Category: News

La Tribune
30 juillet 2004
EN ROUTE POUR L’AVENTURE
Un choix de bonnes bandes dessinées pour des voyages dans le temps et
dans l’espace. Aventures assurées.
“Les Mille et Une Nuits”, version noire
Nous sommes à Bagdad, en l’an 808, sous le règne du calife Haroun
al-Rashid. La très discrète corporation des chercheurs de trésor
représente à peu près tous les peuples et religions du Moyen-Orient.
On y trouve un juif, bourreau du calife, un voleur chiite, un médecin
arménien, etc. Le mystère auquel elle s’attaque est terrifiant :
certaines personnes perdent leur ombre. Il ne faut pas longtemps aux
chercheurs de trésor pour comprendre que le coupable est le prophète
voilé, dont personne n’a jamais vu le visage, et qui fut tué jadis
dans une grande bataille. Sauf qu’il n’est pas vraiment mort (sans
être réellement vivant, d’ailleurs), et qu’il veut désormais se
venger.
Dans cette histoire folle, on croise démons et génies, un fantôme et
l’ange de la mort. Ainsi d’ailleurs que la favorite du calife et son
bébé. On plonge surtout dans une atmosphère envoûtante, nourrie de
l’ensemble des contes, légendes et mythes des Mille et Une Nuits, en
version plutôt noire.
Ce récit délirant est servi par une virtuosité graphique
époustouflante. Le dessin faussement naïf de David B. évoque parfois
les BD les plus enfantines, tout en livrant des images à couper le
souffle avec un étonnant travail sur les ombres et les couleurs.
L’auteur n’hésite pas à rompre avec tous les codes de la BD pour
donner des planches à la mise en pages complètement éclatée où la
lecture se fait parfois circulaire et où l’on retrouve le style des
miniatures persanes.
“Les Chercheurs de trésor”. Tome 1, l’Ombre de Dieu et tome 2, la
Ville froide, par David B. Dargaud. 9,45 euros le volume.
La quête des origines, dans le New York du XIXe siècle
Situé en 1879, ce récit met en scène un jeune Anglais qui débarque
aux Amériques à la recherche de ses origines partiellement indiennes.
Dans un New York de la fin du XIXe siècle parfaitement reconstitué,
il se trouve rapidement mêlé aux trafics des gangs locaux et recruté
en parallèle par la police fédérale. De facture classique, ce premier
tome est prometteur de par la personnalité hors norme de son héros, à
cheval entre deux mondes et deux cultures. On attend la suite.
“Ethan Ringler, agent fédéral.” Tome 1, Tecumska, par Gilles Mezzomo
et Denis-Pierre Filippi. Dupuis, 9,50 euros.
Deux visions de l’Amérique latine
D’un côté, Medellin en Colombie, l’enfer de la drogue et des mafias.
Tel est la toile de fond de Cuervos, une série centrée sur les
enfants recrutés comme tueurs à gage par les trafiquants. Violent et
impossible à lcher.
De l’autre, le Nicaragua, pendant la dictature de Somoza. Le jeune
séminariste de bonne famille de Muchacho découvre les réalités
sociales et la répression dans un village perdu. Beau et émouvant.
“Cuervos.” Tome 1, le Contrat et tome 2, Sicaires de la sainte Coke,
par Richard Marazano et Michel Durand. Glénat, 12 euros le volume.
“Muchacho.” Tome 1, par Emmanuel Lepage. Dupuis, 12,94 euros.
Road-movie dans le Lot
Comment la rencontre d’un jeune auto-stoppeur conduit un paisible
bouquiniste à se retrouver aux prises avec des tueurs à la Tontons
flingueurs. Une aventure parfaitement loufoque dans la France
profonde…
“Blues 46.” Tome 1, la Chanson de septembre, par Laurent Moënard et
Eric Stalner. Dargaud, 13 euros.

NEWLY-OPENED ANTI-CORRUPTION INFORMATION CENTER IN YEREVAN TO INVOLVE
PUBLIC IN STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION
YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). An Anti-Corruption Information Center
has been opened in Yerevan upon the initiative of the Armenia branch
of the “Transparency International” organization of the Center for
Regional Development and with the financial assistance of the Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation. The opening ceremony on July
30 was attended by ambassadors, representatives of the Armenian
government, public and political organizations.
According to the President of the Armenian branch of “Transparency
International” Amalia Kostanian, the Center’s goal is to raise public
awareness about the need to struggle against corruption and involve
the public in the struggle. The center is provided with a constantly
updated database and has about 900 names of materials related to the
field. Within the framework of the Center’s activities, it is planned
to organize anti-corruption campaigns, discussions, educational and
re-training programs. Armenian Justice Minister David Haroutiunian,
who was attending the opening ceremony, said that over recent years
the country’s government has made sufficient steps towards combating
corruption and the crucial moment when the public at large too must
show more activity has become mature.
He emphasized that the anti-corruption struggle launched by the
government cannot be successful without public support that will first
of all promote greater transparency in government activities. The
Armenian branch of “Transparency International” has also instituted a
special prize for exclusive contribution to the anti-corruption
movement in Armenia. The first prize for 2003 was handed to the Head
of the OSCE Yerevan Office, Ambassador Roy Reeve.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 1) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:
July 29, 2004
ACNIS Takes on the Challenges of Armenian Culture and Values
Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
convened today a roundtable discussion on “The Challenges of Culture and
Value System in Armenia.” As part of the forum, the Center released the
results of its specialized opinion survey, entitled “Value and Ideology
Benchmarks: Imperatives and Alternatives,” which involved more than 50
experts from Yerevan and across Armenia.
ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian greeted the invited
guests and public participants with opening remarks. “These deliberations on
culture, together with the expert survey preceding them, aim to present one
focus group’s professional perceptions of ideology guideposts which are
characteristic of a transitional period, as well as the true role and place
of our system of values and patterns of cultural development,” he said.
ACNIS legal and political affairs analyst Stepan Safarian focused in detail
on the findings of the expert opinion polls. Accordingly, the majority of
the surveyed experts assert that Armenian society today does not have
clearly-defined value-based guidelines. 4% of experts find it difficult to
answer this question, and only 6% give a positive answer. According to 20%
of respondents, the system of values operating in everyday life is the
continuation by inertia of the system formed during the Soviet years, 10%
think it comes to us from the depth of centuries, and 50% are convinced that
it has been formed during the years of independence. The experts are of the
opinion that Armenian society often favors personal values and their
manifestations, with egocentrism (90%) prevailing over altruism. Regarding
group interests, 96% are of the opinion that society favors clan interests
over collectivism. On the level of national values, 44% and 48%,
respectively, choose nationalism and patriotism, and 80% and 72% cite the
human values of cosmopolitanism and humanitarianism, respectively.
48% of respondent specialists think that the benchmarks of societal values
should be defined by liberal democracy, 18% social democracy, and 18%
national democracy. 6% of participants point to the supremacy of group
interests as the primary obstacle to deepening of the democratic system of
values adopted by the Armenian public, while 20% blame the society’s
unsatisfactory level of political consciousness, 4% its low educational
level, 2% the lack of propagation of relevant values, and 2% the
counter-propagation of those values. 54%, 6%, and 2% find inappropriate the
attitude of the authorities, opposition, and political forces supporting the
authorities, respectively, toward those values. Taking into account today’s
imperatives, 26% underscore the importance of a sovereign state, 14% human
rights and freedoms, 14% spirituality, 14% constitutional order, 10%
democracy, 10% patriotism, 6% separation of powers, and 4% equal rights.
According to the experts, the average Armenian’s conduct of late has changed
markedly toward types of negative demeanor. Only 6% assess lawfulness to be
a positive feature of the average Armenian’s conduct, 94% as negative.
Lawlessness in the average Armenian’s behavior is marked as negative by 100%
of experts, fairness as positive by 38% and negative by 62%, unfairness as
positive by 26% and negative by 74%, honesty and dishonesty are considered
positive by 30% and 84% and negative by 70% and 16%, kindness and evil as
positive by 46% and 70% and negative by 54% and 30%, initiative and
passiveness as positive by 46% and 62% and negative by 54% and 38%, devotion
and treachery as positive by 36% and 66% and negative by 64% and 34%,
civility and rudeness as positive by 20% and 76% and negative by 80% and
24%. Diligence is marked as positive by 76% and negative by 24%.
It is noteworthy that the experts surveyed are convinced that young people
are inclined toward democracy, the middle generation toward
authoritarianism, and the senior generation toward totalitarianism. In the
event of maintaining the current value benchmarks and system, Armenia will
proceed to authoritarianism according to 66% of respondents, to
totalitarianism accordingly to 12%, to democracy according to 16%. 38% opine
that Armenia will establish a system of values characteristic of a
democratic society in 25 years, 6% in 50 years, and 4% in 100 years, whereas
8% do not believe that Armenia will ever have such a system of values. 40%
have a more optimistic attitude toward this issue. They think it will take
five to ten years. The specialists maintain that from the perspective of
civilizational values Armenian society is closest to Eastern civilization
(10%), Russian civilization (10%), and European civilization (12%), while
44% hold that Armenian civilization is a synthesis of all.
What is the role of the spiritual world in our life today? 74% of experts
conclude that this role is a small one, 24% think it plays no role, and only
2% say it leads a great role. 14% of respondents point to the
super-materialized character of contemporary life as the main reason for the
relatively small role of the spiritual world, 20% to the low quality of
spiritual sustenance, 6% to the lack of propagation of spiritual values, 6%
to the passiveness of the intelligentsia, and 20% and 6% to the absence of
exemplary behavior by the authorities and the political elite, respectively.
66% of the respondents are male, and 34% female; 26% are 21-30 years of age,
40% 31-40, 24% 41-50, 10% 51 or above. All the experts surveyed have
received higher education, 14% are full professors (PhD), 82% hold a Master’
s degree, and 4% have earned a Bachelor’s degree.
The second item on the day’s agenda was a presentation by Yerevan State
University professor Vardan Khachatrian, who addressed “The Old and the New:
Tradition and Progress.” “The unique aspect of Armenian identity is the
cultural stratum that has come to us from ancient times and promoted the
Armenian people’s survival,” he said, emphasizing the role of the church,
which has recently diminished. “The guiding precept of the spiritual elite
today is not the struggle for spiritual progress but the ability to adapt to
the present regime,” Khachatrian concluded, noting that the latter is unable
to foster society’s spiritual development since it pursues a policy of
devastating symbols of national pride instead of paying tribute to them.
The formal presentations were followed by contributions by Anahit Bayandur
of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly; former minister of state Hrach Hakobian;
law professor Hrair Tovmasian; Mushegh Yekmalian of the OSCE Yerevan Office;
Derenik Demirchian High School principal Anahit Bakhshian; Alexander Butaev
of the National Democratic Union; MP Shavarsh Kocharian of the National
Democratic Party; Yerevan State University professor Aram Harutiunian;
Vahagn Khachatrian of the “Armat” center; Ruzanna Khachaturian of the People
‘s Party of Armenia; Artsrun Pepanian, political analyst for AR television;
Gayane Markosian of the Harmonious World NGO; National Press Club
chairperson Narine Mkrtchian; and several others.
ACNIS economic and diaspora affairs analyst Hovsep Khurshudian made summary
remarks. “We may deduce from many of the answers that the reestablishment of
values and traditions highly depends on the political system, and
particularly morality of the ruling elite. Therefore only fundamental,
system changes will lead to positive results,” he concluded.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2004, the Center focuses
primarily on public outreach, civic education, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.
For further information on the Center or the full graphics of the poll
results, call (3741) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax (3741) 52-48-46; e-mail
[email protected] or [email protected]; or visit or
From: Baghdasarian

Peterborough Evening Telegraph
July 28, 2004
POLICE: New crack murder squad
A TEAM of detectives is being pulled together to form a crack
homicide squad.
Policemen with a track record in murder investigations will have
instant access to the latest scientific sleuthing technology, and the
ability to tackle major cases without delay.
The team will be led by Detective Superintendent David Hankins,
currently head of Peterborough CID, and will deal with unlawful
killings across the county.
The formation of the American-sounding squad comes after criticism of
Cambridgeshire Police Force’s handling of the murders by Ian Huntley
of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham.
The force was criticised by the Metropolitan police and Sir Michael
Bichard, for failing to request a vetting check on Huntley, losing
focus during the investigation, and because Cambridgeshire Chief
Constable Tom Lloyd remained on holiday in the early stages of the
inquiry.
Hywel Jarman, police spokesman, said: “We are looking to bolster
crime investigations, and part of our review has taken into account
things that have arisen out of Soham.
“But it is also about aligning our crime strategy with best practice
from other forces.”
Today, Det Supt Hankins promised: “We will be using the best
procedures from this country and from all over the world. But the
real benefit of the homicide unit to residents will be the degree of
expertise we will be able to build up in a relatively small team.
“That will help us investigate the most serious of crimes – murder.
“There are scientific advancements being made in crime detection
almost by the day. The things that can be now be done with DNA are
awe-inspiring.”
The homicide squad, to be launched in the autumn, will deal with all
unlawful killings, including murder and manslaughter.
During quiet times in the county it will deal with other major
crimes, but recent years suggest they will be kept busy.
In 2002 to 2003, there were nine murders, 23 attempted murders, and
11 manslaughter cases. In the last financial year, there were eight
murders, 21 attempted murders and 15 manslaughter investigations.
Officer already in charge of murder investigation
Det Supt Hankins is already leading the Farcet murder investigation
into the stabbing of Robert Bogle, on Tuesday, June 8, at 8.30pm.
Neither that team, nor the one investigating the murder of Armenian
Hovhannes Armirian, in Upton, in December 2002, which is being led by
Detective Chief Inspector Bert Deane, will be broken up.
But all new murders will be in the hands of the homicide unit.

Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian
28 Jul 04
AZERI DEFENCE CHIEF, US AIR FORCE COMMANDER DISCUSS COOPERATION
Baku, 28 July: Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev today
received the commander of the US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), Gen
Robert H. Foglesong.
The two men exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in the
military-political sphere. Gen Foglesong thanked Azerbaijan for its
support for operations against international terrorism.
Talking about the aim of his visit to Baku, he said he would like to
familiarize himself with the Azerbaijani air forces. “I believe that
cooperation between the air forces of our countries will strengthen
after my visit,” he said.
Abiyev criticized the US government for allocating equal military aid
to Armenia and Azerbaijan and also for allocating 5m dollars to the
separatists in Nagornyy Karabakh.
In turn, Foglesong voiced his hope that Azerbaijan will choose a
peaceful way to resolve the Karabakh conflict.

RosBusinessConsulting Database
July 29, 2004 Thursday 11:54 am, EST
Georgia pays debts to Armenia
The Georgian government has paid $5.8m in fines and interests of its
debt to Armenia for the period from 2003 to May 2004, Armenian
Finance Minister Vardan Khachatrian told journalists, the ARKA news
agency reported. According to him, a bilateral commission that will
discuss all debt issues has been created.
Georgia’s state debt to Armenia is $19.5m. Moreover, Georgian energy
enterprises own $4m to Armenian energy companies.

Associated Press Worldstream
July 29, 2004 Thursday 4:58 PM Eastern Time
Armenia planning contribution to Iraq force
YEREVAN, Armenia
Armenia drew closer to contributing to the U.S.-led forces in Iraq on
Thursday, when the Cabinet approved a Defense Ministry decision to
join an agreement governing the coalition forces there.
Armenia’s leadership has decided to contribute, and a Defense
Ministry official said the former Soviet republic is discussing
sending 10 explosives experts and three doctors to Iraq. The official
said Armenia is also offering to send military trucks.
Armenia has close ties with Russia, but has sought to step up
relations with the United States since the 1991 Soviet collapse. The
Caucasus Mountain nation’s neighbor and foe, Azerbaijan, has sent 150
troops to Iraq.

El Pais, Espana
July 29, 2004
Europa llega a los festivales de Navarra y Castillo de Ainsa
Madrid
CARLOS GALILEA,
Los sonidos del Europa son los protagonistas tanto de Festivales de
Navarra, hasta el 7 de agosto en Pamplona, como del Festival Castillo
de Ainsa, que se celebrara en el Pirineo aragones a partir del dia
12. La incorporacion de nuevos paises a la Union Europea y la firma
de la primera Constitucion europea han animado a estos festivales,
que propician desde hace anos la diversidad cultural, a programar
musicas del continente donde han surgido lo celta y el fado, la
tarantela y el flamenco, y que acoge las creaciones de los hindues
que viven en Londres o los norteafricanos de Paris.
Dissidenten inauguro el lunes, con la Orquesta y la Coral de Camara
de Pamplona, esta edicion de Festivales de Navarra ().
Hoy estan previstas Natacha Atlas y Carmen Paris; manana, los
portugueses Mafalda Arnauth y Rodrigo Leao, y el sabado, Jane Birkin
con un grupo magrebi. Para el siguiente fin de semana, los
napolitanos Eugenio Bennato y Pietra Montecorvino (5 de agosto), una
Noche celta (dia 6) y Arto Tuncboyaciyan y su Armenian Navy Band (dia
7). En los jardines de la Ciudadela habra teatro de calle con Royal
de Luxe y Xarxa Teatre; peliculas de Dreyer, Rossellini o Lars von
Trier, y talleres sobre el expresionismo aleman o la nouvelle vague,
y la exposicion de Cartier-Bresson Los europeos.
Ainsa () arrancara el 12 de agosto con
Sargento Garcia, al que seguiran Bennato y Montecorvino (dia 13),
Dulce Pontes (dia 14), Tuncboyaciyan y el bulgaro Ivo Papasov (dia
15), la alemana Schall Sick Brass Band (dia 17), los belgas Think of
One (dia 18), el grupo irlandes Kila (dia 19) o el duo
moscovita-berlines Theremin, la bosnia Ljiljana Buttler & Mostar
Sevdah Reunion y la croata Lidija Bajuk (dia 20).

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
July 28, 2004
CONSIGLIO EUROPA: ALLARME SITUAZIONE DETENUTI IN ARMENIA ;
COMITATO ANTITORTURA: CARCERI SOVRAFFOLLATE E POLIZIA VIOLENTA
BRUXELLES
(ANSA) – BRUXELLES, 28 LUG – Arriva dal Consiglio d’Europa
l’allarme sulla situazione dei detenuti in Armenia e il richiamo
alle forze dell’ordine del paese perche curino di piu’ la
formazione professionale degli agenti.
Secondo il Comitato per la prevenzione della tortura di
Strasburgo, che ha presentato oggi il suo primo rapporto
sull’Armenia, oltre al sovraffollamento delle carceri e
all’assenza di qualsiasi attivita’ ricreativa, i detenuti armeni
devono infatti affrontare un “rischio elevato di maltrattamenti
da parte della polizia”.
In particolare Strasburgo chiede misure urgenti per migliorare
le condizioni di detenzione dei condannati all’ergastolo nella
prigione di Noubarashen, in provincia di Erevan, e evidenzia le
carenze dell’ospedale psichiatrico della stessa citta’.
In risposta al rapporto, le autorita’ armene hanno annunciato
una diminuzione della popolazione carceraria, grazie
all’adozione del nuovo codice penale, e hanno presentato delle
misure destinate a migliorare le condizioni negli istituiti di
Noubarashen.(ANSA).

ARKA News Agency
July 29 2004
Goods turnover between Armenia and Ukraine in five months of 2004
grew twice and amounted to $31.1 million
Nagorno Karabakh has stable trend toward decrease of crime level
Armenian society is deprived of strictly formed value reference
points
RA Ministry of Defense denies the statement by AR Ministry of Defense
*********************************************************************
GOODS TURNOVER BETWEEN ARMENIA AND UKRAINE IN FIVE MONTHS OF 2004
GREW TWICE AND AMOUNTED TO $31.1 MILLION
YEREVAN, July 29. /ARKA/. Goods turnover between Armenia and Ukraine
in five months of 2004 grew twice and amounted to $31.1 million,
Ukrainian Embassy to Armenia told ARKA. Export of Ukranian goods
increased twice and amounted to $26.8 million. Export of Armenian
goods grew 1.7 times and made $3.3 million.
Foreign trade operations of Ukraine were conducted with partners from
184 countries. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
NAGORNO KARABAKH HAS STABLE TREND TOWARD DECREASE OF CRIME LEVEL
STEPANAKERT, July 29. /ARKA/. Nagorno Karabakh has stable trend
toward decrease of crime level, it was stated during the sitting of
NKR Police in result of operative work of the department in first
half of 2004.
It was noted during the sitting that 281 crimes were registered in
report period, which is 16% less that in the same period of 2003.
In the whole according to NKR Police, operative situation in the
republic remains stable and controllable. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN SOCIETY IS DEPRIVED OF STRICTLY FORMED VALUE REFERENCE
POINTS
YEREVAN, July 29. /ARKA/. According to 88% of the Armenian experts,
the Armenian society hasn’t strictly formed value reference points,
as it was stated by Stephan Safaryan, the expert from the Armenian
Center for Strategic and National Research (ACSNR), the results of
`Value and Ideological Guiding Lines. Imperatives and Alternatives’
expert survey conducted by ACSNR on July 12-27 testify to it.
According to Safaryan, 50% of the respondents think that the system
of values in the Armenian life was formed during the period of
independence, 20% – during the Soviet period. At the same time, as
Safaryan stated, 84% of the respondents are against the existing
system of values in Armenia. He added that 48% of Armenian experts
think that reference points of the Armenian society must be defined
by liberal democracy, and according to 36% of the respondents, social
democracy and national ideology must be such kind of reference
points. At the same time 92% of the respondents think that the values
in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Laws of
the country are not deep-rooted or ingrained at all. Besides,
according to Safaryan, 54% of the respondents considered the
authorities’ conduct to be the reason of this, and 20% – the
unsatisfactory level of political consciousness among the society.
Safaryan also said that 36% of Armenian experts think that the
influence of external factors on the formation of the system of
values in the country to be big and 66%- considerable. 50 experts
took part in the survey. 82% of the respondents were holders of
master’s degree, 14% – candidates of science, 4% – bachelors. A.A.-0-
*********************************************************************
RA MINISTRY OF DEFENSE DENIES THE STATEMENT BY AR MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
YEREVAN, July 29. /ARKA/. RA Ministry of Defense (MD) denied the
information about the breach of ceasefire regime on the border of
Armenia and Azerbaijan late in the evening on July 27. According to
RA MD Press Service Department, there is no such information about
the breach of ceasefire regime.
Azerbaijani MD Press Service made a statement on July 28, according
to which the Armenian side twice opened fire on the positions of the
Azerbaijani army: `on July 27 beginning from 11:30 p.m. for about
half an hour Armenian subdivisions began firing of the Azerbaijani
army’s positions located near Alibeili village of Tovus region. The
fire was opened from submachine guns and machine-guns from Berd
region of Armenia. The same day from 11:55 p.m. for 15 minutes
Armenian subdivisions began firing of the Azerbaijani army’s
positions from Berkaber village of Berd region of Armenia’, according
to the statement. A.H.–0–