Author: Markos Nalchajian

GDP GROWS 11.7% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-JULY, 2005, ON SAME MONTHS OF LAST YEAR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-July, 2005, GDP in
Armenia grew by 11.7% on the same period of 2004 and made 915 bln
222.9 mln drams (about 2 bln USD). The GDP index-deflator made up
103.7%. According to the RA National Statistical Service, in the
indicated period, the industrial production in Armenia increased by
6.3% in Armenia, while the gross agricultural output and the retail
trade grew by 14.1% and 5.3% respectively. The RA foreign trade grew
by 29.5% in January-July, 2005 over the same period of last year and
made about 1.5 bln USD, with exports increasing by 31.9% and made
523 mln USD and imports by 26.2% to 788 mln USD respectively. Cosumer
prices grew 3.1% in July on December of last year. In the period under
review, citizens’ incomes and expenditures grew by 12.7% and 8.6%
respectively. As of late July, the number of the officially registered
unemployed made 94.5 thousand people.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOON INDIAN COMPANIES TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS IN SPHERE OF TOURISM IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues on development of the
Armenian-Indian interstate and interparliamentary relations were
discussed at the August 16 meeting of Artur Baghdasarian, the RA NA
Chairman, and Deepak Vohra, the Ambassador of the Republic of India
to the Republic of Armenia. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA NA
Public Relations Department, the interlocuters attached importance
to the interparliamentary cooperation and work at international
structures. It was mentioned that commercial-economic ties between the
two countries are developed: three large Indian companies implement
large investment proghrams in Armenia: in the spheres of gold,
jewellery, soon in the sphere of tourism as well. Issues concerning
an official visit to Armenia to be paid in October by Shri Bhayron
Singkh Shekhhavat, the Vice-President of India, the Chairman of the
Upper House of the Parliament, were discussed at the meeting. The
Ambassador informed that a large number of businessmen will be in the
staff of the delegation to accompany the Vice-President: those will be
people working in the sphere of high technologies, agriculture, food
industry, cars, etc. The cooperation in the sphere of high technologies
and telecommunication was attached importance during the meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan: Does Wahhabism Pose A Threat?
RFE/RL Sunday
07 August 2005
By Liz Fuller
Addressing a 3 August conference in Baku on “Religion and National
Security,” Rafik Aliyev, chairman of the Azerbaijani government’s
Committee for Work with Religious Formations, warned that the increased
activity of “Wahhabis,” meaning members of radical and/or unregistered
Islamic groups, poses a threat to political stability in Azerbaijan in
the run-up to the 6 November parliamentary elections. Reports of at
least one, possibly two National Security Ministry operations against
Wahhabis in recent weeks would seem to substantiate Aliyev’s apprehension.
The first such crackdown took place on the night of 12-13 July, when
National Security Ministry personnel raided the village of Novkhany near
Baku, killing two “armed Wahhabis” and arresting six others. Some 30
more suspected Wahhabi sympathizers were apprehended in the district in
the following days, day.az reported on 4 August, quoting the father of
Emil Novruzov, one of the young men in question.
Also on 4 July, the National Security Ministry refuted media reports
that its operatives arrested 11 Wahhabis during a raid on a Baku mosque
the previous day and are monitoring attendance at several other mosques.
In the wake of the July arrests, Azerbaijani Deputy Interior Minister
Vilayat Eyubov was quoted by day.az as saying that he does not believe
the situation in Azerbaijan is conducive to the spread of Wahhabism. “I
do not believe that they will be able to put down roots in Azerbaijan
and attain their desired [objective],” he was quoted as saying. At the
same time, Eyubov admitted that there is a constant flow of information
about suspected Wahhabi sympathizers, and that information is
systematically evaluated.
In contrast, popular Imam Ilgar Ibrahimoglu believes that Wahhabism does
indeed pose a danger for Azerbaijan. Ibrahimoglu told zerkalo.az that
“it is no secret to anyone that radical Wahhabi groups have been active
in Azerbaijan for several years,” and that there is no indication of a
weakening of that trend. Ibrahimoglu attributed the appeal of Wahhabism
to the lack of democracy, frequent human rights violations, and the
authorities’ clumsy repression of less radical but unregistered
religious communities. (Ibrahimoglu’s own Djuma Mosque in Baku has been
subjected to repeated pressure and harassment over the past two years.)
Parliament deputy Ramiz Akhmedov blamed the growing popularity of
radical Islam on the “primitive, 19th-century” approach of the
officially registered Muslim clergy that, he claimed, alienates
believers and impels them to seek “pure Islam,” zerkalo.az reported on
18 January. Some, Akhmedov continued, opt for Shi’a Islam, some for
Sunni Islam, and others for a third alternative that he did not name.
Adherents of radical Islam then seek to take advantage of young
believers’ interest in studying the fundamentals of their faith. And
supplying such knowledge has apparently become a major industry:
Akhmedov pointed out that religious literature is freely available both
in Baku and elsewhere, written in contemporary Azerbaijani and printed
in both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.
According to zerkalo.az on 4 August, Wahhabism has taken root above all
in the northern and central districts of Azerbaijan, and in Baku. That
geographical pattern suggest that Wahhabism first penetrated from
Daghestan, which borders on Azerbaijan to the north. So-called Wahhabis
in several remote villages challenged the Daghestani authorities in
1999, and the Russian media consistently blame Islamic fundamentalists
for the almost daily terrorist bombings and killings in that republic.
The online daily echo-az.com similarly registered a strong Wahhabi
presence in northern Azerbaijan, but in an article on 18 January
entitled “The ‘Wahhabization’ of Azerbaijan is continuing,” it claimed
that there is also a Wahhabi presence in the south of the country. The
same article listed other ways in which young Azerbaijani believers are
exposed to radical Islam: when studying theology abroad, and while on
pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Former Deputy National Security Minister Sulhaddin Akper enumerated
various ways in which the Azerbaijani authorities could counter Wahhabi
propaganda: by raising the level of religious education, screening more
stringently applications from persons wishing to perform the hajj, and
lodging a formal protest with the government of Saudi Arabia, which is
perceived as an exporter of radical Islam. Akper said it is up to both
the Foreign Ministry and Azerbaijan’s official religious bodies to take
appropriate action.
But according to the government’s Committee for Work with Religious
Formations Chairman Aliyev, the Board of Muslims of the Caucasus (UMK),
instead of acting to avert the subversion of Islam in Azerbaijan by
radical tendencies, is actively encouraging them. Aliyev claimed in
mid-July that on two occasions within the previous three months, state
customs officials have intercepted and confiscated consignments of
radical Islamic literature addressed to the UMK. Aliyev said the first
consignment of books weighed 14 tons and the second 10 tons.
But UMK officials claimed that the literature in question was in Arabic,
Uzbek, and Kazakh, and was intended for shipment to Uzbekistan. They
said the consignments were sent to Baku “by mistake.” On 4 August,
Caucasus Press quoted Aliyev as saying customs officials intercepted a
further consignment of radical literature two days earlier, and that
such shipments are sent to Azerbaijan via Turkey and Georgia.
Speaking at the 3 August conference on “Religion and National Security,”
Aliyev said that he thinks the recent arrests of “Wahhabis” were
justified, according to zerkalo.az on 4 August. He called for “serious”
work to explain government policy to the leaders of religious
communities in the run-up to the 6 November election.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Aivazovsky exhibition in St. Petersburg
RIA Novosti
25/07/2005
MOSCOW — An exhibition of the great Russian marine painter Ivan
Aivazovsky’s works from the Central Naval Museum’s collection is to be
held, with a focus on the Russian Navy.
The exhibition is timed to coincide with Navy Day on July 31 and the
upcoming tercentenary of the museum, according the Kultura TV website
().
Aivazovsky’s work comprises some 6,000 paintings, most of which depict
heroic episodes from the Russian Navy’s history.
The Naval Museum has 24 of Aivazovsky’s paintings and one graphic work.
Some of these are well-known, and others, which were previously believed
missing, are of special interest for lovers of the marine genre.
Aivazovsky (1817-1900) was the last and most prominent Russian romantic
painter, and his work is typified by his heroic marine battle scenes. In
1839, he took part in naval campaign near the Caucasus. After that, he
was given a title and the right to wear an admiral’s uniform, and became
an artist on the General Naval Staff.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 20, 2005, Wednesday
ARMENIA IS BEING CONDITIONED
SOURCE: Rossiiskiye Vesti, NN 25 – 26, July 14 – 20, 2005, p. 9
by Sergei Radlov
Robert Simmons, Special Envoy of NATO General Secretary in the
Caucasus, says that Armenia may count on the Alliance’s assistance if
it decides to rid itself of the Russian military base on its
territory.
Simmons admits that the move of some Russian military hardware from
Georgia to the base in Armenia does not collide with provisions of
the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe. The official is convinced,
however, that this move is undesirable if Yerevan decides at some
later point that it does not want the Russian military presence
anymore. Because it will be that much more difficult to withdraw the
Russian base from Gyumri then. In the meantime, existence of the base
does not prevent the Alliance from advancing interaction with
Armenia. NATO does not regard Russia as a rival in the Caucasus.
Simmons’ words should be taken literally. On the one hand, NATO does
not need a quarrel with Moscow. Particularly since Armenia does not
object to the Russian military presence unlike Georgia. On the other
hand, had Russia left Armenia altogether, NATO would not have been
sorry to see it go.
This is not the first time the West is trying to win Armenia over. It
uses certain military-political changes in the region to accomplish
its objectives. Yerevan has always viewed Turkey as the major threat
and therefore counted on Moscow and Russian troops on Armenian
territory. Turkey aspires for membership in the European Union
nowadays and therefore behaves. This is why, some analysts say,
official Yerevan no longer views Ankara as a threat and that
diminishes Russia’s importance in the role of a potential ally.
If assessments like that are correct, then NATO’s activeness in the
region is quite understandable. It has to gain at least a foothold
there, even a tiny one, and to proclaim itself a powerful player in
the sphere of regional security.
The West is even playing on Yerevan’s sensitivity in the matter of
Nagorno-Karabakh. There is the widespread impression that Armenia is
irked by the Russian-Turkish rapprochement. US Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans recently announced that it was quite plain that
Nagorno-Karabakh could not be turned over to Azerbaijan. He added,
however, that it was his personal opinion but specialists choose to
take his statement as a “feeler”.
In other words, Russia’s withdrawal from Georgia is being used to
promise Armenia assistance it does not even ask for in the first
place. After all, Armenian leaders actually welcome the decision of
the Russian General Staff to move some military hardware to Gyumri.
Not one of them has ever mentioned the possibility of closing the
base.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CIRCUS TO PUT ON TENDER
ArmenPress
July 20 2005
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian government decided to hold a
tender for a 50-year lease of Armenian Circus building and its property
on August 10. The minimal price fixed by the government is 100 million
($115,000) drams. The potential buyer will be committed to invest
another 300 million and run the facility as a circus for next 25 years.
Sos Petrosian, director, welcomed the tender saying though the circus
is a government-owned facility but its subsidies are not enough to
even pay utility fees. He said all other expenses are covered by the
staff. But he feared that a buyer could later turn the building in
downtown Yerevan into a mall or a trading center.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EPP-ED Group, European Parliament
July 15 2005
Dissatisfying presentation by Turkey’s Chief Accession Negotiator.
Renate Sommer MEP
German MEP Renate Sommer (CDU) has today expressed her
dissatisfaction with the first appearance of Mr Ali Babacan, the
Turkish chief negotiator for accession, at the Foreign Affairs
Committee of the European Parliament: “Mr Babacan consequently
avoided talking about the most obvious shortcomings of Turkey
regarding the accession criteria such as the recognition of Cyprus,
the Armenian genocide, the status of the Kurds and the adoption of
the so-called law on foundations. Moreover, he was rather hesitant
and evasive in answering the enquiries of the parliamentarians who
were present. My question on the recognition of Cyprus according to
international law was even completely ignored. Obviously, Mr Babacan
thinks that he only has to negotiate with 24 Member States about the
accession of his country. This performance was less than convincing
and bodes ill for the course of negotiations in the future,” alleged
Ms Sommer, Vice Chairman of the EP-Delegation on the relations with
Turkey in Brussels today.
Renate Sommer deemed Mr Babcan’s remarks completely unacceptable as
he was “threatening” Members of the European Parliament to abstain
from critical questions which may be perceived as “insults” by the
Turkish people. According to Renate Sommer it is rather the very duty
of parliamentarians to insist on Ankara’s compliance with the
Copenhagen Criteria which have still not been met by Turkey in a
single point despite of the fact that the start of negotiations is
already anticipated: “As freely elected parliamentarians we are
politicians and not diplomats. Mr Babacan’s reiterated assertion that
Turkey would continue the necessary reform process but needs more
time for its implementation is as such highly unsatisfactory. We are
setting the rules, not Turkey”.
The German Christian Democratic Member also dismissed the statement
of the Turkish Chief negotiator that Turkey had to comply with the
most rigorous accession conditions of all candidate countries:
“Turkey has to comply with the same accession criteria as all the
other candidate countries. Even the Turkish government has come to
admit that the negotiation process will be extremely long and
tedious. This only proves that Turkey has the biggest shortcomings
and rather a lot of stumbling blocks on the way.” It is therefore
very unfortunate that Mr Babacan once again categorically excluded
the alternative of a privileged partnership. “Turkey will have to
accept this solution as the only viable perspective, otherwise this
will fall back on Turkey in the long run.” In conclusion, Renate
Sommer stated that “without a radical change in mentality, a full
recognition of Cyprus according to international law, an open
discussion of the Armenian question, an end to the war against the
Kurds in the South-East of the country, equal rights for women and
unrestricted religious freedom including the right to own property,
we will continue to refuse Turkish accession to the EU.”
(translation from the original German)
For further information:
Renate Sommer, MEP, Tel.: +32 2 2847383
EPP-ED-Press Service, Knut Goelz, Tel.: +32 479 972144
;PRControlID=3918&PRContentID=7226&PRContentLG=en
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Télégramme
7 juillet 2005
Génocide arménien.
Génocide arménien. Le « Quid » condamné.
Le « Quid » condamné. Le tr ibunal de grande instance de Paris a
condamné h i er le « Quid » et l ‘ éditeur Robert Laffont à un euro
de dommages et intérêts pour avoir favorisé le point de vue turc sur
le génocide arménien.
Ce jugement doit être publié dans trois quotidiens, trois
hebdomadaires et sur le site internet de l ‘ encyclopédie. Dans son
jugement, le tribunal souligne que le « Quid » donne une présentation
« incontestablement fautive » du génocide reconnu par plusieurs
instances internationales.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“LET’S KEEP OUR CULTURE” FIRST CULTURAL FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA
AND ARTSAKH
YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the “One Nation,
One Culture” fund the first cultural festival under the title “Let’s
Keep Our Culture” will be held in Armenia and Artsakh. The festival’s
solemn opening will take place on July 8 in the town of Metsamor of
Armavir region. As Tamar Poghosian, fund’s Executive Director,
reported at the July 6 press conference, the festival will last 5
months and will be held by 3 stages. The first stage envisages events
in Armavir, Ararat, Syunik regions and Vayots Dzor, the second stage
in Kotayk, Gegharkunik, Tavush regions, the third in Aragatsotn,
Shirak and Lori regions. Various events with the participation of the
best singers and dance groups, an exhibition-sale of paintings and
books will be organized within the framework of the festival and
people living in Armenian regions will have an opportunity to meet
with cultural figures. T.Poghosian informed that the festival’s
general fund makes 4 mln drams (nearly 9 thousand dollars) “Today
cultural events are only held in Yerevan and such events have been
seldom held in Armenian regions for 10-15 years. Our goal is to export
culture to the regions and doing so, to keep the Armenian culture with
a history of thousands of years,” T.Poghosian mentioned. According to
her, “first of all we should keep the things wen have and only then
think about development of culture.” T.Poghosian also presented the
results of fund’s activity. According to her, the fund established a
year ago has carried out considerable work in Yerevan and regions. The
fund assisted to the holding of the “One Nation, One Culture” first
pan-Armenian cultural festival, organized different events in regions,
pilgrimage to Varagavank and so on. The fund is already preparing for
the “One Nation, One Culture” second pan-Armenian festival to be held
next year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 6 2005
Armenian, Azeri MPs to meet in October

Baku, July 5, AssA-Irada
The role of parliamentarians in settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
Garabagh conflict should increase, the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe rapporteur on Upper Garabagh has said.
David Atkinson told a meeting of the PACE Monitoring Committee held
in Baku on Tuesday that special commissions on the conflict should be
set up both in Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Council of Europe is ready
to hold discussions in Strasbourg with participation of the
conflicting sides, he said.
`Members of the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations at PACE should
also step up their activity in this area.’
The rapporteur expressed a hope that a meeting of the two countries’
MPs will take place during the next PACE session in October.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress