Author: Khoyetsian Rose

Agence France Presse — English
September 12, 2006 Tuesday 3:54 PM GMT
Iran eyes new Armenian pipeline
Iran wants to build a second natural gas pipeline to energy-strapped
neighbor Armenia, the Islamic republic’s parliament speaker
Gholam-Ali Hadad-Adel said on Monday.
Speaking during a two-day visit to Armenia, Hadad-Adel said “the two
sides are discussing the possibility of the construction of a second
Iran-Armenia pipeline.”
Because of its dispute with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave, Armenia has been unable to take advantage of Azerbaijan’s
energy reserves or participate in regional hydrocarbon transport
projects.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six year war ending with an uneasy
cease-fire in 1994 over the majority ethnic-Armenian enclave in
Azerbaijan.
Hadad-Adel said a new Iranian gas pipeline would serve primarily to
supply Armenia with gas but added that “the possibility of
transporting gas to third countries through the territory of Armenia
is not excluded.”
“An important part of our relations is cooperation in the area of
energy,” Hadad-Adel said of ties with Yerevan.
Iran has already undertaken the 220-million-dollar construction of a
natural gas pipeline to the Caucasus nation, which has until now
depended on Russia for all of its gas needs.
Under a 20-year contract, Armenia is projected to receive some 36
billion cubic meters of gas through the conduit starting in January
of next year, breaking Russia’s stranglehold on its gas market.
Armenia will foot part of the bill for the initial pipeline with
deliveries of electricity which it produces at a Soviet-era nuclear
power plant.
Armenia and Iran also recently began construction of a hydroelectric
power plant on the Araxes river, which serves as the two nations’
border.
Armenia has depends on Russia and Iran for most of its trade because
of an economic blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and ethnically-linked
Turkey over the Karabakh dispute.

Burbank Leader, United States
September 17, 2006
Genocide suit moves forward
By Tracy E. Gilchrist
GLENDALE – A judge’s ruling on Monday to move forward in a
class-action suit against two German banks accused of withholding
money and property from victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide brings
their descendants a step closer to restitution and recognition of the
tragedy, their attorneys said.
“It’s a watershed moment,” said Los Angeles attorney Mark Geragos, who
represents the plaintiffs who are descendants of the victims of the
genocide.

United States District Judge Margaret M. Morrow’s ruling marks the
first time a lawsuit against
a non-insurance company regarding assets withheld from Armenian
Genocide victims’ descendants has gotten this far along, Geragos said.
Officials from Deutsche Bank could not be reached for comment.
Descendants accuse German banks Deutsche Bank A.G. and Dresdner Bank
A.G. of holding on to assets deposited by Armenians prior to the 1915
genocide and holding on to assets the Ottoman Turkish Empire looted
from the victims. .
The suit further contends that by concealing and preventing recovery
of the assets, the banks profited from atrocities committed against
the Armenian people within the Ottoman Turkish Empire. advertisement

“The ruling allows us to proceed with discovery and depositions,”
Geragos said.
Morrow delivered a 78-page decision, which Geragos called
“well-reasoned and involved.”
“She did a fantastic job of analysis,” said Vartkes Yeghiayan, an
attorney working with Geragos, said of Morrow’s ruling.
“Armenians lost and banks benefited,” Yeghiayan said.
Plaintiffs have won several lawsuits against insurance companies that
benefited from the Armenian tragedy, Yeghiayan said. “It’s only a
question of time to file a lawsuit against Turkey,” for committing
genocide, he said.
The ruling comes a week before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected
to sign a state Senate bill that allows for the victims’ descendants
to pursue the assets that financial institutions kept, said Haig
Hovsepian, community relations director with the Armenian National
Committee of America – Western Region.
“The state of California has an interest in returning wrongfully
withheld assets,” Hovsepian said of the timing of Morrow’s decision
and the bill, which the group anticipates will be signed within a few
days.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Gul: Turkey Not Ready to EU Accession Yet
15.09.2006 15:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish FM Abdullah Gul yesterday made a report at
the Institute of International Relations of France, devoted to
EU-Turkey relations. In his speech the Turkish FM tried to show all
advantages the EU will enjoy after Turkey’s accession.
«Turkey is not ready to EU accession yet, however the state of affairs
will change after planned reforms,» Gul said. Answering a question on
the state of Christians in Turkey, he said, «Of course there are
Christians in Turkey and tolerance is part of our policy,» RFE/RL
reported.

ERDOGAN: SOME FORCES “TRYING TO BLACKEN GLORIOUS HISTORY OF TURKISH PEOPLE”
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.09.2006 18:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some forces are “trying to blacken the glorious
history of the Turkish people and the statements on the Armenian
Genocide are a typical example of this”, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan stated. “It’s hard to find a nation with such huge
historical heritage. As Turkey’s Prime Minister I personally proposed
Armenia to form a joint commission for investigation of the last years
of the Ottoman Empire,” Erdogan said, stressing that the government
headed by him does the utmost to support the department of Turkish
history and language. “These two departments lay in the basis of the
formation of the Turkish Republic,” the Prime Minister concluded.

Italy supplants Turkey’s place
Sabah, Turkey
Sept 7 2006
While the debates continue about where in Lebanon Turkish soldiers
would go, Italian soldiers deployed between Sur and Litani, a location
which was demanded by the Turkish government.
The place and the task of Turkish soldiers that would join United
Nations Force in Lebanon became definite: Tukey first wanted the
region between Sur and Litani; however, military discharge decision
was delayed and Italy snatched this region. ‘Turkish city’ will be
established in two towns nearby Sur. The region was chosen because
of the fact that there were no Armenians and Hezbollah members.

IN CASE OF FAILURE OF THE PEACE TALKS BAKU WILL SEARCH FOR OTHER WAYS OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 15:19
Azerbaijan is not willing to restart the war against
Armenia. Nevertheless, in case of failure of the talks on the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, it will have to discuss other ways
of “resolving the issue of occupation of Azerbaijani territories,”
said Ramiz Mehtiev, Head of Staff of the Office to the President of
Azerbaijan, Day. Az reports.
Mehtiev noted also that Azerbaijan continues undertaking consistent
measures for the reinforcement of the militant capacity of the
armed forces, and one of the steps in this direction was the recent
establishment of the Ministry of Military Industry.
“Creation of the Ministry was necessary in the light of the fact that
20 percent of the country’s area is occupied,” Mehtiev said.

GRAND MUFTI IN YEREVAN
SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
Aug 5 2006
In the Armenian capital of Yerevan , Grand Mufti discussed yesterday
with Chairman of Armenian National Assembly Arthur Bagasarian Bilateral
relations between the two countries and means of boosting them.
Chairman of Armenian National Association emphasized the importance of
Dr. Hassoun’s visit and its political and spiritual benefit, conveying
members of Hassoun ‘s delegation the Armenian people’s regards and
big respect to the President Bashar al-Assad and he Syrian people.
Armenian Catholics Karekin II underlined the significence of Mufti’s
visit to Armenia and the cooperation between the two sides in the
frame work of religions dialogue, hialing the national unity that
the Syrian people enjoy with all different spectrums.
Dr. Hassoun stressed Syria’s durable keenness to enhancing dialogue
among religions in the world.
Armenian Catholics Karekin II underlined the significence of Mufti’s
visit to Armenia and the cooperation between the two sides in the
frame work of religions dialogue, hialing the national unity that
the Syrian people enjoy with all different spectrums.
Dr. Hassoun stressed Syria’s durable keenness to enhancing dialogue
among religions in the world.

EVANS SAYS GOOD-BYE
A1+
[08:15 pm] 05 September, 2006
Today RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with John Evans,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia in connection
with the cease of his work and activity in Armenia.
While expressing his gratitude to Mr. Evans for his work The Defense
Minister stated that the Armenian-American relations have become
firmer and closer in the recent two years. He also voiced hope that
these relations will become still closer and continual during the
office of the next ambassador.
John Evans thanked the Armenian Defense Minsiter and the personnel
of the Ministry for their efficient and high-level work in the sphere
of defense.
While referring to the Karabakh conflict, Serge Srargsyan expressed
his high opinion of the Minsk group co-chairs’ role and voiced hope
that the conflict is likely to be regulated by peaceful means.
The two parties also touched upon the regional security issues.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRESENTS KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS TO BELGIAN SENATOR
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Within the
framework of the EU New Neighborhood Policy, issues relating to the
Armenia-EU Actions Plan were discussed at the September 2 meeting of
Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian with Francois Roelants
du Vivier, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations and Defence
Committee of the Kingdom of Belgium. The regional developments,
Armenian-Turkish relations were also touched upon. Minister Oskanian
appreciated the Senators’ efforts to raise Armenian issues in Belgium
and the significant contribution in development of the Armenian-Belgian
relations. In his turn, the Belgian Senator spoke with praise about
the Armenian-Belgian cooperation, mentioning that it develops in a
number of spheres. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, the Belgian Senator
presented impressions of the visit paid to Nagorno Karabakh and his
viewpoints on the conflict settlement. Minister Oskanian presented
briefly the present stage of the negotiations.

IMF DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ARMENIA FOR TWO-WEEK VISIT
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 31, 2006
YEREVAN, August 31. /ARKA/. An IMF delegation led by Hasan Al-Atrash,
head of the Middle East and Central Asian department, arrived Thursday
in Armenia for two-week visit. IMF Yerevan office reports that the
delegation came to Armenia for monitoring the process of Poverty
Reduction and Growth Facility program implementation by Armenia.
The delegation will also discuss the IMF’s Annual Article IV
consultation.
Global Insight Daily Analysis says IMF sees progress in the process
of putting the program into reality in Armenia.
According to the document, World Bank’s International Development
Association and International Monetary Fund point out that economic
growth and double-digit GDP in Armenia as result of agriculture and
construction development. They also point out low inflation rate and
improving situation with foreign debt.
National Statistical Service of Armenia says economic growth was
recorded at 11.5% in Jan-July 2006, compared with the same period
a year earlier. GDP grew 16.9% in June 2006, compared with the same
month in 2005.
International Monetary Fund has approved Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility, a tree-year credit program worth 23mln SDR (about $34.2mln),
for Armenia.
IMF-provided assistance to Armenia totals $350 million.