Category: News

Armenian minister vows tough action if Jehovah’s Witnesses breach law
Noyan Tapan news agency
13 Oct 04
Yerevan, 13 October: The official registration of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses religious sect in the Armenian State Registry has become
possible only after it submitted all the documents in line with the
Armenian constitution and legislation, Armenian Justice Minister
David Arutyunyan told journalists today.
“In our opinion, all legal disagreements have been resolved,” he
said. The minister added that if the registered sect were to act
illegally it would be punished in accordance with the law.

ITERA TO SELL ITS SHARE IN THE ARMENIAN GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
Agency WPS
The Russian Oil and Gas Report (Russia)
October 13, 2004, Wednesday
ITERA is negotiating on sale of a 10% stake in the Armenian company
Armrosgazprom for $30 million. Representatives of Armrosgazprom say
that a large European investment holding will be the buyer. A source
in Gazprom presumes that the shares will be bought out by the incumbent
shareholders of Armrosgazprom.
Armrosgazprom was established in 1997 in the framework of the
Russian-Armenian intergovernmental agreement. Authorized capital
of the company amounts to $280 million. The company owns a trunk
gas pipeline and gas distributing networks in Armenia. The Energy
Ministry of Armenia and Gazprom have 45% stakes in Armrosgazprom each
and ITERA has 10%.
Since the moment of establishment of Armrosgazprom as an exclusive
wholesale supplier of Russian gas to Armenia the company has been
buying gas from ITERA. ITERA paid in the share of Gazprom in the
Armenian company but in 2002 Gazprom paid the price of its stake in
Armrosgazprom to ITERA ($126 million). In June 2003, Gazprom became
the monopoly gas supplier to Armenia.
Press secretary of ITERA Yevgeny Ostapov confirmed the fact of
negotiations with the new investor but did not name the buyer.
Ostapov adds that the negotiations are held in the framework of
“getting rid of non-core assets” and over the last few years
Armrosgazprom has been working at a loss.
Armrosgazprom does not comment on the information about a possible
changing of shareholders officially. A source in the company says
unofficially that “negotiations are held with a well-known West
European investment holding” and the value of the deal may amount
to about $28 million, which corresponds to the nominal value of 10%
of the company’s shares.
At any rate, a strategic investor will hardly buy a minority stake
in a company whose business fully depends on Gazprom. Most likely,
the interest of ITERA will be bought out by the two remaining
shareholders or one of them (they have a preemption right for such
deal). Sergei Kupriyanov, press secretary of the CEO of Gazprom,
reports that Gazprom has received a relevant offer from ITERA but
has not made a decision yet.
Source: Kommersant, October 12, 2004

Norwegian minister hails Azerbaijan’s stance on European commitments
Trend news agency
14 Oct 04
Baku, 13 October: Azerbaijan is honouring its commitments to the
Council of Europe, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told the visiting
Norwegian foreign minister and the chairman of the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers, Jan Petersen, on 13 October, Trend reports.
“We are doing it not only because we have assumed the commitments
to your organization. This first of all confirms the policy towards
democratizing our society,” Aliyev said.
Speaking about Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, Aliyev
repeated that Azerbaijan’s position on the issue is in keeping with
international legal norms and principles. Touching on the discussion
of the issue by the Council of Europe, including by the Parliamentary
Assembly, the president said Azerbaijan had always supported any
discussions on the issue because it’s position was fair.
“When our country initiated the appointment of a Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe [PACE] rapporteur for the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagornyy-Karabakh conflict, as always Armenia opposed that, which
clearly shows that it is not interested in informing the international
community of the essence of the conflict,” he added.
Jan Petersen said that while in Baku he had held very productive
meetings and added that the visit was of great importance from the
standpoint of cooperati on between both Azerbaijan and Norway and
between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe.
Pointing to the successful development of Azerbaijani-Norwegian
relations, Petersen said it was particularly commendable in the
economic sphere. Giving a positive assessment of the work of the
Norwegian company Statoil in Azerbaijan, the minister expressed
confidence that bilateral economic cooperation would expand not only
in the oil and gas but in other sectors as well.
Touching on Azerbaijan’s relations with the Council of Europe,
Petersen said Azerbaijan was treating its commitments to the Council
of Europe not only as obligations but also as a way of furthering the
country’s democratic development. The visitor praised Azerbaijan for
such an attitude and added that the development of such cooperation
was equally important to Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe.

Azeri leader upbeat about European body’s Karabakh debate – TV
ANS TV, Baku
13 Oct 04
[Presenter in studio] Baku is confident that the discussions on
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem at the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe’s [PACE] winter session will be favourable to
Azerbaijan. This conclusion is based on the report prepared by the
European body’s former rapporteur, Terry Davis. Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev believes that the political stance to be displayed by the
Council of Europe can play a crucial role in resolving the conflict.
[Correspondent over archive footage of PACE sessions] After the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe discusses the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict at its January session, Armenia may face sanctions,
says Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
[Ilham Aliyev shown talking to journalists] The report to be discussed
will show once again that Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani lands,
and certain sanctions may be imposed on it.
[Correspondent] It transpired from the president’s statement that
Baku’s confidence was based on the report drafted by the former
rapporteur, Terry Davis. President Ilham Aliyev said the document
was objective.
[Aliyev] I can say that the report reflects the principles we
have always advocated. Our most important task was that Council of
Europe documents should reflect such notions as aggression against
Azerbaijan and violation of our territorial integrity. There is
already a document, which will also mean a legal framework.
[Correspondent] However, Baku understands only too well that the
Council of Europe’s assessment alone is hardly sufficient for the
conflict to be solved.
[Aliyev] What we wanted and demanded from the Council of Europe
from the very beginning was that a political assessment of this
conflict be given. The Council of Europe has no other mechanisms at
its disposal and we shouldn’t expect any miracles from it. But the
political assessment will lay the foundation for further negotiations.
[Correspondent] According to the head of state, for the conflict to
be resolved fairly, an end must be put to the international policy
of double standards. For example, while there are four UN Security
Council resolutions pertaining to the conflict, none of them has yet
been enforced.
[Aliyev] Unfortunately, there is no mechanism. Four resolutions have
been adopted but none of them is being executed. No sanctions or any
other measures have been taken against Armenia. This, of course, is
unacceptable. International legal mechanisms must be applied. Then
the conflict can be solved.
[Correspondent] The Azerbaijani president is also pleased with the
stance of the Romanian authorities on the Nagornyy Karabakh issue.
[Aliyev] The Romanian leadership has unequivocally stated that it
supports a settlement based on respect for Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity.
[Correspondent] According to Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan must step up
its pressure on the international community to resolve the conflict.
[Aliyev] Our mission is to strengthen our political will and
international clout, to expose Armenia as an aggressor-state and to
continue our political activities to this end.
[Correspondent] The president said this should be done not only by
the head of state and members of parliament but also by journalists
and ordinary citizens. Only then can we achieve what we want.
Ali Ahmadov, Ramil Huseynov, ANS.

Armenia ec forum to solve long-term tasks of country development
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 12, 2004 Tuesday
YEREVAN, October 12 — The international Armenian economic forum
is designed to help resolve long-term strategic tasks of Armenia’s
development, president of the World Armenian Congress and the Union
of Russian Armenians Ara Abramyan told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
At the forum that will open on Wednesday concrete business projects
will be worked out and implemented in order to promote the social
and economic development of Armenia and use the existing political
and economic potential of the diaspora more effectively, Abramyan
emphasized. He is confident that “serious successes can not be achieved
in the solution of national tasks, the just solution of the Karabakh
problem cannot also be achieved, if the Armenian people does not
manage to pool its efforts and provide conditions for the effective
social and economic development of the country.”
According to Abramyan, on one hand, for this it is necessary to
consolidate efforts of business circles of the diaspora and Armenia,
strengthen involvement of businessmen of the diaspora in the republic’s
economy. On another hand, there is a persistent need to involve the
Armenian economy and businessmen in international business structures.
“Armenian economy and business should find its place in the
international economic community,” Abramyan pointed out. According
to him, the goal of the World Armenian Congress is to try to raise
Armenian business to a new level of foreign economic relations that
corresponds more to the current stage of globalization.

Football results
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Oct 14, 2004
WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
European zone
Group One
Andorra (0) 1 Macedonia (0)
Bernaus 60 200
Armenia (0) 0 Cz Rep (2) 3
7,000 Koller 3, 76
Rosicky 30
Holland (2) 3 Finland (1) 1
Sneijder 39 Tainio 14
van Nistelrooy 41, 63 49,000
Group Two
Denmark (1) 1 Turkey (0) 1
Tomasson 26 (pen) Nihat 70
41,331
Kazakhstan (0) 0 Albania (0) 1
Bushaj 60
Ukraine (1) 2 Georgia (0)
Belyk 12 30,000
Shevchenko 82
Group Three
Latvia (0) 2 Estonia (0) 2
Astafjevs 54 Oper 72
Laizans 82 Teever 79
Luxembourg (0) 0 Liechtenstein (2) 4
3,478 Stocklasa 41
Burgmeier 44, 85
Frick 57 (pen)
Portugal (3) 7 Russia (0) 1
Pauleta 26 Arshavin 79
Ronaldo 39, 69
Deco 45
Simao 82
Petit 89, 90 27,258
Group Four
Cyprus (0) 0 France (1) 2
8,000 Wiltord 38
Henry 71
Rep of Ireland (2) 2 Faroe Islands (0)
Keane 14 (pen), 33
36,000
Group Five
Italy (2) 4 Belarus (0) 2
Totti 27 (pen), 74 Romaschenko 54, 88
De Rossi 32 Bulyga 77
Gilardino 86
Moldova (1) 1 Scotland (1) 1
Dadu 28 Thompson 31
14,000
Norway (1) 3 Slovenia (0)
Carew 6 24,907
Pedersen 59
Odegaard 89
Group Six
Azerbaijan (0) 0 England (1) 1
15,000 Owen 22
N Ireland (1) 3 Austria (1) 3
Healy 35 Schopp 14, 72
Murdock 60 Mayrleb 61
Elliott 90 20,000
Wales (0) 2 Poland (0) 3
Earnshaw 55 Frankowski 72
Hartson 90 Zurawski 81
74,000 Krzynowek 85
Group Seven
Lithuania (0) 0 Spain (0)
9,000
Serbia & M (2) 5 San Marino (0)
Milosevic 35 5,000
Stankovic 45, 50
Koroman 52
Vukic 69
Group Eight
Bulgaria (1) 4 Malta (1) 1
Berbatov 43, 56 Mifsud 11
Yanev 47 18,746
Yankov 87
17,700
Iceland (0) 1 Sweden (4) 4
Gudjohnsen 66 Larsson 23, 38
Allback 27
Wilhelmsson 44
ASIAN ZONE
Stage two
Group one: Laos 2 Jordan 3; Qatar 2 Iran 3. Group two: Iraq 1 Uzbekistan 2.
Group three: Oman 0 Japan 1; Singapore 1 India 0.
Group four: Hong Kong 2 Malaysia 0; Kuwait 1 China PR 0.
Group five: Korea DPR 2 Yemen 1; Thailand 3 United Arab Emirates 0.
Group six: Syria 2 Bahrain 2; Tajikistan 2 Kyrgyzstan 1.
Group seven: Lebanon 1 South Korea 1; Maldives 3 Vietnam 0.
EUROPEAN U-21 C’SHIP QUALIFYING
Group One: Armenia 0 Cz Rep 4.
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP RES LEAGUE
Northern Section: Sunderland 0 West Brom 3.
PONTIN’S HOLIDAYS LEAGUE
Premier Division: Sheff Utd 1 Stoke 0; Tranmere 1 Wigan 0.
First Division: West: Blackpool 1 Stockport 3; Burnley L Bury L; Macclesfield
1 Shrewsbury 0; Man Utd 4 Chester 1.
PONTIN’S HOLIDAYS INSURANCE LEAGUE
Division One: East: Doncaster 4 Grimsby 2; Huddersfield 2 Darlington 0;
Lincoln 1 Scunthorpe 1; Notts County 5 Boston Utd 3.
PONTIN’S HOLIDAYS COMBINATION
Central & East Division: Oxford Utd 1 Milton Keynes 1 (abandoned at
half-time).
League Cup: Preliminary: Group stage: Brighton 0 QPR 0.
NATIONWIDE WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham 2 Arsenal 5; Bristol Rovers 2 Bristol City 2; Leeds Utd L
Doncaster Rovers L; Liverpool 1 Everton 5.

Aliyev displeased that UN Armenia resolutions not being implemented
Interfax
Oct 14 2004
Baku. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
has expressed displeasure over the fact that four UN resolutions
concerning Armenia are not being implemented.
“Four resolutions have been issued, but none of them are being
implemented. No sanctions or measures have been imposed on Armenia.
This is definitely unacceptable,” Aliyev told the press upon his
return from Romania on Tuesday evening.
“The main problem is about implementing important UN and OSCE
decisions. A mechanism should be set up for this. Unfortunately,
there is no such mechanism,” Aliyev said.
UN Security Council resolutions require that Armenian troops be
withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijani land.
At the same time, Aliyev praised the fact that many world leaders
have recognized Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands as unlawful
and called for resolving the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh via the
restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
The president said Romanian leader Ion Iliescu shared this position
at a meeting with him.
Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh in a bloody conflict with
Armenia in the 1990s. The UN Security Council has issued resolutions
condemning the occupation of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia and
demanded the withdrawal of Armenian troops. Co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group representing the United States, Russia, and France are
mediating in the efforts to settle the conflict peacefully.

The Detroit News
Oakland
Southfield
Input invited in planning sessions
The city invites the public to listen as officials discuss the future
of Southfield during the second of three strategic planning sessions
that will be held from 5-10 p.m. today at St. John’s Armenian Church,
22001 Northwestern. Council members met Tuesday with a Florida-based
municipal consultant and plan to address Southfield’s financial future,
redeveloping commercial areas and more. The final session will be
held at the same time and location Thursday. For information, call
(248) 796-5000.

Pawtucket Times
Sports
Pro Tennis
Charleston Gazette, The 10/12/2004
ATP-WTA Tour Kremlin Cup Mondays results At Olympic Stadium Moscow Singles
Men First round Sargis Sargsian, Armenia, def. Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia,
6-2, 6-1. Igor Kunitsyn, Russia, def. Tomas Berdych (6), Czech Republic,
6-3, 6-4. Joachim Johansson (2), Sweden, def. Jan Hernych, Czech Republic,
6-4, 6-2. Marat Safin (1), Russia, def. Max Mirnyi, Belarus, 6-7 (8), 7-6
(2), 7-6 (1). Greg Rusedski, Britain, def. Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, 7-6 (14),
6-2. Women First round Vera Douchevina, Russia, def. Magdalena Maleeva,
Bulgaria, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Francesca Schiavone, Italy, def. Silvia Farina
Elia, Italy, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-5.
Doubles Men First Round Igor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko, Russia, def.
Vladimir Voltchkov, Belarus, and Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia, 6-3, 6-2.
Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, Poland, def. Tomas Berdych, Czech
Republic, and Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, 6- 1, 6-4. Women First Round
Anastasia Myskina and Vera Zvonareva (4), Russia, def. Daniela Hantuchova,
Slovakia, and Patty Schnyder, Switzerland, 7-5, 6-3. Anastassia Rodionova
and Dinara Safina, Russia, def. Tatiana Perebiynis, Ukraine, and Magui
Serna, Spain, 6- 3, 6-4. Elena Bovina and Nadia Petrova, Russia, def.
Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Likhovtseva (2), Russia, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
©The Pawtucket Times 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 13, 2004
____________________
FAR THANKS CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE, JR. FOR SUPPORT OF ARMENIA
During an October 12, 2004 meeting with Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.,
Democrat of New Jersey, in Long Branch, NJ, Garnik Nanagoulian, FAR
Executive Director, thanked the Congressman on behalf of the Board
of Directors for his continued support of Armenia in Congress and
briefed him on FAR’s active projects in Armenia and Karabagh.
Congressman Pallone and Mr. Nanagoulian discussed the current
humanitarian situation in Armenia. They agreed that although the
economy is improving, it has yet to create jobs, a critical means to
poverty reduction. They also noted that families living in poverty,
still a significant proportion of the people, will require assistance
until long-term tools take effect and improve their situation.
“FAR, as the preeminent Diasporan relief and development organization
operating in Armenia, will continue to address the needs of these
people,” said Mr. Nanagoulian, sharing his plans with Congressman
Pallone to expand FAR’s operations to reach out to more people in
need, as well as assist in creating jobs. He expressed the desire
to continue working with the U.S. government to help build a viable
free market economy in Armenia.
Mr. Nanagoulian briefed Congressman Pallone on the progress of
two humanitarian aid contracts awarded to FAR by the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID), a $15-million for Karabagh
and a $1.55 million for Armenia. These contracts reaffirm USAID’s
recognition and support of FAR’s ability to work effectively and
efficiently in executing a wide range of programs throughout Armenia,
including coordinating regional and national projects.
Congressman Pallone praised FAR on its achievements over the past
15 years and promised to continue working to secure more assistance
for Armenia. Congressman Pallone, who has traveled to the region
several times, is Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus and has
worked to mobilize support, under the foreign aid legislation, for
humanitarian and development assistance for Armenia and Karabagh,
as well as bilateral and multilateral lending institutions assisting
economic development.
Mr. Nanagoulian invited Congressman Pallone to visit FAR’s projects
on his next visit to Armenia to witness FAR’s accomplishments thanks
to generous Diasporan donors and the U.S. government grants.
FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 15 years, FAR
has implemented various relief, development, social, educational,
and cultural projects valued at more than $250 million.
For more information or to send donations, contact the Fund for
Armenian Relief at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone
(212) 889-5150, fax (212) 889-4849; , [email protected].
— 10/13/04
E-mail photo available upon request.
CAPTION: On behalf of the FAR Board of Directors, Garnik A.
Nanagoulian, FAR Executive Director (right), thanked Congressman
Frank Pallone, Jr., Democrat of New Jersey (left), for his support of
Armenia. He also briefed the Congressman on FAR’s projects in Armenia
and Karabagh during the Long Branch, NJ meeting.