Author: Talalian Arpi

Andranik Margaryan received the French Ambassador

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 15:08

October 27 RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received the French
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Henry Cuny, who is
completing his diplomatic mission in our country.

The Prime Minister highly assessed the Ambassador’s cooperation with
RA Government and noted that during Mr. Cuny’s tenure in office
Armenian-French relations acquired a new quality, mutual visits on the
high level, as well as conduct of diverse events on the state level
greatly promoted the reinforcement and deepening of the friendship
between the two countries.

The Ambassador thanked for warm words and kind wishes and expressed
the hope that during his further visits he will see Armenia in a
better condition, in peace and stability, from which all the countries
of the region will benefit. He underlined, however, that it does not
depend on Armenia only and welcomed Armenia’s efforts to launch
dialogue with neighbors and stressed the importance of improvement of
relations with Turkey and opening of the borders.

Henry Cuny attached importance to the negotiation process on the
settlement of the Karabakh issue in the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group and keeping the attention of the international community focused
on the question, which will become a certain guarantee of peace,
since, according to him, the international community will not tolerate
the resolution of the conflict in a military way.

ARMENIAN POLITOLOGIST: MEDIATORS’ PRINCIPAL GOAL – TO PREVENT FROM RESUMPTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2006

The Karabakh conflict cannot be settled without the Nagorno-Karabakh’s
participation in the settlement process, an independent politologist
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated at a press conference at the Pastark
Club October 25.

According to Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, sooner or later the
Azeri party will have to sit at the negotiating tale with the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s leadership, like in 1993 – 1995. In the
politologist’s opinion, the OSCE Minsk group, Europe and super-powers
are obviously more interested in the conflict’s conservation and
not its solution. "The conflict should not be resumed – that is the
mediators’ first goal", the politologist believes. "The NKR’s status
is of no peculiar interest to the mediators". In his opinion, the
Europe’s economy is not ready to rebuff a new blow: the resumption
of the hostilities in the Karabakh conflict zone will result in rise
of the fuel prices.

While commenting on the idea of the conduct of a repeated referendum
on the determination of the NKR’s status, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan
noted in case the Armenian party agreed to the proposal it would
unintentionally cast doubts on a referendum held in Karabakh December
10, 1991. In the politologist’s words, the proposal may be acceptable
for the Armenian party only in case it is held on the territory of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic without taking into consideration
Azerbaijan’s Constitution. "We all know the answer given by the
Artsakh people", Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan noted.

Answering a question why discussing the options of the mutual
compromises on the Karabakh conflict’s settlement the matter, as
a rule, concerns the liberated territories, the issue of the North
Artsakh being ignored, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan regretfully mentioned
the community unions’ passiveness.

TAN: WE HOPE FRENCH AUTHORITIES TO REJECT IT

Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006

ANKARA – "We hope that French authorities will reject the draft law
(criminalizing denial of so-called Armenian genocide)," Turkish
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday.

In his weekly press conference, Tan noted that French government has
launched some initiatives to counter the draft law, stating that it
was a positive development.

"(French) government has undertaken some initiatives against this
bill," he stressed.

On the other hand, a delegation headed by Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the
Chairman of the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
(TOBB), met representatives of French Economy & Social Labor Council
in Paris this morning.

Sources quoted Hisarciklioglu as saying in the meeting that the
bill was against freedom of expression, stressing that it would harm
relations between the two countries.

After holding talks in Paris, TOBB delegation left France for Turkey.

"THEORIES OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATION" HANDBOOK PUBLISHED IN ARMENIA TO MAKE EASY EDUCATION PROCESS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Noyan Tapan
Oct 24 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The three-year program jointly
implemented by the Arizona State University and Yerevan State
University and financed by the U.S. Department of State finished with
the Armenian publication of the book entitled "Theories of Public
Organizations" authored by Robert Denhardt, the Director of the School
of Public Affairs of the U.S. Arizona State University (ASU). Alexander
Margarov, the co-director of the program, the Chief of the YSU
International Cooperation Department stated about it at the October 23
presentation of the book and laser disk of the same title. "Owing to
the program we can prepare state and public servicemen corresponding
to modern demands," he said. To recap, within the framework of the
program, the "Public Management" specialty has been tought at the
Master’s courses of the YSU International Relations Department since
2005. "Existence of professional literature translated into Armenian
is important for students as we have studied by now exlusively with
English literature, and that circumstance creates serious problems
in the education process," Gayane Vermishian, a 2nd year student of
the YSU "Public Management" faculty expressed such an opinion.

500 MILLION DOLLARS OF BOYCOTT ON FRENCH PRODUCTS

Turkish Press
Oct 24 2006

ANKARA – Reactions to voting of the French draft law that makes any
denial of so-called Armenian genocide a crime escalate among Turkish
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and people.

The draft will be voted in the French parliament on Thursday,
October 12th.

According to Sabah newspaper, Turkish enterprises, chambers, trade
unions and consumers’ unions are considering a boycott of 500 million
USD to consumer products imported from France. Especially imports of
sophisticated products will be slowed down as a first response. In
the second phase, imports of manufacturing products from alternative
countries is on the agenda. Turkey has made imports of 4.5 billion
USD from France in the first 8 months of 2006; 4 billion USD of this
amount is manufacturing and mining products.

A committee from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of
Turkey (TOBB) will travel to France today to visit French employers’
representatives in Paris. The committee headed by Ankara Chamber of
Industry (ASO) Zafer Caglayan will point out the harmful consequences
of the draft if it becomes a law.

-PLANE ORDER SUSPENDED-

Turkish Ciner Aviation company suspended its order for a new Falcon
2000 type plane. Owner of Ciner Aviation and Sabah newspaper,
Turgay Ciner, called plane producer Dassault and said the order is
suspended until the draft law is voted in the parliament. Ciner said
he will cancel his order if the law is adopted in the parliament on
October 12th.

-NGO REACTIONS NATIONWIDE-

Chairman of ASO Zafer Caglayan:

"There is business that increase French businessmen’s appetite. It
must be clearly stated that they cannot be included in the tenders
in Turkey."

Chairman of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce Mehmet Aslan:

"We will call on our members not to make business with French
businessmen and call on our people not to buy French products."

Chairman of Consumers’ Union Bulent Deniz:

"We will boycott a French product every week beginning on October
12th. We will increase this number gradually."

Chairman of YASED (Foreign Inverstors’ Association of Turkey)
Saban Erdikler:

"The reactions must be reasonable. We must not be agitated and punish
ourselves with our reactions."

HENRY CUNY: LEAVING ARMENIA I DON’T BID FAREWELL TO IT

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.10.2006 18:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian National Assembly Speaker met
with French Ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny, who is completing
his diplomatic mission, reported the RA NA press office. The French
Ambassador said his departure doesn’t mean that he says goodbye to
the country. When covering his 5-year mission in Armenia the French
diplomat remarked that these years were interesting and full of
important work. As for the upcoming parliamentary election in 2007,
Amb. Cuny said, it will be an examination for Armenia on the way
towards democracy and it’s very important to pass this examination.

For his part Tigran Torosian remarked that Henry Cuny leaves good but
complex heritage for his successor, since the new Ambassador should
maintain the achievements and continue the activities. The parties
also referred to the French bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide
denial. Quoting French President Jacques Chirac, who once said "They
have missed the best opportunity to keep silent" on quite another
matter, Tigran Torosian characterized the conduct of the organizations,
which condemned the decision by the French parliament. In his words,
the reaction of Turkey and Azerbaijan lacks any logic and rationality.

The RA NA Speaker remarked that the bill doesn’t purpose the objective
to take somebody to prison but calls not to raise moral problems to
a political wrangle. "Those who try to give a lesson of democracy to
France looks somehow ridiculous," he said.

Henry Cuny was appointed French Ambassador to Slovakia.

LES FRANCAIS SONT-ILS VRAIMENT ANTITURCS ?
Par Christophe De Roquefeuil

Agence France Presse
20 octobre 2006 vendredi 10:03 AM GMT

Les Francais n’ont pas envie de voir la Turquie dans l’Union
europeenne, mais font de bonnes affaires avec elle et, loin des
querelles politico-diplomatiques, vont par milliers y passer leurs
vacances.

Les debats sur le genocide des Armeniens et les polemiques sur
l’elargissement de l’UE ont largement ravive le sentiment que la
France etait radicalement "antiturque".

Mais cette image doit etre nuancee, soulignent des specialistes, qui
mettent avant tout en cause la responsabilite de la classe politique
francaise, accusee de fuir le debat ou de jouer sur les craintes
de l’opinion.

Mefiance envers un pays musulman, crainte d’une nouvelle vague
migratoire ou d’un affaiblissement de la France en Europe : "la
Turquie semble devenue un symbole de tout ce qui irrite les Francais",
relève Soli Ozel, conseiller international de Tusiad, l’organisation
patronale turque.

Toutefois, "ce n’est pas simplement la faute du peuple francais",
estime-t-il. "La peur existe aussi ailleurs. Mais par rapport aux
autres pays europeens, il semble qu’il n’y ait qu’en France que la
classe politique l’agite de cette facon", deplore M. Ozel.

Le president Jacques Chirac vient de plaider pour que la Turquie
reconnaisse le genocide des Armeniens avant d’entrer dans l’UE,
une prise de position suivie quelques jours plus tard, au grand dam
d’Ankara, par le vote en première lecture a l’Assemblee nationale
d’une proposition de loi socialiste visant a punir la negation de
ce genocide.

Le candidat favori de la droite a l’election presidentielle de 2007,
le ministre de l’Interieur Nicolas Sarkozy, hostile a l’adhesion,
en a fait un de ses thèmes de campagne, tandis que l’opposition
socialiste alterne declarations sceptiques et attentistes. L’extreme
droite reste visceralement hostile a l’entree de la Turquie dans l’UE.

Sylvie Goulard, du Centre d’etudes et de recherches internationales
(CERI/Sciences-po), souligne que, si le debat sur la Turquie tourne
souvent a l’aigre en France, c’est parce qu’il a ete largement occulte
avant l’ouverture des negociations d’adhesion, a l’automne 2005,
donnant aux Francais le sentiment d’etre floues.

"Les Francais ont moins un sentiment antiturc qu’un sentiment de
hargne sur la manière dont leurs dirigeants prennent des decisions
a Bruxelles sans les consulter", estime-t-elle.

Selon un sondage publie vendredi, 58% des Francais sont opposes a
l’elargissement de l’UE a la Turquie, contre 28% seulement qui y
sont favorables.

Ces chiffres sont toutefois loin de l’hostilite des Autrichiens (81%
d’opposition), des Allemands (69%) ou des Grecs (67%), selon des
etudes de l’institut Eurobaromètre publiees en juin.

Un autre sondage Eurobaromètre, realise au printemps dernier, fait
aussi apparaître une attitude francaise nuancee si la perspective
d’adhesion reste lointaine : un noyau dur de 38% reste resolument
hostile a la Turquie dans l’UE, mais une majorite (55%) n’exclut
pas une entree remise "a plus tard", "dans 10 a 15 ans" ou "dans
quelques annees".

Sur le plan economique, les affaires vont bon train. Les chefs
d’entreprise francais sont souvent les meilleurs avocats de la Turquie,
dont la France est le 5e fournisseur commercial avec 4,7 milliards
d’euros d’exportations.

Les touristes francais en Turquie sont quant a eux passes de 449.000
en 2000 a 701.000 en 2005, selon des chiffres officiels turcs. Si les
voyagistes ont enregistre un tassement en 2006, il semble surtout dû
a la crise de la grippe aviaire et aux craintes d’attentats.

"Il y a une vraie dissymetrie dans la perception de la relation
franco-turque", relève Dorothee Schmid, de l’Institut francais des
relations internationales (IFRI).

"Les Turcs sont extremement focalises sur ce qui se passe en France,
alors qu’en France on instrumentalise la Turquie pour des questions
de politique interieure", estime-t-elle.

–Boundary_(ID_aHTdFYfCXKX/XOke6Cb Bnw)–

ARMENIAN LEADER, CHINESE MP DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
21 Oct 06

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received a delegation led by
Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National
People’s Congress Xu Jialu today.

Xu Jialu conveyed the Chinese president’s greetings to Kocharyan. The
Armenian president expressed his satisfaction with the high level
of the political dialogue between Armenia and China and noted that
Armenia is pursuing a continual policy of expanding relations between
the two countries. He also said that Armenia wants bilateral relations
to be more dynamic and harmonious.

Speaking about China’s role in the international arena, Kocharyan
highly rated the position of that country on problems existing in
the South Caucasus.

10 PROJECTS ON GREEHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION TO BE IMPLEMENTED
IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged to implement 10
projects aimed at reduction of greehouse gases emissions and on the
Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. Two projects –
"Extraction of Biogas at Yerevan’s Nubarashen Solid Household
Waste Dump and Electricity Production" and "Lusakert Biogas
Plant" are already being implemented. Diana Harutyunian, Head of
the Climatic Changes Programs implemented by the RA Ministry of
Nature Protection, said during a seminar on October 20 that three
other projects are at the stage of ratification, and five – at the
development stage. According to her, one of the ratified projects
is being implemented jointly by Yerevan Mayor’s Office and Shimizu
Corporation (Japan) (investments of 8 mln USD), and the second one –
by Max Concern Ltd and Denmark’s Environmental Protection Agency
(investments of 2.5 mln USD). In her words, the Kioto Protocol
adopted within the framework of the UN Convention on Climate Changes
establishes additional quantitative obligations on reduction of
greenhouse gases emissions only for developed countries. However,
as the climate system is not affected by the place of emission of
greenhouse gases, the developed countries can fulfil part of their
obligations in other countries. D. Harutyunian said that before the
1990s, emmissions of greenhouse gases made 25 mln tons annually in
Armenia. Today they make about 5 mln tons because of a decline in
industrial production.

CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST ROYAL ARMENIA’S MANAGEMENT SENT TO COURT

Noyan Tapan, Armenia
Oct 20 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The preliminary investigation of
the criminal case against the management of Royal Armenia Ltd was
completed and the case has been sent to court. Gevorg Minasian,
the company’s lawyer, said this at the October 20 press conference.

To recap, the case started on March 10, 2005. On the 7th month of
the investigation, the company’s co-owner Gagik Hakobian and deputy
director Aram Ghazarian were arrested. They were accused of smuggling,
non-payment of taxes, document forgery, legalization of financial
resources in an illegal way, and G. Hakobian – also of fraud.

During the press conference, representatives of Royal-Armenia expressed
discontent that by the investigator’s decision, a 38,400-kg and
76,800-kg shipments of green coffee that the company received from
abroad continue to be under arrest. They are not customs-cleaned,
as a result of which 2 trucks and 6 containers of the foreign
transporter have been under "customs arrest" since September 27,
2006, for which Royal-Armenia will bear property responsibility to
the foreign transporter.

"This action with respect to the company is a previously planned
damage which has no bearing to justice and law," the application sent
to the RA president, prime minister and prosecutor general reads.

According to the application, the company was forced to stop the
process of production and to dismiss 48 employees.

Representatives of Royal-Armenia believe that the investigator’s
decision and the inaction of customs employees are not justified.

According to them, Ltd is not a civil defendant in this criminal
case, and as a legal entity and a independent subject of the law
is not responsible for the liabilities of its participants. "Even
if we admit that the Ltd participants committed an offence, it is
not a reason to put an arrest on the raw material imported by the
company," the company representatives stated. According to them,
in such a case sanctions may be used with respect to the defendants’
property and their shares in the company’s capital.