Author: Tvankchian Parkev

Armenpress

FIRST-EVER GREEK-ARMENIAN MEDICAL CONFERENCE STARTS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS: Sixty Greek and 30 Armenian doctors, heads
of hospitals and medical researchers are participating in a three-day
first-ever Greek-Armenian medical conference that launched on June 9 in
Yerevan Congress Hotel. The conference is part of a series of International
Medical Conferences and the third one that is focused on health and care
problems of so-called third and forth age people. The previous two were held
in Rome, Italy and Odessa, Ukraine.
Titled as Peculiarities, Necessities and Obligations in the Care of
Elderly People, the conference was welcomed by Armenian education and
science minister Sergo Yeritsian, Armenian deputy health minister Tatul
Hakobian and the ambassador of Greece to Armenia, Mr. Antonios Vlavianos.
The Greek embassy in Yerevan told Armenpress the conference is organized
by Yerevan State Medical University, the European Center for the Quality of
Life, the Greek-Italian Forum for the Health Promotion under the auspices of
the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek Ministry of Health and
Welfare.

ENDANGERED SPECIES OF TRITON IS DISCOVERED IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 8. ARMINFO. An isolated population of tritons (Triturus
vittatus) has been discovered in Armenia outside their traditional
habitat, Head of Hydrobiology Department of the Institute of
Hydroecology and Ichthyology of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences
Evelina Ghoukassyan says in an interview to ARMINFO.

She says that the prehistoric triton lives in fresh reservoirs near
town Shamlukh, Lori region. Besides, when biologists asked the
Ministry for Nature Protection to do something to protect the triton
they were threatened against advertising the discovery. Goukassyan
says that the Ministry’s argument was that should local residents
happen to know about the rarity of this species they will start
catching it without any control. Some sources say that the triton is
not only well known in Armenia but is actively smuggled to United Arab
Emirates where local residents are ready to pay big money for exotic
species.

The herpentologist of Zoology Institute of the National Academy of
Science of Armenia Aram Agasyan says that the triton was first
registered in Armenia in 1937. In 1985, 1992 and 2002 scientists asked
the Armenian authorities to recognize the triton as an endangered
species but the latter failed to mention the amphibian in Armenia’s
Red Book edition of 1988. If ever published the new edition will
certainly mention the triton, says Agassyan.

The triton belongs to the order of salamanders. During the period of
coupling male tritons acquire very bright coloring – an attraction for
collectioners.

Turkish Press
June 7 2005

Press Review

MILLIYET

ANKARA UNIVERSITY PLANS CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS

After a conference at Istanbul’s Bogazici University to debate and
question Turkey’s official stance on the so-called Armenian genocide
allegations was canceled last month, Ankara University has stepped
into the breach. Ankara University Rector Nusret Aras said that the
university would organize a conference entitled `The Historical and
Political Situation in the Armenian Incidents.’ Aras said, `We see
this as our task. We will invite people holding divergent opinions.’
Stating that the conference participants have not been determined
yet, Aras added, `Ankara University is qualified to examine
historical issues. As our university can bring together qualified
people, I hope we can give some resolution to this complex issue.’
/Milliyet/

Macedonian Press Agency, Greece
June 8 2005

ARMENIAN INVITATION TO GREEK INVESTORS
Yerevan, 8 June 2005 (14:34 UTC+2)

Armenia is ready to welcome even more Greek and other foreign
investors, offering a wide spectrum of incentives, according to a
statement made to MPA by Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Movik
Abrahamyan.

He also underlined that Turkey must reopen the borders without
preconditions to facilitate the transportation of goods.

Armenian President Kocharyan personally oversees the whole process
confirmed Mr. Abrahamian.

Specifically, on the occasion of the events held within the framework
of the Business Conference held in Yerevan by the Black Sea Trade and
Development Bank, Mr. Abrahamyan stressed to MPA that Armenia is
ready to welcome and embrace the Greek investors.

Mr. Abrahamyan also stated that Armenia offers to investors a very
liberal taxation framework while there is a special approach,
offering significant incentives, for major investments. He added that
Armenian President Kocharyan personally oversees the whole process
while senior officials of the Armenian government have regular
meetings with foreign investors to deal immediately with any obstacle
to the investment activity.

Mr. Abrahamyan confirmed that Armenia is in a process of constant
adjustment and improvement of its legislation based on international
dictates and in cooperation with the responsible EU bodies. He added
that the country’s geographic position, the rich natural resources,
the constant development of infrastructure and cheap labor, are
key-factors for the entry of more foreign investors in the Armenian
market. He also gave an emphasis on the issue of transparency in
transactions, stressing that state agencies are well aware that
strict sanctions will be imposed in case of irregularities.

ARMENIA MUST ACTIVELY BE INVOLVED IN ALL REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, AMERICAN SENATOR EMPHASIZES

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Artur Baghdasarian, the Chairman of the
RA National Assembly spoke about democratic, legislative reforms in
Armenia, struggle against the corruption, Armenia’s positions in the
regional issues and relations with neighbors at the June 1 meeting
with Norm Coleman, the US Senator. The Parliament Chairman emphasized
that the US assistance is important for those processes’ success, and
thanked for the moral and about 1.5 bln dollars financial assistance
showed during the years of independence. According to the information
submitted to Noyan Tapan from the NA Public Relations Department, Norm
Coleman expressed readiness to assist the interparliamentary ties with
the US Senate and establishment of real democracy in Armenia attaching
importance to reforms and the courage and succession of fulfilling
those reforms during that period. The Senator mentioned the important
role of the Armenian Diaspora in the processes of making audible
the Armenians’ voice for the US authorities. In his opinion, Armenia
must be actively involved in all regional developments. Fulfilling
its reforms with success, Armenia will inspire the world community
with hope and confidence, as a result strengthening its political and
economic positions. And in these processes, in the Senator’s opinion,
the role of the Parliament, as a structure creating legislative basis
for the reforms is very important.

VENICE COMMISSION’S SECRETARY FULL OF HOPE THAT IN OCTOBER ARMENIA TO HAVE COSTITUTION AFFIRMED BY WHOLE POPULATION

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. “I am full of hope that this October
Armenia will have a Constitution which will be adopted by the whole
population of the country including the opposition,” Gianni Buquicchio,
the Venice Commission’s Secretary stated at the RA National Assembly
on June 2. According to him, certainly, a good Constitution must be
in keeping to the international standards but taking into account
national peculiarities as well. In this region of Europe, and not only
in Armenia, there are serious problems in the sense of democratizing
the mentality, he mentioned. G.Buquicchio expressed his satisfaction
with “the meeting held in sincere and constructive atmosphere”
with Tigran Torosian, the Head of the PACE Armenian delegation, the
Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee for the European Integration Issues,
the RA NA Deputy Chairman, and with representatives of the political
coalition, authors of the draft constitutional amendments adopted in
the first reading at the National Assembly. He also mentioned that he
expects mutual understanding concerning the Venice Commission experts’
proposals. Experts’ reservations relate to three main points: balance
of power’s branches: independent from president’s, semi-president’s,
parliamentary governance structure’s election, independence of the
judicial power and improvement of the local self-governance system,
particularly, adoption of the electoral principal of Mayor’s post. If,
however, the Armenian party does not accept the experts’ proposals,
the Commission will make a corresponding statement. Buquicchio informed
that, in the press information spreaded by the Commission these days,
it was particularly mentioned that the Commission has cooperated with
Armenia since 2000 but the results can not be considered as giving
hope yet. According to the Commission’s Secretary, the Commission
has no mechanisms of using sanctions, the levers are only moral. But
the Commission’s statements are already taken into account by such
political bodies of parliamentary assemblies, within the framework
of the OSCE, the EU and “New Neighbourhood” program. “That’s why it
is very important that Armenia’s Constitution first of all satisfy
the population of the country, the second, the European partners,”
he emphasized. According to the Commission’s Secretary, they are
ready for a frank cooperation and cherish great hopes that, finally,
all political parties of Armenia will participate in the process and
will approve the draft constitutional amendments.

Turkish PM denies university bullied into cancelling conference on Armenians

Yeni Safak website, Istanbul
4 Jun 05

Excerpt from interview with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
published by Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak website on 4 June

[Passage omitted]

[Question] The draft law [on the new penal code] does not refer to
slander only. There is a provision about basic national interests. For
example national interests could include issues such as the withdrawal
of troops from Cyprus and the Armenian genocide.

[Erdogan] The law has its own language. I am not a lawyer. I do not
know what is said in the reasoning for basic national interests but
I do not agree with that example. No judge could evaluate the matter
that way.

On the Armenian genocide issue I do not think that it could be
discussed as something pertaining to the state. I ask you then: Why
did the organizers of this symposium [Istanbul’s Bosphorus University
conference on Armenians in the Ottoman Empire] change their minds?

[Question] The justice minister’s remarks intimidated the president
of Bosphorus University.

[Erdogan] Was it absolutely necessary to hold the conference
there? Hold it somewhere else. Are Mr [Justice Minister Cemil]
Cicek’s remarks the law of this land? Mr Cicek expressed his own views.

[Question] When the minister of justice calls the organizers
“traitors”, then the university president would naturally be
intimidated.

[Erdogan] If activities in this country could be stopped with such
remarks then many things would not get done. Whoever the organizing
committee was, not the lady president – it could have been held in
another hall. We did this ourselves for many years. When they banned
us we held our meetings in another hall.

[Question] There were charges that this incident marred academic
freedom.

[Erdogan] This is the information I have. Sabanci, Bilgi and
Bosphorus universities are participants and part of the organizing
committee. This is the legal dimension of this matter. If a problem
surfaced and the lady was apprehensive or troubled, then the committee
should or could have held the meeting at another location. There is
not much sense in postponing it to one and a half months later. I was
overseas when this incident occurred. When they asked me about it I
said that this was the personal view of the minister of justice. It
is not the view of either our government or the state. Our laws and
everything is clear on this issue. The EU process is clear. First of
all it is wrong to talk about something that has not been done. We
do not know in advance who will say what there. Anyone can come out
and say positive or negative things. I think that it would be more
appropriate if Mr Cicek commented on those things afterwards. Later
I said this to the minister of justice.

JadranSport.org, Serbia and Montenegro
June 5 2005

WC 2006 qualifier Armenia vs. FYR Macedonia 1:2 Report: Lazio’s
striker Pandev scores a double for Macedonian victory
04.06.2005
by Damir Jovanovic

Serbian coach Slobodan Santrac (Slobodan Santraè) had a reason or
two to cheer this evening as his team FYR Macedonia scored twice and
held off Armenian attacks throughout the 90 minutes in Yerevan by
what they finished the match with a 2:1 score in their favor.

The scorer of both goals for Macedonians was 21 year old Lazio’s
forward Goran Pandev who first given his team advantage in 29th minute
from the penalty spot and then just one minute after the interval
the lad who was considered the biggest talent of this Balkan country
football made a run through the Armenian defense taking advantage
of Sargis Hovsepyan’s error and successfully delivered the ball past
the home side goalkeeper.

In 54th minute Armenia succeeded to pull one back through Edgar
Manucharyan but they weren’t able to find a way to sign in an equalizer
in the remaining part of the game.

Macedonia is now 6th in Group 1 with 8 points but probably with no
chance to go up on the ladder as most of the top teams in the group
have one or two matches played less than them. Netherlands currently
holds the leader’s place, Czech Republic is second, Romania third
and Finland is fourth. Armenia has four points less than Macedonia
and so does Andorra.

Armenia – FYR Macedonia 1:2 Goals: Manucharyan 54′ – Pandev 29′
penalty, 46′.

Line ups

Armenia: Berezovsky, Dokhoyan, Hovsepyan, Khachatryan, Tadevosyan,
Lazarian, Aleksanyan (from 76′ Jenebyan), Sarkisyan (from 51′
Manucharyan), Mkhitaryan, Shahgeldyan, Voskanyan (from 67′ Hakobyan).

Macedonia: Madzovski, Lazarevski, Petrov, Sedloski, Vasoski, Popov
(from 57′ Krstev), Mitreski, Sumulikoski (from 83′ Kralevski), Maznov
(from 66′ Ismaili), Pandev, Grozdanovski. Bookings: Popov Mitreski
(FYR Macedonia). Referee: Tomasz Mikulski from Poland.

–Boundary_(ID_43Qko8+/MA+MyEWdT9NG6A)–

Russia Downplays Baku’s Concern over Relocation of Part of Arms from Georgia to Armenia

Civil Georgia, Georgia
June 4 2005

Russia’s permanent representative at the OSCE Alexei Borodavkin said
while addressing the organization’s Permanent Council in Vienna
on June 3, that Azerbaijan should be not concerned over Russia’s
decision to redeploy part of its military hardware from bases in
Georgia to Armenia.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s information note issued
on June 3, Ambassador Borodavkin informed the OSCE Permanent Council
about the joint declaration signed by Russian and Georgian Foreign
Ministers on May 30, in which Russia pledges to pull out its military
bases from Georgia in the course of 2008.

“Russian armaments which will be redeployed from Georgia to Armenia
will not exceed the norms set by the Adapted Conventional Armed Forces
in Europe (CFE) Treaty.”

“This armament and military hardware will be under permanent and full
control of Russia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry quotes Borodavkin
as saying.

EU COUNTRIES SATISFIES WITH REFORMS IN AZERBAIJAN
[June 04, 2005, 15:22:56]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 4 2005

Vice speaker of the Milli Majlis Mrs. Govhar Bakhshaliyeva received
delegation of the Slovenian Parliament led by the National Party
leader Zmago Jelinic, reported the parliament press service.

Mrs Bakhshaliyeva expressed the great significance attached by
Azerbaijan to the relations with EU and its Neighborhood policy and
emphasized the recently signed Executive Order of the Azerbaijan
President Ilham Aliyev on establishing a commission for integration
into Europe Union. In his opinion, commissioning of the Heydar Aliyev
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline will be new impulse for this
integration process.

The Azerbaijani parliament’s vice-speaker has also informed the guest
about economic, social and legal reforms in the country, noted that
more rapidly development of Azerbaijan and all region has stumbled
on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh that has
brought to humanitarian catastrophe with over 1 mln. refugees and
IDPs in Azerbaijan. In his opinion, as the OSCE chairman Slovenia
will contribute to peace process.

Mr. Zmago Jelinic said they visiting Azerbaijan on the invitation
of the Association for support of development of civil society
in Azerbaijan. As he noted, in some European countries has been
disseminating untruth information about Azerbaijan. For example,
delegation from Switzerland recently has prepared improbable report on
Azerbaijan. As the European parliament’s member I must say that we are
always attaches a great importance to learn a truth about Azerbaijan
and disseminate it in the European countries, said the guest.