FORMER CULTURE MINISTER AND CURRENT PARLIAMENT MEMBER QUESTION TURKS TALENT TO PRODUCE WORTHY LITERATURE
Armenpress
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: A former Armenian culture minister
Hakob Movses questioned today the national identity of a Turkish
writer Orhan Pamuk who was awarded Nobel Literature Prize this year
saying the Turkish nation was incapable of producing a work of art
or literature of world significance and value.
“I am not a racist but I can say with certainty that this is simply
impossible,’ the former culture minister argued. “Man must have
genetics in order to have spirit and genius, genius that derives from
the Latin ‘genus,” Movses who is the author of several collections
of poetry and prose claimed.
Movses claimed that many people in Germany where Pamuk’s books were
issued in millions of copies suspect him of being a pureblooded
Turk. “Nevertheless I am happy that a Turkish writer was awarded
this prize, because if ideas and culture enter a barbaric tribe it
means it has not yet lost all chances to become a civilized nation,”
he said. He also praised Pamuk for referring to the Armenian genocide.
Pamuk, whose novels include “Snow” and “My Name is Red,” was charged
last year for telling a Swiss newspaper in February 2005 that Turkey
was unwilling to deal with two of the most painful episodes in recent
Turkish history: the massacre of Armenians during World War I, which
Turkey insists was not a planned genocide, and recent guerrilla
fighting in Turkey’s overwhelmingly Kurdish southeast.
“Thirty-thousand Kurds and 1 million Armenians were killed in
these lands, and nobody but me dares to talk about it,” he told the
newspaper. A parliament member Alvard Petrosian from the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) also welcomed the decision to award
the most prestigious prize to the Turkish writer, saying, however,
it was a political decision rather.
Ms. Petrosian, also author of several books of prose, echoed the
former culture minister questioning the ability of the Turkish nation
to produce a worthy literature.
“I have read only several poems of Turkish poets, but I cannot believe
that Turks can have good literature. Even if Pamuk is a pureblooded
Turk, which I strongly doubt, it is not enough to say that Turkish
literature is good. There may be a couple of good Turkish writers but
their literature is not good,” she claimed, describing literature as
‘something like milk that feeds a nation, but Turkey definitely lacks
that sort of milk.

NEW DRINKING WATER PIPELINE INAUGURATED IN ARAGATSOTN PROVINCE
Armenpress
Nov 01 2006
ASHTARAK, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: A new water pipeline was inaugurated
today in Tsakhkahovit village of Aragatsotn province. Its construction
was funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD), while the government contributed to the purchase of pipes.
The water pipeline is fed by springs on Armenia’s highest Mountain
of Aragats taking water to several villages situated on its foot. The
construction cost was $270,000.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S PERMANENT POPULATION UP TO 3.2 MILLION
Armenpress
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS; Armenia’s permanent population
by October 1, 2006 rose to 3, 220,800 people. The share of urban
population was 2.062 million and that of rural population 1.158
million people.
Population growth over the beginning of the year made 1,600 and 3,200
people from a year ago. Armenia’s national statistical service said
27,362 babies were born in January-September of 2006.
Before the collapse of the former Soviet Union Armenia had a 3.8
million population, but at least 1 million people have left the country
since the break-up and the resulting collapse of the Armenian economy
that was coupled with war with Azerbaijan. The majority of Armenians
have gone mainly to Russia, in search of employment.

LAW-ENFORCEMENT BODIES REPORT 12 PERCENT CRIME RISE
Armenpress
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenian law-enforcement agencies
reported a 12 percent rise in the number of crimes committed in
January-September of 2006 against the same time span of the past year.
According to fresh data, released by Armenian national statistical
committee, overall 7,529,000 crimes were reported in the first nine
months of the year, of which 68 were committed with use of firearms.
The rise from a year ago was 15.3 percent. The committee said 54
murders and 20 murder attempts were committed. Overall 837 crimes
were committed against individuals, an unprecedented 42 percent rise
from a year ago. The committee said 588 crimes against individuals
were disclosed.
The national statistical committee said also 1,677 crimes against
public security and population’s health were reported, of which 1,320
were traced down and disclosed. It also said 420 cases of road traffic
were reported, which killed 145 people. A fall in the number of crimes
against public property was reported.
Overall 258 such cases were revealed, 14.3 percent down from a year
ago. Also 215 corruption crimes were reported.
The number of crimes rose 32.9 percent in Yerevan, where 3,535 crimes
were registered. Crime rates went up also in Aragatsotn (15 percent),
Lori (23.3 percent) and Tavush (5.8 percent) provinces. In other
provinces it was down. The number of juvenile crimes was 379, by 8
more from a year ago, 149 were reported in Yerevan.
Out of 14,406 wanted criminals police tracked and arrested 1,332.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ADVERTISE ITS MANIFESTO TO WIN VOTERS
Armenpress
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: The leader of a tiny opposition party
said today it will advertise its own manifesto to win the support
of voters in 2007 parliamentary elections, but will not decline a
cooperation offer from a like-minded party.
Aram G. Sarkisian, head of the Democratic Party of Armenia, told a news
conference today that his party will not strike alliances with other
forces because ‘they are set up to pursue quite different issues.”
Sarkisian said his party will work to form what he termed ‘the third
force’ as opposed to the Republican Party of prime minister Andranik
Margarian and the Prosperous Armenia party of a parliament member
and a millionaire businessman Gagik Tsarukian.

OPENING OF SURP KHACH CHURCH OF AKHTAMAR ISLAND POSTPONED TILL APRIL
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
02/11/2006
On October 19, referring to Lraber newspaper of the Armenian Patriarchy
of Istanbul, daily Azg informed that the opening of Surp Khach
Church of Akhtamar Island is envisaged on November 4. Owner of the
construction firm repairing the church, Jahit Zaydanlen, was quoted as
saying that the roof and the floor of the church were reconstructed,
frescos on the walls were uncovered, new windows were installed, the
altar was put into order and the outside bas-reliefs were cleaned. Yet,
he dissembled that the crosses of the chapel and the dome were missing.
Most likely the crosses won’t be erected as the construction works
officially finished on August 30.
As to the opening of the church that will be attended by prime minister
Erdogan it was postponed due to bad weather, CNN-Turk reported.

RA FOREIGN MINISTRY’S EUROPEAN UNION DEPARTMENT HEAD IS APPOINTED RA CONSUL GENERAL TO LOS ANGELES, CA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
02/11/2006
By the decree of RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Armen Liloyan,
the Head of the Department of the European Union of RA Foreign
Ministry, has been appointed RA Consul General to Los Angeles,
California. The press service of RA Foreign Ministry informed that
Armen Liloyan was born in 1971 in Yerevan. He has graduated from the
Yerevan State University, the Faculty of Oriental Studies. He received
the master’s degree in the London Academy.
Liloyan has been working at RA Foreign Ministry since 1995. He
had been working in the diplomatic mission to Great Britain in
1998-2002. Liloyan is appointed the head of the Department of the
European Union since 2002.

EUROPE CRITICIZES TURKEY BUT CONTINUES TALKS
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
02/11/2006
On November 8, the European Union will make public a very harsh report
on Turkey, Le Figaro reports.
Despite this, the EU is unwilling to suspend accession talks with
Turkey.
The report points out that “the process of reforms has stepped down in
Turkey.” Besides, the Cyprus issue is still unresolved. In December of
2005 the EU demanded that Ankara opens its harbors and airports for
Cypriot ships and airplanes by year-end 2006, otherwise threatening
to reconsider continuation of negotiations.
The ultimatum’s time is getting over, but there is no progress
in Ankara. Generally speaking, the European Commission favors
Turkey’s membership but the current situation raised discords
in Brussels. European commissioners’ stances differ depending on
political interests the countries they represent have. According to Le
Figaro, the French demand partial suspension of the talks (because of
neglecting the requirements of tax union) and the Cypriot commissioner
demands total suspension of membership talks.
In such situation Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU
presidency, suggests organizing the meeting of Turkish and Cypriot
foreign minister in Helsinki on November 5. According to the program
the Finns presented, the EU has to start trading with Northern Cyprus
for Turkey to open its ports to Cypriot ships.
At any rate, a final decision will be taken at the meeting of EU
member-state heads in Brussels on Dec 16. That very day instructions
of the European Commission that were disregarded in the past will be
taken into account. Turkey is particularly criticized for the poor
record in freedom of speech and the rights of women and the Kurds.
EU commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn, stated in a private
conversation that Islamization of the Turkish society is also
worrying. The European Commission would not dare raise this issue in
the past.

IRAN TO RESPOND TO ANY PROBABLE PUNISHMENT MEASURES OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
02/11/2006
MAGATE isn’t able to confirm the exclusively peaceful character of
the Iranian nuclear program, Mohamed al Baradei, head of MAGATE,
stated. Making annual report at the UN General Council, he expressed
concern that Iran didn’t stop the concentration of uranium and
doesn’t make its nuclear program more transparent. At the same time,
he expressed hope that the issue will be settled diplomatically.
As for the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea, he said it was another issue that arouses concern. Baradei
stated that North Korea should return to multi lateral negotiations
around its nuclear program.
According to Interfax agency, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
stated that his country will take resolute measures if UN conducts any
punishment measures against Iran. At present the bill that envisages
punishment measures against the nuclear program of Iran is being
discussed at the UN. The Russian media informed that RF president
Vladimir Putin assured Ahmadinejad in the telephone conversation
that Russia is for continuing the negotiations for the Iranian
nuclear program.

ANOTHER DISINFORMATION BY AZERBAIJAN
AZG Armenian Daily
02/11/2006
Azerbaijani defense minister, Safar Abiev, stated that at the meeting
of Armenian and Azerbaijani defense ministers at Ijevan-Khazakh
sector organized by representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office,
Andrzej Kasprzyk, on October 20, the Azeri minister raised the
issue of “withdrawing Armenian forces from Azerbaijan’s occupied
lands.” According to a press release of the Armenian Defense Ministry,
no such issue was discussed at the meeting but the sides discussed
issues related to border control and cease-fire maintenance.