AZG Armenian Daily #196, 14/10/2006

OSCE
OSCE: FIRES IN SOME AREAS OF KARABAKH HAVE NATURAL CAUSE
Defense minister of Armenia Serge Sargsian received yesterday head of
the OSCE Yerevan office Vladimir Pryakhin.
According to Defense Ministry’s press release, at the meeting Pryakhin
presented the results of a recent study of fires in Nagorno Karabakh
by OSCE representatives. The study revealed that the fires in Nagorno
Karabakh have natural cause and that Azerbaijan’s accusations have no
ground. Those areas need creation of reliable anti-fire systems.

AZG Armenian Daily #196, 14/10/2006

Visit
NATO IS FOR PRESENT FORMAT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH REGULATION
Robert Simons Visits Armenia
NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative to the Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simons, stated at a joint press conference with
Vartan Oskanian on Oct. 12 that progress was achieved in all
directions of Armenia’s Individual Action Plan that aims at boosting
cooperation with NATO. He stated that he is glad to support the
Armenian Government, particularly the sphere of defense. Oskanian and
Simons discussed regional issues, spoke about the current
Russian-Georgian relations, and Oskanian informed about the present
stage of Nagorno Karabakh regulation.
Simons stated that NATO supports the Minsk Group process in the
Karabakh issue adding that he hopes the sides will come to
terms. “NATO is not part of the negotiation process. We are grateful
that the two sides keeps us informed but assessment should come from
the Minsk Group co-chairs. That’s the Minsk Group’s work, not the
NATO’s,” said Simons.
Vartan Oskanian, on his part, said that a council affiliated to RA
President was set up to systematize works with the NATO, EU and the
CE. The need for such a council has arisen as documents are huge and
require individual approach. If there is a project within NATO that
Armenia does not opt in, it is not because NATO has left Armenia out
but because neither side had a desire to participate. Mr. Simons added
that NATO, EU and CE have a unique direction of activity and that they
have division of labor and mutual assistance.
As to Georgia’s membership to NATO, Mr. Simons said that Georgia is
now at the first stage and it’s untimely to speak of its membership.
Asked what’s his opinion about Armenia’s goal to join the European
Union, Mr. Simons said: “Contrary to Georgia, neither Armenia nor
Azerbaijan have taken a decision of joining the NATO, and we respect
this stance. We are satisfied with the steps that are being taken
within the framework of the Individual Action Plan.”
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily #196, 14/10/2006

Home
RA GOVERNMENT HANDS MANAGEMENT OF HAYPOST TO DUTCH ING COMPANY
Andranik Manukian, RA Transport and Communication Minister, informed
at yesterday’s press conference that RA Government hasn’t received any
official application letter from OTE Greek Company. He said that they
have promised to submit the competition results next week. He added
that the purchase of “ArmenTel” cant’ take place without the consent
of RA Government.
Besides, he said that Ra Government handed the management of “HayPost”
to Dutch ING company. As for the fact of handing the management of
“HayPost” to “Converse Invest” company a year ago, Mr. Manukian said
that if needed this company can consider the government decision to
hand “HayPost” to Dutch ING company at the court. At the same time, he
added that within a year, “Converse Invest” made investments in the
company and will certainly get their share of profits.
By Ara Martirosian

Kathimerini, Greece
Oct 13 2006
Nicosia puts foot down on Turkey
Cyprus cannot act as if all is well in Turkish negotiations with the
European Union when Ankara persistently refuses to fulfill its
obligations as an EU candidate state, Cypriot Foreign Minister
Giorgos Lillikas said yesterday ahead of talks with Dora Bakoyannis
in Athens.
«We are simply implementing a policy which Nicosia had declared early
on to the European Union presidency and the European Commission,»
Lillikas said.
He was elaborating on an earlier declaration by Cypriot government
spokesman Christodoulos Pasiardis according to which Nicosia will
block progress in Turkish accession talks until Ankara opens its air
and sea ports to Cyprus.
According to Greece’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos
Koumoutsakos, Ankara’s failure to extend its customs agreement to
include Cyprus is «politically illogical.» «The obligations (Ankara)
has undertaken as regards the protocol are autonomous and
established,» he said.
Koumoutsakos also criticized Ankara for threatening France over its
draft law that aims to make it a crime to deny that the 1915-1917
genocide of the Armenians took place. «Threats or insinuations and
the aggressive tone of public statements do not befit a country on
the road to joining the European Union,» he said.
The Greek Parliament voted in 1996 to condemn the Armenian genocide
but Koumoutsakos said, «In the modern world, the past should not act
as a hindrance to the future.»
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #196, 14/10/2006

Culture
MONTHS OF ITALIAN CULTURE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
Hasmik Poghosian, RA Culture and Youth Affairs Minister, and Marko
Clemente, Italian Ambassador to Armenia, informed at yesterday’s joint
press conference that they have decided to hold a number of cultural
arrangements in Yerevan in November, December and January. Hasmik
Poghosian stated in her speech that on April 13, 2003, RA and Italian
governments signed an agreement for cooperation in the cultural,
educational, scientific and technical spheres. As a result of close
relations between our countries, the Armenian artists have frequently
visited Italy and the Italian men of art arrived in Armenia. “This
year, we have specified the our plans for cooperation. In August, we
held “Archeology and Renovation of Monuments” seminar in Armenia,” We
will complete the year by implementing the program elaborated by Mr.
Clemente and financed by the Government of Italy,” Mrs. Poghosian
stated.
In his turn, Mr. Clemente emphasized the importance of the
Armenian-Italian multi lateral cooperation and thanked the mass media
for highlighting the events within the framework of the cultural
programs. “The culture is a bridge that unites two peoples, that have
thousand years of history,” he said. Mr. Ambassador informed that the
months of Italian culture will begin in the performance of the
contemporary dance by Francesca Silva’s dance group at Alexander
Spendiarian Opera and Ballet Theatre. The retrospective session of
Italian cinema will be held in one of Yerevan’s cinemas. It is
envisaged that in December, two young Italian singers will perform in
two concerts. All the arrangements in the cultural program are for
free. “This is our concept. We want to bring the art to the people
that have no sources to freely enjoy the miracle of art. Thanks to
this program, we will contribute to the cultural development and to
education of the next generations,” Mr. Ambassador
said. Mrs. Poghosian congratulated the journalists with the “Day of
the Armenian Press” at the end of the press conference.
By Marietta Makarian

Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Oct 13 2006
French Assembly votes to penalise Armenian Genocide denial

13/10/2006
In a historic move, the French National Assembly has voted
overwhelmingly to adopt a law imposing legal penalties on deniers of
the Armenian Genocide.
The legislation, introduced by Christophe Masse, Didier Migaud et
Martine David (Socialist group), seeks “to counter the denial of the
Armenian Genocide.” The measure, adopted by a vote of 106 to 19, adds
a second article to the 2001 law through which “France publicly,
acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915.”
In a direct reference to the law already in place imposing penalties
for the denial of the Jewish Holocaust (“Loi Gayssot”), the measure
approved this week states that, “those who contest the existence of
the Armenian Genocide through methods recorded in its article 23 will
be sanctioned through article 24-2 of the 28 July 1881 Law on the
press liberty.”
“We welcome this historical move, which demonstrates, once again,
that France continues to lead the international community’s progress
on human rights and the dignity on man. State-sponsored denial of
genocide represents a calculated form of incendiary hate speech that
threatens both public safety as well as the ability of society to
organize itself, through open discourse, to prevent the repetition of
genocides in the future. We offer our profound thanks to the
individual political leaders and the broader movement that have moved
this cause forward,”
said Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation.
“We do hope that the Senate will adopt this same text in the very
near future, so that this measure will become the law of France at
the first opportunity,” added Tchoboian.
The European Armenian Federation notes with interest that the path to
the adoption of this measure in France was paved by the recent
electoral defeat of Armenian Genocide deniers in Belgium, the
exclusion of Armenian Genocide deniers from electoral lists in the
Netherlands, and the ban on Armenian Genocide denial demonstrations
in Germany.
“The time is now for a global European law that would penalize the
Armenian Genocide denial, as well as the other Genocide denials
occuring in Europe” concluded Tchoboian.

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2006
Azeri NGOs Require to Debar France from Co-chairmanship in OSCE Minsk
Group

Source: Trend
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

13.10.2006

The French Parliament’s adoption of the law penalizing the denial of
the so-called `Armenian genocide’ once again testifies how France is
not in line with the principles of objectiveness and justice with
regards to Turkey, Trend reports with reference to the statement of
the National Forum of Non-governmental Organizations of Azerbaijan
(NFNGOA) disseminated on October 12.

It is stated in the NFNGOA document, which brings together 400 NGOs,
that France, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, once again openly
demonstrated its support for Armenia.
Adoption of this law by the French Parliament has brought serious
problems to all democratic values, free ideas and free speech and has
broken the security and co-operation in Europe.

`We consider that France, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, is
losing its confidence, and the country has no moral right to continue
its mission as mediator in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. From this point of view, Azerbaijan should abandon the
mediation mission of France and ensure the removal of this Country
from the Minsk Group’, the statement read.

A1+
DEMONSTRATION OF GRATITUDE TO THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE
[05:35 pm] 13 October, 2006
Over a hundred young people organized a demonstration from the Opera
square to the French Embassy in order to express their gratitude to
the French Parliament for adopting a draft criminalizing the negation
of the Armenian Genocide. Students of the Yerevan State University and
members of the youth wing of Hnchakyan Party participated in the
«demonstration of gratitude».
The participants of the demonstration called on other countries to
follow the example of France and voiced hope that sooner or later
Turkey will adopt a similar draft. By the way, seeing the group of
people walking towards the Embassy, many passers by joined them.
Reaching the Embassy, the participants of the demonstration read out
their letter of gratitude. Ambassador Henry Cuny himself came out in
order to meet them. «France recognized the Armenian Genocide long
ago. I think now its time for you to think about your relations with
your neighbor. Good relations with neighbors are important for any
country», the Ambassador mentioned.

A1+
WIVES OF OFFICIALS ARE SIMPLE PEOPLE
[05:57 pm] 13 October, 2006
THE MAYOR DOESN’T KNOW THE AGE OF THE CAPITAL
Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugolava announced in Yerevan that the
hostilities of Russia against their country harm not only the
Georgians but also friendly Armenians. «I think Georgia and Armenia
must unite their efforts in this field», Gigi Ugolava told the
journalists during the short briefing with Yerevan mayor Yervand
Zakharyan.
The Georgian delegation which included deputy Speaker of the
Parliament Jemal Inaishvili, visited the Yerevan municipality. During
the private meeting the wife of the deputy speaker, Nina Inaishvili,
spent half an hour in the corridor with the journalists.
Mrs. Inaishvili assured «A1+» that in their country the wives of many
high officials are known to be very simple in communicating with
people. She even wondered at our question if the wives of other
officials too can be seen in the corridor of the municipality waiting
for their husbands. «The wife of the other deputy speaker of the
Parliament and I have been friends for a long time. We were born in
Batumi, like my husband. As for how the wives of officials behaved
before Mikhail Sahakashvili gained power, I can’t tell you», she told
us.
Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugolava invited Yervand Zakharyan to Tbilisi to
participate in the celebration of the anniversary of the Georgia
capital. As for how old the city will be on October 22, the young
mayor answered, «I haven’t counted».

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 13 2006
Special Session of the National Assembly to Be Convened at 12:00 on
October 13, 2006

Mr. Aghvan Hovsepyan, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia,
submitted a petition to Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on obtaining his consent
for the MP Hakob Rafik Hakobyan to be involved as one of the accused.
Mr. Torosyan signed a decision, by which, according to Article 70 of
RA Constitution, by the initiative of the Government of the Republic
of Armenia at 12:00 on October 13 a special session of the National
Assembly will be convened by the initiator’s defined agenda: on
giving consent to the petition of Aghvan Hovsepyan, Prosecutor
General of the Republic of Armenia for the MP Hakob Rafik Hakobyan to
be involved as one of the accused.