Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

VIVACELL ENTERS VANADZOR AND GYUMRI
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2005
GYUMRI, OCTOBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Ralph Yirikian, Director General of the
company VivaCell – the second operator of mobile phone communication
in Armenia, told reporters on October 6 that the company has provided
coverage for Lori and Shirak marzes. He noted that VivaCell’s services
will be made available throughout Armenia by late October.
In the words of R. Yirikian, during 3 months of the company’s
operation, it has ensured coverage of nearly 65% of the country’s
territory – Yerevan and 8 marzes. Work is underway to extend coverage
to Syunik and Tavush marzes. R. Yirikian said that some mountainous
settlements of Shirak will be able to use VivaCell’s services from
2006.
Romik Manukian, the regional governor of Shirak marz, noted that
VivaCell’s mobile phone communication services will be available to
70 communities of the marz.

OPINION : TURKEY’S EU SKEPTICS ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE NEGOTIATION TALKS
Burcu Sahiner , JTW UK Correspondent [email protected]
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Oct 5 2005
After a long run of the disputes during the EU summit, finally an
agreement was launched on the framework for the membership talks only
after the last minute turn over by the European foreign ministers.
The historic step was taken when Austria withdrew of its demands
which were suggesting another option for Turkey rather than a full
membership statute.
It was stated that the Turkish government was strongly disagree with
the Austrian proposals and the Prime minister has declared at several
times, in his speeches, that if anything different has been made on
the draft document Turkey will reject it immediately. It appears
that Austria’s last minute concession on Turkey was linked to the
EU’s decision of opening the negotiation talks with Croatia at the
same time. However, the Croatian demands of Austria were accepted,
it was elaborating for Turkey that her restrictions almost respected
on the final framework. The talks opened when the compromise has
been launched in the late afternoon both European and Turkish leaders
welcomed the official start of European Union membership talks with
Turkey on the 3 October midnight.
After that particular historical event, it was inevitable not to fall
in disagreement with in the Turkey. The oppositions are coming from
various perspectives, such as, without any surprise the Islamic press,
particularly Vakit, Milligazete and Yenicað. Other basic indignations
about the opening of the talks are basically coming from essential
anti-government presses like Cumhuriyet and conservative Tercuman.
When the parties are concerned the Right- wing party supporters take
the lead in contradictions, especially of those who are the Nationalist
Action Party that was held a meeting yesterday protesting the European
Union membership and the government’s policies against the Union. The
oppositions of the Nationalists are being supported by an essential
anti-European party which is to be known as Labor Party.
What is interesting here is that the Main Opposition Party of the
republic also appears to be one of the main actors who strongly
criticize government policies and the Union attitudes towards Turkey.
The point that has to be taken attention on is that these different
groups are all representing their own perspectives which rarely come
together especially on the live or death matters, however this time
they are standing together. The closer the period gets, the stronger
the critiques of these groups rise.
To illustrate why these different groups are standing against the
recent government attitudes in the EU summits, let’s figure that out
by considering their suggestions instead of a path to Europe.
The Islamic Press, faraway, is considering the Austrian resistance from
the historical perspective. Milligazete, for instance, describes the
Autrian position referring that Austria is playing the same role till
the Europe has given to her during the Crusade wars. They suggest that
there is no significant difference between the role played by Austria
now and the Crusade wars. They believe that the European Union is
rather a Christian Club and this is why it is an indefinite process
for Turkey even the negotiation talks have been opened. There will be
no difference unless the Europeans have changed their discriminated
perceptions.
Milligazete, rather requires another path for Turkey which is
completely towards a different direction. They insist that Turkey
must have returned to the forgotten place where its’ real origin has
been lying. In this respect, Turkey must develop stronger relations
with the Islamic countries immediately or rather she will resume the
unequalized relations with a Club where the membership possibility
is still very low.
Ali Karahasanoðlu who is a writer in the Vakit newspaper, depends his
arguments on the very idea of discrimination, just as the Milligazete
claims but rather he does not offer another path for Turkey to turn
over. Karahasanoðlu suggests that EU’s attitude towards Turkey was
affirmative, as always and it will remain so, in the future. He says,
“in a club such as EU involving 24 member states, it is unbelievable
that persuading such a small member state like Austria is becoming
so impossible, this is exactly what the EU is expected to be in the
session to make pressure over Turkey.”
An even greater indignation is expressed in the conservative
Tercuman. Their main critique is against the governments Cyprus policy
and their weak policies including the case. “If some countries insist
on turning Cyprus into an EU issue, Turkey will get to the point of
telling its public ‘We have had it up to here’,” it says. It goes on
to say that the reason for this will not even be “sensitivity about
Cyprus”, but reaction against “Europe’s unreliability”.
An editorial in Cumhuriyet agrees that the latest statements by Prime
Minister Erdoðan and Foreign Minister Gul are “entirely proper”.
“Turkey can neither consent to a ‘privileged partnership’ nor recognise
the Greek administration on Cyprus as a legitimate state,” it insists.
Cumhuriyet newspaper said the EU was still offering Turkey something
short of full membership, despite rejecting an Austrian bid to say
so openly. They suggest that the real reason of what they fear has,
at heart, little to do with agricultural costs, Turkey’s human rights
record or the tortuous Cyprus negotiations. It is, more crudely,
the atavistic clash of civilizations – the contention that a Europe
based on Christian values and culture has no place in its midst for
a Muslim nation.” And when the time comes Europe will create new
reasons to say no for Turkey’s membership.
The most traumatic opposition has come especially from the Nationalist
Action Party. Yesterday, they have organized a general meeting to
protest the government policies about the EU process. The NAP leader
Devlet Bahceli, in his speech during the meeting, set the reasons
in order why the NAP is so strongly criticizing both the EU and the
Erdoðan government. Here are some of the spectacular points underlined
by Bahceli:
_ The Cyprus issue has been left to its own destiny by the government
which is certainly about to be solved in favor of the Greek Cyprus.
_ The Armenian issue will be set on Turkey during the negotiations.
However, it is a fact that the government couldn’t show its resistance
both inside and outside Turkey. For example, they have given permission
to the intellectuals to discuss the Armenian issue in the Bosphorus
University, recently.
– The government has already given the promise of reopening the
Theological School in Heybeliada in Ýstanbul.
– “The brotherhood of the religions” is something that was unnecessary
in the mean time because there is no hostility between the different
religion members in Turkey
_ The Justice and Development Party government, in order to be a
member state is about to do everything and not only about the issues
related with the European matters but also the ones which are threatens
Turkey’s national interests.
Another indignation about the opening of the negotiation talks came
from the Main Opposition Party, Republican Public Party, especially
regarding the government’s attitudes during the last EU summit. They
suggest that the negotiation framework for Turkey is rather worse than
the 17 December Summit decisions. Conditions for membership have been
made heavier despite the EU leaders’ promises and the government has
accepted whole restrictions which were put forward Turkey without any
delay. The leader of the party Deniz Baykal indicates that the EU is
offering a position for Turkey to resume her candidature eternal and
it is just not possible to accept the framework with the existing
conditions.
These are the reasons on which the separated groups are depending their
claims. Because the process is just started, we do not know what the
future expectations will become or whether these oppositions will
be insisted on. Fortunately, we all know that the process will be
a long and an unpredictable one, not so frustrating as the opposite
wings have supported or either so satisfactory as the supporters have
been defending.
–Boundary_(ID_WMTZGKHXUMYZ9sQqh5/cqw)–

ARMENIA TO HOLD REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTION NOVEMBER 27
Agence France Presse — English
October 4, 2005 Tuesday 5:05 PM GMT
Armenia will hold a referendum on November 27 on plans pushed by
the Council of Europe for constitutional reforms that would diminish
presidential authority, the president’s office said Tuesday.
In a statement, President Robert Kocharian’s office said that he had
signed a decree ordering “the holding on November 27 of a referendum
on the plan for constitutional reform.
The plan, drafted with direct participation of experts from the Council
of Europe, received final approval from the Armenian parliament in
a vote on September 28.
In addition to redressing the balance of power between the president
on the one hand and the parliament and government on the other, the
plan also calls for the abolition of laws banning Armenian nationals
from holding double citizenship.
That provision would permit millions of members of the Armenian
diaspora to obtain Armenian citizenship if they choose.
The proposed constitutional changes were described last month as
part of Armenia’s obligations to the pan-European Council of Europe,
a body that promotes democracy.
“During our meetings with representatives of the Council of Europe,
it was made clear to us that if the referendum fails we could face
severe sanctions, including the possible exclusion of Armenia from
this organization,” Rafik Petrossian, chairman of parliament’s legal
affairs committee, said on September 28.
The Council of Europe groups 46 states. Membership is open to all
European countries which accept the principle of the rule of law and
guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms to their citizens.
Another senior Armenian lawmaker said the constitutional changes were
needed to ensure further democratic development in the former Soviet
republic in the Caucasus.
“The issue is not about avoiding sanctions from European bodies,”
Tigran Torossian, deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, told
AFP last month.
“The adoption of constitutional changes is important for the country
as it marks the start of a second cycle of democratic development of
state bodies” in the country, he said.
The planned November 27 referendum would mark the second attempt
by the country’s leaders to win approval of the constitutional
modifications. A first effort in 2003 failed to win sufficient support
among voters.
To pass, the reforms must receive assent from at least half of the
voters who take part in the referendum, who must also number not less
than one-third of all eligible voters in the country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS TO MEET IN LJUBLJANA ON DEC. 4-5
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2005
Armenian and Azeri FMs may meet within the frames of OSCE member
countries FMs summit in Ljubljana on December 4 – 5. Azeri FM Elmar
Mamedyarov informed of the fact, Day.Az reports.
Elmar Mamedyarov also said the OSCE MG American Co – Chair Steven
Mann was to visit Baku in mid – October. In the course of the visit
the American Co – Chair is to meet Azeri leadership.
The OSCE MG three Co – Chairs are to arrive in the region in early
November. The mediators are expected to negotiate with Azeri and
Armenian Presidents on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process.

ARKA News Agency
Oct 3 2005
CIS INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY’S COMMISSIONS ON ECONOMY, FINANCE, EDUCATION, SCIENCE TO HOLD THEIR SESSIONS ON OCT 4 TO 7 IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly’s
Commissions on Economy and Finance as well as Education and Science
are to hold their sessions on October 4 to 7 in Yerevan. According
to Armenian National Assembly’s press service, Armenian Palliament
Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan and CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly’s
Secretary Mikhail Krotov are set to speak at the session on
October 5. Education and Science Commission members will meet with
ArmeniN Education Minister Sergo Yeritsyan, and Economy and Finance
Commission representatives will meet Armenian Finance Minister Vardan
Khachatryan. Education Commission meeting with professors at Yerevan
State Linguistic University after Valeri Bryusov is scheduled for
October 6. On the same day, Economic Commission representatives will
tour industrial plants in Armavir province, Armenia. Both commissions’
members will visit Armenian Genocide Memorial to pay floral tribute
to victims of the genocide. M.V. -0–

WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY? THE FUTURE OF TURKEY AND EUROPE.
The National Review
Oct 14 2005
On October 3, Turkish and European Union officials will sit down in
Brussels to begin negotiating Turkey’s accession to the European
Union. The day marks a new chapter in Ankara’s decades-long quest
to join Europe. Turkey first applied for membership in the European
Economic Community in September 1959. It achieved association status
four years later. But the European Community rejected its application
for full membership in December 1989. In 1993, the European Union
member states agreed upon the Copenhagen criteria to define the
prerequisites for membership. Few thought Ankara would pass the bar.
But, to the surprise of many European politicians, their Turkish
counterparts pushed through unprecedented economic and structural
reform to meet the criteria. In August 2002, for example, the
Turkish parliament agreed to abolish the death penalty and permit
Kurdish-language broadcasts. In July 2003, the Turkish parliament
pushed through an additional reform package diluting the political
influence of the military. The August 2004 appointment of Mehmet Yigit
Alpogan to head the National Security Council cemented a fundamental
change in Turkish politics.
Empty Populism…
Still, some European politicians seek to prevent Turkish membership.
Many make populist arguments. Former French President Valery Giscard
d’Estaing, for example, said that including Turkey in the European
Union “would be the end of Europe.” For much the same reason,
European Union foreign ministers entered yesterday into emergency
caucus in Luxembourg to discuss last-minute Austrian objections to the
consideration of full-membership for Turkey. As one Dutch politician
hostile to Turkish membership said to me in May 2005, “The question
of whether Turkey belongs in Europe was settled in 1683 [when the
Hapsburgs repelled the Ottomans at Vienna].” Beneath the thin veneer of
the European-identity argument is a deep-seeded but seldom acknowledged
belief among the European elite that Muslims cannot be fully European.
Rather than confront the question of whether Turkey is European –
and what European identity actually means – many European politicians
have used side issues to undercut Turkey’s membership drive. On
December 15, 2004, for example, the European parliament passed
three amendments calling upon Turkey to acknowledge that the Ottoman
Empire had committed genocide against the Armenian people. The debate
over issues that predate Turkey’s establishment has become one of
original sin. While historians do not dispute the deaths of hundreds
of thousands of Armenians during World War I, the historical record
about the role of the Ottoman Empire’s Young Turks is far murkier
than many European politicians acknowledge.
Some European politicians and both European and American
nongovernmental organizations use human-rights concerns as a stick
with which to beat Turkey. Most often, they argue that Turkey relegates
its ethnic minorities to second-class status.
Actually, it is often the other way around. Kurdish citizens of Turkey
who accept the constitutional and the legal basis of the Turkish state
face little if any discrimination. Kurds have risen to the highest
levels of state. Ismet Inolu, Ataturk’s successor and president from
1938 to 1950, was Kurdish. Likewise, Turgat Ozal, president from 1989
to 1993, was part Kurdish. Hikmet Cetin, foreign minister between 1991
and 1994, was a Kurd. The same opportunities do not exist elsewhere
in the European Union. As Washington Institute analyst Soner Cagaptay
has pointed out, in European Union member Latvia, those who do not
pass Latvian language tests cannot vote and do not receive passports.
European sentiment toward Ankara’s treatment of its Kurdish minority
has been colored by many Europeans’ stance toward the Kurdistan Workers
Party (PKK). European leftists too often assume that any group to
be legitimate if it claims to be a liberation movement. The PKK does
not represent Turkey’s Kurds, though. Kurds were disproportionately
victims of a PKK terrorist campaign responsible for 30,000 deaths. It
is hard for anyone in Turkey, Kurdish or not, to sympathize with a
group famous for lining up Kurdish elementary-school teachers and
executing them because they worked for the state.
The final populist issue with which some European politicians seek to
derail Turkish membership regards Cyprus. In 1974, Greek-army officers
staged a coup, ousting President Makarios in an attempt to unify Greece
and Cyprus. The Turkish army intervened, effectively dividing island
nation in order to protect its sizeable Turkish minority. Decades
of negotiations and peace talks followed. These culminated in a plan
brokered by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to reunite the island
in a loose federation with minority rights enshrined. In an April
2004 referendum, Turkish Cypriots accepted the plan by a margin of
two-to-one; Greek Cypriots rejected it overwhelmingly. The European
Union’s subsequent decision to recognize the Greek Cypriot leadership
as representative of the island nation and to give the Greek Cypriot
side veto power over Turkish accession rewarded the intransigence
of Greek populists and set back the cause of peace. To demand that
Ankara offer further concession or abandon the Turkish minority would
undercut both peace and justice.
…Obstructs Key Issues Armenians, Kurdish nationalists, and Greek
Cypriots may feel strongly about Turkey. But to shift the goal posts
established in Copenhagen would undercut the European claim to stand
for the supremacy of rule.
The irony of the European populist stance is that for the sake of
crude, anti-Turkish bias, they ignore serious problems which, if
left unaddressed, might undercut not only the health and stability
of Turkey’s democracy, but also that of any future European Union of
which Turkey might be part.
The Justice and Development party (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi, AKP)
rose to power in November 2002 on a wave of popular dissatisfaction
with economic malaise and corruption scandals within the establishment
parties. While Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed credit
for leading the most recent drive toward Turkish membership in the
European Union, he has undercut the rule of law, separation of powers,
and transparency upon which Turkish democracy was built.
In 2000 and 2001, prior to the AKP’s accession, a currency and
banking crisis nearly caused the Turkish economy’s collapse. The
Turkish Government’s Banking Supervisory and Regulatory Board seized
22 private banks. Many made poor investments with inadequate capital.
Demirbank, for example, bought 90 percent of one issue of government
bonds, and went insolvent as the currency collapsed.
Others like Kent Bank and Pamukbank weathered the storm with minor
hiccups. Nevertheless, in order to prove its seriousness to the
International Monetary Fund, the Turkish government seized the banks.
Mustafa Suzer, chairman of Kent Bank, contested the seizure in Turkey’s
supreme court. He won three successive cases, in December 2003, April
2004, and February 2005. The court ordered the government to return
Suzer’s assets. But Erdogan refused to honor the supreme court’s
ruling. Not only was Suzer closely associated with rival politicians,
but the two had clashed when Erdogan, as mayor of Istanbul, sought
to revise the building permits of a controversial tower already under
construction. Rather than obey the court, Erdogan’s political animus
and vendetta carried the day. He transferred the seized assets to
an Erdogan political ally and retaliated against Suzer with a travel
ban. The case is not isolated.
Turkish concerns which refused to make donations to the AKP now find
themselves targets of criminal investigations or, as in the case of
some local branches of U.S. companies, multimillion-dollar tax levies.
As serious as Erdogan’s abuse of power, has been his attempts to
eviscerate the independence of the judiciary. In 2003, the AKP
proposed lowering the mandatory retirement age of public servants
from 65 to 61. In effect, this means that prior to the next election,
Erdogan can replace 4,000 of the existing 9,000 judges and public
prosecutors. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the bill, but Erdogan,
who as mayor of Istanbul compared democracy to a streetcar – “You
ride it until you arrive at your destination, then you step off” –
directed his party to override the veto. The law (No. 4827) amounts to
an AKP autogolpe that will impact the Turkish state for years to come.
The retirement controversy is part of a larger pattern of the AKP’s
disdain for judicial checks and balances. In May 2005, frustrated
at the constitutional court’s willingness to veto unconstitutional
legislation, Parliamentary Speaker Bulent Arinc, an AKP member,
suggested that the party could use its parliamentary majority to
amend the constitution and abolish the court.
In a democratic system of checks and balances, an independent judiciary
is one check on abuse of power. An independent media is another. Here
too Erdogan’s administration has backpedaled. The Turkish prime
minister has sued a number of political cartoonists. In one case, he
filed a lawsuit against a prominent cartoonist who depicted Erdogan
as a cat entangled in a ball of yarn.
After I raised questions about the influx of Saudi and other “Green
Money” into Turkey, the prime minister’s chief adviser told a Turkish
newspaper that rather than answer any questions raised, he would sue
me. His statement was bluster. Too many Turkish journalists picked up
the story and demanded answers. While he could not and did not act –
Turkish reporters said that his threats were part of an increasing
trend of debate suppression, government opacity, and intimidation.
Turkish media outlets are particularly vulnerable to government
pressure. Many are owned by larger conglomerates. Journalists say
they must self-censor government criticism for fear that Erdogan
may retaliate against other television station and newspaper owners’
non-media companies.
Should Turkey Join the European Union?
Turkey has come a long way. Generations of Turkish politicians spanning
parties and philosophies have worked to tie Turkey to Europe. While
Germany and France seek exemptions from their own financial policy
commitments, Turkish politicians have pushed through much more
substantial structural reforms. The tendency of European politicians to
find any excuse to condemn Turkish policy, even while turning a blind
eye toward similar more egregious actions by European Union members,
reflects poorly on the principles for which Europe claims to stand.
Turkey should join the European Union. It is unfortunate, therefore,
to see the AKP increasingly take actions which undercut the
anti-corruption values upon which it campaigned. Abuse of power is
never acceptable. The rule of law must remain supreme. While Europe
should not treat Turkey unfairly, neither should the AKP. It would
be a historical tragedy if one party’s fumbles undercut the Turkish
dream. It is time for Turkey to move forward.
– Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise
Institute is editor of the Middle East Quarterly.

MIXED FEELINGS GREET LAUNCH OF TURKISH EU MEMBERSHIP TALKS
AsiaNews.it, Italy
Oct 4 2005
Austria has accepted the terms of the negotiating mandate: accession,
not “privileged participation”. Stands taken within the Muslim
country: the press recalls Europe’s debts to Turkey and protests
against membership take place in Ankara and Istanbul.
Ankara (AsiaNews) – Turkey endured long, bewildering hours of
announcements and denials yesterday before finally hearing the news
that its membership talks will go ahead with the EU. The green light
for negotiations – a process expected to last at least 10 years –
came in the late evening.
“We have agreement. I am going to Luxembourg,” Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul, told the press as he left the headquarters of the
Justice and Development Party in Ankara to join ministers of the Union.
Austria accepted that the common goal of negotiations should be
accession and no longer insisted on the weaker option of “privileged
participation”, which had been upheld by many conservatives and
Christian Democrats across western Europe.
It would seem, then, that the considerable palpitations experienced in
recent days by the whole Turkish nation – divided into those for and
against – are over. There are those, like the national daily Posta
in its recent editions, who assert that entry of Turkey into Europe
is inevitable, given the great historical and cultural debt the west
owes to this thousand-year “Empire”.
The Turkish newspaper was quick to counter a provocative question
which the English Independent had the audacity to pose: “But what
have the Turks done for us?” On Sunday, the Turkish paper retorted:
“What would have become (of Europe) if it were not for the Turks?” It
followed up its question with a detailed, page-long list of things
the Europeans “learned” from the Turks: peaceful coexistence between
different cultures and religions (emphasizing that all enjoyed the
same social and civil privileges under the Ottoman Empire, although it
was Muslim); the art of painting and crafts, above all using fabrics;
trade (without forgetting that the silk trail developed above all
under the Ottoman Empire); the eastern lifestyle and military awareness
(Turkey prides itself in being the most valiant and strong NATO ally).
Then there are others who, as the Hurriyet daily points out, recall
the notable efforts made since 1999, when Helsinki laid down tough
conditions for Turkey to meet if it ever wanted to approach Europe’s
gates. In 2002, the death penalty was abolished in times of peace and
last year, the prohibition was extended to times of war. In 2002, the
ban on teaching in the Kurdish language was lifted and in June 2004,
ample broadcasting space was given to Kurdish programmes on the TRT
national radio and television channels.
In May 2004, the law discriminating against women in cases of adultery
was abrogated; penalties handed down for “honour crimes” increased
in favour of women; and a strong political and social campaign is
under way for literacy of children and girls in rural areas where
the level of education is very low.
A zero-tolerance programme against torture in detention has been given
a strong push forward; torture is now forbidden and punishable by 12
years in prison.
Certain positions amounting to interference in the government of the
Security Council have been reviewed and the Tribunal of State Security
was abolished last year.
Always according to the same newspaper, provisions for non-Muslim
religions have been expanded, although the Greek Orthodox Patriarch
Bartholomew I laments that not enough has been done as yet in this
regard. And some stipulations in the penal code against freedom of
expression have been changed even if, as the Posta admits, there are
still gaps in the law. This was clear, for example, in the notorious
court case filed against the well-known Turkish author, Orhan Pamuk,
who dared to publicly denounce the Armenian genocide. However, adds
the paper, there are renowned lawyers who have taken up his defence
and a positive resolution to the case is hoped for.
However, despite this progress which has unfolded under the gaze of
all, not everyone is in favour of Turkey joining Europe and on Sunday,
large demonstrations registering disapproval took place in Ankara
and Istanbul. The first, organized by the Turkish Nationalist Party
(MHP) and attended by 70,000 people, was one big protest against
Europe addressed by the party leader Devlet Bahceli. Self-appointed
spokesman, he held the crowd with a speech of more than 75 minutes
in a bid to convince his militants that the opening of negotiations
meant the start of serious trouble for Turkey. According to Bahceli,
this step will disrupt the nation’s social and economic development.
The second protest, organised by the Communist TKP party, drew around
3,000 people despite bad weather. The slogan of the demonstration in
the square – “An independent nation against Imperialism and Facism” –
accompanied the march and speeches, in a heartfelt “no” to dependence
on the European Union.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BISNIS Upcoming Events Listing
October 4, 2005
Event announcements included in this broadcast:
1.) Silk Road Business Opportunities in Toronto, Canada, October 8-9, 2005
2.) AmCham in Armenia: “A Common Future” in Yerevan, Armenia, October
15-16, 2005
3.) 3rd International Specialized Robotics Exhibition in Moscow, Russia,
October 18-21, 2005
4.) METEX 2005: 7th Eurasian Metal Week in London, UK, October
30-November 5, 2005
Additional events are available in the searchable BISNIS events
database, .
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.) Silk Road Business Opportunities
October 8-9, 2005
Toronto, Canada
Organized by: The Business and Economic Development Center (BEDC).
Business and Economic Development Center (BEDC) which is founded by
ABPI- American Business Broviders International LLC and International
Business Alliance LLC and strives for the sustainable development of
small and medium enterprise sector of Silk Road Countries.
BEDC is a non-profit entrepreneurial association which has been working
to promote business relations between Silk Road Countries
(GEORGIA,TURKEY, ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, UZBEKISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN) and the
rest of the world.
BEDC supports foreign companies interested in the SILK ROAD market by
assisting them with the search for potential business partners,
(suppliers, buyers, distributors, agents and so on), offering a
consolidated wealth of professionalism, contacts and knowledge. It has
representatives in Germany (Oldenburg) USA (Guilford, Connecticut) UK
(London) Armenia, Azerbaijan, and is a member of American Chamber of
Commerce .
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++
2.) AmCham in Armenia: “A Common Future”
October 15-16, 2005
Yerevan, Armenia
Organized by: AmCham in Armenia.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the event website at:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3.) 3rd International Specialized Robotics Exhibition
October 18-21, 2005
Moscow, Russia
Co-Organized by: MARBC.
Robotics 2005 is major international exhibition designed to present the
hi-tech, robotics, intelligent and mechatronic systems developed and
used in Russia, and to select innovative projects to introduce to the
world market of high-tech
production. Exhibition participants include industrial enterprises,
educational and research institutions, and media and publishing houses
specialized in the field of robotics. Innovative work will also be
presented by small businesses and by students.
The exhibition is carried out within the framework of Russian
Technological Seasons -2005. The exhibition organizers include the
Federal Agency for Science and Innovation of Russia, the Russian Academy
of Sciences, the State Research Center of Russia Central R&D Institute
of Robotics and Technical Cybernetics, FRCEC, and “EXPODESIGN” Russian
Exhibition Company. The MARBC will be organizing American participation
in the event.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the Event website at:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4.) METEX 2005: 7th Eurasian Metal Week
October 30- November 5, 2005
London, UK
Organized by: LVA(UK)Ltd in cooperation with London Metal Exchange (LME)
and London Stock Exchange (LSE).

METEX is probably the best practical and important annual international
event in the field of metallurgical and mining industries of the
Eurasian area countries. Over two hundred business leaders and experts
in the metallurgical field from dozens of countries gather under the
METEX umbrella each year.
Since 1999 the METEX Forum has become a focal meeting point for senior
representatives from steel and metal production companies, end-users,
traders, investors, financiers and experts from governments and
inter-governmental organisations.
Over the last six years, METEX has become one of the world’s largest
business-focused conventions, providing an in-depth insight into the
market developments in the Ferrous, Non-Ferrous and PGM industry sectors
in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the Baltic States and Central and
Eastern Europe.
For further information on this event, please visit:
– the BISNIS website at:
– the event website at:

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constitute a U.S. Department of Commerce endorsement of the event or of
the organizer(s)/sponsor(s). For a complete trade events listing, visit
BISNIS Online at
++++++++++Forwarded by:++++++++++
Katie Kane
Trade Program Assistant
BISNIS- U.S. Department of Commerce
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 202-482-3100
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PRESS RELEASE
October 4, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Ambassador Tatoul Markarian Visits Los Angeles
Ambassador Tatoul Markarian visited Los Angeles on September 29 – October 2,
2005, for meetings with the Armenian-American community leaders and
organizations.
The Ambassador visited the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia
where he discussed the Consulate present and planned activities with Consul
General Gagik Kirakossian and Consulate staff. On September 29, Ambassador
Markarian met with representatives of the Armenian-American political
organizations at the Consulate. Visiting the office of the Lincy Foundation,
Ambassador Markarian once more expressed appreciation for Lincy’s large
scale projects in Armenia, which he said have left a permanent positive
imprint on Armenia.
On September 30, Ambassador Markarian attended welcoming receptions by His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, Western Diocese and His
Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Western Prelacy, where
parish pastors, members of the Diocese and Prelacy Councils, and local
community activists were also present.
On September 30, the Ambassador of Armenia attended the Armenia Fund
reception as the guest of honor. The event was held in advance of the Annual
Telethon. On October 1-2, he also participated in the USC Gala Banquet
organized by the USC Armenian Studies Institute and in the AGBU Annual
Banquet.
Ambassador Markarian was interviewed by the Horizon TV, fielding questions
on Armenia’s foreign policy, U.S.-Armenian cooperation, and Armenia-Diaspora
relations.

PROTEST ACTION AGAINST EU-TURKEY TALKS HELD AT EU YEREVAN OFFICE TODAY
Pan Armenian
03.10.2005 13:04
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the youth wing of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
has organized an action in front of the EU Yerevan Office to protest
against the EU-Turkey’s talks scheduled to open on October 3. “Via this
action we protest against Turkey’s attempt to join Europe. Turkey is a
country with bloody hands, a country that perpetrated Genocide. Europe
being an embodiment of democratic ideas cannot accept a country like
Turkey. The matter concerns not only the Armenian Genocide but the
way national minorities are treated there, constant infringement of
human and political rights,” one of the action initiators stated in
a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. The action initiators
have addressed a letter to the EU member-states and the UK Embassy in
Armenia. The letter says in part, “The Armenian Genocide perpetrated
in 1915 is the first crime against humanity targeted at elimination of
a whole nation, one of the founders of the world civilization. Despite
this, the super powers do not pay proper attention to the issue. The
90-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is being marked this
year. During these 90 years and until now Turkey pursues the policy of
denial imposing blockade upon Armenia and holding a biased position on
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. National and religious minorities are
still treated with scorn in Turkey, constitutional human rights are
not observed. Today Turkey with its hands in blood is trying to join
the European family. We call upon the EU member-states, in the name
of democracy, peoples and human rights not to open negotiations with
Turkey, for this country has not acknowledged the Armenian Genocide
yet and keeps on using violence against the national minorities. The
accession of today’s Turkey to the European Union will undermine the
authority of the organization in the opinion of peoples throughout
the globe.”