Author: Maghakian Mike

SCIENTISTS COMPLAIN OF PRIVATIZATION
A1+
| 16:52:58 | 10-10-2005 | Social |
The work of the “General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute” has been
ceased for the last days. The problem is that the municipality has
sold the majority of the land belonging to the Institute. The Institute
staff tried to struggle against the unlawful act, but applying to the
three court instances was no use. Today the Institute staff intends
to organize a sit-down strike opposite the President’s residence.
The General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute had 5 hectares of
land which was a must for the Institute as s sanitary and security
zone. “In the Institute chemical experiments are realized”, said head
of the Institute Sevan Davtyan.
By this decision the Institute was factually deprived of the security
zone and hence of the possibility to realize secure experiments. “This
means the beginning of the end”, noted the head of the Institute
who is a doctor-professor of Chemical sciences. He realizes that if
they start to build luxury mansions in the security zone (some have
already been built), the Institute will be deprived of its building
in the closest future.
The Institute engages in the investigation of the lithosphere and
processes different technologies. Part of the work realized by
the Institute is used in the military field. Some of them are also
important for jeweler’s art which has been recognized as a prior
branch of economy by Robert Kocharyan.

LATVIA IS INTERESTED IN DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN RIGA AND YEREVAN
Regnum, Russia
Oct 10 2005
There are many perspectives in financial cooperation between Armenia
and Latvia, we only need to concretize them and make first steps
towards the realization, President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan said
on a business forum of the two countries.
As a REGNUM correspondent reports, according to Kocharyan, to develop
partnership between the two countries, at first a solid legal and
negotiation system should be established. “The second principal
element is the predictability of both countries. There is no such
problem currently. After obtaining independence, Armenia has been
heading towards serious economical growth. Third, we need a healthy
competition. And the last factor is safety. Many crimes such as racket
have been successfully exterminated,” said president of Armenia. The
main problems, according to him, are lack of information and
contacts. However, the new EU policy “Extended Europe: New Neighbors”
will provide both countries with needed partnership possibilities.
In her turn, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga informed,
that during her visit to Armenia, many documents important for
future negotiations have been signed. “We’re impressed by Armenia’s
economic growth and hope that it will continue for the good of both
our countries”, said Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
During the forum, Latvian finance minister Krisjanis Karins noted,
that the Latvian side was interested in direct flights between Riga
and Yerevan. In his turn, Kocharyan said that this could be one of the
components of business and tourism development. The only discussable
question now is the visa question. The Latvian side hopes that it
could be settled by establishing an Armenian embassy in Latvia that
will happen in the near future.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA PROPOSES WORKING-OUT DOCUMENT TO STRENGTHEN CULTURAL LEGACY PROTECTION
Pan Armenian
08.10.2005 18:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian yesterday left for
Paris to take part in the UNESCO General Conference that has Education
for All slogan this year, reported the Press service of the Armenian
MFA. The same day V.
Oskanian made a statement at the conference. He specifically noted
that Armenia fully supports the education policy of the organization,
which coincides with Armenia’s strategy. The first university founded
eight centuries ago and a highest literacy index in the world evidence
Armenia’s commitment to education and science. Armenian cultural
values spread worldwide were a way and guarantee of Armenian people’s
survival from Singapore to Lvov, from Moscow to Paris, the Minister
noted. There is no better example than St. Lazarus Island in Venice,
of which both Armenians and Italians are cultural fathers. “We dream
that our immediate neighbor be as tolerant and valuing. However,
thousands of Armenian cultural monuments in Turkey symbolize not only
lost lives, but also lost opportunities. In its turn Azerbaijan does
everything to keep away from us. As no Armenians remained on its
territory, Armenian cultural monuments have become their targets,”
Vartan Oskanian stated. In his words a number of cultural monuments
in Armenia are included in the World Legacy list. Besides, V.
Oskanian said he was content with UN activities. He presented
Armenian delegation’s intention over ratification of the Convention
on Protection and Encouragement of Cultural Diversity. The Armenian
FM also noted that Armenia proposes working out a new document that
would strengthen cultural legacy protection.

Radio Russia
Oct 7 2005
Ethnic communities take on Russian state agencies’ duties –
minister’s aide

In Moscow the Russian state agencies have been replaced by the ethnic
communities as the defender and protector of small business,
Konstantin Remchukov, a Russian businessman and aide to the economic
development and trade minister, as well as the de-facto owner of a
nationwide liberal paper, told Radio Russia’s “At First Hand”
programme on 7 October.
Discussing the Russian government’s economic policies with the
programme’s host, Natalya Bekhtina, Remchukov said that one of the
most urgent tasks for the government was to stimulate small business
and so far this task had been ignored and taken on only by ethnic
communities who provide loans and protection for members of their
ethnic groups.
“I talked to an Armenian businessman based in Moscow and he told me
that when Armenian refugees arrive in Moscow they visit some person
who takes on responsibility for the newcomers’ life and business [in
Moscow]. And this person is the most efficient protection for them.
The Armenian family is offered a private loan, a trade outlet, a
small shop or a shoe polisher’s booth. They are told how to deal with
the police and government inspectors. They are told to repay their
loan within two or three years. They are protected from criminals,”
Remchukov told his host.
“So we can see that the refugees in Moscow are very well organized
and their communities execute the state’s duties while the state does
not do so. The state does not offer people a start-up loan, does not
create favourable conditions for small business. And the ethnic
communities – the Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian and Chechen
diasporas – just do it themselves,” said Remchukov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANALYSIS-FRICTION IN AZERI RULING ELITE ON ELECTION EVE
By Lada Yevgrashina
Reuters
10/06/05 07:11 ET
BAKU, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev faces
the fiercest challenge to his power not from the opposition at
parliamentary elections in a month’s time but from warring factions
inside his own ruling elite, analysts say.
The Nov. 6 vote is under close international scrutiny after rigged
elections in ex-Soviet Georgia and Ukraine led to revolutions — a
scenario Aliyev’s opponents say could be repeated in the energy-rich
Caspian Sea state.
Though ruling officials deny a split, analysts say Aliyev, 43, is
caught in a power struggle between young modernisers in his team who
want a fair election and older hawks prepared to use force to put
down opposition protests after the vote.
“The ‘velvet’ revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia only happened
because there was a clear split in the ruling clan,” said analyst
Zardusht Alizade.
If Azerbaijan’s government snubs international pressure for a fair
vote, “it can expect a schism, and part of the ruling elite will join
the opposition camp,” he said.
Even Aliyev’s opposition challengers say they are less of a threat
than the enemies in his own camp.
“A real split can be observed inside Ilham Aliyev’s team,” Ali Kerimli,
one of two leaders of Azerbaijan’s main opposition bloc, told Reuters
in an interview.
“And more than that, the struggle between the factions is even more
bitter than that between the authorities and the opposition,” said
Kerimli, whose National Front, with four seats, is the only opposition
party in parliament.
Next month’s election has laid bare the infighting, with candidates
from rival factions running against each other for the same seat in
parliament on the ruling New Azerbaijan Party ticket, Kerimli said.
Aliyev, elected president in 2003 to replace his father Haydar,
who had ruled since Soviet times, is popular with voters and governs
almost unchallenged by the weak opposition.
SPLIT DISMISSED
All members of his administration say they are united in their loyalty
to the president.
“There is no split. All this talk of divisions is without foundation,”
said Siyavush Novruzov, deputy head of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
But analysts name Ramiz Mehtiyev, head of the presidential
administration who served for many years under Haydar Aliyev, as
the key figure in the faction that favours authoritarian methods to
preserve power.
On the other side is a group of younger politicians led by Azerbaijan’s
representative to the Council of Europe, Samed Seidov, who are pushing
for political reform, analysts say.
Local newspaper reports said Seidov and his allies — who include
some of Aliyev’s personal friends — complained this summer that the
old guard in the administration was frustrating reform.
Soon after, tax police raided a university run by Seidov, the
reports said.
Azerbaijan’s ruling elite is a patchwork of clans from the Aliyev
family’s native region of Nakhichevan, ethnic Azeris from neighbouring
Armenia and family friends and relatives.
Analysts say Aliyev shares the reformist leanings of his younger
aides but is not strong enough to take on the old guard.
Offshore oil and gas fields operated by BP are ramping up production,
promising Azerbaijan a windfall of billions of dollars over the next
20 years. Some observers say the clans are fighting for a share of
these spoils.
“The struggle inside the governing elite has intensified with the
election, but also as a result of the growing flow of financial
resources,” said analyst Leila Aliyeva.
Newspaper reports say the latest feud is between Economic Development
Minister Farhad Aliyev and Kemalatdin Haydarov, the customs chief
and an old favourite of the ruling family.
Farhad Aliyev has been stripped of some official powers and has
complained to reporters of a death threat, though he did not give
the source of the threat.
President Aliyev has promised that the Nov. 6 election will be fair
and says accusations of ballot-rigging and official repression are
empty opposition rhetoric.
Police at the weekend used truncheons to break up an opposition
rally in the centre of the capital, saying the protesters did not
have official permission. The opposition had turned down the offer
of a venue on the outskirts of Baku.
(Additional reporting by Rufat Abbassov)

THE VIRUS EXISTS IN CIS
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| 18:41:52 | 05-10-2005 | Politics |
The model draft about “Bankruptcy of Banks” has been in the processing
phase for the last two years and it is supposed to be adopted
on November 18 in the CIS Inter Parliamentary Assembly plenary
session. Today it was discussed during the international seminar in NA.
The deputy head of the RF Higher Court Experience Investigation
Administration Andrey Egorov represented the revised draft to the
participants of the seminar. He mentioned that the model laws give an
overall regulation but they give the opportunity to take into account
the peculiarities of national legislation. That is the draft has an
advise-giving character and it does not suppose direct application.
According to the RA Central Bank Advocatory administration head Pirouz
Sargsyan, the Law on Bankruptcy of Banks has been adopted in 1996 and
amended in 2004. According to her, the Armenian law is much better
than the model one as it has been tested. In her words, the model law
creates basis for improving the existing law. The Central Bank intends
to represent an offer to amend to law to the Parliament in 2006.

“NATIONAL RENAISSANCE” DOES NOT GIVE PROMISES
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| 20:35:21 | 05-10-2005 | Politics |
Today the Armavir regional organization of the “National Renaissance”
party founded by the ex-members of the Republican party Albert
Bazeyan and Vagharshak Haroutyunyan was opened. This one too, like
the other in Shirak region was founded in the basis of the Republican
party; moreover, 265 of the 270 members wished to join the “National
Renaissance”, another 10 people became members of the newly founded
party.
Today during the meeting with the members of the regional organization
in Echmiadzin Bazeyan and Haroutyunyan thanked the party members and
explained the importance of their step. Albert Bazeyan announced that
they were against the promises of revolution which were not kept,
while “people counted on them and were disappointed”. Besides, he
was also discontent with the tendency of leaning on outer powers.
One of the members of the party complained that the Republican Party
did not count with their opinion and asked what the new party will do
in this respect. “No document will be created without your agreement”,
announced Vagharshak Haroutyunyan. He also said that when they ask
when the change of authorities will take place, the people and not
single persons must answer this question.
It was also announced that in the coming weeks the other regional
structure of the “National Renaissance” will be founded, and on
November 11 the founding conference will take place.

US’S NAGORNO KARABAKH POLICY REMAINS UNCHANGED
AZG Armenian Daily #179
06/10/2005
Karabakh issue
Sean McCormack, official representative of the US State Department,
stated that the policy of the United Stated in the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement remained unchanged. In response to the question
whether the letter by 50 congressmen addressed to President George
W. Bush claiming to protect the right for self-determination of
the NKR people testifies to the change in the in the American
policy, McCormack said that they certainly support the interest of
the congressmen concerning different political issues. As for the
US policy on the NKR issue, he said that nothing has changed. They
support the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group and all the efforts
of Armenia and Azerbaijan directed to the settlement.
While Elmar Mamediarov, Azeri foreign minister, stated that they agreed
in the issue of demining in the course of the negotiations. “Demining
is a very important process and it will be of primary importance when
the Armenian side leaves the occupied territories,” Elmar Mamediarov
said in the interview to Mediamax agency.

EXHIBITION “SEE THE LAND OF ITALY: TREASURES OF SAINT LAZARUS ISLAND” OPENED IN YEREVAN
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. The exhibition “See the land of Italy”
treasures of Saint Lazarus island” has been opened in Yerevan. RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan pointed out that the exhibition
inaugurates Days of Armenian-Italian friendship, which is the best
manifestation of the two nations’ ancient ties and mpresent-day
contacts. Minister Oskanyan thanked Armenia’s authorities for their
assistance in holding Days of Armenian-Italian friendship. He expressed
a special gratitude to the Congregation of Mkhitarists, which agreed
to display some of its treasures in Armenia.
Archimandrite Harutyun Pstikyan, who is responsible for cultural
treasures of the Congregation of Mkhitarists, reported that only 100
of over 10,000 exhibits of the treasures of Saint Lazarus island are
being displayed in Yerevan. “We have brought only the exhibits that
are related to the 1600th anniversary of Armenian alphabet. These
are mostly printed editions, Armenian geographical maps, portraits of
clergymen by well-known Italian painters, such as Heirich Reinhard,
Geuseppe Gavanin, Francesco Mageotto, Hovhannes Aivazovky. Among
the exhibits are also the sword of Levon V, King of Cilicia of the
14th century and the death mask of the Armenian composer Komitas,”
Pstikyan said. He pointed out that the Congregation of Mkhitarists
intends to establish permanent cooperation with the Armenian Government
in organizing an exhibition of treasures of Saint Lazarus island in
Armenia. He said that the Congregation intends to present some of
the exhibits to the National Gallery of Armenia. However, the issue
is yet to be discussed by the Congregation Board.
Says of Armenian-Italian friendship will be held in Armenia from
October 5 to November 5, 2005. Films shot by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
will be demonstrated. A meeting with the well-known writer, author
of the bestseller “La masseria delle allodole” Antonia Arslan, opera
and theatrical performances and photo exhibitions will be held as well.
The Days of Armenian-Italian friendship are being held on the
initiative of the Armenian and Italian Governments under the
patronage of the two countries’ presidents and with the sponsorship
of businessmen.

AFTER THE EUPHORIA, TURKEY PREPARES FOR THE HARD SLOG
By Anthony Browne, Brussels Correspondent
The Times, UK
Oct 5 2005
TURKEY promised a “great struggle” to turn itself into a modern
economically developed democracy, as officials in Brussels started
work yesterday on EU entry negotiations.
After the euphoria of agreeing to start talks early yesterday, EU
leaders spoke of the difficulties of bringing the vast, semi-developed
Muslim nation, which is almost entirely in Asia, up to EU standards.
President Chirac of France said that Turkey would need a “major
cultural revolution” and may never be ready to join.
Over the next ten or fifteen years Turkey will have to implement 83,000
pages of EU legislation. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime
Minister, said: “There will be a great struggle to fully implement
the harmonisation laws. Our ideal is a Turkey that will take its
place among democratic, free and developed countries.”
Turkey must also resolve the conflict over its illegal occupation
of Cyprus, starting by recognising its Government and opening up its
ports and airports to Cypriot traffic.
Angela Merkel, who is likely to be the next Chancellor of Germany,
and Nicolas Sarkozy, who aspires to be the next President of France,
oppose Turkish membership and could derail talks once in power.
France and Austria, whose voters oppose Turkish membership, have
promised referendums on the issue.
The membership talks were formally opened at a ceremony in the small
hours yesterday when Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Foreign Secretary,
and Jack Straw, his British counterpart, read opening statements.
A few hours later, European Commission officials started the
painstaking “screening” process, assessing Turkey’s harmonisation
with EU law under 35 chapter headings, covering everything from human
rights to environmental protection. This screening process will be
followed next spring by negotiations on each of the 35 chapters.
Each EU country has a veto on the closing of each chapter, which
will give hostile countries such as Austria and Cyprus plenty of
opportunities to trip Turkey up.
Austria is also insisting that Turkey, which would be the biggest
member by the time it joins, cannot be admitted until the EU is ready
to absorb it.
There is concern that although Ankara passed a modern penal code last
year Turkish judges are continuing to breach human rights.
European politicians have also been alarmed by human rights abuses,
such as the prosecution of a Turkish writer for acknowledging that
his country had committed genocide against Armenians, the continued
persecution of religious minorities, a recent order to close down
the country’s only gay rights group, and the killing of children in
mental hospitals.
THE CHALLENGES
Adopt and implement 83,000 pages of EU legislation
Resolve dispute over Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus, including
recognising Cypriot Government
Renegotiate Nice Treaty to change voting weights in the EU
Probable next leaders of France and Germany oppose Turkey’s membership
Any present EU member can veto any of 35 different “chapters” of
negotiations over the next ten years
Referendums in France and Austria, with voters of both highly hostile
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