Author: Nadirian Emma

Zaman, Turkey
Sept 9 2005

PKK: The Name of the Metal Storm in Turkish-US Relations

by Melih Can

Not a single day goes by that Turkey does not face a new PKK attack
or a mine explosion. And not a single day goes by that Turkey does
not enter into a polemic on ”terrorism” with countries it thinks
are friendly.

It is true that lately, Turkey’s agenda has almost gotten stuck on
terrorism and the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK), also in the context of terrorism. The problems in the fight
against terrorism and the PKK, which were the main topics Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President George W. Bush
discussed during Erdogan’s visit to the United States, continue full
swing.

Under this framework, controversial statements made recently on the
PKK issue, especially by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
leader, Massoud Barzani, who has been elected the president of the
northern Kurdish region, Bush congratulating [Jalal] Talabani and the
Iraqi Kurds on the “regional government,” and all the events that
surfaced afterwards, were obvious realities even though they seemed
to us like an April Fool’s Day joke made by our strategic partner.
New developments seemingly will occur in Turkish-American relations
both in the South and the East. And there are efforts to increase the
confusion in Turkish foreign policy day after day with the carrot and
stick policy. There are efforts to drag Turkey into a real paranoia
by putting it in a dilemma over “how much a friend and how much an
enemy?” On the other hand, some try to inculcate into us the “wait
and see policy.” But why? First of all, frankly speaking,
developments that are taking place in the south of Turkey, in the
north of Iraq and the US attitude towards the PKK continue to disturb
Turkey, and these constitute the biggest confidence problems in
relations. The recent events and counter statements that will
aggravate the issue do not elude attention, pieces come together and
become more meaningful.

Treating the terrorist as a militia

The BBC and Reuters referring to the PKK terrorist organization as
“militia” recently, was in fact not a chic attitude. As a matter of
fact, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European & Eurasian
Affairs Dan Fried said that the PKK, which is a terrorist
organization, is also America’s problem and implied that a
trans-border operation in northern Iraq by Turkey against PKK
terrorists could “bring the forces of both countries against each
other,” adding, “There are words Iraq will also say.’

Frankly speaking, we wonder whether these words will be in Arabic or
English? And we also know that the “dominant” one will do the
talking. In this context, when the fact that Barzani was elected the
president of the Kurdish region in the north and the attitude
displayed against the PKK by the US government are put together,
Turkey comes face to face with a terrible scenario. In particular,
the role given to Barzani and the Barzani tribe during this
transition period is very important. Even the personality of Massoud
Barzani automatically answers many questions. Contrary to Talabani,
Barzani is presented to us as more uncompromising, an inflexible man
who orchestrates chaos, a tribal leader who can start and continue a
bloody war over a so-called Kurdish state in the north.

Hence, the Barzani tribe is a right choice, especially at a time when
allegations about “their genes” and expectations about the
establishment of a so-called “Kurdish state” under the umbrella of
the Unites States and mentorship of the Israeli state are at the
peak. At this very point, as an interesting coincidence, the PKK
steps in and its place in this game can be better perceived.

The attitude of the regional countries, Turkey, Syria and Iran
against a Kurdish state is known. Some red lines – if they do not
change afterwards – have been formed on this subject. And despite
statements by these three countries that they would not allow the
establishment of such a state, the presence of Kurds in their
respective countries in various proportions is a reality. In other
words, if in case they object, these countries, in the first place,
may have to deal with the problems within their own borders. This is
called the PKK in Turkey. On the other hand, the uneasiness of US
administration over the warm cooperation that has been taking place
among the regional countries in recent years, and Washington’s
expectations in this context, are quite obvious. The latest events
have a potential of breaking Turkey’s resistance and creating
“doubts” and “problems” in its relations with the other countries in
the region. Even this joint attitude, that is not very well formed,
is enough to perturb the US. And the name given to it is the call for
democracy, reforms and integration with the world. In plain words,
its name is double-standards.

What should Turkey do?

While Turkey continues to be contented with “strategic relations,”
the US continues creating its own “strategic partners” in the region.
This name was Israel in the past but is now the so-called states of
“Kurdistan” and “Mountainous Karabakh.” Each of them is a piece of a
chain, stretching out from Khazar to the Red Sea. What would happen
if you want to interfere in these goings-on and terrorism being
nourished just beyond your borders? The answer is quite simple, you
would be invited to the “Metal Storm” with an implied threat by the
“mandated” country. The justification is handy: “Violating the
borders of a sovereign state.” Especially at a time when a
“pre-emptive strike” sword is hanging over your head. Turkey is being
dragged into a real deadend in its foreign politics. The reflections
of this deadend inevitably have also started to manifest themselves
in its domestic politics. As a matter of fact, True Path Party (DYP)
leader Mehmet Agar claimed that Turkey has lost its ability to carry
out a military operation beyond its borders during Justice and
Development Party (AKP) government. Agar claimed that Turkey has been
made to depend on foreign countries even in the fight against
terrorism, in addition to its economy and foreign policy. Similar
expressions are often used by Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal as well as other politicians. In reply to all these
criticisms, Prime Minister Erdogan tries to display a determined
attitude and says, `We have to overcome the PKK problem. Consult or
not consult, we can use our right of hot pursuit.”

This situation created between the PKK and the AKP is certainly a
matter the present government does not approve of, either. However,
the fact that the AKP government has put Turkey into a reform and
restructuring process, especially into the process of full EU
membership, and it seems to be doing all these with the EU reccipe,
will certainly continue to make these allegations and accusations
remain on the agenda. Like every political party, the AKP government
as well would certainly like to be in Turkish political movement in
the process after this. Maybe because of this, in order to be able to
overcome its “obsession and blindness with the West” a little bit,
the AKP recently has started to turn its attention more to the “East”
and “South.” It would not be wrong to evaluate the recent visits in
this sense. Turkey has started to understand the necessity of
compensating for the disappointments it experienced in the West by
turning to the East just as the other Eastern states did. At least,
this is what our historical memory seemingly orders us to do. As a
matter of fact, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw did not utter
these words in vain, “Let’s not treat Turkey harshly, let’s be more
courageous, let’s put Turkey next to us instead of pushing it far
aside.” The British vigilance has said this so far and will also
continue to do so tomorrow. But what is important is our wakefulness
and vigilance.

The Kurdish factor, in the context of the PKK and Northern Iraq,
continues to create important curves and testing fields in
Turkish-American relations. In other words, the current attitude and
policy the US is pursuing in the region, within its intentions, is
far beyond being a turning point in relations between “two allied
countries,” but is galloping at full speed towards a breaking point.
“Turkey’s terrorism test” continues. Turkey is looking for an
attitude between “Metal Storm” and “being in bed with an elephant.’
In this case, Turkey will either find another course to flow into, or
renew its marriage or return to its roots. However, in any case, the
one who loses will be “the pawn” again!

Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Sept 9 2005

THE CARAVAN FROM YEREVAN
(Focus)

9 September 2005

The Armenian diaspora in the UAE is a few thousand strong. SHALAKA
PARADKAR talks to Liza Saghtejian who describes her people as
hardworking, creative, inventive and resilient

My first brush with Armenian culture started innocuously enough in
downtown Mumbai. Trying to locate a sharebroker firm, I stumbled upon
a little gem of a building, nestling in the shadow of the stock
exchange tower – the Armenian Church.

There was something heartwarming about how Mumbai’s Armenians (a
grand total of four, including two octagenarians) had defied
logistics and economics to maintain their beautiful church, with its
gilded dome, polished hardwood pews and crystal chandeliers. Faith
shone bright here, as also some sentimentalism. The adjacent ghastly
grey apartment block, also owned by the church, was called Ararat –
after the mountain where Noah’s ark was believed to have landed.
Another sweet touch was the grapevine trailing over the backyard,
transplanted from Armenia and struggling to establish its identity in
Mumbai’s less-than-salubrious Fort precinct.

Thankfully the Armenian community in India has had a happier fate
than that vine. They are believed to have landed sometime in the 17th
century in the then-capital, Calcutta. Armenian contributions to the
city’s culture and cuisine include a ferocious rugby team, many fine
buildings and the delicious dolma, a dish which Bengalis believe is
as much of their soil as rossogolla and Satyajit Ray, little knowing
its roots stretch all the way back to the Caucasus mountains.

How did the dolma make its journey from a tiny landlocked nation
bordered by Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia to across the Middle
East, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and even as farther afield as the USA and
France?

Once a cradle of civilisation and now a republic that gained its
independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has been witness
to ethnic strife, bloodshed and genocides in the intervening
millennia. Armenia’s history is an almost linear progression of
foreign rule under the Persian, Macedonian, Seleucid, Roman,
Byzantine, Egyptian Mamluk, and Ottoman Turk empires before accession
to the Soviet Union. Waves of emigration resulted in Armenians
finding refuge in countries such as the UAE, where they have made
valuable contributions as a hardworking community of businesspersons
and young professionals.

In the UAE, the Armenian diaspora is a few thousand strong. Much of
community life revolves around the church, Al Yarmook, built eight
years ago in Sharjah. Curious to know more about this remarkable
community and its flavoured cuisine, I met Liza Saghtejian. A 33-year
old schoolteacher, church volunteer and mother of one, Liza is
fiercely proud of her Armenian heritage even though home is Aleppo in
Syria where she was born and Sharjah where she has lived for the past
eight years.

Thanks to improved flight connections, a favourable exchange rate and
visas on arrival, many more of the diaspora are winging their way to
Armenia. Liza recently holidayed in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia,
where her son Jack attended an art camp for children. It was as much
a holiday as a homecoming, as she still has family in Yerevan. Says
Liza of her culturally gifted people, `Nearly everyone I met in
Yerevan wrote poetry or played musical instruments or sang or painted
– everyone has some creative interest.’ Liza herself plays the duduk,
a reed instrument which has to be wetted before playing. She also
embroiders intricate antabi designs on velvet, a hobby that needs
plenty of patience and skill.

Settling down for our chat over coffee and baklava, she says, `If I
were to describe my people in brief, I’d say they are hardworking,
creative, inventive and resilient. Despite all the emigrations, we
thrived and have been well-liked in the countries of our residence. I
am proud to be Armenian.’

Armenian cuisine reflects much of their history. There is a
significant Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influence in the recipes
and ingredients. Geography too plays its part in what people eat.
Thanks to the fertile, well-watered soil and the warmth of its
sheltered valleys, Armenia produces an abundance of fruit: plums,
figs, apricots, apples, cherries, oranges and grapes. (A bumper
harvest this year resulted in Yerevan’s major cultural event being
rechristened The Golden Apricot Film Festival.)

For Ara Keusseyan, current president of the Armenian Community
Council, the memory of Armenian fruits still linger from his visit
there. `The absence of chemicals and fertilisers in farming render
the fruits quite extraordinary in taste and smell. You could find
your way blindfolded to a peach being eaten 15 metres away, so
powerful is the fragrance.’

Keusseyan moved to the UAE from Beirut in 1983 to join his family
which has been here for the past 40 years, and even though his dinner
table sports an international look, traditional Armenian dishes do
make a frequent appearance. Two of his favourites are mante, a lamb
pie, and nivik, spinach and chickpea appetiser.

The colour and flavour of Armenian produce is incredible, which lifts
the dishes way above the ordinary. The cuisine is also quite healthy,
with its emphasis on grilling and steaming, and consuming choice
seasonal fruits, salads, yoghurt, spices and herbs. (The pattern of
consumption is less healthy with the evening meal being the heaviest
one, stretching into several courses, while breakfasts are light –
usually coffee, cheese, jam and bread.)

Having said that, Armenians do like it hot! Garlic is a firm
favourite, and their love of the barbie would do an Aussie proud.

`Beef, chicken and vegetable barbecues are a distinct feature of
Armenian cuisine. It is the men who are involved in grilling meat, as
we really don’t like our ladies to smell of barbecue!’ says Ara.
Spices used for meat rubs and marinades include cinnamon, cumin,
cloves, sumac and fiery peppers from Liza’s home town of Alleppo.
Meat is also air dried and spiced to make soujukh – an extremely
popular dish.

Yoghurt is usually set at home, and eaten for breakfast or as the
salty summer drink tan. The Armenian bread lavash is a staple at all
meals, for breakfast with cheese, or scooped with vegetables and
salad, or broken into bits over soup. A thin oval flatbread, it is
baked in earthen ovens called tonirs, very similar to tandoors.
Lavash can be left to dry and moistened before eating by placing it
under a damp cloth.

Showing us pictures of Yerevan – lots of fine statuary, lovely old
churches, some dating back to the 5th century, and scenic beauty –
Liza reminisces about the memorable meal she had at the Heen Yerevan
restaurant. `It’s done up like an old country house, the walls are
decorated with hanging clusters of peppers, onions and garlic. We had
a tahini and eggplant appetiser, and the entree was my favourite –
kufta made with bulghur and minced beef.’

Yerevan is located on the banks of Sevan Lich, a gigantic lake that
is home to the endangered ishkhan trout, known locally as the king of
fish, and unavailable elsewhere. Freshwater fish makes a frequent
appearance on Liza’s dinner table in many avatars: grilled with
garlic and spices, stuffed, steamed or served as soup.

Traditional harvest time specialities include preserves made from
fresh green walnuts; eggplant jam (which Liza assures us is indeed
very tasty and also has walnuts) and fruit sujoukh, a type of walnut
candy. These are not available in the UAE, but you can sample them at
the Annual Armenian Bazar in Sharjah, usually held in December, just
before Christmas.

Armenians are staunch Christians who fast during the 40 days of Lent
when delicious vegetarian versions of dolma, or stuffed vegetables,
and ghapama, or pumpkin stew, are eaten. Dolma is made by stuffing
grape leaves, cabbage leaves,

Swiss chard, eggplant slices or even firm vegetables like zucchini,
courgettes, tomatoes and bell peppers that have been hollowed out.
Accompanying sauces are simple tomato or yoghurt based.

Explaining that a typical Armenian meal is served in courses, Liza
elaborates, `Every meal starts off with appetisers: garden salad made
from fresh vegetables like tomatoes, radishes and cucumbers, panir, a
salty cottage cheese, sujukh, pickles and olives. The main course is
usually barbecued meat or fish, and the meal is rounded off with
desserts, fresh fruit that is sliced at the table and Armenian
coffee.’

Liza also shows us her collection of pomegranate curios, yes, you
read that right. Of all the fruits available in luscious plenty, the
pomegranate (noor) holds a special place in Armenian culture.

`The noor is symbolic of the cycle of life and renewal, each one of
its translucent red seeds is a metaphor for a day in your life and
one fruit is believed to contain 365. If you eat a seed a day, it
brings you good luck!’ Pomegranates are a recurrent motif in Armenian
art and craft; they appear on incense burners, cruet sets, souvenir
plates and various touristy tchotchkes.

Why pomegranates? Possibly because they are coloured red which is
also an auspicious hue for Armenians, it is one of three colours on
the national flag and represents all the blood that has been shed
over centuries (the other two being blue and orange, for Armenia’s
land and skies).

A toast to Armenia then, Genatsit! May its skies and lands be forever
free. And of course to open minds and happy tables groaning with good
food. The recipes below, courtesy Liza, serve four. Use your
imagination to adapt and improvise, for that is the Armenian way.

DOLMA

Ingredients

4 large firm tomatoes or 4 medium bell peppers

For stuffing

Cooked rice 2 cups

Minced lamb 250 gm

Minced beef 250 gm

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For sauce

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup canned tomato

1 tsp lime juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients for stuffing together. Prepare the vegetables
for stuffing by carefully cutting off the top and removing the core
and seeds. Fill the vegetables loosely with the stuffing, leaving
room for it to expand during cooking. Arrange the vegetables in a
pan. Cover and simmer with water and tomatoes, to cook the vegetables
until just tender. Season and add lime juice. Add more water as
needed during the cooking process .

KUFTA

Ingredients

For filling

minced lamb or beef 500 gm

2 large yellow onions, chopped

1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped

3 tbsp chopped parsley

1/2 tsp chopped mint leaves

1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted and chopped

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp dried basil

Salt to taste

For outer cover

minced lamb or beef 750 gm

3/4 cup fine bulgur

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 tbsp chopped parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Brown the ground meat for the filling. Add onions and cook for 30
mins. Add peppers and parsley, cook further for 10 mins. Add
remaining ingredients. Cool.

Mix all the ingredients for the outer cover together. Pulse in a food
procssor until light and fluffy. Take a little of this mixture and
flatten it in your palm. Fill it with a walnut-sized ball of the
stuffing. Cover and shape into a round meatball. Make all the
meatballs this way.

Heat 1 litre of chicken stock until boiling. Drop the kofta into the
stock and let them cook for 10 minutes.

MAAMOUL or EASTER COOKIES

Ingredients

2 cups semolina

11/2 cups shortening or ghee

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup caster sugar

2 cups roughly ground walnuts or almonds or pistachios

1 tsp powdered cinnamon

1/4 cup icing sugar

Method

Place the flour in a bowl, and cut in the shortening using a fork.
Pour the boiling water and knead to a solid dough. Turn the dough
onto a floured work area and knead some more. Cover and let stand for
an hour or even overnight.

Mix together sugar, walnuts and cinnamon. Set aside.

Preheat the over to 350 F/ 175 C.

Knead the dough again and roll into walnut-sized balls. Shape a
hollow and fill it with the nut mixture. Seal the dough over.

Place the balls on a cooking sheet, using a fork to gently make a
pattern on the top.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until ight brown.

Dust with icing sugar when warm.

;section=weekend&col

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 9 2005

AZERI OMBUDSMAN IS NOT WORTHY OF THE POST OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSAR

`Organization for Protection of Gurgen Margaryan’s Interests’ made a
statement on Azeri press’ information concerning the fact that the
candidature of Azeri Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova had been put
forward on the post of human rights commissar.
According to the organization, Elmira Suleymanova is not worthy of
the post. Representatives of the organization believe analysis of
Suleymanova’s actions testify to the fact that Azeri ombudsman
institute and Elmira Suleymanova herself have become a mouthpiece of
Azeri authorities’ official politics supporting anti – Armenian and
racist rhetoric within the country and outside its borders.

Pan Armenian News

REASONING OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH TURKEY JUDGES FOR STATEMENTS ON ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE

09.09.2005 06:56

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Foreign Minister reacted to the arousing
condemnation of the trial of Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk scheduled for
December 16. `Our courts are independent and people in Turkey are free to
write and say what they think’, Gul stated. To note, criminal persecution of
Pamuk was initiated in February, 2005 when during an interview with Tages
Anzeiger daily he stated that a million of Armenians were killed in Ottoman
Empire and `no one but me dares to say about it.’ According to the Turkish
criminal legislation, Pamuk can be sentenced to deprivation of liberty with
the term of 6 months up to 3 years. The trail set for December 16 has
already aroused indignation of the European community and EU officials. `No
decision has been taken yet. However we would like to tell the whole world
that Turks enjoy freedom of speech. People are free to voice their opinion
unless it is propaganda of violence,’ Andullah Gul said noting that the
positive atmosphere has created thanked to the reforms carried out for EU
membership. Well-known newspapers attended to the legal proceeding initiated
against Orhan Pamuk. Los Angeles Times writes that this court examination
proves `the deliberate attempts of the conservators of the Turkish
government to foil Turkey’s accession to the EU.’ `Turkey should count with
its history. There is hardly a more fundamental principle for the European
Union than freedom of speech’, Financial Times writes, reported by RFE/RL.

AZERI EXPERT ON NK: ALIYEV DEPENDS ON WEST OPINION

Pan Armenian News

06.09.2005 04:52

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I do not consider that the current “Prague
process” will result in a specific outcome, head of the Department of
Conflictology and Migration of the Institute of Peace and Democracy
Arif Yunusov stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. “Our peoples
were suggested various options. And they now propose a recurrent one
that can be summed up as follows: try to unite two latest options –
the package one with the stepwise one,” he added. “On the one hand,
Armenia returns 5 occupied regions around Nagorno Karabakh (Lachin and
Kelbajar regions will still remain under Armenians’ control). Refugees
return to these regions, communication resumes between the parties to
conflict. The most important issue – the NK status – will be decided
in 10-15 years via a referendum. Now discussion between the parties
concerns technical matters: when to hold the referendum (in 10, 15,
25 or 50 years), who will take part in it, etc. However, a general
agreement is available,” A. Yunusov remarked. “Why I am pessimistically
predisposed? The point is that both the Presidents and our peoples
are hostages of the sentiments and views already available, as well as
the geopolitical situation in the region. People in Armenia are fully
convinced that the Karabakh issue is in fact solved, one merely has to
wait for the time when both the international community and the Azeri
people themselves “ripen” to understand that fact. I.e. the fact that
NK should be part of Armenia or become an independent state. Being
part of Azerbaijan in any form is out of question. Thus, expecting
compromises from Kocharian is not serious,” the political scientist
stated. As of Azerbaijan, to the contrary, A. Yunusov added, “the
discontent over the talks and the number of war advocates to liberate
Karabakh increase.” However, Azeri authorities depend on the West and
first of all Americans very much. The large money invested in Caspian
oil prevents the West from considering the settlement of the Karabakh
issue by force. I.e. Ilham Aliyev depends on the opinion of the West,
the Azeri expert emphasized. “Besides, Azeri authorities consider that
in a year huge oil dollars will flow to Azerbaijan and the Armenian
economy will be in a deplorable condition in a few years. Thus, one
even does not have to fight – Armenia will fall to your feet itself,”
Yunusov stated. In his words, strong discontent with the Minsk Group
is available in the Azeri society, as well as the hard political and
economic situation in the country (Azerbaijan – editor’s note). Thus
Aliyev has to maneuver.” “Like Kocharian he does not want to resort
to serious talks, as these demand considerable concessions. This is
pregnant with losing popularity among one’s own people. Both the
authorities and the peoples are not ready to compromise today yet,”
Yunusov summed up.

RA FM MET NEWLY APPOINTED ICRC HEAD

Pan Armenian News

05.09.2005 07:48

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met in
Yerevan with newly appointed International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) head Yves Arnoldy, RA MFA press center reported. During the
meeting the RA FM highly appreciated the activities of the ICRC
Armenian Office. He stressed that Armenia commends the Committee’s
efforts aimed at the POWs exchange and people search in the Karabakh
conflict zone. In his turn Mr. Arnoldy noted that the program on
studying the humanitarian right and its principles in the institutes
of secondary and higher education of Armenia will be extended. The
Minister congratulated the guest on the appointment and wished him
every success in performing the important mission.

ARKADI GHUKASYAN: NKR LEAVES MANY OF ITS NEIGHBOURS BEHIND REGARDING
COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 2 2005

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. Alhough the Nagorno Karabakh has not
yet been recognized by the international community, our state has
proved to the world that NKR not only had formed as a state de-facto,
but also leaves many of its neighbours behind regarding compliance
with the standards of the European community, the massage of the
NKR President on the 14tyh anniversary of NKR Independence, reported
ARKA News Agency by the press-service of the NKR President, says. The
evidence is the NKR parliamentary elections held in June, 2005, which
were highly evaluated by international independent observers. “Nobody
gave lessons of democracy to the people of Artsakh as it daily and
hourly take place regarding Azerbaijan – the country where none of
the elections, be it presidential, parliamentarian or local, have
complied with elementary standards of modern democratic society up
to now. Currently Azerbaijan is not able to protect the rights of
its own people, not speaking about the national minorities living
in this country. This fact alone is sufficient that for progressive
international community recognize the right of Nagorno Karabakh people
to have its own, independent from Azerbaijan and sovereign state”,
Ghukasyan pointed out. A.A. -0–

ARMENIAN PREMIER CONGRATULATES TEACHERS, STUDENTS ON NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

ARKA News Agency
Sept 1 2005

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
congratulated Armenia’s teachers and students on Day of Knowledge and
on a new academic year. The press and public relations department,
RA Government, reports that in his congratulatory message the RA
Premier said that this day obliges everybody to seek best knowledge,
perfection of physical and intellectual abilities, to be worthy
citizens of future Armenia, who will consolidate out nationhood. “I
am sure that the Government-implemented educational reforms, daily
work and effort of our respected teachers, who are committed to their
important missions, will make future achievement more appreciable,”
Margaryan said in his message. P.T.

NORWAY TO INVEST $10 MILLION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Armenpress
August 30, 2005

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS: Foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
received today Norway’s State Secretary Kim Trovick and discussed
with him Armenian-Norwegian relations, highlighting his government’s
readiness to deepen these relations, saying also high-level bilateral
contacts are one way to do so.

The Norwegian minister spoke about a $10 million worth investment
project Norway wants to carry out in the South Caucasus together
with UNDP in 2005-2007. Oskanian also briefed Kim Trovick on Karabakh
issue and Turkish-Armenian relations.

ARMENIA’S GYMNASTICS FEDERATION REFUTES INFORMATION ON REMOVAL OF ARMENIA FROM IGF

August 23, 2005

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. The International Gymnastics Federation
(IGF) did not decided to punish Armenia and deprive of its membership
in the IGF because of non-payment of membership fees, stated Albert
Azaryan, Head of Armenia’s GF, famous gymnast, twice champion of the
World and Olympic Games, champion of Europe.

Commenting on information of some Azeri mass-media with refer to the
press-service of the GF of Azerbaijan on that the IGF supposedly
punished Armenia, Azaryan noted that they have already paid $550
membership fees for the participation of Armenian sportsmen in the
European Championship. As regards $800 fees for participation in the
World Championship, the Armenian side has already informed the IGF
leadership that the fees will be paid on the spot in November 2005.