Category: News

Turkish Probe
July 25, 2004
PM CLAIM OF FRENCH SUPPORT PREMATURE: ERDOGAN’S VISIT TO PARIS WAS
INFLATED INTO AN ULTIMATE VICTORY FOR TURKEY’S EU BID IN MEDIA AND
GOVERNMENT CIRCLES, DESPITE FRENCH LEADERS SHYING AWAY FROM PUBLICLY
VOICING SUPPORT
by ELIF UNAL ARSLAN, TDN diplomatic editor
ANKARA – Turkey, hungry to be recognized as part of Europe, was quick
to hail an official three-day visit by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to Paris last week as a victory in efforts to secure French
backing for its European Union bid.
Both French President Jacques Chirac and his prime minister,
Jean-Pierre Raffarin, in meetings with Erdogan signalled no change in
their earlier position that Paris’ decision on whether or not Turkey
is ready to start accession talks would depend on a progress report
scheduled to be released by the EU Commission in October.
Erdogan, however, declared that France no longer remained “guarded”
against Turkey’s eventual entry to the European club. “What I see is
that they are no longer guarded against Turkish membership. At least
they can no longer say, ‘We are against Turkey’,” he told reporters
on his way back home Wednesday.
“France says Oui,” mass-circulation Milliyet daily screamed in its
headline on the same day. “Support for for Turkey’s EU plea in
France,” said Star newspaper on its front page. Commentaries were
talking about the close friendship between French President Chirac
and Erdogan as a key to locking up the EU door for Turkey.
These confident Turkish voices clearly sprang from a $ 1.5 billion
deal signed in Paris in the presence of Erdogan and Chirac between
Turkish Airlines (THY) and Airbus — a French-German joint venture.
The deal, criticized by some as a “bribe” to win skeptical France’s
support, was not the only carrot Erdogan had offered. He told French
businessman that Turkey was willing to cooperate with French
companies in plans to build nuclear energy plants — each of which is
estimated to cost some $ 5 billion.
His open invitation for French firms to participate in the lucrative
“Marmaray Project” designed to link Istanbul’s rail network with a
tunnel under the Bosphorus was no less attractive.
Erdogan also winked at French companies, signalling in his meetings
with French officials that they might also get favorable terms in
future Turkish defense procurement tenders aimed at acquiring new
technology for the Turkish Armed Forces.
Turkish-French ties recuperate
His offers mark a certain progress in ties between the two countries
that hit rock bottom two years ago when France, despite strong
Turkish protests, publicly recognized allegations of a so-called
Armenian genocide in 1915. Since then, France was kept out of
Turkey’s lucrative trade and military tenders.
But Erdogan’s moves do not seem to have had enough of an effect on
French leaders, who shied away from delivering support in public for
Turkey’s EU quest.
Chirac, after having lunch with the Turkish prime minister at the
Elysee Palace, requested a continuation of Turkish reforms, drawing
attention to the key report that the EU Commission is due to release.
Prime Minister Raffarin, followed Chirac’s line and reiterated that
France was awaiting the comission’s assessment on Turkey’s progress.
Turkish officials appear confident that France is unlikely to let
down an EU-aspirant country when it comes down to its economic
partnership with that country.
But Chirac has been under heavy pressure from within his own
conservative party to oppose Turkish entry to the EU. The French
president, in a attempt to ease the pressure on him, earlier said he
believed Ankara was not likely to be able to meet the bloc’s
conditions for another 10 to 15 years.
Chirac risks angering the French public if he supports opening
accession talks with Turkey. But if he opposes it, he could cause a
crisis within the EU. Britain, Greece, Germany, Italy and Spain
already back starting the talks on Turkey’s entry, which could take
up to 10 years.
The French president’s discretion has its roots in domestic political
considerations. All but one of the last 20 opinion polls on the issue
have shown 50 to 60 percent of French voters oppose Turkish entry to
the EU.
The membership of Turkey, located at the crossroads of Europe and
Asia, would stretch the EU’s borders to Syria and Iraq — a fact that
opponents say moves Europe too close to the unstable Middle East.
During Erdogan’s trip, Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said in a
radio interview that “Turkey should not expect to enter the European
Union tomorrow morning,” even if it improves its human rights record
and reforms its justice system, two key requirements.
“Turkey still has a ways to go towards becoming a social and
democratic model along the lines of the European model,” Barnier
said.
Turkey has passed sweeping democratic reforms to meet the EU’s
membership criteria, abolishing the death penalty and granting
greater cultural rights to some 10 million Kurds.
Opposition socialists in France were proud to say that they were the
only French political party backing Turkey’s accession. But French
Socialist Party Secretary-General Francois Hollande told Erdogan in
Paris that the issue of recognition by Turkey of allegations of a
so-called Armenian genocide in 1915 was a condition for its
accession.
The issue, however, is not part of the Copenhagen criteria, which
Ankara has to meet in order to get the nod to begin accession talks
with the EU.
The French socialists’ stance is something that exasperates Turkey,
which strongly denies all genocide claims and says the number of
deaths is inflated and that the victims were killed in civil unrest.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 25, 2004 Sunday
Georgia-Armenia intergovernmental commission to meet Mon
By Tengiz Pachkoria
TBILISI
A meeting of the Georgian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on
issues of economic cooperation will be held in the Georgian capital
on Monday.
The two countries’ Prime Ministers – Zurab Zhvania and Andranik
Margaryan will attend the meeting.
Margaryan, who arrived in Tbilisi on Sunday, said it would be the
first meeting of the commission in the past three years.
The sides, in particular, will consider issues of lowering of tariffs
for the supplies of electric power from Armenia to Georgia.
“We will consider the issue of the operation of the two countries’
energy systems, as well as the issue of supply of Georgian
electricity through Armenia to Iran in summer and Iranian electricity
transit supply to us through Armenia in winter,” Georgian Energy
Minister Nika Gilauri told reporters.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PAP Polish Press Agency
PAP News Wire
July 25, 2004 Sunday
Poland to get 440,000 euros from European Refugee Fund
Warsaw, July 25
Poland will get 440,000 euros this year
from the European Refugee Fund to receive immigrants, their
integration and for repatriation of displaced persons, the interior
ministry reported in a statement issued to PAP.
To get the money Polish institutions and non-governmental
organisations have to cover 25 percent of an undertaking from their
own funds.
Head of the section for the European Refugee Fund Bartosz Ziolkowski
said this year the section received 507,000 euro worth of projects for
legal, medical assistance to refugees, the purchase of clothes and
footwear and assistance in repatriation.
Last year more than 6.9 thousand people applied for a
status of refugee with 82 thousand from Czechnya. the group of
applicants included also citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia
and India. Close to 50 percent of them were houses by refugee
centres.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 26, 2004, Monday
ARMENIAN MILITARY VIOLATED THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT AT THE
ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI BORDER
The press service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that
last Thursday.
Reportedly, the incident occurred late at Wednesday night. Within an
hour – from 10.35 p.m. to 11.40 p.m. local time – the positions of
the Azerbaijani troops in Gyzylgadzhily came under fire of Armenian
military units from the Berkaber settlement. The fire on the side of
Armenia was suppressed by the response fire of Azerbaijani troops. No
kills are available among Azerbaijani military, says a report by the
Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.
The Kazakhsky district of Azerbaijan is situated 450 kilometers to
the west from Baku and has common border with Armenia and Georgia.
Source: RIA Novosti, July 22, 2004, 16:39
Translated by Andrei Ryabochkin
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Gold Coast Bulletin (Australia)
July 26, 2004 Monday
Medal will just be a salvage job
Weightlifting
EVEN a gold medal at the Olympics can only be considered a minor
salvage job on the wreckage that is Australian weightlifting.
Sergo Chakhoyan will head to Greece as the world No.1-rated lifter in
the 85kg class and is expected to vie with the host nation’s triple
gold medallist Pyrros Dimas for top honours in Athens.
Ultimately, though, anything Chakhoyan achieves will be undermined by
the drug scandals and selection debacle that has battered the sport in
the lead-up to the Games.
Weightlifting has long had more than its share of doping problems –
exemplified by the 11 positive tests at the 2003 World Championships
– but Australia had remained relatively clean.
Until 2004.
It started with two peripheral squad members, Seen Lee and Anthony
Martin, both receiving two-year bans for steroid use.
Much worse was to come as it was revealed Australia’s sole women’s
representative Caroline Pileggi refused to take a drugs test while
training in Fiji.
Pileggi, too, was given a two-year ban which she unsuccessfully
appealed and was replaced in the team by Deborah Lovely.
Questions have been raised about Chakhoyan – who has already served a
two-year ban for steroid use in 2001 – after the Australian Olympic
Committee could not locate the lifter for three and a half months
while he was training in Armenia.
But a doping test he had in Armenia three months before the Games
came back negative.
Chakhoyan can’t turn things around for the sport, but he can win
gold.
Fifth at the Sydney Olympics, Chakhoyan won gold in the snatch
(non-Olympic) at last year’s world championships in Vancouver, and
bronze in the clean-and-jerk.
Australian officials said he was not 100 per cent fit at the time.
But Dimas may still have an edge with partisan support and the lure
of an unprecedented fourth Olympic weightlifting gold.

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
26 juillet 2004
Le partage du butin en final

Hier, à la fin de ce Symposium de sculptures, tous les partenaires se
sont partagé les oeuvres. Un beau patrimoine qui va être surtout
dispersé à Bressuire.
Joli final, pour le Symposium de sculpture. Une prairie du chteau
éclaboussée de soleil, la fanfare Gonzo distillant une musique
particulièrement festive, un public venu en nombre pour voir les
oeuvres achevées. Les bénévoles des trois associations organisatrices
étaient heureux. A l’approche de 18 heures, il convenait alors de
passer au « partage du butin ». C’est en effet le propre de ce
Symposium : en réunissant un budget de l’ordre de 50.000 EUR, les
organisateurs offrent aux partenaires institutionnels la possibilité
de choisir l’une des oeuvres réalisés. Les sponsors aussi, avec un
système de tirage au sort.
C’est ainsi que Marie-Andrée Ruault et Marie Jarry se sont associées
pour choisir l’oeuvre de l’artiste turque Içoz Tulay, qui ira
probablement décorer l’hôtel de Région. Jean-Marie Morisset, lui, a
choisi la sculpture mobile d’Harutyun Yekmalyan, arménien, mais elle
restera à Bressuire, à Bocapôle, où la Maison du conseil général est
en cours de construction. Parmi les cinq sponsors importants, Suire
Développement a été tiré au sort : « J’ai beaucoup de chance ! », a
apprécié Jean-Louis Suire, qui avait déjà obtenu une sculpture lors
d’une précédente édition. Il a choisi la planète de Frédéric Neau, en
précisant : « Cette oeuvre ira au lycée Simone Signoret, parce que
les lycéens et les enfants doivent être associés à l’art… » Un
choix qui a ravi l’artiste, qui craignait de voir son oeuvre quitter
Bressuire. Par ailleurs, Wagon SAS a reçu l’oeuvre de Marie Fang, en
guise de prix de la fidélité. Enfin, pour les « plus petits »
sponsors, c’est la société Clochard Dolor qui a été tirée au sort,
gagnant ainsi l’oeuvre d’Éric Stambirowski.
Les oeuvres de Pierre Marchand, Christine Aubert, Jean-Claude
Escoulin, Vutor Lyubomir et Carmen Tepsan ont été choisies par Claude
Boutet pour le Verger des Sculpteurs. Enfin, Jean-Michel Bernier et
ses adjoints ont retenu les sculptures de Renate Verbrugge, Serge
Maubourguet, Kaija Kontulainen, Jean-Luc Perrin et Dominika
Griesgraber.
GRAPHIQUE: Image: Jean-Marie Morisset a choisi l’oeuvre de l’arménien
Harutyun Yakmalyan. Mais elle restera à Bocapôle où la Maison du
conseil général est en cours de chantier…

ARKA News Agency
July 26 2004
RA PM takes part in 3rd sitting of Armenian-Georgian interstate
commission
RA Foreign Minister receives future chairman of regular OSCE Council
NKR President receives a citizen of France, who moves to Stepanakert
with his family for permanent residence
RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan receives a delegation of
Thailand-Armenia deputy friendship group
RA President goes on 10-days holiday
Delivery of nuclear fuel new lot for Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
completed as scheduled
NKR President receives famous Canadian singer Isabel Bairakdarian
Bruce Jackson: it is time Washington and Brussels make their
contribution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
Arkadi Ghukasyan: non-admission of resumption of military operations
is the main objective of NKR
*********************************************************************
RA PM TAKES PART IN 3RD SITTING OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN INTERSTATE
COMMISSION
YEREVAN, July 26. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian took
part in 3rd sitting of Armenian-Georgian Interstate Commission, RA
Government press office told ARKA. The Head of Georgian Government
Zurab Jvania stated at the opening of the sitting that conduction of
the meeting with participation of the two Prime Ministers testifies
to serious plans of Armenian and Georgia to expand and develop
cooperation between them. `It is impossible to imagine development of
Georgia without Armenia’, Jvania stressed. According to him, though
goods’ turnover between the countries has grown for the last years,
however in conditions of existing potential it can be achieved more.
He expressed hope that by the end of the year, goods turnover between
Georgia and Armenia will exceed the highest indicators of last years.
Jvania also mentioned the issues of expanding of agreement-legal
field and cooperation in culture and science-educational fields.
According to press release, Margarian noted that increase of the
level of the sittings of interstate commission testifies to serious
plans of the parties on deepening of trade-economic cooperation,
being a stimulus for full-fledged use of existing potential.
Margarian noted that Armenia is really interested in development and
deepening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Georgia. He
expressed confidence that the agreements achieved during the sitting
will become important steps on the way of future development of
Armenian-Georgian trade and economic cooperation. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
RA FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES FUTURE CHAIRMAN OF REGULAR OSCE COUNCIL
YEREVAN, July 26. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
received future Chairman of Regular OSCE Council Yanesh Lenarchich,
RA MFA told ARKA. During the meeting the parties noted the importance
of different missions and directions of OSCE activity. The parties
stressed the peacemaking role of OSCE in conflicts’ settlement. The
parties gave positive estimation to activity of OSCE MG.
According to press release, during the meeting Armenian Foreign
Minister commented recent joint statement of CIS states considering
OSCE activity in the view of necessity of reforms of this
organization. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
NKR PRESIDENT RECEIVES A CITIZEN OF FRANCE, WHO MOVES TO STEPANAKERT
WITH HIS FAMILY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE
STEPANAKERT, July 26. /ARKA/. NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan received
Michele Tankres, a citizen of France, who moved to Stepanakert with
his family for permanent residence.
According to the main news agency adjunct to NKR President, in the
course of the meeting with the President Tankres expressed his wish
to use his knowledge and possibilities for the good of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
In his turn Ghukasyan greeted his initiative to move to Karabakh and
expressed his readiness to support him in any overcoming of any
problems connected with his emigration.
Tankres has visited NKR since 1993. He contributed a lot to the
accomplishment of the republic by means of both humanitarian aid, and
implementation of some social programs in NKR. Tankres also actively
participated in organization of Hayastan Pan Armenian Fun in France
to collect finances for the construction of the North-South Highway
strategically important or NKR. A.H. – 0 –
*********************************************************************
RA NA SPEAKER ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN RECEIVES A DELEGATION OF
THAILAND-ARMENIA DEPUTY FRIENDSHIP GROUP
YEREVAN, July 26. /ARKA/. RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received
a delegation of Thailand-Armenia deputy friendship group at the head
of a Senator Sanit Kulcharoen. According to RA NA Press Service and
Public Relations Department, in the course of the meeting
Baghdasaryan attached special importance to the visit of the
delegation from Thailand to Armenia, expressing his belief that it
contributes to strengthening of the Armenian -Thai interparliamentary
relations. Baghdasaryan noted the necessity for activating the
economic co-operation between two countries, in particular, in the
areas of diamond treating, jewelry industry, high technologies, and
for holding business -forums. He also emphasized the importance in
co-operation in the area of culture, education tourism and
environmental issues.
According to press release, during the meeting the parties discussed
the issues for establishment of practical contacts between Armenia
and Thailand, noting the necessity for activating interparliamentary
relations, organizations of mutual visits and co-operation in
international parliamentary organizations. A.H. – 0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT GOES ON 10-DAYS HOLIDAY
YEREVAN, July 26. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian went on
10-days holiday that he will enjoy in Armenia, as RA President Press
Service told ARKA. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
DELIVERY OF NUCLEAR FUEL NEW LOT FOR ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED
YEREVAN, July 26. /ARKA/. The delivery of nuclear fuel new lot for
the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) completed as per schedule. As
it is mentioned in press release issued by INTER RAO UES CJSC and
provided to ARKA, the payment for the fuel delivered according to the
contract terms was made by INTER RAO UES CJSC. By this, the Russian
side implemented the undertaken commitments for uninterrupted work of
ANNP. According to the press release, the cost of delivered lot of
the fuel makes USD 12 mln, the same price as it constituted last
year, although the prices grew by more than 40% on the international
market.
Note that the Armenian NPP has started functioning in January 1980,
and it was shut down in March 1989 under the pressure of the public
opinion. ANPP resumed its operation in November 1995. The first block
of the station is not operating presently either. The second block of
the Armenian NPP generates on the average up to 50% of electricity
produced in the republic. The average annual capacity of ANPP equals
360-370 MWt. Total capacity of the ANPP two blocks stands at 815 Mwt.
Based on experts’ evaluations, the station can work till 2018.
The financial management of ANPP were transferred to trustful
management of INTER RAO USE CJSC, affiliate of RAO UES OF RUSSIA (60%
of shares) and Rosenergatom (40%). T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
NKR PRESIDENT RECEIVES FAMOUS CANADIAN SINGER ISABEL BAIRAKDARIAN
STEPANAKERT, July 26. /ARKA/. Arkadi Ghukasyan, NKR President
received famous Canadian singer of Armenian descent, soloist of
Metropolitan Opera Isabel Bairakdarian (soprano).
As NKR President Press Service told ARKA, during the meeting she said
that arrived in Stepanakert specially to perform on Karabakh scene
and to introduce the amateurs of musical art of NKR with the works of
world classics. She told with satisfaction that the people in Nagorno
Karabakh are fonder of the high art, especially the youth. In her
opinion, this means that `the aspiration toward the beautiful that
always distinguished the Armenian people, became an unalienable part
of Karabakh people, that were able keeping and multiplying the best
traditions of Artsakh for growing multifaceted and educated
personalities’. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
BRUCE JACKSON: IT IS TIME WASHINGTON AND BRUSSELS MAKE THEIR
CONTRIBUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
STEPANAKERT, July 26. /ÀÐÊÀ/. It is time Washington and Brussels make
a tangible contribution to NKR and other conflict settlements, stated
Bruce Jackson, the President of the Project on Transitional
Democracies, President of the US Committee on NATO in the US Senate
during his meeting with Arkadi Ghukasyan, NKR President. According to
him, human potential is tragically decreasing as a result of
Prednisrovie, Abkhaz, South Osetia and Nagorno Karabakh conflicts,
which hampers economic development and necessary education for the
growing generation thus impeding full integration in European family.
`We are going to present the whole significance of the Karabakh
problem which requires obligatory solution to US and European
authorities’, said Jackson. According to him, the main objective of
the mission is the more active involvement of international community
in settlement process. In this respect, Jackson emphasized the
decision of the EU on involvement of region’s countries in Wider
Europe/New Neighbors program, às well as NATO’s announcement made at
Istanbul summit concerning the interest of the Alliance in
establishment of peace, stability and democracy in the region. L.V.
–0–
*********************************************************************
ARKADI GHUKASYAN: NON-ADMISSION OF RESUMPTION OF MILITARY OPERATIONS
IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF NKR
STEPANAKERT, July 26. /ÀÐÊÀ/. The main objective of NKR is not to
allow the resumption of military operations and to promote the
further economic development of the republic, its integration in the
common European family, and the establishment of a civil society.
This was stated by Arkadi Ghukasyan, the NKR President during his
meeting with Bruce Jackson, the President of the Project on
Transitional Democracies, President of the US Committee on NATO in
the US Senate, as well as members of the delegation headed by him. As
the ARKA own reporter informs from Stepanakert, speaking about the
possibilities of problem solution based on concessions, the NKR
President mentioned that compromises should always be mutual and
require mutual concessions from all parts of the conflict. He said
that at first it is necessary to achieve ceasing of propaganda war
against each other at least; however this step is usually refused by
the Azeri side. Ghukasyan once again confirmed the commitment of
Karabakh to exceptionally peaceful ways of conflict settlement and
noted that the official Stepanakert has many times unsuccessfully
turned to Baku authorities with various initiatives on establishment
of trust measures, without which the settlement process is
impossible.
During the meeting the guests also shared their points of view
concerning the measures to be taken by the conflict sides to
accelerate the settlement, told about their impressions of meetings
with representatives of NKR power and NGOs. They also declared for a
more active involvement of international community in settlement
process. L.V.–0–

GEORGIA MAINTAINS STANCE ON ABKHAZ RAIL LINK
Georgian State Television Channel 1, Tbilisi
26 Jul 04
(Presenter) The Armenian government is asking Georgia to reopen the
rail link with Russia via Abkhazia. Aside from the railway, Armenia is
also interested in electricity. A meeting took place today in Tbilisi
of the intergovernmental Georgian-Armenian economic cooperation
commission. The Armenian prime minister held meetings today in the
State Chancellery.
(Correspondent) (Passage omitted) The opening of the railway via
Abkhazia was one of the main themes of the Georgian-Armenian
talks. Tbilisi still maintains that the question can only be
considered after the return of refugees to Abkhazia. (Passage omitted)
(Zurab Zhvania, Georgian prime minister, in Russian) The railway is
linked to the question of the return of refugees, to progress being
made in restoring territorial integrity and the first steps being
taken.
(Davit Onoprishvili, chairman of Georgian Railways) The reopening of
the Abkhaz railway depends on a lot of nuances and questions. This is
primarily to be decided by politicians. However, it is, above all,
Georgia that is interested in the reopening of the railway.
(Passage omitted)

NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT ARMENIA NOVEMBER 2004
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
26 Jul 04
Brussels, 26 July: NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is to
visit Armenia in early November this year, it was learned from NATO
headquarters.
Scheffer’s visit could be linked to implementing the decisions taken
during NATO’s Istanbul summit. As is known, in Istanbul NATO decided
to step up work in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
We note that the Armenian side has repeatedly said that future NATO
membership is not on official Yerevan’s agenda. Armenia is also
preparing to announce individual partnership with NATO (Individual
partnership plan) and has expressed its readiness to have exercises
from NATO’s “Cooperative Associate 2005” on its territory.

PanArmenian News
July 26 2004
SKINHEADS, WHO KILLED AN ARMENIAN, STOOD TRIAL IN MOSCOW
SITTING OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION HELD
IN TBILISI
SECOND PAN-ARMENIAN YOUTH FORUM HELD IN TSAGHKADZOR
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WENT ON 10-DAY LEAVE
KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT MEETS US NATIONAL INTERESTS, AMERICAN
MEDIATOR STATED
REPRESENTATION OF YEREVAN BRANDY FACTORY OPENED IN UKRAINE
METROPOLITAN OPERA SOLOIST GAVE CHARITY CONCERT IN NAGORNO KARABAKH
AMERICAN ARMENIANS ENDORSE KERRY FOR PRESIDENT
*********************************************************************
SKINHEADS, WHO KILLED AN ARMENIAN, STOOD TRIAL IN MOSCOW
26.07.2004 17:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Moscow Municipal Court sentenced 5 young men,
who brutally killed an Armenian in one of the local suburban trains,
to 9-14 years of imprisonment. As reported by Moskovskiy Komsomolets
Russian newspaper, a band of young men aged 17-22 ranked themselves
as members of neo-Nazi organization of skinheads and had the aim “to
clear” the local electric trains of Caucasians. On December 12, 2003,
on entering Petushki-Mocsow suburban train, the murderers saw a man
with “Caucasian appearance” and knocking him off his feet trampled on
him. The maimed man died after suffering in the aid station for 2
hours. At those days a 35-year-old Azeri was killed in the same way.
*********************************************************************
SITTING OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION HELD
IN TBILISI
26.07.2004 17:03
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The sitting of the Armenian-Georgian Commission for
Economic Cooperation opened in Tbilisi on June 26. Georgian Prime
Minister Zurab Zhvania and Armenian Premier Andranik Margarian, who
is on formal visit in Tbilisi at present, delivered their speeches at
the opening ceremony, RIA Novosti reports. As A. Margarian told
journalists, the issue of the opening of the railway communication
via the Abkhazian sector of the Transcaucasian railway is to be
discussed at the sitting. In his turn Zurab Zhvania noted that the
opening of this communication is connected with return of Georgian
refugees in the Galski region of Abkhazia. The Prime Ministers
visited the Pantheon of the Armenian culture workers in Tbilisi.
Today Andranik Margarian is expected to meet with Georgian President
Mikhail Saakashvili.
*********************************************************************
SECOND PAN-ARMENIAN YOUTH FORUM HELD IN TSAGHKADZOR
26.07.2004 14:09
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Second Pan-Armenian Youth Forum with the
participation of over 100 boys and girls from 17 countries opened in
the Armenian town of Tsaghkadzor on July 24. Armenian President
Robert Kocharian sent a greeting message to the forum participants.
When addressing the opening ceremony Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian noted that the measure initiators – Pan-Armenian
International Youth Center” and the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs –
are working for establishing ties between the growing generation of
the Armenian Diaspora with the youth organizations of Armenia and
ensuring their participation in the pan-Armenian projects implemented
by the government. Meeting with Armenian FM Vardan Oskanian has been
also scheduled. At the moment the forum participants are discussing
three major topics, these being “Culture and Armenian Originality”,
“Youth and Urgent National Issues”, “Diaspora and Globalization”.
Future plans such as organizations of measures dedicated to the 90-th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and business
forum with the participation of Armenian entrepreneurs from different
countries of the world will be as well being considered.
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WENT ON 10-DAY LEAVE
26.07.2004 14:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian went on a
10-day leave on July 26. According to a report of RA President’s
press service, he intends spend his holiday in Armenia.
*********************************************************************
KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT MEETS US NATIONAL INTERESTS, AMERICAN
MEDIATOR STATED
26.07.2004 14:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement by means of negotiations within the frames of the
OSCE Minsk Group (MG) conforms to the US national interests, MG US
co-chair Steven Mann told Regnum IA. In his words, US pursues a
long-term policy in references to this region. US has no interest in
events that can threaten stability in the region as it assists energy
projects, one of them being Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which
is important for the whole region, the diplomat said. When replying
to the question “whether the US will support Azerbaijan of the latter
decides to restore its territorial integrity”, Mr. Mann stated that
the US position remains unchangeable – the conflict should be
resolved peacefully. At that he called the parties “to sense and
compromise”. “Only by making concessions it is possible to find a
solution admissible for the conflicting parties. This is the opinion
of the co-chairs. Only this way we can achieve long-term peace in the
region. The conflicting parties chose the OSCE to resolve this
problem and we are trying to settle the conflict peacefully and will
support the decisions taken by the parts”, the American diplomat
stated. As for the new proposes, they always exist, he said. However
everything depends on the attitude of the parties and readiness to
accept them, he noted adding that the co-chairs are to continue
consultations with the parties within next few weeks.
*********************************************************************
REPRESENTATION OF YEREVAN BRANDY FACTORY OPENED IN UKRAINE
26.07.2004 18:14
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French concern Perno Ricar CJSC, the owner of the
Yerevan Brandy Company opened its representation in Ukraine. As
reported by Arminfo agency, the major goal of Perno Rirar- South is
to supply the southern regions of Ukraine with Armenian brandy. To
note, Ukraine is the second (after Russia) market where this Armenian
beverage is sold.
*********************************************************************
METROPOLITAN OPERA SOLOIST GAVE CHARITY CONCERT IN NAGORNO KARABAKH
26.07.2004 14:38
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Famous Canadian singer of Armenian origin, soloist
of the Metropolitan Opera Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano) gave a
charity concert in Nagorno Karabakh capital of Stepanakert on July
24. On the same day she met with NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian.
During the conversation the singer pointed out to the great interest
of the Karabakh people show to the art. In her opinion, this
testifies that “aspiration to the beautiful, the Armenians have been
always remarkable for, became essential part of the life of the
Karabakh people, who could preserve and supplement the best
traditions for the formation of an intellectually mature
personality”.
*********************************************************************
AMERICAN ARMENIANS ENDORSE KERRY FOR PRESIDENT
26.07.2004 14:15
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The other day the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) announced itsendorsement of the Kerry ticket.
According to the ANCA leadership, Senator Kerry has been a friend of
the Armenian American community for over twenty years, with a proven
track record of fighting hard for issues of concern to Armenian
Americans across the nation. Kerry welcomed the ANCA endorsement,
stating that, “John Edwards and I would like to thank the ANCA for
its endorsement. We are looking forward to working with all Armenian
Americans to create a stronger America, more respected in the world.”
To remind, the presidential election in the US is scheduled for
November 2.