Category: News

PRIME MINISTER ANDRANIK MARGARIAN RECEIVES OUTGOING AMBASSADOR OF IRAN
ArmenPress
June 11 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian received today Mohammad Koleini, the Ambassador
Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
who is ending soon his diplomatic mission in Armenia.
Estimating highly the Iranian diplomat’s four-year tenure in Armenia,
the Prime Minister noted that that period of time was marked by
significant achievements in relations between the two nations and
their governments, both in political and economic areas and an
environment of confidence was formed to help further boosting of
cooperation. Likewise steps were taken towards further development
of traditional educational, cultural and other ties.
Ambassador Mohammad Koleini expressed his deep satisfaction at the
assistance he received from the government of Armenia and other bodies
during his mission, adding also that he will continue promoting
strengthening of friendship between the two friendly nations that
date back to the earliest periods of recorded history.
Upon completing the meeting Prime Minister Andranik Margarian wished
success to Mohammad Koleini in his personal life and further activity.

NOTHING IS DONE TO DISCLOSE THE ELECTION FRAUDS
A1 Plus | 17:22:33 | 11-06-2004 | Politics |
“Supreme Soviet” Deputy Club informs none of the applications it spread
over the vote frauds in 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections
was referred to in the release of General Office of Prosecutor on
punishing those having committed frauds.
“General Office of Prosecutor replied to all the applications the
same way: “Your application /statement/ addressed to the General
Prosecutor was sent to discussion of Central Electoral Commission. CEC
will cause you to be informed about the results”.
Not being responded by CEC in the fixed term we appealed to Court,
which granted our demand obliging CEC to answer our applications. But
CEC doesn’t answer us again.
During a year we couldn’t get answer for the introduced applications
though we have used all the ways of the Armenian legislation.
The above reference of General Office of Prosecutor gives cause to
spreading the election frauds in coming elections”, “Supreme Soviet”
Deputy Club says.

BBC Accused over ‘Visit to Enclave’
The Scotsman, UK
June 10 2004
“PA”
Azerbaijan’s national broadcasting council has complained to the BBC
that a crew visited the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh without
the agreement of Azerbaijani authorities, the council said today.
A statement from the council said that the head of the BBC World
Service’s Azerbaijan bureau, Islam Atakishiev, was called to
the council to receive the complaint that a crew from the BBC’s
Russian-language service had gone to the enclave, which has been
under control of ethnic Armenian forces for a decade.
The crew “participated in direct dialogue with the terrorist regime
there,” the statement said.
“In the event of continued preparation of further reports demonstrating
indifference to Azerbaijan’s national interests, the question of
broadcasting the BBC on Azerbaijani territory will be reviewed,”
the statement said.

BY-ELECTION TO BE HELD IN 44th CONSTITUENCY
A1 Plus | 18:29:01 | 10-06-2004 | Politics |
Armenian Central Electoral Commission made a decision Thursday to
hold by-election in 44th constituency.
MP Aram Harutyunyan was appointed to Urban Planning Minister post on
June 9 and his seat in National Assembly is vacant now.
Candidates can run for by-election till June 20. The election is
scheduled for August 29.

Anand to lead rest of the World team against Armenia
Deepika, India
June 10 2004
New Delhi, June 9 (UNI) World number two Viswanathan Anand will lead
the Rest of the World side against an Armenian team in a chess series
to mark the 75th birth anniversary of the late Armenian world champion
Tigran Petrosian.
The matches are to be held in Moscow from the June 10 to 15.
The special event will be a six-player team tournament where each
player faces all the members of the opposing team.
Besides Anand, the World team is expected to include Michael Adams,
Peter Svidler, Loek Van Wely, Etienne Bacrot and Paco Vallejo.
A couple of years ago, Anand had led a World team to a win over Russia
in an epic match in Moscow.
The Armenian team includes World No 1 Garry Kasparov and will have
members who are either Armenian or have an Armenian connection.
The three Armenians in the six-man team are Vladimir Akopian, Smbat
Lputian and Rafael Vaganian while others are Kasparov, whose mother
is an Armenian, Hungarian Peter Leko whose wife is from Armenia
and Israeli Boris Gelfand, who was the most famous pupil of Tigran
Petrosian and learnt the game from the master between 1980-83.
Anand, who has arrived in Moscow, said,”It is a very interesting
event. I enjoyed the match between Russia and Rest of the World
and I hope this will be a similar pleasant experience. Playing in
Moscow is always a treat. I remember playing in the Kremlin in 2001
against Tkachiev and the crowd start clapping when I played Qb3. To
be recognised in the Russian heartland for your chess is a matter of
pride.” Anand, a gourmet, added, “I like Moscow as a city. Moreover,
I think Moscow has the best Sushi places.” Talking about Petrosyan,
Anand said, “Petrosyan had excellent defensive resources and was an
unique talent.” Born on June 17, 1929, Petrosyan died in 1984.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anand to captain Rest team
Indian Express, India
June 10 2004
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
NEW DELHI, JUNE 9: India’s Viswanathan Anand, the current world number
2, will lead the Rest of the World team against Armenia in a Chess
Championship being held to mark the 75th birth anniversary of the
late Armenian world champion Tigran Petrosian.
The match, starting in Moscow tomorrow, will be a six-player team
tournament where each player faces all the members of the opposing
team, according to information received here today.
The world team is expected to include Michael Adams, Peter Svidler,
Loek Van Wely, Etienne Bacrot and Paco Vallejo. A couple of years
ago, Anand led the World team to a win over Russia in an epic match
in Moscow.
The Armenian team includes world number 1 Garry Kasparov and will
have members who are either Armenian or have an Armenian connection.
The three Armenians in the six-member team are Vladimir Akopian,
Smbat Lputian and Rafael Vaganian while others are Kasparov (whose
mother is Armenian), Hungarian Peter Leko (whose wife is Armenian)
and Israeli Boris Gelfand, who was the most famous pupil of Petrosian
and learnt the game from the master between 1980-83.

A1 Plus | 21:46:36 | 10-06-2004 | Politics |
COURT PUNISHES ATTACKERS BY FINING THEM
Criminal case on the April 5 skinheads’ assault on journalists during
National Unity party rally was heard today at the first instance
court of Center, Nork-Marash.{BR}
The accused refused to speak at the court session. That’s why their
testimonies given at preliminary inquiry were read up now.
It has become clear that the skinheads, who has severely beat
journalists and broken their cameras, appeared on the scene that very
day “by chance”.
The court took the stories invented by the accused to justify their
appearance on site for granted and fine both accused 100,000 drams
each.
Journalist Anna Israelyan though being aware of faulty justice system
in Armenia was deeply disappointed with the court decision.
State-owned Public Television correspondent Vahe Kostandyan, who
was also attacked by skinheads that day, testified that he had seen
nothing, heard nothing and only found his camera broken. It also became
known that Public Television refused from 290,000-dram compensation.

PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 1) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 10, 2004
National Citizens’ Initiative Considers Karabagh Conflict
Yerevan — The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a
specialized policy meeting on “Resolving Karabagh: The Current Stage
of the Search.” In view of a history rich in diverse approaches and
scenarios, negotiations in various formats, and peace prospects and
inclinations, the roundtable brought together competent policy makers,
public figures, relevant experts, and academic circles, together with
representatives of the mass media and NGO communities, to examine
conflict resolution and its peculiarities in the Karabagh case.
What does the decade-old cease-fire promise, is a mutually acceptable
solution feasible in the foreseeable future, do the authorities
representing Armenian national interests enjoy a broad public mandate
in and for peace talks, might an unfavorable arrangement be imposed
on the Armenians? These and other issues critical to the future of
Karabagh and the entire Armenian nation forged the day’s agenda.
Raffi Hovannisian, founder of NCI and the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies (ACNIS), opened the discussion. “The
nationwide quest for Artsakh and its liberty has come to symbolize
a broader commitment to Armenia’s sovereignty, democracy, and vital
interests. To what extent, over the past 16 years, have we remained
faithful to and worthy of these high concepts, widely shared precepts,
and our fallen compatriots?,” he queried.
“We assemble today to contemplate the political, strategic, diplomatic,
and legal components of Artsakh’s struggle. As always, we will endeavor
to assess conflict and its resolution through the tri-prism of state,
nation, and citizen and in light of the permanent challenges of
identity and security,” Hovannisian said.
In a paper on “The Karabagh Challenge: Deadlock or New Departure
Point?,” Karabagh presidential adviser Manvel Sargsian focused on
the changes in approach to the Karabagh conflict which have created a
new situation characterized by the unprecedented activity of European
structures. “The European organizations that have taken the initiative
from the OSCE Minsk Group seek to find a solution based on humanitarian
approaches such as human rights and legitimacy,” he maintained.
General Arkadiy Ter-Tadevosian, chairman of the Armenian Defense-Sport
Association, covered regional stability and security in his address
on “Military Balance as the Principal Guarantee for Peace in the
Region.” “To preserve the equilibrium, we need not only to enhance
the combat-readiness and mobility of the armed forces to correspond
to 21st-century benchmarks, but also to strengthen bilateral
politico-military cooperation with all friendly countries, actively
cooperating at the same time within the multilateral frameworks of
the CIS and NATO’s Partnership for Peace
program,” the general summarized.
The first session concluded with an intervention by Aram G. Sargsian,
former adviser to the Armenian president and current member of the
Armenian parliament’s Standing Commission on Foreign Affairs, on “The
Evolution of Scenarios for Regulation of the Karabagh Conflict.” He
opined that Armenia should officially recognize the legal authenticity
of the documents adopted by Mountainous Karabagh in its secession
from Soviet Azerbaijan. “The solution should be moved to the arena of
international law, and a legal case obviating Azerbaijani arguments
presented, as political solutions lead to gridlock,” he asserted.
Law and philosophy professor Alexander Manasian addressed “The
Legal Foundations for Solving the Karabagh Question” to open the
afternoon session. The Karabagh problem should not be an object of
political speculations, he stated. It should instead be under constant
state guidance for the working out of a clear-cut and comprehensive
program. “Though our position is considerably strong from the viewpoint
of international law, it is the Azerbaijani party that always acts as
winner on the diplomatic and propaganda fronts, since we lag behind
in anti-propaganda activities for want of an integrated conception
of general approaches to the problem.”
Armen Aghayan, political secretary of the “Protection of Liberated
Territories” public organization, offered a special comment on the
Arax River area as a matter pivotal for conflict resolution in and
around Karabagh. “A successful outcome of the issue’s solution turns
on which party will supervise the four regions adjacent to the Arax.”
The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views and
policy recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists
in attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by former prime minister
Khosrov Haroutiunian of the Christian Democratic Union; Hovhannes
Hovhannisian of the Liberal Progressive Party; former defense minister
Vazgen Manoukian of the National Democratic Union; Grigor Haroutiunian
and Ruzanna Khachatrian of the People’s Party of Armenia; Shavarsh
Kocharian of the National Democratic Party; former minister of state
Hrach Hakobian; Colonel Gegham Haroutiunian of the Republic Party;
Giro Manoyan of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation; Mushegh Lalayan
of the Republican Party; Petros Makeyan of the Democratic Fatherland
Party; former presidential adviser Levon Zourabian; Vardan Khachatrian,
theology professor at Yerevan State University; YSU international
affairs lecturer Aram Haroutiunian; Tamar Gevorgian of the United
Labor Party; American University international relations professor
Khachik Derghoukassian; and many others.
ACNIS analyst Hovsep Khurshudian closed the seminar, concentrating in
particular on the concern raised during the seminar about a potential
Armenia-Azerbaijan strategic imbalance in favor of the latter as a
result of its oil trade. “We do not use even the resources we have–not
only economic and military resources but also political, juridical,
public-relations and, most importantly, democratic ones,” he concluded.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit
association founded in 2001 by former minister of foreign affairs
Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the
purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the
state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National
Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which
includes individual citizens and representatives of various public,
scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law
and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy,
Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the
vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.
For further information, please call (3741) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03;
fax (3741) 52-48-46; e-mail [email protected]; or visit

Armenia has no money to close nuclear power plant
RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
June 10 2004
RBC, 10.06.2004, Yerevan 09:20:50. — The Armenian Nuclear Power
Plant will work until alternative sources of energy are found,
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markarian told reporters today.
According to him, a lot of money is required for closing the nuclear
power plant. “Unfortunately, we do not have such a sum,” the Prime
Minister added. Markarian underlined that the international community
did not provide Armenia with adequate financing. “An amount of EUR100m
is being considered, but this sum is insufficient for closing the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and developing alternative sources of
energy,” the Prime Minister pointed out.
According to Markarian, Armenian energy experts are studying every
possible source of energy. Additionally, they are developing programs
of reconstruction of the existing thermoelectric and hydroelectric
power plants to support Armenia’s independence in the energy sector,
the ARKA news agency reported.
As reported earlier, the EU plans to provide EUR100m for Armenia for
the development of alternative sources of energy, after an exact
date is set for closing the nuclear power plant, which was put in
use in 1980. The power plant was stopped in 1989 and was put back in
operation in 1995. The power plant generates about 40 percent of all
electrical power in Armenia on average. Experts reckon the nuclear
power plant can remain in operation until 2018.

Azeris remain hopeful of US Congress
Azer News, Azerbaijan
June 10 2004
The Azerbaijani community is skeptical about the unbiased standpoint
of the US Congress and the observation of the principle of justice
in its decisions. The reason is the great influence of lobbing at
the Congress. Everyone can guess what the notion of “lobbing” means.
People understand well that lobbing doesn’t mean only the issuing of
statements and bulletins and the release of audio and video materials
in order to express an opinion. Of course, while reading this article,
every Azerbaijani reader first remembers Armenian lobbing at the US
Congress that by various means managed to get some Congressmen on
their side.
In fact, just and honest people, who take an unbiased position rather
than protecting their own personal interests, are also represented
at the Congress. The recent steps to balance the “lobby” at the
US Congress have raised hopes in the Azerbaijani community. It was
initiated to establish the US-Azerbaijani friendship group at the
Congress during the visit of a US delegation headed by the Congress’s
Armed Services Committee chairman Curt Weldon to Baku. The US
delegation held a series of meetings with Azerbaijani state officials
and was received by President Ilham Aliyev. The US Congressmen’s
meeting with Defense Minister, Colonel General Safar Abiyev drew the
public’s great attention. Recalling that President Aliyev presented
the NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation plan to the NATO Secretary General
in Brussels last week, Abiyev said the President had reaffirmed
Azerbaijan’s commitment to cooperate with the US to fight international
terrorism. Touching upon the Upper Garabagh conflict, General Abiyev
emphasized that Armenia had ignored the UN Security Council’s four
resolutions on an unconditional withdrawal of Armenian military
forces from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and the international
community had not recognized Armenia as an aggressor.Weldon said he
had come to Baku to hold talks on expanding the military cooperation
between the US and Azerbaijan. He said that during a recent visit to
Moscow, he reminded Russian officials of Azerbaijan’s tremendous role
in security issues. “The US will continue relations with Azerbaijan
as its strategic ally”, he said. With regard to the Upper Garabagh
conflict, Weldon said he supports the stepping up of the efforts
of his country in this respect. Several members of the US Congress
attending the meeting expressed their appreciation to the Azerbaijani
side for supporting the US in combating international terrorism and
confidence that an extensive cooperation with the US is in store for
Azerbaijan. The public also appreciated the reports on the discussions
on the Garabagh conflict to be held by the American-Turkish Assembly
Association (ATAA) jointly with the US-Turkish group represented
at the US Congress this fall. A delegation led by ATAA President
Ercumend Gilinc, who arrived in Baku on June 6, are holding serious
meetings. The visitors met with Nazim Ibrahimov, the chairman of the
State Committee on Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, on Monday to discuss
issues related to mutual cooperation. The visitors will also meet
with high-ranking government officials and give a news conference on
the results of the visit on Wednesday. Established in the late 1970s,
the ATAA is the biggest Turkish Diaspora active in the United States
and the world. The aim of the Association, which has 57 branches
in the United States and Canada, is to expand US-Turkish relations
and provide the American community with authentic information about
Turkey. The Azerbaijani public still hopes that the US Congress will
take a fair and principled position towards Baku and Yerevan. A saying
in the East reads that when hope is lost it is difficult to recover it.