Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Le Figaro, France
11 décembre 2004
Non à un élargissement excessif !;
UNION EUROPÉENNE Bruxelles face aux prétentions d’Ankara
Par RUDOLF SCHARPING *
Il ne fait aucun doute qu’en l’état actuel des choses, la Turquie
n’est pas en mesure de devenir membre de l’UE. Si ce pays a accompli
des progrès tout à fait étonnants en un laps de temps des plus court,
il demeure toutefois fort éloigné encore de l’objectif : la société
civile est loin d’être stable ; la Turquie n’assume pas son histoire
dans son intégralité, je pense notamment au génocide arménien. Les
droits de la femme ne sont pas garantis. Les ressortissants turcs
continuent de former le groupe le plus important de réfugiés
politiques en Allemagne. Il faudra attendre plusieurs années et
quelques conflits pour voir si le contrôle du civil sur le militaire
ou l’interdiction de la torture constituent les piliers réels et
durablement acceptés d’une démocratie fondée sur un État de droit
véritable. Pour toutes ces raisons, on ne saurait répéter
l’expérience des années précédentes : l’entame de négociations ne
peut déboucher de manière quasi automatique sur une adhésion.
Pourtant, nombre d’enthousiastes plaident pour l’intégration de la
Turquie. À l’exception du cas de l’Allemagne, ils comptent aussi,
dans leurs pays ou leurs partis respectifs, au rang des sceptiques
résolus lorsqu’il est question d’approfondir l’intégration
européenne. C’est là un fait qu’il nous faut considérer avec
attention. Car, à l’avenir, tout élargissement de l’UE constituera un
«test double», portant sur la capacité d’intégration du pays en
question et sur la capacité d’élargissement de l’Union européenne.
En effet, une Europe dont le corps devient toujours plus massif, mais
dont la musculature politique reste faible, ne sert pas plus les
intérêts de ses citoyens qu’elle ne répond à sa responsabilité au
plan mondial. Nous sommes nombreux à le percevoir, instinctivement.
D’où l’émergence du scepticisme et du refus, y compris en Allemagne.
Et tandis que les uns prônent l’apaisement, arguant que cela n’est
pas pour demain et ne se passera pas comme le craignent les citoyens
et qu’ils ont bien les choses en main, d’autres brandissent d’un ton
hésitant l’idée d’un «partenariat privilégié», sans investir ce
concept d’une signification tangible. Ces attitudes ne sont pas de
nature à aller à la rencontre des citoyens ou à leur donner confiance
dans les capacités de leurs dirigeants. En dépit du grand progrès que
constitue le traité constitutionnel, le corpus institutionnel ne
répond ni à l’exigence de transparence démocratique et d’attribution
claire des compétences, ni à celle d’une action menée avec précaution
et efficacité. Il suffit pour s’en convaincre de considérer le nombre
de députés européens, la taille et la composition de la Commission ou
la pondération des voix au sein du Conseil européen, notamment après
les adhésions à venir. Non, il est de l’intérêt de l’Europe dans son
ensemble que l’UE des Vingt-Cinq s’engage désormais dans une longue
phase de consolidation interne, notamment après l’intégration de la
Bulgarie, de la Roumanie et, probablement, de la Croatie. La
consolidation doit donc être un préalable absolu à tout nouvel
élargissement. Chaque nouveau membre renforce l’obligation de
réformer la politique structurelle et, surtout, la politique
agricole. Cette obligation s’imposerait, ne serait-ce que pour
honorer nos idéaux d’un meilleur développement des parties
désespérément pauvres de notre village global. On peut également
envisager la question des frontières. Toute extension de celles-ci
présuppose volonté et courage, mais, aussi et surtout, d’arrêter des
critères clairs : qui entend intégrer la Turquie tout en barrant la
route de l’UE aux pays des Balkans, à l’Ukraine, ou à d’autres États
? Et qu’est-ce qui différencie, sur le plan sécuritaire, économique,
culturel, historique ou linguistique, l’Anatolie orientale de Tunis,
Rabat ou Casablanca ? Sans parler même d’Israël. Autant de questions
en suspens qui soulignent une lacune lourde de conséquences : il n’y
a pas de politique étrangère commune, même si l’on note, sur des
questions tout à fait importantes, et je ne veux pas sous-estimer ce
fait, des efforts en vue d’une action commune. Toutefois, ces efforts
concernent les «Grands» de l’Union – et non l’Union dans son
ensemble, qui propose, quant à elle, le concept de «wider Europe» ou
une politique de voisinage, laquelle peut permettre de jeter un pont
vers l’Europe, mais ne suffira pas à plus long terme. Faute d’une
politique étrangère et de sécurité commune, faute de conceptions
communes de nos intérêts et de notre responsabilité dans le monde,
tout élargissement fera de l’Europe un marché doté d’une certaine
dose de protection commune des frontières extérieures et de la
sécurité intérieure, ou doté d’un espace juridique commun. C’est déjà
beaucoup. Mais cela ne répond pas à la responsabilité mondiale de
l’Europe. Devenir un partenaire à part entière des Etats-Unis et
demeurer leur ami fiable, pouvoir regarder dans les yeux les
puissances émergentes que sont la Chine, l’Inde, ou encore à nouveau
la Russie, et ancrer de manière irréversible l’idée européenne dans
le coeur et l’esprit des citoyens européens exige des hommes d’État
des accomplissements réellement nouveaux. Dans le cas contraire, tout
nouvel élargissement accroîtra les problèmes de l’Union. C’est
probablement pour cette raison que le président Chirac a plaidé,
devant le Bundestag allemand, pour que chacun puisse avancer à des
vitesses différentes et pour une intégration «différenciée». Quant au
ministre fédéral des Affaires étrangères, il a tenu sa célèbre
allocution à l’université Humboldt à titre privé. C’est pourquoi le
ministre n’entend pas s’en souvenir (ou qu’on la lui rappelle). Les
élargissements devraient-ils «forcer» le noyau dur de l’Europe ? Il
m’apparaît préférable de disposer d’une stratégie claire et de
travailler proprement. Tout autre évolution contribuera à accroître
plus encore la distance entre l’Europe et ses citoyens et à
dépouiller cette oeuvre pacifique extraordinaire de son lustre, de sa
force et de son avenir. * Ancien président de parti et président du
groupe parlementaire du SPD, Rudolf Scharping a occupé, jusqu’en
2002, les fonctions de ministre fédéral de la Défense au sein du
gouvernement Schröder.

CALENDAR
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
December 11, 2004
Major Feasts and Commemoration Days in the Armenian Church for 2005
January
6 Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ
13 Naming Day of Jesus Christ
15 Feast of the Birth of Saint John the Forerunner (the Baptist)
22 Commemoration day of Saints Sargis the Captain, his son Martiros
and fourteen soldiers
February
1 Commemoration day of Saints Ghevondiants
3 Commemoration day of Saints Vardanants
6 Eve of the Great Fast of Lent (Great Barekendan)
14 Feast of the Presentation of Christ to the Temple
March
12 Feast of Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s Terrible Passion and
Committal to the Pit
19 Commemoration day of the Resurrection of Lazarus
20 Palm Sunday
27 Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
(Easter Sunday)
April
7 Feast of the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary
24 Feast of the Appearance of the Holy Cross
May
5 Feast of the Ascension of Christ
15 Pentecost
28 Feast of Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s Emergence from the Pit
29 Feast of the Universal Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
June
11 Feast of the Discovery of the Relics of Saint Gregory the
Illuminator
16 Commemoration day of Holy Translators Sts. Sahak and Mesrop
July
3 Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ
August
14 Assumption of the Holy Mother of God
September
11 Exaltation of the Holy Cross
24 Commemoration day of St. Gevork (St. George)
25 Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak
October
8 Commemoration day of the Holy Translators
23 Discovery of the Holy Cross
November
5 Feast of the Holy Archangels
21 Feast of the Presentation of the Holy Mother of God
December
3 Commemoration day of Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, Apostles
and First Enlighteners of Armenia
17 Commemoration day of Saint James
26 Commemoration day of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Chaldean Bishop’s Palace and Catholic-Armenian Church attacked in Mosul
AsiaNews.it, Italy
Dec 7 2004
Mosul (AsiaNews) – Two Christian religious buildings in Mosul (northern
Iraq) were attacked today. Bombs were detonated in two separate but
similar attacks: one against an Armenian-Catholic church, the other
against the Chaldean Bishop’s Palace.
At 2:30 pm local time (GMT +3), some men entered the Armenian Catholic
church in the Wihda neighbourhood on the eastern part of the city. The
attackers forced out a security guard and two other people who were
there and then, according to eye witnesses, set off two bombs.
Around 4:30 pm, a group of four or five armed men stormed the Chaldean
Bishop’s Palace (see photo) which is on the right bank of the Tigris
River.
Only Fr Raghid Aziz Kara was inside since Bishop Paul Faraj Rahho was
away on pastoral duties. He told AsiaNews that after the attackers
ordered him to leave the premises, they proceeded to lay and then
detonate explosive devices. He heard three explosions and saw the
building engulfed in flames.
The Bishop’s Palace in Mosul is a modern, two-storey building,
inaugurated in 1995 by Mgr Georgis Garmo, Bishop Rahho’s predecessor.
The nearby Church of the Purification, which Muslims also venerate
because of its famous statue of Our Lady, was untouched.
Police immediately started looking for the attackers but so far with
no results.
The Chaldean Catholic diocese of Mosul is led by Bishop Paulos Faraj
Rahho and has 35,000 members. It has 12 parishes, 22 diocesan priests,
8 men and 20 women religious. (LF)

Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation
450 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 600
Glendale, CA 91203
818.291.6490
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 6, 2004
Contact: Teni Melidonian, Protocol & Prose
626.644.7247
[email protected]
Holiday Event to Benefit Vaccine Fund for Armenia’s Children
– Golden Globe Winner, Mike Connors to Attend-
Glendale, CA (December 6) – The Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation
(ANMF) is proud to announce a special event – Mistletoe & Miracles –
benefiting the Millennium Armenia Children’s Vaccine Fund (MACVF)
with special guest star Mike Connors on Wednesday, December 15,
2004 at the Cravens Estate – The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the
American Red Cross in Pasadena, California.
Joining the legendary television personality at the event will be Lise
Grandé, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia and Michael
Mahdesian, former President Clinton appointee to USAID’s Bureau for
Humanitarian Response.
Born in Fresno, California to an Armenian family, Connors has
appeared in hundreds of television shows since the 1950s and is best
known for his portrayal of detective Joe Mannix in “Mannix” (CBS
1967-1975). Connors received four Emmy and Golden Globe nominations
for Best Actor in a Drama Series for “Mannix”, winning the Golden
Globe in 1970. After over 50 years in entertainment, Connors continues
to appear in numerous television shows including “Murder She Wrote,”
“Diagnosis Murder,” “Walker, Texas Ranger.” He has also been active
in numerous charitable organizations including Operation Missing
Persons as well as several neurological and health related charities.
Featuring live music, international cuisine, and a unique silent
auction, proceeds from “Mistletoe & Miracles” will help secure the
final $200,000 of the $1.5 million capital campaign fund designed to
guarantee basic vaccinations required to fight against preventable
disease and reduce infant mortality rates.
Since 2002, the MACVF has vaccinated over 74,000 Armenian
children. Basic vaccines include: Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, MMR –
Mumps, Measles & Rubella, Pertussis, Polio, Tetanus and TB. Over
560,000 Armenian children will be immunized through 2017.
MACVF is a public-private capital fund in partnership with
international agencies including the Ministry of Health of the Republic
of Armenia, UNICEF and USAID.
MACVF is a public-private capital fund administered by the Ani &
Narod Memorial Foundation. ANMF, established in 1994 following the
tragic deaths of Ani and Narod Ardhaldjian, has brought educational,
cultural and health programs to Armenian women and children living
around the world.
To learn more about MACVF, ANMF and its programs, please visit
or contact the office at 818.291.6490. For press
information, to request interviews and/or media kits, contact Teni
Melidonian at 626.644.7247 or via email at [email protected]
The Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit,
tax-exempt US organization encouraging the welfare and development of
Armenian women and children through innovative cultural, educational,
health and social programs.
###
–Boundary_(ID_kpfx51GsMDhUGDF7A59olg)–

Armenian coalition party reminds US envoy about diaspora security in Iraq
Yerkir web site, Yerevan
30 Nov 04
The US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, met the representatives of
the supreme body of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD], Armen Rustamyan, Levon Lazarian and Bagrat
Sarkisyan, at the Simon Vratsyan Centre on Tuesday [30 November].
The political situation in Armenia, regional issues, the current stage
of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish
relations were discussed during the meeting.
Noting the importance of the fight against terrorism, the ARFD
representatives pointed out particular circumstances connected with
the possible sending of an Armenian humanitarian group to Iraq. In
this context they also stressed the importance of ensuring the
security of the Armenian communities in Iraq and in other Arab
countries.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 3 2004
US ambassador hopes for success in Sofia talks on Garabagh conflict

US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish says he hopes that
Azerbaijan and Armenia will reach a certain agreement on the peace
settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict at the meeting of the two
countries’ foreign ministers in Sofia on December 6.
Harnish positively assessed the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group and
regarded as groundless Russian President Vladimir Putin’s critical
remarks on this respect.
Touching upon the situation in the Ukraine after the presidential
election in this country, the ambassador said the United States’
position on the issue is known.
`The election could have been held under more serious and democratic
monitoring of the Ukrainian government’.
This country’s authorities should have organized the election in a
more transparent and democratic way, he added.*

CENN – NOVEMBER 29, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. State Oil Fund to Set Aside Azm 105 bln for BTC Pipeline Construction
2. 4 Million Tones of Oil Needed TO Fill BTC Pipeline
3. Credit Agreement in Force
4. Environmental Ministers of Eastern European, Asian and Caucasian
Countries Meet in Baku
5. Bendukidze Lashes out at Forestry Department Head
6. US Company to Ship Oil from Azerbaijan Via Georgia Ports
7. Illegal Villas in Tsaghkadzor
8. Minister Sees ‘Natural’ Economic Slowdown
1. STATE OIL FUND TO SET ASIDE AZM 105 BLN FOR BTC PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
Source: Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Azertag, November 25, 2004
The Azerbaijan Republic State Oil Fund is going to set aside 105 billion
manats to finance Azerbaijan’s share in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
export pipeline construction, Fund executive director Samir Sharifov
told AzeTAJ correspondent.
2. 4 MILLION TONS OF OIL NEEDED TO FILL BTC PIPELINE
Source: Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Azertag, November 25, 2004
According the press service of BP Azerbaijan, as soon as
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline construction ends 4 million barrels of
oil will be needed to fill the pipe out, BP said. The pipe will be
filled with 11 million tons of oil extracted from the
Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field.
3. CREDIT AGREEMENT IN FORCE
Source: Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Azertag, November 25, 2004
Azerbaijani side is going to start repaying its credits taken to finance
its share in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline construction as soon
as the batch of oil is dispatched from Ceyhan seaport in 2006, State Oil
Company of Azerbaijan reported. In this respect, credit agreements
remain in force.
4. ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS OF EASTERN EUROPEAN, ASIAN AND CAUCASIAN
COUNTRIES MEET IN BAKU
Source: Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Azertag, November 25, 2004
In the office of Regional Ecological Center (REC) of Caucasus in
Azerbaijan was held a meeting dedicated to results of the recent
conference of the ministers of environment of the countries of Eastern
Europe, Asia and Central Caucasus (EEACC) in Tbilisi.
Noting that in the period after the ministerial conference on the topic
`Environment For Europe’, passed in Kiev in May 2003, real conclusions
on improvement of the environment and regional cooperation a notable
result was not achieved in this direction, presiding at the meeting,
head of the Society `For Sustainable Development’ Fikrat Jafarov and
participants of Tbilisi conference from Azerbaijan spoke of positive
reaction of all attendees in the event of speech of the minister of
ecology and natural resources of Azerbaijan Huseyngulu Bagirov.
Discussed was also the importance of elaboration of the national plans
on eco-strategy of EEACC, focused suggestions on realization of tasks,
put forward by the ministerial forum in Kiev and Tbilisi.
It has to be noted that in the EEACC countries, there are functioning
five Regional Ecological Centers (REC) – in Hungary, Russia, Kazakhstan,
Moldova and in the Caucasus, which are to implement sustainable
partnership on realization of EEACC strategy.
5. BENDUKIDZE LASHES OUT AT FORESTRY DEPARTMENT HEAD
Source: The Messenger, November 26, 2004
Minister describes plans for rehabilitating tourist infrastructure and
removing IDPs from hotels
Minister of Economic Development Kakha Bendukidze hit out at the Head of
the Forestry Department Bidzina Giorgobiani over disagreements between
the two regarding the privatization of Georgia’s forests.
Although Mr. Giorgobiani said in an interview with the media that
government members had been able to come to an agreed view regarding
forestry reform at lat week’s government session and that there were no
longer any questions on the issue, Bendukidze told the media on Monday
November 22, 2004 that `it seems Mr. Bidzina has forgotten that he is
working at the government.’
`The government has not yet made any decision with regard to forestry
reform. When Mr. Giorgobiani talks about the `government view’, he means
the view of him and his deputy,’ the minister said.
`The forestry department is a part of government and it is the
government which is responsible for making decisions on this issue,’ the
minister added.
Mr. Bendukidze says that the position of his ministry is to be maximally
careful in creating new state owned enterprise with new functions, such
as looking after the forests.
`As a rule, state owned enterprises are badly managed and a source of
corruption. If we want to create a joint stock or limited company
someone should write a special plan concerning its functions. Creating
some kind corporation does not mean that the problem is solved,’
Bendukidze said.
Also on Monday the minister addressed the issue of the possible transfer
of Trade Union property to the state, property that includes numerous
hotels throughout the country that are currently inhabited by IDPs.
Mr. Bendukidze said, ‘There is no talk of Trade Union property being
transferred to the state. We are saying that there are very many hotels
and sanitariums in the ownership of the Trade Union, where over 11, 000
refuges are living. That is why we agreed to create a special fund that
will be called the Fund for Developing Resorts.’
According to the minister, ‘the National Fund for Developing Resorts
will be charge of management the hotels and sanatoriums, developing the
tourist infrastructure and removing the refugees from these building,’
adding that some of assets under the ownership of the Trade Union will
also be included in the fund.
`The Trade Union expressed the desire to finish rehabilitating some of
these assets and the National Fund will provide funding for the
realizations of their aims,’ he said.
He said that Tkhaltubo and Borjomi regions would be the main
beneficiaries from this process.
`Tskhaltubo as a resort town is `dead’, as over 6000 refugees are living
in the sanatoriums located there. We should do something with regard to
these people. So we are moving to a new mechanism of managing the
property and we have also offered this to the Trade Union,’ said Mr.
Bendukidze.
6. US COMPANY TO SHIP OIL FROM AZERBAIJAN VIA GEORGIAN PORTS
Source: RIA Novosti, November 29, 2004
ExxonMobil subsidiary, Exxon Azerbaijan Ltd., has made a deal with the
Azerbaijanian Azpetrol Holding on shipping part of its oil from Azeri
and Guneshli (Azerbaijan) deposits via Georgian seaports.
Novosti-Georgia reports with reference to a press release of the US
Company that according to the agreement, oil is to be shipped along the
Baku-Batumi (Georgia) railway in the amount of ten million tons during
five years.
Despite being a participant in the project to develop sea oil deposits
Azeri-Chyrag-Guneshli, ExxonMobil at a time did not find it necessary to
become a shareholder in BTC Co. that builds the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline. For this reason, ExxonMobil is considering all possible
options for exporting oil from Azerbaijan, including the northern
(Russian) route of the Baku-Novorossiisk oil pipeline.
Oil pumping through the BTC pipeline will cost $3-odd per barrel on the
average. But these tariffs will only be applicable to the companies that
participated in constructing and financing the oil pipeline as
shareholders of the BTC company. Other companies wishing to transport
their oil through BTC will have to pay more.
Azpetrol Holding shipped over 15 million metric tons of oil and oil
products via the South-Caucasus transport corridor when it began
operating (2001). In 2003 alone, this company transported 4,045,656
metric tons of oil and oil products along the Baku-Batumi route.
7. ILLEGAL VILLAS IN TSAGHKADZOR
Source: , November 24, 2004
Members of Parliament Gagik Tsarukyan and Levon Sargisyan, Head of the
State Customs Department Armen Avetisyan, and Deputy Head of the State
Police Department Armen Yeritsyan have all built houses in the
recreation areas and forest reserves of Tsaghkadzor.
How did these men build their villas? Gagik Tsarukyan, one of the
richest men in Armenia, began illegal construction work in the resort
town of Tsaghkadzor during the 2003 parliamentary elections. Both the
municipal administration and the law enforcement agencies knew about
this, but neither did anything to stop it. At the same time Tsarukyan
was unlawfully building his two houses, he was also campaigning for a
seat in Armenia ‘s legislature.
But now, said the mayor of Tsaghkadzor, Garun Mirzoyan, the buildings
“have been legalized in accordance with Armenia ‘s Law on the
Legalization of Unauthorized Constructions. Some time ago an
unauthorized building was constructed; we legalized the construction,
transferring quite a large amount of money to the state budget. The
territory amounts to 1.4 hectares. Both buildings were legalized in the
name of Gagik Tsarukyan, based on his written applications.”
I asked the mayor if there had been any discussions with community
members, any public hearings conducted prior to the legalization. “There
is no such provisions in this law. What were we supposed to discuss
after the houses had been built?” he answered. “[Tsarukyan] had built
the houses, and appealed to the State Cadastre to legalize the
construction. Naturally, since the State Cadastre didn’t have the
necessary documents it applied to the Mayor’s Office asking us to pass a
decision on legalizing the construction. Thus there was no point in
discussing the matter with the community,” Mayor Mirzoyan explained.
The mayor said Tsarukyan’s buildings had been legalized in mid-2003, at
a price of 2,000 drams per square meter of construction, plus the
cadastre value of the land. “Mr. Tsarukyan paid about 15 million drams,”
he added.
The truth is the Mayor’s Office was in a position to turn down
Tsarukyan’s request, or to oblige him to pull down one or both of the
illegal buildings. But instead, “We found it appropriate and legalized
the construction,” Mayor Mirzoyan told us. The Mayor’s Office did not
risk opposing Gagik Tsarukyan. They say there’s only one man in Armenia
who can – the president of the republic. They also say that Tsarukyan
built one of the houses for a certain senior official. Just who that
official is, time will tell.
“The forests of Tsaghkadzor are situated on steep slopes, 45 degrees
minimum, and are of great value from the perspective of preserving the
land and regulating the flow of water,” Srbuhi Harutiunyan, the chairman
of the Social Ecological Association, explained. “According to the
forest cadastre, these forests have defensive significance. Because of
the construction work in the Tsaghkadzor forests, the integrity of the
forest has been violated, the specific composition has suffered, and the
functions of the land have been impaired.”
“According to municipal zoning, two-thirds of the land in Tsaghkadzor is
for recreational use,” Mirzoyan said. In reality, half of this land is
already occupied by constructions. According to Article 22 of the Land
Code of Armenia, any activity impeding the intended use of recreation
land is forbidden. Construction work in Tsaghkadzor deprives the people
of Armenia of an unspoiled vacation area and damages the forests on the
steep slopes.
The mayor justifies what’s going on by saying that the building is only
taking place in areas that used to accommodate camps. But that’s not
true. Furthermore, talking with the people who live here, I found out
that they had not been informed about the planned changes that would
affect their lives. “In fact, the Kotayk Governor’s office and
Tsaghkadzor Mayor’s office failed to inform the public in advance, as
they are required to do by Articles 13 and 14 of the Law on Town
Planning and by the October 28, 1998 Government Decision # 660,” Srbuhi
Harutiunyan said.
If every parliament member, government member, judges and or prosecutor
decides to build a villa in the forests of Tsaghkadzor, who will stop
them? Unfortunately, no one. The construction work keeps going on.
8. MINISTER SEES ‘NATURAL’ ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN
Source: Radio Free Europe, Czech republic, November 25, 2004
Economic growth in Armenia, which hit a double-digit rate last year,
will slow down in the coming years but will remain strong in relative
terms, Finance and Economy Minister Vartan Khachatrian predicted on
Wednesday.
Khachatrian said the country’s Gross Domestic Product is on course to
expand by up to 11 percent this year and 8 percent in 2005, down from 13
percent reported by the government in 2003. Official figures put GDP
growth in the first nine months of 2004 at 10.3 percent.
“There is a tendency of [growth rate] decrease and that is natural. The
greater the economic base, the slower its further growth,” Khachatrian
told RFE/RL.
“Many countries and organizations hold up Armenia as an example,” he
added. That is especially true for the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund that have praised the country’s macroeconomic performance,
rewarding its government with more multimillion-dollar loans. The World
Bank described that performance as “exemplary” in a statement last week.
The key question arising from the rosy macroeconomic data is their
impact on still low living standards. Many local and foreign economists
believe that the growth has mostly benefited a small number of wealthy
Armenians that continue to routinely evade taxes.
But Khachatrian repeated the government view that the benefits are
beginning to trickle down. “The poorest section of the population may
still not be happy but it does feel change,” he claimed.
According to official statistics made available to RFE/RL in September,
the proportion of Armenians living below the official poverty line fell
from 49.7 percent to 42.9 percent in the course of last year. They also
showed the rate of “extreme poverty” tumbling from 13 percent to 7
percent during the same period.
The credibility of the latter figure, based on household income surveys
by the National Statistical Service, was seriously questioned on
Wednesday by Hranush Kharatian, a prominent sociologists and the head of
a government department on minority affairs. “I think most experts find
this figure extremely suspicious,” she said. “If I’m not mistaken, even
the Finance Ministry has asked for a repeat of that survey.”
Other experts say that the official poverty line is set too low.
—
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CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

PRESS RELEASE
UN Department of Public Information, Yerevan Office
14 K.Liebknekht, Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Contact: Armine Halajyan, UN DPI Information Assistant
Tel.: (374 1) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 1) 561 406
WORLD AIDS DAY IN ARMENIA
Although the name of Armenia has not been mentioned in the recently launched
AIDS Epidemic Update, 2004 but Armenia falls in the geographical region
where rapid growth of the epidemic has been registered. According to this
Report, 2004 – the number of people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and
Central Asia has risen dramatically in just a few years-reaching an
estimated 1.4 million [920 000-2.1 million] at the end of 2004. This is an
increase of more than nine-fold in less than ten years. And most of the
epidemics in this region are still in their early stages-which means that
timely, effective interventions can halt and reverse them.
According to the UNDP report Reversing the Epidemic, Facts and Policy
Options, 2004, only a few years ago it was hoped that Central and Eastern
Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) would avoid the
devastation of AIDS. For at least some countries in this region, these hopes
are set to fail.
HIV has a young face in Armenia. Almost 80 percent of people living with HIV
are from 20-39 years old. In 2001 the first cases of HIV/AIDS among children
were registered.
As of October 2004 296 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported out of which 217
people (77.5%) are male, 63 women (22.5%) and 4 children. However, according
to the National HIV/AIDS Center despite these official figures, other
HIV/AIDS assessments indicate that the real number of people living with
HIV/AIDS in Armenia is closer to 2,800 – 3,000.
Speaking about the mode of transmission – injecting drug use is on the rise
in this part of the world, Armenia included. Before 1999, transmission in
Armenia via sexual contacts exceeded transmission through injecting drug
usage with a ratio of 41:22. However, from 1999 to mid 2004, the ratio
became 58:113. Almost half of the cases of the reported infections now are
of this mode and among young people (52.5%), all of whom are men, the
majority of whom have probably been infected with HIV while temporarily
living in the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. In addition, the majority
of all the male HIV carriers (66.5%) are individuals who practice injecting
drug usage, whereas the main transmission mode for women is heterosexual
contacts (94.4%). And the overall registered cases transmitted by
heterosexual transmission makes 38.9%.
>From the beginning of the epidemic 42 cases of death from HIV/AIDS have been
registered in Armenia, 6 of them in 2003 and 8 in 2004.
The maximum number of HIV carriers was reported in Yerevan(the capital): 137
cases, constitute almost half of all registered cases. Lori Marz (in the
north of the country) is placed second, where the HIV prevalence rate is 8%.
As a response to the situation in the country a Sentinel Epidemiological
Surveillance and Rapid Assessment was conducted in 2000, HIV/AIDS
Situational Analysis and Response Analysis were prepared, on the bases of
which a National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention was approved by the
Government in 2002.
Besides, the Theme Group in Armenia comprising of the Heads of UN Agencies
and a Government Representative supports the National Programme carrying out
a variety of activities to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS among vulnerable
groups and the general population such as advocate and support one
coordination mechanism in the country, increase monitoring and evaluation
capacities and strengthen the potential of the Government, Parliament and
civil society to respond to the challenge of HIV/AIDS.
The press conference devoted to the World AIDS Day was held on 1 December
2004 in UN Conference Hall. World Health Organization has initiated to
organize the World AIDS Day on 1 December 1988. On this day leaders of many
countries all over the world delivered their speeches containing the special
slogans on the radio and TV.
Starting from that day, every year the whole world commemorates 1 December
as a World AIDS Day to draw attention of the wide sectors of population to
the problem of HIV/AIDS, to involve new organizations, groups and
individuals in the implementation of preventive activities. This day is
commemorated by different slogans every year marking crucial issues. The
World AIDS Campaign slogan of this year is “Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS”.
The press conference was opened by Mr. V.Tkatchuk, UN DPI Representative. It
was attended by Mr. Lars Olof Kallings, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary
General on HIV/AIDS for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Mr. N.Davidyan,
Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. L.Grande, UN Resident
Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. R.Ehmer, UNAIDS InterCountry
coordinator for Southern Caucasus, Dr. S.Grigoryan, Director of the National
Centre for AIDS Prevention.
Mr. Lars Olof Kallings, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General on
HIV/AIDS for Eastern Europe and the Central Asia has met with government
officials and people living with HIV during his visit. Dr. S.Grigoryan,
Director of the National Centre for AIDS Prevention presented
epidemiological situation on HIV/AIDS in the world, region and Armenia.
The National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention was approved by the Decision N
316 of 1 April 2002 of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. Starting
from the year of 2003 the National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention has been
implemented with the support of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria. Ms. R.Ehmer, UNAIDS InterCountry coordinator for Southern
Caucasus mentioned that the Government had taken several measures to prevent
the further spread of the epidemic which are supported also by UN Agencies
and other international organizations.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. 562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
29 November 2004
Participation of Armenian theater in Damascus International Festival
of theater art
The 12th Damascus international festival of theatre art is taking
place from November 21 till November 30 in the Syrian Arab
Republic. Armenia’s Arion theatre performed Durenmate’s “Last Waltz,”
with prominent Armenian artists Vladimir Msrian and Anna and Armen
Elbakian on the 25th of November.
Through the initiative of the Armenian embassy in Syria, the theatre
troupe held performances for the Armenian communities in Damascus and
Aleppo. During a press conference held by Armenian artists, local and
international theater experts expressed their high regard for the
Armenian troupe’s performance.

Solidarity hero joins the men trying to organise a peaceful revolution
By Arnold Krushelnycky in Kiev
Belfast Telegraph
Nov 26, 2004
Yuriy Kostenko’ dark Toyota limousine slid along the sometimes steep,
snow-covered streets of the Ukrainian capital. His driver, Volodya,
relegated to the back seat, grumbled.
Mr Kostenko is in a rush these days and often jumps into the driver’s
seat before Volodya can stop him. Mr Kostenko, 50, is leader of
the People’s Party, and one of the closest political allies of the
pro-democracy opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, the man at the
centre of the political storm gripping Ukraine that has even drawn
in that old political warhorse Lech Walesa.
As Mr Yushchenko leading ally, Mr Kostenko’s days have been manic as
he stokes the mood of thousands of protesters. Their camp is preparing
for power and a possible revolution.
Sometimes, Volodya doesn’t even make the back seat of Mr Kostenko’s
limo. Yesterday, his boss left without him. “I know it annoys him a
bit but, right now, driving myself is the only way I have to relax
for a few minutes,” Mr Kostenko said.
He talked in measured tones, sometimes raising his eyebrows and
grinning as his mobile phone brought yet another call. The drive took
him to his office in parliament where he looked through a pile of
faxes and took note of a long list of messages logged by his secretary.
The office is lined with photographs of mountains and climbers. Mr
Kostenko is an accomplished mountaineer, having tackled the Alps,
the Andes and the Caucasus. He is also a potholer and in 1988 he
volunteered to rescue victims of an earthquake that had hit Armenia. He
remembers fondly some of the British rescue teams he met there.
The fitness that climbing demands probably gives him the reserves of
energy to keep going on the less than four hours’ sleep he has had
each night since Saturday.
The next stop was one of the buildings the opposition uses for its
meetings in the old city near one of Europe’s first universities, the
Kiev Mohyla Academy. Here the atmosphere crackled as young volunteers
worked furiously.
Clad in orange sweaters, dresses, hats, boots, ribbons, scarves ­ some
of the women also had orange nails ­ they rushed around, focused but
quick to smile for Mr Kostenko who greeted them all with affection.
Next, he made for a meeting with the Polish Solidarity leader Mr
Walesa, who was in Kiev to lend support. With Mr Yushcehnko and other
close aides, the small group discussed the unfolding drama which Mr
Walesa said he hoped would lead to Ukrainian democracy. He was sped
to Kiev’s main street where he made a pledge of support in front of
a cheering crowd of 200,000.
Moving on, Mr Kostenko fielded calls from all around Ukraine as local
organisers of the opposition movement looked for news. Government-run
television channels and newspapers were saying little about the
political turmoil. Mr Yanukovych himself has said “nothing unusual
is happening”.
The election commission proclaimed Mr Yanukovych the winner on
Wednesday by a slim margin. Mr Kostenko said: “That was ominous
because it meant that they were ready to use violence. Perhaps it
will come to that, but I am still optimistic we can overturn
the results and get true democracy for Ukraine without bloodshed.”
Mr Kostenko, who studied engineering, was a prominent member of
Ukraine’s independence movement in the 1980s. He became a minister
a decade ago in a government run by the outgoing President, Leonid
Kuchma, who nominated Mr Yanukovych as his successor.
He was responsible for talks to rid Ukraine of the nuclear arsenal it
inherited from the Soviet Union and also for getting help in handling
the effects of the Chernobyl reactor explosion. Eventually he could
no longer bear to work for Mr Kuchma; he was one of the few ministers
who resigned rather than being fir ed.
He drove on and smiled as a phone call confirmed that another local
administration had declared it would only recognise Mr Yushchenko
as president.
“You can see that the people, all ages, all walks of life, are with
us,” he said. “Ukraine has been waiting for this moment for a long
time and they are not going to lose the opportunity for real freedom
and real dignity.”
As he got out of the car at one stop a young man, one of the hundreds
of thousands of opposition supporters occupying the centre of Kiev,
ran towards him. He recognised Mr Kostenko and asked him to sign the
Ukrainian flag draped around his shoulders. Mr Kostenko asked his
name and signed the flag, adding “Glory to Ukraine”.
Next stop was at a former union building on Khreschatyk Street,
surrounded by a growing crowd of opposition supporters. The political
council chaired by Mr Yushchenko was meeting, incorporating the
Committee for National Salvation formed on Wednesday. It was held
behind closed doors.
After several hours Mr Yushchenko emerged to reveal: “Ukraine’s
intelligence agency is coming over to our side and the Supreme Court
has cast doubt on the election results.” Then, flanked by Mr Walesa
and Mr Kostenko, he said: “We’re creating a national guard. We’ve
had hundreds of soldiers and militiamen asking who they should report
to. They want Yushchenko as commander-in-chief.”
Soon, officers of the militia came on stage to declare their allegiance
to Mr Yushchenko. The crowd cheered. Afterwards, Mr Kostenko, who is
married with a son, said he needed a break: “I think I can meet my
wife for 15 minutes.”
–Boundary_(ID_7Ah3mv47NPuYIMeAkviEaQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress