily from December 18-23, 2004.
Sincerely, the Chess Academy of Armenia

FIRST EVER SCHOOL OF PEACEKEEPERS TO BE OPENED IN YEREVAN
MOSCOW, DECEMBER 16. ARMINFO. The first ever international school
of peacekeepers will be opened at Yerevan’s Mkhitar Gosh University,
says Gen Karen Zadoyan.
The school will train young servicemen from Germany, Greece, the
US, Serbia. The project has been initiated by International Peace
Organization (Russia) whose office will soon be opened in Yerevan.
The school will teach its trainees what is international security,
how to effectively fight terrorism, drugs trafficking and other social
vices. The school will also cultivate tolerance to other religions
and ethnic traditions.

MONITORING OF THE BORDERLINE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
15 Dec 04
On December 10 the OSCE Mission monitored the contact line of the
armed forces of Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the eastern direction near
the village of Talish in the NKR region of Martakert. On the side of
the NKR Defence Army the monitoring group was headed by the personal
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk
(Poland). The group included the field assistants of the personal
representative Miroslav Vimetal (Czech) and Alexander Samarsky
(Ukraine). The monitoring took place according to the schedule and no
breaking of the ceasefire was reported. The monitoring mission was
accompanied by the representatives of the NKR ministries of defence
and foreign affairs.
AA.
15-12-2004