Author: Tambiyan Samvel

European Bank buys shares in Armenian bank
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
8 Dec 04
[Presenter] The European Bank [for Reconstruction and Development] has
allocated large funds to Armenia’s Ekonom Bank. However, the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development [EBRD] will not intervene in
Armenia’s banking sector, as is the case with 45 banks in 23
countries. EBRD experts say that Armenia’s trade sector needs many
credits.
[Correspondent] The EBRD has paid 583m drams [1.219m dollars] for 25
per cent of Ekonom Bank shares plus one share. This is the first large
investment made by the EBRD in the Armenian banking system. This
amount allows the bank to join the Ekonom Bank board.
[Ashot Osipyan, Ekonom Bank chief executive officer] Naturally, as the
owner of the bank’s shares, the EBRD will join the board and take part
in strategic decision-making.
[Correspondent over archive footage] The finance and economy minister
[Vardan Khachatryan] said that after three years of talks, a positive
outcome has finally been achieved.
The Central Bank has already agreed to this. Currently, the securities
committee is preparing to issue the shares to the EBRD.
[Maria Luiza Chigonina, head of the EBRD credit department] It is the
EBRD’s principle not to interfere in the daily activities of other
banks. In order to remove some hurdles in the management of Ekonom
Bank, we will spend 500,000 euros.
[Passage omitted: Correspondent is talking about EBRD projects in
Azerbaijan and Georgia]
[Nikolay Hadjiyski, regional representative of the EBRD] We have
already drawn up, together with other banks of Armenia, three
directions for targeted credits to small and medium-sized businesses.
[Correspondent] The EBRD also has other projects worth 9m euros in
Armenia. The programmes embrace food processing, construction and
other areas.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, December 9, 2004
AGBU NEW YORK SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR
SUMMER 2005
“The AGBU New York Summer Intern Program was an amazing journey of
self discovery both as an Armenian and as an individual. I was able to
form friendships that I will cherish forever. My internship at the
United Nations helped me grow professionally and led me one step
closer to achieving my goals. I feel privileged to have had the
opportunity to participate in the program with 34 great Armenians from
different parts of the world. I sometimes wish I could turn back time
to the summer and stay there forever. The summer of 2004 will always
stay with me as one of the most memorable and exciting ones.” Sone
Davayan of Glendale, CA
New York, NY – Having concluded another successful year, the AGBU New
York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP) is currently accepting applications
for the 2005 summer session — the deadline of which is January 14,
2005. To obtain an application package, visit AGBU’s website at
, or contact the Associate Program Director, Aline
Ekmekji, by phone (212) 319-6383 ext. 132 or email [email protected].
The Program, now in its 18th season, has helped Armenian students
throughout the world by providing unique internship opportunities in
some of the world’s most prestigious institutions – from the United
Nations and Columbia University Medical Center to Wachovia Securities
and Revlon, among many others.
In addition to their internship experience, a diverse cultural and
educational program is also arranged by the Program
staff. Participants receive a whirlwind taste of both their Armenian
heritage and what New York has to offer through professional seminars
that provide resume writing, interviewing and networking tips,
community service projects to create a sense of giving back to both
the Armenian and New York communities, as well as exploring New York’s
cultural riches, including world renowned museums and trendy
restaurants.
Founded in 1987 by AGBU President’s Club Co-Chairs, Vartkes and Rita
Balian, the AGBU New York Summer Intern Program is designed to
establish professional opportunities for Armenians living in the
United States and abroad.

Powell calls on Russia to withdraw bases
The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 8 2004
Georgian minister says border monitoring mission needs extension “for
the sake of peace and stability”
By Warren Hedges
Washington is waiting for Russia to act on its commitments to remove
military bases from Georgia and is even willing to contribute to the
cost of doing so, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell declared on
Tuesday.
Speaking in Sofia during the 12th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial
Council, Secretary Powell also said the OSCE needs to make a ‘new
push’ to help settle frozen conflicts like those in Georgia and
Moldova.
“In parts of our OSCE community, frozen conflicts still remain frozen
fifteen years after the end of the Cold War,” he said during a speech
to the council. He added that in the past year, “there has been
little headway made toward resolution of the situation in
Nagorno-Karabakh or in breakaway regions of Moldova and Georgia. A
new push from the OSCE and by the leaders of participating states is
needed.”
He immediately followed these comments by calling on Russia to follow
through on its obligations agreed to 1999 to remove military bases
from Georgia.
“Russia’s commitments to withdraw its military forces from Moldova,
and to agree with Georgia on the duration of the Russian military
presence there, remain unfulfilled,” the secretary noted.
Referring to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE),
which the U.S. has yet to ratify, Powell said, “A core principle of
the CFE Treaty is host country agreement to the stationing of
forces.”
“The United States remains committed to moving ahead with
ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty,” Powell said, “but we will
only do so after all the Istanbul commitments on Georgia and Moldova
have been met. And we stand ready to assist with reasonable costs
associated with the implementation of those commitments.”
Representing Georgia, as well as the GUUAM organization, at the
two-day council meeting, Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Salome
Zourabichvili called on OSCE members to extend its border monitoring
mission in Georgia, a mission that is set to expire at the end of
this month.
“We strongly believe that the OSCE Border Monitoring Operation (BMO)
in Georgia is one of the most successful missions of our
Organization,” Zourabichvili said, “simultaneously making a
tremendous contribution to Georgia’s border security at the most
volatile and controversial segments of the Georgian-Russian border.”
The BMO currently deploys 150 monitors from member countries along
the border between Georgia and the Chechen Republic of the Russian
Federation. According to the OSCE, the mission began in December 1999
and was expanded in December 2001 to encompass the Ingush segment of
the Georgian border with the Russian Federation, and once more in
December 2002, to include the Dagestan segment of the border.
Zourabichvili concluded her speech by calling for an extension beyond
the current year: “We strongly support the BMO’s extension for the
sake of peace and stability in the region.”
Secretary Powell also backed up Georgia’s position, saying some of
the OSCE’s “most important assets” are its 17 field missions. ” The
missions are working for democracy, human rights and conflict
resolution from the Balkans to Central Asia. In Georgia, the OSCE’s
Border Monitoring Operation is contributing to stability on a
sensitive border, and its mandate should be extended for another
year.”
Representing Russia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov called
on Georgia to avoid politicizing its separatist conflicts and to
avoid the use of force.
“Today we need not political slogans but concrete measures to improve
the situation in South Ossetia in terms of the Sochi agreements of
Zhvania and Kokoiti on November 5,” Lavrov said.
He also said Russia is waiting for economic cooperation between
Georgia and separatist Abkhazia: “We wait for the logical steps in
fulfilling these agreements from both sides so as to strengthen the
trust between Tbilisi and Sokhumi, mainly in the economic sphere.”
Lavrov also called on Georgia to “not forget about” its commitments
to the OSCE to protect regional governments like Adjara’s autonomous
status: “The liquidation of Adjaran autonomy would not contribute to
raising trust in Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-Ossetian relations.”

United States welcomes resumption of talks between Azeri, Armenian FMs – US ambassador
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 9 2004
The United States welcomes resumption of talks between the Azeri,
Armenian foreign ministers in Sofia, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan
Reno Harnish said. He reiterated that Washington supports a fair
resolution of the Upper Garabagh conflict through talks providing
for sustainable peace.
“I see no other alternatives for resolving the problem”, he said.
The ambassador emphasized that the Garabagh problem is creating
serious problems not only for Azerbaijan but for the entire region.
“Until the problem is resolved, a possibility exists for the resumption
of hostilities. Therefore the United States, on its end, is doing
its utmost for a fair settlement of the conflict in peace.”*

Positive tendencies intensify in Karabakh negotiations – Aliyev
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 7, 2004 Tuesday 1:04 PM Eastern Time
BAKU, December 7 — Positive tendencies have intensified in the
Karabakh settlement negotiations, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
said at a Tuesday meeting of the national government.
“Steps, which were taken to resolve the Karabakh problem, had a
positive influence on the negotiations,” he said. “Negotiations are
going on in the desired direction, and international organizations’
understanding that the position of Azerbaijan is just is growing.”
The stand of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh settlement is invariable,
Aliyev said. “Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan cannot be a subject
of negotiations. It must be restored, and forces of occupation must
leave these lands. Any peace agreement can be discussed only on these
principles,” he said.
Negotiations continue between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers, and the presidents join in whenever it is necessary,
Aliyev said.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
“Christian-Moslem Co-Existence Constitutes
a Vital Dimension Of The History Of The Middle East”
Declared His Holiness Aram I
ANTELIAS, LEBANON – “One cannot understand fully and accurately the history
of the Middle East, with its upheavals and tensions, challenges and
achievements, without the Christian-Moslem co-existence which remains a
vital dimension of the history of this region. In fact, Christianity and
Islam have made a significant contribution to the history of the Middle
East, particularly in the areas of culture, science, civilization and
politics. The centuries old Christian Moslem co-existence has developed
mutual understanding and trust among the peoples of the region. That is why
I often remind our Western friends that Christian-Moslem dialogue in the
Middle East is not an intellectual notion, but an existential reality and an
integral part of the daily life of the people. And, in view of the growing
concern for Christian-Moslem dialogue, I often remind our friends in the
West that Christian-Moslem dialogue in our part of the world is deeply
rooted in our common history. For centuries not only Christians and Moslems
have talked to each other, but they have lived together, worked together,
dreamed and struggled together and have sustained their life by common moral
and human values”, said His Holiness Aram I.
Referring to the latest bombings of the Armenian and Chaldean Churches in
Iraq, His Holiness Aram I said: “I cannot understand and accept these
bombings of churches in Iraq. How such a thing happens between followers of
two religions who have lived together for centuries as one community and as
good neighbors. I cannot understand such an attitude towards Christians who
have been inseparable part of the Middle Eastern society and have played a
major role in all aspects of the society life. I consider these bombings
serious attempts aimed at endangering the Christian-Moslem co-existence,
undermining the importance of common values and aspirations which have
sustained the life of the Middle Eastern societies, and questioning the
importance of human rights and religious liberties. Such attempts also
underestimate the unity of the Arab world and the credibility of the Arab
cause. Therefore, I urge and appeal to the leaderships of Christian and
Moslem communities in Iraq to come together and to re-affirm the
Christian-Moslem co-existence as well as their national unity” concluded his
remarks His Holiness Aram I.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 4 2004
EP President: Turkey must Recognize Greek Cypriot Administration
While in Ankara two weeks before the European Union (EU)’s December
17th summit, when the EU will decide whether to invite Turkey to
begin full membership negotiations, president of the European
Parliament (EP), Josep Borrell, told Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and the spokesperson for the Turkish Parliament,
Bulent Arinc, that Turkey should recognize the Greek Cypriot
Administration if it wishes to start full membership negotiations
with the European Union (EU).
Borrell travelled to Ankara to discuss a draft resolution about
Turkey that the EP Commission on Foreign Affairs had prepared.
Borrell underscored a report by Camiel Eurlings, the EP’s reporter on
Turkey reporter, which contains specific passages calling for Turkey
to recognize Greek Cyprus.
He said: “Negotiations with the EU finally means recognizing the
counter side and will include a recognition of Cyprus as well. This
is the main component, on which the Commission is currently studying
and the decision will also include.”
Borrell added that there are efforts within the EU Council to
overturn the trade embargo on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC).
While speaking at a joint press conference, Erdogan reiterated his
expectation that the December 17th summit will end in a positive
decision, opening the way for Turkey to begin membership negotiations
in the first half of 2005.
Erdogan and Borrell also discussed the recent demands to reopen the
border with Armenia. Erdogan said that there are four flights per
week into Armenia, even though Yerevan does not recognize the 1921
Kars agreement, which was signed between Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia.
12.04.2004
Foreign News Services
Istanbul

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 4 2004
‘Religious and Cultural Differences do not Hinder EU Membership’
Nearly 200 academics, journalists, politicians and religious figures
from Turkey, Europe and the US gathered in Brussels for the 8th
meeting of the Abant Platform, which was titled “Turkey’s EU Process:
Culture, Identity and Religion.” Among the participants was a
representative from the European Catholic Church Association, who
said yesterday, “European Union membership for Muslim Turkey has no
drawbacks.”
The keynote speakers during yesterday’s session were Professor Rik
Torfs, from Leuven University and Professor Niyazi Oktem. The
president of the Board of Trustees of Turkey’s Journalists and
Writers Foundation, Huseyin Gulerce, said that Abant’s spirit
generated new hope and excitement for Turkey. He shared his belief
that these meetings would only prove that differences between
cultures created richness.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinc and Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul as well as the Honorary President of the
Foundation, Mr. Fethullah Gulen, sent messages to the Platform.
The French Metropolit of the Greek Orthodox Church, Emmanual
Adamakis, ultimately said that the Fener Greek Patriarch supported
Turkey’s EU membership. He lamented however, that the institution’s
dormitories and schools remained closed and stressed that they
existed in Turkey in the name of Christianity, and did not have
ulterior motivations.
“Do not prevent the Church from educating children”, Adamakis said.
Adamakis addressed the illegal status of “ecumenical” and implored
Turkey to recognize the concept.
A representative of the Turkish Armenian Orthodox Patriarch, Sahag
Mashalian, recalled that Christianity reached the west through
Turkey. He then exhorted Turkey to show sufficient tolerance to other
religions even though from time to time such tolerance is
problematic.
Stephen Lante, a representative from the Europe Catholic Churches
Association, said that neither the Catholic Church, nor the Vatican,
regards the EU as a Christian club. Lante did criticize that
processes by which non-Muslims own property and establish foundations
and associations in Turkey were still flawed. He added that the issue
would be addressed on December 17th.
Belgian Professor Dirk Rochtus expressed his opposition to the idea
that because Turkey did not undergo an enlightenment process, and the
subsequent reforms like other European countries, it cannot be a part
of the EU.
Rochtus contended that these values could be learned. He Germany as
an example and said that even though Germany did not realize
enlightenment, it developed its own culture in the 19th century.
12.04.2004
Ali Ihsan Aydin, Selcuk Gultasli
Brussels

Armenianow.com
3 Dec 2004
;id= 341
Hidden Danger: Armenian border territory holds 100,000 landmines
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow Reporter
“For minesweepers wars never end, they keep silent, while mines continue to
speak,” says sapper Henrik Abajyan.
Abajyan knows what mines can do. In 1998 in the Tavush village of Hartashen,
pigs were killed by mines and when the caretaker went to check, he became
the next victim.
Later, when Abajyan went to the same location, he hit a mine.
“I lost one leg and half of the other,” Abajyan says. “There was a man from
Kapan with me in hospital, he had also lost his leg from a mine planting in
his garden.”
300 hectares have been cleared, but 100,000 landmines remain in Armenia
According to the Humanitarian Demining Center of the Ministry of Defense,
11,108 hectares of borderline territories are mined in Armenia today,
totaling some 100,000 mines. The mined territories adjacent to the
Armenian-Azeri border include the regions of Tavush, Syunik, Ararat and
Vayk.
Issues related to landmines were discussed this week during a roundtable
presented by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Becky Thomson, an
ICRC consultant for mines in the Caucasus region, said that the impact of
mines on human life is great, especially in rural communities, where
villagers, their cattle and agricultural equipment often become victims.
“People needn’t be taught how mines look, they never see them,” Thomson
said. “Mines are buried under the ground or lie invisible on the ground.
People walking usually look ahead and not down. In mined territories, when
people start avoiding a path, the grass there grows higher, bones of wild
animals are seen. All this needs to be seen, these are signs of hidden
mines. All too often these territories are not marked with special signs.”
Alvard Saribekyan, 35, from the village of Yeraskh lost a cow to a landmine.
“It was the only cow maintaining our family. Only pieces remained of it, and
those were pieces that were impossible to sell,” says Saribekyan.
According to data of the Humanitarian Demining Center, 328 people suffered
from mines in Armenia in the period of 1993-2000 (150 people become victims
of mines in Afghanistan every month, 80-100 in Angola, 40-60 in Cambodia).
Mines mainly take their toll in autumn, especially among hunters and
villagers going for firewood, and also in spring when the sowing campaign
begins.
In 1997, 123 countries joined the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel
mines. These states are obliged not to produce, use or store land
anti-personnel mines. Within four years they must destroy the stored mines
and demine their own territories by 2009.
According to Thomson, as of 2003, 31 million anti-personnel mines have been
cleared, however 200 million mines are still kept in countries – including
Armenia – that did not sign the Ottawa Convention.
Abajyan says 300 hectares have been cleared of mines in Armenia over the
last two years. According to the estimation of the demining center, there
are 10-11,000 dangerously explosive mines in Armenia today.

Azeri leader receives credentials of Iraqi, Japanese, Ukrainian envoys
ANS TV, Baku
2 Dec 04
Presenter Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today received the
credentials of the newly-appointed ambassadors to Azerbaijan from
Iraq, Japan and Ukraine.
Correspondent, over video of the ceremony The president first met
Japanese ambassador Tadahiro Abe. The Japanese ambassador spoke about
friendly relations between the two countries and the history of
bilateral ties. He conveyed his emperor’s greetings to Ilham
Aliyev. President Aliyev spoke about cooperation with the Japanese
government within the framework of international organizations. The
Japanese government has allocated major loans to Azerbaijan so far and
major projects are being implemented due to those loans, he said.
President Aliyev thanked the ambassador and his government for
cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and for schools built in
Azerbaijan on the funds allocated by the Japanese government.
Then Aliyev received the credentials of Ukrainian ambassador Anatoliy
Yurchenko. The ambassador said that he had arrived in Azerbaijan at a
difficult time for his country. However, he hoped that his activity
would give an impetus for the development of relations between the two
countries. He said that Azerbaijan and Ukraine were successfully
developing cooperation within the framework of the CIS, the Council of
Europe and the GUUAM Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and
Moldova countries.
President Aliyev said that Ukraine always supported Azerbaijan in the
Karabakh settlement.
The Karabakh conflict was a focus of attention when the president
received the credentials of Iraqi ambassador Umar Isma’il. The
president recalled that the Azerbaijani lands had been occupied by
Armenians and said that the Iraqi people was also living through hard
times. He hoped that peace will be restored in this Middle East
country soon.
Leyla Hasanova, Ali Ahmadov, Ibrahim Telmanoglu for ANS.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress