Category: News

KfW may credit Yerevan hydro plant modernization
Interfax
June 11 2004
Yerevan. June 10 (Interfax) – ZAO International Energy Corporation
hopes to receive a credit of 15 million euros from Germany’s
Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau by the end of 2004 to modernize
Yerevan Hydroelectric Plant, plant Deputy General Director Mels
Akopyan told Interfax.
He said that representatives from KfW are currently discussing this
project with IEC General Director Mikhail Mantrov in Moscow.
Akopyan said that the German bank is waiting for the question of
guarantees to be resolved before providing the credit. He said that
he hopes that the credit will be provided under beneficial terms.
IEC has taken on the obligation of repaying a credit for 18 million
euros already received from KfW to restore the fifth and sixth
power-producing units at Kanaker Hydroelectric Plant, which is also
part of the Sevan-Razdan Cascade power plant. This credit was provided
to the Armenian government at the end of 2000 for 40 years at 0.75%
per annum, with a grace period of 10 years.
The Sevan-Razdan Cascade united six hydro plants build between 1930
and 1962 and is one of the main electricity producers in Armenia. The
plant has a capacity of 556 megawatts or about 18% of the total power
capacity of Armenia.
ZAO International Energy Corporation was set up at the start of
September 2003 by Unified Energy System of Russia to operate the Sevan-
Razdan plant. The company has a license from the Armenian commission
for the regulation of natural monopolies to produce electricity in
the country for 15 years.

U.S. to extend Armenia $700 mln
Interfax
June 11 2004
Yerevan. INTERFAX – Armenia expects to receive $700 million in aid
from the United States in 2004-2008 under the Challenges of the
Century program, Armenia’s Finance Minister Vardan Khachatryan said
on Thursday.
Armenia hopes to receive $100 million of the aid before the end
of 2004.
The government is currently developing specific projects in order to
receive this money. It is anticipated that the money will be used in
education, healthcare and social services, and to rebuild the country’s
infrastructure, such as irrigation systems and rural area roads.
Armenia also expects to receive $20 million – $25 million from the
World Bank under a program to fight poverty, Khachatryan said.

Viet Nam joins ITI – UNESCO
Viet Nam News Agency, Vietnam
June 11 2004
Ha Noi, June 11 (VNA) – Viet Nam, Ukraine and Armenia have been
admitted to the UNESCO’s International Theatre Institute (ITI) at
its 30th World Congress.
The world congress, dubbed ”Myths and Rituals: Challenges for
Contemporary Creation in the Third Millennium”, was held in Tampico,
Mexico from May 29 to June 4 with the attendance of 242 delegates
from 62 member countries.
Trong Khoi, General Secretary of the Viet Nam Theatrical Artists’
Association, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the congress,
said Viet Nam’s pavilion, the most attractive at the congress, was
decorated with billboards of Viet Nam’s famous dramas like ”Rung
truc” [Bamboo Forest], ”Othello” and ”A ca ve o nha hang Maxim”
[A bar girl at Maxim’s Restaurant].
Bilingual books on theatrical arts in Viet Nam, its several traditional
musical instruments, videos and CDs about performing arts in the
country were also introduced at the congress.
The 31st ITI – UNESCO World Congress will be hosted by the
Philippines.-Enditem

UN rejects Armenian fugitives’ asylum plea – Azeri TV
ANS TV, Baku
9 Jun 04
[Presenter] Artur Apresyan and Roman Teryan, who fled Robert
Kocharyan’s regime in Armenia and arrived in Azerbaijan, have received
a letter. The letter is from the head of the UN [UNHCR] Baku office,
Bohdan Nahaylo.
[Correspondent over video of Artur Apresyan and Roman Teryan] Bohdan
Nahaylo, head of the UN Baku office, has sent a letter to Artur
Apresyan and Roman Teryan, who fled Armenia and arrived in Baku on
7 April and who are being held at a remand facility of the National
Security Ministry. We learnt about the content of the letter in a
conversation with the Armenians.
The letter says that the UN Baku office cannot settle Apresyan
and Teryan, irrespective of their status, in a western European
country. Nevertheless, we would like to offer our kind services to
help these two persons return to Armenia, end quote.
This offer itself caused the fury of the Armenian fugitives. Their
relatives in Yerevan believe that it is impossible for the Armenians
to return to Armenia.
Artur Apresyan and Roman Teryan say that they can live neither in
Azerbaijan nor in Armenia. They continue to insist that the UN Baku
office help them move to a third country.

Pressure group vows to bar Armenians from Azeri-hosted NATO conference
ANS TV, Baku
8 Jun 04
[Presenter] Armenian officers have voiced their intention of coming
to Baku. The Armenian Defence Ministry press secretary said that the
officers insist on coming to Baku for exercises to be held within
the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme. The Karabakh
Liberation Organization [KLO] advises the Armenians against this trip.
[Correspondent] Armenian officers declared their intention of coming
to Baku on 22 June. A planning conference for exercises within the
framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme will be held
here on that day. The Armenian Defence Ministry press secretary,
Col Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, told Russia’s Regnum news agency that on 16
June, the Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia will issue relevant papers
to the Armenian officers for their trip to Baku. Let us recall that
the Armenian military was not permitted to attend conferences held
in Baku earlier.
Commenting on the Armenians’ attempts to come to Baku, the head of the
Foreign Ministry’s press service, Matin Mirza, said that the event
is being held within the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace
programme and that not only Armenians, but also representatives of all
the member states of the programme will take part in the conference.
In his opinion, the Armenians’ trip to Baku cannot be regarded as the
establishment of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He
said that there are positive aspects of the Armenians’ visit.
[Matin Mirza] I do not think that the Armenians’ involvement in
the Baku-based event can create any problem for Azerbaijan. On the
contrary, after arriving in Baku and participating in the conference
under the NATO programme, the Armenians will once again witness
dynamic economic and democratic reforms which have been carried
out in Azerbaijan. They will also see for themselves that not only
Azerbaijan, but also Armenia will be weakening until Armenia gives
up its aggressive policy regarding Azerbaijan.
[Correspondent] Mirza also said that by making a fuss on various web
sites, the Armenians want to tarnish Azerbaijan’s image. The Defence
Ministry press service said that the Armenians’ arrival in Baku is not
desirable and we have accurate information that they will not come,
end quote.
KLO chairman Akif Nagi believes that the country’s relevant agencies
should take a firm position on the issue. He said that the enemy
country, which won the first phase of the war, now wants to establish
cooperation with Azerbaijan, and international organizations are busy
rendering Armenia assistance in this sphere.
He does not share the optimism of Azerbaijani diplomats. As for
the statements that NATO will guarantee the Armenians’ security,
he described this as a wrong notion. We will prove that NATO cannot
guarantee the security of any Armenian on the territory of Azerbaijan,
end quote.
[Nagi] If the Armenian officers arrive in Azerbaijan despite our
protests, then keeping to its position, the KLO will make it impossible
for the Armenian officers to enter Baku. If we fail to do this and they
enter Baku via some secret routes, then using its internal reserves,
the KLO will make it impossible to begin the conference. The KLO will
use the most radical methods in this process. I would not like to
make these methods public. I mean that protest rallies will be the
mildest methods to be used. I think if the Armenian officers dare to
come to Baku, they will regret it.
[Correspondent] Nagi called on Azerbaijani officers not to take part
in any event attended by Armenian officers.
Mahir Mammadli and Seyraz Azadoglu, ANS.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TV poll shows Azeris against Armenian officers’ presence in NATO conference
ANS TV, Baku
9 Jun 04
[Presenter] Armenian officers’ visit to Baku [to attend NATO exercises]
does not cause any problems on the state level. However, this is
not the case among the public. Our correspondent has come to this
conclusion after conducting an opinion poll among Baku residents.
[Correspondent, over video of central Baku] Armenian officers’ visit
to Baku is an insult to the spirit of thousands of our martyrs and
our national values. This is the position of the Union of National
Democratic Forces [UNDF] on Armenian officers’ intention to attend
a conference due in Baku within the framework of NATO’s Partnership
for Peace programme.
Today’s sitting of the UNDF discussed attempts of the Armenians to
come to Baku. They decided that this was inadmissible. According
to Elcin Mirzabayli, secretary of the United People’s Front Party,
which is a member of the UNDF, Armenian officers will not be allowed
to arrive in Baku until Azerbaijani lands are freed from occupation.
[Mirzabayli, in his office] Using all the rights granted by the
constitution, the UNDF will try to prevent this and will use all
possible means not to allow Armenian officers to visit Baku. We
think that our actions will be quite harsh. We think that it is very
difficult to curb emotions of Karabakh war veterans and refugees from
the occupied districts who are members of our party. It is difficult
for me to predict what these actions will cost the Armenians.
[Correspondent] Elcin Mirzabayli went on to say that leaders of
the UNDF member parties had instructed their party members to foil
the Armenians’ expected visit. Our party members will be posted at
different places of the city and will prevent the visit, end of quote.
An opinion poll that we have held among Baku residents has enabled
us to approximately clarify the position of ordinary people on the
issue. Almost all the city residents we polled said the same.
[Unidentified man in the street, captioned as a Baku resident] My
mother, sister and relatives are in Armenian captivity. They have
played thousand tricks on us and are mocking us.
[Second man] It is difficult to say if their visit to Baku is good
or bad. But I do not regard it as necessary at this stage.
[A woman] This is very bad. No, they should not be allowed to
come. No-one has the right to allow the enemy into our country. My
son was martyred. I will never accept this. I do not want this and
I do not support this.
[Third man] What does the word officer mean? An officer is an armed
person who kills another person, is he not? How can we then allow
them into the republic?
[Passage omitted: others repeat similar ideas]
[Correspondent, over video of Mammadov] MP Elman Mammadov [former
executive head of occupied Xocali District] also protested against
the Armenians’ visit to Baku. According to him, the mass media and
public figures foiled the previous attempts of enemy officers to visit
Baku. The MP thinks that the same should be done this time as well.
[Mammadov] I cannot understand how some people, people who describe
themselves as Azerbaijanis, can accept the fact that Armenians,
who have occupied over 20 per cent of our territories, made over a
million of our compatriots abandon their lands and shed the blood
of tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis, will arrive in Azerbaijan,
Baku. Do you know how they will come to Baku, Azerbaijan? They will
come to the capital of the country they have occupied as victors.
They will rejoice at this fact and will tell criminals like them
back home that they have been to the capital of the country whose
territory they occupied and enjoyed themselves.
[Correspondent] Thirteen days are left until the start of the
conference which Armenian officers want to attend.
Mahir Mammadli, Sehrac Azadoglu, ANS.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 11th, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27
EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION POLLS EUROPEAN ELECTIONS CANDIDATES
Brussels, Belgium – The European Armenian Federation has sent a
questionnaire to a representative sample of some 20,000 candidates
participating in the upcoming European Parliament elections.
The questionnaire was addressed to 1354 candidates from 25 European
Union countries, in proportion to the number of seats by country and
political party affiliations. The poll is made up of four multiple
choice questions, focusing on Turkey’s aggressive policy lead toward
Armenia and its Armenian community, in the framework of its candidacy
to join the European Union.
“The first question deals with genocide denial and the incitement of
hatred against Armenians through the Turkish scholar programmes,”
explained Laurent Leylekian, Director of the European Armenian
Federation. “The second is concerning the destruction or the conversion
of Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey. The third deals with the
blockade of Armenia, while the fourth is a more general question
regarding the European Union’s final borders.”
He went on to note: “We understand the procedural restrictions and
limitations on Members of Parliament. That is why we provided a choice
of questionnaire responses which do not deal with overall principles,
but call for concrete commitments within the framework of possibilities
and which deal with Ankara’s candidacy to the European Union.”
The European Armenian Federation office has already begun receiving
answers to the questionnaire. The results will be published,
following the tabulation of responses, on the Federation’s website —
— and through press releases.
####

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
June 11, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II Departs for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
On June 10, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, departed for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland for an official visit to the Church of England, upon the invitation
of His Grace Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the
Anglican Communion. Following the ecumenical visit, His Holiness will
conduct his first Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Church Diocese of Great
Britain.
>>From June 10-14, His Holiness will stay in Lambeth Palace, which is the
administrative center of the Church of England. On June 11, the Pontiff of
All Armenians will meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by a
meeting with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. In the
course of the trip, His Holiness will visit the Nikaean Club, the Shrine of
St Edward and Shrines of 20th Century Martyrs, St Mary’s Abbey (Anglican
Benedictine Women’s Community), and the King’s School, Canterbury. His
Holiness will also attend prayer services in Westminster Abbey, and on
Sunday, June 13, will deliver a homily in Canterbury Cathedral during church
services.
As part of the ecumenical portion of the visit, His Holiness is scheduled to
have meetings with His Eminence Gregorios, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great
Britain (of the Greek Orthodox Church), and the Council of Oriental Orthodox
Churches.
>>From June 14-19, the Catholicos of All Armenians will visit the Armenian
Church Diocese of Great Britain. His Holiness will meet with Armenian
community members, visit the St. Sarkis Armenian Church (Diocesan
Headquarters), and will preside during the celebration of Divine Liturgy in
St. Yeghishe Armenian Church. His Holiness will also receive the Armenian
community of Manchester.
His Holiness Karekin II is accompanied by His Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrosian,
Director of Inter-Church Relations; His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian,
Primate of the Armenian Diocese of New Nakhijevan and Russia; Rev. Fr.
Mesrop Parsamian, Staff-bearer of His Holiness; and Dr. Radik Martirossian,
Rector of Yerevan State University.
##

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
June 11, 2004
Official Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to Finland Concludes
On June 7, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, concluded his official ecumenical visit to the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and returned to the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Pontifical delegation had departed for
Finland upon the invitation of the Most Reverend Dr. Jukka Paarma,
Archbishop of Finland and Turku, Head of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Finland.
During meetings with Archbishop Paarma and His Eminence Archbishop
Leo of Karelia and All Finland (Finnish Orthodox Church), the
three spiritual leaders underlined the importance of inter-church
and ecumenical relations. The Armenian Pontiff expressed hope that
cooperation would be continued not only between the Heads of Churches,
but also between church-based organizations and structures.
In the course of the visit, His Holiness met with Mr. Matti Taneli
Vanhanen, the Prime Minister of Finland. His Holiness spoke of the
great tragedy which befell the Armenian nation and people at the
beginning of the 20th century in the Ottoman Empire, and expressed
regret that there are still many states which have not officially
recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide, which was one the
gravest crimes committed against the whole of mankind.
During the five-day trip, the Catholicos of All Armenians and
the Pontifical delegation visited the Finnish Bible Society, had
meetings with the administrative staff of the Department of Theology
of the University of Helsinki and became acquainted with the work
and activity of the scientific/research centers of the Department.
His Holiness was also received by the philanthropic organizations of
both Finnish Churches.
His Holiness also met with the local Armenian community, giving them
his Pontifical blessing and encouraging them to remain steadfast
in their faith, continue to love their homeland and to be loyal,
contributing and honorable citizens of the Republic of Finland.
His Holiness Karekin II was accompanied during the journey by His
Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian, Pontifical Legate for Central
Europe; His Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrosian, Director of Inter-Church
Relations; His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian, Primate of the Armenian
Diocese of New Nakhijevan and Russia; and Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamian,
Staff-bearer of His Holiness. Mr. Vladimir Karmirshalian, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the
Republic of Finland, Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Norway,
accompanied the Pontifical delegation in Finland.
##

Jailed Azeri opposition leaders’ trial postponed due to defendants’ absence
ANS TV, Baku
10 Jun 04
Presenter Opposition members who staged mass rallies in protest
against the October 2003 presidential elections in Azerbaijan and
who are being charged with organizing mass riots, did not appear in
today’s session of the court which was to investigate their case. The
process was adjourned until tomorrow 11 June.
Correspondent, over archive footage of trial The trial at the Grave
Crimes Court into the case of opposition activists, Democratic Party
of Azerbaijan Secretary-General Sardar Calaloglu; the Musavat Party
deputy chairmen, Rauf Arifoglu, Arif Hacili and Ibrahim Ibrahimli;
People’s Party of Azerbaijan Chairman Panah Huseyn; Hope Party Chairman
Iqbal Agazada, and the chairman of the union of Karabakh war veterans,
Etimad Asadov, who are accused of organizing mass actions and riots
in October 2003 in protest against the outcome of the presidential
elections in Azerbaijan, was postponed even before it started. The
reason was that the defendants refused to attend the trial as they
did in the latest preliminary sessions.
To recap, the defence lawyers stopped their activities since their
clients officially dismissed them at the last session. The lawyers
appointed by the state were sitting in the courtroom today. Only
the Musavat Party deputy chairman, Rauf Arifoglu, signed a contract
with his former lawyer, Samad Panahov. Judge Mansur Ibayev said the
session could not be conducted without the defendants and announced
an adjournment until tomorrow. The judge said that if the defendants
were absent for invalid reasons, then they would be forced to attend
the sessions.
Leyla Hasanova, ANS.