Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

EP REPORTEDLY TO FORM PANEL TO MONITOR PAMUK TRIAL IN TURKEY
Southeast European Times, MD
Sept 8 2005
STRASBOURG, France — The European Parliament (EP) plans to form
a special panel to monitor the upcoming trial of Turkish novelist
Orhan Pamuk. Turkish media reported on Wednesday (7 September) that
the panel would observe the pace of the trial, due to begin on 16
December, and submit a report to the EP. Pamuk has been charged with
“publicly denigrating Turkish identity” in comments he made about
the 1915 mass killings of Armenians. He faces up to three years in
prison if convicted.
In other news Wednesday, 13 people were killed when the bus they were
riding in burst into flames after an accident on a highway in Ankara.
The vehicle’s back door reportedly was blocked by luggage. Survivors
suffered severe burns.

CZECH REP. VS. ARMENIA
AsianHandicap.com, UK
Sept 6 2005
Match League Date
Czech Rep. v Armenia WC 2006 QL Europe 7.9.2005
Home Handicap Away Pick
1,950 0:2 1/2 1,750 HOME
World Cup 06 UEFA Qualifiers Group 1
Tables of Group 1:
1. Netherlands,…..9, 8W, 1D, 0L, 21-3, (25).
2. Romania,………..11, 7W, 1D, 3L, 19-10,
(22). 3. Czech,……………9, 7W, 0D, 2L, 28-9,
(21). 4. Finland,………….9, 4W, 1D, 4L, 16-14,
(13). 5. Macedonia,…….10, 2W, 2D, 6L, 10-19,
(8). 6. Andorra,…………10, 1W, 2D, 7L, 4-27, (5).
7. Armenia,………..10, 1W, 1D, 8L, 5-21, (4).
I saw Fonbet has been offering the interesting prices for this match.
Initially fonbet gave the mad prices Czechia -2.5 @ 1.75, but they
changed swiftly become -3 @ 1.95, and I think that is good price.
Armenia is worst team in this group. On last weekend they succeed
only concede one goal when against Holland. But on this midweek they
have to traveling to Praha, Czechia… and with -3 handicaps I feel
underweight to be passed by Czechia.
After lost 0-2 when traveled to Rumania on last weekend, Czechia team
reside in the third position with 21 points but still has 3 matches
remain. After facing Armenia, they have to experience big contention
against Holland on 08/10, so that victory conclusively have to be
obtained from Armenia to protect the second positions and add the
pressure to Holland before they meeting, or at least to pursue one
of two tickets as best runner up.
Armenia had bad record in away games, always lost (3-0 vs Macedonia;
3-1 vs Finland; 2-0 vs Holland; 3-0 vs Romania). While Czechia
always got the impressive pickings when they played at home, with
records always win (1-0 vs Romania; 4-3 vs Finland; 8-1 vs Andorra;
6-1 vs Macedonia).
I have a notion Czechia -3.25 or – 3.5 are fair handicaps for this
match (Pinnacle has offered Czechia -3.25 @ 1.92), thereby -3 handicap
which the marketed by Fonbet is a safe bet. Take it with medium stakes
before changing…!!!
Good luck and always smile for win or loss…..!!!!!

OSCE ACTING CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN MINISTER OF SLOVENIA DIMITRIJ RUPEL MEETS SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2005
OSCE Acting Chairman, Foreign Minister of Slovenia Dimitrij Rupel
received Chairman of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan Parliament) of the
Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz Alaskarov, September 5.
Touching upon the history of Azerbaijan-Slovenia relations, Speaker
of Azerbaijan Parliament said a group of friendship with Slovenia
was set up at the Milli Majlis. The forthcoming November elections
to the Azerbaijan Parliament will pass in free, transparent and
democratic atmosphere, Mr. Alaskarov underlined. He informed on
the Executive Order of Azerbaijan President on improvement of the
election practice, the Election Code, registration of more than 2000
candidates to election. We believe that the international observers
will be objective on the results of the elections, he stressed.
Then, Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament updated the guest on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and its sequences. He
also reminded the UN Resolutions, the decision of the Council of
Europe and expressed hope that the OSCE would increase its efforts
for settlement of this problem in peace way and in the frame of
international legal principles.
Expressing gratitude for provided information, Mr. Dimitrij Rupel
stated he was pleased of the meetings and information he received.
The major aspect is democracy and transparency in the elections,
but not who will win, he emphasized.
As to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr. Rupel
said OSCE regards the problem attentively and makes every possible
effort to quickly resolve the conflict.
In the meeting, also exchanged were views on other questions of
mutual interest.

NEW WORLD MORTGAGE HOSTS ARMENIAN BANK OFFICIALS
PR Leap (press release), CA
Sept 3 2005
(PRLEAP.COM) New World Mortgage, Inc. recently hosted a delegation of
11 of the highest ranking officials from the Central Bank of Armenia.
Part of a US State Department delegation, the group was at New World
Mortgage to learn how to improve the fledgling Armenian mortgage
industry.
“Armenian has only been around in its present form since the break
up of the Soviet Union, so their financial industry is not well
developed,” says New World Mortgage President Christian Werner. “They
had questions about the mortgage process, private mortgage insurance
and about customer service.”
New World Mortgage, Inc. is the full service mortgage brokerage whose
mission is to be a consumer’s financial advocate, not just a one-time
lender. The Charlotte Business Journal reports that in 2003 New World
Mortgage closed more loans than any other mortgage brokerage in the
Charlotte metro.
The company, which does business in the Carolinas, Ohio, Colorado and
Missouri, is located on the web at , and can be
reached by telephone at 704-549-4600.

Azerbaijan condemns Armenian leader’s visit to breakaway region
ANS TV, Baku
2 Sep 05
[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today attended
festivities in Susa [a town in Karabakh populated mainly by Azeris
until 1992] and Xankandi [Stepanakert] organized by the Armenian
community of Nagornyy Karabakh and devoted to the 14th anniversary
of independence from Azerbaijan.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
[Correspondent over video of Bahmanov] The head of the Azerbaijani
community of Nagornyy Karabakh, Nizami Bahmanov, has said that
[Karabakh separatist leader] Arkadiy Gukasyan is deceiving the
Armenian community of Karabakh by issuing such statements. First, if
living standards were high and there was prosperity in Xankandi, its
population of 120,000 would not have fallen to 70,000. Moreover, 50 per
cent of the 70,000 have left this town. Most of them are now in Russia
and other countries. What Gukasyan says is aimed at consoling people.
As for Kocharyan’s participation in the festivities, on the one hand,
the Armenian authorities attend peace talks organized by the OSCE
Minsk Group, and on the other, they do such things.
Kocharyan’s visit to Susa and Xankandi proves that Armenia is an
aggressive country.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
[Bilik Dunyasi news agency has quoted the head of the press and
information department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Tahir
Tagizada, as saying that Kocharyan’s visit to Karabakh “runs counter
to the priorities of the peace process”.]

Oskanian Content with Results of Armenian-Azeri Summit
Caucaz.com, Georgia
Sept 2 2005
Baku, September 1 – The weekend meeting in Russia between the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan marked another important step
towards the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian said on Tuesday.
Oskanian said he and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov will
now try to build on progress made by Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliev.
“True, no breakthrough was achieved during that meeting, but we do
consider it positive and believe that the negotiations are following
a positive course,” he told a news conference. “The most important
thing is that the presidents’ meeting in Kazan enables the [foreign]
ministers to continue their work. I think that there will be a meeting
of the ministers in the near future. A visit to the region by the
co-chairs [of the OSCE Minsk Group is also possible.”
“I think that we have some work to do regarding the results of the
presidents’ meeting and that there is now new room for continuing
the process,” Oskanian said, adding that he and Mammadyarov received
relevant “instructions” from the two presidents. He did not say what
those instructions are.
“Each meeting at the level of the presidents is a step forward,
but it’s still early to speak of serious progress,” Mammadyarov told
reporters on Monday.
International mediators and the United States in particular hoped the
Kazan meeting will clear the final hurdle to a Karabakh settlement.
It is not clear if Aliev and Kocharian lived up to their expectations.
It is widely assumed that the two leaders will not sign or
announce any compromise agreements on Karabakh before the November
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and constitutional referendum
in Armenia. Unpopular concessions could significantly strengthen
opposition groups in both countries that are plotting fresh attempts
to topple the ruling regimes in Baku and Yerevan.
Oskanian said the upcoming polls will have no bearing on the peace
process. “We have not yet reached a point where we need to inform our
publics about details,” he explained. “We are still not there. That
is why it is not worth thinking about that.”
“We are simply not close to putting anything on paper. So nobody is
thinking yet about the restrictive impact of the elections or the
referendum on the negotiations,” he added.

SOME 160 BLN AMD TAXES TO STATE TREASURY OF ARMENIA COLLECTED IN
SEVEN MONTHS OF 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31. ARMINFO. Tax revenues of the Armenian state budget
for the first 7 months of 2005 totaled 17.4% of GDP or 159,610.6 mln
AMD ($346.978 mln) and as compared to the same period of 2004 they
grew 22.6%.
According to the source, VAT revenues for the period under review
grew 23.3% totaling 75.378 bln AMD, income tax revenues grew 19.1%
totaling 13.497 bln AMD, profit tax revenues grew 64.1% to 26.022
bln AMD, customs revenues grew 36.6% totaling 8.669 bln AMD.
It should be noted that tax incomes in 2005 were planned at the
level of 307 bln AMD or 15.1% of GDP as against 257 bln or 14.2%
of GDP in 2004.

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ARGENTINA IN PARLIAMENT
National Assembly of RA (press release), Armenia
Aug 31 2005
On August 30 the NA Vice President Vahan Hovhanissyan received the
delegation, being in Armenia with an official visit, headed by Rafael
Antonio Bielsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and
Cults of the Republic of Argentina.The members of Armenia – Argentina
Parliamentary Friendship Group participated in the meeting.
Welcoming the guests, the NA Vice President highlighted the
strengthening of relations between the two countries, considered
necessary the development of inter-parliamentary communications,
allocating in this plan activity of parliamentary friendship groups.
Vahan Hovhanissyan highly estimated the positive position of Argentina
in the international structures during the discussion of the issues
related to Armenia, thanked for voting in the United Nations for
the benefit of Armenia in the context of the Karabakh conflict, and
also for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Argentinean
legislative body and institutions of local self-government bodies
and for the special reference towards the issue. Armenia also is
ready to promote Argentina in various international structures. It
was noted that Argentina is the greatest country – investor in the
economy of Armenia, in this context the activity of Eduardo Eurnekian
was highlighted.
Rafael Antonio Bielsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International
Trade and Cults of Argentinean Republic also emphasized the
activation of mutual cooperation of the two countries, development
of inter-parliamentary ties, the cooperation in the international
structures. The importance of parliamentary diplomacy, the necessity
of activation of cooperation of parliamentary friendship groups was
noted. Minister noted that by the end of this year the embassy of the
Republic of Argentina will be opened in Armenia. Addressing to the
problem of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the minister
noted that one of the leading conservative newspapers of Argentina
in its editorial touched upon the problem of the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, writing that historically the Armenian Genocide is
one of the most insufficiently discussed genocides, which, according
to the minister, is important in the process of the discussion of
the issue and recognition of the Genocide.
By the request of the guests Mr. Hovhanissyan touched upon the
constitutional amendments being underway in Armenia, presented in
detail the amendments being made in the Constitution.
Aug 31 2005
RUSSIA READY TO CONSIDER EU PROPOSALS ON “FROZEN” CIS CONFLICTS
MOSCOW, August 31 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is ready to consider any
proposals the European Union may have on “frozen conflicts” in the
Commonwealth of Independent States, a senior diplomat said Wednesday.
Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s permanent representative to Europe,
told a news conference that the EU was ready to discuss and help
resolve two regional conflicts in Georgia, the stand-off between
the self-proclaimed republic of Transdnestr and Moldova, and the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“We are ready to consider any proposals be they in the political
or material sense,” Chizhov said, stressing that this idea did not
affect the format of talks on resolving the conflicts.
“All conflicts have their own formats for talks,” the Russian
representative said. “Maybe they are not ideal, but they are the best
achieved through the sufferings of the parties to these conflicts.
These are the only formats that are acceptable to all countries today.”
Chizhov said the EU should assist conflict resolution within the
framework of these formats and not through “shattering” them. He added
this position had been officially registered in a joint Russia-EU
statement adopted in 2003 in Rome.

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
Armenian version:
DR. YEGAVIAN VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
The director of the Armenian Affairs Department of the Calouste
Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Dr. Zaven Yegavian, visited Lebanon
recently and became the official guest of His Holiness Aram I.
During the two-day visit His Holiness and Dr. Yegavian reviewed and
discussed the cooperation between the Catholicosate of Cilicia and
the Gulbenkian Foundation during the past decade.
They expressed satisfaction regarding the fact that many achievements
had been made possible in the educational, publishing and construction
spheres during this period. They also outlined the fields where
cooperation should take a new momentum.
##
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.

VOTING ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS DELAYED
A1+
| 20:10:52 | 30-08-2005 | Politics |
Due to the insufficient number of deputies present in the NA hall
today the voting on the first reading of constitutional amendments
that was scheduled for today was postponed till tomorrow.