Author: Vardanian Garo

ARMENIA BECOMES 64TH MEMBER OF ADB

Kazinform, Kazakhstan
Sept 28 2005

MANILA. September 28. KAZINFORM. Armenia has become the 64th member
of the Asian Development Bank. Armenia’s membership became effective
on 20 September 2005 upon completion of all formalities.

Armenia has subscribed to 10,557 shares of the capital stock. ADB’s
authorized capital stock is 3,509,728 shares equivalent to US$51.6
billion, Kazinform refers to the Bank’s press service.

The Asian Development Bank is dedicated to reducing poverty in the
Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth,
social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is
owned by 64 members, with 46 from the region. In 2004, it approved
loans and technical assistance totaling $5.3 billion and $196.6
million, respectively.

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1) Hundreds Gather at System Of A Down, ANC, AYF Rally Demanding Genocide Vote
2) Austria on EU Collision Course over Turkey Talks
3) Finland’s President Visits Armenia
4) Armenian Conference at Istanbul University in March 2006
5) Armenia Fund Continues Tradition of Thanksgiving Day Telethon
6) US-Armenia Agriculture Heads Discuss Cooperation

1) Hundreds Gather at System Of A Down, ANC, AYF Rally Demanding Genocide Vote

BATAVIA–System Of A Down singer Serj Tankian, leaders of the Armenian
National
Committee (ANC), and the Armenian Youth Federation headed up a rally in front
of Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s district office in Batavia, IL,
urging
the Speaker to `Do the right thing’ and schedule a vote on Armenian Genocide
legislation currently before the House of Representatives.
With the street in front of Hastert’s office blocked off by a police cordon,
hundreds of people of all ages listened to Tankian and John Dolmayan and
Armenian National Committee representatives Aram Hamparian and Greg Bedian
address the crowd, thanking them for their support and urging them to continue
to build momentum for the legislation.
System Of A Down’s four band members–Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo
Odadjian and John Dolmayan–are of Armenian descent and have made awareness of
the Genocide, and genocides around the world, a central message of the band.
All lost family members in the Armenian genocide.
Tankian and Armenian American community representatives passed on to
Hastert’s
aides a letter urging the Speaker to move the legislation forward and
presented
hundreds of letters from community members calling for a vote. In a personal
letter delivered to Speaker Hastert’s office, Tankian stated `My grandfather,
Stepan Haytayan, is a 97 year-old survivor of the genocide. He’s my only link
to this past. I promised him that I would try to reach you and explain how
important American recognition is to the surviving children of the first
genocide of the 20th century.’
Greg Bedian, Chair of the ANC of Illinois, told the crowd, `You’ve taken the
time to stand up for justice about Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide,
the precursor to the Holocaust and many other instances of mass slaughter. The
US government today must set its record straight by reaffirming the fact that
Turkey committed genocide when it exterminated 1.5 million Armenians. America
must send the message to governments around the world that the crime of
genocide will neither be forgotten nor treated with impunity.’
The rally was organized by the popular rock band, along with Axis of Justice,
the Armenian National Committee of America, and the Armenian Youth Federation.
In addition to members of the Armenian-American community of Greater Chicago,
attendees traveled from Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, California, and
Washington, DC to take part in the event. The numbers of Armenian Americans
were buoyed by the participation of throngs of fans of System Of A Down and
supporters of Axis of Justice.
Demonstrators from the Armenian National Committee of Illinois had picketed
Speaker Hastert’s `Mobile Office Tour 2005′ on Wednesday, July 20, demanding
that he honor his five-year-old pledge to move the Armenian Genocide
Resolution
forward in the House of Representatives.
Hastert made the pledge to have the full House vote on Armenian Genocide
legislation in August of 2000, but reneged in October of 2000 citing pressure
from then President Clinton. He also prevented a similar resolution from
reaching the floor in 2004. Staffers committed to provide the Speaker’s
feedback to the constituents very soon regarding the current bill.

2) Austria on EU Collision Course over Turkey Talks

BRUSSELS (EUPolitix/Reuters)–Austria appears to be on a collision course with
its European Union partners over the terms for starting accession talks with
Turkey next week, raising the risk of a last-minute cliffhanger unless Vienna
backs down.
With 80 percent of his electorate opposed to Turkish entry, Chancellor
Wolfgang Schuessel is holding out for a face-saving formula in the EU
negotiating mandate spelling out the prospect of less than full membership,
diplomats said.
`Austria is insisting on an alternative to membership,’ a senior EU diplomat
said. Turkey says it would walk away if the EU mentioned the `privileged
partnership’ sought by Vienna.
The Austrians seem isolated after Cyprus, Greece, and France accepted a deal
last week on the other key issue that had clouded the planned October 3 start
of accession negotiations–Turkey’s refusal to recognize Cyprus.
Unless Vienna backs down at a meeting of ambassadors of the 25-nation bloc on
Thursday, EU president Britain will call an emergency foreign ministers’
session in Luxembourg on Sunday evening to seek agreement, hours before
Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is due to arrive and start the negotiations.
`We could end up with Gul sitting with his suitcase at Ankara Airport waiting
for word on the final language of the negotiating mandate. That would be very
humiliating for the Turks and get the talks off to the worst possible start,’
another EU diplomat said.
Turkey has insisted that it will walk away from any negotiations proposing
privileged partnership.
Turkish foreign minister Ali Babacan, said Europe must not move the goal
posts
at the last minute.
European Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn has dismissed the privileged
partnership option, insisting that talks must aim for full membership.
`Whatever that [privileged partnership] could mean I’m willing to listen, but
I have not yet heard very convincing answers,’ he said.
Complicating matters, Austria has informally linked its acceptance of the
start of Turkey talks to the start of negotiations with Croatia.
Speaking earlier this month, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said,
`I would find it grotesque if we begin negotiations with Turkey and leave
Croatia outside the door to starve.’
Austria’s stance reflects growing public opposition in much of Western Europe
to admitting the vast, poor, overwhelmingly Muslim country on the edge of
Europe and the Middle East.

3) Finland’s President Visits Armenia

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Finland’s President Tarja Halonen ended a two-day
official visit to Yerevan on Tuesday, pledging support for Armenia’s
efforts to
forge closer links with the European Union and stressing the importance of its
democratization.
`We have discussed how Finland can help Armenia within the framework of the
European Neighborhood Policy,’ she said after talks with President Robert
Kocharian.
`I am happy to see that Armenia has a serious approach to European
integration
and think my counterpart too realizes that it creates many opportunities for
his country but requires a great deal of efforts.’
Halonen was referring to Armenia’s inclusion last year in the program
designed
to promote privileged partnership between the EU countries and their immediate
neighbors. Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Markarian expressed hope that
Finland will help Armenia benefit from the scheme and contribute to its
broader
European integration when it assumes the EU’s rotating presidency next year.
Halonen also visited the genocide memorial to 1.5 million Armenians killed by
the government of Turkey in 1915-1923, and planted a tree in their memory.
Halonen’s visit is the first by a Finnish head of state to Caucuses Region
since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and marks the first time a
woman
president visits Armenia.

4) Armenian Conference at Istanbul University in March 2006

ISTANBUL–Istanbul University (IU) sources revealed on Tuesday that yet
another
conference dealing with the Armenian genocide is scheduled to take place in
Turkey, in March 2006.
After two cancellations, an unprecedented conference on the genocide of
Armenians was held last Saturday at Istanbul’s Bilgi University.
Last May, Turkey’s justice minister said the conference was a `stab in the
Turkish nation’s back,’ prompting it to be postponed, and tapping into
hard-line elements.
It was again cancelled after a Turkish court ruling banning the meeting,
following complaints by nationalists.
The IU Rector’s office said the upcoming conference would be held at IU, with
`wide international participation and on basis of international criteria.’
`The participants, including lawyers, scholars and politicians, of countries
who have adopted resolutions accepting and remembering the so-called Armenian
genocide will be invited,’ stated a press release.
Istanbul University said the `matter’ would be studied not only historically
and objectively, but also from legal, political and sociological
perspectives.

5) Armenia Fund Continues Tradition of Thanksgiving Day Telethon

NEW YORKA yearly tradition returns on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, when
Armenia Fund Telethon 2005 will be broadcast to raise funds for `Rebirth of
Artsakh,’ a three-year, three-phase major regional development program for
Mountainous Karabagh Republic.
Since 1996, when the Telethon was first organized, millions of dollars have
been raised to implement vital projects that have affected thousands of lives.
The `Rebirth of Artsakh’ regional development program includeds the building
of schools, houses, clinics, and access roads, as well as drinking water
programs and agricultural initiatives for three major regions of Mountainous
Karabagh.
Armenia Fund USA will spearhead the Agricultural Initiative component of the
Program, aimed at providing long term sustainable economic development for the
region. This year’s Telethon will raise funds for the Mardakert agricultural
initiative, which requires $2.5 million to assist 20,000 inhabitants.
Plans are to establish six Agricultural Development Associations in order to
help transition groups of subsistence farmers to becoming field crop, swine,
and cattle production units.
Armenia Fund is the US affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, and is a
non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization; the Fund represents
all Armenian constituents.

6) US-Armenia Agriculture Heads Discuss Cooperation

WASHINGTON, DC–Armenia’s agricultural minister David Lokian met with US
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johans, in Washington on Monday, to review
US-Armenia collaboration in the sector. In order to expand ties and establish
joint projects, they discussed introduction of state-of-the technology to
ensure food safety in Armenia. The US Department of Agriculture has expressed
readiness to assist Armenia, including technical assistance to train
specialists.
Minister Lokian is in the US for a meeting of the US-Armenia Task Force that
meets every 6 months to review the progress and objectives of US assistance to
Armenia. The bilateral commission was established in 2000.
Senior US officials from the State Department, Agriculture, Finance and Trade
departments, as well as USAID and Millennium Challenge Account program,
attended a reception at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC, for Task Force
members.

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WILL THE RAILWAY BE RE-EXPLOITED?

A1+
| 19:17:32 | 26-09-2005 | Economy |

On September 21-22 the Armenian delegation with Gagik Minasyan at the
head participated in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary
Assembly in the Moldavian capital Kishinev.

In the 25th session of social, economic, technological and
ecological issues where the report about the development of regional
sub-structures has been discussed, the Armenian side has adopted
4 offers.

The Armenian managed to convince the participants of the BSEC
Parliamentary Assembly that the construction of the railway which goes
round Armenia is much more expensive that the re-exploiting of the
existing railway Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi-Baku. “Thus all the 4 countries
of the region will solve the problem of economic integration providing
economic stability”, the Armenian delegates said.

Let us remind you that the offered project costs $400 million. With
the re-exploiting of the railway the volume of freight transportation
will increase considerably.

All the 8 members of BSEC were for the re-exploitation of the
existing railway, including Turkey. According to Gagik Minasyan,
in the convention which was adopted in Kishinev the offer of the
Armenian side has been included, and the issue of adoption of the
convention will be discuss in the BSEC plenary session in Tirana on
November 22 where Armenia will preside over the session.

ACTING TO END GENOCIDE
By Scott Warren, Brown Daily Herald; SOURCE: Brown U.

Brown Daily Herald via U-Wire
University Wire
September 21, 2005 Wednesday

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Four hundred thousand are dead. Five hundred more are dying every
day. This is the current situation in Darfur, Sudan, where a
government-sponsored genocide has decimated the population.

Government planes destroy villages, militias rape women and upwards of
3 million people have lost their homes. The international community, in
a virtual repetition of its behavior during previous ethnic cleansing
campaigns in Rwanda, Cambodia and Armenia, stands idly to the side.

Just one week ago at the United Nations, President Bush said that
Americans have a responsibility to “protect the lives and rights of
others … and ensure that every human being enjoys the peace and
freedom and the dignity our creator intended for all.” These bold and
powerful words ring hollow when it comes to the innocent Darfurians.

Although the United States has given much humanitarian assistance to
Darfur, our efforts end after reaching into our pockets. We have not
taken a hard stance with the Sudanese government, constantly condemning
but never threatening more drastic action. One reason for this is
that the United States considers Sudan an important ally in the war
against terrorism, and shies away from losing potential intelligence.

Yet many Americans do not even know that a genocide is occurring.

While many Brown students, know about the crisis, the outside world
remains largely oblivious. Much of this is due to our distracted
mainstream media. According to a TVEyes report, in June of 2005,
CBS dedicated 38 segments to the infamous “Runaway Bride,” 614 to
Michael Jackson’s intriguing case, 321 to Tom Cruise’s blossoming
love life and absolutely none to Sudan. Apparently, 400,000 deaths
do not merit even a few seconds of public attention.

The majority of Americans, according to a recent poll sponsored by
the International Crisis Group, believe that more action must be
taken to stop the genocide. However, others argue that African states
seem to always have similar problems, and that we should focus on
domestic isssues and avoid becoming the world’s policeman. While I
agree that Katrina-devastated areas must remain our number — one
priority, we cannot forget the people in Darfur. The fact is, every
human life matters. Every life — American, Russian, or Sudanese —
is equal. That genocide is occurring in a country which holds little
strategic importance to the United States does not mean we should
ignore the killings. As citizens of an increasingly global world, we
need to ensure that all people are treated humanely and with respect,
without regards to where they hail from.

Many people feel overwhelmed when hearing about the genocide. They
criticize the government for not taking action but do not do anything
themselves. Today is the National Day of Action for Darfur. Religious
leaders from across the country are congregating in our nation’s
capitol to voice their concerns regarding the genocide to political
leaders.

We, as college students, need to do the same. We need to call
our congressional offices and voice our opinions. We need to call
President Bush’s office and demand more action be taken. We need
to urge our campus leaders to condemn the genocide and ensure that
our University is divested from all companies complicit with the
conspirators of genocide.

Today, a table will be set up on the Main Green allowing you to do
all this. Sunday, an action and brainstorming meeting to kick off
a semester of activism to stop the genocide will take place. Don’t
stand idly to the side as innocent civilians perish. As hundreds die
every day, we cannot follow our President’s example by throwing up
words without following through. We must act, and we must act now.

Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake.

(C) 2005 Brown Daily Herald via U-WIRE

OSCE, PACE SHOULD COOPERATE IN GARABAGH CONFLICT RESOLUTION – RUSSIAN CO-CHAIR

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2005

The OSCE Minsk Group mediating settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper Garabagh conflict and the special committee of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) may cooperate on a number
of issues, the MG Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said.

He was commenting on the hearings on the Garabagh conflict held in
Paris within the PACE committee last week.

“The OSCE MG co-chairs are mediating the talks and presenting
proposals, while PACE may contribute to mobilizing public opinion in
the two countries to achieve the compromise needed for the conflict
resolution. It may also be actively involved in ensuring implementation
of commitments that the sides assumed upon admission to the Council
of Europe, with a pivotal obligation being the peaceful settlement
of the Garabagh conflict.”

Merzlyakov stated that CE and PACE may take up ‘control over
every ceasefire violation and influence the sides to honor their
commitments’.

“The belligerent statements that sound every now then and calls for
settling the conflict with the use of force certainly do not promote
conflict resolution…We are ready to share our credentials with PACE
to ensure such statements are not made any longer.”

Merzlyakov said the mediators are concerned over the growing military
budgets of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which ‘may affect the process of
implementing their commitments on the peace conflict settlement’.

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 23 2005

SHOT FIRED FROM AZERBAIJANI SIDE IN DIRECTION OF OBSERVATION MISSION
OF CONTACT LINE OF NKR AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The OSCE mission held a plan
observation of the contact line of the Armed Forces of Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan near the settlement of Gharakhanbeyli, Fizulu
region, on September 20.

Just at the beginning of the observation, a shot was fired from the
Azerbaijani side in the direction of the observation mission. The
shot was fixed by the OSCE representatives. The observation was
stopped for security reasons by an instruction of Andrej Kasprczik,
the head of the observation from the Azerbaijani side, the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NKR Foreing Ministry’s Information
and Analytical Department, Leautenant-Colonel Imre Palatinus
(Hungary), the Office Coordinator of the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Peter Kea (Great Britain) and Harry
Eronen (Finland) Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Colonel Andrey Korotkov (Russia), a
representative of the OSCE high level planning group were in the
group implementing observation from positions of the NKR Defence
Army.

>From the Karabakh side the observation mission was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Defence Ministry and the NKR Foreign
Affairs Ministry.

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Sept 23 2005

Armenia negotiating purchase of Iran-140 aircraft

TEHRAN, Sept. 23 (MNA) – Iran Aircraft Mfg. Company (HESA) is
negotiating with Armenia over the sale of 3 Iran-140 turboprop
aircrafts, executive director of HESA Abbas Fallah announced on
Thursday. However, there has been no actual demand or solid proposal
for purchase of this plane by domestic airlines due to their more
conventional view of employing jet planes and the prestige that is
associated with it, he added.

It seems that Iranian airliners prefer to buy or lease even used jets
for awhile in order to move more passengers from point A to B, while
Iran-140 offers certain advantages that compensates for the larger
capacity of jet planes and presents the buyers with more
profitability in the long run. For example, although due to its
technical specifications, the travel time takes longer with Iran-140
but, passenger boarding time is 7 minutes shorter than with the
larger jets. So, overall, a given trip requires less time by this
turboprop.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Fallah indicated that the production
capacity of Iran-140 is projected to be 32 to 40 planes by the end of
the 4th Socio-economic and Cultural Development Plan if adequate
market support is offered.

As to the criticisms set forth on having such a plane in Iranian
fleet, he maintained that the turboprop consumes 500 to 600 kgs of
fuel per hour compared to 2.2 tons of Fokker 100’s consumption. In
other words, this is 2 times more hourly fuel consumption per
passenger for the 100. Moreover, the 140 is designed for the
country’s wide ranges of climates and the tests performed testify to
this matter. For instance, most planes have landing and take-off
problems at Khorramabad Airport, whereas despite some limitations
140, like any other plane, performs the tasks with ease and
competence.

He also stated that the contract to sell 3 Iran-140s at the cost of
$27m to Sudan will soon be going into effect and HESA would be also
receiving $3m to offer necessary services and support for maintenance
and personnel training for a year.

A1+

| 19:38:01 | 22-09-2005 | Official |

GOVERNMENT – NA

98 million 715 thousand AMD was allocated to the National Assembly. The
funds will be spent on the organization of events dedicated to the 15-th
anniversary of the parliament of the Third Republic of Armenia (60 million
166 thousand) and the conduction of Rose Roth NATO PA seminar(32million 549
thousand).

COMBATING SMOKING

On Thursday the Armenian government approved the state program anti-smoking
for 2005-2009. The program includes measures targeted at eliminating the
pernicious habit among the population.

ARKA News Agency
Sept 22 2005

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN 49TH IAEA CONFERENCE

YEREVAN, September 22. /ARKA/. An Armenian delegation is to take part
in the 49th conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, on September 26-30, 2005. The delegation
is to be headed by RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan. The
delegation will include RA Ambassador to Austria Jivan Tabibyan,
Advisor to the Armament Control and International Security
Department, RA Foreign Office, Varduhi Asaturyan, Chairman of the RA
Atomic Energy Inspection Ashot Martirosyan and Chief Engineer of the
Armenian nuclear-power plant (NPP) Movses Vardanyan.
At the conference, Arman Kirakosyan is to deliver a report on global
problems, including the possibilities of atomic energy development.
Armenia intends to continue developing atomic energy and to construct
a new nuclear-power plant, assuming nonproliferation commitments. The
report will contain information on inspections conducted at the
Armenian NPPby various organizations to raise its safety level. P.T.
-0–

Pan Armenian News

GHUKASIAN: NKR NOT TO ABANDON INDEPENDENCE

21.09.2005 05:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «Nagorno Karabakh will never abandon its independence. We
knew it would be a long and hard process and had to go through it», Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian stated today when visiting the memorial
complex of Yerablur. In his words, Nagorno Karabakh is interested in the
soonest settlement of the conflict but it does not depend on the Karabakh
party only. Arkady Ghukasian said he is convinced that «Artsakh will achieve
its goals.»