KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS TO BECOME MORE COORDINATED NEXT YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby,
reports the RA leader’s press office. The parties discussed the
EU-Armenia relations, specifically the Action Plan within the European
Neighborhood Policy. Robert Kocharian emphasized that relations with
the EU will be transformed to a more coordinated level next year. In
his words, presently, efforts to mark priorities of the Action Plan
for the next year and clarify the mechanisms of work with the European
Commission are exerted. The interlocutors also referred to the latest
developments within the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and
conduction of the constitutional referendum in Karabakh. Besides,
they touched upon the forthcoming parliamentary election.

ARKADY GHUKASIAN RATES REACTION ON KARABAKH REFERENDUM AS ILLOGICAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 15:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU statement on the constitutional referendum in
Karabakh should not be perceived as negative attitude to democratic
processes in Karabakh, said EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby upon completion of the meeting with NKR
President Arkady Ghukasian. He remarked that according to assessment
of the international community, the level of democracy in Nagorno
Karabakh, however referendum carries some principal elements that
should be settled during the talks. "It specifically refers to Nagorno
Karabakh’s status," he underscored.

For his part Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian expressed
satisfaction with the meeting dedicated to discussion of serious topics
such as the constitutional referendum and the EU’s reaction on it.

"The EU’s reaction seems illogical to me. What does it mean to
recognize or not recognize the outcomes of the referendum or the
Constitution?" the NKR leader said.

In his opinion, here one should speak of the essence of
the Constitution or compare the Constitution of NKR and
Azerbaijan. "Comparison would be useful for both sides. They could
derive something for themselves and it would be beneficial for us
as well, since we would appreciate a dialogue with a democratic
state," he said. According to the NKR President the reaction of the
international community on the referendum is directly connected with
Azerbaijan’s policy. He emphasized that the international community
should promote democratic processes in Nagorno Karabakh and this will
have a positive impact on the talks.

"Negative reaction jeopardizes the negotiation process. With adoption
of the Constitution we inform the international community of principles
and goals of people of Karabakh," Ghukasian said. At that he reminded
that in summer 2007 presidential election will be held in Karabakh
and asked Peter Semneby whether the election will receive a similar
reaction.

In Ghukasian’s words, Mr Semneby answered that conduction of election
is very important and the presidential election should not arouse
the same (negative) reaction. The NKR President also informed that
the EU Envoy is going to visit Nagorno Karabakh in January 2007,
reports IA Regnum.

CYPRIOT FM: WE MAY STILL VETO EU-TURKEY TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 17:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas
said on Sunday that the Greek Cypriot administration may still veto
opening of chapters with Turkey in its EU accession talks. ‘We cannot
close our eyes to the behavior of Turkey vetoing our membership
to the international organizations. Under these conditions nobody
should expect opening of any chapter in Turkey’s accession talks,"
Lillikas said. The Greek Cypriot foreign minister was referring to
Ankara’s veto of Greek Cypriot membership to several international
organizations and activities including the Organization of Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) and participation in strategic
EU-NATO discussions. The Greek Cypriot administration claims
sovereignty on the whole island including the Turkish north, while
Turkey only recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,
reports The New Anatolian.

"ARMENIA’S 12 CAPITAL CITIES" EXHIBITION OPENED IN PARIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 17:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ December 14 French Minister of Communications
and Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres and Armenian Ambassador to
France Edvard Nalbandian opened an exhibition titled "Armenia’s
12 Capital Cities" that will last till March 18, 2007. The authors
of the exhibition are Narek Sargsyan and head of the department of
architecture at the RA Academy of Sciences Murad Asratyan.

Modern and old photos as well as information on Armenia’s 12 capital
cities – Van, Artashat, Tigranakert, Dvin, Vagharshapat, Ani, Yerevan
and others – are represented in the Conciergerie hall.

Besides, ancient carpets, national dressed, khachkars and embroidery
are exhibited. The exhibition organized with the assistance of the
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Communications and
Culture is held within the framework of the Year of Armenia in France,
reports the RA MFA press office.

"TRAVEL TO ARMENIA" FILM SHOWN IN VIENNA

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 18:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Robert Gedikian’s "Travel to Armenia" film was shown
in Burg Kino in Vienna December 12. Armenian Ambassador to Austria
Ashot Hovakimian and French Ambassador to Austria Pierre Viaux were
present at the premiere. According to Amb.

Hovakimian, the film show is an excellent opportunity for Austrians
to learn about the Armenian Diaspora and become a participant of the
Year of Armenia in France, reports the RA MFA press office.

ARMENIAN HYTEX PLASTIC AND COCA COLA BOTTLER’S GEORGIA SIGN COOPERATION MEMORANDUM

Armenpress
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: The Yerevan-based Hytex Plastic
company and Coca Cola Bottlers Georgia have signed in Georgia’s Tbilisi
a memorandum on long-term cooperation. The Armenian company has vowed
to build a plant in Georgia for production of plastic bottles.

Hytex Plastic is supposed to invest $2 million in the repair of the
site and installment of modern equipment. This process is supposed
to be accomplished in the second half of 2007. The Armenian company
covers now 30 percent of the Georgian demand for such bottles.

Under the memorandum Coca Cola Bottlers Georgia will have to buy
bottles of the Hytex Plastic until 2013. The signing ceremony was
attended by Michael Dave, the regional director of the EBRD. In 2006
January the EBRD bought 30 percent of shares in Hytex Plastic.

ARMENTEL GIVES UP TWO OF ITS MONOPOLIES

Armenpress
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory
Commission has reviewed today License 60 that granted ArmenTel
telephone operator exclusive rights in several services, lifting its
monopolies on Internet data transmission and Internet voice transfer,
but the company will hold exclusive rights in fixed-telephone services.

Lifting ArmenTel’s monopolies was one of the terms of the company’s
sale to the Russian Vimpelcom, which now owns its 90 percent stake. Now
after this major change Internet providers in Armenia may sign separate
agreements with international providers for transmission of data.

The change also allows the second mobile phone provider- VivaCell-
which had to use ArmenTel’s stations, to create its own station
for transmission of international voice data. The Public Services
Regulatory Commission told ArmenTel and Viva Cell to incorporate
relating changes into their inter-operability agreement until February
1, 2007.

But a member of the Commission warned this does not mean immediate
opening up of the sector to competition, as they have yet to address
many legislative and technical problems.

Russian Vimpelcom paid 341.9 million euros ($436.3 million) plus
about 40 million euros (US$51 million) in debt to takeover ArmenTel
from the Greek OTE.

ARMENIANS AGAINST AND FOR TURKEY’S EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP

Armenpress
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Head of an Armenian research center
dealing with Oriental studies said Armenia is interested that Turkey
respect all the commitments it has assumed as a candidate for EU
membership before moving ahead.

Ruben Safrastian, head of the Institute for Oriental Studies, an
affiliation of the National Academy of Sciences, told a round table
last Saturday that Armenia wants Turkey to be a predictable neighbor,
a nation that conforms with European standards and a country that is
ready to acknowledge and condemn its predecessor’s crimes. "Turkey is
now a country that tries to dodge the commitments it has assumed as a
nation seeking EU membership, a country that refuses to acknowledge
the black chapters of its history and refuses negotiations with its
neighbor over normalization of relations," he said.

Kiro Manoyan, a senior member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF), said the last 12 months have shown that Turkey is reluctant
to respect these commitments, particularly, the ones relating to
Cyprus. He said a reformed Turkey means a Turkey that has recognized
the Armenian genocide. He also argued that Armenia should not act as
a proponent of Turkey’s EU membership.

But Ara Manukian from the former ruling Armenian National Movement
(ANM), countered that Turkey’s membership in the European Union is
an absolute necessity because Turkey can join it only after sweeping
reforms.

"If Turkey does not join the EU and is rejected by the whole of Europe
it may shift towards some eastern countries harboring terrorism,’
he said.

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS ARMENIAN FM

Fars News Agency, Iran
Dec 18 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad
Adel in a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian here
on Sunday stressed the need for the development of Tehran-Yerevan ties.

During the meeting, Haddad Adel voiced pleasure in the growing trend
of the two states’ friendly relations, and pointed out that execution
of economic and industrial projects in the energy sector, particularly
completion of the natural gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia as
well as the expansion of roads, plays a crucially important role in the
development of the two countries’ economic and industrial cooperation.

He further called for maximum use of the two sides’ potentials and
possibilities to consolidate the two nations’ friendly relations.

Elsewhere, the top legislative official noted the United States’
pressures on the Iranian nation and efforts by the western countries
aimed at imposing sanctions against Iran on the pretext of nuclear
activities, and stressed, "The high turnout in the recent elections
in Iran, which displayed the Iranians’ solidarity and unity, also had
this message for the United States and Europe that the Iranian nation
resists against pressures and stands on the deeply rooted ideals of
the Islamic Revolution."

He also said that the United States is exerting pressure on Iran on the
pretext of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities, and continued,
"If Iran had followed the US lead, Washington would not have objected
Iran even if the latter intended to produce nuclear arms."

"The United States is actually worried about Iran’s independence,"
Haddad Adel added.

The chief lawmaker further assured that Iran’s regional policies serve
reinvigoration of interaction and friendship among regional nations,
and pointing to Iran’s role in soothing regional crises, he stressed
that existence of a powerful and stable Iran serves the interests of
all the countries in the region.

For his part, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stressed his
country’s willingness for further developing relations with Iran, and
reminded that the frequent meetings by the two countries’ officials
illustrates the firm determination of both sides to consolidate and
deepen their mutual relations.

He further briefed Haddad Adel about his talks with various Iranian
officials, and said that his satisfactory talks with the Iranian
officials had a positive effect on the promotion of the two states’
economic, industrial and scientific relations.

To conclude his words, the Armenian foreign minister voiced his
country’s strong support for Iran’s peaceful civilian nuclear
activities and programs.

"RUMI IDEAS AND THOUGHTS" IN ARMENIA

Iranian Students News Agency, Iran
Dec 18 2006

TEHRAN, Dec.18 (ISNA)-On the occasion of Rumi’s 800th birthday
anniversary, a ceremony entitled "A Survey in the Ideas and Thoughts
of Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi" in the Acharian University of
Yerevan, Armenia.

"On the occasion of Rumi’s 800th birthday, the UNESCO will organize
various cultural programs in Egypt, Afghanistan, and Turkey and
particularly in Iran," stated Iran’s cultural official in Armenia,
Reza Otoufi while speaking in the ceremony.

He also recognized the meeting with Rumi’s inspiring master, Shams
Tabrizi as the turning point of Mawlana’s life.

"He was a poet who bridged the Persian literature to Islamic
mysticism," observed Otoufi while noting the competency of Rumi in
interpreting the Holy Koran and Islamic words.

Also in other parts of the meeting, an Armenian professor at Acharian
University, Garnic Georgian and the Armenian Writers Association
director, Leon Ananian presented a summary of Rumi’s life and poetry
in their speeches.

In the final section of the meeting, a few students at the Iranology
department of Acharian University recited the works of Rumi.

Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi was born in Balkh (then a city
of Greater Khorasan in Persia, now part of Afghanistan) and died
in Konya (in present-day Turkey). His birthplace and native tongue
indicate a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian and
his works are widely read in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and in
their translation in Turkey. He lived most of his life and produced
his works under the Seljuk Empire.

Rumi’s importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic
borders. Throughout the centuries he has had a significant influence on
Persian as well Urdu literature and Turkish literature. His poems are
widely read in the Persian speaking countries of Iran, Afghanistan and
Tajikistan and have been widely translated into many of the world’s
languages in various formats.

After Rumi’s death, his followers founded the Mevlevi Order, better
known as the "Whirling Dervishes", who believe in performing their
worship in the form of dance and music ceremony called the Sema.