Author: Zargarian Hambik

ARMINFO News Agency
October 7, 2005

“VIVA CELL” MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK COVERS 65% OF ARMENIA’S
TERRITORY

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7. ARMINFO. During the three months of its activity
in Armenia, Viva Cell mobile communication network has covered about
65% of the country’s territory, K-Telecom Director General Ralph
Yirikyan told journalists, Thursday. R.Yirikyan visited Lori and
Shirak in connection with provision of cellular communication to
these regions.

The same day, the company donated medical equipment worth a total of
5.6 mln AMD to Shirak Regional Hospital and Vanadzor Medical Complex
No.1. He said the company will provide cellular communication to
Syunik and Tavush by the late October. In 2006, Viva Cell will start
covering the areas difficult of access, Yirikyan said. He said the
company does not plan reduction of tariffs.

To note, Viva Cell has sold 217,000 mobile communication cards. The
company launched its activity in the country on July 1 2005.

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:

HIS HOLINESS MEETS WITH THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF ST. CATHARINS

After meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin, His Holiness
Aram I stopped in St. Catharins, where he met with the Armenian community on
October 4. His Holiness was greeted by believers, the board of trustees of
the St. Boghos Church and representatives form the community at the Armenian
Center.

Archbishop James Wingel of St. Catharins Catholic Church, Antonios Semaan of
the Coptic Orthodox Church, Fr. Magarious Giannopoulos of the Greek Orthodox
Church and other spiritual officials greeted His Holiness upon his arrival
to St. Catharins.

Jim Bradley, Ontario’s tourism minister, Carol Discher, the deputy of St.
Catharin’s governor and other officials participated in the official
luncheon held in honor of His Holiness. Around 200 believers gathered in the
Center’s hall to listen to His Holiness’ message.

Sera Mazmanian delivered the opening remarks, warmly welcoming His Holiness
“who had not forgotten his small flock in this far away city.”

Catholic Archbishop Wingel greeted His Holiness, highlighting his
international efficacy and contribution to the dialogue between religions
and churches. He assured that the Catholicos’ election as the chairman of
the World Council of Churches and his unprecedented re-election greatly
contributed to the strengthening of relations between Christian Churches.

The chairman of the St. Boghos Church, Raffi Stamboulian, read out a letter
by Prime Minister Paul Martin who expressed his happiness on the occasion of
the 10trh anniversary of His Holiness’ enthronement, the 75th anniversary of
the Seminary’s establishment and the 1600th anniversary of the Consecration
of the Armenian Alphabet.

Carol Discher read out a welcoming letter written by St. Catharin’s
governor. Tourism minister Jim Bradley also welcomed His Holiness.

Sebouh Tokadjian and Sarkis Balabanian expressed the local Armenian
community’s greetings and welcomed His Holiness in St. Catharins. The
“Anoush” dance group of the Armenian Relief Society and solo singer Garbis
Zakarian entertained the audience.

The Prelate of Canada, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, spoke with high regard
about the thoughts and views expressed by His Holiness during his speeches
in Canada lately, pointing out that they would be “guidelines for us in the
future.”

“His Holiness’ visit that brought him as far as St. Catharins is a tangible
expression of his love towards this small community, which is not at all
marginalized because of its distance,” he said.

His Holiness first spoke in English, expressing his gratitude to the present
foreign spiritual leaders and officials who have always encouraged the local
Armenian community.

He then delivered his Pontifical message, calling upon Armenian to uphold
the spirit of toleration as an important step in securing mutual
understanding. The Pontiff considered Christianity’s meaning to be based on
faith, hope and love and called upon the attendants to make these truths the
three pillars of their individual and collective lives.

Believers then had the opportunity to kiss His Holiness’ right hand.

His Holiness returned to Toronto late at night. He will then travel to Los
Angeles to continue his Pontifical Visit in North America.

##
View pictures here:

*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses 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.

UNPRECEDENTED CHESS TOURNAMENT IN THE CAUCASUS

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Oct 6 2005

On October 1 the ceremony of opening of the International Chess
Tournament Karabakh 2005 (organized by the government of NKR
and the Chess Federation of Armenia) took place. The minister of
education, culture and sport Kamo Atayan congratulated the guests
of the ceremony and the participants of the tournament. The famous
Hungarian chess player Lajos Portish, who is a guest of the tournament,
and the international grand master Bartlome Macheya also addressed
the guests. L. Portish said he had first visited Armenia 40 years
ago, invited by his friend, the 9th champion of the world, Tigran
Petrossian. And since then he has cherished unforgettable memories.

“My second visit to Yerevan was 9 years ago, during the Chess
Olympiad. And this is my third visit,” said L. Portish. “And the
occasion is a very good one. An international chess tournament is
held in Stepanakert which will continue in the future and become
a tradition. I will gladly follow the games and I believe that few
mistakes will be reported on the chess board. I wish you all success
and at the same time I want to thank the NKR government and the Chess
Federation of Armenia for inviting me to the Karabakh 2005.” The
international grand master Barthlome Macheya who participated in
the tournament devoted to the 75th anniversary of Tigran Petrossian,
emphasized the importance of such events from the point of view of
bringing peoples together and achieving mutual understanding. He
recalled that last year he left Karabakh carrying unforgettable
memories along with him. “I made new friends here, this wonderful
country full of kindness, which I missed a lot, has become close to
my heart, and I have told about the days I spent in Artsakh and my
impressions to many people. I am grateful to be back here again, to
be invited to the Karabakh 2005 tournament. Also I would like to thank
one of the best grand masters of the time, my friend Smbat Lputyan who
does his best to develop chess and make it popular. I wish you peace
and all the best.” Two tournaments are held simultaneously: Tournament
A corresponds to category 17 and Tournament B corresponds to category
11. Famous international grand masters are taking part in Tournament
A, such as Vasily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Ivan Sokolov (the Netherlands),
Alexey Dreyev (Russia), Victor Bologan (Moldavia), Hikaru Nakamura
(USA), Bu Xianzhi (China), Bartlome Macheya (Poland), Karen Asrian
(the winner of Tigran Petrossian International Chess Tournament)
and Ashot Anastasian (Armenia). In Tournament B Yevgeni Sveshnikov
(Latvia), Tigran Petrossian (Armenia), Ervin Lami (the Netherlands),
Jose Manuel Lopez Martinez (spain), Katarina Lahno (Ukraine), Sergey
Grigoriants (Russia), Raj Tishberek (Germany), Benjamin Galstian,
Artur Chibukhchian and Arsen Yeghiazarian (Armenia) are taking part. On
Sunday the first games of Tournaments A and B took place. In Tournament
A Ashot Anastasian defeated B. Macheya; the score was 1:0.

At the 56th step Levon Aronian won the game with Moldavian Victor
Bologan, and Vasily Ivanchuk defeated Chinese Bu Xianzhi. The games
between Ivan Sokolov and Alexey Dreyev, Hikaru Nakamura and Karen
Asrian ended in a score. In Tournament B the games S. Grigoriants-E,
Lami, Y. Sveshnikov-L. Martinez, K. Lahno-T.Petrossian, B.

Galstian-A. Chibukhchian ended in a score. The German player R.

Tishberek defeated A. Yeghiazarian. On the second day in Tournament
A A. Ananian played with H. Nakamura, K Asrian with V. Balagan, L.

Aronian with I. Sokolov, A. Dreyev with V. Ivanchuk and B. Macheya
with Bu Xianzhi. In Tournament B K. Lahno played with Y. Sveshnikov,
L. Martinez with S. Grigoriants, E. Lami with B. Galstian, A.

Chibukhchian with A. Yeghiazarian and T. Petrossian with R.

Tishberek. During the press conference the president of the Academy of
Chess of Armenia, international grand master Smbat Lputian emphasized
the importance of Karabakh 2005 in Artsakh, for such a high-level
tournament is held in the South Caucasus for the first time, which
is a great honour for both the participants of the tournament and
its organizers.

5TH INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIZED EXHIBITION “HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACY EXPO 2005” TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON OCTOBER 19-21, 2005

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2005

YEREVAN, October 6. /ARKA/. The 5th international specialized
exhibition “Healthcare and Pharmacy EXPO 2005” will be held at
the RA National Healthcare Institute in Yerevan on October 19-21,
press-service of LOGOS EXPO Centre reported ARKA News Agency. This
exhibition is dedicated to new achievements in pharmacy, laboratory
equipment, diagnostics and medical technologies. The goal of this
exhibition is presentation of these new achievements to doctors and
specialists of Armenia. The exhibition will be held according to the
following thematic parts: prophylactic medicine, clinical medicine,
stomatology, pharmacy, diagnostics, motherhood and childhood, medical
equipment and hygiene.

According to press-release, the exhibition will be held within IV
National Scientific-Medical Congress “Health of a Man”, which will
discuss a wide range of issues related to healthcare and pharmacy.

Participation in this exhibition will allow over 500 specialists
to improve their professional level, exchange experience and gain
new knowledge.

This exhibition is organized by LOGOS EXPO Centre Company and is
supported by the RA Ministry of Healthcare. A.A. -0–

ARMENIAN COALITION GEARING FOR REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN
By Astghik Bedevian and Anna Saghabalian

Armenialiberty.org, Armenia
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 6 2005

Armenia’s three governing parties are setting up a joint structure that
will coordinate the unfolding campaign for the passage of President
Robert Kocharian’s constitutional amendments at a referendum next
month.

Leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun),
the Republican Party (HHK) and the Orinats Yerkir Party told RFE/RL
on Thursday that they have already formed a skeleton governing board
of the campaign headquarters. Each of them will be represented in
it by two or three senior members. Deputy parliament speaker Tigran
Torosian is the most well-known of them.

It is expected that the coalition partners will be joined by other
pro-Kocharian parties and non-governmental organizations. Powerful
government officials are also likely to become involved in the
effort. But the Armenian authorities remain undecided on whether the
“yes” campaign will be managed by a single person. The Republicans
are pushing for its collective leadership.

The campaign coordinators will have to grapple with a persisting
lack of popular interest in a long list of constitutional amendments
that will be put to the vote on November 27. They will also face a
stiff competition with Armenia’s leading opposition parties which
are joining forces to thwart the reform which they say is aimed at
“legitimizing the regime and prolonging its life.”

The HHK’s parliamentary leader, Galust Sahakian, said he believes the
authorities have enough time to win over the apathetic public. “The
public usually becomes active on the eve of elections,” he argued.

Other coalition leaders said they will try to end the apathy by
securing the involvement of prominent Armenian intellectuals,
artists and other public figures in the “yes” campaign. “We attach
great importance to working with the intelligentsia so that broad
sections of the population understand the significance of the issue,”
said Dashnaktsutyun’s Levon Mkrtchian.

Samvel Nikoyan, another Republican leader, agreed, saying that the
“yes” camp needs to enlist the support of “people who are perceived
positively by the society.” He said it will also heavily rely on the
so-called “unions of compatriots” which comprise prominent natives
of various region’s Armenia.

The most influential of such organizations, Nig-Aparan, is led by
Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian. It managed last May to organize
a controversial mass circle dance around Armenia’s highest mountain
with the help of various government agencies, law-enforcement bodies
and wealthy businessmen. Kocharian indicated recently that the “yes”
campaigners should draw inspiration from the dance attended by tens
of thousands of people.

To pass, the constitutional amendments must be backed by at least one
third of Armenia’s 2.4 million eligible voters. Opposition leaders
have long charged that the authorities grossly inflate the number
to facilitate falsifications during presidential and parliamentary
elections. Some oppositionists say the authorities have decided to
remove hundreds of thousands of names from the vote registers ahead
of the referendum.

Sahakian did not deny this. “It would be good for us if the voter
lists were cleaned up,” he said.

COUNTERING NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL TERRORISM

A1+
| 12:24:44 | 06-10-2005 | Politics |

U.S. officials are participating in the “Advanced Research Workshop
on Countering Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism,” which is being
held in Yerevan October 2 through October 6.

The four-day conference, which is focused on such issues as global
security, non-proliferation strategies, and countering radiological
terrorism, is being held with the support of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and the International Science and Technology Center
(ISTC).

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Godfrey, in addition
to representatives from countries throughout Europe and North
America, are participating in the conference. Dr. David Diamond of
the U.S. Brookhaven National Laboratory is one of the workshop’s
co-directors.

President Bush stated that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) and their delivery systems constitutes a major threat to
international peace and security. The threat is compounded by the
interest of terrorists in acquiring WMD. This would undermine the
foundations of international order. Together with other international
partners, the U.S. has pledged to use all means available to avert
WMD proliferation and the calamities that would follow.

This NATO-sponsored conference is intended to help achieve our shared
goal of preventing the spread of WMD.

TENSE SITUATION IN JAVAKHK

Armenian Gendarme Beat Several Residents of Akhalkalak

October 5, 2005

AZG | YEREVAN – Situation in Akhalkalak was very tense yesterday. Tax
officers from Akhaltsakha closed 10 stores demanding acquirement documents
for the goods they traded. Shop-keepers told them that they bring goods from
Tbilisi and get no document there. A few hundred residents of Akhalkalak
gathered before the town administration protesting activities of tax
officers. Nairi Iritsian, mayor of Akhalkalak, told daily Azg on the phone
that Armenian gendarmes from local gendarmerie tried to break up the rally
but met resistance. The gendarmes used bludgeons calm down protesters;
several shots were heard too. As Iritsian said, one people from each side
were taken to hospital as a result of the fight. Our source in Akhalkalak
said that Georgian President’s representative in Samtskhe-Javakhk region,
Georgi Khachidze, was in Akhalkalak yesterday evening.

Mayor Iritsian claims that what they call “gendarmerie” operates only in
Javakhk and Tsalka. It employees local Armenians to press on Armenians of
Javakhk, Iritsian said.

Ecumenical News International
Daily News Service
05 October 2005

Noting Christians’ pressures, churches plead Turkey’s cause with EU
ENI-05-0753

By Jonathan Luxmoore
Warsaw, 5 October (ENI)–The head of one of Turkey’s largest
churches has appealed on behalf of local Christians for the
country’s admission to the European Union, after promised
membership negotiations came close to cancellation amid disputes
between EU governments.

“Turkey’s aspiration to join the EU is an opportunity for
East-West reconciliation,” the Armenian Apostolic Patriarch of
Constantinople, Mesrob II, said in a letter to EU ministers and
parliamentarians. “Pressures in recent days from various circles
to postpone the Turkish membership process cause us concern.”

Still, improved rights for Turkey’s 100 000 Christians have been
cited as a precondition for the country’s EU admission, talks on
which were promised last December after a 40-year Turkish drive.

The patriarch’s letter was published on 1 October by the
English-language Turkish Daily News in the run-up to the
projected 3 October opening of accession talks, which were
initially blocked by Austria at the EU’s weekend meeting in
Luxembourg.

Speaking “in the name of Armenians, Christians of other
confessions and Jews” living in Turkey, the patriarch said a
decision on Turkish membership would mark “an important turning
point in world politics”.

“We pray for a successful, peaceful integration process, and that
Armenians, who form the largest Christian community here, will
find their proper place,” said Patriarch Mesrob, whose church
dates from the early fourth century and has around 70 000 members
in Turkey, where more than 98 per cent of the 70 million citizens
are Sunni Muslims.

Most denominations continue to complain of discrimination,
including the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has been
refused permission to reopen its theological seminary, forcibly
closed in 1971. The Orthodox church has also been stopped from
making essential repairs to its 72 Istanbul churches.

Turkish membership of the EU was also supported by Roman Catholic
Bishop Luigi Padovese, the apostolic vicar of Anatolia, who said
Turkey had been a Christian centre for centuries.

“Our Christian roots are precisely in Turkey – this is where
Saints Paul and Luke were born, where a large proportion of the
New Testament came into being, where seven of the first councils
of the still-undivided church were held, and where the Creed we
recite on Sundays gained its shape,” Padovese told Poland’s
Catholic news agency, KAI, on 3 October.

The Commission of EU Catholic Bishops’ Conferences declared
support for Turkish membership in November 2004, adding that it
saw “no religious obstacle” to the presence of a predominantly
Muslim country. However, it cautioned that Turkey had so far
failed to meet the EU’s criteria for accession, including respect
for religious freedom and the legal status of churches, the
rights of women and non-Muslim minorities. [452 words]

All articles (c) Ecumenical News International
Reproduction permitted only by media subscribers and
provided ENI is acknowledged as the source.

Ecumenical News International
PO Box 2100
CH – 1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland

EU NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY COULD FAVOUR SWISS

Swissinfo, Switzerland
Oct 4 2005

The launch of adhesion negotiations between the European Union and
Turkey could also help improve ties between Switzerland and Ankara
say specialists.

Following the official decision to proceed with talks, reactions have
generally been positive, including those of the sometimes critical
Swiss media.

Commercial and economic ties could be stimulated, while political
and cultural exchanges are expected to intensify. “What holds true
for Europe is also valid for Switzerland,” said the Swiss ambassador
to Turkey, Walter Gyger.

He added that if Turkey made efforts to get closer to Europe,
Switzerland would have try to work out its own relation with Ankara.

“The negotiation process with the EU should help relieve some
tensions,” he noted.

Switzerland and Turkey have had a rocky diplomatic relationship for
the past few years, especially over issues related to the deaths of
thousands of Armenians under Turkish rule in 1915.

Officially, the Swiss foreign ministry has only noted the beginning
of talks. “As we are not a member of the EU, Switzerland has no reason
to comment this decision,” said ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel.

Bilateral relations between Bern and Ankara are not affected by the
EU talks or a possible Turkish adhesion for the time being. “Our
accords remain unchanged for now,” added Knuchel.

Business benefits

Turkey’s possible EU membership will only become officially an issue
in 2014, the earliest point at which it can join the Union. Some
bilateral accords between Switzerland and the EU, especially those
on security and asylum, as well as the free movement of labour will
come under scrutiny.

Knuchel said that the labour agreement had clauses guaranteeing
long transition periods as well as the possibility of putting its
application to a nationwide vote.

“The biggest challenge for Switzerland and Turkey during the
negotiation process will be to ensure that both countries give enough
attention to their bilateral relationship,” added the spokesman.

“Ankara will be focusing on Brussels in the coming years.”

Knuchel admitted though that the opening of talks could positively
influence commercial and economic relations with Turkey.

The Swiss Business Federation, economiesuisse, said on Tuesday it
expects some favourable fallout during the negotiations for the Swiss
export industry. “Turkey joining the EU would be in our interest,”
said federation spokesman Pascal Gentinetta.

Critical media

The Swiss press generally welcomed the announcement of adhesion talks
on Tuesday, although there was some criticism between the lines.

“After decades of waiting, these negotiations are the right decision,”
wrote Zurich’s “Neue Zurcher Zeitung.”

Its crosstown rival, the “Tages Anzeiger” criticised Union member
states for dragging their foot before accepting to open talks. “It was
grotesque and painful theatre with the EU in the main role,” it said.

It pointed the finger at Austria especially, adding that Vienna had
“held up proceedings until it got the all clear for adhesion talks
with Croatia.”

Geneva’s “Le Temps” also criticised the Austrians’ tactics, saying
that the government’s fear of rampant anti-Turkish sentiment at home
“had almost been enough to make chancellor [Wolfgang] Schussel think
twice before agreeing.”

The “Aargauer Zeitung” pointed out that the “hesitations surrounding
the decision to open talks with Turkey were proof of how unsure the
EU was of itself at the moment.”

The Swiss press tended to agree though that negotiations with Turkey
would be a long and drawn-out affair, especially since “Europe lacked
any leaders with a vision” as Le Temps wrote.

“In Berlin, they’re still looking for a chancellor. And in Paris,
there are dozens of wannabe presidents.”

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 2 2005

Turkey and EU: One More Push!
View: Selcuk GULTASLI

The rule that “every draft the EU prepares about Turkey does not get
its final form without getting toughened’ did not change. Where did
the Cyprus declaration begin, and where did it end? The EU virtually
said to the Greek Cypriots “Write it down, we will put a signature on
it.”

The declaration for which the Greek Cypriots, with the support of the
French, took EU as hostage turned out to be a legally binding paper
despite the British rhetoric that “it is not a legally binding
document and will be forgotten within six months, why give a damn?”
Moreover, even if the EU does ever forget something, it will be
decisions for the benefit of Turkey. The commitment givenby Greece
back in 1981 that she would not interfere in Turkey-EU relations, the
declaration from France, Germany, Netherlands and Italy in 1998
declaring that “the Greek Cypriots will not become a member of the EU
before a solution is reached in Cyprus”, the Council’s decisions that
will bring an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in 2004
were all too easily forgotten.

The framework document is also becoming more stringent. It has not
yet been approved, and it probably won’t be until the last days and
many elements -excluding the privileged partnership that Turkey
cannot accept- will be introduced into this document.

The situation is as follows: Those who had been promised for 46 years
will announce their engagement on October 3. The EU part does all it
can to ensure that the engagement will not end up with a marriage. It
will sit at the table of engagement, just because it promised once,
but it prepares many pretexts in order to toss the ring away just
after the engagement. Turkey, too, is not happy as it sits at the
table, she is convinced that the EU is unwillingly sitting at the
table. In this case, almost everybody foresees that the negotiations
will fail to continue even if they do start on October 3 and that
this will halt, anyway, in 2006 when the additional protocol is
revised.

The EU made the negotiations “unsustainable” with the declaration of
Cyprus, and allowed the UN ground for a possible solution to erode
and most importantly confirmed that it now sees the issue from a
Greek Cypriot view. From now on, in the Cyprus issue the EU cannot go
beyond the parameters cited in the declaration. The Greek Cypriots
will get what they want unless the political atmosphere in Europe
goes through a radical change-which is impossible in the short term.

The next crisis pending between the EU and Turkey is the additional
protocol waiting to be approved in the Assembly. As the screening
process will start on October 3, negotiations will most probably
start at the end of the term presidency of the UK, namely in
December.

And in the worst case scenario, the start of negotiations will take
place following the scanning process and this will happen in the term
presidency of Austria. There is no need to offer any detailed
explanation of how Austria, which has the hysteria that the Turks
besieged Vienna for the third time, will approach the negotiations.
As the Greek Cypriots will ask the additional protocol to be approved
and implemented immediately after October 3, Turkey will face a
serious dilemma before it can even start the real negotiations.

As the opponents in Europe have plenty of supporters in Turkey,
sabotaging the negotiations will become easier. The guardians of the
established system whose entire comfort will be overwhelmed with the
start of negotiations will clearly show their European allies that
“Turkey has not changed” with a few provocations just as happened at
the Armenian conference. And in the words of Fuat Pasha that are even
more relevant today, `They from the outside, we from the inside,
together’ will obstruct the start of negotiations! Come on guys!