Author: Karapet Navasardian

UN CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily #163
13/09/2005
The representatives of 50 countries worked out the regulation of the
UN at the first Congress of the United Nations in San Francisco,
1945. It was signed on July 26, 1945 but they consider that the
organization officially started its activities on October 24 of the
same year. The organization celebrates its 60th anniversary this
year. A number of arrangements are envisaged to take place within
the framework of this celebration. The presentation of “We and Our
History” song opened the festive arrangements.
Consuelo Vidal, UN Resident Coordinator, represented the series of
arrangements and stated that the song performed by 26 Armenian singers
fully reflected the ideas and the values of the organization.
A big open-air concert will take place on September 17,
while on September 24 a big chess competition will be held in
Cascade. Well-known Armenian chess players as well as children
from 17 cities of our republic will participate in the open-air
competition. Smbat Lputian, outstanding Armenian chess player, believes
that the competition organized by the Armenian Chess Federation and
the Chess Academy will be a genuine chess feast. The arrangements also
include the competition of schoolchildren’s literary compositions on
the topic “The UN in the World and in My Life.” An exhibition of young
photographers will open on the very birthday of the organization,
on October 24. The concert of classical music at Aram Khachatrian
Concert Hall will complete the day.
Ms. Vidal said that the UN Summit dedicated to Millennium Development
Aims project will be held in New York soon. She said that the Armenian
delegation will also represent its report at the New York summit.
This year is important for the organization for another reason,
too. The fifth anniversary of the Millennium memorandum is celebrated
in 2005, as well. It’s worth reminding that the abovementioned
memorandum was signed in 2000 by 191 countries of the world that
committed to achieve the 8 aims of the millennium development until
2015. The millennium goals are as follows: struggle against diseases
and children’s death, assistance to the victims of natural disasters,
poverty overcoming, stability of environment and maintaining education,
as well as cooperation between the countries of the world.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
25-08-2005
Minister Oskanian receives delegation from the Committee of International
Relations of the House of Representatives
On August 25 Minister Oskanian receives delegation from the House
International Relations Committee.
During the meeting sides touched upon Armenia’s inclusion in the Millennium
Challenges program.
Minister Oskanian presented Armenia’s accomplishments of the program and
basic features of the draft proposals submitted to the Millennium Challenges
Corporation Board of Directors.
Members of the delegation noted that Armenia’s draft proposals are quite
realistic and well revised. They expressed hope that the Corporation’s
board of directors will approve it.
Sides noted with satisfaction the current level of US-Armenian relations.
They agreed that developed interactions should be aimed at enhancing
bilateral relations in all areas.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Clarin, Argentina
Martes | 05.07.2005
NEGOCIOS & MERCADOS: PROYECTO PARA EL TRAMO CORDOBA-RIO CUARTO
Eurnekian, de los aeropuertos a la construcción de autopistas
Mientras espera que se renegocie antes de fin de año su contrato de
concesión por los 32 aeropuertos que opera en el país, Aeropuertos
Argentina 2000 está ampliando sus inversiones hacia otros rubros.
En el segmento de los corredores viales, donde opera a través de la
empresa Caminos de América, el grupo que timonea Eduardo Eurnekian
presentó ayer una iniciativa privada ante el Organismo de Control de
Concesiones Viales (OCCOVI) para construir una autopista que
conectaría las ciudades de Río Cuarto y Córdoba por medio de la Ruta
Nacional Nø 36. El proyecto abarcaría 216 km en una ruta de dos
carriles por mano, separados por un cantero central, pero
coexistentes con la ruta actual.
Si la empresa consigue ganar esa licitación (ya que la iniciativa
privada le da la ventaja de igualar la mejor oferta), este corredor
vial se sumaría al de la ruta Nº 8 (que une Pilar con Pergamino) y
que explica casi el 10 por ciento de la facturación total de
Aeropuertos, cercana a los 400 millones de dólares anuales.
“La idea es multiplicar por tres la actividad vial, tanto en
kilómetros extendidos como en tránsito”, señaló Ernesto Gutiérrez,
titular de AA2000. En este segmento el objetivo es llegar a una
facturación de 200 millones de dólares hacia fines del 2007, según el
directivo. Incluidas más rutas de otras provincias y las licitaciones
en las que la firma participa en el exterior, como Perú, Bolivia,
Colombia y Panamá.
Hoy, el negocio aeroportuario representa entre el 40 y el 50% de la
facturación de todo el grupo Eurnekian, que suma unos 850 millones de
dólares. En esta porción del negocio, el grupo mantiene una deuda con
el Estado por no pagar el canon de la concesión durante un año y
medio que, en el contrato original, era de 171 millones de pesos
anuales. Ahora, la empresa está pagando entre 2 y 3 millones de
dólares mensuales por ese concepto y continua con el plan de
inversiones para la remodelación de las estaciones aéreas. La
diferencia entre una y otra cifra forma parte de la discusión con el
Gobierno.
Paralelos a los negocios aeroportuario y vial, AA 2000 acaba de
incursionar también en la veta agropecuaria. Con una inversión
inicial de 5 millones de dólares, Eurnekian y Gutiérrez crearon ARG
Natural Beef, una empresa dedicada a exportar carne argentina
premium. Hoy, la firma tiene 10 mil cabezas y aspira a convertirse en
la marca que esté presente en los principales aeropuertos del mundo,
además de consolidar una empresa, de exportación de productos
argentinos de muy buen nivel: vinos, miel y más adelante cordero,
langostinos y centolla.
Otro emprendimiento en el rubro alimenticio es la adquisición de
3.000 hectáreas en Armenia para la producción de frutas finas.
Finalmente, el grupo Eurnekian prevé anunciar la semana que viene un
proyecto inmobiliario, junto a tres socios, en un predio cercano a
Puerto Madero.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Canada NewsWire
July 5 2005
Citizenship judge appointments
OTTAWA, July 5 /CNW Telbec/ – The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the appointment of two
citizenship judges.

Lawrence (Larry) Shaben is an esteemed community and business leader
in Edmonton. A former minister for the Province of Alberta, Mr.
Shaben has served as Minister of Economic Development and Trade,
Minister of Housing and Minister of Utilities and Telephones, and as
a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1975 to 1989. He is an
active community volunteer, serving as the current chairman of the
Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities and as a patron of the Alberta
Heritage Foundation, among other community endeavours.
Mr. Shaben was appointed a citizenship judge in Edmonton.
Sarkis Assadourian is a well-known and well-respected community
leader in the Greater Toronto Area. A former member of Parliament, he
is also the former Executive Director of the Armenian Community
Centre in North York. As a member of Parliament, Mr. Assadourian was
the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration and the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Citizenship
and Immigration. He was appointed a citizenship judge in Toronto.
Citizenship judges are appointed by order-in-council and are
responsible for making decisions with regard to applications,
presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of
citizenship to new citizens.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Top seed Davydenko retires from Swiss Open
AP Worldstream; Jul 05, 2005

Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko retired with an injured wrist Tuesday
against Armenia’s Sargis Sargsian in the first round of the Swiss
Open.
The Russian had won the first set 6-1 and was leading 1-0 in the
second when he withdrew.
Davydenko retired from his second-round match against Sweden’s Jonas
Bjorkman at Wimbledon last month with a similar injury.
The 24-year-old Davydenko is enjoying the best season of his career,
breaking into the top 10 after reaching the semifinals at Roland
Garros this year. He also won his fifth career title in St. Poelten,
and reached semifinals in Doha, Barcelona, and the Masters Series in
Hamburg.
Previously, Sargsian had won only two matches this season _ defeating
David Sanchez at the Australian Open and Bobby Reynolds in Indian
Wells.
The Armenian has not won back-to-back matches since last year’s
U.S. Open where he beat Alex Corretja, Nicolas Massu and Paul-Henri
Mathieu, before losing to Andre Agassi.
In other first-round play, Romania’s Razvan Sabau eliminated Swiss
wildcard Michael Lammer 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and Spain’s Feliciano Lopez
defeated Russian Igor Andreev 7-5, 6-3.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BirdLife International, UK
July 1 2005
‘SOS! Shikahogh’: the road to nowhere
01-07-2005
1 June 2005: the President of Armenia signs a decree to build a 90km
highway through the pristine Shikahogh Nature Reserve.
9 June 2005: the decision is cancelled!
Plans by the Armenian Government to build a second 90km highway
leading to the Iranian border through the pristine Shikahogh Nature
Reserve, have brought together Armenian communities from both sides
of the border in an unprecedented conservation effort.
Shikahogh Nature Reserve
The flora and fauna of Shikahogh have not been comprehensively
catalogued due to the reserve’s isolated location, mountainous
terrain, and poorly developed road system. The reserve, particularly
the centuries-old Mtnadzor Forest, is a primordial and relict forest
habitat that has remained completely untouched down the centuries.
Shikahogh is home to 1,100 species of plants including many which are
endangered and endemic, as well as a variety of rare animals
including leopard, moufflon and bears.
The diverse habitats within the reserve also support rich avifauna.
>From recent field observations, over 130 species of birds are
currently known to occupy the reserve and surrounding areas. Over
twenty-two raptors have been recorded in the reserve, including the
globally threatened Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca. Caspian Snowcock
Tetraogallus caspius occurs at high elevations while Caucasian Black
Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi finds shelter in the upper tree limits of
the Forest Reserve.

The highway project
A project planned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications to
build a highway from Kapan through Tsav to Shvanidzor would cross the
Mtnadzor section – the heart of the Shikahogh State Reserve,
resulting in the mass destruction of this unique ecosystem. Moreover,
it would clear the way for poachers, loggers and other illegal
commercial activity. The officially-sanctioned logging aimed at
removing a 16.6 km long and at least 30 metre-wide swathe of
Shikahogh, cutting its most well-preserved section, Mtnadzor Forest,
in two.
The construction of the road through Shikahogh was in full
contradiction with all ratified conventions and international
agreements that Armenia has become signatory to, such as UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change, UN Convention on Biodiversity, UN
Convention to Combat Desertification and the European Convention on
Landscape, ratified by the Republic of Armenia. Needless to say, it
violated the Law of the Nature Reserve itself and broke national laws
on Specially Protected Areas and flora and fauna.
Land-locked and blockaded economically, Armenia depends on the bulk
of its imports to come through Georgia and Iran. The latter makes up
approximately ten per cent of the country’s imports, and the existing
road is the only one leading to the Iranian border – keeping the
southernmost communities of Armenia connected with the rest of the
world.
In winter and spring it is barely accessible and offers dangerous
passage to traders. It could be justifiably argued that construction
of the road makes sense strategically, the question being how and at
what cost?
The protests
In March 2005, a WWF-initiated trip to the project site with a
representative of the Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds
(ASPB) revealed that bulldozers had been massed with the intention of
clearing the line and crossing the reserve. (ASPB are working with
BirdLife Inernational on Armenia’s Important Bird Area Programme.)
The decree to launch the construction had been signed and ratified by
the President, without the relevant permissions obtained from the
Ministry of Nature Protection. Meanwhile, the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) that the government had to undertake came forth only
in May. When the picture became clearer, the Armenian WWF Caucasus
Program initiated public appeals to halt the destruction.
A coalition of environmental NGOs including ASPB staff worked
together to save the reserve and established a `SOS! Shikahogh’ Force
Task which spearheaded further counteraction against the
developments. On May 31, a group of independent experts drawn from
the Ministry of Nature Protection, two organisations including ASPB
and the Armenian Forests NGO, a local forestry expert (a local
caretaker for the Zangezur IBA) and the planners hired by the
Ministry of Transport, were canvassed to examine the route proposed
by the government and identify alternatives. The expert study
revealed that the estimated damage to the forest from the road
proposed by the government would amount to a staggering 136,085
trees, which translated financially to over 13 million U.S. dollars.
Consequently, two alternate routes were proposed to the government,
who staunchly continued with their plans and signed a decree to begin
the construction through Shikahogh. The coalition of organisations
claimed that the government pursued other motives, targeting profit
from timber sales. The Armenian Transport and Communications
Minister, Andranik Manukyan, declared in an interview with the Radio
Free Europe that the road through Shikahogh would be constructed
irrespective of the conclusive proofs produced by the assessment.
“If they refuse to accept any of the proposed alternatives then the
road is not the real issue. The plan for a ‘strategic’ road is simply
to get at the forest and the wood. Governmental officials say that
the highway has strategic importance but none can explain why they
have chosen this way through the reserve.” – Karen Manvelyan, Director
of WWF in Armenia
On June 10, ASPB visited the Shikahogh reserve with a large
delegation of WWF staff, environmental organisations including the
Armenian Tree Project and Armenian Forests NGO, independent
journalists and other media representatives, to observe the situation
first-hand and run an expert study of the three alternative routes.
The situation remained unchanged and the government-backed road
builders continued with their preparations. In the heat of the
dispute an adult Imperial Eagle soared high above the protesters, a
poignant symbol of the what was at stake.
Meanwhile, the growing public movement created an extensive wave of
support and the wide media coverage finally forced the government to
suspend construction for at least 15 days. The National outcry to
save the Shikahogh Nature Reserve had united all NGOs into a
coalition never previously experienced in Armenia.

Mamikon Ghasabyan
Environmentalists fought an unprecedented campaign to protect
Shikahogh’s magnificent forests
Zoom In
The victory
On June 17 the coalition organised a hearing to allow the public an
opportunity to discuss the plans with government officials. ASPB
footage of Shikahogh Forest was shown. The Minister of Transport and
Communications, Andranik Manukyan made an announcement that the road
through Shikahogh as originally planned by the government would not
be developed and an alternate route would be taken.
The coalition of organizations remained vigilant until the issue was
resolved and the official decision was made. The voice of the public
was heard: on 29 June 2005 the government ratified a decree to begin
construction of road circumventing the Nature Reserve. Shikahogh had
been saved and the unstinting efforts of those who stood up in
defence of the People’s Forest were rewarded, an unprecedented event
in the history of Armenian conservation.
Luba Balyan (Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri President Rules out Possibility of Popular Uprisings
The New Anatolian
June 29 2005
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev on Tuesday ruled out the
possibility of popular uprisings in his country similar to those that
toppled unpopular regimes in other former Soviet nations.
Opposition activists have held three rallies in as many weeks in
Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, demanding free and fair elections in
November. The mounting pressure on authorities has led some observers
to predict the Caspian Sea nation could see a massive uprising
similar to those in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
Asked in a live interview with Turkey’s CNN-Turk television if the
same could happen in Azerbaijan, Aliev replied: “Absolutely not.”
“Some parallels havebeen drawn, but every country has its own
history, its own process,” Aliev said in the interview in Baku. “I
don’t see the fundamentals for it to happen.”
“In those countries there was no faith between the government and the
people. … The people did not accept their actions… They wanted
change,” Aliev said.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan travels to Azerbaijan on
Wednesday for a two-day visit in which he is expected to urge greater
democracy in the country. Turkey and Azerbaijan share close cultural
and linguistic ties and are close allies. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support for Azerbaijan’s six-year
war with Armenia.
The November election is key for Azerbaijan, the starting point of a
pipeline that Washington says will reduce world dependence on Middle
Eastern oil.
The opposition has accused authorities of rigging the October 2003
presidential election, which allowed Aliev to succeed his late
father, Geidar Aliev.
That vote triggered clashes between police and opposition
demonstrators who alleged the vote had been rigged. One person died
in the violence, and nearly 200 were injured.
Aliev’s government denied the allegations of vote-rigging and ignored
the opposition demands to change electoral law.
“There will be no problem,” Aliev told CNN-Turk in reference to the
November election. “The necessary decrees have been issued. It will
be bright, democratic and transparent.”
Source: The New Anatolian, 29 June 2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 19:15:09 | 22-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION 2005 |
PACE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS IS DECISIVE ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
OF ARMENIA
Several minutes ago the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs session finished in
which the Committee expressed their opinion about the Monitoring Committee
draft resolution about the constitutional reforms in Armenia.
The Committee on Legal Affairs has made two decisions. First: in case of
failing the Constitutional reforms for the second time in Armenia the PACE
has the right to raise the issue of stopping the authorizations of the
delegation of Armenia, and second: after the realization of the
Constitutional Referendum it must be put into execution as soon as possible.
This opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs will sound tomorrow during
the discussion of the Monitoring Committee draft resolution about the
constitutional reforms in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘Confront genocide’
7DAYS, United Arab Emirates
June 15 2005
Written by 7DAYS | Thursday, 16 June 2005
German lawmakers have prepared a cross-party motion urging Turkey to
re-examine the disputed killing of an estimated one million ethnic
Armenians about a century ago, according to a copy obtained by The
Associated Press last night.
The motion, to be put to a vote in parliament today, demands that the
German government press Turkey to investigate the killing and foster
reconciliation with Armenians, including “forgiveness for historical
guilt.” Parliament is “convinced an honest historical review is
needed and represents the most important basis for reconciliation,”
the motion said.
“This is particularly true in the framework of a European culture
of remembrance which includes openly debating the dark side of each
nation’s history.”
Armenia accuses Turkey of genocide in the killings as part of a 1915-23
campaign to force Armenians out of eastern Anatolia. At that time,
Armenia was part of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey remains extremely sensitive to the issue. It denies that the
killings were genocide, says the death count is inflated and that
Armenians were killed or displaced along with others as the Ottoman
Empire tried to quell civil unrest.
Officials from the governing Social Democrats and the main conservative
opposition said they expected strong support for the motion – partly
because it makes no mention of Turkey’s bid to join the European Union.
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has been one of Turkey’s strongest
backers in its membership bid, but the opposition – which hopes to
win expected elections later this year – has argued that it should
be offered a lesser “privileged partnership.”
A draft debated in the German parliament in February drew criticism
from Ankara’s ambassador in Berlin, who said it contained “prejudices,
factual errors … and one-sided expectations.”
The final version said “numerous independent historians describe the
destruction of the Armenians as genocide.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US CONGRESS TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Pan Armenian News
13.06.2005 03:12
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US Congress will discuss the Armenian Genocide
Resolution introduced by Congressmen George Radanovich and Adam Schiff.
Within the next several weeks the House Committee on International
Relations will submit the new resolution on the Armenian Genocide”,
Mr. Schiff said. To note, last time the Committee voted on the
issue five years ago. Earlier member of the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues Adam Schiff submitted two draft resolutions. One
of them confirmed the Armenian Genocide, the other condemned Turkey
for imposing blockade upon Armenia. However the Congress refrained
from discussing the projects. Mr. Schiff agreed to recall them on
the condition that the House Committee on International Relations
will consider his resolution. According to the Congressmen, this
agreement does not guarantee the support of the committee chairman
or its members. However during the recent 5 years the opportunity
did not occur. “The resolution records of the Armenian Genocide and
1.5 million people killed at the beginning of the 20-th century. It
also says that the US Congress acknowledges the Armenian Genocide”,
the Congressmen added, RFE/RL reports.