Category: News

LEVEL OF POTABLE WATER POLLUTION IN AKHALKALAK BECOMES DANGEROUS
AKHALKALAK, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). In consequence of rains in the
town of Akhalkalak the level of potable water pollution reaches the
point when its use without boiling becomes dangerous. Romik Avagian,
the chief sanitary doctor of the Akhalkalak region, expressed such
opinion. Akhalkalak receives potable water from the location of Ablar
situated 10-12 km far from the town. The reason of water pollution is
the fact that the hollows in the location of Ablar are filled with
rainwater and this rainwater is mixed with the water flowing to the
town by the waterpipe. The public organizations of the region
mentioned at the “round table” that it’s necessary to undertake urgent
measures, otherwise serious consequences are possible. The A-Info
agency mentioned that the springs in Ablar are the only ones in
Javakhk which are to a certain extent controlled by the state, water
is examined in the laboratory and if necessary population is informed
about water pollution. And the other springs of Javakhk (Bezhano,
Dilif, Ekhtila) providing villages with water almost aren’t
controlled.

The Australian, Australia
Aug 5 2004
Armenians build a new world against the odds in Lebanon
By Nicolas Rothwell
August 05, 2004
AS you turn into tranquil Anjar village, deep in the border ranges of
eastern Lebanon, suddenly things aren’t quite the same.
The faces look different, the alphabet is different, the language
spoken on the streets has changed. There are arch-shaped monoliths
marking the crossroads.
A steep-roofed, distinctively Caucasian church looms above the
orchards and the cypress groves.
Anjar, in fact, is one of the Middle East’s more remarkable Armenian
communities, and its dwindling population of 4500 is determined not
just to hang on to its traditions, but to keep its history alive.
This month, as the culmination of its efforts, the Anjar festival,
dormant for more than a decade, will be staged once more in the
majestic Ummayad palace ruins lying on the edge of town.
“We felt the time had come once more to bring the whole world to
Anjar,” says Nicol Hergelian, one of the key figures behind the
festival.
“It will be a mixed affair. We have Muslim performers and Christians,
we have Arabs and also Armenians, all the different elements of
Lebanon.”
But the people of Anjar can’t help highlighting their own story,
which was once world famous.
Their village is an elaborate, well-planned community, built in the
shape of an eagle, “because the eagle is the strongest, most enduring
bird”.
In 1939, the ancestors of today’s Anjarians were living in an area of
northern Syria known as the Sanjak, close to biblical Antioch. Their
homes were seven villages in the mountains of Moses.
But France, which held control of the region, granted it to Turkey.
After a furious battle, which lasted more than a month, the Armenians
were forced into exile.
Their struggle became the subject of a best-selling novel, The Forty
Days of Musa Dagh, by the celebrated Austrian writer Franz Werfel.
The Armenians marched south, as far as Tripoli in Lebanon, and were
once more transplanted by the French to a tent city in the Bekaa
valley.
Here, gradually, they built a new world in the shadow of the Jabal
Esh Charqi mountains, developing an elaborate local irrigation
system, cultivating apple orchards, creating their own independent
schools and social institutions.
Today’s Anjarians face new challenges. Much of the original
population emigrated during Lebanon’s civil war in the 1980s, or
found refuge in their Armenian homeland when the Soviet empire
collapsed in 1991.
Across Lebanon, Armenian numbers fell from 350,000 to a mere 90,000.
Some areas of the country where large Armenian communities once
thrived still have a faintly forlorn air.
Here in Anjar, the local economy has yet to recover, despite the
profusion of engineers, doctors and technicians living in the town.
Nicol Hergelian, a former cheese production expert, is running a
store to put his many talented children through university, while his
plumber friend Musa Topalian, who speaks five languages fluently, is
unable to find a lot in the way of suitable employment.
A sleepy, cerebral mood mantles the little town, which also does duty
as a low-key Syrian military encampment.
Much energy is spent on celebrating the bleak anniversaries that dot
the Armenian calendar: February 18, for instance, which marks
Vartan’s heroic battle against the Persians in the year 451. Or May
28, Armenia’s first, abortive national independence day, or April 24,
which commemorates the deaths of untold numbers of Armenians in 1915.
But there are upbeat events as well, now the Anjar Festival is back
on track. Stars of the Arab music world, like Naiim Al Asmar and
Jahida Wehbi, will perform, while some of the great names of the
Armenian diaspora are expected too.
“Of course this festival is a kind of symbol,” says Hergelian. “And
not just an emblem of Anjar and Armenian strength. Yes, we are
strong, and we are determined to survive.
“We don’t bow our heads to anyone. Otherwise there would be no
Armenians.
“But we want to bring together all of Lebanon. Our neighbours here in
this valley are Arab Christians and Muslims and we enjoy living with
them all. We stay living in Anjar because we choose to – because
Lebanon is a very beautiful and civilised country.”

Noyan Tapan Highlights #30 (532)
02 August 2004
THE SOCIETY AND THE POVERTY
By Haroutiun Khachatrian
Last Friday, the ministry of economy and finance hosted a group of people
who are not typical in that building. The group included the representatives
of trade unions (which is not so unexpected), of business NGOs (who also do
sometimes meet with the minister).
But it also included representatives of environmental protection NGOs, Human
rights protection NGOs and even the Armenian Apostolic Church (Abbot Mushegh
Babayan as a representative of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians). All
these people were there to sign a specific document, the memorandum on
“performing partnership negotiations on implementation of the Poverty
Reduction Strategic Program”.
The government has adopted the PRSP as early as in August 2003. This
document has two important features. First, it is subject to continuing
changes and improvements. Second, it is to be implemented through
participation of the whole society (at least, in principle), and in
particular, as the government declares, the document is open to signals from
the society aimed at improvement of this program which will be the
guidelines of the countries economy development for at least a decade. The
negotiations to be performed under the memorandum signed will pursue these
two goals.
The PRSP is funded by the foreign donors (led by IMF) and the participation
of the civil society in its implementation (and elaboration) was one of
their preconditions. This is a good thing, of course, and the government
looks like it is happy to share the burden of the PRSP implementation with
the NGOs and the Church. However, the formal initiative still needs to be
made into real deals and there is a real concern that this may not happen.
Just like in judiciary, where there are a lot of good laws which are not
implemented in the real life. Hence it remains to see if the participation
of the civil society in PRSP implementation will go beyond declarations.

IRANIAN LEADER TO UNVEIL NEW KARABAKH PROPOSALS – AZERI PAPER
Ayna, Baku
4 Aug 04
During the official visit to Azerbaijan by Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami, the Iranian government is expected to present Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev with its new proposal on a solution to the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
According to information from diplomatic sources, Iran has drafted a
new plan and wants the talks to be held between Ankara, Tehran, Baku
and Yerevan. Details of the plan are kept secret.
At present, Iran wants to use the uncertainty surrounding the
settlement to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict to get what it has long
been waiting for. Iran has never come to terms with being “sidelined”
from the solution to the conflict and keeps reminding us of that.
During the recent visit to Iran by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, the sides discussed joint mediation in regional conflicts,
Iranian sources have reported. Therefore, it is noteworthy that Iran
has intensified its efforts with regard to the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. During a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi said that Iran is
ready to help settle the Karabakh conflict. Kharrazi said that a
strong Azerbaijan is of special importance to Iran in this sensitive
region.
In the run-up to his visit to Azerbaijan, Khatami has made a new
statement. He said that Iran supports Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and deems it essential that the occupied territories be
liberated peacefully. “Iran will do its best to resolve the conflict,”
he said.
(Passage omitted: Visit to Iran by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan)
Political observers are dubious about Iran’s package of proposals on
the Karabakh conflict.
Iran’s efforts will be in vain, political analyst Zardust Alizada told
Ayna newspaper in an interview. Iran has limited ability to resolve
the conflict. “Iran’s clout in the region is not that strong. The
Iranian government’s mediatory efforts once ended in a
disaster. During the 1992 talks in Tehran, the Armenians, in tandem
with the Russians, invaded Susa. In doing so, Russia let Iran know
that it should not be involved in this issue.”
At present, the OSCE is mediating the talks, and Iran is not an OSCE
member. On the other hand, the military and economic potential of
Armenia and Azerbaijan is not linked with Iran, Alizada said.
Talking about the visit’s influence on mutual relations, Alizada
predicted that during the expected meeting, the two president will
resolve some issues which have yet to be agreed on.
The ex-foreign minister of Azerbaijan, Tofiq Zulfuqarov, told Ayna
that several years ago Iran asked the OSCE Minsk Group to include it
in the talks. “The Minsk Group then suggested that Iran be informed
about the developments in the talks process. To this end, Iran
appointed a special envoy who acts together with the Minsk Group.”
These contacts still remain, but there has been no specific result so
far, Zulfuqarov said.

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
5 August 2004
Armenian group declares support for Kerry in presidential run
* ‘For Armenian Americans, the clear choice is John Kerry,’ says Ken
Hachikian, chairman of the hard-liner ANCA group. ‘Senator Kerry has been a
friend of the Armenian American community for over 20 years, with a proven
track record of fighting hard for issues of concern to Armenian Americans
across the nation’
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
An Armenian association in the United States known for its hard-line
opposition of Turkey and staunch position for recognition of the so-called
Armenian genocide, has declared support for John Kerry, President George W.
Bush’s rival in the U.S. presidential race.
A recent statement issued by the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) cited Kerry’s “long record of support on Armenian American issues and
President Bush’s retreat from his pledge to recognize the Armenian genocide”
for its decision to back the Democrat candidate.
“For Armenian Americans, the clear choice is John Kerry,” the statement
quoted ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian as saying. “Senator Kerry has been a
friend of the Armenian American community for over 20 years, with a proven
track record of fighting hard for issues of concern to Armenian Americans
across the nation. He faces an incumbent, President Bush, whose record on
Armenian issues has grown progressively more disappointing throughout his
tenure in the White House,” he went on to say.
Kerry’s overtures to Armenian groups are likely to cause Turkish Americans
to become disenchanted with Kerry. E-mail messages circulating among members
of the Turkish community were calling on Turkish voters not to vote for
Kerry in the upcoming elections.
Armenians claim 1.5 million of their ancestors were killed in 1915-1918 as
part of a genocide campaign at the hands of the former Ottoman Empire.
Turkey categorically denies the claims, saying the death toll was inflated
and that the deaths occurred as the Ottoman Empire was trying to quell civil
unrest.
The parliaments of some 15 countries, including France, have labeled the
20th-century events as “genocide,” but the United States has so far
refrained from doing so, largely thanks to past administrations’ efforts. A
resolution calling for the recognition of the alleged genocide was shelved
at the last minute in 2000 after then President Bill Clinton intervened.
Bush and Kerry are in close competition for the presidency in the run-up to
the election slated for Nov. 2.
Armenian news sites have credited Kerry with labeling the 1915-1918 events
as “genocide” in a statement he issued on April 24, which Armenians say is
the anniversary of the alleged genocide.
“I join Armenian Americans and Armenians worldwide in mourning the victims
of the Armenian Genocide and I call on the governments and people everywhere
to formally recognize this tragedy,” Kerry’s statement carried by an
Armenian Internet site, Armenian Assembly of America, said.
Kerry welcomed the ANCA endorsement, stating, “John Edwards and I would like
to thank ANCA for its endorsement. We are looking forward to working with
all Armenian Americans to create a stronger America, more respected in the
world.”
“We call upon Armenian Americans to compare the respective records of
Senator Kerry and President Bush, to weigh the importance of their ballot
for the future of U.S.-Armenian relations, and to cast their vote for the
Kerry-Edwards ticket on Nov. 2nd,” added Hachikian.
ANCA praised Kerry for consistently being “a leading advocate of issues of
concern to Armenian Americans.” The statement said Kerry, as a U.S. senator,
had forcefully fought for U.S. recognition of the alleged genocide.
American Armenians were recently buoyed by a court decision last week
ordering a U.S. insurance company to pay $20 million to the descendants of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The class action suit against New York Life
Insurance involved thousands of policies sold in the empire between 1880 and
1915, many of which were held by Armenians killed during the civil unrest.
The legal agreement approved by U.S. District Court Judge Christina A.
Snyder is believed to be the first ever in connection with the disputed
event.

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7/09/04 – 8/03/04
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**
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For more information on the Computer Hardware and Peripherals Sector
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For more information on the Consumer Goods Sector in the NIS, please
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PAN-DIASPORAN EDUCATIONAL FORUM TO BE HELD IN ANTELIAS ON AUGUST 5-7
YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). The pan-Diasporan educational forum
will be held in Antelias on August 5-7 with the support of Catholicos
of the Great Cilician House Aram I. The forum will be dedicated to
problems of education in Armenian spirit. Hrach Tadevosian, Chief of
the Diaspora Department of the RA Ministry of Education and Science,
told NT’s correspondent that about 70 delegates will participate in
the forum from the different colonies of the Diaspora.
Levon Ananian, Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenian, is already
in Lebanon with the purpose of participation in the forum from
Armenia. According to Hrach Tadevosian, the issue of other
participants will be specified today.
According to Hrach Tadevosian, issues put before the gymnasias of the
Diaspora will be discussed during the forum, a number of issues
available in the colonies will be also discussed. “The problems of the
education of the Armenian children are exposed to danger, and the
number of Armenian students decreased in the colonies in general,
which worries everybody. I think this issue should be first of all put
to the agenda of the forum,” stressed H. Tadevosian. The Chief of the
Department, speaking about the issue of the closing of the Melgonian
Gymnasia, mentioned that though the decision on the closing of the
gymnasia has already been made, parents of the graduates and students
of the gymnasia carry out work in order that the educational
establishment having 78-year history will continue serving the
Armenian Community.

40% OF TENDERS ANNOUNCED FOR RENDERING SERVICES DIDN’T TAKE PLACE IN
FIRST HALF-YEAR
YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). In 7 months of 2004 purchases
amounting to more than 20b drams (about $38.5m) were made for RA state
government bodies, which exceeded the index of purchases made in 2003
by about 4b drams. Gagik Khachatrian, the Head of the Agency of State
Purchases, said at the August 4 press conference that the growth of
the volumes of purchases is conditioned by allocation of savings of
2003 state budget amounting to 12b drams for the sphere of
construction. The realization of 8.5b drams from this sum will be
organized by means of the Agency of State Purchases. It was mentioned
that already 5.6b drams were realized through the tenders organized
only in July. According to G.Khachatrian, the market of services
hasn’t been formed in Armenia yet. In connection with this it was
mentioned that 40% of the tenders announced for rendering of services
didn’t take place in 6 month of this year. The head of the Agency also
mentioned that the growth of exchange rate of dram in relation to the
US dollar gave an opportunity of saving 30m drams from the resources
of RA Ministry of Health. G.Khachatrian reported that a new system of
setting up of tender prices is being prepared at present. According to
this, in particular, it’s envisaged to set up season prices for
food-stuffs and a number of goods, proceeding from which the changes
of market prices will ba taken into consideration in the term
contracts. The variations of market prices will be periodically
studied for this purpose and the contractual prices will be
resonsidered on the basis of them.

CONFERENCE ENTITLED “PROBLEMS AGITATING ARMENIANS” HELD IN TEHRAN
YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). The 2nd sitting of the conference
entitled “Problems Agitating Armenians” took place at the Armenian
National Residence of Tehran on July 31. Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian,
Head of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, opened the conference. In his
speech the holy father noticed that the purpose of the conference is
that participants of the conference conferring should find the ways of
the resolution of the problems facing the youth, as well as to involve
the youth in the national and spiritual sphere. Norair Aram ian, Head
of the Diocesan Council, mentioned the importance of the presence of
the young forces in the national structures and asked participants to
come up with concrete suggestions. Regardless of the fact that there
was an exact agenda, participants of the conference in their speeches
mentioned the importance of the Armenian schools and unions in the
matter of the education of the young generation in national spirit. At
the end of the conference Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian expressed hope
that they all together will continue the way to the achievement of
more and more successes in the national and spiritual life of the
Armenians.

POLYCLINIC OF WRITERS’ UNION OF ARMENIA TO BE LEFT TO WRITERS,
MINISTER OF CULTURE ASSURES
YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). “I can distinctly say that the
polyclinic of the Writers’ Union of Armenia will be left to the
writers, a no one has the right of taking back the polyclinic that has
belonged to the writers years running.” Hovik Hoveyan, the Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs, declared this at the August 3 press
conference touching upon the July 16 decision of the Appeal Court. To
recap, upon this decision the Appeal Court invalidated the decision of
the court of first instance of the Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Yerevan
communities. The latter invalidated the decision of the Council of
Elders of the Arabkir community about alienating the territory in
Kasian 3 address where the polyclinic of the Writers’ Union of Armenia
was situated to citizen Sergey Meliksetian. H.Hoveyan as a member and
the former secretary of the Writers’ Union of Armenia mentioned that
they won’t give their polyclinic to anybody. According to the
Minister, “our judicial system hasn’t been formed and, naturally, they
can’t make a right decision.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress